Durgin-Park...established before you were born

...that’s how the signs read, and there are photographs all over the walls of this pub to prove that fact. Whilst the origins of Durgin-Park go way back to the revolutionary days, the fame founders who created the all-American-style food took over 150 years ago, and to this day people flock here to try the legendary chowder, johnny cakes, and Indian puddings.

We didn't really know of the history on entering, as we were just hungry and wandering the Fenuil Hall area and thought this looked to have a nice pub atmosphere.

We ate in the bar area on rickets benches that formed the booths. There were plenty of beers to choose from. Karl took the Sam Adams and I opted for a pale summer ale. The atmosphere was very pub-like and very similar to any pub back in England, with a slight stale-beer smell and dingy walls. I know this might not sound to pleasant, but if you are a fan of pubs and beer, you will know that it's quite a comforting feel!!

We wanted to try a few smaller items that Durgin Park is more famous for, so Karl had the clam chowder whilst I had the fish chowder. Both were $5 and both were great, though I have to say the clam chowder was better. We also had a side of Boston baked beans because, well, we were in Boston and just had to.

To finish up a pleasant lunch we shared the famed Indian pudding, which was heavy, sweet, and delicious. It was also $5 and made from molasses, brown sugar, and cornmeal, mixed into a stick concoction that tasted oh sooo good.

I was a lone tourist on a cold day, and was seated at one end of a long communal table. The place was almost empty, since it was mid-afternoon, and most of the people there looked like regulars. I had to try the baked beans, and thought a glass of Merlot would be appropriate. The beans were served with a large slice of cornbread, and were very good. I was almost too full to tackle the enormous turkey and Swiss sandwich, but it was delicious, and I managed to eat half of it.

The menu here is huge, and all the food I saw passing by looked great. Visit the website for a full menu and recipes for several of the restaurant's most famous dishes.

The waitresses here have a reputation of being "sassy," but my waitress was very sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Located in the North Market at Quincy Market, this is a wonderful rest stop for a meal, or just a snack with a glass of wine. The decor is comforting and classic -- pressed tin ceiling, hardwood floors, communal tables covered with checked cloths, dark bentwood chairs. And with Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, the North End, and other interesting sites nearby, the location is great.

They are famous for their New England-style ribs. Since we were in Boston, however, I opted for their scallops, and they were delicious. My husband tried their Yankee Pot Roast and found it very tasty and fork tender.

We both sampled the baked beans at Durgin Park and found they are made the good old fashioned way. They are served in small crocks and accompanied by melt-in-your mouth cornbread that is very rich and yellow.

For dessert, I coudn't resist their fresh baked Indian pudding served with whipped cream. It's a delicious spicy butterscotch-flavored pudding that's one of their regional cuisine house specialities.

It's a casual, fun restaurant with high tin ceilings and red/white checkered tablecloths.

The food is fresh, very fresh. You'll forget the old tin ceilings. Honest! Perfect cuts of prime rib just the way you like it. Excellent clam chowder and I'm fussy. A bowl full is an oversized meal. Fresh lobster daily. Steamers piled high on your plate. And you'll be okay with prices too.

Service
Durgin Park is famous for its no-nonsense (did somebody say surly?) waitstaff, but I found them to be prompt and attentive. My party was greeted and seated promptly, and menus appeared immediately. Beer was ordered and brought quickly, along with complimentary slabs of cornbread.

The waiter came to take our order as soon as we closed our menus, and the food was served quickly. Several times our waiter came to check to see if everything was OK. We had asked for separate checks (there were two of us, both on expense account) and our waiter agreed to this without the sighs and rolling of eyes that usually accompanies this request. Our checks were brought promptly at the end of the meal, but not so quickly that I felt that we were being hustled out.

Food
My colleague ordered little neck clams on the half shell and declared them to be good. (Personally, I think anything on the half shell is too gross looking to eat.) The waitstaff was sporting buttons bragging about the prime rib, which we both ordered. A sixteen ounce prime rib runs $15.95, and comes with your choice of potatoes and a side dish. The night I was there the side dish was corn. The prime rib was good; not outstanding, but good, and more meat than I could eat. The baked potato was hot and fluffy, the corn was mediocre.

Ambience
Durgin Park probably gets more press because of its atmosphere than its food. The restaurant is located upstairs in an old brick building. There is a bar downstairs. The restaurant is filled with long, narrow, wooden tables, and, unless you come with a big group of people, you will most likely being sharing your table with people you don't know. This is not the place to come looking for a nice cozy booth.

My party had a seat at one end of a long table by the big windows overlooking Quincy Market. There was a group of women having a retirement dinner for one of their co-workers at a couple of tables next to us. I rather liked the heat and the bustle and the noise, but I realize some people won't.

All in all, I recommend Durgin Park as much for the experience of the place as for the food. The food is good - not outstanding - but good, and you won't leave there hungry. This is not, however, the place to ask your sweetie to marry you, or any other romantic type notion you may have. Unless, of course, you don't mind having strangers listen in.