The Blue Diner 150 Kneeland St. Fifties style diner with hip jukebox serving great traditional American food. On weekends, open until 4am.
Buzzy's 327 Cambridge St and 647 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. Buzzy's is made famous for their excellent roast beef sandwiches and fries, but the best part might be the fact that they never close.
Daily Catch 323 Hanover St and 261 Northern Ave. Sicilian-style seafood restaurant, noted for its many styles of Calamari. Expect to pay from $10 to $40 for an entree.
Division Sixteen 955 Boylston St. The atmosphere of this converted police stable is the best part aside from the great food and extensive wine list.
Durgin Park 340 N Market St, Faneuil Hall Crowded, hurried and proud of its surly service, but a Boston institution for its chunky prime ribs and seafood specialties - not to mention the baked beans. Tables are shared, and no reservations are taken. Entrees start from $7.
Gabriele's 1 1st Ave, Charlestown Navy Yard Excellent upscale Italian restaurant, with a terrace for outdoor dining.
Giacomo's 355 Hanover St. Fresh, flavorful food, with an emphasis on seafood and pasta specialties - the pumpkin tortellini in a sage butter sauce is a North End classic. Note the restaurant doesn't take reservations or credit cards.
Golden Palace 14-20 Tyler St. Some of the best and cheapest Dim Sum served daily until 3pm. Entrees range from $7.
Kingfish Hall 188 S Market Bldg tel 617/523-8862. Well-regarded, stylish seafood house worth the splurge ($20 to $30 an entree).
Legal Sea Foods at the Park Plaza Hotel , 50 Park Plaza tel 617/426-4444. Known for their top notch seafood quality and their great oysters.
Mamma Maria 3 North Square Widely acknowledged as the best of the North End's traditional Italian restaurants, noted for seafood dishes and fresh breads. Expensive and also popular for special occasions.
Pad Thai Café 1116 Boylston St. Great salads, curries, and soups with excellent house specials. Popular among the students as most of the food is in the $5-10 range. Gets crowded quickly. Delivery available.
Panificio Bakery 144 Charles St. Consistently rated the best bakery in Boston; try to make time for their brunch, served weekends from 10am-4:30pm.
Rabia's 73 Salem St. The best thing about this small restaurant is its Express Lunch special from noon to 2pm, when you can pay under $7 for a heaping plate of Italian leftovers.
Steve's Greek-American Cuisine 316 Newbury St. This cheap eatery has some great greek food along with tasty grilled chicken sandwiches. A must try!
Trattoria Il Panino 11 Parmenter St. A popular North End trattoria liked by the locals. Great food and wine list are accompanied by a friendly staff.
Tremont 647 647 Tremont St. Part of the burgeoning South End dining scene, with big portions of New American food, much of it grilled, as well as superb desserts and a good selection of wines.
Bombay Club 57 JFK St, second floor, Harvard Square Great Indian food with a high-value lunch buffet.
Cambridge Sail Loft 1 Memorial Drive, Kendall Square Fine array of inexpensive seafood near MIT.
Dalí 415 Washington St, Somerville
Great tapas and Spanish foods as well as decor. The nice sangria bar makes the long waits bearable.
East Coast Grill 1271 Cambridge St, Inman Square Fairly pricey, but tasty southern-style food - BBQ and the like - in a good restaurant area.
Elephant Walk 2067 Massachusetts Ave, Porter Square and 900 Beacon St, Boston The Elephant Walk features excellent French food, but the Cambodian style food on the other side of the menu really excels.
John Harvard's Brew House 33 Dunster St, Harvard Square Cozy brewpub, serving a good menu with exciting little twists on American grill standards. $30 should suffice for a big meal with a couple of drinks.
Mr Bartley's Gourmet Burgers 1246 Massachusetts Ave, Harvard Square Unrivaled tasting burgers in an American atmosphere.
Redbone's 55 Chester St, Somerville Excellent, inexpensive ribs, chicken and catfish with a big range of vegetable side dishes. Just off Davis Square, two "T" stops from Harvard Square.
Rhythm & Spice 315 Massachusetts Ave, Central Square Lively restaurant with a young clientele not far from MIT, serving good-value Caribbean food.