Welcome to Boston’s Culinary Revolution

By Amy Traverso | Sponsored by Meet Boston

Late on a July afternoon in the Seaport, a cool breeze off Boston Harbor carries the scents of salt and summer. Patrons sip Aperol spritzes on the restaurant patios that dot this up-and-coming neighborhood. A yoga class unfolds on Seaport Common, a tidy little park just a block from the water. As evening comes on, party lights glimmer over courtyards. It all feels so … coastal. And yet here are all the joys of being in a big city: world-class art and culture, buzzy metropolitan energy, and dining options that range from Mexican birria tacos to lobster rolls to upscale farm-to-table fare that showcases the fresh-picked bounty of the Bay State.

Boston in the summer is an exciting place to be, especially if you love to eat. I’ve traveled to restaurants all over New England as food editor for Yankee magazine, but I still feel that special thrill of discovery when I come home to Boston and go exploring in my own backyard. When I first moved here in the 1990s, this was a city of special-occasion restaurants sprinkled with indie spots run by young, ambitious chefs. Those early upstarts — places like Biba, Rialto, and No. 9 Park — helped revolutionize Boston dining, laying the groundwork for the diverse and ever-expanding food scene we see today.

Here, you can satisfy any culinary craving, sample foods from around the world, and enjoy fresh takes on New England classics. That said, restaurants are opening here at such a clip that it can be hard to keep track! To help you plan the ultimate dine-around, I’ve put together a list organized by Boston neighborhoods — plus Cambridge and Somerville — where you might well find yourself feeling hungry this summer. (For even more food and drink inspiration, check out the Meet Boston website.)

Back Bay

Asta: Prix fixe restaurants are hot, and Asta is a master of the format, with expertly tuned food and warm service. Go for: Seasonally focused and artfully plated global flavors.

Contessa: Perched above The Newbury Boston with views of the Public Garden, Contessa is a chic Italian aerie. Go for: The ricotta gnudi, the grilled branzino, and the people-watching.

Douzo: There are some wonderful new sushi restaurants in Boston, but you can’t beat the quality-to-price ratio of this nearly 20-year-old favorite. Go for: One of the city’s best lunch deals.

Krasi: Excellent Greek wines and small plates (plus some larger ones) in airy surroundings. Go for: A laid-back break from the bustle of nearby Newbury Street.

La Padrona: Chef Jody Adams (of Rialto fame) offers a deep dive into Italian regional cuisine at this quietly opulent spot in Raffles Boston. Go for: The bread service, the paccheri with clams, and the tenderloin with black garlic and porcini butter.

Little Whale Oyster Bar: Chef Michael Serpa puts a touch of big-city polish on this love letter to the New England clam shack. Go for: The clam chowder, the crudo, and the lobster spaghettini.

Mooncusser / Moon Bar: Upstairs, Mooncusser has seasonal prix fixe; downstairs, Moon Bar has terrific cocktails and spice-forward small plates. Go for: Mind-blowing food at two price points.

South End

Bar Mezzana: A coastal-Italian eatery opened in 2016 by No. 9 Park veteran Colin Lynch and his team, who are simply great at everything. Go for: The piatti della famiglia, a family-style meal of menu highlights.

Mida: Star chef Douglass Williams has expanded to three Mida locations, a pizza spot near North Station, and D.W. French in the Fenway — but it all started here. Go for: The buttery focaccia, the gnocchi cacio e pepe, the aperitivi, and the cool and diverse crowd.

Toro: Almost two decades later, Toro is still wowing us with the best tortilla española, croquetas, and pan con tomate in the city. Go for: All the above, plus a fantastic bar program and (surprisingly) can’t-miss salads.

Yunnan Kitchen: Focusing on the Dian (a.k.a. Yunnan) cuisine of southwest China, the menu is rich with chilies, citrus, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Go for: The Yunnan pancake (think giant latke, but more flavorful) and the pork in chili oil.

