Alright, whoa. Everything about my experience here was spectacular. The food was fresh, flavorful and definitely made with love. The decor was tasteful and nonintrusive to my dining experience. The staff was welcoming and friendly, as if we were guests visiting and eating at their home. Stand out dish of the night for me was the baba ghanoush. The eggplant was perfectly roasted with a delicate smoky flavor. The pita bread was soft and warm. The ghanoush on the pita bread was a magic carpet ride. I also very much enjoyed the fattoush salad. It was crunchy and dressed in a lemon sumac vinaigrette. Perfect for a late summer/early fall evening. The restaurant does not take reservations or credit cards, it is cash only. I believe wine and beer are the only alcohol available. It is also on the smaller side, so if you are coming by around 7:30 on a Saturday night, you might have a long wait ahead of you. But it's worth it! read more

Overall, this place is the epitome of 'Meh.' Sure the owners/waitstaff are nice (it's family owned) but I thought the food was mediocre and overpriced for what it is. After reading the rave reviews and hearing about this place from friends, I gave Cafe Barada a few tries, but ultimately I don't think I would return. All the food I've tried (falafel, schwarma, and some beef dishes) all seem to be very flat in flavor. Everything seems to taste vaguely the same, and with the same texture regardless of what's actually in the dish. I'm not expecting every bite to be some gastronomical epiphany, but I get bored less than a third through my dish (coming from a girl who can eat an endless amout of cookies, cake, and fries). Plus, after being in NYC for a while, I think it's ridiculous to charge $12+ for falafel and chicken pitas, especially since the chicken is more often than not dry and flavorless. If I'm craving falafel, I'd rather hit up Harvard and Central squares for cheaper priced alternatives that don't bore my tastebuds. P.S. They are cash only, and there are no ATMs within a 3 block radius, which sort of sucks. read more

It has been months since I've been out to eat due to a finicky stomach in my first trimester and since I can't drink, I feel the need to explore restaurants that don't feature booze as their main attraction. My man is not as excited about this as I am. Regardless, we met friends here one Friday evening and easily got a table. When we arrived, it was almost packed at 7pm. The ambiance is okay, but nothing special. Its a family-run restaurant so its what you would expect: quaint, standard fare. The menu features beer and wine (just not booze) and we decided to start with an appetizer sampler plate that included hummous, tabouli, etc with pita. It was fantastic! Next we ordered our mains and this is where some of us failed. The grape leaves were good as was the lamb with tomato sauce dish. In fact the lamb was really amazing. The "meat cake" and my special zucchini vegetable special were not so amazing. They were fine, just not great. I would not be included to order them again. i was kicking myself for not ordering the falafel which is usually my favorite. Oh well, next time maybe and the baklava made up for any of the prior failings. Overall, a good spot, but maybe better for take out in my opinion. read more

Absolutely ADORE this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The food is out-of-this-world, and the service is really friendly and attentive. The owner of the restaurant (a cute old Lebanese man) almost always comes over to our table, and is so thoughtful and concerned about his customers. And now the food: the best Lebanese food I have ever had! The grape leaves are served hot and are just plain incredible, the fattoush salad is fresh and crispy and flavorful, and the kibbe and kafta kabobs were so flavorful and well-textured. Their other dishes also look great, but I can't help myself but order the same thing every time I go! Oh, and make sure to order baklava for dessert- IT'S AMAZING. read more

My boyfriend and I went for the first time last week. Apparently they had just finished renovating, I overheard other patrons commenting on how great the place looked. It's true! This place is very cute, I love the dark wood. This place seems like it has a lot of regulars. That's nice to see! I heard a couple of people saying, "I love this place I just had to bring my friend here to try!" Our server was this really nice older gentleman, he was very sweet. We got the appetizer sampler, hummus (best hummus I can recollect having, seriously), baba ganoush, lentils, and tabouleh. I loved all of it! My boyfriend commented that the baba ganoush could have been smokier, but it was fine with me! To eat I got the vegetarian special, lentils, chickpeas, red beans, and a million other types of beans, with tomato sauce and rice. It was pretty good! My boyfriend enjoyed his grape leaves entree thing, I tried his, wasn't my thing. Overall a great experience, will be back! read more

