Bombay Club 57 JFK St, second floor, Harvard Square tel 617/661-8100. One of the very best of Cambridge's many Indian restaurants, with a good-value lunch buffet.

Cambridge Sail Loft 1 Memorial Drive, Kendall Square tel 617/225-2222. Fine array of inexpensive seafood near MIT.

Dalí 415 Washington St, Somerville tel 617/661-3254. Excellent tapas and Spanish entrees amid decor nearly as surreal as its namesake. Often crowded, the lively sangria bar makes the long waits tolerable.

East Coast Grill 1271 Cambridge St, Inman Square tel 617/491-6568. Fairly pricey, but tasty southern-style food - BBQ and the like - in a good restaurant area.

Elephant Walk 2067 Massachusetts Ave, Porter Square tel 617/492-6900 and 900 Beacon St, Boston tel 617/247-1500. Their French fare is very good, but the adventurous Cambodian side of the menu steals the show: try the excellent poulet dhomei - chicken with basil, bamboo shoots and pineapple.

John Harvard's Brew House 33 Dunster St, Harvard Square tel 617/868-3585. Cozy brewpub, serving a good menu with exciting little twists on American grill standards. $30 should suffice for a big meal with a couple of drinks.

Mr Bartley's Gourmet Burgers 1246 Massachusetts Ave, Harvard Square tel 617/354-6559. Delicious, shamelessly unhealthy burgers and other diner fare served in an Americana-festooned atmosphere.

Redbone's 55 Chester St, Somerville tel 617/628-2200. Excellent, inexpensive ribs, chicken and catfish with a big range of vegetable side dishes. Just off Davis Square, two "T" stops from Harvard Square.

Rhythm & Spice 315 Massachusetts Ave, Central Square tel 617/497-0977. Lively restaurant with a young clientele not far from MIT, serving good-value Caribbean food.