We were trying to find a place for an early dinner in Cambridge and knew that we needed a reservation. Every other place had no availability. A friend recommended Catalyst and we were surprised that they had an opening so off we went. We got there early and had a drink at the bar. My husband had a red wine and I opted for the "Chilicillin" and it was one of the most delicious drinks I've had. High recommend that one! For dinner, we has the roasted beet salad, mushroom bisque and chicken liver mousse - all excellent. The main courses were just ok and sort of over-priced and the desserts were good. Our bill for 4 came to $280. If I were to go back, I'd stick with drinks and appetizers. Our server was good. It never got crowded. The space is big, so large groups would have no issue. There is a really nice sitting area at the front with couches and a fireplace. Very comfy and a good place for after work drinks and apps. read more

Visited with friends, got the cod and split a burger. Burger was pretty tasty and quite filling. Loved the sauces that came with the fries. Cod was essentially on a bacon-y clam chowder - also pretty good, not too heavy on the potatoes. Complimentary bread was great - French type bread and a rosemary type bread. Overall, the food was tasty, but quite expensive. I was expecting a little more oomph for the price we paid. read more

Catalyst Restaurant - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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My friend and I came here before dinner at another restaurant. The bar was full with the after work crowd but we were served promptly. There was a nice fireplace and interesting decor as well as outdoor seating. We aren't eating here tonight but looking forward to coming back at another time. read more

Catalyst has a LOT of room for improvement: First, for the prices you charge, you should be serving filtered water, not Cambridge tap water aka swimming pool water. Second, for $17.00, the flank steak and its accompanying vegetables were an incredibly skimpy portion; I was starving afterwards and I'm not really one of those big Texas guys who needs huge portions. It was a rip-off, to be quite honest. Third, when you have a walk-in party and tell them the section they want is totally booked with reservations, and then you seat them at a crappy table, and them they sit for an hour and watch while ABSOLUTELY NO ONE sit at any of the tables they wanted, during their entire meal, it makes people not want to eat there again. Nice decor, if a bit vacuous/cold. Nice and apologetic staff, if a bit lacking in true human warmth. Nice food, if a bit skimpy in portion size. Overall.... you have a lot of improvements to make. Catalyst could be amazing and it's just not there yet. read more

I'm not quite sure why this place only has 3.5 stars, since I think it is a pretty solid 4 experience! #1 This place is just cool looking inside. You feel fancier just walking in here. They have an awesome fireplace lounge area by the bar, the high ceilings, the colors, everything just feels so darn trendy and awesome in here. #2 The service was great. We ordered a bottle of wine and it turns out they were out of it, but the server insisted on only telling us about other wines in the same price range which I think is great. I've been to a lot of places where they try and up sell you to get a bottle way out of your price range, so I appreciated this place didn't do that. #3 Their food. It was great! True, it is not cheap, and you cannot really eat here and get the best things without spending a little, but that is what I view dining out to be all about. We got a rainbow scallop starter special that was amazing! The sauce was great and I only wished we had gotten more of them in that bowl! Then we got a large order of the French onion tortellini which is filled with braised short rib, and gruyere cheese!! My goodness were those tortellini little bites of heaven. Our server was not lying about the fact that we could not miss this dish. So so good! Then to finish our meal, they also split an order for us on two plates of their fancy beef that came with creamed kale, bacon, and ready?? FOIE GRAS BUTTER!!! Mmmmm Plus it had a fancy black truffle sauce that paired oh well! So Catalyst, I do wish I could afford you, but I did enjoy dining with you :-) Hoping to come back to try out the bar menu one day too! read more

I've been to the Catalyst a handful of times now, and it's good food, but nothing over the top. The space itself is gorgeous and the waitstaff is attentive. They understand during the lunch hour it's tricky to get in and out in 1 hour for most business folks. I wish the food was a little better considering the staff is great and the venue is in a perfect location and very up to date. I've had the mushroom soup, salad, fish tacos, Italian sandwich and some form of the turkey sandwich....they've all been just OK. read more

