Every time we came here for drinks except for once the service was so lousy that we ended up leaving and going to the Lincoln instead. Not as classy, but at least we could get our drinks. The one time we did get drinks though, it was good! So maybe if they kick up the service, it will get more than 2 stars. Unfortunately for them, I've moved far far away, and will never know. read more

The first couple times I went to Tempo, I was very impressed. That was in '07. When I went last summer it was beyond disappointing. I don't know what happened, changed in owners, head chefs? Downgrading ingredients to save money since I hadn't eaten there since pre-economic meltdown? I truly thought they were awesome at first, but what a difference two years made. Hope it was a fluke, but considering the prices, I'm not likely to take my chances with so much great competition in the area. read more

I walked in expecting it to be slightly above average and I'm glad they proved me wrong. I ordered the salmon which was meh but the wife ordered a pork chop which was out of this world. It may have been the best pork chop we ever had. I give it four stars because the salmon was two stars but the pork chop made up for it. Get the pork chop. read more

Just stopped in with a group of 12 and the place was empty. We were told there was a half hour wait because there were "reservations" for apparently the entire restaurant. Will not be back. Deserves no stars for horrible customer service. read more

I have recommended this place since it opened and i have found it consistently good..SO WHY did they nickle and dime us on the technicalities of their wine special. Seemed the hostess and the wait service were unable to have any discretion. This is the type of thing that takes the shine off a good evening. Sorry..but you need to give your staff some power to solve problems! You would have gotten a 4 or 5... read more

Went here for dinner a couple weekends ago on a Saturday night. Made reservations as recommended and got there early to have a drink at the bar first. We each got a drink and they were very good. I think one of the bartenders was in training but she did great and verified she was making them right. Everything was going great until I went to inquire about our table at our reservation time. Turns out the table we were supposed to be at was just getting their dinner now, so we would be running a bit behind and they would find us at the bar when the table was ready. A little annoying. About 15 - 20 min later the hostess told us that our table was still not ready but we could have a high top table in the bar area if we wanted since someone cancelled their reservation. We were hungry so we accepted but not overly pleased. For an appetizer we got the Philly steak and cheese spring rolls at the recommendation of the server. They were delicious. I could have eaten two more batches they were so good. These are really good. For dinner I got the pork chop which was fabulous. My date got the Elk which was a special if I recall. She loved it and is still raving about it. The sides for both meals were good as well and complimented the main dish. We each had a couple more drinks with dinner and they were very good. Good atmosphere, great food, great drinks, and the waitress we had was very helpful and informative. So why only 4 stars? Well, I'm no expert in customer service but when someone makes a reservation and arrives 45 minutes early to grab a drink and you still don't have a table close to ready come reservation time you should be offering them something, like maybe a round of drinks and an appetizer while they wait. The whole point of making reservations is so this doesn't happen. That one issue aside, I recommend you check out Tempo. read more

We sat at the bar last night and the service was by-far some of the worst I've ever experienced. I have served tables and bartended before so I know what it's like to work a Friday night but we sat for 25 minutes without even being acknowledged. We watched THREE bartenders help people around us, stop and talk to each other, and clean glasses without even looking up at us. When we finally got our drinks we asked for food menus. As a server you should know that when you give food menus out and people look at them for a few minutes them STOP looking at them and look up at YOU, it's time to take the order(or at at least say, 'hey be with you in a minute'). We sat AGAIN for 30 minutes and then I had to loudly call someone over to take our order. Our food took another 30 minutes to come out and I had to ask for silverware. We didn't end up having more than the one drink we ordered because the service took too long. I was very disappointed in this place. I gave it 3 stars because the food was actually REALLY good. I got the Grilled All Natural Angus Hanger Steak and it was delicious! My friend got the Spicy Seared Wild Shrimp and New Bedford Sea Scallops and it was PHENOMENAL! A++ for the food. A bit pricey($27/plate) but the beers are cheap and the food was memorable. If I ever go there again, it'll be for takeout. read more

My husband and I ordered dinners to pick up from Tempo two nights ago. I had a lobster sandwich with double coleslaw. My husband ordered the risotto with mushrooms, a salad, truffle fries and key lime pie. I had enough left-over lobster to make another sandwich last night as well as a remaining container of coleslaw. My husband plans to eat his leftovers tonight. The food was absolutely delicious. The lobster was just fabulous! Everything was well packaged and ready on time. During these dreary times, the great food offered us a real lift. The menu is quite extensive and we plan to order again soon. read more

