Piattini

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1106) • $$

"Came on a Sunday night for a party of 3 and there was no wait. Service was friendly and quick. Our server, Christian, was knowledgeable and gave several recommendations based on what we were looking for.The bread for the table was a simple rustic bread with fluffy chewy interior and hard crust. They will ask if you want bread. Two of us shared the Boscaiola which was rich but because it is vegetable based, filling but light. I really enjoyed the creamy mushroom flavor and the peas were a sweet addition.We also shared the Burrata Raviola. I am not very familiar with burrata, but is like a creamier version of mozzarella cheese. There is just the right amount of truffle flavor in the dish.A cute, casual spot for an informal date night or girl's night out."

Barcelona Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (125)

"What's hospitality? Seriously, ask yourself this whenever you visit a popular restaurant.On a recent Tuesday evening, I dined with a few friends. Despite having a reservation for 8:15 PM, we were seated between 8:30 and 8:40 PM. Initially, we viewed this as a minor inconvenience, thinking it was a typical busy evening.Throughout the evening, Mr. Mathew, the manager, checked in on us, ensuring our comfort and satisfaction. At the end of the night, he surprised us by waiving our entire bill, apologizing for the delay and emphasizing their unwavering commitment to hospitality.Such dedication to guest satisfaction is rare, especially in the competitive dining scene of Boston. I've dined at Barca WB in Rhino (Denver) and DC (14th St), but this experience set a new standard for what true hospitality means. Even bar seating for couples offers a delightful option, showcasing the restaurant's exceptional commitment to making every guest's experience memorable.In an era where customer service often feels like an afterthought, this restaurant's approach stands out. It's a place where you feel genuinely valued and appreciated, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking an extraordinary dining experience."

Zuzu’s Petals

★★★★☆ 3.9 (21)

"Zuzu's vibe is stellar. The decor (in my unprofessional guess of a description) can be described as vintage European meets cute mid century modern. They play jazz on the record player. It is an intimate, no tech zone. The servers were both lovely. What tacks off a star for me is the price. It is very expensive for just dessert. The portions are larger than a standard dessert at a restaurant, but it was still more expensive than I expected. Expect to pay $15-$18 for a single dessert. Regardless, I still think it's a nice experience to try if you're into dessert! Fyi - there is no sit-down fee as another review described so that must be outdated."

Barcelona Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1890) • $$$

"Heck yeah this place was delicious. We had a big group and did the prix fixe; small plates kept coming out! Faves were grilled octopus, meatballs, cheese plate, spinach. Cocktails were also standouts.Service was prompt, they missed a few drinks now and again but the place was slammed so I get it. Love the energy of this place. Will be back next time I'm in the area!"

Daniella’s Ristorante

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (100)

"Yes, the parking lot sucks - get over it. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is excellent, so its worth dealing with the hectic lot; the juice is worth the squeeze. First, I'd just like to say that they make the best hot-and-dirty around (top 3 ever, honestly). Mostly classics here, but done super well, using high quality ingredients. A sneaky star is the steak, especially tenderloin that comes with a perfect mushroom risotto."

Geppetto

★★★★☆ 4.3 (78) • $$$

"Geppetto was stellar! My favorites of what we ordered: the fried mozz appetizer (I've never seen it made or presented in this way before, with crispy bits layered on top and a delicious tomato sauce on the bottom), the lobster pasta, and the ginger pan cotta dessert. Things I would skip next time: the Caesar endive (not bad and I appreciated the inclusion of anchovies, the hallmark of a good Caesar, but the croutons tasted a little stale and I admit I am just not an endive person). I'd recommend getting the garlic pull-apart bread as a shareable on the first visit but aside from the pillowy innards, I thought the other dishes stood out more, particularly the two desserts. If you love boozy coffee desserts, you definitely need to get the tiramisu but I preferred the ginger panna cotta - my mind absolutely blown, one of the best desserts I've had in a while. I could have gotten my own order. Our waiter was awesome, gave us lots of great recommendations. We were trying to decide which dessert to get, including the special (some sort of napoleon), and I appreciated his very strong endorsement of the other two, which was borne out by how we licked the plates clean. Parking wasn't too bad - after circling around the area, we found a 2-hour spot about 5 minutes away. The Lechmere T stop also close by."

