Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Greater Boston

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Greater Boston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

BLEND

4.9

4.9 (79)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Dorchester

About the restaurant

Blend is a gastro pub that combines the aspects of great food, music, lights and entertainment all into one. Blend "blends" up that neighborhood gastro pub feel where everyone is welcome. Gay owned and Operated, come check us out!

DRAG BRUNCHES ARE 1ST AND 3RD SUNDAYS UNLESS OTHERWISE POSTED
instagram handle : blendboston

Please note when booking for a drag brunch to not choose outside. All drag brunches will be held inside.

Top review

WillianR

Dined 2 days ago

First time coming to the brunch. Unfortunately we chose a day that was just the regular brunch but it was still pleasant. The food was amazing, the drinks were not the best (tiramisu espresso martini and shortcake espresso martini) we couldn’t finish it, however, the food was phenomenal. The service wasn’t the best but neither the worst, the guy was clearly taking of all the open tables. Overall we had a great experience and I will absolutely recommend and come back, but next time I will definitely try to get in the drag brunch, because I’ve heard such good reviews of it.

Seaport Grille

4.8

4.8 (581)

$30 and under

Seafood

Gloucester

About the restaurant

Seaport Grille at Cruiseport Gloucester is located directly on the harbor with two decks for classic waterview dining. Our menu offers a wide range of delectable cuisines made with the freshest ingredients -including traditional New England seafood, surf & turf options, classic American plates, world-famous desserts and much more. Within the backyard of our restaurant lies the inner harbors of Gloucester, home to the oldest working waterfront in America. During the warmer months, you and your guests may want to experience dining on our outdoor deck or even our covered deck where you’ll feel the warm breeze and soak in the summer sounds of the harbor. Come for the menu, stay for the vibe!

*ORDER TAKEOUT HERE: https://eat.chownow.com/discover/restaurant/31809 *

Top review

Melinda

Dined 4 days ago

Brought my mom to dinner and she loved the atmosphere and everything we ordered. Win, win!!!

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The Nautilus - Nantucket

4.8

4.8 (79)

$50 and over

Pan-Asian

Nantucket

About the restaurant

Leading Nantucket’s thriving restaurant scene, The Nautilus (est. 2014) is an island staple built on the idea of a shared social experience. Founders Liam Mackey (food), Clinton Terry (drink) & Stephen Bowler’s (wine & business) island-mentality of being “serious about what we do, but not taking ourselves too seriously” perfectly sums up The Nautilus experience. The highly regarded culinary program is a sort of ‘New England coastal cuisine meets Asian & global haute street food’ vibe featuring small plates served tapas style, combined w/ larger group feasts (think Peking inspired duck). The culinary inspired cocktails draw on both seasonal & regional inspirations while the wine & sake list is recognized as a “Best Of” by Wine Spectator. Fueled by curated, energetic music, the stimulating yet neighborly atmosphere makes the new & unfamiliar feel comfortable & intimate, a philosophy that seamlessly ties the food, cocktails, wine & ambiance together to cr

Top review

Randyvip

Dined 7 days ago

Whether visiting or a local, Nautilus is the place to dine on Nantucket!

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar - South Boston

4.7

4.7 (373)

$30 and under

Mexican

South Boston

About the restaurant

LOCO TAQUERIA & OYSTER BAR is a funky neighborhood joint located on West Broadway in South Boston that specializes in tacos, raw bar, and tequila.

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 3 days ago

Great per usual! Good food and cocktails, nice quiet ambiance which was a suprise given the popularity.

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4.7

4.7 (164)

$31 to $50

American

South Boston

About the restaurant

From the minds behind the original Playwright Bar and situated on its familiar grounds, emerges the reimagined Playwright of 2024, epitomizing the ever-changing South Boston scene.

Step into a new era as The Playwright undergoes a transformation, embracing the spirit of a classic pub while infusing it with contemporary flair. We seamlessly blend the charm of traditional hospitality with the sophistication of upscale comfort cuisine.

Immerse yourself in our live music scene every Wednesday through Sunday. Experience emerging artists on Wednesdays, a cover band on Thursdays, DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, and unwind with country music on Sundays.

