Anthony Bourdain, the beloved and celebrated chef, author, and travel expert visited over 80 countries and all seven continents. Despite his New York, New Jersey upbringing, Bourdain’s start in the food industry began at just 17-years-old in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
During his career, Bourdain frequented New England, documenting his visits on some of his shows like No Reservations and A Cook’s Tour. Two years after Bourdain’s globe-trembling death on June 8, 2018 in Strasbourg, France, fellow chefs deemed his birthday, June 25, “Anthony Bourdain Day.”
The New Jersey native celebrated New England’s prominent seafood scene among other cuisines. Below are a few of the spots in Boston and other parts of New England that Anthony Bourdain recommended and enjoyed visiting:
1. Belle Isle Seafood (Winthrop)
Famous for its lobster roll, beloved by Bostonians, this spot lets the seafood standout by “doing less.”
2. Michael’s Deli (Brookline)
This tiny spot in Coolidge Corner is popular for its corned beef. Bourdain tried the Howie Carr Sandwich and pastrami knishes when visiting.
3. Galley Diner (South Boston)
This South Boston spot is famous for its classic American breakfasts featuring hash, omelets, and home fries.
4. Rondo’s Submarine Sandwiches (South Boston)
As the name suggests, guests come here for massive subs.
5. Murphy’s (South Boston)
Just a path away from Pleasant Bay, this Irish hangout is a dedicated townie spot.
6. L Street Tavern (South Boston)
Bourdain highlights in his show guests get a true Bostonian experience here, just around the bend from Murphy’s.
7. The Lobster Pot (Provincetown)
This spot was extra sentimental for Bourdain as it was the starting point for his cooking career. He worked there while obtaining his higher education at Vassar College before shifting gears to culinary school.
This famous seafood spot opened in 1979. Sadly, the restaurant operated by the McNulty family since opening listed for sale in 2023 with a $14 million price tag.
8. The Atlantic House (Provincetown)
Also known as the “A-House,” this was a local hangout for Bourdain while working in P-town.
9. Spiritus Pizza (Provincetown)
Bourdain once said in an interview, “I cannot tell you how frequently I dream about Spiritus Pizza.”
10. The Snack Bar at Senhor Ramos (East Cambridge) CLOSED
Sadly, this spot permanently shut down, but offered Boston a unique and hard to find specific Portuguese cuisine inspired by the Azores Islands. Azorean cuisine at this spot featured plentiful potatoes, seafood, and stews.
If you want to catch some of the action, Bourdain and his team visited Boston for episode seven, season seven of No Reservations. The episode first aired in 2011, so some of the establishments in that episode have since shut down permanently.