International Women’s Day may have come and gone, but communities across the country, particularly in Boston, have a number of women-owned businesses that can – and should – be recognized throughout the year.
According to WGBH, a 2021 report in collaboration with the Boston Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and Deloitte showed that women are considered the fastest-growing, top-performing, and economically under-utilized sub-segment of entrepreneurs. However, there are still challenges for women in business, especially when it comes to investing. For example, a 2018 study by the Boston Consulting Group and MassChallenge found that companies founded by women perform better than companies founded by men, despite receiving less than half the investment capital.
However, there are still significant obstacles that women entrepreneurs face. The good news? You can show your support year-round with something as simple as ordering takeout from some of Boston’s finest restaurants.
From Asian fusion to French to Mediterranean cuisine, Boston’s dining scene is packed with some of the most creative and delicious dishes nearby, available for pickup or delivery. To get you thinking about what to order next, we’ve put together a range of perfectly designed plates from restaurants and business owners in and around the city that are run by women – and to make things even easier, they’re all on Grubhub to find .
Back Bay
Kathy Sidell is a household name on the Boston culinary scene. She grew up in the restaurant business and later joined forces with her sister Stephanie Sokolove of Stephanie’s in Newbury to found the almighty Sidell Hospitality. Under Sidell Hospitality, Sidell owns and operates Back Bay’s Saltie Girl, a new-age seafood restaurant for those who prefer salty over sweet. Which brings us to the restaurant’s saltie girl burger, a three-beef burger covered in an “angry sauce,” stacked with gruyere, avocado, pork belly, and finally some seared lobster on the top bun. While the meal comes with fries as a side, we recommend adding an order to their famous sealing salt and vinegar chips — they’re so good the restaurant has released a whole line of chips you can buy online.
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
Downtown
Boston’s chef Sarah Wade of Stillwater knows how to make customers’ mouths water with her self-proclaimed “sexy snacks” — if not the queen of comfort food in the country. In 2018, Wade won Food Network’s Chopped Gold Medal Games. She’s also worked everywhere from New York to Texas, adding her native Oklahoma twist to every plate. So when it comes to Stillwater, you’ll be sure to grab some flavorful, buttery bites like the Smoked Pork Mac & Cheese, made with house-smoked pork, super cheesy mac and cheese, and topped with buttered Ritz cracker crumbs. To save for later, be sure to order Everything Bagel-style popcorn with warm butter for a drizzle — Chef’s Kiss.
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
Shrimp Po’ Boy sandwich at solar
Roxbury
Chef Cheryl Straughter is no stranger to the Boston food scene. In 1996 she opened Keith’s Place in Grove Hall, which served soul food and stayed open until 2006. Straughter later returned to the local restaurant business with Soleil in 2018 after completing a culinary arts program and her Masters in Social Work. Now the pair, along with their son and co-owner Keith Allyn Motley, are the driving forces behind Soleil’s Southern-style breakfast and lunch specials. While the menu is hard to choose from and some customers say the fried chicken and catfish are off the bone, nothing beats Soleil’s Louisiana Classic, aka the Shrimp Po’ Boy sandwich. It contains fried prawns, lettuce, tomatoes and homemade tartar sauce. To wash the sandwich down, make sure to add the house iced tea to your cart.
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
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Photo by Brent Hofacker
When the urge to treat yourself arises, have your favorite restaurants delivered to your door. Grubhub makes it quick and easy to put a delicious meal on the table – from trusted local favorites to delicious global cuisine – all with a few clicks of a button. Now that’s food for thought.
Anatolian flatbread Act
seaport
Led by James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams and partners Jonathan Mendez and Eric Papachristos, Trade serves travel-inspired dishes influenced by Mediterranean and Greek flavors. Chef Adams is also co-owner of Back Bay’s Porto, Fenway’s Saloniki Greek and was the owner of the now-closed (but beloved) Rialto in Cambridge. At Trade, Adams creates dishes that will transport you to your seaside paradise, and the flatbreads can’t be missed. With two on the menu, we go with the Anatolian, a vegetarian-friendly flatbread (as does the mushroom flatbread) with spinach, leeks, kasseri cheese, and dill.