Fratelli

★★★★☆ 3.5 (195) • $$$

"I went with a group of friends who frequent this restaurant when they hit up the Encore Casino.We had an early dinner. The service and ambiance were impeccable. I tried the Pistachio Martini which was yummy. At the recommendation of my friends, I ordered the Bolagnase. It was flavourful and hot.I'd return to try more menu items"

Giulia

★★★★☆ 4.3 (586) • $$$

"I honestly have nothing bad to say about this spot. It's a must-try in the greater Boston area, especially if your budget allows for it!Two of us stopped by on a Thursday evening to try to get a table and were told the wait would be over an hour. We put down a phone number and got a call within 20 minutes that there were seats available. We were seated at the bar instead of at a table, but the bar was a really nice experience because the bartenders were friendly and super helpful with the menu. The drinks were excellent, too!We ordered a tartare dish that wasn't printed on the menu, the chicken liver crostini ($8), prosciutto di parma ($19), bucatini all'amatriciana ($26), papardelle ($30), some focaccia to mop up the sauces ($1/piece), and the blueberry upside-down cake ($14) to finish the meal. We were stuffed by the end of the meal.All of the dishes were incredible! I especially enjoyed the chicken liver crostini. It was packed with so much umami flavor that I was salivating while I ate it. The tartare was fresh and tasty and I would recommend it to anybody who likes raw beef. The prosciutto was rich and savory and came with sweet, juicy chunks of melon.I went into the meal expecting to prefer the papardelle over the bucatini but was pleasantly surprised to find out that I liked the bucatini more. Both pastas were prepared to a perfect al dente and had plenty of savory flavor. Whereas the papardelle had a very homey, earthy savoriness to it, I loved the brightness and tanginess that the tomato-based sauce brought to the bucatini. The tanginess paired perfectly with the crispy, sometimes fatty sometimes meaty pieces of pancetta, and everything was tied together with creamy pecorino.I'm glad we did not skip on the desserts. The blueberry upside-down cake had sort of a strawberry shortcake vibe to it. The highlight was the brown butter frosting which had so much caramel flavor. Everything on the plate was sweet, but not too sweet!I will have to come here many more times to sample the rest of their menu!"

Bin 26 Enoteca

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (347) • $$$

"Another neighborhood restaurant in beacon Hill that I've passed gazillion times I've never went to over the many years. Well better late than never the food was excellent and I really enjoyed my flank steak. I also enjoyed the small plates such as.com feed beef tagliata, lamb chops, eggplant parmesan and dessert which was chocolate mousse and tiramisu.. Will be back."

nathálie Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (71)

"Stopped at nathálie for a quick glass (okay fine, two glasses) of wine and a snack. It was a beautiful day out so we asked to be seated outside and they accommodated our request. The staff are very knowledgeable about the various wines and can help you select one if you are unsure or can't decide. Our waiter even grabbed us a few wines to try to make sure we picked something we liked. We enjoyed our wines and the charcuterie plate."

Gray’s Hall

★★★★★ 4.9 (39)

"Still thinking about the fried fish from here....not only does this natural wine bar have tasty wine, but their food!!!!I had my first orange wine here and LOVED it. I know it's a common gesture but it was nice to try some of it before receiving the full glass. I thought it was a great drink to have with the food we had like their tuna tartare, arancini, and the fried fish. The fried fish was perfect. I went to another natural wine bar recently and didn't love it as much as I loved Gray's. It's cute and cozy inside with the warm tones- I love the vibes inside. It's not the biggest space but there's also seats outside if anything. The bar is a beaut!!I made a rez but walk ins are def doable. It's super casual, so if you're ever in a little wine drinky mood, stopping by here is the answer. I will be back!!"

