I travel to Boston once a year. I always make a point to go to Nubar. The food is fantastic and Holly the bartender is such a nice and amazing young lady! Her recommendations on food and beverage are spot on and make dining at Nubar fun and exciting! read more

We came here on a 3-course meal for 2 Groupon, and the restaurant was great, but the intro left a bit to be desired. The hostess apparently had met some long-lost friend and was having a full-on conversation for the first 5 minutes of our entrance. We eventually went over to the bar to find out if we could be seated before the convo died, and we got taken to a table. The service the rest of the night was way better, and our waitress was amazing on the recommendations of what to eat. The portion sizes were pretty big -- we had some flatbreads, this great scallop dish, and a lamb pasta that was good. The atmosphere was also pretty hip; a private party was in full swing by the bar, and we made a mental note to reserve the place for a future birthday. Overall, the food was really good, a bit on the salty side for some of the dishes, but a solid meal. And the ambiance was cool inside a beautiful hotel (which you get the full view of when you head to the restrooms). We'll be back. Great find out in Cambridge. read more

Nubar's sleek, modern look is a nice change from the Sheraton's older look. Dinner is a great time to go, because the restaurant becomes dimly lit and romantic, but the noise never reaches a level that prevents you from maintaining a conversation with the people at your table. The food is very reasonably priced and pretty good for the most part. But the two places on the menu where you won't go wrong are the flatbreads and the desserts. The flatbread section offers a succinct and well-rounded selection: your basic "Margherita", a vegetarian option, a braised short rib and duck confit. I tried both the short rib and duck confit options and was blown away at how fantastic they were. Both flatbreads had a modest number of toppings, but used ones that had very robust and distinct flavours. For example, the Duck Confit was topped with just duck, manchego cheese and mushrooms. Between the two, my favourite was the Braised Short Rib, as I found its meat and blue cheese combination unrivaled. If you're a fan of mushrooms, you should definitely order one of these flatbreads because the mushrooms are huge and incredibly fresh. In addition to the flatbreads, I also thought that Nubar did a fantastic job with their desserts. The Flourless Chocolate Espresso Torta and the Chocolate Mousse Duo were both delicious, rich, and the perfect way to end the meal. I had a great experience at Nubar but I cannot give them a 4-star review because aside from the flatbreads and desserts, I wasn't entirely impressed by the food. It was by no means bad, but it didn't dazzle me the way a 4-star rated restaurant would. read more

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I only got drinks here, but this place was not really my scene. There was some sort of event going and we were told we couldn't be in the bar area so they gave us a table. We got one strong and pretty tasty drink and moved along. read more

Nubar - Lounges Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Really enjoyed this place. Beautiful dining area and bar. Makes you feel good just walking in! If this place was in the South End, there would be a line of S-Class Mercedes' at the valet stand filled with mink-wearing people from Wellesley. Since it's not, no problems getting reservations or finding a place in the bar/lounge. Started with the Taleggio Polenta and it was fantastic. Had the Giannone Farms Chicken Breast as the entree and experienced similar results. Delicious and filling bird if not just slightly overcooked. Accompanying veggies also up to the task. Only a couple of small blemishes. Service was good, but there were a few instances where we had empty wine glasses, which was a little surprising given that the restaurant wasn't full. Similarly, wasn't offered a drink while waiting in the lounge seating area and when seated at the bar after dinner we were ignored after the first round. Funny since we were the only ones sitting there right in front of the 2 bartenders. They seemed to be busy counting/organizing bottles. How about do that before/after hours? Nice guys though. Valet parking is easy and right at the entrance of the restaurant. Costs $10 when validated. Worth it. Despite the hassle of driving through Harvard Square, I would certainly come back. Looking forward to it. read more

