The Cellar - View Single Post

atomic · 08-17-2004, 12:02 PM

For Eating (& Drinking):

The B Side in Cambridge just outside Central Square on Hampshire St. (Actually, there is a nice B&B somewhere on Hampshire street too. Can't remember the #, but it's a yellow house and probably only has 4 rooms or so. Anyway.) The B Side is a "diner" sort of with home-style food on the high end and excellent drinks, some with humor of a sort. Like, Shlitz in a can. It's laid back and all the waitstaff have tattoos everywhere. Not much attitude, though, I swear. It's packed on Friday nights and quieter on Saturday nights. It's a good place to actually meet people -- Boston is not a friendly town for the most part, but The B Side somehow lends itself to talking to strangers. Oh and they serve free hardboiled eggs with hot sauce as bar food. Smart.

The Enormous Room smack in Central Square, over Central Kitchen. Central Kitchen is good for a nice quiet low-light dinner and wine. The Enormous room is couches and rugs to sit on with a DJ on weekends at least. They have middle eastern style food. The menu says "trust us" as they do not give too many details. Trust them. It is good. They used to have a hostess (not sure if she's still there) that was fun to watch. She'd pranch around in absurdly short mod dresses and bend over a lot. All eyes on her ass is pretty funny.

Pho Republique on Washington St. Good red mood lighting in the gay area of town. People are friendly and very, very drunk. They have OMG the Best ribs in Boston (it's an appetizer) and if you're lucky, the cold noodle and tuna meal is to die for. The drinks are pricey but damn fine. Raspberry Lime Rickeys and Lemongrass martinis.

To see some "real" Cambridge, drive by (or even go into) The Middle East which is also in Central Square. Seeing as I've spent exactly 3 minutes on this site so far, I have no idea what kind of person you are, so I can only tell you what I think of the place. It's got three stages for bands from tiny tiny to rather biggish in the basement. The clientele is sort of hilarious in a Trying Way To Hard kind of way. They all think they are being individual in matching black hair dye with short short bangs and whatever. It's not a friendly place to hang out so much, far too much attitude. But they do serve food and if you're looking to see some live music, this is the place. (Or TT The Bear's, which is right around the corner and has the same sorts of folks.) I'm too old to put up with it, but it's out there.

In Harvard Square, There is The Hong Kong which is Cheesy done just right. Go upstairs to the bar, do NOT eat in the restaurant on the first floor. The bar is 1/2 Keno bar, 1/2 hilarious with scorpion bowls for two. (Also do not bother with The Hong Kong in Faneuil Hall. See below.)

Also in Harvard Square, there is Mrs. Bartley’s Burgers which is a college hang-out (for Harvard) but they have like 40 different burgers to choose from so it’s worth the squeeze.

As someone who lives here, I'll give it to you straight: Boston is not all that. It's uptight, even if it is mostly Democratic, and it's obnoxious. Everything on Newbury St. is overrated as far as food goes, (and in general, if you ask me) especially if they have outdoor seating. Legal Seafood? Also totally overrated. Faneuil Hall is only for tourists and people who call Boston "Beantown." The bar scene downtown tends to be sort of uptight deodorized career girls and their frat boys, especially on Friday nights. I really recommend going to Cambridge instead, but you might want to pop into Top Of The Hub downtown (it’s a restaurant on the top floor of a high rise that sways if the wind is strong enough, or if the martinis are strong enough) for a $15 martini and to see the view.

However, Chinatown has some good spots for fast-paced Dim Sum and the grocery stores there are Sweet. Also, if you are interested in shopping at all, pack a snack and some water and wear comfortable shoes. Hop of the T and head to Park Street. Get out, cross the street and follow the people to Filene's. Go DOWNSTAIRS. To Filene's Basement. If you are willing to look, you can find all the clothes they have on Newbury St. plus a ton more and better for 1/2 and more off. Filene's Basement and Mashall's are the only places I shop for clothes.

What else. Don't stay in Revere. You will feel like you are a million miles out of town. Shoot for Cambridge or Brookline and you’ll be able to find a nice little B&B and not be far from the city at all. (Although, warning, Brookline is on The Green Line of the T, which is the oldest running line in the Country and BOY CAN YOU TELL. Most of it is above ground and it stops at every intersection. Painful and slow.)

Now. You say you want some history while you are here, and I guess for that you are coming to the right town. We do have The Freedom Trail but if you ask me, SNORE. Apparently The Duck Tours are fun. You can catch one on Boylston St. which is one street over parallel to Newbury St. at Copley. They are ½ land, ½ water tours. We also have The Museum of Bad Art somewhere.

If you feel like getting out of the city at all, there is always Salem, which is a 25 minute commuter rail ride (from North Station on the T maps). Salem actually seems to have a lot more to offer tourists than Boston. They have witch tours and houses and museums and pirate museums and The House of Seven Gables. It’s cute and slower than downtown Boston and you won’t feel cramped for space. We just bought a house and moved there and we’re loving it. The high school’s signage has a witch on a broomstick and there’s a Dairy Queen that is actually The Dairy Witch and that signage also has a witch on a broomstick, holding a soft-serve.

I’ll shut up now. Thanks for listening.

