Eliot Hotel
Austere lobbies and high-tech doodads certainly make an impression, but too many new luxury hotels try to conceal poor service behind flashy interior decorating. The Peter Niemetz-redesigned Eliot, outfitted with restored antiques, toile fabrics, and plush linens, has nothing to hide and much to offer, including 79 stately suites, 16 rooms, and a staff who seem to remember every repeat guest. And like the pre-upgraded Eliot, the Back Bay cornerstone still houses celebrity chef Ken Oringer, who heads the acclaimed Clio and Uni on the ground floor. 370 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 2215, eliothotel.com.
Bill Crow, Lowden Tree Landscape
Funny name for an insect man, but the gypsy moths this spring were no laughing matter. "The caterpillars got a jump on us, and we've had to hustle to catch up," the forthright Crow told us. Crow's company can put 10 spraying trucks on the road (each with a crew of three), and sprays a combination of methoxychlor (which the caterpillars ingest) and malathion (which kills on contact). "The old double whammy," Crow notes. He usually charges on a per-property basis, and you can figure it'll run between $100 and $150, depending on the number, size, and location of your trees. Needham Heights, MA
Tu y Yo
The frills are few at the humble but festively colorful Tu y Yo, but none of that matters once you experience the authenticity of the expertly prepared food. Traditional family recipes are executed to perfection, from the shredded chicken breast slow cooked in chipotle peppers and tomatoes to the jumbo shrimp grilled in bay leaves, garlic, oranges, and chipotle sweet-sour sauce. The friendly staff tries hard to make every visitor here feel at home (a quality we're sure, like the recipes, has been passed down for generations) and is adept at guiding diners through the almost shamefully inexpensive entrées (all well under $20) and intriguing wine selection. 858 Broadway, Somerville, MA tuyyo2.com.
The Rosebud Diner
This old-school diner a short stroll from Davis Square features solid renditions of the usual short-order, comfort-food staples—meatloaf burgers, club sandwiches, and the like—and a nicely stocked bar offering comforting beverages. The service, while not fancy, is friendly—so much so you'll forgive your waitress for not knowing better when she insists that Rosebud in Citizen Kane (the diner's owner is a huge fan) is a woman. If you're hungry and a carnivore, go straight for the tasty barbecue combo, a filling sampler of ribs, chicken, and sausage. 381 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville, MA rosebuddiner.com.
Dal
Put one foot in this tapas bar and (as its name foretells) suddenly you've stepped inside a surrealist painting. The walls bombard the senses, covered as they are with trinkets, tchotchkes, knick-knacks, and accouterments from all over the Iberian peninsula. The food follows suit, starting with the tapas menu, which offers a palette of wildly disparate tastes in a few small bites, from juicy duckling smothered in berry sauce to delicate scallops swimming in saffron cream. But the entrées are the genuine masterpieces—especially the house special, melt-on-your-fork pescado a la sal (striped bass cooked in coarse salt that tenderizes the fish as it's baked). 415 Washington St., Somerville, MA dalirestaurant.com.
Matt Murphy's
This Brookline Village pub has consistently bucked conventional wisdom by proving that "Irish cuisine" is not an oxymoron. Spicy pork sandwiches and divine French fries (with homemade anise-tinged ketchup) are some of the unexpected twists. The traditional is also nicely represented: extraordinarily flavorful beef stew, and fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. The authentic country-pub atmosphere includes mismatched wooden tables, perfectly out-of-place British dance music, and the sardonic publican behind the love-worn bar. Of course, the real test of any Irish pub is the Guinness. And Matt Murphy's passes with flying green and orange colors. 14 Harvard St., Brookline, MA mattmurphyspub.com.
Redbones
This has become a crowded category, thanks to a rack of new barbecue joints around town and in the suburbs. But we're going back to basics. Redbones, the funky, down-home joint in Davis Square, is the granddaddy of Boston barbecue, thanks to its efficient waitstaff, not to mention the biggest helpings of chicken, ribs, pork, and fish you've ever seen. Fortifying side dishes include succotash, hushpuppies, collard greens, corn fritters, and our favorite: Redbones' signature black beans and dirty rice. The homey bar has 24 great beers on tap. 55 Chester Street, Somerville, MA redbones.com.
