What do you pick up for the train, or eat nearby when you’re due to take one?
With Penn station nyc reinvigorated in food options at every level, and somewhat decent choices in DC, the Boston stations seem barren or depressing - or both - in their food choices by comparison.
So, what are your go-tos?
(Please consider some luggage if you’re suggesting outside options like Chinatown.)
I was going to suggest Chinatown, but luggage is a problem, I admit. (You can always spring $5 for a red cap, though, leave your luggage, then walk back-and-forth unencumbered to Chinatown.)
A shorter distance than Chinatown is the DTX Gene’s. So is Zhi Wei cafe on South Street, a bit hit or miss (unlike Gene’s which is a parade of hits), but some things are good. Their skewers are more expensive than Gene’s and not as good, but they have a wider range of foods. Al’s, on the corner of South Street and Essex, is a sub shop, but the last one I had there (last fall, roast beef) was terrible. In the past I thought them acceptable. Cafffe Nero in the station itself has OK pre-made sandwiches. There used to be a regular rotation of food trucks in the plaza outside the station, but their number has gone down and they don’t always reliably show up. I gather Troquet on South does takeout, but their hours are limited and I imagine the food comes at a stiff price.
I agree with your lament – getting food around South Station is not easy. I’m lucky in that I generally catch the train to NY straight from my Cambridge residence, so can bring with me a sandwich and some fruit. Getting food near the station is not as crucial to me as in the other direction. Doesn’t help you, I know.
ETA: I don’t know how you get to South Station, but getting food on the way is often a better option. If I take the Red line from Harvard Square, for example, I’ve gotten food there before heading to South Station.
Wandering into territory about which I know nothing – but that has never stopped me – the newish High Street Place food hall looks as though it has some options, and is slightly closer to South Station than Chinatown proper. Never been, though.
If you must eat the train food – and I realize that you are, with reason, trying to avoid that – there’s sometimes one among their rotating options that’s edible. Currently, that’s the chicken banh mi – but ask them to microwave it for 5–10 seconds. Otherwise you have to eat a slab of ice.
Thanks. I spent years eating the train food and had my favorites from the menu, which has changed somewhat over the years but not that much.
The hot dog will satisfy the occasional dog craving. The pizza is… not pizza but fine for what it is in a pinch. The banh mi replaced a thai wrap that used to be the best of the sandwich options. And the breakfast sandwich (which often sells out) is serviceable if they don’t over-microwave it and make the bread rubber. Coffee used to be better before they switched to Dunkin’.
I use south station least of the 3, but I am just appalled by the options every time I find myself there.
For a long time, I would go to the chinese american place and get lo mein and bourbon chicken, as I would at Panda Express at the airport, out of sheer desperation.
I once tried the Pret lobster roll also out of desperation — it wasn’t half bad. But I think Pret was gone the last time I was at south station.
when i head to penn station for christmas, i take an early morning train from south station and hit micky d’s for my annual sausage biscuit with egg (no cheese).
Yes, it’s gone now. I was partial myself to their tuna sandwich with cucumber. Everything was premade, but they replenished regularly so things didn’t tend to sit around all day.
You Christmas at Penn? Interesting venue.
(Sorry!)
I have nothing to offer at Rte. 128, and very little at Back Bay. I’ve used BB only a few times to board the train, and generally when I’m in a rush, think I might miss the train at South Station and am closer to the BB station. Once or twice I’ve had a burger from Tasty in the station. There was also a taco stand in the station, but I suspect it’s long gone. (I’ve not caught the train at BB in a few years now, but I often disembark there since it’s marginally closer from there to my Cambridge residence.) There’s Salty Pig nearby with takeout sandwiches, but I’ve only done that once.
Of course you can always travel first class, where food is included. The food ranges from mediocre to bad, but the alcohol is free. Ten G&Ts and you’ve made up the price difference, and you are too sloshed to want food.
from penn statioin i get a cab to port authority where i get a bus to my cousin’s in new jersey.
Salty Pig is on Dartmouth Street close to Back Bay Station, but their hours are an issue.
EDIT - I misunderstood and thought you were asking where to eat near the station, not where to pick up food. I’d still say NYAJ unless it’s breakfast time, then Panera. Sorry. 
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Within walking distance of the Route 128 station in Westwood - all along University Ave and/or in the shopping center - are the following, starting with the closest:
Del Frisco’s Grill - chain
Not Your Average Joe’s - local chain, American, pretty varied menu, reliable.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza - yes, it’s a chain. But their roasted wings are surprisingly good, and they used to have a tuna salad on the lunch menu that was excellent (lemon / olive oil dressing instead of mayo) - not sure if it’s still available.
Wegmans! ‘Nuf said.
Fast food places in that shopping center include Panda Express, Poke Bros, Birdie’s Hot Chicken, Panera, Smashburger.
If I had to eat a sit-down meal, I’d go to NYAJ (I’m partial to their super crunch salad). If I had time to kill, I’d browse Wegmans. (this assumes you’re not doing your usual grocery shopping at a Wegmans.)
I’ve also heard good things about Northern Spy in Canton, which is a short drive away.
Northern Spy is what Loyal Nine in Cambridge morphed to. If LN was any indication I’m sure NS is terrific – born out by references to it here and there on this board. Can’t speak to how convenient it is to the route.
We recently traveled to NYC from the Rte 128 station and hit Wegmans before we parked. Our sandwiches and salads were perfect, lots of drink options and some good fruit choices.
(We had breakfast at home so we were looking at lunch food.)
Safe travels-
in 2018 some cousins joined us at Gene’s. We all loved it. I had been waiting to go back, and my wife and I managed it this past October. Well, Gene’s isn’t what it was. The food was mediocre. We won’t be going back.
What exactly was wrong with it?
Can’t quite say. It seemed to me that they were trying to save money.
Hard on that evidence to see why you think it’s gone downhill.
I’ve eaten at the DTX location on numerous occasions, most recently last fall. My experience, for what its worth, is that it’s been surprisingly consistent. I can’t say I’ve noticed a decline.
My experience accords with @fooddabbler’s.
