Going out to eat can feel like a splurge, and not just for your wallet. Sometimes, the decadent dishes chefs so skillfully prepare leave you over-stuffed and wondering how much of your day’s calorie allotment was filled by that one plate of pasta.
But in a health-conscious city like Boston, there’s lighter fare to be had. Check out these recommendations from six local chefs.
Saloniki Greek
“We will all miss Jody Adams at Rialto, but her brand-new place Saloniki Greek is delicious and healthy. The chicken dish with a pita and a fresh Greek tomato salad is a great option for a nice hot summer day.” — Alex Pineda, executive sous chef at Scampo
Yes, Cambridge’s Rialto may have closed, but Chef Jody Adams is still busy serving Boston. Saloniki Greek is a fast-casual eatery that bills itself as a “tribute to the humble Greek sandwich shop.” You won’t overstep your budget (caloric or financial): Menu items range from $8 to $10.50 and include soups, salads, and classic pita sandwiches such as The Despena, packed with a zucchini-feta fritters, garlic yogurt, tomatoes, onions, herb salad, and Greek fries. If you want more control over what you’re eating, there’s are “Build It” options, so you can customize your pita with various bases, fillings, and sauces.
Tavern Road
“I was at Tavern Road the other night and chef Louis [DiBiccari] is putting together some spectacular, healthy Mediterranean dishes like chickpea and eggplant fritters with tomato jam, grilled octopus, an incredible hummus, some kickass crudos… It was such an awesome meal and, of course, chef Louis is such a great guy. He makes Fort Point (and good food) fun!” — Brian Poe, chef/owner of The Tip Tap Room, Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake, and Bukowski Tavern
Tavern Road on Congress Street focuses on using locally-sourced ingredients for their salads, sandwiches, and small plates. Once again, a Mediterranean-inspired menu offers healthy, fresh flavors, from a chickpea wrap to house-made hummus. Tavern Road also has a cafe next door that’s only open for lunch. It’s a perfect place to stop in if you’re looking for a healthier midday option than your work’s cafeteria (or vending machine).
Wow Barbecue
“Wow Barbecue has a food truck that parks near the Chinatown T stop. They sell cheap skewers of funky tasty bits. The quail eggs make a perfect healthy, protein-packed lunch on the fly.” — Jonathan Kopacz, executive chef at Brass Union.
On the surface, barbecue doesn’t sound like the healthiest option. But Wow Barbecue offers simple, clean skewers that pack a lot of flavor and provide a straightforward avenue to meeting your lunchtime protein goals. Wow Barbecue serves up authentic Chinese Barbecue on a stick, and the style is definitely healthier than the sauce-slathered stuff most Bostonians are used to. Traditionally, meat and veggies are seasoned with cumin and cooked over a charcoal grill. Wow Barbecue also has brick and mortar locations in Brookline and Malden.
Sofra
“For me, it would be eating a platter of mezze at Sofra. With tons of vegetable spreads, labne and stuffed grape leaves, you really can’t go wrong. I could eat it seven days a week!” — Michael Lombardi, co-executive chef at SRV
Sofra is a casual cafe and bakery that serves up meze, which are basically Turkish tapas, of zucchini fritters, lentils, and hummus. Sofra means “picnic” in Turkish, according to the cafe’s website, and this Cambridge eatery aims to embody the kind of inviting space that’s so synonymous with the (normally outdoor) food ritual. It was established by the Oleana Restaurant Group and received its name after Executive Chef Ana Sortun and business partner and Executive Pastry Chef Maura Kilpatrick traveled through Turkey.
Cafe Sushi
“If I’m looking to go light and healthy for dinner, I usually gravitate towards sushi. There’s something magical that happens when you get a perfectly cut slice of toro, wrap it in a delicate shiso leaf, and just barely dip it in soy sauce. It’s simple, satisfying and guilt-free. My go-to sushi spot is Café Sushi in Cambridge.” — Tatiana Rosana, chef at The Envoy Hotel’s Outlook Kitchen and Bar
Sushi is satisfying without leaving you overstuffed, and at Cafe Sushi on Mass Ave, there’s plenty of fresh, seasonal options. Cafe Sushi offers a whole list of sashimi and nigiri priced per piece, along with classic maki rolls such as salmon and avocado and eel and cucumber, and oshi-zushi, a traditional pressed sushi in which the rice and toppings are stacked into perfect little squares.
Neptune Oyster
“When I want to eat light, I head to Neptune for oysters.” — Anthony Caturano, chef and owner of Pressa & Tonno
What says “summer in Boston” more succinctly (and deliciously) than a plate of fresh oysters? Just like sushi, this seafood treat won’t stuff you to the point of discomfort. At Neptune Oyster on Salem Street, you can get a bunch of bivalves from all across brand-new England; the menu offers oysters from Wellfleet, Island Creek, and Nantucket, as well as from off the coast of Maine and Rhode Island. It’s a perfect light meal out as long as you avoid the drenched-in-butter lobster rolls.
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