Boston Restaurants

 CARMEN C. wrote:
 >I would appreciate if anyone could suggest some great restaurants in
 >the Back Bay area of Boston, MA.  I will be staying at the Coplay Plaza
 >Hotel and I would like to stay in and aroung that area.  I hear the
 >traffic is very bad in the area.
 >
 >Any suggestions would be very appreciated!
 >Thanks in advance!

 -Copleys
 -Hampshire House
 -Bay Tower Room
 -Michela (Cambridge)
 -Legal Seafood
 -NO-Name (eat-in-the-rough, freshest fish in town)
 -Spinnaker
 -Pillar House
 -and many more

 Good Luck

 Dave N. wrote:
 >There are several good resturants in walking distance of Copley Square.
 >Legal Seafood is in Copley Square shopping mall,

 You will enjoy Legal Seafood in Copley Place Hotel - more formal, attentive
 service, but the one in the Cople Place Mall is OK too (stil, it is in the
 mall)

 >down Newbury St.(one block from Copley) will find you several good
 >restuarants.  The King and I is a good Thai joint,

 Havent been there, but heared good about it.

 and I like Skip Jacks which is near Copley, but not on Newbury St.

 IMHO, isn't worth trying.  Plain fish dishes are OK (grilled, braized, etc), but
 anythg involving real cooking is poor.

 [stuff deleted]

 Other places worth trying are:
 Italian:
 -Michela's (Aethenaeum Place, Cambridge) (SP?)

 Chinese:
 -Bernard's (Chestnut Hill Mall) - more food place than smthg for dining
       experience, but food _is_ good
 -Sally Lings (Commercial St, next to Long Wharf Mariott) - excellent
 -Salli Lings (newton Centre) - less formal, food almost as good.

 Cont:
 - Bay Tower Room (60 State Street, Bos) ****
 - Hampshire House - excellent food, mediocre service
 - Copleys - Copley Plasa

 Armenian:

 -Karoun's - Washington St, W.Newton, off Mass Pike - best Shish Kabob in
       continental US (maybe?)
 -Sabra - Newton Centre - moussaka and Shish Kabob (note capital letters
       are memorable)

 ** Enough for now, I slober already.
 No good Hungarian, though (sigh)

 Regards,
 Alex M. Milshteyn

 Asian Eclectic
 --------------

   Jae's (Hip Pacific Rim) -- Downtown (South End)
      520 Columbus Ave, South End
      (very good Korean/Thai/Japanese mix)
   Poppa & Goose -- Cambridge (Galleria)
      1st St near Lechmere

 Barbeque
 --------

   Jake & Earl's -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
      1273 Cambridge St
      (excellent southern bbq, same kitchen as East Coast Grill)
   Jimmy Mac's -- Somerville
      Beacon St
   Porter House Cafe -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
      (very good Texas bbq, superb beef ribs,
       interesting food, good draft beer, enormous portions)
   Redbones -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
      55 Chester St
      (almost as good as Jake & Earl's, great atmosphere,
       all kinds of bbq -- Memphis, Arkansas [great ribs], Texas, Georgia)
   Village Smokehouse -- Brookline Village
      Harvard St
      (mixed reviews)

 Brazillian
 ----------

   Buteco -- Downtown (Fenway)
      130 Jersey St
   Cafe Brasil -- Allston
      Cambridge St
      (good flavorful food, but somewhat fatty, & they're unpleasant to kids)
   Pampas -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      928 Mass Ave, between Central Sq & Harvard Sq
      (great churrasqueria -- 15 kinds of skewered meat, all you can eat for
       $15, awesome salad bar, including lots of palm hearts.
       A great place to go with friends or out-of-town guests.)

 Caribbean / Cajun / Creole
 --------------------------

   Cajun Yankee -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
      1193 Cambridge St
      (quite good, though some say it is overrated
       still serving blackened redfish & Blackened Voodoo beer)
   Chez Vous Creole -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
      1263 Cambridge St
      (was ok a few years ago, heard the Conch stew is good)
   Dixie Kitchen -- Downtown (Symphony)
      Mass Ave betw Boylston & Huntington
      (pretty good, not as upscale as Cajun Yankee)
   Green St. Grill -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      (Caribbean influence, very good spicy seafood and ribs,
       A funky place with unusual combinations of ingredients that usually work)
   Jamaica, Jamaica -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      164 Prospect (at Broadway, nr Central Sq)
      (so, so, but good ginger beer)
   Seagrape Tree Restaurant -- Arlington
      890 Mass Ave
      (very pleasant, reputed to be authentic Caribbean food)

