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Boston Bagel Guide – Part 2
There is nothing we crave more after a night out with friends than a good breakfast sandwich.
There are so many elements that go into making an elite BFS and these three spots check all of the boxes.
Three of our favorite bagel shops in and around Boston include:
Cafe Fresh Bagel (Dedham, Nedham, Framingham)
From the moment we walked in we knew that Cafe Fresh was going to be legit. The first thing we saw? Fresh eggs next to a griddle.
There are a whopping three freshly cracked and scrambled eggs in every breakfast sandwich. You won’t find any microwaved egg pucks in this kitchen. All the bagels are made fresh in-house. They are thick and crispy on the outside, but chewy on the inside– just like the ones you get in New York.
What puts these breakfast sandwiches over the top is the sausage they use. We were expecting your typical basic round sausage patties. But silly us– because at Cafe Fresh Bagel they were legit butcher quality sausages. The sausage was filled with peppers and other spices which added a kick and juiciness to the breakfast sandwich.
Rosenfeld’s Bagels (Newton)
This institution of a bagel shop has been in Newton Center for over 50 years slinging some of the best NY-style bagels around Boston. Tucked away in the bottom of a building, they are constantly cranking out fresh bagels throughout the day.
At Rosenfeld’s they keep it simple: you can get bagels, smears and lox. We loved the lox spread. It has chunks of nova lox in almost every bite. There are a variety of classic cream cheese flavors as well as white fish salad and tuna salad.
We love watching the entire bagel making process right in front of our eyes– from making the dough to watching them cook in the oven. It doesn’t get any fresher than here, and we loved the warm chewiness of the bagels
Gunther Tooties (Quincy, Plymouth, Foxborough etc.)
Gunther Tooties is taking over the breakfast sandwich game across the South Shore. These guys have a far more expanded menu than the other spots on our list. They also have specialty coffee, paninis, salads and baked goods.
The steak and eggs breakfast sandwich was bomb. It was loaded with shaved steak and caramelized onions. There was a lot of flavor going on, and we left full and ready to start the day.
Gunther Tooties makes their own bagels. We found them a bit denser than the other two spots on our list, but they still had that homemade quality that you won’t find in a supermarket bagel.
If you havent already check out our Boston guide to lox and part 1 of our favorite breakfast sandwiches guide!
3 Fall Weekend Trips from Boston
There is nothing better than fall in New England.
Who doesn’t love the crisp air, the leaves changing colors, and the fact that it’s still warm enough outside for just a sweatshirt? With so many places to explore in and around Boston, here are three spots worth visiting during one of your precious fall weekends.
Our Fall weekend trip recommendations:
- Tree House Farm Brewery – Woodstock, CT
- Fern Valley Farms – Wilbraham, MA
- Nashoba Valley Winery – Bolton, MA
Tree House Farm Brewery (Woodstock, CT)
It seems like every year Tree House adds a breathtaking new property. Tree House Farm Brewery is no exception. While it has been open for a few years already, it seems to be the most under-the-radar of all the locations.
Driving up to the farm takes you down a long, winding road, which during peak leaf season cannot be beat. The farm features a large barn where you can buy select beers (some only available here) as well as vegetables and other products grown on the property. Outside, there are plenty of chairs and picnic tables that overlook the pond and farmland. You can bring your own snacks, have a seat, and enjoy that clean fall air with a juicy Tree House IPA. Tree House’s beer needs no introduction. But if you are new here, the TL;DR is that they make world-class beers people travel from all over the world to experience.
Fern Valley Farms (Wilbraham, MA)
Apple picking is a right of passage during New England’s fall, and Fern Valley is straight out of a Lifetime movie. Located in the rolling hills of Western Mass, if you time it right you will be surrounded by fiery red, orange and yellow leaves as far as the eye can see.
