Small food menu. Oysters and pigs in a blanket for appetizers were good. The fried chicken sandwich could have used more sauce. Our direct waiter was great, always coming by and refilling water. There was another member of the team who kept coming by to ask us if we had a reservation and if we were ready for the check. Felt like he was trying to rush us out. Also I'm pretty sure he could have checked on his own to confirm that we had booked with a reservation. This is the main reason for the lower star review. read more

The Longfellow Bar - Oysters - A platter of fresh oysters on ice with lemon wedges and two dipping sauces, likely at a seafood restaurant. - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This spot is really cute, but I had an unfortunate experience at the host stand. I called ahead (less than an hour before arriving) with a specific request and was told over the phone that it could be accommodated. Once I made the trip out and arrived, the hostess very rudely said that it was not possible to accommodate the request. She also tried to gaslight me that the call didn't happen and I didn't call the correct number (this was not at all true). I ended up disregarding her and asking someone else for help, and the manager(?) stepped up and accommodated the request. Anyway I got a very pretty drink from here and the little roof deck is cute. read more

I came in to get out of the cold first and foremost, with a halfhearted secondary objective of trying some wine. Upon seeing their cocktail menu, however, I was compelled to try something new. I wasn't just pleasantly surprised, I was... enthusiastically surprised? The cocktails here are very thoughtfully crafted, and if an ingredient is listed, you can all but bet the flavor notes are present for those willing to sit and sip and appreciate. Somewhere in the process the wine was forgotten and we simply indulged in some other very complex flavors. Sitting at the bar with a fairly quiet backdrop indoors was a pleasant way to while away the afternoon and get out of the rain. It's a beautiful bar in a beautiful part of town with drinks that are exceptional. read more

This was my first time visiting the Longfellow Bar and it would not be the last. I was informed by someone this establishment had the best burgers ever so I had to give it a try. This was honestly the best burger I've had ever. EVER! This burger is described as a smash burger but the patties were thick and juicy. This was a messy burger but it was worth all the napkins I used to devour it. The flavors hit the spot! Tha ambiance was adoable, inviting, and cozy with the bar being the main attraction in the room. The service was truly amazing. I ordered wings for appetizer which were absent when I received my burger. I didn't mention anything because thing happen and the burger looked amazing! However, the waitor did mention it and took care of us with a smile. This entire experience was one I wouldn't forget. I did have a reservation, however, I sat by the kitchen. I will definately return to Longfellow Cafe! read more

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Rude, unwelcoming establishment that smells like spoiled seafood. Truly disgusted with the behavior and attitude of staff. The food sucks too. read more

LF burger was ok. Enjoyed the clarified milk punch. Deviled eggs were oddly sour, with literally just a few microscopic crumbs of potato chips. Would not order the soggy wings or tough oatmeal cookie again. At opening time they were out of 3 of the drinks listed on the menu, don't they prep ahead of time? Good ambiance except that the music was too loud to really chill. Longfellow would turn over in his grave! read more

Went on a Monday and it was super quiet. We didn't even get to go to the upstairs bar (which seems like the main attraction) but still had a fabulous time. The cocktails (the hypnotize and a dirty martini) were insanely good. This bar is super relaxing and meant to spend some time in. We didn't try the food. Bartenders were super friendly and totally invested in their craft. Great for date night!!! read more

The Longfellow Bar - The Hypnotize - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The drinks and the staff were amazing! Spot was also super cute! Will definitely return! read more

Superb location . Stopped for drinks and a nosh before an event at the Brattle. But this place needs some serious attention. Stools at the bar all worn out, upholstery foam, cracked faux leather. Menu covers at the bar dirty, stained, bent. Really shabby. But worst was that the glassware was actually dirty, water stains, finger prints. Very disappointing to see for an operator with such a good rep. Give this space some LOVE and ATTENTION! read more

The messy fries is so good and totally recommend to get that with your drinks. They have many options for the cocktails too. We ended up ordering the messy fries for a second time. read more

