Downtown Crossing/Theater District/Chinatown

Legal Sea Foods (seafood) $$ - $$$: An old local establishment with many locations throughout the city, but this one is closest to the conference hotel

Barracuda (pub) $: Seafood and pub fare, with frequent specials on oysters and chicken wings

The Tam (pub) $: Cheap and easy pub fare. Warning: cash only!

Jacob Wirth (German) $$: Sausages, schnitzel, pretzels, and sandwiches

The Q (Mongolian) $$: Mongolian hot pots, sushi & Chinese dishes at this hip airy eatery & lounge.

Beard Papa's Boston (Cream puffs) $: This bakery chain, which originated in Japan, whips up signature cream puffs in a range of flavors.

Hei La Moon (Dim Sum) $$: sprawling, bi-level banquet hall-style dim sum emporium with traditional decor.

Back Bay

La Voile (French) $$$: Traditional bistro with an ever-changing prix fixe menu

Lir (Irish) $ - $$: Hearty pub food. Also a favorite of soccer and rugby fans

Parish (sandwiches) $$: A menu built by asking lots of Boston-area chefs to each design a sandwich reflecting their own restaurant's style

Yamato (Japanese) $$: Best known for all-you-can-eat sushi

South End

Flour (bakery) $ - $$: Deli sandwiches, salads, and pastries

Estragon (Spanish) $$ - $$$: Tapas, wine, and cocktails

Addis Red Sea (Ethiopian) $$: Spicy meat or vegetable stews served family-style

Five Horses Tavern (gastropub) $$: An upscale take on many common American dishes (try the cornbread!), with a good beer selection

Fenway/Kenmore

Cornwall's (English) $$: Sandwiches and English-style pub fare

India Quality (Indian) $ - $$: Specializing in Punjabi cuisine

Boston Burger Company (burgers) $ - $$: Burgers with a variety of toppings and over-the-top milkshakes (called "frappes" around here)

El Pelon (Mexican) $: A longtime Northeastern PL lab favorite

Seaport

Committee (Greek meze) $$$: Small plates good for sharing, plus tasting flights of ouzo and Greek spirits

Harpoon (brewery) $: Big, doughy pretzels to accompany locally brewed beer. Warning: closes early Sun-Wed!

North End

There is a high concentration of Italian restaurants, with too many good options to pick a few. Wander around until you smell something good. For dessert, two bakeries on Hanover St have an intense rivalry over who makes the best cannoli.

Mike's Pastry (bakery)

Modern Pastry (bakery)

Kendall Square

Cambridge Brewing Company (brewpub) $$: A variety of beer made in-house, and a frequently-rotating burger and pizza made with spent-grain dough

Smoke Shop (barbeque) $ - $$$: Slow-smoked meat complemented by a large whiskey selection, including many small distillers

Area Four (pizza) $$: Serving sourdough crust pizza and named for a neighborhood without a name

Lord Hobo (brewpub) $$: A bit off the beaten track, with a selection of their own brews, many guest taps, and some exotic bottle offerings

Meadhall (gastropub) $$ - $$$: Roughly 100 beers on tap, with a well-varied dinner menu

Central Square

Mary Chung (Chinese) $ - $$: Traditional favorite of MIT. Suan la chow show is a particular specialty.

Little Donkey (gastropub) $$ - $$$: Small plates inspired by a variety of cuisines

India Pavilion (Indian) $ - $$: Relatively quiet atmosphere for Central Square

Havard Square

Mr Bartley's (burgers) $$: Creatively topped burgers and shakes, worth the trip to see silly menu and decor. Warning: cash only!

Border Cafe (Mexican, Cajun) $$: Fajitas, étoufée, enchiladas, and a mesquite-fired grill

Cambridge, 1 (pizza) $ - $$: Very thin crust pizza, prepared on a charcoal grill

Grendel's Den (pub) $ - $$: Casual underground hangout, popular with Harvard folks

Jamaica Plain

Doyle's Cafe (Irish) $ - $$: Has a long-standing association with the Sam Adams brewery, serving as the testing ground for many new of their beers

Canary Square (gastropub) $$: Neighborhood bar with a good craft beer selection. Best reached by bus (route 39)