BEST MIDSIZE MUSIC VENUE Kind of a no-brainer on this one. The MidEast has been around since 1970, and still reigns supreme as Boston's best rock and/or roll joing. With a downstairs, an upstairs, cheap covers, and delicious food, it's the time-honored favorite of hipsters, metalheads, folkies, b-boys and people in black jeans. It's a music lover's place - no frills, loud and clear sound, lots of Bud, and belly dancing on Sundays. At the end of the night there's a line of cabs waiting to glide you back home, the closing set still echoing in your head and Hi-Fi pizza on your breath.

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From the First Annual DigThis Awards 2005, THE WEEKLY DIG

BEST ROCK CLUB"'Middle East' is a loaded term these days, but in Cambridge, Middle East denotes nothing more - and nothing less - than the finest indie-rock shows around. Politics aren't forgotten (indeed, the club has hosted a variety of fundraisers and benefits for pro-voting and anti-Bush causes) , but here at this Central Square stalwart of local, up-and-coming, and underground rock, with bands such as Luna, Fly Seville, Pedro the Lion, and Isis, music wins the popular vote. With three spaces for live music, a restaurant, and a couple of bars, the Middle East occupies its Mass Ave corner exactly as it should, winning our readers' favor year after year."
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Boston Phoenix Best of 2004

BEST HIP-HOP CLUB "Still the premier place to hear indie rock, the Middle East also has garnered a reputation for serving up the cream of the indie hip-hop crop. Voted best hip-hop club by our readers for the third year running, the Middle East has played host to Mr. Lif, 7L & Esoteric, Los Nativos, Jedi Mind Tricks, Killah Priest, Outerspace, Irepress, Masta Killah, and Jake the Snake, to name a few. The Middle East has no rival when it comes to underground hip-hop."
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Boston Phoenix Best of 2004

HISTORY:
The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub consists of three live-music performance rooms, two family-style restaurants with full-service bars, and an elegant restaurant named ZuZu (the childhood nickname of one of the proprieters). Several of the rooms also serve as art galleries, offering a fresh showcase for local and international artists on a monthly basis. Both the staff and the customers are an international mix of musicians, students, townspeople and professionals.

For more information and concert listings, visit

http://www.mideastclub.com [http://www.mideastclub.com]