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Whenever I'm visiting Boston there are two and only two food destinations for me, and both are located in beloved Jamaica Plain:
The James's Gate for fish and chips
http://www.jamessgate.com/

and La Pupusa Guanaca (for pupusas, of course)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-pupusa-guanaca-jamaica-plain

If I happen to be near downtown on a weekday I'll head over to the North End for calzones and $.75 cups of wine from a bucket at Galleria Umberto
http://www.yelp.com/biz/galleria-umberto-boston

Skip Fanueil Hall - instead, head out of its eastern end, cross over a few streets, hit the North End instead! You'll find incredible shops with Italian goodies for eating out of hand, putting together an easy picnic, or to bring home as souvenirs.

Also recommended: Black Ink/The Museum of Useful Things: not necessarily a kitchen supply store, but you can find really cool pieces there that work as funky kitchen objects.

As for hidden neighborhood gems: at Andrew Sq., on the Southie/Dorchester border, shop (for kielbasa, pierogi, doughnuts) at Baltic Deli & eat at Cafe Polonia or get take out from there and head on over to the beach at Castle Island (finishing that off with an ice cream from Sully's, of course).

For seafood, check out New Deal Fish Market in East Cambridge - great selection, fair prices, excellent service

http://www.yelp.com/biz/new-deal-fish-market-cambridge

I second all the nods at the North End. Lots of great little specialty grocers there and one of the best liquor stores in Boston - lots of hard to find Italian Liquors - V Cirace & Son
http://www.yelp.com/biz/v-cirace-and-son-boston#hrid:R4Mt5AnbsKtCVkmsvvXjfw/src:search/query:liquor%20store%20north%20end

And lastly, a neighborhood gem in Somerville - Daves Fresh Pasta - awesome local pasta store which carries local produce, meats, dairy and great pasta making classes
http://davesfreshpasta.com/

While not strictly a "food shop", Sofra Bakery and Cafe in Cambridge (a more casual off-shoot of renowned restaurant Oleana) offers a variety of Mediterranean-inspired breads and baked goods as well as an assortment of their amazing mezze and other unique items packaged for retail. The jewel-toned carrot jam is a standout.

Another place to stock up on unique food items in Cambridge is Christina's Spice & Specialty Foods, purveyors of all manner of spices, salts, dried chiles, teas, rices, and other ethnic and bulk items. Many of the store's spices are used to create magical flavors like Mexican chocolate at the sister shop next door--Christina's Homemade Ice Cream (a must-stop for any visitor to the 'bridge).

One more hidden treasure, this time in nearby Somerville, is the Dairy Bar at Kickass Cupcakes (which, as the name implies, is a cupcake bakery--and a rather kickass one at that). The Dairy Bar is one of the very few places in the Boston area that sells local, farm-fresh milk (including organic), cream, ice cream, eggs, as well as other specialty items like vinegars, oils, and jams. It's the perfect place to pick up a glass bottle of milk to take home with a dozen of Kickass' signature super chocolate and cinnamon chai pecan sticky cupcakes.

All of this is true.

However, under specialty stores, Russos is glaringly missing. http://russos.com/

My vote would be to not miss the pastry shop Mike's Pastry on Hanover. So awesome and the great boxes with string to go!

Also, best two places I ate were Toro, which was so brilliant. Get the beef tongue. And Sportello, a re-imagining of the lunch counter. Amazing.

Regina Pizza on Thacher St in the North End is the absolute tops!!!

Second to Mike's and Regina's! They are majorly busy on the regular but truly worth the lines. Also Sportello truly does have inspired food. Their bread is served with whipped riccotta, a drizzle of really good olive oil and some golden raisins. I could eat it all night!

Also Santarpios in East Boston for pizza.

Stuff like this excites me! JP Licks or Christina's (in Inman Sq., Cambridge) for the best ice cream.

If you are looking to buy some meats north of Boston, Dom's Sausage Co. in Malden is straight ridiculous.

I have stop now because I could write a five page essay about this.

Blech, I never got Regina's. The thing I missed most about living in Boston is Greek pizza. Some one else mentioned Andrew Sq. There a great greek pizza place there.

