First time getting food from Cafe Barada and it won't be my last. Absolutely delicious; we ordered the appetizer platter which was a very large portion but so tasty. We got chicken kebab which was full of flavour and I got the falafel and side salad and it was the best falafel I've ever had and the salad was so fresh and bursting with flavor. read more

Some of the best Mid-eastern food you'll ever eat. Spoiled me for grape leaves ANYWHERE else. Nothing's come near it. Read some criticism of Lentil soup-- while it's not your typical thick concoction( ala Greek Fakesse), it's unusual and fantastic-- definitely try it out-- may change your preconception of what Lentil Soup should be. Syrian salad great-- as is everything I've ever had over the past 10-12 years. Understand comments about Pita bread-- as a basic staple, never bothered me too much. read more

Yum! Ordered lamb kebabs, chicken kebabs, hummus, side house salad, and pistachio halvah. Everything was delicious. Hummus was especially great. read more

Looking for some authentic Lebanese food you've come to the right place at Cafe Barada. From the lentil soup, to the falafel, to the grape leaves and hummus. All amazingly good and hearty. Great service, cozy atmosphere, and prices that won't break the bank. Decent selection of beers and wine as well. Looking forward to my next meal at Cafe Barada. read more

FIRST THE GOOD: Beautiful little place, lots of character. The food took quite some time for a "quick lunch". When the food did come it was amazing! NOW THE UGLY: The worst part was our waiter, he has less than no personality. VERY UNFRIENDLY. It seemed like we were a bother and an interruption to his day. When asked a question he would mumble his answers incoherently. Even after thanking him for each drink refill, and for bringing the food, and for cleaning up, we were met with a cold and almost angry glare. So even though the food was amazing, Iam not sure we will be back, pathetic wait staff have a way of completely ruining your dining experience. read more

Our family has been visiting Cafe Barada since the late 80's, not once has there been a disappointing meal. My very first time I entered the restaurant and did not know anything on the menu, the owner said; "I will bring you something, if you do not like it you do not have to pay". I came back nearly every evening for the next month and ordered the same thing. Many years later my family and I know their menu intimately and enjoy every single item. The only time I am disappointed is when I am out of town and have a non-Barada middle eastern meal.....never as good. Never......sigh The Hummas is as good as it gets, this dish alone sets a high bar for the rest of the world's Hummai. All of the meats are fresh (nothing is frozen). The Mujaddara is a MUST. This dish is spiced so delicately that an evening can be spent savoring this amazing lentil dish. Bakalav! They make it every day, one sheet at a time, perhaps 20-30 layers of thin filo dough, fresh nuts, light syrup and then a sprinkle of Pistachio on top. Order 2.....ahhhh....... No, I do not work there, though once after an amazing Sunday Globe review, I bussed tables for them since people had formed a line around the block waiting to try what the Globe had experienced. Go there today, best Middle East food in New England and perhaps the world. read more

Got take out. I've been eating Lebanese food all my life, and this is universally phenomenal. Fresh, hot, and amazing. I wish I lived closer, because I'd go here twice a week. read more

Given the Middl Eastern restaurant options in Boston, definitely THE BEST. Their appetizers are amazing - I had tried the tabboule, hummus, baba ghannouj, lentil soup and they are all great. Their main dishes are not exceptional - having tried the barbecue meals (Chicken, lamb). read more

I was there with my wife and in laws this evening and had a vegetarian dish recommended to me by the waiter - just incredible food, so flavorful, and the baklava was a great desert. We stayed late, and were the last people there by far, but they were accommodating and didn't make us feel rushed at all. Will be back - new favorite. read more

