Looking for a few items in Boston

[panoz]

Hi,

I know you may hate these kinds of requests... a surprise trip to Boston came up and I'll be centered (with no car) in two locations: Just a on Cambridge St. one block south of Mass. General Hospital and on Federal Street just a block south of Post Office Square Park. If there is a name for those areas, I don't know it. If the food is exceptional, I can finagle a ride.

I'm looking for a couple of items:

- clam or haddock chowder, not the thick kind, but the thin brothy kind they have in Maine
- lobster roll
- fried clams, preferably big bellied, and from Ipswitch
- roast beef sandwich
- really really good authentic (if possible) Thai food

Thank you for your help!!!

[chowciao]

The clam chowder...I do believe that Parker's at the Omni Hotel on School street serves up traditional clam chowder (not the thick kind). They also have the original boston cream pie (yum!) If you want to be in a more casual atmosphere the Last Hurrah is a cool oak bar room that offers many of the same items as Parkers.

I would agree w/the post above about JG Hook for the Lobster roll..nothing better on a warm sunny day.

The King and I is good Thai...nothing too fancy, but is a solid good.

[mwk]

Hi,

For decent Thai food near your Cambridge St. location, I'd recommend The King and I, on Charles St., near the Charles T station. It's about two blocks from where you will be. If you are willing to travel to the Fenway, Brown Sugar Cafe is probably somewhat better, but I eat at the King frequently, and always have enjoyed the food there.

For pretty decent fried clams, near your Federal St. location, the Salty Dog at Quincy Market is good. I just ate there last week, and had a nice platter of large, crunchy Ipswich clams, which were quite tasty. The chowder there isn't what you are looking for, though. It's more the thicker type.

[gini]

There is not an overabundance of the types of food you want to eat in either of those locations.

Clam chowder: Neptune Oyster in the North End
Lobster Roll: Neptune Oyster in The North End (I like the buttered hot one, which is probably not what you're thinking of when you think of lobster roll). Otherwise, Kelly's is good, B&G has its fans as well. If you can get yourself over to Rachel's Kitchen on Fridays in Bay Village, you might want to try that.
Fried clams: Hmmm....Barking Crab is actually not a bad option - and you can sit outside.
Roast beef sandwich: Kelly's. Again, you're going to have to take a train to either Wonderland or Wellington station to get there. If the weather is good, I'd opt for Wonderland and take your roast beef sandwich (and maybe your lobster roll or possibly some fried clams) to the beach. Do NOT go in the water in Revere.
Thai: Close by to you is Montien which is good, not really, really good, but good. Ask for the "authentic" menu when you are seated. The best place for Thai in Boston is actually in Brookline - Coolidge Corner. I like Dok Bua the best, but if you want a beer with that larb, you should go to Khao Sarn instead. Rod Dee is also great, but more of a fast food atmosphere.

I don't hate this kind of request; you have a solid list of what you want to eat and a game plan. Who could ask for more?

[jdubboston]

nearby your Federal St location -
Fresh & inexpensive ($12) lobster rolls at James Hook & Co Lobster (on the Fort Pt Channel right next to the new Intercontinental Hotel). Get one & sit outside at their picnic tables. Basic, but good!
And I'm sure people will have differing opinions, but b/c it's close, I'll have to say Barking Crab for fried clams - it's right across the Northern Ave bridge from James Hook in the Seaport Area. Kind of cheezy, but if you're relaxed and just want some seafood & a beer, it hits the spot. The clams I had there two weeks ago were actually quite good, and big bellied! Not sure if they're from Ipswich, tho.

[Joanie]

Good Thai fairly close to those locations is Montien on Stuart St.
The Cambridge St. mentioned in the roast beef suggestion is a different one than where you'll be. Altho not that far.

[bachslunch]

For the kind of chowder you're looking for, I'd try B & G Oysters in the South End (on Tremont St., closest stop is Back Bay on the Orange Line). They also do an excellent, if expensive, lobster roll.

For roast beef, I'd opt for Kelly's. The one nearest to a T-stop is close by Wellington on the Orange Line. The original is a moderate walk down the Revere Beach strip from Wonderland on the Blue Line, but note that there's no place to eat indoors at that one. They also do a good lobster roll and belly-type fried clams.

The best Thai options would be Dok Bua (a short walk off the Coolidge Corner stop on the Green Line's C Line) and Brown Sugar (near the Babcock Street stop on the Green Line's B Line).

I've heard great things about the chowder and lobster rolls at Neptune Oyster (in the North End, not far from the Haymarket stop on the Green and Orange Lines) but have't tried them. Have greatly enjoyed other things I've gotten there, though.

And if you want a very good lobster roll on the ultra-cheap, Charlie's Kitchen in Harvard Square does two for under $10.00 with fries (Red Line, Harvard). Ask them to toast the rolls if you like them done that way.

[lipoff]

The best roast beef sandwich I have found in Boston is at Skampa in East Cambridge. It's on the corner of Cambridge Street and Fifth Street, not far from the Lechmere T-stop on the Green Line.

The most authentic Thai food is in Brookline at Dok Bua, on Harvard Street, about halfway between the Harvard Ave. stop on the B line (at Commonwealth Avenue) and the Coolidge Corner stop on the C line (at Beacon Street).