In a word, delicious. In a number of words, I can't give a five star review to anyone who makes me get cash because I will overspend whatever is unused on stupid things I don't need. Not the restaurant's fault...but something to consider. I know, it costs small businesses money per transaction to accept cards...but if they aren't accepting cards for $2 transactions but actual substantial amounts *like a meal* then I wish they would consider it. But four stars for sure! /end sorta rant. Next point: They were SO nice. I mean, like neighborly even. I was drooling over the menu online for ages and wanted to go in because they offer many items I couldn't find in other locations nearby (or I had, but was disappointed by the renditions presented) so finally... I knew I'd be passing by on my way down Mass Ave. and stopped in; the owner's daughter was in and helped me. She was pleasant and talkative, answered my questions and engaged my enthusiastic rambling about delicious food. I wish all of the specials on the back of the menu were available at all times! They offered an email list, so you can find out which 2-3 are offered on a given day. I love freshly made food as opposed to thinking about frozen, refrigerated for days items that so many restaurants resort to these days. This felt like going over someone's house for a home-cooked meal. Love. It. I had: Vegetarian Lubia w. Rice Pilaf in sauce Grape Leaves Hummus with pita bread. There was enough for two days. I can't wait to go back. The end. read more

Boyfriend and I were stumped for dinner last night and decided to surf Yelp to help us out... We came across some positive reviews for this place and said "Why the heck not?" The food was delicious! I ordered a humus and falafel sandwich with a lentil soup. I wasn't able to finish my sandwich and had it wrapped up and it was just as good when I had it today for lunch as it was last night (not always the case with leftovers). Service was good - I always especially like it when you can tell that a restaurant is family-owned by a family from the region whose cuisine you are having. Like many other people, I took a star off for the cash-only policy. The restaurant is also waaaaaaay too small for the amount of business it seems to do. read more

Walked into this place today with my wife for lunch. There was one small party and us. So effectively, empty. The single waiter walked us to a table, and when I casually put my cell on the empty table beside it he barked at me about using only one table. Wife went to the bathroom while I took a quick look at the menu. Where I discovered that the average price for pita wrap was about $13. For lunch. So when she got back I told her, nope, not this place not this time. And we began to leave. Same waiter took a moment out from serving the only other customers, and hissed as loud as he could: "Next time you come look at the menu BEFORE you use the bathroom!" Real tough guy, berating/embarrassing a 70 year old woman. Stay classy, Cafe Barada. Stay classy! I wouldn't go back to this place if they were giving stuff away. read more

I love Cafe Barada; it's a hike from where I live, but even if it was twice the distance, I would still go. One word: baklava. I'm sure the other food is great, and it's family run (Mom Salameh is the chef, Oldest Son is the general manager), that's nice.. BAKLAVA! For years I have searched for quality baklava. I've had so much bad baklava, I stopped eating it. Some problems I've run into: hard/stale philo, nothing but honey, tasteless, messy, too much liquid.. Cafe Barada saved me from all the bad Baklava in the world. It's a secret recipe, and nothing I've said or offered has gotten me even a glimmer into what it is... I do know they get certain ingredients straight from Lebanon. The layers are beautifully proportioned, the sheer amount of pistachio is mind boggling (no skimping here!), and has multiple dimensions of flavor - the honey does not obliterate all the other flavors. I have tried other baklava's since this discovery, thinking I could meet my insatiable need for it, but no, it is not to be. It's Cafe Barada or nothing. One hint: If you want to order a tin of baklava for any major holiday, you need to order MONTHS in advance. MONTHS. That about says it all. read more

Food is AMAZING. The hummus and tabouli are to die for. However be warned. The dinner menu just multiplies the price of everything on the lunch menu x2 so dinner is twice as expensive for the same things. Just fyi if you want good food but are concerned about cost. Also the place is small and quiet. If you are loud or talk a lot while eating then maybe takeout is a better option. (That's what I do) read more

What an amazing meal! I came for lunch with a friend can't wait to come back. These guys are making beautiful, light, delicious food - you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Great beer selection, amazing lentil soup and the best Falafel I have ever had. Perfection. The space is small and intimate, well decorated and stylish. I can't wait to go back. LOVE supporting a small business in the neighborhood, especially when the food is so outrageous. read more

