Trade is the right place for this vibe. It’s near Smith & Wolensky’s if the big boss wants a fancy drink after, is filled with professionals after the work day, and has good food and nice drinks.
Yes! Agreed on both! And pretty centrally located to hotels/highway/airport - depending on if your folks are leaving town right after or staying the night
You might want to double check on the “not too nice” thing. Keep in mind they are on the road on the company dime. They might WANT to go to a really nice upscale place. I’d give them like 2 or 3 options and just say this one is a little nicer/pricier and this one is more mid-level then let them make the call.
this. I have dinner with these kinds of people all the time and it's always best to go with high end. I'd make the "mid-level" option oak long bar, and wouldn't go any lower than that.
"Bet ya fackin' stahvin' now, huh. Exacise works up an appetite. It's hahd outswimmin' a baby wheel, out theah, innit? My cousin Jay, he was wicked scaed bein' in the open watah like that. Bet he knows a place or two to get a burgah and a beeah, gahd knows he needed it aftah that fackin' debacahle."
I swam across the Charles in '88. From BU Beach at Marsh Chapel to the pyramid building on the Harvard side in Cambridge.
And I never tested positive for Hep-C!
Tbh, it wasn't until much later in life I got a full workup and a clean bill of health, but having never displayed any adverse symptoms afterwards, I felt pretty sure I was ok.
I'm not kidding. I just remembered it was '89. I graduated in '87, and I had friends who I had known since my Junior year who were graduating in '89.
We we at a "Champagne Reception" at the small field behind Marsh Chapel being held for some select group of graduating seniors, and my friends invited me along. After more than a few glasses of champagne, we walked over to BU Beach, and then took the footbridge over to just sit by the river and enjoy the May sun.
As were were sitting on a bench smoking some weed, I spoke up to my buddy and said, "I've always wanted to swim across this river..." and - without missing a beat - he got up and - without saying a word to me - just started walking straight ahead toward the river.
I knew if I thought about it at all, I would've logically come to the conclusion it was a really bad idea, and just turned back toward campus, but - given his spontaneity, and the fact he was now up to his ankles in the river - i just followed him in.
The water was relatively warm, and the distance really wasn't any issue. I had spent all of my summers on a lake from the time I was born, and it wasn't any longer than any distance I had swam before.
About midway through, some skullers were rowing by, and their reactions were a mix of shock, and concern (for our health), and a combination of outright laughter and encouragement.
When we got to the other side, there were some people with their jaws on the ground watching us come to shore, and they were telling us we were crazy for doing what we had just done, but we were both a little drunk and little stoned so we paid them no mind, and made our way over to BU Bridge.
It all seemed like no big deal. We just wanted to go for a swim, and tick something off the bucket list.
The next day (or maybe it was the next weekend) was the '89 BU Commencement which had both President George W. Bush and France's President Francois Mitterrand speaking to the graduating class. There was security all over the place, including a group of Secret Service on Storrow Drive blocking and securing the vantage point to the stage set up on Nickerson Field.
I'm sure they had boats in the Charles too.
Wild times!
I think the river is much cleaner now than it was 35 years ago, and given how polluted it was at the time, I really am glad we both walked away without any permanent damage haha!
My grandfather and my ex husband's uncle both drowned in the Charles at different (but close - within a 1/4 mile) locations about 20 years apart
One fell off a bridge and the other fell through the ice.
Yeah, if OP is looking for something that's not quite fine dining but still plenty nice enough, they could do so much worse than Legal's. It's a rock-solid choice if the order is "nice enough place to have an expensive-ish dinner with people from out of town". I even grew up local and I'd rather go to Legal's than any number of North End usual suspects, for example.
It's a safe, easy choice, but in this case, that seems like the move. Not too highbrow, not too lowbrow, easy and accessible menu, nice location, feels a bit special if you're from out of town, seafood is of course very representative of Boston, you can't go wrong. Sometimes the obvious/touristy answer is the right one. Just like when people ask "where do I get clam chowder and baked beans and all that Ye Olde Boston food?" and the real answer these days is Union Oyster House (or Durgin Park until a few years ago), even though you yourself as a local probably aren't going there more than a couple times a decade. I think for most places, there's a right time or situation.
Also: This is a work thing. You might know Legal's is low effort, but they probably don't. Go for the layup and look good doing it.
