Spring break has sadly come and gone. If your week was anything like mine, you've returned to Tufts with fond memories (or perhaps a lack of memories), a spectacular tan and completely penniless.
After a $20-$30 cab ride each way, an average of $30 for good meal with good wine, a $10 cover anywhere on a Friday night, and however many Sapphire tonics and Patron gimlets it takes to make you forget you're no longer on a beach in paradise, a foray into Boston can get pricey. But a savvy bostonist or bostonista knows there is a Boston to be had on a budget.
This week is all about cheap fills - frugal, yet fine, dining on a post-break means.
The mecca of cheap eats for me has always been Border Café. Once you have experienced its boundless chips and salsa, crispy empanadas, fried catfish tacos and seafood burritos - all for less than $10, you will never settle for the fairer, inferior Tex-Mex chains closer to Tufts. Border Café sets the standard for inexpensive dining in Boston because the first rule of eating cheaply is that cheap should only mean it's a bargain, not mediocre.
Pub grub is a sure bet for an inexpensive meal. But the problem with pub grub is that, more often than not, it's the same conventional fare and too greasy to be tasty. Charlie's Kitchen in Harvard Square is the exception and is probably as economical as it gets. A burger, tuna melt or lobster roll and fries will set you back about $5 to $7.
But if you really want a value meal, the only place to go for a burger and fries is Mr. Bartley's. Bartley's is a Harvard Square institution. Burgers have political namesakes, and the sandwiches are dubbed for local colleges. Yup, you can order The Tufts - grilled chicken teriyaki and pineapple with a creamy milkshake or root beer float. The portions are as big as your head, so you will get your money's worth in leftovers.
If you don't want to spring for the $1.70 T ride into Harvard, there are plenty of cheap fills close to home. Redbones pretty much makes every one of my lists, and with first-time diner and student discounts, this is no exception.
Just a ten minute stroll from Davis on Mass Ave. is Thai restaurant Sugar and Spice. Sugar and Spice has colorful, modern décor with comfy booths that look out on Mass Ave. and excellent friendly service. The menu is typical - pad thai, fried rice and spring rolls. But unlike other small Thai restaurants I've tried, the food at Sugar and Spice is always fresh and not too greasy or MSG. And with the days (hopefully) warming up, smoothies at Sugar and Spice are a must. I usually get melon, lychee or green tea bubble tea!
Although Diva seems to be the popular spot in the area for Indian, the prices make it a little out of a poor college student's culinary league. When I need my fix of naan and samosas, I like to walk down to Passage to India in Porter. An appetizer, entrée and naan split with my dinner companion is only about $10!
Lastly, I'm not sure if this counts as "ethnic," but Mike's in Davis is where I head for a big comforting bowl of carbs and nice cold tap beer. The counter style service means you save on tip, and it's practical for dining in large groups or when you are too cheap to pay for your date. With the instillation of a full bar, you can start and end your night at Mike's, and a free ride home on the Joey is just a stumble away.
Robin Alberts-Marigza is a senior majoring in psychology. She can be reached at Robin.Alberts_Marigza@tufts.edu.
