The Arcadia Restaurant is known for its hearty, diner-like breakfasts, which include many variations with eggs: omelets, eggs Benedict or Florentine, served with hash, sausage, bacon, or ham, and of course with home fries, toast and a bottomless cup of coffee. Two eggs prepared over easy came within a few minutes, even though the place was busy on a Saturday morning. The eggs were done perfectly (no burnt edges) and the dark Greek rye toast was warm and lightly buttered. Even the home fries were good. It's hard to avoid having them get overdone or cold. The coffee was also satisfyingly strong…

If you're in the mood for a quick meal with a Mexican theme, you might try Chipolte's Mexican Grill, which has locations throughout the Greater Boston area including the Arsenal Mall. The Burrito Bowl is all the fixings in a large burrito, without the wrapping; instead it's served in a bowl. You get to decide at the long ordering counter what goes into the bowl, but the basics are a choice of grilled meat (chicken, pork or beef), cilantro-lime rice (white or brown), beans (black or pinto), salsa (hot, medium or mild) and a dozen or so add-ins, including sour cream, cheese, lettuce and grilled…

We tried one of their specialty subs -- the Chicken Margherita. The chicken was nicely grilled and the add-ins fresh and fragrant: tomatoes, mozarella, basil leaves, and olive oil. And the bun was well-toasted, although the option of multi-grain bread would have added a richer texture. It was a satisfying meal and comes in either medium ($6.60) or large ($8.60). Lena's prides itself on having won a "best sandwich shop" in Waltham award several years running (from Market Surveys of America). They also serve many kinds of pizzas, calzones, panini, wraps and pasta dinners. Pizzas, their other …

The steak pizza at The Gaff, a friendly, pub-like bar at 467 Moody St., is excellent. One of two kinds of pizza (the other is a vegetarian "margarita" one), its crispy, wafer-thin crust is covered with tangy gorgonzolla and mozarella cheeses, bits of hearty, marinated steak, sweet caramelized onions, and a homemade pesto. At $9 for a 10-inch pizza, it's a bargain.  The Gaff is best known for its 70 kinds of beers, including many craft ones, and mixed drinks. But it also has a good food menu, including small plates, like the pizza, appetizers and salads. "(The Gaff) started with a burger, a …

An offshoot of Au Bon Pain in the 1990s, Panera Bread has carved out its own niche throughout the U.S., with more than 1,500 cafe-bakeries in 41 states. Two local franchises are at 321 Arsenal St. in Watertown and 1100 Lexington St. in Waltham. All their bread is baked fresh on the premises. They specialize in sandwiches, often with chicken or turkey, various kinds of dressings, and herbs and spices, salads and soups, as well as continental breakfasts, such as pastries and souffles. Suggested dish: One of their most-popular offerings is "Pick 2": a half-sandwich and a half-salad or cup of …

This regional supermarket chain is a good option for ready-to-go foods, including several dozen kinds of salads, cooked and roasted vegetable dishes, hot chicken entrees and a bakery. The salads are particularly good, with a large choice of them, from ones with cucumber, tomato and onions, to pasta and beans, and chicken and tuna. The deli also runs a "5 on Friday" special, such as eight pieces of fried chicken for $5. Suggested dish: We dropped in the Shaw's in the shopping plaza on River Street and chose the "Pick 4" special: a sampling of four different salads for $4.99. The portions were …

The sign outside Tresca's Eating Place, located in the plaza behind Watertown Square, is peeling; but regular customers probably don't mind, because inside it's spacious, friendly and well-lit. And the food is hearty and inexpensive. The restaurant is open until 3 p.m. on weekdays, 1 p.m. on weekends it and specializes in all-day breakfasts. Dishes include omelettes, French toast, and variations on "two eggs any style" with add-ons. Lunches are the traditional fare, such as club sandwiches, different kinds of burgers, a vegetarian burger and two dinners: a breaded fish plate and a chicken …

The Waltham Indian Market, which opened in December 2010, was designed with a restaurant and food court below it. The food court can be slightly overwhelming at first, because the two stations in it overlap a bit in their offerings. One offers more Middle Eastern fare, such as kababs, as well as Indian appetizers, like dosas; while the other station has seven chicken and 10 vegetarian entrees served in spicy sauces with rice. This is strictly no-frills eating, with plastic plates and cutlery and a variety of cold drinks in a cooler. (A patron did ask for tap water and got it.) The court is a …

Friendly's, with franchises in both Watertown (560 Arsenal St.) and Waltham (1111 Lexington St.), and several hundred other locations in New England, is still a popular spot for diners who like to add an ice cream sundae or other frozen desserts to their meal. One of the specials is a choice of one of eight different entrees, a bottomless soda or iced tea and a two-scoop sundae for $9.99. They also have salads, soups and some low-cal entrees. Suggested dish: After considering one of the specials that included an entree, drink and sundae, we decided instead on an "under 555" special: one of …

This Guatemalan-Salvadorian restaurant, at 273 Moody St. in Waltham is the kind of place that some people extol and others find merely so-so. It serves a basic choice of breakfast, lunch and dinners plates, with a single menu listing them all. The breakfasts are lower-priced and focus on eggs and home fries, as well as sausage, salsa and other add-ons. Most of the lunch and dinner dishes feature some kind of meat -- chicken, pork, beef, liver or seafood. The side orders include vegetarian options, such as fried plantains, casaba, rice, beans and guacamole. This restaurant is not to be …

