Best of Boston

Less is more at Mare. Whether it’s the unusually stark décor (more SoHo than North End) or the delicate hand chefs use on the restaurant’s high-quality seafood. No heavy sauces here. The whole sea bass is grilled with just a dash of lemon, salt, and herbs, and meaty scallops sit pristinely atop homemade lemon angel-hair pasta. The tasting menu is worth every penny.