We found a Groupon deal, so my hubby and I decided to try Nubar out. It does have very nice decor. However, the table we were seated at was not very intimate. We were closed in by other tables on each side and rather far apart from one another. Also, the college-aged girls beside us decided to sit on the booth beside me at the end of their meal, meaning that I was closer to them and heard much more of their conversation than really necessary. The food was good; I enjoyed the chicken although it was a little dry. The duck was very tender and automatically served medium-rare. Both entrees were nice sized portions and had a good blend of flavors. We also got the truffle fries, which were delicious, and a chocolate espresso torta, which was just as decadent as we expected. We also each got a beer on draft; each reasonably priced at $5. The server was polite but service was incredibly slow. We waited for a very long time to have our plates cleared, get dessert menus, order dessert, ask for the check, get the check, and pay. We wanted to meet up with friends, so the 45+ minute delay at the end was a bit frustrating, although they were busy. Still, it felt unnecessarily slow. All in all, I will never return, since the resulting $80 check would not have been worth it. However, with the Groupon deal, it was a great deal. read more

Show me a fancy hotel restaurant and all I see is a watering hole. So, this review is for the bar only. I discovered it online but had never heard of it previously, and had no idea where it was. "What? A Harvard Square bar we haven't been drunk in?" We liked the looks of the cocktail list, and weren't disappointed. Things I liked: Nubar Rouge: Lillet Rouge, Fruitlab Hibiscus Liqueur, Cava. $11 Flower Power: G'vine Gin, Fruitlab Hibiscus, Lemon, Agave. $11 Basil and Lime Gimlet: Triple 8 Gale Force Gin, Fresh Basil, Fresh Lime Juice. $10 Ruby Sidecar: Hennessey VS, Solerno BloodOrange Liqueur, Fresh Lemon, Ruby Red Grapefruit. $11 Unlike other bars that want to capitalize on the craft cocktail trend but do not make good craft cocktails, Nubar's are flavorful, well-mixed, and reasonably priced. It's surprisingly well-appointed, with its fireplace and glowing bar. In fact, the restaurant is nicer than the hotel. It's certainly an odd place for a restaurant and bar that's trying to be upscale. Let's face it, no one in the world says, "I feel like having a nice dinner. Why don't we go to the Sheraton?" That's probably why it's almost always empty, except for hotel patrons. Also, it's in that weird no-man's land between Harvard and Porter, where there's nothing else to do. I'm glad that it's quiet, though. I'll probably never eat here, but I'm happy to have found a peaceful place to enjoy a decent drink away from the Harvard Square fray. read more

The food is good, but the service is consistently terrible. Today I waited for more than ten minutes to be seated before giving up and leaving. There were only a couple of other customers in the restaurant, and three different staff members looked at me and made eye contact before ignoring me and going back to whatever they were doing (two were talking to each other, one was polishing glasses). Other times the service has been similarly terrible throughout the meal. I work nearby and used to come here for lunch or to meet people for dinner, but at this point I don't plan to come back. read more

Recently dined at Nubar for the first time with my husband, it was a perfect date night! I love the decor and ambiance, the service was great, and the food was the best part. We had the Maine crab cake appetizer and the lamb/eggplant cigar, both were excellent, full of flavor. The Nubar burger was good, though not spectacular - needed something on the inside for some oomph, maybe a special sauce. Regardless it was very good for what it is, not your average burger and my husband liked it. I had the duck with farro and brussel sprouts and it was amazing, best duck ever! The Erath pinot noir was perfectly paired with our meal at their recommendation. There were many other things on the menu that I would go back just to try, very unique menu, not typical. The lemon Panna Cotta was delicious and a perfect finish to my meal. My husband had Christina's ice cream and insisted it was the best blackberry ice he has ever had - now we have to visit Christina's too. I thought the prices are decent, I think it is below average for a Boston area restaurant of this caliber. Our suburban restaurant of choice (no names) has slightly lower prices but the food isn't nearly as good. Oh, and they have the best tasting water I've had at a restaurant, ever. I would come back here and would recommend it to anyone I know for a delicious meal in Cambridge. read more

My fiancé and I came here for Valentines day, and it was a pretty decent dinner. The exterior doesn't reflect how nice and modern the inside is. The interior is classy and laid out in different sections: a bar area, the main dining area, and a fireplace with chairs around it near the entrance. Needless to say the inside of Nubar is very appealing. As for the food, it was pretty good. I didn't like the fact that they had a limited menu that night, as I had looked up the menu before and was excited for a certain item only to not be able to order it when I got there. It was a bigger issue for my fiancé who has some dietary restrictions, and also had an eye for a certain menu item or two. Limited menu aside, the food was good. I had a flatbread with sausage, cheese and rosemary for an appetizer, then the beef tenderloin for dinner. The flatbread was crisp and flavorful, with the cheese not making the bottom too soggy. The beef tenderloin was marinated and cooked very well, and was nice and tender. The food was a little pricey though, but then again the menu is a little sophisticated. The server didn't seem to be too attentive, as I feel there were periods where we were waiting for awhile for service. It could have been the night, but considering it was Valentines day, they should have had a full staff there so servers wouldn't be overloaded with tables. Overall, if I was making more money I may come here again. read more

