Anthony's Pier 4 Restaurant, 140 Northern Avenue, Boston, (617) 482-6262.
World-renowned seafood restaurant featuring New England lobster and scrod.
Enjoy fine views of the harbor and skyline. Recipient of Wine Spectator
magazine's Grand Award for one of the world's top wine lists. Free parking.
Reservations accepted. Open weekdays, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., weekends until
midnight.
Café Budapest, Copley Square Hotel, 90 Exeter Street, Boston,
(617) 266-1979. Fine Hungarian cuisine in elegant Old World setting. Violinists
and pianists perform nightly, adding to the romantic atmosphere. Specialties
include veal goulash, stuffed cabbage, and sauerbraten. Formal, price range
$16-$33. Lunch, Monday-Saturday 12-3; dinner, Monday-Thursday 5-10:30; Friday-Saturday
5-midnight; Sunday 1-10:30.
Chez Henri, One Shepard Street, Cambridge, (617) 354-8980. A modern
French bistro with a Cuban twist, located near Harvard Square. The menu
features updated versions of classic bistro cuisine with a Latin accent,
such as steak with yuca frites. The bar serves Cuban-style tapas
(empanadas, grilled homemade chorizo) until midnight. See review.
Serving dinner nightly and Sunday brunch.
Ciao Bella, 240A Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 536-2626. House specialties
include fresh swordfish chop, a daily pasta offering, grilled salad, and
veal chop. Modern Italian decor with marble, ceramic tile, and ash woodwork.
Sidewalk patio. Lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Valet parking Tuesday
through Saturday nights.
The Elephant Walk, 900 Beacon Street, Boston, (617) 247-1500; 70
Union Square, Somerville, (617) 623-9939. Cambodian and French cuisine.
A Boston Globe critic called the menu "so intriguing that one is tempted
to order one dish after another just to explore all those flavors, all those
nuances." Open Monday-Thursday, noon-10; Friday and Saturday until
11 p.m.; Sunday, 4-10.
Felucca, 1032 Beacon Street, Brookline, (617) 264-7100. With white-washed
walls and azure ceiling, Felucca evokes images of a Mediterranean seaside
village. The refreshing ambiance is carried over into the menu, where wood-grilled
meats, marinated vegetables, and fresh seafood, robustly flavored with North
African spices, form the basis of many dishes. Lunch and dinner daily, and
Sunday brunch from 11:30 to 2.
Maison Robert, 45 School Street, Boston, (617) 227-3370. Treat yourself
to contemporary French food with Asian accents created by new chef Jacky
Robert, while enjoying the grandeur of the formal setting inside Boston's
Old City Hall. Downstairs, the more relaxed café is the spot for
imaginative bistro fare at provincial prices (including monthly prix fixe
selections). Award-winning desserts. Fine wine list. Outdoor terrace and
cozy indoor bar. Open for lunch Monday-Friday, 11:30-2:30; dinner Monday-Saturday
5:30-10:00. Reservations suggested. Valet parking.
Providence, 1223 Beacon Street (near Coolidge Corner), Brookline,
(617) 232-0300. American interpretations of European classics, with an emphasis
on wood grilling, are served in an ornate dining room. The specialties include
a cured and smoked veal brisket "pastrami-style" and a chestnut
chocolate marjolaine. Informal. Price range: $12-$20. Open Tuesday-Thursday,
5:30-10; Friday and Saturday, 5:30-11; Sunday, 5:30-9:30. Reservations accepted.
Santa Barbara Café, 1 Arrow Street, Cambridge, (617) 497-5109.
Committed to healthy eating as a lifestyle, not a fad. Features health-conscious
cuisine, with nutritional information provided on the menu. A casual, quiet
spot in Harvard Square, open for lunch and dinner. Signature dishes include
the veggie handroll, spicy Thai pasta, low-fat Caesar salad with grilled
chicken, and fresh soups.
