Eater Boston: All Posts by Eater StaffThe Boston Restaurant, Bar, and Nightlife Bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52682/favicon-32x32.png2024-03-25T15:50:26-04:00https://boston.eater.com/authors/eater-staff/rss2024-03-25T15:50:26-04:002024-03-25T15:50:26-04:00An Eater’s Guide to Boston
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<img alt="A view of the Boston skyline, featuring Financial District skyscrapers, water, and a cloudy gray sky" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IxQh-yljKgD4tbVATmXe_O1P1pQ=/547x0:2454x1430/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69555519/shutterstock_107638613.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Boston’s Financial District. | <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/esb%20professional" target="_blank">ESB Professional/Shutterstock</a></figcaption>
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<p>Unofficial, highly opinionated information about the Bay State’s bustling capital</p> <div class="c-float-right"><div id="UXM8Fs"><div data-anthem-component="aside:12050401"></div></div></div>
<p class="p--has-dropcap p-large-text" id="tCoJ1c"><strong>Long dismissed as the home</strong> of chowder and baked beans, Boston has so much more to give. Sure, there’s plenty of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/classic-boston-restaurants-map">food history</a> worth exploring, but there is also a newer whirlwind of international influences to discover. This guide will deliver you straight into the ever-growing dining and drinking scene in Boston proper and some of its nearby suburbs.</p>
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<h2 id="seafood">Welcome to the Land of Seafood</h2>
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<p id="kKfYs9">While Boston is a lot more than the sum of its chowder-filled parts, seafood really is the star here, from several styles of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-lobster-rolls-boston">lobster rolls</a> to a huge number of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/dollar-oysters-boston">dollar-oyster deals</a> to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-sushi-restaurants-boston">outstanding sushi</a>, not to mention the casual <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-fried-clams-boston">fried clam shacks</a> that are especially prevalent north of the city.</p>
<p id="pHuHln">Beyond seafood, other regional specialties include North Shore-style <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-roast-beef-boston-north-shore">roast beef sandwiches</a>, South Shore-style <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-south-shore-bar-pizza-boston">bar pizzas</a>, and even oddities like the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/3/29/23661637/salem-lowe-reopening-chop-suey-sandwich">chop suey sandwich of Salem</a> and the chow mein sandwich of Fall River.</p>
<p id="2RoRia">The Boston area also has incredible pockets of food from specific countries and regions of the world. Chinatown and the North End (the latter featuring Italian food) are probably the best-known, but don’t miss, for example, the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-vietnamese-food-boston-dorchester">Vietnamese food in Dorchester</a>, the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-jamaica-plain">Caribbean food in Jamaica Plain</a>, or the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2015/7/15/8966061/cheap-eats-watertown-armenian-markets">Armenian food in Watertown</a>.</p>
<p id="9eEqDB">For a quick snapshot of what Boston has to offer, start with some of its most <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/iconic-dishes-boston">iconic dishes</a>: Do a taste test of two of the North End’s cannoli options, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12991/mike-s-pastry">Mike’s</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12992/modern-pastry-shop">Modern</a>. Likewise, try the pizza at the original North End <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/1775/pizzeria-regina">Regina</a>, and then hit up East Boston to compare <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/905/santarpios">Santarpio’s</a>. </p>
<p id="R0dZRk">Head downtown to enjoy the perfect example of a modern New England seafood restaurant, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8229/row-34/2">Row 34</a>, and follow dinner with drinks at one of Boston’s <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/5/10/23718282/boston-cocktail-bars-design-the-wig-shop-hecate-borrachito">flashy new crop</a> of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-new-boston-bars-heatmap-cocktails">cocktail bars</a>. Find some space for a sticky bun at one of Boston’s <a href="https://www.flourbakery.com/">Flour Bakery & Cafe</a> locations, the baked Alaska at <a href="https://www.oleanarestaurant.com/">Oleana</a>, and perhaps even some haggis at <a href="https://thehavenjp.com/">the Haven</a>, Boston’s “<a href="https://boston.eater.com/2016/1/25/10827408/the-haven-jason-waddleton-feature">Scottish headquarters</a>” since 2010.</p>
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<h2 id="best-maps">Where to Start on Eater Boston's Top Maps</h2>
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<p id="CF72rM">Eater Boston publishes and updates <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps">maps</a> several times a week, highlighting the best places in the area to eat some of the best food in town. There are plenty of obvious categories — <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-boston-pizza">pizza</a>, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-boston-burgers">burgers</a>, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-boston-brunch-restaurants">brunch</a>, and so on — but we also highlight neighborhoods, such as <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-south-end-boston">Boston’s South End</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-central-square-cambridge">Cambridge’s Central Square</a>; cuisines, such as <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-chinese-food-boston">Chinese food</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-thai-food-boston">Thai food</a>; specific food and drink items, such as <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-new-boston-bars-heatmap-cocktails">hot new cocktails</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-dumplings-boston">dumplings</a>; and situations, such as <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-romantic-fun-dinner-date-restaurants-boston">date-night dinners</a>, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-tasting-menus-boston-fine-dining">splurge-worthy tasting menus</a>, and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-late-night-food-boston">late-night dining</a>.</p>
<p id="ltu5oA">There’s a lot to get through, so below, we’ve picked a few of our top maps — and a few points on each — to help prioritize your dining plans.</p>
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<cite>Marcio Jose Bastos Silva/Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>Downtown Boston at dusk.</figcaption>
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<p id="r9TH1D"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/new-best-heatmap-boston-restaurants"><strong>Hot New Restaurants</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Updated monthly, the Eater Boston Heatmap highlights some of the hottest new restaurants; recent additions include udon sensation Yume Ga Arukara’s <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2024/2/20/24075189/yume-ga-arukara-seaport-restaurant-opening">expansion in the Seaport</a>, and a chic new Vietnamese restaurant, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2024/2/27/24083540/le-madeline-vietnamese-restaurant-opening-quincy">Le Madeline</a>, that just opened its doors in Quincy.</p>
<p id="OB8WVt"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-boston-38"><strong>Essential Restaurants</strong></a><strong>:</strong> The Eater Boston 38 includes 38 of the area’s most essential restaurants across a range of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices, such as <a href="https://www.toninojp.com/">Tonino</a>, home to one of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/8/18/23825509/best-restaurant-boston-ask-eater">the best plates of pasta</a> in the city; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yume_wo_katare/">Yume Wo Katare</a>, a self-described dream workshop that also happens to sling some incredible bowls of ramen; and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/38319/celeste">Celeste</a>, an intimate Peruvian restaurant in Somerville’s Union Square.</p>
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<p id="FvpMGl"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-irish-bars-boston"><strong>Essential Irish Pubs</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Boston still has quite a few excellent Irish pubs, although several high-profile spots have sadly closed in recent years. Start with classics like <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/43151/the-burren">the Burren</a> in Somerville’s Davis Square, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/424/mr-dooleys">Mr. Dooley’s</a> in downtown Boston, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12013/j-j-foley-s-cafe">J.J. Foley’s</a> in Boston’s South End, and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/32641/brendan-behan-pub">the Behan</a> in Jamaica Plain. Then hit up new modern beauty <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2022/6/27/23179903/the-dubliner-irish-restaurant-downtown-boston-opens-june-2022">the Dubliner</a>, a standout by an acclaimed chef from Ireland. </p>
<p id="oZMWkU"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-boston-brunch-restaurants"><strong>Essential Brunches</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Yes, iconic Cream of Wheat is a thing; try it at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/17624/neighborhood-restaurant">the Neighborhood</a> in Somerville’s Union Square. Other vital brunch spots include <a href="https://www.puritancambridge.com/">Puritan & Co.</a> in Cambridge, the weekend-only Taiwanese feast at <a href="https://chungshinyuan.com/taiwanese-brunch-menu">Chung Shin Yuan</a> in Newton, and a not-to-be-missed Greek spread at <a href="https://barvlaha.com/">Bar Vlaha</a> in Brookline.</p>
