Fenway First Date

[TommyJay]

Any suggestions for a lunch date place near Fenway? Delicious but unpretentious, cool but quiet enough to talk, fun but not over-crowded for a Saturday . . .

Thanks!

[KeyConcierge]

Citizen Public House, Sweet Cheeks Q, ICOB, Eastern Standard and then go to The Hawthorne for drinks after [assuming this is soon and not during the Red Sox season]

[hotoynoodle]

most on your list are not open for lunch.

[asaw780]

How about Church, on Kilmarnock Street? I haven't been there myself, but I've heard some great things.

[grant.cook]

I'd probably have a couple of places in mind.. be decisive in what you pick, but if she brings up some big issue (e.g. "I am allergic to shellfish" or "I ate there yesterday"), its nice to have a decided fallback. Show her you have a plan..

Good luck.. bow chicka bow bow!

[devilham]

Good luck.. bow chicka bow bow!

Lol

[Bostongal67]

Another vote for ESTK. It has everything you need! But make a reservation.

[libertywharf]

Keep it a baseball day and head to the Beacher Bar. Anywhere you go on game day will be busy and crowded, so most of what you are asking for is out of range.

[C. Hamster]

Game day?

I assume the date is happening before opening day.

[libertywharf]

With my excitement for the sox, I just assumed. Sorry

[cassis]

Cafe G at the Gardner Museum www.gardnermuseum.org/visit/cafe

[9lives]

Here's my chance to play "yente"..:)

I'm 10 years + out of the dating scene but I really like this idea. If you and your date are into art, you get to wander around a great museum and get get to know each other.

I always preferred" activity" dates as oppose to just a meal. It also allows you to appear "sophisticated and cultured," even if you're not...:)

Unless you're in college, I'd probably avoid Tasty Burger and sports type bars, unless you know your date is a big sports enthusiast. You don't mention your age but in my 20s, you might get away with a sports bar; 30+..not so much. At least that was not what I considered to make an impression on a first date..:)

I'll second most of the other restaurant recs; ESK or Audobon would both work well if you don't want or think your date won't like the museum idea.

Have fun!

[yarm]

Island Creek Oyster Bar perhaps?

Tasty Burger is definitely delicious, unpretentious, fun, and cool, but quiet is rarely a good descriptor. Perhaps way too casual for a first date once you're out of college though, but they have a pool table which should count as fun.

[C. Hamster]

Is ICOB open for Sat lunch ?

Trattoria Toscana
I've never been but Happy's?
And there's another place on Boylston that's escaping me.... Oyster bar.....

[catsmeow]

I think Happy's just closed. It's going to be a Mexican place.

[C. Hamster]

Wow, that was fast!

[yarm]

Good catch. ICOB opens at 4 that day, and they only open for lunch on Sunday.

[hotoynoodle]

citizens public house and oyster bar -- not open during the day.

and yes, happy's is closed.

i think audobon circle is a good option.

[Aromatherapy]

TT isn't open for lunch

[cambridgedoctpr]

for good food, ICOB and TT are fine. But for a 1st date, i would choose something even more casual such as a burger place or Sichuan Gourmet. ( I like the Craigie burger though think that their fries are mediocre.)

It is good to appear that you are not trying to hard.

[Berheenia]

Audubon Circle, http://www.auduboncircle.us/

[Lmonach]

Audubon Circle is a great choice, not too loud or too fancy. Eastern Standard can be loud and crazy on a Saturday, but they do make a great bloody mary.

[meeps2002]

Eastern Standard would be my pick.

[BlueMagic]

++1 for food, atmosphere and service.