134 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge; (617) 491-8866
Tip-free
Along the M.I.T. stretch of Mass.
Ave. Fresco’s is a spiffy cafe with a wide variety of basics at great prices. From breakfast (the house special is ‘ two eggs, home fries, and toast for $1.49) through lunch and dinner (the place closes at 9 P.M.), there are all kinds of meals to choose from.
Fish and chips are only $3.95; and at $4.95, the swordfish kebab dinner is a steal. Plenty of charcoal-grilled chunks of fish over rice with a tomato sauce, and salad. Moving (not far) up the scale, you can even get a barbecued half-chicken dinner for $5.25, with a salad and rice or crispy French fries. Plus fried scallops, gyros, veal cutlets with spaghetti, pizzas with all kinds of meat and vegetarian toppings, and salads.
In short, this is the kind of place Mine loves: Prices are low, the place is clean and bright, and you can keep going back without having the same kind of food twice. Open Mondays through Fridays from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M. Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.