Institute of Contemporary Art
Neighborhood: Waterfront, South Boston

100 Northern Ave
Boston, MA 02210

Ligaya T. writes: As my time during this stint in Boston comes to a close I am only now beginning to find the places of comfort and inspiration that make a city so alive. I've claimed a spot on the broad wooden bleachers, in front of the theater whose orange seats…

Bryn Mawr Book Store
Neighborhood: Huron Village

373 Huron Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138

Melinda M. writes: I found out about this place in the Improper Bostonian, Boston's Best Issue.  It's a little out of the way but that's what makes it so great.  You don't have to wade through crowds, I've spent hours here browsing.  The staff is extremely helpful and…

Salon 2

281 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

Sean L. writes: Nice place to get a cool haircut without being charged too much.  I've been their twice to see Heidi and both times she cut my hair exactly the way I wanted.

Comfortable seating and friendly staff that will chat with you while you get your hair…

Yama Japanese Restaurant

245 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02482

Matthew A. writes: I just love Japanese food. Sushi menu is a bit more diverse than other places. Everything is so clean and fresh here.
I always get the vegetable tempura as I find it addicting.
Here once can actually sit on the FLOOR in the traditional Japanese style.…

Village Smokehouse
Neighborhood: Brookline Village

1 Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02445

Amanda H. writes: MEAT. Yum.  Don't come here if you're a vegetarian OK?

Once you walk in here, you are bombarded with meat.  Almost literally.  The bit BBQ/smokehouse thing is right there in the middle of the restaurant, which is pretty cool, and there are mountains…

The Plough & Stars
Neighborhood: Central Square

912 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139

Adam B. writes: If my grandfather was still alive, him and I would have hit up the Plough and Stars on a weekly basis. He would have absolutely loved this place. The old world decor of a no frills Irish pub with a Guinness stew that will make you dance in the…

Zen Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill, Downtown

21A Beacon St
Boston, MA 02108

Matt W. writes: I friggin' hate sushi.  I hate fish, seafood, etc.  It just grosses me out.

I love Zen.

My wife loves sushi, along with  most of our friends and they love Zen too for all the sushi-esque reasons.

My review is for the non-sushi lover who is forced…

Fleming's
Neighborhood: Back Bay

217 Stuart St
Boston, MA 02116

Chloe D. writes: WARNING - ONE MUST BE 7' TALL OR HAVE 4' ARMS TO HANG YOUR COAT UP IN THE BATHROOM.

Part two of our department offsite was spent dining at Flemings. It was only about 6:30 and not terribly crowded, granted it was a Wednesday, but nice to know that…

Toraya
Neighborhood: Arlington Center

890 Massachusetts Ave
Arlington, MA 02474

Tom E. writes: At some point in the past in both space and time, probably somewhere in California in the last century, lies the primordial pre-cursor to all these sushi restaurants that populate affluent areas in the Western world. No doubt run by Japanese…

Hollywood Express
Neighborhood: Davis Square

238 Elm Street
Somerville, MA 02144

Yihwa H. writes: Now that the sketchtastic 'other' movie rental spot in Davis (you know, the West Coast Video that had the grimiest floors/walls and a 'secret' but not so secret adult video room) closed a couple of years ago (they used to be where Poor Little Rich…

Crescent Ridge Dairy

355 Bay Road
Sharon, MA 02067

Arnab M. writes: This place has the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. It was also the largest scoops and the lowest prices I've ever seen. It was creamy, rich and unbelievably fresh. So fresh that you can smell the walnuts and ginger in the ice cream, so fresh…

Martha's Bread Basket

16 Maple St
Danvers, MA 01923

Ethan O. writes: My favorites here are the carrot cake and the thick crust pizza slices.  Awesome.  

