We went to meet a friend near a computer store I like to visit and he recommended this place…read morebecause he used to work near by and said it's really good. When I looked on the map I saw there were also lots of other places nearby so off this was packed we still had several good options so we agreed to meet there. Well he wasn't lying, this place was great with possibly one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I have ever had, granted it was they honey bacon, so it wasn't just a plain one, but it was really good. So much so that i want to go back just for that, but there are also so many other items on the menu that i want to try that I see myself having a tough decision next time. And the food isn't the only reason we want to go back, but also in the backside of the restaurant they have a whole section of old arcade games I grew up with. From reviews I read that after 8pm they have a cover charge, but that won't stop me. Nostalgia is strong with this one.

Heard a lot about Roxy's Grilled Cheese and finally decided to give it a try. We went in the late…read moreafternoon after the lunch rush to avoid the crowd. Ordering is a cinch pretty much, done at the counter and they giv a number for dining in, pretty straightforward. We ordered the double fried chicken sandwich, hot honey bacon grilled cheese, and truffle fries. The counter staff were fine and courteous. No issues there. The ambience has a kind of edgy, cultural revolution vibe, which is interesting but nothing too memorable. I might be going against the grain here and my fellow reviewers but I think this place is a bit overhyped. The biggest disappointment was the double fried chicken sandwich. For something labeled double fried, it lacked crispiness and crunch. It was honestly pretty plain, and nothing about it stood out. I felt like I could get a better fried chicken sandwich from Popeyes or even KFC and that's saying something. What really sealed it for me though was finding some kind of fibrous material in the bun itself. I only noticed it because I was inspecting the sandwich more closely to see what parts were actually enjoyable. I've attached a photo. It did not look like food at all, which was somewhat concerning. I ate carefully afterwards but still had some lingering fear of earlier bites i had but itd probably just go through my systemx The hot honey bacon grilled cheese was also underwhelming. It felt like the hot honey was just lightly drizzled on top and not really incorporated, so you end up dipping parts of the sandwich into it instead. The grilled cheese itself was fine, but nothing special. The bacon was decent and nicely flavored , but that was about it. Surprisingly, the truffle fries were the best thing we ordered. They came out hot and piping, with a solid truffle flavor. Probably truffle salt, but still enjoyable. Overall, pretty disappointed and not a place I'd go out of my way to return to.

Amba is one of my favorite spots in Cambridge! The food is delicious, the staff are very friendly…read moreand welcoming, and it's a great place to work remotely. A special shoutout to Felipe and Niko for their kindness, attentiveness, and genuine hospitality! Highly recommend the crispy chicken caesar salad pita and fries as both were perfectly crispy and the pita was pillowy soft.

The breakfast pita was delicious - highly recommend. They also have a great selection of…read moreinteresting lattes and other coffee drinks. I haven't tried the lunch offerings but a lot of good looking items on the menu and will certainly be coming back for more. Good experience with the staff and efficiency.

I went here for dinner last night and had a fabulous time! The restaurant is very cool and trendy…read moreinside. There's a modern style rectangular bar by the door. The downstairs area is sometimes used for private events and is where the bathrooms are. For food, we started with the Barro Salad which was light and refreshing. The nachos de la case was a highlight. It has a ton of ingredients and is a busy dish but was very delicious. The chips were crunchy and the guac was just right. I would also recommend the birria (beef) and shrimp taco! They came with their own delicious sauce and the tacos were a punch of flavor. The service was good and attentive. She checked on us a couple times and the food came out at a good pace. FYI there are lots of specials here! They have ayce with limited menu on Mondays (Mucho Mondays), five tacos for $15 on Tuesdays, bottomless brunch on the weekends, and daily happy hour from 4-6pm with half off appetizers and $5 tacos. There is no reason to pay full price in this economy!

Eloquent space in the former location of Border Cafe, which this is decidedly not. Center bar is…read morefairly large, with tables along the windows, the back ledge, and in an area a step down from the center space. The service was excellent. The pork carnitas enchiladas worked really well. The molé sauce was decidedly chocolate-flavored, the pork was cooked gently with a proper crispness on the outer surfaces, and the tomato / cilantro bechamel had a nice subtlety to it. My only reservation was that it was somewhat lukewarm when it got to the table. The chicken chimichanga had nice individual flavors with the various sauces and insides, but all together meshed into a blob that obliterates the care taken to share the different flavors. For example the ranchero sauce, guacamole, baja crema and chipotle mayo were each interesting in their own right (esp. the ranchero) but all together don't quite work. In general the flavoring could be spicier. I concur with other observers that the menu is less varied than in years past.

