Public Food Market | 136 Blackstone Street | Haymarket | Downtown

Just got back. Bought a smoked bluefish pate and a six pack. It's a great scene over there, and what it's doing for street life on that corner of Hanover is amazing.
 
I really enjoyed my $1.06 *mini* cider donut from Red Apple Farm, but I don't think I be a regular at the BPM. It's a bit too aspirational for me.

I sincerely hope the place is successful beyond all measure though. It's good for the city and the region.
 
Went for dinner yesterday. I agree with all the accolades. I also think they got the vendor mix spot on: a good assortment of real farm stands, prepared meal/food vendors, snacks and impulses (ice cream, donuts, fudge), beer/wine and just a very few "overly trendy" stalls (like fruit vinegar - not to knock it, the samples were extremely tasty). In other words, there are many reasons for different people to go at different times.

It seemed busy. I think that level of activity will be sustained as word gets out to more locals and especially as this grows on the tourist circuit.

Final thought: this really helps overcome some of the psychological boundary of the government center garage. I've never really felt "pulled" towards the Bullfinch Triangle from Quincy Market before, and this really helps get feet in that direction. Blackstone Block (will it ever happen?) would truly work in concert with this and transform the area for the better. (Gov Cnt Garage redevelopment goes without saying.) Makes me also hope a proposal comes along to knock down the Dock Square/Hard Rock which really deadens that whole side of Quincy Market at present.
 
Am I the only one who thinks the ceiling is too low for a major indoor public space?
 
TheBostonian said:
Am I the only one who thinks the ceiling is too low for a major indoor public space?
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I noticed the "low" ceiling too, but I wouldn't call it suffocating or too claustrophobic. It's not like you're in an antiquated airport terminal with low ceilings (LaGuardia, Fort Lauderdale, et al) They shouldn't be too off-putting to people. That the space is well lit and permeable to navigate really helps.
 
Probably been mentioned before but does anyone know the schedule for this? Will it be open year round? I don't really like the design for during warm weather months, but I'm thinking it could be a nice winter spot for people. Add more seating, wifi, maybe a bar and you have a full fledged hang out.
 
Yeah, it's year-round. The submission process required the applicant being able to provide locally produced goods for all four seasons.
 
statler said:
Yeah, it's year-round. The submission process required the applicant being able to provide locally produced goods for all four seasons.
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Great! Thanks.
Hopefully they adapt well to the changing seasons.
 
Not to dwell on the negative but as I was walking around I was wondering what shops were going to be the first to go.

My bet is on the non-consumable stores. Most likely the wood & stone kitchenware stores. They will saturate the local market pretty quickly (how many wooden bowls do you need?) and their stuff is too heavy/bulky for tourists to take back with them.

Hopefully I'm wrong, they both have some really nice stuff.
 
I'm also guessing that the farm stands will trend towards some type of specialization.
 
statler said:
Not to dwell on the negative but as I was walking around I was wondering what shops were going to be the first to go.

My bet is on the non-consumable stores. Most likely the wood & stone kitchenware stores. They will saturate the local market pretty quickly (how many wooden bowls do you need?) and their stuff is too heavy/bulky for tourists to take back with them.

Hopefully I'm wrong, they both have some really nice stuff.
Click to expand...

Chelsea Market supports a kitchenware store or 2.
 
Not a great comparison... Chelsea Market is much more like a shopping mall than a traditional market (not necessarily meant as a jab)
 
Finally made it over. The pastrami sandwich is $18 for a whole, $9 for a half. Honestly, the "half sandwich" is enormous. More than enough for me, and I eat a lot. So I'm guessing that the "whole" is in the NY style, and plenty for two. It's good.

Had a knish and a maple bacon donut as well.
 
It was okay but rather small, and not the one I wanted, the spinach one. I asked for the meat but it seems they gave me the potato instead. I used to get knishes from the Jewish deli my mom favored when I was a kid and this did not quite evoke that.

They also claim to have shakshuka at this place but I didn't get a chance to try it.
 
Ever since the market opened, I've seen the "how's the knish" question posed a hundred times. Maybe I've never had a great knish but is a knish really something to be excited about? In my perhaps controversial opinion, knish = Eastern European Hot Pocket
 
TheBostonian said:
Am I the only one who thinks the ceiling is too low for a major indoor public space?
Click to expand...

Compare with Pike Place

2012-04-20-14-58-10.jpg
 
I agree the ceiling is a little low but considering they put this in the bottom of an existing parking garage I think they did a great job.
 
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