After you fill up your bag with more apples than you know what to do with– you can then enjoy live music, food, and beer from a local brewery on tap. You can also bring your own food– we recommend some charcuterie with a beer or cider. Down the street from Fern Valley is Rice Fruit Farm, which you’ll know if you follow us, is one of our favorite places to get a breakfast sandwich or muffin top. This gem of a farm is well worth a day trip, and with so many other great places in the area you can really have a day enjoying fall in Western MA.
Nashoba Valley Winery (Bolton)
Some call Metro West “the Napa Valley of Massachusetts.” For the record, we aren’t one of them, but Nashoba Valley Winery is well worth a day trip. Located in the rolling hills of Bolton, MA it is the perfect escape from Boston city life. We recommend making reservations ahead of time so you can get a picnic table outdoors that overlooks the hills of the vineyard.
We like to think of ourselves as “beer snobs, but wine curious,” so take our opinion with a grain of salt. Despite living near Napa for a time, we acted more as a D.D. than a wine taster. Nashoba will fill your vineyard craving for a fraction of the cost (no flying to SFO, renting a car, driving up to wine country, and renting an Airbnb). It’s also less of a time commitment than driving out to Connecticut or Western Mass. They do have charcuterie boards and other food at Nashoba, but we recommend trying one of the many other local spots for a bite instead.
3 Must-Try Food & Drink Spots on Cape Cod 2025
Nothing says “Summer in New England” more than Cape Cod in July. With lobster rolls being sold on every corner, the lobster budget can get out of control quickly. It’s important that you get the most out of your summer trip to the Cape. In this article, we’ll share three of our top Cape Cod spots.
Our Cape Cod food & drink recommendations:
Sesuit Harbor Cafe (Dennis)
Cash-only. Picnic tables by the water. BYOB. This place checks all of the squares on our Cape Cod bingo card.
Sesuit Harbor Cafe is the one-stop shop for all your seafood desires. They specialize in a Maine-style lobster roll but also have whole lobsters, fried seafood and a full raw bar. This hole-in-the-wall spot is located in the back of Sesuit Harbor behind all of the boats and next to the dock. When you walk up to the shack, it’s almost guaranteed that there will be a line out the door. But don’t let that discourage you, because these guys can crank out 50+ orders an hour!
After putting in your order, you can sit on a picnic table and enjoy your beverage of choice. This spot is BYOB after all. We prefer to stop at Tree House in Sandwich to stock up on drinks prior because nothing goes better with lobster than a juice IPA.
The lobster rolls here are as meaty as you’ll find on the Cape. With a nice mix of claw, knuckle, and tail meat, you’ll get chunks of lobster in every bite. We also always get the chowder here. It is the perfect mix of “creamy, but not cement mix,” and it’s loaded with clams.
Beachcomber (Wellfleet)
If you’ve been to Southie or Seaport in Boston, then you have almost certainly seen a few girls with an oversized Beachcomber sweatshirt.
The Beachcomber is by no means a hidden gem, but it certainly deserves the hype that it gets. If it’s a nice weekend, then get there early because the parking lot can fill up before 9 AM. But don’t panic, there are other parking lots in the area which provide shuttles.
At the very top of a huge sand dune sits The Beachcomber. Here you can crush frozen drinks at the bar while overlooking the ocean. Our go-to is the mudslide with a floater on top. After a few of these, there’s nothing better than making your way down the sand dune to jump in the water.
The beach at the bottom of The Beachcomber is on the same side as the National Seashore. And since it’s Atlantic-facing, the water is a little chillier– but the waves are legit.
The food here is also great. With an expansive raw bar, something just feels right about crushing a tray of oysters. The fried calamari with its crispy crunch is also a great get for the table. When it comes to lobster rolls, they have a great “warm with butter” style roll. But with chunks of lobster this big, you’ll definitely need to wait 30 minutes before swimming.
PRO TIP: Make sure to bring your beach gear so you can spend the full day here.
