bennnie

We'll be heading into Boston this weekend to celebrate our anniverary and need to find a nice restaurant for dinner on Sunday night. Here's the thing - we are bringing our daughters with us. They are 11 and 14. So we are looking for a nice place, not over the top like Escalier or uber trendy, but still suitable for a special occassion for a family - like if the Pillar House was still around. We enjoy seafood, steak or Italian. And fyi we have eliminated Davio's (was there recently), Capitol Grill, Grill 23, and Mortons (all too expense accountish). Any suggestions?

Liam

I'm not so sure I can be of much help, but...

I think one of the best restaurants around was (is it still around??) The Grotto on Bowdoin Street on Beacon Hill. I would also suggest Saracena's in the North End. Both offer great Italina and seafood.

You also might want to try more traditional fare, like Morton's, Smith &Wollensky (though I've heard bad things) and The Palm.

If it's a family dinner with tweens/teens, how about doing something less-than-conventional, like Ginza for exceptional sushi (located in Chinatown), or Casablanca in Harvard Square? In H-Square, there's also Rialto, which I've always loved. And Via Matta near the Park Plaza in BOston. Or Lala Rokh, Persian, on Beacon Hill. Sorry, I'm all over the place, but there are lots of places to choose from!

tovarich

We had a marvellous italian dinner at La Famiglia Giorgios on Newbury street.Not expensive but you'll need a good appetite.Paul

Dreamer2

Hammersley's Bistro would be perfect.
Mistral would also be fun.
If you want Italian, I'd go to the Northend, probably Prego.
Better make reservations asap, though.
Have fun, and Happy Anniversary!

wyatt92

I love Atlantic Fish on Boylston. Great service, great food and a nice atmosphere without being too stuffy or over the top.

sharona

I would have recommended Via Matta as my first choice but they are closed on Sunday. Another good choice for great food and not too stuffy is Troquet (www.troquetboston.com). Other options include Sonsie and Stephanie's, both on Newbury Street. Sonsie is still a tad trendy and often crowded but we've always had surprisingly good food there. Might be a good choice for teenage daughters.

china_cat

I may be too late to chime in, but what about Sel de La Terre? Its a nice location down on the waterfront. Its not too stuffy, and a little less pricey than some of the others. The food is great, and I'm betting even the kids can find something they like.

bennnie

Thank you all for your responses. Unfortunately I didn't read them before we left. We ended up having dinner at Miel at the Intercontinental where we were staying and fit the bill perfectly. It was a cold night and none of us were looking forward to venturing out after having walked all over Boston earlier in the day.

The food was fantastic, the service was excellent and the decor was lovely. Overall the atmosphere was a little lacking because the restuarant was pretty empty and there is no dress code so our fellow diners were a mixed bag in terms of dress. Not really a surprise because the restaurant is open 24hrs and its trying to be all things to all people - ie late night spot after clubbing, breakfast for the guests of the hotel, fine dining for everyone else. I'm not sure it will succeed at that. The food and the decor match each other but the attempt to attract late night partiers is just weird since there are no clubs in the area. The decor is just too staid for a twenty something crowd - very French provincial - toile, white distressed Louis the whatever furniture, roosters, jars of herbs, etc.

But we each had great meals and had a very nice time. And thank you again for all the suggestions.

boston5

Extremely disappointing service. Four of us went there on 4/14/07. After spending $100 on two bottles of wine and over $200 on food, we left a $50 tip for a waitress who just tried to turn her tables and basically just took our order. The bill comes and we are asked twice if we have paid, yet which we had not. We pay, and are finishing what for us, were two expensive bottles of wine when another waitress comes over and asked us to leave so they can get another seated. Mind you , we had made reservations and were looking at two other table that had gotten there earlier. We were not rowdy, loud or rude by any means. We left our waitress a twenty percent tip even though all she did was take order and that was it. My friends and I looked at each other in HORRIBLE disbelief - some of us had FULL glasses of wine still left. After what was a distasteful and rude exchange from this waitress, we left and WILL NEVER RETURN. All I can say is that whatever good preceded that moment was ruined by one of the rudest experience I have ever had at any restaurant!!

999reasonsDotCom

East coast grill, INman SQ... one of my favorite restaurants. Lived in Cambridge for a year or so.

Otherwise Giacomos (spelling???), Italian Seafood, hole in the wall - authentic, in the North End. Short walk from Faneuil Hall.

You can't book for either of these spots.

Also check out this link for things to do in and around Boston http://www.999reasons.com/content/view/42/54/

Ackislander

Boston 5, why would you leave a waitress a 20% tip when she treated you so badly? I am normally a very good tipper -- very good -- but I have no hesitation about sending a message with a low tip when it is warranted. I often speak with the dining room manager or leave a note with the tip if I think the person is clueless rather than impossible.

Dreamer2

Boston - Where were you?

escargot

I think Boston5 is referring to the restaurant Bennie actually ate at - Miel at the Intercontinental - this thread is old in the sense that Bennie was the OP and completed his Boston visit in Feb - but now the discussion is about the restaurant Bennie ate in

cigalechanta

Henrietta'Table at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. I'll se what's on lin for them.

cigalechanta

http://www.henriettastable.com/

cigalechanta

Thanks Bennie, there has been several uneven reviews of the place so happy to hear a positive comment.

bennnie

cigalechanta - You may want to wait a bit before you give it a try. Let the place work the kinks out. The treatment that boston5 received was ridiculous.

We just ate at Ruth's Chris and had disasterous service - maybe the restaurants are getting new staff as college kids depart and others come into the city for the summer?

I really do miss the Pillar House. My DH and I had just graduated college and he took me there to celebrate. I will never forget the gracious service extended to two nervous young adults.

escargot

OH Bennie, the Pillar House......talk about memories

Kealalani

Where is the Pillar House? Weren't they trying to get someone to buy it for a nominal fee and move it?

ParrotMom

To all of you who have a bad experience dining anywhere, WHY did you not speak to management..either right then and there or send a note or make a phone call.. There is absolutely no excuse for poor or rude service never mind horrible food..YES.. if we do have great service from a wait staff we do mention it to the Floor Manager. I'm not a fan of La Familia on Newbury Street.. the one time there we thought it was alot of pasta with sauce.