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    Gato Exotico

    3.8 (32 reviews)

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    Bar
    Cliff H.

    Convenient. Unique. Delicious. I ate at Gato Exotico before they opened, as well as now several months into their operations. In a world of also-ran chain Mexican restaurants, Gato is a beautiful space with a unique ambience and unique takes on both familiar and unfamiliar dishes. Drinks are delicious and affordable, particularly given the area, while the convenience to the Cambridgeside Galleria is undeniable, particularly given your alternative dining choices are between sharing a close table with retirees at the Cheesecake Factory or teeny boppers at the food court... choose wisely my friends! A small outdoor space provides options for dining in warmer months and staff are focused, but friendly. Restaurant can get busy, so I recommend stopping by here on a weekday or outside of prime hours, if you do not have a reservation. All in all, a great new dining option for the area for those seeking a little less cookie (or cheese) cutter dining experience.

    Jalisco Bird delivered at this level (I had not taken a drink yet).
    Jennifer B.

    Parking is so easy in the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall garage. I think this restaurant gives validates for the $3 cost. Not sure as we walked. This sister restaurant to Wusong Road looks just as vibrant and has great potential, but it's no Wusong. The drinks, food, and service are inferior. Sat at the bar which was maybe a quarter full on a Sunday night. Waited quite a while for one of two bartenders to head over. The bar back brought us chips and salsa which was nice. Had reservations for a table and were seated a little later. Service at continued to be painfully slow, not friendly, and sporadic. They need engaged servers and bartenders. The hostess was the nicest person we met all evening. Drinks were 3/4 full void of garnishes. We love tiki drinks, but half of the ones we ordered were watered down or too sweet. Far better at Wusong. This place uses tequila and mezcal instead of rum which would be great if done right. Food options are good. Plenty of vegan options. Portion sizes are on the medium size. Our party ordered mix of a salad, tortas, tacos, and enchiladas. Prices are high for what you get. Hours on their website are not correct. Apparently the whole place closes at 10pm and not 11pm. There were several tables still there at 9:45pm like us and we were all asked to leave. Not a great experience considering our friends drove an hour to meet us.

    Date night
    Michelle M.

    Trendy (and new) spot in Cambridgeside perfect for date night or even a birthday dinner with friends. They offer a vibrant cocktail menu served in cute cups (we had a frog) and menu featuring Latin flavors. We just got drinks and dessert but everything looks great. I loved my margarita. The drink in the frog glass was a little strong but tasty. Our bartenders were very attentive. Plus the decor inside is beautiful, very good for photo ops! Also, they validate parking!

    Tacos, ceviche, empanadas, esquites
    Monica C.

    Such a fun experience at Gato as expected from the sister restaurant of Wusong Road! The food and drinks were excellent - we ordered several plates to share including ceviche, cochininta tacos, empanadas, and esquites. I personally quite enjoyed the ceviche and esquites. The drinks were served in super fun mugs - we had the Tijuana Taxi (tequila and mezcal based) and Jungle Pear (gin based with pear and mango notes). The mango margarita was also delicious! Fun decor throughout the restaurant including the wallpaper and framed cat photos leading to the restrooms. And wonderful service!! An overall lively yet laid back environment

    Newest restaurant in the cambridgeside mall
    Sasha M.

    The newest restaurant at the Cambridgeside Mall, run by the same team behind Wusong Roadis a much-needed addition, especially since Cheesecake Factory was the only dining option there before. I was excited to check it out during their soft opening. They're operating with a limited menu until the grand opening on December 8th. I ordered the birria tacos and the asado de puerco, both of which were delicious. I also tried their margarita with a Tajín rim. Service was excellent, our server was attentive, and the food came out quickly. The interior has a fun tiki-inspired vibe reminiscent of Wusong Road but with its own unique twist. I'm looking forward to coming back once they fully open. A great spot to stop by for any occasion.

    Calamari
    Kevin G.

    I had a chance to try Gato during their soft opening and thought it exceeded expectations in every possible way. The decor leans full-on maximalist (which I love), with super cute tropical wallpaper, greenery hanging from the ceiling, and incredible woodworking with alligators and jaguars carved right into the tables. The cocktails (Sapo Pero, Tijuana Taxi, Tres Leches Colada) were all reasonably priced, balanced, and a good mix of complex/refreshing/boozy. Food wise, everything we tried tasted incredibly fresh and hit the spot. The calamari was complemented well by the cherry peppers, cabbage, and mango it was served with, and the lengua tacos/quesadilla were tender and rich without feeling heavy. For those apprehensive about lengua, I'd encourage trying - I'm always surprised by how tender it is. Overall, it's the rare place that nails atmosphere, drinks, and food equally well. Make no mistake, this place will get busy very soon so get in before it gets too crowded!