<p id="FTWzkN"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-boston-pizza"><strong>Pizza</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Boston dabbles in numerous pizza styles, particularly wood-fired Neapolitan-leaning. Try that at places like <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/4783/posto">Posto</a> in Somerville’s Davis Square, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/26595/ciao-pizza-pasta">Ciao</a> in Chelsea, and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/2772/area-four">Area Four</a> in Cambridge’s Kendall Square — or the Neapolitan offshoot with an even puffier crust, canotto-style, at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2022/5/20/23132203/si-cara-pizzeria-canotto-pizza-wine-bar-cambridge-summer-2022">Si Cara</a> in Cambridge’s Central Square. Also be sure to check out Sicilian slices at old-school North End spot <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/13449/galleria-umberto">Galleria Umberto</a>, South Shore bar-style at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/35601/hot-box">Hot Box</a> in Somerville’s Union Square, and Detroit-style pizza — a <a href="https://boston.eater.com/22463711/best-detroit-style-pizza-boston">growing trend</a> here — at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/60148/avenue-kitchen-bar">Avenue</a> in Somerville’s Ball Square. Then, check out the Pizza Hut meets high-end pizzaiolo vibe of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2022/10/17/23400722/tenderonis-fenway-eventide-dollar-oysters-trillium-canton">Tenderoni’s</a>, with a smaller spot in the High Street Place food hall downtown, along with a disco-themed full-concept restaurant in Fenway. </p>
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<img alt="A vibrantly colored portion of ceviche is presented on a white plate on a white table, with a glass of beer on the side." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/E-qcb-12gvLdGqwo_3Dmd5-VLyg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10356469/Celeste___Rachel_Leah_Blumenthal_18.jpg">
<cite>Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston</cite>
<figcaption>Ceviche and a beer at Celeste, one of the area’s most essential restaurants.</figcaption>
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<p id="GkAN7Q"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-boston-burgers"><strong>Burgers</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Boston’s got ‘em all, from inexpensive flat patties to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2015/4/17/8442815/the-reluctant-burger-titans-of-boston">fancier versions</a> for which people wait in lines. Local chain <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/743/tasty-burger">Tasty Burger</a>, with multiple locations in Boston and Cambridge, is a great example of the former; try <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/7716/bronwyn">Bronwyn’s</a> “bronburger” for something fancier. Hit up <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/37493/quiet-few">The Quiet Few</a> in East Boston for creative colossal burgers made with patties of whiskey-infused brisket, short rib, and ground chuck. </p>
<p id="CGuPrn"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-clam-chowder-boston"><strong>Chowder</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Even though the local food scene has come far in recent years, Boston is still known for its creamy clam chowder. Try a classic version at any location of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8360/legal-harborside">Legal Sea Foods</a> (of which there are approximately a million), or go a little more upscale at a place like <a href="https://thebanksboston.com/">the Banks Fish House</a> in Back Bay, where the chowder includes Berkshire pork belly and chive oil.</p>
<p id="rFrVCN"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-cafes-boston"><strong>Cafes</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Get your caffeine fix with a side of waffles at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/21347/curio-coffee">Curio Coffee</a> near Lechmere station in Cambridge, get serious about espresso at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/19230/gracenote-coffee">Gracenote Coffee</a> in Boston’s Leather District, and snack on banh mi alongside Vietnamese coffee at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/75660/cicada-coffee-bar">Cicada</a> in Cambridge’s Central Square.</p>
<p id="PBv3Qy"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-italian-food-boston"><strong>Italian</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Yes, you should <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-boston-north-end-little-italy">explore Boston’s North End</a>, but there are Italian highlights elsewhere in and around Boston, such as South End dive bar <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8078/anchovies">Anchovies</a>, where you should try the chicken parm, and acclaimed South Boston destination <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/54724/fox-and-the-knife">Fox & the Knife</a>, inspired by the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. </p>
<p id="URPMyt"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-bars-boston"><strong>Essential Bars</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Looking for a place to drink that’s not an Irish pub? Boston’s got plenty of other options, from renowned cocktail bars like <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/2916/backbar">Backbar</a> to funky little wine bars like <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/45266/rebel-rebel">Rebel Rebel</a> to old-school jazz clubs like <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/40109/wally-s-cafe-jazz-club">Wally’s</a>, and the memorable underworld-themed beauty <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2022/3/31/23002397/hecate-cocktail-bar-back-bay-boston-preview-spring-2022">Hecate</a> in Back Bay.</p>
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<h2 id="hoods">Boston and Boston-Area Food Neighborhoods to Know</h2>
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<p class="p--has-dropcap p-large-text" id="4lVDbc">Boston’s many varied cuisines are often tied to distinct neighborhoods, each with their own special character. Want Italian food? Head to the North End. Find the best Korean food — including must-try twice-fried chicken wings — in Allston, the best Vietnamese food in Dorchester, the best French food in the South End, and the best Sichuan and Cantonese food in Chinatown. Here are six Boston neighborhoods to know, as well as a few important food suburbs to keep on your radar. </p>
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<a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-boston-north-end-little-italy">North End</a> </h3>
<p id="n7F71o">There’s plenty of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-italian-food-boston">good Italian food in Boston outside of the North End</a>, but the North End is effectively Boston’s Little Italy. Sit at the bar at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/1775/pizzeria-regina">Regina Pizzeria</a>, one of the city’s <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2019/7/23/20679251/boston-pizza-galleria-umberto-pizzeria-regina-santarpios">titans</a>, and eat a pie cooked in a century-old brick oven, along with a Peroni beer or two. Try a square slice and some arancini for lunch at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/13449/galleria-umberto">Galleria Umberto</a>, and be sure to get there early, because it sells out quickly. For dessert, stop in at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12991/mike-s-pastry">Mike’s</a> or <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12992/modern-pastry-shop">Modern</a> for cannoli and hit up <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12993/bova-s-bakery">Bova’s</a> for a late-night lobster tail (the pastry, not the seafood). The Sunday macaroni at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/13688/carmelina-s">Carmelina’s</a> — a neighborhood gem with a lot of love for red-sauce, grandma-style Italian-American food, and a stunning and affordable wine list — is full of meatballs and sausages and short rib, finished with a generous dollop of whipped ricotta. For something from the sea, head to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/1826/the-daily-catch">the Daily Catch</a> for a Sicilian dinner in an intimate setting or to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/5767/neptune-oyster-bar">Neptune Oyster</a> for its beloved lobster roll. </p>
<h3 id="fSN9ZP">
<a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-chinatown-boston">Chinatown</a> </h3>
<p id="x018Jw">If you’re in town for a night and you only have time for one meal, Chinatown is where you should go. Head to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/5258/dumpling-cafe">Dumpling Cafe</a> for Taiwan-style pan-fried pork dumplings, sweet and spicy eggplant, and deep-fried pig intestines, or pop by <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/6784/peach-farm">Peach Farm</a> — a late-night favorite among restaurant industry workers — for lobster with scallions and ginger, which is among the top bites in the entire city. There’s Mongolian hot pot at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/48851/the-q">the Q</a>, pho and other Vietnamese treats at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/20081/pho-pasteur">Pho Pasteur</a>, sushi at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/17916/avana-sushi">Avana</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/62321/irashai">Irashai</a>, kaisen don (and more sushi) at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/38746/tora-japanese-restaurant">Tora</a>, and great Cantonese at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/5262/hong-kong-eatery">Hong Kong Eatery</a>. Dim sum brunch at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/26078/winsor-dim-sum-cafe">Winsor Dim Sum Cafe</a> is also compulsory. If you’ve got any room left, explore <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-bakeries-boston-chinatown">these bakeries</a> for mooncakes, pineapple buns, egg tarts, and more. </p>
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<cite>Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston</cite>
<figcaption>Lobster with scallions and ginger at Peach Farm in Boston’s Chinatown.</figcaption>
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<h3 id="MemKSv">
<a href="https://boston.eater.com/neighborhood/189/dorchester">Dorchester</a> </h3>
