Restaurants, etc. near the Somerville Theatre

[fourish.livejournal.com]

I'm seeing a show at the Somerville Theatre soon, and I've only been to Davis Square once. I loved the area and would like to do a little exploring before the show. I know this comm is crawling with restaurant reviews, but can anyone recommend a good one within easy access to the theatre? Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, but a nice ambience for a small group would be cool.

Anywhere else (cool shops, strange landmarks, awesome places to park) within easy access of the theatre you can tell me about would also be greatly appreciated. (Is that cupcake shop anywhere nearby, perchance?) Apologies if this is the sort of thing that gets asked too often, but I just don't know the area well enough to figure out what goes where.

Thanks!

ETA: This community is amazing. You make me want to move to Somerville. :D

Comments

[ratushebarl.livejournal.com]

MOBA! It's right in the theater basement. http://museumofbadart.org

[fourish.livejournal.com]

Whoa!! I've been to the OTHER MOBA (the one in Dedham) but I had no idea it was in Somerville too...thanks, this is excellent news. :}

[jadasc.livejournal.com]

Kickass Cupcakes is about four blocks from the theatre, down Highland Avenue. Cross the star-shaped intersection so that you're on the corner with Mike's Restaurant and the blue shirt café, and walk down that street.

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

If you like Indian food, Diva and Namaskar (both on Elm St.) are pretty good. Martsa on Elm across the street serves Tibetan food. All of those are nice sit-down places and not particularly expensive.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I like Taipei Tokyo, a pan-Asian place just across the street from the theater.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

My favorite cool shop is Magpie, on Highland Avenue. I also love the basement of Goodwill on Elm.

[lissie930.livejournal.com]

Redbones for BBQ is good!

[elusiveat.livejournal.com]

I second the recommentation of Martsa. Very good food.

[ron_newman]

Sacco's Bowl-Haven is a nifty 1950s-throwback candlepin bowling alley.

Mr. Crepe is right in the theatre building. Maybe you'll want a dessert crepe before or after the show.

The Rosebud Diner is worth walking by at night when the neon sign is lit up.

[balsamicdragon.livejournal.com]

Snappy Sushi is right in the square on Highland. Best sushi in the area, and a really nice, cozy atmosphere :)

[ron_newman]

You could catch a show at Johnny D's after your show at the Somerville Theatre. Sometimes there are cross-promotions with discounted admission to the club.

[catling.livejournal.com]

Across the street from the theater is Taipei Tokyo, a Japanese/Chinese restaurant that is tiny, so it would only work well for a very small group, but the food is really quite good. They don't yet have a liquor license (not sure if that matters to you), but do allow you to bring in your own beer or wine if you wish. You can then stroll over to JP Licks for Ice Cream if you want. Another option which is right next to the theater is Mr. Crepe, which also has ice cream, iirc. They have a yummy selection of savory and sweet crepes, and the savory crepes are big enough to make a filling meal out of if you are so inclined.

If you keep going into the main drag of Davis Sq., Diesel is always a great place to hang out before or after a movie with a good range of hot and cold drinks, delicious soups and various sammiches, baked goods, etc. The people watching at Diesel tends to be fun.

There are, as you are aware, a ton of restaurants along Elm street and many of them are good, so it all depends on how much you want to spend and what you are in the mood for. Diva is good for Indian, Anna's Taqueria is really good and cheap. Gargoyle's is more upscale, with awesome froofy drinks.

The cupcake shop of which you speak is further away, down Highland Ave. I have not visited it but most of my friends that have were underwhelmed.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Thirded.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

For my money, the best place to eat in the square is Orleans. It's just up the block from the theater, the prices are decent, and the food's good. If you drink, try the White Russian!

[fenicedautun.livejournal.com]

Since everybody else is giving recommendations, I'll second Namaskar and add Out of the Blue (which is up Elm past Gargoyles) and serves Italian seafood.

[fenicedautun.livejournal.com]

I'll second Namaskar and add Out of the Blue (further down the street from Martsa's) which serves italian seafood.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'd no idea they have a basement. What kind of stuff is down there?

[moireach.livejournal.com]

I second this.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

If you'd like more recommendations, or a map of businesses in Davis, you might want to try playing around with the Davis listings on Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&ns=1&rpp=10&find_loc=Davis+Square).

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i'll third namaskar, i prefer them over Diva not because the food is particularly better (i think they are equally as good) but because i have always found the service to be better at namaskar.

(also, martsa is delicious, and has an awesome lunch buffet if you're in the area at the right time)

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

namaskar is indeed really good, but the service can be hit or miss - the first time i went, the service was so incredibly slow i was tempted to leave, but the second time, the service was great. but both times the food was excellent. it's not cheap-cheap but it won't break the bank.

redbones is also fabulous, but there might be a wait, depending on when you get there. the earlier you get there, the quicker you'll get seated, and weeknights are better than weekends. the bbq is fantastic, and it's just down the street from the theater. (walk away from the theater past the cvs and turn right at diva.) slightly cheaper than namaskar. big beer menu. really good pecan pie. (everyone who comes to visit me, i take them to redbones.)

the diesel is a good place for coffee/tea/cider and baked goods.

there's a metered parking lot behind the post office, and another one across the street from orleans.

[diatomacearth.livejournal.com]

The only time I've had sit-down service at Namaskar, the service was terrible--they took forever to bring drinks and food, when one of my party had to send back a dish because it contained an ingredient she was allergic to (not listed on the menu), they were sullen and slow about bringing the replacement, one of our party never got her dish at all, and the server's English was poor enough that she was unable to clearly explain why something appeared the way it did on the bill; the manager--who was present on the floor for the entire meal--had to come over and clear it up.

On the other hand, that was at lunch, and I've had better luck with their buffet. I got the impression that they did not expect a lunch party to take sit-down service instead of the buffet, and were confused and resentful about it.

Food was good, though!

[jodi.livejournal.com]

seconded. we have never had food that was less than excellent and the service has always been great here. this would be where i would schedule a dinner for a small group before a show if i wanted a full-service sit-down restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere

if i was looking for something more informal i would choose mr. crepe (see ron's link above). this has something for everyone, won't take a long time and is delicious. (note: if you've never been here before, you order and pay and get a number then sit down at your table and they will bring your order when it is done). this has a very cafe-feel to it.

i've been underwhelmed at kickass cupcakes (dry and small and overpriced)

we've been food poisoned at martsa (about a year ago, but still)

gargoyle's had great food and great service but there are more choices at orleans (and just slightly lower prices)

we've had great food at the italian place (possibly named 'al fresca') near kickass cupcakes. we were the only people there early on a weeknight.

diesel has dismal overpriced food and is always overcrowded but people seem to love it for its offbeat vibe despite these things.

[kidsmokes.livejournal.com]

I second this! lots of yummy beer too!

[sylviarr.livejournal.com]

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