Go around the corner to Columbus Ave and to Coda, a few doors down from the corner of Dartmouth. Basically a bar with good food. At that hour, it will be quiet enough.

Anyone have any experience with this place? We hear it is quite good.

No. 9 Park does lunch (or did last year) between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

APPLE DISHES

Ball Square Cafe in Ball Square, Somerville, does brunch 7 days a week.

What hotel are you staying at?

Another option is Coda, technically in the South End but just around the corner from the Back Bay convention hotels. It's on Columbus Ave. near Dartmouth St. Not that crowded at lunch time and tables can be pushed together to accomodate 12. Not normally considered a business lunch destination - too informal but maybe not for your group. Same owners as the Salty Pig.

GAZPACHO

Abe & Louie's has a good brunch menu and is located quite close to the Hynes. Not a lot of veg options though.

Petit Robert Central is quite close and serves all day.

GAZPACHO!

Gazpacho

Slim's suggestion of Davio's is a good one and would fit your needs.

See this recent thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/829793

The closest quality places are those in Kenmore Square. Eastern Standard and Petit Robert Bistro would fit. Both are a modest cab ride from the MFA.

What price range?

Coda on Columbus Ave. near Dartmouth St. fits just fine.

Petit Robert Bistro would be great.

-----
Petit Robert Bistro
468 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215

Second C. Hamster on seafood places near your hotel. Atlantic Fish is the best choice in the immediate area.

A good bar choice is Coda in the South End. It's about a block from your hotel.

-----
Coda
329 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Atlantic Fish Co
761 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Second Coda. It's four blocks away.

http://codaboston.com/

-----
Coda
329 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

We were there on Jan.14 and second lescaret's comments. They had a special menu due to the street festival up the block but it was consistent with the comments above. Ceviche was excellent and they had a very inventive soup of wild mushroom and brie. There was a line of people outside waiting for a table.

According to Open Table, Towne is open. It appears most other larger restaurants that are normally open on a Saturday are also open.

Locke-Ober has a series of private rooms on its upper floors.

-----
Locke-Ober
3 Winter Place, Boston, MA 02108

Second C.Hamster's suggesions. Also nearly by are Da Vinci, Erbaluce and Bistro du Midi.
And if you can walk four-five blocks or so, restauarnt row in the South End has several good places including Hamersleys, Aquitaine, etc.

-----
Hamersley's Bistro
553 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

Da Vinci Ristorante
162 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

Bistro du Midi
272 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Back Bay restaurants tend to be high-proiced and not very interesting. L'Espalier appears to have slipped somewhat since its move to the Madarin Oriental Hotel but it still is the best of the bunch. Mistral is also quite good.

For more interesting options, look to the South End a short distance asway. Hamersley's Bistro is reliably good. I also like Aquitauine and Union. Try doing a search for South End.

-----
L'Espalier
774 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

Mistral
223 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02116

Aquitaine
569 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118

Hamersley's Bistro
553 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

In that case, what you probably need is someplace close to a stop on the Red Line (www.mbta.com) There are interesting places at several stops such as Central, Charles and even downtown (transit time from downtown to Harvard is about 10 minutes). Try board searches on those areas.

Where in Cambruidge are your tickets? Helmand is at the eastern end of the city and not near public transit.

The State Room, a function space atop 60 State St, does that sort of thing well.

Try Ball Square Cafe in Somerville.

-----
Ball Square Cafe
708 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144

What kind of food do you like/want and what is the budget?