"Best in Class" restaurants

[Swankalicious]

I'd like to start a thread similar to the Oscars! Best in Class restaurants -- restaurants that, in your opinion, are tops in their categories. Let's confine our picks to Boston and the immediate suburbs. Please feel free to add a category, and please by all means explain why you picked what. May the best restaurant win! Your humble host, Billy "Swankalicious" Crystal.

Northern Italian: Erbaluce, Bay Vill

Southern Italian: L'Osteria, N. End

Steakhouse: Tango, Arlington

Tacos: Dorado, Brookline

Diner: Deluxe, Newton

High-End Mexican: Ole (? not convinced here, will accept other arguments!)

Low-End Mexican: La Cantina Mexicana, Union Sq

Tapas: Estragon, S End

Indian: Maharaja, Harv Sq

French: Lumiere, W Newton

Sushi: Cafe Sushi, Cambridge

New American: Craigie on Main

Seafood: Island Creek Oyster Bar

Mediterranean: Trade

Chinese: Qingdao Garden, N Cambridge

Ice Cream: Christina's, Inman

Sandwiches: All-Star Sandwich Bar, Inman

Pizza: Santarpios

OK, now you!!!!

[cambridgedoctpr]

cafe sushi? meh at best! i get sashimi to go from sakayana and like to hit Uni bar though I admit that Uni Bar is a expensive. Is Maharaja something special? The menu seems unappealing and has scared me away.

[hyde]

attitude: neptune oyster/ michaels deli face off........and the winner is......

[Gabatta]

...craigie

[teezeetoo]

michael's doesn't have "attitude" : he has aspergers (no, its not a kind of sandwich).

[Gabatta]

I have never encountered attitude at Michael's, just overpriced and marginal quality deli food.

[cambridgedoctpr]

i find the service at cragie to be very good, and i sense no attitude from the waitrons. At my last visit, my wiater suggested coming in for the burger, which i have not tried. But then again, i am walk on the mild side.

[RoyRon]

Japanese: Sushi Island & Toraya

Japanese Izakaya style: Shiki (Not quite like Japan but very good for Boston)

Chinese Seafood: East Ocean City

Szechuan Chinese: Szechuan Gourmet (Billerica)

Indian: The Pongal, Billerica

Cambodian: Tepthida Khmer, Lowell MA

French: Bistro Du Midi (Love their version of Bouillabaisse)

High End Italian: Prezza

Low End Seafood: Belle Isle lobster roll

High End Seafood: Island Creek Oyster Bar

Best Dessert Menu: Asana ( Quintuple Chocolate Cheescake and Strawberry Shortcake)

[opinionatedchef]

roy, this is a great list, but if you think pongal is the best indian in Boston, we need to be learnin' you some new spots!

[emannths]

My base of operations is the Porter Sq area, so my experiences across the river are a little more limited.

Japanese: Toraya
Sichuan: Fuloon?
Dim Sum (cart): Hei La Moon
Coffee: Simon's

[Alcachofa]

I'd actually put Angela's as high-end Mexican. Have you seen their prices recently? Hardly "low-end".

[DoubleMan]

Agreed. Good, but not cheap, especially for the location. I just wish they'd stop overcooking the meat.

[Gabatta]

I suppose low(er) end food and high(er) end prices is an issue. Poor value around here, as with lots of categories.

[cambridgedoctpr]

does angela's use poor cuts and poor chicken or is the problem that they over cook the food?

[Aromatherapy]

They use boneless breast and pork loin, which are easy to overcook. They would do better with cheaper cuts IMHO, but I suppose they know their audience.

[DoubleMan]

Yeah, I would love some slow-cooked pork shoulder with that mole. Tenderloin cooked to 160+ ain't working.

[hotoynoodle]

you can request dark meat chicken.

[Aromatherapy]

Thanks! (You can also buy the mole, separately, at least you could a few years ago.)

[Gabatta]

The places I feel are truly outstanding in their categories are *'d

Northern Italian: *Trattoria Toscana; Via Matta

Southern Italian: Mamma Maria

Steakhouse: Del Friscos (just because they have incredible king crab legs), there isn't a standout steakhouse unfortunately; G23 is only local option

Steak Tips: Sadie's (Waltham)

Tacos: Felipe's Taqueria, Harvard Square

Diner: Charlie's Sandwich, South End

High-End Mexican: None (unfortunately)

Low-End Mexican: Angela's

Tapas: Toro

Indian: Kebab Factory (lots of good options, nothing outstanding)

French: *Hammersley's

Sushi: *Sushi Island (Boston desperately needs a high end traditional Japanese sushi restaurant)

New American: *Bondir

Seafood: *Neptune (with the service caveats); Oceanaire

Mediterranean: Sorellina (sort of a stretch, but the category is broad)

Chinese: lots of decent options, no standout for me

Ice Cream: Toscanini (they need to keep ice cream colder though); Christine's

Sandwiches: *Monica's Salumeria (Italian); LaGrassa's (speaking of ASSBar, please tell me what to order there. I was there today and had the gobbler with off putting, tart cranberry sauce. I left thinking that every time I give it a shot I am disappointed other than the fries & rings)

Pizza: *Regina (NE)

BBQ: *Blackstrap (BTs to far to qualify)

Breakfast: *Mike & Patty's

Wings: *Buffs

Lobster Roll: *Belle Isle

Food Truck: Have they jumped the shark yet? There is a great steak & cheese truck in NYC. Wish it would drive here.

[teezeetoo]

I'll play! Northern Italian Nouveau: Erbaluce
Northern Italian traditional: Trattoria Toscana
Italian (general category): Il Casale
Italian (upscale): Prezza
Italian Pizza: Basta Pasta, Gran Gusto
Diner: Victor's
Breakfast Joint: The Spot, Watertown
Brunch: East Coast Grill, Abigails, Fireplace Grill
Tapas: Toro
French: L'Espalier
Japanese (affordable and not sushi) Shiki
Chinese: Shanghai Gate, JoJo Taipei, Mulan, Fuloon, Windsor for dim sum, Little Q for hotpot
Vietnamese - Pho 2000, Sunrise Cafe
Thai: S & I, Thai North
Indian: India Quality, Kebab Factory for lunch buffet, Shanti
Seafood: Alive 'n Kicking for down home, Island Creek for upscale, New Deal for buying it
Sandwiches: Cutty's, Michael's Deli
Ice Cream: Toscanini

[Swankalicious]

Oh, and how could I forget: Food Truck: Staff Meal!!!!

[Madrid]

"tapas" and med: Oleana (mezze)
seafood: Neptune
brunch: Highland Kitchen, East Coast Grill