Went to celebrate my mother's birthday (with wife and two teenage boys.) Loved the atmosphere and the vibe -- cozy and warm with good energy. We hoped to have the food match the first impression. Alas...a few notes and suggestions (management, please take note): 1) Pear salad: greens were tired and gorgonzola was a small, hard, dry (ugh) chunk. Easy fixes. Please make them! 2) Short rib entrée: short rib was fatty and seemed not to have not been cooked enough to render down the fat, or perhaps just not a good piece of meat. My older son and I both experienced this and would have sent these back were we not already halfway through when this became clearly evident. Mushroom risotto was good. This may sound strange, but the steamed broccoli was the best thing on the plate (well cooked and well seasoned. I know, I am reviewing broccoli.) 3) Swordfish chop: too big and thick and not really appealing to the eye (one would think it would be.) 86 the chop and go for a simple sword steak! 4) Scallops and shrimp entrée: wife liked it a lot! 5) Desserts: They were OK, but could have been really good with a little extra effort and care. Apple cobbler was tasty, but topping was doughy and leaden. However, cayenne cinnamon ice cream that accompanied it was unique. Peanut butter cheesecake - just OK. 6) Our server (Gabriella??): Not tremendously warm and friendly, but very efficient and accommodating. 7) Prices: a bit on the high side, we felt, for the quality we received. Management: now hear this! We want to come back! We want to LOVE this place! Please read above, make some tweaks, be a little more critical and detailed with your food. read more

Here's a little story all about how... my life significantly improved because of Catherine's service tonight (Valentine's Day) at Tempo. The love bird dinner for two was a great deal and so delicious for my friend and I. We had the pleasure of being sat in Catherine's section and she was ultimately the best. Her recommendations were spot on when I couldn't decide, and her energy (after I'm sure was a long day) didn't falter. Can't wait to come back again in this super covid-friendly set up! read more

Had such a great meal at Tempo. From appetizers to dessert it was delicious. If you are gluten free there are so many choices. I highly recommend the truffle fries, fish and chips and brownie sundae. Service was great, loved the vibe eating outside . A perfect meal! read more

I moved from downtown Boston to Waltham in 2005 and this was one of the first places I wanted to go upon moving to town. 10 years later, I'm happy to say that Tempo has been our go to for great food, cocktails and atmosphere. Great owner/chef and bartenders. The quality of the ingredients are local and the best. read more

Food and service at Tempo are outstanding. Have been going here for many years and it's always been consistently excellent. Great atmosphere as well. Well managed, very professional and seasoned servers, food is amazing. top of my list for a night out. read more

Tempo has to be one of the best restaurants in this area. I went with a party of 3 people and we had drinks, appetizers, 3 different main courses and dessert. The old fashioned we had was excellent. It was one of the best that I have had in a long time and was easy to go down and was mixed really well. The appetizers were hands down one of the best I have had in this area. We had the truffles and the wings. Let me make this very clear. The truffle fries are AMAZING they are very rich in truffle and the Parmesan is not overbearing. It is a MUST HAVE and will not disappoint. The wings were solid too but the Parmesan truffle fries definitely overshadowed the wings The main were decent, any of the seafood dishes are probably the best way to go and the portions are more than sufficient. For dessert we had the walnut donuts, and they were great, not too sweet but one person can not handle it on their own. The service was great, waiters were very attentive and nice so no major hiccups. Definitely recommend it for groups not particularly conducive to an intimate one on one session. read more

Great food! Really tasty with cozy environment. The Japanese couple provided me and my friend great service, we feel really glad for coming to eat here. Highly recommended. read more

My girlfriend and I have ordered from Tempo three times during this pandemic and it's been exemplary each time. First round (and second) we got the beef stroganoff and the Grilled All Natural Hanger Steak. The third time around I got the Short Ribs with Mushroom Risotto and my girlfriend got the hanger steak AGAIN. We also splurged and got expresso martini mix. The mix was phenomenal, the food was even better. Their delivery and take out options adhered to social distancing restrictions and I felt very comfortable with both. I high recommend ordering from Tempo, and definitely get one of their drink mixes! read more

Tempo - Beef Stroganoff- mixed! - Bars Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Tempo saved Thanksgiving & Christmas! Like many, we opted to stay home this holiday season...I, admittedly, am not the holiday host of the family so for our family of 3 we decided to let Tempo do the hard work. The meals were AMAZING! Not only delicious but so well thought out with easy-to-follow instructions. It's impressive when you'd never know a meal was reheated! Thanks for helping us enjoy some traditional holiday meals during a very non-traditional year! read more

