one cold night at the Copley Plaza

[coffeebrownies]

CH from LA with thin blood is spending a couple nights in town and looking for a delightful, not too heavy meal close enough to the hotel or transportation that it won't freeze my woefully under-insulated toes. Love radical, guerrilla food establishments that break the rules (think Green Goddess in NOLA, or Le Pigeon in Portland Oregon. ) Would prefer something that is only-in Boston, rather than generic, you could find it anywhere Continental. Thoughts, foodies?

[coffeebrownies]

Thank you for all the great suggestions. Regretably, the weather was pretty drippy, one of the group was too hungry to chance a place that didn't take reservations, since he hadn't eaten all day , and we ended up at Turner Fisheries. We ate a lot of appetizers and had a fine time (not a dazzling gourmet experience) although the drinks were a little on the chintzy side. Next time, we will explore!

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Turner Fisheries Bar
10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

[ecwashere7]

love Erbaluce. Love Toro (no reservations but worth a wait). LOVE Craigie on Main.

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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Craigie on Main
853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

[gramercyfoodie]

Neptune is probably the right answer, but location from hotel and lack of reservations would be things to consider. I'd go with Island Creek Oyster bar. It is not far out but the seafood is prob the best in Boston (and they take reservations + easy to get to from the hotel)...

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Island Creek Oyster Bar
500 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

[Madrid]

Oleana, in Cambridge. Look at the menu...it will work for you, or it won't.

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Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[stomachofsteel]

I think ICOB and Oleana are both great suggestions.

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Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[bgavin]

Oleana is great, but a definite cab ride...not even the T will work for this trip.

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Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[PinchOfSalt]

There are two buses (71 and 73) that stop about a block away from Oleana. They both run very frequently. Getting there from Copley is a matter of Green Line to Park Street, Red Line to Harvard Square, either bus to Oleana. I get the sense that coffeebrownies may already have come and gone, however.

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Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[stomachofsteel]

The 71 and 73 run from Harvard Square to Watertown Square and Waverly Square, Belmont, respectively. I rode them frequently in high school -- they definitely do not go anywhere near Oleana.

They do stop near Sofra, another Ana Sortun place, but that is an entirely different kind of place (and I would not recommend the OP bother trekking there from Copley, as much as I enjoy it).

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Sofra
1 Belmont St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[PinchOfSalt]

Oops! You are absolutely right. I blew it. My apologies to any whom I may have misinformed.

[cambridgedoctpr]

eating at a popular place that does not take reservations such as Neptune, Toro, or Coppa would mean taking a chance on waiting though not necessarily freezing. Friday and Saturday nights will be particularly difficult. There are plenty of places that take reservations; what about Craigie on Main in Cambridge?

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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Craigie on Main
853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[C. Hamster]

Neptune.

[coffeebrownies]

There are now 4 of us and we can't get out until around 8 or so--do you think that, considering it is a cold Tuesday night, we will be able to get into Neptune Oysters without a long wait?

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Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113

[pemma]

I think you would still be taking your chances with Neptune. I was there the Monday after the New Year's weekend blizzard when the city was very quiet and cold and a mess with snow. They opened late at 5PM and were literally filled in 10 minutes. But, I do believe they will take your cell and call you when a table is opening up. So, you could go somewhere else and have a drink.

[misscucina]

I agree: if it's a choice between Neptune Oyster and Erbaluce, absolutely go for N.O. I was there twice this week and I could eat there virtually every night if my wallet would allow.

OTOH, I tried Erbaluce last night and was incredibly underwhelmed. Not horrible, but nothing special and will probably not go back.

Of the spots I've eaten in the last month (Prezza, Neptune, Bergamot and Erbaluce), I'd say Erbaluce was a distinct 4th and my common dining companions agreed.

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Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113

Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

[teezeetoo]

i'd cab ride it (short distance) to Orinoco and have some fine venezuelan food in a friendly environment. (You could walk but it's a bit far). Closer, I'd try some distinctive mostly-Northern Italian food at Erbaluce. Neither of these are cookie-cutter restaurants. You can take the train down to Haymarket station and go to Neptune Oysters as another very Boston, very uncookie-cutter place.

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Neptune Oyster
63 Salem St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02113

Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

[bgavin]

+1 for Erbaluce and only about 6-7 blocks.

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Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116