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.
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.
Stop by this place for a casual sit-down lunch after a visit to the ICA, right across the way. You can design your own grass-fed beef burger and load it with toppings, or try a specialty burger or other type of sandwich, and pair it with an ice cream shake.
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.
Chef Robert Fathman digs into the Mediterranean Basin's exotic flavors for his menu full of visually stunning and palate-pleasing dishes that play with bold textures and flavors. With a backdrop of a busy brasserie, dishes such as tartare de boeuf, risotto fruits de mer, escargots en croûte, and duck confit pay homage to the regional flavors of the sea, mountains, and land. The wine list is mostly French, and cocktail and mocktail lists are extensive. On Sunday, the restaurant celebrates the city of Marseille's most famous dish, with Moroccan Royal couscous with lamb, chicken, and Merguez sausage, along with a classic veggie version.
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.
A “gastropub meets bistro," Monument Restaurant & Tavern is quintessential Charlestown with a brownstone vibe of brick and weathered woods, 16-foot ceilings, and a 40-foot bar. Pizza is the menu's superstar, coming out piping and bubbly from the open kitchen's 900-degree oven, which is also used for wings, crab-artichoke dip, and roasted brick chicken. Hearty entrées for bigger appetites include pan-roasted day boat scallops and seared skirt steak. Their Smash Burger is a bucket list item, a messy two-hand burger topped with local Grillo's pickles, cheese, special sauce, and all the traditional toppings. The cocktail program gets crafty, with fun names like Back That Razz Up and Fancy Fizz. There's also a late night menu until midnight.
Diners who appreciate flavor and spice will adore chef-owner Asia Mei's creative kitchen endeavors, which often mix up elements of American, Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Thai, and Spanish cuisines. A lively local crowd comes for dinner and to get their hands on crave-worthy dishes (the menu does change frequently). The staff cares what you think, and this shows in the impeccable, friendly service and the fact that the chef doesn't just stay in the kitchen—she's often serving dishes herself and asking diners' opinions.
Dress nicely for a visit to Mooo...., a refined steak house that remains civilized despite the restaurant's somewhat whimsical name. Prime, dry-aged steaks are served à la carte, and, although the Japanese A5 Wagyu sirloin will set you back a few dollars, portions are as exaggerated as the prices. The menu also features a few seafood dishes and a poultry option; vegetarians and vegans are easily accommodated by request. The impressive, award-winning wine list boasts hundreds of entries, including a few very special bottles.
Its name, Nebo, is an acronym for "North End Boston," which is the neighborhood where the first iteration of this local restaurant operated for a time. Today, it serves rustic Italian dishes from the owners' nonna in a classy, corner spot on the waterfront. Chefs make the bread, pizza dough, and pasta in-house from scratch, and meals are nothing short of hearty and rich. Wine list features all Italian vintages. Nebo also boasts a large sidewalk seating area in nice weather.
A trifecta of Celtic celebration, this Quincy Market hot spot is part Irish pub, part lounge, and part live music hall. A destination for tourists and townies alike, the menu is a mix of classic Irish dishes, like chicken curry, fish-and-chips, Irish poutine, and beef stew, alongside New England favorites, such as Samuel Adams chicken tenders and clam chowder. Ned Devine’s features a cozy, upper-level dining room, a spacious dance floor for when bands are scheduled, and three bars that usually have the game on. The cozy interior, accented with exposed brick, is the perfect place to curl up with a fresh-drawn pint and relax after a day of sightseeing. When your energy is back on track, the live music draws big crowds on the weekends, with a $10 cover charge starting at 10 pm on Friday and 9 pm on Saturday.
Although the entrance to this superb sushi restaurant may elude you, simply follow the crowds of raw-fish fans streaming into the sleek, gray, industrial space, to find edible aquatic enchantment in the form of Tokyo-style soft-shell crab, lobster tempura, and Chilean sea bass. The vibe is stylish and so are the pricey diners. While it's easy to rack up quite a bill, especially ordering endless sushi a la cart, the omakase is a splurge; at $265–$280 its six to nine courses include Wagyu with truffles and sake add-ons.
From lattes to rickies, the sheer variety of beverage selections at this casual local spot will have your mouth watering, whether you like coffee or not—try the Greek frappe, it's the owner's specialty. Nosh on egg sandwiches, bagels, and muffins in the morning, or move on to grilled cheese and deli sandwiches at lunchtime.
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.
Perched between Central and Harvard squares, this new American trattoria was created by husband-and-wife team Chris and Pam Willis. Take a seat at the fresh-flower-covered communal table (or one of the smaller, more intimate tables) and choose your own culinary adventure by picking three dishes from the prix-fixe menu (à la carte is available only in the bar area). Delicious dishes include their signature lumache with Bolognese, lasagna bianca, and lamb tartare. The cocktail presence is strong (so are the drinks), and the natural wine list features small-batch wines from vineyards off the beaten path. Pammy's dual-opening fireplace, dramatic floral arrangements, and hand-drawn peacock mural add to its well-known charming nature that brings in foodies from all over Cambridge. Take note of the 6% fee added to all checks for kitchen administration.
To try the creations of some of the best local chefs without paying four-star-restaurant prices, stop by Parish Café, where you can get a sandwich designed by the top culinary minds in Boston. The menu is full of the city's famous handheld snacks, all with the permission of their original makers, alongside chef Brian Poe's own creations. The bar is open until 2 am daily, with food service until 1 am, a rare thing in Boston.
Satisfy your pizza craving with a crispy, wood-fired, thin-crust pie from this Fort Point neighborhood joint. A dozen-and-a-half options run from the traditional margherita to more inventive options; note that the pies are smaller in size, so order a few. The menu also includes house-made pastas, antipasti, and a few types of wood-fired pocket-bread sandwiches. Near as it is to the Boston Children's Museum, Pastoral is a great spot for a family meal.
In this North End nook, the lobster roll—in 7 ounces, 14 ounces, and at 28 ounces, the "U.S.S. Lobstitution," the biggest lobster roll in Boston—reigns supreme. Served either hot with drawn butter and cold with mayo, the smallest rolls come on a New England-style buttered hot dog bun, while the larger ones are piled onto sub rolls to accommodate all that meat. The signature sandwiches and wraps are served on freshly baked rolls, and the salads are made fresh daily.
Enjoy coffee, snacks, and Wi-Fi access in this hip basement spot, one of several scattered about the city. Tea lovers needn't feel left out—there are plenty of excellent options, including jade oolong and chamomile medley.
Fantastic coffee, paired with fresh pastries or delicious bagels, fuels a lot of people at this outpost of the local chain Pavement. Creative bagel sandwiches include Presto! Presto! (a combo of egg, sharp cheddar, avocado, and sun-dried pesto) or you can build your own with ingredients you like. There is communal seating inside, plus an outdoor patio, great for people-watching in warm weather.
Day or night, patrons pack this Vietnamese staple of the Chinatown neighborhood known for its steaming bowls of pho. A lengthy menu offers plenty of alternatives, vermicelli dishes, traditional Vietnamese preparations, and about 20 options for vegetarians. Booths and tables fill the dining area, making the most of its space, but despite the tight fit, service is exceptionally quick. Pho Pasteur's location borders the Theater District, so it's often a popular post-show spot for concert and theatergoers.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