Tree House Brewing (Sandwich)
Just over the Sagamore Bridge is Tree House’s Cape Cod location. Like any of the other properties owned by Tree House Brewing, this location is of the highest quality. Located right on the beach, this converted restaurant has stunning ocean views with some of the best beer in the world. There is a large second floor deck that overlooks the ocean, which is a perfect place to the catch the sunset. The complete top floor is inclosed in large glass windows, so even if the weather isn’t in your favor, you can still get those beach vibes while staying dry. And on the side, there is a huge patio which is a great spot to bring your pup.
If the name Tree House Brewing is new to you, check out our other articles singing their praises. But all you need to know right now is they have the best beer in the game. To make things even better, they also have their own distillery, so if you like fancy cocktails, you can enjoy those here as well.
When it comes to food, Tree House makes their own pizza and lobster rolls on-site. We can’t get enough of their hot honey sausage pizza as well as their vodka pizza, which features a vodka sauce base. This distinct sauce adds a twist to your classic cheese pizza. All pizzas here have a crispy charred bottom, while still maintaining a soft and doughy crust. The lobster rolls here are also top-tier. With three different styles, including “Tree House-style,” you can even get a lobster roll flight if you are feeling up to it.
We always make it a point to stop here early on any Cape Cod trip so we can load up on to-go cans for the week.
Date Night Guide To Back Bay – Boston
When it comes date night around Boston, Back Bay will always impress a date (and put a dent in your wallet). For an easy way to win brownie points, follow our date night guide to Back Bay below.
Pre-Dinner Cocktails – Pinky’s
Pinky’s has a fun, energetic atmosphere that will set the right vibes for your date night. The bright chandeliers, vibrant colors, and cozy mood gives us Miami vibes right here in Boston.
Cocktails are the main focus, and their menu features creative twists on all the classics you know and love. For us, the highlight was the marshmallow espresso martini. We’ve had espresso martini variations that take it over the top creating a sugary, creamy mess. This is not the case at all at Pinky’s. Their espresso was the star of the show, while marshmallow and caramel play a supporting role.
If you prefer your liquor brown, the smoked tobacco old fashioned is the drink for you. As unappetizing it sounds, these flavors really go well together, and the smokiness adds balance to the drink.
Dinner – Faccia a Faccia
From the restaurant group that brings you LIttle Donkey, Toro, and many of our other favorite spots around Boston, Faccia a Faccia brings coastal Italian to Back Bay.
Unlike typical American-Italian that will leave you needing a nap after the food, Faccia a Faccia’s fare is fresh and light. The grilled octopus had a tenderness that melted in our mouth and featured nice chunks of guanciale. Their homemade pasta was also top-notch. It had a chewiness that you only get from fresh-made pasta. The rigatoni were massive, which helped capture all of the sauce in the carbonara.
Also, the basement features a wine bar with natural wines which are perfect for a post-dinner drink.
Dessert – Contessa
There isn’t a better way to end date night than rooftop views of Boston. Contessa books out for months in advance, but if you are lucky enough, you can get a seat at the bar.
When we first went here we were just planning to stop in for a drink. But when the person next to us ordered a Boston cream pie, we knew we had to order it too. This decadent creation is a tower of cream, chocolate, and shaved chocolate with a cookie on the side. Each bite featured a layer of cream and thick rich chocolate. This is easily one of our top desserts in the city.
At the bar you can enjoy $20 cocktails which taste that much better with the view. Overall, Contessa is an experience that will impress any date, and works as the perfect end to any Boston date night.
Philly Cheesesteak Guide – Our Top 4 Spots
We recently spent some time in Philly, and naturally, we ate as many cheesesteaks as we possibly could. We went to some classics spots, some new-school spots and everything in between.
Below we’ve compiled our top 4, all of which are worth a visit!
Dalessandro’s (Manayunk)
When preparing for our trip, our buddy (a Philly local) recommended us Dalessandro’s. This was our first stop on the trip. Little did we know how popular yet divisive Dalessandro’s was in the Philly steak community. On an overcast Wednesday we got there around opening and were surprised that just a few minutes later there was already a steady line forming.
