Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MODERATE
Bombay Club INDIAN This second-floor spot overlooking Harvard Square
gained fame through its lunch buffet, a generous assortment of some of the best items
on the menu. The buffet's reasonable price and the lively scene make midday the best
time to dine here. At all times, the food is flavorful and fresh, with yogurt and cheese
made in-house daily. The family-run restaurant, in business since 1991, serves a broad
selection of typical dishes from across the subcontinent—Bombay fish curry, a lamb
specialty from Delhi, Kerala-style grilled shrimp, numerous vegetarian selections. The
breads, baked to perfection in a traditional charcoal-fired clay oven, and the lamb
offerings are especially tasty. The “chef 's recommendations,” platters of assorted meat
or vegetarian dishes, make good samplers if you're new to the cuisine or can't make up
your mind. If grazing isn't your thing, rogan josh (lamb in garlicky tomato sauce) and
fiery chicken, lamb, or shrimp vindaloo all merit full portions.
57 John F. Kennedy St. & 617/661-8100. www.bombayclub.com. Lunch buffet $9 Mon-Fri, $12 Sat-Sun; main
courses $5-$9 at lunch, $9-$18 at dinner. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-11pm (lunch until 3pm). Discounted park-
ing available. T: Red Line to Harvard.
Border Café TEX-MEX/CAJUN When you first see the Border Café, your
thoughts might turn to, of all people, baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra. He suppos-
edly said, “Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded.” Yogi was talking about a
New York nightclub, but people have been saying the same thing about this Harvard
Square hangout since 1987. Patrons loiter at the bar for hours, enhancing the festival
atmosphere. Many are waiting to be seated for generous portions of tasty (if not com-
pletely authentic) food. The menu features Tex-Mex, Cajun, and Caribbean special-
ties, with plenty of vegetarian options, and the beleaguered staff keeps the chips—
fried after you order them—and fresh house-made salsa coming. When you shout
your order over the roar of the crowd, try an excellent chorizo appetizer, enchiladas
(Gulf coast seafood is particularly delectable), any kind of tacos, or popcorn shrimp.
Fajitas for one or two, sizzling noisily, are also a popular choice. Set aside a couple of
hours, get into a party mood, and ask to be seated downstairs if you want to be able
to hear your companions. Tip for parents: Although there's no children's menu, this
place is great for kids—even the risk-averse will devour chips—but only if you eat
early (you do that anyway, right?).
32 Church St. & 617/864-6100. www.bordercafe.com. Reservations not accepted. Main courses $7-$18. AE, MC,
V. Daily 11am-11pm. T: Red Line to Harvard.
INEXPENSIVE
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage AMERICAN Great burgers and the best
onion rings in the world make Bartley's a perennial favorite with a cross-section of
Cambridge. In increasingly generic Harvard Square, it's a beacon of originality.
Value
Sweet-Tooth Alert
As a rule, nonfranchise businesses that carve out a niche in Harvard Square do
one thing and do it extremely well. Case in point: L.A. Burdick Chocolates, 52D
Brattle St., Cambridge ( & 617/491-4340; www.burdickchocolate.com; T: Red
Line to Harvard). The amazing confections include sublime hot chocolate to
stay or go.
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