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    The Independent

    3.6 (471 reviews)
    ModerateBars, New American
    Open 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    THE INDEPENDENT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Amanda D.

    Met expectations. Super cute interior and a chill gastropub/sports bar vibe. Food was decent, menu imaginative for the neighborhood but not the region. Guinness served in a frosted glass, as well as a Jameson neat. Mildly disappointing as this is bartender 101. Service was slower than what I would have liked to see, but it was pleasant. Probably would have ordered more if we were taken care of. A single gender neutral bathroom. Love the gender neutral, but not the single option. JFC, what happens when there is a full house?

    Sam L.

    Great spot to get burgers and mussels! Beer selection here is unlike anywhere else I've been in the area!

    Thin Lassi cocktail
    Ann C.

    This is a place I will SURELY return to! We randomly stumbled upon this place while waiting for Urban Axes and it did not disappoint. We bought chips with French onion dip and Mac and cheese - both were filling and flavorful. However my favorite thing on the menu is the Thin Lassi cocktail. It's the BEST cocktail I've ever had - looks like ice water but is bursting with so many flavors at once including mango lassi, coconut, cardamom, lime, and saffron. It was like a party in a glass leaving you wanting moOur waitress was extremely polite and tended to all our needs as well!

    Green tea shot
    Alice D.

    Came here with a large group on a Friday evening and they seated us within 10 minutes despite not having a reservation - very accommodating and kind! The service was pretty patient and quick with getting us drinks and such. I appreciated the kindness and efficiency while the drinks were pretty well priced and tasty. The shots we got went down pretty easily and the vibe of the place overall was relaxing but fun, great for a night out! Overall, I definitely wouldn't hesitate to come back if in the area again. I enjoyed my time and would recommend this place for some late night drinks and a good time!

    Dee C.

    I am not sure what this place is like as far as hanging out, and for drinks, it looks like it could potentially be a great spot. Because it's so beautiful inside it's so spacious, the decor is absolutely gorgeous. They have inadequate amount of staff, however during my visit there weren't many people in there so I don't know what the serving ratio is. I would highly advise against the food, I guess I can't speak for all of it but I did have the I'll tell you right now fish and chips and the chicken sandwich and both were very disappointing. The batter on the fish and chips is so greasy and has this weird like taste to it. The french fries are delicious, though. And the crispy chicken sandwich I don't know it tastes like they fried in an oil that's been used way too many times. Our server was okay. I'm not the best at hospitality, but she was attentive. Another thing I disliked was my food was brought out before my daughters, I always think that's weird because I would like to eat the same time as a person that I'm there with. So once my food comes out, I have to wait for her to come out, and then mine is cold. I'm just sitting there. But the server did take note and asked why her food wasn't there at the same time, so maybe it was just the kitchen issue. They have a big drink list, so if you're going to drink, I would say go for it because it does look like that kind of spot.

    Poutine plus bacon
    Tiia G.

    Love the indo, great neighborhood spot, food is delicious and bar staff is great (shout out to John and CJ)

    Guiness
    Brian S.

    I had a beer and took a picture of it to share some of the cheers and make the moment last a little longer! What happens before or after are of no consequence to the here and now, just the people you share The Independent moment, and that moment alone, with!

    Calamari
    Caitlyn F.

    This is a great place for drinks and I love the apps! Food was so good, we started with the calamari and the meze platter which came with marinated feta, black bean hummus, beat tzatziki, pickles, and pitas. Afterwards we decided to split the gnocchi and the poutine. Everything was delicious but the meze platter blew us away and was the favorite of the meal. We had never tried anything quite like it and though we weren't sure what to expect, loved it! In addition to highly recommending that, I urge you to sample some of their cocktails. We started with an Irish Old Fashion and then I had a Crown Heights Sour. The Crown Heights Sour was one of my favorite drinks I've had out, it was a rye base with a red wine float. Love the creativity and the patio atmosphere. Looking forward to coming back soon.

    Pork tostadas and Brussels dish
    Olga S.

    We came here for a nice night out and had a pretty good time! The drinks were tasty and potent, and the food was good. My favorite drink here is the Santa Clarita, but the sangria is pretty bad. For food, the ploughman's platter and pork tostadas were amazing! The brussel dish was a bit undercooked, and the calamari were okay. Overall, pretty decent place, but didn't blow me out of the water.

    Veggie burger, tasty but a bit dry
    Cathy Z.

