Course Catalog

Restaurant History Tour NEW!

America's first restaurant was in Boston. Julien's Restorator opened in July 1793: "a resort where the infirm in health, the convalescent, and those whose attention to studious business occasions a lassitude of nature; can obtain the most suitable nourishment... Excellent wines and cordials, good soups and broths, and pastry in all its delicious variety." Take a walking tour of historic Boston restaurants with Jim O'Connell, author of Dining Out in Boston: A Culinary History. This unique tour will summon up dining experiences at historic restaurants such as the Union Oyster House (oldest existing restaurant), Durgin Park (second oldest), Parker House (first á la carte menu), Marliave, Locke-Ober Café (today's Yvonne's), Jacob Wirth, and Chinatown eateries. We'll also explore Bostonian attitudes toward food and discuss bygone eateries like The Restorator, Thompson's Spa, and Bailey's Ice Cream. As we walk, we will savor memories from long-forgotten menus and discuss how Boston has been one of the country's most influential restaurant cities. Post-tour dining will be at the participant's discretion.

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