Parziale’s for a slice of pizza (North End) Alive and Kickin’ for Lobster sandwich (Cambridge) Union Oyster House for clam chowder (Downtown/North End) El Pelon for a burrito (Fenway neighborhood) Flour Bakery for a sandwich/fruit tart/boston creme pie (many locations) Al’s State Street Cafe for a sandwich (State Street/Financial District)
North End Goodies:
Modern Pastry (for a crunchy, authentic cannoli) Mike’s Pastries (for the kids. Best variety of flavors) Bricco/Il Panneteria (for bread/Italian Deli food)
Where to get good seafood:
Row 34 Atlantic Fish Company Island Creek Oyster Bar Barking Crab (if you were here 10 years ago, don’t worry, it’s got a new chef) Cafe Sushi (get the omakase for a splurge) Saltie Girl (inventive seafood, Back Bay)
Local Places I take my wife for a night out, not too cheap, not too expensive:
Tangierino (Charlestown, Moroccan fusion, Hookah bar downstairs) Vivi (Jamaica Plain, farm-to-table experimental American) Ten Tables (Jamaica Plain see above) Brown Sugar Cafe (Boston’s best Thai) Alden and Harlow (Harvard Square, American tapas) Cafe Romero (hidden Mexican courtyard off Newbury Street, Back Bay) Row 34 (Seaport, ask for the lobster tacos, great for lunch)
Fine Dining/Upscale:
Jamie Mammano restaurants (Ostra, Mistral, Teatro, Sorellina) Barbara Lynch’s Restaurants (No. 9 Park, Menton, Drink, Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters) Mastro’s (Seaport) Mooo . . . (Beacon Hill/steak) Meritage (Boston Harbor Hotel) Top of the Hub (Prudential Center (disclaimer: recommended more for the view than the food. Without the view, they wouldn’t be on this list)
North End Italian from high end to low end:
Mama Maria (very high end, but also very good) Prezza (high end and tasty) Carmelina’s (the very best spot that is also open for lunch. Good for dinner, too) Quattro (upscale pizza and pasta, also good for lunch) Aqua Pazza Famiglia Giorgio (most stereotypical, giant portions, spaghetti and meatballs, good for kids) Regina Pizzeria (voted best pizza in USA)
Parziale’s for a slice of pizza (North End) Alive and Kickin’ for Lobster sandwich (Cambridge) Union Oyster House for clam chowder (Downtown/North End) El Pelon for a burrito (Fenway neighborhood) Flour Bakery for a sandwich/fruit tart/boston creme pie (many locations) Al’s State Street Cafe for a sandwich (State Street/Financial District)
North End Goodies:
Modern Pastry (for a crunchy, authentic cannoli) Mike’s Pastries (for the kids. Best variety of flavors) Bricco/Il Panneteria (for bread/Italian Deli food)
Where to get good seafood:
Row 34 Atlantic Fish Company Island Creek Oyster Bar Barking Crab (if you were here 10 years ago, don’t worry, it’s got a new chef) Cafe Sushi (get the omakase for a splurge) Saltie Girl (inventive seafood, Back Bay)
Local Places I take my wife for a night out, not too cheap, not too expensive:
Tangierino (Charlestown, Moroccan fusion, Hookah bar downstairs) Vivi (Jamaica Plain, farm-to-table experimental American) Ten Tables (Jamaica Plain see above) Brown Sugar Cafe (Boston’s best Thai) Alden and Harlow (Harvard Square, American tapas) Cafe Romero (hidden Mexican courtyard off Newbury Street, Back Bay) Row 34 (Seaport, ask for the lobster tacos, great for lunch)
Fine Dining/Upscale:
Jamie Mammano restaurants (Ostra, Mistral, Teatro, Sorellina) Barbara Lynch’s Restaurants (No. 9 Park, Menton, Drink, Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters) Mastro’s (Seaport) Mooo . . . (Beacon Hill/steak) Meritage (Boston Harbor Hotel) Top of the Hub (Prudential Center (disclaimer: recommended more for the view than the food. Without the view, they wouldn’t be on this list)
North End Italian from high end to low end:
Mama Maria (very high end, but also very good) Prezza (high end and tasty) Carmelina’s (the very best spot that is also open for lunch. Good for dinner, too) Quattro (upscale pizza and pasta, also good for lunch) Aqua Pazza Famiglia Giorgio (most stereotypical, giant portions, spaghetti and meatballs, good for kids) Regina Pizzeria (voted best pizza in USA)