<p id="d6RnZZ">Dorchester, which you might hear referred to as Dot, is Boston’s biggest neighborhood, both by land and by population. If you haven’t spent any time in Dorchester, you really haven’t spent any time in Boston, either. Because Dorchester is so vast, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-delivery-restaurants-dorchester-boston">its culinary offerings are many</a> — one can find great Dominican, Jamaican, Southern soul food (<a href="https://boston.eater.com/2021/3/23/22346630/chez-vous-pivot-roller-skating-rink-dorchester-soul-food-restaurant-pandemic-boston">at a roller rink, no less</a>), and Trinidadian (don’t miss <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/11501/singh-s-roti-shop">Singh’s Roti</a>), not to mention an <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/24109/dorchester-brewing-company">excellent brewery</a> with <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-boston/m-amp-m-bbq">barbecue on-site</a>. But if Dorchester is known for one cuisine type, it’s <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2021/2/2/22262278/vietnamese-food-guide-boston-dorchester-fields-corner">Vietnamese</a>. Dorchester is home to a well-established Vietnamese community, especially near where Dorchester Avenue and Adams Street converge near Fields Corner. There are <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-vietnamese-food-boston-dorchester">so many great Vietnamese restaurants</a> in Dorchester, but <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/11500/banh-mi-ba-le">Banh Mi Ba Le</a> is a must. The banh mi is served on fresh bread that is shatteringly crisp on the outside and pillow-soft on the inside. Get the grilled beef, which is marinated with lemongrass and is floral and salty and sweet and perfect. The sweet and highly caffeinated Vietnamese iced coffees fuel a day of exploring, too. </p>
<h3 id="v7DMLH">
<a href="https://boston.eater.com/neighborhood/177/east-boston">East Boston</a> </h3>
<p id="EWjVgf">East Boston boasts some of the area’s top Mexican food (and the nicest waterfront views of downtown Boston). Make sure to stop at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2020/7/8/21317324/angela-atenco-lopez-chef-owner-angelas-cafe-east-boston-obituary">Angela’s Cafe for the mole poblano</a>. Eaters will also find <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-colombian-food-east-boston">Colombian food in abundance</a> here. <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2021/5/20/22445768/biscuit-somerville-ko-pies-east-boston-seabiscuit"></a><a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/54300/tawakal-halal-cafe"></a><a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/905/santarpios"></a>Don’t miss Jeffries Point whiskey bar <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/37493/quiet-few">the Quiet Few</a> — a spot that has carved out a cozy niche for itself in the neighborhood — as well as newer <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/86227/next-door-boston">Next Door</a>, one of the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/5/10/23718282/boston-cocktail-bars-design-the-wig-shop-hecate-borrachito">many playful speakeasy-themed spots to pop up</a> in recent years. </p>
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<h3 id="f1IBHu"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-allston">Allston</a></h3>
<p id="hEDzs7">Few neighborhoods boast a street with as many culinary riches as Allston’s Harvard Avenue. Add Brighton and Commonwealth avenues to the mix, and it’s clear that Allston is a feast, and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-korean-food-boston">Korean food</a> is what’s on the menu. Find one of the city’s <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-sandwiches-greater-boston">best fried chicken sandwiches</a> at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/74152/fiya-chicken">Fiya Chicken</a>, and then head to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/23912/coreanos">Coreanos</a> for kimchi fried rice and bulgogi tacos. <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/45715/kimchipapi-kitchen">Kimchipapi Kitchen</a> is serving Korean-Japanese-Hawaiian fusion (its version of poke is exceptional) that is not to be missed, while <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/43848/korean-garden">Korean Garden</a> is the spot for barbecue and bibimbap. And be sure not to sleep on the soju-filled watermelon at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/48714/myung-dong-1st-ave">Myung Dong 1st Ave.</a>, served with a side of K-Pop. But Allston isn’t <em>just</em> about Korean food; it’s also home to one of the best diners in the city, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/23755873/boston-diner-twin-donuts-breakfast-regulars">Twin Donuts</a>; a fun taco spot, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/3212/lone-star-taco-bar">Lone Star Taco Bar</a>; and some classic dive bars, like the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/6755/silhouette-lounge">Silhouette</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/38792/model-cafe">Model Cafe</a>. </p>
<h3 id="kzOMaY">
<a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-south-end-boston">South End</a> </h3>
<p id="Vr3BXI">A drinker would be hard-pressed to find a <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2018/3/29/17156552/delux-cafe-south-end-boston">better neighborhood bar than Delux Cafe</a>. Its walls are covered with old records, and there is a Vegas-era Elvis lamp constantly holding court at the end of the bar. The half-chicken is miraculous, as is the burger, both of which come out of what has to be one of the smallest kitchens in Boston. If dive bar food isn’t what you’re after, no bother: The South End is a smorgasbord, especially with regard to French cuisine. Feel très Parisien under the awning on the sidewalk in front of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12044/petit-robert-bistro">Petit Robert Bistro</a>, or eat whole branzino in the greenhouse-like back room at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/27045/frenchie">Frenchie</a> while sipping on some interesting biodynamic wines. <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/25672/mida">Mida</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/18544/srv">SRV</a> are serving lovely Italian food, with the latter focused especially on Venice, while <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8078/anchovies">Anchovies</a> is the spot for Italian American food, cheap-ish beers, and a killer espresso martini. <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/744/coppa">Coppa</a> is also a <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2020/2/3/21119295/coppa-10th-anniversary-feature-italian-restaurant-boston">mainstay</a>; don’t miss the cavatelli with slow-cooked broccoli and chicken sausage. And <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/22227/bar-mezzana">Bar Mezzana</a> is the spot for crudo and pasta. (See, not all of the Italian food is in the North End.) The neighborhood’s also a stronghold for Spanish cuisine: Try the inimitable <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/4799/toro">Toro</a> (Coppa’s sibling) for paella and grilled corn; <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/2865/estragon-tapas-bar">Estragon</a> or <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/11600/barcelona-wine-bar-restaurant">Barcelona Wine Bar</a> for tapas; and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/68087/atlantico-boston">Atlántico</a> for a seafood-focused look at the whole Iberian Peninsula accompanied by excellent Portuguese wines. Keep globe-trotting with extraordinary Greek at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/22286/kava-neo-taverna">Kava Neo-Taverna</a> and eastern Mediterranean at its sibling spot <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/60153/ilona">Ilona</a>. </p>
<h3 id="W7T2oB">Cambridge and Somerville </h3>
<p id="Mf0lii">Boston proper isn’t the only show in town, of course; its neighbors Cambridge and Somerville — most of which are easily accessible via public transportation — are culinary destinations in their own right. </p>
<p id="gQrycU">Try the gochujang Bolognese at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/22300/pammys">Pammy’s</a> in <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-central-square-cambridge">Cambridge’s Central Square</a>, and pop into <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/757/brick-mortar">Brick & Mortar</a> — just down the street — for a cocktail and some good vibes on vinyl. <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/22299/pagu">Pagu</a> is the spot for Japanese- and Spanish-influenced small plates, and if you’re after <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-sushi-restaurants-boston">sushi</a>, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/17915/cafe-sushi">Cafe Sushi</a> has one of the best omakase situations in Greater Boston. </p>
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<p id="bwOLaj">In nearby <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-kendall-square-cambridge">Kendall Square</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/neighborhood/2110/east-cambridge">East Cambridge</a>, find Afghan food at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12679/helmand-restaurant">the Helmand</a> that is out of this world (get the mantwo, which is a pastry shell filled with onions and beef, topped with carrots, yellow split peas, and a rich sauce); cheap beer and Nashville hot chicken at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8385/state-park">State Park</a>; bagels, pastrami, smoked fish, and other Jewish delicatessen and appetizing delights at State Park sibling <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/22295/mamalehs-delicatessen">Mamaleh’s</a>; and outrageous hand-pulled noodles with beef at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/31186/silk-road">Silk Road</a>, one of the only Uyghur restaurants in the region. </p>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Khao soi —&nbsp;a yellow curry with chicken, egg, lime, crispy noodles, and more —&nbsp;is served in a traditional Thai-style bowl decorated with a rooster. The bowl sits on a yellow surface." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rKTRMS2SOldlyKEgwWu6susSAw4=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19560769/dakzen___rachel_leah_blumenthal_6.jpg">
<cite>Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater</cite>
