The "Rescued" Red Sox Banner
[caption id="attachment_2770385" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images[/caption] “We need to negotiate heah,” said Louie Iacuzzi in an epic pseudo-ransom video after he and James Amaral found a lost Sox banner. They got squat, but we got a good, hearty laugh.
Deuxave
White-tablecloth dining is on the wane in Boston as diners gravitate to more-casual, modest formats. But some evenings still call for cosseting service, beautiful food, and rare wines. Amid a sea of steak-frites-slinging bistros, chef Chris Coombs’s Back Bay temple to la gastronomie française still provides an elegant setting — and gorgeous renderings of French classics like foie gras and roast duck — for celebrations of romance, round-number birthdays, or self-care splurges. 371 Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, MA 02115, deuxave.com.
Tawakal Halal Café
This East Boston favorite continues to impress with its heartwarming takes on Somali food and a broader look at East African and Middle Eastern cuisines. Sip a refreshing iced shaah and dig into falafel-stuffed chapati wraps, fragrant plates of chicken biryani, and crispy beef sambusa. And be sure to top it with the fiery and fruity house hot sauce, a mango-based stunner that takes any dish up a notch. 389 Maverick St., East Boston, MA 02128, tawakalhalal.com.
Bab Al-Yemen
Lucky Kenmore Square got one of the region’s only Yemeni restaurants last year — a superb (and superbly homey) addition to the neighborhood and Boston at large. From enormous pieces of fresh flatbread and warming stews to clove-and-cardamom-spiced teas, the lovely halal menu makes this a cozy spot in the winter, after the latest Sox game, or anytime, really. The ambiance adds to the comfort, from the colorful stained glass to the traditional low, pillowed seating area. 468 Commonwealth Ave., Fenway/Kenmore, MA 02215, babalyemenboston.com.
Sekali
You have to act fast to catch Sekali: The immensely popular pop-up tends to sell out quickly, thanks to its flavor-packed lineup of Malaysian cuisine, a rarity in Boston. The menu’s always changing, but watch for dishes like pulut panggang (glutinous rice wrapped in a banana leaf, grilled, and stuffed with savory mixes such as rendang, pork floss, and braised anchovies) and jars of sweet kaya jam, courtesy of chef Derrick Teh, a Pagu and Momi Nonmi alum who hails from Borneo. sekali.boston.
Giulia
With so many great Italian restaurants in the Boston area, competition for this category is always fierce, but this decade-old trattoria from chef Michael Pagliarini and his partner Pamela Ralston remains at the head of the pack for good reason. Several reasons, actually: its pretty, rustic ambiance; superb local sourcing; spectacular grilled and roasted meats; and, above all, delectable pastas rolled out every day on a long table that seats big parties at night. 1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, giuliarestaurant.com.
Riccardi
This Newbury Street shop counts Usher, Bruce Springsteen, and numerous NBA and NFL players among its loyal clientele. And no wonder: Riccardo Dallai Jr., who runs the store that his parents started in 1978, has a masterful way of mixing styles. Interspersed with high end fashion from the likes of Gucci, Brunello Cucinelli, Thom Browne, and Versace is streetwear from new-to-Boston designers, not to mention an incredible selection of designer jeans. 116 Newbury St., Boston , MA 02216, riccardiboston.com.
The Dubliner
Buoyed by a fervidly proud Irish-American population, Boston boasts many fine pubs serving good Irish whiskey and proper Guinness pints. Quality Irish cuisine? Not so much — at least not until Donegal native Aidan McGee (who cut his teeth at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.K.) debuted the Dubliner opposite Government Center. Here, he brings Irish fare closer to acclaimed Dublin levels with stellar fish and chips, traditional Sunday roasts, and an unmatched Irish whiskey selection. 2 Center Plaza, Boston, MA 02108, thedublinerboston.com.
Polkadog Bakery
Dogs and cats were not meant to live on kibble alone, so thank our lucky paws there’s Polkadog. Unlike the endlessly bland aisles you’ll find at big-box pet-food stores, this homegrown success stocks its shelves with unexpected products, from “Clam Chowda” treats to New England-farmed meat jerky, made daily at its South Boston kitchen. And thanks to the locally sourced ingredients, you don’t have to let Fido’s diet go to the dogs. 256 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, polkadog.com.
Bethany Van Delft
Long one of our favorite Boston standups, this mother of two and tireless advocate for inclusion of children with special needs is a unique combination of high-alert neurosis and deadpan, low-key delivery. Since March 25, she’s been hosting her “Artisanal Comedy” show live on Instagram every Wednesday at 9 p.m., and her hilarious observations about the pandemic have kept us in stitches, even while we assiduously try to avoid the emergency room. MA bethanyvandelft.com.
Bishop John M. Borders III
Bishop John M. Borders III of Mattapan’s Morning Star Baptist Church partnered with Boston Medical Center and Mattapan Community Health Center to use his house of worship as a vaccination site — and in so doing, gave the community a trusted place backed by a trusted leader to receive lifesaving shots. Now that’s what we call keeping the faith. 1257 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, MA 02126, .
J.Roc Design
Successfully designing city dwellings essentially boils down to one thing: creative use of space. And architect Jeremy Jih, the master of scale and proportion behind Boston-based J.Roc Design, has demonstrated his unique solutions for building in tight confines time and time again. One recent standout? A South End loft made roomier and airier thanks to a dramatic — yet space-saving — 20-foot spiral staircase that connects the home’s main level to a rooftop garden. 27 Wareham St., Boston, MA 02118, jrocdesign.com.
Commonwealth Kitchen
For a preview of the next big thing in Boston restaurants, check out whatever’s cooking at CommonWealth Kitchen. Dorchester bakery Top Shelf cookies and jerk-spiced J.P. spot Jamaica Mi Hungry are among the dozens of success stories born out of the important incubator, which connects fledgling food entrepreneurs — especially woman- and BIPOC-owned oufits — to both production facilities and brick-and-mortar restaurant spaces, including an upcoming food court at MIT. 196 Quincy St., Dorchester, MA 02121, commonwealthkitchen.org.
French + Italian
Even as her Boston outpost thrives, Aimee Lombardi continues to have faith in the suburbanite’s thirst for interesting fashion, traveling to Europe several times a year to bring home pieces that are thoughtful and thrilling but still hew to New England needs—chunky sweaters by Marni, memorable (yet wearable) dresses by Anne Willi. Insightful and cheery staffers remind shoppers why brick-and-mortar beats online: Chances are good you’ll walk out with something you never even thought to try on. 129 Washington St., Marblehead, MA 01945, frenchitalian.com.
Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel
If you stayed here, you’d never want to leave. After 12 years as a Kimpton hotel, this year the Nine Zero unveiled a top-to-bottom transformation, courtesy of local firm Korn Design, showcasing plush leather headboards, velvet drapes, and Eames chairs (think: classic Boston Brahmin meets midcentury-modern cool). Those fabulous views of the golden dome, however, remain blissfully the same. 90 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02108, ninezero.com.