The Nautilus
Four years in, the Nautilus still has the hottest tables in town—no surprise given the trifecta of talented folks behind it. Chef Liam Mackey combines local seafood with Asian and Latin flavors in inspired small plates such as tempura oyster tacos wrapped in nori, while wine director Stephen Bowler curates a deep, Wine Spectator–lauded list that includes rare reserve vinos by the glass. And Culinary Institute of America–trained bar manager Clinton Terry draws on his background to craft mouthwatering cocktails featuring herbs, spices, and foams. Come summer, only day-of reservations are accepted—hurry, phone lines open at 1 p.m. 12 Cambridge St., Nantucket, MA 02554, nautilusnantucket.com.
Old Yarmouth Inn
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone birthday or just a sunny summer morning, you’ll want to bring the entire crew—and your appetite—to this 300-year-old inn’s Sunday buffet. Offering a variety of breakfast and lunch options (seafood Newburg, Belgian waffles) and, of course, the requisite omelet and carving stations, this is old-school brunching at its best. The restaurant has the a.m. ambiance down to a science, too, with charming toile wall coverings and garden views in the dining room—the perfect environment for sipping an Aperol spritz. 223 Route 6A, Yarmouth, MA 02675, oldyarmouthinn.com.
Boston Calling
The Killers. Paramore. Eminem. This year Boston Calling welcomed some of its biggest names to date. It also finally settled into its new digs at the Harvard Athletic Complex after a few growing pains in 2017. The sprawling grounds gave the fest the chance to add a third venue for even more concerts as well as ample open space for seriously upgraded food options, from the Smoke Shop’s barbecue-brisket sammies to Area Four’s garlic knots. And for those in need of a break from rocking out in the sun? An indoor comedy venue offering a rotating array of top-notch performers and soothing AC. MA bostoncalling.com.
Ole
Don't write off Olé for its unremarkable exterior. Inside you'll find a peppy atmosphere and Boston's most bona fide Mexican fare: In place of sloppy enchiladas, chef Erwin Ramos serves up inventive plates including tacos de cangrejo, crabmeat tacos with crème fraîche and baby spinach, and costillas de puerco, pork ribs cooked in banana leaves with a chili ancho peanut glaze, which go down even better when accompanied by pitchers of the potent house sangria and bowls of fresh guacamole prepared tableside by friendly waiters. 11 Springfield St., Cambridge, MA 2139, olegrill.com.
Stacy Klein, Pigalle
It was the delightful French pixie Amélie who set us on a quest for the perfect, crackable crème brûlée. And it's another sylph, Pigalle pastry chef Stacy Klein (how does she stay so slim?) who's finally delivered it. Klein's creamy custard, infused with sweet corn, is heavenly under a patina of burnt sugar that cracks like glass. Also amazing is her grown-up version of s'mores, toasted á table and paired with milk-chocolate sorbet and candied kumquats. You'll be tempted to skip your main course (but don't!). 75 Charles St. S., Boston, MA pigalleboston.com.
East Coast Grill & Raw Bar
It could be the regular eruptions of the volcano in the Lava Lounge. Or the Sunday morning brunch, complete with a make-your-own-bloody mary bar. It could be the open kitchen jumping with live fire and young chefs wrangling large pieces of meat and fish. Maybe it's the pulled-pork sandwich with crunchy coleslaw and baked beans. But most likely, it's owner Chris Schlesinger's serious approach to having fun that makes the East Coast Grill a restaurant we're happy to head to—even if only to down a dozen briny, local oysters at the raw bar. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA eastcoastgrill.net.
Union Bar and Grille
Not quite a year old, Union has managed to root itself so deeply into South End culture, you'd think it has been around for decades. What's the secret? We suspect it has something to do with co-owner Jeff Gates' genial nature, executive sous chef Josh Steinberg's steady hand with mostly local ingredients, and bartenders who know their way around the many bottles they shake, chill, and pour with such profound dexterity. Or maybe it's simply Union's mix of unpretentiousness and sophistication. Whatever the draw, few who drop into Union can resist coming back—and fewer still believe it isn't here to stay. 1357 Washington St., Boston, MA unionrestaurant.com.
Olives
It wasn't long ago that even parties of two were forced to wait in the long line that formed nightly outside Olives. These days, with a new reservations policy, getting in is a snap; even large groups can be accommodated—at either the communal table in the main dining groom or in the private room out back. The notoriously hearty dishes make for easy sharing. And the affable servers, who know the food and wine menus inside and out, can help your group navigate from tortelli of butternut squash pasta to crispy duck l'orange to vanilla bean soufflé. 10 City Square, Charlestown, MA cheftoddenglish.com.
