The Sinclair and I have a complicated relationship. On the plus side their roof deck is awesome. I mean it is just really pretty great. And their prices. Well their prices aren't AWFUL. So there's that. And uh... um. Yeah did I mention the roof deck? I went for brunch the other day and was sold on the sub-parness of this particular establishment. Most of my party got the breakfast plate (3 eggs, bacon, english muffins, tots or greens). The veggie folks subbed Bacon so that we could get both tots and greens, but they ended up still bringing us bacon. Hey, thats not so bad right? They forgot to bring the english muffins for all 4 of the orders... ok they brought them later. The poached eggs were a soup of egg, which was unsettling and sort of gross to look at. At one point they offered to refill coffee... only to find that they ran out of coffee. They actually have 0 veggie mains on the menu. Which seems hard to do for brunch. Even the French Toast has bacon in it. OK we get it, people really like bacon. Overall, not impressed. For the price the quality is low. But the roof deck! read more

If I wanted to wait 3 hours to get portions made for ants for prices made for the trumps, I will be back. Otherwise, I will be taking my patronage over to literally the hundreds of places near here that serve better food in a much faster way. We waited 45 minutes for our first round of drinks and our appetizers. Their small plates are really small - think tea cup plates. Their hummus was basically two chickpeas rubbed squashed together. Their oysters were fishy and unclean, and the rest of their food was pretty forgettable. They have good cocktails, but order only if you are willing to wait the 40+ minutes it takes for them to show up. All the while two hostesses sit and stare at their phones, while you sit and wonder where your waiter is. I am a pretty significant lightweight and I left sober, that is how long drinks took to show up. Nope, never again. Only go here if you have recently found out that you are immortal, and therefore have no urgency to get on with you day/night/life. read more

A group of friends and I went to Darlingside last night at the Sinclair and had an outstanding time. The doors opened at 8p so we had dinner in the restaurant first. The restaurant has a great vibe, interesting beer list/cocktails, pleasant service, and the food was really good! We had the Brussel sprouts, deviled eggs, and wings to start and all three were fantastic. Especially the sprouts! I had the burger and it was perfectly cooked and exactly what I was looking for. We finished up before the doors opened, were able to get our 21+ bracelets in the restaurant, and headed out into the venue without pause to go through security. Security was a little intense and could take it back a notch. Felt like they were on a bit of a power trip. You can keep things safe with out being a d bag. The venue is awesome. Intimate with great sound. It was a sold out show and it never felt packed. We stood on the mezzanine right above the sound board and had a terrific view of the stage. Bar/bathroom was right behind us...never waited for a beer once. The band stayed after and chatted with fans and signed some merch. I will definitely be back! This a great venue that allows you to get close and personal with your favorite musicians. read more

The food tasted fresh and was seasoned good. It was a cold day and we needed some Comfort food. Ordered the bake chicken, vegetarian chili, corn bread, Greek salad. I would recommend this place for sure. read more

The Sinclair - Out here on tour and we got vouchers to eat here. We are told the food Is good . - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This review is for the food and bar, not the music venue. After four or so visits over the last year, I had determined not to go back to The Sinclair. I just don't get Michael Schlow and he doesn't get me...his food and concepts are too weird for their own good (anyone remember Happy's??). As a big fan of Strip-Ts and Upstairs, I was delighted to learn that Matt Cunningham would be coming to take over The Sinclair menu. Sadly, The Sinclair still struggles to find its footing and I can't recommend it. Among the new menu options that I sampled, only the Southern Ramen stood out. It comes with a generous base of standard ramen noodles, an interesting broth, sofrito, ham, braised collard greens, and slices of brisket. It was unlike anything I'd had before in a really positive way. Three cheers for the Southern Ramen! The rest of the food fell flat. A "chopped salad" involved only lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and dressing. BBQ Brisket sliders consisted of nothing besides brisket and onions on bread, leaving them dry and tasteless. The bar burger was underflavored and uninventive. While the cocktail program is strong, our drinks were delivered with our entrees (a mortal sin in my book, particularly because the dining room was half empty). This brings up one last point: the service at The Sinclair was subpar, as it has been since the outset. Not outright rude, mind you, but simply uninterested and disengaged. I want Sinclair to succeed, but at this price there are better options in Harvard Square. read more

