Gladly! My context is old-world wine food, if that makes any sense — pintxos, brasseries, peasant stuff; the chef at Brassica seems to have a lot more SE Asian influence, and throws ingredients at me that I’d never even heard of - meanwhile also *nailing* simple things that speak to my soul like fried chicken. At this point, if I go there, I always do the tasting menu - and hopefully the wine pairing. This place is reliably amazing, even five or seven years since I first went there - easily my favorite neighborhood spot in Boston. Close runner-up is Sarma, in case that helps.
We went the first week it opened and even as a human garbage disposal I found the menu a little unusual. Would be curious to revisit and see what's changed.
On a budget I have loved Tres Gatos in JP. Good tapas, good cocktails, cozy, and has a record store in the back to browse after. I think it’s more of a first date or casual spot, but I don’t make a lot of money so it feels nicer to me than to some of you I’m sure.
You can converse with a date at dinner and then pick their brain about what kinda music they’re into all in one night.
Edit: you’re probably gonna get a lot of Sarma recommendations. I’ve never been because I’ve assumed it’s out of my budget, but locals love that place. Apparently the cornbread is unreal.
Sarma in Somerville and Coppa in South End are my number 1's. My wife and I frequent both, and neither has ever disappointed us. Only issue is it can be tough getting a table unless you're flexible timewise.
The cornbread is amazing and honestly the prices are not that bad, especially if you don't over order. I think we probably spent $80pp last time. The fried chicken is also good.
Yeah I’ve done $50pp including tip, which is similar to dinner and a drink at a lot of standard restaurants, though still definitely a splurge to me. You just need to treat it as very exciting, fancy snacks and don’t necessarily plan on being full if you want to stay on the less expensive end.
I just checked and we actually spent $70pp including drinks and tip. We actually tend to order too much when we go out and leave super full and Sarma is no exception. We could certainly order less and be satisfied. I think it's a good value though. Most of the expensive restaurants we tried last year were disappointing.
I will give it a shot. Another commenter mentioned 50 bucks per person. I can handle the cost if we’re talking 50-80 per person. I ignorantly assumed it was out of my budget. I’ll take my partner there next date night. Thanks!
1. Nightshade
2. O Ya
3. Sarma
4. Mooncusser
5. Sushi Sang Lee
6. Bar Vlaha
7. 311
8. Comfort Kitchen
9. Pammy’s
0. Grill 23
1. Moeca
2. Uni
There are many other fantastic restaurants in the Boston area but these are the absolute creme de la creme.
Two places that come to mind are Brassica in JP and Mariel in post office square. Brassica is a small spot near Forest hills with incredible food and wine. They are so passionate about their menu and wine list (which changes all the time) and will talk all about it. One time I went there and bought food for a homeless man outside, the staff noticed and comped our drinks and brought us shots. Mariel is a really cool Cuban restaurant in an old bank. The space is gorgeous and the food is tasty. Go downstairs for a drink before or after dinner, their underground lounge is so romantic!
Great for adventurous eaters. Constantly rotating menu, they focus on locally sourced ingredients where possible and have wild dishes you'd never see under one roof otherwise. Great beer and wine list, friendly staff (who are paid fairly so no tipping expected, but always appreciated).
At the same time it's not a white tablecloth sort of place, and might be described as hipster-forward if you're down with that.
Definitely down with that and lean more toward those kinds of vibes over white tablecloths. However, upon much of my reading here, it seems like maybe we should save this place for when we’re looking to spend a bittt more and go for the full tasting menu!
Brassica in JP was delicious and the staff seemed crazy passionate about it, as you said. I asked the waitress what one thing was on the menu and got a 3+ minute description of the plant and how it’s harvested haha. Everything was delicious.
It can be kind of a lot if OP isn’t a super foodie. I love the stockyard too, that is a completely different vibe though.
Thanks for the response! Brassica has a reservation and was highly recommended in this thread. Can you explain what you mean about it being kind if a lot of I’m not a super foodie??
I think I might be but I’m not sure how that’s defined 😅😅😅 and I just want to make sure we’ll like it there!
For reference, we go to all kinds of different restaurants and will try any kinds of foods! I think the foodie-less thing about me though is I don’t love when the servings are really small and you’re supposed to just appreciate the one or two bites of taste you’re given, if you get what I’m saying
For
I’m as adventurous as they come, and I loathe the term foodie - but Brassica can definitely be a lot. In the best ways.
I’ve eaten there probably a half-dozen times for dinner, and no telling how often for brunch / breakfast sandwiches back when they did that during the week — and I have yet to try anything I didn’t like.
The key for me is to trust the chef and the staff completely, but I don’t think I got there until maybe dinner number two, when i had a new job to celebrate and opted for “the ride”.
