Waltham's 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 …

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 Watertown's 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…

We tried one of Lena's 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 …

Heeding their slogan, "We're not just winging it," we tried one of the Wraps and Sandwiches: the Blazin' Buffalo Wrap at the East Side Wings and Grill. Like many of their wraps, it's built around grilled chicken tenders with various add-ins in a soft flour tortilla. The chicken tenders were well-spiced and plentiful, and were complemented well by the lettuce, tomato, red onion and blue cheese dressing. In fact, it could almost have made two meals, since the tortilla is hefty. If you like potatoes, we also recommend getting the thick homemade fries instead of chips, which cost a dollar more. (…

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 (in Waltham, near Watertown's Pleasant Street) and chose the "Pick 4" special: a sampling of four…

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 …

  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 at Guanachapi's Restaurant 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 – but the side orders include vegetarian options, such as fried plantains, casaba, rice, beans and guacamole. This…

  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, …

  Waltham's The Elephant Walk 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 …

It doesn't look like much from the street, but the Halfway Cafe, 394 Main St. in Watertown, is quiet and pleasant, and has a surprisingly diverse menu. There's something for everyone: fish plates, vegetarian offerings, chicken and pasta, steamers and fried clams, many different kinds of sandwiches, salads and gourmet desserts for $4.99. It's one of six Halfway Cafe's in the Greater Boston Area. Suggested dish: We chose the black bean burger ($8.99), which wasn't actually a burger, but a more substantial whole-wheat wrap filled with beans, hummus, arugula, a yogurt-jalapeno spread and more. It…

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. Margarita aficionados can choose from 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., 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 Caesar …

O-Sha on Arsenal Street 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 extensive menu of …

The Watch City Brewing Company played a key role in the revival of Waltham's 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 …

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 …

D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches, with dozens of franchises throughout five New England states (none in Vermont) including one in Watertown Square, has been operating since 1967. Its menu has evolved over the years, though, so that it now offers more than just subs. In fact, the word "sub" doesn't appear on its menus, but instead "sandwiches" – grilled, toasted, hot or cold. There are also three soups each day (on a recent visit: lobster bisque, clam chowder and chicken noodle), as well as salads, wraps and quesadillas. All the food is made to order and grilled, not microwaved. Suggested dish: We …

Waltham's 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 …