Chacarero
Why any working stiff would settle for a sack of flavorless fast food when Chacarero now has two downtown locations is beyond comprehension. The freshly baked bread alone makes these traditional Chilean sandwiches worth waiting for (and at high noon, you will be waiting in a line that goes around the corner). Throw in grilled chicken or steak, Muenster cheese, some snappy green beans, and a zesty avocado spread, and you have a sandwich that more than gets the job done. 101 Arch St., Boston, MA 2108, chacarero.com.
The Ice Cream Works
The best thing about an ice cream cake is that once it comes out of the freezer, the party has to begin. Think of two of your favorite flavors of ice cream, throw in a handful of M&M's, add in a crunch of chocolate chip cookie, a layer of fudge for good measure, and it's party time. Whether it's a birthday party for 27 five-year-olds or a co-worker's last day, The Ice Cream Works can customize and freeze your own personal subzero fantasy. 1663 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Galleria Umberto Rosticceria
This superb lunch spot serves tomatoey thick crusted pizza (30¢), turnovers filled with garlicky spinach or ham and cheese, called calzone (85¢), and panini (60¢), sesame-seeded rolls with cold cuts and cheese inside. The arancini (60¢)—deep-fried cornmeal cones filled with rice, ground beef, tomato, and peas—must not be missed. 289 Hanover St., North End, MA .
The Urban Grape
You can try on clothes before you buy—so why not taste bottles of wine beforehand, too? At the Urban Grape, an Enomatic tasting machine dispenses samples of 16 wines on demand. And because the many wines on offer here are organized by their common characteristics—from the lightest bodied to the heaviest—once you find the perfect fit, it'll be easy to discover other bottles just like it. 7 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA theurbangrape.com.
The Juice Bar
A poll of professional 10- to 13-year-old ice cream aficionados proved that this no-frills Steamship Wharf spot is practically an institution. The Juice Bar's rich and creamy scoops are served on hand-formed waffle cones and all the flavors are made on-island, including Snickers Delight, black raspberry, s'mores, and good old vanilla. Oh, and the shakes, smoothies, and lime rickeys rule. 12 Broad St., Nantucket, MA .
Club Hollywood Boston at Ekco Lounge
Butches and femmes hoist their bottles together here on Saturday nights, when this Chinatown karaoke lounge and dance club becomes the closest thing lesbians have to a downtown clubhouse. Two levels of dance floors offer ample space for the mostly young and urban crowd to get down to electro, house, and hip-hop. Once a month, grrls slip on suits and fedoras (and boys and butches, dresses) for "drag karaoke." 41 Essex St., Boston, MA .
Wonderland Ballroom
Loyal patrons were dismayed to find Revere's Wonderland Ballroom suddenly closed last August, shorter after the death of owner Augustino Luongo. The largest dance hall in New England reopened in late February under new management. With the resurgence of interest in ballroom dancing, young and old alike will once again come to Wonderland to cut the rug. 1290 North Shore Road, Revere, MA .
The Cape Codder Resort & Spa
The resort itself may feel a bit stuck in the '70s, but the Cape Codder's spa has surely caught up with the times. Such treatments as cranberry-enzyme facial peels and detoxifying seaweed-clay masques and massages are always perfectly performed. And after you're done being pampered, your kids can frolic in the hotel's oceanlike indoor pool, which boasts two big water slides and two-and-a-half-foot waves. 1225 Iyannough Rd. (Rte. 132), Hyannis, MA capecodderresort.com.
76 Main
This sleek downtown inn offers rooms done up in stripes and poppy colors by Boston designer Rachel Reider, as well as plenty of modern amenities (iPads, Apple TVs). Your best bet is Room 16 or 17 in the guesthouse, each of which features a patio complete with a fire table and a private entrance from the inn’s pretty courtyard. 76 Main St., Nantucket, MA 2554, 76main.com.
Toro
Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette’s beloved South End tapas joint may now have a gigantic sister spot in (gasp!) Manhattan, but the tiny original is still as solid as ever. Expertly rendered classics like tortilla española and patatas bravas get plenty of menu real estate, but it’s with the more-innovative dishes—smoked duck drumettes in a quince glaze, roasted bone marrow with oxtail marmalade—that the kitchen truly shines. You’re welcome, New York. 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, toro-restaurant.com.
Toscanini's
We can confidently say that we’ve sampled just about every cone in Greater Boston—and scoop by scoop, Gus Rancatore’s Central Square ice cream shop remains unchallenged. The endless array of creative flavors—bourbon black pepper, mango-ginger, green tea—keeps things interesting, but it’s the thick, custardy texture that makes this ultra-rich ice cream the undisputed heavyweight champion of the slow-churned world. 899 Main St., Cambridge, MA 2139, tosci.com.
Skinner Discovery Auctions
Fancy antiques, but can't stomach the usual price tags? The once-a-month Skinner Discovery auctions offer estate furnishings, jewelry, books, art, and objets d'art that aren't quite high-end enough for the company's specialty auctions. The large, varied lots promise any level of buyer the thrill of bidding and winning. 274 Cedar Hill St., Marlborough, MA 1752, skinnerinc.com.
Abbicci
At first, we were hopelessly distracted by the eye candy, as Abbicci's exotic-looking French and Peruvian servers floated by sensuously to a soft instrumental soundtrack. Once the food arrived, though, our gazes were fully focused on the Mediterranean-inspired plates before us: scallion-and-pistachio-stuffed Peppadews, scotch-glazed squad, and pan-seared pork loin with sweet and sour pepperonata. Owner Marietta Bombardieri fiercely edits her wine list to match her menu. As for other types of matchmaking, you're on your own. 43 Main St. (Rte. 6A), Yarmouth Port, MA abbicci.com.
R.F. O'Sullivan & Son
It's the simplest tasks that often get botched worst—hence the surfeit of humble hamburgers served up dry, tough, and tasteless. The cooks at R. F. O'Sullivan are the most reliable we've found when it comes to doing justice to the iconic minced-meat sandwich. There's the soft bun, the gooey melted cheese, and, most important, the salty ground sirloin that oozes flavorful juices from the first, sloppy bite. It's a rare (and/or well-done) culinary feat. 282 Beacon St., Somerville, MA rf-osullivan.com.
Northern Spy
New Englanders love to brunch, so it’s a good thing that brunch at Northern Spy — the newest entry from former Loyal Nine chef Marc Sheehan — is an ode to New England, albeit with a modern twist. Come for the hearty braised-beef flatbread with bean-pot onions and smoked bluefish pâté with brown bread, stay for the cozy vibes, courtesy of a sunny brick building with views of the Paul Revere Heritage Site’s sprawling green. 4 Rolling Mill Way, Canton, MA 02021, northernspycanton.com.