But what is up with the bashing other posters, yo?  You write what you think and I'll write what I think.  I would give you the benefit of reprting on your experience…

Inman Oasis
Neighborhood: Inman Square

243 Hampshire St
Cambridge, MA 02139

Ligaya T. writes: I just don't find jacuzzis to be conducive to babymaking. "Oh yeah, honey. The sweat pouring our your pores is making me sooo hot." Umm, no. I do find the tubs a lovely way to decompress though. Gleaming facilities, admittedly a bit Ikea, but…

El Triunfo
Neighborhood: South End

147 E Berkeley St
Boston, MA 02118

Alex R. writes: Another hidden South End gem!  Decent Mexican food is hard to come by in Boston; this is one of the few places to find it.  I think it is, anyway; I don't think I've ever eaten there sober, so I may not be the best judge.  But when you're over at JJ…

MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain

350 S Huntington Ave
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Jenna C. writes: For my 100th review I wanted to pick someplace that I hold near and dear to my heart.

And the MSPCA adoption center is definitely one of them.

When I first moved to JP I was SO excited to get a cat. I literally couldn't wait. My mom is allergic to them…

Rosenfeld Bagel Company

1280 Centre St
Newton Center, MA 02459

Kim V. writes: Although tucked away and sort of hidden in Newton Centre (it took my boyfriend, who has lived in the Newton area for years, forever to actually find the place), the bagels are surely the best around.  Very friendly staff and usually a great selection…

Redemption Tattoo
Neighborhood: Porter Square, North Cambridge

2094 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140

Richard F. writes: I've been here twice and I'm craving another tattoo since the last time I've been was like a year and a half ago.
The layout, the atmosphere, and the coloring (ok yea, i'm wicked gay and obsessive compulsive) are all really cool and make me enjoy…

Lorem Ipsum Books
Neighborhood: Inman Square

157 Hampshire St
Cambridge, MA 02139

Amanda H. writes: Lorem Ipsum is another reason why I need to move to Inman Square (the other reasons being Indian food, Portuguese neighborhood like you have never seen and because my favorite people in the universe live here).  

All other book stores had FAILED when…

Buff's Pub

317 Washington St.
Newton, MA 02458

Bill K. writes: Hear this:  Buff's Pub is THE place to go in Boston for chicken wings.  

Most of the wings in Boston are a pretty sorry display.  Sort of fried, sort of spicy.  Possibly breaded?  Not Buff's.  This place has serious wings, very crispy, flavored…

Arax Market

585 Mount Auburn St
Watertown, MA 02472

Yihwa H. writes: I can understand why most people think Arax is Armenian: most of its nearby competitors are Armenian, there's a huge Armenian population in Watertown, and one of the owners is Armenian maybe. But this place is actually Lebanese, and the majority of…

Atwood's Tavern

877 Cambridge St
Cambridge, MA 02238

Tom E. writes: Seriously good place to take a date with a wood fetish. Or is that just me? I mean, lots of lovely wood on show here... and I did get dragged here on a first date myself and really liked it. Okay - maybe I'm a wood fetishist (?).

Apart from the wood…

Sichuan Gourmet

271 Worcester Rd
Framingham, MA 01701

Tom E. writes: Ahhh... the legendary Sichuan Gourmet; basically the only thing I ever hear about from Framingham apart from the famous heart study. It was about time we checked it out, with a culinary expert from China as well. Tongues and tummys were readied, the…

Sevan Bakery

599 Mt. Auburn St
Watertown, MA 02472

Theresa H. writes: It is too early and I'm too tired to make this review witty or funny to grab your attention.

Though small, they really know how to work the space. Skylights keep this cleanly bakery well-lit and fresh-looking. Though I noticed certain items like the…

Marshmallow Fluff, Durkee Mower Inc.

2 Empire St.
Lynn, MA 01902

Sean L. writes: Perhaps we are breaking Yelp rules with this review topic... but FLUFF RULES.  Oh my GOD I'd love my jaw to me all gummed up with Fluff and Peanut butter right now.

