Where shall we meet for lunch?
Just over two years ago, my job moved out to Boston’s Seaport area. I was thrilled to have the views of the ocean, the airport, and access to downtown Boston. It was a whole new world of restaurants to explore! One place that soon became a favorite for my networking lunches was Trade, a restaurant inspired by Chef-owner Jody Adams’ travels to the Mediterranean regions of the world.
Bryan and I have been fans of Chef Jody Adams for years. We live only about a 10-minute walk away from Rialto, her flagship restaurant in Harvard Square. We’ve enjoyed many dinners there, both in the main dining, in the lovely outdoor patio, and at the bar.
Trade is located close to the Seaport area and South Station. The surrounding neighborhood is filled with restaurants, luxury hotels, and high rise office buildings. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and is a very popular lunch spot for all the businesses in the area.
I still have yet to visit for dinner, so this post is purely about lunch.
Trade is a great place for a business lunch. The restaurant is very used to serving the busy lunch crowd. Service is smooth, food comes out quickly, and it’s a pleasant experience. There are a wide variety of dishes to suit different types of eaters. You can get flatbreads (like personal sized pizzas), sandwiches, the signature “TRADE burger”, or a salad. There are lots of options for vegetarians. It’s not unusual to see people in suits dining there (lots of financial and law firms nearby!), though you would look just fine if you’re wearing business casual.
The lunch menu consists of appetizers (called “small” on the menu – $7-$12), soups and salads ($9-$12), flatbreads ($13 -$16), sandwiches ($14-$16), and plates ($18-$26). The dinner is menu is similar, but omits sandwiches in favor of a wider variety of dishes and a raw bar (e.g., oysters, gulf shrimp, crab sliders, and octopus).
Ahi Tuna Crudo ($11) with black vinegar, sesame cracker and serrano
Brussels Sprouts ($7) with five spice, sesame aioli and gomashio
Fried Calamari Po’ Boy ($15) with squid, hot peppers, and cilantro
Za’atar Dusted Falafel Fold-Over ($15) with tzatziki, pickled onion and tomato jam
Flatbreads ($15) lamb sausage with eggplant, Manchego cheese, peppers and garlic yogurt
Thoughts
In general, the food is good and pretty reasonably priced. I love Mediterranean food, so it’s easy for me to get excited about falafels, fried Halloumi cheese, or dishes made with harissa and za’atar. I like coming here because I feel like I can find healthy options that are still really tasty.
The space is bright, airy, and very comfortable. It’s great for business lunches, and I’ve had several there. Hopefully I can come back soon some day to try the dinner menu!
Trade Boston
540 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
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