Franklin Cafe
Sure, there's what seems like an interminable wait for one of the nine tables. But that's only because all the hipsters who got here before you want to savor every bite of their fashionably late dinners of adobo-rubbed pork and grilled garlic calamari. Our advice: Ask for a blood orange martini and be patient. You'll be very well rewarded. 278 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 2118, franklincafe.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.
Casa Portugal
If the smiling waitstaff, bright artwork, and delicious smells drifting from the kitchen don't immediately delight you, just wait for the food to arrive. Casa Portugal's fare will comfort homesick Lisboans and enlighten those unlucky ones who have yet to try classic and tempting combinations like tender pork with squid and clams, steak with fried egg and ham, and blackened chourizo sausages that arrive at the table still sizzling. 1200 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, restaurantcasaportugal.com.
L'Espalier
Sometimes it feels as if romance has all but vanished. Luckily there's L'Espalier, where Frank McClelland's sumptuous cuisine is guaranteed to set hearts aflutter. Settle into a table at one of the bay windows of this charming townhouse, and unwind together as a parade of champagne, oysters (served with a sensuous dab of pink sorbet), and decadent chocolates comes and goes as if by magic through our stomachs. 30 Gloucester St., Boston, MA lespalier.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.
Big City
If a neighborhood restaurant's first obligation is to genuinely reflect its setting, Big City is a high-shine mirror, taking Allston's collegiate culture and refining it by a notch or two. Sure, there's plenty of beer—one of the city's best selections, in fact—but it's handcrafted and from every corner of the globe. And while pizza and finger foods reign supreme, they come in such neo-gourmet renditions as spinach-artichoke dip and Mediterranean nachos with balsamic tomatoes. 138 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA .
Tim's Bar & Grill
Narrow, dark, and dingy, Tim's is hardly where you'd expect to come across one of this city's gastronomic standouts. But the kitchen here grills up the biggest, tastiest burgers you can imagine—no-frills, half-pound, juicy char-grilled numbers served on puffy bulky rolls. Throw in a good selection of affordable brews on tap, and it's easy to see what makes this honest man's oasis so popular with regulars and newcomers alike. 329 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA .
Tapéo Restaurant & Tapas Bar
Spanish culture is bar culture, and a Spaniard knows no greater delight than pushing up against a crowd, glass in hand, and shouting for a pincho de tortilla. That's why the best place to eat like an Iberian is on a stool at Tapéo's bar. Skip the patio and the dining room. The same alluring tapas, from stuffed squid to boneless pheasant with mushrooms and jamón serrano, are served more sociably on the striking blue and yellow tiles. For added authenticity, forgo the tourist's tipple, sangria, in favor of one of the many Riojas. 266 Newbury St., Boston, MA tapeo.com.
Frank Roop
Just as fashionistas favor couture over ready-to-wear, design aficionados prefer unique interior to chain-store décor. That's why those in the know turn to Frank Roop. Roop works with combinations of vintage treasures, elegant fabrics, his own custom furniture creations, and one-of-a-kind pieces collected during his frequent world travels. They all come together into living spaces that are very soothing, vibrant, and sophisticated. 129 Newbury St., Boston, MA frankroop.com.
Cru
Here's a new island tradition: Disembark at Straight Wharf and make a beeline to Cru. This swish, year-old spot, decked out in striped pillows and driftwood chandeliers, has the raw bar to beat and the see-and-be-seen crowd you'd expect at a place with not one but two bars slinging cocktails and wines by the glass. And good news for those who've already OD'd on seafood: The chicken under a brick with warm farro salad, wild ramps, and roasted grapes is a hit. One Straight Wharf, Nantucket, MA crunantucket.com.
Bella Santé Day Spa
Some suburban day spas, catering as they often do to busy moms, have entirely missed the point of an escape: A noisy cut and blow-dry during a massage is not relaxing. But the Lexington outpost of Bella Santé gets the pampering thing down perfectly with imported teas, soothing music, and peaceful treatment rooms. And, of course, one-at-a-time services that are stress free. 76 Bedford St., Lexington, MA bellasante.com.
Rustic Kitchen
Yes, it's in a shopping plaza (albeit an upscale one). And yes, it's technically a chain. But step inside and such details fade away. The gold-ceilinged trattoria is packed nightly with yuppies lounging around on ample outdoor seating, schmoozing at the indoor bar, and lingering over sambuca-steamed P.E.I. mussels and assorted raw-bar creations. The weekend brunch highlights seafood and a do-it-yourself bloody mary bar. 94 Derby St., Derby Street Shoppes, Hingham, MA rustickitchen.biz.
Maison Esthetique Christiane Bourque Spa
Christiane Bourque, wife of former Bruin Ray, has created a European-style spa with lovely little touches (perfumed sachets in every locker) and heavenly big ones (heated massage tables). The private rooms have individual rock waterfalls and treatments such as Vichy therapies and microdermabrasion. Lounge time in the sauna, steam room, and marble Jacuzzi is included with any massage or body treatment. 94 High St. (Rte. 35), Danvers, MA maisonesthetique.net.
Harvest Cooperative Supermarket
With close to 200 herbs and spices to choose from, Harvest remains the wise shopper's best bet. Planning a romantic dinner? In one stop you'll find the cardamom, tumeric, and cilantro for your seductive Chicken Pasanda, and some Damiana herb to help keep the— uh— mood up. Bulk dispensers allow you to buy as much or as little as you need, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. 581 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Lala Rokh
This gem moves in for the three-peat, and not just for lack of contenders. Beacon Hill's prince of Persia still delivers attentive, congenial service, a solid wine selection, and exotic variations on standard meat and rice, such as the obscenely rich Fesenjan, made with duck and pomegranate. You might never trek to Persia. You might not even be able to find it on a map. But this Persian delight is only one door in from Charles Street. 97 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, MA .