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

When we think of celebrations, we always take into account several factors that will make our event remarkable. As I have mentioned in other reviews about this restaurant, I like it for its hygiene, service, prices, quality, etc., but this time Erin, the CEO of Tempo Restaurant in Waltham, who never disappoints me, exceeded my expectations. From our first meeting she understood what I wanted, and assisted by her team, she made my event unforgettable, where all my guests enjoyed a pleasant evening. She took care of every detail to make our dining experience unforgettable, focaccia bread made to order, the dishes were exquisite and it could have been the best meal I have ever been served. Variety of wines and, despite the labor crisis, the service was excellent. charming and very professional. Thank you Erin and your entire team, If I could add another star I would add it. Here are some photos to allow you to witness such a wonderful event. read more

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The food was good. The owner was not. After dining there for about 1/2 hour, hubby ordered another Heineken got a Heineken Light. When we noticed, we let the waitress know that 1. take this off the bill for being the wrong one and 2. To compensate him, since he was not able to drink the beer he should have had there in front of him for the past 10 minutes, to take one Heineken off the bill as well. This is exactly what I told our waitress to do or to also get the manager and I would explain to him/her. Well, she comes back like 5 minutes later and gives my hubby another Heineken!! I said wait a minute, we are all done eating here and are not going to just sit here to have the beer. So, the waitress takes the beer, and disappears for what seemed to be eternity. Some short female with a handkerchief on her head comes flying over to our table and says this, " Do you ever make mistakes?" Very wrong approach! She had an accusatory attitude and was obviously upset. She then told me the waitress told her I said to take ALL the drinks off the bill. We go back and forth. I never said that! Then I said are you the manager? What the hell kind of question is that! And then I told her what I did say which was take off the light beer the wrong one given, and one beer for our compensation/troubles. She then extends her hand out for a hand shake and says, " Hi, I am the owner, its a pleasure to meet you." I suddenly almost shake her hand because of habit , but say no, it is not a pleasure to meet you ! She then plunks the bill down at our table and leaves! I eat at restaurants all around the USA. I am also in the customer service business and have been for over 2 decades. The number one thing this female restaurant owner failed to do was when she approached us at our table she should have introduced herself and then say something to the effect, I heard there was a problem here how can I help? Unfortunately we will not be going back due to her complete RUDENESS! If there are other owners along with this young lady, I hope they teach her table manners! You own this place, you need to be much more mature and remember there are two sides to this story, not one. Always ask what the problem is first! Do not always rely on staff. And in the end she had actually did what I had asked in the beginning, which our confrontational conversation would never had happened if she was courteous and had good table-side manners. Good bye Tempo, it was nice knowing you, we have been going there since you opened and now this happened. Too bad. Thank you Erin for responding! I'm not sure what you are getting at with "other tables were nearby to hear the encounter"? We are in a dinning room setting so, yes there are other people around. I said how dare you accuse me, simply because I am not here to be accused of anything, I am here to have dinner out and a relaxing night! I had no intentions of getting things for free there either, very accusatory again. Your very first words that came out of your mouth were and I quote " Do You Ever Make Mistakes?" Not " Hi, I am the owner Erin, I heard there was a problem here, how can I help you?" Big difference huh? We all make mistakes because we are human. It just should have been handled differently then what happened. And Thanks again for wishing me well and enjoying my restaurant experiences around the great USA! I will! PS. Sorry if I offended you with your attire that evening. Good Luck on your restaurant. I'm sure this will be another learning experience to remember how to handle a situation like this in the future. 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

Maybe we ordered the wrong items, but for the one time I was there, the food was terrible and very overpriced! I got the lobster pot pie, which the waitress recommended. I'm partial to savory pies, so I was excited. But it was insipid, oddly sour, had more than the usual amount of shell fragments, had less lobster then I thought, and was still $29! My partner had the squash scampi, which was also oddly sour and really was a slightly dressed up squash salad. Definitely not going back! read more

