As you make the trek to the dining hall every night for dinner, the looming question is always, “Do I want pasta, a sandwich, or chicken?” The food here at Boston College is of high quality, with several sources ranking it number two in the country, but the repetition of the same thing over and over can be daunting and bland to say the least. That short T ride to a restaurant off-campus on a Friday or Saturday night will make your taste buds sing and add a little spice to your life.
Get your group of friends together and travel the world through Boston’s ethnic restaurants and expand your taste with these hidden gems that don’t get the recognition they deserve!
Ariana (Afghani)
129 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 208-8072
Ariana is a small, intimate restaurant not far from BC with a romantic ambiance that is perfect for a hot date! The chef at Ariana uses recipes that have been in his family for decades, making your experience that much more authentic to the culture. The majority of Afghani foods includes bread, pasta, and rice dishes that are unique and flavorful. When you arrive, you are seated almost immediately and given delicious fresh baked bread. Some people even stop by just to purchase this bread and claim that that the owner uses a secret ingredient that makes it so tasty! If it’s your first time there, many would recommend ordering the Mantu, which is a ravioli dish that is cooked to perfection and will really make you love Afghani food.
Café Polonia (Polish, Austrian, Hungarian)
611 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 269-0110
Café Polinia is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for great food and a cute atmosphere. There is an accordion player providing quiet background music as you dine with family or friends. The ambiance is one of a cozy cottage and the servers are known to be very friendly and accommodating. Café Polonia is also said to have the best pierogies in all of Boston! This Polish dish is a deep-fried buttery, dough-like pocket stuffed with meat, cabbage, or mushroom. If you’ve never had one, take a trip to Café Polonia and experience this heavenly meal!
L’Espalier (French)
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199
(617) 262-3023
L’Espalier is not only famous for it’s delicious French cuisine, but also for the creative way they assemble their meal platters. The way they put together your food is flawless, and the variety of colors that fill your plate is amazing! This is the place to go if you feel like having a classy night out, as the dress attire is more formal. The quality of the food is outstanding and is highly vegetable-based (making this a good place for vegetarians)! The meal options are endless and cooked to perfection every time!
Blue Nile (Ethiopian)
89 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130
(617) 522-6453
Blue Nile is another great place to go if you want awesome food and an intimate atmosphere. The restaurant is the smallest you’ll ever go to, but this gives it a homey feel. There are tea lights on every table and the walls are a soothing green color to add to the peaceful ambiance. The Tikil Gommon is recommended, as it is to die for, not heavy in your stomach, and relatively inexpensive. If you go here you have to ask for the honey wine. It’s a traditional, sweet wine of Ethiopia that is made locally, adding to the authenticity of the visit.
LaLa Rokh (Middle Eastern)
97 Mt. Vernon St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 720-5511
When you enter Lala Rokh it’s like you’re entering another world. The atmosphere transforms your experience and the tastes of the food explode in your mouth. There is a big emphasis on spices and flavorings in the Persian dishes that are served here. The Baghla Pollo is the most popular dish because of the unique taste and burst of zest. The aim of Lala Rokh is to “please the soul,” and if you choose to venture here to experience the delicious Persian dishes, you will leave completely satisfied in every way!
Sources:
http://www.parentsandcolleges.com/top-ten-lists/list06-bce/
http://arianarestaurantboston.com/
http://www.cafepolonia.com/
http://www.lespalier.com/
http://www.lalarokh.com/