As one of the largest cities in the country as well a center of cultural diversity, Boston has no shortage of incredible restaurant options. Dining choices span the range of cuisine, from regional seafood to upscale Japanese. Those who enjoy world-class dining will not be disappointed or at a loss for choices. Picking the 10 best restaurants in the city is a difficult task, but using a compilation of various ratings from Boston's many local publications, a fairly comprehensive list of the city's top restaurants is possible.
L'Espalier is a French restaurant nestled in the high-end Mandarin Oriental hotel in downtown Boston. The cuisine is high-end French with a traditional New England influence. The dinner menu allows you to choose either a three-course prix fixe option or the seven course tasting dinner.
L'Espalier
774 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02199
617-262-3023
lespalier.com
No. 9 Park restaurant is set in Boston's historic Beacon Hill neighborhood and designed after intimate European restaurants of old. The menu has a decidedly Italian and French feel to it, with simple dishes you'd expect at a family-owned café in the European countryside. The wine list is one of the most extensive in Boston.
No. 9 Park
9 Park St.
Boston, MA 02108
617-742-9991
no9park.com
Since 1997 Mistral has served up fine French food in a modern, chic space that evokes a more hip and laid-back atmosphere than that of most high-end restaurants. The menu focuses on French and Mediterranean bistro-style dishes that pair well with one of the wines from the restaurant's extensive list.
Mistral
223 Columbus Ave.
Boston, MA
617-867-9300
Mistralbistro.com
Consistently rated as one of the better Japanese restaurants in the United States, O Ya is also one of the top dining choices in Boston. The New York Times named it the best new restaurant in America in 2008 and renowned restaurant rating company Zagat named O Ya to its 2010 Best in America list. The dining room resembles a rustic tavern and the restaurant is located in a converted firehouse. The dinner menu is incredible lengthy, offering multiple sushi dishes as well as meat and vegetable choices.
O Ya
9 East St.
Boston, MA 02111
617-654-9900
oyarestaurantboston.com
This upscale sashimi bar serves up seafood dishes so carefully crafted and plated they look like works of art. The atmosphere is relaxed and has Japanese design influences throughout. The food is fresh and often very unique. Using local and flown-in seafood, the chefs have created a menu that features items not normally found in many American sushi bars.
Uni
379 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
617-536-7200
cliorestaurant.com
Hungry Mother blends Southern comfort food with the preparation, atmosphere and flavor you'd expect at an upscale establishment. Southern classics such as catfish or shrimp and grits are given a delicious French-style twist. An attached bar serves up snacks and cocktails into the late hours.
Hungry Mother
233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02141
617-499-0090
hungrymothercambridge.com
A financial district staple, Radius offers classic American cuisine for the upscale business crowd. Lunch and dinner are served daily with menus frequently changing to reflect seasonal ingredients. Beef is the popular choice, with several steak dishes available as well as an extensive list of seafood options.
Radius
8 High St.
Boston, MA 02110
617-426-1234
Radiusrestaurant.com
Oleana is a Middle Eastern restaurant that's earned its share of awards for romantic fine dining. The dinner menu offers authentic Middle Eastern fare, all served at candlelit tables in a quiet and romantic atmosphere. The outdoor patio is lined with vine-covered trellises and is among the best of Boston's outdoor eating options. The dessert menu is extensive.
Oleana
123 Hampshire St.
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-661-0505
Oleanarestaurant.com
Rialto specializes in authentic rustic Italian cuisine. Everything from the wine choices to the immense dessert menu is influenced by classic Italian cooking. Several of Rialto's dishes feature a medley of local, fresh seafood. The restaurant also offers several private rooms and various tiers of catered meals for large groups.
Rialto
1 Bennett St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-661-5050
rialto-restaurant.com
Since it opened in 1999, the downtown location of this popular suburban-Boston restaurant has become a local favorite. Japanese sushi and seafood dishes are the main attraction and dominate the menu. Soft lighting, waterfall fountains and a spacious dining area create a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. While expensive, the cuisine is considered among the best raw seafood options in Boston, garnering the restaurant multiple accolades including "Best Sushi Bar in America" by Citisearch in 2005 and a "top food" rating in Zagat for 6 years in a row.
Oishii
1166 Washington St.
Boston, MA 02118
617-482-8868
Oishiiboston.com
