Heat wave help: Where to get cool eats, drinks and desserts in the Brockton area

Kathy Bossa, The Enterprise
·5 min read

BROCKTON —  Maybe you're thinking it's too hot to cook.

Well, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

When temperatures soar outside and you don't want to turn on the oven, there are plenty of Brockton-area restaurants that will do the cooking for you.

Whether you are looking to enjoy a meal in the comfort of an air conditioned dining area, outside on a patio with a cool breeze or just grabbing take-out, local restaurants are cooking up all kinds of delicious summer dishes for you to enjoy — from summer pastas, wraps, burgers and salads, to Maine lobster rolls and steamers.

On the sweet side, area eateries have plenty of tempting treats to help you keep your cool — like the "Unicorn Junior," a tasty, quirky take on the traditional ice cream sundae made with cotton candy ice cream, marshmallow sauce and a magical scoop of Lucky Charms.

And if you're looking for a refresher a little stronger than ice cream, local restaurants are also getting creative when it comes to handcrafted summer cocktails — like a signature margarita with a floating popsicle inside the glass or a "Tito’s Summerade" featuring strawberry lemonade.

Here are 9 places to cool down and enjoy a summertime favorite.

Brack’s Grille & Tap, Brockton

Brack's Grille & Tap has a cob salad made with fresh mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red onions, avocado, Gorgonzola cheese crumbles, hard-boiled egg and bacon.

"When it’s this hot, customers enjoy a cob or a chef’s salad, said General Manager Kellie Voltolini.

Another customer favorite is the Southwest Salmon dish with fresh salsa, avocado, oven roasted corn and chipotle ranch dressing, according Voltolini.

Specialty drinks include a Mango Margarita that features YaVe Mango Tequila and mango puree, a Twisted Melon Martini with Dragon Fruit Melon vodka and watermelon pucker, and "Tito’s Summerade" with strawberry lemonade.

Weekly specials change on Wednesdays and are posted to the restaurant's Facebook page.

Brack's Grille & Tap has locations at 1280 Belmont St, Brockton, 508-271-7777, and 2097 Bay St., Taunton, 508-824-7777, bracksgrilleandtap.com.

Summer specialty drinks, including a Twisted Melon Martini, Mango Margarita, Raspberry Lime Rickey Sangria and Tito’s "Summerade" are available at Brack's Grille & Tap, 1280 Belmont St., Brockton.
Summer specialty drinks, including a Twisted Melon Martini, Mango Margarita, Raspberry Lime Rickey Sangria and Tito’s "Summerade" are available at Brack's Grille & Tap, 1280 Belmont St., Brockton.
New on the menu at Brack's Grille & Tap is this Chicken Burrito Bowl made with blackened chicken sautéed with fajita onions, peppers and tomato, served over spanish rice with chipotle ranch drizzle and sliced avocado.
New on the menu at Brack's Grille & Tap is this Chicken Burrito Bowl made with blackened chicken sautéed with fajita onions, peppers and tomato, served over spanish rice with chipotle ranch drizzle and sliced avocado.

Maguire's Bar and Grill, Easton

Cold lobster-style-type dishes are a summertime favorite at Maguire's Bar and Grill.

Lobster rolls made with a half pound of Maine lobster meat, and the lobster Caprese salad made with garden tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella topped with a half pound of lobster salad, "Those fly," said owner Neil Levine.

Cool desserts include the Strawberry, Blueberry Lemon Cream Cake, made with local strawberries and blueberries, lemon cream and fresh whipped cream. "After you eat it, it makes you feel good," Levine said.

Specialty drinks are a Raspberry Mint Mojito made with mint from their garden, and a Huckleberry Lemonade.

Maguire's offers inside and outside seating and curbside pickup to go.

Maguire's Bar and Grill is located at 503 Foundry St., 508-530-8888, www.maguiresbarandgrill.com.