The Longfellow Bar - Messy Fries - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The food was delicious. Great service.And ambiance was wonderful. The ubiquitous kale salad was amazing and so were the fries shishito peppers with squash hummus! read more

We came here for drinks after a show. Theo and Eric were our bartenders and were the best! I wanted an old fashion but, wanted it a little bit fruiter so, Theo added peach bitters to it; it was perfect! read more

The Longfellow Bar - Espresso martini - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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A friend brought me here for dinner on a Saturday night. We did not have reservations but there were seats available at the little bar facing the kitchen. It felt like a chef's table experience as we could watch as different dishes were being prepared. I ordered a dirty martini and my friend ordered the blank space cocktail. They did not have blue cheese olives for the martini. My martini was nice and cold with three olives but not as dirty as I'd like. My friend's drink was delicious! We decided to order the fried brussels sprouts- without the fish sauce, the Longfellow messy fries, the fried shishito peppers and the wild green & cheese pupusas. My favorite dish was the pupusas. They tasted like a soft corn tortilla with lime- delightful. These were topped with microgreens and some kind of crumbled cheese. There were only four which my friend and I shared but I longed for more- next time! These were served with a side of curtido, a lightly fermented cabbage relish, that was lovely. I expected the fried shishito peppers to be breaded but I was glad they were not. They were placed on top of a squash hummus and were served with naan. This dish was sprinkled with chopped peanuts. Very nice dish. I just ate the avocados off the messy fries. Ok, I tried a messy fry or two. They tasted great with the sesame kewpie dressing, furikake seasoning and chili crisp. Large portion size! The fried Brussels sprouts were very nice. They were quite oily yet crispy. I enjoyed them very much. The atmosphere was lively yet warm and inviting. Our server was pleasant and the drink and food arrived in a timely manner. This was a lovely dining experience! read more

The Longfellow Bar - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Came here to celebrate my upcoming birthday and had such a lovely experience. The space is very pretty, I would like to sit upstairs at some point but the downstairs bar is also beautiful! Got two drinks and the steak tartare and was extremely happy with it all. The serving size of the steak tartare for $21 was absolutely massive, definitely would be good to share with two people or one if you're hungry. The flavors were delicious and the presentation was gorgeous. The couple next to me got the brussels sprouts and the burger and said they enjoyed them both as well. The drinks aren't too sweet at all, I got the Monaco and the Havana Daydreamin' and enjoyed both. Service was fantastic. The hostess and bar staff gently mentioned the Havana Daydreamin' which I ordered, turns out it comes with a rubber duck, (they gave me a duck with a party hat) and put a lit candle on the side of the drink. Little touches like that really help an occasion feel special and I appreciated the thoughtfulness. Throughout the night everyone was attentive and kind but I didn't feel rushed. This was a great bar to grab a drink and some food, I was very happy as a solo guest and would definitely come back with friends in the future. read more

Pretty good place! Just a bit pricey but the drinks are nice and the interior is a cool experience read more

The Longfellow Bar - Two hands hold cocktails in a bar with a large arched window, exposed brick walls, and warm lighting, creating a cozy atmosphere. - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great bar great vibes. Drinks were great/ especially the old fashion! Parking is a problem around here. Interesting vibe, loved the ambience and look of the bar. Bartender was knowledgeable and helpful. read more

5 stars for the drip or drown drink. What an amazing cocktail! I didn't add the egg but I will be adding it next time! We also had the shishito peppers with squash hummus. SO DELICIOUS. Was not expecting it to be so tasty. The crab nachos were not good. I've had them in the past and they used to be better. Laughing that in my last review I thought $9 was pricey because now they are $16.. Would not recommend getting these! I've been coming to Alden and Harlow + Longfellow for years and it's great if you order certain items. Some drinks and some food are overpriced for taste/quantity! If you want to nab a spot at the upstairs bar come early when they open and it's usually pretty empty. read more

