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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.
This Mexican restaurant reflects the culture of many of the people living in the neighborhood, and its eponymous cook re-creates dishes from her native Puebla. Locals love it for its authenticity and extensive selection of small plates (mmm, queso fundido) and hearty main courses (chilaquiles, mole poblano). It's definitely worth the trip from downtown, or if you're staying by Logan Airport.
Many of the menu choices here come from the eponymous wood-burning brick oven, which turns out surprisingly delicate thin-crust pizzas simply topped with tomato and buffalo mozzarella or complicated combos like pistachio pesto, fresh mozzarella, and sausage. While the name, which translates to "old oven," gives the pizzas top billing, Antico excels at a variety of Italian country dishes that harken back to the Old Country, like veal parmigiana, osso buco with pork shank, chicken saltimbocca, and handmade pastas; the specialty, gnocchi, is rich and creamy but light. The joint is cramped and noisy, but also homey and comfortable—which means that your meal will resemble a raucous dinner with an adopted Italian family. Its rustic decor of large tiles, huge rectangular bar, and imposing brick archway add even more authenticity as you fill your belly.
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.
People come to Boston for certain things—colleges, Irish pubs, Fenway Park—and Polish food isn't usually one of them. But, if you do land here, this authentic Polish restaurant in Southie is a must-stop. The menu is rife with an Eastern European culinary heritage in plates like pierogi, beet soup, stuffed cabbage, and kielbasa, and there are some tasty Polish beers. You'll be glad you ventured to Andrew Square.
You've just got to love this newly renovated shoebox-size place—for the noise, the intimacy, the complete absence of pretense, and, above all, the Sicilian-style seafood, which proved so popular, it spawned two other locations (one in Brookline and another in Boston's Seaport area). With garlic and olive oil forming the foundation for almost every dish, this cheerful, bustling spot specializes in calamari, black squid-ink pastas, and linguine with clam sauce, all served in the skillets in which they were cooked, hot from the stove. Check the chalkboard, which is always loaded with freshly caught specials, but consider the Lobster fra Diavolo for two—lobster chunks, shrimp, calamari, littlenecks, mussels in a "spicy" seafood tomato sauce served over linguine. Compact and brightly lighted, this storefront restaurant has been a local staple for over 50 years and for good reason.
Chef-owner Karen Akunowicz steps up with hearty, traditional Italian food inspired by her time as a chef and pasta maker in Italy. Locals love it so much that in order to score a table, especially on the weekends, you have to book a reservation about a month or so out. But once you get in, you'll realize it is worth the wait to dig into this carb-heavy fare, like warm focaccia, handmade pasta, pork Milanese, braised lamb, or whole fish. Plates are on the smaller side, so make sure to order with abandon, although your wallet won't thank you for it. At the bar, order the flight of Amaro varieties.
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.
With exposed-brick walls and soft lighting, the heart and soul of this charming Italian restaurant is its communal pasta table at which chef Michael Pagliarini spends hours hand-rolling superlative pastas for dishes like buckwheat pizzoccheri and pasta alla Bolognese. Plates such as house-made lamb sausage, monkfish piccata, warm semolina cakes, grilled barramundi, and Sardinian flatbread are original, generous, and, of course, delicious. Known for its romantic nature, it's the perfect place for lovers to linger over a chocolate terrine and cappuccino.
With art deco airs and crystal chandeliers, "majesty" and "grandeur" are two words we'd use to describe Grana's dining room so make sure you dress for the occasion. The family-style menu offers Italian fare for breakfast and lunch, as well as brunch on the weekends.
The ambience at this cozy Southie wine bar is artful and welcoming. Small-producer and unique natural wines are available by the glass or bottle and are meant to be paired with a well-edited menu of small plates and snacks that highlight ingredients from the New England region.
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.
This sweet little white-washed taverna serves authentic Greek cuisine, with many ingredients imported directly from the Mediterranean, such as the feta, fish, and octopus. Order some crisp white wine off the hard-to-find Greek wines and liquors list to sip with a parade of home-style dishes, from tasty meze plates to entrées like grilled lamb chops. The tables may be tight and the wait a bit long without a reservation, but you'll forget about these tiny inconveniences once dinner arrives.
