The Independent
In the past year, Somerville has exploded as a culinary destination. And while the Union Square food scene may change as a result, there's one constant: our beloved Indo,with its relaxed service, bacon deviled eggs perched atop cucumber slices, and stacked beer list featuring favorites from both home (High & Mighty's Beer of the Gods) and away (Six Point Brewery's Sweet Action). 75 Union Square, Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
Cafe Paradiso
The finest cannoli is in the North End, but it's not where you might think. To satisfy our craving for the classic pastry, we slip into Caffé Paradiso's dimly lit shop and head straight to the bakery case in back. The shell of the cannoli there is light and flaky, the ricotta filling is smooth and sweet, and the whole thing is sent over the edge by a dunk in chocolate. 255 Hanover St., Boston, MA 2113, caffeeparadiso.com.
Petit Paris Bistro
Romantic meals in France are often more about joie de vivre than over-the-top luxury. The same could be said of Scituate—at least when it feels like the quatrième arrondissement. And in the intimate Petit Paris Bistro, it does. Lyon-trained chef Norbert Bouhana sees to it that all the French staples are present and accounted for: a smoky-sweet boneless duck à l'orange, escargot de Bourgogne, a hearty wine list, and all the recherché charm any couple can handle. 95 Front St., Scituate, MA .
Benson's Homemade Ice Cream
A sweet roadside stand that serves handmade ice cream from local cows' milk, scooped by fresh-faced neighborhood teens on summer break—Benson's is straight off the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. All cuteness aside, though, this ice cream rules. Some of the rich and creamy flavors are only available during short windows of time, depending on which local berries are ripe. Be sure to sample the fresh raspberry or peach. You'll be smiling till the cows come home. Rte. 133, Boxford, MA bensonsicecream.com.
Cottage Street Bakery
This tiny bakery makes breads, sandwiches, and European-style pastries worth searching out—plus unbelievable muffins, pies, and wedding cakes. But what puts it over the top is its inelegant-sounding "dirt bomb," a dense, indulgent breakfast pasty dusted with cinnamon and sugar. It's a sweet way to jump-start any Cape Cod morning. 5 Cottage St., Orleans, MA cottagestreetbakery.com.
Cilantro
We'll just say it: The North Shore doesn't typically see many promising new restaurants opening. So Cilantro came as a pleasant surprise—authentic, hearty, and diverse Mexican specialties in an upscale but easygoing brick-walled setting. Fresh specialties such as crispy flautas rolled around chicken, pico de gallo, guacamole, and queso fresco are breaths of fresh air after so many ersatz Mexican dishes. Don't miss the creamy flan—a smooth, sweet followup to the often fiery main courses. 282 Derby St., Salem, MA cilantrocilantro.com.
Detente
You can't see the ocean from Detente, but once you taste the food here, you won't care about the landlocked location. Don't miss the "boarchetta," a creative take on porchetta that involves boar belly and sweet cherries. Also unforgettable: locally caught tautog with cavatelli, crab, and a light cod bisque. 15 Winter St., Edgartown, MA detentemv.com.
Carberry's Bakery and Coffee House
A good muffin is a delicate thing. All you want is a little sweetness, not too much butter, and lots of fruit. Your delicate morning palate winces at anything so heavy as pound cake, but you want your muffins to have some substance. Carberry's delivers with flavors that range from the exotic (Lime Poppy Seed, Chocolate Orange, Raspberry) to the homey (Blueberry, Banana Nut, Cranberry Nut). 187 Elm St., Somerville, MA .
Cheryl Ann's of Brookline
Lines form around the block on Friday afternoons and before major Jewish holidays, though this challah is too good to save for special occasions. Cheryl Ann's challah has the soft sweetness of brioche and looks like a food stylist's dream loaf, golden and braided. These breads are not available elsewhere; fanatics admit that their New York relatives beg them to Fed Ex Cheryl's challahs to the Big Apple. 1010 West Roxbury Parkway, West Roxbury, MA .
The Antipasti Martinia
Take 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary, 1 fennel stalk with leaves, 6 sun-dried tomatoes, 2 garlic cloves, 8 black Italian olives, 1 dry hot red Italian pepper, 1 small red and 1 small yellow sweet pepper, and infuse for one day in two quarts of Finlandia vodka. V-8 never tasted like this. Trattoria Il Panino Restaurant, 295 Franklin St., Boston, MA .
The Backroom at Moody's
You've heard the hype: Walls made of limestone reclaimed from a French abbey. A copper spit for roasting chicken and suckling pigs. A $400 glass of Screaming Eagle. But let's be honest: You're really here for the meat—every juicy, wood-fired, artery-clogging bite. And from the smoky-sweet bourbon-bathed pork belly and tender Wagyu brisket to the sliced-to-order charcuterie platters, the sophisticated new wine bar within Moody's deli is a carnivore's dream. 468 Moody St., Waltham, MA 02453, moodyswaltham.com.
Madhouse Café
Iced tahini lattes, Lebanese meat pies, sticky-sweet baklava, motorcycles…wait, what? Madhouse Café debuted in Roxbury in late 2022, connected to — and looking into, via a giant window — the acclaimed bike shop Madhouse Motors. (Got kids? They’ll be mesmerized, and you’ll have a chance to sip your espresso in peace.) Dripping with greenery and intricately patterned tables and pillows, the space is lovely, as is the staff, making this a destination whether or not you have a motorcycle that needs fixing. 24 Blue Hill Ave., Roxbury, MA 02119, madhousecafe.com.
Beacon Hill Books & Cafe
Bibliophiles flock here not only to explore literary treasures but also to be seen doing it. The highly Instagrammable four-level space boasts unique book selections and a lovely ambiance to linger in, but the best part just might be the tea service. Indulge in a delightful array of tea sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and sweets accompanied by a pot of custom-blended tea or a flute of prosecco while flipping the pages of whatever you just picked up for your book club. 71 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, bhbooks.com.
Cru
When you slurp an oyster from this hip dockside restaurant overlooking the harbor, it’s likely that the fresh, sweet bivalve was in that very same water just hours before. But it’s not just the oysters, of course, that earn Cru its title. The buttery fried clams, famous lobster roll, and jumbo cocktail shrimp all deserve recog- nition, especially when accompanied by a cool and refreshing “Crucumber” martini. One Straight Wharf, Nantucket, MA 02554, crunantucket.com.
Olives & Grace
In a year when sending love meant more than ever, Sofi Madison’s “Local Maker Gift Box” provided a much-needed dose of TLC, in the form of delectable shortbread cookies from Lark Fine Foods, peanut butter patties from Seacoast Sweets, and a Well Told rocks glass engraved with a city map. The best part? Purchasing one for your favorite cousin or college bud is a gift to the community, too, as every small-batch, handcrafted item inside is produced right here in the Bay State. 623 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118, olivesandgrace.com.