    Taco Pescado Frito
    Paul E.

    Gato Exotico is new addition to the reimagined CambridgeSide dining scene. When you walk in you feel transported & could not even tell this place used to be a beer hall. It is pretty tight between the tables but with how loud it was you could not hear any conversations around you. The chips & salsa are fine but not worth the calories when you'll find all the main items delicious & flavorful. The tortilla on the Mahi tacos was great & I found 3 to be the perfect amount. It is al la cart so you can mix taco choices if you want to try other ones. The service was friendly but a little slow. The margaritas come in pitcher size so if you have a group it makes it easier. Beer choices are pretty limited & did not include Pacifico, but did have Corona & Modelo.

    Birria fries
    Rosanna N.

    Decent Mexican food in the cambridgeside mall. Best item we had was the tres leches cocktail. Got birria fries ok a tad salty. Fish tacos were ok. Esquites ok not enough lime or chili

    Haley F.

    Fantastic experience. As fans of Wusong Road we had high expectations and the experience lived up to them! Delicious drinks of course and a flavorful, fun selection of tacos. We stopped in for lunch but are planning to go back soon for dinner. Can't wait to try more things here. The decor is so cool and the waitstaff were pleasant and attentive.

    Sonya Y.

    We came for the fun drinks, delicious food and funky ambience! Warm chips and salsa to start (on the house) and I ate every bit of the Plato carne (though the hot pepper was HOT!) No doggy bag for me My husband also enjoyed his margarita and beef tongue tacos! Validated parking up to 3hrs only $3

    Kevin L.

    pretty good restaurant! stopped by to get takeout on a Tuesday night. the mall was boring. but this place was popping. the atmosphere was very lively and the decorations were styled very well. staff was nice and helpful with menu items. I bought the habanero wings, yellowfin tuna Toscana, and taco de lengua. flavor was great on the Toscana. the wings were a bit bland and was drenched in mango habanero sauce, so it could've been a bit crispier. the lengua tacos were good, not the best lengua I've had but very good potential, would've been better with a slice of lime in there as well. Will definitely be back here whenever im in the area.

    Ceiling
    Maria A.

    Went for lunch today. Had high hopes based on the people who opened this restaurant since I love their other restaurant in Harvard Square. Chips were just like a grocery store bag was opened and poured into a bowl. Why don't they make their own chips?! Salsa was medium spicy and very good. Warning that the lunch menu is quite limited. I got tacos and the tortillas were homemade and quite good. The chicken could have used a bit more spice, but not bad. Our greatest disappointment was the margaritas. Tastes like bottled margarita mix and our margaritas tasted exactly the same even though one of us ordered passion fruit and the other ordered spicy. Maybe dinner is better and they just don't care about lunch guests?

    Drinks!
    Anna B.

    A friend and I visited this restaurant on Christmas Eve. The service, ambience and drinks were good and we and LOVED their tacos. I had fish, short rib and braised pork and want to go back to try more of them. And of course, drinks are served in fun tiki mugs and there was fun artwork in the bathroom (if you've been to their other place in Harvard Square you know this is a thing). There are lots of fun details in the decor if you look around. I loved this new spot!

    Beef tongue taco, fried fish taco, and shrimp taco

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    5 months ago

    Ambiance great, Enchiladas were good, Margaritas were fine, wings were not crispy, service couldn't be less attentive

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    backbar

    backbar

    4.4
    (458 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    As per usual 10/10 Greeted in door way…read more Clean well stocked bathrooms Welcoming to everyone 80s 90s 2000s knowledgeable stylish Mushroom app and burger were nice treats to add to the awesome studio ghibli themed menu from the BB guide so clever top notch cocktails Cocktails Drinks Music and kikis delivery service on the projector good vibes

