Kelly Nezat
The man has magic hands! Nezat, a recent transplant from the now-defunct Spa on Newbury, not only releases any stress-induced tension knotting your body with the fundamental Swedish massage, he can also pinpoint problem areas and offer sweet relief with more advanced techniques. With his strong yet gentle touch, you'll leave feeling like a wet noodle. And he'll do it for a whole hour longer than your Significant Other's brief obligatory poke-and-prod. Candela Laserspa, 28 Arlington St., Boston, MA .
La Ruche
La Ruche owner Brooke Laughlin gives Martha Stewart a run for her questionably earned money with the precious stationery and invitations she stocks at her colorful Newbury Street shop. More creative than stuffy, the lines by Dempsey & Carroll, Surtout Pour Vous, and the Wren Press run the gamut from monogrammed note cards to customized printed invitations. Choose from sweet ribbon-topped birth announcements, pony-shaped children's party invitations, even sophisticated cocktail invites. 164 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Salts
In a fiercely competitive category, Salts takes the cake for its extraordinary Eastern European-accented appetizers (chive pierogies with sweet Maine lobster, smoked paprika-fired gypsy bundles); its friendly, informed waitstaff; and its insanely decadent chocolate soup dessert. Entrées—both fish and meat—are brilliantly executed, each a medley of unexpected ingredients, such as pan-seared halibut with mahogany clams, fiddleheads, fennel, and roasted potatoes. Salts also offers a topnotch wine list, a nice selection of ports, and a warm, charming décor. 798 Main St., Cambridge, MA saltsrestaurant.com.
Modern Pastry Shop
Don't ever trust a bakery with prefilled cannoli. Modern fills them on the spot, so you don't get soggy cylinders found at so many pastry counters. The shell of this perfect cannoli is light and flaky, never greasy, and the not-too-sweet ricotta cream is never dry or slimy. Filling cannoli to order takes longer than squirting the cream in advance, but if you're in a rush, you shouldn't be in the North End anyway. 257 Hanover St., Boston, MA .
Party Favors
Whether you want a cake covered in flowers, ballerinas, or baseballs, this is the place. Not only does the cake taste great (especially the frosting), the decorators can reproduce any cockamamie theme your birthday boy or girl desires. We've gobbled a cake topped with an iceberg and a Sweet 16 cake with a saucy blonde Barbie waving from her little Deuce Coupe. There are traditional birthday cakes, too, domed in a trellis of flowers and ribbons—pretty, delicious, and appropriately decadent. 1356 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Truc
A warm and radiant person must be at the heart of a romantic restaurant, and chef-owner Corinna Mozo fills this sweet subterranean spot with her love of cooking and a sensual style. Walls in this intimate nook are painted a lusty green. The unstudied mix of artwork keeps you in a relaxed South End mindset. And since the menu is neither exclusively highfalutin nor high-priced, you can turn any meal into a celebration. Hint: The most romantic seats in the house are in the greenhouse. 560 Tremont St., Boston, MA .
Erbaluce
Drawing on his Piedmontese heritage, Charles Draghi turns out elegant northern Italian-inspired fare with a delicate touch—homemade pappardelle with cubed beets and speck; butternut-squash broth with spicy shrimp; and wild boar with a Concord-grape mosto, all designed to pair with the restaurant's Italian wine list. A one-time contestant on the Food Network show Sweet Genius, the chef also excels at after-dinner treats—we're partial to his mascarpone-stuffed pear enrobed in caramel. 69 Church St., Boston, MA erbaluce-boston.com.
Craigie On Main
Pity us. We're so inclined to stuff our bellies full of chef Tony Maws's house-made pastas and glorious takes on pork that we have a hard time saving room for dessert. This is tragic, because it's simply not a Craigie experience without the wildly decadent confections assembled by Jessica Scott. She expertly blends traditional delights (bourbon-pecan ice cream) with inspired elements (a bacon-Mexican chocolate crust) for an extraordinary savory-sweet finale. 853 Main St., Cambridge, MA 2139, craigieonmain.com.
Coonamessett Inn
With its glossy, red shingles and gabled roofs, the Coonamessett Inn is the epitome of old Cape Cod, a perfect setting for high-style weddings and anniversaries alike. But you needn't wait for a special occasion: Sunday brunch features an array of delicious classics, from make-your-own omelets and baked salmon with special weekly sauces like beurre blanc or citrus, melon, and mango, to oversized fruit plates and gorgeous renditions of sweet favorites like chocolate mousse and carrot cake. 311 Gifford St., Falmouth, MA 2540, capecodrestaurants.org.
P.J. Waters, Radius
P.J. Waters made his name at Via Matta with his irresistible 'mascarporeos,' whipped mascarpone with delicate chocolate cookies. At upscale Radius, he's let his imagination soar with innovations such as deconstructed carrot cake with mascarpone, pickled carrot salad, and a shot of spicy coriander chai and the Cinema Paradiso, a sampler of crunchy chocolate, cherry slush, and buttered popcorn ice cream. This is no standard sugar fix. Waters's creations boast a delicate balance of creativity, whimsy, and old-fashioned, sock-it-to-you sweetness. 8 High St., Boston, MA 2110, radiusrestaurant.com.
Blue Ginger
You'd think that after eight years, a fusion joint like Blue Ginger might be a tired concept; after all, who doesn't offer garlic-black pepper lobster these days? But Ming Tsai is a disciplined kitchen maestro: He knows not to mess with the classics (like that aforementioned oft-imitated lobster) and how, and when, to create new ones (such as sweet Hawaiian-style tuna ;poke atop a crispy rice cake) that keep his menu fresh—and little old Wellesley a gastronomic destination. 583 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02482-6411, ming.com/blueginger.
No. 9 Park
Regulars at No. 9 Park are devoted to the house cocktail for the same reason they are to chef Barbara Lynch's prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras: It's simplicity perfected. While similar combos at other establishments tend toward the cloying, the Palmyra balances subtly sweet Rain vodka—made from white corn—with locally picked mint and a squeeze of lime to create an irresistible, always refreshing summertime sipper. 9 Park St., Boston, MA 2108, no9park.com.
Jake's Boss BBQ
Slow-smoked, slow-cooked, but served fast, Jake's pork ribs are greasy slabs of heaven. Or they would be, if heaven were built out of meat so tender it melts off the bone in saintly gobbets, doused in a sauce precisely balanced between infernal smoke and angelic sweetness with just the right smack of spices. The devout will also want to pay homage to the beef ribs, the brisket, and the "burnt ends," all of which are equally divine. 3492 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA .
Rani Indian Bistro
Rani is a study in contrasts. The spicy pinch of lamb vindaloo meets the sugary melt of mango chutney, and the taste of sour curry is followed by the sweet nectar of a rose lassi. No taste bud is ignored at Coolidge Corner's hottest new bistro. The atmosphere is airy and pleasant, with authentic décor to match the authentic Hyderabadi cuisine. And the service is as steady as the stream of locals coming through the door. 1353 Beacon St., Brookline, MA ranibistro.com.
Flat Patties
For those of us who've longbelieved that a burger's quality is directly proportional to its heft, it defies logic that one of the beefiest, juiciest, tastiest (and cheapest) burgers in town is, in fact, flat as a pancake. Well seasoned and slathered in a sweet mayonnaise sauce, Flat Patties' freshly ground patties are tender and packed with flavor. The nicest part? The quarter-pounder rings in at just $3.95. 33 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 2138, flatpatties.com.