The RuraList: 4 New Northern Berkshire Takeout Options
Good To Go: Northern Berkshire Steps Up Its Takeout Game
Just because you're getting it “to go” doesn't mean your food choices have to be limited. These four new Northern Berkshire County restaurants are helmed by chefs, butchers and bakers who have honed their skills at larger establishments and now serve up the best of the best at their own small spots. Two of them have limited seating, and two of them have nearby watering holes that welcome customers to dine there. As always, with new and popular restaurants, check their facebook pages for specials and last-minute changes to the hours or menus.
A-oK Berkshire Barbeque
2601 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA
Friday & Saturday: 12-9 p.m.
Sunday: 12-8 p.m., Monday: 12-7 p.m.
(413) 398-5079
Berkshire County transplants Aaron Oster, a butcher, and his wife, Alex, a baker or “grain surgeon,” put their skills together and opened their own barbeque joint in late 2018 on the MASS MoCA campus. Located across from Bright Ideas Brewing, where many locals first came to know the couple as bartenders, A-oK serves up mouth-watering brisket, perfectly smoked and seasoned chicken, and a housemade sausage option that changes weekly, along with sides of baked beans, collard greens, smoked carrots and more. Buy the meat by the quarter pound or on a sandwich made with Alex’s bread, baked fresh daily. Seating is available outside in the warmer months and year-round at Bright Ideas.
Trés Niños Taqueria
20 Marshall St., North Adams, MA
Tuesday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
(413) 346-4000
This brand-new spot may only have opened this month, but owner Matt Tatro is no neophyte to the restaurant business. Trés Niños is located just down the street from his popular fine dining Italian restaurant, Grazie. His new taqueria/bodega does have a handful of tables, but the space is on the small side; it was the former longtime home of Brewhaha Café, which relocated to West Main Street. Luckily, tacos are highly portable! So are the burritos, rice bowls and nachos, and there’s a breakfast version of most offerings.
Valhalla Eatery
85 Commercial St., Adams, MA
Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
(413) 776-7098
A unique eatery influenced by both Viking gods and Polish cuisine, Valhalla specializes in sandwiches, burgers and fries in tasty combinations. Fries come plain or with cheese; sour cream and onion; or garlic parmesan. In honor of the town of Adams’ large Polish population, the restaurant offers “The Odin,” a kielbasa, crimson kraut, Swiss cheese and thousand island Dagwood sandwich ($9), as well as a pierogi, kielbasa and kraut entrée ($15). Check Valhalla’s facebook for daily specials, which can be anything from chicken shawarma to pasta primavera. Seating is available next door, at the Viking Pub, or have it delivered. In the summertime, look for owner Mike Kelly’s popular farm-to-table food truck, Cornucopia, at the Williamstown farmers market.
EAT in Williamstown
234 Main St., Williamstown, MA
Tuesday: 4-9 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday: 4-8 p.m.
(413) 458-6164
Primarily serving Italian cuisine, EAT in Williamstown is the new home of Vermont’s East Arlington Takeout (EAT). While this small restaurant does have in-house dining, EAT made its name, literally, as a takeout spot and knows its stuff. Pizza and sandwich lovers will be able to order from the same menu as those who prefer a more refined meal of lasagna or eggplant parmesan. Salads, wings and “antipasti” options are also offered at this new eatery, which opened in January.
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