2023: My Top Three Favorite Restaurants & My New Favorites

What were some of my Favorite Restaurants of the past year?

As 2024 approaches, it's time once again to reflect upon the past year, to remember and savor pleasant memories. It's the time for my Annual Year-End Favorite lists, from restaurants to wine. And I'm starting this year with my Top Three Favorite Restaurants & New Favorite Restaurants of 2023. These end-of-the-year lists should provide a comprehensive summary of my favorites, allowing my readers to more readily locate such gems, the best of my recommendations. 

This is certainly not a complete list but is more a sampling of memorable restaurants and food items I've experienced and/or posted about over the past year. This list is also in no particular order, and is purely a subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. However, all of the restaurants here earn my hearty recommendation and I hope you'll enjoy them as well. For more Restaurant reviews, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.

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I'll begin with my Top Three Favorite Restaurants, the exceptional spots which are consistently excellent, offering great food and drink as well as top notch service. These are the three places which first come to my mind when I want a celebratory dinner, or just want a sublime dining experience. They receive my unqualified highest recommendation. 

I instituted this Top Three list last year, and two of the restaurants on this year's list are the same as last year. Unfortunately, Tasting Counter, which was on my list last year, closed this past summer. Hopefully, Chef Peter Ungár will open a new endeavor in the near future, as his culinary skills are superb, and the Boston restaurant scene is lesser without his talents. I know he has been considering his options, and I eagerly look forward to what he eventually decides to do. 

Thus, I needed to decide if there was another of my favorite restaurants which deserved to be elevated to my Top Three Favorites. In the end, after much consideration, I decided there was a restaurant worthy of such a spot on my list. Please note my Top Three Favorite restaurants are not in any specific order. 

Krasi Meze & Wine (Boston)

This Greek restaurant is amazing, where nearly every innovative dish is exceptional. Their menu consists of a wide selection of small plates, perfect for sharing, and offers creative Greek cuisine, with roots in tradition but it's not afraid to experiment. Their Greek wine list, the largest in the country, is superb with so many delicious and interesting options. Service is excellent, and the servers are very knowledgeable of the food and wine. Krasi never disappoints.

Nightshade Noodle Bar (Lynn)

Offering inventive and delicious French/Vietnamese inspired-cuisine, with their own unique spin, this restaurant offers Tasting Menus, ranging from 7-21 courses. Their dishes are exceptional, bursting with flavor, and creatively composed. Plus, they have an excellent wine list and cocktail program. I like their homey vibe, service is always excellent, and they have an open kitchen, which I've always loved. I celebrated my Birthday there this summer and it was another amazing dining experience. Be adventurous with your palate and you'll be amply rewarded. 

A Tavola (Winchester)

This is the new restaurant in my Top Three, an excellent Italian spot, which is small and intimate, with superb home-made pasta dishes. Much of the sourcing is from local farms, so the menu frequently changes depending on what is seasonal and available. Chef Joe Carli is very talented and personable, and his Compelling Italian Cuisine is as good as anything you'll find in the North End. Their wine list concentrates on Italian wines, and there are many good choices. You also should check out their event list, which includes fun and tasty wine dinners and cocktail classes, like the Fantasy Fine Wine Dinner event I attended this year. I've been dining there for years, it's consistently excellent, and continues to impress. I've often recommended it to others, and they too have loved their dining experiences. Kudos to Chef Carli and the entire team at A Tavola!

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I want to now address those restaurants, which were new to me this year, and impressed me. These are definitely restaurants I want to dine at again, and which are worthy of a hearty recommendation. 

Evviva Trattoria (Stoneham & other locations)

Although it's a small casual chain, owned by a much larger company, Evviva Trattoria offers tasty Italian cuisine, including traditional dishes and some more innovative choices. I was especially pleased with their Montanara Style Pizza, a traditional "Fried Pizza," whose origins extend back to the mountains of Naple.  The crust is crunchy but light, with a nice, toasty flavor. It's one of the only places in the area to find this style of pizza.

