SRV in the South End is a great Italian restaurant with plenty of room, outdoor space, and pasta.

Sarma is a great Mediterranean restaurant in Somerville.

Pagu is a Spanish and Japanese tapas restaurant in Central Square.

Uni is a flashy Japanese izakaya in Back Bay with a $16 spoon, hot rock wagyu beef, and lots of small plates you won’t want to stop ordering.

Craigie On Main is an upscale French restaurant in Central Square that’s great for special occasion dinners.

Gustazo is a fun Cuban place in Porter Square with a big menu of small plates and good cocktails.

Oleana is a very good Mediterranean restaurant from the same people behind Sarma and Sofra.

Mariel is a Cuban restaurant downtown. Don’t let all the selfies distract you from the fact that it’s actually really good.

Hojoko is a Japanese restaurant in the Fenway that is the opposite of a sensory deprivation tank.

Trillium is a brewery in the Seaport. The line out the door will be full of people coming for the beer, but the food is actually really good, too.

La Brasa is a big, meat-forward place in East Somerville that has a good cocktail menu.

Bogie’s Place is a speakeasy steakhouse in downtown.

Eastern Standard is a brasserie in Kenmore Square.

Beehive is a comfort food restaurant in the South End that has nightly live music.

Little Donkey is a small plates restaurant in Central Square that’s great for drinks and few bites.

Alden & Harlow in Harvard Square serves good, not great American small plates in a fun underground space with excellent cocktails.