Here's a good recent thread on dining in the North End, where there must be well over 50 Italian restaurants: http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/dinner-in-bostonnorth-end.cfm

What other kinds of food do you like and what price point generally? There is a Petit Robert french restaurant on Arch St., not too far away from the Ames. Also look at Silvertone, and J.M. Curley's not too far away, two casual places.

When are you coming to Boston? There is a ferry to Salem in season which makes a good day trip. The Peabody Essex Museum is really first rate, and then there's the House of the Seven Gables, and a lot of witch stuff. There is also a train to Salem. You could also go on a Whale Watch cruise or just take a trip out to the Boston Harbor Islands. In good weather it's nice to get out and see the harbor and see Boston from the harbor.

Train to Rockport MA, or ferry to Salem, or ferry to Provincetown, or a boston harbour excursion.

Thanks for your replies.
French or " fusion" food is fine.
We are going the second week in Sept.

I know there is time, but it is a" big". birthday celebration
so I ma hoping to make it special.

Cambridge is also an easy subway ride from Boston and interesting for a half day or day. In addition to Harvard Square I would recommend walking up Brattle Street to the Longfellow House

thanks, Cambridge is on the "list"

For a memorable meal, Italian, you would be very happy at Mama Maria in the North End. It is north Italian food and a rather formal restaurant, perfect for an occasion.

Thanks, Ackislander
I'll look it up.

If you go to Salem, the Peabody Essex Museum has an Ansel Adams exhibit through October that I love!

For a restaurant that is yummy and romantic/special, go to Fiore's in the North End and eat on the roof top, when the weather is right it is so nice.

There are so many great restaurants, if you are looking for something specific (romantic, fun/lively) let me know and I will give you more recommendations.

I also agree with cw, depending on where you are from it can be cool and different to do a whale watch (a friend from Kentucky just came in June and was absolutely floored by seeing the whales so up close). I'd recommend a trip from Gloucester, but you can take one right from Boston Harbor.

Also, check Groupon Boston for deals on all sorts of dinners and activities before you come!

Thanks kellypow,
We both like photography, Ansel Adams exhibit would be interesting.

thanks Blomde
We are looking forward for the trip.

From my trip report in May 2012:

Last night we had the BEST ITALIAN food ever, even better than we had in Italy! I should start a new thread dedicated to this restaurant alone: Nico, at 417 Hanover Street, in the North End.

It is a tiny place, with excellent personal service. Our waiter was from Sicily, and every other worker we heard also had an Italian accent, except the maitre d' was from S America.

We started with shrimp bruschetta, which was a large plate with two pieces of toast, covered by four gigantic shrimp, in a wonderful scampi-type sauce. This was the size of a lunch sandwich. It was so delicious. It was $17.95, so not cheap.

We also had a caesar salad which we split, thank goodness, because it also was huge. I think it was only $9. It was dressed perfectly and also was delicious.

My entree was veal saltimbocca, for $22.95. It also was huge. Two slices of veal, stiffed with cheese and proscuitto, accompanied by homemade pasta. I had asked for pasta, instead of potato, and they are happy to modify their menu for their patrons.

DH had a house specialty-- linguine with seafood. OMG. Enough for two people, for sure. Lobster claw and a split lobster tail on top, huge shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels and clams in a wonderful fra diablo sauce. I can't believe he ate the whole thing! If we'd had a fridge and microwave for leftovers, he would have taken it home, I am sure. It was about $45.

We enjoyed wonderful wine by the glass, which the waiter recommended. He brought sample tastes to the table, without being asked. He was extremely attentive and friendly. Our wines were probably $10/glass. I had white, DH had red.

We were given complimentary glasses of limoncello to finish.

Tables are close together and tiny, in the tiny room. We struck up a conversation at the end of the meal, with a couple from Canada and Australia. They were very interesting, and we actually had a lot in common.

It was an exquisite evening. Total bill was $150 + tip.

We highly recommend Nico!

Boston is a fun city to visit and you haven't been there for a while so will enjoy re-visiting it. We just went into Boston last week w/ our DD, SIL and 2 grandsons. Our intentions were to do the duck tour but it was all sold out. There was a convention at Hynes Center so that took care of that. We ended up doing a trolley tour and boarded the trolley right at the Prudential Center (in front of the Sheraton). It was a very warm day and the trolley was old w/ only a few of the "plastic" windows that rolled all the way up. However, we had a great day and stopped at the Navy Yard and toured Old Ironsides. Our grandsons loved it. The trolleys all follow the same route and have the same bus stops (they are all marked). Prices do vary so check online if this is something u are interested in doing. Buy your tickets online to avoid disappointment and have them sold out or do the duck tours. Some of the trolleys offer a combination ticket.

