Our 20 Favorite Boston Restaurants

2 0 11 minutes read

ByMadison Trapkin, Megan Zhang

Let’s set the record straight: Contrary to what you may have heard, there’s more to Boston than American Revolution tritone-lined waterfront city, you’ll have to go beyond the tourist-catering seafood spots and take the less-trodden (cobblestone) path to offerings that go far beyond lobster rolls and clam chowder

Stroll through East Boston, and you’ll find a decades-old Colombian restaurant serving meat-laden bandeja paisa. Visit South End, one of the city’s buzziest dining neighborhoods, and you might chance upon the spicy-sour, tongue-tingling flavors from China’s Yunnan province. And yes, as the salty ocean breeze reminds us, there’s plenty of New England’s freshest catch to enjoy—in the form of a spicy Greek-island fish stew in Back Bay, or as deep-fried sea bass with housemade red curry in Brookline.

With this list of local restaurants to guide your eating exploits in Beantown, we hope you discover that the historic city you thought you knew is a far more vibrant mosaic than meets the eye. Though you might come for the lobster rolls, you’ll end up staying for the moqueca, rambutan salad, and octopus terrine.

3 Beacon Street, Somerville
(617) 576-0006

Trina's Starlite Lounge in Boston — Reagan Byrne (Courtesy Trina’s Starlite Lounge)

This industry spot in Somerville has a little something for everyone. If you’re dining with a group, order a bucket of High Life ponies on ice and the signature hot dog tower, which swaps the usual seafood for wieners, fries, and sauces, all served in custom two-tier towers made by owner Josh Childs.

Sure, there’s also its internet-famous refrigerator, but Trina’s contains multitudes. The menu features variations on classic comfort food, like a cornflake-crusted fried chicken sandwich and a choose-your-own-add-ins mac and cheese made with “Ritz crackers and love,” plus a daily ’dog special that begs the question: “What can’t be a hot dog topping?” The wine list is way better than it should be (you’ll find some sneaky naturals by the glass, curated by general manager Jen Talkowski and Josh’s daughter, Emily), and there are plenty of inventive cocktails, craft beers, and even Jell-O shots to choose from.

928 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
(617) 945-1761

Pammy's restaurant in Boston — Natasha Moustache (Courtesy Pammy’s)

Step through the velvet curtains and into a world entirely of Pam and Chris Willis’ making. From the salvaged tea light holders adorning every table to the sculpture of Demeter (goddess of the harvest) behind the bar, the dining room is filled with personal touches that make it seem as if you’re in the home of your very chic aunt. Chef Chris crafts menus around seasonal produce and a bounty of locally sourced protein. Picture precious baby beets served alongside mozzarella di bufala and basil dashi or spelt fried oysters with endive and caviar. And of course, there’s the pasta, whether you opt for fan-favorite lumache gochujang bolognese or the chef’s favorite—malfadine with tripe, garlic chile oil, and labneh—you really can’t go wrong. The menu is formatted as a prix fixe choose-your-own-adventure for guests with reservations, but the bar is first come, first served, if you’re looking to pop in for a quick bowl of ’bolo and a negroni on tap.

221 Concord Avenue, Cambridge
(617) 823-1595

If you’re in the mood for Peruvian fare, look no further than La Royal, in Cambridge’s Huron Village. The team there serve up the usual suspects, like tangy leche de tigre adorned with crispy shrimp; ceviche mixto featuring a winning combination of blue cod, squid, and shrimp; and causas layered with your choice of tuna salad, tuna tartare, or avocado and tomato. Chef and co-owner JuanMa Calderón pays homage to his great-great-grandfather with a few Chifa (Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine) dishes, including steamed cod with XO sauce and ají peppers. Pair your Peruvian feast with a La Royal Sour, which owes its vivid hue to hibiscus-and-pomegranate-macerated pisco. An architect by trade, co-owner Maria Rondeau has outfitted the space with treasures from her antiquing adventures and artist connections, including huge cement planters that hang above the purple neon-lit bar.

