The recent addition of Rocca to the growing list of top-tier restaurants in the SOWA region of the South End was highly lauded when it opened in Spring 2007. Italian food inspired by the Riviera, this hotspot is not only a fabulous meal with a creative twist, but it also boasts a great bar scene. Rocca's menu is mid-range prices with a fairly expensive wine list. The best way to describe Rocca? Italian-style tapas. Rocca specializes in small portions and a collection of Italian-style tastes like fresh raviolis, gnocchi and the artichoke "taste" dish. There's a rustic water wheel sculpture made out of metal for outdoor diners which punctuates the restaurant's already stunning red-and-silver ambience. Also, Rocca boasts ample free parking which is a definite plus for Boston-area foodies. Check out Rocca's blog HERE.

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.

Oishii Boston is located in the South End SOWA district and its contemporary decor and ambience reflects the artistic side of this up-and-coming Boston neighborhood. Awarded a stellar 28 (their highest rating) by Zagats for its food, this upscale sushi restaurant is the brainchild of Chef Ting San who is dedicated in crafting his creations with the freshest ingredients and literally treats each plate as a work of art. While this hidden gem is perfect for a romantic evening out, locals frequent Oishii for lunch to sample prix fixe Japanese cuisine at its best.

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

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.

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.

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.