Eric Twardzik
When Eric’s not jogging around the city trying to work up an appetite, you’ll probably find TFL’s resident cocktail aficionado in one of Boston’s top cocktail bars sipping a Negroni. As the former Boston editor at UrbanDaddy, he spent two years scoping out local restaurants and bars; today he also writes about spirits for Cocktail Enthusiast and Bevvy.
Early days spent chowing on old ladies’ church festival pierogies in rural Pennsylvania fostered the writer’s love of food and drink, which has only grown during his eight years in our city. Here his preferred spot is Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe, a bustling noodle joint in Downtown Crossing. Aside from the unique hand-pulled noodles, he loves the modest, “criminally-underpriced” vibe. “It always looks closed, even when it’s open,” he says.
Eric takes a philosophical approach to eating. “Every day you get three opportunities—ok, maybe more. It’s sort of magical,” he says. “Why not make the most of it every single time—whether you’re eating an Italian hoagie or a nine-course meal?”
Fun Fact
Eric has no pets, but he’s always wanted a French Bulldog
Articles By Eric Twardzik
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Margaritas in Boston
Villa Mexico Cafe
- Guide
The Best Restaurants in the North End
- Guide
The Best Restaurants in Union Square, Somerville
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Ceviche in Boston
The Longfellow Bar at Alden & Harlow
- Cocktails
Abide the Holiday Season with a White Russian Christmas at Boston’s Sippin’ Santa Pop-Up
Fool's Errand
- Cocktails
Mark the Festival of Lights with an Everything Bagel Martini
- Guide
Where to Go for the Freshest, Fanciest Crudo in Boston
- Guide
Where to Find Flaky and Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits around Boston
- Guide
The Best Restaurants in East Boston
- Cocktails
The Queen of Troy Cocktail at Little Donkey Is Lush and Beautiful
Honeycomb Creamery
- Cocktails
A Cult-Classic Strawberry Cocktail from Nantucket Hits Boston
- Guide
Where to Dine Out for the Best Sushi in Boston
Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Café
- Guide
The 7 Best Peruvian Restaurants in Boston
- Cocktails
There’s More to This Coconut Margarita Than the Simple Name Lets On
The Publick House
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Enchiladas in Boston
Stay Cool with Five Easy Frozen Drink Recipes from Boston Bartenders
- Guide
Stay Warm This Winter with Boston’s Best Hot Chocolate
- Guide
Check into the Best Hotel Bars in Boston
OAK Long Bar + Kitchen
- Guide
Order Ramen from These Top Boston Spots
Five Seriously Refreshing and Easy Vodka Drink Recipes
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Vietnamese Food in Boston
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Pho in Boston
Freshen Things Up with Five Easy Tonic Cocktail Recipes
- Somerville · American · Bar · $$
Trina's Starlite Lounge
This Colorful Cocktail Contains a Surprising Superfood
- Guide
Stay Healthy with Help from the Best Juice Bars in Boston
Pimm and Proper: This Fruity Highball Is Perfect for Spring
- Guide
Where to Go For the Best French Food in Boston
Mix Up the Sour Cocktail with Easy Recipes from Boston Bartenders
- Guide
The Slice Is Right: Boston’s Best Restaurants for Charcuterie and Cheese Boards
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Mexican Food in the Boston Area
Wake and Shake: Five Brunch Cocktail Recipes from Boston Bartenders
The Bar Room at No. 9 Park
- Guide
Here’s Where to Get Your Latke Fix around Boston This Hanukkah
Rise and Shine with a Coffee-Infused “Breakfast Manhattan”
- Guide
Here’s the Beef: Five Best Steakhouses in Boston
Get Transported with the Easy-Drinking Amalfi Coast Cocktail
- Guide
Sneak into the Five Best Speakeasies in Boston
Choose the “Electrifying” Pica Pika for a Twist on the Margarita
- Guide
Celebrate the Season with the Best Pies in Boston
Sail Away Social Distance-Style with These Five Tiki Cocktail Recipes
This Zesty, Citrusy Takeout Cocktail Rethinks the Pink Drink
- Guide
Shop These Spots to Find the Best Charcuterie Boards in Boston
- Guide
Find Comfort at the Best Places for Chicken Soup in Boston
Shake Things Up with Five Martini Recipes from Boston Bartenders
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Bakeries in Boston
This Colorful Cocktail Upgrades the Hemingway Daiquiri
- Guide
Take on the Day with the Best Breakfast Tacos in Boston
Warm Up This Winter with Boozy Hot Chocolate
Delux Cafe
- Guide
The Best Apple Cider Doughnuts in and around Boston
Ganko Ittetsu Ramen
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches in Boston
- East Boston (+) · Italian · Pizza · $
Santarpio’s Pizza
- Guide
Get Yourself to the Best Greek Food in Boston
- Guide
Start Strong with the Best Breakfast Sandwiches in Boston
