Kelly’s Diner in Ball Square is in a 55-foot, 1953 Jerry O’Mahony rail-style diner, and the menu of eggs and omelets, deli sandwiches and burgers, and New England dinners such as meatloaf feels just as classic as its setting.

PlantPub is a cool little eatery in Kendall Square with a select beer and vino menu and satiating comfort food such as burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and pizzas – with no meat anywhere.

Waypoint, which feels like a cozy yet pleasingly eccentric Spanish tapas joint but specializes in seafood, has clam and smoked whitefish pizzas and mains such as squid ink and Jonah crab pastas – and one of my favorites: Smoked & Salted Peel & Eat Shrimp.

It was a pleasure to rediscover Taco Party in Ball Square, where this flexitarian was quite satisfied with the double-wrapped Crispy Fried Tofu, Chorizo Seitan, and Chimichurri Tempeh options.

Detroit-style pizza is a square, crustless pie close to the thick, Sicilian style, and at Avenue Kitchen & Bar it’s a palate-pleasing, stomach filling treat.