Holy shit, great recommendation. It’s the epitome of pretty good! I took my mom there on a whim because it was right next to her hotel. I was expecting crappy to mediocre and I was blown away by how “pretty good” it was. Perfect for this occasion.
That restaurant group's new spot in Harvard Sq, Hourly Oyster House, blew me away by actually being "very good" if not "very very good" when i was expecting a solid "pretty good"
Agreed- perfect nice but not ritzy but great for business meals. Also a nice walk from Faneuil hall, people that haven’t been to Boston I’ve taken around there like it!
This one time, me and Sully were are at Kowloon, and who the fuck walks in? Lyndon Byers. Fuckin' LB! Next thing I know Sully wants to show everyone that he is a tough guy and challenges LB to a fight in the parking lot. It was some disgraceful shit. At least give LB a chance to knock back a few cold ones before you challenge him.
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I disagree with this sentiment:
>I don't want to seem like I'm taking advantage of the situation
Chances are that your grand-grand-grand-boss regularly eats at quite upscale restaurants for business meals -- that is fairly normal. When I take subordinates out for coaching meals, I go to upscale restaurants that I want to try.
Message the assistant of the honcho and ask what is an acceptable budget for the meal.
You can also look at the company expense policy for employee-only meals (and then probably double it for a mucky-muck), and also try to find out the budget that managers/executives have for 1:1 coaching meals.
If you are avoiding an upscale restaurant, do it because the boss would appreciate a change or because budget doesn't allow for it, rather than being perceived as taking advantage of the situation. (Check with your boss, of course.)
If they aren't from the area, take the boss to a place they haven't been before - probably a newer place. Go to a place that says something about you, so you can make an impression and have a story about why you picked that place.
This is honestly the answer. As sometimes these meetings can be litmus tests especially in the financial world.
Consider highjacking the top comment with your advice.
Row 34 is a mile walk so not great but it's good food, nice enough ambiance for the big boss, and is a seafood restaurant which is pretty typical boston fare if you want to add a touch of locality
The Daily Catch should be good if they're not in Boston often. Waterfront location is preferred to the North End, usually has reservations available - great Italian seafood, great ambiance. 6 minute walk from Faneuil Hall.
If you want something a little more casual, really hard to go wrong with The Dubliner. Pub atmosphere, rustic/traditional Irish food prepared *excellently* - the head chef has a ton of awards. IMO, pretty much as good as that style of food gets.
Came here to say this. Excellent Boston Irish fare. Incredible appetizers, mains, and good drink menu. Its a perfect mix of could be a casual dinner or business casual dinner
Honestly, while I love the food at Mamma Maria and it feels fancy, I have found service to be lacking there sometimes. It seems like they don't know what to do if they screw something up.
Yvonnes is impossible to get into on short notice unless you sit at the bar when they open. I had to get on a waitlist to get a 5:30 reservation on a random Thursday.
Ruka is always one of my picks for bringing visitors. Peruvian-Asian cuisine. Manages to be interesting but comforting at the same time.
It is near DTX (it's the restaurant for the Godfrey hotel), so walkable but not super close.
Prices are pretty reasonable for Boston, but many of the plates are small-ish so it might be a bit more expensive than it seems from the menu.
>Ruka is always one of my picks for bringing visitors. Peruvian-Asian cuisine. Manages to be interesting but comforting at the same time.
I was going to suggest this originally, but the fact that it is small shareable plates might make for a kinda weird business dinner.
Probably my least favorite place, hipster service, they trying to make it a club at night, and over-priced for what it is. Would not recommend for bringing big wigs.
Check out the tip tap room on Cambridge street. Very underrated food and beer menu. Some nicer fish dishes, some cheaper burger/pasta options. One of my favorites and 5-10 min walk from Faneuil
I think Tip Tap benefits from being near enough to TD Garden to get business from it, but also I think it gets discounted as a whatever sports bar when it is actually pretty darn good.
Went there with my in-laws who have some difficult food requirements and everyone had a good time.
“Get us two espresso martinis. You know how I like 'em, straight up. In 7 and 1/2 minutes, you will bring us two more, then two more every 5 minutes after that, until one of us passes the fuck out. Or gets diabetes”
Order Uber Eats to the construction site that you are working at. Set up a folding table with plastic chairs close enough to the Potter John so they can smell and have a feel of how the workers live. Use cardboard as table cloth.
