Matt Murphy's

In the Brookline Village section of the neighboring town of Brookline, Matt Murphy's is a good bet, and a triple threat: fantastic food (try the shepherd's pie or fish sandwich, or stop by at lunchtime for the impossibly good lamb sandwich), a congenial neighborhood crowd of locals and college students, and rollicking live music (everything from reggae and jazz to funk, soul, and hip-hop all evenings except Wednesday, which is trivia night). On weekends especially, diners clamor for a spot at one of the rustic farm tables. No reservations are accepted in this very tiny space, so expect to wait. To bypass the crowds, drop by for the Irish Sunday brunch, assuming you fancy rolled-oat porridge with a trickle of whiskey.

Photograph courtesy of Flickr/KarenMarleneLarsen