Merrimack Valley Magazine

We are happy to present the winners of the 2019 Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards. This spring, the top picks in all categories were chosen by our readers via our online voting platform. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and congratulations to all the winners.

Specialty Market
Butcher Boy Market
Break out the grill and grab an apron. Butcher Boy Market’s 60-foot meat counter has all the poultry, beef, lamb, veal, pork and homemade sausages you need. Not sure what you want? Their experienced butchers are happy to help you decide. Pick up some fresh fruit and beer for the perfect summer spread.
1077 Osgood St. | North Andover, Mass.
ButcherBoyMarket.com

Wine Shop
Andover Classic Wines
Whether you’re throwing a party or need to pick up wine for dinner, Andover Classic Wines can help. Shop your favorite style or vintner, or browse by country. Find a cabernet from Argentina, a riesling from Germany or a pinot from New Zealand. International beers and spirits are also on hand at this well-versed shop.
Andover, Mass.
AndoverClassicWines.com

World Cuisine
Fuse Bistro
Chef-owned Fuse prides itself on making its food from scratch, right down to the ice cream and chipotle ketchup. The creativity of the seasonal and locally-sourced menu is matched by the easygoing ambience — for many locals, the outdoor seating evokes lazy summers sipping ice-cold craft cocktails with friends.
45 Palmer St. | Lowell, Mass.
FuseBistro.com

New Restaurant
The Keep
The Keep has quickly rose to prominence as a go-to spot in downtown Lowell for craft beer, dinner with the family or cocktails with friends after work. Featuring beer from award-winning breweries both near and far, signature cocktails and fresh, locally sourced food served in an approachable atmosphere. The Keep also boasts an extensive whiskey and bourbon selection.
110 Gorham St. | Lowell, Mass.
TheKeepLowell.com

Diner
Four Sisters Owl Diner
Breakfast at this historic diner is guaranteed to start your day off right. Old favorites are given new life in Owl’s savory steak and eggs, homemade corned beef hash and creamed chipped beef on toast. Soups, salads and sandwiches make up the lunch menu. Wake up and fuel up at the Owl Diner.
244 Appleton St. | Lowell, Mass.

Frozen Treats
Kimball Farm
Kimball Farm has been making ice cream for more than 75 years. With a variety of sherbet, sorbet and frozen yogurt, in addition to more than 50 flavors of ice cream, there’s something for everyone. Vanilla ice cream is a traditional crowd favorite, particularly in hot fudge sundaes, banana splits, and the Kimball Special — three softball-size scoops of ice cream, three toppings, marshmallow, whipped cream and nuts.
Carlisle, Lancaster and Westford, Mass.; Jaffrey, N.H.
KimballFarm.com

Alfresco Dining
The Deck
The Deck is located at historic Bridge Marina, the oldest marina on the Merrimack River, and offers delicious drinks and a simple, refined menu. The food is freshly prepared each day from scratch to deliver a unique and tasty experience and the waterview is one of the best in the region. After a recent expansion, there is now a second-floor roofed lounge area.
179R Bridge Rd. | Salisbury, Mass.
TheDeckSalisbury.com

Caterers
Two Chefs Are Better Than One
Two Chefs Are Better Than One Catering can create an ideal menu for any wedding or celebration, whether it’s a quaint family gathering or an extravagant gala with hundreds of guests. Let Two Chefs worry about the details while you enjoy your special day. Work with their event coordinators to customize a list of options that meets all your needs and desires.
Lowell, Mass.
TwoChefsFood.com

Seafood
Seaglass Restaurant and Lounge
The panoramic ocean views at this casual upscale restaurant make it an ideal destination for a simple night out or a big celebration. Seaglass offers a wide selection of surf and turf entrees and local seasonal specials. Stop by Sundays for Seaglass’s Brunch by the Sea and enjoy a bloody mary with your water view.
4 Oceanfront North | Salisbury, Mass.
SeaglassOceanside.com

Stop by next week for the winners in the second half of our ‘Wine & Dine’ category.

