For a better meal head across the street to Little Donkey- the food, service, and price are better. I've given this place a couple chances over the years. Unfortunately, all my experiences here weren't great. In summary, the quality and portions of the food do not at all justify their prices-time and time again I leave feeling like I've been scammed because of how expensive the bill comes out to for just a few plates. What truly upset me and made me swear to never go back was the final time I went with two friends, we ordered a dozen oysters during the $1 Happy hour. I'm a big oyster lover and definitely know my way around the different types, so when the server brought out our tray of oysters I was totally shocked. Basically all the oysters were smaller than I've ever seen before OR barely had any meat inside the shell. The meat was all torn up and either missing or half filled with fluid. I brought it up to our server who tried to make the excuse that they're trying a new oyster provider so that's just the breed of oyster. Later in the evening I looked to the table on our right (who ordered oysters after happy hour) and their oysters were large, intact, and perfectly normal. Our server also stopped checking in on our table for the entire rest of the meal after we made the complaint about the oysters. Poor and unprofessional service. Their oyster happy hour is a scam- they pick out the tiny or beat up looking oysters and serve them for the $1 price point. Really disappointing. read more

What a find!! We came in for the $1 Oysters (every day 5-7) and left with full stomachs and hearts ... What a menu! What a fabulous staff! Thanks Steve & Chris! From the local oysters to the divine fettuccini to the delicious sea bass - of course, topped off with cannolis. Totally family friendly establishment but undoubtedly would be a great date night or outing with friends and colleagues. Patio looked amazing ... but sadly was raining. We'll be back. read more

Viale - Totally kid friendly! - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I've been to Viale a few times now and it has yet to disappoint. The first time I visited, they had a special drink which (if I remember correctly) was hot chocolate with Chartreuse. It was so good, I hope they bring it back at some point. I've tried the smoked pork hash, the Benedict, and the shrimp and grits, and all 3 were excellent. I think my favorite is the shrimp and grits; the grits are so flavorful and the shrimp are always perfectly cooked. The portion sizes are also perfect, it's never too much food. The service at Viale is also consistently good, and the space itself is gorgeous. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying the oysters! read more

Got into Cambridge late. This place was open and walking distance from our hotel. Ended up having a pretty good dinner with prompt, courteous service. read more

Viale - Great dinner, excellent service. Got into Cambridge late. This place was open and had really great options and prompt, courteous service. - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nice vibe amd good drinks but I did not like the food very much. The gnocchi was not very flavorful and the steak was even worse. They have a 3 course meal special which we did and made it more affordable but for the quality of food it was still overpriced. Staff were great though and made it an enjoyable experience. read more

Viale - Steak - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I ate at a table for one and loved every minute. I got the Clockwork Orange cocktail which was so good. The beet salad and the pizza were delicious. My waiter was so nice. The outdoor space is cool and I hope I can sit there next time. I was inside for this meal and the ambiance was really nice too. read more

I just enjoyed one of the best lunches I've had in a long time. After leaving a competing restaurant that wouldn't seat me by myself, I stepped into Vialé. The softshell crab sandwich caught my eye. While being shown to my table I asked the server to order that and an Arnold Palmer for me. The first surprise was how delicious the Arnold Palmer was. It jolted me to live due to the tartness of the freshly squeezed lemonade. I was off to a great start. Then the sandwich arrived. The slaw, capers, lightly battered soft shell crab and a slice of prosciutto to finish it off was fantastic. They even toasted the bun. The chips that were present with the sandwich must have just been freshly made. They were a crispy delight. Like I said, one of the best lunches in a long time and a great find. read more

Viale - Soft shell crab sandwich. - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We were wondering around and this place was full, they promptly sat us on the patio, treated our doggy amazingly and the food was better than expected! We started with arancinis, then I got the beet salad and my husband got the chicken parm! read more

Viale - Arancinis (too late for pics) they were too good! Beet salad (the best I've had) Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I only popped into this place for a drink and some apps so can't attest to table service but shout out to the exceedingly friendly staff who totally made me feel better about knocking over (and somehow breaking) my drink glass. The arancini here is really superb, very rich and creamy. The meatballs were a bit saltier than I was expecting, but really nice flavor and the perfect size for two people to share. The little green men cocktail was a lovely and refreshing little sip of bubbly. It's a pretty calm and lowkey place, perfect for having a more intimate conversation and meal, and not too busy on a Friday night. All in all, an excellent place to grab a bite and a drink or two. read more

Viale - Arancini. - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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These folks rock at Viale. Discovered via Off The Beaten Path Food Tour's Central Square tour, and they couldn't have been more welcoming and engaging. Their food is top notch - we tried the arancini and the oysters, and it was the first time I ever had an oyster but I know Boston has great seafood. We decided to stick around for some drinks afterwards and can't wait to come back and try their brunch. It's run by a husband and wife team, and the place is like a homey oasis with really good food. They're also doing some interesting things to support Ukraine. Check them out! read more

Viale - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wandered in because the specials looked good and was not disappointed! I wish I had been hungry enough to try the food because it looked great. The dollar oysters and drinks were delicious. read more

Viale - Dollar oysters 5-7pm! - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Decent food but nothing to write home about. Limited menu. Good service but more casual than the reviews led me to believe.

