The Backroom at Moody's
If the house-made charcuterie at Moody's deli is art, its adjoining restaurant, the Backroom, is the gallery in which chef-owner Joshua Smith's smoky, fatty, umami-rich masterpieces get their finest showcase. Spicy 'nduja is blended into a ragu for strands of bucatini here; Iberico pork belly dots a clam flatbread there. In fact, the entire menu, from the slow-smoked chicken with crisp spaetzle to the melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu brisket, is a master class in meat—and the perfect syrah or sangiovese to pair with it. 468 Moody St., Waltham, MA 2453, moodyswaltham.com.
Haley.Henry
With its hip-hop soundtrack, generous pours of outside-the-box wines, and cheekily named snacks (e.g., a "David" Hasselback potato), this wine bar mixes serious oenophile cred with a laid-back atmosphere. Pop in to discover your new favorite vino; they'll open anything on the old-world-focused bottle list if you commit to two glasses. 45 Province St., Boston, MA 02108, haleyhenry.com.
<em>Antiques Road Show</em>, WGBH
A TV show as appraiser? Absolutely. WGBH turns out episodes in various cities, where locals line up with treasured heirlooms and garage-sale finds. Some of the art specialists in the country—including some of the local auction bigwig Skinner—are on hand to give owners and viewers information on their finds, including the estimated value. Ah, the agony of learning your prized highboy is a well-crafted knockoff? Ah, the pleasure of discovering that one of granny's knickknacks is worth more than the house!
The Good Life, Cambridge
The latest addition to Brian O'Neill's growing empire, this new Good Life is perfectly suited to its Central Square location. The decor is, as in other Good Lifes, remarkably similar to your parents' den, only wings this good and spicy were probably not served at home. Wash 'em down with one of many beers on tap, or a tasty cosmopolitan (the bartenders seem to have a flair for this drink du jour). 720 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA goodlifebar.com.
The Naked Oyster
Manhattan meets Cape Cod at this trendy Hyannis bistro and raw bar. The oysters—prepared naked or topped with a hint of cocktail sauce, a splash of Absolut Peppar vodka, or sour cream and caviar—are beyond divine. The littleneck clams are tiny tastes of the sea. And the melt-in-your-mouth beef carpaccio appetizer and a host of tempting desserts round out a fun, fresh menu. 20 Independence Dr., Hyannis, MA nakedoyster.com.
The Pearl
It isn't easy to explain the social and culinary vortex that is the Pearl. But there's no doubt the the foundation of its lure is the combined talents of husband and wife owners Seth and Angela Raynor. He handles the kitchen with a Franco-Asian touch (the salt and pepper wok-fired quail is worth picking up with your fingers to get at every last scrumptious morsel); she runs the front of the house with such style, grace, and humor, it's no wonder the luminescent dining room is the place to be on an island packed with the tanned, the powerful, and the famous. 12 Federal St., Nantucket, MA thepearlnantucket.com.
Goodwin’s High End
If you think music sounds best through ear buds and films are meant to be watched on laptops, skip Goodwin’s. The guys here take high-end audio seriously: Before talking components, they’ll review your home’s blueprints or even make a house call to ensure that the speakers, amps, and digital equalizers they recommend will achieve mind-blowing sound. 899 Main St., Waltham, MA 2451, goodwinshighend.com.
Dave's Fresh Pasta
Can a person live on pasta alone? At this Somerville specialty shop, you could certainly try—and last for months without ever repeating your order, thanks to a massive roster of take-home, house-made pastas that includes ravioli (with fillings ranging from shrimp and fennel to pumpkin and smoked mozzarella), ribbons of handcut strands infused with everything from squid ink to saffron, and a slew of sauces to pair with them all. Laying off the carbs? Peruse the expert selection of gourmet cheeses, charcuterie, and vino instead. 81 Holland St., Somerville, MA 2144, davesfreshpasta.com.
