Top Five Suburban Restaurants Near Boston

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You don’t have to go to the city center for this.

Ora king salmon from XOXO Sushi Bar. / Photo by Joe St.Pierre

Now on newsstands: our November 2025 issue with our annual list of the top 50 restaurants. This list is pretty close to Boston, but we didn’t want some of our current favorites to go unrecognized further outside the city. Here are five standout suburban dishes we’re loving these days. They serve locavore French, dry-aged fish sushi, cozy gastropub fare, and more.

Lamb, oysters, tarte flambée, sole and other dishes are served on a white marble table, accompanied by wine and cocktails.

A selection of dishes at Bernadette. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Bernadette

Salem isn’t just for Halloween – it’s for Daniel Boulud – trained chefs who conjure up French magic. One-year-old Bernadette should be at the top of your Witch City must-try list, thanks to Aaron Chambers (who rose in Boulud’s empire), who brings a new French twist to farm-to-table dishes, with a result of très délicieux.

65 Washington St., Salem, bernadettesalem.com.

A plate of thick bucatini with tomato sauce and pieces of meat sits on a white counter with a black and white tiled floor in the background.

Bucatini all’amatriciana at Mida Fenway. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

What

Boston’s best arancini can also be found in the suburbs. The Newton outpost of chef Douglass Williams’ popular Italian restaurant group delivers expertly prepared pastas and lightly charred thin-crust pizzas for the ultimate carb feast.
Bonus: Chicken Parmesan sandwiches with garlic butter are available for weeknight lunch.

Northern spy

Enjoy the culinary revolution at Paul Revere’s former copper mill site, where chef Marc Sheehan takes the lead. This culinary history enthusiast oversees a very New England menu, from baked stuffed scrod to seafood pot pie. Don’t be afraid to go beyond the classics and try dishes like Plimoth Grist Mill Polenta with Mushroom Leek Stroganoff.

4 Rolling Mill Way, Canton, 781-989-1850, northernspycanton.com.

Chicken is drizzled with a thick white sauce and black sesame seeds and served over yellow rice.

Thistle and leek shawarma-seasoned chicken. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Thistle and leek

London called – and the Newton Center answered with the perfect gastropub. This modern, British-inspired retreat offers seasonal small plates, Old World wines and homemade ice cream – a truly great trifecta. Start with focaccia; Try the pasta that is served there. and look out for fan favorites like shawarma-spiced chicken or lamb meatballs.

105 Union St., Newton, 857-404-0260, thistleandleek.com.

Interior of a Japanese restaurant with lots of intricate woodwork and lanterns.

XOXO Sushi Bar. / Photo by Joe St.Pierre

XOXO Sushi

You’ve heard of dry-aged steaks; How about dry-aged fish? The technique is a highlight at this trendy spot, bringing a new level of tenderness and pure fish flavors. The non-sushi options are also worth your attention, including robatayaki (charcoal-grilled dishes) – savory-sweet chicken thighs with brown-sweetened soy, for example.

1154 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-505-3378, xoxosushi.com.

A version of this article was first published in the November 2025 print edition as an addendum to the Top 50 Restaurants list.