Brandeis International Business School
Imagine a bustling downtown streetscape filled with people. There’s shopping, outdoor activities — kayaking on the Charles River, anyone? — but most importantly lots of restaurants. And not just any restaurants, I’m talking about great restaurants.
This is Moody Street. Bon appétit!
The city of Waltham’s popular restaurant row is only one mile from the Brandeis International Business School campus.
Variety is the spice of life and Moody Street is home to all kinds of cuisines: Italian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese, just to name a few. Also not to be overlooked are the great ice cream parlors, boba cafes, bakeries and breweries.
And the best part? In the summer and fall, the city restricts vehicle traffic and Moody Street becomes a go-to destination for outdoor dining.
Without further ado, here are my five favorite Moody Street restaurants.
This Vietnamese and Asian fusion restaurant serves wholesome food for a very affordable price. The simple interior, friendly staff and warm soup make this restaurant perfect for cozy winter nights. The spicy tofu with steamed rice noodles and drunken noodles with chicken are delicious, but the highlight of my meal was the Chan Chua noodle soup. This mildly hot and sour noodle soup combines subtle bean sprouts with sweet pineapple, all of which tastes great with chicken.
I’m from India, so I’m obligated to offer up a recommendation for the best Indian food on Moody Street. True to its name, Peppino’s Dosa has delicious dosas. I also highly recommend trying out the different chaats — samosa chaat, tikki chaat, Bombay bhel and Dahi bhalla chaat. Whenever I’m in need of Indian street food or rava dosa, my favorite South Indian delicacy, I’m headed straight to Peppino’s Dosa.
This Waltham staple featuring traditional American pub grub is perfect if you’re looking for a fun and casual night out with friends. The staff is friendly, the beer selection is good and the food is affordable — be sure to try the Buffalo chicken wings and a New-York style slice. Franco’s is also the place to be if you want to play billiards, darts, watch sports on TV, or sing karaoke.
Apart from the obvious beverage choice — margaritas — this Mexican restaurant overlooking the Charles River is known for its legendary favorite, the chicken chimichanga: a chicken and cheese tortilla, lightly fried and then baked in red chili sauce and more (!) cheese. If you’re ever craving Mexican food, try this and thank me later! Margaritas is open until 1 a.m. most nights, so this is the place if you’re looking to have a fiesta with your friends.
Like any great meal, let’s end with dessert! This is my favorite spot for something sweet. Lizzy’s is best known for sundaes, frozen yogurt and ice cream cakes. The ice cream is rich and made with fresh ingredients. My go-to order? Chocolate cookie dough ice cream topped with chocolate syrup, Reese’s Pieces, waffle cone pieces, chocolate chips and white chocolate chips. Honorable mentions include Charles River Crunch, Chocolate Orgy and Butter Crunch. Lizzy’s also offers plant-based and alcohol-infused options too!
