Boston magazine: Top 50 Restaurants in Boston
Edited by Rachel Leah Blumenthal with additional reporting by CELINA COLBY, MC Slim JB, AND NATHAN TAVARES. Visuals produced by Madison Trapkin
Photo by Mia Andreoli of Stay Gold
Special occasions have gotten a lot more relaxed around here. Don’t get us wrong—Greater Boston still has those grand spots with white tablecloths, and you’ll see a few on this list. But these days, most of us are celebrating in noisy restaurants that pulse with energy—restaurants where jeans-wearing servers deliver caviar and seafood towers to barstool diners, while club beats set the mood.
That spirit runs through this year’s Top 50 Restaurants—places that genuinely feel special-occasion-worthy (regardless of tablecloth status), whether you’re commemorating a milestone or just had an amazing day at work. The criteria are pretty simple: full-service dinner, open at least a year. After that, it’s purely subjective, and we’re excited to share this year’s picks: restaurants offering dramatic omakase, several spins on New England seafood, rustic Italian, and bold Thai. (Yes, traditionalists, we’ve got your quiet corners and crisp linens covered, too.)
18. Krasi
The name says it all: Krasi means “wine” in Greek, and this spot lives up to the promise. The extensive bottle list and made-to-share mezze make it perfect for celebratory group outings—try a bold, complex xinomavro from northern Greece while dipping crisp cucumbers into fresh tzatziki prepared tableside, spreading honey butter across hot bread oozing with halloumi, and sampling meats and cheeses sourced from Corfu to Macedonia. End with an otherworldly nightcap downstairs at Hecate, the dark and mysterious sibling cocktail bar.
