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The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston’s Seaport District
The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston’s Seaport District
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center/Official Site

Where to Eat Near the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC)

Boston’s Seaport District and Fort Point have plenty of good dining options, especially for a mid-conference lunch

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The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston’s Seaport District
| Boston Convention and Exhibition Center/Official Site

If you’re in Boston for a conference, there’s a good chance you’ll end up at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in the Seaport District (415 Summer St.). When the time comes to sneak out for a food break, there are plenty of excellent dining options within walking distance, whether you’re looking for a steak-filled power lunch or a grab-and-go fried chicken sandwich.

In recent years, the neighborhood has gotten filled up with out-of-town chains — a few of the solid ones are included here — but there are some good independent, local picks, too, if you know where to look.

With a focus on convenient lunches but suitable for dinner as well, here are 24 of the best dining options within a 15-minute walk of the convention center, featuring restaurants in Boston’s Seaport District and Fort Point. (Some of these restaurants are full-service, sit-down venues, while others are fast-casual businesses where you order, pay, and pick up food at the counter. See the note at the end of each map point description to see which it is.)

See also: Where to Eat Near Hynes Convention Center (Boston’s other major convention center, located in Back Bay)

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Committee

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This swanky spot features Mediterranean cuisine and cocktails. Those who go for lunch will find a sandwich-focused menu that includes a spanakopita grilled cheese with tomato soup; the dinner menu is more extensive, with some heavy-hitters like a giant selection of grilled meats ($98) to please large groups. [Full service]

Committee
Committee
Chris Coe/Eater

Momofuku’s David Chang brought his famous New York-based fried chicken spot to Boston in 2018. Get the spicy fried chicken sandwich, and pair it with some jalapeño waffle fries. [Counter service]

A hand holds up a fried chicken sandwich, a large crispy patty jutting out of a squishy bun
Fuku’s fried chicken sandwich
Nick Solares/Eater

Trillium Brewing Company

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Drink your lunch at the shiny new (and huge) location for this beloved Boston brewery. Trillium is known for its ales, and you should try something from the Cutting Tiles series of single hop varietal double IPAs...especially if you don’t mind being a little drunk at whatever conference you’re attending. (There’s also food, including sausage trays, burgers, and lots more.) [Full service, with a main dining room upstairs and more of a casual bar area downstairs]

trillium restaurant
Grab some beers, grab a sandwich
Trillium [Official Photo]

Shake Shack

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It’s a giant chain, but it’s a tasty giant chain. (This particular location was actually the company’s 100th to open.) The smoke stack, which is topped with bacon and cherry peppers, is the play at Shake Shack. Add an order of crinkle-cut fries for good measure. [Counter service]

A burger from Shake Shack
A burger from Shake Shack
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Tatte Bakery & Cafe

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Tatte is also a chain, albeit a smaller one than the above — and based locally. It’s a good spot for that early morning coffee and pastry (the croissants are the truth) or a lunch of shakshuka. [Modified counter service — you order and pay at the counter, but they bring the food to your table]

Crispy halloumi salad at Tatte
Crispy halloumi salad at Tatte
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Cardullo's Gourmet Shoppe

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Open since 1950 in Cambridge’s Harvard Square, Cardullo’s — a specialty food shop with a deli counter — expanded to Boston’s Seaport District in 2018. It’s the perfect spot to grab a mid-conference sandwich. [Counter service]

Cardullo’s Seaport
Cardullo’s Seaport
WS Development [Official Photo]

Aceituna Grill

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Aceituna, derived from the Arabic word zaytun, means olive in Spanish. As such, Aceituna Grill — a three-location Boston-area chain — is aptly named, serving a menu that features a variety of Mediterranean dishes. Get the beef shawarma, and get some tabbouleh and fattoush, too. [Counter service]

aceituna bowl
A bowl from Aceituna
Aceituna Grill/Official Site

Flour Bakery

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This local bakery and cafe chain is the spot for breakfast sandwiches. Get one on a house-baked roll with a runny egg, arugula, and bacon. Room for dessert? Flour’s sticky bun is one of Boston’s iconic dishes. [Counter service]

