9lives

Here's my photoset. I thought it was a great pizza. I like mine well done..little char on the crust. http://flickr.com/photos/61246842@N00/sets...57605061314317/

Restaurants..all the above are good choices..especially like Khao Sarn and Bok Bua..a close second with BYO..few more: Beacon Hill..lunch or dinner..Grotto (Italian)and Pierrot. (French)..nicer sit down..mid priced Artu...good roast pork or lamb w eggplant, rotisserie chicken. I like Figs for pizza..but a lot of peole will disagree Splurge meal...#9 Park St..Clio/Uni..back bay North End..Neptune Oyster is a favorite..don't miss the hot, buttered lobster rol; also Daily Catch for Sicilian seafood Szechuan Garden in Brookline Villlage is very good. Anise in Cambridge...Szechuan Mulan in Cambridge..Taiwanese Tamarind Bay..Harvard Sq..Indian Vietnamese..Xinh Xinh or Dong Khan in Chinatown..Anh Hong in Dorchester Pizzeria Regina..North End original only..best traditional pizza in Boston proper(Santarpios in East Boston is right up there too) Enjoy!

In Newton, think it's De Pasquale's...great sausages Here are some of my other favorite shopping places.. North End..I like Sulmona or Susi for a butcher..Alba for produce, Salumeria Italiana for cold cuts, cheese,bread Charles St..Savenors..great butcher..pricy Newton Ctr..Dewar's great butcher but also pricy James Hook downtown for seafood..or Wulf's in Brookline (slipped a little lately, Capt Marden's Fromaggio..South End or Cambridge..cheese and cold cuts, bread. That should be a good start

Teatro is a lively Italian place right near your hotel. It's run by the same group as the Fed and Mistral. Can get crowded and noisy, but very good food.

Lee's? ← Holly? 9lives? Anyone? ← yeah, i think it is lee's. i'll try to take a ride up there this week to confirm ← I was in Gloucester last week...It's Lee's.

Pizzeria North End is great..and might be the best bet. Be sure to go to the original in the North End. I also love Santarpio's but it's a Blue Line ride away. I don't care for Ernesto's though others like it...not much seating for 8. Another option is Antico Forno. They do good wood grilled pizzas..as well as a varied menu. Fairly reasonable and everything is good; particularly things cooked in the wood oven. Reasonably priced red sauce, I like Artu. They also make a sliced lamb or pork / eggplant sandwich that's great. Not sure if they're doing pizza.

"Sulmona or Abruzzi (and argued over who was better), bought their fish from Frank Guiffre, and their two-fer Italian red wines at Martinietti. All of these fantastic shops and restaurants (except Umberto's and Polcari) are tiny but vibrant and all are on about a three block circuit." You'll be glaad to know these places are all still thriving. Dom is still at Sulmona and his son is there too. Frank occassionally shows up at Guiffre's but it's run by his son John. Ralph and John are still at Umberto's...and I think live above the original Umberto's on Parmenter. Alba and Polcari's have changed hands but I think they were sold to former employees and retain the charm and service they've had for years. Salumeria Italiana is still in the Martignetti family..and son Guy has basically taken over..though the elders are often there. The fancy new gelato place is owned by Frank DePasquale. He started with Il Panino..maybe early 80's..which was basically a sub shop on the ground floor...and table service in the basement. It was remarkably good. He now has a mini empire which includes Bricco and Mare...2 high end places, Umbra..a high end place in the financial district..I think all of his restaurants are very good but I still go the original Il Panino more than any of the others.

Made it over today..suan la show, chicken with dun dun noodles and yo siang pork. All great. A dish I didn't order but I remember as liking was "bon bon chicken"..a cold spicy dish. Dessert was at Toscanini's Ice Cream..across the street and a few doors south..perfect way to end a Mary Chungs lunch. Their burnt caramel is a real highlight.

