Boston Restaurant Tips by diver-x

John Harvard's Brewhouse: Chicken Pot Pie to die for John Harvard's Brew House Review

John Harvard's is tucked in the basement of a building at 33 Dunster St. It's dark, but cozy and always crowded. Of course they make their own beer and the beer menu changes just about daily. The food is pretty good too, but stick with the comfort food like the chicken pot pie and the meatloaf. Most of the steak dishes are pretty good too.

The service tends to be a bit spotty though. Not that it takes too long to get service. For me it comes too quickly. More times than not, your dinner will come while you're still eating your appetizer which always ticks me off. In some cases we have received the appetizer and the entree at the same time! I don't know if it's management policy to get the tables to turn over more quickly or if the waitstaff simply isn't trained well enough, but it is a problem. Try ordering you appetizer then order the entree when you get your appetizer.

Favorite Dish: The BEER!!!

Also, the chicken pot pie is very good!

Address: 33 Dunster St., Cambridge

Comparison: about average

Directions: Harvard Square

Phone: (617) 868-3585

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Pub/Brewery

The Sunset Grill & Tap: The Sunset Grill Sunset Grill Review

The Sunset Grill probably has the most extensive beer list in the Boston area, with over 400 micro-brews and over 100 on tap. The beer menu is divided by countries. It's a great way to tour the world!

Favorite Dish: The mudslide pie is a frozen delight!

We like to get a bunch of appetizers here and tour the beer menu. They also have some very nice wines.

Address: 130 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134

Comparison: about average

Phone: (617) 254-1331

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: Eclectic/International

Lambert's Marketplace on the Common: Great Deli for Lunch!

Lambert's is by far my favorite place to grab a quick sandwich in town. It's a small grocery store with a deli counter, a salad bar, a few tables and a long wall with counter seating. The guys in the deli make some of the best sandwiches around, named after the local streets. A sandwich list is posted on the wall, but make sure you grab a paper menu at the counter to see the full list. They also have hot soups served in either cardboard or bread bowls. If you get a sandwich, make sure you ask for a side salad, either pasta salad, cole slaw or potato salad.

Also, check out the refrigerator case for Boar's Head brand meats & sausages, cheeses and other tasty prepared foods. The grocery section has fresh fruit, gourmet bread, crackers, cookies. Lot's of stuff to grab, go and snack on later while you're touring around town.

Favorite Dish: All of the sandwiches are fantastic! They give you a choice of breads and I like the braided roll (with sesame seeds) the best.

Address: 140 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Lambert's is right across the street from The Boston Common on the corner of Tremont St and Temple Pl., not far from Downtown Crossing. Look for the cheery green awning.

Phone: (617) 338-6500

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Deli

Rock Bottom: Surprisingly Good Downtown Brew Pub Rock Bottom Review

Believe it or not, my husband and I had never been to First Night in Boston on New Years Eve before. We'll probably never go again, but one good thing that came of it is another first: We tried Rock Bottom, a "Brew Pub" in the Theater District, downtown. Really it's a restaurant that makes its own beer, but the beer (and the food) is in fact quite good.

We're not big fans of most restaurants downtown, because a lot of them cater to tourists who probably won't be back anyway and consequently a lot of restaurants are overpriced and just not that good. While Rock Bottom is a little pricier than what we'd normally like to spend for a burger & beer (burgers start at around $10), we cut them a little slack on the price because they're probably paying through the nose for rent in that location.

We stumbled into the place looking for a table and the hostess told us the wait would be about 25-30 minutes, so we took a pager and went into the bar. The tables in the bar area are self-seating and a table opened up right away so we decided to eat in the bar instead. Our waiter in the bar noticed us immediately, returned our pager and took our beer order straight away.

Favorite Dish: I started with the Scotch Ale, which is served in a large brandy glass so you don't get as much as a regular beer. But Rock Bottom is kind enough to post both specific gravity and alcohol content of each of their brews and with an alcohol content of just under 10%, I got at least as much bang per ounce as my husband, who got the IPA. Wonderful flavor in both of these brews, which were cask-conditioned and served correctly at room temperature. For the next round, I got the Stout, which again was smooth and flavorful.

For food I got the honey-mustard chicken burger and my husband got the hickory burger. Thumbs up on both, though the food did take a bit too long to get to us. But our waiter was working the bar with only one other person (it was PACKED), so we didn't think much of it until he came by and apologized profusely for the wait and offered another round on the house. We certainly could not complain!

Address: 115 Stuart St., Boston, MA

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Theater District

Phone: 617-742-2739

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

The Border Cafe: Without a doubt, the Border... Border Cafe Review

Without a doubt, the Border Cafe in Harvard Square, Cambridge is a perennial favorite. I've been coming here for 15 years now and though the restaurant has had its ups and downs, the combination of food and atmosphere keeps us coming back.

Where else can you get a such a delicious meal for under 10 bucks?? The food is priced for the student crowd but you'll find plenty of old-timers like me there too. It's always crowded, but if it wasn't, it wouldn't be good, would it? You will probably have to wait in line outside in order to wait in the bar for a table (they don't take reservations), but it's worth it. The margaritas are quite nice too!

