While most Tufts students prefer to praise the food scene in Davis Square (looking right at you, Boston Burger Company), they often overlook the incredibly underrated Teele Square. Not only are there tons of great restaurants in Teele, but it is only about a 5-10 minute walk from most student housing, closer than Davis Square or most other food options.
There are lots of awesome sites for any foodie, but these are the ones that you don’t want to miss:
Istanbul’lu
Photo courtesy of snowpea&bokchoi on flickr.com
Istanbul’lu is my new favorite restaurant, no joke. This tiny Turkish restaurant is full of charm. The smell that hits you when you walk in is simply beautiful, and the food that follows even better. Istanbul’lu offers Turkish tapas (small plates) and full dishes. It’s a little pricey for college students, but a really great meal of killer Middle Eastern food.
Magnificent Muffin
Photo by Alexa Ornstein
The name says it all: if you’re looking for a great breakfast for less than $5, look no further than Mag Muff. This tiny bakery has muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee (what more could you need?) and is approximately a 5 minute walk from Lewis. The muffins are usually about the size of a large grapefruit/small cantaloupe, and come in 13 different flavors.
#SpoonTip: Mag Muff is cash-only, so make sure to swing by an ATM before heading over.
Sabur
Photo courtesy of saburrestaurant.com
Sabur is niiiiiiice. This is the place to take your parents when they visit if you don’t feel like going into Harvard Square or Boston. Everything on the menu here is sure to be really good Italian/Mediterranean food. I recommend the hummus and the gnocchi – both are unbelievably amazing.
Masala
Photo courtesy of @Tim Sackton on flickr.com
To be honest, I’ve only ever ordered delivery from Masala (tandoori chicken makes great snow day dinner), but it is always delicious. Definitely get the garlic naan, because delicious soft bread only gets better with garlic. Also, for those of you that appreciate the beauty of a cheap margarita, Masala offers a ridiculous version for only $3. But before you go, make sure to check out the ultimate dishes to get at an Indian restaurant.
True Bistro
Photo courtesy of @ursamajor on flickr.com
True Bistro is the epitome of a cute vegan cafe. Speaking as a non-vegan/vegetarian, I thoroughly enjoy True Bistro, but this is a good option for when you’re tired of Dewick’s vegan offerings. Keep in mind though, this spot is on the pricier side simply because the ingredients are so high-quality. Hungry for more? Check out some other great vegan restaurants around Boston.
In addition to these amazing restaurants, Teele Square has a variety of minimarts, a laundromat, liquor store, and a fitness studio. So in the future, take advantage of Teele Square!