Omni Parker House?

[jrgnfly]

Has anyone been here lately?

Do they top the Boston Cream Pie with toasted almonds?

[hiddenboston]

We were at The Last Hurrah in the Omni Parker House a few weeks ago. We had dinner there, then watched some of the Sox game. Dinners were ok, but not great, but I love the feel of the place. Very quiet and subdued.

Didn't try the Boston Cream Pie, but loaded up on those nuts that they put on the tables. Maybe next time I'll go just for the dessert...

[MC Slim JB]

I'm sorry to say I have never had the Boston Cream Pie, which purportedly was invented here. There are other great bits of history: Malcom X and Ho Chi Minh were once employees.

I've had a drink in the Last Hurrah, which has some nice old-school hotel bar atmosphere, and real pros pouring drinks, but Parker's looks kind of tired and sad. The few folks I know who have stayed here, I've steered to nearby places with reliable food: No. 9 Park at the high end, the Grotto in the middle, Silvertone at the bargain end.

[rxrfrx]

On the subject, does anyone know what Ho did there? I get conflicting results ranging from "pastry chef" to "busboy" to "steward" to "baker."

[MC Slim JB]

Ho Chi Minh had trained as a pastry chef under Escoffier. He worked in the Parker House's bakery. Malcom X worked as a busboy there.

[sophia fox]

My recollection was that, yes, there were almonds. The cake itself was dry, awful, and disappointing. I found the food generally poor and the atmosphere snotty and unpleasant. Lousy service, and the rooms are microscopic.

[taves7]

I do not think that they put almonds on the cake.

[kahrtn]

The omni parker house puts a unique spin on the boston creme pie. It is where the pie was invented. They do put almonds on the cake. It comes in two sizes as well. The individual or the full size that feeds up to 15 people. You can order it to go or enjoy it in any of the three outlets in the hotel.

The recipe and all the ingredients are on the website. www.omniparkerhouse.com.

[elcaminogirl]

I was in one of their bars a couple of months ago (someone else chose the spot) ordered a Sam Adams or some similar beer. It was served ice cold in a chilled glass, which of course totally obscures the flavor--fine if you you're drinking Bud or its ilk, but not for decent beer. I could have just waited a while til it warmed up, but the beer, or rather the glass, tasted disgusting! I'm pretty sure that they must chill the glasses in the same fridge where they chill uncovered onions and other produce--that's what it tasted like. I asked for a new beer in an unchilled glass, but got the same beer (oniony!) in a room temp glass. The waiter was appallingly indifferent to even taking our order in the first place and never even looked at us until he delivered the tab--I guess at that point he remembered the "tipping" concept.

Just a nasty tourist trap these days, I guess.

[treb]

Best rolls and Boston Cream Pie with almonds, that and beer, how can you go wrong!

[channingj]

It's a fun place to stay (with a lot of cool history), but I wouldn't really recommend their Boston creme pie--overpriced and kind of bland.

[Eatin in Woostah]

The breakfast buffet is actually pretty good. Pricey, but worth getting if you're staying in the hotel.