sister in town from NC/my birthday

[chow heel]

I know the birthday dinner topic has been done and someone will probably tell me to do a search, but I have and I haven't come up with anything yet. I tried to get a reservation at Myers & Chang and at Coppa and couldn't get either. The dinner will be for 6 people, including my sister who will be in town. Since she is in town, my search is a little different. I want it to be something very different than what she can get at home (north carolina) and preferably somewhere I haven't been yet (pretty easy because I haven't dined around a whole lot). I thought Coppa would be perfect, but I don't want to take chances on a long wait when I'm with other people.

Any suggestions? I'm looking to keep it in a reasonable price range for my friends, and I'd rather keep it towards the city or cambridge

Thanks

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Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[Madrid]

As someone who just returned from a trip to my family in Raleigh NC,I 'm craving Oleana in Cambridge myself. Probably hard to get a reservation for Sat. at this point, but might be worth trying if the menu appeals and you are willing to go on the early side. Depending on where she lives, it's hard for me to say what she can't get in NC....if she lives in theTriangle, she has access to lots...Toro for lunch or brunch sounds great to me, also Orinoco, both in the south end and Brookline, for unusual and good Venezuelan. Does she want noisy/a scene or on the quiet side, conversation/food focus?

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Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[chow heel]

I think the birthday dinner is set for Gran Gusto because it will work well with our night plans. However, for the rest of her stay I'd like to bring her to the more hip/eclectic places. Her boyfriend is coming too and he wants to see what the "Brooklyn" of Boston is. I'm guessing by this he means the up-and-coming trendy/hip places or areas. When I ask people this question they've usually steered me towards the South End.

She lives in Greensboro, and our family is in Charlotte so she's there a lot too.

Any good bar recs for what they're looking for? We're in the 24-26 age range. The worst bar in Boston I've been to is Greatest Bar. I'm looking for good drinks/beer and good music.

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Gran Gusto
90 Sherman St, Cambridge, MA 02140

[emannths]

"The worst bar in Boston I've been to is Greatest Bar."

Rofl.

[justbeingpolite]

The Beehive?, (suggests the old guy who never goes to bars)

[justbeingpolite]

The Beehive? (suggests the old guy who never goes to bars)

[Bob Dobalina]

Ok, first things first - if you're in the 24-26 range, I think you might be a little ... underwhelmed by Gran Gusto. You should go instead to Posto - much more with your demographic. Or go to Vinny's at Night - nothing like that in the N.C.

I hereby revoke my Gran Gusto recommendation - you have to be engaged or married or have kids and be over 30 to ride that ride...

South End is not the Brooklyn of Boston.

First, in order to qualify, you have to cross a river from the main part of the city. So I am thinking Cambridge is the Brooklyn, Somerville is the Queens, is there a Bronx? Allston maybe? :) Wait, does that make Eastie the Staten Island? How come no one ever wants to visit the Staten Island of Boston?

Fun bar for you? Stick with Cambridge, the Brooklyn of Boston - The places in Central, River Gods, Cantab, Miracle of Science, Middlesex Lounge, over to Inman for the Druid, Thirsty Scholar, Ryles for dancing, Lord Hobo for brews, Mead Hall?

[chow heel]

For the dinner I care more about the quality of the food. Is Posto better than Gran Gusto?

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Gran Gusto
90 Sherman St, Cambridge, MA 02140

[Bob Dobalina]

They're both very good, but apples and oranges. I just think your guests will enjoy Posto better - it suits a younger crowd better.

[Madrid]

I agree about Posto....also while I agree that Cambridge may well be the "Brooklyn of Boston", the South End may well feel and be experienced as a lot more like Brooklyn itself.

[hckybg]

100% agree, the South End is not the Brooklyn of Boston. The South End is perhaps the Upper West Side of Boston, but if you want an alternative vibe, tats and beards, hipster bartenders, fixed gear bikes, funky restaurants, off-the-wall shops, and bold chefs cooking at an affordable price point, you go to Cambridge/Somerville, especially the band from Central Square up to Union Square. Some great bars in that area include those Bob suggested as well as Trina's Starlite Lounge for crafty cocktails, Bukowski for a long beer list, and the Independent. Restaurants I'd recommend include the aforementioned East by Northeast, Journeyman, Bondir, City Girl Cafe, All-Star Sandwich Bar, and East Coast Grill. Perhaps the South End gives you the most Park Slope like experience in Boston, but it sounds like the boyfriend wants Williamsburg/Greenpoint, not yuppies and strollers.

