This isn’t a guide to the fanciest food in town. We aren’t trying to be like the Michelin Guide. We’re normal people, who just like really, really good food. What follows is what we believe is the best food in Boston – we ignore factors like the pedigree of the chef and the price level. Our sole criterion is how good it tastes.
1. Gaslight
Image Credit: Izzy Berdan
Address: 560 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 422-0224
Hours:
Mon – Wed: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Thu – Fri: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am
Sat: 9:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 1,400+ reviews)
Website
- We’re fans of their Prix Fixe Brunch
- Phenomenal creme brûlée
- Kale salad is surprisingly good
2. Pho Basil
Address: 177 Massachusetts Ave, Ste A, Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 262-5377
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sun: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 600+ reviews)
Website
- Some of the best Pho broth east of the Mississippi
- Excellent Thai Curry – some of the most flavorful we’ve had
- Cucumber dressing is YUM
3. The Parish Café
Shoutout to the super fit @baddiedae
Address: 361 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 247-4777
Hours:
Mon – Sat: 11:30 am – 2:00 am
Sun: 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 1,000+ reviews)
Website
- Coconut Hot Chocolate is excellent
- Fantastic corn cakes
- Pretty excellent desserts; we recommend the bread pudding
4. Giacomo’s Ristorante
Cheers to the stunningly talented Isabel González
Address: 355 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 523-9026
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 4:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 2,200+ reviews)
- We love their butternut squash Ravioli (TO DIE FOR)
- Some of the best you’ll find in Boston
- For real, have their butternut squash ravioli
5. Masa
Address: 439 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: Phone number (617) 338-8884
Hours:
Mon – Wed: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Thu – Fri: 4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Sat: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 500+ reviews)
Website
- Great spot for tapas, drinks and catching up with friends
- Fantastic brunch spot as well
- Plantain empanadas will blow your mind
6. La Famiglia Giorgio’s
Shoutout to the super cool Geetha Balakrishnan
Address: 112 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 367-6711
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 10:30 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 700+ reviews)
Website
- HUGE portions
- Our favorite North End Italian spot
7. Flour Bakery + Café
Credit: Keller and Keller
Address: 131 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 437-7700
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sat: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sun: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 500+ reviews)
Website
- Get the sticky buns. Seriously.
- Great desserts
- Our favorite Bakery in Boston
8. Grotto
Address: 37 Bowdoin St, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 227-3434
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sat: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 600+ reviews)
Website
- Cool, subterranean spot, great for dinner dates
- Phenomenal gnocchi
- We love their Panna Cotta
9. Q Restaurant
Address: 660 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (857) 350-3968
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Sun: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 500+ reviews)
Website
- Great spot for lunch
- They have Thai , Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, and Vietnamese dishes
10. Santarpio’s Pizza
Cheers @imanabot
Address: 111 Chelsea St, Boston, MA 02128
Phone: (617) 567-9871
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 11:30 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 700+ reviews)
Website
- Great pizza. Period.
- Great place to bring visitors so they can check famous Boston pizza off their bucket list
11. The Salty Pig
Fiore di Zucca pizza – squash blossoms, summer squash caponata & pecorino crema. Cheers to beautiful Elizabeth Lee & Jolyda Sou
Address: 130 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 536-6200
Hours:
Mon – Wed: 11:30 am – 12:00 am
Thu –Sat: 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Sun: 11:30 am – 12 am
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 900+ reviews)
Website
- Great wine & cheese (customizable charcuterie boards)
- Delicious pizza – we love the Margherita with arugula
12. Al Dente Restaurant
Shoutout to the always smiling Roxanne
Address: 109 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 523-0990
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 600+ reviews)
Website
- Solid, homemade-style Italian food (fresh pasta!)
- We love their vodka sauce
- Their homemade fusilli pasta is a close 2nd
13. Brown Sugar Café
Shoutout to the insanely cool Cristina Castelo
Address: 1033 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (617) 787-4242
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sat: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 700+ reviews
Website
- They fry their tofu particularly well – try the tofu triangles
- Excellent panang curry
- Try their brown sugar mango fried rice
14. Picco
Credit to the super cool Boston Food Journal
Address: 513 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 927-0066
Hours:
Mon – Wed: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thu – Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 800+ reviews)
Website
- Their name stands for Pizza and Ice Cream Company – how awesome is that 🙂
- Famous for their thin, burnt-crust pizza (it’s delicious)
- Their ice cream is divine
15. Shawarma Falafel
Shoutout to Alaleh
Address: 26 Province St, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (857) 265-3017
Hours:
Mon – Sat: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 200+ reviews)
Website
- The best falafel in Boston, hands down (crispy exterior, moist interior)
- The hummus and other sauces are great, but the falafel steals the show
16. Tenoch Mexican
Cheers Ruchi
Address: 382 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02144
Phone: (617) 764-1906
Hours:
Mon – Wed: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thu – Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 80 reviews)
Website
- We love the enchilada plates here
- Feels healthier than other Mexican options – not too salty/cheese/oily
- Only downer: the veggie tacos don’t come with rice and beans
17. Rino’s Place
Cheers to producer, developer and philanthropist Sam Slater
Address: 258 Saratoga St, Boston, MA 02128
Phone: 617) 567-7412
Hours:
Mon: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Tue – Thu: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat: 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun: Closed
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 500+ reviews)
Website
- Great, friendly service
- Amazing food, great sauces
- Nice, large portions (you won’t leave hungry)
- Excellent Eggplant parm
18. Sam LaGrassa’s
Tip of the hat to Rafael Concepcion
Address: 44 Province St, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 357-6861
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 11:00 am – 3:30 pm
Sat – sun: Closed
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 600+ reviews)
Website
- This place only open for lunch (and only on the weekdays)
- Don’t be scared by the long lines – they move fast. If no seating, wait a few minutes, tables open up quickly
19. Caffé Vittoria
Cheers Tammy!
