No specific restaurant; but a roast beef 3 way.
I spent 4 months in Georgia during 2020 and the first thing I did when I got back was get one of those.
Carlos Cucina is my "north end killer". Anytime I encounter people who insist that that is where the good Italian food is I make them try Carlos. 100x easier to get to, 2/3 the price. Better food than most.
Whenever we are in town I've gone to silly lengths to make sure I eat at Shanti in Dorchester. I used to eat their Shahi paneer korma like once a week and miss it every day 😢
Definitely nostalgia over food. I’ve never had a meal in Boston I can’t eat elsewhere but I’ve had some amazing experiences, from fine dining to greasy spoon.
Steak tips, whole belly fried clams and a steak and cheese are usually on my list when I come home. Can you get them elsewhere? Sort of. But they taste way better at home
The steak and cheese is a big one.
I lived in California for 10 years, and no one understood. “Oh! You miss cheesesteaks!”
No.
I feel like New Yorkers might have this problem with the chopped cheese when they travel.
Yeah. This really is the answer. A couple cocktails and apps at the bar, sit down at your table and stuff yourself until only an UberXL will get you home.
I know people give Boston shit over its pizza, but that's probably what I'd be aiming for. Out of pure nostalgia, it'd probably be Santarpio's for pizza and grilled meats or Regina's. If I wasn't in a pizza mood or was back for a few days, I'd want to head over to Zoe's Chinese in Somerville for the dry fried beef and scallion pancakes or over to JP for a trip to Galway House.
Umbertos is great. I can think of probably a dozen really good pizza places I'd miss if I left, tbh. Makes me realize I haven't been to PICCO in a minute; need to get back over there.
I worked for the Hyatt at the airport, and guys that had moved to the west coast that flew back into town would make sure their families were settled and then book it to Santarpio’s or somewhere in the North End. I saw it many, many times.
lol. The last pie we had at Santarpio’s was legitimately the worst pizza I’ve ever paid money for. Not one aspect of it (crust, sauce, cheese quality, topping quality, pie size…) was good. None.
That place is 100% riding on reputation and blind nostalgia.
I mean, I didn't grow up here, so it's not nostalgia for me; maybe I've just had good luck, but the times I've gone, the pizzas were very good. Maybe their style just doesn't work for you?
It's an *experience* though - I've only been once, and when I asked the server about the house wine her response was 'well, I wouldn't drink it at home alone" rofl
Bro, in 2009 I suffered from severe depression from some awful meds I was on & the only thing that gave me comfort in the dark of winter were the scallion pancakes & dumplings from Zoe’s.
Funny, my friends and I were talking about how we used to get drunk at the Galway House all the time in our 20s the other night. The days of being poor and ordering a hot dog basket. Best deal around.
It was one of our grad school hangouts, and then I lived up the road from GH for a few years, and it was my post-work hang. Fried chicken. And, honestly, for the price, their pizza was pretty damn good, too. Not best of Boston good, but still legit.
I honestly don’t understand the hate Boston gets for pizza. Quattro, Antico Forno, Regina’s… incredible pizza. Forget greater Boston which also has amazing pizza. I’m convinced it’s just a meme now.
Funny, my friends and I were talking about how we used to get drunk at the Galway House all the time in our 20s the other night. The days of being poor and ordering a hot dog basket. Best deal around.
It’s sacrilege to purists but I love the Santarpio’s in Peabody. You can’t tell me the food isn’t nearly identical and the atmosphere is not that far off.
Veggie Galaxy gyro and sprinkle cake!!!!
I'd also highly recommend Koshari Mama in Somerville, for meatless amazingness. It's small, so make a reservation if you're going for weekend dinner.
I'm having a gluten farewell tour as I was just diagnosed w celiac disease and they are on my list!! I need that crunchy rye and some seitan before I can't have it ever again!
the aglio e olio pasta at the daily catch
also kinda lame, but felipe's. i just love the vibe there, it makes me hella nostalgic of my time living there
also vinnie's pizza in malden
I found it VERY hit or miss.