 Chinese
 -------

   Asian Garden -- Chinatown
      Harrison & Beach, in the basement
      (good fresh food, esp seafood)
   Beijing III -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
      Beacon St, 2 blocks west of Coolidge Corner
      (mixed reviews, a bit pricey)
   Bernard's -- Newton (Chestnut Hill Mall)
      199 Boylston
      (excellent food, a bit pricey)
   Cafe China -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
      1245 Cambridge St
      (pretty food, reportedly bland, though)
   Chef Chow -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
      Harvard St, south of Beacon
      (many people find the food consistently good; others are unimpressed;
       good lunches, though, and try the Szechuan Spicy Fish)
   Changsho -- Cambridge (betw Harvard/Porter Sq)
      1712 Mass Ave
      (mixed reports, lots of meat, somewhat elegant but unimpressive)
   Chau Chow -- Chinatown
      (good cheap Chinese, sometimes long lines.  Try pea greens, chicken w
       black bean sauce & steamed fish w ginger sauce.  Excellent seafood)
   Chef Chang -- Brookline (St Mary's)
      1004 Beacon St
      (usually very good, especially if you know what to order)
   China Grove -- Chinatown
      10 Tyler St
      (try the shredded eel w yellow leeks)
   China Pearl -- Chinatown
      Tyler St
      (very good dim sum, almost or as good as Golden Palace & less chaotic)
   Chung Wah -- Allston
      Harvard St
      (cheap & funky, good food, try the Broccoli in Garlic Sauce)
   Crystal Restaurant -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      (good, but not outstanding -- good Dun Dun noodles)
   East Ocean City -- Chinatown
      Beach St
      (good place, good service, nice atmosphere, a lot of unusual dishes)
   Eastern Pier Seafood -- Downtown (Fish Pier)
      across from Jimmy's Harborside
      (get grey sole in black-bean sauce & stir-fried pea-pod stems)
   Food Hall -- Chinatown
      Beach & Tyler, 2nd floor
      (variety of good food)
   Golden Palace -- Chinatown
      Tyler St
      (wonderful variety of tasty Dim Sum)
   Ho Yuen Ting -- Chinatown
      13 1/2 Hudson St
      (very good food; specailizes in seafood, but does a good job w everything
       try hot & sour soup, peking ravioli, hunan chicken, beef ginger scallion
       hot pot, hon sue sea bass, steamed flounder)
   Imperial Tea House -- Chinatown
      (good dim sum, but not as good as Golden Palace)
   Joyce Chen -- Cambridge (Alewife)
      (good low-fat low-sodium foods)
   Larry's -- Cambridge (MIT)
      Mass Ave
   Lucky Dragon -- Chinatown
      Beach St.
   Mandarin -- Cambridge (MIT)
      Mass Ave
   New Asia -- Somerville (Union Sq) & Lexington
      326 Somerville Ave
      (pretty good; very quick-cooked Szechuan-style food, try the
       Yu Hsiang [savory green beans])
   New House of Toy -- Chinatown
      (good original food, good dim sum)
   Noble House -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
      1306 Beacon St, 232-9580
      (well prepared Szechuan & Cantonese food in a pleasant atmosphere,
       though some find it uninteresting and overpriced)
   Orchid Garden -- Brookline (Brookline Village)
      Harvard & School
   Quan's Kitchen -- Allston
      Commonwealth, nr Brighton Ave
      (take out, a few table, good & cheap, esp noodle dishes)
   Royal East -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      792 Main St
      (new owner, still erratic, but some say this is the best in Cambridge now.
       good quality Chinatown-style food -- chow fun, rice sticks
       fantastic tangerine beef)
   Sally Ling's -- Newton Center
      (mixed reviews -- bland food)
   Shanghai Village -- Arlington (Arlington Center)
      Mass Ave on left just before center of town
      (very good and incredibly cheap)

 Eclectic
 --------

   29 Newbury St -- Downtown (Back Bay)
   Blue Room -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
      1 Kendall Sq
      (very good unusual combinations of multi-ethnic grilled foods)
   Blue Wave -- Downtown
      142 Berkeley St
      (hip, interesting menu, a good value)
   Caffe Espresso -- Watertown
   Cornucopia -- Downtown
      Atlantic Avenue
      (delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere,
       emphasis on fruits & vegetables, but not vegetarian)
   Daddy-O's Bohemian Cafe -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
      134 Hampshire St
      (Good--imaginative home cooking)
   Dakota's -- Downtown Crossing
      101 Arch St
   East Coast Grill -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
      1271 Cambridge St
      (Very good.  no reservations, has excellent bbq and jerk dishes)
   Hammerslea's Bistro -- Downtown (South End)
      (Very good)
   Harvard St Grill -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
      Harvard St, betw Beacon & Comm Ave
      (Expensive but wonderfully prepared food)
   Harvest -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      44 Brattle St
      (Still good after all these years, but overpriced)
   House of Blues -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      (good food, blues entertainment upstairs)
   Icarus -- Downtown (South End)
      Appleton nr Columbus
      (creative food, nice atmosphere, excellent polenta)
   Jaspers ($$$) -- Downtown
      off Atlantic Avenue
      (native New England ingredients sensually prepared)
   On the Square -- Watertown
      9 Galen St
   Peacock -- Cambridge (Craigie Circle)
      nr Radcliffe
      (interesting combinations of ingredients,
       prepared in rustic French manner)
   St Boloph -- Boston (South End)
      St Botolph St
   Small Planet -- Downtown
      Boylston nr Dartmouth
      (gourmet pizza, ratatouille, groovey vibes, nice service)
   Stellina -- Watertown
      47 Main St
   Tam O'Shanter -- Brookline (Washington Sq)
      1648 Beacon St
   Upstairs at the Pudding -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      (expensive, but sublime; reasonably priced lunches)

 Ethiopian
 ---------

   Addis Red Sea -- Downtown
      544 Tremont St
      (good Harrar food)
   Asmara -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      739 Mass Ave
      (Eritrean -- it was ok on a visit a few years ago)
   Blue Nile -- Downtown
      23 South Huntington
      (Harrar -- supposed to be the best of the bunch)
   Ethiopian Restaurant -- Downtown (Symphony)
      Huntington & Mass Ave
      (mediocre -- avoid the fake vinegary mej)

 Indian
 ------

   Akbar -- Cambridge (Inman Sq)
      1248 Cambridge St
      (mixed reports when Haveli but now under new management, very good buffet,
       unusual South Indian items like black doughnut & sambar)
   Bombay Bistro -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
      Beacon St, west of Harvard
      (good sheesh kabobs & tandoor)
   Bombay Club -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      JFK & Winthrop
      ( Try achar gosht [for spice freaks],
       chicken methi, lamb shorba.  South Indian brunch on weekends w idlis, sambar.
       North Indian buffut daily)
   Bombay Mahal -- Waltham
      Moody St
   Cafe Bombay -- Cambridge (Galleria)
       (Somewhat expensive for Indian, but there are some good interesting dishes,
       especially Kachumber salad, and breads)
   Cafe of India -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      52 Brattle
      (maybe best in the square, reasonable prices too)
   India Globe -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      (Reasonable prices.  Good for take out.  Try the Malia Kofta)
   India Palace -- Somerville (Union Sq)
   India Pavillion -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      17 Central Sq
   India Quality -- Downtown (Kenmore Sq)
      (reputed to be one of the best, great puree)
   Indian Cafe -- Brookline (Washington Sq)
      1665 Beacon St (at Winthrop)
   Kebab & Curry -- Downtown (Symphony)
      Mass Ave
      (a good value for pretty good food.  Really good chicken kachumbar
       salad, chicken jal frezi and do piaza)
   Little India -- Waltham
      Moody St
      (reasonably priced, good veggie fare, tandoori chicken, and various biryanis)
   Maharajah -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
      Mass Ave.
   New Mother India -- Waltham
      Moody St
      (kind of pricey, but very good food & service; lots of bottled beers)
   Oh Calcutta -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      Mass Ave
      (favorite of many Indian connoisseurs)
   Passage to India -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
   Shalimar -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      Mass Ave
   Tandoor -- Arlington
   Tandoori House -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      1001 Mass Ave
      (good & cheap for lunch, tasty for dinner)
   Taste of India -- Watertown
   The India -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
      (mixed reviews, most people think the food is good)
   Viceroy -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      Mass Ave, 2nd floor
      (one of my favorites, but service can be erratic)

