Restaurants in Watertown

A common scene at The Wine Cellar: servers toting percolating pots of gruyere, emmental, or gorgonzola to diners, who in turn dip skewers of bread or potatoes into the steel cauldrons of melted cheese. This celebrated practice of submerging things into other, more scalding things isn't the only European tradition The Wine Cellar draws upon; its menu culls culinary influences from around the great continent, including France and Switzerland. In addition to sizzling up pots of oil or vegetable broth in which guests can cook their own beef, tiger shrimp, or rabbit, the chefs forge a spread of signature dishes, including tartifletes and roblochonnades, and pierrades made at the table in front of guests. They accompany this transatlantic fare with an international wine list, which sports hearty reds and delicate whites from vineyards and grocery-store aisles around the world.

Although the menu remains firmly rooted in the Old World, the dining room evokes classical American aesthetics. Exposed brickwork and wrought-iron lanterns surround the tables, and one wall sports a hand-painted mural of a Boston streetscape.

In spite of its serene-sounding name, the Sunset Cafe is all about vivacious cuisine that enlivens the palate. Flavorful Portuguese ingredients populate the menu, such as braised goat, Portuguese sausages served over flames, and shrimp simmered in spicy sauce. Chefs poach eggs in tomato-laced garlic broth and drape cantaloupe with sheets of prosciutto, creating flavor profiles even more harmonious than that of a soup made by boiling well-tuned guitars. Diners can subdue spice with sips of wine, beer, cocktails, or Sumol—a fruity Portuguese soda.

When walking down the stairs into the Channel Café, guests may not be clear as to whether they are entering an art gallery, restaurant, or a friend's swanky apartment. Paintings, sculptures, pictures of Angela Lansbury, and other perfect works of art fill the spacious dining room as natural light floods in through street-level windows beneath the high ceiling. The basement eatery owned by seasoned chef Tammie Watson and baker Joyce Parlapiano takes a simple, locally sourced approach to cooking while still creating eclectic dishes that fit in alongside artsy neighbors in the Fort Point Channel district. Espresso drinks and loose-leaf teas pair well with house-made granola or egg-and-potato-filled breakfast wraps, and a curated beer and wine selection livens up seasonal salads and burgers topped with a West African barbecue sauce.

Situated across from Nantasket Beach on Boston's south shore, Daddy's Beach Club opens its doors every day of the year to fuse fresh food with live entertainment. The staff prepares wings, burgers, or the restaurant's calling card: New Haven-style thin-crust pizza. They hand-toss each pie, and—with 20 toppings available for customization—no two are alike, much like a snowman's tears. On most nights, Daddy’s Beach Club combines its food and drink with festive events, such as pool tournaments, open-mic competitions, and live music.

Isabella Restaurant

Isabella Restaurant is situated next to a movie theater, so perhaps that’s why its cuisine is so visually captivating. Under the guidance of executive chef John Mahoney, the eatery offers up succulent Atlantic salmon tossed in whole-wheat pasta and spicy hong kong noodles, served with wok-fried veggies and peanuts plus a choice of chicken, steak, or shrimp. Hardwood flooring bespeaks a muted elegance and pea-green walls help vegetables to feel relaxed.

Within the recently renovated confines, sunlight streams from large windows in the dining room, bouncing off the dark wooden tables as well as the frameless cityscapes that adorn the walls. Exposed brick walls, romantic lighting, and a sleek wooden bar further augment the casually elegant space. Diners can indulge in hearty New England comfort food, such as pumpkin ravioli and Nantucket risotto, from their chosen spot, whether it be a booth, a barstool, or the chef’s lap.