My Own Boston: Hermela Haile (Questrom ‘25)
Local Bostonian takes us to some of her favorite haunts
My Own Boston: Hermela Haile (Questrom ‘25)
My Own Boston: Hermela Haile (Questrom ‘25)
Having grown up in West Roxbury, Hermela Haile (Questrom’25) says that when it came time to apply to colleges, she knew she wanted to stay local. “Everyone knows Boston has the best schools and I love the weather on the East Coast—being able to experience four seasons,” she says. “The perk of being in Boston is that you are exposed to so many different colleges, a diverse group of people, and with that comes new experiences.”
When she’s not working as a social media intern with BU’s public relations department or as copresident of Questrom’s Black Business Student Association, Haile says she loves exploring Boston neighborhoods. And despite being a local resident, she’s always discovering new places to go, she says, especially restaurants.
Whenever she craves her mom’s Ethiopian cooking, but can’t get home for a visit, Haile heads to her favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Back Bay. She’s also recently discovered a taste for sushi, and she and her friends love the food and the atmosphere at a hip sushi spot in South Boston. And when she needs a retreat from the hustle and bustle of campus life, she likes to head back to South Boston, to Carson Beach, a place she often visited with her dad and brother when she was growing up.
The business major says she’s contemplating either a career in the sports entertainment industry or in commercial real estate when she graduates.
Lucy Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant
334 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
Just across from Symphony Hall, Lucy Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant serves traditional Ethiopian beef, lamb, and chicken dishes, as well as an array of vegetarian and vegan entrées. Haile loves the spices because they remind her of her mom’s cooking. She likes to come with her friends, since Ethiopian food is served family-style. The food is eaten with injera, the classic spongy Ethiopian flatbread that accompanies nearly every meal. It’s also a great place to grab a cup of traditional Ethiopian coffee.
Haile recommends the Lega Tibs combo: beef cooked in a spicy house sauce, served with injera and accompanied by your choice of two veggie dishes. The combo entrées are perfect for sharing with one or two other people.
Fat Baby
118 Dorchester St., South Boston
Fat Baby is one of Haile’s favorite local restaurants. In South Boston (and easily reachable via the T), it’s famous for its sushi rolls, dumplings, and noodle and rice dishes. Sizzling Mongolian Beef, Wagyu Sliders, Spicy Tuna Rolls, and bao buns are among the menu standouts. Haile had never tried sushi until she came to college and says that it’s now one of her favorite foods. Be sure to try the fun maki rolls, such as the Dragon roll, consisting of Snow crab mix, tempura shrimp, eel, avocado, and truffle kabayaki sauce, or the Steak House roll (seared ribeye, tempura asparagus, roasted red bell pepper, chimichurri, and greens. The vibe and decor are fun and makes for an enjoyable spot for a leisurely meal with friends.
Haile recommends either the Spicy Tuna Roll or the Orange Chicken because both are super flavorful and feature amazing spicy sauces.
Carson Beach
165 HarborWalk, Boston
This public beach in South Boston is part of a three-mile segment of parks along the South Boston shoreline. It’s one of several city beaches accessible via subway (take a Red Line train to JFK/U Mass, then a half-mile walk to the beach). You can usually find people playing beach games like volleyball and spike ball, walking along the boardwalk with their dogs, and in milder weather, lounging around soaking up the sun or taking a swim.
Haile says coming to Carson Beach when you need some quiet time is a great refresher. She likes to journal when she’s there.
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