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Nightshade Noodle Bar
Amarena cherry claypot caramel foie gras from Nightshade Noodle Bar’s acclaimed tasting menu.
Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

13 Splurge-Worthy Tasting Menus Around Boston

A rundown of the area’s best tasting menus that are worth the high price tag

by Samantha Maxwell and Eater Staff Updated
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Amarena cherry claypot caramel foie gras from Nightshade Noodle Bar’s acclaimed tasting menu.
| Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
by Samantha Maxwell and Eater Staff Updated

Sometimes it’s nice to avoid making decisions — and even nicer when the people who are making the decisions are doing so with the express purpose of making sure customers are well-fed. Below, find 13 prime spots in and around Boston that deliver course after course of splurge-worthy dishes — no thinking required on your part.

(If splurging isn’t quite your speed, here are some relatively affordable ways to enjoy some of Boston’s best high-end dining options.)

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Nightshade Noodle Bar

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Venture to Lynn to experience chef Rachel Miller’s acclaimed Vietnamese French cuisine at Nightshade Noodle Bar. With a variety of different tasting menu options, there’s a dining experience for every price point and hunger level. The five-course tasting menu, only available on Thursdays, comes out to just $50. Those who want to go all out can opt for the 14-course tasting menu for $160 that has included hits like a light pomelo salad and a rich, succulent Amarena cherry claypot caramel foie gras.

73 Exchange St, Lynn, MA 01901
(781) 780-9470
(781) 780-9470
An overhead photo of yellow sea urchin served in its spiky shell.
Nightshade Noodle Bar’s sea urchin.
Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

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Talulla

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Located in the former longtime T.W. Food space and run by T.W. alums Conor Dennehy and Danielle Ayer, Talulla has a five-course tasting menu as well as à la carte offerings. Splurge on the five-course tasting menu ($85) with dishes like bay scallop crudo, foie gras torchon, and tortellini with black truffles. Ayer’s expert wine pairings are an additional $55.

377 Walden St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 714-5584
(617) 714-5584

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Tasting Counter

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Tasting Counter’s nine-course tasting menu is a complete mystery going in: Based around seasonal ingredients, each course is prepared and plated in front of diners, served with options of wine, beer, sake, or non-alcoholic beverages. Tasting Counter operates under a pre-paid ticket system, with gratuity and service fees baked into the price, which runs $325 for dinner. There’s a $110 lunch tasting menu, too, for those who want a mid-day dining experience.

14 Tyler St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 299-6362
(617) 299-6362
A restaurant interior features a sleek bar, white and light wood accents, shelves of wine, and small planters of herbs.
The tasting counter at Tasting Counter.
John Skibbee/Tasting Counter

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Tanám

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Tanám serves more than a dinner — it delivers an experience and a story of Filipinx American cuisine. Opt for a utensil-free kamayan feast ($89) on any day except Sunday and Tuesday, or try out the experience at home with a 19+ component dinner for two for $175.

1 Bow Market Way Suite 17, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 669-2144
(617) 669-2144
Cut mango, sliced cucumbers, sausages, and other meats form a spread atop banana leaves in a kamayan-style Filipino dinner.
A kamayan at Tanám.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Forage

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Subterranean Cambridge gem Forage — in the longtime Ten Tables space, with a trio of Ten Tables alums at the helm — offers a four-course wine dinner tasting menu every Tuesday, and as the name suggests, it’s all about local and seasonal sourcing with dishes built around a wine program. The $95 tasting menu comes complete with wine pairings for those interested in dipping their toes into the restaurant’s natural wine list. Or, check out the $65 tasting menu — with an optional wine pairing add-on — any other night of the week.

5 Craigie Cir, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 576-5444
(617) 576-5444

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No. 9 Park

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No. 9 Park, the flagship restaurant of Barbara Lynch’s group, has been open for over 20 years and brings Italian and French techniques to fine dining on Beacon Hill. The chef’s tasting menu changes regularly, featuring six courses ($160) with optional wine pairings ($95) and optional supplements. There are sample menus available online, and those looking for a slightly lighter splurge can select a few items off the a la carte menu instead of doing a full tasting.

9 Park St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 742-9991
(617) 742-9991
A dish of canelloni with marscapone cheese, mushroom and squash prepared by Chef Barbara Lynch at No. 9 Park restaurant in Boston.
Cannelloni with marscapone cheese, mushroom and squash at No. 9 Park.
Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images

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Troquet on South

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Explore French sensibilities and wines at Troquet — which moved to a larger space a couple years ago — with chef Devin Henry’s tasting menu. An entire table can snag a five-course meal ($120 per person) or a seven-course meal ($145 per person) and taste the best that this French mainstay has to offer. Leave the decisions to the chef, and delight in the unknown. Look out for the restaurant’s champagne cart, too.

107 South St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 695-9463
(617) 695-9463

O Ya

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One of Boston’s ultimate spots for omakase, O Ya serves dish after dish of immaculately plated sushi. Prepare for 20 courses for $250 per person (not including beverage, tax, or gratuity), with an optional beverage pairing for an additional $150. Owners Tim and Nancy Cushman previously operated an O Ya in New York, and currently run a second location in Mexico City; they also have several other non-O Ya restaurants in Boston.

