31 Best Restaurants in Boston Outskirts, Boston

Since 1999, this unpretentious, quick-serve creperie and café in the heart of Davis Square has been a local favorite for those seeking savory or sweet treats. For the savory set, ingredients are layered together (think grilled veggies, fresh cheeses, and crispy greens), wrapped in very thin pancakes, and heated until warm and toasty, while the gourmet sweet crêpes are filled with combinations such as dark Belgian chocolate and peanut butter, ricotta cheese and jam, or Nutella and berries. The Super Crêpes are heartier foldable meals with meats, veggies, and cheeses. Get creative and build your own crepe, or enjoy a flaky pastry, piping hot bowl of house-made soup, or chilly acai bowl.

Tres Gatos not only serves delicious Spanish tapas, pinchos (appetizers), and paella; it also has a cool record and bookstore in the back. Olives, stuffed dates, and tortilla Española are great starters, but the paella, made with shrimp, clams, chorizo, and rabbit is the star—there’s also a vegetarian version. Don’t miss the small gem of the shop for the latest vinyl or bestselling book. On the first and third Wednesdays of every month, there is live entertainment at 9 pm.

Relying on local, sustainable, seasonal ingredients, the frequently changing menu features such delights as steak tartare with all the fixings, Maine scallops wtih curried grapefruit beurre blanc, roast half chicken, and lobster-rich seafood stew. Stellar cocktails, excellent desserts, and professional, friendly service make it easy to understand why the accolades and diners continue to pour into this elegant New England–style bistro.

Enjoy earthy, market-fresh dishes at this cozy, brick-walled former butcher shop, where foodies, families, and folks from the neighborhood and beyond can't get enough of dream-team chefs David Punch and Lydia Reichert's culinary homage to New England. Begin with a cocktail from the excellent bar and end with a satisfied smile—made even bigger because area parking is plentiful and mainly free.

In 1997, Ran Duan’s parents opened Sichuan Garden, and today their award-winning–bartender son has added the Blossom Bar inside, where wildly creative cocktails with ingredients like avocado and toasted coconut bring in rave reviews. Longtime restaurant fans will be happy that all their favorite classic dishes, like kung pao chicken and dan dan noodles, are still on the menu. In addition, there is a section of "American Comfort" dishes offered, like crab rangoon and General Tso's chicken.

This welcoming spot offers authentic Ethiopian cuisine in a casual and friendly setting. If you're unfamiliar with the cuisine or don't know what to order, the helpful staff can guide you with suggestions and advice, but we suggest you start with lentil sambosas (savory vegan pastries) and then try the yebeg tibs combo (lamb with ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and onions), or one of several vegetarian dishes on the menu. 

When a basic burger won't do, this Davis Square dive satisfies. It's go big or go somewhere else thanks to thick patties covered in crazy toppings, such as the Gravy Train (a burger topped with cheese curds, fries, and onions with scallion aioli) or the Mac Attack (four-cheese mac and cheese, plus bacon). Fries don't just sit sidecar; they're their own meals when ordered smothered in clam chowder, chili, pizza toppings, or gyro meat. Still hungry? Try one of the colossal #FreakFrappes (frappes topped with everything from cannoli to s'mores). There are four other locations: Cambridge, Boston, Jamaica Plain, and Salem.

This popular spot, tucked into a row of businesses across from the Forest Hills T station, is a lively restaurant and bar, with legions of fans who stop by for well-thought-out dishes like the addictive buttermilk-brined fried chicken and brunch hits like the brown butter pancakes and biscuits and gravy. The decor is cozy and warm, with counters, tabletops, and shelves made from antique woods repurposed from an old farmhouse. At night, the bar is packed with patrons sampling inventive cocktails from the bar staff who love to experiment. The patio is the spot to be in good weather. On Thursday and Friday mornings, the restaurant opens at 9 am and serves homemade doughnuts and coffee.

Harkening back to his German heritage, chef-owner Tim Wiechmann and his wife, Bronwyn, the restaurant's namesake, have brought a rib-sticking yet sophisticated taste of Central and Eastern Europe to Union Square. The menu here includes juicy hand-stuffed pork sausages served with powerfully seasoned sauces, hearty dumplings, noodle dishes (try the spaetzle with sausage), the best wurst trio, Hirsch goulash, and sauerbraten. Small farms supply many ingredients, and the hot pretzels, grainy breads, and desserts are all homemade. To wash it down, try any of the excellent beers or German, Austrian, or Northern Italian red or white wines. With an outside biergarten, a cozy interior filled with small tables set with medieval manor–like carved wooden chairs, and a Sunday brunch featuring Pfannkuchen, a cast iron–cooked German pancake with warm apples and house bacon, the only thing missing from this corner of Germany is an oompah band.

