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Madras Dosa Co., a chain specializing in customizable dosas, opened its doors last Friday with the goal of bringing South Indian food to Harvard Square.

Located on 22 Eliot St., the new establishment’s menu centers around the dosa, a crepe-like dish made of lentils and rice that is usually stuffed with savory fillings. The Harvard Square location is the second for the chain, which opened its first storefront in Boston’s Seaport district in 2021.

Koushik “Babu” Koganti, the owner and operator of Madras Dosa Co., said that plans to open the chain came about because Indian food, especially from southern regions, is “underserved” in America. “A lot of people think Indian food is chicken tikka masala and naan,” he said.

“Dosa has its own character, so we want to make dosa as big as it can go. That’s why we want to focus on one single dish,” Koganti continued.

The menu includes options to fill the dosa with a wide variety of vegetables and meats, as well as fruits for those looking for a sweeter option. The restaurant also serves rice pilaf, chaat, and sandwiches.

On expanding into Harvard Square, Koganti said that he believes dosa is “a great to-go for the students.” He added that he hopes the restaurant will attract “millennials who are health conscious, who love vegan food.”

Inside the restaurant, customers sit alongside a wall adorned with green foliage, highlighted with a pink neon sign stating, “Dosa is the Answer.”

“We want people to take pictures with this wall,” Koganti said.

Shreeja Kikkisetti ’25, a student at the College from South India, said she decided to eat at Madras Dosa because dosas were a “staple” for her at home. “I feel like it resembles very closely to what I’m very used to,” she said.

Rachna Gupta ’25 described the atmosphere in the restaurant as “very homely” and said she was excited by the opening, despite repeated delays to its opening.

“Me and my friends have been anticipating it opening, like I follow its Instagram page. I know there were some delays, which made us a little disappointed, but we’re happy it’s here,” Gupta said.

Madras Dosa’s opening saw a series of delays as the restaurant brought the space up to code and obtained permits from the City of Cambridge. The establishment initially sought to open its doors to students in December 2022 or January 2023.

Madras Dosa is open until 3 a.m. every day as Koganti hopes to add the dosa to the list of late-night options in Harvard Square.

According to Koganti, the chain is seeking to expand to major cities around the world, with a location on Madison Avenue in New York City set to open in a few months, as well as another along the Las Vegas Strip. Negotiations are also under way for a potential location in Paris.

“One billion people in India love it. From north to south, east to west, everybody loves dosa,” Koganti said.

The city’s expanded patio program is back — and this time, it’s permanent.

Dining alfresco is one of my favorite ways to enjoy lunch or brunch on a sunny weekend. There’s a sort of European vibe to it (though I wouldn’t suggest using the term ‘alfresco‘ in Italy) that makes me feel like I’m on vacation… even when I’m right at home in Boston.

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You might notice some changes to the outdoor dining scene this year: Most notably, the lack of on-street parking spot “patios” in the North End. City officials say the shift is due to the neighborhood’s unique set up (fun fact: the North End has the densest per capita number of restaurants in the entire state, with 95 restaurants in just over a third of a square mile) that led to traffic and sanitation concerns from some its residents. Read Monday’s edition of WBUR Today for more details on the change.

Still, there’s no lack of outdoor dining options across the Boston area. With this weekend’s favorable forecast in mind, I asked the WBUR Newsroom about their favorite patios, rooftops and alfresco dining spots in the city. Here are the ‘BUR-approved recs:

“Orinoco in Harvard Square has a great patio! (And good food.)” — Dianna Bell, arts and culture editor

“The Speedway in Brighton is my favorite outdoor patio, a perfect stop after a stroll along the Charles. The tables are big and great for large groups. There are umbrellas for super sunny days so you don’t have to roast in the sun. Notch Brewing beers are delightful and there are multiple food options to grab a bite (Super Bien empanadas — chicken bacon cool ranch or mac and cheese, come on! — are my go-to choices).” — Meagan McGinnes, assistant managing editor for newsletters

“Petit Robert Bistro + oysters + rosé = heaven.” — Candice Springer, assistant director at CitySpace

“Owl’s Nest on the Esplanade is my vote. Bonus: the dog (shhhh) can come and sit outside of the ropes. We [also] spend a lot of summer afternoons/evenings at Time Out Market’s patio.” — Steven Davy, senior producer for CitySpace [Editor’s note: Boston announced a new policy this week to soon begin allowing people to bring dogs to approved patios and beer gardens.]

“Felipe’s Taqueria rooftop!” — Jacob Garcia, newsroom fellow

“The Naco Taco patio is fun!” — Amy Sokolow, associate producer

CAMBRIDGE — A woman was injured after she was struck by falling equipment at the Harvard MBTA station on Monday afternoon, two months after an insulation panel fell from the station’s ceiling, narrowly missing a commuter on the same platform.

