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The Boston Restaurant Trends You Loved (and Hated) in 2024

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The Boston Restaurant Trends You Loved (and Hated) in 2024


To wrap up the year, Eater Boston polled both local journalists and readers of this site to get their thoughts on the past year in dining: the good, the bad, and the most exciting things to come in 2025. The results have been collected in the following series of posts. (Check out the full archive here.)

Below, we ask: What was Boston’s most exciting — or most infuriating — local restaurant trend of 2024?


“Restaurants keep getting louder and louder, which I really don’t understand. Sure, if you go to a bar or nightclub, you expect them to be noisy, but if I’m out with friends, loved ones, co-workers, etc. to catch up on things while having a burger or a plate of pasta and can’t even hear what they say, what’s the point of even going out?”

— Marc Hurwitz, founder of Boston’s Hidden Restaurants and Boston Restaurant Talk, food/travel writer for NBC Boston/NECN

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“A few years ago, I didn’t think Boston was a particularly good bakery town. We had our standouts, but there wasn’t a strong bakery culture. So it’s exciting to me that now bakeries just keep opening and expanding. I was thrilled to see La Saison will open in Charlestown, and to visit the new Sofra in Allston. And I love that so many specialists are arriving on the scene: Flake Bakery with its pastéis de nata. Valientes Bakery, serving Argentine specialties. French-Asian Niveaux Patisserie. Gluten-free Verveine. Bakey with its babka. And so on. I also think it’s really fun that Flour will open in the Boston Common Concession Pavilion. No knock on Earl of Sandwich, the former tenant, but this feels like a much better representation of this city.”

— Devra First, restaurant critic for the Boston Globe


“I was really excited to see local restauranteurs expanding. I’m thinking about Jamie Bissonette’s two new spots and the recently opened Kaia from Brendan Pelley, plus Baleia from The Coda Group I love seeing local chefs and restaurant groups doing so well.”

— Brian Samuels, Boston food photographer


“I’ll answer both. This has been happening for a couple of years, but for me the most infuriating thing is that almost every restaurant now has to have an Instagrammable “wow” moment. Maybe it’s a dish or a drink with an ornate presentation, or an over-the-top area of the restaurant. I totally get that these things drive diners into restaurants because they build excitement online, but I can’t help but think how annoying the showmanship might be for the staff (especially during a busy service) and designers and whoever else. For the most exciting, I really love that restaurants are embracing non-alcoholic drink programs. Especially with so many non-alcoholic beers and spirits, it’s great to see infusions and cool cocktails that aren’t just sodas.”

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— Nathan Tavares, freelance writer and Eater Boston contributor


“Loved: The amount of one-night-only pop-ups, wine or cocktail events, and chef collaboration dinners that restaurants and bars around town hosted this year. It feels special and fun and is a great way to shake things up creatively every once in a while.

Hated: Neon signs in the dining room with souvenir-shop phrases like ‘It’s 5 o’clock somewhere’ or whatever. Is some vendor giving them out for free? I saw them at way too many restaurants this year.”

— Erika Adams, Eater Boston editor


Reader responses

Over 50 people took part in Eater Boston’s dining survey this year (thank you, all!). Below, find readers’ favorite — and least favorite — Boston restaurant trends in 2024:

