Craigie on Main

After years in its tiny basement space, Craigie Street Bistrot has a new location and name. Chef Tony Maws is still cooking the ingredient-inspired, seasonal fare he's known for. Now there's a bar to match, with seasonal cocktails that riff on the classics and a bar menu that includes a killer burger. (Full review)

When a new product enters the market, or a really old one reemerges, as in the case of Bols Genever, you can more or less predict which handful of bars will be the early adopters. In fact, we could probably just focus this column on those bars - Craigie on Main, Eastern Standard, Green Street Grill, Drink - every week and never run out of ideas. (Full review)

Craigie is out of the basement. In November, chef Tony Maws and crew moved from their subterranean digs on Craigie Street in Cambridge to a comparatively vast space on Main Street formerly inhabited by La Groceria. But what to do about the name? "Craigie on Main" preserves the legacy of Craigie Street Bistrot with veracity, if likely confusing newcomers and out-of-town visitors. (Full review)

It is a battle waged in every city and town: Small, independent businesses known for their approachability try to hold their own against chain stores that harness the advantage of economies of scale. The turf this time is the dining scene in Cambridge, where Bertucci's Italian Restaurants and Uno's Chicago Grills have a strong presence in the city. (Full review)