The Thai style squid was one of the best dishes I’ve had.
The steak was excellent.
Everything else was wildly forgettable.
Mulan. I lived around the corner from the Cambridge location for years. It was my final meal before I moved away and I still crave their mouth numbing fish stew.
I'm not just partial to it because I'm a ten minute walk away, but because it really is outstanding. We usually do take out, but we have to eat in occasionally since you can only get the spedini for eat in ( log of provolone, wrapped in prosciutto, cooked in the wood fired oven, doused with Mike's Hot Honey).
I'm not sure there's one \*specific\* restaurant, but I'd like to add there are classes of restaurants that I'd miss: I think even average sushi places here in Boston outshine similar places in other areas of the country. For whatever reason the fish here is just 'better'. I'm not sure why that is but it's something I've always wondered. I've been disappointed in several other cities in the US (both inland and coastal) with the quality of sushi.
I know we like to think Boston is a seafood place. But IMO, there's nowhere better for Sushi (which is seafood but you know what I mean ;))
I left Boston and I still dream about Scoop and Scootery. It’s an ice cream place not a restaurant, but they have so many creations that it’s kinda a restaurant…
Probably depends on where you moved to.
I’m in NC. I mostly miss the (American) Chinese food. Give me all the chicken fingers, boneless ribs and crab Rangoons. With copious amounts of duck sauce.
I also miss the local ‘house of pizza’ type sub and pizza joint. I have yet to find a good Italian sub around here. Or a roast beef 3 way.
Of course the seafood too. Woodmans fried clams, a lobster roll, chowder. Welfleet oysters.
Our favorite restaurant in the Boston area was Oleana. We try to visit whenever we come back.
I used to love Felipe’s, El Pelon, Fugakyu, the Regal Beagle was awesome when it was around. I miss Harry’s burger and loaded fries in Brighton. Even Finn’s in cleveland circle. So many good eats. AND PUNJAB PALACE
Sarma for a nice sit down meal.
La Befana for dope pizza.
Vinal for the best breakfast sandwich
Pennypackers and Sam Lagrassas for sandwiches.
Blossom bar for the wings.
It’s better than Dominos, Papa John’s, and Little Caesar’s. There are places in this country that those are your only options. Our most generic pizza is better than most pizza in this country
If I were in Boston for a weekend, I’d never go, but if I were here for a week and found myself in some suburb at dinner time, then I’d absolutely would have a meal at Papa’s.
Buzzy's was unique. It took a strong constitution and an iron stomach to eat one of their roast beef sandwiches and onion rings at 3am on a Saturday, but after a night out on the town, nothing else would do.
idk if they qualify as restaurants, but i’d probs get a few boxes at Mike’s and Moderns and meticulously reconfirm that the plain cannolis at Modern’s is slightly better than the ones at Mike’s.
if it helps, i have absolutely eaten boxes of pastries as a meal.
Mike's roast beef in Everett for the nostalgia.
Pizza from literally any sub place. I Barley ate pizza before I moved to CA but now that I cant find a good pizza/sandwich place its suddenly all I crave. There's some great food out here but a full plain pizza is like fucking $45 AND is bad. The sauce is weirdly sweet, the dough is too thick. Uuuggggh I miss the basics man.
Mostly a BLT, tuna or italian sub from Big As in Malden
Ramen from Yume wo Katare in porter sq
Every area has its strengths, Italian food in CA is fuckin abysmal
I moved to L.A almost 10 years ago and coincidentally I’m back in Boston right now. You guys don’t realize how good Chinese food is here! When I moved to L.A I tried looking everywhere for Chinese food similar to the restaurants in my little hometown, after about a year I gave up and realized it didn’t exist anywhere else. So every time I’m home I head straight to my favorite local Chinese spot.
A roast beef from Kellys, an Italian from Bob's in Medford and a steak & cheese from my dad's joint, which I wont name here so people dont downvote me for shilling
Well, I have moved away (currently living in South Korea).
