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Shake Shack Harvard Square

3.3 (458 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

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SHAKE SHACK HARVARD SQUARE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Classy
Dogs allowed

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Dwight F.

I had a a great experience at this Shake Shack! Located on Harvard campus, so it was a cute area. You'd expect it to be busy, and I'm sure they get busy, but I don't think students are on campus anymore lol. Nevertheless, they were fast and efficient here! Bathrooms were clear! Food was nice. Ordered burgers, mac and cheese, and fries! Was delicious!

The Big Shack, Fries, and Shack-made Lemonade
Ying X.

A friend highly recommended this burger brand. I went there once when the Shenzhen MixC World branch first opened. The American version is indeed tastier, but the price-performance ratio is still just average. The Big Shack: The signature item. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but it seemed to be a bit bigger than the ones in China. The beef patty was freshly fried, but compared to that in Tasty and Five Guys, it seemed to be leaner. Plus, there was a bun in the middle, so while it had the grilled smoky aroma, it was less juicy. The core, most soul-stirring aroma of fat in the burger patty was still missing. In fact, it lacked that simple satisfaction of eating big bites of meat with your mouth full-of-juice goodness. It felt kind of similar to McDonald's, which was the biggest reason why I've always felt that Shake Shack isn't worth the price. But it's healthier this way, and everyone can choose what they want. French Fries: Wavy thick-cut fries, at a moderate temperature, fresh and hot. Yellow mustard was a bit salty. Shack-made Lemonade: Very tangy, please order with caution.

Black truffle burger
Braelyn Joy T.

I stopped by here when I was in the Harvard area. I love how they always seem to have deals on Ubereats that prompts me to try something new. SERVICE: Might be a little slow but not bad when there's so much seating! I think you would have to wait downstairs for your food before using the extra seating upstairs. The second floor has a foosball table and plenty of eating areas. They also have outlets along the walls. FOOD: I always love their shack stack. This time I tried the black truffle burger. It was very flavorful and the onions were still partially crunchy since I ate it in store.

Abigail M.

I was NOT impressed by this Shake Shack. Honestly, the company is going downhill. My girlfriend and I spent over $40 on two burgers, fries, and one water! Crazy price for such mediocre food. My girlfriend's burger, which she requested to be well done, was WAY too undercooked, and she had to throw most of it away. I ended up spending another $12 on a SINGLE burger! Ridiculous pricing. I ordered a shack burger lettuce wrapped and it missed the shack sauce -- if I had known this, I would have saved my money and ordered a regular hamburger. We ordered cheese fries, and the cheese tasted artificial and barely covered any of the fries. The employees did not seem like they wanted to be there and it made sense why this location was so quiet around dinnertime. I am not too inclined to return.

Nick S.

Shake Shack is a solid go-to for quick burgers and fries, with a wide range of shakes to match the name. This location runs smoothly--the staff work fast and there's even a street-level mobile pickup window if you're in a rush. We got the ShackBurger, spicy fries, and a bacon cheeseburger. The burgers were tasty and not overly greasy, though definitely on the smaller side for the price. The spicy fries were flavorful, but the seasoning was a bit uneven--some bites packed heat, others not so much. Still, everything tasted good and was consistent with other Shake Shack spots I've been to.

Nelson L.

Good burger and fries. Shake was good too. Pretty packed but a good amount of seating. Pricey for what you get tho.

Marley U.

Good for fast food, got the chicken pieces. Felt like it was real chicken! Ranch was okay

Adam C.

Yes granted this is fast food but it has a fuse ball table in the upper dining room so I just had to comment. This Shake Shack is two level and the service is quick. The burgers are as you would expect from the chain.

the interior of shake shack
Nico Samneil S.

We were served a hamburger with a patty that has a hair on it. The staff were nice to replace it with a double patty but it didnt feel they are sincerely apologetic. Automated ordering they a computer kiosk. It has a second floor with a futsal to play with.

ShackBurger Fries
Adina S.

I was in Harvard Square and stopped by for a burger. I'd say the quality of a ShackBurger is very similar to the ones at In n Out, with a similar smashed patty consistency. It's definitely a step above McDonald's/Wendy's, but I don't think it's quite at the level of Five Guys. The patty is also pretty thin, so I wouldn't say I was especially full after just a burger. That being said, the burger was still pretty tasty, so it made for a decent bite.