Surf Seafood (Woburn & two NH locations)

New to the Woburn Village, Surf Seafood offers plenty of seafood options, some with an Asian flair, as well as Sushi. I've dined here several times, enjoying many different seafood dishes, such as the tasty Lobster Fries, almost like a seafood poutine, and their fresh Sushi. My favorite dish has been their Portuguese Seafood Stew, one of my favorite dishes of 2023. It's made with haddock, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, chourico, an aromatic tomato broth, potatoes, and garlic. The broth is complex and intense, and utterly scrumptious. 

Kosmos Greek Restaurant (Walpole)

Greek restaurants seem to be hot right now, and I'm very glad that's the case. Kosmos, a higher-end Greek restaurant, is killing it! With an excellent culinary team, they are producing high quality and delicious Greek cuisine, from Pickled Octopus to Saganaki, Lamb Meatballs to Whipped Spicy Feta. I really loved the Manti Me Kima, Greek dumplings with a Bolognese stuffing, within a beef Mavrodaphne broth and truffle oil. Another excellent dish was a nightly special, Arancini, filled with Greek cheese and goat cheese, sitting atop atop fig jam made with loukaniko. Their Greek wine list is also diverse and interesting, with lots of great choices. 

Ithaki (Peabody)

Another Greek favorite was once a mainstay in Ipswich for about 25 years but then moved to Peabody, on Route 1. I unfortunately never dined there in Ipswich, but have very much enjoyed its presence in Peabody. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their Breakfast menu has plenty of the usual breakfast dishes, but some tasty Greek options such as the delicious Strapatsada, which is made with two scrambled eggs, braised tomato, feta, house cured pork, and tirokafteri. I also attended a Wine Dinner there, and the dishes were delicious and well-balanced. It also has a very good Greek wine list. People should drink more Greek wine. 

Ailaa Himalayan Bar (Stoneham)

There are few local options for authentic Nepali cuisine and this new restaurant offers a diverse menu of excellent Nepali options, as well as some of their own creative dishes. I've been impressed with their dishes, which are delicious, filled with a nice depth of flavors. Many of their dishes may seem familiar, but with their own unique spice blends and flavors. They offer a variety of Momos, traditional dumplings, and for the adventurous, you can even order a whole goat's head. If you're seeking something different, then you really should check out Ailaa.

Endless Hibachi & Sushi (Peabody)

This all-you-can-eat restaurant offers one of the best Lunch values in the area. For only $21, you receive a full Hibachi lunch, as well as all-you-can-eat Sushi and Japanese appetizers. You order off a menu so each hot dish is delivered to you hot, and not lukewarm as you might find on many buffets. The food is tasty, including an excellent Tempura and a delicious Chicken Katsu. The Hibachi offers you a choice of steak, chicken, or calamari with fried rice and vegetables. For an extra charge, you could also order scallops or a lobster tail. Only $21! That's a great deal and I've brought multiple friends there who have all loved it. Dinner is only $35, and the menu is even larger. 

Il Ponte (Woburn)

A homey spot, this family owned restaurant serves delectable Italian cuisine, including home-made pasta and Napoletana Pizza. The menu has pleasant of traditional Italian selections, and each meal starts with warm bread with olive oil and garlic. I enjoyed the Tortellini alla Norcina. The tortellini were stuffed with beef, nd covered in a creamy truffle sauce, crumbled sausage and pecorino romano. The Veal alla Petroniana was another favorite, pan fried veal topped with prosciutto and Parmigiano. I eagerly look forward to dining there again. 

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There are a few other new restaurants I've dined at this past year, but for which I haven't yet written reviews, but which are still worthy of recognition. They include Flip the Bird (multiple locations, fast-casual fried chicken sandwiches), The Emporio (Stoneham, casual Italian spot), and Teresa's Ristorante (Woburn, Italian cuisine). Reviews of these restaurants are likely to come in 2024.  

What were some of your Favorite Restaurants this year?

Il Ponte: Italian Cuisine in Woburn--First Impressions

I've known Chef Beni Kurti for several years, as he's a regular customer at the wine shop where I work, and he often spoke of his desire to open his own restaurant. Last fall, his dream came true when he opened Il Ponte, an Italian restaurant at 428 Main Street in Woburn. I wasn't aware of his new restaurant until recently and I soon after dined there, enjoying an impressive dinner. I will definitely return again soon, to taste more of the menu, and it earns my hearty recommendation. 