So, Longfellow was one of those places I've seen on social media that I said "must go" and I loved it. Sure, is the menu small? Yes. But, does it cater to everyone. Yes. This was huge for me since my picky sister was visiting and I took her here! We started out with cocktails to sip on before ordering our food. Our waiter provided his favorite & one of us ordered it. While, two of us order the same "Cruel Summer" cocktail. What I loved is that the cocktail menu names all the drinks after songs! Intriguing and fun. We ended up ordering for food the smash burger, regular burger, and chicken sandwich. All were excellent and pair well with house made sauces and fried cheese! Additionally, we ordered the loaded fried that had avocado and other toppings and regular fries. Both sets of waffle fries are THE BEST i've ever had. Crunchy & delicious pairing with the house made sauce. The actual atmosphere was so aesthetically pleasing and perfect for a small group or date night! I highly recommend, however, it is definitely up there in price for plates that don't come a side. read more

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Nice location near Harvard. Limited food menu but enough to make a dinner out of it. The quantity of the fries was very good and would recommend adding that to any order. Large selection of unique drinks. read more

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Really cool bar above the restaurant A&H, though I'd come back on a less busy day of the week. We went on a Thursday evening and the place was absolutely slammed. (Also, if you're a total newbie like me, don't go around the corner outside below the Longfellow sign, you'll just see a staircase leading down to the basement. You need to go inside the restaurant above the sign Brattle Hall and the bar is upstairs. I popped in and asked the hostess where Longfellow was and she very coolly told me I was already here. Whoops.) We put in 3/4 of our drink orders well before this massive group swept through and went out onto the rooftop deck, but didn't get most of our drinks until maybe half an hour to 45 minutes later. I didn't mind since we were all catching up, but it did feel like we were forgotten about, when our waitress started bartending too (or mixing ... I forget whether bartenders at cocktail bars prefer to be called mixologists instead). One of our party ordered a drink a few minutes after the rest of the group did and she just never got her drink. Seems maybe they go drink by drink rather than table by table? Given how long we waited by then, she just cancelled her drink and we all opted to not order a second round, which is a shame, since the ingredients and combos all sounded pretty inventive. Mine was good, a tad on the sweet side. The setting is beautiful - the seats at the horseshoe bar would be great for a date or relaxing dinner. We didn't order any of the food. All in all, check it out if you don't have anywhere else to be/aren't falling asleep by 9pm (I'm guilty of the second one, for sure). read more

Very nice bar with a small but yummy appetizers. The Thai Sausage was my favorite although it isn't consistent. Cocktails, brown shots, and wine are very good. On the Cinco de Mayo visit, they had a delicious mescal cocktail. read more

The Longfellow Bar - Cinco de Mayo special - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The "not-as-great" sibling to Alden & Harlow is the best way I can describe Longfellow Bar. There were definitely some tasty dishes but having been to Alden & Harlow yesterday, the food at Longfellow Bar did even not come close. The hickory smoked wings, crab rangoon nachos, and longfellow messy fries were pretty tasty. Think of them like upscale bar food - all 3 of those dishes had interesting and unique flavors. The chicken sandwich (not pictured) and crispy halloumi sticks were alright, pretty mediocre compared to the other 3. My biggest complaint though is I have no idea how you sit upstairs. The downstairs was dark and moody while upstairs actually had light. Opentable did not make seating options clear and the manager was not able to seat us upstairs. read more