The prices at this place are very reasonable, but as I was reading the menu I noticed a lack of creativity or even diversity of foods. Sure there were a number of dishes and even specials, but they were the same components prepared differently or with a new spice introduced, generally speaking. That being said, there are no frills here and you get exactly what you order. I ordered the special of the day (Bazella) and I was happy to see that the plate was almost overflowing with food, off to a good start. But as I took the first bite, I was left wishing for once that they would have put more spice into the food. The tomato sauce wasn't rich but the lamb was pretty good, except for the few pieces of gristle and toughness. Overall, not opposed to eating here, but I won't be going out of my way to come back. read more

Great Lebanese food! And I can tell you, even better than restaurants in Lebanon! As a Lebanese person, I talked with the owner and he told me that the food is prepared by his wife! Very tasty and full of Mediterranean favors!! I tried the appetizers plate and the kebbé! Very yummy like home ! read more

This place is so good! My dad has been going for a long time and it totally lived up to all his talk! Great and friendly service, fresh, filling and healthy food! Try the lentil soup- so good! read more

CASH ONLY! Simple, low key, very friendly staff. Had the cucumber salad with yogurt sauce and a falafal and hummus sandwich. The sandwich is HUGE! I only ate half. So good though. Very fresh and it made me feel like summer was here. Hubs had the lamb kebab sandwich and ate it up. No complaints here! read more

First: Hommous. Don't even think about it. Just order it. The texture is super smooth. And the flavor is like nothing I've ever had. (Also, it comes with a basket of pita triangles that are nice and soft and chewy and delicious.) Second: Sandwiches (which, I suppose are technically wraps). The wrap is the size of my forearm and loaded with really fresh and tasty ingredients. I rocked the Chicken Shiesh Kebab with Feta. My partner in crime had the Lamb Shiesh Kebab. The meat is super tender and really juicy. The flavors are really authentic and so satisfying. I love the family owned and operated atmosphere. Everyone is really friendly and seem really proud of the food. Also: they stopped accepting credit cards (as of June 1, 2008 says the menu) -- so bring cash. read more

If you're a fan of Lebanese food (or good food in general) this is the real deal. We went for dinner on a weeknight and were seated right away. It's rather small inside, with a stylish relaxing decor. We got the hummus and pita to start. I ended up eating the hummus with a spoon because it was THAT good. I got the kibby with rice. The kibby entree is baked, not fried. I loved it, and was really filling so now I have lunch for tomorrow. Oh and the Arabian sangria was refreshing and not too sweet, unlike other sangrias. Our server was kind and patient. We will definitely be back! read more

The small traditional menu and atmosphere are nice but the food is unforgettable. They have loads of vegan options including the most incredible grape leaves I've experienced. The portions are very large but the mujadara and red beans (when on the menu) are so incredible that your plate will be clean! Salads are always fresh, the olive oil they use is really special too. A great family run business read more

This place is a gem! Some of the best falafel in the Boston area. Everything tastes fresh and yummy! The owner is really nice and welcoming as well. read more

Went for lunch while waiting for some grout to dry. Have never been there before but have driven by it all the time. Not the most appealing location... I have never been to a Lebanese restaurant, at least none that stuck out in my mind, so thought I would give it a try. But it's very welcoming once you get in the front door and the proprietor was really friendly. The menu is extensive, even for lunch, and the special dishes on the back of the menu is packed with options - the only problem is only two or three of the specials are available each day. There were so many that sounded great that weren't available the day I was there. (Guess that in itself is a good reason to go back...) Not to worry - the food we ordered was fabulous. We started with a yogurt salad - one of the most refreshing salads I have ever had. Who thought garlic and spices mixed with yogurt could produce such an explosion yet cooling feeling in the mouth. We then had a lentil dish and a ground beef dish - apologies but I don't remember the names. They were both very flavorful, well made, and even the rice was savory and piquant. I am so NOT a vegetarian but I thought the lentil dish was flavorful and substantial enough that I could have been satisfied with that meal. Portions are a nice size so we definitely went home with a doggy bag. We will definitely go back and give dinner a try! read more

Best falafel in the city. Huge portion size for lunch. I loved it. Half noe half later which is great for working late. I recommend adding some spicy sauce. Yum! read more

