It’s amazing what can come out of a kitchen like the one at Spoke; it’s one of the tiniest in town, but you’d hardly know it from the beautifully composed small plates that play with seasonal ingredients and inspiration from around the world. One might dine on sambal cured mackerel, for example, with coconut, milk bread, and Thai basil, or duck hearts with a fresh cherry and whiskey glaze. And it’s a wine bar, so don’t forget the wines, which dance around familiar and lesser-known regions. (Have you ever had a moscato from Mexico?) Cocktails with interesting ingredients — shiitake, dill — round out the menu. (Proof of vaccination required for diners over 12.)

Find Thai restaurant Dakzen, an Eater Boston Fast-Casual Restaurant of the Year, in Somerville’s Davis Square. The busy, well-lit restaurant has an aura of happy chaos, with a service model that falls somewhere between counter-service and full-service and a menu that doesn’t shy away from heat and funk. Those familiar with the breadth of Thai flavors — beyond Thai-American takeout staples — will be delighted to find exemplary versions of them here, and newbies will quickly learn what they’ve been missing. Highlights include the khao soi, the tom yum noodle soup, and the ba mee moo dang.

This tiny Porter Square ramen destination calls itself a “dream workshop” and encourages diners to literally stand up and share their goals out loud at the end of the meal — but only if they successfully finish a giant bowl of ramen, which serves as a metaphor for perseverance. Aside from occasional seasonal specials, the simple menu typically only includes one type of ramen — “Jiro-style,” heavy on pork and garlic — with a choice of adding extra noodles and/or extra pork to an already hearty portion.

While there are many Italian standbys in the Boston area, Giulia is an especially beloved destination thanks to its impressive cuisine and warm staff. If the pappardelle with wild boar is available, get it, but a diner can’t go wrong with anything at Giulia, especially among the meticulously made pasta dishes. Plan ahead; Giulia is in high demand, and reservations can be tough. (Later in 2022, stay tuned for the opening of a sibling spot, Moëca, right around the corner.) 

This intimate Mexico City-inspired bar is the type of place connoisseurs of Latin American liquors can squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder and have a stellar night making new friends while tasting sotol and pulque. In these continuing pandemic times, those who are seeking a little more space can try out the festive sidewalk patio, the ideal spot to snack on tetelas and cactus salad with grasshoppers and drink mezcal-based variations on classic cocktails.

Tanám is a tiny, worker-owned restaurant located in a busy food and retail development in Somerville (and an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year). Its story is told through hands-on, kamayan-style feasts or snacks and cocktails, depending on the night. While the restaurant began with a focus on Filipinx American offerings, going forward it is shifting to a wider interpretation of its genre of “narrative cuisine,” featuring other POC chefs and their stories through seasonal residencies. (Proof of full vaccination required for indoor dining for those ages five and up.)

Juliet, an Eater Boston Restaurant of the Year, has a lot of heart. Since its 2016 opening, diners can find anything from a takeout breakfast taco and a cup of coffee to a fancy multi-course dinner (and many things in between), all in one cozy space. Juliet tries to be a lot of things and somehow manages to succeed at all of them. Stay tuned for a more refined focus with an upcoming move to a larger space next door, where Juliet will more openly dial into the Niçoise bistro inspiration that has been quietly underlying the menu all this time. (Proof of vaccination is required for indoor dining for diners over 12 years old.)

Since opening in early 2015 in a section of Charlestown mostly devoid of restaurants, Brewer’s Fork has brought a bustling, pizza-loving crowd to the quiet block. The specialty is wood-fired pizza (the “killa B” pizza, topped with salami and local hot honey, is a must-try), but there are also hearty brunch sandwiches, oysters, and one of the best beer lists around. The patio is the place to be.

This gem of Greater Boston goes hand in hand with its Somerville sibling, Sarma, in serving quality, memorable meals, drawing inspiration from Turkey and elsewhere around the Middle East. The cozy restaurant has one of the most romantic patios around, and its seasonally rotating menu delivers a different experience with the same hospitality time after time. Operating with a cordials license, the restaurant has an inventive cocktail menu, with a wide array of sherry and aperitifs, and it’s famous for its baked Alaska dessert. (Proof of vaccination is required for all adults and eligible children.)