Paul Connors, Radius
For the second year in a row, we've been unable to resist the delectable charms of Radius patissier Paul Connors. The mere mention of his name in Greater Boston sweet-tooth circles produces a range of reactions from barely audible moans to downright drools. Chef Connors' meal-ending treats are passionate, inspired, and sometimes even quirky: The guy is as adept at "candy cape mushroom ice cream sandwiches" as he is at classic creme brulee. And he's a team player: Connors' desserts are the perfect complement to executive chef Michael Schlow's elegant continental dishes, never overshadowing their savory flavors. Calling all pastry chefs: Consider the bar raised. 8 High Street, Boston, MA radiusrestaurant.com.
Ginza Restaurant
Bright lights, big sushi. These are Ginza's trademarks—even after Boston's bedtime. This Chinatown mainstay is open until 4 a.m. on the weekends, luring hungry night owls with plentiful portions and a frenetic table-hopping scene. Behind the sushi bar, chefs meticulously hand roll caterpillar and scorpion maki, while petite waitresses glide around in decorative black robes. The extensive menu lists sashimi, rice soups, noodles, and tempuras along with a well-chosen selection of beer and wine. For the ultimate Japanese sampler, try the Ginza Cruise. 16 Hudson St., Boston, MA ginza-boston.com.
Tremont 647
What better way to spend a morning than in your pajamas sipping coffee with your neighbors? Tremont 647's Saturday and Sunday pajama brunch combines comfort food and a cozy space for the perfect weekend wind-down. Everything on the menu here is worth getting out of bed for. For a late breakfast, try chef Andy Husbands's huevos rancheros over beans and rice, or move on to lunch with a plate of stinky cheeses and a juicy burger. Can't shake the hangover? Go with the cure-all combination: Matty's V8 bloody mary and the skillet-baked eggs and hash. 647 Tremont St., Boston, MA tremont647.com.
Dok Bua
How do we love thee, Dok Bua? We love the Thai-American comfort food you so expertly turn out (the gloriously delicious pad see ew; the rich, spicy-sweet pineapple curry). We also can't get enough of your more-authentic dishes, like the miang kum—an ultraflavorful combination of dried shrimp, toasted coconut, peanuts, lime, ginger, and tamarind sauce served with spinach leaves for wrapping—and the wonderfully dense steamed egg with ground pork, which comes topped with loads of cilantro. But most of all we love that we can always expect everything to taste as fresh as can be. 411 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, dokbua-thai.com.
Micro Center
With heavy hitters like Lenovo, Apple, and Sony to call upon, the sole Bay State outpost of Ohio-based Micro Center stocks the best personal computers on the market, along with a bevy of cameras, scanners, monitors, and other peripherals. But what really gets local tech-heads powered up is the vast BYOPC (Build Your Own PC) section, replete with all the components needed to pimp that desktop—or build one from scratch. Free in-store clinics on such topics as VoIP and network security further cater to IT acolytes who aspire to true geekdom. 730 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA 2139, microcenter.com.
Rene Michelena
Within a few short months of his arrival at La Bettola, Michelena had helped the new South End tavern win honors from Esquire, Bon Appetit, and Food and Wine magazine as one of the best new restaurants in America. Raised in a Spanish-Filipino culinary tradition and trained in the finest kitchens in the country, Michelena has an extraordinary palate that is able to infuse French, Italian, and Asian flavors with subtelty and mastery. Having made his mark at La Bettola, which he still oversees, Michelena has recently taken over the kitchen at its sister restaurant, Galleria Italiana. La Bettola, 480A Columbus Ave., .
Brendan Behan's
Even discounting the countless plastic-Paddy pubs that have sprouted all over Boston, our city boasts a wealth of genuine Celtic hangouts. But for all their fiddling, their crowds, and their shepherd's pies, these places overlook a pub's true function: to be a pleasant place to drink. The Brendan Behan is dark, wooden, and lovingly worn. There's no food, meaning no obnoxious "dining-only" seating, and the Irish barkeeps pull a slow, well-constructed Guinness. Aside from the odd band or book reading, conversation is what draws the clientele—which is neither undergraduate nor overpaid. 378A Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA brendanbehanpub.com.
Midway Café
"Dyke Night" at the Midway Café in Jamaica Plain is, as the name so subtly suggests, geared toward lesbians. Still, it's a credit to Dyke Night Productions, which puts on this Thursday night party, that you don't have to like girls (in that way) to have a raucous time at this small neighborhood bar. DJs Kevin McCarthy (pop, disco funk) and Mix Mistress (vocal house, pop, hip-hop) rotate weeks at the turntables, and Dyke Night attracts so many attractive women that you may just wish you were a lesbian. 3496 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA midwaycafe.com.