Do you know of any great little restaurants in the Boston area?

Question

We will be attending a conference and touring the area in October. We will also be going to Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and lower Vermont and New Hampshire. We love to find small mom and pop cafes and interesting sites beyond the main tourist attractions. We are history buffs, if that helps.

We will be staying at the Colonade Hotel in Boston for 4 days, then mostly camping or staying in small motels, cabins. Tour is two weeks total.

Thanks Should be, that's exactly what we're looking for!

Three for three! All great. Thanks.

Outstanding Ima! I wish you all could get a hundred points. These are super ans.

Ryssee, we are big jazz fans! Great suggestions. My mouth watered as you described the place in New Hampshire and at this moment I'm envisioning picking up some ice cold brewskis at the gas station.
Wow! You guys are totally awesome. thanks you all.

Thanks I like Stories. After reading a zillion answers to other questions, I have to say you all have surpassed anthing I have ever read on yahoo! Thanks to you all, we are planning our itinery (sp?) mostly around all of your suggestions. Hope I can return the favor on the Ozarks someday. thank you, thank you , thank you!

You guys are absolutely the bomb!!!!!! You all will have to pick the best, 'cause I can't do it. A heart felt thanks to all.

Answer 1

For history purposes, go to Union Oyster House. The oldest restaurant in the country. Many a president have enjoyed their New England fare! . . . . If you're looking for a small hole in the wall type place, I'd suggest Grotto which is around the Beacon Hill area. Some of the best food in the city, hands down, but only has seating for about 30 people total. LOL So call ahead!

Answer 2

Boston has a rich record and a diverse neighbourhood; it has a legacy of arts, lifestyle, and knowledge; Boston has something for everyone so discover what Boston may give you with hotelbye . The three-mile Freedom Trail leads you past - and into - 16 of the city's key ancient monuments and sites. It's simple to follow, by the type of red bricks in the sidewalk and by footprints at street crossings. The walk may get you to Old Granary Burying Ground wherever Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock are buried; will get you to King's Chapel Burying Ground, the Boston's oldest cemetery; Old South Meeting House where in fact the calling speeches of patriots spawned the Boston Tea Party and the Old State House, Boston's oldest community making and the website of the Boston Massacre.

Answer 3

I believe the oldest restaurant in Boston is The Union Oyster House. It is well-known and big; it's not a mom and pop thing; but the family that owns it runs it and is usually there to greet people and it is a very, very neat place. Also in Boston, I would recommend going to the North End at night for some SUPER Italian food. You can find a small, quaint place....walk down cobblestone streets....

Answer 4

My favorite restaurant n Boston is Les Zygomates, by South Station. It's a French bistro restaurant, not a mom and pop (but it's not big either), but it's fabulous, with great food and wine, and jazz bands almost every night. The link is www.winebar.com
Have fun. When you're in New Hampshire, go to Seabrook Beach, to Brown's Lobster Pound. AWESOME local seafood. http://www.brownslobster.com/homepage/
You can bring your own beer and wine (stop at the gas station at the corner of 286 and 1a on the way in for ice cold beer!)

Answer 5

I agree w/Should be working. Great options for both history (Union Oyster) and a hidden gem (Grotto). At Union Oyster, the best thing they have is their raw bar. The seafood is average, but it is a cool historic place. There's even a booth that was JFKs whenever he visited.

Another fun and hidden place is the LTK (Legal's Test Kitchen). Legal Seafoods opened this place in the waterfront district not too long ago. Great inventive seafood dining there. http://www.ltkbarandkitchen.com/site/

Other great finds - on the Cape, if you're in Dennis, check out Captain Frosty's for great fried clams. http://www.captainfrosty.com/

In East Dennis there's a place we go to all the time for lunch called Grumpys. Diner style food, amazing muffins that you can get to go.
http://www.grumpyscapecod.com/

In Rhode Island, there's plenty of great places to eat in Providence. Lots of Italian places on Federal Hill. One of my favorites is Andino's - real old school Italian.

In Portsmouth NH , check out Muddy River Smoke house. Great atmosphere, blues playing all the time, and great BBQ.
http://www.muddyriver.com/mrs_home.cfm

Answer 6

For Boston, the HARD ROCK CAFE! I love that place. It's especially great if you love good burgers, fries, salads, and good rock music =]

And when you're at the cape, if you're anywhere near the falmouth area, paul's pizza and seafood, molly's tea room, old country buffet are great places to go

if you're looking for a hoodie sweatshirt souvenir shoppe in falmouth, cuffy's and atlantic traders are great places, along with "soft as a grape." if you're around the hyannis area, go to the cape cod factory, it's a free and self-guided tour. but if you aren't near the hyannis area, i wouldn't suggest going out of your way to go to the factory, it's nothing special worth travelling far for [unless you want the two small free bags of chips and cape cod chip apparel.]

have fun and good luck!

Answer 7

If you are on Route 1 passing through Foxboro...check out the Red Wing Diner. Try a lobster roll or fried clams...they have been there forever and always consistent. We were waiting in lines 40+ years ago and it is still just as good. No frills just great food!

Answer 8

You've gotten some great advice so far.

You can't beat Boston's North End (Hanover Street) for what your describing. Hanover and surrounding streets are full of "mom and pop" Italian restaurants. Most of them have lines of people waiting to get in. It's part of the charm, go with it. The one with the longest line is probably going to be Giacomo's. The best Italian pastry is a Modern Pastry, despite the line at Mikes. A visit to the North End isn't complete without a canoli from Modern. While your waiting in line at Giacomo's you can take in the steeple of the Old North Church immediately to the west. Paul Reveres house is about 2 blocks to the south east.

I live in southern NH. Alternatives to Browns. In Ispswitch, MA (on Rt133) is the Clambox. Best fried clams in New England end of discussion. Clambox is a roadside clam shack made to look like a box of clams. It would be right at home on Rt66 circa 1958.

Browns is good, I'd get lobster and steamers there though.

In Hampton,(next to Seabrook) on Rt1 is a place called Ron Jillians. If your really hungry and want a good drink, this is the place to go. Huge portions of mostly Italian food. Ron makes the best red sauce outside the north end. I'm a regular at Ron Jillians, like Norm in cheers they all know my name;)

Don't go to the Old Salt, despite what you read.

Also, check out the great ice cream in New England. If you go to Lexington / Concord area there is the premium gem of ice cream shops called Kimballs Farm, ask the locals for directions. It should be open in October. In the seacoast area of NH, our ice cream gem is a place called Lego's Lone Oak on Rt 1 in Rye NH, they typically board the place up after Columbus day.

Also, check out www.chowhound.com, both the Boston and New England boards. You will get really good recommendations for restaurants there. Another good web site is www.hollyeats.com. Holly may have a picture of the Clam Box on his web site. Holly missed the boat on the Clam Box though. Clam Box is far superior to Woodmans at least for fried clams which is the specialty of Cape Ann.

PS - if you go to Browns, my daughter works at Dunlap's Ice Cream across the street. Dunlap's will board up after labor Day weekend though.

Answer 9

If you like Thai food, you have to go to Stir Crazy in Bourne, MA on Cape Cod! Its Awesome

Answer 10

The "coziest" eating place by some distance in Boston is Ten Tables in Jamaica undemanding. this is called that because of the fact it in basic terms has ten tables (duh). this is totally comfortable and romantic and the nutrition is physically powerful. it is not on the element of the subway (perchance a bus) yet parking isn't too annoying to discover.