The vibe: Farmhouse chic is the vibe at this charming hotspot in Inman Square, where kitchen towels serve as napkins, vintage furniture decorates the dining room (the host stand is a gorgeous 1920 Glenwood oven), and fabulously weighty antique flatware gives you a workout as you feast on a menu of elevated New England faves and occasional forays into ethnic cuisines. Everything on chef-owner Will Gilson's seasonally updated menu boasts local farm-sourced ingredients.
The food: Begin your evening with the homemade Parker House rolls, best slathered with the yogurt and sea salt-whipped cultured butter. If you have room for more bread, the mushroom toast topped with fresh mushrooms, creamy taleggio cream, and garlic chips is a dreamy entry into Gilson's winter slate of entrees. If you don't want your mushrooms on toast, try them in the risotto with golden raisins and hazelnut gremolata. The pan-seared swordfish is brought to life with a decadent chorizo ravigote sauce and paired with braised lima beans. Meat on your mind? You can't go wrong with the Berkshire pork chop that shines in all its comfort-food glory alongside polenta, apple, cippolini onion, and a maple jus. Red meat gets a moment with the grilled ribeye served with truffle potatoes and blue cheese butter.
The drink: The bar menu is just as carefully curated, with a rotating selection of local beers and an expansive wine list featuring reds, whites, bubblies, and the occasional orange from independent makers around the world. Cocktails at Puritan & Co. are serious business, too, with the same focus on seasonal herbs and fruits making their way into drinks such as the winter blues-bursting, pineapple-forward Somerville Sling, topped with fresh mint and a nugget of candied ginger.
Time Out tip: Don't have a lot of time to linger over dinner? Grab a seat at the bar for a quick meal of small plates. Order some East Coast oysters (Puritan & Co. also runs a tiny oyster bar next door) and ask the bartender to recommend a lively bubbly to pair them with.