The Only Boston Restaurant Guide You'll Ever Need

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When we learned that one of our favorite chefs, George Mendes, was leaving New York City to run the food and beverage program at Raffles Boston, including his signature Portuguese spot Amar, we realized it was time to take a closer look at Boston’s dining scene.

For that, we turned to restaurateur Kathy Sidell, founder of Saltie Girl — that temple of sustainable seafood and jewel-like tinned fish — to be our guide to the best of the best in her beloved home town. She’ll take it from here.

A born and bred Bostonian, I have experienced the full spectrum of its seasons and the city’s evolution over the years. The bracing winters make the warmth of spring and summer sweeter, and the return of fall, when the air holds a specific crispness, always feels like a gift. My father, Jack Sidell, was instrumental in creating change in the food world, financing and fostering talented young chefs in the 1980s — such as Jasper White, Todd and Olivia English, and Gordon Hamersley — who would come to blow open the restaurant scene in a city previously best known for big occasion seafood places overlooking the water.

I had an early window into the culinary scene and absorbed it into my skin. Living on the New England coast and spending much of my time on sailboats also established my passion for anything harvested from those icy waters. I currently own and operate Stephanie’s on Newbury, which is gratefully in its 30th year, as well as Saltie Girl Seafood Bar in the Back Bay, which expanded to Los Angeles in late 2023. But there’s so much richness to Boston that continues to draw me in. The sense of community we get from our shared passion — and doggedness about our sports teams — is unrivaled, and Boston is the temple of higher education. In many ways, Boston feels like the tale of many cities that all weave together, buttressed by history and a distinct sense of place that is uniquely ours.

Places I Absolutely Love

Contessa
The Major Food Group Italian stunner designed by Ken Fulk sits above The Newbury Boston hotel and has an epic view at sunset and a handsome, buzzy bar. With this restaurant, a little piece of NYC arrived in Boston, and it’s quickly become a favorite. Highlights include crispy calamari Marco with salsa rosa, paper-thin squash carpaccio, and all the pastas, though I especially loved spaghetti Genovese and rigatoni carbonara. I also love The Newbury bar on the ground floor of the hotel for an after-work cocktail or a late-night snack.

Ostra
Ostra is an occasion for some of the freshest fish in town and a stunning raw bar. Try the smoked salmon tartare, whole salt-crust branzino for two, or roasted local monkfish saddle. They offer a good steak selection, as they also operate Mooo, a terrific steakhouse in Beacon Hill. Service and food are always impeccable.

Uni 
An inventive sushi restaurant tucked away in The Eliot Hotel serving unusual cuts of fish and original dishes with unexpected flavor profiles. When I was there, I loved the fatty tuna with ghost pepper, longtooth grouper, and white soy tagliatelle tangled with Dungeness crab in a red curry. It’s fun, buzzy, and experimental.

Grill 23
A Boston staple since 1983 and hands down the most beautiful steakhouse in the city with a majorly impressive wine list. Downstairs can be very noisy due to soaring ceilings, but you will find a little more peace at the bar upstairs. Must orders include truffle tater tots, wagyu meatloaf, big ribeyes, and coconut cake.

Saltie Girl
Full disclosure, this is my restaurant, and I love to introduce visitors to a taste of Boston through our menu. We’re known for our lobster roll (try it hot) and our extensive tin fish collection (160 at this time) served with piquillo pepper jam, French butter, and Iggy’s bread. We serve every iteration of fish possible, from raw to fried to smoked to poached and more. Don’t sleep on the lobster waffle. During the warmer months, our patio is great for that quintessential al fresco dining moment.

Stephanie’s
My other restaurant, Stephanie’s, is a 30-year-old institution. While Saltie Girl is a destination for all things seafood, Stephanie’s serves classic, everyday American fare. Think large burgers, great salads, mac & cheese, and, of course, an epic weekend brunch with a bloody mary bar. It’s perfect for a group. Sit on the patio and indulge in people watching in the Back Bay.

La Padrona
La Padrona at Raffles Boston is a spectacular room with a circular bar smack in the center. It’s a grand sort of restaurant that oozes sophistication for a special night out. Chef Jody Adams’ menu was inspired by her travels to Italy. I love the warm burrata cheese bread and beautiful whipped ricotta served with flatbread from Sicily. And they have fantastic wines by the glass. Request a booth on the perimeter or saddle up to the bar if you are noise sensitive.
Now let’s get into the neighborhoods.

Downtown

Bakeys
A bakery known for its babka. Go for a walk in the public garden, take a swan boat ride, then pick up some warm sweet braided bread.

Somaek 
Award-winning local chef Jamie Bissonnette opened this Korean izakaya as an ode to his wife’s family’s heritage. It’s small, intimate, and original. Next door, he also operates Sushi at Temple Records, a vinyl listening bar and a subterranean 20-seat sushi restaurant reminiscent of subway sushi you find in Tokyo. Jamie is boldly taking the restaurant scene in a super cool direction.

Peach Farm
Peach Farm remains an industry favorite in Chinatown. Open late and located down rickety stairs in a hovel of a place, it’s all about the excellent food and incredible fresh seafood like whole Dungeness crab, spot prawns, baby shrimp, and soft shell crab, salt-and-pepper style. Their amazing pork is redolent with sweet pieces of perfectly fried pork. Get any of the fried rice options.

O Ya
O Ya is a tiny but mighty Japanese jewel in Boston. A nightly omakase of twenty courses featuring nigiri, sashimi, and cooked dishes is offered at $295 per guest.

The rest of this article — with Kathy's picks for South End, Brookline, Somerville, Cambridge, Fenway, North End, Seaport, and Downtown — is for subscribers. Sign up for our newsletter Way to Go for your all-access pass.