Orta
Last fall the splashy new Hingham Shipyard looked primed to become the region's next dining sensation, boasting upcoming ventures by boldface chefs Paul Wahlberg and Esti Parsons. But an unassuming Pembroke strip mall has stolen some of its thunder with Orta, an Italian joint friendly to foodies, families, and wallets in equal measure. Overseen by Harvest vet Jimmy Burke, the spacious restaurant is outfitted in genteel dark wood and sage-colored walls, and offers a menu celebrating the diverse flavors of Italy—from oven-fired Neapolitan pies to Roman-style baked semolina gnocchi to Tuscan-style meatloaf. When the stars finally arrive at the Shipyard, we just may be toasting them from Orta. 75 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA 2359, .
The Butcher Shop
As the longtime wine doyenne of the Barbara Lynch empire, Cat Silirie knows her way around a corkscrew. For proof, look no further than the corner of Tremont and Waltham, where over the past six years she's nurtured this updated boucherie into a temple of vino that effectively puts the cork in the Hub's ersatz wine bars. The list digs deep with bottles from producers and small family farms—even grapes!—we've never heard of, but every server intuits precisely what will rock that plate of charcuterie or artisanal cheese. Hang out and nibble across the meat-centric menu while watching the South End go by, or have a glass while the staff packs your shopping bag with aged steaks, house-cured bacon, and Bolognese sauce. 552 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2118, thebutchershopboston.com.
Tom Brady Leaves the Patriots
Did the GOAT jump the fence out of the Patriots’ pasture, or did Farmer Bill kick him out the gate? We probably won’t know until the best quarterback ever and the best NFL coach ever are long retired and finally start giving candid interviews. Either way, this much is undeniable: Our former Number 12 now looks hideously off-putting in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ red, orange, and pewter jersey, but we’re starting to get over our old flame thanks to the savvy signing of 31-year-old QB Cam Newton. While we wish nothing but goodwill and success to the football legend for the decades of glory he gave us, and we all knew the six-ring Super Bowl era had to end some day, it’s still too bad it had to be like this.
Waiting Game, by Terri Lyne Carrington
Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images A world-renowned jazz drummer, Berklee professor, and Grammy-winning bandleader, Medford’s Terri Lyne Carrington (pictured, bottom) excels at anything she touches. Her latest triumph is this two-CD set spanning almost two hours of music. Featuring her band Social Science and aching vocals by singer Debo Ray, the first half is a musical stew of jazz, R & B, hip-hop, and funk, with a poetic rumination on police brutality by Malcolm Jamal-Warner on “Bells (Ring Loudly)” that took on even greater meaning after the killing of George Floyd. The second half, an instrumental jazz suite called “Dreams and Desperate Measures,” is a luminous river of improvised music. Put together, it’s one of the most astonishing albums ever released by a Boston musician. terrilynecarrington.com.
Oak Room
The real meat of a truly great steakhouse is just that: its meat. And while the opulent Oak Room may look too delicate to deliver on such a carnivorous front, this year it left the competition begging for scraps. Witness the splendidly marbled bone-in rib-eye, juicy to its sweet core. And the pliant slab of aged New York strip under a voluptuous horseradish sauce. Sides and seafood, too, are much more than standard: thick spears of tender asparagus, chilled artichokes with thick and fresh lobster tail, and sharp-flavored calamari salad. Service is thoughtful, informed, and perfectly timed, and the epic wine list is packed with impressive (mostly French and American) choices. Why haven't we mentioned the room's flat-out stunning décor by now? Because with credentials like this, it shouldn't matter. Saying the Oak Room isn't a real steakhouse is as silly as saying a beautiful woman can't be smart. Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Ave., Boston, MA .
