Boston rest. for 12 teenagers
I'm chaperoning a group of 12 teenagers and a handful of adults (thank God!) on a trip to Boston at the end of November. Thanks to your help, I have a plan for the adult dinner (Neptune Oyster), but I need help identifying a restaurant for dinner w/ 12 teenagers and 7 adults. The kids are fairly sophisticated diners, but we'll need a broad menu for all tastes. We're staying at the Westin near the Convention Center, so something closer to that would be great moving our group will be quite an undertaking. The kids, and I, would like something that they can't experience in Southern California.
To summarize our needs: Yummy (always first and foremost), able to host a large group of (well-behaved) teenagers, closer to the Westin, and Boston-y in experience.
Thanks so much!
mtbwustl
Nov 16, 2007 12:31PM
I think Atlantic Fish Company is great for groups (and kids/teens) with good food - it is not Neptune or fine dining, but consistent and good. It's also right near your hotel...maybe to complete the night take them to JP Licks (amazing ice cream) for dessert.
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In Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall is venerable Durgin Park: http://www.durgin-park.com/ where you all could be seated together. It is also located adjacent to the Italian Northend neighborhood which sports many cafes, restaurants, bakeries, etc., but probably hard-pressed to accomodate your group of 19.
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What day of the week? Time of night?
I do not particularly like LTK but it is an option and can handle the group. 3 blocks away. cool and modern I am just not into an atlantic fish co that does not stick to good atlantic fish, but overall I have had good lunches there.
Luckys is all american bar/comfort food, fun, close by, live music. minors are generally ok till 10.
I love their food.
is there a price point you want to stay within? If you go down atlantic ave there are some great options, like Sel le de terre.
No one here much likes Beehive food, but the atmosphere and music and fun is great and unique.
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We're looking at a Wednesday, maybe 7ish time wise. Thanks for the great recs!
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I know this place gets majorly dissed here, but how about Fire & Ice? re: "Broad menu for all tastes".. though I'm not sure if there's one closer to the Westin
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I worked across the street from the Fire & Ice on Berkeley Street for several years. It's the one restaurant in Boston I wouldn't eat at if you paid me and a lot of my co-workers agreed. Getting pieces of someone else's meal is a pretty consistent experience, on one occasion I got some of the vegetables I'd chosen and none of the meat. (Which also means someone else got my meal mixed in with theirs) Since I was in the middle of a large group (four people would've had to get up for me to get out of the table, I asked if they could just bring me a cheeseburger. It never arrived, even after reminding the server about 15 minutes later.
Legal Seafood could handle your group. Have been to Davio's Italian restaurant with large lunch groups several times, always had excellent service, and the food is very good. Both are just a few minutes walk from your hotel.
http://www.davios.com/BostMenu.htm
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I took my daughter and her friends to Maggianos in Boston and they loved it. When you go with a large party it's more fun because you can try more dishes. It is all served on family style platters and there is lots to choose from. Maggianos is perfect for teenagers and they will get a kick out of the location and the atmosphere. My daughter asked me today if we could go back with her friends again because we did it last year after the Nutcracker. Big platters of Caesar salad, angle hair pasta, chicken and broccoli etc.. it is food that kids really like. People will chime in and say it is not chowhound worthy but for teenagers it's perfect.
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Perfect, except that the food sucks. Since the "first and foremost" criterion of the OP is "Yummy", that basically rules out Fire + Ice. I was dragged there once. Never again, even with 12 teenagers.
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If first and foremost is yummy most recs above are not going to pass. You might try Eastern Standard to see if they can accommodate you. That would be a really fun place for the group. And it's located in Kenmore square, which is a "Boston-y" experience.
Maybe Tapeo on Newbury? (tapas)
Smith & Wollensky should have room but could get costly.
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The Westin near the Convention Center is in the South Boston Waterfront area and not near anything. Many of the respnses above assume you are staying at the Westin at Copley Place, a diffrerent hotel at Copley Square. Not the same place.
Basically, you will have to cab it somewhere from the hotel. (I have eaten at the hotel and you don't want to do that.) The best area to go to would be the North End, which has a large number of good restaurants and is fun to visit. Lots of posts on this board about the North End.
I think Durgin Park would be a good choice for a group like yours. It's not fancy and the food is not gourmet but it is classic Boston and lots of fun. They are also group friendly.
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duhh...we should have picked up on that.
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It's a bit roundabout, but you can get to either Durgin Park or the North End via public transportation. You'd have to take the Silver Line to South Station, then the Red Line one stop to Downtown Crossing, then a couple stops on the Orange Line to Haymarket.
