The hardest tables in Boston, MA — and how to actually get them

15 near-impossible reservations and 10 more beloved rooms, each vetted against real critics. We watch the ones that never have availability and alert you the second a table for two opens up.

Every spot below is endorsed by a named critic or publication — never Yelp, Google reviews, or SEO listicles.

• Sarma

  ●●●●●
  Somerville · Eastern Mediterranean meze · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeBoston MagazineJames BeardThe InfatuationThe New York Times
  Book on Resy

• Tonino

  ●●●●●
  Jamaica Plain · Italian-American · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 PM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Eater BostonThe Boston GlobeJames BeardThe InfatuationThe New York Times
  Book on Resy

• 311 Omakase

  ●●●●●
  South End · Japanese omakase · $$$$ · Tock
  12:00 PM ET · monthly drop
  Vetted by Eater BostonThe Boston GlobeThe Infatuation
  Book on Tock

• Carmelina's

  ●●●●●
  North End · Sicilian Italian · $$$ · OpenTable
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeThe Infatuation
  Book on OpenTable

• Grace by Nia

  ●●●●●
  Seaport · Southern American / soul food supper club · $$$ · SevenRooms
  Vetted by Boston MagazineThe Infatuation
  Book on SevenRooms

• Yoshida Omakase

  ●●●●●
  Back Bay · Japanese omakase (Edomae) · $$$$ · Tock
  12:00 PM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Boston Magazine
  Book on Tock

• o ya

  ●●●●●
  Leather District · Contemporary Japanese omakase · $$$$ · Tock
  12:00 PM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeThe InfatuationThe New York Times
  Book on Tock

• Kava Neo-Taverna

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  South End · Greek taverna · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Boston MagazineThe Infatuation
  Book on Resy

• Avra Estiatorio

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  Back Bay · Greek / Mediterranean seafood · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Comfort Kitchen

  ●●●●○
  Upham's Corner (Dorchester) · Global African-diaspora comfort food · $$$ · OpenTable
  daily drop
  Vetted by Eater BostonThe Boston GlobeJames BeardThe InfatuationThe New York Times
  Book on OpenTable

• Contessa

  ●●●○○
  Back Bay · Northern Italian · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeThe Infatuation
  Book on Resy

• Dalia

  ●●●●○
  South Boston · Wood-fired Spanish · $$$ · OpenTable
  12:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by The Infatuation
  Book on OpenTable

• Giulia

  ●●●●○
  Cambridge (Mass Ave, Harvard/Porter) · Italian (handmade pasta) · $$$ · OpenTable
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeThe InfatuationThe New York Times
  Book on OpenTable

• Krasi

  ●●●●○
  Back Bay · Greek meze and wine bar · $$$ · OpenTable
  daily drop
  Vetted by Boston MagazineThe Infatuation
  Book on OpenTable

• La Padrona

  ●●●○○
  Back Bay · Regional Italian · $$$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Eater BostonThe Boston GlobeJames BeardThe Infatuation
  Book on Resy

• Mamma Maria

  ●●●●○
  North End · Italian fine dining · $$$$ · SevenRooms
  Vetted by Boston MagazineThe Infatuation
  Book on SevenRooms

• Mariel

  ●●●●○
  Financial District (Post Office Square) · Cuban · $$$ · SevenRooms
  Vetted by The Infatuation
  Book on SevenRooms

• Prima

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  Charlestown · Italian steakhouse · $$$$ · OpenTable
  12:00 PM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by The Infatuation
  Book on OpenTable

• Sushi @ Temple Records

  ●●●○○
  Downtown Crossing · Japanese sushi / omakase · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Boston MagazineThe Infatuation
  Book on Resy

• Uni

  ●●●●○
  Back Bay · Contemporary Japanese izakaya / omakase · $$$$ · OpenTable
  daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeBoston MagazineJames BeardThe Infatuation
  Book on OpenTable

• Field & Vine

  ●●●○○
  Union Square (Somerville) · New American farm-to-table · $$$ · Resy
  daily drop
  Vetted by The InfatuationThe New York Times
  Book on Resy

• Bar Volpe

  ●●●○○
  South Boston · Southern Italian · $$$ · OpenTable
  daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeThe Infatuation
  Book on OpenTable

• Cafe Sushi

  ●●●○○
  Harvard Square (Cambridge) · Japanese / sushi · $$$ · Resy
  daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeThe Infatuation
  Book on Resy

• Coppa Enoteca

  ●●●○○
  South End · Italian enoteca · $$$ · OpenTable
  daily drop
  Vetted by The Boston GlobeThe Infatuation
  Book on OpenTable

• Darling

  ●●●○○
  Central Square (Cambridge) · Dim sum and cocktails · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by The Infatuation
  Book on Resy