We went to Tempo on a Saturday night after hearing from multiple parties that it was a place worth checking out. Made reservations via Open Table, for 8pm. We were seated promptly but our table wasn't great... it was in this odd middle area and people (both patrons and wait staff) kept bumping into my wife. The place was also freezing. They left the front door open and it was definitely sweater weather out - not one of the nice warm nights we've been having this week (Oct 1). It took about 15 minutes from the time we ordered drinks to the point in which they were served. Fine. It's Saturday. You're busy. But they messed mine up and put it in the wrong glass. Again. Not going to be a baby here. We ordered mussels, which were tasty, but they asked if we wanted bread with them... and never came with bread. My meal (Portuguese Stew) was pretty good but all the seafood tasted similar and the shrimp were overcooked. It too could have used bread. There was all this great tomato based broth to soak up, but nothing to soak it up with. Wife got the spicy shrimp and scallops. She thought it was decent. Her and I are both fans of spicy food, she ordered it "hot" and she said that while it did have heat, it was short on flavor. Bill wasn't bad, just shy of $100, but I would have gladly paid more for better food/service/atmosphere. Maybe I'll give them another shot on a weeknight, they seem to have a bunch of post-workday specials. But it will be a while before we're back on a Saturday. read more

Food was quite good, about average for the price. Service was plain bad. Waited for our food for an hour and a half. Watched everybody else get their food except us. Waitress only apologized for "mistake in the kitchen". Most places of this class and price will offer some restitution or at the very insufficient least have the manager come by. A simple apology from the waitstaff is below insufficient. A decent restaurant distinguishes itself by food and service, and a good restaurant will also recover very well from mistakes. This one didn't. Bottom line: food is fine but if Tempo wants to play in the big leagues they need to grow up. read more

What? They are filming a Phantom Gourmet segment??? There is nothing on the menu with ooey-gooey goodness. Why is Dave Andleman and the Phantom crew here? So odd. The bright camera lights detracted from the subtle lighting. The food was very good. I ordered the spicy shrimp and scallops. It wasn't spicy hot, but it was spicy flavorful. The broth was heavenly and the rice was and excellent vehicle for sopping it up. The shrimps were a little overdone, but the scallops were spot on! My date had the bolognase and seemed to really enjoy it. I thought the waiter was a little MIA, but maybe I was just not enjoying myself of the date. I'd go back-with someone else, though. read more

Holy gorgeous! And super romantic! This is the ideal spot to go for a date. It's dimly lit, comfortable seating and it's not too loud. Our service was pretty good; the waitress was nice and proper. She didn't ask how our food was and we did have to bring a plate back because it was wrong. Other than that, the food was absolutely delicious. We ordered: -flash fried calamari (just the right amount of crispiness, the dipping sauce went great with it and it wasn't rubbery) -Spicy Honey Glazed Sweet Potato "Bravas"(out of this world good, the sweet potatoes were soft and had a glaze over them and feta cheese, SO GOOD) -Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Chicken Wings (unreal taste, and cooked perfectly) -Philly Steak and Cheese Spring Rolls (a classic spinoff that tasted so good with the spicy ketchup and horseradish aioli dipping sauce) All these apps actually made us quite stuffed! We didn't even need an entree. With those meals, we ordered the Cowboy Campfire, Jodhpur Sling and another drink that had pineapple in it and they were all divine (especially the Jodhpur Sling). I will definitely come back to this spot!! Best fine-dining in Waltham, hands down. read more

We needed a place for our rehearsal dinner, and given that we got married in Lincoln, there wasn't much for restaurants to choose from in the area. After realizing Waltham is a short trip I contact a friend for suggestions. We go scope out the place and have a fantastic dinner. The boy got seared tuna and said it was the best he ever had. I can't remember what I got, but I know I liked it. We also split the fig and goat cheese appetizer, yum! We're sold and call later in the week to arrange the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner went so well it amazed me. We all got to order straight from the menu, and at different times, yet the timing of the food was perfect. Usually with group dinners something always goes wrong, but that wasn't the case here. From drinks, to appetizers, entrees and desserts all was executed so well. I think we all were impressed, both with the service and with the food. One note, if you do go, save room for dessert as they have some wonderful ones. Can't decide? Go for the sampler, you literally get a smaller version of every dessert. So delicious. 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

