Gastronomy may be in limbo right now, but a local publication has continued its tradition of recognizing Boston’s best places to eat, drink, and more.
Boston Magazine released its annual Best of Boston List this week, a round-up of the creators who made an impact on the Boston area’s art, city life, food, shopping, wedding services and more this year.
In the food sector, the superlatives indicated a year that was anything but normal. Somerville’s gourmet restaurant Tasting Counter was named best DIY dinner kit, Forage in Cambridge named best restaurant CSA program, and Fox & the Knife, an Italian enoteca in Southie named best restaurant in a crisis. Off Their Plate, founded in Boston, received the “Best Effort to Fed the Frontline” award, while the “Best Pop-Up Market” was awarded for the safe supply of the Bow Market in Somerville for an optimized and hygienic shopping experience with groceries.
Takeout was also honored with Best Neighborhood Takeout, which went to Tawakal Halal Café (East Boston), Yellow Door Taqueria (Dorchester), China King (Chinatown), Uni (Back Bay), Ali’s Roti Restaurant (Mattapan), and the SRV (South End) went), Eventide Fenway (Fenway) and Blue Nile (Jamaica Plain).
Boston was responsible for both breweries and bars, including Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden for Best Brewery and Blossom Bar in Brookline for Best Cocktail Kits. The publication nodded to Claudiane Philippe, who runs the Instagram account @nailthecocktail, as the best virtual bartender because she has started a photo series with her account dedicated to the black men and women who have been victims of police brutality while they are making original cocktail recipes presented.
Amid the pandemic-related categories, a handful of classics were still honored. Cusser’s in Back Bay was named best lobster roll, Somerville’s Tipping Cow named best ice cream, Jamaica Mi Hungry named best food truck, Bow Market’s Hot Box named best pizza, and The Urban Grape in the South End named best pizza, Best Wine Store.
Individual chefs were also highlighted: Somerville’s Sarma’s Cassie Piuma was named Best Chef, General Excellence, while Andrew Brady of Field & Vine, also in Somerville, was named Best Female Chef, Emerging. A number of dishes have been cited as “things we can’t wait to eat again,” including the Kobe Cap Steak at Back Bay Steakhouse Grill 23 and the Royal Chocolate Cake for Two, Kween at Orfano im Fenway as well as a range of Cambridge dishes: charred avocado nigiri at Cafe Sushi, quail kebobs at Oleana, and double pork ramen at Yume Wo Katare.
Here is the full list of restaurants, bars, chefs, and dishes featured in Boston’s Best of Boston 2020.
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