I like Cafe Barada a lot, but not quite as much as I want to like it. I love good simple home-style food from the middle east. Barada does well here, everything I have had here has been good. While some dishes really shine (hummus, lentil soup, lamb kebabs) mostly this is just solid good food. The service is warm, friendly, and family style. While the decor is plain, it's a very comfortable place to eat and hang out. It is really one of the best places of it's kind in the area. That said, there are a few problems that keep me from falling fully in love. While all of the food is good, it would take just a few extra details to push it over the edge to sublime. Plate presentation here is just strange - their excellent hummus comes in a jordanian clay bowl, but the pita bread on the side is served cold in a plastic bag? The mujjadara is a simple brown pile on a plate, no carmelized onions or parsley set aside to garnish the top? All this would be forgivable at a cheap homestyle place, but Barada's prices are not in the funky cheap eats category. Entrees here run from $12-16, even for simple vegetarian lentil and rice fare. For that price, I expect a little more. Furthermore, their pricing structure feels a little too nickel-and-dime for a place that charges what they do. I understand charging extra for a side of yogurt, but extra money for onions on a sandwich? That's just nuts. And, as I said, simple items can come with shocking price tags. The lebanese beer on the menu? It's $6, though the menu doesn't spell that out. A simple salad of iceberg lettuce and tomatoes (with, yes, that awesomely addictive middle eastern dressing - it really is just oil, lemon juice, mint, parsley, salt and pepper if you want to make it at home) rings up at almost $8. Yes, it's probably enough for two, but it's not described that way on the menu. It's not that that is too expensive, it's just too expensive for what you get. Still, I will go back again gladly. The people are nice, most of the food is good, and there aren't a lot of places like it nearby. Moody's Falafel in Central is tasty (even perhaps better for falafel and schwarma) but it's really apples to oranges, Barada is a sit-down restaurant. Anyhow, I'll come again for sure, and would even recommend it to friends and yeplers, but I think there is a lot of room for improvement. At the end of the day, I think the biggest issue I have with Barada is that the straddle the fence a little too much. Certain aspects of the experience feel like a trip to (Afghani restaurant) The Helmand, where you get delicious and fairly traditional food with great service and a white tablecloth setting, and yet other aspects of the experience aren't too removed for a dive like Moody's Falafel Palace. If the prices were a bit more like Greek Corner down the road, it would be a real gem. As it is, it's good but not a total winner. read more

Cafe Barada is stellar! I can't believe it took this long (5 months of living a few buildings away) to try this little place out. Finally a place where falafel tastes like it should. A place with fresh ingredients, authentic cuisine, and staff that makes you feel as if you're dining in their home. Cash only is not too annoying when there are ATMs within 100 feet, and only three specials out of fifteen are available for the day. However you can sign up for the email list for the daily list of today's specials. Last night was a rainy summer evening and before going to catch a movie, my wife and I decided to try Cafe Barada. I ordered the falafel sandwich and she ordered the chicken kabob sandwich. Being dark and stormy out we both went with lentil soup as our free side dish instead of the rice pilaf or homemade Syrian salad, which looked amazing and I will get the next time. We also ordered Arabian coffee, for how could you ever pass up those tiny little cups of sweet coffee? Immediate reaction to the soup was mmmMMM, this is exactly what I needed to warm up. I found the soup to be a little on the bland side, my wife felt it was too salty. I was going to add salt and pepper to it, but then I thought its best to try something for the first time the way the chef intended. The hearty lentil soup with plentiful chunks of potato and greens hit the spot. Next came our coffees, which raised the wow factor. I've had Arabian coffee, Turkish coffee, Armenian coffee, Italian espresso, American water (I mean coffee) all before, but this was so different. The initial taste very sweet and smooth, the aftertaste dry and bitter. Exactly like all my favorite beers. The sandwiches were insanely huge. While looking over the menu to figure out what to order we were slightly put off by the prices, but kept in mind its a family owned establishment, not a chain which can cut corners and expenses. Biggest falafel I've ever had. I had to take half of it home to bring to work for lunch. What really wowed us was how fresh the bread was. The texture and taste of the pita was nothing we've ever had before. We were both convinced that it was made right there for the day. The falafel was nice and warm and moist unlike the dry stuff a lot of other places serve. I will definitely come back here again and again. The owner himself brought us the food (not the waiter) and came a few times to check on us. We talked for awhile with him about the food and why we liked it and asked questions about how he did this and did that. We were shocked to learn he doesn't make the bread there and buys it daily from Rhode Island. I mentioned how the falafel tasted like how I make it at home war in the center, crispy on the outside, not a dry mush ball. He explained how most places keep it in the fridge for days before serving it, and joked about how his wife will throw away falafel after 5 minutes if its not eaten, now that's fresh! It felt really good to just be there and experience our meals. I felt like I did as a kid in a small town with my family where the owner takes the time to visit every table and talk to all his guests. Building a relationship with where you get your food is important, whether its the farmer or the restaurant. read more

