Fresh cooking that won’t break the bank

COOKING IS THE MAIN INGREDIENT. MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN HARD HIT by the pandemic and recession, but some have found ways to shine, even in tough times. WHAT WE OFFER IS REALLY AFFORDABLE. AS YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD LUNCH UNDER LIKE 13 OR 15 NEW SHEILA IN BOSTON SOUTH END SPECIALIZING IN ARMENIAN AND LEBANESE CUISINE. NINA, PS IS THE OWNER. SHE SAYS THE NAME OF THE RESTAURANT MEANS CAN BE SWEET, WHICH IS A BON APPÉTIT VERSION WHEN SERVING SOMEONE WITH PRIDE AND LOVE, THE RESTAURANT OFFERS A SELECTION OF WRAPS BOLLS AND SMALL PLATES. NINA SAYS HER EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN BACKGROUND AND COOKING FOR HER SONS INSPIRED HER TO OPEN THE RESTAURANT. ONCE THE BOYS WENT TO COLLEGE, NINA MADE THE LEAP AND OPENED THE RESTAURANT. IN 2017, WHILE RAISE MY BOYS, THERE WAS LACK OF ARMENIAN-LEBANESE RESTAURANTS IN THE BOSTON AREA. SO THAT’S WHEN WE THOUGHT TO OPEN A PLACE THAT SERVES ARMENIANS, LEBANESE, AND FOOD IS REALLY AFFORDABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. ALSO FRESH WITHOUT PRESERVATIONS, NINA IS PROUD TO OFFER HEALTHY AND QUICK DISHES WITHOUT CHARGED PREMIUM QUALITY OR SACRIFICE. WE WILL NOT FRY ANYTHING HERE. EVERYTHING IS COOKED OR GRILLED. NINA RECOMMENDS THE ZAATAR CHICKEN WRAP. IT’S A BLEND OF CHICKEN AND MEDITERRANEAN HERBS BLENDED IN OLIVE OIL TOPPED WITH TOMATOES, CUCUMBER, MINT, BLACK OLIVES AND POMEGRANATE SEEDS, ALL FOR 675. BEST SELLERS ARE OUR BOWLS. THE COUSCOUS GRAIN BOWL IS A HEART DISH MADE OF HOUMUS, SPICY RED PEPPER AND A MIXED NUTS. ALL BOWLS ARE APPROXIMATELY $11. NINA SAYS IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE TO KEEP THE MENU AFFORDABLE AMID RISE IN FOOD COSTS. BUT THE CONTINUOUS FLOW OF USED IS A POSITIVE SIGN. I LOVE THE SOUTH END. WE ARE IN SOUTH END AND THE PEOPLE ARE REALLY NICE HERE AND WE HAVE A LOVELY COMMUNITY WHO VISIT OUR RESTAURANT VERY REGULARLY. IT’S REALLY NICE TO BE HERE. ANOTHER LOCAL FAMILY RESTAURANT, CHACO RARO STARTED AS A PUSHCART IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON IN THE EARLY 90’S. WHEN I STARTED HERE, I STARTED WITH NOTHING. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COME TO THIS COUNTRY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO AFTER I IMMIGRATE TO BOSTON FROM CHILE, JUAN HURTADO TAKE A BET WHEN HE STARTED SELLING SANDWICHES DOWNTOWN THE CHARRO IS COMMON IN THE HURTADO HOMELAND, BUT HARDER TO FIND IN THE USA. THE WORD CORDERO REALLY MEANS ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM A FARM. CHUCK GUERRERO STARTED WITH SOFT GROUND, HOMEMADE BREAD STUFFED WITH CHICKEN OR BEEF OR BOTH, WITH TOMATOES, GREEN BEANS AND MUNSTER CHEESE. IT IS FILLED WITH A SPECIAL HOT SAUCE AND AVOCADO. JUAN’S DAUGHTER ANDREA SAYS CUSTOMERS COMPLETE AT THE RESTAURANT FOR THE UNIQUE SANDWICH YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU’VE NEVER TRYED BEFORE. EVERYTHING IS FRESH. YOU GET THE GREEN BEAN CRUNCHY THERE AVOCADO SPREADS IT ALL. THE BREAD IS NICE AND HOT AND SOFT. LITTLE. THE GUERREROS COST ABOUT $12. THE LARGE COMES UNDER 15 AND EASILY SERVES TWO. IT FILL YOU UP FOR THE DAY. SO HONESTLY YOU GET A MEAL FOR THE DAY. YOU WANT TO PUT A PEPPER ON TOP. HUGE DEMAND FOR THE SPICY SANDWICH QUICKLY MADE THE PUSHCART OBSOLETE AFTER A FEW YEARS IN FILENE’S OLD BUILDING, CHUCK GUERRERO FOUND A PERMANENT HOME ON