5 restaurants we can’t wait to try in February 

Restaurants

From Canotto-style pizza in South Boston to a new ocean-to-table spot in Watertown, these restaurants are topping our must-try list this month.

By Jillian Dara

February 2, 2026 | 11:40 AM

5 minutes to read

The windchill isn’t the only thing hovering over Boston right now as a flavor wave washes over the city this month with new openings that range from Hunan-inspired woks and handmade soup dumplings to Canotto-style pizzas and global comfort cuisine. Honestly, the combination of heat and comfort is exactly what we need during the depths of winter so we can’t wait to try out these five restaurants in February.

Ama at The Atlas

The Atlas Hotel just opened in Allston and with its debut comes a shiny, new restaurant from the duo behind the James Beard Award-nominated Comfort Kitchen. Located on the ground floor, the 6,000-square-foot, 180-seat restaurant pays homage to co-founder Biplaw Rai’s Nepali roots, as Ama translates to mother in Nepalese. While the menu touts international ingredients, the idea behind the name refers more to the messaging and feeling that the team wants diners to have here. “At Ama at The Atlas, we honor those who nurtured and fed us,” says Rai, “reclaiming the skills and techniques passed down over generations.” The focus on all-day global comfort cuisine showcases rich flavors and underappreciated ingredients like okra, parsnip, cassava, and lentils as well as proteins like smoked beef, fried chicken, and lamb kofta. On the breakfast menu, classic morning dishes of french toast ($20) and eggs benedict ($23) are respectively elevated with saffron and aji amarillo. At lunch, chicken salad ($21) is infused with West African flair as its braised with a tangy onion, lemon  and mustard braise known as yassa and the curry chickpea pita ($19) is sure to be a vegetarian favorite layered with mint chutney, tamarind and herb labneh. Dinner offers the most extensive selection with its sectioned offerings of “shared beginnings,” “abundance,” (or entrees) and “she knows the way,” (what they list as “seasonal soups honoring the ability of caregivers to heal body and soul with a spoonful of nutritious, comforting food”). The low waste kitchen aligns with the greater property’s LEED Gold and FitWell Certifications as Ama is a low waste kitchen thanks to a commitment to zero-waste dishes and the use of locally purveyors.

40 Western Ave., Allston 

Now Open

Boxfish Restaurant

Chef Manita Bunnagitkarn may be known for her culinary past steeped in Thai favorites but her newest venture prioritizes seafood with an ocean-to-table concept. Currently running a limited menu as part of their soft opening, the 21-seat, neighborhood restaurant still showcases the best of the sea with the likes of brown butter lobster toast ($19), mango shrimp ($14) and Blue fin tuna tacos ($16) as appetizers; two whole fish options (fresh catch and grilled branzino, starting at $24) and entree-portions of shellfish like the Fisherman’s platter of shrimps, belly clams, scallops, and fish ($36) and Uni butter fettuccine ($28). The pièce de résistance comes in the form of a whole lobster that’s served with Boxfish’s secret spicy sauce—two chilis denote its heat-level—that chef Bunnagitkarn warns will make this already indulgent order more addictive. On the cocktail list, their “White Cloud” cocktail intrigues with a base of horseradish-infused gin, vermouth, and a sour cream and vinegar cordial. 

613 Mount Auburn St, Watertown

Now Open

Novo Lantern 

The South End just welcomed this new Chinese fusion hotspot with soup dumplings as the foundation of their Hunan-inspired menu. This new restaurant is all about innovation and riffing on the classics, so while there are traditional pork soup dumplings, they elevate their handmade selection with a crab roe soup dumpling. This approach is found throughout the menu with unique creations like salt and pepper calamari with cod, Szechuan-style ceviche and a play on dan dan noodles where gnocchi tossed in a spicy Szechuan sauce and salt replaces the typical thin rice noodles. A trip here wouldn’t be complete without hearing the sizzle of their wok-fried portions, like their scallion and onion beef or sweet and spicy general su tofu. 

1750 Washington St., South End

Now Open

Si Cara

Si Cara began as a neighborhood pizzeria in Cambridge but at the beginning of this year, they showcased how well they were received by the entire city when they moved into South Boston. Designed by Crown Creative in collaboration with 42 Architecture, the new location is nearly twice the size of its original brick-and-mortar, with an upstairs and basement lounge, and a main dining area soaked in natural light with a brighter feel. “It’s a space meant to feel welcoming and live-in, not formal,” shares chef-owner Michael Lombardi. Open seven days a week for dinner (5-11 p.m.), Si Cara’s prime Southie location on West Broadway makes it the perfect place to stop in for a glass of natural wine or local beer with one of their beloved Canotto-style pizzas (which gathers its name from the Italian word “dinghy” as the airy, puffed crust resembles the ship’s sails). Their margherita ($20) with crushed tomato, flor di latte and basil is a classic that embraces Lombardi’s approach to cooking—“simple things done well”—but for an indulgent moment, the mushroom and guanciale ($23) is a unique delight with its cremini, salsa verde, a fried egg and cured pork jowl. Si Cara plans to add weekday lunch, weekend brunch and late night service in the coming weeks so keep an eye on their hours.

400 West Broadway, South Boston

Now Open

Swingers

The Back Bay neighborhood is about to debut a new entertainment hotspot complete with multiple bars and gourmet street food all under one roof. Swingers, the global hospitality and leisure brand that originated in London’s West End, is a social house focused on indoor mini golf, or as the Brits call it “crazy golf,” but they also feature a Carnival arcade room and live DJs to bring the energy to it all. Spanning two levels and 21,000 square feet, the forthcoming Boston location will be the fourth U.S. opening for the brand. With a motto that “serious fun requires serious fuel,” the club’s Emmy Squared will surely be a buzz for their renowned New York-style grandma pie meets Detroit-style pizza. Options include a vodka sauce pie ($19) and pickled jalapeños with honey ($23), plus towering burgers — like the can’t-miss Le Big Matt with sammy sauce, greens, and pickles on a pretzel bun ($16) — and six flavors of wings, including lemon pepper dust and pineapple chili glaze ($16). 

777 Boylston St., Back Bay

Opens: February 20

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  A guide to Swingers, Boston’s newest indoor mini golf venue
  

Jillian Dara is a contributor to Boston.com covering all things food and beverage.

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