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First time to Pagu. We didn't have reservations but were able to sit at the bar, the bartender Dennis was very attentive and efficient and got everything taken care of for us. Food was good- it's tapas-styled Japanese, we got four dishes to share between the three of us plus a dessert, which was a good amount for us. We got the chicken Karaage at Dennis' recommendation - delicious, double fried chicken thighs coated in a sweet Thai chili sauce and sprinkled with sesame seed. The Wagyu Striploin was also delicious- you can taste the sweetness of the slight layer of fat, so tender. Eggplant was also great- sweet and spicy at the same time. The green crab laksa was a bit mild- needed more broth or whatever is the shrimp or crab equivalent of tomalley- it was just missing an umami element. The desserts were good too- not too sweet, fairly light. All in, we had a great experience and service was outstanding.
After seeing that Pagu is Michelin Bib Gourmand, I had high expectations. The interior was nice with a pleasant ambiance with a subtle pug theme which was cute. For drinks, we ordered the spritz from the drink menu and also asked if they could make a lychee martini. The lychee martinis weren't bad and were pink to match the spritz which was fun, but I do wish the martini included an actual lychee. We ordered the pork bao buns for the table which usually come in two, but our waitress kindly offered for three bao buns to come out since our group had three people. These bao buns were fantastic and I would definitely recommend, the pork was so tender and flavorful. I ordered the 2011 guchi ramen and unfortunately, I was disappointed. I've had many bowls of ramen in my lifetime and maybe my opinion is based on personal preference, but the ramen was not great. The broth was pretty bland and the pork was mostly fat and the meat itself was quite dry and tough. I'm not sure if this is what they were going for, but I wouldn't recommend the ramen and I wouldn't get it again. However, I wouldn't be opposed to coming back and trying something else as my friends enjoyed their meal!
This was our first visit to Pagu, and it might already be one of my new favorite spots in Cambridge. The menu had a great mix of reasonably priced dishes and a few higher-end options. Everything we ordered was amazing!! The Tempura String Beans were our favorite (perfectly crispy and addictive), the Hamachi Crudo was super fresh and balanced, and the Pork Spicy Knife Cut Noodles were spicy but honestly some of the best noodles I've ever had. The Miso Black Cod was rich and buttery, and the Chicken Karaage was incredibly tender with a great crunch. Service was great, dishes came out maybe a little slow, but we enjoyed taking our time. We also loved seeing the chef/owner Tracy Chang so hands-on, checking in on guests and delivering dishes, which made the experience feel extra special. You can tell a lot of care goes into every dish. Already planning my next visit, it looks like they have a bunch of cooking classes on the weekends too!
Having received a Michelin Bib Gourmet, Pagu is appropriately described as good food at a good price. While marked as fusion, the dishes we ordered leaned more Asian and didn't disappoint in variety. Even so, they did boil down to mostly basic flavors and lacked nuance. All were good, but nothing was great. Even so, the atmosphere and service made this a great place for any group from coworkers, dates, or family celebrations. There was plenty of seating and we would have loved to hear more from the staff about their cooking classes.
True rating 4.5 We had a really lovely dinner at Pagu. The ambiance is beautiful, warm, and welcoming, making it great for a special night out. Service was a little slow to start (we waited a while before someone came by), but they were clearly very busy, and once things got going, our server was incredibly kind and thoughtful. I have an egg intolerance, and they were super helpful in walking us through the menu and making recommendations, which I really appreciated. Food-wise, there were some real standouts. Tempura string beans were delicious; perfectly crisp, not greasy at all, and packed with flavor. Shio koji roasted corn was probably my favorite small dish of the night. The lime zest with the aioli was divine and so well-balanced. Green pea bao had great flavor and was really unique, but I wished it had a bit more sauce -- it felt slightly dry. Spicy knife-cut noodles with mushrooms were just okay for me. I loved the concept, but the flavor profile didn't quite land and felt a little muted. Dessert absolutely delivered. The ube panna cotta was incredible. And this is coming from someone who usually doesn't love panna cotta because of the texture. The ube added so much depth, making it rich, flavorful, and really special. As a thoughtful touch, they brought us a complimentary non-alcoholic tea to celebrate our anniversary since we weren't drinking, which was such a nice gesture. Overall, a really memorable meal with great flavors, a lovely space, and genuinely kind service. Would definitely go back.
Food was fantastic, wait staff was kind and attentive and answered our questions well! The portions are a bit smaller but the food is great flavor wise and also a quite unique menu in the city. The ambiance is a little upscale, great for a nicer dinner with colleagues or friends. The cod croquettes (not pictured unfortunately) were one of the absolute best dishes we tried!
