Labor Day weekend has nearly arrived, and the Boston-area forecast is looking perfect for grilling and (small, distanced) outdoor gatherings. Haven’t made any plans yet? Here’s an assortment of local restaurants and shops to fill any last-minute needs via takeout or delivery: grill-your-own steak and burger kits, barbecue packages, oyster delivery, and even a whole takeout pig roast.
Steak and Burger Kits
- Many of the big-name steakhouse chains have been selling steak kits for at-home grilling throughout the pandemic; check the websites for Fogo de Chão, Del Frisco’s, Eddie V’s, the Capital Grille, Smith & Wollensky, and Mastro’s for a few options in Boston. Note that some must be ordered in advance; check each website for specifics.
- Cambridge’s Bambara is offering burger kits via takeout or delivery; order by 8 p.m. on September 3 for pickup after noon on September 5. For $20 per person, get dry-aged burgers and fixings alongside tomato and watermelon salad, pasta salad, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies.
Barbecue
- Citizen Public House in Fenway is offering whole pig roasts to go, meant to feed 10 people for $580 (please gather responsibly.) The roast includes local oysters and clams, as well as jumbo cocktail shrimp, for starters; five seasonal sides; and a slow-roasted whole suckling pig. Possible add-ons include a seafood tower, charcuterie board, and more. It’s best to order at least 48 hours in advance, although Citizen will try “to accommodate pig emergencies.” Call (617) 450-9000 to order.
- Blue Ribbon’s restaurants in Arlington, Newton, and Dedham are open for takeout (order online) and delivery (call your nearest location), with a variety of cooked barbecue options for individuals and small groups. Or, order from the new “at-home cookin’ menu” for cold and frozen prepared items, such as slabs of St. Louis-style ribs, burnt ends, and hot links. Must be ordered through the central catering office; call (617) 244-7427. Delivery available throughout most of the metro Boston area.
Meat in General
- With locations in Cambridge and Boston, butcher shop icon Savenor’s delivers tons of meat and other products via Mercato. For $245, try the spring/summer butcher box — steak tips, ribeye, sausages, ribs, chicken, and lots more.
- Somerville butcher shop M.F. Dulock is also a good choice for meats of all kind. Order online for pickup on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday; limited local delivery is also available on Friday.
Cheese and Charcuterie
- Chef Brian Poe (Tip Tap Room, Parish Cafe) recently launched the Crane River Cheese Club, delivering cheese kits and other specialty grocery items around the North Shore.
- There are several ways to order takeout and delivery from Brookline’s cheese-and-lots-more shop, Curds & Co.; consult the website for details on all the cheese, charcuterie, and other items available. Check the “six-foot picnics” section for ready-made combinations.
- Also in Brookline, Allium Market offers cheese and charcuterie platters (order 24 hours in advance) and tons of other products for takeout and delivery. Check out the meal kits, too: How about some Labor Day weekend paella?
- Don’t forget about the classic local cheese destination, Formaggio Kitchen, with two Cambridge locations and one in Boston. Consult the website for details on pickup and delivery, hours, and more for each location.
Oysters, Delivered
Shuck at home — check out this guide.
Sweet Treats, Delivered
Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and lots more — check out this guide for a variety of local delivery options.
Miscellaneous
- Branch Line in Watertown is offering several packages for pickup on Labor Day, include a lobster boil and a rotisserie chicken combo (with the restaurant’s popular snap pea salad and other fixings). Order online.
- The Barbara Lynch Collective is offering several Labor Day packages, available for pickup at the Butcher Shop in Boston’s South End on September 5 or 6 (order by 5 p.m. on September 3.) Options include a “seafood extravaganza,” a “grillin’ and chillin’” assortment of meats and accoutrements, and more.