If you are looking to drive your business into the ground--you must absolutely contact Catalyst management! They will assist you in driving away business in a hot second and can outline each step to take. Step 1. Post a deal on GiltCity to "drive new business to your establishment" Step 2. Don't notate restrictions on the voucher but insist that customers can't use them on the day they go and be confused about which days you do allow vouchers. (Previous reviews say the "manager' said they couldn't use them Saturday but we were told yesterday it was only for Saturday and Sunday--again if you're trying to grow your business-pick the busiest nights to lure that new business in ;) ). Step 3. Take your frustration for a mistake your vendor may have made out on customers and refuse to honor their voucher. Not only do you lose business doing this and people think you are bat-shit nuts for chasing business out of your establishment but you have created a killer marketing campaign of people who will tell everyone they know not to go to your restaurant. Work itttt! Step 4. Make sure you hire management who is rude, can't own mistakes and can't think 2 steps ahead in terms of what that backlash will look like to ensure you tank all business development efforts that were made. You guys rock that counter productive effort like I have literally never seen. I then battled it out with the manager (gotta practice that fake apology more) with the fact that Gilt has made mistakes before and almost immediately issues a retraction to all people who purchased it and they never did so that's on Catalyst. Keep in mind everyone--they were refusing the take the voucher when the place was EMPTY on a Friday night. After being treated like crap by the manager and getting them to take the voucher she had the audacity to come and pitch the "power lunch" and brunch---we literally had to hold back from laughing in her face it was so pathetic and unwarranted. Food--husband pegged it --"It's like airplane food!"---my god it is. Tiny portions, unseasoned, lacked any punch flavor-wise and it all made sense why it was empty while A4 across the lawn was completely sold out (clearly not a location issue). Service--waitress was in a tough spot and her hands were tied with the voucher but she tried to make an effort (we tipped her 20% given she has nothing to do with the extreme incompetence of management). The other servers lacked grace and poise delivering dishes and literally took a plate from my husband while he was still finishing his food. read more

Catalyst Restaurant - This is a tiny main course-normal menu price $29 - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wow, I'm surprised at all the lower stars for Catalyst that are here. This is one of our go to bar spots because the bar is absolutely GORGEOUS. Food is excellent, cocktails are excellent and it's a beautiful setting. In fact the only ding that I could give Catalyst isn't even related to the restaurant, but to the fact that because there isn't much around there, it tends to be a go-to spot on Friday night for area businesses (we were there one night when a ,massive crowd of people from Forrester came in and were, to my surprise b/c I deal with them for business, rude and annoying as all hell). If you go in on Saturday though it is so so quiet...huge contrast between the two nights. I can't comment on the table service because I've only eaten at the bar but I've loved the food. Parking can usually be found on the street which is nice. read more

I had the burger (17$), which was tasty but expensive. I don't usually like the bacon that comes in burgers, but this one retained the crispiness, which was quite nice. The fries were kind of sad though, a bit limp. read more

Catalyst is a great place to host a private business event. I have hosted multiple parties of 20-30 people in their private rooms over the past 1-2 years and can attest to their consistent high quality of service. My clients include top donors to our nonprofit so it is important that the service, ambiance and food are high quality (and that Catalyst can work within our tight budget!). I have always received positive feedback from my clients. A huge plus is that the private room has AV built into it. You can use their high definition TV or projector (which is tucked away in the ceiling until you need it) to show PPTs and they can easily pull out a microphone if needed. The only downside is if there are two private events going on at once, the dividers do not shut out all of the noise from the other party. That said, the microphone helps with that issue. At the end of the day, they make my life as an event manager a lot easier! read more

After coming here multiple times on business lunches, I have seen a wide variety of the items listed on the lunch menu. While this is one of the better options for an upper scale lunch around the area, I do find that the food here really misses something. FOOD Their lunch portions are pretty small, which are to be expected, but a sandwich/burger offering definitely gives you an ample amount to feel full and satisfied. Turkey Rachel - Definitely a good portion. Served on sourdough bread, this sandwich is definitely a good deal, although it sounds pretty plain. + Pork Belly Banh Mi / Lobster bisque - The lobster bisque was definitely a disappointment. It was not thick like a bisque should be, and I could see the circles of oil throughout the entire soup. The lobster pieces were also really small and I couldn't really taste it. The banh mi was flavored well with pork belly, and had great pickled vegetables. The half sandwich was dripping from the flavor! Fish tacos - Comes in two. It's a pretty small portions with the fries included. + Catalyst burger - A large burger that has bacon, caramelized onions, and roasted tomatoes. Probably one of the best options on the menu. The fish options are very small! Roasted blue cod - Flavorful fish, but definitely lacks in potato/bacon underneath. Grilled Salmon - The salmon was cooked perfectly, medium rare, but once again there was very little quinoa combination underneath. The house made ketchup here tastes very odd. Maybe it is fresh, and lacks the fructose corn syrup that we all know and love, but I would rather eat my French fries without their ketchup. Their fries are also a disappointment. Mainly used just as a filler accompanying their sandwich options, they taste almost stale and lack any sort of crunch or flavor. As a French fry aficionado, I definitely have tried better. read more