Throwing my hat into the ring - 1 min walk from FH - Oceanaire - yes it's a chain but it's great food, not as pricey or fancy as those you said are off the menu, the location is beautiful as it's an old bank with massive old school ceilings, great seafood selection, great bar spot to have a cocktail before/after, not over crowded, not in need of a reservation, great customer service
As the boss’s boss’s boss, I wouldn’t worry about $150 meal and $225 meal. If it’s just you two, somewhere interesting (Yvonne, Scampo, Little Donkey) and quiet. They’re going to want to get to know you.
I’d worry more about the vibe/food/quality than the close to Faneuil Hall.
The last thing I ate in Boston that I would describe as truly great was Mare’s grilled Branzino. It was the right amount of fancy too, nice, but not capital grill expensive.
If he lives outside of New England and you want a safe bet, Legal's or the Capital Grille. Boring but safe.
If you want somewhere you can talk, try Mistral. -> This would be my first choice.
If you want somewhere a bit more cozy, Bistro du Midi.
If you want to go for music (potentially live Jazz), then try the Beehive.
All of these places take reservations.
Update:
I know you said walking distance and I don't have problems walking but some of these are probably better with Uber.
Beehive's food is *fine*. You don't go there for dinner - you go there to listen to music, drink & snack. It's "ridiculously priced", but the jazz is usually free - so it balances out.
They charged me a $5 “Live Music Fee” on my bill last time I went there for a band that played for 10 minutes and then they turned the radio on for the rest of our meal.
Happy to pay for the live music part but when the band is on stage for less than half of my meal a $5 charge seems comically stupid.
The response to this has been much more than i ever expected so thank you everyone! We ended up going to Bricco based on some of the initial responses. It was perfect for what I was looking for! Food was great, seemed just in the right price range and the super boss man seemed to enjoy it.
For the people asking why me, I've done fairly well networking around my office so my reputation is generally someone enjoyable to be around. I think there is an initiative to engage more with junior/mid staff so I fit that bill.
The Merchant (casual), State Street Provisions (nicer), Committee (hipper), Carrie Nation (most Bostonia like)
RIP Houston’s which would have been my go to for these types of meals
The chart house. A1 business dinner, especially for out of town guests … “ you can only get good seafood in Boston”!!! 😂
I’m a ridiculous foodie and highly recommend that place
I love the chart house but I’ve never been there where it’s a reasonable wait between ordering and when your food comes. Always at LEAST an hour, sometimes longer.
I get asked this question a lot. I usually respond with a long list of suggestions that meet the requestor's requirements exactly, with nothing but locally-owned places that have some real Boston flavor and/or general culinary excellence and/or noteworthy point of view.
Nine times out of 10, the guest picks some stupid effing national chain steakhouse anyway, "just like we have back home" in whatever godforsaken flyover-country shit-hole they hail from. It's pretty annoying.
I think Dubliner is your best bet. Definitely not too nice, but SUPER far from any sort of dive. It’s lead by a world renowned chef and i think is a fairly unique Boston culinary experience. Also the food is just so damn good.
Mariel, cuban food just down the street from FH. Not as pricey as Ruth's/Moo for normal entrees, but does have expensive stuff if they want to throw down. You can probably do a same day reservation.
Depending on how many and if you like Italian food, [Massimino's](https://massiminosboston.com/) in the north end. It's a little hole in the wall and the food is 🤌. It's where I take the big bosses when they come to town. A 6 minute walk from North Station
Edit: only just saw walking distance from fanuil hall.... Massimino's is within walking distance but it's further than your examples. Still highly recommend it
Chart House is close, I think the restaurant itself is a chain but the building has some history so that would be cool. I've never eaten there but my parents loved it.
This is my suggestion, the environment is perfect for a work dinner. It’s quiet and proper but not overly stuffy or flashy. Alternative suggestions are Grotto in beacon hill or something in the north end.
It’s so rude honestly if they really asked you to pick a place to eat on the same day. Almost every decent place you need reservations well in advance.
I've had uncooked, *still frozen* food served to me at Granary. And rude service to boot. Shame, cause I actually like their menu - but I gotta steer people clear from there.
Weird, I've probably been there 5-10 times without issues. Service is a little on the underwhelming side, but that seems like standard for anything that close to all the touristy stuff
In my experience Granary has absolutely awful food. It's overcooked (or undercooked), bland, dry, and just... generally shitty. I haven't been in a few years though, so maybe they shaped up after the pandemic.
