154898 Sat Jan 21 01:18:49 -0800 2006 7 12 Boston Area 0 832371 Going to dinner with some friends on Monday after an event at MIT, and looking to explore something new and exciting. Poppa & Goose was my standby until they sadly closed up a couple of years back, and I am not interested in deadling with the prices and long waits at Helmand (often in spite of having reservations). I know about Desfina, which is a lovely place (I am surprised not to see it discussed on this list), but if any of you hounds have some suggestions of other things that lurk under the radar, I would love to hear them. Sat Jan 21 01:18:49 -0800 2006 0 elbev 1 832395 I don't know if this is under the radar, but The Similans, right next to Helmand, is above-average Thai. Sat Jan 21 14:22:17 -0800 2006 832371 0 Ruprecht 2 832397 the blue room- been some changes but has been getting some good solid comments on this site Link: http://www.theblueroom.net/main.html Sat Jan 21 15:06:18 -0800 2006 832395 0 beurre blanc 1 832402 Another option is to go to one of the nearby portugese restaurants such as O Cantino. It's perhaps not as "fancy" as some other the other mentioned, but the food is wonderful and the price is right. Closer to MIT and also nice (but a little pricier than O Cantino) is Amelia's Trattoria in Kendall sq. Sat Jan 21 17:41:28 -0800 2006 832371 0 TalismanGirl 1 832404 Close by in Central Sq, I don't know how "under the radar" it is, but I really like Rangzen (Tibetan). Another favorite in the area is Cafe Baraka (no alcohol allowed, though, given the ownership's religious observation). Sat Jan 21 18:21:44 -0800 2006 832371 0 a l i c e 2 832435 at Cafe Baraka I don't believe that it is her religious observations rather lack of that incredibly hard to get liquor license (w/ bill in house to allow supermarkets to sell beer & wine w/out license I wonder about rests. being able to sell same w/out license) and you used to be able to brown bag it but then few yrs ago Cambridge eliminated that (probably to help rests. that have managed to procure the elusive license). Also, FYI, I believe, that Cafe Baraka is closed on Mondays. (but it could be tuesdays instead)... Sun Jan 22 09:41:34 -0800 2006 832404 0 Heathen & Spells 3 832461 Thanks for the info. Someone told me the lack of liquor license was due to Muslim observation. Sun Jan 22 17:33:14 -0800 2006 832435 0 a l i c e 1 832423 High-end and expensive, but outstanding food and definitely under the radar in comparison to many comparable restaurants downtown is Salts. Would you consider crossing the bridge to have Indian food at Bhindi Bazaar? Sun Jan 22 00:23:15 -0800 2006 832371 0 Limster