Where to Eat (and Drink and Sleep) in Boston
Next time you're in Boston, feel free to skip the clam chowder. You won't even miss it, because it's a beyond-exciting time to be a discerning diner in this historic city. Small, chef-owned restaurants are paying homage to classic New England ingredients in unexpected ways, while iconic, long-standing spots have evolved to suit modern tastes. But some places in Beantown far exceed their peers. That's why we've picked out some of the best spots to eat and drink—and the best place to sleep it all off. And don't worry about having to hoof it around town: Though the places on this list inhabit distinctive, vibrant neighborhoods, the city's relatively small size makes them just a leisurely walk (or swift cab ride) apart.
Leah Mennies is the food editor of Boston magazine, where she spends her days hunting down the Boston area’s best Asian cuisine, ice cream cones, and, er, just about everything else. She can be reached at lmennies@bostonmagazine.com.
1/14The Hot Newcomer: Ribelle
Chef Tim Maslow first turned heads a couple of years ago when he took over his father's casual Watertown eatery and turned it into Strip T's, a destination for gourmands. Earlier this month, the Momofuku Ssäm bar alum opened Ribelle, which showcases his signature bold flavors and witty combinations through a slight Italian lens (a.k.a. dishes like sourdough passatelli with crisp-skinned duck breast in a spicy whey broth, and fresh cherry tomatoes paired with stracciatella and figs). 1665 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-232-2223__,__ no website (Credit: Matt Duckor)____
2/14The Old Standby: No. 9 Park
This October, Barbara Lynch's Beacon Hill icon celebrates 15 years of bringing its masterful selection of wines, palatial cheese cart (pictured here), and plump, foie butter-sauced, prune-stuffed gnocchi to a grateful Boston public. Dining at one of the tablecloth-topped corner tables overlooking the Boston Common will always be a singular pleasure, but nowadays we mostly hang at the bar, which boasts expert craft cocktails and a more gently-priced menu. 9 Park St., Boston, 617-742-9991, no9park.com (Credit: Photo via No. 9 Park/Facebook)
3/14The Tasting Menu: O Ya
For a gustatory blowout that will leave you delightfully sated (but not disgustingly stuffed), reserve a seat at Tim and Nancy Cushman's small downtown jewel and splurge on the $175, 18-odd-course omakase menu. In return, you'll get a procession of one-bite wonders like the lightly torched hamachi with banana pepper mousse, salmon with wasabi tobiko and shiso (pictured), and, the grand finale, a petite piece of pan-seared foie gras nigiri that's drizzled with balsamic-chocolate kabayaki and paired with a small pour of aged sake. 9 East St., Boston, 617-654-9900, oyarestaurantboston.com (Credit: Amy Braga)
4/14The Leisurely Breakfast: Tatte II, Kendall Square
Israeli-born Tzurit Or is as meticulous about aesthetics as she is about her food—if anything was designed for the Instagram era, it's this bright, light-drenched space and the stunning tarts that line its shelves. Those seeking something savory should take in one of the signature shakshukas here (eggs poached in thick tomato sauce, pictured), or, for something a bit more luxurious, Or's graze-able plate of Mediterranean goodies: fresh eggs, farm cheeses, Israeli salad, Greek olives, and breads paired with strawberry and pear jam. 318 Third St., Cambridge, 617-354-4200, tattecookies.com (Credit: courtesy Tzurit Or)
5/14The Quick Lunch: Cutty's, Brookline
Charles Kelsey honed his culinary chops at the nearby America's Test Kitchen and applied his skills to perfecting the sandwich—which means spectacular specimens like the pimento-cheese slathered Ham Pimento; the olive-and-carrot-salad-topped roasted Eggplant Spuckie; and the Roast Beef 1000, an ode to the classic Massachusetts roast beef sandwich that combines thinly sliced meat with sharp cheddar, thousand island dressing, and a heap of crispy shallots. 284 Washington St., Brookline, 617-505-1844, cuttyfoods.com (Credit: Photo via Flickr Creative Commons/Susanna Bolle)
6/14The Hole-in-the-Wall: Ba Le
All you need is $3 for the best bánh mì in town, which can be found in a small takeout shop in Dorchester. The meaty fillings (we're partial to the grilled beef) are tender and well-seasoned, the bread is airy and crispy, and toppings like pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers, house mayo, jalapeño slices, and bunches of cilantro are layered on with astonishing speed and skill. 1052 Dorchester Ave., Boston, 617-265-7171, no website (Credit: Leah Mennies)
