The meal was great. We started with fresh oysters. Then we had boar's gnocchi, and it was rich and very tasty. The best dish was the octopus. It was cooked perfectly--crispy on the outside and soft inside. The service was also excellent: friendly, helpful, and not pushy. I would come back again and bring my friends. read more

I work across the street from Viale so my coworkers and I come here all the time. The best thing to get here is hands down the dollar oysters during happy hour. The oysters are pretty fresh most of the time, and the value is great. A good spot to satisfy an oyster craving. The other things on the menu are also decent, but a little pricey for what it is. I enjoyed the meatballs and the fettucini, and there used to be a rigatoni dish I liked too. The margherita pizza is..okay, nothing too special, but for $15 it's the size of a personal pizza. A little pricey in my opinion. And then other things like the croquettes and carbonara were just okay. The drinks here are solid... and about $14-15 bucks per cocktail so it's on par with what you'd expect. I like the bittersweet symphony and the paper anchor, and the negroni is very popular with my coworkers. The service and ambience here is absolutely fantastic. The servers are attentive and very nice and always makes me feel like I am well taken care of. There is nice outdoor seating in the summer too. Overall a solid place that's a little bit pricey for what it is. But will I be coming back? Yes. read more

Came here for dinner just before 6 PM after a day of exploring Cambridge. To our delight, it was happy hour and the oysters were one dollar. Their cocktail menu was hard to choose from. The drinks menu had a lot of selections, and we went with the Free Ukraine drink first since it seemed sweet, fruity, and bubbly. Our server seemed so touched when we ordered it, and then we realized a part of the profits went to her family back home. I think it was heartwarming that Viale did this. I also got a mezcal cocktail and honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with anything. The oysters? Wow... They're hard to come by for one dollar anywhere in the country nevertheless this area, but as we ate these, I was thinking this is probably some of the best oysters I'll ever come across in our trip. They have nothing like this back home either. They were cold, fresh, small, and came along with cocktail sauce and vinegar. I prefer my oysters small so this was perfect. What we saved on the oysters us was made up for by the food. The food is high-quality and gorgeous, but leans on the expensive side for the portions provided. We asked our server for her recommendations and ordered pretty much everything she suggested. They all tasted great. The duck croquettes came with three pieces, and they were crispy on the outside but creamy on the inside. There's a strong duck flavor that would satisfy you if you have an affinity for a duck meat. The brussels sprouts had a nice, tart pop of flavor that was needed after the rich croquettes. The pasta was flavorful and had a red sauce that was perfect in thickness. The texture of the noodles was bouncy. I loved the crispness of the pizza; we dipped our crust in the leftover pasta sauce. We were hoping to get a little more meat on the octopus, but how would we have that beautiful presentation? The meat was not rubbery/tough at all. Your knife cuts through it like butter. From the fresh oysters, to the service, to the overall atmosphere in amazing food, we considered eating here to be one of the highlights of our East Coast trip. I cannot recommend it enough. read more

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I've literally passed this restaurant dozens, if not hundreds of times, but not until recently when a friend recommended Vialé to me, did I actually pay attention to it and stop by. Much to my pleasant surprise I had such a delicious meal here last week! The interior decor is somewhat more elegant and refined than the exterior, but with elements of, say, an industrial chic aesthetic, all of which blended together for a really pretty dining room. The lighting was remarkable (especially for people like me who take way too many food photos!). We started with the salmon crudo and meatballs. Salmon was fresh, oh-so-tasty, and I loved the touch of aioli and chilli crisp that added another layer to the flavour of the sauce. Meatballs were not bad - a little dry for my taste and the sauce a bit flat, but still warm and yummy overall. Next was our kale caesar - we predicted this would be a hit or miss, and fortunately it was definitely a hit! I'm not a big fan of kale normally, but the light dressing and fragrant parmesan really tied everything together really well. We also ordered a pumpkin pappardelle - so good! The pumpkin aroma was definitely really well integrated into the sauce, without being too overwhelming or covering up the cheese or even the natural flavour of the pasta itself. Portion size a bit smaller than expected though. Finally we ended with a tiramisú - to be honest, not my favourite. It was not bad by any means, but just a rather average slice of cake and especially compared to the earlier amazing dishes, perhaps a little disappointing. All in all though, I was extremely happy with our meal - delicious food at a great price. I'm disappointed in myself for not having come by before, but I will definitely be back again! read more

