Four of us went to Tall Order around 7 pm on a Saturday for drinks and apps, and it was exactly what we were hoping for. The vibe is cozy and welcoming--no-frills décor, but thoughtfully laid out with a nice mix of low tables, high tops, and a long, inviting bar. It was fairly empty at first but became more lively as people trickled in. The staff really stood out, especially our server Sarah, who was warm, knowledgeable, and took the time to walk us through both the food and cocktail options without rushing us. As an extra touch, Chef Steve came out to our table to chat and describe a few of the dishes, which made the experience feel personal. Food highlights: * Firecracker tofu - perfectly fried cubes tossed in a hot-sweet Korean-style sauce; addictive. * Grilled broccoli - smoky, well-seasoned * Butternut squash soup - smooth and flavorful, elevated by roasted, ground squash seeds and a subtle curry note. * Polenta with short ribs - rich and balanced. * Smoked bluefish pâté - excellent texture though a little salty for my taste. Drinks: * Also Fancy - bright and fruity, but not overly sweet. * St. Peter's Bay - think mezcal meets Old Fashioned. * Bonus points: I asked for a custom gin gimlet, and the bartender delivered a fresh, mint-forward version that was amazing. Tall Order is a great neighborhood spot that's doing everything right. We'll absolutely be back. read more

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Great for drinks, okay for food! We visited Tall Order on a Saturday evening, having made a reservation in advance. The interior was dimly lit with exposed brick walls and sports on the TV screens. For drinks, I chose the 1, 2, 3, 4 mocktail. This was one of the best mocktails of my life! The refreshing early grey really balanced out the tangy mango cold foam with tajin. They had a substantial non-alc and low ABV menu, which I love to see. For food, we ordered a bunch of plates to eat family-style. Our server had recommended the Pickled Mushrooms, which I thought were just alright. My favorite item was the Burrata with gooseberries, and the Caramelized Onion Dip was pretty good, as well. I was really unimpressed with the Fried Polenta, which had the skimpiest topping of braised short ribs. Service was good overall, but our drinks kept getting bussed before we were finished with them, which was unfortunate. Overall though, a good experience! read more

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We visited Tall Order in Somerville for a birthday dinner (planned by my partner's daughter -- she knows this place and likes it). The space has the feel of a neighborhood dive bar--relaxed, friendly, well-used (tired) furniture and decor--but the food and cocktail menus scream upscale. We kicked things off with cocktails (which live up to the buzz) and then settled into our entrees. I ordered the Tall Order Burger and it was excellent -- juicy, flavorful, with the right mix of toppings and fries. My partner chose the Little Queens Pasta (roasted maitake mushroom, tomato sugo, fresh mozzarella, Pecorino Romano) and she really enjoyed it. The menu even includes fun items like Pickled Mushrooms, Caramelized Onion Dip with Salt & Cider-Vinegar Chips, and Roasted Cod with saffron rice and preserved lemon butter. Service on our Sunday evening visit was great. Though staffing was light (bartender + one server), things ran smoothly -- no rush, but attentive. The atmosphere was lively but approachable; it's not super cozy, but that's part of the charm -- and they definitely take their food seriously. We're definitely planning to return -- next time maybe on a Friday or Saturday evening to see the full energy of the place. Overall: a really strong experience. I'm looking forward to a return visit. read more

Great selection of cocktails. The Green Maize, in particular, was excellent (the Tall Order was less to my taste). Food was generally quite good with some dishes being stronger than others. The chips and dip were a great bar snack starter. I wanted the polenta to have a little more flavor and the tofu to be crispier but the burger and chicken sandwich were both very good. Service was friendly and fast. Atmosphere was typical bar vibes, comfortable though got a little louder later in the evening. Overall, a good experience and a solid neighborhood bar/restaurant! read more

Tall Order - Polenta cakes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Classic pub with dark paneling and good atmosphere where the Thirsty Scholar used to be. Definitely a gastropub with thoughtful menu. And the drink called Blue Shroom is a marvel. The server was very knowledgeable and considerate. I'm not often in this part of town but I'm I'm glad I found it. read more

