With summer unofficially here, patio season is certainly officially here! This week we share our favorite Boston & Cambridge patios as well as speak with a special guest. We interview Mario Carbone, the founder of Major Food Group, all about his newest restaurant, Contessa, at the Newbury in the Back Bay in Boston. 

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Transcript:

JQ: Are loving patio season we are. This week, we’re discussing our favorite Boston patio’s.

Juliana: This is Travel Babies. We’re just two sisters trying to travel the world in style, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. Each week we talk about important travel topics to help you decide when, where and how to explore the world in style. I’m Juliana from Travel with Juliana, a professional travel blogger from Boston,

JQ: and I’m Jqlouise.com. And I’m also a professional travel writer, blogger and influencer, also from Boston. Combined, we have over 200000 followers across our social media platforms and we love sharing our travel tips and tricks with you all before we get started. Don’t forget to subscribe and give us a review. If you enjoy our podcast, it really helps us a lot.

Juliana: We’re so excited to see so many restaurants creating some gorgeous patios. This week we are talking about all of our favorite patios in the Boston area and we can’t wait to share them with you all.

JQ: OK, so let’s start in Cambridge, actually, because I know there’s so many cool places there and I know you are the expert on Cambridge restaurants, so why don’t we start there?

Favorite Cambridge Patios – Source Restaurant

Juliana: Yeah, I mean, I think so many have kind of pop up recently, obviously with the weather getting nicer and, you know, with covid, it’s a perfect time to still do outdoor dining and I just love it. So first on our list is source in Harvard Square. So we I got to go like in it was still cold out. So it was like, I don’t know, maybe February or March. And I’ve been there so many times since then and it’s basically like, I don’t know, I would call it like luxury pizza because it’s so good, it’s so affordable.But it’s like if you just want really good pizza and that’s what you’re craving, like go to source.

JQ: And I love sauce because it’s a new place in Harvard Square. And I feel like we’ve heard about so many restaurants closing in Harvard Square. So I’m so glad to see some new and exciting places open up there because I mean, I love the area and actually the corner that they’re on Church Street is right across from the original border cafe location. And I was so sad to see them close. So I’m so excited that sources there and honestly, they have kind of a similar atmosphere that I remember from like, you know, five or ten years ago at Border Cafe, where it’s like a fun, accessible restaurant. Like the pricing is great for anyone, but the food is high quality in their patio. It’s perfect for the summer.

Juliana: Yeah, exactly. And I think because of the fact, like it’s in Harvard Square, obviously, it’ll get a lot of the Harvard students at MIT. But it’s also like it’s just a fun spot for anyone like adults. It’s you know, I actually went there a couple of days ago and, you know, I went with like a group of friends and we just had such a fun time. And, yeah, the patio is really super cute, too, because Church Street is like it’s right near the T, but it’s like right off of Mass ave. So it’s quiet, like you can really enjoy yourselves and yeah, I just love it. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

JQ: I know I love church state because it was always like the funky corner of Harvard Square. And I think sauce was a perfect addition to the whole scene because, you know, it’s a place that you can go on a weeknight, on a weekend, you know, with friends, you know, like on a date, like it’s perfect for pretty much anything. And it is one of those places that you want to keep going back to because, you know, it’s pizza and pasta and really nice dessert.

Juliana: So, yeah. So it’ll like never go out of style basically. And actually one other kind of fun fact about it is everything is like really local. Like I remember the first time I went and I was we were just chatting with the owner and he was saying like everything is basically as close as they can get it to source  like the butcher comes in once a week. They pick out their meats. It’s really local. All the veggies. You just know everything’s fresh. And with that being said, it’s still super affordable, which I love, too. So, you know, you can go there with a group of four people and it’s like, I don’t know, I think we paid like around fifty bucks each and we got like a ton of food and drinks. Yeah, it’s a great option. Yeah.

JQ: Great option. Like fun atmosphere and a great menu.