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Went here for the $1 Oyster special (everyday 5-7 PM) and some drinks. Definitely a nice spot for a happy hour / cute date night. Service was extremely friendly and accommodating. They checked in on us often and made sure our drinks were filled. Would definitely return! read more

Viale - Oysters - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The food at Viale is very good, but a bit overpriced for what you're getting ($13 for a few bites of Kale). The quality of the food is very good, and the pizzas were delicious even if they were a bit small. The location has a great ambiance and outdoor seating on Mass Ave in central square, Cambridge, which is lovely in the summertime. read more

Viale - Kale Ceaser Pepperoni Cup & Mushroom Pie - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

These people are the definition of cool. Viale was the last stop on our food tour via Off the Beaten Path. They welcomed us with open arms, and let us check out their awesome alley way, which became a space for graffiti artists to practice during Covid and onwards. Food was great, the service was incredible, and the interior is beautiful. Thanks so much guys! read more

Viale - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We picked this place because they have $1 oysters for happy hour from 5-7p. It comes with a champagne vinaigrette that elevated the oyster. Lucky for us, their drinks and other menu items were very good as well. We got the arancini for apps, pepperoni pizza, lumache seafood pasta, bucatini carbonara, and the sausage rigatoni. All of it was really good. We had no complaints with the staff. They were friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself was nice. Lots of lighting, cool decor, not too loud. Overall, totally recommend this place especially if you're wanting oysters!! read more

Viale - Oysters - HH - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Good spot. The place is nice, service is pretty good, and food is "good." Overall a fine experience.

3.5 stars This is a review based on the fact I did indeed come here to eat $1 oysters, and I did indeed was thoroughly disappointed but don't want to completely judge the restaurant based off of their one food offering that I was anticipating the most. The oysters were laughably small and not very meaty. I would never come here again for oysters and can most definitely know better ones for $1 in Boston. The nduja pie was so good though. I love ricotta cheese and the combination with hot honey and roasted shallots was an amazing idea. Service was also kind and timely. I also loved the interior of the place and the skylight they have. Making it a 4 instead of a 3 when really I want to give it a 3.5 because everything was a hit except for the one thing I was motivated to come here for. read more

Viale - Nduja Pie - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The raw oyster special is great. I would like to see them do something good with cooked oysters and NOT four dollars each for them. If they made an oysters, Rockefeller with Pernod and spinach (which is a classic presentation)they could offer them for three dollars each and they would be good if they used a good recipe. Recently there was item on the menu: oysters prepared with "chicken fat and butter." Mmmm.... many of us do not even want to order something labeled like that. Additionally, cost is four dollars per oyster - that's a "no." Who puts on their menu, "prepared with chicken fat?" Answer:Nobody these days who wants to actually sell them.come on! They have a whole crew of people who love oysters who go there, so can they not offer something better than that?? They could definitely explain it in a more appetizing way on the menu and it would not have to be the same oysters as they serve for $1. read more

Great food and friendly service for brunch at Viale! Stracciatella and corn waffle was delicious and unique. We also had the buttermilk pancake short stack and smoked pork hash which were very tasty. Insude booth seating was comfortable and I would recommend as a good brunch spot! I would like to try dinner in the future. read more

Viale - Stracciatella and corn waffle with brussels, bacon, egg and maple syrup - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Holy smokes. We found this place hunting for $1 oysters but it was the rest of the menu that blew us away. Oyster deal is from 5-7p. Seated at an alley table without a reservation around 530 on a weekday, outdoor patio booked all evening but plenty of indoor spots. Service was fast and friendly. Oysters were fresh and briny with a really sharp mignonette. The smoked beets were just out of this world- such complex flavor and texture and I loved the pepitas and mustard seeds. I couldn't stop raving about it! The duck croquettes were a deliciously rich fried treat- the sage brown butter blew us away. Fettuccine Alfredo was good- pasta was perfect and handmade but a touch too salty for my taste. Overall highly recommend and will return! read more