I found this place by accident. I was on a conference across the street and saw their sign. When it…read morecomes to Brazilian food, I know I have to get a picanha/sirloin cap, and ordered a picanha bowl I did. The place is small, around 6 high-stool seat by the window, 1 table for 4 people and 2 tables for 2 people. The ordering system is similar to a buffet system, you choose which rice bowl you want and can put anything on it. Servers are nice and patient when taking order. My picanha bowl consist of picanha, fried banana, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, and white rice. The meat was cooked medium-well (in Brazil, usually Brazilians prefer well done meat) but still juicy and tender. Rice was succulent, fried banana is tender and sweet, but pico de gallo didn't contribute much to my palate (maybe got overpowered by the cheese). Overall, this is a great place for a quick bite. I will definitely be back for their coxinha and pao de queijo!!!!

I came back from a trip to Belo Horizonte and São Paulo and wanted to try and find some Brazilian…read morefood in Boston. I saw this place had good reviews so I decided to give them a try. I was shocked by the prices and quality of the food. I built my own bowl and it's essentially the same as a Chipotle or Cava but a few dollars more and the cheese wasn't even melted so it was just cold cheese because the food provided was warm and not hot at all. The sirloin was very tough to chew and lacked seasoning and flavor. Even though it was cooked medium, it took a painfully long time to chew the meat. The one redeeming quality was that the portions are filling and they are generous with the amount of protein given. The tables are also fairly clean for the most part.

Flew in from LAX, checked into the Charles Hotel, and decided to have out first meal here in the…read morehotel; walked in and were seated right away at 5pm on the first Saturday of the World Cup. Friendly, skilled, knowledgeable staff (so international, so many accents!), helpfully worked with my dairy allergy. Prompt, attentive service! We shared a beet and farro salad, it was lightly dressed, the farro so nutty and slightly toasted and delicious. My spouse enjoyed spreading the goat cheese (which we got on the side) onto the immaculately fresh baked bread; I, of course, had quality EVOO instead of the farm butter my spouse so enjoyed. My spouse found the scrod (never menu'd in southern california) light, and flaky, describing it "like unbattered fish n chips," the asparagus pleasantly not overcooked. My salmon was fresh and the "risotto-style" (dairy free) rice nutty and flavorful. So much better than first impressions; we were delightfully surprised by our experience. Was a little sad that the table was bussed so quickly because we would have taken bread up to our room. Excited to have breakfast here tomorrow! --- Next morning's BREAKFAST: Great breakfast, attentive service, delicious coffee. Super happy with the Avocado Toast & eggs: generously spread, love their bagels. Spouse got the smoked salmon bagel--loved the crunchy capers & chive cream cheese! Ready for the Harvard Natural History & Peabody Museums!

I generally really like this restaurant and the overall concept. Depending on the day and the…read moreorder, the food can be exceptional. That said, I recently asked about swapping proteins on a salad and was told there would be an " add on" charge of $26... essentially doubling the price of the salad. So - while the food is good - an HT Protein Bowl is NOT worth $51!!! Unfortunate. This is a huge customer service miss. They should be able to figure this out!

Shy Bird is a lively all-day restaurant and wine bar in Kendall Square that works just as well for…read morea morning coffee as it does for dinner and drinks. The space has a bright, modern feel with exposed brick, warm lighting, and a busy bar that gives the restaurant plenty of energy without feeling overwhelming. It is the kind of neighborhood spot that feels equally comfortable for a casual meal with friends or a quick dinner after work. Although Shy Bird is well known for its rotisserie chicken, I ended up being most impressed by the pasta. The house-made pasta was easily the highlight of my meal, with fresh noodles cooked to the right texture and coated in rich, flavorful sauces. The rigatoni with slow-braised meat ragù was especially satisfying, offering a hearty dish that still felt balanced rather than overly heavy. Seasonal pasta options are also worth considering, and it is clear that just as much care goes into these dishes as the restaurant's more well-known specialties. The drink selection complements the food really well. There is a thoughtfully curated wine list, a good selection of local craft beers, and cocktails that pair nicely with the menu. Ordering a bowl of pasta alongside a glass of wine made for a relaxed dinner, and the atmosphere around the bar added to the experience without making it feel too loud or rushed. Even with a full dining room, the service stayed friendly and attentive throughout my visit. The staff kept everything moving at a comfortable pace, checking in regularly without interrupting the meal. It is a popular spot during weekday evenings and weekends, so making a reservation ahead of time is a good idea if you want a table, although the bar is a great option if you are stopping in without plans. Overall, Shy Bird is much more than a place to grab rotisserie chicken. The quality of the house-made pasta, excellent drink program, welcoming atmosphere, and dependable service make it one of the restaurants I would happily return to in Kendall Square. Whether you are meeting friends for dinner or looking for a relaxed night out with good food and wine, it is an easy place to recommend.

