We are from California and this place is a gem . From service to ambience it is 5 stars . The menu is amazing I wanted to order everything . We had the pear Brie salad , seasonal pumpkin gnocchi and mushroom risotto- absolutely amazing . Our server Mateo was super charming . Highly recommend. read more

I've lived in Cambridge for ten years and I've honestly thought Daedalus was overpriced and overrated every time I've gone but it's nearby and I really wanted salmon and decided to treat myself. I ordered a soda water, quietly read a book, and then ate. All was well. The salmon dinner was fine, nothing to write home about, but I'd eat it again. I knew the price of the salmon so when I went to pay I was surprised that the bill was $38. When I checked the charges, I was truly floored to see that they're charging six dollars for a soda water. I politely asked, "Just out of curiosity, do you always charge six dollars for soda water?" And Brian, the bartender, replied with nothing short of hostility, "I don't know what you're getting at, yea it's six dollars. It's Poland springs from a bottle." I didn't watch this man pour the water, it was served to me in a regular bar glass, and I was frankly taken aback at the tone of his response to what I considered to be a very reasonable and politely asked question. I decided I still had the right to express myself despite his clear negative attitude towards being questioned and, still politely, said that I thought it would have been appropriate to let someone know that they were going to be charged six dollars for a soda water, as that isn't typical. He rolled his eyes and said, "well I don't know what you want me to do, that's what we charge for it." So I said that was fine but explained that I'd be tipping only on the salmon and he fired back, "don't tip at all if you don't want to." I then told him since he was acting like an arrogant prick, I-in fact- now wouldn't be. Literally the first time in my life I haven't tipped a bartender but I stand ten toes down on it. I wrote "be kinder" on the tip line and left. Anyway, there are about a million better places than this within one square mile and I'd recommend any single one of them over Daedalus. This isn't about paying 6 dollars more, necessarily (though I do stand by that being a profit margin nothing short of greed on the part of the business). Going out to dinner is a luxury for many of us right now, including myself, and I think we should be able to expect, at the very least (and especially when I'm about to tip you 25% for hospitality), kind answers to simple questions-- and maybe even carbonated water for less than $5 for a single glass. read more

Daedalus Restaurant - A receipt - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Spring/summer the rooftop is a 5/5. Love it. We've come here several times and the food is good but nothing has stood out as a must order so far. The main items I've had and would eat again are the burger, calamari, and cauliflower salad. I've also had the salmon tacos and chicken tenders, both of which were mediocre. It's a cute spot to have drinks/light apps with friends.I would definitely recommend coming during the warmer months for the rooftop! read more

See all

My experience at Daedalus was nothing short of fantastic. We had a reservation for 7:30 on a Saturday night, but we arrived about an hour early and were seated promptly. The servers here were courteous and lighthearted, and they did a great job of making sure our needs were taken care of while allowing us to enjoy our meal in relative privacy. Our table was outdoors on their rooftop deck, and while the view is mainly of construction projects now, the air was crisp and fresh and the area adorned with beautiful greenery. It felt quite welcoming. I had the burrata for an appetizer (pictured) and found the tomatoes a lovely complement. My main course was the mushroom was risotto, which was rich but not at all heavy, and I could have eaten three more plates. I had a taste of my friend's seafood risotto as well, and while it didn't wow me quite as much as the mushroom, I did find it quite tasty. For drinks, I started with the bees' knees, which was tart and refreshing, and I moved on to a Manhattan. This too was fantastic. I asked my server for a few extra cherries as a garnish, and I appreciate that my request was accommodated. Overall, I strongly recommend Daedalus, especially if you can snag a rooftop spot. No notes. A wonderful night. read more

See all

A really nice piece of cod with creamy risotto and nicely roasted asparagus. The sauce was a bit on the heavy side and I wasn't sure what to make of it's flavor, but it went nicely with the fish. The fish itself was a tad overcooked and could have been a tad more tender. I do wish the ok plate was somewhat more creative. Nonetheless it was a yummy dish that's worth revisiting. read more

We had a great meal there. The service was terrific! The 3 of us each enjoyed our meals and had dessert too. The main room had a comfortable decor. We had one problem with an overhead fan blowing too much air at us but the staff were able to slow it down as each of the fans had separate controls. So that's actually a big plus. read more

