Best of Boston

A genuine Brahmin throwback from the setting to the food, Locke-Ober is an enclave of mahogany and red velvet. A quiet place to talk, it boasts an attentive but unintrusive staff decked out in morning coats and long white aprons, and a menu of reliable fare, including baked lobster, roast duckling, and steak tartare. Dessert? Indian pudding, of course.