Late Night Burrito Joint in Harvard Square by Kristofer Jenson

Felipe's Taqueria is a comedown destination after hitting some Harvard bars. A HUGE perk that it's open late, 2 am Thu-Sat and midnight all other days.

Long gone are the days where you'd go to Harvard Square and make an event of it, with all of the colorful characters, unique shops and endless opportunities for adventure (with a hint of danger). To this day I feel strange taking a shortcut through what was once "the Pit," having previously been home to some of Boston's finest and most dignified outcasts.

In the years following the first Abercrombie opening, it seemed the only reason Harvard Square existed for me was the 86/66 to Red Line connection. I was so used to mentally screaming "SELL OUT!" every time I passed by that I didn't notice that it still has some life to it (even if that life is more boring) with some new bars, excellent restaurants and Charlie's Kitchen still thriving.

It was in this spirit of reconciliation that I paid a visit to Felipe's Taqueria, a place I always knew was there (since 2005, anyway) but never tried with Crazy Dough's right above it in the Garage. Pictured you'll see my order: Chorizo tacos, a hefty Al Pastor quesadilla and what I'll start calling the Jenson burrito (steak, cheese, rice, salsa, sour cream, hot sauce, no guac).

Starting with the tacos, they didn't disappoint. Tangy, tasty and just spicy enough, they were the perfect appetizer for the unholy amount of food I was about to face down. Next was the quesadilla, which was...different. When I ordered, they asked if I wanted rice and beans. I said sure, whatever comes with it. They said it didn't come with it, and I thought they meant a side dish, so I said sure. They put the rice and beans in the actual tortilla, making it effectively a fried burrito. It was good enough, the Al Pastor was tasty, it just made the burrito I was about to eat seem redundant. And redundant it was; not bad, but nothing made it stand out. Whereas mere neutrality was a plus with my low expectations going into Chipotle, with a smaller-feeling place like Felipe's, average is more of a disappointment.

One HUGE perk is that it's open late, 2 am Thu-Sat and midnight all other days. Maybe that's how it's best enjoyed, late at night as the comedown destination after hitting some Harvard bars. The food was fine enough (and cheap, I should mention), but maybe my lack of enthusiasm about the burrito is directly linked to its lack of context. So who wants to go to Harvard Square with me, get drunk and put this theory to the test? - Kristofer Jenson

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Felipe's Taqueria
83 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 354-9944
Felipestaqueria.com

Since April 2004, Felipe's Taqueria has been satisfying hungry customers with delicious Mexican fare. Our philosophy for good food is simple: ingredients should always be fresh and the recipes authentic.

The Felipe's Taqueria experience can be summed up in three words: Fresh, Fast, and Friendly. We cook all of our food from scratch continuously throughout the day. Everything we make - from the hand-squeezed key lime lemonade to the traditional guacamole to the various complimentary salsas - is prepared in small batches, guaranteeing that it is served at the peak of freshness.

All of the meals at Felipe's are made to order, while you watch! See some red onions in the grilled veggies that look irresistible? Tell us and we'll throw them in! Like your food mild, medium, or HOT? We have the perfect homemade salsa for each. Not only do you get just want you want, but you get it at lightning speed. The line may look long, but in just minutes you can move through it and have a mouth-watering burrito, quesadilla, taco or any other item on the menu.

The atmosphere at Felipe's is warm, welcoming, and friendly. We're a business of family and friends and we consider every customer a member of that network, too. We love getting to know you, our customers, and hearing your feedback about any part of your Felipe's experience.