Pizzeria Regina, North End Branch
There's no shortage of great pizza in this town, but the place we always come back to is the original North End home of Pizzeria Regina. Ignore the outposts at Faneuil Hall and in the suburbs, and get in the (often long) line at the corner of Thacher and Endicott streets for a slice or two. The wait is worth it. First, the basics: a thin crust that's simultaneously crisp and chewy, slathered with tangy tomato sauce and cheese. Then there are traditional pizza house enhancements such as meatballs (juicy bursts of seasoned meat), sausage, or any fresh vegetables. Last, there's the homemade flavored olive oil—a secret mix we're pretty sure contains hot peppers, herbs, and garlic—meant to be doused liberally on every slice. 11 Thacher St., Boston, MA pizzeriaregina.com.
Tu y Yo
The frills are few at the humble but festively colorful Tu y Yo, but none of that matters once you experience the authenticity of the expertly prepared food. Traditional family recipes are executed to perfection, from the shredded chicken breast slow cooked in chipotle peppers and tomatoes to the jumbo shrimp grilled in bay leaves, garlic, oranges, and chipotle sweet-sour sauce. The friendly staff tries hard to make every visitor here feel at home (a quality we're sure, like the recipes, has been passed down for generations) and is adept at guiding diners through the almost shamefully inexpensive entrées (all well under $20) and intriguing wine selection. 858 Broadway, Somerville, MA tuyyo2.com.
Coolidge Corner Clubhouse
A moment of silence, please, for the newly shuttered Sports Depot in Allston, at one time the only true sports bar (thanks to its 70 TVs and $9.99 Sunday brunch) this town could claim. Left to fill its shoes are several bars near Fenway and the FleetCenter, but only the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse offers the requisite coziness and camaraderie every sports bar needs. Trivia Night on Mondays draws a packed house, while 22 TVs and 36 microbrews to choose from keep the energy high. Now if it could just lose the annoying 90-minute table limit. 309 Harvard St., Brookline, MA thecoolidgecornerclubhouse.com.
Gibson Martin, The Bristol Lounge
You can almost taste the sun rising again on the British Empire in your first sip of this bracing, gin-loaded cocktail. By the second dry sip, you're convinced you may actually have been an English general in a former life. By the third, after surveying the Bristol Lounge's sprawling marble grandeur, giant palms, and elegant service, you're convinced you're an English general right now. And by the fourth potent sip, alas, you have no idea what the British Empire is. All this from a few ounces of gin, dry vermouth, and cocktail onions, served chilly and gracefully, old chap. Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
The Rosebud Diner
This old-school diner a short stroll from Davis Square features solid renditions of the usual short-order, comfort-food staples—meatloaf burgers, club sandwiches, and the like—and a nicely stocked bar offering comforting beverages. The service, while not fancy, is friendly—so much so you'll forgive your waitress for not knowing better when she insists that Rosebud in Citizen Kane (the diner's owner is a huge fan) is a woman. If you're hungry and a carnivore, go straight for the tasty barbecue combo, a filling sampler of ribs, chicken, and sausage. 381 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville, MA rosebuddiner.com.
Pho Lemongrass
Great Vietnamese should be the way it is in Vietnam: simple, brimming with sharp flavors, and built with ingredients that shout their freshness. Enter Pho Lemongrass, where a diverse (and bilingual) menu overflows with anise-and-ginger-laced dishes. Pho, the beloved noodle soup of Hanoi, comes steaming in huge bowls and filled with the protein of your choice (the shredded chicken breast is the savory standout; less so, the tripe), and packed with crunchy bean sprouts, lime juice, and chiles. One of the best entrées is vegetarian—the lemongrass tofu, which is heartily textured, spicy, and scattered with peanuts and vegetables so fresh, they might as well have just been plucked from the Mekong Delta. 239 Harvard St., Brookline, MA pholemongrass.com.
Sportello
It's a puzzle, how Barbara Lynch can manage to launch four restaurants, a bar, and two retail operations, all in different genres, while preserving the quality and essential Lynchness of each. And so we come to her most casual spot, Sportello, a minimalist midprice Italian diner—only here, the line cooks sling hiramasa crudo, chicken with dates and pine nuts, and mustard leaf agnolotti. It's a testament to the power of the gnocchi alone that the place is bouncing, despite the surrounding Fort Point Channel neighborhood's still-delayed gentrification. No other startup exhibited so much polish out of the gate, or such a pitch-perfect sense of the way we're eating now. 384 Congress St., Boston, MA 2110, sportelloboston.com.