Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Boston

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in 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!

Fresh Boston

5.0

5 (6)

$30 and under

American

South Boston

About the restaurant

If you have to cancel, please give us as much advance notice as possible. We have a 10 minute grace period. Please call us if you are running late. Thank you!

Brunch: Saturday + Sunday 10:30a - 3:00p. We also serve our full lunch menu during Brunch

We are all about the good vibes here at Fresh Boston, drawing from our original location on Nantucket! We have a full bar, full liquor store, & full dine-in area as well as "grab & go". Our unique concept has everything you need with a vibe

>We are open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays)
> Brunch Saturday + Sunday 10:30a-3p (we also serve our full lunch menu during brunch)
>Our Liquor Store is fully stocked with spirits, beer, seltzers & over 225 facings of wine.
>Catering & Private Events freshboston.com/catering

Top review

MaggieVIP

Dined on Apr 30, 2025

Fresh has the best sandwiches, staff, and vibes in all of South Boston. I love this place!

Moko

4.9

4.9 (13)

$30 and under

Japanese

South Boston

About the restaurant

Moko Japanese Cuisine has been South Boston’s favorite destination for sushi since 2012. Our talented chefs craft each dish with the finest locally sourced fish, premium ingredients, and a genuine passion for culinary excellence. Step into our cozy restaurant and indulge in a delightful selection of small plates perfect for sharing, complemented by an extensive selection of sushi and a diverse range of Japanese and Korean entrees. To elevate your dining experience, be sure to explore our thoughtfully curated selection of beer, wine, and sake. Whether you’re enjoying a casual outing or celebrating a special occasion, Moko is dedicated to providing you with an unforgettable dining experience. We look forward to welcoming you and hope you’ll become one of our cherished regular customers!

Top review

Deborah

Dined 5 days ago

One of our favourite restaurants. We never have a bad meal or experience at Moko. The service is excellent. The staff are friendly and attentive. The food is fresh and very tasty! Presentation is really good. And to top it all off, the prices are reasonable!

Piccolo Nido

4.9

4.9 (327)

$31 to $50

Italian

North End

About the restaurant

Piccolo Nido in Boston is an Italian restaurant with a family atmosphere, owned and operated by chef Pino Irano from Napoli. Piccolo Nido’s dinner menu includes a daily soup option, as well as classic antipasto and pasta dishes. Enjoy an espresso or cappuccino with dessert, and enjoy getting to know Pino when he steps out of the kitchen to greet the patrons.

Entrees at Piccolo Nido include favorites such as spaghetti and gnocchi, but also has options for lovers of true Italian flavors, such as veal and trout. The fresh catch of the day is also available for the freshest seafood around, and diners can also enjoy tiramisu or a dessert of the day.

Top review

MicahVIP

Dined on Jul 16, 2025

It was fantastic. And the house red was excellent and affordable.

Vuolo's

4.9

4.9 (238)

$30 and under

Italian

Winthrop

About the restaurant

Named after our beloved grandfather, we are a small family-owned establishment built on a commitment to making every patron that walks through our doors feel they are at home. Our approach, in addition to supplying friendly and attentive service, is to take the traditional Italian cuisine that our family grew up eating and elevate it to something new and fresh.

Mangia!

Top review

DianneVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great food and service. Sat at bar and the staff is always so friendly and talkative

Moonshine 152

4.9

4.9 (1885)

$30 and under

American

South Boston

About the restaurant

A modern -American, neighborhood bistro restaurant in Southie (South Boston) by Chef-owner Asia Mei (as seen on Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay & Phantom Gourmet). With a globally-inspired, comfort food meets street food menu, Chef Asia puts her unique spin on both East & West Coast style cooking, striving to match the beautiful restaurant’s aesthetic, contributing to numerous glowing re-reviews, accolades & praise. Her "Best of Boston" Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings, her award-winning Burgers & Vegetarian Burgers, Street Tacos & weekly changing specials are only some of the reasons she was awarded the 2023 Best of Boston Neighborhood Restaurant in South Boston.

