Dempsey’s Muffins, Bagels and Breakfast serves up Medford’s best… muffins, bagels and breakfast. This family run, eat-in/take out restaurant has focused on serving up fresh, homemade breakfast and lunch items since 1995. Try their egg and cheese bagel sandwiches, made with fluffy fresh eggs and hot melty cheese on your choice of bagel. Their buttermilk pancakes are super light and come out hot off the griddle, ready to soak up butter and real maple syrup. Or if you like protein for breakfast, order the 8 oz. steak and eggs special. Get there early and snag one of three outdoor umbrella tables! Lunch is all fresh green salads, sandwiches on your choice of bread, or you can go all out with the Dempsey bacon cheeseburger. There's something for everyone at Dempsey’s. On Salem Street (Route 60) at Lambert Street. T accessible: Bus#101 from Malden Center. Cash only! Also in Everett.

Originally founded in 1991 by Michael Aplin to honor his life partner Geoffrey Seelen, this long-time favorite from Boston's Back Bay recently reopened in Roslindale Square with all a familiar panache reminiscent from its days on Tremont Street. This Washington Street hot spot has a to-die-for menu boasting yummy comfort foods ranging from its spinach & artichoke appetizer dip served with tortilla chips ($7.95) and its tasty chicken saltimbocca chicken plate seared with proscuitto, capers, spinach, balsamic mushrooms served atop mashed potatoes ($14.95). While the food is stellar, it's Geoffrey's funky-chic ambiance, friendly staff and outdoor patio area that will having you coming back for more.

Experience the grace of an intimate English Country Inn nestled in New England's woodlands while being pampered with our European service, renowned cuisine and a world of wine while dining at Left Bank. Internationally recognized for its cuisine and wine list, Left Bank boasts its own Wine Cave, with the third largest wine collection in the country!

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From husband & wife team David Cicollo & Ailish Gilligan, the owners of Brookline's The Publick House comes Roadhouse BBQ, a little piece of Texas in Boston. Roadhouse purchased and transported a 4500 lb. smoker to put in their new rib and beer joint. That's right, a 2 ton smoker, so large they had to sign a separate lease just to hold it. The restaurant is housed in the space formerly occupied by Vinny T's. Roadhouse opened in early September 2008. The highlights are 1) real pit smoked BBQ, 2) a focus on on American craft beers, 3) two great bars, and a 4) a 50 seat outdoor beer garden. Inside there are three rooms: a 35-seat dark mahogany bar, a massive 170-seat 6-plasma screen dining room sporting solid wood booths with antique brick, and the take-out area (where the pit smoker resides). Beerwise, they are offering 40 draughts, among them selections from Six Point, Magic Hat, Ommegang, Allagash, and Dogfish, as well as lesser known brewers like Mojo, Cisco, Avery, Rogue, and Bear Republic. They also feature quite a few more offerings in bottles. Food highlights include pulled pork, ribs, mixed sausages, brisket, and chicken fried steak - all of the items a BBQ joint should have. They offer one side with their entrees, and pricewise, it's certainly not cheap as far as BBQ goes ($19 chicken fried steak), but the food is solid. BTW: In you are a BBQ fan, click here to see a comprehensive (but evolving) list of BBQ places near Boston to try. Or here for the interactive map version.

Captain Fishbones, located in Marina Bay offers Seafood, Steaks, Pasta, and Desserts. A full service restaurant for all three meals, Capt. Fishbones is a good fit for families or singles. With their large patio and outdoor dining, this restaurant/bar is a popular destination, esp. during the warmer months.

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!

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.

Waterworks is the largest outdoor entertainment complex in the Northeast. Located right on the water with a capacity for over 1600 people, Waterworks is replete with a grove of palm trees, bbq's, volleyball courts, billiard pavilions, and a number of dance floors. Known for their all night partying, Waterworks is incredibly popular in the summertime due to it's outdoor setting. Some of the VIP services offered at Waterworks are complimentary admission, line privileges, bottle service, skybox and cabana rentals, and private bartenders.
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