390 Best Restaurants in Massachusetts, USA

The tiny A-frame at the intersection of U.S. 7 and Route 2 isn't much to look at, but the bakery within sells delectable goods that inspire loyalty in locals and visitors alike. The babka—especially the chocolate, though there's also a cinnamon edition—is second to none and must be ordered a day ahead. It's worth the wait, but be aware that there is no place to sit inside and enjoy it.

Looking to drink the five teas that were dumped into Boston Harbor more than 250 years ago? Try a tea tasting or scone platter; other menu options include sandwiches and salads, sweets and pastries, and Colonial-inspired cocktails. You don't have to pay museum admission to imbibe at Abigail's. After your meal, stop into the museum gift shop where you can buy some tea (and lots more) to take home.

Alchemy aims for a European-chic bistro-style scene and menu, missing only the patina of age—and French working-folks' prices—but you can expect quality and imagination. On balmy evenings, the half-dozen outdoor tables on the candlelit brick patio are highly coveted.

New England seafood and lots of interesting vegetable dishes describes the menu at this West End restaurant. Meals prepared by a longtime local chef here are comfortable, with coastal vibes and spectacular views of Boston Harbor and the Zakim Bridge.

This brightly colored place with about a dozen tables turns out fresh, high-quality sandwiches and burgers, all served with coleslaw, dill pickle, and a smile. Beyond multiple beef burgers, you'll find classics like crispy, overstuffed Reubens, the Pastraminator, and the famous Atomic Meatloaf Meltdown, which has been highlighted on a number of foodie networks. Soups, salads, poutine, and chili are available, along with a small selection of beer and wine. If pies are more your thing, sister restaurant All-Star Pizza Bar is just across the street. Check out the Extra Funky specials.

Located on the 17th floor of the new Raffles Hotel, Michelin-starred chef George Mendes serves up his award-winning modern Portuguese cuisine. Consider this a love letter to the country's seafood-heavy fare (the name itself means “love” in Portuguese), but with a twist—decadent shellfish custard, uni toast, Portuguese carabinero shrimp, jamon Iberico, and arroz di mariscos for two. Save room for the made-to-order pão de ló, a Portuguese egg yolk sponge cake with smoked cinnamon ice cream.

Grab a coffee or a cocktail before the movies at this hip café-by-morning, bar-by-night spot that shares an address with the Amherst Cinema building.

With indoor and outdoor tables, a location on bustling Main Street, and a lively vibe (lots of families), this Mexican restaurant and bar—open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch—is a fun find. The tequila menu is extensive, and the food doesn't disappoint: Think tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos featuring handmade chips and all the classic toppings, plus achiote chicken and their own chorizo. Gotta have lobster or quahogs? They give a Mexi-spin to those as well. Langosta taquitos, anyone?

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.

You can't miss this hot spot on the side of Route 6: look for the riot of colorful flowers lining the road and the folks waiting in long lines for fried seafood and other fixings. Unusual for a clam shack like this is the full bar, offering beer, wine, mixed drinks, and the house specialty: margaritas. You can also play a round of minigolf.

Popular with college students for its reasonable prices, this restaurant serves up delicious food all day with especially good deals at lunch and the Sunday brunch buffets. The cooks do well with everything from tandoori chicken and other standards to the full Raja Thali dinner special, all served with a trio of flavorful chutneys.

While close to Fenway Park, Audubon feels more like a neighborhood joint than a tourist spot, though it does fill up on game days. Service is outstanding and matches the delicious dishes, many of which are made for sharing like warm pretzels, Halloumi sticks, and meatballs that make you want to order seconds. The cocktail menu is fun, too, with drinks like the Happy Camper, made with dark rum, mezcal, mint, lemon, and lemon/lime soda. Ask to sit on the patio in nice weather.

This local spot serves up coffee drinks, smoothies, salads, and sandwiches, perfect for fueling up during, after, or before a long day of sightseeing. Classic sandwiches and subs are on the menu, along with house specials like the Paul Revere, made with deluxe roast beef, barbecue sauce, and cheddar. Small and large salads can serve as a side or on their own. For a caffeine boost, hot and iced coffees and teas are available. Try the iced sea salt caramel shaker, with espresso, caramel, and milk, for a sweet treat.

FroYo lovers won't want to miss this locally crafted frozen yogurt made with ingredients from nearby farms, right down to the milk. Enjoy the tart, yet refreshing, Original flavor, or one of the rotating special flavors like Peach Pie or S'Mores. Vegan, dairy-free flavors are available, along with a bar of fun toppings.

