Restaurants in Massachusetts
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Barking Crab
Big buckets of crabs (Jonah, blue, snow, Alaskan or whatever is in season), steamers dripping in lemon and butter, paper plates piled high with all things fried… The food is plentiful and cheap, and you eat it at communal picnic tables overlooking the water. Beer flows freely. Service is slack but the atmosphere is jovial. Be prepared to wait for a table if the weather is warm.
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Lala Rokh
Lala Rokh is a beautiful Persian princess, the protagonist of an epic romance by poet Thomas Moore. The tale epitomizes the exotic East, as does the aromatic, flavorful food served at this Beacon Hill gem. While the ingredients will be familiar to fans of Middle Eastern cuisine, the subtle innovations – an aromatic spice here or savory herb there – set this cooking apart. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from the knowledgeable waitstaff. Reservations recommended.
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Parish Café & Bar
Sample the creations of Boston’s most famous chefs without exhausting your expense account. The menu at Parish features a rotating roster of salads and sandwiches, each designed by a local celebrity chef, including Lydia Shire, Ken Oringer and Barbara Lynch. Despite the creative fare, this place feels more ‘bar’ than ‘café.’ The long bar – backed by big TVs and mirrors – attracts a lively after-work crowd.
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Finale Desserterie
- Boston, USA
- Restaurants › Café
Choose from a long list of tempting treats, from crème brûlée to chocolate soufflé, and enjoy them with coffee, wine or port. Mirrors over the pastry chefs’ workstation allow patrons to watch their magic. There are also light soups, salads and sandwiches at lunchtime and appetizer-size dinner dishes so you don’t have to eat sweets on an empty stomach. There are additional outlets in Harvard Square and Coolidge Corner.
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Paramount
Not what you’d expect on tony Charles St, this old-fashioned cafeteria is a favorite neighborhood hangout. Basic diner fare includes pancakes, steak and eggs, burgers and sandwiches, and big, hearty salads. For dinner, add table service and candlelight, and the place goes upscale without losing its down-home charm. The menu is enhanced by homemade pastas, a selection of meat and fish dishes and an impressive roster of daily specials.
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Helmand
Fusing flavors and techniques from India and the Middle East, the Helmand shows off the rich, diverse and little-known cuisine of Afghanistan. The active, open kitchen - complete with an oven that turns out melt-in-your-mouth flatbread - is entertainment enough in this simple dining room. And the dishes it produces are exotic and enticing. Not to mention that the place is owned by the brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
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Casa Romero
The entrance to this hidden treasure is in the public alley off Gloucester St. Step inside and find yourself in a cozy casa - filled with folk art and Talavera tiles - which is wonderful and warm during winter months. In pleasant weather, dine under the stars on the delightful patio. This is not your average taqueria - be prepared to pay for the experience.
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Ginza
Named after Tokyo's upscale center of culture and finance, this traditional Japanese restaurant (complete with servers in kimonos) rates among Boston's best sushi places. The freshest pieces of nigiri, sashimi and maki are artfully presented, offering a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. There is a second outlet near Kenmore Sq.
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El Pelon Taqueria
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 la casa are highly recommended, especially the pescado, made with Icelandic cod and topped with chili mayo. Plates are paper and cutlery is plastic.
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Arthur’s Paradise Diner
The epitome of ‘old school, ’ this place is open only for breakfast and lunch and specializes in something called the Boot Mill sandwich (egg, bacon, cheese and home fries on a grilled roll). Expect long waits, testy service and an atmosphere as authentic as it comes. In other words, paradise.
reviewed
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Croma
Newly revamped, this stylish pizzeria has a hip European feel. The sleek interior - with exposed brick walls and floor-to-ceiling windows - is a hot spot to see and be seen, as is the outdoor patio. Enjoy a crispy-crust, Neopolitan-style pizza or a selection from the extensive wine-by-the-glass menu.
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Café Jaffa
A surprising bargain in the middle of blue-blood Back Bay. Fill up on delicious shwarma and falafel, and wash it down with palatable Israeli beer or rich dark Turkish coffee. With polished wood floors and painted murals, it's more stylish than your typical Turkish deli.
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Figs
The brainchild of celebrity chef Todd English, Figs rakes 'em in with its innovative whisper-thin pizzas. For a real treat, order the signature fig and prosciutto pizza with gorgonzola. Equally delish are the sandwiches, salads and pastas.
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Mediterranean
Sit on the deck overlooking the harbor and feast on grilled lamb shish kabob, Spanish fish stew and other southern European flavors. Innovative sandwiches, some vegan, and scrumptious desserts too.
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Pho Pasteur
One of three branches in the area, this Vietnamese restaurant is almost always crowded. Regulars keep returning for big bowls of spicy stir fry and delicious vermicelli at prices you can't beat.
