Where should I bring college girls on dates?

[the modern serf]

I've been going on a lot of dates with college girls lately, but most of my favorite bars are inappropriate places to bring a 19-year old. (I'm 24. Yes, I know I'm a creep.) There are a thousand restaurants I could be bringing these girls, but I always blank on it when the time comes.

I need some places that are:
1)Relatively cheap
2)Not impossible to get a table on a fri or sat
3)Casual but not too-casual (eg. not Anna's Taqueria)
4)On the Red Line
5)Veggie friendly (but for my sake Carnivore friendly, ideally)

I know that this doesn't really narrow things down, but it's good to have a lot of options for whichever neighborhood one ends up in.

[lycheefloat]

As a 19 year old college girl, I am a little bit creeped out by this thread.

Sketchiness aside, I recommend Small Plates in Harvard Square. It's cozy, romantic and has great tapas. Also, the new bar that opened up where Z Square used to be is fantastic.

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Small Plates
56 Jfk St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Z Square
14 JFK St, Cambridge, MA

[lypp]

That's Russell House - I didn't think of that. They have small plates, great drink list (if the college girl is over 21) and are right off the T. The upstairs has windows open to the street and a fun vibe while the bottom floor is cozy and romantic.

[Joanie]

I think it's more the title of the thread that's creepy than the actual content. Every time I see it...
How strict are some of the bar oriented places about <21 year olds coming in during late evening hours? I was thinking Silvertone but that might be too much of a bar (and too crowded). Marliave would be nice. Green St., the Plough, and I agree with Garden at the Cellar. Elephant Walk in Porter Sq.

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Elephant Walk
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140

Silvertone
69 Bromfield St, Boston, MA 02108

Marliave
10 Bosworth Street, Boston, MA 02108

[Bob Dobalina]

Yep - drank throughout college without ID - come early and stay late!

[MParente]

Man, how times have changed- when I was in college (less than 10 years ago) Vinny Testas was a treat!

[Snoop37]

as a 23 year old girl... tapas places are fun for dates.

[grant.cook]

You could probably find some nice-ethnic type place - Ethiopian, better-than-average Chinese or Korean, Brazilian - in Cambridge or Somerville that would be a bit adventurous but not on the trendy eater list and packed on the weekends. Read the Boston mag from a month or two ago - they had a bunch of "cheap eats" places you could hit up..

If you want to be adventurous, Rincon Limeno in East Boston (Blue line, I know) if good. And there seem to be a lot of Brazilian places in Somerville that would be fun. Or do Lucky's in the Fort Point area - not the cheapest, but great ambiance, and not inappropriate, at least in the normal eating hours, for a 19 year old.

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Rincon Limeno
409 Chelsea St, Boston, MA 02128

[the modern serf]

I used to live in Eastie, and I miss having great cheap places like Angela's, Rino's, etc. but I sure don't miss being out in no-man's land. I'm reserving those places for later dates where I'm less concerned with setting a mood and more concerned with eating delicious food.

[chowmensch]

Learn to cook and bring the college girls back to your apartment. Always the plan...

[the modern serf]

I know how to cook! But between going back to school (which is why I'm after college girls) and working full time I've let that skill atrophy. For example, I ate a salted carrot for dinner a few nights back.

Anyways, I'm not quite that ballsy, though the reason I'm sticking to the red line and cambridge/somerville is because that will allow expedient return to my apartment, should the need arise. The plan is to take them out to dinner, cook breakfast at home.

[hckybg]

How many are we talking here? You might want to see how it goes with the first one before you move on. Love takes patience, my friend.

[hiddenboston]

I've only seen this work on late-night Cinemax....

[almansa]

That would be Skinemax.

[hiddenboston]

Heh, my bad. :-)

[nsenada]

"Ooops - I spilled that choclate fondue all over you - let me just get that for you" (cue the wah wah guitar).

I think the Sweet Factory followed by a Justin Bieber concert would be perfect if you're looking to expand the search to the secondary school market.

[Scruffy The Cat]

Myers & Chang. Not on the Red Line but hey, it's a date, so maybe you can spring for a cab and look chivalrous- it always impresses those college girls ;-) Really nice vibe in there- hopping but not too hopping. Fun and hip and not crazy expensive. Food for veggies and non veggies. And really good dessert.

