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.
SBI
True, it's in a shopping mall, or at least the closest thing Harvard Square has to a shopping mall. And it's part of a bigger chain. But it's still one of those photo stores where the staff loves to talk about cameras, and the prices are some of the best around. A standard Minolta flash that costs more than $100 around the corner sells here for $75. After buying the flash, our agent asked for an expensive gizmo to connect it to his light meter. "Oh no," said the salesguy. "You don't need it. We use the same light meter in the studio I work at and I'm sure you don't need it." 57 JFK Street, Harvard Square Galeria, Cambridge, MA .
Evenfall
On the approach—down a dismal stretch of highway, across from a gas station—Evenfall scarcely looks the date-night part. Enter, though, and the picture improves as you discover a space that's cozy but not cramped, dim but not dark. Things get better still with chef Scott Pelletier's seasonal dishes, which are too good not to share; a recent evening saw couples swapping forkfuls of braised Kobe beef cheeks and chestnut ravioli. By the time you're stealing bites of your companion's warm apple strudel, the iffy setting outside feels like a benefit. After all, what's romance without surprise? 8 Knipe Road, Haverhill, MA 1835, evenfallrestaurant.com.
Coast Café
Dainty eaters, beware. Only those with a hankering for a little grease and gobs of pork-addled flavor are able to handle the made-to-order plates at Cambridge's stick-to-your-ribs haven. Sure, the chicken's great, but there's also smoked turkey with collard greens, and bread crumb-encrusted mac and cheese, and silky sweet potatoes, and (the only thing harder than settling on an order here, you'll find, is nabbing one of the few seats). Coast Café may not have much competition in these parts—KFC? Popeyes?—but it could surely hold its own in Dixie. 233 River St., Cambridge, MA 2139, .
Au Soleil Catering
Turning out memorable meals in private homes—which often means tight quarters and picky palates—is a task that could sap any chef's muse. No surprise the catering arm of the vaunted L'Espalier/Sel de la Terre group is more than up to the challenge. Planning a small fete, we laid out the hurdles: seafood allergies, vegan diets, decorating don'ts. Au Soleil fired back with scads of ideas, including using petits fours as favors and dressing the table with bouquets of our favorite blooms. From intimate dinners to 600-person galas, this event-maker handles every gathering with aplomb. 148 Hampden St., Boston, MA 2119, ausoleilcatering.com.
Pigalle
Tasting menus are so in vogue that it seems only a matter of time before McDonalds rolls out a McTasting. But at Pigalle, chef Marc Orfaly's five- and seven-course menus are anything but watered-down. Each course hits the high notes of his exquisite French fusion—butter-poached lobster in Thai broth, duck confit with Kung Pao vegetables and kumquats—all for far less than you'd pay if you ordered à la carte. Now that's what we call a Happy Meal. 75 Charles St. South, Boston, MA 2114, pigalleboston.com.
The Finer Consigner
The vintage craze has brought piles of must-have clothes out of the closet, thanks in large part to discriminating boutiques like this one. A treasure trove of pre-owned pieces, the Finer Consigner showcases rack after rack of Michael Kors flapper skirts, silk Gucci blousons, and Ralph Lauren Purple Label dresses. More up-to-the-minute confections by Ann Demeulemeester, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, and Chloé make it into the selection, too, along with well-treated Prada bags, Louis Vuitton shoes, and YSL belts—all the very definition of recherché. 53 Langley Rd., Newton, MA thefinerconsignershop.com.
T. T. the Bear's Place
With so many excellent options—Great Scott, the Lizard Lounge, Middlesex—identifying the city's best live-music venue isn't easy. But T. T.'s tops our list thanks to the variety of acts (local pop stars the Pills and farther-reaching talent like Canadian crooner Ron Sexsmith) and the superior amenities (two bars, pool tables, and plenty of room by the stage). Plus, great acoustics mean you can actually hear the music, making it the ideal spot to discover your new favorite band. 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, MA 2139, ttthebears.com.