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Amanouz
This lovable hole-in-the-wall is the place in town for Moroccan and Mediterranean fare. Try one of its specials such as Moroccan sardine salad ($7). But why can’t it make decent falafel?
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Salem Cross Inn
If you haven’t had your fill of colonial reenactment at OSV, head to this inn, built in 1705 and set on 600 lovely acres in West Brookfield. The calf’s liver with bacon and caramelized onions is a house specialty ($15). Besides offering traditional New England meals, the inn hosts special events like the ‘Fireplace Feast’ and ‘Herb Sampler.’ Its Hexmark Tavern (dinner Tuesday to Friday) has less fancy fare for less fancy prices and the lunch menu incongruously offers ‘Mediterranean wraps’ and other items the colonists never heard of. Follow US 20 (2 miles west of Old Sturbridge Village) to MA 148 north; 7 miles along, turn left onto MA 9 and go 5 miles.
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Ko Prime
If you are not getting enough red meat in your diet, Ken Oringer has come to the rescue with this too-cool-for-cow steak house, featuring 10 different kinds of steaks, plus other meaty delights such as bone marrow, seared foie gras and Kobe beef tartare, all of which seem to leave the guests craving more. With slick leather furniture and hip Holstein-print details, this is a sophisticated and stylish take on a steak house. KO Prime adheres to an Earth Care program, which includes using paper and containers made from recycled materials, low-flow water appliances and low-energy lighting; serving seafood that meets Monterey Bay Seafood Watch standards; and featuring organic …
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Flat Iron
If you want to stop for dinner or a drink before or after an event at the Garden, you can’t do better than this trendy lounge inside the Bulfinch Hotel, which claims to offer ‘a modern American interpretation of Spanish tapas.’ The description is apropos if ‘modern American’ means ‘international, ’ as the menu features wide-ranging items such as tuna tartare, sea bass ceviche, seaweed salad, duck confit, Kobe beef sliders and homemade french fries. The small plates are uniformly delicious and there is an impressive collection of cocktails to match.
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O Ya
Boston’s food community can’t stop talking about this newcomer, which has even been lauded by the New York Times food critics. Who knew that raw fish could be so exciting? Each piece of nagiri or sashimi is dripped with something unexpected but exquisite, ranging from honey truffle sauce to banana pepper mousse. Shrimp tempura is topped with a bacon truffle emulsion. Homemade soba noodles are chilled and served with sea urchin, nori and scallions. The service is impeccable, with knowledgeable waiters ready to offer advice and explanations.
reviewed
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Ten Tables
True to its name, this gem has only 10 tables (you’ll need to reserve one of them). Brick walls are hung with black-and-white photos, and the galley kitchen is framed by pots and pans, a motif that recurs around the restaurant. The emphasis is on simplicity – appropriate for a restaurant that specializes in traditional cooking techniques. The menu is short but changes frequently to highlight local, organic produce, handmade pastas, fresh seafood and homemade sausages. Ten Tables 2 is in Cambridge.
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L’Espalier
Fans were forlorn when this elegant French affair moved out of its intimate Back Bay town house and into a fancy new locale in the Mandarin Oriental. But L’Espalier has managed the transition with much aplomb. The tried and true favorite remains the crème de la crème of Boston’s culinary scene, thanks to impeccable service and a variety of prix-fixe and tasting menus. The menus change daily, but usually include a degustation of caviar, a degustation of seasonal vegetables and recommended wine pairings.
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Upper Crust
Place your order, pick a seat, sit back and enjoy the aromas of the Upper Crust. Although outlets are sprouting up around Boston (including Harvard Sq), the Beacon Hill storefront is the original. Neapolitan-style pizza features crispy thin crust and fresh, straightforward toppings. Order your pie as you like it or sample the ‘slice of the day.’ In the spirit of environmental awareness, pizzas are delivered by bicycle and discounts are offered for patrons who ride the T (show your Charlie Card to get in on it).
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Cambridge, 1
Set in the old fire station, this pizzeria’s name comes from the sign chiseled into the stonework out front. The interior is sleek, sparse and industrial, with a slate bar, an open kitchen and big windows overlooking the Old Burying Ground in the back. The menu is equally simple: nine pizzas, five salads and one dessert. These pizzas are delectable, with crispy crust and creative topping combos. You cannot create your own pie here, but you don’t need to. Try the Sopresetta and fontina, and wash it down with a Maretti.
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Baraka Café
This tiny storefront offers an opportunity for the adventurous eater to sample exotic flavors in a setting reminiscent of a Mediterranean kitchen. The enticing menu offers hot and cold kemiette (small plates), as well as classic North African dishes like couscous and bastilla. Vegetarians have no shortage of options, while meat-eaters might indulge in the M'Katef (lamb chops with an almond pastry).
There's no alcohol, but the lemonade - spiced with orange essence and rose water - quenches any thirst.
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