(no subject)

[sylviarr.livejournal.com]

So one of my best friends and I want to go out to dinner with 6 other friends on Sunday to celebrate our birthdays.

We haven't quite picked out a restaurant yet...

I was just wondering if anyone could help us out. We need a restaurant that isn't so small that we would take up half of its space (8 people), good food, but not expensive because we're pretty broke. And I guess we're pretty much open to any kind of food. In the area of Davis/Porter/Harvard/Central is good.

Recommendations?

I've been trying to find places using yelp but there are so freakin many, it's daunting.

Thanks!

Comments

[x-bluerose-x.livejournal.com]

Christopher's in Porter Sq rocks and it's right on Mass Ave and near the Porter Sq T stop.

[exsplusohs.livejournal.com]

YES! Oh burgers, om nom nom nom..

[x-bluerose-x.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't know about the rest, but I know that their veggie burgers are insanely good.

[cos]

I've mostly been disappointed with Christopher's food, and only go there sometimes because they're open later than most other places, but you're right, the veggie burgers are good.

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

Christopher's was my first thought too.

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

You're probably going to get a lot of different recommendations here, too!

I'd second Christopher's and add Red Bones (BBQ), Hana Sushi, or Le's (formerly Pho Pasteur) as favorite places, depending on what I'm in the mood for.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

Le's is delicious. And cheap. And fantastic.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

But that's the beauty of Davis -- there are so freakin many! :-)

Lots of places can seat parties of 8. Johnny D's, Namascar, Redbones, Diva, The Burren, Orleans...

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Davis: Martsa on Elm (Tibetan food; just expanded!), Sagra (Italian)

Porter: Sugar and Spice on Mass Ave (Thai food, very yummy!)

Harvard: Cambridge 1 (fancy pizza), Wagamamma (good, though a mite overpriced), Charlie's Kitchen (eat upstairs with 8 people), Grafton Street (not cheap, but soooooo good)

Central: Tavern on the Square, the Middle East/Zuzu,

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Redbones. Another good one.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

There's a Tavern on the Square in Porter Square as well as the Central Square one.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Oh crap, forgot that too. I get an F.

I don't love either establishment, but they can both sit big parties.

[cos]

For Tibetan, I prefer House of Tibet in Teele Square (across from Rudy's and Solea), which I think is just as good as Martsa (or maybe a bit better) but costs a little less. It is smaller though.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to go there for, like, 10,000 years. I def have to check it out.

[ravenword.livejournal.com]

I love it there! :D

[cos]

(I meant "across from Rudy's and Sabur", oops)

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i disagree, since they changed management i have found them no where near as good as martsa

[ceo]

Sugar and Spice is yummy, but unless they've put some soft material on the walls since the last time I was there, it's INSANELY noisy when even remotely busy.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Temple Bar! They have yummy food and can seat large parties. Between Harvard and Porter on Mass. Ave.

Or how about Jose's? Delicious Tex-Mex with a few more authentic dishes thrown in, and awesome margaritas. On Sherman Street, slightly northwest of Porter Square.

Highland Kitchen, a bit of a walk down Highland St. from Davis Square, is supposed to be fantastic.

[ron_newman]

Namaskar?

Namaskar!

[firepail.livejournal.com]

The better Indian place in Davis, same side of the street as Diva but closer to the Citizen's Bank/Rosebud end of the street.

Re: Namaskar!

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

Really? I think Diva is definitely superior, food-wise.

Re: Namaskar!

[firepail.livejournal.com]

I know lots of people enjoy Diva, and I know restaurants have bad days, but my experiences at Diva were such that I would not return there. I found the service and food better at Namaskar. My favorite Indian restaurant is Punjab in Arlington, but the poster was looking for Davis/Porter/Harvard area.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Redbones is great for big groups. I went there with pierceheart and somewhere over a dozen other people for a post-promotion party, and they were SO COOL to us even though we were a large and rather loud group. They even stopped the boy on the way out because he hadn't noticed that a gratuity had already been added (they do that for huge parties), and had put money down for the tip on top of that. He was impressed enough by them pointing it out and asking if he wanted to change that, that he just said "keep it."

[cos]

The one thing I don't like about Redbones for groups this size is that it's too loud and the tables are standard lengthwise seating, so you end up only being able to talk to the few people next to you and are out of touch with the other half of the group at the other end of the table. Other than that, it's a pretty suitable place for this.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

i love rudy's in teele square for mexican (and they can accomodate large groups)

[cos]

Try Mary Chung, one of my favorite Chinese places. It's on Mass Ave in Central Square, just past the Middle East. They've got several large round tables in the back that can easily fit groups of 8, and they have plenty of 4-person booths and smaller round tables for everyone else :) It's pretty inexpensive, usual Chinese food price level, but they have some really good unusual dishes. It's also quiet enough that you can all hear each other, but isn't really a "quiet" place so no worries about talking.

I recommend the Chicken Velvet (kind of a cross between chicken and omelette), Suan La Chow Show (dumplings in hot sauce and ginger), and Yu Shiang Eggplant (available veggie or with shredded chicken).

try chowhound

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

I think the best recommendation is to do some research over at chowhound (http://www.chowhound.com/boards/12) where much of the area's dining intelligence resides; way way better than Yelp. If you can't find what you want, ask as they're pretty friendly over there. If you do, I would suggest you specify what you mean by "not very expensive" since my idea of cheap may be very different from yours.

[ravenword.livejournal.com]

I happen to love Sabur in Davis/Teele for special occasions. It's not ridiculously expensive but it's a step up the price scale from some other places in Davis. Their food is really tasty, the atmosphere is warm and comfy, and the service is... well, "relaxed," but friendly. I went there for a graduation dinner and it was fun with a group.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/]

Seconded, enthusiastically.

[aquaflame16.livejournal.com]

definitely great food and a nice atmosphere, so I would recommend it in general, definitely not "not expensive", so I would not recommend it to the OP.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

Porter towards Harvard: Cambridge Common can handle your party for cheap eats and drinks and there is a parking lot in the back, pricier fare is across the street at Chang Sho (also has a parking lot) but your party would be seated at one of the cool "lazy susan" tables for easy sharing. Temple Bar has atmosphere, but probably too pricey for what you are looking for.

Davis: Redbones! Or Alfresco is lots of decent food on the cheaper side, and although the place is smallish, it doesn't feel cramped when full. If you aren't looking for fancy food and crave a margarita, there is Rudy's in Teele Square.

For when you have a smaller party or are looking for delivery, Thai Kitchen on Mass Ave is excellent. It is near Pemberton's.