Beni, a native of the Umbria region of Italy, has lived in the U.S. for about ten years or so and has many years of experience in the restaurant industry. His wife, Hortenca Sheshori, who is also a native of Italy, also has numerous years of restaurant experience, and she works at Il Ponte as well. Even Beni's son works there, a true family affair. 

The homey restaurant, with a casual elegance, seats about 50 people, and has a small bar with about seven seats. The restaurant was nearly full on a Sunday evening, and if you wish to dine there on Friday or Saturday nights, you should make reservations due to the restaurant's popularity. 

Each table receives a complimentary basket of fresh, warm and tasty bread and foccaia, with a small tub of olive oil and garlic cloves. What an excellent way to begin your dinner! I love warm bread, and smeared garlic and olive oil on my slice. 

They have a full bar, with a number of Signature Cocktails (most about $14), from the classic Aperol Spritz to Beni's Limoncello Martini. They also have four beers, from Moretti to Heineken. The Wine list is relatively small, with about 25 choices, mostly Italian, although with choices from France, California, and Argentina. Most choices by the glass cost $12-$14 and about 20 of the bottles range cost from $42-$99, with a few splurge choices, costing $110-$590. 

I ordered a bottle of the 2015 Carus Gaudio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, a delicious wine, nicely balanced, with flavors of cherry and red fruit, mild spices, restrained tannins, good acidity, and a backbone of minerality. A very nice choice.  

The Food Menu has plenty of options from Appetizers to Pasta, Entrees to Pizza. All of the Pasta is made in-house and the Pizza is Napoletana. You could begin with Octopus, Beef Carpaccio or Prosciutto & Burrata Umbrian Style. A few of the Pasta dishes include Spicy Rigatoni, Squid Ink Pasta with Polipo, and Gnocchi all Sorrentina. And a few of the Entrees include Honey Lavender Duck, Tonno al Pepe Verde, and Pork Tovarisch. 

We began with the Caesar Salad ($13), an ample bowl of fresh lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese and a slightly creamy caesar dressing. A fine rendition of this classic dish.

As an Appetizer, we also ordered a pasta dish, the Tortellini alla Norcina ($28), a traditional Umbrian dish. The tortellini was stuffed with beef, covered in a creamy truffle sauce, crumbled sausage and pecorino romano. Another ample dish, the tortellini was delicious, the pasta cooked just right, with a rich and tasty cream sauce, with the pungent aroma of truffle, and plenty of nicely seasoned sausage. The pasta was well covered by the sauce but didn't swim in a pool of it. I definitely want to try more of their pasta dishes. 

For an Entree, I ordered the Veal alla Petroniana ($42), which consists of eight ounces of Bologna style veal, truffle pan fried, and topped with prosciutto and Parmigiano. It's accompanied by some arugula and a slice of lemon. The veal was very tender and flavorful, with a crispy coating, plenty of prosciutto (adding some saltiness) and melted cheese, and a mild truffle flavor. An excellent choice and highly recommended.

Finally, we ordered the Quatro Formagi Pizza ($21), a white pizza with mozzarella, parmigiana, gorgonzola, and pecorino, all drizzled with truffle honey. The crust was perfect, light, airy and crisp, with some slight charring. The cheese blend was delicious, with only a light application of truffle honey, so that it wasn't overly sweet, but rather nicely balanced between salt and sweet. I'd definitely return here even just for pizza. 

Service was excellent, and we had a delicious and pleasing dining experience. Chef Kurti has created a fine Italian restaurant and I hope to return again soon. If you're seeking a new restaurant to explore, then you definitely should check out Il Ponte. 

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food and drink events. I hope everyone dines out safely, tips well and are nice to their servers.
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1) Legal Sea Foods has a new Fall/Winter menu and their Maine Lobster Roll (warm butter-poached of cold with lemon mayo) contains a half-pound of lobster meat and costs $43. It's accompanied by french fries and coleslaw. If you're truly hungry for lobster though, you can get their Maine Lobster Roll with a Full Pound of lobster meat, for $82. Could you eat such an ample amount of lobster?

