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A small metal dish with two handles on either side, filled with a red sauce, three meatballs, a parsley garnish, and two slices of naan tucked on the side of the bowl. — Thistle & Leek’s lamb meatballs in a tomato and ginger curry.

The 38 Essential Restaurants in Boston

Where to find irresistible ceviche, heaping bowls of ramen, dynamite dumplings, and so much more

by Eater Staff Updated Oct 10, 2023, 5:29pm EDT

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Thistle & Leek’s lamb meatballs in a tomato and ginger curry.

| Erika Adams/Eater Boston

by Eater Staff Updated Oct 10, 2023, 5:29pm EDT

Welcome to Boston’s Eater 38, otherwise known as the answer to any question that begins with: “Can you recommend a restaurant?”

Whether new to Boston or a lifelong resident, an eater will find much to explore here: 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.

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.

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.

This quarter, we welcome three new additions to the map: East Boston stalwart Taqueria Jalisco; a new-ish Newton spot making waves, Thistle & Leek; and Eastern Mediterranean mainstay Moona in Inman Square.

(Check out the Eater Boston Heatmap to find the hottest new restaurants in town right this very second.)

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Spoke Wine Bar

It’s amazing what can come out of a kitchen like the one at Spoke; it’s one of the tiniest in town, but you’d hardly know it from the beautifully composed small plates that play with seasonal ingredients and inspiration from around the world. One might dine on sambal cured mackerel, for example, with coconut, milk bread, and Thai basil, or duck hearts with a fresh cherry and whiskey glaze. And it’s a wine bar, so don’t forget the wines, which dance around familiar and lesser-known regions. (Have you ever had a moscato from Mexico?) Cocktails with interesting ingredients — fermented plantain, habanada pepper — round out the menu.

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89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144

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Yume Wo Katare

This tiny Porter Square ramen destination calls itself a “dream workshop,” and encourages diners to literally stand up and share their goals out loud at the end of the meal. Aside from occasional seasonal specials, the simple menu typically only includes one type of pork ramen with a simple choice: two pork slices or five pork slices; and an optional heap of garlic in the bowl. Keep an eye on Instagram to track when the restaurant dabbles in those occasional specials.

1923 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

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Giulia

While there are many Italian standbys in the Boston area, Cambridge’s Giulia is an especially beloved destination thanks to its impressive take on the cuisine and its warm staff. If the pappardelle with wild boar is available, get it, but a diner can’t go wrong with anything at Giulia, especially among the meticulously made pasta dishes. Plan ahead; Giulia is in high demand, and reservations can be tough.

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Barra

This intimate Mexico City-inspired bar is the type of place connoisseurs of Latin American liquors can squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder and have a stellar night making new friends while tasting sotol and bacanora. Those who are seeking a little more space can try out the festive sidewalk patio, the ideal spot to snack on tetelas and cactus salad with grasshoppers and drink mezcal-based variations on classic cocktails.

23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Celeste

Celeste, an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year, is a dreamy little spot in Somerville’s Union Square, serving flavorful Peruvian in a neighborhood known for its Peruvian options. All are worthy destinations, but Celeste is the spot for bright ceviche, fragrant lomo saltado, and the feeling of sipping pisco as the honored guest at the joyfully crowded dinner party of co-founders JuanMa Calderon and Maria Rondeau.

21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Taquería Jalisco

Ask any local about the best Mexican restaurant in Boston, and the conversation will inevitably turn to Taquería Jalisco. For nearly 25 years, Bostonians have been packing into this welcoming little spot to get their hands on bowls of belly-warming pozole, tacos stuffed with juicy carnitas, spicy pork tamales, and some truly excellent scoops of rice and refried beans. Top off each order with a sweet, fresh fruit juice, including pineapple or tamarind.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

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Moona

Moona is a delicious representation of Eastern Mediterranean foodways intertwined with New England seasonality. The snug, 30-seat restaurant starts with rigorously sourced pantry ingredients — such as olive oils, spice blends, and different molasses varieties — and goes to work from there, turning out sublime meze like a creamy eggplant fatteh with grape molasses, grilled shish tawouk (a Lebanese-style chicken kebab) with a garlicky, tangy dollop of toum, and golden-fried feta fritters drizzled with an orange blossom honey. The ratio of plates ordered to table space available never quite adds up at Moona, and that’s just part of the fun.