One of my new fave Cambridge haunts.. Checked out this restaurant after seeing it in the 50 Best Restaurants in Boston Magazine for 2012. Not that I agree with all of the selections on this list (feel free to check out my middling review of La Campania, which also appeared on it). But in this case, I'd agree that this is indeed among the best restaurants in the Boston area. What's so great about it? First, upon entering, you're struck by the decor, which somehow serves to render a sprawling space cozy. There's a dual-sided fireplace near the entryway, and a rectangular display of oversized ornamental spheres overhead. Sounds kind of tacky in this description, but it works, and is welcoming. Also, the spheres balance with the modern lighting of the dining areas. There's also a vertical wooden slat wall of live plants adjacent to the bar. Cozy! and cool! Love those aspects. There's also warm light-colored wood all around. The chairs, the floor, the well-appointed bathrooms.. The bar would be great for hanging out and having a casual meal. The first time I dined here, my companions and I had drinks at the bar before heading to our table. The cocktail menu is not ubertraditional, and some might say they're trying too hard. But in addition to my random new favorite drink, the Nordic Cobbler (featuring lyngonberries and aquavit.. hey, I said it was random), they also mix a mean manhattan. Meanly SMOOTH, that is, complete with a deluxe bittersweet marinated cherry. As for the food, in my two visits, with four different people, there have been NO disappointments or unpleasant surprises. Which isn't to say it's easy to navigate the varied menu of comfort foods and decadent delights. But if you have difficulty deciding, it's really O.K. Because from what the many plates I've seen emerge from the kitchen here, it's all good! The salads are super fresh, and some feature inspired ingredients. I recommend the heirloom beet salad with marcona almonds as a starter. Or the superb squash ravioli. The bread is fresh and flavorful, served with a whipped butter and olive oil spread/dip (perfect for those who have a strong preference, or not). I'm scratching my head over what some reviewers have described as unreasonably small portions, which left them hungry. This has not been my experience at all, during my two visits. Are they perhaps ordering a salad or appetizer, when they're in fact hungry for a substantial meal? That could lead to disappointment. But the portions -and fabulous flavors- of everything I've seen and had here are quite satisfying. The salmon was great, and fresh, as were the accompanying veggies. The filet (a dinner special one evening) and mushroom ravioli were potentially too filling, but perfectly prepared. Finally, there's dessert... I am completely in love with their apple crisp. made with naturally sweet cortland apples. Wish I had one right now! There's the perfect blend of sweet (but not overly sweetened) cooked apples, impeccably spiced granola crisp, and creamy gourmet vanilla ice cream. We had the same waiter on both visits. Very professional, unobtrusive, and courteous. Our water and wine glasses were never left to languish. It's true, Catalyst isn't very cheap. But there are reasonably priced, satisfying options on the menu (e.g. some pizza selections, and a thoroughly satisfying burger). And the pricier items that I've had are well worth it. Hope they keep up the great work! And if they do, I'll continue dining here on special occasions, as well as recommending it to friends and random people on the street. read more

We dined at Catalyst last weekend for a celebratory event. We had reservations for six but had another friend ask to join. We called the restaurant asking if they could accommodate one more and were promptly refused. I could understand if this were a tight room or a prime time, but the dining area is gigantic and the dinner was at 530 on a Saturday. I've worked in service and hospitality - this was not an outlandish request and should've been handled easily. When we arrived at Catalyst to find the entire room empty, and the table we were seated at easily capable of holding one additional diner, we were extremely disappointed. Furthermore, because the additional diner was the partner of one of the original six, we ended up with only five. The host seemed perturbed that we arrived one short. I explained that their inability to accommodate one more meant we lost another. Essentially, this pretentious, snotty act of refusal cost their terrific server at least another $50 in tips that night. Hope it was worth it to say no. We'll never come back nor recommend the restaurant. read more

