Durgin-Park | The Historic Boston Eatery “Established Before You Were Born”
Serving up a the finest in Yankee comfort food, Faneuil Hall’s Durgin-Park is one of Boston’s most iconic historic eateries.
By Aimee Tucker|Aug 25 2016|
And on the left, another.
Photo Credit: Aimee SeaveyDurgin-Park is one of Boston’s most iconic historic eateries, and its Faneuil Hall location makes it the perfect place to enjoy a plate (or two) of classic Yankee comfort food. I found myself in the neighborhood last spring, and couldn’t resist stopping in for a visit.
Photo Credit: Aimee Tucker
The folks at Durgin-Park describe their establishment this way:
For well over a century, Durgin-Park has catered to the hearty appetites of straw-hatted, white-aproned, market men and local characters. Take part in Boston history as you step into one of the oldest continuously running establishments in the country.
So what’s the full story? In 1742, Peter Faneuil built a large market house near the Boston waterfront, and before long, a nearby warehouse housed a small dining room. In 1827, a customer named Eldridge Park bought the restaurant with local merchants John Durgin and John Chandler, giving the restaurant its new name — Durgin-Park.
Photo Credit: Aimee Seavey
Chandler spent the next six decades running Durgin-Park with his son and grandson, Jerry Chandler, but when Jerry was killed in WWII, the restaurant was sold. The new owner, James Hallett, put the poem “Just a Boy” on the back of the menu to honor Jerry and all the other fallen soldiers. You’ll still find it there today.
In the coming years, Durgin-Park’s iconic status continued to grow, as did the reputation of its famously tart-tongued waitresses. In 1976, Hallett sold Durgin-Park to the Kelley/Solimondo family, and more recently, it was was sold to the New York-based Ark Restaurant Corporation (“who wouldn’t change a thing,” they say).
Photo Credit: Aimee Seavey
One thing I love about Durgin-Park is how it’s both welcoming and welcomed by locals and tourists alike. After all, who could resist a big old plate of comfort food smack dab in the middle of historic Boston?
The menu at Durgin-Park is built around traditional New England-style dishes with a emphasis on fresh, local seafood and comfort classics like prime rib and baked beans.
Photo Credit: Aimee Seavey
Following tradition, much of the seating is communal at long tables covered in cheerful red checked cloths. Customers are encouraged to get to know one another at Durgin-Park, if that’s something they’re into. This is especially nice in an age where most diners have one eye permanently fixed to their phone screens.
If you’re lucky, you may also be treated to authentic Durgin-Park experience if you get one of its seasoned waitresses. They still know how to serve up a side of gruff along with the Yankee Pot Roast, but don’t worry — it’s mostly for show.
Photo Credit: Aimee Seavey
Photo Credit: Aimee Seavey
After enjoying the atmosphere, there was nothing left to do but eat something. And since it was too soon after lunch for something big, I ordered up a single bowl of one of the restaurant’s most popular desserts — the heavenly Indian Pudding — and dug in.
Photo Credit: Aimee Seavey
Could there be a better way to spend an hour in bustling Faneuil Hall is there than in one of Boston’s most famous historic dining spots?
Photo Credit: Aimee Seavey
Have you ever visited Durgin-Park?
LEARN MORE:
Durgin-Park Indian Pudding
Durgin-Park. 340 Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA. 617-227-2038; arkrestaurants.com/durgin_park
This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated.
I remember my grandmother taking my mom and me to dinner there, when we visited Boston. Being very young at the time, I wasn’t as impressed with the history as my first taste of Indian Pudding. I’ve been hooked on that stuff, ever since!!!
Linda, we think you’ll be pleased to know we’re featuring Durgin-Park’s own Indian Pudding recipe in our new issue (Sep/Oct 2015)! You’ll be able to make a batch at home if you like! 🙂
My father was a huge baseball fan like many of his “Greatest Generation” contemporaries. He took me to games all over the Northeast where I saw many of the stars of the day. Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris etc. We had lunch at Durgin-Park one day before attending a Red Sox – Yankee game at Boston’s still-primary baseball venue, Fenway Park. To this day I remember the roast beef served. A huge portion, tender, tasty and done perfectly. This was the first time I had ever eaten at a communal table and will never forget this experience. It’s been about sixty years since then but I hope to return someday and take another crack at that roast beef…
I first went to Durgin-Park as a freshman in high school. (We northern New Englanders don’t get to exotic locations like Boston as often as those near the coast!) Went back many years later and was pleased to take some newbies who haven’t been before. I was glad to see things hadn’t changed. Still great food and saucy waitresses. I would love to go back at least once more.
My parents would take my sisters and me to Durgin Park when we were growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. My mother told me that her father and grandfather would take her there when she was little (she was born in 1914. I’ve taken my children there, so they are the 5th generation. I hope someday to be able to take my future grandchildren there. Love the food, love the waitresses, love the long tables!
A great man named Mike Garafola took a number of kids from our neighborhood in Wwsterly, RI to Boston for the New Egland h
high School Basketall championship.
A great man named Mike Garafola took a number of kids from our neighborhood in Westerly, RI to Boston for the New Egland
high School Basketball championships in 1960. While there he took us toDurginPark, and told us that the Celticscoach, RedAuerhbach often ate there. Sure enough, te coach and some players sat right next to us . I remember that everything was so big, from giant platters of meat to huge strawberry shortcake. We met Auerbach and throughout the meal enjoyed his company. I cannot remember exactly how many of us there were, but I do remember that mr. Garafola and son Louis, my pal, and at least two others had an awesome time watching our team beat the Western Mass champ Smith Academy, before losing to Connecticut, which won the event.
I have experienced the great environment of Durgin-Park since the late 1950’s. I was so surprised to hear the host of WGBH’s Greater Boston show ask if the restaurant was still open in his discussion about the Union Oyster House. Hope the owners piped up and told Channel 2 that they certainly were…
My Dad took us there in the 1950’s, They brought Gigantic rolls that were full of air, and sitting with all strangers, I must have been very young but I never forgot it.
I’m from Chicago,but my mom was from Boston,and I remember my dad taking my mom and I there for lunch when we visited in the summer. Still remember the long tables and sitting with other people–it was really cool!! And very good food. And I remember it being one of Boston’s oldest restaurants. Such a shame so many good restaurants have closed,like Anthony’s Pier Four in Boston and the White Rabbit on Cape Cod,both of which we went to.
Had Prime Rib at Durgin Park in 1971… Fantastic food, will never forget the amount of food. Too bad they closed.
Reading about the closing reminded me of the song by The Kinks – Come Dacing – “the day they knocked down >the Palley>?” part of my childhood just died”. I went to Northeastern, Class of 1991 and my friends and I made a point to save a few $$$ from our co-op assignments to dine there. My father took me there for the first time in the early 80’s and I took my daughter there sometime in 2014. I belive my Dziadzio (fathers father Polish) ate there as well. 4 generations enjoyed the food there
My parents brought me there threw the 80’s & 90’s I was hoping to bring my kids there I had so many great memories eating there! The old waitresses were too funny sometimes rude but no one is happy after being on your feet 8-12 hrs a day. It was so sad to watch it close the owners didn’t know what a jewel it was to Boston. I hate to see good places like this close.