Chicken parms getting you down? Don't want to pay fifteen percent extra for Espresso delivery? Why not get off campus for a meal! You know you should, and off-campus dining is less of a hassle than you may think. Dining away from Tufts can be quick, enjoyable, and yes, even cheap.
We chose to explore Fusion Express for a variety of reasons, including its affordable price, easy accessibility, and all-around yumminess. Located on Elm Street, Fusion is just a two minute walk from the center of Davis Square. The short trip is well worth the result. Fusion delivers a multitude of high-quality pan-Asian dishes that appeal to carnivores and vegetarians alike.
On this trip we had the Crispy Pad Thai and some old reliable Chicken Fried Rice. Both proved to be good choices, both in quality and quantity, and certainly worked with our small budget. The Crispy Pad Thai (a mere $8.95) arrived as a mountain of pan fried rice noodles, accompanied by generous chunks of chicken breast and a side of Asian vegetables. The kitchen was very accommodating to special requests -- they were willing to adjust the standard options of meat, sauce, and spiciness to suit our desires.
The Chicken Fried Rice (less than a Dewick lunch at $7.95) likewise was excellent, since the steaming pile avoided the overwhelming greasiness that the dish often falls prey to. The pieces of chicken were also abundant here, appearing in both sizes and quantity that were truly remarkable. Served with a small green salad, unless the diner is excessively ravenous, this one meal could easily stretch itself into a second.
In terms of variety, Fusion offers an array of enticing dishes that range in price from the Spicy Tofu Pad Thai ($7.25) to the Tempura Soft Shell Crab ($14.95), not including the super economically efficient method of choosing from Fusion's diverse Appetizer, Soup, and Salad options, which range from the Vegetable Soup ($2.95) to the Combination Platter (only $9.95, including chicken and beef satay, fried shumai, fried dumpling, crispy triangle, and vegetable spring rolls).
Prices (as well as portions) are lower on the lunch menu, so it would definitely be an alternate choice to the campus center.
Fusion Express is also a pleasant dining experience because of the unique atmosphere the restaurant creates. Intimate, but rarely crowded, the small main dining room has recently been redecorated, featuring a new lighting scheme and delightfully kitschy art. Attire rests somewhere between Orleans and Underbones: one needn't be in full make-up or pressed slacks, but we're not talking bar-b-que, napkin-tucked-in-the-shirt either.
Although our uniform for the evening consisted of jeans and t-shirts, Fusion's mood does allow for more formality of dress; certainly on weekends one's style could adopt a "night out in Davis" theme. The ambience was completed by the evening's soundtrack, a collection of eighties favorites, including "St Elmo's Fire", "Highway to the Danger Zone", and "Walk Like an Egyptian." It made a delightfully bizarre meal accompaniment, and we couldn't have been more thrilled.
The only disappointing aspect of our dinner was the service. While our food arrived quickly and our server was quite hospitable, she could have been more attentive at the beginning and end of the meal. This was, however, anomalous with our previous Fusion experiences, when the service was extremely efficient.
Overall, Fusion Express presents a fun, inexpensive, and delicious alternative to on campus dining. So if you're looking to escape from Dewick, Fusion Express is an excellent choice for both lunch and dinner. Visit Fusion for lunch Monday-Saturday 11:30 am-3:00 pm or dinner from Monday-Sunday 4:30 pm - 10:30 pm. With these hours and prices we say goodbye to Carmichael, Hotung, and the rest - get out in Davis and enjoy Fusion Express.
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