Last Minute Valentine’s Day Guide – Boston

We recently released a Boston Valentine’s Day guide, but if you are reading that now it’s likely those places are all booked up. All hope is not lost though, as we have a few low key spots that won’t make it look like you booked your reservations last minute.

Mast

One of the best hidden gems of Boston, Mast can go head-to-head with any of the Italian restaurants in the North End. Started by an immigrant from Napoli, this place specializes in wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza as well as fresh pasta.

When you walk in, the large wood fire is front and center, so you know it’s going to be good. Another good thing is that the pizza here is light and airy, which means you can eat an entire pizza to your face without feeling like you want to curl up into a ball and die. The Margherita is a classic that you can go wrong with. The sauce used on this pizza is like crack.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, the wild mushroom with black truffle oil pizza has a unique earthy taste to it (in a good way).

Peka

Peka gives off heavy date night vibes. Whether you are looking for a candle-lit table or their colorful dining room, there’s a little something for everyone. Peka focuses on Latin food and has a large tapas menu which is perfect for sharing. The ceviches are light and refreshing, and a great way to start the meal. Another one of our favorites is the skirt steak, in which the Thai chili adds a kick to the juicy steak.

The drink menu features beverages from all across South and Central America. Our personal favorite is the pisco sour, which is a Peruvian drink featuring pisco and lime. You also can’t go wrong with the Peka margarita, which you can customize with a long list of flavor add-in’s

Brighton Bodega

Right next to Peka is another one of our favorite underrated spots. Brighton Bodega is always updating and pushing their menu to the culinary limits. The steam buns here are a must-try. They typically will have four different options, with the Nashville hot chicken and duck confit being the mainstays, and two other rotational buns. The buns are sweet and fluffy and the fillings are always fire. The Nashville hot chicken is fried to perfection and doused in a spicy hot sauce. Plus, the buttermilk ranch and homemade pickles are the “cherry on top.”

The menu at Brighton Bodega is truly dynamic and changes with each season. One thing you can be sure of is that you will enjoy whatever you order.

The bartenders here take pride in their craft, and just like their dinner menu, you can also expect a fresh drink menu every time you go.