    I am a lover of everything studio ghibli so when I saw Backbar was doing essentially a month of…read moredrinks based on the movies I knew I had to go! The bar is really funky fun which I loved. There is literally fun everywhere you look from the panda stuffed animal riding a tiger on the wall to the hilarious shrek pillow. Coming right when they open I was able to see these things that you would likely not see in the evening. But to be fair I came right when they opened since it is first come first serve. A majority of the drinks were more on the savory side which was very interesting like "may all your bacon burn" with bacon bites at the top of the drink. The drinks my friend had were all stunning with the use of egg yolk to elevate the drink. We ended the evening by walking over to Bow Market and trying Viet Citron which was so DANG GOOD my gosh. The to go orders were insane but looks like they are doing very well despite recently opening in. I got the grilled lemongrass pork ribs bowl and youtiao and the side sauce was so good. The ribs were all very meaty. It looks small but I was surprised how full I was after having it. Nice night of drinks and food. What we got Kiki's marmalade buns Castle in the sky Milk Punch May All your bacon burn

    Photos
    backbar
    backbar
    Inside

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    Inside
    Brick & Mortar

    Brick & Mortar

    3.8
    (318 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Love this place a lot! Been multiple times with friends for a casual night out for drinks and we've…read moreonly had good experiences! The menu is enticing and leaves you wanting to try multiple of their house cocktails (all which have been really solid) and the staff is good at helping you decide what drink to get if you're unsure. Some of my favorites are the golden banana, what's new pussycat, and electric kool-aid acid test. Also their daiquiri time out (dto) is always a good option if you're looking for something to order for the table, to get the night started. The atmosphere is gives off speakeasy vibes, but is also very unpretentious. It's a place where you can relax and enjoy yourself without feeling out of place. From my experience, the crowd seems pretty young -- not necessarily college students but more like young professionals -- and it can get pretty lively when it's busy -- not overwhelming bar vibes, but more like a nice cocktail party / social event. This place remains a go-to spot when planning a night out in the Cambridge area!

    Somehow I had never popped into the spot in Central before. The aesthetic is the optimal dark and…read moremoody cocktail bar vibe. The drinks were creative and well balanced but stronggg. It was fun trying a good options, just plan on taking the red line home. The staff was super helpful making menu recommendations and as the bar cleared out toward the end of the night they were fun to hang out with.

    Photos
    Darling Nikki Vesper
    Darling Nikki Vesper
    Eastbound and Down cocktail, so delicious
    Eastbound and Down cocktail, so delicious
    Brick & Mortar

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    Saigon Babylon

    Saigon Babylon

    4.1
    (60 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Was not expecting the food to pop off but everything was delicious. We had a reservation and came a…read morelittle late but were still allowed in. It was pretty busy and we were seated at the bar which was a little crowded. Loved the decoration, it was black interior with red lighting and interesting seating arrangement with tables down the middles and plants around. For drinks we got the Saigon Sunset which had a little sour flavor and was my personal favorite, the Gimme with an interesting flavor, and the Old Fashioned which is what you expect (old fashioned are not for me). The bartender was great, he was so patient even with how busy it was making sure to always check up. For food, the Goi Ca/Fluke was so good. It was flavorful and the texture. The peanut butter sauce wasn't too nutty and went so well with the fish. I ate every little piece up. We also ordered the Wagyu Viet Carpaccio which was also good. It was refreshing to eat and came with a large cracker for eat bite.

    The lemongrass carpaccio is exactly as good as everyone says. Definitely my favorite dish of the…read morenight, but I'm interested in going back and trying other menu items. Not a fan of the layout of the restaurant. I don't like the long table in the center for parties of 2, it felt a bit awkward to be so close to other groups and there were large vases of fresh flowers which, albeit were very beautiful, I think should have been moved after parties are seated. A huge bouquet of fresh lilies were taking up a lot of space on the table when I went and they got in the way at times.

    Photos
    Saigon Babylon
    Duck with rice noodles
    Duck with rice noodles
    Interior

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    Interior
    Remnant Satellite

    Remnant Satellite

    4.5
    (18 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    We stayed next door and ended up visiting Remnant Satellite more than once because we enjoyed it so…read moremuch. The vibe here is one of the best parts--it changes throughout the day. In the morning, it's a relaxed coffee shop serving breakfast and great coffee, then it transitions into lunch, dinner, beer, and a lively evening scene with music. We stopped in for lunch first and sat at the bar. I ordered one of the bowls and added sausage, which was absolutely delicious. The bartender was incredibly friendly and gave us excellent beer recommendations. I loved being able to try several mini pours. They also had spirits available. There's an outdoor patio too, that looked sunny and like a great place to hang out. We liked it so much that we came back the next morning for coffee. The bartender that morning was just as welcoming and made us excellent coffees. She also told us that the actual Remnant brewery was only about a 15-minute walk away! Overall, such a great spot with friendly staff, good food and drinks, and a really fun atmosphere no matter what time of day you visit.