Rating experience from July 11, 2025--------------------- First, Pagu means Pug dog in Japanese and the motif of pups are everywhere- absolutely adore. This innovative Japanese/Spanish Tapas spot has a lot to offer: space, great service and food! It was a hot summer late afternoon and we came in for dinner, got seated immediately as they are a larger restaurant. They do allow pets on their patio. We opted for the private patio space behind the planters, enjoying the fresh air and summer warmth while sipping on the cold crisp beer. My partner and I don't usually opt for alcohol but the weather and their selection made it irresistible. I ordered the "Lamplighter" by Birds of a Feather and by boyfriend got the white allagash by Lord Hobo. The FOOD! I still think about the patatas bravas today. PATATAS BRAVAS (10/10) PAGU hot sauce, alioli, togarashi HAMACHI CRUDO (9.5/10) lime, garlic, aged soy, fish sauce, thai chili CHICKEN KATSU (9.8/10) PAGU sauce, pickled cabbage, alioli, sesame, rice CRAB LAKSA (6.7/10) ramen noodles, shrimp, coconut milk, chili crisp, fried shallots, herbs My partner and I loved our dinner at this tapas restaurant and would definitely return if in the area. Shout out to Mariana H for making our meal so memorable!!
The duck paella was so so good. It was so soft and tender and flavorful. Probably one of my favorite dishes I've had from all the restaurants I've been to. It reminds me of the paella I had from Spain when I went last summer. The string beans were also really good. It may sound simple but the way they cook it gives it a nice crunch and flavor. The drinks were really pretty and the waitress was nice to make recommendations. The other dishes were also well made. We were seated at the bar where our view was an open kitchen. It was my first time seeing this kind of style.
Came here with a large group! The ambience is upscale and the food was decent. I did like the matcha cookies so try those out if you have room for dessert!
The staff is very nice with a very relaxed environment, however the food lacked perception that the ambience was giving off. I ordered 3 types of fish dish, anchovies, hamachi (yellowtail) and black cod. All the fishes were very fresh, but the sauces and flavors lacked. Most of them had too much acid and covering all the fish's actual flavor. I enjoyed the tapas style and Spanish fusion with Japanese dishes, but Japanese dishes should lean towards savory than acid marinated type of fish.
What a wonderful place! We took a hand-pulled noodle class at Pagu today. Tracy and Johnny were the perfect teachers/ hosts- making it all very easy and approachable. They both provide lots of insights and guidance in a way that was very comfortable. Everybody's noodles came out great in our class of 13. It was SOOOO yummy! We are eager to return both for other classes and to eat at the restaurant. We might even try one of their overseas excursions, which sounds amazing and of course are food-centric. Check out Pagu, you will love it!
Came in on a Sunday evening at 6:30 for dinner after making a reservation an hour before. After finding street parking, we arrived and were promptly seated in the intimate low top dining area. The wait staff was incredibly friendly and took our drink order and walked us through any questions we had about the menu. The food is tapas style which means small, shareable dishes that come out as they're ready. We put in our first salvo of orders after we got our cocktails. The Pica Pika was an excellent combo of mezcal, lime, and Thai chili. The flurry of food started coming out about 15 minutes later. The traditional Spanish Tapas dishes were the classics you'll see at many tapas joints across the world. The pan con tomate was two lightly toasted pieces of baguette with a tomato, garlic, and olive oil spread. The boquerones were a few sliced anchovies in a vinegar and olive oil marinade. The patatas bravas were baby Hasselbacked potatoes with a lovely aioli and mojo verde on them. The black cod croquetas had the same aioli on them and were incredibly flavorful with some lovely pickled onions as garnish. The shio koji elote was a lovely combination of feta cheese with za'atar seasoning and that same great aioli as the previous dishes. There was a potato chip special on the menu called "txips" which were simply prepared with nothing else accompanying them. If I had to prioritize the traditional tapas dishes so as to be able to try as much as possible, I'd go with the patatas braves, croquetas, and elote over the pan con tomato and boquerones. Unfortunately, I would pass on the txips entirely as there wasn't anything about them that stood out, would be worth revisiting if they added some of the Thai chili aioli or something else to go along with the chips. The braised pork belly bao was super tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly in a soft and pillowy bao bun and the green pea bao was a green pea fritter sandwiched into a soft bao bun with the aioli and some pickled papaya. Both were two pieces in each order and were lovely! These were both definitely worthy orders. The chicken karaage was a nice and crispy dish with small pieces of coated and fried chicken thigh in a lightly sweet garlic-ginger marinade. I'd love to see it be more savory and less sweet, but it was definitely enjoyable! We got the spicy knife cut noodles with mushrooms (we ordered pork, but there was a miscommunication and didn't feel like sending it back and waiting for the pork version to come out since it was our last dish). The midnight ramen was lovely with the alkali noodles, tender pork belly, and the perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg with jammy yolk. If I had to revisit my choices, I'd pass on the mushroom spicy knife cut noodles (can't speak to the pork version which we'll try next time). I did appreciate the way the noodles were prepared and the garnishes including the fried shallots did enhance the dish. For dessert, we got the matcha cookie, yuzu Basque burnt cheesecake, and the ube panna cotta. There was also a dark chocolate cake, but after reading the description there wasn't anything that stood out to us and after seeing a few go to other tables it just seemed to be a generic crowd pleaser. The ube panna cotta was very coconut forward which was great, but not much ube flavor to it aside from the purple aesthetic. The matcha cookie had a crispy exterior and soft interior and made a great small dessert if you're feeling full. The standout for me was the Basque burnt cheesecake. It was dense with that cream cheese taste you're looking for and the blueberry sauce thinned out the heaviness of the cheesecake. Overall, I was worried it would be pretentious/snobby since they're a Michelin bib gourmand award winner, but it was just the opposite! We will be coming back again to revisit some other dishes and cocktails as well as hopefully sit by the kitchen since we enjoy watching the flurry of food being prepared. Definitely recommend this joint and it was worth making the trip into the city to try it out!
3 years ago
The inside looks nice. So does the food. But it is a hollow vanity. The lovely dark interior was unsurprisingly empty. Whatever ambiance it had was ruined by hip-hop being played far too loudly. Every customer including us were sat outside, and not just because of the weather. It seems like they want to be both a restaurant and a club, while lacking a dance floor. As to the food. If it tasted as nice as it looked, it might be worth the prices they are charging. There are a few large plates which are worth ordering but they are over $100 each. The rest of the "tapas" average $20 and are the size where, if you want to sate the hunger of two people, you will need to order 5 plates at least anyway. The flavor left a lot to be desired in both food and cocktails. Where one would expect either spicy or umami, it's overwhelmed with vinegar/pickle flavor. They didn't even have the one thing on the menu that I got excited for. Judging by the litany of ingredients they use, it's almost like they think being clever will somehow make up for lack of a soul. As to the service, the place seems to be run by very young staff. Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But they don't seem to have much understanding of what they are serving. For example, we ordered a nigori sake. First they brought the wrong kind, then, instead of bringing it unopened to the table and letting the oldest person serve as proper, it was opened and poured by the server, who didn't know to agitate the bottle before pouring to make it cloudy. All and all, Just an incrediblely high price to pay for a subpar experience. If you are the kind of person who cares more about how nice your food looks than actually eating it, you will probably like this place. If you are hungry and don't want to spend $200 and still be hungry, try elsewhere. They do get an third star for being dog friendly at least. Other wise I would have rated 2. read more
This review is based on a reservation for 17 on a Saturday night which they accommodated really well! If you are trying to have a somewhat private dinner with a big group of friend I suggest you checking it out! The courses were timed perfectly, we were never waiting around but also never rushed. And that's because the service was amazing. Alejandra went above and beyond, and was super attentive. The reason why I removed one star was because they made us do family style which was fine but the portions were not big enough for the amount charged per person - in my opinion. Over all the food was tasty! I was really impressed by the olive oil cake. Their mushrooms are absolutely delicious and they have lots of veggy options. The pea boas were tasty. Thank you to the team at Pagu for an excellent service! read more
5 years ago
Had a great time with a friend for a Friday night dinner--was very happy that they were able to get us a table right away without a reservation! For the two of us, we split 4 items, with it being ~50/person after tip and tax, so not terribly expensive but also not the cheapest dinner. We got the squid ink bao, chicken katsu, mushroom noodles, and cod croquettes. Thought the chicken katsu was pretty average, and was the least impressive. The Mushroom knife cut noodles were very chewy and had a great flavor! Squid ink baos were alright, but the croquettes were probably the best thing we ordered, they were super flavorful and reminded me of crab cakes. Would definitely come around again to try more of their menu! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