170 West Broadway, Boston
(617) 865-7100

Bar Volpe in Boston — Courtesy Bar Volpe

Boston is home to countless Italian restaurants, but none are doing it quite like chef-owner Karen Akunowicz and her talented team at Bar Volpe. Their menu features Southern Italian-inspired dishes like grilled swordfish skewers and Sardinian paella and pasta that’s crafted daily by their in-house pastaiolo. The pillowy culurgiones filled with goat cheese and covered in a delicate tomato-basil sauce are particularly lovely. They make what might be the dirtiest martini in all of Boston, which comes with a sidecar on ice, naturally. Stop in for aperitivo hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. any day of the week and sample stuzzichini such as fried olives stuffed with nduja and mortadella, fritti misti with fiery bomba Calabrese.

89 Holland Street, Somerville
(617) 718-9463

Spoke Wine Bar in Boston — Courtesy Spoke Wine Bar

The beauty of Spoke Wine Bar in Somerville is the way it meets you exactly where you are. If you’re looking for a quirky wine to impress your natty-loving friend, an enthusiastic bartender will pour a glass to remember, such as a smooth, copper-hued skin-contact wine from Wisconsin, or a velvety, berry-forward Italian vino rosso from Piedmont. If you’re feeling a cocktail, there’s an ever-shifting globally influenced selection—like the polka-dotted Watchmaker, with coconut tequila and pear-and-crabapple liquor. Date-worthy dishes pair ingredients in unexpected ways, too: When in season, try the squash blossom cornmeal fritters with sauerkraut and sheep’s milk yogurt, or octopus terrine with mustard greens and Scotch bonnet dressing. You’ll notice the care and precision that goes into the food, from the dusting of powdered leeks on the sunchoke doughnuts to the curried-crab butter that accompanies the bavette. The decor may feel Scandinavian minimalist, but the food and drink go full-on maximal.

23A Bow Street, Somerville
(617) 764-1750

Barra in Boston — Daria Galkina (Courtesy Barra Union SQ) Daria Galkina (Courtesy Barra Union SQ)

Is this Somerville hangout the closest a Bostonian can get to Mexico without skipping town? Mexican favorites seldom seen in these parts—spicy quesabirria tacos stuffed with melted cheese and shredded beef, creamy guacamole crowned with fried grasshoppers, and Yucatán cochinita pibil (slow-cooked, achiote-marinated pork)—are all on offer. The beverage program, too, is reminiscent of CDMX bars, with selections that include the Abasolo, a corn whiskey cocktail; a fruity and tannic nebbiolo from Baja, California; and a medley of enticing sotol options. (The restaurant’s name does mean “bar” in Spanish, after all.)

270 Third Street, Cambridge
(617) 945-0907

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen in Boston — Courtesy Sumiao Hunan Kitchen Courtesy Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

Bold, spicy, and salty flavors dominate the menu at this Cambridge restaurant dedicated to the distinctive food of China’s Hunan province, where cooks make liberal use of preserved meats, pickled vegetables, and chile peppers. The menu is filled with hard-to-find regional favorites: A few bites into the thrillingly spicy crushed green peppers mixed with preserved century egg, or the pleasingly sour housemade pickled beans stir-fried with pork, and you’ll already be planning your next visit. Sumiao Hunan Kitchen might also have the city’s most extensive baijiu program. Order the spirit neat or stirred into funky cocktails.

249 Pearl Street, Somerville
(617) 764-4464

Much like its acclaimed sibling restaurant—Turkish-inspired Oleana in Cambridge—Sarma in Somerville roots its menu in Mediterranean meze. But chef Cassie Piuma plays up affinities with other global flavors, too: She laces her famous cornbread with feta, honey, and spicy peppers, while her lobster quesadilla, served with eggplant guacamole, tomatillo, and labneh, marries Mexican and Levantine sensibilities. Oleana may be a special-occasion darling, but Sarma, with its up-tempo music and walls hung with cheery painted plates, makes for a more relaxed, tee-and-jeans kind of night out.

