Had it for dinner tonight and a few times over the last month (takeout taxi at work each time, so some travel time). Better than the other Mexican place at Faneuil Hall, but no better than most average Mexicanish places. Tacos seem to be the best thing, but nowhere near the quality of a La Verdad (for example). They had some smoked buffalo type wings that were pretty good, but I would pass unless I was standing right there and craved Mexicanish.

Auction prices are generally significantly cheaper than retail, which are in turn significantly cheaper than restaurant prices, so if the auction price is 50-60% of Prezza's price, I would consider that pretty impressive pricing by Prezza.

Since you are not getting any responses, I will chime in. Haven't been but Yume Wo Katare in Porter Square seems to get all of the press for Ramen (with long lines). Nothing spectacular downtown that I know of. IMHO Gourmet Dumpling House is the best place for Szechuan (and Taiwanese) downtown, although New Shanghai, despite the name, has a very good Szechuan menu. Giacomo's is still good for Italian if you don't mind the wait. The top two places, which are expensive, in the N. End are IMHO are Mama Maria and Prezza. Not great Thai, Greek or Indian downtown, although good Vietnamese (Xing Xing) and Malaysian (Penang). Hope that this is helpful.

More special occasion than L'Espailer?... French Laundry?

I believe L'Espailer has a mother's day brunch each year. Would be nice to support them after they were closed for 10 days due to the bombing (and obviously the food is awesome).

Made the long trip to Arlington to try SD. Really a great addition for Arlington. Was excited for the fish fillet with Szechuan sauce, but it was not their stongest dish. Good, spicy, somewhat numbing, but did nto have the depth of flavor of the GDH version (I swear they put crack cocaine in the dish at GDH. No one does it quite as well). I was really impressed by the ma po tofu, the pea pod tendrils with garlic and the twice cooked pork. The garlic eggplant was a little sweet for my taste, but very flavorful. Soup dumplings were nice and soupy, but the shandong dumplings had more flavor (maybe if they did a pork and crab soup dumpling, which are my favorite, there would be a little more going on in the flavor department). I was most impressed by the service. We had 4 adults and 5 kids/babies and everyone was so nice. Three major spills during the meal and the staff took it all in stride (giving my wife a full free refill on a glass of wine a toddler knocked over). Big tip. We never bring kids anywhere other than the 99, and almost backed out at the last second, but this place was so inviting and the food was way above average, so I would definitely do it again.

Craigie on Main (Nose to Tail)
Coppa (Charcuterie)
West Bridge (Foodie goodness)
Island Creek Oyster Bar (Seafood/Oysters)

Went again on Friday, the Peas & Leeks (w/sweetbreads) and the Lamb & Fava were exceptional appetizers and the two fish mains we had (fluke & trout) were perfectly done and the flavors were more complex than the lamb for 2 we had the last time. This place is really hitting on all cylinders. The 4 Snakes in the Grass that the two of us had didn't hurt either.

Are you saying that Peach Farm isn't good because there are white people there, because I think it is very good at what it does (anything from the tanks and S&P especially), or just that the white people who go there don't know what to order? I can agree with the second, but don't see how the number of white people has anything to do with the first.

I honestly don't think any of them are touristy. GDH clearly gets the most press and DC has the best XLB (but IMHO worse food generally than GDH or Taiwan Cafe). There are always a significant number of Asian people at all 3, and I for one don't find the number of white people to be a significant indicator of anything (other than perhaps the amount of press that is read by non-Asians a restaurant gets). I'm not Asian and think I am a pretty good judge of Chinese food, Italian food, Mexican food, etc. It actually bothers me greatly the implication that the more people who look like me are in a Chinese restaurant, the worse it is.

Well now I have to go. After trying this dish a number of places, GDH is still my favorite, but always looking for another contender.

I have. It's good, but carbonara can be bonkers good, so it's a little bit of a let down.

The Tajarin con Piselli e Prosciutto is one of the best dishes in the North End. We've probably been their 15 times and my wife gets it every time. I always try something different and end up annoyed I didn't get it. That being said, most everything is above average for the N. End.