They say your first is special, and in this case they were right. We had the mushroom and caramelized onion cheesesteak with cheez wiz and hot peppers. The hot peppers are what really elevated this sandwich. They put the hot peppers at the bottom along the bun, so with every bite you got a spicy kick.
After doing some more research, we didnt realize that these guys were cheesesteak legends– which some still love and others think are past their prime. As a humble food blog from Boston we thought this place was top tier.
Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop (Fishtown)
Joe’s has a top tier cheesesteak, but this spot is a must try for a number of other reasons too. First off, we loved the 1950’s soda shop/diner vibes to it. We have a soft spot in our heart to that kind of Americana. Second, they have a full on pickle bar which features your classic peppers as well as banana peppers and cherry peppers. And finally, their milkshakes are the kind that you can only get at a legit diner.
But this is a cheesesteak guide, and their cheesesteak was one of the best we’ve had. We loved the way they chopped the steak up, as it wasn’t too thinly sliced. Apparently, according to cheesesteak snobs, they are one of the few spots around town using the “proper” cheez wiz on their steaks. Our only regret is getting the small– since we were trying to maximize our cheesesteak intake for the day.
Woodrow’s (South Philly)
While the first two spots we mentioned are institutions on the Philly cheesesteak scene, Woodrow’s is a newcomer who is changing up the game with their new take on this old classic. If you want a classic cheesesteak then this isn’t your spot, but if you want a top tier cheesesteak then you have to stop here.
The magic all starts with their homemade truffle cheez wiz. It is thick, cheesy, and decadent. For a small fee, you can be sickos like us and get some on the side to dip your fries and cheesesteak in. They also have a cherry pepper mayo which adds a softer kick than having straight pepper on there. The bread was extremely fresh and held up to the tall task of handling all the cheesy gooey-ness. The french fries here are also a must try. They remind us of a gourmet version of Five Guys fries. They are thick cut, soft, and warm in the middle while crispy on the outside. The perfect vessel to dunk into our side of cheez wiz.
Jim’s South Street (South Philly)
Jim’s is another legend of the cheesesteak game in Philly. The reason this was our least favorite on the list is the same reason others might love it. When it came to the cheez wiz, Jim’s was on the lighter side. The benefit of this is that it lets the other ingredients shine. But of course, the con is less cheese.
When it came to the steak itself, it was more of a ground beef texture than shaved steak– which again is personal preference. We loved the caramelized onions, peppers, as well as the roll. Size-wise this was an absolute beast.
At the end of the day Jim’s is still a top tier cheesesteak, but with so many great options we have to help you narrow it down.
Boston, MA Brewery Crawl Guide
Boston has a great beer culture and tons of awesome breweries. With so many great spots to try, we’re here today to present our own brewery tour of Boston.
In this guide, the brewery crawl will be broken down by section of the city– starting with Allston/Brighton and ending in the Fenway area.
Stop 1: Notch Brewery and Taproom (Brighton)
When you are on a brewery crawl, it’s a marathon not a sprint. In this case, it makes sense to start at Notch, which specializes in Czech and German-style pilsners and lagers. The beers here are light, crisp, and packed with flavor. There are German beer hall tables both inside and outside in the large courtyard located in the center of the building. In true Oktoberfest fashion, you can even get a full stein. We don’t recommend standing on the tables and chugging the entire stein like they do it over there– but to each their own. Notch is in Charles River Speedway, which houses a number of good spots for food, a hidden speakeasy beneath, and a sake bar. You could do your own bar crawl here without even leaving.
Stop 2: Widowmaker (Brighton)
Right down the street from Notch is the gothic, ski house-themed taproom of Widowmaker. This Braintree-based brewery now has a Boston location where you can try all of their absolute juice bombs. For the purest form of the New England IPA, look no further. Widowmaker’s hazy IPAs have intense flavors of pineapple, peaches, orange, and other tropical fruits. They also have an extensive fruited sour line called ‘Blender Ender’ which rotates quite often. Bone and Bread runs the kitchen here, slinging smash burgers and out-of-the-ordinary ramen. The birria ramen here is out-of-this-world. The rich stewed meat comes along with a taco to match. Another great one is the grilled cheese & tomato soup ramen, which takes the classic flavors that you know and love and adds an Asian twist. And for our last food recommendation, the grilled halloumi cheese provides an epic cheese pull.
