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Old 06-12-2017, 09:01 PM
 
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
3,649 posts, read 4,499,104 times
Reputation: 5939

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Evening all. My company in RTP but HQ'd in Cambridge is sending me up there from June 19th-July 2nd. I'm staying at the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel. They won't be reimbursing travel on my free time or providing a rental (10 min walk from hotel to company on 2nd st) but they will be reimbursing all my meals up to $50 a night for dinner, $25 for lunch, $15 for breakfast. The hotel has breakfast so I'll just be catching a plate there every morning and I'll figure something for lunch, but...

$50 for dinner for 1 person, feel like I could hit some pretty decent places. I would like some suggestions. I live in the Raleigh area which has a decent number of restaurants but not much in the way of authentic ethnic cuisine (except for Indian, Chinese and mexican)...i love ethnic cuisine. I've already decided on a Puerto Rican joint called Vejigantes in Boston, but would like suggestions for middle eastern and African. I dislike seafood. The $50 I'll make that the price of the meal, I can tip 20% out of pocket.

Also a bit confused on public transportation. Taxis are probably too expensive. I'm not sure how extensive the subway network is there, the website is confusing. How much is a subway ride? A bus ride? I Google mapped Marlow to Vejigantes via public transportation and it was talking bout "the Orange line" the whole way, didn't include a price.

Pretty sure I'm going to hit the Science Museum on my first free day. I have famnily in Framingham so I'll be visiting them at least 1 or 2 days that first weekend. Any other suggestions for things to do or see after 5 pm?
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Old 06-12-2017, 09:28 PM
 
Location: Cleveland and Columbus OH
11,052 posts, read 12,445,509 times
Reputation: 10385
MBTA.com > Information on Fares and Gifts

2.25 train, 1.70 bus.
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Old 06-12-2017, 09:45 PM
 
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
3,649 posts, read 4,499,104 times
Reputation: 5939
Okay thanks for the amount. The Google maps map looks easy enough. A relatively direct route from my hotel to this particular restaurant apparently. Do I have to buy some metro card or can I pay by the ride at a kiosk or? I Haven't been to a NE metro in years.
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Old 06-12-2017, 10:25 PM
 
Location: Cleveland and Columbus OH
11,052 posts, read 12,445,509 times
Reputation: 10385
Quote:
Originally Posted by LordHelmit View Post
Okay thanks for the amount. The Google maps map looks easy enough. A relatively direct route from my hotel to this particular restaurant apparently. Do I have to buy some metro card or can I pay by the ride at a kiosk or? I Haven't been to a NE metro in years.
How much do you think you'll use it?

You can get a card at most convenience stores and put money on there or on machines at the station. If you have to use the t for going to work stuff, consider getting the week pass (unavailable on machines, but you can tell the person st 7-11 or wherever that you want the 7 day week put on).

For getting places in the urban Boston area, especially if you're more focused on Cambridge , the t is pretty straightforward I guess. You won't come to hate it in only 2 weeks.
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Old 06-12-2017, 11:57 PM
 
Location: New England
2,190 posts, read 2,232,387 times
Reputation: 1969
I would not get a rental car. You can use the red line, your two feet, and Uber/Lyft (usually cheaper than a taxi) to get around.

There are lots of dining options in Cambridge/Somerville. I'd recommend looking at Yelp or Tripadvisor.
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Old 06-13-2017, 05:51 AM
 
3,211 posts, read 2,119,515 times
Reputation: 3449
For a casual bar atmosphere and traditional Lebanese food, along with classic American fare I would walk to the Middle East in Central Square.
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Old 06-13-2017, 06:21 AM
 
Location: Woburn, MA / W. Hartford, CT
6,125 posts, read 5,097,494 times
Reputation: 4107
Quote:
Originally Posted by LordHelmit View Post
Evening all. My company in RTP but HQ'd in Cambridge is sending me up there from June 19th-July 2nd. I'm staying at the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel. They won't be reimbursing travel on my free time or providing a rental (10 min walk from hotel to company on 2nd st) but they will be reimbursing all my meals up to $50 a night for dinner, $25 for lunch, $15 for breakfast. The hotel has breakfast so I'll just be catching a plate there every morning and I'll figure something for lunch, but...

$50 for dinner for 1 person, feel like I could hit some pretty decent places. I would like some suggestions. I live in the Raleigh area which has a decent number of restaurants but not much in the way of authentic ethnic cuisine (except for Indian, Chinese and mexican)...i love ethnic cuisine. I've already decided on a Puerto Rican joint called Vejigantes in Boston, but would like suggestions for middle eastern and African. I dislike seafood. The $50 I'll make that the price of the meal, I can tip 20% out of pocket.

Also a bit confused on public transportation. Taxis are probably too expensive. I'm not sure how extensive the subway network is there, the website is confusing. How much is a subway ride? A bus ride? I Google mapped Marlow to Vejigantes via public transportation and it was talking bout "the Orange line" the whole way, didn't include a price.

Pretty sure I'm going to hit the Science Museum on my first free day. I have famnily in Framingham so I'll be visiting them at least 1 or 2 days that first weekend. Any other suggestions for things to do or see after 5 pm?
I'm by no means an expert, but I can recommend the few Middle Eastern favorites I've been to in the area, all well within your budget:

The Helmand Restaurant in Cambridge MA

Cafe Barada

Istanbul'lu.com "enjoy The food"
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Old 06-13-2017, 06:51 AM
 
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,937 posts, read 36,951,955 times
Reputation: 40635
Lyft or Uber ride is super cheap.

Sarma in Somerville (Turkish) and Ariana in Allston (Afghani).
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Old 06-13-2017, 07:13 AM
 
1,899 posts, read 1,403,235 times
Reputation: 2303
Quote:
Originally Posted by htfdcolt View Post
The Helmand is an excellent recommendation and right around the corner from the OP's hotel.
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Old 06-13-2017, 07:23 AM
 
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,937 posts, read 36,951,955 times
Reputation: 40635
The Helmand has good food, but unless they've had a dramatic shift, crummy service.
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