April 25 - May 2, 1 9 9 6

Rebecca's Café

In the decade or so since the first Rebecca's opened on Newbury Street, eight other branches have arrived to fill Bostonian stomachs with high-quality food at a fast-food pace.

In addition to homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches (all under $4.95), four hot entrees are offered daily, each of which is described on the cafés' telephone hotlines. A tasty choice available recently was Vermont chicken and broccoli pot pie with a cheese-biscuit topping, served with salad and watermelon slices ($5.95). For the indecisive, a salad sampler ($4.95) offers three large portions; try the herbed tomato and feta salad, or the chicken salad with walnuts, grapes, celery, and sour cream ($1 extra). Don't miss the moist sour-cream coffee cake -- laden with walnuts, cinnamon, and brown sugar ($2.75) -- and the other homemade desserts, which include rich chocolate mousse cake ($3.25) and brownies ($1.50).

Rebecca's Cafe is located at 75 State Street and other locations in the Financial District (261-0022), Longwood medical area (731-1300), the food court at the Prudential Center (266-3355), and 112 Newbury Street (267-1122), in Boston; and at 290 Main Street, Kendall Square, in Cambridge (494-6688). Catering also available; call 523-1431.

-- Nancy Kalajian