Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Boston

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Boston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Dotty's Kitchen & Raw Bar

5.0

5 (18)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Quincy

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

JackieVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Had an amazing time at Dotty’s! Food was phenomenal—they served a salmon toast special this evening that was absolutely incredible. I hope they make it a permanent feature on the menu. The service was spectacular. All the staff were so friendly and attentive. We will most definitely be back! A wonderful evening spent.

Nirvana: The Taste of India

5.0

5 (180)

$30 and under

Indian

West Cambridge

About the restaurant

Nirvana, an epicurean Indian restaurant in Cambridge presents traditional Indian cuisine with a contemporary flair. We boast a lunch buffet, outdoor seating during the warmer months and a full-service bar with craft cocktails that flatter our flavor rich dishes.
Our head chef Paramjit Singh hails from Punjab, India where the tandoor method of cooking originated. He brings over 20 years of experience to our kitchen and combines traditional cooking methods with novel ingredients to create innovative meals for our guests. As an 80-seat restaurant on historic Massachusetts Avenue, Nirvana endeavors to promote a transcendent experience through food, drink and great company.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

Lovely real Indian food! Service was great, and prices are very fair. We will be back.

Moonshine 152

4.9

4.9 (1778)

$30 and under

American

South Boston

About the restaurant

A modern -American, neighborhood bistro restaurant in Southie (South Boston) by Chef-owner Asia Mei (as seen on Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay & Phantom Gourmet). With a globally-inspired, comfort food meets street food menu, Chef Asia puts her unique spin on both East & West Coast style cooking, striving to match the beautiful restaurant’s aesthetic, contributing to numerous glowing re-reviews, accolades & praise. Her "Best of Boston" Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings, her award-winning Burgers & Vegetarian Burgers, Street Tacos & weekly changing specials are only some of the reasons she was awarded the 2023 Best of Boston Neighborhood Restaurant in South Boston.

Moonshine 152 is located at 152 Dorchester Avenue, on the corner of Dorchester Avenue & West 4th Street in South Boston. We are one block from the Broadway Red Line train station, with bus connections local bus connections. We are a short walk from the South End & Ink Block neighborhoods as well as The Seaport & Downtown Boston.

Top review

Mary Clare

Dined 2 days ago

Always amazing and I’m not just talking about the food. The ambiance and hospitality is off the charts. If you haven’t been here you’re missing out!!

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Popular dish

Butterscotch Pudding

A photo of 'Shine Famous Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites of a restaurant

Popular dish

Jalapeno Crab Rangoons

Vuolo's

4.9

4.9 (178)

$30 and under

Italian

Winthrop

About the restaurant

Named after our beloved grandfather, we are a small family-owned establishment built on a commitment to making every patron that walks through our doors feel they are at home. Our approach, in addition to supplying friendly and attentive service, is to take the traditional Italian cuisine that our family grew up eating and elevate it to something new and fresh.

Mangia!

Top review

CharlotteVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always a pleasure! I love that I can get gluten free options (and a roll too)! My husband just loves the chicken parm! Thanks and Happy New Year!

Piccolo Nido

4.9

4.9 (310)

$31 to $50

Italian

North End

About the restaurant

Piccolo Nido in Boston is an Italian restaurant with a family atmosphere, owned and operated by chef Pino Irano from Napoli. Piccolo Nido’s dinner menu includes a daily soup option, as well as classic antipasto and pasta dishes. Enjoy an espresso or cappuccino with dessert, and enjoy getting to know Pino when he steps out of the kitchen to greet the patrons.

Entrees at Piccolo Nido include favorites such as spaghetti and gnocchi, but also has options for lovers of true Italian flavors, such as veal and trout. The fresh catch of the day is also available for the freshest seafood around, and diners can also enjoy tiramisu or a dessert of the day.

Top review

Peggy and greg

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Outstanding….My favorite North End restaurant. The whole night was a great experience.

Select Oyster Bar

4.9

4.9 (2523)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Back Bay

About the restaurant

Select Oyster Bar, the first solo venture from chef Michael Serpa, is a neighborhood oyster bar & seafood restaurant in the heart of Back Bay. Select offers fresh, local seafood with Mediterranean influences in a cozy brownstone space. A carefully curated raw bar, creative crudo, and thoughtful fish entrees round out the menu. A seafood centric wine program feature classic pairings as well as off the beaten path selections is the center of the beverage program, alongside artisan cocktails and craft beer.

