Somerville and Cambridge are shaped by their squares, but some of the best spots live in the in-between — the places that don’t quite belong to any one neighborhood. This guide gives all the places in no man’s land the spotlight they deserve.
Dalí Restaurant and Tapas Bar
This is without question my favorite restaurant in Somerville, and honestly, it might be my favorite overall. It’s so good I was almost tempted to keep it to myself. I wanted to have my college graduation dinner there this year, but then — true story — my younger sister had already claimed it for her high school graduation dinner. Dalí is a Spanish restaurant on Washington Street in Somerville that is famous for its tapas. The restaurant has an intimate atmosphere, and the best way I can describe it is “golden.” The walls are a soft yellow, complemented by vibrant blue azulejos tiles. It was actually the inspiration for this whole guide. I’d recommend it to friends, and when they asked where it is, I realized how hard it was to explain. It’s kind of an island, not tied to any one square.
Be sure to go with many friends, so you can order one of every tapa on the menu. My top tapas are the gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), pato braseado (roast duck with berry sauce), conejo estofado (braised rabbit with red wine, juniper and garlic) and, best of all, their Gorditas (bacon-wrapped prunes filled with goat cheese and Marcona almonds). If you like seafood, the best option is the pulpo a’feira (grilled octopus with pimentón on potato medallions). For drinks, I always go for the white sangria.
Dalí Restaurant and Tapas Bar is located at 415 Washington St. in Somerville.
Dumpling House
Another favorite of my family, Dumpling House sits on Massachusetts Avenue about halfway between Harvard Square and Central Square. This was the first restaurant I went to after coming back from working in Greece for the summer (I didn’t know how much I craved Chinese food until I went without it for months). They do lose a few points because, sometimes, they’re so busy that they’ll kick you out as soon as you finish, but I keep returning anyway. Like Dalí, it’s best to go with friends so you can order a bunch of different options and eat family-style.
Obviously, be sure to get dumplings at Dumpling House (the mini soup dumplings with pork are the winners for me), but most of their entrees are delicious. The Sweet and Sour Jumbo Shrimp (go Jumbos) and the Dumpling House Crispy Duck are my personal favorites.
The Dumpling House sits at 950 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge.
Community Pedal Power E-bike Lending Library
Opened several years ago, the Community Pedal Power E-bike Lending Library is an organization that works to expand access to electric bicycles in the area surrounding Tufts.
The library has a collection of electric bikes that you can borrow for up to a week at a time. The library sits between Davis, Porter and Powderhouse squares and is about a 20-minute walk from the Tufts campus. Go borrow an electric bike and take advantage of all the great bike paths directly around Tufts — no need to worry about hills! Many of their bikes can carry an adult passenger, so you can bring a friend along for your ride.
The Community Pedal Power E-Bike Lending Library is located near Porter, Davis and Powderhouse, and you receive the address for bike pickup when you borrow one.
THE mushroom shop
On the corner of Central Street and Medford Street on Winter Hill, there is an unusual store that specializes exclusively in mushrooms. THE mushroom shop opened in May 2022 and carries a variety of fresh wild and cultivated mushrooms year-round. They also have a wide selection of dried mushrooms and related specialty products. If you were hoping for a trip (the psychedelic kind), their website will quickly burst that bubble — while they “honestly believe that all mushrooms are magic,” it’s a no-go for psilocybin mushrooms. This shop is for your culinary delight, and their offerings change throughout the year; be sure to check out their website for the latest updated options. If you are interested, they also hold foraging classes that will teach you how to find mushrooms for yourself in the wild. They also sell mushroom teas, which can make a great gift.
The storefront of THE mushroom shop is at 433 Medford St. in Somerville.
Colette Bakery
Just came back from studying abroad in Paris? This small, unassuming French bakery is one of the best places to get French bread and pastries near Tufts. In fact, I’d say it’s the best French bakery in the Boston area — the only real competition being Nouvé Bakery in Lexington. The boulangerie and pâtisserie is relatively new to the scene but has quickly become a favorite in Medford and the surrounding area, especially for their cakes. It’s owned and operated by Nathalie and Franck, a French couple from the South of France. I like the Paris-Brest and cannelé the best, and be sure to go on a weekend so you can try the chocolate and hazelnut entremet. They also have kouign-amann, which can be hard to find around Tufts!
Colette Bakery is located at 509 Main St. in Medford.
Lizard Lounge
The Lizard Lounge is a great basement club for live music that sits underground the Cambridge Common Restaurant & Bar on Massachusetts Avenue, halfway between Porter Square and Harvard Square. It’s dimly lit with red lighting and open Wednesday through Sunday. I won’t say too much about it — the best way to experience it is to go. The club is 21+, so be sure to bring your ID. Pro tip: They serve their full dinner menu until 11 p.m., making it one of the few spots around where you can grab a proper late-night meal.
The Lizard Lounge is underground at 1667 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge.
Oleana
Oleana is one of the top restaurants near Tufts, known for its incredible small plates inspired by Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine. Opened in 2001, it’s home to some high-ranking chefs, and getting a reservation can be tricky — they open bookings 30 days in advance, as noted on their website. That said, they do save some space for walk-ins each night. There’s also lovely outdoor seating. It's a perfect spot for a date or a special occasion. Definitely on the pricier side, but absolutely worth it.
Ana Sortun is the executive chef behind Oleana, and she’s also the force behind Sofra in Belmont and Sarma in Somerville’s Gilman Square. In my opinion, Sofra isn’t quite worth the trip from Tufts, but Sarma is an excellent alternative if you can’t snag a reservation at Oleana.
Oleana is located at 134 Hampshire St. in Cambridge.
Dilboy Pool
Right on the edge of the Tufts campus along Alewife Brook Parkway, there’s a great public outdoor swimming pool. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from downhill on campus, making it a great spot to cool off if you are here for the warmer months. It’s clean, pleasant and never too busy. The pool is mostly used by families and young adults. Also next to the pool are tennis courts, basketball courts, a track and a large turf field.
Find the Dilboy Pool at 110 Alewife Brook Parkway in Somerville.
Oliveira’s Steak House
Every single time I go on the Green Line, I pass by Oliveira’s, and I say to myself, “I have to go back there.” This Brazilian steakhouse in East Somerville has all-you-can-eat rodízio-style meats and buffet options. Servers will stop by your table with mouthwatering pieces of beef and cut them tableside until you tell them to stop. It’s expensive — $39.99 for all-you-can-eat lunch and $49.99 for all-you-can-eat dinner — but go on an empty stomach and stuff yourself with some of the most delicious Brazilian meat you will ever taste. There’s enough great Brazilian food near Tufts for its own guide, but this spot is a pretty unbeatable place to start.
Find Oliveira’s directly next to the East Somerville MBTA Green Line stop at 120 Washington St. in Somerville.
