elberko

We'll be in Boston for a fw days next month, staying near Faneuil Hall and using public transportation. I've done some guide book and website searching, but I''d like to hear if there are any ideas from Boston area Fodorites for good food and places to see that might not be on all the lists. We're been to Boston once before, and have done the Freedom Trail, but might do that again.

~Liz

yk

I like the various new gourmet food trucks that are scattered throughout the city - many of them are in the Financial District and Government Center (just steps away from Faneuil Hall). Here's the official website listing where and when each food truck will be:
http://www.cityofboston.gov/business...edule-tabs.asp

Not sure what your interests are in terms of sightseeing? But both the Museum of Fine Arts as well as the Gardner Museum have new wings added on in the past year. Have you been to the ICA at the Waterfront?

Also, the Rose Kennedy Greenway is a nice place to stroll (and to eat your take-out food truck meals). http://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/

If you feel like being on the water, a day trip (or half-day) out to the Harbor Islands is nice on a hot summer day. http://www.bostonharborislands.org/

cw

What kind of food do you like and what is your budget? You'll be staying right near the North End, which is the Italian section of Boston. It must have over 50 restaurants, and everyone has their favorites. Definitely walk around there and see what appeals to you.

In addition to the Freedom Trail, the National Park Service has highlighted their Black History walking tour along with the Freedom Trail. It's a nice walk taking you all through the Beacon Hill area. You can get more information at the NPS visitor center on the first floor of Faneuil Hall.

Do you like baseball? You can take a tour of Fenway Park.

Knowing more about what you like to do, would bring more suggestions.

elberko

Thanks, YK.

The food trucks sound like a great idea. We're pretty adventurous food-wise, but live in suburbia, so that would be something different!

Museums you noted are on list, as is a game at Fenway.

Appreciate the links!

~Liz

elberko

Thanks, cw
No food-type is "out", but seafood is high on the list, as is Italian. Don't really have a budget, but like to do just 1 or 2 high-end places in a week's vacation, and fill in with good food in more casual and inexpensive settings.

Two places I have semi-decided on are B&G Oysters, and Gran Gusto in Cambridge (we'll probably spend a day exploring Cambridge), the later for eggplant parmesan.

Our usual vacation breakfast is a pastry and coffee, and we're pretty picky, esp. about the coffee: any good places near Feneuil Hall?

~Liz

bachslunch

For Italian food in the North End, here's a repeat of something I posted not long ago.

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Here are some options I especially like:

Northern Italian: Prezza, Mamma Maria.
Southern Italian: Pagliuca's, Maurizio's, Saraceno, Antico Forno (this last especially for baked specialties, also makes an 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.

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And here's from another post of mine for seafood on a recent thread.

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Boston area places for good seafood in my experience:

More upscale: Neptune Oyster, B&G Oysters, Kingfish Hall.

More downscale: Yankee Lobster, Dolphin Seafood (Cambridge).

Legal Seafood can be good as well, though I've had mixed experiences at the ones in the Prudential Center and Kendall Square.

Guidebook favorites to avoid: Barking Crab, Jasper White's Summer Shack, Union Oyster House.

bachslunch

Re Boston/Cambridge attractions -- what you'll find listed in good guidebooks such as Fodor's and Frommer's pretty much encompasses what I would suggest. I'd use them, myself.

gail

Along the food idea - there are 2 food tours bostonfoodtours.com - one of North End (Italian) and one of Chinatown. Each are about half day walking tours where they go into a bit of history, ethnic food and ingredient info, as well as go into several shops with tastings. The Chinatown one ends with dim sum at a restaurant, but I preferred the North End tour. Both were an enjoyable way to spend a half day, meet some people from all over the US, and pick out a place to eat at later in the day.

As far as what to see - in general I categorize Boston this way. Freedom Trail, Assorted Museums, Waterfront/Harbor, outside Boston history (as in Lexington, Concord) - plus various universities some people want to add to their trip.

Isabella Stewart Gardner and Institute of Contemporary Art are my 2 favorite museums. A short Boston Harbor cruise and/ot trip to a harbor island would be my pick in second category.

cw

A good alternative to B&G would be Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square near Fenway. Do make reservations if you go. It's open for dinner not lunch. I like it a lot and it is well-reviewed by others.

The Franklin Cafe in the South End is a casual and comfortable place for dinner.

china_cat

bachslunch, fyi, kingfish hall is now closed. Leaving a lot of unpaid rent and fees, as I understand it.

I was going to suggest Island Creek as well for a seafood fix. Its a favorite of mine, takes reservations (which Neptune, unfortunately, does not) and is close to Fenway so you can go for a pre or post game meal. Eastern Standard, right next door, is also an excellent choice in the neighborhood.