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Shake Shack Harvard Square Reviews in Other Languages

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Highland Kitchen - Blackened Catfish Po'Boy, Spicy Jambalaya

Highland Kitchen

4.2(1.3k reviews)
1.4 mi
•$$

So I've been going to this place since it first opened my father Reggie was a bartender at the blue…read moreroom, and I believe the original owner was one of the chefs there that was working with him and we would go in there all the time and it's always been great and I've been away from the area for a long time and I've recently come back and my girlfriend was trying to plan a great dinner for me knowing my favorite thing is bread pudding This unbelievable banana bread bread pudding they have on their menu is phenomenal. I got it as an appetizer. It was so good then we got the steak tips that came with fries and a Caesar salad we also got crabcakes for dinner steak was cooked perfectly. Had a great taste fries were good. Good amount of salad. My girlfriend got the crabcakes. Also good and then we got the peach and blueberry crisp for dessert which was also phenomenal. I would definitely recommend this to anyone they had some other things on the menu that I definitely wanted to try. They had a barbecue shrimp appetizer and a swordfish dish as a special as well was really packed but we still got in and got seated right away. great ambience, even though it was loud and busy could still hear my girlfriend perfectly great place for a date night great place to go and get a meal by yourself or just get a drink at the bar all the staff was very attentive constantly refill in the water asking if we need anything offering great suggestions.

What a great place! Our family was looking for a place for dinner after moving our daughter into…read moreher new home. This neighborhood pub was in the area. It had a fun vibe, specials written on a large chalkboard and great food. We started with margaritas and a gimlet at the bar, delicious! Dinner we had the special tomato salad, wow this was amazing. It tasted like fresh summer on my plate. I had the jambalaya . My daughter had the buffalo fried chicken sandwich, she said it had a kick and was very good. I would go again if in the area.

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Highland Kitchen
Highland Kitchen
Highland Kitchen - Dah BAR!

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Dah BAR!

Boston Burger - Somerville - Spicy Pterodactyl Wings

Boston Burger - Somerville

3.8(1k reviews)
1.7 mi•Davis Square
•$$

Came for dinner with my friends on a Sunday. We were seated right away. We decided to start out…read morewith some Mac n cheese egg rolls- which were great and held us over until our burgers came out. Two of us got the roots burger- bacon, jalapeños, cheese sauce, tater tots and the usual burger toppings. Love the toppings and the flavor combo. The burger itself was ok. I've definitely had better but it wasn't bad. It's silly they're served with chips and baked beans or Cole slaw instead of fries. Really didn't end up needing either in the end barely finished my burger. The milkshake was a good finisher I took most of it home and finished it later on but it as a good milkshake. And they have really extra milkshakes that have like three in one dessert vibes lol. They sound good in theory but it's a lot. Overall a decent burger place in Boston!

A must-try burger place for burger enthusiasts! This is a very casual but solid spot to grab a…read moreburger, with a very extensive menu and lots of combos for everyone's taste. I LOVED my gravy train burger- the cheese curds were thick, salty, and had a nice bite and smothered in gravy with a thick patty. Our service was great too! Super welcoming workers and shout out to our waiter Ryan. He was really friendly and I couldn't be happier with our experience. A cozy spot in Davis Square, and it has me already thinking of my next burger!

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Boston Burger - Somerville
Boston Burger - Somerville - The King - very good!

The King - very good!

Boston Burger - Somerville - Big Papi

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Josephine - Cacio nara pizza

Josephine

3.9(159 reviews)
1.1 mi

Well, I saw a picture of the dry aged burger of a yelp review. The picture drew me into taste this…read moreburger . I made it a destination lunch intent. Beautiful bar counter, long bat for seating and many tables inside and outside nice covered seating . I ordered the burger and the description of ingredients drew me in further to taste this burger . Foscia bread, Muenster cheez, onion jam, aioli. The roll was perfect softness but toasted. Nice thick dry aged beef burger, the melted cheese , onion jam, aioli mayo all worked together and a dip by me in ketchup. I did get a dry aged beef taste vs a regular beef burger... but not enough to say it was a differentiator . This was an outstanding burger . I consider this one of my top favorite burgers in Boston area. I ordered the hash browns and they were left off my plate, but eventually arrived . They took the hash brown costs off my bill... I ate the hash browns after the burger was gone . These hard fried potato blend was outstanding taste . I would have like a drizzle of pink sea salt or custom made ketchup blend. When you serve a terrific burger, outstanding g hash browns... why not a chef blend of a honey ketchup with special ingredients or spices. Even the pickle was great and just enough and tasted like a slice of a grillo's type dill pickle not a jar Heinz pickle . The Maine lunch beer pint was a perfect beverage pairing. Overall excellent lunch, great service. Nice vibes as a restaurant in a high end Hotel with elegant appearance, seating, well dressed groomed staff. The other menu selections all sound enticing to try... but 20.00 for that burger was reasonable. I will be back . They offer valet parking as part of the hotel. There is on street parking and side street parking. I wanted roasted Brussels on menu as an add on option. I highly recommend to the chef to step it up with a homemade ketchup.