The woman was standing near a column shortly after 4:30 p.m. when a supporting brace hit her as a utility box attached to the column slid to the bottom, according to MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo and the Cambridge Fire Department.

Joanne Wyckoff was sitting nearby when the piece fell.

“We all heard this very loud rumble and then the metal apparatus fell from the ceiling with a huge bang,” she said in an e-mail.

The victim, believed to be in her early 30s, was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to the fire department.

The area surrounding the column was blocked off while MBTA officials worked “to determine what caused the equipment to detach from its mounting,” Pesaturo said in an e-mail.

MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, who took over as head of the agency less than a month ago, went to Harvard station Monday evening to examine the damage.

“We will take all necessary measures to protect our riders and employees and secure our infrastructure for safer service,” Pesaturo said.

Red Line train service was not affected, he said.

The walkway between the column and the wall was roped off with yellow caution tape Monday evening, and small bits of debris remained on the tiled floor after the fallen structure was removed. Water dripped from the ceiling a few feet away.

MBTA workers in yellow reflective vests were seen leaving the station around 8 p.m.

The incident happened a short distance from the spot where a ceiling panel weighing more than 20 pounds suddenly dropped to the ground March 1, narrowly missing a patron. About 100 ceiling panels were removed by the following week, and MBTA crews inspected ceilings at several other stations on the Red Line corridor.

The agency has come under scrutiny in the last year following a series of safety incidents.

Last summer, federal transportation officials issued a scathing report that found the agency’s workforce was too small and had too little training. Last month, the Federal Transit Administration sounded the alarm again, warning that T workers face a “substantial risk” of death or injury while working on train tracks and ordering the agency to make immediate changes to its protocols and training.

Riders passing through Harvard station Monday night expressed little surprise about the latest incident.

“If you look up, it’s all rust,” said Dave, a passenger who declined to share his last name.

Damien Vladimiroff said he was thinking about the incident while entering Harvard station.

”The MBTA needs updates,” said Vladimiroff, a Boston University student. Victoria Hagen, who was waiting with him on the platform, chimed in, “The MBTA is way behind.”

“I’ve been deeply disappointed by public transit in the city,” said Nika, another passenger. “I haven’t felt unsafe … but it’s always unpredictable, unreliable.”

Wyckoff stepped onto a Braintree-bound train shortly after the incident.

“It’s a horribly broken system that we workers have to endure to get to work,” she said.

Join Antoinette Antonio at the 38th Annual Asian Street Food & Music Festival on Sunday, May 7 at Harvard Square!

The Asian Street Food and Music Festival is one of the annual events of the Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance and it is intended to bring the Asian American community together by showcasing a panorama of our rich heritage and traditions through music, dance, and food to the local community. In partnership with the Harvard Square Business Association’s Annual Mayfair, this event will feature live music on multiple stages from different eras catering to a multi-generational crowd, international vendors of crafts and items including those uniquely from Asia, and festive beer gardens from both local and international businesses. Come spend your weekend learning more about our rich Asian culture with your family and friends, while enjoying good food and music at the heart of Cambridge.

Coming soon: Bánh Mì Oi will open in Waltham in the next two to three months (1097 Lexington St.), owner Yeanie Bach tells me. The restaurant, with other locations in West Roxbury and Foxborough, is worth waiting for. You’ll find plenty of bánh mì varieties: cold cuts, fried fish or shrimp, barbecue pork, lemongrass steak, and more. There’s also pho, vermicelli or rice bowls, and Vietnamese iced coffee. Bach also runs Phinista Café in the Fenway.

Changes: Harvard Square’s Bar Enza (1 Bennett St.) has new culinary leadership. The restaurant inside the Charles Hotel made a splash for many reasons when it opened in 2021: It was taking over the hallowed Rialto space, for one thing. Also, it was run by Mark Ladner, the award-winning Mario Batali protégé who earned acclaim at New York City’s Del Posto.

But now chef Tony Susi is in charge. The executive chef has remade the menu: Find squid ink pasta with crabmeat, sirloin carpaccio, and poached monkfish. Ladner’s ballyhooed 100-layer lasagna is no more.

Susi got his start at Todd English’s Olives. He’s best known for Sage, which opened in the North End in 1994 and moved to the South End in the mid-2000s, where Susi was hailed for his “exceptional appetizer menu,” per a 2007 Globe review. Visit for dinner Monday through Saturday.

Openings: Pizza Project celebrates its grand opening at the Charles River Speedway (525 Western Ave.) on Saturday, April 29, new from Dan and Alexandra Spinale. Visit Wednesday from 4 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from noon for naturally leavened Sicilian slices of cheese, pepperoni and hot honey, plus Italian subs and rotating specials. Pizza Project launched as a mobile pizzeria during the pandemic; this is its first shop.

