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Boston Restaurant Blog -- January, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Ten Romantic Restaurants in the Boston Area
It may still be January, but Valentine's Day is not all that far off. And since many restaurants get booked quickly for dinner that evening, it is probably a good idea to start to think about where you might want to go for a romantic meal that night (that is, if you do plan to go out for Valentine's Day, of course). There are countless eateries in and around Boston that could be classified as "romantic," but many of them are popular places and hotspots that can be anything but romantic, with high noise levels, artificially high prices, and huge crowds. So what are some of the less crowded dining spots in the Boston area that might be good for a Valentine's Day meal? A number of such spots can be found within this site, including the ten mentioned below.
Within the Boston city limits, one restaurant that is a nice place for a romantic dinner is pretty much in the heart of the downtown area of the city, yet remains a bit under the radar. 75 Chestnut is a classy spot on a side street in the flats of Beacon Hill, making it virtually unknown to tourists and other travelers to Boston, but locals certainly frequent this inviting little place, which features a mix of traditional American and New American dishes. Nearby is Grotto, which is also on Beacon Hill and is a quiet spot that is below street level and features a nice mix of Mediterranean and Italian fare at moderate prices. Further out (yet still in Boston) is a somewhat similar restaurant in Roslindale called Sophia's Grotto, which has dark nooks, lots of exposed brick, and some terrific Mediterranean dishes, including Northern Italian cuisine. For a more exotic experience, there is a sultry and moody place a short distance south of downtown Boston called Shanti, which resides in the Savin Hill section of Dorchester. It is a quiet, cozy place with some of the best Indian fare in the Boston area, and the prices, while slightly higher than some Indian spots, are still pretty reasonable.
Heading north of Boston, you'll find a completely hidden Italian restaurant in Lynn called Antique Table, a place on a quiet street that looks almost like a rural Italian villa inside. The combination of wooden ceiling beams, mosaic lamps, and quality Northern and Southern Italian food make this a very special spot. Further north, in the old mill city of Lawrence, there is a deceptively large Mexican restaurant on the edge of the downtown area called Cafe Azteca that has colorful murals, quiet dining areas, and some of the best Mexican food you will find in all of Southern New England, let alone the Boston area.
If you are looking for romantic restaurants west of Boston, Vecchia Roma in the Nonantum section of Newton is a good place to start. It is a bit small, even with its two rooms, but it is a great "date" place, with excellent food, pleasant music, comfortable tables, and very nice people who work there. Closer to Route 495 (within sight of it, actually) is a Mediterranean spot in Marlborough called Allora Ristorante that is a bit pricey compared to the other restaurants mentioned here, but well worth it, with its elegant interior, lakeside views from the outdoor deck (not that you'll be out there on Valentine's Day), and outstanding dishes that include sausage rapini and pappardelle bolognese.
Heading south, it is tough to go wrong with Mezzo Mare, an Italian eatery across from Nantasket Beach in Hull. Cozy, dark, and quiet, this spot is mostly a favorite among locals and is indeed hidden away from the water unlike other restaurants in Hull, but it is one of our favorites, with all kinds of meat and pasta dishes available at decent prices. Closer to Route 24 is a Spanish place in Easton called Loco Tapas and Wine Bar, which can definitely get pricey, but may be the most romantic spot of them all on this list, with its deep red walls, Spanish arches, warm lighting, and copper bar. And oh, then there is the food, which includes some excellent tapas as well as regular-sized entrees.
We easily could have included another 10-15 eateries on this list, but these 10 seemed to stand out a bit. If you have any favorites for Valentine's Day, please let us know about them in the comments section here, thanks!
Related Blog Entries: romantic restaurants
Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on January 26, 2011.
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