• Cambridge (+) · American · Cafe · $$

Shy Bird

This all-day cafe and rotisserie descends from a restaurant group renowned for great service.

• Cambridge · $$

La Saison Bakery

An East-meets-West Cambridge bakery with swoon-worthy sourdough and crushable croissants.

• Charlestown · New American · Pizza · $$

Brewer's Fork

Awash in beer and wood-fired flavor, this Charlestown favorite contains well-curated multitudes.

• Mexican · $$

Villa Mexico Cafe

For better burritos, look no further than this Financial District institution.

• East Boston · African · Somali · $$

Tawakal Halal Cafe

Expect warm spices, cozy carbs, and a rainbow of dishes at this family-run Somali restaurant.

• Suburbs · Chinese · Cocktail Bar · $$

The Baldwin Bar

Your new favorite historic-mansion-turned-Sichuan-restaurant-turned-speakeasy.

• Somerville · Bar · New American · $$

Highland Kitchen

Somerville’s most reliable respite is worth climbing a hill for.

• Cambridge (+) · Cafe · Juice Bar · $$

Life Alive Organic Cafe

An homage to veggies and an ode to flavor.

• Somerville · Peruvian · $$

Celeste

From pisco to pescado, discover Peruvian cuisine at this Somerville spot.

• Cambridge · Cafe · Middle Eastern · $$

Sofra Bakery and Cafe

Enter a world of unpronounceable (yet unforgettable) delights.

• Brookline · Sandwiches · $$

Cutty's

Pro chefs perfect the art of the sandwich.

• Somerville · American · Bar · $$

Trina's Starlite Lounge

A blast from the past in all the best ways.

• Brookline · Chinese · $$

Bess's Cafe

This little Brookline spot punches above its weight when it comes to flavor.

• South End · Italian · Pizza · $$

Picco

When all you really want is pizza, beer, and ice cream, but you also have standards.

• Back Bay (+) · Bakery · Cafe · $$

Flour Bakery + Cafe

Sweet in every sense.

• Suburbs · Asian Fusion · Ramen · $$

Little Big Diner

The name says it all: This tiny pan-Asian spot is packed with hefty flavors.

• South End (+) · Donuts · $$

Blackbird Doughnuts

Creative twists on a dough done right.

• Brookline · Ramen · $$

Ganko Ittetsu Ramen

A hot bowl of these Sapporo-style noods is well worth the wait.

• Fenway · BBQ · $$

Sweet Cheeks Q

Meats in Fenway worth feasting on.

• Cambridge · Bagels · Deli · $$

Mamaleh's Delicatessen

So many reasons to say lehayim.

• Cambridge (+) · Ramen · $$

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Let the New Yorkers have their Ippudo; we’ll stick to Santouka.

• Brookline · Bakery · $$

Clear Flour Bread

Crusts you’d cross oceans for.

• Cambridge (+) · Bakery · Cafe · $$

Tatte Bakery & Cafe

Fluffy croissants and white walls keep this constantly packed bakery miraculously airy.

• Cambridge · Japanese · Sushi · $$

Cafe Sushi

Fresh nigiri crafted with samurai skill.

• East Boston · Italian · $$

Rino's Place

Welcome to the famiglia.

• Fenway · Japanese · $$

Hojoko

Izakaya meets Americana.

• Cambridge · American · Pizza · $$

Area Four

Pizza or Not Pizza, Area Four does it right.

• Cambridge (+) · Tacos · $$

Lone Star Taco Bar

Tex-Mex to please even the staunchest of southwestern gorditos.

• South End · Asian Fusion · $$

Myers + Chang

When a chef trained in classic French pastry takes on bolder Asian flavors.

• Cambridge · Bakery · Sandwiches · $$

Hi-Rise Bread Company

Because you can’t beat fresh bread.

• Chinatown · Asian Fusion · $$

Shōjō

Because fusion should be loud and fun.

• East Boston (+) · Mexican · $$

Angela's Cafe

Get your mole fix any time of day at this Puebla-cuisine institution.