Sample, sip and savor your way through the city’s top tasting menus—a symphony of flavors surely awaits in each carefully curated bite. 
Asta
At the intersection of traditional and modern lies Asta, the upscale New American eatery where rustic exposed brick and shining stainless steel come together. The tasting menu speaks to elegance and simplicity, artfully plating bold flavors, and changing monthly at the chef’s discretion. Try delicate, flowery vegan fare or something more robust, like duck served with chocolate gastrique, parsnip and black trumpets. 47 Massachusetts Ave., 617.585.9575, astaboston.com
Menton
Thanks to chef Barbara Lynch, the only woman in the country with the title of Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux, this fine-dining utopia in Fort Point has been noted among the most prestigious publications and recieved a James Beard Award nomination. The exquisite Chef’s Tasting menu features new dishes every season, such as venison with rutabaga, medlar and an earthy mushroom garum, and dry-aged tyee ora king salmon with oro blanco and furikake. 354 Congress St., 617.737.0099, mentonboston.com
No. 9 Park
Another remarkable establishment from chef Barbara Lynch, this restaurant earned a AAA Four Diamond Rating and a James Beard Award for its wine list. If it weren’t for the views of the Boston Common, this townhouse furnished with dark wood floors, antique chandeliers and leather seating could convince diners they’re dining in Europe. The seven-course Chef’s Tasting menu includes French- and Italian-inspired dishes like braised octopus and prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras, almond and vin santo. 9 Park St., 617.742.9991, no9park.com
O Ya
Treat yourself and your loved ones to a veritable feast at O Ya, where guests enjoy a whopping 20-course Omakase tasting menu. Inset lighting above dark wood furniture with muted green accents sets the scene for the open kitchen that serves up tasty Japanese small plates: Think firefly squid with ginger juice, lime zest and shiso or Hamachi Sashimi with viet mignonette, crispy shallot and Thai basil. 9 East St., 617.654.9900, o-ya.restaurant
Talulla
A family-owned business named after owners Conor Dennehy and Danielle Ayer’s daughter, Talulla, provides cozy, intimate meals in a dining room with only 12 tables. The ever-changing seasonal tasting menu takes guests on a five-course culinary journey—winter welcomed warm Lasagna Verde alla Bolognese with béchamel and parmigiana served in a cast iron and tuna crudo with blood orange, radish, sesame and white soy hijiki. 377 Walden St., Cambridge, 617.714.5584, talullacambridge.com
Tasting Counter
Mystery and mastery await at the Tasting Counter—the menu is never spoiled in advance, but guests watch with eyes wide while the chef prepares nine courses throughout a two-hour experience. Global cuisines meet local ingredients in each course, paired with a curated selection of natural wines, beers, sakes or craft non-alcoholic beverages. Past dishes like dry-aged Peking duck with pistachio, green pea miso, lovage and pickled celery are enough to tempt the taste buds. 14 Tyler St., Somerville, 617.299.6362, tastingcounter.com
Uni
What began as a snug, underground sashimi bar has blossomed into an impressive fine dining staple from owner and James Beard Award-winning chef Ken Oringer alongside executive chef David Bazirgan. These two bring a creative take to Japanese cuisine through two prix-fixe menus, combining fresh seafood from the legendary Tsukiji Market in Tokyo with local catches. The menus are chef selections, so there’s no knowing what delectable bites will appear: maybe a tai sashimi with sea bream charcoal lemonade, ginger crema and haskap berry? 370A Commonwealth Ave., 617.536.7200, uni-boston.com
Photography by: Louis Hansel/Unsplash
