Let's start a discussion about places to eat in Boston, particularly restaurants within walking distance of the convention center.

The only word of advice I'll give is that if one wants to get into Legal Sea Foods in Copley Plaza during the convention, I would really recommend getting a reservation more than a week in advance. Legal Sea Foods are busy at normal times, and Worldcon fen are to local restaurants as locusts are to cornfields.

Alex von Thorn
Monday, April 19, 2004

There are actually two Legal Seafoods close to Noreascon Four facilities. The one in Copley Plaza that Alex mentioned, as well as one in the Prudential Mall. There are also others around Boston and Cambridge. See http://www.legalseafoods.com/ for more information.

As an alternative goos local Seafood Restaurant, I recommend Altantic Fish Co. at 761 Boylston St. (see http://www.atlanticfish-restaurant.com/ )

REservations at any restaurant is always useful, but don't get scared away if you don't have them. It's worth trying your first choice, but if that doesn't work there are many other restaurants to choose from.

Sharon Sbarsky
Monday, April 19, 2004

There's a place right across the street from the Hynes, but I can't remember the name.

My wife found it by accident (it was literally a hole in the wall), but when you got inside it was 2 floors. Atmosphere is sports bar. The food was great. I just can't remember the name. Anyone out there know it?

Bill Todd
Monday, April 26, 2004

Does anyone know of any historical restaurants in Boston worth seeing? I was really sorry to learn about the City Tavern in Philadelphia when it was too late for me to plan to go there. I hope to avoid missing a similar opportunity again.

Adrienne Foster
Tuesday, April 27, 2004

What would people recommend as a "must-try" restaurant? I'm thinking seafood, but it doesn't have to be.

Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

If you're looking for atmosphere as much as food, hop over to the Barking Crab. It's a little shack right on Boston Harbor bursting with fishing gear, but the food is plentiful and tasty and it's in a great location.

The last time I was there it was autumn and we gathered around a pot-bellied stove to eat our dinners and talk. I don't even eat seafood and I loved it.

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/alt1/archive/foo d/reviews/11-30-95/THE_BARKING_CRAB.html

Tara Liloia
Thursday, April 29, 2004

I'm hungry, I need to know if there's a Burger King and a Round Table Pizza in Boston.

Oh, And the best place for grub on the run is Boston's Deliteful Con Suite. Con Suite - Making Food Fashionable! :)

Suryal
Friday, April 30, 2004

Historical restaurants in/near Boston:

The Union Oyster House bills itself as the oldest restaurant in Boston and the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the U. S. (since 1826).

http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/Pages/history .html

Jacob Wirth's is the second-oldest restaurant, opened in 1868 by a German immigrant. It still features the original long mahogany bar, although the sawdust on the floor has been removed, a casualty of changing health regulations.

http://www.jacobwirth.com/index2_1.html

Durgin-Park's slogan is "Your Grandfather & perhaps your Great Grandfather dined with us too". This is a market restaurant featuring traditional foods like Indian pudding, apple pan dowdy, johnny cake, and New England boiled dinners.

http://www.durgin-park.com/history.asp

A drive out in the suburbs brings you to Longfellow's Wayside Inn, which dates from 1716. Originally an inn along Boston's Post Road, it passed through several owners, including Henry Ford, and now operates again as an inn with a restaurant and overnight accomodations.

http://www.wayside.org/history.html

Leslie Turek
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

I went to Durgin Park last Noreascon, it was great. :)

Alex von Thorn
Thursday, May 6, 2004

Leslie, those sound wonderful!!

Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Thursday, May 6, 2004

Oops, I meant to say that the Barking Crab sounds good too. Are these places close to the con (or accessible by transit)?

(off topic: City Tavern was cool!)

Marah Searle-Kovacevic
Thursday, May 6, 2004

For historic restaraunts, try Locke-Ober, which is on Winter Place in downtown (about 1.5 miles from the Hynes complex).

http://www.locke-ober.com/about_history2.htm

It's expensive and very fancy. If you go there early (it opens at 5:30), it's fairly quiet and the service is impeccable. I had the best swordfish of my life last night, and Jim had a very good rack of lamb.

This is a great place to for writers to get their editors to take them to!

Laurie D Mann
Saturday, May 22, 2004

All the "historic" restaurants mentioned so far are near the T except for the Wayside Inn, which is a drive into the suburbs. Union Oyster House and Durgin-Park are in the Haymarket area, Jake Wirths is near Boylston Station, and Locke-Ober is near Park Street station, I believe. Actually, I was surprised to hear Locke-Ober was still open - I thought I'd heard that it closed. Maybe it was just that it changed management. My memories of Locke-Ober are non-existent, as they did not allow women in their dining room when I first came to Boston. Old slights die hard - I'm really too enthused about going there now.

The Barking Crab is in the Seaport district, just across the Fort Point channel, near the Children's Museum. It's a few blocks walk from either Aquarium or South Station, but it's an <i>interesting</i> walk with views of the harbor if you go from the Aquarium.

