Hi, my name is Pete McKeown... and I am (gulp) a Townie. That's right, I'm one of the few who are from Medford or Somerville and attend Tufts. I'm also proud of it.
Now, some of you may be thinking, "How can someone be proud to be from Medford?" I say to this, "How can someone be proud to be from anywhere else?"
The Medford/Somerville area has more to offer than most Tufts students know about, and in this column, it is my mission to inform those of you who are weary of venturing into the wilderness of these cities of just that fact.
You will be pleasantly surprised with the experiences you gain from these adventures.
With Valentine's Day still in our collective rearview mirror, I thought it would be appropriate to advocate Medford and Somerville's romantic side. Few people know this, but Medford was actually ranked the second-most romantic city in the world, behind only Venice.
The word "Medford" rolls off the tongue so smoothly that the sheer sound of it acts as an aphrodisiac. So follow closely and take some notes, because a Townie is about to share his arsenal of great date locations in Medford and Somerville.
For those of you who are high rollers in college and are willing to shell out the big bucks on your lucky lady, the next few places are right up your ally.
First off, on Broadway St. in Somerville, past all the bars, is a quaint, small restaurant called Vinny's.
At first glance, you'll probably laugh and say, "That Townie writer is a cheap idiot and deserves to get beaten because Vinny's is a convenience store."
Although both these statements may be true, this anger is unwarranted. Vinny's also doubles a place to get an extremely cultural and authentic Italian dinner.
The front half of Vinny's is a convenience store, and that alone is hindrance for newcomers to this experience, but the restaurant lays in the rear of the store.
I liken the convenience store aspect of this restaurant to the Clark Kent disguise for Superman: Both act as a clumsy and lame facade, while underneath, there is a superhero/super-restaurant waiting to save the day/date.
It is a little expensive for some on a college budget, but it will pay its dividends by the end of the night - just ask my girlfriend.
On the Medford side of things is the restaurant Bistro 5. I mention this place mainly because it is literally a one-minute walk from my house, but it also has a delectable menu.
Located in West Medford Square, Bistro 5 has slowly garnered an impressive following of customers in its short term of service.
It is a very snug experience, with only about 10 tables to choose from, and it unfortunately used to be too small for a liquor license.
If one wanted to imbibe some Merlot, it was BYOW (Bring Your Own Wine), but due to its continued success, it was granted a liquor license, so don't fret.
Many an eatery has tried this location in West Medford Square, but only Bistro 5 has managed to last (one sub shop had a shot at making it, but it was later discovered that the owner was dealing drugs along with the subs. I always thought the steak and cheese was addicting... but I digress.)
On a lesser budget? Me too. That's why this next place is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Kee Kar Lau, a Chinese food joint in Teele Square, is sure to turn any date into a winner with its amazing array of Chinese cookery.
Most people order it for delivery, but I say nay; this is a feast fit for a sit-down dinner at the restaurant.
It has been known to attract many local stars of the area, like myself, or even Matt Damon, who has been known to fly back from filming for some amazing egg drop soup.
He even has his own table at Kee Kar Lau, which is somewhat annoying since there are only two tables to choose from. (Luckily for us, Ben Affleck is a Golden Light guy).
The last locale in this edition of the Townie would have to be Tavern on the Hill. I'm sure you all know this from Thursday-night debauchery or 21st birthdays, but did you know it's a bar and grill?
Indeed it is, and the food does not suffer from the atmosphere.
This is a good spot for those questionable dates where you don't really know the person. Things go wrong? No problem: Pitchers of beer are only $7, and they can keep on coming.
Hey, why not use the dinner as a pre-game and have all your friends stop by after for some shots while you finish up dessert?
All of these restaurants have one main thing in common: they breed romance.
So the next time you're looking to ask a girl out on a date, check out my guide and give one of them a try.
If you stick with me, my guess is you're going to have to find another guide for good breakfast places that next morning.