Wow. Four stars, but absolutely amazing. Where do I start? Linguini and clams? Sounds like something you've had before......but this prep is different - props to the chef (yes, I said props). BBQ Brussels sprouts? Not what you think. And it's a home run. Day boat halibut? This halibut probably jumped into the boat to be prepared this way. All around - I love it. Atmosphere - intimate. Food - stellar and surprising. Stuffed clams - fond of the concept, but nothing special - it's what you'd expect and that's not what this place is about; it's my only exception. But I'll end with the bar - great selections on draft and worthy cocktails from imaginative minds. Much appreciated. read more

Beware of the lying, discriminative, red head hostess (with long, frizzy, dry hair). I've never been so disrespected in my own city of all 28 years. I entered with a friend (Harvard grad student) on Sunday around 5:30pm, and asked to sit on the patio. The red head hostess said there were no available seats at the moment. I said, okay is there a wait list? She said, "there's no wait list but you can ask me again in 30 minutes." So I said that's fine and took a seat downstairs. When I went upstairs for the bathroom, I noticed that there were several open tables on the patio. On my way back down, I saw the hostess lead 3 people up to the patio. I asked her about the open table (seats 6 ppl) and she said, "oh that table was for those 3...we don't seat two separate parties at a table for 6." I said "oh, you mean you can't do communal seating?" And she said "yes." LIE. She also said, "seating on the patio is for dining only." LIE. Even though we ordered food and drinks. I sat back downstairs and saw the same red head hostess bring 6 more people up stairs. When she came down, I asked her why she told me there were no seats available but kept bringing people up. She said "those people are going up there for standing room, no seats." LIE. I asked our server, who seemed to also be the manager, if there was a wait list for the patio and he said YES. I said, the hostess told me there was no wait list. He said that was incorrect. He looked into it, and within a few minutes, he led me and my 2 friends up to a table on the patio. Sitting on the patio, I noticed several tables who only ordered drinks and no food (the hostess lied), I noticed at least one other open table (lied to), I noticed the hostess seat several parties at a communal table (lied to), and i noticed there were NO PEOPLE STANDING (another lie). The server/manager who seated us on the patio was great, our server was also good, and the drinks were good. They comped most of our drinks and all of our food. I wonder why. Maybe because they felt guilty? We were very nice, respectful and understanding from the moment we entered...WHY WOULD THE HOSTESS LIE SO MANY TIMES AND TREAT US THAT WAY? I'm not a mind reader, but I will say that me and my two friends are all Asian American, while 99% of everyone else on the patio was white. The restaurant has great potential--good manager, good drinks, good food. I hope they fire the red head hostess because what sticks the most from a restaurant experience is how you feel overall not just how things taste. read more

As far as an intimate, general admission music venue goes, The Sinclair has it. I love that the space is two-tiered, offering different vantage points and an escape should a mosh pit/crowd-surfing emerge. The stage is elevated a good five feet ensuring everyone, even those in the back of the first level, has a view, and the lighting only adds to the show power. The sound is crystal clear and not deafening. The lobby is small considering it holds both merch tables and the bar, but it didn't seem to jam during my recent visit to a sold-out show. Drinks are reasonably priced for a Boston/Cambridge venue, although the draft beer selection disappointed; they make up for it slightly in the bottle selection though. The Sinclair is located just outside Harvard Square off Brattle Street, which is a fabulous location, and the streets are not as congested as I imagined. Parking at the lot across the street will set you back a hefty $20, but if you're not afraid of a little walking (a block or two), you will probably get lucky enough to find street parking, or the University Center parking garage (entrance on University Road) is $9 with the online coupon. Definitely check out a show at The Sinclair. I will be keeping an eye on their calendar for another opportunity to visit. read more

