28 replies to this topic

[Cotuit]

I'm starting this thread for selfish reasons, I need a restaurant recommendation, but also, the Providence and Hartford sections have similar threads so Boston should have one too.

This thread is a place for people to review restaurants and get recommendations.

What I'm looking for is a place in Boston, Downtown or Back Bay, for a large group, probably 10, for a late afternoon dinner. We are getting the in-laws together the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a first meeting. His family lives in Lynn, mines on the Cape. More typically American fare is probably best, the palettes involved are not terribly adventurous.

Any recommendations are appreciated.  

[atlrvr]

EDIT**  I've been adding website and dinner menu links to the places mentioned.  Please post them if you know them.

I nominate Charley's.  It's located on Newbury St. at Gloucester.  Very typical American fare.  The food is consistently good, but nothing ground-breaking.  They also serve the same menu all day long, and don't have "lighter-fare" during non-peak hours.  It's owned by the same people who own Joe's American (also a safe choice, with locations on Newbury and on the water near Faneuil Hall, Long Wharf maybe).  Between the two, I like the quieter/quainter interior of Charley's better.

As far as food goes, they have excellent French Onion Soup, and I really enjoy their ribs, sandwichs and burgers.  Steaks were just ok.  My wife who is a vegetarion likes the baked Schrod, and pasta alfredo.

I'll post some reviews on restaurants with other cuisines that I've enjoyed later.

[cloudship]

There's the Elephant and Castle, on Devonshire, I think. It's got a bit of Irish/Boston flavor to make it special, but not too adventurous for the timid eaters.

Please keep this thread going, but if you are in a rush and need advice quick check out www.chowhound.com. They have a pretty sizeable Boston section.

[Cotuit]

Elephant and Castle looks good. I haven't been to Charley's before but I've walked by it 10,000 times and often wonder why I've never been.

[runawayjim]

Cotuit, on Nov 13 2006, 08:09 PM, said:

Elephant and Castle looks good. I haven't been to Charley's before but I've walked by it 10,000 times and often wonder why I've never been.

i've had breakfast at the elephant and castle in philly, it was pretty good.  we went out to be adventurous for dinner, but we stayed in the crowne plaza and had breakfast there (it's in the crowne plaza in philly).  the service wasn't anything special (probably related only to that one location) but the food was good.  of course this doesn't help you for dinner.

[brick]

It's helpful to know what kind of price range and type of ambience we are talking.

I'll put it Providence terms, would you be looking at Paragon or Mill's Tavern?

With no offense to the Elephant and Castle (I've been there many a fine evening), it has more of a bar feel than restaurant.  This sounds like a special occasion that requires a bit more.  However I don't know any of the principals involved (other than yourself) so I can't judge correctly.

If you don't mind going over the river, one hthe best American restaurants is the East Coast Grille, although their vegetarian selections are extremely light.  (er, scratch that, guess you want to stay in the city center)

Edited by brick, 15 November 2006 - 10:18 AM.

[Cotuit]

Actually Harvard and Central Squares would work. The occasion is a bit on the special side, but the participants are quite laid back. Comparing to Providence, Barnsiders would be a good fit. And we would do Barnsiders if it didn't mean dragging one of the in-laws all the way down from the North Shore.

How is John Harvard's for dining, I've only ever had drinks there? And is Grendels still around?

[cloudship]

Elephant and Castle is a chain!?!?!?

I feel like I cheated! Duped! I honestly thought it was an independant restaurant!

[tombarnes]

I could not, in good conscience, recommend an Elephant & Castle.  My experiences with them have not been good.  Upstairs on the Square, the successor to Upstairs at the Pudding in Cambridge might be a good choice.  The new look is over-the-top, but the food at the old place was always good.  In fact, I think they are in the space where Grendel's Den used to be.  I'm not sure if the Casablanca is still in the basement of the Brattle Theater on Brattle Street, but it might be worth consideration.  The food is only vaguely Moroccan.

Upstairs on the Square


  Casablanca Restaurant

Edited by tombarnes, 15 November 2006 - 06:20 PM.

[Cotuit]

Upstairs at the Square is where Grendel's was, so sad, I liked Grendel's. I used to live at Algeirs upstairs from the Brattle, but never made my way down to Casablanca.

[runawayjim]

Cotuit, on Nov 15 2006, 09:23 PM, said:

Upstairs at the Square is where Grendel's was, so sad, I liked Grendel's. I used to live at Algeirs upstairs from the Brattle, but never made my way down to Casablanca.

is grendel's gone?  upstairs sounds like it's upstairs... wasn't grendel's downstairs?  i thought it was called grendel's dungeon or basement or something like that...

[Cotuit]

There's a dining room photo in the Gallery on the website that I'm pretty damn sure is Grendel's.

[runawayjim]

Cotuit, on Nov 15 2006, 09:39 PM, said:

There's a dining room photo in the Gallery on the website that I'm pretty damn sure is Grendel's.

that is one bright place.

[runawayjim]

grendel's still has an active website, but the menus seem to be from june.  and there's a review of it on beer advocate from early october.

and i just looked at the addresses... grendel's is 89 and upstairs on the square is 91.

Menus

Edited by atlrvr, 22 November 2006 - 08:42 AM.

[tombarnes]

Hmmm....Grendel's is at 89 Winthrop Street and Upstairs on the Square is at 91 Winthrop Street.  I think they may possibly be in the same building.  It's been a while since I have set foot in Cambridge.

Edited by tombarnes, 15 November 2006 - 09:06 PM.

[Cotuit]

I'd be happy to learn that it was still there.

[runawayjim]

Cotuit, on Nov 15 2006, 10:18 PM, said:

I'd be happy to learn that it was still there.

maybe you should try upstairs on the square just to see if grendel's is still there and go to grendel's for drinks afterwards.  

[Cotuit]

I'll be taking the T home, so I cetainly could get my drink on.  

[City Pointer]

Cotuit, on Nov 13 2006, 11:28 AM, said:

I'm starting this thread for selfish reasons, I need a restaurant recommendation, but also, the Providence and Hartford sections have similar threads so Boston should have one too.

This thread is a place for people to review restaurants and get recommendations.

What I'm looking for is a place in Boston, Downtown or Back Bay, for a large group, probably 10, for a late afternoon dinner. We are getting the in-laws together the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a first meeting. His family lives in Lynn, mines on the Cape. More typically American fare is probably best, the palettes involved are not terribly adventurous.

Any recommendations are appreciated.  

Try Amerheins in South Boston.  It's changed, but the food is still good.  They have off street parking, too.

Amrheins

Sample Menu

[atlrvr]

There is a new place that I want to try.  It's called Bouchee Urban Brassarie.  It's on Newbury St. and is part of the Back Bay Restaurant Group (owner of Charlie's, Joe's, Abe & Louie's and others).

Bouchee Urban Brassarie

Dinner Menu