Burritos Express
Forget La Verdad. Forget Anna's. Forget that tiny café whosit in Eastie that the Chowhound faithful have anointed the Mexican-food messiah. The city's burrito comes from a no-frills storefront in Downtown Crossing that specializes in quick lunches for slumming-it bankers. It's the handful of non-gringo grub (ignore the turkey wraps) that sets this dive apart, led by the al pastor burrito, a masterpiece encased in a well-griddled flour tortilla. Unlike its lesser competitors, Burritos Express understands that rice, beans, cheese, and guacamole are supporting players that should never upstage the star: fiery, chili-marinated, deeply charred chunks of pork. 85 Bedford Street, Boston, MA 2111, .
Pagu
A lot of restaurants pivoted to add grocery sales this year, but none did it quite like Pagu. Yes, chef-owner Tracy Chang stocks the virtual shelves of her market with jars of house-made condiments (including her bomb-dot-com Umami XO sauce), chef-driven provisions (see the eye-popping purple pancake mix made from taro root), and meal kits, all reflecting her restaurant’s Japanese-Spanish cuisine. Just as important, though, she’s also long on essentials — flour, EVOO, fresh produce — and through her new organization, Project Restore Us, home-delivers them to communities in need. 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, gopagu.com.
Burritos Express
Forget La Verdad. Forget Anna's. Forget that tiny café whosit in Eastie that the Chowhound faithful have anointed the Mexican-food messiah. The city's best burrito comes from a no-frills storefront in Downtown Crossing that specializes in quick lunches for slumming-it bankers. It's the handful of non-gringo grub (ignore the turkey wraps) that sets this dive apart, led by the al pastor burrito, a masterpiece encased in a well-griddled flour tortilla. Unlike its lesser competitors, Burritos Express understands that rice, beans, cheese, and guacamole are supporting players that should never upstage the star: fiery, chili-marinated, deeply charred chunks of pork. 86 Bedford St., Boston, MA 2111, .
Baja Betty's
Pardon the pun, but this was one of the most hotly contested categories this year. Happily for burrito lovers, the city has several delicious options; sadly, only one can become the best. This Brookline newcomer, a spin-off of a cheerful little hole-in-the-wall in New York, specializes in the Tex-Mex variety: rice, beans, pico de gallo, and your choice of fillings, such as carne asada (marinated charbroiled steak), chili colorado (lean pork in a spicy guajillo-chili-pepper suace), or pollo (chicken in a red moule sauce)—all rolled in a fresh-flour tortilla. 3 Harvard Square, Brookline Village, MA .
Joanne Chang's MasterClass
Ever marveled at the luscious, confectionary perfection that is the Flour sticky bun, and wished you could replicate it? Thanks to a series of online lessons from Boston pastry queen Joanne Chang — who’s currently sharing her James Beard Award-worthy techniques in a 30-day Bake Like a Pro course on MasterClass — now you can at least try. Even if you can’t get it just right, at least you’ll get to hang out virtually with one of this city’s friendliest celebrity chefs, and get your apron dirty in the process. masterclass.com.
Pastry Love, Joanne Chang
Just before self-isolation drove all of us into home-baker mode, the sugar-speckled sage behind Boston’s Flour Bakery + Café empire released her latest tome (and with it, scored her most recent James Beard Award nomination). Its 125 recipes, accompanied by brief journal-like backstories, cover everything from caramel popcorn cookies to s’mores pie to orange-almond pudding cake. Each helped us experiment beyond simple sourdough and, during socially distant times, felt like a loving hug from a local dining legend. flourbakery.com/books.
Night Shift Brewing
You’ll find plenty of old-school Neapolitan and Sicilian slices in the neighboring North End, but if you’re craving Detroit-style pizza — a square-cut variety slowly starting to appear in Boston — you’ll need to stop by this young TD Garden–side brewery, which tapped a super-talented team of Eastern Standard alums to perfect its recipe. Locally milled high-gluten flour yields a wonderfully chewy, sheet-pan-deep pie built with sweet tomato sauce on top of salty, tangy cheese that reaches all the way to the caramelized edge — and don’t forget the crispy, heat-curled cups of dry-aged pepperoni. 1 Lovejoy Wharf, West End, MA 02114, nightshiftbrewing.com.