This is only for the food/bar - I haven't gone to a show there. Also, I was there on one of the special nights (Valentine's), not just the normal menu (which I haven't had anything from). Decor/Design: nice Wait staff: nice Ability to make good looking/sounding menus: excellent Drinks: not bad Food: worse than awful Starter was chicken wings. Actually pretty tasty, but massively sweet. It was like eating candied chicken. And they gave roughly 10lbs of it, as the appetizer. While I am American and can appreciate "That's a lot of food" it isn't always a good thing, particularly when there is more food coming. The main dish was duck - the first bite was tasty, but as I got further into it, the thing was way way way waaaay too salty, and too fatty. Duck is fatty, so that's kind of a thing, I get that - but this was awful and not "melt in your mouth" so much as it was "that's a lot of chewing, and I'm still literally choking on fat." But far and away the best example of how godawful this place is, was the "Whoopie Pie" that they served. The Whoopie Pie is a New England thing, perhaps even just Maine. It is a sweet chocolate cookie that is moist, two of those. Pushing "cake like in texture" but pushing cookie texture is acceptable. The filling is usually something between marshmallow fluff and cake icing in texture, and sweet. So after the chicken wing starters were candied, I guess the chef just decided F-it, dessert shouldn't be sweet. The chocolate part read as chocolate in that it was dark brown, but it tasted like... horrible. Like gummy cardboard and coffee grinds. The cream filler was a mix of butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and hummus. There was a very strong flavor of garlic. It was very thick, and absolutely revolting. All of that covered with rainbow sprinkles and powdered sugar, like an afterthought to remind us that this is actually a dessert even though it tastes like hummus and feels like cold cake batter. It was over $200 for two people. Have awful food, sure, but be cheap. Don't charge me that much for awful food. Again, the staffed were all very nice, and the cocktails were fine. Never going back there, ever. read more

Be pleased that you've found one of the trendier bars in H^2. While you will pay out of the nose for it, the cocktails here are worth exploring, especially downstairs in the kitchen where the bartenders are talented and eager to please. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights tend to have mid-tier musicians come through, so stop in and you can say that you saw them before they were cool. Patio out back is good for sunny days, but check nearby Charlie's Kitchen/Garden first. If they are full, then the Sinclair is a great sunny day second choice. read more

The dinner here is okay, but nothing special. I've been several times given the convenience of the location, but I'm never wowed. They have an interesting assortment of foods on the menu, but they never quite deliver what one would expect. Even the burger was disappointing (cooked well despite ordering medium rare). On the plus side, the restaurant itself is nice with long tables that can accommodate large groups and a big bar up front. read more

First time at The Sinclair to see some music with friends. I was really enjoying the place, until I was approached by two staff members who appeared to be about 19 years old. They came over to scold me for smoking my e-cigarette. There is no posted policy on the Sincliar website in regard to e-cigarettes AND I can find no law in the city of Cambridge against the use of e-cigs. One of "the boys" kept insisting "but you're smoking!" and I kept insisting "no, I'm exhaling water vapor just like you are with every exhalation you make, but mine are more visible". He didn't get it. The other chemical in e-cigs is the same used in the smoke machines used by bands. I asked to speak to the "manager". She also appeared to be about 19. I explained to all three of them that when they were in diapers back in the 90's, they wouldn't have recognized the rock clubs of Cambridge. Clouds of tobacco smoke hung in the air, everyone smoked, flung their cigarettes on the wooden floors, stomped them out, and lit up another one. Times have changed. We no longer smell like ash trays, and after 23 years with the dirty habit, I've switched to this cleaner one (and only when I drink), my e-cigs also have no nicotine, just flavor and water. Anyway, I believe that establishments have the right to set their own policy, however, they should make said policies known and post them somewhere and also educate their staff. It made me angry. Welcome to America, 2014, check your Freedoms at the door, let's all hold hands. Otherwise, the place was pretty cool. read more

Not as amazing as I had expected and I don't blame it on the band! (since I've heard them before elsewhere). FOOD-WISE Go for the small plates. They've got some items with good flavors and reasonable prices for sharing. Our faves were the tots, the fried pickles, brussels sprouts... Not so faves were the mac and cheese, the pot of mushrooms. We had dinner. Friends got the burger, which was not at all CLOSE to order preference (a med rare request came out well done). I got the kimcheesesteak, which was a nice flavor but too heavy for my liking. Perhaps it was due to all the beer and apps... Other friend got the gnocchi. Not sure if she liked it, but it was consumed. Friendly service. Dark upstairs, but spacious seating and a generally neat-o vibe. MUSIC-WISE Although we escaped the rain by walking through the restaurant to enter the music hall; the staff weren't set up to check our IDs that way.. so we had to go outside and wait in line. :( Get clever with the coat check (your sleeves are bigger than you realize); otherwise you'll get slammed with a $2 per item charge. Only one bartender was taking cards to leave a tab open (took both card + ID... odd). You also had to go to this bartender to close tab. Also strange. Musically, the sound kinda sucked.. I liked the layout, especially with bar and bathroom placement + mezzanine/balcony standing room. But the sound was awful. Actually, the space reminded me of a MINI house of blues. And from the balcony, the sound is horrifyingly awful. Sorry... same at the HOB in my opinion. read more

