WHERE TO EAT

The Daily Catch

The thing about the North End, Boston's traditional Italian neighborhood, is that it's never just about the food. So although there are many good places to eat, we like the Daily Catch not just for its fried calamari or its linguine with clams or saucy puttanesca, but for the crowd-pleasing, pan-clattering authenticity of a real North End restaurant. thedailycatch.com '

Mike's City Diner

New England has a lot of diners, but what makes Mike's stand out is the from-scratch goodness of owner Jay Hajj's cooking. The turkey in the club sandwich and the signature turkey dinner is roasted on-site; even the pastrami and corned beef are made right here at this longtime fixture of Boston's South End. mikescitydiner.com

Area Four

Thanks to 30 hours of fermentation and a sourdough starter that's been going strong since 2002, the pizza crust at this Cambridge favorite has a signature tang as well as a shatteringly crisp exterior that belies the tender, chewy interior. It's so good you could almost eat it plain—but then you'd be missing out on some of the best pies in New England. areafour.com

Toscanini's

Depending on the season, you may find Cardamom Fig, Aztec Chocolate, or Blueberry Cheesecake on the menu at this ice cream shop, a Cambridge fixture since 1981. Then there are the malted vanilla, French vanilla, and sweet cream flavors, among many more. The Tosci's team is always inventing, always raising the bar on quality. tosci.com

Flour Bakery

With nine bustling locations in both Boston and Cambridge, Flour is a homegrown success story. Its greatest claim to fame may be owner-baker Joanne Chang's perfect sticky buns, but don't miss the scrumptious banana bread, lemon meringue pie, and brownies, not to mention the excellent salads and sandwiches. fourbakery.com