Prairie Fire

★★★★☆ 4.1 (219) • $$

"I had an excellent experience dining here for the first time! Our server was super attentive and very communicative about any dietary restrictions or allergies. The servers were constantly refilling our water and checking to see if we were doing okay.Four of us ordered 3 pizzas and 2 appetizers. This was plenty of food because we were all very full at the end and ended up taking half of a pizza to go.We started with some crispy potatoes ($13) and the mushroom toast ($18). Both dishes were so tasty! The crispy potatoes were like smashed fingerling potatoes-- super creamy and silky on the inside with a delicate, crispy skin on the outside. The mushroom toast had a nice balance between crispy toast, buttery aioli, and tender mushrooms. Both dishes were seasoned very well and had a good balance of flavors.For pizza, we got the margherita ($18), 'nduja ($20), and fennel & sausage ($21). I loved how they are not shy with the pizza crust, which was pillowy and fluffy! The pizza crust had a subtle sourdough flavor to it and was super charred on the outside. Some people might not be a big fan of this style, but I for sure love it! My favorite was probably the fennel & sausage pizza. The sausage had a lot of flavor and I loved the whipped ricotta on top."

Prima

★★★★☆ 3.9 (105)

"We came here for a birthday celebration mid week. Reservations were hard to get but due to the snow we were able to sit in the back room, incredibly romantic highly recommend trying to make your reservations in the back of the restaurant for date night and special occasions. Everything we ordered from drinks, appetizers through dinner to dessert were great. The cheese and meat board was delicious as was the gluten-free breaded mushrooms. The steak I ordered for my dinner was excellent and the staff were friendly, supportive and accommodating. To my surprise they even have gluten-free pasta.I'd love to return for another dinner or Sunday brunch. It was a great evening."

Amber Road Bar & Grille

★★★★★ 4.7 (7)

"The definition of a Hidden Gem! We loved almost everything about Amber Road. Ambiance is cute, although acoustics were a bit loud. Service from Ashlie was outstanding. She offered suggestions and was attentive throughout the meal, even though she was pretty busy. The food was really great, and we enjoyed everything we got. The lobster turnover was my favorite thing during the whole of this trip to Boston, and I will be thinking then when we get home. Black Truffle Chicken was also really delicious, too!Excellent drinks and a limited but thoughtful slate of wines by the glass.I already recommended it to a friend who was looking for a spot to dine this evening, and would tell anyone to get in for outstanding food!"

Vinotta

★★★★☆ 4.3 (86)

"I really enjoyed the ambiance. I thought the service was friendly. My aperol spritz was perfect. I enjoyed the antipasti. My favorite was the bruchetta. The prociutto was young but tasty but the cantaloupe was young too which was ok but it wasn't ripe..it really needed to be sweet. The porcini parpadelle was perfect! I loved it....so good. The chicken marsala was ok. The sauce was on the sweeter side and tasted more like a red wine sauce. The chicken was a bit dry and should have been more tender and seasoned. Finally the tiramisu was good. My server was so nice. She gave us complimentary limocello... loved it."

Bacco

★★★★☆ 3.8 (429)

"I came here with my wife and a few friends while in town for a conference and we had a good meal overall. We were seated upstairs, which provided a nice quiet atmosphere, but it was fairly chilly up there (and I usually don't get cold easily). Our service was good and our waiter was attentive. We started our meal with some olives and bread and the olives were great. We also tried their bruschetta, but it was the worst (and strangest) bruschetta that I've had as it had sweet corn on it, which just didn't work. Their current menu has a regular bruschetta, which is great and I'm glad that they still don't have that other one. I had gnocchi with spinach and that was delicious and my wife had mussels that she really liked as well, so we had a good meal overall. It's a nice restaurant overall and we'd recommend coming here."

PURO ceviche bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (340) • $$

"Came here for a brunch and got seated immediately outside which was what we wanted. Good: - The ceviche was good, a little expensive but I liked the tuna one. - The paella was good - lots of materials and flavor, some crispy rice too - You can choose outdoor or indoor seating which gave us plenty of options at 2 pm Bad: It took forever for the food to get there even though there weren't that many people eating, took about an hour for our paella to get there so don't come while you're in a rush It's pretty expensive even if you just share a few tapas and the paella with friends! Overall, might not go again due to the wait, but the food overall was decent."