Not sure why this place went downhill so hard. I haven't eaten here in two years until the other night and the food was so disappointing. Portions were a complete joke and nothing was inspired or fabulous at all. Mussels, extremely boring and small. Hummus, ridiculously small, perhaps would be satisfactory for a baby pigeon. Arancini was way way way way way way way way too crunchy and, yep, small. The tacos? So good! But INSANELY miniature for $13. So essentially, everything was microscopic. Yes, I needed an actual microscope to look at what was served. If the prices matched the size, then whatever. Obviously the prices were BEYOND absurd for what was presented. Super disappointed, will never dine here again unless the disco waffle fries come back. Why did those have to leave anyway? They were possibly the best snack food I've had in my entire life. Need them, still dream about them. Good drinks, ice water, fork, knife, and perhaps one of the most immaculate restrooms in the square. Food needs therapy. read more

Terrible venue and partnered with a terrible ticket sale vendor. Can't even buy tickets to their shows because of their partnership with axs which is another crap company. Their staff is useless in assisting with this. Will never go to a show at this dump again. read more

I don't want anybody to get the wrong idea, I'm talking music venue here. If it's wrong to declare my love for the Sinclair after a mere two dates, then I don't wanna be right. Because I truly believe that we are soul mates. This week I was at an intimate "VIP" show for an artist who usually plays venues such as The Orpheum or HOB. For several songs he went off mic and off amp, and the acoustics in this place blew me away. Previously I was at a packed show on a weekend, and I felt just as comfortable as I did at the show with half as many people. I've stood, sat and leaned in various locations both on the main floor and the mezzanine, and I think I can safely declare that there is not a bad view in the house; which is rare in area music venues. The design aesthetic is definitely a little bit hipster, but not so much that it hurts. Exposed brick, industrial design three different bar areas with decent enough beer selections and mostly terrible wine choices. Prices for drinks are a little bit lower than I've come to expect at music venues (bonus!). Before The Sinclair came into my life, I had enough other options that I never even knew I needed it; but now that I've been I can't imagine living without it. I'm not too proud to echo those that came before me: absolutely my new favorite venue! read more

I am reviewing this place both as a restaurant and as a music venu. Both get 5 stars though! The Restauraunt: The atmosphere feels very NY. It feels classy, urban, and fresh. The tables are long wooden farmers tables or booths, with simplistic decor touches that are almost too minimal to notice but stand out at the same time. The bar serves as the center, almost as if it were a large piece of art that everyone admires, but this art is busy, exciting and alive. The menu is eclectic and unique, mixing flavors and foods that you wouldn't expect. We ordered the chicken wings, the cheese dip, the fries, the Brussels sprouts, sweet potato croquettes and tartine. Every dish was a 10/10 in flavor, presentation, freshness, and overall experience. The only negative of the dishes to take note when ordering is that they are small. Overall, I fell in love with the kitchen. The venue: The venue is very funky, industrial feeling but also the classic traditional theater feel all at the same time. The venue was large enough that I didn't feel cramped/stepped on, but still busy enough that you were annoyed to be around that many people. The balcony was very neat, with rows of single chairs that look over to the stage, and also larger theatrical type seating sections. It was a very personalized, unique, intimate setting to see a performance. The bar options/specials are fun, interesting and make for a truly unique experience. read more

Easiest way to get me to change this to five stars? Have a freaking coat check when you have a sold out show and it's 10 degrees out. Venue is cool, drinks were about what you'd expect. But the night was not as great because we had to hold our enormous jackets the whole time. read more

