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

I've noticed a marked decline in restaurant service over the past few years, & the Longfellow Bar is a prime example of this dismaying change. The service industry, as the name states, used to be about providing excellent service to ensure repeat business; I don't think the wait staff at Longfellow quite gets that, as service wasn't their top priority the evening my group came in. All this ranting is to say -- when we alerted three waiters that our friend's burger *still* had not made it to the table, instead of apologetic or even helpful, we received dismissive, impatient answers. All others at our table had received their burgers, sandwiches, & appetizers except for one, & it took an unacceptable amount of time to finally deliver it. On the topic of food, my group ordered about half of the items on the menu & of those dishes, half were regarded as too small a portion for the price and/or simply not good. Both burgers, the Longfellow & Alden's, were dry & disappointing. I told our waiter I don't eat dark meat chicken but he insisted I'd love their Greenwood Fried Chicken Sandwich anyway -- I did not. In addition to how poorly the service misstep was addressed (or rather, not addressed), it's misguided recommendations like this one that shows ego & perhaps inadequate training gets in the way of good customer service here at the Longfellow Bar. read more

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Beautiful bar. They have a lot of unique hand-crafted cocktails on their menu, as well as wine, beer, and an assortment of small plates, burgers and sandwiches. At the bartenders recommendation, I tried the Unknown Country with rum, smoked pineapple gimme syrup and citric, and it was very tasty, with complex, smoky flavors. Fun, hip music playing. Nice spot! read more

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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

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

I really like A&H and Waypoint, but I think this is a 3.5 for me -- some things were great, others not so much (or felt at least inconsistent). I appreciate the cocktail track list themes! But ended up with Apple Blossoms and mocktails -- all excellent. Smoked freekah bread: this was so good, I kind of wished we had gotten another order even though we would have been super full. Butter was A+. Waffle fries: "sunday" sauce was tangy in all the right ways! Waffle fries are always tasty, but we did notice that nearly half of our fries were barely fried (i.e., bordering on boiled potato). Caesar salad: served in little romaine quarters, it's cute but the whole anchovy + breadcrumbs gets pretty messy. That would be fine but the distribution of these + dressing was pretty difficult to even out per bite. I would probably skip this. Crab rangoon nachos: I had heard a lot about these from previous reviews and was excited to try. I liked that the lime+scallion+cream cheese+wonton flat worked together, but again in terms of consistency -- my friend said that she had a substantial amount of crab on her nacho but I didn't seem to have any at all. The bar on the top floor is beautiful, and the bathroom accoutrements are quite thoughtful. That said, it felt a liiiittle bit cramped in the booth/table space, and it looked like the party next to me felt a little squashed too. I wonder if it has to do with the default distance between the booth and the table? read more

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Great spot near Harvard square to stop by for some drinks. I went here on a Friday around 5:30 and was able to get a seat immediately at the bar with my husband. The bar area filled up pretty quickly so I would recommend going early. The drinks were very good (could have been stronger for the price) - around $12-$14. We didn't get any appetizers or any food from the bar menu but there is a large variety of options that look good for snacks or even a meal! It is dimly lit and not too loud. There are tables around the bar where a larger party could fit. Definitely has an upscale feel and there are lots of options for drinks! read more

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

I had one of the best tasting cocktails in my entire life here - it was the first one on the cocktail menu and it was the most well balanced drink ever - absolutely superb and a spot on recommendation from our server. There's high praise from everyone on the drinks and I wholeheartedly agree! They also have an extensive food list and that's where I think the experience falls a little short versus the standout drinks. The biggest reason why I'm giving this place four versus five stars is that the ambiance isn't like what's depicted online - the library like ambiance is only on the second floor, but we were given first floor seating, and even so isn't nearly as expansive as in the photos. This spot is actually a lot smaller than expected and has a bit rowdier (based on the physical design & music) versus peaceful a vibe, though it is very nice! read more

If you enjoy over priced, pretentious, yet totally underwhelming food, this is your spot. The service is best described as spectacularly weak. While the staffs total lack of interest in you being a customer is rude at best, it does raise enough deep ire to know you haven't actually died while waiting on your check to escape to somewhere better. When in Harvard Square go anywhere else. read more

