Taiwan Cafe
Neighborhood: Chinatown

34 Oxford Street
Boston, MA 02111

Tom E. writes: I finally came here on thanksgiving of all days and I now think I have a new favorite eatery in Boston.

It's super cheap, quick, convenient and full of plastic tables just like a true cafe (pronounced 'Caff' in England) should be. The menu is almost…

Bova's Bakery
Neighborhood: Charlestown, North End

134 Salem St
Boston, MA 02113

Caroline A. writes: A trip to Boston is not complete without a 3am trip to Bova's.  I used to come here all the time for chocolate eclairs, but decided to go with the carrot cake this time (I have to be semi-healthy, right?).  The cream cheese frosting was one of the…

Shawarma King
Neighborhood: Coolidge Corner

1383 Beacon St.
Brookline, MA 02446

Sarah R. writes: I'm going to try to write this review while totally ignoring that this was the last place I went out to eat with my ex before being unceremoniously dumped at Publick House last week. Here goes.

So we went here after deciding that, while delicious,…

Silhouette Lounge
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton

200 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA 02134

Melissa A. writes: Going here makes me realize how much I hate Pabst. Well, I hate Pabst from the tap. Back in PA, most bars I went to had Yuengling and those always seemed to be the taps that were never cleaned and gave me the worst "morning afters." And the Pabst…

Healthworks Fitness Centers For Women - Porter Square

35 White Street
Porter Square Shopping Center
Cambridge, MA 02138

Erica S. writes: It's expensive, but if you show up and use it, it's worth it!

Healthworks is the only gym I can find that has an eclectic selection of classes that actually fit into my 9-5 schedule. Eclectic meaning, more than just aerobics, spinning, and yoga. Sure…

Berklee Performance Center

136 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02228

Trish F. writes: ONE stall in the women's bathroom. You've gotta be KIDDING me. And with this baby face (studies show, those with baby faces are approached more) .. I can't stand in line without being bothered. I'm sorry peeps.. I've got one thing on my mind right…

Proletariat
Neighborhood: Harvard Square

36 JFK St
The Garage
Cambridge, MA 02138

Liz D. writes: What a breath of fresh air.  This store brings some style to the Northface fleece ridden streets of Cambridge.  The store has a great appeal for all things urban.  Skate decks on the walls, graffiti mags, sprays(Molotow), replacement caps, paint…

Every Little Thing
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton

163 Harvard Ave
Allston, MA 02134

Ryan W. writes: Oh. My. I love this place.  I was biking down Harvard St. and literally braked mid-traffic to see what was inside this little store.  Wow, am I glad I did.  This place is a treasure trove of lost-in-translation amusement.  I ended up buying all my…

Woody's Grill and Tap

58 Hemenway St
Boston, MA 02115

Brian D. writes: Somehow, Woody's has managed to stay off the beaten path and as a result still has that 'gently worn' vs. 'beat to hell' beer n pizza joint feel to it. I really appreciate this spot. For a bar and grill located in between all sorts of collegiate…

O Cantinho
Neighborhood: Inman Square

1128 Cambridge St
Cambridge, MA 02139

Annie P. writes: Lunchtime or dinnertime...
Everybody knows.. there's thousands of Portuguese or Brazilian restaurants to go to on Cambridge Street.
I choose THIS and only THIS! O Cantinho.

Oh my goodness... I know I rave about sangria everywhere I go but this one..…

Grill 23 & Bar
Neighborhood: Back Bay

161 Berkeley St
Boston, MA 02116

Liz D. writes: I had perused local eateries known for their culinary prowess and decadence and noted the main contenders of L'espalier, No. 9, Aujourd'hui, etc etc.  But on this night I was looking for something sans caviar tasting menus, foie gras, sterile…

Bottega Fiorentina
Neighborhood: Coolidge Corner

313B Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02446

Matt C. writes: I'm about to make Bottega Florentina into my own personal cafeteria. $5-6 gets you a perfect homemade plate of pasta, just enough for those weeknights when you don't feel like firing up the stove (or if it is 95 degrees in your apartment but you…