This Union Square spot offers up an elevated look at Peruvian food with a heavy emphasis on fresh, ocean-centric ingredients. Sitting among the dishes of mixed seafood ceviche, steamed fish, and seared crustaceans are other delicious dishes such as the spicy potato causas with toppings, lamb stew, and lucuma (a native tree fruit) mousse dessert. The retro vibe of '50s decor is out of sight, turned up a notch with cumbia, salsa dura, merengue, and vallenato sounds. Make reservations in advance, because the super small space fills up fast.

Known as Somerville's "refueling station," this bright, window-y spot just got a new look but still boasts a retro vibe, bold local artwork, and spacious tables that draw in Davis Square hipsters, Tufts students, and LGBTQ+ sets. Be part of the rebel crowd over veggie-friendly fare, crafted salads, soups, wraps, house-made pastries, and gourmet coffee with tasty house-made syrups in flavors like pumpkin, caramel, and vanilla. Shoot pool, chill out, or take selfies in a photo booth.

The name in Japanese means "house of elegance," and the gracious and efficient service hits the mark at this flagship location, along with the interior's tatami mats, rice-paper partitions, and wooden ships circling a moat around the sushi bar. The extensive menu is both elegant and novel, with thick slabs of superfresh sashimi, inventive maki rolls, and plenty of cooked items, like beef fried rice or chicken curry, for those not into seafood or raw fish.

This snow-white shop in Union Square makes microbatches of ice cream daily and serves it, if you wish, in a torched marshmallow-cream–lined cone. There are six All the Time Flavors (chocolate, sweet cream, black raspberry chip, mint chip, cookies and cream, salty whiskey) and five Sometimes Flavors. The often-crazy flavors have included the likes of Fruity Pebbles (the cereal), black sesame and honey, and Gronk Mash (peanut butter ice cream with potato chips, pretzels, Kit Kat pieces, peanuts, and chocolate chips). One dairy-free sorbet option is always available, too.  There's contactless ordering online or via the app.

Since 1981, J.P. Licks has been serving up delicious homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt, later adding its own roasted coffee and baked goods, in a fun, funky atmosphere. This is the original shop, but outposts can be found all over the city, all with the same great flavors and service. You can pop in for a latte and scone in the morning and return in the afternoon for a scoop or a frappe. In warm weather, the outdoor patio is packed with ice cream lovers.

Vince Petryk started this Boston ice cream institution back in 1981, and today, there are 17 locations in and around Boston, including another Somerville spot in Assembly Row. With all their ice cream made in-house and kosher, J.P. Licks is most well-known for inventive flavors, such as Birthday Cake with pieces of yellow cake and rainbow sprinkles and Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookie Batter. For traditional taste buds, creative blends like salted caramel cookies and cream and several other iterations of classics are also available. You can also peep local artwork inside the shops through their respected and revolving Artists in Residence program.

This is a solid spot for great burgers, pizzas, and brews, though a full bar and a few pasta and main dishes, such as chicken marsala and mac and cheese, are also on offer. Somewhat rare for the neighborhood, the restaurant is open daily for breakfast/brunch with an extensive menu of classics, like eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles, and pancakes.

Massachusetts's only restaurant on Esquire magazine's Best New list in 2023, this tavern serves Jewish cuisine in a welcoming environ to all. With a name that means “house of learning” in German, the space is half restaurant, half library, and also hosts cooking classes, book events, and live music and classes. The meatless and kosher menu has dishes such as beet "pastrami" reuben, herring tartine, house-smoked fish paté, and a Chopped Not-Liver made with eggplant and nuts.

This lively, hip spot offers creative and delicious dishes like KFC (Korean fried chicken) bao buns and giant bowls of tasty, soul-satisfying ramen and pho. The "munchies" menu features favorites like tasty red-oil dumplings, with a sauce you'll want to spoon up; hot firecracker wings; and herbed edamame. Noodle fans get special treatment here---if you find yourself running low in your ramen bowl, just say "kae-dama, please" to your server and they will bring you more!

