Phantom Gourmet: Great 8 South End Restaurants

Trendy, tasty, and full of flavor, the South End of Boston is one of the region's top restaurant neighborhoods. These are the eight greatest South End spots every Phantom phan needs to try.

Cinquecento

Kicking off the Great 8 is Cinquecento on Harrison Ave. This contemporary Roman trattoria has cool lighting, leather banquettes, a big bar, and a state of the art wine tap system. Italian classics line the menu with salumi platters bursting the imported meats and cheeses, crispy bruschetta, and soul satisfying pasta Bolognese.

"Veal, pork and beef. Also pancetta, red wine, tomato paste, chicken stock. You can taste every single product that's in there. You get the fresh rosemary. You get the sage. You get the nice creaminess of the butter in there, and just a light hint of tomato."

Kitchen

Kitchen on Tremont Street serves up dishes that date back decades. The menu is lined with classic American dishes like Pork and Beans, Old Fashioned Doughnuts and the rich and decadent Lobster Thermidor, loaded with chunks of lobster, Parisian gnocchi, cheese, spinach and cream, topped with toasted bread crumbs.

Mistral

Mistral on Columbus Ave. is an elegant eatery with high ceilings, beautiful natural light and a sleek bar where customers come to see and be seen. The menu is upscale but approachable; with items including crispy Pizzas topped with tenderloin, mashed potatoes and white truffle oil, sexy sushi grade Tuna Tartar with crispy wontons and the Pan Roasted Prime Sirloin. You definitely need to end your Mistral experience with some of their signature profiteroles, drizzled in dark chocolate and topped with a crunchy pistachio croquant.

Masa

Moving back to Tremont Street, you'll find Masa. This isn't your father's Tex-Mex place, with dim lighting, a sultry southwest interior and 50 cent tapas served Sunday through Thursday from 5-7pm. You can load up on south of the border snacks like the Grilled Chorizo, Empanadas, and Tostones for a fraction of what it would cost anywhere else. If you're looking for something more substantial, Masa's menu is lined tasty entrees like the Chile Rubbed Filet served with Chile Onion Rings and Garlic Whipped Potatoes.

Connect With Phantom: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tremont 647

Tremont 647 is a South End institution serving the kinds of foods people love, like a great burger, fantastic steaks, and fresh local seafood. At its heart, it is American cuisine, but there are plenty of global influences on the menu courtesy of chef/owner Andy Husbands, including Southern, Japanese and North African.

Las Ventas

Las Ventas on Harrison Ave is a festive spot serving some of the best of what Spain has to offer, like aged Manchego cheese and Serrano ham by the pound. But no trip to Las Ventas is complete without laying your lips on one of their big bocadillos. These satisfying sandwiches come on crispy baguettes and can be stuffed with fillings like ribeye, cheese, peppers and onions.

House of Siam

Another Great 8 winner is House of Siam. With two locations in the South End, this Thai restaurant is busy all day for eat-in, take-out, and delivery. The tasty, toasty Golden Bags are like a little present for your mouth, stuffed with ground chicken, onions and sweet corn. While the traditional Pad Thai is certainly popular, Phantom always orders the crispy Pad Thai which substitutes sticky sweet pan-fried rice noodles for a little extra crunch.

Vejigantes

Rounding off the Great 8 is Vejigantes on West Dedham Street. Here they cook up authentic Puerto Rican cuisine in a colorful, casual atmosphere. The menu is just as fun with dishes like Shredded Plantain Fritters, and overstuffed empanadas. But no dish beats the Paella Marinara. This Spanish style seafood dish gets a Puerto Rican twist when it's served in a special dish that's handmade by shredding, shaping and frying plantains. So once you're done eating your entree, you can eat the bowl as well.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.