Where do I begin- We had my best friends engagement party downstairs in the Queen's room in Monarch and it was truly an amazing evening. The staff went above and beyond other help us surprise the bride, they even had flowers on the tables for us. Th owner even called me personally to help me plan out all of the details. We had a big group and the service did not miss a beat. The drinks were flowing, and the food was also FANTASTIC! highly recommend Alice & Monarch for your next event, date night, or get together with friends. 1000% will be back soon. And if you were thinking about ordering the Creste Di Gallo pasta- DO IT! read more

Alice & Monarch - Beautiful proposal set up in the Queen's room! - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I had a fabulous experience at Alice & Monarch! The décor, ambiance, and staff were all exceptional. The octopus was light, flavorful, and cooked to absolute perfection--honestly, better than some of the octopus I've had in Greece! The steak was phenomenal, and the wine selection perfectly complemented the meal. Then there's the downstairs at Monarch... a completely different level of atmosphere. Intimate, upscale, fun, and full of surprises. It's the kind of place that makes an evening feel like an experience rather than just a dinner. A must-see and must-experience for everyone! read more

Was actually pleasantly surprised by Alice & Monarch! We tried both the pasta and pizza and everything was really good. The pasta was flavorful and cooked perfectly, and the pizza was also delicious and definitely something I'd order again. Service was a little slow when we went, but our server was really friendly and welcoming, and the hostess was super nice as well. The atmosphere was cute and made for a nice dinner spot. Overall, really good food and a great experience despite the slower service. Definitely would come back to try more of the menu! read more

Very disappointing. Very poor service. We felt ignored by the waitress. We received no guidance or help in ordering. Food and drinks are expensive but very hit or miss. One cocktail was clearly not what I ordered and they didn't tell me they were making a substitution (description said bay leaf mezcal with sage and peppercorn and what I got was a rosemary flavored drink with a huge sprig of rosemary coming out of it). One desert was great (interesting and inventive). The other desert was just a huge slice of layered chocolate cake like what you can get anywhere (Costco, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden). That was very disappointing for a 20 dollar desert at a speakeasy that specializes in deserts. I would not return. They automatically add 4% tip to the bill and then give you an electronic payment system where the minimum tip is another 18%, so that's a minimum of 22% tip for being completely ignored by the waitstaff. Just horrible read more

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We visited Alice and Monarch the week they opened. So, the service was not as polished as I imagine future visits would be. Nothing wrong mind you, just seemed that everyone was new in their roles. The chef however, brought everything they had to the table. The pasta dishes were on point. Cresti di Gallo was a standout at our table. The funghi pizza got several thumbs up at our table. We were lucky enough to get our "just desserts" at Monarch (which is co-located with Alice. Monarch had small plates and creative cocktails and mocktails. The places gives speakeasy, but more like cozy with friends. A return visit is surely in order when in Cambridge! read more

I checked out Monarch's downstairs Halloween speakeasy. The decor was really cute, and the pasta and chicken parm were both good. However, the service was extremely slow. Our drinks took over 25 minutes to arrive, and they didn't look like what was advertised on social media. My drink was also very small and mostly ice, which was disappointing for the price. Overall, I think they need more servers and bartenders because the slow service took away from what could have been a great experience. read more

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I tried Alice for an early Friday dinner and was pleasantly surprised. There were several vegetarian options and items safe for my allergies. We were interested in a pasta, but the squash sugo was described as a tomato based bolognese style sauce which wasn't what we were picturing, though I wonder if they'd be able to do a vegetarian version of the bucatini carbonara with poached egg. We opted for the Alice pizza which was unique with the vodka sauce and pesto and had a nice, chewy flavorful outer crust. I also got the spinach salad with apple, candied walnuts, pomegranate seeds and goat cheese (which I didn't realize was fried). The country rolls were dense and a complete waste of an order since we each only had one bite. Service was attentive, but it was insane how they packaged the leftover pizza! read more

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Beautiful restaurant. Came for brunch. Not crowded on a Sunday morning. Nice spot for a date or special occasion. Portions were pretty large. I love that the egg dishes came with a green salad on the side. Tasted very fresh. Service was great here. Our server was so friendly and always checking in if we needed anything. read more

