Rare Steakhouse

The Only Certified Kobe Beef Restaurant in Massachusetts — Book It for the Right Occasion

Rare Steakhouse holds a credential that no other restaurant in Massachusetts can claim: it is the sole registered member of the Kobe Beef Federation in the state, meaning the A5 Wagyu from Hyogo Prefecture on its menu is the real thing, not a labelling approximation. That distinction alone determines whether Rare belongs on your shortlist. If you are planning a special occasion meal at Encore Boston Harbor and want a steakhouse that can deliver something genuinely hard to find anywhere in New England, this is the booking. If you are after a weeknight steak without the casino-resort context, Abe & Louie's or Mooo are easier options in the city proper.

Getting There

Rare sits inside Encore Boston Harbor in Everett — technically outside Boston's city centre, but the resort runs custom luxury yachts year-round from the Boston waterfront, which makes the journey part of the evening rather than a logistical annoyance. Free shuttles also run from the Wellington MBTA station. For a celebratory dinner, arriving by yacht is the move: you step off the water and walk into a 210,000-square-foot casino resort before reaching your table. Timing matters here. If you want to avoid the busiest casino floor traffic, weekday evenings are calmer than Friday and Saturday nights, when high-roller activity peaks and the resort fills.

The Room and the Experience

The visual context at Rare is unambiguously casino-resort: high ceilings, deliberate lighting, and the kind of room that signals occasion without requiring explanation. This is not a neighbourhood room or a chef-driven dining loft. It is an upscale steakhouse inside one of the most prominent resort properties in the northeast, and it reads that way. For a business dinner, a milestone birthday, or a celebration that benefits from a grand setting, that register works in the room's favour. Service is notably attentive, water glasses stay full, plates are cleared promptly, and a team approach means you are rarely waiting. That standard of floor management is a meaningful differentiator from mid-tier steakhouses in the Boston market.

What to Order

The Kobe beef is the reason to come. It is available as tenderloin, strip, or rib-eye, with portions starting at four ounces, which allows for tasting-level quantities if you want to compare cuts or split between courses. For those who prefer a domestic alternative, the dry-aged New York Strip from Snake River Farms in Idaho is a credible second choice. Rare's New England context shows up in the seafood: whole broiled Maine lobster, local oysters, clams, and crab cakes give non-beef diners something genuinely regional rather than generic steakhouse filler. The baked lobster mac and cheese and a side flight, three sides of your choice, are practical picks for sharing. The drinks list extends well beyond wine: the menu includes an extensive selection of hard-to-find bourbons, cognacs, and scotches, which makes post-dinner drinking at the table a real option rather than an afterthought.

Dress Code

Rare operates a resort elegant dress code. For men: pants, collared shirts, and closed-toed shoes. For women: no bare midriffs, athletic wear, or jerseys. This is stricter than most Boston steakhouses and worth confirming before you arrive, particularly if guests are coming directly from a casino floor where dress standards are more relaxed.

Who Should Book

Rare is the right call for a special occasion dinner at Encore Boston Harbor, for anyone who specifically wants certified Kobe beef in Massachusetts, or for groups who want a full evening combining dining, drinks, and casino activity. It is less suited to a quick steak dinner in central Boston, where Abe & Louie's is closer and more casual. For a fine-dining experience without the resort frame, Agosto or 311 Omakase offer a different calibre of precision. But for what Rare actually is, an upscale steakhouse anchoring a major casino resort, with a genuine product credential, it delivers on its promise.

Explore more of what the city offers in our full Boston restaurants guide, our Boston hotels guide, and our Boston bars guide. For broader food and drink planning, see our Boston wineries guide and Boston experiences guide.