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Readers Say
One word typically comes to mind when thinking of Boston’s cuisine: Seafood, and lots of it, either in the form of lobster on a buttered bun, or clams in piping hot chowder, or a platter of oysters waiting to be slurped down. But those who live here really know that Boston’s food scene goes beyond that, with diverse foods centering our 23 vibrant neighborhoods.
Does that include bowls? According to one recent visitor from Europe, who happens to be a columnist for The Guardian, she noted that Boston was swimming in bowls, and she was baffled.
To be fair, bowls can include bibimbap, taco bowls, or bento boxes, which have heavily influenced menu items at popular chains that offer bowls. But the bowls it seemed this writer was arguing against were the ones from fast-casual chains such as Cava, Sweetgreen, and Chipotle or similar locally-owned, health conscious lunch spots.
We asked Boston.com readers if this was a fair assessment to say that Boston has too many bowl options. But we were also curious where people were eating bowls that weren’t “spookily soulless,” as writer Emma Beddington described her “not Sweetgreen but similar” lunch.
Most of the more than 100 readers who responded to our form (71%) were rather puzzled by this writer’s observation of Boston’s food scene, but that doesn’t mean you don’t love a bowl. Some readers gave their non-salad recommendations.
But other readers thought that maybe this writer was onto something — the bowls have taken over Boston. We heard from a few readers who said yes, but still put preferences down between the big 3 (Cava, Sweetgreen, and Chipotle), but most of the yays offered no bowl suggestions.
Some respondents came out to defend the bowls, either because they taste great, or because they’re one of the only foods some with dietary restrictions or gastrointestinal health issues can find.
Is Boston cuisine too bowl-centric?
Yes, what’s with all the bowls?
No, that’s crazy, there’s tons of other options
“The bowls don’t look so different from bento boxes. Is writer Emma Beddington for The Guardian going to pick on Tokyo next after Boston?” – Fred, Derry
“Pho Le Vermicelli” – Philip W., Boston
“The French Onion Uncommon Ramen from Bone & Bread at Widowmaker Taprooom & Kitchen is unreal! Since they opened I stop in weekly. I love adding the pork belly as well! (A) must try, nothing like it. Give me all the bowls!” – Bobby V., Allston
“Bibimbap (from) Misono in Chestnut Hill. Very affordable (chicken bulgogi only $18.95), a lot of food, tasty, (and) rice is always crispy on the hot stone bowl. It is rarely crowded for such a great restaurant, most likely because it is in a strip mall off the VFW.” – Tim O., West Roxbury
And even though most of you said Boston was not overwhelmed with bowls, you still love the convenience and choice at the bowl restaurants that were clearly the target of Beddington’s opinion piece.
“The Roasted Mushroom, Spinach and Potato bowl from Tatte. Where? Just look out the window. There’s probably one there.” – Michele, Needham
“Greek Vegetable Chicken Farro Bowl from Pressed Cafe.” – Dawn, Malden
“Pretty much anything from Sweetgreen. I particularly love the crispy rice bowl or the harvest bowl with modifications, of course! I have tried bowls from most of the local downtown places.” – Dawn A., Brockton
“An acai bowl from Sol Bean in Middleton, MA.” – Jocelyn N., Peabody
“It all looks like slop to me. Bowls are for soups (and) stews in my book. So, I agree with the nice British lady.” – Bill B., Newton
“Bowls suck. Low FODMap restrictions sucks. There is no ‘favorite’ regarding anything involving food right now; rather, what makes me feel physically terrible or physically OK.” – Chelsea, Charlestown
“Our bowls in the Boston area come in so many flavors. They are mostly plant-first and healthy as heck. I also love (the) bowls just recently introduced by Clover Food Lab. They’re all wonderful.” – Nina, Cambridge
Stay up to date on the latest food and drink news from Boston.com.
Gray, acquired in a November trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, was one of Boston’s key rotation additions, along with Ranger Suarez, in the offseason. He was 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA in 2025.
“He’s very specific about his work. Every day has a purpose,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Gray. “Two hundred strikeouts, that’s something that we were looking for. The competitor. Every five days, this guy is going to give you everything.”
In his five career appearances against the Reds, Gray is 1-3 with a 4.18 ERA.
“It’s pretty much one of the only things that is continuing to push me, is to get to a World Series, to win a World Series, to pitch in big games,” said Gray. “I love the moment, and I am chasing that moment.”
