Massachusetts Chinese Restaurant Named One Of The Best In America
Did you know there are more Chinese restaurants in America than many of your favorite fast-food chains? As Mashed recently pointed out, there are approximately 45,000 establishments nationwide. Therefore it should come with high praise that a Massachusetts Chinese restaurant was named among the best in America.
Mashed’s list highlights the establishments you need to know about: Chinese establishments in all corners of the country were featured. Some were unique to their selective style, while others were known for their great quality and tasting food.
In Massachusetts, we are lucky. Not only was one of our own selected here, but they have three locations to chose from.
Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Café
“These signature noodles are hand-pulled by chef and owner Gene Wu to replicate the ones made in Xi’an, China,” Mashed and the Food Network point out. Say no more. In fact, eight items on the menu feature this style of “hand-pulled” noodles. “The effusive proprietor of Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe came here 15 years ago from Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi province,” GenesCafe.com states. They continue to explain that Wu hand-pulls the noodles every morning from the kitchen.
Wu certainly seems to have created something special. There are now three Gene’s Flatbread Cafés in Massachusetts. They are located in Boston (86 Bedford St.), Woburn (466 Main St.), and Westford (175 Littleton Rd.). Each of them feature a similar menu of authentic noodle dishes and soups.
But What’s Up With “Flatbread”?
Fair question. This Massachusetts restaurant, named among the best, has also become well-known for its Chinese flatbread sandwiches. They make a lamb or a pork variation (both under $7), where the meat is slowly cooked and topped with spices. Then it’s sandwiched between freshly baked Chinese flatbread.
In short, this Massachusetts Chinese restaurant, named one of the best in America, gives you choices.
Massachusetts Brewery Is Crushing It With Their Merchandise
“We have been given the name of Merch King Kong by our peers,” Dino Funari, founder of Vitamin Sea Brewing says. That is because this brewery has some of the most recognizable merchandise in Massachusetts.
Chances are you’ve seen (or have) a hat or t-shirt that sports the branding “VSB,” “South Shore,” “Sea,” an ocean/sunrise vector, or a duck on it. That’s all Vitamin Sea Brewing. In fact, some of their items are so popular they fly off the shelf as soon as they are stocked. Furthermore, you can’t buy them online. They are all purchased onsite.
Weymouth, MA
Vitamin Sea Brewing opened in February of 2019. Their taproom (and headquarters) in Weymouth features twelve taps covering a wide range of craft beer styles. IPAs and stouts are also available to purchase in cans. Some of the beers vary per season, while others are more standard. The Summer IPA, currently on tap, for example, is hopped with Citra, Cascade, and Columbus hops. In addition, on tap number 12, you will find Seas and Desist Blueberry Lemonade. This is Vitamin Sea’s take on hard seltzer.
Their location has a beer garden feel where outdoor seating is available, and they typically partner with food trucks onsite at least three days per week. If you go inside VSB’s Weymouth home base, you will find a colorful wall of t-shirts adjacent to the bar and rack of hats, jackets, sweatshirts and more along the right-side wall.
The Merch Line
“Our marketing strategy happened organically. Well before we opened, I was handing out hats, t-shirts, pins, and stickers to get the word out. And it paid off. We’re constantly asked to advertise monetarily, but we see more value in getting our merch out to people or groups (musicians, athletes, media personalities) with their own audiences and fan bases, which introduces them to our brand,” Funari explains, about VSB’s intent to create such merch.
They have one of New England’s more recognizable logos. Whether you are walking in downtown Portland, ME or attending the Levitate Music and Artist Festival in Marshfield, it is likely you will see the Vitamin Sea round logo or duck along the way. People are proud to represent the passion that Vitamin Sea pours into everything they do. Wearing their gear also shows pride in where you are from.
Here, Funari will take us inside the taproom to provide some insight into this killer Vitamin Sea Brewing merch.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