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We went to Longfellow's on Friday (December 16, 2023) night after work for a quick drink and witnessed a bartender (30s, brown hair and clear eyes, preppy looking with fresh? arm tattoos, wearing a red, green, and blue flannel with brown leather elbow patches under his bar apron) *smash* (not just drop) a glass on purpose onto the floor in front of his two shocked and scared looking colleagues behind the bar (they were a young woman with short hair and a young BIPOC man). The sound reverberated through the bar, shocking everyone into silence, and we were not the only patrons who saw him do it. This bartender (in the flannel shirt) who smashed the glass then looked around angrily (he had been looking angry and barking at patrons earlier) and allowed his colleagues to clean up the damage. We happened to be looking at him when he threw the glass down. I understand that the job may be stressful at peak hours, but this man should not be allowed to work as a bartender due to his complete lack of professionalism and the violence of his actions. His colleagues at the bar, who both nice, looked very scared of him. I would turn around and leave if I saw this man behind the bar again. I would add I usually have a great experience at Longfellow's and have been coming to this space when it was once Algiers since I was a college student here more than a decade ago. Witnessing what happened Friday night colored my view of Longfellow's and Alden + Harrow as an establishment. read more

AMBIENCE: - What a beautiful place. I absolutely love the bar area upstairs. It even has a small patio for when it's warmer outside. The royal blues against the white brick and gold lighting is absolutely gorgeous. Great place for a date! SERVICE: - Great service. The drinks and food came in a short time and the bartender really knew his stuff. From the way he's dressed it seems that he is the one in charge of the drinks menu and walked us through each ingredient. FOOD/DRINKS: - Five to Ten = can really taste the thyme so slightly herbal and very refreshing. A great pallet opener - London Calling = can't go wrong with gin and bubbles if you ask me - Longfellow Messy Fries = so delicious. that malt vinegar syrup gives a sharp tang before being cooled by the smoked yolk mayo OVERALL: - Definitely coming again! Great date place - romantic and classy read more

The Longfellow Bar - Outside - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We absolutely loved the food and drinks at Longfellow! I've never tried Alden & Harlow, but now I think I need to. I tried a few of their cocktails, including the Five to Ten, Tom Tom Club, and London Calling. While they were all pretty good, I think London Calling was my favorite. We also love sharing plates when we go out to eat so the menu was perfect for us. We tried the hickory smoked wings, raw bluefin tuna kitfo, and fried shishito peppers. The wings were AMAZING! They smoke then fry them and they did it so well. The flavor was impeccable and the chicken was moist. I was disappointed with the service and that's the only area they fell short for me. We had reserved an indoor table, but when we arrived on time the hostess told us she gave away our table and offered a place outside. It was a cold and windy night, but we made it work! It was also slow to get drinks and food. However, our server was apologetic and kind. If you're not in a rush or don't have anywhere to be, I still highly recommend you try them out. Get the wings! read more

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I came here on a Sunday night and didn't have any issue finding a spot at the bar without a reservation. The vibes were really nice and the place felt upscale. A great spot for a date or even a relaxed night out with friends. I'd recommend sitting upstairs, as it seemed a bit quieter than the downstairs seating area. The bartenders were great - they checked in at the appropriate frequency and were quick to refill our waters. They have a great drinks menu, with plenty of cocktails to choose from. If you're a fan of gin, they have a few inventive options. I went with the Watermelon Crawl, which came with a watermelon skewer on top, which seemed like a nice touch. I didn't get the chance to sample anything off the food menu, but from what I saw, everything looked delicious. read more

Very cozy and quaint vibe. The upstairs has the bathroom, and there's adequate bar seating. The ambiance is hip and modern. Upstairs is more classy, and there's more bar seating. The upstairs is more of an ivory-like bar. read more

The Longfellow Bar - Longfellow bar upstairs - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Awesome 2nd floor charming long curved bar in a historical building with a library/hogwarts prefect feel (was quiet on a weekday evening upstairs). Tall ceiling and windows to catch a glimpse of Cambridge. Creative cocktails crafted with premade infusions and syrups you can see behind the bar and flavorful tapas.. Really knowledgeable bartenders and upscale yet relaxed ambiance. read more