A closeup shot of the Flour sticky bun, one of Boston’s iconic dishes, sitting on a white plate on a wooden counter
The Flour sticky bun
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Bon Me — another local chain — has a menu that is full of great lunch options, including noodle and rice bowls inspired by Vietnamese food and other Asian cuisines. Try the kimchi ramen or the restaurant’s namesake, the banh mi. [Counter service]

Bon Me bap bowl
Bon Me bap bowl
Bon Me [Official Photo]

Bartaco

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Bartaco — a small chain from the group behind Barcelona Wine Bar — is a good spot for a couple of tacos and a margarita. The food is affordable and the drinks are tasty. This might be a better dinner option, because a lunch here could get boozy and filling fast. [Full service]

Bartaco
A spread from Bartaco
Bartaco [Official Photo]

Pastoral

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At Pastoral, it’s all about the pizza (and the Italian craft beers). Try the fungi pizza, which is topped with ricotta, shiitakes, and Fernet honey. (Note: Pastoral has gluten-free pizza and pasta options available.) [Full service]

Photo of a restaurant interior, including a shiny red pizza oven with wood stacked behind it
A view of the wood-fired pizza oven at Pastoral
Katie Chudy/Eater

The Smoke Shop

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Chef Andy Husbands’ barbecue joint (which has one location each in Boston proper, Cambridge, and Somerville) has a great beer list (with a number of cheap options) and serves some of the best smoked meats in the city. Get the burnt ends, and wash them down with a Fiddlehead IPA.

smoke shop BBQ sandwich
A hearty lunch from the Smoke Shop
The Smoke Shop/Official Site

Sportello

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Restaurateur Barbara Lynch took a chance on Fort Point before it was jam-packed with dining options, and it paid off. The neighborhood is home to three Lynch outposts — Italian diner Sportello, excellent cocktail destination Drink, and ultra-fancy Menton. Of the trio, Sportello is the best bet for a mid-conference meal. There’s a prix fixe lunch option available, as well as plenty of a la carte dishes, but whatever you do, don’t forget the spicy tomato soup. [Full service]

A spread of Italian dishes — including salumi, olives, and more — on a bright white surface
A spread of dishes at Sportello
Pat Piasecki

Lolita’s Fort Point location is dark and sexy, so go here for dinner. The menu is full of Mexican-inspired cuisine, and the drinks are tequila-forward. Eat the tacos al pastor, and drink the eponymous cocktail, which is made with tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and grapefruit. Save room for the cotton candy treat that comes with the bill. [Full service]

This view of a restaurant interior features a brick-lined, cavernous space. Red seats with crosses on their backs sit in front of a bar, which has three distinctive stained glass panels behind it.
Lolita’s breathtaking interior
Adam DeTour

Lucky's Lounge

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Lucky’s is a Fort Point mainstay. The menu is full of American bistro classics — the meatloaf with Brussels sprouts is worth your time — and the beer list is long and varied. There’s live music most nights and Sinatra brunch on Sundays. [Full service]

lucky’s lounge burger
A burger at Lucky’s Lounge
Lucky’s Lounge/Official Site

Rosa Mexicano

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Another Mexican-inspired chain, Rosa Mexicano is known for its braised and grilled meats. Try the chicken tinga or the arrachera, which is steak marinated with guajillo chile and tequila and grilled in a cast-iron skillet. [Full service]

