RESTAURANT REVIEW: We came into The Sinclair with the proper expectations. The online reviews really had me second guessing myself given the mediocre reviews. I had been wanting to eat here for a while to experience the patio and the interesting menu. To start we had the Tuscan Kale Salad with walnuts as well as Brussels sprouts. The Tuscan salad had the right amount of salad dressing and walnuts, but wasn't anything special. The Brussels sprouts were very tasty with a mix of molasses pickled garlic, red jalapenos and walnuts (maybe a little too much salt). For entrees my wife had the catfish special which was pan seared catfish with a different variety of brussels sprouts. The catfish was cooked well but was waaay over salted, which seemed to be a theme at this place. I had the Southern Ramen, which was very good. It had chunks of tasso ham, butter braised collard greens, brisket (too fatty), jalapeno sofrito (not enough spice for me) and egg. It was really good, but the salt from the other dishes combined with this really made me feel a little off... We tried the Rose, Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec. The Rose and Sauvignon B were pretty typical and the malbec was underwhelming. Their cocktails looked really good. I'll have to come back for some of that. The service was decent here and our waitress was well versed with all the options. I want to come back here, but I don't think I can come with my wife as this menu is tilted way too much towards fatty/salty "comfort foods", so maybe I'll come in for a bite before a concert sometime. read more

The Sinclair - Pan seared catfish with brussels sprouts. - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

This review is for the venue only, I have not eaten in the restaurant. BEST MUSIC VENUE IN BOSTON. I truly believe that. I am always really excited when I see a band I like will be playing at The Sinclair. I love the size of it (not too big, not too small ) and the fact that there are 3 bars ( 2 downstairs and one upstairs. I love getting there early and getting a spot up on the balcony, where the view is perfect! There is also a bathroom upstairs as well which is super convenient. Overall can't say enough awesome stuff about this venue! read more

Sinclair is absolutely one of my favorite places in Boston - for so many reasons. 1. It's a great venue that always has decent acts to see. 2. the food/drinks are always really good. I am absolutely addicted to the roasted brussel sprouts - and it's a serious problem. They set the bar in the city and nobody can match them. 3. The service is always super good. In the trillion times I've been at both the front restaurant and the venue itself - I think I've maybe only had one(?) bartender who was a bit crabby. Every other time they've been super pleasant and great. read more

The Sinclair - The Brussel sprouts - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Okay I reeeally liked this place. I go to a lot of concerts in Boston at lots of different Venues but for some reason I've never been to the Sinclair until last night... One of my favorite bands I discovered while studying abroad was there - Goldfish - was playing there and tickets were only $23. It was easy to find, had a GREAT atmosphere, there was no bad place to stand or dance that didn't have a view, and the acoustics were great. I'd absolutely go again! read more

See all

Pretty good music venue! The Sinclair is tucked away near Harvard Square, so I really didn't know it existed for a while. They tend to host smaller performers, since it's a smaller space. The entrance is pretty typical, and since they have steps there's a little more room to wait in line before you walk in. The space is small - there's standing room, a balcony, and a small section of seats on the second floor balcony. I definitely prefer GA, since I don't really think the space is big enough so that the balcony seating gives you a better view. There are two bars, one of them bigger than the other. Prices are pretty reasonable (7$ for a single shot drink, beers are well priced) but I don't think they serve double shot drinks. Tickets tend to be cheaper than other venues in the area, but make sure to book fast because they sell out faster since the Sinclare is a lot smaller. read more

This review is for the restaurant, not the concert venue. Great atmosphere and plenty of space for large parties with two floors of seating. My friends got the veggie burgers and the crispy pork sandwich and I ordered the Sinclair burger. A few of us opted to replace the regular fries with chickpea fries (extra $5). Both sides were delicious. The burgers and pork sandwich were also fantastic. I would have given it 5 stars but the service was very slow. It took about 50 minutes for our food to come out. Thankfully it was worth the wait. read more

The Sinclair - Crispy pork sandwich with chickpea fries - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

I have heard about this place for awhile now. During my Sunday bike ride, I decided to finally give this place a try. I rode from Dorchester to Havard square and I needed to fuel up for the ride back. I have no comment on the food here. My visit was for drink only. Beautiful bar made from nice dark wood. I only stayed downstairs. Decent sized room with a cool decor. It's a nice place to chill at. My overall grade for this place is very high. It had everything that I need to have a seat with a drink. I am not picky. Just a simple man that needs a drink to escape a complicated life for afew. read more