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Myers + Chang
1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

[the modern serf]

I do like Myers + Chang - definitely a go-to spot if I'm in the south end. That's exactly the kind of vibe I'm going for, actually; what in Cambridge would be similar?

[Bob Dobalina]

Nothing. Cambridge don't roll like that.

[hckybg]

Heyyyy, not so fast. East by Northeast in Inman is not dissimilar. The food is as good, I have found, and while the room is a little less designed, you will find an equally Brooklynized soundtrack and young crowd. Then you can go for an ice cream at Christina's afterward.

This is probably my favorite thread of the year, btw.

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East by Northeast
1128 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

[Bob Dobalina]

Ha - I honestly thought of that, but don't you think it's too Cambridge-y to compare to Myers + Chang? It's a little too grungy to compare in my book (in a good way of course). What's the hippest - in a South Endy kind of way - place in Cambridge?

[hckybg]

It is definitely a different atmosphere than M+C, you are right.
But foodwise I do think they are similar and they serve a common demographic. College-aged ladies would probably be impressed with either!

I guess if the South End is Boston's Greenwich Village, Inman and Central are our East Village. That said, the most South End-like place in Cambridge is probably Hungry Mother (classy, but hip crowd, not cheap). The hippest place in terms of scene is probably Trina's (with hip meaning hipster, not designer duds a la South End).

This is good, though. The poster can take his dates to different places depending on the crowd they hang with, so as to avoid worrying that a waiter will spill the beans that he brought another the previous week.

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Hungry Mother
Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA

[Bob Dobalina]

You are a wise hound. LOL

[pemma]

It sounds like the new restaurant, Posto in Davis meets your criteria.

[greenzebra]

Agreed, with the caveat that I've heard from friends who've tried to get tables on multiple weekends that they've had 1+ hour waits on Saturday nights. If you are amenable to eating at the bar, that may be easier, although there aren't a ton bar seats.

[Velda Mae]

What about Chinatown? Best Little Restaurant is not fancy or expensive but it does have tablecloths, which is kind of nice if you're on a date. Hong Kong Eatery has excellent rice plates which is good if she wants veggies and you want meat. Another nice thing about Chinatown is that if it's a nice evening, you can stroll over to the North End for coffee and dessert after dinner. Or across the Public Garden.

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Hong Kong Eatery
79 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111

[momoftwo]

Please try Shay's if you are in Harvard Square, its on JFK street heading toward the river. It has a small outdoor patio a small but diverse menu but only beer and wine, no hard stuff and no dessert.Its affordable and funky and on a nice night or afternoon you can't beat the outdoor seating and people watching! I love to grab a bottle of prosecco and the hummus plate and settle in.

[eckbean8]

Cambridge 1 is a great date spot (at least i liked it when I was 19). really good food and not expensive at all. plus the restaurant feels a lot more expensive than the prices on the menu...decor and ambience is much better than comparably priced places. veggie friendly and carnivore friendly.

There's one in Harvard Sq. if you are sticking to the Red Line.

[jgg13]

I used to like Cambridge 1 in my dating days. Granted I was a bit older than he was, as were they but we're still talking the same general age ranges. It had that nice balance in terms of cost, atmo, etc.

[hiddenboston]

Ahhhhh, youth....I remember those days....

Cambridge Common on Mass. Ave. might be a good bet. They are inexpensive, usually have tables on weekend nights, very casual, between Porter and Harvard T stops, and have both veggie dishes and meat dishes. AND they have an outstanding beer list.

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Cambridge Common
1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

[pollystyrene]

In Davis Sq., Johnny D's. In Harvard Sq., Veggie Planet. Between Harvard and Central, Garden at the Cellar. In Kendall Sq., Emma's Pizza and The Friendly Toast. In Beacon Hill, Figs.

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Emma's Pizza
40 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Veggie Planet
47 Palmer St, Cambridge, MA 02138

The Friendly Toast
1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA

[Bob Dobalina]

Also in Davis, the fabulous Diva.
In Andrew, Cafe Polonia...you know, if she's that type of girl. ;-)
Also in Kendall, Za.