Cambridge Patios – Dial

Juliana: OK, so let’s move on to our next recommendation, which is the deal which is actually part of the ninety seven Main Street Hotel in Cambridge. So also kind of in Central Square, really easy, you know, accessible from the T and so their patio. Actually you and I went together for the first time I think. And that was how we how we, you know, sort of found it. It’s kind of like tapas style and, you know, the patio I love the patio itself because it’s kind of like enclosed.

JQ: Yeah. It’s kind of like a courtyard.

Juliana: Yeah, exactly. And it’s like the inside really cool too. But I love going on the patio, like even when it was cold. I think you and I went there in the fall and I’ve been there since the heat lamps were so cozy. Yeah. Like I think honestly even when it’s unless it’s like really, really cold in Boston, you can sit outside there and just have a blanket, have the heat. And it’s really enjoyable,

JQ: and I think their menu is a perfect patio menu because it’s an international menu, so there’s a few different flavor profiles and they’re tapas style of dining, really let you try a few different things. Like I remember we had like a Jamaican jerk chicken as well as like, you know, a Southeast Asian dish. And there’s like a few different things. And it’s normally you wouldn’t think that these flavors would all be cohesive in a menu. But the way they do it, it works really well. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

Juliana: They really make it work. Yeah, I was just going to say, like, one of my favorite snacks there that they have is just like a popcorn and it’s like with curry and coconut oil, it just it’s so good. And every time I go there, I get it. And then the other drink I wanted to mention was the peanut old fashion. They it actually comes with peanuts on the side. And it’s just like a really cute, like little unique drink. And, you know, Pierre-Luc loves this old fashioned, so he’s always trying different ones at any restaurants we go to. And I feel like that’s a really you know, it’s a cool highlight.

JQ: Yeah, I know such a cool hotel and I cool hotel and restaurant. And I think it’s a really it’s fun to go there because it feels like an authentic Cambridge experience where it’s kind of funky, very international and, you know, but also casual at the same time.

Juliana: Exactly. I mean, you can kind of like it could be a sort of like a celebratory place or just a casual, like, weeknight dinner, too. Yeah. And I think also they have a lot of beers like on draft. So I think that’s also like one of their big things, like they have a ton of different beers too. So if that’s your thing too, it’s a great spot for that.

JQ: Yeah, exactly. And I think it can really hold up to a lot of the other restaurants in Cambridge that have been around longer that have these big, you know, craft beer and craft cocktail menus. I think, you know, this is an exciting place to go for people who are really, you know, who love those types of things.

Juliana: Yeah. And honestly, like, every time I go, it’s always crowded, even if we go during the week. So I feel like people are really enjoying it. It’s like I said, it’s a great location. MIT, Harvard, students, adults. I think it’s. Yeah, it’s really cool. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

JQ: Awesome. All right. Well, let’s do one more in Cambridge than I know we both love season to taste.

Season to Taste

Juliana: So this is like been one of my favorite places for since we first went like last summer. Like you and I first went in the beginning of the summer last year. And since then I’ve gone I’ve made sure to go like every season because they obviously change their menu every season. It’s extremely seasonal, like local products, very fresh. And I just I’ve never had anything I didn’t like I did I didn’t love, honestly.

JQ: Yeah. I mean, I think their menu is just they’re so on top of it. I mean, it’s so seasonal. I feel like everything is there for a reason. Like nothing feels out of place. And that’s one of my biggest pet peeves on menus, is when there’s like, you know, some oddball item on there that just doesn’t make sense. But season to Taste is on the other end of the spectrum, where everything fits perfectly together. It fits with the season. And then once you start trying the dishes, the flavors are so delicious, but also super fresh.

Juliana: Yeah. And I think like my one tip there to any of the food you get is going to be amazing. But so we actually went there for Pierre-Luc’s birthday like not long ago and we had always gotten like a few snacks, a few appetizers and each an entree. In this time we pretty much just ordered all the snacks and all the appetizers and that was our dinner. And it was so good, like the snacks. So basically the olives and the pickles, they, like, give you like big sizes of them. So if you go with a group or just a couple, then you’re definitely going to like get your fair share, which I love. And then any of the apps too, like you just get a great opportunity to try a bunch of different things. And like JQ said, nothing feels out of place.