Wanted to truly enjoy this first experience as it was my mothers 50th birthday brunch. I had informed them prior it was for the birthdays but they made no point or effort to recognize it. The decor is wonderful, urban farmhouse meets industrialized Art gallery; I loved it. Hostess was very sweet and accommodating to our 2pm reservation and the place was literally dead minus a baby shower. We were seated and greeted by our server Alena (Elena?) and given our waters. From the start I could sense what kind of dining experience I was going to have... The appetizers we got were cheese platters and the sweet and spicy wings. Both delicious, but the wings were neither spicy nor sweet and completely lacking in any kick whatsoever. Our drinks came late and we ate half our meals before the next round even came; Alena was very slow and completely nonexistent during the brunch, which is odd considering they had no customers.. So what was she doing? Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals, the burgers were a hit, omelet delicious as well as the French toast. I ate TJ carne asada and it was truly a strange combination of flavors. The general consensus was the same, everything lacked spice or salt. The steak was asked to be medium rare and came it mooing; usually I wouldn't mind this but the steak was all fat and no meat not to mention, no seasoning at all. The poached eggs were overly slimy and the Pino Gris (not the best pairing but truly was in the mood for a cold glass of wine..) stunk. To top it off, we waited 20 minutes for the check, again why? And she doubled charged my card so now I have to wait 3 days to have a large sum of money refunded and usable oh my account; not cool! I would like to try this during busy dinner hours, brunch is tricky with most places, sure. This was mediocre at best for lux prices. I truly believe staff should be A game even if it's just Sunday brunch. My mothers birthday wasn't memorable and quite frankly not a damn person cared. I'll remember that. read more

We came here with a gilt city deal. I like both the service and food. The bartender is a skilled mixologist. We just told him what spirit and taste I like and he just crafted two perfect drinks for us. I would come back just for the cocktails alone. The food was great too. We ordered the buffalo duck strips, which is quite unique. The mushroom homemade pasta is one of the best I had. Just the perfect amount of sauce, high recommended. For main entrees, we got cod and beef. Both are good but not memorable. Tip: come on Sunday if you prefer less crowd. They have lounge couches by the fireplace, perfect for a night drink. read more

Three of us came for dinner on a Monday evening. The restaurant is spacious and airy, with extremely dim lighting. Huge floor to ceiling windows all around. We were seated in the booths beyond the generous bar area. Our table ordered Catalyst fries and a Chiogga beet salad to start. The fries were solid with a side of ketchup that had smokey kick which was a nice touch. For the main course, I ordered the cavatelli with braised lamb neck. The homemade pasta was perfectly chewy and well-coated with a marsala-style sauce that was on the heavier side. The addition of diced turnips to the pasta added a pleasant crisp texture and helped offset the heaviness of the sauce. The squash ravioli and roasted cod were ordered by my friends. The fish was well roasted, and juicy, with a chowder as sauce that was on the creamier side. Overall, the meal was tasty, though a little underwhelming with no dishes or flavors standing out in particular. Service was nice though a bit on the sparse side. Our main courses were slightly delayed coming out which was surprising as the restaurant did not seem busy, with only a handful of other guests seated at tables. Unfortunately, as we are finishing up our bill, I saw a small round ball scurrying across the dining area. Its path was out in the open enough that I had time to do a double take and make sure that indeed it was a mouse, little tail behind and all. The sighting was mentioned to the host as we exited the restaurant, who assured us they would look into it. read more

Was walking by and we decided to go in for a drink. The design is quite inviting with it's combination of wood, aluminum and techy decorated glass you can't help but appreciate it's simplistic modern look. The fire place gives a touch of comfort and cozy. Though I didn't have a meal we were greated with Spicy Popcorn to compliment our glass of wine. After read more

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I have been to Catalyst three times so far, and I still can't get enough. It is a beautiful place from the stunning decor to the food and drinks. I've tried the Floradora for a cocktail, as well as tasted their wine and beer selection. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about wine and helped us make a perfect selection for our meal. I was really surprised to see the mediocre reviews about the food; I think the food is DIVINE. I've tried the tomato soup, the jeruselum artichoke and lobster soup (I am still dreaming about it), the corn ravioli, the squash tortellini (some of the freshest pasta I've tasted), the mushroom special (wonderfully rich and hearty), fried green tomatoes, the farmer's market salad (which I'd LOVE to have the recipe for), and the portions are PERFECT. I thought this place was such a gem that I brought my mom here, who was visiting from Florida, and she raved about her dinner. Don't even get me started on the desserts... I generally don't have a sweet tooth, but the tart and fondant were both heavenly... In all, I had great dining experiences here, and I can't wait to go back! PS- there is complementary garage parking that's validated, as well as lots of street spots. read more