The food here is solid. We tried to octopus, butternut squash risotto, and short rib gnocchi. The octopus was on the tougher side, but the potatoes and veggies balanced the textures out. The risotto was my favorite! Felt very light and healthy. We sat on the rooftop which was an okay experience. There's nothing in the surrounding area besides other buildings so not much to see, but enjoyed the outdoor seating. The wait times for food is quite long considering it wasn't very busy when we arrived and the prices are pretty expensive. Might be more of a place to go for just drinks! read more

See all

The rooftop ambience was beautiful. The food was good but not memorable at all. I'm surprised how many five stars this place has received - I probably wouldn't return over any other decent food spot in Boston. I was even a little disappointed in the flavor and quality of the dishes. Also service was very slow - it took a long time to get our apps and entrees. The brussel sprouts sounded great on the menu, but were just okay and a bit flavorless in reality. I overall liked the penne allá vodka, but felt like it was a bit plain for $27 and the sauce and pasta were poorly mixed, leading to it seeming like the pasta had very little sauce on it. I really wanted to love this place, but it fell short of expectations especially since this spot is on the expensive side. read more

Place is great. Owner is a super nice guy. Food wonderful, drinks are great but best of all is the atmosphere. The outside deck on a nice night is heaven! read more

Daedalus is a hidden gem on the outskirts of Harvard Square. I've come here many times and am always impressed with the quality of the food and service. I love their rooftop deck which is beautiful in warmer weather. They have a nice array of cocktails as well as some mocktails if you want something non-alcoholic to drink besides soda and juice. This week, I came here with a friend for dinner on a weekday evening and we sat outside on the upstairs deck which was really pleasant. They had some oldies playing on a sound system which created a mellow ambiance without being too loud to hear people. I ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca which was incredibly tasty. The chicken was tender, juicy and wrapped in prosciutto and served with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans. My friend ordered the Steak Frites which came with shoestring fries. We both got the Bee Knees to drink (I got the virgin version and she got the alcoholic option). Both of us were very satisfied with our meals and the service was excellent! I will be back again soon! read more

See all

A cozy neighborhood spot where you can get some pretty good food, drinks, and has a nice atmosphere. They also have a roof deck which is great to sit out on in the summer. read more

Been a long while since I had the pleasure of coming back here to dine on their amazing little roof top. Service was very friendly all around, the food was as good as I remember, and the vibe is just cozy and nice. read more

Food is ok, but service was good. My table shared the brurrata bruschetta ($16) and I got the mushroom risotto ($24) as an entree. The bruschetta was simple, with two slices of bread and good/ok at best. The mushroom risotto was good, but not memorable. I wish the mushroom was sliced better as I got chucks. For the cost, the portions are not worth it. I got the razz hibiscus and it was not that good, and I couldn't taste the raspberry hibiscus. There are two levels with a bar on each level. We were seated in a booth on the second floor. The bar started getting busier as the night went on. Service was good as our waitress was attentive and kind. read more

Daedalus Restaurant - Bruschetta - A dish on a white plate includes a grilled bread slice topped with a large burrata cheese ball, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. The dish is garnished with chopped herbs and served in a restaurant setting near Harvard Yard, featuring a wooden table and additional tableware in the background. - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Came by for an early weekday dinner - the restaurant was not very busy when we arrived around 5.30 or so but definitely filled up while we were eating. We started with a burrata bruschetta which was really delicious! Cheese was light and fresh and complemented the bread and the yummy tomatoes well. I had the flat iron steak which was a bit disappointing - steak was chewy and unevenly cooked, although not to an egregious extent. The mashed potatoes side was a bit lacking in flavour. My friend's Daedalus burger was great - juicy patty, cheese and bacon perfectly savoury, and overall not-too-heavy with a good portion size. The shrimp tagliolini was OK - sauce was a bit overwhelming and noodles slightly soggy, but shrimp was cooked well and tasted good! Overall, not a bad experience, although I would say definitely on the expensive side. Nothing in particular was a dealbreaker, but in general, I expected more based on the portion sizes and price point of the dinner menu. I might come again - they are known for their nice rooftop seating / good drink selection - but maybe not for dinner per se. read more

