by Steven J. Butler

Created on: May 15, 2008   Last Updated: December 09, 2008

Conveniently located between downtown Boston's financial district and its waterfront, Quincy Market is one of Boston's major attractions for tourists and locals alike. Also called Faneuil Hall Marketplace (pronounced "fan-yull" or sometimes "fan-ill" by natives), Quincy Market is a bustling example of successful 1970s urban renewal that boasts numerous shopping, dining, and nightlife options. Picking the best of the bunch, however, can be tricky. As a born-and-bred Bostonian, here are my recommendations for eating and drinking in the Quincy Market area.

Best Food Court Grub

The centerpiece of Quincy Market is it's array of takeout and quick service restaurants called the "Quincy Market Colonnade." One of the very first, and one of the most extensive "food courts," the Colonnade offers an incredible amount of choices that will satisfy almost anyone. While you will find outposts of some of the usual suspects from your local mall food court, many of the Quincy Market vendors are local. Note that indoor seating is limited to the wooden tables and stand-up counters of the central rotunda area. In alphabetical order, I recommend:

1. Bombay Club. A long-time tenant of Quincy Market, and perhaps the first place that I ever tried Indian food as a teenager, Bombay Club serves up delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian meals to go.

2. Boston Chowda Co. The name says it all. You want to grab a cup of real-deal, creamy New England clam chowder on the fly, this is the place. This is a retail storefront of a company that provides soups and chowders to hotels and restaurants. While Boston Chowda also sells sandwiches and salads, stick to the chowder and you can't go wrong.

3. The Monkey Bar. Before they were called smoothies, the Monkey Bar was blending up delicious frozen fruit drinks. They're fresh, tasty, and way better than the ones you'll get from one of those smoothie-industrial complex chains.

4. Pizzeria Regina. Everyone loves pizza, and Pizzeria Regina (yes, it's the same as the famous place in the nearby North End) has been serving it up by the slice from this location for decades. Thin-crust, with a great sauce, and just the right amount of cheese, a slice from Regina's is one of the best you can find in Boston.

5. Steve's Greek Cuisine. A take-out version of the venerable Back Bay Greek restaurant, Steve's is great for healthy, tasty Greek classics.

Seafood Splurge

Celebrity chef Todd English's Kingfish Hall offers incredibly prepared and innovative seafood dishes that stand out far and above the rest of the pack in the Quincy Market area. While the interior decor is a beautiful, underwater-inspired sight to behold, try to grab an outdoor table during the nice weather. A lobster roll and tuna tartare make for a terrific summer lunch.

Noodles and Other Asian Goodies

Sparcely decorated (some might call it Zen), London-based Wagamama offers a wide array of noodle-based dishes that have a cult following here in Boston and around the world. The common tables, served-as-its-cooked food delivery, and waiters keeping track of your order on the place mats give this place a few quirks that make it a fun dining option.

A Proper Pint

Just a few steps from Quincy Market at 160 State Street, grab a pint of Guinness at one of Boston's celebrated Irish Pubs, the Black Rose. So you look like you know what you're doing, be patient and don't expect your pint to come right away - the proper pour requires the stout to settle down in the glass during several shots from the tap, a process that can take a few minutes.

Learn more about this author, Steven J. Butler.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.