“We know the owners, who are a beautiful couple and family. They are Venezuelan American and the food reminds me of going to a friend’s place to eat. I like their arepas and the dulce de leche triple layer cake.” — Julie King

“Always on top of the list for a date night with my wife. It’s a creative menu with shareable plates (so we can try many different things), paired with a great wine list and cocktails. I appreciate the thoughtful combination of ingredients and beautiful plating. I love the hospitality and to say hello to industry friends who work there.” — Kwasi Kwaa 

“Spoke is truly one of the most creative teams in all of the greater Boston area. Whether you go for one of Katie Weismann’s creative cocktails, a glass from Mary Kurth’s smartly curated list of wines or a bite from the geniuses in the kitchen (go, Kelcy Rusch and Paul Butler!) you cannot go wrong. Date night, friends night, I’m-hungry-and-I-don’t-want-to-cook night are all occasions to go grab a meal here.” — Noah Clickstein

“My go-to for late lunch or a casual dinner on my days off. Low key spot with great ramen. The menu changes regularly so I usually try the newest addition and always leave happy and full.” — Kwasi Kwaa

“They are also fellow Mexicans who’ve been in business for decades, like us. When I don’t want to cook or our own business is closed on weekends, we eat here. It’s wonderful to see fellow Mexicans serving our authentic Mexican food. I like their pozole and flautas, specifically.” — Julie King

“Their food always makes me feel energized for my day-off activities. I love their transparency on sourcing and timelines when ordering. Plus they always have a fun rotation of flavors and foods as well as a decent tea selection! My wish is that by mentioning them they will bring back the best sandwich they ever created, the fried dulce BLT, but I will settle for the chickpea fritter skewers or Japanese sweet potato sandwich any time of the year.” — Noah Clickstein

“This was a pop-up featuring Japanese-style Chinese food. Sad that the space they were in closed down, but I’m hoping they come back soon somewhere else or in their own spot. Well-executed food with a good balance of flavor, lots of intention, and attention to detail. Chef Ted Woo has a great story and it really comes out in his food.” — Laurence Louie

Editor’s note: Eater’s back-end tech requires an address to generate a map point, and the team was previously working out of this now-closed Artifact Cider Project space in Central Square. Mimi’s is currently in the process of deciding their next move. Woo tells Eater that they will be popping up elsewhere in the fall. The location is TBD, but keep an eye on their Instagram feed for updates.

“I love coming here for my brunch. The vibe is great and they have AMAZING lattes. It is always packed in the mornings and the locals love this place. It is one of the few Korean-inspired brunch places that serves omelets and croffles (Korean twist of a croissant and waffle combined).” — Yisha Siu

“This is another favorite of mine that is located just outside of K-town over at BU. They serve beef intestines and lots of exclusive soju. The stove is built into the table and we would sit around it like a campfire. It is something quite unique and the atmosphere is also very lively. Love coming here for night hangouts!” — Yisha Siu

“I’ve been coming here since the early days of my career. Now that we’ve become neighbors with chefs and owners Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonette, we can walk across the street to Toro after work for their Spanish tapas. (My restaurant Yunnan Kitchen closes at 10 p.m.) Yunnan Kitchen’s co-founder Patrick Siu and I are Spanish food lovers, so we really enjoy their place. Barcelonian-inspired cuisine, finger foods, generous paella ingredients — what’s not to love? ” — Yisha Siu

“I was really excited when they opened. The cooking is quality and they are doing some really meaningful work in the community. Biplaw and I have known each other for a while. The food is comforting and well-executed. The vibes are always good.” — Laurence Louie

“This is a fairly new spot in Quincy that’s got live seafood tanks and classic Cantonese cooking. Quality cooking with consistently well-seasoned dishes. Their twin lobster over XO sauce and sticky rice is incredible. It’s always packed with lots of larger groups so people should definitely book ahead. I love to go here for family gatherings, casual eats with friends, or takeout. Prices are very reasonable.” — Laurence Louie