Sekali
Whenever Sekali announces preorders on Instagram, the food sells out faster than plane tickets for post-vaccine vacations. Why? Because Borneo-born chef Derrick Teh’s transportive, modern Malaysian-inspired recipes are world-class — from the jars of sweet and creamy coconut-milk jam he home-delivered during the pandemic to the plates of richly spiced short-rib rendang available for pickup during his restaurant pop-ups. He doesn’t have his own brick-and-mortar (yet!), but with talent like this, he’ll go far no matter what the future holds. instagram.com/sekaliboston.
Row 34
The recent shuttering of seafood landmark Island Creek Oyster Bar has made us even more protective of chef Jeremy Sewall’s legendary lobster roll, which lives on (thank heavens!) at his Row 34. There we find heaping portions of sweet and tender meat, caught by Sewall’s cousin, a Maine lobsterman. It’s served tossed in warm butter and sprinkled with sea salt, or mixed with cool mayo, cr&_egrave;me fra&_icirc;che, and pickles for “Ethel’s Lobster Roll,” named for Sewall’s grandmother — a family recipe for lasting success if there ever was one. Multiple locations, row34.com.
Coast Cafe
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 Street, Cambridge, MA 2139, coastsoulcafe.com.
Mezé Estiatorio
For a taste of Greece that goes beyond gyros and souvlaki, hike over to the Charlestown restaurant that brings new elegance to local Greek dining. Mezé's vertically stacked horiatiki, for example, creates a new form for the classic Greek salad with fresh feta, sweet peppers, and crunchy cucumber. The kakavia, a smoky saffron-tomato-lobster broth, is a bounty of seafood topped with a croustade to sop up any remaining soup. And Mezé's namesakes—small dishes of tasty appetizers alongside incredibly fresh bread and hummus—are so hearty they're practically main dishes in themselves. 100 City Square, Charlestown, MA .
Maureen Kilpatrick, Oleana
There's something you should know about Maureen Kilpatrick: Her baked Alaska is such a dreamy, caramelized puff of fluffy, warm meringue with coconut ice cream, and a delicate macaroon, doused with a pool of brilliant yellow passion fruit caramel, that once you taste it, you may never want another dessert again. It's simply that good—all at once hot and cold, soft and crispy, sweet and tart. Kilpatrick's other creations, from tapioca tartlet to palace bread, a syrup-soaked bread pudding, perfectly complement Oleana chef and owner Ana Sortun's Mediterranean cooking. 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA oleanarestaurant.com.
Jo Jo Taipei
Long before every trendy restaurant was putting pork-stuffed bao on the bar menu, this Allston stalwart was serving up a (perfectly) traditional version of the Taiwanese specialty: a fluffy steamed bun filled with shreds of tender pork, bitter mustard greens, and a sprinkle of peanuts tossed with sugar for a sweet-salty crunch. These, along with other Taiwanese staples (thick scallion pancakes, plump soup dumplings stuffed with pork and crab roe, and basil-scented eggplant), more than explain why the large dining room is packed with chopstick-wielding diners each night. 103 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA jojotaipei.com.
Wellesley
In the past year, Wellesley center has enjoyed a spate of buzzed-about openings, including tapas bar Bocado; eastern Mediterranean spot Juniper (from chef Dave Becker, of Sweet Basil fame); and an outpost of modern barre studio the Bar Method (we have to burn off all those extra calories somewhere). There'll be more to come when the luxury mixed-use condo development the Belclare opens this fall on the former Wellesley Inn lot, bringing even more restaurants and shops, including high-end Nantucket clothier David Chase. MA
Black Market Nubian
For husband-and-wife team Chris and Kai Grant, founding this Roxbury-based market in 2017 wasn’t just about giving local Black- owned businesses a much-needed platform; it was about revitalizing the neighborhood. It’s no surprise, then, that Black Market has since evolved to include a public-art initiative, designed to support area artists in the creation of community-centric murals throughout Nubian Square. And as for the pop-ups? They’re still going strong, with events featuring vendors hawking bath products, handmade jewelry, sweet treats, and more. 2136 Washington St., Boston, MA 02119, blackmarketnubian.com.