Pho 2000
Sure, they serve pho at this hole-in-the-wall storefront in Dorchester: great steaming bowls of it, delicately flavored with lemongrass and scallions. But the soup is just the beginning of an adventurous menu of rare and authentic Vietnamese dishes. There's a reason why the tables beneath the tourist prints and buzzing neon are always crowded with locals. The highlight is the chef's specialty, dac biêt bò báy món, seven courses of beef served six ways to Sunday. Thin slices of pure pink meat are offered with the tools to cook it yourself at the table—boiled in vinegar, flash-fried in butter and garlic—then followed up with soup, skewers, and three other gut-busting courses. While no alcohol is served, you can wash down your meal with such exotic beverages as jasmine limeade, salty plum soda—even egg soda. 198 Adams St., Dorchester, MA pho2000boston.com.
Bauer Wines & Spirits
You've planned the menu and invited the guests. Now you need the perfect wine to make the dinner party a success. Look no further: Bauer Wines & Spirits buyer Howie Rubin knows his wines, has an encyclopedic knowledge of food, and can direct even the most confused oenophobe to the right bottle. Rubin may not offer as expansive a selection as some shops, but the juice he stocks is superlative, and his advice—unobtrusive but freely offered for the asking—is comforting and practical. He and his well-trained staff can steer you toward the perfect bubbly for caviar, the ideal sauvignon blanc for oysters, or a new shiraz for lamb to suit your menu, taste, and budget. Added bonuses: Cases are sold at a discount of 10 percent and delivery is free. 330 Newbury St., Boston, MA bauerwines.com.
No. 9 Park
Oenophiles searching for a wine list that both delights and challenges need look no further than the fringes of Boston Common. No. 9 Park wine director Cat Silirie has organized a list that's a worldly tour of tried-and-true Chianti, sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay, and paired them with such never-before-heard-of vineyards and varietals as Josco Gravner's ribolla gialla from the northeast corner of Italy and No. 9 Park private label refosco, a grape from Trentino, Italy, that's grown and bottled at Santa Barbara, California's Au Bon Climat winery. The result: a list that complements chef Barbara Lynch's sophisticated cuisine and is easily organized by grape and flavor (lighter for aperitif to full-bodied, barrel-fermented big boys). Silirie wants diners to be comfortable with wine, and that's exactly what her stellar palate and fastidious organization achieve. 9 Park St., Boston, MA no9park.com.
Radius
The circle is a fitting symbol for a restaurant like Radius. This sleek, stylish Financial District hot spot is a dining experience so complete and so completely perfect, that coming to the end of a meal only makes you want to start again. Chef Michael Schlow's sophisticated French cooking makes the most of seasonal ingredients, showcasing them in dishes like this summer's roasted loin of veal with fresh black mission figs, fennel, sweetbreads, and pancetta. The discreet, professional staff moves the meal along seamlessly, while the impressive wine list designed by co-owner Christopher Myers complements each dish. And though beloved pastry chef Paul Connors left Boston earlier this year, Julien Wagner has stepped into his shoes with ease, crafting stunning desserts like the signature goat cheese and huckleberry cheesecake. It all means that a night out at the three-year-old Radius still begins and ends as sweetly as ever. 8 High St., Boston, MA radiusrestaurant.com.
Clio
After four years of flirting with bestowing this award on Clio, we're finally at the swooning point. What makes Clio the best? To begin with, there's chef Ken Oringer's cuisine, marked by provocative flavors and Franco-Asian techniques. Then there's the smart-yet-casual little dining room, the topnotch service, and general manager Christian Touche's French sensibilities that keep the place humming with symphonic cadence. The menu may raise eyebrows with offering such as scallop ceviche with watermelon and a petite "rack of rabbit," but the results are a refreshing culinary free-fall well worth a leap of faith. The tasting menu is the ultimate lesson in creativity, balance, and timing, offering anywhere from 12 to 15 ounces of bite-sized creations in a progression of tastes and textures that run the gamut (hot to cold, raw to cooked, fish to fowl) without once running astray. Eliot Suite Hotel, 370A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA cliorestaurant.com.