Mastic Tale · Moona
- Guide
A Field Guide for Finding Boston’s Freshest, Creamiest Gelato
- Seasonal
A Holiday Gift Guide for Boston Food Lovers: 2020 Edition
Thicket & Tonic · Craigie on Main
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Hot Dogs in Boston
Italian Greyhound · Benedetto
- Guide
Where to Find Boston's Best Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Guide
The Silkiest Soft Serve Ice Cream to Try This Summer in Boston
Must-Try Takeout Cocktail: Moonless from Spoke Wine Bar
Yume Ga Arukara
5 Classic Whiskey Cocktail Recipes from Boston Bartenders
- Guide
The Best Lobster Rolls in (and Around) Boston
Improved Contrarian · Ivory Pearl
Tulum · Atlántico
- Somerville · Ice Cream · $
Gracie's Ice Cream
Must-Try Takeout Cocktail: Highland Chicken’s Boozy Milkshakes
- Guide
Where to Eat Oysters in (and Around) Boston
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
- Guide
The Best and Most Buttery Croissants in Boston
Five Festive Winter Cocktail Recipes
- Guide
The Best Eats in Boston’s Allston-Brighton Neighborhoods
- Guide
The Best Mediterranean Food in Boston
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Vegetarian Dining in Boston
5 Cozy Fall Cocktail Recipes from Boston Bartenders
- Guide
Round Out Brunch with the Best Doughnuts in Boston
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Tacos in Boston
- Guide
Where to Get the Best Burritos in Boston
- Guide
Where to Find Freshly Baked Scones in Boston
Mint Julep · The Smoke Shop BBQ
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Chinese Food in Boston
5 Must-Make Negroni Recipes from Boston Bartenders
5 Spicy Margarita Recipes from Boston Bartenders
Where to Get Cocktails To-Go in Boston
- Guide
Where to Get Boston's Best Italian Food To-Go
- Guide
A Guide to the Best Boston Area Butcher Shops
- Guide
Where to Order Matzo Ball Soup in the Boston Area
- Guide
Sip Takeout Sake Alongside Your Sushi from These Boston Spots
Frezcal · Toro
- Guide
Boston’s Best Indian Food
- Guide
Where to Get Boston’s Best Takeout Sushi
5 Swizzle Recipes from Boston Bartenders
- Guide
Where to Get Boston’s Best Breakfast Burritos
- Guide
Where to Eat at Boston Public Market
- Guide
Where to Get Boston's Best Dumplings
- Guide
Where to Order the Best Macaroni and Cheese in Boston
- Guide
Where to Get Healthy Bowls and Salads in Boston
- Guide
Where to Get Seafood To-Go During the Coronavirus Era
- Guide
Where to Get Boston’s Best French Fries
Drink's Mai Tai Cocktail Kit · Drink
Starlite Bloody Mary · Trina's Starlite Lounge
- Guide
Where to Find the Best Cookies in Boston
A Short Path Gin and Tonic, Six Ways
Espresso Martini · Alcove
- Guide
Where to Get a Picnic in Boston This Summer
- Guide
Hit Up These Delicious Takeout Windows During COVID-19
Lone Star Margarita · Lone Star Taco Bar
Martini · Orfano
How to Make Blossom Bar’s Craft Cocktails at Home During the COVID-19 Shutdown
Boston Bars and Restaurants Now Selling Cocktail Kits To-Go
Boston’s Best Restaurant Meal Kits During Quarantine
- Guide
Boston’s Best Takeout and Delivery
Fezcal · Moona
Jewel On The Hill · Peregrine
Hot Toddy · Black Lamb
Raba Raba · Hojoko
Jabberwocky · backbar
Bourbon Chartreuse Smash · Wood's Hill Pier 4
Banana Hammock · Highland Fried
Poire Martini · Colette Wine Bistro
Tom & Jerry · No. 9 Park
Bittersweet Aloha · The Salty Pig
Appleseed Lane · Bambara Kitchen & Bar
Palos y Piedras · Fool's Errand
#Brunchpunch · Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar
Concord Hymn · Toro
The Best Espresso Martini Recipe
Una Pimenta · SRV
PAGU Milk Punch · Pagu
Walking on Sunshine · Temple Bar
Blue Side Up · Little Donkey
The Crimson Permanent Assurance · Forage
Cosmopolitan · Pammy's
Larry Bird · Craigie on Main
Obi Wan Negroni · Fat Hen
Hotel Nacional · Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar
A Rope to a Flame · The Westland
Negroni Bianco · Fox & The Knife
Pale Fire · The Hourly Oyster House
Monkey Biz · Island Creek Oyster Bar
Nordester · Variety Bar at The Comedy Studio
Jalisco Disco · BISq
Reason to Believe · The Longfellow Bar
Umeshu Spritz · Whaling in Oklahoma
Saint Anne · The Hawthorne
Aztec Thrush · Chickadee
New York Streets Swizzle · Lion's Tail
Hare-way to the Stars · Veggie Galaxy
Sig Sour · Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar
Serre de la Madone · Menton
Pisco Punch · Rail Stop Restaurant & Bar
Lumberjack Rabbit · Café du Pays
Bees Nest · Lookout Rooftop and Bar
Beet It · The Ghost Walks
Blue Hawaii Five-O · Tiger Mama
The Anacoana · Spoke
The Opening Line · Myers + Chang
Whiskey Smash · Eastern Standard
- Seasonal
#brunchgoals: Mother's Day Edition
Captain Lou (Off the Top Rope) · Russell House Tavern
Persian Summer · Wink & Nod
A Bridge to Emerald City · Loyal Nine
Matt's Quickie · Trina's Starlite Lounge
- Seasonal