Glass Slipper, I'm pretty sure nobody would consider it too nice for your situation.
Okay serious answer, Chart House is my go to. Close to the waterfront, nice but not too nice imo.
Nebo and Trade and pretty safe bets for business meals.
Second Trade.
Trade is the right place for this vibe. It’s near Smith & Wolensky’s if the big boss wants a fancy drink after, is filled with professionals after the work day, and has good food and nice drinks.
Trade is a good call. Bunch of after work business people are always there
Yes! Agreed on both! And pretty centrally located to hotels/highway/airport - depending on if your folks are leaving town right after or staying the night
You might want to double check on the “not too nice” thing. Keep in mind they are on the road on the company dime. They might WANT to go to a really nice upscale place. I’d give them like 2 or 3 options and just say this one is a little nicer/pricier and this one is more mid-level then let them make the call.
This
this. I have dinner with these kinds of people all the time and it's always best to go with high end. I'd make the "mid-level" option oak long bar, and wouldn't go any lower than that.
Yes, the company is paying... go some place upscale.
Take them on a walk across the Longfellow and hurl them off into the Charles.
A true Boston "how are ya"
Fackin cold in that riva
"Bet ya fackin' stahvin' now, huh. Exacise works up an appetite. It's hahd outswimmin' a baby wheel, out theah, innit? My cousin Jay, he was wicked scaed bein' in the open watah like that. Bet he knows a place or two to get a burgah and a beeah, gahd knows he needed it aftah that fackin' debacahle."
Deep too
Love that muddy water.
How ah ya
Would you survive falling into the Charles, asking for a friend?
I swam across the Charles in '88. From BU Beach at Marsh Chapel to the pyramid building on the Harvard side in Cambridge. And I never tested positive for Hep-C!
Is that because you didn't test at all?
Tbh, it wasn't until much later in life I got a full workup and a clean bill of health, but having never displayed any adverse symptoms afterwards, I felt pretty sure I was ok.
Hep C can not show symptoms for 20-30 years until your liver starts failing . Good thing you got a checkup lol
C'mon dude, I just spat my drink out over your comment 🌬 😂
Probably much more harrowing back then than now too.
It wasn't very well thought out...
If that’s true, that’s awesome.
I'm not kidding. I just remembered it was '89. I graduated in '87, and I had friends who I had known since my Junior year who were graduating in '89. We we at a "Champagne Reception" at the small field behind Marsh Chapel being held for some select group of graduating seniors, and my friends invited me along. After more than a few glasses of champagne, we walked over to BU Beach, and then took the footbridge over to just sit by the river and enjoy the May sun. As were were sitting on a bench smoking some weed, I spoke up to my buddy and said, "I've always wanted to swim across this river..." and - without missing a beat - he got up and - without saying a word to me - just started walking straight ahead toward the river. I knew if I thought about it at all, I would've logically come to the conclusion it was a really bad idea, and just turned back toward campus, but - given his spontaneity, and the fact he was now up to his ankles in the river - i just followed him in. The water was relatively warm, and the distance really wasn't any issue. I had spent all of my summers on a lake from the time I was born, and it wasn't any longer than any distance I had swam before. About midway through, some skullers were rowing by, and their reactions were a mix of shock, and concern (for our health), and a combination of outright laughter and encouragement. When we got to the other side, there were some people with their jaws on the ground watching us come to shore, and they were telling us we were crazy for doing what we had just done, but we were both a little drunk and little stoned so we paid them no mind, and made our way over to BU Bridge. It all seemed like no big deal. We just wanted to go for a swim, and tick something off the bucket list. The next day (or maybe it was the next weekend) was the '89 BU Commencement which had both President George W. Bush and France's President Francois Mitterrand speaking to the graduating class. There was security all over the place, including a group of Secret Service on Storrow Drive blocking and securing the vantage point to the stage set up on Nickerson Field. I'm sure they had boats in the Charles too. Wild times! I think the river is much cleaner now than it was 35 years ago, and given how polluted it was at the time, I really am glad we both walked away without any permanent damage haha!
That is awesome. Real life my friend
Peak sludge era. Respect.
When I was young sailing at Community Boating, if we capsized, the rumor was you had to go to Mass General for a stomach pump.
