Babycakes owner Kerri Lynch-Delaney. Gary Higgins photo/The Patriot Ledger

Beale Street, Quincy

Only blocks from Quincy Center, the shops and restaurants on Beale Street offer a convenient, uncrowded lunchtime destination. Park on the street and set out in search of inexpensive lunch specials or spend your time bargain hunting and satisfying your sweet tooth.

Cost: $13.95 for two CDs, lunch and a cupcake

Time: 60 minutes

WALK AROUND

Bargain hunters who don’t have time to shop can get their fill at Finder’s Keepers Consignment Shop. The store has a wide variety of used items, and a careful shopper can leave with quirky costume jewelry, marked-down designer suits or classic CDs – all for next to nothing. The store gets “new” merchandise daily, so popping in a few days a week could lead to a bargain.

Great Chow owner Andy Kwan. Gary Higgins photo/The Patriot Ledger

QUICK BITES

Several restaurants on Beale Street offer inexpensive lunch specials in a casual atmosphere. The lunch menu at Great Chow boasts heaping portions of Chinese food, most for less than $6. Or stop at Barry’s Deli to grab a sandwich or hot lunch while listening to a group of daily regulars chat about everything from movies to world history. Wherever you decide to eat, leave room for dessert.

CHECK IT OUT

After lunch, stroll down Beale Street, cross over Newport Avenue and head into Babycakes, a cupcake shop. Babycakes serves classic cupcakes alongside daily-special varieties such as lemon coconut, french toast and red velvet. Get there early, because the shop closes each day when it runs out of goodies.

RELAX

For a low-key stroll that tones your glutes, walk up the hilly, tree-lined streets off Beale. Many of the residential streets are ideal for strolling in nice weather; there are big, old houses and, for entertainment, children’s pickup baseball games.