Favorite Dish: I always get the Chicken Guadelajara. Chicken breast stuffed with chorizo sausage and smothered in melted cheese. And it comes with a great rice dish and the most heavenly biscuit in the world!

Gone but not forgotten is the Mexico City Ravioli which was ravioli stuffed with spicy chorizo and had a lip smacking spicy cream sauce with sweet red peppers. Don't know why they got rid of it, it was so delicious!

Address: 32 Church Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Church Street in Harvard Square, Cambridge (off Mass. Ave) across from Starbucks.

Phone: 617.864.6100

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Mexican

Sonsie: See & Be Seen Sonsie Review

We stopped at Sonie's for a late lunch while strolling on Newbury Street. I'd been there before for drinks, but never for food, so I was curious. We found the food to be pretty good, but also pretty overpriced. The service was rather inattentive as well. Sonsie's is known as a "See and Be Seen" kind of place and if that's your goal you won't be disappointed. Lots of poor little rich kids, internationals and rather bored looking artsy types & fashionistas. Well, my curiosity was satisfied as was my appetite, but I don't think I need to go back. Others may find it interesting.

Favorite Dish: I had the spicy Cubano sandwich, which was ham, bacon & cheese on a tastey home-made roll with fried plantain chips. It was quite good, but should have been about 30% cheaper (it was $9.50).

Address: 327 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115-2710

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Back Bay area

Phone: 617-351-2500

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Kelly's Roast Beef: The Original Roast Beef Sandwich Kelly's Roast Beef Review

Kelly's Roast Beef claims to be the first restaurant ever to serve a roast beef sandwich, on July, 3, 1951. I find that difficult to believe, but I do believe they serve the best.

Kelly's has 5 locations: Revere, Saugus, Natick and Danvers. . . And now their newest location right in my back yard in Medford!!! I've been to the Natick and Danvers locations, and both have beautiful marine aquariums right in the middle of the restaurants. The new Medford place is small but serves the same tastey sandwiches.

Favorite Dish: Warm and juicy, with bbq sauce or horseradish, their sandwiches always satisfy! Get some onion rings too!

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: The Danvers location is on Endicott St, right near the Liberty Tree Mall.
The Natick location is right next to Jordan's Furniture on Route 9.
See the web site for the other locations.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: American

Website: http://www.kellysroastbeef.com

Medieval Manor: A Royal Feast Medieval Manor Review

The Medieval Manor has been a Boston institution for over 30 years. You feast and drink while being entertained by the king and his court. Or you could find yourself becoming the entertainment.

Most folks go to the Manor for a special occasion - a birthday, anniversary, engagement. . . The jester, oaf and wenches do their best to find out whose birthday or anniversary you are celebrating and those people are often "volunteered" to say, joust with loaves of bread on stage or maybe perform "I'm a Little Teapot" for the king.

The king's permission is required to leave the dining area for any reason - while the king is in the room. Luckily, there are several "breaks" when the king leaves and you can take a trip down the Canterbury Trail or step out for a smoke if you need.

The jester, oaf, wenches and court musician do a fine job performing, singing and entertaining. They also keep the pitchers of beer and wine flowing to your table.

Favorite Dish: The menu is standard: Bread, beef ribs, steamed mussels, salad, roasted chicken and vegetables are served without the benefit of silverware. Luckily, you get plenty of napkins!

The dinner, show and your beer & wine with dinner are all included in the $40 admission. Pre-dinner drinks at the bar are extra.

Address: 246 East Berkeley Street, Boston

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: The Medieval Manor is located in a not very fashionable section of the South End. Parking is available for $5, but best bet is to take a cab or limo if you're with a group.

Phone: (617) 423-4900

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.medievalmanor.com/

Jose's Mexican Restaurant: Jose's Mexican Restaurant Jose's Mexican Restaurant Review

This is one of the few Mexican places in the northeast that actually offers mole sauce. The friendly people that work there speak Spanish and the food is very fresh. The salsa is obviously made there and is delicious.
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From Rt 16 east, take a right onto Ringe Ave, then take a right onto Sherman St. Jose's is just past the railroad tracks on the right.
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Favorite Dish: Anything! Fajitas, enchaladas, tacos. . . Yum!
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Address: 131 Sherman St., North Cambridge, MA

Comparison: about average

Directions: Jose's is in a not-very-traveled neighborhood in the north of Cambridge, in the Fresh Pond area.

Phone: 617-354-0335

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.josesmexicanrestaurant.com/

Commonwealth Brew: Commonwealth Fish and Beer... Commonweath Brewing Co. Review

Commonwealth Fish and Beer Company (formerly Commonwealth Brewing Company)
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Commonwealth Brew is very close to the Fleet Center so it's pretty packed when the Celtics or the Bruins are in town. The beer is great and the food is consistently good. My only complaint with this place is it's loud - they have wood floors and copper-top tables, so there's lots of echos.
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Favorite Dish: The beer!

Address: 138 Portland Street, Boston, MA 02114

Comparison: about average

Phone: (617) 523-8383

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: Pub/Brewery