Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
In a city synonymous with tradition, Boston chefs have spent recent years rewriting culinary history. The stuffy, wood-paneled formality is gone; the endless renditions of chowdah, lobster, and cod have retired; and the assumption that true foodies better hop the next Amtrak to New York is also—thankfully—a thing of the past.
In their place, a crop of young chefs has ascended, opening small, upscale neighborhood spots that use local New England ingredients to delicious effect. Traditional eats can still be found (Durgin-Park remains the best place to get baked beans), but many diners now gravitate toward innovative food in understated environs. Whether you're looking for casual French, down-home Southern cooking, some of the best sushi in the country, or Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, Boston restaurants are ready to deliver. Eclectic Japanese spot o ya and iconic French restaurant L'Espalier have garnered widespread attention, while a coterie of star chefs like Barbara Lynch, Lydia Shire, and Ken Oringer have built mini-empires and thrust the city to the forefront of the national dining scene.
The fish and shellfish brought in from nearby shores continue to inform the regional cuisine, along with locally grown fruits and vegetables, handmade cheeses, and humanely raised heritage game and meats. But don't expect boiled lobsters and baked apple pie. Today’s chefs, while showcasing New England’s bounty, might offer you lobster cassoulet with black truffles, bacon-clam pizza from a wood-burning oven, and a tomato herb salad harvested from the restaurant’s rooftop garden. In many ways, though, Boston remains solidly skeptical of trends. To wit: the cupcake craze and food truck trend hit here later than other cities; the Hawaii-inspired poke movement has only recently arrived. And over in the university culture of Cambridge, places like the Harvest and Oleana espoused the locavore and slow-food movements before they became buzzwords.
Since 1997, Boston's fashionable set has flocked to this long-popular South End restaurant with polished service and upscale yet unpretentious French-Mediterranean cuisine. While seasonal tweaks do occur, fail-safe favorites like Burgundy-style escargot, parfait of Hudson Valley foie gras, tuna tartare, duck with cranberry gastrique, and branzino meunière are part of a menu that rarely changes—but no one's complaining.
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.
Pink and orange dragon decals cover the windows of this all-day Chinese café, where Joanne Chang (of Flour bakery fame) taps her familial cooking roots to create shareable platters of creative dumplings, wok-charred udon noodles, and stir-fries brimming with fresh ingredients and plenty of hot chili peppers, garlic, fresh herbs, crushed peanuts, and lime. The staff is young and fun, and the crowd generally follows suit. On Monday through Wednesday nights from 4 to 9 pm, the Great Date Night prix fixe menu for two is a bargain. Weekends are packed for the Dim Sum brunch menu.
Diners searching for Shanghainese soup dumplings should head to this place, the cousin of New York City's Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao restaurant. Now one of a small chain, this fast-casual modern Chinatown newcomer boasts hearty food served in to-go containers that you can eat in-house—if you can find an open seat. Try the myriad dumpling flavors and styles, fried udon noodles, and other belly filling dishes.
More than just a tap room, this place satisfies a variety of different needs, although beer is at the forefront—there are more than two dozen beers on tap as well as a couple hard seltzers and some nonalcoholic varieties. Food focuses on Detroit-style pizza, with sandwiches and shareable plates, too. Children are welcome.
Despite o ya’s tucked-away location and hidden door, the place isn't exactly a secret: critics from the New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine have all named this improvisational sushi spot among the best in the country. The chef--owner plates a 20-course nightly omakase dinner with sushi and cooked preparations. The extensive sake list includes sparkling and aged varieties. Make a reservation well in advance.
With two restaurants (including Sofra in Cambridge), a James Beard award, and two cookbooks to her name, chef--owner Ana Sortun continues to bewitch area diners with her intricately spiced eastern Mediterranean mezes (small plates) made with fresh-picked produce from her husband's nearby Siena Farms. Oleana's menu changes often, but look for the hot, crispy-fried mussels starter and Sultan's Delight (tamarind-glazed beef with smoky eggplant puree) along with large plates of Iskender lamb kebab and lemon chicken. The Chef's choice is a delightful vegetable meze, complete with a rich dessert. When the weather is inviting, the cozy atmosphere of this tucked-away spot spills out into a peaceful back patio garden. Of note: a 5% kitchen appreciation fee and 1% administrative fee are added to all checks.
