A longtime fixture of Watertown in an old train car, Deluxe Town Diner has been feeding locals and visitors alike for the last 75 years. Patrons can expect vintage, leather booths and counter stools as front-row seats to the griddle for all-day breakfast (till 8 p.m. daily). Keep it classic with perfectly griddled flapjacks, fluffy challah French toast, and the super-savory corned beef hash—or give the Deluxe Colossal Hungry Person Breakfast a whirl for a not-so-little taste of all the flat-top favorites (it’s the ultimate if you know, you know).

An oasis of vegetarian and vegan cuisine, Red Lentil is centrally located on the main drag of Watertown on Mount Auburn Street. Running the gamut of global fare, you may notice dishes with Irish, Indian, Thai and Italian influences.  We particularly love the Gobi Manchurian, a boldly flavored cauliflower dish; and the loaded Tex-Mex Enchilada with mole sauce. Open weekdays for lunch and dinner and weekends for brunch and dinner, Red Lentil also has an outpost in Sharon, Mass.

Founded nearly 100 years ago in New Haven, Conn. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana has taken the East Coast by storm in recent years with locations in Massachusetts, Florida, and beyond, including one at Watertown’s burgeoning Arsenal Yards development. Known for crispy, slightly charred pizzas coal-fired in a 600-degree oven, century-old favorites include White Clam, Rustic Mushroom and Sausage, and the Original Tomato Pie. 

Cha Yen Thai Cookery has been a takeout and delivery go-to in Watertown for years. Serving up tasty Thai dishes, we love the Fried Curry Dumplings, and steaming bowls of Khao Soi Brisket noodles. Make sure to save room for dessert from this neighborhood fave: Cha Yen makes a unique Thai style of ice cream in-house with flavors like Green Tea, Spicy Chocolate, Jasmine Thai Basil and more.

With one of the largest Armenian populations in the country, Watertown is often referred to as the Boston area’s Little Armenia. Mount Auburn Street is home to multiple Armenian markets including the unmatched Massis Bakery. The family-owned shop has been around over 40 years, providing hard-to-find specialty items, prepared foods, and homemade baked goods. Take home a package each of choreg (sweet bread), borek (savory stuffed pastries), and lahmejune (Armenian pizza), and thank us later. 

What started in the mid-90s as a Chicago couple’s quest for fresh-roasted coffee has since become a cross-country sensation. Intelligentsia, a specialty coffee pioneer, now has a sleek, vibrantly colored Watertown cafe among other outposts (including another locally in Post Office Square). Intelligentsia roasts and pours coffee, sourced through a direct-trade model from East Africa as well as Central and South America. Pair your morning brew with pastries outsourced to Forge Baking Co. and La Saison.