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...

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.

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.

B Good is a healthy focused burger joint, offering beef, turkey, veggie, and chicken sandwiches as well as salads, shakes, fires, and combos off all of those items. They grind their own burgers daily. Founded by local legends and Noble & Greenough school alums Jon Olinto and Anthony Ackil, the restaurant was built around the concept of a healthier kind of fast food, and has been very successful since opening. They now have four locations in the Boston area.

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!

“Contrary to popular belief, not all Mexican food is hot and spicy,” the menu notes. Nor is it greasy and full of cheese. With dishes and ambiance straight out of the food flick “Like Water for Chocolate,” Casa Romero serves up first class authentic Mexican food in a dimly lit basement setting. Start with the soft and gooey chile relleno ($8.50), stuffed with cheese and topped with sour cream and a tomato-chipotle sauce. The Mexico City style enchiladas ($12.50) with cactus, marinated onions, and feta cheese are among the most delicious and unusual delights on the menu. Most of the meat and chicken appetizers and entrees are well-prepared and delicious, although portions tend to be small. No authentic Mexican meal would be complete without the customary flan ($4). While their version is light and tasty, a better bet is the mud pie, a rich concoction of chocolate, raspberries and caramel. Entrees $12-18. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Cozy, comfortable coffee shop with outdoor tables. The granola-ie servers make noteworthy tea bags by hand (the berry blend is delish). Espresso Royale serves up tasty bagels, on a first come first serve basis- so hurry not to miss your favorite flavor. Vegetarian friendly- but no alcohol is served at this location. Also, the seating is fast to go- and often filled with a graphic design artist improving his/her lastest creation on their Apple, or a liberal policital activist whispering about the '08 election. It's always a treat to see who your caffienated neighbor is talking about..

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).

• ADDITIONAL INFO:

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.

This little ice-cream shop in the Back Bay, part of a larger chain, has been perfecting its recipes since the 70s. Homemade concoctions ranging from peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough to Grasshopper Pie and Chocolate Addiction are the unique and fabulously delicious result (1 scoop $3.10, 2 scoops $4.05, 3 scoops $4.50). Low-fat options are just as decadent, with hard yogurt flavors like Milky Way or Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Find Boston Globe's Best Smoothies here as well, including the Rejuvenator, Passion, and Liquid Yoga (soy milk, banana, chai and nonfat vanilla yogurt; $5.75). An extensive juice bar promises healthy add-ins, while cones coated with marshmallows and rice krispies and hot fudge maximize your ratio of sweetness to surface area. Rated the Best Smoothie in town, certainly worth a try if you like smoothies! This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

French style cooking in a cozy nook below a bed and breakfast in the Back Bay on Newbury Street. The warm colors give you a feel for the inventive menu. Rumored to be the child of a famous restaurant in Cannes, France- the chef has a high-profile reputation as well. The food is made with the best french ingredients, so expect a large bill. The restaurant is a "brasserie by cuisine and a bistro by atmosphere", serving Mediterranean style dishes in clean and authentic presentations. They also offer up their own takes on the French classics, such as steak or moules frites. french, restaurant, outdoor dining, wine list