Michelin star-caliber restaurants in Boston

Owners Tim and Nancy Cushman set a new bar for special-event dining with O Ya’s opening in 2007; even today the restaurant regularly wins accolades as one of the best restaurants in town. The sushi and omakase menu is a marvel of both flavor and presentation, with every morsel—from the foie gras nigiri to the bluefin tuna and smoked salmon sashimi—a delectable work of art.  
Two stars

Chef-proprietor Tony Maws uses the best local and organic ingredients for his Franco-American creations. While there are plenty of à la carte choices, the multi-course tasting menu provides an overview of Maws’s seasonal cuisine. The highly-prized grass-fed beef burger—offered in limited quantities—is the stuff of legend.
Two stars

The fine dining jewel in Barbara Lynch’s collection of restaurants, Menton takes its name from the Côte d’Azur town near the Italian border. The contemporary, French- and Italian-inspired cuisine, offered in both a la carte and a "chef's whim" tasting menu, features luxurious ingredients such as sea urchin and black truffle.
Two stars

Situated in the shadow of the State House, Barbara Lynch’s flagship restaurant offers a head-on view of Boston Common. Lynch's culinary team produces a harmonious blend of regionally-inspired Italian and French dishes, served a la carte or as part of a chef's tasting menu. Don't miss one of the city's most famous dishes: an appetizer of prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras, almond, and vin santo.
Two stars

Ana Sortun’s delicate small plates (meze)—e.g. chickpea crepes, lamb siniya, and spinach falafel—are both revelatory and pleasing to a wide range of palates. The homemade ice creams are a must (always keep an eye out for the salted butter varietal), as is a seat on the patio during the warmer months, ideally underneath the fig tree.
Two stars

Chef Peter Ungár's culinary talents bring foodies out to a hidden corner of Somerville. Ungár worked in the kitchen of the late, lauded Aujourd'hui, as well as in Paris, and is unafraid to push the envelope across all courses of his tasting menus. Creative dishes are prepped in front of the 20-seat counter, thus the “dining as theater” aspect of the experience.
Two stars

For all its dynamism, Toro really hasn’t changed much in the decade-plus since it opened, blowing the roof off of Boston’s then-gentrifying South End. The rustic cubbyhole of a storefront it occupies is as jam-packed and convivial as ever with revelers passing porróns of Cava around; day-one staples like grilled street corn and quince-glazed duck drumsticks are still breaking the hearts of every tapas virgin who wanders in for their first visit. 
Two stars

What was once a tucked-away sashimi bar has blossomed into a 100-seat izayaka, where you can now pair your nigiri with Japanese milk bread, ember roasted duck breast, King crab yakitori and wagyu beef dumplings. But the sushi is still a must, including the lobster BLT roll, the A5 wagyu sirloin nigiri and the still-incredible sashimi offerings upon which Uni built its reputation. 
Two stars

You’d never guess that beyond the nondescript brick façade are an enchanting farmhouse dining room, a roaring fireplace and a daily edited menu that takes full advantage of the ebb and flow of seasonal and local ingredients. Chef-owner Jason Bond spent 20 years in New England restaurant kitchens before showcasing his talents via local produce, seafood and meats.
One star

Never mind sitting elbow-to-elbow with your neighbor at this shoebox of a wood-and-brick enoteca. The famous wood-fired pizzas, robust pastas, and small-plate bar snacks make this cozy nook worth the tight squeeze. 
One star

Ever since it opened in 2005, Eastern Standard has led the pack among the city's all-hours, do-it-all places. The bar program has always been a strong point, and the various menus truly offer something for everyone. Friendly, enthusiastic servers maintain a welcoming vibe. And there's plenty of seating options, including a popular patio. 
One star

Since 1975, this refined Harvard Square stalwart has led the local farm-to-table charge, celebrating regional ingredients with an elegant, seasonal menu. The kitchen personifies a sophisticated approach to New England dining; locally-sourced seafood and meats, plus homemade pastas, are all meticulously and imaginatively prepared.
One star

Neptune Oyster is exemplary in its East Coast raw bar perfection. The simple, subway tiled interior gleams with retro charm. While many patrons focus on the raw bar, those who opt for substantial fare enjoy one of the city's most renowned lobster rolls, served hot with butter or cold with mayo. 
One star

Prix-fixe menus can be the gateway to dining regret, but in the hands of Chef Alex Crabb they become revelatory—you simply sit back and revel in his unmatched creativity. Crabb once interned at Noma and did a stint at dearly departed L’Espalier, so high-concept dishes are de rigeur in his congenial, pretension-free space (you actually pick out your own silverware from your table drawer). It’s tasting-menu only, which is perfect: you simply sit back and wait to see what wonder Crabb and his team will come up with next; your only lament will be that each dish has to end.
One star

This South End sushi den is where you come for the flashy, loft-like setting and stay for the specialty rolls. Start (relatively) simply with the spicy tempura tuna or “real” California maki, then tuck in for a culinary adventure: rolls made with lobster tempura, truffles, caviar and wagyu beef, to name but a few outré elements. 
One star

Among the 40 or so small plates on Sarma’s menu might be salmon ceviche, baked feta, cauliflower fatteh, or Tunisian steak tartare—but that’s just today, as the menu changes according to the seasons. The regular off-menu specials, however, always remain the same and are brought around by the congenial wait staff dim sum-style.
One star

When you think of the best things to do in Boston, eating like royalty might not be the first activity that comes to mind. But some of the city’s best restaurants are changing the perception that Boston isn’t a destination for gourmands. From the North End to the Back Bay and beyond, an impressive roster of local culinary talent is fostering a dining scene to rival those of DC or Philly. The city may be small, but its many neighborhoods offer plenty of dining options, and one doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank to eat well.