A taste of the Middle East right in Cambridge. The Middle East is a nightclub and restaurant. I chose to go to this venue twice this past week- once for lunch and then for dinner and a show. The venue itself is broken up into 4 parts- the upstairs back stage, the “ZuZu” restaurant, the Corner bar, and the downstairs concert arena.
Lunch was very quiet, not many people around other than regulars who live nearby. I asked the waitress for a recommendation, and she told me the beef kabab was “a classic” dish. I chose to take her advice and ordered one. Before the food even got to my table, I was struck by how rich the aroma coming from the kitchen was- my mouth was practically drooling. The beef kabab lived up to its heavenly aroma- the beef was juicy and melted in my mouth, the seasoning spices were a perfect blend of heat and flavor. Lunch dishes come with rice, salad, and beans to compliment the main attraction. To top everything off, I washed it all down with a tall glass of tomato juice. Overall, I would rate lunch as filling and worth both the trip up to Cambridge and the money spent. Lunch came to a total of $10 (sans tip- that amount is up to each individual to decide).
My next trip to the Middle East was planned for several reasons- A) I wanted to check out the nightlife atmosphere, B) I wanted to see what dinner had to offer, and C) a friend’s band was performing at the Middle East Upstairs. Dinner was nothing like lunch- the restaurant and bars were packed. I had a 15-minute wait for a table, during which I stood outside and conversed with some of the club-goers. Good tip: the Corner bar occasionally has entertainers, such as belly dancers, performing.
Once my wait was over, I was seated in the crowded restaurant. Definitely not a great date spot, there’s no privacy and too much noise to carry a decent conversation. However, the wait staff was nice and the decor was bold- shades of gold, red, and brown. No crying children, no elderly couples- great place for a person in his/her 20s or 30s to dine and wine.
Instead of asking the waiter for a recommendation, I chose to go with my “gut” instinct while lingering over the menus. I ordered the Black Bean Soup for an appetizer- it wasn’t bad, but it was quite bland. I had to add a generous amount of salt and pepper to the soup. Not a great sign, but I decided to ignore the noise and puny soup- there was still dinner (and maybe dessert) to try.
The main courses were hard to choose from- on paper, they all sounded incredible. Would I choose the grilled fillet of salmon? Grilled lamb chops? Seafood Tagine (aka- seafood medley)? The dish that stood out the most was the Tequila-Cilantro-Lime Shrimp. Any dish with tequila, cilantro, and lime is a winning combination in my book. And the shrimp dish surpassed my expectations- tangy, hot, juicy shrimp that bursts in your mouth served with rice, black beans, and crunchy fried plantains. Dinner made my night great, and I sent my compliments on to the kitchen staff. The meal would not be complete without an accompanying beverage- I selected the Moscow Mule from the extensive cocktail menu, which consisted of vodka, ginger beer, and lime. Delicious drink for a tasty dinner. The appetizer, dinner, and drink came to a total of about $28.
The Middle East is a great spot for the younger crowd- music, dim lights, practically a bar at every corner in the venue. The food gets my stamp of approval, though I would recommend skipping the appetizer at dinner and just starting off with an exotic concoction off the bar menu.
The Middle East is located at 474 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, MA. The venue website is http://www.mideastclub.com. On the site, there are lists of upcoming bands playing both up- and downstairs, as well as menus for the restaurant. The easiest ways to get there are: take the Redline T to the Central Square stop (the club is located less than a block away) OR take the #1 Bus (travels from Harvard Square to Dudley Station via Mass Ave) and get off at Central Square. To drive there is pointless, as there isn’t much parking.