7/14The Ethnic Standout: Oleana
You haven't had falafel until you've tried the spinach iteration at chef-owner Ana Sortun's beloved Mediterranean/Middle Eastern stalwart. Each sphere is beautifully crisp on the outside, creamy and savory on the inside, and presented meticulously on a thin slice of lavash with tahini, yogurt, and vibrant shredded beets. Finish your meal with the Baked Alaska (an icon in its own right), which gets an exotic twist with a coconut macaroon base, coconut ice cream, and a tart passion fruit-caramel sauce. 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-661-0505, oleanarestaurant.com (Credit: Flickr Creative Commons/weeklydig)
8/14The Can't-Miss Street Cart: Mei Mei Street Kitchen
Asian flavors, stoner-esque combinations, and farm-fresh sourcing unite at this lighthearted truck. This unique mash up makes for plates like fat-braised beef dumplings with sriracha-fried rice, scallion pancake sandwiches stuffed with pesto, cheddar, and eggs, and an addictive kale salad topped with a slow-poached egg, feta, and garlicky bread crumbs. And if you don't feel like chasing down a truck for your grub, you'll soon be in luck: Mei Mei is working on opening a brick-and-mortar outpost in Brookline. Check MeiMeiBoston.com for locations. (Credit: Flickr Creative Commons/cherrylet)
9/14The Midnight Snack: Eastern Standard
Students on a budget, Fenway-area revelers, and restaurant industry folk alike converge here after midnight, when this boisterous brasserie's affordable late-night specials—like fish tacos, lamb carpaccio, and roasted bone marrow—are stenciled onto the mirror behind the bar. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com (Credit: Adam Gesuero)
10/14The Wild Card: Island Creek Oyster Bar, Kenmore Square
While clam chowder in Boston may be optional, oysters are not. And the place you want to throw them back is at this sleek spot, where the restaurant's ties to Duxbury's Island Creek Oysters (which supplies bigwigs like Per Se and Alinea) means fat, briny East Coast bivalves that are fried and tucked into buttery brioche sliders, and, of course, served shucked-to-order on the half shell with a bracing mignonette. (And fine, we’ll admit it—the chowder here is great, too). 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-5300, islandcreekoysterbar.com (Credit: Matt Duckor)
11/14The Shot-and-a-Beer Dive: Silvertone
Strong, gently priced cocktails and satisfying comfort food might put this downtown fixture a couple of rungs above true, gritty dive-bar status. But the chill vibe—and appreciation for Miller High Life, which is paired with pours of Fernet Branca, green Chartreuse, or Jim Beam in the "Happy Meal" section of the drink list—makes it a must for those seeking a quality lowbrow imbibing experience. 69 Bromfield St., Boston, 617-338-7887, silvertonedowntown.com (Credit: courtesy of Silvertone)
12/14The Mixologists’ Lab: Clio
Bar manager Todd Maul employs a rotovap, a centrifuge, and other gadgetry ranging from drills to sugarcane extractors to execute his novella of a cocktail menu. Even the humble gin and tonic gets elevated to art-form status, thanks to the addition of ice cubes that are hand-painted with a bull’s-eye of powdered black lime. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-536-7200, cliorestaurant.com
13/14The Great Cup of Coffee: Render Coffee Bar
Started by an alum of great local coffee chainlet Pavement, this South End shop only serves its Counter Culture beans in pour-over form—so carve out a couple of minutes to wait for your brewed-to order cup. It’ll be time well-spent. 563 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-262-4142, rendercoffeebar.com (Credit: Leah Mennies)
14/14Sleep It Off: The Charles Hotel
Located in the heart of Harvard Square, this spacious independent hotel makes up for a lack of ultra-hip factor with warm, cozy accents like beautiful quilted bedspreads and deep-hued, burnished furniture. Of course, there are also the great restaurants within it: Jody Adams's Rialto, where we love ordering cocktails and Italian-inspired snacks at the bar, and Henrietta's Table, our go-to for thick slices of pumpkin bread and fluffy omelets in the morning. 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-864-1200, charleshotel.com (Credit: courtesy of The Charles Hotel)