Lobster Caprese salad with garden tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella topped with a half pound of lobster salad is at Maguires Bar and Gill, 503 Foundry St., Easton
Lobster Caprese salad with garden tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella topped with a half pound of lobster salad is at Maguires Bar and Gill, 503 Foundry St., Easton
Enjoy this frozen mudslide on the patio at Maguire's Bar and Gill, 503 Foundry St., Easton.
Enjoy this frozen mudslide on the patio at Maguire's Bar and Gill, 503 Foundry St., Easton.
Maguire's Bar and Grill offers this special strawberry, blueberry lemon cream cake, made local strawberries and blueberries, layers of lemon cream and whipped cream.
Maguire's Bar and Grill offers this special strawberry, blueberry lemon cream cake, made local strawberries and blueberries, layers of lemon cream and whipped cream.

Giardino's Italian Steakhouse, Abington

Giradino's offers seafood and "great margarita and frozen drinks" for a delicious summertime meal, according to manager Giovanna Jardim.

Customer favorites include shrimp cocktail, chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi and Lobster Shrimp Giardino’s.

Their handcrafted cocktails include margaritas that are made with a signature popsicle in the drink.

Giardino's, 497 Bedford St, Abington, 781-878-3888, www.giardinosabington.com.

"Best shrimp cocktail you will ever try!" is at Giardino's Italian Steakhouse, 497 Bedford St., Abington.
"Best shrimp cocktail you will ever try!" is at Giardino's Italian Steakhouse, 497 Bedford St., Abington.
Margaritas are made with a signature Popsicle in the drink at Giardino's Italian Steakhouse, 497 Bedford St, Abington.
Margaritas are made with a signature Popsicle in the drink at Giardino's Italian Steakhouse, 497 Bedford St, Abington.

Doyle's Bar & Grill, Easton

Lobsters are back for the summer and available for lunch and dinner daily at Doyle's Bar & Grill.

Other summer favorites include lobster rolls, steamers, a Caesar salad with scallops, and a new spinach salad. 

Specialty drinks include a Coconut Pineapple Margarita, Watermelon Martini and Raspberry Sangria.

You can enjoy your meal under a tent in the outside dining area that features a flat screen television and surround sound.

956 Washington St., South Easton, 508-238-9061, doylespubandgrilleaston.com.

Lobsters and lobster rolls are back for the summer at Doyle's Pub & Grill, 956 Washington St, South Easton.
Lobsters and lobster rolls are back for the summer at Doyle's Pub & Grill, 956 Washington St, South Easton.
This Caesar salad with scallops is available for lunch and dinner seven days a week at Doyle's Pub & Grill, 956 Washington St., Easton.
This Caesar salad with scallops is available for lunch and dinner seven days a week at Doyle's Pub & Grill, 956 Washington St., Easton.
Steamers are back and perfect to enjoy in the outdoor dining area at Doyle's Pub & Grill, 956 Washington St., Easton.
Steamers are back and perfect to enjoy in the outdoor dining area at Doyle's Pub & Grill, 956 Washington St., Easton.

Barrett's Alehouse, Bridgewater

According to Barrett's Alehouse Facebook, "Nothing helps you beat the heat like a cold pasta salad," like the Mediterranean featuring chilled orzo pasta, grape tomatoes, black olives, roasted red peppers and feta cheese.

Or try a summer salad with raspberries and goat cheese, or Asian lettuce wraps, featuring shrimp or chicken tossed in an Asian sweet chili sauce.

Popular summertime drinks are frozen strawberry daiquiris and the Watermelon Cucumber Cooler.

You can sit outside at the "beach" with sand, picnic tables, fire pit and bar.

Barrett's Alehouse Bridgewater, 425 Bedford St., 508-697-4800, www.barrettsalehouse.com/bridgewater.

