The 51-year-old North End branch Daily intakewhere they toss seafood pasta into pots from the open kitchen and shout orders with all the charm of the RMV, is cacophonous and cupboard-sized. It’s also absolutely delicious. Luckily, you have a much better chance of tasting this briny squid ink pasta when you’re dining alone. Arrive when the doors open at 11 a.m., grab a table facing the street and bring a book; last time I was there, I saw a guy making serious progress on “A Gentleman in Moscow.” 323 Hanover Street, Boston, www.thedailycatch.com

Recently, a friend recalled an outing to James in Needham: there was a long wait and only one table was available for a group who had arrived early. A guy dining alone while his wife was out with friends was about to leave defeated when the winning table invited him to pull up a chair. The strangers ended up sharing a fabulous dinner together. It’s the sociable spirit that prevails here, supported by a menu of salmon pâté, warm soda bread and sausage rolls with HP brown sauce, sized for one person. If you can’t escape your family, there is a children’s menu. There is also a site in Essex. 1027 Great Plain Ave., Needham and 55 Main St., Essex, www.thejamespub.com

Maybe the idea of ​​dining alone makes you cringe, but you also don’t want to chat with people you actually know. Consider: On Wednesdays, Krasi hosts a casual wine symposium at its 15-seat bar starting at 5 p.m., offering individual reservations. Sommelier and Greek wine expert Evan Turner discusses his favorite Greek wines. Learn something new while sipping and savoring snacks designed for you: dips, charcuterie, Greek cheese wedges for $8 and up. 48 Gloucester Street, Boston, www.krasiboston.com

Few restaurants have their own library, but Lehrhaus is the exception: The Jewish tavern, lounge, and event space offer plenty of books to browse, as well as a friendly bar reserved for walk-ins. Owner Charlie Schwartz recommends the corner seat by the brick wall: a great vantage point to admire the open kitchen while sipping Roman Holidays of olive oil gin and artichoke vermouth. 425 Washington Street, Somerville, www.lehr.haus

Because it is a hotel restaurant (inside the Porter Square Hotel), Margeaux Supper Parlor welcomes many solo travelers. And so the appeal here, in addition to the excellent Southern-tinged cuisine, is small portions of soups and main dishes. Order a three-course flight – beef Wellington, pumpkin ravioli, silky shrimp and grits – and pretend to share with a crowd. Or simply devour a quartet of their majestic deviled eggs, each topped with a plump fried oyster in one bite. 1924 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, www.margeauxsupperparlor.com

This new pub in Dorchester has many advantages: a starred Irish chef (Aidan McGeeof the Dubliner in Government Centre, formerly the Truscott Arms in London, where he received plaudits for his Sunday roasts); multiple experiences under one roof (live music and a large dining room downstairs; plenty of TVs showing European sports; a quieter pub upstairs); and private whiskey lockers allowing regulars to purchase and store their bottles on site, away from prying eyes and the lips of family. Also important: a menu of fortifying snacks, from fried shrimp crackers with curry sauce to cheese croquettes with truffle mayonnaise. 367 Neponset Avenue, Dorchester, www.mcgonagles.com

Dive into this shimmering bar-style cavern of double-top tables and calming green booths after a day wandering Newbury Street, ideally between 4pm and 6pm, before the crowds descend. Saltie’s menu lends itself to self-care snacks: toast tartare, a small seafood tower for one, and a range of solo-sized canned fish. Sometimes it’s best to eat sardines in private. 279 Dartmouth Street, Boston, www.saltiegirl.com

Dark, warm, wintry: Season to Taste gives off a solo traveler vibe, aided by a craft cocktail bar that serves a full dinner menu (owner Robert Harris took inspiration from New York restaurateur Danny’s Union Square Café Meyer). The bartenders are chatty if you want them to be, but definitely know when to back off if you’re in the mood. In January, they’ll start serving smaller versions of their entrees, so single guests can more easily order a taste of multiple dishes. Cut up a cheddar-thyme biscuit and a Scottish duck egg and forget your troubles. 1678 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, www.seasontotaste.com

Chef-owner Evan Deluty has moved Stella, once a Southeastern Italian sensation with a serious bar scene, to his hometown of Newton. You’ll still find the same sublime Italian cuisine – hearty bolognese, arancini crunchier than your least favorite visiting relative’s – but now with a café-style ambiance. Stop by between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. for a $7 appetizer menu with a glass of wine. Unlike the South End, parking is also easy. 549 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, www.stellanewtoncentre.com

Kara Baskin can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her @kcbaskin.