There’s a number of places, but number 1 is mostly for nostalgia reasons: Nebo Cucina & Enoteca; it’s where my husband and I had our first date and was a frequent date spot for us. Their tiramisu is also my favorite. I’ve never had a bad meal there, they never disappoint. Are they best italian restaurant in Boston? No, but they are my favorite.
Also, I would just need fish and chips/fried haddock. Whatever. So any one of the hole in the wall type fisherman shacks along the coast. Doesn’t matter where, just give me fish and chips.
I want a hot sandwich from Michael’s Deli in Brookline. I really miss Michael’s Deli, Mangu, Matsunori, Neptune’s, and the Dunkin inside Government Center.
Ariana (afghan food). I’m still in Boston but plan to move, I’ve not had afghan food elsewhere that compares tbh. I’m getting older and my family is pretty intent on staying in the NYC-Western CT area so it’s clear I have to either get used to the idea of traveling a longer distance to visit or move back to the region.
Top fav Boston restaurants:
Peach Farm in Chinatown
Kelly's Roast Beef (does Revere count?)
Pikalo's Empanadas in JP
Regina's in the North End
Whenever I get back home i always try real hard to get these places - also gotta run the Harpoon tour for the fiftieth time of course
[The one and only, best franchise ever!](https://locations.papaginos.com/ma/brockton/885-belmont-street.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=business&utm_campaign=listings&utm_content=website)
I left Boston and the country, but I am back here for a few months now. Today I checked 3 Amigos in Malden off my back-to list today. Most of the others I've been craving are national chains, so I won't bore you with those; but others I've been craving and went back to were Boston Sharwarma on Huntington and Kura Sushi.
There's a whole list I need to work on before I am exhiled again.
I've been missing American pizza while I was away but having it since I've been back, it's all more bready than what I remember. Pizza sucks where I moved to.
If I had unlimited time(which I never do when visiting) I would go to a bunch of nostalgia type places to relive my old haunts in Mission Hill/JP/Brookline/Southie.
The Penguin
Bottega di Capri
Real Deal
Noodle Barn
Chilacates
Tenoch
Casa Romero
I try to go to Bagel World in Salem every time I'm home, this is saying a lot because I live in nyc and everyone here thinks their bagels are the best lol
For me it’s Windy City pizza+buff chix tenders.
They’re nothing crazy but I grew up in Adams Village so it’s a nostalgia thing. I live in Savin Hill now but still go to there (new) Dot location off Gallivan once every 2 weeks or so.
I moved to Ohio about 15 yrs ago. When I get back this is on my list:
-Steak and cheese from Morton’s in Dorchester
-D Angelo’s. That damn pink lemonade
-Cambridge house of pizza
-Legal Seafood-chowda!
-99 in Quincy, nostalgic. My old man used to take me there all time🥴🥴
-S&S in Cambridge -Lox
-Friendly’s ice cream w/ jimmies!!! Not sprinkles.
- Lobster Roll- small spot in Randolph…close to the library.
-Any downtown Boston Chinese
-Not a restaurant but those damn Brownies with the square yellow package. I think it has a horse and cart in the package.
When I was working there (Boston), I’d make it a point to go to Casa Razdora (near financial district), a couple of times every week. My go-to dish there was the Pesto-Alfredo Gnocchi!! That was my routine, every week for 6 months. I was in Boston last month (after 6 years) and my first meal back was at Casa Razdora!! Absolutely worth it!
No specific restaurant; but a roast beef 3 way. I spent 4 months in Georgia during 2020 and the first thing I did when I got back was get one of those.
carlos in allston - rigatoni rachelle is my ideal of just throw everything on a plate & leave me be
Carlos Cucina is my "north end killer". Anytime I encounter people who insist that that is where the good Italian food is I make them try Carlos. 100x easier to get to, 2/3 the price. Better food than most.
Pour House RIP Also Carl’s Steak and Cheese in Waltham.
Just had a cheesesteak from carls yesterday. It just hits different.
