Paradise Rock Club
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton

967 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215

Adam E. writes: I've been to Paradise a few times before for drinks and general shenanigans, which have always been solid three-star affairs.  Nothing special; it's a general boring hipster joint, but alcohol always equals three stars, at least.  Additional stars…

The Helmand
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MIT, East Cambridge

143 1st St
Cambridge, MA 02142

Tom E. writes: The Helmand is a great example of how good Yelp is. I really want to give this place just over 4 stars - which is exactly what it averages with all the yelp reviews so far. Collective taste wins out.

But this isn't any local secret - it's well known…

Boston Duck Tours
Neighborhood: Back Bay

790 Boylston St
Ste 25D
Boston, MA 02199

Jeffrey H. writes: QUACK QUACK!

So what? You want to judge me because I've lived in Boston all my life and I've been on the Duck Tours 3 times? Go ahead. Laugh. Laugh at me. I'll be your clown.

But you know what? I love it. My first opportunity was a high school frield…

Dolce Vita Ristorante
Neighborhood: Charlestown, North End

221 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113

Liz D. writes: Last night I took a friend from out of town to Dolce Vita which was quite the gamble since I hadn't been there before, but I was extremely impressed.

After yelping "best places to eat in the north end" and discovering that a.) I had been to most…

Lizard Lounge
Neighborhood: Porter Square

1667 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138

Trish F. writes: Many may not know my slam name. It's Yellow Snow. Dig it? Cooo... My first experience seeing slam poetry in Boston (Cambridge) was at the Lounge. In fact, the first time I went I saw Yelper Kit Y. throw it down (something something about female toys…

Radius Restaurant
Neighborhood: Financial District

8 High St
Boston, MA 02110

Alex R. writes: I ate brains!  Okay, it was actually a thymus gland.  That's not gonna stop me from chanting "I ate brains!" all day, though.   I was hoping the sweetbread would come out in a monkey head like in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, but apparently…

Wang Center For the Performing Arts

270 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02116

Mats K. writes: Beautiful venue.   I just wish I had seen an actual musical performance here.  Instead I ventured here for Jon Stewarts recent comedy tour.

The Wang is even more ornate than the Boston Opera House, with a very red and gold color scheme.

In Jon Stewarts…

Caffe Vittoria
Neighborhood: Charlestown, North End

296 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113

Teej T. writes: On a lazy Sunday morning after church, I found myself ambling down Hanover in the North End, wishing I didn't have to leave Boston just yet.

I had made a mental note to stop in the night before and had forgotten, so the inviting look of Caffe Vittoria…

Mamma Maria
Neighborhood: Charlestown, North End

3 North Square
Boston, MA 02113

Lynda B. writes: I love the view here, if you sit upstairs against the window you have an amazing view of the Boston skyline. Set in a multi story brownstone, the staff is gracious and the food delicious. The menu is small, but good. Great spot for a large dinner…

Copley Place
Neighborhood: Back Bay

100 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02116

Lolia S. writes: Impressive, multi-level indoor mall and in the heart of the financial district.  I think it's the home of the only Barney's in town.  The floors are shiny and the shops are spacious and new looking.  It looks bigger than it actually is - there are…

Pad Thai Cafe

1116 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02215

Anastasia R. writes: GREAT FIRST DATE RECCOMENDATION!
Justification is as follows:

1.) Pad Thai Cafe is close to the T... easy for everyone to get to.

2.) It is seriously cheap so if you are the one buying, you aren't investing a whole lot if you deem the other party…

Pinocchio's Pizza & Subs
Neighborhood: Harvard Square

74 Winthrop St
Cambridge, MA 02138

Deepa C. writes: P izza late at night or
I   n the afternoon.
N ice for a group of friends or a slice
O n the go. I love that it is tucked away and you
C an only find it if you know where to look.
C an't go wrong with a
H ot Sicilian square or something
I   n the shape of…

Darwin's Ltd
Neighborhood: Harvard Square

148 Mt Auburn St
Cambridge, MA 02138

M R. writes: Sandwiches. Local. Excellent.