Food was great! The bartender, Holly, was fantastic!! This is a hidden secret around the Harvard area for 40+ year olds.

The food is fantastic. I had the veal which was prepared to perfection. The chocolate mousse was a simple and delicious. The service was fast and friendly. read more

Nubar - Great atmosphere. Food is great. Friendly and fast service. - Lounges Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Tried Nubar for the first time last night, yes on Friday the 13th. Even with the potential for disaster on the 13th, I was very impressed. The decor of the place has really been moved forward from the prior establishment which was more 50's to much more contemporary. Drinks were good, I had a red wine which I ordered by the glass, and it wasn't too expensive (around $8 a glass) and the bartender was very helpful and pleasant. My friend ordered a martini and she was suitably impressed with the quality and reasonable price. Not dive bar prices, but not what you would pay a couple of blocks away at the Harvard Square locations. We did not grab anything to eat, but am looking forward to going back and trying out the food which looked good (yes I did peak at what people around me had and it looked great). read more

If you are looking to have a glass of wine or a cocktail in a nice "lounge like" atmosphere this place is ok. I went for dinner and I was overall disapponted. The only thing I would come back for is the flat bread. Other things in the menu are too expensive for a poor quality. The steak was only...well..so, so and it was around $25. The "sword fish pate" (appetizer) was very disappointing. Perhaps since it is in a hotel they already have their clientele and don't care about acquiring more customers...Anyway I will go back for drinks and flat bread. read more

The food was alright, I ordered a chicken breast which was not too filling and felt a little too dry. My girlfriend had purchased a panini which came with fries. I tried her panini and liked a bit more than my chicken breast. We ordered gaspacho before that and it was very refreshing. I also ordered the mushoom and lobster risotto and it was absolutely delectable. What I really enjoyed was the setting of the restaurant. Since it is conjoined to the sheraton commander, it had a laid back feel to it with the right amount of dim lighting which was calming and relaxing. No issues with our waitress, she was knowledgeable and very attentive. read more

Food is delicious, always warm and beautifully presented. Nice ambiance whether inside or outside. Wait staff is very attentive, treating each table like it's their only one, and they never stop! Manager always stops by the table and they go above and beyond helping to make your experience top notch. Great location too. Would recommend Nubar anytime you want to meet up with friends, listen to some music or enjoy a glass of wine in a relaxing atmosphere. read more

Love this lounge space ! Great for after work drinks and apps. Service was good, parking is available through the hotel which is convenient because street parking is tough. read more

I cannot go anywhere where they charge $1.00 extra for ICE with the $14.00 jigger (not a good pour) of Scotch.

How many ways can a restaurant ruin your dinner? Let me count the ways. 1. Bringing out the wrong order. TWICE. Due to food allergies and dietary limitations, I asked for the grilled chicken sandwich, plain without cheese and bacon. Not too hard, right? The chicken sandwich came with pesto sauce. Strike one. Cheese. Want me to get violently ill right in the middle of the restaurant? I think not! The second time, the chicken came with bacon and mayo. Unfortunately I can't eat either. The third version came out after all the plates of my five friends were already cleared. Strike three! Then, when I went to eat the leftover chicken the next day, it was a burnt rubbery piece of poultry. Strike four! Poor chicken. 2. Service. At a supposedly nice restaurant, the wait staff should bring out the food at the same time and know which patron ordered which dish. "Auctioning" the food should not be acceptable at those prices. 3. Manager. Do any guests want to see the manager yelling at her staff and flailing her arms in the middle of the restaurant floor? Again, I think not! 4. After effects. Two of my friends had major GI issues after dining here. That definitely ruined the second part of the night. I have so many issues with this place and absolutely no reason to recommend dining at Nubar. Hopefully the food at the next "welcome back" party won't make the person want to go away again. read more