Anything "yu shiang" is great too.. shrimp, pork, eggplant. I may to run over there this later this week. Neptune tomorrow

The Brookline DC has been closed for at least a few months. I feel like the Daily Catch historian

That's the same as my rec re Union. The only Summer Shack I've been to is at the new terminal A..Logan/Delta, and I thoroughly enjoyed it...good, fresh raw bar and well prepared fried clams. I sometimes make travel plans around being able to stop there. Better than the Legal's in A or B...which aren't bad options either

While Daily Catch is known as an Italian seafood place, they also do very good plain broiled or fried fish..posted about below The North End is the original, a little cramped but fun..he could wander the North End after. The Courthouse branch has better parking and a nice harbor view. I personally prefer the original; but if your father is elderly, he might be more comfortable at the courthouse. For a pub type spot, Sail Loft on Atlantic has good fresh seafood..casual, bar atmosphere with harbor view. I don't recommend Union Oyster House...except for the downstairs raw bar. I still enjoy No Name; but I think I'm in the minority. A lot of people feel it's slipped; so maybe I'm just lucky. The fishermen used to go there and still may; but it draws a lot of tourists now..no frills...fresh fish and shellfish broiled or fried. I always order the same thing, fish chowder...milk based and even detractors of No Name like this. then the fried clam roll or plate and Ms 9 gets the broiled haddock. I like Barking Crab...especially for an out of towner. Unfortunately the food is not always as good as some of the others..but the spot is great.

The original on Hanover is unchanged from 1981..and still great. Not to nit pick, but just an FYI, the Court House branch is only a few years old. The Court House itself is only about 5 years old. Daily Catch did have a branch in the area since 1985..across from Jimmy's Harborside in the block that is now the seaport Hotel.It was quite a bit larger than the NE branch and had easy parking...unlike Hanover. It was great spot to bring larger groups. Great pics! I'm long overdue for another visit.

Tacqueria Cancun in East Boston is good. There are quite a few places in E Boston... Columbian, Salvadorean, Mexican and Peruvian. E Boston is a real treasure chest of Latino cuisines. In downtown Boston, I really like Burrito Express..It was owned by Tacqueria Cancun but is now independent. I had a chorizo and pork taco the other day. Both were superb. It's mostly takeout..few tables..on a side street between Macy's and Chinatown..86 Bedford St..breakfast/lunch only

The new operators at Straight Wharf are Gabriel Frasca...formerly of Spire in the 90 Hotel in Boston and his SO (maybe wife?..not sure) Amanda Lydon..who was previously at Hasty Pudding and has worked at a number of high end restaurants..Radius, Truc and Chez Henri. I've eaten their food at a couple of places and I'd say Straight Wharf is in good hands. They're both excellent chefs.

In Boston, I like the original Pho Pasteur in Chinatown, Dong Khan and there's anew place called Xing Xing that I've been trying. Not pho, but a great Vietnamese meal.. A few weeks ago, a group of us met up in Dorchester, a 15 min t ride south of Boston. It is historically an Irish neighborhood, but has recently gotten a huge influx of Vietnamese residents...and they've opened markets and restaurants. We went to Anh Hong on Adams St...ordered 7 courses of beef and 7 courses of fish..We had red snapper but I think they get whatever looks good. The beef is relatively common; the fish version is not..or so I'm told. My experience with Vietnamese food other than soups is fairly limited. Meal starts with thin little clear pancakes..with several bowls of hot wayer to soften them up..few platters of lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumbers around the table...thin white noodles Then hot plates with mini woks... Plates of fish and beef are brought..both very high quality..round 1 boiled then cooked in butter.. then various ground meat or fish...and served on skewers. Any or all of these dishes can be rolled in the pancake and stuffed with noodles and veggies. Finally a congee like soup...1 with beef..other with fish. "Dessert" was a fried squid plate..and we had ordered a dish as an app..so it was actually 16 courses... Definitely worth a stop..a single 7 courses of.... is good for 2 or 3.

I have discretely slipped a $20 to the hostess at China Grill/Miami and was shortly shown to a prime table...after being told there was an hour + wait. It's not something I commonly do but Ms 9 was starving and I was getting heat to do something. I've often seen it done at Joe's Stone Crab...never done it; but I don't think a $20 does much there. I think it's considered a regular practice there. At a boxing match in AC, a friend gave $50 to an usher...and we were quickly taken to empty ringside seats... I'm not 100% comfortable doing it personally; but I don't see anything wrong with it. What I've also seen is a quick transfer of $ to the MD after the meal..presumably by regulars who want to insure future good table selection. Subtle and elegant by both tipper and tippee..simple handshake with a folded bill slipped into a suit coat pocket. If I recall the old article, there were places in NY that completely discouraged it and others were very open to it. If done clumsily, you run the risk of being embarassed..or having your $ taken..and don't get your preferential seating..neither a happy outcome.

