10 Comfort Dishes to Warm Your Winter in Boston

Citizen’s woody interior and deep leather booths are inviting enough, but you’re sticking around for the over-the-top steak frites: picture a slab of seared hanger steak, slathered with melty Roquefort butter and drizzled by truffle oil, sitting above a nest of crispy fries. Citizen also offers what might be the mother of all comfort dishes: a serves-10 whole roasted suckling pig that’s available for both dine-in and takeout.

Dining status: Open for indoor dining by reservation. Order here for takeout and here for delivery.

Comfort food is Stillwater’s raison d’être, a mission that’s fully fulfilled by its chicken-fried ribeye, a cooked-to-order beauty, accompanied by creamy whipped potatoes, peppered cream gravy and a cherry pepper relish. That said, don’t neglect the blue-cheese thyme biscuits that come with whipped chicken drippings and butter.

Dining status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining by reservation. Order here for takeout.

The original Smoke Shop location — along with its three other local outposts —offer an open invitation to barbecue heaven. Accept it with their 1^st Place rib plate, which provides a half or full slab of the lightly sauced, meltingly tender ribs that led chef Andy Husbands to victory on the competitive barbecue circuit. The ribs are served as a platter, with a choice of two sides: You won’t be disappointed with pimento mac and cheese topped with cornbread crumbles, and fried brussels sprouts tossed with red onion jam.

Dining status: Open for indoor dining by reservation. Order here for takeout and delivery.

This South End landmark has long been the first name in Boston soul food, and they’re continuing that tradition via takeout. Of particular relevance to our focus: Cajun-fried lobster tails that double-down on the theme, with spiced Cajun fries, remoulade and garlic butter. Enjoy, and then promptly find a nice, cozy spot on the couch to spend the rest of your evening.

Dining status: Takeout only. Order here.

Everything about La Morra, from the red awning to the exposed brick walls, to the simple wooden two-tops, seems to hint at classic Italian American feasting. But La Morra isn’t your typical red-sauce joint: The focus here is on Northern Italian cuisine, which means its lasagna stuffs rabbit meat between crispy pads of polenta, and comes garnished by shaved mushrooms and thyme gremolata.

Dining status: Open for indoor dining by reservation. Order here for takeout and delivery.

Both indoors and across its oversized, heated patio, Naco provides two pillars of Mexican comfort cooking: the taco and the torta. The former category claims fillings like chorizo with baby Yukon potatoes and fried shrimp with cabbage slaw. But the latter is where you’ll find the Milanesa: a two-handed masterpiece that wedges fried chicken, cabbage slaw, and cascabel aioli between slices of housemade telera bread.

Dining status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining by reservation. Order here for takeout and delivery.

Boston has no shortage of indulgent burger options, but only one is the sister of a cherished Nantucket pit stop. The eponymous Lola Burger is crowned by aged cheddar, onion compote and foie gras sauce. And if you wish, you can double-down on the foie factor by adding a side of foie-gras gravy fries.

Dining status: Open for indoor dining by reservation. Order here for takeout and delivery.

Yes, as Boston trendlets go, chicken and waffles can feel a little 2010. However, this hard-to-categorize North End spot reminds us why we all fell in love with that Southern comfort staple. Parla’s take on it starts with semolina waffles, and piles on lemon-brined, buttermilk-battered fried chicken thighs, Aleppo honey butter, Vermont maple syrup, and Honeycrisp apples.

Dining status: Open for indoor dining by reservation. Order takeout by calling the restaurant at 617-367-2824.

Stick-to-your-ribs pub fare rules the day at this Eastie spot, as indicated by options like crispy Buffalo chicken bites; chili-topped pub nachos with avocado crema; and loaded tater tots topped by bacon, cheese, jalapeños and ranch dressing. But before you get carried away with appetizers, consider the Hangover Burger, which throws caution to the wind and smothers an eight-ounce beef patty with pepperjack cheese, bacon, egg, avocado, housemade pickles, and both garlic herb and spicy aiolis.

Dining status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining by reservation.

Buffalo chicken pizza is most associated with greasy slice joints, but this Neapolitan-inspired spot gives the all-American variant the respect it deserves. Roasted chicken, shaved celery, Buffalo sauce and buttermilk ranch are spread over the dough and given a blasting in their wood-fired oven.

Bonus: Through January and February, Posto will be serving fare from its hibernating sibling establishment Painted Burro, including short rib “double stack” tacos made by folding a soft taco into a crispy corn tortilla and stuffing it with beef carnitas, cotija cheese and crema.

Dining status: Open for indoor dining by reservation. Order here for takeout and delivery.