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
south end
Recommended by Guy Fieri, owner and chef Nikki Christo’s Blunch has been a South End staple since 2008. Hidden under a classic Boston brownstone, Blunch is known for its pressed sandwiches, salads, and sweets, but most notably its Eggwich — a frittata-style bagel sandwich made to order. First you need to choose your bagel (Blunch has everything you need, from everything to wheat to gluten-free bagels). Then choose your meat (you can skip the meat and protein if you wish). Last but not least, pick and choose your add-ons as you please, with options like aioli, spicy aioli, honey dijon, fried shallots, hot Italian cherry peppers, and more.
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
Hojoko Boston
far away
At Fenway’s Verb Hotel, you’ll find Hojoko, a rock ‘n’ roll-inspired Japanese tavern with colorful cocktails and big flavors. Owned by husband and wife chefs Tim and Nancy Cushman, the pair have been in the culinary industry for 35 years, not to mention they’re behind city favorite o ya, where Nancy reigns supreme as an in-house certified advanced sake expert. In fact, the Japan Society of Boston recognized Nancy with the 2016 Distinguished Professional and Cultural Achievement Award for her work at o ya and contribution to the community. So if you’re unsure about your next takeout order, Hojoko steps up to the plate (no pun intended) — specifically its Funky Chicken Ramen, which features a 48-hour chicken broth, soy egg, menma, and robata-grilled koji chicken .
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
Back bay
Flour is another Boston foodie favorite, with locations dotted in and out of town. But with the delivery option, there’s really no reason to leave the house for a perfectly satisfying breakfast or lunch (unless you’re into the cafe aesthetic). From James Beard Award-winning baker Joanne Chang (also of South End’s Myers + Chang), Flour’s menu features some of the best baked goods in New England, including Chef Chang’s famous Sticky Sticky Bun, which is filled with sticky caramel and topped with roasted pecans . But that’s not all: when we talk takeout orders, be sure to check out Flour’s sandwich menu, especially the BLT with poached egg. You can also add a side of bacon to your order if you’re feeling extra savory (or another sticky bun if you’re feeling sweet).
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
Chinatown
Founded by sisters Gloria and Emily Chin, Double Chin (get it?) serves classic Chinese cuisine with a modern twist, including its true masterpiece: its signature and super-famous Cube Toast (French toast sticks stuffed into a large French toast cube ). Considering how messy takeout Cube Toast can get, Double Chin has some excellent and traditional savory bites, including their pork dumplings. Enjoy them pan fried or steamed with ginger sesame soy as a side for dipping. But if you visit the Chinatown location in the future, some dishes and side dishes will be served in quite creative ways, like in an empty SPAM tin or a cardboard ramen cup.
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
Thessaloniki Greek
Fenway, Harvard and MIT
Building on the concept of legendary Greek hospitality, chef Jody Adams and partners Eric Papachristos and Jonathan Mendez bring you Thessaloniki, a humble sandwich shop at Central Square, Fenway and Harvard Square. Standard souvlakis are always a crowd pleaser, but when it comes to pita Saloniki, things go a step further. The Niko Pita is packed with chicken thighs, veggies, onions, tzatziki, secret sauce and fries – not on the side (unless you prefer), but wrapped on the inside. Plus, it only costs a whopping $6! In addition, Thessaloniki’s ingredients are locally sourced and the meals are prepared entirely from scratch.
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
south end
When it comes to dominating the Latin American food scene, Boston-based culinary couple Hector and Nivia Pina have brought some of the best cuisine to South End’s Cuban-inspired Doña Habana, Cambridge’s Spanish-Caribbean La Fábrica Central and Roxbury’s Dominican-leaning Merengue. But her restaurant, Vejigantes in the South End, is a tropical eatery’s dream. Bringing you authentic, powerful Puerto Rican-inspired flavors, the Pinas offer a true Latin American dining experience with every bite. A must-try is the mofongo, a traditional mashed plantain stuffed with either pork or chicken (customers recommend the pork).
Here’s how to try: Order via Grubhub.
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Jillian Hammell is a contributor to Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