Brookline Lunch
Neighborhood: Central Square

9 Brookline St
Cambridge, MA 02138

Ligaya T. writes: my perfect eggs florentine:
poached so that the outside of the yolk is firm, but inside just a bit runny to allow the english muffin to soak it up. sauteed spinach with a few slices of red onion placed underneath the egg. thick, but not too clumpy…

Berk's
Neighborhood: Harvard Square

50 JFK St
Cambridge, MA 02138

Tom E. writes: ..and so I was in Newbury Urban, looking at the minimalist shoe selection, thinking 'where are the cool men's shoes in Boston?', and then I realise I'm not thinking but saying, and then the nice Berklee kid serving me said 'I like to go to Berk's,…

Cafe Mami
Neighborhood: Porter Square

1815 Massachusetts Ave
Between Roseland and Sommerville Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140

Cara P. writes: ORLY GOT ME ADDICTED TO CHICKEN YAKI DON  
Girl, didn't steer me wrong.

They only take cash, and for some reason I suck at ordering there....I just say.."What she's having".....Sure, my hair frizzes up while waiting in the walkway and it is crowded…

Renee's Cafe

198 Holland St
Somerville, MA 02144

Damien S. writes: The house that makes
great
pancakes.

Home fries
seasoned
give you a reason
to wait

in line.
Benny's divine
But wait!
Understuffed omelets
not great.

Cozy with charm
Set your alarm
And go.
*snap, snap, snap, snap*

Beacon Hill Pub
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill

149 Charles St
Boston, MA 02108

Mike T. writes: The Beacon Hill Pub (BHP) is alot like Stargate. You walk along Charles street among SUV sized double stroller being pushed by nannys on cell phones and boutique shops that scream "I was educated at Wellesley and have nothing better to do with my…

Middlesex Lounge

315 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02238

Tom E. writes: 01001001 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01100001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100001 01100010 01101111 01110101 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100100 01101001 01100111 01101001 01110100 01100001 01101100…

Eastern Standard Kitchen

528 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02228

Bridget M. writes: This place is fantastic and I will tell you why.

As I've mentioned in many reviews, I suffer from a rare blood disorder that, depending on what triggers I am exposed to, can send me into anaphylactic shock pretty quickly. Most of my triggers are food…

Sugar & Spice
Neighborhood: Porter Square

1933 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140

Adam E. writes: I like Sugar and Spice for a couple reasons:

1. Their website plays some sort of honky-tonk country medley at the main page-honestly, check it out for yourself.  Who do they think they're catering to, the folks from Deliverance?  At any rate, it's…

Newbury Pizza & Subs
Neighborhood: Back Bay

225 Newbury St Bsmt
Boston, MA 02116

Jayashree P. writes: The yummiest and cheesiest pizza in and around Boston. Come in and get a large cheese from Angelo.  There's no reason to spoil it with toppings unless you really need to. Newbury Pizza does not disappoint. I hope that Upper Crust moving across the…

New York & Company
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT, East Cambridge

100 Cambridgeside Pl Ofc
Cambridge, MA 02141

Nausheen M. writes: Last weekend I went shopping and for the first time entered this store.  To my amazement, they have a very nice selection of clothes. I loved their coats but unfortunately didn't have my size.  They have really cool pants too. Compared to the quality…

Bowl & Board
Neighborhood: Harvard Square

1063 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138

Julie A. writes: This place is somewhere that makes me wish I could buy everything. I truly thing they have a great selection of all Kitchen and bath supplies anyone could want and use. It's on the pricey side, but you can always buy something small, or splurge on…

Beauty's
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT

228 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139

Cara P. writes: At first I thought, "I'm not ordering my pizza from a place called Beauty's!"  It just didn't jive with me nor roll off my tongue. The name actually made me think of CVS. They have a line called "essence of beauty."