Rosa Mexicano
Rosa Mexicano
Cal Bingham/Eater

No Name

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No Name looks like an old fisherman’s boathouse, which is quite frankly perfect. Get a whole steamed lobster, fried clams, and a bowl of clam chowder from this stalwart — it’s been around for over a century (in its current space since the 1980s) and owned by the same family the whole time. [Full service]

no name lobster roll
The lobster roll at No Name
No Name/Official Site

Row 34 is the spot for oysters in the Fort Point/Seaport area (and probably the entire city). Grab a dozen lunch bivalves, and sip on a local beer on tap. Note: Trying to go for dinner? Make a reservation ahead of time if possible; this is one of the toughest tables in town to get. [Full service]

Lobster is served on a buttered and griddled hot dog bun, and is accompanied by chips, slaw, and a slice of lemon.
The lobster roll at Row 34
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Blue Dragon

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Perhaps you’ve heard of Ming Tsai — a chef, television personality, cookbook author, and restaurateur. Blue Dragon is his casual Fort Point restaurant that draws inspiration from a number of Asian cuisines and also features Tiki-style cocktails. Stuck looking for food between lunch and dinner hours? There’s an abbreviated afternoon menu of salads and poke bowls, available for dining in or takeout. Note: Blue Dragon is a good option for gluten-free diners; there’s a full separate menu. [Full service]

A dimly lit wooden bar at a restaurant
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon/Official Site

Oak & Rowan

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Oak & Rowan states an intention to “celebrate all things land and sea,” which leaves a lot of room for interpretation. A few highlights on the wide-ranging menu: the clam chowder (one of the best in town) and any pastas and desserts that are available. The weekday lunch menu includes options such as the aforementioned chowder, lobster tartine, shrimp tacos, and more. [Full service]

Oak & Rowan
Oak & Rowan
Rachel Leah Blumentha/Eater

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

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Del Frisco’s — a national steakhouse chain with two Boston locations — is absurd and extravagant and expensive, but if you must have a power lunch while visiting the Seaport, this is where you should go. [Full service]

A plate of rare prime rib at Del Frisco’s, with jus and red wine in the background
The prime rib at Del Frisco’s
Del Frisco’s [Official Photo]

Legal Harborside

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Legal Sea Foods’ flagship Seaport District location, Legal Harborside, offers beautiful views of Boston Harbor, and the food is what you’d expect from a longtime local chain — it’s a solid choice. Sit on the deck on the top floor for cocktails and sushi with a view. (There are three floors of dining at Legal Harborside; each offers a different menu, with sushi up top, a more formal dining experience in the middle, and casual fish and oysters downstairs.) [Full service]

Legal Harborside Rooftop
Legal Harborside’s got views
Legal Sea Foods/Official Site

Yankee Lobster

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Yankee Lobster has one of the best lobster rolls in the city. The fried clams are worth your coins, too. [Counter service]

Broiled salmon at Yankee Lobster
Broiled salmon at Yankee Lobster
Yankee Lobster/Official Site

Chickadee

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Chickadee, a newcomer that is already making a splash in the neighborhood, makes food that blends Mediterranean cuisines with New England ingredients. If the conference you’re at keeps you in town for the weekend, go for brunch and get a jelly doughnut. Weekday lunch features pitas, and don’t miss the pasta dishes if you go for dinner. Also, be sure to save room for dessert. Note: Chickadee is a few minutes past the 15-minute mark from the convention center, but it’s worth it if you can spare the time. [Full service]

Seared scallops sit in a bowl on circles of orange and yellow purees, topped with herbs.
Sea scallops at Chickadee
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Committee

This swanky spot features Mediterranean cuisine and cocktails. Those who go for lunch will find a sandwich-focused menu that includes a spanakopita grilled cheese with tomato soup; the dinner menu is more extensive, with some heavy-hitters like a giant selection of grilled meats ($98) to please large groups. [Full service]

Committee
Committee
Chris Coe/Eater

Fuku

Momofuku’s David Chang brought his famous New York-based fried chicken spot to Boston in 2018. Get the spicy fried chicken sandwich, and pair it with some jalapeño waffle fries. [Counter service]

