John Havlicek's
So neat that is has been awarded the Better Homes & Garden Seal of Approval. Stacks of soap, piles of towels, and little bottles of Desinex all in a row. Taught Beth everything she knows. MA
The Kitchen Shelf
The Kitchen Shelf sells coobooks—and only cookbooks. It features a world-class selection of regional cookbooks, as well as a tasty vegetarian and healthful-cooking section, all sure to please professionals and home cooks alike. 1308 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Columbo Invisible Reweaving & Reknitting
It won't be cheap, but when your favorite sweater has been visited by moths or some other holey disaster, Toni Columbo's magical reweaving process will render the damage virtually invisible. 72 Broad St., Boston, MA invisiblereweaving.com.
Pepper's
We love the way they use herbs and plants (cucumber in a cleanser and aloe in some lipsticks), the recycling program, the championing of socially correct causes, and the whole PC atmosphere. And we love the obliging return policy. 745 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Stan Frankenthaler, Choice Catering
We'll let Jasper White's former assistant chef make and deliver dinner to our house anytime. Can dining at home get any better than this? 256 Marginal St., East Boston, MA .
Jim Simpletary and Bo Smith of the MFA's film program
Why do these two hosts of the MFA film series hold forth on thematic interpretation of every film in plodding, painstaking detail...before it starts? We'd like to give them some advice: Shhh, no talking at the movies.
Tutto Italiano
As if its gloriously stocked deli counter weren't enough, Tutto boasts a freezer full of home-cooked pasta sauces and soups. Maria and Marilena Locilento, wife and daughter of the owner, Angelo, will even slip you detailed cooking tips when they're working the counter. 1889 River St., Boston, MA 02136, tuttoit.com.
Emmet’s Irish Pub
In a sea of paint-by-numbers, pseudo-Irish pubs, Emmet’s abstains from the usual kitsch. No bric-a-brac-cluttered curio shelves here, just Beacon Hill lawyers enjoying a fantastic Guinness onion soup at lunchtime, with gregarious ringmaster Oran McGonagle presiding over the whole no-frills affair. 6-6B Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108, emmetsirishpubandrestaurant.com.
Esperia Grill
The pride is palpable at this family-owned outfit in Brighton Center, where you can order a super gyro at the counter or be ushered to a seat by doting servers. Big portions of comfort food—including a béchamel-blessed moussaka and a block of fried feta smothered with honey and fig jam—are marvelous, magnanimous expressions of Hellenic home cookery. 344 Washington St., Brighton, MA 02135, esperiagrill.com.
The Neighborhood
Do the math: $4.39 = orange juice, three eggs, home fries, fresh fruit or cream of wheat, toast, coffee and a plateful of pastries. All this served at no extra charge in the grapevine-canopied patio during the summer. Sometimes, though, the slow seatings make us want to sneak in our own table and chairs. 25 Bow St., Union Square, Somerville, MA .
Cutty's
This Brookline Village spot refers to itself as "Home of the skillfully crafted sandwich." Every entry on the menu, from the meat to the condiments to the bread selection—is obsessively chosen. The "Roast Beef 1000," for instance, contains a perfectly crafted formula of beef, shallots, sharp cheddar, and Thousand Island dressing, all on a black-pepper brioche bun. 284 Washington St., Brookline, MA 2445, cuttyfoods.com.
Mike's Gym II
The true test of a great gym is the leg equipment, and Mike's has it all—plus amenities including sauna, Jacuzzi, and tanning beds. From 5 to 8 on weeknights, Adonises jostle for pole position on the endless rows of benches. Otherwise, it's a laid-back place, with a mixed but mostly gay clientele. 88 Union Park, Boston, MA .
Stephanie's on Newbury Street
This take on the classic chicken salad is blessedly light on the mayo and heavy on the chicken. Capers and fresh herbs add flavor to the oversize chunks of breast meat—no thighs darken this recipe. The servings are generous enough to sustain you through a whole afternoon of shopping. 190 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Pasta Del Palato
The pasta is terrific, made with pure ingredients like whole eggs and extra fancy durum flour, rolled (not extruded), then cut into angel hair, linguine, fettuccine, or tagliatelle. We like the adventurous flavors: chipotle pepper, lemon, roasted garlic. Top it with the excellent pesto made with bunches of french basil. 579 Washington Street, Brighton, MA .
Savenor's
Long known for its exotic meats (this is the place to go for lion and bear), it's also the best place for pork. Try the home-smoked bacon and ham, and while you're there, pick up some bread from Iggy's, a cake or pie from Creative Gourmet, or some fresh pasta. 160 Charles Street, Boston, MA .