Personally, I'd think Durgin Park would be a good choice for a group like this. They can fit large parties and offer up classic old-fashioned Yankee style cooking better than anyplace else at a reasonable price. The North End would be tougher because many places are kind of small -- your best bet for excellent food, fairly reasonable prices, and a chance to fit this many people in would be Pagliuca's or possibly Antico Forno, but I'd definitely call them first and make a reservation.
I can't imagine anyone with working taste buds liking Fire & Ice (especially adults), though I have seen groups of teens there. And to my mind, the "yummy" requirement rules out options such as Maggiano's, P.F. Chang's, Cheesecake Factory, Vinny T's, and the like. Legal Seafood and Atlantic Fish will likely seem like a letdown after Neptune. Davio's is good but expensive. Sel de la Terre (French) is certainly very good, and Lucky's (pub grub) isn't bad and is reasonably close by, as is Eastern Pier II (Chinese). I would studiously avoid any attempts to steer you to Anthony's Pier 4 (bad and also expensive), Barking Crab (bad and not cheap), or your hotel's restaurant.
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if it is a weekend I would just get out at Downtown Crossing or Park Street and walk.... it is typical to wait up to 15-20 minutes for an orange line train on the weekend (if they're running at all and not replaced by a bus), and it is only a 4 or 5 block walk
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Conversely the Westin Copley is by Hynes Convention Center, which still seems to host a lot of conventions.
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having chaperoned over 20 different groups of 10+ teens per, (former job that I had), first thing that came to mind was fire & ice, despite my knowing better options as a Bostonian adult, and trying to wow them with more "adult" options, it was always the most well received - by the teens, at least- .
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The requirements are competing against themselves.
Your best bet is going to be to shlep the kids away from the hotel area.
Durgin Park is a good choice and the teens will enjoy the surrounding Fanueil Hall area.
The North End is definitely a change from So Cal. If you can find a Chow-worthy place that will take a party that size you'll be getting a Boston experience.
Pizzeria Regina is in the NE and serves arguably the best pie in Boston and definitely better than any pizza I ever had on the West Coast.
I've seen large groups there but never as big as yours but it may worth a call. Pizza only, though.
Another alternative for you might be to pick up a bunch of pizzas from them and have them at the hotel. I know it's not a night out but may work if moving the group is too tough.
It would be yummy and Boston-y.
As for near your hotel, the Chinese place Eastern Pier is good and very close but I believe is strictly Chinese, unlike other places that offer a few American dishes. It's also on the water. They could handle a large group.
Amrheins is not far away in South Boston proper. Although newly redone it's one of Boston's oldest restaurants and has good food and a varied menu. they can also take larger groups.
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I agree with the previous posts about your competing interests. As the parent of a 9th grader, I have some experience in this realm. I don't personally care for Fire + Ice, but she loves it. I took her and a friend to the Harvard Square Location last summer; aside from not feeling clean, the service was awful (even though you manage your own food, you do need drink refills, the check, etc.). She also went as part of a middle school band trip when they took about 50 kids, so they definitely accommodate groups. Of the choices listed above, I would favor Durgin Park, for the location, experience, food, and their ability to manage a group. It's a place and area rich with history, though Quincy Market itself is pretty touristy (but probably fun for teens). We took my daughter to Durgin Park when she was 12 and she enjoyed it. One place they may enjoy that hasn't been mentioned is Summer Shack; while it has mixed reviews on the board, it's casual and seems good for groups. The location is good near the Prudential- accessible to the T by green line or orange. Enjoy!
50 Dalton St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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I'm definitely on the "no" side with Summer Shack -- expensive, loud, and just plain bad food. You're notably better off quality wise at Legal's, and likely for less money.
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Many many thanks to everyone for their comments. Yes, yummy is always first and foremost in my mind. Wasting an opportunity for a good meal is never good thing, and neither are chain restaurants. But I do also see that my requirements are competing, which is sad. I'm willing to give up a location near the hotel, as it seems that I have no other choice. Oh well, it's time for these SoCal kids to learn about public transportation! I'm loving the idea of Durgin Park, or perhaps Legal Seafood, but leaning towards DP. And please keep sending in the ideas....I really do appreciate your expertise!
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Diurgin Park is a much better choice for a group like this. And forget public transportation. The distance is short enough that with 4-5 people per cab, taxis will be cheaper.
340 Faneuil Hall Market Pl Boston MA 02109
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By coincidence I ate today at the Summer St Grille that's just a block from your hotel.
Had a grewat wrap and my DC had nice steak tip salad. They have an extremely large menu (you have to wonder if they can do everything well) with lots of healthy choices.
Friendly staff and other coworkers vouched for the food.
