After looking back on “Boston Restaurants: A Year in Review,” we can attest that 2014 was most definitely a landmark year for our city’s dining scene. One that was full of notable restaurant openings, closings, and plenty of food-tech innovation. And, just as you’d expect, these stories were also among 2014’s top Boston restaurant posts on BostInno.
After sifting through the numbers, we’ve rounded up this year’s most popular restaurant-related articles. Whether they were as crucial as a full-fledged whiskey crisis or as newsworthy as free burritos, these posts mattered to you. So, without further ado, here are our top 10 Boston restaurant articles of 2014:
The U.S. is on the Brink of a Whiskey Crisis
Well, the headline pretty much says it all. Thanks to an increase in demand coupled with the alcohol’s slow aging process and (sadly) evaporation loss, there is an impending whiskey shortage coming our way, according to Buffalo Trace. Unfortunately, this could also mean that the quality of our whiskey is tanking as more and more distillers water down the good stuff.
Anthony Bourdain Visited These 6 Massachusetts Restaurants on ‘Parts Unknown’
This year, viewers watched (and drooled) as Anthony Bourdain ate his way through some of Massachusetts’ best restaurants. From slurping back oysters at the Old Colony Tap in P-town to chowing down on homemade pie at the Greenfield, Mass. diner, Shady Glen – Boston readers couldn’t get enough of this “Parts Unknown” episode.
13 Rooftops You Should Be Hanging Out on Right Now in Boston
When spring rolls around, Bostonians go wild for rooftops. And why wouldn’t they? After surviving 2014’s brutal winter weather, we were all too ready for some serious, cabana-style rooftop sun bathing. So before this winter’s cold temps start to get you down, take a look at what you have to look forward to in the new year.
Ghirardelli Opens Two-Story Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop in Boston
Chocoholics rejoiced this fall when San Francisco-based Ghirardelli opened a two-story ice cream and chocolate shop in Boston’s Faneuil Hall. If you still haven’t experienced this chocolate paradise, we recommend checking out the shop’s hot chocolates, shakes, floats, malts and more.
Treat Yo’ Self: Free Boloco Burritos All Month Long in Boston
It’s no secret that Bostonians love burritos. But when these said burritos are free, we take that love to the next level. This year, Boloco helped us do just that on Free Burrito Day in September. Let’s just hope they bring the tasty free lunch back in 2015.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is Returning this August
This year, fall came earlier than ever when the Pumpkin Spice Latte made its glorious return to Boston-area Starbucks. The cult classic debuted in early August, when most (read: all) of us were still donning our white shorts and flip flops. And – no surprise – many folks were a bit caught off guard by the ridiculously early PSL resurrection.
Yeehaw! A Southern Honky Tonk Opens Today in Boston
When Loretta’s Last Call opened in Fenway this year, Bostonians went crazy for the new fried chicken-filled honky tonk. The country bar serves up a Southerner’s dream venue with its live bluegrass and country music, tasty fried fare and homemade biscuits. Yum!
This Somerville Bar is Serving Up a Special Mac and Cheese Menu this November
It doesn’t get more decadent than Olde Magoun’s Saloon’s “Mac Attack” menu. The to-die-for gooey, cheesy dishes made their long-awaited return to the Somerville bar this past November. Think: Roasted Pumpkin mac and cheese, Bacon Bomb mac and cheese, Braised Short Rib mac and cheese, and even a Seared Foie Gras mac and cheese (among others). But regardless of which specific dish you ordered, this warm, fatty comfort food was sure to hit the spot.
This Boston Spot is One of the ‘Best New Bars in America’
When it comes to bars, Boston’s own Wink & Nod is right up there with the best of them. This year, Thrillist named the South End prohibition-era speakeasy as one of the best new bars of 2014 due to its innovative cocktail menu and rotating culinary program. And trust us – you couldn’t wait to share the good news via Facebook and Twitter. If you haven’t yet paid a visit to the popular bar or tried Bread & Salt’s tasty fare, we recommend booking a table in the new year ASAP.
The 10 Most Exciting Restaurant Openings this Fall in Boston
When it comes to restaurant openings in 2014, we certainly had you covered – especially this fall. Because despite the cool weather, the Hub’s dining scene only got hotter over the past few months. From french fare at Bar Boulud to the innovative lab-restaurant dubbed Cafe ArtScience, there were a plethora of new restaurant concepts popping up in our city this fall.
Images via Boloco, Cafe ArtScience, CNN, Ghirardelli, Revere Hotel, Sarah Fisher, Shutterstock, and Wink & Nod
