COJE Management Group raised the bar when it comes to cuisine and cocktails. The Boston-based group, founded by Chris Jamison and Mark Malatesta, offers guests the ultimate dining experience with old-world hospitality and an array of cuisines for every guest to enjoy. With culinary director Tom Berry incorporating the cuisines he encountered during his travels to South America, Cuba, Japan, Southeast Asia and France, each restaurant has distinguished itself as a must for anyone visiting Boston and each is designed exclusively in-house using inspiration from different regions and countries around the world.

The restaurant group’s success wasn’t a smooth ride to the top, however. When the pandemic hit, the restaurant industry suffered greatly, and COJE was no exception. To combat long-lasting effects from the pandemic, COJE provided severance packages for each employee that stayed in effect until they could come back to work.

Yvonne’s Library Lounge © Richard Cadan

At the height of the pandemic, when lockdown was in effect, COJE agreed to make each employee whole for as long as the group had money to do so. The group was able to provide up to 75 percent of the employee’s average salary until the restaurants reopened. COJE not only paid to keep everyone’s healthcare in place but also fought to make the restauranteur’s voice heard at the State House thanks to Jamison’s efforts.

As businesses resume once more, COJE continues to nurture a supportive environment for its workers and maintain its high standards for its restaurants. Its most recently opened restaurant, Coquette, is a modern-day coastal French brasserie drawing elements from Southwest France and Northern Spain for its dishes. The cuisine also incorporates parts of French Polynesia, Algeria and Tahiti to highlight Boston’s local seafood. The restaurant serves more than 350 European and North American wines.

Mariel © Richard Cadan

Guests wanting a taste of Havana cuisine can visit Mariel, a Cuban restaurant, located in the basement of the historic Atlantic National Bank building, boasting its own rum collection with rare bottles adorning the cocktail bar. Mariel offers guest a wide range of delicious dishes like authentic Cuban pizza and steak churrasco and an assortment of Havana-inspired cocktails.

Yvonne’s embraces a modern reinterpretation of the supper club, emphasizing social dining through its Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and European flavors. The restaurant features shared dishes for guests to have a memorable experience as well as its collection of rare wines and fun cocktails. Unique to Yvonne’s is its Library Bar, which consists of more than 2,000 multihued books surrounding couch seating to create an elegant and classy atmosphere reminiscent of early 20^th-century glamour and culture.

RUKA © Richard Cadan

Lovers of Peruvian, Japanese and Chinese dishes must venture to RUKA to try some of the bold flavors of Nikkei and Chifa cuisines. Nikkei and Chifa cuisines comprise a blend of Peruvian, Japanese and Chinese flavors and ingredients and continues to be popular cuisines today within parts of Peru. These cuisines grew in popularity following immigrant populations from China and Japan, and RUKA highlights the union of these cuisines in its food and drink menu. Social plates include sushi, ceviche and wok-fried rice while the cocktail menu showcases and implements Peruvian Pisco and Japanese Whiskey into many of its concoctions.

For diners looking for a restaurant that combines elements of a restaurant, bar and nightlife, Lolita Cocina & Tequila Baris the perfect destination. With Mexican-inspired cuisine and elevated cocktails, guests can have an energetic night while enjoying street food-style snacks, tacos or feasts with larger groups. The restaurant’s design described as “a Mexican outlaw meets Mexican royalty,” the eatery features house favorite margaritas by the glass or pitcher, sangrias and mojitos.