Best of Boston

2001 Best Late-Night Dining

Anchovies

This small, friendly, unpretentious South End restaurant and bar is always crowded, whether it’s 5 p.m. or 1 a.m. But nobody seems to mind the wait, mostly because Anchovies has a great vibe and good food (especially the pizzas, sandwiches, and mussels in white wine sauce). The service is good, the feeling is cozy, and the crowd is friendly. And were Anchovies open at 4 a.m., we would go there then too. Which reminds us: Don’t all show up at once, because we’d like to get a table sometime this decade.

433 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-266-5088, anchoviesboston.com/