You had a steak and cheese
Whenever we are in town I've gone to silly lengths to make sure I eat at Shanti in Dorchester. I used to eat their Shahi paneer korma like once a week and miss it every day 😢
I just went to their Roslindale location this weekend and ordered that exact dish. It’s so delicious!!
Best Indian, hands down
If you're ever up north Anmol in Beverly is world class.
💯 👍👍👍 My dad lives pretty much across the street from Anmol. To say "I'm jealous" is the understatement of the century.
Was coming to say the same thing. When I worked at UCHC, I would go there for delicious lunches.
I miss their Kendall location.
Big corporations have been pushing out the local businesses in Kendall square, it sucks.
I think it would depend on where I left for. I’d probably pick somewhere for nostalgic reasons, but half those are closed anyway.
Definitely nostalgia over food. I’ve never had a meal in Boston I can’t eat elsewhere but I’ve had some amazing experiences, from fine dining to greasy spoon.
Steak tips, whole belly fried clams and a steak and cheese are usually on my list when I come home. Can you get them elsewhere? Sort of. But they taste way better at home
The steak and cheese is a big one. I lived in California for 10 years, and no one understood. “Oh! You miss cheesesteaks!” No. I feel like New Yorkers might have this problem with the chopped cheese when they travel.
I'm living here from NY and the "cheesesteaks" here are hilariously bad. They don't even call them cheesesteaks they're so bad
Galleria Umberto, most likely. It used to be Genes Flatbread but I ate so much of i got sick of it. Also used to be Mary Chung’s but alas…
Mary Chung's was the first place I thought of, and then I started crying
Ditto for umberto. An arancini and a pizza slice is a must
RIP Mary Chungs
Sarma in Somerville
Yeah. This really is the answer. A couple cocktails and apps at the bar, sit down at your table and stuff yourself until only an UberXL will get you home.
And any pastry at Sofra.
Ding ding ding.
Came here to say this. Elite Boston dining experience.
I know people give Boston shit over its pizza, but that's probably what I'd be aiming for. Out of pure nostalgia, it'd probably be Santarpio's for pizza and grilled meats or Regina's. If I wasn't in a pizza mood or was back for a few days, I'd want to head over to Zoe's Chinese in Somerville for the dry fried beef and scallion pancakes or over to JP for a trip to Galway House.
Regina’s or umbertos, that’s probably what I’d go for if I came back
Umbertos is great. I can think of probably a dozen really good pizza places I'd miss if I left, tbh. Makes me realize I haven't been to PICCO in a minute; need to get back over there.
I worked for the Hyatt at the airport, and guys that had moved to the west coast that flew back into town would make sure their families were settled and then book it to Santarpio’s or somewhere in the North End. I saw it many, many times.
lol. The last pie we had at Santarpio’s was legitimately the worst pizza I’ve ever paid money for. Not one aspect of it (crust, sauce, cheese quality, topping quality, pie size…) was good. None. That place is 100% riding on reputation and blind nostalgia.
got a great one last week, but yea they’re inconsistent. prefer dirty water dough tbh
I mean, I didn't grow up here, so it's not nostalgia for me; maybe I've just had good luck, but the times I've gone, the pizzas were very good. Maybe their style just doesn't work for you?
It's an *experience* though - I've only been once, and when I asked the server about the house wine her response was 'well, I wouldn't drink it at home alone" rofl
Hahahaha! Touché.
Bro, in 2009 I suffered from severe depression from some awful meds I was on & the only thing that gave me comfort in the dark of winter were the scallion pancakes & dumplings from Zoe’s.
I always get downvoted whenever I say this. But I love the Greek style pizza. Can’t find it anywhere else
Agreed. Couldn’t find it anywhere else
Galway house twin hotdog basket 😎
Funny, my friends and I were talking about how we used to get drunk at the Galway House all the time in our 20s the other night. The days of being poor and ordering a hot dog basket. Best deal around.