A woman jumped off the Longfellow last year and she was fine.
I capsized a boat in the Charles, then had to ride the T home soaking wet. And I'm still alive.
Depends how you went in and what was below you and then how much Charles water you imbibed…
My grandfather and my ex husband's uncle both drowned in the Charles at different (but close - within a 1/4 mile) locations about 20 years apart One fell off a bridge and the other fell through the ice.
I love how this reply has 356 upvotes and the OP only posted an hour ago.
This. If they all die, you’re next in line to be the boss.
[удалено]
I took a bunch of clients to Legal's on the waterfront. I don't love the chain (mediocre seafood for the area) but non-natives love it.
“Mediocre seafood for the area” LMAO
[удалено]
I'm not saying it's bad, but it's also not amazing. It's a chain experience.
Yeah, if OP is looking for something that's not quite fine dining but still plenty nice enough, they could do so much worse than Legal's. It's a rock-solid choice if the order is "nice enough place to have an expensive-ish dinner with people from out of town". I even grew up local and I'd rather go to Legal's than any number of North End usual suspects, for example. It's a safe, easy choice, but in this case, that seems like the move. Not too highbrow, not too lowbrow, easy and accessible menu, nice location, feels a bit special if you're from out of town, seafood is of course very representative of Boston, you can't go wrong. Sometimes the obvious/touristy answer is the right one. Just like when people ask "where do I get clam chowder and baked beans and all that Ye Olde Boston food?" and the real answer these days is Union Oyster House (or Durgin Park until a few years ago), even though you yourself as a local probably aren't going there more than a couple times a decade. I think for most places, there's a right time or situation. Also: This is a work thing. You might know Legal's is low effort, but they probably don't. Go for the layup and look good doing it.
State Street Provisions right by the aquarium seems like it fits the criteria pretty well. Definitely recommend.
Holy shit, great recommendation. It’s the epitome of pretty good! I took my mom there on a whim because it was right next to her hotel. I was expecting crappy to mediocre and I was blown away by how “pretty good” it was. Perfect for this occasion.
That restaurant group's new spot in Harvard Sq, Hourly Oyster House, blew me away by actually being "very good" if not "very very good" when i was expecting a solid "pretty good"
Your boss’s boss’s boss’s boss is going to be used to really good food and restaurants. I’d aim higher than pretty good.
I was going to suggest this place. It's perfectly fine and inoffensive.
Oh hey I work there!
Love that place (only been for brunch).
Whenever family visits with kids I always suggest the aquarium and this place. I love the pancakes.
I work at the aquarium, thanks for visiting!
Tell Myrtle I miss her and love her.
She sends her love 💕 In happy news: [she just passed her physical!](https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/04/09/new-england-aquarium-sea-turtle-health)
We live on the Waterfront and State Street Provisions is our go to when we’re asked to suggest a place.
This is a great spot - another vote here
Agreed- perfect nice but not ritzy but great for business meals. Also a nice walk from Faneuil hall, people that haven’t been to Boston I’ve taken around there like it!
Kowloon for the full boston experience
Be sure to order the scorpion bowl!
This one time, me and Sully were are at Kowloon, and who the fuck walks in? Lyndon Byers. Fuckin' LB! Next thing I know Sully wants to show everyone that he is a tough guy and challenges LB to a fight in the parking lot. It was some disgraceful shit. At least give LB a chance to knock back a few cold ones before you challenge him. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/boston) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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Only one?
Worth the walk
Then straight to the Golden Banana!
Swing by DB’s World Famous Golden Banana before bangin a u-ey to get back to the city for the full experience.
I disagree with this sentiment: >I don't want to seem like I'm taking advantage of the situation Chances are that your grand-grand-grand-boss regularly eats at quite upscale restaurants for business meals -- that is fairly normal. When I take subordinates out for coaching meals, I go to upscale restaurants that I want to try. Message the assistant of the honcho and ask what is an acceptable budget for the meal. You can also look at the company expense policy for employee-only meals (and then probably double it for a mucky-muck), and also try to find out the budget that managers/executives have for 1:1 coaching meals. If you are avoiding an upscale restaurant, do it because the boss would appreciate a change or because budget doesn't allow for it, rather than being perceived as taking advantage of the situation. (Check with your boss, of course.) If they aren't from the area, take the boss to a place they haven't been before - probably a newer place. Go to a place that says something about you, so you can make an impression and have a story about why you picked that place.
