It happened that I was in L.A., in Anaheim actually, for a conference. I remember the L.A. of my childhood as hot, massive, and my home away from home. Though I grew up in Oregon, I spent most summers and holidays at my Grandmother’s in L.A., which may have something to do with why I live in Spain now. Southern California and the Mediterranean side of Spain have some things in common.
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I have driven or walked through Natick Center countless times in the nearly 10 years that I have lived here. And the only thoughts that I have had in seeing the “Lola’s Italian Groceria” sign are of The Kinks. Imagine my surprise when I noticed on a Chowhound discussion post about lunch spots in the area that Lola’s is not simply a grocery store for olive oil and pasta but a full service deli market serving up sandwiches, pizza, calzones and full Italian specialty dinners.

Looking for something quick but hearty for lunch one weekend, I remembered Lola’s and decided to finally give it a shot. What an idiot I am for never having visited there before! The food was delicious. Fresh bread, brought in direct from the North End daily. Zesty sauces, spreads and oils. An entire gluten-free menu of dinners and desserts. Food prepared while you wait, call-ahead take-out or prepared selections in the refrigerated and frozen cases to bring home for later. There are also the olive oils and pasta groceries that were all I assumed they sold.

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Boston is far from the city that never sleeps. But there are plenty of places you can go for a meal after midnight on the weekend. And it doesn’t have to be a sub shop either. Here’s a sampling of selections throughout the city and surrounding neighborhoods to fit all price ranges, dress codes, tastes and budgets. Let us know your favorite!

Allston/Brighton

Azama (2:00) – Allston – Egyptian fare with raved about Shawarma, Egyptian Fries and Baklawa. Cheap and tasty.

Kelly’s Roast Beef (2:00) – Allston – Warm roast beef sandwiches with your pick of toppings/sauces or fried seafood. Nothing fancy but affordable, friendly and perfect for the munchies when the bar kicks you out.

Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese Truck (2:00) – Cleveland Circle in Brighton – Parked to serve you fantastical grilled cheese concoctions – such as the Green Muenster – at all hours for takeaway.

Sunset Grill & Tap (1:00) – Allston – Yummy nachos, Mexican, BBQ, Burgers and Peanut Butter sandwiches along with a gazillion different beers to wash it all down.

Boston Back Bay

Back Bay Social Club (1:30) – Tantalizing burgers but also higher end dining options with the price tag. Real food, real late such as pumpkin ravioli appetizers, seafood, steak, decadent chocolate cake.

Boloco Berklee (2:00) – Goloco at Boloco. Creative ingredients that you customize to build your own burrito.

Brasserie Jo (1:30) – Bar menu offers selected French cuisine at petite portions including scallops and glazed pork. There are also fondue options for folks who like to play with their food.

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The New York City of today is not the one I remember from my teen years.  They say it’s the city that never sleeps.  I say it’s the city that never stays the same.  In the past 20 years, I’ve seen neighborhoods transform, merge and all but disappear.

Take Soho, for example–in my younger years, it was the artistic epicenter of the Big Apple, yet still a bit dodgy.  It was a place I’d go to buy some punk rock boots but not necessarily a place I’d look for a good restaurant.

But good restaurants are popping up all over Soho.  In fact, you can even randomly walk into them, as my friend and I did to get out of the rain during my recent stay.  The first restaurant on the corner was Savore, an Italian ristorante.  We thought it would be a simple way station until the weather cleared.  It ended up being one heck of a great meal.

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