LisaBeth G. wrote: >My boyfriend and I will be taking a trip to the Boston area in a few >weeks and were wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to which >restaurants we should try. The only type of food we don't tend to eat Suggestions: 1. Check out Ellis Cohen's recommended Boston Restaurant List, which is on the World Wide Web at http://www.osf.org:8001/boston-food/boston-food.html The list contains pretty reliable reviews, and is searchable by name, neighborhood, and type of cuisine! The list is also available by anonymous ftp, but I don't have the address here, so email me if you want it. 2. If you are more specific as to price range and type of cuisine, I may be able to help you a little more. Anyhow, here are a few of my favorites in a variety of price ranges and styles: Elephant Walk--French/Cambodian (Union Sq. Somerville, or Beacon St. and Park Drive, on the Boston/Brookline line). Moderate. Alloro--New Italian/Mediterranean (Hanover St., North End) Expensive Olives--Mediterranean (Charlestown). Expensive. Figs--Unusual Pizzas and Pasta (Charlestown). Moderate. Il Panino--Pastas, Pizza, Subs (Mass. Ave., between Harvard and Central Squares, Cambridge, also in the North End). Inexpensive. Grand Chau Chow--Chinese (Chinatown). Inexpensive/Moderate Some Brunch suggestions: Blue Room (One Kendall Sq., Cambridge)--Unusual, creative brunch, focusing on grilled meats, really good vegetable and pasta salads, and great desserts. ($15pp). Turner Fisheries (Westin Hotel, Copley Sq., Boston)--very good seafood- oriented brunch (around $20pp). China Pearl and Golden Palace (both Chinatown)--Dim Sum. Other good places include: East Coast Grill (Grilled, often spicy, foods) and Jae's Cafe (Korean, Japanese, and other asian foods in a sleek setting) in Inman Square, Cambridge; Redbones (BBQ)--Davis Sq., Somerville; Japanese Food Court (Porter Sq. Exchange, Cambridge--the building with Cottonwood Cafe); Ho Yuen Ting, East Ocean City, Asian Garden (all Chinatown, again, ask what seafood is good; and at HYT, get beef ginger and scallion hot pot). There are many more. Let me know if you want more suggestions, or want some specific categories/price ranges. Hope this helps. Marcel
Boston, MA
places to go in Boston
Someone wrote: : My boyfriend and I will be taking a trip to the Boston area in a few : weeks and were wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to which : restaurants we should try. The only type of food we don't tend to eat : is Mexican so anything else is an option. : Thank you for your help in advance. : LisaBeth : -- : --Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And : feed it freah air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Legal Seafood is NOT a tourist trap, if it were, why would they have so many locations in places that tourists do even get near??--Chestnut Hill, Rt 9, Worcester...need I go on, The have the best quality seafood around, and it doesn't come cheap. Olive's in Charlestown is the place to go. The atmosphere is great, the prices are reasonable. If 2 people go, order 2 app. 1 entree and 2 desserts, the entree's are so big that you'll never be able to eat it all yourself. This would cost $45-50 before tip and beverages so you be the judge over whether or not it is expensive. Rob
Someone wrote: : Legal Seafood is NOT a tourist trap, if it were, why would they have so : many locations in places that tourists do even get near??--Chestnut Hill, : Rt 9, Worcester...need I go on, The have the best quality seafood around, : and it doesn't come cheap. Yes, yes...I said I was prepared to be flamed...and perhaps "tourist trap" was overly harsh - so let me restate that: Legal Seafoods is not exactly a tourist trap, but is vastly overrated. Their seafood *is* fresh, but what they do with it is so-so. They also like to pack 'em in, which I do not personally like, and the place is always crowded as hell (I usually go to the big one). Also, part of my dissapointment stems from the decline in quality over the past 15 years. So, for the price, you get more at Turners. The seafood is both fresh and more creatively prepared - the appetizers are generally excellent, and their chowder is thick and tasty (won the chowderfest four years in a row). The almost perfect Turners dinner: Tuna carpaccio & mussels dijonnaise for appetizers. Caeser Salad. Maryland crabcakes w/jumbo shrimp for entree. (I almost never eat dessert, so don't ask me). The crabcakes are *unbelievable* - so rich I have only finished them once. As for Skipjacks - yes, generally very good, no complaints. It is a litthe cheaper, too, but the few times I have tried it, I have been generally dissapointed if I compared the meal to the Turners equivalent. Finally, I admit, a minor factor in why I like Turners better is that it *is* a bit more expensive, and hence, a bit more exclusive - I have never seen big-haired blonde bimbos & their boyfriends from Revere in Turners. Generally, the suburb hicks go to Legal's for that "big nite out in the city". Of course, this may not be because of the price - Legals is considerably more famous than Turners, and hence they cast a wider net, but whatever the reason, I like it. You can call me a snob, but if I'm going to spend $125 for a meal (for 2, with drinks & wine), I prefer a refined atmosphere. Happy eating! -kmm.
