Page 140 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston

138  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT
AND DRINK

For a number of years, Boston had a city delight in using fresh New England
reputation of serving stodgy, old New produce to create their innovative dishes.
England fare. Today, however, this is no The top restaurants serve a medley of
longer the case, as the city now has a wide styles, such as French and Italian, often
variety of exciting places to eat. Along using other Mediterranean and Asian
with more traditional cuisine, Boston accents. For other flavors of the world,
restaurants show many diverse influences, Boston has many Indian, Southeast Asian,
with dynamic immigrant restaurateurs Latin American, Caribbean, Chinese, and
and innovative chefs transforming the Japanese restaurants, which are located
local restaurant culture. Celebrated chefs in small neighborhoods and fashionable
also bring classic Boston cuisine to life for streets alike. Boston has an excellent
modern palates, and eateries all over the selection of cafés and bars as well.

restaurants are in the Financial including beer and wine, after
District and Downtown. Those 2am, so bars and most restau­
in Back Bay, North End and rants will close by then. There
South End tend to be trendy are some very late night
and youthful, while eateries restaurants in Chinatown and
in Cambridge are generally Kenmore Square, supported
more relaxed. The websites mostly by the ravenous crowds
bostonchefs.com and boston. leaving dance clubs and bars.
menupages.com are useful On Sundays, restaurants begin
for menus and prices. serving alcohol at noon. Cock­
tails at brunch are very popular,
especially in the South End.
Opening Hours
The types of meals served
The old-world elegance of the dining room at many restaurants vary Paying and Tipping
at Grill 23 (see p147) according to the estab­ Most restaurants with table
lishment and its location. service will bring diners their bill
Eating the Bostonian Way
Many downtown restaurants at the end of the meal. The bill
If your lodgings do not include are open only for breakfast will have a 7 per cent state and
breakfast, you can join locals on and lunch, while some finer local meals tax added to the
their way to work and have a restaurants are open only for total. All restaurants with table
bagel and a cup of steam ing dinner. Some restaurants close service expect diners to tip their
coffee in one of the city’s many for a few hours between lunch waiter, who is paid a very low
delis and coffee bars. Most and dinner, while smaller family­ rate with the expectation that
places also offer pastries, run places may stay open tips will fill out their salary. The
muffins, coffee cake, tea, and throughout the afternoon, standard tip is 15–20 per cent of
fruit juices. Diners offer richer, making them a good bet for the pre­tax bill. If service is espe­
more substantial breakfasts eating at more unusual times. cially good or bad, adjust the tip
of bacon, eggs, potatoes, and Generally, lunch is served accordingly. If paying by credit
toast, with a “bottomless” cup from 11:30am to 2:30pm, and card, guests may include the tip
of coffee – one with free refills. dinner from 5:30 to 10:30pm. in the charged amount. Fast food
Lunches in Boston may also Massachusetts state law restaurants may have optional
be a simple sandwich or a larger prohibits the sale of alcohol, tip jars next to the cashier.
meal in a restaurant, depending
on how much time travelers
have, and how hungry they are.
Business districts abound with
lunch options – join office
workers at a lunch counter in
Downtown for a “sub” or a grinder
(long rolls stuffed with meat).
Dinner is the biggest meal of
the day for Bostonians. Many of
the most exclusive and elegant The Barking Crab restaurant, near downtown Boston (see p144)

138-139_EW_Boston.indd 138 09/01/17 12:08 pm