Extremely good service, tasty and creative food, unbeatable location--skylit and open in the day, cool and darker at night. The brunch menu is excellent with lots of vegetarian choices. Vegans won't have as many options on the menu (probably because they can go to Veggie Galaxy down the street), but the chefs are accommodating. In my experience, they've always been happy to make substitutions and recommendations. Bottom line: great place, highly recommended! read more

Went here for our daughter's 24th birthday. It was absolutely fantastic! Amazing flavors, setting and service! And very vegetarian friendly for the veggies in the group. Appetizers included a yummy cheeseboard, crispy polenta and a smoked asparagus special with mushrooms and a poached duck egg that was TO DIE FOR! We all had pasta entrees that were delicious: gnocchi with boar sausage, rabbit pappardelle, bucatini with mushrooms and goat cheese, and ricotta pansotti with puréed parsley and black olives. These were among the best pastas we've ever had. Can't wait to go back there again! read more

It was pretty good. Here is what I tried: Appetizer I tried the lamb ribs. Very tender and delicious, probably the best dish we had there. Well seasoned and perfectly cooked. Entree My boyfriend had a seafood tagliatelle and I had the special, which was bluefish with mashed potatoes and turnips. The tagliatelle had an interesting buttery, herbacious flavour and the pasta was well cooked. The bluefish was okay but I think very slightly overcooked, but it came with an interesting salsa on top which was very flavourful. Overall the dishes were very rich and get overwhelming near the end. Dessert We shared the strawberry rhubarb crostada, which came with ice cream and a single crisped basil leaf on top. It was very sweet (which I like) and the pastry was crispy and flaky. The atmosphere of this restaurant is modern but welcoming and our waiter was very attentive and pleasant to talk to. I think it was reasonably priced considering the quality. I would come back for a special occasion. read more

I haven't had the opportunity to eat here yet, but on the two occasions I've visited here the drinks and service have been great. My two negatives for Viale are that they don't have a potato vodka and that it can be rather loud in there when it's busy. On the flip side of that the folks at the bar are very nice and very cute. I know the later doesn't really matter, but it doesn't hurt either. Continuing on with the positive theme the food menu looks amazing and I'm definitely going to try it as soon as I can. They have a couple of really nice bourbons here. Everyone is professional, friendly, prompt, and seems to be skilled at what they do. Even if this place isn't in your price point for a meal (it certainly isn't for mine), but you'd like to sit down and have a nice drink, then stop by here for it, especially on the later end of the night when it's a bit quieter and serene inside. It's amazingly calm and lovely. read more

GO TO THIS RESTAURANT FOR A GREAT DATE NIGHT! Just came back from Viale and had to sit down and write a review because we were so happy with our dinner. When we arrived the owner, Mark, brought us to our table and informed us of the 1$ oyster deal from 5-7 on weekdays - wait WHAT! So we had 12 of those suckers. The charcute (pronounced SHAR-COOT like Tony Soprano), was phenomenal. Chicken liver mousse, carrot hummus, house cured ham, and they even anticipated we would need more crostini before we were finished and brought warm fresh ones. CROSTINI FO DAYS. I was very impressed by every part of the dish. Then for the main course my wife had the beet and shortrib tortellini (tastes as good as it sounds) and I had the mushroom gnocci (earthy, soft pillows of flavor). All the patsas are home made and the flavors were unique and really complimented the dishes as well (there was a sunchoke sauce on the tortellini that was a velvet flavor drape for my tongue). All in all an amazing dinner and an even better experience. Tanya took it the extra mile by making sure everything was PERFECT and you could really tell how passionate this place is about making his restaurant one of the premier joints in Cambridge. We will be back! Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, and come to Viale. read more

My wife and I really liked it. We'd give it 4.5, so she'll rate it 4 to my 5 stars. Here are some highlights: Impeccable friendly service Warm roll w/ dipping oil Ice free water carafe at table Salt and pepper grinders Great background music Affogato dessert The food was pretty good, but not blow us away good (like Green st), so that's why the 4.5 rating. Would definitely recommend! read more