JQ: Exactly. And I love their actual patio. They did such a creative job with it. They kind of made it like private cabana style, where each group has their own little private, like covered, separated area, which was obviously very covid friendly. But it also was just an exciting take on a patio where it just wasn’t a street patio like so many other restaurants did. I think they did a really nice, tasteful job with it, but it also made it feel high end. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

Juliana: Yeah, exactly. So season to taste is like right in Davis Square. And, you know, like Jaclyn said, it did feel like very private. And just because it’s like it’s on the street. Right. So you could just have like tables and that’s it, which a lot of places do. But they did like really do find a creative way to make it more like sort of high end and just intimate and. Yeah, more like cater to the individual experience.

JQ: Exactly. And I mean, they’re indoor dining. The table at season to Taste is has always been known for super fine dining where it’s only a taste. Menu, very chef driven where it’s, you know, kind of a classic tasting menu where you’re trying some really cool, you know, funky dishes that have, you know, high end ingredients. And I think they brought, you know, elements of that out to the patio, but they were able to transform it into this more, you know, kind of fun, casual patio, outdoor setting. So, again, it just fits so well.

Juliana: Yeah. And I think the going back to like the actual food, I think it’s just like simple ingredients just so well executed, like the way they have the flavor combinations. And then also I just think that their service is like really good. I feel like they’re always really attentive, you know. I know with covid it can be hard too if you’re understaffed. And I just feel like any time we’ve gone there, which is in the past year or so, always turn covid the service has always been really great. So yeah, I highly recommend it. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

Favorite Boston Patios – Para Maria at the Envoy Hotel

JQ: Yeah, definitely recommend all of those Cambridge restaurants. But let’s head over to Boston. We have lots to talk about in Boston as well. So let’s actually start with one of our favorites. And this was, you know, you typically think of their rooftop, but I want to talk about their patio as well. So the envoy hotel in the seaport has always had an amazing rooftop. Honestly, they’re one of Boston’s first cool rooftops that opened a few years ago. And, you know, Chef Tatiana, she’s one of our favorites. She does an amazing job of bringing in influences from her own culture and background as well as, you know, just international cuisine. So we’re big fans of hers and big fans of Envoy. But recently she actually just opened a pop up on the patio on the ground level called Para Maria. And it’s a really cool pop up, perfect for summer. It’s all about tacos, ceviche margaritas and just kind of lots of fun, you know, kind of shareable dishes and kind of quick bites with nice drinks. It’s a really fun pop up. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

Juliana: Yeah, I love that Tatiana is sort of bringing, you know, to some of the stuff that she likes best, like the dishes that she knows so well. And it’s really like been so creative with it. She’s just super talented because I feel like anytime we’ve ever got to envoy that dishes are always just like so well presented and of course, delicious. So that’s definitely a great spot.

JQ: Yeah. In this pop up, we’ll be running like all summer. And I think, you know, they have some other things up their sleeve for later on. But, you know, the patio at Envoy was, you know, honestly a little underutilized pre covid because the rooftop was so popular and, you know, the lobby level restaurant was so popular. So I’m so glad they’re really, you know, re concepting the patio. I think it’s a perfect fit. And as everyone’s really starts coming back into Boston this summer, I know it’ll just be the coolest spot.

North End Patios

Yeah, I just love Envoy and Tatiana. She’s great. OK, so our next recommendation for Boston is just the north end because obviously last year the patio’s really came to life in the north end. And it was a great way for some of these restaurants to still open, you know, at some capacity and not just completely be closed. And so I think some of our favorites are Bricco, Mare and Mama Maria. Um, so what do you like about them, Jacqueline?