243 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Puritan & Company

An homage to New England, Inman Square’s Puritan & Co. dresses up local classics beautifully. This isn’t your grandmother’s baked cod, unless she serves it wrapped in phyllo dough and with lobster stew on the side. It’s the place to go for spot-on scallops, roast chicken, and Parker House rolls, or buckle in for a chef’s-choice ride with the seasonal, five-course tasting menu for $75 per person.

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1166 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Wusong Road

One way to tell you’re about to have a great night? Take notice of a restaurant’s ability to transport you to a different locale once you step through the doorway. Wusong Road scores extremely high marks here. Chef and owner Jason Doo’s American Chinese restaurant and accompanying bar is a lush, tiki-filled escape. Sip on rum-soaked drinks, eat crab rangoon and shrimp tacos, and enjoy the vacation.

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112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Two wooden peacock-style chairs sit in front of an intricately carved wooden table in a tiki-themed restaurant. — Inside Wusong Road.

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Oleana

This gem of Greater Boston goes hand in hand with its Somerville sibling, Sarma, in serving quality, memorable meals, drawing inspiration from Turkey and elsewhere around the Middle East. The cozy restaurant has one of the most romantic patios around, and its seasonally rotating menu delivers a different experience with the same hospitality time after time. The restaurant has an inventive cocktail menu, with a wide array of sherry and aperitifs, and it’s famous for its baked Alaska dessert.

134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A tall baked Alaska with a tower of toasted meringue sits on a white plate in a pool of yellow sauce. — Oleana’s baked Alaska.

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Cicada

Lively and artsy and full of tropical greenery, not to mention furniture restored by cofounder and chef Vinh Le, Vietnamese restaurant and coffee bar Cicada transports its diners thousands of miles away with dishes like black rice topped with mushrooms and eggplant; noodle salad topped with cured salmon; and a selection of banh mi. In warmer weather, definitely snag a spot in the peaceful back garden.

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106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Three banh mi with different fillings sit on a straw tray on a beige tiled floor — Banh mi at Cicada.

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Tawakal Halal Cafe

Tawakal Halal Cafe is a story of rebirth: The Somali restaurant used to operate in a different part of East Boston, with a slightly different name, and had quite a loyal following before closing in 2011. After a seven-year hiatus, it made a comeback at a new address, and it’s better than ever. Tawakal’s ambiance is casual and homey, and its menu highlights not just Somali cuisine but draws influence from elsewhere around East Africa and the Middle East. The sambusas — embellished with the house-made, mango-based hot sauce — are a must, as is the beef hilib tawakal plate, in which chapati strips cooked in a spiced tomato sauce take on a texture similar to Thai drunken noodles.

389 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128

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Regina Pizzeria

Follow the neon red sign to one of the best pizzerias in town: Regina, a nearly 100-year-old Boston institution. You may see the bright Regina logo at plenty of other places in town — the pizzeria now has outposts in malls, grocery stores, and food halls — but for the quintessential Regina experience, nothing beats the North End shop.

11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113

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Exterior of Regina Pizzeria in the North End. — Regina Pizzeria in the North End.

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Neptune Oyster

It may be a couple of decades old, but North End seafood stalwart Neptune Oyster is still topping national best restaurant lists. Yes, it’s walk-ins only. Yes, there will be a line. If you’re lucky, you’ll nab a bar seat and settle into a plate of ice-cold oysters, a crisp glass of wine, and an unbeatable people-watching scene. You’ll be glad you waited.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

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Haley Henry

Haley Fortier’s teeny-tiny industry haunt in Downtown Crossing doesn’t have much kitchen space, but it more than makes up for that with its selection of fancy tinned seafoods from Spain, Portugal, and the United States; a spectacular wine list; a ship-like ambiance; and its sense of humor. This is the place to go for those who want to eat smoky sprats in oil, perfectly paired with a funky, hard-to-find wine. Also on the compact menu: “biggie small plates,” such as beef sliders; mix-and-match charcuterie boards, and, on the larger side, sirloin steak and salmon plates.

