Anyone had any experiences at this new restaurant?

How is Asterisk?

Are any of these restaurants good for a family with young children? We'll be there on Saturday night and looking for a casual place with good food. We're staying at the Newport Bay Club on Thames Street.

Resurrecting this post to see if there are any other recommendations. Not real keen on eating Chinese food. Any other ideas for a quick dinner close to Paramount Center tonight?

I am charged with finding a reservation for a group of 6 (3 couples) for dinner this Friday night. Since it's short notice, most of the restaurants I am interested in are booked. I have narrowed down the available restaurants to Harvest, EVOO and Lumiere. Opinions? The husbands in the group are colleagues, and we range in age and food comfort levels, so I feel like we need a middle ground that will please.

I am not a fan of Summer Winter. Very blah hotel restaurant, overpriced. The bar there is okay. Nice lunch options are limited, but I would recommend Dalya's in Bedford for food quality. The atmosphere is upscale and quiet. My favorite dish is their speciality-warm shrimp toast. Capital Grille is good idea, but the food there is not unique. This is not a new place, but Lexx in Lexington is decent for a special lunch.

Burton's Grill opened recently in Burlington. Just mentioning it because it's convenient. I haven't had a lot of dishes there (only the salmon burger and regular burger), but have had good experiences.

So I targeted Area Four, but when we walked up to the door, we were told that it was closed for a private event. Fortunately, Catalyst was right across the street. Catalyst was wonderful, but it's not what I would have chosen for kids. I would have rather been there with my husband. They loved the food-it was delicious, but more than I wanted to spend on this type of evening. The decor in there was great.

It was also too far from Central Square the Improv. I am good with directions, but I was not familiar with this area and had a tough time finding the parking garage. Then when we left Catalyst, I had lost my sense of direction and had to ask a couple people how to get to Central Square. The area around Catalyst is DEAD on a Saturday night. Our walk to Central Square was...interesting. It was too far, especially in the heat. If I had to do it over again, I would have picked a more casual restaurant in the heart of Central Square so that there was less walking, less getting lost, and more activity. Live and learn!

The highlight was definitely Toscanini. Wish I could go there more often! Thanks for all the suggestions!

Toscanini was perfect! I had the goat cheese brownie. My nieces had fresh mint and bananas foster. Great atmosphere too. So active. Line moved fast.

Took the family into Harvard Square this morning for breakfast. I was aiming for Leo's or Zoe's since those are what I had read about most, but we stumbled upon Tory Row. We were seated immediately on the patio and enjoyed our breakfast. I loved the location for people watching. Service was prompt and very pleasant. We started with the Greek yogurt, fruit and granola bowl and the grilled blueberry muffin. Both were perfect. We also ordered the steak and egg tacos and French toast. The taco presentation was wonderful. They were covered with a beautifully fresh pico. They were not spicy despite the description of spicy aoili. They were good, but lacked flavor. The French toast was very good. Nice thick pieces served with a not-too-sweet blueberry compote. I asked the waiter what the interested spice in the compote was. After asking the chef, all he learned was that is was "blueberry jam." Out of a jar?? I also appreciated that when I asked for a couple of scrambled eggs for the kids, they did not hesitate. We were served a nice sized cheese omelet (because I asked for a little cheese), and we were only charged for one egg. The meal was reasonably priced for a non-diner place. Our meal was $27 for two adults and two young children. We will definitely return to try other items on the menu (the egg, tomato, bacon and arugula flatbread sounds great!), for the convenience, fresh air and refinement.

Looking for recommendations for three classy ladies attending an event at the Garden on Saturday night. I guess North End is a good option, but we aren't restricted to that neighborhood. Criteria are quiet (able to have a conversation without yelling/straining to hear), wonderful food, no budget, close to the Garden, valet parking.

I second 80 Thoreau in Concord and Sel de la Terre at Natick Mall.

I enjoyed Catalyst's food. Burger looked amazing. Pea ravioli was delicious. I also loved the decor. Impressive, quiet enough for conversation, great bar, tables are spaced well. However, I did not like the location. I had a tough time finding it, and it was DEAD in that area on a Saturday night.

Anyone been there? Is it worth it? It's my birthday, and my husband made a reservation there.

Anyone been to 2nd floor of Legal Harborside? Is it worth it?

There's a dinner on Friday July 27th. Anyone going?

I have not been to Toscanini, but have heard lots about it. Looking forward to it!

Is there a place to get ice cream or dessert close to Improv in Central Square?

I like the idea of walking...I think it will enhance the overall experience since they'll get a feel for the city by being out in it.

I like Cuchi Cuchi, but I agree that it's a little more in terms of price and experience than what I was looking for. Pizza and soft serve sounds like the speed I was going for. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Great suggestions! Thank you. I want to be "that aunt," but is the Middle East really appropriate for a 13 and 15 year old?

I'm thinking of taking my two teenage nieces to ImprovBoston in Central Square this Saturday night. Looking for a fun restaurant that would appeal to them. They are not picky eaters.

Thanks for the update. Trying to figure out where my big birthday dinner will be next month, but haven't been inspired yet. Thought this might be it, but not sure now. Last year did the tasting menu at Craigie and wondering what could top that.

Thanks to all who responded! I think they ended up at Abe and Louie's that night. Now the investor (long-time, somewhat happy investor) is back in town. My husband is now asking for a place that he doesn't have to yell to be heard. Steak and seafood are still safe bets, but I would like to hear opinions on Bistro du Midi. I think Sorrellina is quiet, and that's an option, but it seems that people think that Grill 23 is loud, right?

If you go to their website, they are selling tickets for a dinner on 6/16. www.whiskboston.com

I am really interested in trying one of these. How was the seating arranged? Were you seated at communal tables with other diners or by yourselves? Was the wine pairing done well? How long were you there start to finish? That menu you had sounds incredible!

My husband and I are going to the Celtics game tonight. What are some good restaurants options? We don't want anything that will be long and drawn out.

I have decided to take my mom to Dante for her birthday. I realize the food might not be the greatest, but my mom's request was outdoor seating with a view. (She's from Florida, so she thinks these items are easy to come by.) I have read the recommendations for other restaurants in the area. I'm wondering if any of these would be a good destination for dessert or dessert drink.

I love Hammersley's, but I would rather avoid the cab ride. By the way, my husband said he definitely wants steak, but it doesn't have to be at a steakhouse.

They also offer the pastrami on Saturday. What a treat! I love this sandwich on marble rye. For a more everyday option, I like the roasted turkey sandwich with cranberry and mayo, no stuffing. The staff is really great here.

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Neillios Gourmet Farm
53 Bedford St, Lexington, MA

My husband needs to take an investor to dinner tonight near the Pru. The investor is from NY. He enjoys high end restaurants, but that being said, tonights meal doesn't need to be at the most high end place. I would rather find a spot worthy of the Chowhounds. I know there are quite a few newer places in the area, but with limited time, I was hoping the board could help me compile them. The investor enjoys seafood and healthy options, but isn't picky. My husband likes steak when he goes out as well as other foods. The investor is a fun guy who likes a little bit of a scene. I just mean that they don't need to go to a super-quiet, traditional spot.

Thanks for your help!