Has anyone mentioned The Cafe at No. 9 Park Street? I had the good fortune to go there this past weekend with a group from the N4 open meeting. No. 9 Park is one of the best (maybe <i>the</i> best) restaurant in the city, and the cafe offers a slightly lower-priced menu that is still fantastic. Figure on spending about $50/person and a couple of hours if you indulge in 3 courses. It's near Park Street station right across from the gold-domed Statehouse.

Leslie Turek
Tuesday, May 25, 2004

On LockOber

When we lived in Boston in the '80s, I remember hearing pretty good things about it. Then, the restaurant all but died in the '90s (and maybe it was actually closed for a few years). But it was bought by a group of entrepreneurs (and I believe Lydia Shire is now the executive chef).

I later told my mother about going to LockOber, and she reported eating there in the '50s...and having to eat in a special room, not in the main restaurant.

Laurie Mann
Thursday, July 1, 2004

Thanks for the tips on historic restaurants everyone and my apologies for not acknowledging your replies sooner. It just dawned on me that it's time to put together my itinerary for Boston.

Adrienne Foster
Thursday, July 22, 2004

Does anyone have any tips on vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Boston? They don't have to be close to the con--just accessible by public transportation. Thanks for any advice.

Johanna N.
Monday, July 26, 2004

Bartley's Burger in Harvard Square is fantastic!

http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/4745713

The Food

Bartley's has satisfied cravings of many a hippie, yuppie and celebrity by taking seven ounces of freshly ground sirloin, grilling it to perfection, slathering on any number of toppings and giving it a humorous, politically-tinged billing (the "Dick Cheney's only a heartbeat away"). Every once in a blue moon, someone passes on a burger to nosh on a gigantic, fresh salad or comfort dish like franks with Boston baked beans. Almost as popular as burgers are tangy raspberry lime rickeys and extra-thick frappes.

Where to Sit

If you're in the Square and flying solo, grab a seat at the long, communal table in the center of the restaurant.

When to Go

Unless you like a side of hectic chaos with your burger, avoid the restaurant during lunch hours, when every seat is taken and there's usually a wait to get in.

Andy Steinberg
Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Wednesday's Globe had a good overview of the classic foods (and some classic restaurants) of Boston. Go to

http://www.boston.com/ae/food/?p1=InAE_Food

and click on the link under the lobster picture, or try this:

http://www.boston.com/ae/food/gallery/when_in _boston_eat/

Deborah
Friday, July 30, 2004

Boston's Chinatown is one of the best (and cheapest) areas to eat in the city. It is easily accessible by both the green and orange subway lines from the Hynes Auditorium. I have been working next to Chinatown for many years and tried a good number of it's more than 50 restaurants. It is really more like "Asiatown" these days. It has restaurants that feature Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Korean, Vietnamese and Taiwanese food. Lunch prices generally range from $5-$10 with some even cheaper. Dinner ranges from $10-$25. I will be going to Chinatown for lunch during Noreascon and would be glad to advise people about some of my favorite places (including a vegetarian restaurant called "Buddha's Delight" on 5 Beach Street that uses no animal products at all).

John Godin
Monday, August 2, 2004

Legal Seafoods is just okay; it's way over-rated, and WILL have long waits. If you're willing to spend the time to wait for a table there, do yourself a favor and, instead, hop on the subway and go to Chinatown (Park Street and Downtown Crossing statios are the closest) or to the North End (the italian neighborhood -- Haymarket Station is probably the closest). Yummy food available at any of dozens of restaurants in either area.

Ricardo Sedan
Saturday, August 7, 2004

I'm currently on a soft food and soup/liquid diet and need to avoid shellfish. Any good soup and stew house nearby the convention?

Charlotte Konrad
Thursday, August 12, 2004

Soup suggestion: to the person who asked about good soup places, let me *strongly* recommend my favorite Vietnamese "comfort food": Pho. And the best places to get this wonderful Vietnamese soup are a small local chain of restaurants called Pho Pasteur. One of them is located at 119 Newbury Street (Phone (617) 262-8200). On rainy, chilly days in Boston (of which we have our share in Spring and Fall), there is nothing more wondrous.

Deb Geisler
Friday, August 20, 2004

Country Life is quite good,However, impossible to find. I believe it is vegan as it does not serve milk products. It did have a buffet. If I remember I will bring directions with me and leave them at the information desk. It is in downtown Boston buried away near the Big Dig.

Anna Hillier
Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Country Life in Boston has closed. Just found out that their last day was 2/15/04. SORRY

Anna Hillier
Monday, August 30, 2004

It appears that there is an error on the restaurant guide which we only found out the day after the convention closed. The restaurant "Taste of Asia" which is listed is not actually a Bangladeshi restaurant, but is a Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant. The actual review seems to refer to "Taste of India" which is three doors down, and is Bangladeshi. I do not know how good either of these are, but I can recommend the Moby Dick, which is a Persian restaurant in the same block

Scott Dorsey
Saturday, September 11, 2004