Mike's Restaurant makeover - Globe Calendar article

[ron_newman]

In case people didn't see it in last Thursday's Globe Calendar: Cheap Eats: A Makeover for Mike's

What in the world happened to Mike's?

The orange Formica booths and plastic swivel seats are gone, replaced by attractive tables and chairs. The 1970s decor has been swapped for plasma televisions and trendy fold-out windows. A classy granite bar serves wine and margaritas.

It's true: After 28 years of slinging pizzas, pastas, subs, and calzones, this granddaddy of Davis Square has given itself a facelift.

The Middlesex Federal Savings scrolling sign got a mention in Sidekick a few days ago, too.

Comments

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

Now if only their food wasn't awful.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly. I thought the article was overly generous in its descriptions of their food. A place like that ought to at the very least be able to make a decent red sauce, and they can't even do that.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

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

Years ago when I moved to Davis, a friend who I was moving in with took me to Mike's on my first night.

I had just moved (very willingly, I might add) from NYC.

Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed.

It was almost enough to make me get in the moving van and drive back. Almost.

Re: Couldn't have said it better myself.

[seanmanbooyah.livejournal.com]

you didn't grow up in NY, did you? I thin kMike's is closest thing to NY pizza that I have had since I've been up here and it's been about 18 years or so...

[siderea]

You beat me to it.

[ifotismeni]

I think their food is decent at a good price. It's a greasy spoon and it serves greasy spoon foods... my standards aren't high for that sort of food.

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

You might want to try Deli-icious (formerly Nick's Famous Roast Beef) a block down College Ave. It has good prices and good food.

[ron_newman]

Does it have seats or is just take-out?

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

It used to have a few tables and seats, but I haven't wandered by there in a while.

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

It has seats. It is smaller than Mikes but correspondingly less busy. I usually get food to go, but have never had a problem getting a seat when I wanted one.

[unferth.livejournal.com]

They have a few tables - 16 seats all told, if memory serves.

[ifotismeni]

thanks for the recommendation -- i don't usually eat diner foods (if i do go out, i like to go somewhere nice) but i'll remember this in case i get a diner food craving.

[toonhead-npl.livejournal.com]

Plus the staff (or at least one person in particular) could really use an attitude adjustment.

[sissychrissy1.livejournal.com]

And, sadly, I think we all know which person you're talking about.

[msjay.livejournal.com]

YESSS! sometimes this person ruins my whole night with their 'tude.

[mihmo.livejournal.com]

some day i will get that person to look me in the eye, or at least smile.... someday....

okay maybe that WILL never happen.

[mizufae.livejournal.com]

i dont know what you folks are on about. mike's has fresh simple food at pleasantly cheap prices. sure, their pizza is awful, but their subs are just as good as many of the other places around the area, and for a better price, and their sausage and peppers is delicious and always hits the spot when i've got that particular craving. and the menu is huge- i can always find something that sounds good if i give it a long enough look. i've never had a problem with the staff, either. they might have attitude but they're never mean and if anything, they are helpful and honest. the food isnt the most wonderful in the square, but it's always serviceable, always clean, always freshly made and always a good price.
if not for mike's i would be either a lot hungrier or a lot poorer.

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

I agree. The food is not the best in the world, but it is reasonably priced, edible, and served fairly quickly.

The only time I have seen the staff get an attitude is when people are slowing down the process (people are in line, the people at the front of the line have had 4-5 minutes to figure out what they want, and they are at the counter, stalling).

[theref.livejournal.com]

Same here. I love their food, a 'greasy spoon', like someone else said.

Cheap, good food, in big portions. Attitude for assholes.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

They sell quart glasses of beer. What more do you want?

:)

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

My father grew up in Davis and loves Mike's, so when I moved to Somerville he insisted we go all the time, nevermind that I hate it and eating there with him forcing their food on me gives me agita. Here's hoping he was only in it for the nostalgia, that way I never need go back!