This review comes a little bit late but this very awesome establishment with a cool vibe, located…read morein The Kendall section of Boston deserves to be mentioned. I dined here end of May. I decided to eat here because it was walking distance to the Hampton Inn Cambridge hotel that we stayed at and because it was listed as a casual chicken place. This restaurant is not as casual in the way I thought it would be. They accept reservations and luckily we made them because it got crowded within the half hour that we arrived. It also has a nice bar in the middle of the restaurant. It was four of us who came here to dine. This place has more than chicken. They have a very diverse menu. The drinks that we ordered to start with were delicious. For our meal. We shared the sesame crusted tuna & crispy rice, which I recommend because it was so good! Ordered as meals was the Piri Piri Chicken which was delicious and moist and it came with rosemary fries, the umami bowl which had carrots, kale, mushroom, togarashi and ginger-miso sauce. I don't know what togarashi is, but I do know that the Umami bowl was very very good. The shrimp & lenguini fra diavolo, white cheddar shells (Mac n cheese) and the coq au vin frites were equally as delicious. Everything ordered was amazing and the wait staff attentive. I highly recommend them!

I got the Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich. It was excellent. My gf got the turkey gobbler. Her's…read more was great also. Large portions. We also got the onion rings. Those I recommend too buttermilk batter coating on the rings. Nice and crispy. Those were also a large portion. Cant wait to try the poutine!

I was intrigued after seeing All Star on the Boston Globe's list of best sandwich shops in the…read morearea, so I stopped by for lunch on a Sunday. The interior gave me diner vibes - very laid back and comfortable. At 11:30 it was pretty much empty. It seems like most people get their food to go. Service was prompt and friendly. I ordered the Tofused Banh Mi - tofu, pickled veg, basil, cilantro, and a fried egg on a brioche bun. Definitely not a traditional banh mi but very tasty nonetheless! The teriyaki-like glaze was a little sweet for me and I would have preferred some more spice to balance it out but all in all I was very happy with my visit here and would definitely come back.

GREAT FOOD! We got the brussel sprouts to share and the smashburger. Highly recommend this placeread more

Another place that I have passed in Coolidge corner a bunch of times when I'm in the area. Esmai's…read morequietly opened up a year or two ago and I was always wondering what was inside. From just looking inside it looks like a very nice American bar and restaurant. For a space in Coolidge corner, it is definitely one of the biggest restaurants in the area since FuGakyu is closed (The OG ). It has two floors as well as a patio space they recently opened. This is an asian fusion restaurant with more emphasis on the americanized side if that makes sense? The patio area was so nice especially once it cools down in the evening with a nice view of brookline. The staff were great at bringing everything and making the food and drinks the focus rather than themselves. The menu is kind of small but mighty with a lot of delicious options. You can choose from salad to a ban mih to pasta to curry to a Hawaiian dish,loco moco! The drinks, though pretty small in size, are all really interesting combos. I got the extra 99 which had scallion, oolong and szechuan pepper infused oil. It was such an interesting savory taste.. One of my friends said it reminded her of the smell of ramen.The Loco moco was delicious. I'm not sure why I thought it would be a burger but it essentially was but just swap the buns for rice. I'm not a fan of egg but it was perfectly balanced with the egg and beef patty. They do have a couple of GF options YAY but apart from the two entree items on their brunch menu it's essentially veggies, fruit and salad. The brunch menu looks delicious so I would definitely come back to try it out. $$ Food 8 Atmosphere 8 Service 7 Loco Moco Extra 99 Blush hour Chateau spritz Summer thyme You can sip with is