Tawakal Halal Café
This national-caliber Somali kitchen makes and bottles its own luxuriously supple-textured mango-habanero hot sauce, which adds just the right zhoosh of incendiary complexity to coconut-milk grits with slow-cooked chickpeas; unctuous braised goat (hilib ari) bursting with turmeric and cardamom; and, honestly, any leftover taking up space in your fridge right now. 389 Maverick St., East Boston, MA 02128, tawakalfoods.co.
Lenox Sophia
Southie didn’t need another pub. It needed, and received in Lenox Sophia, a fine foodie destination for popping in on the way home from work — having reserved one of the four chef’s-counter seats, ideally — and decompressing over a set prix fixe: steaky king trumpet mushrooms with honey-fermented garlic, miso, and tart dried plum might be on the menu from ones-to-watch chefs Shi Mei and Yesid Areiza. The wine? That’s whatever you bring: It’s BYOB. 87 A St., Boston, MA 02127, lenoxsophia.com.
Moonshine 152
If you live in the neighborhood, you know the menu — the crowd-pleasing jalapeño crab rangoon, the legendary mushroom tofu burger, the famous fried chicken and waffles. You know the staff, too, especially effervescent chef-owner Asia Mei, who’s always there with a smile as she checks in on diners. For weeknight dinners and weekend date nights, this is the living room of Southie, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. 152 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA 02127, moonshine152.com.
Steve Johnson
An alumnus of Chris Schlesinger's East Coast Grill and Gordon Hamersley's eponymous bistro, Johnson is the quintessential product of Boston's familial and sometimes incestuous restaurant scene. Bridging the gap between the austere classicism of Hamersley's and the raucous atmosphere and aggressive flavors of East Coast Grill, Johnson also draws on sophisticated French and Asian influences. Having also mastered Schlesinger's grilling techniques, he has now come up with his own imaginative and well-prepared rendition of the new American cuisine. All of which means that his combination of talent, patience, and perseverance is a winning one indeed. And as one of the founders of the local chapter of the Chefs Collaborative and the Fresh Sheet - as well as a tireless mentor - he's a culinary gift that keeps on giving. The Blueroom, One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
Row and Ride
Indoor cycling studios are so 2014. These days, it's all about group rowing classes, and now New England has its very first dedicated rowing studio right here on the South Shore. Launched by Kerry Connolly, a longtime news anchor for CBS Boston, Row and Ride offers group rowing and stadium-style cycling classes for a new spin (ahem) on the latest fitness trends. The squeaky clean facility also has a fully stocked locker room with showers to rinse off after sweating it out in class. 200 Webster St., Hanover, MA 02339, rowandride.com.
Grainmaker
Finally, Bostonians with gluten allergies can grab fantastic fast-casual meals without fear of cross-contamination. At Grainmaker, guests fill rice, noodle, or salad bowls with vibrantly flavored fixings like sweet-chili shrimp, lemongrass steak, pickled veggies, and zippy sauces such as spicy hoisin — all with absolutely no gluten (or dairy) in sight. It’s a surprisingly hard-to-find concept we hope catches on, and here’s another: Grainmaker’s pioneering approach to reusable packaging, which gives customers discounts for choosing the restaurant’s returnable glass takeout containers and, in the process, saves thousands of pounds of waste. Multiple locations, eatgrainmaker.com.
Bred Gourmet
No matter the time of year, the burgers sizzled here instantly evoke thoughts of sunny summer cookouts. That’s because Bred flattens and seasons its burgers right on the grill, preserving the juiciness of restaurant-quality, grass-fed Maine beef while lending the perfect outer char we love to bite into at backyard bashes with neighbors. The single most lip-smacking result might be the Maui burger, a luau-like lineup of bright pineapple, grilled ham, sweet plantains, and spicy pepper Jack cheese, all doused in sauce from nearby M&M BBQ. 2255 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124, bredgourmet.com.
