Boston

Openings

The red-sauced North End goes green with the opening of Alissa Cohen’s Grezzo, the city’s first organic/vegan/raw-food eatery. Grezzo, 69 Prince St., Boston, 857-362-7288, www.grezzorestaurant.com.

The name means “high road,” but Michael Schlow will take Alta Strada down a glamorous path when he opens a second branch at the upcoming MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino next spring. While bearing resemblances to its Wellesley sibling in its fresh, relaxed approach to Italian dining, it will out-scale the original in ways befitting its locale. Alta Strada, MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. For more information, call 1-800-FOXWOODS or visit www.foxwoods.com.

Z Square prepares to multiply with a second branch at Boston University this fall, dishing out to Terriers the same array of salads, crêpes and California-style eats it has been serving up for Harvardians. Z Square, 580 Commonwealth Ave., Boston.

Come early 2008, Chris Douglass is giving Icarus and Ashmont Grill a casual Italian sibling: not far from the latter in Dorchester, Tavolo will adjoin a pizza-and-pasta joint to a cocktail lounge.

Come January, Petit Robert Bistro will launch its third location in the Charlestown space formerly occupied by Copia. Expect Jacky Robert to stick to the same traditional bistro model that has made the first two branches so successful. Petit Robert Bistro, 100 City Sq., Charlestown.

As the name suggests, the focus at eclectic eatery Stix will be all things linear; as skewers dominate the menu, so sweeping lines will distinguish the space, set to open in late September. Stix, 35 Stanhope St., Boston.

Come October, New York–based sushi franchise Haru will alight in the Back Bay, bringing its contemporary Japanese vibe and vittles to the cavernous former home of Dick’s Last Resort. Haru, 55 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-536-0770, www.harusushi.com.

Sel de la Terre welcomes un frère: the second branch of the Provençal-themed bistro is slated to open at The Natick Collection in September. Sel de la Terre, The Natick Collection, 1245 Worcester St., Natick.

Todd English plans to do for burgers at Oliver’s what he did for pizza at Figs: the Financial District joint, slated for an autumn opening, will not only take the world’s favorite sandwich into gourmet territory, but will bring milkshakes, floats and sides like onion rings and tater tots along with it.

The finale never comes for Finale, which is opening its fourth location in the Natick Collection in September; expect the high-end café and desserterie to follow the formula of its urban brethren on all fronts. Finale, Natick Collection, 1245 Worcester St., Natick.

The much-anticipated Gaslight is finally opening its doors mid-August, bringing the South End its first classic brasserie–make that neoclassic, as modern American elements blend with Gallic tradition. Gaslight, 560 Harrison Ave., Boston.

Albanian native Aldo Velaj will introduce the Back Bay to the cuisine of his homeland, supplemented by specialties from surrounding Mediterranean lands, when he opens contemporary eatery and lounge Vlora in May. Vlora, 545 Boylston St., Boston.

Come early summer, South End institution Aquitaine will be sharing the spotlight with an equally Parisian but bigger, brassier sib, Gaslight Brasserie du Coin. Gaslight Brasserie du Coin, 560 Harrison Ave., Boston.

The team behind blu is heading to the South End, bringing chef Tom Fosnot with them to head the kitchen of ROCCA Kitchen & Bar. Slated for an April opening, ROCCA aims to cultivate a Mediterranean touch in both style and substance: the menu will focus on specialties from the region of Liguria, part of the so-called Italian Riviera. Rocca, 500 Harrison Ave., Boston, 617-350-5515, roccaboston.com.

The flavors of Albania, as well as Greece and Italy, are coming to the Back Bay via the menu at Vlora, a Mediterranean debut from chef Aldo Velaj—himself a native Albanian—and wife-manager Cindy Tsai. Vlora, 545 Boylston St., Boston.

East Coast Grill fans are getting all het up over The All-Star Sandwich Bar. Chris Schlesinger expects to open his new café in Cambridge's Inman Square—just down the street from his famed fish joint—in mid to late July. The All-Star Sandwich Bar, 1245 Cambridge St., Cambridge.

Jacky Robert and partner Loic Le Garrec are taking over the former space of Rouge (480 Columbus Ave.) to bring South Enders the same brand of classic, casual French fare they've bestowed on Kenmore Square.

Theatergoers will find a Rustic Kitchen in their 'hood come fall, when the local Italian mini-chain opens a branch in the Radisson Hotel. Rustic Kitchen, 200 Stuart St., Boston.

Last seen in the kitchen at blu, Dante de Magistris is back with an eatery that bears both his name and his flair for Mediterranean cuisine. Located in the Royal Sonesta Cambridge, dante joins sun- and sea-splashed décor, a view of the Charles and a DJ-ready sound system to create a backdrop for modern American breakfasts as well as lunch and dinner menus inspired by the cooking of Italy, France and Spain. dante, Royal Sonesta Cambridge Hotel, 5 Cambridge Pkwy., Cambridge, 617-497-4200.

Cantabrigians can now find Conundrum, chef Eric Wernsing's globally themed eatery, in the old Iruña space in Harvard Square. Conundrum, 56 JFK St., Cambridge.

Legal Sea Foods is branching out. Keep your eyes peeled for the Boston-area debut of Legal C Bar and Grille, a lower-priced alternative to the parent chain.

Ken Oringer of long-ballyhooed Clio prepares for the October opening of his much-anticipated second establishment, Toro; here he seeks to re-create an authentic Spanish tapas bar in the South End.

Any day now, Marc Orfaly of Pigalle will swing open the doors of his sophomore venture, Marco—a North End trattoria that aims to keep it rustic while letting occasional contemporary notes shine through. Marco, 253 Hanover St., Boston, 617-742-8240.

Chris Douglass launches an anti-Icarus (3 Appleton St., 61: the soon-to-open Ashmont Grill in Dorchester is shaping up to be every bit the affordable, all-day neighborhood joint that Douglass’s name-making special-occasion destination is not.

Steak Out Part I: Ruth’s Chris Steak House will open its first Boston branch in the space that last played home to Maison Robert at 45 School Street in the Financial District.

Steak Out Part II: Smith & Wollensky, pictured, has finally opened its doors in the old Boston Plaza Castle at 101 Arlington St., Boston, 617-423-1112.

Central Square has birthed another eatery near MIT in the guise of bar-restaurant hybrid Middlesex Lounge. It is owned by the same Chris Lute-Matthew Curtis team behind Miracle of Science and Cambridge 1, two very popular area destinations. Lunch dishes like pressed sandwiches are ordered at the bar, while a tapas-like array of global savories (shrimp shu mai, Kobe beef burger) are on the evening roster of edibles. Middlesex Lounge, 315 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-868-6739.

