No matter where you are in the world, cities on the water tend to share certain culinary values, which is why Chickadee’s marriage of New England cuisine with Mediterranean inspiration is such a perfect match. Nested inside the Seaport’s Innovation and Design Building, the restaurant reflects the space’s atmosphere, with a creative menu bursting with the freshest from local farms and purveyors and a bright, industrial space you’ll want to fly back to again and again.

The restaurant’s Mediterranean influence peeks through in spices and ingredients. A chickpea here, a hummus there. Lunch starts with a selection of Dips and Salads that present seasonal veggies in creative ways with a focus on intense flavor, followed by sandwiches in Pita form and a few Mains if you’re in the mood for something mores substantial. Dinner takes more time, starting with craveable Snacks and pausing again for Vegetables before moving into house-made Pasta and Mains that showcase New England ingredients with seasonings and flavors from other parts of the world.

You can’t spell Chickadee without chic. The restaurant spruces up its warehouse bones with lots of blonde wood, clean lines, and warm lighting to create a casually elegant vibe perfectly suited to its vibe of upscale hospitality. The dining room is minimalist, with neutral tones and modern furniture fading to the background and making the colors on your plate pop. The bar glows with globe lanterns floating over honey-colored wood, and an open kitchen at the back breathes a little life (and lots of great smells) into the room.

The cocktail list leans heavily on the kitchen, with ingredients changing hands between chefs and bartenders to create a crafty menu full of fresh, seasonal delights. The drinks are all named after birds, and it’s the kind of list you’ll want to make a project out of. After cocktails (or between them), pair your meal with a broad and thoughtful list of wines by the glass and bottle representing small producers from both the Old- and New-World, and a local selection of beer and cider.