The Franklin Cafe, Boston

Franklin Cafe, The - When a city restaurant has a sister up in Gloucester, you know it's getting the freshest fish around. Franklin Café may have some of the best catches in the South End. The atmosphere is the perfect balance between comfort and upscale, and the food is inventive and hearty enough to please both the food fanatics and the just plain hungry. With a full menu available until 1:30 every night, there is always a chance to take in the tastes here (and avoid the prime-time waits). As a bonus, one of the owners is a former top Boston bartender so the cocktails are made with as much love as the entrees.