by johnlannon » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:49 pm
Do be careful in The North End. As with any area frequented by tourists, there are plenty of places that take the low road and dish out generic, uninspiring, American-Italian banalities. If you do happen to venture into the North End, avoid the huge, super-crowded joints. Pomodoro, on Hanover St. is casual, small and delicious (strangely, the owner is Irish, but she runs a couple of excellent restaurants in the greater Boston area). If Mike's is too crowded (and it will be), try Modern Pastry. The cannolis are just as good and the crowds are smaller.
If you're a beer advocate, do not miss The Publick House in Brookline. The beer offering is amazing and the use of beer in the kitchen is brilliant. Rodenbach on draft is not something to be taken lightly.
Your best dining bet would be to cross the Charles and head over to Cambridge. Try Oleana on Hampshire Street between MIT and Harvard. The Mediterranean (mainly Turkish) inspired cuisine is unique, perfectly prepared and served in a charming setting. If you're feeling like French, find the Craigie Street Bistrot (between Harvard and Porter squares off of Massachusetts Avenue). The place is super small and in the basement of an apartment building, however the attention to detail is second to none. The chef is as anal-retentive as they come, demanding pristine ingredients and often offering such precious rarities as cockscombs and sweetbreads.
Good luck. Hopefully the miserable, late-winter fog will lift in time for your visit.