Usually packed, Otto Pizza delivers on tasty, delicious classics like cheese, pepperoni, or margherita, but where it really shines is with oddball combinations—like caramelized pear, blue cheese, and arugula, or pulled pork and pineapple. Diners can enjoy sit-down service, paired with a beer or glass of wine, or get a slice at the bar or get one to go.

It's all about the fire here, with wood-fired vegetables, wood-fired pizzas, and wood-oven-roasted chicken among the highlights. There is also a small raw-bar menu, with items like oysters and scallop ceviche, and a selection of pastas and entrées, such as fettuccine Bolognese and charcoal-grilled halibut, to round out the menu. The servers offer excellent service.

What may look like a simple neighborhood beer bar actually has a cultlike status for Brookline-ites and beyond. Serving an impressive amount of out-of-the-ordinary and artisanal beers—with almost two dozen on tap—the bar also offers tasty sandwiches, smaller entrées, and main dishes, of which the most beloved is the mac and cheese, customizable with additions including bacon, tomato, mushrooms, peas, egg, asparagus, shrimp, hot dog, and truffle cream. The burger game is strong too, with plenty of toppings on offer.

Weekend lines out the door of Redbones can only mean one thing: you're about to hit the epicenter of barbecue in Somerville. Piled high on plates since 1987, Redbones's meat-heavy menu has a dedicated following for its pulled pork and chicken, sliced brisket, and chopped burnt ends. Ribs are a triple threat, with pork in St. Louis or sweet and tangy styles, as well as Texas dry-rubbed beef. While the fried chicken doesn't get as much fan fare, it should. Sides are what you would expect, including baked beans, collards, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, dirty rice, and corn bread.

Cheerful and welcoming, Rifrullo feels like you've stepped into a friend's farmhouse kitchen. Homemade breads, pastries, and a thoughtful menu with dishes like Turkish poached eggs or spicy granola for breakfast, and a variety of sandwiches, like a tofu banh mi, salmon burger, or grilled cheese, appeal to a variety of palates. The café also hosts monthly community dinners with a prix fixe menu (vegetarian option available) and BYOB, a fun way to meet people. But be aware, space is limited.

Housed inside Davis Square's landmark renovated Worcester Lunch Car with neon aplenty, Rosebud is the quintessential diner scene of tufted booths and counter swivel stools. It has recently reopened with an Indian-cuisine twist to those old-fashioned diner dishes locals love. Customize mac and cheese with creamy chicken tikka, order up masala chai French toast, and garnish your dog with Indian vegetable chili. You’ll also find Indian-inspired dishes, including Kashmiri deviled eggs, butter chicken potpie, and a mango lassi parfait. Don't worry: You can still get a slice of good old fashioned pie.

With a cozy saffron-yellow interior and an outdoor patio that fills up in warm weather, this tapas bar has a mostly Spanish wine list (more than 300 bottles, 95 of which are sherries). Authentic hot and cold tapas and raciones (medium-size plates) include such classics as a tortilla Española, shrimp in garlic oil, braised eggplant, and octopus, along with favorite entrées like paella.

This tiny candlelit space is an enchanting mix of elegance and chummy neighborhood revelry—both in the atmosphere and the food. Simple but high-quality dishes, such as gnocchi alfredo and braised lamb shank, are prepared expertly, and the menu changes frequently; fun theme nights include "Beerger Tuesday," when you can enjoy a burger, beer, and fries for just $16, and "Pasta Thursday," with a different featured pasta, accompanied by a serving of wine, for $22.

This local hangout is a true community space, with everyone from commuters grabbing an organic coffee and a pastry in the morning to locals enjoying a soup-and-sandwich combo at lunch to students snacking on a muffin while doing their homework in the afternoon. The owners pride themselves on offering an inclusive space and using sustainable practices, such as using compostable products instead of plastic.

This contemporary version of a Jewish delicatessen offers genuinely lean corned beef, chicken matzo ball soup, and a lovely whitefish salad plate. If you believe breakfast is the most important meal, you'll be happy to know it's served all day, so you can skip the hour-long weekend brunch waits elsewhere and enjoy the area's best pancakes, Benedicts, and stuffed French toast any weekday. You can also easily make a meal of the delicious potato pancakes with homemade applesauce and sour cream. If you have room, cheesecake or treats from the bakery case await.

The locally owned-and-operated J.P. Licks scoops homemade ice cream, frozen yogurts, sherbet, and sorbet in all the basic varieties, plus there are non-dairy, gluten-free, and vegan options, and seasonal flavors like Apple Crisp and Fresh Cucumber. There are 13 locations in and around Boston.