Number 9 Park   

Barbara Lynch's empire extends beyond her three restaurants No. 9 Park, Butcher Shop and B&G Oysters into a catering operation (Niche Catour) and the farm stand-styled shop, Plum Produce. But despite the diversification, No. 9 is where it all began, where the South Boston native established herself as a reigning queen of Boston's dining scene. No. 9 bears the stamp of her fabled facility for French and Italian country cuisine. Equally unchanged is the soothing atmosphere of the restaurant itself, where earth-toned walls and sepia prints accommodate an expanding cult of regulars. Though there's something counterintuitive about a neighborhood restaurant where entrees hover above $30, its park-side location and unflagging excellence has made it a home away from home for Beacon Hill Brahmins and State House policy wonks as well as a destination dining stop for those outside the city. In addition to the classy back dining room, a caf menu is available in the laid-back front room, which overlooks the Boston Common (expect a wait any night of the week). Both the lighter caf menu and the full dinner menu are available at the bar. The cocktail list, firmly rooted in the classics, features gems like the delicately balanced Sazeracs and bold flips. From that pre-dinner sip to dazzling desserts (standouts include chocolate ganache cake with Concord sorbet and beet gateau with toasted fennel marshmallow broulee that's better than you could ever imagine), there's rarely an off-note. The seasonally changing menu includes refined palate pleasers like prune stuffed gnocchi. Entrees showcase Lynch's finesse with rustic ingredients ranging from heirloom apples (served with venison, cardamom and shallot chutney) to haricots vert, which accompany the bacon wrapped monkfish and red curry nage.