Although it is true with the noise, if you don't focus on it, you will have a very enjoyable evening at Tempo. Our waitress was slow to start, but went above and beyond with special requests. I have some dietary restrictions, and she blew me away with her gracious and warm personality. I had scallops that were cooked perfect and seasoned with very little oil and no butter. My friend had a special (Lobster Paella), and she really enjoyed it. Bottle of Cab for $18? Seriously cheap - that is a sure win win! We had a great time, the ambiance was wonderful - and not for nothing, there were about 12 guys at a table next to us. Tempo isn't that loud.. we hardly knew they were there! Tempo is a great find - loved it! read more

My in-from-out-of-town dad, fiance and I were able to get a table here on a Wednesday night without a reservation. We were lucky to score it, too - the place was packed. If we hadn't been there right as they opened, we probably would have missed it! I will admit right away that Tempo gets pretty loud pretty quickly, as other reviewers have mentioned. As the dinner wasn't of the 'romantic' sort, this really didn't bother us. We had no trouble hearing the waitstaff or one another, but I can see the noise being a drag if one is going for intimate conversation. Speaking of the waitstaff, they were all terrific, attentive, well-paced and knowledgeable about the menu. Dad tried the house sangria, which he reported to be delicious. The bread they start you out with here is tasty as well - a soft, spicy concoction with sun dried tomatoes and a peppery kick. Very flavorful! We ordered the flash-fried calamari for an appetizer, which was extremely delicious. The breading was thin, crunchy and perfectly blond, the calamari tender and the sweet chili dipping sauce absolutely scrumptious. We ate every single bite and were tempted to lick the plate. The entrees didn't disappoint either. My fiance went with the turnip and mushroom wellington, which was plated perfectly and promptly devoured. Dad went with the marinated swordfish and polenta, which was also done away with quite quickly. I was lucky enough to claim a bite - it is so flavorful and moist! The poblano polenta cakes it comes with are of the same constitution as the pobalo polenta fries we ordered with our meals. These really made the night. They're not hot, per se, but rather smokey, with an intensely creamy interior and delightfully crispy exterior. Perfection! I went with the Long Island duck breast, served with sugar pumpkin and sage risotto with a nice side of fresh green beans and cranberries. You really can't get a more New England-y dish, which I adore. The duck was cooked perfectly, nice and juicy, and the risotto was complete perfection with a divine sage flavor that carried through and through. The whole dish came together very well with a nice mix of textures and mellow flavors with low savory points and high tart points. Loved it. I would say the lowest point of the evening was actually the dessert. We all split the warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream, and I just wasn't impressed. The crunchy cinnamon topping was great with the ice cream, and it was all plated very well - but the apples themselves were spongy and tough, quite unlike what I'd want the apples in my pie to be. There was no gooey-ness to speak of, and the pastry of the pie was rather hard to cut and even harder to taste. Might pick another dessert. Still, all things considered, Tempo was fantastic. I can't wait to go again. read more

Tempo is my favorite restaurant on Moody street - everything is amazing. It's a scratch kitchen so they're only open for dinner and everything on the menu can be customized. Great drinks, great food, great atmosphere and great service. I love the dirty wings appetizer and short rib entree. They have a beautiful bar too if you just want to stop in for a few drinks. Love their coconut margarita! read more

First time going tonight. Outstanding vibe inside and out. Fun with cotton candy and kettle corn to start. Great menu and cocktails and just about the entire menu is gluten free. Food was delicious! We will go back. read more