9 East St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 654-9900
(617) 654-9900
Several pieces of lobster sushi topped with caviar sit on a white plate.
Caviar-topped sushi — “legs and eggs” — at O Ya.
Bill Addison/Eater

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Mooncusser

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Buzzy Mooncusser boasts a creative prix fixe menu ($105) that changes on a monthly basis, highlighting New England’s freshest produce. Choose between two dishes for each of the four courses; possibilities include grilled mackerel or tamarind-braised duck leg, and quince upside-down cake or chestnut tiramisu for dessert. Order a bottle from the impressive wine list, or for a more varied experience, indulge in the optional wine pairing for $55.

304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 917-5193
(617) 917-5193

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Asta

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Asta doesn’t have an a la carte menu, but the seven-course tasting menu for $120 (plus extras at additional cost) should keep you occupied. The optional beverage pairing comes in at $70. As with many of the tasting menus on this map, diners won’t know the exact dishes ahead of time, but sample dishes include oyster mushrooms with stinging nettles and horseradish and squab with sour onions and raspberries.

47 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 585-9575
(617) 585-9575
A restaurant facade with large, reflective windows and a black sign outlined in red.
Asta.
Bill Addison/Eater

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Uni

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The omakase menu at Uni is curated by the chef, with some input from diners to get an idea of likes, dislikes, and how much each person is interested in spending. The omakase starts at $150 per person, but upwards of that, it’s up to you to decide your budget. The tasting menu here is a journey, as one might expect from the minds of David Bazirgan and Ken Oringer. Despite the price point, the restaurant is relatively casual and laid-back, perfect for those who want to indulge without feeling stuffy.

370A Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 536-7200
(617) 536-7200

Laughing Monk Cafe

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Sit at the sushi bar for a 15-course omakase experience ($149 before taxes and fees). Chef Nick Korboon mans the sushi side of Laughing Monk Cafe (which also offers Thai food), preparing delicate courses featuring edible flowers, vegetables, and fish.

737 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 232-8000
(617) 232-8000

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Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

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Brassica Kitchen + Cafe offers a tasting menu, which they call “The Ride” at night, which varies in price, and you can choose an optional beverage pairing. Like with most tasting menus, dishes will change depending on the availability of local ingredients but expect to eat dishes like peekytoe crabs in massaman curry with doughnuts served on the side, Maine mussels with red curry and beef sausage, and koji risotto with parmesan and parmesan shoyu.

3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 477-4519
(617) 477-4519
A light purple-tinted macaron leans up against a round chocolate dessert on a colorful plate
A chocolate and macaron dessert from Brassica Kitchen.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Also featured in:

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Nightshade Noodle Bar

73 Exchange St, Lynn, MA 01901

Venture to Lynn to experience chef Rachel Miller’s acclaimed Vietnamese French cuisine at Nightshade Noodle Bar. With a variety of different tasting menu options, there’s a dining experience for every price point and hunger level. The five-course tasting menu, only available on Thursdays, comes out to just $50. Those who want to go all out can opt for the 14-course tasting menu for $160 that has included hits like a light pomelo salad and a rich, succulent Amarena cherry claypot caramel foie gras.

73 Exchange St, Lynn, MA 01901
(781) 780-9470
(781) 780-9470
An overhead photo of yellow sea urchin served in its spiky shell.
Nightshade Noodle Bar’s sea urchin.
Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Talulla

377 Walden St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Located in the former longtime T.W. Food space and run by T.W. alums Conor Dennehy and Danielle Ayer, Talulla has a five-course tasting menu as well as à la carte offerings. Splurge on the five-course tasting menu ($85) with dishes like bay scallop crudo, foie gras torchon, and tortellini with black truffles. Ayer’s expert wine pairings are an additional $55.

377 Walden St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 714-5584
(617) 714-5584

Tasting Counter

14 Tyler St, Somerville, MA 02143

Tasting Counter’s nine-course tasting menu is a complete mystery going in: Based around seasonal ingredients, each course is prepared and plated in front of diners, served with options of wine, beer, sake, or non-alcoholic beverages. Tasting Counter operates under a pre-paid ticket system, with gratuity and service fees baked into the price, which runs $325 for dinner. There’s a $110 lunch tasting menu, too, for those who want a mid-day dining experience.

14 Tyler St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 299-6362
(617) 299-6362
A restaurant interior features a sleek bar, white and light wood accents, shelves of wine, and small planters of herbs.
The tasting counter at Tasting Counter.
John Skibbee/Tasting Counter

Tanám

1 Bow Market Way Suite 17, Somerville, MA 02143

Tanám serves more than a dinner — it delivers an experience and a story of Filipinx American cuisine. Opt for a utensil-free kamayan feast ($89) on any day except Sunday and Tuesday, or try out the experience at home with a 19+ component dinner for two for $175.