I'd like to give Tempo four stars, but I'm going to go with three. The place was totally full and jumpin' on a recent Thursday night (not one of their specials nights) during Restaurant Week. The windows on the street can be opened all the way on a nice summer evening, which this was, letting the fresh air in and connecting it to the street more. The bar has a enthusiastic group following the Pats game. They have a noteworthy wine list. Food was very good, but not "OMG I've never had anything so delicious" good. Service was very good, as well. Portions were ginormous; my wife's baby back ribs were straight out of the Flintstones, and the ribs had lots of tasty meat on them. All that should qualify it for four stars, but I'm deducting for... - Very noisy place, and so it's hard to hear casual conversation with others at the table. I think patrons were talking louder to try to make themselves heard above the din, and with everyone doing that it just gets louder. - the bread basket they they brought out was embarrassing for a restaurant with otherwise very good food -- a few piece of fairly plain white bread that didn't nearly fill the basket. - it's expensive for its style, location and quality. The "$30 and under" on opentable.com is not accurate. With a salad/appetizer, entrée and one drink you're going to be closer to $50/person. - a niggle: the Web site is not up to date (sorry, but I create Web sites). It's late August but if I click on the home page page link for their $5 BARbites (which I'm told are good; I want to know more), I go to a menu from Restaurant Week last March. There's no way on the site to send them an email. read more

Great place to hang out. Lady's are open. Service is great. The waiters/waitresses actually know what's on the menu and are of very good help when you don;t know what to get. Everytime I go there is a pleasent surprise, so far the only thing I would not recommend would be steak. The appetizers, salads and entrees are great, specially the ones with seafood. The music is great from thursday to saturday. It is not a quiet place if you are looking for a calm place. read more

Oh man, I'm writing this review with a little bias, seeing as TEMPO is actually closed during the day and doesn't open for dinner until 5 pm. One of our co-workers is a regular here and was able to manage to them to open just for our lunch that HP (yes the Hewlett-Packard) was going to buy for us. They set up a pre-set menu especially for our group. We started with appetizers to share which included buffalo chicken pieces, calamari, and grilled pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and basil. After apps, we were each given a light salad with romaine, carrot strips, a smidge of Parmesan, and a light Asian dressing. For my entree I chose the flank steak and it was delicious. Actually one of my co-workers advised me that he would have licked his plate clean if he could! That's how good it was. Served with asparagus and roasted potatoes. Personally I would have preferred more of the asparagus and less of the potatoes, but regardless, I cleaned up my plate as well. The staff was super with our group especially since we're the only group in here other than another private party being held in the bar area, since again the restaurant opened specifically only for our private function. Kudos to the chef(s) and staff! read more

My boyfriend took me here recently to belatedly celebrate my birthday and we had a really lovely dinner - great food, excellent atmosphere, friendly service...even with the higher expectations that naturally come at pricier places, it was more-than-solid all around. We showed up about 20 minutes late for our reservation, but got seated immediately anyway. We sat at a two-person table by the open window, which was lovely, except for the fact that the sun was a little bit in my boyfriend's eyes. The bed basket was very tasty, although they brought three pieces of bread for two people, which was a little odd. They happily brought more when we asked though. We both ordered fish. I had the cashew encrusted halibut, which was absolutely perfect. The fish was fresh and cooked perfectly, and the cashews and the sauce on top were really flavorful, but mild enough not to overpower the flavor of the fish. It was served over roasted potatoes and green beans, and I ate every last bite. Definitely one of the best meals I've had in a long time!! My boyfriend had a special of the day, blackened mahi mahi with mango salsa and sweet potato puree. They weren't kidding about blackened, it came out black from end to end instead of just char marks as we expected, but my boyfriend liked it pretty well anyway. For dessert we shared the creme brulee duo (one dark chocolate, one vanilla bean) which was really good but not exceptional, and came with some yummy biscotti. The service was friendly and competent, and we didn't feel like we were being rushed at all, however when we did tell them they we were in a little bit of a hurry to get out of there, they were great about bringing the bill along with our dessert so we could pay and then leave as soon as we finished. The menu was very extensive, even more-so than the online menu. I didn't see anything from the on-line menu that wasn't on the restaurant menu, but there were several additions in the restaurant, including the halibut. It's definitely very pricey for the 'burbs. Our entrees were both in the $30 range, and cheaper entrees like pasta and chicken were mostly $20+. However, the food is delicious (especially the halibut) and the atmosphere is lovely, and we found it a really nice alternative to having to go into the city for a fancier dinner. We would definitely come back if I still lived in Waltham! Order the cashew encrusted halibut if you visit!! read more