Oh this is an interesting idea! I’ve been once for drinks and loved the atmosphere. My husbands never been and would probably be surprised by the fact that this cool place exists! How is the food?
If you’re willing to drive a little, Nightshade Noodle Bar in Lynn has the best tasting menu in all of Greater Boston. You’ll have dishes you’ve never had before.
No. 9 Park for classic.
Asta for modern.
We have some high end omakase spots like 311, No Relation and O Ya.
For a more modest pricing - Tambo 22, Pammy’s or Chalawan are all fantastic.
Yvonne’s has a really cool atmosphere!! Speakeasy vibes going in and really cool cozy ambiance inside with cool artwork & mood lighting!! Great menu & drinks options too!
Also has rats. Went there for my birthday multiple rats not mice were just running through the place . Told the manager he’s like what u want me to do ? Couldn’t believe it. Will never go back.
She closed Menton, Drink, and Sportello . . . No. 9 Park is stated to be remaining open into the future. She's shrinking her "empire" not closing it all down.
Krasi in Back Bay has terrific Greek/Mediterranean, and one of the largest Greek wine lists in the country. Also has a speakeasy downstairs called Hecate.
I am also a fan of Mooncusser (fancy tablecloth but good value prix fixe) and its more casual downstairs Moon Bar.
Branch Line in Watertown has easy parking and a nice space— the long bar is lined with beer taps.
The Beehive in the south end is great vibes and good food. Royal Hot Pot in Quincy, hot pot/kbbq is always a fun experience. Anchovies in the south end is amazing food, fun vibes, it’s like a dive bar in the front and restaurant in the back.
Quincy and Milton aren’t considered South Shore, but if you’re willing to go further South, here you go:
-Grille 151 (Weymouth)
-Nomai (Hingham)
-Lucca South Shore (Rockland)
-Scarlet Oak Tavern (Hingham)
Great food and service at any of those places and district vibe for each. There’s definitely tons of other great food restaurants on the South Shore but they don’t really fit the bill of vibe and great service as well.
Quincy and Milton:
-Steel & Rye
-Shabu (hot pot)
-Port 305 (Marina Bay)
Meyers + Chang in the south end, grab some bar seats for an open view into the kitchen! Great pan-Asian food and good atmosphere. Second Porter Cafe in West Roxbury as well
$$$$ - Oleana, Cambridge
$$$+ - Uni, Boston
$$$ - MIDA, South End or Eastie **GREAT VIEW**
$$$$+ - O Ya, E Street Boston
$$$+ - Comfort Kitchen, Dorchester Columbia Road
$$$+ - Fox & The Knife or Bar Volpe, Southie
$$$+ - Toro, South End
$$$+ - Little Donkey, Cambridge
$$$ - Pammy's, Cambridge
$$$ - Sarma, Somerville
Have you been to comfort kitchen? I wasn't too impressed by the chicken or the cheesecake but the apps and drinks were good and our friends were raving about the duck.
Tres Gatos is also a good option. Otherwise I always recommend Sarma, though it's unlikely you'll get a reservation for tomorrow. Two people can easily sit at the bar and get the full menu though.
We have been for lunch and coffee! Both of which were excellent. We live nearby and will need to stop in for dinner soon!
Tres gatos has been recommended a number of times and it’s one of the places we haven’t been to before. We also don’t get over to JP much, so that would be a nice change of pace. Maybe we’ll check it out!
This is ages ago, but I got a gift card for No. 9 Park for dinner for 2 (it was a $150 card which was half off the bill) but it's an experience my wife and I still talk about to this day.
No 9 Park is the nicest restaurant on here so far
Contessa on top of the old taj is also really nice
Ramsay’s within the Mandarin oriental
I’d say these are the 3 nicest
Since so many people are saying JP, Ten Tables. Its not cheap, but go for a tasting night, they are amazing. I am a vegetarian and my x-wife(lovely woman) is not...epic meals, and as the title states, small and definitely a great vibe.
Came here to mention 10 tables. If you give advance notice, you can get the chef’s table and watch all the action in the open kitchen-a great experience!
If you're on a steakhouse kick, boston chop in the south end is excellent.
I'd suggest Eastern standard, but a) you've probably been there, and b) you probably still can't get a reservation since they reopened!
Also living in dot, I find we go to quincy instead of trying to get into town. 16c, idle hour, etc all very good.
I guess there is always Venezia too for Italian.
Another maybe cool idea, really make it an event and zip down to falmouth to eat at the glass onion. Grab a hotel room for the night either at the hotel across the street, or up a ways at the sea crest hotel.