Stop 3: Trillium (Fenway)
Just a short Uber ride away is Trillium’s Fenway location. With a large outdoor patio, this spot is especially great in the summer and is the perfect last stop on a brewery crawl before a concert or Sox game. Constantly coming in as one of the top breweries in the world, Trillium is on every beer lover’s bucket list. What started as one of the O.G. breweries specializing in the New England IPA, Trillium has since risen to the top in a variety of styles. Their stouts are rich, flavorful, and ever-changing. The ‘Daily Serving’ series is a killer take on the smoothie-style sours that seem to have to popped up everywhere. They even have an expansive offering in farmhouse-style saisons.
This also a great last stop because it is right near Fenway Park, The House of Blues, and MGM Music Hall. There is always a show, event, or game going on in this neighborhood. Also right next to Trillium is Timeout Market, a robust food hall that has everything from pizza and burgers to sushi and ramen. It’s not your ordinary food court.
And pro tip: you can even order food there and bring it right in to Trillium.
Ramen Guide Pt. 4 – Boston
We’re in peak soup season in Boston and our team has been hard at work finding the best ramen spots in and around the city for you to slurp your noodles.
When you’re done here, make sure to check out our previous guides for more of our favorite spots around town!
Redwhite Ramen (Back Bay)
If you have a friend who tends to show up late to events, then you might want to invite them early. This place fills up fast, and you can only be seated when your entire party is present.
When we first went to Redwhite we had our reservations because it was vegan. Not that we are are anti-vegan, but we love our meat. After visiting, our expectations were shattered. This may be the best ramen not only in Boston, but some of the best ramen we have ever had. We have no idea what they did to get the broth so rich and creamy.
After the first slurp we completely forgot this was meatless. The noodles were super chewy, which adds to the intense umami. The ginger curry ramen was super punchy, and it left a low-key burning feeling in our mouths long after the meal.
This ramen spot just goes to show, you have to get out of your comfort zone sometimes.
Totto Ramen (Somerville, Assembly Row)
Back in the day New York and Boston used to have a fierce rivalry. Nowadays, it seems we swap restaurants.
Totto Ramen was born in NYC and has made its way over to Boston– bringing over their chicken-based ramen broths and bao buns.
We started off with the fried chicken bao buns, and like all good bao buns they were puffy, light, and sticky. The sticky buns with the crispy chicken is a killer combo.
The chicken-based ramen broth reminded us of a fusion of chicken noodle soup and ramen. The wavy yellow noodles used here is our favorite style. The spicy ramen was on the tamer side of things which was fine for us.
When it comes to a basic, classic ramen this place hits the spot everytime.
Maguro (Brookline)
In Boston, we are lucky enough to have such a diverse Asian food selection that each restaurant is essentially its own standalone cuisine. A ramen spot will just have ramen, pho will just have pho, you get the picture…
This makes us wary when there are places that fuse more than one culture. All that being said, Maguro delivered on both the Japanese and Thai food.
The ramen here comes packed with ingredients. Not only do you get the typical chashu pork, but also ground pork, mushrooms, sweet corn, and much more. Plus, the spicy miso broth has a modest kick to it. Sometimes less is more, but in this case, the more the merrier.
From the Thai side, the crispy chicken pad thai is the way to go. It is everything that we love in a good pad thai– crunchy chicken, a mild peanut flavor, and addicting rice noodles.
BOSTON – Where To Impress Your Date On Valentine’s Day
Every year, thousands of Boston guys scramble to find a spot to impress their date on Valentine’s Day.
But in 2024, we have you covered with three dinner spots that will be sure to get you “BF of the year.”
