crankypants uk's Profile
fun, not too pricey dinner in cambridge/somerville?
Another location you may want to check out - the B-Side Lounge, on Hampshire between Central and Kendall Squares. The cocktails are great (try the Stardust made with Parfait Amour) and the menu changes seasonally. Unsure if they have if this autumn, but I used to go for the chicken pot pie at least once a week. The bartenders and staff are a bit indie/rockabilly but are all really friendly. I used to work about 3 blocks away and we were there every Friday night. In fact, a former colleague is moving on to a new job and all are going to the B-Side after work.
I think the B-Side is one of the things I miss most about Boston... After my friends, of course.
Expensive Restaurant with a Private Dining Room
How many guests are you hosting? Many of the really expensive restaurants have PDRs that are quite small, or offer more of a Chef's table option for 8-10. If you are looking for more than that, some options to consider:
Spiaggia
Nomi
onesixtyblue
Les Nomades
Custom House
Everest (though their PDR options remind one of a hotel ballroom)
Il Mulino (maybe not quite as expensive as you're hoping, and the service can be lacklustre but they have several different pdrs to chose from)
mK
Avenues
Northpond
Expensive Restaurant Near Palmer Hilton
I third Custom House - it's about a 10 minute walk from the PHH. I had four groups go there within the past 3 weeks and they all raved about it.
Weekend Recs (Loop Area)
You may want to try Sepia for some interesting crafted cocktails (N. Jefferson) and also Martini Park (it's in River North - just north of the loop) which is a new "hot spot" but appealing to the 30s - late 40s crowd rather than the early 20 somethings. Think more adult (and expensive) cocktials. For brunch, in the loop, I would recommend either Orange on Harrison -orange essence coffee, ever-changing pancake flights, fresh queezed juices, frushi or Wishbone (in the West Loop) for great southern style breakfast/brunch options. Their cheese grits taste like mac n' cheese and I am a sucker for their red eggs.
Dinner near Marriott (magnificent mile)
If you like old-school Italian, I would definitely suggest Volare, like Jenny has done. It has the best vodka souce in the city (in my opinion). The place is relatively small, the tables are close together and it's always bustling. I would suggest going early or making reservations. Even during the week you can expect to spend 30-60 minutes waiting for a table for two.
Nice but "noisy" Restaurant Recommendation
Some suggestions you may want to consider:
Avenue M - it can get a bit noisy and they have the upstairs section where you might be able to have a semi-private feel, while overlooking the bar area downstairs.
Sepia on N. Jefferson - I've now been there twice and have been thoroughly impressed. It has an amazing wine list, creative cocktails to start and I really enjoy the décor and ambiance.