I attended a private family event here on 01/02/2015 and I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. First off, I feel I should comment about the amazing people who "work" at Tempo. They were engaged and kind. If not for the fact that the employees were actually working, you'd have thought they were there celebrating with us. To be clear, they were very professional and they really went above and beyond what's generally expected. Across the board, everyone working that day was attentive and affable. It was a very important day for our family as we had just buried a very loved and influential member of our clan. We requested a custom menu and Tempo totally obliged. The food was served buffet style but in a very classy way. The presentation was outdone only by the taste. Everything was excellent! The service behind the bar was excellent as well. This mixed drinks were perfect and the beers were always served in a timely fashion. The Bartenders not only took care of the adults, but they kept the Shirley Temples flowing for the kids. This was an exercise in futility, and they made a worthy effort, to satiate the young ones appetite for sugar. At one point they even busted out some gummy worms. It was obvious they really took pride in their work. As far as appearance goes, the restaurant is classy and welcoming. It doesn't have a snobbish air about it and is really grounded by the neatness and warmth of the decor. In addition, the design of the restaurant seems very well thought out. The washrooms were very clean and were well maintained throughout our visit. I was impressed with Tempo's ability to keep moist and stinky bar/kitchen odors at bay (no bad odor). I really dread spending time in places that stink where food is being served. Anyway, I think I've covered most things that may be considered when looking for a good place to post up for dinner and some drinks or to have a private event. I truly feel you can't go wrong here. I'm sure there are some who may not share my opinion about this place but if you find yourself writing something negative about Tempo, you may not be completely grounded in your approach to dining out. Yes, I just made myself the authority ;) ONCE AGAIN, BIG SHOUTOUT TO TEMPO!!! THANKS FOR SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE. YOU MADE A LOT OF SAD PEOPLE REALLY HAPPY!!! read more

A real favorite for us! The food is exceptional and the staff couldn't be nicer. Coleen, who frequently waits on us, is a great example. We eat here often and have never been disappointed. I have to mention the warm apple cake that I had just a few days ago for dessert. Soooo awesome !!! Please never take it off the menu !!!!! read more

Tempo was a pleasant find on my business trip to the surrounding area and it came highly recommended. Drinks (I had a speciality tequila drink) were great l and I really enjoyed my pork chop. You can tell they really care about food here - this is exactly why it is called culinary arts. The service was attentive and we really enjoyed our meals. I will certainly be back whenever I'm in town. read more

Very upscale look to this place. Nice looking bar with flat screen TV above it, but I sat in the dining area. Good service too. I took a date there for her birthday. I got a cashew crusted halibut with greens and it was very good, but like $20. Assorted breads were nice too! My date got some pasta and chicken with cream sauce/ artichoke which was okay, but not as good as mine. I like the atmosphere here and would probably go back if I had more money. read more

Four for dinner tonight. Comments from us: Short ribs quivered with tenderness, mushroom gnocchi was earthy rich. Flounder was very fresh and crunchily coated, bok choi a treat Salmon was moist - best EVER in a restaurant, sweet potato apple gratin? wow. Duck breast perfectly medium rare with leg confit tender and crispy over a berry reduction...wild mushroom risotto...heaven. Atmosphere tonight: perfect. A curved booth, perfect lighting, variety of music...not too loud. To be fair we have been here on very busy nights and the place can be quite noisy. I would recommend some more acoustic work to break up the intensity. Service tonight was courtesy of Rebecca. I have eaten in some of the finest restaurants in the country and I have never enjoyed a server any more than Rebecca. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, prompt, concerned...and a lovely sense of humor. 6 stars for her. The flexibility of the chef on subs is also very appreciated. Portions can be generous...I read some complaints. Don't you know any entree goes well on a salad the next day? Yes there are places that appear to be "more creative". But after eating at thousands of places, I have to say I am tired of all that! Fusion, piling, foam, fiery spices ...enough already. The best creations on a plate are as succulent as tonight's meals...I wish I'd had a second stomach to order again for. And here is the ultimate for any dining spot: Everyone at the table had difficulty selecting from the menu...it all is so wonderful, it's hard to choose. So we didn't repeat and shared a lot! But maybe even more ultimate might be that we would be thrilled to return tomorrow night, and the next. We all agreed: Tempo may be our all time favorite restaurant of it's type. Kudos and thanks for another great meal. See you soon. read more

