Huge congrats to the grad! Now, where to celebrate and toast paying back those student loans? (And a brilliant future, of course.) We’ve got suggestions for spots close to some of Boston’s colleges and universities so you can mark the milestone without traveling the miles.
Catalyst Restaurant
MIT grads won’t have to go far to enjoy pastry chef Nicole Harrington’s custom graduation cake at innovative Catalyst in Cambridge’s Technology Square. (Order yours in advance.) Catalyst will also treat grads and their proud families to a champagne toast. The restaurant is a study in sustainable, local, organic food. Owner/chef William Kovel experiments with salmon, burgers, chicken, and vegetables, producing creative dishes like Tri-Colored Cauliflower Steaks (with red quinoa, golden raisin puree, spiced yogurt, and torn pita). Sit on the heated patio (if you’re lucky to nab a reservation out there) and toast with a seasonal patio punch. www.catalyst restaurant.com.
Osteria Posto
Go whole hog and order the roasted pig dinner here. It serves up to 12 guests for $725 and includes a whole Vermont pig with herbed sausage stuffing, roasted vegetables, and seasonal salad. (You’ll need to place your order two weeks in advance.) Osteria Posto in Waltham is close to Brandeis University and Bentley College — all of which share the same graduation weekend this year on May 21 and 22 — and to accommodate grads and their families, the restaurant will expand hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. www.osteriaposto .com
Charcoal Guido’s
Waltham’s Moody Street is home to a row of restaurants, including this casual, open-kitchen concept spot. The New York Sirloin Vesuvio is a popular special occasion item, the risotto and pasta dishes are pleasers, and the weekly calamari and octopus special was such a hit it just graduated to permanent menu status. Honor the grad with a Spike Summer Tea cocktail (Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, muddled lemon, mint, and agave) or keep it simple and raise a glass of Prosecco. End your celebratory meal with the large-enough-to-share Nutella Pizza (chocolate, hazelnuts, ricotta, pizza crust). www.charcoalguidos.com
Del Frisco’s Grille, Chestnut Hill
The popular steakhouse will offer a special prime rib dinner on May 21-23 for celebrating Boston College grads and families (the Grille is right down the street from BC). A second Del Frisco’s restaurant, Double Eagle Steak House Boston, on Boston Harbor, will open at noon on May 14 and 15, as well as May 21 and 22, to accommodate Boston area college graduations. The dinner menu will be served all day, and there’s patio seating with harbor views. www.delfriscosgrille.com
Parsnip Restaurant and Lounge
Overlooking historic Winthrop Park in the heart of Harvard Square, recently opened two-story Parsnip Restaurant & Lounge will celebrate the graduation season by feting grads with Harvard-themed cocktails like The Cantabrigian (Applejack, Diep 9 Old Genever, Kina L’Aero D’or, Benedictine, Boker’s Bitter, Peychaud’s Bitters). The seasonally focused menu features spring dishes like mushroom and fiddlehead cavatelli (with pine nuts and whipped goat cheese) and duck breast (with parsnip and white chocolate puree, almonds, and coffee sauce.) A patio will open after Memorial Day. www.parsniprestaurant.com.
Alden & Harlow
Chef Michael Scelfo will honor grads with his menu that’s as local and eclectic as its hip Cambridge neighborhood. Brunch dishes include standouts like Root Vegetable Hash with a 60-degree egg, crispy garlic, and spicy hollandaise, and the dinner menu features dishes like Pickled Verrill Farm Corn Pancakes with buttermilk, maple, and shishito. The oft-changing cocktail menu features whimsical drinks like the Cassiopea (Privateer Rum, pea and fennel syrup, lime, Falernum.) www.aldenharlow.com
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Island Creek, not far from Boston University, shows off sustainable seafood in a setting that is Duxbury Bay-inspired. Island Creek encourages diners to learn about their oyster grower, harvester, winemaker, distiller, brewer, and fisherman. Hoist a craft beer and order local oysters (Duxbury and Chatham), as well as local fish and seafood (fried hand-dug Ipswich full-belly clams and York Harbor, Maine, lobster rolls) — and roasted Maine chicken and New York strip steak, too. www. islandcreekoysterbar.com
Josephine Restaurant Parisien
This Kenmore Square Parisian bistro, also not far from BU on Commonwealth Avenue, is magnifique for French majors or Francophiles looking for a modern, eclectic spot to sip curated wines by the glass and savor escargot, foie gras, steak frites au poivre, Croque Monsieur — and crème brulee for dessert. Santé! www.josephine boston.com
Alta Strada
Hillary Clinton graduated from Wellesley College, about a mile away from this family-style restaurant in Wellesley. Shared platters include course-after-course of Italian specialties like sautéed calamari with tomato, black olives, and capers; Sicilian tuna with olives and peppers; North Atlantic salmon with lentils, melted leeks, pancetta and basil; grilled sirloin with burnt herbs, broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes; and tiramisu and ricotta cheesecake. Cost: $50 per person. www.altastradarestaurant.com
The Elephant Walk, South End
A solid choice, especially for vegetarians and gluten-free diners, this Cambodian/French restaurant on Washington Street (especially convenient to Northeastern grads) is offering “The Graduate’s Choice’’ through the commencement season: Grads choose any appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $33. Traditional Cambodian dishes include Avocat Kanthor (raw tuna, avocado, lemongrass, shallot, French mint, dressing with Khmer spices and peanut) and Legumes Grille et curry vert epice au gingembre (rice croquette, grilled vegetables, tempura exotic mushroom, spicy ginger curry, sweet soy). Toast the grad with a round of Cambodian Mules (house-infused Kaffir lime vodka, lemongrass simple syrup, ginger beer.) www.elephant walk.com
Brasserie JO
Another nearby choice for Northeastern grads on Huntington Avenue (but convenient to other area colleges, as well), Brasserie JO is offering a private dining deal — reserve the Salon Prive and receive a three-course meal for the price of two courses, with a champagne toast. Meals begin at $50 per person. Or, opt to order off the regular French-inspired menu — chicken coq au vin, sirloin with mustard butter and béarnaise, and chocolate mousse (prepared tableside) — and celebrate the grad’s achievements. www. brasseriejoboston.com
Laurie Wilson can be reached at laurieheather@yahoo.com.
