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Hamersley's Bistro is a four star French inspired restaurant in the South End. Hamersley's features one of Boston's first open kitchens, allows you to see the chef, Gordon Hamersley, while he cooks your dinner. The design of Mistral is both elegant and casual, resonating with the ambiance of Provence as arched floor to ceiling windows drench the room with light. Hamersley's prides themselves on fresh, never dull ingredients and impeccable customer service(the majority of the waitstaff have been with Hamersley's Bistro for years). Select menu items include "Halibut and Clam Roast with Bacon Braised Greens, Big White Beans and Black Trumpet Mushrooms-$29," "Grilled Beef Rib-Eye with Garlic, Marrow Bone and “Bistro” Potatoes and Red Wine Sauce-$36," and "Maple Brioche Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Walnut Praline-$9."

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.

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.

UPDATE: The case of the open-and-shut restaurant? After a much-hyped grand opening in October, the 2,000-square-foot upscale French bistro on Columbus Ave. that transformed Bob's Southern Bistro into a foo-foo French hot spot is up for sale as of December 3. The Atlantic Restaurant Group is selling the South End haunt for a mere $795,000. Any takers?
Circle: Plates and Lounge, the hot new restaurant and lounge in the other side of Mass. Ave. in the South End, will have you seeing red ... but in a good way. Adorned with striking red cloth banquetts and bar stools coupled with hot-and-cold mood lighting, this new kid on the block serves up an exciting contemporary French menu with tasty entrees like the Coulette Steak en Sous Vide ($22) and a reasonably priced poached lobster ($34). But its Circle's mind-blowing assortment of expertly crafted cocktails that's generating the most buzz: elaborate fruity concoctions ranging from the labor-intensive Dowry (cherries, blueberries and lime shaken with Patron, $10) to the heavenly La Fleur Boheme (gin, pink grapefruit juice and champagne, $14). With a striking ambience to match its shockingly good food and cocktail menu, Circle: Plates and Lounge is gourmet French food at its best. Bon appetit!

With so many places to choose from when it comes to a quick, cheap eat, Il Mondo should be at the top of your list. really. Their menu is nothing but creative and titillating concoctions of quirky and yummy ingredients (think goat cheese and pesto sauce). For around 2 dollars, you can get one very large slice of gourmet pizza with the best not-too-soft, not-too-crispy crust and topped with fresh sauce and toppings. However-if you're looking for a romantic cheap date, this is not your place. Slightly lacking in their decor, this is great take-out, run-out place where you can eat your pizza in a slightly more cozy environment. (There's a nice little park a block away called Puddingstone Park with an amazing skyline view of the city that might prove a better place to enjoy your delicious pizza).

Jae's downtown continues to serve an awe-inspiring and overwhelming variety of pan-Asian foods, from curry dishes to grilled fish to pad Thai to Bim Bab (Jae's not-so-special specialty: rice with vegetables and beef in a Korean hot stone pot), and tops that all with one of Boston's most fresh, creative, and satisfying sushi bar. You could eat here every night of the week and have a different dining experience. Jae's menu includes amusing “designer tidbits” to help you create your own sushi combinations; the one titled “for party animals” fits the overall atmosphere of loud twenty-somethings steeped in hipstertude. Jae's only drawback is that it's always packed, but it's well worth the wait. Entrees $8-17. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

A funky indie diner setting offering Chef/Owner Joanne Chang and Chef Alison Hearn's very personal interpretation of Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese specialties.

This Starbucks has ample seating- even cushy armchairs! Staff are friendly and if you are lucky, they will have samples out for you to taste test!