Cafe Barada - Yummmm. Best falafel in the city! - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Holy cow, I love this place! For months people have been telling me to try it and I just never had a chance. I originally thought it was a coffee shop; the word cafe threw me off, plus their logo is a coffee carafe. I digress.... We finally went there for dinner tonight and it was perfect. I think the man who served us was one of the owners and he was so nice. He seemed to really care whether we had everything we needed and whether we liked our food. My husband and I shared the meat dinner for 2 (maybe called mezze?), and we substituted lamb for the beef so it was $24 a piece. It came with: 1. an appetizer platter of hoummos, baba ganoush (with pita), grape leaves, and falafel 2. a big house salad 3. the meat with grilled veggies on a plate of rice 4. dessert - we picked baklava The food was amazing. The hoummous and baba ganoush were smooth, tangy, and delicious. The salad dressing was the type I like most - a light vinegrette that was a bit vinegary. The meat was flavorful and tender and the baklava was perfect. I highly recommend checking this place out. read more

Very very good Mediterranean food. If you're craving a meal of meat, you can't go wrong with the meat sample platter. Comes with a salad and dessert. A little bit pricey but you leave extremely full and with leftovers. The grilled chicken meal with rice and veggies is a solid choice too. Every time we go we make sure to get the appetizer sampler as well. Best babaganoush ever! As for things to skip, I found the falafel to be too salty. I would also give the fatoush a B+. Huge portion that is good to share, but a tad bit too tart. Overall, I always leave satisfied. Friendly service and cozy ambiance. read more

Nice enough service it was fast and fresh. I ordered the kibby and an Arabian nights cocktail. The drink was a bit pricey for its strength (or lack thereof),and the kibby was a but dry and hard at the edges, but overall very good and tasty. Would return if I lived here! read more

Cafe Barada - a plate of food with rice and meat - Kebab Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I chose to have my birthday dinner at Cafe Barada and I definitely made an excellent choice! Cafe Barada is a small, family owned Lebanese restaurant that cooks up some of the most delicious Middle Eastern food I've ever tasted. The hoummos and falafil were both great starters. The falafil in particular was exceptional, with a perfect degree of spiciness and a great tahini sauce to complement its strong flavors. For the main course, I tried the Koosa, a blend of vegetables and chickpeas in a traditional Lebanese tomato sauce. The flavors were complex and exotic- just what I was hoping for in this type of dish. And the baklava. Let me make this very clear: BEST BAKLAVA I HAVE EVER TASTED!! Your trip to Cafe Barada is not complete without a taste of this amazing dessert. Some baklava can be grossly sweet, but their baklava has the perfect blend of sweetness, pistachios and crispy filo dough. As if the food isn't reason enough to come to Cafe Barada, the friendly and attentive service adds that special touch that makes a meal truly memorable. All in all, a wonderful dining experience! read more

My first time trying Lebanese food and it was fantastic! The four of us ordered 6,7 dishes and the owner brought us food himself. Food was extremely well-made and delicious. My most favorite was the hoummos, grape leaves, and a lamb dish. The owner was so nice and friendly, the food was so great, it felt like visiting your Lebanese chief grandpa for family dinner! If you love Mediterran, Greek, and Lebanese food, you gotta try this place! read more

Looks like garbage on the outside but don't let that fool you, this is the best falafel I've had in Boston hands down. It's up there with Boston Kebab House and Cafe Jafa, and makes the Greek Corner Restaurant look like a crappy Island in the Aegean; Greek falafel just doesn't compare to the real stuff. I'd give them 5 stars if they had a whole wheat pita option, but alas, they only have the cheaper white one. There's nothing traditional about refined grains! A great option for local veggie or vegetarians. read more

The tabouli and hummus is by far the best around. Any meal you get hear will be fresh and delicious. I recommend the kafta shish kabob pita roll up for a good to go lunch...You will be hooked after your first bite. read more

The reviews here tell it all. This is the real deal folks. The kibee and rolled grapeleaves are the real thing.. all the nuances of home cooking are there. Skip the skewer s, which are good, and get the real stuff like lubia and baba ganoush and sheikh al meshi read more