A fantastic new restaurant/bar from Chef Michael Scelfo, located upstairs from his super-popular Alden & Harlow restaurant. Given how good the Alden "secret burger" is, it was no surprise that the LONGFELLOW'S BURGER ($14; fermented nardellos & grilled onions, "pickled" tillamook cheddar, iceberg) was also one of the better burgers in town. Supposedly it will be opening for lunch in the near future. They did an amazing job decorating the space. read more

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Boston since moving here. The brussel sprouts and squash hummus was sneaky good, the Longfellow burger was my favorite burger to date, the crab Rangoon nachos packed so much flavor and blew me away. To top it all off, the oatmeal creme pie was SO GOOD. Also got an excellent non alcoholic cocktail (The Last Resort), which was perfect. Definitely my new spot read more

The Longfellow Bar - Oatmeal creme pie - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We are new Cambridge but have been here twice & really enjoy it ! Creative cocktails & menu ... both delicious! It's a 2 level restaurant/ bar -- mostly bar but upscale . We sat at a table & enjoy the people watching . Staff is helpful without being intrusive....If you are cool with a louder environment & like small plates & a strong cocktail this is it ! read more

Space - 5 Food - 4 Service - 3 (ironing out kinks) Really great new spot in Harvard Sq upstairs from its parent restaurant, Alden and Harlow. Cocktails were really nice (esp the Used Car). Space is gorgeous. Pigs in a blanket were incredibly delicious, caesar salad bites were a bit off. Servers forgot about us for a period of time and dropped one item from our order, but overall a great time. read more

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Walked a mile from Porter Square to grab a post dinner drink. Would have walked 5 miles for this place. It was adorable. Drinks were in-line with your average cocktail in Boston and significantly above average in taste. I ordered Josh's choice and my husband ordered the paradise. Cocktail menu was different from the one online, food looked similar. Ambiance was adorable, would recommend for a date night or GNO. They do have a patio with cocktail tables, no chairs, that you can take drinks out on. Adorable bar on the main floor and upstairs. We sat at the upstairs bar and I just stared at the beautiful ceiling. Bartenders were polite, not very conversational (though my husband and I were clearly in our own conversation), and quick to take our orders. Drinks took a minute to prepare but they were complex. They have cute decorations for each drink, one person even had a drink with a feather clipped to the outside. Different menu from other 2 restaurants in the same building owned by the same chef. Food looked amazing, though I did not try. Cannot wait to come back for dinner or brunch. read more

The Longfellow Bar - Josh's choice and paradise - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

OMG This place fulfills my childhood cravings and elevates the dishes for the adult palate. I wouldn't describe anything as light but would describe all as good! The pigs in a blanket, tuna crudo tostada, wings, loaded waffle fries, burgers and last but not least the cookie!! Save room for dessert or take it home for later. Oatmeal goodness cookies sandwich cream cheese frosting that will satisfy anyone with even a slight sweet tooth. Also, the decor alone is worth stopping by for some drinks. Seriously crushing on all the details that went into creating this space! read more

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Martini, bourbon and restaurant dinner at night great. Thanks you for everything. Thanks you, Dr. Jacqueline Sacco MD PhD read more

This place is sexist and harassed us for drinking melted ice. I've gone many times in the past to Longfellow and when I had forgotten my ID and was with a dude, it was not an issue (mostly because it's been over a decade since we've been underage - we are clearly not college students!). However when I went with my girlfriends and one single girl left her ID (the rest of us had our IDs ), they denied her a drink. Okay so they thought she was a decade younger than us...? Whatever. It's implausible and annoying, but it's okay - that alone wouldn't annoy me - they are just doing their job! But it's more like the inconsistency with which this is enforced....so when I'm with my similary-aged husband or guy friends it does not get enforced.... but when I'm with my girl friends it gets enforced? Gross. Like maybe just do a better job and enforce the same rule regardless of gender. Whatever, I would have still let it go. But then when my friend sipped sipped at *melted ice* in the bottom of a drink in *one single drink* ordered over an hour ago and after eating overpriced food - they told us she could not do that! It's not like we had ordered many rounds of drinks and no food and were drunk. We were all tired and sober and schlepped all the way to HSQ after long days at work on a Tuesday. We did not sign up for being yelled at for drinking melted ice. That is just harassment... this is the behavior you want to police??? Those your priorities??? I get that bartenders have to make tough calls... denying the drink to someone who forgot their ID is fine... but harassing us after is really weird. It's obviously power tripping. Also the drinks are terrible. I always just ask for martini or something off the menu because the rest of the drinks are super sugary - sad to see a long list of elaborate drinks that predominantly taste like sugar. They taste like the kind of cocktail that comes out of a tap. Will not be going back. Plenty of better places in HSQ. read more