I am gluten free (health reason not by choice), and I LOVE Tempo! The food is always great, and you would really never know it is gluten free. My family and friends who can tolerate gluten eat there as well, and each time I introduce Tempo to a new person or group of them, they enjoy it as well. Yes, the prices are a bit up there for Moody Street, but you cannot say a restaurant should charge a certain price based upon their location. You need to judge it based upon service and quality of food; both of which are tops in my book! The GF Philly Steak and Cheese Spring Rolls, Tuna and Salmon Tartare, and Pork Bolognese are favorites of my husband and myself. However, everything we have ever tried, which is almost the entire menu at this point, is wonderful. The only complaint if I had to give one is that when we get take out, by the time we get the spring rolls home, the condensation has congealed the lettuce garnish to the rolls. I would suggest skipping it when packaging them to go. Minor issue, but I would prefer to not have to pick it off at home and taste lettuce when I bite into them. I would rather just taste the crunchy/chewy wrapper and yummy steak and cheese. :) 3/20/15: UPDATE...just called to order GF Philly Steak and Cheese Spring rolls to go, and the woman on the phone knew (before I asked) to skip the lettuce. They do read these reviews and do their best to make their customers happy! YAY! Just changed my rating from four to five stars! read more

Disappointed that what isn't coated in a heavy sauce is boring. Food was significantly better prior to the reopen. I hope they're just working out the kinks. read more

Coleen goes over and above for all her customers. We have been here 2 times in a row and will keep coming back. The food and drinks are soooo good. Thank you for a great first experience in Boston! read more

My boyfriend and I went here on Valentine's Day and it was great! It's pretty expensive, but the food was delicious so I think it's a good place for a special dinner. I had the halibut and it was awesome! My boyfriend got one of their many specials...It was cod cooked inside parchment paper with all sorts of spices and veggies, which was also delicious. The service was good and I was impressed by the waiter's knowledge of all the different specials they had that night (there had to be about 10!). read more

This is an ideal place to get the girls (or guys!) together for apres-work drinks and snacks. The bar area is modern and spacious and the cocktail list is phenomenal - with favorites like key lime martini and lime rickey, not to mention an extensive wine list (by the glass and by the bottle). The bar food is reaonably priced higher end fare ike tuna tartare and baked brie. In the warmer months they open the huge front windows and its a fabulous spot to people watch! read more

I went here last night with my boyfriend and his family and we had a wonderful time. The atmosphere is trendy and the ambiance is great. Parking is convenient too because there is a lot right around the corner. The biggest downside is that the tables are really close together so someone else's conversation can easily drown out your own. Since the tables are close together, the chairs are close together. People were constantly hitting my purse as they walked by which was annoying. Our waiter was vigilant and friendly. They start you off with rolls and pimento cheese. The cheese was delicious, but the rolls are up for debate. I thought they were fine, my boyfriend thought they were dry, and his mom thought they were scrumptious. Calamari - well cooked. The "Shanghai" dipping sauce was a big hit. I really enjoyed the tempura battered peppers. Tuna tartar - so so, not bad but nothing special. Steak and cheese spring rolls - my favorite! The wonton was crispy and the meat was flavorful. The tomato and horseradish aioli added a nice kick. Roasted chicken - tender and SO juicy! I was pleasantly surprised as to how juicy the chicken was. The jus added great flavor. The mashed sweet potatoes were also very good. Short ribs - I wish I ordered these but didn't because of the side dishes served with them. So much asparagus! The meat was cooked perfectly and pull apart. The risotto was also cooked well. Pork chop - I'm not a big pork fan, but it looked really tasty. The bacon onion jam that comes with it was awesome. The mac and cheese was clumpy and the cheese looked very thick, really unappetizing. My boyfriend's mom did not enjoy it but said that the pork chop was amazing. Hanger steak - my boyfriend's dad thought that the coffee rub is what really made the dish. It wasn't overbearing and was a nice touch to the overall taste. The au gratin potatoes were also satisfying. More asparagus once again! The desserts that were passing by our table looked amazing! I can't wait to go back just to try dessert. read more

Mediocre at best... but let me back up. Its not that the food is poor, it just seems like the place is trying to be an upscale restaurant by adding words to the menu like "Prosciutto" and "coffee rubbed sirloin". But $30 for a plate of food? If I pay $30, honestly I expect service that doesn't refer to a dish as "the poor mans lobster", an environment with more class than a bertucci's. I have paid less at classier places where I dont have to hear the neighboring tables conversation... and frankly, I will continue to do so. read more

