Breakfast in Theater District Boston
 

We are staying over after the Leonard Cohen concert at the Wang Center and would like a nice, not necessarily fancy, but sit down breakfast on a Sunday morning. Any suggestions?

I'll suggest walking across the Common or Public Garden and eating at the Paramount on Charles St. http://www.paramountboston.com/beaconhill

If you want fancier, I guess one of the hotel breakfasts would fit the bill. You could luxuriate at the Four Seasons at brunch in the Bristol Lounge overlooking the Four Seasons.

I adore the Paramount. But realize that it is cafeteria style and you must simply stand in line. Trying to score a table while in line is unacceptable, will get you the stink eye, and screw up the overall flow. The system works. I have never stood with tray in hand looking for a seat.

I'd head to the southend on foot for breakfast/brunch. There are lots of places, Mistral would be on the fancier side but has been a favourite for weekend brunch, many years.

Where's your hotel?

right across from the Wang Center, the Marriott. Not wonderful I know, but very easy after the concert.

Would prefer a non hotel setting, but also definitely do not want to stand on line, though the Paramount otherwise sounds wonderful.

The olde Tremont House has its own charm. Some of the rooms are tight, but it's got good character. I like it.

I would search the southend restaurants as there are a lot of hot brunch spots and it's walking distance. You could do dim sum in chinatown. Are you planning on spending the day? Then you could venture out to other interesting areas.

No, not spending the day, even Dim Sum feels too lunchy. Need to get up and out.

I would go to the South Street Diner on Kneeland Street opposite the South Station bus depot. Not only would I go to the South Street Diner, I have gone to the South Street Diner.

It was the Blue Diner for many years and who knows what before that. It is a real Worcester Car Company diner, it is open 24/7, and it has all the diner classics and some real characters, but mostly between 2 and 6 AM.

Booths and stools.

Oh, I love genuine diners. that sounds great, Ackslander. ANy favorites? Should we get coffee on the way or is it decent?

I would say the coffee is pretty standard, but I don't know where you would get coffee on the way. There is a Dunkin Donuts about every fifty feet in Boston, but their coffee always struck me as wretched.

My standard diner meal is corned beef hash with two eggs sunnyside up, V-8 or tomato juice plus tabasco, and rye toast. Bonus points if the corned beef hash is homemade, but I honestly don't remember if it is there. I am lucky not to have a cholesterol problem!!

If you go to the Paramount, check carefully to make sure you're charged what the menu board says. I had an ugly experience there a couple years ago, where I caught the cashier overcharging me --and she then told me I can pay her what she told me or leave without getting the food (you pay up front here). I don't like patronizing places where "prices are subject to change if you don't watch our cashiers closely."

It's possible the circumstance has been fixed since then, but I'll definitely never go there again.

And will second Ack's thoughts on Dunkin' Donuts coffee, which I find weak and dull.

I don't care for DD coffee either. No little espresso place on the way, hu? Not even a Starbucks? Sheesh!

Didn't rule any of that out, but Kneeland Street is the main street of Chinatown, so I would not be optimistic. But I haven't stayed where you are staying.

You can google Starbucks theater district or chinatown or leather district

Pretty sure there's a Starbucks right around the corner from your hotel on Stuart Street. or for better coffee walk up Tremont St. to the Thinking Cup, opposite the Boston Common. http://thinkingcup.com/

cw, that looks just like our cup of,,er, coffee. Maybe we should just have a bowl of oatmeal there!

I like the Paramount, but the South Street Diner would be my choice, since it is just less hassle on a weekend. Alternatively, and depending upon the time, you could also do dim sum in Chinatown. East Ocean City is good, as is Hei Lau Moon (sp?).

Depending upon when exactly this is, Mike and Patty's might be open too, but there is virtually no seating there, so you will likely have to grab and go.

Another decent option for brunch, heading toward the South End, is Masa.

I've had worthy Boston Chinatown dim sum at four places: China Pearl, Hei La Moon, Empire [aka Emperor's] Garden, and Chau Chow City. There may be others as well. Dim sum isn't in my experience a quick dining option, but it's very enjoyable.

I think Mike and Patty's is still closed.

<I>I think Mike and Patty's is still closed.</I>

I spoke with the guys doing the renovation and the target is to re-open around December 1.