Olé Mexican Grill
It's hard to be unhappy when you dine at Olé. The vividly colored dining room sings in shades of orange and yellow, and the food begins with handmade guacamole—prepared fresh tableside—and ends with such authentic Oaxacan specialties as grilled marinated tuna steak with tomatillo-avocado salsa. In between come high-octane margaritas with countless flavor combinations and a choice of 22 premium tequilas. If that's not enough to put a smile on your face, there's also homemade sangria, a perfect match for the subtly spicy chiles rellenos. 11 Springfield St., Cambridge, MA olerestaurantgroup.com.
Tremont 647
In a neighborhood chock-full of great places to eat, Tremont 647 stands out as the community hangout for dinner, not to mention for its wacky come-dressed-in-your-pajamas Sunday brunch. Locals flock here in droves for chef Andy Husbands's menu of comfort food, from momós (Tibetan dumplings) and homemade tater tots to grilled skirt steak and garlic sausage pizza. 647 Tremont St., Boston, MA tremont647.com.
Sage
Some nights just call for a simple dinner served in a cozy dining room where the service is relaxed and the food is just like mama used to make. That's the essence of an evening at Sage, chef (and North End native) Anthony Susi's American-Italian bistro. No matter that the wait for one of the eight tables is often long: Susi's handmade gnocchi and pastas are heaven-sent, with melt-in-your-mouth textures and impeccable use of fresh seasonal ingredients. 69 Prince St., Boston, MA .
Washington Square Tavern
Here's a tavern in the truest—and best—sense of the world: a homey magnet for folks from many walks of life, with good comfort food and plenty of drink. The Washington Square hits all the right marks on all the scales: high on quality and atmosphere, but low on pretense. Hang at the long wooden bar or the communal tables to chat with everyone from pierced college kids to nuclear families, or slide into one of the dark corner booths with your better half for a dinner for two. 714 Washington St., Washington Square, Brookline, MA washingtonsquaretavern.com.
Anna's Taqueria
Henry Ford may have invented the assembly line, but Anna's Taqueria has perfected it. The queue at any of its four locations is usually out the door but moves quickly, thanks to the deft hands of the burrito-istas who slap down cheese, guac, hot sauce, and tasty meat faster than Speedy Gonzales. Don't think quality suffers with velocity, however: The lemony grilled chicken, the spicy carnitas, and the juicy grilled vegetables are as delicioso as the assembly is rápido. 1412 Beacon St., Brookline, MA annastaqueria.com.
Rangoli
This dimly lit, family-run eatery is a winning culinary combination for discriminating taste buds. The diverse and imaginative menu goes well beyond your typical curry-and-rice staples. Mouthwatering dishes range from top-notch tandoori specials, such as salmon tikka, to fiery curries like chicken Madras. Delicious dosas, tasty kebabs, and subtle sauces compose a tantalizing formula for success. Reasonable prices, coupled with pleasant service, add up to a winning combination of spice and nice. 129 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA .
The Barking Crab
Boston's dearth of waterfront watering holes is slowly being remedied by development in South Boston—Sam's at Louis, Whiskey Priest. But a weathered old friend is still the darling in this category. The Barking Crab is a funky, coastal-style clam shack and the perfect place to sip Sam Adams and soak up the sunshine and salt air. Dress in your weekend worst: T-shirt, tattered jeans, flip-flops. The relaxed vibe provides a welcome escape from the rules of the city. 88 Sleeper St., South Boston, MA 2210, barkingcrab.com.
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.
Gargoyles on the Square
Visiting Gargoyles only on date night (yes, the lighting flatters; true, the velvet cascades) is like eating oysters only to boost your mojo. Both should be enjoyed, and often, on their own merits—nooky prospects be damned. Wash away the workday with a silky but strong cocktail (we love the summer-in-a-glass Backyard), and refuel for tomorrow with chef Jason Santos's seasonally inspired fare. And, if you must, flirt at the dish sitting at the next table. Somerville, MA 2144,
Ten Tables
Talk about spreading the love. This year the team at Ten Tables expanded across the Charles, giving Hub cuddlers the choice of intimacy (the tiny J.P. original) or intrigue (the new Cambridge location, full of cozy dark nooks). Both locations feature upscale comfort dishes, like house-made pasta and skillet roasted Giannone chicken, for under $25. Chef David Punch also does a nightly $45 prix fixe, ostensibly for customers with other things on their minds than menu decisions. 597 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, tentables.net.
Sophia's Grotto
In a mere four years this precocious trattoria has grown up into an authentic Old World beauty, its cloistered brick courtyard now mature with ornamental trees and grasses and a massive climbing hydrangea. Prices, though, have barely changed at all, with big bowls of pastas and other Italian standbys averaging about $15. With the patio's bee lights twinkling overhead and a glass of sweetly chilled Grechetto in hand, you'll find Roman holidays don't come any cheaper than this. 22 Birch St., Roslindale, MA 2131, sophiasgrotto.com.
S&I to Go
Notwithstanding the beef tendon fire pot at Montien (still the hottest soup around, in both senses of the word), this unassuming Allston 12-seater is your first-class ticket to Bangkok. The Thai-language menu is filled with enough mild-mannered fare to sate even the most uninitiated of palates, while devotees can delight in rare finds like crispy double-fried catfish laced with whole sprigs of fresh peppercorns and volcanic som tums flavored with raw salted crab. 168a Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Grill 23 & Bar
Where others might lean on 'steak wines' like big California cabs (yawn), Grill 23's DeWinter is likely to suggest a Paolo Bea Rosso 2000, from the little Umbrian town of Sagrantino, for your bone-in filet—he's just that excited about the unsung heroes in his cache of some 1,500 labels. Odds are, you will be, too. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 2116, grill23.com.
Rubin's Kosher Restaurant Delicatessen
Yarmulke-bedecked customers attest to the kosher bona fides at this Brookline mainstay, where the takeout case is long and complete, the sandwiches are overstuffed with choice cuts, and the pickles—well, Rubin's knows from pickles, offered free in the tightly packed dining room. And you can bet your tuches that Bubbe would approve of the meat knish: flaky crust setting off pillowy mashed potato and salty ground beef, the whole mess served piping hot. 500 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 2446, rubinsboston.com.
Diesel Café
While the corporate megapercolators spend millions on ads that pit yuppies against average joes, the Diesel buzzes blissfully along, keeping the emphasis on the coffee. Tattered banquettes and walls covered with funky artwork provide a quirky welcome to Davis Square caffeine addicts. And one sip of the house blend—made from beans that are subtly roasted, not burnt to a crisp—confirms that the brew here is highly habit-forming. 257 Elm St., Somerville, MA 2144, diesel-cafe.com.