A solid meal but a bit pricey for what it was. With so many great restaurants in Cambridge, the food didn't seem particularly inventive or exceptional. However, it was a good (just not great) meal. Cheese plate was the highlight. Tasty cheeses and good accompaniments (eg candied almonds). Someone in my party got the antipasti plate. It was expensive ($17) but came with a lot of food. The lamb ribs were by far the tastiest and most interesting, although the meat was a bit fatty. The hangar steak and monkfish were good, just not great. Overall, I'm glad we went and we had a lovely time and good meal. I just don't think we will be rushing back. read more

Very limited menu with high prices for small portions of pasta on giant plates. The pizza was more disappointing than a frozen pizza from Costco. The flatbread style dough was hard and there was minimal sauce, so it was quite dry. Went with my husband and 3 friends and we were all disappointed. If you're looking for a nice date night with Italian food, I would recommend staying in and cooking the same menu items this place has for about $5 total, because that's how I'd value the food we got. read more

I went there for brunch with a gilt voucher. Had the duck egg carbonara. At first, I thought the portion looked small but it was actually just right. We also had the boar potatoe gnocchi that was delicious. There was no wait and the staff was really nice. My bloody mary was really strong; they remixed it for me without a problem. The place is comfortable with nice booths. read more

Viale - Duck egg carbonara - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We arrived starving and thirsty and this seemed to show because we received prompt, gracious attention from one of the owners who was zipping around assisting his staff. Don't miss the broccoli rabe! Such great flavors. The cauliflower was excellent as well. I had the blue cod, which was nice but not as exciting as the apps. My husband had an arugula pesto pasta dish that was fantastic. The atmosphere was comfortable and friendly. We had no room for dessert. We will definitely be back though! read more

The food is awful! I had really high hopes for this spot, but the food is mediocre. The service was great, but that does not make up for inedible food. We made reservations and were seated promptly. It all went downhill from there. Ordered a bottle of wine--flat--nothing special. Ordered fried green tomatoes and the octopus. The octopus plate was literally missing the octopus--no joke! The purple potatoes were weirdly scattered on the platter with ink...not even sure what they were trying to do. For our entree, we ordered a pasta, a steak and a fish special...the pasta was excellent. The steak was crap, so dry that I could not even finish it. Honestly--I ordered a rib eye and could not finish it--mind you it was not that big of a steak. But, it just was so dry and blah that I left half of it behind. So! We will never ever be returning to this restaurant--which is too bad because we love to support Central sq businesses--especially those run by individual owner/chefs. read more

A great addition to Central Square! The menu is very interesting. My boyfriend got the pumpkin ravioli and I got the Saffron Fettucinin. We both loved our meals. They offer the entrees in two sizes. Get the bigger size. With that being said, the portions are still pretty small. Had we known that we would have ordered an appetizer. We will be back! read more

so many good drinks and snacks and the waiter, Prince Eric was such a qt and sweetie ! xoxo

This has always been one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston/Cambridge area...reservations for 4 on a Sunday night in June were easy to make. Reception was ok, seated in a booth. Waiter was prompt, in taking wine & appetizer order. salad was very good. The lamb chops were served cold, with a thick, brown messy sauce that seemed to be smeared over them, not cooked while it was on the chop. I couldn't finish mine... Salmon entree was perfectly cooked, served on cold Quinoa with grapes, at first the cold bothered me yet it was delicious...The special sea trout was good. The NY Strip steak was first served without a steak knife, and than even with the serated knife, hard to slice...it did not appear to be a good cut of meat and was sinew. My friend said it was perfectly cooked, yet not tender and he left about a third of it on the plate with the undercooked potatoes....it shouldn't be on the menu. All in all, not a great experience. Our waiter was pleasant yet seemed to be the only one taking care of the several tables that were occupied. I remember this restaurant being a restful place with soft music and absolutely amazing service and being beautifully lite.....Not the case this past Sunday. Music evolved to a loud rock and it took 3 requests to change it to something more dinner like...The lighting seemed glaring and we never got asked if we wanted another beverage. Our waiter seemed distracted...and disinterested...especially after I asked to have the music changed the 3rd time, twice to one of his colleagues and once to him. The panacotta dessert was amazing....I'll try it again, yet not anytime soon. read more

