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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 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.
Simple but sublime cones have made many addicted to the fun and funky likes of J.P. Licks, which serves a traditional stable of ice cream flavors, like peanut butter cookies 'n' cream and mint chip, along with hard and soft frozen yogurt offerings, best smothered with the shop's superb hot fudge sauce and any of the wet (whipped cream, marshmallow sauce) and dry (M&M's, Heath Bar) toppings. Dairy-free coconut-based "ice creams" exist, along with sorbets and sherbets.
The signature Curley Burger is what originally brought in crowds when this place opened years ago, and it's still very much a staple of the menu, but there's way more American comfort food to pick from. If you're looking for a nosh after 11 pm, you can order up snacks like corn dogs and chicken wings until 1:30 am—a rarity in Boston. Less well known is Bogie's Place, a secret-ish room that serves up steaks and caviar service from behind a curtain.
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.
The huge, juicy roast-beef sandwiches served at Kelly's Roast Beef, a local institution since 1951, are the sole reason some Bostonians make the trek to Revere. Other menu favorites include the fried clams and hand-breaded onion rings. It's open from 5 am to 2:30 am Sunday through Thursday, and until 3 am Friday and Saturday.
Bomboloni and focaccia beckon to passersby, but it's the sandwiches and shareable custom charcuterie boxes that will keep customers coming back. Select from cheeses, meats, fruits, jams, and crackers—there are even options for vegetarians—when creating a charcuterie box, or opt for a loaded sandwich or bagel (weekends only). Prepare to take your meal to go; the tiny shop lacks tables and chairs. There is also a nice selection of imported sodas, sauces, and sweets.
This charming artisanal chocolatier is a staple for locals and tourists alike, who come for its famously adorable signature chocolate mice, chocolate bonbons, and chocolate bars. The elegant, life-changing hot cocoa may be just the thing to restore flagging spirits or weary feet with variations on the classic milk chocolate, including dark, spicy, and white. Served in giant cup and saucer (or a to-go cup if needed), the drink is dusted with cocoa powder and a dollop of cream. There's also a location in Boston's Back Bay. Take a few bags of drinking chocolate home with you for DIY treats.
The newest endeavor by James Beard award--winning chef Jody Adams, this Italian eatery inside the luxury Raffles Boston hotel lavishes diners with dishes created from ingredients sourced both locally and direct from Italy. The menu has house-made pasta and local seafood, with a menu taking a tour of the regions—think paccheri (looks like rigatoni) and clams, lobster and uni risotto, slow-roasted porchetta, and desserts like a brioche gelato sandwich and funnel cakes. The two-level 8,600-square-foot space greets you with a lounge and bar that offers shared bites and drinks, then continues up a grand staircase to deliver you to the sexy second-floor dining area with its elegant "Golden Era of Cinema" decor reveal.
The Vietnamese noodle soup pho is the name of the game in this quick and casual eatery (it's set inside The Garage, a small mall in Harvard Square); at $11, it's a meal unto itself with chicken, shrimp, or beef, steaming hot in a big bowl. Fresh salads, rice plates, steamed vermicelli, seafood entrées, and stir-fries are offered, as well as crispy spring rolls, summer rolls, and Chinese chicken wings. It's all notably fresh fare, and, even better, it's healthy, without gloppy sauces, and many of the dishes are steamed. Those approaching from JFK Street can access the restaurant through the main Garage entrance; just head all the way through toward the Dunster Street side at the back.
What began as a tiny restaurant adjacent to a Cambridge fish market has acquired regional status, with more than 25 locations around the country. The hallmark is the freshest possible seafood, whether you have it wood-grilled, in New England chowder, or doused in an Asian-style sauce. The jumbo lump crab cakes are divine (no fillers) and the clam chowder has been served at presidential inaugurations. For a true taste of New England, don't miss the golden cracker-crowned baked lobster stuffed with shrimp and scallops, one of the most popular entrées at all Legal restaurants.
With a roof deck, patio, balcony, and floor-to-ceiling windows, Legal Sea Foods' flagship restaurant features abundant space for diners to take in panoramic views of Boston Harbor no matter the season or the weather. The menu is classic seafood: from raw bar and sushi offerings to grilled fish, fried fish, and sandwiches, there is plenty to eat here—unless you're a landlubber.
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.
Challenging the typical cookie weight limit, Levain's freshly baked cookies are the perfect two-person dessert, although it can be tough to share with flavors like caramel-coconut chocolate chip, lemon, vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip walnut, oatmeal raisin, and dark chocolate--peanut butter chip tempting your sweet tooth. The banana--chocolate chip loaf is moist, and the country boule breaks with the perfect outer crisp. There's also a new location in the Seaport.