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  • “I still don’t like the “forced tipping” that has become the norm from COVID times. While I understand the theory behind it, I hate feeling like a scumbag choosing the 0% when they flip the Square machine (or terminal) around in places that you never tipped at prior to COVID. While COVID may not be dead completely, the closures and overall hardships endured during that time are — so can we stop shaming patrons into tipping please?” — Greg
  • “More special events — wine dinners, cocktail tastings, etc., etc. Yes, they’re sometimes more expensive, but they flex the skills of great restaurants, and they add some spice to a weeknight or weekend dining experience. I hope they help out restaurants. Love ‘em.” — Todd
  • “Boston TikTok restaurant influencing. Really cool and niche spots that have been doing good business for years are being flooded with hoards of patrons who are seeking a viral experience, rather than a cool or good one.” — Annie
  • “Infuriating — every new restaurant seems designed for Instagram pics of the aesthetic, sometimes at the expense of the quality of the food!” — Jesse
  • “Glad to see QR codes are on the way out, something about flipping through a paper menu or drink list that just adds to the experience.” — Wes
  • “Needlessly putting sea urchin on things. It’s not sourced ethically and the population has been decimated in Maine.” — Suzanne
  • “I’m absolutely OVER speakeasies, they’re overplayed. Bring back swanky lounges with good music.” — Nicole
  • “‘Everyone wants low-ABV spirits and $14 mocktails!’ No, we don’t. Who are you talking to?” — Rob
  • “Can we please stop putting fake truffle flavor in every single menu?” — Jake
  • “Love that more restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus!” — Leanne
  • “Combined coffee/wine bar concepts! What’s not to love?” — Rupal
  • “Can’t make reservations or have to plan too far ahead.” — Thom
  • “Everything is run by massive hospitality groups now.” — Liz
  • “[Love] upscale versions of Portuguese and Vietnamese food.” — Donna
  • “Tepid bottles of water sitting on the table.” — Marjorie
  • “Infuriating — covid-era patios going away.” — Juliana
  • “Exciting to see orange wine by the glass.” — Emily



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Reported shooting in Cambridge prompts brief shelter-in-place order at Harvard

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Reported shooting in Cambridge prompts brief shelter-in-place order at Harvard


Local News

There aren’t any known victims or concerns about public safety risk at this time, a spokesman for Cambridge police said.

Harvard University briefly implemented a shelter-in-place order Friday morning while police searched for a suspect on a bicycle who allegedly shot at another person in Cambridge.

“Cambridge Police are currently on-scene of a shots fired incident that took place on Sherman Street in the vicinity of Danehy Park,” a spokesman for Cambridge police told Boston.com via email. “Ballistic evidence has been recovered.”

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There aren’t any known victims or concerns about public safety risk at this time, the spokesman confirmed.

Harvard issued multiple emergency alerts to the community before noon, warning that university and Cambridge police were searching for the suspect near the Radcliffe Quad.

By noon, the university had lifted the shelter in place.

“Please continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the HUPD at 617-495-1212,” a Harvard alert noted.

This is a developing story, which will be updated as more information becomes available. Harvard updates emergency situations on campus on its emergency alerts page.

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Heather Alterisio

Senior Content Producer

Heather Alterisio, a senior content producer, joined Boston.com in 2022 after working for more than five years as a general assignment reporter at newspapers in Massachusetts.





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Man accused of abusing dog in Boston has history of mental health issues, defense attorney says

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Man accused of abusing dog in Boston has history of mental health issues, defense attorney says


A man accused of abusing a dog in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood over the summer has a history of mental health and other health issues, his attorney said.

Akeem Pierre was arraigned Thursday in Dorchester District Court on animal cruelty charges, where he pleaded not guilty.

Video allegedly shows dog being abused

Back in June, Assistant District Attorney Nadia Eldemery said Pierre was seen walking a dog named Pluto in Dorchester. A witness told police they saw Pierre whip Pluto with the leash several times on the face and body, along with yelling at the dog and threatening him. The witness, who filmed the incident, also said Pierre lifted Pluto up off the ground by the leash and tugged him down the street. The dog allegedly seemed hesitant to walk with Pierre and appeared anxious.

A man is seen allegedly abusing a dog in Dorchester in June 2025.

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Eldemery said the witness filmed the incident and sent the video to the MSPCA and police. The video was also posted on social media.

When police spoke with Pierre, he told them he was pet-sitting Pluto and “training” him by tapping him on the nose whenever he did something deemed inappropriate. Police said Pierre did not dispute or deny what he did in the video and did not show any remorse.

Suspect has mental health issues, attorney says

Pierre’s defense, attorney Elizabeth Pardy, said he has a long history of medical and mental health issues, which is why he was also in default on an OUI case from 2021. She said he’s bipolar, schizophrenic and has sickle cell anemia, along with other issues. She said he underwent a competency evaluation and the doctor determined that he’s not competent to stand trial.

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Judge Thomas Kaplanes released Pierre on his own recognizance, despite the prosecution requesting $2,000 bail. He was ordered to have no interaction with Pluto, surrender any animals in his custody, report to probation weekly and remain drug and alcohol free. The judge also ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Pluto was taken to a veterinarian and was found to have no injuries. He was then brought to the MSPCA, who confirmed that he’s been adopted and is doing well.