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45 Province St, Boston, MA 02108

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Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe

Gene’s offers regional Xi’an cuisine, which is a little bit difficult to find elsewhere in Boston. While the restaurant’s name refers to the flatbread sandwiches stuffed with lamb or pork, the real highlight of the menu is the chewy, garlicky hand-pulled noodles. Add a skewer of cumin lamb and a tea egg or two on the side. Counter-service, no-frills, and only open for lunch and early dinner.

86 Bedford St, Boston, MA 02111

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A black plastic bowl of thick hand-pulled noodles, heavily dusted with chile powder and topped with greens and a generous dollop of garlic. A wooden skewer of lamb pieces sits across the rim of the bowl, which is on a Chinese Zodiac placemat on a red tray. — Hand-pulled noodles with a lamb skewer at Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe.

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Taiwan Cafe

Boston’s Chinatown is an essential dining destination for newcomers and locals alike, and Taiwan Cafe is one of its most reliable staples, serving an extensive selection of Taiwanese dishes as well as a bit of Sichuan cuisine. For the former, try the Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings, the duck and cold beef over rice, and a roast beef scallion pancake roll; for the latter, the Sichuan-style white fish in chile oil always satisfies.

34 Oxford St, Boston, MA 02111

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Slices of a flaky white fish sit in a fiery red broth in a metal bowl over a flame. It’s on a table inside a busy, casual restaurant. — Sichuan fish at Taiwan Cafe.

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O Ya

Sushi lovers who have not yet embarked on O Ya's iconic 20-course grand omakase have not yet lived. And it's not just the seafood — the tender wagyu beef strip loin is stunning (with a price tag to match). Hidden in the Leather District, this tiny spot has accumulated numerous awards, including a James Beard for chef and co-owner Tim Cushman.

9 East St, Boston, MA 02111

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Peach Farm

Peach Farm is the quintessential Chinatown destination, known especially as a late-night haunt for Boston’s restaurant industry workers. Open until midnight, the busy basement space is still the place to go for lobster with ginger and scallions or roast duck or really anything from the enormous menu. (When in doubt, go for a seafood dish.)

4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111

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Mooncusser

Mooncusser can’t quite be contained in just one box. It’s fine dining, but it’s far from the hushed, stuffy image that phrase can conjure up in Boston. The experimental tasting menu riffs off of New England ingredients without getting bogged down by tradition, which makes it a fun, forward-thinking ride to buckle into for a night. Just remember: If you really like a particular dish, savor each bite, because chef Carl Dooley and his team rip up the menu and rewrite it every six weeks or so.

304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

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A white plate with scallops set in a creamy yellow sauce and topped with nuts, green grapes, and a green herb garnish. — Scallops and sliced grapes from a past Mooncusser tasting menu.

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Row 34

This lively spot is the embodiment of Boston’s modern New England seafood scene. Row 34 is one of several key players in the Fort Point restaurant boom, drawing massive crowds to a once-quiet section of town. With a creative beer list, ultra-fresh seafood, and some of the best lobster rolls in town, this is one of the trickiest reservations to make. (Try the just-opened Cambridge spot or the suburban location in Burlington if you can’t get into this location.)

383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

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A lobster roll on a white plate with a side cup of slaw and potato chips. — A warm buttered lobster roll.

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Krasi

Krasi, a swanky Greek wine bar and restaurant located just off of a bustling corner of Newbury Street in Back Bay, opened just before the pandemic hit in 2020. Now, you’ll be lucky if you score a reservation. The team is top-notch: Krasi’s executive chef Valentine Howell was a James Beard finalist in 2023, and expert wine director Evan Turner leads a bunch of fun programs at the restaurant, including a monthly wine club.

48 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115

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A spread of Greek food on a clear glass table that’s set over a platform of greenery. The table includes breads, dips, a glass of red wine, and more. — A spread of food at Krasi.

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Fox & the Knife

The first solo restaurant from James Beard award winner Karen Akunowicz, Fox & the Knife was named one of the best new restaurants in the country when it opened in 2019, and today it remains Akunowicz’s love letter to Italian cooking, particularly the Emilia-Romagna region. Her stacked team consists of master bakers, pasta makers, and chefs who turn out beautiful dishes, such as spaghetti with clams, saffron, and tomato butter, and tagliatelle Bolognese; the cheesy focaccia is a must. Pair it all with an aperitivi flight.

28 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

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Overhead view of a round white plate filled with bright green twists of pasta. — Campanelle al pesto di pistacchio at Fox & the Knife.

