Local 149
The fried Brussels sprouts smothered in chipotle-lime sauce justify a trip to this one-and-a-half-year-old hot spot all by themselves. But as long as we're here, we'll also take the tater tots poutine and the pressed-duck club sandwich, and follow it all with a Delirium Tremens, just one great selection from the vast tap list. Chef Leah Dubois's playful dishes taste even better against Local 149's backdrop of rainbow-hued vintage seltzer bottles, chalkboard tables, and reclaimed wood floors. 149 P Street, South Boston, MA 2127, local149.com.
Tertulias Café
At this modest storefront with a tiny bar in the back, a crowd drawn mostly from the neighborhood’s large Colombian expat community gathers from morning to evening for hefty plates of Colombian specialties and a few Venezuelan dishes. Come for arepas with shredded chicken, mildly fiery shrimp ceviche, fried red snapper, or the staggering montañero plate (steak, chicharrón, plantains, beans, fried egg, and rice) and soak up the relaxed neighborhood vibe. 26-28 Porter St., East Boston, MA 02128, tertuliasboston.com.
Stonover Farm
A glistening pond dotted with ducks. A century-old farmhouse, made bright with eggshell-blue trim. A soaring barn adorned with bistro lights. That’s what awaits those who tie the knot at this sweetly rustic Berkshires venue. 169 Under Mountain Rd., Lenox, MA 01240, stonoverfarm.com.
House of Sarah Books
Loaf on the couches, chitchat with owner Jodi Malone, or mosey through the well-stocked stacks. This place feels like home, complete with a cat stunning in the front window. And the prices penciled in the front of the books are tough to beat. It's sweet relief from the sour pretension so often found in used bookshops. 1309 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .
Straight Wharf
A gorgeous waterfront location, impeccable service, creative New England fare from chef Gabriel Frasca—Straight Wharf has it all. Particularly notable are the signature clam bake—buttery lobster and chorizo over sweet corn and clams—and the flaky, baked-to-order strawberry galette with house-made buttermilk ice cream. 6 Harbor Square, Nantucket, MA 2554, straightwharfrestaurant.com.
Clear Flour Bakery
Not too sweet, not too sticky, these addictive, oven-warm, golden, glazed concoctions, known as Morning Buns, are required a.m. accompaniments to coffee and the newspaper. That's assuming they last until you get back home. Available with or without walnuts. 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA .
Paul Connors
This man does incomprehensible things with figs, pears, and berries—along with rich, dark chocolate and creamy creme brûlée. Desserts are by their very nature the stuff of overstatement, but it's an insensitive dolt who's not moved to distraction by Connors' creativity and sweet confections. Cafe Louis, 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
Bob the Chef's
If you can beat two eggs, your choice of breakfast meat, hot bread, grits or home fries, juice, and coffee for five bucks, let us know. Don't miss what may be the best sweet-potato pie in the city. 604 Columbia Ave., Boston, MA .
Rosenfeld
Arguments over who makes the best challah can go on longer than Rosh Hashanah services. Our pick? Rosenfeld, where the loaf (pictured at left) is delightfully dense, moist, and balanced in its egginess and sweetness. If you can resist tearing it apart, slice it thick for sandwiches—it absorbs brisket juice like a beast. 1280 Centre St., Newton, MA 2459, .
NewBridge Café
We ate pounds and pounds of steak tips this year on a deep dive into the history of this uniquely New England dish (see the May issue for more) — and found our favorites here, marinated in a sweet barbecue-style sauce and grilled to a perfect tenderness. Don’t forget the hot cherry peppers on the side. 650 Washington Ave., Chelsea, MA 02150, newbridgecafe.com.
Red Rock Bistro & Bar
The sweeping view of the Boston skyline is nice (especially at sunset), but when it comes down to the matter at hand, Red Rock delivers the delicious goods: great food. Chef Allen Bohnert sticks to a primarily seafood menu with such traditional choices as a creamy clam chowder teeming with freshly shucked clams, as well as contemporary takes like roasted salmon with tamarind glaze and carrot flan. He also has an admirable touch with pork—don't miss the "Pig Out," a spread of pork served three ways. 141 Humphrey St., Swampscott, MA redrockbistro.com.
Bantam Cider Company Tasting Room
With pours spanning the cider spectrum—from the cherry-tinged Rojo to the farmhouse-style Sweet Scrumpy—Bantam’s taproom serves up a refreshing alternative to your typical neighborhood watering hole. Claim a standing table, and make a day of it. 40 Merriam St., Somerville, MA 02143, bantamcider.com.
Moonshine 152
Come for rotating Jell-O shots; stay for the funky food, served until 1:30 a.m. nightly. Peckish? Nosh “party tots” smothered in a mélange of sweet-and-spicy sauces. Ravenous? Crush a personal-size meatloaf topped with loaded baked-potato “aioli.” 152 Dorchester Ave., Boston, MA moonshine152.com.
Art Cliff Diner
It’s the compelling twists on familiar staples that keep the crowds coming to this Vineyard Haven diner on steroids: Biscuits are made with sweet potato, crêpes come loaded with Parmesan, prosciutto, and kale, and crunchy potato pancakes are piled high with Irish bacon and griddled eggs. 39 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA 2568, .
Kane's Donuts
Fluffy, not too sweet, never greasy—these were the criteria by which old-school favorite Kane's earned its nod. Stars include the fluffy honey-dipped and the insanely moist buttercrunch cake, dubbed by one taster as 'the best I've ever had.' 120 Lincoln Avenue, Saugus, MA 1906, .