Spoke to Roger, the manager and he said he could take care of a group your size.
It's in a large health club complex and isn't particulary Boston-y, but I thought i'd mention it as another option.
FYI, fellow hounds, full bar and seems like a welcome addition to the meager offerings in that area.
http://summerstreetgrille.com/index.html
617-464-7984
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I don't know why so many people recommend Durgin Park; I found it to be a terrible tourist trap. The food is fair at best, and the "experience" of the crabby waitresses is fun for about 10 seconds. If I want someone with a lousy attitude bringing my food, I'll stay home with my wife *rimshot*
Go to one of the other places suggested, except Fire & Ice, which I feel is another bad choice.
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I recommend Durgin Park because it does New England Yankee style cooking far better than anyplace else in Boston, and it's a cuisine unique to our region. It's much better than the Union Oyster House or Parker's, which also serve this type of food and which I've found really, really weak at best.
Rhody Dave, I disagree with the assessment that the food is "fair at best" at Durgin Park -- I've found the food good at the very least and sometimes excellent. Much of the complaining I've seen about the food there on this board is of the "I don't like pot roast" variety, which is fine for determining someone's personal taste but not so useful as a value judgment about said food. I've seen one or two grumbles about the food going downhill since a recent ownership change, but that doesn't jive with my most recent experience there.
I've also found the help to be much less crabby than in years past, and when it occurs, it's been purely for show -- part of the shtick, y'know. Sure, it's a touristy place, but the food's at least worth the trouble, unlike many other such spots. I'd much sooner go to Durgin Park than Maggiano's, P.F. Chang's, Cheesecake Factory, Vinny T's, Barking Crab, Summer Shack, Anthony's Pier 4, Amrhein's, Fire & Ice, Smith & Wollensky, or anything else in the Faneuil Hall area.
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bachslunch, I always find your suggestions great but do you have children? They are the hardest people to feed even with sophisticated tastes. I am not quite sure that teenagers are into pot roast. In my house my teenager moves it around until it is hidden under the ketchup. Kids like pasta, chicken and veal parm, salad, foccacia etc... Maggianos is a fun place for a crowd and it may not be mama marias but I am sure it would work well for this gathering. Do not take this the wrong was because I always like what you write.
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Thanks for the kind words, hoplover. I like what you write as well. Lots of good folks here, in fact. And no ill will is taken by your question, not to worry.
I guess if all Durgin Park had were pot roast, I might be concerned, too. But they actually have a pretty wide-ranging menu that should have something for most all tastes on their dinner menu: roast turkey, roast chicken, franks and beans, knockwurst, prime rib, corned beef and cabbage, hamburgers, steaks, pork chops, pork loin, lamb chops, lamb steak, baby back ribs, most standard seafood items, various salads, a vegetarian plate, and (believe it or not) pasta (including marinara Bolognese, primavera, shrimp scampi, chicken/broccoli, and seafood, all over linguine or ziti). I assume their online menu is reasonably accurate:
http://www.durgin-park.com/menu.asp
I can't say I've ever had their pasta, so I can't vouch for its quality, but they do have it.
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Bachslunch, Thanks that is quite a menu! I will have to give it a look.
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Tall order, but I'd recommend the North End, our touristy but charming Italian-American neighborhood with a few good restaurants amidst the many so-so ones. I notice on OpenTable.com that La Galleria 33 takes reservations for 20 people; menu here http://www.lagalleria33.com/
I haven't been myself, but it has gotten good reviews here. I know its parent restaurant (L'Osteria) across the street from it is a solid red-sauce Italian-American place, and I believe the menus are quite similar. It would be a lot of fun to dine there and then walk around the neighborhood to find a caffe or gelateria for something sweet afterward. That's a real local experience.
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Again, many many thanks to everyone for your comments and thoughts. We ended up going to Durgin Park and it was a huge hit w/ the kids and the adults. Was the food stellar? No. But was it a fun taste of Boston...yes! The kids loved the chowder and seafood, and they really liked the notion that the restaurant has been around for so long. Then they had great fun walking around Quincy Market. But I totally don't understand why people rave about those chocolate chip cookies in the market, very meh. No public transportation necessary -- everyone got there via cabs, no big deal. And seriously, there is NOTHING near the convention center. And the restaurant at the Weston sucks. I'm really looking forward to Neptune Oyster tomorrow night! Thanks to all the Bostonians....your insight and hospitality is appreciated!
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if you are staying at the Westin by the South Boston waterfront, i think you can walk to Eastern Pier, a very good chinese restaurant, on the water, with very good local seafood and reasonable prices. they can accommodate 12.
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