 Italian
 -------

   Appetito -- Newton Center
      Beacon St
      (great little Italian place, good food, moderate prices)
   Artu -- Downtown (North End)
      Prince St, nr Hanover
      (pleasant informal place with good Italian bistro food, more eclectic &
       less expensive than usual for the North End.  Good lamb)
   Bluestone Bistro -- Brighton & South End
      1799 Commonwealth Ave, Brighton
   Buonconti -- Cambridge (Galleria)
      143 First St
      (Flavorful food, well prepared & presented; elegant yet relaxing)
   Cafe Lampara -- Allston
      916 Commonwealth Ave
      (Good atmosphere, dependable food, great bread)
   Enzo Ristorante -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
      329 Harvard St
      (One of my favorites; very nice ossu buco w risotto,
       moderately priced lunches, nice wines & romantic ambience)
   Figs -- Charlestown
      Main St
   Florentina -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
      143 Main St
      (A great place for a cheap lunch;
       pricier but very good food for dinner w great service)
   Il Capriccio ($$$) -- Waltham
      53 Prospect St
   Il Panino -- Cambridge (Central/Harvard Sq)
      Mass Ave
      (pizza/subs/pasta -- quite good)
   La Famiglia -- Downtown (North End)
      (large portions)
   La Familia -- Downtown (Back Bay)
      Newbury St
   La Groceria -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      853 Main St
      (still good food, some say its overrated)
   L'Osteria -- Downtown (North End)
      Salem St
      (said to get good reviews)
   Mama Maria -- Downtown (North End)
      Prince St, North End
      (Haven't tried the food, but a very interesting menu, though pricy)
   Marino's -- Somerville (Porter Sq)
      (all pesticide-free, hormore-free ingredients, unfortunately
       also reportedly flavor-free)
   Massimino's -- Downtown (North End)
      (one of the better of the not so expensive North End Italian restaurants)
   Michela's ($$$) -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
      1 Athenaeum St
      (equivalent of very good eclectic restaurant in Italy;
       good flavorful food, formal yet relaxing)
   Pomodoro -- Downtown (North End)
      319 Hanover St
      (looks like a nice collection of soups, stews and specials)
   Ristorante Lucia -- Downtown (North End)
      Hanover St
      (expensive, but said to be one of the better of the usual places)
   Rocco's -- Downtown
      Transportation Building
      (pricey, similar to Michela's, wild theatrical decor)
   Sfuzzi -- Newton (Chestnut Hill)
     Atrium on Boylston St
   Toscano ($$$) -- Downtown (Beacon Hill)
      Charles St.
      (elegant food, nice ambience in old part)
   Tuscan Grill -- Waltham
      Moody St
      (very good nouvelle cuisine.  Pricey, need reservations, woth it)

 Japanese
 --------

   Cafe Sushi -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      Mass Ave
      (wide variety of good fresh sushi, including weird stuff;
       good changing set of appetizers; avoid the yosenabe)
   Gyosai -- Downtown (Faneuil Hall)
      (excellent sushi)
   Gyuhama of Japan -- Downtown (Back Bay)
      827 Boylston St
      (not the greatest, but a fun place)
   Little Osaka -- Cambridge (Alewife)
      Concord Ave, nr Rotary
      (very pleasant little place, small but good choice of sushi)
   Maluken -- Downtown (Kenmore Sq)
   Matsuya -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
      Mass Ave, towards Harvard Sq
      (good noodle dishes, service can be slow)
   Porter Exchange -- Cambridge (Porter Sq)
      Mass Ave, towards Harvard Sq
      (wide variety of Japanese food places, sushi as well as
       wonderful noodle & fried food places -- just like Tokyo)
   Roka -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      1001 Mass Ave, towards Central Sq
   Sakurabana -- Downtown
      57 Broad St nr State St
      (excellent sushi, good Sushi heaven & Boston Maki)
   Sopporo Ramen -- Somerville (Porter Sq)
      (Japanese noodle house)
   Takeshima -- Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
      Harvard St
      (pleasant place, reasonable prices, very good food & service.
       a perfect neighborhood Japanese restaurant)
   Tatsukichi -- Downtown (Faneuil Hall)
      State St
   Tokyo Restaurant -- Cambridge (Alewife)
      Fresh Pond Parkway
      (very expensive, mixed reviews)

 Korean
 ------

   Hometown -- Somerville (Union Sq)
      (good food, friendly service)
   Korea Garden -- Cambridge (Central Sq)
      20 Pearl St
   Korea House -- Brighton
      Chiswick St off Commonwealth Ave, between Washington St & Cleveland Circle
      (best Korean restaurant in Boston, great soup dishes)
   Shilla -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      (very good Korean food, especially Bibim Bap and cold noodles, and a fun place
       they have sushi too, which is good but expensive)
   Seoul House -- Newton Center
      (good food, but just slightly suburbanized)

 Latin American
 --------------

   Casa Elena -- Watertown
      (Peruvian owner; try the fried yucca w carrot sauce)

 Macrobiotic
 -----------

    Five Seasons -- Jamaica Plain
       669 Centre St
       (tasty, fresh, well prepared fish & veggie dishes)

