Legal Sea Foods on Long Wharf, near the New England Aquarium in Boston, has anchored the chain's flagship since 1968. Boston clam chowder, the recipe served at every presidential inauguration.
Signature dishes: New England clam chowder, Lobster pie
Must order: A cup of clam chowder, the recipe served at five presidential inaugurations.
Tip: Lunch with a harbor-side window is the best seat. The raw bar runs daily until 22:00.
Address: 255 State St, Boston, MA 02109
Neptune Oyster on Salem Street has run the city's defining raw bar in Boston since 2004. 42 seats, no reservations, Gulf of Maine lobster roll on a buttered split-top bun.
Signature: Lobster roll, Oysters on the half shell
Order: The hot-buttered lobster roll, full-claw and tail, with fries.
Tip: Put your name on the iPad at 16:30, walk to a bar, and return when they text. The 20:00 wait can run 90 minutes.
Union Oyster House on Union Street has shucked oysters in Boston since 1826, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States. Daniel Webster's seat is still at the bar.
Signature: Oysters on the half shell, Clam chowder
Order: A dozen Wellfleets at the U-shaped bar and a cup of clam chowder.
Tip: Skip the dining-room tables and sit at the historic raw bar. The bar is the original 1826 plank.
Mamma Maria on North Square is the North End's fine-dining anchor in Boston, in a five-room brick townhouse since 1973. Northern Italian pastas, Tuscan game and a Barolo-heavy list.
Signature: Pappardelle with wild boar ragu, Veal osso buco
Order: The pappardelle bolognese; the kitchen makes the pasta in-house.
Tip: Book the upstairs Library room for a quiet conversation. The Sunday family menu at 17:00 is the easy walk-in seat.
Giacomo's on Hanover Street has run a no-reservations Italian-American room in Boston's North End since 1985. Cash-only, big portions, line around the block by 18:00 most nights.
Signature: Lobster ravioli, Fra diavolo
Order: Lobster ravioli with vodka sauce, the house signature.
Tip: Arrive by 17:30 to skip the longest wait. Cash only, BYOB welcomed from the wine shops on Salem Street.
Brothers Kenshi and Seizi Imura run Cafe Sushi on Mass Ave near Harvard Square in Cambridge since 1984. A James Beard finalist sushi counter; in-person dining returned December 2025.
Signature: Omakase nigiri, Hamachi sashimi
Order: The full omakase, $90 for 10 pieces and one cooked dish.
Tip: Twelve counter seats only; book on Tock 30 days ahead. Take-out bento boxes are the off-menu deal at lunch.
Allan Rodriguez opened Nine in August 2025 in the former No. 9 Park space on Beacon Hill in Boston, with longtime chef Andrew Simonich on the line. French-European menu, gin-focused bar.
Signature: Steak tartare, Uni spaghetti
Order: The uni spaghetti, the only dish Simonich carried over from No. 9 Park.
Tip: The Gin Palace bar pours 80 gins from around the world; sit there for the easier walk-in seat.
Neptune Oyster on Salem Street has run the city's defining raw bar in Boston since 2004. 42 seats, no reservations, Gulf of Maine lobster roll on a buttered split-top bun.
Signature: Lobster roll, Oysters on the half shell
Order: The hot-buttered lobster roll, full-claw and tail, with fries.
Tip: Put your name on the iPad at 16:30, walk to a bar, and return when they text. The 20:00 wait can run 90 minutes.
Union Oyster House on Union Street has shucked oysters in Boston since 1826, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States. Daniel Webster's seat is still at the bar.
Signature: Oysters on the half shell, Clam chowder
Order: A dozen Wellfleets at the U-shaped bar and a cup of clam chowder.
Tip: Skip the dining-room tables and sit at the historic raw bar. The bar is the original 1826 plank.
Mamma Maria on North Square is the North End's fine-dining anchor in Boston, in a five-room brick townhouse since 1973. Northern Italian pastas, Tuscan game and a Barolo-heavy list.
Signature: Pappardelle with wild boar ragu, Veal osso buco
Order: The pappardelle bolognese; the kitchen makes the pasta in-house.
Tip: Book the upstairs Library room for a quiet conversation. The Sunday family menu at 17:00 is the easy walk-in seat.
Giacomo's on Hanover Street has run a no-reservations Italian-American room in Boston's North End since 1985. Cash-only, big portions, line around the block by 18:00 most nights.
Signature: Lobster ravioli, Fra diavolo
Order: Lobster ravioli with vodka sauce, the house signature.
Tip: Arrive by 17:30 to skip the longest wait. Cash only, BYOB welcomed from the wine shops on Salem Street.
