"Founded by owner and chef Daniel Bojorquez, Mexican-rooted restaurant La Brasa has been stoking the flames in East Somerville for a decade, consistently turning out excellent wood-fired meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes. However, the restaurant has leveled up recently with the addition of executive chef Jay Murray, an industry veteran who spent nearly 20 years at downtown Boston institution Grill 23 & Bar (another essential restaurant on this list). If you haven’t made a reservation yet, now’s the time." - Eater Staff