[Bob Dobalina]

Thanks for mentioning Trina's. It's a good, fun place.

[czarp]

Cuchi Cuchi!

www.cuchicuchi.cc

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Cuchi Cuchi
795 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139

[Bob Dobalina]

Although not that great from a chowish perspective, along the lines of pan-Asian and seating for 6 on short notice on a Saturday night, you might also check out Red Lantern. As others have remarked here, it's a bit pricey for what you get, but it is a pretty large place so may be able to accommodate you in a pinch. And the food was decent and the atmosphere pretty lively.

[teezeetoo]

I'd add Toro for consideration. More like Coppa and definitely not North Carolina.

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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[chow heel]

How are Coppa and Toro for Brunch? I'm thinking of doing brunch there the following day, is it just as hard to get a table as it is for dinner?

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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[hckybg]

Did you try Island Creek Oyster Bar? How soon is the dinner? They are often full, but it's worth a try. Or East by Northeast, which is also modern Asian but in my opinion better than Myers + Chang. Or try Bondir, which is fantastic but a bit more intimate.

[chow heel]

the dinner is this saturday, I love Island Creek but I kind of assumed they'd be too busy on a Saturday night. I was thinking Russell House because it's pretty big. Would you say Russell House or East by Northeast?

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East by Northeast
1128 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

[hckybg]

I think East by Northeast is much better than Russell House Tavern. The chef is relentlessly creative and the combinations are really novel in Boston--locavore ingredients, traditional Asian influence, but very modern interpretations. It and Bondir are my two favorite restaurants right now. That said, RHT has a much bigger space, more choice at the bar, and a broader menu. East by Northeast is a small and very personal place, not particularly boisterous but not reverential either. If you want food and drink in abundance, RHT might be more your speed. RHT isn't like ICOB, but it is more like ICOB than East by Northeast. I find their food generally good, sometimes very good, especially the crispy fried poached egg.

It might be worth giving Island Creek a call if that's one you are interested in, or Eastern Standard is another good choice. It's kind of an odd weekend, now that we are into fall and there are fewer big events in town.

[Bob Dobalina]

Not going to get into Bondir this Saturday for a table of six. It will be booked.
Along the lines of Coppa, what about Gran Gusto?

[justbeingpolite]

I'd add the East Coast Grill into the mix. Not something you'd get in NC, even though it's BBQ/grill. It's seafood focus makes it much more Bostony in it's feel.
If you're trying to find a res you could also try TW Food, Ten Tables or Rendezvous, just to give more options, though the previous recs are all great as well.

[chow heel]

I love East Coast Grill, but I decided to go with something I haven't tried. That may be a good place for another night just with my sister.

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East Coast Restaurant
1456 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02122

[chow heel]

in a panic I'm choosing Gran Gusto! ICOB didn't have any open reservations, and I think it'll be the easiest. I do want to try east by northeast soon, but I think I'll go without a group.

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Gran Gusto
90 Sherman St, Cambridge, MA 02140

[Bob Dobalina]

Try the black truffle pizza, if you are into truffles, assuming they still have them. $28 but worth it, if you like the black nuggets of umami.

[chow heel]

thanks for the rec!

[justbeingpolite]

Did you try calling ICOB, sometime you'll do better over the phone than on Open Table.

[chow heel]

yes, I called and they only had a 2 seater open before 10:30. They said they take walk-ins too, and I'm pretty patient with wait times but I don't like making other people wait. I may go there on a week night

[Berheenia]

Try the sister restaurant Lineage in Brookline - it's only a few T stops from Kenmore and there is usually street parking.They have a terrific host/ess manager who might have a table in the bar or even a rez or cancellation - call her this afternoon.

[hckybg]

Happy birthday! Have fun. You won't be too far to come into Harvard Square for an after-dinner drink at Russell House Tavern.

[LeoLioness]

I think the food at Gran Gusto is terrific, but the room....not its strong suit. Between the cheesy murals and the space itself being tucked into an office park, it can feel kind of suburban. Just something to keep in mind if you were looking to show your sister something more hip.

If you were looking for something with a little more atmosphere, maybe Posto in Davis Square?

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Gran Gusto
90 Sherman St, Cambridge, MA 02140

[Bob Dobalina]

I was thinking Posto too, for that reason, although "office park" is a bit off - it is a building with offices, but it's in Huron Village, so not like the office parks in Braintree for example.

[rknrll]

Bergamot.

[chow heel]

this is on my list of places to go, but more likely on a night where I can sit at the bar with a friend and not a group