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

American Bistro fare done right, with a fantastic late night bar scene. Live salsa or jazz music lights up the otherwise dimly lit bar with tables a plenty. Too bad the owner is a complete sleezebag. Minus a star for unnecessary groping. read more

I went on a busy Tuesday night and quickly got one of the last tables available. I was really interested in the duck breast but they didnt have an decent pinot noir so I went for the Angus beef tips. The beef tips were tasty and not at all dry which can easily happen. As much as their wine list sucked, their beer list was pretty damned good with plenty of local offering which for an out of town business traveller was nice to see. I was please to see a NOLA favorite Abita ale. One normally doesnt see that outside Louisiana. The service was quick and friendly. The noise level was a bit high but not too bad at all. read more

Very disappointing. Looks good at first glance but the inside shows someone copied things they saw elsewhere but didn't get it right. The prices are ridiculous, dinner entrees between 23 and 40 bucks, the atmosphere and quality of service and environment does not match. Ordered the Caribbean chicken tenders, they and the blue cheese dip were good, truffle fries were terrible (thick and overcooked with no truffle flavor). Beer selection not bad but the food does not compensate. read more

Great atmosphere. Staff is a little standoffish, but whatever. They were efficient and got the food out timely and effectively. They did overcharge us with two meals that sent us over the $300 mark, but the waiter called to tell us and that is kudos on his part. Food was very innovative and different. The price was okay for the restaurant it was. Not too expensive as a place like this in Boston would have been. It's trendy and one of it's kind in Waltham. The windows all open for a nice night breeze. If you are looking for a night out with the girls or guys this is the place. We saw a mixture of business, casual, and trendy. Drinks were great, nothing watered down, and it was very good. We had a spring martini with cucumbers in it. Yum. read more

This is my favorite place on moody st. for a more upscale experience (bison country #1 overall). I love the steak and cheese spring rolls, and the red pepper sauce that comes with the roles they serve. They tend to have some pretty good microbrews on tap as well. (Abita, Allagash, 21st Amendment, etc) I've had the pork chops, NY strip, and Lamb for dinner and I really liked them all. I am not much of a seafood person, but I have went in groups which have raved about the seafood dishes, too. There are a few reasons that Tempo does not get 5-stars. 1. Sometimes they do not serve rolls at all 2. They try to be a little too high-class. I enjoy the food and atmosphere, but I don't think I should be paying Boston prices for a restaurant which is attached to a Store-24. Right outside tempo, which is consequently right outside the Store-24, there is a park bench and tree that tends to draw the most unsavory crowd of people in history. There are sometimes drunks sleeping on it, or just hanging out there at all times of night. This obviously does not detract from the food, but certainly detracts from an atmosphere Tempo is trying to uphold. I live in Waltham, so I am used to it, but others might not be. 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

