Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Boston

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies 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!

Moonshine 152

4.9

4.9 (1873)

$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

Kelley

Dined 2 days ago

One of my favs in Greater Boston! Delicious food, yummy ambiance. Love introducing friends to this place, highly recommend!

Discover more

Popular dish

Butterscotch Pudding

Popular dish

Jalapeno Crab Rangoons

Mooncusser

4.9

4.9 (1582)

$50 and over

Seafood

Back Bay

About the restaurant

Cancellation Policy: We ask that if you need to cancel your reservation, do so 24 hours in advance. Guests cancelling within 24 hrs of their reservation will be charged $50 per person.

Mooncusser serves a $120 multicourse menu from head chef Carl Dooley. Since opening in 2017, the restaurant has been awarded top honors by the New York Times, Boston Magazine and other publications.

Top review

StephenVIP

Dined 6 days ago

The menu changes often and the newest menu is fantastic. I loved every dish.

Moon Bar

4.9

4.9 (134)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Back Bay

About the restaurant

Welcome to Moon Bar. We offer globally inspired small plates by Chef Carl Dooley in a bar setting.

Top review

naser

Dined 5 days ago

Food is very fresh and delicious. Service is excellent. Have been there many times and never failed to deliver good quality meal.

Fuji at WoC

4.9

4.9 (40)

$30 and under

Japanese

Quincy

About the restaurant

Fuji at WoC is the flagship location of JP Fuji Group, located in Quincy, Massachusetts.

This location is unique because in an exclusively enclosed section of the restaurant is the Private Chefs Kitchen. Here, guests can enjoy Omakase—a Japanese phrase that means ‘I’ll leave it up to you.'

The full menu offers sushi dishes, wok-tossed entrees, lunch specials and a full bar list.

The Fuji at WoC chefs can also create custom menus of sushi, appetizers and wok-tossed dishes for catered events.

Top review

Debbie

Dined 6 days ago

Great place for sushi! They have quite a variety of Asia food.

Moeca

4.8

4.8 (626)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Moëca is a neighborhood seafood focused restaurant inspired by Italy and beyond.

Top review

Baldwin

Dined 7 days ago

great small plates and cocktails. service was excellent

Merai

4.8

4.8 (114)

$50 and over

Thai

Brookline

About the restaurant

A creative Thai restaurant and bar for adventurous diners.

Merai, a destination for re-imagined global cuisine with Thai-inspired flavors and Asian cocktails,

Top review

Sara

Dined 2 days ago

The entire experience was amazing! The bartender was so lovely, the drinks were awesome, and the food came out at a great pace.

Urban Hearth

4.7

4.7 (721)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Farm-to-table dining in the comfort of our home: that is the unique experience you will find at Urban Hearth. Located in a cozy North Cambridge storefront, our intimate dining room, knowledgeable, friendly staff, and exquisitely crafted menu are the heart of our dinner service. Join us for a la carte or at our chef's counter where you'll have the pleasure of interacting with Chef Erin Miller while dining.

We share a story of culture, community, discovery and home. The globally-inspired, locally-sourced dishes we serve celebrate our rich and complex connection with food. The table is set, whether marking a special occasion or the end of a busy day, we look forward to sharing the evening with you. We welcome private event bookings for graduations, birthdays, weddings and more. To equalize the pay disparity between tipped staff & kitchen staff during our busy times, we add a 5% kitchen appreciation fee to each check. We require 24 hours notice for all cancellations.

Top review

Nicola

Dined 5 days ago

Really beautiful meal in a cozy and welcoming setting. The dishes were great, especially the dessert!

FiRE+iCE Interactive Grill & Bar

4.5

4.5 (3276)

$30 and under

American

Back Bay

About the restaurant

No matter what you're celebrating, we're celebrating with you. Our interactive all-you-can-eat experience allows every guest to chef up a creative masterpiece: choosing from our endless array of ingredients, sauces, and toppings, and bringing their dish to life at our open flame grill! Whether it's a family outing, group get-together, or fun date night, here at the grill we have something for all to enjoy.

FEED YOUR FUN! Great for: Large groups, birthdays, family date night, team outings, and diners with dietary restrictions or food allergies.

Top review

amy

Dined 2 days ago

Lotta fun and different dining experience. Pick what you want, watch them cook on giant circular grill. Eat as much as you want for $27 is a very good deal. Delicious food

Vejigante Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (905)

$30 and under

Puerto Rican

South End

About the restaurant

With experience of over 20 years in the culinary industry to present us with emotion and put your new project disposicnuestro "Vejigantes Restaurant". This restaurant brings the best of the traditional food of the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, carefully prepared and presented by craftsmen to fill a void in the community of Villa Victoria bastion of the fight of our community.
Unique in its kind in the city of Boston, has been carefully designed with an island environment and atmosphere. Inviting them in bright colors to arouse curiosity and cheer the soul as a delicious food delights. Located in the heart of Villa Victoria representative and testament to the struggle of the Puerto Rican community in Boston.
We invite you to live this experience with us and feel welcome right from their site of preference Vejigantes when you want to take that trip back to the authentic flavors settled with the Puerto Rican sofrito and adobo

-6 person Reservation maximum
-Dining time limit is 90min

Top review

Jacob

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

Food is really good. I took my dad who grew up in Puerto Rico his whole life and thought the taste was great and authentic. Highly recommend the Luquillo sampler to try a little bit of everything. I always get the Chuleta Kan Kan because it's a spectacle and also delicious. The sauce they give is really good too.

Roxanne's

4.4

4.4 (314)

$30 and under

American

Downtown Crossing

About the restaurant

Casual Cocktail Bar; Unique cocktails, craft beer, and wine in a lounge setting. Small plates and snack menu available.
Roxanne's is a 21+ establishment.

Top review

Lisa

Dined on Mar 12, 2025

Delicious smash burger! Great comfortable seats, awesome service! Very timely. Cool atmosphere

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