Local Expert
Maria Olia
I am a freelance writer and the author of “The Little Black Book of Boston” (Peter Pauper Press). I fell in love with Boston when I was a kid, came to the city for college, and never left!…
I am a freelance writer and the author of “The Little Black Book of Boston” (Peter Pauper Press). I fell in love with Boston when I was a kid, came to the city for college, and never left!
Travel is my passion; and I have written dozens of articles about the various places that I have visited. My absolute favorite travel destination is Tuscany, the most “exotic” place that I have visited is Iran, and my dream vacation is Greece.
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Aura at the Seaport Hotel
Aura is a bit of a surprise. The restaurant is the main dining space of the Seaport Hotel which is , after all, a convention hotel that is part of the Boston World Trade Center.
But Aura is not about hotel food- this is gourmet seasonal New American cuisine at its very best. The steak and peach carpaccio appetizer and a vine-ripe tomato salad with lots of heirloom varieties both reflect Aura's cuisine- imaginative without being fussy.
For lunch, the lobster roll is easily one of Aura's most ordered items- and the sweet potato fries arrive at the table in their own mini- fryer basket.
For dinner, traditional entrees get a make-over. Black Cod comes with a ginger rice pudding. The chicken with white beans and a tarragon pesto is accompanied by a romaine and grapefruit salad. For those who will not stay from the familiar- there is a steak house menu that is a permanent fixture among the dinner choices.
The food is beautifully arranged on over-sized modern plates. And a daub of sauce and creative garnishes like a sprig of lavender or petite sorrel enhance the main ingredient.
The dining room is both stylishly modern and inviting. And unusual for Boston - Aura has a "service inclusive" policy. The tip (18 % for lunch, 20% for dinner) is already added to your bill. The concept works though- the Aura dining staff is both friendly and attentive.