“We’re grateful to the public for bringing this to our attention, which allowed our officers to quickly start a swift investigation that brought Pluto safely into our care and also secured charges, which are now pending before the courts,” said the MSPCA in a statement. 



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Celtics show flashes, but 76ers claim season opener behind historic rookie performance: 8 takeaways

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Celtics show flashes, but 76ers claim season opener behind historic rookie performance: 8 takeaways


Boston Celtics

Rookie wing VJ Edgecombe looked more than worth the Sixers’ robust tanking efforts last season in his regular-season debut.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe drives to the basket against Celtics guard Anfernee Simons during the second half. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

The Celtics showed flashes of what they can be at their best this season, but the 76ers got a historic rookie performance from VJ Edgecombe and a huge game from Tyrese Maxey to take the season opener. 

Here are the takeaways. 

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VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey both looked incredible

Rookie wing VJ Edgecombe looked more than worth the Sixers’ robust tanking efforts last season in his regular-season debut. Edgecombe broke the NBA record for most points in the first quarter by a rookie with 14, surpassing LeBron James’ record of 12, and he broke the Sixers’ record for points in a rookie debut of 30 set by Allen Iverson, pouring in 34 on 13-for-26 shooting, including several earth-shaking dunks.

“For a rookie to come in, first game and put up (those numbers), it was impressive,” Derrick White said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen somebody have that in his debut, but he had a really good game.”

Point guard Tyrese Maxey, meanwhile, looked every bit up to the task of being the Sixers’ primary superstar this season, pushing the Sixers out to a halftime lead and pulling them back from the brink when Boston threatened to pull away in the fourth. Maxey finished with a massive 40-point outing, running rampant through a Celtics’ defense that struggled to get back and defend him whenever they missed shots. 

The Sixers are far from a perfect roster, but tanking last season appears to have worked wonders for them, and as The Process Pt. 1 appears to be coming to a close (more on that in a minute), they appear very well set up to begin The Process Pt. 2. 

The final play(s) were supposed to be for Jaylen Brown

After letting a double-digit lead slip away, the Celtics looked like they were done, but Edgecombe missed two late free throws that gifted them a final chance.

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With eight seconds left, Derrick White struggled to inbound the ball before finally dishing to Payton Pritchard. Pritchard drove into the paint and had his shot blocked out of bounds with just over a second remaining.

On their last, last chance, the Celtics once again passed to Pritchard, who created a little space but missed the potential game-winner.

According to Pritchard, the play was designed for Jaylen Brown.

“They kind of shadowed it,” Pritchard said. “I got it, attacked, probably just made the wrong read. Anfernee (Simons and Sam (Hauser) were open on the back side, so that’s just a pass I’ve got to make.”

For his part, Mazzulla said the goal was to get the ball to the Celtics’ ball-handlers.

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“We got the ball into the paint, got a decent look,” Mazzulla said. “It’s all you can do is get it to those guys, and they gave us a chance to win.”

The Celtics might regret letting that one slip

At the risk of sounding overly reductive, the Celtics really need to get wins this season when the opportunities presents themselves, and Wednesday’s game was a prime example. 

On a night when the player best suited to hurt them looked like a shell of himself, and when they built a double-digit second-half lead against a shaky roster propped up by two superhuman performances, the Celtics couldn’t claim their first win of the season. 

That puts them in a precarious position over their first seven games. Their next contest is on the road against the Knicks, who are widely considered a genuine championship contender this season. That’s the start of a three-games-in-four-night stretch, during which their most beatable opponent (the Pelicans) is the opponent they face last. They then take on the Cavaliers (another championship contender), this 76ers team again, and the Rockets (yet another championship contender, who looked like a heavyweight in their showdown against the Thunder on Tuesday). 

When the dust settles, the Celtics could be in a tough position in the standings, and while it’s still clearly very early in the season, this is not last year’s roster – digging out of an early hole will be much more difficult. 

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The Jaylen Brown/Derrick White tandem debuted well

Brown and White scored 25 points apiece in their debut as the new Celtics stars. Brown dished out four assists early and shot 9-for-18 from the floor, and he played the kind of patient floor game the Celtics need from him in the absence of Jayson Tatum. 