From the street, you wouldn't even know what kind of place you're passing by—there's literally just a door—but inside, this multiroom, Havana-inspired nightspot is an absolute jaw-dropper, mixing murals, muted brickwork, tropical plants, massive art deco chandeliers, and rattan seating. Meals are meant to be shared, with the menu offering delicious snacks, small plates, and street pizza. Mojitos and daiquiris are the stars of the craft cocktail menu, and everything on it can be made without alcohol. For dancing and live music, hit Mariel Underground until 2 am.
Pink and orange dragon decals cover the windows of this all-day Chinese café, where Joanne Chang (of Flour bakery fame) taps her familial cooking roots to create shareable platters of creative dumplings, wok-charred udon noodles, and stir-fries brimming with fresh ingredients and plenty of hot chili peppers, garlic, fresh herbs, crushed peanuts, and lime. The staff is young and fun, and the crowd generally follows suit. On Monday through Wednesday nights from 4 to 9 pm, the Great Date Night prix fixe menu for two is a bargain. Weekends are packed for the Dim Sum brunch menu.
Diners searching for Shanghainese soup dumplings should head to this place, the cousin of New York City's Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao restaurant. Now one of a small chain, this fast-casual modern Chinatown newcomer boasts hearty food served in to-go containers that you can eat in-house—if you can find an open seat. Try the myriad dumpling flavors and styles, fried udon noodles, and other belly filling dishes.
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.
With two restaurants (including Sofra in Cambridge), a James Beard award, and two cookbooks to her name, chef--owner Ana Sortun continues to bewitch area diners with her intricately spiced eastern Mediterranean mezes (small plates) made with fresh-picked produce from her husband's nearby Siena Farms. Oleana's menu changes often, but look for the hot, crispy-fried mussels starter and Sultan's Delight (tamarind-glazed beef with smoky eggplant puree) along with large plates of Iskender lamb kebab and lemon chicken. The Chef's choice is a delightful vegetable meze, complete with a rich dessert. When the weather is inviting, the cozy atmosphere of this tucked-away spot spills out into a peaceful back patio garden. Of note: a 5% kitchen appreciation fee and 1% administrative fee are added to all checks.
One look at the neighborhood bar's menu will have you holding back belly laughs, even as it's grumbling with hunger. Plates are interesting and well thought-out, mainly hot sandwiches and apps. The space, which is long and lean, also boasts a shuffleboard, but you may have to wait in line to play it. Sunday nights are especially popular.
If you've never heard of chifa cuisine (yeah, it's a real thing), you'll wonder why you haven't after having a meal at this South American--style place, where the kitchen creates dishes from Cantonese-Peruvian and Japanese culinary traditions. Dig into makimono (sushi rolls), wok-prepared dishes, and cold and hot plates. Presentation is a big part of both the decor and Ruka's creative cocktails, sake, and tea service.
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.
The small meze plates at this locally loved Mediterranean joint are so good you might not want to share. Pair dishes like sole katayif (stuffed pancakes) and eggplant schnitzel with their expertly crafted cocktails or wine, and soak up the social atmosphere.
Red Sox fans, foodies, and Fenway residents flock to this meat-lover's mecca, where Texas-style barbecue is the name of the game. Hefty slabs of dry-rubbed heritage pork, great northern beef brisket, and plump chickens cook low and slow in a jumbo black smoker, then come to the table heaped on a tray lined with butcher paper, along with homemade sweet pickles, shaved onion, and your choice of "hot scoops" (collard greens, mac and cheese) or "cold scoops" (coleslaw, potato salad). Owner Tiffany Faison tromped all over the Texas barbecue belt to get her recipes finger-licking right, including the baseball-size biscuits served with honey butter. Sweet tea and cocktails arrive in mason jars, while house-made barbecue sauces (ranging from mild to skull-splittingly hot) sit on the table, along with a tin can of flatware and napkins. (You'll need lots of the latter; with food this good, it's going to get messy.)
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.
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.
Tres Gatos not only serves delicious Spanish tapas, pinchos (appetizers), and paella; it also has a cool record and bookstore in the back. Olives, stuffed dates, and tortilla Española are great starters, but the paella, made with shrimp, clams, chorizo, and rabbit is the star—there’s also a vegetarian version. Don’t miss the small gem of the shop for the latest vinyl or bestselling book. On the first and third Wednesdays of every month, there is live entertainment at 9 pm.
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.
Sourcing ingredients from small, family farms is the main goal of this chef-owned and -operated, comfortable restaurant, where hungry diners clamor for loads of tasty small plates, bowls and burgers, and Detroit-style pizza. With its proximity to the TD Garden, it can and does get busy on game days.
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.
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.