An absolutely amazing place. There is a bartender here that is the best. Definitely get the unknown country. Great bar snacks. read more

The Longfellow Bar - a plate of food and a glass of wine - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Fantastic on point cocktails mixed by a talented bartender/mixologist. The service can be a bit slow at rush hour/happy hour, so bring some patience and prepare to enjoy a great cocktail in an intimate setting. read more

Small plates. Not much for a vegetarian No coffee or tea offered. Cocktails looked cool. I had a wine and it was a small pour. read more

First time here and I love it the ambience is amazing Juan Carlos is amazing highly recommend this place. Drinks are amazing read more

The Longfellow Bar - Jack of hearts - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've been a longtime fan of Alden & Harlow so have been planning on checking out Longfellow Bar for a while. When me and the missus were craving mid-afternoon cocktails (a rarity), we decided to chance the Harvard Square parking situation and make the trip out. They're open at 4pm for cocktails which is nice since most restaurants don't open up until 5pm. The interior is gorgeous -- lots of glass, and a giant wood bar downstairs and a marble bar upstairs. The seats are leather and comfy as well, although a little hard to maneuver into. The bartenders were really friendly and awesome, and made us two really lovely drinks: the pea/gin cocktail was the perfect note of refreshing/sweet/salty, and my partner's cocktail features nori spheres that were fascinating -- like an elevated, slightly savory bubble tea. Really neat. As for the food: holy crap. The mortadella musubi is nothing short of genius, with the fatty pork pairing beautifully with the sushi rice and seaweed, not to mention the sesame seed and pistachio furikake and the ramp aioli. If I had to nitpick, the aioli was a tad too salty, but mostly I was sad there wasn't any extra bread or vehicle to sop it up because it was that good. The crab rangoon nachos was lovely as well -- it's more like two giant fried wonton skins topped with generous lumps of crab meat and bechamel cheese. The thai sausage is like a shrimp-sausage combo with nam prik -- really tasty, a great combo of sweet and salty. Service was friendly and fast; we got our food very quickly. Ambiance is sleek and high-class without being terribly dark and poorly lit. For 3 drinks and 3 snacks we paid $85 after tip and tax, which is definitely on the nice end but hey -- you're in Harvard Square drinking a pea-gin cocktail! I will be back here, hopefully soon! read more

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The outside provides the essence of a sophisticated librarians cottage, and once you walk in, the atmosphere doesn't disappoint. We were seated upstairs, beside us, an elegant 70's semicircle bar. A beautiful cabin-esque ceiling fixture watched over us while we were greeted by our lovely waitress. The menu offered a variety of unique dishes. We settled with the hickory smoked wings, the spinach and cheese papusas, alongside crab rangoon nachos. While we waited, we delightfully sang along to the iconic Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa tunes, which was a cherry on top to this sundae of a place. Our food came out efficiently and presented delicately with freshness. Within a matter of seconds, the food was gone. Arguably, the buffalo hickory wings were the best wings ever! We would highly recommend! THE FOOD WAS BUSSIN. THAT'S IT. read more

Home fries are more like greasy potato chips. Drinks were mediocre and expensive. The shishito pepper dish was great. Overall still not worth it though. The waiter told us that the cookie was oatmeal - it was not!! read more

