Hungry? Work at Harvard? I do! A Guide to Lunching in Cambridge.

Admittedly, nobody likes paying $7 for a sandwich. Those people have also probably never been to Oxford Spa, where a $7 sandwich is worth a million bucks. Not to mention the fact that this place just has SPIRIT! Try the Thesis (mozz and tomats, yum!), or if you like a little meat, the Dissertation is the same thing, plus prosciutto.

Nothing better than this simple lunch spot…fresh pastas, tasty sandwiches and my favorite thing of all – curly fries! The best spot is their sidewalk smoke-free seating, but if you can’t get a spot, don’t despair – the A/C inside works just fine! Try the vegetarian pesto and mozzarella sandwich!

Deliciously retro, deliciously greasy, deliciously perfect for lunch. Get a burger, or better yet, get wings. You will not regret it. Okay, you might, but your belly won’t.

I have three words for you: yasai katsu curry. I first fell in love with Wagamama abroad, so when I moved here and discovered that there was not one, but two in the Boston area, I was in seventh heaven. The curry, the noodles, the long bench-style seating…what’s not to love, seriously?

So Legal is Legal – but this particular one has an awesome outdoor bar/paper plate seafood spot with a limited menu in a perfect people-watching spot. Plus, it’s at the Charles Hotel – gotta pee? Yeah, you totally get to use the fancy third-floor HSH bathrooms…awesome.

Leo’s is grunge at its most awesome. While it’s totally a breakfast kind of diner, the lunch ain’t too bad either. Best part is, it’s the kind of place you expect to run into all sorts of unsavory characters, and yet, most of the patrons are typical Cantabrigians…looks like everyone knows how awesome Leo’s is.

I love Wrapro – tasty, cheap falafel, sweet sweet baklava, wonderful service…definitely ask for extra hummus on whatever you get – reason twofold: the hummus itself is incredible, and they um, like to skimp. I told you.

Yeah, yeah, another chain. Yeah, Bertucci’s. I know, I know. Bertucci’s is totally lame. It’s also totally great on a work day when you only have an hour or so and want reliable service and affordable, decent food. Sue me.

This is the fancy place Harvard undergrads take their visiting parents. Yeah, it’s expensive. Yeah, it’s tasty. And again – in the Charles Hotel. Love those bathrooms!

Charlie’s is the kind of kid that only a mother could love. Still, its retro feel and greasy waffle fries draw in a good crowd for lunch and dinner, and the beer garden…okay, maybe you don’t want to hit the beer garden up for lunch (unless your employer’s cool like that), but you definitely need to go at some point. We can hang, it’ll be great.

So it’s a chain, so what? Although Beantown’s got a few good burritos (see link below), Chipotle actually ranks among the best. And as a lunch spot, it can’t be beat – $6 for a tasty, HUGE burrito? Um, I’ll take it!

Another $7+ sandwich place – but get over it, you’re making the folks at Stuff White People Like proud! Hi-Rise specializes in bread, sandwiches, tea…everything. They’re jacks of all trades. They’re magnificent. Go. Now.

While Cardullo’s is definitely more shoppe than sandwich spot, I wouldn’t hesitate to hop on over for a European-style sandwich of some sort. Bonus points since you can take your pick of all sorts of international candies for dessert!

Hoooooooly tasty. Tanjore is my favorite Indian restaurant in the greater Boston area – their aloo naan is TO DIE FOR, and their service is quite fantastic. I literally get drunk off their food. Mmm.