Where to Eat and Drink NOW!
 By Julie Bortnick

Breakfast
-Cookin Café
1096 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, (617) 566-4144
-If you want an inexpensive, quick, but delicious breakfast, here is your spot.  The eggs are fresh and made to your liking, while the pancakes are perfection.

-Zaftigs Delicatessen
335 Harvard St., Brookline, (617) 975-0075
-The wait may be long, but it is well worth it.  This deli is no ordinary deli.  The extensive menu features the most incredible challah French toast and the greatest omelets around.

Lunch
-Coolidge Corner Clubhouse
307 Harvard St., Brookline, (617) 566-4948
-Do you like Caesar salad?  Well, this restaurant, known for its “Caesar bowls,” has the largest salads in town.  And if you are looking for a wrap filled with anything you could possible imagine, this is where you should look (I recommend the Portobello mushroom roll-up).

-Fresh City
201 Brookline Ave., Boston, (617) 424-7907
-I love this little place.  The salad bar has every topping you could ever want in a salad, and the dressings are to die for (their balsamic vinaigrette is my favorite).  Not only do they have the best salads in the city, but their sandwiches are also incredible.

Dinner
-Grill 23
161 Berkeley St., Boston, (617) 542-2255
-This restaurant is a bit pricey but worth every penny.  It is known for its steaks, which are cooked to absolute perfection.  Not only do they serve delicious steaks here, but their meatloaf (my personal favorite) is indescribable.  I thought my Grandma’s was amazing, but wait until you try this one.

-Stephanie’s
190 Newbury St., Boston, (617) 236-0990
-This well-known restaurant is right in the heart of the wonderful Back Bay area.  You won’t find a better macaroni and cheese.  Besides this scrumptious comfort food, they offer incredible salads and many entrees, as well as the oversized Stephi burger, which always has people talking.

Dessert
-Finale
1306 Beacon St., Brookline, (617) 232-3233
-I recommend not eating dinner before you come here, because you will want to save room.  Their desserts are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.  The crème brulee and the chocolate paradise are only a couple of their remarkable desserts.  My personal favorite is the molten chocolate, but every item on their menu is sensational.

-Mike’s Pastry
300 Hanover St., Boston, (617) 742-3050
-You haven’t tasted a cannoli until you try Mike’s.  Fillings range from chocolate cream to chocolate chip ricotta and everything in between.  Located in the heart of the North End, Mike’s has people waiting in a line out the door just to get some of these incomparable desserts, from pies to cookies to cakes and more. 

First Date
-Abe & Louie’s
793 Boylston St., Boston, (617) 536-6300
-Not only is the atmosphere perfect for a first date (from the lighting to the wood paneling), but your girl will also be very impressed with this choice.  It redefines classy.  I recommend starting with the jumbo lump crab cake (to share), then trying the prime New York sirloin steak or the salmon filet, and ending with the fresh baked apple pie.  Trust me -- you won’t regret taking your date here.

-Strega
379 Hanover St., Boston, (617) 523-8481
-The romantic setting of this delicious North End Italian restaurant is a fantastic choice for a first date.  It is true Italian, from the tortellini alla panna, to the penne puttanesca, to the alla romana, to the delicious calamari.  Every item on this menu is extremely tasty; you and your date will probably be talking about this meal for the rest of the evening. 

Big Group
-Dick’s Last Resort
Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, (617) 267-8080
-This is a fun, loud, unique restaurant, perfect for a large group and a good time.  The waiters and waitresses are supposed to be mean to you, so take what they say with a grain of salt.  They have great burgers and delicious ribs.  I also recommend their famous shrimp cocktail.

-Game On
82 Landsdowne St., Boston, (617) 351-7001
-Located right next to Fenway Park, this restaurant/bar is PERFECT for watching the Red Sox or any other sporting event.  The atmosphere is fun, lively, and never quiet.  The food is outstanding, too, especially their chips and salsa (best salsa I’ve ever had) and their turkey burgers.  Don’t forget the fries! 

Drinks
-Match
94 Mass Avenue, Boston, (617) 247-9922
-This dimly lit hotspot is known for its exceptional martinis (and yummy mini burgers).  The martinis range from the infamous lemon drop martini to a martini with a rim of pop rocks…amazing, right?  They have an extensive list of drinks, each one better than the next. 

-Sunset Cantina
916 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, (617) 731-8646
-With 112 tequilas and 38 beers on tap, you will be able to find a fabulous drink of choice here.  A fun, young setting located in the heart of the Boston University area, it is always a good spot to meet friends for a drink.  The margaritas are sensational, but with so many types of tequila to choose from, how can you really go wrong?

Late Night Dining
-T Anthony’s Pizzeria
1016 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, (617) 734-7708
-Known for its mouth-watering pizza, this is a great place to go after a night out on the town.  On Fridays, it is open until 3:00 AM and on Saturdays, until 1:30 AM.  You won’t regret stopping here before heading home.  (My personal favorite is the tasty meatballs.) 

-White Horse Tavern
116 Brighton Avenue, Allston, (617) 254-6633
-This fun restaurant/bar stays open until 2:00 AM, seven nights a week, with a late night dining menu consisting of the best bar food around (onion rings, French fries, you name it).  If you need somewhere to grab a quick bite at the end of your evening, I highly recommend this Allston hotspot.