Indie Boston

Finish your trip by sampling chef Jeff Nace's upscale take on classic New England seafood at the warm and friendly Neptune Oyster, the best reason to visit the North End. Nace serves more than 22 types of oysters nightly with a wine list to match, providing the perfect starter to such locally sourced dishes as lobster spaghettini and North End cioppino, a traditional Italian fish and shellfish stew. Of course, if you must, such Nace standards as the Ipswich fried clams and the lobster rolls are certainly worth their cholesterol count.

Just don't follow them up with cannoli and cappuccino at nearby Mike's Pastry, where the Mercogliano family has been serving Italian sweets such as marzipan, gelato and pasticiotto since 1943. Or, okay, do.

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