12/16/06

Tucked away inside the Boston Public Library, one of the Back Bay's loveliest lunch spots.

by Contributor

The Scene
High ceilings, elaborate window dressings and gorgeous courtyard views create a comfortably upscale experience inside the BPL's McKim building. Area workers, bookworm-y students and hungry tourists enjoy a never-ending lunch buffet. Friendly waitresses dutifully execute the classy afternoon tea service, ensuring patrons never have to top off their cups. The neighboring Map Room Cafe offers light bites for on-the-go types who can't spare the hour-plus to appreciate Novel's leisurely pace.

The Food
Sebastian's, a local catering firm, supplies Novel and the cafe with a wide range of super-fresh lunch fare. The buffet, which features a generous assortment of salads, sandwiches and entrees, is frequently replenished and changes daily. Buffet patrons get their money's worth, devouring trays of applewood-smoked BLTs and roasted salmon with papaya salsa. In the late afternoon, the buffet is replaced by large pots of top-quality tea and plates of scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd.

09/12/03

Nice atmosphere

by donchoi

The ambiance is very nice, with a maproom-style theme. Much more upscale-looking than I expected, but casual in feel. It was very quiet and subdued when I went (I guess it IS a library, after all).

There is an Au Bon Pain-style cafe with an attached room that offers lunch buffet. The lunch buffet offers steak and other goodies, but is not worth the $16 price tag. However, for this first month (September 2003), it's 2-for-1.

Sandwiches and pasta are fresh, but not especially tasty.

• Pros: Unique for location, Atmosphere
• Cons: Parking, Breakfast/lunch only