Where to Dine - Boston 2009 - page 100

Time Is Money
Lunch is an excellent, economical way to check out a fancy restaurant without
breaking the bank. At restaurants that take reservations, it's always a good
idea to make them, particularly for dinner. (To make reservations at any hour,
visit www.opentable.com , which handles many local restaurants.) Boston-area
restaurants are far less busy early in the week than they are Friday through
Sunday. If you're flexible about when you indulge in fine cuisine and when you
go for pizza and a movie, choose the low-budget option on the weekend and
pamper yourself on a weeknight.

Tips

• Best Spot for a Business Lunch: Plenty of deals go down at private clubs and for-
mal restaurants, but that can take hours. Leave an impression with your no-non-
sense approach and a quick but delicious meal at Così Sandwich Bar, 53 State St.
( & 617/723-4447 ), 14 Milk St. ( & 617/426-7565 ), or 133 Federal St. ( & 617/
292-2674 ). See p 116.
• Best Wine List: Organized by characteristics (from light to rich) rather than by
vintage or provenance, the excellent offerings at The Blue Room, 1 Kendall Sq.,
Cambridge ( & 617/494-9034 ), are arranged in the most user-friendly way imagi-
nable. See p. 134.
• Best Value: You'll do a double-take when the check arrives after dinner at the Hel-
mand, 143 First St., Cambridge ( & 617/492-4646) . Yes, you're really that satis-
fied for that little money. See p. 136.
• Best for Kids: The wood-fired brick ovens of the Bertucci's chain are magnets for
little eyes, and the pizza that comes out of them is equally enthralling. Picky par-
ents will be happy here, too. Try the locations at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
( & 617/227-7889 ); 43 Stanhope St., Back Bay ( & 617/247-6161 ); 533 Com-
monwealth Ave., Kenmore Square ( & 617/236-1030 ); 21 Brattle St., Harvard
Square, Cambridge ( & 617/864-4748 ); and 799 Main St., Cambridge ( & 617/
661-8356 ). See p. 124.
• Best American Cuisine: Maybe it's not “cuisine,” but what's more American than
a burger? Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage, 1246 Mass. Ave., Cambridge ( & 617/
354-6559 ), is famous for its burgers, its onion rings, and a down-to-earth atmos-
phere that's increasingly rare in Harvard Square. See p. 133.
• Best French Cuisine: The bistro craze that has Boston in its grip started at
Brasserie Jo, in the Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave. ( & 617/720-1300 ),
and all of the copycats fall short. The long hours make it a good respite during a
Back Bay shopping spree. See p. 127.
• Best Italian Cuisine: The best restaurant in the North End, Mamma Maria, 3
North Sq. ( & 617/523-0077 ), is one of the best in town. In a lovely setting, it
offers remarkable regional Italian fare in a spaghetti-and-meatballs neighborhood.
See p. 107.
• Best Brunch: The insane displays at many top hotels are well worth the mone-
tary and caloric compromises. If you're looking for a delicious meal that won't
destroy your budget and waistline, join the throng at the S&S Restaurant, 1334
Cambridge St., Cambridge ( & 617/354-0777 ). See p. 138.