Northampton: A Food Lover's Dream In A Picturesque New England Town
Northampton, Massachusetts is home to my alma mater, Smith College. While it doesn’t draw tourists the way some other New England cities do, Northampton is a beautiful, quaint town that’s worth visiting at least once. The city is an art lover’s dream, serving as a hub for several art galleries, museums, and the annual Paradise City Arts Festival; it's also home to some really great restaurants. A stroll down Main St. will give you a taste of some of the best shops, galleries, and restaurants Northampton has to offer. I love going back to visit and to eat at my favorite local eateries. Whenever I’m in town, I make it a point to stop by these three restaurants in particular. If you’ve ever lived in the area, you're probably already familiar with the restaurants on this list.
Viva Fresh Pasta
As its name suggests, fresh pasta is a staple menu item here. All of the pasta is made in-house and the selections include black pepper fettuccine, sweet potato ravioli, and egg linguine. Viva Fresh Pasta also offers a delicious gluten-free, vegan penne pasta that can be paired with any of their sauces. I absolutely love their spinach fettuccine with pesto sauce; I’m a sucker for pesto and theirs is always fresh and flavorful. I like to pair my pasta with whatever fish is currently in season. Their lunch menu features a selection of small plates that allow you to sample multiple dishes in one sitting. I’m getting hungry just writing about it.
Osaka Japanese Sushi & Steak House
Osaka has a great selection of sushi as well as a hibachi menu. I typically go for the sushi, which always tastes fresh. Their extensive menu includes a variety of creative sushi roll creations. I’ve gotten so accustomed to New York prices that I’m always amazed at how much bang I get for my buck when I dine in Northampton. I can easily get my fill of sushi at Osaka for much less than I would at home. When I was in town a couple years ago, my boyfriend and I ordered the love boat for two, which proved to be just a little too much for two.
My birthday dinner at Osaka! Apple martinis and miso soup while we wait for our sushi.
Herrell’s Ice Cream
No trip to Northampton would be complete without stopping at Herrell’s. I have to admit: I kind of took Herrell’s for granted during my college years. But I appreciate it a lot more now that it’s not just a 10-minute walk away. You can find over 30 ice cream flavors at Herrell's, many of them seasonal. There’s even a flavor called Mountain Day (apple cinnamon ice cream with caramel and English toffee), named after the annual fall tradition at Smith College. They also have several non-dairy ice creams and sorbets. There are too many amazing flavors to list, but during my last visit, I savored every last spoonful of the maple walnut ice cream. The fresh maple and the bits of walnut really complement the creaminess of the ice cream. In addition to being the perfect way to satisfy my sweet tooth, Herrell’s is also a great reminder of my fondest college memories.
Have you ever dined in Northampton? If so, which restaurants are your favorites?