dinner at/near Back Bay hotel -- Stanhope or Vlora?

[parkslopemama]

Hello boston hounds,

It's been too many years since I lived in Boston, but I'm going back to visit old college friends next weekend. Want to have dinner close to the Back Bay Hotel for various reasons. Does anyone recommend (or recommend avoiding) the Stanhope Grille or Vlora? Or any other ideas? Thanks in advance!

Stephanie
(a.k.a. parklsopemama in Brooklyn, NY)

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Vlora
545 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

[CarolinaGirl06]

I went to the Stanhope Grille a few weeks ago and heartily recommend avoiding it. It's not that the food was out-and-out bad -- though you can do far better for the price -- or that the service was poor. It's just one thing to have an underachieving meal in a place that's lively and hopping and completely something else to do that in a mostly empty restaurant. It was a little depressing.

[C. Hamster]

Vlora's food is meh and the service has been poor. Same for my experiences at Post 360. Their crowded bar is fun, though.

Never been to Stanhope.

I'd suggest Davios.

Grill 23 is great; so is Via Matta. Avila is pretty good, too.

All right by the hotel.

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Vlora
545 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Grill 23 & Bar
161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116

Via Matta
79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116

Davio's
75 Arlington St Ste Lbby, Boston, MA 02116

[BBHound]

Second C.Hamster's suggesions. Also nearly by are Da Vinci, Erbaluce and Bistro du Midi.
And if you can walk four-five blocks or so, restauarnt row in the South End has several good places including Hamersleys, Aquitaine, etc.

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Hamersley's Bistro
553 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

Da Vinci Ristorante
162 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

Bistro du Midi
272 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

[9lives]

I love the food at Grill 23 but I can't mention it without saying the downstairs is LOUD. Upstairs may be quieter but I've never eaten there. I think it's a great place to go with someone you don't want to talk too much with..:) or celebrate where everyone will be speaking loudly.

Erbaluce is a true gem. and you'll never go wrong with Hamersley's. I like the mushroom sandwich app (made it at home last night) and the roast chicken.

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Grill 23 & Bar
161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116

Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

[hotoynoodle]

will pile on for erbaluce and hammersley's. both chef-owned and run, with them being in the kitchen most nights. both are wonderful. via matta can be good, but erbaluce is truly wonderful.

steakhouse is a steakhouse and none too different as far as what's the plate, ya know? davios's is basically a tuscan steakhouse, but with excellent gnocchi and a killah chicken livers app.