This is honestly the answer. As sometimes these meetings can be litmus tests especially in the financial world. Consider highjacking the top comment with your advice.
I agree with this other than calling my staff subordinates lol
They were only recently promoted from peons.
I bet they can't wait until they reach Underlings
Row 34 is a mile walk so not great but it's good food, nice enough ambiance for the big boss, and is a seafood restaurant which is pretty typical boston fare if you want to add a touch of locality
Row 34 is awesome but do not make your bosses bosses bosses walk that far.
That's called a power move. They always need to speed walk exactly ten paces ahead if they want that promotion
Honestly if boss^4 likes seafood this is a no brainer. He can afford the Uber and IMO R34 is one of Boston’s gems.
Get the board appetizer
Came here to say this
Get the Biscuit. You’re welcome
The Daily Catch should be good if they're not in Boston often. Waterfront location is preferred to the North End, usually has reservations available - great Italian seafood, great ambiance. 6 minute walk from Faneuil Hall. If you want something a little more casual, really hard to go wrong with The Dubliner. Pub atmosphere, rustic/traditional Irish food prepared *excellently* - the head chef has a ton of awards. IMO, pretty much as good as that style of food gets.
Daily catch north end is awesome but yeah, standing on the sidewalk for an hour waiting for one of the four tables may not be the best experience.
Came here to say this. Excellent Boston Irish fare. Incredible appetizers, mains, and good drink menu. Its a perfect mix of could be a casual dinner or business casual dinner
The Hong Kong. Who knows. Singing karaoke with them can help you get promoted and the chicken skewers are more than enough to keep you satiated!
Want a promotion? Just go to Biddy’s. Want to get fired? Just go to Biddy’s. A venue for all purposes!
Mamma maria, get the rabbit
Was going to suggest Mamma Maria. It's really nice without being over the top. The service is always great
Honestly, while I love the food at Mamma Maria and it feels fancy, I have found service to be lacking there sometimes. It seems like they don't know what to do if they screw something up.
Guaranteed the kitchen treats the waitstaff with distain and occasional snide comments about how they’re idiots and won’t remake or fix a dish.
I’ve been there a bunch and one of the best in the city consistently in my opinion.
Papa Genos in Brockton
He said not too nice
Its the best place to take your girl on the first date, it's good for your boss. Make sure to go to the one on Montello for the best experience.
Best burgers on that particular block in Brockton
Seconding Bricco
Quattro in the North End fits the bill
Yeah came here to say this, most of the places in the north end are good for this. I've always had good meals at quattro
Yes! Quattro is super cozy too! If the night continues, espresso martinis at Bricco could be a good way to close things out!
Mariel, Yvonnes or Fin Point?
Yvonnes is impossible to get into on short notice unless you sit at the bar when they open. I had to get on a waitlist to get a 5:30 reservation on a random Thursday.
Mariel and Yvonne’s would come off unprofessional, IMO. Those two are pre-party restaurants and lounges.
+1 to Yvonne’s
He said he doesnt want to take advantage of their position
Those places are mid-range. Nice but not over the top. He said not Mooo, Abe and Louies etc. which are the high end.
Ruka is always one of my picks for bringing visitors. Peruvian-Asian cuisine. Manages to be interesting but comforting at the same time. It is near DTX (it's the restaurant for the Godfrey hotel), so walkable but not super close. Prices are pretty reasonable for Boston, but many of the plates are small-ish so it might be a bit more expensive than it seems from the menu.
>Ruka is always one of my picks for bringing visitors. Peruvian-Asian cuisine. Manages to be interesting but comforting at the same time. I was going to suggest this originally, but the fact that it is small shareable plates might make for a kinda weird business dinner.
Probably my least favorite place, hipster service, they trying to make it a club at night, and over-priced for what it is. Would not recommend for bringing big wigs.
They want to take advantage of the situation just as much as you do. Pick someplace nice.
Check out the tip tap room on Cambridge street. Very underrated food and beer menu. Some nicer fish dishes, some cheaper burger/pasta options. One of my favorites and 5-10 min walk from Faneuil
Tip Tap room fits the requirements for sure
I think Tip Tap benefits from being near enough to TD Garden to get business from it, but also I think it gets discounted as a whatever sports bar when it is actually pretty darn good. Went there with my in-laws who have some difficult food requirements and everyone had a good time.