Don't miss this red clapboard, Pan–Latin American restaurant located down an alleyway in Harvard Square. Owner Andres Branger's dream to bring bountiful plates of superfresh family fare from his home country of Venezuela to Cambridge (as well as Brookline Village) rewards diners with delectable, palm-size arepas (crispy, hot, corn-flour pockets stuffed with beans, cheese, chicken, or pork), pabellon criollo (moist shredded beef with stewed beans, rice, and plantains), and red chili adobo–marinated, charred pollo (chicken). Empanadas, hearty salads, and stuffed French-bread sandwiches at lunch, along with a small selection of wine and beer, round out the very affordable menu at this casual eatery. When weather permits, ask for a seat on the back patio, a quiet flower-and-fountain-filled oasis that makes the rest of the world feel very far away.
Don't be surprised to see a queue down the street at this neighborhood hot spot, no matter the time of day. Regulars come for waffles topped with fresh fruit, caramel-and-banana French toast, huge salads, and hefty sandwiches, all made to order, which you do from the counter. Newbies should note The Paramount's unspoken rule: don't take a seat until after you wait in line, order, and pay.
This tiny bar and dining room on the ground floor of the Whitney Hotel is no typical lobby restaurant. It serves up a sophisticated take on rustic, coastal Mediterranean-inspired food with a nod to New England ingredients and seasonality. Diners are meant to rest, order slowly, and enjoy a scratch-made meal in multiple stages. The vibe is modern, with blues and browns, and a gorgeous wood floor.
One look at the neighborhood bar's menu will have you holding back belly laughs, even as it's grumbling with hunger. Plates are interesting and well thought-out, mainly hot sandwiches and apps. The space, which is long and lean, also boasts a shuffleboard, but you may have to wait in line to play it. Sunday nights are especially popular.
Sophisticated and pristine yet unpretentious, this restaurant pairs nautical flair with the freshest Atlantic seafood, fitting for its setting overlooking Boston Harbor. The menu favors Asian flavors, but there's at least something for almost every dietary restriction, and the well-curated wine-by-the-glass list and craft cocktails ensure you won't leave thirsty.
If you've never heard of chifa cuisine (yeah, it's a real thing), you'll wonder why you haven't after having a meal at this South American--style place, where the kitchen creates dishes from Cantonese-Peruvian and Japanese culinary traditions. Dig into makimono (sushi rolls), wok-prepared dishes, and cold and hot plates. Presentation is a big part of both the decor and Ruka's creative cocktails, sake, and tea service.
Step into this Back Bay raw bar specializing in snappy cocktails and luscious preparations of all things seafood and you'll fall hook, line, and sinker for everything on the menu, including platters of fresh-shucked oysters on crushed ice, torched salmon belly with charred avocado, smoked fish that would make a New York deli owner proud, seafood-topped toasts, and a butter-drenched warm lobster roll overflowing with fresh meat. Rounding out the menu are tins of domestic and imported gourmet shellfish and fish (including a full caviar menu) served in all their oily goodness with bread, butter, smoked salt, lemon, and sweet pepper jam. The patio is amazing when in season.
Stepping into this family-owned East Boston pizza joint is like stepping into the 1980s, even though it first opened way back in 1903. Every table is full on a Saturday night at 7 pm, and don't be surprised to see a line that runs out the cramped front doorway. This local favorite serves well-done and crispy, traditional style pies topped with veggies, ’chovies, garlic, and meat; the only other menu items are lamb, steak and chicken tips, and grilled sausages cooked over open hot coals in the corner.
The small meze plates at this locally loved Mediterranean joint are so good you might not want to share. Pair dishes like sole katayif (stuffed pancakes) and eggplant schnitzel with their expertly crafted cocktails or wine, and soak up the social atmosphere.
Escape into chef--owner Lydia Shire's delectable, homey take on Italian-American cuisine where everything is made from scratch, down to her famous naan bread and the crust of her infamous lobster pizza. Entrées are heavy on meat and fish and stretch beyond standard items to lamb T-bone, duck, Kurobuta pork, and Scottish salmon; try house-made spaghetti more than half a dozen ways. The creative menu is complemented by a sleek orange bar, curved white-leather booths, and one of the city's most connected crowds. Gluten-free menus are available.