<figcaption>Khao soi at Dakzen in Somerville’s Davis Square.</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="NdeHFe"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-inman-square-cambridge">Inman Square</a> is home to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/7175/puritan-co">Puritan & Company</a>, a fantastic restaurant focused on local New England fare, as well as <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/34252/momi-nonmi">Momi Nonmi</a> (a delightful little izakaya), <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/20829/punjabi-dhaba">Punjabi Dhaba</a> (an extraordinarily good South Asian restaurant), <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/914/oleana">Oleana</a> (home to the most romantic <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/hidden-patio-map-boston">patio</a> in town), <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/80255/zuzus-petals">Zuzu’s Petals</a> (a cell-phone-free wine and dessert bar), and many excellent others. </p>
<p id="lGedaC">Just north of Cambridge is Somerville, which is home to several of Greater Boston’s best food neighborhoods, including <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-bars-restaurants-davis-square-somerville">Davis</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/neighborhood/164/union-square">Union</a> squares. Drink a beer the size of your head on the patio at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/53372/mike-s-food-spirits">Mike’s</a> in Davis, or head to <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/41752/dakzen">Dakzen</a> for truly unbelievable Thai street food. Union is just a hop, skip, and a jump away and is home to one of the most exciting food and beverage hubs in Greater Boston: <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/34916/bow-market">Bow Market</a>. Grab a beer from <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/34307/remnant-brewing">Remnant Brewing</a> or a glass of wine from funky wine bar <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/45266/rebel-rebel">Rebel Rebel</a>, and snack on roast beef sandwiches and South Shore-style bar pizza at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/35601/hot-box">Hot Box</a>, poutine from <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8519/saus">Saus</a>, killer sandwiches from <a href="https://www.bowmarketsomerville.com/tenants/southern-pines-diner-car">Southern Pines Diner Car</a>, and fresh seafood from <a href="https://bluefinrawbar.com/">Blue Fin</a>. Beyond Bow Market, you should probably also try a doughnut from <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/12454/union-square-donuts">Union Square Donuts</a>, ceviche from <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/38319/celeste">Celeste</a>, and a cocktail from <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/2916/backbar">Backbar</a> or <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/61554/barra-somerville">Barra</a> while you’re in the neighborhood.</p>
<h3 id="4wqvBq">Beyond</h3>
<p id="8GOWh3">There’s much to explore in other Greater Boston suburbs, too, and these are also accessible by public transportation, whether by the T (Boston’s subway system), bus, commuter rail, or a combination. <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-brookline">Brookline</a>, for example, has outstanding cocktails paired with Sichuan cuisine at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/34601/blossom-bar">Blossom Bar</a>; a unique Thai restaurant, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/67441/mahaniyom-thai-tapas">Mahaniyom</a>, with a menu you won’t see anywhere else in the area; a Spanish mainstay, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/1817/taberna-de-haro">Taberna de Haro</a>; fantastic wood-fired pizza from <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/23880/stoked-pizza">Stoked</a>; and countless other dining options. </p>
<p id="LDLXqN">Nearby, take a food crawl through Newton, paying particular attention to sibling spots <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8405/sycamore">Sycamore</a>, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/18456/little-big-diner">Little Big Diner</a>, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/35744/buttonwood">Buttonwood</a>, and newcomer <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/76172/jinny-s-pizzeria">Jinny’s Pizzeria</a>. Check out Newton’s village of Nonantum, too, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-greater-bostons-other-little-italy-newton-nonantum">for Italian food galore</a>. </p>
<p id="3QSLjT">North of Newton, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/neighborhood/2109/waltham">Waltham</a> has a concentration of great dining spots on Moody Street, including Italian at Sweet Basil and Cuban at <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2019/3/18/18242971/gustazo-cuban-kitchen-bar-cambridge-open">Gustazo</a>. Elsewhere in Waltham, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/17619/taqueria-el-amigo">Taqueria el Amigo</a> is a local favorite for tacos; try the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-tacos-al-pastor-boston">al pastor</a>.</p>
<p id="jfBep2">South of Boston, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/neighborhood/156/quincy">Quincy</a> is jam-packed with excellent Chinese food (try <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2019/3/20/18274102/restaurants-boston-suburbs-news-spring-2019">East Ocean</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-hand-pulled-noodles-boston/chili-square">Chili Square</a>) and Vietnamese food (try <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/26766/pho-pasteur-quincy">Pho Pasteur</a>), as well as fried seafood (<a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/22496/tony-s-clam-shop">Tony’s Clam Shop</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/23454/the-clam-box">the Clam Box</a>). Another Quincy must-visit is cocktail bar <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2018/6/27/17509880/restaurants-boston-suburbs-news-summer-2018">Idle Hour</a>, which features a creative comfort food menu with options like Southern fried pork chops and a killer burger.</p>
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<h2 id="res">Reservations to Make in Advance</h2>
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<p id="jS8cgD">You’ll generally be able to find <em>somewhere</em> to eat at the last minute in and around Boston, even on peak nights out, but there are a few restaurants you’ll want to book as far in advance as possible.</p>
<p id="wmZcyD">In Boston proper, plan ahead for <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8229/row-34">Row 34</a> (seafood in Fort Point), <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/751/o-ya">O Ya</a> (high-end omakase in the Leather District), <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/4799/toro">Toro</a> (tapas in the South End), <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/61557/mariel-boston">Mariel</a> (Cuban downtown), and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/79044/contessa">Contessa</a>, a glitzy Italian destination located on a Newbury Street hotel rooftop. Note that one of the city’s most notoriously busy restaurants, <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/5767/neptune-oyster-bar">Neptune Oyster</a>, takes walk-ins only, so go at an odd hour if possible.</p>
<div class="c-wide-block"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Mussels, shrimp, and clams sit atop a skillet of rice and vegetables" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NOVA-sj7r8gYDaRc5KQe3haREt0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8811481/Toro_paella___Rachel_Leah_Blumenthal.jpg">
<cite>Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston</cite>
<figcaption>Paella at Toro in Boston’s South End.</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="lkNh9q">In Cambridge, Italian stunners <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/7529/giulia">Giulia</a> and <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/22300/pammys">Pammy’s</a> both book up early, as well as eastern Mediterranean mainstay <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/914/oleana">Oleana</a>. If it’s graduation week or another big event at Harvard or MIT, you’ll probably want to lock down a <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/2766/harvest">Harvest</a> reservation pretty early as well. (You’ll want to be especially proactive about reservations in general during any major school events around Boston — move-in and move-out periods, big sports events, etc.) In Somerville, Oleana’s sibling <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/8086/sarma">Sarma</a> gets quite busy, and tiny Peruvian spot <a href="https://boston.eater.com/venue/38319/celeste">Celeste</a> is a must as well.</p>
<p id="BoM1jH">Note that even if you can’t get a reservation for your desired spot, a little flexibility goes a long way. At most restaurants, you may have luck showing up right at opening and grabbing a bar seat (most restaurants serve their full menus at the bar).</p>
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<h2 id="out-town">Head Out of Town</h2>
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<p id="jQjw4g">Part of the beauty of Boston is its proximity to a wide variety of travel destinations that’ll satisfy beach fans and mountain enthusiasts alike. Massachusetts has Cape Cod, of course, but there are plenty of other coastal places to visit as well. And New England cities like Portland, Maine; Kittery, Maine; and Portsmouth, New Hampshire are an easy drive away.</p>
<div> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Overhead view of a cruller with a white glaze. It sits on white tissue paper on the surface of an aged picnic table." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fCpMUFJrarrpcUFHpvUhA3uylPU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8875547/Lils_Cafe___Rachel_Leah_Blumenthal.jpg">
<cite>Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater</cite>
<figcaption>A cruller at Lil’s Cafe in Kittery, Maine.</figcaption>
</figure>
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<p id="5hkNdY">Visit <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2019/5/24/18638457/summer-travel-cape-cod-new-england-food-restaurants">Eater Boston’s New England travel landing page</a> to find maps, guides, and food crawls throughout the region. You’ll find out <a href="https://boston.eater.com/22778093/best-mystic-connecticut-restaurants-where-to-eat-drink">where to eat and drink in Mystic, Connecticut (beyond the Hollywood-famous Mystic Pizza)</a>, how to eat your way through <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-portland-maine">Portland</a> (and <a href="https://www.eater.com/maps/best-maine-restaurants">elsewhere in Maine</a>), which New Hampshire beach is <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2018/6/22/17488192/hampton-beach-booze-crawl">perfect for a booze crawl</a> and air-brushed T-shirts, why the neighboring city of <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-portsmouth-new-hampshire">Portsmouth</a> is an absolute joy to visit, and lots more.</p>
