For the indecisive diners who need a hand in ordering, we’ve rounded up Boston’s top bites.
Contessa’s butternut squash carpaccio is a perfect mix of sweet and savory.
Butternut Squash Carpaccio at Contessa
Scanning over Mario Carbone’s menu of heavenly Italian dishes, a butternut squash carpaccio amid options like daily imported burrata and meatballs may be overlooked, but that would be a regrettable mistake. One cannot fully appreciate Contessa without ordering the thinly sliced butternut squash topped with arugula, pumpkin seeds, agrodolce and pink peppercorns—each bite melts in your mouth with the perfect marriage of sweet and savory. contessatrattoria.com
Lydia Shire's heavenly lobster ravioli is a not-to-be-missed indulgence.
Lobster Ravioli at Scampo
Many local restaurants have their take on lobster ravioli, but no one does it quite like Scampo’s James Beard Award-winning chef Lydia Shire. To balance out the lobster’s rich decadence, she uses chestnut flour and puree (with sherry and ricotta) for the ravioli, adding an earthiness to the dish. To further elevate the plate, the ravioli is garnished with a half tail of lobster, crisped Brussels sprout leaves, candied chestnuts and a dash of gold leaf vinaigrette. Finished with grated Parmesan cheese, a worthy food coma will surely follow. scampoboston.com
The Chowda flatbread is one of The Banks’ most popular dishes.
The Chowda Flatbread at The Banks Fish House Creamy clam chowder is a New England staple, so of course Bostonians are eager to try new takes on the fan favorite. For chowder devotees, we recommend heading to Back Bay’s The Banks for an out-of-bowl experience. Combining every signature flavor into the Chowda flatbread, executive chef Robert Sisca tops a pizza crust with creme fraiche, smoked bacon, potatoes, clams and, of course, oyster crackers. thebanksboston.com
Satisfy your steak craving with this dish from Zuma, elevated with black truffles.
Prime Rib With Black Truffle at Zuma
This izakaya-style Japanese eatery by German chef Rainer Becker may be known for sushi, but its 24-ounce bone-in ribeye is not to be underestimated. Located in Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston, Zuma’s sleek, elevated atmosphere is the perfect spot to splurge—on the weekends, if the inventive cocktails don’t have you dancing, the live DJ spinning tracks surely will. During your next visit, slice into the ribeye, topped with preserved black truffle and truffle ponzu butter—it’s definitely worth the indulgence. zumarestaurant.com
Photography by: By Andrew Scrivani; Courtesy of Scampo; Courtesy of The Banks Fish House; Courtesy of Zuma Boston