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Kava Neo-Taverna

Boston’s seen some major growth in its Greek food scene over the last few years, including openings like Kava Neo-Taverna, which debuted in 2016. The restaurant has really made a niche for itself in the South End with dishes like fried zucchini chips, keftedes, and oktapodi. In-the-know diners will save room for the honey-drizzled Greek yogurt dessert at this date-night spot.

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2112, 315 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

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A giant scoop of Greek yogurt sits on a plate, looking like ice cream and drizzled with honey and chopped nuts. — Greek yogurt at Kava Neo-Taverna.

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Toro

At Toro, industry heavyweights Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette produced one of the city's most popular restaurants, period. Open for almost two decades in the South End, Toro serves modern and traditional Spanish tapas ranging from simple-yet-delicious pan con tomate to elaborate dishes pairing seafood and charcuterie with rich, bold flavors that keep the crowds lining up at the energetic spot. Definitely eat your way through plenty of small plates, but try the paella, too.

1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

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Blossom Bar

Blossom Bar, sibling to Woburn’s acclaimed Baldwin Bar, is one of Greater Boston’s top cocktail destinations, but it’s also worth visiting for the food. The emphasis is on Sichuan cuisine, with plenty of bold, spicy options available; try the Chengdu dry hot chicken, spicy dry rubbed beef brisket, and the pork dumplings with chile vinaigrette. An “American comfort” section rounds out the menu, such as chicken, beef, or shrimp stir-fry and General Tso’s chicken.

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295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

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A boozy dole whip sits in a Blossom Bar branded glass, with a pineapple in the background. — Duan’s Whip at Blossom Bar.

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Mahaniyom

The concise menu at quirky, boozy Thai restaurant Mahaniyom features dishes you won’t readily find elsewhere in the Boston-area Thai scene — many of them small plates that pair particularly well with one of the restaurant’s tasty cocktails or a mild Thai lager. Fill up on crispy chicken skins; a seasonal fruit salad (currently rambutan with fried shrimp and toasted coconut); salt-and-pepper pork cheek; and green papaya pad thai.

236 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

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A Thai pomelo salad with shrimp, betel leaves, thinly sliced red chile, and a variety of crispy condiments sits in a black bowl on a wooden table in front of a brick background. — Yum som-o (pomelo salad), which appeared on Mahaniyom’s opening menu. The current salad features rambutan.

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Soleil

At Soleil, chef and owner Cheryl Straughter is an expert at serving up food you think you know, done ten times better. The menu is a familiar lineup of Southern comfort food favorites like mac and cheese, collard greens, eggs, grits, and home fries. During breakfast hours, start with the salmon cakes served with a side of creamy Louisiana creole remoulade. If you’re visiting at midday, follow the remoulade sauce trail over to the lunch menu and order the foot-long Louisiana Classic po’ boy with crispy fried shrimp, tangy pickles, tomatoes, and a generous slick of that excellent sauce.

2306 Washington St, Boston, MA 02119

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A sub sandwich in a white styrofoam takeout container. — The Louisiana Classic with fried shrimp, tomatoes, and pickles.

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Thistle & Leek

Like other restaurants on this list, Thistle & Leek uses the New England seasons as a guidepost for the menu, shifting in vegetables like beets, tomatoes, carrots, and pumpkin throughout the year. But it’s the well-executed, globe-trotting experimentation — charred bok choy dressed in a lemongrass curry and sprinkled with peanuts; thick and sturdy romano beans piled over a black lime yogurt — that makes this restaurant an essential stop on this list. Apart from the seasonal fun, don’t miss the always-on-the-menu lamb meatballs, bathed in a subtle tomato and ginger curry and served with slices of puffy naan to scoop up every drop of sauce. Oh, and don’t forget dessert.

105 Union St, Newton, MA 02459

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Suya Joint

Amid Boston’s impressive African restaurant scene, Suya Joint is an exemplary dining experience in the city. Nigerian chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte oversees a menu of delicious West African fare, including an outstanding rendition of egusi stew, a Nigerian staple thickened with ground pumpkin seeds, and suya chicken wings coated in a subtly spicy seasoning blend.

