1. Discover What True Sushi Is Supposed To Be At O Ya
O Ya 9 East StBoston, MA 02111(617) 654-9900
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 366 reviews
When a restaurant offers the choice of nagiri and sashimi without soy sauce, you know it’s going to be good. O Ya’s confidence in their menu is well warranted – they don’t want to mask the food with extra flavors because what they’re serving is already perfect.
The staff is extremely knowledgeable from the sushi to the sake. It’s definitely on the pricier side – they even offer a $285 tasting menu – but the quality more than justifies the price tag.
2. Make It A Fourteen Course Meal At Clio
Clio Restaurant 370 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215(617) 536-7200
Yelp: 4 stars, 210 reviews
With a menu of selections most people have never even heard of and flavors that keep coming long after you’ve taken a bite, Clio’s is every foodie’s dream.
Do yourself a favor and splurge for the 14 course tasting menu. You’ll walk into Clio’s having no idea how you feel about parsnip foam cassoulet with sea urchin and lobster—but you'll walk out with a new favorite dish.
3. Dine Trés Chic At Gaslight
Gaslight Brasserie Du Coin 560 Harrison AveBoston, MA 02228(617) 422-0224
Yelp: 4 stars, 1,137 reviews
Authentically French without a hint of pretentiousness, Gaslight gives you the fine dining experience without taking you out of your comfort zone. The Renaissance Parisian dining room is spacious enough to accommodate the crowded times – which come often.
Stay traditional and order between the escargot, steak and duck confit or fois gras for dinner. Or come for brunch on the sun-lit patio while you enjoy a croque monsieur covered in tasso ham and drizzled with bubbling Gruyére.
4. Keep Your Date Casual At Franklin Café
Source: Franklin Café Facebook
Franklin Café 278 Shawmut AveBoston, MA 02118(617) 350-0010
Yelp: 4 stars, 399 reviews
Upscale food with a casual feel makes Franklin Café the perfect Boston spot for a casual date. You’ll be in good company if you come as you are, but don’t expect the food to be as laid back as the experience.
Packed with flavor and cooked to perfection, try the crispy chicken skins with soy glaze and sriracha aioli if it’s on special. Or go for the spicy marinated cucumbers with the spareribs, which are smoked until they literally fall off the bone. The steak frites are always a popular option, too – there’s just not a bad choice to be made here.
5. Eat Fresh And Local At Hamersley’s Bistro
Hamersley’s Bistro553 Tremont StBoston, MA 02116(617) 423-2700
Yelp: 4 stars, 354 reviews
One of
Boston’s longest-standing upscale restaurants makes the cut because it continues to live up to the billing. Famous for their roast chicken, Hamersley’s is dedicated to using the most local ingredients as much as possible.
As one of the best al fresco restaurants in the city, make sure to make a reservation so that you can sit at the lantern-lit patio. If you’re not in the mood for the roasted chicken – which you should definitely try at least once – go for the spicy halibut or the clam roast.
6. Dine Like You’re Eating Right Out Of The Sea At Neptune Oyster
Neptune Oyster 63 Salem StBoston, MA 02113(617) 742-3474
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 1,897 reviews
You can’t come to Boston without gorging on the seafood. With no shortage of restaurants to choose from, Neptune Oyster is one of the most popular in the city because they always deliver on excellence.
When you’re eating oysters, they better taste like the sea and at Neptune’s, you’ll think they were plucked fresh specifically for your order. But the lobster roll is also one of the best to be found on the East Coast and the seared Georges Bank Scallops with braised suckling pig, asparagus, corn, and chanterelle mushrooms sets the bar even higher.
7. Find The Mediterranean Edge At Piperi
Piperi Mediterranean Grill One Beacon StBoston, MA 02108(617) 227-7471
Yelp: 5 stars, 163 reviews
Piperi’s is the only Mediterranean restaurant you’ll need to know in Boston. A favorite for the locals for both the falafel and the hummus, Piperi’s adds the right tahini spice that your Boston menu has been missing.
Order the The Falafel Gonzi for a healthful and delicious sandwich or the Veggie Plate for a little mix of everything. Pair it with a side of Moroccan Carrots, couscous, or their perfectly marinated blend of green and black olives.
8. Find A New Kind Of Burger At jm Curley
jm Curley21 Temple PlBoston, MA 02111(617) 338-5333
Yelp: 4 stars, 276 reviews
When you’re in the mood for a good burger, not just any burger will do. That’s why you need to head to jm Curley stat. All of the burgers here deliver, but if you’re looking for something truly outstanding, order the bacon-smothered burger with smoked Gouda and a very special slaw stuffed inside of a homemade bacon-cheddar bun.