I work in the north end, and love polcari's. they have bulk spices, crystallized ginger, dried beans, coffee, loose teas in bulk, and they are so nice.

plus they have 2 varieties of roasted chickpeas which I am now addicted to.

I second dave's pasta, and I heartily endorse russo's-> amazing produce. They told me that they ship to whole foods!

also, for a great lunch, try sultan's kitchen in the financial district. amazing bean salads.

I always found Mike's Pastry too touristy. If you want a really good cannoli, there are much better to be found. Stop by Maria's for a very different experience.

Haven't tried this, but a North End market tour - sounds perfect for food lovers!

And for stocking your kitchen with authentic Italian goods (like 00 flour), track down Salumeria Italiana.

I am surprised no one mentioned Russo's?
A 30-year old, Italian market that has now turned into a super farmer's market with amazing ethnic food (indian and asian peppers and veggies, bresaola and procuitto my italian friends swear by, french cheeses, and all the mushrooms or balsamic vinegars you could find in the old country). They try to only buy veggies from local farmers if possible (making the selection and quality much more extensive in our sadly short warm season) - but the prices are unbelievable. Last summer, I ate heirloom tomatoes almost every night for dinner with fresh mozzarella and sea salt and olive oil (all from Russo's)... and the tomatoes? less than $2 a pound!!

They sell seeds and flowers and plants too, and cut flowers and wreaths, and pots for your container garden. location isn't too great (you need a car) and it is super crowded, but it makes boston worth it. This market alone.

Green Street in Central Sq is a great restaurant. Oleana. Craigie on Main. Ten Tables.

cara_mia got it right with Salumeria Italiana! Also for to-go food, Galleria Umberto on Hanover is a must. If you've eaten pizza in Italy, New York, or even New Haven...please, please, do not bother with the pizza in Boston. It's just not the same, no matter how good the claim may be. Supposedly Neptune Oyster is a great spot where they even teach you how to shuck them. I've seen the market tour wandering around the North End, and it looked pretty good. Also in the summer, SOWA, the South End Open Market is a fantastic spot to wander around and check out handmade goods (and some local foods too!).

http://www.southendopenmarket.com/

Worth mentioning that Boston is an ice cream mecca. I don't know why, but I have never been to a city where ice cream seems to be so important. Toscanini's, Christina's, Herrell's, Rancatore's, Lizzy's, Richardson's, Kimball Farms, I could go on. My personal favorite is Toscanini's (the basil ice cream is amazing, ditto for mint, ditto for molasses cookie) but this is a topic Bostonians will practically fight to the death over.

I also would skip Faneuil Hall. It's a mess of tourists and nothing there is really worth the crowds.

Mike and Patty's on Church Street in the Bay Village is an amaaaaaazing sandwich shop run by a pair of Formaggio Kitchen alums.

Former owners of the Church street spot, Alon and Rachel have opened the Hungry Mother on Cardinal Medeiros Ave. in Kendall Square. If you can get a table, you will be a very happy diner.

There are many many places worth checking out, but these are two of the shining stars in my book.

Emily

Best gut-busting diner breakfast/hangover cure: Eagles Deli in Cleveland Circle. Let's go BC!

Devote a couple hours minimum to explore the North End- Hanover & Salem Streets have shops, restaurants, and cafes that need to be experienced by sight, smell, and taste, but make sure to wander off the main streets as that is where you will find the unexpected gems that make this neighborhood so special. Make a progressive meal part of your adventure- an appetizer here, an entree there, coffee and pastry here, and gelato for walking or cabbing home. Mix in some of the historical sites between food- The Old North Church, Paul Revere's home.

Almost every summer weekend, there's a religious feast/street festival (most are held on Hanover Street but the largest, the Feast of St. Anthony is held on Endicott Street) and add to the North End's character.