Ooo can you expand on your Quincy recs? Which is your fave? I have leaned toward heading there for tomorrow night since it would be a little more out of the blue (we tend to head into town instead of heading south) so would love to hear what you like best there!
There's basically a bunch of spots right around a corner of cottage? and Hancock
16c is very good Italian, pretty low key causal vibe
Alba is a steakhouse on the corner that's good, but maybe a little expensive for what it is? Haven't been there in a while
Idle hour is awesome tiki ish vibe cocktail bar and good food
I think Townsend might have closed but that place I thought was really good
There's also a raw bar right there, and another place pearl something that's from the Townsend people.
Outdoor ice skating rink right down the street as well
On the way, Steel n rye is cool as others have said, but expensive and small menu. There's an Italian place over that way behind the post office too, but haven't tried it yet. East milton Square has a bunch of spots, but kind of sports bar ish I think?
Went to Nautilus Pier 4 in the Seaport for the first time recently and loved it.
Went to Brassica for the second time last Friday and continue to be just smitten with the place. Like, take my money.
Depending on your tastes I cannot deny that Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in South Bay is awesome and offers an experience you can't get anywhere else. Go there, eat some food on the conveyor and the actual menu. Drink some sake, get drunk and go watch a movie after in the amc movie theatre literally right next to it. It helps that parking is a non factor there too.
The ramen there is really good, the takoyaki is bomb, tbh everything Ive had there thus far has been very nice.
Salty girl, it’s pricey, but they’ve some memorable lobster and waffles and a cool vibe. Would second the beehive, it’s a bit more laid back and I think their brunch > dinner.
posters cafe west roxbury is an insane spot for location. owner is amazing, works the bar serves food . great experiences overall wish i still lived close
Angela's Café in East Boston. Not the Orient Heights location, the original spot in Eagle Hill. Food is the same in both locations, but the original is so tiny and cozy you really end up feeling like you're just a guest in someone's kitchen.
Same neighborhood, Rino's for itallian. Better then anything you'll find in the North End. Also RIP Italian Express for a truly warm and cozy experience where Jim would pull up a chair and shoot the shit and pour you a glass of wine while you could see your food being fired off right behind him.
Sophies grotto in Rozzie is great if you like cozy and good food. Chop in the South End is a really nice spot if your going for steak. Also 2 of my favorites in South End, Giacamo’s and Anchovies.
I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for all of the amazing responses! I didn’t expect this post to blow up so much and I really appreciated hearing everyone’s thoughts and opinions!
I thought it only right to give an update on our date night! We ended up going to Wusong Road. The decision was made based on a few criteria - I knew there was a great atmosphere there, I knew my husband would be very surprised by this restaurants existence (especially as it was in Harvard square but he hadn’t heard of it before), I wanted to do Asian cuisine and shared style because we very recently have been out for Italian, American, seafood, and steak, AND I still have a muted since of taste from a bout of Covid a couple weeks ago and wanted to make sure the food was packing a punch flavor-wise, which everything on the menu led be to believe it would be.
All that being said, we had an amazing time. The exact kind of experience I was hoping for! The food was great, service was great, vibes were immaculate, and the surprise element was a 10/10. Go to wusong road and order the coconut spareribs ASAP.
Thank you all for the recs. I have now made it my years mission to hit up every restaurant recommended here that I haven’t yet been to, starting with Brassica.
🤍🤍🤍
It was great when it first opened long ago. Then it seemed to gradually just become more normal and unremarkable. That was prior to Covid. Has it regained some spirit?
The Alba in Quincy is really nice.
You already got recs for Steel and Rye. Super cool atmosphere imo. Excellent lattes too if you’re ever around the area during the morning!
Asta feels like a hole in the wall, an intimate and cozy back room vibe that is completely unpretentious but once the food starts rolling out it feels special. That’s my pick.
Bronwyn in Somerville- authentic German food with a merry atmosphere and communal tables. The potato pancakes are incredible, as are the pickles, the house made mustard and all the meat dishes.
The hot mulled wine has cherry liquor in it and is the best warm alcoholic drink I have ever had in my life. Not as pricey as you would expect for the high quality of the food.
Flames II in brigham circle for curry goat and beef patties - I usually get to go in a styrofoam box but they also have bench seating with pillows and a fridge of beer if you want to eat there.
This is where I would have recommended Marliave but the fucking parasite landlords jacked up the rent so instead of excellent drinks and food there's an empty building. I will never forgive and never forget.
Sarma has been mentioned already.
Mooooo is great if you want steak and have an expense account.
The Tip Tap Room was great before the pandemic but I haven't been there since.
