Add These New Menus to the Weekday Lunch Routine in Boston
New daytime dining options include the Emory in Beacon Hill, the Porch Southern in Medford, and more local restaurants.
The Emory burger with garlic cheddar fondue is on the new lunch menu at the Beacon Hill bar. / Brian Samuels Photography
As summer winds down, get back into the swing of things with an enjoyable, but efficient lunch out in Boston. New restaurants around the city are now open daytime hours with sandwiches, soups, and spirit-free mocktails to help you take charge of the afternoon. Whether you need speedy service on your lunch hour in Beacon Hill, the Back Bay, or even in Medford, check out these new restaurants now serving weekday lunch around Boston.
Day drinking? Try the Sgt. Pepper at the Emory, made with Bribón Tequila and blackberry-black pepper syrup. / Brian Samuels Photography
The Emory
Hospitality pro Andy Kilgore’s Beacon Hill bar room—which debuted on July 29—has started serving lunch every Monday through Friday, beginning August 5. Along with charcuterie and raw bar selections, new lunchtime options like a cold lobster roll, a summertime quinoa bowl with green goddess dressing, and dry-aged steak frites join some of chef Derek Robert’s dishes from the dinner menu, including baked potato beignets, and the Emory burger topped with garlic-cheddar fondue. Weekday lunch is on from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.—and weather-permitting, the patio is open. From 2-5 p.m., a more limited menu is available as a precursor to full dinner service. Weekend brunch is coming soon.
21 Beacon St., Boston, 617-430-6325, theemoryboston.com.
Ribs at the Porch. / Brian Samuels Photography
The Porch Southern Fare and Juke Joint
The community around Medford’s residential and office-park development River’s Edge has a new option for al fresco lunchtime dining, as of Saturday, Aug. 10. The lunch menu at the Porch—available inside the barbecue-and-music venue, or outside on the 50-seat patio—is a bit different from dinnertime, but still features trays of chef-owner Jonathan Post’s slow-smoked meats with sides like skillet cornbread, smoked green beans, and potato salad. There are sandwiches layered with the likes of brisket and pickled onions; fried oysters and remoulade; and a classic muffuletta, with mortadella, salami, ham, Swiss, provolone, and Creole olive salad. Plus, look for some small plates (like corn hush puppies) and seasonal entrees, too. Lunch is on every day from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and on weekends, a more limited “flip” menu is available before dinner starts at 5 p.m. (The restaurant closes between lunch and dinner on weekdays.)
175 River’s Edge Drive, Medford, 781-874-9357, theporchsouthern.com.
Indulge in ribeye steak from the robata grill during lunch service at Zuma Japanese Cuisine in Boston. / Photo courtesy of Zuma Restaurants
Zuma Japanese
Power lunchers don’t have to sacrifice a whole afternoon to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Four Seasons One Dalton: The second-floor izakaya’s new Ebisu Business lunch menu serves up three courses in just 45 minutes. Round out an entree option like koji chicken from the robata grill; a sashimi chirashi bowl with rice; or spicy fried tofu with a cup of miso soup and choice of two appetizers. (Really in a hurry? The Ebisu Express menu includes just a main course and miso soup.) Pair your prix-fixe with a fresh-squeezed juice mocktail, like the bright and fruity Norisan, with passion fruit, pineapple, orange, and muddled mint. A lunch omakase is also available, along with a la carte options of robata dishes, sashimi, sushi, and more. Beginning August 5, lunch is on Monday through Friday from noon-3 p.m. The restaurant closes briefly before dinner begins at 5:30 p.m.
One Dalton St., Four Seasons Hotel (second floor), Back Bay, Boston, 857-449-2500, zumarestaurant.com.
The Joint burger bar in Jamaica Plain begins weekend brunch soon. / Photo by Ray Liriano
WEEKEND BRUNCH BONUS: The Joint
Jamaica Plain’s new burger joint launches brunch the weekend of August 17. Stay tuned for the details on a menu featuring fluffy French toast topped with summer berries; sunny huevos rancheros with peppery salsa; and sides like smashed potato home fries.
The Joint, 605 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617-553-2278, thejointjp.com.
