roy2moira

Hi. I thought I was done with my 4 day plan for Boston before beginning our road trip, however I have been reading several sites that indicate that Boston is less then safe in the evening. We like to walk & sometimes enjoy a late supper, etc. I have made reservations in September for the Radisson Hotel, 200 Stuart Street.

Here's some possible scenarios, 1) Walk from the hotel down Tremont street to the Faneuil Hall area and returning to the hotel after a late supper. 2) Walk from hotel to the Copley Square area, returning in the evening. 3) How about the waterfront area just across the Seaport Avenue Bridge into South Boston. 4) Lastly, the area north of Stuart Street such as Charles Street between the Public Park and Boston Common, Beacon Street, and up & down Arlington Street.

I was looking for casual restaurants for supper and maybe a night cap before retiring for the evening and started coming across the safety issue on several sites. We realize a person must be always alert to their surroundings, particularly, in large cities. However it would help some of my planning if I had an idea about safety in areas where some recommended restaurants are located.

Comments are welcome. Thank you!

yk

# 2 and # 4 are COMPLETELY safe.

#1 parts of it will be a bit quiet, but you should still be fine w/o problem

#3 It can get kind of quiet in the Waterfront/South Boston area at night. It depends on which streets. The bridge connecting to Barking Crab will be fine, so is the area right around Fan Pier.

Note that what I am saying is that some areas will be quiet, but I do not think it is UNSAFE. Of course, it depends on where you're from, where you've traveled to, and your comfort level.

P.S. I forget when you're visiting, but if you're coming during the summer months, it stays light until ~ 9pm in late June/early July. So if you're done w/dinner by 8:30pm, it'll still be light when you walk back to the Radisson.

gail

Agree with above - the Waterfront area is the one I would have any regular concern about as it is still primarily a business area with not much activity at night - but still not an area one hears about on news reports with bad things happening.

I would be more comfortable walking on the street around the Public Garden and Boston Common than thru these parks - less lighting and more dark corners in the parks. Also in summer a sleeping place for homeless people - generally not dangerous - but stick to the streets/sidewalks.

Avoid the Esplanade along the Charles River - not well lit, and some recent sexual assaults in the area - so a late-night river stroll would not be recommended.

Boston remains an early city - and common sense dictates one avoid shuttered-up areas in any city.

bachslunch

Great information here from yk and gail. Will second that it's wise to avoid walking through parks after dark in Boston, though if it's still light out, you should be fine.

For walk #1, walking up Charles St., taking a right on Boylston St., a left on Tremont St., a right on State St., then a left on Congress St. is a good way to reach Faneuil Hall on foot (which will be on your right).

For walk #2, walking up Charles St., then taking a left on Boylston Street keeps you on the busiest streets.

For walk #4, walking up Charles St. works fine. You can then take a left on Beacon St. or continue up Charles St. into Beacon Hill. If you take the left on Beacon St., your next left is Arlington St., which will go past the start of Newbury St and intersects Boylston St.

Harder to give good advice with walk #3. Where were you thinking of getting something to eat?

Re safety issues: the later in the evening you are and the more deserted the street you're on, the more likely it might be that problems could be encountered -- I'd say not likely, though, on these walks. The really worrisome areas are ones you won't likely stumble into given where you are.

roy2moira

Thanks again. Now I can do some planning for places to eat supper. We are going to be in Boston Sep 7 to Sep 11 so I believe the sun sets around 7 pm that time of the year. That's about the time we like to relax, sit down, and eat the evening meal.

We have wandered around big cities before but alway try to research as much as possible the safety issue for hotel and restaurant locations. All large cities have areas a person should avoid. The info you folks have given me is great. Haven't been to Boston so we are really looking forward to the trip. It appears to be a great walking city loaded with history.

We love to walk. On our last road trip we stayed in Rye, NY and took the train into the city each day. One day we disembarked at Grand Central, walked to the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Greenwich Village, took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, visited Seaport Village area then walked back to Times Square area for supper before
returning by train to Rye. That's a pretty normal walk for us. We cover a lot of area so safety is very important to us.

On walk #3 I was thinking about a clam shack named Barking Crab. It received pretty good reviews but a person never knows. Anyway it's on the water with apparently a good views of Boston and I am thinking lobster. Any thoughts or comments on restaurants are also welcome.

bachlunch, still have your recommendations for Cape Cod tucked away. You are a treasure house full of travel info. I will probably have more questions as I fine tune this trip. Also thank you yk and gail.

yk

Please don't go to barking crab.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/711792

You'd be better off getting take-out at James Hook. http://www.jameshooklobster.com/

bachslunch

Agreed fully with yk -- don't go to Barking Crab. It's an overpriced dump with inconsistent service and (unless you're sitting right at the edge of the water) a poor view, and I've gotten sick after eating seafood there before. You're far better off heading to Neptune Oyster, which is in the North End.

James Hook should offer limited take out. There's no seating that I remember, as it's pretty much just a fish and lobster seller.