Alice & Monarch - Inside - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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It started very promising with a greeting from the host and being promptly seated for our reservation in a modern and very comfortable environment. Unfortunately, inconsistent service, small portions, and undistinguishable food created a very average experience at a relatively high price point. Our server was wonderful and very friendly, but not attentive and inconsistent. We ordered drinks that took an unusually long time to get. Every order of drinks took longer than usual. It wasn't super busy on a Thursday evening. Something that drives me crazy is inconsistent pours. There were three glasses of wine brought to us all with different amounts in the glasses. My son clearly did benefited with his pour. During the course of the meal, I asked for a lemoncello spritz on a very hot day and this Italian restaurant did not stock it. With my dinner, they didn't have Chianti, or any Super Tuscan by the glass. The menu is a challenge. It is relatively limited. Our friendly server made no attempt to talk about the menu or offer any insights. I've been to hundreds of Italian restaurants around the world and I found this menu obtuse. There were only a four options for main dishes. There were a handful (five) of different pastas. I was surprised by the size of the servings being a little smaller than typical. For dinner, I had the Branzino served verde in padella with salmon roe and balsamic. It was just a piece of well prepared fish. It was not hot without any additional accompaniment or the option to get sides. You would expect a roasted potato or some vegetable. The rigatoni Bolognese was "good" and a small portion. What are you trying to be? A menu that is clearly Italian without Prosecco, Chianti or lemoncello. There seems to be something slightly off with execution and training. Hopefully this new beautiful restaurant will evolve and change in the heart of Kendall Square. read more

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I was genuinely excited to try one of the newer culinary additions to Kendall Sq, and the menu and drinks looked quite appealing with a variety of flavors and sophisticated ingredients. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to expectations and I am honestly not sure if I would come back and bring my family here for example. My friend and I were able to get a reservation easily, and the restaurant was only half full on a weekend evening when we visited. We got the rabe appetizer ($8), the delicata squash ($22), and cresti di gallo pasta ($28), and for drinks, we got the old fashioned ($18) and the nonalcoholic sicilian sunrise/citrus mafia ($16). The total was $48/person excluding tip. For vegan food options, the rabe, delicata squash, and garganelli pasta can be made vegan. The rabe greens had a hint of spice, and the charred flavor almost made it taste like a steak which was unique. It was rather bitter, but if you enjoy greens, this is a good choice. The squash tasted quite good with the pesto, quinoa, and soft squash melding together beautifully. It is quite heavy on tomato. The citrus zero proof drink tasted like an elevated sparking lemonade -- I won't be getting it again for the price of $16, but there were a lot of other drink options that looked enticing. My friend really enjoyed the pasta and the old fashioned drink. However, despite the restaurant not even at half capacity, her dish was lost, so it needed to be remade, and we ended up waiting 45 minutes for it. My food came first, so I was waiting too and felt awkward finishing my food while my friend was waiting the whole time. The appetizer also arrived well before the drinks, which is a small detail that is less typical. The staff apologized and were overall friendly, but for the place not even close to capacity, it was surprising for such a mistake to happen. read more

The food description was promising but the execution not its best. The outside of this steak was completely charred and despite asking for medium for the inside, it was pretty raw (the type of raw that a knife has a hard time cutting through). The kitchen needs to do better here. The staff was friendly and accommodating read more

Alice & Monarch - Ribeye - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The space is beautiful - the design is inviting and it's brand new. Service was friendly and fast. We tried a little bit of everything as you can see from the pics. They didn't have any cider on draft so I tried one of the lighter Maine beers - it was refreshing. To share, we ordered the salad and the rolls. The rolls were good but didn't taste as fresh as I expected them to taste. The honey butter was definitely a nice touch. The salad was simple and very fresh. The pizza's flavors were good but I felt like the crust lacked flavor. When my chicken parm came out, I was a bit surprised that it was on two separate plates -- the pasta was super al dente - the flavor was good but I wouldn't order it again. My friend liked her pasta . read more

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Came here for my boyfriend's birthday and was very disappointed. Server was very nice but took 20 mins just to greet us and the restaurant was nearly empty. We decided after our appetizer and sitting there for another 30 mins without being checked on or receiving our drinks, we did not want to continue with an entree. We were fully done with our apps before receiving drinks. We got the country rolls and whipped ricotta for appetizers. Country rolls were delicious. The "whipped" ricotta was liquid, still tasty just not as expected. My boyfriend and I both work in restaurants and are very understanding, however this was not acceptable service. Overall, very cute atmosphere and good drinks, not great service. We left feeling very disappointed as again this was his birthday. We will not be back. read more

Had a wonderful anniversary night at Alice & Monarch. We started with dinner and drinks upstairs at Alice. My husband opted for the let the bartender decide option and was not disappointed. He said it was fantastic. The food was delicious we both had pasta dishes and they were cooked to perfection. Next we went downstairs to the speakeasy for dessert and drinks. Again the service was outstanding and the desserts were stellar. However the signature drink options seemed limited compared to upstairs. Which is weird with the whole speakeasy vibe. But I'd definitely go back. I'd just make sure to enjoy my libations upstairs before heading down. Or just have the drink you want in mind. read more