What a welcome addition to the neighborhood! This is a casual yet spacious restaurant that serves a unique selection of cocktails and a good variety of food. Our server was so attentive and knowledgeable about the menu which was helpful since my friend has a gluten allergy. Here's what we ordered: Roasted Cod ($25) This is a must get! The cod was so buttery and flaky! It paired well with the saffron rice which had a risotto texture and it was flavorful in the preserved lemon butter. Denver Steak Frites ($37) My friend got this and it was pretty good. The steak was huge with steakhouse butter on top and a generous portion of rosemary fries on the side. The steak was tender with a nice char on the outside. Firecracker Tofu ($13) Nice appetizer to share. The honey gochujang made it a sweet and savory with a slight kick. I wish the tofu was crispier though! Also Fancy ($14) If you like fruity cocktails, you would love this cocktail as much as I did! It was just the right balance of alcohol and fruity flavors. Tall Order ($14) We expected something creamier with the coconut milk, but this was more like a fruity soda. Still good, just not what we expected. Overall, I think the entrees and the cocktails are worth going back for! The entrees were well executed and huge in portion size, and the cocktails were tasty. read more

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Get the burger!!!! I don't know what that sauce is, but the burger was easily the best thing we had. The crispy duck sliders were pretty good as well. The drinks still need a bit of work, though. The Lima Choke Hold was pretty good, but there was kind of a weird aftertaste. We also tried the Kick Drum, which was not to our taste at all, but our server kindly replaced it with a Tall Order, which was simple but very nice. read more

tl;dr amazing addition to the neighborhood, perfect blend of cocktail bar and casual vibes. Excited to be back! My partner and I visited Tall Order on the first Friday it was open upon hearing that it officially live. I'd been to the Thirsty Scholar Pub in the same location many years before (and also knew it from The Social Network movie), but I was intrigued with the new theme that the new management was bringing. And Tall Order did not disappoint! We got the Firecracker Tofu for food, which was an excellent accompaniment to our drinks. The spicy and savory flavor profile was perfect, and was one of the tastier bar food appetizer options I've ever had. Drinks-wise, we started with the Tall Order cocktail and American Tourist (low alc) cocktail. Both were excellent - I personally felt that the Tall Order had a great balance of alcohol content and refreshing flavor. I followed up the second round with the Apple Baker cocktail, which was stronger and denser, but packed the right flavor. All in all, this is an excellent bar to have in the neighborhood. Food wise they have plenty of vegetarian options and are low alc and NA friendly. The staff are also friendly and helpful throughout our time there. I'm very excited to return soon to try more items on both the food and drink menus! read more

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Had the burger and cod. Both were seriously delicious! The flavors were on point, and everything was super fresh. Service was great too - friendly and fast. Definitely coming back! read more

Tall Order - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Tall Order was well worth the wait. The place really hits all the marks. Of course, the drinks are wonderful, creative and unique. Every time we've been we've learned something new about a sprit or cocktail or some wacky interesting point about cocktail history. The food is also stunning. Particularly the veg forward dishes. The grilled broccoli is bonkers good and the baby iceberg salad is one of the best salads I've ever had. We've been 4 times and have not had dish that is anything short of amazing. All of that said, the thing that sets this place a cut above is the service. The staff is warm, welcoming, perfectly attentive and everyone really knows and understands both the food and drink program. There's also outdoor space! We can't wait to go back. read more

Excellent place! Food was terrific, staff were friendly, and it's a great local spot any time of week. Comfortable and casual, fun spot to catch a game. Great bar snacks, apps, entrees. I've had the burger and the pork so far. Both were excellent. read more

A great new gastro pub with a serious focus on cocktails. The wait staff was excellent, helpful and highly knowledgeable, and the menu was elevated comfort food. Casual, fun, and energetic. We'll definitely be back. read more

Delicious food alongside creative AND delicious drinks. Great variety: from cocktails to low and no abv. Tofu, cod pork, pasta, burger.... all perfect. Super knowledgeable and very friendly. A great place read more

My friend and I always like to try new places. This place was on a list for Cambridge and after a quick look at the menu we thought we would give it a go. When we got to the restaurant I remember being here when it used to be called the Thirsty Scholar and had no idea it had changed hands. Granted I only went to the place before as a bar not a restaurant. We were greeted promptly by a friendly front of the house person and seated quickly. It was an early evening dinner so was not that busy. Our server was also prompt and friendly. As mentioned this place used to be a bar so it has that 'bar' vibe, nothing elegant but a nice atmosphere. Everything was clean and well kept too. We decided to order the steak tartare and try the duck sliders. The sliders were tasty, little dry. They needed more of whatever sauce or spread it had so if I had to rate these probably 3 stars maybe just a little less. The steak tartare was very good though. The thick potato chips could have beaten just on their own, not too salty or greasy. There was a side honey/mustard type sauce as well. If you spread some sauce on the chip and then add a scoop of tartare it made a very tasty bite. The tartare was also well seasoned and the touch of micro greens on top was a nice addition. The only reason this place does not get 5 stars was because of the entrees. They weren't 'bad' but we had hoped they would be better. We got the fried chicken sandwich and the pork blade. I love a good fried chicken sandwich but I also want to be able to eat it they way it should be eaten as a sandwich. I understand it might look more appealing to have the piece of chicken overflowing out of the side of the bun it's on but it IS a sandwich. Nothing's worse then eating a sandwich with soggy bread. The flavor of the chicken itself was good but that's all I could taste. There either wasn't enough of the sauce or lettuce/pickles or they were just bland so couldn't taste them. My thought is not to have a sandwich but just a fried chicken plate instead. My friend had the pork blade and unfortunately some of the pieces were burnt, not from grill marks, just burnt and it gave a slight bitter taste. The peppers and potatoes had a nice flavor though. Overall I would give the entrees 3 1/2 stars. So why 4 stars? Well it's not always about the food. The food was on average a 3-4 but the service and environment were definitely a 4-5. As always never take my word and give it a try yourself. read more

