Nappi’s doesn’t have a menu in the strictest sense of the term, but rather a list of ingredients that diners can pair together a la carte. A good bet is any kind of pasta tossed with Nappi’s bolognese. The restaurant — which began as a butcher shop and Italian market before transforming into a sub shop and finally a full-service restaurant — accepts cash only, and it’s BYOB.

Go to Bistro 5 and try the chef’s tasting menu. A recent version included crispy tuna, escargot, and grilled rabbit loin. The wine list is impressive, and the beer list features drafts, bottles, and cans from many beloved local breweries. The intimate, upscale Italian restaurant has been around for about 20 years.

Amici’s is a classic pizza parlor — formica table tops and hard, red booth seats included. It’s a great spot to grab a quick slice or a sub.

Colleen’s has been operating in Medford Square in one form or another (it was originally a Brigham’s) since 1990. Colleen Hallisey bought the restaurant when she was 22 and began selling her ice cream out of the shop. It was a huge hit, and Colleen fast became a staple in Medford Square. Sadly, Colleen passed away in 2018. But new owner Kolin Burgoyne grew up working in the shop, and when he and his wife Vicki bought the restaurant in 2019, they vowed to run things the way Colleen did. Head there for some good diner food, and save room for a decadent ice cream sundae.

This Thai food spot has great lunch options, including a panang curry, which packs a bit of heat. Enjoy other staples like basil fried rice and drunken noodles.

Tenoch Mexican — part of a small local chain — has an extensive menu of street food (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc.), but it’s the tortas that have made it one of the most beloved Mexican food restaurants in the area. Try the pastor, which comes with pork in achiote sauce, cilantro, and pineapple, served on traditional telera bread.

Zam Zam, a fairly recent addition to Medford, is the place to go for halal Indian and Pakistani food. Try one of the many takes on biryani.

Open since 2016 but first established about 20 years earlier in Rhode Island, this Korean restaurant offers all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and shabu shabu (hot pot).

Order from Chilli Garden’s Sichuan menu, which includes classics such as dan dan noodles, ma po tofu, eggplant in garlic sauce, and dry chicken with peppers. Also worth a try: the catfish and pig intestines with mixed vegetables in spicy sauce.

Moultons began as a fish market in 1945, and it still mostly looks like a fish market from the outside. It’s got some of the best fried seafood in the area, not to mention a surf-and-turf plate that comes with filet mignon tips and a choice of lobster pie, scallops, or baked shrimp.

The folks behind East Somerville mainstay Taco Loco opened this Medford taqueria in 2018. Try the chicken and carnitas nachos, the steak and tongue tacos, and the fish tacos.

Bob’s is mostly a market and caterer, but the deli sandwiches are a must. Bob’s version of an Italian sub is especially good: It comes with Prosciutto di Parma, sopressata, capicola, mortadella, and provolone, and it can be beefed up with various other toppings.

Bocelli’s is yet another restaurant specializing in Italian-American cuisine, and it offers a variety of house-made pasta options. The menu includes all the usual suspects, like veal saltimbocca, chicken piccata, shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, and fettuccine alfredo.

Semolina — the full-service sibling to Somerville shop Dave’s Fresh Pasta — has a large menu that includes pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more, all good things. The beer list is also great and features a ton of local breweries.

Get sushi, udon, various hibachi dishes, yakitori, gyoza, and more at this Japanese restaurant adjacent the Mystic River State Reservation. The restaurant also offers sushi classes for those who wish to learn the craft.