Lucia Ristorante

★★★★☆ 3.6 (817) • $$

"Rant: Some of the reviews for Lucia are mind-boggling to me. I get that service can really derail a meal, but the blatent blasting of the quality of the food makes me question what kind of food these people actually enjoy. The one thing that I was able to correlate was the complaints were primarily lumped in 2 major categories: service and lunch (sometimes BOTH). /rantLucia lived up to it's roots - a 1970s mafia-capo-approved restaurant. It blends traditional with modern touches in the space and makes you feel like you are in a true trattatoria in Rome, Florence, or even Venice (minus the smell) when they have the windows and doors open. The food is perfection: pasta with a firm texture, calamari dredged and fried to perfection, meatballs that my Italian wife approves (not many places get that approval), and the sauce that accompanied my buccatini and my wife's gnocci tasted as if it was simmered from the day before. The price is inline with the North End, but one of the few places I don't actually mind paying the price for this type of quality. The menu boasts house specialties FROM Italy, not bastardized American versions of Italian classics. We shared 6 different dishes that were paired with perfect Italian wine selections (super Tuscans and montepulciano wine d'abruzzo, which makes sense since the theme of the place is the d'abruzzo region). While the service was not necessarily superb, it didn't leave us walking away begrudging the experience like a lot of the lower ratings ranted about. Could it improve? Sure. Enough to draw away from the amazing food and ambiance? No, not at all. Lucia moves at the pace that things do in Italy, it's a bit slow and not overbearing. The entire feel of the place transported me from Boston to Italy in an instant. While it may not be for everyone, there is nothing negative I have to say about Lucia - but that's because Italy is one of, if not my favorite places in the world. It's not America, it's not rude and fast-paced, but that's WHAT I love about Italy AND Lucia."

Bar à vin 1855

★★★★☆ 4.3 (55)

"Absolutely loved our brunch at this place! We had the basket of pastries to start, followed by the omelette with veggies. The pastries came with chocolate dipping sauce, which was incredible. The omelette was so fluffy and delicious. I also had three cappuccinos because they were so incredible! The wine list is great - I loved their Chablis. Net/net: It's not a huge menu but you can definitely find something delightful! The atmosphere is also very quaint. It feels like a little Parisian cafe."

Ma Maison

★★★★☆ 4.4 (516) • $$

"We just finished visiting a relative at Mass General and were looking for a lunch restaurant nearby. Look no further! Just across the road on Massachusetts is this lovely French bistro. Authentic to a T, with a wonderful lunch menu and an appealing wine selection, all wrapped in brick and decorated with classic touches. We did not have a reservation but fortunately there was a table for 2 available. We were greeted enthusiastically and seated promptly. Service was excellent throughout. The couple from Cognac next to us, speaking in French, is always a good indication that you're in the right place. We ordered a Sancerre and Rose along with escargot as a starter. Served with warm fresh bread it was a delicious start. My wife loved her smoked salmon on a croissant and I went with a traditional Croque Monsieur (ham and melted cheese). C'est magnifique! Go!"

Dovetail Restaurant & Shop

★★★★☆ 4.4 (58)

"excellent beer & wine selection. creative menu. excellent food, well made & delivered quickly. cool artsy vibe. not a tremendous amount of room, but not too tight.this is a quick walk from the USS Constitution Museum & probably wouldn't even have noticed it if we hadn't been looking for it. glad we didn't miss it."

Meze Estiatorio

★★★★☆ 4 (67) • $$

"We have been working hard to hit all the restaurants on Shrewsbury st in Worcester. We finally made it to this Greek restaurant. Small, but cozy place with a nice bar and some outside seating. Our waitress was top notch, sweet person, with great accent. She took time to explain different options and food choices. She convinced us to try the Boyourdi, and we were glad she did. Tasteful, spicy appetizer with homemade pita bread. We then moved on to the main course. I had the Mediterranean Cod. A perfectly cooked fish dish with feta, tomatoes and onions. Wife had Shrimp Saganaki. A spicy shrimp dish with fresh pita. We both ate every bit and then finished with a giant piece of Baklava. If your in the area or you want true Greek food, here is your place"

