Uncommon $5 burger price
The Cambridge Common restaurant opened in 1996, when a burger cost $5 – and to mark its 30th birthday, that’s what it’s charging again for a burger with lettuce, tomato, onion and skinny fries from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday nights. The restaurant’s Black Angus Burger is usually $11.95. “We thought it would be fun to bring back a favorite,” restaurant placards announce, probably very accurately referring to the price as “something you thought you’d never see again.” The deal is offered indefinitely, staff said Monday. Diners can come celebrate three decades at the restaurant with a burger or keep that money in the bank for a few days to pay for a single gallon of Iran War-era gas.
Cambridge Common, 1667 Massachusetts Ave., in the Baldwin neighborhood between Harvard and Porter squares, Cambridge
Big Papi Burrito helps charity
Barely has the corned beef burrito faded in memory from St. Patrick’s Day that Anna’s has another dish it will serve for a single day and call it a wrap. (They’ll call it a burrito.) For Thursday, which is apparently National Burrito Day, the chain’s 13 locations offers a Big Papi Burrito inspired by the Dominican roots of baseball hall of famer David “Big Papi” Ortiz. It includes chipotle steak, cheese, Mexican rice, sweet peppers, onions and other fajita vegetables, sliced avocado, queso fresco, pinto beans and cilantro. One dollar from each 12-inch burrito goes to the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which has a mission to provide lifesaving heart surgeries and care to children in the Dominican Republic and New England.
Anna’s Taqueria, 1 Porter Square, Cambridge; or 236A Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville
Wonder says wonder no longer
Wonder, “a new kind of food hall” that lets customers make a single order of food from across various cuisines – an estimated 500 options across more than 20 menus – is open in Kendall Square, among a bunch of other places: Massachusetts now has around 15 of these eateries, including in Medford and Watertown, after a founding in 2018 by Marc Lore, the 2016-2021 head of e-commerce at Walmart. The idea drew some skepticism from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, with member Kathleen Born telling applicants March 11 that “I don’t understand how this ended up in Kendall Square.” (Executive director Tom Evans noted that its space was intended to be a food hall, which ultimately opened across the street. Wonder’s presence is “a response to, I guess, a more challenging retail environment for leasing out the space.”) Proponents described Wonder has having minimal seating, which suggests it will do plenty of delivery and pickup, and Born said “it couldn’t be in a worse place for delivery in terms of congestion, and there’s no place to do pickups.” Still, the Board of Zoning Appeal had approved the business months earlier, and the CRA had oversight only of the business’ signs. (“I just can’t understand how I can comment,” Born said. “Everything is so generic.”)
Wonder, 319 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge
Easter brunch at Margeaux
Easter looks like elegant fun at Margeaux, a “supper parlor” that crosses French and Southern cooking. A $34 three-course prix fixe offers holiday exclusives – carrot cake, cinnamon buns and build-your-own crêpes – is backed by solo violinist Yaeko performing tunes inspired by “Bridgerton” and pop covers, and includes a bananas Foster station. Reservations are highly recommended for the meal running 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The patio is open too, weather permitting.
Margeaux Supper Parlor, 1924 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge
Send your (news) tips about menu changes and other items affecting Cambridge and Somerville food and restaurant to editor@csindie.com.
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