Hungry Beyond Boston

Hungry Beyond Boston Authenticity Matters | Community First
Merrimack Valley based and searching for the best food beyond Boston. From pizza joints to fine dining.

Explore the valley with me!

08/26/2026

First frame makes me look absolutely chopped, but it’s officially FALL LAUNCH at Starbucks!

I know it’s still summer. I know this is basically the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of pumpkin season.

And honestly? Bring it ON

When pumpkin is back, EVERYONE wins.

There is nothing better than that first Pumpkin Cold Foam of the year. You can tell me it’s too early, tell me to enjoy summer, or roll your eyes at the pumpkin obsession.

I don’t care.

PUMPKIN IS BACK. FALL HAS ARRIVED.

Bill Gikas is doing it proper in the North Shore beef world, and the little nods to the culture are the perfect hat tip ...
08/25/2026

Bill Gikas is doing it proper in the North Shore beef world, and the little nods to the culture are the perfect hat tip to their over-the-top beef. The Andy Ferg acronyms on the napkin holders. The G*Y on the sandwich AND the wall. Absolutely incredible 3-way, but what really goes above and beyond is the hospitality.

Every table that was eating inside the restaurant had the owner stopping by, chatting with everyone, getting feedback, and doing it all with a huge smile on his face. You can tell he genuinely cares about what he’s putting out and the people coming through the door.

And the beef was incredible. The ratio, the temp, the flavor. Everything was dialed in. But what TRULY set it apart for me was the grilled bun crunch. And I’m not just talking about the inside. The outside gets toasted too. He’s literally flipping the lid of the grill to get that toast all the way around while still keeping the inside soft.

That is perfection on a bun.

It’s a little off the beaten path, but this one is WORTH IT.

I’ve driven past Kashmir Indian Cuisine,SalemNH in Salem, NH more times than I can count and somehow never stopped in. I...
08/25/2026

I’ve driven past Kashmir Indian Cuisine,SalemNH in Salem, NH more times than I can count and somehow never stopped in. It’s tucked along Route 28 and, despite passing it a million times, it’s surprisingly easy to miss.

The funny part is I’ve actually met the owners several times at food events, including the Taste of Southern NH, and they would always ask me, “When are you finally coming in?” Well, I finally did, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long.

One of my favorite parts of the visit was asking the owners what they would order. They pointed me toward the Basil Coconut Shrimp, which probably wouldn’t have been my first choice. That would have been a mistake. Jumbo shrimp grilled in the tandoori oven with coconut, fresh basil and coconut milk, and it was absolutely incredible.

The Tikka Masala Arancini were another surprise. Crispy rice balls packed with tikka masala flavor and served with mint chutney. Two things I probably wouldn’t have ordered on my own ended up being two of my favorites.

Sometimes it’s worth letting the people who know the menu best do the ordering.

Here’s what we had:

Mixed Appetizers | Garlic Naan | Chicken Tandoori | Basil Coconut Shrimp | Tikka Masala Arancini

Out of everything, it was the basil coconut shrimp that had us HOOKED, but the quiet star? The Arancini. Perfect rice balls stuffed with chicken tikka masala and fried to absolute perfection. Worth noting also that the mint chutney was killer. I would truly dip everything in it.

After all those years of driving by and all those invitations from the owners, Kashmir was definitely worth the wait. I won’t be waiting nearly as long for the next visit.

Amesbury Restaurant Week 2026 kicked off yesterday, and it is officially underway!Where are YOU going this week? 👀If you...
08/15/2026

Amesbury Restaurant Week 2026 kicked off yesterday, and it is officially underway!

Where are YOU going this week? 👀

If you haven’t made your plans yet, there’s still plenty of time to get out and experience the incredible restaurants, cafés, breweries, and food businesses that make Amesbury’s dining scene so special. From dinner and drinks to sweet treats and everything in between, there’s a little something for everyone.

Take a look at the participating businesses, check out their Restaurant Week specials, and make those reservations where needed. It’s a great week to try somewhere new or show some love to an old favorite.