Moonshine 152 is located at 152 Dorchester Avenue, on the corner of Dorchester Avenue & West 4th Street in South Boston. We are one block from the Broadway Red Line train station, with bus connections local bus connections. We are a short walk from the South End & Ink Block neighborhoods as well as The Seaport & Downtown Boston.

Top review

EvelynVIP

Dined 6 days ago

The food was really yummy, great service, and chef was so friendly!! She even came out to talk with us a couple of times.

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Popular dish

Butterscotch Pudding

Popular dish

Jalapeno Crab Rangoons

Nzuko

4.9

4.9 (148)

$31 to $50

Fusion / Eclectic

Watertown

About the restaurant

Nzuko is a concept like no other. Born out of our founder Laurette’s desire to see her family feel healthy and thrive, this is a restaurant fueled by heart. Nzuko offers the tastes of the Caribbean with the benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

Top review

nicoleVIP

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

The food here is always so delicious and the chef owner always comes out to ask how everything was and thanks us for coming in. I love the setting. Hard to believe this place isn’t packed, but it was nice to have a place to catch up with two friends and the warm breeze wafting through the open windows. LOVE this place!

Vintage - Arlington

5.0

5 (44)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Arlington

About the restaurant

Welcome to our newest tearoom addition in Arlington Center. Now also open in the evenings as a wine bar! Our vision for this location was to create a relaxing and fun environment for friends and loved ones to get together and catchup over a cup of tea and a light meal while savoring the cozy European cafe inspired atmosphere. Set across from the beautiful Robbins Library our Arlington tearoom is an inviting destination to experience after a day browsing books.

Top review

Stephanie

Dined on Jul 18, 2025

Really nice place to meet a friend and have a long catch up chat and to celebrate birthdays

Sycamore

4.9

4.9 (2853)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Newton

About the restaurant

Sycamore is a seasonally inspired, chef-owned neighborhood bistro in Newton Centre. Emphasizing locally sourced produce, fish and meat, our menu draws on classic European country food; rustic and wholesome. Our beverage program is designed to complement the cuisine. The wine list focuses on passionate small producers, our beers are by and large domestic craft selections and the cocktail list highlights classic drinks and sipping spirits.

Top review

LornaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Sycamore never disappoints. The menu is interesting, creative and of outstanding quality. Thank you to your entire team for making our evening with friends fun and memorable!

Molinari's

4.9

4.9 (564)

$30 and under

Italian

Dorchester

About the restaurant

“I wanted to do a place with good Italian comfort food. The simplicity of it, the freshness of it, the quality of ingredients that you get to work with.” They specialize in that quintessential Italian comfort food – pizza. “I think it’s great that the city of Boston is turning around and starting to become known for pizza like the other big cities in the country,” he said. “It is such a simple food but it all comes down to the quality of ingredients.” It’s all done out of an open kitchen where the star of the show is Molinari’s wood burning oven.

Top review

ThomasVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Pizza was awesome. Cocktails were awsome. Service was awesome. Get the bruschetta! Chicken parm is awesome enough for two.

Discover more

Popular dish

Chicken Parmigiana

dbar

4.9

4.9 (1484)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Dorchester

About the restaurant

dbar is a full service restaurant that seamlessly transforms into a nightclub and lounge as the night goes on. Formally an old school Irish pub filled with mahogany charm, dbar has been renovated into a hip chic hot spot. With warm glowing candles & long leather banquettes, dbar offers a casual and comfortable atmosphere that attracts clientele from Dorchester and surrounding areas. The unique and classy menu inspired by Executive Chef Christopher Coombs changes with the seasons and features the finest and freshest available ingredients throughout the New England area. Most of the menu takes a French twist, but also contains an assortment of comfort foods (such as our famous Veal & Pancetta Bolognaise) and old favorites (like our simple yet delicious Giannone Chicken Under a Brick.)

Top review

KennethVIP

Dined on Jul 3, 2025

Was visiting from out of town. Food was great and very innovative and at an affordable price.

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