The goat cheese ravioli is so so good. Also the beef ribs were crispy and amazing. Good selection of drinks available too. Nice atmosphere. Great service. read more

We found Catalyst through an Urban Daddy daily email, featuring this new spot. We're foodies and love new places to try in the Somerville/Cambridge areas so this was right up our alley. We reserved through Open table for an 8:30pm reservation on a Thursday night, party of 4. Parking was a breeze, street parking right in front of the restaurant. We were immediately greeted by a friendly hostess and the manager. They took our coats and gave us the option to be seated immediately, or relax in the lounge area with a cocktail by the fireplace to wait for the rest of our party. We were provided with cocktails promptly. The atmosphere is warm and modern, with a mix of wood and metals. The rest of our party came and we were seated promptly.... And this is where the service fell off.... Luckily we had drinks from the lounge because we were not attended to for almost 30 minutes. The waiter had come over to introduce himself, and then left us hanging until 9pm! He mentioned he was 'slammed' although the place was clearly 1/2 full at that point. There were only 1/2 of the entree selections left to choose from, because they had sold out of the popular Beef Torpedo's, Cod, and Skate. When we finally ordered, the food brought this review back to 4 star.... We started with the Chicken Liver Mousse and an order of the Garganelli, Chicken Oysters pasta as appetizers for the table to share. Absolutely amazing. The liver was perfectly smooth and had the best flavor. The pasta dish (happy it was shared, very rich) was a total hit, pasta cooked perfectly al dente and the Chicken Oysters were deliciously tender and flavorful. Entrees consisted of 2 Fluke orders by the fellas (prepared with Roasted Baby Fennel, Creamed Leeks, Lobster Vermouth Butter) and we ladies went with one entree of the Spiced Chick Pea Fritters, Swiss Chard, Raisins, Carrot Puree, Yogurt Mint Sauce and the appetizer of Duck Confit Salad, Bitter Greens, Persimmons, Pistachio Vinaigrette. The Chick Pea fritters were moist and lovely - falafal style and tasty. The Duck Salad was off the hook, the pistachios sprinkled on top gave it some nice texture. The Fluke was perfectly cooked and flavorful. Honestly, the only downside was the service, but the food more than made up for it! Will come back regularly to try some of the other nosh! read more

Hipster got some money. Enter the restaurant into a chic-hotel-like lobby, complete with a roaring electric fire. Foster The People or Florence + The Machine is playing, because, you know, hipsters know the cool jams from five months ago. The waiter has thick black rimmed glasses, flared pinstriped pants, and weighs 20 pounds. He deigns to take the order, promises the fries will be out shortly, and disappears for a half hour. Food was all yummy with an accent of weird. Every dish had a little something different - no standards on the menu. But the service was surprisingly slow, considering how empty the restaurant was that night. Mainly though, I just didn't feel cool enough to be there, and didn't care one bit. read more

Dear Catalyst, I appreciate that you are a high-end restaurant in Kendall Square. What I don't appreciate is that high-end = a multiple hour lunch. We are not in France. And when my boss who is literally from France gets antsy, you know it's bad. Let me tell you, lunch = less than 1 hour. I hope you start to get this. I can't continue to live this way. I have experiments I need to deal with and I can't let a 2+ hour lunch get in the way. Please fix this. Otherwise we and other scientists in the area will need to part ways with you. Best, Jessica read more

Very overpriced food for the quality you are receiving. Booked an event here and the catering was ridiculously expensive and everyone complained about how underwhelming it was. The space was nice and they were able to accommodate our group but again, food was not great. read more

I went here with a few colleagues for dinner after work. The location is great , right in the middle of Cambridge within walking distance to my office for the week and hotel (the Marriott). The waitress was very nice, very accommodating and very attentive. I got the Cod and it was pretty great, good portion too. I would definitely recommend it to someone looking for a reasonably priced after work crowd! read more