North End

The Daily Catch: Serving generous portions of Sicilian seafood and pasta right from the sauté pan as it has from day one, the Daily Catch is a classic for good reason. Go for: The authentic North End atmosphere and the fried calamari.

Table: A cozy spot opened by sports-reporter-turned-chef Jen Royle that serves Italian favorites family-style at communal tables. Go for: The “tutta la famiglia” atmosphere, the eggplant parm, and the chicken Milanese.

Downtown/Downtown Crossing/Theater District

High Street Place: Opened in 2022, this food hall between South Station and Downtown Crossing offers an eclectic, top-tier mix of eateries. Go for: One of Boston’s best lobster rolls at Dive Bar.

Jiang Nan: Peking duck is its calling card, but this new outpost of the NYC restaurant chain does excellent takes on soup dumplings and other southeastern Chinese cuisine. Go for: An elegant meal before the theater.

Somaek: Inspired by his Korean mother-in-law, award-winning chef Jamie Bissonnette has mastered classics like bulgogi, grilled short ribs, and banchan. Go for: The creative cocktails and shared plates.

Chinatown/Ladder District

O Ya: One of the city’s most lauded restaurants remains exceptional, with unexpected combinations and luxury ingredients cozied up to humble rice and seaweed. Go for: The chance to put yourself in the chef’s hands for a 20-course omakase feast.

Shojo: Great cocktails, chic surroundings, and tasty bites — what’s not to love? (Note: There’s a second location in Cambridge.) Go for: The Mad Lion’s Head meatball sandwich, the bao, and the kimchi fried rice.

Fenway/Kenmore Square

Eastern Standard: This is the place to eat lunch, or celebrate an anniversary, or grab drinks before a Red Sox game — all are welcome. Go for: The bone marrow, the roasted half chicken with grilled sourdough, and the butterscotch bread pudding.

Sweet CheeksQ: Celeb chef Tiffani Faison and her team do pulled pork, burnt ends, and buttermilk biscuits at an A-plus level. Go for: A pre- or post-Fenway feast (just save room for dessert!).

Seaport District/Fort Point Channel

Grace by Nia: A supper club with live jazz, funk, and soul music and great food, this is just the place Boston needed. Go for: The bold takes on Creole, Cajun, and soul-food classics.

Hook + Line: Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli’s recently debuted restro on Fan Pier does modern interpretations of New England seafood. Go for: The baked stuffed lobster, the fried clams, and the stuffies.

The Nautilus: Waterfront views pair with seafood-driven, Asian-accented tapas and can’t-miss cocktails. Go for: The crab fried rice and the weekend’s lively bar scene.

Cambridge

La Royal: This Huron Village mainstay puts a modern twist on Peruvian and Chinese-Peruvian classics amid a neighborhood-hangout vibe. Go for: The La Royal Sour, the ceviches, and the beef stir-fry (lomo saltado).

Oleana: Chef-owner Ana Sortun’s Eastern Mediterranean–inspired restaurant will make you see (and taste) hummus, falafel, and moussaka in an entirely new way. Go for: The magical patio dining on a summer night.

Pammy’s: Close to Harvard Square, Pammy’s does creative Italian with a global accent. Go for: The lumache pasta with Bolognese sauce and Korean gochujang.

Puritan & Company: A teen cooking phenom turned top chef, Will Gilson does brick-and-mortar with style at his ode to New England seasons. Go for: The elevated takes on Parker House rolls, the lobster risotto, and the great brunch.

Somerville

Barra: A Union Square hot spot inspired by Mexico City’s vibrant restaurant scene, Barra serves up big plates of birria, mole enchiladas, and tacos with hand-pressed tortillas. Go for: The summer frozen cocktails and the aguachile (think Mexican ceviche).

Juliet: Two destinations in one: the namesake bistro, known for French-influenced fare, and the next-door wine bar with snacks. Go for: The perfect omelets and the steak frites.

Sarma: This sister restaurant to Oleana delights diners with its broadly Middle Eastern small plates. Go for: The garlic shrimp lamejun, the lamb kofte sliders, and the eggplant schnitzel.