Harvest
You have to order it specially because it isn't on the dinner menu, but the cheeseburger may just be the thing at this Harvard Square institution (brunch excluded). The meat is so fresh and lean, it makes you wonder if it's really ground filet mignon. Luckily, there's just enough fat to provide real flavor. This burger practically melts in your mouth. It's served on a wide, flavorful bun, with cheddar and fresh lettuce, tomato, and red onion, and a side of outstanding, crispy fries. The waitstaff may be a tad buttoned up, but that's forgiven with the first juicy bite. 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA harvestcambridge.com.
Full Moon
Finally, a place where parents and toddlers can dine near each other— if not with each other— in peace. There's a cozy play space with a toddler-eye-level blackboard, dollhouse, and trucks. You get the crab cakes with aioli and organic greens; your kid chows down on macaroni and cheese. Chocolate milk is as plentiful as San Pellegrino here. Everything is top quality (there are even kosher hot dogs)— not that you'd expect any less from co-owner Cary Wheaton, cofounder of the Blue Room and East Coast Grill. 344 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Bia Bistro
That contented sigh that comes with shucking off the 9-to-5 suit in favor of jeans and a tee? It's the same one you might hear any night at this four-year-old bistro, as diners relax into its placid charms. Dusky red walls and buttery candlelight set the scene for chef Brian Houlihan's contemporary versions of European comfort-food classics, like duck confit with poached figs, steak au poivre, and tarte Tatin. Figure in a modest but irreproachable wine list, and a night at Bia goes down easy in every sense. 25 N. Main St., Cohasset Village, MA 2025, biabistro.com.
Sushi Island
Those who make frequent worshipful visits to this midsize sushi joint know it doesn't take much to coax chef-owner Junji Aoki out of his seemingly forbidding silence behind the bar. Just ask (and you might well have to ask, as specialties like firefly squid and monkfish liver aren't often glimpsed in suburban environments), and Aoki will tell you how a particular delicacy is prepared, and how long it'll be in season. Your taste buds, meanwhile, will tell you it's simply dynamite. 397 Main St., Wakefield, MA 1880, .
Cocoon
This family-run store may seem small, but it's packed with objects to render your home as cozy, chic, and vaguely exotic as its name. There are intricately beaded silk table runners, art deco picture frames, mammoth plants, exquisite scented candles, artsy salt and pepper shakers, gorgeous Asian antiques, and a flat-out stunning selection of French tulips, Chinese bamboo, and other exotic flowers available by the stem or bouquet. Make sure to allow ample browsing time, then circle back again; you're sure to stumble upon another unique piece you missed on the first pass. 170 Tremont St., Boston, MA cocoonhome.com.
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 .
River Gods
Rather than coming off as calculated quirkiness, the gothic furniture and gargoyle motif at this under-the-radar Central Square taproom are mere curiosities, something you notice briefly before they fade into the all-encompassing hospitable vibe. A roster of ace DJs rotates out of a loft space above the bar, spinning a bit of everything—hip-hop, roots rock, punk, techno—as dressed-down patrons gather over killer drinks and French fries dunked in house-made roasted garlic aioli. Aside from the South End's smaller (and DJ-less) Delux Café, few other bars in this town have the confidence to aim for easygoing. 125 River St., Cambridge, MA 2139, rivergodsonline.com.
Flat Top Johnny's
Flat Top Johnny's runs the table. It's really no contest, considering most of Boston's pool halls are either shabby gin joints or cheesy meat markets. Flat Top's, by contrast, has a mellow punk vibe, a mix of Kendall Square professionals and Central Square rockers, and good tables. There are cool specials like Monday's nine-ball tournament and Tuesday's women's night. (God, even pool halls are going PC. Whatever happened to ladies' night?) The food's surprisingly good, and there's a beer for every palate and wallet—although we don't recommend drinking nine PBRs while playing your buddy for 20 bucks. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA flattopjohnnys.com.
The Castignetti Compound
If you're a struggling artist who can't afford a studio, you're in luck. The Castignetti Compound in the North End wants to give you cheap space, coffee, grant books, computer access, and more. The Compound is a new artists' collective housed in the hollowed-out shell of a formal-wear store on Endicott Street—sort of a postmodern atelier, where the studio doubles as a gallery, and the main attraction is a bunch of artists working in makeshift open studios There's no privacy, of course, but there are, form time to time, musical benefits with some great local bands. 67 Endicott Street, Boston, MA .
The Nantucket Hotel
Very few hotels these days leave us with a deep feeling of appreciation — that bittersweet sadness we experience upon checking out that we don’t actually live there. Maybe it’s the complimentary antique fire-truck rides for the kids, or the plush robes offered in each room for the adults, or the two heated pools and the spa. Or maybe it’s all of those things combined that make this place feel so special — not to mention the overwhelmingly helpful, attentive staffers who seem like family by the time you sadly make your exit down the grand front stairway to head home. 77 Easton St., Nantucket, MA 02554, thenantuckethotel.com.
Lose It!
The crust off your kids’ sandwiches, a handful of chocolate chips after dinner: When you’re trying to reach a healthy weight, it can be hard to keep track of all of the bites that make up a day. That’s why 40 million users have downloaded this Boston-born calorie- and exercise-tracking app since it debuted in 2008. But the service isn’t just about shedding (or maintaining) pounds; with virtual support groups and a focus on nutrition, it’s about lifestyle changes that set the stage for lasting wellness. Count us in. loseit.com.
Perfect 10 Unisex Salon
The name says it all: Catering to all hair types and textures, this small but mighty team of stylists score the highest marks for their gorgeous weaves, silk presses, locs, and braids. And that’s not the only way in which they’re giving Bostonians a boost: The salon was recently the only small business in Massachusetts to be awarded a HartBeat of Main Street grant from Main Street America, thanks in part to owner (and mother of four) Kanessa Alexander’s efforts to give back to the community. Now that’s what we call beautiful. 1896 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, perfect10hairsalon.com.
Family Dinner
Attention, proud commitment-phobes and control freaks: If you’ve previously held back from buying CSA shares because you didn’t want to get stuck in a fixed subscription term — or with mystery boxes of useless items — know you can skip weekly home deliveries from Family Dinner any time. Or just treat it like a grocery-ordering service, with single, customizable shipments of everything from butter to blueberries to ground bison from small New England farms that share your fiercely independent streak. 155 New Boston St. Ste. F, Woburn, MA 1801, sharefamilydinner.com.
Boston Harbor Distillery
With a vibe that distillery founder Rhonda Kallman calls “refined grittiness,” this 1800s-era Dorchester mill building can be dressed up or down. For one event, that translated to candles and white tablecloths in the tasting room, outfitted with 40-foot Douglas fir post-and-beam ceilings and brick walls. For another, more-casual gathering, it meant comfy couches and whiskey-barrel tables. Then there are the bar offerings to take advantage of: From signature cocktails with BHD’s Putnam whiskey to a full-on tasting table, your guests will have the chance to sample all the goods. 12R Ericsson St., Boston, MA 02122, bostonharbordistillery.com.
The Pheasant
Does food taste better in an old red barn? If it’s served by husband-and-wife team Adam and Erica Dunn, the answer is a definitive yes. The Cape-sourced, shareable menu here changes with the seasons, but expect artfully plated dishes like scallop ceviche and oysters with lemon-seaweed mignonette served with a side of five-star hospitality at this hidden gem, which reopened in 2018 under new ownership. And don’t forget to check out the “living wine list” — the small wine shop in the dining room — for a bottle of natural vino to enjoy at your table or back at home. 905 Route 6A, Dennis, MA 02638, pheasantcapecod.com.