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Restaurants in Boston


Due to its shared cultural roots with greater New England, the very freshest in local seafood dominates Boston's regional cuisine, along with a large emphasis on rum, salt and dairy products. Tourists eating our in Boston will want to try a cannoli before leaving: a traditional Italian pastry consisting a a tube of fried dough filled with a mousse, cream, or ricotta filling. The best are found at Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry.

Ideal for a takeaway lunch by the harbour or a quick bite to eat, Faneuil Hall still comes out tops with a fantastic cross-section of the city's cosmopolitan cuisine and manages to be a wonderful tourist attraction simultaneously.

The North End is a firm favourite with locals and features wonderfully intimate cafés, bakeries and eateries with enough gastronomic treats to get just about everybody's mouth watering, and Hanover Street has many good choices. The South End boasts some of the most elegant restaurants in Boston's dining scene, and those hoping to eat dinner there are strongly advised to make a booking.

Most restaurants in Boston close by 10 or 11pm, however those looking for late-night dining can head to Chinatown, where some eateries stay open as late as 2am.


$$$$$ | Italian

Pomodoro

An tiny unpretentious Italian restaurant with hard working staff and authentic Italian cuisine, Pomodoro is one of those neighbourhood restaurants that is frequented by locals and foreigners who keep coming back for more. Situated in the Northend, Pomodoro serves a wide range of Italian cuisine from traditional linguine marinara with lots of garlic and fresh herbs to seafood wonders like tiger shrimp. The affordable prices and quality of food make up for the simple décor, with most patrons being mesmerised by the activity and aroma escaping from the open kitchen and the food on their plate. Reservation recommended. Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Address: 319 Hanover Street
Telephone: (617) 367 4348
Website: http://pastapomodoronorthend.com

$$$$$ | American

The Capital Grille

The succulent and large proportioned steaks, served in style at The Capital Grille, send carnivores into raptures, particularly the enormous 24-ounce (680g) dry-aged porterhouse that is the restaurant's speciality. Steaks are hand cut and perfectly seasoned before being grilled and served along a choice of more than 350 bottle wine list. Seafood entrées are also on offer, and the desserts include a tempting homemade cheesecake. The décor is sophisticated and clubby. Open for dinner daily.

Address: 359 Newbury Street
Telephone: (617) 262 8900
Website: http://www.capitalgrille.com

$$$$$ | American

Max and Dylans

This hip low lit and sharp angled venue is half bar and half restaurant, perfect for casual dining or big gatherings of friends. The food is unpretentiously delicious with an array of meals that mom used to make, only better. Mac & cheese and meatloaf take centre stage alongside other deceptively simple dishes that will have even food snobs sneaking in bites.

Address: 15 West Street, Downtown
Telephone: (617) 423 3600
Website: http://www.maxanddylans.com

$$$$$ | International

Hamersley's Bistro

One of Boston's great chefs presides over his own bar, café and dining room in a baseball cap, turning out his now famed signature dishes. The menu changes seasonally an this spring, for example, features spicy halibut and clam roast with bacon braised greens, white beans and black trumpet mushrooms. The atmosphere is relaxed, but the food is serious. Open for dinner daily. Reservations recommended.

Address: 553 Tremont Street
Telephone: (617) 423 2700
Website: http://www.hamersleysbistro.com

$$$$$ | Asian

Pho 'n Rice

The Boston area's eclectic heritage is best appreciated through its foods and nowhere better than at Pho 'n Rice. For the uninformed pho is deceptively simple traditional Vietnamese soup consisting of light but strong broth and noodles with pieces of meat and vegetable that continue to cook in the bowl. Pho 'n Rice has added great variations to the traditional meal along with some Thai style dishes that promise to be both light on the wallet and waistline. They'll even deliveryour dinner to you for a $2 charge.

Address: 289 Beacon Street, Somerville
Telephone: 617 864 8888
Website: http://www.phonrice.com

$$$$$ | Seafood

Legal Sea Foods

Known for serving some of the best clam chowder in Boston, Legal Sea Foods offers a range of fresh local seafood and steaks. The large restaurant has three levels, and the top dining room and balcony offer stunning views of the harbour, and the staff is attentive and knowledgeable. Booking ahead is recommended, as there can be long queues at peak times.

Address: 270 Northern Avenue, Liberty Wharf
Telephone: (617) 477-2900
Website: http://www.legalseafoods.com/restaurants/boston-legal-harborside

$$$$$ | American

Durgin Park

'Your father and grandfather probably dined with us' says the advertising slogan for this Faneuil Hall market restaurant, which has been feeding the hearty appetites of locals for well over a century. Today the restaurant is a tourist attraction simply because the cuisine it serves is still authentic old style New England. The food is unpretentious, honest and good, including favourites like clam chowder, fish chowder, fish cakes and beans, chicken pot pie, prime rib, roast turkey, cornbread, Indian pudding and apple pie. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Address: 340 Faneuil Hall Market Place
Telephone: (617) 227 2038
Email: durginpark@arkrestaurants.com
Website: http://www.durgin-park.com

$$$$$ | American

Speed's Famous Hot Dog Wagon

This completely local haunt would be a shame to turn one's nose at as one should never underestimate the pure pleasure of a traditional American hot dog from a hot dog stand. This particular unassuming stand sets the bar for all others and is consistently listed as the best in the country. These behemoth dogs undergo an intricate cooking and marinating process only taste buds can understand. Open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm, and Saturday 11am to 3pm, with extended hours in summer.

Address: 54 Newmarket Sq. Roxebury
Telephone: (617) 839 0102
Website: http://www.bostonspeeddog.com

$$$$$ | Seafood

Atlantic Fish Company

Consistently ranked one of the top restaurants in Boston, the Atlantic Fish Company serves up local seafood like crab cakes, mussels, clam chowder, Atlantic cod, and lobster pot pie to hungry tourists and locals alike. The menu changes daily according to the day's catch. The dining room is built to resemble the interior of a classic cruising ship, and the outdoor patio. Atlantic Fish Company is open Sunday to Thursday from 11:30am-11pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11:30am-midnight. Reservations are recommended.

Address: 761 Boylston Street
Telephone: (617) 267-4000
Website: http://www.atlanticfishco.com

Bakery

Mike's Pastry

This Boston hotspot is known as the place to go to get the best cannolis in town. They specialise in Italian pastries, and have a dazzling array of freshly-baked delicacies to try. There's a small seating area, and they serve decent coffee for you to sip while you nibble on lobstertails, cupcakes, and cannolis with every filling imaginable. The best time to go is Sunday morning, as Mike's can get very crowded at other times.

Address: 300 Hanover Street
Telephone: (617) 742-3050
Website: http://www.mikespastry.com

$$$$$ | American

Silvertone Bar and Grill

The trendy subterranean lounge of the Silvertone has a retro vibe where the food is as comforting as the prices. The menu offers solid meals with a few fancy touches, like meatloaf and mashed potatoes, tasty macaroni and cheese, spicy Caesar salad and marinated steak tips. Cool cocktails, like the signature raspberry-infused vodka martini, and a varied wine list complete the picture, offered with friendly service. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday, and lunch on weekdays.

Address: 69 Bromfield Street
Telephone: (617) 338 7887

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