Boston's Best Takeout 2008

Welcoming Charles St. restaurant has been serving fluffy French toast and savory steak tips since 1937.

Reviews:

• “Decent at Best”
• “Cheap, tasty eats”
• “You might want to go to the McDonalds drive-thru if you’re looking for a comparable experience”
• “loved it”
• “Can’t go wrong…just don’t go during busy times”

Tips: The Paramount’s eggs and pancakes prove very popular on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Expect to wait or show up early.

The Paramount or email The Paramount

Charles Street’s finest pizza shop churns out fresh specialty pies and light salads.

Reviews:

• “Yum!”
• “Hold off on Tremont St. Location”
• “please come to the beach!”
• “The Upper Crust "
• “Best Pizza in Town… My fav!”

Tips: It may be across the Common, but Upper Crust is good for grabbing a quick bite before the theater.

The Upper Crust or email The Upper Crust

Harvard Square icon pulls all the strings for a near-perfect pizza.

Reviews:

• “Best pizza”
• “So-so pizza and way too many college kids”
• “Responsible for feeding Harvard Students for years.”
• “My favorite place for pizza in the world”
• “Best Pizza in Town”

Tips: The parking spaces across narrow Winthrop are inviting and usually empty, but they’re private and you’ll probably get towed before you get away with a pie. Best parking on a busy evening is the garage on Eliot Street ($3 for the first half hour).

Pinocchio’s Pizza & Subs

Office workers and sports fans fill up on affordable Mexican fare.

Reviews:

• “Great Burrito”s"
• “AVOID at all costs!!”
• “Good Enough to Travel For!”

Tips: Viva can whip up enough burritos and quesadillas to satisfy an office party of any size.

Viva Burrito or email Viva Burrito

Porter Square’s entry in the crowded Cambridge gourmet pizza scene delivers with pricey, inventive pies and delectable salads.

Reviews:

• “Perfecto!”
• “great customer service”
• “Never again”
• “Absolutely amazing pizza!”
• “italian”

Tips: Cambridge and Somerville residents: Skip busy Mass. Ave.’s busy traffic and have your pizzas delivered for only a dollar.

diMio

Award-winning dining destination’s superb smoked meats lure barbecue aficionados to Revere.

Reviews:

• “best quality anywhere”
• “WHO ARE WE KIDDING!!!”
• “top top top notch”
• “Not up to expectations”
• “Awesome and Yummy!!”

Tips: Before ordering a full rack of Uncle Pete’s award-winning ribs, consider starting off with a three-rib sampler as an appetizer so you can determine if you prefer the beef or pork variety.

Uncle Pete’s Hickory Ribs

Some of the city’s best, most authentic tacos and burritos are wildly popular with budget-conscious students.

Reviews:

• “One of my favorite restaurants”
• “Not impressed, much better options for Mexican out there”
• “the best in boston!”
• “Best fish tacos and burritos, ever”
• “Best fish tacos and plantains”

Tips: Keep an eye on the Sox schedule. When there’s a game, parking will be impossible to come by, and lines may be long. And remember, you can bring your burritos into the park (just no drinks).

El Pelon Taqueria or email El Pelon Taqueria

Darwin’s Ltd. specialty sandwiches, prepared dinners and mouth watering baked goods make the intellectuals of Harvard drop their books and take a bite.

Reviews:

• “Creepy Old Ladies "
• “Neighborhood Gem for quality Sandwiches, Coffee and Community. No wimps allowed.”
• “Great sandwiches, HORRIBLE service”
• “Laptoppers get the lovin’”
• “Darwins, your new office with no open seats.”

Tips: Specialty sandwiches named after local streets

Darwin’s Ltd or email Darwin’s Ltd

Unobtrusive Chilean food stand scores with addictive sandwiches and unbeatable prices.

Reviews:

• “You must try the chacarero”
• “Not Good!”
• “Addictive sandwiches!”
• “Yummy”
• “I dream of chacarero”

Tips: A small operation and long, eager lines make for a lengthy lunch hour. Show up before noon (or after 2pm) to avoid the crowd. Even better, phone in your order in advance.

Chacarero