By Bovey Rao ’19

The city of Boston is a great place to find an eclectic and engaging dining experience. Home to some of the oldest restaurants in America–and some of the hippest new bars–, Boston has a diverse and incredible food scene for any palette and budget. From March 6-11 and 13-18, 2016, Boston will offer its hungry masses two weeks of good-eating. It’s called Dine Out Boston (formerly called Restaurant Week), an event organized by the city of Boston with the goal to make restaurant dining more economical for two mouth-watering weeks. Enjoy two or three course meals at some of Boston’s finest restaurants (Lunch $15/$20/$25, Dinner $28/$33/$38). While I encourage looking through all 169 restaurants participating, here are some of my recommendations.

Note: You are strongly encouraged to make a reservation at the restaurant, whether by calling, booking through OpenTable, or using the Dine Out website.

I Sea Food – Boston’s prime location (i.e. by the Atlantic Ocean) means that fresh seafood is always close and convenient, so don’t miss out!

• Atlantic Fish Company – 761 Boylston Street, Lunch: $25
• Mare – 135 Richmond Street, Dinner: $33
• SELECT Oyster Bar – 50 Gloucester Street, Lunch: $25
• Union Oyster House* – 41 Union Street, Lunch: $25, Dinner: $38
• Oceanaire Seafood Room – 40 Court Street, Lunch: $25, Dinner: $38

Best of the North End – The Historic North End is known nationally for its authentic Italian food, and some of their best restaurants are participating this year:

• Bricco – 241 Hannover Street, Dinner: $33
• Mamma Maria – 3 North Square, Dinner: $38
• Nico – 417 Hannover Street, Dinner: $38
• Terramia Ristorante – 98 Salem Street, Dinner: $33
• Tresca – 233 Hanover Street, Lunch: $25, Dinner: $38

Italian outside the North – While the North End boasts some pretty impressive Italian fare, other exceptional Italian joints are scattered all over Boston.

• Da Vinci – 162 Columbus Avenue, Dinner: $38
• Davio’s – 75 Arlington Street, Lunch: $25 Dinner: $38
• Grotto – 37 Bowdoin Street, Lunch: $25 Dinner: $33
• Scampo – 215 Charles Street, Lunch: $25

Je Suis Francais – French food has a strong showing this year, with many past and current winners of Best French Boston participating in Dine Out Boston.

• Bastille Kitchen – 49 Melcher Street, Dinner: $38
• Bistro du Midi – 272 Boylston Street, Dinner: $38
• Gaslight – 560 Harrison Avenue, Dinner: $33
• T.W. Food – 377 Walden Street, Dinner: $38
• La Voile – 261 Newbury Street, Lunch: $25 Dinner: $38
• Ma Maison – 272 Cambridge Street, Lunch: $20 Dinner: $33

Something’s at Steak – Do you have a beef with someone? Resolve it at one of the many great steakhouses in Boston!

• Boston Chops – 1375 Washington Street, Dinner: $38
• Capital Grille – 900 Boylston Street, Lunch: $25, Dinner: $38
• Grill 23 & Bar – 161 Berkley Street, Dinner: $38
• STRIP by Strega – 64 Arlington Street, Lunch: $20, Dinner: $38

Somewhere Beyond the Sea – Other countries exist besides Italy and France, I promise, and they have delicious offerings as well.

• Bronwyn – German, 255 Washington Street, Dinner: $33
• Oishii Boston – Japanese, 1166 Washington Street, Lunch: $20/$30
• Q Restaurant – Chinese (Hotpot), 660 Washington Street, Lunch: $20, Dinner: $33
• Estragon – Spanish, 700 Harrison Avenue, Dinner: $33

‘Murica has Food Too! – Why is it so hard to describe American food…?

• Courtyard Restaurant – 700 Boylston Street, Lunch: $20
• Kitchen – 560 Tremont Street, Dinner: $28
• Parker’s** – 60 School Street, Lunch: $25 Dinner: $38

Nearby Dining – If you feel like leaving Harvard Square is too much of a chore, fear not! A number of restaurants nearby are participating.

• Beat Brasserie – 13 Brattle Street, Lunch: $25
• Grafton Street – 1230 Mass Avenue, Dinner: $28
• Harvest – 44 Brattle Street, Lunch: $25, Dinner: $38
• Henrietta’s Table- 1 Bennett Street, Lunch: $25, Dinner: $33
• Park Restaurant – 59 JFK Street, Dinner: $28
• Rialto – 1 Bennett Street, Dinner: $38
• Russell House Tavern- 14 JFK Street, Dinner: $28
• Temple Bar- 1688 Massachusetts Avenue, Dinner: $28
• Toscano Harvard Square – 47 Charles Street, Lunch: $20, Dinner: $38

*One of the oldest restaurants in America with frequent visits from presidential candidates.

** Original creator of the Boston Cream Pie