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Rialto
The Top List of Great Restaurants - Boston, MA
The center of the New England food world.
by Cindy Atoji & Dana Braga
Boston is one of the country's oldest cities and the simple pleasures of its local cuisine let you come home again. Nationally recognized chefs like Todd English, Jody Adams and Frank McClelland are opening their second and third restaurants in the city and a dining explosion is taking place. But, in the midst of all this, some culinary landmarks remain the same and preserve the history and tradition of New England. That's a credit to generations of New Englanders who want to experience new food trends but who also want the security and comfort of longtime favorites.
We call ourselves the Hub of the Universe because just about every culture has called one of Boston's neighborhoods home. And every culture has left an indelible mark on the city's food landscape. From the authentic Italian aromas that fill the North End to the swank downtown French bistros to the upscale Brahmin eateries of the Back Bay to the sausage vendors on Yawkey Way outside Fenway Park, good meals and good times are endless in Boston. We might have World Series pipe dreams, but we know great food. Especially seafood, you won't find better fish and chips anywhere. We have no idea why Manhattan clam chowder is red. If you're looking for the white and creamy kind, skip the New York version and come to Boston for the world's best "chowdah."
CHINA PEARL
9 Tyler Street, Boston MA 02111
(617) 426-4338
Open daily, 8:30am - 11:00pm
Experiencing Dim Sum in Chinatown is a Boston “must,” and China Pearl is the classic gem. Climb the long staircase up to the mirrored dining hall, and you find yourself in a multi-level dining hall; room after room filled with mostly Asian American patrons, indulging in the Dim Sum, served off hot-food carts. The waiters speak limited English, but point to the delicacies and they’ll keep a running tab of your items. Dim Sum winners include Shiu Mai (pork dumplings) and scallion pancakes. The inexpensive but filling dishes make up for the battered décor, which has seen better days. If you really want to splurge for dinner, try a whole Peking Duck. China Pearl is one of the few restaurants in Boston which serves Dim Sum daily, not just on Sunday. Afterwards, stroll over to the nearby Boston Common or take in a show in the Theater District.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20-$30
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Years Eve-Open
L'Espalier
30 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 262-3023
(Mon-Sat) 5:30-10 p.m.
Stately brownstones are taken for granted by many Bostonians, but even the most jaded Brahmin will appreciate this fashionable Back Bay retreat, an architectural flashback to grander times. Housed in an elegant 1873 townhouse, this uppity French restaurant is modern and sophisticated. L’Espalier is often credited with being the first independently owned restaurant to bring haute cuisine to Boston when it opened in 1978. Travel down culinary byroads with the Chef’s Tasting Journey, a unique menu inspired by New England seasons. Chef Frank McClelland orchestrates an unforgettable melody of specialties, including truffles and caviar. Another five-star winner: Three-Course Prix Fixe, a mix and match of Italian-farmed Ossetra caviar, macomber turnip soup and Hawaiian pink snapper with artichokes and bluefoot mushrooms. Be sure to choose from the ample wine list, which includes small-scale artisanal producers who craft unforgettable flavors.
Estimated cost per person for dinner=$60-$90
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
OLIVES
10 City Square, Charlestown, MA 02129
(617) 242-1999
Hours: (Mon-Fri) 5:30 pm-10:30 pm; (Sat) 5 pm-10:30 pm
James Beard award-winning chef Todd English takes center stage in Olives open kitchen where he serves rustic Mediterranean cuisine. Olives was named one of Esquire Magazine's top ten restaurants and is a former Best of Boston winner by Boston Magazine. The dining room, with its big windows on Charlestown's City Square, is rich and inviting - the ideal setting for a celebratory dinner. From Olives popular "Classic Menu," try the spit-roasted, herb and garlic basted chicken with a mashed potato cake and watercress salad or the wood-grilled sirloin over a Tuscan bruschetta. In the warmer weather there is al fresco dining on the patio. Olives opened in 1989 and remains one of the city's trendiest spots to dine. If you're a fan of Olives, also try English's Kingfish Hall in Faneuil Hall, which he opened last year. English also has four Figs restaurants in the Boston area that serve not-so-traditional pizzas and pastas.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35 - $45
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
RIALTO
1 Bennett Street (Charles Hotel), Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-5050
Hours: (Sun-Thur) 5 pm-10 pm; (Fri & Sat) 5:30 pm-11:30 pm
Voted Best Romantic Restaurant by Boston Magazine. The soft lighting and chef Jody Adams' exquisite menu make Rialto the perfect place for an intimate meal. Located in Harvard Square, Rialto is chic and sophisticated, serving French, Spanish and Italian inspired cuisine, with too-die-for desserts. Adams is a James Beard winner for Best Chef of the Northeast. She uses only the freshest local ingredients in her dishes. Signature dishes include the slow roasted Long Island duck with braised escarole, roasted fingerlings and Sicilian olives and Tuscan style sirloin steak with sliced portabella mushroom and arugula salad, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and truffle oil.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $45 - $55
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
DURGIN-PARK
30 North Market Street, Boston, MA 02109
(617) 227-2038
Hours: (Mon-Thur) 11:30 am-10 pm; (Fri & Sat) 11:30 am-10:30 pm; (Sun) 11:30 am-9 pm