This was a great place to have dinner! We had a work trip and they accommodated our larger party wonderfully! They had a pre-set menu so it was quite delightful. Beef carpaccio, chicken, and lemon dessert and everything was delicious! Overall, our group enjoyed this place and I would definately return read more

TL;DR - food was good, but a little overpriced, service was lackluster at best, atmosphere a little too high-strung for us. Look for the "man-bun" review in TripAdvisor. I got a good laugh out of that too. To set the scene, I only went to Viale because my girlfriend got a gift card from her work. We skimmed the website and menu before hand and already knew we wouldn't fit in. Whatever, it's a free dinner. We showed up on a Friday night around 7, expectedly a little busy with a dinner crowd. Upon sitting down, we were greeted by the bartenders fairly quickly and as the night went in it became apparent they knew their regulars pretty well and were capable of holding polite conversation. That being said, they didn't ask if it was our first time at the restaurant, or didn't get the hint when we said we needed more time with the menu twice. After finally ordering two drinks, it took a long time to get the bartenders attention again or even for them to ask how we were doing(this wasn't exactly surprising to us either). I tend to think I'm fairly polite so after my girlfriend ordered her drink, I waited for some sort of "I understood this order, next please" cue. That never came so I just had to start talking at the bartender. My "favorite" interaction was when we tried to order a pizza and two beers. The spicy corn with ham and cheese sounded good, tasted pretty good too. However when I said "can we each have a Narragansett?" I expected to receive two beers. As the waitress turned around with a single can and one glass she said "would you like another glass?". If you're reading this and you need a second to process, we did too. To wrap a bow on this shit sandwich of an evening, the miniature pizza box check holder was a fantastic idea, except this restaurant seems to have pizza on the menu merely as a formality. The bartender asked if we would like to split the check. Now I don't like to assume but I hope the bartender has encountered this situation before and would automatically know what to do with a gift card with the restaurants own name on it. I read another review saying something along the lines of "we are all endowed with the power of choice. I recommend you exercise this ability and choose to dine elsewhere". I tend to agree with this sentiment. read more

I have been to Viale numerous times and have had a wonderful meal each time. Among my favorites are the duck egg carbonara (served at brunch), oxtail ravioli, onion soup, and bone marrow crostini. I also highly recommend the Canary in a Coal Mine, a Mezcal-based cocktail. The reason I am not giving them five stars is because the dessert options are not as varied and complex as the rest of the menu. I've opted for the espresso martini the last two times for this reason, and hope to see more options in the future. read more

Great food and service. The smoked beets are to die for...somehow light and hearty/satisfying at the same time. The steak salad was great. Can I have 3 more? Fun choices for cocktails. I always learn about a new liquor or try new flavors here. read more

I loved everything about this place. We got there early and went to the bar. The bar is low with normal seats so us short people aren't climbing up to be able to drink with the taller adults. First great thing. Awesome bartender with dollar Oysters and a fantastic cheese plate - second great thing. The ambiance was nice and the room was quiet (no open kitchen to hear all the talking and clanging). You could hear the person you were with and have an actual conversation- third great thing. Server was awesomely attentive and answered all our questions and the meal was amazing. We all had pasta dishes and couldn't have been happier- fourth great thing. We ended with desserts which made everyone happy - fifth great thing. I will definitely be recommending this place to others and visiting again. read more

Incredible drinks and service. The must have dish here is the Duck Cappellacci. Can't wait to come back and try the Crispy Fried Polenta. read more