What has happened to the old Tempo? It's been renovated (in an overdone way- not my taste, sorry) and is a pleasant enough room but diners have been left to pay the bill, I think. It's not ok to charge these prices in Waltham at a casual dining establishment. Food was a B+ but we only tried the salads and guac. The bill was a whopping $45 pp - a small, basic $19 (!) beet salad ($10) with three medium shrimp ($9 extra), one vodka drink and a few bites of a shared $10 appetizer. Um...not a good value, in my opinion. Makes me wonder if we were overcharged.... I cannot now calc how 5 salads one app and 6 drinks totaled $45 pp. Our bad for not checking the bill more carefully, but we were rushing out to a movie. The owner messaged me repeatedly about this review, very defensive and clearly annoyed, but when I asked for review of the bill hoping it was an error, I was ignored. Unprofessional and a way to lose customers. We won't be returning. Happy to say there are so many other options on the street now. read more

My family was in the Boston area for my sister's track meet, and we decided that we wanted to go out for a celebration dinner after she came in second in her race. I made a last minute, late-hour reservation. While on the phone with the hostess, I mentioned that my sister was coming from a track event and was wondering if there was a dress code (the answer is no, there isn't a dress code). When we arrived, the hostess greeted us by name (I'm guessing we were the only reservation for 10:15). She then proceeded to ask my sister about her race, and exchanged some stories from her own career as a track athlete. I was very impressed by her friendliness and attention to personal details. Service was timely and professional. The server was ever-so-slightly terse for my liking -- perhaps something to do with the late hour of our arrival -- but overall did a good job. I had the Pan Seared Long Island Duck Breast and Confit Leg, which was served with squash risotto and local bok choy. The serving size was quite generous, and the dish had a lot of flavor. For dessert, I split the heath bar crunch bread pudding with my mother. This was to-die-for good. I was very impressed with the food, atmosphere, and staff. We'll definitely be back for more! read more

How have I not reviewed Tempo before?! Ok, I'm biased because it is in my neighborhood and therefore caters to my laziness. That aside, Tempo has a lot to offer. Decor sets a nice atmosphere somewhere between professional after-work feel and an upscale cafe. Windows open fully in warm weather (similar to Solea down the street). One of the reasons I love Tempo so much is because of their specials. They have a modest sized menu of constants - and then the 'blackboard specials' which usually have several apps, entrees, sides, and desserts listed. I almost always order off the blackboard - they have some really creative stuff there. Wine selection is decent enough - although I could do with a few more choices for reds by the glass, but oh well. Only complaint I have is that the servers almost always recite off the ENTIRE black board specials list. First off, they are displayed prominently in the restaurant so by the time the server has come over I have already read it. Secondly, normally this wouldn't bother me except for the fact that Tempo has SO many specials. Its frustrating to sit through 5 minutes of someone reciting 10 different specials, after already having read them. I would MUCH prefer it if they would ask us if we would like them to recite the specials. That way, anyone who had difficulty seeing the blackboard could hear them, but everyone else can be spared. read more

Tempo is absolutely amazing. Wonderful establishment with a very lively feel and atmosphere to it. I came in with a group of friends to celebrate a small reunion. Service was impeccable and the entire restaurant was immaculate. The decorations, lighting, and table settings really bring the energy out in you. Let's talk about a few of the food items we ordered. Fried Calamari - they give you this dumpling sauce thing which makes it so different but good. Oysters - Who the heck knows which part of New England it comes from but it was perfect and so juicy. Sweet Potatoes - The avocado sauce made it perfect. The pork chop is the size of a puerto ricans ass and taste as good as it can get. Well seasons and cooked perfectly. Sea Scallops were done perfectly and goes so well with their brussel sprouts. Add five bottles of wine, 3 rounds of beer, and several gin and tonics and you have yourself one of the best times at a great restaurant. Parking sucks really bad but its worth the walk if you cannot find a spot close by. read more

Tempo - Bars Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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

Good food and great drinks. They have great specials after 9pm at the bar. Perfect sampling some of their great dishes. Philly Cheese Steak rolls, lobster paella. Consistently good food. Try to sit at the bar before 7pm. gets crowded after that. read more