Food & Wine America's Best New Wine Bars, Boston Mag Best New Restaurant & Best Wine Program, Improper Bostonian Best Seafood.

After 15 minutes past reservation time, we may seat your table. Please call us if you are running a bit late.

If you do not find the time slot you are looking for, give us a ring 857-239-8064.

Visit our website for more information on our reservations.

Top review

Ashley

Dined 3 days ago

Hamachi crudo THE BEST! Octopus is great too! Oysters amazing!

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4.8

4.8 (98)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Back Bay

About the restaurant

Welcome to Moon Bar. We offer globally inspired small plates by Chef Carl Dooley in a bar setting.

Top review

nancy

Dined 3 days ago

great creative menu, friendly & helpful server. raw fish dishes were all great. got a table for 4 when we got there early so it was more comfortable than sitting at the bar for our group.

Rossetti Restaurant of Lynn

4.9

4.9 (2565)

$30 and under

Italian

Lynn

About the restaurant

Rossetti Restaurant aims to serve well executed, traditional Italian cuisine, alongside the art of mixology and inspired craft cocktails. Our kitchen offers a variety of classic and new age dishes with nothing but the best ingredients. Our bar and resident mixologists offer fantastic service and cocktails, highlighted by details: hand-cut ice, house made bitters, barrel aged concoctions, and daily fresh squeezed juices. We aim to please all of our guests, and make sure we create a casually elegant, but most importantly, comfortable atmosphere. We hope to see you there!

Top review

Dined today

Have been to Rosetti’s twice now and the place is not only immaculate, but the food, service, and drinks are above and beyond. My girlfriend and I’s first time out by ourselves since having a baby recently and everything was over the top! Octopus, and gnocchi for apps, flawless to say the least Chicken margherita and chicken braciolettini for mains As restaurant owners ourselves we don’t get out much but when we do, we strive for the best meal possible and Rosetti’s is just that! Thank you for putting out an amazing product and meals, we will see you in two weeks!

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Popular dish

Chicken "Margherita"

Popular dish

Fresh Lobster Ravioli

Yellow Door Taqueria - Dorchester

4.9

4.9 (138)

$30 and under

Mexican

Dorchester

About the restaurant

At Yellow Door Taqueria, we are serving up traditional & contemporary Mexican cuisine with a New England Spin. Our traditional tacos each have an individual twist and they're all served on the tortillas we make fresh every morning. We offer a full bar and have a stacked drink menu including several different kinds of Margaritas, an extensive tequila, and mezcal list, as well as carefully craft cocktails. If you're not into the hard stuff, no worries, we have mocktails, Mexican sodas, beer, wine, and more!

This is our original location which lives in the heart of Lower Mills, Dorchester. We are right in between our two sister restaurants Lower Mills Tavern and Madre Osteria & Bar - Perfect spots to grab a drink before or after your reservation!

Our second location resides in Boston's South End at the InkBlock apartment community.

We are open 7 days a week for dinner & for brunch on the weekends!

Top review

Maureen

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Excellent food, service, atmosphere and I love being able to make a reservation! A must neighborhood visit! Fish tacos are my favorite:)

Prairie Fire

4.8

4.8 (496)

$30 and under

American

Brookline

About the restaurant

We are currently open seven days a week. Saturday & Sunday we are open with an All Day Menu. Reservations can be made on our website, or through OpenTable. Due to the intimate nature of our dining room, if you would like to make a reservation for more than 4 guests, please give us a call at the restaurant.

We hold reservations for a 15 minute grace period. Please call us if you are running late, we will do our best to hold your table but cannot guarantee it. Due to the size of our dining room, we do appreciate 1.5 hour dining experiences for parties of 1-2 guests, 2 hours for parties of 3-4, and 2.5 hours for parties of 5 or more guests that book reservations. We always welcome walk-in guests to our bar.

Reach us at 617-396-8199 with questions, comments or additional assistance. We hope to see you soon!

Top review

MaleiaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent! Great service, cozy vibe, amazing food. Bone marrow was especially delicious! Definitely recommend…

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