Good spot, but with some caveats! Come here for drinks + small plates, not for a full-on dinner. If you're looking for a nice spot for a first date to get drinks and share some small plates - COME here! If you're looking to hang with friends for a full-on dinner, I wouldn't recommend! Here's what I got - from best to worst: [Appetizer] Longfellow Messy Fries ($10) - Oh my god! These are SO GOOD! Waffles fries + malt vinegar syrup (sweet with a tang!) + smoked yolk + pecorino aioli (cheese, garlic, olive oil - YUM). How can this get any better? It's a really large amount to share too! I can see why it's such a menu favorite. [Cocktail] Calico Press ($16) - I'm obsessed with egg white foam cocktails. And this was just too pretty not to say yes to. If you like spicy margs and tequila, this is the drink for you! [Main] Greenwood Chicken Sando ($15) - Wouldn't recommend... It's SO salty. The ham crisps (I think it's prosciutto?) are dehydrated, so the salt in the meat becomes really concentrated. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish it, but luckily I got it taken off our bill. Thanks to the waiter for this! This dish soured my impression for the restaurant but still think it's a great bar / tapas experience. read more

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Bring all of your fellows over to the Longfellow Bar if you're craving a hip place for cocktails and inventive apps! We had a reservation on Saturday night at 7:30 and were seated promptly at the bar where two "Reserved" signs were placed. They have a variety of cocktails -- as well as mocktails -- and the bartender was helpful in describing them and making recommendations. I ordered the one she said was her favorite, Big Man on Mulberry Street. It was a great mix of rum and banana with a slight, salty freshness of celery. Fantastic! It also came in tiki cup, which was fun, although there was a lot of crushed ice so not that much liquid was actually in the cup, which was a bit disappointing since it was so delicious. The food is "finger food" -- and they enforce this by not giving you silverware (although you can apparently request it). Instead we got plates and wetnaps, which came in handy given that the bites we got were pretty messy. We ordered a few things, and they started quickly coming out as they were done. The pigs in the blanket (3 bites) were fantastic! I loved the sweet & tangy sauces. We also enjoyed the crab rangoon nachos (2 large chips) which were piled with cream cheese, shredded crab, and scallions. Then we got a dish that we hadn't ordered: lamb kofta. When the bartender noticed, she apologized for hitting the incorrect item when ordering, and she said it was on the house! Even though we didn't order it, this may have been our favorite dish of the night! The lamb sausage was divine as was the tahini, veggies, and mini pita "tacos." Last to arrive was the short rib kitfo, which was not what we expected since it was cold beef tartare mixed with some rather bitter vegetables on top of injera. It was one of the more unique things I've ever tasted, but I can't say that it was especially enjoyable. I'm glad a tried it all, and I love that the chef really took advantage of this playful menu to explore different cuisines and flavors, taking diners on a helluva ride. read more

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I had originally given a 2, but after leaving I realized that the waiter didn't attempt to help me out at all and just told me each of the things I ordered was cooked in peanut oil.... Instead of helping find a solution, we were simply told "oh you can't have that"... also, nothing on the menu alludes to the use of peanut oil in your dishes... nothing nowhere... there's a section saying ask about allergies... no, how about you put it on the menu? I wouldn't have bothered coming here if I knew half the menu was fried in peanut oil (I'm allergic, why would I knowingly put myself at risk?) read more

The Longfellow Bar - Nothing says peanut oil... people get sued for less... - A menu displays food items such as pretzel, peppers, pigs 'n blankets, burgers, salad, and Thai sausage with prices, on a light background. - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The upstairs bar area is lovely, cozy and fun, with friendly servers. Drinks are delicious with lots and lots of options! The fries were unfortunately subpar. read more

Ambiance, food, and drinks were good. Service was awful. Rude and pretentious bartenders. The setup for bar and zero service tables inside and outside was about the most ridiculous thing I've ever witnessed. We sat at the bar and had to wait 20 min to be acknowledged because of the line from tables trying to order drinks at the bar. This works better at any dive bar I've been too. Charging $20 for craft cocktails with this system is absurd. Won't be back. Do not recommend. read more