First visit to this restaurant and we enjoyed ourselves. Here's the run down: Nice ambiance. Cool decor. almost wish we weren't seated right away since it would be nice to hang in the bar area where there's a big fireplace. Good drink menu. Not a huge selection of wines by the glass and a bit on the pricey side, but I liked the Malbec. Decent beer options too. Bread was decent. The whipped butter bowl with olive oil was cute but would prefer olive oil with some spices. Menu was not huge but very interesting and I wanted everything on it. My husband got the burger, which was really good beef, cooked to perfection and aside from being a bit too big to fit into his mouth, was a great choice. He liked the condiment accompaniments and the fries. I got the blue cod, which is their signature dish. It was very nice ... a big piece of thick fish, nestled on top of a potato, chowder, baconish melange. Nothing I'd write home about but pretty yummy. For desert, we split a new item that was a chocolate pudding type cake thing with a sprinkling of a pistachio mixture next to a small scoop of olive oil ice cream. It was a good combination ... light and only a touch of sweetness. The olive oil ice cream really tasted like vanilla ... good though. Maybe a touch of sea salt chef? Good waitress. Water pourers kept our water glasses full. Nice place! read more

Came here with a group of 8. We had a reservation and showed up five minutes before the reservation. They didn't have a table and made us wait 30 minutes to sit. I'm not sure what the point of a reservation is if you have to wait 30 minutes anyway. Once we ordered, the food came out slow--so we were all pretty hungry by the time it arrived. They have some creative things on the menu and the food tasted good. They use high quality ingredients and have put together an interesting menu. That said... The portions were very small, and the prices were not at all small. Several of my friends commented on how they were still hungry when we left. With the price tag for the meal, that just shouldn't happen. Overall, I wasn't happy about having to wait so long even after making a reservation, but I could overlook that and just come back at less busy times. But there's no way to get around the small portions and high price tag. With that little problem, I won't be back. I just know I could get more food of equal quality for less money elsewhere. read more

Had lunch for the first time 11-1-17 and already booked for brunch on the 12th. Loved the ambience, the accommodating server and the food! Must try if you're a foodie that wants it all. read more

Clearly, Geoff S. is a very negative person...check out his profile. That out of the way, I have been here three times and I LOVE Catalyst. Everything from the service, to the clean bathrooms, but especially the food has been outstanding. I was here a few nights ago for a special occasion with 6 friends. If the manager is reading this, I do not remember our server's name (Sat, Oct 5, 8:00 under the name Adam), but she was amazing...seriously. The bartender (handsome w/ brown hair and a beard, slightly stocky build) was a sweetheart as well. We were seated at a private table on the other side of the fireplace which was divine. The food was outstanding. I mean everything that we ordered kept us talking about it all night, and we're all big foodies. Bottom line, ignore Geoff S' review and check this place out. I do think that you'll be glad that you did. read more

I avoid Catalyst. I've been there twice. The first time, I remember being pretty disappointed with the quantity. The only reason why I'd gone to Catalyst was because I was supposed to meet up with someone at Area Four, but the wait was too much and my lunch break wasn't long. Everything was pretty expensive (Since I hadn't looked at yelp I didn't expect it to be so expensive lol) and I was VERY disappointed with the quantity. Classic expensive restaurant - large plates, very little food. The pasta wasn't bad but it wasn't particularly good - def not worth the $$$ I paid for it. The second time I went was on a date. I always offer to split the bill as a rule of thumb, but it was painful this time - because not only the high prices, but because I legitimately did NOT like the food. I didn't really know things on the menu (classic expensive restaurant LOL too bad I didn't think to google the words then) so asked for recommendations/descriptions from the waiter. Somehow he failed to effectively describe the pastas - listing ingredients but not mentioning the fact that some were tomato-y and some were creamy. Since the last pasta I had at Catalyst had been tomato-y and I don't eat creamy pasta (and don't eat a lot of pasta in general) I forgot about the possibility of the pasta I was ordering would be creamy. I'm probably a bad person to be evaluating creamy pasta since I don't like creamy things, (although I HAVE had alfredo pasta I've really liked before) but I REALLY didn't like the Catalyst's creamy pasta.. probably didn't help that I was paying so much for it.. My date also didn't like his food (he didn't have the creamy problem though. Ordered something different but just found the food to be meh and DEFINITELY not worth the price). We basically decided that night that we were NEVER going back to Catalyst. Ever. Burned twice, won't be burned a third time. read more