Prior to the game, Brown was questionable with a hamstring injury suffered during preseason.

“It was fine. I thought it held up well,” Brown said. “Definitely got to do some recovery. Within the first two weeks coming back from a strain, you’ve got to make sure that you get your recovery in because that’s when the risk is at its highest.

So I’ve just got to make sure I’m focusing on my body, getting my rest, doing my recovery, and getting ready for the next game.”

White, meanwhile, went ice-cold with the rest of his teammates from three in the second quarter – at one point, the Celtics missed nine straight – but he came alive in the third, and he worked his way to the line seven times. 

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Anfernee Simons looked like a nice addition

The Celtics reportedly spent the summer checking on what they could get for Simons on the trade market, and that option is still likely on the table – this is, after all, a team very much in flux – but the early returns are promising.

Simons was as advertised offensively. He hit multiple 3-pointers that barely disturbed the net on their way through, he attacked the basket in late-shot-clock situations and created offense out of nothing, and at one point in the fourth quarter, he exploded to the rim and elevated so quickly off the ground that Tyrese Maxey could only jump out of his way futilely as Simons thundered home a two-handed slam.

Defensively, Simons was clearly trying to make a good impression. He was consistently down in a stance guarding ball-handlers, he ripped Maxey in transition at one point as the Sixers’ speedy guard flew to the rim, and – perhaps most importantly – he battled his way over and around screens without getting stuck, which has been one of his biggest problems as a defender. He still is unlikely to be a positive on the defensive end, but he was undeniably a positive overall.

Simons finished with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. On a team that lost its primary bucket-getter last season, he could make up some of the difference.

The duality of Neemias Queta

The Celtics got the full range of the Neemias Queta experience in the fourth quarter – the very good, and the very bad. 

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Queta had a good game overall – 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting and eight rebounds, including two big offensive ones. In the fourth quarter, he scored on four out of five consecutive possessions including three in a row. The Celtics needed a big performance from a big man, and they got one. 

“He’s got it in him to be good for us, and he did some really good things,” Joe Mazzulla said. “The standard’s high for him.”

On the other hand, Queta committed a bad offensive foul setting a moving screen at a critical moment with 2:45 remaining and the Celtics nursing a four-point lead, and he fouled out a minute later sending Maxey to the free-throw line. Down the stretch, the Celtics needed Queta, who probably wouldn’t have short-armed the crucial put-back attempt that Xavier Tillman missed.

The Celtics have a lot of flawed-but-useful big men who can each do a little bit of something, but not everything. Queta frequently shows flashes of brilliance followed by moments that will leave Celtics fans pulling at their hair.

The Joel Embiid Era looks like it might be in peril

The first indicator that the 76ers’ big man might not be entirely himself was that he didn’t jump the opening tip, leaving the job to 76ers starting forward Dominick Barlow, who also had the odd distinction of being an Opening Night starter on a two-way contract. 

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The second indicator that Embiid wasn’t himself was the first Celtics’ possession, on which Neemias Queta set a screen for Derrick White, and Embiid stayed so far back in the lane, it was a little confusing who he was actually supposed to guard. Eventually, White spotted the amount of space he would have any time Queta set a screen, and the Celtics started going directly at Embiid whenever possible. 

On the other end, Embiid hoisted a few half-hearted jumpers and attempted one half-hearted post move against Xavier Tillman before bailing halfway through, and Tillman poked the ball away. When Embiid sat down halfway through the quarter, the Sixers looked more like a coherent basketball team. 

Things went from bad to worse the rest of the way. At one point, Embiid tried to post up Sam Hauser and failed to do any damage. His presence in the game coincided with the best offensive moments by far for the Celtics, and he sat late with just four points on 1-for-9 shooting.

Embiid’s size and injury history always meant that his aging process was unlikely to be graceful, but it was still jarring to see him moving so poorly this early in the season. The Sixers have plenty of optimism on their roster, but the Joel Embiid era of The Process did not look like it was in a particularly good place on Opening Night.

What’s Next

The Celtics now hit the road on a somewhat nonsensical road trip: They will travel to Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks on Friday before flying to Detroit for a matchup against the rising Pistons on Sunday. When that game wraps up, they’ll travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Monday.

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