Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
soups and salads depend on what's fresh and seasonal, and the main courses are top-
of-the-line comfort food (seared cod, roasted chicken, creamy lobster risotto).
Desserts are inventive versions of apple pie, fudge cake, cheesecake, and other tradi-
tional favorites. In keeping with the quality of every other element of the experience,
the service is fantastic.
The hotel's fine-dining restaurant,
Aujourd'hui
(
&
617/351-2037
), is one of
Boston's top special-occasion and expense-account destinations. In a gorgeous second-
floor space overlooking the Public Garden, it serves modern French cuisine (main
courses $26-$42) Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30pm and Sunday 6 to
10pm, and a bountiful New England Sunday brunch buffet ($65 adults, $32.50 chil-
dren) from 11am to 3pm. Reservations are strongly recommended.
In the Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St.
&
617/351-2037.
www.fourseasons.com/boston. Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses $14-$28 at lunch, $16-$33 at dinner; bar menu $8-$27. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs
6:30am-11:30pm; Fri-Sat 6:30am-12:30am; Sun 10am-12:30am. Valet parking available. T: Green Line to Arlington.
Casa Romero
MEXICAN Restaurants in alleys have that certain some-
thing. They feel like secret clubs, and finding one can make a hungry diner feel like a
daring explorer. Casa Romero is just such a place. The tiled floor, rustic wood furnish-
ings, dim lighting, and clay pots lend an authentic feel—you're definitely not at the
Finds
Boston Tea Party, Part 2
In Boston, the only city that has a tea party named after it, the tradition of
afternoon tea at a posh hotel is alive and well. At all of them, reservations are
strongly recommended; at the Bristol and Taj Boston, they're pretty much
mandatory.
The best afternoon tea in town is at the
Bristol
in the Four Seasons Hotel,
200 Boylston St. (
&
617/351-2037
). The gorgeous room, lovely view, and
courtly ritual elevate scones, pastries, tea sandwiches, and nut bread from deli-
cious to unforgettable. The Bristol serves tea ($28) every day from 3 to 4:30pm.
My second choice is a bit of a sleeper:
Intrigue,
in the Boston Harbor Hotel,
Rowes Wharf (
&
617/856-7744
), serves tea daily from 2:30 to 4pm in an ele-
gant space that faces the harbor. It's just $18.50 per person, $26 if you add a
glass of Champagne.
The
Langham, Boston,
250 Franklin St. (
&
617/956-8751
), serves afternoon
tea daily from 3 to 4:30pm. The chain's flagship is in London, and as you'd
expect, this is a proper British experience. The price is $18, $24, or $36 per per-
son, plus $2 to $5 for premium teas. Taj Boston, 15 Arlington St. (
&
617/598-
5255
), serves tea in the celebrated
Lounge
at 2 and 4pm; it's available Wednes-
day through Sunday in the winter, Friday through Sunday the rest of the year.
The price is $22 for tea and pastries, $30 to add sandwiches.
It's neither a hotel nor in Boston, but beloved Cambridge restaurant
Upstairs
on the Square
(p. 130) makes a wonderful destination. Zebra Tea ($25) is a
three-tiered wonder that lets the inventive kitchen cut loose on a small scale.
Food and drinks are also available a la carte, and the Grand Peppermint Tea
($18) combines minty sweets and a pot of the headliner. Tea is served Friday
and Saturday (Thurs-Sun in Dec) from 3 to 5pm.
Finds