The Club Café may have closed, but its digs were quickly snapped up by a Texan chef named Robert Martin. His new eatery, Restaurant 209, serves lunch, dinner, late-night food and Sunday brunch in a gold-hued room. Dishes include Sam Adams-braised baby-back ribs with Jack Daniel's sauce and a clam chowder with Southwestern chile peppers. Restaurant 209, 209 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-536-0972.

Replacing Finagle A Bagel, the two-story Z Square bar and café—a sibling of Café Z in Greenbrae, California—will offer both self-service and full-service meals of salads, sandwiches and fresh, light entrees created by Paul Sussman, erstwhile of Daddy-O's. Z Square, 14 JFK St., Cambridge, 617-576-0101.

Prezza's Anthony Caturano has opened his second eatery, Copia, in Mezé's former space, with plans to continue along his upscale Italian path. Copia, 100 City Sq., Charlestown, 617-242-6742.

French chef Guy Martin will open his first stateside palace of gastronomy—right on Boston’s waterfront. Slated to open in (and simultaneously with) the Regent Boston Hotel on Battery Wharf in late 2007. The as-yet-unnamed restaurant will bring global influences to bear on local ingredients.

From one celebrity chef to another: Michael Schlow’s Alta Strada will soon replace the now-closed Wellesley branch of Todd English’s Figs. Early signs point to an establishment similar to sibling Via Matta (including the Italian name—while the latter means “Crazy Way,” the former means “High Road”). Alta Strada, 92 Central St., Wellesley.

Rialto returns! After briefly closing for renovations, Jody Adams is unveiling her celebrated venue’s new look and flavor: the Mediterranean menu has been pared down to focus on regional Italian cuisine, while the décor has heated up with harvest hues. Rialto, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-5050.

Anthony Susi’s North End fave, Sage, is moving to bigger digs in the South End (namely, the former site of Caffè Umbra) this spring; expect a more modern look and an expanded menu from the born-again ristorante. Sage (until March): 69 Prince St., Boston, 617-248-8814; (after March): 1395 Washington St., Boston.

Chef Shuffle

Sasso welcomes Anthony Mazzotta into its Back Bay kitchen. The new executive chef’s impressive résumé includes stints at The French Laundry, Per Se and Boston’s own Toro. Sasso, 116 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-247-2400.

Now that Tom Fosnot has moved on to sibling Rocca, blu has crowned Michael Kraus head chef; he’s maintaining the contemporary menu’s light, playful tone. blu, Sports Club/LA, 4 Avery St., Boston, 617-375-8550.

Mauro Gomez arrives from Florida as the new executive chef at Turner Fisheries, where he will add a few Sunshine State-themed flourishes to the menu. Turner Fisheries, The Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-424-7425.

Sports Club/LA eatery blu has promoted Michael Kraus. Formerly sous chef to Tom Fosnot, the new exec chef will maintain the Med flair of the contemporary menu. blu, Sports Club/LA, 4 Avery St., Boston, 617-375-8550.

Turner Fisheries announces the arrival of executive chef Frank Neugebauer, whose 20-year career has included stints at The Savoy in London and The Four Seasons in Hamburg. Turner Fisheries, Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-424-7425.

Fans of Olives in its heyday take note: chef de cuisine Joe Brenner has returned to Todd English's Charlestown kitchen, bringing some of the old magic back with him. Olives, 10 City Sq., Charlestown, 617-242-1999.

Bricco welcomes new pastry chef Tania Schnapp, whose inaugural dessert menu includes espresso mousse with Sambuca cream and quince crostata. Bricco, 241 Hanover St., Boston, 617-248-6800.

Jer-Ne gets a makeover with the arrival of new chef Scott Gambone. The all-day restaurant lounge has expanded its menu of gourmet snacks and sandwiches to include communal platters, sampler “bento boxes,” and a handful of entrées. Jer-Ne, The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common, 10 Avery St., 617-574-7100.

Executive chef Michael Schlow of Radius (8 High St., 617-426-1234) announced the promotion of Patrick Connolly from sous chef to chef de cuisine, while Todd English welcomes new head chef Katherine DeWitt See—whom the National Fisheries Institute has awarded the title of Future Leader in the Seafood Industry—to KingFish Hall (S. Market Bldg., Faneuil Hall, 617-523-8862).

Great Bay welcomes new chef de cuisine Lee Cizmar, who will continue down the elegant, contemporary seafood-lined path he traveled as sous chef. Great Bay, Hotel Commonwealth, 500 Commonwealth Ave., 617-532-5300.

SoWa’s growth spurt shows no signs of letting up: The latest chef to head to the South End stretch of Washington Street is Torch’s Evan Deluty who plans to open Stella, which he’s billing as a neighborhood trattoria, sometime in May at 1525 Washington St.

Long a fixture at Tremont 647 (647 Tremont St. 617-266-4600), chef Jason Santos takes top toque at Dêdo (69 Church St., 617-338-9999), where he’ll carry over his refreshingly funky approach to New American fare.

The sleek Stanhope Street bistro, 33, has had a kitchen change with chef Anthony Dawodu (ex Aujourd'Hui) changing the culinary direction to a Contemporary American one that includes plates like medley of mushroom soup drizzled with langoustine oil and day boat halibut with Pernod crème and fennel fondue. 33, 33 Stanhope St., Boston, 617-572-3311.

Sidney’s Grille in Cambridge, inside the Hotel@MIT, has hired a talented new chef and pastry chef. Joining from his just-closed Gallia, Stefano Zimei is installing plates like cumin-crusted rare tuna with faro, forest mushrooms and Pinot Noir sauce and crisp Peking duck breast with blood orange, walnut and dried cherries. Pastry chef Cindy Selby was last posted at The Federalist and brings homey spunk and sophistication to plates like almond sponge cake filled with Key lime cream and topped with coconut sherbet. Sidney’s Grille, 20 Sidney St., Cambridge, 617-494-0011.

Fresh from UpStairs on the Square, pastry chef Kate Henry arrives at 33 Restaurant & Lounge. 33 Restaurant, 33 Stanhope St., Boston, 617-572-3311.

Todd Winer—the former Olives chef—is now in the kitchen at The Metropolitan Club. The steakhouse's modern sensibilities should mesh well with Winer's. The Metropolitan Club, 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-731-0600.

News Bytes

Hand-Held Technology
Monday night is Sandwich Night at POPS, where an à la carte array of noshes not otherwise offered–including an Italian sausage baguette with broccoli rabe and tomato sauce, a fried-egg BLT with pepper aïoli on an onion roll and a grilled eggplant panino with mozzarella, hummus and walnuts–will be available for eating in or taking out before the big game, accompanied by homemade potato chips. POPS, 560 Tremont St., Boston, 617-695-1250.

Monday Money-Savers
Make the most of Mondays at Red Rock Bistro & Bar, whose bar serves up oysters, shrimp skewers, corn dogs and sliders for $1 each from 11 a.m. to midnight. Red Rock Bistro, 141 Humphrey St., Swampscott, 781-595-1414.

