Rhythm & Spice
This Central Square hot spot whips up mean stewed-goat curries and plantains, and presents live reggae on Friday and Saturday nights. Throw in some Jamaican beer and coconut ice cream, and a dreary evening in Cambridge turns into a warm, tropical Jimmy Buffetteria. 315 Massacusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Cantina La Mexicana
Surging past a field of (alas) generally bland contenders, the recently renamed Union Square taqueria packs its 'burro' with grilled veggies and savory charred pork, distributes those goodies evenly, and mercifully eases up on the rice padding. 247 Washington St., Somerville, MA 2143, lataqueria.com.
Rox Diner
Originally just a breakfast spot, Rox Diner is now offering three squares a day, largely prepared with locally sourced produce and all-natural meats. What to Order: The "Green Lantern" burger with avocado, pesto aioli, and smoked Gouda; crab cakes; sweet-potato-and-black-bean chili. 1881 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA roxdiner.com.
Victoria's Diner
For greasy-good grub at 2, 3—even 4—in the morning, head to Andrew Square and order the "Deconstructed" at Victoria's: two eggs with two pancakes or French toast, plus bacon, ham, and sausage, all for less than $15. Just be sure you bring a friend to help. 1024 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA 2118, victoriasdiner.com.
The Comedy Studio
Located in the somewhat seedy attic of the Hong Kong, a Chinese restaurant, this Harvard Square club is deliciously low-tech. Yet it continues to be a pipeline to Hollywood for today's comedy giants, and NBC talent scouts have been known to linger in the shadows. 1238 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, thecomedystudio.com.
H.M. Stevens
It's no secret that hot dogs taste best at baseball games. H. M. Stevens's Fenway offerings are nothing to fast for, but the setting makes them most palatable. The Indoor Hot Dog Champion is the Underdog (get it?) in Harvard Square, which serves the classic New York kosher frank a la Nathan's. Fenway Park, Boston, MA .
CCL HomeScapes
With more than 20 display kitchens in a 12,500-square-foot showroom, plus several in-house designers, CCL HomeScapes offers plenty of culinary inspiration and expertise for homeowners. Abington, MA capecodlumber.com/homescapes.
M & M Ribs
M & M Ribs has won over new fans at SoWa with its mouthwatering barbecue, but on most days you can find the truck parked just outside Dudley Square. 82 Hampden St., Roxbury, MA 2119, mandmribs.com.
Sophia's Grotto
Tucked into a little courtyard behind Rozzie Square, this lovely Italian spot is one of our favorite places to while away a warm evening with a pitcher of sangria. What to Order: The antipasto; spicy mussels. 22 Birch St., Boston, MA sophiasgrotto.com.
Grossman's
The new store in Danvers, with 44,480 square feet, puts this chain of stores in the same league as Home Quarters, the colossal newcomer. But the exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable sales staff puts Grossman's in a class by itself. All locations, .
Atasca
The room couldn't be cozier, the ingredients couldn't be fresher, the Portuguese cuisine couldn't be tastier, and the wine couldn't be cheaper. Who knew the Azores were just outside Kendall Square? 279- A Broadway, Cambridge, MA .
Anything by Blue Potato Installations, a window-display company owned and operated by Kristin Lauer
Lauer picks through junkyards to create the thought-provoking , often humorous window displays at Jasmine and Sola, in Harvard Square, and at North Beach Leather in Copley Place (among other stores). She gets an E for effort and an A for adventurousness.
City Sports
Some sporting goods stores sell bicycles, basketball standards, and enough firearms to straighten out any quagmire. By contrast, City Sports covers fewer square feet than the superstores, but stocks things you actually want to buy—from running shoes and weights to baseball gloves and lacrosse sticks. 1035 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA citysports.com.
Cambridge 1
The Harvard Square favorite opened up a second location in the Fenway last year, giving fans twice their fill of fanciful combinations (lobster and corn, potato and fontina) atop a superflat grilled crust. Or, as we like to think of it, heaven on a cracker. 27 Church St., Cambridge, MA 2138, cambridge1.com.
The Rosebud Diner
While the rest of Davis Square submits to a yuppified takeover (Coming Soon! Starbucks!), the Rosebud is one of the last holdouts of old-time Somerville. Okay, the bloody brawls are a thing of the past (that's a good thing). But the food is still hearty, the atmosphere classic, and the waitresses downright motherly. 381 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville, MA .