Editor’s Choice Award: Bostonia Public House Offers an Old-School Vibe for Date Night
Editor’s Choice Award: Bostonia Public House Offers an Old-School Vibe for Date Night
The Short Version: Bostonia Public House gives Boston couples a modern date experience with a nod to the past. Situated in the city’s Financial District, Bostonia is housed in a carefully updated historic building. This stylish yet approachable restaurant serves a wide range of food, including raw seafood, sandwiches, and salads. Couples can also listen to live bands and pianists playing music on weekday nights.
Bostonia Public House is in a historic building in the Financial District of downtown Boston near Faneuil Hall. The building evokes an image of days gone by with its 110-foot walnut bar, marble flooring, and the exposed kitchen that shows the work that goes into every meal.
The restaurant is a combination of old and new. Its decor is timeless, while its menu is constantly being updated and expanded.
The Bostonia Public House opened in 2014.
“The space thoughtfully integrates rustic elements with modern accents. Iconic architecture, raw building materials, vintage finishes are juxtaposed and flattered by distinctive lighting, glossy brick treatments and marble flooring,” according to the website.
Couples flock to Bostonia Public House for special occasions and everyday dates. The restaurant can offer a casual place for a conversation at the bar, or an upscale dining experience with live music.
Megan Long, who is the Manager of Marketing and Private Events, explains the appeal of the restaurant for daters.
“Guests are able to have the experience that they want. I think that’s why everyone enjoys Bostonia — they come looking for a certain element, and they get it,” she told us.
She mentions that the restaurant can be energetic, so it offers a lot of entertainment along with a filling meal. Its warm colors and decor can offer a great backdrop for an Instagram selfie, and couples can often be seen snapping photos throughout their meal.
Tasty Options for Every Palate
Couples can explore a range of drinks and food at Bostonia. They can stick to affordable beers and wines or treat themselves to the restaurant’s signature cocktails. The cheese boards and starters are also perfect for sharing. If you like seafood, you’ll love the raw bar with its selection of oysters, lobster, crab legs, and shrimp cocktails.
Diners have many options on the menu, which can accommodate different dietary restrictions and preferences.
Many couples prefer to start their dates with a drink. The Bostonia bar makes a delicious Passionfruit Mojito, which is zesty and not too sweet. It’s also famous for its Blackberry Smash, which is made using fresh blackberry puree, Altos Resposado, Cointreau, and agave.
The food menu highlights fresh seafood, healthy salads, and comfort food.
The appetizers on the menu offer a fun opportunity to share food and try something new. The Tater Tot Poutine serves classic taters smothered in gravy and cheese. The Korean Sticky Pork Ribs are a bit lighter yet still indulgent and juicy.
Bostonia offers a variety of tasty options inspired by the sea. The Fish and Chips offer beer-battered cod served with dill tartar sauce, and the Seared Scallops come with beetroot risotto. The Lobster Mac & Cheese features a house-made four-cheese bechamel sauce that is absolutely decadent.
“We have seafood, light dishes, and heart-attacks-on-plate dishes. We have a wide range of food,” Megan said with a laugh.
For dessert, we recommend going with the Sweet Potato Doughnuts, which come covered with a sweet bourbon glaze. Other after-dinner options include a flourless chocolate torte and a sour cream cake.
Bostonia Public House has gotten rave reviews from the hungry public, and it earned TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award in 2021.
“Incredible food and atmosphere, but the service made the ultimate difference,” said one satisfied customer. “Ultimate burger is legit, and lots of gluten-free options. If you are lucky enough to have Joe P. as your server, then you are in for a great night!”
Another person came for brunch and wasn’t disappointed. According to the review, “The food was wonderful. I had the breakfast tacos and the bae-mosa, and they were delicious. I highly recommend eating here!”
Hosting Private Events and Weddings
Bostonia Public House hosts private events, including anniversary parties, rehearsal dinners, and weddings. Some couples went on their first date or got engaged at the restaurant and returned to celebrate those special moments in life.
“We’ve had a bunch of first dates turn into hosting their rehearsal dinner or wedding receptions at Bostonia — makes for a great meet-cute,” said Megan.
The Bostonia’s upstairs has dedicated spaces for private events.
