Restaurant recommendations in Boston?

[Tracey]

Anyone have a suggestion for a place to feed 10 people lunch after my daughters graduation in Boston next month?

I've been on Yelp all week and I keep backing into Legal Seafood, although she is appalled and says it's a tourist trap and she'd rather have beer and fries on picnic tables at the Barking Crab.

Well I would rather, too; but that's not gonna fly with the grandma's.

[Hwyl]

There's a place in the North End, on the same street as the Coast Guard, it's name eludes me,but I'd say the North End in general(parking is an issue) . Congrats btw

[Donn]

Here's Zagat's opinion.

[StevenBauer]

Congratulations to the new grad. We have a graduation coming up next month, too. I don't think we have as many restaurants to choose from in Middlebury, Vermont.


Steven

[Tom Hunter]

Congratulations

Where is she graduating from? Where are your hotels? How are you getting from the hotel to graduation?

[Norman Bernstein]

Anyone have a suggestion for a place to feed 10 people lunch after my daughters graduation in Boston next month?

I've been on Yelp all week and I keep backing into Legal Seafood, although she is appalled and says it's a tourist trap and she'd rather have beer and fries on picnic tables at the Barking Crab.

Well I would rather, too; but that's not gonna fly with the grandma's.

Hmmm.... why isn't your daughter making a recommendation... if she's been going to school in Boston?

I'm afraid I'm no help; I live barely 20 miles from Boston, and went to school there, but it's been 38 years since I graduated, and I don't know the restaurant scene any more. For character and atmosphere, and if you can get a reservation, one of the North End restuarants would be nice; we did the same thing for my daughter's graduation. Don't remember the name of the restaurant, though.

[Chris Coose]

Last trip to Boston (3 months ago) I finally took a hesitant trip to the top of the Prudential building with the family. The prices for lunch were reasonable, service was above par and the food was good. The view is superb. I got a nice chicken ceasar salad for $12.00 as I recall.
I am really really spoiled living in Portland, every meal from breakfast to supper in any restaraunt is excellent and I know that by eating out in other towns and regions and finding mediocrity most everywhere.

I'd return to the Pru with the kind of crew you are with but not necessarily if I was looking for a knock-my-socks-off meal.

[Anthony Zucker]

I sent your query to one of our daughters who is getting her doctorate at BU the same day. She's lived around Boston for several years, is now married with one and 2/3rds children, living in suburban Winchester. We'll be up there for that weekend

Here's her response;

The Barking Crab is fantastic (but spendy) picnic tables and tons of
good fried stuff.

Depending on where they are staying, since graduation is around lunch
and this is for dinner, why not hit the road (or commuter rail?) and
get great seafood anywhere up or down the coast? As we did with the
GPS it is easy to find lovely places, esp Rockport, Salem, (a
surprising dining destination lately) etc. Not too far, but Boston is
going to be insane. We are going to make reservations in Burlington,
so 9 miles from graduation.

If they want in town, grandmother approved and right there, call
Eastern Standard (first floor of Hotel Commonwealth) right now. They
have a really nice raw bar. Of course Anthony's is a fave of the older
crowd and those popovers are pretty amazing. Tavern on the Water or
the many new places in Charlestown in the navy yard are all nice but
they change names every few weeks so hard to keep track. The North End
will of course be a mob scene, but if they stick to public
transportation just about anywhere there is amazing. Yelp helps. We
went to a nice Italian seafood place across from the huge wine
shop...but I've had great meals in the NE in basements.

[JBreeze]

For Grandma's and seafood there is Anthony's Pier 4 on the waterfront....I wouldn't go there (overpriced, etc.) but there is parking and grandma's love the place. Just don't send me the tab.

[Norman Bernstein]

Of course Anthony's is a fave of the older
crowd and those popovers are pretty amazing.

Anthony's Pier 4 is definately a tourist trap, but has been a traditional place to go with family, and back when I was in college in the late 60's / early 70's, it's where my out-of-town parents wanted to go.... and it's a good choice for grandma.

The mention of the name made me smile; as a poor college student, I moonlighted as a cab driver, and it was my favorite place to hang out. Anthony's provided the cab drivers with free sandwiches and coffee (well, the sandwiches were of the 'two slices of bread, one slice of American cheese' variety.... but they were free), and the fares you picked up there were nice and safe, usually going back to either an in-town hotel, or to the airport. I figured it was better to wait in line at Anthony's, than to cruise the streets and end up picking up some criminal.

