This seafood shack was Boston's only James Beard Award winner

Time Out

8 hours ago

Did a Southie seafood shack win the food world's Oscar equivalent? Yes, it did—and we're not mad about it!
The James Beard Foundation handed out its highly coveted culinary awards in a splashy Chicago gala on Monday, June 16, and while the three Greater Boston finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards (Sarma 's Cassie Piuma for Outstanding Chef, Merai for Best New Bar, and Urban Hearth 's Erin Miller for Best Chef: Northeast) were sadly passed over, one unexpected local spot emerged victoriously.
Last night might have been a complete shut out for Beantown's dining scene, but Sullivan's Castle Island in South Boston was happy to shoulder the burden as one of six restaurants awarded the annual America's Classics designation back in February.
And anyone who has stood in the long line on opening day (typically after February school break) will agree the award is well-deserved for the seasonal spot—lovingly referred to as Sully's by locals—which has been a Boston institution since 1951, when Dan Sullivan, Sr. first opened it as a hot-dog stand. It's operated continuously by four generations of the Sullivan family ever since.
As written by the James Beard Foundation on its award site, 'Every Bostonian has a story about Sully's—whether from working there after school as teenagers, having their sports team or fundraiser supported by Sully's, taking their children for some crinkle cuts like their grandparents took them, or simply enjoying it as a nostalgic seaside gathering place for locals.'
Calling a trip to Sully's 'a rite of passage' for tourists and visitors, no Boston trip is complete without a stop at Sullivan's for a double smash burger with copious amounts of cheese, snappy hot dogs, thick crinkle-cut fries, fresh lobster rolls and other locally sourced seafood. Along with the seasonal outpost out on Castle Island, the restaurant also opened up a year-round location in Hanover Crossing in 2023.
Not all locals were ignored this 2025 award season, though: One of our New England neighbors—Sky Haneul Kim of Gift Horse in Providence, Rhode Island—took home a James Beard medallion and a certificate for Best Chef: Northeast. Congrats!