DOWNTOWN CROSSING
You have to leave H&M sometime. For the eats below, take the Red or Orange Line to Downtown Crossing.
| Downtown Crossing |
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| Chacarero It’s been almost a decade since Chilean immigrant Juan Hurtado began selling the chacarero sandwich from a pushcart in Downtown Crossing. The combination of grilled chicken or beef, green beans, sliced tomato, muenster cheese, avocado spread and Hurtado’s special hot sauce — served on soft round bread that he bakes fresh every morning — was initially a tough sell. But word spread quickly about this amazing Chilean delight and Hurtado has two locations that he doesn’t have to wheel around. Though there’s often a long line, it’s usually filled with repeat customers who agree that the sandwich, and the experience, are well worth the wait. In their new Arch Street location they have a big flat-screen TV to distract you with VH1 Classic during lunch. 426 Washington St., Boston. Mon-Fri, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.542.0392. |
| Silvertone Bar & Grill The State Street set mingles with the Orpheum pre-gamers at this basement haunt. The cramped bar isn’t intended for large groups. But put in your name for a table and pass the time checking out the framed family photos, newspaper clippings and throwback ads that, along with a heyday set of radios, adorn the walls. Home food rules the menu — mac ‘n’ cheese, spaghetti Bolognese, and meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Bet Mom never made bruschetta quite like this, though. 69 Bromfield St., Boston. Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat 6 p.m.-2 a.m. 617.338.7887. |
FANEUIL HALL
This is the birthplace of American freedom. So, here you can cover most of the touristy essentials: overpriced food, street performers, shopping and entertainment, complete with cobblestone streets and historic statues. And within a five-minute radius you’ll find everything from hot, bucket-served food and drunk bachelorettes at Dick’s Last Resort (617.267.8080) to romantic outdoor seafood dining at McCormick & Schmicks (617.720.5522) and KingFish Hall (617.523.8862). For baseball fans, grab a 1⁄4 lb hot dog ($4) at Slugger’s Dugout (617.723.3635). If you’re looking for some pretty good noodles under a pretty great name, try Wagamama (617.742.9242). You may be tempted, but do NOT ask the person serving you if you can call him or her a wagamama. For the drinking crowd, you have 21 + choices. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that Cheers (617.227.0150), is not the actually one that was the basis for the TV show of the same name. The real one is in Beacon Hill, but the tourist mugs they sell here look the same.
MBTA: Green Line to Haymarket.
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