This place is terrible. We ordered 2 appetizers, the calamari, and the butternut squash rav's. the rav's had zero taste except some weird cheese that they placed on top of them, for no apparent reason. Next time try cinnamon, might actually give them some Fall Flavor. Calamari, was just normal flash fried calamari, nothing special. Entree's we got Flank Steak and Shrimp, and Stuffed Haddock. Steak was terrible looked like cardboard, tasted like a mouthful of pepper, Shrimp was ok, tasted like something i can make at my house. Stuffed haddock was topped with some weird sauce, like an alfredo. Not sure whose cooking the food here but they need to make some better choices in what they are pairing. Service was like a C- they are slow, and just not fantastic. I dont think i would go back here, not sure what all the hype is about. read more

I called at 7:00 PM on a Saturday, and they set us up (party of two) for 8:30. So far, so good. We got there and the place was packed. Tempo is one of of the two (Red Bird is the other) hot restaurants on Moody Street, so I was not surprised. There was no place to hang at the bar, so we stood in the entrance way along with about a dozen others as the door opened & closed. At about 8:45, they finally sat us at a table RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT DOOR (you know, the one that was opening & closing in the freezing February weather), and that table had been empty since we'd walked in the place 30 minutes earlier. So, we got an Arctic Vortex blast every five minutes, AND due to their tardiness, we missed going to the movies. Not happy. The waitress was friendly and timely. We placed drink orders and decided to go straight for the entrees. When she returned with the drinks and attempted to take our orders, it was then that she told us that they were out of the Portuguese Fish Stew. Of course, that was the #1 reason I selected Tempo over all the other restaurants in Waltham. Not happy. Note to management: 1) Teach your millennial staff to tell the customer what's been 86'd when they first greet them. This way your unpleasantly surprised customer doesn't have to scramble through your menu right when the waiter/waitress is ready to put pen to paper. 2) You know those REALLY big video displays that hang behind the bar that describe today's specials? Rotate in the 86'd items there as well. It'll increase the likelihood that your patrons will select one of those $30+ specials. 3) If your staff is going to seat your customers somewhere between the front door and the bar (being hovered over by impatient patrons the entire time), tell them in advance instead of making them wait a half an hour for the bad news. The food was OK (short ribs for her, spinach salad for me), the prices were a little high, the noise level was pretty high as well, but the place definitely has buzz. On another occasion, I'd get there earlier and hang/eat at the bar. Or, maybe just go to Red Bird instead. read more

I love Tempo! It has a delicious menu and really great drinks. The bar can get pretty crowded at times. I have loved almost everything I have ordered at Tempo. It is pricey for Waltham, but worth it for a nice night out! read more

One of the outstanding places in the area. After I moved to New England and was ready to either leave or kill myself, I found tempo! This place makes a difference! The food is amazing and the appetizers are a treat for your taste buds. The wine menu is spectacular. Since I know this place i use it for special occasions and sometimes just a new day is special enough. I would not want to miss tempo and it's amazing menu, the nice ambience, the friendly staff and the friendly smile you receive. LOVE THIS PLACE! Try the lamb! 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

My first visit to Waltham and I am NOT disappointed. We came in around 7, with no wait, and got a table right away. A server-in-training, Jenny, was helping us tonight and she was fantastic! I started with the raspberry mojito, which was very minty. My friends got the mai tai and the champagne sangria and they liked it. There were about 15 specials, and when we walked in, we could smell the fish in the air (as most of the food and specials revolve around seafood). There are other meats and veggie options too. I decided to go with the wood fired mushroom pizza and the pan seared asparagus salad. Other friends had the monkfish, veggie pasta, and the gorgonzola salad and fried clams. Food does take a long time to come out, which is never good when you are hungry. Fortunately, there was a bread basket to tide us over, but we didn't want to fill up on the bread. When the food finally came out, it smelled and looked delicious. My meal was excellent, and I thought that much food wouldn't be enough, but it was! I was really full. So were the rest of my party. However full we were though, we couldn't pass up a second round of drinks and the specialty dessert (1 of 3)--the Frozen Smore. That was pure heaven! A graham cracker cookie, topped with chocolate ice cream, frozen marshmallow mousse, meringue and another soft graham cookie. Surrounded by strawberries. It was a definite hit! While on the pricey side, it is still worthwhile to eat there. Jenny was a great server, didn't mess up our order once, and refilled glasses constantly. The restaurant got a little dark around 930 but that could be that it was starting to pick up for the night. A great place to go for a romantic dinner as well as with friends you haven't seen in a while! read more