The sides are equally as sublime, too, with a creamy mac and cheese, perfectly baked cornbread, and quite possibly the world’s best fried pickles. And if you’re looking to kick your meal up a notch, wash it all down with a Hemingway Heat.
9. Score The Breakfast Of Champions At Galley’s
Galley Diner 11 P St(617) 464-1024
Yelp: 4 stars, 63 reviews
When an old-fashioned diner is in order, head over to Galley’s in Southie. Sure, Galley’s was featured on “Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations” and has been awarded Best Diner in Boston, but it still maintains a low-key, no-frills appeal.
As most diners go, breakfast is a favorite at this quaint diner, with a corned beef hash and cheese omelet that is sure to cure any hangover out there. But the crown jewel is the hand-carved ham, seared on the perfectly seasoned griddle, served with over-easy eggs and a mound of salty home fries.
10. Find A Rainbow Of Flavor At Silvertone
Silvertone Bar & Grille69 Bromfield St.(617) 338-7887
Yelp: 4 stars, 599 reviews
This financial-district low-key hangout is exactly the kind of place that most people want to find for a night out with friends – a casual but cool environment with a menu good enough for a foodie yet not too much for the casual diner.
Upscale comfort food selections abound at Silvertone with options like a sublime shepherd’s pie, steak tips, and grilled cheese. The fish tacos are lighter but still packed with flavor, and the veggie burger with sweet potato fries will bring new meaning to the idea of being vegetarian.
11. A Utopia Of Drinks, Dessert And Jazz At Les Zygomates
Les Zygomates 129 South StBoston, MA 02111(617) 542-5108
Yelp: 4 stars, 257 reviews
An upscale restaurant with live jazz and an amazing wine menu – who could ask for more? Especially at happy hour. Les Zygomates is the perfect hybrid of wine bar, bistro and jazz club in one.
You can come here for a wine tasting or you can stay for a full meal. But whichever you choose, make sure you stay for dessert. The crème brulee is so good, you may find yourself dreaming about it for weeks to come.
12. A Food Truck That Beats Most Restaurants
Mei Mei Street KitchenVarious locations(857) 250-4959
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 109 reviews
You can dine in at the Mei Mei restaurant on Park Drive to experience the amazing food, but the the Mei Mei Street Kitchen food truck is the perfect example of why food trucks became all the rage and shouldn’t be missed.
Asian fusion options can seem so random you can’t understand how they could possibly go together, but everything at Mei Mei is perfect. Try the wheatberry salad with cilantro, pickled cranberries and peanut brittle and the Rosenkrans Farm short rib with malted barley, winter greens purée and sunchoke chips with braised radishes.
13. Italian Paradise At Trattoria Toscana
Trattoria Toscana130 Jersey St(617) 247-9508
Yelp: 4 stars, 211 reviews
Trattoria proves that traditional Italian food doesn’t have to mean old Italian food. The dining area is small and intimate and doesn’t rely on flamboyant décor because it doesn’t need to.
With wood tables, cream-colored walls, and friendly servers, you’ll feel like you walked right into an authentic Tuscan kitchen. You can tell from your first bite that the pappardelle is house-made, and every dish is full of love and passion.
14. Indulge In A Plethora Of Tapas At Toro
Toro1704 Washington StBoston, MA 0211(617) 536-4300
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 1,101 reviews
If you like Tapas, head straight to Toro’s in the South End which has developed a very loyal cult-like following over the years for its superb Barcelona-style small plates.
Order the beef tartar with piquillo, angelica and fried shallots. You’ll be able to immediately tell that the beef is grass-fed and the ingredients are local-fresh. Other must-try dishes are the roasted bone marrow with radish citrus salad and an oxtail marmalade. It’s easy to see why Toro’s new location also has such a strong fan base.
15. Go Bohemian-Cool At The Beehive
The Beehive541 Tremont StBoston, MA 02116(617) 423-0069
Yelp: 4 stars, 1075 reviews
This wildly popular restaurant has been featured in everything from Travel + Leisure to the New York Times. But despite its popularity, The Beehive still maintains its laid back Bohemian vibe – which is probably why it’s so popular.
The edgy artistic backdrop and live music makes The Beehive an experience that goes beyond the plate, but the food is what keeps everyone coming back. And when you order the short rib grilled cheese with a side of poutine rounded off with the bread pudding, you’ll understand why.
Feature Image Source: The Beehive Facebook
What’s your go-to for great grub in Boston? Tell us in the comments below!