Chris and Pam Willis call their hospitable Cambridge restaurant, Pammy’s, a “new American trattoria,” but the Italian influences are strong, from the not-to-be-missed pasta dishes made with flour milled at the restaurant to the selection of digestifs. The space is charming, as is the staff, and the lumache with a gochujang-spiked Bolognese sauce belongs in every pasta enthusiast’s regular rotation.

Vietnamese cafe and natural wine bar Cicada is one of the most exciting additions to the Boston-area dining scene in recent years. Lively and artsy and full of tropical greenery, not to mention furniture restored by cofounder and chef Vinh Le, Cicada transports its diners thousands of miles away with dishes like black rice topped with lemongrass duck confit; noodle salad topped with cured salmon; and a selection of banh mi. Watch Instagram for news of special dinner events, where the cafe shines especially bright. In warmer weather, definitely snag a spot in the peaceful back garden.

East Boston newcomer Seabiscuit is such a unique spot: Australian meat pies, year-round patio dining, and incredible skyline views hidden in the midst of an art-filled shipyard. Locals will remember the beloved Australian meat pie shop that previously occupied the space, KO Pies; the new owners are keeping its legacy (and recipes) alive while adding some of their own flourishes, like baked goods. (The Seabiscuit team formerly ran the Biscuit, a longtime Somerville cafe.) Don’t be afraid of change — just swing by and eat some pie.

Branch Line’s star dish, rotisserie chicken, may make it sound ultra-casual, but it’s actually a full-service destination for everything from an energetic evening out with the kids to a special occasion over a nice bottle of wine. The heated patio is always comfortable, the hospitality is top-notch, and the beer list has some under-the-radar picks. Try the piri piri chicken with garlic fries, and don’t ignore the salads — the sugar snap pea salad, in particular, is one of Greater Boston’s best restaurant dishes.

Haley Fortier’s teeny-tiny industry haunt in Downtown Crossing doesn’t have much kitchen space, but it more than makes up for that with its selection of fancy tinned seafoods from Spain, Portugal, and the United States; a spectacular wine list; a ship-like ambiance; and its sense of humor. This is the place to go for those who want to eat Portuguese tinned smoked eels, perfectly paired with a funky, hard-to-find wine. Also on the compact menu: “biggie small plates,” such as brisket sliders; “bone thugs & charcuterie,” such as lamb tartare; and more.

Gene's offers Xi'an-style Chinese cuisine, a little bit difficult to find elsewhere in Boston, and while the restaurant's name refers to the flatbread sandwiches stuffed with beef or pork, the real highlight of the menu is the chewy, garlicky hand-pulled noodles. Add a skewer of cumin lamb and a tea egg or two on the side. Counter-service, no-frills, and only open for lunch and early dinner.

Boston’s Chinatown is an essential dining destination for newcomers and locals alike, and Taiwan Cafe is one of its most reliable staples, serving an extensive selection of Taiwanese dishes as well as a bit of Sichuan cuisine. For the former, try the Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings, the duck and cold beef over rice, and a roast beef scallion pancake roll; for the latter, the Sichuan-style white fish in chile oil always satisfies.

Peach Farm is the quintessential Chinatown destination, known especially as a late-night haunt for Boston’s restaurant industry workers in non-COVID times. Open until midnight, the busy basement space is still the place to go for lobster with ginger and scallions or Peking duck or really anything from the enormous menu. (When in doubt, go for a seafood dish.)

This Back Bay restaurant is a seafood lover’s paradise. Saltie Girl boasts a large selection of seafood dishes that touch on so many different genres. A single table might have everything from a raw bar tower to whole fried black bass for two to fried lobster and waffles, and there are plenty of imported tins of seafood as well.

Of acclaimed Boston restaurateur Barbara Lynch’s fine-dining restaurants, Sportello, located in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood, is perhaps the most approachable in terms of prices and vibe, while still showing off that signature Lynch magic. Minimalist diner meets trattoria with a small open kitchen, counter seating, and a menu of pleasing pastas and more. And oh, that spicy tomato soup.