1721B Washington Street, Boston
(617) 936-4123

If the spicy, sour, and all-around striking flavors of China’s Yunnan Province are new to you, you’re in for a treat at Yunnan Kitchen. Numbing, fiery seasoning of Sichuan peppercorns and chiles tantalizes the tongue in dishes such as boiled pork in chile oil. Chef Yisha Siu’s fried mushrooms make a satisfyingly crunchy showcase for Yunnan’s love of fungi, while offerings like the crispy shredded-potato pancakes channel the region’s penchant for tubers. Cheese is, an important staple in this southwest province: Be sure to try the fried cheese, a firm goat cheese that the kitchen pan-fries and serves with honey.

611 Dorchester Avenue, Boston
(617) 269-0110

This cozy restaurant is the crown jewel of Dorchester’s Polish Triangle—“Little Poland,” between Boston Street, Dorchester Avenue, and Columbia Road. One of the only sit-down eateries serving a Polish menu in the city, this tiny spot has been cooking hearty fare like dill-pickle soup, kishka (blood sausage), and Sobieski cutlet (breaded chicken named in honor of a Polish king) since 2002 in what feels like a family dining room (the founder carved the furniture by hand). If it’s your first time, consider the Polish plate—a tasting platter with bigos, a meat and cabbage stew; stuffed cabbage rolls; pierogies; and kielbasa.

48 Gloucester Street, Boston
(617) 536-0230

Nestled in the heart of Back Bay, you’ll find Krasi, a wine and meze bar where lesser-known Greek dishes take center stage. Curate your own starter board from a selection of cheeses and cured meats you won’t find at your average grocery, like Kalathaki Limnou (a soft goat’s milk cheese from Lemnos island) and salami made with pork raised in the Cyclades islands. Then, dig into regional dishes such as makarounes, a cheesy and creamy Aegean pasta; or bourdeto, a saucy fish dish hailing from Corfu. “Krasi” means wine in Greek, so it’s no surprise that the selection of Greek wines here—from rare vintages to piney retsinas (made with actual resin)—is one of the largest of any U.S. restaurant. If you’re looking to dive deeper into regional Greek cuisine, check out sibling spots Bar Vlaha for Vlach fare and Kaia for all things Aegean.

1052 Dorchester Avenue, Boston
(617) 265-7171

This takeout-only restaurant and market has been slinging banh mi and selling Vietnamese pantry staples in Dorchester’s Little Saigon for more than three decades. Although it now sports two additional branches on Quincy Avenue and Broadway, the original remains an institution. There’s frequently a wait, which means more time to peruse the ready-to-eat cases—sticky rice treats and pillowy steamed buns, anyone? Everybody should order what the bakery does best: banh mi. Choose from a variety of meats, like pork floss or barbecue beef, then watch a sandwich pro generously layer up your order fresh.

1008 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
(617) 354-3296

What to eat at this Inman Square restaurant? Moqueca, of course—a Brazilian seafood stew brimming with fish and shrimp that’s heady with the scent of tomatoes and coconut milk. Cooked on the stove in a clay pot, it’s especially popular in Espírito Santo, the southeast Brazilian city from which owner Maria de Fatima Langa hails; now, she’s introducing the dish to Bostonians in nautical-themed quarters that always feel relaxed and rarely get too noisy or crowded. Try the moqueca “Bahia-style,” enriched with palm oil and coconut milk, for a particularly rib-sticking take.

Michael Harlan Turkell (Courtesy Row 34)

If you’re looking for fish, shellfish, and crustaceans—what Boston visitor isn’t?—Row 34 keeps things simple with all the New England classics on your to-eat list. You would be remiss not to start with sweet, plump Island Creek Oysters from Duxbury Bay (owner Skip Bennett was a founding partner of Row 34, alongside chef-owner Jeremy Sewall). Then try one of Boston’s best lobster rolls, either hot with melted butter or cold with creamy mayo. You won’t be disappointed with the fried oysters and griddled crab cakes, which the kitchen crisps to perfection. Pair your marine feast with a cold beverage—the restaurant’s extensive list features natural wine, locally brewed beer, and classic cocktails with a twist (like its extra-cold Freezer Martini, made with a whopping three types of gin).