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<h2 id="news">Follow the News</h2>
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<p id="USUBVJ">Eater Boston is updated multiple times every weekday with breaking news stories (restaurant openings, closures, etc.), features, maps, and more. Here are a few ways to stay in the loop:</p>
<ul>
<li id="zB37ns">Simply keep an eye on the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/">Eater Boston homepage</a>. New stories generally show up near the top and flow down toward the bottom of the page as they get older, while several important recent stories remain pinned at the top for some time. Also, check out our big sibling, <a href="https://www.eater.com/">Eater.com</a>, for national and international food news.</li>
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<a href="https://boston.eater.com/2017/3/31/15113488/eater-boston-restaurant-newsletter">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>, which goes out weekday evenings and includes links to the day’s top stories, older features you may have missed, and interesting stories from other Eater sites.</li>
<li id="TBEYKa">Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EaterBoston/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/eaterboston">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eaterboston/">Instagram</a>. </li>
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<h2 id="touch">Get in Touch</h2>
</div>
<p id="9BEnzo">Have questions not answered here? Want to send in a tip or just say hello? Here are a couple of ways to get in touch with the Eater Boston staff:</p>
<ul>
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https://boston.eater.com/17690858/best-boston-food-restaurants-city-guide-where-to-eatEater Staff2024-01-09T16:23:53-05:002024-01-09T16:23:53-05:00The 38 Essential Restaurants in Boston
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<img alt="A fried chicken sandwich on a metal serving tray." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_FgA3qHfWactwJPSXzbV22PoMd8=/1196x765:6652x4857/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58268101/RUBATO_2.127.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Rubato’s fried chicken bolo. | Malakhai Pearson/Eater Boston</figcaption>
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<p>Where to find irresistible ceviche, heaping bowls of ramen, dynamite dumplings, and so much more</p> <p id="thb1Wa">Welcome to Boston’s Eater 38, otherwise known as the answer to any question that begins with: “Can you recommend a restaurant?”</p>
<p id="50KA51">Whether new to Boston or a lifelong resident, an eater will find <a href="https://boston.eater.com/17690858/best-boston-food-restaurants-city-guide-where-to-eat">much to explore here</a>: The city is lucky to have an incredible seafood-filled dining scene, for one thing, but there’s so much more, including spicy hand-pulled Xi’an-style noodles in a casual storefront, heaping bowls of ramen in a restaurant that wants its customers’ dreams to come true, and flavor-packed Mediterranean on a romantic patio to funky wines in intimate bars.</p>
<p id="GALxgj">As such, this elite group of 38 must-try restaurants is meant to cover the city of Boston and a little bit beyond while spanning multiple cuisines, costs, and neighborhoods, collectively satisfying every restaurant need.</p>
<p id="0w2Dmh">Every quarter, Eater Boston adds a few pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible (restaurants must be open at least six months), or have stepped up their game. As such, a few restaurants are retired from the map each quarter — not necessarily forever — to make room.</p>
<p id="OyTCSb">This quarter, we welcome three new additions to the map: <strong>Comfort Kitchen</strong> and <strong>Rubato</strong>, two of the buzziest recent debuts in the city, as well as beloved izakaya and soba shop <strong>Sugidama</strong> in Somerville.</p>
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<p id="bzxc6Y">(Check out the <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-new-boston-restaurants-heatmap">Eater Boston Heatmap</a> to find the hottest <em>new</em> restaurants in town right this very second.)</p>
<p id="vBJWCC"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/2017/3/31/15113488/eater-boston-restaurant-newsletter?utm_campaign=eater.social&utm_content=eater&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=boston-map"><em>For all the latest Boston dining intel, subscribe to Eater Boston's newsletter.</em></a></p>
https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-boston-38Eater Staff2023-12-21T09:52:27-05:002023-12-21T09:52:27-05:00New England Doughnuts Worth the Drive
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<img alt="A frosted doughnut dusted in cinnamon, held up with park greenery in the background." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fnNzLzqIppF-t0fkTSO9GJH0RnE=/0x101:3024x2369/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69582347/holy_donut.8.jpg" />
<figcaption>A doughnut from the Holy Donut in Portland, secured on a daytrip from Boston. | Erika Adams/Eater Boston</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Planning a mini-getaway around the region? Grab some doughnuts at one (or more) of these excellent shops.</p> <p id="MtTOPI">When planning travel around New England, throw away all thoughts about traffic or car problems. Instead, start thinking about all the places to grab doughnuts along the way because — what’s better than a doughnut and iced coffee? </p>
<p id="RkCSJv">Whether the trip calls for a dozen potato doughnuts; funky flavors like Earl Grey; or a classic old fashioned; there’s a sweet option available.</p>
<p id="8PsOcc">Beware, lots of these shops may close earlier than their posted hours if the last doughnut is sold, so get there early and remember: The early bird gets the doughnut.</p>
https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-doughnuts-new-englandEater StaffCelina ColbyAndrea Capodilupo2023-11-27T15:04:46-05:002023-11-27T15:04:46-05:00Where to Eat After Midnight Around Boston
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<img alt="A slice of pepperoni pizza on a white paper plate set on top of a marble counter." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/00iN1Atm1tBMf3cqG_eIAVR3g4A=/0x0:4032x3024/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61788133/IMG_9985_EDIT__1_.16.jpg" />
<figcaption>A glistening pepperoni slice from Joe’s in Harvard Square. | Erika Adams/Eater Boston</figcaption>
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<p>Burgers, Brazilian hot dogs, mapo tofu nachos, and bison Bolognese galore</p> <p id="WCsFjv">Boston is not really a late-night city: The T shuts down on the early side — and the bars and live music scene with it — so it can be hard to find a snack or full meal late at night and into the early morning hours, especially on a weeknight. Adding to the difficulty, continuing staffing shortages and other pandemic-era challenges have caused a lot of restaurants to cut hours over the past few years.</p>
<p id="buPeS5">So it’s hard, but fortunately not impossible, to find a solid meal after midnight. Here are 18 of the best late-night dining options in and near Boston, from mapo tofu nachos to bison Bolognese to Brazilian hot dogs. All restaurants on this map serve food past midnight at least a couple nights a week; many of them serve a substantial menu until 1:30 a.m. nightly. (That said, hours can change without notice — see above re: staffing shortages — so it’s best to call and confirm before heading over.)</p>
https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-late-night-food-bostonEater Staff2023-10-30T11:03:10-04:002023-10-30T11:03:10-04:0011 Iconic Dishes Around Boston
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<img alt="A zig-zag pattern of cannoli from Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry, arranged on a white background. Some are garnished with chocolate chips or pistachios." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NQlxTY4trX7I5tQM-l5wTkT_P8Y=/200x0:1400x900/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55474627/Chris_Coe_Cannolis_001.0.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Cannoli from Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry. | Chris Coe/Eater</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Get to know the city and surrounding area with these essential eats</p> <p id="mIFswt">Attention, tourists: <a href="https://boston.eater.com/17690858/best-boston-food-restaurants-city-guide-where-to-eat">Boston’s dining scene</a> hasn’t been defined by baked beans in decades. In fact, it’s hard to even find the sweet legume dish on a restaurant table in Boston. Here are 11<strong> </strong>iconic dishes that define Boston (and the surrounding area) in one way or another. Some of these dishes have earned a place here primarily by way of their longevity and important place in Boston’s dining history; others are truly the best of the best of their kind, regardless of age.</p>
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https://boston.eater.com/maps/iconic-dishes-bostonEater Staff2023-07-25T09:07:50-04:002023-07-25T09:07:50-04:0017 Boston-Area Restaurants With Live Music
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<img alt="A general view of the renowned Middle East Restaurant and Night Club, a much sought after performance venue for local acts in the Boston area, on March 4, 2013 in Cambridge." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NXakDMjRJwrQ7ICGJU4p3WOG9IA=/170x0:2831x1996/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60860349/163099771.7.jpg" />
<figcaption>The Middle East in Cambridge. | Paul Marotta/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>From jazz to flamenco to mariachi, the city offers something for every musical taste </p> <p id="c3jju4">Boston has got plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs hosting live music several nights a week. Whether you’re looking to sip on a fancy gin drink while seated at a dimly lit jazz club or eat tapas while taking in a live flamenco performance, Boston’s live music scene can accommodate you. Here are some of the best spots for live music Boston and the surrounding area has to offer. (Note: This map focuses on restaurants that offer music for free or relatively cheap cover charges. Venues that are solely bars or larger spots with ticketed shows are not included.)</p>
https://boston.eater.com/maps/boston-best-restaurants-live-musicEater StaffNathan Tavares2023-06-05T14:55:49-04:002023-06-05T14:55:49-04:00Want to Write for Eater Boston?
