So I’m going to be in Boston at the beginning of October for a couple of days of meetings. I opted to avoid the 7:00 AM flight on Monday by flying out Sunday afternoon, so I’m looking for someplace to have dinner.
Any recommendations?
Things that may prove helpful (or otherwise) in narrowing things down:
What about Top of the Hub? Make reservations for a window seat if possible.
It’s the same noveau American cuisine that you can get at any upscalish place but the view makes it worth it.
It’s been awhile, but I think I’d vist here:
Both look interesting. Any other Bostonians care to weigh in?
Tremont 647 is fun and has a pretty funky menu. The donuts are awesome, they shake them in a paper bag with sugar right at your table! (WARNING:website has sound)
Do you enjoy a good drink? For the best beer/wine/drinks menu in town I recommend the Sunset Grille in Allston. It has an extensive list of beers, imports, meads, wines and mixes and has outstanding bar-food menu. It’s casual, but it’s a great place to unwind and try some new drinks and have a good time. It’s usually very busy and tends to gather the college crowds, but I enjoy it a lot.
Check out its pubcrawler link http://www.pubcrawler.com/Template/ReviewWC.cfm/flat/BrewerID=1138 for reviews and address.
Donuts… beer… why must the choices be so hard!
Any chance you’d losen up? You mean you don’t eat any fish up in MN?
If you’re going primarily for the food, I’m told the Top of the Hub’s not your best choice. The attraction there is the view. A magazine expose many years back claimed tat some of the offerings there were pre-prepared (albeit top-of-the-line preps). Things may have changed since then.
Durgin-Park, in Quincy Market, is a Boston tradition and well over a century old. We had the lasty Boston Dopefest there. But high dining it ain’t.
If you’re looking for a good, albeit expensive dinner, try the Parker House. I’ve eaten there a few times (almost always special occasions) and recommend it. The place where Parker House Rolls come from.
There are upscale contemporary restaurants in Boston, but I’m not familiar with them.
Casa Romero, if you like Mexican food. Their Romaritas are wonderful (if a bit odd - they’re dry margaritas).
No and yes. 
Despite living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I don’t like fish or other seafood. The last trip I took to Boston (about 2 years ago) I had dinner at a place that prided itself on its lobster (the name of which I cannot recall), with two other Minnesotans who don’t like seafood. Fortunately, the restaurant had great steaks.
CalMeacham, I’m primarily interested in (a) having dinner, (b) having some drinks and (c) seeing some part of Boston other than the hotel and the conference rooms I’ll be in all day Monday and Tuesday. **Dangerosa **was in Boston for TechEd, and suggested that I try some of the restaurants near the Revere House.
The Revere House is in the North End, which is crammed with good restaurants (although most of them are away from the Revere House). They’re also crammed, because most restaurants there haven’t got a lot of space. Lots to pick from there. You may end up with way more food than you can eat – that’s happened to us there.
This is the place my husband and I miss the most after moving away from Boston. Great food (huge menu!), and pretty much anything you’d want to to drink. Definitely go here if you get a chance, especially if you’re a beer fan.
Is this the Marriott at Kendall Square? If so there’s a Red Line stop right under the hotel - 1 stop to Central Square, 2 stops to Harvard Square and 3 stops to Porter Square.
My recommendations:
Central Square:
Central Kitchen
Mary Chung (cash only!)
Harvard Square:
John Harvard’s
Harvest
Sandrine’s
Porter Square:
The Elephant Walk - French/Cambodian. I loooove their Crevettes Amrita and Trey Tuk Peng Pah.
Heh – I was going to say that I don’t know much about restauranting in downtown Boston, mostly I know stuff in Cambridge, but I see Mary’s has already been mentioned. (I got my dinner there this evening …)
Thanks, all – much appreciated. I’m leaning towards the Sunset Grille right now. An average rating of “great” for both beer and food over 54 reviews is some pretty compelling evidence…