I love a number of places in the North End for their coffee and ambiance, but the single best cappuccino I have had in Boston is at a place in the West End called Equal Exchange. Not much ambiance, but I swear there is crack cocaine in their espresso beans. They just make a more flavorful cup than anywhere else I have found. It's sort of an odd duck place, but everyone I know who tries it thinks it is amazing.

Federal Wine and Spirits has the best selection in Boston by far, including numerous lowlands. Joe there knows everything. Not cheap but right near Government Center and State T stations.

Sliced Fish Szechuan Style at Gourmet Dumpling House got me hooked on the ma la, and is still my favorite preparation.

I've had the tasting menu at all 3 and was at Craigie last night. I think L'Espailer wins on 3 of 4 of your requirements (their drinks are well executed, but No.9 has the best bar). The food is the best executed and the service is by far the best in Boston, IMHO. Menton would be the best competitor on anniversary tasting menus but I don't love the ambiance.

Thanks. My wife hates Catalyst (she says it feels like a '90's hotel restaurant). I have never been there, so can't comment, but she would kill me if I arranged a big dinner at a restaruant she hates. We live close to Puritan, so I think we will be there a lot anyway. Really excited to go.

If they can do smoked/cured fishes and pastrami right, there will be no stopping this place, but takes a real commitment to do those at the highest level.

Good recommendations. Thanks. Is the Floor 2 fancy Legal's in the Seaport any good? I'm done with regular legals, but someone gave me it as a recommendation.

I have been asked to come up with a few recommendations in each of Cambridge and Boston for a not too stuffy celebratory business dinner for 10 (5 persons and their spouses). I've got the Cambridge list (below) which may be helpful in what I am looking for, but having a hard time thinking of similarly really good but fun Boston places. All recs are welcome.

Cambridge:
Craigie
Oleana
West Bridge

MC and others would disagree with me, but, other than the XLB which are great, I enjoy the food at Taiwan Cafe and Gourmet Dumpling house much more than the food at Dumpling Cafe. I took my foodie aunt to each and she agrees (not that that means anything and we got served some past razor clams at Dumpling Cafe that day, which probably clouded the judgement). I don't think you are off-base here. I think Dumpling Cafe is 1000X better than your generic suburban Chinese restaurant, but not the best place in Chinatown.

No. 9 Park is very good. More of a Beacon Hill vibe and the portions are infinitely small, but I think the execution is unmatched other than at L'Espalier or Menton. Deauxave is OK, but not Craigie or No. 9.

Dinner Burger - JM Curley
Conant's Island - West Bridge (it's a drink, but it's that good)
Fried Pigs Tails - Craigie on Main

Hip and steak in this town probably means the new Del Frisco's in the Seaport. I don't like the scene or the steak (Grille 23 on steak alone is probably better, but not as hip). If you said instead of hip and steak, you wanted hip and pig parts, I would highly recommend Craigie on Main. That is a much better restaurant and the kind of place I would have wanted to go to for my 30th, but their steak is not a top item on the menu.

I like Lumiere, but it doesn't feel as special as the other restaurants mentioned above. May just be the ambiance of the storefront location, but I also think the food is not on the same level (although signifcantly cheaper).

I love L'Espalier, but if not there or Menton, I would say No. 9 Park.

Wonderful question. Maybe cheesesteak doesn't come up because some people here call it a steak and chees, but in any event, I would love to know the answer.

I can see how people might think there is some funk to the crab (I don't think either is using jumbo lump and I think different pieces of crab really have different tastes), but I like the crab XLB at both. I'm not too concerned about freshness given the amount of XLB both of these places go through each day. They both tend to have lines out the door at peak hours and everyone seems to have XLB on their tables.

Finally tried the chicken szechuan style at GDH. Fresh tasting, good batter served with something similar to fried leeks. A tasty dish, but filled with bones in every bite (something I am ok with, but thought it worth noting) and not a hint of ma la. The latter was disappointing for me because I was looking for something similar to chongqing chicken with tons of heat and sichuan peppercorns, but I guess will have to explore the menu further. We also had sliced fish, beef w/ longhorn peppers and mini juicy dumplings with pork and crab, all of which my companions loved.