Polcari's Coffee
Of course the coffee at this quaint North End shop is excellent. It comes from the Excellent Company in Rhode Island. There was a day when the Polcari family (merchants here since 1932) roasted the coffee beans themselves, but you won't miss a thing in their current stock— particularly when you're wired on their Italian roast (truly black, terrifically pungent, and tremendously oily). Ralph and Marie Polcari can make any mix to suit your needs— or buy the raw beans to mix and roast yourself. 105 Salem St., Boston, MA .
Tremont India Pale Ale
Used to be this hophead's delight was available only on the occasional tap at, say, F.J.Doyle's in Jamaica Plan. As of April, though, the good people at the Tremont Brewery, way over in Charlestown, started running product through their million-dollar bottling line. The ale is alty, extremely well-hopped and just the right shade of light copper. By now, it should be flying off the shelves at your neighborhood's finest packy.
Redbones
The name of the place means barbecue, and you'd have to be a fool or a vegetarian not to sink your teeth into a few of the ribs here. This Davis Square favorite also serves up the tastiest soul food in town. Start the gut-stuffing with fried okra and hushpuppies, jump to lip-smackin' cornbread and catfish, and cap it with rich pecan pie or the infamous "White Trash Sundae". Too sloppy for a first date, but a great test of soul on the second. 55 Chester St., Somerville, MA .
The Helmand
This Afghan restaurant packs a tapestry of spice into every dish, from the marinated meat on the seekh kabab to the delicate baby pumpkin. The broad dining room's flaming bread oven, extensive wine list, and exotic decor transport you from everyday Cambridge to distant Kabul. Soothe your surging palate afterward with full-bodied Turkish coffee. 143 First St., East Cambridge, MA .
Mamma Maria
Don't be misled by the name: this ain't no spaghetti house. Bringing high-end Northern cuisine to the North End, chef Bill Wallo is a maestro of the classics. Papardelle is served in a lovely traditional Tuscan rabbit sauce, and Bistella della Fiorentina with potato gratin is a hearty delight. And for a taste of la dolce vita, try the Semifreddo. This place is so refined and elegant, yet so friendly, you'll feel like a close personal friend of the Medicis. 3 North Square, Boston, MA .
Tremont 647
To complement his "Adventurous American Cuisine," chef and owner Andy Husbands shook up an Adventurous version of the classic cocktail as a signature drink. As with any great margarita, the secret is hand-squeezed sour mix (none of that pre-mix swill) and a heaping dose of gold tequila, in this case Sauza. Replacing the triple sec with Grand Marnier doesn't hurt, either. 647 Tremont St., Boston, MA .
Clio
The cool taupe walls with pure white trim make you feel as if you've stepped into a late-model Bentley. This is the type of place to come when a relationship sours (you'll make up) or a distant relative comes to town (conversation will flow). Still, the high-brow ambiance encourages a friendly camaraderie—a glance at a neighbor's appetizer is met with a conspiratorial smile. And Ken Oringer's dashing fare is certainly worth smiling about. Eliot Suite Hotel, 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Anthony's Pier 4
The wine list at Anthony's Pier 4 is deceptive: It's a Wine SpectatorGrand Award Winner (since 1982), and it is huge in a way that usually suggests an equally huge bill at the end. But do flip through the 30 pages or so. Jump from Champagne to German Eisweins. Then pick your favorite without laying out the huge markup most restaurants charge. Do not confuse this with low prices...you get what you pay for! Word to the wise—we're recommending the wine, the food is up to you. 140 Northern Ave., Boston, MA .
Sharrock's English Bakery
Forget "English muffins" and get a hold of the original article. These crumpets are filling enough for a decent breakfast (and, if you have the power to skip butter, they're fat- and cholesterol-free), yet light enough to leave plenty of room for lunch. Ex-pat Brits swear they're the only "real" crumpets this side of the Atlantic. If mail order's not your bag, the bakers also market their goods under the Trader Joe's label (at all Trader Joe's stores in the area). 1649 Wheeler St., North Dighton, MA .
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Okay, for $11 it should be the best. But if you're going to pay $7.95 for a so-so burger elsewhere, why not splurge for the extra three bucks and live a little? Plus, you'll more than make up for the differences with all those perks: individual jars of ketchup and mustard; salty, crunchy shoestring fries to knock your socks off; and all that white linen and monogrammed flatware. It's a cheap way to be King (or Queen) for a day. 15 Arlington St., Boston, MA .
Biga Breads
Carmelized onion and cheese ciabatta (a twisted Tuscan bread), triple-raisin loaf, and parmesan-pepper breadsticks are just a few reasons to check out Biga. In addition to retail sales through their cafes, you can find them at Bread & Circus—and on the tables of some of the best restaurants in the city. The cafes now serve roasted tomato and fontina pizzas, salads, and sandwiches like the smoked turkey with caramelized-onion chutney, goat cheese, basil, and Dijon that will make your mouth water! 197 8th St., Charlestown, MA .
Dali
The Pescado a la Sal (fresh fishbaked in coarse salt) is a masterpiece of Iberian cuisine, as is the Cordero Asado (sauteed leg of lamb marinated n sherry, lemon juice, and garlic). If the mood suits you, it's every bit as satisfying, and even a touch surreal, to sit at the blue-and-white-tiled bar where you can work your way through the dazzling tapas selections. What better way to polish off a pitcher of sangria? 451 Washington St., Somerville, MA .
Tir Na Nog
Its name means "Land of Eternal Youth" in Gaelic, but this smallish bar in Union Square hosts both young and old. Proprietors Robert Elliot and Patsy Wheelan run a welcoming pub, where those with a brogue out-number those without. Patsy's band Zozimus (starring Billy Bulger's son Brendan, on fiddle) rocks the house on weekends, and during Sunday seisiunsan Irish gentleman can sing an old folk song to the respectful silence of the whole room. Tasty food is available; parking is easy. 366A Somerville Ave., Somerville, MA .
Mucho Gusto Cafe & Collectibles
Have your empanada and eat it, too. Mucho Gusto is as much a museum of kitsch as it is a kitchen of Cuba. Mami Aida turns out perfect pork sandwiches, savory rice and beans, beef picadillo, and exceptional cafe con leche in a delightful time-capsule setting filled with collectibles from the '40s, '50s, and '60s (all for sale). The service is prompt, the portions are filling, and the rhumba makes you forget that Massachusetts Avenue is just a block away. 1124 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
The Bristol Lounge
Stripped down to its raw form, a martini is just a stiff belt of gin, which any jamoke can pull off a no-name bottle in an alley. So how to judge? Presentation and accouterments. The white-jacketed waiter at the plushy-not-stuffy Bristol pours each traditional martini tableside from its own chilled shaker with not one, not two, but three meaty olives. Utterly civilized. Keep in mind, while the martini is traditional, the $9 price tag is a tad nouveau. Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .