390 Best Restaurants in Massachusetts, USA

This grab-and-go counter service shop offers up sandwiches heaping with meats and cheeses, as well as salads and wraps, soups, and cookies. The house-made chips are the perfect crunchy side. Favorites include the cauliflower Shawarma, Grafton Village grilled cheese, and the spicy Italian. Grab a beverage from the cooler (Mexican Coke, vanilla cream, or a cold brew coffee, to name a few) to wash it all down.

As you walk down the stairs to this subterranean hot spot, rattan cane pendant lamps, a tiki bar, and a striking tropics-to-Japan mural wall light the way to plates of tasty nigiri, creative rolls, a 12-course omakase priced very reasonably at $85, and bar bites (the burgers and tots are local favorites). Named after a sailor’s leisure time on dry land, the bar's drinks create the perfect escape, with rum old-fashioneds, highballs, and punches on the long menu. The namesake cocktail blends local and Jamaican rums with Madeira, molasses, passionfruit, lime, and a hefty dose of Angostura bitters. The menu's grilled hamachi collar is a do-not-miss.

The new sister spot to former O Ya chef Mark O’Leary's Chinatown location, Shōjō Cambridge is Central Square's latest modern eatery celebrating Asian fusion. Mostly small dishes, there’s huge flavor in everything you order—bao buns, rice dishes, noodles, and Wu-Tang tiger-style ribs are a few of the popular choices. Snack on the famous Nhậu Platter of dried squid, green mango, sour fruit salt dip, beef jerky, pearl onion, lemongrass chicken jerky, and dried shrimp.

As English-style afternoon tea offerings in Boston dwindle, this newish boutique tearoom offers only that—a seasonally inspired prix-fixe menu that features canapés, scones, and sweets, as well as a pot of tea. Cocktails and champagne are also available. Space fills up, so reservations are required, although Silver Dove does try to accommodate walk-ins.

Award-winning clam chowder and crave-worthy hot-buttered lobster rolls draw seafood lovers to this Cape Cod mainstay, wooing diners since 1936. If there's a long wait (and there will be) at this spot across the street from the beach, eat dessert first; there's an ice cream shack adjoining the restaurant.

Micro-batched and hand-crafted ice cream makes this small shop tucked in a side street a must stop for any ice cream lover. Be adventurous and try one-of-a-kind flavors like Blueberry Honey Lavender or Mission Figs, made with figs hand-shucked by the makers.

Café society blossoms along Newbury Street, particularly at Sonsie, where a well-heeled crowd sips coffee up front or angles for places at the bar. Lunch and dinner dishes veer toward basic bistro fare with an American twist, such as the Sonsie Caesar salad, brick-oven focaccia, and pan-roasted salmon with potatoes, charred broccolini, and onion rings. The restaurant is terrific for weekend brunch, especially sonsie when the light pours through the long windows; it's at its most vibrant in warm weather when the French doors open for stellar people-watching. A downstairs wine room, meanwhile, offers more intimacy. The late-night pizza and dessert menu (nightly until at least midnight) is perfect for after-hours cravings, including their famous espresso martini.

When you need a break, duck into this hot little bakery for piping hot coffees, teas, and cocoa, or you can take yours chilled to perfection. If you're hungry, dig into one of their well-known bagel or pressed sandwiches, filled croissants, or a freshly made salad with a side of homemade soup du jour. There's outside seating when the weather agrees.

This Spring Street staple is equal parts market, bakery, and sandwich shop and is often filled with Williams College students grabbing lunch, a homemade cookie, or a few dorm room staples. The tight shop offers little space to stay and eat, but is filled to the brim with delicious-smelling pastries, desserts, and smiling students behind the cash register.

If you can find a parking spot along the busy main road through Lee, you'll want to stop and grab a sweet or savory crepe from this casual breakfast and lunch spot. Menu choices include delicious flavor pairings like a spicy Reuben crepe or lemon lavender crepe. On Sunday, enjoy live music and take in some art at the gallery space attached to the main dining room.

Right on the edge of Boston Harbor, this restaurant serves tasty, tavern-style food—seafood, salads, burgers, and crispy pizza. The atmosphere is lively and unpretentious, the cocktails are craft-made, and a tasty brunch is served on the weekends until midafternoon. In nice weather, take a seat on the expansive outdoor patio. This is a great destination before or after a visit to the New England Aquarium or a harbor cruise.

Here's comfort food at its best—sophisticated enough for adults (lobster potpie), yet simple enough for kids (burgers and pasta). The attractive indoor space has plenty of booths for spreading out in, and the great patio is a lively spot in summer. It's the perfect people-watching perch as you dine on dishes such as decadent three-cheese macaroni (you can add lobster), Stephi's signature burger, and the huge lunchtime Back Bay chopped salad.

Combine fabulous harbor views with a top-notch chef and island favorites like fried clams, lobster rolls, and clam chowder and you get this clam shack and fish market. Chef Gabriel Frasca of Straight Wharf opened this sister property offering playful takes on seafood dishes like a caviar sandwich on a King's Hawaiian roll topped with red pepper jelly and a Funyun.

