Dok Bua
How do we love thee, Dok Bua? We love the Thai-American comfort food you so expertly turn out (the gloriously delicious pad see ew; the rich, spicy-sweet pineapple curry). We also can't get enough of your more-authentic dishes, like the miang kum—an ultraflavorful combination of dried shrimp, toasted coconut, peanuts, lime, ginger, and tamarind sauce served with spinach leaves for wrapping—and the wonderfully dense steamed egg with ground pork, which comes topped with loads of cilantro. But most of all we love that we can always expect everything to taste as fresh as can be. 411 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, dokbua-thai.com.
Brown Sugar Café
The sheer size of Brown Sugar's menu and the sizzling tease of the plates that come flying out of its always-busy kitchen can turn the most decisive diners into covetous rubberneckers. Fortunately, it's hard to go wrong here, whatever the choice. Chili addicts swear by the Old Lady Spicy, a mélange of roasted Thai eggplant, peppers, green beans, and sweet basil; meeker palates shouldn't miss the beef macadamia on gingery watercress. Need further guidance? An advance look at the restaurant's comprehensive online menu is the smart way to winnow the possibilities. 1033 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, brownsugarcafe.com.
Isla
Isla (Spanish for "island," for you monoglots) is no misnomer. This tranquil enclave of adorable designer pieces and accessories is smack in the middle of the North Shore's predominantly fusty fashion offerings. And who wouldn't want to be stranded with pretty pieces from the likes of Milly, Trina Turk, and Sigrid Olsen? Toss on any of the bold Tracy Reese tops, dally over the Chaiken trousers, or mill around in the Nanette Lepore collection. You'll find dainty and charming lingerie, plus plenty of sweet shoes and handbags. Such a prime selection, ample fitting rooms, and an easygoing sales staff cement Isla's status as the area's shore bet. 29 West St., Beverly Farms, MA .
Dessert Works
Kristen Repa has seen (and made) a lot of wedding cakes: Before launching her own bakery more than a decade ago, she honed her sweet skills at local institutions like Konditor Meister and the Catered Affair, and even trained at the renowned Konditorei Gerstner, in Austria. Whether you want your cake to match your theme, your personality, or your gorgeous gown, Repa and her team of pastry chefs will turn out an exquisite confection that tastes as good as it looks (dulce de leche or lemon—summer berry, anyone?). 302 Providence Hwy., Westwood, MA 2090, dessertworks.net.
Midwest Grill
It's easy—and frankly quite enjoyable—to overstuff yourself at this all-you-can-eat churrascaria. Enthusiastic protein purveyors circle the dining rooms brandishing skewers with steak, kielbasa, smoky linguiça, and tender pork with crackly skin. They all but slap you on the back when you agree to another slice of meat (especially the chicken heart), and look rather downcast when you send them away. While you're keeping them happy, make sure to save room for the buffet of sweet plantains and prepared salads, which has just enough options to satisfy any vegetarian tagging along with you. 1124 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA midwestgrillrestaurant.com.
Jenny’s Wedding Cakes
You won’t find any rainbow-hued cakes in Jenny Williamson’s portfolio—and that’s on purpose. The Amesbury baker takes a more refined approach, lending her pared-down aesthetic to bespoke confections almost too pretty to eat. Her penchant for art shines through in meticulously crafted florals and ruffles, while her 20-plus years of baking translates to perfected flavors. Whether you choose a cake filled with strawberry-champagne buttercream or layered with chocolate ganache, these extra-special desserts hit the (sweet) spot. MA jencakes.com.
Oak + Moss
Calling all plant lovers: This sweet Salem boutique has everything you need to transform your home into a garden oasis you’ll (really!) never want to leave. The best part? You can order its birds-of-paradise, philodendrons, and ferns online—as well as gorgeous planters to keep your new additions happy—then safely pick up curbside. And if you’re not sure your thumb is green enough, the shop also stocks home goods such as cheeky throw pillows and hand-poured candles to liven up your space. 143 Washington St., Salem, MA 01970, oakandmoss.com.
Uni
Cries of fine dining’s demise flooded the foodie ether when Ken Oringer closed Clio just short of its two-decade anniversary. But that decision has given the chef, as well as partner Tony Messina, the space to more fully develop the restaurant’s award-winning sister concept next door. Along with new street foods like a Vietnamese bologna bánh mì tartine, Oringer has expanded his sushi program to include cutting-edge nigiri (roasted carrot with vadouvan crème fraîche), maki (pickled sweet potato), and sashimi sourced straight from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, uni-boston.com.