The Sinclair - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Great place to watch a band. Presents an option that the Square was seriously lacking and hopefully this place takes off. Beers are $7 and there are bars upstairs and downstairs, which is great. Lines can get long - but in what venue is that not a problem? You can also bring food over from Sinclair's Kitchen if you have gone early to stake your territory and need to pass a few hours waiting..we did not try this but the fried chicken that was coming out of there to nourish the band pre-show smelled like heaven. read more

The Sinclair - Full house for Rebirth Brass Band! - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

So far, my favorite music venue in the Boston area. I've been to several shows at the Sinclair, and while each experience hasn't been "perfect", it's certainly head and shoulders above many comparable venues. Parking: There are a couple of parking garages and lots within a block or two of the Sinclair. Be prepared to pay $20 or so-- I don't recall the exact price. Garages/lots are great for when you don't have the time or patience to drive around looking for street parking. While you may find street parking on Church St. (where the Sinclair is located), circling back to Brattle St. will be the most likely place you'll find available parking within a couple of blocks of the venue. Meters don't require payment most of the times you'll be at Sinclair for a concert. Location: A short distance from the Harvard red line T stop. Walking distance to Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, dozens of restaurants, shops, bars, etc. Can be a very busy area (both cars and pedestrians), especially Friday-Sunday, so allow a little extra travel time. Sinclair functions as both a music venue and a bar/restaurant, which is handy for those looking to stay close to the venue. Ambiance: As a music venue, I definitely prefer the "vibe" of Sinclair to almost any other in the area. It's well-kept, clean, open, with several bars, and a clearly defined merch area, coat check, will call, etc. A mostly "younger" crowd, 20s-40s, but they do have all-ages shows, too. Shows never get out of hand, and the crowd is never sloppy, drunk, or boisterous, just a lot of music-lovers enjoying the gig. Sight lines are exceptional: you have a good view of the stage pretty much anywhere you're standing. There's also a mezzanine for those who want to step up and away from the floor, which can get crowded during a sold-out or popular show. Sound is always top notch; I've never been to a show at the Sinclair that had any technical issues. Same could be said for lights. Staff: Most staff I've encountered are pleasant and "chill", considering they're dealing with hundreds of concert goers. IDs are checked for wristbands (alcohol purchasers) upon arrival. Will call was a breeze. I've never been searched at ticket check, though I don't ever bring a large bag or purse. Bartenders (at least the one dude I've seen on multiple occasions) are a bit off-putting: unfriendly, not at all cordial. But at least the bar line moves quickly. A standard mixed drink will run you $8 before tip. We had a stage-rusher at the most recent show I went to; unfortunately, security took several minutes to get this person off the stage, which made it incredibly awkward for the performers (who were visibly uncomfortable) and the crowd. Price: Ticket prices hover at $20, more or less, which is definitely the "comfort zone" for concert goers. Any more, and I tend to question whether it's "worth it". As mentioned above, a standard/simple mixed drink will be ~$8 a piece. Surprisingly, beer is also right around that mark; they offer a lot of microbrews and artisanal beer, so that may explain the price. Parking can be obtained for free if you're patient. The Sinclair is my preferred venue. I'm much more likely to go here on a random weekday night for some band I've never heard of, and happily pay the $22.50 + taxes and fees to do so. It's one of those places you can trust to have a "good night out." read more

This review is for the venue only. The bouncer was extremely rude. I had only ordered two drinks at the bar and was having fun with my friends. When I went up to order another drink, the bouncer went out of his way to tell the bartender that I was cut off, and they handed me water. But I'm in Boston visiting friends, so I had one of them get me a drink instead. My friend handed me the drink, but as soon as I took a sip, the bouncer came up to me again and told me that because he saw me stumble once, in heels, and that I had to leave. I felt specifically targeted because there were a lot more people at the venue than just me and my group of friends. Additionally, a few songs had played between when I tried to order at the bar and when my friend got me my drink, which means the bouncer was watching me, and that made me extremely uncomfortable and worried about my safety. read more

Horrible service!!! Took my money and didn't let me in. DO NOT GO. Bouncer are shit and rude . REFUSED TO LET ME IN EVEN THOUGH IM OF AGE. Didn't bring drinks anywhere near yet they claim they saw me drinming. read more

