I like Open Table and have never had a problem. Occassionaly OT will show no availability, but if you call you can get a table. The mobile app is great. It knows where you are and automatically shows restaurants in they city/area you are in.

If you prefer to call, go ahead and call.

I thought of Carroll's, too. It seems like a good choice for this group. The food is not going to win any creativity awards, but everything I have had there was solid, cooked well, and fresh. Even seafood has had no freshness problems. I don't know anything about the chicken fingers. The dining room is fine and the service is good. And, yes, the wine pours are good.

http://carrollsmedford.com/

I second the sandwich bar suggestion. Would, of course, carve up the chicken in advance.

Alternately, you could do something like a lasagna in advance and heat it up.

I don't know if you have your heart set on eating downtown, but a more convenient option would be the Legal's in the Burlington Mall.

Mary Lou's is on Morrison Drive, which is basically what East Bay turns into as you leave the downtown area. It's only about 10 minutes away. I've never eaten there, but driven by it.

Mamma Maria in the North End. They have private rooms. I had my daughter's graduation dinner there.

Legal's Harborside 1st floor bar is pretty lively, also their roof bar there. It's on the water, too, and close to your hotel.

A real special occassion type place is Top of the Hub. The food is really pretty good, although you do pay extra for the view.

I definitely second Legal Harborside 1sr floor. It's the first place I thought of.

We always go to Brasserie Jo before the symphony.

Was the owner the charming woman that greeted you when you came in?

I've never seen it in the U.S. either. I have a little lift from a trip to Italy years ago. I only need it for one thing I make, which I don't make very often.

If you're in the mood for Mexican, Casa Romero is pretty close. Also, Atlantic Fish is just about across the street.

I just heard that 98 Provence in Ogunquit is closing and the building is for sale. It was one of my favorite restaurants. Does anyone know why? They seemed to do a good business and had just expanded.

I went a while ago. I had a nice cod dish. Food was good, but it does seem overpriced. Was it always that pricey or is my memory failing me? This new rendition witht the big bar area seems to be trying for more neighborhoody casual vibe, but the prices don't jive with it.

I second Fresh Pond in Arlington. It's pricey, but fish is always fresh.

Bistro 5 is great. It's not cheap, but not as expensive for what you would pay downtown for food of similar quality. Too answer the question of a previous poster -- They stay in business because they have a loyal following and it's usually pretty busy! On a recent weeknight there the place was buzzing. Medford has relaxed its liquor laws to allow smaller places to sell hard liquor. I asked the waitress if they were going to have a full bar and she said she thought it was in the works.

I've been to A Tavola, too. It's more casual than Bistro 5 and the food is not as elegant. The food is very good, more rustic than Bistro 5. It reminds me somewhat of Il Casale. Prices are lower than Bistro 5, too.

Had recent nice bar meals at the new Vine Brook Tavern in Lexington and Il Casale in Belmont.

I think the best thing about it is the view and big deck. Not such a huge plus in Feb. I've been a few times and the food is OK and the service is OK, but once the service seemed kind of stand-offish.

Not really working the room, but who can forget the host who always wore a tuxedo at The European..

I think Locke Ober had a room for two. Mamma Maria has a room for up to four. I suppose you could book it for two if it was slow or you met a minimum expenditure. I don't think either had a secret entrance. But, you could just wear your fedora pulled down low over your face as you walked in and out.

I've been there recently, too. I had the cod cassoulet and thought it was very good. We sat at the bar to eat. There was just the one bartender, so the service was a bit slow, but not horrible. I would go back.

I like Market at the W Hotel for pre-show dining.

The Herald reports that a "Eddie Merlot's" steak house is planning to open in the Westin by the convention center in 2014. That will make 3 steak houses in the Seaport area -- them, DelFrisco's and Morton's. They are a small chain:

http://www.eddiemerlots.com/

Apple crisp with vanilla or a rum-based ice cream. Easy to make a big batch ahead, then just heat up. I like the recipe in Julia Child's "The Way to Cook."

I find the opposite. I don't think the larger stores have much more variety. I'm often surprised how little they have. Most of the extra space is taken up by non-food items. They're just too big. If you forget something in a department you have to walk across the whole store to get it. I walk a lot, but when I go food shopping I want to get in and get out fast.

The closest two S&S's (Malden and Fellsway) to that one are huge Super Stop and Shops. The Route 60 one is a good option for people like me who can't stand those giant stores. Winchester S&S is also an option for a smaller one.

I've had rosemeary growing both inside and out in plain old dirt and it has done fine.

Bistro 5 in West Medford does it.

http://www.bistro5.com/node/133

Maybe dinner at L'Espalier and then walk over to Top of the Hub for a drink and dance.