08-17-2004, 12:02 PM	#11
atomic Neophyte-in-training Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 3	For Eating (& Drinking): The B Side in Cambridge just outside Central Square on Hampshire St. (Actually, there is a nice B&B somewhere on Hampshire street too. Can't remember the #, but it's a yellow house and probably only has 4 rooms or so. Anyway.) The B Side is a "diner" sort of with home-style food on the high end and excellent drinks, some with humor of a sort. Like, Shlitz in a can. It's laid back and all the waitstaff have tattoos everywhere. Not much attitude, though, I swear. It's packed on Friday nights and quieter on Saturday nights. It's a good place to actually meet people -- Boston is not a friendly town for the most part, but The B Side somehow lends itself to talking to strangers. Oh and they serve free hardboiled eggs with hot sauce as bar food. Smart. The Enormous Room smack in Central Square, over Central Kitchen. Central Kitchen is good for a nice quiet low-light dinner and wine. The Enormous room is couches and rugs to sit on with a DJ on weekends at least. They have middle eastern style food. The menu says "trust us" as they do not give too many details. Trust them. It is good. They used to have a hostess (not sure if she's still there) that was fun to watch. She'd pranch around in absurdly short mod dresses and bend over a lot. All eyes on her ass is pretty funny. Pho Republique on Washington St. Good red mood lighting in the gay area of town. People are friendly and very, very drunk. They have OMG the Best ribs in Boston (it's an appetizer) and if you're lucky, the cold noodle and tuna meal is to die for. The drinks are pricey but damn fine. Raspberry Lime Rickeys and Lemongrass martinis. To see some "real" Cambridge, drive by (or even go into) The Middle East which is also in Central Square. Seeing as I've spent exactly 3 minutes on this site so far, I have no idea what kind of person you are, so I can only tell you what I think of the place. It's got three stages for bands from tiny tiny to rather biggish in the basement. The clientele is sort of hilarious in a Trying Way To Hard kind of way. They all think they are being individual in matching black hair dye with short short bangs and whatever. It's not a friendly place to hang out so much, far too much attitude. But they do serve food and if you're looking to see some live music, this is the place. (Or TT The Bear's, which is right around the corner and has the same sorts of folks.) I'm too old to put up with it, but it's out there. In Harvard Square, There is The Hong Kong which is Cheesy done just right. Go upstairs to the bar, do NOT eat in the restaurant on the first floor. The bar is 1/2 Keno bar, 1/2 hilarious with scorpion bowls for two. (Also do not bother with The Hong Kong in Faneuil Hall. See below.) Also in Harvard Square, there is Mrs. Bartley’s Burgers which is a college hang-out (for Harvard) but they have like 40 different burgers to choose from so it’s worth the squeeze. As someone who lives here, I'll give it to you straight: Boston is not all that. It's uptight, even if it is mostly Democratic, and it's obnoxious. Everything on Newbury St. is overrated as far as food goes, (and in general, if you ask me) especially if they have outdoor seating. Legal Seafood? Also totally overrated. Faneuil Hall is only for tourists and people who call Boston "Beantown." The bar scene downtown tends to be sort of uptight deodorized career girls and their frat boys, especially on Friday nights. I really recommend going to Cambridge instead, but you might want to pop into Top Of The Hub downtown (it’s a restaurant on the top floor of a high rise that sways if the wind is strong enough, or if the martinis are strong enough) for a $15 martini and to see the view. However, Chinatown has some good spots for fast-paced Dim Sum and the grocery stores there are Sweet. Also, if you are interested in shopping at all, pack a snack and some water and wear comfortable shoes. Hop of the T and head to Park Street. Get out, cross the street and follow the people to Filene's. Go DOWNSTAIRS. To Filene's Basement. If you are willing to look, you can find all the clothes they have on Newbury St. plus a ton more and better for 1/2 and more off. Filene's Basement and Mashall's are the only places I shop for clothes. What else. Don't stay in Revere. You will feel like you are a million miles out of town. Shoot for Cambridge or Brookline and you’ll be able to find a nice little B&B and not be far from the city at all. (Although, warning, Brookline is on The Green Line of the T, which is the oldest running line in the Country and BOY CAN YOU TELL. Most of it is above ground and it stops at every intersection. Painful and slow.) Now. You say you want some history while you are here, and I guess for that you are coming to the right town. We do have The Freedom Trail but if you ask me, SNORE. Apparently The Duck Tours are fun. You can catch one on Boylston St. which is one street over parallel to Newbury St. at Copley. They are ½ land, ½ water tours. We also have The Museum of Bad Art somewhere. If you feel like getting out of the city at all, there is always Salem, which is a 25 minute commuter rail ride (from North Station on the T maps). Salem actually seems to have a lot more to offer tourists than Boston. They have witch tours and houses and museums and pirate museums and The House of Seven Gables. It’s cute and slower than downtown Boston and you won’t feel cramped for space. We just bought a house and moved there and we’re loving it. The high school’s signage has a witch on a broomstick and there’s a Dairy Queen that is actually The Dairy Witch and that signage also has a witch on a broomstick, holding a soft-serve. I’ll shut up now. Thanks for listening. Last edited by atomic; 08-17-2004 at 12:11 PM.