Tasty Sandwich Shop, Meets Tasty Burger and Bartley's Burger

I was born and raised in  Cambridge and Harvard Sq is at my back door, so I am familiar with all of the eateries and nuances that take place in Harvard Sq.  I remember the first Tasty Sandwich Shop, which is now the Citizen's Bank in Harvard Sq.   Tasty's which was opened 24/7 with a few stools at the counter is where you could have small talk with the cook or the person sitting next to you.  I used to frequent Bartley's when my son was small, because he loved burgers, especially bacon cheese burgers.  Bartley's is an icon in Harvard Sq, because that's a place where all the students would congregate with friends and family, when they were in town and mostly all of the local or national politician's and celebrities  have a burger named after them, like THE MICHELLE OBAMA (she’s hot & spicy) blue cheese burger with cajun seasoning and french fries only at Bartley's where they could pull this off.

I had my first visit to Tasty Burger in Harvard Sq. on Saturday night where I tried the gorgonzola burger with half and half, which included french fries and onion rings.  The burger was very tasty and the service was very fast.  The fries were also delicious, but my only complaint was that the onion rings were to greasy.  I had to take a napkin and dab the rings, which saturated the whole napkin.  Tasty Burger has to remember that Cambridge is a very health conscious city, which was rated in Self Magazine  2012 as the healthiest city of the top 100  metro areas surveyed and we wouldn't want to lose that spot over an onion ring.

If you wanted a political burger and wanted to wait in line you could go to Bartley's Burger and have Mr. or Mrs. Bartley hand you a menu you like you were in the corridor of school waiting patiently in single file to go to your next class. You can also be guaranteed that during election year you can always tell what political party Mr. Bartley affiliates himself with, because he is very vocal and you can be sure it would reach the Cambridge Chronicle or the Boston Globe. I haven't been in Bartley's in years, but I always pass by and see the tourist or the students waiting to get in. You have to admit, Bartley's does have a delicious burger, but you can't get a burger under $10.00, but they do give you fries and a topping to go along with it. On the other hand at Tasty Burger you can get a combo meal with fries and a soda for under $10.00 and if you wanted to add it as a specialty burger, you would just have to add $.50, which is not bad.


Tasty Burger, does sell beer and is open from 11am until 4am for those that want a bite after long study hours or coming in from partying. Bartley's doesn't open on Sunday's and their hours of operation are from 11am - 9pm. Overall I can say that Harvard Sq. does have an array of burger joints, that you can choose from. Oh I just remembered Flat Patties on Brattle Street, also sells burgers, but I will give my critique on them on the flip side, so it's Tasty Burger vs Mr. Bartley's burger and I can honestly say, they are both winners!!

Bon Appetite!

Toscanini's Just Fluff

Toscanini's  is one of my very favorite ice cream haunts. I remember when they first opened on Main St in Cambridge, then they had the M.I.T. store, then a store in Harvard Sq and now they gave gone full circle and back to their roots on Main Street as the only store left.

As we all know Gus did have some tax problems and the great Toscannite's rallied around him and helped out. I don't think I have ever seem Gus with long pants on. Everytime I would go in the store I would say "Lord Jesus, please Gus put on some long pants", because ice cream and Gus' legs did not make for a new flavor of ice cream.

I was dreading the day when I would walk in the store and look up at the board and see some new flavor with Gus' name like Gus with a cherry on top, can you image ewwww, but you could always count on grapenut raisin , vanilla and dark chocolate No.3. You have to try their lastest and greatest "Just Fluff" made with marshmellow fluff hmm...can you just image the flavor and the texture ... to die for!

If you don't see it on the board ask for Adam he usually has a stash in the back...that's just between you and me.

Calling all Dog Owners!!

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TJ Maxx in Fresh Pond will no longer have layaways(Layaway is a type of agreement which can be made between a retailer and a consumer. The consumer pays a deposit to reserve an item, which is held until the consumer pays in full. The item itself is said to be “on layaway.” Typically, the customer has a set period of time in which he or she must pay in full for the item. If the customer fails to pay, the item is returned to stock for a small fee and the consumer's money is refunded) as of January 23, 2012.    I visited the TJ Maxx in Southbay in Dorchester and they will continue to accept layaways.

This might not mean a lot to you, but I know it means a lot to a lot of people including myself, because their are somedays when you can't afford a purchase and you really want it and not having the money at that time, it would allow you purchase it at a later date. Personally I think this is really bad for business and a real mistake to the bottom line of their organization, especially in this economy.

Giant retailer Walmart announced plans to revive layaway starting on October 17, 2011. The new plan is limited to select categories of merchandise, and minimum purchase amounts apply. A 10% down payment is necessary, and a nonrefundable $5 fee added to layaway purchases means that the wise shopper will select this option only for big ticket purchases. Cancelled orders will incur an extra $10 charge, deducted from any refund for prior payments. Walmart had dropped layaway in 2006, indicating declining demand for it by consumers, as well as stockroom clutter created by storing goods on layaway. ("How Bad Is the Economy? Wal-Mart Revives Layaway," The Wall Street Journal, September 9, 2011

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Let's do a campaign and call TJ Maxx to bring back layaway's to Fresh Pond.

Ciao!

Neighborhoodnine

TJ Maxx and Jonathan Alder

Navy Louis Armchair - Jonathan Adler $1,295.00

I often visit TJ Maxx for their great bargains on furniture and I just love Jonathan Alder's website where they have an array of fabulous gifts and also things for the home and don't let me forget their beautiful designer furniture with their competitive prices.

I was looking at Jonathan Adler's website today, because I was looking for a chair as an accent piece for my living room.  I came across their Navy Louis armchair, which was priced at $1,295.00.  I took my usual trip to TJ Maxx to see if I could find a comparable accent piece, because I really didin't want to pay the $1,295.00.  As soon as I walked in the front door I came across this linen Provencial armchair below  for the excellent price of $199.00.



Linen Provencial Armchair - TJ Maxx $199.00



It is so good to bargain  shop and I am very good at it.  I love bargains, if you really thought for one iota that I was going to even consider buying a chair for $1,295 in this economy you  had temporary insanity, just like I did.   Don't get me wrong Jonathan Adler has wonderful gifts at reasonable prices and his sales items are also great, but I just thought I would share this great comparison and bargain for those of  you who like to bargain shop and who also like the finer things in life.

Ciao!

Neighborhoodnine