Cue the debate!
https://www.nytimes.com/article/best-restaurants-boston.html
The tenor of the comments/debate might be more civil and engaging (perhaps even enlightening) if these publications would just say “our favorite” instead of “best”. But I guess that’s not their aim.
Oh the comments on this NYT list, right? Often I gain additional perspective from the comments sections on NYT articles, but this was not one of those occasions.
On the plus side, I thought the author of the article did quite well by spreading his wings into Greater Boston, just as we HOs do when we offer dining suggestions to visitors (when we suggest spots in Cambridge, for example). Hat tip for that.
A point I like to make in my local food groups. It may be the “best” to you, but not to everyone else.
Taste is such a subjective thing. My favorite won’t be yours.
Thanks for posting Max. I seldom look at the “comments” on NYT’s anything. Everything is subjective - your preferred tastes, your taste buds, your experiences … .
That being said I enjoyed reading the post to see what restaurants are included. I echo Denise’s comment supporting the authors spreading their wings. Very pleased to see NNB (Nightshade Noodle Bar) included as well as Ming’s in Quincy omitting Ming’s Malden location on Pleasant St. where the referenced fusion dim sum can be enjoyed. Put it on your dim sum list IMHO. Sarma never fails to please my palate.
FYI Nightshade Clam Shack is open 12pm to 2 pm on Saturday & Sunday through September https://nightshadenoodlebar.com/clamshack Thoroughly blissed out enjoying their Clam Roll with chili ranch sauce , slaw and shrimp chips this past Saturday.
I thought it was a pretty decent list! Some old favorites and a handful of places I’ve never heard of but now really want to try. (Baleia, Le Madeline, Ming Seafood – which, thank you @sciaccagirl for mentioning the Malden location; I was next door last night. Have never gone in! Will change that.)
The comments section…hilarious. “Susan” should feel more than welcome to not come back for another visit.
This list was posted over a year ago – see the dates on the comments. They claim the August 11 version was updated, but how? Not obvious to my poor reading skills. (Possibly one has to delve into it in minute detail – and I flatter myself that I haven’t the time.)
It just dawned on me when I encountered a comment I posted last year…
I think here we can have the more interesting (and dynamic!) discussion.
Thoughts on Neptune? Personally I feel it’s gone downhill; the buns they use for the lobster rolls (as of last visit a few weeks ago) are sub-par.
Thoughts on steak houses in Boston vs NYC (a common theme in the NYT comments)? If Peter Lugar or Keens are the standard bearers for NYC, they are welcome to them as far as I’m concerned.
I do give the authors credit for realizing the artificial exclusion of Camrbridge/Somerville/Brookline from “Boston”. I would even include Newton (accessible on the Green Line), too.
Super annoying that they’re republishing basically the same content! But that’s what the internet has become I suppose 
Anyway…I used the Wayback Machine and compared the two side-by-side. Here’s what changed:
New for 2025:
Removed:
thanks @a_m for the diligence!
I have read so many conflicting reports about Belle Isle, which I haven’t been to for at least 25 years. Many people saying fantastic, many saying not good at all. And some of those saying it’s fantastic say that Durgin Park had great food and recommend eating at Quincy Market.
It may not be my list, but that would be more based on personal taste. I like the mix of casual, no frills joins (like Banh Mi Ba Le) to neighborhood-y (Le Madeline) to the fancy spots, and expanding beyond Boston proper.
Wait a minute here. B told me about this column a couple of days ago and I told him yeah I read it last week or even last year (I can’t remember). I said to him, “There were places like Belle Isle, etc. on the list” and he told me that Belle Isle was gonzo. I can’t stay on top of when these listicles get updated.
I echo @MaxEntropy 's thanks.
Thanks, again, but I must say I spit on list that omits Sofra.
I would have a hard time coming up with my own “best” list…it would be easier to list “places I return to”…and probably more meaningful.
