If you're there on a weekday, I love Middle Street Foods which is right around the corner from Abraham's. I especially like their egg and cheese biscuit sandwiches. Likewise, the croissants at Buttermilk next to Abe's are superb.
There used to be a great crepe place in the city, but it closed during the pandemic and was recently replaced by a cafe whose first location is in Haverhill. It's okay, but I sure do miss my crepes.
Oh, that hurts my heart! Abraham's bagels are my very, very favorite--perhaps it's hometown bias, but to each their own. I'm back home about once a month, so this list is reasonably reflective of current quality, IMO:
Angie's is a good stop if you want an authentic, old-timey diner experience.
Hodgie's Too is my first and last stop for ice cream.
Bar25 is arguably Newburyport's first cocktail bar; recently opened, nice and moody, if a bit loud.
Riverwalk is a great brewery and taproom right next to the commuter rail station.
Giuseppe's continues to be some of the best Italian food I've ever had. Really cannot recommend enough.
The Park Lunch and the Grog are the ideal taverns for meeting townies.
Maudslay State Park is a beautiful old estate and a great day walk/light hike.
Ok I have an amendment to make: once every month or two I have a day where my taste buds are not right and everything tastes kinda of chalky and bitter. It's something that started up maybe 2-3 years ago and it's something that I only realize is happening as I eat stuff over the course of the day (also my doctor says this isn't uncommon and it's nothing to worry about).
That day last week when I had Abraham's was one of those off days and I should've remembered that when I wrote my comment but didn't because, again, it happens so infrequently that I just don't think about it that much. But I went back today and got the exact same thing (BLT on asiago) and it was much better. The bread was cheesy, almost sweet and no bitter chalky flavor! Wowee!
Now I did live in NYC for six years and have had some incredible bagels down there and I'm a tough critic, but I can now say that's a solidly good bagel and definitely one of the better ones I've had up here in Boston. Next time I'll switch things up and try a different sandwich
I've shot a couple units in there. That outer concrete facade is an open-air breezeway with all units facing towards the half-circle courtyard. The units are in fairly decent condition*** but that breezeway is EXACTLY as dark and dingy as you'd expect for a 1960s-era wannabe brutalist structure that has seen no true renovation over the years
*** EDIT: provided you don't mind window panes that are fogged over, or popcorn ceilings that are 8' high at best, or bedrooms that are on the interior and only have clerestory windows towards the breezeway for natural lighting. This is how most units are laid out
*image searches* Yeah, some of those apartments aren't as bad on the inside as what I was fearing. Largely depends on if they were updated or not, I guess. Now I'm morbidly curious to see the breezeway though.
*image searches* Yeah, some of those apartments aren't as bad on the inside as what I was fearing. Largely depends on if they were updated or not, I guess. Now I'm morbidly curious to see the breezeway though.
Yes exactly, it's condos so they're all in various states of update.
OK I had to do some digging but I found this random iPhone shot from July 2022, taken for my own personal sake after finishing a unit. I forgot about the colored panes and it does look kinda nice here, but make no mistake that the halls and elevators all are clearly 1960s vintage and need some major capital updating to make relevant to the under-65 crowd ever again.