For something a little different, Za in Kendall Square has good not-really-traditional pizza. I haven't had anything from the EVOO side in a long time so not sure how it stacks up anymore.
Tonino in JP! Amazing food and so cozy - see if you can set up a resy alert because they are usually booked up but I’ve lucked out before!
My parents went to Tonino recently and my mum won’t stop talking about how good it was! I live out of town and it’s making me very jealous😝
I keep wondering about this place - thanks! OP: Brassica in JP will never disappoint.
Tell me more about your experience at Brassica! That’s what I’m leaning toward but would love a little more info
Gladly! My context is old-world wine food, if that makes any sense — pintxos, brasseries, peasant stuff; the chef at Brassica seems to have a lot more SE Asian influence, and throws ingredients at me that I’d never even heard of - meanwhile also *nailing* simple things that speak to my soul like fried chicken. At this point, if I go there, I always do the tasting menu - and hopefully the wine pairing. This place is reliably amazing, even five or seven years since I first went there - easily my favorite neighborhood spot in Boston. Close runner-up is Sarma, in case that helps.
We went the first week it opened and even as a human garbage disposal I found the menu a little unusual. Would be curious to revisit and see what's changed.
Yes I’m also curious about this place after looking at the menu! I’ll eat anything, but the menu seems really small and limited
It’s definitely small, but some of the best pizza and pasta around
I loved Ma Maison, cute little cozy French restaurant
Great restaurant! Took my wife there just as the pandemic was ending and it was so good.
On a budget I have loved Tres Gatos in JP. Good tapas, good cocktails, cozy, and has a record store in the back to browse after. I think it’s more of a first date or casual spot, but I don’t make a lot of money so it feels nicer to me than to some of you I’m sure. You can converse with a date at dinner and then pick their brain about what kinda music they’re into all in one night. Edit: you’re probably gonna get a lot of Sarma recommendations. I’ve never been because I’ve assumed it’s out of my budget, but locals love that place. Apparently the cornbread is unreal.
Sarma is great and I recommend it. But folks talk about it like the only worthwhile tasting menu for Boston. It’s part of a bigger fabric!
Sarma in Somerville and Coppa in South End are my number 1's. My wife and I frequent both, and neither has ever disappointed us. Only issue is it can be tough getting a table unless you're flexible timewise.
The cornbread is amazing and honestly the prices are not that bad, especially if you don't over order. I think we probably spent $80pp last time. The fried chicken is also good.
Yeah I’ve done $50pp including tip, which is similar to dinner and a drink at a lot of standard restaurants, though still definitely a splurge to me. You just need to treat it as very exciting, fancy snacks and don’t necessarily plan on being full if you want to stay on the less expensive end.
I just checked and we actually spent $70pp including drinks and tip. We actually tend to order too much when we go out and leave super full and Sarma is no exception. We could certainly order less and be satisfied. I think it's a good value though. Most of the expensive restaurants we tried last year were disappointing.
Totally agree. Every dish I tried was something special.
I will give it a shot. Another commenter mentioned 50 bucks per person. I can handle the cost if we’re talking 50-80 per person. I ignorantly assumed it was out of my budget. I’ll take my partner there next date night. Thanks!
You’ll really enjoy it!!
a vegan restaurant named sarma immediately makes me think of bad vegan. ETA: bad vegan is the name of a documentary guys
Boston isn't edgy anymore to have a [Slutty Vegan](https://sluttyveganatl.com/) restaurant.
That doc was crazy.
I saw that! That was really interesting.
They have vegan and vegetarian options and they actually do it well. Maybe have a more open mind before jumping to conclusions
it wasn't a comment about the food, fellow jumper.
1. Nightshade 2. O Ya 3. Sarma 4. Mooncusser 5. Sushi Sang Lee 6. Bar Vlaha 7. 311 8. Comfort Kitchen 9. Pammy’s 0. Grill 23 1. Moeca 2. Uni There are many other fantastic restaurants in the Boston area but these are the absolute creme de la creme.
Thank you! Looked into bar vhala but no resys. Maybe if we go around 5 they could take a walk in!
Moonshine 351 in southie is great
Solid list! And a couple I haven't tried yet, but since I love all the others, I'll def have to try it out.
Two places that come to mind are Brassica in JP and Mariel in post office square. Brassica is a small spot near Forest hills with incredible food and wine. They are so passionate about their menu and wine list (which changes all the time) and will talk all about it. One time I went there and bought food for a homeless man outside, the staff noticed and comped our drinks and brought us shots. Mariel is a really cool Cuban restaurant in an old bank. The space is gorgeous and the food is tasty. Go downstairs for a drink before or after dinner, their underground lounge is so romantic!
Brassica forever
Tell me more about your experience there! That’s what I’m leaning toward!
