143275 Mon Oct 28 22:38:37 -0800 2002 15 12 Boston Area 0 766854 I just started an assignment at MIT - in building #68 by the corner of Ames and Main (pretty sure) - and I'm looking for inexpensive lunch suggestions. There's a bunch of food trucks / carts around which I know nothing about, and quite frankly I'm not all that familiar with the Kendall area. Suggestions? Mon Oct 28 22:38:37 -0800 2002 0 mb 1 766856 The Goosebeary(Vietnamese) food truck at Ames Street does a pretty good banh mi, and a wonderful green papaya salad with chicken or tofu...That's all I've tried, but there's a bunch of good stuff on their menu. I remember some salmon specials. Mon Oct 28 22:41:18 -0800 2002 766854 0 galleygirl 2 766887 there's another gooseberry truck on Main Street around technology square, it's a little bit further than the other one. I was always willing to go the extra distance to the truck on Main Street for their tofu with peanut sauce (~$3.50), which is served with a side of steamed veggies and rice. Add some chilli paste on top and stir it all around.....YUMMY!!!! Tue Oct 29 11:07:39 -0800 2002 766856 0 supersonic 3 768242 I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but Gooseberry's restaurant was shut down last semester for a while for not passing the food inspection. I personally don't like their stuff. For them to be able to serve out each lunchbox that quickly they couldn't do much to flavor the dishes. And they always serve the dishes with uncooked veggie mix without any sauce -- not tasty at all. I like the subs from the pizza truck. you can give other trucks a try. THe chinese food truck outside 77 Mass ave is pretty good. Other people have also mentioned the sandwich places near the T stop. I actually like the grilled panini sandwiches from Seattle's Best Coffee. They are FAB! Tue Nov 26 21:03:59 -0800 2002 766887 0 Albertitto 1 766858 The yellow food truck which is on Main st 1/2 block towards Mass Ave from the RR tracks is the most authentic truck for Chinese food (no Vietnamese food though; by the way, the wonton soup at Gooseberry's is decent)...you can get a combination of two items for $3.95, steamed dumplings for an additional buck...there is also a food court inside the MIT Coop bookstore, pretty standard food court fare...another alternative is the Italian take-out on Main st just 1/2 block towards the river from the junction of Main and Broadway (but don't expect North end quality!)...if you're willing to walk down Ames or Vassar to Mass AVe, you have more options e.g. Miracle of Science Tue Oct 29 07:09:35 -0800 2002 766854 0 barleywino 2 766890 The Italian place you are talking about is Florentinas. They are okay. Sometimes their pasta can be a bit on the overcooked side. But overall not bad for a quick lunch. A large serving of pasta here goes for around $6.50. They also have sandwiches and pizza. On Main St. near the Kendall T stop there are a few places to get sandwiches, soup and the like. There is the omnipresent Au Bon Pain. There is also a Rebecca's Cafe and K2 which is owned by the same people as Rebecca's. K2 has a decent salad bar and a selection of hot and cold sandwiches and wraps. There is also a convenience store in the same building as Rebecca's that has a deli counter that serves sandwiches, including chicken kabob and falafel. Tue Oct 29 11:35:19 -0800 2002 766858 0 mangorita 3 766902 Has anyone eaten at 2nd St. Cafe yet? I went by to try it on a Sat. but it's only open on weekdays. Can't remember where the owner used to work. Tue Oct 29 12:52:41 -0800 2002 766890 0 Joanie 4 766909 I know this one! The owner used to (and may still ) work at Aquitaine. They've got some great daily specials. Sometimes they're real winners and sometimes they're just so-so. Wonderful cobb salad - with top quality ingredients. One time out of many was swimming in dressing. Sandwiches look good but they are served on huge, thick slices of bread which just turns me off - bigger isn't always better, you know? I definitely recommend them for lunch, regardless. Tue Oct 29 16:19:31 -0800 2002 766902 0 mb 5 766921 Since I work only a few blocks from 2nd St. Cafe, I've eaten there more than a few times. The sandwiches are quite good. I particularly like the roast beef with boursin, horseradish, and arugula. The soups are often quite tasty. The specials can be hit or miss (generally the "stir-fried" ones are disappointing), but