Neptune Oyster on Salem Street runs the city's defining raw bar in Boston's North End since 2004. 42 seats, no reservations, hot-buttered lobster roll the dish that draws the line.
Signature dishes: Hot-buttered lobster roll, Oysters
Must order: Hot-buttered lobster roll on a butter-toasted split-top bun.
Tip: Put your name on the iPad at 16:30. The wait at 18:30 runs 90 minutes; weekday lunch is the easy seat.
Address: 63 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Kathy Sidell's Saltie Girl on Dartmouth Street runs tinned fish, crudo and lobster rolls in Boston's Back Bay since 2016. Caviar service, a 300-bottle list heavy on rose and Champagne.
Signature: Tinned fish board, Lobster roll
Order: The tinned fish board: anchovies, mussels and sardines on warm butter toast.
Tip: The window counter is the walk-in seat. Brunch books two weeks out on Saturdays.
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers run Myers and Chang on Washington Street since 2007 as a pan-Asian diner in Boston's South End. Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai and Vietnamese plates.
Signature: Dan dan noodles, Tea-smoked pork ribs
Order: The dan dan noodles with house-ground Sichuan peppercorn.
Tip: Cheap Date Mondays runs a fixed $50 for two. The bar pours an excellent gin list.
The Helmand in East Cambridge runs an Afghan kitchen near Cambridgeside Galleria in Cambridge since 1989. Wood-fired flatbread, charcoal-grilled lamb, kaddo the chef's signature.
Signature: Kaddo, Aushak
Order: Kaddo, pan-fried baby pumpkin with garlic yogurt and meat sauce.
Tip: Weekday reservations easy. The kabuli pulao is the hidden order; ask for it.
Tres Gatos on Centre Street has run a tapas-bar-and-book-shop in Jamaica Plain Boston since 2011. All-Spanish wine list, regional plates and a small vinyl record section behind the dining room.
Signature: Patatas bravas, Iberico ham
Order: Chicken croquetas and a glass of Manzanilla sherry.
Tip: Weekend brunch is the under-the-radar seat. Book shop opens 17:00.
Anna's Taqueria on Harvard Street has run the city's fast-Mexican benchmark in Brookline near Coolidge Corner in Boston since 1995. Super burrito the order; eight Boston-area locations.
Signature: Super burrito, Carnitas tacos
Order: Super burrito with carnitas, rice, beans, salsa and guacamole.
Tip: Order the super burrito and split it with a friend. The line at noon moves in five minutes.
Cutty's on Washington Street in Brookline has run the area's best sandwich counter in Boston since 2010. Roast Beef 1000 and the Spuckie sub are the orders; Diners Drive-Ins and Dives feature.
Signature: Roast beef 1000, Spuckie sub
Order: Roast Beef 1000: thin-shaved roast beef, sharp cheddar, Russian dressing, onion.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Saturday morning sandwich list pulls the longest line; arrive by 11:00.
