Going to Boston - Places to eat in Cambridge

[mickeyboat]

We are going to spend a few days in Boston soon, and are staying at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. We plan to do the Museum of Science the first day and the Aquarium the second.

Any recommendations on places to eat?

TIA,
Denae

 

[mtemm]

the friendly toast!!!! sooo good, amazing breakfast but I hear lunch is good too.

my husband loves the S&S. Its a jewish deli type place that is very popular.

I love Border Cafe (tex-mex), and is super reasonable for the kids


there are some wonderful restaurants in cambridge, some are pricier/fancier than I've listed and I could easily give you recommendations on those, too, if you want. what kind of food in general do you prefer?

also, do you want rec for boston? I love Reginas pizza in the north end, which is an easy walk from the aquarium. stop at mike's for dessert after. if you love italian food in general, boston's north end has really good choices. I love legal seafood, and there is one right next to the aquarium that we used to go to quite often.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Dante is nice & easy from the Royal Sonesta (i.e. it's IN the hotel )

Rendezvous in Central Square rendezvouscentralsquare.com - dinner only.

Craigie on Main craigieonmain.com, and Cuchi Cuchi cuchicuchi.net (using .com gets you Charo's website instead ) nearby.

Fire & Ice fire-ice.com in Harvard Square (there's one in Boston, too).

Riverview Cafe in the Museum of Science. Also, if the museum is your only plan for that day, consider a Duck Tour. This is one of the departure points.

For your Aquarium day, there's Quincy Market and all its food booths, along with several restaurants including the infamous Durgin-Park durgin-park.com. Just a few steps beyond is the Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in the city. You're also within reasonable walking (and relatively inexpensive cabbing) distance of the North End, with several well-known, highly-rated Italian restaurants

 

[dakcp2001]

If you can get to the North End, it is not to miss! ANd Mike's Pastry shop of course! If you like Seafood there is a Legal Seafood right outside of the Aquarium, it is pricey but the food is excellent! In the North End everything is good, but I love Pizzeria Regina.

 

[countrygrl4]

Definitely go to Cheers, like the show, and have some Boston Baked Beans. It is right in Qunicy market and try Anthony's Pier 1 ( my dad just told me about it but don't know much about it). Try the 'hole in the wall' places because those are where you are gonna get the best food. I'm not one for trying random places but the food in Boston is like the same in RI so it's whateva! Also idk if you have young children but go to the Children's museum if u got lil kiddos bc I went when I was little and had a blast!!

 

[mickeyboat]

We probably want to stay pretty low key on dining.

I will google some of these suggestions to figure out where they are.

Do the Duck Tours run during winter?

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I also suggest going to Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/?q=restaurants
for food on your aquarium day. YUMMMMM Lots to choose from and something for everyone. Lots of cute stores and pushcarts to look at. My DD loves Del Sol http://www.delsol.com/ where all the clothing turns color when you wear it out in the sunlight. She bought a tee shirt and fingernail polish.
If you like seafood there is a Legal Seafood
http://www.legalseafoods.com/
right on the pier near the Aquarium. They are wonderful and my 6 year old DD loved her Lobster Bisque and roll lunch!!! My neighbor had a lobster and said it was the best she ever had. Im a Boston girl born and raised so I love Legal!!! Prices are not really to expensive and it is a nice restauant.
If you are looking for something fast there are AuBon Pains http://www.aubonpain.com/menu/default.aspx
everywhere in Boston. They have yummy soups and sandwiches. My DD loves them and she is a fussy eater.
Here is a good guide of things to look for when you are there...http://www.boston.com/travel/boston/for_the_kids/ or
http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/region/boston-ma-usa
Im pretty sure the last Duck Tour is in Dec and they start again in March.http://www.bostonducktours.com/Default.aspx
NOt sure where you are coming from or if you are driving etc..there are many outlet malls and the American Girl Doll store and Hannah Anderson and Carters are in Natick....not sure if you are driving past to get to Mass Pike.

Wish I was going "home" with you. Have a great time!!!!! Dont forget no clothing tax in MA!!!! Love that!

 

[kaytieeldr]

They do. https://ord.bostonducktours.com/bdt/entry2.php

Low key? Hmmm... Oh! Right across the street from your hotel is the Cambridgeside Galleria - California Pizza Kitchen, P. F. Chang's, Cheesecake Factory (!), a food court with about a dozen options (from as typical as Burger King and Taco Bell, to Big Easy Cajun and Sarku Japan - i.e. all reasonably priced and, being in a mall, not overly fancy.

And while Durgin-Park is pretty low-key and reasonably priced; but if you don't want a sit-down meal, there are all the foodcourt-like locations in Fanueil Hall.

 

[pixiegoose]

Do the Duck Tours run during winter?

No, they don't. I belive they run April-October.

You don't mention when you're going to be visiting us but an fyi, Massachusetts school vacation week is Feb. 15-19 and New Hampshire vacation week is Feb. 22-26, so that entire 2 week period is going to be ridiculously crazy at MoS (I should know- I work there!). Those are also the last 2 weeks of the Harry Potter exhibit, so we are expecting record numbers. If you are coming during this period and want to see Harry Potter, I recommend buying your tickets ahead of time online, as they are timed tickets and times can (and will!) sell out ridiculously fast. There are probably times that are already sold out. Just go to mos.org to purchase tickets.

 

[mickeyboat]

No, they don't. I belive they run April-October.

You don't mention when you're going to be visiting us but an fyi, Massachusetts school vacation week is Feb. 15-19 and New Hampshire vacation week is Feb. 22-26, so that entire 2 week period is going to be ridiculously crazy at MoS (I should know- I work there!). Those are also the last 2 weeks of the Harry Potter exhibit, so we are expecting record numbers. If you are coming during this period and want to see Harry Potter, I recommend buying your tickets ahead of time online, as they are timed tickets and times can (and will!) sell out ridiculously fast. There are probably times that are already sold out. Just go to mos.org to purchase tickets.

Thanks! We are planning to come Presidents' week. I know it will be crowded, but we'll deal. We are not planning to go to the Harry Potter exhibit, though. I do plan to order tickets on line for both the MOS and the Aquarium. I guess I need to get on the stick and order them.

I think we will probably do Legal Seafoods on Aquarium day, and I see we can make reservations on line.

 

[crazelion]

Can some post the official site of Quincy Market. I going there this summer and I have hard time founding the exact site to see what restaurants it have in there.

 

[crazelion]

never mind find the post I need.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, they don't. I belive they run April-October.

Interesting... while the Aquarium site indicates Duck Tours leaving from that location have ended for the season, there are links to purchase departures from both the Prudential location and the MoS. Clicking on the link brings up a month's worth of dates. Of course, selecting random dates results in "no tickets available for this date"...

 

[pixiegoose]

Interesting... while the Aquarium site indicates Duck Tours leaving from that location have ended for the season, there are links to purchase departures from both the Prudential location and the MoS. Clicking on the link brings up a month's worth of dates. Of course, selecting random dates results in "no tickets available for this date"...

That's definitely weird as I know there are no tours departing from MoS- the ticket booth is gone for the winter and when they are running, there's always at least 3-4 "Ducks" waiting out front. There haven't been any since October.