Back to school means back to routines, activities, homework and the nightly question we somehow have to answer every single day: What are we having for dinner? Some nights there’s time to cook, and some nights you just need to pick something up on the way home. From rotisserie chicken and homemade soups to Italian favorites, Mediterranean bowls and ready to heat family meals, we rounded up 10 local spots around Needham, Wellesley, Newton and surrounding towns that make getting dinner on the table a whole lot easier. Because a home cooked dinner is great. A dinner you didn’t have to cook is pretty great, to!
1. New England Soup Factory + Modern Rotisserie: 244 Needham St, Newton
This spot is basically made for busy weeknights. Grab a rotisserie chicken and a few homemade sides from Modern Rotisserie, add one of New England Soup Factory’s homemade soups, and dinner is done. They also offer family meals when you need to feed the whole crew.
Our weeknight move: Rotisserie chicken + a couple of veggie sides, with extra soup for lunch the next day.
2. Farm Grill & Rotisserie 40 Needham St, Newton
A longtime local favorite for Greek and Mediterranean food, Farm Grill is an easy option when you want something everyone can pick at and share. Think grilled chicken, kebabs, Greek salads, rice, hummus and plenty of sides.
Our weeknight move: Chicken kebabs, Greek salad, rice and hummus for the table.
3. Volante Farms: 292 Forest Street, Needham
Don’t overlook Volante when you’re trying to figure out dinner. Beyond the farm fresh produce, you’ll find prepared foods and plenty of options to help pull together a meal without actually starting from scratch.
Our weeknight move: Grab a prepared entrée or protein then add a salad or fresh veggies and dinner is handled.
4. Lambert’s Market: 220 Providence Highway, Westwood
Lambert’s is a great stop when you want plenty of choices in one place. Their prepared foods make it easy to grab an entrée, salads, soups, sandwiches and sides for a quick dinner at home.
Our weeknight move: Pick up a prepared entrée and a couple of sides and let everyone serve themselves.
5. Lola’s Italian Kitchen & Market: 9 Main Street, Natick
When Italian comfort food sounds good but making it yourself does not, Lola’s is a great one to know. Their market has take home favorites like chicken piccata, chicken marsala, lasagna, eggplant parm and more, including family size options you can keep in the freezer for an especially crazy night.
Our weeknight move: Stock up on an extra family meal for the freezer while you’re there, future you will be very happy.
6. Inna’s Kitchen Culinaria: 547 Comm Ave, Newton
For something homemade without making it yourself, Inna’s Kitchen has soups, entrees, salads and other prepared foods that make an easy weeknight meal. It’s also a great option for families navigating food allergies, with a kitchen dedicated to gluten, dairy and nut free cooking.
Our weeknight move: Grab a few different prepared dishes and save any extras for lunch the next day.
7. The Butcherie: 428 Harvard St, Brookline
A great stop when you need to get dinner on the table without actually cooking. The Butcherie has a large selection of prepared foods, from rotisserie chicken and proteins to salads, sides and other ready-to-go options that make it easy to pull together a full family dinner.
Our weeknight move: Grab a prepared protein + a couple of sides and call dinner done.
8. Fells Market: 326 Weston Road, Wellesley
Fells has a great selection of prepared foods, including chicken parm, lasagna, meatballs, soups, roasted vegetables, stuffed peppers, salads and more.
Our weeknight move: Grab an entree, a couple of veggie sides and a salad and call dinner done.
9. Captain Marden’s Fish Market: 279 Linden Street, Wellesley
Seafood night without all the prep! Captain Marden’s is a great stop for fresh seafood plus plenty of ready to go options, including crab cakes, salmon cakes, soups, sides and prepared seafood dishes. They also offer frozen dinners to stash away for another busy night.
Our weeknight move: Grab a prepared seafood entree, a couple of sides and dinner is handled.
10. Pressed Cafe: 300 Needham Street, Newton
When everyone wants something different, Pressed is an easy answer. Their huge menu has everything from salads and grain bowls to wraps, paninis and plenty of kid friendly options, so everyone can find something they’ll actually eat.
Our weeknight move: Order ahead and grab a mix of bowls, wraps and sandwiches on the way home from activities.
Currently closed due to flooding:
Putterham Grille: 1012 W Roxbury Parkway, Chestnut Hill
Putterham Grille is a great neighborhood go-to when you need an easy dinner everyone will eat. The menu has Greek and Mediterranean favorites, grilled chicken, kebabs, salads, wraps, pizza and plenty of kid-friendly options, making it an easy stop when everyone wants something a little different.
Our weeknight move: Grab chicken or kebabs, a Greek salad, hummus and a few sides for an easy dinner everyone can share.
