My husband and I will spend 10 days in Boston next September. Perhaps we´ll rent a car for two days to travel around. As you suggested, we are thinking of going to Salem, and on the other day, somewhere in New Hampshire to see the " fall leaves".
We love Seafood, American and Italian food. Any suggestion will be welcome!
Thank you everybody!
LERY

You'll want to visit Boston's North End for a wonderful Italian dinner. We enjoyed a culinary tour of the North End with Michelle Tuppar. An old standby, good for lunch, is Durgin Park in the Quincy Market area. I think the surly waitresses have all retired but otherwise it hasn't changed in 45 years. The menu is very New England ... try Indian pudding. September is too early for colorful foliage in NH. Even the last weekend in Sept is iffy in the far north. Last year foliage was very late and below average. But, a ride up Rt 93 to the lakes region/mountains or up Rt 95 to Portsmouth NH on the seacoast would be fun. I would head to Portsmouth for seafood, either a casual lobster roll at the Ice House in Newcastle, upscale seafood in downtown Portsmouth or lobster on the deck in Kitter (ME) Point (just across the bridge from Portsmouth). Or, Newicks on Dover Pt (west of Portsmouth) which is a casual paper plate place that overlook Great Bay. If you head north to the lakes/mountains, one of our favorite American restaurants is The Homestead in Bristol NH or drive around Lake Winnipesaukee and take a left to Center Sandwich for the Corner House Inn. From Lake W you can be back in Boston in about 2 hrs. There's quite a few choices of restaurants only an hour from Boston in Manchester NH, esp in the revitalized old mill buildings. It depends on if you want city dining or some country place a little out of the way and a chance to see some great scenery.

you did not mention a price. We ate dinner, twice as a matter of fact at Turners Fisheries. I loved it. It is in the Westin hotel. The food is fabulous.

www.elephantwalk.com

I've enjoyed several wonderful meals at the Beacon Street location.

Enjoy!

I've heard good things about the culinary tour mentioned above and read about it recently. It sounds interesting. If I remember correctly, you're staying somewhere around Copley? Other seafood options in Boston are the old Boston standby, Legal Seafood (I know it's a chain, but it really is quite good, especially the crabcake) and McCormick & Schmick, again a chain, but pretty good, too. The Boston Harbor hotel down on the water is a lovely place for lunch on a nice day.

North End is definitely the place for Italian. Too many options to enumerate. Sage is one of my favorites, Giacomo's is a good seafood/Italian place. They do not take reservations and can have long lines depending on when you go. There is one in the S. End, as well, that does take reservations. A relatively unknown, new place is Ivy, which is not in the N. End, but rather is on Temple St. (I believe). Tapas style Italian food (little plates designed for sharing), and the wine list has all bottles priced at $20 (maybe it was $25).

As for American food, not sure what you mean by American. If you mean burgers and the like, the Pour House on Boylston is kind of a fun place (and cheap, too). If you want upscale frou frou, Icarus is fantastic and Hamersley's never disappoints. Both are in the S. End. There are a number of steakhouses around, too (Smith & Wollensky's, Capital Grille, Grill 23, Morton's, now Ruth's Chris). The Federalist is a great place.

I think September will be late enough for the chocolate buffet to be up and running on Saturdays at the Langham (formerly Meridien). I think the Four Seasons does one, too, but I've never been and am not sure they still do it.

I know people love Durgin Park, but I can't stand the place. Very touristy and the waitstaff isn't even rude anymore! The Indian pudding, though, may make it worth the trip.

If you like Indian, or just want to try it, venture over to Harvard Square to Tamarind Bay - it is fantastic.

Feel free to ask for more - I love to eat and will be happy to share.

I second Elephant Walk - another great place!

If you like seafood, you would like Anthony's. You've heard the saying, "location, location, location?" Right on the water, best lobster anywhere.

Check out the Chowhound website for restaurant suggestions -- http://www.chowhound.com

Caveat -- it can be a frustrating site as you're not able to run a search on what you're seeking and do have to scroll thru the messages, however it gets alot of visitors and feedback for Boston area.

Please avoid Anthonys... it's long past it's prime.. you can try the Barking Crab.. but a favorite of ours in Copley Square is Skipjacks.. and on Sundays they have a jazz brunchy...