Oysterrific
B&G Oysters Ltd. announces Oyster Tasting Tuesdays: every Tuesday through February, a special supplement to the regular menu will offer all manner of à la carte bivalve-based creations. B&G Oysters Ltd., 550 Tremont St., Boston, 617-423-0550.

A Year of Sweets for Your Sweet
Finale’s form of gift certificate, called the Encore Card, just keeps on giving throughout the year: purchase one for $95, and the receiver will get one free plated dessert a month for 12 months. Finale, Park Plaza, 1 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-423-3184; Finale, 30 Dunster St., Cambridge, 617-441-9797; Finale, 1306 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-232-3233.

Lunchtime Tenderloin
Ready to meet all your Santa-capped co-workers’ office-party needs, the Back Bay branch of Morton’s, The Steakhouse is opening for lunch every Thursday and Friday throughout December. Morton’s, 699 Boylston St., Boston, 617-266-5858.

Gourmet Gifts
From now through the end of the holiday season, Icarus is selling $50 gift certificates for a mere $30 apiece. Icarus, 3 Appleton St., Boston, 617-426-1790.

Top of the Hub Tops Itself
As part of its recent renovations, Top of the Hub has added two wine cellars; oenophiles now have over 3,200 bottles to choose from. Top of the Hub, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston, 617-536-1775.

One-Upping Willy Wonka
The Langham Hotel Boston’s Café Fleuri has kicked off its 19th annual Chocolate Bar ($35 per adult/$18 per child). Every Saturday through June 28, 2008, the outrageous dessert buffet–running from noon to 3 p.m.–will feature sweets that hew to this year’s theme of the four elements: air, fire, water and earth (think cotton candy, white-chocolate arancini, a chocolate fountain, and black forest cake–get it?–respectively). Café Fleuri, Langham Hotel Boston, 250 Franklin St., Boston, 617-451-1900.

Vermont Vittles
This month The Metropolitan Club’s popular Sunday Supper series puts the spotlight on Vermont. The three-course prix-fixe, offered throughout dinner service ($30 per adult/$20 per child), gives you such choices as house-cured lamb prosciutto with feta and mint honey and braised short rib with fingerling-sunchoke mash, followed by pumpkin cheesecake with maple-sugar caramel. The Metropolitan Club, 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-731-0600.

Bayou Banquet
Magnolia’s Southern Cuisine throws its annual Bayou & Game Festival: among the à la carte specials served throughout November are alligator-corn fritters with Tabasco-shallot dip; pickled frogs’ legs; and goat cheese-encrusted venison with smoked ham hock-Cabernet sauce. Magnolia’s Southern Cuisine, 1193 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-576-1971.

Popping in to POPS
POPS unveils its first-ever bar menu; snacks like sliders and pot-stickers go for $6 each, while $9 cocktails range from coconut-pineapple mojitos to caramel-apple martinis. POPS, 560 Tremont St., Boston, 617-695-1250.

Solare, Cantare
Adding to its already extensive wine list, Bin 26 Enoteca announces the arrival of its very own label: created in Italy, Solare Rosso and Solare Bianco are now available at the wine bar by the glass, quartino, carafe and bottle. Bin 26 Enoteca, 26 Charles St., Boston, 617-723-5939.

Flair of the Dog
OM Restaurant & Lounge has unveiled the Haute Dog: a cider-simmered, grilled sausage slathered with Thai chili-peach relish, drizzled with sweet potato-Dijon mustard and paired with both blue cheese coleslaw and beer battered onion rings–all for $13. OM Restaurant & Lounge, 92 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-576-2800.

Happy Hour–The Uncut Version
From 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Rustic Kitchen is offering a special happy hour menu of $4 appetizers; choices include arancini, spiedini and panzerotti. Rustic Kitchen, 210 Stuart St., Boston, 617-423-5700.

Stirred Up
Barbara Lynch’s latest venture offers more food for thought than food per se: Stir is a high-end cookbook library, demo kitchen and seminar space. Come browse or buy books galore, or learn techniques and tips from Lynch, No. 9 Park wine director Cat Sirilie and others as classes get underway. Stir, 102 Waltham St., Boston, 617-423-7847, www.stirboston.com.

Luncheon in the Garden
Garden at the Cellar bids you bring your midday appetite: it is now serving lunch from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Garden at the Cellar, 991 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-232-5880.

Green Scene
Bambara has officially jumped on the hybrid bandwagon with its new environmental policies. Rest assured that your menu is now made of recycled paper, the fish on your plate was wild-caught, and the oil that crisped your fries is slated to become biodiesel fuel (and that’s just the eco-beginning). Bambara, Hotel Marlowe, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617-868-4444.

Don’t Have a Cow…Have a Cocktail
Bambara celebrates the opening of The Simpsons Movie with Simpsons-themed cocktails. Offered throughout August for $10 apiece, they include the Flaming Moe (plum vodka, plum syrup and cranberry juice) and Homer’s D’oh-nut (Stoli Razberi, Baileys, butterscotch schnapps and raspberry purée). Bambara, Hotel Marlowe, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617-868-4444.

Backyard Soirée
Tuesday is Grill Night all summer long at B&G Oysters Ltd., where the chefs are raking everything from squid to lobster over the coals to create their a la carte specials. B&G Oysters, 550 Tremont St., Boston, 617-423-0550.

Pranzo, Presto!
Lunch is on from noon-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Bricco; the current menu lists the likes of mushroom-fontina timbale and scallop-saffron chowder. Bricco, 241 Hanover St., Boston, 617-248-6800.

Muddle-Headed (In a Good Way)
Excelsior is reprising “Make Your Own Muddle Night.” Sundays and Mondays from 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. throughout the summer, imbibers can hit its a la carte DIY cocktail bar, stocked with all manner of fruits, veggies and herbs, as well as purees and syrups, for mixing into drinks of their own design. Excelsior, 272 Boylston St., Boston, 617-426-7878.

A Night in the French Quarter…
That’s how Ivy Restaurant is billing Wednesday nights at Cava, its basement lounge, where live jazz sets the tone for complimentary nibbles from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Ivy, 49 Temple Pl., Boston, 617-451-1416.

Mix It Up
From 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Mantra’s out to make a mixologist of you. Take the bar staff’s Martini Class or Mojito Class, respectively, and you’ll learn how to pour your poison—though since the $20 fee includes three full cocktails, you may promptly forget everything you’re taught. Mantra, 52 Temple Pl., Boston, 617-542-8111.

A New Lease on Life–Literally
L’Espalier is trading in its historic townhouse address for state-of-the-art luxury digs: Frank McClelland’s flagship will be relocating to the Mandarin Oriental Boston, scheduled to open in mid-2008. L’Espalier, 30 Gloucester St., Boston, 617-262-3023.

