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The Hottest Restaurants in Boston Right Now, November 2014

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right freaking now?

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Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, where to get the latest flavor clouds or bagel sandwiches. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to always highlight where the crowds are flocking to at the moment. Please note that the numbers are geographic; they are not rankings.

To navigate through the mapstack, either hit the "List" button in the upper left corner to see a quick list, from which you can expand each card for more information, or flip through card by card using the arrow buttons in the upper right.

Previous Updates:

  • 01/02/14: Added Shake Shack, State Park, Ward 8
  • 02/06/14: Added Alden & Harlow
  • 03/06/14: Added M.C. Spiedo, The Shawarma Place
  • 04/03/14: Added The Merchant, Legal Crossing, Pastoral, Wink & Nod, Merrill & Co.
  • 05/01/14: Added La Brasa, Parla, Dumpling House, Audubon
  • 06/05/14: Added The Abbey (Cambridge), il Casale Cucina Campana + Bar, Liquid Art House, Roxy's Grilled Cheese, The Taco Truck
  • 07/03/14: Added Brass Union, Loretta's Last Call, Lulu's Allston
  • 08/07/14: Added Bastille Kitchen, Causeway, Crave - Mad for Chicken, Legal Oysteria
  • 09/04/14: Added Cafe Madeleine, Chef Chang's on Back Bay, Snappy Pattys, Suvai, Wink & Nod, Zoe's Gourmet Chinese Cuisine
  • 10/02/14: Added Bel Ari, Bar Boulud, Earls Kitchen & Bar, Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar
  • 11/06/14: Added Bagelsaurus, Cafe ArtScience, Centre Street Cafe, Comedor, MAST', Viale
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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.

Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar

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The iconic Rosebud Diner has been reborn. Now under the ownership of the Alpine Restaurant Group, which includes Posto and The Painted Burro, the new Rosebud features barbecue, pies, and a long list of whiskeys. Try the barbecue "it's not a ramen" pork noodle soup. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Bagelsaurus

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This little bagel shop, now in its very own space after starting out as a pop-up at Cutty's in Brookline, has had perpetually long lines since opening in late October. Go and see what the cult following is all about. [Photo: Twitter]

Brass Union

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What was once the Precinct is now a bar and restaurant full of amusements: shuffleboard, board games, Frogger, and more. Dishes like lobster papardelle, choripan (an Argentinean-style hot dog), and jerk chicken thighs make up the menu. [Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

This new Central Square hotspot replaced Rendezvous and serves up Mediterranean-inspired small plates meant to be shared. Green Street alums Greg Reeves and Mark Young are behind it, and Patrick Gaggiano (Trina's, Fairsted Kitchen) is behind the bar. Of particular interest: the house-made pastas. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Cafe ArtScience

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The much-heralded opening of Cafe ArtScience brings with it the attached Le Laboratoire, a lab/gallery/museum/store that explores food, science, design, and more. Noted cocktail magician Todd Maul, formerly of Clio, is behind the ArtScience bar playing with interesting toys, while Patrick Campbell (No. 9 Park, Eastern Standard) heads up the culinary team. The menu may look relatively normal on the surface, but fun technologies are at play here, so don't be surprised to find "flavor clouds," WikiFoods (foods with edible skins), and more. [Photo: Provided]

It took a long time, but MAST' is finally open in Downtown Crossing, serving up Neapolitan street food and other Italian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. There are multiple floors and bars, plus lockers to store your fancy bottles of alcohol. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Bar Boulud

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Renowned French chef Daniel Boulud has expanded his empire to Boston (to the Mandarin Oriental, specifically). Go for the charcuterie, French wines, and bistro fare. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Liquid Art House

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Recently opened in Back Bay, Liquid Art House is a giant art gallery-meets-restaurant featuring food with a subtle Eastern European tinge, thanks to executive chef Rachel Klein. Dine on whole animal rotisserie feasts and sour cherry dumplings while gazing at walls and walls of art, all available for sale and changing regularly. [Photo: Chris Coe]

Wink & Nod

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This South End restaurant and bar made a return to the Heatmap earlier this fall thanks to the brand new culinary program helmed by Bread and Salt Hospitality. While the full menu is worth exploring, make a point to swing by on a Monday night, when the bar is featuring tiki cocktails and Bread and Salt is featuring an Asian night market-inspired menu. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Cafe Madeleine

