Amidst lobster rolls, crab cakes, and far too many oysters in Boston, I had the immense pleasure of dining at Alden and Harlow in Harvard Square. As a student at Harvard, Alden and Harlow has always been my favorite place to take visitors when they come into town (or so I told people. What’s the harm in pretending to be Elle Woods’ classmate for a weekend?)

Alden and Harlow specializes in small plates, and trust me, they do it well. With many plant-forward dishes focused on thoughtfully sourced American foods, this is definitely a restaurant for the books. Noted as one of the Best Restaurants in the World by Condé Nast Traveler, the eatery lives up to the title effortlessly.