Restaurant

Location

Rating

Kids?

Comments

Cuisine?

28 Degrees

South Ends

***

Have only done bar food, not dinner.

33 Restaurant and Lounge

Back Bay

**½

a

Hit or miss with the food. Sometimes it’s really good, sometimes it’s not. Fun bar scene.

51 Lincoln

Newton

**** ½

Very good food, nice atmosphere. Click here for full review.

647 Tremont

South End

***

a

Fun for weekend brunch. Dinners not bad.

Abe & Louie’s

Back Bay

**

Overpriced good ‘ole boy crowd. Good for drinks. Click here for full review.

Addis Red Sea

South End

***

Very unique experience. Not for everyone. We really liked it.

Ethiopian

Anna’s Taqueria

Brookline
Arlington

***½

a

Ties with Boca Grande for my favorite burritos.

Mexican

Artu

Beacon Hill

***½

It’s been a long time. I just remember that the food was good, but I can’t remember the specifics.

Assagio

North End

***

Tried and true N. End establishment. Always a good, traditional meal. Always packed.

Italian

Atlantic Fish Company

Back Bay

**½

a

Same as all the “other” fish places in Boston. Good, not great. Standard seafood fare.

Audubon Circle

Fenway

**

College crowd. Decent bar food and scene.

Aquitaine

South End

**** 

Very good food. Fun atmosphere. Huge wine selection and cool wine rack wall.

French

Aquitaine Bis

Chestnut Hill

***½

Very good as well. Atmosphere in S. End is better. This space is a little small.

French

Avila

Theater District

***

a

Good food. Theater crowd. Touristy. Click here for full review.

B & G Oysters

South End

**** 

Excellent oysters. Pricy, but worth it. I’ve seen infants/toddlers dining there as well. Click here for full review.

Baja Betty’s Burritos

Brookline Village

**

a

Decent burritos. Homemade ice cream.

Mexican

Bambara

Kendall Square

***

Have only been for large events (holiday party). Food was good. Not mind blowing.

Barking Crab

Waterfront

**

a

Overpriced and very casual. Young, drunken crowd. Fun for out-of-towners.

Bitch Street Bistro

Roslindale

***

a

Was better when it first opened. Not so great now. Has nice outdoor space for warmer weather.

Blu

Chinatown

***½

Weird location… inside gym. Good food, hip crowd and decent bar scene.

Blue Ginger

Wellesley

**** 

Always good. Often see Ming Sai on site. Need reservations.

Asian

Boca Grande

Brookline
Kendall Square

***½

a

LOVE the burritos. Click here for full review.

Mexican

Border Café

Harvard Square

**½

a

Decent Mexican food and margaritas. Young crowd.

Mexican

Bon Caldo

Norwood

***

a

Not bad for a Route 1, suburban place. Sort of cheesy, but pretty good food. Click here for full review.

Italian

Bonfire

Back Bay

***

Good food. Steakhouse feel.

Boston Beer Works

Fenway

**

a

What you would expect for a bar/restaurant near Fenway. Decent food. Young crowd. Nothing special.

Bottega Fiorentina

Brookline Village

***

a

Small takeout place with great pastas. You pick the pasta and the sauce separately. I love this place. They have daily sandwich specials too. My favorite is the pumpkin tortellini with the brown butter sage sauce. Mmm…

Italian

Bukhara

Jamaica Plain

***½

a

Very good Indian food. Good for eat-in or take-out, though I prefer to eat-in. They are well equipped for children as well. Usually pretty busy on weekends.

Indian

Cactus Club

Back Bay

**

a

Run of the mill Southwest/Mexican joint. Big bar scene and good margarita’s. Young crowd. Food is nothing special.

Southwest

Café Vittoria

North End

***½

The “IT” place for after dinner drinks, coffee and dessert in the North End. Always packed, not overly awesome… just a fun tradition.

