PLEASE NOTE: L'Espalier moved to its new home on the second floor of the Mandarin Oriental on Boylston Street.

UPDATE: L'Espalier opened its doors at 774 Boylston Street for dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.
Fearlessly led by Frank McClelland, one of the top 25 chefs in the nation according to Food and Wine, L'Espalier is as good as it gets. And it gets good. Ascend the narrow staircase into the first of L'Espalier's 2 classically-decorated dining rooms (get a table in the more modern upper dining room if you can) and prepare yourself for high-class French food, catering to no less than serious eaters with serious finances; this is one place that'll get you psyched for Parents Weekend. The menu is a standard three-course prix-fixe for $75: spanning a wealth of tastes, from foie gras to Hawaiian red snapper to grilled lamb, the seasonal selection is substantially varied and guaranteed to delight every palate (course if that isn't enough, there's always the 6-course Degustation Menu for $95; $135 and up with paired wines). But perhaps the best thing L'Espalier has to offer: their special events, like “cheese Tuesdays,” a 4-course dinner with matching wines and a grand cheese sampler, all led by the restaurant's top cheese and wine meisters for a bargain $55. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Afternoon tea: There are two tea service choices offered: 'Make Way For The Ducklings' ($27) - your choice of tea plus a selection of petit fours and pastries - and 'Red Riding Hood's Basket' ($36), which adds tea sandwiches and canapes. For 15 dollars further, a glass of fine champagne can be served with either. Vegetarian substitutions can be requested. The tea choice is a typical 8 or so varieties and your cup is refilled from teapots carried by the staff rather than leaving them on your table. The accompanying food includes lobster salad, cucumber and cream cheese sandwich, strawberry terrine and the classic L'Espalier swan.

The Vox is the perfect place to see and be seen. Although quite the meat market, if you are in the mood to schmooze it up and look your best on a Saturday night, it is a fun place as an outing with friends. Serving 27 of the most creative martinis around in a hip but unpretentious milieu, this swanky bar is Boylston Street's “It” spot. A mostly twenty- and thirty-something crowd fills the bar on weekend nights to down $9 martinis. It kind of has that 'beautiful people' vibe going on... which can be oh so good, and can also be a complete nightmare. There are some creepy types who frequent the place hoping to pick up the aforementioned beautiful people, but thankfully they are amusing to watch. Granted, the drinks are expensive, but with such tempting varieties as the Tiramisu Martini and White Crantini (a clear martini made for men who “don't want to be seen with a pink drink”), who can resist? 8 types of scotch ($8-14), 12 bottled beers and 6 on tap, traditional cocktails ($6-9), and wine by the glass ($7.50-10.50) provide ample variety for those morally opposed to martinis. Thanks to Vox Pop's massive space there's always a quiet corner to retreat to, even on busy weekend nights. No cover.

Above the ever famous Daisy Buchanans, Ciao Bella serves up tasty italian fare like the best. Known for a good cup of capacinno, and equally known for their dark, upscale atmostphere. The prices are moderate. Want a updated version of a classic? Try the mac n' cheese. It's not of the blue box variety. Patio in the summer, and always busy.

This restaurant is located at the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center. It is one of Boston's finest dining destinations, the award-winning Top of the Hub features outstanding cuisine, impeccable service, and a sophisticated ambiance. Soaring 52 floors above the Back Bay, the restaurant and adjoining Skywalk Observatory offer guests a spectacular view of the Boston skyline from every table.
Top of the Hub's creative menus reflect a balance of New England dishes blended with contemporary cuisine influenced by the cooking styles of Asia and California. Selections strongly emphasize the freshest New England fish and shellfish available, including Boston lobsters, New England clam chowder, along with the highest quality beef, veal, lamb, chicken, and game that make up the changing, seasonal menus.

A little off the beaten path in the Prudential Mall, Tossed offers creative salads that can actually be a full meal. Boston has been sorely lacking such a place. I worry their location won't be good enough to sustain the business, but I'm hopeful. From their site: Since 1998, our mission has been to serve the highest quality food, using only the freshest ingredients, in an upscale and fun environment, providing friendly and efficient service. The quality, presentation and creativity of our salads are on a par with those found in fine restaurants.

This restaurant is across from the Prudential Mall. Uno's in Uno's, there isn't much more to say about the chain deep-dish pizza place. The most interesting thing about this location, however, is that they now serve breakfast. It's basically an a-la-carte breakfast (cereal, croissants, coffee, tea, fruit) with a menu for things like eggs and pancakes.

Famous for its sangria, Tapeo is home to authentic Spanish food and European decor. Tapeo is Zagat-Rated. The tapas bar, with its killer selection of Spanish appetizers, offers a lively and adventurous atmosphere daily from 5:00- midnight. Tapeo Restaurant & Tapas Bar's Web site features a virtual tour. Click HERE for the Newbury Street restaurant's menu, with specialties ranging from Piedra (where the food is grilled on a stone from the Canary Islands) to their signature Pescado a la Sal (fresh fish baked in salt where the salt acts as a cooking agent which enhances the tenderness of the protein).

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Sister restaurant to Dali of Inman Square, Tapéo offers delectable tapas, meaty Spanish entrees, and sweet sangría in the heart of see-and-be-seen Boston. Although the menu changes seasonally, most of the more notable tapas ($5-7) like the baked goat cheese with tomato and basil, roast duckling with berry sauce, and saffron scallops are ubiquitous. Dishes are delivered with admirable alacrity, but lingering is requisite if you want to fully savor the luscious desserts like the chocolate tart ($5.50) and fruit-filled crêpes ($7.50). The real charm of Tapéo, however, lies in its 3 low-lit bodega-style eating areas, where small tables can become surprisingly intimate islands in the sea of bustling waitstaff and playful fellow diners.

Fresh ingredients and a creative menu. Although sometimes hard to find on posh Newbury Street, Croma's prices are reasonable and rarely exceed $16 for an entree. Great place for a date night or dinner out with a friend.

Azure offers rare and exotic seafood, resulting in a tantalizing shock to the senses and the bank account. A bit too expensive for any old Saturday night out, it's a fabulous place to go with parents or friends with pockets deeper than yours. Located off the lobby of the Lenox Hotel in the Back Bay, Azure offers its inventive New American fare in a mellow, romantic, and azure-infused atmosphere. The muted glow of backlit walls, glassed-in open kitchen, high ceiling, and understated gold accents that linger about the room soothe diners during what tends to be a lengthy and luxuriant meal. The menu is not lengthy but combines a number of classic delicacies with more innovative dishes. Decadent entrees like potato-encrusted Halibut and five-spiced roasted duck (both about $27) showcase chef Robert Fathman's excellent talent. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Though it's much more expensive than Cambridge's offerings, the food is only slightly better, meaning you're paying for location in the Back Bay. Which, if you're sitting outside on a nice day, might be worth it. Try one of the Tandoori Specials made on their traditional clay oven, such as the filling Tandoori Mixed Grill ($22) or Tandoori Rack of Lamb ($25). The menu spans the range of classic North Indian offerings: tandoori specials and a wide array of chicken, lamb, beef, seafood, and vegetarian dishes (entrees $15-25). Dim lighting and intimate tables create a romantic setting, but it is not uncommon to see power-lunchers or larger groups chowing down. Your best bet is to enjoy their lunch buffet (M-F 11:30am-3pm, $9; Sa-Su noon-3pm, $12) while sitting on the huge outdoor patio. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.