See all

Definitely on the fence for 5 v. 4 stars. It a great space with lots of interesting decor, and the upper floor has a great vibe ...get up there if possible. Service was good; expected for a slow evening. Vibe is nice...not too much TV or music pervading, yet not lacking in some liveliness either...nice touch. Host was great and re-seated to better spot (chairs not stools) was easy. The standard menu (no specials that night) had scallops which were super! Cooked perfectly with the broc rabe also perfect on the side. The risotto, possibly from another school of risotto-thought, was not so. Just OK and seeming under cooked a bit and underwhelming... some umami or like influence would be good/needed. Duck dish was nice...but, they asked if medium rare is OK which it is! and should be. It was a precut set portion of tiny fillets which is great ( tho Im a fan of on the bone or "whole" fillet). What came up was nearly raw in the middle...yes, I definitely could have sent it back, but i"m lazy I guess and wanted to start eating together. Note to chef: a thin/medium size line of pink is good but a big old bunch is not. Note I eat rare /medium rare everything including lamb and port, but this was 'too much'...again my fault for not sending back, but.... Asparagus side was done very well...not under/over cooked. I'll be back! read more

This is a really cute place to grab some food and drinks. What I loved is it wasn't super loud so you can have a nice conversation but it wasn't so quiet that you didn't hear laughter or excited conversations. Our meals were great. I had ratatouille ravioli, which was really, really good! One of the best vegetarian dishes I've had in this area. I would totally return and get the same dish again! read more

Food is delicious! Never disappoints and the servers are excellent! Has become a true favorite for me and my friends. The roof deck is beautiful. Always a nice experience! read more

I loved the ambience of the elevated patio/roof area. It was super cute and I had great food drinks. No complaints from me

Have come quite a few times for drinks with friends and have had fairly good experiences each time. Drinks are expensive but on-par for the area and food is basic but tasty. Wouldn't come here for dinner, but it gets the job done as food to accompany drinks. Boston is generally strict on ID, but Daedalus requires 2: government issued photo ID (physical form, not a photo) and a credit card with the same name. Not a problem for most people, but some international students are not used to photos of their passports being insufficient, so this is something to note. When weather is nice, their outdoor rooftop is quite lovely. My favorite drink is their seasonal spiced (hot!) cider now that the weather is cooling! read more

Good vibes at this Harvard square institution! They specialize in very standard classic cocktails done very well. They also have food but I have always found it overpriced for what it is. But this place is great for drinks: a long list of wines and beers and very high quality cocktails. Good service too. The rooftop patio has nice twinkle lights and pretty vieses indoors has a romantic vibe with warm light and interesting art. Place can be busy so I recommend making a rez. But highly recommend! read more

Daedalus Restaurant - Cocktails - Two cocktails with ice and black straws are positioned on a wooden table. The drink on the left is in a short glass, while the one on the right is in a rounded glass. A warm, yellowish light illuminates the scene, with a lamp or decorative light source in the background. - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

The food here is incredibly mediocre and overpriced. Probably because it's in the city. The rooftop is incredible and the drinks are great. Please save your money and do not eat here, but definitely would come after work to enjoy a drink in the summer. read more

*COVID-19 outdoor dining experience review I've been to Daedalus many times, and it's definitely improved over the years! The outdoor dining setting amidst COVID-19 is fantastic and feels safe, especially now that the weather is nicer. FOOD The food has been a mix of good and OK, but I ultimately think they're overpriced for what they are. I thought the following were quite good: - the mussels - veggie ravioli - truffle fries DRANK The drinks are good! Better than the food, for sure. Any of their cocktails are good, but they're all classics - no creative cocktails, I think. I always get the whiskey sour. VIBE Great vibe. This is probably what you're paying for, especially if you're sitting at the rooftop. SERVICE Generally good service and nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about, either. MONEY THO I think Daedalus is expensive for what the food read more

See all

Great local restaurant. A hidden neighborhood gem. Food is consistently delicious. The menu changes so there is always something new to try. Very attentive staff. read more

Restaurants with a wide variety of menu items are always questionable in my opinion because it's very hard to perfect so many different dishes. We started with salmon tacos and fried ravioli. The salmon tacos we assumed would be raw because the menu had an asterisk next to it indicating the safety measures for consuming raw or uncooked food but it was cooked through and pretty delicious. The portion size of the salmon was great. The fried ravioli was salty. I could not get over this and no amount of the marinara I dipped it in could rid of the salt. Would not recommend this dish. As for the rack of lambs and mushroom risotto, the dishes were decent but it wasn't anything special. Overall, I think the food was good but I wasn't super impressed. For a Friday evening, the atmosphere was nice and quaint. It was definitely a great place to chat without it getting super routy. The outside seating looked really nice but we weren't able to get a seat there. read more