Grub for Guzzlers, Gratis
With every drink you grab on Pigalle’s patio this summer, you’ll get your choice of any of four free hors d’oeuvres: arancini, chicken or lamb curry triangles, or shrimp toast. Pigalle, 75 Charles St. S., Boston, 617-423-4944.

Midday Munchies…
When you’ve got ’em, POPS can cure ’em with easygoing eats like chickpea-walnut salad, homemade sausages with white beans and grilled gruyère sammies with onion jam. POPS, 560 Tremont St., Boston, 617-695-1250.

T.G.I.Vendredi
Brasserie Jo launches French Kiss Fridays: from 5 p.m.-midnight in the bar, they’re kicking off each weekend with special wine flights and small plates like gougères and duck rillettes. Brasserie Jo, Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-425-3240.

OM A.M.
OM Restaurant & Lounge expands its brunch service; now offered on Saturdays as well as Sundays from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., the à la carte menu lists the likes of french toast with vanilla-cinnamon custard and scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms, Boursin cheese and chicken-apple sausage. OM Restaurant & Lounge, 92 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-576-2800.

Dice K Comes to Dinner

Sunday Suppers at The Metropolitan Club pay homage to the Red Sox’ newest star with a Japanese-themed menu. The three-course, family-style prix-fixe, offered throughout dinner service for $30 per adult and $20 per child, includes your choice of two appetizers and two entrées—miso-baked salmon with pickled cucumbers, for example—plus dessert. The Metropolitan Club, 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-731-0600.

Flambée for Free

Come for cocktails, stay for snacks—Alsatian-style. From 5 p.m.-midnight daily, Brasserie Jo is turning out complimentary individual tartes flambées (flammekuche in German) in three different flavors for all who imbibe at the bar. Brasserie Jo, Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-425-3240.

Wine Goes Green

Be part of the environmental solution just by having a drink at Ashmont Grill, whose wine list is now entirely composed of bottles from organic, biodynamic or otherwise sustainable wineries. Ashmont Grill, 555 Talbot Ave., Dorchester, 617-825-4300.

Shu Mai? Bien Sûr!
The bar menu’s back at Pigalle—and it’s got a decidedly Asian slant, borne of chef Marc Orfaly’s recent travels: think shrimp toast, steamed pork buns and duck fried rice. Pigalle, 75 Charles St. S., Boston, 617-423-4944.

For Heaven’s Sake
Saké bomb Sundays are on at Uni: Clio’s sashimi bar is whipping up a weekly-changing four-course menu whose fixed price ($40) includes one of the namesake drinks—a shot of saké dropped into a glass of beer. Uni, The Eliot Hotel, 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 627-536-7200.

Dine 'Till You Drop
The best time to check out your favorite restaurant at a reduced price is Summer Restaurant Week, which has been super-sized to last twelve days this year. More than 120 restaurants throughout the greater Boston area will offer their own unique three-course prix fixe menu at a common price: $20 for lunch and $30 for dinner. August 13-18 and August 20-25.

A Taste of Maine
Sunday Suppers at The Metropolitan Club continue this month with cuisine from Maine. The three-course, prix fixe ($30 per adult, $20 per child) menu features Ogunquit fish chowder, a classic clambake and a blueberry-turnover sundae. The Metropolitan Club, 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-731-0600.

Fish Stew on the Sunday Menu
Meanwhile, over at Rialto, the theme of this month's Hungry Sundays is Cioppino. Whet your appetite for the fish stew—the centerpiece of this three-course prix fixe ($45)—with your choice of two small plates, including panzanella and tuna-caponata bruschetta; wrap it all up with plum crostada. Rialto, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-5050.

Snacks for $7 'Til 7
Seven's your lucky number at Excelsior, which is now serving up $7 bar snacks until 7 p.m. nightly. Excelsior, 272 Boylston St., Boston, 617-426-7878.

Satisfy Your Buddha Belly
Visit OM on Buddha Belly Mondays for a three-course, prix-fixe meal ($40). The menu changes monthly, and July's theme is Asian Barbecue. You'll enjoy brown-sugar-rubbed Korean sirloin, Chinese-style duet of pork and coconut rice pudding. OM Restaurant, 92 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-576-2800.

Brunch with a Kick
Head to Toro for brunch with Spanish flair. Ken Oringer's tapas bar is now serving the likes of brioche with goat cheese and apricots, seared steak with blue-cheese butter, and churros every Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Toro, 1704 Washington St., Boston, 617-536-4300.

Legal Launches LTK
Legal Sea Foods leads the way once again with LTK. Slated to open at the end of June, this high-tech eatery will offer WiFi access, state-of-the-art sound and light systems and oh-so-21st-century unisex bathrooms, as well as digital-screen menus that emphasize eclectic small plates. LTK, 225 Northern Ave., Boston.

Gourmet Fare in the Air
Logan flyers can pick up gourmet to go on their way to the gate now that Wolfgang Puck Express has opened in Terminal C near JetBlue. This is the celebrity chef's third airport restaurant, and the menu features high-end fast food including salads, sandwiches and thin-crust pizzas. Wolfgang Puck Express, Terminal C, Logan International Airport, East Boston.

And Baby Bakery Makes Three
Desserterie duo Finale prepares to celebrate the arrival of sibling number three. The new location, a two-story in Brookline's Coolidge Corner, will feature an on-site bakery and the franchise's signature "plating stage." Finale, 1306 Beacon St., Brookline.

Peking Tom's Brings Back Family-style Dining
The more the merrier at Peking Tom's Longtang Lounge. For $25 per person, your party can enjoy a three-course meal composed of appetizers, meat-based entrees and veggie-based entrees—a total of six to twelve dishes depending on the size of your group. Peking Tom's Longtang Lounge, 25 Kingston St., Boston, 617-482-6282.

Hungry for Mideast Cuisine?
The theme of this month's Hungry Sundays at Rialto is Middle Eastern fare. The $45 three-course menu begins with two meze (choices include pickled eggplant with labne and lamb-bulgur dolmades), followed by lamb moussaka and lemon baklava. Rialto, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-5050.

LiNEaGe Does Lunch
Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Jeremy Sewall and his crew at LiNEaGe introduce a lunch menu featuring the likes of lobster sliders with coleslaw and chorizo-shrimp penne. LiNEaGe, 242 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-232-0065.

Food and Music Made Easy
Combine cuisine and concertgoing in a most convenient way. This summer, diners at Anthony's Pier 4 can avail themselves of free trolley service between the Pier 4 parking lot and the Bank of America Pavilion. Anthony's Pier 4, 140 Northern Ave., Boston, 617-482-6262.

