I will be staying at the Hilton Back Bay next weekend. (March 11-14) Can you recommend any top restaurants nearby? I am open to ethnic restaurants, French or Continental.

Thanks for all suggestions.

Kathy

you have a wealth withn walking area. such as Troquet on Boylston, Sonsie, Stephanie's, Louis on Newbury plus many ethnic restos. Brassie Jo's on Huntington for Alcasian, Legal Seafood, Excelsior, all good and walkable plus more.
email me for more at hotmail

Our favorite restaurant in Boston is Abe & Louie's on Boylston opposite the Prudential Center (right around the corner from the Hilton). It's best to go there hungry for dinner (and to appreciate perfectly aged beef, expertly cooked, with incredible "sides", along with magnificent salads), or to visit for Brunch on a Saturday or Sunday, with their extensive and moderately priced menu. (Reservations essential.)

There are any number of web resources for selecting dining destinations in Boston: www.Boston.citysearch.com (enter the hotel and click on nearby places - restaurants), Chowhound.com, www.Boston.com, www.phantomgourmet.com, www.bostonphoenix.com, and lots of others. If you're on AOL, Keyword: Boston is excellent.

Best French is definitely L'Espalier, if you can reserve a table. Totally perfect in every way. Another option would be Julien.

An absolutely fabulous spot if you appreciate fine cuisine, but casual, is Stephanie's at Newbury & Exeter.

Though many eschew Legal Seafoods, the menu is appealing (if slightly pricey), and service can be a bit dismal, all depending upon when you're there, but the food is fantastic. Seafood at it's very best.

For a positively ethereal seafood experience, though, go to Jasper's Summer Shack a few doors down and order the Pan-Roasted Lobster (ignore the price, as you won't mind).

Ethnic? Are you limited to French/Continental?

Consider any of the Pho Pasteur outposts or Lala Rokh for positively incredible cuisine.

In the alternative, there are a dozen or more dining opporunities within the Prudential Center and Copley Place.

I would recommend skipping Top of the Hub, though. Go there just for cocktails. The views are magnificent.

sorry for my misspelling, It's Alsacien and Brasserie Jo. Also Where I live now(before next door to the Armani cafe on Newbury) You have in Harvard Sq, Several great places if you want to leave that area. And we have several here in Central Sq.

Thanks for the quick replies.

I am open to all ethnic restaurants--love Indian, Vietnamese, Thai, good Chinese (we lived in Singapore for 5 years).

My husband is coming in Friday from London and meeting me in Boston. Our son is performing Saturday with the university of Michigan Men's Glee Club. We will probably have time for two dinners--late Friday and Saturday, plus Sunday breakfast or brunch.

Abe and Louies sounds great for brunch on Sunday.

I have eaten at Brasserie Jo and loved it, but wasn't all that crazy about Legal Seafoods.

How much of a hassle would it be to get to Blue Ginger in Wellesley? I would love to try Ming Tsai's cuisine.

Kathy-

Pho Pasteur is a must if you like Vietnamese food. They have a few in Boston, the closest to you is on Newbury street, but the cheapest is the one in Chinatown.

Another place I like on Newbury Street is Tapeo which serves Spanish tapas. Afterward wander down Newbury St and get ice-cream at JP Licks.

The Chinatown in Boston has very good chinese food.

Blue Ginger is excellent. If you don't have a car, you can get there via commuter rail. Ming Tsai is not there Mondays or Tuesdays, so if you want to see him, avoid those 2 days.

You will have to taxi there,