Moving

[viellen]

Hey everyone! I'm moving to Davis Square in a couple weeks and I'm psyched, but also totally clueless about Somerville. I've got a couple Q's to start with. What are some of your personal favorite restaurants, shops, and fun spots to hang out? I realize this probably gets asked a lot, so sorry if you're sick of that question. Also, and odder, who's the best company up there to go with for gas? This is the first place I've lived in that uses gas heat and I'm not sure which companies have the best rates but are also reliable...so who do you like and who do you hate? Finally, and possibly most importantly, which restaurants deliver? Thanks so much for any advice you can give!

[Edit: Thank you guys SO MUCH!!! If I had more time I'd send personal shout-outs, but all those answers totally rock my world! THANKS!!!]

Comments

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Keyspan covers the whole region for gas heat, so I don't think that you have any alternative. Sorry.

My favorite food in the area: Namaskar (Indian) and Sabur (Mediterranean), although that's more at Teele Square. Bars, well, mostly my VFW...but I like Sligo as well.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I use N*Star for Gas...

My favourite places depend, of course, on mood...but Picante, Anna's (mexican), Redbone's (bbq - delivers), the little places in the Porter Exchange Mall (mostly japanese), Cinderella's (pizza - delivers), Zoe's (chinese - delivers) and Koreana (Korean - actually in Cambridge; the same people own the Reliable Market in Union Sq., which is the largest Korean market in MA) are at the tops. Toad (across Mass Ave from Porter Sq. is a tiny bar with free live music 7 nights a week...)

[dirty-devlin.livejournal.com]

it depends on where you live in somerville. i'm only a few blocks from davis and nstar is my only option...but so far i've had no complaints with them.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

For my part, my favorite bar is Joshua Tree, and my favorite restaurants are Redbones, Namaskar, and Soliel Cafe up in Teele Square.

[csbermack.livejournal.com]

campusfood.com has online delivery forms for a bunch of restaurants; choose "tufts" from the dropdown, and you'll probably be close enough to most places to get the delivery. Also, tuftslife.com/dining has things listed.

Lots and lots and lots of restaurants deliver around davis.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

Top restaurants? I like Namaskar and the Tibetan place across the street from it. (Namaskar is just as tasty as Diva and less expensive.) Coffeeshops? Diesel has the benefit of pool tables but you can never ever find a seat! I prefer True Grounds which is actually in Ball Square (on Broadway) for their great food, great music, and free internet. Both Urban Gourmet (pizza) and East Asia (chinese/thai) deliver and are both tres yummy!

As for heat, it really is worth it to sign up for MassEnergy. (www.massenergy.com) They negotiate bulk rates for heating oil and for $15 annual fee you get a good deal on oil and they tell you who to call for your neighborhood. Or do you mean gas, in which case it's all NStar around here.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

Well, I have allergies and am kind of a picky eater, so I'm not the best to ask, but if you're of the carnivorous bent, Redbones (good BBQ) must be tried, and Kelly's Diner (in Ball Square) has some decent breakfast.
Also, look at Citysearch (http://boston.citysearch.com/search?x=31&y=7&init_search=1&context=restaurants&miles=2&pre_geo_id2=&query=&constrained=on&cslink=cs_topbar_search&pre_csz=&pre_geo_id1=&store_where_for_comparison=somerville,%20MA&hotelAttraction=&started=1) for more restaurant reviews.

Davis is great for hanging out--come to Diesel Cafe some evening to check out the crowd and have a soy chai.

[aslant.livejournal.com]

i have nstar, too. but unless you own the entire building/house, i don't know if you'll get to choose who provides the gas. it depends on whoever the landlord has already chosen, it's not individual to each apartment as far as i know.

if you are an early riser, the diesel is an excellent place to get some work done, but don't plan on finding a seat after 10am on the weekends. if you are into tea, the someday cafe has a very good selection.

i highly recommend the new restaurant in davis square, sauce. for a light meal it is reasonable (tapas-sized plates, 2-4 for a full meal) but as a place for drinks with good appetizers i don't think you can find better for the price. excellent food.

[catalyst.livejournal.com]

     the best delivery options are marco's or urban gourmet for calzones/pizza/pasta, suger & spice or smile thai for thai, new asia for gwai-lo chinese, and dimio for when you really crave expensive thin crust gourmet pizza with duck on top.

     others may disagree, but they are wrong. :)

     many of these places don't spam their menus around very much; it's worth going through the phone book and ordering blind the first time around in order to get your hands on a menu.

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

i order from dragon garden (chinese) about once a week, they deliver really fast and have the best crab rangoons i've ever had in my life. redbones is great oo, both for food and delivery. anna's taqueria rocks for cheap mexican, and if you want a nice night out, orleans or gargoyles is the way to go.

and does anyone know if the crepe place by johnny d's is still open? i went there once, loved the food, and couldn't find it again. *embarrassed grin*

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I heard it lost its lease, because Dave's Fresh Pasta wanted to expand.

