suggestions

Going to Boston on Saturday for the first time. Will be there until Wed. Please recommend some must eat at restaurants or types of food. Medium range price for the restaurants. What local specialities? I love all food from street vendors to fancy restaurants.

Thanks in advance.

suggestions

Hi KMA,

For a restaurant with some ';Boston flavor';, I highly recommend Durgin Park restaurant at Quincy Market. It%26#39;s one of the oldest restaurants in the city, and it%26#39;s a local institution. The food is also very good. Lots of New England specialities like baked Schrod, Clam chowder, corned beef and cabbage, and they have the best (and most reasonably-priced) prime rib in town. Oh, and for a REAL treat, make sure to try the Indian pudding, which is an old New England dessert made with corn meal and molasses and served with vanilla ice cream.

Definitely visit the North End, Boston%26#39;s Italian neighborhood, and try out the Daily Catch (on Hanover St.) for great calamari dishes (stuffed, salad, fried...all great).

Antico Forno on Salem St. has a huge wood-fired oven and has great roasted meats and veggies, in the Northern Italian style.

For great pasta, try Giacomo%26#39;s on Hanover St. The Pumpkin tortellini there are heavenly.

If you like Chinese food, go to Chinatown and try Peach Farm for the best and freshest seafood and other Hong Kong style dishes. Taiwan Cafe is also excellent, but you should be a bit adverturous for that (and they don%26#39;t take credit cards). Two doors down from Peach Farm, on Hudson St., is Shabu-Zen, which is a Japanese Shabu-Shabu restaurant, (think Japanese fondue), where you get big platters of beef chicken or seafood and you cook it at your table. If you go, get one of the fruit smoothies too, they are great.

I have more ideas if this isn%26#39;t enough, let me know if you have something in mind.

suggestions

Quincy Market:

I would personally pick the Union Oyster House over Durgin Park. Both are places where you%26#39;ll likely find more tourists than locals. The prices reflect that but the food is good. For places that locals are more likely to frequent try King Fish a Todd English place that specializes in fish that%26#39;s also a good location for people watching.

South End:

The South End is a hip area with lots of good places to eat. Flour is great for breakfast or a quick lunch. Sibling Rivalry is relatively new and hip with good small plates and cocktails. Union is also good and not too pricey.

Newbury Street:

There are tons of places to eat here and they all tend to be a little expensive due to the prime location. Tapeo serves tapas and it a lot of fun. L%26#39;Espalier has a reputation for being among the best in Boston or the best. The prices reflect this reputation, but they have a less expensive tea on Sunday if you want to check it out. Casa Romeo has very good mexican food.

Waterfront:

My favorite on the waterfront is Sel de la Terre which has the same owner as L%26#39;Espalier but a more casual atmosphere and less expensive food. There is a Legal Seafood there, which is a famous Boston based chain. Tia%26#39;s is also a good place for a nice view with pretty generic food.

Hi,

I also like the Union Oyster House, but many people online here have given it very poor reviews for food and service, so I didn%26#39;t want to risk mentioning it. Durgin Park rocks in my book, because it%26#39;s got a much more extensive menu than Union, and the prices are much cheaper.

I%26#39;m a local, and I eat at both places regularly. I think you would get a good ';Boston'; flavor if you tried one or both. I know when I%26#39;m traveling to a new place, I like to sample the local flavor.

Someone had started a thread some time ago asking people what their favorite restaurant in Boston is, which you might find to be very helpful. I tried to copy and paste the link here, but it contains too many characters. Try searching ';absolute favorite restaurant'; in the Boston forum.

Thanks for everyone%26#39;s suggestions. I have already made reservations at the Union Oyster House for Saturday night. And I plan to eat at Durgin Hall. I have written all of these down. Being from South Louisiana, I love Seafood, so I am anxious to try your local favorites. But I also a big fan of italian food, so I will make a trip to the North End. I am a little concerned about the weather next week and how much walking I will be able to do in it. We don%26#39;t really own much winter clothes.......thanks for everyones suggestions and I look forward to eating my way through Boston..

As you are not used to this climate, if you do not already have them then shortly after you arrive puchase gloves, hats, scarves and a warm coat, et al.

Thanks for everyone%26#39;s suggestions. I was able to eat Boston Creme Pie at the Parker house. Cannoli%26#39;s twice at Mike%26#39;s Pastry.

Ate at Union Oyster house, Legal Seafood.

GiaCuomo%26#39;s and Pizzeria Regiana in the North End. Also Border Cafe in Harvard Square.

Had cups of chowder on the run at Boston Chowda. Because of all the walking I did, I didn%26#39;t gain any weight. Saw the most snow I had ever seen. Lost one hat and two pairs of gloves.Went to Blue Man group, Fenway Park, MIT, Harvard. Walked the Freedom Trail and did the trolley tour.......

Loved Boston.

thanks again....

I%26#39;m glad to hear that Durgin Park is still a good place. It%26#39;s been years since I%26#39;ve been there, and all my local friends diss it as ';touristy';. I think I%26#39;ll bring my out-of-town visitors there...

Mike%26#39;s, too... though that was never in doubt.