Best Restaurants near Tufts

Tufts University, a leader in American higher education, is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, north of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Other than possessing a diverse and highly personalized approach to education, Somerville is home to a wide array of hip restaurants, coffeehouses, and bars worth traveling across the country. Here are some of our recommendations for restaurants everyone should visit when they are in Somerville.

Semolina Kitchen & Bar

Semolina is a great place if you are looking for a dish of fresh pasta, a flavourful pizza, and ginormous entrees! Semolina offers a great atmosphere for you to sit down and enjoy your meal - the decoration is trendy, the drinks are unique and the outdoor space is just perfect for a lovely date or a gathering.

Picante Taqueria

If you are looking to grab some Mexican food in Somerville, Picante Taqueria is your destination. This place has the best (I would say) taco in town as well as burritos, tortas and so much more. Try out Picante next time when you have a hangout with your friends!

Ball Square Cafe

Ball Square Cafe is a HUGE must for every Bostonian. The price can be a little higher than other places but the big portion is more than enough to make up for it!

Boston Burger Co

One of the bigger franchises, Boston Burger Co, has locations in Boylston and Davis Square, making sure Bostonians near and far can grab their signature burger, The 420. Definitely try this place out if you are in the mood for a delicious burger! You’ll find every dish is cooked to perfection and the ice cream, as well as milkshakes, are worth the try.

Bob’s Italian Foods

Believe it or not, this restaurant has been around for over 85 years and still, there are reasons for people to love this place, especially Tufts students. This is a restaurant you must try when you are craving a delicious Italian sandwich. Bob’s serves huge portions with a ton of meat. You can even shop at Bob’s for great Italian ingredients to make your own Italian masterpiece at home.

Anna’s Taqueria

Craving for late-night munchies? Try Anna’s Taqueria out! This place is open from 9 AM to 11:30 PM every day for you to enjoy their flavorful burritos. And like many of Anna’s customers have said on Yelp, you have not had a quesadilla until you have been to Anna's.

Redbones

Not sure why, but there are few barbecue joints in Boston, so many Bostonians have a hard time dealing with their BBQ cravings. Not at Tufts though, because Redbones had been standing strong after over 30 years in the business, smack in the middle of Somerville. With sandwiches, ribs, barbecue and more, the portions are huge and the meat is aplenty. One 3-meat combo is plenty filling for 2 and leaves you craving for more as soon as you leave!

Dave’s Fresh Pasta

Dave’s is known for their fresh pasta, ravioli, sauces, and more. They also have great sandwiches that you’ll wish you had tried sooner. The shop may be overwhelming for you at first because there is so much to look at, but everything on their menu is amazing.

Yume Wo Katare

Before COVID happened, there was always a line down the street for this ramen. At Yume Wo Katare, you can find the richest, fattiest, most flavorful bowl of ramen you will ever eat.

As far as the menu is concerned, there is only one dish sold here: pork ramen. The pork pieces are tender and fatty, and the umami broth gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

JP Licks

Having just celebrated its 40th anniversary, J.P. Licks is Boston’s go-to for Ice Cream, and it’s super close to Tufts. At J.P, you can find satisfaction in every flavor -  even for people who are dairy-free.

Is this enough for your weekend yet? Have fun exploring great places and don’t forget to browse an amazing apartment near Tufts University on Nobee!