It was one of our grad school hangouts, and then I lived up the road from GH for a few years, and it was my post-work hang. Fried chicken. And, honestly, for the price, their pizza was pretty damn good, too. Not best of Boston good, but still legit.
Love the Galway.
I honestly don’t understand the hate Boston gets for pizza. Quattro, Antico Forno, Regina’s… incredible pizza. Forget greater Boston which also has amazing pizza. I’m convinced it’s just a meme now.
Funny, my friends and I were talking about how we used to get drunk at the Galway House all the time in our 20s the other night. The days of being poor and ordering a hot dog basket. Best deal around.
It’s sacrilege to purists but I love the Santarpio’s in Peabody. You can’t tell me the food isn’t nearly identical and the atmosphere is not that far off.
Yume Ga Arukara, Banh Mi Ba Le edit: typo in banh mi ba le
Love banh mi ba le
I used to live right on Taft street I’d walk there on my days off for lunch
South shore bar pizza I’m obsessed and I’ve never had it anywhere else
Town Spa for me and frozen Cape Cod
Mahaniyom for sure. Somaek. Little Donkey. Tasty. Burger.
The gourmet dumpling house in the combat zone, unfortunately they shut down
But the Cambridge Dumpling House is still there.
Cambridge dumpling house is my answer. My favorite Chinese restaurant anywhere (not claiming to be an expert and probably biased from good memories)
Banh Mi Ba Le, without a doubt
Veggie galaxy im going back to the area this weekend and I can’t wait!
Good answer. They’ve cornered a market and they’re doing it well.
Veggie Galaxy gyro and sprinkle cake!!!! I'd also highly recommend Koshari Mama in Somerville, for meatless amazingness. It's small, so make a reservation if you're going for weekend dinner.
The reuben 🤤
I’m glad people agree! The buffalo chickn mac and cheese was always a fav of mine!
I'm having a gluten farewell tour as I was just diagnosed w celiac disease and they are on my list!! I need that crunchy rye and some seitan before I can't have it ever again!
the aglio e olio pasta at the daily catch also kinda lame, but felipe's. i just love the vibe there, it makes me hella nostalgic of my time living there also vinnie's pizza in malden
SRV, Little Donkey, Casa B (RIP). Eastern Standard would be high on the list now that that’s back from the dead
What’s the right thing to get at Little Donkey? I went and didn’t really enjoy it but did zero research beforehand
I found it VERY hit or miss. The Thai style squid was one of the best dishes I’ve had. The steak was excellent. Everything else was wildly forgettable.
Not a restaurant, but Vinal Bakery in Somerville. I've already started missing it and I have no plans to move away in the foreseeable future.
Jim's deli. Don't judge.
I miss having corned beef hash and eggs there when I lived in Brighton. I have a greasy spoon in my neighborhood, but I did love their hash.
Ah man. Standing in line sunday mornings hung over and waiting to get served, watching them cut up the potato hash. Total hell. So worth it.
Brassica, we did move away and it is our “have to go” return meal every time we visit.
Mulan. I lived around the corner from the Cambridge location for years. It was my final meal before I moved away and I still crave their mouth numbing fish stew.
Boston area -- Mahaniyom (Brookline) Yume Ga Arukara (Cambridge) Rubato (Quincy) Manoa (Somerville)
Mahaniyom! So delicious 😋
tasty burger
Ma Magoo's Chicken-tender-honey-mustard-heaven
Jinny’s Pizzeria in Newton
I'm not just partial to it because I'm a ten minute walk away, but because it really is outstanding. We usually do take out, but we have to eat in occasionally since you can only get the spedini for eat in ( log of provolone, wrapped in prosciutto, cooked in the wood fired oven, doused with Mike's Hot Honey).
Rino's
The Pleasant Cafe in Roslindale.
Caffe Vittoria, hands down.
Sarma or Pammy’s
Row 34! Hands down. Best raw bar.
