Dok Bua
A confession: We're still working our way through Dok Bua's marathon menu. (This is partly because we're compelled to order the sublime mango curry and the miang cum appetizer—betel nut leaf filled with ginger and shallots—at least every other visit.) But any questions about whether an unassuming storefront in Brookline can whip up more than 100 authentic Thai dishes—employing everything from catfish to duck to a veritable garden of vegetables—with consistent aplomb are answered by the scraped-clean plates that we always spy on the tables of our fellow contented diners. 411 Harvard St., Brookline, MA dokbuathai.com.
The Model Café
Generally speaking, a person's favorite dive bar is the one closest to home. The Model is that rare specimen—a neighborhood bar that's gained destination status for drinkers from all over the city. Everything inside this 75-year-old Allston joint screams classic dive: loud tunes, a pool table, $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons on tap, $4 Bushmills on the rocks, a crowd that ranges from hip to drip, and urinals barely clean enough to, well, urinate in. Mediocre fare (this is a dive bar, after all) is served til 10. 7 North Beacon St., Allston, MA .
The Sports Club/LA
The Sports Club/LA has staked its claim as the city's most exclusive urban country club. Members have full use of the seemingly countless treadmills, free weights, basketball and squash courts, and swimming pool, not to mention spinning, yoga, and Pilates classes. But it hardly ends there. This club also features dry-cleaning services, babysitting, a full-service salon and spa, and a gourmet restaurant, blu, that serves up a special low-fat, health-conscious menu. And while it may be uncomfortable to break a sweat with so many beautiful people lurking around, that's not a bad thing: The club is one of the best places in town for singles to mingle. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA boston.sportsclubla.com.
The Independent
To those living in eternally up-and-coming Somerville: You may not have solved the public transportation quandary that is Union Square but, boy, are you lucky from a pub-hub perspective. Outfitted in the classy dark-wood stylings of a more upscale joint, the Independent is smartly cleaved into one room for drinkers, one for diners—and manages to do right by both groups. Expect well-executed, moderately priced cuisine, like the béchamel, cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan macaroni and cheese, as well as innovative drink offerings (such as the Sub Rosa: campari, lillet rouge, grapefruit-tarragon vodka, and soda water) that tickle more-alcohol-focused palates. 75 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
Tiina Smith
Sporting a piece from Tiina Smith’s jaw-dropping collection of vintage sparklers feels like being transported back in time. Art deco rings, dripping with sapphires and diamonds, recall Gatsby-esque cocktail parties, while beaded Marina B cuffs celebrate the boldness of ’80s style. Worried about taking care of your new heirloom? Don’t be: Smith’s lengthy roster of concierge services ensures you’ll know just how to clean and store your precious bling when you’re not showing it off. 33 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, tiinasmithjewelry.com.
Dependable Cleaners
True to their name, the folks at Dependable will deodorize, de-spot, and de-wrinkle your duds—all within 24 hours (or even the same day if you schlep there by 8 a.m.). In addition to the speedy service, we also like the Sunday hours and night drop-box. And as in any good relationship, it's the details that count. On several occasions we brought in skirts with fallen hems that were returned not only clean and pressed, but hemmed at no extra charge. Ditto for loose buttons. Plus, they've never lost our threads, and the prices are reasonable. We'll go out of our way for a cleaner upon whom we can depend! 110 Newbury Street, Boston, MA dependablecleaners.com.
Goody's Moving Service
There comes a moment during most moves—usually preceded by the sound of breaking glass—when homeowners wonder if they'd have been better off on their own. Following their own move-gone-awry five years ago, brothers Eric and Aaron Goodwine rounded up an eight-person crew and set out to turn their frustration into a business. Goody's wraps and pads like the big companies, and even offers a post-move-out 'old-school toothbrush and white glove' cleaning to your now former abode. It almost makes us want to break out the boxes. Almost.
