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!

A hidden gem amidst bustling Newbury Street comes a bookstore that calls itself “Boston's alternative". This diner-style restaurant draws rave reviews from students and families alike. You can cozy up in any corner and peruse the variety of books, magazines, and interesting knickknacks, or munch on Trident's munchies like classic salads ($8-14), sandwiches ($9-11), coffee, smoothies ($4). They have a great selection of loose teas ($2.50-$3.50) and serve breakfast all day (omelettes $7+). The staff will take a book off the rack for you and let you take it into the cafe. This quiet spot to sit back, chill out, and enjoy, is the perfect break from the craziness of Newbury. They also have a public restroom: on the right, halfway down the store.

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.

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.

With three locations throughout Boston and Cambridge, and a presence at Mohegan Sun, Jasper White is definitely doing something right. In this central Back Bay location, you are on top of King's bowling alley and right behind the Hynes Convention Center. This Summer Shack boasts the largest raw bar in the city. Parking is $7.00 at a lot adjacent to the restaurant. However, a little known fact is that on the weekends the commercial spots on Dalton Street are up for the taking...

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.