Row 34 on Congress Street has run the Fort Point oyster room in Boston since 2013. Named for row 34 in Duxbury Bay, the bivalve list runs 20 East Coast varieties daily.
Signature dishes: Duxbury oysters, Crispy oysters
Must order: A dozen mixed oysters and the crispy oysters with sriracha aioli.
Tip: The bar runs the same menu without the reservation lead time, and Tuesday nights are the easy walk-in seat at the counter.
Address: 383 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
Garrett Harker's Eastern Standard reopened in the Bower complex on Beacon Street in 2023, recovering the Kenmore Square brasserie template Boston lost in 2020. Cocktail programme, all-day menu.
Signature: Burger and frites, Oysters Rockefeller
Order: The ESK burger with house frites and an Aviation cocktail.
Tip: Pre-Sox-game dinner books out by 17:30. Late-night service runs to midnight on weekends.
Jamie Mammano's modern steakhouse inside the XV Beacon Hotel has anchored Beacon Hill in Boston since 2007. Dry-aged Black Angus, raw bar, a 1,200-bottle wine cellar.
Signature: Dry-aged porterhouse, Tomahawk for two
Order: The 28-day dry-aged ribeye, medium rare, with bone marrow.
Tip: Lunch is the under-the-radar seat. Pre-theatre menu at 17:30 prices the steak below the dinner card.
Ana Sortun's Inman Square room has run an Eastern Mediterranean kitchen in Cambridge since 2001. Turkish, Syrian and Lebanese plates from Siena Farms produce, a Beard Award since 2005.
Signature: Sultan's delight, Spiced chickpea fritters
Order: The sultan's delight: tamarind-glazed beef on smoky eggplant cream.
Tip: The garden patio in summer is one of Cambridge's best outdoor seats. Books out three weeks ahead in season.
Cassie Piuma and Ana Sortun's meze room on Pearl Street in Somerville has run Turkish-style small plates since 2013. Surprise plates from the kitchen, James Beard finalist 2024.
Signature: Meze plates, Lamb manti
Order: Lamb manti, Turkish dumplings with yogurt and chili butter.
Tip: Order the chef's choice tasting; the kitchen will send the best of the night unprompted.
Chris and Pam Willis run Pammy's as a New American-Italian trattoria between Central and Harvard Squares in Cambridge since 2017. Michelin Bib Gourmand, a 36-seat counter.
Signature: Bolognese with house tagliatelle, Lumache cacio e pepe
Order: The tagliatelle bolognese with brown-butter aged parmesan.
Tip: Resy opens 30 days ahead and the room fills the same minute. Counter walk-ins from 17:30 weekdays.
The Helmand in East Cambridge has run an Afghan kitchen near the Cambridgeside Galleria since 1989. Wood-fired flatbread, charcoal-grilled lamb and the Karzai family's recipes.
Signature: Kaddo, Aushak
Order: Kaddo, pan-fried baby pumpkin with garlic-yogurt and meat sauce.
Tip: Reservations easy on weekdays. The kabuli pulao is the under-ordered dish; ask for it.