This game-day favorite offers a rowdy, not rarified, atmosphere and big platters of smoked meats suitable for sharing. But, don't let the casual vibe fool you, as they pay great attention to the food, offering gluten-free versions of all side dishes (except cornbread), great mac and cheese, perfectly cooked meats, and their own delicious sauces. Indoors, TVs tuned to games draw sports fans; outdoor tables are snug against folks queuing up for the ferry on Straight Wharf. 

Walk up to the counter and order perfectly cooked barbecued meat by the pint or tray at this no-frills barbecue joint. There aren't many tables, so grab one while someone else in your group orders, and remember that this is a BYOB establishment.

Specialty pizzas at this trattoria go far beyond the usual toppings, from roasted sweet potatoes and fennel to pineapple and coconut: combinations are weird, but tasty. Baba Louie's fires up sourdough ground wheat, spelt-berry, and even gluten-free crusts in their often crowded, rustic interior.

Who needs saltwater taffy when you can have a freshly baked apple fritter or gooey, buttermilk-glazed donut? This is a donut shop with a secret: by day, it's a tucked-away bakery; at 7 pm, they open the back door and sell warm treats to in-the-know fans who line up for the privilege.

Diving headfirst into dishes like squid ink spaghetti, rare tuna steak with roasted eggplant, and salmon with walnut salsa, chef Robert Sisca pays homage to New England’s long-standing fishing tradition. While the ocean's bounty is its main theme, he doesn't leave landlubbers stranded; there are a few chicken and turf dishes as well. A first-floor raw bar offers stellar crudo, oyster, and caviar selections. The Banks Lobster Bake is a pricey feast of chorizo, lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, potatoes, and corn that is worth every penny.

While diving right into the monumental cheese and charcuterie menu seems like a solid starter bet, save some room for the outstanding tapas at this lively wine bar. Favorites on repeat with its young, sophisticated diners include blistered shishitos, patatas bravas, chorizo with figs, spicy empanadas, and sautéed mussels. The animated crowd's chatter rarely lowers below a dull roar, and with a lengthy list of mostly Spanish wines, happy glass clinking can also be heard throughout the night. The locations in Brookline and Cambridge are equally as popular (read: packed).

Decked out in cheery colors of yellow, red, and green, this touristy spot has the feel of a seaside clam shack located smack-dab in the middle of Boston. An outdoor patio and lobster tent in summer feature stunning views of the Financial District; in winter, dining retreats indoors to a warmhearted version of a waterfront dive, where you'll encounter a classic New England clambake or oysters and littlenecks from the raw bar, followed by meaty, golden crab cakes. Expect big crowds and big prices, especially on warm-weather evenings.

This family-friendly roadhouse wins fans with its worth-the-greasy-fingers fried chicken, kale salad, fish-and-chips, and pizza, but it's the combination of all-American comfort food, affordable-for-the-Vineyard-prices, and friendly vibe that keep 'em coming back. A great addition to the Oak Bluffs restaurant scene with bowling to boot, this place is also open year-round.

With its ample windows looking out to the serene lagoon, lofted ceilings, and mellow globe lighting held aloft by sturdy ropes, the decor aptly reflects the kitchen's "sea-to-table" theme for its seasonally inspired and locally sourced offerings. Everything is scratch-made, including the baked goods, and the massive bar is a popular spot for dining and cocktails.

The Concord outpost of the long-running Bedford Farms Ice Cream shop offers many tasty, locally made ice creams. "Always Making" flavors include chunky chocolate pudding, green monster, and black raspberry, but there is also a list of "Sometimes Making" flavors, sorbets, and sherbets. You can also order custom ice cream cakes and pies with advance notice.

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.

There will be a line, but this hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint is a great spot for grabbing a hand-held breakfast sandwich—say, a honey-chicken biscuit—en route to the ferry. If you're not in a rush, nab a table, and peruse the extensive menu featuring Southern favorites like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles along with avocado toast, brioche-and-berry French toast and linguica hash.

Boasting a menu that embodies Provence, this two-floor bistro combines classic French cuisine with a gorgeous view of the Public Garden. At this truly romantic spot, split a bottle of rosé from the extensive wine list and dine on lavish lighter fare at the street-level café with a long marble bar, or try more refined dishes upstairs in the elegant dining room. If there's sun in the forecast, grab a seat on their seasonal patio for weekend brunch and watch the world go by.

Pastel-yellow walls, tall windows, a pressed-metal ceiling, and small-tile floors set an inviting tone at this stylishly modern French bistro with a long zinc-top bar from which it gets its name. The kitchen turns out expertly prepared and refreshingly simple classics, from steak frites to coq au vin.

Expect crowds—and, on busy nights, a wait—at this Railroad Street mainstay where dining room tables wrap around three sides of the large central sushi bar that offers an extensive menu of very fresh fish. Besides the sushi menu, dishes range from robata (charcoal grill) to katsu and tempura.