Montien
The city's most delicious proof that life exists beyond pad Thai is found within these neon-lit walls. Authentic and exceptionally fresh dishes dominate chef-owner Tony Suktheva's Thai menu (ask for it specifically, or odds are you'll be handed the Americanized version), and they've earned him a rabid following. It's well-deserved. Straight-from-Bangkok dishes like kai jeaw moo-sub (omelet with shrimp and chili) and larb gai (super-spicy minced chicken) sing with the region's sharp flavors: lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chile. The red curry is smooth, sweet, and teeming with gorgeous veggies. Oh, and for the record: There is pad Thai, and it's superb. 63 Stuart St., Boston, MA montien-boston.com.
Clear Flour Bread
This tiny, nestled-away Brookline bakery may not have prime real estate, but it's easy to find. Just follow the intoxicating aroma of fresh, crusty baguettes down Comm. Ave., turn left at the sweet, wafting scent of brioche, and stop when you catch a glimpse of glossy challah and crackly sourdough through the steamed-up windows. Another sign you've come to the right place: the line of impatient locals streaming out onto the sidewalk, all hankering for an impossibly perfect loaf piping hot from the oven. 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 2446, clearflourbread.com.
Coast Café
Dainty eaters, beware. Only those with a hankering for a little grease and gobs of pork-addled flavor are able to handle the made-to-order plates at Cambridge's stick-to-your-ribs haven. Sure, the chicken's great, but there's also smoked turkey with collard greens, and bread crumb-encrusted mac and cheese, and silky sweet potatoes, and (the only thing harder than settling on an order here, you'll find, is nabbing one of the few seats). Coast Café may not have much competition in these parts—KFC? Popeyes?—but it could surely hold its own in Dixie. 233 River St., Cambridge, MA 2139, .
The Scarlet Oak Tavern
The dish is hot crab-and-cheese dip, and it goes a little something like this: chunks of tender, sweet blue crab tossed with heavy cream and supersharp cheddar, then wood-fired to a roof-of-mouth-scorching sizzle. After that, the menu at this guilty-pleasure oasis is your oyster. Or your goat cheese-slathered wild mushroom pizza. Or your flaky chicken potpie with a scrumptious baked side of three-cheese macaroni. The elegant setting is so picturesque you could have your wedding reception here—so long as you let out the dress first. 1217 Main St., Hingham, MA 2043, scarlettoaktavern.com.
Stacy Klein, Pigalle
It was the delightful French pixie Amélie who set us on a quest for the perfect, crackable crème brûlée. And it's another sylph, Pigalle pastry chef Stacy Klein (how does she stay so slim?) who's finally delivered it. Klein's creamy custard, infused with sweet corn, is heavenly under a patina of burnt sugar that cracks like glass. Also amazing is her grown-up version of s'mores, toasted á table and paired with milk-chocolate sorbet and candied kumquats. You'll be tempted to skip your main course (but don't!). 75 Charles St. S., Boston, MA pigalleboston.com.
The New England Soup Factory
Next time you're sick and Mom offers to bring over some chicken noodle soup, ask her if she can swing by Brookline instead. Even the best grandmother can't beat a selection that changes daily and includes mouthwatering, innovative tastes such as artichoke bisque, chilled melon, roasted red pepper and corn chowder, and pureed portobella mushroom. All are thick, delicious, if slightly pricey ($4.25 for 12 ounces, but worth it). The only disappointment is the clam chowder, which runs a little too sweet for our panel of experts. 2-4 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA .
Hole in One
Who knew brunch in a takeout box could be so sweet? Before escaping to the National Seashore, pick up some much-needed fuel at this restaurant and bakery with locations in Orleans and Eastham, which offers its beloved stacks of cinna- mon-roll pancakes and scallion-cheddar biscuits smothered in sausage gravy to go. Word to the wise: Whatever you get, don’t forget to add a dozen hand-cut doughnuts (including specials like blueberry crum- ble, s’mores, or Reese’s) to your order. 98 MA-6A, Orleans, MA 02653, theholecapecod.com.