If you want a sit-down clam shack experience in Boston with seafood that's actually good (no view, but the one at Barking Crab isn't so hot, either), your closest approximation is to hit Yankee Lobster. It's further down into the Seaport area, and you should be okay walking back from there in the early evening. Or if you have a car, you could get the real deal experience in a drive out to The Clam Box (Ipswich) or JT Farnham's (Essex) -- though it's a long schlep out there from Boston, and these are impossible to reach via public transportation. Woodman's is also out in Essex, but I'm less a fan of this spot.

Note that great views and great food (with the possible exception of Meritage in the Rowe's Wharf Hotel) in Boston are pretty much mutually exclusive.

yk

There are a few tables inside James Hook, and 3 picnic benches just outside.

bachslunch

yk, I stand corrected on seating at James Hook. It's been a while since I last went there. Thanks.

roy2moira

Thank you. Barking Crab is scratched. Maybe I'll wait for that clam shack experience when we get to Cape Ann or Maine.

Ackislander

Yes, Barking Crab has failed health inspections over the years, so it is not surprising that bachslunch became ill there.

Not a clam shack but for delicious seafood, I recommend the Daily Catch (also known as the Calamari Cafe) on Hanover Street in the North End. I do not recommend their other locations.

I have stayed at the Radisson. It has an unprepossessing lobby but it is very well located, our room was terrific and we had great views out over the South End.

You will be near Boston's Chinatown and might seek recommendations for places to eat there if you like Chinese food. It is an ever-shifting landscape. Also near you is Jacob Wirth's, a cavernous and inexpensive German restaurant (loosely defined). It has been around forever and is fun if your expectations are not too high.

china_cat

there's a brand new Legal Seafoods on the harbor which might be nice. Its just opening this month, and it should have really nice views. I don't know if its "great" food, but I find Legals consistantly good. and you can certainly get a good lobster there.

china_cat

another nice walk/dinner option would be to walk from Copley square, down Boylston Street, cutting through the victory gardens, then past Fenway Park to Kenmore square. Have dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar which is outstanding seafood, then walk back along Newbury Street. This would be even more fun if the Red Sox are playing because it will be a zoo just make your Island Creek reservations between 7 and 10, to avoid the Sox crowd.

gail

I would not walk thru the Fens Victory Gardens area after dark - the streets are fine, but the long grasses/rushes along the pathways are notorious for hiding evil doers.

If you walk in that area an hour prior to game time or an hour after you will not be walking - you will be jostling the crowds. I guess different definition of fun (and I am a Red Sox fan and go to about 10 games/year - hate walking in that crowd, though)

roy2moira

Thanks for the input. During our wandering I will check out some of the restaurants. All of the mentioned restaurants have fairly good reviews. Mostly seafood, fresh & well prepared, is what we are looking for on this trip.

We will take a tour of Fenway Park since the Red Sox are on the road during our stay. Anyway probably would have been difficult to obtain tickets to a game (Son of a Gun). It would have been a treat to attend a game at Fenway Park but maybe next time.

We will not venture into Fens Victory Gardens. I read about that place on one of the internet sites and was one of the reasons I asked the question about safety.

Don't want to give away my age but we have been to games at the old Polo Grounds, old & new Yankee Stadium, old Busch Stadium, Wrigley Field, Petco (San Diego), and several at Safeco Field which is closest to Alaska where we reside.

There he goes again!

Thanks enveryone.

Cranachin

With regard to J.T. Farnham's, Woodman's, and the Clam Box:

I go to Farnham's several times a year, and the food is always fresh. They are also on the water (a salt marsh, not the ocean), with booths indoors (only some with good water views) and several picnic tables outdoors. I definitely recommend it.

I agree with bachslunch that Woodman's is overrated. I am not sure I have EVER had a decent meal at Woodman's. It is across the street from the water and has no view from the dining area.

I have never eaten at the Clam Box in Ipswich, although I have driven by it more times than I can remember (usually on the way to White Farms to get ice cream!). It most definitely is not near the water.

Cranachin

Another place in Essex I really like (and also visit several times a year) is Tom Shea's (on the water/salt marsh, across the street from Woodman's). It is a nicer casual restaurant, not a clam shack like the others, but it also has great food.

cw

As Gail says, don't walk in the Fens at night, but if you're walking to Fenway Park during the day, do take a short detour through the Victory Gardens. They are at the Boylston St. end of the Fenway. There are usually people out working on their plots and it really is a lot of fun to see the different and sometimes elaborate way people design their space. It's not at all hidden, it's right within view of the road.

tchoiniere

Roy, it was 99 years ago today that Fenway Park opened up for a game against the NY Highlanders (soon to become the Yankees). Enjoy the tour. I would have loved to go to a game at the Polo Grounds...Been to most stadiums but wont compare them to Fenway. Safeco and Petco are 2 of my favorites.

Enjoy Boston as its a great city.

Slow_Wanderer

If you need breakfast spots close to your hotel, I'd recommend Mike & Patty's (http://www.mikeandpattys.com/ ) and the Paramount (http://www.paramountboston.com/ ) - also good for lunch and dinner though further away than Mike & Patty's.

I hope you enjoy your trip.