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French pastries in the South End courtesy of Frederic Robert, a longtime business partner of acclaimed restaurateur Alain Ducasse and a veteran of numerous Michelin-starred establishments around the world. [Photo: Facebook]

Comedor

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This new Newton restaurant comes from a pair of 51 Lincoln alums (who are also a married couple). The focus is the open kitchen, and the menu features Chilean-American small plates, from rabbit empanadas with carrot salsa to venison milanesa. [Photo: Facebook]

Centre Street Cafe

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House-made pasta is the star of this complete revamp of Jamaica Plain standby Centre Street Cafe, newly renovated and now under the ownership of the Tres Gatos team. While dinner is now Italian and Mediterranean-inspired, a classic brunch similar to the restaurant's previous life will debut soon. [Photo: Facebook]

Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar

The iconic Rosebud Diner has been reborn. Now under the ownership of the Alpine Restaurant Group, which includes Posto and The Painted Burro, the new Rosebud features barbecue, pies, and a long list of whiskeys. Try the barbecue "it's not a ramen" pork noodle soup. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Bagelsaurus

This little bagel shop, now in its very own space after starting out as a pop-up at Cutty's in Brookline, has had perpetually long lines since opening in late October. Go and see what the cult following is all about. [Photo: Twitter]

Brass Union

What was once the Precinct is now a bar and restaurant full of amusements: shuffleboard, board games, Frogger, and more. Dishes like lobster papardelle, choripan (an Argentinean-style hot dog), and jerk chicken thighs make up the menu. [Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

Viale

This new Central Square hotspot replaced Rendezvous and serves up Mediterranean-inspired small plates meant to be shared. Green Street alums Greg Reeves and Mark Young are behind it, and Patrick Gaggiano (Trina's, Fairsted Kitchen) is behind the bar. Of particular interest: the house-made pastas. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Cafe ArtScience

The much-heralded opening of Cafe ArtScience brings with it the attached Le Laboratoire, a lab/gallery/museum/store that explores food, science, design, and more. Noted cocktail magician Todd Maul, formerly of Clio, is behind the ArtScience bar playing with interesting toys, while Patrick Campbell (No. 9 Park, Eastern Standard) heads up the culinary team. The menu may look relatively normal on the surface, but fun technologies are at play here, so don't be surprised to find "flavor clouds," WikiFoods (foods with edible skins), and more. [Photo: Provided]

MAST'

It took a long time, but MAST' is finally open in Downtown Crossing, serving up Neapolitan street food and other Italian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. There are multiple floors and bars, plus lockers to store your fancy bottles of alcohol. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Bar Boulud

Renowned French chef Daniel Boulud has expanded his empire to Boston (to the Mandarin Oriental, specifically). Go for the charcuterie, French wines, and bistro fare. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Liquid Art House

Recently opened in Back Bay, Liquid Art House is a giant art gallery-meets-restaurant featuring food with a subtle Eastern European tinge, thanks to executive chef Rachel Klein. Dine on whole animal rotisserie feasts and sour cherry dumplings while gazing at walls and walls of art, all available for sale and changing regularly. [Photo: Chris Coe]

Wink & Nod

This South End restaurant and bar made a return to the Heatmap earlier this fall thanks to the brand new culinary program helmed by Bread and Salt Hospitality. While the full menu is worth exploring, make a point to swing by on a Monday night, when the bar is featuring tiki cocktails and Bread and Salt is featuring an Asian night market-inspired menu. [Photo: Katie Chudy]

Cafe Madeleine

French pastries in the South End courtesy of Frederic Robert, a longtime business partner of acclaimed restaurateur Alain Ducasse and a veteran of numerous Michelin-starred establishments around the world. [Photo: Facebook]

Comedor

This new Newton restaurant comes from a pair of 51 Lincoln alums (who are also a married couple). The focus is the open kitchen, and the menu features Chilean-American small plates, from rabbit empanadas with carrot salsa to venison milanesa. [Photo: Facebook]

Centre Street Cafe

House-made pasta is the star of this complete revamp of Jamaica Plain standby Centre Street Cafe, newly renovated and now under the ownership of the Tres Gatos team. While dinner is now Italian and Mediterranean-inspired, a classic brunch similar to the restaurant's previous life will debut soon. [Photo: Facebook]

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