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<img alt="White “E” of Eater logo on red background" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NEc-i7OLP1ufvU43JTQWDkup4ic=/200x0:1800x1200/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67730628/EAT_ImagePlaceholder_Final.7.jpg" />
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<p>Here’s how to pitch us</p> <p id="seNhTb">Are you obsessed with the dining scene in Massachusetts? Do you have proven journalistic chops? There might be a spot for you writing for Eater Boston, either as an occasional contributor or on a more regular basis.</p>
<p id="0TlJgL">We’re primarily seeking writers to contribute and update maps and guides on a freelance basis, although news and feature pitches will occasionally be considered. Before you pitch, please search the site archives to make sure that you’re sending a fresh idea. Below, find more information on how to pitch different types of stories, and a few examples of stories that were commissioned from successful freelance pitches.</p>
<h4 id="VzCoCf">Maps and guides</h4>
<ul>
<li id="ibk2I6"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-bakeries-boston">15 Essential Bakeries Around Boston</a></li>
<li id="6KylO5"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-boston-north-end-little-italy">Where to Eat in Boston’s North End</a></li>
<li id="h5c78B"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/boston-lunar-new-year-restaurant-celebrations">Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in and Around Boston</a></li>
<li id="78XhVM"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/2022/12/21/23520844/biddeford-maine-restaurants-bars-travel-guide">One Perfect Food-Fueled Day in Biddeford, Maine</a></li>
</ul>
<p id="ddSenY">For maps and guides, Eater Boston’s archives are <a href="https://boston.eater.com/archives">vast</a>, and we are especially looking to update our existing content. See a neighborhood or cuisine <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps">map</a> that hasn’t been updated in over a year? A New England <a href="https://boston.eater.com/2019/5/24/18638457/summer-travel-cape-cod-new-england-food-restaurants">travel guide</a> that could be freshened up, and you’re an expert in the area? We want to hear from you.</p>
<p id="NsX30O">We are occasionally greenlighting new maps and guides (like this <a href="https://boston.eater.com/maps/15-essential-restaurants-in-provincetown">essential restaurants map</a> in Provincetown), but the pitch needs to fill a clear gap in our current coverage and be evergreen. In other words, this is a map that readers will continue to search for years down the road and can be continually updated.</p>
<h4 id="fIa1IV">News and features</h4>
<ul>
<li id="no5vLA"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/2/27/23616747/boston-supper-clubs-chefs-kendall-dacosta-pao-thampitak-nia-grace">Boston’s Supper Clubs Are the Hottest Ticket in Town</a></li>
<li id="aOxV3x"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/3/7/23629021/boston-green-line-extension-restaurant-impact-oasis-brazilian-steakhouse-winter-hill-brewing">Boston’s Latest Public Transit Extension Brings New Diners to Nearby Restaurants</a></li>
<li id="n1Kk9X"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/4/14/23683234/boston-drag-brunch-tenderonis-carrie-nation-blend">Long Live Drag Brunch</a></li>
<li id="F1tQ5Y"><a href="https://boston.eater.com/2023/5/10/23718282/boston-cocktail-bars-design-the-wig-shop-hecate-borrachito">Whipped Cream, Wigs, and Witchcraft: Boston’s Cocktail Bars Enter a Playful New Era</a></li>
</ul>
<p id="bXeLyM">Eater Boston occasionally commissions reported news and feature stories, although on a less regular basis than maps and guides. The key here is having a timely angle (why does this story need to be told right now?), a good handle on the scope of the story in the pitch (who are you going to talk to for the piece?), and the ability to demonstrate that the story brings something new to the table (has this been reported on before?).</p>
<p id="4BEb26">To pitch, send a brief email to boston@eater.com with a subject line that headlines your idea (i.e., “PITCH: Jamaica Plain Map Update”), includes a brief summary of the pitch, and tells us why you’re the best writer for the job. It’d also be great to include a little bit about yourself, any relevant professional experience, and links to a couple of previous writing samples. No childhood food memories, please — we’re more interested in the reporting skills you bring to the table. </p>
<p id="wNYx9H">Whether the answer is yes or no, we try to respond to all incoming pitches. Haven’t heard back in a few weeks? We welcome follow-up emails.</p>
<aside id="GaOgV7"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"boston-eater"}'></div></aside><p id="Vxw90R"></p>
https://boston.eater.com/2020/11/3/21540190/hiring-jobs-writing-journalism-eater-bostonEater Staff2023-03-31T09:12:22-04:002023-03-31T09:12:22-04:00Don't Forget to Tip Your Eater
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fppHQfPcpVoFv9ie5d0NpUBXGg8=/0x53:4026x3073/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46930930/Tip_Jar_9-22-14.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>Eater is hungry for your gossip and intel. Feed Eater.</p> <p id="nVTyJV">We just wanted to remind you, dear readers, to keep those tips coming. There are numerous ways that you can get in touch with us, whether you want to share some hot gossip, ask a question, show us a photo, or just say hello. You are our eyes and ears. Something interesting's happening in that empty storefront down the street? A chef from another city is moving in? The place that you love is closing down? You can't believe we missed your favorite restaurant in one of our maps? Let us know! </p>
<p id="z40jg9">To get in touch by email, simply drop us a line at <a href="mailto:boston@eater.com">boston@eater.com</a>. (Photo evidence — from store signage to stop-work orders — is especially appreciated with any tip!) Your anonymity will be protected unless you would like to be cited by name. On social media, find us on <a href="https://twitter.com/eaterboston">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EaterBoston">Facebook</a>, and <a href="http://instagram.com/eaterboston">Instagram</a>.</p>
<p id="Wxodx1">And finally, you can also <a href="http://boston.eater.com/archives/2014/01/13/the-eater-boston-newsletter-tastes-better-than-cronuts.php">sign up for our newsletter</a>, which will magically appear in your inbox each weekday evening with links to the day's top stories.</p>
https://boston.eater.com/2015/8/10/9126359/eater-boston-tiplineEater Staff2015-11-19T08:20:00-05:002015-11-19T08:20:00-05:00Where to Eat at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
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<img alt="A flight takes off from Logan Airport in January 2015." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Eg2b-w3cJ376vpeAj_g273op7yM=/186x0:3952x2825/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47696047/GettyImages-462296888.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A flight takes off from Logan Airport in January 2015. | Darren McCollester/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The best meal of your entire life: it probably wasn't in an airport. However, airports can make for good eating with a little help from your friends at Eater.</p> <p>
</p>
<p>Back again in time for Thanksgiving travel, it's the updated Eater Boston guide to dining at and around Logan. The airport has several serviceable restaurants within its walls, and nearby options abound for traveling locals or visitors on layover.</p>
<p>The breakdown: the closest restaurants outside of Logan are in East Boston, where you'll find a healthy mix of neighborhood eateries representing the cuisines of many nations. If you have time to hop in cab, Boston's historic, romantic, cannoli-laden North End is ten minutes away, as is the blazing hot Seaport District and Fort Point. Note: travel times are approximate and traffic can rear its ugly head at any time, so if you do leave Logan, you might want to factor in a grace period for delays. Or for oysters.</p>
<h3>Best Bets Inside Logan</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Stephanie's at Logan" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qTpW35l8Z1RK3rq19tJ71PsqgUM=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3712946/Stephanies1.0.jpg">
<cite>Stephanie’s/<a href="http://www.tastesonthefly.com/airports/bos">Official Site</a></cite>
</figure>
</p>
<p class="caption">Stephanie's. [Photo: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tastesonthefly.com/airports/bos">Official Site</a>]</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Legal Sea Foods (in various guises): </strong><span>You're never very far from a </span><span>Legal</span><span> in Logan, and the many permutations of the chain are all reliable choices for raw bar, lobster, fish & chips, and so forth. The most interesting of the lot is the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/legal-test-kitchen">Legal Test Kitchen</a>, where you'll find the occasional exotic flourish. [Legal Test Kitchen, Post-security, Terminal A, Gate 5; Legal C Bar, Pre-Security, Terminal B; Legal Sea Foods Cafe, Post-Security, Terminal B, Gate 10; Legal Sea Foods, Post-Security, Terminal C, Gate 12 and a brand new location in the new Terminal B Connector.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong>Stephanie's:</strong><span> New last year, this 120-seat sibling of Stephanie's on Newbury, Stephi's on Tremont, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/stephi-s-in-southie">Stephi's in Southie</a> features a full bar. [Terminal B Connector.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong>Harpoon Tap Room: </strong><span>A satellite of Boston's </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/tags/harpoon-brewery">Harpoon Brewery</a><span>, the Tap Room serves standard pub fare including chowder, sandwiches, and fish & chips. And of course, there's beer — up to ten locally-brewed draughts including limited batches. [Post-security, Terminal A, Gate 22.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong>Cisco Brew Pub:</strong><span> Like Harpoon, the Cisco Brew Pub is a safe choice for beer and pub food (burgers, lobster rolls, and the like). Originally just in Terminal B, it has spawned a second outpost in Terminal E. Cisco Brewers of Nantucket is renowned by craft beer geeks for brews like the Whale's Tale Pail Ale, and the pub also serves spirits by the affiliated Triple Eight Distillery and wines from Nantucket Vineyard. [Post-security, Terminal B, Gate 29 and post-security, Terminal E, Gate 1A.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong>Bonfire:</strong><span> Celeb chef </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/tags/todd-english">Todd English</a><span> got his start in Boston, and, for better or for worse, Bonfire has remained an outpost of his now sprawling empire (and with Olives done, it's one of his </span><em>last</em><span> Boston outposts.) Steaks with South American and European treatment are the main fare, along with tacos, tapas, and, what the heck, a Kobe beef hot dog. [Post-Security, Terminal B, Gate 36]</span> </li>