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A few of us from the office decided to check out Alice & Monarch for lunch since it's right in the neighborhood. The space itself has a really nice atmosphere, and the staff couldn't have been warmer or more welcoming. There were definitely some service hiccups. A few mixed-up orders and wrong plates dropped off at the table, but that's honestly par for the course for a brand-new restaurant finding its footing, so no real complaints there. The food was perfectly acceptable, but nothing really stood out or blew us away. However, the portions are laughably small compared to other restaurants of this style and price point. Having been to scores of similar spots across the Boston area, Alice & Monarch definitely stands out as the stingiest, without the standout quality to back up those kinds of micro-portions. It has great potential as a neighborhood hangout thanks to the staff and ambience, but they really need to rethink their portion sizes if they want to compete with other spots in the area. read more

Fantastic service, great drinks, good food, and absolutely delightful desserts. Worth the trip and the concept is great! Definitely gave me Chicago/NYC night life vibes and is something sorely needed here. read more

Went to monarch for a quick drink and ended up sticking around all night. The hostess at the door upstairs was warm and helpful and the restaurant is beautiful. Period. The manager who greeted us downstairs was very accommodating and then checked on us again to make sure we were having fun. He even brought us a taste of his favorite: passion fruit and tequila. Wow! The drinks were great, both the mad monarch Halloween menu and the off-menu ones we ordered and the bartender was as hilarious as he was helpful. All in all, great job and great experience. Will definitely be back. read more

This place should hopefully become something so much better over time. It has a really cool location and the concept is generally solid. I would consider the food average and really not worth the price (at least for what it is right now). I didn't know this was a new restaurant so will probably give it another try down the line and maybe some of this will work out. We ordered 4 dishes, 3 of which were the 3 ones that server suggested the most. The Country Bread: not bad but also in no way memorable. Some large flakey salt would have been welcome addition texture/flavor wise. The butter and honey being separate is a choice, but I did like it. The bread was just boring and is definitely not worth $10. The Fried Zucchini Flowers: Sounded like an interesting idea. The presentation looks like two fried field mice on top of a chunky pesto. They didn't taste bad, but also wouldn't get them again and the presentation was...jarring. Chicken Parm: it's a pan fried and was over an inch thick, which is insane. There was no breading. There was no tenderizing. They bring out a cast iron pan filled with some cherry tomatoes, warm bland arribbiata sauce, and melted cheese and they pour this mess over the chicken. Oh, they also throw one whole green olive in because, why not? Either way, it is not a chicken parm. Pizza: kept it simple and ordered a margherita. It was not bad, but was also not memorable in any way, especially for a $20 pizza. Drinks: I am a sucker and will usually try a mai tai if I see one on the menu. Theirs isn't bad, but the bar programs garnish game is sad. For a ~$18 mai tai, I 100% expect a mint garnish. A sad lime wedge is certainly a choice. The spritz's were good though. I would have liked more wine by the glass options. I would probably focus more on wine or spritz's if I go back. Overall the space also gets very loud and it's a slower pace. We were in an awkward table so assumed the restaurant was packed going by the volume. When we stood up to leave and saw it was ~50% capacity blew my mind. The vibe is cute. The location is great. There's a lot of potential. If you're somehow still reading this and want my advice: maybe hit up Monarch for dessert and drinks first. read more

Spent last Thursday there with a few friends. Who ever is responsible for the decor did great, ambiance was excellent. Service was good - the bartender made great drinks - nothing overly complicated but they were consistent which is most important. Our server Vivian was also great. She kept up with the table needs. Food was the main event; we got one of every appetizer and the chef meat board - prosciutto, cheeses etc. The Pork belly app was great and since they were in season, the Zucchini flowers were a nice touch. For entrees we had duck, pasta and a few chicken parm's. Arguably the best chicken parm in Cambridge - definitely puts heat on the NE. Pasta was perfectly cooked and definitely homemade. All and all, I'll be back - the downstairs was a hidden gem - speakeasy vibes, dark and great drinks. Head over, you won't be disappointed. read more

Went to the Mad Monarch speakeasy since we saw it on socials and were super excited to experience it and the whole spooky vibe, but honestly the service was not good. The waiter did not give a crap genuinely and after we got our drinks (which didn't come with what was promised), without even asking he threw (literally) the receipt on the table. Not worth the crummy service and expensive drinks. read more

