Stop at Durgin Park in Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace for some good food
Written: Aug 12 '08
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
 |
|
| Quality of Service: |
|
|
|
Pros: Prime rib, Extensive menu, Location
Cons: Prices, Can be very busy, Not everyone likes the family style seating
The Bottom Line: If you are visiting Boston or entertaining folks in Boston and want some good food, Durgin Park is well worth a stop
|
|
|
| jps246's Full Review: Durgin Park |
Visting Boston? Looking for a place to eat in the Faneuil Hall area? Do you like prime rib?
If you’re in the area and you like the prime rib, then a stop at Durgin Park might be well worth it for you. They offer a mix of traditional New England entrees including that prime rib along with other steaks, seafood dishes and a number of different pasta dishes, so there is a bit of something for everyone.
The atmosphere is well, quaint I guess you could say. Think old world Boston charm I suppose. The dining area is open and can get pretty loud. The seating area is fairly simple and during busier times different smaller groups are seated family style together at the larger tables. Service is fairly quick and very efficient, but one of the ‘charms’ of Durgin Park is the playful nature of the wait staff. They aren’t rude or disrespectful, but a certain amount of ribbing and good natured humor should be expected.
Where do I find Durgin Park?
Durgin Park is in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in downtown Boston. It’s located on the 2nd floor of the building its in and there is no elevator that I know of to reach the floor. Most people probably arrive via the T (Boston’s subway system), but there are parking garages near the Faneuil Hall area if you wish to drive in.
The restaurant tends to be busiest right at dinnertime and there can be a wait, but we’ve found if you arrive a bit earlier (4ish) or later (7-8ish), you usually can get in without too much trouble.
They can accommodate larger groups, but it’s best to call ahead to plan this.
What am I going to eat there?
Well, when I go to Durgin Park I’m there for the prime rib, which they offer in two cuts. A 16 ounce Yankee Cut and a 32 ounce Durgin Cut. I go for the Yankee Cut because I’m not sure I could walk if I ate that much steak.
Before the main course though, your meal starts out with water and cornbread as you sit down and get situated. It is really good cornbread.
Durgin Park offers the standard drinks and has a full bar available.
We’ve never gotten an appetizer because in general, the meals are large enough to fill us up on their own. However, if you are interested, there are several different choices, though they all tend to fall to the seafood end of things. They also have oysters and clams available, along with various kinds of soups. My partner likes their clam chowder and gets a bowl each time we go.
There are salads available too, though I’ve found them to be a bit pricey and I usually just skip them for the main course. There’s your garden salad along with a Caesar salad. There are also entrée salads should you want something lighter.
The main courses are spread between a number of different categories and each one has quite a few selections, so if you like a lot of different things, you’ll be contemplating the menu for quite some time.
If you don’t want the prime rib, there’s also a sirloin steak, steak tips and yankee pot roast to name just a few of the beef dishes. More in a poultry mood? There’s a stuffed turkey platter along with grilled chicken. Lamb or pork? You can get the lamb chops or the roast pork loin. If you like seafood, the choices are almost overwhelming. You’ll find lobster along with scallops, haddock, swordfish and more. There are also a few vegetarian dishes and pasta dishes.
And if you haven’t filled up on dinner, there are quite a few desserts to choose from too. I usually go for the apple pie with ice cream.
Experiences
While I don’t eat at Durgin Park all that often, we have been there a few times, either on our own or in a group. We’ve had good experiences all around and the food, while it hasn’t been spectacular, hasn’t been bad either.
Like I’ve said, I go right for the prime rib since I like it and if a place is famous for it, I’m going to try it. I haven’t been disappointed. It’s cooked as I ordered it, tastes good and as you can probably imagine, is quite filling. Most of the meals, the prime rib included come with your choice of potato and a vegetable. I usually go for the fries.
My partner isn’t quite as big of a steak fan as I am, so he’s branched out into the rest of the menu. He likes the clam chowder and always gets a bowl when we are there. He’s also liked some of the seafood dishes.
Portion size is big for the main course, but the sides tend to be on the small side. With fries you’ll get a small bowl with a handful and the same goes with the vegetable. With mashed potatoes there’s a bit more. However, I could see how people would be like “where’s my sides?” I tend to focus more on the main part of the meal, especially with the prime rib, so it doesn’t bother me as much. Plus, who needs those extra fries?
I can’t say that the dessert at Durgin Park is amazing, but it is made fresh and it does taste good. I like the way that they make their apple pie. My friend loves the Indian Pudding and my partner has liked the hot fudge brownie sundae.
As for the family style seating, I'm not a huge fan of having to sit next to another group, but it's not all that bad after you get used to it. Who knows, you might meet some interesting people.
Prices
This is Boston and this is the heart of the touristy area of Boston, so you are going to pay a premium to eat at Durgin Park. It’s not outrageous, but it isn’t inexpensive either. Expect to spend at least $30 per person depending on what you really like.
The pasta dishes and salads are the least inexpensive, followed up by the poultry, lamb and pork and then the steaks and seafood. Things can add up quickly too, as the appetizers, soups and side salads are not all that inexpensive. With drinks on top of that, you can easily get higher than the $30 per person.
Service
I’ve always had good service experiences at Durgin Park. I kind of like the ‘gruff’ manners of the wait staff and in addition to making me laugh while I’m there, they have been on top of making sure our meals are well paced and everything is as it should be. I can’t really find anything to complain about in our various visits. Even when we’ve gone with a large group (16 people), we had a great waiter who kept everything organized, kept the food coming from the appetizers right through dessert and made sure everyone had what they needed.
Should you visit?
If you are visiting Boston or entertaining folks who are visiting the Boston area a stop at Durgin Park is almost a requirement. I’ve found that it’s a fun place to eat from time to time, especially with people who haven’t been there before. The food isn’t amazing, but it’s not bad either and they have some really good prime rib should you be looking for some.
Would I go there for a romantic evening? No, but we have eaten there when we’ve been in the Faneuil Hall area on our own.
Final Thoughts
Durgin Park is a fun restaurant that has an extensive menu of New England inspired favorites. Both the food and service are good and I would think most people stopping in for a meal will leave happy and full, though you should expect to spend some money since you are in Boston and the restaurant is located in a very touristy area.
It’s not the kind of place you go for a romantic evening, but if you are visiting Boston or entertaining folks in Boston and looking for a place to continue the fun while having some good food, Durgin Park is well worth a stop.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations A good place to take some friends new to Boston
Best Suited For: Friends
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.