This place was so close to being great! The salmon tuna tartare and oysters were five stars for sure. The scallops and fish tacos were so salty we almost could not eat them, which is a shame because they were really good and fresh tasting - just twice the salt! We both agreed on this. By the end of the meal we had finished a pitcher of water. I would give this place another chance, and just ask for less salt on everything. Outdoor seating in the back was nice. read more

Maybe the best menu on Moody Street (with more seafood than Moody's). Great cocktails too. We had nice service outdoors. I'm going back soon. read more

Great food, excellent service, inviting atmosphere. Will be back reguarly Came for dinner on a Tuesday and everything was great. Also didn't hurt that Tuesday is dollar oyster night - they serve one type of local oyster, no massive variety, which I like as it means they are fresh. The menu is is heavily weighted towards seafood, but still has great depth without an overwhelming number of dishes. The bar / drink menu is also strong and didn't seem to have any gaps. The waiter was very good and quite knowledgable - they were also very welcoming and even encouraging of substitutions and getting variations of listed menu items. House bread - very good Oysters - excellent and fresh Spicy Seared Wild Shrimp and New Bedford Sea Scallops - very good flavor and portion, although didn't get much spice. Portuguese Fisherman's Stew - colleague had this and was raving about it read more

It hurts to leave a bad review because the food is great. The staff however is HORRIBLE. We had an awful experience last week with empty drinks & a waitress who never even came to ask how our meals were. When we finally found her to ask for even just some water she cashed us out & still forgot water. My husband figured it was a fluke bad service & brought his dad tonight but again same thing. Empty drinks, a missing waitress & when they asked for the waitress they were given a check. They hadn't even ordered meals!! So disappointing especially with this year's outdoor dining. We usually love tempo but will probably steer clear. read more

Have been here a number of times in the past few years & have never taken the time to write a review. To begin, I had made reservations & the couple we were dining with arrived before us & were seated. We were brought to the table & our waters immediately filled. Our waiter- Ryan H. was great. He was personable, noted allergies, answered questions all with a smile. I inquired about making a pasta on the regular menu into a vegetarian one, & he consulted with the chef & came back with an alternative- which was delicious. Drinks- good beer selections. No one had wine or mixed drinks. Food- everyone enjoyed what they ordered. We shared an order of fries - minus truffle oil, for an appetizer & they were hot, salted well & disappeared quickly from the table. Main courses were the salmon, shrimp & scallops dish & sea scallops dish & my vegetarian pasta. We ordered 2 desserts, but I forgot to take pictures. The other couple loved the apple & blueberry crisp, & we enjoyed the almond cake. Not enormous dessert portions, but large enough for 2 people to share. Only criticism is the rolls are not my favorite. They remind me of plain muffins with too much baking soda added. The waiter called them beer rolls, maybe that is what i was tasting. Everyone else liked them. Service- as noted above, Ryan was great. All the other people who served or cleared plates were efficient. They brought more rolls to the table when asked & were very good about refilling the water. Noise level- it is loud in the restaurant, but we were able converse with our table mates without shouting. Based on our dining out experiences we felt the pricing is very reasonable. If I could have given 4 1/2 stars I would have. read more

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Absolutely incredible! Everything on the menu can be gluten free, so this is great for people with allergies or sensitive. The philly rolls are absolutely amazing! So is the salmon, steak, brussels sprouts, and kale caesar salad. read more

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Very accommodating for our party of 3 on a busy Friday night without a reservation - staff very polite and professional. Special app was a buffalo chicken dip that was amazing! For dinner don't miss the short ribs - so delicious and a huge portion. Pasta was fresh and satisfying - teenaged son loved the mashed turnips - tasted just like mashed potatoes but a bit healthier. Wait staff perfectly attentive - great atmosphere and really nice bathrooms! read more

Tempo is my favorite restaurants/bars in Waltham. It's reasonably priced and the bar is beautiful. Staff has always gone above and beyond and the food is fabulous! The menu is super creative and tasty - I've yet to have anything disappointing. I've only sat at the bar (half a dozen times or so) not at a table but the experience has always been a pleasure. Their shoestring truffle fries, philly cheesesteak rolls, calamari and desserts are particularly good. I love their creative cocktails that change seasonally. They're yummy and pack a punch. They always have specials. The other night they had $1 oysters that were wonderful. Can't wait to go in for dinner and get the full experience. As of now they're my go-to when I'm craving a drink on Moody St. read more

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Moody street is now closed to cars so Tempo now has a huge patio in front of the restaurant as well as a second patio behind the restaurant. We were there on a Thursday evening and every table on the front patio was full so it was great to see that they are being supported under the current conditions. The menu is now online and the grouper, tuna/salmon tartare and the beet salad were all delicious. read more

