Café Vanille
Experienced sweet-tooths know exactly where to turn when sugar cravings hit. Vanille's pastry cases are chock full of tantalizing treats: cappuccino cheesecake, chocoholic bliss tart, Boston cream pie. Don't fret if you can't decide. Just sample the bakery's petit fours—bite-sized sensations that include the ethereal diva (chocolate and caramel mousse) and the encore-deserving opera (coffee buttercream cake). We dare you to resist becoming addicted to this Beacon Hill sweet spot. 70 Charles St., Boston, MA frenchmemories.com.
Ginza Japanese Restaurant
If you knew sushi like Ginza knows sushi—well, you'd never go anywhere else for sushi again. No other place offers such subtle and succulent yellowtail, melt-in-your-mouth tuna, tasty scorpion, and scrumptious salmon roe—and such a wise selection (with more than 50 choices, all of them off-the-boat fresh). Ginza's chefs craft such beautiful maki and nigiri combos it seems a pity to eat them. Rival chefs at top restaurants envy them for their access to the finest fresh fish in town. 16 Hudson St., Chinatown, Boston, MA .
Grill 23 & Bar
When it comes to the steak-house experience, Grill 23 has it all—a cavernous men's clubby atmosphere, impeccable service, the kind of bar where one is apt to imbibe too many martinis, and, of course, great steaks. Non-carnivores need not despair: The grilled swordfish is superb and the kitchen turns out a terrific paella. Sommelier Alicia Towns expertly helps you navigate a first-rate wine list. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
Rauxa
When it moved into Elephant Walk's old Union Square location, Rauxa had sizable shoes to fill—and lived up to the challenge. Step down into the stark cavern for a sampling of delicious wines (including cava), fresh bread, olives, and impeccable entrees. If you thought tapas and sangria were all Spain had to offer, this new Catalan-style restaurant will change your mind. 70 Union Square, Somerville, MA .
Armani Cafe
Kill two birds with one stone: Armani Cafe —at the Prime Viewing Central between Fairfield and Exeter — is not only the best place to see other people, it's the best place to be seen in all your sartorial splendor. Required accouterments: cell phone, beeper, head-to-toe black Eurowear, and the Beemer double-parked nearby so all can see you coming and going. The pricey, trendy, yet tasty fare satiates cravings while you watch the creatures of Newbury stroll by. 214 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Inaho
Sushi aficionados know they've stumbled onto authenticity when there's a certain something missing. Namely, silverware. There's not a fork in sight at Inaho, where owners Yuji and Alda Watanabe have created a minimalist paradise in the land of fish and chips. The long sushi bar sends out tender, just-plucked yellowtail, ahi, salmon, and eel nigiri and sashimi, and tasty maki like the Red Dragon (tuna, avocado, spicy house mayonnaise, and more tuna) and the Naruto roll (fluke, tuna, and salmon roe). 157 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port, MA 2675, .
Eastern Standard
At this spacious, boisterous Kenmore Square brasserie, groups can reserve a round table, slide into a cushy leather booth, or pull together a few tall tables at the bar to enjoy a casual feast. Brisk service, a well-stocked raw bar, and a varied menu filled with small plates that range from salt cod fritters to fried calamari makes for easy sharing—whether you're with simpatico diners or fussy friends who don't share your enlightened palate. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, easternstandardboston.com.
Casa Romero
Not many restaurants are willing to dedicate a chunk of valuable real estate for the few weeks that merit outdoor dining. But chef-owner Leo Romero's mission is to let guests experience the joys of una noche Mexicana, and his colorful patio, lit with twinkling candles, does just that. Try the utterly un-Tex-Mex enchiladas verdes and cool house margarita—then enjoy a memorable evening under what might as well be the starry skies of Veracruz. 30 Gloucester St., Boston, MA 2115, casaromero.com.
Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium
It takes a brave soul to sample lobster ice cream, and an even braver one to put it on a menu. But Ben & Bill's is that bold and, after years in the shadow of that other island sweet shop, has emerged as the Vineyard's frosty frontrunner. The servings of handmade ice cream (ginger, pumpkin pie) and gelato (tiramisu, chocolate mandarin) are enormous, but if your sugar cravings still aren't sated, you can bag some candy and truffles to go. 20A Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs, MA 2557, benandbills.com.
Flour Bakery + Café
When 9 to 5 becomes 9 to 9, takeout joints become a blessing. But how much hot-and-sour soup can one person eat? South End hot spot Flour now serves a handful of fresh meals to go, three nights a week, including roast pulled chicken with orange slices and green beans, and spicy stir-fried sesame-ginger noodles with tofu. Working late has never tasted so good. 1595 Washington St., Boston, MA flourbakery.com.
Osushi
Think of it as a love letter to raw fish. Traditionalists will savor the thick, buttery cuts of salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. The more adventurous will relish the yellowtail roll, spiced with chopped garlic, daikon, and jalapeño, or the crispy shrimp tempura rolled with cucumber and spicy mayonnaise. Whatever your style, you'll find the portions at Osushi generous and the service friendly. Copley Place, Boston, MA osushiboston.com.
Abe & Louie's
Before you spend $35 on a steak, ask a few questions. That's part of the fun at Abe & Louie's, where the waiters sing the praises of dry aging and expound upon the flavor of New York sirloin versus a power-packed 24-ounce porterhouse. The only thing better than talking about the meat is eating it: Whether you're lunching in the masculine dining room or partaking in the nightly meat market at the bar, your steak is guaranteed to be broiled to perfection. 793 Boylston St., Boston, MA abeandlouies.com.
Olé Mexican Grill
Delicious proof that true Mexican cuisine rarely involves either the words "chimichanga" or "Tabasco," Olé's menu is weighted toward seafood with authentic and traditional dishes full of superior ingredients. Don't miss the pescado a la veracruzana (roast snapper in a garlic-tomato-caper sauce). The guacamole is mashed fresh at your table and served in the mortar, while even the desserts—the deep-fried cheesecake burrito, for example—are surprisingly good. 11 Springfield St., Cambridge, MA olerestaurantgroup.com.
Shawn Ahern, Union Bar and Grille
Quick with the drink recommendation and the flourished bottle, Shawn Ahern is a professional in a trade too full of aspirant talk-show hosts. He pours a finely tuned martini and is brisk and responsive to eye contact, yet his friendliness never turns obtrusive. And unlike many barmen of fashion, he's utterly free of snootiness, so even the most fatuous of requests ("I'll take a chardonnay and a glass of ice") is met with elegant service, graciously delivered. 1357 Washington St., Boston, MA unionrestaurant.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
At a resort, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. But not here, where a personal concierge caters to your whims. That's a welcome addition to the Ocean Edge, which has undergone $50 million in renovations to its villas, mansion rooms, and restaurants. So now you get the coddling you'd expect from a boutique hotel, plus smart touches like a fridge stocked with ice cream and all the fixin's for s'mores if you book a villa. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA oceanedge.com.