The first of chef and restaurateur Tiffani Faison’s Fenway businesses, Sweet Cheeks has been a reliable barbecue destination for over a decade, serving high-quality smoked meats and can’t-miss biscuits. Grab a seat on the sunny patio and enjoy hearty trays of ribs, sides like mac and cheese and “church basement” potato salad, and something from the extensive bourbon selection.

The first solo restaurant from James Beard award winner Karen Akunowicz, Fox & the Knife was named one of the best new restaurants in the country when it opened in 2019, and today it remains Akunowicz’s love letter to Italian cooking, particularly the Emilia-Romagna region. Her stacked team consists of master bakers, pasta makers, and chefs who turn out beautiful dishes, such as lasagna verde and tagliatelle Bolognese; the cheesy focaccia is a must. Pair it all with an aperitivi flight. (For a taste of southern Italy, head down the street to Fox & the Knife’s younger sibling, Bar Volpe.)

Boston’s seen some major growth in its Greek food scene over the last few years, including openings like Kava Neo-Taverna, which debuted in 2016. The restaurant has really made a niche for itself in the South End with dishes like loukaniko, keftedes, and oktapodi. In-the-know diners will save room for the honey-drizzled Greek yogurt dessert at this date-night spot. Reservations are highly encouraged but can only be made the same day.

Blossom Bar, sibling to Woburn’s acclaimed Baldwin Bar, is one of Greater Boston’s top cocktail destinations, but it’s also worth visiting for the food. The emphasis is on Sichuan cuisine, with plenty of bold, spicy options available; try the Chengdu dry hot chicken, spicy dry rubbed beef brisket, and the pork dumplings with chile vinaigrette. What Blossom Bar describes as “American comfort” rounds out the menu, such as boneless spareribs, crab rangoon, and General Tso’s chicken.

The concise menu at quirky, boozy Thai restaurant Mahaniyom features dishes you won’t readily find elsewhere in the Boston-area Thai scene — many of them small plates that pair particularly well with one of the restaurant’s tasty cocktails or a mild Thai lager. Fill up on crispy chicken skins; a seasonal fruit salad (currently rambutan with fried shrimp and toasted coconut); salt-and-pepper pork cheek; and green papaya pad thai.

There are a number of excellent Cuban restaurants in and around Boston, and Jamaica Plain’s Centre Street is a feast in and of itself. The Cuban sandwich at El Oriental de Cuba is one of the best bites in the entire city. The exterior is crispy, and the interior is filled with savory pork and pickles, dressed with a gooey amalgamation of Swiss cheese and mustard. Its tropical shakes are refreshing; its Cuban iced coffee is perfect. 

Why go to multiple places to get your fill of tasty tapas as well as book and record shopping when you can do it all under one roof? Jamaica Plain mainstay Tres Gatos puts several of life’s finest pleasures together in a single eclectic destination: Snack on albondigas, gambas al ajillo, and boquerones in an old house while sipping on cocktails and poring through shelves packed full of records and books in numerous genres.

Dorchester and Roxbury are where Bostonians go to eat roti, a dish that originated in the West Indies (specifically in Trinidad), consisting of curried stew served with or wrapped by a flatbread that is similar in constitution and taste to the kind you’d find on the Indian subcontinent. While there are several fine roti shops in Boston, the house-made hot sauce at Singh’s pushes this Dorchester Avenue spot ahead of the competition. Order the goat roti, and get doubles, too, a dish that sandwiches sweet and spicy chickpeas between two delicately fried pieces of dough. Note that this is a new location as of late 2021; it’s still pretty tailored to takeout, like the original, but there’s a bit of seating.

This is the crown jewel of Dorchester’s noteworthy Vietnamese dining scene. Banh Mi Ba Le is a combination market and takeout restaurant — there are a few seats, but it’s best to get your food to go and eat it elsewhere, such as at the nearby Robert E. Ryan playground, weather permitting — and it’s best known for its grilled beef banh mi. The bread, which is baked in-house, is both shockingly crispy and pillowy, packed with fresh vegetables and sweet, charred strips of beef. There are few better sandwiches in the city, or anywhere. Wash it down with some passionfruit juice, and get some Vietnamese pantry staples from the market.