Who better to recommend the best local restaurants and bars than our very own beloved social chairs? Between planning sections events and small group dinners, these tireless servants have explored Cambridge and Boston nightlife with inexhaustible drive. The Harbus recently caught up with several of the EC social chairs to find out their top picks for local dining and entertainment.
Valerie Bockstette (OA)
Favorite Bar: Enormous Room
Best night to go: weeknights
Description: Middle Eastern style bar in Central Square with big comfy couches and pillows and an amazing assortment of treats and drinks
Favorite Restaurant: Central Kitchen
Type of Food: Continental
Price Range: Moderate
Description: Located in Central Square, Central Kitchen never fails to please. The menu changes all the time to include only the freshest seasonal ingredients and I have never had a bad dish or dining experience there.
Best Place for Brunch: Daedalus
Description: Located on Mt. Auburn Street (near Harvard Square). The eggs benedict with smoked salmon and avocado are out of this world!
Best Place for Dessert: Finale
Description: Dessert Caf‚ in Harvard Square
Kevin Colket (OI)
Favorite Japanese Restaurant: Oishii Japanese Restaurant in Chestnut Hill
Description: One of the top-10 rated restaurants of any type in the entire US according to Zagat (29 out of 30 food ranking). Chef Ting San is one of the most respected sushi chefs in the world and loved by many HBS students and professors. Sectionmates agree. Mamoon Hamid (OI) added, “even though the space is small (15 seats) this place serves huge portions of sushi that is fresher & more delicious than any other place in the world (yes, including Japan). It’s like Nobu without the attitude and at half the price. “#35″ is a must for any sushi jock – it’s Oishii (delicious).”
Jillian Hirasawa (OA)
Favorite Bar: Scullers
Description: Best Jazz music in the city
Favorite Restaurant: Spire, in the Nine-Zero Hotel
Type of Food: Modern Fusion
Price Range: Expensive
Description: This is probably one of the best modern restaurants in Boston – dependable service, excellent quality food, and a great wine list.
Best Place to go Dancing: Mantra
Best night to go: Saturday
Description: Mix between house, techno, and hiphop
Best Place for Brunch: Henrietta’s Table
Price range: $40 per person
Description: An unbelievable, all you can eat spread!
Irene So (OE)
Favorite Bar: Enormous Room
Best night to go: Thursday
Description: Cool, funky music in a hip atmosphere with comfy couches and great snacks
Favorite Restaurant: Dali
Type of Food: Tapas
Price Range: Moderate / expensive
Description: Delicious range of tapas and amazing sangria
Best Place for Dessert: Toscannini’s
Description: The best ice cream in the Square, hands down!
Jen Wilhelmi (OJ)
Favorite Bar: Noir
Because it is open until 2am
Favorite Restaurant: Cambridge One
Type of Food: Great thin crust pizza
Price Range: Moderate
Best Place to go Dancing: 33 downtown
Best night to go: Wednesday nights
Best Places for Brunch: Stephanie’s on Newbury or Panificio on Charles St.