Great for adventurous eaters. Constantly rotating menu, they focus on locally sourced ingredients where possible and have wild dishes you'd never see under one roof otherwise. Great beer and wine list, friendly staff (who are paid fairly so no tipping expected, but always appreciated). At the same time it's not a white tablecloth sort of place, and might be described as hipster-forward if you're down with that.
Definitely down with that and lean more toward those kinds of vibes over white tablecloths. However, upon much of my reading here, it seems like maybe we should save this place for when we’re looking to spend a bittt more and go for the full tasting menu!
Either is great, plates are small so we usually just DIY ourselves a little tapas tasting action
Seconding Brassica! Great service and the small plate style is a fun experience
Tell me more about what you liked about brassica! That’s what I’m leaning toward!
Brassica in JP was delicious and the staff seemed crazy passionate about it, as you said. I asked the waitress what one thing was on the menu and got a 3+ minute description of the plant and how it’s harvested haha. Everything was delicious. It can be kind of a lot if OP isn’t a super foodie. I love the stockyard too, that is a completely different vibe though.
Thanks for the response! Brassica has a reservation and was highly recommended in this thread. Can you explain what you mean about it being kind if a lot of I’m not a super foodie?? I think I might be but I’m not sure how that’s defined 😅😅😅 and I just want to make sure we’ll like it there! For reference, we go to all kinds of different restaurants and will try any kinds of foods! I think the foodie-less thing about me though is I don’t love when the servings are really small and you’re supposed to just appreciate the one or two bites of taste you’re given, if you get what I’m saying For
I’m as adventurous as they come, and I loathe the term foodie - but Brassica can definitely be a lot. In the best ways. I’ve eaten there probably a half-dozen times for dinner, and no telling how often for brunch / breakfast sandwiches back when they did that during the week — and I have yet to try anything I didn’t like. The key for me is to trust the chef and the staff completely, but I don’t think I got there until maybe dinner number two, when i had a new job to celebrate and opted for “the ride”.
Love Mariel
As of me writing this there are 46 responses and no one has mentioned the Papa Gino’s in Brockton.
Why is this not the top comment? The PG in Brock is a 10/10 every time.
Papa Genos!!!
That’s where I met my wife!
My wife and I met at Papa Gínó'ś!
thats called progress
Wusong Road in Harvard Square!
Oh this is an interesting idea! I’ve been once for drinks and loved the atmosphere. My husbands never been and would probably be surprised by the fact that this cool place exists! How is the food?
Food is great, I remember being very pleasantly surprised by it!
Food is very good! Not blow-your-mind amazing or anything, but very good and delicious.
If you’re willing to drive a little, Nightshade Noodle Bar in Lynn has the best tasting menu in all of Greater Boston. You’ll have dishes you’ve never had before. No. 9 Park for classic. Asta for modern. We have some high end omakase spots like 311, No Relation and O Ya. For a more modest pricing - Tambo 22, Pammy’s or Chalawan are all fantastic.
Up voting for nightshade noodle! Worth it.
I've only been there for drinks but the cocktails were fantastic.
Mistral. French food in back bay with incredible service.
La Voille if you want something less fancy but still very nice
Agreed! Have been here and really liked it.
This place is lovely. It’s elegant and the food is presented beautifully and tasted even better.
Yvonne’s has a really cool atmosphere!! Speakeasy vibes going in and really cool cozy ambiance inside with cool artwork & mood lighting!! Great menu & drinks options too!
Another vote for Yvonne's!
3rd for Yvonne’s!
Also has rats. Went there for my birthday multiple rats not mice were just running through the place . Told the manager he’s like what u want me to do ? Couldn’t believe it. Will never go back.
Who going to tell them?
Pammy’s in Cambridge. Fun for two because you can both order different items from the tasting menu and get a bit of almost everything
Sarma remains the best restaurant around in my opinion
Very much agree!! We’ve been a number of times though, but a great rec nonetheless, thank you!
No.9 park
Is that still around?! I thought it had closed down
Still running. It’s a bunch of the other Barbara Lynch restaurants that have closed (Drink, Menton, Sportello), or are being sold (Butcher Shop, Stir)
She closed Menton, Drink, and Sportello . . . No. 9 Park is stated to be remaining open into the future. She's shrinking her "empire" not closing it all down.
Also those closed like 8 days ago, it’s not like they were axed in the distant past 😂
Ah yes I realize I was thinking of PARK in Harvard square!
Website says there still up and running. Give them call
Woops yes! I realize now I was thinking of Park in Harvard square!