Solid 3.5, maybe 4 We had: shishito peppers--just like shishito peppers anywhere mushrooms--good, great sauce on the side, shrooms were a little salty but the toasty bread was a good counterpoint calamari was a-ok croquettes--delish!! suckling pig--the buns were too heavy for my taste but the crunchy skin was amazing, as were the sauces, pickled cukes and cabbage that came with. ramen--hands down the best dish of the night. for dessert: forgettable chocolate cake, but the black sesame tofu is amazing. Drinks were pretty good, too read more
5 years ago
We planned an event here for 40 members of our family and friends this past weekend. The staff was so friendly and professional, they were phenomenal helping keep our group happy. I really appreciated their dedication to safety with checking vaccination cards and masking. We had several courses, including the hamachi sashimi, arugula salad, calamari, mushrooms plantxa, duck confit, prime rib, veggie paella, matcha cookie, and chocolate cake. We even tried the bao which blew us all away! If you're looking for a wonderful dining experience, you should check out Pagu. Edit: For those at Pagu that saw our very large pink and white unicorn wrapped mystery prank gift, we finally opened it to discover 5 30-lb bags of cat food (we own a cat). It's being donated to a local shelter. read more
2 years ago
8 years ago
Pagu was simply perfect for our anniversary dinner. We made a reservation for 7 PM on a Saturday night and were seated immediately upon arrival. Some complimentary olives are placed on the table to cleanse our palates and make us nice and thirsty. Which is no problem because the servers were constantly coming around to fill our waters throughout the night -- I've never felt so hydrated during a meal! After looking over the menu and asking our friendly waitress for recommendations, we make our choices. The small plates come out as they're ready. We're first treated to the piping-hot curry crab croquettes which had great flavor and came with a creamy dipping sauce. We then devoured the cheesy wafflatos, which I was intrigued to try after seeing them at a Lamplighter Brewery pop-up. They were unexpectedly, simply great! Cheesy and savory with a satisfying slight crunch as well as some softness. We then had to wait about half an hour for the next dishes to come out. Luckily we weren't starving because of the first two plates, but this rather long wait did put quite a break in our meal. Luckily we weren't in a rush to get anywhere, and this gave us time for some solid, uninterrupted conversation. Then arrived the manchego and goji berry arugula salad, which we had thrown in at the last minute in that we-should-probably-eat-something-green panic. The arugula was topped with a PILE of shaved, salty cheese and a sprinkle of berries for sweetness, dressed in a light vinaigrette. It was a nice take on Spanish-with-a-twist cuisine, and we enjoyed it much more than expected. And finally what I had been waiting for: the iconic squid ink oyster bao, as seen on just about everyone's Instagram. I have to admit that the black buns on these babies are definitely IG-worthy. These had a nice flavor with the slight crunch of the fried oyster inside, although we found them a bit messy to eat, and I would have liked them to be served warmer. A good experience, but I wouldn't necessarily rush back for this dish. Well this is great so far... what's for dessert? We ask our waitress for the best ones, and she names two immediately. We're in a celebratory mood, so we order both. And boy am I glad we did! The chocolate cake is a delicate cake that comes in a bowl with chocolate mouse topped with Sichuan peppercorn ice cream and crunchy cocoa nibs. Decadent and well-balanced, it was reminiscent of an adult dirt cup (you know the stuff -- chocolate pudding with crushed Oreos). Our other dessert was the panna cotta with maple crumble and currant blossoms. This sweet treat sure is a stunner! The plating is absolutely gorgeous with tiny flowers adorning the entire top of the panna cotta. Another food just begging to be Instagrammed. Fortunately, the flavor matches its beauty. This was simply a joy to both look at and eat. Full and happy, our waitress came over to wish us a happy anniversary and asks if she can bring us a complimentary cava toast. OF COURSE! This was unexpected and such a nice touch (Tip: always remember to fill in the "notes" section in your reservation if it's a special occasion!) She brings over two very full flutes, and we toast to a amazing year together as well as an outstanding meal. read more
5 years ago
Had a blast @ Pagu, amazing foods and services, and great cocktails! We ordered sake, 86 grapefruit bourbon, and a a boat loads of tapas. Every dish was thoughtfully executed and super fresh. Hamachi sashimi - refreshing w/ that lemon pepper ponzu sauce! String beans tempura (on the house) - addictive crispy indulgence Biang biang noodles - light and nice chewy texture Squid Ink Bao w/ Unagi - good sweet and sour flavor, I should have asked for some scallions to balance the sweet unagi sauce besides the pickled apple, love the bao texture. Sirloin steak w/ fries and yuzu dressing arugula - perfectly seared and well balanced w/ the sides. Smoked wood miso black cod w/ seaweeds - so buttery & fragrant, one of the best piece of cooked fish I've ever had. Chocolate cake on the house for my birthday - Vegan & GF & out of this world! My husband normally doesn't like tapas but he and I were very impressed, definitely will be back for more. Thank you Pagu Team! read more
