<p>I would have a hard time choosing between Boston and DC for my “best meal”. BUT you might want to see about some hidden jewel in a place like Ashville or Saratoga Springs. I will say that we went on a 7 college trip last year and our BEST meal was in the most unlikely place on our trip (a barbecue place in Richmond…Big D’s…I think that was the name). Let’s put it this way…there will always be good restaurants in those big cities, and other opportunities to go there, perhaps…BUT if there is some terrific place in Ashville, or Saratoga, you might miss it!!</p>
<p>Out of Northampton, for 5-star food at 3-star prices, everyone recommends the Montague Night Kitchen.</p>
<p><a href=“montaguenightkitchen.com”>montaguenightkitchen.com;
<p>I am a New Yorker by birth, so I already have my list of “must eats” in NYC</p>
<p>
Well…? Please share!</p>
<p>Come on with the list of your favorites…please.</p>
<p>In Phila, it seems to me you really <em>must</em> do the Philly Cheese Steak for your street food. They don’t really send me (let the flames begin), but it is not just the food, it’s the lingo, the atmosphere. While in line, you can learn to correctly place your order “wit’” or “wit’out”, etc. S was thrilled to go to Pat’s as it has been featured on one of his Comedy Central favorites (Insomniac?). The authentic locale is Pat’s. S and H had appetites sufficient to do a taste-off of Pat’s vs. Geno’s , which is kitty-corner across the street.<a href=“Cheesesteak - Wikipedia”>Cheesesteak - Wikipedia;
<p>For Baltimore, the hands-down greatest 5-star is The Oregon Grille. It would easily hold its own with the best in NYC. It is not downtown, though, but on the northern outskirts. The in-town restaurants (not chains) that are considered the very best are Brass Elephant and Tio Pepe (Spanish, not Mexican). Also Eurasian harbor.</p>
<p>Best street food is probably Lexington Market, a large fresh food market with a lot of takeaway vendors also. If you like oysters OTHS, this is your best buy.</p>
<p>But if you’re coming to Baltimore, you really should do crabs, and that means Obrycki’s Crab House, on Pratt Street near Little Italy.</p>
<p>I agree with dudedad–stay away from the Inner Harbor.</p>
<p>Oh and I forgot!! If you do like Mexican, check out Holy Frijoles (on “The Avenue” in Hampden neighborhood). No reservations, no booze but there’s a tavern across the street and the gal will come get you when your table’s ready :)</p>
<p>In NYC, I only look for Deli and Pizza. I know there are all kinds of incredible places, but I miss the foods of my youth.</p>
<p>So, the Stage, Katz, Dotters, John’s, Grimaldi’s are the places I go in NYC.</p>
<p>I love the cheese steak, lobster roll, crab suggestions. I am a true believer in eating “local”</p>
<p>concerneddad,</p>
<p>I need to do an intervention: Try the 2nd Avenue Deli!!! (2nd Ave about 10th st) If you like chopped liver it is the absolute best I have ever tasted. Then you walk up to 14th avenue and get a hot bialy. Then you eat the whole thing sitting on a bus bench. It is the ultimate street meal.</p>
<p>YUMMMM</p>
<p>Concerneddad, you have a good list in NY, but have you been to Zabar’s or Fairway’s?</p>
<p>The Stage was in the family – years ago. I will see about the others. Oh yeah, for smoked fish it is Barney Greengrass</p>
<p>Boston–great seafood is The Barking Crab, literally right on the water. No Name is still good, but I remember when it didn’t even have a sign. Legal’s has also gone upscale from its original spot in Davis Square where people ate at family-size tables and used plasticware.</p>
<p>For good Mexican food, Anna’s Taqueria has the best (and very filling) burritos for $3.</p>
<p>A really good meal, you say? Geez, there’s always Locke-Ober’s, a Boston institution. Then there’s Jacob Wirth’s for good German food. On a more continental note, try 75 Chestnut in Beacon Hill (owned by the same establishment that runs the Cheers bar of TV fame).</p>
<p>PM me if you would like suggestions close to where you’ll be.</p>
<p>Close to NYU at 3rd Ave and 11th Street check out the Roll-N-Roaster. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.rollnroaster.com%5B/url%5D”>www.rollnroaster.com</a></p>
<p>By coincidence, today’s Globe has an article about a guide called Carnet. The female half of the duo that checks out hotels and restaurants for the guide was turned away from Locke-Ober because the couture jeans suit she was wearing was still a jeans suit and thus not appropriate. Men wearing non-descript khakis, however, were okay. So beware dress codes. </p>
<p>I remember Legal Seafood from when it was really a take out fish store in Inman Square with long tables and long benches where you did indeed eat with plastic cutlery. The store burnt down and Legal Seafood re-emerged as an upscale restaurant, eventually becoming a chain. The food is still good though. Sometimes, they bring in chefs from abroad to offer different ways of cooking seafood.</p>
<p>Some other good places to try in Boston: 9 Park, Radius, Four Seasons.
In Cambridge, the roast duck for two at Salts on Main Street (half way between MIT and Harvard) is wonderful. If one wants to strike out, go to Blue Ginger in Wellesley for Asian fusion cuisine. The chef, Ming Tsai, has his own TV show.</p>
<p>Good call on Grimaldi’s. Lived up to the deafening hype of having the best pizza in the country. And the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge was amazing, even in the miserable heat…</p>
<p>“I need to do an intervention: Try the 2nd Avenue Deli!!! (2nd Ave about 10th st) If you like chopped liver it is the absolute best I have ever tasted. Then you walk up to 14th avenue and get a hot bialy. Then you eat the whole thing sitting on a bus bench. It is the ultimate street meal.”</p>
<p>Younger d. returned from New York on Sunday night with a dozen real bagels! Just a reminder of how culturally impoverished we are out here, with our jalapeno/sun-dried tomato missiles. Her chaperone, supposed wheat-allergic, spent the two weeks with regular visits to Zabar’s.</p>
<p>Wow Little Mom…Anna’s. That’s THE spot for the best cheap food outside of Boston (Brookline) for all my friends and me. I don’t even want to think about how many burrito’s I’ve had from there in 3+ years of high school.</p>
<p>Stretch–
What HS? S and D went to BHS and the entire student population lives on Anna’s. The Anna’s management is also very generous in donating burritos to events at the HS.</p>
<p>For equally cheap food in NYC, I love getting the special at Gray’s Papaya (three locations). For about $2.25 or so, you get two great hot dogs and a drink of your choice.</p>
<p>The vendors in DC sell hot dogs and the more DC-ish half-smokes for cheap.</p>
<p>Word to the wise - DC is installing more red-light cameras and camera speed traps. Feed the meter too, great source of revenue for the District…</p>