Restaurants in Boston
Boston is a working port. Fresh seafood is a speciality at most restaurants, including the enormous variety of international eateries. Legal Sea Foods, with branches Downtown and elsewhere, satisfies lobster cravings. Faneuil Hall landmark Durgin-Park serves New England favourites. The South End is home to an especially lively dining scene. Most Boston restaurants are open daily. Many upscale places serve dinner only. Tipping is customary: 15% for average service, 20% for above average.
Hamersley's Bistro
Neighbourhood gourmet
A perfect blend of French technique and New England ingredients, Hamersley's
Bistro is both a special-occasion destination and a South End neighbourhood
favourite. Classic bistro dishes include roast chicken and cassoulet. The
wine list is one of the best in town, and desserts are excellent. The open
kitchen livens up the elegant dining room.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 5.30pm-9.30pm; Sat 5:30pm-10pm; Sun 11am-2pm & 5:30-9:30pm
Address
553, Tremont Street, Boston 02116
Telephone
+1 617 423 2700
Oleana
Mediterranean spices
At Oleana, Mediterranean spices enliven seasonal ingredients. The
sophisticated, inventive cuisine is equally appealing to vegetarians and
meat-eaters, and desserts are delicious. The lively earth-toned dining rooms
make this Cambridge standby an excellent place for dinner with friends.
Reservations are recommended for inside tables but not accepted for the
lovely patio, open only in summer.
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Opening Hours
Sun-Thu 5:30pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Address
134, Hampshire Street, Cambridge 02139
Telephone
+1 617 661 0505
Legal Sea Foods
Ocean-fresh favourites
Legal Sea Foods is famous for serving the freshest fish and shellfish,
expertly prepared. It deserves to be more famous for its excellent service,
desserts and wine list. The whole menu is superb; lobster is always a fine
choice. This is the Waterfront location; the Boston-based chain has other
branches around the Boston area.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 11am-10pm
Address
255, State Street, Boston 02109
Telephone
+1 617 742 5300
Locke-Ober
Private club atmosphere
Located in an alley off a busy downtown street, Locke-Ober is a perfect place
for business meals. The menu includes such favourites as lobster stew and
filet mignon, with some less traditional main courses and many innovative
side dishes. The wood-panelled dining rooms are as old-fashioned as the
service. Overly casual dress is not permitted.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm & 5pm-10pm; Sat 5pm-11pm
Address
3, Winter Place, Boston 02108
Telephone
+1 617 542 1340
Ye Olde Union Oyster House
A favourite since 1826
The oldest restaurant in the country, Ye Olde Union Oyster House is on the
Freedom Trail, in a creaky building across the street from Faneuil Hall. It
specialises in traditional seafood dishes, such as fresh raw oysters and
oyster stew, and is a great place to go for lobster with all the
trimmings.
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Opening Hours
Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Address
41, Union Street, Boston 02108
Telephone
+1 617 227 2750
Helmand
Unusual flavours
The Helmand serves vegetarian-friendly Afghan cuisine in a romantic dining
room brightened by a brick oven. Baked baby pumpkin, with or without meat
sauce, is a terrific starter. Main courses include stews served with
delicious saffron rice. The East Cambridge location is a bit inconvenient,
but the prices are reasonable considering the quality.
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Opening Hours
Sun-Thu 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm
Address
143, First Street, Cambridge 02141
Telephone
+1 617 492 4646
Jasper White's Summer Shack
Beach atmosphere
A New England "clam shack" is a snack bar near the ocean. Jasper White's
Summer Shack, playfully decorated with nautical accessories like fishnets,
is in the heart of the urban Back Bay. The super-fresh seafood is so good
that diners don't need an ocean view. From simple fish sandwiches to gourmet
lobster dishes, everything is fantastic.
