A wise woman on the T once said: “Boston is the city that sleeps.” That’s because after ten or eleven at night, there aren’t many open places – especially places to get food. To all of the collegiettes out there staying up late on the weekend to finish a paper that’s due in a couple of days, running on nothing but an unsatisfying meal from the dining hall: this article is for you. Here are a few places that will help you in your search for a tummy-filling meal late at night:
South Street Diner
178 Kneeland St Boston MA, 02111 Hours: Open 24 Hours
On the corner of Kneeland and South streets, South Street Diner has been cooking food for the best of Boston’s night owls since 1947. The outside of this small restaurant looks like a space ship that could take off at any moment, with a metallic door and side panels. That might be hard with a giant cardboard coffee cup on the roof, though. The inside is spacious, despite its small-looking exterior with a long bar and several big booths. This diner is a great way to wind down after a long day at work, even if the majority of the customers have had one too many of their favorite drink at the bar. The party doesn’t stop at the bars, though, because they serve alcohol as well. With music constantly playing, and low lighting, this is a great place to enjoy delicious food at a cheap price. Most of the menu items are single digit prices, so you can have a variety of choice, like burgers, sandwiches, milkshakes and breakfast at any time of the day, without emptying your wallet.
Must-Have Munchie: The Diner Special: Three eggs, two pancakes or French toast, home fries, toast with choice of bacon, corn beef hash, ham or sausage. For only ten dollars, you can enjoy all of your favorite breakfast items at any time of the night. The home fries are crunchy on the outside, yet warm and soft on the inside, and they don’t skimp on the meat.
Bova’s Bakery
134 Salem Street Boston, MA 02113 Hours: Open 24 Hours
Just walking by the smell of freshly baked bread and sweet cannolis will lure you into Bova’s Bakery, a small shop in the North End. Family-owned since 1932, the Bova clan makes everything homemade and fresh daily. Display cases are filled to the brim with an assortment of cookies, cakes, and brownies in every shape, size, and color imaginable. Macaroons paint the store with shades of green and pink. They have Italian favorites like ricotta pie and biscotti among other classics like whoopie pies and rice krispie treats. And that’s just dessert. There is a whole other menu filled with savory food items for you to choose from. From subs on their famous bread to calzones to pizza, it’s a great place to grab food on your lunch break and an even better snack long after work is out in the middle of the night.
Must-Have Munchie: The cannoli. While Bova’s is well-known for their Italian bread, their old-fashioned cannoli will satisfy any sweet-tooth craving you may have, whether or not it’s at 3:00 A.M. Their ricotta filling is creamy and oozing out of a shell that snaps with an ear-satisfying crunch as soon as your teeth bite into it. The ricotta is classic, but they also serve a chocolate and Bavarian version as well. They have two sizes to fill your craving, whether it is small at two dollars or large at four dollars.
New Golden Gate Restaurant
66 Beach Street Boston, MA 02111 Hours: 11am – 4 am
Smack in the middle of China Town, New Golden Gate Restaurant is the place to go to at night when you are feeling the urge for some Chinese grub. In such a historic and popular place in Boston, it can be hard to pick out the right restaurant in a sea of ones that look just like it, but give this place a try. Your insatiable hunger will be fulfilled with page upon page of food choices; it might be difficult to decide what to order. They have a variety of types of chicken and beef and a long list of seafood. Seasonally, they have lobster, crab, and steamed eel. The restaurant itself is large, with room for you and sixty of your closest friends. The tables aren’t cramped and although they are usually busy, it doesn’t get overly loud, so you can enjoy your meal in peace. It is family-style, with a turntable on each table, making it easy to share dishes with all of your loved ones. The prices are reasonable, ranging from eight to fifteen dollars, with seafood dishes a bit more expensive.
Must-Have Munchie: Fried Rice. Although fried rice is a staple in the Chinese food we eat all the time, the fried rice at New Golden Gate takes the crown. Forget the white rice and indulge in the fried, alongside some moo shi beef or Kung pao chicken. Seasoned well and cooked to ricey perfection, it complements anything on the menu. Add a little duck sauce to the mix and call it a night.
Stella Restaurant and Bar
1525 Washington Street Boston, MA 02118
Hours: Dinner: 4pm-11pm.
Late Night Dining: 11pm-1:30am. Bar: 4pm-2am
The South End has an endless supply of restaurants to offer – but not all of them have delectable high-end Italian food, pristine interior decorating, and fast service, all while staying open late into the night. But Stella’s Restaurant does. The food is the star aspect of this restaurant, as they have a never-ending list of menus – making it easy to get just what you want. They have everything from a Pre-Theater Dinner Menu to a Group Dinner Menu, so there is something for everyone no matter the occasion. They know Italian food, as chef and owner Evan Deluty offers innovative takes of classics, including desserts like cannoli and gelato. Their full bar allows you to pair any dish with the perfect wine and the atmosphere rounds out the experience. It’s not only an option for the night owls, either. They have a highly acclaimed Sunday brunch and serve a great breakfast and lunch throughout the week. Despite its elegance, Stella’s won’t deplete your bank account because nothing on the menu exceeds thirty dollars.
Must-Have Munchie: Pork Milanese with pomodoro sauce and buffalo mozzarella. For only nineteen dollars, you can enjoy this Italian favorite that won’t leave you needing a snack even later into the night. Really, what’s better than long, stringy cheese off the end of a fork full of pork smothered in tomato sauce?