Up Stairs at the Pudding
Cantabrigians had another reason to delight in the annual opening of the patio at Up Stairs at the Pudding this year: a makeover. But don't worry, this Hall of Famer has done nothing with the lush green patio more drastic than paint its floor periwinkle blue. Ah, but it's the perfect hue for this romantic roof garden—a whimsical counterpoint to the pink table linens, tiny recessed Christmas lights, fresh roses, and bougainvillea. Add a clear, starry night and Deborah Hughes' delightful cuisine, and you'll mistake this spot for Tuscany. 10 Holyoke Street, Cambridge, MA .
Prima e Dopo
At Eastie red-sauce palace Rino's Place, patrons can get stuck waiting two hours for huge portions of baked rigatoni and chicken Parm. To accommodate the throngs, the owners opened Prima E Dopo across the street, offering balsamic-glazed wings and $6 cocktails. Now we just skip Rino's altogether and hang here, dining on sausage-and-broccoli-rabe pizza, crispy bruschetta, and perhaps the most flavorful meatballs we've ever had. 300 Saratoga St., East Boston, MA 2128, .
Stella
The South End's population may have shifted from down-and-out diverse to more straight-up yup over the decades, but Stella still pulls from every last band of the neighborhood's rainbow coalition of humanity. They come for the high-octane cocktails. They come to be surprised by who they meet. But most of all, they come for the food—and because they believe that a gorgeous plate of pasta is greater than their differences. 1525 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, bostonstella.com.
Maria Grace Rodrigues, Salon Mario Russo
Mario Russo has, at last, given Maria Grace Rodrigues a room of her own. The manicurist now sits behind a beaded curtain on the second floor of Russo's redesigned Newbury Street salon, where a simple white workstation provides the appropriate backdrop to her calm demeanor and lighthearted banter. Best yet, her technique has been honed to perfection: Her pretty polishes last well beyond a week. 9 Newbury St., Boston, MA mariorusso.com.
Paws
Is it owner Stephanie Spooner, or are her charges that well behaved? She works the noontime streets of the South End and Back Bay with a front-strapped backpack and a gentle menagerie of dogs, many of them bigger than she. She's generous with training tips to other dog owners on the street, and is both knowledgeable about and sensitive to canine health problems like hip dysplasia. Two paws up. 334 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
Eastern Standard
Every evening, somewhere around midnight, a magical—if vaguely treacherous—moment occurs in Boston. High up onto the back bar of one of the city's most beloved restaurants clambers an employee who, teetering precariously, writes the late-night specials onto a gargantuan mirror. The items differ—flatiron steak with bérnaise, or maybe a Cubano with house spicy mustard—but what remains constant is the anticipation generated, and the rush of orders that inevitably follows. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, easternstandardboston.com.
Casa Romero
With a rash of Mexican and Latin-inspired restaurants invading Boston in recent months, there's finally some competition in this category. But sometimes shiny and new can feel cold or corporate. And a see-and-be-seen scene doesn't mesh so well with oozy plates of homemade enchiladas verdes and tamales. So let the cool kids have their herb-infused mezcaltinis for now. Until the hype dies down, we'll be at this homey little spot in a Back Bay alley, downing sangria and ceviche with a smile. 30 Gloucester St., Boston, MA 2115, casaromero.com.
The Regal Beagle
The Beagle opened its doors in Coolidge Corner last November to considerable enthusiasm—it is, after all, one of only a few finer-dining destinations in a sea of casual ethnic joints. But the tiny gastropub quickly proved it had the culinary know-how to back up the buzz, rewarding loyal patrons with comfort food like Gorgonzola-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates; tender lamb chops with pomegranate syrup; and scallops with summer-corn risotto and pancetta, all served in an atmosphere that feels cozy and chic. 308 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, thebeaglebrookline.com.
The Garden at the Cellar
Even with the throngs of outsiders vying for a seat in this cozy, brick-walled gastropub, it still feels very much like an insider hangout, thanks to the regulars chewing on dinner and local gossip at the bar. Chef Will Gilson has mastered the kind of ingredient-driven, French-accented comfort food—e.g., chicken and rosemary flatbread or steak frites with garlic spinach and parsnip purée;—that would earn any neighborhood some serious bragging rights. 991 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, gardenatthecellar.com.
House of Slam
In the beginning, there was House of Siam's Chicken with Basil, and it was the best. Subsequent visits introduced us to their pad thai, which gives Jae's a run for its money, and interesting seafood dishes such as Diamond Mine, consisting of sea scallops, bamboo shoots, and baby corn in a hot chili sauce. The food is consistently excellent: everything is very fresh and cooked to order, with most dishes leaning toward spicy but easily modified with a request. 542 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA .
Dali
The Pescado a la Sal (fresh fishbaked in coarse salt) is a masterpiece of Iberian cuisine, as is the Cordero Asado (sauteed leg of lamb marinated n sherry, lemon juice, and garlic). If the mood suits you, it's every bit as satisfying, and even a touch surreal, to sit at the blue-and-white-tiled bar where you can work your way through the dazzling tapas selections. What better way to polish off a pitcher of sangria? 451 Washington St., Somerville, MA .
Santarpio's
Who knows pizza better than teenagers? We sent four teenagers who had trained on a field trip to Italy to sample pies in the North End and East Boston. Their pick: Santarpio's, with caveats. The wait staff is surly, the dining room is grungy, and the location is convenient only if you're heading to Logan. But the pizza is still the best. We suggest takeout. 111 Chelsea St., East Boston, MA .
Oga's
Oga's is the kind of place that breeds fanatics: Die-hards go once a week, sometimes more. If the joint doesn't look like much at first, one bite of the spicy scallop with flying-fish roe, the Japanese red snapper sashimi, or the poke maki (white tuna with radish sprouts, onions, and shiso dressing) will tell you that's beside the point. The best—and only—view is the one of the artists at work behind the bar. 915 Worcester St., Natick, MA 1760, ogasnatick.com.
No. 9 Park
It should be called No. 1. Barbara Lynch's spot tops our list as the best in the city for inspired, seasonal cuisine like bacon-wrapped trout with pickled ramps, baby red potatoes, and Swiss chard. Feast on a nine-course chef's tasting menu in the softly lit dining room, or enjoy a light(er) plate of steak tartare (it comes with brioche and truffle aioli) at the bar. 9 Park St., Boston, MA no9park.com.
East Coast Grill
You can concoct your own cocktail at the bloody mary bar, but why bother when these master mixologists can whip up delicacies like the oyster shooter—a tender bivalve nestled in a bloody mary shot? Even the entrées are a twist on the norm: The cornbread-crusted French toast comes with tropical fruit, and the Mexican omelet is loaded with avocado, beans, cheese, and salsa. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA eastcoastgrill.net.