The best italian food and cheap a Famiglia Giorgio's on Newbury street.Paul

Avoid both Anthony's and Durgin Park; they aren't what they used to be, and I can't imagine someone leaving Boston thinking those are the calibre of restaurants here. Eeeeek. New Hampshire finally has excellent restaurants; do you know yet where you will be?

Thanks everybody for all the tips!
As Monadnock asked, we'll be staying at Carternotch in Jackson(NH) for the weekend. Any suggestions on what to do and where to eat?
THANKS!!!!!

I agree that Anthony's and Durgin Park are not what they used to be. Just got back from Boston. Tried Skipjack's and loved the lobster. While at the North End, stop at Mike's Pastry on Hanover - outstanding bakery!!

Highly recommend taking the Ducks Tour and the Freedom Trail Walking Tour. We also enjoyed the Kennedy Museum (so much to see) and Plimoth Plantation / Mayflower II, about an hour south of Boston.

Reading this thread really made me realize that we as individuals really have different tastes.

I really enjoyed my Yankee Potroast at Durgin Park and would never tell someone to avoid it ... and at the same time, I ABSOLUTELY HATE Mike's pastry. If any place is touristy (IMHO) that place is it! And the pastries taste so commercial to me. - In my opinion, the BEST pastry shop in the North End is Maria's. (But that could be the worst place to someone else)

I think we have to remember to use these posts just as a guide - and not take them as gospel.

Saving...

iery. In Jackson go to the Red FOx close to the Cocvered bridge. Great food.Paul

Wallace and Gromit: you are right on about Mike's Pastry (thumbs down) and Maria's (thumbs up)...

I just want to point out that Anthony's is really not what it used to be...in fact, it no longer exists. the building was torn down a while ago.

Another nice seafood choice in the Copley area is Jasper White's Summer Shack. Also, B&G Oysters is supposed to be excellent (though I admit, I have yet to try it). You don't mention French food on your list, but I had an excellent dinner at Sel De La Terre last week. It's a Provencal style restaurant near the waterfront and the Aquarium.

If you areinterested in the North end market tour, here's the website:
http://www.cucinare.com/html/markett...rkettours.html

Hi,

We have a condo up in Jackson, great location.

The Red Fox is good but it's more of a mid-level dining versus upscale. The good thing is that they have a separate family section so it you have kids they can run wild without bothering anyone, it you don't have kids you can have a quiet dinner.

The Red Fox is the cheapest option for Sunday Brunch (they also have a pretty good selection).

For lunch try the Jackson store...I forget the name but it's across from the Wentworth golf course. They have great homemade sausages if you have the option to cook in a condo. Also great sandwiches, breakfasts, picnic/hiking food and wine selections.

Jackson has some great fine dining options -two upscale choices are the Thompson House Eatery and the Wentworth Inn. On Fri/Sat the Wentworth has a cute bar for after dinner drinks/desserts. They have a piano player & pool table.

The Christmas Farm Inn is also good but we haven't been there for a few years. They also have a great spa if you are looking for a massage.

The Wildcat Tavern used to be a favorite but the last two times that we were there it was terrible.

The Shannon Doer Pub is fun. They have Irish singers on Fri/Sat and it's a fun singalong. They have an outdoor screened deck in the summer. They have good pizza.

Down the street (about 10 minutes from Jackson)the 1785 Inn is a good upscale choice (but a bit expensive). We sometimes stop there for an after dinner drink or dessert in their lounge and to play a game of backgammon. It's right near the scenic overlook heading into N. Conway.

Also about 10 minutes away in Intervale is Tuckerman's Tavern. It's also a mid-level versus fine dining but they have good food at reasonable prices.

In North Conway a favorite is Horsefeathers. It's also a mid-level choice but it's one of the best places in the Valley.

We also like the Toaster Lab in N. Conway but I heard that it changed owners so it may not be as good as it was (or it may be better!).

P.S. You didn't mention a steak house but I love Abe & Louie's in Boston. It's across the street from the Prudential.

china_cat,

Your post on Anthony's made me laugh really hard. I thought it was funny that no one realized that it no longer existed ... but then someone was talking about it on another site and I became really confused.

According to http://www.pier4.com/contact.cfm there is an Anthony's Pier 4 at 140 Northern Boulevard
Boston, Massachusetts 02210

This can not be the place you are talking about.