LisaBeth G. wrote: > My boyfriend and I will be taking a trip to the Boston area in a few > weeks and were wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to which > restaurants we should try. *snip* > LisaBeth *snip* John Harvard's Brewhouse across the river in Cambridge - I went there last October and it was great. Not too expensive, and not at all tacky/touristy as the name might suggest. I can't remember exactly where it is, but it's a few minutes from the Harvard Square "T" stop. Incidentally, two questions: Has the standard of service in Boston declined? We were there two years ago and it was great everywhere, last year (apart from the above which was great) it was mediocre to non-existent. Where has Joyce Chen's Chinese resaurant gone? It was on Stuart St, but closed between Oct 93 and Oct 94. Disastrous loss!! John
JOHN B. wrote: >John Harvard's Brewhouse across the river in Cambridge - I went there last >October and it was great. Not too expensive, and not at all tacky/touristy as >the name might suggest. I can't remember exactly where it is, but it's a few >minutes from the Harvard Square "T" stop. It is at 33 Dunster St., in the basement beneath the Garage Mall. It is 1 block from the main entrance of the Harvard Sq. T stop (the one with Out of Town News). I think that John Harvard's is an ok place, but it really isn't one of the places I would go out of my way to visit if I were only in Boston for a short time. The beer is ok (as far as brewpubs go, I think that Cambridge Brewing Company in Kendall Square, and Boston Beer Works near Kenmore both have better beer). The food is ok (possibly more interesting than BBW, and definitely much better than CBC). They do have the best atmosphere, I think, and very good service. I haven't been to Commonwealth Brewery (near Boston Garden/North Station) in years, as I didn't really like it much, and I haven't yet visited Brew Moon (Theatre District--in Joyce Chen's old space (see below)); although the reviews on food were good, the beer reports have been mixed. After all that comparison of brew pubs, I would suggest going somewhere else if you are only in Boston for a limited time, as they are neither the best restaurants (in their price category or overall) in Boston (IMHO), nor really unique or representative of the area. Definitely try the seafood--if not at Legal's, Skipjack's, Turner Fisheries, or some other standard seafood house (I think those are generally thought to be among the best), then at a Chinese (e.g. Grand Chau Chow, East Ocean City, Asian Garden) or Italian (e.g. Daily Catch, Giacamo's are popular and not prohibitively expensive) restaurant, for example. >Incidentally, two questions: >Has the standard of service in Boston declined? We were there two years ago and >it was great everywhere, last year (apart from the above which was great) it >was mediocre to non-existent. Actually, I think service in Boston has stayed about the same, or possibly improved over the 6 years I have lived here. The restaurant scene is becoming more competitive, and I think this may be reflected in slightly higher standards of service. >Where has Joyce Chen's Chinese resaurant gone? It was on Stuart St, but closed >between Oct 93 and Oct 94. Disastrous loss!! They lost their lease on the Stuart St. location, due in part to financial difficulties. They still have a restaurant across from the Alewife T stop in Cambridge. I never went there, but most reports suggested that Joyce Chen's has been in decline for years, and that it is not such a great loss (especially when you can walk a couple blocks to Chinatown and get a great Chinese meal at quite a few places). My wife has eaten at their Cambridge location many times in the past 2 years (she works nearby), and she does not have a high opinion of their food--if she has a choice, she goes elsewhere. It's edible, but nothing special.