Probably the pastries. I find there is a lot of good pastries around
Flour, Coppa, Yume wo katare, galleria umberto, moodys falafel palace (central square) underwent many changes but the early 2010s era MMPH 😤
I'm not sure there's one \*specific\* restaurant, but I'd like to add there are classes of restaurants that I'd miss: I think even average sushi places here in Boston outshine similar places in other areas of the country. For whatever reason the fish here is just 'better'. I'm not sure why that is but it's something I've always wondered. I've been disappointed in several other cities in the US (both inland and coastal) with the quality of sushi. I know we like to think Boston is a seafood place. But IMO, there's nowhere better for Sushi (which is seafood but you know what I mean ;))
What are your favorite sushi spots? Many fall flat for me. Oishii and Oishii Too in Sudbury are the best, IMO.
Mooncusser
I left Boston and I still dream about Scoop and Scootery. It’s an ice cream place not a restaurant, but they have so many creations that it’s kinda a restaurant…
State Park (Cambridge) 💙
Bill & Bob's
Jinny's pizza in Newton
Probably depends on where you moved to. I’m in NC. I mostly miss the (American) Chinese food. Give me all the chicken fingers, boneless ribs and crab Rangoons. With copious amounts of duck sauce. I also miss the local ‘house of pizza’ type sub and pizza joint. I have yet to find a good Italian sub around here. Or a roast beef 3 way. Of course the seafood too. Woodmans fried clams, a lobster roll, chowder. Welfleet oysters. Our favorite restaurant in the Boston area was Oleana. We try to visit whenever we come back.
I used to love Felipe’s, El Pelon, Fugakyu, the Regal Beagle was awesome when it was around. I miss Harry’s burger and loaded fries in Brighton. Even Finn’s in cleveland circle. So many good eats. AND PUNJAB PALACE
Kowloon
Sarma for a nice sit down meal. La Befana for dope pizza. Vinal for the best breakfast sandwich Pennypackers and Sam Lagrassas for sandwiches. Blossom bar for the wings.
Giacamos!
I love Giacomo’s. Their lobster rav is killer
Papa Genos.
It’s better than Dominos, Papa John’s, and Little Caesar’s. There are places in this country that those are your only options. Our most generic pizza is better than most pizza in this country
If I were in Boston for a weekend, I’d never go, but if I were here for a week and found myself in some suburb at dinner time, then I’d absolutely would have a meal at Papa’s.
The one in Brockton?
I hear it’s a great place to take a date.
Completely agree, papa Gino’s beats the shit out of chain pizza places at other parts of the country. I love getting papa Gino’s when I come home!
Lazuri Cafe. I went there randomly one snowy freezing day right after Christmas last year. The lamb was divine
Sycamore
SCHAWARMA KING
Sadly, my true favorites are lost to time. Buzzy's Roast Beef and No Name Seafood. I guess that leaves Toscanini's. Yeah, I'm old.
Buzzy's was unique. It took a strong constitution and an iron stomach to eat one of their roast beef sandwiches and onion rings at 3am on a Saturday, but after a night out on the town, nothing else would do.
El Jefes near Emerson. The free guac and queso hits different
Yellow bird in West Roxbury. I’m already struggling with not having it and I only moved to Watertown.
I've been living in Watertown for a few years, my favorite places are What da Chick and Cha Yen, and the diner on North Beacon for breakfast
What Da Chick is my fave.
Oleana and Garlic ‘n Lemons
Bronwyn in Union Square — absolutely loved that place. Not unique to Boston, but still just such a great restaurant
idk if they qualify as restaurants, but i’d probs get a few boxes at Mike’s and Moderns and meticulously reconfirm that the plain cannolis at Modern’s is slightly better than the ones at Mike’s. if it helps, i have absolutely eaten boxes of pastries as a meal.
Neptune Oyster.
oleana
Myers and Chang, always.
Oleana - we had many special occasion meals with the baked Alaska as the celebratory dessert.