Larry O'Connor, Black Magic
O'Connor's men (he's got two crews) dress in the traditional top hats (tails optional in summer) to do your chimney. And now's the time to get an appointment: fully three quarters of the company's business is done between September and December—and we're talking about thousands of chimneys. O'Connor started in Stowe, Vermont, in 1973, and moved here five years later. He's good, and very neat, too. "We make sure we keep our customer's homes clean by taking along an industrial vacuum cleaner to every job." Ah, progress. Cambridge, MA
Row and Ride
Indoor cycling studios are so 2014. These days, it's all about group rowing classes, and now New England has its very first dedicated rowing studio right here on the South Shore. Launched by Kerry Connolly, a longtime news anchor for CBS Boston, Row and Ride offers group rowing and stadium-style cycling classes for a new spin (ahem) on the latest fitness trends. The squeaky clean facility also has a fully stocked locker room with showers to rinse off after sweating it out in class. 200 Webster St., Hanover, MA 02339, rowandride.com.
Burritos Express
Forget La Verdad. Forget Anna's. Forget that tiny café whosit in Eastie that the Chowhound faithful have anointed the Mexican-food messiah. The city's burrito comes from a no-frills storefront in Downtown Crossing that specializes in quick lunches for slumming-it bankers. It's the handful of non-gringo grub (ignore the turkey wraps) that sets this dive apart, led by the al pastor burrito, a masterpiece encased in a well-griddled flour tortilla. Unlike its lesser competitors, Burritos Express understands that rice, beans, cheese, and guacamole are supporting players that should never upstage the star: fiery, chili-marinated, deeply charred chunks of pork. 85 Bedford Street, Boston, MA 2111, .
Pagu
A lot of restaurants pivoted to add grocery sales this year, but none did it quite like Pagu. Yes, chef-owner Tracy Chang stocks the virtual shelves of her market with jars of house-made condiments (including her bomb-dot-com Umami XO sauce), chef-driven provisions (see the eye-popping purple pancake mix made from taro root), and meal kits, all reflecting her restaurant’s Japanese-Spanish cuisine. Just as important, though, she’s also long on essentials — flour, EVOO, fresh produce — and through her new organization, Project Restore Us, home-delivers them to communities in need. 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, gopagu.com.
Burritos Express
Forget La Verdad. Forget Anna's. Forget that tiny café whosit in Eastie that the Chowhound faithful have anointed the Mexican-food messiah. The city's best burrito comes from a no-frills storefront in Downtown Crossing that specializes in quick lunches for slumming-it bankers. It's the handful of non-gringo grub (ignore the turkey wraps) that sets this dive apart, led by the al pastor burrito, a masterpiece encased in a well-griddled flour tortilla. Unlike its lesser competitors, Burritos Express understands that rice, beans, cheese, and guacamole are supporting players that should never upstage the star: fiery, chili-marinated, deeply charred chunks of pork. 86 Bedford St., Boston, MA 2111, .
Baja Betty's
Pardon the pun, but this was one of the most hotly contested categories this year. Happily for burrito lovers, the city has several delicious options; sadly, only one can become the best. This Brookline newcomer, a spin-off of a cheerful little hole-in-the-wall in New York, specializes in the Tex-Mex variety: rice, beans, pico de gallo, and your choice of fillings, such as carne asada (marinated charbroiled steak), chili colorado (lean pork in a spicy guajillo-chili-pepper suace), or pollo (chicken in a red moule sauce)—all rolled in a fresh-flour tortilla. 3 Harvard Square, Brookline Village, MA .
Joanne Chang's MasterClass
Ever marveled at the luscious, confectionary perfection that is the Flour sticky bun, and wished you could replicate it? Thanks to a series of online lessons from Boston pastry queen Joanne Chang — who’s currently sharing her James Beard Award-worthy techniques in a 30-day Bake Like a Pro course on MasterClass — now you can at least try. Even if you can’t get it just right, at least you’ll get to hang out virtually with one of this city’s friendliest celebrity chefs, and get your apron dirty in the process. masterclass.com.
Pastry Love, Joanne Chang
Just before self-isolation drove all of us into home-baker mode, the sugar-speckled sage behind Boston’s Flour Bakery + Café empire released her latest tome (and with it, scored her most recent James Beard Award nomination). Its 125 recipes, accompanied by brief journal-like backstories, cover everything from caramel popcorn cookies to s’mores pie to orange-almond pudding cake. Each helped us experiment beyond simple sourdough and, during socially distant times, felt like a loving hug from a local dining legend. flourbakery.com/books.