This modern American Cambridge spot has made the transition to takeout and delivery only during the pandemic, but it’s still producing a killer Parker House roll, which comes in orders of four alongside a container of cultured butter. Puritan’s version of the classic Boston bread is made with potatoes and milk — milk is used in place of water — and is slightly sweet thanks to a dash of sugar. The milk imparts a super soft texture to the roll, while a sprinkling of sea salt flakes balances the sweetness. Eat them on their own, or with a sliver of cheese from Puritan’s simple but excellent burrata and kale salad.

Puritan & Co. is currently open for pickup and delivery via Toast, with deliveries fulfilled by DoorDash.

Absolutely head to the Smoke Shop BBQ in Kendall Square for fall-off-the-bone barbecue. (There are sibling outposts in Somerville’s Assembly Row complex and the Seaport, as well as a takeout and delivery only shop in Harvard Square.) And remember to order some of its legendary cornbread, which is exceptional on its own — the squares of crumbly goodness are brushed with sea salt honey butter — but approaches god mode when slathered with any combination of Smoke Shop BBQ sauces. The cornbread can be ordered as a side for $1.50 per square.

The Smoke Shop BBQ is open for indoor dining, and pickup and delivery via its website.

This Seaport spot shines a spotlight on bread in several of its dishes. Savor the flaky popovers — an homage to the legendary version served at the site’s former restaurant, Anthony’s Pier 4 — which are used for its lobster roll in place of the more traditional New England hot dog roll. Popovers also feature in the restaurant’s caviar service, served alongside chives, crème fraiche, and shallots as a complement to the slightly briny, buttery, decadent fish roe. The popovers can also just be ordered as a side and enjoyed on their own.

Woods Hill Pier 4 is currently open for indoor and outdoor (in igloos, no less) dining, with takeout available via Toast.

The biscuits at Sweet Cheeks Q are no secret — they are the best in the city. They’re best when slathered with honey butter and eaten alongside a heap of pulled pork or a slab of brisket, but they can be taken to-go and transformed at home, too. Order a bucket of four, but don’t devour them in one sitting. Instead, save them until the next day and whip up some buttermilk biscuit French toast, or toast them in a pan with a generous pat of butter and elevate homemade breakfast sandwiches.  

Sweet Cheeks Q is open for takeout.

The popovers at Boston Chops are worth a special trip, and a complimentary part of the dinner service for all in-person diners. (This is not an endorsement of indoor dining.) Instead, savor them as part of a takeout basket, where they pair particularly well with a red wine jus that the eatery serves with its well-loved chicken-under-a-brick dish.

Boston Chops is open for indoor dining, takeout by calling the restaurant directly, and delivery via Grubhub.

This Dorchester Caribbean spot is best known for its roti, a sort of curried stew which originated in the West Indies (specifically in Trinidad) served with — or swaddled by — flatbread like you’d find on the Indian subcontinent. The unleavened flatbread is grilled until its outside crisps and slightly bubbles, and is mainly used as a delivery mechanism for the shop’s excellent curries and stews. But the roti breads are also sold solo for $2.50 each — douse a piece with the housemade fiery pepper sauce if you dare.

JP Roti Shop is open for pickup by calling the restaurant directly.