Reopenings: In Burlington, Chopps (1 Burlington Mall Road) has reopened after two years, now with an Italian steakhouse twist. Once an American bar and grill, Chopps serves eggplant parmesan, arancini, and negronis. There’s live music Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It’s open daily.

The weather has been eight shades of stubborn, but spring is slowly starting to make its presence felt around the region. A sure sign that warmer times are ahead is the return of MayFair, the annual Cambridge music and arts festival that fills Harvard Square with good vibes across multiple stages and roadways. The Harvard Square Business Association has revealed the lineup for MayFair’s 38th edition, set for Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it’s another stellar and eclectic collection of bands, artists, and performers.

Leading the way at the Main Stage at the “Super Crosswalk” are Zola Simone (pictured), Jake Swamp and the Pine, Other Brother Darryl, Koliba, Albino Mbie, Vibe Check, and Rumboat Chili. Drummer and percussionist extraordinaire Jonathan Ulman will be joining Simone and Swamp for their sets, as well.

Over on the Irving House Passim Stage at the intersection of Brattle and Church streets are Sweet Petunia, The Talking Hearts, Andrew Sue Wing, Almira Ara, Maurizio Fiore Salas & Sofia Chiarandini, Mark Erelli, and Roman Barten-Sherman.

The nearby Dance Stage welcomes Fourth Dimension, Rebecca McGowan, Rising Step, Neena Gulati, and more than a dozen others. There’s a lot more on the overall program, including participating restaurants and food vendors, more than 30 artisan booths, and a new entry for this year, the the Asian Street Food and Music Festival, organized by the Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance. Hit the link for all the details.

In “Good Will Hunting,” Matt Damon ’92 shares a late-night pickle with his love interest. Behind them, a red sign spelling out “Tasty” glows neon in the window.

Although it is unfamiliar to students now, the Tasty Diner, a 24/7 hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop, was once an all-hours gathering place for Cambridge residents and Harvard students.

“You know, we’re old, we were all around before social media. You needed spots where you could find each other. And if you were out late at night, the Tasty was a good option,” Chris W. Moore ’89 recalls.

Now, CVS stands in the Tasty’s place, and El Jefe’s Taqueria has overtaken the small diner as the de facto late-night Harvard haunt. Students today associate “Tasty” with Tasty Burger, the Boston burger chain located down the street. Yet alumni and Cambridge residents have found ways to preserve their memories of the Harvard Square watering hole.

In 1997, renovations conducted by the Cambridge Savings Bank forced the Tasty to close after 81 years in business. When he heard it was shutting down, Moore, a producer of “Good Will Hunting,” pushed for the Tasty to be immortalized as a backdrop in the movie.

“It literally was the worst place ever to shoot because it’s tiny,” Moore explains, describing the diner’s cramped 12-seat arrangement. The scene was shot during the daytime, when it was less hectic. “I’m glad it’s on film somewhere,” Moore says.

But “Good Will Hunting” was not the only film to portray the Tasty. Cambridge local Federico Muchnik preserved snapshots of the diner’s night-to-night life in his documentary “Touching History: Harvard Square, The Bank, and The Tasty Diner.”

Muchnik captured the space in unfiltered vitality in a documentary that Tasty-goers could hold on to even as the neighborhood morphed. In the weeks before the shop’s closing, Muchnik would order a couple of hot dogs, sit in the corner of the room, and begin to film. He trained his camera on the Tasty’s liveliness: the cooks jovially teasing customers, the never-ending conversation, the constant patter of clattering silverware.

Cambridge residents and Harvard students alike were loath to lose the gathering spot.

“I documented the taking apart of the Tasty, and that was a pretty emotional day for many people,” Muchnik says. Cambridge activists railed against the diner’s removal, protesting at City Hall, all of which Muchnik captures in his film. The Tasty, he says, was a “crossroads place because it was open and it was accessible and nobody judged you.”

Muchnik remembers the Tasty was a place of spontaneous togetherness, where unhoused people, Harvard students and professors, and working-class Cambridge locals convened on equal footing. A map of pins on the wall traced customers’ origins and travels. Hearing the stories of other customers’ travels, Muchnik says, felt like traveling with them. There was something transporting about the Tasty.

“If you were there, you were part of the Tasty community,” Nick P. D’Arienzo Jr. ’83 says. “You were in Harvard Square. You were in Cambridge. You weren’t really at Harvard anymore.” He “fell in love” with the establishment, he says. “I found I didn’t want to dress as preppy the more I went. It’s like we cared more about fitting in at the Tasty than about fitting in at Harvard.”

Harvard alumni who frequented the burger joint carry a sort of oral history of Tasty stories. Almost every person we interviewed sent us the names of more friends, promising fresh fables.

Many tell stories of Charles Coney, the diner’s central figure and cook, who…