2) On December 31, from 5pm-10pm, Nightshade Noodle Bar will be having a Baller New Year's Eve Tasting Menu Experience. This is one of my Top Three Favorite Restaurants and their Tasting Menus are an amazing dining experience. Leave your dining choices in the hands of Chef Rachel Miller, who will provide you a tasting menu of so many delicious choices. It certainly would be a great way to end 2023 and start 2024. Reservations are required and can be made on RESY. Make your Reservation quickly as the restaurant fills up very fast!

3) For December, Kane’s Donuts has collaborated with Boston-based Bully Boy Distillers for a limited-edition December flavor of the month – the Bully Boy Boston Rum Eggnog Donut. Using Bully Boy Distiller’s Boston Rum, Kane’s has crafted a donut with classic holiday flavors. The Bully Boy Boston Rum Eggnog Donut is a cake-style donut, made with Bully Boy’s Boston Rum, Pure Country Eggnog, and fresh ground nutmeg, then drenched in Kane’s signature honey glaze.

For the month of December, Kane’s is also featuring holiday favorites like their Red Velvet Donut, a chocolatey, red velvet cake-style dough, drenched in Kane’s’ signature honey glaze. It is then topped with a light, fluffy vanilla cream frosting and holiday sprinkles. Other holiday specials include the Merry Christmas Donut, a light, fluffy yeast-style donut with vanilla frosting and festive decorations, and the Gingerbread Donut, a cake-style donut made with crystallized ginger and molasses, then drenched in Kane’s signature honey glaze and drizzled with vanilla icing and Christmas sprinkles. Kane’s will also have a Gluten-Free version of their Gingerbread Donut and a Vegan Snowball Donut, a cake-style donut with cinnamon and nutmeg smothered in confectioners’ sugar.

4) Beginning on December 11, Prince Pizzeria is introducing Bar Bites, a revolving menu of $5 bites at their bar. This special menu will be available weekdays from 3pm-5pm at the Prince Bar. The Menu currently includes Mini Cheese Pizza, Toasted Ravioli (5), Chicken Tenders (5), Meatball Sliders (2), and Eggplant Rollatini (1). This is an excellent deal! For example, on the regular menu, the Meatball Sliders (3) cost $10 but with this special Bar deal, you could get 4 Meatball Sliders for $10. I love their Sliders and will probably try to make it to check out their new Bar Bites menu. 

Endless Hibachi & Sushi: Great Lunch Value

It's one of the Best Values for lunch north of Boston. I've dined there three times now, with three different groups of family and friends, and everyone was very happy with their food, marveling at the value of the meal. It's a relatively new restaurant as well, and worthy of exposure. 

At Endless Hibachi & Sushi, in Peabody on Route 1, from Monday to Friday, 11:30am-3pm, you can get an All-You-Can-Eat lunch for only $20.95. This includes Sushi (nigiri & maki rolls), Japanese appetizers (from Gyoza to Katsu), a Hibachi meal, and more! This is not served Buffet style, but rather you order off a menu, and then your food is delivered to you. This ensures your hot dishes are hot, and not lukewarm as you might find on some buffets. This system is also more hygienic than a buffet. When you finish your first order of food, you can then choose more selections from their menu. 

Please note that you cannot take any left-over food home, and if you leave food on your plate, you might incur a surcharge. This is done to help prevent food waste. 

There are Sushi Bar Appetizers, including Sashimi Salad, Salmon Tartar, Pepper Tuna, Squid Salad, Red Snapper Jalapeño, and Tako Su. The Red Snapper Jalapeño was a plate of at least six pieces of tender and flavorful red snapper, topped by a slice of jalapeño. There are 10 different types of Nigiri Sushi, including Tuna, Mackerel, Salmon, Shrimp, Octopus, and more. The sushi is good, the same quality you find at many other restaurants, where you might pay $5-$6 for two pieces of nirigi. So, it would be easy here to eat $21 of sushi alone. You'll also find 12 Maki Rolls, including California, Sweet Potato Tempura, Spicy Salmon, Eel Avocado, and more. Plus, there are 6 Specialty Sushi Rolls, including a Red Sox Roll, Caterpillar Roll and American Dream. 

If you were paying $21 for just this All-You-Can-Eat sushi, it would be an excellent value. However, your lunch here comes with much more!