Viale - Deliciousness - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Was here for the second time this past weekend for brunch. The food is good and comes out fast. You must try their sticky bun - it's delicious. The smoked pork hash is really good as well. The mimosas and blood Mary's are well made. It's well price with good food and service. read more

Italian tapas......whats better than that? Loads of small bites to share and savor! I actually booked this for a group of 10- we had Jay as our waiter- and we had a blast. The food was really delish and came out in a timely manner. The drinks were also strong and yummy! Viale also has a cool vibe. This place is busy, people are bustling around, food is good, drinks are flowing and by the time you leave you are lit and full and ready to storm the many rooms of the Middle East Bar....Soulelujah that are just down the street. I would recommend this for a date, a group dinner, a full rent out. It was superb. read more

Not great. Food was not substantial save for the chicken. Then they took my fiancees chicken before I was finished picking at it.

A good restaurant with some great food choices. Everything I tried was delicious.

3.5 star. Only opens at night for dinner. Came here for dinner on a weekend. Drinks - pretty good and strong Atmosphere / decor - modern clean. Food - Kale salad: pretty good Razor clam: delicious with great flavor Gnochi: average Bucatini: average Carrot cake: subpar read more

Stopped by for a light, late brunch. Everything three of us ordered was great, but the fruit salad earned a special shoutout: fresh, ripe strawberries, raspberries, and peaches. No filler! Yum. read more

This is the place you ask your parents to take you when they are in town. The food is as delicious and the service as great as it is costly. We had baby octopus, roasted cauliflower, various fish dishes and a braised short rib. Desserts were a final way to tip off a fabulous meal. read more

They opened just a few weeks ago, and they've already impressed me. Fantastic drinks at the bar (at the time of this writing, I highly recommend the cocktails Eldridge and Off To The Races), and the food is stellar (if you're just stopping by for a drink, I'd try the crispy fried polenta as a small plate!) . New and gives off a very classy vibe, but with an approachability that makes it non-threatening. 5/5, would attend again. read more

ALLERGENS BEWARE: I had to give this place a 3 star when it should have been a 4.5-5 star. I take the other stars regretfully because of my experience on Valentine's day. My bf and I did their 4 course tasting menu. When we made reservations, I specifically noted that I had a tree nut allergy. When I arrived, they reconfirmed with me that they knew about my allergy. When it came time for the meal - there were only two plates to choose from for each course. Unfortunately, I was told I couldn't have any of the ones that noted tree nuts on the menu. I had expected that at an upper scale restaurant, they would have an option to remove the nuts. It was ok and I moved on, luckily I am not a picky eater and would eat anything on the menu, but I had to give up 2 of 4 plates I wanted because of nuts. At one point, I asked if I could get the rabbit porchetta (which I was so excited for) without the pistachios in it. The waitress literally had to ask if pistachios were a tree nut and were not aware that they were in the dish because I tried to order it. She would have just brought it to me with the pistachios in it if I hadn't mentioned it. THIS DROVE ME NUTS (pun intended). Maybe it's just me, but I do not think someone should be allowed to serve (especially on a busy holiday) if you are not completely familiar with the menu or COMPLETELY AWARE OF WHAT A TREE NUT ALLERGY IS. For her to not even know what consists of a tree nut allergy?! I mean that is unacceptable to me. Last came dessert, I had to explain AGAIN that both of them had nuts because she didn't know that the hazelnut brittle would set off my allergy. I was told that I couldn't have either. We just ordered one of each and decided we could figure it out when it got to the table. I told her all I wanted was something chocolate - as long as it didn't have nuts and was (hopefully) chocolate, I would be happy. She brought both of them and I could have the chocolate cheesecake because it came with almond shortbread on the side which was easily taken off the plate. The waitress AGAIN should have known that there was a dessert option where the nuts could be removed. SUMMARY: Again I hate having to give this rating because the food was ABSOLUTELY delicious and unique (when I wasn't worried if it was going to trigger an allergic reaction). However, the waitress seemed new and untrained to be working a nice holiday. Allergies can be a very serious issue and it concerned me how flighty and unimportant they treated it. I'm not sure if it's all on the waitress, but I think someone in management should address this issue. read more

