We’re obsessed with how much Pagu is obsessed with pugs—there are tons of little statues hidden around the restaurant, along with pictures in the bathroom of cartoon pugs dressed up as superheroes. The theme is reason enough to visit this Japanese-Spanish spot in Central Square, but you’ll end up staying for (and loving) the togarashi-sprinkled boquerones, squid-ink oyster bao, and perfectly marbled koji-marinated wagyu striploin.

This Middle Eastern counter-service cafe and bakery in West Cambridge, which comes from the same team behind Oleana and Sarma, is one of those places where you can easily walk in and linger for hours. Snack on mozzarella-stuffed börek and date turmeric rolls for breakfast, and then toss out any other plans you might’ve made for the day in favor of muhammara, whipped feta, and tahini hummus with beef for lunch. Before you know it, you’re getting some spinach falafel and lamb shawarma for dinner.

What we love most about Bar Enza is that it can be anything you want it to be, whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, meeting a client, or having a reunion with your rowdiest friends from college. The menu has things like tomato focaccia served with whipped ricotta, baked pasta brimming with pork shoulder and fontina, and a fish stew with generous portions of monkfish and mussels. The soft lighting and cozy touches like pink velvet upholstery create a fun, laid-back mood.

Japanese izakaya, meet New England ingredients. The menu at this spot goes heavy on shareable seafood plates like monkfish katsu, lobster miso soup, and soy sauce-seasoned scallops that are all great for pairing with a sake flight while sitting by the crackling fireplace. Think about the place like a casual izakaya meets a cocktail bar, which means you can walk in on any weeknight for a post-work bite with colleagues or go for an impromptu date night.

This Inman Square bistro serves peak New England-style food, with some modern remixes. Clam chowder gets a drizzle of chive oil and a sprinkling of sugar-cured bacon, while bluefish is smoked and turned into a creamy pate spread across toasted rye. The restaurant leans heavily on local produce, mostly from the chef’s family farm in nearby Groton. Even the vibes feel very New England—you’ll feel like you’re eating dinner in a renovated farmhouse that just happens to be in Inman Square.

The dining room at Pammy’s, a restaurant located between Harvard and Central Squares, is a little fancy. Maybe that's because of the wood-burning fireplace or the almost-lifesize statue of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, resting on the back of the bar. But thanks to the easygoing service and buzzing crowd, it’s relaxed enough to make that blind date your aunt set up (and has been talking about for months) a little less awkward.

At Yume Wo Katare in Porter Square, the only decision you have to make is whether you want two or five slices of chashu in your ramen. The only menu item is a giant bowl of thick, chewy noodles swimming in rich pork broth, which is absolutely worth the inevitable wait to get in. After you finish, the staff will ask you if you’d like to stand up and share your dreams out loud with the other 15 to 20 diners in the tiny shop (Yume Wo Katare loosely translates to “tell your dream” in Japanese).

The smoky, sour, fiery-hot food of China’s Hunan province isn’t easy to track down in Boston. Thankfully, Sumiao Hunan Kitchen in Kendall Square exists. All the dishes on the enormous menu are served family-style, and almost everything is spicy, whether it’s braised frog, cumin-y sizzling lamb, or green pepper with century egg. Come here with a group that relishes heat, or that friend with a low spice tolerance who you love to torture.

Split-top buns filled with fresh lobster meat are as central to Boston’s identity as Dunkin’, or Ben Affleck, or Ben Affleck drinking Dunkin’. But Alive & Kicking takes a different approach to the classic. Instead of a roll, this tiny seafood counter hidden away on a residential street (in the driveway of the owner’s home) serves its “lobster sandwich” on two slices of buttered toast, and it’s one of the best bites of crustacean in the area.

Boston can’t compete with New York City’s wealth of Jewish delis. And that’s OK, because at least we have this incredible Kendall Square joint. The staples like whitefish salad, chopped liver, pastrami, and lox are all excellent, and you should always prioritize some kind of carb like house-baked bread, bagels, bialys, and babka. Come here the next time you’re looking for a casual lunch spot, a breakfast to take on the go, or just want to order from a brunch menu that doesn’t have pages of eggs.