    I used to come here a bunch when they first opened in 2001 but I hadn't been in over a decade. They must be doing something right to stay open in this prime real estate right by the future green line stop, right? The Independent serves classic American brunch dishes. I appreciate that they offer a veggie burger in the otherwise meat-filled menu, but it was a bit dry and low on flavor. The fries are good though! The beer / cocktail menu is impressive and the service was friendly and efficient. I can't complain about much, but the food is pretty middle of the road.

    Whiskey Sour -- loads of ice.

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    Page 3 of 12

    Ask the Community - The Independent

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    Oak Bistro

    4.7(130 reviews)
    0.5 miInman Square

    Wow talk about a hidden gem!…read more I hadn't heard much about this place so I wasn't sure what to expect-- located in Inman square with nearby limited street parking (there's a metered lot on Springfield street nearby!), Oak Bistro is a medium sized restaurant with a simple but chic decor and true focus on hospitality. When we came in we were greeted and our coats were taken and put away. They have rotating specials that our server walked us through. We ordered all three of the mock tails on the menu -- Odin's Oracle was a sparkling elderflower and passion fruit drink, the Northern Rose was fruity with a slight thick cream of coconut base (and the tables favorite!) and the last drink was a warm ginger drink. They all came out looking beautiful. For food, we started with the Halloumi Cheese which was delicious and perfect for sharing (comes with four pieces), then tried the Blueberry Ricotta Cornbread (really well made and yummy but needed a little more butter spread) and the fried burrata (huge serving of burrata with balsamic, fig jam, warm bread, just as good as it sounds). We tried the Braised Short Rib Croquettes which were stuffed with short rib and topped with sooo much yummy cheese. We also had the Pappardelle braised shore rib Ragu which was truly delicious-- would highly recommend. For dessert we tried a special menu bread pudding which was a perfect end to the night. Our leftovers came perfectly packaged in little baggies with dish names and dates written on them which is so cute and thoughtful! Overall I would order everything we got again and was so pleasantly surprised by the caliber of food at Oak Bistro-- get in and try it before it gets too popular!

    Most excellent Yelp find! I am still not sure why it wasn't packed the day we visited. I don't…read moreknow if it's new or if it's unpopular or what it could be, because this place is great! Everything and everyone we encountered were just lovely! Our server was a delight. Slightly shy and a bit pensive at first. She opened up as we interacted. The interior is beautifully decorated. Interior design was spot on to me and the atmosphere was warm and cozy. Bravo! Why is it empty?? Restaurant business if tough man! Here sits a great place and no one is there. I really hope they kill it at night as our visit was at lunch. I absolutely loved my sandwich and think about it often still to this day. Beautifully grilled and crunchy, with a great beefy/oniony taste. The au jus was rich and flavorful and oh so good. Fries were fresh and also banging as well. C's dish of the thousand layers of really thin potato slices was probably the coolest thing we had to eat on our trip to the northeast. Wonderful dish with an excellent presentation! The piles of pecorino were an instant swoon. Very time consuming dish to prepare well. I applaud them for having it on the menu. All in all, a total memory maker kind of place that I do hope to return to someday. Until then, take care and keep up the good work! '26 - 10

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    Tap 151 Bar & Grill - Fish & Chips

    Tap 151 Bar & Grill

    4.3(45 reviews)
    1.1 miEast Cambridge
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    Certified professionals

    Tap 151 is a new Bar & Grill (at least new to me) located in Cambridge near Lechmere train station…read more It's a little hidden but definitely with it. Customer service is on point. Food quality and timing is great! Atmosphere is nice and welcoming! Definitely a must try if you're in the area!!

    I was in Cambridge with my daughter after a Red Sox game, which was a fun time even though the Red…read moreSox lost. My daughter heard of this place and we went. I am glad I did. It is very nice inside, clean, restrooms are very clean. I ordered a half roasted chicken. It came with mashed potatoes and asparagus that was roasted. That was a delicious meal. I was at another restaurant, ordered the same dish and the chicken was very tiny. Be prepared to bring your appetite as the portion is generous. We started with a hot calm chowder. It was good! My daughter got the fried fish tacos with rice. She was pleased with it. The only complaint was that the waiter never came back to fill our waters as I was so thirsty with all the food. Usually they do come to check on you. He never did. We were in the back and he had lots of tables in the front but he could have checked in once. I would still come back. Parking is on the street so beware of busy times.