Sweet Meadow Farm
Sure, backyard bounce houses are fun, but has your kid ever put hair bows on a potbellied pig? At this Sherborn farm’s birthday extravaganzas, children start by feeding cows, mini horses, wallabies, and even emus. Next, potbellied pigs Charlotte and Penny appear for grooming and dressing. After that, cuddle lizards, chameleons, and Chompers, the resident desert tortoise. Finally, ride a unicorn (actually a pony with a rainbow mane and horns) before pizza. No wonder this is currently the hottest party-animal ticket in town. 111 Coolidge St., Sherborn , MA 01770, sweetmeadowfarm.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
While it’s hard to unwind these days, this luxe resort is making it a little easier to get some much-needed R & R. Extra pre- cautions—including contactless golf-cart pickup, grocery-delivery service, and reduced capacity at pools and at Ocean Edge’s private beach—provide peace of mind, while new private experiences such as beach yoga and oyster tours make it easy to practice social distancing while giving the kiddos an unforgettable adven- ture. So go ahead, book that luxurious mansion suite. Boozy mudslides delivered straight to your beach chair await. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, oceanedge.com.
Modern Relik
After months of sitting on the couch nearly ’round the clock, we’d say you’re entitled to a refresh. At Modern Relik’s South End showroom, you’ll find sophisticated sofas in an array of styles, from a nap-worthy mahogany day bed to a quilted sectional with eye-catching lines. Grab a cup of espresso from the front-of-store café while you debate your options, and feel free to chat up the in-house design team if you’re short on inspiration; overseen by design director Jon Dransfield and owner Meg Kimball, the group happily consults on scale, color, materials, and more. 485 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, modernrelik.com.
L’Espalier
Chef Frank McClelland bristles when L’Espalier gets pigeonholed as French—and it is more haute New England meets Paris, when you think about it. Check the beef from Maine. The gooey Vermont fromages. The scrappy Yankee self-reliance of plating foie gras with fruit from your own organic farm! The duck-for-two stunner, presented whole, comes with sides and a beguiling slice of American large-format je ne sais quoi. Whatever you call it, this gastronomic tour de force blasts into its 40th year rocking A-game sparkle. Tomato, tomate. 774 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, lespalier.com.
Mamaleh’s
A deli isn’t exactly the first place we’d expect to find a top-notch cocktail list. Then again, no other delicatessen in town is run by the team behind the beloved bar State Park. Here, bartenders playfully acknowledge the setting with flourishes like pastrami spices on the rim of a smoky mezcal margarita while also toying with geeky revivalist ingredients (try the rum-and-pineapple lactart with Privateer Silver from Ipswich). And you’ll definitely want to drink your dessert: Milkshakes come spiked with the likes of brandy, house-made crème de cacao, and Chartreuse. One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 02139, mamalehs.com.
NETA
Shopping at NETA’s Brookline outpost is as far from buying pot off your cousin’s dog walker in a 7-Eleven parking lot as you can get. The vast selection of buds, pre-rolled joints, vape pens, and gummies is housed behind wood-trimmed glass cases in a historical bank complete with a well-styled mini lounge to wait in. And unlike in dubious parking-lot rendezvous, you can be sure that whatever you buy, the product will be top-tier, thanks to NETA’s state-of-the-art indoor cultivation center in Franklin. 160 Washington St., Brookline, MA netacare.org.
State Road
Spend at least one evening of your Vineyard getaway at this cozy island favorite known for unpretentious, locally sourced dishes, but be sure to reserve in advance. The place is beloved by locals and presidents alike (Barack Obama is a regular on his vacations; his White House decorator designed the space). Return for brunch the next morning and take an extra order of made-from-scratch Limpopo doughnuts home with you. State Road is open for much of the winter, too, when you can enjoy fun off-season specials in front of a roaring fireplace. 688 State Rd., West Tisbury, MA 02568, stateroadrestaurant.com.