I know what you’re thinking….more snow!? I’m right there with you. This winter has been anything but pleasant for yours truly. After so many years of braving Boston winters, I consider myself fairly patient (thanks to wearing by North Face down coat + snow boots at all times), but this winter has been tough. If there’s a silver lining, it’s this photo of the Back Bay. At least the city looks beautiful in the snow. Fingers crossed that this will be our last snowstorm!
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It’s almost comical writing about late night eats in Boston, simply because to most the city is not perceived as a late night kind of town. Despite bars and restaurants closing earlier than in cities like New York, there’s still an appetite for late night eats beyond stumbling over to Chinatown or ordering takeout pizza. One restaurant catering to the city’s late night foodies is Uni, Ken Oringer’s sashimi bar in The Eliot Hotel. Every week on Friday and Saturday night, Uni serves up a late-night ramen menu, complete with hearty bowls of noodles, plus sides like steamed pork buns, roasted shishito peppers, and more.
Although the menu is written up each week on a piece of cardboard (see left) and subject to change , I found out during my two visits that there are a few ground rules you have to abide by if you want to enjoy late-night ramen:
- If you are visibly drunk or rowdy, you will be turned away. Clio and Uni are upscale establishments, so if you’ve hit the bottle a little too hard, go to Chinatown or order takeout instead. (And, no, this didn’t happen to us, but we saw it happen to another group)
- Be prepared to wait in line. Late-night ramen has a cult-like following and Uni is very small. This is a better experience for groups of four or less.
- All people at your table MUST get ramen. I found this a bit bizarre, as there are a number of phenomenal side dishes on the menu (e.g. Steamed pork buns are heavenly). Ramen is $10 per bowl, so why not require a $10 per person minimum order if tables/seats are in high demand?
- You can’t take your ramen home with you (sadface). I found this out the hard way during my visit. I couldn’t finish my ramen and would have liked the option to bring it home.
- The ramen is very salty – yummy, but salty. Enjoy a bowl of it late night, but make sure you drink a lot of water if you’re sensitive to salt like I am.
All in all, I really enjoyed trying out the late-night ramen menu at Uni, but not sure how frequently I’ll go back. The ramen was good, but a little too salty for me to enjoy late night. If they change their policy to just require a $10 per person order, I could see myself there more frequently. Those steamed pork buns were a home run for my late-night food cravings.
Unfortunately, it was too dark to snap good photos, but a quick search on Flickr showcases some lovely images of Uni’s late-night ramen. Sadly, they’re not creative commons licensed, but check ’em out here.
Uni is located inside the Elliot Hotel at 370 Comm. Ave. in Boston’s Back Bay.
I’ll let you in on a little secret – Clio has some of the best bartenders in the city. Ok, so perhaps that’s not so much a secret as it is the truth. Clio is one of my go-to’s when I want to catch up with a good friend during the week (weekends tend to be too busy). Tucked inside the Eliot Hotel in the Back Bay, the space is small, but well-appointed. There’s a massive drink menu to read through, or you can turn to one of the friendly bartenders. Simply describe your favorite flavors, spirits, etc. and they will make you a personalized cocktail. And by personalized, don’t be surprised if you see ice cubes made of beets or honeydew melon, or a random tool procured to muddle or torch various ingredients right in front of you.
Although I’ve enjoyed many different drinks at Clio, I do adore the Pimms Cocktail. It’s refreshing, has fresh fruit and instantly transports me to a tropical beach. Which, as we’ve seen with this terrible weather, is a gift in itself!
Clio is located at the corner of Massachusetts Ave and Commonwealth Ave. inside the Eliot Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay.
If you haven’t been to Highball Lounge yet – you should! Tucked inside the Nine Zero Hotel (a Kimpton property) on Tremont Street, Highball Lounge is the perfect mix of upscale and good old fashioned fun. The interior is upscale yet cozy, with modern features and a mix of classic games like Jenga, Connect Four, Uno and Twister. The theme also extends to the food and drink menus, from classic highball cocktails, to the adorable #DuckieRose, a blended wine cocktail which comes complete with a mini rubber duckie! If you’re feeling especially naughty, try the tater tot nachos. They are just as delicious and decadent as they sound!
Highball Lounge is located at 90 Tremont Street in Boston, MA.
As this photo proves, there’s even beauty in a grey day. Snapped during a walk from Kendall Square to the Back Bay, I love how the pop of color from the boats perfectly compliments the shades of grey.