Looking for the best restaurants in Natick, MA? Whether you want something quick and casual or more of a fine dining experience, we’ve got you covered.
Located just west of Boston, it’s no surprise that Natick, MA is home to some wonderful restaurants. In fact, some could even be considered the best restaurants in the entire Boston metro area. Whether you’re craving Mexican, Greek, or standard American fare, you’ll find it at one of these restaurants in Natick!
Pizza Plus
16 N. Main St., Natick, MA // (508) 655-7140
A few steps from Natick Center station, Pizza Plus has stood for nearly 50 years, serving pizza, wings, subs, salads, and snacks from its charming blue-and-white storefront. The business, family-owned since 1975, has limited seating, with a few tables inside and out front, but they also offer carryout and delivery. Locals and visitors rate the restaurant well, with people of all ages enjoying their pizza, wings, and salads.
What to order at Pizza Plus: Regulars love the Philly subs and “fry pie,” a pizza with a ranch dressing base, french fries, and bacon. They also offer several spicy versions of their menu options, including the fry pie. Vegetarians have a lot to choose from, with a large variety of salads and pizza options. The Margherita pizza and a “Sweet Christmas” pizza with strawberry jam and pineapple are two standouts.
Dates and Olives Natick
28 N. Main St., Natick, MA // (508) 545-1283
Nestled in a historic downtown building with several other businesses, Dates and Olives welcomes diners for lunch and dinner with a generous menu of Mediterranean fare. Favorites include the spanakopita, kebabs, and gyros, with reviewers noting the Tzatziki sauce is outstanding. Closed on Sundays and Mondays, the business sees its busiest times on Friday at lunchtime and throughout its open hours on Saturday.
What to order at Dates and Olives: For an appetizer, pick the spanakopita, a spinach and feta cheese pie regulars rate as one of the most delicious renditions of the dish they’ve ever had. Dates and Olives offers many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. For salads, try the tabbouleh, a traditional Mediterranean favorite with quinoa, parsley, mint, onions, tomatoes, lemon & pomegranate, or the roasted cauliflower salad, with cauliflower, lettuce, walnuts & tahini. And for your main dish, try the “build your meal” option, where you pick a base, protein, toppings, and sauce. The lamb meatballs come well recommended.
Cafe Mangal
555 Washington St #1, Wellesley, MA 02482
Tucked in a building in the heart of downtown Wellesley, Cafe Mangal is a cozy BYOB restaurant serving lunch and dinner, including custom takeout dishes. In November 2021, Cafe Mangal was named one of Boston Magazine’s top 50 restaurants of “Boston and beyond.” Since 2000, the cafe has shared its Mediterranean and American menu, strongly influenced by Turkish cuisine.
What to order at Cafe Mangal: Reviewers of the longstanding cafe say every dish is prepared with thought and care for a delicious experience. For a refreshing lunch dish, try the Arugula Salad with Poached Figs & Prosciutto di Parma, which includes Baby Arugula, Poached Dry Figs, Prosciutto di Parma, Roasted Almonds & Balsamic Vinaigrette, and can include Vermont goat cheese as an add-on. Vegetarians should try the grilled vegetarian sandwich, which includes Sun Dried Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Muenster Cheese, and Roasted Eggplant Basil Mayonnaise on a Multi-Grain Roll. For dinner, try the Turkish Kebap with Yogurt, which features Grilled minced lamb (shish kofte) served on Armenian Pide bread with tomato sauce & yogurt served with marinated onions, grilled tomato & green pepper. Vegetarians, try the Turkish Enginar with Pearl Onions and Peas, which features Mediterranean-style whole artichoke hearts simmered in Greek extra virgin olive oil, fava beans, peas & pearl onions.
Minado Restaurant
1282 Worcester St, Natick, MA // (508) 647-0495
In a modest strip mall next to a wedding dress shop, Minado Restaurant is a hidden gem of Natick. Offering buffet-style dining, Minado provides a diverse variety of seafood and Japanese fare for all-you-can-eat diners. Sushi is made in-house by a sushi chef.
What to order at Minado Restaurant: The buffet selection costs about $30 and provides a vast number of options to choose from. Try the calamari and vegetable salad and the beef teriyaki, or enjoy one of the many seafood entrees, including fresh sushi. Vegetarians should find plenty of options, including kale ginger salad and Japanese eggplant salad. Vegetarian options for hot entrees are thin since most are seafood or meat-based, but there are several sushi options, including an avocado roll.
OGA’s Japanese Cuisine
915 Worcester St, Natick, MA // (508) 653-4338
Set in an unassuming strip center across the street from a car dealership, Oga’s Natick is one of the only Japanese-owned restaurants serving sushi in the area. Reviewers praise the sushi’s freshness and beauty. They also enjoy the hot dishes offered on the Oga menu, including their fresh udon noodles. A local favorite is the custom bento box lunch.
What to order at Oga’s Japanese Cuisine: For an appetizer, try Oga’s sashimi, a specially selected sashimi of the day. Or if you’re feeling like something celebrating the region, try the lobster tempura. For vegetarians, on the appetizer menu, there is the nasu dengaku, fried eggplant with sweet red miso paste, or edamame, which are salted and boiled soybeans. For entrees, order the teriyaki teppanyaki, which is fresh seafood and meat boiled on a sizzling Teppan and served with teriyaki sauce. Try the Oga sushi and sashimi dinner for two on a date night. For vegetarians, try the salad maki, vegetable futomaki, or shiitake maki, which are all rolled sushi.
Sol de Mexico
215 W Central St, Natick, MA // (508) 545-1185
Reviewers and regulars praise the authenticity of the menu at Sol de Mexico Natick, a family-owned restaurant that’s part of four locations in the region. From the warm greetings at the door to the atmosphere and the delicious, authentic Mexican food, guests of the restaurant love every part of this experience.
What to order at Sol de Mexico Natick: A local favorite appetizer is the sopa de tortilla, a chicken soup with fresh seasonal vegetables and tortilla strips. Vegetarians should consider the Mexican-style street corn appetizer. Reviewers rave over the al pastor street tacos and the camarones del sol. For entrees, vegetarians might try the sincronizada, a grilled tortilla sandwich stuffed with mushrooms, spinach, cheese, onions, tomatoes, chopped avocado, and sliced jalapeno peppers, served with a side of rice.
Casey’s Diner
36 South Ave, Natick, MA // (508) 650-6272
This little historic cafe, tucked between apartment buildings on South Avenue, was founded in 1890 by Fred Casey, who bought a four-stool horse-drawn cart from the Brooks family. Worcester Lunch Car Company built the present restaurant in 1922 and has been in its current location in downtown Natick since 1927. It has been handed down for four generations already. Casey’s has been an institution in Natick for almost a century, and their steamed hotdogs have become legendary. The restaurant is among the oldest in Massachusetts and has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.
What to order at Casey’s Diner: There are basic, unpretentious breakfast and lunch options available at Casey’s Diner. Try the breakfast club sandwich, which features a double-decker with fried eggs, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and your choice of bacon, sausage, or a burger patty. Try the famous steamed frankfurter for lunch at just $3.50 each. Vegetarian offerings are somewhat scarce, but lacto-ovo vegetarians could enjoy grilled cheese or egg salad.