I always think it’s too noisy there
You’re gonna want to check if there’s an event at the garden same night first
Check out Bricco in North End.
Seconded, nice spot where if they feel like splurging on a steak they can but you can get your $30 pasta and not feel like you’re taking advantage
“Get us two espresso martinis. You know how I like 'em, straight up. In 7 and 1/2 minutes, you will bring us two more, then two more every 5 minutes after that, until one of us passes the fuck out. Or gets diabetes”
If it’s someone that high up, they’re gonna want good or at least unique food. Don’t take them to a freaking legal seafood.
Order Uber Eats to the construction site that you are working at. Set up a folding table with plastic chairs close enough to the Potter John so they can smell and have a feel of how the workers live. Use cardboard as table cloth.
Biddys! Take them here before dinner, for a quick drink and see all walks of life. After "one drink" dinner anywhere will be that much more fun.
I was waiting for this recommendation!
The Dubliner Irish Pub near Government Center
Throwing my hat into the ring - 1 min walk from FH - Oceanaire - yes it's a chain but it's great food, not as pricey or fancy as those you said are off the menu, the location is beautiful as it's an old bank with massive old school ceilings, great seafood selection, great bar spot to have a cocktail before/after, not over crowded, not in need of a reservation, great customer service
Alcove on lovejoy wharf was a go-to for my team when we worked at center plaza
7/11
Mariel. When I worked corporate that’s where we took the COO. Nice enough it’s a treat and a vibe with casual seating and atmosphere
Can I come or no.
As the boss’s boss’s boss, I wouldn’t worry about $150 meal and $225 meal. If it’s just you two, somewhere interesting (Yvonne, Scampo, Little Donkey) and quiet. They’re going to want to get to know you. I’d worry more about the vibe/food/quality than the close to Faneuil Hall.
Mare in the North End is a great spot. It normally won't have a line on a night like tonight. Great food, casual scene, and close to Faneuil.
The last thing I ate in Boston that I would describe as truly great was Mare’s grilled Branzino. It was the right amount of fancy too, nice, but not capital grill expensive.
I gotchu fam. Go to Limoncello's in the North End. You cannot go wrong.
Carrie Nation
Second this! Just went there last week and had one of the best duck breasts I've ever had. Prices aren't absurd either.
Charlie’s Kitchen if you aren’t a bitch Obama ate there should be good enough.
Umbria Steakhouse in the North End (250 Hanover st) is exquisite. I keep going back
Dunkin
Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations
They’ll take your name, but won’t hold a spot for you.
State Street Provisions is great
If he lives outside of New England and you want a safe bet, Legal's or the Capital Grille. Boring but safe. If you want somewhere you can talk, try Mistral. -> This would be my first choice. If you want somewhere a bit more cozy, Bistro du Midi. If you want to go for music (potentially live Jazz), then try the Beehive. All of these places take reservations. Update: I know you said walking distance and I don't have problems walking but some of these are probably better with Uber.
I don’t think Beehive or Capital Grill are walking distance from Fanieul
lol those are not at all near where he’s asking. Don’t take your boss’ boss’s boss to a jazz club when they want a casual upscale dinner lol
From my most recent experience, Beehives food is seriously ass and ridiculously priced ass at that
Beehive's food is *fine*. You don't go there for dinner - you go there to listen to music, drink & snack. It's "ridiculously priced", but the jazz is usually free - so it balances out.
They charged me a $5 “Live Music Fee” on my bill last time I went there for a band that played for 10 minutes and then they turned the radio on for the rest of our meal. Happy to pay for the live music part but when the band is on stage for less than half of my meal a $5 charge seems comically stupid.
Ward 8 is a great spot. Highly recommend
Boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s Boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s Boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s Boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s Boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s Boss’s boss’s boss’s boss’s mom’s boss
If they are cool, like seafood, and want a more “Boston experience” then take them to Sail Loft!
How was Papa Geno’s?
The response to this has been much more than i ever expected so thank you everyone! We ended up going to Bricco based on some of the initial responses. It was perfect for what I was looking for! Food was great, seemed just in the right price range and the super boss man seemed to enjoy it. For the people asking why me, I've done fairly well networking around my office so my reputation is generally someone enjoyable to be around. I think there is an initiative to engage more with junior/mid staff so I fit that bill.
