I was just recently in Boston for a work trip. It is a rarity that I am able to drive to the destination let alone know some great lunch spots nearby. Therefore, I was truly looking forward to the conference and the food. It was my first time attending the AORN (Association of periOperative Nurses) Conference. This conference is very large in size and in educational opportunities. Thankfully, they build in enough time for off-site lunches. Keep reading for some great lunch spots near the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC).
Coquette
This vibrant lunch spot is located at the Omni Seaport Hotel- directly across from the BCEC. Note that there is a tunnel between the Omni and the Convention Center. I didn’t find out about that until day #2. But I digress. I stayed at the Omni Seaport and came upon this restaurant while getting my AM coffee. When I entered for lunch, I was immediately hit with a great vibe. It was lavishly welcoming. Think french baroque meets Dr. Seuss. It was a Saturday and there was live jazz music. I was eating alone so I grabbed a seat at the bar.
This restaurant draws its inspiration from the Mediterranean coast- lots of fresh seafood and bright, light entrees. I decided to start with a vitality shot. Attending a conference can be invigorating and draining. It was a delicious ‘natural’ boost to my psyche and system. Great flavor, refreshingly sweet but not overly. For my lunch, I decided upon the spicy Cesar salad with chicken. The croutons were tender and buttery. The chicken was perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful. Not too spicy but just enough to add some excitement to the salad. The greens were fresh and crisp coated in the perfect amount of Caesar dressing. This lunch did not leave me feeling like I needed a nap. Instead, I was ready to take on the rest of the afternoon’s educational events.
Mecha Noodle Bar
Mecha Noodle Bar is a rapidly expanding restaurant in the northeast. Specializing in pho, ramen, and delicious cocktails. They strive to serve comfort food you would find in Southeast Asia. The restaurant is an 11 minute walk from the BCEC. I will admit, however, on this particular day, it was cold and rainy. Having dress shoes and clothes on, there was not going be any 11 minute walk in the cold freezing New England rain. I was with my co-worker and we decided to Uber. No regrets there.
The vibe at this lunch spot is electric. It’s young (can I say that?). It’s fun. It was a fantastic break from the conference. You can have a change of scenery and enjoy some good food. Good food always helps prepare you for the second half of your day. I can’t forget to mention that the staff are amazing. You choose to sit at a private table or the community table. This was not my first time here. I brought my daughter here during the winter and it was just as fun and exciting and delicious.
This time around, I got The Pho King. Say that five times fast. Well, maybe don’t especially if there are people around you. It was a delicious pho with melt in your mouth brisket. It was super flavorful with a perfect noodle to broth ratio. In the past, I also tried the Smash Burger Bao, the Super Pho Sizzle, and the Red Oil Dumplings. There are no bad choices here.
The Sporting Club
Our trek to The Sporting Club started a little rough. It was a typical cold, rainy spring day in Boston. So, we wanted to stay close to BCEC. Having enjoyed Coquette, I wanted my coworker to experience it too. It was a Monday, and unfortunately they were closed. Since we were already at the Omni, I asked the front desk about lunch options. They told us about the 5th floor restaurant, Lifted. Upon exiting the elevator to the fifth floor, we realized it was closed. We then had to trek back to the main floor for another option.
We landed at The Sporting Club and found many other conference attendees. The atmosphere is upscale locker room- without the smell. Lots of sports memorabilia and a packed, lively bar. I ordered the Hearts of Little Gem salad with chicken. It was delicious. It was garnished with candied quinoa. I never heard of this before but I have clearly been missing out. It was sweet, tangy and fresh. My coworker ordered fries and kindly shared a few. I will say they were some of the best fries I have ever had. Crunchy, perfectly salted with a dash of pepper. The staff were friendly but definitely inundated with conference goers. Despite how busy they were, the food was spot on.
This was a terrific conference and I’m always grateful for work travel. I am able to expand my professional knowledge, deepen connections and explore new cities and discover great places to eat. With this trip, I also had some phenomenal dinners but you will have to stay tuned for that list. If you want to read about a past work trip, you can find that here.