Latin-O is the number-two Mexican restaurant in Cambridge, far behind the swanky Casa Mexico but still a fairly nice out-of-the way place to go for a south of the border meal. It's tucked away in a little side street off Central Square, and the atmosphere is one of heavy straining for class: there are fancy tablecloths and napkins and the like, but the waiter still wears a plastic pencil holder he got at the dry-cleaner's and there's the annoying tinkle of Muzak in the background.

The food comes in huge portions and is, to Latin-O's credit, all Mexican, mostly various tortilla dishes with beans and rice on the side. The Chili Pelleno, a stuffed green pepper, is one of the better things on the menu; most of the other dishes are far too bland and pasty. It's hardly Mexican food at its best, and it's hardly cheap either--dinner for two ought to run you about $15.

Science Center Cafe

The Harvard architectural-criticism gang has been raving about the Science Center for a couple of years now, and with things there more or less in full swing this year it's not hard to see why. The cafeteria there is probably the nicest indoor physical setting at Harvard in which to while away an hour between classes. It has a tall, airy glassed-in porch, outside tables in good weather and another section adjacent to the stream of students going to class.

The food itself is simple and not especially ambitious--a few basic sandwiches and lots of yogurt, danishes and other pre-prepared stuff, at predictible prices. It's not really a place to go for a meal, but for a cup of coffee and something to munch on to take your mind off of getting into Med School it's fine.

Osaka

617 Concord Ave.

Good Japanese food can be had for a short trip to Fresh Pond. The prices are by no means low, but the food is good enough to make you forget how much you are shelling out.

The restaurant, patronized by the area's Japanese population, is divided into three parts roughly according to the kind of food served in each. The most exotic, and least crowded, section is the raw fish, or sushi, bar. Osaka's sushi is as good as any you are likely to find in the Northeast.

In the most popular section, Osaka offers teppan yaki, a preparation of bite-size pieces of tender beef broiled in front of you on an open stove. The third section, with standard restaurants and chairs, serves the traditional Western favorites--sukiyaki, teryaki and tempura. All full meals are accompanied by a delicious Japanese soup called miso, sunemono, a crab meat salad, and all the green tea you can drink. Of the liquors, the sake and plum wine are particularly worth trying.

Natalie's

1672 Mass Ave

If there were to be only one Italian restaurant in Harvard Square--as there is--perhaps it should be Natalie's. Located about 10 minutes' walking time outside the Square, this restaurant can be all things to all people, from the casual pasta lover to the more serious Italian food aficionado.

Natalie's offers a broad range of food for a broad range of prices. Two light eaters can easily get by with the large $3 antipasto, which is probably the best in the area (try the Caesar dressing); those with more space in their stomachs and more left in their wallets can select from a variety of veal and chicken dishes, uniformly well prepared.

The pasta is fine and reasonably priced, and the sauces subtle and delicious. The wine list is ordinary and somewhat high-priced, but the on-tap Michelob and Miller's are good buys.