Fantastic Service from the greeter to the manager to the Bartender felt important and well…read moreserviced. I sampled a couple sparkling wines prior to ordering, as well as was provided a recommendation of some of their best appetizers. The ambience is fantastic. I sat at the bar solo on a business trip. I ordered an Aperol spritz, which was perfect. I did go for the whipped ricotta and black truffle toast. It was very good but the whole pink peppercorns we're a bit overpowering the dish from my preference. Still enjoyed my time will return.

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Josephine - Bar area

Bar area

Josephine - Whipped Ricotta & Black Truffle Honey

Whipped Ricotta & Black Truffle Honey

Josephine - Incredible vegetarian salad!

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Incredible vegetarian salad!

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - They still have the diner car!!!

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen

3.9(800 reviews)
1.5 mi•Davis Square
•$$

I was impressed with this place once I overcame my surprise this is not a stand alone diner car…read more I ordered the bacon cheeseburger since it is a signature dish. It was tasty, greasy (in a good way), and the spiced fries were a nice change up. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine which was priced quite reasonably. This place has a stealthy good selection of craft beers on tap. Look forward to returning here again.

Walked in on day after thanksgiving for brunch, and this place was relatively quiet. We got an…read moreamazing booth seating, but really wanted their fancy bus seating which gives a classic diner feel to the restaurant. TL;DR - if you are from Bombay, are craving that specific Bombay Chinese food taste, and Vada Pav - look no further - this is the place. Most of their staff are fellow Mumbaikars - shout out to Shiv, Dhvani, and Ronak! Shiv, our server was friendly and our hungry table got straight to ordering which included a flavor packed and well priced Lychee Martini ($10), Masala Chai Hot Toddy ($12), and Spicy 'Lil Rita ($12) - being the best one! Food included some well name dishes like Kashmiri Deviled Eggs ($12), Vada Pav ($12), Rasam Risotto ($15), Butter Chicken Pot Pie ($20), Chicken Steak with Makhani Sauce ($18), Street Fried Noodles ($16), and Penne Pasta with Chicken for the kiddos. Food just hits the right spots and is very flavorful, extremely well seasoned, and perfectly spiced. Interiors and their bar is very inviting. Noise levels during our stay were on the lower end. Service was excellent. What was refreshing was they didn't charge us any automatic gratuity even for our large group - but absolutely deserved a generous one! Highly highly recommend if flavorful food is your thing!

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Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - Fried green tomatoes and cheese grits!

Fried green tomatoes and cheese grits!

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - Nice pie list!!!

Nice pie list!!!

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - Meatloaf

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Meatloaf

Oak Bistro - Sriracha Buttermilk Fried Oysters

Oak Bistro

4.7(146 reviews)
1.1 mi•Inman Square

Even with my daughter going away and skydiving for her solo birthday trip, I still got to enjoy…read morequality time with her over the long Columbus Day weekend after she got back. Because if there's anything I'm gonna STILL do is celebrate my daughter's birthday EVEN in her 30s!!So to celebrate her big 32nd, Oak Bistro on Cambridge St. in Cambridge made the cut. Oak B. might not hit you with all that fancy-schmancy decor when you first walk in, but babyyy, what they (kind of) lack in flair, they more than make up for where it counts! You walk in and there's the main dining room, over by the bar, they have about three high-top tables. These aren't your regular high-tops- we were seated in this cute, tucked-away nook that had its own vibe going on. A half-wall of raw brick separated our table from the one next to us and I was digging it! Let me talk about the reserved tag on our table because it wasn't some "RESERVED" basic little sign. What they placed was such a unique touch, it spoke volumes! I discreetly let our server Annie know we were celebrating my daughter's birthday and sis understood the assignment! From that moment on, she was on it every single step of the way! But birthday or no birthday, Annie was just that good. Thank you for being and doing the mostest! We started with a tasty roasted maple pear salad, then came the octopus appetizer which was tender, seasoned beautifully and packed with flavor. As for cocktails, between my 2 and my daughter's, they were nicely done and had a respectable little kick. Strength wasn't totally over the top- but doable. And by the way- our drinks didn't look boring. I had the Albedo and Liquid Gold, while my kid went with the hibiscus cocktail and the presentation was giving what it needed to give! Pretty glasses, thoughtful garnishes, the whole nine! Thank you for going beyond the lemon or lime wedge! I live for a cocktail that looks like somebody actually put their whole flair into it. As for main plates, I went with the squash+kale+ mushroom risotto, while my daughter ordered meaty scallops on the same style of risotto. My risotto was good, creamy and perfectly seasoned- but I actually wanted more mushrooms and their flavor to come through stronger. Still good. But those scallops! We ordered their own version of a flourless chocolate molten cake for dessert- just don't expect the usual cut-it-open-and-chocolate-oozes out situation. Their version was more like a wet, dark chocolate cake. It was different- but delicious! Annie wasn't finished with us yet! Here she comes with Oak B's version of beignets for my daughter's birthday!!! These weren't the typical fluffy, airy beignets. They were moist, a little on the dense side, but soooo freaking tasty. And that caramel sauce.... Good God Almighty. They gave us a generous little cup of that sauce and I promise you, I could've drank two cups! If there was an award for best server, it would go to Annie!!! She wasn't robotic, wasn't giving us that fake-friendly restaurant routine. She was genuinely warm, attentive, pleasant and just downright kind! She knew when to check in, when to give us space and how to make my daughter's birthday dinner feel like something special without making a big production out of it. So no, Oak Bistro might not blow you away with their décor- but between the awesome little touches, seriously tasty food, cocktails with personality, delicious scallops, mind blowing caramel sauce and a total gem of a server, Oak B. did its thing.

