Went to this beautiful place last minute on Valentine's Day and I've been going there often on for over 20 years. Always amazing always great service the owner. Sammy is amazing. It's a great family on run business. We had the hummus and appetizer or phenomenal as always great portions as well. I had them mixed kebab dinner. My girlfriend had the Kibby both were great lots of food and to finish the best baklava I've ever had in my life has always even brought a piece home from my mom I would recommend for any person when it's warm out. They have outside seating you can get takeout. It's right there a mess have you have to do street parking but you could always find something. read more

Yes, very nice hummus. Prepackaged pita very dry. The after entrée, rice, small pieces of zucchini, grilled onions, (sadly no tomato), decent rice, decent sausage of beef. Recommend bring Cash small business fees for credit. I don't think I'd return. read more

We ate here some time ago and were impressed with Cafe Barada's flavors. We met some friends here for dinner, dining on the patio. We ordered the Vegetarian grape leaves, Mujederra, Stuffed roasted eggplant appetizer, Salad with cashews -- all small dishes to share. Everything was tasty and well prepared. The only odd thing was when we first arrived, only 2-3 of the patio tables were occupied, and our friends were about to arrive. We were told - VERY STERNLY - that we needed to wait until EVERYONE was present in order to be seated, and until then, we needed to stand outside. I can certainly understand if they were busy, or even vaguely close to busy. But forcing seniors to stand outside the patio was just kinda weird. If it weren't for that off-putting interaction, I would have given them another star. read more

Delicious food! We finished almost everything we ordered. Definitely get the appetizer sampler so you can try the four dips - my favorite was the baba ghannouj and the mujederra (which was some rice, lentils, and onion combo that I tried for the first time and loved). The pita bread was a little hard and stiff (tasted store-bought), not the fluffy variety that I'm partial to. We also got the chicken shish kebab, which was more than enough to split between two people. I would order another entree next time. The chicken was on the drier side, though grilled beautifully, and I wish they gave some more grilled veggies other than the three pieces of tomato, zucchini, and onion. The rice pilaf was delicious, I could've eaten more of that as a side. The service hit a bit of a bumpy patch at the beginning, when my cousin got there first and picked an indoor table. When I came in and asked for an outdoor table, the taller, younger guy seemed put off by the request. However, our waiter was an older gentleman who I think was the owner and was very sweet and came by often. Definitely a small business I'm coming back to. read more

Cafe Barada - Appetizer Sampler - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I brought a group because we've had some nice meals in the past. We started with excellent hummus - the app was more than enough for 6 people. Everyone enjoyed their entre. I had lamb kabobs and tried my husbands kibbee. Both were great. My dish came with a good-size grilled piece tomato, onion and squash. The rice pilaf was the best I've had. The service was good. They have lovely outdoor seating under stringed lights (but it started raining before we sat down) Tip: it's one of those places that won't seat anyone until the whole party is there and the don't take reservations. read more

Okay, rant time. Don't be annoyed, you're on Yelp, you get what you pay for here. The problem I have with this site is that the Venn Diagram of people who review restaurants and people who post their cocktails on Instagram is basically...well, it's a circle, they're like the same people. So anytime there's a place that doesn't 'gram itself effectively, you get low ratings and complaints about color balance. Meanwhile places like Backbar that aim for exclusivity over quality get 5 stars OMG THEY PUT A FLOWER IN MY MARTINI. Cafe Barada is chill, low-key, hitting that stylish mark without hitting you over the head with it. It FEELS like it's been here for a while, there's something broadly appealing to it. The dishes are fresh and plentiful, you can tell they take the presentation and ingredients seriously. Service is friendly without being obtrusive and the location is shockingly peaceful for being on the side of what is essentially a highway. This is going to sound extra obnoxious but the place doesn't feel corporate. If you want a definition of corporate - go to anywhere in Seaport. This place was here before Somerville was cool, and it's a testament to its quality that it's still around. And, just to mention, I do think it makes a good Instagram. read more

