Masa is located in Boston’s South End neighborhood between Arlington and Berkley streets. The restaurant has an elegant casual southwestern feel to it with muted abstractions of the southwestern landscape, creams and natural tones with Spanish influenced mahogany accents. Masa offers a $1 tapas menu at the bar with a wide variety to choose from. Masa is open for dinner seven nights a week and even offers a Sunday brunch. There is an extensive wine list and even an extensive tequila list, if you cant find anything on the specialty cocktail list to go along with all meals. There is a semi-private dining section that can accommodate up to 32 people for all of your private or corporate events. Thursday is now salsa night at Masa from 9pm to 1am. You can even get salsa dancing lessons at Masa on Thursdays.

The Scene
In the stylish South End, where upscale bistros seemingly blend into one another, Masa’s warm, Southwestern environs stick out like a cactus. One of the neighborhood’s most welcoming bars provides a romantic locale for sucking down tasty “masaritas” (the house margarita, made with grapefruit juice). When the weather’s agreeable, patrons jockey for one of the the small sidewalk tables.

The Food
Expectations of sizzling fajita platters are squashed after scanning Masa’s menu, which is chock full of upscale ingredients and modern cooking styles (think skillet roasted sea scallops and barbecued duck with sweet corn cream). The steak frites (the steak is ancho-rubbed, the frites are chile-dusted) provides a pleasing new twist on an old favorite. Seafood gets similar treatment: ahi tuna is blackened and served with a yellow mole sauce. Deliciously creamy chocolate-mousse tacos are far more than a gimmick; made with El Rey chocolate, the dessert is a chocoholic’s dream.

Insider Tips
Save Money

Saturday brunch service includes a $7.95 prix-fixe that includes two courses and coffee or tea.
The Extras

An inviting brunch menu (huevos rancheros, Venezuelan chocolate chip pancakes with mango butter) is served on Sundays until 3pm.
Parking

There’s hardly any non-resident parking in this part of the South End. Use the pricey valet service ($12) or find yourself hoofing it from the Back Bay.
When to Go

Salsa dancing attracts lively crowds on Thursdays from 9pm to 1am, with lessons offered from 10:30pm to 11:30pm.