Flour Bakery + Café
When 9 to 5 becomes 9 to 9, takeout joints become a blessing. But how much hot-and-sour soup can one person eat? South End hot spot Flour now serves a handful of fresh meals to go, three nights a week, including roast pulled chicken with orange slices and green beans, and spicy stir-fried sesame-ginger noodles with tofu. Working late has never tasted so good. 1595 Washington St., Boston, MA flourbakery.com.
Osushi
Think of it as a love letter to raw fish. Traditionalists will savor the thick, buttery cuts of salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. The more adventurous will relish the yellowtail roll, spiced with chopped garlic, daikon, and jalapeño, or the crispy shrimp tempura rolled with cucumber and spicy mayonnaise. Whatever your style, you'll find the portions at Osushi generous and the service friendly. Copley Place, Boston, MA osushiboston.com.
Abe & Louie's
Before you spend $35 on a steak, ask a few questions. That's part of the fun at Abe & Louie's, where the waiters sing the praises of dry aging and expound upon the flavor of New York sirloin versus a power-packed 24-ounce porterhouse. The only thing better than talking about the meat is eating it: Whether you're lunching in the masculine dining room or partaking in the nightly meat market at the bar, your steak is guaranteed to be broiled to perfection. 793 Boylston St., Boston, MA abeandlouies.com.
Olé Mexican Grill
Delicious proof that true Mexican cuisine rarely involves either the words "chimichanga" or "Tabasco," Olé's menu is weighted toward seafood with authentic and traditional dishes full of superior ingredients. Don't miss the pescado a la veracruzana (roast snapper in a garlic-tomato-caper sauce). The guacamole is mashed fresh at your table and served in the mortar, while even the desserts—the deep-fried cheesecake burrito, for example—are surprisingly good. 11 Springfield St., Cambridge, MA olerestaurantgroup.com.
Shawn Ahern, Union Bar and Grille
Quick with the drink recommendation and the flourished bottle, Shawn Ahern is a professional in a trade too full of aspirant talk-show hosts. He pours a finely tuned martini and is brisk and responsive to eye contact, yet his friendliness never turns obtrusive. And unlike many barmen of fashion, he's utterly free of snootiness, so even the most fatuous of requests ("I'll take a chardonnay and a glass of ice") is met with elegant service, graciously delivered. 1357 Washington St., Boston, MA unionrestaurant.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
At a resort, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. But not here, where a personal concierge caters to your whims. That's a welcome addition to the Ocean Edge, which has undergone $50 million in renovations to its villas, mansion rooms, and restaurants. So now you get the coddling you'd expect from a boutique hotel, plus smart touches like a fridge stocked with ice cream and all the fixin's for s'mores if you book a villa. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA oceanedge.com.
Dockside Inn
The recent revamp of this charming Victorian inn brings a welcome bit of chic to Oak Bluffs. Tracey Overbeck Stead, an Austin-based interior designer who recently decked out the lobby of the W hotel in Dallas (and who has a house on the island), has outfitted each of the Dockside's 21 rooms with sophisticated new beds, wallpaper, and lighting, creating a fresh, summery vibe. The unique amenities, meanwhile—a "digital concierge' that you can text questions to, a Rolls-Royce that shuttles guests to and from the ferry—are another welcome touch. Oak Bluffs, MA 2557,
Steven Valenti Clothing for Men
So many men's stores have forsaken good, old-fashioned service for the ubiquitous bottom line. But integrity still means something at this North Street shop, where customers can choose from among Coconut Grove silk sport coats, XMI dress shirts, Barry Bricken cotton trousers, and Cole Haan loafers. And shopping at Steven Valenti ensures a flawless fit: An on-site tailor will adjust your purchases. 157 North St., Pittsfield, MA stevenvalenticlothing.com.
Harvest Cooperative Supermarket
With close to 200 herbs and spices to choose from, Harvest remains the wise shopper's best bet. Planning a romantic dinner? In one stop you'll find the cardamom, tumeric, and cilantro for your seductive Chicken Pasanda, and some Damiana herb to help keep the— uh— mood up. Bulk dispensers allow you to buy as much or as little as you need, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. 581 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Capone Foods
Italian on demand: Stuff the freezer with an assortment of Capone's gnocchi, ravioli, and tortellini, and toss in a couple of containers of vivid pesto and cardiac-crisis Alfredo sauce. Guaranteed, your guests will bicker over the last square of ravioli stuffed with lobster and crab, the last crescent of aged Gouda tortelloni. The three varieties of fresh gnocchi are addictive— black pepper, chive and sweet potato— and all plump up like miniature footballs when you cook them. 14 Bow St., Somerville, MA .
Polcari's Coffee
Of course the coffee at this quaint North End shop is excellent. It comes from the Excellent Company in Rhode Island. There was a day when the Polcari family (merchants here since 1932) roasted the coffee beans themselves, but you won't miss a thing in their current stock— particularly when you're wired on their Italian roast (truly black, terrifically pungent, and tremendously oily). Ralph and Marie Polcari can make any mix to suit your needs— or buy the raw beans to mix and roast yourself. 105 Salem St., Boston, MA .
Clio
The cool taupe walls with pure white trim make you feel as if you've stepped into a late-model Bentley. This is the type of place to come when a relationship sours (you'll make up) or a distant relative comes to town (conversation will flow). Still, the high-brow ambiance encourages a friendly camaraderie—a glance at a neighbor's appetizer is met with a conspiratorial smile. And Ken Oringer's dashing fare is certainly worth smiling about. Eliot Suite Hotel, 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Anthony's Pier 4
The wine list at Anthony's Pier 4 is deceptive: It's a Wine SpectatorGrand Award Winner (since 1982), and it is huge in a way that usually suggests an equally huge bill at the end. But do flip through the 30 pages or so. Jump from Champagne to German Eisweins. Then pick your favorite without laying out the huge markup most restaurants charge. Do not confuse this with low prices...you get what you pay for! Word to the wise—we're recommending the wine, the food is up to you. 140 Northern Ave., Boston, MA .
Sharrock's English Bakery
Forget "English muffins" and get a hold of the original article. These crumpets are filling enough for a decent breakfast (and, if you have the power to skip butter, they're fat- and cholesterol-free), yet light enough to leave plenty of room for lunch. Ex-pat Brits swear they're the only "real" crumpets this side of the Atlantic. If mail order's not your bag, the bakers also market their goods under the Trader Joe's label (at all Trader Joe's stores in the area). 1649 Wheeler St., North Dighton, MA .
Eastern Bakers Supply
Chartreuse colanders and French blue ramekins can dress up a cupboard. But if you really love cooking, you know kitchens should be more function than form. So make like local chefs and frequent Eastern Bakers Supply, a warehouse-style jumble of no-frills, serviceable cookware at cut-rate prices. The crowded aisles house pots, mixing bowls, tart pans, pepper mills, and oversize whisks, spatulas, and spoons. The options are limitless—so long as you're okay with stainless steel. 145 N. Washington St., Boston, MA 2114, easternbakers.com.