From Lebanese cuisine to beer-infused bites at a Kenmore rooftop, these are five Boston restaurants we’re excited to visit this July.
Summer is all about new opportunities and there’s plenty of culinary variety coming to town this month, from Lebanese spices to beer-infused munchies on a Kenmore rooftop to a reimagined, dozen-course chef’s counter experience in Cambridge. Below, discover where you’ll find us vying for a reservation this month.
Bey
There’s something very specific and special about Lebanese cuisine—both of which appear masterfully on display at Bey in the South End. The cold mezze classics of hummus (with specifically imported chickpeas), labneh (whipped yogurt with mint and garlic) and tabouli (a fresh salad of parsley, tomato, onion, mint, lemon and bulgur lightly tossed in olive oil) may initially draw you in but it’s the hot mezze where Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spices combine with local proteins that will entice you to return. Bright lemon, earthy tahini, spicy red chatta and smoky harissa are among the most prevalent flavors across beef and lamb sausages, black sea bass, crispy cauliflower and lamb chops (mezze starts at $15; entrees at $34). These distinctive flavors also show up on the cocktail menu in drinks like the Last Atlas; a bourbon based cocktail with Lebanese whisky and tahini or the Lemonana where lemon layers with mint, olive oil and gin. Wine enthusiasts will also appreciate the selection of small-production, Lebanese wines that really emphasize the sense-of-place here.
280 Shawmut Ave., South End
Now Open
Sam Adams Upper Deck
Hotel Commonwealth just debuted a new dining concept with one of the best views in town. Perched above Fenway Park in Kenmore Square, their new Sam Adams Upper Deck is a collaboration with the titled local brewery offering drinks, bites and a front row seat to all the summer happenings at America’s beloved ballpark. The outdoor space features lounge seating, a bar, cafe-style tables and chairs around fire pits and under a sun awning. Hotel Commonwealth’s Executive Chef Kevin Bowdidge has crafted a menu to match the draft beers and classic cocktails, including Boston-lager battered fish and chips ($30), a wagyu chili dog with crispy shallots and cilantro-lime crema ($30) and a BBQ bacon cheeseburger with Sam Adams reduction ($26). As part of a chef’s special, when guests order a bucket of Sam Adams beers between 3pm to 6pm, they’ll be treated to a complimentary dozen buffalo wings glazed in Sam Adams Lager. The Upper Deck will be open through October to include the tail end of baseball season, and there are rumblings of how they can transform the space into a winter hideout (stay tuned!). In addition to listening to the live concerts coming to Fenway Park this summer, Sam Adams Upper Deck will also host their own DJ sets on select evenings as well as the World Cup games on big screens…