The Kitchen Appetizers include 8 options, from Edamame to French Fries. Most of these items are ordered by the piece, so its easy to sample several options. The Chicken Katsu was delicious, a small piece of tender, fried chicken, cut into slices, with a BBQ-like sauce atop it. The Pork Gyoza, pictured above, were crunchy, with a nice interior blend of pork, veggie and spices. 

The Shrimp Shumai, which you can order steamed or fried, are tasty, similar to what you often find at many other Japanese restaurants.

I'm very particular about Tempura, and its often indicative of the quality of a Japanese restaurant. If a restaurant can't get their Tempura right, such as when the batter is too thick or heavy, then it's been my experience they often have issues with other dishes as well. The Shrimp Tempura here though was excellent, with a great, light and crunchy batter. Impressive.

They also have Sweet Potato Tempura, and it too was excellent, with a fine light and crunchy batter, and tender sweet potato inside.

The Menu also includes Soups & Salads, such as Miso Soup, Hibachi Soup, Seaweed Salad, and Spicy Kani Salad. And their From The Kitchen section, has dishes of Fried Rice, Yaki Soba, and Teriyaki. These dishes are larger, and you probably might want to split them with another person. For example, the Beef Teriyaki includes an ample portion of small cubes of tender and flavorful beef. 

Again, if you were paying $21 for the All-You-Can-Eat sushi plus all those appetizers, it would be an excellent value. However, your lunch here comes with even more.

You also get your choice of a Hibachi lunch, which includes vegetables and fried rice. You can choose from Sirloin Steak, Chicken, Calamari, or Vegetables, and you can even choose two selections if you want. Plus, you can add Scallops (for an additional $8) or Lobster Tail (for an additional $10).

Like other Hibachi spots, your Hibachi chef performs while cooking, from an onion volcano (pictured above) to tossing food to a guest's mouth. 

Portion size is what you will find at most other Hibachi spots, and they haven't reduced the quantity at all. Your plate will be full of meat, veggies, and fried rice. Consider this when ordering your sushi and appetizers so you have enough room left to eat a full Hibachi plate. 

If you don't leave full after this lunch, then you weren't trying hard enough. And at $21, you probably won't find a better lunch value anywhere. Dinner is only $34.95, and the menu is even larger, with more options available. They have a full bar, with beer, wine and spirits. Cocktails, ($9.95-$12.95), are available, from Mai Tais to Martinis. Service is very good, and there is a fun vibe to the place. Bring your appetite, bring your friends, and have a great time, all at an excellent value.

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food and drink events. I hope everyone dines out safely, tips well and are nice to their servers.
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1) The Painted Burro Harvard Square is celebrating its Grand Opening after opening its doors last week. Located in the heart of Harvard Square in the former Border Cafe space, the restaurant has been redesigned and features two floors of dining and bar space. They're throwing it back to 2012 with some of their OG Burro menu items and prices, such as $9 De la Casa Margaritas, to celebrate our newest location!

The Painted Burro Harvard Square is the third location of Chef Joe Casinelli’s upscale Latin American kitchen and tequila lounge. The restaurant will embrace its long cultivated vibe and taste, with some new menu additions for its new Cambridge neighborhood. Its seasonal menu will bring the tastes and colors of each passing month. Along with daily lunch and dinner, the restaurant will also continue its Bottomless Brunch on the weekends.

2) Executive Chef & Partner Robert Sisca is introducing the Holiday Bouchon Lunch menu to Bistro du Midi. The Holiday Bouchon Lunch is a three course prix fixe menu with classic French dishes that will be available exclusively on weekdays from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m. during the month of December. 

The Holiday Bouchon Lunch is $45/person and features:
FIRST (choice of)
French Onion Soup aged comté, sherry, sourdough
Kale Caesar Salad black garlic vinaigrette, parmigiano, white anchovies
SECOND (choice of)
Chicken Paillard caperberries, frisée, baby tomato, balsamic
Tomato Ricotta Totellini grilled shrimp, confit tomatoes, lobster emulsion
Moules au Pastis saffron aioli*, grilled bread
THIRD
Crème Brûlée pear, vanilla
ADD A CELEBRATORY POUR
Sébastien Girost, Brut Réserve, Champagne NV +$25
Paul Hobbs, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2021 +$30
Les Pélerins de Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe 2016 +$28