Lunch on Beacon Hill

[Elyssa]

Going to be taking an out-of-towner (my boyfriend) around Boston on Sat before a Sox game. We are going to be around the State House and Beacon Hill and I'm looking for a good lunch spot we can stop off in. Nothing too fancy (we'll be in casual clothes) or expensive.

Maybe good sandwiches and salads...that type of thing. Certainly not expensive--no more then $10-$15/person.

[limster]

I like Venice for subs e.g. meatball, chicken parm and calzones.

Pretty good mexican at Villa Mexico, but it's mostly takeout from a gas-station.

Artu for lamb or porchetta sandwich.

The cafeteria at Mass Eye and Ear (7th floor) has surprisingly decent food and a stunning view of the river.

Get some chocolates at Beacon Hill Chocolates for dessert. They're very good even if not the best of their kind.

[Dr.Jimbob]

I lived in Beacon Hill for a little more than 7 years. My default place for lunch or any other meal when I didn't feel like cooking was Panificio on Charles Street. Very, very good sandwiches and salads, not hideously expensive, and a wonderfully laid back atmosphere (always the place that we felt most like an extension of our living rooms, though that might be a self-engendering process). http://www.panificioboston.com/

The Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro is quite good but a little pricier. The Paramount has a brunch menu and a sit down dinner menu. The brunch menu is quite cheap, but to my mind not as diverse or creative as a number of other places including Panificio, the dinner menu is excellent but again might start creeping out of your price range. The roast lamb panini at Artu is wonderful and was another standby for years. Scollay Square struck me as sort of anonymous big Continental Restaurant style and not a place I'd hit as a destination (though it is conveniently between the State House and the Park Street T stop, more or less). And I suppose there's always Whole Foods on Cambridge Street.

[Elyssa]

Thanks all for the suggestions! This gives me a lot of options to do some research on.

[AnnieP]

I have some experience, as I work in the area. I had lunch at Scollay Square about six months ago with a group of colleagues; everyone liked what they had (sandwiches and entree salads, definitely in your price range), I would also suggest checking out Kinsale, as they have a decent lunch menu. I believe the website is classicirish.com. (Scollay Square's menu is on-line as well).Kinsale is right across from the Govt. Center T stop, and has outdoor seating if that interests you. Artu is small inside, but very good; I know people like Phoenicia, on Cambridge St. for Middle Eastern, and The Hill really has decent lunches for a place that just looks like a bar. Of course, my current favorite is a burrito at the gas station, but no place to sit, I've heard good things about Panificio on Charles, but I haven't been.

[takeoutgirl]

Harvard Gardens now has Kobe beef burgers and the Hill Tavern uses Savenors meat in their burgers. Both are excellent. Hill also has yummy sweet potato fries and their burgers come with a choice of salad or fries. Both are casual, neighborhood places to eat. Hill is less expensive than Harvard Gardens.

[chezchristine]

I love the sliders and nachos at the 21st Amendment, around the corner from the State House. Definitely casual and most things I've gotten are delicious.

[Niblet]

Artu is a great suggestion, love the sandwiches there.

I've been to Scollay Square for dinner, never lunch, and never had a sandwich there so I can't help with that one.

The Hill on Cambridge St has a nice chicken sandwich on foccaccia with rosemary mayo. I've heard they do a nice burger too. Or a little further down is Harvard Gardens with decent food and good truffle fries.

[hotoynoodle]

not sandwiches, but lala rokh does a nice lunch with unusual (for boston) food. beacon hill bistro would work too.

anybody know anything about scollay square?

[wontonton]

The Paramount on Charles St. has good sandwiches and salads and is in that price range. The only thing it is, you order cafeteria style and it can get crowded between 11-2pm. Also, Artu, up the street is on the cheaper side for Italian and also does good sandwiches.