restaurants, and shaving soap

[studeronomy.livejournal.com]

I am new to the area, and living just north of Davis Square near Tufts. I've done a fair amount of exploring, but getting to know a new area takes a lot of time. Anyway, this question may seem broad, but I figured it was appropriate to this community: what are some of the not-to-be-missed restaurants in the immediate area? Where is the best sushi in the area (I know I know, an uber-hipster request)? I suppose I could offer some useful information regarding my taste in food, but I'm more curious about which restaurants in the area people are really passionate about, and why.

I'm sure this community gets a question like this once every week or so; if so, I apologize.

A more specific question: is there anywhere in Davis Square (or the surrounding area) I can buy quality shaving soap for shaving with a straight edge razor?

Comments

[kjc.livejournal.com]

If I'm in Porter Square, I go in to sit at Blue Fin's in the Porter Exchange. If I'm ordering delivery, I call Hana. I think Hana's a bit better than Blue Fin (who doesn't deliver), but not quite enough to walk an additional 20 minutes.

When I'm broke, I sit at the counter at Kotobukiya and order a bowl of spiced rice to start (it's just sushi rice with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds) to half fill me up, then my favorite sushi. They're good, but not great. There is a Japanese food mart in the Porter Exchange that's also named Kotobukiya.

In fact, if you like Japanese food, explore the Porter Exchange. And don't neglect the little outpost of the Japonaise Bakery because they make some of the best baked goods I've ever had. Try the azuki bean cream bun. You will get whipped cream on your nose and powdered sugar down your shirt, but you will thank me later.

The best sushi in the area is probably in Boston, the city proper. If you pick up (or borrow) a Zagat's guide, we have (I think) three really high end sushi restaurants. But you pay through the nose up in that rarified air.

Other restaurants I'm passionate about:

The Indian Club, 1755 Mass Ave in Cambridge, MA is my absolute favorite Indian food. They're friendly, every single dish I've eaten there has been great (I've tried quite a few chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes), and friends I've taken who've eaten Indian food (made by their Indian mothers or by Indian cooks IN India) say it's damn good.

Gargoyles in Davis Square surprised me by having a nice-sized dining room in the back. The food is high end, amazingly good, and the service is great. The dining room has a low-light, dark wood, quiet sort of feel to it... except when they have live jazz.

The Neighborhood Restaurant and Bakery in Union Square always has a line for brunch, but it's worth the wait. I've never had farina that tasted so divine. And the variety plus freshness of all their food is fantastic.

I'm a big fan of sandwiches and I love The Monkeywrench sandwich at The Diesel Cafe in Davis Square. I also love their "rusty slide" which is a chai tea and vanilla ice cream shake. Damn that's good stuff.

And on the subject of sandwiches, The Oxford Spa in Cambridge (on Oxford Street, oddly enough) makes the best sandwiches I've ever had. I'm completely addicted to The Dissertation (which is The Thesis with prosciutto - what's The Thesis? Fresh bread, fresh mozarella, fresh basil, excellent olive oil, salt, pepper, and magic) and The Pavo (which involves turkey and avocado and so much more).

I recently at at Macchu Pichu in Union Square - it's Peruvian and it was delicious. I haven't made it back mostly because I'm a lamer.

Wang's delivers Chinese food. Many of their dishes have surprised me by being two or three cuts above your average Chinese delivery. And they make these fantastic dumplings - offered in the back of the menu, you get a minimum of 12 dumplings per order - that slay me. I can make a meal out of just their spinach dumplings. Or maybe dumplings plus the pork with chestnuts (actual chestnuts, not water chestnuts).

Mary Chung's in Central Square (Cambridge) has this "soup" called Suan La Chow Show that is amazing. And hot - spicy hot - like drink tea to get the oil off your lips before they spontaneously combust spicy. And she's got the finest pork dumplings I've ever had (Wang's pork dumplings aren't as good). Seriously. I love her food.

There are a couple others, but those are all I can think of off the top of my head...

Hope that helps.

[studeronomy.livejournal.com]

Thank you (and everyone else) for the suggestions!