A place I love that would likely have things for picky kids and hungry adults is Antico Forno. The atmosphere is kind of nice, too. I have never had a better cheese pizza. It is a nice walk from the Old North Church or down to Quincy Market.
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Kelly’s does have them. They’re ok. I think quality varies from location to location. I had the Framingham ones (by the Jordan’s Furniture).
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Not gonna’ lie - I forgot that Summer Shack still existed. 
Several other more formal restaurants definitely have them on the menu but they are quite pricey. The last time I hit one though, they were about at 30-50/order for just a small serving that came with fries and coleslaw or something similar. I can’t speak to Courthouse’s current pricing either, but they used to be pretty reasonably priced and at the lower end of that price point. If you want the giant bucket of fried clams, the clam shack are probably the better bets.
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This is the answer. Fried clams seem, in my humble opinion, to be 1000x better consumed outdoors, ideally in a beach-adjacent sort of location. I seem to recall that the place at Castle Island is pretty serviceable, and it should be easy to get to. Kids would probably enjoy a trip there too…?
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Exactly. I was thinking roadtrip up to Ipswich/Essex or down to Quincy. I only get full-bellies outside the city.
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I believe the Boston Dalton Ave locale is no more…now something else there.
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Will not have a car. I said clam strips because thats what I know and what they have here in Mid-Atlantic/SouthEast. I’m also not sure how to take the offer to kids being dropped at your house.
Also my kid wouldn’t eat clam strips… he is THAT picky.
Kelly’s like the chain roast beef place?
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Yes, Kelly’s Roast Beef. I haven’t tried them in well over a decade myself.
Man, you apparently don’t have much of a sense of humor. Or maybe it’s just me.
I meant that if you want to go somewhere really nice, you should probably get a sitter (or drop the off at a friend’s house). If you are ok with taking your picky kid with you, then check out some places like Branchline or Sycamore, etc.
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Is the American Flatbread part of a chain? Seems like there is also one at Brighton Bowl?
Apparently there is a place called Sullivan’s out at Castle Island that also serves them though I don’t know if we will be going to that area of town. Hard to tell how long it takes to get there from any point of the Commons and South by foot.
BTW are you the same Madrid that was on Chowhound?
Yeah totally missed the humor part. May have also been tired. While we do have some contacts in town, I would not leave our kid with them without asking a good deal ahead of time.
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A friend of ours that used to work for the Pops and Tanglewood recommended them for Boston Roast Beef but reviews seem to indicate that nowadays they aren’t much better than an Arby’s and relatively expensive.
He also liked a place called Charlie’s Sandwich Shop and Sofra (bakery).
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yes, I was Madrid on Chowhound, too.
Google maps can give you an estimate on walking times along with directions. Put in both destinations and choose the walking/pedestrian icon.
Sullivan’s is the place I alluded to upthread. They serve them, and they’re pretty good as I recall. (Been about two years since I’ve last gone.) The place also just won a Beard award for being an “American classic”, for what that’s worth. (https://www.eater.com/jbfa/886261/james-beard-awards-2025-winners-restaurant-and-chef-awards) I think Castle Island is a great spot to visit. Cool views, a bit of a beach/park vibe, and the castle part is really interesting to tour.
It’s a two mile walk from the Seaport area. Which for my family is pretty decent (though my kids will still whine just a bit)… Or a quick Uber. Seaport is another area you should probably check out anyway, and another nearby fun place you could visit is Lawn on D (https://www.signatureboston.com/lawn-on-d).
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Sofra, on the Cambridge/Belmont line, is fantastic. It is a sister restaurant to Ana Sortun’s Oleana in Cambridge and Sarma in Somerville. All three are highly acclaimed.
Kelly’s Roast Beef may be a step up from Arby’s. I don’t know since I haven’t tried Arby’s for many decades. It is decent roast beef from a very well-known mini-chain in the Boston area. I’ve never had seafood there, maybe those who have could comment from personal experience.
American Flatbread is a chain with several locations throughout Massachusetts (including two at bowling alleys, Brighton and Somerville) and Vermont, and one each in Conn. and Maine.
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And I probably was also tired (and cranky) when I responded. That was out of character for me. Lately, I feel like I’m chronically tired and cranky.
Hope you have a fun visit. Keep asking your questions and report back if you can.
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Kelly’s in my humble opinion is a strong pass. It was fun a long time ago to visit the original location at Revere Beach, but I’m not sure the food was ever really all that great. My kids’ school had a couple of fundraisers there a few years back (Saugus location) and I thought the food was borderline inedible: Zero salt on anything, and I did have some sort of fried seafood thing, but all I can remember is grease and wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible. In any case for a true North Shore roast beef experience I think you need to visit some place called Nick’s or head to Cusser’s for a higher end version.
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