Under the direction of Chef Carl Dooley, this Bay Village restaurant offers four-course tasting menus fit for any special occasion. The prix fixe selection, which comes with optional wine pairings, changes every month, allowing guests to always discover new plates and fresh perspectives with each visit.Yes, seafood absolutely still plays a role here, but now fish dishes—like barbecue unagi or potato gnocchi with salt cod—share the spotlights with other, internationally inspired stars, such as Sichuan pork sausage consomme and venison with Hungarian dumplings. Perched above Stuart Street, folks can rest assured that the view from the dining room is just as delicious as the parade of edible delights coming out of the kitchen.

This white-tablecloth restaurant serves artful small plates bursting with flavor. However, you probably won’t do too much sharing, especially of the tiny and fanciful appetizers, because you’ll want it all for yourself. The drizzled sauces may look akin to abstract art, but you’ll want to sop up every smear across your plate until the last bite.

Start things casual downstairs at Moon Bar with a tropical-leaning cocktail and a small plate or two, like mahi mahi ceviche or a Jamaican beef patty. It makes for a great first-date spot, a low-pressure place where you and your Tinder match can meet without committing to a multi-course tasting menu. When you’re ready to take things to the next level, though, ascend to Mooncusser’s third-floor, white-tablecloth-bedecked dining room: That’s where you’ll take a prix fixe journey through Top Chef alum Carl Dooley’s exceptional, globally-inspired takes on New England-sourced seafood and more.

If you've grown up anywhere just north or south of Boston, you've probably spent many a summer eating al fresco at your local fancy fish restaurant with your parents, probably cracking lobster or tucking into a baked haddock with buttery crumbs. Mooncusser has all the frills you'd want from a special occasion seafood spot but with a slick modern touch and a pleasantly tailored, ultra-local tasting menu compared to the New England fish houses of yore that change seasonally.

Consider this spot for your next splurge-worthy seafood dinner. Situated three stories above Bay Village, Mooncusser is a chic and serene restaurant whose kitchen is helmed by Top Chef alum Carl Dooley. Nightly, four-course prix-fixe menus showcase New England seafood and a global pantry; think: seasonal soft-shell crab that’s been beer-battered and fried, served with mango hot sauce and cooling raita; and Glazed Local Halibut with white asparagus and sea urchin butter.

OK, technically this is a seafood chowder, stocked as it is with smoked scallops and skate along with clams. But it is clam-dominant, as evidenced by the freshly opened bivalves waving at you from the creamy, chive-flecked base. The team at Mooncusser, which won our 2018 Yankee Editors’ Pick for Boston’s best seafood, are at their best when reimagining classic fare, and the cute little moon-shaped crackers win points for originality.

For those in search of a refined dining experience during their stay in Boston, look no further than Mooncusser, a high-end restaurant celebrated for its mastery of local seafood. Any Boston travel guide will recommend indulging in some seafood while on your trip, and Mooncusser is an ideal destination for just that. Despite its culinary excellence, Mooncusser offers a relaxed and comfortable environment.

For the best seafood options in town, head to Mooncusser Fish House on Stuart Street. While its name sounds like a seafood shack by the beach, it’s actually a high-end restaurant serving up exquisite delights including stuffed skate with lobster and chard as well as seared scallops with lentils, and mushrooms. With a convenient location in the Back Bay, there’s no excuse not to stop by for dinner.

Cheers to the 80 Thoreau crew in Concord for bringing their fine-dining chops to Boston. Mooncusser Fish House is a sleek spot in the Back Bay that’s offering a spectacular culinary experience led by their creative approach to seafood dishes. We love starters such as the chowder with fresh clams, smoked scallops and skate, and the smoked char terrine with Meyer lemon, fennel and crackers.

Famous for its five-course local fish-tasting menu, Mooncusser Fish House isn’t just a fancy seafood restaurant – it’s a quintessential Boston experience. Menu favorites include the cuttlefish with swiss chard, steamed local bass with miso, and grilled bluefish maafe. Guests looking to dine a la carte can opt to visit the Moon Bar, while take-out is available at Cusser’s.

If a romantic dinner with plenty of time for eye gazing is what you have in mind for a birthday dinner in Boston, get a reservation at Mooncusser. This elegant prix-fixe meal is curated in advance so you don’t have to make any decisions. Each course offers two choices, so you can sample everything and feed each other bites across the table.

With Mooncusser Fish House, it’s the 80 Thoreau team’s first foray into the city — Back Bay to be specific. Here, you’ll find top-of-the-line seafood creatively presented under the helm of chef-owner Carolyn Johnson. Everything is fresh, delicious and oh-so-Instagrammable.

Seafood is our THING here in Boston, so we wanted to include what we thought would be a Michelin rated seafood experience. Although Neptune Oyster could also make this list in our book, Mooncusser is creative and exciting, not to mention a delicious meal!

Mooncusser, Celeste, UNI, 50Kitchen, and others were praised for their pandemic pivots, along with Pagu‘s Tracy Chang, who launched Pagu Market, subscription services, and two nonprofits that helped feed communities in need during the pandemic.

- Rating: 4.4/5 (172 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 304 Stuart St. Boston, Massachusetts - Categories: seafood- Read more on Yelp. You may also like:Highest-rated ice cream shops in Boston by diners

Known to local residents as Cusser’s, this is practically a seafood factory. Every item on their extensive menu is out of this world. Relax in the Moon Bar before you dine.