FLAT BLACK COFFEE CO.
- “FLAT BLACK Lower Mills Dorchester” - opb1995, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 1170 Washington Street, Dorchester, 617-298-1800, flatblackcoffee.com
OGAWA COFFEE
- “Best espresso in town as well as great tea lattes and a great people scene. Little slice of Kyoto in Boston.” - Alyssa, Boston
Details: 10 Milk Street, Downtown, 617-780-7139, ogawacoffeeusa.com
PAVEMENT COFFEEHOUSE
- “Fantastic coffee and homemade bagel sandwiches! BEST LATTES AND CAPPUCCINOS!!” - Christina, Woods Hole
- “PAVEMENT by far, and pretty good bagels from Bagel Rising too.” - Beaconhillr, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 1243 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston, 617-789-4000, and other locations; pavementcoffeehouse.com
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RECREO COFFEE & ROASTERIE
- “Recreo in West Roxbury!!!!” - Kathleen, Boston
Details: 1876 Centre Street, West Roxbury, 617-553-2379, and Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Downtown, 857-233-2747; recreocoffee.com
THE VU
- “An absolute miss is the best coffee shop in Boston, the Video Underground Cinema Cafe in JP. They roast all their beans in house, make all their pastries (including monthly biscuit specials) and so much more. It is an absolute gem. Everything is outstanding. They are also a members-only movie club with an extensive DVD library and tiny movie theater. (Reporting live from JP).” - Cleo, Jamaica Plain
Details: 3203 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, 617-522-4949, thevuinjp.com
Best Breakfast
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and apparently our readers think so too. Early birds and late risers alike, check out these recommendations.
BAGELSAURUS
- “Even my bagel-snobby New York friends admit Bagelsaurus is flawless. Worth the weekend lines every time.” - Robby, Cambridge
Details: 1796 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 857-285-6103, bagelsaurus.com
CAFE LANDWER
- “I very much like and eat at several of these places. I would also nominate Landwer which has both American and Middle East-style dishes and a wonderful breakfast sampler that is ample, varied and delicious.” - Debgreen, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 651 Boylston Street, Back Bay, 857-250-2902, and other locations; landwercafe.com
LINCOLN TAVERN & RESTAURANT
- “Lincoln Tavern in the South End isn’t mentioned!?!?!” - CathBear99, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 425 West Broadway, South Boston, 617-765-8636, lincolnsouthboston.com
MIKE’S CITY DINER
- “How do you have a best of breakfast without Mike’s City Diner in the South End?” - MWK, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 1714 Washington Street, South End, 617-267-9393, mikescitydiner.com
SOLID GROUND CAFE
- “Great sandwiches, great coffee, great staff and they give a lot back to the community with customers regularly donating their loyalty cards for free drinks to those in need.” - Dennis, Cambridge
Details: 742 Huntington Avenue, Mission Hill, 617-487-5557, solidgroundcafe.com
S&S RESTAURANT
- “I’m a fan of S & S Deli Cambridge” - Sooner57, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 1334 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, 617-354-0777, sandsrestaurant.com
TATTE BAKERY & CAFE
- “Tatte is the best!” - Kathyszat, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 399 Boylston Street, Back Bay, 617-366-1555, and other locations; tattebakery.com
Best Ice Cream
For a relatively new ice cream shop, it’s fair to say Lazy Bear Creamery in Dorchester has already won over hordes of fans. We heard from 11 of you, and your praise was effusive. Here’s a selection.
LAZY BEAR CREAMERY
- “Step inside, and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a Costa Rican paradise, complete with swings to sit on and sloth-themed decor that makes everything more fun and Instagrammable. The vibe here is so chill, you’ll want to hang out all day. The owner and staff are some of the friendliest folks around, making every visit feel special. They’re always coming up with cool and innovative treats, like their unique twist on the classic ice cream sandwich. And don’t even get me started on their homemade hot fudge!” - Brenna, Dorchester
- “Great Neighborhood Spot! Serving the best ice cream and a Costa Rican vibe! It’s a fresh and inviting family destination! They have the best reviews on Google and they’re all true!” - Danny, Dorchester
- This is by far hands down one of my favorite stops to visit in Boston. If you love ice cream I promise you this will quickly go straight to the top of your list of favorites.” - Mary Kate, Charlestown
Details: 383 Neponset Avenue, Dorchester, 617-992-2597, lazybearcreamery.com
Best Lobster Roll
One online commenter told us we “don’t need to go anywhere for a lobster roll” and gave step-by-step instructions for an at-home recipe (thank you Graf_229). Here are the restaurant options recommended by readers.