"Eat what your Grandpa ate" is the restaurant's slogan. So if you're looking for familiar comfort food that says "welcome home," head to Durgin-Park. Yes, it's a bit touristy, but for New Englanders, it's what family-style dining is all about. My grandparents first brought me to Durgin-Park more than 20 years ago, and I still go back every year for some home cooking. Established in 1826, Durgin-Park is one of the city's oldest restaurants and is located in the historic Faneuil Hall marketplace. Durgin-Park's chefs and sharp-tongued waitresses serve up New England classics - Yankee pot roast, chicken pot pie, shepherd's pie, roast turkey, cornbread, Indian pudding, Boston baked beans, boiled dinners and the best "chowdah" in the city. Upstairs you'll share tables, rub elbows and pass the breadbasket to strangers (some of them might even be famous) in an atmosphere of clattering dishes, laughter and good old-fashioned fun. If you want a single table for your party, eat downstairs. A hint: Don't call for a reservation, the restaurant has never taken one. It can accommodate about 250 people at a sitting. After dinner you can walk off that hearty meal with a stroll through the Faneuil Hall marketplace.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $15 - $25
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
MORTON'S OF CHICAGO
1 Exeter Plaza, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-5858
Hours: (Mon-Sat) 5:30 pm-11 pm; (Sun) 5:30 pm-10 pm
Morton's of Chicago brings the beefy taste of the Windy City to Boston (which Bostonians know is THE windiest city in the country). Hearty meat and potato eaters should bring their appetites to this carnivorous castle, located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay, where not just the shrimp is jumbo-sized. What you see is what you get at Morton's. The menu is a la carte and your server literally rolls out a cart and explains each offering. Morton's has plucked the biggest Idaho baked potatoes to complement huge Maine lobsters and a 48-ounce porterhouse steak. Also try the double cut filet mignon or broiled center cut swordfish. The New York Yankees have called Morton's their favorite "on the road" restaurant. No one leaves hungry and Morton's is a great place to begin a "guys night out."
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $60 - $70
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
CANTINA ITALIANA
346 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 723-4577
Hours: (Thur-Sat) 4 pm-11 pm; (Sun) 12 pm-10:30 pm
When Larry Bird played for the Celtics in the 1980s, Cantina Italiana was his favorite Italian restaurant. Bird will be happy to know that his favorite hasn't changed a bit since then. Located in the heart of the North End, Boston's Italian neighborhood, since 1931, Cantina Italiana is an old-fashioned Italian restaurant where you get a bottomless breadbasket and wine in a Frank Sinatra limited edition bottle. You'll spot this restaurant by its landmark sign: a large, neon bottle pouring wine. The atmosphere is warm and charming with cozy red and black booths and reliable and pleasant service. This longtime favorite serves some of the best in-house made pasta in the city that you'll ever eat. There is nothing fussy or pretentious about Cantina Italiana, just great Italian food. Recommended dishes are the homemade gnocchi, chicken parmagiana and baked lasagna.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $25 - $35
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
ANTHONY'S PIER 4 RESTAURANT
140 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 423-6363
Hours: (Mon) 11 am-11 pm; (Tues-Fri) 11:30 am-11 pm; (Sat) 12 pm-11 pm; (Sun) 12 pm-10:30 pm
Located on Boston's historic Fish Pier, Anthony's is an enormous two-story waterfront restaurant that offers one of the city's most spectacular harbor views and one of the best seafood menus. Tourists visit Anthony's but locals love it even more. Anthony's serves a slice of Boston history and tradition with every meal, starting with its signature popovers. Anthony's is the place for martinis, cigars and fresh seafood. You can't go wrong with any of the lobster specials, and you won't even feel funny wearing the lobster bib. In warm weather enjoy the ocean breeze from outside seating on the deck. Bring your mother and grandmother to celebrate Mother's Day or bring your sweetheart for an intimate dinner.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35 - $45
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
STOCKYARD RESTAURANT
135 Market Street, Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 782-4700
Hours: (Mon) 11 am-12 pm; (Tues-Fri) 12 pm-12 am; (Sat) 11 am-12 am; (Sun) 12 pm-10 pm
Located down the street from Boston College on the site where America's first stockyard stood, this steakhouse is a prime destination for groups who want to enjoy a good meal in a festive atmosphere where you always run into old friends. Many New England Patriots players have been spotted there dining on the hefty prime rib, porterhouse steaks and the world-famous barbecue baby back pork ribs. Hanging from the walls are the old chairs from Fenway Park and football helmets, crew banners and other memorabilia from each of Boston's colleges and professional sports teams. Order a plate of Boston's best onion rings and a cup of clam chowder - you can't go wrong.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20 - $30
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
MATT MURPHY'S PUB
14 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 232-0188
Hours: (Mon-Sun) 11 am-10 pm
Boston is a city known for its Irish roots and no list of Boston's best restaurants would be complete with out an authentic Irish pub. For some, good Irish food is an oxymoron, but Matt Murphy's serves up Celtic food that captures the spirit and tradition of Ireland. And that's no surprise because Matt Murphy's is based on the original Murphy's in West Cork, Ireland. Soda bread is made fresh each morning, and the crispy cod and chips come wrapped in the Irish Times. Other recommended dishes are the homemade Irish pork sausage with white beans and the shepherd's pie. The portions are huge, the atmosphere is loud, sometimes you have to table-share, but there's Guinness on tap and a huge selection of other beers - you'd swear you were transported right over the pond to a pub in Dublin. Matt Murphy's is a piece of Ireland right here in Boston. The restaurant accepts cash only.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $15 - $25
Holiday Schedule: Open for all holidays
Estimated cost per person for dinner is based upon one entrée, one beverage, and 20% gratuity.
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