Another where to eat

[Transplant_DK]

I've read through 100's of posts and super confused!

I'm attending a conference in the Bay Back area in August--a few days/nights it will just be the hubster and myself or maybe a few colleagues, so any suggestions there would be welcome. We're then heading to the Cape for a few days to spend with family that's traveling from distant places around the world, and so I'm gathering info on great places there as well. On our last night, the family will be together for 1 lunch, 1 dinner, and 1 breakfast before we all go our separate ways again. I'd especially like to find something wonderful for dinner, as I fear this may be our last trip all together.

Price isn't really an issue, and one member of the family is a chef that loves creative stuff, but I'd prefer not to go anywhere too stuffy.

None of us have been to Boston or surrounding areas before and except for an elderly mother that doesn't understand the concept of raw fish, we enjoy just about anything--especially if it feels local...

Thanks!

[BrettLove]

Could you perhaps clarify which meals/where you'll need recommendations for? It sounds as if your "last day"/3 meals together will be on the Cape. If that's the case, you may need to be more specific, as "The Cape" covers a lot of ground (I'm hardly the "Cape expert", but I believe you can keep driving for a good hour, even after you've made it "to the Cape"). Cheers!

[Transplant_DK]

OOps, guess that wasn't very clear. I'll be in Boston for work for the first 4 days, and am up for some suggestions for those nights when it's just my better half and maybe a tag along from the conference. Afterwards, I'm meeting my family in West Yarmouth (will have a car), but I've been able to make a lot of notes from fairly recent posts on the Southern NE board. Still, any input is appreciated here as well!

But the most important part for me and the one I'm having the biggest problem with is our very last day in the country, which will be in Boston again. It's the only night the whole family (5 people) are in Boston, and I want it to be perfect. I'm looking for lunch, dinner, and breakfast ideas, dinner someplace fantastic being the big wish.

[BrettLove]

Where are you [coming] from? What are some of your favorite restaurants? I'll apologize in advance that my current "Boston dining resumé" pales beside most on this board, but am trying to get some of the things I'm pretty sure the "real players" here will ask, out of the way for you in advance. If nobody else weighs in (although I'm all but sure that many others will), I'll offer up my proverbial "2 cents worth" (maybe 7 or 8 these days, adjusted for inflation). Most of my recent "fantastic" has been in NYC.

[Transplant_DK]

I'm originally from Louisiana, but have lived in Denmark for 14 years with my Danish husband. The other members of my family that will be joining us are coming from DC and Florida.

Not sure I could even think of a name of a favorite restaurant anymore! Will have to think about that!

[opinionatedchef]

dk, welcome in advance! where are you staying in boston?

From what raves these spots get consistently on CH, I would steer your last family dinner to Island Creek Oyster Bar or Craigie on Main, and urge you to have another (non-family) dinner in the one you didn't choose. If you do a Chowhound search for them, you will find MANY threads on them. Personally, I love Isl. Creek for its consistently excellent food and for the special treatment from their staff that most everyone talks about. And the handsome room, while large, still lets you have intimate conversation.

If your brkfst or lunch is on a Sunday, i would highly recommend the brunch at East Coast Grill in Camb. Terrific lively atmosphere and great food. In Boston, South End Buttery, Aquitaine, and Mistral (from lesser to more expensive).

For your family lunch, I think the famous Regina's Pizzeria in the North End (our most praised pizza) would give your family a really memorable experience. Lively, fun, original 50's decor and saltoftheearth waitresses! And you could walk around the North End and the harbor afterward.

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Dinner Spots that I would recommend :

Oleana- Cambridge; really unusual Turkish/Mediterranean menu; farm-to-table;charming patio

Erbaluce- unusual inventive No.Italian

Craigie on Main- famous for creativity and offal but also seafood

OYa- v.v.expensive Japanese American inventive

Neptune Oyster- crowded tiny always a line (no reservations), top quality inventive seafood along w/ trad.

Island Creek Oyster Bar- the BEST service, large room but intimate, more trad but some inventive

Deuxave: elegant, inventive

Menton: v v expensive french influenced, impeccable service

Troquet: French, known for 'best wine list in city'

'Bistro' like dinner recs:

Strip T's (in a 'suburb', 10 min cab from harvard square) for serious foodies; Momofuku chef; great inventive Asian inspired but also best fried chicken and burger in Boston (imo!)
EVOO, Cambr.
Rendezvous, Camb.
Grotto
Aquitaine

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Hope this is helpful as well:

Guide to Boston by Areas and Restaurants:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781155

[Transplant_DK]

Wow, thanks!

The first 4 nights we're staying in Hilton Back Bay for a conference. I have to find us a hotel for our last night. During the interim in West Yarmouth, we're renting a house.

Will definitely look into your brunch suggestion, as that would be perfect before heading to the airport. I'd already put ICOB and Craigie at the top of my list, so thanks for confirming those. I think my son would love Strip T's, so we may try that the one night we are alone with him.

We travel Europe quite a bit, so I'm looking for more Boston local cuisine and would rather not go Italian, French, Mediterranean if possible, at least for the 1 family dinner. I will hang on to those recs though--some of which sound really great!

[BrettLove]

Second E. Coast Grill for brunch... Not exactly "on the way" to the airport, but not terribly out of it, either.
Personally, I think it's rather ambitious to try Strip T's without a car (for a non-local, commuting from the Back Bay; I'm sure others will disagree, but if you have your heart set on Strippy's, I'd suggest just taking a somewhat pricey cab "straight up" from your hotel -probably $25-ish [?]).
I've been to Rendezvous and Oleana recently, and preferred Rendezvous overall to the pricier & more "highly rated" Oleana (vaguely similar, "Mediterranean" cuisine, although Oleana hedges a bit more Middle-Eastern, it seems) nearby, FWIW.