After seeing a write up in the Globe for a restaurant in Hull named Hull’s Kitchen I was determined to check this place out.
I had not been to Nantasket Beach in years and thought it would be a great opportunity to try a new restaurant, go back in time, and have some summer fun. As a kid a day at the beach consisted of spending the day at Nantasket Beach with my family. My mother always drove us to the very end where it was residential and secluded from “the fun stuff”. She would park in “ a secret parking spot” in order to be away from what she would refer to as the "RiffRaff”. As a kid and teen the secluded end of the beach was NOT what I had in mind. I could see in the distance all of the colorful buildings and excitement taking place. I dreamed of being on the other end of the beach where I could buy fried dough and French fries for lunch instead of eating the boring tuna fish sandwich that my mother had made for me. I dreamed of buying bouncy balls out of the gumball machines and wasting my parents hard earned money in the arcade. I wanted to blow twenty dollars on playing Skee ball and watch the red tickets spit out. I dreamt of exchanging these precious red tickets for a “prize”. That prize would have been a jelly bracelet or scratch and sniff sticker at most. At the time it seemed like a win win situation…….
Now at thirty-one years of age I was ready to live out my dream. My husband and I arrived at Nantasket Beach around dusk on a hot summer evening. We easily found a parking spot and walked down the boardwalk as we passed the sounds of buzzing arcade games and children arguing with their parents over the size of ice cream cone they wanted to order. The boardwalk was still lively, the crowds were still coming, green metal trashcans were overflowing, and sea gulls hovered around people eating fried food hoping for a bite. Tired beach goers walked towards the parking lot as the sun started to set as those with a second wind enjoyed cocktails at the outdoor bars. Loud motorcycles sped down the boardwalk in packs while the smell of the fresh salt air was carried along the shore in the breeze. We easily located Hull’s Kitchen our dinner destination. A charming, colorful, and peaceful beach eatery offering a Caribbean/Mexican inspired menu and a great micro-brew selection. If you are looking for beach food with seating and a tropical ambiance this is a place to try. The atmosphere allowed me to feel as if I was at a Caribbean tiki bar in the tropics run by locals. Kick back with your flip flops on one of their ocean view bar stools while you sip a Cisco beer and people watch as you wait for your food to come up. Fast food that is fresh in a fun environment pretty much sums this place up.
After we finished our meals and drinks we walked along the boardwalk to check out the arcade and grab a soft serve. A dipped soft serve that is!
Whether you are a biker, prep, townie, on a date, or a family of four; Nantasket Beach has something to bring out the inner child in everyone. So finally at thirty-one I was able to live out my childhood beach dream of eating boardwalk food, exploring the arcade, and enjoying a close up of the fun that was once at a far distance. It is not something I would do on a regular basis but it certainly was worth doing. I can also see why my mom wanted to be away from all the “RiffRaff” and thought the boring tuna fish sandwich was a healthier option. It some ways she was right. However, every once in awhile you have to live a little and do things out of your comfort zone. It was one Hull of a night!
http://www.hullskitchen.com/