Best food in waltham without a doubt. Spiro, ryan and the rest of the bartenders are on point. $1 oysters on Tuesdays, one of my favorite places to eat. read more

LOCATION: Convenient with plenty of nearby public parking. AMBIANCE: The decor and ambiance are enjoyable. It is one of the nicer places in the Waltham area to have dinner and drinks and is well maintained and has a modern and hip feel. FOOD: The food that I have had here has been mostly quite good. There are cases where the food could be improved or a little less expensive, but they like to take chances with a large list of specials that change often. This means that if you go back often, you will have a lot of new varieties to choose from in addition to the core menu. Some are fantastic, others are just good. SERVICE: Overall the service is quite good. Some of the bartenders could be better and have, in my experience, sometimes offered opinions that were not appropriate for the situation. I think the sit-down service is better than the service you get at the bar. Management seems good overall. PRICE: The price is moderate, but the value is good on the whole. read more

Another review that's been on my unfinished list for months. I'm a fan of that new little reminder thing that nags you to finish reviews. Thankfully I put some notes in to remind me of my time here when I finally got my butt in gear. Aaaaanyways, I wound up here for a celebratory dinner a little while back. Appetizers flowed around the table and I got to have a heaping helping of both the calamari and the cheese steak spring rolls. Calamari was just your basic fried stuff, nothing special, but the chili dipping sauce was a nice change from marinara. The cheese steak spring rolls were a hit with everyone. Moving on to dinner, at the time, they were running a lobster paella special and I couldn't resist. The thing had a full 1 1/4 pound lobster in it, plus a few large shrimp and scallops, and mussels. The seafood was all great, freshing tasting and plentiful. I wasn't wowed by the actual rice base of the paella, but I suppose the star was the seafood. Overall a three star dish with four star potential in my book. To wash it all down, the sweet tea martini was refreshing, though for me maybe a little too sweet as I couldn't really taste the booze in it. Service was attentive and courteous. I was part of a very large group, which I know always poses a challenge to servers, but dinner was executed flawlessly. Even after two of our party members arrived extremely late due to traffic issues, their meals still came out along with everyone else's who had already ordered before their arrival. Clearly a mark of good cooperation between the kitchen and waitstaff. Kudos to Tempo for handling such a large group with ease. read more

I like the vibe and ambiance of Tempo and they mix a pretty fine drink. That said, the food is ridiculously expensive for the quality that you are getting. Don't get me wrong...I definitely don't mind dropping some coin on good food and do understand that you pay for ambiance and trendiness but I really had a serious case of sticker shock when I got the bill. I mean, no offense to Waltham, but it's a suburb. And Tempo is a place with mediocre food in a suburb. I should be paying crazy city prices to eat here. I'll stop back at Tempo one day but likely only for a drink at the bar. read more

Made reservations for four. Had to change to five and was told that we would be then be in "back room". I asked was there any difference and was told no. First of all, back room is more of a bar/club setting. Extremely noisy and two servers for about 50 people. There was a private party in addition to numerous tables. Our server did her best but took about 20/30 minutes to get a drink. Two of the meals were haddock. It was probably the worst haddock I've ever been served. Perhaps previously frozen? Dried out. We returned it and ordered crab cakes which showed up cold. We then figured we might as well hear at least one of the bands songs (we didn't even know there was a band or music area) but after our terrible dinner and poor service were told that we needed to vacate our spot. I think this restaurant needs to decide what they want to be. A higher end, contemporary establishment or a beer or french fry sort of place. They do have excellent truffle fries. read more

philly. cheesesteak. eggrolls. that's all. (4 stars because our waitress couldn't be bothered with getting us waters before our food came, even though we asked for it right as we sat down, again when we ordered, and then again after the food came) read more

Could not have been any happier with my experience here! Went with three of my friends and we all had the one dollar oysters on Tuesday. They were awesome! I got the short rib dinner which was delicious with butternut squash. The girls got the tuna dish and the scallops. Praise all around! Drinks are also good my second was a little more mix then alcoholic. Server rocked he was perfectly attentive. Overall, would highly recommend! read more

Was really excited about this place but got sooo sick after eating here. My brother also got very sick after eating here. We had oysters, tuna tartare, the pork chop and the hanger steak. Not sure which food made us sick but we were both throwing up in the morning. read more

