Sel de la Terre
For moms and dads who simply can't bear Ronald McDonald's plastic leer any longer, this French bistro is a godsend. A menu pour les enfants features beignets de poulet (chicken fingers) and tartine au fromage fondu (grilled cheese) with mounds of pommes frites. At brunch, brioche French toast with berries and baskets of fresh pastries will sate and soothe the hungriest toddler. Plus, the service ranks high with frazzled parents: Be it highchair requests or spill mop-ups, the waiters behave like saints. 255 State St., Boston, MA 2109, seldelaterre.com.
The Pearl
Vibe-wise, the Pearl is less Madaket Beach than South Beach. And so, refreshingly, is the food. Chef-owner Seth Raynor skillfully melds the bounty of local waters with exotic flavors in dishes such as Hawaiian-style tuna poke and panko-crusted halibut with kaffir lime broth. The fun cocktails and mind-boggling assortment of sake flowing freely in the superchic bar means the wait for a table isn't entirely cruel. 12 Federal St., Nantucket, MA 2554, boardinghouse-pearl.com.
Rachel Klein, Om
Any chef who can transform a Harvard Square music store into a destination for cutting-edge cuisine is really cooking. (Forgive uswe had to write more than 300 of these things.) Oms Rachel F. Klein, who arrived this winter from New York via Providence, rejects the usual steak and salmon for fresh, inventive dishes that are both conventional and pleasing to the palate. Our favorite, if we have to pick just one: the Okinawa squashstuffed ravioli served with wood-grilled olives in a spicy Thai broth. 92 Winthrop St., Cambridge, MA 2155, omrestaurant.com.
B-Side Lounge
When you order a bottle of hefeweizen at the B-Side, your tattooed waitress pours it for you at your table—slooowly, to minimize the foam—with the know-how of a tuxedo sommelier. That's the kind of thing that repeat patrons have come to expect from this reclaimed dive bar: almost-basic food (try the macaroni and goat cheese), in an atmosphere made all the more convivial by eclectic tunes coming from the sound system. 92 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA .
Davio's
We've long lamented the disappearance of the three-martini lunch. But if such a luxury were still to exist, it would go down at Davio's. Since relocating to its current perch in Park Square, Steve DiFillippo's institution of Italian dining has reclaimed a position of power. Well-heeled Back Bay business types shuffle in each afternoon, scarfing down generous portions of pasta with glasses of house-filtered water, on the rocks. 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA davios.com.
Pino Maffeo, Restaurant L
You've never crave artichoke-goat cheese lollipops until you tasted Pino Maffeo's daring cuisine at Restaurant L. Like other mad gastro-wizards, Maffeo employs a host of high-tech gadgets (including a centrifuge) to whip up plates like caramelized scallops with poached asparagus sous vide and citrusy, unripe almonds. But unlike some of his counterparts, Maffeo makes sure it's taste, not science, that rules. That's what we call chemistry. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
Carmen
This pretty, brick-lined North End spot is the epitome of what a great neighborhood restaurant should be: small, full of warm greetings, off the beaten path, and equipped with a creative menu that keeps diners coming back. If you're lucky enough to grab a seat at one of the eight tables (there's also a bar), excuse the occasional harried service and enjoy the tapas-style appetizers with a glass of wine before digging into a simple, flavorful entrée, from flaky fresh swordfish to an Italian crepe filled with porcini mushrooms and caramelized onions. 33 North Sq., Boston, MA carmenboston.com.
Serenella
The glamorous stock includes beaded numbers from Roberto Cavalli and Pucci, ethereal silk chiffon slips from Anna Molinari, and hand-dyed frocks from Georgina von Etzdorf. Don't miss the cashmere: sweaters, cardigans to go with the frocks and skirts, tank tops, and the ubiquitous pashmina. You can also find great accessories, from handbags to barrettes. 134 Newbury Street, Boston, MA serenella-boston.com.
Top Drawer
Sure, you could go to a department store to buy undergarments. But what fun is that? Shopping in this tiny Newbury Street boutique is a much more inviting experience. The sales staff is extra-attentive, and there is a piece of lingerie to suit every taste—from Cosabella's racy hot-pink camisole-and-panty sets to cute pajamas from Bed Head to Asian-print silk nightgowns by Min Seng. Also on sale is a range of bras in every color, underwear for hard-to-fit sizes, and sleepwear for children too. 112 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
Mr. Sid of Newton and Palm Beach
This is a shop for guys who hate to shop. In fact, Mr. Sid's has more amenities than some hotels. While their Zegna suits are being custom-altered, pampered shoppers can play pool, get their hair trimmed by an in-house barber, have a drink at the bar, or knock back espressos. The staff even tries to help the old-school faction of its clientele understand "Casual Friday." 1211 Centre Street, Newton Centre, MA mrsid.com.
Louis Boston
Determined to strike out against the WASP uniform of rumpled khakis, polo shirts, and sensible shoes, Debi Greenberg and dad Murray Pearlstein have revolutionized the way Bostonians dress. Their modern approach to fashion eschews mainstream labels for smaller, innovative designers, earning Louis Boston an international reputation as the store to watch—and copy. This store has the goods. And for your entertainment, deejays spin on the ground level Saturday afternoons. Does it get any cooler? Not in Boston. 234 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA louisboston.com.
Fresh Eggs
After starting her stylish housewares store, F.kia, Ned Hand launched a second store stocked with chic furniture. But mixed in are some smart choices for gifts. Look for the stainless steel kitchen accouterments, beautiful glass items, tablewear, and linens. The bedding and hand painted pillows can't be beat. Here's your chance to give a housewarming gift that will get you invited back. 58 Clarendon St., Boston, MA .
Douzo
Surveying the city's sushi bars, there's a big distinction between 'not expensive' and 'cheap.' Douzo is a delight, with ultra-fresh fish and prices that stay weeknight low. The daily catch is rolled up in everything from spicy tuna maki for the mainstream crowd to more adventurous options like the seared yellowtail-wrapped Torch Roll with yuzu and black tobiko. 131 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 2116, douzosushi.com.
Washington Square Tavern
In Europe, the luckiest of travelers lost on some tiny rue or strasse will happen upon the bar their guidebooks forgot: barely marked, yet packed with locals eating, drinking, and socializing with gusto. Such a find is the Washington Square Tavern, whose book-lined walls and scattered Orientals suggest a boozy study, an irresistible combination for largely literate, well-off Brookline (and the odd wayward traveler). 714 Washington St., Brookline, MA 2146, washingtonsquaretavern.com.
Deep Ellum
Mention 'Allston/Brighton,' and the average Bostonian's nose hoists a few degrees skyward, as if avoiding the odor of a thousand musty futons. That's fine by locals, whose dual neighborhood's rep as a student slum keeps interlopers at bay; thus, the crowds remain fairly tolerable at this rare grownup watering hole, where the cocktails hail from yesteryear, the food from down south, and the tap list from a beer geek's fever dream. 477 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 2135, .