Hash Browns in Cambridge, MA?

October 4, 2006 5:51 AM

I'm looking for hash browns around Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA. You know, grated potatoes, all fried up, greasy and good. All I can find here are home fries, which won't cut it. Extra points for places that serve breakfast on weekdays. Thanks!
posted by lunasol to food & drink (23 comments total)

I was going to suggest Mass Ave Restaurant in Central Square, but come to think of it, they might serve homefries too (but you should still go there; it rocks). IHOP definitely has hash browns -- it's on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton, not terribly far from Harvard Square (and accessible by the 64 bus, I think).
posted by uncleozzy at 6:20 AM on October 4, 2006

Henrietta's Table at the Charles Hotel has them.

Sound Bites in Ball Square (a bit outside Harvard) might have them.
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:54 AM on October 4, 2006

you might want to check out sound bites in ball square; sure it is not harvard square but somerville is not that far off. what they serve is not quite a hash brown either, it is more like fried mashed potatoes but it definitely meets the greasy and good requirement.
posted by phil at 6:54 AM on October 4, 2006

Yeah, the Mass Ave Restaurant only has homefries, so if hash browns are a must, they're not for you.

If, however, you want a great hash brownless breakfast, it's a great place. Open at 7 every morning. Try a Mexican Omelette. Nice.

I've eaten at a wide variety of breakfast joints, can't remember hash browns other than IHOP. Sorry.
posted by genefinder at 6:54 AM on October 4, 2006

Sound Bites most definitely does NOT serve hash browns.

As phil said, they serve an incredibly delicious fried mashed potato cake they call "No Place Like Home Fries" If you're looking specifically for hash browns, you'll be very disappointed, but they are excellent nonetheless.

Having sussed out many breakfast joints in Cambridge/Somervlle over the years, I've yet to find one that served hash browns (Henrietta's Table is a bit too upscale for your basic breakfast, IMHO).
posted by briank at 7:00 AM on October 4, 2006

Is there a Waffle House nearby? Best hashbrowns ever.
posted by adipocere at 7:01 AM on October 4, 2006

No waffle house, and I concur with everyone else that the only hash browns I can remember in the area is the McDonalds in Central. Probably not what you are looking for.

Sound Bites is awesome, though, but a) no hash browns and b) nowhere near Harvard.
posted by neustile at 7:14 AM on October 4, 2006

They might have hash browns at Brookline Lunch, in Central, across the street from the Middle East.

Also, I noticed that it looks like they're opening up an IHOP in Harvard Square, tucked away on the farthest end, by New England comics. I have no idea when it's opening, though.
posted by pazazygeek at 7:52 AM on October 4, 2006

I noticed that it looks like they're opening up an IHOP in Harvard Square, tucked away on the farthest end, by New England comics. I have no idea when it's opening, though.

O M G

Is this in that spot where all the ill fated restaurants have been (Chili's springs to mind last, but there was something after that?)
posted by neustile at 8:13 AM on October 4, 2006

Is this in that spot where all the ill fated restaurants have been (Chili's springs to mind last, but there was something after that?)

Actually, I think it's where the TGI Fridays used to be - opposite the kennedy school.
posted by darsh at 8:37 AM on October 4, 2006

Cambridge Common down Mass Ave towards Porter has tater-tots on the menu.

In Porter, the Shaws there has started serving breakfast and I suspect that hashbrowns may be sometimes available there.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:51 AM on October 4, 2006

Oh! One other option is to head into a Harvard cafeteria and see what they have. I know I have sampled a hashbrown from the HBS cafeteria in the past.

Try the cafe in the science building just outside of Harvard Yard on Oxford street or the one in the Kennedy school.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:54 AM on October 4, 2006

Have you tried Sunny's Diner? They have all the diner foods and atmosphere. Though at Landsdowne Street off Mass Ave (near StarMarket, Novartis, MIT Museum), it may be a bit farther south than you were looking.

(Even if they're not on the menu, I'd be willing to bet Sunny'd make you hash browns if you asked.)
posted by whatzit at 8:59 AM on October 4, 2006

No no no.. not Sound Bites!

Kelly's Diner is a half a block away from Sound Bites, and is much better.
posted by jozxyqk at 9:25 AM on October 4, 2006

certainly the best diner in that neighborhood is Andy's Diner, and I believe they do have hash browns. 2030 Mass Ave.
posted by luriete at 9:38 AM on October 4, 2006

Doesn't the Greenhouse Coffee Shop at 3 Brattle St. serve hash browns? I can't remember, but I thought so. I can't really give an unqualified recommendation for the place, but if it answers the question...
posted by cacophony at 9:53 AM on October 4, 2006

It's not quite Cambridge but isn't this IHOP in Allston still around? A little out of the way if you don't drive but on the plus side it's open 24/7.
posted by scalefree at 10:00 AM on October 4, 2006

I second the nomination for Brookline Lunch. It's been years so I can't say for certain if they serve hash browns or homefries but I can absolutely tell you that they make a killer breakfast. Also they're just about the nicest people in New England.
posted by nathancaswell at 10:05 AM on October 4, 2006

@luriete
although andy's diner is great they do not serve hash browns.
posted by phil at 10:22 AM on October 4, 2006

The Greenhouse serves potatoes that are really more like french fries than anything else. Definitely not hash browns! This is a puzzler - I am big on the greasy breakfasts (I'm partial to Town Diner's in Watertown) -- but I haven't seen a single hash brown since I moved here!
posted by pazazygeek at 12:41 PM on October 4, 2006

As other have said, IHOP definitely has them. They're also on the brunch menu for Tremont 647. A little pricey and across the river, but it sounds like around here you need to travel for hashbrowns!
posted by jdl at 1:55 PM on October 4, 2006

Thanks for all the tips - if nothing else, I have a new list of good breakfast places. The lack of hash browns in Cambridge is mystifying, indeed. I , <3 sound bites, but am not so much into their fried mashed potatoes.br>
Also, if there's an IHOP opeing up in that restaurant-space-of-death, that would rock, cause I go to the Kennedy School, and I'd love to have an all-night place to study my econ over greasy diner food.
posted by lunasol at 3:12 PM on October 4, 2006

ohhhh, found through google:



Apparently it is opening, but not till June and it won't be open all night. :(
posted by lunasol at 3:13 PM on October 4, 2006