The restaurant rents out space on its second floor to host private gatherings. The 1880 Room is an elegant space that can accommodate up to 30 people for an intimate dinner party or cocktail hour. The Board of Trade room can serve up to 150 standing guests or 50 seated guests. The entire restaurant has room for up to 420 people for a cocktail reception.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bostonia team set stricter capacity limits on its private events space, but that hasn’t stopped wedding and event bookings for small parties.
A bride named Samantha left a glowing review of the private event space. “We had such [an] amazing time at the Bostonia Public House for our wedding reception,” she said. “They did a fantastic job and had no problem accommodating our 60+ person party. The manager, Megan Long, was awesome and helped with so many other aspects of our wedding! We love the Bostonia and our guests had an absolute blast!”
Jessica and Jonas had a small wedding reception on the second floor of the Bostonia in July 2017 and left a five-star review on The Knot.
“There were about 60 guests for a cocktail-style party and the entire experience was everything and more,” Jessica wrote. “After the three-hour reception, we went to take more photos because the sunset was perfect and Megan went above and beyond guiding us (along with our photographer and videographer) around the city to find the PERFECT spots to take photos.”
Bostonia Public House is Building a Culinary Legacy
Dining at Bostonia Public House is meant to be an experience, and that makes it perfect for couples on a date. Since 2014, this restaurant has become well-known as a timeless place to gather with loved ones and enjoy a delicious meal.
“The owner’s really proud, and we’re really proud of what we’ve created here,” said Megan.
The restaurant accommodates guests with all types of food restrictions and cravings. A lot of business professionals grab a seat at the bar for lunch on the weekdays, and a lot of young couples enjoy the live music and fun vibes in the evenings. Bostonia Public House can set the stage for a friendly happy hour, a corporate dinner, or a romantic date night.
“We are a fun place. Our guests range from suits to tourists to families and so forth, pretty much everyone,” Megan told us. “We always get compliments on how great our staff is. Hospitality is important to us. Our kitchen crushes it all the time.”
Bostonia Public House is a hub of socializing and dating in the financial district.
As Boston bounces back from COVID-19, the Bostonia team is working hard to make up for lost time. Megan told us that business is rapidly returning to pre-pandemic levels, and brunches are particularly packed. Additionally, more private events have been booked on the Bostonia calendar as a growing number of people look for memorable ways to celebrate special occasions in the year ahead.
100% of sales to Bostonia staff
Please visit Bostonia Public House on Wednesday, January 13th for Employee Appreciation Day.
Bostonia will be giving 100% of sales to staff.
+ Make a reservation to dine-in.
+ Get take out for a team lunch.
+ Stop in and purchase gift cards for a future visit.
#boston #bostonia #staffappreciation
2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award
Bostonia Public House Wins 2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award
Bostonia Public House Recognized Among Best of the Best in Boston, MA Based on Exceptional 2019 Traveler/Diner Reviews
Activities and sights off the beaten Boston paths
https://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Activites-and-sights-off-the-beaten-Boston-paths-15677654.php
In the Capital Region, we’re so fortunate to be so close to so many fresh, different cities and states without travel restrictions, giving us a chance to take this time to explore the New England area. When I first came here, I was pleasantly surprised to find out how close we were to Boston. Boston has always been one of my favorite places to visit. You get those big city vibes, but the area is still quite walkable, allowing you to park your car at a hotel and wander. Note: All locations are in Boston.
Checking in to the Boston Park Plaza
50 Park Plaza, 617-426-2000
The Boston Park Plaza Hotel has beautiful sun-filled rooms, sleek modern amenities like leather furniture, gorgeous soft gray tiling in the shower, and colorful art around the room. The bed is comfortable and chic, and the restaurant attached, Strega Italiano, has some of the best blue cheese-stuffed olives for their extra-dirty, extra-cold martinis. The hotel completed an overhaul restoration in 2016, revamping the landmark that has been a staple in Boston since the 1920s when it opened. In addition to the service and amenities, the hotel is centrally located, making it easy to access everything by foot.
Activities
Acorn Street
I managed to get to Acorn Street to see the popular cobblestone path, also known as the most photographed street in America, along Beacon Hill. The stone street is lined with row houses, right now speckled with fallen autumn leaves. It truly is a beautiful view and a great place to take some photos. Some people actually wait for the rain because it makes the stones on the street glisten, providing more beautiful, glossy shots.