 Mediterranean
 -------------

   Anago Bistro -- Cambridge (Main St)
      798 Main St
      (well prepared Mediterranean-influenced food, but pricey, and
       the flavors were less interesting than I had hoped for, but
       others praise it highly)
   David's -- Downtown (Theater District)
      123 Stuart St
      (gutsy, full-flavored food)
   Olives -- Charlestown
      (no reservations, great food, semi-Italian creative, but very noisy)

 Mexican, Tex/Mex, Southwestern
 ------------------------------

   Armadillo Cafe -- Allston
      Commonwealth Ave, 2 blocks west of Harvard St
      (small range of eclectic Mexican food, mixed reviews)
   Boca Grande -- Cambridge (Harvard/Porter Sq & Galleria)
      Mass Ave, betw Porter & Harvard Sq
      First St, nr Galleria
      (Not fancy, but nice burritos, and cheap)
   Border Cafe -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      (Fun, cheap, pretty good cajun/southwestern food, rodents & roaches)
   Cactus Club -- Downtown (Prudential)
      939 Boylston St
      (Good lunches, abundant food, reasonable prices; great Venison stew.
       Dinner less exciting)
   Casa Romero -- Downtown
      30 Gloucester St
      (pricey, but good haute-Mexican, excellent maragaritas)
   Cottonwood Cafe -- Cambridge (Porter Sq) & Downtown (Copley)
      Porter Exchange Bldg, Porter Sq
      (The most upscale and eclectic of the lot, w
       interesting and tasty food)
   El Phoenix Room -- Brighton
      Kelton & Comm Ave
      (decent relatively inexpensive Tex/Mex)
   Forest Cafe -- Cambridge
      (a dive with good authentic Mexican food; try Tuna with Mole Verde)
   Iguana Cantina -- Waltham
      Moody St
      (trendy, good meat dishes.  TRy the chicken Veracruz & the catfish)
   Jose's -- Cambridge
      Sherman St between Harvard & Alewife
      (freshly made chips, OK food, nice people, cheap)
   Mexican Cuisine -- Cambridge
      1682 Mass Ave
      (great Mexican seafood)
   Picante -- Somerville (Davis Sq)
      (Good burrito place with a changing 6 choice salsa bar)
   Rattlesnake Club -- Downtown
      Boylston betw Arlington & Berkeley
      (Good readsonably priced food, fairly authentic.
       Urban Canyon Patio in back is nice in the summer)
   Rudy's -- Sommerville (Teele Sq)
      Teele Sq, just off Broadway
      (good cheap basic Mexican w Pacifico beer)
   Sol Azteca -- Brookline (St Mary's) & Newton Center
      Beacon St & St Mary's
      (good haute-Mexican food, especially the fish, reasonably priced)
   T.J.'s Taqueteria -- Brookline (Washington Sq)
      Washington St, nr Beacon
      (takeout, excellent burritos & other authentic Mexican takeout food)
   Taquieria -- Waltham
      Crescent St, off of Moddy
      (very cheap, large servings, huge tasty burritos w lots of onions)
   Zuma -- Downtown (Faneuil Hall)

 Mideast
 --------

   Anne's -- Downtown
      Cambridge St
   Demos -- Watertown Square
      (decent cheap food)
   Karoun -- Newtonville
      (excellent shish-kabobs, entertainment Fri/Sat nite)
   Middle East -- Cambridge
      472 Mass Ave, between Central Sq & MIT
      (quite good, w a great pumpkin kibby)
   MiVami -- Brookline
      Beacon & Pleasnt St
      (inexpensive, no ambience, but very good shish kebab, grilled chicken,
       greek salad & baba ganoush)

 North African
 -------------

   Casablanca -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
      40 Brattle St
      (Moroccan & other foods, pretty good)
   Route of the Caravan -- Brookline (Washington Sq)
      700 Washington St, nr Beacon
      (Located in the T-stop, a non-descript pizza parlor
       Wonderful Moroccan food, esp Kibbee and Lamb Tagine, but take it out)

 Persian
 -------

   Rose's -- Watertown
      (Good shish kebab & pomegrante chicken; great sweets)

 Russian
 -------

   Elena -- Brighton
      Washington & Brighton Aves
      (w entertainment but slow service -- plan to spend the evening)

 Seafood
 -------

   Atlantic Seafood Company -- Downtown
   Daily Catch -- Downtown (North End), Brookline (Cooldige Corner)
      Hanover St (North End)
      441A Harvard St (Coolidge Corner)
      (good Italian seafood dishes, great place for calamri)
   Legal Sea Food -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq) & Newton (Chestnut Hill)
      (very nice fresh fish and chowder, but a long wait)
   NoName -- Downtown
      Fish Pier, Northern Ave
      (good food, fast service, reasonable prices)
   Skipjack -- Brookline Village
      (good but boring, though the blackened tuna sashimi is great)
   Turner Fisheries ($$$) -- Downtown (Back Bay)
      Westin Hotel in Copley Place
      (Try the poached fish w tapenade & the salmon fennel soup.
       Expensive, but good service, and they take reservations)
   Village Fish -- Brookline Village
      Harvard St
      (good fresh fish, served w pasta & salad)

 Spanish / Portugese
 -------------------

   Dali -- Cambridge
      415 Washington St (at Beacon)
      (very good tapas, wonderful Catalan Spanish food & Sangria.
       a great place to go with friends or out of town guests)
   Tapas -- Somerville (Porter Sq)
      Mass Ave
      (tapas are variable quality, somewhat overpriced)