Honestly, not that impressed. Beautiful restaurant with a high-class vibe, however the food there felt like elevated bar food almost?? Lots of shareables with delicious drinks. The menu when we went had very interesting, "worldly" items that reflected many cuisines from around the world which was a good idea, however ?execution. The injera was very interesting and the meat in a red sauce that piqued our interest. The japanese fried chicken sandwich. The crab rangoon was a good texture difference compared to most of the items we ordered, however the flavor explosion that I was hoping to have did not happen. The drinks were solid, however. A rather expensive meal that wasn't really mind blowing, tbh. Likely won't be back, however very convenient and easy to find location in Harvard square. read more

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very cute atmosphere -- unfortunately not allergen friendly though. was looking forward to dinner but was told that nearly everything on the menu is fried in peanut oil when we started to order. would really not have been an issue if this were simply noted on the menu like most restaurants do now, as would have just easily made a reservation somewhere else. read more

Atmosphere is 5/5 for sure. We were able to sit outside on the roof, which is such a special little spot hidden in Cambridge. Drinks were delicious but small. We would not suggest the air fried potatoes (waffle cut french fries). The sauce was all on the bottom and we couldn't get to it/see it. The tuna dish was inventive, though a bit pricy for the serving. Our favorite thing was actually the shishisto peppers that came with hummus and naan - definitely a good deal and tasty. Candidly, I'd say I'm rounding up from 3.5 as nothing was truly out of this world, but, a nice date night. read more

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

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We had dinner for the first time at The Longfellow Bar. The menu includes great appetizers and sandwiches/burgers for main courses. The sheshito peppers and waffle fries were fantastic. So was the burger. The crab nachos and ceasar salad were quite good, but not quite fantastic. For anyone who likes bar food, this is a real treat. read more

Very expensive but very crowded for drinks that too a bit too long to make. Maybe a second round will prove to be better!

If you need to meet people at a bar in HSq, this place will totally suffice. It's one of the few places in HSq to get a trustworthy cocktail, and is usually less packed than the bar at The Hourly or other potential meeting spots (but expect standing room only during prime time). The drinks I've had have been pretty good overall. While I haven't had success with any of the drinks from the "shocking ingredients" genre (including carrots and snap peas), I really like their mezcal take on the Jungle Bird. You can also rely on them for classics like an Old Fashioned or Corpse Reviver #2. While the drinks are solid, the venue is just not my scene. I have to agree what others have said about the attitude and ambiance. The bar service is slow to the point of awkward, especially for greeting and taking your order. It's not a very warm environment (not much small talk or smiles), so the wait feels longer, especially if you're alone. The first time I chalked it up to an off day, but I've been three times now and the vibe is just very awkward. I never leave feeling awesome. read more

This is one of my top cocktail bars in the Boston area. When people come to visit, I usually take them here because the food is amazing and so are the drinks. I have only had incredible service here. The bar itself has a really great vibe. Really cozy and modern. I would recommend the fries, pigs in a blanket, Shishito peppers, and the lumpia. It's all really incredible! There was a server whose name is Mason who was awesome. He was super nice and had great recommendations. read more

I finally got to eat at Longfellow. Arguably the best food (bar snacks) I've ever eaten. Not only best fried chicken ever but best sandwich ever. The most perfect marshmallow soft deviled eggs with bacon dust Who knew you could enhance hummus by making you eat with charred crispy Brussels. in a blanket Grape boba!!!! Pigs head arancini = ......follow up 2 more subsequent visits... Thai shrimp fried rolls with a little bowl of smoked perfect sauce (2 orders to go) Anchovy ish perfection salad bites Chicken sandwich 4.0. Albeit delicious, the bar was set and an unachievable "Kobe" level with 3.0 peanut butter ...oh but before you go, have you seen our homemade little Debbie counter? +top notch bartenders If you don't get a Michelin , they're wrong Y'all are a master at your craft!!! read more