4 years ago
A friend and I decided to try out this restaurant since it looked pretty nice. We hadn't seen the reviews prior to booking a table. The reviews are pretty spot on and I wouldn't have dined at this restaurant if I knew how bad it was. I don't blame the servers there. The food was terrible and over priced. We ordered a cucumber salad, which you would assume is mostly cucumber but instead, we got a plate of mostly leafy greens topped with Japanese ginger dressing. The dressing is one of my favorites, but it did not work well with the greens in the dish. The chicken Katsu was very well presented, but when taking a bite out of it you can automatically tell from the texture of the chicken it is very low quality chicken and possibly frozen chicken. The worst part of it all is that the chicken was not fully cooked as you can see in the photo there were some pink areas. read more
5 years ago
The Order - Pica Pika to drink. Cheesy Wafflato, Cedar Campfire Black Cod and a Matcha Cookie to eat. The Cost - $62 The Great - What looks like a waffle, kinda tastes like a waffle, but isn't actually a waffle? Pagu's Cheesy Wafflato. Made by pouring mozzarella cheese with caramelized shallots into a waffle maker and then pouring hot honey on top afterwards, this dish was creative, fun and quite good; despite being made of cheese and onions, the dish has a consistency that does resemble that of a flour-based waffle. The other great item was the Pica Pika. A tequila and mezcal based cocktail, the Pica Pika also has peach jam, Thai chili syrup and lime mixed in. The result was a delicious, slightly smoky, slightly sweet and slightly spicy drink that was the perfect way to begin the dining experience. The Good - The Cedar Campfire Black Cod, a Pagu signature dish, was tasty. The cod was fresh, well cooked and nicely presented in a banana leaf. I didn't love the taste that the flame torching gave the fish though and thought the dish was missing a bit of a sweetness. After having having a cocktail, an appetizer and an entrée I did not need dessert but I could not resist ordering the Matcha Cookie. The cookie itself didn't blow me away but the gooey dark chocolate inside was a treat. At $3 per cookie, it was a nice small, sweet bite to end the meal with. The Verdict - Chef Chang put together a nice menu and a great cocktail list at Pagu. While I wouldn't call the restaurant an amazing value for the price, it's definitely worth a visit if you order right. To support detailed reviews like this or If you want to check out the full review or our other reviews, go to @eatmycritique on Instagram or to eatmycritique.com and please follow along! I release new restaurant reviews every few days! read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
This review is for take out only. I was craving fish and vegetable meal and found the campfire cedar cod on the menu at Pagu. I envisioned the miso cod with a strong umami miso infused flavor with this white fish. And it was exactly that. I was pleased with how the cod melted in my mouth. It was not dry as sometimes it can be. The pickled wood ear added a nice poignant punch on the side. I would definitely order it again! read more
3.5 stars. Went here with 2 friends on a Saturday night. I made reservations as I wasn't sure how busy the place would be. When I went on Open Table, they only had 5:30 or 8:30, so I went with the early bird timing. When we got there, the place was practically empty. The hostess who sat me said that they needed the table back at 9, which seemed a little unnecessary as it was 5:30, but whatever. Transparency... My friends arrived and we decided to split the cheesy waffle to start. The waiter mentioned that it came with 2 pieces and asked if we would want 3 to share, which we did! The waffle was nice and crisp with a good onion flavor, but I wasn't really getting the cheese, which was kind of the point of it in my opinion. The drink I had was kind of a whiskey bees knees with honey and lemon. I enjoyed it. I have been on a ramen kick lately, so I was happy to hear that in addition to their regular pork ramen, Pagu had a special suckling pig ramen that night. The waiter said it was better than their regular one, and I went for it. Overall it was ok. I was expecting a bit more from the pork as suckling pig is kind of their thing. I also expected more flavor from the broth. It was good, but not great... especially since I had just had a better ramen at Oisa in Boston the day before. I wasn't paying too much attention to what my friends got other than that 1 friend got the brussel sprouts which she said were hella spicy and the other friend got their salmon dishes, which came out nicely presented. Their ice cream machine was down, which made dessert ordering kind of a non-starter for us. Plus side - it means they likely make their own ice cream and I'd be interested in checking it out sometime. I would say that this place was decent. I wouldn't rush back, but it's a good option if I happen to be in the area. read more
4 years ago
It's art. First time tasting Spanish and Japanese fusion. Impressive. Would come back again. read more
7 years ago
