Oak Room.

What restaurant? Did you already talk with as many neighbors as possible?

I was referring to Mon-Friday on the "off hours"(9-11) at Mike's and Charlie's. Charlie's is great if you're first in line on Saturday morning(closed on Sundays). Mike's is usually pretty clear before 8:30 on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Metroplois is also a good call if you get there right at 9am on either weekend day.

Luci- Sorellina is near Copley and would be far more memorable than Aquitane. The room is beautiful and food and service are top notch. I enjoy Aquitane a lot, but for a special occassion, I'd take the girls to Sorellina. Either way, enjoy the evening.

Thank you Allstonian. I'm not religious but, "God helps those who help themselves." Give us a rough idea pnk, and demonstrate that you've done some homework. It's hard to help you when you give us absolutely nothing to go on.

Hey Divine- Welcome back from the other side of the time tunnel. Charlie's Sandwich Shop and Mike's Diner are good options in the South End for greasy spoons.

The "robot" restaurant, that's awesome! Now all the customers who treat servers like "wind up dolls" with an aversion to tipping have somewhere to congregate. What a great way to get customers to appreciate the human beings who serve them. Thank you for sharing.

I don't like the meatball sliders at all. I tried them 3 times and they are always dry. I also don't like the furniture and decor in the bar/lounge area. It reminds me of a Ramada Inn during the late 70's.

I loved the creativity that the "young guns" on the line brought to the table over the last few years. Their nightly specials and passion for their craft have been fun. Everything from curry to new desserts have come from a few of the talented young guys who are leaving, not Barbara. I'll miss them, their food, and their engaging, entertaining personalities.

Martha- I hear you. When I'm craving an old-fashioned breakfast I go to Charlie's sandwich Shop or Mike's Diner in the South End, and I go between 9-11 to avoid the madness. Your service won't be rushed and you'll be able to linger and savor your coffee and paper. Enjoy.

Eric Buxton

Yes, it is Carah from Locke Ober. She's the new AGM @ Scampo.

Bob- Fun thread. I'll bet some people will name more than ten...(As they say, "There's one in every crowd.")

- Raw Cherrystones: Neptune
- Cherrystones stuffed with blue crab and chorizo: East Coast Grille
- Truffled lobster gnocchi: # 9 Park
- Melt-in-your-mouth lamb chops: Toro
- Meaghan's spinach and feta omelet: Charlie's Sandwich Shop
- Rabbit fettuccini w/fennel and green garlic: Butcher Shop
- Blue cheese-stuffed shrimp, very lightly fried: Locke Ober(bar only-Miss you Carah)
- Scallops: Franklin Cafe'
- Lobster bisque: B&G Oyster
- Anything Youji, the Japanese master at Uni makes. He's amazing!

I'm on board with SSjim, Dolores and Meffa Babe.

Cheap people suck.
Cheap verbal tippers suck and are phony.
Cheap people who rationalize their cheapness suck more.
Cheap people who pass judgement on servers without walking a mile in their shoes. They've never been there and they'll never "get it." You can't take it with you, overtip and make someone's day.

Hey Mark. Thanks for the follow up. Glad you had a great time.

I agree always a gamble, and not one I'm willing to take any stock in. Yelp is too JV for my liking.

Great post Otter. One of my favorite sandwiches ever was from Arthur's Paradise Diner on Bridge Street in Lowell. The sandwich was called the Boot Mill, named after an old mill next to the authentic diner car. The rolls were fresh, soft and lightly grilled. The top of the rolls were golden brown, and if you got there when they first opened, you could smell the fresh bread, delivered only moments ago. The first layer of the sandwich was perfectly-cooked home fries with a little bit of grilled onions. The home fries were soft and provided a perfect foundation for the sandwich. The next level was an egg cooked any way you like it. The egg was followed by bacon, ham or sausage, or a combination of all three. A slice of cheese topped off the sandwich and pulled all of the ingredients together when it melted over the meat. I used to put a little ketchup on the top of the warm, soft bun before pressing it onto the rest of the ingredients and diving in. The home fries and incredibly fresh rolls made "Arthur's Famous Boot Mill Sandwich" one of the best experiences of my life. I'll send a gift certificate for a Boot Mill sandwich to the first person who can tell me if they're still open, and still great. Thank you.