This place is new! A little bit hard to notice when walking by on Church St as it's not right next to the sidewalk. It feels like a mix between Park and Cambridge 1 in terms of ambience and food. I went with a group of 8. For a drink I ordered the Kentucky Luau since I prefer cocktails on the sweet side. It was a little watery but decent. The appetizers were awesome. We had the mussels, fried oysters, Brussels sprouts, and disco fries. The red curry sauce for the mussels was very tasty. My favorite was the Brussels sprouts - the egg and bacon in there made it salty with the right texture. For an entrée I ordered the skate. The waiter told me it was the healthy option among the burgers, ravioli and other carb and meat heavy stuff. The fish was tender throughout but crunchy on top. Combined with the sauce it tasted great. The bok choy was eh, but that has never been my favorite vegetable. For dessert we shared the pecan pie and tiramisu, both generous portions. The pecan pie was different since it was mostly chocolate with some pecans embedded in it. Service was nice. The only glitch was the waiter forgetting to bring milk for our coffee. But very courteous and helpful. Would definitely go back. read more

This relatively new live music venue in Cambridge is about as cool as it gets. It immediately reminded me of La Zona Rosa in Austin, and any live music venue that puts one in mind of something in Austin is a cool thing. It's run by the folks who operate the Bowery theaters in NYC, so you know they know a thing or two about how to make a cool venue. Inside, you pop your stuff into the coat check room, the attendant of which was super friendly and cheerful. The bar is immediately on your left as you go in, and the gentleman manning it was also uber friendly. We ordered a couple of beers and walked into the main audience chamber, which is cozy and affords a great view of the stage from all angles. The performers are raised up about 6 feet, so even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar couldn't really obscure your view of the stage. Great acoustics, great lighting and really nice atmosphere at this awesome live music venue. Definitely come for a show! read more

This was my 1st time in this highly anticipated venue. Its not every day that one opens in the Boston Metro area. The facility is clean & very inviting plus the bands are straight ahead with very little obstructions. I absolutely enjoy the option of hanging on the floor, in the balcony or in the back bar away from the action. I truly cannot wait to see more bands there. The three bars are fairly priced & in good locations. Plus they had a bathroom upstairs & downstairs, nice touch. Being on the red line makes this place uber convenient & being in the heart of Harvard Square gives one many options before the main event. I heard there is a restaurant in here too & it was not open when I was there but that would be another cool addition that would just add to the place. Harvard Square parking is still awful, so be forewarned. read more

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Loved this venue. My jack and coke was strong and moderately priced, there are 3 separate bars so never a long wait. Acoustics and lights were great. Pretty big size for what it looks like from the outside. The BEST BEST BEST part is the balcony mezzanine area. I LOVE when clubs/venues do this. It's not hot and sweaty like the dance floor from all the kids high on ecstasy, gives you a little more room, short people like me can actually SEE and you can still totally dance!! I would buy your tickets ahead of time for popular shows! Papadosio was sold out and I heard that many people were turned away because of it. Would definitely recommend read more

This review is for the concert venue, not the restaurant. I just saw Matt Wertz play here. It was a great venue. There were so many "front row" viewing opportunities thanks to the wrap-around upper level. The sound was clear and at the right volume during the show. The bar was open with a good selection. 1 beer and 1 mixed drink came to $14.00, which I found very reasonable for the area. One of the best things is that I happened to get a great on-street parking spot just a half block away, which is always a huge plus! All in all, it was a great place, and I'd definitely come see another show here. read more

TL;DR This place is amazing. So first off the food: Incredible. The chefs must use some form of wizardry and ground up ecstasy. Everything I ate here was phenomenal. It's what I assume angels must taste like. If for no other reason, make your way here to let the chefs dazzle your taste buds. The drinks: "Smoking the hive": a house creation, one of many, was not only delicious, but is served generously. There is clearly NO "$20 shot, watered down and mixed with ice and other fillers" here. I, for the first time, felt I got the drink I paid for. Lastly and most importantly, the service: I cant remember the last time I hit a bar and felt like I mattered. Adam, Dale, and Dave: Thank you, truly, thank you. I was served promptly and cheerfully. They all made a point to make sure I was addressed by the time my drink got low and before I was waiting for one with an empty glass. These three gentlemen are masters of their craft and went as far as to confirm the cocktail was to my liking or if it needed anything extra before walking away. If I can emphasize nothing else: THIS PLACE IS WORTH IT FOR THE SERVICE ALONE. This place is incredible. Do yourself a favor and swing by for a drink. read more

Had high expectations, but was disappointed. Atmosphere was cool, menu selection looked good food presentation was awesome. But taste was bland!!!! So sad- but I have to be honest. read more

