Best thing to eat at Fenway

[kcaesar]

Coming to Boston to see a Sox game. What is the "must have" item at Fenway? Is it better to get something outside the stadium or wait until you get inside?

[TheTrout]

This time of year, there's only one way to go - two cups of Legal's chowdah. One to consume, and the other to hold on to, to keep you warm. Go Sox !

[ChinaCat]

I was at last night (Thursday's) game, and no it wasn't a great game, but it was fun all the same. But the beer line was short when I arrived, so I managed to get a $7.75 Harpoon to drink with pistachios bought from the guy outside on Yawkey way.

I often get a Fenway frank from the aisle guys, but surely a ballpark frank is the same all over? I've only tried at a couple other stadiums (Yankee, Safeco) and they were just more steamed hotdogs.

I used to like the cool dogs, but those seem to be gone.

and have you seen the vending machines, in the big concourse out by the bleachers/RF boxes? You can get a hot dog from a vending machine!! that's just weird.

[jgg13]

I believe the vending machines are kosher hot dogs. Note that this is different than the "kosher style" dogs at the concession stands, which use a kosher dog but the final product isn't kosher or somesuch.

As to how it tastes diff here & there, for the fenway frank there's a discernable taste diff between the stands & the vendors, its purely going to be a matter of the dog sitting in the vendor's container and not some real difference. There *are* other hot dogs available around the ballpark though ("kosher style", "gourmet", "monster" (which is somewhere in between a sausage and a dog, I think its 1/2 lb), etc)

[grant.cook]

A Fenway Frank, a beer, and the seared heart of any Yankee fan...

[DanInCambridge]

As far as sausages go, I did a taste test side by side one from ChiChi, one from Sausage Guy. Just Bun, Sausage, peppers, onions. No condiments.

Sausage Guy won hands down by flavor, being cheaper is also a bonus.

You would think they all get their sausages from the same suppliers.

[Bostonbob3]

You can get The Sausage Guy's sausages on his website.

5 pounds, 19.99 I think.

[C. Hamster]

I know many people find Fenway Franks to be a must-have, but hot dogs dumped from their package into hot water and then served as they are by the vendors totally skeeve me out. I know a few vendors (not hot dog guys, though ... peanut guy and beer vendors) and they refuse to eat them.

I like ChiChi's sausage the best for food in and around the park.

You can bring in fried chicken, chinese, pizza, burritos, fish tacos, falafel, cambodian, indian, burgers -- just about anything from just a block or two from the park.

Inside food is very pricey and incredibly mediocre.

[galleygirl]

Damn, where can you get Cambodian near there????

[jgg13]

Guessing he is referring to Elephant Walk?

[galleygirl]

Oh... ;(
I always think of that as Cambodian Lite....

[jgg13]

I could def be wrong (Hamster?), but I can't think of anything else that fits the bill over there.

[C. Hamster]

Yep. It's 5 min from the park.

As far as I know Elephant Walk is really the only Cambodian in town.

Though their Brookline location is not their best.

[terrycatch]

Actually, in all these years we've never attempted to bring food in from outside. Either ate outside, or bought inside. They don't hassle you about bringing food in?

[Luther]

For some reason (grabbing on the aviation industry's coattails? better preventing people from smuggling booze?) they will allow all solid food but the only beverage allowed is bottled water.

[Bostonbob3]

Or any beverage that LOOKS like bottled water.

[heWho]

I like your style Bob....

I'm going to the game tonight.... hmmmm...... $3 home made gin and tonic or $7.25 light beer.....

[C. Hamster]

LOL

Don't they examine the bottle to make sure the top hasn't been removed??

[fmcoxe6188]

haha no- absolutely not- if its a water bottle they are ok with it. I have a friend who's a BIG fan of this trick!

I was there last night and I have to say- hot dogs in the stands...might be gross to think about but SO GOOD!

[heWho]

That was a pretty terrible game to see. Our awful seats didn't help (we had a pole right in front of the batter). But, the fenway franks and a few beers helped make up for it. I should've made a gin and tonic!

I also opted for a cup of Legal Seafood's Chowder last night. It was in serious need of seasoning, it lacked both salt and pepper. The richness and clams were all there, it just needed a good dose of salt.

[jgg13]

Are you talking about Weds night's game? What was wrong with it?

Now Thursday's game (which was 'last night' for your post, but not fmcoxe6188's) wasn't so good.

[heWho]

I was talking about last night's miserable game. The only thing that game had going for it is that it was over quickly!

[Hambone Willy]

If you are coming from out of town for game then you HAVE to get a Fenway Frank inside, maybe a Pearl Hot Dog from the place on the corner of Yawkey Way (someone help with the name). In general though I would agree with ChinaCat that there aren't really any truly unique and intersting foods in the Park. If you have been to a bunch of parks I would lower my expectations accordingly. Other than the Fenway Frank, there is no must eat food like other places, ie: fish tacos in SD, Chicago Dog in Wrigley, garlic fries in SF, Boog Powell's BBQ in Baltimore, giant turkey leg in Texas, etc. etc. you get the point.