Went to tempo with my guy for happy hour on a Friday evening, after having had the work-week from hell. I was always suggesting we go there, but my bf had his reservations until I finally convinced him and I think he was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant/bar has a very polished, clean look to it. The bartender was very attentive and made one of the best dirty martini's I've ever had (and I've had my fair share). It was perfectly chilled, had just the right ratio of vodka to vermouth to olive juice and mastered the "shaken not stirred" concept. Bravo. My boyfriend had some beer on tap, and then proceeded to get very excited about $2 bud light drafts. Good option for those looking to get buzzed on a budget, ha! We ordered appetizers from their 7 dollar menu which were pretty decent. We had the fried brussel sprouts, truffle french fries and calamari. All well portioned and tasty. Took a peek at their dinner menu, and nothing really caught my eye but I'm sure the food is good based on the samples we had. Somehow (and it may have had something to do with how delicious those martini's were), I managed to drop $100 that night, despite everything being very reasonably priced. Its a nice spot for a couple drinks, I'd be glad to go back. read more

I'm gonna go with a 5-star for Tempo after my first time there on Saturday. I made a reservation on Open Table for 12 a week prior. A hostess called me on Friday night to confirm. I thought that was a nice touch. When we arrived it was packed. We were told that the previous party had not left yet, but that the waitstaff were doing everything they could to get them to leave. Unlike other yelpers, I will not fault the restaurant for patrons taking their sweet ass time. We had to wait at the bar area for about 30 minutes. It wasn't the best situation since the bar area is tiny, but once we were seated it was worth the wait. The wine menu is impressive. There are good picks at every price point. The wine prices are the best I've seen at a restaurant and not marked up much at all (unlike the 200% markups in the Seaport). Some of the wines are the same price as what you'll find on Wine.com; others are marked up only $10-20. I ended up going with the William Hill Bench Blend which was an awesome choice. They have a wine preservation system behind the bar so if you order by the glass, it won't taste like it was opened 2 days ago. My girlfriend had a couple cocktails and liked both. They are only $10 each and made with premium liquors and ingredients. She was actually stoked to see her favorite gin, Botanist, on the menu. For apps we split the steak and cheese spring rolls and fried calamari. Both were fantastic, although don't expect huge portion sizes. Each app is good for 2 people. For my entree I ordered the rib eye special. It was $30 and served with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. The steak was garnished with what tasted like a bleu cheese butter spread. It tasted great, but the portion was a little small compared to some of the other plates I tasted. The short ribs I tried were amazing and I will absolutely be back for those. I didn't taste the hanger steak, but it looked incredible as well. The scallops looked good, but I would need 2-3 orders to feel satisfied. Desserts are $5 and - you guessed it - small. I'm pretty sure what I had was called "Death By Chocolate" which was a chocolate cake parfait served in a glass. It was really good but not enough to share (but at $5, just order 2). We had a few servers helping our table and everyone was friendly and helpful. I will definitely be back although I still want to try Red Bird at some point. read more

Three of us made a reservation for Saturday night (maybe 8:30? or 9:30? can't remember), we arrived 15 minutes early and were sat immediately. Husband and I enjoyed six oysters- yum. Main dish: had the seared yellow-fin tuna with the potato & ricotta gnocchi with ginger cream sauce. Delicious. It was a big dish and I couldn't eat all of the gnocchi. Our friend had the lemon roasted scallops over homemade raviolis. Lovely-- perfect lemon accents. Husband ordered the mini-banana french toast for dessert. Perfect single sized portion and he loved it. Great atmosphere. Friendly service. A little pricey if you're used to bar food. I would definitely come back. read more