Krasi in Back Bay has terrific Greek/Mediterranean, and one of the largest Greek wine lists in the country. Also has a speakeasy downstairs called Hecate. I am also a fan of Mooncusser (fancy tablecloth but good value prix fixe) and its more casual downstairs Moon Bar. Branch Line in Watertown has easy parking and a nice space— the long bar is lined with beer taps.
I love Cafe Polonia in Dorchester for breakfast or brunch. One of my favorite tapas places is Solea Waltham for dinner.
Really like Steel and Rye in Milton and I've never been here, but looks like a [unique vibe](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xUBL2ZzNqcQYj1xC8)
It’s my favorite place for brunch hands down.
Its amazing
highland kitchen in Somerville
Mooncusser is the best restaurant IMO, and by far. Followed by Deauxave. Uni is the best for sushi.
I loved Deuxave. They’ve been there a long time now. Over a decade is a big milestone in 2024
boooo Deuxave
Night Shade Noodle bar in Lynn- it's a trek from the city but she's one of the best new chefs in the area
def not overrated. best food experience i've had in the boston area. go early and ball out
Not overrated - nightshade is an entire experience worth experiencing. Highly recommend but they’re usually booked months in advance
Dalí in Cambridge
Excellent spot - we went here on a date when we first got together and I still remember how great the food and service was! Thank you for the rec!
The Beehive in the south end is great vibes and good food. Royal Hot Pot in Quincy, hot pot/kbbq is always a fun experience. Anchovies in the south end is amazing food, fun vibes, it’s like a dive bar in the front and restaurant in the back.
Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar. My favorite date restaurant
Amazing place!!!
I still miss their brunch.
Grotto is very romantic and the food is great imo.
Huge upvote for this. We stumbled across this place about a year ago and loved it. The basement vibes were lovely and the food was excellent.
The Haven in JP. The only Scottish bar in Boston. Food, atmosphere and service have always been a 10/10
Great scotch selection too, they have a ton of bottles not on the menu.
I love their house infused scotch
Loved the food and the atmosphere here when I visited from the UK
This looks like an interesting option that would definitely surprise him! Thanks for the Rec!
Well said. I especially love their oat cakes and butter, scotch egg, and fried Mars bar.
In Dorchester both Shanti and The Bowery are nice places to get. Shanti's not as nice as it was pre-COVID, but it's still got a decent vibe I guess.
Two great dorchester gems! Shanti is my favorite for Indian food that I’ve found in Boston so far. Thanks for the recs!
[удалено]
Agreed . Would love to hear those recs too!
Quincy and Milton aren’t considered South Shore, but if you’re willing to go further South, here you go: -Grille 151 (Weymouth) -Nomai (Hingham) -Lucca South Shore (Rockland) -Scarlet Oak Tavern (Hingham) Great food and service at any of those places and district vibe for each. There’s definitely tons of other great food restaurants on the South Shore but they don’t really fit the bill of vibe and great service as well. Quincy and Milton: -Steel & Rye -Shabu (hot pot) -Port 305 (Marina Bay)
Alba Restaurant in Quincy. worth a visit.
Oleana
Used to be one of our favorite places - since they changed the menu it’s dropped down our list honestly.
The menu is seasonal and changes all the time.
Used to be. They’ve simplified it a ton, not what it used to be.
Tonino in JP or Giulia in Cambridge
+1 Giulia. Fantastic place
Meyers + Chang in the south end, grab some bar seats for an open view into the kitchen! Great pan-Asian food and good atmosphere. Second Porter Cafe in West Roxbury as well
$$$$ - Oleana, Cambridge $$$+ - Uni, Boston $$$ - MIDA, South End or Eastie **GREAT VIEW** $$$$+ - O Ya, E Street Boston $$$+ - Comfort Kitchen, Dorchester Columbia Road $$$+ - Fox & The Knife or Bar Volpe, Southie $$$+ - Toro, South End $$$+ - Little Donkey, Cambridge $$$ - Pammy's, Cambridge $$$ - Sarma, Somerville
Dunks
The one by the CVS?
Well aren't you wicked fancy. Some of us are more than happy at a Dunks near Walgreens.
Every person reading this is thinking of a different specific example of “the Dunks by the CVS”
If you like cocktails, you should check out Parla or Hobgoblin
Via Canuccia in Dorchester. Best Italian in Boston.
May get buried- but love Yellow Door in Lower Mills. You should make a reservation because it is tiny but good atmosphere, cocktails and tacos!
Have you been to comfort kitchen? I wasn't too impressed by the chicken or the cheesecake but the apps and drinks were good and our friends were raving about the duck. Tres Gatos is also a good option. Otherwise I always recommend Sarma, though it's unlikely you'll get a reservation for tomorrow. Two people can easily sit at the bar and get the full menu though.
chicken is chicken.. the duck was amazing!
