Harvard Gardens is always a great alternative for a weekend night, or a great spot to enjoy some brunch on a weekend. Many a trip to BHP have been detoured into Harvard Gardens for a few beers and a large helping of their DELICIOUS truffle fries. If you come here without getting the fries you are truly missing out! Other than these tasty morsels, the full menu has many scrumptious options to consider. The bartenders are really cool people (though as mentioned they can be no-nonsense) and are always open to making a suggestion for you based on your tastes. I've been here on almost every day of the week and they have always greeted me with a smile and a delicious beverage. I have frequented HG much more often at night than during the day but I can also vouch for their brunch. It is especially a popular spot before events at the Garden so take this into consideration when making your brunch plans. read more

I don't know why people rave about Harvard Gardens, the beer selection is decent, and their food is average, I don't understand why people would make a trip to go out to this place. If I lived in the neighborhood I would probably go to this bar, but it is definitely not a Boston destination. I went to meet some people, we sat at a high top table and had some fries, the chicken fingers and some macaroni and cheese. The mac and cheese was bad, not very cheesy, almost like someone poured heavy cream over soggy noodles and then threw the concoction in the oven with bread crumbs on top. The fries were soggy and didn't come out very hot, but still edible, the one saving grace was the chicken fingers, the meat was tender and tasty, and the outside had the perfect crunch. The selection of dipping sauces left something to be desired, they weren't very good with the exception the buffalo sauce which wasn't bad. The atmosphere of the place was decent, definitely a lot of people for drinks and a lot of people for dinner, the location isn't bad, across from MGH and the T station so at least it wasn't a long commute for me to get out there. All in all I would probably go back but this place is never going to be on the top of my mind when I think of Beacon Hill Pubs. read more

Good local bar for me and my roommates to spend the night or stumble into late night. We've had their late night pizza a few times, and despite burning my mouth on it once, its delicious. They let us order a basket f fries right as the kitchen was closing one night too, and they were amazing. And not just because we had been drinking all night. The crowd is usually chill and fun. Top 40s music bumpin. But no one dancing It does get packed, and is kind of not sure what kind of bar it is. But its always reliable for a good time and good food, at any time. The bartenders and staff are always friendly and attentive as well. read more

I went in to Harvard Gardens and found they have a deliciously updated menu created by a new chef. Some of the same bar-food staples remain (the Kobe Sliders are amazing) but the dinner menu has greatly improved. I had the Lemon and Sea Salt Crusted Pan Roasted Chicken with rosemary prosciutto gnocchi and caramelized cauliflower. The chef seemingly uses French cooking methods because the chicken breast was mouth wateringly tender on the inside and the skin was perfectly crisped on the outside. I was in taste bud heaven! The chef even sent over a complementary blueberry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert... The only thing I miss very dearly from the old menu is the Edamame with Sesame oil, but with all these new treats to try, I will forget it soon enough! If it's been a while, give Harvard Gardens another try for a nice dinner out! read more

I recently went to Harvard Gardens to celebrate my Best Friends birthday for the first time and I must say I was impressed by this place. I did not expect the food to be so good I tried the wontons, sliders, and calamari. I do wish the calamari had been a bit more crispy however aside form that I really enjoyed the blend between the scallions, chilly peppers and garlic. Would definitely go back and try out more of their menu. read more

Harvard Gardens - Winter Solstice - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

When I worked at MGH, I loved meeting friends after work at Harvard Gardens. It was the closest, nicest joint you could walk into while still wearing scrubs. An added bonus was chatting up some of the other cuties in scrubs ;) Although slightly pricey, I loved the steak-frites with a good (local) beer. It was really delicious and hit the spot after a rough shift. But because HG isn't very big, there is definitely a line on weekend nights so you may have to wait for a spot. But, hey, it's Boston - there's always a line on weekends. read more

I've been here multiple times for drinks, dinner and brunch. The staff is very friendly - and have always been really great about accommodating my gluten-free food needs. My girlfriends and I come here regularly for wine and their truffle fries - which are amazing! The bartender recently suggested we order a side of bacon aioli (that comes on their burger) to dip our fries in - great idea for taste, bad for the arteries! read more

Great food, great service, great ambiance -- morning, noon or night -- with a date, big group of friends, or alone. I love Harvard Gardens the most for their brunch. (Killer bloody mary!) This is definitely one of my favorite spots in Boston--I can always count on a good experience! The service is what makes it stand out the most--even at their busiest. I'm gluten free and the servers are always helpful and accommodating so that I can have a delicious meal. They rotate the menus (and cocktails) pretty frequently, so it's always fun to try something new even though I come here all the time. read more