185 Dudley St, Boston, MA 02119

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The Oxtail Pepper Stew, $8.75, shown with pounded yam fufu, at right, taushe (peanut soup) at back left, and stewed black eyed peas, back right. — Suya Joint’s oxtail pepper stew with pounded yam fufu, taushe (peanut soup) and stewed black-eyed peas.

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Blue Nile

For unbeatable Ethiopian food and house-made tej, or honey wine, head to JP’s Blue Nile, a handsome restaurant where you can use tangy injera to scoop up saucy specialties ranging from tender lamb to spicy red lentil dish misir wat (one of six vegetarian sides included in the “veggie revenge” combo).

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389 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

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Scoops of veggies, lentils, and chicken on a platter lined with injera. — A combo platter at Blue Nile.

El Oriental de Cuba

There are a number of excellent Cuban restaurants in and around Boston, and Jamaica Plain’s Centre Street is a feast in and of itself. The Cuban sandwich at El Oriental de Cuba is one of the best bites in the entire city. The exterior is crispy, and the interior is filled with savory pork and pickles, dressed with a gooey amalgamation of Swiss cheese and mustard. Its tropical shakes are refreshing; its Cuban iced coffee is perfect.

416 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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Exterior shot of a casual corner restaurant with brick walls, large windows decorated with flower boxes, and mint green signage with bright red and yellow lettering — The exterior of El Oriental de Cuba in Jamaica Plain.

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Merengue Restaurant

This restaurant has been dishing out Dominican food on Blue Hill Avenue for a quarter of a century. Merengue’s excellent cocktail list includes a number of frozen daiquiris (get the passionfruit), as well as a variety of margaritas and mojitos. The grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce and the stuffed shrimp tostones are must-orders, as are the fried pork chops and grilled steak with peppers and onions. Oh, and the mofongo is among the best in the city.

156 Blue Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02125

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Tres Gatos

Jamaica Plain mainstay Tres Gatos puts several of life’s finest pleasures together in a single eclectic destination: Snack on Spanish tapas including albondigas, gambas al ajillo, and boquerones in an old house while sipping on cocktails and then saunter to the record store out back, with shelves packed full of records and books in numerous genres.

470 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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A mixed seafood and meat paella with clams and head-on shrimp, garnished with green sprigs of parsley. — Especially hungry? The paella is worth the extra wait time.

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Singh's Roti Shop

Roti, a dish that originated in the West Indies (specifically in Trinidad), consists of curried stew served with or wrapped by a flatbread that is similar in constitution and taste to the kind you’d find on the Indian subcontinent. While there are several fine roti shops in Boston, the house-made hot sauce at Singh’s pushes this Dorchester Avenue spot ahead of the competition. Order the goat roti, and get doubles, too, a dish that sandwiches sweet and spicy chickpeas between two delicately fried pieces of dough.

554 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125

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Banh Mi Ba Le

This is the crown jewel of Dorchester’s noteworthy Vietnamese dining scene. Banh Mi Ba Le is a combination market and takeout restaurant — there are a few seats, but it’s best to get your food to go and eat it elsewhere, such as at the nearby Robert E. Ryan playground, weather permitting — and it’s best known for its grilled beef banh mi. The bread, which is baked in-house, is both shockingly crispy and pillowy, packed with fresh vegetables and sweet, charred strips of beef. There are few better sandwiches in the city, or anywhere. Wash it down with some passionfruit juice, and get some Vietnamese pantry staples from the market.

1052 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125

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Hands hold two banh mi over pavement — Banh mi (one with beef, one with tofu) from Banh Mi Ba Le.

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Tonino

In its first year on the planet, this tiny gift of a restaurant — truly, the dining room is not much bigger than yours at home — has established itself as a quiet force to be reckoned with in Boston’s Italian restaurant scene. The tightly edited menu features a handful of pizzas, pasta, and small plates that are all hits, from the clams bathing in a broth studded with melt-in-your-mouth guanciale to the tiny pockets of cappelletti bursting with warm taleggio cheese. Don’t leave without ordering a bowl of tiramisu.

669a Centre St, Boston, MA 02130

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A bowl of open clams with a brown sauce visible underneath and a garnish of green basil leaves, and ripped up squares of fluffy bread on the side. — Tonino’s countneck clams with a side of pizza bianca to mop up the sauce.