O2 Yoga

288 HIghland Ave
Somerville, MA 02143

deanna p. writes: O2Yoga is a very welcoming, put your mind at ease studio where you would never worry about what other people think. The atmosphere is calming and hot (a comfortable heat, the way yoga should be), the instructors are friendly and approachable and…

Mount Auburn Cemetery

580 Mt Auburn St
Cambridge, MA 02138

Tom E. writes: Cemeteries have a special place in my heart. Just like any teenager growing up in England, they quickly went from being that scary place that gave you a chill to walk past to being THE place to go with the 2 litre bottle of cider that Dave's sister…

Orinoco
Neighborhood: South End

477 Shawmut Avenue
Boston, MA 02118

Tom E. writes: Earl Hickey calls it Karma - you use up your good luck and you just get left with bad luck. Well, in my case karma came through and I had one of my top dining experiences in Boston here at Orinoco.

So first was the bad luck... we drove to the North…

Andale

125 Summer St
Boston, MA 02110

Brian B. writes: Adoro este lugar!

This food is so good it'll make you speak Spanish.

Apparently, Mexican food is pretty divisive.  Everyone has their favorite.  This one's mine.  Put aside the fact that they'll accommodate any request and that the people are a…

See Eyewear
Neighborhood: Back Bay

125 Newbury St
Boston, MA 02116

Matt C. writes: Finally you come along
The way I feel about you it just can't be wrong
If you only knew the way I feel about you
Finally it has happened to me
Right in front of my face,
etc.

Clearly Ce Ce Peniston's 1991 hit was about my experience at See Eyewear last…

Reliable Market

45 Union Square
Somerville, MA 02143

reese w. writes: How have I not reviewed Reliable before?

Ok, so everyone else has said how awesome the food is there, and how they have selection, blah blah blah... and someone even briefly mentioned their "saki" [sic] selection, but it very much deserves further…

Color Restaurant
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton

166 Harvard Ave
Allston, MA 02134

Ligaya T. writes: Thanks for taking me back with your pastel menus on the walls, Color. I haven't seen foamcore in years since we did those topography maps in middle school. I always feel like such a schmuck when I go to these divey little Asian places like yours and…

Martin's Coffee Shop
Neighborhood: Brookline Village

35 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02445

Amanda H. writes: So, it's the Fourth of July, and I want pancakes.  Obviously I must celebrate America's independence and my own independence by exercising my rights to eat whatever I want, and on this day of Independence, it's pancakes.  However, many restaurants…

Cafe on the Common

677 Main St
Waltham, MA 02452

Jessica L. writes: Cafe on The Common is a cute little coffee shop that has good food, great coffee and plenty of space to sprawl out.  However, while this business fills a hole in a city that has very few choices for cafe style food and atmosphere - the place has a…

G'vanni's
Neighborhood: Charlestown, North End

2 Prince Street
Boston, MA 02113

Josh O. writes: I love this place. Get there before 5pm on a weekend or 6pm on a weekday and get a meal for two with a bottle of wine for just $20. You have to order off a smaller menu, but the food is still amazing.

Great date place. Check it out.

Kam Man Marketplace

219 Quincy Ave
Quincy, MA 02169

So S. writes: This is a great alternative to the crowded streets of Chinatown for your asian grocery needs.  Its much bigger than a Super 88 and they have a pretty good cooked food section.  What's great about this place is the other much smaller stores within…

Volle Nolle
Neighborhood: Charlestown, North End

351 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113

Ligaya T. writes: The moment I walked in here I swear I smiled one of those mouth-wide-open-so-much-g oodness grins. I stood transfixed for a while, gaping at the menu. Not that it was complicated, quite the opposite - straightforward sandwiches and salads scrawled on…

Canestaro
Neighborhood: Fenway

16 Peterborough St
Boston, MA 02215

Liz D. writes: It took everything in my power to break away from the gravitational pull of El Pelon, the center of my universe, and explore Canestaros, the uncharted region just down the way.  Easy to miss, as it seems to have snuck its way into a residential…

Sakura-Bana
Neighborhood: Financial District

57 Broad St
Boston, MA 02109

Chloe D. writes: Many a time I've walked past the doors to Sakura-Bana. Mostly because it's a couple doors down from work, but also because I'm usually sort of wary about sushi, I'm fairly fickle and like my combinations to be perky and complex. Much like myself. But…