See all

My office come here every other Friday afternoon for drinks on our cleaning days. The bar tender is really nice and experienced. He can always make me a drink I want by listening to what flavor I feel like the day. They have a good selection of beers, too. I recommend their food too! I come here for lunch some days, the sandwiches are excellent! read more

Daedalus Restaurant - Tuna melt sandwich - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Daedalus' rooftop gives the iconic summer post-work vibes you dream of come June. It's spacious and has umbrellas so you can enjoy the fresh air without the beaming sun. The food is pretty good. I tried the salmon tacos with mango salsa and avocado. The salmon was crispy. Paired withe the fresh mango salsa, it screamed 5 pm in August. It was delicious but for $15 (which was cheaper than the rest of the menu), it didn't feel justified. I got the Razz hibiscus fizz (name may be wrong?). It was fresh and light but also felt a little light in vodka. That's neither here nor there but it could've been a bit stronger for $11. I liked Daedalus but the cost didnt really sell me. I wanted more for my money. Though good, I definitely can't afford to make this my new summer evening hang out. read more

Daedalus Restaurant - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Open during COVID for patio seating only! This is a lovely restaurant in Harvard square. Their rooftop patio has such a nice ambiance for catching up with friends, a post work drink, or even a place to take a date. I went with a group of friends on a Saturday afternoon and it didn't seem that busy but I reckon everyone might have just made reservations ahead of time like we did. read more

Basically spent my whole weekend holed up in here drinking boulevardiers. Great atmosphere and great service. Drinks and food are on the pricey side but it's a premium for being on a rooftop five minutes from Harvard Square. Brussalos cauliflower and truffle fries were great to share, and the entrees all looked and smelled great. Will be coming back for more boulevardiers next time I'm in town :) read more

Daedalus was a disappointment to say the least. Not only was the food overpriced but the quality was extremely subpar. The wait time for a simple meal was unacceptable to say the least. I ordered the beef stew and the fish and chips. The fish and chips was exceedingly mediocre with the fries tasting like the ones that can be obtained from the frozen aisle of a discounted supermarket chain. On the other hand, the beef stew was purely vile. Not only were there only three pieces of beef cubes, but these beef cubes were mushy and tasted fermented. The only saving grace of this dish was the mash potatoes which was creamy and buttery. A mystery ingredient laced the beef stew as well, making it taste almost chemical like, astringent and disgusting. I can only compliment the service at Daedalus: quick and frequent. This restaurant is undeserving of its name. Unlike the actual Daedalus, this place was dull and tasteless -- an insult to the Ancient Greek craftsman. Needless to say, I don't think I will ever be coming back to Daedalus. read more

It's 5 stars in terms of the ambiance in the outdoor seating area, the wine, and the excellent service. Had a pinot noir from CA and my friend had a Spanish red. They keep refilling your water, which is awesome, to intersperse with the wine sipping. It's not a generous pour, but the wine is definitely of quality- as to be expected. I wouldn't recommend the gnocchi, if you're looking for it to be homemade, with heirloom vegetables. The salmon tacos are quite tasty though! read more

I understand COVID took a toll on everyone. I understand the hospitality service has suffered. I understand places stayed close for so long they might have forgotten how to treat customers. But this place is on another level. I've been there several times (just because I want to give a few chances to a place when the location is so nice) but each time, it got worse and worse. Let's start with the positive : the location and patio are adorable. Clearly very relaxing spot, agreeable to sit there and enjoy your drinks or food. The issue is that the staff makes it almost impossible to enjoy anything. They are SO.RUDE. The first time we went there the waitress seemed extremely annoyed to have to serve us, despite the very very friendly tone my boyfriend adopted (unfortunately I'm not as patient with bad service) she made us feel unwelcome, rarely checked on our table and once we were done with our food made it very clear that it was time to leave, immediately to leave place for new customers. Okay the business has to keep going but still, this is no way to treat customers. The second time I went with a friend, we were about 10 min late to the reservation. As we walked in, apologized for the delay and asked to be seated, we got the most dirty looks for being late. The hostess made a point in making us feel bad for being late "what time was the reservation again? 8:00" *checks her watch, gives a weird look to the waitress who was standing next to her while we are in front of them with a mocking laugh* "well... i guess we'll seat you but..you're a bit late" .... okay we had already apologized for being late but anyway we follow the waitress. Then as she is taking us to our table upstairs, she turns around IN THE STAIRS as I am following her and my friend is behind me and asks " excuse me why are you late?" Like what ??? At this point my friend was already furious with the terrible service we had received as soon as we walked in and asked to be seated. A few minutes later, the manager comes to our table and aggressively tells us he heard there was a "miscommunication" between his waitress and us, we should take it this way, she was just trying to make conversation... like what ? Lol. At this point we were already done with that place but decided to stay because we were starving, the waitress comes, asks us to take a look at the menu to order, literally stands next to us and looks over my friends shoulder while she is checking the menu on her phone so she can take the order right away... Anyway. The drinks were watery and tasteless. The food is a joke. Do not go there. Seriously by FAR the worst place I've ever been to. read more

Daedalus Restaurant - Patio - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Food is so so and the service is horrible. We had a group event here and the managers/owners (dunno) had the worst attitude towards us. It seemed that they felt that they were doing US a huge favor. We had made reservations and planned everything in advance and tipped generously. Just all a mess! read more

I had dinner last night with a couple of friends. We all agreed that it was delicious. The scallops were excellent as was the roast pork. We also had berry crumble for dessert which was excellent. I hadn't been there for ages and had forgotten how good it is. Can hardly wait to get back to the rooftop when spring comes. We also really liked that we had a corner table and were able to chat without any noise or interference from other tables. read more

Unless you are coming here to drink wine or beer on the roof deck, do not come here. I didn't think it was possible to screw up mixed drinks. Apparently, it is. If a restaurant can't serve a good mixed drink, they shouldn't be allowed to serve food- let alone stay in business. We came here for brunch. We ordered the pork pulled sandwich which came with hash browns and the huevos rancheros. We also ordered a Bloody Mary and a mojito. The huevos rancheros was literally two corn tortillas with scrambled eggs and salsa on top. The retried black beans look like mud on the side of the plate. They gave fried bacon and hash browns too but what the hell does that have to do with huevos rancheros?! Why don't you just call this dish what it really is- scrambled eggs with salsa. The pork pulled sandwich was good but that's pretty hard to screw up. Both mixed drinks were terrible. The Bloody Mary tasted like cocktail sauce. I had asked for a spicy Bloody Mary and the waitress brought me tobacco sauce to pour into my drink. Are you for real?! The mojito was watered down and tasteless. The only reason people come here is to enjoy your rooftop. The way I see it there are plenty other rooftops in Harvard square that make far better food and better yet, serve far better drinks. We will not be back...ever. read more

See all

Called the restaurant to see if there was patio seating available. Hostess confirmed there was "plenty" of seating available. I asked if we could make a reservation for a table. She said it's fine just to walk-in. We arrive 30 minutes later and needed to search for the hostess ourselves. She then tells us there's no more seating available. Very frustrating to confirm availability, travel to the restaurant, and be turned away after we just asked to make a reservation. read more

really a 4.5. quite good. the burrata bucatini was delicious. the salads were excellent. the rooftop is very nice on a pretty day, but gets very sunny at certain angles at sunset. bring sun glass or prepare to squint. service was lovely and attentive. read more

Nice outdoor environment with nice views -- overall, a good spot to go. Enjoyed the Fish and Chips and thought that was a good portion. Burger that a friend got was also good. Would say that the price is a bit high for what you get. Would go again read more

See all

Great food, good service, was seated on the back patio/outdoor area which didn't seem as nice as the rooftop. Had a reservation and offered to wait for a table available on the roof but, after waiting was seated in the back patio/ outdoor area which has smaller tables. read more

Daedalus Restaurant - Salmon & Pan-seared Sea Scallops - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Gaslight girl boss gatekeeper. They claimed this was the razz hibiscus. I tasted no razz. I asked twice. They told me it was. I am certain it was the bees knees read more

Daedalus Restaurant - I'm not sure - Pubs Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Give me a great rooftop and a glass of rosé and I feel like I can conquer the world....or at the very least get down with an epic Sunday Funday. That's exactly what we did here at Daedalus. There's a downstairs which has an old school looking bar and food service, but the roof deck is where the fun happens. Let it be known we had just finished brunch so this visit was based on the roof deck and drink scene alone. The roof deck is spacious, and service is great. We ordered a bottle of sparkling rosé and enjoyed the sunshine. It wasn't too busy, but I did hear from friends this spot gets packed. There is a good amount of high top seating outside, and umbrellas for the shade. While I didn't try a cocktail, the ones some friends ordered looked delicious. I loved this spot for the drinks and ambiance. Would definitely recommend for Sunday funday or any sunny day you want to get your drink on. read more