Restaurants in Massachusetts

In Boston, a sunny day is not complete without a delicious meal or cocktail on the patio. Of course, man’s best friend loves the warm weather as well, but not every place allows pooches to hang out with the patrons. Here are three spots that have their welcome mats and doggie treats ready to go. The Terrace at Tamo Bistro & Bar | 1 Seaport Ln. All summer long, the Seaport Hotel’s Tamo Terrace welcomes furry friends for Cocktails and Canines, held on Wednesdays through August from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. They roll out the red carpet with plenty of fresh and organic dog treats, plus a delightful selection of human-only cocktails. The Yard at the Liberty Hotel | 215 Charles St. The Yard at the Liberty Hotel hosts Yappier Hour every Wednesday night from April through October. From 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy a cocktail from the full bar while your dog sips a pup-tini. A snack menu from Clink seals the deal, though the comfy couches certainly don’t hurt. Flour Bakery + Cafe | 1595 Washington St. Of course, it’s easy enough to create your own puppy picnic by taking advantage of the patio spaces all around Boston. Start the day off right with a latte and a sticky bun at the South End location of Flour, where dogs can sun out on the patio. Still hungry? Check out Groupon’s latest deals on restaurants in Boston.

Snow flakes are starting to fly here in Boston and with chillier weather upon us I start craving anything that will warm me up from the inside out.  Soup is my go to, and with so many restaurants serving up a variety of types it's easy to find a great big bowl of soup to push away those cold weather blues. There is, of course, the ultimate comfort food- Tomato Soup paired with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  There is something so wonderfully childlike about dipping a hot, gooey piece of cheesy sandwich into a big hot bowl of tomato soup that brings me right back to snowy days when I was a kid.  Now, when Im looking for that feeling I head to The Abbey in Brookline's Washington Square. During lunch hours (week days and weekends) they serve up a big bowl of acidic tomato soup bright with fresh herbs and just a subtle hint of spice, and with it a perfectly crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, grilled cheese sandwich.   The cheese is stringy and ultimately gooey, leaving strings as you pull pieces apart to dip into the soup.  Decadent and delicious, this pairing is the perfect way to venture into chilly weather. Moving to the more exotic side of things, there is my personal favorite soup out there- hailing from Vietnam- Pho.  Pho is a perfect blend of rice noodles, fragrant broth, your choice of proteins, onion and cilantro.  Tableside you are served lime wedges, sprouts, and Thai Basil to add at your discretion along with a host of sauces.  Pho has long been my favorite for several reasons, one of which being this hands on approach where you can customize the finishing flavors and even its heat level.  I gravitate to Pho Pasteur in Chinatown when I need a Pho fix.  They efficiently seat their guests and expertly dole out their Pho, a clean broth with notes of lemon grass, and gently floating circles of onion and fragrant cilantro throughout.  I opt for rare beef as my protein,finding the mix between the beef, broth, noodles and a lot of Siracha sauce to warm my soul. Perhaps, however, when its chilly outside, you crave something a bit more decadent?  How does French Onion Soup with a beef morrow crostini on the side sound?  Deuxave, located in Boston's Back Bay is serving up a French Onion Soup that they simmer and cook for nine hours to concentrate the flavors and bring out the notes of true beef flavor as well as notes of thyme and white wine.   Individual servings are divvied out into small crock pots, chunks of French Bread added, and topped with cheese- every spoon full brings out the rich broth, tender onions, pieces of soaked bread and utter globs of incredible cheese.  Then, as if it wasn't rich enough- along side sits a perfectly toasted piece of bread, slathered with a little bone marrow making it salty and delicious and a perfectly crunchy addition to the soup. Soup is the perfect way to warm up as these months get colder, and no matter what your preference, there is a spot out there for you.  So the real question is what type is going to keep you the warmest?

Peanut butter and jelly, steak and potatoes, burgers and beer—the world’s most perfect pairings. What is it about a thick, juicy burger with all the fixin’s that screams to be washed down with an ice-cold brewski? The world may never know, but here’s a few Boston restaurants that get this combo oh-so-right. Classic: The Gallows | 1395 Washington St. This South End restaurant rotates its burger menu often to include the freshest ingredients and the most unusual combinations. The burgers here are simple flat patties, so don’t go customizing the temperature—but The Gallows proves that simple really is best. A menu staple is the Our Way, a traditional backyard combination of american cheese, iceberg lettuce, pickles, and grilled onions that evokes memories of summer barbecues where the beer is flowing and the friends are plentiful. Speaking of beer, The Gallows presents a short yet comprehensive list that shows off some of the best craft brewers in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond. Novel-Length Beer List: The Tip Tap Room | 138 Cambridge St. This Beacon Hill bar takes the “tap” in its name seriously—it has 36 of them. The beer list also features 45 different beers in bottles and 7 in cans and is one of the most diverse collections in the city. Choices range from the seasonal and highly sought-after Stone Brewing Co. ales to small brewers that haven’t yet made a name for themselves. And The Tip Tap Room’s spin on dining, which incorporates exotic meats and hard-to-find ingredients, ensures an unforgettable burger. Besides the standard beef, turkey, and lamb burgers, you’ll often find a fun twist on their board such as caribou or alligator. Vegetarian’s Choice: The Publick House | 648 Beacon St., Brookline The Publick House in Washington Square is one of my all-time favorite spots to grab a brew. It is regarded as one of the best local beer bars, with an incredible list of local and European labels. The burgers are spot-on, too, but reigning supreme here is the veggie burger. The Publick House isn’t trying to mimic a “regular” burger with its veggie patty, which is chock-full of carrots, green peas, and zucchini. Instead, the eatery makes a sandwich that stands deliciously on its own—and will make any meat lover swoon. Beer Garden of Eden: Charlie’s Kitchen | 10 Eliot St., Cambridge Year-round. Outdoor. Beer garden. Let that sink in for a moment. In a city where outdoor seating is limited and unheard of in the winter months, Charlie’s Kitchen in Harvard Square serves its rotating list of beers al fresco in every season. There’s also a wallet-friendly menu of classic burger combinations, with patties that can be doubled or even tripled. So get in there, roll your sleeves up, and dig in. Student Standby: Sunset Grill & Tap | 130 Brighton Ave. A staple for the many, many college students of the city, Allston’s Sunset Grill & Tap is far from gourmet. In fact, it runs much closer to a greasy spoon, but the menu’s beer-steamed burger offers a unique experience time and again. However, let’s not forget about the restaurant’s more than 100 brews. There’s always a great group of samplers that let diners try different styles without committing to a full pour.   Photo by Fiona Coxe