The test of whether a place is very good:

Q: You just spend $7 on a sandwich. You feel:
  a.) Angry
  b.) Cheated.
  c.) Hell, it's Manhattan, what did you expect?
  d.) "I love it when a place does prosciutto right. You…

Windsor Button
Neighborhood: Downtown

35 Temple Pl
Boston, MA 02111

Craig C. writes: The other day I happened to stumble into Windsor Button while looking for the cowboy boot place which wasn't there any more.
This turned into a very strange day for me.
    Flash forward a few hours later:
I was taking out the zippers in my jeans and…

Eldo Cake House
Neighborhood: Chinatown

36 Harrison Ave
Boston, MA 02111

Jennie W. writes: "WHAT YOU WANT?!?"
"NEXT!!"
"YOU WANT WHAT?!?"

If you're a timid person, I would recommend that you stay away from Eldo on the weekends from 9 to noon. However, their pastries blow away the cloying sweet and dense heart attacks in a box that can be…

Boston Pops Symphony Hall

301 Massachusetts Ave
Boston, MA 02115

Deepa C. writes: ahh keith. keith keith keith. he is what grabbed my attention back in high school when he moved to boston and joined the pops. i mean, i had HEARD of the pops and john williams and the fourth of july concerts, etc, but only CARED when this hottie…

Newbury Comics

211 Alewife Brook Pkwy
Cambridge, MA 02138

Devon W. writes: Wow, I really haven't reviewed this Newbury Comics location?  This is by far my favorite one because it's huge, and always has everything I need for gifts and music.  And they have lots of little men (special Marvel figures).  I bought some Christmas…

El Pelon Taqueria
Neighborhood: Fenway

96 Peterborough St
Boston, MA 02215

Annie P. writes: One burrito at El Pelon could feed all the cliques on Yelp! Insano. I've never been so full in my life. The tortilla stuck on the roof of my mouth so that was a good sign. Two thumbs up for their own homemade-like pico de gallo, green hot sauce and…

Artist & Craftsman Supply
Neighborhood: Central Square

580 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Tom E. writes: Yeah this is the best.
In my humble opinion.
Better than Pearl over the road, better than Blick and Utrecht too.
Why?

IT'S FUN!

Because as well as having allllllllll the cool and useful gear you need for your arts and crafts hobbies you can also get…

Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland
Neighborhood: Back Bay

230 Newbury St Bsmt
Boston, MA 02116

Yihwa H. writes: Swiss chocolates? YUM! My bf and my bff are both from Switzerland, and they often brings me chocolatey treats after their visits home (yay!) SO, whenever I see Swiss chocolates, they have to be up to par to compare with the heavenly mouthfuls they…

Community Boating
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill

21 David G Mugar Way
Boston, MA 02114

Ger T. writes: Right on the Boston side of the Charles, a really laid-back sailing "club" that costs only about $230 for the entire year and lets you go out as many times as you want in the boats. Now I know $230 isn't exactly cheap as far as many things go, but…

Yi Soon Bakery
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton

112 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA 02134

Yihwa H. writes: Yi Soon...

... takes me back to my favourite Taiwanese bakeries of my childhood.

... is laid out with that same bright (but not stark), friendly, warm and welcoming glow of the bakery down the street from our home in Taiwan.

... has those neat, cute…

Back Bay Yoga Studio

1112 Boylston St Ste 222
Boston, MA 02215

Corry B. writes: Best Thing: 2 weeks of unlimited classes for first time students for $25.  Yoga in Boston is expensive and this is not! Whoo!  They also offer $5 community classes- REGULARLY- this also elicits a Whoo! because every other studio in town makes you…

Betsey Johnson Clothing
Neighborhood: Back Bay

201 Newbury St
Boston, MA 02116

Tracee D. writes: ahh the sweet  irony- that I don my Edie Sedgewick, Andy Warhol print shirt today, as I recount my experience in Madame Betsey's store front. I love Betsey's story. From her entering a contest as a Madomoiselle guest editor in the late 60's to her…

Rodney's Bookstore
Neighborhood: Central Square

698 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139

Michael L. writes: Me: "Hi, I'd like to buy these four crappy fantasy paperbacks I found in that paperback closet you've got out back."

Nice Lady: "Oh well lucky you! They're on sale, that'll be $4.56"

Me: "Are you serious? But...but... but you have hideous posters in…

Tacos Lupita

13 Elm St
Somerville, MA 02143

diana r. writes: Since it's Massachusetts, I'm totally allowed to marry Lupita.  