With three foodie destinations under one roof, The Shed is a dining hat trick right in the middle of Cambridge Crossing's Picnic Grove (a lush green area in the heart of the city). The Lexington is chef-owner Will Gilson's shining star of the space, serving up dishes that highlight foods from the Herb Lyceum, a 4-acre working farm in Groton operated by his family since the 1800s. Dine high above the city on the restaurant's coveted roof deck. Favorites have included grilled Berkshire chops, rabbit mafadine, mushroom tartine, and spring rigatone. The Shed also is home to sister eateries Cafe Beatrice, an early-morning breakfast spot, and Geppetto, an eatery for all things Italian. Gilson also has a new Mediterranean-inspired café, Amba, between Kendall Square and Cambridge Crossing.
Ingredients from the Mediterranean region and local waters mix on the menu at this upscale Greek restaurant. Dig into a whole grilled fish (six options!), zucchini chips, and craft cocktails. The raw bar is notable, as are a few lamb dishes. Overall, the vibe here is elevated and fun; it's great for a night out with friends or a first date.
If you're looking for a quiet evening out, don't bring your date to this South Boston institution. Packed every evening, whether it's the weekend when singles are mingling or on Tuesday when crowds come for the $1 oysters, the food is always tasty, especially the wood-fired pizza. Brunch is served every day of the week, as is the late-night pizza and wings menu.
James Beard Award–winning chef-owner Ken Oringer (of Coppa and Toro fame) serves up crazy-good small plates made from big, bold, unexpected combos: think crab mac and cheese, a caviar sandwich, eel quesadilla, and Wagyu tartare with potato chips. There's also a light and refreshing raw bar and plenty of veggies.
Chef Michael Serpa's ode to the seaside clam shacks and raw bars of the New England coast, this charming subterranean spot is where to go for a glass of bubbly, a plate of glistening crudo, or a meal fresh from the local sea. No matter your pleasure—Gloucester swordfish, Ipswich clams, Maine halibut, lobster, hake—there's plenty of the ocean's bounty to go around.
Make a reservation in advance to secure a table at this popular yet small corner taqueria. The menu features trendy takes on Mexican cuisine, tacos in particular, as well as fun cocktails and tequila flights. If you're looking for a quiet meal, this spot is not for you.
The Frattaroli family, who opened Lucia shortly after emigrating to Boston from the Abruzzo region of Italy, pack the kitchen with classic dishes that showcase flavors from their beloved home, which is why weekend evenings get packed. The long menu includes apps, such as fresh caprese salad and crispy calamari, and entrée favorites, including a buttery-smooth sogliola pescarese (fillet of sole dipped in egg and fried with limoncello), pollo marsala, and ammazzafame, a house specialty of penne rigate, porcini mushrooms, sausage, broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers. If you take to the outdoor patio to dine, don't expect more than a beer and wine selection on Sunday, as the adjacent church grounds forbid serving hard liquor that day.
It's counter service only and a very simple menu for this small eatery with only four tables and a few counter stools. The rolls are piled high with lobster, crab, and shrimp, along with sides and soups like clam chowder and lobster bisque.
Don't let the clichéd name fool you: Mamma Maria is far from a typical red-sauce joint. From the handmade pappardelle layered with braised rabbit to the authentic sauces and entrées to some of the best desserts in the North End, you can't go wrong here. The view, meanwhile, is lovely; gaze out onto cobblestone-lined North Square as you finish your fork-tender osso buco before a finale of limoncello (an Italian lemon-flavored liquor). It's set in a 19th century row house. Valet parking is available.
When a restaurant's very name conjures up images of the ocean waters, its menu choices should follow suit. Mare does exactly that, focusing on a locally sourced oyster program, fresh and innovative crudo dishes, and simple yet elegant entrées highlighting the natural flavors of its fresh, sustainable seafood. The Italian seafood restaurant has stepped out of tradition and moved into nouveau Italian, trading heavy seasonings for the simplicity of grilling and poaching seafood and meat dishes, which makes the place a simple but delicious option among its red-sauce-heavy neighbors. The outdoor patio features lounge seating, fire pits, and a retractable awning that made its way across the sea to Boston from Florence, Italy.
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!
Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto brings his signature Japanese fusion to this casual ramen spot next door to the TD Garden. Of course, ramen (eight styles, and a dozen toppings) is only one portion of the menu that also features sushi, small plates, and grilled fish, meat, and seafood. In nice weather, diners can sit on an expansive patio sipping Japanese whiskey, sake, or shochu.
