While Boston has never been a city to fawn over imported star chefs (Jean-Georges, we hardly knew ye), Mario Batali has fared quite well between Babbo and this behemoth Italian dining emporium. It replaced Prudential Center’s swath of humdrum takeaway spots with three floors of food counters, several sit-down restaurants (like the Barbara Lynch-helmed Il Pesce) and market aisles stocked with Batali-approved ingredients for home cooks. Back Bay lunch breaks will never be the same.
Eataly
800 Boylston St., Boston • (617) 807-7300
https://eataly.com
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2016 Winner: Tiger Mama
Tiger Mama went into a tricky Fenway location that had hosted a couple of regrettable flops...
- 1363 Boylston St., Boston
- (617) 425-6262
- tigermamaboston.com