JQ: Yeah, I mean, the north end, honestly, I think they really hit the ground running when it came to Patio’s last year. I mean, just the neighborhood really lends itself to this outdoor dining, European style patio just in the streets. I mean, it just made so much sense. And it’s crazy thinking back. It’s like there were none of those before. I can’t even believe it. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

Juliana: I can’t even remember when it didn’t used to be like that, honestly. So I’m so happy that that became such a big it’s just so fun. And obviously, last summer, you know, things with covid were still pretty bad and everything was way more uncertain than it is now. And it was just such a sort of like light at the end of the tunnel.

JQ: Exactly. No, I just I’m so excited about all the patios in the north end and just the patio culture there now. It’s so much fun and there’s so many options depending on what you like. But yeah, some of our favorites like Bricco, I mean, they have the amazing espresso martini along with their pasta, like such a great choice, Mare, you know, for some awesome seafood. And actually their patio is different because it’s off the street like they always had a patio.

Juliana: Yeah, I love the Mario patio. I mean, I love Mario in general, but because the inside part is pretty cool, too. But the outdoor is like, you know, kind of covered. It’s again, it’s like a little bit more intimate and it’s just really like the North End is such a fun neighborhood. You know, when they started with all these patios all summer, the first thing we thought of was like, oh, this feels like way more like Europe then than any place in Boston ever. So I think I really like that mentality of just like having little tables where you know, you can just chill. If you want to do a full meal, you can just get. Grab a quick coffee or something. No, I just love the atmosphere in the north end. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

JQ: Yeah, it’s so fun, so lively. And I just remember last summer is one of the few places where it did feel lively and fun while still being outside. So such a treat. You know, any time we get to go to dinner in the north end and another of our favorite places is Mama Maria. I mean, they just really set the tone in terms of fine dining in the north end. I mean, they do an amazing job with all of their fresh pasta and just well executed dishes. I really like it because, you know, unlike many of the other places, I think they tend to pull from different regions of Italy than many of the other restaurants in the neighborhood. So it’s a nice change of pace in their patio in North Square. It’s just beautiful and like so magical. Honestly, at night it is really pretty.

Juliana: The patio I love, like the street that it’s on to, it’s just really pretty with, like, all the cobblestone in the north end is just a gorgeous area of Boston. So, you know, the restaurants that are there, I think that they can really use that to their advantage of just like setting the atmosphere. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

JQ: Exactly. And there’s just so much work for everyone. Like, again, there you can have, you know, a casual weeknight dinner. You can go out for drinks with friends on the weekend. You can have a romantic dinner. I mean, there’s really something for everybody and every type of meal that you’d want to have in. Again, I think it’s also a place that’s very family friendly because there’s so many different options. You know, if you have kids or whatever, you can really find something that works for you in the north end. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

Interview with Mario Carbone

JQ: And this week, our special guest is Mario Carbon, the founder of major food group who is opening their first location in Boston, Contessa at the Newberry Hotel in the Back Bay. Awesome. Well, thank you for joining me, Mario. I really appreciate it. And I know today’s opening day at the at the hotel, so I know you must be very busy today.

Mario: Yeah. You know, putting the last finishing touches on everything, but, you know, it’s exciting. Good energy.

JQ: All right. Well, I guess to kind of kick things off, I’d love to hear about, you know, what it was like, you know, opening a new restaurant in a new city for your group.

Mario: You know, the pandemic is a challenge that’s not unique to us. Obviously, it’s a challenge that’s been put in front of every single person in every single industry in the world. And, you know, for us, you know. An opening is a moment of great excitement, great momentum, positivity, so it’s met on my end and our on our teams end with huge enthusiasm. So it’s a it’s a departure from the struggle that’s been in the last 12 months or so.

It’s a wonderful thing. And it’s a great way to energize not only the team here on the ground in Boston, but my company as a whole.

JQ: That’s awesome. What were some of the things that your team has had to do to adapt? What was it like really working with the team at the Newberry in conjunction with all of the, you know, the guidelines and just the new way of doing things these days? What were some of those things that your team needed to do to pivot to, you know, make things work?

