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Disclosure: I was invited to dine as a guest of Bostons on the Beach and received a complimentary meal in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
Bostons has been a Downtown Delray Beach staple restaurant, sports bar and entertainment venue for the past 40 years. Its outdoor dining area has the perfect view of the beach, but inside you’ll find over 30 TVs for game-watching, and a stage where the area’s most renowned musicians park their instruments and put on great shows every weekend.
This New England-themed restaurant and bar has all the classics — lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, clam bakes and more. A few new items have hit the menu, but the crowd-favorites are still around. One of those new items is the spicy cauliflower “wings,” tossed in honey sriracha BBQ sauce and served with ranch dressing. I was incredibly excited to find that this actually can be made gluten-free. Simply tell your server, and the kitchen will prepare the cauliflower without any breading! The BBQ sauce is tangy and sweet, with just the right amount of heat. It’s great for sharing — but I basically devoured the entire plate on my own, and would do it again in a heartbeat.
While I devoured my cauliflower, my “permanent plus one,” as we’ve nicknamed him, noshed on the very glutenous crackling calamari (lol), which is lightly tempura-battered with crispy vegetables, and served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. I do have to admit — fried calamari is one of the things I truly miss since having to give up gluten.
The menu at Bostons has something for everyone, whatever your dietary lifestyle may be. If you’re like me and love a good salad that’s filled with lots and lots of stuff, you’ve got to get the grilled shrimp salad. It’s jam-packed with young arugula, roasted butternut squash, granny smith apples, sun-dried cranberries, goat cheese, and toasted pumpkin seeds, all tossed in the most delicious sweet and tangy maple-balsamic vinaigrette. There are so many colors, textures and flavors going on in this salad that it’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.
Roger went totally traditional and ordered one of Bostons signature dishes — the lobster roll. It’s prepared just like they do it in New England, and my Maine-born boyfriend completely approved of every aspect, especially the lobster-to-roll ratio.
Bostons is seriously one of the best spots in Downtown Delray for a lunch date, especially if you’re outside. You can’t beat the view or the opportunity for great people-watching along A1A.
Bostons on the Beach is located at 40 South Ocean Boulevard in Delray Beach. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11am-9:30pm, Saturday from 7:30am to 11pm, and Sunday from 7:30am-10pm. The bar is open until 10pm Monday through Thursday, 1am on Friday and Saturday, and 11:30pm on Sunday.
Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4-7pm and features half-priced draft beers, domestic bottles, well cocktails and house wine. Dollar Bud Light drafts are available from 5-6pm, and there is a special menu of select half-price appetizers. There is live music every Saturday and Sunday. A breakfast menu, and even a pet-friendly menu, are both available.
