Scoring a weekend brunch reservation at Grana is about as easy as finding a seat on a Green Line train at rush hour—but it’s well worth the wait, so plan ahead for your daytime celebration. The three-course extravaganza is as pretty as its surroundings: Grana is an Italian beauty in the grand hall of the former Federal Reserve Bank. Kick off with colorful small bites and vibrant cocktails like a chai espresso martini and lobster cannoli before making way for sweet and savory mains.

A lot has changed in Harvard Square over the years. But thankfully, not The Maharaja. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook bustling Cambridge, and it’s tradition for many families in the area to hit the weekend buffet to celebrate a special occasion—commencement, anyone? Whether you’re looking to please a vegan or impress a spice-lover, Maharaja’s north India-based menu, filled with tandoori specialities and a power-packed biryani selection, is a regal feast that will please any king or queen.

Bostonians know that Harvest is the place to toast wedding proposals, baby announcements, or a new job to celebrate. It’s been around since 1975, and the firepower of who’s been behind the stove—including Lydia Shire and Frank McClelland, among others—reads like a who’s who of Boston’s most talented chefs. These days, executive chef Nick Deutmeyer serves elegant American dishes worthy of a splurge, like lobster succotash spaghetti and pan-fried tilefish.

Since 2013, acclaimed chef and co-owner Cassie Piuma has artfully executed small plates from an unassuming Somerville storefront. Once you’re inside Sarma, there’s an explosion of colors, ideal for dazzling celebration photos—snap away by the vibrant banquettes or the rainbow of ceramic plates on the wall. Moroccan, Lebanese, Turkish, and Iranian flavors all play together on an extensive small-plate menu that makes sharing bites stand out.

o ya’s swoon-worthy omakase menu serves 20 courses of nigiri, sashimi, and small plates in an experience worth splurging for. This is not your traditional Japanese menu. Instead, you’ll find innovative dishes like Kumamoto oysters with watermelon pearls and cucumber mignonette; kinmedai (golden eye snapper) with ume, plum vinaigrette, and shiso; and hamachi with banana pepper mousse. The dimly lit space is small but refined—level up your night out by booking a seat at the omakase counter.

Landing a table at Celeste is reason enough to celebrate. Just ask Esquire, which described the Union Square hideaway as an “intimate dinner party” on its 2022 list of the top new restaurants in America. But don’t be fooled by its compact interiors—the modern Peruvian spot is an expert when it comes to larger-than-life flavors. Your celebration should most definitely feature the spicy potato terrine, a dish that makes the most of Peru’s 2,400 spud varieties.

Nothing says celebration dinner quite like a hearty Italian meal, and you’ll find a knockout one at MIDA by James Beard-nominated chef Douglass Williams. His rustic-chic gem sits under one of Boston’s signature brownstones and is known for some of the city’s best pasta, including gnocchi either cacio e pepe-style or with tomato pesto, fresh basil, and Calabrian chile. For an intimate and more low-key celebration, go on Mangia Mondays when the restaurant offers an $80-for-two menu.

Bar Vlaha’s catalog of shareable Greek dishes runs deep, making it ideal for easygoing group gatherings. Spit-roasted meats like lamb and fish from chef Brendan Pelley’s open-flame kitchen are ideal for sharing, as are savory pies filled with wild-foraged mushroom, seasonal greens, or feta cheese. The venue is known for its taverna-style bar, but head to the main dining room—which takes design cues from living rooms in traditional Greek villages—if you’re here with a larger party.

Clambakes are practically a rite of passage in New England, and Little Whale is the site of an especially celebratory one. The restaurant is best known for top-notch local littlenecks and Maine lobster, but chef-owner Michael Serpa also serves steamed seafood family-style for parties of eight to 12 (which must be ordered a week in advance). Besides a whole lobster, each diner gets generous servings of chowder, corn, potatoes, clams, and linguiça (a spicy Portuguese sausage).

Decadent dishes, Instagram cred, and a breathtaking backdrop—this NYC-born steakhouse pulls out all the stops for special-occasion meals. Book a table by one of its floor-to-ceiling windows for unbeatable Fort Point Channel views. For a little tableside magic, order the coffee- and cocoa-rubbed New York strip steak, presented under a glass lid and piped with smoke. Smith & Wollensky’s world-class mains pair well with killer sides like crunchy hasselback potatoes topped with crispy prosciutto.