33's Lounge Gets an Extreme Makeover
33 has remodeled its lounge on a grand scale. The new subterranean space now contains a blue-steel bar, plasma music-video system and VIP "pods" featuring concierge service. 33 Restaurant & Lounge, 33 Stanhope St., Boston, 617-572-3311.

Sapienza Promoted to Executive Chef at Langham
Mark Sapienza is the Langham Hotel's new executive chef. Formerly sous-chef, Sapienza will oversee both the French-Med Julien and the American Café Fleuri. Langham Hotel, 250 Franklin St., Boston, 617-451-1900.

It's Lobster Roll Season
Now that it's lobster-roll season, Red Rock Bistro is going all out, offering not just the classic versions—cold with mayo or hot with butter—but also two Asian-style rolls wrapped in rice paper; one is served cold with dipping sauce, the other hot with deep-fried lobster. Red Rock Bistro, 141 Humphrey St., Swampscott, 781-595-1414.

Four Seasons, Four Courses, No Wait
Offering four light courses served in record time, the new $27 Express Lunch menu at The Bristol is meeting the noontime needs of Boston's movers and shakers. Classics like clam chowder, Caesar salad, crab cakes and cheesecake are among the offerings. The Bristol, Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St., Boston, 617-351-2037.

Bonfire Introduces Three-Course Menu for Two
From May 1 through June 30, Bonfire presents a special three-course prix-fixe menu for two, priced at $90. Available throughout dinner service, it includes such items as skirt steak tacos, Brazilian churrasco with potatoes and mushrooms and chocolate torte. Bonfire, Park Plaza Hotel, 50 Arlington St., 617-262-3473.

Hungry for Pasta?
The Hungry Sundays theme for May at Rialto is pasta. The $45 three-course menu offers two antipasti (choices include seafood salad with white beans and duck liver crostini), lasagna and semifreddo. Rialto, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-5050.

Welcome Spring with Spring Rolls
The Met Club's Sunday Supper series sets its sights on Chinese food this month; $30 gets you your choice of duck spring rolls or chicken wings, crispy orange beef or shrimp lo-mein and a sundae. Kids' three-course meals are priced at $20. The Metropolitan Club, 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-731-0600.

And Toto, Too!
Also welcoming the warm weather is Tremont 647, which reprises last year's popular Saturday series: Doggie Days on the Patio. From 2 p.m.-5 p.m., you and your pooch can both enjoy a snack, be it human food from the kitchen or dog treats from local boutique, Polka Dog. Tremont 647, 647 Tremont St., Boston, 617-266-4600.

More of a Good Thing
There are now two ways to eat according to the "Chef's Whim" at Craigie Street Bistrot. Attend this popular Wednesday- and Sunday-night series, which showcases chef Tony Maws' off-menu improvisations, and you can opt for six courses at $55 instead of the $40 four-course standard. Craigie St. Bistrot, 5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, 617-497-5511.

Late Night News
OM unveils the new lounge menu it will be serving until midnight nightly; get a taste of it Mondays from 5-8 p.m., when momos are offered for half price ($4 for six or $7 for twelve). OM Restaurant, 57 JFK St., Boston, 617-576-2800.

Pizza Lovers Perk Up
On Mondays from 5-9 p.m., Sorriso is serving up its thin-crust pies for only $5 each. Sorriso, 107 South St., Boston, 617-259-1560.

Saturday Brunch
In addition to Sundays, Union Bar & Grille is now serving brunch on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; the à la carte menu of chorizo omelets, codcakes with poached eggs, beef-sausage burgers and more is supplemented by a three-course prix-fixe option for $11.95. Union Bar & Grille, 1357 Washington St., Boston, 617-423-0555.

Warmth from the Hearth
The Columbus Avenue branch of Piattini Wine Café recently installed a traditional Italian hearth oven; try new hearth-cooked menu offerings such as crespelle al forno and terracotta-roasted cacciucco. Piattini Wine Café, 162 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-423-2021.

Brunch is Back at Turner Fisheries
Brunch is back at Turner Fisheries from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. The sit-down meal, priced at $39 for adults and $19 for children, unfolds as a series of “bites”—two small, one large, one side and one sweet. Choices include mini-Belgian waffle stacks, lobster frittatas and “customized” chocolate cake. A bread basket and one drink are included. Turner Fisheries, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-424-7425.

Umbria Gets an Update
Umbria has expanded its menu to include Italian steakhouse selections. In addition to a classic bistecca Fiorentina, look for short ribs, lamb shanks, rib eyes and more. Umbria Ristorante, 295 Franklin St., Boston, 617-338-1000.

Tour Historic Pubs
The Freedom Trail Foundation's newest tour explores the treasonous events plotted at four historic Boston pubs. Join a costumed guide for stops at the Union Oyster House, the Point, the Green Dragon and the Bell in Hand, and enjoy a few beers and light fare along with a heaping handful of history. Call 617-357-8300 for schedule information and tickets.

A New Place of Last Resort
Dick's Last Resort has moved from the Prudential Center to Faneuil Hall; look for the beer-soaked joint in the Quincy Market Building. Dick's Last Resort, Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall, 617-267-8080.

Jump Start Your Sunday
Caffè Umbra is now serving an à la carte Sunday brunch with Euro flair. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., you can jumpstart your day with the likes of oeufs à la Meurette—red wine-poached eggs—and brioche French toast with buttered apples. Caffè Umbra, 1395 Washington St., Boston, 617-867-0707.

Tour de Chocolate
Treat your favorite chocoholic to the city's sweetest sightseeing opportunity. Old Town Trolley Tours kicked off the Boston Chocolate Tour on January 7. Running Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. and Sundays at noon through April, this three-hour trip makes dessert stops at Top of the Hub, the Omni Parker House Hotel and the Langham Hotel's Chocolate Bar Buffet. Confections from Finale are served in transit. Tickets are $65. For reservations, call 617-269-7010.

Ashmont Grill Dishes Up Brunch
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, head to the new Dorchester haunt for sweet-potato biscuits with sausage gravy, hot dogs and baked beans, cheese grits,and more. Ashmont Grill, 555 Talbot Ave., Dorchester Center, 617-825-4300.

Wednesday Wind-Down
Come hump-day, math-sci geeks in need of a breather head to Sidney’s Grille from 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m., where tech-tinis, a $2 “small bytes” menu and live music from Groove Authority await, cover charge-free. Sidney’s Grille, Hotel@MIT, 20 Sidney St., 617-494-0011.

Oasis at Om
Speaking of breathers, Om aims to bring the Harvard Square dining experience in line with Eastern mind-body philosophy; the two-story contemporary eatery and lounge will feature feng shui design, “aromatherapy martinis” and communal platters. Om, 57 JFK St., Cambridge.