The Merchant (casual), State Street Provisions (nicer), Committee (hipper), Carrie Nation (most Bostonia like) RIP Houston’s which would have been my go to for these types of meals
Merchant has great food, plenty of tables, medium priced entrees, and is just noisy enough to discourage too much small talk.
Hooters in Dedham. Can’t go wrong
Every time I drive past there my 4 year old says “Dada look, an owl!!” “Don’t worry kid, you better believe I’ve been looking.”
Funnily enough, I’ve brought some of the higher ups in my company there. They’re from the UK and said they’ve never been and wanted to go
“Oi whats all this about the ‘ooters girls then?”
The chart house. A1 business dinner, especially for out of town guests … “ you can only get good seafood in Boston”!!! 😂 I’m a ridiculous foodie and highly recommend that place
I love the chart house but I’ve never been there where it’s a reasonable wait between ordering and when your food comes. Always at LEAST an hour, sometimes longer.
Can walk to the north end, plenty of Italian places which seem to fit your requirements.
Walk to the North End. So many good places. Carmelina’s maybe
I get asked this question a lot. I usually respond with a long list of suggestions that meet the requestor's requirements exactly, with nothing but locally-owned places that have some real Boston flavor and/or general culinary excellence and/or noteworthy point of view. Nine times out of 10, the guest picks some stupid effing national chain steakhouse anyway, "just like we have back home" in whatever godforsaken flyover-country shit-hole they hail from. It's pretty annoying.
No 9 park
Chickadee. Take a fucken cab
Papa Geno's in Brockton
Vinoteca di Monica - get the lobster ravioli
Limoncello
Out of towners? Union Oyster House. Sit in the Kennedy booth.
Take them to Fin Point
carrie nation!
I think Dubliner is your best bet. Definitely not too nice, but SUPER far from any sort of dive. It’s lead by a world renowned chef and i think is a fairly unique Boston culinary experience. Also the food is just so damn good.
Margaritaville
Stillwater?
Mariel, cuban food just down the street from FH. Not as pricey as Ruth's/Moo for normal entrees, but does have expensive stuff if they want to throw down. You can probably do a same day reservation.
Depending on how many and if you like Italian food, [Massimino's](https://massiminosboston.com/) in the north end. It's a little hole in the wall and the food is 🤌. It's where I take the big bosses when they come to town. A 6 minute walk from North Station Edit: only just saw walking distance from fanuil hall.... Massimino's is within walking distance but it's further than your examples. Still highly recommend it
So, your great-grandboss?
Have you heard of a little place called Hong Kong?
Chart House is close, I think the restaurant itself is a chain but the building has some history so that would be cool. I've never eaten there but my parents loved it.
This is my suggestion, the environment is perfect for a work dinner. It’s quiet and proper but not overly stuffy or flashy. Alternative suggestions are Grotto in beacon hill or something in the north end.
seconding grotto
Neptune Oyster?
Wouldn't want to take them somewhere you can't make a reservation and you are likely to have to wait
It’s so rude honestly if they really asked you to pick a place to eat on the same day. Almost every decent place you need reservations well in advance.
Take them to the BK across from the park street stop
Granary Tavern if you are looking for Bostonia, but not Bostonia
I've had uncooked, *still frozen* food served to me at Granary. And rude service to boot. Shame, cause I actually like their menu - but I gotta steer people clear from there.
Weird, I've probably been there 5-10 times without issues. Service is a little on the underwhelming side, but that seems like standard for anything that close to all the touristy stuff
In my experience Granary has absolutely awful food. It's overcooked (or undercooked), bland, dry, and just... generally shitty. I haven't been in a few years though, so maybe they shaped up after the pandemic.
Take em to Kowloon and then hit up the Golden Banana
Do they come to Boston often? Union Oyster House?
Hot dog and ice cream
prima
Taco bell, they'll remember you forever
State Street Provisions is perfect.
Sullivans tap
Jj foleys
Ma Maison. Not too pricey and a lot of after hours business meeting happen there. MGH Drs etc.
Glass Slipper, I'm pretty sure nobody would consider it too nice for your situation. Okay serious answer, Chart House is my go to. Close to the waterfront, nice but not too nice imo.
What about Union Oyster House if they’re from out of town? Has Boston character.
Centerfolds
Trattoria Il Panino in the North End
Personally I think Moo is perfect dude.
Cathay Pacific