My cocktail was GREAT, but expensive. No real complaint there. But the steak and cheese egg roll was subpar. I was told it was one of their best appetizers, so it sS especially disappointing. read more

Went here with friends a few weeks ago after hearing great things from neighbors and friends. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant at a table and it was so loud we could hardly talk to each other. The food was okay, nothing spectacular. Expected higher quality for the price and "press" this place gets. I don't think I will be back. read more

Tempo is definitely among the better restaurants in the area. I had the salmon there recently and it was excellent. Cooked just right and very tasty. The atmosphere there is really very nice weekday evenings as well. The biggest drawbacks are that it is a little on the pricey side, and it's very noisy weekend evenings. In general, I really like the place and I will be back in again. read more

Favorite restaurant in Waltham, hands down! My boyfriend and I are appetizer, cocktails, and appetizer people and this is there perfect location for us. Weather we are in the mood for oysters, tuna, and fries with a smoked old fashion, this is your spot! We tend to overspend here, so bring your wallet, but its always worth it! read more

been here twice and i am looking forward to going back. last time i was at Tempo it was my wedding anniversary, the waitress did a great job at catering to us.. i was never left without a cold beer which means a lot to me. the food was amazing, i had the strip with asparagus and for dessert some chocolate apparatus that my wife loved. when you are at Tempo you feel like you're in Newbury St. nice clientele, great ambiance, pro staff. thumbs up. read more

I took my wife there for our 10th anniversary the other night, the food and service were amazing! Our waiter's name was Rick, he did a great job explaining and describing some of the menu items and keeping our drunks filled and making us feel welcome. Bravo to the chefs, I had the best steak I've ever had and the potato bravas appetizer and desserts were to good for words to describe. I look forward to going back there again. read more

Yesterday was my first time at Tempo and we came here for their Tuesday night $1 oysters. As far as the oysters go, they were pretty decent, hence the two stars and not just one star. They were not as meaty, what did you expect for dollar oysters, but they were of pretty good quality. The excitement of the cheap oysters was negated by the fact that this is one of the worst customer service I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Upon hearing that we weren't going to order any entrees and were just there for their dollar oyster special, our server began to blatantly ignore us. He glanced over us many times as we were trying to get his attention as we wanted to order more oysters and would speak rudely to us the couple of times we actually managed to get his attention. It's not as if we were ordering only ten dollars worth of stuff, we ordered 42 oysters in total. We were paying customers and we deserved the same respect and attention as everyone else. As a student of Brandeis, a college directly in Waltham, I advise other students to not come if they don't want to be disrespected and I will not be coming back again. read more

If you're looking for great tasting, American fare, this is definitely the place. This restaurant is as good as it gets. I've been here at least a half dozen times. Every time I come here, I'm amazed by the taste and quality of the food. The restaurant makes everything from scratch and the food tastes amazing. Some of my favorites are the hanger steak, truffle fries, and their beer bread.The cocktail list is also great. Overall it's a bit pricy, but worth the money in my opinion. read more

Always a solid choice. My wife and I have been there a few times for normal evenings, holidays, and restaurant week. The food is always good and prepared well. The wait staff is attentive and accomodating. My only complaint is the noise level. It gets rather loud inside. But, that aside, you'll have fun here where its a night out with friends or if you're just looking for a nice dinner and some drinks. read more

This place is well worth checking out. The waiter was awesome, the food delicious,, and the decor friendly, inviting, and clean. The menu was a bit pricey, but well worth every penny. A great tip was had by the waiter. read more

Tempo has a very nice atmosphere and the food is above average. Had dinner there last night, and while the baked oysters left a bit to be desired, they were still good. (I ate 4) My entree was a wonderful Braised Short Ribs with Mushroom Risotto and asparagus. The beef was great, (almost) falling off the bone, and the risotto was very good - perfect texture and taste. As one of my colleagues said - "Tempo is a great 'mid-week' dining experience, though probably not a 'WOW' destination." I don't disagree read more