Oak Bistro was on our list for a while--it's always packed and it's been recommended by locals…read more When Ribfest got rained out, it gave us an excuse to go. They were serving a half rack of ribs special, served with mac and cheese, cornbread, and onion rings. I mean what can I say--everything was absolutely delicious. One of the best mac n cheeses I've had. Cornbread was blueberry and delicious. Ribs?? Yum. The sauce on top was sweet and the ribs fell off the bone. Onion rings were delicious. Yup--good choice coming here. While sadly this dish is not one of their regular menu items, it still showed me the quality of food this place produces. I did mention to our server that this dish should be rotated onto their menu (please!!) The ambiance is intimate and perfect for a date night or special occasion. The couple next to us was actually celebrating their anniversary and they had a handwritten card on the table waiting for them, it's these little touches that go a long way. Plus the food at the tables around us looked delicious. I will be back to try their official menu, but was thoroughly impressed and left dreaming about the mac n cheese.

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Oak Bistro - Inside

Inside

Oak Bistro - Citrus Arugula Salad

Citrus Arugula Salad

Oak Bistro - Long Island Duck Confit Leg

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Long Island Duck Confit Leg

Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage

Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage

3.6(1.4k reviews)
0.2 mi•Harvard Square, Riverside
•$$

This is an institution known for their burgers and milkshakes. Not sure why the ratings aren't…read morebetter because it's one of my favorite places to eat in Harvard Square! I haven't had a real solid burger in forever, until now. Nothing fancy, just a really good classic burger with perfect proportions ( not that smash burger stuff). Good size of meat too. I also really enjoyed the onion rings. Not overly greasy. Only thing is that it does get really busy, especially at the peak of lunch and can get really loud inside too. I'm promising myself to get a milkshake next time!

Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage is a Harvard Square institution that opened in 1960 and has not needed…read moreto reinvent itself since, which is its own kind of statement. We walked into a room where the walls are covered in memorabilia and every table is labeled with the name of a famous person who has sat there, giving the space a personality that no amount of designed ambiance can replicate. It feels like a place with genuine history rather than a place performing one. The burgers are the reason to come and they hold up after more than six decades without apology. The patties are thick and cooked to order, with medium being the right call for maximum juiciness. The creative topping combinations across the named burgers give you a range of directions to go depending on your mood. The Masshole is a natural starting point for a first visit, and the build your own option is worth knowing about if you want to go a more specific route. The portions are large enough that leaving satisfied is essentially guaranteed. The onion rings are a great choice of side for good reason, crispy and well seasoned in a way that holds up alongside the burger rather than competing with it, and the sweet potato fries are a strong alternative if you want something slightly less heavy. The frappes and shakes are worth ordering if you want something to wash it all down, and the raspberry lime Rickey is a summer ready drink with a refreshing taste. Service is straightforward and efficient, fitting the no-nonsense energy of a busy burger joint that has been handling crowds for decades. The staff moves quickly and knows the menu inside out, helping first timers navigate the extensive list of named burgers without hesitation. For a classic burger experience in Harvard Square that delivers on history, flavor, and personality, Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage remains a landmark worth every bit of its reputation.

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Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage
Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage
Mr Bartley's Burger Cottage

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Shake Shack Harvard Square - burgers - Updated October 2026

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