Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Boston area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals鈥攁 French style of serving with a set menu鈥攂ecame the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Boston area using data from . Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#29. Alma Gaucha
- Rating: 4.3/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 401 D St. Boston Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Steakhouses, Desserts, Brazilian
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#28. The Elephant Walk
- Rating: 4.3/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1415 Washington St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cambodian, French, Cocktail Bars
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#27. Barcelona Wine Bar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1937 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1700 Beacon St. Brookline, Massachusetts
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Spanish, Wine Bars
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#26. Bistro 5
- Rating: 4.3/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5 Playstead Road Medford, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Modern European
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#25. Mamma Maria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1018 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3 North Sq Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian
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#24. Oleana Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1911 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 134 Hampshire St. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Mediterranean
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#23. Pammy's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (498 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 928 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, New American
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#22. Celeste
- Rating: 4.3/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 21 Bow St. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: Peruvian, Latin American, Seafood
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#21. Giulia
- Rating: 4.3/5 (615 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1682 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
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#20. O Ya
- Rating: 4.4/5 (851 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 9 East St. Place Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese
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#19. Ostra
- Rating: 4.4/5 (678 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1 Charles St. South Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Seafood
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#18. Field & Vine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 9 Sanborn Court Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Bars, Live/Raw Food
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#17. Barcelona Wine Bar South End
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1587 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 525 Tremont St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Spanish, Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates
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#16. JiangNan - Boston
- Rating: 4.4/5 (300 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 177 Tremont St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Chinese
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#15. SRV Boston
- Rating: 4.4/5 (622 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 569 Columbus Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
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#14. Ariana Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (511 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 384 Western Ave. Brighton, Massachusetts
- Categories: Afghan
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#13. Fin Point Oyster Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (593 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 89 Broad St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
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#12. Sarma
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1339 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 249 Pearl St. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Tapas/Small Plates, Mediterranean
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#11. Mooncusser
- Rating: 4.4/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 304 Stuart St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Seafood
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#10. Moonshine 152
- Rating: 4.4/5 (645 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 152 Dorchester Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Asian Fusion
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#9. Ma Maison
- Rating: 4.5/5 (552 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 272 Cambridge St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: French, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
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#8. Fuji at Ink Block
- Rating: 4.5/5 (753 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 352 Harrison Ave. Ste B Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Cocktail Bars
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#7. Isabella Ristorante
- Rating: 4.5/5 (543 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 Prince St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian
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#6. Talulla
- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 377 Walden St. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American, Seafood
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#5. Matsunori Handroll Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 900 Beacon St. Unit A Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Japanese, Seafood, Sushi Bars
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#4. Carmelina's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (4059 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 307 Hanover St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian
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#3. Aqua Pazza
- Rating: 4.6/5 (313 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 135 Richmond St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
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#2. Krasi
- Rating: 4.6/5 (528 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 48 Gloucester St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, Wine Bars
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#1. Season to Taste
- Rating: 4.6/5 (293 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1678 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: New American
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