The good: The brussel sprouts were to die for. The portion size was large. For an appetizer, it was a generous portion. We have an avavado sandwich appetizer that was definitely better than expected. It tasted like a summer snack. Grilled chicken over mashed potatoes is one of my favorite dishes to order. Now, this restaurant is my favorite place to order one of my favorite dishes. I loved the way they prepared this. There was even some spinach under the mash that was a welcome surprise. Good service. They were very attentive and not over bearing. We like our moscow mules very cold. The one served could have been colder, but this stays in "the good" because the bartender seemed to have a heavy hand. The bad: Though we got their early and requested outdoor seating in our reservation, there was no outdoor seating available. We ended up sitting on the second floor indoors. It was cute, but not what we wanted. The lighting on the first floor is a bit too dark. For this reason, we were happy to be on the second floor where a lot of natural light comes in. They don't do surprise birthday songs or treats for people's birthdays. I asked if they can do something for my date and I was told they don't do that. So don't try. read more

See all

I'm not sure if she was just having a bad night but this one sad female worker at the Hovvdy concert refused to let us stand inside for the four min wait for our Uber so we stood in the cold just outside the door while she watched from inside to her pleasure. She basically shoved us down the hall while yelling aggressively to get out so we asked why she was so rude to which she responded, "I'm not paid enough to be nice." This was less than five minutes following the end of the concert so we also had to chug our $10 beers we had just paid for. I could continue to say even worse things about our experience with her but this poor thing clearly needs this job so she can boss people around to boost her ego -- she'd clearly crumble without it. I wish her all the best read more

I'm writing this restaurant review for one thing and one thing only= THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Holy moly! They have the best brussels sprouts that I've ever put in my mouth. And I mean *EVER*. Our entire table of 5 agreed. So naturally, we ended up ordering several more rounds of these tasty little morsels from heaven, which is something that I've never done at a restaurant for a typically straight-forward side dish. Whatever you do... ORDER THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS! read more

Excellent cocktails. Get the Hot Damn! Spicy. Complex. Delicious. Served with a single cube of ice and mixed with love. ...and the show venue didn't suck either. Perfect size for an intimate evening with great music. read more

The Sinclair - Hot Damn! ....that cube of ice changed my life. - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great new music venue for Boston. Food is stellar too! Check it out, you won't be disappointed. read more

I saw a friend perform here a few weeks ago, and this venue sticks out in my mind as one of the best I've been to in the Boston area. It's not too big, not too small, acoustics were great, bars were quick... high five, Sinclair. I'll be seeing you again! :) (Music Venue review only) read more

The Sinclair - before the show - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

This is just a review for their concert venue. Saw The Neal Morse Band here last night and the experience was great. It was a GA show, soo assumed it meant standing room only. I contacted the Sinclair a couple months ago via their FB page and asked if there were any seats as I can't stand for 2+ hours. The staff member promptly and offered to reserve 2 seats for me! When we got to the venue, I discovered that the whole floor had seats and they were mostly full at this point. Thinking the reserved seats were up on the balcony, I found a staff member by the stage and asked who I need to talk to about seats I reserved. He said "Are you Chad?" I nodded and he pointed to 2 seats in the fourth row with my name on it! I was so gracious and excited. The staff here is excellent. The sound quality was great too! Would definitely see a show here again. read more

Venue: 5 stars Kitchen: 4 stars The venue gets really good and surprisingly well known artists for how small of a capacity it has. The shows are always general admission and standing only (unless you can snag the few tables/seats that are open on the balcony). This provides for a really fun concerts, since many of the artists are ones you want to move around for! As for the food, it was really good! We went after one of the concerts and used our 15% off coupon that came with the ticket. Some of the food is a little overpriced for what you get, which is the only reason I'm giving it 4 out of 5. Highly recommend the sweet potato croquettes and the parpardelle pasta. They were both delicious and vegetarian friendly! read more

The Sinclair - Parpardelle...delicious - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I was at a show this weekend and a person in my party ordered drinks for us all. In fact $130 of shots. When the bartender wasn't happy with his tip he caused A LOT of drama and assumed I was the culprit and shut me off even before I was able to order one drink (just walked in) and he also insulted me by making a comment on the shirt I was wearing!!!. It was extremely unfair and upsetting that this establishment would treat a customer this way. I was not at fault for anything I just walked in the door and was looking forward to the concert. To top it off, The manager took his side without question which was a double whammy on my persona and I question the integrity of this business' practices. I have to say I have never been treated this way at a concert and I've been to many. It's almost like they pick on someone on purpose every night, by reading other reviews. read more