We were going to do the whale watch out of Gloucester but it is a 4 hr. trip. The Boston whale watch is only 3 hr. as it is closer to the area where the whales are. The whale sightings have been phenomenal this summer so think it might be something for you to see.

http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/

I, myself, think a trip to Salem would be great as well. It is on my bucket list as I want to visit the Peabody Museum. We have been to Salem b4 but many years ago. Good luck.

Thanks PO and liv2
for sharing your experiences.....

If you decide to go to Salem, I recommend the Salem Maritime National Historic Site as well as the Peabody museum. It is a short walk from the place where the Boston to Salem ferry docks
http://www.nps.gov/sama/index.htm

Here's the basic boil-down I posted on the North End's eateries on the thread cw posted above:

Here are some options I especially like:

Northern Italian: Prezza, Mamma Maria.
Southern Italian: Pagliuca's, Maurizio's, Saraceno (stick to red sauce classics here), Antico Forno (this last especially for baked specialties, also makes a very good pizza). Marco is also excellent and has a slightly broader menu beyond Southern Italian.
Pizza: Pizzeria Regina.
Southern Italian seafood: Daily Catch, Giacomo's.
Italian/Peruvian hybrid: Taranta.
Espresso/pastry afterward: Caffe Vittoria.
Bakeries with less formal sit-down seating: Modern Pastries, Mike's. Not sure if Maria's is open evenings.

Other worthy options of varying Italian types include Euno, Rabia, Carmen, Bricco, Vinoteca di Monica, La Summa, Pomodoro, Lucca, and Massimino's.

If I could only choose one place and was fine with Northern Italian, I'd opt for Prezza. Ack's suggestion for Mamma Maria is an excellent one as well. In my experience, Prezza is perhaps a little less formal in feel, though you can't in my experience go wrong with either.

Note that not everyone enjoys Giacomo's from my list, though I've had good experiences there the times I've gone.

From bachslunch's list I've been to Antico Forno for dinner, not pizza. Thought it was OK, but not great.

I hope you don't mind my slightly hijacking your thread by asking if anyone can recommend a restaurant in walking distance from the Boston Park Plaza hotel (preferably walking in the direction of Newbury in Back Bay) for a possible trip next month. Unlike the OP, we do like seafood (enjoyed Atlantic Fish Co. on Boylston on a past trip) but are open to anything.

Thanks.

Judy24, there is a Legal Seafood right in the Park Plaza. But walking towards the Back Bay, there is Skipjack's on St. James St. near Clarendon, and Turner's Fisheries in the Westin at Copley Place. Further out a bit, is Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square.

Most restaurants in Boston have good seafood on their menu, so you have many options. Bistro du Midi is around the corner from you on Boylston St., La Voile is a good French restaurant on Newbury, and we've enjoyed Via Matta, right across the street from the Park Plaza.

Thank you Vit, And Bach.

no problem. Judy

Legal Seafood is a tired chain, IMHO.

Two years ago, there was a very chic restaurant on the ground floor of the building across the street from the Park Plaza's main entrance. Forget it's name, but it was very good. Rather expensive, but worth it.

Have been to Via Matta and will second this suggestion. Turner Fisheries is pretty good and Skipjack's is okay as well -- still haven't been to La Voile or Island Creek, both of which have had good things said about them generally. My personal preferences for seafood would be Neptune Oyster (North End) and B&G Oysters (South End) for pricy and Dolphin Seafood (Cambridge near Harvard Square) and Yankee Lobster (Seaport District) for downscale.

Legal Seafoods may be a chain, but I've done well at several of their locations -- have found those at the Pru Center and Kendall Square the least consistent. You'll find naysayers at Chowhound and elsewhere for them, but that hasn't been my experience for the most part.

Thank you cw! That's just the kind of info I was looking for. I think Legal Seafood is just fine, but since I have one nearby I wouldn't choose it when traveling. However, I have tried the Legal Test Kitchen (LTK)at the seaport and that was fun.

For bachslunch: Just remembered a place we went to on a recent trip. Not Italian, but not seafood and not formal. It was in the Lenox hotel and is called City Table. Nice eclectic menu in an attractive casual atmosphere with reasonable prices. Enjoy your trip.

Judy & danon,

I second the recommendation of Erbaluce at Bay Village. It is right across the street from Park Plaza hotel, and I wonder if that's the same restaurant PeaceOut is alluding to in her post earlier.

danon, enjoy your trip!

Big NO to Turner Fisheries

yk, the restaurant I am thinking of was in a modern building, maybe an office complex. That name doesn't sound familiar. But, it was two years ago, it was a trendy place and could be gone by now. I will see if I can find out.

It could have been Via Matta. The menu looks like what we had and so does the interior and the location.

could have been Davios