Middleborough 最佳餐厅

311 Omakase

★ Michelin$$$$Japanese, Sushi

Located on the ground floor of a South End rowhouse, this intimate chef's counter is the vision of Chef Wei Fa Chen. Pale walls and light wood provide a blank canvas to show off the chef's seasonal selection of ceramic platters (from Kyoto and Asheville), custom-made tatami coasters and thoughtfully crafted cuisine.The chef's omakase features impressive nigiri showcasing high-quality product, much of it imported from Japan; and the range of fish could include fluke, striped beakfish and goldeneye snapper. Cooked items precede the sushi and highlight a particular cooking method, such as delicat

Bar Volpe

必比登$$$italian

Say hello to your quintessential neighborhood hangout. Armed with two bars, candles flickering on every surface and a menu committed to southern Italy, Chef Karen Akunowicz’s bigger-boned follow-up to Fox & The Knife gets all the little details just right. A lengthy amaro selection and fine-tuned cocktails set the stage for familiar dishes that deliver on flavor and finesse. Salt cod fritters come cleverly dusted in za’atar. House-made pastas like spaghetti al limone with Jonah crab or squid ink casarecce with lobster and chili are full meals that will leave barely any room for a particularly

🕐 Mo-Su 17:00-22:00

Mahaniyom

必比登$$thai

Childhood friends who grew up north of Bangkok end up in Boston for college. It's not the plot of a cinematic hit; it's the story behind Mahaniyom. This Brookline Village spot, with seating for just two dozen, packs a punch with a highly original menu of Thai small plates and creative cocktails (sip the Mahaniyom Sazerac with Thai tea-infused rye). Dishes to consider include yum som-o, or pomelo salad, a seasonal treat featuring grilled tiger prawns arranged with diced citrus segments, roasted cashews and toasted coconut. Kang pu is a decadent bowlful of house-made red curry in rich coconut mi

🕐 Mo-Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-22:30

Fox & The Knife

必比登$$italian

The roots of Chef Karen Akunowicz’s pasta empire trace back to this welcoming restaurant in South Boston, where she draws inspiration from her time in Italy. Everyone from parents in for a quick meal with their kids to younger couples just getting their evening started take to the lively space fit with a long bar up front and banquettes further back. Meals must begin with warm pieces of focaccia stuffed with taleggio or, for something a bit lighter, gnocco fritto with mortadella. Broccoli Caesar is a classic starter too. Pasta, as expected, is the main attraction. The likes of raviolo carbonar

🕐 04:30-22:00

Jahunger

必比登$$uyghur

Hailing from China’s Xinjiang region, Uyghurs are largely Muslim, and their cuisine is informed by both Chinese and Arabic cultures. That means you can expect plenty of lamb, spices, color and dishes full of verve and vitality. The specialty is hand-pulled noodles; these deliciously chewy, thick noodles slip down very easily, whether you’d gone for Laghman noodles or Jahunger noodles with Sichuan peppercorns – you can feel them nourishing your body and your soul. Start with dumplings with their own chili oil and end with refreshing homemade yogurt with honey. The original Jahunger opened in Pr

🕐 Tu-Fr 17:00-21:30; Sa 12:00-21:30; Sun 12:00-20:00

Pagu

必比登$$japanese, tapas

Chef Tracy Chang’s flagship restaurant has been a Cambridge mainstay since the day it opened in 2017. With a fun menu that takes cues from both Spain as well as countries across Asia, the cooking delivers quality ingredients, bold flavors, and the right amount of care. Think patatas bravas with mojo verde, tempura-fried string beans with Thai chili hot sauce, crab laksa with ramen noodles and poached shrimp, and fluffy baos stuffed with pork belly. For dessert, there must be chocolate cake, a gluten-free, vegan-friendly effort made with tofu that disappears in a flash. From countless community

🕐 We-Sa 12:00-21:00

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

必比登$$Chinese, Hunanese

This bright spot among Kendall Square's many offerings is one of the few Chinese restaurants specializing in Hunanese cuisine in the area. Sumiao Chen trained as a doctor and scientist but her true passion for food led her to open this local favorite in 2017. There are plenty of Chinese staples but look closely to discover an enticing selection of regional specialties. Spicy, crunchy cucumbers are a flavorful accent to any dish. Chef Zhang's stir-fried rice noodles are a delightful heap strewn with egg, chives, cabbage and bits of pickled green beans, while Grandma's pork features shang gan, o

🕐 Tu-Su 11:30-22:00

Toro

$$Spanish

Toro has been a mainstay of Boston’s South End for well over 20 years and its longevity is easy to explain: it’s fun, well run and who doesn’t need some tapas in their life every now and then? Round up some friends for a night out, then start with a glass of manzanilla and some pintxos like caña de cabra or matrimonio while you decide what to share. Highlights of the menu include crisp croquetas with creamy bacalao and roasted bone marrow with oxtail – or you can choose one of the paellas. Good cocktails and an all-Spanish wine add to the appeal, while the music plays in tune with the rustic,

