It’s that time of year when we're more inclined to try new diets! Keto, gluten-free, Whole30...the options can be overwhelming. But low-carb remains one of the more popular and easy to follow. The rules are simple: cut down on carbohydrates like bread, pasta, and sugar, and load up on protein like meat, fish, eggs, nuts, and cheese, and high fiber vegetables like spinach, kale, and cauliflower.
Rest assured that Boston is brimming with spots that offer low-carb options - some that are so good you won't even miss the bread. Here are five to check out.
Chickadee (pictured above)
Mediterranean food is full of exciting flavors that rely on fresh ingredients, and that's why Chickadee should be at the top of your list. It's a newer addition in the Seaport—a prime location with a chic interior—and they have a host of dishes that are just as visually splendid as the decor, and incredibly delicious.
The menu boasts an entire section dedicated to mouth-watering vegetable-based plates like the Moroccan-inspired marinated beets with pistachio, goat cheese, and the spice mix ras el hanout, and the carrot salad served with avocado hummus and a perfectly-matched citrus vinaigrette.
- Open 7 days a week starting at 11am
- Outdoor seating
- Takes reservations
21 Drydock Ave., Boston, 617-531-5591, chickadeerestaurant.com
Pabu
This swanky Downtown Crossing spot is a modern spin on a classic Japanese izakaya. It has plenty of old-world charm and contemporary appeal, and the menu tastefully combines both local and global ingredients.
Carb-free options are plentiful at Pabu. Feast on side dishes like local oysters, miso-cured sea bass, and a sashimi menu bursting with flavor. Travel from sea to land with the robatayaki menu. Skewer options include chicken thighs, pork belly, and A5 Japanese Wagyu.
- Open 7 days a week starting at 4pm
- No outdoor seating
- Takes reservations
3 Franklin St., Boston, 857-327-7228, michaelmina.net/restaurants/pabu/boston/
Life Alive
At Life Alive, you don't have to choose between convenience and good food. This fast-casual eatery offers easy healthy options, and caters to special diets like low-carb, omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, macrobiotic, raw, and gluten-free.
The food is incredibly fresh, and low-carb diners will be delighted by the salads. The menu includes a bright lemon cashew kale caesar with chickpea croutons, and of course the Bahn Mi salad. Avocado, eggs, and roasted tamari almonds are great protein-filled options for extra toppings. And Life Alive's Devil Eggs, made with cashew aioli, pickled jalapeno, microgreens, and sea salt, is a fabulous low-carb snack.
- Open Monday-Friday starting at 7am, and 8am on the weekends
- Most locations have outdoor seating
- Does not take reservations
Locations in Back Bay, Brookline, Cambridge, Salem, and Lowell,lifealive.com
Mooo
Of course, you were going to find a steakhouse on the list. And Mooo, located right around the corner from the State House, is just about as good as it gets. This elegant yet relaxed space is the perfect setting for soaking up Boston’s cosmopolitan charm while enjoying a killer meal.
Dining here is a splurge, but aren't all proper steak dinners? The menu showcases dry-aged steaks with 16 types of ribeyes, sirloins, and filet mignons. Meals are customizable with sauce options, including béarnaise, chimichurri, vincotto, and bone marrow, and luxurious vegetable sides, like squash brûlée or foraged mushrooms. Mooo also has plenty of low-carb seafood options including branzino, local clams, and Maine lobster.
- Open Monday-Friday starting at 7am, 8am on Saturday, and 10:30am on Sunday
- No outdoor seating
- Takes reservations
15 Beacon St., Boston, 617-670-2515 mooorestaurant.com
Gaslight Brasserie du Coin
French food can surprisingly be low-carb if you skip the baguettes and frites. That’s why you'll love Gaslight, a charming bistro in an artsy corner of the South End. The Parisian-inspired space is the perfect setting for celebrations and even a cozy dinner.
Start your meal with a variety of delicious low-carb classics, like the French onion soup, steak tartare, or the crispy Brussels with romesco aioli and pecorino. For entrees, try a seafood dish, including the Bouillabaisse, or the roasted cod poêlée with mussels, clams, oysters, and Spanish chorizo. And you can't go wrong with the pork chop, served with romesco, braised greens, red onion confiture, and house-smoked bacon jus. This classic comfort meal is sure to please many palettes.
- Open Monday-Friday starting at 5pm, and 9am on weekends
- Has outdoor seating
- Takes reservations
560 Harrison Ave., Boston, 617-422-0224, gaslightboston.com
