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.
Pierrot Bistrot Fran
It may be, as the book contends, that French Women Don't Get Fat. But that's only because they don't have Pierre Sosnitsky feeding them. At the Maison Robert alumnus's 11-month-old Beacon Hill bistro, the house pâté is rich, the beef bourgignon hearty, and the profiteroles irresistible. About the only things that don't feel authentically, unrepentantly Gallic are the pleasantly reasonable prices. 272 Cambridge St., Boston, MA pierrotbistrot.com.
Brown Sugar Café
Serving huge portions of flavorful curries and other Thai specialties at affordable prices, Brown Sugar is a perfect match for the tastes and budgets of the undergrads, musicians, and medical students who live in this neighborhood. In addition to less fiery offerings like "Siamese Twins" (shrimp and chicken in a sweet-and-sour sauce), there are such authentic dishes as laarb gai (minced chicken in a spicy lime sauce). Service is prompt but friendly, and the free parking—limited, but a rarity in these parts—means outsiders can enjoy one of the city's best pad thais, too. 129 Jersey St., Boston, MA brownsugarcafe.com.
Rani Indian Bistro
Rani is a study in contrasts. The spicy pinch of lamb vindaloo meets the sugary melt of mango chutney, and the taste of sour curry is followed by the sweet nectar of a rose lassi. No taste bud is ignored at Coolidge Corner's hottest new bistro. The atmosphere is airy and pleasant, with authentic décor to match the authentic Hyderabadi cuisine. And the service is as steady as the stream of locals coming through the door. 1353 Beacon St., Brookline, MA ranibistro.com.
Peking Tom's Longtang Lounge
It may sound tacky on paper, but in person, Peking Tom's is deliciously campy and cool. With colorfully ironic splashes of Asian pop culture, delightful retro tinges, and plenty of room for lounging, this hidden Downtown Crossing destination with its highly competent service is perfect for parties of 2, 12, or 20. The menu relies on a perfect balance of sweet and sour, fried and juicy, meaty and delicate. Just remember—don't overload on kumquat mojitos before digging into the crispy sweet-chili squid or orange and tamarind-glazed spareribs. 25 Kingston St., Boston, MA .
Kristen D. Murray, No. 9 Park
Some desserts are among life's sweetest rewards precisely because they aren't too sweet. Kristen D. Murray understands this. Consider her walnut pain perdu, a soft and almost custardy bread laden with tart red currants, rich, nutty crunch, and tangy water-buffalo-milk yogurt sorbet. Or feast your eyes—and stomach—on her black pepper cheesecake, a masterpiece of smooth cheese jolted with black pepper and cut with the soothing sweetness of caramelized pineapple and tart-as-can-be-green apple compote. 9 Park St., Boston, MA no9park.com.
Shawn Ahern, Union Bar and Grille
Quick with the drink recommendation and the flourished bottle, Shawn Ahern is a professional in a trade too full of aspirant talk-show hosts. He pours a finely tuned martini and is brisk and responsive to eye contact, yet his friendliness never turns obtrusive. And unlike many barmen of fashion, he's utterly free of snootiness, so even the most fatuous of requests ("I'll take a chardonnay and a glass of ice") is met with elegant service, graciously delivered. 1357 Washington St., Boston, MA unionrestaurant.com.