Really glad this bar is operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. They set up the space so it's well-distanced and they have good snack options to eat with your drinks. I'm not a huge cocktail person, but I did enjoy the Pierre Richard red wine. Very light and bold. For food, our favorite snacks were the Caesar-ish salad, crab and mushrooms special, Crab Rangoon nachos. They also had two dessert specials - a whoopie pie and a pop tart. The shishito peppers weren't as crisp as I prefer, and they tasted like they'd been sitting for a bit. But other than that, it was a great meal! read more

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Went for drinks and light bites with a friend last night (a Tuesday night) and made a reservation for 6 PM. We ended up sitting at the upstairs bar for our rez, which was nice. The bartender was friendly and helpful - recommending different drinks based on our tastes. The bar itself was beautiful. I didn't spend much time looking at the downstairs area, but the upstairs bar was bright and airy which a large window behind the bar, overlooking Brattle Street. We each had 3 drinks and a bit of food. I'll let you know what I thought of mine (in order of what I got): Drink 1: Johnny 99 (brown butter rum, pecan, hazelnut, pineapple). I don't know what I was expecting, but this was my least favorite drink. It came with a lot of chipped ice - so much that I couldn't see the liquid. When I took my first sip, I got a mouthful of nutty crunch. I definitely did not think I was going to be chewing this drink. I thought it would have the flavors of pecans and hazelnut - not actual nuts. I guess I should have asked? Wasn't "bad" as it was well mixed, but not something I'd order again. Drink 2: State Trooper (fermented clementine, brandy, egg white). This drink was really smooth. I love me an egg white cocktail in a cute coupe glass. I enjoyed the creamy sweetness of this drink. The brandy wasn't strong at all, but I still liked the overall composition of this cocktail. Drink 3: Highway Patrolman (old tom gin, sesame, aperitivo, tonic). This was definitely my favorite of the 3 drinks. I was initially turned off by the thought of sesame flavor or seeds floating in my drink, but it wasn't like that at all. It was sweet up front with a bit of bitter at the end. There were little boba balls at the bottom which was quite lovely to suck up into the straw (unlike the nuts in my first drink). I ended up getting this after my friend got 2 of them in a row. She had been to Longfellow before and knew what she was doing. I would 100% order this again. For food, we shared the Cotechino Pigs N' Blankets and Crab Rangoon "Nachos". The Pigs weren't my fave. While the filling was good and tasted of fresh, quality meat, I didn't enjoy the outside shell being so crunchy. I also think the dijonaise sauce lacked flavor. I was hoping for a bit more of a mustard kick (this coming from someone who just stared eating mustard of any kind a couple years ago). The crab rangoon nachos were delicious. As others have pointed out, it doesn't really taste like a traditional crab rangoon. It comes with two flat, flatbread-esque nachos per order. Honestly - I don't know how to describe the flavor other than slightly crabby, creamy and tasty. Try it for yourself! The women next to us ordered the rellengong hipon that had shrimp coming out. It looked amazing and I want to get that next time as well. I guess this means I have to come back! read more

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I recently returned here for the first time since Covid and...sadly it's just not the same. The bartenders are grim unfriendly, seemingly put out as if you came into their own living room and asked them to mix you a drink. And at 14-16 dollars a pop, that just doesn't put a good taste in your mouth. The downstairs bar is still beautiful and well appointed, but something has changed with the lighting above the formerly lovely horseshoe bar upstairs- it looks garish and pedestrian. Seeing the bartender rub a sprig of mint garnish all up and down his forearm before plopping off in a drink was the final straw. Probably won't return, sad it's not what it used to be. read more