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage
With comfort food topping the cravings charts these days, it's no wonder that getting a table at Bartley's has become an Olympic sport. The crowds come for the addictive handcut fries (regular or sweet potato), extra-thick mocha frappes (spoon required), and fun, pretense-free atmosphere. But most of the mob is here for the burgers, each meaty special dolled up according to the politico or celeb it's named after. (The Mike Tyson is a turkey burger; the Ted Kennedy, "a plump, liberal amount of burger.") The fresh-ground sirloin comes perfectly grilled, its center tender, deeply flavored, and juicier with every bite. 1246 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA mrbartley.com.
Bristol Lounge
Like early 19th-century vintage and all the glamor it entails, the Bristol Lounge is back. Actually, like the classic pearls and impeccably cut suits you'll find around its tables, the Bristol never really went away. But after losing this category last year to the Harvest, the Four Seasons' lounge and its burger have reclaimed their places in our hearts, and the reason why is simple: sweet beef that fills your mouth with so much flavor it's almost surreal. Toppings—from the thick and fruity slice of ripe tomato the specialty mustards and perfectly toasted bun—are first rate. Service is prompt and polite, and the setting is pure suave sophistication. Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA fourseasons.com/boston/dining/the_bristol_lounge.
Harvest
The three-course prix-fixe menu is everything brunch should be: a selection of sweet and savory breakfast and lunch dishes and an assortment of chilled seafood (Wellfleet oysters, countneck clams, shrimp) with a Bloody Mary or mimosa to wash it down. Dine inside for a plush, low-lit and serene atmosphere or outside on the secluded patio. Start with roasted oysters with mascarpone, pancetta, and spinach; granola and fresh fruit; or a Caesar salad with—hallelujah!—white anchovies. Move on to crab cakes with perfectly poached eggs, hollandaise, and ossetra caviar; French toast with spiced apples and sausage; or a smoked-salmon sandwich on toasted French bread with tomato, red onion, and parsley-caper egg sauce. Then prepare to nap away the afternoon. 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA .
sPoochies Spa and Boutique
Loyal sidekicking is hard work. So is giving a cat a bath (something we've learned the hard way). Make life a little easier for both you and your furry, filthy pal with a visit to 'sPoochies, where the gentle techs will get even the most hygiene-averse animal into show-ring shape: clipping nails, cleaning ears, decrusting fur, trimming those unsightly under-chin spots where drool goes to die. A generous selection of sweet-smelling grooming products provides the necessary tools for ambitious owners to try again at home, if they must. 400 Tremont St., Boston, MA .
Emma's
Emma's may have moved from Huron Avenue to Kendall Square, but it still boats the same great thin-crust pizza and 21 imaginative toppings, including smoked chicken, dried cranberries, calamata olives, and roasted sweet potatoes (as well as standbys such as sausage, onions, and pepperoni). The service is also friendly and attentive. And while it still isn't exactly spacious, the new location near the Kendall Square Cinema is big enough to fit 10 tables; the waiting area has the original counter from the old Huron Avenue store, a nice touch. 40 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA emmaspizza.com.
Pizza Oggi
Let the gourmets pile on their trendy precious toppings; the best serious classic pizza is the kind that gets the basics right. This barely decorated brick storefront in Jamaica Plain has its thin, simple pizzas down to a science: They're doused with herbed olive oil and scattered with cornmeal, then slathered in a tomato sauce that's tangy and slightly smoky. The crowning mozzarella starts out blistering hot, then cools to a smooth, gooey sweetness. If you really want it, you can get a version decked out with spicy sausage and such, but with flavor as pure as this, why bother? 8 Perkins St., Jamaica Plain, MA oggigourmet.com.
Crossing Main
An enclave of high-wattage style in a region otherwise devoted to Talbots, Crossing Main covers all the bases. Racks of Tolonen tulle-covered miniskirts and Tracy Reese paisley tops do double duty as both edgy and pretty, Kay Unger and Laundry shifts play to the prim and sweet set, and Nanette Lepore floral pants and Vanessa Fox cocktail dresses have sophisticated all wrapped up. Of course, this is still Hingham, so the boutique gives ample space to neopreppy rants like embroidered cords in—what else—bright pink and green. 5 Main St., Hingham, MA crossingmain.com.