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Giacomo's Ristorante
Customers usually line up before the doors open so they are guaranteed a spot in the first round of seating at this North End favorite. Enthusiastic and entertaining waiters, plus cramped quarters, ensure that you get to know your neighbors. The cuisine is no-frills southern Italian fare, served in unbelievable portions. The specialty of the house is Zuppa di Pesce (around US$50 for two), chock full of shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels and lobster.
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Ginza
Named after Tokyo's upscale center of culture and finance, this traditional Japanese restaurant (complete with servers in kimonos) rates among Boston's best sushi places. The freshest pieces of nigiri, sashimi and maki are artfully presented, offering a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. There is a second outlet near Kenmore Sq.
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Great Bay
A stylish seafood restaurant. Grey-orange hues and loungey leather chairs surround a circular bar in the center of the eating area, while a side dining room is bathed in silkscreen flowers, jewel tones and subdued light. The food is no less delightful - seafood standards like salmon and scallops come alive with fresh herbs, seasonal veggies and spicy island influences.
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Grotto
Tucked into a basement on the back side of Beacon Hill, this cozy, cave-like place lives up to its name. The funky decor - exposed brick walls decked with rotating art exhibits - is emblematic of the innovative, ever-changing menu. Pastas, seafood and steaks are served with an unexpected twist. Spaghetti and meatballs is a tried and true favorite thanks to 'insanely fabulous tomato sauce.'
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Hamersley's Bistro
Consistently at the top of every 'best restaurants' list, Hamersley's serves perfectly prepared French and country American cuisine. The seasonal menu is diverse, but the house specialty is a simple, delicious roast chicken with garlic, parsley and lemon. The ambiance is warm and inviting - not at all pretentious for such a classy place. Reservations highly recommended.
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Harvest
A Harvard Sq classic. This place is simple but sophisticated, a description that applies to the menu as well as the space. The modern American fare allows for some regional influences, such as the seductive raw bar. Local luminaries, especially Harvard faculty, are often spotted here. Foodies will enjoy Harvest Review (around US$39 ), a monthly event that features a four-course dinner, wine pairings and a well-credentialled speaker.
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Helmand
Fusing flavors and techniques from India and the Middle East, the Helmand shows off the rich, diverse and little-known cuisine of Afghanistan. The active, open kitchen - complete with an oven that turns out melt-in-your-mouth flatbread - is entertainment enough in this simple dining room. And the dishes it produces are exotic and enticing. Not to mention that the place is owned by the brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
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Hi-Rise Bread Co
Eating at Hi-Rise feels like somebody invited you over for lunch. The cozy dining room upstairs is crowded with mismatched tables; when weather is fine, find a seat on the terrace. You'll be joined by academic types, who frequent this place for steaming soups and well-stuffed sandwiches, as well as crusty loaves and fresh-baked sweets. Everybody agrees it's overpriced, but somehow they can't resist.
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House Of Siam
In a traditional dining room done up in red and gold and decked with souvenirs from Siam, this is the South End's favorite Thai restaurant. The extensive menu includes no shortage of perfectly spiced curries and fried rice. It's not the trendiest place on Columbus Ave, but the gracious service and reliably good food attract a constant stream of regulars.
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India Quality
India Quality has been serving chicken curry and shrimp saag to hungry students, daytime professionals and baseball fans since 1983. The place is rather nondescript, but the food is anything but, especially considering the reasonable prices. Service is reliably fast and friendly.
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Intermission Tavern
Enter beneath the masks of Comedy and Tragedy into the cozy interior, where show posters adorn the brick walls. Sandwiches, burgers and old-fashioned American dinners are on the menu at this tiny theatrically themed tavern. The place is a relative newcomer, but reasonable prices and late-night dining are bound to attract clubbers, theater-goers and other night owls.
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Ivy
Ivy is the rare place that manages to combine all the elements: chic, urban decor; cool but unpretentious vibe; and excellent, innovative food and drink. All this, and it won't break the bank. The menu is mostly small plates - pastas, salads and seafood - meaning more piatti to sample and share. Afterwards, all guests receive a complementary scoop of organic gelato - a fine finish to your meal.
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J Pace & Son
J Pace used to be a little neighborhood grocery, so crammed with jars of olive oil that it was difficult to navigate. The new spacious quarters on Cross St have room for a fully stocked kitchen, so the place now offers freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, soups, calzones and pasta. Order at the counter and take your lunch to the pleasant plaza.