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    Willow & Ivy - Baby Iceberg Wedge with Two Blues (with added chicken breast)

    Willow & Ivy

    4.6(69 reviews)
    2.2 miBack Bay

    Everything was phenomenal! I can't recommend this place enough. The food, service, and ambiance…read morewere all exceptional. I went for my graduation dinner, and they had a hand written card at the table waiting for me to wish me congratulations. To start, we had the focaccia bread to share and clam chowder, so delicious. Best clam chowder I've had, and it had whole clams in it. For mains, we had pasta bolognese, salmon, and the green apple chicken. The chicken was the juiciest I've ever had, the salmon was cooked to perfection, and the pasta was so flavorful. The presentation was great as well. Vanessa was our server, and she was so kind, helpful, and attentive. After seeing another table get the oysters, we asked the restaurant manger, Dan, what they ordered. After explaining it to us, I told him I never had oysters so he gave us the appetizer for free to try! Everyone who worked there was bubbly and warm, genuinely some of the best service I've ever experienced. Everything was a 10/10. Will definitely be coming back!

    4.5/5 stars. This…read moreplace exceeded my expectations! Right when you walk in you're greeted with a gorgeous interior. The staff is so nice too. The food was great, however I didn't love the cocktails. Food: - Roasted Oysters (10/10): so buttery, cheesy, delicious. Favorite item on the menu, if you're going you have to order!! - Clam Chowder (8.5/10) - Chinatown Dumplings (8/10): loved the kewpie mayo - 16oz Ribeye (8.5/10): Tender and flavorful! The mashed potatoes it came with were so good. - Apple crumble (6/10): Would skip this and go for something else. Overall, a great experience and we will be back for the roasted oysters!

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    Sarma - Sugar Snaps

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    4.4(1.4k reviews)
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    Dining at Sarma was a delightful experience. We came on a Tuesday at 6pm and luckily got seated at…read morea countertop within 30 mins. I would recommend calling beforehand to ask about the wait. Although we commuted from Cambridge, this meal was worth it. For two people, we got: - Black Seed Cornbread: it's soft, sweet yet savory. I've never had cornbread like this, and the first bite into this was unforgettable. You must get this. - Honey Nut Hummus: this was honestly fine and I'd probably try a different dip next time. - Warm Gyro bread: well seasoned and great to share between two. I normally don't like gyro but I enjoyed this. - Lamb al pastor: this was a favorite. It was sweet and the lamb was tender. We were really impressed with the sauce. - Brussel sprout bravas: this was okay. I liked the crunchy nuts and the star of this dish was once again the sauce/seasoning rather than the brussel sprouts. With all of these dishes, we ordered enough for two, with a few bites leftover. If you have a smaller appetite, you could get away with ordering a plate less. Overall, I loved the dining experience here. Even though I'm not typically a small plates mediterranean person, I appreciated Sarma - from its beautiful interior space and open kitchen concept, to the liveliness of the restaurant on a random weekday night. Definitely come here if you're in the area (or even if you're not!)

    I had been looking forward to checking out Sarma for quite some time. Unfortunately, the experience…read moredidn't live up to the expectations. The food was overly salty, and the portions were very small.... even for tapas style dining. The flavor profiles just weren't there. The only thing that I would say tasted good was the cornbread and lamb skewer (which was definitely overpriced still). The cornbread was impressive and the ingredients made for a unique flavor. Service was also underwhelming. While the staff did their job, there wasn't much warmth or attentiveness and we didn't feel welcomed. We left feeling pretty disappointed given the hype and effort it took to get a reservation.

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    La Brasa - Beet salad

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    The menu looked interesting so we thought we'd give it a try. Can you make an espresso martini?…read moreNo, we don't have coffee. And we're also out of these 4 signature drinks. Ok we'll have a beer and a wine. What can I get you to eat? I'd like the roasted carrots.... No we're out. I'd like the oysters.... We don't have any. Could we share the whole fish? No, we don't have any fish. I'm sorry but we're out of a lot of things..... Buy the restaurant is empty and it's only 6:00 on a Saturday night. Can I have the check? Sure.

    Love this spot in Somerville. I remember when it first opened, it was one of the few places that I…read moregot excited for. It's like elevated/fusion Mexican food -- great for both dinner & brunch, and very suitable for larger groups. I've had a handful of dishes here & I'd recommend everything I've tried. Steak & eggs, pancake in a skillet, vegetarian crepe, fried rice, deviled eggs, the flan. They have a nice wine selection and rotating cocktail menu. The restaurant is like a high end cabin, with very cool murals throughout. I think one of my former roommates actually worked on a mural here, so I might be biased. Staff is welcoming and fun to chat with, they're very knowledgeable about their menu. Pricing tends to be around $50 per person. There's street parking. It's also a shared space with fat hen, which is an Italian restaurant -- I'll review that separately, but it is also worth checking out.

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    The Independent - bars - Updated May 2026

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