The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common's stunning in-house dining room serves up classic American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Situated on the ground floor of the Ritz Carlton Residences and the The Sports Club LA, Jer- ne is a sophisticated and polished place to grab a drink, quick bite, or enjoy a long meal with friends. Their winelist is extensive and they serve elegant American flair with a bit of a twist.

Welcome to Sweetwater Café, where you can “eat 'til 1, drink 'til 2” after you've finished partying at the nearby clubs Big Easy, Sugar Shack, and Boum. This homey bar, with its wood floor and pseudo-nautical decor, is a welcome refuge from pounding beats, dazzling lights, and inexplicably potent drinky-drinks. Bar food specialties: the Blue Burger (burger with blue cheese; $8) and the Sweetwater Tenders (chicken fingers; $7). Pitchers of beer $8+. Live music Th-Sa. No cover. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

The Jacob Wirth Restaurant has been a Boston favorite since 1868. While Jacob Wirth's is Boston's only German restaurant and beer hall, it's a pretty authentic one. While an odd mix of regulars and theatergoing out-of-towners fill the airy dining hall's communal tables, area workers pack the front bar area to watch sports and enjoy bargain happy hour food specials. Friday nights attract exceptionally boisterous crowds for a giant sing-along that's driven by a live pianist. They have a whole book of lyrics for anyone (old and new) who inclines to join. They're hardcore! Check the restaurant's website for its weekly specials (three-course meals on Sundays for $20, all-you-can-eat pasta on Tuesdays for $10). Not to mention the beer club! No dues, no hassles, good people, great beer.

Max & Dylans is located in the Downtown Crossing location as the Old West Street Grille and has been opened by Brad Dalbeck and Chris Damian, the owners of Scollay Square in Beacon Hill and Tavern on the Water in Charlestown, and is named after their two sons. Their vision is for a cool, hip, and trendy eatery and watering hole with a laid back vibe, great cocktails and good food. The space is decorated with large black and white photographs, intimate bar tables, and a large mirrored bar. Dancing optional. Zagat-Rated.

This restaurant turned bar/dance club makes an ideal date spot, whether you're in the mood for dinner-and-a-movie (Loews Boston Common is just down the street) or bacchanalian revels (DJ F and Sa, 10pm-2am, 21+, $10 cover). Appetizers ($7-11) include cilantro ginger calamari, a Mediterranean tapas plate, and a Thai style chicken tenders plate ($8). Entrees ($11-22) range from seafood to salads; the filet mignon ($22) is a must-have meal, though other options, like the Pizza Special of the day ($12), are just as delectable. West Street Grille's reliably good food, excellent service, and soothing décor will undoubtedly please. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

_

Aujourd'hui is closing on June 27th; afterward it will only be available for private functions^[1] Forget Rialto when you really want to lay it on thick, head to Aujourd'hui. Perched above the Public Garden in the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel, Aujourd'hui's old-money-coated dining room and immaculate service make every customer feel like royalty (probably because most of them are). The food follows through as well, with a constantly changing menu that never falls flat (entrees $30+). Don't miss the lobster bisque with butternut squash; the rabbit is especially succulent. Reservations required, and although jacket no longer is required for service, it is highly suggested. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. UPDATE: This hotspot recently has been refurbished and outfitted with a classy new bar. Score!

Designer silks swish to-and-fro past the plush, upholstered chairs and leafy potted plants. This emblematic restaurant and lounge within Boston's famously posh Four Seasons serves as a more casual hangout for wealthy patrons than the stellar Aujourd'hui. The menu, however, is nothing less than professionally executed. Start with their Maine lump crabcakes, then proceed to their signature Bristol burger, which is worth every bit of its $17 price-tag. Entrees range from $15-27. Daily specials, which often feature fresh seafood, are another delectable albeit expensive option ($35). Dessert here could be a whole meal unto itself; brace yourself for the gigantic slice of triple layer chocolate fudge cake with raspberry coulis. And if you're feeling especially pretentious, drop in for a spot of tea-, complete with scones, tea sandwiches, tea bread, and pastries, daily from 3-4:30. Great Views of the Boston Public Gardens and the beautiful swan boats, people watching, tea with friends, drinks after work at the chic new bar, a cozy table by the fireplace on a cold winter night, friendly service.... What more could you possibly want out of a restaurant?

Bennigan's is the place to go for classic tastes and new favorites you haven't tried yet. This family-friendly restaurant serves typical American fare with an Irish slant. The chain recently unveiled a menu made with Guinness stout including a Guinness-glazed angus sirloin and the Guinness Maximus (a combo platter of boneless chicken wings, Guinness-glazed popcorn shrimp and beer-battered onion rings).

As comically old-school as it may be, Locke-Ober invariably delivers on its biggest promise: a wildly decadent, scotch-and-cigar-laden immersion in all things traditionally New England—and Harvard, of course. This restaurant's ancient leather chairs, pheasant prints, sprawling chandeliers, and heavy panelled walls once watched only the wealthiest of men. Now, as our waiter lamented, the dining room is open to ladies, though “it is not designed for it.” The spookily stiff waiters invisibly deliver dishes from a menu leaning heavily toward expensive meats and seafood, from appetizers such as the divine Jonah crab cakes ($14) all the way through the entrees (tasty, fatty sirloin; $36) and sickeningly rich and delicious desserts. For the pyromaniacs among us, ample opportunities exist to have various dishes flambéed (read: lit on fire) tableside. For good reason, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals still bring their Man of the Year here annually. For a bit of Boston history in your belly, order a "Ward 8." This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.