Hong Kong

1236 Mass Ave

The Hong Kong has gone through an interesting metamorphosis: two years ago its food was generally lukewarm, usually greasy, and always mediocre. With its building renovation last year, however, came a renovation in food, and for a quick, relatively cheap Chinese meal, Hong Kong is now a good deal.

Lunch is recommended: low prices, more than you can eat, wide selection, reasonably fast service. Prices are higher at dinner, as is the caliber of the food in many cases, but it remains a pretty good buy.

Hungry Persian

14a Eliot St.

The Hungry Persian offers good food at cheap prices. The fare consists mostly of combinations of meat and salads stuffed into Syrian pita bread. You can eat quickly, but the pleasant atmosphere makes a leisurely meal a promising prospect. The Hungry Persian is a refreshing change from hamburger sameness. Be sure to try the Phase Four special, a Nixonomics soybean variation of the standard Hungry Persian dish which the management claims is as tasty and more nutritious than the original. Friendly and informal, this place is certainly a Boylston St. bargain.

Legal Seafood

237 Hampshire St.

For law-abiding seafood lovers Legal Seafood in Inman Square is the place to go. There are not many seafood houses in Cambridge but this one is excellent and probably the most reasonably priced around Boston. It is advisable to get there early since a two-hour wait later in the evening is not unusual. But if forced to wait, the clam bar upstairs is not a bad place to do it. The shrimp in garlic is one of the menu's highlights, and a bucket of steamers is always a good and relatively inexpensive dinner. All the salt water entrees are fresh, of course. The Legal Sweetshop is also worth a visit.

Lehmann

In the Yard

Mother Harvard doesn't exactly provide home cooking in Lehmann Hall. As a matter of fact, the food isn't any better than standard dining hall fare, and the prices aren't so hot either--though they're certainly no worse than anywhere else. But the place is convenient, and you'll almost always find one of your sectionmen (past, present or future) sitting over coffee. Officially Lehmann Hall is run for Dudley House students, but anyone is welcome and the place has a reputation as a graduate student hangout.

Joyce Chen

500 Memorial Drive