Quad Alternatives to River Staples

So, you live in the Quad. By now you’ve probably discovered the many pros to Quad housing (n+1 life), but what if we said you could get your fave Square staples nearby too? Here’s Flyby’s comprehensive list of Quad alternatives for the regular go-tos.

The Basics

Let’s be honest, we wouldn’t survive without easy access to literally everything at CVS. Good news: there’s a Rite Aid just five minutes away from the Quad. Unfortunately, it’s not 24-hour like our beloved CVS, but you can’t have everything.

Coffee + Pastry Goodness

If there’s one thing the Quad can definitely get you, it’s your morning caffeine fix. Instead of Tatte or Crema, try Hi-Rise or Simon’s Coffee Shop, both only a short walk away from the Quad. If you prefer something a little more basic than those fancy options, Shepard St. has a Starbucks just like the Square too. Too broke? No worries. Cabot Café, located in the basement of Cabot’s E entryway, accepts BoardPlus and Crimson Cash., so say goodbye to Barker and LamCaf!

Get Fancy

Want an actual sit-down restaurant to take a date or your parents to? Instead of heading to Toscano for Italian, try Giulia on Mass Ave (beware, it’s bursting with people on Saturday nights). If you’re looking for a Henrietta’s Table alternative, check out Forage. And if you want a loud, friendly pub atmosphere à la Russell House, head to Cambridge Common instead (not the park).

Friday Night Bites

Miss Sinclair's cool atmosphere and bangin tunes? Check out the equally hipster Lizard Lounge, opened until 2 p.m. on the weekends. This intimately-cozy club in the basement of the aforementioned Cambridge Common hosts an eclectic mix of musicians and poets and offers a wide variety of boozy drinks and greasy fried food (perfect for combating the morning effects of the former). If you’ve pregamed so hard you didn’t even make it out of the quadrangle, the Quad Grille in Pfoho is your last chance to get some drunk chow (while also saving you real cash).

Go Green

If you have a questionable taste in food, favoring Sweetgreen over the more *ahem* palatable options, there’s a great Quad alternative that’ll satisfy all of your vegetation cravings (and we’re not talking about the Quad lawn). Poké City is a Hawaiian mix-and-match salad place right along Mass Ave. The best part is that they also do deliveries!

Can’t Go on Without Kong?

Lucky for you, there are two similar restaurants near the Quad that offer pseudo-Chinese food that’s definitely healthier than the Kong’s signature Scorpion Bowl or oily crab rangoon. One of the first Chinese restaurants in Cambridge, Changsho offers more traditional dishes, while Mix It specializes in fusion cuisine.

Dessert

You no longer have to venture to JP Licks to satisfy your sweet tooth when Honeycomb Creamery is right around the corner from the Quad. It’s a small parlor offering small-batch ice cream artisanally crafted with local ingredients and touting some unique flavors like “Apple Cider Donut” and “Honey Lavender.” Thank god our Canada Goose Jackets will soon conceal our waistlines!

Now that we’ve armed Quadlings with these amazing recommendations, you’re rarely going to see residents of Currier, Cabot and Pfoho in the Square. Good luck not gaining that Sophomore 20!