I've visited Alice 3 times in the past 3 weeks and have had drastically different experiences. The first time I went was on the 13th in the afternoon. Exceptional service, food and drink. I sat at the bar and the primary bar tender was attentive, skilled and created a great experience for my friend and I. We had a few cocktails, only one of which was from the menu, the others were classics that were made with perfection. We had the octopus and zucchini flowers as small plates and loved both. A special shout out to a second bartender that stepped in during a break or shift change who made a stellar classic cocktail that sealed the deal for us. We raved about the entire experiance on leaving. I returned for lunch the following week with my colleagues after talking it up for lunch. What a disappointment. I ordered the same items as before to have my coworkers try and it was horrible. The octopus was overcooked and poorly treated, the zucchini flowers were limp and greasy and the cocktail was unbalanced and was a let down. Their coffees were bitter and neither was finished. We had already ordered lunch and none of us finished our meals. The rigattoni was OK, but the pizza and carbonara were inediable. On top of it all, the food took a very long time to come out even though the dining room only had a few tables occupied. I decided to give it one more go last night in hopes the second time was a fluke on a bad day (we all have them) and repeat ordered the same cocktail as the first two times and it was even worse than the last time. The bread we ordered was very dry and tough to the point where we wondered if it was stale and the oysters were questionably room temp, somewhat dry and not disconnected from the shell. We didnt finish the bread, though one of the sauces for the oysters was enjoyable. The service was good on this occasion. I think this is it for us. Its too inconsistent for myself or coworkers to return to. We sunk about $400 into this experiment and it turned out to be a fail. Wish we could recreate the experience from earlier this month. We were really cheering for Alice.​ read more

This new addition to Cambridge is definitely worth a visit. Food, cocktails and service is 5 stars.

Came on a Saturday night with friends. Nice vibe with friendly host and comfortable window seating. Waiter was not particularly friendly and did not offer any insight into (or recommendations from) the menu. The shining stars of the evening were the martinis, very cold and very dry. The food, however, was nothing special and the kitchen was slow. We tried several small dishes, a pasta, and a main dish, and nothing really stood out except for the porchetta. The rabe, kale salad, and carrots were not very interesting and the bolognese lacked kick. The eggplant dish was lukewarm and lacking in flavor as well. Wish I could give more than 2 stars, but I don't see this place surviving in a busy area unless the chefs step it up. read more

Vibe was great, both restaurant and the bar look cute. Service was 10/10, our server was super friendly and attentive, bartender took an amazing care of us. However, food was awful. Cheese board was good, but its hard to mess up cheese. Bucatini served in a tiny bowl, sooo overcooked, and there was a HARD BOILED egg on top. I saw different variations of carbonara, love the yolk on top but hard boiled egg..??? Duck was chewy and the presentation of the dish in general was poor. Overall, menu is pretty small, not a lot to choose from. Drinks are cool, espresso martini especially. Didn't really like strawberry negroni because of how strong it was and served with 1 lonely butt of a strawberry in it, but i guess that's just me. Nice place to have a few drinks at, but way toooo overhyped, i wouldn't come back read more

Cute interior design and nice serves but the food did not taste good. I wouldn't recommend.

Great food, great drinks, friendly vibe. Great addition to the area! Looking forward to coming back to check out Monarch.

I have been in a number of times since they opened. enjoyed both Lunch and Dinner so much I booked a private event in the downstairs space - my guests raved about it. Could not recommend more highly. read more

We just had dinner there. Don't order the zucchini blossoms. Two small over fried pieces. Portions are small. Mgr offered dessert instead of removing it from the bill. I'd like her to try what I had. So disappointing. Restaurant is loud and service is not good. Food has no flavor. read more

Had a great meal last night at this restaurant. Sat at the bar and received great service. Food was amazing. Ordered off their special menu. Had the prosciutto and fresh mozzarella app and the Creste di Gallo pasta. They were delicious. Great atmosphere and ambiance. Highly recommend. Great new addition to Cambridge! read more

Food was good but the address is wildly off base. There is a CVS where the restaurant is supposed to be and no readable signage showing where it actually is. We spent a half hour in the pouring rain unable to find it. I must have made four or five calls seeking help. When we eventually reached the place, we were not offered a complimentary drink or anything else for our troubles. I would avoid this place if at possible. read more

Service was good. Food was lackluster at best. Party of 7. Chicken parm was overcooked, lacked seasoning, on top of lukewarm pasta in sauce that was very acidic. Pizza was nothing great. Haddock special was dry. Carbonara was very small portion and dry. Why am I spending this level of money for food that I can make better at home? read more

Awesome food and great service. Appreciated the ability to taste my wine before committing to a glass. We had a great experience.

Had a fantastic lunch with my colleagues and everyone at the table of 5 raved about the food. Service was excellent!

Love the place! And the vibe, food was amazing, thank you for the great service they were fast!

Great concept, space is beautiful but service was horrible and entire meal came out cold. Not once did anyone check in. Overpriced for whack service read more

The place is beautiful. Foods amazing had the grissini app and rigatoni for dinner. Everything was home made So good! Sat at the bar service was eh.... There were no lemons or limes took the bartender 20 minutes to get them as he stopped to talk to other bartenders, customers and had to be reminded. Never understood why restaurants don't have the basic beers i.e. Corona or seltzers. Not everyone likes the fru fru beers, ales or mixed drinks. Will definitely go back the food was that good!!! read more