Between the smoking bans and the midnight closing times, its clear that the Puritans have a deathgrip on Massachusetts' dining industry. Don't despair! While we can't help you light up at the table (try Connecticut), we're proud to present our guide to chowing down when you're Up Too Late.

We haven't been to all of these places, and a restaurant's appearance here does not equal an endorsement.

The only late-night bite we officially warn against is actually about an hour outside Boston: the 24-hour Denny's in Leominster. We don't expect gourmet fare from the institution that brought us "Moon Over My Hammy," but we do expect slightly more flavor than "none." UTL hates bland food.

That being said, on to the Up Too Late Dining Guide. (For your convenience, we've filed Allston, Jamaica Plain, and South Boston separately).

Allston

Riley's Roast Beef
open 'til: 3am
cuisine: roast beef, we presume
140 Brighton Ave (corner of Brighton and Harvard)
(617) 254-9592

Boston

The Blue Diner
hours: possibly 24-hours
cuisine: okay diner food. You know the kind.
150 Kneeland Street (behind South Station)
(617) 338-4639

Bova's Bakery
open 24 hours
cuisine: Italian pastry yumminess
134 Salem Street (North End)
(617) 523-5601
Dan says: "Italian bakery in the North End. Need we say more?"

Buzzy's Fabulous Roast Beef
open 24 hours
cuisine: roast beef sandwiches
327 Cambridge St (near the Charles/MGH T stop)
(617) 242-7722
Jen says: "I vomited all over Kenmore Square after a meal here, but it IS open all night."

Cafi Pompei
open 'til: 4am
cuisine: Italian
280 Hanover Street (North End)
(617) 523-9438

Chau Chow Restaurant
open 'til: 2am weekdays, 4am weekends
cuisine: Chinese
52 Beach Street (Chinatown)
(617) 426-6266
Dan warns you not to confuse this place with the Grand Chow Chow restaurant across the street. (We don't know which one is better)

Curious Liquids
open 'til: 2am
cuisine: coffee, but they also serve sandwiches.
Motto: "More than a Coffee House...more than a Tea House...It's a Liquid Lounge!"
22-B Beacon Street (across from the State House)
(617) 720-2836
Jen says: "The three drastically different rooms ensure that there's an atmosphere for everyone. Even our friend Mike, who hates 'pretentious coffeehouses,' liked this place."

Deli Haus
open 'til: 3am
cuisine: deli sandwiches, breakfast all day, good chili cheese fries, and a huge vanilla-ice-cream/French-toast meal that will kick your butt, Dr. Brown's sodas
motto: "We don't need no stinkin' sleep!"
476 Commonwealth Ave (Kenmore Square)
(617) 247-9712
Up Too Late says: This is a stereotypical college dive, in a basement in the middle of a college-y square, with trendy music and disinterested punk waitstaff. We love it. Go there now.

Division Sixteen
open 'til: 2am
955 Boylston St
(617) 353-0870

Dynasty Restaurant
open 'til: 4am
cuisine: Chinese
33 Edinboro Street (Chinatown)
(617) 350-7777

East Ocean City
open 'til: between 3 and 4am, depending on the day
cuisine: tasty Chinese seafood
25-29 Beach St (Chinatown)
(617) 542-2504
Jen says: "Not for vegetarians or the squeamish -- prepare to encounter tanks of live seafood on your way to the table."

Franklin Cafe
open 'til: 2am
cuisine: slightly upscale South End food
278 Shawmut Ave (South End)
(617) 350-0010

Ginza Japanese Restaurant
open 'til: 2am Monday and Sunday; 4am other days
cuisine: sushi. Jen has been to their other, closed-too-early location in Brookline and found it quite tasty.
16 Hudson St (Chinatown)
(617) 338-2261

IHOP (aka International House of Pancakes)
open 24 hours
cuisine: breakfast. C'mon, you've been to IHOP before.
Brighton
Dan says: "An IHOP worthy of the name." (see below) Weary yet tolerant waitstaff serve nocturnal college students.

IHOP
open 'til: 3?
Kenmore Square
Up Too Late says: "Why bother when you can go to Deli Haus?"

Moon Villa
open 'til: 4am
cuisine: Chinese
19 Edinboro Street (Chinatown)
(617) 423-2061

Pour House
open 'til: 2am
cuisine: cheap but tasty burgers, just plain cheap beer
907 Boylston Street (across the street from the Hynes Convention Center)
(617) 236-1767
Jen says: "Anywhere they don't bother offering you a glass to drink your beer out of is my kind of dive."

Sweetwater Cafe
open 'til: 2am
cuisine: Tex-Mex
3 Boylston Place (off Boylston Street, in the Theater District)
(617) 357-7027

Cambridge

Hi Fi Pizza
open 'til: 3?
Central Square

Middle East
open 'til: 2 a.m. Thursday - Saturday
cuisine: middle eastern
472 Mass Ave (Central Square)
(617) 354-8238

Tommy's House of Pizza
open 'til: 3am
cuisine: pizza
49 Mount Auburn Street (Harvard Square)
(617) 497-4849

Jamaica Plain

Doyle's
open 'til: 2am
cuisine: pub food
motto: "Since 1882, Boston's Best Neighborhood Bar"
3484 Washington Street
(617) 524-2345

Somerville

Dolly's
hours: 11pm to 4am weekends, til 5am weekdays
cuisine: greasy-spoon
382 Highland Ave (off Davis Square)
(617)628-0888
Dan says: "Breakfast food: two thumbs up. Sirloin tips: avoid."
Jen says: "Not always worth the wait on weekend night, but what else is there to do at night in Somerville? ;) " *flees mobs of angry Davis Square residents*

South Boston

Ethel and Andy's Sandwich Shop
hours: Opens at 4:30 a.m.!
134 K Street
(617)268-3027

Watertown

New Yorker Diner
hours: 11pm to 4am
cuisine: breakfast
39 Mount Auburn Street
(617)924-9772

Pat's Diner
11 North Beacon Street
(617) 924-9872