Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Food Editor

Rachel has been covering the Boston-area restaurant scene in various capacities since 2008, including nine years as editor of Eater Boston. A Massachusetts native, she currently resides in Medford with her husband, sons, cat, and too many (mostly dead) plants. When not writing about food, she's playing music or buying yet another cookbook she'll never use.

@blumie
blumie625
Black Sheep Bagel Cafe Cambridge bagel sandwiches and coffee
Restaurants

Where to Find the Best Bagels in Boston Right Now

Whether they’re onion, garlic, or Cajun-spice flavored, these fresh-baked bagels are everything.

Restaurants

Where to Eat near Boston’s TD Garden

Before you head to a concert or game, fuel up with ramen from a celebrity chef, top-notch burgers and shakes, and more in and around Boston’s West End.

A stylish bar interior featuring a long counter with high stools lined up along it. The bar is illuminated with warm lighting, highlighting the mosaic tile front and shelves stocked with various bottles and glassware. To the left, there are tables set with green-tinted glasses, red napkins, and black plates, accompanied by green upholstered chairs. The walls have decorative mirrors and soft lighting fixtures, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Restaurants

A Soul Food Legend Returns to Boston’s South End, Refreshed

Nia Grace opens Uptown Social in early 2026, bringing the former home of Bob the Chef’s and Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen into a new era—without forgetting the past.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Overhead view of an herb-covered whole roasted fish with vermicelli next to a plate of seared scallops and a plate of crawfish and noodles.
Restaurants

Here Are the 2026 James Beard Semifinalists in New England

Awards season begins with a spotlight on some fantastic local restaurant talent.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
City Life

Where Not to Drink in Boston

Staying sober or doing dry January? Three local businesses capitalizing on the shift away from boozy nights out.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Slices of various raw fish are arranged in a bowl, topped with a raw quail egg and a dollop of caviar-topped sea urchin. The bowl sits on a black plate with a stack of seaweed sheets alongside.
Restaurants

There’s a Snazzy, Laidback New Sushi Spot in the North End

Boston’s Umami Crudo is a more relaxed à la carte sibling to Cambridge’s award-winning Umami Omakase from chef Gary Lei.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
A jazz club features a variety of eye-catching light fixtures and gold palm leaves at the top of large black columns.
Restaurants

The Best Restaurants in Boston’s Seaport and Fort Point

Here’s where to grab a bite or a beer—from a buzzy brewpub to clam shack-inspired neighborhood staples.

Two pieces of tuna nigiri with a drop of an herb garnish sit on a white plate.
Restaurants

Where to Eat in Greater Boston in January 2026

New and exciting restaurants to check out, plus good reasons to visit older spots.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
A variety of Middle Eastern dishes are displayed on a wooden table. There is a bowl of creamy hummus topped with herbs and small dollops of white sauce, a plate of grilled squid with herbs and sauce, a dish of baba ganoush garnished with pomegranate seeds and fresh dill, a round serving of red lentil or bulgur salad decorated with pomegranate seeds and herbs, and another bowl of creamy dip garnished with radish slices, herbs, and olive oil.
Restaurants

Beloved Cambridge Spot Moona Finally Has More Room to Show Off

The acclaimed Middle Eastern restaurant triples in size with a new Central Square home—plus za’atar croissants and orange blossom soft serve for good measure.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
A bartender stands behind a modern, concrete bar counter decorated with autumn leaves. Behind him, a large wooden shelving unit displays a wide variety of liquor bottles. The walls are dark with colorful framed artwork and small decorations, including a pair of white stormtrooper helmets. Warm hanging light bulbs illuminate the space, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Restaurants

After 14 Years, a Quirky Somerville Cocktail Bar Passes the Torch

Backbar cofounder Sam Treadway reflects on a decade-plus of the acclaimed drink destination—known for its geekery and inclusiveness—as he leaves it in the capable hands of the Field & Vine team next door.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
A man with short dark hair and light facial stubble is wearing a plain white short-sleeve shirt with a small pocket on the left side. He is standing indoors with a blurred background featuring wooden beams and a dimly lit space.
Restaurants

Acclaimed Chef George Mendes Will Open Two South End Restaurants in 2026

Agosto, a tasting-menu-focused, intimate restaurant, will open around summer 2026, followed by bakery-café Baby Sister later in the year.

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Restaurants

Where to Find Greater Boston’s Greatest Hot Chocolate

Warm up with a rich, decadent cup of cocoa at some of the area’s best cafés.

A lounge area in an upscale cocktail bar, set off by heavy red curtains, with red velvet couches.
Restaurants

Boston’s Newest Cocktail Lounge Offers a Taste of 1950s Havana

My Girl, from the group behind Yvonne’s and more, opens downtown with an opulent, grown-up ambiance. 

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal
A restaurant with shiny red booths is decorated for Christmas with a tree and tons of ornament-bedecked garlands covering the ceiling.
Restaurants

The Ultimate Holiday Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Merrymaking in Boston

Where to find the best holiday cocktail pop-ups, hot chocolate bars, Santa teas, highly decorated restaurants, and ski-lodge-inspired winter patios in and around the city.

A Japanese restaurant is decorated with red and white paper lanterns and blue neon signage reads "Cafe Sushi."
Restaurants

Cambridge Icon Cafe Sushi Enters a New Era

The dining room’s long-awaited reopening brings a farewell to omakase, hello to a sake bar. 

By Rachel Leah Blumenthal