A huge thank you to all of this year’s participating businesses and the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce for helping shine a spotlight on the amazing food scene:

BareWolf Brewing
Bubble Bar Boston on Main
Cider Hill Farm ~ Amesbury
CRAVE Brasserie & Wine Bar
Gametime Amesbury MA
Grind & Go Cafe LLC
Mac Daddies Amesbury
Nunami Bistro
Ovedia Artisan Chocolates
Phat Cats Bistro
RISEilience
Ristorante Molise
Scarlet Fire BBQ
Sweet Cheeks

Restaurant Week is underway. Now all that’s left to do is decide where you’re eating!

Sometimes a place gets a lot of social media hype, and you wonder if it is actually worth visiting or just an internet t...
07/21/2026

Sometimes a place gets a lot of social media hype, and you wonder if it is actually worth visiting or just an internet trend. Grind & Go Cafe in Amesbury goes completely in the opposite direction. Every bit of hype about this place is deserved.

The second you walk in, the space feels completely immersive. From the floral wall arrangements to the lighting and seating, every spot in the cafe looks great.

The owners, Chef’s Nick and Meg, initially found the space for their business, Kitchen to Aisle Catering. They moved their operation in and created this coffee shop. I was invited to an after-hours creative night where we got to try a ton of the menu, and every single item was amazing.

A few highlights we tried:
* Key Lime Pie Matcha
* Mango Sticky Rice Latte
* Pineapple Upside Down Chai Latte
* Holy Cannoli Latte
* Dirty sodas (which they had just launched)

We even got to go behind the scenes, pull our own espresso shots, and make our own lattes. I made a banana pudding latte and caramelized sugar right on top. They also let us help name the “Shipping Down to Boston” drink. I cannot take credit for the idea, but I would love to (shoutout to )

For food, I am not normally a pickle fan, but their “Big Dill” Crunchwrap was unbelievable. All of the small bites they offered were great.

Getting to sit down and chat with Nick and Megan was a lot of fun. If you have the opportunity to visit Grind and Go, make the trip. It does not matter how far away you are, everything they offer is worth it.

It’s National Hot Dog Day, and you know exactly what that means. A day of reckoning. Time to see how many glizzies I can...
07/15/2026

It’s National Hot Dog Day, and you know exactly what that means. A day of reckoning.

Time to see how many glizzies I can reasonably (or unreasonably) fit into one day.

I’m no stranger to double-fisting hot dogs, and these are a few of my favorites from around New England.

Today is the one day of the year when a hot dog should genuinely fear me

On July 16, downtown Lawrence welcomes Michael’s Bistro, the newest restaurant from Michael Agricola, owner of Salvatore...
07/14/2026

On July 16, downtown Lawrence welcomes Michael’s Bistro, the newest restaurant from Michael Agricola, owner of Salvatore’s at Riverwalk.

Michael’s Bistro Isn’t Just Opening a Restaurant. It’s Continuing a Legacy of Giving Back.

If you’ve spent any time around the Merrimack Valley, chances are you’ve already experienced Michael’s work, whether you realized it or not.

Over the past decade, Salvatore’s has become more than one of the region’s premier restaurants. It has become a place where nonprofits hold fundraisers, volunteers gather after serving the community, charities raise thousands of dollars, and local organizations know they’ll find a willing partner. From supporting organizations fighting homelessness and addiction to providing meals and event space for countless community initiatives, Michael has consistently invested back into the place he now calls home.

Now, he’s making another investment in Lawrence.

Michael’s Bistro represents a complete transformation of a downtown space. Inside, elegant chandeliers and warm finishes create an inviting atmosphere. Outside, the patio opens onto Lawrence’s colorful Art Alley murals, creating one of the city’s most distinctive dining settings.

When I asked Michael what he wanted people to feel walking through the door, his answer wasn’t about trends or fine dining.

“We want to provide a place everyone can come and not be bored with the food. Something on the menu for everyone.”