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Opening Hours
Nov-Mar daily 5pm-10pm (until 11pm Fri-Sat); Apr-Oct daily 11:30am-10pm (till 11pm Sat)
Address
50, Dalton Street, Boston 02115
Telephone
+1 617 867 9955
Transport
Green Line B C or D to Hynes Convention Center subway
Website
Artú
Casual Italian
Artú is a North End standby for traditional pasta dishes and delicious
roasted meats and vegetables. Centrally located in Boston's best-known
Italian neighbourhood, it's popular with sightseers walking the Freedom
Trail as well as local residents. At lunch, go for sandwiches, pizza and
pasta. When the restaurant closes, there's a limited menu in the bar.
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Opening Hours
Daily 11.30am-11pm (bar open till 1am)
Address
6, Prince Street, Boston 02113
Telephone
+1 617 742 4336
Durgin-Park
A New England tradition
Founded in 1827, Durgin-Park serves generous portions of traditional local
favourites. Locals as well as out-of-towners share the long communal tables
and suffer the intentionally and famously sassy service. Specialties include
juicy prime rib, fresh seafood, roasted turkey, cornbread and strawberry
shortcake. The large, busy dining rooms overlook the Faneuil Hall
Marketplace crowds.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 11:30am-10pm; Sun 11:30am-9pm
Address
340, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, North Market Building, Boston 02109
Telephone
+1 617 227 2038
Tapéo
Small plates of food
Located in a festive Back Bay town house, Tapéo serves delicious tapas. Most
dishes are simple and full of flavour, and all are the right size to share,
making this a good choice for a couple or a group. The dining rooms are
softly lit, with colourful plates and art hanging on the earth-toned
walls.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 5:30pm-11pm; Sat 12pm-11pm; Sun 12pm-10pm
Address
266, Newbury Street, Boston 02116
Telephone
+1 617 267 4799
Chacarero
Surprising sandwiches
Wonderful aromas and hungry Bostonians fill this colourful downtown
storefront. Chacarero's speciality is delectable Chilean sandwiches -
chicken or steak with tomato, cheese, avocado spread, hot sauce and green
beans on a fresh roll. After paying, diners walk along the counter, watching
workers prepare each order fresh. Vegetarian sandwiches are available.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Address
26, Province Street, Boston 02108
Telephone
+1 617 367 1167
Pizzeria Regina
Classic pizza parlour
Pizzeria Regina is the quintessential American pizza place. The neon sign on
the restaurant, founded in 1926, is a North End landmark.
Red-and-white-checked cloths cover the tables, and friendly staff serve
delicious pizzas hot from the brick oven. They're available plain or with a
choice of two dozen toppings. Hungry diners often queue outside.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11.30pm; Sun 12pm-10.30pm
Address
11 1/2, Thacher Street, Boston 02113
Telephone
+1 617 227 0765
S&S Restaurant
Best brunch
The queue forms by noon on weekends for the best brunch in the Boston area.
Cheery diners fill the spacious dining rooms. Pancakes, waffles, omelettes,
corned beef hash and eggs made to order are some of the delicious options. A
family business, S&S Restaurant has attracted patrons to Cambridge's
Inman Square since 1919.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Wed 7am-10pm; Thu-Fri 7am-11pm; Sat 8am-11pm; Sun 8am-10pm
Address
1334, Cambridge Street, Cambridge 02139
Telephone
+1 617 354 0777
China Pearl
Boston's best dim sum
The busiest times at China Pearl, on a Chinatown side street, are at midday
on weekends. Groups of friends and happy families come for the American
version of dim sum. Waitresses push little carts through the crowded dining
rooms. They serve dumplings, buns and other small dishes of tasty snacks
perfect for diners to share.
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Opening Hours
Daily 8:30am-9.30pm
Address
9, Tyler Street, Boston 02111
Telephone
+1 617 426 4338
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage
All-American classic
Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage is a long-time favourite with students, shoppers
and visitors to Harvard Square in Cambridge. It serves huge, delicious
burgers, made from beef that's ground fresh daily and topped with almost any
ingredient imaginable. Posters, photos, and road signs cover the walls of
the lively dining room. The onion rings are superb.
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Opening Hours
Mon-Sat 11am-9pm
Address
1246, Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge 02138
Telephone
+1 617 354 6559