[Lucymax]

We were just at Fenway about 10 days ago. I was surprised and pleased that they let us bring in a big bottle of water. Personally I like going to the end of Lansdowne Street before a game and getting something to eat at Remdawg's. I'm not saying it's high quality -- it's not. But they have picnic tables, and you can see the live pre-game TV broadcast being done right there (just up to game time). There are some outdoor tables within Fenway (on the terraces), which you might be able to grab for a few minutes before the game starts.

[jgg13]

I never actually went to Remdawgs (given that it is pretty kitschy and the same food as everywhere else) until tonight. I was showing my mom the Yawkey Way setup (its been a few years since she's been to Fenway) and the lines at all the vendors were long so we were heading over to the bleacher concourse. I pointed out Remdawgs and noticed the line was short, remembering your post about the tables we went over there.

Anyhoo, I forget what their gimmick name was there but I had the equivalent of the monster dog. I actually like those in their own not-so-good way. Im not sure what htey are (I picture them as being what Speed uses), but they're somewhere in between a sausage and a dog in both texture & taste.

[Luther]

Get chicken and biscuits at Popeye's and bring that in. You'll have to either bring bottled water or purchase soda/beer for outrageous prices once inside the park.

[jgg13]

Or if you're a pig like me, you hit up popeyes *and* the sausage guy outside, and then inside get a fenway frank and maybe something else ;)

[katesprings]

Can you recommend a pub with some really great pub food outside the park as we're heading to a game this Saturday?

[Bostonbob3]

I like Audobon Circle.

[jgg13]

ESK is a popular one. That's not really how I roll though - if I'm meeting other folks I usually head over to Cornwalls or Who's On First for some beers beforehand (and PJs back in the day) and stuff myself with game food.

[ChinaCat]

its much better to eat outside. Fenway doesn't really have any particularly good or specialty types of food. Although the Cubano from the El Tiante stand out on Yawkey way is decent.

you are far better off getting fish tacos or the El Guapo burrito at El Pelon before the game!

[heWho]

If you're a local who goes to a bunch of games a year, then sure, it's better to eat otuside the park. But if you've never been to Fenway, or if you rarely get a chance to see a game there, then I'd go 100% for Fenway food. You have to try a fenway frank... I don't know what it is, but it's just about the best dog you'll get at a ball yard. But almost as important, I'd recommend getting a sausage from one of the vendors outside the stadium, preferably from "The Sausage Guy" on Landsdowne St. He does a solid sandwich of sausage and peppers, grilled right in front of you.

Are these the best things to eat in and around Fenway? No. But they are as much a part of the game as singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame. It's just part of the experience, and they'll get you in the mood for baseball better than an unmemorable burrito, that's for sure.

[Bostonbob3]

You have to have a sausage with peppers (AND ONIONS!) outside the park. But walk around and find a vendor who has Sriracha sauce on the condiment table. I find it essential to the experience.

[Hambone Willy]

Or get the sausage at Sausage Guy and walk over and sneak the ariracha from Chi Chi's, which is my style (he is more expensive that SG).

[Bostonbob3]

Sneaky, underhanded...and brilliant. :))

[Calico Jack]

definitely. sausage guy all the way.

[Elyssa]

I ditto the Sausage Guy. Or if you are like my Dad, you'll get a sandwich from the sausage guy and then possibly a few hours later you'll get a Fenway Frank to share with your daughter :)

[jgg13]

I like how your dad operates!

[CityPork]

Yes, get a Frank, but get it from the guys that walk around. For some reason they taste better to me. There is also Legal's Chowder in the park and they walk around with that when it's cold out. The Peanuts are always fun to snack on too.
I always save my appetite when I know I am going to Fenway. That is part of the reason I love going to the games.

[jgg13]

I agree about the guys walking around - never really figured it out.

[Elyssa]

I'm 100% convinced its the sweat that drips off their bodies from lugging around that heavy case all day. Their hard work seasons the dogs :)

[jgg13]

Errr, ummm ... i'm not so sure I like them better anymore! ;)

[Bostonbob3]

Heh. In NYC, the prevailing hot dog wisdom is: "never buy a dog from a street vendor with clean finger nails. It means he's had his hands in the hot dog water."

Personally, I don't know why that's considered more disgusting than buying them from vendors who have filthy finger nails, but whatever. :))

[raddoc]

If you're getting peanuts, ALWAYS get it from the guys outside who roast it and pack in paper bags, waayy better than the over salted plastic bagged nuts in the park!