By Katelyn Umholtz You’re reading The Dish , Boston.com’s guide to the Greater Boston food and dining scene. Sign up to get expert food guides, chef Q&As, and industry news in your inbox every week .
As a kid, the mall food court felt like the coolest spot in town. I saw it as a chance to make my voice heard, choosing fried rice even if my dad was in line for a slice of Sbarro Pizza. It was full of activity and different walks of life, enjoying their Orange Julius while surrounded by shopping bags from Spencer’s or FYE.
I also loved shopping, so regardless of the pitiful food options, I knew it was ultimately just fuel before I asked (begged) my dad to walk into the dimly-lit rooms of Hollister. Now, I’m rarely inside of a mall, unless I need to return an online order. I make a mad-dash to get in and out as quickly as possible, leaving me no time to get mediocre food inside the shopping center.
But something different is happening inside the CambridgeSide mall’s food court . The restaurants are places I already eat outside of a mall setting ( Chilacates , Sapporo Ramen ). The collection of food offerings, from Mediterranean to wood-fired pizza, resembles several other modern food halls that have popped up around Boston.
The CanalSide food hall surrounds a bar, C-Side, run by some impressive names in the Boston beverage scene: Ran Duan of Blossom Bar and Brahm Callahan of Grill 23 & Bar. The wine list is curated by Brahm, and there are also a few craft beer options. .