Each of them comes in at a different price point, so we have you covered on any budget.
Davio’s (Seaport, Back Bay)
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, it’s hard to beat Davio’s, one of Boston’s premier steakhouses on the water in Seaport.
This northern Italian steakhouse is a step above the national chains like Ruth Chris and Del Frisco’s. Not only do they have great dry-aged steaks, but true to Boston form, all of their pasta is made fresh daily.
If you really want to ball out for your date, then we recommend the seafood tower, which boasts all of the freshest seafood from the area.
For us, when we visit a steakhouse, we’re getting steak.
At Davio’s, our steak of choice is a bone-in ribeye A.K.A. “the cowboy cut.” What’s unique about the dry-aged steaks here is that they are aged for 55 days– which is a bit longer than your average restaurant’s dry-age. This longer dry-aging creates a unique nutty, umami flavor that gives an added layer of flavor.
Overall, its hard to beat the vibes of being on the water in Seaport treating your date at a high-end restaurant.
Batifol (Cambridge)
There isn’t a more romantic culture than the French, so going to a French restaurant for Valentine’s Day is only fitting.
Batifol’s menu focuses on the French classics, but it’s varied enough that even the pickiest of eaters will be satisfied.
Their take on the classic French stew, beef bourguignon, is out of this world. The beef falls apart with the touch of a fork, smothered in a red wine gravy that is soaked up by mashed potatoes that are light as a cloud. We couldn’t recommend this dish more.
Their demi poulet is also another killer dish. It’s super juicy, packed with flavor, and features a nice crispy skin.
No matter what you get here, you (and your date) will be happy.
Boqueria (Seaport)
It seems like hot new restaurants are popping up in Seaport every week, and Boqueria is no exception.
This Spanish tapas restaurant in Boston is the perfect place to impress a date without breaking the bank. The sleek interior gives it a modern day vibe with classic elegance. Plus, what’s more romantic than splitting small dishes with your significant other in a dimly lit room while sipping on some wine?
With so many options, it can be hard to choose– so we’ll point you in the right direction.
The paella de marisco is a must-try.
It’s hard to do paella as well as they do in Spain, but the one here is as good (if not better) than some we’ve had there. The rice crackles and sticks to the bottom of the pan soaking up all the juices of the seafood. The verde sauce is fresh twist that brings the shrimp, squid, and the rest of the seafood to life.
The jamón here is fresh from Spain and is always a go-to for the table.
Our final rec from Boqueria is the octopus, which cuts like butter and melts in your mouth.
3 Killer Italian Spots in the North End
With what seems like an endless amount of Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End, not all pastas are created equal.
There are plenty of tourist traps you can fall victim to, but the three Italian spots we are talking about today are the real deal.
Florentine Cafe
You have probably heard of Carmelina’s, Strega, and Giacomos (a personal favorite), but right up there with the Hanover Street heavy hitters is Florentine Cafe.
We love their homemade pasta, which has a chewiness you just don’t get with boxed pasta. Both the fusilli and rigatoni are perfect vessels to help transport the array of sauces to your mouth. Their slow braised beef ragu is a hearty, rich sauce that is perfect for a cold winter night. The vodka sauce was also a fan-favorite, boasting a bold flavor with just the right touch of creaminess.
Vibes-wise, Florentine Cafe gives the quintessential North End feel that you’d expect.
The exposed brick, wooden bar, and small basement area with grapes hanging from the ceiling makes this a perfect spot for a romantic dinner.
After 10pm, you will start to see the crowd shift from dinner-goers to a younger bar crowd. In a city where espresso martinis are the drink of choice, the one at Florentine is top-notch. It has a delicate balance of creaminess from the Bailey’s, and that distinct coffee flavor, while still being extremely rich in texture.
Riccardo’s Ristorante
Riccardo’s has a true family-owned feel to it.
We sat at the bar just before the dinner rush and the manager himself was sitting at the end of the bar. He was enjoying pasta and chicken while shouting out commands. We asked what he recommended on the menu and he said the Costata di Vitello, A.K.A veal stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella.