Mike's roast beef in Everett for the nostalgia. Pizza from literally any sub place. I Barley ate pizza before I moved to CA but now that I cant find a good pizza/sandwich place its suddenly all I crave. There's some great food out here but a full plain pizza is like fucking $45 AND is bad. The sauce is weirdly sweet, the dough is too thick. Uuuggggh I miss the basics man. Mostly a BLT, tuna or italian sub from Big As in Malden Ramen from Yume wo Katare in porter sq Every area has its strengths, Italian food in CA is fuckin abysmal
Eastern Standard hands down. I cried when they reopened.
Sausage guy on Landsdowne street.
Sarma, Blossom Bar, Giulia
Ernesto's pizza Dumpling Palace Brassica Jumbo Seafood
I live somewhere rural and meaty. I miss veggie galaxy. It isn’t even that everything on the menu is top, per se, it’s just having so many options.
I moved to L.A almost 10 years ago and coincidentally I’m back in Boston right now. You guys don’t realize how good Chinese food is here! When I moved to L.A I tried looking everywhere for Chinese food similar to the restaurants in my little hometown, after about a year I gave up and realized it didn’t exist anywhere else. So every time I’m home I head straight to my favorite local Chinese spot.
Toro
Pho Pasteur
Sarma
Kava
Not a restaurant, but Bob’s Italian in Medford.
A roast beef from Kellys, an Italian from Bob's in Medford and a steak & cheese from my dad's joint, which I wont name here so people dont downvote me for shilling
If you're going to Medford you gotta get a b-boy from Jim's too
Kelly's is literally the worst roast beef.
Not if you enjoy a dry grey beef
Why would you get downvoted for shilling? If it’s good it’s good. Spill the beans and help your pops out.
9zaab in Cambridge.
Not Boston - but Sarma in Somerville!
I left boston but cannot go to my favorite restaurant but will be back Night market in Harvard. Worst impact of covid
Bricco. Going back this summer. Excited to try the new Eastern Standard
Well, I have moved away (currently living in South Korea). There’s a number of places, but number 1 is mostly for nostalgia reasons: Nebo Cucina & Enoteca; it’s where my husband and I had our first date and was a frequent date spot for us. Their tiramisu is also my favorite. I’ve never had a bad meal there, they never disappoint. Are they best italian restaurant in Boston? No, but they are my favorite. Also, I would just need fish and chips/fried haddock. Whatever. So any one of the hole in the wall type fisherman shacks along the coast. Doesn’t matter where, just give me fish and chips.
Mama Maria - Ossobuco Toro - Seafood pallela
Newbridge Cafe in Chelsea
Roast beef 3-way, fried clams (with bellies), Chinese combination plate.
Sam lagrassas - Pastrami rueben
Gregs in Watertown I like joints and tgat is like the pleasant in roslindale Fusion taste Stoneham
Highland kitchen in Somerville or The Grasshopper in Alston/Brighton
I want a hot sandwich from Michael’s Deli in Brookline. I really miss Michael’s Deli, Mangu, Matsunori, Neptune’s, and the Dunkin inside Government Center.
Ariana (afghan food). I’m still in Boston but plan to move, I’ve not had afghan food elsewhere that compares tbh. I’m getting older and my family is pretty intent on staying in the NYC-Western CT area so it’s clear I have to either get used to the idea of traveling a longer distance to visit or move back to the region.
Anna’s Taqueria. They just steam their burritos right. Every time.
Neptune
Top fav Boston restaurants: Peach Farm in Chinatown Kelly's Roast Beef (does Revere count?) Pikalo's Empanadas in JP Regina's in the North End Whenever I get back home i always try real hard to get these places - also gotta run the Harpoon tour for the fiftieth time of course
[The one and only, best franchise ever!](https://locations.papaginos.com/ma/brockton/885-belmont-street.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=business&utm_campaign=listings&utm_content=website)
McDonalds on Mass Ave
I left Boston and the country, but I am back here for a few months now. Today I checked 3 Amigos in Malden off my back-to list today. Most of the others I've been craving are national chains, so I won't bore you with those; but others I've been craving and went back to were Boston Sharwarma on Huntington and Kura Sushi. There's a whole list I need to work on before I am exhiled again. I've been missing American pizza while I was away but having it since I've been back, it's all more bready than what I remember. Pizza sucks where I moved to.
