Free Cocoa and Frozen, Dollar Oysters, and More Snow Day Fun at Boston Restaurants

If your office is closed during today’s blizzard-like conditions—like Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville Public Schools, local libraries, zoos, and more—or if you’re just planning to “work from home” anyway, after all that shoveling, you’ll certainly need to warm up and refuel.

If you’re thinking about trekking to your neighborhood go-to, bundle up, and be especially careful with low visibility predicted for a “prolonged period of time” today. But before you head out, first remember to check your spot’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages to confirm it remains open. The following restaurants and bars plan to be open during the storm with specials to heat things up, but things could change.

Know of other fun snow-inspired specials? Email us to share the details. We’ll plan to update this list.

Oysters from Waypoint are among sister spot Alden & Harlow’s snow day specials today, / Photo provided

Alden & Harlow

While Waypoint is closing today, its sister spot never shutters for snow. Today, Waypoint lends its daily trays of $1 oysters to Alden & Harlow, among other snow day specials from chef Michael Scelfo.

Opens at 5 p.m., 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-864-2100, aldenharlow.com.

Asta

Always wanted to try chef Alex Crabb’s tasting menu plates? He’s cooking an a la carte menu during tonight’s storm.

Opens at 6 p.m., 47 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, 617-585-9575, astaboston.com.

The Automatic. / Photo by Creative Katz

The Automatic

This neighborhood spot promises to be open today with a trio of hot drink specials, $5 Automatic flat patties from 4 p.m.-midnight, and an open turntable, so bring your vinyl and get spinning.

Opens at 11:30 a.m., 50 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-714-5226, theautomaticbar.com.

Banyan Bar + Refuge

This South End refuge has its $1 dumpling deal on all night long in honor of the blizzard. The current record-holder ordered 160 dumplings, so keep that challenge in mind tonight.

Opens at 4 p.m., 553 Tremont St., Boston, 617-556-4211, banyanboston.com.

The Bar Mezzana double cheeseburger. / Brian Samuels Photography

Bar Mezzana

Nothing refuels quite like a double cheeseburger with taleggio and American cheeses, ketchup, onions, and Dijonnaise. Chef Colin Lynch’s burger—and board games—will be available all night. The kitchen is open from 5-9 p.m.and the bar is open until 10 p.m.

Opens at 5 p.m., 360 Harrison Ave., Boston, 617-530-1770, barmezzana.com.

Barcelona Wine Bar’s hot cocoa station returns today. / Photo provided

Barcelona Wine Bar

Both Boston-area locations will be open today with a DIY hot cocoa station.

Opens at 4 p.m., 1700 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-264-8900, 525 Tremont St. Boston, 617-266-2600, barcelonawinebar.com.

Wings are $1 during the snow this week at Boston Chops. / Photo provided

Boston Chops

Fill up on wings at this South End steakhouse: They’re $1 all day during the storm. (And read about Boston Chops’ forthcoming Downtown Crossing location while you’re at it.)

1375 Washington St., 617-227-5011, Boston, bostonchops.com.

There’s a complimentary hot cocoa bar set up at Brasserie Jo today. / Photo provided by the Colonnade Hotel

Brasserie Jo

If you’re out in the Back Bay, pop into the Colonnade Hotel restaurant and warm up at the complimentary hot cocoa bar.

Opened at 6:30 a.m., the Colonnade Boston Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-424-7000, colonnadehotel.com.

Duck shoyu ramen at Brassica Kitchen. / Photo provided

Brassica Kitchen

Ramen Tuesdays continue as usual starting at 5:30 p.m. tonight, with a steaming bowl of spicy duck kimchi ramen, with house-made spelt noodles and an onsen egg.

Opened at 6 a.m., 3710 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, 617-477-4519, brassicakitchen.com.

Bukowski’s Cambridge

A complimentary hot dog comes with the purchase of a beer today. Only one free ’dog per person, but the beer flows all night.

Opens at 4 p.m., 1281 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-497-7077, bukowskitavern.net.

Two dishes created on the fly by chef Tony Maws at Craigie on Main. / Photo by Toan Trinh for “New Chef’s Whim”

Craigie on Main

Tony Maws and his crew of chefs are letting their whims decide what to make tonight, with special $49, four-course and $57, six-course menus. All skis, snowshoes, toboggans and sleds welcome.

Opens at 5:30 p.m., 853 Main St., Cambridge, 617-497-5511, craigieonmain.com.

Cunard Tavern

Snowed in in East Boston? This spot opens for dinner with half-priced bacon wrapped dates and Cuban spring rolls.

Opens at 5 p.m., 24 Orleans St., East Boston, 617 567-7609, cunardtavern.com.

Bar snacks at Dorchester BRewing Co. are 50 percent off in today’s snow. / Photo provided

Dorchester Brewing Co.

If you make it to this taproom, you’ll find 50 percent off all bar snacks.

Opens at 11:30 a.m., 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Dorchester, 617-514-0900, dorchesterbrewing.com.

Ducali

This North End pizzeria is open all day, with $2 torta fritta (an Italian fried dough dessert).

Opened at 11 a.m., 289 Causeway St., Boston, 617-742-4144, duca.li.