This isn’t our normal order in the North End, but we’re happy we took the recommendation. The veal was tender and juicy, and the saltiness from the prosciutto played nicely with the port wine demi glaze.
The espresso martini was right up there with most of the best spots in the North End too. The pistachio martini was not what we were expecting at all, but we didn’t hate it. We were expecting a pistachio-flavored twist on an espresso martini, but what we got was a unique variation that is light, slightly nutty, and sweet.
For that mom-and-pop feel, Riccardo’s is definitely worth taking a trip off the beaten path.
Bricco Salumeria & Pasta Shop
Down a small North End alley, there is a pasta and sandwich stop which feels straight out of Europe.
The bread is all made fresh at the bakery next door, and the pasta is as fresh as can be.
The only thing not European about Bricco is their portion sizes. We stopped here for a sandwich, and with the size of their sub rolls, it felt like we ordered a whole baguette.
A lesser bread would have become soggy due to the sauciness of our meatball sub, but this homemade baguette stayed crunchy and firm even though it was overflowing with sauce. The meatballs were super moist and the entire sandwich was covered in melty provolone and sharp romano cheese.
We love grabbing a sub here and going to the end of the Greenway to “people watch,” or taking a walk to the other side of the North End to hang out by the harbor.
Roast Beef Guide to Boston Pt. 3
We’re back for our third installment on a North Shore region specialty: the “three-way” roast beef sandwich.
Check out our first blog to find out what makes a true “three-way” and learn all the lingo so you can order like a pro.
In this third installment, we have some of the biggest names in the North Shore beef game.
Jamie’s Roast Beef (Peabody)
It’s hard to choose a favorite spot from these three, but “gun to our heads,” if we could only choose one, it would be Jamie’s. The roast beef here is piled high, rare as can be, and packed with flavor– but that’s just table stakes to make this beef list.
The bun is one of our favorite parts of this heavenly creation. It is squished down and grilled, making it sturdy yet chewy– which is exactly what’s needed to handle the sauciness of the beef.
Many North Shore beef snobs will say the only way to get a beef is with mayo, James River BBQ sauce, and cheese. But we are more open minded. Jamie’s has a number of creative takes on the beef– all of which we loved.
The “Yoli” replaces the classic mayo with a garlic aioli, which adds a different flavor profile compared to the more neutral flavor of the mayonnaise.
Jamie’s also has robust fried chicken sandwich and sub menus. Everything on those menus is made with the same amount of care as the holy beef.
Tessi’s Pizza & Roast Beef (Tewksbury)
Tewksbury and North Andover is the mecca for beefs.
Tessi’s is always up there as one of the top dogs around. When we found out it was minutes from Tree House’s new taproom, it was a no brainer for us to make the trip. We got Tessi’s to-go to enjoy at Tree House while sipping a hazy IPA.
This beef gives a new meaning to “lost in the sauce.” Make sure to grab extra napkins, because this beef was dripping in James River and mayonaise. The tanginess from the BBQ sauce brought out the fruity notes from a Tree House fruit bomb.
Tessi’s checks all the boxes for an epic beef experience.
Anthony’s Roast Beef (Tewksbury)
Right down the street from Tree House is another heavy weight of the beef world, Anthony’s.
When it comes to meat, we have never had a sandwich more loaded. It was truly a struggle to get our mouths around this behemoth.
Anthony’s also wasn’t shy when it came to sauce, and we would have probably been in the same saucy mess as Tessi’s if we didn’t decide to eat it at the restaurant.
The rareness of the meat was on point. It wasn’t on the verge of bleeding, but there was still very little grey to be seen.
We were feeling adventurous when we saw a steak and cheese egg roll on the menu. And even though the beef itself was large enough to feed a small family, we went for it. The egg roll was a perfect appetizer to wet our beaks before the sandwich. It was oozing with cheese and shaved steak. The only thing that had use confused was the choice of marinara for a dipping sauce.