Family owned and established in 1951, this beach-style dairy bar—affectionately nicknamed Sully's—serves fried seafood, hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream at Castle Island. Don't expect frills or indoor seating—there is no need since its surroundings provide sloping lawns, picnic tables, benches, and beach vistas for lunching. Fries don't automatically come as a side with sandwiches, so if you want them, make sure you order them.

Churning out ice cream in small batches since 1976, this award-winning shop usually has lines out the door. The shop uses only the freshest ingredients, so flavors like banana or blueberry are made with the real deal, with fresh fruit toppings, while classics like vanilla and chocolate never disappoint. They also sell frozen yogurt and frappes (milk shakes). There's another location in Dennis Port.

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.

It might be short on space, but this Taiwanese bakery has a heathy reputation for fresh, authentic baked goods. There are so very many types of cake here---tiger skin rolls, cheesecake, red bean cake, cream cake, milk rolls, and a wide variety of mooncakes---as well as sticky rice buns, mochi buns, mung bean with pork floss pastry, scallion bread, and the don't-miss shaved ice with half a dozen topping choices. Smoothies, juice, black/green tea, and milk tea are also available.

Unsurprisingly, this Chinatown restaurant specializes in the cuisine culture of Taiwan and has for 40-plus years. The big challenge is selecting what to eat from the massive menu of authentic dishes, although the tofu and house-special fried pork chop over rice are two of the best.

After strolling along Spring Street, stop in this cozy spot and grab a cup of tea or one of the shop's many boba tea offerings—build your own or order from their signature menu. If tea isn't your thing, there's also plenty of lattes or coffees to choose from, and you must save room for the homemade selection of goodies.   

This small corner spot in Chinatown serves up the signature rice noodles of Yunnan, China. Try them in tomato soup with or without meat, or with different preparations, like the pickled pepper rice noodles and the kimchi beef rice noodles. Staff is friendly, and service is quick.

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.

A food hall curated by the media company known for its magazines and books, Time Out Market Boston features more than a dozen eateries run by some of Boston’s most acclaimed chefs, plus two bars, a demo cooking area, and communal seating. The 25,200-square-foot space is a fun place to sample everything from sweet treats at Union Square Donuts to meatballs at chef Michael Schlow's, by one of the city's most acclaimed chefs. The venue also hosts concerts, talks, and other events. Just outside, there’s a branch of Trillium Brewery, and in winter, an ice rink is set up.

This casual Beacon Hill restaurant focuses on two main things: meat and beer. But, what's unique is that its menu ventures beyond steak and chicken to bison, camel, ostrich, emu, kangaroo, snake, yak, elk, or antelope (and there's tofu, too). Tip Tap's vibe is lively, and the bar draws an after-work crowd from Government Center and the State House. The industrial space shows off a wall mural of Boston's past mayors, cedar shingles, and garage doors that open to the street in warmer weather.

If you're looking for serious ice cream, head to Toscanini's. With flavors such as gingersnap molasses, bourbon, cranberry goat cheese, burnt caramel, and green tea, this MIT establishment has few equals, especially when it comes to their microsundae—a teeny scoop of ice cream topped with excellent homemade hot fudge and real whipped cream—a perfect option for kids and adults eager for a guilt-free splurge (well, almost). Their banana pudding was even chosen as a favorite by Bon Appétit magazine.

Serving locally roasted Barrington Gold Coffee, this coffee shop runs the gamut of grab-and-go java—from Madagascar vanilla latte to Americano—along with several dine-in options for its 32-seat bar. Sweet snacks include 14 types of mini-doughnuts. Fruity Pebbles and strawberry Pop Rocks are favorite doughnut flavors, but heaping sandwiches, piping hot wood-fired pizza, a popular prime short rib and brisket burger, and shareable starters of popcorn chicken, poke nachos, locally made Eastern Standard Provision pretzels, and steak-and-cheese spring rolls also leave the kitchen.

Taco lovers adored this local Mexican food truck so much, the owners had no choice but to open a dine-in option. This is a bare-bones establishment with friendly staff, quick service, and delicious breakfast and lunch options; check their Facebook page for daily specials.

Folks gather at the two-story Trident Booksellers & Café to review literary bestsellers, thumb through the superb magazine selection, and chow down on items from the perpetual breakfast menu. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner and has an excellent local beer and wine selection. Readings, trivia night, Stitch & Bitch knitting, and other events are held at the bookstore almost every night.

Despite having an unparalleled wine list, this restaurant flies somewhat under the radar. Still, locals know it's the place to go for French bistro fare, including five- or seven-course tasting menus and a traditional caviar service. This may sound fancy, but the atmosphere is pretty relaxed and unpretentious. 

Mixed in among shops filled with arts and crafts, this family-owned business has been serving up authentic Vietnamese food for more than 30 years. Bánh xèo (rice pancakes) figure prominently on the menu, among other classics, but there's some adventurous fare, too. This is takeout only, but in the summer months you can eat on the restaurant's deck if you can find an open seat. 

Pop into this popular spot for an ice cream cone, sausage roll, or a sundae and enjoy it on the 2 acres of landscaped grounds dotted with gardens.