Must-see restaurants in New England

  • Primo

    Midcoast Maine

    In a sprawling Victorian house a mile from downtown sits Primo, widely considered to be one of Maine's best restaurants. Awarded chef Melissa Kelly has…

  • Fore Street

    Portland

    Fore Street is the lauded, long-running restaurant many consider to be the originator of today's food obsession in Portland. Chef-owner Sam Hayward has…

  • Café Provence

    Vermont

    While the focus is on Provençal and French specialties such as moules marinière and bouillabaisse-inspired seafood stew, this elegant bistro also serves…

  • birch

    Providence

    With a background at Noma in Copenhagen and the Dorrance at the Biltmore, chef Benjamin Sukle and his wife, Heidi, now have their own place: the…

  • Chilmark Tavern

    Martha's Vineyard

    There's only one real restaurant in Chilmark, but it happens to be one of the best on the island. The Chilmark Tavern does upscale New American cuisine…

  • Company of the Cauldron

    Nantucket

    A splendid choice for a romantic dinner, this intimate restaurant has attentive service and top-rated food. It offers only reserved seating times and four…

  • PB Boulangerie & Bistro

    Cape Cod

    A Michelin-starred French baker setting up shop in tiny Wellfleet? You might think he'd gone crazy, if not for the line out the door. You can't miss PB:…

  • Burdick Chocolates

    New Hampshire

    Locals descend from surrounding villages to dine at this fabulous eatery. Originally a New York City chocolatier, Burdick relocated to this tiny gem of a…

  • Neptune Oyster

    Boston

    Neptune’s menu hints at Italian, but you’ll also find elements of Mexican, French, Southern and old-fashioned New England. The impressive raw bar and…

  • Penny Cluse Cafe

    Burlington

    This ever-popular downtown eatery serves pancakes, biscuits and gravy, omelets and tofu scrambles, along with sandwiches, tacos, salads and delightful…

  • Simon Pearce Restaurant

    Vermont

    Few views in Vermont compare with those from the window tables overlooking spectacular Ottauquechee Falls in Simon Pearce's dining room, suspended over…

  • Holy Donut

    Portland

    Doughnuts made from potato? Yep, and they're awesome. Local Maine potatoes and sweet potatoes go into the recipe for these doughnuts, creating a moist,…

  • Glenn's Food & Libations

    Massachusetts

    Glenn is out to spice up your life. He's got the seafood you're looking for, but he's serving it in ways you never imagined. Oysters might come baked with…

  • ON20

    Connecticut

    On the 20th floor of the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co, contemporary ON20 serves an elegant fusion menu with peerless views of the…

  • Chase's Daily

    Midcoast Maine

    A true farm-to-table experience, this cafe-bakery-farmers market presents fabulous, all-vegetarian fare – plus wicked-good baked treats, from cauliflower…

  • Hoodoo Brown BBQ

    Connecticut

    A Texas road trip inspired this unlikely Connecticut cult classic, where brisket falls off your fork and leaves you speechless (because maybe your mouth…

  • Myers + Chang

    South End & Chinatown

    This super-hip Asian spot blends Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, which means delicious dumplings, spicy stir­-fries and oodles of noodles. The…

  • Trumbull Kitchen

    Connecticut

    TK's smart-yet-casual fine-dining atmosphere awaits, with excellent service and a wonderfully executed, diverse menu, making it a great alternative to…

  • Anthony's Seafood

    Newport

    Lauded by locals and featured on TV's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, this wholesale, takeout and dine-in seafood joint tucked away from the main drag in…

  • Shannon's Unshelled

    Midcoast Maine

    If you like your lobster rolls simple, with no accoutrements but melted butter on the side, Shannon's is ideal. The meat is fresh and there's lots of it,…

  • American Flatbread

    Vermont

    In a cavernous marble-block building with a bustling bar and blazing fire that keeps things cozy in winter, this is one of Middlebury's most beloved…

  • Sandy's Books & Bakery

    Vermont

    A popular local hangout, this Rochester cafe and bookstore serves homemade everything – granola, scones, bagels, whole-wheat bread – along with mean…

  • Bayside American Cafe

    Portland

    This charming brunch and lunch spot is great for a rib-sticking meal to start your day. It uses steak in its corned beef and one of its eggs Benedict…

  • Warren Store

    Vermont

    This atmospheric country store serves the area's best sandwiches along with delicious pastries and breakfasts. In summer, linger over coffee and the New…

  • Chanticleer Restaurant & Gardens

    Nantucket

    Eating here is a fully realized dining experience. The restaurant is set in a whimsical garden setting and the menu of New England–inspired seasonal…

  • Revolution Kitchen

    Burlington

    Vegetarian fine dining? And romantic atmosphere to boot? Yep, they all come together at this cozy brick-walled restaurant that makes creative use of…

  • City Market

    Burlington

    If there's a food co-op heaven, it must look something like this. Burlington's gourmet natural-foods grocery (recently expanded to a second location in…

  • American Flatbread

    Vermont

    For two decades, this valley mainstay on pretty Lareau Farm has been baking delicious thin-crust pizza in the wood-fired oven, topped with fresh-from-the…

  • ZINC

    New Haven

    Whenever possible, this trendy bistro's ingredients hail from local organic sources, but the chef draws inspiration from all over, notably Asia and the…

  • Mangalitsa

    Vermont

    Launched in late 2017 to universal acclaim, this sweet, chef-owned bistro is a welcome addition to Woodstock's dining scene. The ever-changing menu of…

  • Central Provisions

    Portland

    Snug, redbrick Central Provisions is a consistent winner in the Portland haute cuisine stakes. Angle for a seat at the bar, overlooking the line chefs in…

  • Fluke Wine Bar

    Newport

    Fluke's Scandinavian-inspired dining room, with blond wood and picture windows, offers an accomplished seafood menu featuring roasted monkfish, seasonal…

  • Skunk Hollow Tavern

    Vermont

    Few Vermont eateries are as atmospheric as this tiny 200-year-old crossroads tavern 8 miles south of Woodstock, with worn wooden floors that ooze history…

  • Mike & Patty's

    South End & Chinatown

    Tucked away in Bay Village, this hole-in-the-wall gem of a corner sandwich shop does amazing things between two slices of bread. There are only eight…

  • Morano Gelato

    New Hampshire

    Founder Morgan Morano fell head over heels for gelato while living in Florence. Next step? Import some genuine Italian equipment and launch this brilliant…

  • Pantry

    New Haven

    The secret is already out about New Haven's ah-mazing little breakfast-lunch joint. You'll most likely have to line up then rub shoulders with a bunch of…

  • Rose Foods

    Portland

    Life doesn't get much better than a good bagel, and the best bagels in Portland are served at Rose. There are about nine bagel sandwich options – we love…

  • Armsby Abbey

    Massachusetts

    The Abbey rakes in all sorts of awards for its locally sourced, slow-food menu and stellar selection of craft beers on tap. Think comfort food with a…

  • Blue Blinds Bakery

    South Shore

    Blue Blinds is a cozy house – it feels like a home, really – with plants in the windows, a fire in the fireplace, and folks sipping coffee on the shady…

  • Loie Fullers

    Providence

    This wonderfully original, atmospheric little bistro on the outskirts of the Federal Hill neighborhood is an oasis of fun and deliciousness on an…