Mario: We’ve been doing nothing but pivoting for the last 15 months now. I think we recognized pretty early on during the during the pandemic that it was going to take real nimble action, quick, concise pivoting to move the ship in the right direction and find pockets of momentum for us to continue to move forward. So for that, you know, for us, you know, obviously a huge pivot was really building. Big in South Florida, we quickly recognize that that was a market that was going to stay open, that there was opportunity for growth there for us, and we sent a large contingency down to South Florida and we started immediately building there because we knew that New York was going to be on a pause for quite some time. So that was our first really big pivot. And then throughout the whole thing, you know, we’ve had this project here at the Newbury in the works for quite some time. And certainly it was slowed down construction wise and building through the pandemic. And that was just, you know, small in the grand scheme of things, unfortunate sacrifice that needed to be made. But we were all we all stayed positive about it. We knew that we were building something great and that we were building it for the long haul so that we were willing to wait for the results that we were hoping for. And just walking the building the last couple of days of being here, it’s absolutely stunning. You know, I think we. You know, we did the right thing and we waited and built that right and exactly the way we all talked about vision. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

JQ: Excellent. So I. I actually live down the street, so I’m so excited to see the restaurant and see the hotel. I mean, it’s something that, you know, this area has really needed. So, I mean, I’m personally very excited about it. And I know as it was. Yes, I’m sure. I’m sure. And, you know, this is an interesting week because yesterday we just had those announcements from the state that, you know, things will be fully opened back up by the end of the month. So, you know, how’s your team reacting to that? I’m sure they’re very excited. What’s the team really looking forward to heading into summer here in Boston?

Mario: I think it’s just another boost of enthusiasm around you. Everyone was pretty excited and pumped up about just opening day open to, I guess, opening the street bar again in room dining. Just having activity here was already really exciting. And now the announcement that it’s really going to be, you know, pretty much go time. By the end of the month leading into June and the summer season, we’re just building on tremendous momentum here and positivity not just here, but across, you know, what we all believe is across the across the country. But it’s palpable here. People are out. The weather’s beautiful. The hotel was open and it feels amazing.

JQ: Awesome. So what are some of your favorite parts of the restaurant? Are you sure? There’s lots of things. But could you just maybe tell me about some of the things that guests can look forward to when they get to visit the restaurant?

Mario: Will Contessa’s still a few weeks away? We’re opening in room dining and the street bar first let the hotel get its legs as we finish the last final details on Contessa. But, you know, I was up there for most of my day yesterday. I think it’s one of the most beautiful restaurants in the country. It’s absolutely stunning. Another masterpiece by Ken Fulk. You know, its indoor outdoor. It’s a rooftop. It’s absolutely glamorous. It’s everything you’d hope the main restaurant of this beautiful hotel with a body. But it’s unlike anything I’ve really ever seen. It’s really beautiful. And, you know, some of my favorite details of it, I think the floor, I think, for everybody is really the first thing that you recognize. This mosaic tile floor that Ken did is absolutely stunning. The views of Boston are pretty unparalleled. The fact that the glass opens up and you can get on a day like yesterday and today, beautiful warm, fresh air while you’re dining. It’s going to be a pretty, pretty unbelievable restaurant. And I can’t recall the last time I’ve been in anything quite like that.

JQ: Amazing. And, you know, I can’t really think of another place in Boston that has anything like that. I mean, with, you know, being on a rooftop with the indoor outdoor, the views. I mean, you know, I’m so excited to visit. And I think, you know, that’s just the thing that we all needed, especially after the year that we’ve had a you know, to have a glamorous place to go again. I think it’ll be just amazing.

Mario: I couldn’t agree more. I think this is where hopefully the city comes to celebrate what feels a little bit like the end of prohibition.

