Dinner in theater district

[Noank Native]

We're coming to Boston for the weekend, staying on Tremont Street near the theater district--looking for a good place for dinner in that area. Favorite cuisines would be contemporary, seafood or ethnic. Expensive is OK, but we don't want anything pretentious or stuffy. Our main concern is comfort and good food! Any ideas? I've had such good luck with chow hound recommondations in the past--hoping for some good ideas!

[fullbelly]

Pigalle is a great option too, and right in the theater district.

[Noank Native]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Our friends who we are meeting suggested Avila on Charles Street, so we might try that. I'll let you know how it goes.

[b4druid]

Lots of the Theatre crowd head to Icarus...high end foodie place...I like it a lot!

[nasilemak]

Kaze or Penang or Ocean Wealth - all in Chinatown.

[Bostonbob3]

I second Troquet and Teatro. Somewhat expensive, but not stuffy. And Troquet has an amazing wine list. Actually fun to eat at the bar there, if you're at all into that.

Chinatown is a short walk away and filled with unpretentious, delicious places. Just do a search. Right off the top of my head, I'd recommend Potluck Cafe and Peach Farm.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I agree: Chinatown is a five-minute walk down Boylston Street from the heart of the Theater District, and the options there are far superior.

[heWho]

I'll echo Troquet and Teatro. Teatro is Italian, Troquet is French.

Sorry if this strays a bit from the topic, but Bob, what's good at Potluck Cafe. I only ask in interest of the OP of course ;)

[9lives]

Hewho..Here's my flickr set from a Potluck Dinner. As you can see, this is not your standard "run of the mill" Chinatown place. It's Fuzhou style; which I wasn't familiar with. I remember really enjoying the crab, eel, peapods, oyster omelette..and probably a few more that I don't remember and didn't take notes on. The steamed fish was fairly ordinary and similar to most CTown steamed fish preparations I've had and enjoyed.

Bob wil certainly add his own favorites.

http://flickr.com/photos/61246842@N00...

[Bostonbob3]

Actually, I agree with 9lives. I remember really liking the crab a whole lot, and LOVING the eel. The oyster omelette was pretty fab as well. The jellyfish is certainly an acquired taste (at least the way it's done at Potlock), but it was good, too.

I think the trick there is to either have someone who can read Chinese to order off the specials board, or email Limster for suggestions.

[Guinness02122]

Is everybody sure Potluck Cafe is still open? I walked by a few nights ago and it looked like it was out of business.

[Bostonbob3]

Wow, that would suck. I'll take a walk by tonight.

[heWho]

Bob and 9lives, thanks for the tips, this sounds like one of the most adventurous joints in Chinatown. Unfortunately my Chinese-reading partner in Chow-crime moved to the left coast recently... I may have to brave it myself.

I'll also try to take a peak into Potluck Cafe this weekend to see if it's open. What a tease this would be if it's not!

As a note, when I see Potluck I think of an Americanized Chinese joint because of the loud signage outfront proclaiming <$5 lunch specials. It sounds like I couldn't have been more wrong!

As a note to the OP, I inquired about Avila on here a couple of months ago and got mixed reviews, mostly in the "No" column.

[9lives]

stopped in today for a look...they're doing a steam table lunch special thing but the guy told me that dinner is the same as before.

I grabbed a takeout menu and it seems to have lots of the "interesting" items from before..organ meat, etc.

Excellent lunch at Wings..as usual.

[cookiezim]

Silvertone would fit the bill - not fancy but has great food - mac and cheese and steak tips are the best.

[Pegmeister]

Montien for Thai
Intermission Tavern for burgers and hot homemade potato chips
Penang for Malyasian; great shrimp dishes; love the Indian pancake with curry dipping sauce;
Troquet for the wine; the cheese plate; the service
Shabu Zen in Chinatown for the hot pot cooking

[Taralli]

Teatro for Italian at 177 Tremont: http://www.teatroboston.com/frames.html

[vballgal]

i second both montien and teatro...delicious!

[TomH]

Thirds for Montien and I agree with the post below about Penang which is one of my faves.