Lovely experience here. Casual and cozy atmosphere, hosted by an exceedingly kind and generous staff. The food was delicious and portions sizable. The "sharing plates" are certainly sharing sized and larger than the "tapas-style" I had expected. A good value overall and I'd recommend. Street parking is a challenge. read more

Unpleasant, to say the least. The service was abrasive to the point of being impolite and came off as borderline aggressive. I felt like I was being nicer to the servers than they were to me. The ambiance was dark and outdated, and the food was uninspiring. I would not recommend bringing anyone here. Maybe if you need a quick, solitary bite to eat, but there are much better options in the area. read more

Cafe Barada - Outdoor seating - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Had a lovely lunch here today and loved every bite! Hands down the moistest, most perfect falafel I've ever had!

Got takeout tonight, pictured are my fattouch salad with kafta kebab, with a little plate of labany (harissa style) and hummus (I had to put it on a plate so I didn't just eat the entire - very generous - container). Once again everything was delicious and fresh - the kafta kebab is next level. Very friendly staff when picking up too. read more

Cafe Barada - Fattouch salad with kafta kebab, harissa labany, hummus and pita. - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

One of the best meals I've ever had, and the family who owns and operates the restaurant is so accommodating and kind. I've had Middle Eastern food quite a few times before, and this experience was more fulfilling since they explained the dishes and recommended other items as well. Our larger group of 8 came in a little more than an hour before close, and we were so grateful that the staff allowed us to stay after close to finish our meals and desserts. I'd highly recommend trying and share many plates with your group when you come to this restaurant. And don't skip the baklava! read more

This is the definition of excellence! Authentic food and very good service. I travel a lot across the nation and Europe and I rarely, very rarely, find a Lebanese restaurant that is equal to or exceeds in quality Cafe Barada. The cost is a bit high and the food is worth every penny! read more

I took a team of colleagues here for a business dinner. They were 10 of us and we were seated in the front of the restaurant near the window. Service was very good, we ordered the sampler appetizer and the hummus was amazing! Actually, all of them were very good. The Pita was warm and fresh and the team cleaned up two orders.. and the best thing is it is the first time I have had babaghanouj and I loved it! I had the chicken kebab and substituted the rice for a side salad. It was a tremendous amount of food and there was no way I could finish it, so I took the rest back to my hotel to finish later. The wine was reasonably priced, everyone commented on the quality of their food and it was very personalized service. It felt like having dinner at grandmas house. The price was about $50 per person and we had a variety of entrées, so it fit within my property budget, which was a good thing! One thing to note, when you look at this restaurant on Google maps, there is a comment that it is cash only. They absolutely accepted my credit card, so the owner needs to get this fact repaired. Would definitely return here read more

Cafe Barada - Chicken Shish Kebab - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Delicious! We sat outside and it was lovely. Tried a salad, dolma, lentils, and the strawberry basil mocktail.

Very welcoming and warmly lit inside. The seating is a little tight (we ended up chatting with the table next to us bc we could all hear each others conversations lol) but not a huge deal. Staff was SO kind and friendly. The food was mostly very good (falafel, hummus tabouleh) but the kibbe was rather dry. Mujedarra and baklava were to die for. So good. More than I was expecting to pay for this kind of place, but happy to support lebanese-american small business. read more

This place rocks... the menu is so stacked I immediately want to go back to try more items. They also have a great drinks menu

Appetizers sampler - very tasty! A must-try! Falafel - very well fried! Crispy skin and a very good flavor inside! However, learnt that they don't serve falafel (or any type of) wrap at weekends, which is kinda lame. Mujadarra - I've never had this before but it tastes really good to me! A very hearty soup with lots of beans and grains and different spices. Truly comforting. (Ordered duplicates, it's included in the sampler!) Lentil soup - kinda similar to the Mujadarra but more veggie involved. Also wonderful! I'm no expert at Lebanese cuisine but everything I had here was pretty good. A little bit different from other Mediterranean restaurants. It's good but not amazing. read more

