My absolute favorite places to eat in Back Bay

Boston is a city that has so much to offer—great sports, great people, history, shopping, activities, and of course, food. From the North End to the South End, there are thousands of note-worthy restaurants to go in Boston, but the area I know best is Back Bay. I can’t say I’ve been even close to everywhere, or definitively know the best places to eat, but I do know where I personally like to go—where I can always rely on for good food, and where I’d recommend to a visitor. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, I have chosen all of my favorite places from Newbury Street to Boylston Street, all the way down to Kenmore Square, and in between.

Trident Booksellers & Café

Challah bread french toast with strawberries

Located right on Newbury Street, I had probably walked past it 100 times before I even realized it was a restaurant. It’s half bookstore-half café, and extremely underrated. It’s really chill, and comfortable, and they have a surprisingly extensive menu for all three meals. Their challah French toast was delicious, but I think the best sandwich I’ve ever had was their prosciutto & brie.

Max Brenner

S’mores crepe

While Max Brenner is not unique to Boston, it is one of just three Max Brenner restaurants in the U.S., and it is so good. The sweet smell of chocolate—what they’re most famous for—hits you right as you walk into the restaurant. The actual food is really great too (even their waffle fries are dusted with cocoa powder), but I would definitely save room for dessert here. You can’t go wrong with a milkshake, and I still dream about their s’mores crêpe.

Stephanie’s on Newbury

Frittered french toast

It’s elegant, classy, and relaxing, and exactly what I pictured as the setting for a perfect brunch. As much as I love the aesthetic, the food is undeniably delicious. Stephanie’s is officially home to the best French toast I have ever had: the frittered French toast is even better than it sounds, with raspberry jam and mascarpone cheese filling. It’s open for lunch and dinner as well, serving “sophisticated comfort food.”

Eastern Standard

Eastern Standard makes the list mostly because of the environment. It’s lively, right near Fenway, and really nice and elegant. And while it’s described as looking like a “French Brasserie” (to me I just saw high ceilings and antique-y décor), they serve American-style food. I’ve tried every dessert they offer, and the butterscotch bread pudding is the absolute winner. I think it’s a great place to go with family…because it’s pricey, so maybe they’ll pick up the bill.

Emack & Bolio’s

I think the more flavors the better, and Boston-based Emack & Bolio’s even offers up different types of cones. Chocolate-dipped or marshmallow-covered and rolled in things like sprinkles, coconut, Fruity Pebbles, or Oreos, the original flavored cones along with their extensive menu of unique ice cream flavors makes for a hard decision. I don’t think you could go wrong with any combination, but one of my favorites is the Rice Krispie treat cone with cake batter ice cream.

Boston Burger Company

THE 420 burger

If you like burgers, like I do, you have to try the Boston Burger Company. They have all kinds of unique burgers with interesting toppings, most notably one called the “420 burger.” It’s a burger with mozzarella sticks, fried mac n cheese, onion rings, french fries, bacon, barbecue sauce, and cheese—so basically it’s a conglomeration of all the foods your doctor tells you to avoid. And it is dangerously delicious (dangerous because a few bites probably significantly increases your risk of a heart attack). It’s impossible to eat more than half of it, but it was an experience.

Top of the Hub

The view from the Top of the Hub at night

The Top of the Hub is fancy, and a little pricey, but going at least once is a must. What better way to enjoy a nice meal than 52 floors up? And I can’t decide which is better—the views or the food. I’ve been for dinner, but brunch is on my to-do list. I had their Brioche (basically Nutella and chocolate) French toast leftover and re-heated in a microwave, and it was heavenly. I can’t even imagine how good it was the first time around.

Sonsie

Chipotle chile and chicken pizza

While Sonsie is definitely more well-known for their brunch, I have yet to go, but I’ve been for lunch. And, like many others on my list, the environment is what really makes it. In nice weather, the front doors are open right onto the sidewalk. The menu is pretty unique, and they have interesting options like their pizzas which are surprisingly really good. My favorite is the chipotle chile and chicken pizza, which was like a tasty Mexican-Italian fusion with guacamole, salsa, and chipotle flavor in a pizza.