151296 Tue Mar 29 10:55:24 -0800 2005 13 12 Boston Area 0 811812 Ok, I moved to the Davis Square area over a year ago, so I'm still fairly new and may be off-base on this one: I haven't found a great restaurant in Boston yet. Of the few places I've lived I've always found a few places that I'm in love with. Now, when I visit those places, I rush around to hit all of the best restaurants while I'm there. Anyway, this is what I'm looking for, within reasonable distance of Davis square: 1) A decent sub shop. Some place that makes their own bread and has some decent variety of sandwiches, but not too nouveau. Somewhere between standard pizzeria fare and panera bread, but tastes good. 2) An affordable restaurant where I can get BREAKFAST at 6am on sunday morning, that's not a damn diner. I've been to a lot of the places people recommend and none of them are hitting the spot. Seems like every place around opens at 11 for brunch, or is only heavy, greasy, nasty food. I'm looking for something light and fresh tasting, but not too light. Something a little innovative. Also it seems like most of the restaurants around that are worth a damn have to have some ethnic affiliation. What happened to American food, or innovation? All these restaurants are great but I'm American and sometimes I just want some high quality american food. Sorry for the rant but please help! Tue Mar 29 10:55:24 -0800 2005 0 Dan 1 811814 Have you tried Soleil Cafe in Teele Square? Not sure if they make their own bread, but they make great sandwiches and have a small selection of prepared items. 6 a.m weekend breakfast that isn't a diner? I think that's asking too much. You have to assume that a non-diner place is also open Saturday night until 10 or 11, so it would be pretty hard for the staff to get in again at 4 or 5 am to start a breakfast for the super early risers. As for your "rant" about not enough "American" food, consider where you are, a city teeming with immigrants and various cultures. What are you considering "American", anyway? Tue Mar 29 11:02:18 -0800 2005 811812 0 Sari 1 811830 For subs, try Victors on Broadway in Medford (Macgoun Square?) and Sound Bites for breakfast a couple of doors down. There is also a nice fish fry place and diner on the next block. I hope these are American enough for you. Tue Mar 29 13:41:18 -0800 2005 811812 0 gourmaniac 2 811837 Victors and Sound Bites are in Ball Square Somerville (not far from Davis). Tue Mar 29 14:36:00 -0800 2005 811830 0 SEH 3 811862 I second Sound Bites for brunch. I think it opens at 7 a.m...but is worth the wait. Make sure you taste the NoPlaceLikeHomeFries...fried with a mixture of mashed potatoes, roasted fresh garlic, olive oil, sour cream, and margarine. Tue Mar 29 16:31:34 -0800 2005 811837 0 yum 1 811831 They don't make their own bread, but Pemberton Market on Mass Ave (corner of Day Street) has a nice array of sandwiches, available on a variety of breads. Gargoyles in Davis Square has very good food of no particular ethnic persuasion, but since I don't know what you mean by "American," I can't be sure that you'd like it. Sorry, but I know of no place (other than diners or truck stops) open for breakfast at 6 am. I'm curious to know about the restaurants you loved in other locales. Tue Mar 29 13:47:50 -0800 2005 811812 0 phoebek 1 811833 A friend of mine swears by Victor's in Ball Square, and is a huge fan of their eggplant parm. I used to go to Carberry's for sandwiches, but they've been replaced by O'Natural's. Soleil does nice sandwiches and yummy soups. They do breakfast, but I don't think they start at 6. What's Cooking in Powderhouse Circle makes wonderful "home cooking" for American cuisine. Even though it's diner food, I have a soft spot for the Rosebud. Do you consider the Neighborhood Rest in Union Sq too dinerish? The best breakfast in the area, if price is no object, is Henrietta's Kitchen in the Charles Hotel in Cambridge. Yum! Tue Mar 29 14:06:04 -0800 2005 811812 0 Bluebell 1 811834 "I haven't found a great restaurant in Boston yet. " Um, look outside of Davis Square. Or better yet, share what you've considered a great restaurant in other cities and that might yield better feedback for you. Tue Mar 29 14:24:40 -0800 2005 811812 0 MB 1 811835 "I haven't found a great restaurant in Boston yet." This board is full of recommendations and descriptions for local restaurants of all varieties. Have you tried any of them? If so, what have you liked or not about them? That would help us give you more accurate responses. Tue Mar 29 14:34:24 -0800 2005 811812 0 doctor_mama 1 811839 Davis Square is in Somerville, so perhaps you ought to head in on the Red Line. As for American food...Not sure I've seen a restaurant that serves this, but here's a website for some recipes. Link: http://www.kstrom.net/isk/food/recipes.html Tue Mar 29 14:42:41 -0800 2005 811812 0 Al Fresco 2 811861 For American food, or new American, he could try Gargoyle's in Davis Sq. which many people like. He could also try West Side Lounge and Redline in Harvard Sq., Blue Room in Kendall, many other places serving fresh ingredients in a fairly simple preparation. For more basic American, there's Silvertone downtown, the Franklin in the south end and Zon's in JP. Many great burger places have been talked about here. And as others have mentioned, breakfast at 6AM at a non-diner is pretty tough. Tue Mar 29 16:28:58 -0800 2005 811839 0 Joanie 3 811868 How about Redbones, which is in Davis Square? I'd call Southern barbecue and Schlitz pretty darn "American." Tue Mar 29 17:33:13 -0800 2005 811861 0 Kevin 1 811905 Glad to see you made it over here to post (I'm the one who offered the link to here). It just crossed my mind seeing some of the other suggestions that Soleil cafe might be a good bet. Also, just outside Harvard Square on Mount Auburn (about a five minute walk) is Darwin's which has great sandwiches that I crave and a slew of breads and pastries. Wed Mar 30 01:23:39 -0800 2005 811812 0 Christina 1 812024 If you don't mind a 5 minute drive, you can also try Bob's on Main Street, Medford for some sandwiches. Although it is an Italian grocery shop, its sandwiches are definitely American (cheese steak sandwich, etc...) delicious and popular. The other place that does good sandwiches with freshly made bread would be Hi-Rise Bakery on Concord Ave, in Huron Village. Or for some great pies, head towards Petsi Pie on Beacon Street, Somerville, next to the Star Market. Wed Mar 30 22:43:57 -0800 2005 811812 0 Sally Doodah