Have you picked one or 2 splurge choices yet? I want to recommend Hammersley's Bistro. Yes, its pricey, but I think the food is wonderful, and its a long time local gem. Another option, if you are looking for something more unusual and don't mind heading to Cambridge, is Oleana which is definitely different from any of the other choices. I'd call it contemporary Mediterranean, and I don't mean Italian, its more of a middle Eastern/Turkish/Greek sensibility. For example, they make the most wonderful moussaka with fava bean puree, and minced lamb, and feta.

yk

I too third Island Creek Oyster Bar over B&G Oyster.

bosgal

For food, I would HIGHLY recommend any of my favorite chef's restaurants - Ken Oringer - for the high end, I would have Clio on the top of my list. He also owns several casual restaurants - Toro(tapas) would also be on the top of that list(South End), Coppa(Italian), also South End, La Verdad(Fenway Area), KO(a non-traditional Steak House in one of the downtown hotels close to the Faneuil Hall area. BUT again, I would put Clio and Toro on the top of that list : ) For Italian, wow, you found Gran Gusto. My Italian friends and their Italian friends highly recommend that, as well as Pasta Beach , by the Atlantic Avenue area. I just want to make sure that you know that as far as ambience is concerned, there's not much at Gran Gusto, ok? I mean it's not ugly but it's now wow either, but the food is VERY good.

dfrostnh

I second Gail's recommendation for one of the food tours. I've been on both and loved both. If you don't do a food tour you can still go to Chinatown for a dim sum lunch. I like the places where they have rolling carts they bring to your table. You just point to what you want and, unless you are familiar with dim sum, you probably won't know what anything is. Doesn't matter. Each little plate doesn't cost much. Also, the Chinese bakeries have a lot of yummy pastries both sweet and savory.
The different meats in a North End deli (sorry, can't remember the correct term) aren't available where I live nor the delicious antipasto platters. Consider getting a take out sandwich for lunch.

bachslunch

china_cat, thanks for the heads-up on Kingfish Hall. You're right, it apparently closed a couple months ago and that was made permanent in May. Still haven't been to Island Creek, which is also supposed to be very good -- one of these days...

Hammersley's signature dish (and it's indeed excellent) is the roast chicken.

Good suggestion on Oleana as well -- the food I've had there is very good, and definitely save room for dessert as that's something they do especially well. If memory serves, this is also a vegetarian-friendly place. The two downsides to this eatery are that it's in a part of Cambridge not so well served by public transportation, plus service is sometimes a bit slow there.

I'll agree with bosgal that Clio is one of the best "break the bank" places to dine in Boston (and arguably the most adventurous in food approach), though No. 9 Park is excellent as well -- and if I had only one splurge dinner in Boston, I'd personally choose L'Espalier for it. Will also agree that Toro is arguably the best Boston-area tapas place, though one can do quite well by this food approach at Taberna de Haro (in Brookline near the Boston border), Tapeo (one of few Newbury Street spots with good food), or Dali (in Somerville, a little challenging to get to via public transportation).

elberko

Thanks all!

OK, managed to score a reservation at Island Creek Oyster Bar. Most of the other places suggested aren't available at this point...


Still looking for breakfast bakery/cafes near Faneuil Hall. Did see mention of FLOUR, but that might be a bit out of the way for our plans.

~Liz

yk

You can just head over to the NOrth end for bakeries; plenty to choose from. I like Maria and Modern Pastry. Both places have a few small tables inside where you can get coffees & cappuccinos.

Lookin_Glass

Take a stroll one morning to The Paramount on Charles St for bfast and follow their seating rules, they really have it down to a science!

http://www.paramountboston.com/beaconhill

bachslunch

While I'll agree that the food at The Paramount was good the one time I went there for breakfast a few years ago, I was really put off by the way the billing was handled.

The menu item I decided to order had a specific price listed, both on the menu posted in the window and on the price board inside. But when I came to the cashier's to pay, I was quoted a price that was about $2.00 higher than listed -- and that wasn't with tax or any extra add-on. When I pointed out the discrepancy, the woman told me I could either pay the price she was telling me or leave and not get my food, and she was none too nice about it. I vowed "never again," as I don't play the "prices subject to change if you don't watch our cashiers closely" game with establishments more than once. And when I shared my experience over on Chowhound about this, a couple other folks came forward to say this had also happened to them.

I think this kind of behavior is reprehensible, myself.

Lookin_Glass

Well that is certainly something important to share bachslunch. I have been eating there for years and have only had good experiences. Nothing like you mention. I have also heard high praise for their newer venture in southie. Let's hope that cashier is long gone.