Join us as we raise our glasses to the next chapter of The Playwright.

Top review

Maggie

Dined on Sep 27, 2024

We made a reservation to see live music on Thursday night and called to confirm the band's start time two days before. When we got there, they had canceled the live music for Thursday night football (non-Patriots game). Understandable, but just frustrating that they didn't update their website accordingly or tell us this over the phone.

Peka

4.7

4.7 (92)

$30 and under

Latin / Spanish

Brighton

About the restaurant

Welcome to Peka Restaurant – your ultimate destination for a tantalizing culinary adventure to the heart of Brighton. We invite you to indulge in the rich flavors, vibrant culture, and lively atmosphere that define our Latin food restaurant. From mouthwatering Venezuelan dishes to delightful drinks and exhilarating live music, Sabor Latino promises an unforgettable experience for all your senses.

Top review

Samanthavip

Dined 3 days ago

The food was incredible -- well-portioned and delicious. The Red Sangria was excellent and the service and ambiance were awesome! Highly recommend this (not so) little gem of a restaurant!

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Experience

¡No mames - Taco Tuesday!

The Bebop

4.5

4.5 (322)

$30 and under

American

Back Bay

About the restaurant

From the owners of The Burren, one of the most unique and thriving music venues in the Boston area comes The Bebop.

Situated at the intersection of Boylston and Mass Ave, next to the beating heart of music that is Berklee, The Bebop is primed to be a premier destination for musicians and fans alike. Whether you are going to a show at the Berklee Performance Center, Symphony Hall or a game in Fenway Park, The Bebop is a great place to start and finish the night. Enjoy our Guinness Lamb Stew or vegetarian Shepherd's Pie while listening to our live nightly entertainment.

Offering a full dinner and lunch menu from 11am-11pm daily, a brunch menu on weekends from 9am-3pm, and speciality cocktails, beer, and wine until 1 am every night of the week.

Top review

Jacob

Dined 4 days ago

It is difficult to get a table, or even a waiter, but it is worth it! One of my favorite spots in Boston, the live music and wonderful decorations make it such a great experience!

Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar - Fenway

4.4

4.4 (88)

$30 and under

Mexican

Fenway–Kenmore

About the restaurant

LOCO TAQUERIA & OYSTER BAR FENWAY is a funky neighborhood joint located on Brookline Avenue in Boston that specializes in tacos, raw bar, and tequila.

Reservations for Red Sox home games and concerts at Fenway Park are very limited, we reserve most of the restaurant on a first come first serve basis those days.

Top review

Cary

Dined on Sep 24, 2024

We loved our waitress Maeve! It was very busy because it was $1 oyster night but she did an amazing job! Our new favorite Boston restaurant!

Harborwalk Terrace

4.3

4.3 (196)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Financial District

About the restaurant

The annual Summer in the City series returns for the 2024 season, kicking off a summer of first-class waterfront entertainment at the iconic Boston Harbor Hotel.

Enjoy glistening views of the Atlantic Ocean while enjoying al fresco dining every Tuesday through Friday, from June 6th to August 29th. Each evening, a diverse array of bands takes the stage on the hotel’s floating barge, showcasing an eclectic blend of Jazz, Soul, Country, R&B, DJ beats, and more. Friday nights offer the perfect date night or location for larger gatherings with friends. The Harborwalk Terrance is also open for drinks Saturdays from 11am - 4pm. Enjoy creative cocktails, an extensive wine list, fresh seafood, and shareable dishes from the best vantage point in the city for a truly unique and lively dining experience.

Top review

Denise

Dined on Aug 21, 2024

Music is always a great night at Boston Harbor. Food choices this year is decent. Love the sliders and French fries. Bring back the guacamole and chips. Service was very slow last night. She left us and barely asked if we wanted anything else. Otherwise what we did have was as expected for here. Price is high but view is beautiful.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Framingham

4.0

4 (26)

$30 and under

American

Framingham

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we’ve continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ’s a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ’s to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back.

We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we’ve put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better.

So in many ways we haven’t just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it’s because of them we’re continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts.

Welcome to BJ’s, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Nancy

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

First time going food was great, prices pretty good. Started getting very busy around 6:30pm. Will definitely go back.

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