Help! Tired of the same old places!

[Seralem354]

So, I am meeting up with a friend tonight for dinner and as always he is making me pick the restaurant. Unfortunately, both of us are rather tired of the usual casual haunts we hit up when we get together (The Foundry, The Independent, Hebesha etc..) so I am a bit at a loss for what to do tonight. Do you guys have any suggestions for great place to eat dinner while catching up with a friend in the Cambridge/Somerville area? Really anywhere would be fine as we both would be coming home from work in Boston. The only limitations are that my friend is not a fan of sushi or Italian food..............

[billtw3]

A great place for food and drink is Granite Links country club in Quincy. The atmosphere is nice and the views of the boston skyline are the best on the south shore. 9.25/10

[opinionatedchef]

gargoyles gargoyles gargoyles. the dining room in gargoyles. we have liked both the foundry and you prob saw my very recent post for the Indep., so our tastes seem similar. you will not regret gargoyles. just look at this menu! We've been fans of Jason for many many yrs. He puts his passionate soul into this food! it's hard for me not to get the tuna poke and the duck confit, but i do, and we are rarely less than wicked happy campers there. And the truffle ice cream is outstanding.:

http://www.gargoylesrestaurant.com/ol...

Bistro Menu

First Courses

Signature Hawaiian Style Tuna Poke

hijiki, nori oil, red ginger

12

Sous Vide Kurobuta Pork Belly

black truffle macaroni, riesling cabbage

apple-bee pollen salad

11

Coffee & Salt Roasted Beet Salad

diced sour cream, frisee

purple potato chips, creamy parsley vinaigrette

8

P.E.I Mussels

sunchoke sabayon, shrimp chips

sea beans, preserved lemon, fried shallots

10

Pan Seared Foie Gras

amarena cherries, pumpernickel puree

pepperjack crackers, cocoa nibs

14

House Cured Salmon

lemon pudding, everything bagel crumbs

quail egg, salmon mousse, nitro mimosa

10

Entrees

Milk Marinated Natural Angus Hangar Steak

cast iron Yorkshire pudding, salami roasted parsnips

house steak sauce, horseradish watercress salad

24

Signature Hoisin & Honey Glazed Duck Confit

sweet sticky rice, mango, cashews, young coconut milk

25

Sous Vide Artic Char

crawfish bouillabaisse cream, provencal vegetable tart

fennel-celeriac salad, tarragon mayo

24

Eggplant Orzo “Aranicini'

pita soup, artichoke yogurt

pizza hummus, Greek salad garnish

18

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

celery root puree, habenero bbq syrup

blue cheese & sage guacoamole

22

Butter Basted Grilled Lobster Tail

truffled brussels sprouts, pommes puree

fried lobster legs, lobster reduction

26

Grilled Lamb Loin

basil pesto, lemon ricotta, porcini ratatouille

hot pepper demi

25

Dessert

Chocolate Bacon Panini

peanut butter fluff, fresh banana, smoked oreo ice cream

9

Red Velvet Molten Cake

cream cheese beet ice cream raspberry coulis, cocoa meringue

9

Honey Dipped Donut Trifle

mascarpone mousse, strawberry-Bailey's salad

8

Warm Chocolate Cake

textured strawberry, liquid mint, whipped cream crumbs

9

Butterscotch Fondant

black truffle ice cream, dried strawberries

10

Chef - Jason Santos

Sous Chef - Jura Abragimovich

[Seralem354]

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. @Opinionatedchef, I just consulted with my friend and we are going to go Gargoyle's tonight. For some reason despite living outside Davis square for the past four years I have never eaten there. So thanks for putting it back on my radar then menu has my stomach growling at work!

[opinionatedchef]

sera, YAY!! Plse do report back because we want to go for this new menu and would love to have your suggestions!
you know another great thing about gargoyles? while it is always busy when we go, we seem to always be able to get reservations, so it's so much easier to go there than some of the other spots we really like that are into the heart of the city, with no reervations and difficult parking.( not that that concerns you here, i just realized!)

[cambridgedoctpr]

there are a plethora of chow worthy choices in Cambridge:

French Rendezvous, Craigie
Asian fusion: Om
Chinese: Thailand Cafe - chinese only
Thai: Rod Dee
Afghan: Helmand
new french: journeyman
Indian: Tamarind Bay

[scotty27]

That's a great list.