We joined Catalyst for our Valentine's Day dinner and were quite disappointed. We were early for our reservation so we had been waiting at the bar and the hostess thought this meant we will be staying at the bar (hahaha). We ordered the foie gras tartine to start and ordered the crab spaghetti and pork shank, along with raclette potatoes to share. The potatoes came out before the entrees and it was clear that they were premade and slightly heated before being served (this "raclette" - very misleading given what raclette is - dish had specks of cheese that were dry from sitting out in the open for too long) but didn't want to create a fuss so we just waited to see what the entrees would be like. The pasta comes and it was decent - but the bread "crumbs" were huge and they simply didn't go with the dish. And now this pork shank - you know how the fatty portions of slow cooked meat turns gelatinous if it's been sitting out for too long? It was just a chunk of that. Cold and gelatinous. I actually couldn't believe that's what we got for dinner. This was the second time ever in my life to send something back. It actually took a while to even send that back - I couldn't tell if the restaurant was understaffed but the service was very, very slow. The waitress was indeed nice but she was just mia most of the time. I then got a cocktail that probably took another fifteen minutes and that was delicious at least- I got the Chai Bye Baby. We also asked for a dessert menu and this was nowhere to be found for another half an hr. So by the time we got the dessert menu we were just ready to leave. All in all, the cocktail was great and the wine we had was fine and I would maybe recommend the pasta, but this place really was not worth it. Especially for a special occasion. I wish we had gone somewhere else to celebrate. read more

I'm conflicted about this place. It looks so hip that I want to dislike it, but I want to be a cool kid, too. And while I loved some of dishes I tried, others weren't as impressive. So a middle-of-the-road rating it is. The beet salad was fine. It could have used more goat cheese croquettes, these tiny balls of breaded and fried cheese. The roasted carrots side was nice with maple flavors. Because I was feeling indecisive, for my entree I had a half portion of the mushroom ravioli, and a half portion of the squash tortellini. The hen of the woods mushrooms that came with the ravioli were good, but the ravioli itself was too salty. I preferred the subtle flavors of the squash tortellini and escarole, though the ratio of tortellini dough to squash filling seemed off. More squash, please! For dessert, the butterscotch-passion fruit pudding with warm pound cake sticks was fantastic. Sometimes butterscotch is too cloyingly sweet, but the passion fruit seemed to balance it out there. The dessert special of the evening was black sesame ice cream, which was another pleaser. Our server was nice, and various members of the waitstaff were always prompt in refilling our water glasses or replacing the bottle of water on the table without being too intrusive. I'd like to come back for more dessert, but I'm not really sold on the other food offerings. Drinks seem interesting here, too. I'm intrigued by The Undecided, which leaves your beverage fate in the hands of the bartender. read more

This is the best restaurant I've been to in Cambridge. Not snooty or stuffy at all; great vibe with really large wrap around bar and great atmosphere. I was with 6 others and we got great service, never felt rushed, even though they were packed and I'm sure they'd have loved our table when we were finished. A few of us had the Tournados (sp.)) of Beef and they were all cooked perfectly and DELICIOUS! The butternut squash was also a favorite, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Sides we had were pickled beets (special) and Brussel sprouts. Excellent. Everything was great! read more

Came for a friend's birthday with a party of 5. Food was good but the portion size was a bit on the smaller side. As a vegetarian, I was happy with the 2 pasta options available (artichoke tortellini and kabocha squash ravioli). I will say that both dishes had a very similar base sauce and were quite rich. I got 2 appetizer sized portions of the pasta which was just enough food. Also split the roasted beet salad appetizer with a friend which was very good but quite small and not a great value for money. Ambiance was great and really embodies the "techy" feel of the East Cambridge area. Server was a bit snarky and my old fashioned tasted like straight bourbon - those were my only gripes with the place. I'll definitely be back as it's close to my place but as I thought the value for money could be better, it won't become a habit. read more

I went to Catalyst last weekend and was immediately impressed by the design, warmth of the hostess and creative menu. With Jack Johnson playing in the background and the modern/industrial vibe, we enjoyed our cocktails before indulging in the Black Truffle Tortellini with Poached egg and the Braised Lamb Shank with creamy Polenta,, porcini, tomato and brown butter braised swiss chard. We ended it with the Butterscotch and passion fruit pudding with warm pound cake croutons. The first bite (and each one following) was pure heaven! This is a great spot to dine/drink with friends or on a date. I love that the owners/designers clearly sacrificed money for the comfort and space of their patrons. You will not have to worry about anyone overhearing your conversation as each table is blissfully spaced quite a distance from others. read more