1 Bow Market Way Suite 17, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 669-2144
(617) 669-2144
Cut mango, sliced cucumbers, sausages, and other meats form a spread atop banana leaves in a kamayan-style Filipino dinner.
A kamayan at Tanám.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Forage

5 Craigie Cir, Cambridge, MA 02138

Subterranean Cambridge gem Forage — in the longtime Ten Tables space, with a trio of Ten Tables alums at the helm — offers a four-course wine dinner tasting menu every Tuesday, and as the name suggests, it’s all about local and seasonal sourcing with dishes built around a wine program. The $95 tasting menu comes complete with wine pairings for those interested in dipping their toes into the restaurant’s natural wine list. Or, check out the $65 tasting menu — with an optional wine pairing add-on — any other night of the week.

5 Craigie Cir, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 576-5444
(617) 576-5444

No. 9 Park

9 Park St, Boston, MA 02108

No. 9 Park, the flagship restaurant of Barbara Lynch’s group, has been open for over 20 years and brings Italian and French techniques to fine dining on Beacon Hill. The chef’s tasting menu changes regularly, featuring six courses ($160) with optional wine pairings ($95) and optional supplements. There are sample menus available online, and those looking for a slightly lighter splurge can select a few items off the a la carte menu instead of doing a full tasting.

9 Park St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 742-9991
(617) 742-9991
A dish of canelloni with marscapone cheese, mushroom and squash prepared by Chef Barbara Lynch at No. 9 Park restaurant in Boston.
Cannelloni with marscapone cheese, mushroom and squash at No. 9 Park.
Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images

Troquet on South

107 South St, Boston, MA 02111

Explore French sensibilities and wines at Troquet — which moved to a larger space a couple years ago — with chef Devin Henry’s tasting menu. An entire table can snag a five-course meal ($120 per person) or a seven-course meal ($145 per person) and taste the best that this French mainstay has to offer. Leave the decisions to the chef, and delight in the unknown. Look out for the restaurant’s champagne cart, too.

107 South St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 695-9463
(617) 695-9463

O Ya

9 East St, Boston, MA 02111

One of Boston’s ultimate spots for omakase, O Ya serves dish after dish of immaculately plated sushi. Prepare for 20 courses for $250 per person (not including beverage, tax, or gratuity), with an optional beverage pairing for an additional $150. Owners Tim and Nancy Cushman previously operated an O Ya in New York, and currently run a second location in Mexico City; they also have several other non-O Ya restaurants in Boston.

9 East St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 654-9900
(617) 654-9900
Several pieces of lobster sushi topped with caviar sit on a white plate.
Caviar-topped sushi — “legs and eggs” — at O Ya.
Bill Addison/Eater

Mooncusser

304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

Buzzy Mooncusser boasts a creative prix fixe menu ($105) that changes on a monthly basis, highlighting New England’s freshest produce. Choose between two dishes for each of the four courses; possibilities include grilled mackerel or tamarind-braised duck leg, and quince upside-down cake or chestnut tiramisu for dessert. Order a bottle from the impressive wine list, or for a more varied experience, indulge in the optional wine pairing for $55.

304 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 917-5193
(617) 917-5193

Asta

47 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115

Asta doesn’t have an a la carte menu, but the seven-course tasting menu for $120 (plus extras at additional cost) should keep you occupied. The optional beverage pairing comes in at $70. As with many of the tasting menus on this map, diners won’t know the exact dishes ahead of time, but sample dishes include oyster mushrooms with stinging nettles and horseradish and squab with sour onions and raspberries.

47 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 585-9575
(617) 585-9575
A restaurant facade with large, reflective windows and a black sign outlined in red.
Asta.
Bill Addison/Eater

Uni

370A Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

The omakase menu at Uni is curated by the chef, with some input from diners to get an idea of likes, dislikes, and how much each person is interested in spending. The omakase starts at $150 per person, but upwards of that, it’s up to you to decide your budget. The tasting menu here is a journey, as one might expect from the minds of David Bazirgan and Ken Oringer. Despite the price point, the restaurant is relatively casual and laid-back, perfect for those who want to indulge without feeling stuffy.

370A Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 536-7200
(617) 536-7200

Laughing Monk Cafe

737 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

Sit at the sushi bar for a 15-course omakase experience ($149 before taxes and fees). Chef Nick Korboon mans the sushi side of Laughing Monk Cafe (which also offers Thai food), preparing delicate courses featuring edible flowers, vegetables, and fish.

737 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 232-8000
(617) 232-8000

Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Brassica Kitchen + Cafe offers a tasting menu, which they call “The Ride” at night, which varies in price, and you can choose an optional beverage pairing. Like with most tasting menus, dishes will change depending on the availability of local ingredients but expect to eat dishes like peekytoe crabs in massaman curry with doughnuts served on the side, Maine mussels with red curry and beef sausage, and koji risotto with parmesan and parmesan shoyu.

3710 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 477-4519
(617) 477-4519
A light purple-tinted macaron leans up against a round chocolate dessert on a colorful plate
A chocolate and macaron dessert from Brassica Kitchen.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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