Value for Money in Boston

[Beychevelle]

I'll be in Boston in two weeks for the marathon. I've read all the "Best of Boston" recommendations. They look great, but we're on a budget, and I don't see many of them that would qualify!

Any recommendations for good value? I'm not looking for the cheapest, but somewhere we can have a good meal in nice surroundings without breaking the bank.

Thanks

[galleygirl]

Where are you staying? Ethnic? Seafood? Preferences? Wheels? All these questions, and more, will yield divine low-end treats....

[TrishCT]

For Italian, check out Antico Forno

--in the North End.

Edited to say: Hi and welcome Beycheville and GalleyGirl.

Edited April 9, 2004 by TrishCT (log)

[Christnp]

It's useful to know where you are staying in Boston, and what kind of food interests you. Italian? Vietnamese? Burgers? Seafood? Sushi? Give us a hint and we'll make some suggestions.

[Beychevelle]

Hi GalleyGirl and Christnp,

Sorry. I should have specified an area. We are staying at the Omni Parker House on School St. Something close to there would obviously be best.

As for type of food, I know this doesn't help much, but we are pretty adventurous. We're from Vancouver, Canada. We have some of the best Asian restaurants in the world, so we probably won't go for that while we're in Boston. Otherwise we're wide open.

Hope that narrows the scope.

[galleygirl]

Groan...Yo're so close to all the best Asian in the city, but you're right, Boston will lose when compared to Vancouver for Hong Kong style seafood, altho, if you like lobster, you may make a point of the twin lobster special in ginger and scallion at Peach Farm Seafood..

Sam LaGrassa's, a block from your hotel, has corned beef and pastrami that comes damned close to NY, according to the meatlovers in my life...You should do a lunch there, if deli floats your boat..

Grotto, on Beacon Hill, does a four course pasta tasting menu that is always changing, and could be important for a carb-loader. $40.

Another Bostonian I know is loading her carbs at La Morra, a new Sicilian place in Brookline Village, a two-minute walk from the Brookline Village T-station on the green line(two minutes from your hotel) I don't know how good it is, but she *is* a pasta fanatic...

OTOH, if yo're coming into the airport, two stops on the blueline in the *other* direction will yield major treasure, albeit in hole-in-the-wall surrounding...One stop past, on the Blue line, is Rincon Limeo, a Peruvian restaurant that has the best ceviche, in giant platters, that I've ever eaten...Rib-sticking meat things, and wonderful fried fish, too...Same stop is Uncle Pete's, Boston's second best barbecue...A few stops further out, at Revere Beach station, is Floating Rock, for coffee-shop ambiance and authentic Cambodian...If you have Cambodian in Vancouver, this is no big deal...But I have NY friends for whom it is a must-visit every trip..

Of course, if you wannah splurge, you're also amazingly close to No.9 Park, and it is *all that*....

Thanks, Trish!

Edited April 10, 2004 by galleygirl (log)

[VivreManger]

This duplicates another thread, but here goes:

Best hamburgers: Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage, Harvard Sq, Cambridge

Excellent lime rickey.

Accessible via Subway, Red Line, a few minutes walk from Harvard Square Stop, about 10 to 15 minutes from your hotel.

A lot of good cheap food in Boston is Asian, which for you may be going to Newcastle for coal, but Q is pretty good. The best place is not accessible via public transport, Blue Ribbon in West Newton. But if you have a car it is about 15 to 20 minutes away as long as you don't go at rush hour. Red Bones is accessible on the same Red Line subway to Davis Sq. While not as good, they do have lots of draft beer and a good BBQ atmosphere. Uncl Pete's is supposed to be up there, but I don't know it.