Cantina La Mexicana
Bostonians who bemoan the city's dearth of real burritos have obviously never been to this Union Square standout. You won't find assembly line stations here, just hardworking cooks who steam flour tortillas then load them with rice, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole (ask for extra), grilled veggies, and your choice of meat. Trust us, this burrito will change the mind of even a stubborn aficionado. 247 Washington St., Somerville, MA 2143, lataqueria.com.
Sandrine's Bistro
The ambiance seems a touch suburban. But no matter: At Sandrine's, all eyes are on chef Raymond Ost's accessible French classics. Follow a salmon crepe starter with seared sea scallops and mashed potatoes piqued with sauerkraut or the house speciality, an Alsatian tarte flambé. Even the (quelle blaspheme!) meatless options (eggplant and cheese ravioli, stuffed artichoke) are fantastic. 8 Holyoke St., Cambridge, MA 2138, sandrines.com.
Tony Maws, Craigie On Main
Tony Maws is the anticelebrity chef. Undistracted by fame and fortune, he is laser focused on ferreting out the finest ingredients from local farms and transforming them in his cramped Cambridge kitchen into deliciously unexpected dishes like roasted Vermont organic squab with pomegranate-rose gastrique and sour milk panna cotta with candied fennel. Which, of course, is exactly what makes Maws a shining star. 653 Main St., Cambridge, MA 2139, craigieonmain.com.
No. 9 Park
Regulars at No. 9 Park are devoted to the house cocktail for the same reason they are to chef Barbara Lynch's prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras: It's simplicity perfected. While similar combos at other establishments tend toward the cloying, the Palmyra balances subtly sweet Rain vodka—made from white corn—with locally picked mint and a squeeze of lime to create an irresistible, always refreshing summertime sipper. 9 Park St., Boston, MA 2108, no9park.com.
South End Formaggio
Hunks and chunks, slivers and slices, discs and wheels... Formaggio stocks more than 200 cheeses from around the world, stacked on its shelves or aging in its cheese cave. Simply tell the experts what you're having for dinner, and they'll help you select the perfect Bleu des Basques or Nottinghampshire Stilton to complement your meal. Sure beats cheddar and Wheat Thins. 268 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA southendformaggio.com.
Davio's
We've long lamented the disappearance of the three-martini lunch. But if such a luxury were still to exist, it would go down at Davio's. Since relocating to its current perch in Park Square, Steve DiFillippo's institution of Italian dining has reclaimed a position of power. Well-heeled Back Bay business types shuffle in each afternoon, scarfing down generous portions of pasta with glasses of house-filtered water, on the rocks. 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA davios.com.
Umbria
Does Boston need another Italian restaurant? If it's Umbria, the answer is a resounding yes. Chef Marisa Iocco is turning out flavorful cuisine from Italy's bucolic central region, which means straightforward grilled, slow-braised, or brick oven-roasted food. It also means melt-in-your-mouth buffalo mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes, and moist, pan-seared cod loin with creamy celery root purée. And unlike its North End brethren, Umbria offers desserts—amazing ones, at that. 295 Franklin St., Boston, MA umbriaprime.com.
East Coast Grill
You can concoct your own cocktail at the bloody mary bar, but why bother when these master mixologists can whip up delicacies like the oyster shooter—a tender bivalve nestled in a bloody mary shot? Even the entrées are a twist on the norm: The cornbread-crusted French toast comes with tropical fruit, and the Mexican omelet is loaded with avocado, beans, cheese, and salsa. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA eastcoastgrill.net.
Sel de la Terre
Raise your glass to wine director Erik Johnson. An unapologetic Francophile with a giddy crush on Burgundy, Johnson has forsworn his first (and oh-so-pricey) love to find us delicious bargains from France's southern regions and local wines like the Sel de la Terre Rosé from Westport Rivers. With most bottles priced in the mid-$30s, it's a list that deserves to be feted. 255 State St., Boston, MA seldelaterre.com.
Flour Bakery + Café
When 9 to 5 becomes 9 to 9, takeout joints become a blessing. But how much hot-and-sour soup can one person eat? South End hot spot Flour now serves a handful of fresh meals to go, three nights a week, including roast pulled chicken with orange slices and green beans, and spicy stir-fried sesame-ginger noodles with tofu. Working late has never tasted so good. 1595 Washington St., Boston, MA flourbakery.com.
Osushi
Think of it as a love letter to raw fish. Traditionalists will savor the thick, buttery cuts of salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. The more adventurous will relish the yellowtail roll, spiced with chopped garlic, daikon, and jalapeño, or the crispy shrimp tempura rolled with cucumber and spicy mayonnaise. Whatever your style, you'll find the portions at Osushi generous and the service friendly. Copley Place, Boston, MA osushiboston.com.
Abe & Louie's
Before you spend $35 on a steak, ask a few questions. That's part of the fun at Abe & Louie's, where the waiters sing the praises of dry aging and expound upon the flavor of New York sirloin versus a power-packed 24-ounce porterhouse. The only thing better than talking about the meat is eating it: Whether you're lunching in the masculine dining room or partaking in the nightly meat market at the bar, your steak is guaranteed to be broiled to perfection. 793 Boylston St., Boston, MA abeandlouies.com.
Khao Sarn Cuisine
Order pad thai, if you must. But what makes Khao Sarn worthy are its specialties from the northern reaches of Thailand—miang kum, for example, is a do-it-yourself dish that lets you wrap a few flakes of baked coconut, roasted peanuts, and tiny dried shrimp in a spinach leaf and finish with a dollop of sweet sauce and a squeeze of lime. It's a flavor explosion—and your new must-have at any Thai meal. 250 Harvard Ave., Brookline, MA khaosarnboston.com.
Taqueria La Mexicana
For muy delicioso and auténtico Mexican food north of the border, make a beeline for this Union Square hot spot, featuring colorful woven tablecloths and walls bathed in warm yellow. Burros overstuffed with juicy steak, smooth guacamole, chunky salsa, and sour cream highlight the menu, but no matter what you order—from the tamales, enchiladas, and flautas to chile rellenos, vegetarian tacos, and homemade flan—you're guaranteed exceptional food at reasonable prices. 247 Washington St., Somerville, MA .
Olé Mexican Grill
Delicious proof that true Mexican cuisine rarely involves either the words "chimichanga" or "Tabasco," Olé's menu is weighted toward seafood with authentic and traditional dishes full of superior ingredients. Don't miss the pescado a la veracruzana (roast snapper in a garlic-tomato-caper sauce). The guacamole is mashed fresh at your table and served in the mortar, while even the desserts—the deep-fried cheesecake burrito, for example—are surprisingly good. 11 Springfield St., Cambridge, MA olerestaurantgroup.com.