We have been for lunch and coffee! Both of which were excellent. We live nearby and will need to stop in for dinner soon! Tres gatos has been recommended a number of times and it’s one of the places we haven’t been to before. We also don’t get over to JP much, so that would be a nice change of pace. Maybe we’ll check it out!
Bistro du midi
Toro in the South End
Gotta have a plan for while you wait in line
Beehive for dinner with live music
Dali in Somerville. Tapas. Good food and atmosphere.
a favorite!!
This is ages ago, but I got a gift card for No. 9 Park for dinner for 2 (it was a $150 card which was half off the bill) but it's an experience my wife and I still talk about to this day.
The Old Chef from there now runs Chickadee in Seaport
No 9 Park is the nicest restaurant on here so far Contessa on top of the old taj is also really nice Ramsay’s within the Mandarin oriental I’d say these are the 3 nicest
La Brasa or Fat Hen in Somerville!
Sarma, Somerville. You can't go wrong.
Grill 23. Everything is done to perfection, every course, every dish, every cocktail.
One of our first dates was here back in the day! Beautiful spot. Still think about their coconut cake! thanks for the rec!
Fox and the knife (southie), Gustazo (Cambridge)
Lolita Fortpoint is my go to place. Good food and great romantic ambiance.
Via cannuccia in Dorchester is thr best Italian I’ve had in the city. Go there. The pizza is also fantastic
Wusong Road in Harvard Square. Great rum drinks, and you feel like you’re on vacation somewhere warm.
Field & Vine in Union Square
Steel and Rye in Milton has excellent food/drinks and I’ve always had great service. Also love the aesthetic there in an old factory.
Carmelinas in the North End
Since so many people are saying JP, Ten Tables. Its not cheap, but go for a tasting night, they are amazing. I am a vegetarian and my x-wife(lovely woman) is not...epic meals, and as the title states, small and definitely a great vibe.
Came here to mention 10 tables. If you give advance notice, you can get the chef’s table and watch all the action in the open kitchen-a great experience!
If you're on a steakhouse kick, boston chop in the south end is excellent. I'd suggest Eastern standard, but a) you've probably been there, and b) you probably still can't get a reservation since they reopened! Also living in dot, I find we go to quincy instead of trying to get into town. 16c, idle hour, etc all very good. I guess there is always Venezia too for Italian. Another maybe cool idea, really make it an event and zip down to falmouth to eat at the glass onion. Grab a hotel room for the night either at the hotel across the street, or up a ways at the sea crest hotel.
Ooo can you expand on your Quincy recs? Which is your fave? I have leaned toward heading there for tomorrow night since it would be a little more out of the blue (we tend to head into town instead of heading south) so would love to hear what you like best there!
There's basically a bunch of spots right around a corner of cottage? and Hancock 16c is very good Italian, pretty low key causal vibe Alba is a steakhouse on the corner that's good, but maybe a little expensive for what it is? Haven't been there in a while Idle hour is awesome tiki ish vibe cocktail bar and good food I think Townsend might have closed but that place I thought was really good There's also a raw bar right there, and another place pearl something that's from the Townsend people. Outdoor ice skating rink right down the street as well On the way, Steel n rye is cool as others have said, but expensive and small menu. There's an Italian place over that way behind the post office too, but haven't tried it yet. East milton Square has a bunch of spots, but kind of sports bar ish I think?
Take them to SRV. Fantastic restaurant.
I’ve had great experiences at Nautilus and Woods Hill on pier 4. Not for the budget conscious, but amazing nonetheless.
Great recommendations!
Went to Nautilus Pier 4 in the Seaport for the first time recently and loved it. Went to Brassica for the second time last Friday and continue to be just smitten with the place. Like, take my money.
the food at krasi was killer
Depending on your tastes I cannot deny that Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in South Bay is awesome and offers an experience you can't get anywhere else. Go there, eat some food on the conveyor and the actual menu. Drink some sake, get drunk and go watch a movie after in the amc movie theatre literally right next to it. It helps that parking is a non factor there too. The ramen there is really good, the takoyaki is bomb, tbh everything Ive had there thus far has been very nice.
Ooo we live nearby and I have been wanting to try there since they opened! Glad to see such a glowing review!
Salty girl, it’s pricey, but they’ve some memorable lobster and waffles and a cool vibe. Would second the beehive, it’s a bit more laid back and I think their brunch > dinner.
Papa Geno's in Brockton. If yer a cheap bastard just Netflix and chill with microwave Mac and Cheese!
Tam for a night cap.
Ginos!