Tall Order is such a great addition to our neighborhood! The drinks are fun and expertly prepared (plus, they have really excellent low- and no-alcohol drinks that aren't too sweet) and the food is perfect. Plus, they serve late - not the entire menu, but if I can get their house-made marinated mushrooms and their burger (or, hey, karaage chicken sandwich) for a late dinner, I am more than content. Plus, I like sitting at their bar and chatting with the expert mixologists. (And just for the record, I'm a 60+ woman, so this isn't a hipster or a pickup thing! Just really good local food that I can get after a show. Perfecto!) read more

Awesome hidden gem, the food, drinks, and service were amazing. I have a gluten intolerance and the waitress went over everything that could be made gluten free thoroughly. BTW, burger here is one of the best I've had in a really long time read more

I've visited Tall Order 6 times at the time of this writing, so I have a good sense of the quality. Food: The menu is thoughtful and well constructed. For example, the sausage roll comes with real French Dijon mustard - giving it the right level of punchiness. The fried chicken sandwich is made with honey mustard - making it not only very tasty but also safe for my partner, who is allergic to gluten. The smaller plates are similarly made with care; the pickled mushrooms are utterly delicious and pair well with a beer. Drinks: Speaking of beer, the draught list is a well-curated selection of local brews and some from further afield. The cocktails are where this place really shines, with well-crafted takes on classic drinks as well as some creative originals, like an apple brandy based one that goes well after dinner. There's a good selection of NA options for non-drinkers. Service/Ambiance: Service is attentive and friendly. Darren the owner is present and involved; he's been helpful when myself or a member of our party couldn't make up our minds. Decor is tasteful and the lighting/noise levels normal. read more

Late night food! Might be the best Guiness in Somerville. Staff was friendly and you can't beat the value and price. The chicken sandwich was incredible! read more

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Good food, nice vibe, creative and versatile food menu and cocktail list. Pork was a 10+. Staff friendly and helpful. Definitely worth a visit - we will be back. read more

The food here was very tasty. We tried to order several things from the menu. Got the firecracker tofu, caramelized onion dip, duck sliders, and for entrees we got the karaage sandwich and roasted cod. We liked the taste of everything, but unfortunately the portions for the apps were too small. When you order something with chips and dip, it should come with more than ten chips, especially if it's setting you back 10 dollars! We had the tall order cocktail, and I think they may have forgotten to put alcohol in it. My friend and I agreed it tasted pretty much like tonic water. Unfortunately the cocktails are all $14, zero deal to be had there. So if I were to go here, I would stick to ordering entrees and maybe some soda. Don't forget the 3% tacked on fee, as if the prices aren't high enough. This is not really an affordable neighborhood bar, it's trying to be upscale, but there's already several actual fine dining places in Inman you could go to. read more

I never write reviews but I was so pleasantly surprised by this new spot. The bar bites are so delicious and the drinks are great. I especially loved the olives and the firecracker tofu. The service was great too. Highly recommend! read more

A godsend to the neighborhood as a replacement for the late, lamented Thirsty Scholar. The place has been renovated and spiffed up, but still has the ambiance of a friendly local pub. So grateful for the late-night menu, excellent cocktails and beer, and warm, friendly service. Thus far have loved the cheeseburger, classic, with the additional crunch of fried shallots. Also the karaage chicken sandwich, and the marinated mushrooms. And yes, the fries are hot and crispy. Looking forward to digging into more of the menu. And one of those cocktails! Thus far, it's been beer -- good stuff on tap, regional craft brews and old standbys. read more

Food was incredible, service impeccable. Great vibes. Get the tofu, get the broccoli and the salad.

The food was excellent. This is a big step up from the food at the old Thirsty Scholar. Another good reason to go to Inman Square (or near it). read more