• Devra First pays a visit to Bina, which has gone through several chefs over the years. Dante alum Will Foden’s menu is “hearty but not heavy, balancing rich and light.” Skip the “fishy” tomato-braised octopus; a safer bet is “rustic” tortellini with smoked hen ragu and walnut sauce. In sum: “If this review were a movie, the restaurant would be the beautiful girl who would date the nerdy guy if only he’d work up the courage to go talk to her.” And take her out to dinner at Bina. [Globe]
• Robert Nadeau reflects on 2011 for the Phoenix: He names Somerville’s Journeyman “Restaurant of the Year” (it’s “locavore and sci-fi at the same time”) and hails the weird “fried stinky tofu with pickle” at Gourmet Dumpling House. [Phoenix]
• East Boston’s Dough is laid-back and psychedelic. Don’t even think of eating the beer-battered onion rings without the intriguingly named “boom boom” sauce; the curried chicken salad sandwich draws raves. [Globe]
• MC Slim JB rounds up the city’s best cheap eats. On his year-end hit list: Eastie’s La Frontera, Saugus’s Victor’s, and Allston’s Roast Beast. [Phoenix]
• Richard Chudy says that Bon Chon’s chicken is “the best fried chicken I’ve ever had, despite a hefty price tag. Note: The spicy version isn’t for the faint of heart (or stomach). [Boston]