Catalyst opened in Kendall Square last year providing modern American cuisine to the tech-filled area. With a 26-seat fully-stocked bar, along with a two-way fireplace, and an outdoor patio for the warmer months, this seems like the perfect spot for an after-work drink, or a dinner out in a quiet area. T & I headed over after an engagement party this weekend, hoping for a tasty & quiet early-bird Sunday bite to eat, and that is exactly what we found! We sat next to the floor-to-ceiling 30-foot windows, under the blown-glass light fixtures, and enjoyed a relaxed early dinner. I started with the lobster-coconut bisque with thai chili and a cilantro lobster fritter. This bisque may actually be my favorite lobster bisque I have ever tasted. The flavor combination was light and fully balanced, not too salty, not too thick, not too thin, definitely the Goldilocks-porridge of lobster bisque. The lobster fritter did not add much to the bisque, and I only wish it had more lobster meat than breading, but at the same time it did not take away from the perfect bisque. Since we weren't really very hungry after the engagement party snacks, I opted for an appetizer portion (which was obviously still a large portion) of the crispy pork ribs with a mustard-caramel glaze and vegetable slaw. They were crispy yet flavorful, and managed to fall off of the bone with even the slightest touch. T went with the Catalyst burger with bacon, cheddar, caramelized onions, roasted tomato & pickles on a brioche bun with french fries with house made ketchup, mustard & aioli (which he reported was delicious as well). I can vouch for the petite & crispy french fries with the aioli. We were already too full to even look at the dessert menu, so we had some tea and strolled by the the green wall and the fire on our way out. I will definitely be back to try some of the house-made pastas, have a large bowl of the bisque, and enjoy a cocktail on the patio in the summer months! Pictures and more on -- ---- read more

I reserved the private dining room for my birthday party a few weeks ago. I have to say, Catalyst went above and beyond to make sure my guests and I had an awesome time. Although the food gets pared down a bit (by pared, I mean simplified in presentation) when serving 30 people at a time, it was still delicious. By the end of the evening, we were standing on our chairs giving champagne toasts. Catalyst probably doesn't want me to write that so... sorry (I'm not sorry)! I promise we'll keep it in the back room. Anyway, the service here is just superb! Everyone should have a meal here. read more

Went to Catalyst for the first time last night and had a great experience. The environment itself is very sleek and would be great for either a date for with friends. The service was fantastic as well- your water glass will not be empty. Food was good! I split the duck salad which was pretty good and had cod for the main dish. The cod was excellent. Will definitely go back. read more

We came here on a Sunday for brunch. Our reservation was at 1:30, and the restaurant seemed busy (but not overly so). Our waitress didn't come to take our order until about half an hour after we were seated. Two of us ordered the smoked salmon benedict, but apparently they had run out of smoked salmon, so the kitchen substituted roast beef (without telling us!) instead. We didn't find out that the smoked salmon was gone until the roast beef benedicts arrived - this led to a super awkward dining experience as two of us waited for new dishes to be prepared while the rest of the table ate. The food was mediocre - very undersalted. Our waitress removed the two substitute entrees from the check so brunch ended up being $20/person with tax and tip, but I still wouldn't go back. read more

I do not like spending a lot of money at restaurants. But the food, drinks and service is so good that I will gladly give them my money. I have been twice and both times been treated so well by the bartenders. The first time I asked the bartender to make me a drink that's good, he asked some questions about what I like and created 2 great drinks The second time I went in search of a signature drink for my wedding with my fiancé. My last name is Berry and we are getting married in August. The 2 bartenders took that info and went with it. They made 4 different drinks. All delicious summery Berry drinks that are easy to make. And they took the time to make sure we knew what was in them so we relay the info to our bartenders. There was no pressure to order food, or get more, or do anything. Just very relaxed. The menu is fantastic too. But the consistently excellent service is why I will go back. read more

Honestly best burger I've had in a long time. Everything about it is genius: Size Accompaniments (Expertly Stacked So Nothing Squished Out As I Took Mouthwatering Bite after Bite) Presentation (So Nice You Want to Take A Picture Of It) Beef (This is No Skank Beef - Dee-lish and Cooked to MR perfection) Ketchup, Aioli and Mustard (All Housemade and AMAZING - calling them condiments is an injustice) read more