Revival Café & Kitchen isn’t your typical office park coffee shop or eatery. This casual eatery puts a lot of time and care into crafting a balanced menu of fine coffees and teas, baked goods, and interesting breakfast and lunch items. 

Look for breakfast sandwiches, quiche of the day, and kimchi bowls in the morning, and more savory specialties like soup du jour, fresh salads, and hefty sandwiches for lunch. There aren’t many places in town where you can get a vegan apple cider donut to finish off a meal of Thai peanut salad or a crispy eggplant sandwich, but that’s standard fare at Revival Café & Kitchen. Starting January 2, Revival Café & Kitchen will be accepting online orders for both quick pick-up service and their expert catering. Preview their menu online, and be sure to stop in the next time your near Alewife to try their specials and artisan coffee. 

Fans of Mexican food have a new option with El Potro Mexican Grill. This is the fourth location of this authentic restaurant, which serves Mexican and Central American cuisine in a bright and festive setting. 

The Chelsea location features a wrap-around bar right in the center of the restaurant and it practically calls to you when you walk in to order a margarita. El Potro Mexican Grill actually serves 10 different varieties of margaritas along with an impressive tequila selection. The food choices are just as numerous, with enchiladas, fajitas, and plenty of traditional entrees being the stars of the menu. All of the sauces at El Potro Mexican Grill are made in house, and really put the classic dishes over the top with incredible flavor. If you’re in luck, you’ll catch a performance by the Mariachi Estampa de America for the final festive touch to your evening. El Potro Mexican Grill is open daily until 1 a.m.

Mighty Love Food, newly opened in downtown Boston, is a plant-based fast-casual eatery with a focus on nutrient-dense dishes like vegetable and grain bowls, sandwiches, and smoothies. 

Breakfast options include steel cut oats and grains with a choice of berries, maple syrup, granola, and other toppings. Lunch items feature curried tofu, roasted cauliflower, sumac-roasted pears, and vegetarian meatballs, which are available on bowls or sandwiches. Mighty Love Food also emphasizes scratch-made accompaniments for its dishes, including kimchi, pickles, sauces, and dressings. Try the popular Unburger consisting of a black bean and mushroom patty topped with lettuce, tomato, homemade ketchup, and homemade pickles.

Inside you’ll find a spacious dining area with a long communal table as well as window bar seating. Bright splashes of hot pink and orange with geometric shapes adds to the funky yet comfortable atmosphere. Visit Mighty Love Food on Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.