The 2019 MVMAs are sponsored by:

If there is such a thing as hallowed ground in Lowell’s culinary community, then it surely must be the small dining room and cozy bar space on Central Street that’s now home to The Keep.

Over the years, an astonishing array of terrific restaurants have occupied the space. La Boniche, which set the standard for casually fine dining in Greater Lowell, opened there before moving to the Merrimack Street location that’s now home to Lowell Burger Company.

I still sigh in pleasure when I think of Luna d’Oro, which opened after La Boniche’s move. The restaurant was just a tad ahead of its time and never received the kind of local kudos it well deserved. When I worked in the Hub, I brought a variety of people to Luna d’Oro, including a Boston restaurant owner-friend or two. They were bowled over by the place.

Ricardo’s Cafe Trattoria, owned and operated by the late Richard Rourke, brought a splash of Italian cuisine to the location and rightfully earned many fans over the years. When Ricardo’s closed in 2017, a hole was created in Lowell’s restaurant scene.

But the food industry, like nature, abhors a vacuum. And it was only a matter of time before something else popped up in the near-legendary spot. This April, The Keep, without much fanfare, lowered its drawbridge.

Left: The steak frites plate is excellent, but the beef is almost overshadowed by the hand-cut french fries. Right: The Stardust combines Bombay Sapphire gin, pimento dram, orgeat syrup, guava and lemon. According to owner Richard Healy, the drink is a play on the classic Tiki cocktail, The Saturn.

The new ownership has been shrewd enough to play to the space’s strengths and not compete with previous operations. So rather than go high end and risk inevitable comparisons with its predecessors, The Keep’s crew has opted for a more relaxed atmosphere while still offering a smart mix of good food and beverages.

Although it bills itself as a whiskey bar, The Keep features a prominent selection of craft beers. Overall, the bar is the best in the city and reminiscent of the kind of inviting watering holes I often visited overseas. The adjoining dining room also possess a low-key charm and a timeless feel.

On a recent Saturday night, the place was filled with a younger, hipper crowd than we encountered at Ricardo’s. That’s no knock — just an observation. It’s also looking to be a late-night haunt, with a daily last call of 1:30 a.m.

The Keep keeps it simple. There are fewer than a dozen snacks or appetizers and a half-dozen entrees on the dinner menu. Still, there are a nice variety of options.

The Keep Wings ($12) were packed with flavor and served in a skillet. Done in a Southern-accented dry rub and escorted with a smooth remoulade sauce, they were quickly addictive.

The marinated vegetable tartine ($6) was another hit. Local microgreens were served with mascarpone and marinated veggies accented with Middle Eastern herbs and spices. Served with flatbread, it was tasty, filling and a good deal.

The steak frites ($22) are a nice example of The Keep’s eye for detail. The flank steak was prepared as requested (medium rare), and as appealing as it was, the sides stole the show. The hand-cut fries (also available as a side for $8) were crisp and savory, and the artisan greens salad was a herbivore’s delight.

Left: The shrimp and sausage gumbo offers a nice kick at a fair price. The marinated vegetable tartine is, perhaps like The Keep itself, a bit unassuming at first. However, the combination of Middle Eastern herbs, mascarpone and fresh veggies is an eye-opening appetizer.

Restaurants always gamble when they offer gumbo ($18), especially if diners have had the authentic thing in New Orleans. But The Keep’s sausage and shrimp version earns good grades, especially for the price.

The Creole stew and locally made andouille sausage hit the right taste buttons and provided a nice kick. Served with steamed rice, it was another filling, pleasing item for a fair fee.

The small plates look to be The Keep’s bread and butter, and options range from a generous cheese plate ($14) — with cheeses provided by Mill City Cheesemongers,
a shop located at Mill No. 5 — to pork belly sliders ($12), salmon rillettes ($12), and even a pickle plate ($5).

It turns out that several of my friends, all of whom come from outside the city, have also visited The Keep and gave it the thumbs-up. The Keep looks to be a keeper.

The Keep
Lowell, Mass.
(978) 455-3666
TheKeepLowell.com
Kitchen Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. daily

2019 MVMA Winners – Wine & Dine (Part 2)

Good Eats – The Keep

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