SHAYNA: SO, WE’RE POKING AROUND INSIDE A LOT OF UNUSUAL PLACES TONIGHT, INCLUDING GOING UNDERGROUND A LITTLE LATER IN THE SHOW.
ANTHONY: BUT FIRST, WHO KNEW THAT A REFRIGERATOR DOOR IS THE ENTRANCE TO ANOTHER WORLD IN CAMBRIDGE?
♪ ANTHONY: ROXY’S, AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD TRUCK CHAIN BECAUSE OF HIGH COMFORT FOOD.
NOW THERE ARE THREE OF THEM, BRICK AND MORTAR, EXPANDING THE MENU WITH GRASS FED BURGERS AND DECIDES -- AND SIDES.
BUT THE ROXY’S IN CAMBRIDGE HAS AN EXTRA INGREDIENT, YOU WILL FIND IT IN THE KITCHEN, IN THE WALK-IN FREEZER.
>> IT WAS MY IDEA.
I TAKE FULL CREDIT.
WE WANTED IT TO BE A HIT.
♪ ANTHONY: BEHIND THE UNMARKED FREEZER DOOR, AN ARCADE, A BACK ROOM WITH VINTAGE PINBALL MACHINES, VIDEO GAMES, THE MENU AND SOME COMPLETELY OVER-THE-TOP
TIKI COCKTAILS.
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ROXY’S AND FOLKS FROM AREA 4, THE UPSCALE PIZZERIA IN THE SQUARE.
>> WE HAVE A FUN PLACE, SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY UNIQUE.
>> PLAYER ONE, YOU ARE UP.
ANTHONY: MICHAEL SAYS THE SPEAKEASY VIBE MAKES THIS ONE OF THE HOTTEST HIDDEN NOOKS IN THE CITY.
>> YOU DO NOT GET MUCH MORE OF A SURPRISE THAN WALKING THROUGH A SHOP, OPENING THE WALK-IN FRIDGE, AND THEN HAVING THIS DARK ARCADE THERE TO GREET YOU.
IT WAS OUR THINKING JUST TO HAVE THE WOW FACTOR OF IT.
ANTHONY: BOSTON, OF COURSE, HAS A LONG CRANNY GAME.
NOWHERE IS IT MORE APPARENT THAN THE MARKET.
THE CALL BUILD IT LANES, THE LAST REMNANT OF THE ORIGINAL STREET PATTERN OF BOSTON.
AND IF THERE IS A CATHEDRAL FOR NOOKS AND CRANNIES, IT MIGHT BE THE UNION OYSTER HOUSE.
>> IT IS THE TRADEMARK, SORT OF THE SIGNATURE OF THE UNION AREA.
ANTHONY: ONE COULD SPEND DAYS EXPLORING THE HIDDEN CORNERS OF THE LEGENDARY EATERY, THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY OPERATING RESTAURANT IN THE COUNTRY.
AND AFTER ALL, SAYS THE OWNER, THE UNION OYSTER HOUSE IS A JERRYRIGGED MASH UP OF FIVE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS >> WE HAVE TESTIMONIES.
>> WE KNOW WE HAVE FIVE BUILDINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE TAX BILLS.
ANTHONY: TO FIND THE MOST SURPRISING PART OF A HALL, YOU HAVE TO GO INTO SOME BACK HALLWAYS, UP SOME STAIRS AND INTO THE BACK OFFICE.
>> I CALL IT A MINI MUSEUM.
IT IS A NOTE AND CRANNY -- NOOK AND CRANNY PLACE TELLING GREAT STORIES.
ANTHONY: IT IS ALSO THE CONSULATE FOR THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND.
JOE IS THE HONORARY CONSUL GENERAL.
IT STARTED IN THE 80’S WHEN MILANO WANTED TO HONOR THE THAI KING, WHO WAS BORN IN CAMBRIDGE.
>> THERE IS A SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, THAT HAS THE NAME OF THE KING, THE KING OF THAILAND SQUARE.
ANTHONY: THE CONSULATE PROCESSES ABOUT 1200-1500 VISAS A YEAR.
THE UNLIKELY STORY OF THIS NOOK IN THE OLDEST RESTAURANT NEVER FAILS TO RAISE YE OLDE EYEBROW.
>> IT IS REALLY FUN.
IT IS AN ENJOYMENT.
>> AIOLI SAY, IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THAILAND, WELCOME TO THAILAND AND YOU DID NOT HAVE TO TAKE AN AIRPLANE FLIGHT.
♪ >> HEY, JASON.
ANTHONY: THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE.
>> SHAUN.
ANTHONY: AT THE HIDDEN KITCHEN.
>> COME IN.
ANTHONY: NOBODY COMES INCOGNITO.
>> THEY ARE MY FRIENDS, LIKE FAMILY.
ANTHONY: MARIA AND NICK HAVE BEEN WELCOMING CUSTOMERS FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IN THIS TINY JOINT FOR 26 YEARS.
>> NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT 24-7 THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER.
EITHER THEY WOULD WANT TO KILL THEMSELVES, WE HAVE NOT KILLED EACH OTHER YET.
ANTHONY: THE HITTING KITCHEN IN AN OLD BRICK WAREHOUSE ON ALBANY STREET.
INSIDE, NO SIGN ON THE DOOR.
>> WHY DO WE NEED A SIGN?
NO SIGN.
ANTHONY: INDEED, THE HITTING KITCHEN’S DEVOTED CUSTOMERS KEEP THE TINY HOLE IN THE WALL HOPPING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF THE BEST PLACES AROUND AND IT IS REALLY CHEAP AND MARIA AND NICK ARE THE GREATEST.
>> THE HITTING KITCHEN -- HIDDEN KITCHEN WITH FOOD LIKE THIS WILL NOT STAY HIDDEN LONG.
SHAYNA: REMEMBER, IT IS ONLY OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.
ANTHONY: AND THE TIKI DRINK IN THE GENE SIMMONS MUG IS VERY POPULAR, ONE OF THE TOP 10 COCKTAILS IN THE COUNTRY BY BON APPETIT MAGAZINE.
PEOPLE WERE WALKING OFF WITH THE MONKS, SO NOW YOU HAVE TO PUT A DEPOSIT DOWN BEFORE THE DRINK.
SHAYNA: THAT IS GOOD.
NEXT, INSIDE UPTON’S UNDERGROUND CHAMBER.
>> YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE IT IS OR YOU WILL BE WANDERING AROUND