he does wonderful roasted stuff with mashed potatoes and the like. They tend to be heavy-handed with salad dressings so it's wise to ask for it on the side. It's a good place in an otherwise blighted area. David "Zeb" Cook Tue Oct 29 20:14:55 -0800 2002 766909 0 David "Zeb" Cook 6 766927 just a reminder... in that "blighted area" there is a Boca Grande outlet (not as good as Anna's, but pretty filling burritos for $4) and the sometimes good buffet at Ajanta -- a decent indian hole in wall. Step over to Paparazzi in the mall for what I think is the most under-rated spaghetti bolognese in town, (if you have time). Tue Oct 29 23:03:16 -0800 2002 766921 0 yumyum 7 767087 How funny! I've always loved the bolognese at Paparazzi but was afraid to admit it for fear of getting scolded by friends. And I'm with you on Ajanta, too, it can be quite good. Fri Nov 01 15:53:43 -0800 2002 766927 0 MB 8 767111 Don't be afraid. Admit your love of the bolognese at Paparazzi... for a chain they make a pretty good bowl of pasta. To my mind, the search for deliciousness shouldn't begin and end with the obscure. We will gladly chow where no man has dared to chow before, but there is something to be said for a dish turned out consistently and well by a ch-ch-chain. (Dare I say it?) Actually, I had several comments of agreement from others to this post... there might be a consensus. Don't diss Paparazzi when it comes to this one dish. Okay, now skewer me, the rest of you. Fri Nov 01 23:38:18 -0800 2002 767087 0 yumyum 7 767436 YumYum, Got to agree with yo about the Spaghetti Bolognese at Papa-Razzi. Absolutely terribly underrated. And the foccacia is good with it even if it is a little too salty. Not exactly cheap if I remember correctly though? Fri Nov 08 17:32:56 -0800 2002 766927 0 Surfer 1 766898 First, the trucks: The Vietnamese trucks also both sell excellent fresh summer rolls which sell out EARLY (both shrimp and veggie versions), good curry specials, etc. I thought the banh mi at goosebearies rather dry. Don't go to the Mexican truck, the falafel truck, or the pizza truck -- there *is* a reason why no one goes to those places!! You can also go to Max's Deli (it may have been re-named recently)on Broadway, close to the Kendall movie theater complex ... it looks pretty generic but they have a great BBQ pulled chicken or pulled pork sandwich. I also like their soups and homemade focaccia. Don't go to the Thai or Mexican places in the same complex. Another local favorite for a hearty lunch is Izzy's, a Puerto Rican place at the corner of Harvard Street at Windsor. They have a great steak dish, it comes smothered in onions and a tangy seasoning. A favorite MIT lunch haunt is the Royal East on Main Street -- you can have a full lunch with soup, entree, rice, and fortune cookie for $6 including tip. Food is OK, pretty generic, but sometimes the specials are all right. Across the street from Royal East is an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet, but I can't recommend it. If you want Indian, take the longish walk (or drive) over to the Cambridgeside Galleria area and eat at Ajanta on 1st Street. Their buffet offers a lot more variety and occasionally a rather interesting curry. Tue Oct 29 12:30:38 -0800 2002 766854 0 beanbag 1 767047 can't believe that no one mentioned Emma's Pizza at Hampshire & Cardinal Mederos. Its diagonaally accross from 1 Kendal Sq. Emma's offers thin crust pizza with top notched toppings such as r.r pepers/carmelized onions/smoked chicken/sweet potato's etc.. They also have a rosemary t. sauce that is crisp and goat/cow & sheep cz. The place does a hoppin take out & has a dozen sit down tables. Thu Oct 31 20:12:29 -0800 2002 766854 0 Frank C 1 767167 I'll second various folks' recommendations about the Goosebeary's truck, though the seafood tends to be overcooked (difficult to get right under the circumstances). The similar one just a block down Main St (towards Central Sq) has a couple different dishes, and comes with more side veggies. I like the dark sauce in the bottle--seems based on fish sauce but with other stuff--on the veggies. (I think that one is called Papa Goose). Someone dissed the Mexican truck--I've only had the chili relleno there. It's not authentic (the cheese is over the chili rather than in it, and it's not fried) but it's very tasty if you like cheese. Sun Nov 03 15:22:06 -0800 2002 766854 0 Read Weaver