Looking for late night eats, we stumbled into Harvard Gardens not knowing what a treat it would be. At that point we were just looking for something on a Sunday night, and a libation to side car the meal. We found both! MaiTai - Delish Fish Tacos - Delish Shrimp in Chili Sauce - Delish Oysters on the Half Shell - Delish The drinks flowed and so the night went. We could not seem to order the shrimp or drinks fast enough. A worth stop on the north side of town! read more

The staff are so damn nice so it breaks my heart to criticize the food but my entire family ate there over Easter and it was not satisfying. The best item was the tater tots and the nachos. My burger was nothing special. The Mac and cheese was watery. We all ordered it and all felt the same. My husband couldn't even finish his fish tacos. Falling apart. OH but the pizza was decent. And we ordered that for the kids but all the adults ended up having a taste. I think their go to item is the Ruben. read more

I am a vegetarian, who does not usually like veggie burgers. I was skeptical but I ordered it. might i say that was the best veggie burger i have ever had! absolutely immaculate!! 10/10 would recommend!!! super quick too! thank you! read more

Mediocre service sodas taste funky, mixed up orders, the food was pretty good I recommended their Buffalo wings. Over all pretty good.

I've gone on Friday nights after about 9pm or so with a rather large crowd. They're usually able to handle the whole slew of us, and normally do so without fuss. Not a huge fan of the space; it's a little crowded for my taste, but then again, I'm the one who shows up with 15 people in tow, so I have no room to complain. Literally. But figuratively, too. Food is not worth the expensive price tag. I'd probably be happier if my friends chose a different place to go, but for the convenience factor, I'll remain in tow for the time being. Unless I'm hungry. Then it's a whole other story. read more

Great place to go if you want your ribs jammed by large, overstuffed men in tight-fitting t-shirts. Fortunately (or unfortunately), said large man's elbows where pretty high up, and did NOT meet my ribs. Rather, they met my shoulder blades more often than I can count, forcing me to spill my beverage all over my birthday-celebrating friend. A good thing to do in this situation is employ a boyfriend who has no shame. I told mine what to do and he did it. Captain Large Shoulders got a lougie on his back. Good times, good times. Star back on! read more

Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: Harvard Gardens is neither a garden nor Harvard. A bit more upscale, perhaps, than BHP, but its less of a bar and more of a restaurant. read more

I. Freaking. Love. Harvard. Gardens. Where to begin? First, this place is bustling. It's got a huge bar right up front and tables lining the walls and in the back. It's dimly lit, has huge HD TVs, and a constant buzz of noise. That all said, I find the atmosphere of this place incredibly sexy. It's just exactly what I've ever wanted in a date restaurant. One of the best appetizers I have ever had came from here: lobster roll sliders. They were creamy, the lobster was delicious (and I'm not a lobster person), and the bread was buttery and yummy. Entrees: The sandwiches are my go to here. And every one I've ever had has been exquisite. The pulled pork was smoky and delicious and the tuna melt was perfectly cooked panini style. The salads are great here, super fresh. The fries are yummy too. The service has always been awesome when I've gone, the waitstaff is a bunch of really cool folks. Anyways, just do yourself a favor and go to Harvard Gardens on your next date night, ok? read more

omg the mac n cheese. the mac n cheese. THE MAC N CHEESE!!! we went here originally for lots of ginger ale and soup since the manfriend was having an upset stomach. I've been here for drinks a time or two but finally got to writing this review because of the mac n cheese (ohhh did I give it away already?) The bartenders are very accommodating. My boyfriend got them to put 7 cherries in my drink once just because I love those maraschinos so. Our waiter this time was awkwardly chatty but A for effort.. The lighting is very dim here and the music selection is strange. Everything from hip hop to country. haha sounds like they plugged my ipod in. Anyway, food is EXCELLENT. We've only tried the tomato soup and the mac n cheese thus far but considering how well those two went, we'll definitely be regulars. Mac n cheese sauce was just the right consistency. They used orecchiette pasta which meant mini scoops of the delicious truffle cheese sauce. The crumbs were a very nice touch. I want to spend the rest of my life eating this. read more

Came here for a Friday dinner to use a pretty sweet Gilt City deal ($20 for $40 plus 2 drinks). It was more of a bar feel than a restaurant at around 7:30. The crowd definitely seems doctor-y (people in scrubs, medical conversation), which would be explained by being right by MGH. I had a tasty Harpoon 100-barrel series India Pale Lager, the Cambridge Uncommon. A nice blend of IPA and lager, and with the hefty 24-ish ounce bottle, what's to dislike? We ordered the steak frites and steak tips for entrees. The frites was pretty good, but the best part was the truffle fries. That truffle oil is magic. Nicely seasoned and crispy as well. The steak tips were my favorite of the two, extra juicy and flavorful. Overall, seems like a nice place to stop by after work, or for a meal if you're in the area and it's not a weekend night (was a bit too loud for dinner conversation, and felt a bit crowded). read more

Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast! Everything. Was. Amazing! For $8 u get omelet, Bacon, toast, home fries, fruit! Everything is gourmet and very reasonably. Very quint has full bar And great service. Can't say enough good things!!! I just wish it was a little closer to me in Brighton :( read more

+It is a hybrid bar/restaurant, with surprisingly good food +HG Burger +Chicken sandwich +Grilled Cheese +$5 Stella +Close to beacon hill -Gets pretty loud -Sometimes run into people from my high school read more

The reason for 1 star would be the service... the place wasn't even half way full. service took forever... but even worse, we ordered an app so once my meal came i was barely hungry, took literally 2 bites and asked for it to be packed to go... so the server figured it would be ok to throw away all the french fries and the half of sandwhich with 2 bites taken out of it... ridiculous, if your that dumb ask specifically what i want packed. now i know why they dont do take out... they would throw half your meal away before packing it. read more

So this does not get lost in the review: THE TRUFFLE FRIES ARE LEGENDARY. ORDER THEM. HarGar, as I've come to call it, is my go-to dinner or after work drinks place. Unpretentious, relaxed, but still good food. It fills up with nurses and doctors at the end of MGH shifts, so there are some random-seeming times of day when it is super busy. Good brunch on Sundays, great burgers for lunch or dinner, and all around a pretty great place to hang out and grab a drink and snack with friends or colleagues. read more

First time here...clean, good service...drinks were exceptional so were the tater tots...my lobster roll was underwhelming. I'd give it another shot. read more

Steakhouse burger was delicious. Great fries. Good pickles. A little busy but it's a busy area so what can you say! Tables turned fast and wait staff was nice. read more

We love this place. Nice bar with cool atmosphere always, food always hits the spot and always have some to bring home! Promotions are good and specialty cocktails rotate with the seasons. Draft beer selection is great too. If we could venture out more we would be regulars here for sure! read more

This is a nice place to go for a casual dinner or drinks with friends and family. It's a very relaxed environment with good service. They offer many good appetizers and entrees as well as some delicious sandwich choices. The turkey sandwich with apple chutney is awesome and the butternut squash pizza is pretty good too. However, for the caliber of the restaurant I would say they are a bit overpriced. read more

We often stop in for a beer here after walking around boston as it is neat the mgh stop, drinks are good and some different and interesting, we had lunch here saturday and everything was good, the mac and cheese very good, my tuna melt ok ( a little boring) and a caesars salad pretty good, fries were a little soft, overall a good place to stop for a drink and an ok place for a meal............. read more

The food was great! I had the chicken sandwich and it was very good! The drinks were rough, not quite spot on. We will definitely be back, it was a great place but drinks need a little work. read more

I absolutely loved their brunch! It was sooo delicious and fairly priced. Service was also awesome! My boyfriend and I loved getting to select different juices on the side of our bottle of of champagne-which is totally worth getting if you plan on having 2 or more mimosas. It was fun mixing and matching different juices for our mimosas. Can't wait to go back! read more

After a full afternoon/night of watching sports, this was the perfect place to come for a couple drinks and appetizers/food to combat any hangover problems the next day. read more

Harvard gardens in Boston is really cool place. I went there for dinner on a Thursday night. Very busy at the bar/standing area. Very dim lit was a nice touch but would've liked a little more light as I ate in the dining area. We order the shrimp avocado toast which was really great, which had arugula & chorizo on it as well. The Harvard burger would cooked to perfection and went well with my truffle fries. Service was decent. Had a nice server but wait time for food was tad bit of a wait. But would definitely go back again to try more their food. read more

A great place I drag myself to on a weekday evenings or for last call on the weekend. Beacon Hill singles sip on Sam Seasonal while mingling with old friends and even making some new ones. The space is a little cramped for my taste, but I like the vibe...almost like a speakeasy. The secret, though? BRUNCH. I know, I would never think of it either! But the potatoes are to die for and it's a nice place to enjoy my favorite meal with friends. read more

Their pamesan truffle fries are very good. So much flavor! However, it ended up working against me this time as they made my HG mac and cheese taste bland. I took the rest home though and the next day the mac and cheese tasted much better. There was a very odd smell when we first walked it. I should hope it was from the people at the crowded bar and not the establishment itself. read more