[dj-daeva.livejournal.com]

i think it just closed down recently :o(

<3

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

It lost its lease because Dave's Fresh Pasta wanted to expand.

[penghuin.livejournal.com]

Last I heard, it was moving. I'm not sure if it's opened up again. It was called Mr. Crepe.

[dj-daeva.livejournal.com]

there are so many great places in the area...it's hard to narrow it down :o)

and if you're a brunch girl which i totally am :o) there are some great spots...my personal favorite brunch spot is Johnny D's...fantastic food and jazz on sunday :o) also there's the rosebud diner, kelly's diner and soundbites (kelly's and soundbites are actually in ball square about a 10 minute walk from davis)

in terms of food, everything in this area is pretty accessible by T or bus, so i wouldn't limit yourself to just davis square :o)

the blue room by MIT is FABULOUS, greek corner on mass ave (just down the street from davis) is awesome and on the cheap, diva which is out past porter square, evoo which is pricey but fantastic (also past porter), the midwest grille and bukowski's in inman square...daedalus and pho pasteur in harvard square...

and in terms of delivery...my two favorites are thai kitchen on mass ave and redbones...

you can't go wrong with redbones :o)

<3

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Johnny D's has got my favorite brunch too!

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

My favorite local dining reference - because they keep scans of the menus online - is http://www.tuftslife.com/dining/

[moireach.livejournal.com]

Heh, you beat me to it. And that site is awesome if you're looking for delivery, too, since it shows who delivers, if they're open, and if they take credit cards.

[easy-wind.livejournal.com]

if you do some searching in this community, you'll find a very comprehensive thread on davis square eateries (from about 2-4 weeks ago)...

[stariel25]

I'm also going to throw in a recommendation for True Grounds (in Ball Square on Willow and Broadway ~ 10 min from Davis).

Other that that, I don't know because I don't spend a lot of time around Davis. I do like both Diva and Namaskar for Indian food though.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I have always felt that Diva's food kicks Namaskar's butt, but I've heard different from many people.

Anyway, Diva is my favorite place to eat in Davis Square. For Chinese food, I usually order delivery from Wang's, not in Davis but not too far away on Broadway near the Medford border. They have excellent Chinese dumplings, which you have the option of ordering frozen by the 50-100 count bag!

Rosebud Diner is good, but often crowded. Don't go there if you have claustrophobia issues.

I also like Fusion Express, on Elm St., for Asian-type food.

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

I second the mention of Wang's! Thjey deliver pretty far into Somerville and Medford. You can eat there, too, and listen to the cooks argue in Chinese in back.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Man I hate Diva so much I make faces at their sign every time I walk by.

Most of my friends really like it there, so I'm not judging your tastes. Well, no more than my retarded friends. ;)

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Whoa! What did they do to you?

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

heh, I was being a little overthetop, but I think the service at Diva--especially the hosts and waitstaff are rather rude/complacent. And the food I had was bland (both times I went).

On top of all that it's a bit pricy.

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

yeah, i think namaskar is better, too. most indian restaurants only serve northern indian type food... what people here tend to think of as "indian" food would probably be better described as "punjabi" food. namaskar has some south indian stuff... it's not the greatest, but at least it's on the menu.

[hakamadare.livejournal.com]

i would recommend the Blue Shirt Cafe in the center of Davis (right at the end of Highland Ave.) for sandwiches and smoothies.

welcome to the neighborhood!

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Yes, but let me add that their wraps are humongous, so I'd recommend splitting one. (This helps to defray the rather inflated cost.)

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Not to mention Picante for burritos that are very different from Anna's. They're also good for brunch, and not crowded! I guess it depends on what you want - they don't have bacon/sausagey things, or a liquor license, but lots of different tasty egg dishes. Decent pancakes too. And did I mention not crowded?

[ah42.livejournal.com]

Not just different burritos... but also a different pace. Anna's is good if you want fast food. Picante's is good for a sit-down. You get what you wait for :)

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Sounds about right, although we do often wait for Picante's takeout. It's not horribly slow. But Anna's! Wow, instant gratification! Blink and you miss your chance at hot sauce!

[ah42.livejournal.com]

Or in my case, blink and you miss your chance to tell them you don't want salsa!

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

Damn, there goes the neighborhood...

At least you live on the other side of Davis from me.

I usually find the best food is in the mall just by Lechmere station. Coincidentally, those same food court places are also the best places to get gas. The stores inside are the best places to hang out, as well.

[Note for the uninformed: I am a coworker of viellen's]

[viellen]

Dude I didn't know you were around Davis...shows I don't know Somerville for shit. And yea, that taco bell could totally give me enough gas to heat my new place--thanks for the tip!

[penghuin.livejournal.com]

Also Rudy's up in Teele sq, good Mexica, great margaritas, and sweet potato fries! Also on Porter there is Christopher's- great for both vegetarian and carnivorous dishes. Also a decent bar.

[fredbarney.livejournal.com]

I love Davis Sq...you are going to love it also!

Pick a place and go on in...try everything!