Best of Boston
Where locals eat in Boston
Start with Neptune Oyster in North End for maine lobster roll, hot with butter or cold with mayo, Mike & Patty's in Bay Village for carolina Caviar breakfast sandwich and Pammy's in Cambridge for the handmade pastas. Here are all 12, with what to get at each.
- Neptune OysterNorth End · Lobster roll
Get: Maine lobster roll, hot with butter or cold with mayo
Toasted brioche roll from a walk-in-only North End raw bar. Tiny North End seafood spot famous for its lobster roll and oysters, expect a long wait for a seat.
- Mike & Patty'sBay Village · cafe
Get: Carolina Caviar breakfast sandwich
Tiny Bay Village breakfast sandwich spot, cash and cult-loved, known for the Fancy and lines out the door.
- Pammy'sCambridge · Italian-New England
Get: the handmade pastas. A cozy trattoria between Central and Harvard Squares
Cambridge restaurant blending Italian and New England influences, known for its baked pastas and lively basement bar scene.
- Regina PizzeriaNorth End, Boston · Neapolitan-style pizza
Get: A thin-crust pie from the original Thacher Street oven
The North End original, open since 1926. North End pizza landmark since 1926, known for thin crust pies in a cozy brick walled room.
- Bar MezzanaSouth End · coastal Italian
Get: the crudo and the house-made pastas. Coastal Italian for a night out or a bar stop
Lively South End Italian spot known for crudo, pasta and a seafood-forward, coastal Italian menu.
- Cafe SushiCambridge · sushi
Get: the omakase at the bar. A Cambridge sushi favorite
Long-running Cambridge sushi spot known for reliable rolls and a casual, neighborhood feel.
- Eastern StandardFenway · American brasserie
Get: the steak frites and the roasted bone marrow. The Kenmore brasserie, back again
Lively Fenway brasserie near Fenway Park, known for burgers, cocktails and a buzzy pre-game crowd.
- GiuliaCambridge · Italian, handmade pasta
Get: the pappardelle with wild boar. House-made pasta on Mass Ave
Cambridge Italian trattoria known for excellent handmade pasta and a warm, convivial neighborhood feel.
- Santarpio's PizzaEast Boston · pizza
Get: a cheese pizza and the lamb skewers at the bar. Cash only
East Boston institution known for charred thin crust pizza and lamb skewers, no frills and always busy.
- SarmaSomerville · Eastern Mediterranean
Get: a spread of meze and whatever is new on the menu. Bar seats held for walk-ins
Lively Somerville spot for shareable Eastern Mediterranean mezze, known for lamb, flatbreads, and a buzzing communal vibe.
- ShojoChinatown · Asian American
Get: the Wu-Tang tiger style ribs and a cocktail. Small plates in Chinatown
Lively Chinatown spot mixing Asian American small plates with cocktails, known for a playful, modern vibe.
- ToroSouth End · Spanish tapas
Get: the grilled corn with aioli and cheese, and the patatas bravas. Tapas, no reservations
Buzzy South End tapas spot famous for grilled corn with cotija and a lively late-night crowd.
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Save the whole listAsk Chef for morePlan my Boston food tripWhere locals eat in Boston: questions people ask
What are the local restaurants in Boston?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Neptune Oyster (North End), Mike & Patty's (Bay Village) and Pammy's (Cambridge). All 12 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Neptune Oyster, get maine lobster roll, hot with butter or cold with mayo. At Mike & Patty's, get carolina Caviar breakfast sandwich. At Pammy's, get the handmade pastas. A cozy trattoria between Central and Harvard Squares. At Regina Pizzeria, get A thin-crust pie from the original Thacher Street oven.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Boston?
Most of these are in Cambridge and South End. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Boston: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Boston
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.