TC's Lounge
(IN MEMORIAM) This place was notorious for many reasons: dirty floors; a weird sign hanging from the ceiling advertising an "Oxycontin shot"; the fun-house women's room (don't ask); and the sale of infant-wear emblazoned with the words "Future Customer." In other words, TC's was a truly wonderful place—until it burned down in March. We have high hopes that after its planned resurrection, it will be "better" than ever. Boston, MA 2115,
Franklin Southie
The problem with comfort food is that you often must make sacrifices to get it ? ambiance, booze selection, etc. Not so at Franklin Café's Southie outpost, which features a menu of food-coma-inducing items like steak frites and pork ribs beside a list of well-priced wines. And yes, the waitstaff will let you linger at your patio table. And linger you should: The kitchen stays open till 1:30 a.m. 152 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA 2127, franklincafe.com.
Ten Tables
Barely bigger than a trophy wife's walk-in closet, the original Ten Tables delivers one of the most divine but relaxed meals around. Charcuterie boards bear house-cured meats and rich patés, bacony collards cozy up to pan-seared bluefish, and orange and bay leaf infuse a crème brûlée, none of it overreaching, all created by chef Sean Callahan's able team. 597 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, tentables.net.
Cognac Bistro
Photograph by Anthony Tieuli Who knew a gas station could be so appealingly reborn as a restaurant? And yet, all of Brookline seems to be angling for a seat at this new bistro. Its classic French dishes teem with fresh, local seafood and sustainably raised ingredients (the mussels escargot and house-made gnocchi are particular coups). Bonus points for the occasional $1 oyster specials and first-rate desserts. 455 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, cognacbistro.com.
Hot Dog Annie's
It's hard to place the exact ingredients that make up the house signature sauce—an addictive barbecue-onion mixture that has led generations to this off-the-beaten-track hot dog stand with its siren call. What is clear is that it tastes damn good on a hot dog, especially on the small and skinny, slightly crunchy ones grilled up without ceremony at this shack behind Worcester's airport. Order three dogs for less than five bucks, and ask for some extra sauce to take home. 244 Paxton St., Leicester, MA 1524, .
Eastern Standard
Every evening, somewhere around midnight, a magical—if vaguely treacherous—moment occurs in Boston. High up onto the back bar of one of the city's most beloved restaurants clambers an employee who, teetering precariously, writes the late-night specials onto a gargantuan mirror. The items differ—flatiron steak with bérnaise, or maybe a Cubano with house spicy mustard—but what remains constant is the anticipation generated, and the rush of orders that inevitably follows. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, easternstandardboston.com.
Thinking Cup
Amid the vibeless businesses catering to tourists around the Common, Thinking Cup reminds us of the downtown that Bostonians deserve: grownup, urbane, and a little sexy. Outfitted with a sweeping marble counter and leather banquettes, this newcomer channels an old-school European café while crafting deeply flavorful espressos, lavish Valrhona-chocolate mochas, and mor—all using Oregon's legendary Stumptown roasts. But the apex of Thinking Cup's artisanry just might be its Pour Over: a single flawless cup, ground and brewed expressly for you. 165 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2111, thinkingcup.com.
Trina's Starlite Lounge
The whole point of brunch is that it's an excuse for indulgence. So why not inject a dash of naughtiness and have it on a weekday? We're talking about industry brunch on Mondays at Starlite, where calling in sick is rewarded with a pile of biscuits and gravy, or the brunch burger (crowned with a fried egg). The crowd, mostly restaurant types shaking off the prior night's last call, won't bat an eye at your request for a second butter-maple bourbon with a chocolate-covered bacon slice. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 2143, trinastarlitelounge.com.
True Bistro
Despite the proliferation of earthy-crunchy types in town, only a handful of restaurants here dedicate their menu to meatless meals, and even fewer elevate the concept past casual fare. At True Bistro, though, the offerings actually fall into the category of fine dining. Everything, right down to the wine, is completely vegan, from the English-pea ravioli in lemon-thyme cream to the decadent crepes at brunch, all of which will satisfy even your most staunchly carnivorous friends. 1153 Broadway, Somerville, MA 2144, truebistroboston.com.
Mooo
Photograph by Anthony Tieuli Scrap all the formulas for what makes a great steakhouse (clubby this, old-world that) and swap them for brave new interpretations. That's just what the team behind Mooo (chef Jamie Mammano and partner Paul Roiff) did, and this year, the place has come into its own. The room hews more to regal French than chop hous—as does the exacting, well-timed service. Still, a steakhouse is about the meat, and Mooo bumps it up a notch—and duxelles that's as gloriously reinvented as the restaurant itself. 15 Beacon St., Boston, MA 2108, mooorestaurant.com.
Posto
With its mod open layout and warm brick and wood, Posto is snazzy enough for date night and relaxed enough for family get-togethers. But to truly appreciate one of Posto's pies, fly solo. With a bready aroma rolling off the crispy-chewy crust, and the flavors of premium ingredients (rich Gorgonzola cream, spicy soppressata, fresh baby arugula) only just married, a pizza delivered straight from the wood-fired oven demands—and rewards—your undivided attention. 187 Elm St., Somerville, MA 2144, .
Michael Schlow of Cafe Louis
Schlow put the newly renovated restaurant at Louis, Boston on the culinary map just a few weeks after his arrival from New York. A protege of Manhattan restaurateur Pino Luongo, Schlow and pastry chef Paul Connors, who worked at Aurora, in New York, and the four-star Ryland Inn, in New Jersey, have brought simply prepared but elegant and sometimes surprising cuisine to Boston, featuring notably fresh produce and other ingredients. Try the tasting menu.
Christina's
No child's play, this. Christina's ice cream is an acquired and—unless your offspring have preternatural palates—grownup taste. By that we mean green tea. Adzuki bean. Carrot cake. Fresh rose. Herbal chai. Even the standbys generally get an epicurean twist: The vanilla is malted, and the coffee is cappuccino. All of it is homemade, and flavors change with the seasons and the whims of its creators. When's the last time you saw something sweet taken so seriously? 1225 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, christinasicecream.com.
Hi-Rise Bread Company
Photo by Anthony Tieuli Choosing just one of Hi-Rise's cookies is a little like being forced to choose between your children. The almond macaroons taste like an intense nutty cloud. The oatmeal coconut, studded with whole pecans, are as chewy as can be. But it's the deep, dark chocolate sandwich cookies—more brownielike than crunchy and double-stuffed with an extra scoop of vanilla cream—that truly take the, er, cake. 208 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, hi-risebread.com.
The Bristol Lounge
The best-loved burgers in Boston fall into two camps: the frills-free fast-food type (Flat Patties, Tasty Burger) and the oversize variety topped with high-end accoutrements (Radius, Craigie on Main). Bristol's version, though, stands alon—a layering of juicy beef with a hint of char, aged Vermont cheddar, cool lettuce, sweet tomato, and house-made pickles on a buttery bun. It's the basics done absolutely right—and worth every cent of the $21 it costs. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, .