Lively vibe, interesting menu choices, and lovely service. And yet, and yet, nothing makes me look forward to a return visit. Fun cocktail list. Beer selection is good, with some unusual local choices (I tried Whale's Tale Pale Ale from Nantucket, which was great), but the only flight includes two IPAs, which is two too many for me. Loved the warm bread and somewhat spicy spread offered while perusing the menu. Our server was charming, offering to discuss the specials in only as much detail as we wanted! There were quite a few, so that was useful, as it turned out. The warm goat cheese on the beet salad was yummy, but the rest of the plate was forgettable. The Philly steak-and-cheese spring rolls were a guilty pleasure of the first rank, however. The accompanying horseradish sauce was not particularly spicy but added a splash of needed color. The shrimp and scallops with a rice cake was ordered at medium spiciness but had almost none. (I guess the kitchen is worried that Waltham and heat don't go together?) The duck breast was a bit dry but the hoisin glaze made up for that in flavor. Sides of rice and mushrooms and asparagus were fine. The dessert trio was meh, but we were so full we didn't care much. Of the three, the tiny sundae was the best; the creme brulee and chocolate tart were nothing special. It was full and noisy, but not so noisy that conversation is impaired. I liked the vibrancy of the place. If they're aiming for a gastropub feel, they've got that, all right. For an older suburban crowd, this is a welcoming and stylish outpost on Moody Street. I just wish Tempo would take a few more chances with the food. Then it would make for a memorable night out. read more

I've been to Tempo many times--mostly the restaurant, and a couple times visited the bar exclusively. It is on the expensive side, but the atmosphere and quality of the food usually make it worthwhile. Their cocktails are fun and mixed well, but I normally gravitate towards the wine list (I've never been disappointed with it, but I'm not a wine snob either, so bear that in mind). Also major points for delectable desserts. The food is definitely American bistro, as Lindsay K. noted. It changes on occasion, which adds a little variety. When the restaurant first opened, there was a scallop dish with jasmine rice that was quite good, but the version they now serve is not quite as spicey (probably not everyone likes that). Usually I avoid ordering only entree and pick out a few appetizers to split with a friend, but when I have ordered entrees, I have been impressed. Since I've been to Tempo many times, I can honestly say that their food is predictably good. It is not the type of place where one visit is wildly different from the next, and this is a good thing. The only downside to Tempo is the waitstaff... they're totally aloof and sometimes forget to come back with a drink, or extra water, or whatever. Would it kill them to be a bit friendlier? People who dine here/visit the bar couldn't be more different from the staff--they're an upscale and lively crowd. This place is usually very full on a Thurs, Fri, or Sat night, and there's live music, too. All in all, I very much enjoy Tempo. Easy parking, too, right down Chestnut Street in the municipal lots. read more

I've tried this a few times, with a group of girls, with a friend, with my husband, and each times it's been great. Good food, nice decor and atmosphere and good service (I think we've ended up with the same waiter almost every time). I've also been in for appetizers and drinks at the bar, apps are $7 until 7pm on weekdays. Last visit I had the macadamia encrusted mahi mahi, which I believe was a special that night, it was very tasty. The best side dish is definitely the polenta fries, the outsides are just crispy enough to hold together, and the inside is smooth and lumpy polenta goodness. I've never made a reservation there and haven't had a wait in 5 visits, but weekend nights are crowded so maybe we've just gotten lucky. read more

Tempo is very upscale for Waltham. The décor is nice, the food is excellent, the service is doting and the vibe youthful. I'd give it five stars if it offered better value. As a business, I think it can be successful despite Waltham because there's nothing else like it in the area. Tempo should be able to pull in customers from the Lincoln, Weston, Newton etc. on their way to or from the movie house around the corner. Waltham professionals after work maybe too. Their game must be quality food and up to date menu and so far Tempo delivers. My impression from my three experiences is that it's a well run restaurant. Including tip, I always spend around $70 for two. read more