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LEGAL SEA FOODS
- “Legal Sea Foods by far has the BEST and BIGGEST lobster roll!” - Kimberly, Danvers
Details: 255 State Street, Boston Long Wharf, 617-742-5300, and other locations; legalseafoods.com
RED’S BEST
- “Hands down the best in Boston.” - Patrick, Jamaica Plain
Details: Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street, Downtown, 857-930-4831, redsbest.com/bpm/
Best Burgers
We caused some heated debate among commenters by including a veggie burger from Veggie Galaxy among our best burger picks (we stand by our choice, dear reader). Check out more places you say belonged on our list.
AUDUBON BOSTON
- “The hand-packed hamburger may be the best in the state. Anyone who has eaten there knows that. Not sure how this restaurant is not on the list given their earth shattering burger?” - Michael, Boston
Details: 838 Beacon Street, Fenway, 617-421-1910, audubonboston.com
THE HAVEN
- “The Haven’s burger is my personal favorite. The bacon-onion marmalade really makes it.” - Pedro45, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, 617-634-9184, thehavenjp.com
JOE SENT ME
- “Every time I try someone’s opinion of ‘best burger,’ I end up disappointed. I haven’t found anyone else in the Boston area that has a better burger than Joe Sent Me.” - paul02474, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 2388 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 617-492-1116, and 849 Main Street, Waltham, 781-894-3153; joe-sent-me.com
THE LONGFELLOW BAR AT ALDEN & HARLOW
- “No Longfellow Bar for [best] burger? Scandal!” - Late1952, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 40 Brattle Street #3, Cambridge, 617-864-0001, longfellowharvard.com
Best Seafood
No New England “best” list is complete without seafood. We delivered nine winning seafood restaurants, but readers thought our list was incomplete without these spots.
ATLANTIC FISH CO.
- “I am surprised they neglected Atlantic Fish Company.” - Wordsmith2358, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 761 Boylston Street, Back Bay, 617-267-4000, atlanticfish.com
THE BOSTON SAIL LOFT
- “The Sail Loft has simple New England style seafood, a nice pub atmosphere right near Columbus Park with a view of the water. No, it isn’t fancy. Yes, the seafood is good and not overpriced.” - Wordsmith2358, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 80 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 617-227-7280, thebostonsailloft.com
JP SEAFOOD CAFE
- “Can’t believe JP Seafood didn’t make this list. Who’s making this list? Are they even from Boston?” - John, Jamaica Plain
Details: 730 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, 617-983-5177, jpseafoodcafe.com
Best Italian Food
Want to touch a nerve? Publish a list of best Italian restaurants. How we didn’t include “Via Cannuccia and Bar Mezzana,” wrote one commenter, “is beyond me.” Read more passionate picks:
MAMMA MARIA
- “I am stunned that Mamma Maria in the North End is not among the top Italian restaurants in the city. It is fantastic! The food is great and so is the atmosphere and service. Every time I go I feel like I walked into my family’s Sunday dinner.” - Chris, Marietta, Georgia
- “How could you not include Mamma Maria? The rabbit with pappardelle is wonderful, great wine, cozy dining rooms, and the staff is first rate.” - Dan, Concord
Details: 3 North Square, North End, 617-523-0077, mammamaria.com
RINO’S PLACE
- “How on earth did [Rino’s Place] in East Boston not make this list? I suspect the authors were seeking the 10 great AND expensive Italian restaurants.” - Amazing!!, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 258 Saratoga Street, East Boston, 617-567-7412, rinosplace.com
RISTORANTE LIMONCELLO
- “Ristorante Limoncello on North Street in the North End ........ end of story!” - CallieTDog, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 190 North Street, North End, 617-523-4480, ristorantelimoncello.com
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VINNY’S AT NIGHT
- “Some would say Vinny’s on Broadway in East Somerville, a short walk from Sullivan Station…Homemade tiramisu is excellent among other dishes.” - OccasionalWriter, posted on bostonglobe.com
Details: 76 Broadway, Somerville, 617-628-1921, vinnysatnight.com
Claudie Bellanger can be reached at claudie.bellanger@globe.com.
