492780 Sun Feb 24 09:47:32 -0800 2008 5 12 Boston Area 0 3429603 In this thread (http://www.chowhound.com/topics/492414) I asked for last minute anniversary advice. We ended up at Dante's restaurant (in the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridgeside) and had a fabulous dinner. I didn't tell them in advance that it was our anniversary, but dropped that fact as we arrived, and they proceeded to wine and dine us (doesn't hurt to have a mid-winter reservation at a business hotel's restaurant). They comped us a glass of champagne, a glass of premium sake, a mid-course potato fritter, and a warm chocolate cake with ice cream on the side (with "happy anniversary" written in chocolate). And, because they had forgotten to bring our side of pattatine (basically gourmet french fries), they comped us those when they brought them (only about 10 minutes late). And the dinner itself was phenomenal -- pillow ravioli with vanilla parsnip stuffing and scallops on the side (app), antipasto misto app (thanks ssqwerty), gnocchi entree, niman ranch pork tenderloin special entree, and the budino de polenta (a creme brulee made with polenta) and the fried dough as dessert. We didn't buy any alcohol, and it was a very reasonable $100 before tax and tip (which I made stratospheric). All of the food was delicious, and we left feeling very comfortably full. The service was impeccable (from Chad/Chas/Chester can't remember), and the manager, Seth Y., was also incredibly attentive and nice. We will certainly go back and will definitely recommend it... Thanks to all who responded to my request for advice! (I can also highly recommend the Kimpton Hotel, the Hotel Marlowe, across the street from Dante's -- we stayed overnight there through a cheap package deal on their website ($110), and they comped us a bottle of wine and some gourmet chocolates because they knew it was our anniversary, also upgraded us to a room with a view... Room was very nice. Again, helps to be mid-winter on a weekend at a business hotel!) Sun Feb 24 09:47:32 -0800 2008 136247 juanbatlle 1 3430607 I have had consistently great experiences at dante --always excellent service too. I absolutely crave that fried dough dessert, although I liked it better the way they used to serve it (a big pile of those crispy, creamy dough balls with varied dipping sauces) --our waiter last time we were there said the chef decided to change it to a more authentic style & added the ice cream in the middle... Sun Feb 24 16:15:33 -0800 2008 3429603 66445 saridt 2 3433248 I'm so glad this worked out for you! it's a beautiful restaurant, so I'm glad they made it so special. Mon Feb 25 12:50:34 -0800 2008 3430607 145206 SSqwerty 2 3433281 Do you mean they put ice-cream in the middle of the dough ball or in place of the sauce? I was there for a corporate dinner in late January and we ordered that for dessert. They came as you described, about 5-6 fried dough balls with 4 dipping sauces. I think those were the highlight of our meal. Mon Feb 25 12:58:21 -0800 2008 3430607 13028 kobuta 3 3433588 Yeah now you only get like three dough balls, & they are served almost like cream puffs with the ice cream in the middle; you still get the yummy dipping sauces, although the chocolate is all I need! Mon Feb 25 14:01:43 -0800 2008 3433281 66445 saridt 4 3433817 We got 4 dough balls, no ice cream, with four dipping sauces (chocolate, caramel, raspberry, vanilla). You must have had the experimental fried ice cream balls! Sound delicious! Mon Feb 25 14:55:54 -0800 2008 3433588 136247 juanbatlle