Come for the music. Eschew the bad food. Mere Yelp words can't convey our silent disappointment as we gamely plowed through our dinners. The fried calamari was a bunch of lightly fried tentacles all stuck together in a gluey sphere. Had to literally pry them apart. The brussel sprouts were a small portion of weird vinegar soaked sprouts cut in half. The Korean fried chicken sandwich was a total loser..an indecipherable concoction of disagreeable textures and tastes. Deep fried greasy breaded chicken with way too much kimchi and some kinda sauce oozing and sliding out of the bun. A generous portion of equally greasy french fries that clearly emerged from the fry-o-later long before we were even seated. read more

Good staff & fab drinks but low quality expensive food. Poorly prepared, poorly cooked,... Stick to the vegetarian food and you'll be ok,... if you don't mind paying through the nose. Steer clear of the nori-popcorn (horrible) and house made pickles (unremarkable). read more

Came here for brunch on a Saturday. I had the mimosa flight, banana pecan waffle and side of scrambled eggs. My boyfriend got the finnegan and the duck Benedict. The waffles were extremely dry. Not sure if they were old or they didn't add enough liquid to the batter. The mimosa flight was fun. I enjoyed trying to different takes on the typical mimosa. Duck Benedict was great. However the potatoes that came with it was also very dry and seemed like they had been cooked 3 times or something. Finnegan was very good. You could actually taste the alcohol, where most places try to water down their drinks. Service was great and the restaurant was nicely laid out and decorated. It wasn't crowded at all. There may have been more people in the upstairs seating. Overall it was a nice Saturday brunch, but won't be in a hurry to come back again. read more

See all

It's hard to separate a venue from a show, but I'll try to here. A lot of spaces were blocked off for reserved seating which we didn't even see as an option when we bought tickets. The upstairs part has a stair/seating area (seats before the show, standing levels after) which would work a lot better pre show if it wasn't sticky. read more

I came here for Sunday brunch. I got chicken and waffles, thought it would be too greasy so I also got a side salad to compliment it- that pile of loose grass cost $4. Fried chicken wasn't crispy, chicken was well marinated and flavorful but the coating was too thick that there are lumps of uncooked coating I have to take off. Waffle was a bit soggy and drenched in butter. Not impressed, but bar tender gave my friend free coffee while she was waiting. So - thank you ! read more

The Sinclair - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Had to wait in line for over half an hour even though we already had tickets, so we missed some of the first band. Their process of checking IDs and bags is incredibly slow and inefficient. We go to lots of shows at different venues and have never seen a line move this slowly. Their extra ticket fees seem much higher than other venues as well. It was hard to find a place with a good view of the band due to the layout of the venue. On the plus side, bartenders were very friendly and mixed great drinks. read more

This review is for Saturday brunch and for a party with kids. First, the plusses: We were pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was, far better than the menu would necessarily disclose. They were also able to accomodate a gluten allergy easily, which we greatly appreciated. The gluten free fries seemed to arrive just minutes after we ordered them. The ambience is also nice...it wasn't very crowded at all. The minuses: For some reason, even though there were tons of empty tables and what seemed like idle staff (it was almost completely empty), we were told to wait 20 minutes for a table (we arrived at 12:10 with three very hungry young kids in tow and had to wait until 12:30 to be seated, even after we asked if we could be seated sooner). Then they put us in a not very kid friendly booth so we had to ask to be moved to a more expansive table. They also didn't have lids for the plastic straw cups we asked for for the kids' waters. In general, you could tell that they are not used to serving families. read more

I came here for dinner and drinks with my friends last week, and the Sinclair Kitchen did not disappoint! Food - We started out with the Sweet Potato Croquettes, which hit just the right balance between soft and crispy with just a touch of sweetness. Think sweet potato fries, but topped with brown sugar and served with a whipped cream dip. I then had the Berkshire Pork Chop Schnitzel for my entree, which was unlike anything I had ever had before and was DELICIOUS. The pork chop was juicy, breaded, and lightly fried, and was complemented well by the arugula, grapes, and blue cheese sauce that were spread on top of it. It sounds weird, but it was so so good and quite filling! All of the other options on the menu sounded amazing, and I definitely want to come back and try some more. Drinks - I had two cocktails, both of which were excellent. I started with the Fiery Snake Woman (may have that name wrong), which had tequila, house made agave, and some other ingredients that I don't remember. The cocktail was spicy yet smooth, and I absolutely loved it. I then had the Champagne Supernova, which had Cava, ginger beer, and again some ingredients that I don't remember. That one was a little less memorable for me, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. One word of caution about the drinks is that some of them are served in big glasses, and others are pretty small, and you can't really deduce that from the prices of the drinks. Both of my drinks were on the small side, and I was a little jealous of my friends who had big drinks... Ambience - love it! We sat outside on the rooftop, which was really cute and featured a nice view of the surrounding area. We came around dinner time, so the roof top was not super loud, but there were a lot of other groups there who seemed to also be having a really good time. Overall, I really enjoyed my dinner at the Sinclair, and I will definitely be back! read more