I know other people seem to like this place, but I went tonight for the first time and the staff was so unpleasant and rude that I left before even ordering. They were knocking into me, speaking so rudely, and being generally unpleasant that I didn't want to give them any of my money or have them prepare my food with such negative energy. I hope you all continue to enjoy it, but for the people I care about I will warn them away from such a place. Illness is bound here. Namaste read more

ok. love that they are 50 yards from my place, but food? good but not great. kapsi entree of chicken in spicy tomato sauce. spicy but not too much. rice-no flavor and obviously boiled-how else can one do rice? this version was fluffy but wet and flavorless. houmous is standard good. salads are standard chopped iceberg with chopped tomatos, onion and dressing. i love to hate this place since there is obviously heavy use of a microwave. that i do not like. read more

High quality delicious food. Falafel lunch plate and lamb lunch plate were both very yummy. Arabic coffee was just amazing, so aromatic and flavorful. Highly recommend this cafe. Friendly staff read more

Tasty, but pricey for what it is. Enjoyed the Baba Ghanoush (very lemony and yummy), but my wallet prefers the Mediterranean food at East Side pockets in Providence, although Barada does have a nice atmosphere and friendly staff as a plus. Also note that Cafe Barada only takes cash. read more

I get take-out from Cafe Barada all the time. Their lentil soup is wonderful - The grilled chicken sandwish is also great. The falafel aren't my favorite. The mujaddara is really tasty too. I think Cafe Barada is definitely worth trying out. read more

I'm not sure why this place is getting such good reviews. I found the dining experience completely underwhelming. The good: -Our server was quite pleasant and attentive without being intrusive. -Modern decor and inviting storefront. The not so good: -The potions are waaay to large. You can split one app and one main for 2 or 3 people and be completely full. I didn't want more. I just wanted better. -The food was terribly bland. Like others have said, where is the salt? Also, where are the middle eastern spices? Unless, you are 80 and love meat and boiled potatoes try another place. -The prices are too much for the quality. The baba ganoush had very little eggplant (hard to distinguish from the humus). The lentil soup was completely bland (needs salt and spices). The Bazella was a bland watered-down version of an American stew with no flavor. The hot tea was $3.5. Hot water and a tea bag is $3.5? Really? -Lastly, the restaurant was less than 30% full, yet a table of 4 was seated right next to us. I mean 1.5ft away. There were more than 8 tables completely open in other parts of the restaurant yet we were forced to listen to someone else's dinner conversation. Could be a charming place...if they get a real middle eastern chef with a passion for cooking. read more

This quaint restaurant serves a variety of Middle-Eastern cuisine. I found the Baba Ghannouj and Hoummos to be great starters which had delicious flavoring that offered a nice contrast. I had the beef shish for my main (my friends had the chicken and lamb shish'), each order comes with A LOT of food, so make sure you're hungry! The beef was not too dry like some places, so I really enjoyed it. We ended our meal with a special coffee (unsure on the name) which came in a small tea kettle with a shot-glass sized cup to drink from... Beware, this coffee is STRONG, this one shot kept me up until 3AM! In general, great place to have a meal, and a different flavor than you might be used to in Boston. read more

I was craving hummus something fierce in my hungover state today, so I decided to give this place a try again. The first time I came here I took out the kafta kabab sandwich, which I don't remember liking, and I also remember the people behind the counter having this major attitude. Today, my experience was great. First of all, i'm from the middle east, i'm really picky about my hummus. This was REALLY good hummus. The bread, however, sucks, but i don't care, i would eat that stuff with my fingers if I had to and then lick the bowl. I didn't today because I didn't want to weird out my nice, older waiter. I got the lamb sandwich which was HUGE, so it made me feel better about the price. The sandwich was tasty but the tehini and hot sauce were mixed together which I wasn't digging. Next time i'll get hot sauce on the side. I also ordered onions on my sandwich -- I was surprised that onions cost extra because they're so cheap, but they gave me my money's worth. WATCH OUT getting onions on your sandwich, your breath will be a sex repellant for about a year. There was at least one very large onion in there, and it was hard to pick out all of the chunks. I would again ask for it on the side or specify that you don't want a lot. I have to say, this place is on the expensive side, and any ingredient you want to add to anything will cost extra, but I think it's worth it. read more