Barrett's Alehouse offers this Mediterranean Orzo Salad made with chilled orzo pasta, grape tomatoes, black olives, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, tossed in Italian dressing.
Barrett's Alehouse offers this Mediterranean Orzo Salad made with chilled orzo pasta, grape tomatoes, black olives, roasted red peppers, feta cheese, tossed in Italian dressing.
Enjoy a frozen drink like this Srawberry Daiquiri at Barrett's Alehouse in Bridgewater.
Enjoy a frozen drink like this Srawberry Daiquiri at Barrett's Alehouse in Bridgewater.
Barrett's Alehouse Bridgewater has lots of burgers, wraps, salads and cool drinks to enjoy inside the restaurant or outside on the "beach" with sand, picnic tables and bar. Pictured is the Jack Daniels Burger stacked high with pepper jack cheese, onion rings, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, fresh burger patty and JD sauce.
Barrett's Alehouse Bridgewater has lots of burgers, wraps, salads and cool drinks to enjoy inside the restaurant or outside on the "beach" with sand, picnic tables and bar. Pictured is the Jack Daniels Burger stacked high with pepper jack cheese, onion rings, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, fresh burger patty and JD sauce.

Cream, Abington

"Summer nights are made for ice cream," according to Cream. Cream serves Richardson’s Ice Cream, Nightingale Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches, Oatly Soft Serve, frappes, floats and Simpson Springs sodas.

Sundae options include a "Unicorn Junior" featuring cotton candy ice cream, a magical scoop of Lucky Charms, and rainbow sprinkles, and a Shark Bite featuring "crunch-a-saurus" ice cream, strawberry topping, graham crackers and a gummy shark on top.

Cream is located at 1209 Bedford St., Abington, www.creametc.com.

Cream has a Shark Bite Sundae with crushed graham cracker on the bottom, with 'crunch-a-saurus' ice cream, topped with strawberries, whip cream and a gummy shark, and a Unicorn Sundae with cotton candy ice cream, marshmallow sauce, a magical scoop of Lucky Charms, whipped cream, and rainbow sprinkles.
Cream has a Shark Bite Sundae with crushed graham cracker on the bottom, with 'crunch-a-saurus' ice cream, topped with strawberries, whip cream and a gummy shark, and a Unicorn Sundae with cotton candy ice cream, marshmallow sauce, a magical scoop of Lucky Charms, whipped cream, and rainbow sprinkles.

Hilliards House of Candy, Easton

Hilliards homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt are made on the premises with only the freshest and best ingredients, including their own homemade flavors and candy, according to their website.

Their brand new Lemon Lavender ice cream is one of their bestsellers this summer.

Hilliards House of Candy is located at 316 Main St., North Easton, www.hilliardscandy.com.

Hilliards brand new Lemon Lavender ice cream is one of their bestsellers this summer.
Hilliards brand new Lemon Lavender ice cream is one of their bestsellers this summer.

Tom & Jimmy's Ice Cream & Del's Lemonade, West Bridgewater and Taunton

If you want a cool drink, ice cream or frozen yogurt, Tom & Jimmy's Ice Cream & Del's Lemonade has you covered with more than 50 flavors of hard ice cream, more than 40 flavors of soft serve and Del’s Lemonade.

The West Bridgewater location is at 235 North Main St. and the Taunton location is at 337 Winthrop St., www.tomandjimmys.com.

Gifford's Famous Ice Cream signs at Tom & Jimmy's of West Bridgewater on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021.
Gifford's Famous Ice Cream signs at Tom & Jimmy's of West Bridgewater on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021.

Peaceful Meadows, Whitman, Middleboro and Plymouth

Peaceful Meadows has been a favorite for local residents since 1962. In addition to 24 ice cream flavors, you can get sundaes, frappes, ice cream soda, low fat shakes and more.

Peaceful Meadows locations at 60 Bedford St., Whitman, 109 West Grove St., Middleboro, and 170 Water St., Plymouth.

Luci Schneider with black raspberry and Rebecca Killion with M&M ice cream hold freshly scooped cones at Peaceful Meadows in Whitman on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021.
Luci Schneider with black raspberry and Rebecca Killion with M&M ice cream hold freshly scooped cones at Peaceful Meadows in Whitman on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Cool eats and drinks: Brockton-area restaurants do the cooking