Oishii
Sushi restaurants these days often look like futuristic temples, and the newfangled rolls they serve are themselves elaborate works of architecture. So it may seem surprising that a cramped 13-seat spot with nightly hour-long waits continues to inspire such reverence. And then you taste the fish: buttery baby hamachi scattered with slivered jalapeño; a teacup full of creamy Kumamoto oyster sashimi; and, for timid eaters, stellar samples of standard tuna and salmon. 612 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill, MA 2467, oishiiboston.com.
Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurant
Far from the hubbub of the North End and the glitz of Back Bay, Brighton's Tasca has found its way into the affections of couples seeking quiet, affordable romance. First daters will like the pitchers of potent sangria, while couples celebrating anniversaries can coo over shared salt cod croquettes or shrimp with sizzling garlic. Snag a table in the back, where you can feed each other forkfuls of paella in private. 1612 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA tascarestaurant.com.
Jumbo Seafood
Select a sea bass or blackfish from a giant tank, watch the waiters skillfully net it, and wait. Just 20 minutes later, said fish arrives steamed with scallions and ginger. It doesn't get any fresher than this. From seafood delight in a crispy nest of taro root to spicy fried calamari with pepper, Jumbo's menu is consistently heads—and fins—above those of its Chinatown neighbors. 5-9 Hudson St., Boston, MA jumboseafoodrestaurant.net.
Bill Rodgers's
Last December, the Boston Marathoner went to the Globe with a sob story about how evil Bank of Boston was foreclosing on his happy Dover home to settle a bank loan to Rodgers's running-goods store. Lo and behold, four months later, Rodgers announced that the bank had given him a fair price on his home and had signed him to a personal-services contract. Hmmm.
Brenden Crocker's Wild Horse Café
When people start gathering outside a bar before 5 o'clock, it's a sign of either a really choice watering hole or really thirsty locals. Not seeing Beverly as much of a hard-core tippler's town, we bet it's the former when it comes to Brenden Crocker's—half cushy restaurant (good for date dinners and quiet conversation), half relaxed pub (good for face-melting martinis and general bibulous bonhomie). Combined with nimble service, it makes for a night out that's worth queuing up for. 392 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 1915, brendanbehanpub.com.
Castle Island
What more could you want in a picnic spot? There's grass for the kids and animals, picnic tables, water surrounding you on all sides and a 2.1-mile exercise loop to work off your lunch. Want to picnic without packing? Swing by Sullivan's, a takeout eatery serving burgers, fries, seafood, and ice cream at the entrance to Castle Island. The kicker? Free entertainment in the form of planes roaring over the area seconds before they land at Logan. William J. Day Boulevard, South Boston, MA mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/castle.htm.
Alton Place Shoe Repair
An Armenian religious icon watches over Valeriy Gazaryan and his customers at Alton Place Shoe Repair, in Brookline, and indeed, his work seems to border on the miraculous. Gazaryan is a man of few words. He silently examined our tired boots—scuffed leather, busted zippers, worn-out heel—and agreed to see what he could do. Four days later, our boots came back shined, rezippered, and reheeled, all for about $25. 3 Alton Place, Brookline, MA 2446, .
Yunnan Kitchen
Yunnan Kitchen's boiled pork in chili oil. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal Chinese cuisine in Boston got a welcome expansion with the arrival of this South End spot showcasing Dian fare, which dazzles with eye-watering mala heat (fresh chilies and Sichuan peppers), fierce raw garlic, and novel aromatics like the gingery tsaoko. Bring friends to share huge, fragrant, bubbling pots of pork in chili oil and Yongping braised chicken, and learn why chef Yisha Siu has already garnered a James Beard Award nomination for Best Chef Northeast. 1721B Washington St., South End, MA 02118, yunnankitchensouthend.com.
Old Ironsides
The USS Constitution is back in the water and fully rigged. The oldest commissioned warship in the United States, Old Ironsides provides not only a fascinating glimpse of a bygone era but a great place from which to see the city. Follow the Freedom Trail to Charlestown and look for the USS Constitution Museum in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA .
Fugakyu
The old-school Japanese-themed décor may be a bit hokey, but this Brookline institution still offers adventurous eaters an unrivaled selection of creative rolls, such as spicy cod roe with squid and scallion and grilled pineapple, crab, and cucumber. Traditionalists will be equally sated by the sublimely fresh nigiri, which kimono-clad staffers deliver literally by the boatload. 1280 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 2446, fugakyu.net.
The Loft Salon and Day Spa
Michael Albor approached our box-dyed, peppered-with-gray mop with a single question: What was your hair's hue in grade school? Three hours later, this miracle worker had restored our locks to their former luster, accented with honey-brown highlights and champagne notes we hadn't seen in decades. 253 Newbury St. #2, Boston, MA 2116, theloftsalonanddayspa.com.
Brick Cellar at Atria
Estonian beer, caipirinhas with a citrus twist—this swanky underground bar is not your typical Vineyard watering hole. The drinks are fun, the atmosphereis cozy and intimate, and the food (including 10 different burgers) is tasty. Don't miss the photo booth on your way out. 137 Main St., Edgartown, MA atriamv.com.
Warren Tavern
Paul Revere called it his favorite watering hole. George Washington is said to have stopped by for a brewski. Since then, thousands of townies have lifted a pint to their memories. The oldest tavern in continuous operation in the city of Boston, this is the real prototype for Cheers. 2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown, MA .
Julien Bar at the Hotel Meridien
There's no more appropriate place to seal the deal than in the Julien Bar, once the reception room for the governors of the Federal Reserve Bank and now the financial district's most appealing watering hole. But keep it clean: N. C. Wyeth's murals depicting Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton set a lofty tone. 250 Franklin St., Boston, MA .
Michael Gritzuk
During his blessedly short reign as executive director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Gritzuk managed to blow $2.2 million on ritzy marble ashtrays, brass wastebaskets, oak desks, and leather couches while studiously ignoring the problems he was appointed to solve.