Amazing, delicious and (most importantly) authentic Lebanese cuisine! Owned and operated by a nice family, I'm definitely coming back. As someone of middle eastern descent, I know it's legit!! read more

Arguably the best Middle Eastern/Lebanese food in the greater Boston region. Service is wonderfully attentive and I thought the ambiance was perfectly fine - it's not a fancy-pants place, but if a date brought me here, I'd be overjoyed. But then again, I'm more food-focused than most. It's clean and the owners put thought in the minimalist decorations. It's not cheap, but well worth what you pay for. I hate lentils with a passion but the lentil stew here is the best thing I've ever had involving legumes. Hoummus was incredible, the grape leaves are truly authentic, and I had one of the meat specials in a tomato based sauce that was delish! And you have to have the baklava at the end of your meal. read more

The renovations look amazing, but they are not as good as the food here. I housed an entire tub of hummus by myself. The falafel is the best i have ever had. I would recommend this to everyone and i look forward to eating here again. The workers were very kind and I look forward to bringing more of my friends to this hidden gem. read more

Came here on a groupon - and arrived early after recommendation from guy on the phone. We thought we may have been tricked as the place was empty, but 15 minutes later the queue was out the door! Very friendly service, and great food - we really enjoyed ourselves. Great for a date or with friends, but not too many tables so fingers crossed you'll be seated quickly! read more

Dearest Cantabrigians and Bostonians (i.e. residents of the city that always sleeps) please note -- Cafe Barada closes EARLY (i.e. 9p on Saturdays). read more

My absolute favorite restaurant. The food is so fresh and delicious and theirs is the only Fattouch salad I'll even bother to order now, after trying many restaurants in the greater Boston area. It is divine. Everything is and the people are so nice. read more

This is a nice middle eastern restaurant with solid variety of dishes. Tasty and spacious. The ambiance is nice. Not crowded. The portions are big. If you are in the vicinity, it is a great option. read more

If you're looking for some good homemade food, irrespective of cuisine, this is the place to go! Two of us ended up coming really, reallllly late and that sort of pissed them off :S but they were still so sweet and generous. I think what I really liked about Barada is that it's a family managed establishment, so there's this.... comforting, home-like aura. I loved this place and the old gentleman who kept checking up on us and asking us why we all decided to take most of our dinner home(we were too full)! :) I swear, the food was amazing, especially the hummous and the falafel. Definitely coming here again! :) read more

Amazing falafel, great kabobs, and enormous portions. What's not to love?

Amazing meal! Highlights were the baba ghanouj, stewed lamb, baklava, and the Arabic coffee. Best lebanese we've had in years.

The food here is an absolute 5-star effort. Hummus, falafel, fattouch salad, chicken kabob... it's all awesome and made to order by the owner. The service is great too, and since the chef, owner, and waiters are all of the same family, everyone actually cares about what they're doing. The 1-star deduction is because (and I'm borrowing from a friend's description of another place here) "the atmosphere is akin to a White Hen." That might be an understatement -- some of the new White Hens are pretty sweet. A small investment in a new floor and non-Dunkin Donuts-esque tables would go a long way. Still, Cafe Barada safely lands a spot in my top five. read more

Lovely food! Amazing fatouch salad. Everything we've eaten there has been delicious. Excellent falafel and kibbee, list of specials look great and we can't wait to go back to try some. There's a list of a ton of specials on the back of the menu, and they will email you when your favorite is scheduled if you fill out their email form. I picked six and can't wait to hear from them. Bare bones decor, which was irrelevant to the bunch of people who were enjoying their Lebanese feasts! read more

