Best new restaurants 2012
All Star Pizza Bar is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

1. All Star Pizza Bar

8.3
1238 Cambridge St (at Prospect St.), Cambridge, MA
Pizzeria · Inman Square · 28 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Among the best of the odd yet delightful pies is Ms. Piggy’s Fig, a whirlwind of blended cheeses, Black Mission figs, prosciutto di Parma, vincotto, and toasted pistachio gremolata. Read more.

Amsterdam Falafelshop is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

2. Amsterdam Falafelshop

248 Elm St (btwn Chester & Day), Somerville, MA
Falafel Restaurant · Davis Square · 60 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: The falafel itself is delicious, cumin-scented, crisp on the outside, and properly cooked on the inside. But it’s the varied toppings bar that makes this the best falafel sandwich in town, Read more.

Backbar is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

3. Backbar

9.1
7 Sanborn Ct (btwn Bonner & Stone), Somerville, MA
Cocktail Bar · 70 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Order from the ever-changing chalkboard menu — perhaps some spicy caramel popcorn, bread and butter, or a charcuterie platter from chef-owners Diana Kudajarova and Tse Wei Lim. Read more.

Belly is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

4. Belly

One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA
Wine Bar · 19 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: The people behind the Blue Room and Central Bottle try to pass a passion for wine along to patrons. A quirky list of unusual varietals focuses on specific regions and producers.

Casa B is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

5. Casa B

253 Washington St, Somerville, MA
Tapas Restaurant · 26 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: This Latin and Caribbean tapas joint is one of the best date-night restaurants around: stylish, sparkling, modern and romantic. One standout is the carne mechada, a Puerto Rican version of pot roast. Read more.

Ecco Pizzeria is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

6. Ecco Pizzeria

6.9
1147 Commonwealth Ave (St. Luke's Rd. And Comm Ave.), Allston, MA
Pizzeria · 13 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Owner Stephen Silverman describes his whole-grain organic crust as “somewhere between Rome and New York.” Dessert pizzas might be sprinkled with cinnamon sugar or with chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Farmstead Table is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

7. Farmstead Table

8.6
71 Union St, Newton, MA
American Restaurant · Newton Center · 19 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: What a joy to find vegetables so beautifully and simply showcased on a restaurant table. With roasted squash, each ingredient is cooked to its ideal point, a portrait of the bounty of the season. Read more.

George Howell Coffee Co. is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

8. George Howell Coffee Co.

8.7
311 Walnut St (Madison Ave), Newtonville, MA
Café · 42 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Grab a latte and more from George Howell Coffee Cafe in Newtonville.

JM Curley is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

9. JM Curley

8.4
21 Temple Pl (btwn Tremont & Washington), Boston, MA
Gastropub · Downtown Boston · 175 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Try the Prime Burger, a beefy grilled 10-ounce patty on a toasted sesame bun with pickles, caramelized onions, cheddar, and house-made Russian dressing. One of Boston's best burgers. Read more.

Kitchen is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

10. Kitchen

560 Tremont St (Union Park), Boston, MA
American Restaurant · South End · 23 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: History is on the menu at Kitchen. Lobster Thermidor may be from 1894, but it certainly doesn’t taste old. It’s a rich casserole of lobster meat and much more. Decadent and delicious. Read more.

Nix's Mate Kitchen & Cocktails is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

11. Nix's Mate Kitchen & Cocktails

89 Broad St (in Hilton Boston Downtown/Financial District), Boston, MA
Cocktail Bar · Financial District · 25 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Try the Fried Maine Lobster in Caramel sauce. Critic Devra First raves"the flavors swirl into a cosmic weirdness that seems inspired equally by Vietnam, New England, and the kingdom of Bong-landia." Read more.

OAK Long Bar + Kitchen is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

12. OAK Long Bar + Kitchen

8.9
138 Saint James Ave (Dartmouth St), Boston, MA
American Restaurant · Prudential - St. Botolph · 74 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: The new hearth oven truly earns its keep is something humble: roast chicken, redolent of rosemary and pepper, served in a cast-iron skillet with potatoes. Also hard to beat: pulled pork flatbread. Read more.

The Painted Burro is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

13. The Painted Burro

8.6
219 Elm St (btwn Bowers & Russell), Somerville, MA
Mexican Restaurant · Davis Square · 135 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: The Painted Burro is more Latin American than classic Mexican, though grilled fish and meat and moles — all made with really fresh ingredients — fill the menu here.

Saloon is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

14. Saloon

8.0
255 Elm St (btwn Chester & Day), Somerville, MA
Whisky Bar · Davis Square · 76 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Bringing a splash of 1920s glamour to pub-filled Davis Square, Saloon’s bartenders wear suspenders and ties, while waitresses sport jazzy cocktail dresses.

Sepal is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

15. Sepal

100 Cambridgeside Pl (at First St), Cambridge, MA
Mediterranean Restaurant · East Cambridge · 15 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: A standout at Sepal’s third and newest location is the crispy falafel sandwich, a toasted pita rolled around salad, homemade hummus, and chickpea rounds green with fresh herbs.

Yakitori Zai is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

16. Yakitori Zai

315 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA
Japanese Restaurant · South End · 7 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Annin dofu isn’t tofu but a panna cotta-like custard, made with agar agar rather than gelatin. Wobbly, rich with cream, lightly almond flavored, it is a perfect, cooling end to a meal. Read more.

Yume Wo Katare is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

17. Yume Wo Katare

7.5
1923 Massachusetts Ave (Porter Square Shopping Center), Cambridge, MA
Ramen Restaurant · Porter Square · 72 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: A ramen chef from Japan opened Yume Wo Katare in Cambridge’s Porter Square. The name means “tell me your dreams."

Corn & Co is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

18. Corn & Co

75 Middlesex Turpike (Burlington Mall), Burlington, MA
Snack Place · 3 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Popcorn goes gourmet in the Burlington Mall with unexpected concoctions such as the excellent dill pickle and marshmallow. With their emphasis on custom combos, you can order them in the same bag.

Georgetown Cupcake is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

19. Georgetown Cupcake

8.6
83 Newbury St (btwn Berkeley & Clarendon), Boston, MA
Cupcake Shop · Back Bay East · 113 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Washington, D.C.’s superstar cupcakery has finally migrated north to Boston, bringing a luscious Red Velvet cupcake topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting and a charming red-fondant heart.

Lone Star Taco Bar is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

20. Lone Star Taco Bar

8.4
477 Cambridge St (btwn Brighton Ave. & Hano St.), Allston, MA
Taco Restaurant · 77 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: The no-frills menu of tacos, nachos, and chili is paired with a thoughtful list of tequila and mescal here, but a tongue-tingling Dallas spicy beef taco is the star.

Q's Nuts is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

21. Q's Nuts

8.4
349 Highland Ave (Willow Ave.), Somerville, MA
Gourmet Store · 10 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: Taste the tropics in the chocolate coconut almonds, roasted with dark Belgium chocolate plus toasted and raw coconut.

Tatte Bakery & Café is one of Best new restaurants 2012.

22. Tatte Bakery & Café

8.7
1003 Beacon St (btwn St Marys & Carlton St), Brookline, MA
Bakery · Fenway - Kenmore - Audubon Circle - Longwood · 118 tips and reviews

Boston.comBoston.com: At the Brookline favorite’s new Kendall location is the pistachio croissant, made extra decadent with an additional round of butter folded in, house-prepared pistachio paste, and toasted pistachios.