258 Saratoga Street, Boston
(617) 567-7412

The North End may be our Little Italy—a mishmash of red-sauce joints, pizza parlors, and pastry shops—but longtime Bostonians often head in a different direction for a great Italian meal. Legendary for its huge portions and warm, sincere hospitality, this family-owned and -run East Boston restaurant makes all dishes to order (nothing gets frozen). A creamy tomato sauce spiked with brandy bathes the fan-favorite lobster ravioli, which burst with fresh crustacean meat. You can also expect deeply flavorful Italian crowd-pleasers such as linguine Bolognese and pollo Parmigiana—and to leave with a lot of leftovers to enjoy.

300 Pier Four Boulevard, Boston
(617) 981-4577

Most of what comes out of the kitchen here—be it blueberries, pork belly, or lion’s mane mushrooms—is grown 150 miles north at The Farm at Woods Hill, which the same owner, Kristin Canty, operates. The thought that goes into sourcing is mirrored in chef Charlie Foster’s menu, which spotlights local raw-milk cheeses, grass-fed proteins, and seasonal produce. The charred broccoli makes a delightful vehicle for cheddar and smoked garlic aïoli (think: elevated broccoli cheddar soup), and it’s impossible to eat just one of the Urfa-pepper-scented lamb ribs. Back in the day, this waterfront stretch of South Boston was mostly industrial, but now, the shiny, newly renovated Seaport District is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city. Be sure to ask for a window table to admire the harbor views while you eat.

236 Washington Street, Brookline
(617) 487-5986

Before Thai childhood friends Chompon Boonnak and Smuch Saikamthorn opened Mahaniyom, Bostonians hoping to sample dishes like nang kai (deep-fried chicken skin) and plaa hed (an herbaceous grilled mushroom salad) were out of luck—but not anymore. Eschewing the choose-your-protein format and customizable spice level common in Thai American restaurants, this joint focuses instead on shareable small plates with unapologetically bold flavors. Start the night with a Rambutini—a martini made with rambutan juice, St- Germain liqueur, and Grey Goose vodka—and be sure to ask your server about the dessert of the day, which could be anything from savory-sweet pumpkin custard topped with fried shallots to black glutinous rice in pandan coconut milk.

1166 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
(617) 615-6195

From the moment you sit down, this Inman Square restaurant feels like a celebration of New England, from the rotating seasonal gems grown on chef Will Gilson’s family farm in Groton to the farmhouse-chic accents like wooden liquor cabinets and slat-back chairs. It’s also a reminder that New England fare isn’t just baked beans and fried seafood—it’s always evolving. The menu echoes regional staples but comes with modern, seasonal touches: Think crab cakes with celery root rémoulade and green curry, braised lamb ragù with carrot gnocchi, and an oyster bar outfitted with mini caviar cones and spicy tuna handrolls.

54 Bennington Street, Boston
(617) 569-0100

Colombian-born owner Marina Balvin came to Boston more than three decades ago, but it took her several years to open her own place in East Boston (called “Little Colombia” by some). Locals agree: It was worth the wait. A case in point is Balvin’s bandeja paisa, a combo platter piled with rice, carne asada, chicharrón, plantains, arepas, and fried eggs, so enormous it could easily feed a small family (or one ravenous Celtics player). Wash down the mega-meal with a fresh tropical juice like soursop and passionfruit. If taking the T out east isn’t in the cards, consider dropping by one of El Peñol’s newer outposts in Brookline and Revere.

Every Boston dweller seems to have a key memory revolving around this beloved mini-chain. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the sweet treats here—from the light-as-a-cloud coconut cream pie to the maximalist carrot cake (it’s got raisins, walnuts, and candied carrots) to chef-owner Joanne Chang’s famous sticky buns. For a nourishing pick-me-up between strolling the Freedom Trail and catching a Red Sox game, go for a savory option like the roast beef sandwich on fluffy focaccia (Flour’s take on a Massachusetts classic), or try one of the daily specials. No matter where you go in Boston, there’s a decent chance you’re just a baseball throw away from one of Flour’s bright, airy locations.