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Here are the Greater Boston restaurants that deserve a Michelin star, according to our readers

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newsletter, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
It was May when we first caught word that food critics from the Michelin Guide were discreetly reviewing restaurants in the Greater Boston area. The news set Boston’s culinary scene abuzz with speculation about which places might earn a coveted Michelin star (or better, three).
Now, after nearly six months, the wait — and debate — is nearly over. Michelin is expected to announce the Greater Boston restaurants that have made it into their illustrious guide on Nov. 18.
But before that happens, we wanted to include you in the conversation. (After all, who knows Boston’s restaurants better than the locals who dine at them year after year?)
Here's a roundup of restaurants our readers think deserve to be included in Boston’s Michelin Guide debut, with more than 25 recommendations for you to chew on.

Nightshade Noodle Bar (six mentions)
73 Exchange St., Lynn
Nightshade Noodle Bar was the most-mentioned restaurant among our respondents. They love the innovative menu, which is inspired by Vietnamese cuisine and chef Rachel Miller’s Louisiana roots. (Readers suggest the claypot caramel foie gras and the Chinese broccoli with black chili garlic sauce.)
“The hospitality, attention to detail of every aspect of service and food preparation, and the dedication of the staff and chef are unmatched,” Brooke Burton wrote. “The caviar dish with chips and ‘spuma’ is a knockout.” She also recommends their nonalcoholic cocktails.
“The service and attention to detail are stellar,” Kalli Catcott wrote. “And the food is some of the most inventive (and tastiest) I've had in the region!”
Talulla (three mentions)
377 Walden St., Cambridge
This restaurant tucked away in Cambridge’s Huron Village also garnered multiple mentions. Why? They’ve got “absolutely exquisitely prepared fine dining with a phenomenal wine list,” wrote Jason Stonehouse. If you’re having a hard time choosing what to start with, he recommends the tasting menu, since it is seasonal and constantly rotating.
Sarma (three mentions)
249 Pearl St., Somerville
Chef Tiffani Faison thinks it’s likely Sarma, chef Ana Sortun’s Mediterranean restaurant in Somerville, will get some Michelin recognition. So do our readers, who praised Sarma’s “consistent quality and creativity of food, paired with fantastic service.” Molly D. recommends “just about everything” on the menu. But “don't skimp on the off-menu sesame fried chicken when it comes around,” she added.
O Ya (three mentions)
9 E St., Seaport
O Ya is a high-end sushi spot in Seaport led by a James Beard award-winning chef. Though it will cost you upwards of $300 a person, “O Ya’s 20-course omakase menu is amazing,” writes James Richardson. Chris Frano wrote that it’s a “life-changing dining experience.”
Giulia (three mentions)
1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
For more than a decade, Giulia has been serving up Italian food that’s been consistently ranked as some of the best in the city. “The food, farm to table, is delicious, seasonal, often with new flavors and approaches,” wrote Patricia Illingworth. “I love the burrata and beets and the hiramasa crudo. The pasta pappardelle is also delicious.”
Krasi (two mentions)
48 Gloucester St., Back Bay
This Greek bistro has an extensive wine menu, which customers can pair with full entrees or small plates. “The tiropita rolls, sparangi, and lavraki are exceptional,” wrote Natalie Bassil. Krasi is also well known for its lively drag brunches, which sell out each month in a matter of minutes.

Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge
Oleana, like Sarma, is a Mediterranean restaurant headed up by Sortun, featuring small plates that are heavy on Turkish flavors. “Wonderful, cool spot. Beautiful patio with lovely, unique and elevated Mediterranean food. What's not to love?” wrote Atulya Yellepeddi. He recommends the Vermont quail kebab and veggie mezze.
La Bodega
21 Nichols Ave., Watertown
Carol Bates believes Watertown’s La Bodega deserves a Michelin star for its “delicious, novel presentation” of Uruguayan food you won’t find anywhere else locally. “They make an amazing Caipirinha — and I've loved every food item that I have tried,” she wrote.

Mooncusser
304 Stuart St., Back Bay
Local seafood is always at the center of Mooncusser’s seasonal menus. “Chef Carl Dooley serves a tasting menu with choices that are among the most balanced and flavorful dishes in Boston,” wrote Evan Gold. Top Chef devotees may remember Dooley, a Cambridge native, as a competitor on the 13th season of the show back in 2016.
Forage
5 Craigie Cir., Cambridge
Forage calls itself a zero-waste, a farm-to-table bistro. “They have the most interesting, fresh and innovative menu of any restaurant in the region,” writes Brenda Flynn. “The flavors are deep and complex. And the menu changes weekly — part of the charm.”

Brassica Kitchen + Cafe
3712 Washington St., Jamaica Plain
Brassica Kitchen + Cafe combines “fine dining with a laid back dining experience,” wrote Julian Concannon. He suggests trying the beets, Brussels sprouts, risotto, fried chicken or fried tofu. “You can't get a bad dish there,” he wrote.
The Eaves
1 Bow Market Way, Somerville
The Eaves is a Vietnamese restaurant located in Bow Market. “It's a unique concept and the food is impeccable,” My Nguyen wrote “Dishes are still classically Vietnamese but done with innovative ingredients. The menu changes often, but there's hardly ever a miss.”
P.S.— Some other honorable mentions that our readers thought deserve Michelin recognition: Chickadee (Seaport), Ceraldi (Provincetown), Comfort Kitchen (Dorchester), Grill 23 (Back Bay), Il Capriccio (Waltham), La Royal (Cambridge), Ma Maison (Beacon Hill), Pagliuca’s (North End), Pammy’s (Cambridge), Somaek (Downtown Boston), Talise (Gloucester), Thistle & Leek (Newton), Tres Gatos (Jamaica Plain), Woods Hill (Seaport) and Yume Wo Katare (Cambridge).
