Boston continues to dish up rave-worthy restaurants and bars—here are two new spots joining the ranks.
Willow & Ivy’s elegant, warm interiors
WILLOW & IVY
Since opening The Irving and Sweeney’s on Boylston last year, The Lenox hotel is completing its foodie trifecta this month with Willow & Ivy (lenoxhotel.com). The neutral-toned space, lined with light wood parquet floors, palladian windows and cascading greenery, serves up New England-inspired American cuisine. After grabbing a drink at the spacious bar, savor a feast of regional flavors by executive chef Daniel Kenney.
Delectable bites like oysters, harissa-rubbed chop and loin, spring lamb and lamb merguez sausage are sure to delight at Willow & Ivy.
Each dish is expertly prepared with classical yet modern French and American techniques to highlight local ingredients. Warm up with the Maine lobster pie, featuring cognac, sweet corn, parmesan potatoes and butter crumbs, or the orange blossom honey glazed duck breast, accompanied by grilled stone fruit, ginger carrots, peanut and Chinese five-spice crumble. Just be sure to order an in-house focaccia pie to share—the Calabrian chili pepper honey variety is sure to generate a few audible “yums.”
Enjoy cocktails like the Little Panda with tasty snacks such as Japanese peanuts with hot sauce and lime, pimento cheese and crackers, marinated olives and more.
TALL ORDER
With a lineup of creative cocktails, local brews and tasty bar snacks, stopping by this Somerville spot is no tall order. The approachable restaurant and cocktail bar, formerly the Thirsty Scholar Pub, boasts a familiar and lived-in feel—much like the neighborhood haunt you stop by for happy hour, drinks with friends or your favorite bites. Opened last month, Tall Order (@tallorderbar) comes from Daiquiris and Daisies’ founders Daren Swisher and Joe Cammarata, so needless to say, the cocktails are a treat.
The exterior of Tall Order
The menu boasts modern tipples like the Little Panda with dry vermouth, Fino sherry, Rhum J.M. agricole blanc, sirop de cane and lime. Beyond the cocktails are seven New England craft beers on draft, an old-world wine list and low to no alcohol drinks. Pair the sip of your choice with modern American cuisine by chef Juan Pedrosa: think bar snacks, small plates and entrees like marinated olives spiked with Calabrian chili and citrus or caramelized onion dip with salt and cider vinegar chips.
Photography by: COURTESY OF BRAND