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I was there for a private event. The service was lovely, efficient and friendly. The atmosphere was clean and elegant. But the food? Cornmeal waffle-- cool, stiff, stale and almost tasteless. (much better heated up later in the toaster oven!) Arancini--fried, in a creamy tomato sauce--okay but not really delicious. Maybe the strain of having to plate so many meals for a crowd meant things were sitting around? Delicious cocktail with elderflower, though--Stella Luminosa. Recommend this--though it doesn't seem to be on the regular menu. But maybe you can ask for it? read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge! I went to their mushroom tasting / meal, and every single dish was so delicious. The pear and mushroom ice cream was surprisingly so delicious!! read more

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Came here for the dollar oysters right at opening. We made a reservation but it wasn't necessary- it was a weeknight though so weekends might be a different story. Outdoor seating was nice, service was good as well. The free bread came as a pleasant surprise too. The rose was really nice, definitely higher quality than I've had at other places so it was a pleasant drink. The oysters were decent, not too small and definitely satisfied my craving. Will definitely be coming back here for oysters and maybe other dishes in the future! read more

Viale - Rose all day - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Went here with a friend to celebrate her birthday, and it was wonderful! We loved the cocktails, I got the fantasma nera, which was unique, fresh and delicious. Thoughts on food: *saffron arancini- the combo of saffron with arancini sounded exciting, but I thought the arancini themselves weren't wonderful. However, we both LOVED the sauce it was served in *pistachio pesto pizza- very unique! More like a flatbread than a pizza dough, but very tasty *pumpkin pappardelle- this was the star of the night!! I'm not normally a huge fan of pumpkin pasta, but the sauce was delectable and the pasta was very fresh. The combo of sage with the pumpkin was heavenly! Overall we had a great time. Would highly recommend for a fancy date night or special occasion! read more

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Wow! Excellent food. I can't believe I never dropped in here for food. I spend a lot of time in central square and have sat at this bar for a quick drink before. I decided to grab a bite and a drink at the bar. Bartender was super nice, made a great Negroni. I had the duck croquettes and the carbonara and both were phenomenal. Cool, local place with great food. Also - my partner had the lamb pasta dish it was to die for as well! Worth stopping by here for the vibe, the food and the service. read more

We had an amazing dinner at Viale during our recent trip to Boston. I made a resy for 5:30 and it was pretty empty but by the time we were heading out around 6:45 it had started to fill up so if you're looking for a later dinner definitely make a reservation. We wanted to come early for the $1 oysters which ends at 7:00 sharp. We eat oysters all the time in Florida but Boston oysters were just next level. Although these were smaller than the ones we are used to they were so flavorful and delicious and had the best texture. They didn't tell us where the oysters were from or what type besides that they were "East coast ." I didn't even see anything printed on the menu. But they are good and the mignonette they are served with was the best we had during our stay. We decided to order a few dishes and share and went with our waiter's recommendation for the pizza and pasta dishes and the duck appetizer. Everything was delicious and came out hot and fast. Service was great. Definitely a nice dinner/happy hour spot and bonus for being walking distance to Toscanini's! read more

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The quality of the $1 oyster was not so great; however, their pasta and pizza were really great. Must try!!! The pasta was creamy and flavorful!! The pizza sauce was very smooth and not too sour, which I really liked! Will definitely visit this place again! I also like the outdoor seating. Perfect for the summer! read more

Viale - $1 oyster - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I came on a Friday night, and it was pretty busy. We did outdoor dining, those were the only tables available. I thought the outside area was really nicely decorated with lights. They had $1 oysters until 7pm (if i remember correctly) which I thought was nice because at a lot of other places there's no $1 oysters after like... 5pm. The oysters were small but fresh. We also got the bluefin dip (pretty good), the arancini (REALLY good, my personal favorite of the night), the gnocci, the carbonara, and the cannoli for dessert. The gnocci was just okay. So was the carbonara. I thought it was a little too cheesy. The pasta dishes were just mid but the appetizers were better. Service was great, our server was super nice and the food came out quickly. read more

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The arancini was out of this world! Was recommended this place by friends who live in the area, so glad I came in while I was in town. Highly recommend!!!!! read more