 Steaks
 ------

 Thai
 ----

   Amarin -- Newton Center
      (rumored to be one of the best, great Pad Thai & Tom Kar Gai)
   Bangkok Bistro -- Brighton (Cleveland Circle)
      1952 Beacon St
      (Good and consistent)
   Bangkok Cuisine -- Downtown (Symphony)
      Mass Ave nr Berkeley
      (great Chicken Cashew Nut, Pad Thai & Tom Mar Gai)
   Bangkok Flavors -- Waltham
      Moody St
      (good Thai food at very reasonable prices)
   Bangkok House -- Downtown (Symphony area)
   Erawan of Siam -- Waltham
   House of Siam -- Allston
      Commonwealth Ave (nr Paradise)
      (probably best Thai restaurant in Boston)
   King & I (Beacon Hill) -- Downtown
      Charles St.
      (good Thai, but maybe not as good as it used to be)
   Mondrians -- Downtown
      Stuart St
   Rama Thai -- Allston
      181 Brighton Ave
   Sawasdee -- Brookline Village
      320 Washington St
      (very good food.  try golden bags, mussel appetizer, whole tamarind fish)
   Siam Cuisine -- Allston
      961 Commonwealth Ave
      (really good, though House of Siam is better)
   Siam Garden -- Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
   Siam Square -- Chinatown
      Washington & Kneeland
      (ask for special Thai menu)
   Thai's -- Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
      1 Kendall Sq
      (ranges from quite good to mediocre)

 Vietnamese/Cambodian
 --------------------

   Buddha's Delight (Vegetarian) -- Chinatown
      5 Beach St
   Elephant Walk -- Somerville (Union Sq)
      (very good Cambodian and good French food)
   Pho Pasteur -- Allston
      Brighton Ave, just east of Harvard St
      (my favorite Vietnamese ambience -- inexpensive & decent ambience.
       great salads, pho, and other soups, very good Lemongrass Chicken,
       other entrees are not as good.  Lots of unusual non-alcoholic drinks)
   Viet Huong -- Allston
      229 Brighton Ave
      (really tiny funky place -- Pho Pasteur's pho & soups are somewhat better,
       but this place has better Vietnamese entrees)
   VietFoods -- Waltham
      Willow St, nr River St
      (Try the fried wonton)

 ======================================================================

 Allston/Brighton
 ----------------

   Armadillo Cafe (Allston) -- Tex/Mex
   Bangkok Bistro (Cleveland Circle) -- Thai
   Bluestone Bistro -- Italian Pizza
   Cafe Brasil (Allston) -- Brazillian
   Cafe Lampara (Allston) -- Italian
   Chung Wah (Allston) -- Chinese
   Elena (Brighton) -- Russian
   El Phoenix Room (Brighton) -- Tex/Mex
   House of Siam (Allston) -- Thai
   Pho Pasteur (Allston) -- Vietnamese
   Quan's Kitchen (Allston) -- Chinese
   Rama Thai (Allston) -- Thai
   Siam Cuisine (Allston) -- Thai
   Korea House (Brighton) -- Korean
   Viet Huong (Allston) -- Vietnamese

 Arlington
 ---------

   Seagrape Tree Restaurant -- Caribbean
   Shanghai Village (Arlington Center) -- Chinese
   Tandoor -- Indian

 Brookline
 ---------

   Beijing III (Coolidge Corner) -- Chinese
   Bombay Bistro (Coolidge Corner) -- Indian
   Chef Chang (St Mary's) -- Chinese
   Chef Chow (Coolidge Corner) -- Chinese
   Daily Catch (Cooldige Corner) -- Seafood
   Enzo Ristorante (Coolidge Corner) -- Italian
   Harvard St Grill (Cooldige Corner) -- Eclectic
   Indian Cafe (Washington Sq) -- Indian
   MiVami (Coolidge Corner) -- Mideast
   Noble House (Coolidge Corner) -- Chinese
   Orchid Garden (Brookline Village) -- Chinese
   Route of the Caravan (Washington Sq) -- Moroccan
   Sawasdee (Brookline Village) -- Thai
   Skipjack (Brookline Village) -- Seafood
   Sol Azteca (St Mary's) -- Mexican
   T.J's Taqueteria (Washington Sq) -- Brookline
   Takeshima (Cooldige Corner) -- Japanese
   Tam O'Shanter (Washington Sq) -- Eclectic
   Village Fish (Brookline Village) -- Seafood
   Village Smokehouse (Brookline Village) -- Bbq

 Cambridge
 ---------

   Akbar (Inman Sq) -- Indian
   Anago Bistro (Central Sq) -- Mediterranean
   Asmara (Central Sq) -- Ethiopian
   Blue Room (Kendall Sq) -- Eclectic
   Boca Grande (Porter/Harvard Sq) -- Mexican
   Bombay Cafe (Harvad Sq) -- Indian
   Border Cafe (Harvard Sq) -- Cajun/Southwestern
   Buonconti (Galleria) -- Italian
   Cafe Bombay (Galleria) -- Indian
   Cafe China (Inman Sq) -- European-Style Chinese
   Cafe of India (Harvard Sq) -- Indian
   Cafe Sushi (Harvard Sq) -- Japanese
   Cajun Yankee (Inman Sq) -- Cajun
   Casablanca (Harvard Sq) -- North African
   Changsho (Harvard/Porter Sq) -- Chinese
   Chez Vous Creole (Inman Sq) -- Creole
   Cottonwood Cafe (Porter Sq) -- Southwestern
   Crystal Restaurant (Central Sq) -- Chinese
   Daddy-O's Bohemian Cafe (Inman Sq) -- Eclectic
   Dali -- Spanish
   East Coast Grill (Inman Sq) -- Eclectic
   Florentina (Kendall Sq) -- Italian
   Forest Cafe -- Mexican
   Green St. Grill (Central Sq) -- Eclectic Caribbean
   Harvest (Harvard Sq) -- Eclectic
   House of Blues (Harvard Sq) -- Eclectic
   Il Panino (Central/Harvard Sq) -- Italian
   India Globe (Central Sq) -- Indian
   India Pavillion (Central Sq) -- Indian
   Jake & Earl's (Inman Sq) -- Barbeque
   Jamaica, Jamaica (Central Sq) -- Jamaican
   Jose's -- Mexican
   Joyce Chen (Alewife) -- Chinese
   Korea Garden (Central Sq) -- Korean
   La Groceria (Central Sq) -- Italian
   Larry's (MIT) -- Chinese
   Legal Sea Food (Kendall Sq) -- Seafood
   Little Osaka (Alewife) -- Japanese
   Maharajah (Porter Sq) -- Indian
   Mandarin (MIT) -- Chinese
   Matsuya (Porter Sq) -- Japanese
   Mexican Cuisine -- Mexican
   Michela's (Kendall Sq) -- Eclectic Italian ($$$)
   Middle East (Central Sq) -- Mideast
   Oh Calcutta (Central Sq) -- Indian
   Pampas (Central/Harvard Sq) -- Brazillian
   Passage to India Cambridge (Porter Sq) -- Indian
   Poppa & Goose (Galleria) -- Asian Eclectic
   Peacock (Craigie Circle) -- Eclectic
   Porter Exchange (Porter Sq) -- Japanese
   Porter House Cafe (Porter Sq) -- Barbeque
   Roka (Harvard Sq) -- Japanese
   Royal East (Central Sq) -- Chinese
   Shalimar (Central Sq) -- Indian
   Shilla (Harvard Sq) -- Korean
   Siam Garden (Harvard Sq) -- Thai
   Tandoori House (Central Sq) -- Indian
   Thai's (Kendall Sq) -- Thai
   Tokyo Restaurant (Alewife) -- Japanese
   Upstairs at the Pudding (Harvard Sq) -- N. Italian Eclectic
   Viceroy (Central Sq) -- Indian