Italian

Cambridge Brewing Co

Kendall Square

***

a

Not bad for one of the local “Brewing Co’s”. Better than Boston Beer Works and in a good location to catch a movie at the Kendall Square Cinema.

Capital Grille

Back Bay
Chestnut Hill

***½

I don’t care what others say… I still like the Capital Grille, though the Chestnut Hill location is better than the Bay Bay one. Have a Stoli Doli for me… (pineapple-infused Stoli vodka)… my personal favorite.

Casa Romero

Back Bay

*** 

Very good Mexican food. Go in the warmer weather and request a table on the patio… which is the best part about this place. Sort of difficult to find… hidden down an alley.

Mexican

Casablanca

Harvard Square

*** 

Good bar scene. Hopping spot that’s been around for a while in Harvard Square. Decent food. Nothing overly special.

Central Kitchen

Central Square

*** 

It’s been a while, but I remember our dinner was good. We need to go back.

Centre Street Café

Jamaica Plain

*** 

a

Have only been for breakfast. This place is always packed and serves very fresh ingredients – grown by local farmers. Go early and get in line.

Cheesecake Factory

Chestnut Hill
Back Bay
Kendall Square

***½

a

If you have been to one, you have been to them all. Always huge portions, good food, decent service and a huge selection of items to pick from the menu. Click here for full review.

Chipotle Grill

Dedham

***½

a

Newest burrito chain in town. Not as good as Boca or Anna’s, but I really like them. Click here for full review.

Ciao Bella

Back Bay

*½

I hate this place. I have had awful experiences here… including having a waitress “check me” (think if ice hockey) while I was standing at the bar (waiting for a table). It was such bad experience, that I cannot even tell you what the food was like.

talian

Cibo

North End

***½

It’s been YEARS since I’ve been here, but I used to frequent this place because they always had good meals. Not your “typical” North End fare. Not sure how they are now.

Clio

Back Bay

***** 

One of my all time favorite restaurants. Very expensive, but worth it. The tasting menu (with wine) is a MUST TRY.

Asian/French Fusion

Comella’s

West Roxbury

*** 

a

Casual, kid-friendly, take-out or eat-in. VERY good pasta dishes. West Roxbury location is working on a beer and liquor license. Click here for full review.

Italian

Cottonwood Café

Back Bay

**½

a

Nice, after work, southwest fare and margarita place. Usually busy, usually decent food.

South West

Craigie Street Bistrot

Harvard Square

*** 

Lots of people love this place. We thought it was good, just not great. Parking can be a headache. Click here for full review.

French

Croma

Back Bay

*** 

a

Have only had lunch, outside on the patio. Great for Newbury Street people watching. Food was good and they were very kid friendly.

Dali

Somerville

***½

I just love both this place and it’s sister restaurant Tapeo’s. Dali has better atmosphere. Both have great tapas, sangria and traditional fare.

Spanish

Davio’s

Kendall Square

***½

Always a good meal. Not great atmosphere. Pricey.

Italian

Delfino Restaurant

Roslindale

*** 

Always a wait. The locals LOVE this place… they call it “the North End in Rozzie”. I think it’s good… but not outstanding.

Italian

Delux Cafe

South End

**

Great for comfort food and a funky setting. Small, eclectic and fun.

Deno’s Pizza

West Roxbury

**

a

Best pizza in West Roxbury. This is coming from someone who grew up eating NJ/NY pizza.

East Coast Grill

Inman Square

***½

a

Great brunch with make-your-own bloody Mary bar. Known for their spicy, southwest flavors.

Southwest

Essence of Thyme

Hyde Park

**½

a

Very small gift shop with a little kitchen. Many people don’t even realize you can order food here. They have a very limited sandwich menu, but the food is fresh and made to order.

Fava

Needham

***½

This place was very good. Funky space and in

Figs

Beacon Hill

*** ½

a

Great gourmet pizza, interesting combinations and good pastas. Always busy and always a good meal.