My husband and I came here on a Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary. We had made reservations online and requested a table with some "privacy". We arrived at about 6pm and we were seated at this cute table, kind of in a nook, and we were very pleased that they were able to accomidate us. Our waitress was very outgoing with a bubbly personality, which is always great! We had ordered the chips with fresh guacamole and pineapple salsa. The guacamole was so delicious (and very fresh!), my husband who doesn't even like guacamole was addicted! With our dinners we ordered the grilled cesear salad without anchovies. Again, the salad was delicious! We ordered the full salad and split it between the two of us, which the halves were huge! For dinner I had ordered the Roasted Marinated Gianonni Farms Organic Statler Chicken. Upon ordering our waitress let me know that the chicken does take about 35-40mins to cook because they cook it fresh, which I had no problem waiting for. My husband ordered the Chipolte Marinated Grass Fed Angus Steak Tips. Our waitress checked on us a few times while we waited for our meals- she kept our drinks filled and brought us some bread. The Statler chicken came with a good size portion of chicken, 3 butternut squash ravioli's, and green beens all drizzled in a brown sauce. I don't know how they cooked the chicken but the meat was very tender and melted in your mouth- it was DELICIOUS! My husband's dinner had a huge portion of steak tips, arugula and crispy potato salad with grilled onions, gorgonzola cheese and peppers. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his dinner as well. For dessert we had ordered a peacan chocolate cake- which too was very delicious! This place is now on our "go to" resturant list, which we only have a few. Our waitress was very attentive and the food was extremely fresh and the flavors delicious! You could tell that the food was prepared fresh that day or right when you ordered it. Oh yes, for drinks my husband had ordered a Kentucky Kooler martini, which he ended up not liking it (he doesn't drink bourbon very often and it was too much for him) and the waitress had it taken off the bill and hadn't a issue bringing him a beer. I had ordered a Fruit Cupitini and glass of wine and both were great! We will definitely return to this restaurant again and soon! Thanks for a great atmosphere and fabulous food! read more

Had the New Bedford scallops. They were delicious and perfectly cooked. The shaved beets and quinoa w/ corn were perfect too. Only drawback was that it got really noisy at times, read more

My husband and I love coming here for dinner. Great food - they do a wonderful job changing out menu items according to seasonal ingredients - probably my favorite thing about this place! The bartenders do a fantastic job with the drinks and also change out seasonal martinis and beers. Their 7 before 7 is a really good deal - $7 apps before 7pm and after 10pm, and because of it, the bar can get pretty packed after work on a Thursday or Friday night. I love the atmosphere in here...romantic but energetic. Will definitely be coming back every season to scope out the seasonal menu items! read more

Wow, how have I not reviewed this place yet? It's my favorite restaurant. No exaggeration. I can get something new there every time I go and I know it's going to be fantastic (they have an *extensive* and delicious specials list every night, not just weekends). I do have some go-to's on the regular menu as well so there are always great options if something off the specials menu doesn't strike me. The last dish I had was a deconstructed fish chowder and it was on the best meals I believe I've ever had. All of the seafood was cooked perfectly (mussels, clams, white fish) and the sauce was just so fantastic I don't know if I could put it into words. My husband had a rack of lamb and we couldn't decide which meal was better. The ambience there is exactly what I look for as well. It's the perfect amount of casual and elegant. The service is on par with some of the most expensive restaurants I've been to. The waitstaff and bartenders really know the menu inside and out and are eager to make sure you get a great experience. And now to talk about their cocktails. Easily the best in Waltham. They always have new and inventive infusions and change the list up regularly to match the seasons. My only wish is that they would start having weekend brunches! read more

We have been here a while ago. Today there was no pasta. Friend ordered buffalo chicken. Waiter said it was 3 hot on scale of 10. It was like an 8. Certainly not mild. When she said something the other waitress actually tried to argue that it's a matter of taste. Brussels sprouts were very good. Scallops were bland on bland mashed potatoes. Short rib was good. Bread pudding was ordered by me but we had told them it was friends birthday & they put her candle on my cake because she didn't order dessert. It was very good & tiny tiny. Generally disappointed. read more

Five stars for the food, which was across-the-board wonderful. We had three different salads and gazpacho for appetizers - all good. Chicken Marsala, Stuffed Salmon, and a beef dish for entrees - all VERY good. Desserts - also very good. Five stars for service also - the waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The restaurant is really too pricey for a low-key, casual atmosphere restuarant on Moody Street. For four people, including salads, entrees, desserts, and four glasses of wine -- $280 with tip. I do not mind paying $140 for the two of us to go out to a really nice restaurant for special occasions... we dress up a bit and savor the experience. But this is a casual (and somewhat noisy) place.... no atmosphere at all, and not a what I would choose for a special occasion. . If the prices were more reasonable, I would happily give Tempo Bistro five stars. read more