Caffe Tosca
Why do we bestow this award, year after year, on Tosca? Simple: No other restaurant in the area manages to be so many things to so many diners, and with such class. Want a romantic evening? Reserve a corner table under the restaurant's soaring ceilings. Got a big-deal dinner with friends? The unpretentious but professional service will make sure it goes off hitch-free. Seeking a foodie adventure? The bright, local flavors of chef Kevin Long's menu will wow your palate. All of which is why we can't—and wouldn't want to—stop going back. 14 North St., Hingham, MA 2043, toscahingham.com.
Great Barrington Bagel Company
The best bagels north of New York come in a dozen flavors at Marvin and Judy Lieberman's indoor-outdoor bagelry. There are also 17 spreads made in-house—including not just staples like light cream cheese but also more-exotic options like light chicken liver—to go with. But the GBBC's star shines brightest at lunch, when fresh daily soups, leafy salads, and two-handed sandwiches like tarragon chicken and red onion egg salad are offered alongside quite possibly the finest unleavened invention ever: the flagel, a microthin everything bagel. 777 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 1230, .
Bia Bistro
That contented sigh that comes with shucking off the 9-to-5 suit in favor of jeans and a tee? It's the same one you might hear any night at this four-year-old bistro, as diners relax into its placid charms. Dusky red walls and buttery candlelight set the scene for chef Brian Houlihan's contemporary versions of European comfort-food classics, like duck confit with poached figs, steak au poivre, and tarte Tatin. Figure in a modest but irreproachable wine list, and a night at Bia goes down easy in every sense. 25 N. Main St., Cohasset Village, MA 2025, biabistro.com.
Sushi Island
Those who make frequent worshipful visits to this midsize sushi joint know it doesn't take much to coax chef-owner Junji Aoki out of his seemingly forbidding silence behind the bar. Just ask (and you might well have to ask, as specialties like firefly squid and monkfish liver aren't often glimpsed in suburban environments), and Aoki will tell you how a particular delicacy is prepared, and how long it'll be in season. Your taste buds, meanwhile, will tell you it's simply dynamite. 397 Main St., Wakefield, MA 1880, .
American Seasons
American Seasons co-owner Orla Murphy LaScola greets patrons with a charming Irish brogue as she seats them on the cool, inviting porch or in the warm, rustic dining room. Wherever they sit, they're in for a treat: Chef-owner Michael LaScola's creations—which include such delights as fried oyster and rare beef salad with mustard greens and orange, and blackberry-anise bomb—are seasonally inspired and beautifully executed. Dine here during a weekend getaway, and you'll soon find yourself studying ferry schedules just to plot your next feast. 80 Centre St., Nantucket Island, MA 2554, americanseasons.com.
K.C. Cargill, Chez Henri
At first glance, Cargill has the right résumé: He started at Cheers. Of course, he was only parking cars. Now behind the bar at a more upscale and off-the-beaten-path location, the Newburyport native has quietly made a name for himself, especially for his mojitos. (He's got the muddler's callous to prove it.) But he's equally adept at martinis or whatever might be your highball poison. Cargill's laid-back charisma and cackling laugh perfectly match Chez Henri's easygoing French-Cuban vibe, and his knack for creative mixology produces concoctions that would bowl over even Norm Peterson. One Shepard St., Cambridge, MA chezhenri.com.
The Seasonal Table
Imagine, if you will, a place with simple, well-prepared foods, a courteous and friendly staff, and truly terrific international noshes. Welcome to the Seasonal Table—one-stop shopping for epicures and entertainers alike. Come with your picnic basket in hand and fill it with a smattering of perfectly aged cheese (try the beautiful ash-rolled cylinders of chèvre), fresh-baked bread and pastries, imported beer and wine, exotic ice creams, flavored oils, even elegant flatware and linen. On Sundays the baby grand in the corner comes to life while the "Seasonal Table Sopranos" serenade you. 61 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA .
Fugakyu
This giant temple to raw fish may look like a Zen sanctuary, but don't expect any peace or quiet. Between the circular sushi bar's clamor and the bustle of waitresses trying to keep up with the relentless demand for maki, it's difficult to meditate on the menu, let alone anything else. But then the reason for all this fuss arrives at your table: shining piles of pliant, deep ruby mahuro sashimi, briny and sweet abalone, luscious and firm yellowtail maki, and buttery, sweet toro. The exotic and artistically rendered fish here is unrivaled in the city—but even that, like the rest of Fugakyu, is more mind-blowing than mind-clearing. 1280 Beacon St., Brookline, MA fugakyu.net.
