Brisket (or chicken) in the basket

Takeout from Soul Fire looks pretty. The Allston barbecue spot piles ribs, brisket, chicken, and sides into attractive brown cardboard boxes lined in green and white checked tissue. It's a nice touch, a level of attention that hopefully will soon extend to the ribs, which can be tough. But if the ribs are lacking, the brisket and chicken deliver. A hickory-smoked half chicken ($8 with two sides) was tender and flavorful; ditto the sliced brisket ($10.50) dunked in vinegary sauce. Tasting the various sides produced a range of emotions from fear of the mac and cheese, to ambivalence about the potato salad, to happiness over the collard greens. Soul Fire Barbecue, 182 Harvard Ave., Allston, 617-787-3003. -- LEIGH BELANGER

Administering the prescribed dosa

Dhosa, dosai, dosa: Any way you spell it, it's not surprising this savory South Indian crepe is "one of the most popular snacks in India," as Maya Kaimal MacMillan writes in "Curried Favors." The giant crepe, which can make a meal in itself, is made from a batter of lentils and rice crushed into a paste and left to ferment overnight, giving it a sourdough flavor. The dosa is cooked on a griddle and, in American restaurants, usually filled and served like a loosely rolled-up diploma, extending off the edges of the plate. Traditional accompaniments include sambar, a soupy, spicy , yellow split-pea sauce, and a coconut chutney blended with coriander and sometimes mint. Fillings include a potato mixture, called masala dosa, or saucy chicken, lamb, and tomatoes. Dosas have become so popular in Boston - area restaurants that Indian eateries, even if they're not South Indian, often feature them as part of their menus. The Bombay Mahal in Waltham has great made-to-order dosas that are worth waiting for ; they come piping hot to the table. They also offer a paper dosa, the same crepe, but super-thin and extra crispy. Bombay Mahal Restaurant, 458 Moody St., Waltham, 781-893-9988. -- DEBRA SAMUELS

Tea shop’s got a brand-new bag

New Civilitea is a tea shop but more than just a shop, the way tea is more than just a hot beverage. "Tea is part of your daily life," says co-owner Lynn Potoff. "Tea means you sit back and relax." Responding primarily to customer requests, Potoff stocks 80 teas from around the world. Those included a Cupid's tea in February (a Ceylon black with chocolate flavoring and pink rose petals ) and a holiday blend in December (black tea with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg). The shop's retail space includes finds like a pot that comes with its own infuser to simplify brewing, and coasters made from tea bags that have been dried and decorated with artwork by South African women. In-house events at the spacious shop include Tea Bingo, brewing seminars, art openings, and workshops on "designing your life to be easy." It's more than a tea shop, indeed. New Civilitea, 318 Derby St., Salem, 978-740-2832. -- CATHY HUYGHE

Pop art

Bartenders at Ginseng Restaurant & Lounge in Framingham have been whipping up plenty of Chinese Firecrakers in recent weeks in honor of the Year of the Pig, which started Jan. 18. The drink, made with Malibu coconut rum, strawberry liqueur, and sour mix, comes in a martini glass rimmed with Pop Rocks candy. The $8 drink is "sweet, but cracks in your mouth," says Daniel Yee, a manager. His sister, Connie, first started serving the Chinese Firecracker at her venerable China Blossom restaurant in North Andover, and brought it over to Ginseng, which features pan-Asian dishes and a jazzy club atmosphere. The Firecracker started off as a specialty drink, but it proved so popular that the family plans to keep it on both menus year - round, Yee says. Ginseng Restaurant & Lounge, 220 Worcester Road (Route 9 east), Framingham , 508-620-0102. ginsengframingham.com -- ERICA NOONAN