Question for Mass/NH guys, need restaurant off 93.

[Hoophound]

Flying into Boston tomorrow and heading to VT on our annual anniversary trip. My wife wants to get a nice dinner somewhere between Boston and the I-89 junction. I don’t want get stuck in Boston traffic so eating in Boston isn’t an option this trip (we land at 3pm).

Any suggestions for a place along our way that’s very good and just off the interstate? Her first choice is steak/seafood. Second choice would be a good Mexican place. Not a taqueria, but a nice, big, clean TexMex place that always delivers. Italian is always a good option, but only if you’ve got a great reco because we are having Italian on Friday.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[HooperScooper]

Wish I could help you but I don't know that area very well. Andover, MA is a very nice town so I'm sure there are good restaurants there. But it's not right off I-93. Maybe try something in Londonderry or Derry, NH. I don't know anything in Manchester, NH but that's a rough area so not sure there's anything good there.

I hate to tell you but you're going to hit traffic even landing at 3:00 assuming you need to get your luggage and rent a car. Traffic at 4:00 is even worse than 5:30 or 6:00. That's at least my experience going west on the Mass. Pike.

 

[auror]

Flying into Boston tomorrow and heading to VT on our annual anniversary trip. My wife wants to get a nice dinner somewhere between Boston and the I-89 junction. I don’t want get stuck in Boston traffic so eating in Boston isn’t an option this trip (we land at 3pm).

Any suggestions for a place along our way that’s very good and just off the interstate? Her first choice is steak/seafood. Second choice would be a good Mexican place. Not a taqueria, but a nice, big, clean TexMex place that always delivers. Italian is always a good option, but only if you’ve got a great reco because we are having Italian on Friday.

Thanks for any suggestions.

By the time you get your bag and car, you're definitely going to be in Boston traffic on 93, I hate to break it to you. Starts at like 2:30. You'll probably hit some again near Manchester, depending on how long dinner goes I guess.

That's my neck of the woods so I'll noodle on some thoughts for restaurants.

 

[Mr. French]

I'm sure many will agree, but there's a totally awesome McDonald's with the playplace built in right off 93. Get the Large Fries, it never disappoints.

 

[auror]

One issue: a lot of these restaurants don't open until 4pm or 5pm. Check for yourself, but if you land AT 3 then the 4pm ones shouldn't be a problem. The 93 corridor isn't the best for restaurants, a lot of the better ones are more on the coast or closer to Boston. Lots of chains near the highway. I wouldn't really recommend Tex-Mex in Boston area. Steak and seafood is classic, though.

NH restauranteur Michael Timothy has a restaurant called Surf that has a location in Woburn. Seems like a good option for you if you want to get out to the burbs quickly and then stop. There's a place called Baldwin Bar also in Woburn, which I like a lot but doesn't fall into your categories. It's like upscale szechuan Asian with tiki drinks, hard to describe but good.

After going a bit north, you can zip down 95 to Burlington, MA and there are a bunch of options (and then take RT 3 to meet back up with 93, doesn't cost you that much time and traffic isn't usually that bad on 95 heading that direction compared to other directions, though Rt 3 will be bad depending on time after dinner). A lot of these are like small or upscale chains. Row 34, Eddie V's, Black and Blue. I assume there's a Legal Sea Foods there. Row 34 is a personal favorite because their food is good and their beer selection is top notch.

If you want to go a bit further and don't want the 95 to RT 3 detour, Copper Door in Salem, NH could be a good spot for you, just over the line into NH. Steak and seafood.

Other smaller options a short drive off 93 in the near Boston burbs...
Tonno in Wakefield is Seafood/italian, which seems to be up your alley. Turner's in Melrose is a bit further off 93, but it's a good local institution for Seafood.

If you really wanted Tex Mex, there's La Carreta. Small local chain, has a location near 93 in Londonderry, NH.

 

[HooperScooper]

After going a bit north, you can zip down 95 to Burlington, MA and there are a bunch of options (and then take RT 3 to meet back up with 93, doesn't cost you that much time and traffic isn't usually that bad on 95 heading that direction compared to other directions, though Rt 3 will be bad depending on time after dinner). A lot of these are like small or upscale chains. Row 34, Eddie V's, Black and Blue. I assume there's a Legal Sea Foods there. Row 34 is a personal favorite because their food is good and their beer selection is top notch.

That's a good recommendation. Burlington probably has better food options than anything else off I-93. You're right getting off I-93 and going south on I-95 to Burlington isn't far and much out of the way, although that stretch of 95 during rush hour sucks. Row 34 is originally from Portsmouth, NH and there's one in the Seaport in Boston too. Very good seafood. I've been to Black and Blue in Burlington. Pretty good steak and seafood.