Went last night with a group of 8. Not one complaint from my crew! Best food West of Boston. Manager was quick to seat us and check to be sure we had everything we needed when our waiter got busy... I love this place! Best espresso martini you can find too! read more

Go for the food stay for the wine... Tempo is a great place. Upscale for Moody Street without being pretentious. Modern decor, dim lighting, good music. The service is what you'd expect from a place like this, prompt and courteous. The food is outstanding. Fresh ingredients, interesting dishes - not terribly adventurous, but everything that we ordered was well prepared and tasty. Their wine list is robust and the prices are phenomenal. Skip desert - there are better after-dinner offerings on Moody street. read more

Service is very slow and messed up dinner and all I asked was for the stew not to have pork. Which the waitress screwed up. Took forever for my meal to come back correctly. My husband already finished his meal. The waitress and manager were not apologetic at all and basically just said we'll do you still want to the food. At a nicer restaurant you would take that dish off your bill. Went her for my bday which they completely screwed. No bday dessert. They just took my husbands drink off the bill. So disappointed I think food also is over rated and lacking flavor read more

Tempo is an upscale biastro type eatery on Walthams main drag, Moody street. It has a sizeable dining room as well as a generous bar area. Met a few friends, and was handed a large menu of both food and drinks. The waiter starts describing the specials...all 14 of them. 14 specials? How can you specially prepare 14 items...anyway we decided to split the fig and onion pizza as a first course and I had the tuna(although not the special tuna) main meal The pizza was underwhelming..It was basically a small pita bread cut into 4 small slices for 11 bucks. The tuna, however, was excellent..sushi grade over white rice. Great dish Overall, like the vibe, service was good and the food was decent...Certainly worth a look read more

I keep coming back, mostly for the ambiance and great waiter and bar service. The food is always a mixture of REALLY good dishes and so so dishes. The bbq wings were different and really tasty - didn't taste like typical bottled sauce. Bread always amazing. The fish taco special was overpowered w mango and you couldn't really taste the tuna... I recommend many apps, instead of entrees - so you can try more things. Bathrooms are modern and really cool - A must see! read more

The duck I choose with wine reduction was very tasty, but it's hard to say if it was worth the $24 that was paid for it. Couple this with the $10 martini's and small but pricey appetizers and Tempo can very quickly empty out your wallet. On the other hand, wait staff is tremendously attentive and entertaining. They know what they're doing and it makes the whole experience of eating there a whole lot more enjoyable. You feel as though you are being taken care of and not as though you are imposing on your waiter, (a feeling I get all too often at the higher priced places). Overall, Tempo is worth the trip for dinner if you have something to celebrate and don't mind dropping $40 or more per person, but unless you are aching to see some live jazz, I would pick another place for your weekend rendezvous. read more

This is more like it. I had an excellent meal at Tempo and will definitely be making it back there sometime. It's a little bit pricey, but it's a good place to treat yourself or to take a date. I saw someone mention the bread bowls in a previous review and I must have been lucky, because I was not forgotten. The bread itself is pretty standard, but what I liked about it is that it was served with red pepper hummus instead of butter. It sort of made me feel better about eating almost the entire basket. For the main course I had the yellowfin tuna prepared two ways. I don't recall the exact wording of it, but one was seared with a chili flavoring and one was cooked through with a honey-teriyaki glaze. Both were phenomenal. Even the side of jasmine rice, garlic spinach, and bean sprouts had more flavor than my entire meal at Legal Sea Foods and wasn't much more expensive. Factor in the relaxed, yet buzzing atmosphere and it's worth the upgrade. As for the service, it was adequate. I don't need to be doted on while I'm eating, but the waiter made sure I had everything I needed and the food came out fairly quickly considering how well it was prepared and presented. The one thing that did seem overpriced was the booze. I ordered a Macallans 12 Year (Scotch and fish...why not?) and it was $13! It usually hovers in the $9 range at most places. I guess the extra $4 goes into the decor. read more