Chez Henri

Turning Back at 10
Chez Henri's throwing itself a month-long 10th birthday bash—and you're invited. Throughout October, Paul O'Connell's French-Cuban kitchen will be returning old favorites to the menu at their original prices, even as old faces return to the bar to ply their trade anew; call ahead for the roster of guest mixologists. Chez Henri, 1 Shepard St., Cambridge, 617-554-8980.

Fall’s a Fix at Turner
Turner Fisheries inaugurates its pre-theater prix-fixe menu just in time for the fall season: Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. from now through New Year's, just present your ticket to receive a three-course meal for $45. Turner Fisheries Restaurant & Bar, The Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., 617-424-7425.

Katrina Contribution at Metropolitan
To contribute to relief efforts in the wake of Katrina, The Metropolitan Club is donating—indefinitely—all revenue from the sale of its Louis BBQ Shrimp appetizer (Cajun shrimp with pan-fried cornbread) to the Red Cross. The Metropolitan Club, 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-731-0600.

Rialto Launches Brunch
After eleven years—and many more begging regulars—Rialto is finally serving Sunday brunch. Two, in fact: in the dining room from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. a three-course “full brunch” is on offer, complete with treats like truffled scrambled eggs, lemon-banana brioche pudding and a trip to the Bloody Mary bar ($35); in the lounge, the “Continental brunch” runs from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and consists of a $15 buffet laden with house-made focaccia, charcuterie and more. September 11 is the launch date. Rialto, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., 617-661-5050.

La Morra in the Morning
The Italian eatery La Morra in Brookline will now help you start your day of rest (Sunday) with à la carte frittatas, smoked-salmon bruschetta and more from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. La Morra, 48 Boylston St., Brookline, 617-739-0007.

33 for Lunch?
33 Restaurant & Lounge has launched weekday lunch: from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. it is serving the three P’s—pizza, pasta and panini—along with salads and entrées. 33 Stanhope St., 617-572-3311.

Enjoy 33 for 33
The restaurant for the price, that is. Throughout December, 33 is offering a three-course, prix-fixe menu of spiced butternut-squash bisque, braised rabbit over truffle-scented tagliatelle and pumpkin-apple cake with yuzu sabayon. 33 Restaurant & Lounge, 33 Stanhope St., Boston, 617-572-3311.

Upstairs on the Square

Truffle Time
The Soirée Room at Upstairs on the Square celebrates the “tartufo bianco” with a seasonal special: three-mushroom risotto topped with a truffled fried egg and an extra sprinkling of pure truffle, shaved tableside ($35 appetizer/$48 entrée). Upstairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-864-1933.

Farm-Fresh Dining
Hit the farmer’s market jackpot at Spire: throughout the month of August until September 5, Nine Zero’s signature restaurant will offer a daily-changing, three-course prix-fixe “market menu” ($45), based on the freshest finds from chef Gabriel Frasca. Spire, Nine Zero, 90 Tremont St., 617-772-0202.

…Or do the same at Bambara, whose August market menu will highlight a different ingredient each week, including peppers, corn and tomatoes; à la Restaurant Week, the three-course prix-fixe meal rings in at $30.05. Bambara, Hotel Marlowe, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617-868-4444.

“Taste the Harvest” in every sense when you visit Harvest for lunch or dinner Sunday through Thursday throughout the month of August, when special three-course prix-fixe menus ($33 without wine; $48/$56 for half- or full-glass wine pairings) will feature summery items like heirloom tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella, seared sea scallops with shoepeg succotash, and fresh strawberries with Sambuca sabayon. Harvest, 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-868-2255.

Soduku at FuGaKyu
Every Monday night beginning August 22, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m., diners at the sushi bar can sign up for a chance to solve the popular Japanese puzzle game, Soduku. Those who succeed will receive a $10 gift certificate toward their next meal. FuGaKyu, 1280 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-738-1268.

Steak Frites Fridays at Pigalle
On Friday evenings for the remainder of the summer, Pigalle will welcome the weekend’s arrival with Steak Frites Fridays, a three-course prix-fixe menu ($30) consisting of the house arugula salad, the namesake entrée and a sorbet trio. Pigalle, 75 Charles St. S., 617-423-4944.

Lager & Linguine?
Stella Artois aficionados are booking tables at Grafton Street Pub & Grill, which will be serving you a special three-course prix-fixe menu ($35) to complement your souvenir pint of the Belgian lager from now through September 5. Courses include linguine with shrimp, goat cheese salad, and pork porterhouse over potato rösti with mushroom-onion chutney. Grafton Street Pub & Grill, 1230 Massachusetts Ave., 617-497-0400.

Brunch Crépes & Classics
On July 9, 33 Restaurant & Lounge kicks off weekend brunch, served from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The à la carte menu stars crêpes—18 different kinds, in fact, both savory and sweet—as well as other classics such as french toast and waffles. There’s also a Bloody Mary station where the hungover can concoct some hair-of-the-dog relief. 33 Restaurant & Lounge, 33 Stanhope St., 617-572-3311.

Or they can head to The Butcher Shop (552 Tremont St., 617-423-4800) for blood orange mimosas to go with such plates as cherry Dutch pancakes or coddled eggs and chicken sausage with brioche fingers, now that brunch is being served there Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Icarus’ Birthday Offer
For its 27th birthday, Icarus will give you a present by serving a daily-changing three-course menu for the special price of $27—to be paired with a selection of $27 wines—throughout July. Icarus, 3 Appleton St., 617-426-1790.

Summer’s Finest à la Perdix
Celebrate summer produce at Perdix, where chef-owner Tim Partridge whips up a $35 three-course “Market Menu” every Tuesday and Wednesday, including dishes like chard-ricotta lasagna with pesto and strawberry soup with crème fraîche. Perdix, 560 Tremont St., 617-338-8070.

Upscale Grillin’
Laziness pays at Bambara: why bother to fire up the grill when you can come here every Sunday night through Labor Day for a $14 burger-and-beer combo? The ten-ounce patty is butter-seared; the onion bun is house-made; the cheese is truffled; and it’s all paired with hand-cut fries and a Sam Adams. Bambara, Hotel Marlowe, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617-868-4444.

Expanded Vino Varieties
Blow your favorite oenophile’s mind with a trip to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (217 Stuart St., 617-292-0808), where the selection of wines by the glass is now officially a hundred strong.

Craigie Street Tasting
Fans of Craigie Street Bistrot chef-owner Tony Maws and his Sunday night “Chef’s Whim” tastings are salivating at the news of its expansion to Wednesdays. After 9 p.m., $35 gets you four courses from Maws at his impromptu finest. Craigie Street Bistrot, 5 Craigie Cir., 617-497-5511.

blu's Secret Patio
Given its location a few stories above street level, you may not have realized blu (4 Avery St., 617-375-8550) has a patio—but it does, and it’s now open for the season; it’s also available for private functions.

