Restaurants in Braintree

The menu of vegetarian, seafood, and perfectly prepared meaty fare has classic Indian favorites and plates with creative twists. Tandoori chicken dalwala ($14.95), lamb tikka masala ($15.95), beef curry ($12.95), and saag paneer ($13.95) superbly showcase traditional flavors. The Boston Globe recommends the lamb vindaloo ($14.95) for its "edge of vinegar and its bite of chili-laden tomato sauce." Choose from eight specialty tandooris, more than ten vegetarian plates, six biryanis, or Bombay fare such as masala dosa (a crêpe stuffed with potatoes and onions, $11.95). Diva also serves freshly baked Indian breads and desserts.

Ninety-five percent of Urbanspooners like Tupelo, and nearly 200 Yelpers give it four out of five stars:

After sinking into Cafe 47's sleek, squishy, nut-brown banquettes, diners will be privy to a dinner menu of upscale comfort food that opens with sautéed sea scallops wrapped in applewood bacon and cherry tomatoes ($9) before moving on to larger, more-circular fare. Cafe 47's signature pizzas, such as the grilled-chicken pesto pie ($8 for a small), drape themselves in a heavenly raiment of mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, and fresh tomatoes, while the spicy sausage pizza ($8 for a small) features a stately dance of baked dough, sautéed mushrooms, and caramelized onions. Less geometrically pleasing but equally sumptuous entrees include creamy vegetable risotto ($14), Black Angus cheeseburgers ($9.50), and Atlantic salmon ($16). End your meal like Romeo and Juliet—happily—with a dessert of fried banana cheesecake and peanut butter pie.

In an effort to find a healthy alternative to fast food without sacrificing speediness, the creators of Pita Pit began assembling their signature sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks. At each location, thin, Lebanese-style pitas encircle lean, grilled meats and fresh veggies. Sandwich selections span the spectrum from gyro meat and falafel to turkey and prime rib. The staff empowers customers to make healthy choices by displaying nutrition information for each bread, meat, and post-meal toothpick and corralling a selection of healthy sandwiches, which dining companions can wash down with fruit smoothies.

Ball Square Café prides itself on a casual hang-outable atmosphere, accented by a staff that's warm and friendly without asking a lot of intrusive questions about your apartment layout. And though the café's servers are no longer shirtless and its bus staff no longer sleeping dogs, their hospitality will take care of all the details so that you're free to lounge and people watch as you like. Ball Square is best known for its bountiful breakfast menu of omelets, Belgian waffles, pancakes, breakfast plates, and beyond—all of which are available at any time of day. Gird yourself for the day's or night's adventures with delightful diurnal delicacies such as the Tunisian omelet ($8.95), stuffed with green olives, scallions, tomatoes, and feta, or the toothsome tower of caramelized-apple and cinnamon Belgian waffles ($8.50). And if you're drawing undue attention because you accidentally wore the same outfit as Lady Gaga that day, a macchiato ($3.25) will disguise you with a cream mustache so that you can finish your mango-banana pancakes ($7.95) in peace.

Like Mr. Rogers dressed in a banana-yellow zoot suit, American Craft's menu gives comfy American fare a tasty artisanal twist. Each of its appetizers ($8–$11) conceals a variety of inspired tastes, from the butternut-squash risotto to the pulled-duck hash with root veggies. Fresh salads and a trifecta of soups (du jour, oven-roasted tomato, and onion) will appease dainty diners, though they also go really well with a build-your-own burger of beef, turkey, or veggie served on a hi-rise challah roll with hand-cut fries or mixed greens. Once all the palate's previews have played, it's time for the main movie: American Craft's heartier plates include a grilled flat-iron steak au poivre with grilled asparagus and gorgonzola mashed potatoes, a veggie-friendly grilled tofu steak with broccoli rabe, and stout-braised short ribs with whipped potatoes. Entrees range between $14 and $24, and sandwiches are $9 to $12.