<li> <strong>Dine Boston Café:</strong><span> Every three months a different chef from a prominent local restaurant creates a new menu that pays homage to seasonal ingredients. Chefs have included </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/tags/andy-husbands">Andy Husbands</a><span> of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/tremont-647">Tremont 647</a>, Jose Duarte of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/taranta">Taranta</a>, and Alberto Cabre of <a href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/casa-b" target="_blank">Casa B</a>. [Pre-Security, Terminal E, Level 3]</span> </li>
<li> <strong>Potbelly Sandwich Shop:</strong><span> This Chicago-based chain serves cookies, shakes, and salads in addition to the restaurant's best-known item: toasted sandwiches. Though it's a sandwich chain in an airport, it's a sandwich chain in an airport with a cult following. And at some hours, it may be your only option, open from 5 a.m. until the last flight comes in. Potbelly has recently added three Boston-area locations — two downtown and one in Porter Square — and they've been fairly well-received. [Post Security, Terminal C, Gate 11]</span> </li>
<li> <strong>Vino Volo:</strong><span> A restaurant and wine shop with small plates and entrees organized by red and white. For instance: smoked salmon and crabmeat crostini (white). Two locations. [Post-Security, Terminal E, Gate 6 and post-security, Terminal A Satellite (Gates 13-22.)]</span> </li>
</ul>
<h3><span>The Rest Inside Logan, By Terminal</span></h3>
<h4>Terminal A (Gates 13-22 are in the Terminal A Satellite)</h4>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Lucky's Lounge at Logan" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lQQy4wjFRgknu4Jizrb-hH74hi8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3712950/t1hyfcnodz2.0.JPG">
<cite>Logan Airport/<a href="http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/inside-the-airport/logan-interactive-maps/#terminal/A/zone/departures">Official Site</a></cite>
</figure>
</p>
<p class="caption">Lucky's. [Photo: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/inside-the-airport/logan-interactive-maps/#terminal/A/zone/departures">Official Site</a>]</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Au Bon Pain [Pre-Security, Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Auntie Anne's Pretzels [Post-Security, Gate 18] </span></li>
<li><span>Dunkin' Donuts [Post-Security, Gate 8] </span></li>
<li><span>Fresh City [Post-Security, Gate 17]</span></li>
<li><span>Friendly's — The SuperMelts and ice cream sundaes of your childhood, newly available at Logan as of April 2015. [Post-Security, Gate 19]</span></li>
<li><span>Game On! — Sports pub. [Post-Security, Gate 16]</span></li>
<li><span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/luckys-lounge">Lucky's Lounge</a> — An outpost of a Fort Point "retro lounge," serving brick-oven pizzas, mini burgers, salads, etc. Fort Point's nearby, so if you have time, get some fresh air and head to the full location. [Post-Security, Gate 6]</span></li>
<li><span>Phillips Seafood — Crab cakes and other seafood. [Post-Security, Gate 17]</span></li>
<li><span>Sbarro [Post-Security, Gate 18] </span></li>
<li><span>Starbucks [Post-Security, Gate 18] </span></li>
<li><span>Wendy's [Post-Security, Gate 8]</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>Terminal B <span>(Gates 1-21 are on the US Airways side; Gates 22-38 are on the American Airlines side)</span>
</h4>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Berkshire Farms Market" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cb76BdvwzwuJceRBbZR3gSMd1Rs=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3712956/Berkshire1.0.jpg">
<cite>Berkshire Farms Market/<a class="ql-link" href="http://www.tastesonthefly.com/airports/bos" target="_blank">Official Site</a></cite>
</figure>
</p>
<p class="caption">Berkshire Farms Market. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.tastesonthefly.com/airports/bos">Official Site</a>]</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Asian Too — "Asian fusion," counter service. [Post-Security, US Airways Food Court]</span></li>
<li><span>Au Bon Pain [Post-Security, US Airways Food Court]</span></li>
<li><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.berkshirefarmandtable.org/berkshire-farms-market/">Berkshire Farms Market</a> — Grab-and-go items, coffee, smoothies, and more, featuring products from Western Massachusetts. [Post-Security, Gate 20]</span></li>
<li><span>Cosi — Grab-and-go sandwiches, salads. [Post-Security, Gate 3]</span></li>
<li><span>Dunkin' Donuts [Pre-Security; American Airlines Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Espressamente Illy — Espresso, pastries. [Post-Security, Gate 17]</span></li>
<li><span>Home Team Sports — Sports bar. [Post-Security, Gate 9]</span></li>
<li><span>McDonald's [Post-Security, US Airways Food Court]</span></li>
<li><span>Ozone — A cocktail lounge with "retro-futuristic decor." [Pre-Security, US Airways Departures]</span></li>
<li>Peet's Coffee & Tea [Post-Security, Gate 25]</li>
<li><span>Ryo Asian Seafood — Counter-service sushi. [Post-Security, American Airlines Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Sbarro [Post-Security, US Airways Food Court]</span></li>
<li><span>Starbucks [Two locations post-security and one pre-security.]</span></li>
<li><span>UFood Grill — Burgers, wraps, and sandwiches with a health-food focus. [Post-Security, American Airlines Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Villa Pizza [Post-Security, American Airlines Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Vinea — Wine, burgers, seafood, etc. [Post-Security; Gate 17]</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>Terminal C</h4>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Jerry Remy's Logan" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FU52Lim1PEtmLnu_EDqul3BdCd8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3712958/JR_NS_2.0.jpg">
<cite>Logan Airport/<a href="http://www.tastesonthefly.com/airports/bos">Official Site</a></cite>
</figure>
</p>
<p class="caption"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/jerry-remys">Jerry Remy's</a>. [Photo: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tastesonthefly.com/airports/bos">Official Site</a>]</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Au Bon Pain [Pre-Security, Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Boston Beer Works — Beer, pub food. [Two locations post-security, Gates 14 and 27]</span></li>
<li><span>Burger King [Pre-Security, Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Currito — The "cure for the common burrito," counter service. [Pre-Security, Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Dunkin' Donuts [One pre-security location at arrivals and two post-security, Gates 27 and 29]</span></li>
<li><span>GoGo Stop — Grab-and-go, focused on healthy foods. [Post-Security, Gate 29]</span></li>
<li><span>Green Express — Grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, breakfasts, etc. [Post-Security, Gate 32]</span></li>
<li><span>Jerry Remy's Bar & Grill — Sports bar, comfort food. Go to the giant Seaport location instead if you have time to leave the airport. [Pre-Security, Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Johnny Rockets [Post-Security, Gate 28]</span></li>
<li><span>Lean & Green Gourmet — Grab-and-go candy, snacks, sandwiches. [Post-Security, Gate 42]</span></li>
<li><span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/pinkberry">Pinkberry</a> [Post-Security, Gate 12]</span></li>
<li><span>Ryo Asian Seafood — Counter-service sushi. [Pre-Security, Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Sbarro [Pre-Security, Departures]</span></li>
<li><span>Starbucks [Post-Security, Gates 12 and 26]</span></li>
<li><span>Wolfgang Puck Gourmet Express [Post-Security, Gate 28]</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>Terminal E</h4>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Durgin-Park Logan" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WbLXgne9GiL4DKBZBrsHi1-La2Q=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3712962/HMS_Durgin_14.0.jpg">
<cite>Durgin-Park [Official Photo]</cite>
</figure>
</p>
<p class="caption">Durgin-Park. [Photo: Provided]</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Burger King [Post-Security, Gate 6]</span></li>
<li><span>Durgin-Park [Post-Security, Gate 7]</span></li>
<li><span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/earl-of-sandwich">Earl of Sandwich</a> — Sandwiches. [Post-Security, Gate 5]</span></li>
<li><span>Sbarro [Post-Security, Gate 5]</span></li>
<li><span>Starbucks [Post-Security, Gate 5]</span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<h3>Best Bets Outside of Logan</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EV3DTOnvHSpGLWnZYffQ669VdII=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/1120098/1KO-Pies---Bingham-9.0.jpg">
</figure>
</p>
<p class="caption">KO Pies at the Shipyard. [Photo: <a href="http://calbingham.tumblr.com" target="_blank">Cal Bingham</a> for Eater]</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/row-34">Row 34</a>:</strong> This popular Fort Point spot from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/island-creek-oyster-bar">Island Creek Oyster Bar</a> team is meant to be a "workingman's oyster bar." The price point is lower than its swanky older sibling, but this is still quite suitable for a very nice meal out. Aside from the raw bar, there are shrimp sliders, lobster rolls, and the like, plus plenty of beer. If you ever find yourself in Portsmouth, NH, Row 34 is now open there as well. [Fort Point, 383 Congress Street, 7 minutes from the airport.]</li>
<li> <strong><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/angelas-cafe">Angela's Cafe</a>:</strong><span> Boston has seen a boom in upscale Mexican, but </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/places/angelas-cafe">Angela's</a><span> is the real deal for neighborhood-style Pueblan cooking like chicken mole gorditas, albondigas, pozole, and micheladas. [East Boston, 131 Lexington St, 6 minutes from the airport.] </span> </li>
<li> <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/santarpios">Santarpio's</a>:</strong><span> One of the city's best and oldest pizzerias, </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/places/santarpios">Santarpio's</a><span> has been in the same spot since 1933 and has had little reason to change its excellent pies or divey vibe. Try the sausage and garlic pizza. Note: cash only. [East Boston, 111 Chelsea St 6 minutes from the airport] </span> </li>