Harvest
You have to order it specially because it isn't on the dinner menu, but the cheeseburger may just be the thing at this Harvard Square institution (brunch excluded). The meat is so fresh and lean, it makes you wonder if it's really ground filet mignon. Luckily, there's just enough fat to provide real flavor. This burger practically melts in your mouth. It's served on a wide, flavorful bun, with cheddar and fresh lettuce, tomato, and red onion, and a side of outstanding, crispy fries. The waitstaff may be a tad buttoned up, but that's forgiven with the first juicy bite. 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA harvestcambridge.com.
Casa Romero
A good rule of thumb for determining whether or not a restaurant serves authentic Mexican cuisine is to scan its menu for ceviche, pozole, flan, and café de olla. Casa Romero, tucked into a tiny Back Bay alleyway, has all four, as well as nicely executed traditional main courses such as enchiladas, verde or poblano; chicken mole; and tenderloin of pork marinated in orange and smoked chipotle peppers. The margaritas are tasty; the service is, well, serviceable enough; and the atmosphere, mellow and intimate. Hit Casa Romero during summer and you can dine in its lovely courtyard. 30 Gloucester St., Boston, MA casaromero.com.
Wilson's Farms
If it's good enough for Julia Child, it's good enough for us. Sure, it's bigger than your average farmstand, and the weekend traffic on quiet Pleasant Street can be a drag. But the Wilson family has been growing fresh produce since 1884 and selling it to the public for the past 50 years—long before yuppies discovered mesclun, and before the pan-Asian trend gave bok choy its buzz. More than 30 acres in Lexington and 250 in New Hampshire fuel the retail shop, where every conceivable fruit and vegetable is available, not to mention flowers and plants and a full menu of prepared foods, cheeses, condiments and baked goods. 10 Pleasant St., Lexington, MA .
Cafe Fleuri
With eclectic specials such as the Japanese breakfast (seaweed, pickles, broiled salmon with vegetables, steamed rice, green tea), or the fitness breakfast (yogurt, exotic mushroom frittata, six-grain toast), it's impossible not to find something to please even the pickiest clients. And while the tables are close together, the plush carpet and thickly cushioned chairs make for an unhurried setting. Le Meridien recently spent a little more than $2 million on Cafe Fleuri's renovation, hiring the Parisian interior design firm Pierres-Yves Rochon to create an atmosphere perfect for schmoozing. But you'll have to clinch the deal on your own. Le Meridien Hotel, 250 Franklin St., Boston, MA .
Bristol Lounge
First, a point of order: A proper martini will never, ever be preceded by an adjective. Not chocolate, not raspberry, not blue velvet, not anything. Except, of course, for the words "extremely dry." Nor shall a martini be bastardized with vodka. Only gin, please, with a mere whisper of vermouth, straight up and very cold. That said, we're left with a dilemma—namely, how to choose the glass of cold gin. Presentation and atmosphere are the only criteria left. The Bristol Lounge, with its comfy seats, warm nuts, and an upscale yet unpretentious and definitely unstuffy ambience, is the perfect martini arena. Pricey, yes. But tableside pouring from chilled shakers costs money, you know. Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Full Moon
Finally, a place where parents and toddlers can dine near each other— if not with each other— in peace. There's a cozy play space with a toddler-eye-level blackboard, dollhouse, and trucks. You get the crab cakes with aioli and organic greens; your kid chows down on macaroni and cheese. Chocolate milk is as plentiful as San Pellegrino here. Everything is top quality (there are even kosher hot dogs)— not that you'd expect any less from co-owner Cary Wheaton, cofounder of the Blue Room and East Coast Grill. 344 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA .
M. F. Dulock
Photo by Jesse Burke Anatomy of a Winner: Whether you're shopping for an elegant dinner party or a simple weeknight meal, you're sure to find a bevy of options at this Somerville meat specialist. That's because the butchers here break down whole animals to create a variety of tasty cuts. Here's how they carved up a Berkshire/Yorkshire hybrid pig. 1. Pig head, for an adventurous crowd. 2. Boneless pork loin, which is perfect for roasts. 3. House-ground sweet Italian sausage. 4. Garlic-and-thyme sausage farce, for making stuffing. 5. Pig skin, for frying into cracklings. 6. Rolled porchetta, filled with garlic and herbs. 201A Highland Ave., Somerville, MA mfdulock.com.