Pizzeria$$north-endMon-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Regina Pizzeria on Thacher Street has fired thin-crust pies in Boston's North End since 1926. The original location is the one that matters, brick oven.
Signature: Margherita, Giambotta
Order: The Margherita pie, blistered crust, just-melted mozzarella.
Tip: Walk-ins only at the North End original. Lunch at 11:00 is the easy seat; dinner waits run 60 minutes weekends.
Seafood$$$back-bayMon-Wed 11:00-22:00, Thu-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Kathy Sidell's Back Bay seafood room on Dartmouth Street has run the tinned-fish-and-crudo agenda in Boston since 2016. At 279 Dartmouth St.
Signature: Tinned fish board, Lobster roll
Order: Tinned fish board with anchovies, mussels, sardines and butter on toast.
Tip: The window counter is the easier walk-in seat at 17:30. Brunch books two weeks out on weekends.
Greek$$$back-bayMon-Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat 10:00-15:00, Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun 10:00-15:00, Sun 17:00-23:00
Demetri Tsolakis's Krasi on Gloucester Street has poured the country's largest all-Greek wine list in Boston's Back Bay since 2020. Priced at $$$.
Signature: Spanakopita, Whole grilled fish
Order: The taramosalata with house pita and a glass of Assyrtiko.
Tip: Reservations open four weeks out on OpenTable. The bar serves the full menu for solo diners.
Spanish$$$south-endMon 12:00-15:00, Mon 17:00-22:00, Tue 12:00-15:00, Tue 17:00-22:00, Wed 12:00-15:00, Wed 17:00-22:00, Thu 12:00-15:00, Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri 12:00-15:00, Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat 16:00-23:00, Sun 10:30-14:30, Sun 17:00-22:00
Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's Spanish tapas room on Washington Street has run the South End's small-plate template in Boston since 2005.
Signature: Maiz a la parrilla, Jamon Iberico
Order: Grilled corn with aioli, lime and queso fresco.
Tip: Walk-in only for dinner. Get to the bar at 17:00 to skip the 90-minute wait that builds by 19:00.
Italian$$$south-endMon-Sat 17:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette's Italian enoteca on Shawmut Avenue runs house-made charcuterie and Roman pastas in Boston's South End since 2009.
Signature: Charcuterie board, Cacio e pepe pizza
Order: The charcuterie board, all five cuts, with the bagna cauda.
Tip: The marble counter is the better solo seat. Walk in at 17:00 for the easy table.
Japanese$$$$back-baySat 17:30-22:00, Sun 17:30-21:30
Ken Oringer's UNI inside the Eliot Hotel on Commonwealth Avenue has run the city's contemporary izakaya programme in Boston since 2002, expanded 2016.
Signature: Hamachi sashimi, Wagyu nigiri
Order: The omakase nigiri flight and the spicy tuna roll with toasted sesame.
Tip: Late-night ramen menu kicks in at 22:00; the room is at its best after the dinner rush clears.