Meritage

I was surprised at the number of young children running around the restaurant at 8:00pm. Very casual dress code consisting mostly of shorts and t-shirts. Don't get the romantic tag given the restaurant had the feel of a cafeteria the night I was there. Very bright, lot's of families with children, and very loud.

We had a celebratory dinner here (daughter's college graduation). We requested a harbor view table, and they obliged. We decided to make our own 'tasting' menu by ordering a variety of 1/2 plates, served as 3 courses. Each dish was delicious, and cooked perfectly. The food was very fresh. I'm not a big seafood fan (other family members are) but enjoyed everything I ate here. On the other hand, my daughter isn't a big meat eater, yet really enjoyed the meat dishes we ordered. The only negative was service. Starting with a wait for bread and butter, to 45 minute lags between courses, and never coming over to refill wine glasses (we had ordered a bottle which was kept on ice). Overall, I would come back, just because I like the tapas style option (1/2 portions), and the food was excellent.

I've been to the Meritage 3 times in the last 2 years. It's a wonderful experience. The food is out of this world. The organization the menu is great. It's divided by whites, reds, sparkling, and rose wines. You really can't go wrong pairing your meal with a nice glass or two. In addition, the Meritage offers all items in half and full plates. I'm a big fan of the half plates. You just get to taste so much more of what the chef has to offer. The Meritage is located in the Boston Harbor Hotel, so to say the atmosphere is nice is an understatement. Huge windows look out on the Boston Harbor, so try to score a window seat especially at night! On top of that, the service finds a nice balance. They're extremely attentive and aware of their diners without having you feel like they're constantly in your face. It's a little pricey, but honestly, it's worth every penny.