Batifol

★★★★☆ 4 (107)

"Our group's dinner and drinks at Batifol was a most outstanding experience. Besides good food and drink, we had superb service from a waitress who was extremely professional and a personality that just made it that much more enjoyable. We began with drinks outside and moved inside for dinner. The drinks are well crafted, and they tease you with their liquor supply being in the back of the bar against the windows for you to browse as you walk by. If you like oysters, consider the weekday oyster special of $1 each between 4-6pm.Dinners include but are not limited to a number of traditional French offerings. The wine list is expensive, and sometimes expensive, but our group was able to enjoy 2 bottles of a reasonably priced Cab Franc without breaking the bank. Everything was prepared well, came out together, and the meats were incredibly tender. My boeuf bourguignon included some of the most delicious roasted carrots I've ever had. Were we not already full from dinner, we would have ordered desserts too, and mine would have been the croissant bread pudding. If space and time permit, this is a wonderful place to practice "slow dining.""

Mida

★★★★☆ 3.8 (187) • $$

"Our experience here was quite exceptional. We had a fairly large party (of 7) and our server, Livia was outstanding. She must get a shout out. She knew the menu well, she knew her wines and she knew how to have a conversation. She was super attentive the whole time and played a huge role in making the dining experience so exceptional. Now onto the food. Ordered the focaccia cheesy bread, braised pork tagliatelle and the ricotta donuts for dessert. Let's start with the entree - perfect slow cooked pork in a light sauce with tagliatelle al dente. Well seasoned and super light. The focaccia - mouthwatering, crispy at the edges, soft in the middle. Ricotta donuts - could only handle one as it was so delicious. Reminded me of good ole beignets. The ambience at this MIDA was amazing - it was full but not noisy. How they make that happen is beyond me but it's fantastic. Go!"

Para Maria

★★★★☆ 4.1 (53)

"Went to Para Maria with my friends to share some snacks and a couple pitchers of sangria. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary but not a bad experience either. I'd say my favorite items were the croquettes and the taquitos. Service was friendly and quick, and there are plenty of larger tables so good for groups."

Spoke Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (284) • $$$

"Came on a Wednesday and this place was busy and great! Ambiance(3/5) cozy place, can easily get loud, very hotService (5/5) they were funny, smart/knowledgeable , and promptFood(4/5) we tried so many thing but that dip was amazing! The carrots was surprisingly a fan favorite and the bison was awesome too. Burrata was just okCocktails drinks(4/5) crazy unique flavors, hard to make your own decision on what sounds/ would be good. I definitely recommend asking for help to get a better perspective of what you might order.Overall i would definitely come back! The menu is pretty unique so its not for that that don't want to try things."

Colette Wine Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (156)

"First came where Colette just opened years ago, as I kinda dropped the ball on V-day dinner reservations, but found one here (since they were so new). Wish I came here a lot more afterward, especially now that they've changed the concept.The vol-au-vent was probably my favorite starter, with a velvety but flavorful mushroom sauce to go along with puff pastry. The restaurant does the French classics well, such as a well-executive French onion soup, a rich boeuf bourguignon, and a non-runny crème brulee. The entrees are generally excellent as well, with my favorite being their seafood dishes (bass, sole, or scallops).Service is excellent here, with friendly and accommodating staff. Sometimes, I've requested a different table (especially if it was for a special occasion), and they've already obliged. Admittedly, probably because it's French bistro food is why I didn't come, like, every week. While the food is excellent, it's quite rich. I felt like going to the gym right afterward. I'm skeptical about a "southern small plates" concept, but hopefully the restaurant will keep what was best about this spot."

Forage

★★★★☆ 3.8 (162) • $$$

"Forage in Boston offers a cozy and intimate dining experience with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. The omnivore tasting menu shines with creative and flavorful dishes that truly showcase the chef's talent. However, the vegetarian tasting menu, while decent, lacks the same level of excitement and complexity. Overall, it's a great spot for those who enjoy adventurous, meat-centric meals, but vegetarians might find the options just okay."

