>> THE NEW RESTAURANT FROM TOP CHEF CONTESTANT AND JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER.
HER CREATIVE TAKE ON NORTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE HAS MADE THIS SOUTH BOSTON SPOT ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TABLES IN TOWN.
IT USED TO BE EVEN TOUGHER.
THEY HARBOR A HIDDEN HISTORY AND A RATHER UNSAVORY ONE AT THAT.
IT USED TO BE TRIPLE A LOUNGE, THE HANGOUT OF ONE JAMES WHITEY BULGER.
>> THIS IS CHRONICLE ON CHANNEL 5.
>> FOX AND THE KNIFE NAMED THE BEST NEW RESTAURANT BY BOSTON MAGAZINE, BUT ACCOLADES ASIDE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIT IN.
>> THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT AND THAT IS WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS.
>> TODAY RECALL OR ACCOUNT THE UNSAVORY HISTORY OF THE PLACE?
>> ESPECIALLY WHEN WE FIRST OPENED.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
>> TRIPLE O’S, A BUCKET OF BLOOD.
OWNED BY KEVIN O’NEILL, IT WAS HOME-BASED FOR WHITEY BULGER’S LOAN SHARK OPERATIONS.
UPSTAIRS, THE WORST SEED IN THE HOUSE.
-- SEAT IN THE HOUSE.
>> THEY USED TO BE A CHAIR AND HE WAS TOLD, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE CHAIR, UNLESS YOU ARE SITTING IN IT.
>> A FASCINATI WITH THE DARKER SIDE OF ITS HISTORY.
OWNER OF BOSTON CRIME TOURS, HE TAKES CLIENTS ON A MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR OF THE SEEDIER SPOTS.
HE TELLS US ABOUT A BOOKMAKER WHO RAN AFOUL OF BULGER.
>> HE WALKED UPSTAIRS AND HE WAS BROUGHT DOWN IN A GARBAGE BAG.
>> WILL CATCH UP ON MORE DETAILS LIKE THAT LATER.
KAREN FINDS THE HIDEN HISTORY BEHIND HER NEW RESTAURANT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL FLAVOR.
>> IT IS A PRETTY NEAT THING.
IT IS A PIECE OF THE HISTORY, AS IS WHITEY BULGER.
I AM FAR TOO CONSERVATIVE.
>> HUNGRY FOR MORE HIDDEN HISTORY?
OUR NEXT STOP IS ALSO A RESTAURANT STASHED AWAY.
>> THE END OF THE DIRT ROAD, IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST.
CLAY -- >> THE LEGENDARY DREAM AWAY LODGE IN BECKETT, STILL SOMETHING OF A SECRET SAYS THE CURRENT OWNER.
>> I MEET PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE FOR 60 TO 70 YEARS AND NEVER HEARD OF THE PLACE.
TO A CORNER OF THE COUNTY, IT IS LEGEND.
>> A LEGEND THAT GOES BACK 90 YEARS.
>> IT WAS RUMORED TO BE A BROTHEL AND A SPEAKEASY DURING THE DEPRESSION AND IN THE EARLY 40’S, MAMA AND HER DAUGHTERS BOUGHT IT.
THE RUMOR THAT IT WAS A BROTHEL CONTINUED.
IT WAS A HOUSE OF MUSIC AND ADVENTURE.
>> IT STILL IS.
THE DREAM AWAY WHERE’S ITS HISTORY ON ITS WALLS.
>> IT IS A COLLECTION OF EVERYTHING THAT MAMA AND THE FAMILY COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS.
THE COLLECTIONS MELDED AND I CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT CAME WITH ME AND WHAT WAS HERE ORIGINALLY.
>> THE CHEF AND HER STAFF PUT OUT AN ECLECTIC MENU FROM VEGETARIAN TOSTADAS TO LEBANESE SNACK TRAYS TO BRIAN PORKCHOPS -- BRINED PORKCHOPS.
>> IT IS MAGIC.
>> FOR THOSE IN THE KNOW, THE DREAM AWAY IS LIKE A SECRET CLUBHOUSE IN THE WOOD.
>> IT IS KIND OF LIKE SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS, AND THIS IS THE LODGE.
>> THE LEGEND OF THE DREAM AWAY WAS FURTHER ENHANCED IN BOB DYLAN’S FILM RINALDO AND CLARA.
THE REST OF THE ROLLING THUNDER REVIEW FILMED A NUMBER OF SCENES AT THE DREAM AWAY.
DYLAN FANS STILL MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE MOUNTAINTOP, FOLLOWING IN THE MASTER’S FOOTSTEPS.
>> IF BOB DYLAN HAS BEEN IN YOUR HOUSE, PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND TAKE A PICTURE.
>> ENTER THE VERY PARTICULAR WORLD OF THE DREAM AWAY LODGE.
>> THIS IS AN OLD JUKE JOINT IN THE FOREST WITH A LONG AND RAGGED HISTORY IN MUSIC AND CRAZINESS.
WE WRITE THE RULES.
>> DANIEL OSMOND LEFT A CAREER AS AN ACTOR TO BUY THE LODGE.
HIS FRIENDS JOKE THAT HE NEVER REALLY LEFT THE THEATER, THOUGH HE JUST OPENED HIS OWN.
OSMAN CALLS IT REALITY DINNER THEATER.
THE DREAM AWAY IS CURRENTLY TUCKED AWAY IN WINTER HIBERNATION, AND WILL RE-OPEN FOR THE 2020 SEASON ON ST.
PATRICK’S DAY.
UP NEXT, THE BASEMENT FLAT IN SOMERVILLE THAT AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT ONCE CALLED HOME.
AND DECADES OF HUB HISTORY ROCK&ROLL STYL