I'm heading up to Lynn for some training this week and staying in Peabody. Is there any good restaurants or bottle shops in the area? On Friday, I get done at noon and plan on hitting Trillium on the way back. How crazy is it at like 1?
If you are driving down Rt 1 from Peabody to Trillium you'll go right through Everett/Chelsea. The Night Shift taproom opens at noon on Fridays and Mystic opens at 11am if you wanted to pick up bottles/growlers. I'd recommend grabbing bottles of Ever Weisse and Harborside if you go to Night Shift. The Kappy's in Medford has a good selection of craft beers, right down the street from Night Shift. Also, the Far from the Tree taproom just opened up in Salem, just a short drive from Peabody. I haven't been there yet but I like their ciders.
Trillium around 1 on Fridays is typically not too bad, unless there is a special release. None on the lineup as of right now...
For restaurants, your best (only?) bet in Lynn is the Blue Ox, which opens at 5. http://www.theblueoxlynn.com/ Otherwise, you might want to consider popping into Salem on your way back to Peabody. Places with good beer lists there include: Gulu Gulu Cafe, Flying Saucer Pizza, and Naumkeag Ordinary, all of which are located within 30 feet of each other. For bottles in Salem, hit Quality Liquors on Gedney Street.
Not sure of their tap list (could be all BMC for all I know), but I've heard that the Four Winds Pub & Grill outside of Wyoma Sq in Lynn is putting out some great pub food and is close to the Lynn/Peabody line. Maybe someone else can comment on their experience.
+1 on the Gulu Gulu Cafe. Also nearby - I stopped in at The Lobster Shanty in downtown Salem this weekend. They had a few good local taps including Notch Either/Or (can't get enough of this), Henniker Artisan and Mayflower Golden.
+4 on Gulu Gulu. Vinnin Liquors in Swampscott (next door to Lynn) is the best bottle shop in the area--great selection and best prices anywhere in Mass. Quality Liquors is good, too, if you are out that way.
Marblehead is about 15 minutes from Lynn, and the Three Cod Tavern on 141 Pleasant Street just won best chowder as well as best lunch in the north shore. Solid local tap list there as well as a great bottled beer selection.
I can’t go to Peabody and not stop at Karl’s sausage kitchen. I strongly suggest a visit to lunch on their seriously good German food in their cafe (and German beer). Then hit their deli and take home as many of their housemade brats, wursts, and smoked sausages as will fit on your grill.
If you go to Gulu Gulu (another recommendation) check out Steve's Quality just down the street next to the post office. They have a lot of great beers including some hard to find gems.
First off, thank you everyone for the suggestions. We hit Gulu Gulu and Flying Saucer. The food at Gulu Gulu was really good (loved the artichoke dip with curry). The pizza was at Flying Saucer was pretty. Definitely got some tasty beers at both spots! Are they owned by the same people? I noticed plateware, utensils etc were all the same. Was able to get Lord Hobo Boom Sauce, Stone Face IPA and Brewmaster Jack Good Sense to bring home. Thought Boom Sauce was good, but I'll finish the 4 pack tonight.
Good to hear you enjoyed the trip. Yes, the guy who owns Gulu Gulu also owns Flying Saucer. Apparently he's a sci-fi nerd, so all of the memorabilia on the walls is from his collection. The Globe had an article about it when they first opened.
I know the original poster has already come and gone, but in case anyone pulls up this thread for suggestions...I'd add Sea Level on Pickering Wharf to the list for Salem. Very strong beer selection and good food to boot, and it's right on the water.
