When you stay at The Eliot Hotel, you are not just booking a room in one of Boston's most iconic boutique properties — you are getting access to one of the best restaurants in Back Bay Boston, steps from your door (or delivered directly to your suite).
That restaurant is UNI, and it has earned every accolade it has received.
UNI is a lively, contemporary Japanese izakaya located off the main lobby of The Eliot Hotel on Commonwealth Avenue. The concept centers on the izakaya spirit — the Japanese tradition of a relaxed, social atmosphere where extraordinary food meets great drinks and long, unhurried evenings.
The menu is built around:
- Innovative sashimi, nigiri, and makimono — among the best in Boston
- Global street food-inspired small plates — adventurous, accessible, and intensely flavorful
- Custom craft cocktails — designed to complement the cuisine
- An extensive sake program — one of the deepest selections in the city
UNI is not a traditional Japanese restaurant. It blends influences, defies categories, and consistently surprises — which is exactly what you would expect from a kitchen led by one of Boston's most celebrated chefs.
Chef Ken Oringer: A James Beard Legend
Executive Chef Ken Oringer is the driving culinary force behind UNI. His biography reads like a tour of the country's finest kitchens: New York's River Café, Providence's Al Forno, Boston's Le Marquis de Lafayette (under Chef Jean Georges Vongerichten), San Francisco's Silks, and more.
Between 1998 and 2001, Chef Oringer was nominated for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northeast four consecutive times — winning the coveted award in 2001. He is also a past champion of the Food Channel's Iron Chef Competition.
At UNI, Oringer's decades of experience inform every dish. The result is a restaurant where creativity, precision, and hospitality converge at the highest level.
Breakfast, Lunch & Room Service
UNI is not just a dinner destination. Every morning, a Continental Buffet Breakfast is served:
- Monday through Friday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM
- Saturday and Sunday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
For guests who prefer to stay in, room service is available throughout the day, bringing UNI's cuisine directly to your guestroom or suite.
Few things in Boston match UNI as a backdrop for a private celebration. The restaurant offers:
- A 14-person communal table — ideal for intimate group dinners
- Private dining rooms — for full-service seated events
- A full restaurant buyout — for exclusive private gatherings
Whether it is a birthday dinner, a business dinner, or a pre-wedding celebration, the team at UNI handles every detail. Contact them at info@uni-boston.com to start planning.
A Hotel Restaurant That Earns Its Own Destination Status
Some hotel restaurants exist as a convenience. UNI exists as a destination. Guests do not dine here because they are too tired to go out — they dine here because it is genuinely one of the most exciting culinary experiences Boston has to offer.
If you are planning a trip to Boston and wondering where to eat in Back Bay, start here. And if you are already staying at The Eliot, consider yourself very lucky.
Explore UNI and reserve your table via eliothotel.com/dining.
UNI Restaurant at The Eliot Hotel | 370 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 | info@uni-boston.com