fave weekday breakfast places for taking out-of-town visitors?

[marchviolet]

Ahoy, Boston Chowhounders! Would love to pick your brains and get your ever-helpful recs on something:

I have a couple of friends who are making a long international journey that has them changing planes at Logan this Thursday morning, thus giving them a roughly 5-hour layover. They'll be bleary eyed (having flown from the west coast already) and presumably hungry, and neither of them have been to Boston before. They get in around 7:00 a.m. and have to be back at the airport shortly after 12 noon.

The hubby and I have agreed to swing by and pick them up and........... then what? (:-/ We honestly are complete newbie tourists when it comes to Boston ourselves, even though we live relatively close by in NH (we haven't lived here that long and have only been to Boston a few times, none of those during the breakfast timeslot). I'd like to find someplace that can be a nice slice of Boston culture for the out-of-towners, someplace that locals love and ideally is also close to some of the typical 'sights' that one would want to take first-time visitors to the city.

So, what say you Bostonians? :) If you were entertaining visitors for just 5 hours on a weekday morning -- where would YOU take them?

Thanks so much in advance!

[marchviolet]

You guys have been terrific, and I'm currently looking into all of these (checking out their websites, online reviews, etc.) Gotta wrap up my research soon so I can get up at a ridiculous hour in the a.m. in order to be there in time to these guys up at Logan but will report back in as to where we ended up! :) THANKS everyone!

[bear]

You have some great suggestions so far.

If you don't want to go quite as upscale as the Four Seasons or the Bristol, Brasserie Jo in the Colonnade does a nice breakfast and service is quite good.

For more casual but still nice, Caffe Nuovo in the North End is convenient and offers some tasty Italian-American items like good spaghetti carbonara, polenta and eggs and Italian sausages with broccoli rabe. If the weather is nice you could walk around the North End and get cannoli for dessert.

The Beacon Hill Bistro on Charles St. is also very good, although I wish their menu was a bit broader. Charles St. is a beautiful spot to walk on a nice day.

-----
Beacon Hill Bistro
25 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

Four Seasons Restaurant
249 Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01604

Brasserie Jo
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

Caffe Nuovo
76 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

[czarp]

If you really want to kick it up a notch, go to the Colonade and get pool passes -- I think they are $40 per person. Your friends can then SHOWER (ahhh!), take a dip in the pool, and have breakfast at Brasserie Jo.

A cheaper version of this: get a couple of baguettes, cheese, jam, fruit etc. Add a thermos of coffee and head out to Walden Pond for a brisk dip and a picnic breakfast.

-----
Brasserie Jo
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

[libertywharf]

The Paramount would be a good choice. I think there is only parking at the esplanade when an event is going on.

[marchviolet]

So far so GREAT, guys! I'm going to consider and look into all the recommendations thus far, as they've all sounded terrific. Keep 'em comin'! :)

[teezeetoo]

Anthony's on the Waterfront. Walk through the North End afterward, pick up some pastry for the plane at Marias or the Modern. Good solid food, nice location, decent price. Hellish parking, of course. It is on Commercial Street, and you can take the blue line from and to airport (aquarium stop).

[CocoDan]

Best breakfast on a paper plate w/plastic utensils. Food is very good, but a tad rustic, unless these travelers are backpacking it.

I'd stick with the Four Seasons. It's a nice tour getting there, and you'll see more than parked cars from the dining room.
Enjoy,
CocoDan

-----
Four Seasons Restaurant
249 Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01604

[bella_sarda]

The Paramount in Beacon Hill (Charles St.) is great for weekday breakfast, and they can walk around Beacon Hill and the Common afterwards. I have no clue about parking since I don't have a car, but I assume there are some public lots nearby. The place is very casual and serves very tasty, abundant breakfasts. You stand in line to order and then grab a table when you get your food. Weekdays it is manageable in terms of getting a table and not having too long of a wait.

[Northender]

Although I am a Charlie's devotee, Paramount is also a good choice and there is parking in the Boston Common Underground Garage which is a short walk from Paramount.

[ebaba]

Another vote for the Paramount -- it's a Beacon Hill institution and the location is perfect, for parking, the Esplanade (along the river), the Common and the Garden, etc. Not to mention Beacon Hill itself.
If however you'd rather have breakfast served to you I'd pop across the street to the Beacon Hill Bistro (in the small boutique hotel) -- it's a very nice room and a very tasty breakfast.

-----
Beacon Hill Bistro
25 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

Paramount
44 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

[libertywharf]

If you are going to sell the view of the bristol, please explain that there is limited seating by the windows. That the Bristol is on the first floor, so the only actual view would be of the cars parked along boylston and some trees.

[Blumie]

The view still is pretty nice. One can also take a lovely post-breakfast stroll in the park. If I were entertaining first time visitors to Boston who had limited time to see the city, it's hard to think of a better place to take them than the Public Gardens.

[LeoLioness]

Agreed. After a redeye flight, I'm sure the OPs's guests will be more interested in a calm, comfortable place than a view anyway.

[libertywharf]

I think you need to consider parking and traffic. Parking on Columbus ave will be tough and the four seasons expensive, minimum $20.00. For easy and free parking, take them to the dry dock cafe on dry dock avenue. It is five minutes once you exit the Ted Williams, it is near the cruise terminal.

[Blumie]

For a high end (read: expensive) breakfast, take them to the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons. It's a beautiful room overlooking the park -- one of Boston's best views -- and a very relaxing setting, perfect after a long international flight.

[CocoDan]

I second the Bristol. They do breakfast very well. And you're right, a great view.
Enjoy,
CocoDan

[Northender]

Charlie's Sandwich Shop on Columbus Avenue is a great spot for a weekday breakfast. Eggs/omelets cooked in a pan not on a grill and great blueberry pancakes. Old style waitresses too. Communal dining at some tables but great breakfasts family owned and run.

[David Kahn]

Agree enthusiastically. Charlie's is superb, with wonderful food, great atmosphere, and a friggin' James Beard award!