477282 Tue Jan 08 09:46:50 -0800 2008 16 12 Boston Area 0 3273570 It's a lovely day, folks, I'm at MIT, and I'm headed out to lunch. I don't really have a timeline here, and can walk (or even bus) to wherever. What do y'all think? Surprise me.. Tue Jan 08 09:46:50 -0800 2008 40636 jkv 1 3273587 I'd go to Mary Chung, 464 Mass Ave Tue Jan 08 09:49:51 -0800 2008 3273570 111910 jgg13 1 3273594 *Only* if time is really not a factor, I'd nominate Baraka Cafe for outstanding North African. Tue Jan 08 09:50:51 -0800 2008 3273570 11344 finlero 1 3273633 How about Petsi's Pies on Putnam for a sandwich? Tue Jan 08 09:57:44 -0800 2008 3273570 15217 gini 2 3273663 Punjab Dhali (sp?) in Inman Sq.? Tue Jan 08 10:03:40 -0800 2008 3273633 104345 raddoc 1 3273661 I'll limit my suggestions to non-chains... The Kendall Hotel on Main has great salads and soups, but it is sit-down and will cost you at least $12. It's possible they'll have outdoor seating available today. Up in Inman Sq (which would be a bit of a walk) is All-Star Sandwich Bar, with some pretty awesome sandwiches and flavor combinations. Plus then you can snag ice cream at Christina's next door! There's also The Snack Bar at 697 Cambridge St, which I hear has (but have no yet tried) tasty and massive sandwiches (with a Portuguese theme). At 3pm, the kitchen at Atwood's on Cambridge St (approx halfway b/w Third St and Inman) opens. I've had a decent burger there and they also have a respectable selection of beers on tap. Enjoy the weather! Tue Jan 08 10:02:59 -0800 2008 3273570 112894 Sagoo 1 3273665 Sorry this is late: Mary Chung is a great rec, but closed on Tuesdays. I might do Baraka, a burger at The Cantab or the Miracle of Science, an American Chinese lunch special at Pu Pu Hot Pot (despite the awful name), a lunch plate at Izzy's, drunken noodle at Pepper Sky, that coarse-noodle soup at Rangzen, buffet at Royal Bengal, felafel wrap at Moody's, a steak sub at Stefani, a Cubano at the Plough, or fried chicken at Coast Cafe. Now I'm hungry. Tue Jan 08 10:04:05 -0800 2008 3273570 10143 MC Slim JB 2 3274132 We have a winner! I went with Rangzen, as "coarse-noodle soup" for whatever reason struck me as appealing. Two things: 1) What I had was solid (listed as Momo), but I suspect was in fact not "coarse-noodle soup." It was a mild soup with a plate of thick-skinned dumplings and three demitasses of condiments. Please advise. 2) It had to be at least 80 degrees in there--kind of overkill, I thought. A couple walked in, started to sit down, and then walked right back out. I honestly cannot blame them. Now if this were a Thai or Indian restaurant, tropical conditions might have added to the experience. Could be a new trend. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, and I'm excited to try Izzy's, the Snack Bar (too far from work, but some other time, I guess), and Petsi's. I'm already down with the Miracle, M. Chung, le Plough, Moody's, Baraka etc. All fabulous suggestions. Tue Jan 08 11:35:26 -0800 2008 3273665 40636 jkv 3 3274429 One thing w/ the heat - given the temps outside, it could be causing problems with building's heating systems. I know in my apt building they tend not to react instantly to massive temp changes outside and the thermostat seems to be more of a "suggestion" than something the heaters actually followl Tue Jan 08 12:41:36 -0800 2008 3274132 111910 jgg13 3 3274467 I've wanted to go to Rangzen for awhile now. Has anyone been to Ranzen, House of Tibet, and Martsa on Elm? If so, which of these three Tibetan restaurants was your favorite? Tue Jan 08 12:48:12 -0800 2008 3274132 14771 hiddenboston 4 3275116 I've been to all three. I liked Martsa on Elm the best of these -- their food is by far the most interesting and flavorful. Rangzen is indeed good, though I prefer Martsa. I found House of Tibet's food thuddingly dull. Note that there are folks on this board who consider HoT to be the most authentically Tibetan and Martsa the least so of these three (have seen comments that Martsa's food is more Indian influenced) and will likely rank them in reverse order. Myself, I'm more swayed by what I consider most delicious, not just most authentic. Note that Martsa has been closed recently for renovation, though they should be reopening shortly if their "grand reopening" sign is accurate. Tue Jan 08 15:10:41 -0800 2008 3274467 76251 bachslunch 5 3275205 Martsa is now open for business. I enjoy both Rangzen (lunch buffet) and HoT (incidentally, I have a feeling they need business - they recently installed one of those annoying flashing "OPEN" signs in their window...we will stop in soon). Have not been to Martsa. Tue Jan 08 15:42:33 -0800 2008 3275116 121319 digga 3 3274568 You were in the right section of the menu, noodle soups. The dish I remember is either Thhea Thul (flat wide noodles) or Momo Thulspa, with chopped up dumplings. Tue Jan 08 13:07:46 -0800 2008 3274132 10143 MC Slim JB 4 3274585 I see. I could be wrong/crazy, but I think (and this is confirmed on the takeaway menu I...took away) that those were not available on the lunch menu. They really seemed more interested in my partaking in the buffet, but buffet + going back to work = zzzzz. I'll have to make it back for another go. Thanks again. Tue Jan 08 13:11:42 -0800 2008 3274568 40636 jkv 2 3274425 Ah, I forgot what day it was. With that in mind (and I realize this is way after the fact now), I probably would have poked in for the pu pu hot pot lunch special (which for the price is really quite a good deal) or gotten a 'roni burger' from miracle of science. Then again, I'm fairly lazy and that round about area is likely as far as i'm willing to travel from MIT :) Tue Jan 08 12:40:25 -0800 2008 3273665 111910 jgg13 1 3273674 Mary Chung's is closed on Tuesdays. I'd go to Miracle of Science. There's buffet at the various Indian restaurants, the one bet. MIT and Central Sq. seems to be the preferred (can't remember any names lately). Brookline Lunch is cheap. Izzy's on Harvard and Windsor. Tue Jan 08 10:05:24 -0800 2008 3273570 14253 Joanie 2 3275128 I'm not a big fan of the Indian restaurants in Central Square. Shalimar was in fact the worst such place I've ever been to in Boston. The best in Central Square is probably India Pavilion, but that's not saying much. I'd much sooner recommend hitting Kebab Factory on the Cambridge/Somerville line (over by Dali and Evoo) or someplace in Harvard Square like Tamarind Bay, Tanjore, or Cafe of India over any of them. Tue Jan 08 15:15:17 -0800 2008 3273674 76251 bachslunch