Review of the music venue - I love this place and they book great acts! They have a nice selection of beers and multiple bars so you're not waiting too long for drinks. Mezzanine provides a good vantage point for short people and those who don't want to be in the crowd bumping shoulders. Only complaint is that their mixed drinks are a little subpar. I'm not looking for a super strong drink; however, one should be able to tell that there is alcohol in their drink - one of my drinks tasted like pure coca cola sans whiskey. So come for the bands, maybe skip the mixed drinks. read more

Thw security here will leave you feeling completely violated. I have been on dates that didn't feel me up as much as the security here did. Sad because the venue itself is quite enjoyable. read more

Oh no! 24 hours later and I'm still chugging water due to my involuntary overwhelming salt intake. In fact, I went on a hike earlier and was sweating salt from all of my pores. Our entrees - chicken and steak salad - were unbearable. We had to abandon our meals, which we rarely do! When I casually mentioned to the waiter that he should tell the chef to chill on the salt, he didn't bat an eye. Needless to say, the chef never got my message. Oh and the service otherwise was very, very slow. We were twiddling our thumbs for 20 minutes (at least) before we got our cocktails. Super meh experience. read more

I have been one time to this place and I do not plan to ever come back, this place is really awful ! The staff was really rude. I am usually a low maintenance customer and rarely complain but this time I saw bouncers pushing customers or throwing their id back at them, barman ignoring me or getting annoyed if I was asking for drinks. Finally the inside is dark and dirty, without a good vibe and the crowd is rather old and trashy. read more

I promised my bestie that I wouldn't be too harsh in this review, so here is an attempt at being coolly objective: The Sinclair suffers from a dire lack of quality top-level management. I think this is the reason that its wait staff is so unmotivated and utterly blase about doing their jobs. I think this also may be the reason that there is a serious lack of interest in meeting customer needs by being flexible with the menu. Also, if you are vegan, do not go here. There are a variety of menus used throughout the day, it appears, and some have vegan possibilities, but some don't. And oddly the kitchen is unwilling/unable to do anything off (the current) menu to accomodate that. I went here yesterday with a friend of mine, and I was so excited to see such a cool-looking spot in Harvard Square. "Finally! A place that has some style and a wicked patio!" The hostess was uber fashionable and pleasant, and we told her we basically just wanted cocktails on the patio. She informed us that, due to Cambridge regulations, we would be required to order food. "No problem, we're used to it!" we said cheerily. We got up to the patio, which was sparsely populated, as it was around 2:30 on a Sunday. A server came and brought us water, but our "real" server didn't stroll by to talk to us for maybe 8 minutes. He took our drink order, and then I asked whether anything on the menu could be made vegan, and if not, if the chef could put something together. (Note: there were plenty of veggies on the menu, I didn't think this would be a problem). "Even just an avocado, that would be fine!" I trilled at him. Fifteen minutes later, he wanders over with our drinks and then tells us that the kitchen can't do anything vegan. Whatever, that was fine - we really wanted the drinks alone anyway. (They were quite good, btw - huge basil leaf in the bright cocktail). Maybe five minutes later, another server came over to ask if we were going to order food because the menu we had was now obsolete, changing over into the early evening menu. I told him about the vegan conundrum, and he said he'd talk to the kitchen about it. (He didn't; or at least if he did he never reported back his findings). Maybe ten minutes later, a third friend joined us. She was starving, and we told her that the current menus were out of date. She's like, "Weird, why wouldn't they have brought updated ones when they seated me?" The server came over, re-explained that the menu we had was out of date, and my friend politely cut him off and suggested that he bring the new menu. He sauntered away, and brought the new one back. She scanned it and immediately ordered (so he wouldn't lope away again for twenty minutes). She got a michelada and a kale/farro/tomato salad that had feta on it. I started laughing, since obviously this salad could be made vegan if you just left the cheese off. Like, did the kitchen NOT have those ingredients when I tried to order twenty minutes ago? My other friend (at this point slightly tipsy from a second cocktail) tried to order "disco fries" and was told that they were on the mid-morning menu and the evening menu, but NOT on the early evening menu. Seriously, I wish I was making this up. So, to sum up this overly epic post, The Sinclair has oh-so-much potential but REALLY fails at customer service, both in terms of flexibility and in terms of efficiency. Management needs to do some serious training of their service staff, and definitely needs to step up their vegan game. They ARE in Harvard Square after all. I guarantee I won't be the first and last one in there, and tossing us a bone now and then won't kill you. read more