In article , [email removed] (JOHN W BURGOYNE) writes: > John Harvard's Brewhouse across the river in Cambridge - I went there last > October and it was great. Not too expensive, and not at all tacky/touristy as > the name might suggest. Good choice. I was there on Saturday for lunch and had a warm lamb salad. This was cous cous with feta and olives over the cous cous, surrounded by some lamb sausage and some pieces of roast lamb. Very very good. Also, try their cask conditioned ale, served cool, not cold and with out the CO2 forced through it...naturally pumped upstairs. I can't remember exactly where it is, but it's a few > minutes from the Harvard Square "T" stop. 33 Dunster Street...which is the name of the restaurant it used to be before it became a Brew Pub. > > Where has Joyce Chen's Chinese resaurant gone? It was on Stuart St, but closed > between Oct 93 and Oct 94. Disastrous loss!! I heard they were evicted for not paying their rent. I wonder if they still have a restaurant (the original) over off of Fresh Pond Parkway. Barbara
Discovered a wonderful place on Sunday on Newbury Street called Stephanie's (corner of Exeter St.) right where the old Harvard Book Store Cafe used to be. What a fantastic array of upscale deli-type food - we had a warm goat cheese salad that was to die for (before you cringe - I am not an adventurous eater, and LOVED it). Don't miss this - everything we had (and everything we saw go by us to other tables) was out of this world. If I had any criticism, it was that it was noisy and tables in VERY close proximity. Try it! Janice
Marcel L. wrote: >snip< >go, I think that Cambridge Brewing Company in Kendall Square, and Boston >Beer Works near Kenmore both have better beer). The food is ok (possibly >more interesting than BBW, and definitely much better than CBC). They do >have the best atmosphere, I think, and very good service. I haven't been >to Commonwealth Brewery (near Boston Garden/North Station) in years, as >I didn't really like it much, and I haven't yet visited Brew Moon >(Theatre District--in Joyce Chen's old space (see below)); although the >reviews on food were good, the beer reports have been mixed. Agreed. I've heard the same reports about Brew Moon. Another good place for beer variety, not microbrew, but variety -- is The Sunset Grill & Tap in Brighton. I don't know what their tap count is up to now, plus they have hundreds of different beers -- from the subline to the ridiculous (i.e. -- they offer Bud) ;-) Anyway -- their food is good plus they serve a LOT of it. Nachos, for example, are plenty for 4. And I've often takne 1/2 the entree home for lunch the next day. Wish I could do that with the beers... ;-) They offer 1/2 yards & yards of beer as a gimmick, but only do that if you want to. Otherwise they have an incredible selection and will offer knowledgeable options if you say "I usually drink X, what do you suggest?" >Actually, I think service in Boston has stayed about the same, or possibly >improved over the 6 years I have lived here. The restaurant scene is >becoming more competitive, and I think this may be reflected in slightly >higher standards of service. I'm wondering if service in places around Cambridge & Kenmore cycles good & bad because often it's college students who work at those places and you're lucky if you get a good one. >>Where has Joyce Chen's Chinese resaurant gone? It was on Stuart St, but closed >>between Oct 93 and Oct 94. Disastrous loss!! >snip< >a choice, she goes elsewhere. It's edible, but nothing special. Yeah, definitely not a major loss. I always wondered about the appeal. There are a lot of other places -- in Brookline on Beacon St (do I remember the name -- no, that would be helpful --;-) and there's Cheng-Sho (sp?) on Mass Ave between Porter & Harvard squares (?) that used to be better, but is still good & they have vegetarian peking raviolis which are hard to find most places. my uninvited opinion ;-) [email removed] Thea Frost
Thea F. wrote: >Marcel L. wrote: >>someone else whose name has been lost to editing wrote: >>>Where has Joyce Chen's Chinese resaurant gone? It was on Stuart St, but closed >>>between Oct 93 and Oct 94. Disastrous loss!! > >snip< >>a choice, she goes elsewhere. It's edible, but nothing special. > Yeah, definitely not a major loss. I always wondered about the >appeal. There are a lot of other places -- in Brookline on Beacon St (do >I remember the name -- no, that would be helpful --;-) and there's >Cheng-Sho (sp?) on Mass Ave between Porter & Harvard squares (?) that >used to be better, but is still good & they have vegetarian peking >raviolis which are hard to find most places. Perhaps you were referring to Chef Chang's on Beacon St. near Park Drive in Brookline? They can be pretty good--I'm told that the Beijing Duck is excellent, although I have never had it there. I find that their dishes range from mediocre to excellent (sometimes the same dish,depending on who is cooking that night, I guess). I haven't been there much since I moved out of the neighborhood (used to live 1 block away), I guess because of the inconsistency. I did have some great meals there though. I was not impressed with Changsho, however. I only went once, about 9 months ago. I really wanted to like the place, as it was on a very short list of possibilities for our wedding rehearsal dinner. It was really nicely decorated, and the staff was very friendly. The food, though, was just not so great. Portions were small, but presented nicely; however they were on the bland side, and somewhat overcooked. Not bad, just not so good. There are a lot of good Chinese restaurants in Boston, there just aren't many which have good Szechuan (Sichuan, or however you want to spell it), Hunan, or Northern style cooking. Lately, I have even been thinking of giving New Shanghai in Chinatown another try, after a disastrous night there soon after it opened. I have tried Chef Lee's in Somerville (ok but not worth the drive for me), and Chef Chow's in Brookline (not as good as Chef Chang's IMO). Any other suggestions? Also, I would like to express my sadness that the management of Peking Cuisine in Chinatown has removed most of the interesting dishes from their English menu (at least) as a result of the change from China Grove. You can still get (at least some) of the dishes if you know what to ask for (or possibly if you read Chinese), but this new policy reverses their previously enlightened idea of putting everything on the menu, and letting customers decide what they wanted to eat. Also, thumbs down on keeping the glowing China Grove review up outside, especially considering one of the major points was their adventurous English language menu which no longer exists. Marcel