In the heart of Watertown Square, The New Yorker Diner has been offering early morning and late night fare for hungry workers and college students for decades. Its specialty is hearty breakfasts, with lots of combos featuring eggs, along with bacon, ham and sausage. Vegetarians can go for the French toast, pancakes, omelettes or eggs without meat. The diner also has a basic menu of sandwiches, such as chicken salad, tuna salad and grilled cheese. Suggested dish: We went for the Grand Slam -- not just for its large variety of food but also its price. This favorite choice includes two eggs, …

The Elephant Walk in Waltham has become a destination restaurant, the kind that attracts diners from throughout the region. Its chefs use creative combinations of ingredients to make dishes that you don't typically find in many other Asian restaurants. Their menu reflects their lives growing up in Cambodia when it was a French protectorate, reflecting a blending of traditional Cambodian ingredients and cooking techniques and the French influence. Suggested dish: There are a dozen or so Cambodian lunch specials. We chose the catfish in a spicy broth made up of fresh tomatoes, garlic, rice …

Habanero's on Moody Street in Waltham offers a slightly upscale version of a Mexican restaurant, with a bar thrown in. It has all the classic Mexican plates and appetizers including burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas all served with quality ingredients and a bit of flare. The chef also makes weekly specials, such as Mexican meatballs and shrimp soup. For margarita aficionados, there are dozens of kinds of this tequila-based drinks, as well as craft beers. Suggested dish: We had the enchilada plate with mole sauce, the Mexican sauce made with chocolate ($9.50). The dish consisted of two soft …

The Spot Cafe, at 385 Main St. in Watertown, has been a family-owned and operated diner-like restaurant since 2006. It's small, unpretentious and specializes in breakfasts, including pancakes with fruit, omelets and French toast, as well as sandwiches, soups and salads for lunch until 3 p.m. (no dinner). Suggested dish: Given the hot weather, we chose a Caesar salad with turkey slices and an iced coffee. It also came with two slices of their homemade bread. (Another popular lunch choice is the soup and half-sandwich special.) The salad came with a choice of five different dressings; we chose …

O-Sha on Arsenal Street in Watertown doesn't look like much on the outside, but then neither do some of the best eateries in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood. Given that its three chefs come from other good restaurants in the region (see below), it's worth a visit to this new Asian eatery, for either lunch or dinner. Its menu has the now-familiar, highly popular Thai and Japanese dishes: curries, noodle dishes (including pad thai), sushi and maki rolls, miso soup, appetizers, jasmine rice and desserts like black-sesame ice cream and Thai blueberry custard. Suggested dish: Forgoing the …

The Watch City Brewing Company played a key role in the revival of Moody Street in the 1990s, along with the Embassy Cinema down the street. It's still going strong as a place to have a beer and appetizers with a Red Sox game or sit down for a full dinner. The chef makes new specials each day and there are about a half dozen seasonal beers brewed on the premises, such as "Steam Punk Ale," "Chocolate Thunder Porter" and "Fenway Fungo Scottish Wee Light." A bit of trivia: it's one of the only local breweries in the U.S. owned by a woman. Suggested dish: A popular appetizer is the buffalo wings…

There are a lot of choices for Asian fare at Sushi Box, which gets its name from the traditional Japanese lunch boxes made up of fish, vegetables, rice, miso soup and sometimes meat. Although Sushi Box, at 617 Main St. in Waltham, specializes in sushi and maki rolls, it also serves large bowls of udon noodles with various fishes and meats or vegetables. Dishes can also include stir fry, tempura and Korean-style dishes, which come with the traditional kimchi (spiced cabbage), rice and miso soup.  Suggested dish: The place is known for its lunch boxes, which are a main dish, like salmon …

Tom Can Cook wants to satisfy almost any preference for Asian food -- Thai, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and Szechwan. This "fusion" philosophy has both advantages and disadvantages, since it provides lots of different choices, yet can be a bit ambitous. This restaurant's menu is not overwhelming and there's a good variety of dishes: curries, seafood, noodle soups, tempura, miso soup, iced Thai tea and more. There are lots of fun appetizers too, including chicken satay, tempura, calamari and scallion pancakes. While we visited, a couple nearby was eating a vegetarian dish with vegetables and …

For 13 years, Not Your Average Joe's has been occupying the large and airy space of a former furniture store in Watertown Square. It has a contemporary and diverse menu (they call it "creative casual") at reasonable prices. It's a popular destination. There are many fresh seafood dishes, with salmon, haddock, shrimp and shellfish. But the catchword is "eclectic." For instance, new dishes this month include pecan chicken, barbecue turkey kabob, and penne milano. Suggested dish: We chose one of the new appetizers, stuffed quahogs, which turned out to be hearty and filling. Customers first get a…

Don't be deceived by the modest exterior and somewhat off-the-beaten-track location of Mi Tierra Restaurant, which is up at 585 Moody St in Waltham. Inside, it's spacious and attractive and, most importantly, the food is good, fresh and inexpensive. It's a family-owned and operated business, so the staff is both friendly and conscientious. Suggested dish: Many of the offerings contain similar ingredients: corn tortillas or tostadas, black beans, white rice, guacamole, plantains, chicken and pork. It's the delicate seasonings and fresh hot sauce (placed in a bottle on the table) that make them…