Nubar is attractively decorated but the staff and management are basically very poor. Staff have to serve very few patrons and are unable to give adequate attention to the few they are assigned to. The restaurant is staff heavy and the staff do very little. Too busy talking to one another or watching tv at the bar. The hostess does virtually nothing and should help with serving, clearing tables and checking in with patrons. She's too busy on her phone. If this place was not attached to the Sheraton Commander Hotel it would be out of business in a few days. Breakfast is very overpriced and of poor quality. Convenient if you are at the hotel but would never seek it out. One hour later: now 2 women are standing behind the hostess station on their phones. It's a pity that management is so lax and the staff so non- responsive. read more

Nubar's official opening (so I hear) is April 27, so they're still a few days shy of opening. When we visited, they were definitely still working out the kinks. (But not quite FUBAR...ha, ha.) The menu offerings sounded inventive, and the presentation of the dishes was appealing, but ultimately the food itself disappointed. Nearly everything was just a bit off: you could taste the flour in the clam chowder; the salads were over-salted; the asparagus/beet/goat cheese terrine managed to be bland. The grilled calamari/chickpea/chorizo appetizer was okay, but nothing I'd go back for. The one dish we all really liked was the fried polenta with cheese and a poached egg. Our side of truffled French fries definitely got eaten, though they have nothing on the truffled fries at Lord Hobo. It's worth noting that the desserts - we tried the flourless chocolate espresso cake and the lemon-rhubarb panna cotta - were very good. The restaurant has a rather nice bar area with a gas fireplace set into the wall, so I'd like to be able to say I'd go back for drinks and just have dinner elsewhere... but the ambiance is compromised by having the hotel's business center (ie, computers with an Internet connection and printers) literally in the restaurant across from the bar. And finally, the drinks themselves were very disappointing. The Ruby Sidecar (a sidecar made with red grapefruit juice) was way too sweet and fruity and their rye Manhattan overly Vermouthy. The service was variable. Our server, Elizabeth, was fantastic - a real bright spot in an otherwise forgettable experience. But the bartender was clearly in over his head (he told us it was only his second time making a sidecar...so practice, dude!) and the restaurant's manager seemed annoyed when we told him we were chilly (there's a major draft that blows in from the front corner of the room.) Bottom line: some good concepts at Nubar, but the execution just isn't there. I might go back to sit by the fireplace at the bar and have a glass of wine, as they had a good selection of wines by the glass and and as the bar itself is a fun underlit marble. But if I were in the mood for a swanky hotel bar kind of vibe, I'd go to Noir instead at the Charles Hotel. read more

My friend had purchased a BuyWithMe deal for Nubar (that friend being fellow Yelper David C, as you might guess from his review), and that's how I wound up having dinner here last weekend. And, also echoing his review, there were some parts of the meal that were good, but many that were forgettable. We got the polenta as an appetizer. It wasn't bad, but the bottom was burnt and I've definitely had better. The poached egg that came with it was good though. Next, we ordered two flatbreads. One was topped with caramelized onion and bacon, and it was good but definitely overshadowed by the duck confit flatbread we had also ordered, which was spectacular. The gnocchi entree that my friend and I split was less satisfying. I liked the gnocchi themselves. They were decent, but the assortment of vegetables - butternut squash, onions, etc - didn't really work for me (therefore, I didn't eat very many of them). The one thing I really liked at Nubar besides the flatbread was the decor of the place. It's very trendy and modern. However, the food didn't impress me enough that I would go out of my way to come here again. read more

Came here for the first time with a group of 4. Our reservation was ready right on time, the service was good, and the food was quite good as well. Not a 5 star restaurant but a reliably good option in this neighborhood. read more

