Neat places to eat in Cambridge, MA?

 There are the big name, celebrity chef-type places: Rialto @ the Charles
 Hotel; Eight Holyoke; Salamander's (near Kendall Sq.); all really terrific
 but expensive and probably not "neat".
 I love DaddyO's on Hampshire St.: interesting menu, great preparation and
 affordable.
 La Pulcinella on Huron Ave. is small, reasonable and unmistakable in its
 authenticity.
 The East Coast Grill on Cambridge St. in Inman Sq. has got some meals that
 can be memorable - pretty reasonable and a fun place.
 The best burger? Miracle of Science. Have fun!

 Someone wrote:
 : Hi -
 :      My husband is taking a course at Harvard every Monday, and tries
 : to combine that with an eating experience as well.  Any suggestions
 : for perhaps little-known spots in Cambridge?

 My first recommendation is to avoid Harvard Square altogether.  With the
 exception of the Thai place on JFK opposite the Galleria, I can't think of
 a single restaurant in Harvard Square that I consider worthwhile.  You can
 do better elsewhere, for less money, in Central or Porter Square.  Here
 are some of my faves, basically places where I've never had a bad meal:

 Porter Square area:

       Mexican Cuisine (Mass Ave between Harvard and Porter, on the south
       side of the street) -- neither chichi foofoo nor McTacos, this
       place seems to be pretty authentic.  Emphasis on seafood, but
       I usually end up with the red meat.  Very casual.

       Porter House Cafe (Mass Ave past Porter, south side of the street)
       barbecue and southwestern food.  Excellent pulled pork.

       Food stalls in Porter Exchange -- where I go if I want quick
       Japanese food.

 Central Square area:

       Shalimar -- my standard choice for Indian food, although there are
       certainly plenty of others to choose from.  On Mass Ave between
       Central and MIT.

       Koreana -- good Korean food, good sushi.  On Prospect Street about
       four blocks from Mass Ave.

       Pampas -- meat coma!  Brazilian churrascuria -- only to be
       undertaken if you're feeling carniverous.

 There, that'll get him through half the semester...

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 Mary Malmros            Very Small Being            [email removed]

       In the good old days of Zen training, it was traditional to thwack
       the student in the head with a stick when he said something like that.

             - Michael Robinson

 Try John Harvard's Brew house on Dunster Street in Harvard Square.  Great
 homemade cooking and homemade beer.