Came here with a reservation at 6pm on a Saturday night. It wasn't packed at all, and people slowly came in as the night went on. Viale has a fun, casual vibe and lots of different seating options. We ordered eighteen of the $1 oysters, which came with vinegar and cocktail sauce. I'm no seafood connoisseur, but the oysters were pretty enjoyable. We also got the Pistachio Pesto Pizza to share. It was a cute little oval of a pizza, and honestly could've been a personal pizza. I love pistachio and pesto, so this pairing was a perfect combination. We also got the Oaxacan Tea Party and Cammello Bianco cocktails. Neither really suited by taste, but that's more of a personal preference. I would definitely come back for more dollar oysters and would be interested in trying their fixed price three course menu. read more

Indoor and outdoor seatings. The food was decent portions and packs a great punch. It's great that they do one dollar oyster happy hour and the oysters are chosen locally. Seated pretty quickly and was attended to decently through the whole dinner. read more

Came here for the $1 oysters, but the rest of the food was absolutely delicious as well. The crab risotto is so good and the seafood lumache is a must try as well. The service is quick and the waitress and manager were very friendly. Sit on the patio outside on a nice evening for dinner. read more

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I came with a large group of people for a 3-course menu for ~$50. It was a great deal! I got the arancini, strip steak and tiramisu for dessert. The steak was perfectly cooked and was pretty tender. I wasn't a big fan of the bitterness from the tiramisu, but that's just me. The only downside from this experience was the wait time for our food. I had to wait about an hour for my appetizer to come out. Hopefully it was just due to the large party I was with. read more

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We went to Viale for restaurant week. The ambience in the restaurant is really nice and sleek, not too loud. The wine was also decently priced and good. The crispy polenta was good, but I feel like it was just missing something. Maybe more Parmesan. The tomato sauce it was in was delicious though - reminiscent of creamy tomato soup. The steak was perfectly cooked and so delicious. But the affogato was just okay. Someone else tried the cheesecake which was VERY good. I would definitely try Viale again. read more

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Pretty good Italian spot in Central if you're looking for an affordable dinner date experience! We did the 3-course menu for $42/person, which is such great value! Definitely underrated and deserves more credit as Italian food in Boston. Also, seems like the lunch-time $1 oysters are very popular! For those familiar with the Central Square area, it's probably easy to compare this to Pammy's $69/person 3-course menu down the street since they both offer a 3-course Italian dinner experience in Central. I'd say Pammy's is a step-above when you're looking for an upscale dinner + cocktail bar experience. But at Viale, at 60% of the price of Pammy's, it's definitely worth a try! Here's what I got, and what I thought - in order from best to not-as-good: [Dessert] Tiramisu: So good! It's a popular item, and definitely makes sense. Highly recommend it - particularly when you're other options are less unique (cannoli, ice cream). [Main] Grassfed Strip Steak: Red-wine reduction + strip steak on abed of polenta (think a cornmeal mashed potatoes). Very good for a strip-steak - but of course expect a leaner cut of meat with more chew than a traditional NY sirloin or filet mignon. [Appetizer]: Duck Croquettes: On the saltier side, and not sure I'd order again. read more

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Wonderful food & value. Not always advertised is the three course special for about fifty dollars (app, entree, desert). Good specials on dollar oysters daily. Difficult to beat the quality at this price in Central. The cocktails are good, and tiramisu is great, and the pasta and fish entrees are excellent. read more

Viale is one of those places where you want to eat and have a conversation at the same time, but can't because the food is just too damn good! I had a reservation for 2 at 5:00pm on a Saturday night. From 5pm-6pm EVERYDAY, they have half-off oysters! So, my friend and I both opted for a half dozen each. Oysters were FRESH and salty (the good kind) with a subtle sweetness. We also decided to go for the $38 DIY Prix Fixe menu that they offer everyday! APPS: The seared calamari had a gorgeous char on it and was complimented well with the awesome lemon-squid ink aioli. The faroe island salmon crudo was delicious and tasted very REFRESHING on the palette. The blood orange vin was a nice touch and brings a slight sweetness to the buttery salmon. MAIN: We got the squid ink spaghetti and the special grilled flank steak they had for the night. The spaghetti was tomato-y and cheesey and had plentiful pieces of the house sausage and shrimp, while the special steak of the night was seasoned and grilled (I like mine medium rare) to perfection. The cippolini onions and green garlic aioli made the steak stand out! DESSERT: We ordered the affogato. This was a perfect ending to a delicious meal. I'm a coffee fan, and with the espresso poured over the vanilla ice cream, I felt like I was drinking an iced latte :) Paired and dipped nicely with the accompanying biscotti! AMBIENCE AND SERVICE: Viale is a great spot for date night! The ambience was warm and inviting, but full of light! The place reminds me of a greenhouse. The service was awesome, and our waitress was attentive. We even heard the owner of the restaurant interact with fellow patrons! We love to see it! :) read more

