Neptune Oyster
This North End gem trumps even North Shore clam shacks with its pristine, local whole-bellies; nonpareil crunch, courtesy of expert batter-frying; and exceptional tartar sauce. 63 Salem Street, Boston, MA 2113, neptuneoyster.com.
Select Oyster Bar

After seven years spent manning the tiny kitchen at Neptune Oyster, chef Michael Serpa stepped out on his own with another petite seafood spot. This one's a passion project, with Serpa's hands in everything from the quirky beverage selection (funky whites, Basque-style ciders) to the décor (posters featuring Jacques Cousteau and The Life Aquatic). The menu strays from clam-shack tropes in favor of creations like fried rice with cuttlefish, cuttlefish ink, and uni, which is even more delightful when enjoyed on the heated enclosed patio. 50 Gloucester St., Boston, MA 02115, selectboston.com.
Skipjack's
For the healthy: blackened tuna sashimi. For the daring: wasabi-crusted salmon. And for the hungry: a lobster roll that's meaty, chunky, and sweet. No matter what your palate craves from the sea, Skipjack's probably serves it, and serves it well. This year, the Newton and Natick branches of the three-restaurant chain even began to feature sushi, from hearty lobster maki rolls to thin-sliced tuna sashimi. Or bypass the raw and head straight for the cooked—everything is flapping-fresh and runs from the creative (mahi-mahi grilled to perfection, then smothered in a peach pepper salsa) to the traditional. (The Boston clam chowder is a rich meal unto itself.) 55 Needham St., Newton, MA skipjacks.com.
Adamas Fine Jewelry
The engagement rings on the second floor of his Newton shop are certainly gasp-worthy (you’ll swoon over brilliant-cut sparklers, halo settings, and pavé-diamond-encrusted split bands), but Adamas Fine Jewelry co-owner and master craftsman Anto Aboyan thrives on one-of-a-kind creativity. If your ideas aren’t set in stone, he can help you build a ring from scratch, hand-casting your custom design into an instant heirloom at his on-site workshop. 22 Lincoln St., Newton, MA adamasfinejewelry.com.
Douglass Williams, Mida

What makes a great chef? Great food, of course, such as Mida’s bowls of lovingly crafted carbonara, soft bricks of super-buttery, garlicky focaccia, and other Italian comforts. More than that, though, Williams has mastered every little detail in the holistic art of hospitality: Setting the scene with soothing (and flattering!) soft lighting, he shares unforced charm with guests at Mida’s original South End enoteca and a new, twice-sized sibling in Newton, which adds New Haven–style pizza — a preview of Williams’s soon-to-launch pie project, Apizza — to this Renaissance man’s repertoire. 782 Tremont St., South End, MA 02118, midarestaurant.com.
Le Soir
Sophisticated city dining has hit Newton—hard—in the form of this beautiful bistro. Chef-owner and Ritz-Carlton Dining Room alumnus Mark Allen has nailed everything modern French eating ought to be; his menu is refined (minus any stuffiness) and delicious (minus any heaviness). Diners are pampered from the time they walk in the door, as the friendly staff takes coats and hands over drinks almost simultaneously. All that, and we haven't even mentioned the enchanting, sumptuous dishes: scallops seared and paired with cucumber-potato purée, lobster and fennel profiteroles, and pan-roasted monkfish so rich it could pass for dessert. 51 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA .
Kent Newton, Kent Newton Salon

The problem with getting an appointment at some vaunted salons isn't the star stylists themselves so much as the gate-keepers they have shooing away the unshampooed masses: "[Mr. Big Shot] isn't taking new clients at the moment," intoned multiple haughty receptionists during our research. We encountered no attitude, however, when we called Kent Newton Salon, and upon arrival we found chilled-out ambiance and meticulous craftsmanship. Partway through the session, the eponymous master — a former Mario Russo staffer — became so engrossed in precision-snipping one cowlick, we crossed our fingers that he didn't charge by the hour. (He doesn't.) For Kent himself, you will need to book a few weeks out, but it's the best cut we've had in years. And yes, he's taking new clients. 1315 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, kentnewtonsalon.com.