Do not go to tempo. They have terrible service. There are plenty of other places on Moody St. that are worth your money, not this one. Do not waste your time/money at tempo. read more

Tempo, I like you a lot. Yum. But WILL YOU CONSIDER NOT DELIVERING MAINS WHILE CUSTOMERS ARE STILL EATING APPETIZERS? I'm spending $30 on an entree and you are pushing me to gulp down the appetizers and let the main get cold? Don't you respect my investment? It's freaking rude. It's low-rent. The waiter said this is a standard experience; it's 'policy' which sucks. Plus, you know what I'm gonna do when you allow me some space? Spend more money ordering drinks. Don't be scared. Do the right thing. Also: such cool plastic water cups outside. That is all. Be well. read more

This was a last minute take out, but after a lot of trial and error on moody at and around Waltham we found our go to place here. The food and service was outstanding . Although take out, the service and atmosphere when I went to pick up the food was extremely friendly. Food smelled so good, but that's never an indication of anything. The aroma did not do the food justice. I had the lettuce wraps and mesquite steak. My wife had the salmon and truffle fries. The meal, even almost cool because I stopped off for milk, was absolutely delicious!!! Omg we'll be back for more, many times over. I definitely would like to dine in when COVID lightens up a bit. I usually tip very light for take out vs dine in, but I'm glad I gave an 18% gratuity. So worth it. Thank you Tempo! read more

Great experience here for NYE dinner with my girlfriend and our friends! The food was on point, I got Ahi Tuna and my girlfriend got the salmon. Both were paired with very reasonably priced and delicious wine. The service was friendly and prompt even when they were packed. The only point I take away for is I feel the price per plate could have been a bit less considering it was the suburbs. read more

Don't bother. Don't know how to treat customers. Made a reservation for 3 people a week in advance. Arrive to be shown to a table for 2 and expected to squeeze around a table that would barely fit 2 dinner plates. Plenty of open tables for 4, but declined to let us sit at one. Walked out and not be going back. read more

Amazing!!!!!! I moved here 2 months ago and have been going to Tempo 1-2 times a week. Excellent staff! The best bartenders around! Creative fresh gourmet food!! Go NoW!!!!! read more

Tempo - Ryan and Kathleen rock! - Bars Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Went here based on a recommendation, glad I did. Short menu but every option seemed delicious. Luckily there were 7 of us so we all ordered something different. Not a bad dish, from apps to dessert. I had the spicy shrimp and scallops which were delicious. Serving size was perfect! I will be coming back for more! The ambiance is great as well and service was excellent! read more

Honestly, one of my top 10 places to eat in Boston. Food is creative and delicious. Also, lovely ambiance. Craft beer choice is also excellent. I went for a company event so I don't know if these items are usually on the menu but the hangar steak with amazing bourbon cream sauce (wow) and cashew crusted cod were fantastic. Also the appetizers were excellent! I intend to go back with my family for a special event. read more

Great drinks and apps!! My favorite app is their Parmesan truffle fries! Their jalepeno cheddar and chive bread loaf served with honey butter was also very good! There was live music Saturday night in the back, definitely a great spot to check out on moody street! read more

This is the second or third time I've been to this place. I was willing to write off the noise, lackluster speed of delivery and pricey menu the first couple times . I've learned my lesson here after a frustrating night where the service was slow , the atmosphere noisy , my drink way oversweet and the food lackluster . At least they took the horrible cocktail off my bill , which is why they get 2 instead of one star. I left tonight $75 poorer with not much to show but a bad mood. There are much better places on and around moody st to spend much less of your money for a good meal and good service . Do yourself a favor and put this place on your list of places to avoid, despite appearances that suggest it should be good . If you are looking for good food and are willing to spend for it , your money would be more valuable at Red Bird down the street , or Brelundi (restaurant, not cafe) less than a mile away . read more

So my daughter took me to her favorite restaurant for my birthday. That in itself was a little surprising, as she says I'm very critical of the restaurants I visit. She's right, but I wouldn't ever admit that to her. What I will admit, was that Tempo was one of my best restaurant experiences in a while. The service was B+, the food was definitely a B+ to an A-. Everything was cooked as requested, with fresh ingredients and served timely. I wouldn't fly in from Chicago, just to visit Tempo, but if you can get there within and hour or so, it's worth the visit! read more

Haven't been back in a long time. I think 25 years. Moved away. Amazing. Beet salad with goat cheese really great. Very generous amount of beets! Flat iron streak was cooked perfectly and the sauce that goes with it was fantastic. Better than any filet mignon I've had. Can't wait to go back. read more

