Massachusetts: Boston Has One Of The Most Expensive Trendy Neighborhoods

We are well aware that the cost of living, especially in major markets, has been on the rise. Yet many big cities still have unique characteristics that set them apart. Architectural Digest recently combined these two factors to come up with a list of the most expensive trendy city neighborhoods, and a Boston area was named.

There's good news to this and not-so-good news. To start, the south end of Boston featured here still has a charm to it that is unparalleled. It combines that comfortable, neighborly feel with historic tradition. Still, it's modern enough to draw in residents from all over. The bad news is that it is very pricey. The cost of living does not appear to be going down anytime soon.

"Living in the trendiest neighborhoods in the United States often means you’ll have to forgo a walk-in closet, designated parking space, and even an in-unit washer and dryer," the article states.

However, in order to determine the lifestyle cost in these trendy cities, Architectural Digest assumed the residents still have enough cash (after living expenses) to have fun. Therefore, they assumed the average resident would splurge on certain habits. This includes going out to shows, art exhibits, local coffee shops, and restaurants weekly.

To be exact, Architectural Digest found that you need a salary of $163,920 in order to afford to live there. This would enable you to partake in the aforementioned neighborhood activities. Perhaps the most interesting factor in that number is that 18% of a South End residents income would go towards entertainment. Aside from the average $4,098 monthly rent, this report estimates a dinner for one in the South End is roughly $51.

This trendy area in Boston is sandwiched in the top three between two New York metros. Williamsburg, Brooklyn ranked number one, and Greenwich Village ranked third. In fact, three of the four trendy neighborhoods in the Northeast region were considered the most expensive.

I'm a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it's much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio's is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It's also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg's photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it's a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio's stays open until 2 am on weekends.

At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto's can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it's cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you'd like to add to your order.

Leone's Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone's sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino's is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino's describes it as "delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan." $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino's. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio's, Pino's stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.