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Jacob Wirth
Boston's second-oldest eatery is this atmospheric Bavarian beer hall. The menu features wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten, potato pancakes and pork chops, but the highlight is the beer - almost 30 different drafts, including Jake's House Lager and Jake's Special Dark. On Friday nights, Jake hosts a sing-along that rouses the haus.
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Jae's Café & Grill
'Eat at Jae's… Live forever!' is the inviting motto of this popular pan-Asian restaurant. Enjoy the terrace in fine weather; otherwise, head down to the cozy bar, surrounded by exposed brick walls and colorful fish tanks. The menu of sushi is extensive, but Korean dishes like bi-bim bab are the specialty.
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Jasper White's Summer Shack
This Back Bay outlet of Jasper White's famous restaurant is as big and noisy as the lobster is delectable. Portions are large and preparations are straightforward: specialties include traditional lobster rolls, steamed clams and a magnificently huge raw bar. This is a great spot for kids, but solo diners aren't shafted either. The original location is bit out of the way - in North Cambridge near Alewife T station.
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Jumbo Seafood
You know the seafood is fresh when you see the huge tanks of lobster, crabs and fish that constitute the decor at this Chinatown classic. But it's not only seafood on the menu, which represents the best of Hong Kong cuisine. Other specialties include braised duck with mushrooms and Szechuan-style shrimp. Lunch specials (around US$5 to US$7 including soup and fried rice) are a bargain.
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June Bug Cafe
Dressed up like a June bug, this bohemian café's green-and-purple walls show off the work of local artists. Big, comfy couches (not to mention wi-fi access) invite surfers to settle in for an afternoon, sipping bubble tea or noshing on well-stuffed sandwiches. Vegetarians are well catered for, especially if they indulge in imitation meat.
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King & I
This Thai standby is simple - spartan, even - but service is efficient and the meals are satisfying. Noodle and rice dishes are served straight up, without much flare but with plenty of flavor. The specialty of the house is the 'famous' Pad Thai, but more adventurous diners should sample the recommended spicy curries. The menu offers many 'no oil' entrées for the health-conscious, and almost unlimited vegetarian options for the animal-conscious.
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Kingfish Hall
Chef-entrepreneur Todd English, of Olives and Figs fame, has struck again. The imaginative menu offers seafood specialties like catch of the day roasted on the spit and crispy lobster served 'Cantonese style' (with ginger and scallions). Whimsical, under-the-sea decor includes tile tables inlaid with crustacean mosaics and fish mobiles suspended from high ceilings. You can watch the Faneuil Hall activity from the outdoor terrace.
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Kookoo
Across from the T-stop, Kookoo is a sooper-cute café serving delicious soups and salads - most with some hint of the magic of the Middle East. The seven sandwich rollups all are fresh, healthy and vegetarian, including the signature kookoo rollup (with parsley, spinach, coriander and minty yogurt). Pastries and coffees also get whipped up behind the counter. The tiny space is crowded with an eclectic display of gewgaws and only three tables.
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Koreana
Consistently rated as one of Boston's best Korean restaurants. It's worth the short walk up from Central Sq to sample the specialties from the BBQ grill, especially the prime beef ribs. Sushi, hot pots and plenty of vegetarian items guarantee something for everyone. And never fear... the service-oriented staff is sure to oblige newbies who may not know what to order.
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L'Osteria
This family-run ristoranti typifies the mouth-watering magic and Old-World charm of the North End. It's nothing fancy, but the service is friendly and the southern Italian fare is always delicious. Generous portions guarantee that you will have leftovers for lunch. The basement is sort of drab, so it's worth waiting for a table upstairs.
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La Morra
This sleek interior at La Morra is the setting for equally sophisticated dining, featuring small plates of antipasti and homemade pastas. A daily changing prix-fixe menu (around US$35 ) offers wine pairings (around US$15 ) to complement the three-course meal. The staff is pleasant and professional, though service can be harried when the place gets hopping.
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Lalã Rokh
Lala Rokh is a beautiful Persian princess, the protagonist of an epic romance by poet Thomas Moore. The tale epitomizes the exotic East, as does the aromatic, flavorful food served at this Beacon Hill gem. The ingredients will be familiar to fans of Middle Eastern cuisine, but the subtle innovations - an aromatic spice here or savory herb there - set this cooking apart. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from the knowledgeable waitstaff.
