KingFish Hall
For a town that prides itself on its seafood, it can be tough to find a seafood restaurant that goes beyond the standard boiled lobsters or watery clam chowder. Enter KingFish Hall, where chef-owner Todd English has designed a menu that delights, with everything from traditional lobster rolls—sweet and tender lobster meat on a buttery, toasted nest of bread with just enough mayo and celery leaves to hold it together—to more complicated dishes, such as miso-marinated cod. There's also the "dancing fish" of the day (herb- and butter-basted fish placed on individual rotating skewers that spin around a circular wood-burning pit) and a daily chilled and briny selection of raw shellfish. As for the chowder, there's the not-so-traditional New England style, thick and delightfully creamy, or the ever-changing daily varieties accompanied by homemade oyster crackers. 188 South Market Building, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA .
Maura Kilpatrick, Oleana and Sofra
Plenty of pastry chefs around town put together fussy, high-styled confections that scream "innovation." But if you're looking for someone versatil—someone who can do comfort sweets as well as fine dining—there's no topping Kilpatrick. With both Oleana and Sofra bakery as her platforms, she twists her way through composed desserts (a funky take on baked Alaska; nougat glacé with apricot sorbet) and fly-off-the-shelves-good coffee cakes, sesame scones, and sugared donuts. What's more, her inventive use of Mediterranean ingredients produces stellar (and utterly addictive) results across the board. Oleana, 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-661-0505, oleanarestaurant.com; Sofra, 1 Belmont St., Cambridge, 617-661-3161, sofrabakery.com MA
East Coast Grill & Raw Bar
Celebrated grill god Chris Schlesinger's Inman Square spot is its own Cambridge institution—part community hangout, part nationally known restaurant, part vacation. Wild décor (from the blackboard that shouts daily fresh fish specials to the kitschy "live volcano") and even wilder mixed drinks (like the scotch bonnet pepper—infused "martini from hell") set the scene for equatorial specialties from the world's most spice-obsessed regions. That means terrific barbecue, sweetly rich fried plantains, wasabi-laced tuna, and an inventive postmodern pupu platter to die for. Hot-food connoisseurs shouldn't miss "Hell Night," a fiery food challenge featuring some of the spiciest foodstuffs on the planet. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA eastcoastgrill.net.
Oak Room
The real meat of a truly great steakhouse is just that: its meat. And while the opulent Oak Room may look too delicate to deliver on such a carnivorous front, this year it left the competition begging for scraps. Witness the splendidly marbled bone-in rib-eye, juicy to its sweet core. And the pliant slab of aged New York strip under a voluptuous horseradish sauce. Sides and seafood, too, are much more than standard: thick spears of tender asparagus, chilled artichokes with thick and fresh lobster tail, and sharp-flavored calamari salad. Service is thoughtful, informed, and perfectly timed, and the epic wine list is packed with impressive (mostly French and American) choices. Why haven't we mentioned the room's flat-out stunning décor by now? Because with credentials like this, it shouldn't matter. Saying the Oak Room isn't a real steakhouse is as silly as saying a beautiful woman can't be smart. Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Ave., Boston, MA .
Fifty-Three South
Don't let the trendy name fool you: Fifty-three South is far more nouvelle than nouveau. That's not to say this fetching bistro, opened at the site of the former Seasons restaurant, doesn't have a classic strain. Candles light the tables, dried flowers warm up the walls, and the delicate menu caresses the palate. Starters such as tender scallops paired with silky cauliflower cream are downright delectable, and the melt-in-your-mouth short ribs are plump with deep-flavored sweet and smoky meat. Main courses—the seafood stew of cod, crab claws, shrimp, potatoes, and fruity tomatoes, all swimming in a full-on saffron broth—are well-orchestrated balancing acts of texture and flavor. Factor in incredibly attentive service and a well-edited wine list, and you've got a bistro that defines modern classic. 124 Washington Street (Route 153), Norwell, MA .
Lucky, The Golden Banana
Looks like the Marlboro Man. Drips sweat all over me when we kiss. Peabody, MA
Out of Town Newspaper
European fashion mags, out-of-state newspapers, porn, and politically broad-sheets. If it can be read, it can probably be bought here. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA .
Glory
We openly mourned when chef Corinna Mozo left her South End restaurant, Truc, more than a year ago, but were quickly consoled when we learned that she had landed at Glory in Andover. Here, Mozo has created a Mediterranean-influenced menu with such offerings as an irresistible ProvenÁal fish stew and wild striped bass with sweet braised leeks and earthy shiitake mushrooms. Mozo occasionally uses Asian ingredients and techniques, seen in dishes such as carpaccio of tuna with mouth-puckering citrus and ginger splash, but she never veers off her delicious course in the process. Three different dining areas offer something for everyone: The large, low-ceilinged bar is a great spot for quiet conversation; a loungelike living room area is slightly more festive and ≠features a separate menu; and the two comfortable dining rooms exude elegance (one also offers live music on some nights). The friendly and unobtrusive waitstaff and an easy-to-manage wine list would make Glory a great restaurant anywhere. 19 Essex St., Andover, MA .
Dedham Country and Polo Club
It began 150 years ago as a polo club and now boasts golf, skeet, skating, Frank Sargent, and more Cabots than you can shake a polo mallet at. Dedham, MA
The Red Sox bullpen
These pyromaniacs could blow a nine-run lead to the Coors Silver Bullets all-women's team without breaking a sweat.
John F. Kennedy Library
Sure, it looks like something out of 2001. But to stroll through the interior is to be swept away in nostalgia. Columbia Point, Dorchester, MA .
Pratesi
We spend at least a third of our lives in bed—why not snooze in style with fine linens from this family-run company? Start with the ridiculously soft 100 percent Egyptian cotton sheets that left devotees Elizabeth Taylor and Andy Warhol swooning, then feather your nest with plush cashmere-and-silk throws. 110 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, pratesi.com.
Yates and Kennedy
Provincetown is a rather long way to travel for ultrahip vintage and modern accessories, but Yates and Kennedy is a true destination for the antler-hunting, owl-coveting, woodblock-pillow-desiring crowd. Bonus: After working up a shopper's sweat in the delightful store, you can skip down to the beach for an ocean dip. 368 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA 2657, .
John Kent & Co.
While most other high-end linen shops stock only their own labels, Kent carries a kaleidoscopic selection of Italian, French, and British manufacturers. In addition to sheets and the usual bedding accessories, the store also has great robes, slippers, and PJs. 232 Newbury St., Boston, MA .