I love this place! Music was on point. Such a good vibe. Our server was great! I didn't get his name :/ i haven't had oysters in such a long time and they were delicious here. read more

We had a wonderful meal here tonight! We were there for Dine Out Boston and we had the fried polenta, Tuscan bread soup, the monkfish, the ricotta cavatelli, banana upside down cake and cheesecake. Everything was wonderful. My monkfish was beautifully prepared with a scattering of freshly made potato chips and escarole, with just the right amount of salty (capers) and sweet. I'd happily return to try other dishes. read more

My friends and I came on a Sunday morning for brunch. The food was mediocre (no wow factor) but the service was subpar. My friend ordered her entree letting the waitress know what to exclude due to dietary restrictions, however all of us ended up receiving the same exact order. The waitress was kind enough to retake the order however she did seem annoyed. In addition ( this may have ruined my experience overall), we saw a MoUSE run across the floor right next to our booth! We told the wait staff but it didn't seem like they were too concerned. One of them told us that it's because the weather is getting nicer out and promises that there are no mice in the kitchen (hmm..). Basically, we had no appetite after this. The restaurant was nice enough to bill our appetizers on the house (although I think it'd been nice if our entrees were taken care of as well). Overall, i would give the food 3 stars, however due to the mishaps that occurred, I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon. read more

I'm not a player I just brunch a lot. Excellent brunch spot! First off the coffee here is excellent. I ordered a cocktail called Sunnyside Up that had bourbon and egg white in it and wow it was excellent! For meal I had the eggs Benedict. It was a large portion, the eggs Benedict itself was decent but I really enjoyed the potato wedges that came with it which were super crispy and perfectly cooked. The restaurant has a great space and lots of windows. I would definitely return here! read more

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This was a great place. We walked in off the street with a small group for Sunday Brunch. Menu had a good selection and variety, so everyone was pleased. The food was excellent. Fried Polenta was a good surprise. Being from the Pacific Northwest the oysters meet expectations. Service was warm, friendly, and quick. I'd go back and would recommend it to anyone. read more

Bad restaurant. BAD restaurant! Go lie down. Seriously, this is not what Central Square needs. It's overpriced, badly conceived and - oh never mind. Just don't bother. read more

So happy to have a new Brunch spot in central square that has quality food and cocktails, because honestly, is it brunch without the cocktail? Eggs Benedict had Bearnaise sauce, with fresh tarragon, pancetta and S&S english muffin. Pasta here is always fresh. The owner has always been at the front of the house when we dine there and is welcoming and down to earth. It is nice to eat good food made by good people. read more

Viale is Amazing!, and When I say Amazing, I mean it. The food is fresh and so many different combinations that Chef comes up with! Its Amazing, and I look forward to coming back! read more

Viale - This New up and Coning Restaurant is absolutely Amazing. The Food is Out of this world...So So good.. The Pasta is extremely - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I came here for the happy hour dollar oysters, I love oysters and these were pretty okay. I wish they had regular cocktail sauce but my boyfriend seem to like their cocktail sauce alternative, which was okay. The only issue I had was that a few of my oysters had bits of rocks in them... I usually never have had this occur at a restaurant that rinses out their oysters properly.. but who knows, maybe they had a rocky batch of oysters.. Their calamari pizza though, amazing! Nice shareable size as an appetizer. read more

Super delish. Had the special on Monday where you get a glass of wine and pasta for about 15.00. My friend ate the spicy corn pizza which was amazing. I would eat there every week if I lived closer. If you love good food you have to check this out. Go on a week night when it isn't crowded! read more

Went here for drinks and colleagues one weekday night. Definitely great atmosphere. The drinks were fine but nothing special. The appetizers were very tasty especially the cauliflower. One complaint: the servers kept trying to clear our plates and we felt rushed even though the place was not even close to full. read more