T.T. the Bear's Place
Somewhere between a band's first roadie and their first rider, they play T.T.'s, a beer-soaked cranny in Central Square now in its third decade. For about 10 bucks a night, the club gets music geek nation on its feet with both established and rising acts from the East Coast (the Damnwells), the West Coast (the Thermals), and beyond (Denmark's Efterklang), along with local favorites like the Motion Sick and Faces on Film. Although it's true that Allston's Great Scott is increasingly booking tomorrow's Middle East and Paradise headliners today, for that pure ear-pounding, sweat-drenched, punch-drunk rock-club experience, the Bear remains the one to beat. 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, MA 2139, ttthebears.com.
Ember
When this hypnotically arty restaurant-bar designed and owned by a local architect made its debut four years ago, it not only lent zing to the South Shore dining scene, but also beckoned Cape-bound cosmopolites with its expertly shaken martinis, mod leather furnishings, and moody firelight. The arrival of new executive chef George Willette last fall boosted the culinary substance—e.g., tuna tataki, lobster and goat cheese pizza—to match Ember's abundant style, making this nightspot a white-hot proposition, indeed. 459 Plain St. (Rte. 139), Marshfield, MA 2050, .
T.T. the Bear's Place
If you follow the Boston music scene, you already know you can find your favorite up-and-coming rock stars on an almost weekly basis at T.T.'s, the intimate, gargoyle-adorned Central Square club so important to the rock circuit that it might as well be the living room of the local music community. T.T.'s perfect rock club layout lets you skip the opening act and still catch the headliner—or vice versa—while playing pool or hanging out at tables away from the stage, thanks to speakers that let you actually carry on conversation. 10 Brookline Ave., Cambridge, MA ttthebears.com.
The Maids Home Services
We aren't ones to cry over spilt milk, as our floors can attest; our couch has more hair on it than our cat. Without a speck of judgment, the Maids clean up our act month after month, dusting baseboards, degriming showers, and all but eliminating any traces of pet (except for, of course, the pet itself). They're quick, well priced, and unobtrusive: Aside from the preternatural sparkle and neatly triangled toilet paper, you'd never know they'd been there. 179 Boylston St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, .
Vivant Vintage
Have you ever entered a store and immediately felt like you could spend hours perusing the racks? Well, that’s what it’s like to step into Vivant Vintage, where every item inspires a memory as well as a vision for how you might wear it. The Allston clothier has been around since 2011, when founder Justin Pomerleau started selling his collection from a homemade tricycle cart called “Le Pants King.” Fast-forward a decade, and the shop is a bona fide destination for everything from old-school Champion sweatshirts to Gucci scarves, sold both in-store and online. 318 Lincoln St., Allston, MA 02134, vivantvintage.com.
Villa México Café
You can’t toss a tortilla without striking a trendy New Boston version of a taco joint these days, but we’re still hung up on the humble, proudly homemade fare churned out by Downtown favorite Villa México Café. The immigrant-family-owned spot offers five options for stuffing those soft corn circles; we’ll direct your attention, though, to the spicy chorizo prepared in-house. It’s all served with a side of the rich and smoky black salsa lovingly made by owner Julie (“Momma”) King, bona-fide food-world royalty around these parts. 121 Water St., Boston, MA 02109, villamexicocafe.us.
Fit Revolution
In an era when there’s a boutique fitness studio for every day of the week and personality type, local mini chain Fit Revolution manages to offer one-stop sweating without the feel of a bland big-box club. Sure, there’s the latest equipment for gym rats and the now-standard hyper-luxe locker rooms. But there’s also boot camp, indoor cycling, yoga, barre, boxing, and personal trainers at the ready. Owner Michelle O’Connor even offers a program for would-be fit kids. Multiple locations. 23 Concord St., North Reading, MA 01864, fit-rev.com.