Where to eat near the Doubletree?

Question

Friends, 

Attending a conference with hubby next week. Conference is at the new convention center, but we are staying at the Doubletree downtown. I will be having most breakfasts and lunches on my own but will be having dinners with hubby, and possibly a crowd of conference chums. So, where to enjoy the local cuisine on my own? Definitely want chowder, lobster rolls, and anything else special to Boston. Please note I get around on a motorized scooter, so need places that are accessible. We love most food - Chinese, Italian, etc. so feel free to recommend your favorites. Breakfast and lunch should be reasonable priced, dinner can be upscale, but we enjoy a yummy local greasy spoon as well. Many thanks in advance.

Answer

Chinatown is also very close and a great lunch option - I believe Dumpling Cafe on Washington St and China King are both ground level and pretty accessible from the sidewalk - and very good. You can search for them specifically in more detailed posts to get menu ideas / recommendations.

Answer

welcome in advance. This is long but hope it helps:

Guide to Boston by Areas and Restaurants:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/781155
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Dinner Spots that I would highly recommend : (Dress is casual at all.Reservations a must unless single bar diner)
If Creative, unique one-of-a-kind food experiences are a priority for you, I would hop to Oleana and Ribelle in a heartbeat. And Asta and OYa for much higher tickets.
 
Oleana- predominantly Turkish, w/ a lot of creative riffs. One of the 3 or 4 Boston restnts where you will have truly unique food that you will not have elsewhere. Spices and grains. beans and greens, a world to discover and savor. Many feel the mezze are the strong point, but entrees can be unforgetable as well. As the menu is always changing, the only way to do it right-- is to go back often. If I were a visiting foodie who had 'been there, eaten that', I would happily allot 2 nights to Oleana during my Boston stay. Blazing winter hearth , and charming patio in season. Cambridge 
Dinn daily
 
Ribelle- new outpost for Strip T's chef/owner. A very broad menu of small and large plates w/ two or three times more components than you would likely see on other menus. The preps of these dishes are more complex than anything I have seen.Vegetables . With dishes this inventive and full of surprises, the food is the focus for the night, and the starches, veggies and condiments can be extraordinary (easily as exciting as the meats and seafood.) *The menu descriptions are almost NEVER good, because so much more is going on than can be explained in a small space. Good bar program. Casual, vibrant. Brookline Dinn daily
 
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Island Creek Oyster Bar- the BEST service, large room yet intimate, more trad but some inventive.
I cannot eat there w/o ordering honey glazed biscuit and Lobster Roe pasta with lobster, chanterelles, short rib and madeira glaze. Kenmore Sq.Dinn daily
 
Neptune Oyster- crowded tiny, always a line, top quality raw bar; inventive seafood along w/ trad.Leave your name and stroll the fascinating North End. (no resvtns =NR) Lu &Dinn daily
 
OYa- v.v.expensive Japanese American inventive. South Station
 
Erbaluce- unusual inventive No.Italian Piedmontese. edge of South End
 
Bistro du Midi- French , lovely, relaxing, on the Public Garden.
 
Sycamore- 30 min car or train ride West to affluent Newton Centre and this welcoming veteran- run spot with many unique twists on Mediterranean ideas.(see the Daily Duck, Lamb or Pork board- with four mini entree ,starch and veg.medleys !) 
 
Craigie on Main- famous for offal but also seafood. Cambridge 
 
Toro- possibly the loudest room in Boston, full-out Tapas (the inventive often more successful than the trad) yet their Paella is unbeatably unctuous. South End . NR and always a line. Lu &Dinn daily
 
Aquitaine- THE spot in the So. End when you're exhausted and you want to be taken care of. Classic French Bistro food beautifully done in a beautiful room, w/ gracious top notch service. South End. Lu& dinn daily.
 