North End Favorites:

Bova's Bakery (134 Salem)- I personally think this bakery is better than Mike's or Modern...and it's open 24 hours a day

Polcari's Coffee (105 Salem)- Walking into this store is like walking back in time...amazing coffee and spice selection, entertaining staff

Salumeria Italiana (151 Richmond)- Italian gourmet shop, if you can think of it, they have it

Caffe Paradiso (255 Hanover)- The front of this cafe opens onto the street, perfect place to people watch while enjoying an espresso and tiramisu


Outside of the North End, Tapeo (266 Newbury) has fabulous tapas

Chinatown is great for late night dining and weekend dim sum. Emperor's Garden (690 Washington) China Pearl (9 Tyler Street) have delicious dim sum, a wonderful brunch alternative. Suishaya (2 Tyler) has wonderful sushi at very reasonable prices, they used to have a $25 all you can eat sushi offer, not sure if that's still available as it was a steal.

On Fridays and Saturdays, Haymarket is an outdoor market next to Faneuil Hall (and close to North End) where you can get produce at ridiculously cheap prices. If you're going to be in the area, it's worth checking out.

Oh wow, I think it's time for a trip back to Boston:)

A must for cooks: Dave's Fresh Pasta in Davis Square. They make homemade fresh pastas and sauces which you take home and prepare, they also have an amazing deli (paninis to die for) and have recently expanded to include a wine shop and small specialty grocery with a great selection of cheeses and Italian staples. I also second the recommendation for Russo's market in Watertown.

And should you drive north, Tendercrop Farms in Newburyport is an amazing stop for local, seasonal produce and meat.

as far as specialty food shops go, my all-time favorite is lionettes on tremont st. in the south end. similar to formaggio kitchen, but smaller. he carries only local meats and has an amazing selection.

city feed in jamaica plain is a good place for sandwiches and occasional local produce.

for restaurants - ten tables in jamaica plain and garden at the cellar in cambridge.. they both focus on local, sustainable ingredients and cook up some amazing food.

Boston has a good gluten-free scene going as well!

Elephant Walk in Boston and Cambridge has had a gluten free menu for a long time.

Kickass Cupcakes in Davis Square makes gluten-free cupcakes, and also does frosting shots.

Porter Square has turned into a little gluten-free mecca lately- in addition to Elephant Walk, Stone Hearth Pizza is excellent, as is Zing Pizza and the gluten-free treats available at Zing Cafe/Porter Square Books.

All of the Legal Seafoods restaurants have gluten-free menus, and of course steamed lobster is okay :)

The Boston Globe recommended even more restaurants that I haven't been to: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2008/04/23/gluten_free_dining_out/

I can't afford the specialtly shops or the real foodie fancy restaurant places but here's my list of favorites that are much more reasonable (i.e.


There are a lot of suggestions here for south end and cambridge sommerville so I'll branch out a bit:

NU area:
The Mission on Mission Hill is a fun bar with a tasty menu.

Back Bay:
The Rattlesnake just re-did their menu and is no longer frat boy food. I enjoyed a great grilled watermelon salad there a few weeks ago.

Brookline:
The Publick House is a Belgian style tap house with an amazing beer selection and has great mac and cheese.

Allston/Brighton:
I've heard lots of great things about soul fire.
Also many friends go to hot pot out there.
Also Sunset Grill and Sunset Cantina have awesome cheap eats with great beers and tequilas.

Seaport:
Skip Legal Sea Foods and instead go to the Legal Test Kitchen in the Seaport district (although pricey)

I could go on and on...

For seafood, I'm a huge fan of Mercato del Mare in the North End (http://northendfish.com/). They have a small but well-curated selection of fresh and frozen seafood, prepared dishes and ancillary items, and owners Liz and Keri are just wonderful.

I'll put in another vote for Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville. It was on my route home when I lived in the neighborhood, and I still miss it.

In the South End, you can't go wrong with any of Barbara Lynch's places (Plum Produce and Butcher Shop are favorites for provisions), and Lionette's Market (http://www.lionettesmarket.com/) is, for me, worth making a special trip up from RI.

Brix is a favorite for wine and spirits (http://www.brixwineshop.com/)

Favorite cheap eats are Ernesto's in the North End for delicious pizza by the (huge) slice, Boston Kebab House for falafel and Middle Eastern salads, and 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches for banh mi.

Finally, the Boston Public Market is a real gem (http://www.bostonpublicmarket.org/). I love walking there on my lunch break or stopping off on my way to South Station in the evening.