Q: My daughter has a group of 17-year-old girls that would like to dress up and go out this weekend. They are looking for a place that is hip/trendy where they can feel “grown up.” Obviously they are all below drinking age and being 17, the food doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, just decent. Any suggestions for me? Fahrenheit and RH were two places that came to my mind but you know the city better than I do.
UP: What a fun question! I think Fahrneheit and RH are good ideas for the vibe, though RH can get extremely pricy. If they want to dress up, I’d add in a few more Uptown spots, like Haymaker or Fin & Fino. Fin & Fino’s patio is across the street from the Knight Theater, and its bright lights make you feel like you’re in a bigger city. Haymaker has a beautiful view of the park, and some great seats for a larger group. KiKi also just reopened, and has a beautiful glam feel that might mirror what the group is looking for. 

Q: What are your favorite fall seasonal specials?
UP: The Stanley is serving a beautiful pink striped ravioli during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to benefit local non-profit Go Jen Go. The Goodyear House is hosting pumpkin patches on Tuesdays, with activities and serving October items like bratwurst and apple cider. This time of year, I love a good, creamy soup — Barrington’s and The Fig Tree are two of my go-to spots for soup. And, of course, pumpkin pastas — Aqua e Vino’s pumpkin ravioli stands out among them.

Q: Do you have recommendations for popup/online only concepts?
UP: There are so many of these right now as restaurants expand to ghost kitchens. One of my favorite things is the Kronut from Sugarrman, which you can have delivered to your house from OTPST. There are a variety of flavors, like cookies and cream, but the classic is number one for me. Jimmy Pearls comes from two extremely talented chefs, and they’re currently popping up at 7th Street Public Market on Friday and Saturday nights with their seafood offerings. Lots of bakers are out there with pop-ups, too — one of our favorites is Hannah Woociker’s Moonbox Bakery. L’Ostrica is another we recommend you check out — the former chef of Stagioni, Eric Ferguson, brings the same level of flavor to his home delivery meals. 

Q: What are the best new openings?
UP: I’ve had excellent meals at Alchemy in South End. The restaurant has a plant-focused menu, but you can adjust the dishes to include meat. Part of the C3 Lab campus, the restaurant also has custom touches like decor fabricated in the C3 Lab metal workshop and house-made hand sanitizer. Counter- is also a cool new experience. The restaurant’s tasting menu is paired with music, and the dining room only holds a dozen or so people right now — great for social distanced dining. 

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