Lenox Sophia

$$$$Contemporary

On a quiet corner in South Boston in a dining room the size of a postage stamp, Chef Shi Mei offers an experience that’s about as intimate as they come. You will not find a fleet of servers, expensive plates and cutlery, or lavish decorations. This is not the place for pampering. What you will find is a chef who openly engages customers and cooks with a refined casualness that often takes you by surprise. Both the meat and vegetarian tasting menus yield a handful of courses that do not hew to one particular region or cuisine. Highlights like scallop crudo with rose, rutabaga soup with truffle,

🕐 We-Sa 17:00-22:00

La Padrona

$$$Italian-American

This glamorous, two-story looker is the place to be. Located within Raffles Boston, this playful Italian restaurant starts with an easygoing ground floor bar and lounge. Up the grand staircase, find a high-energy dining room, while a large, U-shaped bar anchors this gorgeous space fit with big windows, globe lights and gold accents. Thankfully, these stylish environs also come with substantial cooking. Start with cheese and fennel breadsticks before digging into beautifully seared scallops finished in saffron butter. The pastas are all made in-house and many of the entrees are portioned to sha

Zhi Wei Cafe

$Chinese

On a quiet street in the Leather District, this friendly Chinese restaurant specializes in Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles. A constant whack and thud rings out from the kitchen, as chefs make the noodles all throughout the day. The signature beef noodle soup delivers handsomely with a deep, soulful broth, tender slices of beef and daikon, and a slick layer of chili oil for bittersweet heat. Stir-fried noodles are also worth an order.

Woods Hill Pier 4

$$$American

When the sun is out and the garage doors are up, it can feel as if the entire city is angling for a prime table here in the Boston Seaport District. Sitting right on the harbor and armed with a wrap-around patio, this bustling restaurant is not content to rely solely on its good looks. Chef Charlie Foster and his team deliver a hearty, global cuisine, with many ingredients sourced from their own farm in New Hampshire. Start with a Thai-inspired striped bass crudo or the signature smoked ham hock croquettes lashed in a honey and Aleppo gastrique. Grilled pork loin or perhaps smoked lamb shoulde

Mooncusser

$$$$seafood

With a colorful bar downstairs and a well-measured tasting menu upstairs, this two-part operation stands tall like a wedge of cake in the heart of Back Bay. Arched windows overlooking Columbus Avenue set the scene for this pleasant dining room where Chef Carl Dooley cycles through dishes with notable frequency. Know that no one cuisine calls this global kitchen, and inspiration can swing from the Mediterranean to Asia with seafood as a regular feature. Think Spanish mackerel crudo dressed with a salsa verde redolent of huacatay, or glazed local cod composed with mango pickle, citrus and flecks

Wa Shin

$$$$Japanese, Sushi

Wa Shin is tucked away in a chic residential tower in the Back Bay enclave of Bay Village. The space has a contemporary, polished look centered around an L-shaped hinoki counter, with dark stone tile flooring contrasting against light wood and softly calibrated lighting. Chef Sky Zheng presents an omakase focused on high-quality fish, much of it sourced from Japan, prepared in an edomae-inspired style. The menu begins with a few seasonal zensai before moving into a progression of nigiri, where preparations are generally simple, occasionally incorporating light torching, citrus or subtle garnis

Select Oyster Bar

$$$seafood, oyster

Long a local favorite, Chef Michael Sherpa's oyster bar is located on the ground floor of a Back Bay rowhouse, and the intimate setting, dominated by an L-shaped pewter bar, radiates good vibes. High quality seafood is the order of the day, be it the daily crudo, crab salad or honey-butter dressed Maine uni toast. The icy plateaux is a splurge-worthy indulgence, best shared with friends (or not). In true oyster bar fashion, the menu is supplemented by a daily offering of oysters and other shellfish. Hearty appetites will appreciate the Casco Bay halibut, beautifully cooked and plated with shav

Asta

$$$$Contemporary

For more than a decade, Chef Alex Crabb has cooked to the beat of his own drum on a quiet strip of Back Bay. The minimalist space is little more than exposed brick, a gold-painted tin-pressed ceiling, and a curved chef’s counter overlooking a tidy open kitchen. The tasting menu, meanwhile, is not easy to pin down, as dishes change on a whim, often in the same week, and at times are more conceptual than coherent. Nevertheless, this relaxed team is full of ideas, and chefs deliver dishes themselves. Recent highlights include herb-crusted John Dory with grapes, dry-aged duck with chicory, and cha

Somaek

$$Korean

Cooking with his mother-in-law inspired Chef Bissonnette's traditional Korean restaurant in Downtown Crossing just steps from Boston Common. Somaek is a cocktail combining soju and beer, and you'll find it on the beverage list alongside a number of other Korean-inspired cocktails (think ginseng tonic or the Jeju-do with vodka, citrus and coconut orgeat). Standout dishes include jogae jeon, or pan-fried, clam-studded pancakes topped with chive salad and served with a soy sauce and rice wine vinegar dipping sauce. For a subtly flavored but wholly satisfying stew, order the doenjang jjigae with a

