Boston Date Night Series: Downtown Crossing
Happy Friday! Welcome to the start of a new series on the blog! My lovely boyfriend, Darren, had the idea to document our weekly date nights around the city of Boston. We’ve made a list of all the major T stops and are going to choose our dates based on these locations. Get ready for fun date night ideas coming your way each Friday for the rest of 2019! First up: Downtown Crossing.
We decided to do dinner and a bit of shopping for a casual date night. Darren made a reservation at Stoddard’s, a pub with unique historical elements and a delicious menu. A survivor of Boston’s great fire of 1872 and formerly Chandler’s Corset Store, the space has some impressive decor. From framed garments from the corset shop and hand railings from the original 1912 Filene’s store in the area, to street lamp posts intended to mimic those in 1900’s Boston and a foot rail on the bar made from old Park Street Trolley Station track, the interior is truly beautiful. You can read more of their incredible history here.
When it was time to order, the choice was tough as there are so many intriguing options on the menu. To start, I had to have the aged Gouda & cask ale fondue. This delicious cheese fondue is served with two giant, warm pretzels for dipping. I think I could’ve eaten the entire plate for myself as my meal and been completely satisfied. A must-order if you go to Stoddard’s!
For dinner, I ordered the “Bolognese.” Their version is vegan (!), made with housemade pappardelle noodles and topped with tomato ragu with roasted mushrooms and vegan mozzarella. The sauce was super yummy and I loved how they used the large, flat pappardella noodles to make the dish unique. Darren had the Bratwurst, served with sauerkraut and whole grain mustard on a bun. He said it was tasty, but thought the mustard was a little overpowering. An easy fix for next time we go!
Overall, the service was great and the atmosphere exciting. The restaurant definitely attract a Friday night crowd looking for cool ambiance. After dinner, our next stop was some shopping. An absolute must in Downtown Crossing is Primark‘s flagship USA location. I’m a huge fan of Primark because their prices are unbeatable. I also find the quality to be impressive for the price and have found some really incredible pieces. This time was no different. I found an adorable reindeer onesie for $10 (check out my Instagram Story highlights), a super cute Winnie the Pooh “Hunny” pot mug, and lots of cozy boot socks. Darren picked up more dress shirts for work, two leather belts, and a nice sweater. It was very successful trip!
It was a great first date night of 2019, and I can’t wait for more to come. Have suggestions for areas we should do date night? Leave a comment below. We’ve got 52 weeks to fill and could use your help! Until next week…
