Definition of Dive

Informal. a dingy or disreputable bar or nightclub.

via Dictionary.com

And I’m adding restaurant to the list!

My friend, Sara, had been talking about this place forever. “Gas station Mexican,” she called it. A Mexican restaurant inside a gas station. Ew! Why would anyone want to go there.

Sara and I both take issue with the fact that so many people are obsessed with Anna’s, while we find their food to be slightly bland and boring. She promised me this was a million times better. I trusted her and went.

And oh my god. This was the best burrito I’ve ever had. The “restaurant” is inside Grampy’s Gas Station and I suggest getting take-out and bringing your Mexican food to eat somewhere else.

Gas station Mexican might sound a little sketchy, but really? I cannot wait to go back!

You’ll probably find yourself hanging out in the over-filled, dingy basement and you’ll think “ew, what am I doing here?” But at the end of the night, you’ll realize how much fun you had.

Seriously though, brunch here is really, really good. People look at me funny all the time when I tell them this, but then they end up agreeing. So if you can’t stand the crowds on a crazy Friday night, check it out for brunch on Saturday morning.

When I first moved to Coolidge Corner, I walked by Mr. Sushi and laughed out loud. “I would NEVER eat at a sushi place that calls itself Mr. Sushi,” I said.

Then someone told me it was actually pretty good. I had a craving for sushi one night and didn’t want to spend a whole lot so I took a risk and picked some up. And it actually was quite good.

It’s definitely not the best sushi I’ve ever had, but the menu is extensive and it’s a really good value, so I have to admit, I’m a pretty big fan of Mr. Sushi.

I contemplated not including Little Stevie’s on this guide because I am that embarrassed that I go there. It’s bad. Really bad. So bad that I sometimes question the safety of the place due to the sketchiness of the people there. 

But honestly, sometimes after a long night at the bars, you need some pizza. Boston is notorious for how early everything closes, so the fact that this place is open until 3 a.m. means I have to love it. And it’s right down the street from one of my favorite bars, so I find myself here more often than I’d like to admit.

The pizza isn’t bad either. The parmesan, hot pepper flakes, etc. are tied down to the counters (in case you were thinking about stealing) and I would probably make sure you use the bathroom before you leave the bar because from what I hear, Little Stevie’s bathrooms are not OK.

I can proudly say that after attending Emerson College for 2.5 years, I only stepped foot into The Tam 5 times. I avoided that place with everything I had, but yet, I totally see its appeal. One of the more dirtier bars I’ve entered, with some super shady clientele, The Tam is not for the weak of heart.

However, I have had some rousing class discussions over beers at The Tam, and I hear they have a mean trivia night.

You know it’s bad when a random guy stops you as your sipping on your beer and says, “Wow, you’re daring. You’re drinking something in the BHP that didn’t come out of a sealed container.” OK, he had a point. The place is pretty nasty inside and God only knows what kind of alcohol they’re serving.

First you might think, “but it’s in Beacon Hill, it’s gotta be nice.” Well, it’s not. But it is a whole lot of fun. My friends and I always say, “Ew, we will never go to BHP again,” but somehow we often end up there and always have an absolute blast.

Best part of BHP? They have a basketball hoop game (among a couple other games) and vending machines with tons of snacks (disclaimer: I have NO idea how old the snacks are!).

So, despite what you hear about BHP, and how it looks inside, you’ll probably end up having an awesome time there.

From the outside, it looks like Galleria Umberto is an old shut-down restaurant. Well, it’s open and booming. When I worked in an office right near the North End, we would often have someone pick up food for us at Galleria Umberto and bring it back.

I don’t usually enjoy square-shaped pizza, but at this place, it’s delicious. And costs something like 50 cents a slice. I am also obsessed with their ham and cheese paninis, which are super, super cheap. The arancini are also delicious.

You must get to Galleria Umberto early because the line gets crazy-long and they close the restaurant when they run out of food (usually around 2 p.m.). Amazing, cheap Italian food? Who can resist?

Yes, it’s located in a food court. And in Downtown Crossing at that. The first time I walked in, I almost changed my mind and walked right back out. But the line was so long, which to me, is usually an indication that it’s going to be good.

So I hopped in line and prepared myself for a long wait. But this line moved faster than I’ve ever seen a line move in my life. When I got to the counter, the man handed me a falafel ball dipped in hummus and took my order. I barely had time to take a bite of my falafel before he had my sandwich made.

If you like falafel, you need to go to this place. Do not let the fact that it’s located in a food court in Downtown Crossing deter you! They take a lavash wrap and stuff it full of hummus, falafel, veggies, anything you want.

There’s a little counter in the food court you can eat at, but I suggest taking your sandwich, or whatever you get, to the Commons across the street and sitting on a bench there.

The Shang

Sometimes when you’re leaving a bar late-night, you’re craving pizza. And sometimes you’re craving Chinese food. If it’s Chinese food you’re craving, Shangri-la, or “The Shang” as we affectionately call it, is the place to go.

It’s not a place I’d ever go for dinner, but when it’s 2 a.m. and you’re hungry, it’s perfect. Especially the scallion pancakes and chicken fingers. The Shang used to be a whole lot cooler when they served alcohol long beyond 2 a.m., but they were recently fined huge for breaking the law and no longer take the risk.