I have a few favorite spots right now that I head to when I am in the mood for a quick bite or crunched for time and need a little nourishment.
- Bull McCabe’s– This is a really great spot during the week. It’s rarely crowded on a Monday or Tuesday night and has a cozy and cool vibe. Their burger time special is where it’s at. Anytime between 4 PM and 8 PM, your burger cost as much as the time. So, if you order a burger at 4:15. It costs you $4.15. Got me? The burger special applies to the No Bull Burger which is topped with lettuce, tomato, and onion and comes with a side of delicious fries. Chow down with a yummy cocktail or craft beer. My favorite drink is the Bees Knees and I like to try their rotating special cocktails as well. The Burger wait time is about 10-20 minutes.
- Whole Heart Provisions– This place makes every list of mine because the bowls here are that good. They offer signature bowls with set toppings like the Cassie or Mission Style made with veggies like roasted broccoli, smashed cucumber, edamame, Brussel sprouts, red cabbage slaw, sesame crunch, and topped with dressing like the orange miso and the creamy harissa dressing OR you can build your own by choosing a base and adding veggies, crunch, and dressing from there. It’s busier these days so I tend to order online for a quick pick-up and take it home. They do have some tables and bar stools as well if you can’t wait the 20-minute commute home to chow down. Wait time is 10-15 minutes. If you order ahead, you can time it through the ChowNow app so you don’t have to wait at all.
My favorite build your own bowl combination:
Base – Brown rice and quinoa pilaf
Veggies– Roast Broccoli, Japanese style eggplant, chickpeas, and shaved Brussel sprouts
Crunch– Peanut Crumble
Dressing– Spicy Peanut
- Wrapture– Really great spot on the North Shore with some really tasty grab-n-go sandwiches. Everything on the menu, including the bowls, can be made into a wrap or vice versa (wraps can be made into bowls). Everything is reasonably priced and everything I’ve had to date has been awesome. Some noteworthy options include the chicken kabob wrap, curry stir fry in a bowl or a wrap, and the sautéed vegetables wrap made with raw broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, and cauliflower topped with a tahini dressing. Wait time is usually 5- 10 minutes.
- Punjabi Dhaba– Do you have an overwhelming craving for Indian food that needs to be satisfied like now? Well, this Cambridge joint is your place for an Indian feast. Served on lunch trays, your meal won’t cost you more than $12 and will leave you full for days. Chicken Mushroom Masala served with rice and naan and Vegetable Biryani made with mixed vegetables, raisins, and cashew nuts are my favorites but the menu is extensive and offers up plenty of options for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Wait time is usually 10-15 minutes.
- La Victoria – In my opinion, they have the best burritos in Massachusetts. SO good. La Victoria is a cute little storefront off a side street in downtown Beverly. Within minutes, you can have your hands on a humongous burrito filled with your choice of marinated chicken, pork carnitas, Mexican sausage, steak, vegetables and even beef tongue if your down for that, with Mexican rice, beans, and pico de gallo all wrapped in a flour tortilla. Other menu items include tacos, tortas, and the Mexican plate. The tortas are also a huge hit here. Some torta options include the El Chavo made with smoked ham, the Al Pastor, and Milanesa served with a breaded chicken fillet. All tortas are made with telera bread and can be stuffed with bean puree, tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, queso, avocado, lettuce and smeared with chipotle mayo. Prices are reasonable, portions are large, and the flavor is real. Wait time tends to be 10-15 minutes.