Boston -- Classic or Dirty Water?

The Kendall Hotel is in the MIT area right near the Kendall T stop. Other than that, I know nothing about it.

you're not looking for cheap are you ;)

Harvard Square Hotel sounds ideal, really - perfect location (ok, the immediate site is a little weird) in that it's right by the river/HSq amenities/T, and really inexpensive, considering. And you don't need to stay at the Charles to eat at Rialto. The Inn at Harvard might be a little "nicer" but seems a bit unnecessarily pretentious in style. Kendall Hotel looks very cute, but I see no reason to pay more for it. I guess I just want assurance that HSH isn't a dump.

How far to Inman Square from such places?

Also, what about the Harborside Inn? That seems a good budget-conscious choice if you want to stay close to all the touristy stuff - and this is for tourist purposes - but I think Cambridge would probably be nicer.

Inman Square proper is probably a 20 minute walk from Harvard Square; the 69 bus runs right through it.

I don't know anything about Harborside Inn BUT it's right next to State Street??? AWESOME DUDE.

The bus is from Harvard Square? Is Inman closer to MIT or about the same?

Nighttime in that area = Quincy Market and the neighborhood of 8 million bars and restaurants right next to it. If you like going out at night, THAT is the place to stay as you can stagger home without having to reserve $25 for cabfare.

Hamersley's is also very good, if less interesting perhaps, and the atmosphere might be more suitable

Aujourd'hui?

What are you actually looking for in a "high-end" restaurant? Do you want to stay in Cambridge or are you willing to cross the river?

Here are some suggestions for places in Boston proper that I like (may not necessarily fit your definition of "high-end"):

Smith & Wollensky - Ginormous steaks-a-go-go (avoid if vegetarian) located by the Park Plaza hotel at the corner of Stuart and Columbus 3 blocks from the Arlington stop on the green line.

Kingfish - A Bobby Flay seafood restaurant located at the end of Quincy Market closest to the Aquarium.

L'Espalier - I have probably butchered the name and I've never eaten there but this is supposed to be crazy nice and crazy expensive. I'm pretty sure it's French. I believe it's on Newbury St but I'm not 100% sure.

The Red Fez - This place is pushing the definition of "high-end" but it's a really great Mediterranean restaurant on Washington St in the South End.

Brasserie Jo - This is a French restaurant in the Colonnade Hotel on Huntington Ave. They have awesome appetizers and awesome martinis.

Mama Maria - This is a super high-end Italian restaurant in the North End; I don't remember what street it's on but it has a coat-and-tie dress code (or at least it did back in 1994).

Actually my office in Back Bay is kind of surrounded by nice restaurants so I can take a walk around tonight and report back on all of the places I'm forgetting.

If you want to stay in Cambridge there's Rialto at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square and Harvest off Brattle St, also in Harvard Square. Oh, and there's also The Elephant Walk (French/Cambodian) up Mass Ave past Porter Square.

(xpost: I've never eaten at No. 9 Park but I've heard it's outstanding. I've also heard that Aujourd'hui is massively overrated.)

the red house in harvard square is super super cosy (especially the small rooms w/fireplaces)

oleana is supposed to be really wonderful for a special dinner. that's in cambridge too, but closer to inman. it's mediteranean.

google both, they should pop right up.

upstairs on the square is great for that too.

haha was just going to say rialto and harvest.

I've also heard that Aujourd'hui is massively overrated.)

I've had that sense too. I'm relying on a semi-recent namecheck, but it's based upon an historical selection.

Upstairs on the Square might not be special enough in ambience. But the food is quite good, and it's really lovely for brunch overlooking that square (which is called what again?).

I haven't been to Oleanna, but I remember getting really excited reading the menu.

I haven't been to the one in Charlestown so I can't speak to it. He's got another restaurant on the border of Back Bay and the Theatre District called Bonfire that I walk past all the time but have never eaten at. Also the Ritz Carlton has a place called Jer-Nae ("journey": yes, I know) that I've never eaten at but is great for drinks (solely because they have Absolut Peppar and hence you can get spicy vodka tonics there).

(xpost: Stewart, I think you should investigate Chez Henri on Shepard St. in Cambridge. IIRC they don't cost a mint and it's a cool place.)

Pomodoro near Coolidge Corner, in Brookline. Our new fave.

oh, and is there any really good sushi to be had in boston?

am i going to have problems finding good vegetarian food? i kind of feel spoiled because in london a lot of the 'fancy' restaurants have started adding veg menus as options, so i'm not only faced with health food places.

we'll probably do at least one nice/fancy dinner, but will probably be eating out at less expensive and less fancy places quite a bit as well. oh, and the ice cream!

xpost-- we are such dorks both posting to the same threads on our laptops

Uni, as I mentioned above, is probably your best bet in terms of invention. Otherwise, I don't know, but I don't think it's really a Boston strength.

as for non-fancy places, I would be sure to eat at Durgin-Park. both East Coast Grill and Jasper White's Summer Shack have fancy and non-fancy (and pricey and non-pricey, the latter especially cheap) food in non-fancy but fun settings.

COFFEE AT ALGIERS

PLENTY OF VEG PLACES-TRY THE GRASSHOPPER OR BUDDHAS DELIGHT

But I'll probably just end up going up there around the time you do Gabbneb, which has been an annual event for the past six years. You need to work your sources for Green Monster seats for me.