JQ: Exactly. I mean, I’ve been in I’ve been downtown for most of this. I mean, I’ve been lucky enough to travel a little bit here and there, you know, throughout the pandemic. But it’s been tough being in a city like Boston during this whole thing. So, you know, I’m very excited to see things opening up and to see new places coming to the city with this. Awesome. So, you know, I know Contessa’s a few weeks away, but, you know, are there any dishes or drinks on the day that are coming to the menu that you’re particularly excited about? Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

Mario: Well, it’s you know, it’s a whole new restaurant for us. So, you know, unlike, you know, some of the stuff that we’ve been doing in Miami or in Dallas, coming. This is a this is a completely new project for us. So that makes every one of these dishes new, which is really, you know, it’s that nervous excitement of the first Time, it’s also the first time that we’ve ever served pizza in any restaurant, so there’s a lot there’s a lot that I’m excited about. It’s a it’s a first of its kind for us. It’s very much, in my mind, sort of the northern answer to what is very much the southern cuisine that is carbonne. So it’s very much it’s inverse, which is which is exciting to do and exciting to make. I always love a challenge of something new and I really enjoy the process of writing this menu and developing.

JQ: And I guess for the time being, while the hotel is just opening and they’ll be doing the inn room dining. And could you tell me a little bit about that? You know, what’s on the menu

Mario: In room dining for me is something that I don’t as a as a consumer, as a lover of a hotel and a consumer of a lot of room dining. I don’t want that place. I don’t I don’t want my room service fussed with. But I want high level execution of the classics, so what you can find from our dining menu is everything from a beautiful Cobb salad to a perfect turkey club to a great burger and fresh fries, things that I would expect from a hotel like this and I and the execution at the level that it should be. That’s that that was my goal with the room service and room dining menu is classic, classic. Classic executed at the highest level.

JQ: Got it. Yeah. That makes that makes total sense. I mean, you know, when you are, you know, when you’re in a hotel and you are ordering room service, I mean you’re ordering it because you don’t want to go to a restaurant. Right. So, you know, you’re ordering it because you want something classic and comforting. But in a in a hotel like this, it should be well executed and served to perfection. So that sounds great. And I guess my last question is being such an interesting and strange time for all of us, especially in the hospitality industry. You know, what is kind of the one big thing that you’re hoping for this summer or that you’re excited about, you know, whether at this property or at any of your others? You know, that just kind of makes you feel hopeful and excited.

Mario: I mean, I’m I guess potentially, for better or worse, I’m an eternal optimist. And I think that we’re headed for an incredible summer. I think that across the board, people are riding a wave of enthusiasm right now as we start to shake free of this past 12, 15 months, whatever it’s been. I’m incredibly bullish on what we’re doing, not only here, but as a company, as a whole. I am I couldn’t I couldn’t possibly be any more enthusiastic about the coming months. But what we’re doing here and but what we’re doing as a whole and I think that the consumer is going to react in kind to that. I think they are very ready for a good time.

JQ: Well, thank you so much. I know you have a busy day ahead of you, so I really appreciate you taking the time to chat with me.

Mario: My pleasure. Have a great day.

JQ: As you may have heard from her last few episodes, we’ve started a new segment every week where at the end of the episode, we share our favorite travel tip of the week.

Juliana: So this week, our travel tip is really just, you know, if you go to a patio, definitely always bring an extra layer, especially for dinner, because the number of times that end up outside on a patio, even in the summer, it’s really hot during the day. And then I just get a little chilly and it makes the experience a little bit worse. It’s just too many times. So I always just have a light layer with you, even if you think it’s going to be really hot. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

JQ: Exactly. Definitely. Bring a light layer. You can never go wrong. And it’s just easy to bring with you.

Juliana: Yeah, especially because when you’re just sitting, you know, you think you’re not going to be cold because maybe you’re walking there. But when your body is just sitting and you’re trying to relax, I, always get really cold, so. Keep reading for more on our favorite Boston patios!

JQ: Exactly. Well, thank you for tuning in to the Travel babies podcast. We really appreciate your support. And if you enjoy your podcasts, don’t forget to subscribe and give us a review. It really helps us a lot.

Juliana: We hope you enjoyed hearing about our favorite Boston patio’s catch us next week to hear about Sandals Jamaica.

JQ: Thanks, Juliana.

Juliana: Thanks, JQ.