Though Tufts students usually first think of Davis Square when they think of off−campus dining and cafes, another square also offers a collection of eateries and coffee shops: Ball Square.
Located just past the Powderhouse Rotary and lining the intersection of Boston Avenue and Broadway, Ball Square is only a few minutes from campus and is actually closer to campus than Davis Square, which explains why many Tufts students are already regulars at the handful of Ball Square cafés, bars and delis.
Even the recession does not seem to have affected some businesses, like True Grounds, a café on Broadway that is popular with many Tufts students who live in the area.
Even at a quiet time, the cafe, adorned with mahogany varnishes and homey furniture, is home to many customers. One might attribute its popularity to its imported Terroir coffee, which boasts exotic blends from across the globe — anything from "La Flor Del Café" from Antigua to "Golden Mandheling" from Sumatra.
Although coffee is True Grounds' forte, the café also has a selection of foods. It serves five varieties of breakfast burritos, while those looking for a fuller meal can opt for salads or sandwiches.
It is the café's mix of homemade, eclectic food, coffee and reasonable prices that seem to draw many residents and Tufts students alike. Tufts senior Rebecca Safier, a regular at the café, attributes her frequent visits to its location and relaxed atmosphere.
"It's really close by to where I live, and they let you sit and study as long as you want," Safier said. "Not to mention that the pastries are great, and they provide you with an endless supply of caffeine."
Also in the area are Sound Bites and Ball Square Café. From afar, they are two establishments that look very similar, separated only by a wall. But, there is a controversial history behind these two cafés.
Yasser Mirza, the owner of Sound Bites, originally worked in the space occupied by Ball Square Café, which did not exist at the time. In 2007, after ten years of business, landlords increased the rent for the space, forcing Mirza to move to the adjacent space to start over. As soon as Mirza made the move, the landlords' son, Mike Moccia, jumped on the opportunity to open his own establishment, now known as Ball Square Café. It is now housed in a smaller space and has been given a modern treatment: exposed brick walls, a new glass front, tiled floors and granite tables.
Despite the renovation, however, the café has not exactly been a start in a new direction. The menus and prices of both restaurants are similar. Pancakes, which are Sound Bites' specialty — Boston Magazine rated their pancakes as the "Best of Boston" in 2003 — come in exotic creations such as chocolate−chip coconut and triple−berry. Ball Square Café, however, offers the same variations of pancakes.
If one is tired of long waits and avoiding the potential feuds between restaurant owners, Kelly's Diner is just up the street. It is a traditional '50s diner with the works: a retro decor in a faux train car with wrought iron and chrome finishes.
At the end of the block is Eat at Jumbo's, a small restaurant offering takeout and delivery that accepts Jumbocash and serves pizza, calzones, wings and sandwiches. Owner Grover Taylor, who started the business a year ago, said that the eatery still receives "excellent business" despite being in the midst of a recession.
"We have an excellent location, so we pretty much own Ball Square at night," Taylor, who hopes to open more outlets in the future, said.
Besides these four restaurants, there is also Victor's Deli, which serves similar fare, and Lyndell's Bakery, a 123−year−old establishment that boasts a cake−decorating business, as well as pastries that are baked fresh everyday.
For those over 21, Ball Square Pub and Grille is right next to Kelly's Diner. Ball Square also features a fine wines convenience store that holds bottles with values up to $300. General Manager of Ball Square Fine Wines Dan Lech said that the store also offers fine food products such as cheeses and olive oil, but the alcoholic beverages are usually the most frequently bought, especially from the Tufts community.
"Lots of graduate students come here, and we have never gotten any underage attempts," said Lech, who insists that he checks the IDs of the students who come to his shop.
With the diverse shops offered by the neighborhood, one should not be left with the excuse not to venture out of Tufts because Davis Square is just too far away.
