What’s New in the Boston Catering and Restaurant Scene?

There’s so much more to Boston’s restaurant scene than lobster rolls, clam chowder, and Boston cream pie. According to Travel + Leisure, Beantown is home to one of the best restaurant scenes in the country. The city has always been a catering standout for crowd-pleasing cuisines like pizza, Italian pastas, and Mexican food, (Avellino’s Restaurant, Jose’s Mexican, Une Due Go, Stone Hearth Pizza, and Andre’s Cafe are all longtime favorites). Here are four new Boston catering trends to look out for.

Health-Conscious Eats

It’s clear Bostonians have health on the mind these days. What are the obvious signs? Shops specializing in cold-pressed juices, valued for delivering a wealth of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants, are popping up on every corner. Both The Juice Box in South Boston and The Juice Union in Somerville churn out a large selection of juices using fresh ingredients like greens, herbs, fruits, and even chia seeds and almond milk. You’ll also find acai bowls, buddha bowls, smoothies, and other treats guaranteed to keep your energy up and ward off mid-afternoon energy dips.

Juice bars are also a great choice for accommodating a range of special diets, and luckily there are now even more choices. Paleo Naturals in Freetown caters delicious meat and vegetable-focused meals. Fruition Vegan Kitchen in Medford specializes in animal product-free salads and wraps. And everything at Jubali Organic Farmacy Cafe in the Seaport is gluten-free.

Mediterranean Fare

Mediterranean food, known for its emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and olive oil, is suddenly a huge part of Boston’s restaurant scene. But it’s not just about Italian and Greek fare. Shawarma Falafel does Lebanese. And you’ll find Israeli dishes at Jerusalem Pita and Grill in Brookline.

According to Eater, however, most new Mediterranean restaurants are going fast-casual, where you can customize everything. Getting exactly what you want sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? At Fava Bean Mediterranean in Cambridge, you can design your own wraps with chicken, steak, falafel, and tabbouleh, hummus, red cabbage, carrot salad, or grilled vegetables.

Fusion Burritos

It seems like almost any combination of protein can be wrapped in a tortilla these days. So it’s no surprise that fusion burritos are conquering the Boston catering scene. Yoki Express combines Japanese flavors with the Mexican favorite to create a popular sushi burrito with fillings like salmon and avocado, tuna and cucumber with Sriracha mayo, or shrimp tempura. At SA PA Kitchen, chef Ky Nguyen makes banh mi burritos stuffed with pickled vegetables, cilantro, and your choice of beef, BBQ pulled pork, marinated tofu, or ginger-lime chicken. And at Boloco, find burritos inspired by the flavors of India, Thailand, and Louisiana.

Cupcake Revival

The cupcake trend of the early 2000s is back with a vengeance. These sweet treats show no sign of disappearing anytime soon. It’s probably because they’re so convenient. And, they give you a warm and nostalgic feeling without calling for a knife and plates. Luckily, there are numerous options to choose from all over the area. Some of the best include Quebrada Baking Company in Arlington, Cupcake City in Reading, Cakeology in Hingham, Sugar Coated Bakery in Dracut, and Flour Girls Baking Company in Fairhaven. So get in the know and try some of Boston’s trendiest foods.