Drink selection/cocktail menu was okay, nothing really impressed us drink-wise but the food was def worth coming in and trying, very unique dishes that all came out really well. Our waitress didn't seem knowledgeable about the alcoholic drinks much, did try to make a couple recommendations but her descriptions were very off/inaccurate from what we actually got/tasted like. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for something new/unique to try but would definitely say to pass on the drinks offered read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
I enjoyed all the food I had at Pagu, and liked all their unique options. My only complaint is that it was very pricey for extremely small portions; I didn't leave feeling full after eating appetizers and an entree. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
Yay they're open ! Our fav place and it didn't disappoint. Outdoor seating is awesome - we loved the spicy hand pulled noodles and pretty much everything ! read more
3 years ago
We came here for brunch on a Sunday around 1pm. It was not super busy, we got seated immediately. The pace is very cute and has a lot of bar seating. To drink we got a matcha latte that was very good and it was made the traditional way. We ordered a few things to share. The plates are kind of small. We started with the patatas bravas, they were good but way too small! They could have put a few more potatoes. We also got one of each type of baos, the green pea, pork belly and squid ink oyster. The baos are amazing!!! Each portion comes with 2 baos and we split them. My favorite was the green pea but I really enjoyed all of them. I definitely recommend them! We got the chicken katsu which was good too. The last plate we got was the sticky rice hen, which it says it's good for 2-4 people... the late was SMALL! Like it was an individual plate. Definitely not worth $32. It's chicken and rice! It was good but nothing amazing and the portion is for one maybe two people but not a plate for 2-4 people. I would not recommend to order that specifically. After we got dessert. They were out of the black sesame soft-serve, which sounded very good. But we got the matcha cookies, that came with a little cup of milk. We also got the coconut lime sorbet which was good but not too big. And lastly we got the waffle churros (they were a little disappointing). It would be good if they came with some ice cream in the side but the dough wasnt too good. Overall the place is nice and it has a lot of potential. The food is good, but I think they could change some of the items or modify them. I liked it for brunch! read more
Business owner information
Tracy C.
Hi Maria,…
1 year ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
I must say I was pretty skeptical coming to a Japanese/Spanish fusion restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised by the food I tasted. The restaurant itself is dimly lit and has a very beautiful Japanese styled bar around the kitchen. There is also an actual bar where you can sit for a drink, etc. We ordered: -Cheese plate (I didn't want to order this because it made no sense to me as to why it was on the menu. But our friends wanted cheese so cheese we ordered.) - 4 star (The cheese was good but don't waste your money ordering this.) -Squid Ink Fried Oyster Bao - 5 stars Must order item -Cheesy Waffles - 4 stars (A little oily, taste good though, nice to eat with liquor) -Avocado Toast- 3 stars (tiny portion, nothing special) -Tortilla with Jam and Goat Cheese - 5 stars (The tortilla was delicious and soft) -Roasted Mushroom Mazemen - 5 stars Must order Item (Note that there's not a lot of broth in this. It it's so delicious and flavorful) The service was attentive. It got a little co fusing though because two groups of servers told us they were our main waiters. We got confused as to who we should give our orders too. All in all it was a good experience. I would probably come back here for drinks and more delicious ramen. read more
5 years ago
So I tend to be highly skeptical of places like this. And when I say "this", I mean overpriced and often overhyped Cambridge restaurants. But this is a completely different story! Pagu has opened and continues to receive rave reviews in its short existence. Don't get me wrong, it is on the pricey side, but the 3 course "lunch set" options makes it a very affordable meal. I went with the midnight Ramen set, which includes: Pork belly Boa - it's Boa perfection. Everything it should be. Soft warm bun, tender braised pork, shallots, cucumbers and peanuts. The only thing that could have made this any better is if they mistakingly gave me an extra serving ! Midnight ramen - more pork belly! This is a delicious bowl of ramen, and a hearty portion size. Tracy's cookies - creativity on overdrive here. Green tea based cookies. As soon as you bite into them, you recognize the unique flavor. Nice Touch of sweet to end a meal. I was ready to dissect this place before I even walked in, but I really can't think of one negative remark with my experience overall. Pagu, you have restored my faith in Cambridge.... read more
7 years ago
