Grafton Street Pub & Grill
There's something for every Cantabrigian at Grafton Street, from tweedy professor to tyke-toting moms. Appetizers range from the unusual (lobster risotto, spring rolls with duck confit and Asian vegetables) to the more familiar (calamari and salads), and entrées from walnut-crusted sea scallops and pan-seared veal to pizzas and pastas. Quaint yet creative, inventive but affordable, this hangout musters the impossible task of being all things to all people. 1230 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA graftonstreetcambridge.com.
East Coast Grill & Raw Bar
It could be the regular eruptions of the volcano in the Lava Lounge. Or the Sunday morning brunch, complete with a make-your-own-bloody mary bar. It could be the open kitchen jumping with live fire and young chefs wrangling large pieces of meat and fish. Maybe it's the pulled-pork sandwich with crunchy coleslaw and baked beans. But most likely, it's owner Chris Schlesinger's serious approach to having fun that makes the East Coast Grill a restaurant we're happy to head to—even if only to down a dozen briny, local oysters at the raw bar. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA eastcoastgrill.net.
India Palace
With its great taquerias, Irish pubs, and Korean restaurants, this thriving Somerville neighborhood offers plenty of restaurants to try. Our vote this year goes to India Palace. Sure, the friendly service and simple décor make dining here a pleasant experience, but it's the delicious, inexpensive, and exotic food that brings us back. Tandoori specialties like chicken marinated in spiced yogurt, vegetarian dishes such as chana masala (slow-cooked chickpeas in a rich tomato-based sauce with coriander and sweet onions), and a creamy mix of onions, nuts, and herbs called rogan josh make it hard to decide which dish to try. So go ahead and try them all. The prices are that low, and with plenty of experience from their busy takeaway business, the servers will be more than happy to pack up your leftovers for you. 23 Union Square, Somerville, MA indiapalacesomerville.info.
Tupelo
Fun as it is to play hooky from the world at a cool, insidery haunt, at some point you need to get along home, culinarily speaking. And ringing that get-your-butt-in-here-for-supper bell with both hands is Tupelo, a southern joint that sets the table with soulful family recipes and heavenly desserts (brown-butter pecan pie!). Most Inman folks weren't raised on this kind of food, but judging by the way they've been packing into Tupelo since its April debut, maybe their kids will be. 1193 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, tupelo02139.com.
Central Kitchen
It's nice to know that even as so many things in Central Square are changing, Central Kitchen stays the same. The casually hip bistro is still as charming and inviting as ever, with affordably priced bistro fare and an enticing wine list loaded with bargains. It's the perfect place to scarf down some steamed mussels and enjoy the simple pleasures of steak frites perfectly prepared. With an interesting crowd hanging out at the bar most nights, lively conversation is a sure bet—and so is a meal at Central Kitchen. 567 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA enormous.tv/central/index1.html.
Casablanca
We'll forgo the hackneyed movie references here. Casablanca, while canonized by the classic picture of its namesake, has forged its own identity as a tried-and-true Harvard Square hangout. Every night of the week pulls in cute young couples huddling over Turkish meze spreads and warm olives, regulars on a first-name basis with the chatty waiters, and Oxford-clad yuppies who kick back in the corners under the shadow of palm fronds. They all converge in the bar-cum-boîte, where high-octane martinis and an accessible wine list only deepen the appeal of this beloved institution. 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA casablanca-restaurant.com.
Trina's Starlite Lounge
The overwhelmingly friendly service goes a long way toward making Trina's feel cool, but without any pretension—a lot like Inman Square itself. What to Order: The fried chicken and buttermilk waffles; southern-style ramen. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA trinastarlitelounge.com.
The Independent
In the past year, Somerville has exploded as a culinary destination. And while the Union Square food scene may change as a result, there's one constant: our beloved Indo,with its relaxed service, bacon deviled eggs perched atop cucumber slices, and stacked beer list featuring favorites from both home (High & Mighty's Beer of the Gods) and away (Six Point Brewery's Sweet Action). 75 Union Square, Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
Five Horses Tavern
Davis Square has seen its share of exciting openings this year, but we continue to adore this tavern's eccentric fare. The Kentucky-fried Cornish game hen comes with jalapeño-spiked mashed potatoes; the "lobstah" pizza is topped with pork belly and grilled corn; and Brussels sprouts get a kick from a fish-sauce vinaigrette. Those dishes—and the international beer list—are what keep our heart true. 400 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 2144, fivehorsestavern.com.
Miracle of Science
Appropriately enough, given its Cambridge locale, this place revels in its nerdiness. The seats are lab stools, wine is served in beakers, and the menu is plastered on a huge chalk-drawn periodic table—yet the vibe is somehow hip. We like to go late on weekend nights for the terrific burgers and meat skewers—and the great people watching afforded by the massive queue from Middlesex that snakes by Miracle's giant windows. 321 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2115, miracleofscience.us.
Foundry on Elm
Davis gained two terrific new spots in 2010: the pizza-and-pasta-focused Posto, and the brasserie-inspired Foundry. Both roll out top-notch food and drink in a chilled-out atmosphere, and bolster the area's buzz by being packed most nights of the week. But Foundry's extensive bar and wide-ranging menu (everything from burgers and croque-monsieurs to a seafood tagine and Vietnamese-style ribs, served with a locavore spin) give it the edge. 255 Elm St., Somerville, MA 2144, foundryonelm.Com.
East Coast Grill & Raw Bar
Celebrated grill god Chris Schlesinger's Inman Square spot is its own Cambridge institution—part community hangout, part nationally known restaurant, part vacation. Wild décor (from the blackboard that shouts daily fresh fish specials to the kitschy "live volcano") and even wilder mixed drinks (like the scotch bonnet pepper—infused "martini from hell") set the scene for equatorial specialties from the world's most spice-obsessed regions. That means terrific barbecue, sweetly rich fried plantains, wasabi-laced tuna, and an inventive postmodern pupu platter to die for. Hot-food connoisseurs shouldn't miss "Hell Night," a fiery food challenge featuring some of the spiciest foodstuffs on the planet. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA eastcoastgrill.net.
Central Kitchen
This casually hip Central Square boîte may no longer be the well-kept secret it once was, but it's still well worth the wait for a table in the sexy, darkly lit dining room to sample chef/owner Gary Strack's delicious cuisine. The steak frites are simple and delectable; the grilled octopus, clean-flavored and beautifully presented. In fact, everything at Central Kitchen is as casually well dressed as the clientele that fills the stools along the bistro's long slate-and-blue-tiled bar. 567 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
The Independent
The hip harbinger of the buzzy Union Square restaurant scene, the Indo has been pouring craft beers and feeding Somervillians and their friends since 2001—talk about foresight. What to Order: The quinoa salad with shaved fennel and grapefruit; the Hanson & Roberts Farm grass-fed cheeseburger. 75 Union Sq., Somerville, MA theindo.com.
Green Street
Green Street Green Street has been around since the Great Depression. These days, it's serving up seasonally inspired dishes and a variety of creative libations (ask for the "special" cocktail binder for even more options). What to Order: The double-bacon cheeseburger; fried yucca; steamed mussels. 280 Green St., Cambridge, MA greenstreetgrill.com.