Must-see restaurants in Boston

  • Saltie Girl

    Back Bay

    Here's a new concept in dining: the seafood bar. It's a delightfully intimate place to feast on tantalizing dishes that blow away all preconceived notions…

  • Eventide Fenway

    Kenmore Square & Fenway

    James Beard–award winners Mike Wiley and Andrew Taylor opened this counter-service version of their beloved Maine seafood restaurant. Fast, fresh and…

  • Paramount

    Beacon Hill & Boston Common

    This old-fashioned cafeteria is a neighborhood favorite. A-plus diner fare includes pancakes, home fries, burgers and sandwiches, and big, hearty salads…

  • Neptune Oyster

    Boston

    Neptune’s menu hints at Italian, but you’ll also find elements of Mexican, French, Southern and old-fashioned New England. The impressive raw bar and…

  • Toscanini’s

    Cambridge

    People come from miles around for Tosci's burnt-caramel ice cream, which apparently was invented as the result of an accident (you can imagine). Besides…

  • Myers + Chang

    South End & Chinatown

    This super-hip Asian spot blends Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, which means delicious dumplings, spicy stir­-fries and oodles of noodles. The…

  • Courtyard

    Back Bay

    The perfect destination for an elegant afternoon tea is – believe it or not – the Boston Public Library. Overlooking the beautiful Italianate courtyard,…

  • Tatte

    Beacon Hill & Boston Common

    The aroma of buttery goodness – and the lines stretching out the door – signal your arrival at this fabulous bakery on the lower floor of the historic…

  • Luke's Lobster

    Back Bay

    Luke Holden took a Maine seafood shack and put it in the middle of Back Bay (and other places around Boston), so that hungry shoppers could get a classic…

  • Mike & Patty's

    South End & Chinatown

    Tucked away in Bay Village, this hole-in-the-wall gem of a corner sandwich shop does amazing things between two slices of bread. There are only eight…

  • Waypoint

    Cambridge

    After his success at Alden & Harlow, chef Michael Scelfo turned his attention to seafood and other 'coastally inspired fare.' The wide-ranging menu…

  • Brewer's Fork

    Charlestown

    This casual hipster hangout is a local favorite thanks to its enticing menu of small plates and pizzas, not to mention the excellent, oft-changing…

  • O Ya

    South End & Chinatown

    Who knew that raw fish could be so exciting? Here, each piece of nigiri or sashimi is dripped with something unexpected but exquisite, from burgundy…

  • Island Creek Oyster Bar

    Kenmore Square & Fenway

    Island Creek claims to unite farmer, chef and diner in one space – and what a space it is. It serves up the region’s finest oysters, along with other…

  • Legal Harborside

    Boston

    This vast glass-fronted waterfront complex offers three different restaurant concepts on three floors. Our favorite is the 1st floor – a casual restaurant…

  • Ten Tables

    Streetcar Suburbs

    True to its name, this gem has only 10 tables (you’ll need to reserve one of them).

  • Giulia

    Cambridge

    A half-mile north of Harvard Square, this intimate Italian restaurant opened in 2012 to universal acclaim. Chef Michael Pagliarini's sophisticated,…

  • Yvonne's

    Boston

    Upon arrival at Yvonne's, staff will usher you discreetly through closed doors into a hidden 'modern supper club.' The spectacular space artfully blends…

  • jm Curley

    Boston

    This dim, inviting bar is a perfect place to settle in for a Dark & Stormy on a dark and stormy night. The fare is bar food like you've never had before:…

  • Grass Roots Cafe

    Boston

    Here is a surprising hole-in-the-wall Korean gem, where two brothers serve up traditional deliciousness from their ancestral homeland. Favorites include…

  • Maria’s Pastry

    Boston

    Three generations of women from the Merola family are now working to bring you Boston’s most authentic Italian pastries. Many claim that Maria makes the…

  • Puro Ceviche Bar

    Back Bay

    This bar serves up delightfully modern yet still authentic Latin American fare in its funky downstairs digs, where exposed brick walls are covered with…

  • Galleria Umberto

    Boston

    Paper plates, cans of soda, Sicilian pizza. This lunchtime legend (and 2018 James Beard Award winner!) closes as soon as the slices are gone. And…

  • Mooncusser Fish House

    Back Bay

    This elegant spot pairs an old-fashioned concept (the `fish house') with thoroughly modern presentations of local seafood, from bluefish to swordfish and…

  • Toro

    South End & Chinatown

    True to its Spanish spirit, Toro is bursting with energy, from the open kitchen to the communal butcher-block tables. The menu features simple but sublime…

  • Gourmet Dumpling House

    South End & Chinatown

    Xiao long bao. That’s all the Chinese you need to know to take advantage of the specialty at the Gourmet Dumpling House (or GDH, as it is fondly called)…

  • Carmelina's

    Boston

    There's a lot to look at when you sit down at Carmelina's, whether you face the busy open kitchen or the massive windows overlooking Hanover St. This…

  • Avana Sushi

    South End & Chinatown

    This place is essentially unmarked from the street, tucked into a tiny, cramped food court, sharing the space with a few other takeout places. There's…

  • Tres Gatos

    Streetcar Suburbs

    This small space is not only a tapas bar, but also a bookstore and music store. It all feels like you are eating, browsing books and listening to music in…

  • Blunch

    South End & Chinatown

    This is a tiny place with counter service, blackboard menu and a-MAZ-ing chocolate chip cookies. The sandwiches are also delish, especially the eggs…

  • Pomodoro

    Boston

    Seductive Pomodoro offers a super-intimate, romantic setting (reservations are essential). The food is simple but perfectly prepared: fresh pasta, spicy…

  • El Pelon

    Kenmore Square & Fenway

    If your budget is tight, don't miss this chance to fill up on Boston's best burritos, tacos and tortas, made with the freshest ingredients. The tacos de…

  • No 9 Park

    Beacon Hill & Boston Common

    This swanky place has been around since 1998, but it still tops many fine-dining lists. Chef-owner Barbara Lynch has now cast her celebrity-chef spell all…

  • Coppa Enoteca

    South End & Chinatown

    This South End enoteca (wine bar) recreates an Italian dining experience with authenticity and innovation, serving up salumi (cured meats), antipasti,…

  • Scopa

    Boston

    Every meal at Scopa starts with delectable, warm Italian flatbread, served with a selection of olive oils for dipping. This is just a teaser of the…

  • Coreanos Allston

    Streetcar Suburbs

    This tiny, newish place may be the only restaurant in Boston serving Korean-Mexican fusion food. What? Don't scoff until you try kimchi quesadillas or…

  • Row 34

    Boston

    In the heart of the new Seaport District, set in a sharp, postindustrial space, this place offers a dozen types of raw oysters and clams, alongside an…

  • JP Licks

    Streetcar Suburbs

    'JP' stands for Jamaica Plain: this is the flagship location of the ice-creamery that's now all over Boston. You can't miss the happy Holstein head…

  • Soup Shack

    Streetcar Suburbs

    Soup does a body good, and it doesn't matter if it's Vietnamese pho, Japanese ramen or Thai tom yum. The Soup Shack serves up all of the above – steaming…

  • Little Donkey

    Cambridge

    Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's latest culinary venture, this high-ceilinged but cozy brick-walled bistro serves tapas with an international twist…

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