Local musicians and a local vibe

Popular plate: Toad's menu consists of three items: the burger, the cheddar burger, and the veggie burger. All are good, but the veggie option (topped with pesto) is the best bet - even if you eat meat.

Many of Boston's so-called 'live music' bars are so crammed with boozed-up patrons that it can be hard to hear what's being performed. Not so at Toad, which proudly supports local performers and draws the area's music-lovers in droves. There's also a warm neighborhood feel here, with bartenders who engage you in conversations and a real cross-section of Cambridge locals filling the tables.

Performances range from emerging singer-songwriters to established soul and blues bands, and there's never a cover charge, making it an ideal venue to visit spontaneously.