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The Inter-Continental's restaurant is the stereotypical hotel offering: Convenient for jetlaggers too tired to venture out, and a far cry from the culinary charms that lay beyond the lobby. The patterned carpeting, ivory paneling, elaborate cornices and marble bar come right out of “hospitality decor 101,” while flat-screen TVs and Tiffany-esque skylights give diners something extra to gawk at. The generic menu, broadly appealing without taking chances, is geared to diplomats and tourists. A crab cake starter sits artfully atop a tomato, cucumber, avocado, red onion and pepper tower, with dabs of rouille to enliven the filler-heavy cake—but it tastes more of breadcrumbs than of actual crab. And while the orecchiette pasta includes a generous portion of Maine lobster, bits of shell seem to find their way in, too. Still, the flavors are solid, with roasted yellow tomatoes and pencil asparagus blending nicely with the bisque-like garlicky sauce. — Kathleen Squires

A live guitarists entertains diners Wed-Fri nights.

Orecchiette with Maine lobster, asparagus and roasted tomato, $26