Shopping along Charles Street
Instead of touring around Quincy Market and its nearby shops, I recommend heading for Charles Street right near Acorn Street. There are boutique shops, so you can support local businesses and find unique items special to the area rather than shopping at chain stores near the market. Some of my favorite shops included Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill and Deluca’s Market for their candied jalapenos (perfect for cocktails and nachos). On the way, was Commonwealth Books and Old Prints. I collect vintage cocktail recipe books and cookbooks, and I found a ton while rummaging here.
Public Art
10 Summer Street at Primark
Boston has some really fun public art scattered throughout the city in some unexpected places. One of which is Primark, a retailer with a murals in various entryways, with bright teal lit up lettering welcoming you to the city and of course, their store.
Underground at Ink Block
90 Traveler St Boston
The Underground at Ink Block is an underpass that has been covered in murals and colorful designs. I really enjoy looking for places that have transformed from something old and often overlooked, to something beautiful because art has been added. And others found use there as well: We saw a workout class there, as well as photo shoots in progress and others just appreciating the art.
Bully Boy Distillers
44 Cedric St., Boston
Bully Boy Distillers was started by two brothers who left their careers to pursue something new. While cleaning their grandparents’ barn out after their passing, they discovered a hidden vault filled with old bottles of booze that led to the realization that their grandparents were rum runners during Prohibition and their barn was essentially the neighborhood speakeasy. After this discovery, they started to develop their own high-quality spirits. Teddy Roosevelt was a close friend of their great-grandfather while in college, according to their website. Teddy used the word “bully” as a description for something good, leading to the boys’ great-grandfather naming their horse Bully Boy, which in turn inspired the name of the distillery.
Boston Public Market
100 Hanover St.
The Boston Public Market had a few vendors outdoors at the time I was there and they’ve since opened to the public. Although the Public Market was my original draw to the area, the Haymarket next door is amazing, too. Not only do they have fresh local produce and goods, but they had a large assortment of tropical fruits for cheap. For example, dragon fruit can be close to $7 elsewhere, but you’ll pay $0.50 for one here. I was able to try new fruits like canapa, a mildly tart and citrusy fruit, with the look of a grape, and the texture of lychee with the look of a very small lime. I can say it’s one of my favorite fruits now.
Tony & Elaine’s
111 N Washington St.
Tony and Elaine’s hit it out of the park with their cheesy delicious dishes. We started off with some bubbly and enjoyed it in their beer garden, dimly lit with sparkling lights. They are recognized for their award-winning meatballs, so we knew we needed a side of those and stretchy mozzarella sticks to start. The meatballs were tender and flavorful, covered in tangy parmesan cheese in a semi-sweet sauce. The veal parmesan was smothered in cheese cooked crispy with a light layer of sauce and a sprinkle of parsley over a bed of pasta and the cacio e pepe was a small serving doused in fresh pepper, perfectly adequate after the amount of appetizers and dishes consumed. We enjoyed a small glass of citrusy limoncello before our cannolis to end the meal with a sweet touch.
Bostonia Public House
131 State St.
Bostonia encourages people to be over-the-top with their bloody Mary garnishes. Pre-COVID, they had a huge garnish bar full of ribs, bacon-wrapped scallops, candy bars, doughnuts, olives, pepperoni straws, veggies, cheeses, shrimp, and more. Now they’re delivering a platter of garnish bar items so you can build it at your table. They also have delicious lobster mac and cheese, which I could barely eat after getting through the two dozen shrimp I threw into my drink.
2020 OPENTABLE DINERS’ CHOICE AWARD
Bostonia Public House is an OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award winner. Voted by OpenTable diners as one of the best based on feedback from diners who dined at Bostonia by booking through OpenTable.
50 Must Try Restaurants in Boston, Winter 2019
https://blog.yelp.com/2019/11/50-must-try-restaurants-in-boston-winter-2019
Wondering where you should be eating in Boston right now?
Introducing the 50 Must Try Restaurants in Boston, Winter 2019, an epic collection of restaurants that define Boston’s dining scene right now. This guide is an eclectic selection of the places we think every Bostonian should try at least once, and the restaurants you should check out if you’re visiting from out of town. Discover Boston staples, neighborhood favorites, innovative Taiwanese cuisine, and comforting Italian fare.
Best Everyday Dining — United States
https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Restaurants-cEverydayDining