Best restaurants in Boston? (Cambridge, Quincy: how much, house, neighborhoods)

[cruisinincranberry]

Hello,

I have a question for anyone that is a local in the city of Boston: What are the best 10 restaurants in Boston, maybe ranked from 1 through 10? We are staying in Copley Square for 5 days and I was hoping to have some nice places to eat each night. Also, where can we find the best clam chowder? I figured the locals would know best...Thanks!

[Verseau]

What kind of food are you looking for? Also, what's your budget? Two things that Boston has no shortage of are great seafood restaurants and great Italian restaurants (many in the North End). But which place you choose depends on how much you're willing to spend.

Boston's best chowder is a point of heated debate. A lot of hype goes to Legal Sea Foods (a local chain), but I think their chowder is completely overrated. I haven't tried a lot of different places, but I like the Union Oyster House's chowder much more than Legal's. A lot of people I know have recommended the chowder at Atlantic Fish Co. (not far from Copley Square), but I haven't tried it yet. Another one that gets recommended a lot is Neptune Oyster in the North End, but their chowder is more traditional/less creamy, with a stronger taste of clams (if you prefer that). Closer to Copley, I've also heard good things about the chowder at Turner Fisheries.

A lot of these seafood places are too expensive for me, but if you just get a bowl of chowder the price is never too bad. If you're still hungry, grab a cheap dessert at a different place. One must-do: the delicious cannolis at Mike's Pastry in the North End.

[Cantabridgienne]

There's no "10 best" but people can tell you their ten favorite....

[sobo16]

I would definitely try some restaurants in the South End while you're here. It's a short walk from Copley. Check out the menus for Franklin Cafe, Coppa, The Gallows, Aquitaine, Metropolis, The Butcher Shop, B&G Oyster, Hammersley Bistro, Stephi's on Tremont, and The Beehive. That's 10 right there...but I would definitely try restaurants other neighborhoods as well.

[shiver]

It really depends on your budget and preference.

Places like Craigie on Main (in Cambridge), Menton in the Fort Point/Seaport District. L'Espalier near Copley, No. 9 Park near the State House, and O Ya, are ranked high up there, but so is the pricetag. You won't get out of some of these places for less than $100/person not including drinks or tip.

Look at the Boston forum on the chowhound website. Lots of foodies on there who can give you some great advice. I also found this:

It's Boston Magazine's list of it's 50 top restaurants. It's actually a pretty good list.
50 Best Restaurants

You can also go old school and check out the Zagat's guide.

[edwardsyzzurphands]

My personal Top 10, in no particular order:

- Craigie on Main (Cambridge) - Craigie On Main » 853 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 | tel: 1-617-497-5511
- Island Creek Oyster Bar (Kenmore) - Island Creek Oyster Bar
- Neptune Oyster (North End) - Neptune Oyster - 63 Salem Street, Boston, MA 02110
- Coppa (South End) - Coppa – An enoteca by Ken Oringer & Jamie Bissonnette
- Toro (South End) - TORO by Ken Oringer | Boston's Premier Tapas
- Bondir (Cambridge) - Bondir | Sustainable Modern American Cuisine
- O Ya (Leather District) - o ya restaurant boston
- Clio (Back Bay) - Clio Restaurant
- Erbaluce (Bay Village) - Erbaluce - home
- Oleana (Cambridge) - Oleana

Keep in mind this list is mostly mid to higher end food. It would be a shame to come to Boston and not experience the great ethnic food selection as well. If there is a particular type of food you would like to try let us know.

Also we have access to some types of cuisine that are not as easily available around much of the country like Azorean and Cape Verdean food for example.

[sm4269a]

Hammersley Bistro on Tremont.

Take a ride up to Cape Ann - Gloucester/Newburyport - get some great and inexpensive seafood.

[City Guy997S]

Lemoncello (North End) is one I like. Great story, guy was a cook, won some money in the lottery and opened his own restaurant! It has been there over 10 years now and I try to get a table there everytime I am in town.

[xS☺B☺s]

Best Pizza - Regina
Best Thai - Brown Sugar
Best Pho - Pho Pastuer
Good Food Best View - Top of the Hub
Best Chowder/Seafood - Union Oyster House or Skipjacks
Best Place to get anything you want and damn good for <$10: Quincy Market
Best Cannoli - Mike's Pastries

[Cantabridgienne]

If by "best" you mean high-end, highly-regarded fine dining restaurants, I'd recommend

-Craigie on Main
-Clio
-Menton
-O Ya
-No. 9 Park (though I prefer eating at the bar here)
-Rialto
-Sorrellina

If you mean something else, you'll need to be more specific. How much $$$ and what kind of food? These aren't the kind of places that will have clam chowder on the menu...