Food

Playing with Fireplaces

The Best Fireside Seats in the City

Fireside dining. It used to be a quaint anachronism. Until it started snowing. Now it’s an emergency. So allow us to present you with these prime fireside tables for your dating, power lunching and rogue s’mores-ing consideration. Or power-date-s’mores-ing.

HEAT INDEX 1

Table 33 at Strega Waterfront

Where to Sit: The four-top that’s right next to a fire-filled glass heptagon. Which is something that has seven sides. And traps fire in Italian restaurants.
What to Order: A ribeye with mission figs and cognac sauce. And a Drogato cocktail made with fig simple syrup and cognac. You value fig consistency.

HEAT INDEX 2

A Rooftop Fireplace at Legal Harborside

Where to Sit: The third-floor rooftop lounge, which becomes a giant heated box this time of year. You want those two sofas next to the glassed-in fireplace. Lobbying for s’mores pole position highly recommended.
What to Order: Apple sangria by the pitcher and a 124-piece sushi boat. Call it stockpiling for winter.

HEAT INDEX 3

Farmhouse Table at Stephi’s in Southie

Where to Sit: At a rustic wooden table for 12 next to that one wall that’s on fire. Actually, it’s just a fireplace in the middle of a wall. You feel better about this now.
What to Order: Maple-butter acorn squash and sticky toffee pudding. It’s what fire would want.

HEAT INDEX 4

The Fireplace Table at Catalyst

Where to Sit: At the private, conference-style table sealed away by a wall of (encased) flame. It’s your power lunch. Oh, and the time to deploy a “You’re fired” pun is still never.
What to Order: Wild pheasant and scotch. It’s where all the power comes from.

HEAT INDEX 5

Table 74 at the Fireplace

Where to Sit: Next to that big stone thing in the back. One might even call it a “hearth.” You’re taking the two-top right next to its fiery maw. Dates love maws.
What to Order: The Bow Street Campfire. It’s whiskey-spiked hot cocoa with graham cracker and brûléed marshmallow. Dates love that stuff, too.