This beloved bakery, with an original location on Shawmut Avenue (one of the South End’s most stroll-worthy streets), expanded from its signature cupcakes, seasonal soups, and flaky breakfast sandwiches to offer dinner service in 2008. Owners Richard Gordon and Andrew Barker haven’t looked back since, serving up European-accented plates such as Atlantic haddock on a perfectly crisp fish-and-chips plate or steak frites. The Buttery serves comfort food at its finest, all year round.

Puerto Rican favorite Vejigantes is steered by Hector and Nivia Pina, who also run the popular Doña Habana, a Cuban spot close by. Like Doña, this restaurant draws the area’s diners for its family-friendly atmosphere. But it’s the highly rated Puerto Rican mofongo—fried and mashed plantains, mixed with garlic paste and pork skin—that that has earned it neighborhood star status since 2012. Save yourself a hard decision by opting for the mofonguito sampler.

Jeremy Kean and Philip Kruta, the powerhouse duo behind this Jamaica Plain haunt, earned James Beard Award nominations as best chefs in the Northeast in 2022. It’s a nod that won’t surprise anyone who has visited Brassica Kitchen + Cafe. The low-key, self-proclaimed “neighborhood joint” went from pop-up to permanent fixture in 20162, but it retains its original commitment to invention and seasonality. Cases in point: menu standouts such as beets with kale, yogurt & pistachio, and Maine mussels.

La Voile’s Swiss American owner, Pierre Honegger, wanted to bring a taste of France to the Back Bay in 2008. So he didn’t just import ingredients. The multi-talented reporter-photographer and sailor, also imported the restaurant’s zinc bar, tables and chairs, wooden wine fridge (an old butcher’s fridge), and vintage chandeliers. The result is a transportive retreat that keeps the regulars flocking, complete with an impressive wine list and bistro classics.

Mamma Maria, a quintessentially North End restaurant established in 1973, delivers quality fine-dining in a 19th-century townhouse. Locals come for enchanting North Square Park views, plus a compact menu that changes daily. Mamma Mia’s ultra seasonal, old world plates have previously included pumpkin gnocchi, clam and bay scallop pasta, and Piemontese-style pasture-raised veal ossobuco.

After a 2019 opening this immersive Southeast Asian restaurant quickly became a Cambridge fixture thanks to its design-forward digs and expansive menu. The crowd pleasing offerings have options for meat lovers, seafood fans, vegetarians, and gluten-free diners. Bonus points for thoughtful menu notes that mention the place of inspiration for each dish: The crispy calamari with kaffir lime, lemongrass, and chile jam sauce traces its origins to Penang, Malaysia.

Chef Michael Pagliarini (of Giulia fame) says neighborhood restaurants are his bread and butter. He’s earned plenty of new fans since opening this seafood spot, halfway between Porter and Harvard Squares, in 2022. The inviting 60-seater spotlights fresh catch in its crudo, oysters, seasonal stews, and fish roasted whole in a Neapolitan-style brick oven. In addition to the stellar seafood, plenty of Bostonians come for top-notch drinks by beverage director Charles Coykendall.

Somerville locals lucked out when La Brasa chef Daniel Bojorquez freed up the restaurant’s market and cafe space for another concept. Now, residents and visitors have the distinct pleasure of choosing from two solid restaurants that sit within the same building. For wood-fired, seasonal dishes such as grilled flank steak with cilantro chimichurri, diners can head to La Brasa; for modern Italian tasting menus with plenty of homemade pasta, go for Fat Hen.

Ramen and college students are inseparable, which explains Tsurumen’s Tufts University backdrop. But the address isn’t the only reason this spot is a hit. Chef and owner Masuo Onishi, who opened Tsurumen’s first edition in Japan circa 2010, serves chewy-thin noodles and creamy broth in a casual, no-frills setting. The spicy tan tan ramen is a crowd favorite for its balanced flavors, an umami-rich blend of heat, chicken broth base with chile oil, ground pork, crisp bok choy, and spicy seasoning.

The gray area where Cambridge ends and Somerville begins, dubbed “Camberville” by locals, is as fuzzy as one of Salvador Dalí’s Surrealist paintings. So it’s fitting that this neighborhood favorite, which opened in 1989, is named for the renowned Spanish artist. The Basque-accented plates pay homage to Dalí’s home country, featuring Catalonia tapas, ideal for sharing. Dalí is a date-night standby for its intimate tables and quirky setting—the upside down lamps make great conversation starters.