It’s too hot to cook. It’s too hot to do anything really, but you still need to eat. Here are eight tasty new places with adult-satisfying menus and kid-friendly dishes for the whole family.
Valtaco Fenway
It’s a great pre- or post-game pit stop if you’re not in the mood for a hot dog. There are plenty of tacos to suit every palate, from roast duck and hot buttery lobster to chicken and steak tacos, a kids’ menu with quesadillas, mild guacamole and fruit skewers, and a sweet, refreshing limeade that beats any lemonade. Service is fast and you can order ahead. 100 Van Ness St., Boston, www.bartaco.com
Bartaco will open in Hingham later this year. Manny Vargas
BE Pasta Bar
Why make boxed mac and cheese at home when someone else can do it for you? At Brookline’s new BE Pasta Bar, choose your noodles, sauce, protein of your choice — sausage, bacon or chicken cutlet — and top it with your choice of cheese. They also offer sandwiches, garlic bread and chocolate cake. The portions are generous. 1026 Commonwealth Ave., Brookline, www.bepastabar.com
Butterbird
Jason Santos (Buttermilk & Bourbon, Citrus & Salt) runs another monument to kid-friendly food at Arsenal Yards in Watertown. Breakfast options include tater tot bowls and French toast sticks, and lunch includes a fried chicken sandwich with chicken feet gummy candies. Dessert? Apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, brownies. The atmosphere is friendly, fast and casual. Stop in after a movie at the Majestic or before hitting Old Navy. Aspiring chef? Santos and team accept sandwich recipe submissions, which they will taste each month and award the winner a spot on the menu. 112 Bond Square, Watertown, www.butterbirdboston.com
Dockside Beer Garden
An ideal place to relax overlooking Boston Harbor after a visit to the Aquarium. Cisco, Harpoon and Sam Adams beers for the adults, and a wide selection of classics like hot dogs, sausages and pretzels for the kids. Usually a breeze. 1 Central Wharf, Boston, www.neaq.org
El Taqba
Recently opened by the team behind Tenock’s Torta Shop mini-chain, this Medford Center Mexican restaurant strikes the perfect balance between a nice night out and quick, affordable, tasty food for the family. There’s a full tequila bar, smooth margaritas and tempting oddities like salted cod in olive sauce and adobo taco, but classics like steak tacos and mini chicken enchiladas are also excellent. Service is also very upbeat. 35 Salem St., Medford, www.eltacuba.com
Few and far away
Run by the friendly staff of Forage in Cambridge, this laid-back new neighborhood bistro serves locally sourced pastas, vegetables and house-made seasonal ice cream. Kids can choose from housemade macaroni and cheese made with Boston’s Seven Hills pasta, burgers or strawberry shortcake, while adults can opt for beef tartare with nettle aioli and scallop crudo with rhubarb jus. Starting Sunday, July 28, the restaurant will also be serving a family-friendly weekend brunch. 566 High St., Dedham, www.fewandfardedham.com
Half Cookie
Run by Danielle Velez, a mother of two, this new shop at The Street Chestnut Hill specializes in unusual cookie flavors like Reese’s Stuffed, Salted Twix and Strawberry Shortcake. The cookies are big, hearty and delicious, and many are gluten-free. 3A Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, www.thehalfcookie.com
Pug Pizza Pop-Up
Pug at Central Square hosts pizza parties on the terrace every Thursday evening during the summer (dogs welcome!). In addition to the elevated pizzas for adults (koji pineapple, fried calamari, carrot sauce and caramelized onions), there are kid-friendly dishes like purple pizza made with ube, the classic plain pie on request, and non-piña coladas. Owner Tracy Chan says that even 12-year-olds have been ordering pizza by themselves. 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, www.gopagu.com
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Kara Baskin can be reached at kara.baskin@globe.com. Follow her Follow.
