When it comes time to grab a quick present for the Yankee Swap, nothing fits the equally diverse and yet difficult personalities of your family and friends like a gift card. Stop by a local restaurant and it’s doubly good. Who doesn’t like to eat and/or drink for free, amirite?! With that in mind, our dining and dish master Marc Hurwitz, from Hidden Boston Restaurants fame of course, put together a top ten list of eateries that doubles as a can’t-miss buying guide for gift cards. Chow down.
Sunrise Restaurant
1157 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
A completely under-the-radar Vietnamese eatery near Savin Hill that offers cheap eats including an outstanding duck soup.
O’Sullivan’s
282 Beacon St., Somerville
A somewhat small and unassuming pub that features some of the best burgers in the entire Greater Boston area.
Donna’s Restaurant
980 Saratoga St., East Boston
A spacious, family-friendly breakfast spot that only locals seem to know about in the Orient Heights neighborhood.
Joe Sent Me
2388 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
A “speakeasy” that has above-average pub grub, a great jukebox, and lots of nooks and crannies throughout.
Village Sushi and Grill
14 Corinth St., Roslindale.
A serene Japanese and Korean dining spot in Roslindale Village with a backdoor patio that feels like a secret.
Skampa
424 Cambridge St., Cambridge
A plain-looking sub shop featuring roast beef sandwiches that rival some of the best the North Shore has to offer.
Dogwood Cafe
3712 Washington St., Jamaica Plain
A cozy and somewhat romantic comfort food spot in Forest Hills that includes a fireplace and an attractive bar area.
Mul’s Diner
75 West Bdwy., South Boston
An old-school greasy spoon diner that’s one of the last old-fashioned eateries in this booming part of Southie.
Atwood’s Tavern
877 Cambridge St., Cambridge
A dark and atmospheric beer bar with great live music and a closed-in side patio that few seem to know about.
Genki Ya
398 Harvard St., Brookline
The original of a growing group of sushi bars featuring organic sushi along with a handful of excellent Japanese entrees.
Dig Staff means this article was a collaborative effort. Teamwork, as we like to call it.
