"Perched in Boston’s North End, this tiny, 37-seat seafood spot (opened in 2004) offers pristine, locally sourced seafood in a nautically decorated, efficient brasserie with a cool marble countertop, backless bar stools, and a mirror-filled dining room. There’s always a wait, but long-tenured, familial staff give it a neighborhood warmth that makes the place feel like home even as it draws national acclaim. Signature dishes include a warm buttered lobster roll and a cornmeal johnnycake with honey butter topped with smoked bluefish and sturgeon caviar; oysters and rotating daily specials such as sea urchin are also highlights. Regulars and visitors alike come for both the exceptional New England seafood and the comforting, grounding ritual of sitting at the bar with a glass of wine." - ByKorsha Wilson