The team behind Somerville’s acclaimed Peruvian restaurant Celeste is at it again: Maria Rondeau and JuanMa Calderón have opened La Royal in Cambridge, and with twice the capacity and three times the space, they’re digging deep into food from all around Peru, a contrast to the Lima home cooking Celeste highlights. There’s patarshca, a grilled and steamed whole fish dish from the Amazon, for example, and arroz con pato, rice with duck, from northern Peru. The cocktail list features plenty of pisco.

Locals in the know buy their English muffins at Vinal Bakery, a cheery little cafe on the edge of Somerville’s Union Square. Now Vinal has a brand new sandwich-and-more shop right next door, Vinal General Store, and it’s quickly becoming a neighborhood hit in its early days. There’s a succinct takeout sandwich selection — the spuckie has been getting lots of praise — plus “nice wine, no fuss,” cold beer, and a bit of casual seating. There are also a variety of goods for sale, including local favorites, from Somerville-born Fluff to El Barrio tortillas. And if you missed the public transportation news years in the making: The Green Line now goes directly to Union Square.

Tucked behind a hidden door in the East Boston Italian restaurant Pazza on Porter, Next Door’s menu is anchored by dramatic cocktails. The “lock and key,” for example, is like a piña colada made with clarified milk punch that comes to the table inside a tiny treasure chest. Meanwhile, the yellow “citrus and smoke” comes topped with a smoke bubble. Rounding out the experience is a concise selection of spot-on seafood dishes, including crudos and shellfish towers.

A full-service izakaya inspired by owner Yasu Sasago’s youth spent surfing the long waves that swell along Japan’s Boso peninsula, Bosso Ramen Tavern invites diners to linger in the long, cozy dining room where food heavy in skill and creativity shines in a serene space that doesn’t distract from it. Piping hot bowls of ramen, playful sushi like one topped with takoyaki balls, seafood such as kikumasamune steamed clams, and a black sesame ice cream with sweet potato for the finale all make this restaurant stand out among the area’s plethora of Japanese restaurants.

Boston’s first dedicated sake bar, the Koji Club, is up and running at Brighton’s new Speedway marketplace. Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, a longtime alum of the restaurant group that includes O Ya and Hojoko, is owner of the welcoming space; she’s passionate about sake education — and fun. The bar features a small snack menu meant to complement sake, including a Japanese curry empanada collaboration with Super Bien, a South American-inspired wine bar and grocery store opening soon at the Speedway.

It’s pitas galore — not to mention whole roasted cauliflower and a “run over potato” — at this casual Israeli street food chain, an import from Tel Aviv with a wildly popular New York location. Miznon’s location in Boston’s Seaport District debuted in early April and is already attracting crowds feasting on creatively stuffed pitas, such as the “folded cheeseburger,” steak and eggs, and wild mushrooms. Vegetarians will find quite a few options on the menu.

Lenox Sophia, an intimate newcomer to South Boston, is meant to offer “casual fine dining,” per chef and owner Shi Mei — think unique, upscale modern American dishes in a non-pretentious setting. As Mei previously told Eater, he wants it to feel like you’re eating in his home kitchen. Lenox Sophia has one of Boston’s extraordinarily rare BYOB licenses; diners can bring their own wine and malt beverages.

From chef Karen Akunowicz of the acclaimed Fox & the Knife comes a second Italian restaurant in South Boston, Bar Volpe. While its big sibling up the street focuses on northern Italy, Bar Volpe — which is also a pasta shop — focuses on the south, with dishes like culurgiones, a Sardinian stuffed pasta; fritti misti, inspired by Sicily (with a hint of Rhode Island); and rotisserie chicken stuffed with black truffle mayo.

Vietnamese restaurant Pho Hoa is not at all new; it debuted in Dorchester’s Fields Corner in 1992. But it’s a good time to stop by if it’s been a while: Another local Vietnamese mainstay, Anh Hong, closed at the end of 2021 but has been reborn as part of Pho Hoa. All the Pho Hoa classics remain available, but the new menu includes Anh Hong’s popular seven-course beef and fish experiences and more.