Italian$$$$cambridgeMon-Thu 17:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-00:00
Chris and Pam Willis run Pammy's as a New American-Italian trattoria between Central and Harvard Squares in Cambridge since 2017. Priced at $$$$.
Signature: Bolognese with house tagliatelle, Lumache cacio e pepe
Order: The tagliatelle bolognese with brown-butter aged parmesan.
Tip: Resy opens 30 days ahead and the room fills the same minute. Counter walk-ins from 17:30 weekdays.
Afghan$$cambridgeSun-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00
The Helmand in East Cambridge has run an Afghan kitchen near the Cambridgeside Galleria since 1989. At 143 1st Street. Reservations advised.
Signature: Kaddo, Aushak
Order: Kaddo, pan-fried baby pumpkin with garlic-yogurt and meat sauce.
Tip: Reservations easy on weekdays. The kabuli pulao is the under-ordered dish; ask for it.
Spanish$$jamaica-plainDaily 17:00-22:00
Tres Gatos on Centre Street is Jamaica Plain's tapas-bar-and-book-shop in Boston since 2011. Order the the chicken croquetas and a glass of manzanilla sherry.
Signature: Patatas bravas, Iberico ham
Order: The chicken croquetas and a glass of Manzanilla sherry.
Tip: Weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday is the best-kept secret. The book shop and record stall open at 17:00.
American$$$beacon-hillSun-Thu 17:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-23:00
Yvonne's reopened the historic Locke-Ober space on Winter Place in Downtown Boston in 2015 as a modern supper club. Located in Beacon Hill. Priced at $$$.
Signature: Truffle cacio e pepe, Wagyu meatballs
Order: Truffle cacio e pepe with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Tip: Find the unmarked door inside the Yvonne's hair salon entrance. The library room is the quiet seat.
Pan-asian$$south-endMon-Wed 16:00-21:00, Thu-Sat 11:30-22:00, Sun 11:30-21:00
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers run Myers and Chang on Washington Street as a pan-Asian diner in Boston's South End since 2007. Priced at $$.
Signature: Dan dan noodles, Tea-smoked pork ribs
Order: The dan dan noodles with house-ground Sichuan peppercorn.
Tip: Cheap Date Mondays runs a fixed $50 menu for two. The bar pours an excellent gin cocktail list.
Seafood$$$north-endMon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Legal Sea Foods on Long Wharf, near the New England Aquarium in Boston, has anchored the chain's flagship since 1968. Kitchen leans seafood.
Signature: New England clam chowder, Lobster pie
Order: A cup of clam chowder, the recipe served at five presidential inaugurations.
Tip: Lunch with a harbor-side window is the best seat. The raw bar runs daily until 22:00.