A local legend of the prodigal son and former chef de cuisine at Momofuku Ssam Bar, who came home to run dad's diner and put lots of octopus on the menu. [Eater 38 Member]
One of the intimate, chef-owned restaurants that have defined Cambridge restaurants in recent years and helped the city rival the best of Boston proper. Also, tobacco ice cream. [Eater 38 Member]
This 69-seat restaurant opened in 2010 and has helped pave the way for a new era of Somerville dining. The critics love Bergamot's synthesis of relaxed attitude and serious skill. [Eater 38 Member]
ExNE was named one of the "The Top 6 Places to Taste the New Asian Fusion" by Bon Appetit. In-house noodles, dumplings and bao blow away the competition, of which there is little. [Eater 38 Member]
Chef-owner Will Gilson is more thoroughly tackling a fresh perspective on New England cuisine than anywhere else in the world. [Eater 38]
Bondir took what a lot of restaurants were already doing - the classed up, local, rootsy thing - managed to tighten the screws, add flourishes & still make it distinct & feel fresh. [Eater 38 Member]
Since its opening, West Bridge has become the darling of Kendall Square, among many existing darlings. The French-inspired menu comes from Aquitane Bistro alumni chef Matthew Gaudet. [Eater 38 Member]
Warmth exudes from this East Cambridge Afghani restaurant, which serves in-house flatbread baked in a wood-fired oven right in the dining area. [Eater 38 Member]
Western Mediterranean accents appear on chef-owner Steve Johnson's menu, which is enhanced by a rooftop herb garden. [Eater 38 Member]
People complained when Green St Grill became Green St and lost its Caribbean influences, but this is still a great restaurant. And there's a telephone book for a cocktail menu. [Eater 38 Member]
Superbly executed Shanghai style dishes like lion's head meatball and xiao long bao manage to be just as flavorful as their Sichuan counterparts minus the heat. [Eater 38 Member]
Opening in November 2011, Top Chef star Tiffani Faison's barbecue ode has been nothing short of a smash hit. The biscuits are legendary, and there's now an outdoor beer garden. [Eater 38 Member]
Island Creek Oyster bar looks more slick than the restaurant you would expect an oyster farm to operate, but it's no less legit. [Eater 38 Member]
Perhaps the only Boston restaurant to serve elaborately prepared sunflower buds, Erbaluce is no stranger to the title of the city's "best Italian restaurant." [Eater 38 Member]
A regular on Boston pizza A-lists, Picco boasts some of the best value in the South End. Eat the pizza, salad, and/or in-house ice cream and you'll desire no better. [Eater 38 Member]
A welcome recent addition to the Southie scene, with what some consider to be the best pizza anywhere in town. [Eater 38 Member]
Scotch egg, suckling pig tacos & at least three kinds of poutine: pub food 2.0. The dark humor in the name and decor continues through the menu. [Eater 38 Member]
A vet of the dining scene for over 20 years, this restaurant's rep is staked partly on its infamous roasted chicken. Over the years it has changed exactly as much as it should. [Eater 38 Member]
This instant industry-approved classic has helped revitalize Downtown Crossing dining with its small, meaty menu, adult milkshakes, late-night dining and blunt rules for patrons. [Eater 38 Member]
Angela's is often cited by local diehards as Boston's best Mexican. Get the mole. [Eater 38 Member]
When you think you want pub food, this is what you really want. Hearty stews, killer fish and chips, in-house ketchup and no white sugar on the premises. [Eater 38 Member]
Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are served on a diner-like counter. Doubles as a bakery with early-morning hours. [Eater 38 Member]
The Monday "industry brunch" leaves diners happily full of chicken and waffles, homemade pop tarts, and Kool Aid du jour. [Eater 38 Member]
Sleek spot that's perfect for impressing dates and colleagues. From traditional sushi to a show-stopping dish with flaming salmon on a lemongrass stalk, every meal is beautiful. [Eater 38 Member]
Santarpio's in Eastie is the place to go to shut up your obnoxious New York friends when they claim there's no good pizza in Boston. [Eater 38 Member]
Yes, there's amazing Italian food outside of the North End. Locals have always known that it's the place to go for huge ravioli and excellent homemade pasta. [Eater 38 Member]
Peru meets Italy at this North End hotspot. Try the daily preparation of the paiche, a huge fish from the Amazon. [Eater 38 Member]
The food is outstanding and the wine list is deservedly award-winning. Plus, it's probably the only place servers scoop butter out of a basket that is completely full of butter. [Eater 38 Member]
