Watertown
THE GOODS Sticky-sweet baklava flavored with rosewater and cardamom. Imported olives still clinging to the vine. Middle Eastern flatbreads speckled with ground lamb. Tangy grape leaves, salty Turkish and Syrian cheeses, and heaping bins of dried fruits and nuts, from sour cherries to honey-glazed pecans. This is the culinary cornucopia that awaits you in Watertown's Coolidge Square, a vibrant stretch of Mount Auburn Street known as "Little Armenia" for its abundance of ethnic grocers and produce markets. It is the epicenter of this community's rich Armenian heritage, and it has remained central to the town's identity. Food in general seems to define this cozy suburb. Other culinary travels include the Deluxe Town Diner, famous for its sweet potato pancakes and challah French toast; the Danish Pastry House, a European bakery selling ethereal treats like cinnamon brioche and frangipane tortes; and La Casa de Pedro, serving Venezuelan fare in a festive dining room.
PROS After rising steeply at the early part of the decade, home prices here are in retreat, and Watertown prides itself on being an affordable alternative to its neighbors. Many neighborhoods sport graceful, older homes of solid construction. The large stock of two-family homes has offered a ready supply of either rental housing or condo conversions. With bus service and major roadways nearby, Watertown has excellent proximity to downtown Boston and Harvard Square, and it's just a short commute to the high-tech employment belt around Route 128. Its ethnic and cultural diversity gives Watertown a rich local appeal. Its location near the Charles River means recreational opportunities, including fishing and kayaking, are easily available. There's plenty of opportunity for recreational shopping, too, whether in cozy Watertown Square or at the chain stores in the Arsenal Mall.
CONS Though cheaper than Cambridge or Belmont, housing prices here are still a bit steep for entry-level buyers. Condos offer a lower-cost alternative. House lots are also typically smaller and Watertown's neighborhoods more densely packed. And its schools, while respected, don't have the cachet of those in several neighboring towns.
SACHA PFEIFFER 