Happy Crab

You don't have to be Jewish to have a fun time at Noir's pop-up Maccabee Bar for Hanukkah! The…read morecocktails are delicious and have adorable names likes the Aperol Schvitz or Latke Sour. I love the Hebrew Hammer which is like a sugary jelly doughnut in a glass. Speaking of jelly donuts, the sufganiyot (doughnuts) are really yummy this year. They also have other savory Jewish snacks, and you can play dreidel with chocolate gelt. Check out this unique pop-up for a fun delicious night out during the holiday season.

It had been a long while since I went to Noir, and I forgot how small it is on the inside. There…read moreare 6-8 tables inside with a few seats at the bar, and it's definitely a cozy spot. They have a pretty extensive menu for bar food, and the food comes out super quickly. I ordered a beet salad and a glass of wine, and both were out within 5-7 minutes. Service was also very prompt and friendly.

Exterior

See all

Shays Pub & Wine Bar

4.0(259 reviews)

Shay's is a must stop on every trip to Cambridge. It was a chilly March day, but it was sunny and…read morehad a great vibe on the front patio. Between the 2 of us, we tried 3 wines: Barbera, Tempranillo and Cotes du Rhone - the last was our favorite by far. We'll be back next time!

The first time I went, I didn't end up ordering anything because it was just too crowded. Most…read morepeople seemed to be there for the drinks, standing around and mingling. So, I decided to come back on a weekday when it was quieter. On my second visit, I went on a weekday night and was able to grab a seat at the bar. I ordered their Chicago-Style Hot Dog and a draft beer. Wow, the hot dog was so good that I even asked about the recipe so I could try making it at home! It came topped with diced tomatoes, purple onion, relish, and Dijon mustard. Simple but so delicious. I'd love to come back and try more of their food fare!

Barbecued chicken wings - very tasty!

See all

Outdoor seating

Wusong Road

4.2(450 reviews)

The whole experience was amazing. We sat at the bar and had a couple of drinks each. Every tiki…read morecocktail we ordered was fantastic and we had the pupu platter. Generally pupu platters are average but a good way to get a taste of all the apps. When we tried Wusong's pupu platter, it was amazing! Some of the best Chinese flavors I've ever had. We sat at the bar and watching the bartender Brian work was definitely an experience and entertainment all by itself. We can't wait to go back!

We came to wusong road on a trip up to Boston after getting the recommendation from a friend who…read morecomes here every time they visit. Funny enough when we visited my friend was also in town that weekend and by happenstance we happened to get to the restaurant at the same time. I would definitely make reservations because I did not realize you would need a reservation for a Wednesday night, but we did. Luckily we were able to give our name and they had a cancellation and were able to be seated within 20 to 30 minutes. The upstairs is pretty cool. I really like the decor. One of my favorites was these monkey lamps they had. The food was pretty good and we had gotten a slider for my son which basically filled him up. My wife and I split a poo poo platter and got an appetizer and that was enough for us. The drinks were really good. We had gotten a few to try. I like my first one and really enjoyed my second one. I asked the waitress for a recommendation and she made one and then when we went for our second round she did say she was new to the job so I went with something I knew I would like. They also sell some of their mugs which is a cool bonus. If your into tiki drinks definitely pick up a wusong road branded mug when you stop by. We got two.

Interior

Baos (crispy queso chichuahua & katsu chicken)

See all

Bao - Cha Siu Pork Belly

The Longfellow Bar

3.7(140 reviews)

Small food menu. Oysters and pigs in a blanket for appetizers were good. The fried chicken sandwich…read morecould have used more sauce. Our direct waiter was great, always coming by and refilling water. There was another member of the team who kept coming by to ask us if we had a reservation and if we were ready for the check. Felt like he was trying to rush us out. Also I'm pretty sure he could have checked on his own to confirm that we had booked with a reservation. This is the main reason for the lower star review.

This spot is really cute, but I had an unfortunate experience at the host stand. I called ahead…read more(less than an hour before arriving) with a specific request and was told over the phone that it could be accommodated. Once I made the trip out and arrived, the hostess very rudely said that it was not possible to accommodate the request. She also tried to gaslight me that the call didn't happen and I didn't call the correct number (this was not at all true). I ended up disregarding her and asking someone else for help, and the manager(?) stepped up and accommodated the request. Anyway I got a very pretty drink from here and the little roof deck is cute.

Upstairs bar

See all

The Story (Draught)

Grafton Street

3.9(779 reviews)

Restaurant and bar near the Harvard Square. The portions were large, and the food was acceptable;…read morethat's probably why it was still so lively on a Tuesday night. Moules Frites: Google revealed it's Belgium's national dish, but this seems to be an Irish restaurant... The mussels weren't large, but they were quite fresh and very umami. The sauce, a blend of butter, parsley, and white wine, was creamy without being too greasy. However, the fries were just average, a bit cold and soggy. Shepherd's Pie: I chose what looked like the most Irish main course. The mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy, and the minced lamb was very flavorful. Unfortunately, the sauce was a bit too salty, overpowering the natural acidity of the tomatoes.