Dragon Pizza
These pies clearly show a passion for the art of pizza-making without being too precious for a Tuesday-night snack. Toppings are top-notch and cover every craving: There’s the ruddy spice of house-made red-wine-and-garlic sausage. The sweet-and-salty dialogue between bacon and drizzles of chili-spiked maple syrup sourced from a sugar shack in the Adirondacks. Even citrus accents to balance the richness in Dragon’s lemon-chicken pizza, a nod to the signature dish at the late, great Hamersley’s Bistro. Read more 233 Elm St., Somerville, MA .
Honeycomb Creamery
Former Union Square Donuts kitchen manager Kristen Rummel and her husband, Rory Hanlon, started churning up batches of ice cream for deliveries and pop-ups in 2015. Now their new Cambridge brick-and-mortar dishes out even more of those sweet, fluffy scoops, made with milk and cream from Mapleline Farm in Hadley. Seasonal flavors like Meyer lemon-ginger and cookie-laden alfajores make it tough to choose just one, which is why we usually opt for Honeycomb's ice cream flight—a four-flavor assortment sprinkled with waffle-cone chips. 1702 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, honeycombcreamery.com.
Brewer’s Fork
Moody’s-sourced Jersey pork roll dripping with spicy ketchup and melted American cheese, vintage ’80s cartoons projected over the bar, and a crisp Centennial-hopped pilsner cooling in your palm: Welcome to bleary-eyed bliss. At this hair-of-the-dog miracle worker in Charlestown, toast the end of your weekend with co-owner Michael Cooney’s cache of craft-beer rarities and a menu of celestial breakfast hits ranging from sweet (banana-bread waffles) to savory (chilaquiles) to downright delicious (bacon-and-onion breakfast pizza). 7 Moulton St., Charlestown, MA 02129, brewersfork.com.
Maura Kilpatrick
At Oleana, no one orders the warm chocolate cake or the crème brûlee. That's because, we're pleased to relay, there isn't any. Kilpatrick pays dessert the respect it deserves, melding rose petal, blood orange, and other exotic flavors into homemade ice creams and stunningly original sweets like her brown-butter bread pudding with milk jam and mulberries. She even gives the standards a twist: The big-enough-to-share baked Alaska comes with coconut ice cream and passion fruit-caramel sauce, a heavenly combo that establishes Kilpatrick as a classic in her own right. Oleana, 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA oleanarestaurant.com.
Limelight
There are two kinds of karaoke-goers: traditionalists "just in it for the music" and Axl-style mike hogs. Limelight suits both. More than 5,000 songs provide variety, and an always appreciative, largely tipsy audience supplies the right amount of Idol-esque egging on. (Those suffering from stage fright can "Sweet Child o' Mine" it up in private studios modeled on clubs in Tokyo, where subtitled singing is practically a professional sport.) The food may be greasy and the drinks can be weak, but never having to share stage time with "Sister Christian"-loving frat boys is more than a fair exchange. 204 Tremont St., Boston, MA limelightboston.com.
Scribe
This is just to say that the apology note you left on the fridge didn't quite cut it, and the person whose sweet, cold plums you scarfed down is profoundly annoyed. Next time, put those words of remorse—or thanks, or affection—on something that gives them a bit more weight. At cornucopian paper shop Scribe, choose from scores of distinctive cards (Smudge Ink, B Designs) and refined stationery from the likes of Boatman Geller. If a gift is required, there are fragrant Seda France candles, Heather Moore jewelry, plus purses, pens, and more. (But sorry: no replacement plums.) 84 Washington St., Marblehead, MA 1945, .
Olivia Rose Children's Boutique
Scientists theorize that cute babies have had an evolutional leg up, as our Stone Age ancestors were less likely to abandon them. Modern-day parents are obviously far more civilized—but all the same, one could argue that Olivia Rose owner Gloria Peotrowski does give her tiny customers an edge. Her racks of darling yet functional clothing and accessories—including tees from California brand Le Top, colorful leggings by Mulberribush, and jumpers by Sweet Potatoes (tagged with product names like 'You're My Pumpkin Pie')—make their wearers so adorable, they'll be able to get away with anything. 1945 Ocean St., Marshfield, MA 2050, oliviarosechildrensboutique.com.