The venue would get five stars from me, but the kitchen would get 2 (maybe less). I LOVE seeing shows at the Sinclair. The bartenders in the music hall are friendly and fast. The sound quality is fantastic. There's not a bad place to stand in the house (although you might get spilled on if you're in the wrong spot under the balcony). But once you walk out those double doors into the restaurant...it's a hotbed of rudeness and poor customer service. I've had two instances there that come to mind. I was going to bite my tongue about both of them, but months later for one and days later for the other, they're still irking me. One's not a big deal, the other...probably the worst that I've ever been treated at any restaurant ever and has made me decide to never eat there again, great roof deck notwithstanding. First, the not that big of a deal situation... I was about to enter the venue and there was no ticket taker at the door. There was a small, mousey girl standing by the box office, who I figured was just standing there waiting for a friend. So, after looking around, and seeing no one, I kept going into the hall. The mousey girl ran over and rudely said, "I need your ticket." And when I smiled at her and said, "You're not standing where you usually stand." I got a cold, unsmiling, frigid stare. Whatever, she's not that nice. She hates her job. I can't be mad at her for long. But, then last Saturday night, my guy and I decided to get some apps and cocktails on the roof deck. Our waitress was very soft spoken and difficult to hear (especially for someone like me who has attended one too many shows downstairs.) I ordered a cider, and she asked me if I wanted a glass with it. I didn't hear her and kept going with our food order. She made a hand motion like bringing a glass to her mouth and said to me like I was mentally challenged, "Would. You. Like. A. Glass. With. That?" My guy and I exchanged a look, sort of like, "Did that just happen?" I was in the service industry once, when customers don't hear you on something that you don't really need an answer to, you either say it louder, or you just bring them the damn glass. You don't insult them by speaking to them like a child and make them feel like they want to dropkick you before the meal even starts. And then when I asked her what the oysters were, she said "Duxbury-based." And when I asked her "Island Creek?" She looked exasperated like she was just going to walk away any minute. So, I just said "forget the oysters". So, yeah, as other reviewers said, the food's not very good, and the staff (outside the music venue part), well, they're pretty rude. Next time there's a show, I'll probably hit Charlie's Kitchen or Russell House or Beat Hotel, or any of the other places in the area where the staff is cool and attentive and have dinner there beforehand and just go for the show at the Sinclair. read more

Summary: Great music venue, good drinks, not great food. Venue: 5 Food: 2 I love seeing shows here. The venue is great and the crowds are usually dynamic but no one has ever shoved to get in front of me. The Brunch food left something to be desired. The food just wasn't that enjoyable and part of one of our dishes was so buttery, it was inedible. My bloody mary was delicious. I will definitely come back for drinks and shows but not for brunch until they get the kinks worked out. read more

Two out of town guests from Arkansas walked into this establishment after hours of online research trying to find the best brunch in Boston. Well the food was delicious but if it had not been for the numerous positive reviews we read online, we would've walked out of the restaurant. Our first impression was walking out up to a locked door at 11:00 and the hostess standing outside. We immediately asked her if they were open to which she shortly replies "No" with no explanation as to when the doors would open and immediately walked inside with us waiting on the porch. After 5 or so minutes, she walks back outside, unlocks the door and walks inside without saying a word to us as we stare at her for some sort of direction. It was truly bizarre not to mention rude and after talking over if we even wanted to go in, we decided to try it out. We were once again met by the extremely chilly hostess and seated. As the first and only two patrons, you would think service would be top notch. Unfortunately, it took 10 minutes before someone approached us and poured two glasses of water. He didn't make eye contact or even speak a word to us. Finally, our waitress approached and asked what we would like. Service after that was mediocre but our first impression was absolutely awful. In my book, delicious food can never trump shitty service. read more

Last night was my first time at The Sinclair. I wasn't super impressed after hearing the great reviews from friends and other diners. When we got there the staff didn't really seem to know who was serving us. They were scattered and looked at us a few times as if to say "are you my table? you're not my table...I don't think." Then, I asked about the Steak + Salad that's on their menu. The waitress told me it was so good and very large. It's $23 and the second most expensive item, so I was expecting just that- a huge salad with lot of steak on it. Instead, I got some chopped iceberg lettuce with a few little pieces of steak on the side. The drink was alright, nothing to go crazy over, but nothing to complain about. Overall, I won't be going back read more