ARCH STREET. JUAN SAYS THE ORIGINAL BET WON AND NOW HIS CHILDREN ARE PUTTING THEIR WORK INTO THE RESTAURANT. I AM VERY HAPPY. I AM HAPPY BECAUSE EARLIER I DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE SHE STARTED TO LEARN EVERYTHING. MY MOTHER AND FATHER STARTING, THEY WERE CONSTANTLY BUSY. MY MOTHER WAS RAISING US. MY DAD WAS HERE AND JUST SEEING THE HARD WORK THEY PUT IN TO TWO IS JUST IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING. LIKE ANDREA HURTADO, JEN VERO LEARNED ABOUT THE FAMILY BUSINESS AT AN EARLY AGE. MY GRANDFATHER STARTED THE FARM IN 1918. CONCORD’S VERO FARM IS A DESTINATION FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR NOURISHING FOOD IN A SERENE SETTING. FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. YOU CAN JUST WALK IN AND OUT ON THE GRASS ON A NICE DAY AND IT’S A NICE PLACE TO RELAX, PRODUCE MEAT AND BAKED ITEMS, STILL THE FARM STAND, BUT AT THE BACK IS ONE OF THE HIDDEN GEMS OF VERO FARMS, THE DELI, I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS IT’S VERY POPULAR IS BECAUSE WE MAKE A LOT OF ITEMS THAT TAKE PLACE IN IT. AS WE DO WE SAUTÉ ONIONS AND PEPPERS FOR SOME OF THE DISHES WE MAKE, ALL THE SAUCES, EVERYTHING IS REALLY FRESH. SANDWICH PRICES ARE HARD TO BEAT. THEY ALL COME UNDER $10. VERO SAYS THE HARVEST TURKEY WRAP MADE WITH TURKEY-STUFFED CRANBERRY SAUCE AND MAPLE NUT CREAM CHEESE IS HOT ALL YEAR ROUND, AS IS THE MIC SPECIAL. THE SPECIAL MIKE IS ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER SOMEONE WHO WORKED HERE, WHO HAD THIS PESTO CHEESE AND TOMATO SANDWICH. SO IT CAN’T BE WRONG, SAYS VERO, CONTINUING THE FAMILY TRADITION OF SELLING HEALTHY FARM FRESH FOODS FOR GOOD VALUE IS REWARDING. WE WANT TO HAVE FAIR PRICES, BUT ALSO GET A LITTLE BACK FOR US TOO. WE HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES WHO WORK VERY HARD AND WE DO EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH AND WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO WHAT WE DO. AND THE VERO FAMILY PATRIARCH, STEVE, HAS BEEN ACTING AT CONCORD FOR NEARLY 90 YEARS. IT’S INCREDIBLE. GOOD FOR HIM. BACK IN CARRERO, THEY HAVE RECENTLY STARTED MAKING A VEGAN SANDWICH ON FRIDAYS ONLY. THEY SAY IF IT’S A SUCCESS, THEY MAKE IT A PERMANENT MENU ITEM. SO FOR VEGANS, GO GET IT, DON’T GET IT. FOLLOWING

Cheap Eats: fresh food that won’t break the bank

Armenian-Lebanese cuisine in Boston and Concord, Mass., sandwiches under $10

Updated: 8:20 p.m. EDT May 25, 2023

Family restaurants have been hit hard by the pandemic and the economic fallout. But some have found ways to shine even in difficult times. Anoush’ella, in Boston’s Southside, specializes in Armenian and Lebanese cuisine. Chacarero is common in Hurtado’s homeland, but harder to find in the United States. Verrill Farm in Concord, Mass., is a destination for those seeking nutritious food in a serene setting.

Family restaurants have been hit hard by the pandemic and the economic fallout. But some have found ways to shine even in difficult times.

Anoush’ella, in Boston’s South End, specializes in Armenian and Lebanese cuisine.

After immigrating to Boston from Chile decades ago, Juan Hurtado took a gamble when he started selling sandwiches downtown. The chacarero is common in Hurtado’s homeland, but harder to find in the United States.

Verrill Farm in Concord, Mass., is a destination for those seeking nourishing food in a serene setting.