Mother Anna's is located at the very beginning of Hanover Street in the North End and has been a staple in the neighborhood for over 70 years. John F. Kennedy used to dine there frequently. The menu offers a mix of "red sauce" Italian dishes like chicken & Eggplant Parmigiana ($10 lunch), Baked Ziti ($9 lunch), Lasagna ($9 lunch), ravioli ($13 dinner), along with other favorites like Fettuccini Alfredo ($13 dinner), Chicken Marsala ($16 dinner), and a variety of seafood dishes. One of the most popular dishes is the Veal Scallopini Marsala ($11 lunch). Mother Anna's added a patio so patrons can now enjoy beautiful views of Boston while dining.

If the North End first date seems like a tired cliché, you clearly haven't been to Taranta. The minute a helpful waiter seats you in one of the 3 high-ceilinged, brick-walled dining rooms, explains the specials, and presents you with a paper cone full of fresh, moist focaccia, you'll know you're in for a treat. Try the shrimp ravioli with Peruvian mint pesto ($17) or the sumptuous braised veal shank on saffron risotto ($28). For dessert, share the delicate hazelnut mousse drizzled in dulce de leche ($7) with your date, and you'll be gazing dreamily into each other's eyes in no time. The North End never tasted so good. Reservations recommended. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

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The Point style bar in the narrow streets of Haymarket, is a spacious and cozy hangout. Their decor is furnished with a marble bar, soft lighting, and padded barstools. The crowd, a mix of sports fans, young professionals, local characters, and tourists all chat it up with our friendly bar staff. Check out the second floor, which provides nice views of the Haymarket Square, the North End, and is available for catered private parties.

Don't let the waiters' military-style uniforms (complete with Italian-flag epaulets—or is that Mexico?) fool you, the mood at this North End standby is anything but regimented. From the moment you enter the warm, candlelit, romantic dining room off Hanover St., owner Franco Graceffa will cajole you into having a good time, whether you're on a quiet date or a blocking group party. The food here shines, too, with a menu that covers traditional Southern Italian dishes and some regional specialties. Start with the involtini di Melanzane ($10), an eggplant rolatini that continues to be a crowd favorite, and the fried calamari ($10). Move on to massive portions of chicken, veal, and pasta, making sure to sample the chicken braciolettini ($20) and mozarella, portabello, and spinach-stuffed veal ($30). One caveat: even with reservations (highly recommended), you may have to wait a bit to get a table, especially with big groups. That said, once you've cooled your heels at the bar and joined in one of Graceffa's boisterous sing-alongs, you'll be ready to take on the delights Dolce Vita has to offer. Life here is indeed very, very good. Entrees $15-30. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Adam's Pizza and Convenience Store is just that: a convenience store with a pizza shop inside. A little sketchy, and open late: Adam's draws a diverse crowd. However, he well serves the Faneuil Hall bar community at 2 am and serves slices at $2 a pop.

This place has absolutely pristine oysters that you order individually off of something similar to a sushi menu. Kumamoto, Wellfleet, Bee's River...so many varieties of oyster to choose from, not to mention clams, crab claws and shrimp. Their lobster roll (the hot one, not the one with mayo which is served cold) is overflowing with the meat of 2 chick lobsters and drizzled with butter on brioche, served with Belgian twice-fried fries. Somewhat non-traditional but extremely delicious. The clam chowder is first rate, and every bowl is cooked to order. This North End hotspot has a great selection of champagnes and wines by the bottle and glass.

The oldest bar in the entire nation, the Green Dragon, housed in the Fanueil Hall area, was a favorite pub of Washington and Franklin, among other Patriots. Skip the usual brunch offerings for a full Irish breakfast--baked beans and all--served Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-3pm.

Recognizable by the neon sign pointing down to the alley. This is a place where the mother and daughter are in the kitchen fixing your food, and the son is running the small dining room. This is a tiny place that maybe seats 20 - there are only 5-6 tables. The wine served in a clay jug, not a carafe. It won't be the best Italian food you've ever had, but it feels like you're dining in the middle of someone's house, which is really charming especially if you're not in the mood for all the fuss of the high-end restaurants in the area. Cash only.

A 'gruff but lovable hole in the wall' with greasy piping hot pizza served to you on a paper plate by a cranky old guy. Rough around the edges, this no frills place won't have a snob in sight. Classic Boston pie for just a buck a slice. You can't go wrong!