Best of Boston

The Straight Wharf, which celebrates its 30th birthday this summer, made its name with simple New England cuisine. But with Amanda Lydon (UpStairs on the Square) and Gabriel Frasca (Spire) taking over at the helm, it has become one of the island’s serious culinary contenders. The harborfront dining room features a new bamboo floor, and the menu’s pairing of traditional seafood with new whimsical dishes—like the summer melon gazpacho with a kick of habanero—shows off the duo’s innovative style.