Dining in Boston
 

My wife and I will be in Boston next weekend and looking for recommended "not to miss" dining spots there. Any recommendations. Budget not an issue.

Lots to choose from--different cuisines--. Haven't been back to Boston in awhile (grew up in neighboring city), so can't advise on what's the latest & greatest. <BR> <BR>But here are a few of the tried & true. <BR> <BR>1. Maison Robert, on School St., Boston --- if money is no object, this is one of those long standing fine dining French restaurants that will not disappoint. <BR> <BR>2. Great fresh seafood, go the 'Legal SeaFood's'. Several locations, so guess you could describe it as a local chain. <BR> <BR>3. Anthony's Pier 4 --- one of Boston's landmark restaurants. GREAT view overlooking Boston Harbor. Food is good, but you can get equally as fresh seafood if you go the other Boston restaurants. You go to Anthony's for a dining experience. <BR> <BR>4. No Name --- was known as a 'hole in the wall' yet great food when I grew up in area (let's say, uh, quite a few years ago). But I think it still has a good draw --- VERY casual, no atmosphere. <BR> <BR>5. Union Oyster House --- LOTS of character. This is America's oldest continual running restaurant (as per their claim). Open since 1826. Good location as you can then stroll over to the Fanuel Hall Marketplace area. Food is not as good as Legal's but I enjoy the historic ambience of 'Ye Olde Union Oyster House'. <BR> <BR>What I haven't suggested (and I'm sure others will) is some of the excellent food that can be found in the 'North End'. I'm not up on what are the better selections on the Italian restaurants there. <BR> <BR>

All of the following are expensive, but worth it if you can get a reservation. <BR> <BR>Hamersley's, Radius, No. 9 Park, The Federalist, Clio and Ambrosia.

Hank's choices are very nice. Legal Seafood is HIGHLY over-rated! Noisy(as in cafeteria) and over-priced drinks. If you're looking for ambience stay away!! Click on fodor's rants and raves. There are a number of spots for you to review. And check out Legal Seafood's reviews and you will see what I mean. Enjoy your stay in Boston. It's a great little city.

How about Maggiano's Little Italy. Great food, nice staff. Or if money is no object. Four Seasons, Aujourdui. <BR>

Lola, it's time for you to go back to Boston for a refresher course. Sadly, I would not recommend any of the restaurants you listed. Tripp, if budget is not an issue, Hank's list is the one for you. I would add Aquataine (also in the South End as is Hammersly's); No. 9 Park is wonderful.

I vote for Stephanie's on Newbury street.

You can pay too much for all kinds of upscale places (Biba, etc.) in Boston, because there's WAY too much money in that city. My favorites? Elephant Walk (French/Indochinese - 2 locations) and Cottonwood (new Southwestern). <BR> <BR>Suggest checking out citysearch.com and look over their "favorites" for Boston area restaurants. For the most part, right on the mark.

Just so you understand -- neither of the two places I mentioned are "budget" places. They just don't go out of their way to charge exorbitant amounts for over-designed tidbits and over-conceptualized menus.

Although Legal is a fine restaurant it is highly overpriced..we prefer SkipJacks.. and as for Anthony's let's just say his reputation and ego have gotten away from him and the tourists insist upon going there..

If price is really not an issue, try L'Espalier -- it's possibly the best restaurant in the city, quite formal, in a refurbished brownstone. Slightly more casual, I'd second Hammersley's in the South End. As a tourist, however, I'd say definitely go to the NOrth End. Mamma Maria's is excellent, as is Marcuccio's. Pomodoro is also great -- about 8 tables, lots of atmosphere. If the weather's nice, just head to the NOrth End, check out the menus -- they're all posted and find one that sounds good. It's hard to go too wrong. Wherever you go, afterwards, go to Cafe Vittoria for the best cappuccino you've had outside of Italy. The pastries are OK, but it's the real North End -- among the tourists, you'll see old guys in from their bocce ball game, talking in Italian to the younger folks about whatever soccer game is hot right then. The North End is becoming quite yuppified these days, but definitly worth checking out. Have fun

The restaurants in the South End like Truc and Hammersley's and Aquataine are great. I like Metropolis also. The North End is also great - my favorite is Massamino's - off the beaten track, small but excellent Italian. Seafood is always great in Boston -the Daily Catch is very good. Definately go for a coffee at Cafe Vittorio- its the real deal if you want a glimpse into the old time North End. Olives in Charlestown is very famous (there's a branch in Las Vegas now) but doesn't take reservation so you may have to wait. Please don't go to Pier 4 or Jimmy's Harborside - both are extremely dated - the No Name is also. If you want to try an Irish bar - try the Kinsale. Upstairs at the Pudding in Havard Square gets consistently good reviews and its a favorite with my friends and family (though I can't personally vouch for it). <BR> <BR>Don't worry - you won't go hungry. There will be more choices than you'll know what to do with.

A dissenting vote on L'Espalier. I think it qualifies as one of Pris's overpriced showcase restaurants. The appetizers were exceptional as was the soup, but entrees had some missteps and the desserts relied too much on people's addiction to chocolate. You are paying quite a bit for imaginative but poorly maintained decor (lights out, wall paper torn), a plethora of servers, and rhetoric on and off the menu. I mean: they brag about their herbs as having been grown on the roof -- this is right downtown with plenty of air pollution as well as pigeons and seagulls to help the cultivation. <BR>

Here's my two cents worth: <BR> <BR>Absolute Best Dining: Aujoud'hui at the Four Seasons <BR> <BR>Most Romantic: Cafe Budapest - Ask for a table in the pink room (violins :) ) <BR> <BR>Kind of ecclectic and "new food": Icarus <BR> <BR>Best View and piano entertainment: Bay Tower <BR> <BR>Forget Biba, Legal Seafood, L'espalier!

<BR>Hi Tripp. Boston has some really good restaurants: Radius, Clio, Anago, Julien, Aujord'hui, but my personal favorite is Olives. The food is consistently very good and the atmosphere is casual and relaxed; the downside is they don't take reservations. Julien and Aujord'hui (both formal French) are definitely dress-up restaurants while the others are a little more casual with perhaps a bit more inventive food. I would stay away from the more touristy spots, i.e., Anthony's Pier 4, Jimmy's Harborside and yes, even Legal Seafoods. Legal has okay food (although their chowder is excellent!) but high prices and absolutely NO atmosphere -- it's a move 'em in, move 'em out kind of place. I like Terramia in the North End for Italian. If you like Japanese try Tatsukichi or Ginza and if you happen to be in Cambridge and don't want to spend a fortune you should try The Blue Room in Kendall Square or East Coast Grill, Chris Schlesinger's restaurant in Inman Square.

If you have a car, head out to West Newton and eat at Lumiere. Wonderful French restaraunt. I eat out a lot in the Boston area and this is by far one of my favorites.

The Cafe Budapest was mentioned, but unfortunately it closed recently. We used to go there for our anniversary and were saddened by it's demise.