Boston dining
compiled by EyeWorld staff
Although images of seafood, beans, and cream pies may come to mind when picturing Boston’s restaurant scene, the city offers much more than that. Some of the nation’s top chefs, often locally born, oversee innovative and satisfying meals in this city.
Fine dining
B&G Oysters
550 Tremont St.
617-423-0550
www.bandgoysters.com
Cuisine: Seafood
This subterranean restaurant is a modern take on the classic oyster bar. Diners can sit at the marble bar and watch chefs prepare some of Boston’s freshest and best seafood dishes in the open kitchen.
Erbaluce
69 Church St.
617-426-6969
www.erbaluce-boston.com
Cuisine: Italian
Erbaluce presents a new menu nightly, allowing the freshness of the ingredients to be the primary characteristic sensation for diners. The traditional, all-Italian wine list offers a perfect complement to each dish.
Grill 23 & Bar
161 Berkeley St.
617-542-2255
www.grill23.com
Cuisine: Steak
Considered Boston’s best steakhouse, Grill 23 is renowned for its prime, all-natural, dry-aged beef and fresh, creative seafood presentations. This world-class restaurant also has an award-winning wine list.
L’Espalier
774 Boylston St.
617-262-3023
www.lespalier.com
Cuisine: French
Diners at the upscale L’Espalier enjoy sophisticated and modern New England-French cuisine, with an emphasis on artisanal and local ingredients. Guests should note that the restaurant is famous for its wine and cheese selections.
Mamma Maria
3 North Square
617-523-0077
www.mammamaria.com
Cuisine: Italian
Although Boston’s North End is filled with Italian restaurants, this one stands apart because of its upscale ambiance and Tuscan food. The seasonally inspired menu taps into a unique network of local and national purveyors with an emphasis on historical and traditional Italian dishes.
Market
100 Stuart St.
617-310-6790
www.marketbyjgboston.com
Cuisine: New American
Located at the W hotel, this new, chic eatery by culinary superstar Jean-Georges Vongerichten is always packed. The relaxed menu, which emphasizes fresh, locally produced ingredients, reinvents classic dishes with eclectic flair, allowing guests to try new flavor combinations and explore spices from many regions.
North 26
26 North St.
617-557-3640
www.north26restaurant.com
Cusine: American Regional
At this restaurant, trend meets tradition with a menu featuring fresh seafood creations, choice cuts of beef, hearty appetizers, and to-die-for desserts. North 26, located in the Millenium Boston Hotel, offers a quintessential New England dining experience.
O Ya
9 East St.
617-654-9900
www.oyarestaurantboston.com
Cuisine: Japanese
This intimate restaurant offers about 80 savory dishes each night, though the menu changes daily according to seasonality and availability. In addition to the creative, beautiful dishes, O Ya offers a remarkable sake selection.
Sensing
3 Battery Wharf
617-994-9001
www.sensingrestaurant.com
Cuisine: French
Grounded in traditional French techniques and regional New England ingredients, Sensing’s cuisine incorporates the creative use of these world flavors to take diners on a culinary journey. The wine list here, featuring about 70 selections, has been created to be approachable to guests and to encourage the discovery of new wines.
Toro
1704 Washington St.
617-536-4300
www.toro-restaurant.com
Cuisine: Spanish
Toro is often considered Boston’s premiere destination for authentic and innovative Spanish-style tapas. Diners enjoy the cozy atmosphere, with long, communal tables, an extensive menu of traditional tapas, and an exclusively Spanish wine list.
Casual dining
Barking Crab
88 Sleeper St.
617-426-2722
www.barkingcrab.com
Cuisine: Seafood
Located on the edge of Boston’s historic Fort Point Channel, The Barking Crab offers the casual atmosphere of a coastal clam shack in an urban setting. The menu here concentrates on fresh seafood, but there’s plenty of variety to please all patrons.
Durgin-Park
340 Faneuil Hall Marketplace
617-227-2038
www.arkrestaurants.com/durgin_park.html
Cuisine: American Regional
This Boston institution serves about 2,000 tourists and locals each day. Diners start off each meal with cornbread before moving on to other New England fare, including baked beans.
The Landsowne
9 Lansdowne St.
617-247-1222
www.lansdownepubboston.com
Cuisine: Irish
This spot offers a blend of Boston heritage and Irish culture. This pub is a busy spot for diners in search of traditional pub fair and a pint of cold beer.
LTK Bar and Kitchen
225 Northern Ave.
617-330-7430
www.ltkbarandkitchen.com
Cuisine: Seafood
LTK serves as a “test kitchen” for the Legal Seafood Chain, so a new menu debuts every six weeks. The spot is a showcase for the global evolution of dining trends, offering innovative technology matched to multi-cultural cuisine.
Regina Pizza
11 1/2 Thacher St.
617-227-0765
www.reginapizzeria.com
Cuisine: Italian
Known for having some of the best slices in Boston, Regina’s has been serving brick-oven pizzas since 1926. Although locals often come here for take-out, part of this pizza joint’s charm is the boisterous atmosphere and classic red-and-white-checked tablecloths.