This list started after my brother threw me a Facebook query about which restaurants he should recommend to a friend new to Boston. I threw it out to the world, and everyone had an opinion! Although the comments aren’t listed here, the recommenders do make an appearance, as do the things they suggest that one consume at said establishment. I have grouped everything by location, which I hope will be helpful. Feel free to add your two cents, and I’ll add it to the list!

 

CAMBRIDGE

Harvard Square:

Bar Noir – Jason Fisher

Cafe Algiers (lentil soup, mint tea) – Sarah Darling

Crema Cafe (omg quiches) – Sarah Darling

Cafe Pamplona (toasty things) – Sarah Darling

The Cellar (garden, cocktails) – Emily Rideout

Chutney’s (quick and cheap) – Jaya Lakshminarayanan, Jeremiah Hill

Clover Food Labs (basil lemonade) – Jaya Lakshminarayanan, Sarah Darling

Felipe’s – Sarah Darling

Fire and Ice – Robert Nash

Grafton Street – Robert Nash

Grendel’s Den (hot port cider) – Jacob Mashak, Sarah Darling

Henrietta’s Table (weekday breakfast) – Emily Davidson, Sarah Darling

Hi Rise Cafe – Justin Kao

Kebab Factory – Justin Kao

Otto (nifty pizza) – Justin Kao

 

Central Square:

Baraka Cafe (north african) – Annie Rabbat, Sarah Darling

Central Kitchen – Katherine Bacasmot

Flour – Justin Kao, Sarah Darling

Green Street Grill – Katherine Bacasmot

 

Kendall Square:

Craigie on Main – Jaya Lakshminarayanan

Emma’s (inspired pizza) – Sarah Darling

The Friendly Toast (brunch) – Emily Davidson

The Helmand (kaddo) – Aaron Soloway, Sarah Darling

Thai Similans – Justin Kao

 

Davis Square:

Diesel (vietnamese coffee) – Sarah Darling

Redbones (barbecue) – Sarah Darling

 

Inman Square:

Christina’s (indian spice ice cream) – Sarah Darling

 

Union Square:

Journeyman – Alexa Fields, Jeremiah Hill, Sarah Darling

 

BOSTON

Symphony:

Boston Schwarma (schwarma salad) – Margaret Darling

Lucy’s Ethiopian – Sarah Darling

Moby Dick (lentils over rice, rose lemonade) – Jake Charkey, Benjamin Sorrell, Sarah Darling

Pho Basil – Jesse Irons

Pho and I (lunch special) – Margaret Darling

Top of the Hub (hot cookie) – Katherine Bacasmot

 

Back Bay/Newbury Street:

Addis Red Sea – Jason Fisher

Bar 10 – Jason Fisher

Parish Cafe – Jesse Irons

Pavement – Sarah Darling

Tapeo – Jesse Irons

 

South End:

Coppa – Cynthia Miller Freivogel

Estragon (tapas) – Jaya Lakshminarayanan

The Gallows – Andrew Karr

Jae’s Cafe (screaming spicy roll no. 2) – Scott Woolweaver

Oronoco – Katherine Bacasmot

 

North End:

Carmen – Jaya Lakshminarayanan

Damiano’s (small plates) – Sarah Darling

Mamma Maria’s – Margaret Darling

Neptune Oyster (oysters!) – Eric Darling

 

Chinatown/Downtown Crossing:

Chau Chow City (greasy yummy dim sum) – Robert Nash

Dong Khan (fresh fruit drinks) – Teddie Hwang

Gourmet Dumpling House – Limin Mo

Market – Jason Fisher

My Thai (vegan, lunch special soup) – Sarah Darling

Stoddards (cocktails) – Jeremiah Hill

Xhin Xhin (duck salad) – Robert Mealy

 

Jamaica Plain:

Bukhara – Sarah Darling

Canto 6 (any baked goods) – Sarah Darling

El Oriental de Cuba – Jeremiah Hill

The Haven (scotch egg) – Jeremiah Hill

James Gate (mussels) – Jason Fisher

Ten Tables – Cynthia Miller Freivogel, Michael Unterman

Tres Gatos – Michael Unterman

 

BROOKLINE

Boca Grande (burritos) – Abigail Karr

Bottega Fiorentina (italian street food) – Abigail Karr

Lineage – Jesse Irons

Pho Lemongrass – Sarah Paysnick

The Publick House (belgian pub grub, weihenstephaner hefeweizen) – Jaya Lakshminarayanan, Sarah Darling

Sichuan Gourmet – Justin Kao

Shiki (home-style japanese) – Jason Fisher, Akiko Sato, Sarah Darling

 

WATERTOWN

Sofra (nouveau mid-east) Jeremiah Hill, Sarah Darling

 

ALLSTON

Bon Chon (chicken) – Jason Fisher

 

BRIGHTON

Jo Jo Taipei – Justin Kao

 

SOMERVILLE

Bergamot – Jaya Lakshminarayanan

 

ARLINGTON

Tango Argentinian Steakhouse – Jason Fisher

Toraya (lunch special) – Akiko Sato, Jason Fisher, Sarah Darling

 

CHESTNUT HILL

Oishii – Jason Fisher

 

NEWTON

Oga (bento) – Jason Fisher