 Charlestown / Chelsea
 ---------------------

   Figs -- Italian (Pizza)
   Olives -- Mediterranean

 Chinatown
 ---------

   Asian Garden -- Chinese
   Buddha's Delight -- Vegetarian Vietnamese
   Chau Chow -- Chinese
   China Grove -- Chinese
   China Pearl -- Chinese
   East Ocean City -- Chinese
   Food Hall -- Chinese
   Golden Palace -- Chinese
   Ho Yuen Ting -- Chinese
   Imperial Tea House -- Chinese
   Lucky Dragon -- Chinese
   New House of Toy -- Chinese
   Siam Square -- Thai

 Downtown
 --------

   29 Newbury St (Back Bay) -- Eclectic
   Addis Red Sea -- Ethiopian
   Anne's -- Middle East
   Artu (North End) -- Italian
   Atlantic Seafood Company -- Seafood
   Bangkok Cuisine (Symphony) -- Thai
   Bangkok House (Symphony) -- Thai
   Blue Nile -- Ethiopian
   Blue Wave -- Eclectic
   Bluestone Bistro (South End)
   Buteco (Fenway) -- Brazillian
   Cactus Club (Prudential) -- Southwestern
   Casa Romero -- Mexican
   Cottonwood Cafe (Copley) -- Southwestern
   Cornucopia -- Eclectic
   Daily Catch (North End) -- Italian
   Dakota's (Downtown Crossing) -- Eclectic
   David's (Theatre District) -- Mediterranean
   Dixie Kitchen (Symphony) -- Cajun
   Eastern Pier Seafood (Fish Pier) -- Chinese Seafood
   Ethiopian Restaurant (Symphony) -- Ethiopian
   Gyosai (Faneuil Hall) -- Japanese
   Gyuhama of Japan (Back Bay) -- Japanese
   Hammerslea's Bistro (South End) -- Eclectic
   Icarus (South End) -- Eclectic
   India Quality -- Indian
   Jae's (South End) -- Asian Eclectic (hip pacific rim)
   Jaspers ($$$) -- Downtown
   Kebab & Curry (Symphony) -- Indian
   King & I (Beacon Hill) -- Thai
   L'Osteria (North End) -- Italian
   La Famiglia (North End) -- Italian
   La Familia (Back Bay) -- Italian
   Maluken (Kenmore Sq) -- Japanese
   Mama Maria (North End) -- Italian
   Massimino's (North End) -- Italian
   Mondrians -- Thai
   NoName -- Seafood
   Pomodoro (North End) -- Italian
   Rattlesnake Club -- Tex/Mex
   Ristorante Lucia (North End) -- Italian
   Rocco's -- neo Italian
   Sakurabana -- Japanese
   St Botolph (South End) -- Eclectic
   Small Planet -- Eclectic
   Tatsukichi (Faneuil Hall) -- Japanese
   Toscano (Beacon Hill) -- Italian ($$$)
   Turner Fisheries (Back Bay) -- Seafood ($$$)
   Zuma (Faneuil Hall) -- Tex/Mex

 Jamaica Plains
 --------------

   Five Seasons -- Macrobiotic

 Lexington
 ---------

   New Asia -- Chinese

 Newton
 ------

   Amarin (Newton Center) -- Thai
   Appetito (Newton Center) -- Italian
   Bernard's (Chestnut Hill) -- Chinese
   Karoun (Newtonville) -- Mideast
   Legal Sea Food (Chestnut Hill) -- Seafood
   Sally Ling's -- Chinese
   Seoul House (Newton Center) -- Korean
   Sfuzzi (Chestnut Hill) -- Italian
   Sol Azteca (Newton Center) -- Mexican

 Somerville
 ----------

   Elephant Walk (Union Sq) -- French/Cambodian
   Hometown (Union Sq) -- Korean
   India Palace (Union Sq) -- Indian
   Jimmy Mac's -- Bbq
   Marino's (Porter Sq) -- Italian
   New Asia (Union Sq) -- Chinese
   Picante (Davis Sq) -- Tex/Mex
   Redbones (Davis Sq) -- Barbeque
   Rudy's (Teele Sq) -- Mexican
   Sopporo Ramen (Porter Sq) -- Japanese Noodle House
   Tapas (Porter Sq) -- Spanish
   The India (Davis Sq) -- Indian

 Waltham
 -------

   Bangkok Flavors -- Thai
   Bombay Mahal -- Italian
   EJ's Barbeque -- Barbeque
   Erawan of Siam -- Thai
   Iguana Cantina -- Tex/Mex
   Il Capriccio -- Italian ($$$)
   Little India -- Indian
   New Mother India -- Indian
   Taquieria -- Mexican
   VietFoods -- Vietnamese

 Watertown
 ---------

   Caffe Espresso -- Eclectic
   Casa Elena -- Latin American
   Demos -- Mideast
   On the Square -- Eclectic
   Rose's -- Persian
   Stellina -- Eclectic
   Taste of India -- Indian

 Someone wrote:
 : I will be going to Boston in August.  Can anybody recommend any good
 : restaurants?  I like to eat all kinds of food, seafood, Tex-mex, chinese,
 : italian, etc.

