South End & Chinatown
Offering a hands-on approach to dinner, 'shabu-shabu' is also known as hot-pot cuisine, where you cook your meal at your table in a big family-style pot…
Must-see restaurants in Massachusetts
Martha's Vineyard
While the name may conjure up images of shortbread and tea cakes, the Scottish Bakehouse serves a wonderful variety of baked goodies in its cozy digs on…
Boston
Dating to 1885, the Marliave has all of its vintage architectural quirks still intact, from the mosaic floor to the tin ceilings. The wide-ranging menu…
Boston
The Zanti family has been fishing for three generations, so they definitely know their stuff. A relatively recent addition is this retail fish market,…
South End & Chinatown
Only in the South End does the neighborhood butcher shop double as an elegant eatery and wine bar. The cases filled with tantalizing cuts of meat, fresh…
Massachusetts
Vegan, gluten-free, raw – whatever your dietary restriction, this sweet little cafe has got you covered. Even if you're an omnivore, you'll drool over the…
Nantucket
In a sea of, well, seafood restaurants, Nautilus offers a tantalizing alternative with its menu of global-minded (but decidedly Asian focused) dishes. It…
Quahog Republic Whaler's Tavern
South Shore
You're in Whaling City: why not grab lunch at this friendly whaler's tavern, where you can feast on a well-stocked raw bar, divine cod cakes or 'monsta…
Boston
Customers are raving about this North End newcomer, which serves classic northern Italian fare in its sophisticated dining room with big windows…
South End & Chinatown
Clean, contemporary and super cool, Shōjō is unique in Chinatown for its trendy vibe (and unfortunately loud music). The menu picks and chooses from all…
Martha's Vineyard
Quality sandwiches and salads are made to order at this popular lunch spot located in a beautiful old house on Main St. The inside seating can be a bit…
Martha's Vineyard
Join the in-the-know crowd on the garden patio (under cute striped awnings and – yes – among the flowering plants) for homemade soups, waffles, sandwiches…
Massachusetts
Cross the bridge to Plum Island to find this sophisticated seafood grill serving up grilled fish and a specialty oyster menu. The food can be inconsistent…
Massachusetts
There's something refreshing about this place – pleasant but innocuous in appearance, with its chalkboard menu and wooden bar. But as soon as those…
Boston
Customers line up before the doors open so they can guarantee themselves a spot in the first round of seating at this North End favorite. Enthusiastic and…
Boston
It's unusual that something so classy, so contemporary and so cosmopolitan should find a home in historic Blackstone Block. But here it is: Korean fusion…
Martha's Vineyard
Be sure to head to the Grange Hall in the center of West Tisbury on market days for fresh-from-the-farm produce. The best time to go is Saturday, when it…
South End & Chinatown
Gaslight is the friendly and affordable brasserie du coin (brasserie on the corner) that we all wish we had in our own neighborhood. Mosaic tiles, wood…
South Shore
Quincy isn't exactly known for fine dining and cocktails, but the Townshend might just change that. The menu is broad (and frequently changing), but…
Nantucket
You can get your organic juice and almond-milk latte fix at Lemon Press, a chic, design-minded cafe on Main St. The menu of sandwiches, wraps and bowls…
South End & Chinatown
The upstairs dining room is exquisite, but the downstairs bistro exudes warmth and camaraderie, inviting casual callers to linger over wine and snacks. In…
Boston
Boston is one of the few US cities that boasts a Burmese restaurant. Yoma’s la phet thot (pickled green-tea-leaf salad) is the hands-down favorite, rich…
Martha's Vineyard
On a cold day, warm up with some chowder or opt for a super-fresh lobster roll at this rustic, no-frills, year-round fish market in Menemsha. Or go the…
Martha's Vineyard
Whiskey is the star of the cocktail menu at 20byNine and it goes well with just about everything on the delightfully unpretentious menu of small plates…
South End & Chinatown
Barcelona calls itself a wine bar (and it does have an impressive wine program, for sure), but most people come for the excellent food and the impeccable…
Massachusetts
The striped awning and overflowing flower boxes are the perfect gateway to this romantic trattoria in the heart of Salem. Owner Giorgio Manzana has…
Cape Cod
The creative menu at this stylish bistro swings from thin-crust fig-and-prosciutto pizza to maple-glazed duck and beyond. Global influences enhance fine…
Cape Cod
You won't find a basic California roll on the menu at Bluefins. This ultra-chic spot on Chatham's Main St specializes in unique rolls such as Surf & Turf,…
Cape Cod
If you love seafood but you're hankering for something a little different, seek out this hidden Italian-Peruvian gem. Take your pick from nine kinds of…
Martha's Vineyard
A purveyor of all things farm-to-table, 7a Foods is run by locals with excellent food and farming pedigrees (co-owner and chef Dan is a Culinary Institute…
Boston
The line is often out the door, but it's worth the wait for amazing Italian food, just like nonna made. Pick a pasta (all made fresh on the premises) and…
Cape Cod
While the outside of this cafe is a blah strip mall, the interior is full-on mid-century modern chic with lots of golden wood and plush cushions. It has a…
Massachusetts
This Salem institution has been serving eggs and sandwiches to faithful customers for over 50 years. The food is hearty and basic, but the real attraction…
South End & Chinatown
The newly revamped space looks terrific, as do the creative concoctions coming out of the kitchen. This is truly global cuisine, focusing on Nikkei …
South End & Chinatown
The Franklin is probably the South End's longest-standing favorite local joint – and that's saying something in this restaurant-rich neighborhood. It’s at…
Massachusetts
The North Shore branch of a South End favorite in Boston, this cool place has an urban atmosphere and an excellent, modern New American menu. More often…
Massachusetts
One of the few restaurants on the Neck. The menu is a mélange of Italian mains, seafood classics and sushi. The food's not that memorable, but the…
Cape Cod
One of the Cape's finest coffee bars brews heady espresso and cappuccino. Or, for a cool treat on a hot day, try the 'frozen hot chocolate.' Panini…
South End & Chinatown
This welcoming cafe is up a sketchy staircase, tucked into a sunlit 2nd-story space. It’s an animal-free zone – but good enough that meat eaters will…
Boston
If you're in the mood for a 'lobsta roll,' head to Pauli's for 7oz of pink succulent goodness, stuffed into a lightly grilled hot-dog roll – just the way…