[David W Pratt]

If she has said "Barking Crab" do that, it is her day.
Where does she attend?

[Tracey]

If she has said "Barking Crab" do that, it is her day.
Where does she attend?

Thanks everyone, for the congratulations. It's a fine day to see the youngest graduate.
Marie finished her Business degree at Simmons College. Like many of her peers she has no solid job offers, but plenty of internships to choose from...thankfully, hers will be a paying one. Let the loan repayment begin!


We've now shifted the family thing to dinner, and she and the cousins and brothers will likely hit Barking Crab for lunch. Jim and I are going to the Union Oyster House. I've still got to sort out dinner for 12.

Donn, Prezza's is booked every weekend forever. Drat.

What I really need is a place like Carmine's in Manhattan: family style dinner, not too posh, a nice Chianti.... comfortable chairs.

[Tracey]

Congratulations

Where is she graduating from? Where are your hotels? How are you getting from the hotel to graduation?

The graduation is on the wharf at the Bank of America Pavilion. Some family are right there at the Marriott, some closer to Logan, and we are southeast of Quincy, as it seemed easier (and cheaper) to park the car and the van out of town. Just to add to this enjoyable occasion, we have to move her out of her 3rd floor apt the next day.

[Tracey]

Congratulations to the new grad. We have a graduation coming up next month, too. I don't think we have as many restaurants to choose from in Middlebury, Vermont. Steven

Congratulations to you and Mary!!
I know nothing about Middlebury, but if the restaurant pickings are slim I hope you have a reservation already!

[elf]

Isn't there a restaurant in the Top of the Pru?

http://www.prudentialcenter.com/dine...tail.php?id=61

This looks interesting, too.

http://www.prudentialcenter.com/dine...tail.php?id=71

[Tracey]

Isn't there a restaurant in the Top of the Pru?

http://www.prudentialcenter.com/dine...tail.php?id=61

Chris, is this where you were?

[elf]

Here's a little, very interesting Japanese restaurant that's not too far from Simmons. It's Japanese in one storefront and Chinese next door.

http://ginzajapanese.com/

[elf]

Here's a site that compares seafood restaurants in Boston with comments.

http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

I simply would never go to Seagal Leafoods. It's so horribly noisy and commercialized that I can't stand it. Even the one in Copley Place is so urban and pretentious. Upscale is the word, and the food is way overproduced. I like my seafood with a lot less "presentation".

Fun commentary here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/705086

[Chris Coose]

Chris, is this where you were?

Yes.
One thing I thought of since. We got a meter a ways away because we were interested in walking around. I'd bet parking there could cost as much as lunch! It really was a very nice luncheon.

[elf]

The Pru is completely public transportation accessible. Leave the cars far, far away.

[eastern270]

I live 15 miles SW of Boston. I only go into Boston a hand full of times per year with my 3 young ones. Usually a train ride to South Station and a walk to The Hard Rock Cafe in Fanuel Hall for lunch and back home. Im not suggesting the Hard Rock. Boylston St has alot of well known resturants including The Top of The Hub in the Prudential building. I have been there and enjoyed the food very much but I don't like heights. Copley Square also has some good resturants. Another thought I had was taking a dinner cruise on the Odyssey. I have been on that twice and liked it very much. About $120/head plus tip and drinks. The Spinnaker is another resturant I used to like to go to althought I haven't been in at least 10 years. Its along the Charles River and rotates 360 degrees. I hope this helps some.
http://www.odysseycruises.com/Boston/book-now

[Tracey]

I live 15 miles SW of Boston. I only go into Boston a hand full of times per year with my 3 young ones. Usually a train ride to South Station and a walk to The Hard Rock Cafe in Fanuel Hall for lunch and back home. Im not suggesting the Hard Rock. Boylston St has alot of well known resturants including The Top of The Hub in the Prudential building. I have been there and enjoyed the food very much but I don't like heights. Copley Square also has some good resturants. Another thought I had was taking a dinner cruise on the Odyssey. I have been on that twice and liked it very much. About $120/head plus tip and drinks. The Spinnaker is another resturant I used to like to go to althought I haven't been in at least 10 years. Its along the Charles River and rotates 360 degrees. I hope this helps some.
http://www.odysseycruises.com/Boston/book-now

Thanks so much! The Odyssey sounds and looks very nice, but for 12 people it's a bit steep this year
maybe when she finishes grad school though!