Best Seasonal Restaurants in Downtown Crossing

Still remarkable…sorry to see it close in 4 days! Thank you for the memories and superb experiences!

Authentic English Afternoon Tea steps away from the Freedom Trail. Outstanding selection of teas and tasty treats. All gluten free too which was a particularly exciting extra. Our multigenerational group had a fabulous time, appropriately capping off a Christmas treat to see the The Nutcracker

We loved our meal and service at Estella. Our server was attentive, answered our questions and checked in periodically to ask if we needed anything.

I ordered my steak "black and blue" and it was a bit over cooked to my liking. Since sending it back stresses out my husband I decided to keep it but was none the less disappointed in part because I had eaten half of it before the server even checked on us. Had he checked on us sooner I would have likely sent it back. I am always surprised when steak houses can't get steak doneness perfected.

This was our first time at Vermilion, and we will definitely be back! We went for a Christmas Eve lunch, and will return to try the dinner menu as well. Our lunch was fabulous and reasonably priced, especially excellent the food and service were. While it appears to be primarily a restaurant that specializes in steaks, at least for lunch we found the appetizers and side dishes to be superb as well. Cases in point: the broiled clams were so tasty, the French Onion Dumplings were delightful, and the Crispy Artichokes are a MUST! I had the French Dip, which was miles beyond any such sandwich I’ve had before: incredibly tender, on crispy yet light bread with Gruyère cheese and a perfect horseradish sauce on the side. (The skinny French fries that came with it were absolutely addictive.) My dining partner had the Spicy Steak Salad and he loved it. Our server Carlos was a true professional: gracious and attentive, knowledgeable about the menu and the wines, and happy to engage in conversation (though never intrusive). The location is great for me because I live and work near downtown and the Wharf District. The Vermilion is on the second floor of a new building, and you could easily walk past it if you weren’t looking for it specifically. Once inside, it’s quite comfortable and has a lovely island bar. The lounge-style seating is comfortable, classy yet relaxed. I look forward to visiting again, and can’t wait to try the dinner options!