My friend and I were coming back from the expo center and wanted to stop at a place we've never been before. And my roommate raved about the Sheraton Commander and the renovations and staff and blah, blah,blah. So we figured we'd stop and check it out. It was pouring this day, so we're dressed in rainy fall weather attire like any other normal person. We walk in and grab a seat at the bar because we don't know if we want to eat or just grab a drink. The staff is immediately crammed up our #@&. Like let us look at the menu and take our rainy jackets off. I order a wine and my friend orders whatever he had. He says something funny to the waitress to make small talk while she pours our drinks, she does the fake "shut up laugh your not funny". She does this with most of what we say, she has a great fake laugh over all but I just think it's really transparent. So I'm trying not to judge this place, since my roommate speaks so highly of it. I'm debating to stay for one more drink or split. So I order another wine, and wait, and wait, and wait, ooohhhhhhh the bartender lady is completely distracted by the 16 year old in a tuxedo. I gave her my card, she was very prompt with that. I feel like you have to be over dressed or coming or going to some event to be noticed here. Cause if your not dressed to the hilt forget about it. Plus the decor, are you kidding me. It looks like ever other place that is trying to play fancy. Why does every restaurant in the Boston area hire the same designer? My advice is if you want to feel this awkward and weird just go to a family reunion at your rich uncle house or something. read more

My friends and I were in the area and so many places around were so busy but we found Nubar seated us with no problems. There is also a valet parking next door which was very convenient on a rainy day where we couldn't find anywhere to park on the street. Service was ok, I had their steak frites which was again, ok. We had their chocolate lava cake type of desert which was very good. Another Good thing about this place is that their music level is not overwhelmingly loud so my friends and I can have a decent conversation. read more

After a bit of a rough start, I ended up being incredibly pleased by Nubar. My fiance and I had a Groupon for the restaurant and made reservations to go one Friday night. They called me that week - I believe it was Wednesday - to let me know that they actually could not honor our reservation as their dining room would not be open for the evening. I wasn't happy, and told them, but as we had a Groupon, we decided we were definitely going to go in the future anyway. We finally went last night. When we walked in and gave our name for the reservation, they recognized it and showed us to our table. The hostess then apologized for our past bad experience with booking and said that they wanted to offer us free champagne to compensate. Lovely! That really would have been enough - I was already impressed that they had made the effort to track my reservation and acknowledge their mistake - but they also brought us a small shrimp dish on the house between courses and after dinner the restaurant manager came by to check on us and to apologize again for our experience. Given that we all make mistakes and I believe we should be judged by how we deal with them, I ended up being quite impressed by Nubar and would certainly recommend them to a friend. Since this is a restaurant review, I should also mention that the food was great. I got the squid appetizer, Pat's littleneck clam roast, and the panna cotta; my fiance got the margherita flatbread, the steak frites, and the apples. The portion size for everything was very good - neither of us could finish - and the food was delicious. I would personally recommend the clam roast, which had a great blend of tastes and textures. read more

Continues to be great! Love the vegan menu. Great cocktails, wine, chill environment. Fireplace extra nice in the winter. Great staff. Food is great. read more

Never been here for dinner (yet) but the drinks are solid. Better than First Printer, and I've been to both a few times. Staff is friendly and the lounge space near the fireplace is cozy and relaxing. read more

My partner and I go to Nubar two or three times a year, especially during the winter. We love to sit in the lounge area and have a drink near the fireplace. This week we met for a drink in the lounge, and enjoyed delicious cocktails, served by an efficient, polite server. We are familiar with the menu, and we often wind up ordering the same dishes because they are fabulous. I cannot say enough about the osso bucco. It is an enormous serving of tender pork on a bed of incredibly flavorful spinach and parmesan risotto. I had my fill and took enough home for both of us to have generous servings the next day. We finished with a slice of chocolate fudge cake, which we ate every crumb of. We left feeling completely satisfied and indulged. The only reason I have given Nubar only 4 stars is because of the very inhospitable hostess. She barely looked at me when I came in, and sort of waved toward the lounge area when I told her I was meeting someone in the lounge for a drink before dinner. Maybe she was having a bad day, but really, the host/ess offers the first impression of the restaurant. She needs to dial up her friendliness to at least a little more than luke-warm. read more

Not great, bot bad either. It comes handy to just come here and eat if you live in the hotel. I had clam chowder and salmon. Chowder was good, salmon was just okay -- a bit too salty on the outside. read more