Good but not fabulous and frankly I expected fabulous. The menu reads well on the web, the place is really nice and the staff is attentive.....but the food wasn't over the top and I expected that for the price. Perhaps I was expecting way too much and that was my bad.....but I did have that expectation. Worth trying to have your own opinion. read more

Nice local place for a great meal. The dishes our table ordered were all quite tasty. It was a tad on the pricier side but it was worth it. Surprised for the price they didn't bring out any bread. The booths are tight for 4 adults. The service was ok. I didn't like the fact they initially gave our appetizer to the wrong table. Water refills were only by request. You would think after the first request the guys would get the hint but no we had to ask each time. read more

Came here with a friend and sat at the bar for drinks and food. I checked in on yelp and got a free appetizer- an AWESOME DEAL. I had the white sangria- which had TONS of booze in it and tasted sweet but not too sweet. I wish it had more fruit in it, but I still would get it again She had the red sangria, which was okay- nothing special. For food, I got the pan-roasted asparagus salad- which had tomatoes, mozzarella, prosciutto, and a balsamic vinaigrette (this was my free app), and it was delicious- very filling-- way too big to be just an app though, so beware, or share! She got the vegan lasagna, which was VERY plain tasting and not filling at all. The ambiance is very nice- very classy- very different than the more casual/pub feel of Moody Street. The bar was nice, good craft beers on tap and liquor selections. Everything here is very expensive- also very unlike everything on Moody St. Still, I had a good time, and would come back again (but probably just for apps and drinks and not a meal, since that would be a pricy affair, unless someone else was paying for it!) read more

What an awesome find! Normally, I venture to Moody Street for some adventurous, international cuisine. We decided to try out this New American spot for a change during our last visit. This place has a great modern yet warm ambience. Leather chairs and booths, lots of wood details, and funky lights. I loved the bar setup; it was massive and so man cave-esque! Our server could not have been more awesome. He was so attentive during the whole meal and consistently made sure we had everything we need. I started with a dirty gin martini (standard for a Saturday evening) and my mother actually was able to drink a gluten-free beer! Both were great. We started off with the mussels, which were absolutely fantastic. The broth they were served with was so good that our server brought over a spoon and extra bread (not even on request) so we could enjoy it to the last drop. For dinner, I ordered the pork chop, which comes with a healthy serving of baked macaroni & cheese, grilled asparagus, caramelized onions, and this out-of-this-world cranberry apple reduction. My portion was huge; I could have easily gotten away with eating half and saving half for later. I made it to about 80% completion before I finally threw in the towel. It was just too delicious to stop. Highly recommend Tempo for a family dinner out or for date night. I would say skip the generic spots like Legal Seafood or Skip Jack's and come here instead for a great seafood dinner. They try a lot harder and it shows. read more

I had been here before but had not written a review (not sure why) but I really enjoyed my meal here. For starters the patatas bravas were really good--rich. The truffle fries were good too and came with a few sauces that I didn't care for but the other people liked them. I liked the fries on their own. Decent draft beer list (I wish they had more or a variety of types of beer) and extensive cocktails. The salads were great--on the small side but good flavors. The pumpkin salad comes with more of a creamy dressing that was more like a sauce but I liked it. There is only one vegetarian options...lame...but it was delicious (risotto). Service was friendly and quick. Couple of hiccups but nothing that I complained about. I'll come back. Parking is the usual pain on moody street so look for the lots behind the main street. read more

First visit was a positive experience. Great Decor and energy level; although the live jazz doesn't start until 10pm. Bar is very busy with limited space; however friendly staff makes for a fun time while you roam about.....I'm sure Angela will find you. She is fantastic and a lot of FUN! Food is on the expensive side; avg. 25-30 for specials and the drink selection was unique and tasteful. Try the Caramel Apple Martini!! Great libation! Be aware of parking challenges....look for public lots behind Moody Street. Enjoy! read more

