390 Best Restaurants in Massachusetts, USA

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.

Refined, adult-friendly ice cream flavors—think crystallized ginger, beach plum, and lavender sea salt—make this P'town shop a must-stop for discerning palates. Everything is made on-site, including boozy options like mudslide chip, White Russian, and Belle de Brillet. Look for their ice cream truck at Truro Beach. 

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.

Barely bigger than a shoebox, this Harvard Square take-out parlor offers more than 50 fabulous flavor options like maple walnut and Charles River Crunch (a dark-chocolate ice cream with almond toffee nuggets), along with a small selection of frozen yogurts, "lite" ice creams, and dairy-free sorbet, plus soda fountain favorites, including frappes and sundaes. Adults-only flavors include Armagnac and French Plum, Bailey's, and Rum Raisin, and for those looking for just "a tiny taste," the minicone, topped with a golf ball–size scoop, hits the spot.

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.

Sometimes, you don't feel like a fifty-dollar, fancy-schmancy entrée—you just want a big, fat lobster roll and a beer, and that's what you'll get at Lookout Tavern. Dig into fresh lobsters from Katama Bay, eight kinds of tacos (beer-battered cod is the best), or their award-winning sushi and sashimi. Pro tip: Skip the indoor tables and head to one of the stools facing the water—perfect for watching ferries and pleasure boats glide by (and even better with a rum punch in hand.)

Enjoy a small slice of Paris at this French--Berkshire fusion pâtisserie run by Pastry Chef Claire Raposo. There's often a line out the door to get one of Raposo's Pain au Chocolats, macarons, or specialty cupcakes, but if you don't have a sweet tooth, there are also baguette sandwiches.

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.

Located at Wellfleet Harbor, this rustic but ambitious little spot serves some of the freshest seafood around. Sit along the pier and soak up the great water views while you chow down on a vast variety of local fish dishes, plus globe-trotting fare like burritos (with their house-made Scotch bonnet pepper sauce), a Caribbean seafood bowl, and tuna poke made with fresh local fish. The adjacent ice cream counter offers hard and soft-serve treats, plus sundaes, smoothies, and frappes.

This always-hopping downtown spot serves commendable dinner fare and draws big crowds for cocktails and appetizers. The bar is long and comfortable, and is a good spot to dine if there are no tables available.

Cyclists, families, and sightseers pack into this brick building, which was used to store munitions during the Revolutionary War. Wood floors and blackboard menus add a touch of nostalgia, but the extensive menu includes many classic dishes, including mac and cheese, fish-and-chips, and steamed mussels. Breakfast offerings, served all day, include a variety of eggs Benedicts, a breakfast burrito, and omelets. At lunch, try the house-made chili, a burger, or a variety of salads. Be prepared to wait at this bustling spot. In season, there are outdoor tables.

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!

Line up at this rustic family-owned spot, around for more than 70 years, for everything from chowder to fresh swordfish sandwiches to soft serve ice cream. Once you pick up your order, enjoy it sitting on the rocks at the harbor or head to the beach.

With a beautiful hilltop location and dishes inspired by local ingredients, the bistro can get crowded in summer, when Williamstown Theatre Festival ticket holders try to squeeze in dinner before the curtain goes up. With an emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients, the menu is always in a state of flux, but it's bound to contain steak, duck, and a great burger. 

Every local knows the white box with the blue-and-white string as a to-go treasure chest of Italian delicacies. Known for their cannoli (they're the self-proclaimed "home of" the tubular treat), Mike's has been bringing the best in pastries and cookies to the North End (and presidential patrons like Bill Clinton) since 1946. The glass cases (if you can see them through the constant crowds) are filled to the brim with lobster tails, macaroons, biscotti, and more. There are locations also in Somerville, Harvard Square, and North Station.

Diners pack this loud and colorful cantina daily to enjoy Mexican food at reasonable prices. What the small menu lacks in variety, it makes up for in reliability; everything from the crispy fish tacos to the carnitas enchiladas is worth trying.

A meal at this friendly, rough-hewn fish shack with an over-the-top nautical theme is a Cape Cod tradition for some people. Bring your own libations, and if you need to kill time (the lines are sometimes daunting), stop inside Moby's Cargo, the bustling gift shop next door.

Locals come here for the cool vibe, live music, and great coffee. Local art, which is often for sale, decorates the rich red walls, completing the artsy vibe.

The North End's other favorite cannoli king, Modern is a hit with the locals. Using Old World recipes that were relied on for more than 150 years, their crusts are flaky, their fillings rich, and they have a selection of torrone nougat confections, cookies, French horns, and Napoleons. While the handheld treats are their mainstay, don't discount the larger traditional Italian, French, and American-style cakes with their own following (favorites include rum cake, tiramisu, and cassata cake with marzipan). They also offer several gluten-free options including cakes and cannoli shells. To wash all that sweetness down, grab a Tiramisu Stout, the bakery’s new collab with Lord Hobo Brewing Company.

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.