"I think people are grateful that we are here," he added.

Boston Magazine also gave special recognition to some Harvard favorites. The magazine listed the defunct Tasty diner as a Boston Classic, eulogizing it as "the late, lamented, all-night greasy spoon, another victim of Harvard Square's decline into homogeneity." Harvard University and Yo-Yo Ma '76 were also declared "Boston Classics."

Four Harvard Square establishments--Up Stairs at the Pudding, Pho Pasteur, Alpha Omega, and Marathon Sports--were also given the magazine's Hall of Fame awards. That honor is given to establishments having won an award for three out of the past five years, according to John Strahinich, executive editor of Boston Magazine.

Other local winners in the food and restaurants category include Harvest for brunch, Casablanca for burgers, the Holyoke Center's Campo de' Fiori for fast food, Herrell's Ice Cream for frappes and Toscanini's for ice cream.

Harvard Square winners in the shopping category were Curious George Goes to Wordsworth for best children's bookstore, Tess for best designer clothing, the Cambridge Artists' Cooperative for best crafts and Out of Town News for best newsstand.

In the services category, Giuliana Ruotolo of Gino Salon won for best haircut.

Boston Magazine has been publishing the Best of Boston list--whose contents were selected this year by the editorial staff and a web-site vote--for the last 26 years.