Eastern Standard. / Photo by Chelsea Kyle for “Beyond the 50 Best Restaurants 2014” / Photographs by Chelsea Kyle

Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks

This reliable Kenmore Square spot is, of course, open today. Plus, Allagash Brewing is still coming to town for a pay-as-you-go oyster-and-beer pairing event from 4-7 p.m.

Opened at 7 a.m., 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com.

The oyster bar at Eventide Fenway. / Photo provided

Eventide Fenway

It’s a dollar oyster day at this seafood-shack-themed love letter from coastal Maine. Whenever a large storm looms over Boston, pick from the full lineup of bivavles to populate your plate. Check Eventide Fenway’s social media for real time updates.

Opens at 11:30 a.m., 1321 Boylston St., Boston, 617-545-1060, eventideoysterco.com.

Pizza, wine, and bowling is happening all day in Brighton. / Photo provided by Flatbread Company

Flatbread Company Brighton

Free bowling alert! The newest location of this pizza-and-candlepin empire is open all day with cozy, hearth-cooked pizza, salads, and desserts until 11 p.m., and drinks until 1 a.m. Plus bowling is free, first-come, first-served.

76 Guest St., Brighton, 617-903-4595, flatbreadcompany.com.

Kirkland Tap & Trotter

Cheeseburgers are $12 all night long, and kids eat for free from 5:30-6:30 p.m. All skis, snowshoes, toboggans and sleds welcome.

425 Washington St., Somerville, 857-259-6585, kirklandtapandtrotter.com.

Tacos at Lion’s Tail. / Photo provided

Lion’s Tail

Stay warm with $3 beef, veggie, chicken tinga, or fish tacos tonight.

Opens at 5 p.m., 354 Harrison Ave., South End, Boston, 857-239-9276, lionstailboston.com.

McGreevy’s

This Back Bay pub is open with $1 sliders from 4-7 p.m., and a Chopped viewing party later on. Both their chef, Andrei Enikeev, and fellow Boylston Street chef Alex Galvis of Solas are competing on the episode “Luck of The Irish” tonight at 10 p.m. on the Food Network. Catch the show, complimentary appetizers, and more surprises throughout the evening.

Opened at 11 a.m., 911 Boylston St., Boston, 617-262-0911, mcgreevysboston.com.

Moody’s Deli in Back Bay. / Photos by Toan Trinh

Moody’s Deli Back Bay

The deli plans to close early at 4 p.m. today, but until then, it’s open with La Colombe coffee, house-made pastries and bagels, artisan meats, and more, including a St. Paddy’s Day special of a $6 Dav’e Corned Beef sandwich.

Opened at 7 a.m., 500 Boylston St., Boston, 617-405-5320, moodysboston.com.

The cozy bar at Moonshine 152. / Photo provided by chef Asia Mei

Moonshine 152

Open regular hours—that means food until 1:30 a.m.—with hot cocoa specials and more snow day fun.

Opens at 5:30 p.m., 152 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, 617-752-4191, moonshine152.com.

Tom & Jerry at No. 9 Park. / Photo provided

No. 9 Park

The snow is sticking, which means Barbara Lynch’s flagship is whipping up classic hot cocktails until 8:30 p.m. tonight.

Opens at 5 p.m., 9 Park St., Beacon Hill, Boston, 617-742-9991, no9park.com.

Noca Provisions. / Photo by Julia Hopkins

NOCA Provisions

Feeling stir-crazy in the house with your kids? Bring them to this Cambridge café, which has free hot cocoa and “every parent’s favorite winter musical animated movie” projected on the wall today. It also has a beer and wine license now.

Opened at 7 a.m., 156 Rindge Ave., Cambridge, 617-902-0764, nocaprovisions.com.

Puritan & Co. / Photo provided

Puritan & Co.

As is tradition any time it snows more than three inches, the $30, three-course “storm menu” comes out. Plus, today Puritan will have $1 oysters and a punch fountain (!), with $9 glasses of punch.

Opens at 5:30 p.m., 1166 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-615-6195, puritancambridge.com.

SRV’s red sauce meatballs are bottomless during snowstorms. / Photo by Morgan Ione Yeager

SRV

It’s a snow emergency, and that means all-you-can-eat meatballs in red sauce for $4 at the cicchetti bar.

Opens at 5 p.m., 569 Columbus Ave., South End, Boston, 617-536-9500, srvboston.com.

The late-night wine bar at Tasting Counter. / PHOTOGRAPH BY EMILY SOTOMAYOR for “The Best New Wine Bars in Boston Right Now” / PHOTOGRAPH BY EMILY SOTOMAYOR for “The Best New Wine Bars in Boston Right Now”

Tasting Counter

As usual on Tuesdays, the Natural Wine Bar at Tasting Counter will open at 5 p.m. tonight for a la carte dinner, and exclusive, natural wines by the glass and bottle.

14 Tyler St., Somerville, 617-299-6362, tastingcounter.com.

Large Iced Regular coffee milk stout. / Photo provided by Winter Hill Brewing Co.

Winter Hill Brewing Co.

Make the transition from freshly brewed coffee to Large Iced Regular coffee milk stout easy at this neighborhood café by day, brewpub by night.

Opened at 7 a.m., 328 Broadway, Somerville, winterhillbrewing.com.