A cozy pub with a more elevated menu and nice cocktails. There is a surprising amount of seating…read moreinside. The service was friendly and attentive. I got the hot-buttered cider, which was comforting and had exactly the right amount of cinnamon spice. The Irish coffee was a bit too strong on the whiskey for my liking, but I loved the baileys cream topping. The cheese board was substantial enough for 2-3 people. I loved the variety of cheese and the tart cranberry preserves on the side. I do wish it came with more bread or some crackers.

The Den

Spicy Meatballs

See all

Aperol Spritz

Lou's

3.9(50 reviews)

We love this restaurant with live music & swanky nightclub vibe!…read more The entire staff is super efficient, professional and friendly. All the meals, by fabulous Executive Chef Jason Bond, were beautifully plated, served hot and delish! The expansive menu and creative cocktails are truly an experience for all tastebuds. The venue itself is so elegantly decorated yet relaxed at the same time. The performance space is also beautifully lit with it's own bar. Seating in the entire restaurant lends so much to the intimate setting and the casualness of the couch, chairs with low tables are fun! Truly an wonderful dining experience for couples, friends or family. And the parking is FREE! Reservations are a must as this is a very popular restaurant - when you go, you'll understand why!! Check out this review too: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2025/08/01/lous-cambridge-music-restaurant-harvard-square/

Came here for dinner on a Sunday evening and the space was relatively empty - not too full given…read morethe amount of tables. Ambiance felt modern and chic given the decorations and lighting which matched the overall vibes of the restaurant. Menu had a decent selection of dishes - nothing too standout as a typical American restaurant. The entree I got was okay, expensive and tasted fine. Overall, nothing special though. I probably wouldn't come back here again, but I had a fine meal with my friend. The price and quality just didn't match for me though and I probably would opt to eat somewhere else.

Cleanest n most gorgeous

See all

Orange crush

Charlie's Kitchen

3.5(975 reviews)

Excellent! Love Charlie's Kitchen. A friend and I visited during a snow storm...they were open!…read more The service was great and the menu is classic dive bar, but a little better. I had a chicken sandwich. My friend had the burger. Both were great. You can't beat the prices!

I have walked by hundreds of times so I finally stopped in. The music was cranked. It was a…read morelittle early for the beer garden. It brought me back in time to the Charley's at Kenmore Square. I beat the Harvard student and tourists so there were plenty of seats. I sat at the bar and had a double cheeseburger and fries for 16.00. You can't beat the price. It came out after about twelve minutes. The fries were cold so they must have been on the warmer. The burger was medium rare so I was pleased with the burger. I would return.

Wings

See all

Breakfast burger

Russell House Tavern

3.8(2.3k reviews)

We happened to go to Russell House Tavern during Dine Out Boston (aka Restaurant Week). I'm…read morenormally a bit suspicious of prix fixe menus, but I was taken with Russell House Tavern's because none of their prix fixe items were on the menu, and they looked delicious. The prix fixe menu was $46 for an appetizer, entree and dessert. I got the French onion soup (with short rib!), duck cassoulet and the profiteroles. The French onion soup was more substantial than a typical French onion soup which is saying something - cheesy, breast and meaty. I probably could have just eaten the French onion soup. The duck cassoulet and profiteroles were solid, and I particularly enjoyed the duck confit. Wonderful service.

Food is okay and is a bit on the pricier side. The ambiance is nice and a bit more upscale. There…read moreare multiple floors in this restaurant and you should reserve if you're booking for a large group. I've been here a few times and usually it's just because it's conveniently located next to campus.

Some of the bar tables

See all

Grendel's Den Restaurant & Bar

3.3(909 reviews)

Foods good. Good deals. Good choice of beverages. The beef stew is really good and then the…read moreSalvadorian dinner is really good. Lalas is really good. Good menu for a lot of different dietary options. I am going to get the fondue next .

BEWARE RACIST BOUNCER!!!!! Grendel's is an amazing spot to…read moredrink a beer... if you can make it in. The bouncer is homeless and will harass you, especially if you are brown. Imagine: you're just a girl running away from a homeless guy chasing you on the street... then it turns out he's the bouncer!!!! He falls asleep on the job and then blames you for not checking in with him. Bouncer does crackhead math to arbitrarily decide if you people can enter. Party of 5? NO WAY!! part of 2? party of 3? FOR SURE!!!! He also cant read IDs, which is basically his only job as a bouncer. Have you ever beeen judged racially?? If not, come interact with the grendel's bouncer: then you'll know how it feels. Otherwise Grendel's is sick. The servers and bartenders are super nice and the vibe is great. But the bouncer eating soup ruined it.

Grass Fed Beef Burger

See all

"Just because the spacial physics are hinky is no reason to pitch a fit or hop a twig" -Voltaire

Club Passim

4.3(130 reviews)

It is a wonderful place to go hear live folk music! My wife and I recently went and enjoyed a…read morerelaxing evening listening to some stellar musicians.

I'd been here for lunch once or twice over 20 years ago, never for a show. Funky set up with long…read morerows of tables. There are nice side tables but the show was almost sold out by the time I learned about the show and was able to purchase tickets. Fun time, would go again.