Red Sox fans, foodies, and Fenway residents flock to this meat-lover's mecca, where Texas-style barbecue is the name of the game. Hefty slabs of dry-rubbed heritage pork, great northern beef brisket, and plump chickens cook low and slow in a jumbo black smoker, then come to the table heaped on a tray lined with butcher paper, along with homemade sweet pickles, shaved onion, and your choice of "hot scoops" (collard greens, mac and cheese) or "cold scoops" (coleslaw, potato salad). Owner Tiffany Faison tromped all over the Texas barbecue belt to get her recipes finger-licking right, including the baseball-size biscuits served with honey butter. Sweet tea and cocktails arrive in mason jars, while house-made barbecue sauces (ranging from mild to skull-splittingly hot) sit on the table, along with a tin can of flatware and napkins. (You'll need lots of the latter; with food this good, it's going to get messy.)
This upscale bakery and café takes pastries to the next level. From tea cakes to the Jerusalem bagel, expect hearty baked goods with an air of elegance and influenced by the owner's Israeli heritage. Fantastic coffee drinks include the house's signature halva latte. A breakfast, lunch, and brunch menu features hearty plates all day, from breakfast sandwiches to salads, bowls, and shakshuka (an egg dish with tomatoes and peppers). The café's vibe welcomes those who appreciate attention to detail in both the food and the bright, lively atmosphere—so expect to wait in line.
From tea cakes to Jerusalem bagels, this upscale bakery and café takes pastries to the next level. Expect fantastic coffee drinks, including the house's signature halva latte, and hearty baked goods with an air of elegance all influenced by the owner's Israeli heritage. A heartier all-day menu features sandwiches, salads, and shakshuka (egg dish). The café's vibe welcomes those who appreciate attention to detail in both the food and the bright, lively atmosphere, but visitors should expect to wait in line, especially at this location that's short on space. There are numerous locations throughout the city including Back Bay, Charlestown, and Fenway.
Chef Ken Oringer's tapas joint is a lively, popular spot where the Barcelona-inspired small plates, such as the jamon and queso, salt cod croquettes, and grilled corn with cotija cheese, are hefty enough to make a meal out of a few. The traditional or vegetarian paella is also perfect for sharing with a hungry crowd. A predominantly Spanish wine list complements the plates. Crowds have been known to wait it out for more than an hour for dinner without a reservation. Also of note: there's a 3% Fair Wage + Wellness Provision fee added to all bills.
Trade celebrates the culinary heritage of the Mediterranean region, and more specifically, Greece, with a curated menu by James Beard award–winning chef-owner Jody Adams. Think perfectly charred flatbreads and pita that fly out of the open-hearth oven, eggplant- and feta-inspired dishes, lamb meatballs, and whole-roasted branzino. Don't miss the olive oil cake, house cocktails with a Greek twist, or special selection of Greek brandy, ouzo, and wine—you can order them per flight, too.
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.
Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views of the Boston Harbor waterfront, this sophisticated and lively restaurant serves up midsized plates that are meant to be shared—two to three per person. The well-curated menu features meat and produce from the owner's 360-acre New Hampshire farm, as well as handmade pasta and sustainably sourced seafood. Diners with specialized diets can choose from many gluten-free, dairy-free, and/or vegan dishes.
Let your nose lead you here on a Saturday night, but expect to wait in a massive line of foodies looking to get their hands on one of four award-winning niku udon noodle dishes (cold or hot, and spicy versions of each) topped with sweet and savory beef. The restaurant itself is absolutely tiny, but its local reputation is huge. For a scratch-made quick bite that's truly unique, this is a must-stop.
Silver service, crystal chandeliers, a roaring fireplace, book-lined shelves, and a gilded bar area set the tone at this brassy, classic reimagined supper club. You'll want to start with an ice-cold martini or cava by the glass, and then move on to a bounty of food options, including snacks, stone-fired pitas, toasts, sharing plates, and bigger "feasts" for two-plus people. This is so much more than a restaurant—it's an experience.
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.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
