With the end of the semester sneaking up and the sunny, spring weather arriving, I am back to reveal another ideal BC Bubble escape. BC’s campus is located less than a mile from an adorable downtown area, Newton Centre, which is filled with a variety of excellent eateries, “sweeteries,” and shops. Check out some of the following businesses next time you find yourself in Newton Centre!
PIZZA
I don’t know about you, but pizza usually makes everything better. If you ever get tired of ordering in Domino’s Pizza or heading over to Roggie’s, don’t worry! There are a couple of excellent pizza places located right in the heart of Newton Centre. Whether you feel like walking over to Newton or just ordering in, these two options are perfect. I’ll let you make the final decision about which pizzeria serves the better slice.
Bill’s Pizzeria
This pizzeria, which has been serving amazing homemade pizza since 1975, received a personal shout-out from John Krasinki (also known as Jim on The Office). The pizza options are endless, ranging from naked pizza (no sauce), to green pizza (pesto sauce), to their more popular “dressed” pizzas. My suggestions? Go for the Purple Pizza if you like eggplant and check out the Spanakopizza to get your serving of veggies. No matter what you pick, I guarantee it will be delicious. Bill’s now offers whole wheat crust and gluten free crust, so the possibilities really are endless. Not in the mood for pizza? No worries, because Bill’s has an extensive menu of salads, wraps, pasta, and more. If you choose to dine in, the atmosphere has a tight community feel – very casual and welcoming. The tables are large and perfect for groups!
753 Beacon Street
Newton Centre, MA
617-964-1116
Sweet Tomatoes Pizza
A newer addition to Newton Centre, Sweet Tomatoes Pizza opened in 1998 and takes a slightly different approach to the average pizza. They use chopped, uncooked tomatoes (instead of traditional red sauce) and oil-free dough that is rolled thin. If you are a thin-crust fan, this is the pizza parlor for you! White pizza (without tomatoes) and Red pizza (without cheese) are both available for any picky pizza eaters, along with non-pizza options like salads, sandwiches, and calzones. I recommend trying one of the customer favorites – either the Pesto Splash or the White Greek Pizza. There isn’t much seating at their Newton Centre location, so this might be a better option for take-out or ordering in!
47 Langley Road
Newton Centre, MA
(617) 558-0222
EATERIES
Newton Centre has a variety of excellent dining options ranging from grab-and-go to sit-down dining experiences. I suggest making a day trip to Newton Centre and trying to hit up one of these delicious and fun eateries!
Johnny’s Luncheonette
A fifties-themed diner that serves breakfast all day long? I don’t think anything sounds more appealing than that. Named the “Best of Boston” multiple times, Johnny’s is a casual diner with an endless menu. They are famous for their breakfast, but their lunch and dinner menus are equally delicious and extensive. Their french toast is too good to be true and comes in a variety of styles including old-fashioned, coconut, whole-wheat, cornbread, and crunchy. Because they are a diner, their burgers, fries, and frappes are also to die for. I suggest trying Johnny’s on a non-weekend because the waits on Saturdays and Sundays can be torturous. If you can only go on the weekend, call ahead and add your name to the waiting list before you leave BC. Just a fun fact – they have a sign in their window that they write different initials on everyday. If they happen to be your initials, you will get a meal on the house!
30 Langley Road
Newton Centre, MA
(617) 527-3223
Lee’s Burger Place
A brand new burger restaurant in Newton, Lee’s has already established itself as a reliable eatery for lunch and dinner. It is fairly inexpensive, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is that of a local burger joint. Seating can be difficult to find, but they also do take-out! My recommendation is to definitely try an order of the sweet potato fries, the onion rings, and don’t forget to order the special house sauce on your burger. Not in the mood for a burger? Lee’s also offers salads, soups, sandwiches, and hotdogs. Lee’s has even been compared to the famous In-N-Out Burger of the West Coast and the increasingly popular Five Guys!
216 Sumner Street
Newton Centre, MA
(617) 795-2022
SWEET TREATS
Newton Centre is home to the typical Starbucks, Panera Bread, and Dunkin Donuts, but if you are craving a more personal, family-run experience, the following “sweeteries” are the perfect option.
Big Sky Bread Company
Located off the main drag in Newton Centre, Big Sky Bread Company is a cute, “homey” bakery offering breads, pastries, and desserts that are made fresh daily. It’s not a problem if you aren’t in the mood for a decadent treat because Big Sky also sells healthy homemade granola, sandwiches served on their fresh bread, and delicious coffee and tea. As the weather gets warmer, grabbing a pastry and sitting outside to bask in the spring sun would be a much-needed break from the stress of finals.
105 Union Street
Newton Centre, MA
(617) 332-424
J.P. Licks
I am a HUGE ice cream fan, so any excuse to try a new ice cream parlor is heaven for me. J.P. Licks is a Boston staple that stands out from other ice cream shops because they serve coffee, yogurt, cakes, pies, and of course ice cream. However, they are known to come up with some pretty interesting flavors that change every month. In the past, they have offered Coffee and Donuts Ice Cream and even Leprechaun Brew ice cream. This April, some of the flavors are Batter Up!, Peanut Butter Beckett, Papelbon Pineapple Sherbet, and Youk’s Manischewitz Sorbet to kick off the Red Sox season! Also be sure to check out the Sundae of the month, which never disappoints.
46 Langley Road
Newton Centre, MA
(617) 244-0666
Mad Batter Cupcake Café
Even though this shop hasn’t opened yet, I HAD to share this with you! Cupcake shops are becoming more and more trendy and this one offers an adorable pink atmosphere with an equally adorable logo. Keep your eyes peeled for when this cupcake paradise has their grand opening because it is sure to be amazing. Even those without a sweet tooth won’t be able to resist!
1187 Centre Street
Newton Centre, MA
(617) 969-9400
GIRLS’ DAY
If you have ever wanted to take a few hours and have a girl’s day, Newton Centre is a great option. It is obviously much closer than going into the city and part of the fun is the walk, which can be especially enjoyable on a warm, sunny spring day. Here are just a few places for some girly fun!
MiniLuxe
As the company’s slogan states, “We all deserve some MiniLuxuries in our lives.” This salon and spa is an excellent escape for the stressed Collegiette™. Grab your friends and enjoy a spa day during the chaos of finals. They offer manicures, pedicures, waxing, and massages. Although a little pricey, it is definitely worth the splurge. The spa’s atmosphere is inviting and comfortable and the employees are wonderful.
792 Beacon Street
Newton Centre, MA
(617) 332-9200
344
I’m sure that most of us have seen this store at their Newbury Street location, but I bet you didn’t know they have an additional location in Newton Centre! With cute clothes and accessories at reasonable prices, this is a store that all BC Collegiettes™ should know about. The store is pretty big and would make for a perfect shopping trip with the girls.
1243 Centre Street
Newton, MA
(617) 527-1995
Sources:
http://www.miniluxe.com/index.html
http://sweettomatoespizza.com/
http://www.billspizzeria.com/index1.jsp
http://johnnysluncheonette.com/
http://www.jplicks.com/
http://www.miniluxe.com/
http://www.shop344.com/