Cafe Barada - Appetizer Sampler, Hoummus, Falafel, Mujadarra,Lentil Soup - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Excellent Food! The dips were delicious! Best baba ghannouj I have ever had in my life! It felt like eating homey comfort food, We loved it! Service was really slow, but seeing as it's a family run place we didn't mind. Overall great experience! read more

The food is pretty legit. Our friends recommend that we try Cafe Barada for lunch and this place did not disappoint. I ordered the falafel and I want to say that these were the best falafel I've ever tasted. They were fresh, crunchy and food of the right flavors. Service was good, establishment was busy but not crowded. The Barada salad with chicken was delicious as well. Everything on the menu looked appetizing, you can't go wrong with anything here. I would recommend this place to family and friends. You won't be let down! read more

Cafe Barada - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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If you make delicious Lebanese food that the whole family loves, then it is my most selfish opinion that you should be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. But they seem to have some kind of work/life balance policy; they are closed Sundays/Mondays and they take some weeks off in the summer. It is pretty inconvenient, to put it nicely. But yes, our meat eater/vegetarian/toddler mixed family loves ordering from Barada. Our go-tos are: tabouli, labneh with zaatar, mujadara, chick thighs, kibbeh, veggie kibbeh. But we love everything. We should also try to dine in (patio) one of these days. read more

Such a treat. The first time I went, I was taken by friends who were a little embarrassed that they'd just been the day before and wanted to go again with company as an excuse. Now I understand. The menu has so much to offer that you're not going to be able to try everything you want, even sharing with the table. The descriptions on the menu will get your imagination going and the food will live up to your hopes. Beautiful dining space and great staff. read more

Quality ingredients. Highly recommend the salads, mujadara is amazing, dressing is light, and chicken is delish.

This was my first time here. My friend is from Lebanon and says that this place has very authentic food that tastes like home. So if you're looking for some legit Lebanese food, this would be the spot. We got the Falafil, Baba ganoush and combo #2. The Baba ganoush was really good with the bread (pita) they give you (I was able to easily eat 4-5 pieces!) And also made good dipping sauce for the Falafil (this was flavorful on his own but tasted even better with the Baba ganoush. If you're getting any of the meats, make sure you get a side of the Toum sauce (garlic spread). The sauce is $3 but well worth it! We got the combo #2 which came with rice, mixed grilled vegetables, chicken, lamb and kafta. The Toum sauce was extra good with the rice and kafta! Really gave it the extra garlic flavor. The rice was very moist from the mixed vegetables on top of it, which made it that much easier to eat, it's a big portion and can easily eat the entire plate. This may not seem like a lot of food but it was plenty for 2 people. read more

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Delicious food, massive portions, good service. I get the pita dip share plate and the chicken plate with roasted veggies and highly recommend. read more

Horrible server! I hope this isn't the owner of this place!Rude old lady who clearly had issues or didn't want to work or be there at all! We were a party of four who stumbled on this place by coincidence when we were passing by on mass Ave and noticed there was no one there!! They had zero customers...we asked about what's the best they have and what she recommends..she didn't want to talk or bother ! Why are you open for business if you do not want to serve customers??? We were shocked with how careless she was !!! We asked if she had anything to serve ????even if it was French fries!!!she said no to everything we wanted to get! She clearly didn't want anyone to come in and probably did this before to other people because the place was totally empty ! We never went back and will never again!!I wonder how those people are in business!!! read more

Authentic, not overdone, not outrageously priced, and from a long term member of the community. I'll be back.