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Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

Brassica was an early example of Boston’s growing trend of successful pop-ups putting down roots. This JP gem has a casual, neighborhood feel, but the creative menu has fine-dining undercurrents, highlighting local ingredients in playful ways while drawing inspiration from around the globe. The fried chicken is one of the best in town, and there’s a healthy dose of fermented and funky ingredients on the menu.

3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

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A white plate with three giant pieces of fried chicken and four wedges of waffle, plus a cup of red sauce on the side. — That gorgeous fried chicken, served with waffles at brunchtime.

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Spoke Wine Bar

89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144

It’s amazing what can come out of a kitchen like the one at Spoke; it’s one of the tiniest in town, but you’d hardly know it from the beautifully composed small plates that play with seasonal ingredients and inspiration from around the world. One might dine on sambal cured mackerel, for example, with coconut, milk bread, and Thai basil, or duck hearts with a fresh cherry and whiskey glaze. And it’s a wine bar, so don’t forget the wines, which dance around familiar and lesser-known regions. (Have you ever had a moscato from Mexico?) Cocktails with interesting ingredients — fermented plantain, habanada pepper — round out the menu.

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89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144

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Yume Wo Katare

1923 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

This tiny Porter Square ramen destination calls itself a “dream workshop,” and encourages diners to literally stand up and share their goals out loud at the end of the meal. Aside from occasional seasonal specials, the simple menu typically only includes one type of pork ramen with a simple choice: two pork slices or five pork slices; and an optional heap of garlic in the bowl. Keep an eye on Instagram to track when the restaurant dabbles in those occasional specials.

1923 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

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Giulia

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

While there are many Italian standbys in the Boston area, Cambridge’s Giulia is an especially beloved destination thanks to its impressive take on the cuisine and its warm staff. If the pappardelle with wild boar is available, get it, but a diner can’t go wrong with anything at Giulia, especially among the meticulously made pasta dishes. Plan ahead; Giulia is in high demand, and reservations can be tough.

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Barra

23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

This intimate Mexico City-inspired bar is the type of place connoisseurs of Latin American liquors can squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder and have a stellar night making new friends while tasting sotol and bacanora. Those who are seeking a little more space can try out the festive sidewalk patio, the ideal spot to snack on tetelas and cactus salad with grasshoppers and drink mezcal-based variations on classic cocktails.

23a Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Celeste

21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

Celeste, an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year, is a dreamy little spot in Somerville’s Union Square, serving flavorful Peruvian in a neighborhood known for its Peruvian options. All are worthy destinations, but Celeste is the spot for bright ceviche, fragrant lomo saltado, and the feeling of sipping pisco as the honored guest at the joyfully crowded dinner party of co-founders JuanMa Calderon and Maria Rondeau.

21 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Taquería Jalisco

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

Ask any local about the best Mexican restaurant in Boston, and the conversation will inevitably turn to Taquería Jalisco. For nearly 25 years, Bostonians have been packing into this welcoming little spot to get their hands on bowls of belly-warming pozole, tacos stuffed with juicy carnitas, spicy pork tamales, and some truly excellent scoops of rice and refried beans. Top off each order with a sweet, fresh fruit juice, including pineapple or tamarind.

291 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128

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Moona

243 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Moona is a delicious representation of Eastern Mediterranean foodways intertwined with New England seasonality. The snug, 30-seat restaurant starts with rigorously sourced pantry ingredients — such as olive oils, spice blends, and different molasses varieties — and goes to work from there, turning out sublime meze like a creamy eggplant fatteh with grape molasses, grilled shish tawouk (a Lebanese-style chicken kebab) with a garlicky, tangy dollop of toum, and golden-fried feta fritters drizzled with an orange blossom honey. The ratio of plates ordered to table space available never quite adds up at Moona, and that’s just part of the fun.

243 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Puritan & Company

1166 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

An homage to New England, Inman Square’s Puritan & Co. dresses up local classics beautifully. This isn’t your grandmother’s baked cod, unless she serves it wrapped in phyllo dough and with lobster stew on the side. It’s the place to go for spot-on scallops, roast chicken, and Parker House rolls, or buckle in for a chef’s-choice ride with the seasonal, five-course tasting menu for $75 per person.