This review is for our brunch experience. We were seated at the counter in view of the kitchen, which was pretty fun since we were able to watch all the dishes being prepared. It was probably good that we had that to keep us entertained because the service was a bit on the slow side. The restaurant was super busy, so it was understandable at first. All our dishes were fantastic. The patatas bravas were scrumptious, I ordered the crispy soy egg with jamon (so flavorful!) and my husband had the okonomiyaki. His only complaint was that it felt like the pork topping was small in comparison to the side of the frittata so it didnt feel completely balanced, but overall was yummy. The highlight was our drip coffee courtesy of local roaster, Gracenote. Best cup of coffee I've had in a while. Once we received our food, our server was never to be seen again, which was a little frustrating because we would have loved some water and coffee refills and we had contemplated getting dessert. I looked around a few times and I'm not even sure what happened to her! Eventually someone else came by and ask if we needed anything else. By the time we were a bit bored and ready to head out so we just asked for the check. A bummer because everything up to the point where we got our food was great! Thus, I'm forced to knock off a star. We'll come back for dinner though, the menu is too tempting not to try again. read more
4 years ago
Wow - checked out this spot with a same day reservation but the food was a 10/10! The tempura fried string beans and the veggie paella in particular are must-tries. PAGU offers a unique take on tapas that incorporates Asian flavors and cuisines into the concept and it all works very well. Ambiance is great, the kitchen sits inside a bar counter so you can see everything that's going on. After that spontaneous visit to PAGU, I'll definitely be back and would recommend it with no hesitation! read more
2 years ago
10 years ago
Walking distance from MIT, just a couple blocks towards central square drew us to try it out. They had a nice drink and beer selection to chose from. Kampachi had 4 thin slices of yellowtail in a garlic lime and Thai chili sauce. The citrus was a little strong for the fish but not bad overall. Guchi's midnight ramen had an amazing flavor with the umami oil in it. The 6 minute egg was perfect. The pork belly was fatty and delicious. I loved this dish but the portion was a little small because I definitely was thinking about getting a second one. Childhood fried rice was nice with the Taiwanese sausage. Flavor was good but the rice I like a little firmer. Seared black cod was fatty and well seasoned. Seaweed salad was delicious and balanced the dish well. Soup was not hot enough but still a great dish. Beef sliders were awesome. Meat was well seasoned and the shiitake and goat cheese paired well. Steak tartare was interesting. I liked the texture of the meat but the dish didn't work for me. Overall though, a nice option for the area. read more
9 years ago
The service here was really good, very friendly people. I like the atmosphere here and the very cute decorations of pugs placed around the restaurant. Let's talk about the our food: Pan + avocado + ikura: 5/5, the salmon roe just gave it a pleasant surprise when you bite into this. Pan + con tomate + 5 J's jamon: 3/5, the flavor was just lacking here. Curry crab croquetas: 4/5, the curry was strong with a subtle kick of spice but didn't really taste the crab meat. Squid ink oyster bao: 3/5, this just didn't meet expectations...I wish there was more oyster because otherwise I'm just eating a bao(squid ink made no difference...it was a bao). Roasted mushroom mazemen: 3/5, there was no wow factor to this and it was overly coated in black pepper. Gucci's midnight ramen: 3/5, this is overrated by other yelp reviewers. The broth for this ramen was not strong enough, nothing special about this ramen. Milk + cookies: 4/5, the cookies were soft and chocolate chips gooey. Agua de Valencia: 4/5, the first sniff of this drink leaves a wonderful fragrance plus the presentation was beautiful. The alcohol is really strong though. read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
Pagu is an exceptional restaurant. Michelin does not have a restaurant guide for the Boston area, but if there was, Pagu would most likely have at least one star. I heard about Pagu when the chef-owner, Tracy Chang, was part of the organization of the Science and Cooking lectures at Harvard University. I was in one of the lectures when the Spanish chef Ferran Adrià mentioned that she was going to open a restaurant in Cambridge; that was about six-seven years ago. After my family and I moved to Watertown, we decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary at Pagu. Great decision. The service was superwelcoming. We had made a reservation without specifying what type of seating we needed. We had been assigned a high table. Because my wife had mobility problems, this type of table did not work for us. The person at the reception and the staff solved the problem by carrying a table from the patio and they placed it in the main room in a comfortable location. They did all in a way that did not make my wife feel uncomfortable, on the contrary, they made us feel that they were there to help us have a nice experience. Our waitress was Mariana. She was super helpful, patient and careful about allergies. I understand the fear of persons with food allergies when they visit a restaurant. At Pagu they take it seriously. At least Mariana did. She checked with the kitchen about every detail. And again, she did it without making us feel guilty; on the contrary, she showed understanding. The food was excellent. The black code was in my opinion the star dish of the night. I loved it, and