14 Best Restaurants in The Seaport, Boston

At the far eastern end of the city, Chickadee is a restaurant you'd wish to stumble over. Make the trek on the Silver Line or simply walk to sample the curated seasonal menus that have been James Beard award nominated multiple times. Order a selection of smaller, Mediterranean-inspired plates and share amongst the table. As for cocktails, they're intentional, well-crafted, and laced with unique ingredients. 

This elegant dining room has personality in spades, with pastel purple and bright red chandeliers, plumes of feathers in floral arrangements, and pink napkins on the table. The menu, too, is inspired, featuring French cuisine informed by global flavors meant to be ordered in abundance—two to three plates per diner. The merde dé can (yes, that does translate to "dog shit") spinach dumplings, which beat Bobby Flay, are a must. Cocktails are gorgeous and delicious, and if you win over your server, they may just bring over the gratis Stinger digestif service to end your meal. 

Emphasizing oysters and local craft beers, this contemporary seafood restaurant has a boisterous energy contained only by its soaring ceilings. A neighborhood crowd comes for the excellent menu devoted to raw things, fried seafood, a variety of "rolls," and fish-based entrées. With 24 taps, beer plays a big role in the experience, enticing regulars to work their way through European-inspired American craft beers; there are also more than 50 by the bottle, ranging from ciders to sours and more.

Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views of the Boston Harbor waterfront, this sophisticated and lively restaurant serves up midsized plates that are meant to be shared—two to three per person. The well-curated menu features meat and produce from the owner's 360-acre New Hampshire farm, as well as handmade pasta and sustainably sourced seafood. Diners with specialized diets can choose from many gluten-free, dairy-free, and/or vegan dishes. 

There's nothing fresher than eating fish the same day it's caught, and that's what you get at this family-owned seafood shack. Open since 1950, the local favorite serves fresh oysters, crab cakes, fried oysters and clams, steamers, and lobster. Tasty sandwiches speak of New England; fish platters come fried, grilled, or baked; and there's a whole section of the menu devoted to lobster preparations. If you forget that this is a take-out joint, look around; the no-frills, character-heavy decor will remind you.

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. 

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.

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.

We'd call the atmosphere here casual yet lively, convivial in a way that only a modern Greek restaurant can be. Share vegetable, seafood, and meat meze plates with your dining companions, or, if you've really got a big appetite, dig into one of the "feasts," which may include a selection of grilled meats or a whole fish. Weekend brunch is a national sport and so popular that you'll need a reservation.

This popular Boston-born restaurant splits its focus between grilled all-natural steaks and chops and hearty, Italian-inspired dishes. Diners can't get enough of Davio's signature spring rolls, stuffed with Philly cheesesteak or chicken parm. The kitchen offers special menus, including healthy eating and gluten-free. While this isn't Davio's only location in the city, it does have beautiful real estate on Boston Harbor, which the dining room makes a point to showcase through floor-to-ceiling windows.

From "feast"-sized portions to classic New England fried plates to wood-fired seafood dishes, the kitchen's focus is on local waters at this contemporary Seaport spot near the harbor. The menu is curated and relatively pricy, but quality shows in the food, and there are lots of beers, ciders, and wines by the glass.

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. 

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.

Satisfy your pizza craving with a crispy, wood-fired, thin-crust pie from this Fort Point neighborhood joint. A dozen-and-a-half options run from the traditional margherita to more inventive options; note that the pies are smaller in size, so order a few. The menu also includes house-made pastas, antipasti, and a few types of wood-fired pocket-bread sandwiches. Near as it is to the Boston Children's Museum, Pastoral is a great spot for a family meal.