Myers and Chang- Modern takes on Asian. This friendly spot is always hoppin' and the food, service and very creative bar are super. A great place to people watch; the air is full of happy campers having fun. A counter seat gives you a wokside view and there is a sheltered patio that welcomes dogs. Edge of So. End. Lu and Bru also. Lu and Dinn daily
 
L'Espalier- Consistently glowing CH visitor reviews for, specifically, the Chef's Table. Farm to table; French inspired. Copley Sq.
 
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Strip T's (in a 'suburb', 10 min cab from Harvard Square) Casual small treasure for serious foodies; Momofuku chef oversees both creative and comfort food, including an unusual terrific burger.Don't miss the Grilled Romaine with Oxtail, soft egg and sriracha! Watertown. Lu also. Cl Sun.
 
Alden and Harlow- Harvard Sq.,Cambr. dinn daily
Tavern Road- near the Children's Museum
Row 34- seafood in the new Seaport area
 
Iconic Boston*:
Pizzeria Regina, No.End only.Original 50's decor, raucous waitresses, the best 'like in Rome' thin crust pizza. Always packed.Dly Lu&D
Durgin Park-roast beef,Boston baked beans, Indian Pudding. Quincy Market
Lobster Roll- Neptune Oyster,NoEnd; Lobster Shack, Seaport
Fried Clams- Best are Clam Box, Ipswich, 1 hr No.of Boston; In Boston- Neptune Oyster.
Italian Red Sauce in No.End- Daily Catch; Antico Forno;Artu; Taranta
Italian High End in No.End: Mamma Maria;Prezza;(and Sorellina near Symphony Hall)
Dim Sum in Chinatown- Winsor Dim Sum,Bubor Cha Cha; Great Taste 
Chinese, Hong Kong & Szechuan- Fuloon, Malden(suburb)
Portuguese- Casa Portugal- Inman Sq,Camb.
 
* these are only IMO; many CHs will differ, esp. w/ pizza, seafood and Italian.Countless CH threads attest to this if you do a CH Search.
 
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Sandwiches and Burgers:
--Sam la Grassa's- perpetually on the best deli sandwiches list. Downtown. Lu
--Chacarero- Peruvian grilled meats and sauces with green beans, Downtown,Lu
--Parish Café - includes sandwiches named after the local chefs that created them. Near Public Garden. Lu 
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--JM Curley's- a big CH fav for Boston's best burger. Downtown, near Boston Common. Lu,D /check hours
--Craigie on Main- Boston's most expensive burger w/ legions of fans. Cambridge, Central Sq. D
--Alden and Harlow- 'Secret Burger' changes weekly. Cambridge, Harvard Sq. D
--also Beacon Hill Bistro, The Gallows, Toro, Eastern Standard, Harvest. Detailed burger reviews:
http://www.bostonburgerblog.com/reviews/
 
Lovely quiet lunch spots:
--Bistro du Midi on the Public Garden
-- Courtyard Cafe and Map Room Cafe in the historic Boston Public Library, Copley Sq. 
--Beacon Hill Bistro , Charles St.
 
For Brunch: 
--Myers and Chang- Dim sum and more.Some trad, some innovative. Great fun for food and people watching. patio
 
--Ribelle- crazy menu full of surprises(hidden in the way- too- simple menu descriptions!). Brookline. Sat.& Sun.Patio
 
--For more refined brunch, Aquitaine and Mistral ($French elegant) are popular. South End.
 
** Also, if a restnt shows no availability for a time you wanted to dine, best to call that restnt because they always have more seats than show on OpenTable.

Answer

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I certainly will not lack for choices.

Answer

Also be aware, that an awful lot of Boston restaurants have their bathrooms at the back of a kitchen or down some stairs. When my wheelchair-weilding cousin comes to visit, we always call to ensure that this modern convenience will be available for him.

Answer

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Where to eat near the Doubletree?

Discussion Summary

Dumpling Cafe

China King

Neptune Oyster

Craigie On Main

Aquitaine

Aquitaine Chestnut Hill

Myers+Chang

Alden & Harlow

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Sorellina

Casa Portugal

jm Curley

Eastern Standard

Asta

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