Massachusetts Dining

Reviewing the Reviewers

After the trip planning, the traveling, and the unpacking, the most important question always surfaces: "Where do we eat?"

A business trip or family vacation always goes much better on a full stomach, and who wants to ruin an otherwise perfect trip with greasy burritos or fast-food fare? With so many choices for restaurants, diners, and bars, a little professional help is often required. Luckily, Massachusetts has many dining guides. And like its restaurants, some are better than others. Here are my top picks listed in order.

Phantom Gourmet
phantomgourmet.com
Region covered: New England

An anonymous restaurant critic makes the rounds of New England dining locations, and each week highlights a "hidden jewel." Phantom Gourmet is also a local TV show shown on Boston's UPN38, and its "Restaurant Report Card" segment airs regularly on WBZ4. The reviews are reliable and thorough, and cover everything from atmosphere to appetizers. You'll discover where the best fried clams are, and who serves a lobster omelet. You can also search for the best place to taste dim sum, find out where you can eat Hungarian cuisine, locate the Back Bay's trendiest spots, or discover where good doughnuts are on the Cape.

Where to Eat
wheretoeatboston.com
Region covered: Boston, Cape Cod and the Islands

This Web site is from two Boston women who, according to their site, "love food and love to dine out." Twice a year, a printed version of their dining guide is published, which you can buy at many local stores or order through their Web site. The site is divided into sections on Boston - which includes Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline - and Cape Cod and the islands. The reviews include price ranges, Web sites, and "best of" awards and ratings the establishment has received.

The Boston Globe
boston.com
Region covered: Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island

The Boston Globe's food section is a comprehensive collection of news on new restaurants, reviews written by Globe writers, and restaurant profiles. The profiles come with a brief review, viewer-submitted reviews and comments, and in some cases a star-rating system. You can search by price range, type of cuisine, and location.

Boston Magazine
bostonmagazine.com
Region covered: Eastern Massachusetts, other New England states

The monthly magazine is possibly the best publication in the Boston area for entertainment and lifestyle features. Its "Best of Boston" ratings are widely watched and often quoted. On the Web site, you'll find the latest restaurant review, followed by an archive of previous writeups. The featured restaurants are mostly located in Eastern Massachusetts, with some listings from neighboring states. A search will generate names and addresses of local restaurants, with lists of amenities and short blurbs about the places.

The Boston Phoenix
bostonphoenix.com
Region covered: Greater Boston

This weekly publication focuses largely on entertainment and lifestyle issues. Its Web site includes reviews of local restaurants, nightclubs, and even wines. You can also search through profiles of local restaurants, sorted by location.

DiningGuide Network
boston.diningguide.com
Region covered: Greater Boston

Restaurant listings are divided by regions and types of cuisine. The site includes user comments and reviews.

Author: C. Danko
Last update: