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Comments
yay!
yay!
Why "yay"?
Not sure why "yay". Yes, as a chain (albeit a small one) they catered to tourists and conventioneers primarily. But I think the food and service was much better then the crap trap known as "Legal" where I've had "ok" fish, horrid sides and their "bread".
I'm jaded though-I used to go to the original on 3rd and Oak in Portland, OR in the late 70's/early 80's (when I was underage, of course) and Bob McCormick was an ever present and friendly figure. And my girlfriend at the time worked at the second location. But in all the years of going back was always good quality and friendly service.
So "nay" on your "yay".
Do I know you?
I had a BF who went to Lakeridge who hung out there ...
There's still a Faneuil Hall
There's still a Faneuil Hall location. I think the area around Park Plaza changed alot thanks to One Charles, The Arlington and the W. Something more upscale will probably do well.
Legal Plaza
Perfect spot for a Legal Seafoods, the dunkin donuts of fish places.
Differences between Legal's and Dunks:
I've never gotten sick from eating at Legal's
There are only about 1/1,000,000,000th the number of Legal's vs. Dunks in the greater Boston area.
I haven't seen garbage strewn on every street/sidewalk/construction site bearing the Legal's name and logo.
But seriously folks, I'm sad to see McCormick and Schmick's go. Good fish, and the menu disclosed where it came from (so I could choose local!). They were a good competitor to Legal's. I hope the Faneuil Hall location doesn't follow suit. Not that I ever go to F Hall.
I'm Sad
My first home is Boston was in Bay Village and we used to eat here one in a while. It was pricey for us but we enjoyed it. The restaurant I really miss in that area was Laurel (that place was great, but I digress).
I've been there a couple of times since we moved to the 'burbs (JP). What never failed was the quality of the protein was always top shelf. The wait staff was very good. Run like a good steakhouse, but a fish place. Too bad there's no place left for that. Hopefully it will be another example of creative destruction.
I like Oceanaire
another chain but has impeccable service, in a grand former bank building with great food. I scoffed at going there the first time, but have been back , because of the quality and service.
Park Sq loss
That whole neighborhood went downhill when the Tar Bar left. Or maybe that's just me.
I believe that area started going downhill
after they closed the Hillbilly Ranch and the Playboy Club.
Laurel was good!
They had something like $10 entrees during the week. And they were good.
I miss Laurel so much!
I was in a book club that met there once a month for quite a while. It was quiet, cheap and the food was good.
So perfect, there's already
So perfect, there's already one there!
or perhaps a restaurant?
or perhaps a restaurant?
Something tells me that the
Something tells me that the pending opening of Eataly is going to shutter quite a few of these "overpriced chain" restaurants. My guess is P.F. Changs will be next, and heck, even though it's a tourist's mecca, I could see Cheesecake Factory being in trouble once Eataly it opens.
As for the Legal in the Pru, I think that could be vulnerable to closing as well. I've never had a bad meal at Legal, and have nothing bad to say about them, but I think Eataly is going to be a sponge that soaks up a lot of business in that area of the Back Bay, so any nearby restaurant that isn't already solidly popular could be next.
Towne, Summer Shack, Lucca, Haru, Brasserie Jo, 5 Napkin... you're all on watch.
Pru Legal is gone.
The Copley one is still there.
CF and PF
The CambridgeSide Galleria has a PF Changs and a CF also. So if the ones in the Pru close, it won't be a total loss for tourists since they can go there. But I'm hard pressed to believe they would close in the Pru.. just simply because of the foot traffic nearby.
(and truth be told.. I can't tell you how many times out of town guests have been excited to be near a CF.. *eye roll* of course, it says alot about my guests but still.. the CF does have a powerful brand and draw to it)
College kids
A lot of my friends in college wanted to do Cheesecake Factory for their birthdays and other special occasions, usually specifically because they liked the large decadent desserts and the ability to browse in the mall before/after.
I don't really like Cheesecake Factory, but it's one of those standardized-experience places that thrives in environments where there's a lot of people who are unfamiliar with their surroundings.
Cheesecake factory is the
Cheesecake factory is the favourite spot of landwhale tourists, with giant bags of leftovers their only means of propulsion down the sidewalk.
Harsh, but true.
Harsh, but true.
Only 20 year olds with wild metabolisms and folks who have committed themselves 100% to embracing obesity as a lifestyle can eat there.
No kidding... I used to live
No kidding... I used to live right behind the Pru, and when presenting out of town guests with amazing dining options in town, more often than not they'd say, "what about that Cheesecake Factory that we passed driving in?".
Even had a couple of friends visit for New Years Eve a few years ago, and all they wanted to do was go to PF Chang's. I second your eye roll.
Hard Rock Cafe is another one
A friend was in from San Jose and had booked a group into the Hard Rock ... all her Boston area friends on facebook howled at her until she swapped it to the more convenient Legal Seafoods. Sheesh!
I think we're lucky, here
In the greater Boston area, and maybe New England, generally, we have so many great, independent restaurants. In much of the country, people really depend on mediocre chains. It's kind of sad, really.
Reddit will tell you that the
Reddit will tell you that the Pru mall footcourt closing is the greatest tragedy since the marathon bombing, since now the one day of year they go to the back bay to the anime convention, it's the only place they went for food (despite spending hundreds of dollars to get to/stay there, anything but sodium packed Panda Express is "too expensive").
Fun fact about Red Lobster
Five of the six New England states do not have a Red Lobster.
Connecticut - you just can't seem to decide whether you're with us or against us, can you?
We used to have quite a few.
We used to have quite a few. Iremember how laughable that was.
What's funny is
(another story)
Several years ago I went to the US Virgin Islands for 2 weeks on vacation. If you've never been to St John, highly suggest it. So beautiful.
Anyways everything on St John was all local. There were two chains there.. a Subway and a First National Bank of Puerto Rico. That's it. Everything else was locally owned businesses.
So we were on the extreme end of the island and decided to eat at this roadside cafe for lunch, We were the only people in there so we were all chatty with the waitress.
So we asked her... "you live in paradise, so when you go on vacation where do you go?"
Her reply: Paramus, NJ.
Why?
Her reply: because there's shopping malls, chain restaurants, and chain stores. We LOVE the Cheesecake Factory and shopping at Target.
We looked at her strangely and asked her to explain..... she says "When you live here, you tend to miss big cities and all the selection, so this is where we go.
So case in point, not everyone is out to eat at local restaurants all the time. Many *want* chains for various reasons. It will surprise you at why people eat there, and it's not because we're gluttonous pigs sometimes.
Frankly, that makes more
Frankly, that makes more sense.
Maybe you need to buy alot of stuff once or twice a year.
You can probably eat at the cheesecake factory once a year and still be healthy.
The rest of the time, live by the beach and eat fish you caught. Sounds like a good balance to me.
I don't know how that PF
I don't know how that PF Chang's near the Park stays in business when Chinatown is just 2 blocks away.
Time for my
"old time Boston" memory - Anybody else remember Dini's on Tremont Street?
Of course!
Near that Chinese restaurant that always had the twin lobster special.