A hand holds up a fried chicken sandwich, a large crispy patty jutting out of a squishy bun
Fuku’s fried chicken sandwich
Nick Solares/Eater

Trillium Brewing Company

Drink your lunch at the shiny new (and huge) location for this beloved Boston brewery. Trillium is known for its ales, and you should try something from the Cutting Tiles series of single hop varietal double IPAs...especially if you don’t mind being a little drunk at whatever conference you’re attending. (There’s also food, including sausage trays, burgers, and lots more.) [Full service, with a main dining room upstairs and more of a casual bar area downstairs]

trillium restaurant
Grab some beers, grab a sandwich
Trillium [Official Photo]

Shake Shack

It’s a giant chain, but it’s a tasty giant chain. (This particular location was actually the company’s 100th to open.) The smoke stack, which is topped with bacon and cherry peppers, is the play at Shake Shack. Add an order of crinkle-cut fries for good measure. [Counter service]

A burger from Shake Shack
A burger from Shake Shack
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Tatte Bakery & Cafe

Tatte is also a chain, albeit a smaller one than the above — and based locally. It’s a good spot for that early morning coffee and pastry (the croissants are the truth) or a lunch of shakshuka. [Modified counter service — you order and pay at the counter, but they bring the food to your table]

Crispy halloumi salad at Tatte
Crispy halloumi salad at Tatte
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Cardullo's Gourmet Shoppe

Open since 1950 in Cambridge’s Harvard Square, Cardullo’s — a specialty food shop with a deli counter — expanded to Boston’s Seaport District in 2018. It’s the perfect spot to grab a mid-conference sandwich. [Counter service]

Cardullo’s Seaport
Cardullo’s Seaport
WS Development [Official Photo]

Aceituna Grill

Aceituna, derived from the Arabic word zaytun, means olive in Spanish. As such, Aceituna Grill — a three-location Boston-area chain — is aptly named, serving a menu that features a variety of Mediterranean dishes. Get the beef shawarma, and get some tabbouleh and fattoush, too. [Counter service]

aceituna bowl
A bowl from Aceituna
Aceituna Grill/Official Site

Flour Bakery

This local bakery and cafe chain is the spot for breakfast sandwiches. Get one on a house-baked roll with a runny egg, arugula, and bacon. Room for dessert? Flour’s sticky bun is one of Boston’s iconic dishes. [Counter service]

A closeup shot of the Flour sticky bun, one of Boston’s iconic dishes, sitting on a white plate on a wooden counter
The Flour sticky bun
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Bon Me

Bon Me — another local chain — has a menu that is full of great lunch options, including noodle and rice bowls inspired by Vietnamese food and other Asian cuisines. Try the kimchi ramen or the restaurant’s namesake, the banh mi. [Counter service]

Bon Me bap bowl
Bon Me bap bowl
Bon Me [Official Photo]

Bartaco

Bartaco — a small chain from the group behind Barcelona Wine Bar — is a good spot for a couple of tacos and a margarita. The food is affordable and the drinks are tasty. This might be a better dinner option, because a lunch here could get boozy and filling fast. [Full service]

Bartaco
A spread from Bartaco
Bartaco [Official Photo]

Pastoral

At Pastoral, it’s all about the pizza (and the Italian craft beers). Try the fungi pizza, which is topped with ricotta, shiitakes, and Fernet honey. (Note: Pastoral has gluten-free pizza and pasta options available.) [Full service]

Photo of a restaurant interior, including a shiny red pizza oven with wood stacked behind it
A view of the wood-fired pizza oven at Pastoral
Katie Chudy/Eater

The Smoke Shop

Chef Andy Husbands’ barbecue joint (which has one location each in Boston proper, Cambridge, and Somerville) has a great beer list (with a number of cheap options) and serves some of the best smoked meats in the city. Get the burnt ends, and wash them down with a Fiddlehead IPA.