Steak-To-Go
Smith & Wollensky (101 Arlington St.) is now offering its dry-aged steaks to-go. Call 617-423-1112 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a take-out order of sirloins, rib steaks and-or filet mignons. (Offer valid through September 5.)

Extinguish the Hunger Pangs
Curb midnight cravings at Bonfire (50 Arlington St., 617-262-3473) whose new late-night bar menu—served from 10 p.m. until closing—lists mix-and-match snacks like tuna tartare tacos and grilled shrimp cocktail.

Passion for Picnicking?
Perk up, picnickers: Sel de la Terre (255 State St., 617-720-1300) has reinstated its take-out lunch service ($10.95 per person). The Bostonian Picnic includes one sandwich on bread from the bistro’s own boulangerie, one bag of homemade potato chips, assorted cookies and a soft drink; the Provençal Picnic contains house pâté, a selection of artisanal cheeses, fruit and a soft drink.

S & W Deal for Sox Fans
Smith & Wollensky is wooing Sox fans with a pre-game prix-fixe: every game night, from 5 p.m. until the starting pitch, the steakhouse is offering a three-course menu for $39. Each course boasts several choices, ranging from appetizers like steak tartare and fried calamari to entrées such as steak frites and cheeseburgers to the likes of cheesecake and banana sundaes for dessert. Smith & Wollensky, The Castle at Park Sq., 101 Arlington St., 617-423-1112.

Brunch Time at Bay
Great Bay has introduced Sunday brunch. Served from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Jeremy Sewall’s new menu includes classic goodies like maple-glazed doughnuts ($5) and house-smoked salmon ($10) as well as signature items like salt-cod cakes with poached eggs ($14) and lobster omelets ($24). Great Bay, 500 Commonwealth Ave., 617-532-5300.

Attention Savvy Sippers!
Now you can really get high on the Hill: Upon the much-welcomed receipt of a full liquor license, The Beacon Hill Bistro has installed an eight-seat bar. The Beacon Hill Bistro, 25 Charles St., 617-723-1133.

And you can get even higher at Spire, which is serving Bloody Mary flights at weekend brunch: $9 gets you four mini-cocktails, including a Sangría Mary, a White Mary, a roasted tomato-and-basil Mary, and a Mary incorporating Nantucket-made ingredients (including Triple 8 vodka). Spire, 90 Tremont St., 617-772-0202.

Meanwhile, however high your Sox fever, keep cool with blu’s new baseball season-inspired cocktails: The margarita-like Cactus League ($11) contains a scoop of Meyer lemon-gin sorbet, while the Grapefruit League ($10) combines the eponymous juice and flavored vodka with Cointreau. blu, Sports Club LA, 4 Avery St., 617-375-8550.

Or just go naked at Excelsior. Eric Brennan’s new menu features a section of raw items—not only the usual bivalves but specialty nibbles like bay scallops with Champagne mango, Thai basil and ginger vinegar ($16). Excelsior, 272 Boylston St., 617-426-7878.

Bread Bite
Fans of Sel de la Terre’s (255 State St., 617-720-1300) boulangerie no longer need trek out to the waterfront for their loaves: They’re now being sold at select Whole Foods markets.

Rustic Wine
Rustic Kitchen is launching a house wine produced by Napa Valley’s Sequoia Grove. It is a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Rustic Kitchen, 200 Quincy Market, Boston, 617-523-6334.

Flights at Four Seasons
Aujourd’Hui, the upscale French in the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, is shaking things up with a nightly flight of three chilled vodkas and infusions. Sommelier Ted Davidson changes the selection daily and serves it in mini-martini glasses. Cost is $16. Aujourd'Hui, 200 Boylston St., Boston, 617-451-1392.

Maiden Voyage
Azure has installed a tiny eight-seat bar in the midst of its main dining room with tiny bar bites, infused vodkas and creative cocktails adding to the dinner-as-theater concept. Azure, The Lenox, 61 Exeter St., Boston, 617-933-4800.

Upstairs on Special
Taking a cue from the Restaurant Week crowds, owners Deborah Hughes and Mary-Catherine Deibel are offering special prix-fixe options from Monday-Thursday on a more permanent basis. Downstairs in the Monday Club Bar, chef Susan Regis is cooking a $20 prix-fixe lunch and a $30 dinner and, Upstairs in the Soirée Room, chef Amanda Lydon is focusing on a $40 prix-fixe dinner. Upstairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-864-1933.

Summer's Bounty at Sel de la Terre
Every Sunday through the end of summer, savor produce fresh from Stillman's Farm at Sel de la Terre, which presents a weekly changing, four-course Market Basket Menu for $55. Sel de la Terre, 255 State St., Boston, 617-720-1300.

Wine for Less Than a Grant
Grotto gives you "50 Under 50" with its new wine list---that's dozens of bottles for fewer than fifty bucks. Grotto, 37 Bowdoin St., 617-227-3434.

Nibble the Night Away
Bocadillos are now on the menu at Chez Henri. The selection of nibbles currently includes yellowfin tuna with corn and sherried, parsleyed ham croquettes. Chez Henri, 1 Shepard St., Cambridge, 617-354-8980.

Monday Night Italian Feasts
Tomasso Trattoria & Enoteca now offers a prix-fixe menu on Monday nights. The four-course meal, priced at $35, changes weekly but always includes an antipasto, pasta, meat course and dessert. Tomasso Trattoria, 154 Turnpike Rd., Southborough, 508-481-8484.

King Ascends at Tuscan Grill
Tuscan Grill welcomes Jason King on board as executive chef; his stated aim—to take the name seriously and excel in cucina semplice. Tuscan Grill, 361 Moody St., Waltham, 781-891-5486.

Chocolate Bar Turns Sweet 18
On September 9, the celebrated Chocolate Bar at Café Fleuri opens for its 18th season. Dozens upon dozens of desserts, and a few savories to boot—crepes, donuts, fondue, ice cream, petit fours, tarts, cakes, terrines, turtles, profiteroles and much much more—thrill the families who throng the buffet Saturdays from noon-3 p.m. The all-you-can-eat tab is $28 per adult and $14 per child. Café Fleuri, Langham Hotel, 250 Franklin St., Boston, 617-956-8751.

Snails for a Steal
Sandrine's year-long 10th birthday celebration continues with September's 10-dollar deal—"Snails and Sauvignon Blanc." Just belly up to the bar, where the pairing's being served. Sandrine's Bistro, 8 Holyoke St., 617-497-5300.

Bye-bye Penang, Hello Rendang
Malaysian food fans needn't fret too much over the closure of the Harvard Square branch of Penang; the owners of OM are opening Rendang in to the second-story mall space this fall. Rendang, 57 JFK St., Cambridge.

LiNEaGe Launches Lobster Night
On Sundays from 5-9 p.m. at LiNEaGe, you can dig into a three-course menu that lists your choice of two crustacean-centered appetizers and entrees, as well as dessert. LiNEaGe, 242 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-232-0065.