The Sinclair - My fiery snake woman cocktail! - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Not really a fan of this place. So like at the House of Blues Boston if you are in the back the floor is raised and you can still see the stage...kind of. Here though, if you're not in the pit, good luck because the floor drops and the view from the back sucks. Once the band, at the time, was done and everyone went to get booze was my moment to make it to the front. And I did. At that moment my night changed. So if I'm coming here again, you can bet I'm coming early for front stage. read more

The Sinclair - Abbath performing "Warriors" \m/ - Music Venues Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is just for the music venue! I always forget there is also a restaurant. I've been to a few concerts here and each has been great. The sound is excellent, the space is good (not too big!), the stage is high enough to accommodate those in the back, there is a small stadium style seating section and a standing balcony area... AND the ladies room has more than two stalls and has always been surprisingly clean. That's worth 5 stars alone. 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

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

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

Roxana F. said it best in her review, "Kitchen: Four stars for the food, minus two stars for the service." That is a perfect description of my experience at Sinclair. I've been a few times, mostly for brunch. Everything is always pretty good, though not earth-shattering. I like that they offer chicken and waffles, but, regrettably, both the chicken and the waffles are usually dry. They also offer a fun waffle flight with chicken and waffles, nutella and berry waffles, and a banana waffle. The breakfast tacos are good, though standard (there's only so many ways to prepare eggs and tortillas). I really like the little donuts. Like I said-- totally solid food and an interesting menu that your out-of-town guests will probably be excited about. However, I STRONGLY advise you against bringing any out-of-town guests, lest the hostess be as rude to your family as they were to mine! Last Saturday (June 4), I made the Unforgivable Error of asking if they could seat 7 on the patio. Honestly, she acted like I spit in her face. All she had to do was smile and say, "Oh, I'm so sorry, but we can't take that many together!" Instead, she was super rude to me in front of my mom and in-laws. I then asked if they could just split us up. She didn't even bother to glance at the screen, just gave another snarky rude response. My mom (who isn't used to that lovely Cambridge Attitude) was totally shocked and actually quite hurt. She went as far as to ask me if I knew that girl from the past and we didn't get along or something. As a veteran of the Cambridge Attitude scene, I can't say I was shocked-- but I was pretty miffed. And then-- rude to my momma?! There are enough places to brunch that I won't be back to Sinclair for a long time. Don't worry though, the story has a happy ending: we went to Daedalus, where they pulled up another chair to a 6-top and seated us without any drama. We then brunched at Viale the next day, where they went as far as to send us a lovely comp appetizer to celebrate my graduation. ....and THAT'S how you get return customers. read more

You know how you're really amped up and excited to see So and So in an intimate venue, and you get there real early so you can be right up front and see So and So up close and personal, and this is great, fantastic, can't wait, but then you're all stressed because you're wondering if the acoustics will be terrible because you are right on top of the stage amps, and the PA is now actually behind you for the most part, so then is it actually worth it, having come in so early, staked your turf down front, now able to see great, but can't hear a damn thing, the mix being muddy and a little dull precisely right where you are? Yeah, that's not a problem here. I fulfilled all the conditions above, and the sound mix was so crisp and perfect I thought it was being piped directly into my aural cavities by a $1000 pair of top shelf Bose headphones. The only quibbles I have with the Sinclair - the interior needs a little sprucing up around the edges. The walls are barren and cold. And the main floor is actually three steps up from the perimeter around back, so if the show is sold out and you get there late and you can't or won't (because you're not a dick) force your way up onto the floor, elbows akimbo and drink sloshing all over everyone but yourself... then, well, you ain't seein' shit, son. So just get there early.... Great venue, books mostly great acts - great addition to Harvard Square. read more

This staff has got to be the most arrogant, rude & ungrateful for your business group I've ever encountered. The bouncers are the stereotypical 'I'm too old to be a bouncer, so I'll make a power trip out of it so I feel better' guys that you usually run into at college bars. A group of 10 of us paid money to go to the venue for a concert & were asked to leave after they accused a member of our group for drinking without a wristband (he had not been drinking - bartender confirmed that he ordered a Sprite & backed him, but the bouncers were too amped up on their power trip at that point). Not only did they ask us to leave before the show even began, but we were offered no reimbursement as a result of completely missing the show. Enjoy the free $200 that you made off of the 10 of us. Unfortunate experience & pretty disappointing because it seems like (based on other reviews) that the food is usually pretty good. Shitty service/horrible attitudes far outweighs good food as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of other places in Cambridge with good food & great staff. read more

