A Mediterranean Cafe serving up Italian-American cuisine. The menu features a Kobe beef burger (a reasonable $12), traditional pizzas, lobster ravioli, autumn risotto, and a variety of entrees. The atmosphere is modern, sleek, and uppity with silver/white walls and sleek metal accents. The seats are a modernized cork- so that's what they do with the discarded wine corks!. The double sided mirror hides the enormous flat screen when it's not running the latest game. This is a great new restaurant sure to have crowds gather. If you don't like the food, stick to the great bar drinks (Champagne, favorite fruit, favorite new cocktail- $10). A new favorite all around in the Back Bay...

The cafe recently opened, and is a state-of-the-art, all-ages, student-run music venue and coffee house. While most rooms in Boston have a specific musical niche, Cafe 939 will embrace nearly any style, from rock, jazz, folk, and world, to bluegrass, hip-hop, electronica, avant-garde, and beyond. The New Brew, a free lunchtime concert series featuring up-and-coming student performers, is currently running Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and a weekly jazz brunch is being planned for this summer. The menu includes a variety of coffees, teas, sandwiches, paninis, salads, bagels, muffins, cakes, and other snacks. When school is in session, Monday mornings host "kidsjam"; where Berkelee education students and their professors run a young child jazz/movement program. Free, but you must reserve each class before each semester. Clean bathrooms but No baby changing stations. Plus- very accessibile. For more information about events, go to Berklee Events.

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.

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.

This restaurant is inside the Prudential center. The focus is pizza and light Italian. Good restaurant for the family. Most children are far less adventurous than their adult counterparts. Luckily, CPK has a children's menu. For $4.99, kids 10 and under have a choice of pizza, pasta, or curly mac 'n cheese. Meals come with a drink; dessert can be added for an extra 50 cents.

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.

Formerly known as "The Wrap" Boloco has burritos that feed the masses. You can get regular (about $5) or large ($6) in a yummy variety of styles - choose which one and then go with beef, chicken or tofu. You can also do a salad or a smoothie. If you are having a really bad day, go in and order a Nutella burrito - once you bite into that heavenly chocolately goodness things will look a bit brighter. You can order online!!

One of the classic Boston steakhouses, however Abe and Louie's was hot even before the recent steak craze. Dark and decadent, this Boylston street hotspot offers a variety of steaks, fabulous wines, and even a wonderful weekend brunch. Over-sized leather courtroom chairs and Hollywood-style booths in the dining room create an inviting atmosphere while impressive bronze chandeliers, massive torchieres, traditional mahogany detailing, and the gold leaf barrel vault ceiling add an air of elegance. Make sure to try the steak benedict!

Crazy Dough's has two locations - here and in Harvard Square. In 2007, they won the International Pizza Expo's #1 Pizza in America award. Try the Reuben or Nacho pizza slices. This place has 2 plasma TV's set to the game, a small outdoor seating area, and $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon drafts. You can hang out and watch the game with your friends and a $4 PBR pitcher. Other beer runs from $1.50 to $6.