I will order it again next time. Pagu has an original version of the patatas bravas. Being from Barcelona, Spain, we were surprised when the waitress brought us the dish. They did not look at all like the bravas we have eaten all our lives in Spain, they looked so different. They actually reminded me the bravas that chef Sergi Arola used to make at his restaurant in Madrid. Patatas bravas are a simple dish that is served in bars or casual restaurants, something uncomplicated, cheap, and that only few places make them right (each place has its own recipe). The bravas at Pagu were fantastic (probably not to the liking of "purists", like my daughter, but they are very, very good). The spicy cut noodles was my wife's favorite dish, and the roasted mushrooms our teenage daughter's number one. The price at Pagu is comparable to other good restaurants in the area. For those who measure the ratio price/pleasure with a high weight on the amount of food, they might feel that they need to spend a lot of money to feel satisfied. For those who prioritize taste over amount, they will find Pagu to be a great place for them. I disagree that the amount of food is scarce. It is enough, balanced. And I don't find the prices abussive at all, considering the quality of the products, even the ingredients used to cook the dishes, which they certainly have their price. Neither of us left hungry at all. It seems that the quality of restaurants in Boston is measured by how well a chef may cook a classic dish. Therefore, there is no much difference between one restaurant from the other, they are equally good, but they taste similarly. Pagu's menu is distinctive and very interesting. This was a luxury dinner at a price way beyond other high-end restaurants. I have read that Tracy Chang had been a close assistant of Martín Berasategui, one of the biggest chefs in Spain. Maybe this does not mean much for an American diner, but the dimension of this is huge. Only a few can have the confidence of a worldwide multi awarded chef. In any case, I am glad I did not know that before going to Pagu. I feel that our experience was less bias. We had a very nice meal, and we will repeat in the future. Pagu has become my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. read more
9 years ago
5 stars for the service !!!!! We had Catherine as our waitress and she was amazing. We had so many questions and she was super patient and attentive with us. Answering our questions and recommending what she thought our table would like. I used to be a waitress and was thinking I wish I was like her! There was also a table right next to us where a lady loudly repeatedly she didn't like the restaurant. Which kind was a Debbie downer and made the the whole experience uncomfortable for me. I'm not sure then why that lady came back to eat if she didn't like it but Catherine was so professional about it. Depending on what we ordered, the food was a range from 1 star to 4 stars. The presentation did wow me but my taste buds was confused. Salmon sashimi- so yummy! You can not mess this up. shiitake a la plantxa- it's mushrooms, baguette, and a yolk. Catherine recommended this to us and it was surprisingly delicious. If you like mushrooms, get it! We got both the squid ink bao and the pork belly bao. Both were good. Kale salad- I love kale salad and order it whenever I see it. It was just ok- not the best I've had. It was very wet but still crunchy Childhood fried rice- ok I'm not sure where this was going. If it's suppose to taste stale but the rice was really hard. I know fried rice is day old white rice but I don't remember from my childhood super stale rice. It was hard to chew and swallow. This was the least favorite dish. I remember from my childhood the rice on the corner of the pot was super hard and crunchy. And we would eat it like it was chips which I loved. Not sure If that's what the chef was going for? Midnight ramen- I've tasted better elsewhere Chicken katsu- it was good but the breading looked burnt. Its not as orange as I'm use to like in Japan. I think the Japanese mayo sauce was a little too much for me. I would order it again but with sauce on the side. For dessert we had the black sesame tofu. It was meh. The foam on top is tofu. It's a savory sweet dish. You have to eat the tofu foam and the black sesame together for it to taste decent. We didn't know and ate the tofu foam first and it was so salty! We also got the sorbet duo and that was so refreshing. I love that way better! Would get this again. The restaurant is beautiful and the Friday night music was good. I didn't realize there was music playing until I got into the bathroom. It was a throwback to good old early2000s. read more
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310 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
Cambridgeport
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(617) 945-9290
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http://www.gopagu.com
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Ask the Community - Pagu
Is the patio dog-friendly?
Yes, but call and let them know ahead of time. There are only so many dog-friendly spots available.
Is the Lobster Tortilla still available on the menu?
Sadly, no. The variety of tortillas from earlier in the year are no longer on the menu :(
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