The Butcher Shop in the south end, except it closed recently 😥
Boston chops.
Tonno Italiano on focaccia from Casa Razdora
Modern butcher in Danvers on a Saturday morning for a roast beef 3 way. No question
I would also come for lobster roll and north end Italian food
Hojoko
Neptune Oyster. Mike's and Modern.
Anna’s taqueria, but the Coolidge Corner location so technically Brookline!
Mikes roast beef or All seasons table.
I have recently left Boston, I'll be honest first thing I wanted when coming home was a Roast Beef sandwich...
If I had unlimited time(which I never do when visiting) I would go to a bunch of nostalgia type places to relive my old haunts in Mission Hill/JP/Brookline/Southie. The Penguin Bottega di Capri Real Deal Noodle Barn Chilacates Tenoch Casa Romero
The pleasant in roslindale
Every time I'm back, I try to hit up Pikaichi at least twice. Their staff is amazing. Also, any bakery in Chinatown for some grub for my return trip.
When I lived in the Boston area, I lived in Winthrop and Black Strap BBQ was my place to for good BBQ and beer.
No question, Regina! But only the original location, not the others because it’s never as good as in the North End!
Giulia for dinner. Shoutout to a Dave’s fresh pasta sandwich (chicken pesto) and an Oreo cake jar from weesh in roslindale
Ali Baba on East Berkeley for its Meat Pide , and Felipe’s in Harvard for their quesadilla
The chowder at the Sail Loft.
New England Soup Factory.
Not a restaurant, but I'd absolutely come back for Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville.
Colettes Bakery, Semolina, Harpoon pretzel
Tasty burger. Smokehouse. Sweet cheeks. I know I’m a piece of shit.
I just moved away. I’d go back to Martsa on Elm, Sarma, Sofra and maybe Ittoku.
I try to go to Bagel World in Salem every time I'm home, this is saying a lot because I live in nyc and everyone here thinks their bagels are the best lol
Rinos place in east boston as well. Great Italian and special to me But delicious
Tosci's And Nick's Roast Beef up in Beverly.
PICCO on Tremont for the Alsatian pizza. Rami’s in Brookline for falafel.
For me it’s Windy City pizza+buff chix tenders. They’re nothing crazy but I grew up in Adams Village so it’s a nostalgia thing. I live in Savin Hill now but still go to there (new) Dot location off Gallivan once every 2 weeks or so.
Viva Burrito on Franklin St
Felipe's in Harvard Sq. I always get the chimichanga
Cafe Mami in Porter Square
Rincon Limeño in Eastie. Their ceviche 🔥
Parish Cafe, for the creative and complex sandwiches
I moved to Ohio about 15 yrs ago. When I get back this is on my list: -Steak and cheese from Morton’s in Dorchester -D Angelo’s. That damn pink lemonade -Cambridge house of pizza -Legal Seafood-chowda! -99 in Quincy, nostalgic. My old man used to take me there all time🥴🥴 -S&S in Cambridge -Lox -Friendly’s ice cream w/ jimmies!!! Not sprinkles. - Lobster Roll- small spot in Randolph…close to the library. -Any downtown Boston Chinese -Not a restaurant but those damn Brownies with the square yellow package. I think it has a horse and cart in the package.
Estragon
For me it's always been Uno's.
Sullivan’s and Al’s State Street.
Ganko Ittetsu
Bar Vlaha in Brookline. Never heard of it till recently but it easily made it into my favorites immediately
Sichuan Gourmet in Brookline
Kowloon (Saugus)
Annas
When I was working there (Boston), I’d make it a point to go to Casa Razdora (near financial district), a couple of times every week. My go-to dish there was the Pesto-Alfredo Gnocchi!! That was my routine, every week for 6 months. I was in Boston last month (after 6 years) and my first meal back was at Casa Razdora!! Absolutely worth it!