In the midst of a rainy day in a Cambridge, I was fortunate to find shelter at the Longfellow Bar. My friend and I arrived here on a Saturday afternoon and despite the weekend rush we were able to snag a couple of seats in the second floor bar area which I would recommend for the view, the architecture and the ambiance. I enjoy how a lot of the restaurants and the bars mix the historical with the modern and this place is no exception. First thing I picked up was the cocktail menu or "tracklist" and noticed that they have a great variety of drinks to please almost any palate. the menu does change from time to time, but it looks like they've always had consistently good options. I ended up going with the "used cars" which had whisky/ey, blood orange and malted barley. Also ended up sharing the crab rangoon nachos. The crab rangoon came on two huge disc-sized nachos and was packed with flavor. Both were solid options, just wished that there were more nachos. Staff was helpful and friendly throughout, hooking it up with water while we were there and checking into see if we needing anything. Will definitely head back when I'm in the area next since I'd like to try more drinks and the rellenong hipon on the menu which caught my eye. read more

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Came here for a nice cocktail night pre-covid. We heard great things about Longfellow and we were excited to try it out! There was a wait but it wasnt too long. We got seated at the bar near the entrance door. It was freezing out so any time the door opened, the wind came at me. So, I couldnt take off my winter jacket the whole time I was there. This was the slightest of the problem. NO ONE came to take our orders. The guy who sat down next to us came after us yet he was done with his drinks and his food before we could order. We tried to grab the bartenders attention literally for 30minutes but the bartender just nodded and did not come. When we finally just grabbed someone, our drinks also took a long time to be made. Thankfully, the cocktails were amazing so I dont think you can go wrong with any of them. When we were ready to pay, it also took another 10minutes to grab someone's attention despite us waving our hands around. But when we got our check, they gave us the wrong one too. Maybe I just went on a bad night but I honestly had a terrible experience. Thank god for the cocktails that made this review at least a 2. Never have I ever felt this ignored in my life. Chinatown has better service than here. read more

The Longfellow Bar - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place is bonkers and felt understated and almost like a hidden gem, though that may just be my out-of-town naiveté. Situated in Brattle Hall, built for the Cambridge Social Union in 1889 by Mr. Longfellow and co, this bar is a vision. What I can only assume is the original façade and interior brick are well maintained and displayed throughout, combined with glass, metal, and wood to give a rustically, classic, modern feel, if you can suspend your disbelief and indulge that oxymoron. The bar is situated on the first and second floor of the hall, while the Alden & Harlow restaurant resides in the basement. Every single thing was delicious, the drinks were some of the best I have had ever, and were priced what you would expect. The food was also awesome. I had the Smoked Salmon Jalapeno Poppers, Caesar-ish salad, and a whoopee pie, the last two were complimentary after my initial order of poppers hopped into my lap as the server dropped them off... it could have happened to anyone, but they replaced them and furnished me with extra food and I walked away without so much as a stain so how can I complain, and the staff were so apologetic, I couldn't even be upset. I idled with my friends for more than an hour (maybe two, I couldn't tell you) talking, laughing, and scheming in the wonderful ambiance of the upstairs bar. Nat, our bartender, was a treat, and it was a pleasure to chat with her about all things mixology and her travels. My only critique is that upon entry, it was unclear where to go or who to speak to, so a sign or a lectern for the host might not go amiss, but it certainly was not enough to turn us away, and I will definitely be back the next time I am in Boston! read more

When Longfellow Bar first opened, a bunch of friends told me I would love it. As an Alden & Harlow fanatic and basic lover of exposed brick and beautifully presented, but overpriced cocktails and drinks, I was pretty excited to check it out. Fast forward and I've been a few times now and have yet to be wowed. There isn't a ton of space by the bar so everyone ends up getting crowded in. The drinks are delicious, but take forever to arrive. You should just order your second drink when your first one is being dropped off! Even then you'll still have to wait for that second drink. The food is okay and the burgers are solid and just like the Alden & Harlow ones, but some of the inventive dishes are a too much. Crab Rangoon Nachos?!? No thank you! There was a time in my life (when I lived in New York) when I wouldn't have minded the wait or the crowded struggle to get a drink. But Cambridge has made me soft, and while Longfellow does have delicious and fun drinks, I have to be in the mood for it. read more