 : Post here or send e-mail to [email removed]

 : Thanks -- Julie

 Absolutely don't miss the Cottonwood Cafe! One of the best meals I've had...
 (Nuvo-Tex-Mex)

 -- Michael

 Well work has been very busy since I got back from Boston last month, so
 here is my report finally on the restaurants I went to.

 Skipjack's - I had the broiled bass and it was really good. My friends had the
                    fried seafood platter and they said it was good.  The food is kind
                    of the usual boring stuff, but the fresh baked bread is really great.

 Ye Old Oyster House - Food was good here too. Great seafood pasta.

 Joseph's Aquarium - This place had the absolute best lobsters.  This restaurant
                                    is cheaper than most on its lobsters because the owner has
                                    his own live traps.  I had twin broiled chicken (1 lb each) lobsters
                                    for about $12.  You also get salad, veggie, and bread.
                                    I also recommend their stuffed mushrooms.  Make sure you
                                    get reservations for this place. They are always packed.

 We also ate at Quincy Market for breakfast and late night snacks.  I just can't resist
 fresh bakery croissants.

 I grew up on the Texas coast and I have always enjoyed fresh seafood but you
 can't find fresh seafood in Minnesota.  Boston's fresh seafood was wonderful.
 I am ready to go back.

 Hope the next group going to Boston enjoys it too.

 -- Julie

 Patricia W. wrote:

 >I will be visiting Boston in late spring to attend a conference and would
 >like to eat at some of the top quality restaurants in the area.
 >Restaurants with speciality items famous in the Northeast would be
 >nice to try.  If anyone has suggestions, please share.
 >Happy eating

       This is a bit late as I just found this forum, but for the future
 I would strongly suggest:

       Mechela's (Cambridge)
             - Awesome ambience (wide open modern), and great nouvelle
               cuisine.

       Anago's Bistro (Cambridge)
             - Small, intimate, really fine.

       David's (Boston theater district)
             - Great Mediteranean food, fun ambience.

       Biba's (Boston near Commons)
             - (Highly recommended, but I haven't been there.)

       Dali's (Cambridge)
             - Not fancy, but great tapas.

       Cornucopia on the Wharf (Waterfront near Fanuiel (sp?) Hall)
             - Great views and ambience, creative fundamental menu,
               very well executed.

 Strangely enough, I had an incredibly good meal at a place called
 "Vinnie Testa's" in Newton.  There are three of these (one in
 Brookline, and I don't know where the other is), and they give you
 so much food that you can't finish an appetizer by yourself, but
 dinner for two was about $35. It was crowded as hell, and it
 seemed like the sort of place where you get a big, bland bowl of
 spaghetti, but I had a crostini with vinegar peppers and swordfish
 that were both terrific.  I'd go back in a minute, but not on the
 weekend.

 Andy Pforzheimer

 Someone wrote:
 >I'm looking for some interesting "good find" type restaurants in the greater Boston area.
 >
 >Not the usual Grand Slam chic places like Biba, Rialto, Olives, etc., but small, out-of-the way places with Chef-Owners.
 >
 >E-mail to [email removed]
 >
 >

 Someone wrote:
 : I'm looking for some interesting "good find" type restaurants in the greater Boston area.

 : Not the usual Grand Slam chic places like Biba, Rialto, Olives, etc., but small, out-of-the way places with Chef-Owners.

 : E-mail to [email removed]

 OK, here is an interesting one.  It has been around for 20 years, but
 I just discovered it last year (after living  ten years within two
 blocks of the place).  Casa Romero - *excellent* gourmet mexican.  It's
 pricey, but worth it.

 Now, here's why I never noticed it: it is located between Newbury St
 and Comm. Ave off Glouster St. - *in the alley*.  Small, unobtrusive
 sign outside.  Typical upscale mexican decor inside, and a nice
 atmosphere.  In the summer, they have a quiet fenced patio out back
 that is really wonderful.

 The closest comparison I could find would be Zarelas in NYC - only
 without the crowds.  Leo Romero (the owner) is apparently a lineage
 holder in the list of great chefs in Boston, and it shows in his
 creations (be forewared: the exception is the "romerita" - one
 of the most vile margarita variations I have ever experienced).

 Don't miss it.

 -kmm

 In a recent message, P. Fitting asked for Boston restaurants that are
 noteworthy. A year ago we had an outstanding dining experience at
 Capitol Grille. If you crave a real steakhouse experience and have a pot
 of money or two to spend, their Porterhouse is special. Also of note but
 not nearly as yuppy-fied is the old standby, Cafe Budapest, across from
 the Copley Marriott. It is romantic and has some unusual central
 European dishes. I especially liked the sour cherry soup. With strolling
 violinists it is a very patrician place for an anniversary, or to
 propose in the first place. This is not a commercial but only the views
 of two peple who like to "collect" good restaurants.

 Suretta wrote:

 (in response to query about Boston restaurants, especially seafood
 and vegetarian options)

 >Legal Seafood

 Good straight ahead seafood, but a bit expensive and crowded.  In
 the same vein, you can try Skipjack's (for a bit less) or Turner
 Fisheries.

 >Anthony's
 >Jimmies

 Both of these are _way_ overrated tourist traps (I assume you
 mean Jimmy's Harborside).  Nice views, though.  If you are
 more interested in food than view, save your $, and eat elsewhere.

 >Pizzaria Uno

 A pale shadow of Chicago deep dish pizza.  Why eat imitation
 Chicago in Boston (especially when the Uno's chain exists in
 lots of other places)?  At least try Bertucci's, for a locally
 started chain pizza place.  Better yet, try Figs (Charlestown
 or Beacon Hill) for more unusual pizzas, good pastas, and great
 desserts.  Or go for the North End atmosphere and try Galeria
 Umberto for lunch.

