Tired of Scorpion Bowls that taste like a mixture of Tang and hand soap? Then hit up Pho Republique, a hip if pricey restaurant and bar offering Western takes on traditional Asian delicacies and a drink menu featuring creative concoctions like coconut and mango martinis and their own take on the Kong's classic. Pho Republique boasts a sexy and intimate tropical atmosphere perfect for impressing a date or liquoring up your folks before you tell them that you're graduating with a degree in art history. Given the delicious if not-so-exotic entrees like the Pineapple Kung Pao Chicken ($18), Lamb Hot Pot ($17), and Sesame Crusted Tuna ($22), it might seem easy to pass on the appetizers, but don't—the Crispy Tuna Springrolls ($11) are to die for. It's well worth the journey to the South End for this tantalizing fusion of East and West, especially if you head back northward with a scorpion-inspired buzz. NOT SO Good Deal Alert: This deal apparently is no longer available, so don't expect cheap eats: Mon-Thu between 5:30-7:30 there are $2 dim sum deals at the bar. More details This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Sage Restaurant is a cozy and intimate setting in one of Boston's oldest neighborhoods. The restaurant rivals the uptown establishments by delivering American and European style cuisine that is both modern and classic.

Since 1986, through various names and family owners, this restaurant has served very tasty south american food. The Yucca and Platanos (plantains) are hard-to-find comfort foods for transplanted South Americans. After 5 PM, there are 5 parking spaces available in the back of the restaurant. Please see restaurant staff about a permit after you park.

Feel chic but never awkward at posh Union Bar and Grille. This South End eatery never fails in offering you not only a gorgeous meal (albeit sometimes $), but a chance to get some good people watching in as well. The sleek and modern surroundings are the perfect backdrop to the creative menu and festive drink list. Go ahead, lose yourself in a fruity martini. Don't miss their inexpensive brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Be part of the chic and overtired crowd that comes pouring in late morning in dire need of a cup of coffee, or better yet, a strong bloody mary. October Special: 5 year Anniversary Celebration all month Join the bartenders at Union Bar and Grille all through the month of October for specialty cocktails for $5 and complimentary nibbles between 5:30-7pm

Gaslight is the highly anticipated new french culinary addition to the SOWA region of the South End. Loud and lively, the Gaslight is always hopping and filled with the beautiful and trendy of Boston's dining scene. The food is classic french bistro, small portions that are full of flavor.

A fun and funky new addition to the South End dining scene, Spanish menu items and decor make this Harrison Ave. location different than its neighbors. No menu items are over $14. The restaurant has a lounge area with antique couches, a long bar and two large communal tables. There is also an affiliated gourmet shop next door. The cuisine is traditional Spanish tapas, including tortilla espanola and jamon iberico. The funky decor combines early 20th century Spanish flapperism with the hip surroundings of SoWa. Service is prompt and friendly, and due to the nature of the menu, the long bar makes for a perfect place to sit & eat, in addition to the tables. The ambiance is both hip and lively.

Metropolis occupies what was once an ice cream parlor; today, there is no better place in Boston to spoon up cinnamon ice cream with chocolate bread pudding and caramel sauce ($8), one of the restaurant's rarefied desserts. While the ice cream here is exquisitely prepared, this trendy bistro focuses on innovative, Italian-influenced cuisine. Dishes such as the roasted duck with sun-dried plum, goat cheese, and smoked bacon tart ($20) exemplify how Metropolis' chef melds diverse and complex flavors with excellent results. The date-worthy atmosphere more than compensates for the lack of elbow room and the inevitable wait (call ahead). Entrees $15-20. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Customers squeeze into the tightly spaced tables and read the paper at the wrap-around bar.

Mela comes to us from the One World Cuisine team who also run Bukhara, Diva, Kashmir, Mantra, and Cafe of India. The lunch buffet is very reasonable for the area: $10 weekdays, $13 weekends. Mela is likely the only Indian restaurant in the South End, but a very welcome addition. The service is friendly to children, but expect tight spaces, no kid cups or kid menus and to emphasize "very very mild spices please"/ They will however store your stroller for you.

This restaurant opened in what seemed like a revolving location for restaurants. It replaced Perdix, a venerable New American restaurant, and has established itself pretty firmly with a comfortable and varied menu. It is a favorite hangout of Povo employees for business lunches in the South End. The POPS menu offers familiar dishes prepared with a creative twist. Join us for a night of amazing, unique cuisine, fantastic and friendly service, and an atmosphere that evokes energy, movement, and celebration. Join us at POPS on Monday, December 15 from 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM for a spectacular Holiday Luncheon and Ornament-Making Extravaganza

Dine on pizza and pasta in this tiny place (just 10 tables) on a side street across from the Franklin Cafe. "Big dish" entrees, like sirloin, are very good, but it's the pizza and wine list, which owner Christine Didiuk updates constantly, that keep people coming back.