The town most closely associated with the American revolution is on the map these days for the outstanding new restaurants joining some old favourites.
Union Oyster House
41 Union Street
The Georgian brick building that houses this institution has been standing for more than 250 years, and the restaurant has been serving oysters, chowder and cornbread for 180 years. It's the oldest restaurant in the US and the interior and much of the menu haven't changed since the 18th century, when oyster stew cost 20 US cents. Today, at more than 50 times that, it's worth it for a taste of history and a shot at glimpsing Boston insiders such as former Bush rival John Kerry and 2008 presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, both regulars, as is Ted Kennedy. Main courses cost HK$160-HK$235.
L'Espalier
30 Gloucester Street
Set in a 19th-century town house, this Boston Back Bay favourite is idyllic and exotic. In an intimate dining room of a high Victorian brownstone, traditional French fare meets fresh New England in dishes such as Maine lobster poached in Vermont cultured butter. Chef Frank McClelland not only cooks but also gardens; all the greens and herbs on the menu come from the restaurant's organic rooftop plot. He's also a wine collector and the inventive wine list includes organic wines from Alsace and rarities such as L'Oustel Blanc Naik 5, only 1,000 bottles of which are produced every year. L'Espalier's prix fixe menu costs HK$585-HK$1,365.