Looooooove HG. The brunch? Amazing. Drinks? Awesome. Bartenders? The best. I used to hate on this place for an after-work spot because it tends to attract a lot of douchey men who think that just because they are doctors at MGH they are God's gift to women. That alone doesn't make you special, fellas. But once I learned how to navigate this place, I learned to love it. For example, it gets crowded and it's not laid out well for large groups (unless you get a table), so don't walk in here at 8 on Thursday with 5 other people. But do go with 1 or 2 friends on the early side and post up at the bar. The bartenders are friendly and fun and will whip you up some great cocktails, like the Hot & Dirty. I haven't eaten dinner here in a while, but I remember the food being really good. I've split a few appetizers with friends for a light and tasty dinner. So obsessed with the brunch. There's an egg sandwich with avocado that's great. The eggs benny are great. The potatoes are the bestttttt. Also, they have a really delicious iced coffee adult beverage that I love and have tried recreating elsewhere and it's never as good. It has frangelico and I forget what else. Highly recommend! read more

The waitress who was working the day shift today was swearing all over the place. She rudely told me to move out of her way when I was just waiting at the door. Steer clear of this place during the day if you don't want awful service. read more

I was at Harvard Gardens today, Monday the 12th of April. It was busy! The only FOH employee, a tall dark haired man with tattoos, was our bartender, server and busser. He must have had 15-20 tables going at a time and absolutely crushed it. This is what most would call a "server nightmare" yet the service and food were both incredible. I'm not sure I'm giving the restaurant a five star over the bartender, but I was impressed either way. read more

I've been to Harvard Gardens twice now. It's a much classier alternative to the BHP around the corner. However, the first time I went with my buddy ben, a drunk guy who claimed he just got out of prison was threatening to kill us. I bought him a drink and that still didn't calm him down. He claimed to know the bartender there, but that remains to be seen. Overall, I will go back. Women seem to love the place, and the times I've been have had a great girl / guy ratio. read more

A good place to meet up with people given its proximity to the train station and MGH. Went here on a weeknight once and met up with a friend and some of her MGH colleagues. I actually was surprised - the interior looked a lot nicer than I had expected - I don't know what I was expecting and why, but I somehow thought it'd be more like Hill Tavern or even just a step up from the BHP. Anyways, we passed a couple of appitizers - in particular note was the grilled naan and onions and chutney. Random but pretty good. For dinner, I had the ravioli - warning - it is VERY rich. I might almost suggest asking to go easy on the sauce, as it is very buttery. It was good, but not sure I would order it again. Friends at the table were sharing some pizzas and they were also delicious - but definitely shareable! One menu item that was memorable was the fries. Great stand-alone snackability. The other thing that surprised me (less after I saw the interior of the place) was price. Somewhat pricey for some items, but they have such a wide range, it's possible to get out of there without emptying your wallet. Just choose wisely. Would I come here again? I don't think I would be opposed but I might eat beforehand. Fun atmosphere, yes, but don't see myself getting overly excited to go there. read more

Oh how I loved this little bar. We ended up here after finding ourselves at college night in some other bar... definitely not my scene any more. Luckily we found this place about a block away. Chill laid back atmosphere. An array of booze. Friendly customers. Friendly bartenders. This is my kind of bar. read more

I'm kind of split on Harvard Gardens, particularly as a brunch location. It's got some pluses and minuses, but the pluses eventually outweigh the minuses. A bunch of fun and exciting Yelpers converged upon Harvard Gardens after our original destination's wait was too long. After a walk that included the sighting of an intramural Quidditch match (there should be more of these, but that's another discussion for another day), we arrived at Harvard Gardens, ready to have some grub. Considering that it was relatively quiet, the staff was ready, able, and willing to sit our larger group, and with a major assist from the group sitting next to us (who moved over, and given the opportunity, I would give 5 stars to), we all plopped down, ready to eat and drink. On the drinks, I ended up with a mimosa, which was quite good (the OJ and champagne mixed quite well). The waiter was also quick to check and confirm that the pear bellini was not available. A little inconvenient, considering it's on the menu, but the fact he checked before he finished the drink orders was a plus. On the downside, after that point and the food orders, we didn't see much of our waiter. I didn't get my water refilled until after I had started on the food. Not the worst thing in the world, but still not ideal. As for the food, it was right on target. I ordered the omelet with homefries and bacon and toast. This resulted in getting a good amount of homefries and bacon, and a decently sized omelet. As for the taste itself, the omelet was good, not the greatest I've ever had, but very good nonetheless, and the bacon was a little tough for my own desire. The homefries, however, were amazing. They were little potato wedges, and not only were they well-seasoned, they were generally yummy. Overall, I'm waffling between 3 and 4 stars. It's not the most exquisite brunch I've had in the course of the series (Gaslight wins that), but I'd put it in second place as of now. While I kind of wish the server was around a little bit more, I can understand, and the fact that they did a good job of fitting us all in without a reservation merits that 4th star. read more