Little Tao

Little Tao on Commonwealth Avenue serves Sichuan cooking from chef Tao Liu, whose background is in Chengdu. The menu offers both individual noodle meals and larger dishes for sharing. Tao Tao noodles combine minced pork and beans in chili sauce, while Sichuan beef noodle soup and tomato-and-egg noodle soup give you different ways to order a bowl.

For a table of friends, look at dishes such as twice-cooked pork belly, fish with pickled vegetables, or the whole grilled fish. The vegetable section includes vegetarian mapo tofu, eggplant and stir-fried cabbage. A few cold dishes can break up a meal of hotter, heavier plates. Little Tao is at 1153 Commonwealth Avenue, and takes reservations by phone. Its own menu marks meatless dishes, which helps when choosing several plates for a mixed group.