Haven't booked a dinner ressie? A round-up of options that still have availability.
 Play your cards right, and this could be you. (Photo via ThinkStock.) As Valentine’s Day is fast approaching (note: it’s tomorrow, for all of you slackers out there), it’s time to book a dinner reservation if you haven’t already. Whatever your mood, we’ve got you covered with options that still have availability (as of post time). — Jon Cheng
Spiced-up French at Market. Diners can look forward to a five-course menu (with two selections for each course), that makes use of local and exotic ingredients. A prelude of black pepper crab fritter is paired with sweet pear and endive, while the following course’s tuna tartare with avocado comes topped with crisp spicy radish and a broth of ginger, yuzu, and sriracha chili oil. Slowly cooked salmon, a more traditional option, is paired with sugar snap peas, mashed potatoes, and truffle vinaigrette. Round off the meal with with a house-made rose macaroon, decorated with raspberries and rose petals. $55 ($45 extra for wine-pairing), 100 Stuart St. (W Hotel), Boston, 617-261-872, marketbyjgboston.com. READ MORE
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Topped with a fried egg and melty American cheese, this sandwich is a home run.
 The BBQ brisket sandwich at Abigail’s. Photo by Katie Barszcz.
If you’re searching for a sloppy sandwich that causes sticky barbecue sauce to drip down your beard, the BBQ brisket sandwich at Abigail’s ($11) is not for you. But I’m quite happy with the more refined version here, which fits the warm bistro atmosphere of the Kendall Square spot. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that this sandwich—loaded up with brisket, a runny fried egg, melty American cheese, and sauteed peppers and onions—is a home run in its own right. READ MORE
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The All Star Sandwich Bar team will offer pies with toppings ranging from grits to meatballs to figs.
 Above is the box design for All Star Pizza Bar, which will open next Month. (Photo courtesy of All Star Pizza Bar) In this month’s Where to Eat in 2012 issue, we told you about All Star Pizza Bar, the latest venture from the team behind Inman Square’s popular All Star Sandwich Bar. The pizza place—located across the street from its sandwich sibling—is gearing up for a mid-March opening. Co-owner Kosta Diamantopoulos sent me the pizza menu recently, which you can check out ahead. READ MORE
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Preview the menu of the reboot of the North End seafood restaurant.
 Try Mare 2.0 this Friday. (Photo courtesy of Mare.) Over the past few months, upscale North End seafood spot Mare has been closed for a renovation (sound familiar?) that will turn it into a more casual, oyster-bar concept. The revamped Mare opens to the public this Friday, and I got a hold of the the new menu, which you can find ahead. READ MORE
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Ken Oringer's sashimi bar gains a sleek interior and street-food inspired menu.
In mid-January, Ken Oringer’s Clio and Uni closed temporarily for some much-needed renovations. While Clio has since reopened (and now boasts a sleeker interior and an expanded, backlit bar), Uni stayed closed for an extra two weeks for a more extensive rehabbing.
The revamped space reopens tonight at 5:30 p.m. In addition to wood-paneled walls, a lowered sushi bar, and leather banquettes, the sashimi bar also gained some street food-inspired menu additions, like togarashi-dusted Japanese fried chicken and—oh yes—ramen (!!). Ahead, get a peek at some of Uni’s new dishes, Clio’s bar and bar menu, Uni’s space, and the newest addition to the burgeoning late-night ramen scene.
 All food photos by Chelsea Kyle/Boston magazine READ MORE
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Dig into the city's newest, and most unexpected, dining hot spot.
 Head to Kendall Square for gravy fries from Abigail's. (Photo by Scott M. Lacey/Boston magazine) Boston and Cambridge diners may not be accustomed to thinking of Kendall Square in the context of food. After all, for most of its existence, the neighborhood’s been better known as a tech haven. But with countless restaurant gems popping up right and left, that’s changed and Kendall’s officially the city’s new successful culinary underdog. Everything from gastropubs and sushi stops to Southern-themed restaurants serving comfort food done right are either alive and well there, or coming soon.
To prepare you for this unexpected foodie hotspot, we’ve collected our past coverage of the restaurants. Read through for some dinner ideas — and for you Foursquare enthusiasts, check out our new Kendall Square tips list. READ MORE
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Where to find a dozen takeout hot dogs, one-pound burgers, and triple-sized burritos for the big day.
 The one-pound "Giant Killer" burger at Russell House Tavern. (Photo courtesy of RHT.) On Sunday, the New England Patriots will face off against the New York Giants — use our handy guide to ensure that you celebrate (or stress eat) alongside a stack of gourmet chili dogs or a one-pound burger. READ MORE
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The tacos here are great in theory, but not so great in execution.
Welcome to Man Food, where burger pro Richard Chudy steps away from his usual beat to explore food challenges, street eats, and other gut-busting delights. Ladies are welcome, of course.
 The pescado taco at El Pelon. (Photo by Katie Barszcz.)
After being decimated by a fire in 2009, the Fenway’s popular El Pelon Taqueria finally reopened the doors of its rebuilt Peterborough Street location in November. It’s a small space, with walls filled with pictures of satisfied and loyal customers from all over the world. On a recent lunchtime visit, the crowd was a bustling cross section of hungry students, young professionals, and locals crammed into the mostly take-out operation.
A fairly traditional Mexican menu is available here, with a ubiquitous variety of burritos, tacos and enchiladas. Catching my eye were the pescado tacos — cornmeal-crusted cod tacos topped with chile mayo, limed onions, pickled cabbage, and cucumbers. READ MORE
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Find pricey steak frites, upscale tater tots at the forthcoming Euro-themed dining spot.
 That'll be EIGHT for tater tots, please. (Photo courtesy of Brand X Pictures/ThinkStock) Late last month, Stuff alerted us to the opening of GEM, the latest eatery/lounge hybrid from Big Night Entertainment Group, the group behind high-end party palaces like Shrine at the MGM in Foxwoods, The Estate downtown, and most recently Red Lantern in Back Bay.
In the latest issue of The Improper, a few more details emerged: the space, located in the former Kennedy’s Midtown on Province Street, will seat a mere 35 diners (small by BNEG standards) and sport a 1940s European vibe complete with textures like dark leather and mohair (fuzzy walls, again?).
I recently got a hold of a copy of the opening menu, which you can check out ahead. READ MORE
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Owner Michael Wang shares details his new New Year-inspired sandwich at Foumami and his favorite Chinese New Year eats.
 The new spicy La Long pork sandwich and Longan melon soda will be available at Foumami for the next 15 days. (Photo courtesy of Foumami.) Today marks the official start of the Chinese New Year, a 15-day celebration that’s the most important holiday of the year for those of Chinese descent. This year is the “Year of the Dragon,” and in honor of the occasion, Asian-inspired downtown sandwich shop Foumami will debut a Chinese New Year-themed sandwich today called the La Long, which is Chinese for “spicy dragon.”
I recently chatted with Michael Wang, Foumami’s owner, in order to get more details on the new spicy sandwich, and find out how he celebrates the New Year on his own time. READ MORE
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