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 3rd location of this hotspot focused on rustic french fare. With the flagship location on the Boston Waterfront, and one in the Natick Collection, this empire is choosing to expand in posh new digs at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.. Two of the franchise's veterans, Louis DiBicarri in the kitchen and Ian Grossman out front, are leading this third installment. As with their other locations, the food is unpretentious and classic French style fare, done simply but well, in a great atmosphere with first rates service. The space is warm, open, and simply but elegantly decorated. Each floor sports a bar and there's usually a crowd at all typical times, as this back bay locale had been hotly anticipated for quite some time. They serve lunch during the week, dinner daily, and brunch on the weekends, and offer a late night menu Wednesday through Saturday until 12:30. Each menu is a unique twist on their general theme: Lunch Menu Brunch Menu Dinner Menu Dessert Menu Late Night Menu Children's Menu

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.

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.

This is definitely a place where burly, and surly, men come to drink! Always crowded with Bostonians, Charles makes a mean burger (for a small $10) and a brunch menu that will impress your mother-in-law (some items have a spirited drink included). In the summer, there are long waits for the patio selection, but the inside atmosphere can't be beat. Dark wood work incapsulates the insides, and a small hint of "saloon" with the famous snottiness of Newbury- this place is wunderbar!

Where's the beef? The first Daily Grill to open in New England, Daily Grill Boston is located at The Shops at Prudential Center. The venue has a bar area boasting its array of signature cocktails as well as a stellar selection of surf and turf including a New York Strip Steak that has been aged for 28 days ($28.75) and prime rib with au jus only served on Saturdays and Sundays ($27.95). Their sauce seems to be, well, their secret sauce ranging from savory red wine to creamy horseradish. Also, the dining area and bar is completely open--or alfresco--on sunny days and is the perfect spot to people watch as tourists trek up and down Huntington Ave.