Hamersley's Bistro is a four star French inspired restaurant in the South End. Hamersley's features one of Boston's first open kitchens, allows you to see the chef, Gordon Hamersley, while he cooks your dinner. The design of Mistral is both elegant and casual, resonating with the ambiance of Provence as arched floor to ceiling windows drench the room with light. Hamersley's prides themselves on fresh, never dull ingredients and impeccable customer service(the majority of the waitstaff have been with Hamersley's Bistro for years). Select menu items include "Halibut and Clam Roast with Bacon Braised Greens, Big White Beans and Black Trumpet Mushrooms-$29," "Grilled Beef Rib-Eye with Garlic, Marrow Bone and “Bistro” Potatoes and Red Wine Sauce-$36," and "Maple Brioche Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Walnut Praline-$9."

Oishii Boston is located in the South End SOWA district and its contemporary decor and ambience reflects the artistic side of this up-and-coming Boston neighborhood. Awarded a stellar 28 (their highest rating) by Zagats for its food, this upscale sushi restaurant is the brainchild of Chef Ting San who is dedicated in crafting his creations with the freshest ingredients and literally treats each plate as a work of art. While this hidden gem is perfect for a romantic evening out, locals frequent Oishii for lunch to sample prix fixe Japanese cuisine at its best.

The recent addition of Rocca to the growing list of top-tier restaurants in the SOWA region of the South End was highly lauded when it opened in Spring 2007. Italian food inspired by the Riviera, this hotspot is not only a fabulous meal with a creative twist, but it also boasts a great bar scene. Rocca's menu is mid-range prices with a fairly expensive wine list. The best way to describe Rocca? Italian-style tapas. Rocca specializes in small portions and a collection of Italian-style tastes like fresh raviolis, gnocchi and the artichoke "taste" dish. There's a rustic water wheel sculpture made out of metal for outdoor diners which punctuates the restaurant's already stunning red-and-silver ambience. Also, Rocca boasts ample free parking which is a definite plus for Boston-area foodies. Check out Rocca's blog HERE.

Thornton's, located across from the Prudential Center and down the street from Northeastern University,is one of the best brunch spots around. During the winter, locals will stand out in the cold to get a spot at a table inside, but during the summer, the outdoor tables and the newly opened addition make plenty of space for hungry customers. The service isn't the quickest, but the plates of food that eventually arrive are worth the wait. Perfectly seasoned home fries, big plates of eggs and toast, chocolate chip pancakes, and huevos rancheros are among the best options. Ask for an iced coffee in the summer, especially after a late night: the stuff is like rocket fuel, and you can literally feel your eyelids opening wider as you sip. Come early for a table outside in the summer, and large parties may have a hard time getting seated quickly. They also do to-go at the inside counter! Perfect spot for peoplewatching--you can see kids playing in the fountain at the Christian Science Center, and fancier folk on their way to Copley Square hotels. Staying at the Colonnade Hotel but don't want to eat there? This is two seconds away, and a much cheaper option.

This quaint bistro has earned its many Best of Boston awards. Owned by chef Andy Husbands, a former apprentice to famed East Coast Grill maestro Chris Schlesinger, Tremont 647 is serious food. The MoMos ($8) and the lemon butter roasted mussels ($9) are appetizer favorites, and entrees like grilled tuna ($26) and Chilean sea bass ($25) reflect the cosmopolitan flavors the menu has to offer. Don't skip the killer desserts, which rotate at the chef's whim. Valet parking available ($8). Appetizers $10-12, entrees $18-30, desserts $7. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Consider the breakfast pizza. It's topped with eggs, home fries, ham, and bacon. During the dinner hour, Tremont 647 offers fare described as "adventurous American cuisine." Although the brunch is family-friendly, you may find dinner somewhat less so. The restaurant does not offer a children's menu, and the atmosphere is clearly geared toward adult dining. $2 Tacos every Tuesday night!

The recently opened full-service dining area boasts a warm, cavernous appeal (including a working fireplace, a boulder-like wall that serves as a tactile homage to the elements and an upscale ambiance downstairs with windows peeking out to a rock garden that actually feels like you're dining in a cave) and a stylish, but cramped, space upstairs. The moderately-priced menu boasts a few comfort-food staples like their winning parmesan-garlic fries with chipotle aioli. The fries have a tasty, crunchy coating and score points with its creative cone-style presentation. The South End Buttery's menu has several stellar pasta dishes including its penne with pumpkin seed pesto and serves up some killer braised beef short ribs with parsnip puree that literally melt in your mouth. The vibe is cozy. Perfect for a first date or an intimate gathering of friends. As far as the upstairs cafe area, it's delicious, but small. Kind to children, but no high chairs for this South End local hangout. There is a cafe that serves everything from coffee to cupcakes, quiches to tuna melts.

A hidden gem in the South End that serves cocktails and oysters! From their website: In 2003, Barbara opened B&G Oysters providing the city with a classic yet stylish oyster bar. At the center of the dining room of this subterranean restaurant is an open kitchen surrounded by a white marble bar and black bar stools. Cool blue and grey tiles accented by stainless steel lend a calming oceanic aura to the space while the funky music playing keeps the mood fun and social. The menu offers exquisitely fresh seafood including a daily selection of 12+ oyster varieties, ready to be shucked, New England classics like lobster rolls and fried clams, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The selective and reasonably priced wine list features a number of whites and sparklers as well as a selection of smooth reds that compliment shellfish and seafood. Never tried a Gigamoto? No worries. This is a staff that loves their mollusks and bivalves: they can discuss oysters the way other servers might discuss a fine wine, able to describe a particular oysters origin, flavor profile, and farming method.

Snug and intimate, inexpensive and delicious. That is what Orinoco serves up daily besides tasty South American fare and delicious native drinks. This South End eatery opened with enthusiasm a few years ago and has been so well received that they are soon opening an Orinoco in Brookline Village as well. With prices under $10, this place is a great addition to the ever increasing prices in the South End. Closed on Mondays.

If you're just looking for a great place to lounge at night, 28 Degrees is a great venue to sit back, drink, eat and relax to the tune of the finest underground sounds and DJs. The basket of french fries is particularly tasty. From 5 to 7 on week days, they serve oysters for $1 a piece.

Hip and happening, cool and fun: Stella is a great addition to the "foodie" world of the South End as it is not only a great place to dine: but the place to be seen as well. The scene is swanky, mod and high energy-not a place for a quiet dinner with grandma (unless she can swing with the in-crowd). You won’t be sorry if you start with the Beet and Goat Cheese appetizer. The menu is stacked with pasta and fish, flatbread pizzas and side dishes to die for. They do lunch, dinner and a fab brunch on the weekends. So throw on something cute and grab a glass of bubbly: Stella is here to stay.