From the team behind Concord’s enormously successful 80 Thoreau, Mooncusser brings stellar seafood to the Back Bay. Located on Stuart Street in the old Viga takeout spot, Mooncusser is focused on presenting the best that New England’s waters have to offer in bold and elegant ways.

The space is spare and elegant, with scrubbed hardwood floors, muted banquettes, and white tablecloths serving as the backdrop for the plates, where the real artwork is happening. The dining room at Mooncusser is on the third floor, meaning you’ll be as elevated as the cuisine while you eat.

The menu is heavily seafood-centric. Dishes are delicately presented, and while they may look pretty on the plate, the flavors are bold and unique, favoring interesting spices and less-common ingredients to accompany your scallops or skate. For the full experience, a five-course chef’s tasting menu is available.

Things are more laid-back at Moon Bar, the restaurant’s street-level counterpart serving lunch and dinner with sandwiches and snacks from an open kitchen. Moon Bar shares its swanky sister’s preference for seafood, but keeps things casual with a bar-style menu and small bites. Both locations boast a seafood-friendly wine list which, like the menu, favors flavor over name-recognition, and a number of local craft beers on tap.