1. Sweet Cheeks Q
8.6
1381 Boylston St (btwn Kilmarnock St. & Park Dr.), Boston, MA
BBQ Joint · Fenway - Kenmore - Audubon Circle - Longwood · 198 tips and reviews
Boston.com: Tiffani Faison’s new Boston project serves barbecue on metal trays and beverages in Mason jars. Top Chef alum offers up pulled pork, brisket, beans, coleslaw, and more with the music blasting. Read more.
Eater: Opening in November 2011, Top Chef star Tiffani Faison's barbecue ode has been nothing short of a smash hit. The biscuits are legendary, and there's now an outdoor beer garden. [Eater 38 Member]
Epicurious: The Monster Wings at this BBQ joint co-owned by Top Chef chef-testant Tiffani Faison are brined with salt, sugar, star anise, & fennel seeds for two days and slowly smoked over white oak and red oak. Read more.
2. Drink
8.2
348 Congress St (at A St), Boston, MA
Cocktail Bar · Seaport District · 235 tips and reviews
Bravo: The best drinks in town. -Ana Sortun, Top Chef
Food & Wine: A venture from star chef Barbara Lynch, Drink dispenses with menus; mixologist John Gertsen and his team (who helped make the elegant bar at No. 9 Park one of the city's best) custom-make drinks for e
Michael Moses: Star chef Barbara Lynch’s bar dispenses with menus; mixologist John Gertsen and his team custom-make drinks like the Golden State for each guest.
3. Ten Tables
7.9
597 Centre St (Pond St.), Jamaica Plain, MA
New American Restaurant · 36 tips and reviews
Bravo: Fresh and local, you can practically taste the farm. Yummy! -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
sheri k: The housemade tagliatelle with braised bubreton pork, spring onion and pea shoots is amazing!
Boston.com: The TT Burger has humanely raised beef cooked to order, served with good cheddar, caramelized onions, the restaurant’s “A-10” sauce, and luxurious bacon aioli. More best burgers: http://bo.st/Om8BDK Read more.
6. Menton
8.1
354 Congress St, Boston, MA
French Restaurant · Seaport District · 47 tips and reviews
Eater: Menton is Barbara Lynch's crown jewel. After Kristen Kish, chef de cuisine at Lynch's demo kitchen Stir, won Top Chef, she was swiftly promoted to chef de cuisine at Menton. [Eater 38 Member]
Bara Cool: This was an amazingly delicious, beautiful and memorable first meal here; the chefs whim was the right way to go but am left to daydream about the A La Carte menu!
Boston.com: The food at Menton is not night-and-day different from that at Lynch's No. 9 Park - it is more refined, lovelier and lighter, turned a few degrees more toward the sea. Read more.
7. Orinoco Kitchen
8.5
477 Shawmut Ave (at W Concord St), Boston, MA
Arepa Restaurant · South End · 36 tips and reviews
Bravo: The garlic sauce that comes with many dishes is extremely addictive. -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
Enrico Manalo: Great empanadas, including the verde. I tried the arepa pernil too. Really good, really affordable (and filling) antojitos. Will return for entrees.
Emmily Hu: Definitely get the bacon wrapped dates and come early so you don't have to wait for a long time
8. Blunch
8.7
59 E Springfield St (Harrison Ave), Boston, MA
Sandwich Spot · South End · 35 tips and reviews
Bravo: Sweet little spot with a terrible name, more than makes up for it with homemade soups and sandwiches. -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
Erik Robateau: The choc chip cookies are huge and so soft and moist. A must have!
BU Today: Breakfast and lunch are the only options here, but when homemade soups, pressed sandwiches, and bagelwiches taste this good, who needs dinner? Top off your meal with a gooey triple chip cookie. Read more.
10. Oishii Boston
8.8
1166 Washington St (E. Berkeley St.), Boston, MA
Japanese Restaurant · South End · 85 tips and reviews
Bravo: An oasis of calm, the beautifully crafted rolls and nagiri is top quality. The waterwall brings the simple elegance of Japan to Boston. -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
Nuno Silva: The tuna is great and loved the truffled sushi!
ZAGAT: Try the gourmet bar snacks from 5:30–6:30 PM and 10–11:30 PM Tuesdays through Saturdays (and 5:30–9:45 PM on Sundays). Small bites like risotto and Kobe sliders are only $6.
11. Anchovies
8.9
433 Columbus Ave (at Pembroke St.), Boston, MA
Bar · South End · 49 tips and reviews
Bravo: Cute, hole in the wall with good pizza, and great steamed mussles. -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
Samantha Reardon: My favorite neighborhood dive bar. Great tasting late night food. Dogfish 90 minute on draft for 6.50 a pint, by far the cheapest in the city.
BostonTweet: A small and dark (almost dive-like) Italian restaurant in the South End that has big portions of kick-ass food for a lot less than most of the other restaurants in the neighborhoo
12. O Ya
8.7
9 East St (at East Pl), Boston, MA
Sushi Restaurant · Downtown Boston · 69 tips and reviews
Bravo: For the luxurious modern take on sushi your palette will be dazzled. -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
Alice Eunjin: My favorite sushi restaurant outside of Japan- fun menu and presentation, great service, and delicious food.
Boston Magazine: Sitting at the chef’s counter, you should be mesmerized by what they serve. Read more.
13. Mistral
8.8
223 Columbus Ave (btwn Berkeley & Clarendon St.), Boston, MA
French Restaurant · Prudential - St. Botolph · 88 tips and reviews
Bravo: For the over 30 crowd, this place is excellent for food, drinks and interesting conversations with strangers. -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
Nick Lepre: Amazing brunch. Huge portions. Try the cinnamon buns.
Nathaniel Hajian: Chateau de Sancerre wine is phenomenal. The tuna tartare is a lovely appetizer and goes well with the Sancerre.
14. Franklin Cafe
8.7
278 Shawmut Ave (at Hanson St.), Boston, MA
American Restaurant · South End · 71 tips and reviews
Bravo: Thumping techno beats aside, the great comfort food draws chefs and restaurant crews post shift to grab real food late night. -Tania Peterson, Top Chef Just Desserts
Jeffrey Currier: I have been enjoying the Franklin for nearly 20 years, and it never disappoints. Food, cocktails, wine, perfection
BostonTweet: The Franklin Cafe has O'Hara's Irish Stout on draft for $5 and they serve really good food until 1:30am. It honestly doesn't get any better than that.
15. dbar
8.1
1236 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA
New American Restaurant · 25 tips and reviews
Alex Paredes: Always grab the marg - they r good! Burger and the penne are great as well!
Boston.com: It's a tough call. If you stay inside, you'll be cozy in the main dining room, where handsome waiters (we didn't spy a single waitress) shuttle trays of cocktails and light fixtures turn rainbow color Read more.
Jill Shepherd: Best bloody mary I've ever had - and that includes every type. Great brunch and not too crowded!