Café Fleuri
When you want to close the deal over breakfast, reserve a table at this sunny, airy café in Le Meridien hotel. You'll find more suits than at Brooks Brothers, enough varied menu options to feed every executive appetite, and coffee that's every bit as powerful as the people sipping it. The setting is all business without being stuffy, and service is discreet (though, alas, not speedy). Newly renovated connecting rooms are spacious, and tables are plentiful—as are the menu options, which range from the fitness breakfast (fresh juice, yogurt with fruit or granola, an egg white frittata, six-grain toast, and coffee) to the Japanese (miso-shiru soup, yaki nori seaweed and Japanese pickles, broiled salmon with veggies, steamed rice, and green tea). Prefer to wheel and deal over a sugar shot? Go for the honey-glazed brioche French toast. 250 Franklin St., Boston, MA boston.langhamhotels.com/restaurants/best_boston_restaurants.htm.
George Wright Golf Course
Okay, so it's not in pristine condition. In fact, on a recent visit, we found what appeared to be a large fishing net half-buried in the fairway of the 12th hole. So what's so great about this municipal course? For starters, it's right in the city—a verdant oasis hidden in Hyde Park, with a clubhouse that looks like a medieval castle. This course was designed in the 1930s by Donald Ross, the famed Scotsman who built some of the finest courses in both the state and the nation. The best thing about George Wright, however, is that a loop around these greens runs Boston residents just $24 ($27 on weekends). While you play, take the time to imagine what this course could become with a just little tender loving care. 420 West St., Hyde Park, MA cityofboston.gov/golf/GWGC.
O Ya
As sushi has gone mainstream, it's become increasingly run-of-the-mill: rolls, rolls, and more rolls, with too much rice and tasteless (and, frequently, cooked) fish. O Ya doesn't even offer rolls, just sparklingly fresh sashimi and nigiri—including heretofore unseen specialties like big-eye red snapper, conch, and Santa Barbara spot prawn. With a surgeon's precision, chef-owner Tim Cushman and his line of sushi sous pair each fish with thoughtfully chosen exotic adornments like Thai basil and torched banana pepper mousse, and one of dozens of house-made sauces. The results—like the bluefin tataki with smoky pickled onions and truffle oil—are transporting. 9 East St., Boston, MA .
Alex Stupak, Clio
After several luxurious courses of chef Ken Oringer's French cooking, concluding with dessert might seem excessive. But when the desserts are as delicious as those made by pastry chef Alex Stupak, a little excess is in order. Despite his propensity toward flavored foams, Stupak's timbale of milk-chocolate with raspberry, tarragon, and tamarind ice cream is, in a word, ethereal. So are his Tahitian vanilla bean crème brûlée and lollipops made from sassafras, chicory, and sea salt-spiked chocolate, True and intense (yet not overwhelming) flavors marry with textures that bend the rules of sensibility by being simultaneously crisp and puffy, like the microthin layers of the rich chocolate and hazelnut petits fours. Such finesse is what makes this 23-year-old pastry chef a talent to keep an eye on—and his desserts an indulgence to seek out. The Eliot Hotel, 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA cliorestaurant.com.
Oleana
We knew it would come to this. After seducing us with her sultry Mediterranean cooking at Casablanca, Ana Sortun has opened her own place, the eponymous Oleana. And what a place it is. A dining room so comfortable you'll have to be pried away when the meal is over, and the waitstaff so friendly you'll find yourself wondering if you haven't met somewhere before. But the food's the star, beginning with the prêt-à-manger selection of small plates, like the creamy, heavenly tuna and black olive deviled eggs. Main dishes, too, are unique and bursting with flavor, like the roasted monkfish with crème fraîche, ginger, and peaches over couscous. Be sure to top off a meal with the signature orange cardamom gelato with warm chocolate hazelnut torte, a dessert so special it takes 30 minutes to create—the perfect excuse to linger in this warm, welcoming dining room. 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA oleanarestaurant.com.