The Longfellow Bar is a globally-influenced tapas style restaurant with incredible cocktails. The ambiance is loud and lively, so be prepared for that. We were fortunate to try a lot of food and drinks and below are my ratings of the food in order of deliciousness. 1. Tuna Tostada. Basically, this was perfection. The tuna was deliciously drizzled with an avocado sauce and placed on top of a paper thin Indian spiced cracker. So good. 2. Crab Rangoon Nachos. Loved the flavors, but in no way does this taste like a crab rangoon, thank goodness! Think elevated Cool Ranch Doritos, with crab...doesn't that sound yummy? 3. Deviled Eggs. Delicious, creamy, slightly salty. Loved the texture provided by the crumbled chips and hidden roe...without it, this snack most likely would have felt like eating cupcake frosting. 4. Molotes. Fried chubby cigars filled with chopped veggies and spiced with the flavors of Mexico. Another excellent dish, I would most certainly get it again. ¡Arriba! 5. Alden's Secret Burger. An exact replica of the one downstairs. If you've had this and want to try something new, get something else. 6. Dressed Waffle Fries. They were good, but the weakest link by default. Regardless, this allowed us to consume 2 additional cocktails. Well played. The drinks were excellent in terms of flavor and diversity, but I won't go into details because I ain't no lush. Seriously, it's hard to find a negative thing to say about Longfellow...we can't wait to go back. read more

Definitely make a reservation, even if you're just looking for a few drinks-this place gets crowded and they don't really allow folks to mingle behind the bar seats (which I appreciate). Service can be a little uneven and sometimes drinks will take longer. Cocktails are always delicious and interesting. I love that they are inspired by music albums and rotate out periodically. The wine list is small but thoughtfully curated. The bar snacks are definitely just that--snacks, unless you order a burger or chicken sandwich. If you're looking for a full meal you will either need to order a lot of small plates (which adds up) or go somewhere else. The deviled eggs are delicious. Bread with koji maple butter is a must. Love of the Caesar-ish salad, though it is a little hard to eat with your hands. The loaded fries can be good depending on what the topping is. The most recent garlic, parsley, and smoked mayo is really yummy. If you're looking for something sweet, the oatmeal cream pie is one of the best desserts in the area. read more

I came here on Valentine's Day with my girlfriend looking to try Michael's new restaurant. We were greeted with the best service I have ever had. They sat us by the kitchen It was a very busy night (obviously) and our server was pretty swamped. Michael and his lovely manager Christine, took quick notice of our desire to order and made sure to help us. Over the course of our several plates Michael and Christine slipped us tastes of some of their finest dishes, and made us feel as though we were VIP guests. The crab Rangoon nachos were out of this world, and their deviled eggs are filled with delicious fishy secrets. As we left, Christine made sure to say goodbye and sent us away with a box of their delicious desserts. All in all, go to The Longfellow Bar. You will be met with amazing food, and equally amazing service! Thanks to these wonderful people for making a cliche holiday, very special. read more

Get the Big Man on Mulberry Street! And the All Dressed Waffle Fries (picked garlic salsa verde with espellete aioli on top of waffle fries). The place was clean, comfortable, well decorated. We enjoyed catching up over drinks and chatting with the bartender, she was super knowledgable and friendly! Longfellow is kind of tucked away, but don't miss out! read more

Excellent bar - especially upstairs. Great cocktails - tried Slow Rush and London Calling. Reasonable prices for ambiance and quality. Waffle fries are good - you get a LOT for $7. read more

Happened upon this fabulous bar in Harvard Square when our Lyft driver dropped us at another establishment which did not fit us. We got so lucky to find Longfellows and the quaint but chic bar upstairs! The atmosphere was lively for a Wednesday eve but after a long flight from the west coast it was exactly what we wanted. Exposed brick and original plans of the building led to a gorgeous half moon bar with the best mixologist! Sadly we didn't get his name but the specialty cocktails he crafted were divine!! Perfect for two friends to unwind and get ready to explore this beautiful city! read more

This experience was a solid "eh" which was disappointing considering the hype I've been hearing. We started coming in with the reservation being on the wrong night, our fault and was accommodated quickly and nicely by the staff. Staff were virtuous throughout the night, though a little slow. The drinks were interesting and well made, but the bar menu for food was not very impressive. Nothing with veggie or health content that wasn't fried. The pretzel was good but topped with some very bitter and unpleasant homemade pickled veggies which we took off. The burger, which I have heard is their main item, was very rich and hard to finish. It was alright, but nothing to write home about. Might be back for drinks, but many other food options nearby I prefer personally. read more

Food was good, drinks were great. But service was rushed. The ambiance was nice and with moderate noise.