That same philosophy extends to his staff. His comment perfectly describes what anyone can appreciate about Michael. Hospitality, to him, has never just been about serving dinner. It’s about creating a place where people feel welcomed, whether they’re celebrating a milestone, attending a fundraiser, or simply grabbing a meal with family.

Lawrence is getting another beautiful restaurant on July 16, 2026 at 431 Essex Street.

More importantly, it’s getting another chapter from someone who has spent years proving that success and community involvement can go hand in hand.

📍 431 Essex St in Lawrence, MA

If you told me I had one last meal, this might honestly be the pick.The Blueberry Smashburger from The Tap Brewing Compa...
07/14/2026

If you told me I had one last meal, this might honestly be the pick.

The Blueberry Smashburger from The Tap Brewing Company in Haverhill is one of those burgers that sounds a little crazy until you take the first bite. A chorizo smash patty topped with blueberry bacon jam, garlic basil mayo, blue cheese, and arugula, all on a soft Fantini brioche bun. Every ingredient has a purpose, and somehow it all comes together perfectly.

Paired with an ice-cold Diet Coke, I don’t think lunch gets much better than this.

I’ve eaten a lot of burgers at The Tap over the years, and somehow they keep finding new ways to raise the bar. Creative without trying too hard, packed with flavor, and consistently one of my favorite places to grab a bite.

Elevated pub food, a laid-back atmosphere, and one of the best patios around. This is exactly why I keep coming back

This one hits a little differently for me. Years ago, my oldest son and his classmates at Gateway Academy started talkin...
07/03/2026

This one hits a little differently for me.

Years ago, my oldest son and his classmates at Gateway Academy started talking about something that seemed simple on the surface. How could they help bring fresh, healthy food to more people in our community? That conversation eventually grew into the Farm-to-Table food truck initiative.

They didn’t just talk about it. They wrote and sold a cookbook to help fund the idea, advocated for the program, and ultimately earned the Zakim Award in recognition of their humanitarian efforts. Watching a group of students take an idea and turn it into something that could genuinely benefit the community was one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a parent.

Yesterday, that vision took another huge step forward as Haverhill High officially took delivery of its new Hillie Food Truck. The truck will help bring free meals into neighborhoods, create real-world culinary and business experience for students, support the Farm-to-Table program, and become another way for Haverhill students to make a difference in their own city. If you take a look at the graphic on the truck, that is my oldest on the far right!

It took me until I was 27 years old to really understand the kind of impact I wanted to have on my community. Watching my oldest discover that purpose years earlier has been incredibly humbling.

I honestly can’t wait to see where he is when he’s my age.

This isn’t just a food truck. It’s proof that when students are trusted with big ideas, they can build something that lasts long after they graduate.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make this happen. Haverhill should be proud. Huge shoutout to EVERYONE that sent this to me!

Link to the original post in my bio!

On The Corner Grill at Harbor Place is officially serving lunch, and I couldn't wait to stop in and see what they were b...
06/30/2026

On The Corner Grill at Harbor Place is officially serving lunch, and I couldn't wait to stop in and see what they were bringing to downtown Haverhill.

The lunch menu is extensive, with everything from sandwiches and wraps to bowls, burgers, and appetizers. Even smaller portions of some of their dinner dishes. We each got our own entree and a app to split. The Turkey Club, the Italian, the Ahi Tuna Bowl, and an order of their Mozzarella Fritta.

The sandwiches were exactly what you want for lunch. Fresh, big portioned, and packed with flavor. The Ahi Tuna Bowl was a nice change of pace, offering a lighter option that still felt substantial.

The real surprise, though, was the Mozzarella Fritta.

Forget the typical mozzarella sticks. These are two massive, house-made mozzarella triangles, hand-breaded and fried until perfectly crisp on the outside while staying incredibly cheesy inside. They're the kind of appetizer that's made for the optional sharing

For those of us who work, live, or spend time downtown, it's exciting to have another quality lunch destination right at Harbor Place. With an expanding food scene along the waterfront, it's another great reason to spend an afternoon in downtown Haverhill.

Looking forward to working my way through the rest of the menu because there are still plenty of items that caught my eye.

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