Everything is delicious, but the falafel is the best I have ever eaten. Nicely cooked all the way through (not gummy on the inside), no chickpea chunks, well spiced. Highly recommend. I am spoiled for anyone else's falafel. read more

Have I ever had falafel so fresh? I don't think so. I walked in on a quiet January evening. The owner greeted me, took my order, and spoke to me with a quiet, well-earned pride about the food as it came out. I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu. read more

The food and atmosphere here are phenomenal. It's been a favorite of mine in north Cambridge for many years, but I haven't been back in a while so a trip was long overdue. Stuffed grape leaves, lamb, fattoush... try it all! The prices are a little bit steep but the portions won't make you feel cheated. They also have flights of wine! read more

Lovely recommendation from a Lebanese friend and the place lived up to it. Smallish place with good decor, they have some really authentic mediterranean food. Always a good sign to see lots of expats and there was a fair share of them dining tonight. Started with the Lebanese IPA - clearly still a work in progress. Very mellow and watered down - not as hoppy as an IPA should be. On the other hand, the regular Lebanese Almaza beer is mildest of the mild - so relatively speaking my IPA was hoppy! Stared with an appetizer sampler (tabbouleh, hummus, baba ganoushe, split black lentils). Hummus was the best I have had. Topped this with a falafel pita wrap and we ordered more food than we could handle. Serving was quick and friendly. Several other veggie selections which we had no place left to try. Overall made for a good dinner in a nice friendly and cosy restaurant. read more

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A nice little place ideal for dinner.The food is very Lebanese (in a good way :) ) and most of the items we ordered turned out to be delicious. The Tabbouleh and Hummus were perfect.One item that was surprisingly off in taste was Falafel. Grilled chicken in the entree was very dry . The surprising part was when we handed over our cards to split the bill evenly. We were a party of 6 people and the owner mentioned he will not be able to process more than than two cards ! We had to go back and forth on which cards to select as this was very unexpected. read more

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Food is great, the service is great, and the ambiance is great. It's a terrific restaurant.

This restaurant is one of the most authentic Lebanese food you can find in the Boston area. Great appetizer plates, entre, and wine! Indoor is a little small, but they have outdoor seating too. read more

Must try! Came here for an early dinner on a warm day, ended up sitting outside (it was 80+ outside) but they have ample outdoor sitting too. We got lamb kebab that was cooked to perfection and was a lot of food but so delicious. The appetizer sampler is also a must try. They have a decent wine/beer and cocktail selection too. The service was amazing and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

Another fantastic dinner at Cafe Barbara! This place is two words : FRESH and DELICIOUS I'm so sick of overpriced fried food that makes me feel fat and lethargic- the family owned gem serves homemade fresh food that seriously hits the spot. You can't beat it. I feel full when I leave but a good full. I will come here time and time again - LOVE IT!!! read more

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This Lebanese place is family owned and operated. And it shows. For the better and for the worse. Every time I've been, things have been passable but not perfect. I keep going back because the food is comforting and different than other options in the area. I'm a sucker for convenience (it's literally steps from my house) and supporting local businesses. But maybe I should spend my money in better ways. Lebanese food is generally pretty good, so in this regard Barada's got that going for it. But I don't feel like it goes above and beyond in terms of flavor or experience. Even after the renovation, the small space's atmosphere is a tad off. The lighting just a tad bright, so I don't get that romantic Middle Eastern vibe. The tables just a tad close, so I can easily eavesdrop on our neighbors' conversations. And this makes me just a tad uncomfortable. I've gotten the Bazella which was a comforting blend of lamb, carrots, potatoes, and peas in a tomato-based sauce with rice. It's a solid meal for a dreary day, but my friend and I were both surprised to find the flavor a bit bland. Cue the salt and pepper. I've also ordered the lamb kebab pita roll-up which is tender, flavorful lamb with lettuce, tomato and tahini in a warm pita. The sandwich is long and good, but pretty basic, and for the $13 price tag I'm tempted to just walk a few blocks down to Greek Corner for a similar, cheaper dish. The roll-up also comes with a side, and we opted for the cup of lentil soup to warm us up. This broth, full of beans and greens with a few chunks of potato, was good because it was warm, but was again surprisingly bland. The salt and pepper didn't help too much. The baklava was tasty but again overpriced. It was a bit dry and crumbly, but not in a bad way (better than it being soggy, in my opinion) and was very nutty since it contained both walnuts and pistachos. Good to share for a few bites of post-meal sweetness (it's not a true Middle Eastern meal without baklava!), but I'm not craving another. The owner is personable and welcoming, and I love that he is very present and involved in his resturant's operations. However, a $15 credit card limit (before tax and tip) is high. And surprising when your meal was $13 because you were trying to be frugal. And just plain inconvenient. Who carries around $15 worth of cash these days? But considering this place's prices, you won't have to worry because your bill will most likely be more than that. See, there's always a bright side. read more

