Where to eat to get the TRUE BOSTON FLAVOR.... (Washington: hotel, work)

[mrspjc]

Well, everyone was so helpful from my previous post asking where to stay when we come to visit Boston in February I thought I would ask for help again!

We are coming to visit Boston for my husband's birthday and I would like some recommendations of where to eat he birthday dinner. Not looking for anything really fancy, just want to have the true Boston atmosphere. We are staying in Copley Square but we are willing to cab it for the right place.

Thanks!

[burbsbound]

I recommend Legal Sea Foods (Prudential Center), unless you have specific kind(s) of foods other than seafood.

[mrspjc]

Oops. I should have mentioned that my husband does not like seafood. If the restaurant offered a variety along with the seafood that would be fine.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Try Anthony's Peir 4, its a Boston institution. It has a great view of Boston and an extensive menu.

[Baltic_Celt]

Hi Mrs. P -

Check out citysearch.com for Boston restaurants to give you an idea of how much is here. It's helpful to give you some ideas & you can search via price/part of the city/type of food.

I never know quite what to say when someone says Boston atmosphere, as there are things from casual sports bars to pubs to family-style to upscale, all in Boston. Copley Sq (aka Back Bay) has an amazing amount of restaurants in all those areas, so you can easily walk to/from dinner. Your hotel I'm sure, could help you in choosing something, too. Perhaps even contacting them in advance via email might garner some results. They might even have a website with recommendations.

The N. End has beautiful Italian food. The area is less than 1-sq mi & has 100+ restaurants, which is astounding - as if virtually everyone living there has a restaurant. Afterwards, an espresso/cappuccino at Cafe Paridiso or Cafe Pompeii would be optimal. If it's nice weather, you can take the subway from Copley to Haymarket & walk from there. Purchase 1-day passes if you'll be taking public transit. To better understand the subway/bus system before you come, check out:

MBTA.com > Official Website for Greater Boston's Public Transportation System

Top everything off with a drink at Top of the Hub's bar, right in Copley Sq. It's the top level of the Prudential Center (the Pru, locally). Food is astronomically expensive & not very good. I was there as recent as a year ago. $25 side salads are not my cup of tea. A beer is $7 at the bar (may be $8 now), but the bldg overlooks all of Boston, the suburbs... amazing view worth the price of a beer. You can go to the Observatory one floor up, but the cost is more & at least you can have a beer/soda/wine for less & sit down for awhile. Dress code for the bar isn't enforced. I've seen many tourists in sneakers/ski jackets at the bar. Of course, if you're visiting during dinner hour, you may have to follow an upscale dress code.

You can find all the info I gave you on citysearch.

Enjoy your trip. Copley is beautiful. I'm there all the time. Don't forget to visit the BPL (Boston Public Library), takes up 1 block in the center of Copley. They also have a casual cafe near the outdoor seating area (a must see in nice weather) & buffet for lunch. Check out:

Boston Public Library Home Page

Have fun... VV

[PDF]

Any help over here? I'm coming to visit Boston by myself the month after, and I'm also looking for places to eat. Figured I'd just post in here while I have everybody's attention, rather than create a whole new thread.

I'd feel weird eating at one of Boston's many expensive restaurants alone. Anything within the city limits is fine. Good local joints or just anything that's good is alright.

Can anybody recommend some places?

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

This place looks really good, it was reviewed on The Foodnetwork program called Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

Mike's City Diner, 1714 Washington StBoston, MA 02118Tel: (617) 267-9393

Everything is made with Turkey and it looked SO good. They also had a wonderful selection of breakfast, plates HEAPED up high.

Another place I used to love to go is Fanuiel hall Marketplace. They have just about every kind of food you can imagine. Everything from a Greek salad, fabulous pizza to Chocolate chip cookies.

[Baltic_Celt]

Originally Posted by PDF

Any help over here? I'm coming to visit Boston by myself the month after, and I'm also looking for places to eat. Figured I'd just post in here while I have everybody's attention, rather than create a whole new thread.

Can anybody recommend some places?

As I mentioned above, check out citysearch.com, ask the hotel staff and/or check out your hotel's website. You might like Atlantic Fish in Copley. GREAT food (they have everything, not just fish), not inexpensive but well worth the price (plan on $60ish/person with 1-2 drinks), a place I wouldn't mind eating alone.

N. End also has many places that are more casual, if you like Italian food. You didn't say which section of Boston you'd be staying in, but there's so many restaurants, if you just walk around, you'll run into many on almost any block.

If you can give more details on food type, acceptable price & area of the city, perhaps we can help better... VV

[gopats]

If you don't eat at Giacomos in the NOrth End...you will miss a great chance to eat and feel the Italian flavor of Boston and the authentic North End. There is always a line becuase the food is amazing. Worth the wait.

[slang75]

Originally Posted by gopats

If you don't eat at Giacomos in the NOrth End...you will miss a great chance to eat and feel the Italian flavor of Boston and the authentic North End. There is always a line becuase the food is amazing. Worth the wait.

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.