West Side is a comfortable yet sophisticated lounge and a great place to relax with friends. The decor is dark and the music is not too loud so you can have a decent conversation while dining. Try the Pan-seared Salmon, Goat Cheese and Roasted Beets or an Angus Burger and pair it with a West Side Cosmo or a glass of wine. Their desserts include Creme Brulee, homemade ice cream sandwich and more. Call ahead to make a reservation. 

Maharaja Restaurant is small establishment with a seating capacity of 44. It has a traditional Indian feel with colorful décor, sitar music and fresh scents from the tandoors. If you are not sure what entrée to order, try the Maharaja Thaali, which features a sampling of dishes. The Lamb Biryan, Chicken Tikka and Vindaloo are all spicy selections and the raita, a yogurt-based condiment, cools things down quite well.

T. W. Food offers palate-pleasing cuisine in a cozy (some say too cozy) Cambridge setting. The menu changes frequently, so be sure to ask about new specials. Popular entrees include five-spice crusted tuna, white truffle risotto and pork chops with apple and maple syrup sauce. Wines to complement each entree are available by the glass. The restaurant also serves beer. They have tasting hours as well.

Located in East Cambridge, the Greek Corner is a restaurant that enjoys a special place as a local favorite. The restaurant is popular for the flavorful delicacies created here. Though the decor and interior are nothing much to speak of, the food completely makes up for it. With fresh classic dishes being offered at a reasonable price and generous portions, one can see why it won't be a local favorite. The extensive menu spans everything from sandwiches to salads and desserts. The fish specialties and 'corner specialties are an added delight. Vegetarians need not fret as the menu also features quite a few vegetarian delicacies. Whether its the tasty hommus or the souvlaki plate, you are sure to be left satiated with the rich flavor of each and every preparation.

Set at the end of a long line of take-out restaurants in the Porter Exchange building, this spot is always packed. The restaurant is somewhat small with communal tables and generally there is a wait for a seat. This Japanese restaurant serves a variety of noodle, beef and chicken dishes. Served in a broth that is wonderfully seasoned, the soba is excellent. The ginger nonfat yogurt is a tasty dessert and the green-tea cake is quite good. Alcohol is served. Does not accept credit cards; cash only.

Tamarind House draws crowds in for the Pacific Rim cuisine, especially during the lunch hours. The décor is simple, the dishes easy to understand, and the service attentive. Red curry, beef, lime, chili salads, papaya and carrot are all common ingredients of most delicacies on this interesting menu. Traditional Asian dishes include pad thai and pad woonsen. The hot-and-sour soup and the chicken Bangkok rolls are popular side dishes. The restaurant also has a full service bar.

Grand Prix Café is a sidewalk café, on a quiet part of Massachusetts Avenue, away from the noise and traffic of Davis Square. Before guests walk in, they can choose from the menu posted on the window. A coat rack near the entrance, a plasma television mounted on the wall and a red lounge chair give Grand Prix Cafe the homey feeling that makes guests want to stay and then come back. The floor to ceiling windows, through which guests can enjoy the sunshine, illuminate the small tables and give Grand Prix Café an open feeling. They offer free Wi-Fi, serve coffee, sandwiches and pastries and for those concerned about the environment, Grand Prix Café is Green.

An inventive mix of delicatessen meats and favorite Italian treats grace the menu of Hot Tomatoes. With menu items such as The Yankee and 42nd Street, this restaurant brings New York style to Boston. It offers affordable and delicious Italian food in an area of pricier options. But there is no lack of style and the service is fast and friendly.

Big Fish Seafood Restaurant boasts a menu as long as a letter to Santa Claus. The atmosphere is more boisterous, family-style than quiet, classic dining, but the food is worth the sacrifice. It's called a seafood restaurant, but they also offer poultry, beef, vegetarian, and amphibian (that would be frog) dishes.  Located in Boston's charismatic Chinatown, Big Fish Seafood Restaurant offers fresh, inexpensive, and authentic Chinese cuisine.

Rustic Kitchen is quite what the name suggests...rustic to the core. Being attached to the Radisson Hotel Boston, this restaurant attracts quite a few out-of towners. Besides, this place is one of the few eateries with a late night license, so diners can coolly lounge around with a margarita for as long as they wish to. The menu is classically Italian with a whole range of pastas, pizzas, breads and desserts, which you can have in the Tuscan dining zone, the 200 seater bistro-bar or the garden lounge. And with a wine cellar, pasta station and studio kitchen, the classy joint is a must-visit for all food lovers.