3 Stars for over all experience. 4 stars for food. I came here for lunch last Saturday with my cousin and her husband. I had purchased a Groupon, that was $15 for $30 dollars worth of food. Now I live in NYC but knew that when I went home I would use this. I had been eagerly looking forward to it as well. But sadly, when I arrived, there was a big sign on the door saying that Groupons were only accepted during dinnertime. Total let down. I thought I could sway them by pulling the "I'm visiting and don't live here" card but it didn't work. So after I got over myself ... the real icing on the cake was when we read the menu and it said "Cash Only." Things just kept getting better. So, after reviewing the menu and mind you I looked at before arriving and I knew what I wanted. But as luck has it, what I wanted was on the dinner menu and it wasn't available at lunch of course!! But we started our afternoon meal with the sampler which consists of baba ghannouj, hoummos, mujeddara and tabbouleh. All were absolutely outstanding. The hummus was very smooth with hints of garlic. The baba wasn't as chunky as we were used to seeing it but it was certainly delicious. The tabbouleh was well seasoned and not drowning in EVOO and mixed with hoummos on a pita, a nice little sandwich! And the mujeddara, served warmed, was a delish mix of lentils and finely chopped onions. For entrees, my cousin ordered the grape leaves and the Yogurt Cucumber Salad A layer of cucumbers topped with a blend of yogurt, garlic, oil and mint. The grape leaves got a great response but she barely touched her cucumber salad as it was drowning in yogurt. My cousins hubby ordered the Beef Shish Kebab, served with rice pilaf and grilled vegetables. He really enjoyed this dish and it was a generous serving of meat. The tahini sauce was extremely good and this dish was served with half a white onion and tomato had a nice char on them adding a little bit of grill flavor. For my meal, I had the falafel sandwich with hoummos. I was expecting this little pita sandwich to come out filled with lettuce, onion, tomato and hoummos. Boy was I wrong. This was the size of a sub!! The bread was so nice and thin and the sandwich had more than enough hoummos on it. The falafel was pretty flavorful but I certainly have had better. Service was just okay and I think the fact that they wouldn't just accept my coupon was a little annoying. The food was good and for the three of us and for what we got, I thought the price tag of $65 for lunch was a little hefty. Can't say I'll be running back anytime soon. read more

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Good day I've been coming to Barada café for a long time I use to do my laundry across the street. I still enjoy it very much but was wondering for those who are diabetic if they would substitute rice with cauliflower. read more

We stumbled upon this place after l'impasta was closed because it's air conditioning was broken- but I'm glad it was. The food was delicious - especially the hummus and grape leaves. The roll ups are huge and the lamb and steak were delicious- but be sure to leave room for dessert because the baklava was AMAZING read more

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I've been coming here since they used to be in Arlington and the food continues to be consistently excellent. Some of the best falafels I've ever tasted were right here at Cafe Barada. In fact, every dish I've had here tastes great. It's a comfortable, relaxed environment and the new outdoor tables add to the attraction. The owner is always gracious and welcoming, and I'd say the same for all the staff he hires, as well. You cannot go wrong dining here. read more