Did you know that 57% of interviewed Americans believe that BBQ is easy and can be picked up with hardly any effort?
You didn’t?
This isn’t surprising – given that these statistics are entirely made up!
However, we know that BBQing is anything but easy – especially for beginners. There are so many things to be knowledgeable about and keep an eye out for. These include but are not limited to:
- Balancing the right temperature over precise time
- Fire maintenance
- Knowing different meat specifics
- Choosing a right BBQ cooker to fit your needs
- Knowing which accessories are essential and which ones you can buy later on
Some of these can’t be learned straight away. It takes some practice burning through several briskets before you can make the perfect one. However, not everything has to be this hard.
The team behind ECG knows how rewarding and satisfying BBQing can be. We also know that there is a big difference between grilling and BBQ. Our mission? To dive into our passion and help others discover it for themselves.
In fact, ECG wasn’t always what it is right now. This space originally belonged to East Coast Grill – a Cambridge grillhouse, which opened its doors on August 18, 1985. After having worked in a wide variety of kitchens from hotels to hash houses to 4 star restaurants, Cary and Chris, the founders of ECG, strongly agreed on a couple of fundamental concepts, namedly that they would put equal attention on having outstanding food and a “relentlessly friendly” staff. Chris was totally frustrated with the pretense of food, and Cary by the formal style of service at some of the restaurants where both friends had been working. So the East Coast Grill was born and, as it turned out, their values survived for 30 years. The Grill is still known for its lively food and conscientious staff, even though now they have rebranded. These years of experience under the original ECG’s belt, as well as their passion for creating good food inspired us to carry on their legacy and make sure it reaches you, our reader.
So you throw bright flavors, super-fresh seafood, live fire, and BBQ into a big pot and mix it up and you have the East Coast Grill… Over the years, they have worked with many talented, dedicated, and hard-working folks who have gone on to distinguish themselves, not only in the food business, but also in a wide range of pursuits from writing to painting to acting and more. It is the spirit of hospitality that lies at the center of their success, along with a tolerant, curious, and diverse group of customers who over the years have given their support to them.
You can still find ECG, rebranded as Highland Fried, at:
1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139
Hours of Operation:
- Monday and Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday – Saturday: 4:00pm – 10:00pm
- Sunday: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Parking:
On-street parking meters available. Public Parking lot 2 blocks away (Same side as ECG), on Springfield St. behind the 1369 Coffee House.
Directions:
From Boston:
Take the Longfellow Bridge into Cambridge. You will go through 3 sets of lights, across a set of railroad tracks, then bear right onto Hampshire St. Stay on Hampshire and go through 3 more sets of lights. Then at the 4th light, take a right onto Prospect St. Then take your 1st left onto Cambridge St. The restaurant is a few doors up on the right hand side directly across the St. from Cambridge Nissan.
From the Mass Pike:
Take the Cambridge/ Allston exit, follow the Cambridge exit (right fork) over the Charles River onto River St. Follow River Street to Mass Ave. Cross straight over Mass Ave. and at this point , River St. turns into Prospect St. Stay straight through 4 sets of lights. At the 5th light take a left onto Cambridge St. Highland Fried is a few doors up on the right hand side.
From 93 North (coming from the Cape, for ex.):
Take the Storrow Drive exit off of 93. This exit will fork, take the left fork toward Cambridge (the right fork is Storrow Dr.). Follow the left fork over the Charles River; you will pass the Museum of Science on your left. Bear left at the 2nd light after the Museum onto Cambridge Street. Follow Cambridge St. for about 1 1/2 miles. Once you pass over Prospect St., the grill will be on the right hand side of the block, directly across the street from Cambridge Nissan.
From 93 South (coming from New Hampshire, for ex.):
Take the Cambridge/ Leverett Circle Exit. At the end of this very long exit, take a left. At the next light take a right and head over the Charles River; you will pass the Museum of Science on your left. Bear left at the 2nd light after the Museum onto Cambridge Street. Follow Cambridge St. for about 1 1/2 miles. Once you pass over Prospect St., Highland Fried will be on the right hand side of the block, directly across the street from Cambridge Nissan.
From Memorial Drive:
Take the River St. exit. Follow River St. to Mass Ave. Cross straight over Mass Ave and at this point, River St. turns into Prospect St. Stay straight through 4 sets of lights. At the 5th light take a left onto Cambridge St. The restaurant is a few doors up on the right hand side.
From Arlington/ Concord/ Route 2:
Get on Mass Ave. heading towards Harvard Square. When you get to the Porter Square intersection (mall on your left), take the left before the T-stop onto Somerville Ave. Follow Somerville Ave. to the 1st right. Take the 1st right and go over the commuter rail bridge. After the bridge, immediately bear left onto Beacon St. Go through 2 sets of lights. At the 3rd light, take a left onto Cambridge St. The grill is 2 blocks down on the left hand side of the block, directly across from Cambridge Nissan.
From Mass Ave in Boston/Back Bay area:
Take the Mass Ave Bridge over to Cambridge. Follow Mass Ave. to Central Square. Take a right onto Prospect St. Follow Prospect St. through 4 sets of lights. At the 5th light, take a left onto Cambridge St. The place are a few doors up on the right hand side.
From Storrow Drive (heading east toward downtown):
Take the Government Center/Kendall Sq./Cambridge exit, go over the Longfellow Bridge into Cambridge. You will go through 3 sets of light, across a set of railroad tracks, then bear right onto Hampshire St. Stay on Hampshire and go through 3 more sets of lights. Then, at the 4th light, take a right onto Prospect St. Then take your first left onto Cambridge St. Highland Fried is a few doors up on the right side directly across the street from Cambridge Nissan.
From Harvard Square:
Follow Mass Ave out of Harvard Sq. heading toward Porter Sq. With Harvard Yard on your right, bear right at the light and immediately head toward an underpass. Straight in front of you will be the fire station and the road will fork. Take the left fork for Cambridge St. Follow Cambridge St. approximately 10 blocks or through 4 sets of lights until you enter Inman Sq. The restaurant are on the left hand side , #1271 Cambridge St. directly across from Cambridge Nissan.
From the Subway:
Take the Red Line to the Central Square T-Stop. When you come out to the street, head down Prospect St. Follow Prospect St. to the 5th light. Turn left at the 5th light onto Cambridge St. Highland Fried are a few doors up on the right hand side directly across from Cambridge Nissan. It is about 10-15 min. walk.
Call 617-714-4662 For Reservations for Outdoor Seating , or just come on down!
And you can find comprehensive reviews for the best grills, smokers, meat slicers, patio coolers, grill covers and other BBQ essentials right here, on this website.