Breakfast at the Metropolis
Break your nighttime fast at Metropolis Café, now serving the morning meal weekdays from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy huevos rancheros, French toast and the like for less than a Hamilton. Metropolis Café, 584 Tremont St., Boston, 617-247-2931.

Oktoberfest Prix-Fixe
French onion soup, bock beer sorbet, choucroute and apple strudel co-star on a special prix-fixe menu Sandrine’s has whipped up for Oktoberfest; the $35 meal is available all month long. Sandrine’s, 8 Holyoke St., Cambridge, 617-497-5300.

Italian Imports
Tomasso Trattoria unveils Panzano, an Italian market and wine shop. Located in the same plaza as its parent, it's selling all manner of imported goods and deli items. Panzano Provviste e Vino, 154 Turnpike Rd., Southborough, 508-485-8884.

Dine Outdoors Until the Spooks Come Home
Most restaurants are closing the umbrellas and dragging in the chairs, but not Tremont 647—its patio will remain open through Halloween. Tremont 647, 647 Tremont St., Boston, 617-266-4600.

Lynch Pulls Out a Plum
She's got meat and seafood covered with B&G Oysters and The Butcher Shop; now Barbara Lynch is expanding her South End empire with Plum Produce, an organic market selling plenty of housemade goodies to-go, as well as locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Plum Produce, 106 Waltham St., Boston, 617-423-PLUM.

Turkey Takeout
It's like having Café Fleuri chef Mark Sapienza right in your kitchen on Thanksgiving. Place an advance order for cider-glazed, herb-roasted turkey with all of the trimmings (including sausage, wild mushroom and date dressing; giblet gravy; and pumpkin or apple pie) before 3 p.m. on November 20, then schedule your pick-up between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the big day. For $120 (for four people) or $195 (for eight to ten people), you'll also get an apron and complete instructions. Langham Hotel Boston, 250 Franklin St., Boston, 617-451-1900.

New Look for Morton's
Morton's, The Steakhouse has just completed major renovations that include an expansion and the launch of Bar 12.21, where specialty cocktails and a bar menu give sustenance to those watching the Pats on the new plasma TVs. Morton's, The Steakhouse, 1 Exeter Plaza, Boston, 617-266-5858.

Lunch at The Met
The Metropolitan Club is now serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. You'll find a selection of deluxe club sandwiches, big-bowl salads with ingredients like sashimi and housemade seed-and-nut crunch and, of course, steaks. The Metropolitan Club, 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-731-0600.

Bring Your Appetite
Rialto's Hungry Sundays series continues this month with "The Flavors of Trentino-Alto Adige." For $45, you'll enjoy a choice of two small plates, such as three-nut polenta with asiago and pear or warm salt-cod potato salad; a main dish of roast char stew with mushrooms, barley and pancetta; and apple strudel with whipped cream. Rialto, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 616-661-5050.

LTK Gives New Meaning to Tuesday Nights
On Tuesday nights, LTK stands for Liquid Tuesday Klub as well as Legal Test Kitchen. From 8 p.m. until closing, the bar is mixing up drink specials while DJ Pretty Boy Jones spins tunes. LTK, 225 Northern Ave., Boston, 617-330-7430.

Lounge Around
Starting November 9, Thursday nights become Lounge Nights at 29 Newbury. From 10 p.m. until 1 a.m., they'll clear the floor and crank the music (while still serving cocktails and bar snacks, of course). 29 Newbury, 29 Newbury St., Boston, 617-536-0290.

Dollar Days at Great Bay
Great Bay invites you to a “Holla’ for a Dolla’” weekdays from 5 p.m.-6 p.m., when it’s presenting small plates like clam fritters, shrimp tempura and ceviche tacos for a buck a pop. Great Bay, Hotel Commonwealth, 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-5300.

Partial to Panini?
Nebo pizzeria turns paninoteca on weekdays, listing a score of sandwiches such as roast pork with mascarpone and fig jam, egg salad with olives, and sausage with peppers, as well as salads and sundry snacks, on its new menu. Nebo, 90 N. Washington St., Boston, 617-723-6326.

Gayot's Annual Awards
GAYOT.com wants to congratulate L'Espalier for its selection to our TOP 40 RESTAURANTS IN THE U.S. list published in our Annual Restaurant Issue for 2006.

Cocao Caravan
The One & Only Boston Chocolate Tour is back. The three-hour trolley tour ($75), which occurs twice every Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., January 20-April, takes guests to the Top of the Hub, the Omni Parker House and Café Fleuri to learn all about local dessert lore—both by listening and tasting. Call Old Town Trolley Tours at 617-269-7010 for details and reservations.

Looking for Lunch?
Bin 26 Enoteca launches lunch; among the dishes served Mon.-Sat., noon onward are fusilli Bolognese and pork loin Milanese. Bin 26, 26 Charles St., Boston, 617-723-5939.

Wine Vine Grows at the Ivy
Known for its flat-priced wine list (all bottles are $26), Ivy Restaurant has now introduced a reserve list, with bottles available for $44, $66 and $77. Ivy Restaurant, 49 Temple Pl., Boston, 617-451-1416.

Chocolate Escape
If hot chocolate is decadent, a cocoa flight is transcendent: Finale’s version, offered at all three branches, includes sips of orange-white chocolate, hazelnut and traditional hot chocolates, accompanied by three matching bonbons. Finale, 1 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-423-3184; 30 Dunster St., Cambridge, 617-441-9797; 1306 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-232-3233, www.finaledesserts.com.

What Would Oscar Drink?
In honor of this year’s Academy Awards, Bambara’s whipping up six new cocktails named for nominees; available all month, they include the Blood Diamond (with blood-orange vodka and syrup as well as OJ) and The Queen (a gin martini tinged with rose essence). Bambara, Hotel Marlowe, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617-868-4444.

Happy (Way Belated) New Year’s!
McCormick & Schmick’s really stretches out New Year’s Day with its three-course prix-fixe lunch menu, priced at $20.07 to commemorate the date; each course offers three choices. McCormick & Schmick’s, Park Plaza Hotel, 34 Columbus Ave., 617-482-3999.

Spire Aims Higher
Nine Zero’s signature eatery will undergo a total transformation this spring under the direction of Clio’s Ken Oringer; expect a new name to go with its new concept and digs. Spire (until further notice), Nine Zero, 90 Tremont St., Boston, 617-772-0202.

Double Dutch
Prezza bids you godere in due: translated as “to enjoy something in twos,” this new prix-fixe bar menu presents couples with three wine-paired courses each for $75 total (or $45 without wine). Prezza, 24 Fleet St., Boston, 617-227-1577.

Closings

Claremont Café (535 Columbus Ave., Boston) has closed its doors.