 >No Name Restaurant

 Haven't been there in a few years.  Why?  Because the last couple
 of times I went, it was just mediocre at best.  Perhaps it improved.
 I hope so.  For no-frills seafood, you might try the Dolphin in
 Cambridge (not one of my favorites, but better than No Name, IMHO).

 Let's see, some other seafood suggestions...  Try going ethnic
 with your seafood.  There are a number of good chinese restaurants
 in Chinatown which specialize in seafood.  My current favorite is
 East Ocean City.  The Grand Chau Chow is also good.  Slightly cheaper,
 and very good are Asian Garden and Ho Yuen Ting.  Try lobster with
 ginger & scallion, or steamed whole fish and you won't be disappointed.
 Most places also do well with scallops, salty spicy squid, clams and
 many other seafood dishes.  As a bonus, it is quite easy to find
 vegetarian items on Asian menus.

 Italian seafood is also a good choice.  Giacamo's and the Daily Catch
 in the North End both specialize in fresh seafood prepared in an
 Italian style.  I am certain that they must have some veggie choices
 as well (what Italian place doesn't).  Drawbacks:  these are small
 places and there is often a line.  For the no-frills approach, you
 might try Il Panino on Mass. Ave in Cambridge (between Harvard &
 Central Squares).  It looks like a sub/pizza shop, and you can get
 great subs (I love the "Il Panino") & pizza, but they also offer
 several pasta dishes, with the seafood offerings topping out at
 around $10.  Fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, no atmosphere.

 If you can get in, the veggie plate at the East Coast Grill is
 reputed to be one of the best in town.  Unfortunately, the restaurant
 is small, cramped and _very_ popular for its grilled foods.

 You can also go Japanese, for really fresh (raw) seafood.  Currently,
 I like Ginza (in Chinatown), and for something cheaper, the Japanese
 food court at the Porter Square Exchange building in Cambridge.
 You can usually find pretty good vegitarian offerings (vegetable
 sushi, tempura, etc.) at Japanese restaurants.

 There are many other great places in Boston (I haven't even named
 a fraction of the most popular places).  If you want more ideas,
 you might consider checking out Ellis Cohen's excellent Boston
 Restaurant List on the World Wide Web.  It can be searched by
 name, neighborhood or type of cuisine, and can be found at URL

 http://web1.osf.org:8001/boston-food/boston-food.html

 The document is also available by ftp, but I don't have the
 address handy; if you need it, I will try to find it.

 Marcel

 Someone wrote:
 > RAYNAF wrote:
 >
 > >Traveling to Boston in two weeks.  We're staying at the Tremont
 > >downtown.
 > >Please give recommendations for pasta/fish/not too expensive.  Thanks
 > >
 HI,

 Lived in BOston for 6 years.  Although there are many fine restuarants, legal
 seafood is one of those tourist traps to avoid unless you like that sort of
 thing.  The food is reasonably good at a rather expensive price.  There is
 much better out there with more local flavor.

 If you don't have a car, you have to check out a place in the North End on
 Hanover St. called the Daily Catch.  Their specialty is calamari (fresh,
 fresh, fresh) but also serve many other seafood and pasta dishes.  The service
 area is small and the cooking is legendary.  And the cuisine is definately
 North End (remeber the Prince Spaghetti "Anthony" commercial?  That's the
 North End.)  There is no sign on the door, but two large windows that have
 "Manga Calamari" painted on them.  Take cash, they don't do credit cards.
 Average entree is between $11-$15.

 If you have a car there are some INCREDIBLE italian restuarants in East
 Boston.  You get also get there by the T but you really should be a seasoned
 BOstonian to do it. Let me know if you're interested.

 Finally there are some fine Ethnic restuarants in the South End.  For Thai,
 try Jae's on Tremont.  For Ethiopian try Addis Adaba Red Sea also on Tremont.
 The later is the best Ethiopian I have ever eaten.  Try one of their
 combination plates,  The service is a bit slow, but the food is plentiful and
 wonderful.  Also, it's relatively inexpensive for Boston.

 Someone wrote:
 > Jay G. wrote:
 >
 > >We will be Boston the first week of November. Would appreciate
 > >recommendations for Italian and Seafood restaurents. Also, what
 > >specialties would you suggest?
 > >Thank you.
 > Jimmy's Harborside is the best seafood restaurant in the world.  For
 > Italian, try any place in the North End.
 >
 >
 The above recommendation for Jimmy's may have been true 30 years ago, but
 I would rate it the worst restaurant that I have been to in the last
 decade. Service was a disaster and the food was terrible. Try Legal
 Seafood if you don't mind prices that are a bit too high (lunch is more
 reasonable). The Daily Catch is a good choice for Italian seafood.

 Regards,

 Russ

 Someone wrote:
 > Can anyone recommend any great all-American and also Italian food
 > restaurants in Boston?  Also, I would like to know where to shop.  Thanks.

 La Suma on the North End (little italy) was wonderful.  It had been
 recommend to my wife and I, and so we stopped there for a break while
 walking the Freedom Trail.  I start to open the door and a little dog
 starts barking.  I look up to notice a sign saying they don't open until
 4:00 for dinner only (it's about 1:30).  We turn and start walking
 away when this little old lady sticks her head out and asks us what
 we need. I explain that we were stopping to eat and didn't realize
 they weren't open.  She responds, 'well, we're open for YOU'.  We
 demur, but she's insists, saying that they're getting ready for dinner
 anyway.  We go in and have a wonderful meal - all by ourselves with
 just this lady and her niece who are the owners.  An all around
 delightful experience . . . and a great story.  ;-)

 Dan N. wrote:

 > Can anyone recommend any great all-American and also Italian food
 > restaurants in Boston?  Also, I would like to know where to shop.  Thanks.
 >
 > Nicole

 I like Terramia, Marcuccio's and Antico Forno on Salem St.
 in the North End.

 All American food?  Tim's Tavern and Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe,
 two dives in the South End.  Charlie's is good for breakfast.

 Joanie

 High end , but in Charlestown, you have to try Olives.  Go during the week,
 long waits on weekends.  make sure you try the fois gras and truffle mousse.