Where to Dine - Boston 2009 - page 126

The Cambridge location of the Elephant Walk is just outside Porter Square, at
2067 Massachusetts Ave. ( & 617/492-6900 ). It serves dinner only in a high-ceilinged
room decorated with fewer, bigger elephants than the Boston restaurant and offers free
parking.
900 Beacon St., Boston. & 617/247-1500. www.elephantwalk.com. Reservations recommended at dinner Sun-
Thurs, not accepted Fri-Sat. Main courses $7-$26 at lunch (most items less than $11); $14-$28 at dinner; tasting
menus $30 and $40. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm; Sun-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm; Sun
brunch 11am-3pm. Valet parking available at dinner. T: Green Line C to St. Mary's St.
MODERATE
There's a branch of Finale (p. 229) at 1306 Beacon St., just outside Coolidge Corner,
Brookline ( & 617/232-3233; www.finaledesserts.com).
INEXPENSIVE
Zaftigs Delicatessen DELI/AMERICAN The magical phrase “breakfast served
all day” might be enough to lure you to this bustling restaurant, but even breakfast
haters will be happy at Zaftigs. The name, Yiddish for “pleasingly plump,” is no
joke—portions are more than generous. Try fluffy pancakes, challah French toast, or
a terrific omelet. They share the menu with wonderful overstuffed deli sandwiches as
well as entrees that seem basic but demonstrate a certain flair. Roasted chicken is juicy
and flavorful, meatloaf and gravy equally enjoyable. The knock on Boston-area deli
food is that (well, duh) it's not New York, but the hard-core deli items here are more
The Great Outdoors: Alfresco Dining
Cambridge is a better destination for outdoor dining than Boston, where an
alarming number of tables sit unpleasantly close to busy traffic, but both
cities offer agreeable spots to lounge under the sun or stars.
Across the street from the Charles River near Kendall Square, the Sail
Loft, 1 Memorial Dr. ( & 617/225-2222 ), opens onto a leafy plaza that usu-
ally picks up a breeze from the water. Both restaurant patios at the Royal
Sonesta Hotel, 5 Cambridge Pkwy. ( & 617/491-3600 ), have great views. The
hotel's Gallery Café is casual; Marco's is fancier. On one of Harvard Square's
main drags, Shay's Pub & Wine Bar, 58 John F. Kennedy St. ( & 617/864-
9161 ), has a small, lively seating area. More peaceful are the patios at Hen-
rietta's Table (p. 132) and Oleana (p. 136).
On the other side of the river, try the airy terrace at Miel ( & 617/217-
5151 ), in the InterContinental Boston hotel, which overlooks Fort Point
Channel. Most bars and restaurants in Faneuil Hall Marketplace offer out-
door seating and great people-watching. In the Back Bay, Newbury Street is
similarly diverting; a good vantage point is Stephanie's on Newbury, 190
Newbury St. ( & 617/236-0990 ). A popular shopping stop and after-work
hangout is the Parish Café and Bar, 361 Boylston St. ( & 617/247-4777 ),
where the sandwich menu is a “greatest hits” roster of top local chefs' cre-
ations. A laid-back alternative in this area is the hideaway garden at Casa
Romero (p. 125).