<li> <strong><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/pizzeria-regina">Pizzeria Regina</a>:</strong><span> Or, choose the other side of the never-ending pizza duel. This North End pizzeria, founded in 1926, is on every list of the city's best pizza, and it's often at the top. The lines can be as long as at Disney World at this location, the original, so calling ahead is advised. [North End, 11 1/2 Thacher St, 8 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/tags/rincon-limeno">Rincon Limeno</a>:</strong><span> If you've got a little time and want a neighborhood dining immersion, this is it: the city's best spot for Peruvian dishes like ceviche, octopus salad, fish stew, and pisco sours. If you're traveling early, grab an arepa for breakfast. [East Boston, 409 Chelsea St, 7 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/ko-pies-at-the-shipyard">KO Pies at the Shipyard</a>:</strong><span> Two words: Meat pies. KO is a charismatic Australian restaurant right on the water with patio seating available in the warmer months. The non-meat pie fare is also good; try the chicken schnitzel burger or the fish & chips. Also, there's lots of beer and wine from Down Under. [East Boston, 256 Marginal Street, Building 16, Boston Harbor Shipyard, 7 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/rinos">Rino's Place</a>:</strong><span> Perhaps Boston's most iconic Italian-American spot outside of the North End. A neighborhood favorite for over 20 years, Rino's has been a lot more crowded ever since an appearance on the Food Network show </span><em>Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.</em><span> [East Boston, 258 Saratoga Street, 6 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/neptune-oyster-bar"><b>N</b><strong>eptune Oyster</strong></a>: </strong><span>Though the North End is known for pasta, one of its finest establishments is known for seafood. </span><span>Neptune</span><span> is small, popular, and doesn't accept reservations, but there's no better place to suck down bivalves within striking distance of Logan if you have time to wait in the inevitable line. Its lobster roll (choose cold with mayo or hot with butter) constantly earns "best lobster roll in the city" accolades. [North End, 63 Salem St, 10 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/tavern-road">Tavern Road</a>:</strong><span> A vibrant young restaurant that captures the evolving charisma of this part of town. Critically acclaimed charcuterie, serious cocktails, and a recently expanded focus on street food-inspired cuisine. [Fort Point, 343 Congress Street, 8 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/blue-dragon">Blue Dragon</a>:</strong><span> A self-described Asian gastropub by celebrity chef Ming Tsai with a little something for everyone, from soy pickled deviled egg with taro nest to buttermilk tempura whole chicken. Note: reservations are not accepted, and long lines have been known to form during peak hours. [Fort Point, 324 A Street, 8 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
<li> <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/tags/tangierino">Tangierino</a>:</strong><span> Stepping into this Moroccan and Mediterranean-fusion restaurant transports you to a sultry fairytale land of ornate textures and luscious colors. Also, the food's good. Belly dancers perform nightly, and there's a hookah and cigar lounge downstairs. [Charlestown, 83 Main St, 10 minutes from the airport.]</span> </li>
</ul>
https://boston.eater.com/2014/11/20/7254625/where-to-eat-at-boston-logan-international-airport-bosEater Staff2015-04-17T16:00:02-04:002015-04-17T16:00:02-04:00Shame Burgers: Is There Such A Thing?
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V3eqgauidWZyMNJzKDd7kFNJkzE=/478x0:4253x2831/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46156682/shutterstock_144738205.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-638614p1.html'>Shutterstock/NorGal</a></figcaption>
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<p>Richard Chudy began his <a href="http://www.bostonburgerblog.com/" target="new">burger blog</a> in 2009. His mission was simple: find the best burger in Boston (and anywhere else he went). Since his quest started, he's sampled over 160 burgers. For <a href="http://boston.eater.com/burger-week" target="new">Burger Week</a>, he muses about "shame burgers."</p> <p>Let’s get one thing out of the way: I have no shame in enjoying a burger. Yes, that includes scarfing down a Big Mac in a quiet parking lot while listening to your favorite Tears for Fears album at two in the morning. No, that is not a personal reference, as far as I know, but the "shame burger," one that you might consider an embarrassment or deny to its fullest should anyone ever find out, is a real thing, at least to some.</p>
<p>If you’re James DiSabatino of <a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/roxys-grilled-cheese-burgers">Roxy’s Grilled Cheese</a>, you take no shame in expressing your love for the Burger King Angry Whopper. "No exaggeration, it was straight-up awesome," says DiSabatino. "Don’t think it’s on the menu anymore, but it was last year, and it was legitimately delicious."</p>
<p>What makes a burger shameful anyway? If you're a chef or food writer or anyone who is influential on the food scene, surely eating something as mundane and debatably evil as a generic fast-food burger has to at least feel a little dirty. We’re supposed to love the fancier ones, the dry-aged masterpiece or the thoughtfully-sourced-everything burger instead of a greasy bomb of a burger at any given drive-through.</p>
<p>Me, I’d be ashamed to ever admit to enjoying a delectable Papa Burger from one Papa Gino’s, but you didn’t hear that from me. I will also deny ever having uttered the words, "You could do a lot worse than a Ruby Tuesday’s burger." I have no guilt about taking immense pleasure from a cheeseburger sub at Newtonville Pizza in my hometown, which I’m pretty sure is a 50/50 beast of low-grade ground beef and iceberg lettuce.</p>
<p>"White Castle is the best ever," says Ken Oringer, and <a href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/mei-mei" target="_blank">Mei Mei</a> pastry chef Jacqueline Dole admits that she's "normally a chicken sandwich kind of girl, but whenever [she] gets lucky enough to miss the bus out of Harvard Square [she'll] duck into <a href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/charlie-s-kitchen" class="sbn-auto-link" style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: #ffffff;">Charlie's Kitchen</a><span> for a double cheeseburger." </span></p>
<p><span>Much like our favorites, there is no quintessential guilty pleasure burger because it seems that not everyone finds it to be an admission of guilt. That’s just it, I think; some of us act as if we are supposed to feel guilty about enjoying certain things, and no doubt there is a fine line between legitimate enjoyment and mere inebriated poor decision-making. </span></p>
<p><span>Patrick Gilmartin of </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/river-bar" class="sbn-auto-link" style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: #ffffff;">River Bar</a><span> won’t take the bait; he says, "I don't really feel much food-based shame, but I will admit that a lot of my fishing trips begin or end with a whole mess of Wendy’s." We all grow up with this stuff, so why do we feel the need to be apologetic about it now?</span></p>
<p><span>Stephanie Cmar from </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/commonwealth" class="sbn-auto-link" style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: #ffffff;">Commonwealth</a> (<span>and also of <i>Top Chef</i> fame) loves the All American burger at </span><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/anthem-kitchen-bar">Anthem</a><span> in Faneuil Hall. "It's wicked dirty with velveeta and fried onions. It's bangin', but you feel terrible after." Ah, maybe that’s the missing link. It can’t be anything you’d be ashamed of unless you feel like garbage after eating it. </span></p>
<p><span>It gets trickier for Tony Messina of </span><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/uni">Uni</a><span>."That’s a tough one. There are obviously plenty of burgers out there that are great but to say one that I'm ashamed of eating seems almost sacrilegious. If I had to choose one, though, I'd probably say an </span><a target="_blank" href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/r-f-o-sullivan-son-pub">R.F. O'Sullivan</a> <span>burger would be my choice. Being a pub, their burgers shouldn't be as good as they are." </span></p>
<p><span>The debate goes on, but I say own it. Be proud of your burger of shame. As Josh Lewin from Bread & Salt Hospitality elaborates, "I like the </span><a href="http://boston.eater.com/venue/shake-shack-3" class="sbn-auto-link" style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: #ffffff;">Shake Shack</a><span> burger quite a bit. If there's any shame in it, I guess it's because I know the Shake Shack migration to Boston is still a bit controversial for the locals. But hey, I like it. It makes me feel good; it's an especially welcome burger when traveling. Like in Washington, D.C., you can get off a long bus or train trip and head right to a nice, efficient, and delicious Shake Shack. Not like taking the train back to Boston when the blood sugar crash sends you straight to a much more shameful burger at McDonald's, where I recently binged on a quick snack while running straight to work while a local food writer was in line behind me. We both avoided eye contact and never spoke of it. This wouldn't have happened at Shake Shack."</span></p>
<p>There you have it. Not quite location-based, not necessarily due to severe stomachaches. In some cases, no moral regret whatsoever. Sometimes a burger is best served in a hip atmosphere where you can take your time, enjoy an adult beverage, and contemplate the finer things in life. But for most of us, our deepest and darkest burger fantasies are best laid close to the vest, quietly, without the benefit of an Instagram photo or bragging about it on social media. So go ahead, enjoy that Angry Whopper or binge on Shake Shack. We won't tell, and we certainly won’t judge.</p>
<p><i>—Richard Chudy</i></p>
<p><i>In addition to writing his burger blog, Richard Chudy is co-author of an upcoming cookbook, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.unionparkpress.com/american-burger-revival/" sl-processed="1" data-ref-index="2">American Burger Revival</a>, due out in May 2015.</i></p>
https://boston.eater.com/2015/4/17/8446817/shameburgers-richard-chudyEater Staff