I gave in, admittedly from severe…

Chilli Duck
Neighborhood: Back Bay

829 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

erica c. writes: Decent, quick, cheap and clears my sinuses??....I'll have lunch here any day:)

Sculler's Jazz Club
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton

Double Tree Hotel
400 Soldiers Road
Boston, MA 02134

Ruben B. writes: I've seen Cyrus Chestnut, Hiromi, Aruan Ortiz, Marta Gomez, and some gorgeous lady sing whose name I don't remember.  But I do remember each artist has successfully performed phenominally unique shows.  The person selecting the Scullers jazz…

Great Chow

15 Beale St
Quincy, MA 02170

Louis C. writes: Great Chow is the best Chinese food I have had.  Growing up here and trying a variety of different restaurants including the original Quincy Jade, the Golden Bowl, the International Buffet and Cathay Pacific and Cathay Center before it burnt down in…

Porter Square Books

25 White Street
Porter Square Shopping Center
Cambridge, MA 02140

Erica S. writes: This place adds some character to Porter Square. Without it (along with my beloved Cambridge Naturals next door), this particular shopping center it resides in would be nothing special, a mere strip mall of convenience for groceries, hardware,…

Boston Athenaeum
Neighborhood: Downtown

10 1/2 Beacon St
Boston, MA 02108

Tom E. writes: I think I died and went to history teacher heaven.
History teacher heaven with a Harry Potter style.
.... and with afternoon tea as well!!

YAY FOR TEA: http://www.vimeo.com/7...
(amusing rap about tea... Roffle, Lamow, Lowell etc)

Yes, you have to be a…

Red Barn Coffee Roasters

1 Faneuil Hall Mrkt Pl
Boston, MA 02109

Jeff S. writes: Red Barn's coffee is simply the best in Boston. I wouldn't dare make such a lofty pronouncement if it wasn't true.

It depresses me that so many people worship the 'Bucks without acknowledging the over-roasted, burnt-ass flavor of the beans. The…

Gadgets
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain

671 Centre St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Olivia C. writes: Go Go Gadget   A            R          M            S
Gadgets has come through for some great small gifts but I just don't need any of the the stuff in here. One day I will have enough money to soup up my kitchen.

Once you climb the rope of perfect…

Bomboa Restaurant
Neighborhood: Back Bay

35 Stanhope St
Boston, MA 02116

Bill K. writes: Stanhope St. has the rather dubious distinction of playing host to two of the cheesiest restaurants imaginable (Bertucci's and Hard Rock Cafe) and to two of the more modern restaurants to be found in Boston (33 and Bomboa).  

I popped in to Bomboa to…

Wish
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill

49 Charles St
Boston, MA 02114

Michael T. writes: Why would a guy be rating a women's boutique clothing store?  Because I'm comfortable with my manHOOD and I thought it would be funny.  Back in the day, I dated my fair share of Core-four girls and Seven Sister girls, while also squeezing a few Chi O…

Hotel Marlowe
Neighborhood: East Cambridge

25 Land Blvd
Cambridge, MA 02141

jessica t. writes: This past weekend - I went to Boston for my sister's wedding. From the moment I stepped off the plane I began to feel a headache approaching, because wedding's inherently mean ALOT of family time.

Family time, when it comes to my family is great, for…

Haymarket Pushcart Assn
Neighborhood: Charlestown, North End

61 Salem St
Boston, MA 02113

Jess K. writes: I work near Faneuil Hall and fill my backpack and arms with produce every Friday from Haymarket. The bananas are 3lbs for $1 so there is nothing better than that. The tomatoes are overly ripe but that is really one of the only things to avoid.…

Whole Foods Market

15 Westland Ave
Boston, MA 02115

Tom E. writes: Do I look like a hobo? Don't answer that. Because I thought only hobos got loose change handed out to them. Here at symphony Whole Foods, the lovely cashier was so perplexed that I didn't have the extra 1 cent to make getting the change back for me…

Artu
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill

89 Charles St
Boston, MA 02114

Victoria D. writes: Artu makes the BEST sandwiches...every time my best friend from Montreal comes to visit me in Boston, she INSISTS that we make a stop at Artu at some point.... or several...
the 'favorito' and 'preferito'  are the best sandwiches.. go with a friend,…

Anchovies
Neighborhood: South End

433 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02116

Ligaya T. writes: Nothing could do more for my hunger crankiness than a hunk of their breaded cheese and a ladle of marinara sauce; dense, tasty and fast the kitchen serves up comfort Italian food this low-key, friendly joint. There is zero South End attitude, a…