This has to be one of my favorite concert venues in Boston. It's smack dab in the middle of Harvard Square where it's popping. The venue is beautiful. They even have a dining area that I have yet to try. I've been to quite a few shows here: The Knocks, Sam Smith, Mura Masa, and Bondax. Thoroughly enjoyed every show. The vibes are so chill. High ceilings, a separate bar area when you first enter. This venue is a huge proponent of digital tickets. Either they look at your credit card or ask for your e-ticket. This place is pretty good about letting the concert goers about the set times. Concerts here are always a good time. Again, I have yet to try their food! read more

I came here for a concert recently and didn't try the food, so I guess there's potential for improvement there. The vibe is good (lots of concrete), but the bartenders seemed pretty grumpy/rude. PBR/Narragansett is $4 for a large can. It's $5 for a shot of Fernet or branca menta (mint liqueur) and $8 for a shot otherwise. I guess they're probably trying to be classy, but I would recommend getting drinks nearby before coming here if you're not a cheap beer person. On the plus side, there are (at least) two bars inside the venue so you won't have to wait long. As others have mentioned, the time on the ticket is the time that the doors open. When I was here, the doors opened at 8 but the artist didn't come out for another 2.5 hours, which was obnoxious but not necessarily the fault of the venue. I wouldn't have minded so much if the bar weren't overpriced and unwelcoming. I would consider coming back here if they had someone I wanted to see, but I wouldn't call it my favorite venue in the area. read more

I will preface by saying, I have not eaten in the dining room, only attended a show. In the last year, I've probably passed this spot maybe a thousand times, but never realized there was a music hall tucked away. The Venue is absolutely fabulous. You walk into a sort of rustic but modern bar area, that is tastefully and minimally decorated. For the particular show I attended, they also had an oyster bar in the area which was strange but awesome at the same time. You could walk up to the hallowed out boat and someone would open up an oyster for you and you could add your favorite fixings. If you then turned to the right while swallowing the slimy creature, you can see the stage of the Sinclair. The stage is nothing phenomenal but the concert hall it's self is awesome for the many seating, standing and especially lounging areas they have. You can stand on the first floor if you'd like, or head up the stairs to the left and sit at tables. There is also stadium seating on the right side with great views of the stage that make you feel like you're sweating with the band. Best part about this place is they have an maximum occupancy, so you'll never feel like you're over crowded. I recommend attending a show just for the atmosphere, if you don't have time to come for a bigger name, although there are plenty available. read more

BEST. BRUNCH. I'VE. EVER. HAD.....EVER. I might sound like I'm over exaggerating, but it was like I died and found Brunch heaven. Not only is the service really great, but the food exceeded my expectations. If you get the change to eat at The Sinclair, I highly recommend the waffle burger (or just a waffle in general) and the mimosa flight. Really such an amazing place. It may just be me, but Harvard Square is already a little hard to navigate as it is and it was a little hard to find the Sinclair the first time, but believe me, I'll never forget where it is now. It was also pretty quiet inside and much less busy than I though it would be on a Sunday. Either way, great food, great people, great location. Bravo Sinclair, Bravo. read more

We came and enjoyed the upper deck on a nice day. The waiter was peppy and in a good mood. We enjoyed our entrees. I tried the duck Benedict good but on salty side. They have good choice for drafts and the inside has a great feel for herring together with friends. read more

I've gone to several shows here and I'm glad there is a decent music venue in Harvard Square. The place isn't very big and the balcony is great for getting a birds-eye view of the crowd and the stage without feeling far away. If you buy your tickets at the box office ahead of time instead of buying online, you have to pay cash, but you can bypass all of the foolish add-on charges that totally inflate the ticket prices by the time you hit the checkout button. The show prices are very reasonable as well. I've paid between $12 and 20 for shows here, although $12 might have been more the price when people hadn't really discovered the place yet. I've only eaten there once for a burger. It was $15. The burger was really good, but between that and drinks before the show, we were in it for $80 before the show, so it was a pricey night out and I tend to grab dinner somewhere else before the show. read more