also, where is the best chowder in the city? legal is great but the portions aren't massive. i'm a big fan of joe's just because of the bread bowl. where else?

This place is awesome. My friends and I went here at least once a month or more and we always had a competition to see who could consume the most chips.

also, if you're into cougars, check out Jury's, easily the cougar capital of Boston. not a bad bar in general, but the line can suck, get there early or risk having the bouncers tilt you

Game On! sucks. Yes there will be a decent amount of people there but 90% of them are douche hats, not to mention the bartenders are complete [censored] too. I have been kicked out of there more times then I care to remember for infractions varying from extremely minor to somewhat major. Place sucks, go next door to Cask N' Flagon where picking up chicks in their boom-boom room is rather easy.

P.S. I also have a good time in the back room at An Tua Nua on Beacon quite a few times later in the night. If you want to drink a crap load of beers go down commonwealth and turn onto Brighton Ave and hit up Sunset Grille, they have like 100 beers on tap and more in bottles.

Good steaks:
Burton Grille on boylston near Fenway.
The Stockyard - in Brighton on market st.

http://lacasadepedro.com/
This is a great Argentinian restaurant in Watertown. It might be a smallish trek depending on where you guys are staying, but it is both reasonably priced and incredibly tasty.

There is a Peruvian/Italian fusion restaurant in the North End called Taranta that is really good as well.

Koreana in between inman and central is better imo. Where in Cambridge are you moving to?

I always preferred going out in the Alston-Brighton area as you tend to run into a lot less meat heads compared to most other areas of Boston. Specifically I think you should be able to find wide range of bars around the intersection of Harvard and Commonwealth.

try out the elephant walk in porter square for cambodian/french

also blue room in kendall square is very good american with great wine selection

Check out Tangierino in Charlestown. Totally crazy Moroccan restaurant, complete with a hookah bar. It's pretty expensive but worth it if you ask me. If you think it's too goofy looking then just go to Olives which is right down the street and also very good.

best chowder imo is joe's or any of the back bay group restaurants (i think they have the same chowder as joe's at abe and louies)

went to a VERY good french restuarant last night called Sel de la Terra on 255 state street. very awesome food, and great foie gras. getting a table there was worse than the slanted door in san fran, however.

Pleasant Cafe in Roslindale section of Boston

bk thought you only ate at Subway.

If you're in the mood for slightly different Italian food I'll recommend Grotto on Beacon Hill. They've got a nice tasting menu for $35 or you can order ala carte. It's not really fancy but is a nice, funky restaurant.

As for bars, I second the recommendation above of Sunset Grille and Tap. If you like tequila there's also a branch on Commonwealth Ave. in the B.U. area called Sunset Cantina. They trim down the beer list and replace it with various tequilas.

The Boston Beer Works is a good choice for microbrews if that's your cup of tea.

I ate at the Temple Bar in Cambridge on Mass. Ave. between Harvard and Porter Sqs. They serve dinner until pretty late, and parking is better than Harvard Sq./downtown.

Inside, it has a very NYC feel. Very dark with exposed brick IIRC. The bar talent it attracts is above average, in the 24-40 range. I think the room is very comfortable - half the tables are semi-circle booths; I could easily spend an evening drinking with a group here. Also, our server was very good, very knowledgeable.

I had:
MAINE CRAB CRUSTED OYSTERS - $12
WELLFLEET OYSTERS, MISO AIOLI, TOBIKO, PICKLED RADISH
This was very good. Not exceptional, but certainly not disappointing.

GRILLED PORK LOIN “RECADO ROJO” - $19
GREEN CHILE MASHED POTATO, QUESO FRESCO, CHIMICHURRI SAUCE
This was fantastic. The pork loin was a bit fatty, but cooked perfectly. Also, a very healthy portion.

PINK PEPPER SCALLOPS - $23
PARISIAN GNOCCHI, ENGLISH PEAS, CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS, MEYER LEMON BUERRE NOISETTE
My girlfriend's order. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the gnocchi were very good.

MOLTEN VALRHONA CHOCOLATE CAKE - 9
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE, PEANUT BUTTER CUP ICE CREAM POP
Surprisingly good. Stay for dessert.

All in all, I think this place is one of the better values around and a solid place to bring a date. The kitchen obviously knows what they're doing, and the menu is varied but not overambitious. There isn't anything on the menu I wouldn't order.

Bukowski's is good for Belgian beers if that's your thing.

Capital Grille on Newbury St. if you love steak. Also, the best pizza in town is at a restaurant called "Pizzeria Regina" in the North End.

Them's fightin' words, lol...best pizza is Santarpios!

not anymore, last time I went it was actually not good at all and that was last summer. I think the guy gave it over to his brother\son\someone else and its nto the same or something. Lamb is still tasty though

There are a million places to get good pizza in boston.

IMO, you have to find a place that makes a great roast beef sandwich. I've heard riley's roast beef is good, although I hvaen't had it.

Mike's roast beef in Everett is really good in a trashy sort of way.

the publick house in washington square (brookline). really great beer selection, terrific food (sort of more interesting pub food), and it's a cool atmosphere. it was selected as the best beer bar in the country by beeradvocate.com a year or two ago.

Thanks. My parents live in Boston and I've started giving them gift certificates to nice restaurants for christmas/birthdays. I'm gonna copy/paste this list and the others mentioned in this thread and I guess I'll be set for the next few years.

stealthcow-

I think someone mentioned it already, but as far as unique, non-chain steakhouses go I'd also highly recommend The Oak Room, which is in the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. The adjacent Oak Bar is also cool if you're looking for an upscale, more sophisticated place to get a pre-meal beverage.