5 restaurants pushing the envelope in Boston

by OpenTable team

Updated 20 December 2022

Boston is no stranger to breakthroughs. Home to the highest concentration of labs and universities in the country, the city has spurred plenty of ideas and inventions, including such standouts as self-government, vaccines, and the microwave.

That experimental spirit stretches to the area’s restaurant scene. Sip on cocktails crafted by an acclaimed techie mixologist at a seafood spot in Back Bay. Grab dinner and a show at a new eatertainment venue in Somerville, where the top-notch Italian plates are anything but understudies.

Boston’s innovative soul shines brightly at these unique restaurants. Read on for a shortlist of five cutting-edge spots to book now.

1. Mooncusser

4.8

4.8 (1465)

$50 and over

Seafood

Back Bay

About the restaurant

Creativity comes naturally to the team behind Mooncusser, a sleek, three-story seafood spot steered by Top Chef alum Carl Dooley. At the watering hole downstairs, LTD Bar at Cusser’s, techie mixologist Todd Maul pushes the boundaries on cocktails. Maul, one of Boston’s most decorated bartenders, uses a centrifuge to make clarified juices and has a penchant for torching drinks. Watch him work a Snapchiller—a tabletop machine that turns hot coffee cold in 60 seconds with technology developed (fittingly) by an M.I.T. alum—and you’ll see why he’s a local legend. Sub-zero-degree martinis, anyone?

Top review

Daniel

Dined on 18 Dec 2024

We were skeptical about the prix fixe format but we loved our experience at Mooncusser. The wine pairings were very, very good.

2. Wusong Road

4.6

4.6 (576)

$31 to $50

Asian

Cambridge

About the restaurant

An evening at Wusong Road is a full-fledged tropical escape, according to chef and co-owner Jason Doo. The restaurant’s Asian American-style tapas menu was partly inspired by his family’s Chinese American restaurant in nearby Malden, which was all about scorpion bowls, pu pu platters, and mai tais. Doo’s Harvard Square spot is a reimagined and rebooted tiki bar, unlike any other spot in Boston. And it more than delivers a whimsical getaway. Dramatic design flourishes, such as a reproduced Balinese temple and a gargantuan dragon sculpture, fuel a transportive vibe. Don’t miss the perfectly crispy Peking duck, prepared in a hand-built brick oven. Wusong Road’s small plates pair well with any of the inventive rum cocktails—the restaurant’s riff on a zombie, that tiki bar staple, is brightened with falernum, a spicy and citrusy syrup.

Top review

Kay

Dined 1 day ago

Food was amazing, my partner and i shared a pescatarian pupu platter and Shrimp fried rice. Everything tasted amazing. We had Mai Tai for drinks which were also really good and strong. We can’t wait to go back.

3. Little Whale

4.8

4.8 (759)

$50 and over

Seafood

Back Bay

About the restaurant

Little Whale’s chef and owner Michael Serpa (of Select Oyster Bar and Atlántico fame) has big ideas. Boston is famous for its lobster, but it’s notorious for brutal winters. Serpa stretches the limited seasonality of a beloved seaside tradition, the family-style clambake, making Little Whale the only Boston restaurant to offer it year-round. The indoor clambake menu, meant for parties of eight or more, includes chowder, clams, potatoes, corn, and linguica, plus everyone’s favorite crustaceans. Seal the deal with wine and raw bar options, available as add-ons. Serpa is also a local trailblazer when it comes to gratuities for his team: At each of his restaurants, a 20% pre-tax gratuity is added to all checks. (The inclusion is noted on menus and printed receipts, but can be removed upon request.)

Top review

DentVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Consistently pleased with seafood dishes i order at this restaurant on Newbury St. and with freshness and quality of raw bar. Great ceviche. Varied menu. Well prepared, tasty dishes. Good bread. No dessert no coffee though. Just seafood.

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Popular dish

New England Clam Chowder

4. Mex Taqueria & Bar

4.6

4.6 (329)

$30 and under

Mexican

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Architect-turned-chef Delio Susi envisioned two of the most visually striking spots in Cambridge: Mex Taqueria bar, which marks its first anniversary at the end of 2022, and Italian comfort food favorite, Sulmona. At the latter, the backlit bar serves as an irresistible focal point—it’s modeled after an Italian train station. Clever design touches, including a shiny red Vespa hovering from the ceiling, abound in the industrial space. At Mex, each of the three stories exudes its own unique vibe: the first level houses a 50-seat terrace and bar inspired by the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics. On the second floor, the Viper Lounge features snakeskin-patterned walls, while the third floor is an additional lounge that opens to a roof deck. Fire pits and couches take the nip out of the air, inviting Bostonians to warm up with a sip or two from an extensive tequila menu—one of Boston’s largest.

Top review

Mark

Dined on 1 Dec 2024

Never dusappoints! Best Mexican spot in the area!

A photo of Premiere on Broadway restaurant

5. Premiere on Broadway

4.0

4 (287)

$30 and under

Italian

Somerville

About the restaurant

Red sauce, meet red carpet. Premiere on Broadway, which opened in July 2021, is a sprawling, 300-seat performance venue—one of just a few in Boston—serving Italian classics. While food sometimes takes a backseat at many buzzy entertainment spots, Premiere turns out inspired dishes that take cues from Italian American classics, including housemade pastas, pizzas, and arancini. Though the star players here are undoubtedly the meatballs topped with whipped ricotta, made from a treasured family recipe. Many shows, such as burlesque dinner performances and live DJ sets, include free admission with the cost of dinner. If you’re just here for a drink, pick from a list filled with negronis, bellinis, and Americano cocktails, tributes to the neighborhood’s Italian roots.

Top review

RachelleVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Karen Grenier was fantastic! The music, food, and service was wonderful. It was a fun festive evening to celebrate the holiday season. The fish entree, and pepper vodka pasta dishes were excellent. The holiday cocktails were delicious. A favorite spot for dinner and now plan to try their brunch.

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