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1166 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Wusong Road

112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

One way to tell you’re about to have a great night? Take notice of a restaurant’s ability to transport you to a different locale once you step through the doorway. Wusong Road scores extremely high marks here. Chef and owner Jason Doo’s American Chinese restaurant and accompanying bar is a lush, tiki-filled escape. Sip on rum-soaked drinks, eat crab rangoon and shrimp tacos, and enjoy the vacation.

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112 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Two wooden peacock-style chairs sit in front of an intricately carved wooden table in a tiki-themed restaurant. — Inside Wusong Road.

Oleana

134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

This gem of Greater Boston goes hand in hand with its Somerville sibling, Sarma, in serving quality, memorable meals, drawing inspiration from Turkey and elsewhere around the Middle East. The cozy restaurant has one of the most romantic patios around, and its seasonally rotating menu delivers a different experience with the same hospitality time after time. The restaurant has an inventive cocktail menu, with a wide array of sherry and aperitifs, and it’s famous for its baked Alaska dessert.

134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A tall baked Alaska with a tower of toasted meringue sits on a white plate in a pool of yellow sauce. — Oleana’s baked Alaska.

Cicada

106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Lively and artsy and full of tropical greenery, not to mention furniture restored by cofounder and chef Vinh Le, Vietnamese restaurant and coffee bar Cicada transports its diners thousands of miles away with dishes like black rice topped with mushrooms and eggplant; noodle salad topped with cured salmon; and a selection of banh mi. In warmer weather, definitely snag a spot in the peaceful back garden.

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106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Three banh mi with different fillings sit on a straw tray on a beige tiled floor — Banh mi at Cicada.

Tawakal Halal Cafe

389 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128

Tawakal Halal Cafe is a story of rebirth: The Somali restaurant used to operate in a different part of East Boston, with a slightly different name, and had quite a loyal following before closing in 2011. After a seven-year hiatus, it made a comeback at a new address, and it’s better than ever. Tawakal’s ambiance is casual and homey, and its menu highlights not just Somali cuisine but draws influence from elsewhere around East Africa and the Middle East. The sambusas — embellished with the house-made, mango-based hot sauce — are a must, as is the beef hilib tawakal plate, in which chapati strips cooked in a spiced tomato sauce take on a texture similar to Thai drunken noodles.

389 Maverick St, Boston, MA 02128

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Regina Pizzeria

11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113

Follow the neon red sign to one of the best pizzerias in town: Regina, a nearly 100-year-old Boston institution. You may see the bright Regina logo at plenty of other places in town — the pizzeria now has outposts in malls, grocery stores, and food halls — but for the quintessential Regina experience, nothing beats the North End shop.

11 1/2 Thacher St, Boston, MA 02113

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Exterior of Regina Pizzeria in the North End. — Regina Pizzeria in the North End.

Neptune Oyster

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

It may be a couple of decades old, but North End seafood stalwart Neptune Oyster is still topping national best restaurant lists. Yes, it’s walk-ins only. Yes, there will be a line. If you’re lucky, you’ll nab a bar seat and settle into a plate of ice-cold oysters, a crisp glass of wine, and an unbeatable people-watching scene. You’ll be glad you waited.

63 Salem St # 1, Boston, MA 02113

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Haley Henry

45 Province St, Boston, MA 02108

Haley Fortier’s teeny-tiny industry haunt in Downtown Crossing doesn’t have much kitchen space, but it more than makes up for that with its selection of fancy tinned seafoods from Spain, Portugal, and the United States; a spectacular wine list; a ship-like ambiance; and its sense of humor. This is the place to go for those who want to eat smoky sprats in oil, perfectly paired with a funky, hard-to-find wine. Also on the compact menu: “biggie small plates,” such as beef sliders; mix-and-match charcuterie boards, and, on the larger side, sirloin steak and salmon plates.

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45 Province St, Boston, MA 02108

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Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe

86 Bedford St, Boston, MA 02111

Gene’s offers regional Xi’an cuisine, which is a little bit difficult to find elsewhere in Boston. While the restaurant’s name refers to the flatbread sandwiches stuffed with lamb or pork, the real highlight of the menu is the chewy, garlicky hand-pulled noodles. Add a skewer of cumin lamb and a tea egg or two on the side. Counter-service, no-frills, and only open for lunch and early dinner.

86 Bedford St, Boston, MA 02111

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