5 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Boston, Massachusetts

This fine-dining restaurant, located in the Concord Depot, offers New American cuisine, with much of the food on the plate coming from nearby local farms. Friendly and knowledgeable servers can help you navigate the menu, which changes with the seasons, along with what’s available at the time.

Stop in for freshly brewed coffee and homemade baked goods, like banana bread, granola bars, and cinnamon buns, at this cozy spot. At lunch, enjoy the soup du jour and a selection of sandwiches. In nice weather, enjoy your food outside on the patio.

Housed in a 200-year-old building that was once a bank—Ledger takes its name from the massive amount of banking ledgers found in the building—today diners enjoy a modern-day spin on traditional 19th-century dishes, especially live-fire cooking. Grab a cocktail while checking out the multitude of original features incorporated into the restaurant, including deposit boxes and a huge safe that serves as the restaurant’s walk-in refrigerator. Grab a peek of the private dining room, where the wooden chair rails are sourced from pews in an old church near Boston Common.

Cyclists, families, and sightseers pack into this brick building, which was used to store munitions during the Revolutionary War. Wood floors and blackboard menus add a touch of nostalgia, but the extensive menu includes many classic dishes, including mac and cheese, fish and chips, and steamed mussels. Breakfast offerings, served all day, include a variety of eggs Benedicts, a breakfast burrito, and omelets. At lunch, try the house-made chili or a variety of salads.

This contemporary restaurant offers bistro-style chicken, roast cod, and steak frites, perfect for the late-night crowd (it's open until midnight during the summer). There is usually live music on Thursday evening. There is also a raw bar and sushi selection. Look for the signature martini glass over the door.