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**This review is only for the Valentines Special they had.** (2/14/21) We walked in and got the original menu as well as a really cute box that had a pink menu inside with all the specials (a 3 course meal & a selection of drinks). Had an amazing time! The original menu looked like it had very different offerings than what we were served, but since we had such a good experience I'm sure the food is good here as well! read more

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I am in love with Viale's daily 5-7p $1 oyster special. The only thing that can take me away from this is my growing oyster shucking hobby. But sometimes it's fun to go out and get them in a restaurant -- and for those times, Viale is my go-to pick. The lumache pasta dish with mussels, shrimp, clam etc is to DIE for. Please get this and you will have a wonderful evening. read more

Viale - Lumache - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We can here on a hot Saturday initially just for their dollar oyster special and even before we finish our meal we said we were coming back. The oysters were fantastic, we ordered two separate rounds each a different selection. We then ordered the saffron arancini which were absolutely incredible with such an most amazing spicy tomato sauce that we ordered a second around. We also had the smoked beet salad, which made us want to learn how to smoke beets, and the halibut crudo which was so delightful. The wines we had were all so delicious and unique. To top it all off, our server was beyond fantastic, so nice and answered a lot of our questions. The support staff were also just as friendly, and fast. There was so much natural light inside from these massive windows, adding to our great experience. We can't wait for our next meal here! read more

Viale - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We started off with an amazing beat salad, sitting in a beautiful outdoor area. And then we were served the saltiest carbonara pasta I've ever had in my life. It was so bad I almost sent it back. We're talking like seawater amounts of salt. Total bummer otherwise the place was great. read more

Viale - Bucatini Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The food here was not very impressive for the price point. The gnocchi was good. The brown gravy lien sauce on the steak wasn't great. I think I would have enjoyed the steak without the brown sauce better. The drinks were good though. The one with mezcal and the espresso martini are good. Not a fan of the tiramisu, it was a bit on the watery side. read more

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Sat at the bar on a Sunday night. Great cocktails, one had smoke coming off it! Good shaved brussels salad, had little crunchy bits and blue cheese. BEST fettuccine I've ever had, super sharp and had a bit of a kick to it! I wasn't expecting it to be cheesy because the menu mentioned lemon but honestly it was a pleasant surprise. Texture, flavor, portion was all spot on. Finished off with the salmon which was perfect too, skin was crispy and inside was silky and fell apart like butter. Mushrooms complimented it so well and the carrots had a smoky flavor... yum! Big shout out to the texture of every dish we tried, all were perfect. Can't wait to come back Tldr: GET THE FETTUCCINE read more

I was a frequent visitor to this establishment and today they brought me stale and stale oysters. The waitress told me that they don't have any others, only these. Well, what can I say. I won't come to you anymore. read more

Viale - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Decent Italian food. Great service. Feels a bit gimmicky on the experience. They had some specials with trying.

29 dollars for the world's smallest portion of gnocchi. 14 dollars for A beer. Hell no. read more

Vials is one of the hidden gems in Central square where you can get most delicious Italian food. And the drink menu is exceptional too. Cocktail: I ordered their pretty in pink cocktail. It is a Prosecco based cocktail. So if you want try the bubbly cocktail I strongly recommend this one. Appetizers: Bread : They welcome you with some warm bread. It's taste great :) saffron arancini : It is absolutely sumptuous. Saffron adds so much flavor. It is served with tasty tomato sauce. It adds amazing twist to this. Pistachio pesto pizza : I never though pistachio can be used in a pesto. But it add so much taste. It's a think crust pizza with caramelized onions. I relished it so much. Mains: Fettuccine Alfredo : This pasta is a delight. It is served with pepper and parsley. It is a simple but delicious. I recommend Viale if you are around Central square. read more