Homestyle southern fare in nearby Davis Square

Red Bones is a way to get away from the usual northern US cuisine. Hidden in Davis Square, Redbones, along with its bar counterpart UnderBones located in the basement, offers something you usually find down south. What's better about Red Bones is that instead of a plane ride, you just need to walk to Davis with only a few bucks and an empty stomach. No fancy dress required, no expectations needed. Red Bones is a great place to eat cheap, quick, and easy.

The entrance is found on Chester Street, across the road from McDonald's. There is a parking lot located conveniently nearby if you decide to drive. The door is a little hard to see, as it looks like more of a night club entrance from the outside. That all changes immediately once you get inside.

As soon as you set foot in the door, you have a choice to make. You can sit down at a table and get some ribs, or you can go down the stairs to the bar. Both settings are fantastic. There are bright colors, pictures of ranchers with huge slabs of beef, and plenty of other things that grab your attention.

We chose to stay upstairs. Once seated, you are greeted right away by a waitress. The menu needs no explanations, as each item is pretty simple. But, if you do have a question, such as the difference between styles of ribs, the servers are more than excited to tell you all about them.

Aside from setting and service, what makes a place successful is the food. Red Bones succeeds in this area, too. First off, your drink will come in a glass jar the size of a Nalgene. Next, instead of a basket of butter and rolls, you'll get something a little different. The butter will be there, but you won't get the normal bread. Instead, a warm, large, thick piece of cornbread will make your appetite switch right into southern mode.

What about the dishes? Well, you do not really go to a place like Red Bones and order a salad or fish. We got some meat: the ten-ounce sirloin and the Memphis ribs. The Memphis ribs were fantastic. Basically, they fell right off of the bone. Not only that, but the serving is huge, as are most of the dishes at Red Bones.

The ten ounce sirloin was also good, but about two of the ten ounces must have been thick, hard fat. Red Bones isn't the Four Seasons, but still, nobody really wants to down solid chunks of fat. The steak was ordered to be cooked medium, but at Red Bones that means rare. It had to be sent back, but there was no problem and in about a minute, it was back on the table, cooked to order.

In total, three different servers asked if the steak was better after being sent back _ showing that they actually care about what you think, not just about getting the check. There are not many other places with this genuine southern hospitality.

Along with your meal, you'll get a side order. Go for the fries. They are big, and you get a lot of them, easily enough for two hungry people. If you do not want fries, you can get just about anything else you can think of, and if there still isn't anything that suits you, you can get some more corn bread.

Unfortunately, the restaurant can get a little cramped at times. We were lucky enough to get our own table. A lot of people end up sitting at long, cafeteria-like tables. If this happens, you'll probably sit across from your date, friend, group, whatever, and on both sides will be random strangers.

Most of the people eating there seemed kind-hearted and genuinely nice, but if you wanted a large dinner with other people you could just go to Carmichael or Dewick. The noise level is also a little more than you might want at times, possibly having something to do with the close quarters in which you are eating. Elbow room is virtually non existent if you land one of the group tables.

In total, the check came out to about $35 with the tip, drinks, sides, and entrees. If you wanted to minimize your expenditures, two people could get by with about $20. As for the bar, it has become a popular place on Thursday nights, and it can fit a lot of people. It is large, nicely lit, and has a good reputation for being clean and laid back. All in all, Red Bones is a great place to go before a night out, or after a long day of classes and exams. Just sit back, relax, and prepare to reward yourself with some great ribs.