655016 Fri Sep 25 19:03:28 -0700 2009 10 12 Greater Boston Area 0 5059158 My teen daughter and I will be taking Amtrak NYC-Boston and we have 2 hours for a nice late lunch on a Thursday in early October 3:30-5:30 pm. We're in the Copley Square area and will be walking w/carry-on luggage between the Back Bay station and the Avis car rental on Clarendon Street. This is a do-able walk, yes? I've taken notes on good restaurants like Brasserie Jo when we come back to Boston two days later, but this time I'm looking for a non-chain (unless it's a Boston chain) late lunch between those 2 locations. We're from LA so we'd prefer not Asian or Mexican - maybe Italian or seafood? When in Rome... Thanks so much. Fri Sep 25 19:03:29 -0700 2009 79573 mocro 1 5059926 Back Bay Station and Avis on Clarendon are adjacent. Try Skipjacks, on Clarendon, for fish (small local chain): Legal Seafood (Copley Place) for wonderful fish (larger local chain); B&G Oysters (Tremont St at Clarendon - 10 minute walk, superb seafood ); Picco, on Tremont at Berkeley (12 minutes) sandwiches, salads, pizza and calzones, home made ice cream; Coda, Columbus at Dartmouth, cozy upscale spot with light food and attractrive bar. Boylston Street between Exeter and Fairfield Streets has a row of good patio restaurants. The hamburger at Abe and Louie's is excellent. All these places are suitable for teens and serve lunches late. Sat Sep 26 09:17:30 -0700 2009 5059158 1112098 jlou 2 5060205 Thanks so much - these sound perfect. Sat Sep 26 12:07:01 -0700 2009 5059926 79573 mocro 1 5061307 Here's a Mapquest link that will help you see where you're going. All those reccos are excellent. but some will have you walking in the opposite direction from Back Bay to Avis. Not a very long walk for any, but if it's raining or your luggage is heavy... Back Bay station runs between Dartmouth and Clarendon right about where the Mass Pike crosses those streets. So Skipjack's (between Boylston and Stuart on Clarendon) would probably be the closest. I used to work in the building, it's very popular. Maybe think about phoning Avis and asking if you can leave your bags there with supervision for an hour while you eat? http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Avis+Rent+A+Car&city=Boston&state=MA&address=100+Clarendon+St&zipcode=02116&country=US&latitude=42.347669&longitude=-71.073764&geocode=ADDRESS&id=21043659 Sun Sep 27 05:02:40 -0700 2009 5059158 14254 pasuga 2 5062049 That's a brilliant idea to leave our bags at Avis. We'll be doing light carry-on luggage w/walking in mind so hopefully we won't be too loaded down, but that's very smart. Skipjacks has gotten pretty lukewarm reviews on this board. Do you agree? I just booked a hotel on Priceline for the weekend when we return to Boston hitting the "Copley Square - Theatre District" button and got a Courtyard Marriott but unfortunately not the Copley Square one - the one on Tremont. Do you think that's a walk from Avis, better a cab, or maybe we can take the Green Line to the Tremont (I think) stop? Thanks so much. Sun Sep 27 12:26:46 -0700 2009 5061307 79573 mocro 3 5064494 The Marriott on Tremont is right next to the NEMC orange line T stop, which is just one stop inbound from Back Bay. It is also only about 15 minute walk. Mon Sep 28 12:13:18 -0700 2009 5062049 1108572 greenzebra 3 5068194 I haven't eaten at Skipjack's for about two years. When I worked in the building it was a very popular lunch destination and I always thought the food and service were very good. (If we're rating seafood in Boston, for me Neptune Oyster gets A++, (unbelievably great), Skipjack's a very solid B+ i.e. happy to eat there anytime.) With the downturn in the economy it may have gone downhill, so paying attention to folks who've been there more recently is a good idea, I don't want to lead you wrong. I checked their website and they switch to their dinner menu at 3:30, so you'd probably wind up paying more than you wanted in any case. You said you weren't interested in recs for Asian, but since your hotel is right on the outskirts of Boston's Chinatown, maybe think about just checking in and heading for Peach Farm? I've never eaten there but they get consistently glowing reviews for their seafood on this board. If you get into town closer to your 5:30 TOA, I'd get on the orange line at Back Bay, check into your hotel, take the orange line just a little further to the Haymarket stop and treat yourself to dinner at Neptune Oyster - about a two-minute walk. The earlier you get there the better - place is tiny and they don't take reservations, but it's worth the wait. Tue Sep 29 19:05:14 -0700 2009 5062049 14254 pasuga 1 5064722 I park my car every day n the parking lot where the Avis is and the office is tiny, but maybe they have a back room. I would imagine there might also be security issues with leaving bags (in a location basically on top of an train station), but it's worth a try. BTW, you can walk inside from Avis through the first floor of the garage to the train station, so don't worry about weather. It's all one big building. I would personally avoid Skipjacks at all costs. IMO it's bad and has gotten worse even. It's permanently off our list. Coda is one of my favorites and isn't much farther than Skipjacks. They serve good fish. The walk is definitely do-able even with luggage. One of the closest places to the Avis is brand new, called Post 360. It's opening Friday, I think. Owned by the folks who own Grill 23 and Harvest (both good places) http://www.post390restaurant.com/ 33 is only steps away, but I haven't been there for a while and wasn't impressed when I was. Mon Sep 28 13:25:09 -0700 2009 5059158 43893 C. Hamster 1 5065400 The Parrish Cafe on Boylston between Arlington and Berkley. It's a great place where each dish is created by one of the top chefs in Boston. It is noted on the menu which which chef created each dish. There is everything from wonderful very creative sandwiches and salads to a few entrees. It's about 1 1/2 blocks from Back Bay Station. Mon Sep 28 18:06:05 -0700 2009 5059158 66655 catsmeow 2 5067263 The Parrish is also a good choice but is 4 1/2 blocks from Avis and 5 1/2 from back bay which might be too much with luggage if you can't stash it. If you are willing to do the 5 1/2, B&G Oyster might be up your alley. Tue Sep 29 11:42:55 -0700 2009 5065400 43893 C. Hamster 3 5068436 I'm coming back to the neighborhood for 2 nights after we go to Worcester so I'm taking all your suggestions for meals during that time. Thanks so much for everyone's help. Tue Sep 29 20:59:51 -0700 2009 5067263 79573 mocro