Here’s the preview:
RED SOX (1-0): TBA
Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray
REDS (0-1): TBA
Pitching: RHP Brady Singer
Time: 4:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Red Sox vs. Singer: Wilyer Abreu 2-5, Roman Anthony 1-2, Willson Contreras 2-7, Jarren Duran 3-10, Caleb Durbin 0-1, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 6-16, Marcelo Mayer 0-1, Andruw Monasterio 1-4, Carlos Narváez 1-1, Ceddanne Rafaela 1-5, Trevor Story 0-4, Connor Wong 2-8, Masataka Yoshida 2-7
Reds vs. Gray: Will Benson 0-5, Elly De La Cruz 5-11, TJ Friedl 1-8, Ke’Bryan Hayes 4-17, Nathaniel Lowe 2-10, Noelvi Marte 0-5, Matt McLain 2-2, Spencer Steer 4-9, Tyler Stephenson 0-8, Eugenio Suárez 7-13, Jose Trevino 0-2
Stat of the day: Sal Stewart become the first Cincinnati rookie since 1958 to record three hits on Opening Day.
Notes: Cincinnati sends righthander Brady Singer (14-12, 4.03 in 2025) to the mound … With Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo already on the injured list to start the season, Singer is considered one of Cincinnati’s most durable pitchers, leading the Reds with 32 starts last season … Singer has made five career starts against Boston, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.88 ERA over 24 innings … His last appearance against the Red Sox, on July 1 in Boston, ended after just three innings when he allowed two earned runs on three hits.
Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.
Nearly three months since assuming office as mayor of Everett, Massachusetts, Mayor Robert Van Campen isn’t wasting any time.
The former city councilor ousted 18-year incumbent Carlo DeMaria in decisive fashion last November, but even so, issues surrounding his predecessor still linger at City Hall.
A state-led salary audit of DeMaria found $180,000 in overpayment, a finding the former mayor disputes. Van Campen says the city is monitoring ongoing investigations.
“What I’ve conveyed to my partners in government here, locally, is to allow that state process to play itself out, and then we, as a community, will make a decision,” the mayor said. “In addition to that, I recently met with Inspector General Jeff Shapiro, who visited me at City Hall. We had a great conversation about transparency in government, best practices, putting in the right systems to ensure that that type of financial oversight doesn’t happen in the future.”
Beyond the audit, Van Campen is placing emphasis on school overcrowding.
“My objective is to try to implement solutions as quickly as I can,” he said. “Our high school today, which was built for I think 1,650 students, now houses around 2,200.”
The World Cup is creating buzz across Massachusetts, including in Everett, where the Kraft Group is looking to build a soccer stadium.
To alleviate that problem, the mayor is using federal ARPA funds to repair the old Everett High School and seeking out other spaces that could be used in the future.
“Would I like to build out new classroom space for the students of Everett in the next one to two years? Yes, that’s my ideal,” Van Campen said. “But I want to make sure that if we do it on a quick timeline, it’s done in a correct and proper fashion.”
Also in focus for the mayor is a new soccer stadium for the New England Revolution on the shores of the Mystic River.
The Kraft Group, Boston, Everett and the state Legislature have all taken steps to make the project a reality, but Van Campen says there’s still more work to do.
“It’s a transformative project, it’s a breathtaking project,” said Van Campen. “But I’ve been clear with all the stakeholders around that project, and the other larger developments going on down there, that we have to make sure that transit issues are comprehensively addressed, that pedestrian access issues are comprehensively addressed, that all those issues have to be addressed to perfection in order for these projects to succeed.”
Tune in on Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 a.m. for our extended @Issue Sit Down with Van Campen.
“No Kings” rallies are scheduled in Boston and across Massachusetts on Saturday and are expected to draw large crowds, organizers said.
Organized by the ACLU of Massachusetts, Indivisible Mass Coalition, and Mass 50501, the event is a mass mobilization in protest of the Trump administration.
The No Kings theme was created by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
“The Trump administration is trying to shred the Constitution; the No Kings movement is an unequivocal statement that we, the people, will not let that happen. This will be the third global No Kings Day, and it’s not just about protesting what’s wrong—it’s about building something better. We intend to show our power, build our power, and power a democracy that advances freedom, equality, justice, and dignity for all,” organizers wrote.
The rally, one of thousands scheduled across the country this weekend, is planned for the Boston Common from 2 to 4 p.m. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend Boston’s rally. Other events are scheduled in Pittsfield, Northampton, Lancaster, Worcester, Framingham, Methuen, Lexington, and towns in southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape. For a map of No Kings events near you, click here.
Speakers include elected officials Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Gov. Maura Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and civic leaders Hessann Farooqi Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Darlene Lombos, president of the Greater Boston Labor Council, Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, and others. It will be moderated by Rahsaan Hall, president and CEO of Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
There will also be performances by the Dropkick Murphys, Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians, BVOCAL Chorus, and Jimmy Tingle.
A previous No Kings rally in October drew massive crowds estimated in the tens of thousands.
NBC10 Boston NBC10 Boston An aerial view of the crowd at Boston’s “No Kings” rally on the Common on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
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