Thistle & Leek

$$european, gastropub

This unpretentious spot in Newton is a true neighborhood gem. Inspired by gastropubs in London, the relaxed, wood-paneled dining room is not at all a reflection of the effort that goes on behind the scenes. This is a kitchen that doesn’t cut corners. Breads, pastas and ice creams are all made in-house. The tight, eclectic menu is constantly moving, cooking with the seasons day and night. Think toasted sesame focaccia topped with chèvre, fava beans and mint or tender lamb meatballs coated in a vibrant tomato-ginger curry. Craving a proper roast chicken and a pint? Here’s your answer.

🕐 Tu-Fr 12:00-14:00 "Lunch" || Su 11:00-14:00 "Brunch" || Tu-Su 17:00-21:00 "Dinner"

Neptune Oyster

$$$seafood, american

Located in the North End, Neptune Oyster features a dark blue facade with a large window revealing oysters displayed on a bed of crushed ice overseen by a blue aproned shucker in perpetual motion. The cozy setting is just short of boisterous, but it's charming. The narrow interior has mosaic tiled flooring, a slender white marble winding along the side of the room, and a red leather banquette on the opposite wall. The day's oysters are presented on a small card, and on the wood-framed, wall-mounted mirror.Keep it simple, as in some briny bivalves, a New England-style fritto misto sandwich on l

🕐 Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00

Carmelina's

$$italian

There’s nothing light about this Italian favorite where garlic, tomato, cream, and butter run wild across a seafood-forward menu. Such is the charm of this North End hotspot that’s been firing on all cylinders since opening in 2012. Bring along a friend or two — you’ll need them to navigate plates that are generous in both flavor and sheer size. A plate of Littleneck clams with cherry tomato and chili is a reasonable way to start before diving into ravioli stuffed with Maine lobster and coated in a spicy tomato vodka sauce. This is food that sticks to your bones, and much of it arrives piping

Pammy's

$$$Mediterranean Cuisine

Chef and owners Chris and Pam Willis run this utterly charming operation in Cambridge. With its inviting space outfitted with salvaged finds, personable service and enticing Mediterranean menu; it's the perfect neighborhood restaurant. The prix-fixe menu offers tempting flexibility and is designed to be a three-course meal bearing product-focused, Mediterranean inspiration. Baccala enriched with mascarpone and served with boquerones, dried sour cherries and puntarelle presents a riotous combination of flavors, while squid ink-tinted gnocchi are impressively light and tender. Dessert is additio

Oleana

$$$turkish, middle_eastern

The Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and in particular Turkey are celebrated at this longstanding and ever-popular Cambridge restaurant. The menu is divided into vegetables, fish and meat and it’s well worth exploring all sections when ordering a selection of the small plates. Highlights include wonderfully light ricotta and corn dumplings; meaty swordfish chraimeh with couscous; and intensely flavored quail kebab with pistachio. For a refreshing summer dessert look no further than the Turkish bici bici.The wood paneling creates the feel of a cozy chalet, while above it a row of boncuk –

🕐 Su-Th 17:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:30-23:00

Moëca

$$$$Seafood

The hum of contented diners, judicious lighting, a confident service team and a sophisticated feel to the room all reassure you the moment you enter that you’ve chosen the right spot, especially if it’s date night. Sharing is the key when it comes to the menu, where fish and shellfish are given center stage in an appealing collection of dishes, big and small. The seafood is responsibly sourced, and the flavors are global, whether that’s tamarind sauce with buttermilk-fried monkfish, or 'nduja with tuna. If you’re after some pasta, don’t look further than deliciously creamy spaghetti with Maine

Giulia

$$$italian

It’s all about the pasta here at Giulia, sister restaurant to Moëca around the corner. There are usually around nine varieties on offer; you can go for lighter choices like fresh-tasting fusilli with tomato and zucchini or plump for the smooth ribbons of pappardelle with succulent braised wild boar and pair it with a red from the all-Italian wine list. Start by sharing some burrata or caponata and you’ll leave feeling fully satisfied. The atmosphere is great and it’s always very busy – although the team copes effortlessly with the numbers. If you haven’t booked, try your luck with the counter

🕐 Mo-Th 17:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:30-23:00

Urban Hearth

$$$American Contemporary

Urban Hearth has just a sprinkling of tables and a four-seat bar that's reserved for guests enjoying the multicourse tasting menu but it's worth making an effort to snag a seat here. Chef Erin Miller leans into a farm to table approach, with seasonal elements and foraged ingredients worked into dishes that showcase the best of New England. This is a kitchen that takes its time delivering fresh, well-prepared plates like an heirloom tomato salad with whipped goat cheese and black sesame togarashi crisps or fazzoletti pasta tucked with broccolini and tossed in a saffron sauce with ricotta and hy