In search of a place to have a drink with a friend after work, I thought of Tempo so I went online to check their hours and Google maps informed me that Tempo was open. I walked over and opened the front entrance to Tempo. I let myself in because the door was unlocked. When we came inside, a lady quickly told us that they are not open. She did not tell us when they will be open for dinner. When I told her I saw online they were open, she dismissed what I said. She came across unfriendly and not very informative. read more

Tempo - Bars Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

I was disappointed, especially for the price. The shrimp appetizer was rubbery. The calamari appetizer was cooked properly but was tasteless. The sous vide steak (waitress said it was when asked) was better than I expected. It was rare as requested with a great char surface. However the meat was tough. The potato side looked good but was tasteless. The asparagus was good. $103 plus $20 tip. We were with another couple so I didn't complain. They both had swordfish which they liked. read more

We absolutely love Tempo and have been regulars for years now. Tempo offers $1 oyster night on Tuesdays. The cocktails are always good - the Spicy margarita and Sexy Old Fashioned are my favorite. The brussels sprouts are a must to start. And the Grilled Berkshire Heritage Porterhouse Pork Chop & 5 Cheese Mac & Cheese is hands down the best entree on the menu. read more

I hate to say it, but we were disappointed with our takeout. The reason I'm writing is to hopefully be helpful to the kitchen. Watermelon & feta salad is not. It's a soggy-ish green salad with 2 chunks of watermelon & a sprinkle of feta. A watermelon & feta salad should be watermelon & feta. Maybe a touch of mint. Def shouldn't be a green salad. Wings were chewy (not in a good way) & gooey. White bass was extremely dry & salty. The veggies & potatoes were greasy. Burnt ends were either dry or fatty & sauce was too sweet. Most of our meal is uneaten. read more

Tempo is an amazing restaurant! I was enjoying their outdoor seating and talking about how I was craving pasta and the owner must have overheard. She came over and asked me what kind of pasta I had in mind & I mentioned pasta with shrimp. She literally said, "okay no problem, I'll get that for you!" It wasn't even on the menu, and it was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had not to mention it looked amazing.. I left them a note that they should add it to the menu because I will definitely be coming back for that and the amazing service! read more

Delunkiiiiiii Totes recommend their glass felt so good in my hand -Robert Micheal Jackson read more

Consistent. Best place on Moody for dinner, apps, dessert and drinks. read more

Overpriced! That's how I usually describe Tempo. It is actually the third restaurant of choice for me on moody street. I usually only go there when the other restaurants are running 1 hour + waits. Tempo always has open tables (I guess that says something about them as well.) The food is fine. The service is fine, their drinks are fine, but it is NOT worth the price. All in all, it's a skip unless there's literally nowhere else to go on Moody read more

After getting take out from Tempo 2 weeks in a row, they are now my favorite take out place. We got lobster rolls with slaw and fries, along with chicken wings last week. These were the best take out fries I've had and the wings were great as was everything else! This week we got the filet mignon with lobster risotto and asparagus. Amazing. Hopefully, the closures aren't for much longer and Tempo can get back to business as usual. Until then, we look forward to take out Tuesdays. read more

This restaurant far surpassed my expectations. Casual American restaurant with extraordinary food and ambience. Staff was very nice and gave us a good table for our reservations.... Even though the restaurant was small, the layout was great with options of booths or small tables. I felt like I could have a private conversation without anyone overhearing. It was a perfect place for couples or friends catching up. The ambience was somewhat fancy, dim lighting but not too dark. The food was probably better than most expensive American restaurants I've been to with reasonable price tags. Around $10 for appetizers and $20-30 for entrees. We got the pear and Gorgonzola salad and the "dirty" chicken wings. The salad was refreshing with arugula and a candied pear. The chicken wings... I wanted to lick up the sauce on the plate. The meat came off the bones so easily I ate it with a fork. For my entree I got beef short ribs that came with mushroom risotto and asparagus. All of my favorite things on one plate. Short ribs were cooked very well, tender, not dried out like at some restaurants. Mushroom risotto.... Just finished my leftovers and was sad after my last bite because it was so good. The portions and quality were well worth it. There didn't seem to be that many dessert options but I got a honey vanilla ice cream that tasted creamy and flavorful. The only thing that disappointed were their wine selections of Sauvignon blanc. Tasted like very cheap and tart/tangy wine, I tried both brands. Oh and btw, I have to give a thumbs up to the bathrooms since they have "no touch" door handles (aka a foot lever that can be pulled to open the door). I need to come back before they change up their menu! read more