Asta

Asta is a small tasting-menu restaurant on Massachusetts Avenue in Back Bay, where chef Alex Crabb changes dishes frequently enough that a return visit can mean a different dinner. A curved counter faces the open kitchen, and chefs bring the food to the table themselves. The room has exposed brick and a gold-painted tin ceiling, keeping the setting simple while the cooking takes less predictable turns. Past dishes have paired fish with grapes and Japanese steamed egg custard with cabbage, bacon and truffle. A handwritten wine list adds another personal touch. Come for a full sequence of courses and the chance to try combinations you might not have ordered on your own.