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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.
Stop at this artisanal grocer for cured meats and cheeses, croissants and scones, pasta salad sides, packaged crackers and jams, even a bottle of wine. You can also order gourmet sandwiches—there are a few eggy options during the breakfast hours, before the menu moves on to absolutely stunning meaty delights.
Anna's owner moved to Boston from San Fran's Mission District in the mid-1990s and opened shop. This West Coast--style Mexican takeout restaurant has been a hit ever since, especially with Boston residents, current and former. Diners can select from 10 meat and veggie fillings for burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and bowls.
French macarons with an Asian spin (think flavors like lychee, taro, Thai tea, and Hong Kong milk tea), fresh strawberry and mango cakes, and many layered crepe cakes (order by the slice), are all stars of the menu at Bao Bao. Grab-and-go baked goods include many types of buns from savory (curry beef) to sweet (pineapple with custard), and taro paste loaf bread. Milk teas, Ovaltine, iced tea drinks, and smoothies round out the offerings. The only con we can find is that there's no place to sit.
You could walk right past this tucked-away café on the ground floor of Beacon Hill Books, but you shouldn't. Stop in for a coffee, a glass of wine, or afternoon tea (Sunday only), or stay a bit to lunch on scratch-made soup, quiche, and salad. After your meal, browse through four floors of books. Note: You enter through an alleyway, into a hidden outdoor courtyard, and then through the door to a narrow space lined with tiny tables for two and a few counter seats.
Frank DePasquale’s sandwich and pasta shop is easy to miss, but just follow the steady stream of savvy locals down the alley adjacent to his award-winning restaurant to find the tiny spot packed with imported Italian meats and cheeses, vinegars, tomatoes, olive oils, and more. The monumental Italian sandwich is a heaping pile of mortadella, Genoa salami, soppressata, provolone, and all the fixings, while the packed chicken parmigiano is a shareable feast. All are served on house-made breads from the panetteria next door.
This place is famous among the city's working professionals, who willingly wait in long lines for the signature Chilean-style sandwich, a delicious combination of green beans, chicken, Muenster cheese, tomatoes, and an avocado spread on fresh bread. There are a few other offerings, including empanadas and rice pudding.
When folks need coffee, a great sandwich, or an irresistible sweet, like a pecan sticky bun, lemon tart, or double chocolate cookie—or just a place to sit and chat—they pay a visit to one of owner Joanne Chang's 10 Flour bakeries, including this one in the South End. A communal table in the middle acts as a gathering spot, around which diners enjoy morning pastries, homemade soups, hearty bean and grain salads, and specialty sandwiches, which change seasonally.
If you like savoring a cup of premium java while people-watching, head to this fancier-than-mainstream coffee shop with origins in Massachusetts. It's always busy, so much so the line often snakes into the adjoining Godfrey Hotel. Original, fair-trade roasts are used to make all types of drip coffee and espresso drinks. There's also a small selection of sandwiches, avocado toast, and baked goods.
Gracenote roasts top-shelf coffee beans using its own unique process here in Massachusetts, and then serves it in a teeny Leather District storefront just across the border from Chinatown. The flavor is well worth the slightly out-of-the-way jaunt to this hipster haven for pour-overs and espresso drinks that are the focus of the menu.
Options are endless at this food hall, so if you can't agree among your traveling partners what to eat where, this is your place. Every single one of the 20 vendors hails from the Boston area—Tenderoni's Pizza, Mamaleh's Delicatessen, and Pennypacker's are just a few of the options. Our favorite, though, remains Bubble Bath, a champagne bar that pairs bubbly (including a Moét & Chandon champagne vending machine) with gourmet hot dogs.
A favorite among Financial District 9-to-5ers, this local mom-and-pop doughnut shop sells crave-worthy flavors, from the standard honey dip to the more elaborate crème brûlée and maple bacon. Kane's also offers 10 different seriously delicious gluten-free varieties.
Right across the street from the west-facing side of South Station, this Philly born-and-bred coffee shop supplies Downtown and Financial District workers with top-quality caffeine during the week—unfortunately, it's not open on weekends. Blended and single-origin coffee comes from all over South America and Africa, from dark to light roast. The café has a few latte and cold brew drafts on tap, not to mention espresso drinks and pour-overs. You can take your order to go, sip at the bar, or sit and stay awhile.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A colorful mix of Armenian and Lebanese dishes cater to South End residents in search of a quick, healthy meal in the form of salads, sandwiches, wraps, and grain bowls. Warm, thin m’anoush (very thin flatbread baked on a Saj oven) are rolled around fresh ingredients such as lentil kofta, cheese, minced lamb, and za'atar chicken, or used to scoop up flavorful dips and spreads like labne (yogurt based) made fresh from local, organic ingredients.
Two postdoctoral-fellowship students founded this tasty oasis that serves superlative soft frozen yogurt made from milk, cane sugar, fresh fruit, and other natural ingredients. The shop, covered in a fun mural by local artist Bren Bataclan, has featured well over 150 frozen yogurt and ice cream flavors like rose, ube banana, passion fruit, and green tea, and dairy-free sorbets. The dedicated staff bakers create many of the homemade toppings, including cheesecake chunks, chewy mochi bits, brownie bites, and honey-nut granola.
This teeny-tiny space on Seaport Boulevard has zero places to sit but absolutely tasty New York--style bagels. It's also a good spot for breakfast and lunch bagel sandwiches.
Creative, delicious, and irresistible, the sweet treats from Blackbird Doughnuts have a cult following—even rock star Adele praised them when in town for a concert. One of several outposts in the city, the Fenway location is tiny and it's a good idea to get there early before your favorite flavor sells out.
Bon Me's moniker is a whimsical take on Vietnam's signature sandwich, the banh mi, and the versions that this local fast-casual restaurant serves are authentic to its spirit, if not with traditional ingredients. Diners can create their own bowls (salad, noodle, or rice), selecting from a variety of proteins, veggies, and sauces. The menu also boasts a number of chef creations ranging from ramen to pho. House drinks include a heady Vietnamese iced coffee and citrus ade.
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.
Neighborhood denizens swear by the counter-service whoopie pies, coffee, and buttery biscuits at this daytime destination for snacks, but the biggest buzz is saved for the back-room bistro Shawmut Ave. Restaurant & Bar, which boasts a hefty wine list and down-to-earth dinner options like buttery meat loaf and shrimp fra diavolo. House-made breakfast sandwiches keep locals returning, as do seasonal soups, gourmet sandwiches, and scratch pastries from their own pastry kitchen.
An Italianate version of a sports bar, Caffè dello Sport has two wide screens transmitting live soccer. The buzz is from not only the world games excitement but also the espressos, pastries, beer, wine, cordials, and gelato. They also offer freshly baked croissants, muffins, turnovers, and breakfast sandwiches in the morning, and panini (using imported Italian products), salads, and pizzette for lunch.
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