female travelling solo and staying at the newbury guest house. can anyone recommend inexpensive/moderate ($15 & under) places to go for the evening meals. i enjoy casual "bar" type meals of appetizers, wraps, burgers...are there any irish pubs in the area with live music? will have a couple of evenings so any suggestions would be appreciated. walking distance (within 30 minutes or so) or public transit. thanks.

You're in a terrific location, and your best bet is to walk up and down Boylston Street (parallel to Newbury, 1 block away) and take your pick among the many eateries there. Virtually all have a bar where a single diner can comfortably enjoy dinner.

Another less obvious, but very good, choice is the Marché restaurant in the Prudential Center (also on Boylston). The Marché is a cafeteria-style place where you choose what you want to eat from among a dozen or so different "stations" -- for example, sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta, etc. The food is good (though not outstanding), and it's especially convenient if you're by yourself.

Solas on Boyleston is an Irish pub. Lir is another also on Boyleston but don't know if they have live music.

A short walk across the public garden and common and you can try Jacob Wirths on Stuart St. A cozy old German style restaurant.

Jacob Wirth's is a great joint but it's sort of a haul unless you take the T and even then you need to be a little familiar with Chinatown. I work nearly across the street from the Newbury Guest House and I would suggest sticking to Boylston. There are loads of 'bar' type places. Bennnie posted Solas and Lir...there nearly right around the corner from Newbury. The Summer Shack and Brewkoski's might be worth checking out too and they're located across from Boylston. The Guest House can give you some strong suggestions, too. Enjoy your stay.

my friend lives in backbay and she always takes me to the Underground - great cheap food and fun atmosphere - they serve b,l and d - and it's a bar too. if you back is to the river it's one or two streets past newbury - sorry I can't remember the name of the street.

The Underground is on the corner of Newbury and Mass. Ave., the NW corner I believe and it is a great place and great, cheap food, too.

yep that's the one!

I recently read that Marche closed,rather abruptly if I remember the story correctly. The only restaurant I have been to in that area is Sonsie and while it was delicious food, I don't think they had wraps or burgers...maybe pizzas though.

Check out this place for bistro style food.

http://www.goeboston.com/

While in Boston last week, had two terrific meals at:
Piattini, 226 Newberry Street (walk down the steps from the sidewalk). There's nothing on the menu over $10.95; the cuisine was terrific.
Bon Appetit

You should check out the Pour House on Boylston Street - it's good cheap bar-type food. Also, the Summer Shack offers a late night menu - which has appetizers for 3 bucks..Have fun!

the bar at Brasserie Jo on huntington, is great. I meet my friends there for drinks. they are half my age and everyone chat us up.

P.S. The freë Boston Phoenix, Improper Bostonian and Boston "stuff after dark" in Boxes on street corners will list all th irish bars and other places with or without music.

Tapeos, a tapas bar/restaurant would be good. and it's on Newbury street.

Stephanies on Newbury Street has delicious dinner salads. Tapeos is also very good.

I also concur with the Pourhouse and Stephanie's

If you like Vietnamese food, try Pho Pasteur on Newbury Street. My whole family loves it. Another branch is in Harvard Square, which you can get to easily on the "T" and has lots of cheap eats.