Ummmm....there are no words. This place is LEGIT. I have never in my life had stuffed grape leaves that are so heavenly that I'm sure they've been made my an angel's hands. (I am not exaggerating). I know middle eastern food in that I myself am middle eastern and was raised with home cooking every night. This place is just plain great. The prices could be double what they are considering how fresh and quality the food is. Just. Favorite. By.Far. even better than bougie Cambridge "fully committed" restaurants. Note, they are not open Sunday. Also I recommend to not go right before they close because it feels a bit rushed. Go with a good amount of time before close and you'll enjoy every heavenly morsel. read more

I went here with a friend last Saturday. I'd passed by it many times without ever going in. Wow! He definitely knows the places to eat! He said that he asks people who are from other countries where *they* go to eat. So evidently he asked a Lebanese person--for authenticity and freshness in the Cambridge area--this is *the* place to go! We ordered many different appetizers and shared them. The tabbouleh, stuffed grape leaves, labany bil toum and falafil. Everything was so delicious and so fresh! Make note that it is *cash* only. But if you're in the mood for *great* middle eastern food--go here! read more

My friends and I had an early dinner (530ish) here as we were trying to catch a show. We were seated by the window. I had my usual, Chicken Kabob and it was perfect every time. A friend had the grape leaves and he loved it. My other friend had the Kibby. I had a bite of it. I was dried and not tasty at all. There was couple who sat next to us. His wife had the kibby as well. She must had hated it because she barely touched her food. The waiter asked and she said that it was too dried as well. Hopefully, that is a one time event and not their standard recipe. Overall, I still love this place. read more

This family run place is a hidden jewel amongst all the restaurants that dart Mass Ave. I think their atmosphere is cozy and the service is wonderful. The tahini and pita bread are so tasty and their rice is my favorite. The chicken is always fresh as is their salad. Five stars!!! read more

Ok...this is the real deal. I am of Lebanese descent, and I grew up on this cuisine. Cafe Barada is the closest thing I've found in my travels to truly authentic Lebanese cuisine. Anyone who gives this place a bad review probably doesn't know what they should be looking for. The Taboule is amazingly fresh, the Lamb extremely tender, the Hummos is to die for, and just about everything I've had there has been wonderful and reminds me of homecooking. Just for the record, I've eaten at this place 12 times! Definitely go...you'll be happy! read more

Just ate here for the first time tonight, and the food was fantastic! My boyfriend and I split an order of baba ghanouj and crudites for an appetizer. The baba ganouj was amazingly creamy and had balanced flavors, and was topped with a drizzle of surprisingly tasty olive oil and parsley. Crudites were crisp and fresh cut. Next, I had the falafel sandwich with the Syrian salad. The salad was simple: iceberg, tomatoes, cucumber, dressing. The dressing itself was simple: olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper. Everything was so nice and crisp and tangy, though, that I polished it off. As a result I only managed half the enormous sandwich. The falafels were crisp and nongreasy, and well seasoned, and the tahini sauce was perfect. The Lebanese pickles I got on it added a salty tangy crunch. So nice. The other half will be lunch tomorrow. My boyfriend got the mixed grill platter with chicken, lamb, and beef shish kebabs and kafta, with pilaf and grilled veggies. Everything was tender and flavorful, he said. I tried only the lamb and a bite of the pilaf. The lamb was indeed tender and flavorful, and the pilaf was buttery and yummy. We split a piece of baklava for dessert. It was sweet without being cloying, flaky, and nutty. A perfect ending to the meal. The service was a little on the slow side, but the food was worth the wait if you're not in a rush. The service was also very polite, friendly, and attentive. We were served by the owner and his son, I believe, and both were very nice. The atmosphere is very plain and casual, but is enlivened a bit by the Lebanese music in the background, neither too loud nor too quiet. Then again, as a belly dancer, I may put more emphasis on this than other people. :) All in all, a great place and a great find. WHY didn't I ever go here when I lived a ten minute walk away? I never really knew about it for some reason. I'm certainly going back again sometime in the not-too-distant future! read more

The staff is unfriendly, and the food is mediocre at best. I went their several times to try to give them a chance, but they never got any friendlier and the food never got any better. I will not be going again. read more

Lamb and Chicken were amazing... and very generous pieces of baklava

The Koosa was amazing! Best Lebanese food in Cambridge!