Before midterms last semester, I desperately needed to get off campus. My body and soul were begging for a change of scenery — anything but my usual rotation of Tisch, Fletcher and my dorm. My mind, on the other hand, knew that if I stopped studying, I would no doubt fail every test. As my pent-up energy started to leak out in the form of aggressive pacing, unnecessary snacking and snapping at my well-meaning friends, I came up with a solution: convincing my friend Kellan to escape with me to anywhere outside of Medford or Somerville. My goal became to simply find a place where I could buy an overpriced (but absolutely necessary) coffee and actually lock in.
We ended up wandering through Harvard Square, prowling Google Maps for a good study spot. I had planned to take us to Faro Cafe, a cute-looking coffee shop just a seven-minute walk from the Harvard MBTA station. Unfortunately, when we got there, we were greeted by approximately eight bajillion signs informing us that the cafe was laptop-free and that we would not, under any circumstances, be locking ourselves in there with our electronics to do homework for the rest of the day.
While I went back to Faro last week and would recommend it as a place to bring friends visiting the area, it was not the place to go when in desperate need of a study spot. Next, I picked a cafe a 12-minute walk from Faro. By the time Kellan and I got there, we decided to make it work, neither of us wanting to continue hiking around Harvard Square with backpacks full of schoolwork.
From the moment I stepped into Asaro Bakery and Cafe, I knew I had found the perfect place to hunker down with a snack, a drink and a pile of assignments. The white-painted brick walls and light wood furniture were welcoming, and the lighting was soft but bright enough to read by. The restaurant was loud, and all the tables were packed to the point where we had to hover beside a couple who were leaving to grab their table before anyone else could. But the noise made it better. The hum of conversation and clatter of dishes felt energizing rather than distracting, like the collective sound of everyone else getting things done. I’m not saying Asaro is the perfect place to study — it tends to be pretty rowdy, and the tables are definitely small — but it works great for me. It’s become a spot I go to alone or with friends, a place that feels like my unofficial coffee shop.
The first time I went, I got an iced vanilla latte (a typical teenage girl order, I know) and a potato börek that was flaky, savory and delicious. Now, having visited Asaro at least six times, I have changed my order a bit and explored the menu. Their pastries are perfect: super buttery and well-layered, with fun options like pistachio croissants, sweet bread pudding and an assortment of cookies and other desserts. They have a display case with Basque cheesecakes that tempt me every time I stand by them while waiting to order.
My new order, though (the one I’m planning on sticking with for the rest of my life), is the Not So Classic Breakfast Sandwich. It’s a small loaf of fresh challah filled with egg, whipped goat cheese, sun-dried tomato, caramelized onion and mixed greens, and it is honestly heaven on earth. I swear I could die having just eaten that sandwich and be perfectly content. I’ve also started ordering their mocha. The chocolate is rich but not too sweet (I’m a dark chocolate lover) and pairs perfectly with Asaro’s coffee blend. They also have a house-made Jerusalem bagel paired with tuna salad, hard-boiled egg, hummus, chopped salad, sun-dried tomato, labane, za’atar and olive oil that looks incredible every time I see it on other people’s tables.
The place is a bit overpriced, definitely more than a college student wants to spend on a study day, but that’s becoming typical in this day and age. The coffees are around $6 each, and my beloved sandwich is $13.75, which feels almost justified for something that filling. I usually eat half and save the rest for later, either as a reward once I finish my work or for when I make the trek back to campus.
Since that miserable midterm season, I’ve made the trip to Asaro at least once a month. If I don’t, I’m convinced my sleep paralysis demon will take the form of a Not So Classic Breakfast Sandwich and haunt me until I cave. The journey is definitely a trek: Davis shuttle to the Red Line and then a walk through Harvard’s campus. The trip isn’t glamorous, but it gets me off campus and gives me a break from cramming for art history or economics. I love Asaro, and I think it’s definitely worth the trip and the money at least once. I already have my next outing planned and am fully prepared to drop $20 on an unnecessary but life-changing sandwich and coffee.