Tempo is a solid choice for non-Indian, non-Asian, non-pub food on Moody street. This seems to be pretty much the mainstay of the boulevard and not that any of its bad, it's just that Tempo offers some other interesting and tasty choices. For instance you might be in the mood for chorizo and shrimp, check, Tempo has it, or some nice calamari, check, has it. The lamb that finds its way onto the menu is quite lovely and there's a decent selection of liqour at the bar to make for interesting choices on the rocks, straightup. I haven't tried any of their mixed drinks so. Other tasty options include the pork chop and tuna which are also great, and there are fantastic specials where you can get soup or salad included in the cost of your entree so go and have at it. read more

I liked the food here, and drink, the presentation was very good and all the goodies were prepared excellently...and it's fun, the waitstaff is very nice, friendly...my only gripe is that it feels like you're eating in a really really busy bus or train station, all kinds of noise, all kinds of activity, and that is a little off putting. But, again, my ultimate test...I'll be back, it was good read more

I went here for dinner last night with my family and boyfriend. The atmosphere is relaxed, yet chic and comfortable. Dim lighting, yet it's VERY loud because the dining area is RIGHT next to the bar. You might have to yell a little bit to be heard over the loud roars at the bar! Being an idiot, I ordered Paella - not knowing it's made with rice (I DETEST rice!) So, my food sucked.. but not because it wasn't cooked right.. but just because I ordered something I hate. Ugh - never again. Everyone else at the table got amazing entrees which they said were really great and tasted wonderful. The portions are HUGE, so expect to take home a doggie bag. I thought the prices were a bit high, but with portions so large, you get what you pay for. There is on street parking, or a lot that's across busy Moody Street, so if you're not familiar with the area, I'm sure parking can seem daunting. I made the reservation for 8:00 PM, and we ended up waiting a bit to get seated (about 15 minutes) but our server was very sweet, and knew the menu and specials like the back of his hand.. I like a confident, well educated server! The moral of the story is --- Know what hell it is your ordering BEFORE you order it, and show up 15 minutes early. :) read more

The hostess was my only issue. Otherwise, I had a really awesome meal, a nice waiter, and some delicious beers. What more can I ask? I believe I had a pumpkin ravioli special; yum yum. Also, dessert sampler was mouth-watering. So what was the issue with the host? It was one of those nights between Christmas and the New Year and there was no one in the restaurant (literally 1 other couple) and my friend and I were asked to sit directly next to them, practically pushing elbows. I said I preferred another seat, and she kindly brought us over to other side of the dining area. I'm not sure what that's all about, but they accommodated us. read more

I've been to Tempo several times now, and it has been consistently excellent, in terms of both service and food quality. The chef is talented and creative, as good as at any fine restaurant I have been to in Boston. The flavors of the ingredients are preserved and combined in such a way that they become more than the sum of the parts. I particularly loved the roasted brussels sprouts on my most recent visit. The roast chicken dinner was absolutely perfect for a cold snowy night. If you are into quality beer, they always have some delicious IPAs on tap. I noticed a great-sounding drink and wine list as well, though I admit I did not order anything but beer. The wait staff is always friendly and attentive, but not too intrusive. Perfect. Yes. Go. read more

My group of 16 went here for a celebration dinner. The menu was great, and everyone raved about the food. The drinks menu is extensive with some yummy looking martinis, though I had the Sangria Champagne and a mojito (yum) . The service was great. We didn't feel rushed and the waitstaff was attentive. My waiter even walked down to the indian grocery down the street so I'd have fresh mint for my mojito. Nice! The steak & cheese eggrolls were really good, as was the calamari. I got the pumpkin/cranberry roasted chicken with pesto risotto. It was a huge portion. I couldn't finish it all! It was really good. My dining companions tried the Lobster dish, the duck, the ribs, mac and cheese, it all looked delicious. The dessert bites are perfect, especially for the chocolate cake which is incredibly rich and delicious. Highly recommend! read more