This past summer we went to Cafe Barada because we were both craving a falafel sandwich. We live about 45 minutes away but we thought the drive was worth it. It was a warm day so we thought we'd sit outside. All the tables were empty and there were about 2 tables with customers on the inside. A woman was outside cleaning tables and she came over to tell us that their computer was down so they could only take cash. We said no problem and my friend went to the ATM down the street. I waited at a table and mentioned to the woman that we were so excited to be here because we were excited about having one of their falafel sandwiches. She didn't respond to me. My friend returned with cash and we were given menus, whereupon we discovered that they stop serving falafel sandwiches at 3:00. I asked why and she said they take too long to make when the kitchen is busy. We asked if she would make an exception. (it was 3:20) She said no so we left and went to the Mediterranean Restaurant down the street where food was excellent. Later we learned that the woman is actually the daughter of the owner! Good to know. read more

I am so fed up with over hyped over priced restaurants that I find myself defaulting to Cafe Barada time and time again. It's quiet, affordable, neighborly, and has a family run vibe which is unusual these days and the food is very good. I particularly like the mixed appetizer spread plate and the falafel which really are the best I have ever had. read more

The best Baba Gannouj, creamy hommus, and FATTOUCH!!! The Barada Salad is good, but I don't get why it's pricier than the Fattouch (the amount of olives and feta are good, but they don't make it an over $10 salad). I've only done take out here, so I can't comment on dining service, however, thumbs up to the addition of wine to their menu! The TASTIEST Lebanese food I've ever had!! read more

Authentic, delicious middle eastern. Lentils are out of this world; rice pilaf, falafil, and hummus are outstanding. Haven't had anything that wasn't great. You will leave satisfied. I'd be happier if they took credit cards and reworked the menu specials--why ohh why do you list every special on the menu and let people get their heart's set on something only to be told that only two of the fifteen dishes are available?--but the food is worth all minor annoyances. read more

Came here again when visiting my family this Summer. The restaurant renovation is beautiful. The fattouch salad is so, so good. It's crispy, fresh and very flavorful. This is the reason I wanted to come back. It lives up to my memory! The chicken kebab was good. The mediterranean appetizer is delicious! The hummus is incredibly good. All together this made a fabulous meal. I will be back! read more

I am in love with their dish "Bamia". They were closed last year for renovations since then they have changed their menu as well. There dishes are home cooked style. Nothing fancy but good place for comfort food read more

Enjoyed this place very much. We tried the kebab platter and tabouli salad. Very good service as well. Highly recommended!

Tried Cafe Barada for the first time last night, and I am a big fan! My girlfriend and I shared... Grape Leaves: Warm and not mushy (both different from most places). Delicious. Hummus and Pita: We both really enjoyed the flavor of the hummus, which was strong on the roasted tahini. I would've liked the pita to be warmed up, but I'm nitpicking. Ful Mudamas: such a simple dish but so delicious. Went well in tandem with the hummus and pita. Though kind of a small portion for $6.75. Cucumber yogurt salad: I did not eat it because I can't have dairy, but my girlfriend raved that it must have been made with fresh yogurt, possibly even made there. Indeed, everything we ate tasted very fresh and was likely house made. Lamb Shish Kebab: Outstanding. Lamb was delicious and perfectly cooked, and came with a delicious helping of rice, as well as two roasted onions, and a roasted tomato and summer squash. The combination of flavors was perfect. Baklava: Perfect. Not too sweet either. Highly recommended. The service was outstanding. My girlfriend has Celiac's, and I've found you can learn lot about a place by asking which items are gluten free. Our waiter was completely prepared, and even managed to secure us gluten free rice pilaf, which normally has some wheat in it. The owner checked on us a few times and was lovely and charming. The space feels a bit sterile due to the slick floors and table tops. but I suppose I'd prefer that over feeling dirty. But I liked the music, the Arabic clocks, and the little windows between the kitchen and the dining room. And again, the service was fantastic. For all of that, plus a beer, a sangria, and the tip, we paid about $80. Recommended for a high quality and delicious, but unassuming and low-key dinner date. read more

Your food is delicious and your staff is wonderful. The coffee is my favorite. But I highly recommend the beef kabob, along with the rice pudding. read more

Our home dining table was filled tonight with silky hoummus, crisp and fresh fattouch salad and a hearty lentil soup from just today's visit. The falafel and grilled meat entrees with sides are most definitely worth the visit as well. We recommend this charming restaurant which continues to meet all expectations, even in these unprecedented times. While we can't visit relatives overseas where this style of food is in abundance, next best thing. Easy to order online, will be worth your visit. read more

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