Where to eat to get the TRUE BOSTON FLAVOR.... (Cambridge: hotel, house)

[burbsbound]

A List of the best of what's new in Boston dining scene:
Best of the New: Food - The Boston Globe

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by slang75

I concur, Giacomo's is well worth the wait. The menu is heavy on seafood, but there are always a few dishes that don't use seafood. The butternut squash raviolis are top notch. It's small, noisy, friendly and very Boston. Then walk over to Modern bakery and get a cannolli.

There is NOTHING like the Italian food you can get in Boston, nothing like it in the world.

This thread makes me so homesick.

[DreamworksSKG]

Sheraton Copley

Try the Sheraton Copley
or the Marriott - Waterfront

-jeff
Winchester, MA

[DreamworksSKG]

Also walk around Quincy Market/and the North End, as well as the wharves along the waterfront, it gives you a true boston feeling

also take a fenway park tour or go see a game at the gahden.
(no bags allowed tho)

- Jeff
Winchester, MA

[CityGirl52]

You have to go to Durgin Park in Faneuil Hall at least ONCE in your life when you're in Boston! It's SO New Englandy & Boston, it's not even funny! Yes, they have seafood on their menu BUT they also have the famous Boston baked beans, Pot Roast, corn bread etc...it's quite good and was always very reasonable; not to mention that it's also a fun place to go!

Check out their menu to see what I mean!

Durgin Park

While the origin of Durgin-Park goes back to Revolutionary days, the era of fame for its chowders, Indian puddings, apple pan dowdy, johnny cake, and New England boiled dinners started some 130 years ago when John Durgin, in partnership with Eldridge Park, a livery man, and John G. Chandler, a dry goods merchant, took over. The theme followed to this day was decided upon then by these old Yankees, that the best advertising is plenty of food on the table!

Check out what they do with their Pot Roast...it's wonderful!

YANKEE POT ROAST

There was a time, not so long ago, when only grandmothers prepared pot roast. In recent years, as American cooks and eaters have come to appreciate the joys of comfort food, the dowdy old dish has earned a new lease on life. Of course, the kitchens of Durgin-Park never stop making it.

4 to 5 pounds pot roast (brisket or cap meat)
Flour for dredging
6 carrots, chopped
2 small onions
6 celery ribs
1 (3-pound) can stewed tomatoes
2 tablespoons celery salt
2 tablespoons white pepper
6 bay leaves
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
5 ounces A-1 sauce
6 ounces beef stock
flour
water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Dredge the pot roast in the flour, place the meat in a roasting pan and cook in the oven for 1 hour, browning all sides. Once browned, place the meat in a large stock pot or a Dutch oven. Cover with water. Add carrots, onions, celery, tomatoes, celery salt, white pepper, poultry seasoning, A-1 sauce and beef base. Simmer on top of the stove or in the oven at 325 degree F. Cook for approximately 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Strain the liquid. Make a paste out of equal amounts of flour and water and add to the liquid to make the gravy. Serve with boiled or mashed potatoes. Makes 10 to 12 servings

[willdufauve]

Durgin Park and Legal Seafoods would be at the top of my list for a tourist experience, but you can't beat the S&S Deli in East Cambridge for Sunday brunch with locals. I hope it's still there.

[redpanda]

Durgin Park is just awful. AWFUL. Don't go there. Badly cooked crap food served by surly staff.

S & S is still in Inman Square...we go almost every week.

[gopats]

I agreee...Durgin Park was just written up as one of the worst restaurants...regardless of history. Bad food and yes the shtick for the waitresses is to be rude to people but I think that is wacked to. Bad food and rude waitresses. Nothing funny about that. It is just one big tourist trap. Again...go to the North End and try Giacomos or one of the other 100 restaurants. You cannot go wrong there. There is no schtick....people are aunthentic and the smell of the little area will blow you away. After a great dinner walk over to Victorias or Mikes Pastry for a canoli and capuccino. I think we'll hit the North End this weekend as a matter of fact as this is getting me hungry for it!

[willdufauve]

Sorry to hear about the food at Durgin Park. The rude waitresses I always got a kick out of and, even though I'm a vegan now, I had some great baked schrod there 30 years ago.

Does anyone know if the European Italian restaurant is still open in the North End?

For pub food, or a pint, we used to like to put the baby on the table in a baby carrier and hang out at Ryles, Jacks, or the Plough and Stars in Cambridge. Those were the days...Spider John Koerner and a pint. It would be too much to hope they're still open.

[CityGirl52]

I actually haven't been to Durgin Park in about 10 years! I think it's important for tourists to go there at least once while they're here to decide for themselves. It's part of Boston and it has been for years. The European is long gone unfortunately. We used to LOVE that place too, especially there pizza, there veal cutlet sandwiches and their meatball sandwiches and their SOUPS were wonderful too AND their salads, yum!!! Well, since then we found out one of the owners son owns Gaetano's Risrorante located at 271 Main Street in Stoneham. GO there if you're ever in that neck of the woods. It's extremely good. Close to the European in my book! We really really liked it there a lot.

I also went to Ryles & Jack's way back when too! THOSE were the days...
Ryles is still there, Jack's is long gone. I remember going to high school in Cambridge and we'd go to Jack's to hear this awesome singer, well who was it but Bonnie Raitt! That's how far back we were in that place and that's where she actually started singing I think too, if I'm not mistaken...like I said, those were the days....!!!!