For that, we turned to restaurateur Kathy Sidell , founder of Saltie Girl — that temple of sustainable seafood and jewel-like tinned fish — to be our guide to the best of the best in her beloved home town.
The bracing winters make the warmth of spring and summer sweeter, and the return of fall, when the air holds a specific crispness, always feels like a gift. My father, Jack Sidell, was instrumental in creating change in the food world, financing and fostering talented young chefs in the s — such as Jasper White, Todd and Olivia English, and Gordon Hamersley — who would come to blow open the restaurant scene in a city previously best known for big occasion seafood places overlooking the water.
I had an early window into the culinary scene and absorbed it into my skin. Living on the New England coast and spending much of my time on sailboats also established my passion for anything harvested from those icy waters. The sense of community we get from our shared passion — and doggedness about our sports teams — is unrivaled, and Boston is the temple of higher education.
In many ways, Boston feels like the tale of many cities that all weave together, buttressed by history and a distinct sense of place that is uniquely ours. Highlights include crispy calamari Marco with salsa rosa, paper-thin squash carpaccio, and all the pastas, though I especially loved spaghetti Genovese and rigatoni carbonara. I also love The Newbury bar on the ground floor of the hotel for an after-work cocktail or a late-night snack. Ostra Ostra is an occasion for some of the freshest fish in town and a stunning raw bar.
Try the smoked salmon tartare, whole salt-crust branzino for two, or roasted local monkfish saddle. They offer a good steak selection, as they also operate Mooo , a terrific steakhouse in Beacon Hill.