Address: 296 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 227-7606
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 7:00 am – 12:00 am
Fri – Sun: 7:00 am – 12:30 am
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 500+ reviews)
Website
- Established in 1929, Caffe Vittoria is world renowned as the first Italian caffe in Boston
- Try the cappuccino – their famous for theirs
- Street and metered parking, as well as nearby garages and lots. They validate parking
20. O Ya
Address: 9 East St Pl, Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 654-9900
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue – Thu: 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Fri – Sat: 5:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Sun: Closed
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 500+ reviews)
Website
- Innovative take on Japanese cuisine
- Food, staff, ambiance all 5-star quality
21. Marliave
Cheers to Boston’s cutest couple Xander Cannon & Olivia Goodson
Shoutout to future Miss USAs Jann, Tina Tran, Angela Ho, @nihaolinglingg &@binhieettd
Address: 10 Bosworth St, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 422-0004
Hours:
Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 1:00 am
Menu: Not Available
Yelp: (4 stars with 900+ reviews)
Website
- Delicious gnocchi
- Salted caramel ice cream and chocolate cake is heaven
- Gourmet Mac & Cheese is on point
22. The Paramount
Address: 44 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 720-1152
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat – Sun: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 1,000+ reviews)
Website
- Caramel & Banana French Toast is AMAZEBALLS
- Great breakfast spot for a casual breakfast with friends
- Chocolate chip pancakes are inspiring – will try at home
23. Figs
Cheers to one of our most athletic academics Todd Buckingham
Address: 42 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 742-3447
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 500+ reviews)
Website
- Has become a regular part of our meal rotation
- Amazing thin crust pizzas (super unique options), pastas & desserts
- The pizzas are free form – they say never trust a round pizza 🙂
24. Casa Razdora
Shoutout to smart & stylish Bianca
Address: 115 Water St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 338-6700
Hours:
Mon – Wed: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thu – Fri: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat – Sun: Closed
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 200+ reviews)
Website
- Great food – try the caprese salad and the pasta
- Pizza is good, better than it looks, but we prefer the pasta
- PUMPKIN RAVIOLI IS SOOOOO GOOOOD
25. Giacomo’s
Address: 431 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 536-5723
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 800+ reviews)
Website
- We LOVE the butternut squash ravioli here
- Ask which dishes feature homemade noodles – go for those
26. Myers + Chang
Credit to Tarun N. Surti, Nashville, TN
Address: 1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 542-5200
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 1,000+ reviews)
Website
- First, Chef Chang is SUPER cool
- Everything here is great, but if you are expecting sticky bun good, you might be a little disappointed
- Excellent Hakka Eggplant
- They have a nice vegetarian menu in addition to their standard menu
27. Gourmet Dumpling House
High five to super cool Tonya Russ Price
Address: 52 Beach St, Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 338-6223
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 1:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Menu: Not Available
Yelp: (3 stars with 1,100+ reviews)
Website
- Piping hot dumplings
- Busy, crowded and a little chaotic (fun if you’re easy going)
28. Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar
Cheers to on of the East Coast’s most prolific foodies @eastcoastfeastcoast
Cheers to the always fun Allie Goldberg
Address: 271 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: Phone number (617) 369-5609
Hours:
Mon – Sun: 5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 1,000+ reviews)
Website
- Great drinks – margarita and sangria pitchers are fun
- Recent menu changes will take a little getting used to – but still same great taste as before
- Now featuring a more tapas style menu
29. Toro
Cheers Chelsea
Address: 1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 536-4300
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm & 5:30 pm – 10:15 pm
Fri: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm & 5:30 pm – 11:45 pm
Sat: 5:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Sun: 10:30 am – 2:30 pm & 5:00 pm – 10:15 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 1, 500+ reviews)
Website
- Solid spot for tapas, drinks and good conversation
- We love the grilled corn plate and grilled asparagus a la plancha
30. El Pelón Taquería
Address: 92 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (617) 262-9090
Hours:
Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 800+ reviews)
Website
- LOVE their quesadilla
- Their green spicy avocado sauce is TO DIE FOR
- Mexican food so good it will make your SoCal buddies jealous
31. Panza
Address: 326 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 557-9248
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Sun: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 800+ reviews)
Website
- Solid Italian spot in North End (lots of competition)
- We are fans of the butternut squash tortelloni
32. Piperi Mediterranean Grill
Cheers to Minni the epic foodie
Address: One Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 227-7471
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sat: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sun: Closed
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars with 300+ reviews)
Website
- Great lunch spot, perfect addition to your rotation if nearby
- Love the Gozi Wrap with roasted veggies, falafel and feta