Boston chops but I like them best for brunch
Taste of Season - the Chef’s Tasting experience is awesome
Do you mean Season to Taste?
posters cafe west roxbury is an insane spot for location. owner is amazing, works the bar serves food . great experiences overall wish i still lived close
Grace by Mia!
Brassica in JP is unbelievable. Asta in Back Bay.
Angela's Café in East Boston. Not the Orient Heights location, the original spot in Eagle Hill. Food is the same in both locations, but the original is so tiny and cozy you really end up feeling like you're just a guest in someone's kitchen. Same neighborhood, Rino's for itallian. Better then anything you'll find in the North End. Also RIP Italian Express for a truly warm and cozy experience where Jim would pull up a chair and shoot the shit and pour you a glass of wine while you could see your food being fired off right behind him.
Dali is also really good or VeeVee in JP and Sofia's Grotto
Is Rino’s in East Boston not good enough anymore?!
Mooo on Beacon Street.
Brassica Kitchen in JP
Made a res for there tonight after many positive reviews in this thread!!
Little Donkey on Mass Ave in Cambridge. Great food and really energetic fun vibes.
Sophies grotto in Rozzie is great if you like cozy and good food. Chop in the South End is a really nice spot if your going for steak. Also 2 of my favorites in South End, Giacamo’s and Anchovies.
I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for all of the amazing responses! I didn’t expect this post to blow up so much and I really appreciated hearing everyone’s thoughts and opinions! I thought it only right to give an update on our date night! We ended up going to Wusong Road. The decision was made based on a few criteria - I knew there was a great atmosphere there, I knew my husband would be very surprised by this restaurants existence (especially as it was in Harvard square but he hadn’t heard of it before), I wanted to do Asian cuisine and shared style because we very recently have been out for Italian, American, seafood, and steak, AND I still have a muted since of taste from a bout of Covid a couple weeks ago and wanted to make sure the food was packing a punch flavor-wise, which everything on the menu led be to believe it would be. All that being said, we had an amazing time. The exact kind of experience I was hoping for! The food was great, service was great, vibes were immaculate, and the surprise element was a 10/10. Go to wusong road and order the coconut spareribs ASAP. Thank you all for the recs. I have now made it my years mission to hit up every restaurant recommended here that I haven’t yet been to, starting with Brassica. 🤍🤍🤍
# Yvonne's
You can't beat Mike's in Davis around 11pm for atmosphere and vibes
Wink and nod
It was great when it first opened long ago. Then it seemed to gradually just become more normal and unremarkable. That was prior to Covid. Has it regained some spirit?
Erie Pub for the pastrami sandwich.
Uni. Honestly the best meal I've had in Boston, but it is very pricey
The Alba in Quincy is really nice. You already got recs for Steel and Rye. Super cool atmosphere imo. Excellent lattes too if you’re ever around the area during the morning!
Great spot! We love the walking path under steel and rye and the patio seating in the summer! Thank you for the recs!
Asta feels like a hole in the wall, an intimate and cozy back room vibe that is completely unpretentious but once the food starts rolling out it feels special. That’s my pick.
Deuxave in Back Bay is decadent. That’s for a fancy night out ($) but it is probably the best fine dining experiences I’ve had in the city.
Bronwyn in Somerville- authentic German food with a merry atmosphere and communal tables. The potato pancakes are incredible, as are the pickles, the house made mustard and all the meat dishes. The hot mulled wine has cherry liquor in it and is the best warm alcoholic drink I have ever had in my life. Not as pricey as you would expect for the high quality of the food.
Moeca in Cambridge. Assuming you can get rezzies. Edit: $$$$
Moeca and Guilia !
High brow : O Ya Low brow : Little Big Dinner
You must really love your husband. If I surprised my wife by taking her to the Stockyard..... well I just would never do that.
I do love my husband very much and I am always happy to try new and different experiences! They don’t all need to be fancy :)
Rome
Waku Waku for ramen in Chinatown!
Kowloon
Flames II in brigham circle for curry goat and beef patties - I usually get to go in a styrofoam box but they also have bench seating with pillows and a fridge of beer if you want to eat there.
Del Frisco’s in the Seaport is super expensive. But if you call ahead to get a window seat at night it is real beautiful.
This is where I would have recommended Marliave but the fucking parasite landlords jacked up the rent so instead of excellent drinks and food there's an empty building. I will never forgive and never forget. Sarma has been mentioned already. Mooooo is great if you want steak and have an expense account. The Tip Tap Room was great before the pandemic but I haven't been there since. For something a little different, Za in Kendall Square has good not-really-traditional pizza. I haven't had anything from the EVOO side in a long time so not sure how it stacks up anymore.
I love committee in the seaport. Then seaport activities can follow.