In a city that boasts many a mom-and-pop restaurant, numerous Harvard students have yet to find a place where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came. While these uninformed students continue to schlep to Au Bon Pain and the Kong for ho-hum grub, a welcoming alternative awaits them a few blocks toward Central Square—the unassuming Friendly Eating Place.
This oasis, located at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Dana St. and across from Cambridge College, specializes in both congeniality and comfort food. On a recent Sunday afternoon, three employees bustle about behind the counter and below a menu of pizzas, hot and cold subs, salads, spaghetti and simple red and yellow paintings thereof. Pictures of chefs, family and the Virgin Mary adorn the back wall of the kitchen. Red plastic booths overflow with pleased patrons and Impressionist prints in gilded frames crowd the wall. A large cardboard box of cans and bottles demonstrates the establishment’s environmental friendliness. The cashier rings up a meal totaling $6.04 but requests only an even $6 from the customer. A couple of officers from the Harvard University Police Department stop in to pick up an order. There is an unmistakable warmth in the room that doesn’t seem to emanate solely from the sun-filled windows or pizza-filled oven.
Petros, an employee of one-and-a-half years, sports a purple Nantucket Nectars cap, mischievous grin and five o’clock shadow (at noon). “The employees here love to make the customer happy,” he says. “We love to see smiles on the customers’ faces as they leave. It’s a feeling of euphoria.” He cites friendly qualities as “criteria we look at first and foremost” when hiring. And the Friendly Eating Place wouldn’t be as affable without some help from the patrons. “The vibe rubs off when they see us playing around back here,” Petros explains. Of course, it’s not all fun and games: “They’re friendly as long we don’t mess up their order,” he says.
A regular (and hungover) customer shares his insight into the diner’s allure.“The guys here are nice, and it’s usually the same guys,” he says. “If you’re gonna name your place the Friendly Eating Place, you better make sure it’s just that.” He pauses. “Unless there’s some implied irony. But there doesn’t seem to be any of that.”
The Friendly Eating Place has been serving Cambridge for more than 20 years and Petros supposes that the friendliness of the restaurant has increased over time. He doesn’t see other area businesses as particularly unfriendly but the hungover regular says Petros is being too modest. “It’s one of the friendliest places in the Square. Everyone cops an attitude up in the Square,” he opines. When asked if the eatery is friendlier than a certain friendly burger and ice cream chain, even Petros must exclaim, “Hell, yeah!”
Satisfied that the friendly service lives up to its advertising, FM’s friendliness assessor prepares to head back to the impersonal environs of Harvard Square. Before FM departs, a complimentary cup of the Eating Place’s finest coffee is brought out, an offer to wrap the remains of a sub is made and a lid for the coffee cup is presented with much ceremony. The friendliness assessor is glad she came—but even better, so is Petros.