My husband and I checked out the Sinclair Kitchen on Thursday night. The entire experience was ruined by the Sinclair's hostess. When we arrived, she was deeply engaged in checking out pictures on her smartphone. We stood there for a good minute wondering whether she was even the hostess at all, since it was quite evident that my husband and I were standing in front of her and yet she refused to looked up. We finally announced ourselves and she reluctantly got up and put us at a communal table. Given that we had made a reservation on OpenTable and there were plenty of non-communal seats available, we asked to be seated on a side table. She said she would look into it and as I turned around to tell my husband not to put his stuff down on the communal table, since we might be moving -- the hostess yelled at me very loudly and aggressively, "Don't walk away from me." As if that weren't enough, the hostess failed to check us into the OpenTable -- even after we had announced ourselves as people who had reservations -- so now OpenTable has accounted for our visit as a no-show, which counts against us. We're super disappointed. read more

The Sinclair is the pits. Worst experience I have had at music venue in the Boston area. Save your money and head to the Paradise or HOB, hell get your bro on at the Royale. The gouge to your pocketbook feels the same but your treated with far more respect in town. Headed to the Sinclair with my boyfriend and best friend to see Rebirth last Thursday. (Rebirth was amazing. Only redeeming part of this evening) Two bouncers were checking IDs when we arrived. One of the bouncers (he had fuzzy hair and shall hereafter be referred to as Fuzz) checked my ID and gave me a bracelet but when he looked at my boyfriends ID he sort of stopped. Then looked at it again (Please note: BF is 26). Then asked the other bouncer (this one with manicured facial hair who I will call Mani) if it looked like my boyfriend. Mani said it looked like my bf. Fuzz then asked bf his birthday, home address, and astrological sign. Bf answered all questions correctly however this wasn't enough for Fuzz. Bf presented a fistful of credit cards. Still not enough. What 26 year old man is heading to a bar with multiple forms of government issued ID? Answer: Not my bf. Fuzz mumbles something about my bf looking like an older guy who was in the restaurant. WTF? Fuzz then says you can go in but you can't drink. Didn't we pay $25 for these tickets? Wasn't Fuzz presented with a valid mass drivers license? Weren't we respectful, prompt in presenting IDs and tickets, and SOBER? Mind you, this is the first time in almost 6 years anyone has ever questioned his Mass ID. This wasn't vigilance it was moronic. My bf approached another employee upon entering the venue to discuss the fact that he was denied a wristband with a valid ma license. This individual proceeded to ask my bf what he did for work. Why does the Sinclair care what my bf does for work? He eventually gave my bf a wristband but not before he was sure to let him know that he was being done a favor and that he was to take care of the people he was with. Direct quote: "I just want you to know the guys out front are REALLY good at their jobs and I wouldn't normally do this. Don't drink too much and make sure you take care of the people you're with." Why are you lecturing a grown man whose been nothing but co-operative and polite? (Also: it is a Thursday, and as functioning 26 year olds we have jobs to get to the next morning) The final blow was halfway through the show when I went to the ladies room. Some responsible patron with a wristband was on hands and knees puking her overprice Schlitz in to the toilet. An employee who was refilling toilet paper knocked on the door and yelled "Hey, are you ok?" to which puke princess responded "Yes". Employee flitted out the door, no problem, no questions, not even an inquiry about her astrological sign or place of employment. Sinclair, something's wrong when a valid ID won't suffice to buy a drink but puking your guts up halfway through a show doesn't cause an employee to bat an eyelash. As for the rest: sound quality was ok, tickets were a little pricey (Rebirth did sell out so I guess we won't complain too much about that, there's plenty else to bitch about) drinks were averagish $6 for a Harpoon, BUT the bar staff's abject phobia of a tip forced them to work at a snail's pace. Buying a six dollar beer was a chore. At least the main bar was in a different room allowing me to keenly observe the abortion that was the "coat check". More like time vacuum. As I write this, there are a few stragglers still waiting in line for their coats. Rebirth went on at a little after 9 and played to 11:30. As I mentioned previously, AMAZING. First impressions are everything. Sinclair you fail. Hope you work out the kinks, but see you never. 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