We were back to Nubar a year later after my initial review. The first thing I have to point out is, restaurant is packed. I did notice most of the people there had a LivingSocial or Groupon deal. There is nothing wrong with that. Hopefully they can get their name out there. Our waitress was also really good, she took time to explain the menu since my girlfriend has gluten allergy. For that, I will give it an extra star. The foods were still over-priced. Good, but not amazing. It lacked a signature taste. The connection (texture, and taste) between items on the plates were not there (they taste good individually). One would expect a bit more with this price tag. read more

I had a Groupon for a three-course meal for $50, which is a great value at this place. The food was great! A friend and I shared the mezze plate and greens & grains for starters and both were delicious. The duck entree was quite tasty. The desserts--lemon panna cotta and caramelized apples--were less than delicious and the other options sounded even less appetizing. My cocktail was tasty, but nothing extraordinary. The decor is nice and next time (if there is a next time) I want to have a drink in the comfy chairs by the gas fireplace. It was surprisingly crowded on a Tuesday night. But my biggest complaint--and it is a big complaint--is that the service was terrible. We waited and waited for everything: for the server to come greet us, for someone to bring us water, for our bread (the table next to us never got any; it was still "baking"), for our courses, for someone to ask us if we wanted dessert, and for our check. In addition, our server didn't seem to know what was going on. I had to point to the menu for my cocktail and my entree because he didn't know which ones I was talking about by their name on the menu. Not good. He seemed hurried and harried and was not very gracious. They're definitely going to have to work on this if they want continued business. read more

It happened again. Once seated, our party of seven was completely neglected. No water, no drinks order, no menu information for 30 minutes. It took two complaints to front desk to produce a server. She was friendly and seemed competent enough, but indeed omitted one person's entree--risotto--when the rest were served. Pork schnitzel was tough and slightly burned. Duck breast was well received. Salmon from pre-fixe Theater menu seemed good. It's a pleasant space for a large group and next door to First Church concert venue. Clean hotel rest rooms. But why is service always so unreliable? read more

Creepy. Oddly fake. Soulless and out of place. Seems like you're on a set for the bachelor. Food was mediocre.

Very rude waitress tonight!! Would have stayed longer, but she was awful and ruined a pleasant evening.

Beautiful interior nice and polite service good and delicious food with reasonable prize I love this place and definitely want to come back and try the bar, we orders the lamb turnover entrée, play bread with butternut squash goat cheese caramelized onion, truffle fries, polenta. Everything is yummy read more

My wife and I tried Nubar for the first time tonight and we will definitely be back. The menu was eclectic but offered a little something for everyone. We had the meze plate, soft shell crab special, gnocchis and a plum ginger vol au vent. Every dish was delicious. The drink menu also impressed with creative cocktails and a nice selection of wine and beer. Our server was pleasant, attentive and helped with a few questions we had about the menu. The prices also represented a very good value. This place uses good quality ingredients and give good portions but doesn't charge an arm and a leg. read more

A much better experience from our last visit. We love their bread basket, especially the fruit and nut rolls. Our salmon and swordfish were delicious and cooked perfectly. Sides could have been a bit more interesting but they did not disappoint. Trout salad was very salty (tid bits of smoked trout tossed in) we got some fish bones and the spinach could have been washed better as it was sandy... Our waitress was attentive and unhurried this time around (same Gal). The service attendant really deserves a thumbs up, they don't get enough credit for all they do to make the dining experience a good one! read more

We come here my Sunday brunch semi-often. But every time we've come, we are never disappointed. Food is always on point. Omelets are amazing. French Toast is to die for. Fresh fruit and really good pastries just top it all off. Brunch cost $25/person. But it's def worth it. Nothing bad to say about Nubar. read more

We have been meaning to try Nubar for awhile and are glad that we finally did! Nubar is a hidden gem a short walk from the bustling Harvard Square. The service was first class. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and provided excellent recommendations. The food exceeded our expectations. My wife declared that her scallops were the best she ever had. I had the exquisite Pat's Littleneck Clam Roast. The appetizers (Fresh squid and Taleggio Polenta) were terrific and the wine list extensive yet affordable. The bar has an interesting selection of mixed drinks. While Nubar was the perfect spot for a dinner for two we noted that there are several seating areas for large groups. Next time we plan to bring along our friends! read more