Oh, Lupita.  How you bless the Boston area with delicious carne asada tortas and tasty al pastor huaraches!  How long have I wandered from one taqueria to another, tears streaming down…

Armando's Pizza
Neighborhood: Huron Village

163 Huron Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138

Graham C. writes: I'd give this place 6 stars if I could.  How to start....

I'm originally from New York City, where the best pizza place was always the pizzeria on the corner.  And there was always one on the corner.  Then I moved up here and I realized this place had…

Grettacole
Neighborhood: Back Bay

10 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02116

Caroline A. writes: The spa carries Trish McEvoy cosmetics and Jimmy Choos in addition to offering spa treats!  How fantastic is that??

I've gotten a facial here before and was very pleased.  Extraction was a bit painful, but by pores were clean when I came out that it…

East Asia

868 Broadway St
Somerville, MA 02143

Cara P. writes: If the phone/delivery guy(s) needed somewhere to live -he could move in with me. If he needed a  ride in the middle of the night. I would pick him up.
If he/they  asked me to be his/their daughter-I would.

This is the nicest guy in the entire world.…

Trinity Church
Neighborhood: Back Bay

545 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02116

Ligaya T. writes: Check your religious skepticism at the door and enjoy this place as a unique architectural wonder.

A little bit o' history: originally founded by an Episcopalian parish in 1733 people have been loving god here longer than we've been a country. The…

The Million Year Picnic
Neighborhood: Harvard Square

99 Mount Auburn St
Cambridge, MA 02138

Arnab M. writes: OMG I LOVE comic books and this store is heaven! Too bad I only had the luxury to browse since I'm only in town for the weekend and am going to Chicago before I go home to NYC in a week, so I have no room or energy to lug comics books around. BUT I…

Wang's Fast Food

509 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02145

Tom E. writes: Last two Saturday nights I've been stuffing myself full of Wangs. It's a great feeling, everyone should try it.

Don't let the name put you off, this is home-cooked, handcrafted food and although it's bare-bones in the dining area, give it a try rather…

Capone Foods

14 Bow St
Somerville, MA 02143

laura a. writes: this place is incredible. i'm only sorry that in the 2+ years i've lived in somerville, i only went here for the first time last month. lots of olive oils, fresh pastas, even some fresh empanadas, some italian sundries like canned tomatoes and dry…

Cafe Kiraz
Neighborhood: Inman Square

119 Hampshire St
Cambridge, MA 02238

Ligaya T. writes: Fro-yo gets the chicks and gay boys a flockin' like Hugh Hefner or Donna Summer's up in there. Maybe this 3.5 star review could be bolstered up if my exchange with the cashier hadn't gone like this:

Me: Hi there, can I get a bbq chicken sandwich,…

Muqueca Restaurant
Neighborhood: Inman Square

1093 Cambridge St
Cambridge, MA 02139

Ligaya T. writes: Yes, it's worth the line. Give your name, go to Christina's and eat a small bit of dessert first.

Then half an hour later, dive into one of their signature seafood dishes and revel in your brilliance. Collard greens, bomb. Plantains, scrumptious.…

JP Licks

46 Langley Road
Newton, MA 02459

Lindley E. writes: Ah, back in the day JP Licks was an upstart ice cream joint in JP. Now it has fancy print collateral (those point-of-sale ads you see posted inside and out) and silly coffee drinks and ice cream, just like everyone else in the ice cream/coffee/cafe…

Mike's Movies
Neighborhood: South End

630 Tremont St
Roxbury, MA 02118

Alex R. writes: Here are the reasons I love Mike's:

- They always have the new movies in.  It's like magic!  I don't know how they do it.  (Well, okay, I have a guess.  My guess is that all the yuppies who rent at Mike's go straight to the foreign film section.  I…

Loehmann's

1290 Worcester Street
Sherwood Plaza
Natick, MA 01760

Christina F. writes: This is definitely a hidden treasure! I have been going since they opened, and still I have so many friends who don't know about it's existence.  What can I say...it's a house of bargains.  I got $175 ABS jeans there today for $50.  Join the insiders…