NORTHEAST
Boston's Culinary Renaissance: 12 Must-Try Restaurants in 2025
Uni
By Eric Barton | Feb. 4, 2025
Back when I was a fresh-faced kid from southern New Hampshire, I'd make clandestine trips to Boston, seeking out hole-in-the-wall joints in Chinatown with menus exclusively in a language I couldn’t read. It was a culinary treasure hunt, each dish a mystery waiting to be solved.
Fast forward to 2025, and Boston's food scene has evolved into something that would've blown my teenage mind. It's a gastronomic powerhouse that competes with any major food destination. Here then are the best Boston restaurants right now, not picked by personal preference but by the sheer audacity and creativity of the chefs that make them possible.
1. Deuxave
371 Commonwealth Ave | Website | Instagram
Chef and founder Chris Coombs, along with new executive chef and Mass. native Ryan Zichella, bring modern French cuisine to life at this Back Bay gem. The menu showcases local ingredients prepared with classic French techniques, with the crispy duck confit a standout. The sophisticated wine cellar adds depth to an already impressive dining experience. It's the kind of place that makes you feel like you're in Paris, but with a distinctly Boston twist.
2. Uni
370A Commonwealth Ave | Website | Instagram
In the heart of Back Bay, Uni continues to reign supreme in Boston's restaurant scene more than 20 years after it first opened. That’s in large part thanks to a superstar crew: founder/chef/owner Ken Oringer, executive chef David Bazirgan and sushi chef Tsuyoshi Takeishi. Their innovative creations showcase fresh local seafood, earning Uni a Best Sushi Restaurant award last year from Boston Magazine. The omakase experience here is a journey through flavors that will leave you speechless, much like Uni first did for me nearly a decade ago.
3. O Ya
9 E St | Website | Instagram
Every once in a while, I stumble into a place that redefines what sushi can be, and O Ya is one of those rare finds. Chef Tim Cushman’s artfully composed plates—each a delicate dance of precision and innovation. The minimalist ambiance and refined energy of the space made every bite feel like a well-kept secret in Boston’s sophisticated culinary scene.
4. Saltie Girl
279 Dartmouth St | Website | Instagram
Located just off Newbury Street, Saltie Girl offers a seafood experience unlike any other in Boston. The restaurant's unique rooms span two floors, each with its own oceanic theme. Don't miss the selection of imported tinned fish, a rare treat that showcases artisanal preparations from around the world. It's a far cry from the canned tuna of my youth, and a delicious reminder of how far we've come.
5. Faccia a Faccia
278 Newbury St | Website | Instagram
This intimate spot near Newbury Street is perfect for date night. Chef Alex O'Connor's seasonal menu draws inspiration from the Italian coast, creating dishes that are both familiar and innovative. The sophisticated bar and ambient lighting contribute to a romantic atmosphere that's hard to beat. It's the kind of place where you can impress a first date or rekindle an old flame.
6. Toro
1704 Washington St | Website | Instagram
Toro is what happens when chef/owner Ken Oringer decides to bring Barcelona to Boston, and succeeds spectacularly. The small plates here are designed for sharing, but trust me, you'll be fighting your dining companions for the last bite of the yolk-topped sauteed mushrooms. The energy in this South End hotspot is infectious; it's like a non-stop culinary party that feels like Spain’s best all-night tapas spots.
7. Yvonne’s Boston
2 Winter Pl | Website | Instagram
Yvonne’s isn’t just another night out—it’s a subtle nod to reinvention that made me appreciate the city’s knack for turning the ordinary into something unexpectedly memorable. The atmosphere exudes a mix of vintage charm with modern quirks, and each dish is served with an undercurrent of thoughtful rebellion, even though I couldn’t verify every morsel of its award history. It’s a place where familiar comfort meets creative risk, reminding you that Boston’s dining scene is always evolving in its own offbeat style.
8. Grill 23 & Bar
161 Berkeley St | Website | Instagram
This Back Bay institution has been setting the standard for steakhouses in Boston for decades. Their 100-day aged prime ribeye is the stuff of legend, perfectly complemented by an extensive wine list. The elegant atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for special occasions or power lunches – though I'd argue any lunch here feels like a power move.
9. Harvest
44 Brattle St | Website | Instagram
Harvest doesn't just plop farm-to-table on the menu and call it done; it embodies its very essence. This Cambridge institution has been championing local, seasonal ingredients since before it was cool, and it shows in every dish, like this gnocchi special with vine-fresh tomatoes and shrimp. The menu, as changeable as New England weather, ensures that each visit is a unique exploration of what’s recently harvested.
10. Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave | Website | Instagram
A sister restaurant of Toro, Coppa transforms Italian comfort into a renegade culinary adventure—its handmade pappardelle drenched in a wild boar ragu and a side of charred eggplant caponata delivered a punch of flavors that was as surprising as it was satisfying. The restaurant’s vibe in the South End feels relaxed yet unapologetically creative, where every plate seems to tell its own tale.
11. Mooo
15 Beacon St | Website | Instagram
Mooo reimagines the classic steakhouse. In Beacon Hill, the setting is intimate and unpretentious. The bone-in ribeye, finished with a decadent truffle butter sauce, the grilled salmon atop celery root puree, and the wellington, made as a single serving, flaky pastry holding sauteed spinach and a beautifully pink filet within. While many of the classics get invented here, there’s also a nod to tradition, like the crème brûlée with tahitian vanilla and sugared grissini, served gratis on your birthday, a fine substitution, I’d say, for cake.
12. Buttermilk & Bourbon
160 Commonwealth Ave | Website | Instagram
Chef Jason Santos brings the flavors of New Orleans to the Back Bay with his creative menu. The eclectic décor, featuring bright red curved booths and intricate chandeliers, transports diners to a bygone era. Their buttermilk fried chicken, served with unique sauce options like Nashville hot and white barbecue, is a must-try. It's Southern comfort food with a Boston accent.
