Handsome, all-purpose neighborhood lounge provides J.P. residents with a welcoming spot for upscale comfort fare. - Gerrish Lopez
Befitting its Jamaica Plain home, the Alchemist attracts a widely mixed crowd of young area residents, all of whom drink and dine amid exposed-brick walls and minor Gothic touches. More than a dozen beers are served on tap and there's a small but well-chosen wine list. The kitchen adds life to familiar favorites: chicken salad is made with fresh sage, caramelized onions and cranberries, while shepherd's pie is made with slow-roasted beef and lamb.