Rebel Rebel

★★★★☆ 4.2 (60)

"Great service and good wines. There wasn't enough left of what I asked for so I got another one for free!"

Nico Ristorante

★★★★☆ 4 (722)

Suyajoint

★★★★☆ 3.7 (154) • $$

"This is HEAVENLY. This sent me to HEAVENNNNN Oh my goodness imagine alll the flavors BUSTING in your mouth like I can't take it! With every bite I just feel like I'm being sent back to being born. For each dish, you get to choose your level of spice. For new timers, get the egusi soup and pounded YAM fufu. This is literally advertized "as seen on tik tok" on the menu which was kinda funny lol. But yes this is the one you see everywhere and it does NOT dissapoint! So fff good I wish I could bathe in the stew. It is NOT spicy at all so don't fear! and even so the pounded Yam diles back the spiciness if anything. I can't really describe what egusi tastes like, its like something completly different on its own. The palm butter stew was super rich and creamy and I got it with goat meat. The goat meat was so tender it just kind of falls apart in my hand! So juicy and so flavorful, only thing was I wished there was more sauce/liquid. Service was also great! We came when it was relatively empty and there was only 1 server. She was very nice but she also had to handle other tables that were much bigger like family size. But none the less she was super friendly and got us what we needed. The place was beautifully decorated and had AC! Super nice environment to just chill and relax. You know its a nice family business when they are counting reciepts and working on the table beside you lol.Overall, I dream about this in my sleep."

Sonsie

★★★★☆ 3.6 (1597) • $$

"Came here for brunch and was not disappointed. My friends and I sat outside in the patio area and it was so cute. The restaurant was very spacious. Great for a solo breakfast or catching up with friends. The food was delicious. Our server was really nice and helpful when it came to ordering."

Metropolis

★★★★☆ 4 (543) • $$

"Had dinner here on a weekday evening with my wife. We've walked by many times, but never seemed kid friendly, so couldn't pass it up on a date night. It's very cozy inside, nice atmosphere and service. For how small it is, the menu has a lot of choices. I had the risotto with chicken and mushrooms, it was great. My wife liked her salmon. I had the pumpkin tart for dessert, which was incredible. My wife had the orange crème brûlée, which she loved.It's on the more expensive end, even for a South End restaurants, and they add a 3% kitchen fee, which they disclose in the middle of a big chunk of fine print on the bottom of the menu. I was okay with that, but I could see some people being annoyed (it's a fair argument to say just charge more, don't hide it)."

Panza

★★★★☆ 3.8 (1511) • $$

"Came here for reservations with 3 of my friends. I came a little later than the rest so they were already seated by the windows as well as a handful of other tables.For appetizers we shared their bruschetta, mussels, and fried calamari. The tomato and basil mixture was light and bright on the well toasted hearty bread. Mussels were plump and flavorful in the white wine sauce. Pretty standard fried calamari with slices of banana peppers too. Since we ordered so many appetizers for 4 people, we opted for only 3 entrees to share including the seafood risotto, linguine carbonara, and braised beef short rib dinner. The seafood risotto had a considerable portion of clams, shrimp, and veggies. It was perfectly cooked with an ideal texture. The carbonara was creamy and decadent. Even the short rib was jam packed with flavor with the soft wedges of polenta. Overall, my friends and I had a wonderful time from the delicious food to the wonderful service. We walked out super full and incredibly happy. Would love to come again and recommend others to check them out too!"

Shays Pub & Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (250)

"Came here with my girlfriend for a quick mid-week dinner and left feeling satisfied and impressed! The eatery is small, and has a dark-cottage like feel. We sat ourselves and were served promptly. I ordered the chicken quesadilla, which was very juicy and jam-packed with minced pieces of fajita vegetables. It was delicious and cheesy. Every ingredient was very fresh and of good quality. It came with a side of cheesy refried beans, which were incredible! They were so good I'd honestly order them on their own. Wow! My girlfriend reported that her Bahn Mi sandwich was good, but a little on the hotter side. If you're a spice lover like me, though, that is a perk! Overall, we had a great dinner at Shay's and will definitely be back!"