I have been to Tempo twice and have never been dissappointed. The philly cheesesteak spring rolls were amazing as an appetizer. The portions are huge which is awesome. We ordered the short ribs and the shrimp and scallops. The mushroom risotto that came with the short ribs is a must have! I ordered the shrimp and scallops medium and it definately still had a good amount of heat to it. For dessert we had the fried dough and the nutella peanut butter pie. It was a perfect finish. Overall, great meal, good service and a nice atmosphere. read more

A co-worker and I were in town for a conference and we picked Tempo from the Yelp Reviews. They deserve all the great reviews they have received! I had the truffle risotto and my co worker had the Portuguese Fisherman's soup and both were divine! We travel a lot and eat out a lot and in general even with good Yelp reviews, food is just Ok. But Tempo really hit it out of the park with fresh ingredients, interesting food combinations, great atmosphere and unobtrusive service. Also - their chocolate cake was a must have. Congrats on providing a great all around experience for 2 food weary travelers! read more

Tempo should be much better. My wife and I went here on a Saturday night. No horror stories, but there were just too many things wrong. We were there at 8 PM and they were already out of a few dishes, including salmon which was used both on the menu, and in a special. If you're running low on salmon then why make it a special? They have many "blackboard" specials and our server spent several minutes going over them, to the point where it was really awkward and we had no chance of remembering them all. My rob roy was perfect. I also saw they had Old Rasputin Imperial Stout on the beer list (bottled) and couldn't pass that up. The beer list is really interesting with some great selections. My wife was not as lucky with the drinks - first up she ordered a chai martini and was told they were out of one of the ingredients - theme of the night. 2nd choice was a sparkling pear martini which was not good, then a plum martini which tasted like medicine. We both started with the tomato basil bisque which was good but maybe too much cream and spice. They brought our entrees out when we were still finishing the soup - come on guys. Since they were out of salmon and some other dishes neither of us were really pleased with our entree choices. I had a special, seared yellowtail. The portion was small. I understand I'm supposed to think about sashimi while I'm eating this but you still have to put a little more fish on the plate. I don't know what the vegetables were supposed to be, but they were covered in peanuts and some sort of kung pao sauce which was really spicy and totally overpowered the fish. My wife had the Wasabi and Sesame Encrusted Yellowfin Tuna, which is on the menu. Portion size was exactly the same as mine, really small. We shared a creme brulee - not sure if I've ever had creme brulee messed up before. Somehow it had a burnt taste but the sugar layer on top was uneven and underdone. We didn't finish it. We saw our server plenty of times but he seemed distracted. He asked how our food was but didn't really listen to my answer ("well, it's OK"). We used a $25 off $50 Groupon - even with the discount, I don't feel like this dinner was worth it. read more

This place is a local gem and I almost don't want to share this review. However, great food and great bar. I prefer eating at the bar myself, but you do you. Bartenders make awesome drinks and the food is as you would expect at a fancy steakhouse chain but at reasonable prices. Great craft beer selection as well. Great local feel to the place and the service is top notch. Can't go wrong on the menu, to my knowledge. Parking can be a tad challenging, but nothing compared to downtown of course. I recommend the Berkshire pork chop (I never order pork chops out...never). read more

WOW!!!! I just received a message from Erin, and not only did she address my personal issue, she has made the entire restaurant a very soy-allergy-friendly place! She's even gone so far as to purchase small fryolators for soy-allergic customers (call ahead to get them heated up)! I'm blown away by the customer service here. Gobsmacked even! Also, a retraction: The steak that they offered me WAS grass-fed. The server neglected to say so, as she assumed that I'd read that part of the menu. Plus 2 stars & a HUGE thank you to Erin!~ WOW! read more

We just had a Truffled Wild Mushroom Risotto and Fresh Burrata main dish and Roasted Mostly Boneless Giannone All Natural Chicken and I must say THEY WERE VERY GOOD! Highly recommended! read more