It doesn't mean that you're a cheap fuck..you do what you think is appropriate...and it's certainly within the realm of fairness. No need to be down on yourself. I've eaten at Applebees once or twice..in Central Vt..with family..inc 2 young kids. Unless the waiter is nasty, I move it close to 20 %...several reasons; the bill is generally small and the $ diff between 15 and 20 is meaningless to me; but is important to the waiter, he's generally not a seasoned pro; like I'd expect in finer restaurants...and it means a lot to him or her..not just $...but job satisfacion..and recognition of appreciation. These young guys and girls work hard...and I'm more than happy to "round up" but I'd never try to dictate how others shoud do. Wow, I guess I'm a cheap fuck. Do you leave 20% to the server at Applebee's who keeps calling you "you guys" all night and who says everything is "wicked awesome", and 20% to the well-informed server who makes excellent wine recommendations and knows something about the food? Not that I've ever been to Applebee's... ←

We generally do 20% of the total bill...without regard to to taxes. Higher % when we're out and eating in 3 or 4 places; with small orders in each..can range from 30-50%. I rarely get less than stellar service, but if I do, I adjust downward...but 20% is generally the base point. I'm usually a regular; or bringing a crowd that has higher than average demands

Next time you're in Boston, check out Neptune Oyster Bar..on Salem St in the NE. In addition to a great selection of fresh oysters, they do a hot lobster roll w/butter on a brioche roll...incredible with a side of "real fries." They also do a cold, mayo lobster roll which I haven't tried. Prices are on the high side; and with lots of oysters the bill can get up there quickly...but very high quality.

My father, who lives in SC, once ordered his burger, "as rare as you can make it." I didn't understand until he explained about the law. This was afew years ago and things may have changed.

Yes..El Picoteco is where we ate. Looks like there are quite a few dining options in the hotel.. http://www.elconvento.com/dining/index.shtml

The Intercontinental is on a stretch of beach with a few big hotels.. the El San Juan is next door. Definitely check out the lobby bar and casino...gorgeous, "old world" feel. Dining options are the Palm and Mortons or Ruth Chris. I'd skip those unless you're craving a steak. I think the food in the big hotels is generally mediocre..but there is a bar at the top of the ESJ that makes a great guacamole..spectacular view. Mi Casita is in a small shopping center nearby..easy walk..basically across th estreet from your hotel..reasonable and good local food. It came recommended by our cab driver. There's also a little bar/restaurant up the beach..take a left from your hotel..looking at the water..few doors from the Water Club..(another great roof bar)a "local beer after the beach" type of place, but surprisingly good food. Metropole is often mentioned for good Cuban/ PR food...but locals recommended Mi Casita over it. Old San Juan is a 10-15 min cab ride..but well worth a trip. Try to take some time and wander around. El Morro is worth a look. We ate in a good restaurant in Hotel El Convento..heard good things about both Parrot Club and Dragonfly..but we never got to them..next trip.

I think when you try to create a "8 best of NE," you are taking on an impossible task. I would call this a list of 8 good and interesting/unusual restaurants in New England..from Providence to Maine. Arrow's (which I haven't been) is a perennial PG favorite...seems too "fussy" for my taste and is not easy to eat at unless you're staying or live nearby....and that $50 charge is annoying to me also Tacqueria Cancun...very good tacqueria...best of? I don't know. Piagalle..very good...but better than Troquet, #9 Park, Clio..not IMO Taranta..good, unusual..Peruvian/Italian. I like the place; but it's not the best restaurant in the 4 block region in which it resides. Metropolis? nothing wrong with it..but "yawn" Don't know the rest but have heard good things about New Rivers. I don't think this is a "bad list"....just a bad assignment no matter who does it. I think anyone who lives in NE, who enjoys food, could create an "8 best" that would look very different from this 1....and we might all be right

You're only about an hour from Skylight Inn..Ayden, NC...1 of the best BBQ places in the country. http://hollyeats.com/SkylightInn.htm