Bab Al-Yemen
Boston needs more occasion-worthy Middle Eastern restaurants, so the 2022 arrival of this pretty Yemeni spot was especially welcome. Its lower-level dining room evokes the colors of the modern San’a skyline, while the homey yet plush first floor offers both Western seating and traditional Yemeni dining on low tables and floor cushions. It’s a lovely and atmospheric setting for the halal delights of Yemeni cuisine: enormous flatbreads, airy legume spreads, and hearty lamb stews and roasts. 468 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, babalyemenboston.com.
The Garment District
The best selection of the good old classics (read: second-hand clothes) can be found on the second floor of the Garment District. Leave the dollar-fifty-a-pound first-floor stuff to the true scavengers, and head upstairs to neatly racked selections of retro-to-contempo clothes of all styles. There you can also take your pick from the store's rich jean pool, including Lee, Levi's, Guess, Jordache, and so on. 200 Broadway St., Cambridge, MA .
Jillian's
Among up-scale pool halls, the original Jillian's gets bonus points for being there first. But what sets it apart from the competition is all the stuff beneath the third-floor pool tables: hundreds of high-tech video games on the second floor and a decent restaurant/mental amusement park called the Atlas Grill at street level. Which means there's lots of things to do on a Friday night while you wait hours for a pool table. 145 Ipswich St., Boston, MA .
MiniLuxe
MiniLuxe garners raves for its devotion to hygiene (technicians sterilize tools in the same machines used by surgeons and dentists), but the three-year-old chain takes its perfectionism a step further: The salon is immaculately clean, sleek, and decorated with gorgeous displays of high-end beauty products. Best of all, the manicures are the most detail-oriented in town. As far as technicians go, we're still partial to last year's pedicure winner, the ultrasweet Shayna Shirazi at the Newbury outpost—but everyone we encountered was pleasant and thorough. Bonus: Prices are only a few bucks more than at those blinking-neon-light nail salons—and polish colors are always on-trend. Try the new OPI Axxium gel polish, which lasts two blissfully chip-free weeks. 296 Newbury St, Boston, MA 2116, miniluxe.com.
Fish Kids
Unless your child has a contract with Kix, you probably don't dress him in expensive outfits destined to wear more cereal than he digests. Miniature linen suits and raw-silk dresses have their place, but shorts that can survive the sandbox and tees that don't need to be dry-cleaned are what most parents are after. The racks at Fish Kids are filled with just that—"better everyday clothing" by European makers such as Catimini, Cakewalk, and Confetti. There are even 125 different styles of shoes from brands including Buckle My Shoe and Aster. Overwhelmed? Owner Donna Fishman knows her stock—and her clientele—and can fill Junior's closet without spending his college savings. 1378A Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Bank of Boston
A controversial choice, no matter how you cite it, considering the bank's relatively recent troubles with the law. Happily, Bank of Boston has since then kept its nose clean and its books in order. Despite some shaky Latin American paper on its ledgers, the bank reported a bracing 34 percent rise in profits this year. Moreover, our cockles were warmed by a number of neighborly gestures: those full-page Globe ads congratulating the coaches of our suddenly successful sports franchises, for instance. And the bank's sponsorship of M. L> Carr's "Say No to Drugs" campaign in area schools. Some would dismiss these as mere public relations gestures. Bleeding hearts that we are, however, we were moved. After all, second chances are what America is all about.
Louis Boston
Buyer Debi Greenberg scours the globe to find the in fashion for men and women alike. Her Back Bay store is known the world over for its incredible timing, with many design darlings of the fashion press finding their way onto its floors before they hit the big time. The store caters to a wide variety of ages, from street fashion on the ground floor to power suits on the second and third levels, and a mix of women's wear designers from Kiton to Imitation of Christ. There's also an extensive and cutting-edge makeup counter, Salon Mario Russo, and a top-notch restaurant. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA louisboston.com.
Crane Beach
The long, winding boardwalks and grassy dunes at Crane Beach can magically readjust the tired mind of even the most citified creature. After sinking your toes into the beach's soft white sand, you may decide to trade in your power suit for a bathing suit—permanently. Bird lovers, bring your binoculars—Crane is home to more than 200 aviary species, including wild turkeys. Getting there a problem? For those without wheels, take the commuter rail to downtown Ipswich, and then bike five miles to the beach. For those who drive: Stop to go antiquing in nearby Essex on the way. For kids of all ages: Don't miss Crane's annual sand-sculpture competition on August 12. Beach amenities: ample parking, refreshments, clean bathhouses, and outside showers. Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA .