Michael Scelfo, Waypoint and Alden & Harlow
Chef Michael Scelfo is opening Longfellow Bar. Just when we thought Michael Scelfo couldn't top his first venture, Alden & Harlow, last year he opened Waypoint, an of-the-moment spin on New England coastal cuisine where brash flavors (smoke, salt, and plenty of umami) buck up against luxe ingredients to dazzling effect. And Scelfo's bold empire will only continue to grow: The chef recently announced that he's opening a third Harvard Square concept, Longfellow. 1030 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-2300, waypointharvard.com; 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-864-2100, aldenharlow.com. 1030 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, waypointharvard.com.
Punjabi Dhaba
Despite its no-frills dining room, this Inman Square spot still has an electric vibe, thanks to Punjabi music videos playing on the TVs and an open kitchen from which you can watch bubbling-hot stews and curries emerge on metal trays. Standbys like samosas and chicken tikka masala are beautifully executed, but to mix things up, you’ll want to order owner Mohan Singh’s western Indian dhaba jerk chicken, spicy chili masala with paneer, and brilliant gobi paratha, a freshly baked flatbread stuffed with cauliflower and spices. 225 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 2139, punjabidhaba.co.
Diesel Cafe
Diesel is just what a coffee shop should be: a balanced union of hip and cozy. Helping up the cool quotient in Davis Square, Diesel has walls full of original artwork, high ceilings with exposed beams, red-felt pool tables, and comfy couches. Favorites of the house: Vietnamese coffees, aromatic teas, various espresso concoctions. Amenities: a laptop-friendly environment and miniboxes of cereal at breakfast time. Best part of the experience: being able to glance out the window at the green sign of a certain Seattle-based cafe and feel darned good about going indie. 257 Elm St, Somerville, MA diesel-cafe.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
The Island Creek Oyster Bar A few of the dishes that have already become legends in the few years since this sophisticated Kenmore Square spot opened: the fried-oyster sliders, which come smeared with chili-lime aioli and topped with pickled onions and arugula; the lobster-roe noodles, tossed with nubs of grilled lobster and braised short rib; and a house-made-saltine-topped casserole packed with scallops, fresh fish, lobster, and shrimp in a sherry-cream sauce. But if all you're really after is a basket of fried Ipswich clams—well, those are great here, too. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA islandcreekoysterbar.com.
L.A. Burdick
Between British import Hotel Chocolat hitting Newbury and New York's Max Brenner setting up shop on Boylston, the city's chocoholics are on a high. But for all the appeal of the newcomers, we're still addicted to humble little Burdick. The New Hampshire-based company combines Swiss, French, and Venezuelan chocolate with local honey and milk for truffles with worldly flavor and hometown charm. Whether you favor ganache with cinnamon, the honey-caramel truffle, or the chocolate-cognac-saffron pavé, Burdick's charming Harvard Square café is the perfect setting to indulge. 220 Clarendon St., Cambridge, MA 2138, burdickchocolate.com.
LuxeBeautique
Paying someone just to hand you towels (Mariah) or perfume your path with gardenia (J.Lo) is a bit whoa!crazy. Still, Hollywood divas, with their creamy complexion and velvety skin, are testament to the very real benefits of an aesthetics entourage. Rent your own at Luxe-Beautique: Intimate at a mere 1,000 square feet, it's packed with both swag-bag exclusives (Becca and Jelly Pong Pong makeup, Malie Kauai skin care) and expertise in using them. Can't choose among facials, massages, body bronzing, and makeup? Accede to your inner A-lister and go for all four, in—what else?—the signature Red Carpet Treatment. 222 Humphrey St., Swampscott, MA 1907, .
L. J. Peretti Co.
This shockingly well-stocked tobacconist is less smoke shop than historic landmark. Family operated since 1870, it's been at its Park Square location since 1938, when customers including Bing Crosby and Prime Minister Ramsey McDonald bought their tobacco here. The store hasn't changed much since then, and, with its Old World clutter, it's a treasure haven from both modernity and draconian new smoking bans. In addition to a voluminous arsenal of cigars, the Peretti family sells humidors, house-blended pipe tobacco, and hand-carved pipes. 2 1/2 Park Square, Boston, MA ljperetti.com.
Forty Winks
Photograph by Jared Leeds We know they mean well, but we've had it up to here with overzealous lingerie consultants treating us like long-lost members of the Ta-Ta Sisterhood. Enter Forty Winks, a year-old Harvard Square spot that knows precisely when to offer help (love those walk-in fittings!) and when to back off. With a highly browsable stock of Cosabella push-ups, Eberjey swimwear, Spanx body shapers, and other pretty little pieces, this store targets those who celebrate lingerie but don't need their hands held to choose it. 56 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, MA 2138, shopfortywinks.com.
Harvest
You have to order it specially because it isn't on the dinner menu, but the cheeseburger may just be the thing at this Harvard Square institution (brunch excluded). The meat is so fresh and lean, it makes you wonder if it's really ground filet mignon. Luckily, there's just enough fat to provide real flavor. This burger practically melts in your mouth. It's served on a wide, flavorful bun, with cheddar and fresh lettuce, tomato, and red onion, and a side of outstanding, crispy fries. The waitstaff may be a tad buttoned up, but that's forgiven with the first juicy bite. 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA harvestcambridge.com.
Provisions
Its name may sound utilitarian, but don't be fooled. This homey café makes the most tempting sandwiches on the island, like the aptly named Turkey Terrific: Thick, home-baked wheat bread topped with smoked turkey, buttery stuffing, cranberry sauce, and just enough mayo creates portable perfection for the beach or taking in the Straight Wharf view. Our only advice: Try not to order it every day; the entire sandwich menu, as well as the homey, baked goods and sweets (lemon squares, cranberry-walnut pound cake), deserves your full attention. 3 Harbor Sq., Nantucket, MA 2554, .
Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs
Nestled in East Boston's Day Square, Uncle Pete's is the kind of barbecue place locals keep to themselves. And, really, we'd never have suspected that this lopsided setting, a former Dairy Queen, could produce the most mouthwatering flavor-packed pork, beef, chicken, and ribs we've gnawed this far north. Pete himself makes everything daily, using special combinations of dry rubs and marinades and smoking the meat for five hours or more with a result so succulent that extra sauce and garnishes are superfluous. Equally noteworthy is the care taken here with side dishes, including frosted sweet-potato biscuits, homemade baked beans, and hand-cut fries. 309 Bennington St., East Boston, MA .
River Gods
Rather than coming off as calculated quirkiness, the gothic furniture and gargoyle motif at this under-the-radar Central Square taproom are mere curiosities, something you notice briefly before they fade into the all-encompassing hospitable vibe. A roster of ace DJs rotates out of a loft space above the bar, spinning a bit of everything—hip-hop, roots rock, punk, techno—as dressed-down patrons gather over killer drinks and French fries dunked in house-made roasted garlic aioli. Aside from the South End's smaller (and DJ-less) Delux Café, few other bars in this town have the confidence to aim for easygoing. 125 River St., Cambridge, MA 2139, rivergodsonline.com.
The Brattle Theatre
From Here to Eternity was the blockbuster movie of the year when the Brattle Theatre switched from presenting live stage plays to showing films in 1953. Whatever else has changed in Harvard Square, the Brattle remains the locus of earnest first dates and heated debates over the political subtext of John Ford's westerns. Even at solid middle age, the Brattle has held its own against the nearby Hollywood multiplexes by installing new seats and a new sound system and maintaining its old-school, intelligent programming of classic, international, and avant-garde cinema. And nothing beats a single-admission double feature. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA brattlefilm.org.
Cicada
A duck noodle soup occasionally available at Cicada. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal Snuggled in Central Square, this caffeinated community hub beckons with perfect pick-me-ups to savor in the chill back garden or the artsy, greenery-filled interior. Coffee specialties range from the simple, like double shots of espresso, to the decadent Saigon Latte (otherwise known as the much-beloved Vietnamese coffee) with sweetened condensed milk. Good thing the Brooklyn-roasted beans pack a kick; they’ll keep you awake to enjoy Cicada’s excellent Vietnamese-inspired lunch and dinner service (don’t miss the lemongrass oxtail stew, if it’s available). 106 Prospect St., Cambridge, MA 02139, cicada-coffee-bar.square.site.
Coolidge Corner Theatre
Coolidge Corner's main movie house. / Photo by Eric Scott This Brookline staple has long been a regular stop for cinema die-hards, with an expertly curated calendar of classics, new indies, and cult wonders. But a 14,000-square-foot expansion slated for a grand opening early this fall ups the ante, adding two movie screens and an entirely new lobby and concessions area. The centerpiece, however, might be the third-floor Community Education and Engagement Center, which will boast a 60-seat classroom and event space — plus an adjacent roof deck where you can surely debate the finer points of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. 290 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, coolidge.org.