    This burger was pretty fire, had it well done with the sweet potato fries and got the roasted beets…read moretoo. Everything was solid and the burger was fat with good salt. I would hella come again to this place. Vibe seemed alright like a typical pub but the burger got my heart.

    Photos
    Ambiance on a Monday afternoon. Not pictured is a bar counter and several other tables
    Ambiance on a Monday afternoon. Not pictured is a bar counter and several other tables
    Spinach and Artichoke dip
    Spinach and Artichoke dip
    Vanilla Latte

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    Vanilla Latte
    Cloud & Spirits

    Cloud & Spirits

    4.0
    (84 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$

    We had reservations for 7:30, and when we got there, the place was decently busy - a few empty…read moretables here and there - so we were seated immediately. We ordered quickly after perusing the (rather short) menu, most of which was either small plates and cocktails . Our first plate was the hainan chicken arancini. I really liked the contrast in textures between the crispy exterior and the tender chicken and rice mix on the inside. Overall flavour was not bad, too, but I'm not sure that it was exactly good enough to merit the price point of $18. Next was the Xi'an street noodles, which was probably my favourite dish of the meal. The noodles were very well cooked - chewy but not too soft - and I loved the sauce, with the gentle peanut aroma on top of the various spices they used. One comment was that the chilli crisp, which was tasty, was very lacking (in amount) and as a consequence the dish was really not spicy at all. Finally we had the chilli crisp buffalo chicken. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the chicken was boneless (I was expecting something more like chicken wings), which made for very clean eating :) The buffalo sauce was nice (and perhaps a bit spicier than the aforementioned chilli crisp) and the chicken itself was very rich and juicy. Portion size was quite large too and overall I was very happy with this plate. For drinks we ordered the Jaded, which was a fun matcha-themed cocktail (even the marshmallow was matcha-flavoured) and a (spirit-free) cranberry limeade, which was surprisingly refreshing and sweet. Overall a yummy meal, but definitely very expensive. I would be interested to try some more of their cocktails, which seem very creative, but I'm not sure if I would be keen to come again primarily for the food. (To be fair, though, this is often the modus operandi of these restaurants that specialise in small plates and drinks )

    Great Cocktails, Average Food. I hovered between 3 and 4…read morestars here - ultimately deciding on 3 because while this is a great place to hang and grab drinks, the food is disappointing. Everyone was friendly and attentive but the food took a while to come out and it was just average. The best thing was the curry noodles and even those were a little bland. Also it was fairly expensive so I expected bigger portions or at least better flavor. Drinks on the other hand were delicious!

    Photos
    Cloud & Spirits
    Forager salad + chicken arrancini
    Forager salad + chicken arrancini
    Outside

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    Outside
    Nook

    Nook

    4.6
    (28 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    both of my drinks were delicious!! super creative menu, especially the elly the elephant drink (my…read morefav). both were pretty light drinks if that's your vibe! wish they had more food options but great spot for a quick drink. service is good!

    My friend found this spot online and suggested we check it out, and I'm so glad we did. When we…read morearrived, I did not expect to find an entire courtyard filled with shops and restaurants tucked behind this little alleyway. It was such a cute hidden area, and I was already excited before we even got to the place. We headed upstairs into the bar, and the vibe was perfect. It's small, cozy, dimly lit, with vibey music playing. Since it was our first time, we were a little confused at first, but the waiter was super kind and walked us through everything. I ordered the Elly the Elephant and my friend got the Laughing Gull, and we both really enjoyed our drinks. One thing I thought was really nice is that they allow you to grab food from the surrounding restaurants and bring it in to eat there. We didn't end up doing that, but we did get the charcuterie board they had. It came with cheeses, crackers, and some fruit, and you can add meats for $10, which we opted out for. I will say I was a little disappointed by the fruit portion. The menu mentioned fresh fruit, so I expected more than three thin orange slices and one sliced strawberry. HOWEVER, when I asked for more strawberries, our waiter kindly brought out a whole bowl for me, which I really appreciated. We stayed for about two hours, and as the night went on the place definitely got more crowded, so we headed out. Overall, this is such a cute and cozy cocktail bar. I'll definitely be back when the weather is warmer to try the other drinks and restaurants in the market.

    Photos
    Nook
    Smokey delight
    Smokey delight
    Inside

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    Inside

    Gato Exotico - mexican - Updated July 2026

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