Before Viale, Rendezvous was located on this spot on Mass Ave in Central Square. I've passed by it often on my way through the area, but I never managed to stop by during Rendezvous' residency. But Viale's Dine Out Boston (also known as Restaurant Week) menu entangled me with their offering of a grilled squid appetizer. Reservations were made, and anticipation grew as I awaited the arrival of the night in question. Only two items off the RW list were also listed on their regular menu: Potato Gnocci $15/$26 Chocolate Ganache Brownie $8 With two appetites to fill, we ordered nearly the entire RW menu with intentions to share: . Saffron Arancini - provolone, kale pesto . Grilled Squid - garbanzo beans, arugula, calabrian oil . Potato Gnocchi - wild boar bolognese, grana padano, rosemary . Pork Milanese - chicken fat aioli, sweet potato, grilled scallions . Pine Nut & Currant Bread Pudding - sweet ricotta, vanilla ice cream . Gluten Free Chocolate Ganache Brownie - burnt caramel ice cream, caramel sauce, candied hazelnuts Small room temperature rolls were personally served from a basket and fresh olive oil poured. They were tasty though I preferred mine smeared with the leftover pesto from the arancini appetizer. Both appetizers were good, though there was a bit of spice in the squid salad that we could not quite identify the source of. The arancini arrived as a pair of lightly crisped balls filled with tender rice surrounding melty cheese. The generous pool of pesto was a well received addition to the dish. I'm glad we shared both entrees as a full plate of the gnocci would have been too much for me. Though the pasta was tender, and the meaty sauce rich, it was a bit too one note to make a meal of it. The pork arrived as two fried disks, both tender with a crisp crust. Desserts were individually portioned. Both bread pudding and brownie were dense. Neither were dry. I liked that both came with ice cream. Service was pleasant though not ideal. If you have any semblance of a time crunch, may I suggest letting them know? Or alternatively, take advantage whenever you have their full attention? And they hit one of my personal pet peeves - in packaging our leftovers, the pork made it to the carton, but not the vegetables that I carefully made sure were mounded right next to the meat. Note: Their dollar oysters from 5-7pm is only available at the bar, 7 days a week. read more

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Nice spot to visit after work! This review is for the $1 oyster special only. We came by on a Friday and ordered 2 dozen wellfleet oysters. 1st 12 were good! The 2nd batch was questionable. There were 3 that none of us dared to eat. I would recommend coming earlier! read more

Viale - Wellfleet oysters - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

One of my favorite Italian restaurant in Cambridge! I came here for the Dine Out Boston restaurant week and the deal is insane. The decor is very earthy and bright. I love the atrium situation at the entrance of the restaurant and the green plants hanging from the ceiling. The atmosphere is great. The fried cauliflower pairing the white anchovy is AMAZING. The flavor combination is so good. The flat iron steak and monkfish is totally worth trying too. The dessert is also great. It's my very first time trying olive oil cake and I absolutely love it. Would definitely go back and try their brunch menu and pasta selection. 10/10 would recommend! read more

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Very classy and dim lighting. I came here for the dollar oysters they have daily from 5-7 Pm! They are well-fleet oysters I believe. My friend and I got a dozen and a half each. We also ordered a sausage mushroom flatbread pizza. The oysters came out relatively fast, but the pizza came out kinda slow. I finished my oysters and waited a little before the pizza arrived. Everything was still good and delicious. I like how they have a jug of water on the table so I can help myself since I drink a lot of water. Everything was pretty expensive, with the pizza coming out to be 15 dollars for something so small but we wanted a little app to go with the oysters. Definitely would come for the oysters again! read more

Viale - oysters - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We came here on a Tuesday night, and the place was pretty crowded. We've already made a reservation for our date night using a Gilt City voucher. We got the beef carpaccio for starter, and it was so delicious, and looks beautiful!!! I would come back just for that alone! We also ordered two drinks, If Dirt Were Dollars and Killer Tan. Both were pretty good but quite strong. For entrees, we tried the pappardelle with braised duck and wild striped bass acqua bazza. I liked the duck but I felt that the pappardelle was a bit chewy and hard. It seems a little undercooked. The striped bass was pretty good but not sure I like the tomato sauce. The service was good and the atmosphere was nice, so 4 stars from me! read more

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I came for the oysters and I was disappointed. The quality of the oysters were not worth a dollar a piece, there are other oyster places in Boston that have much better oysters at the same happy hour deal. Too bad I forgot the name of the other place. The spaghetti alla puttanesca was overcooked and the server was kind enough to quickly re-make the spaghetti. It was still kinda over-cooked but we ate it anyways. But I found the spaghetti to be almost inedible. It was way too salty for my taste. I am surprised people can enjoy this meal (the other party didn't find it to be salty so I guess I could be the abnormality). The atmosphere in the restaurant is great and I could give it another try. But I won't be ordering any oysters or spaghetti alla puttanesca. read more

I've been here a few times-- 3 times for restaurant week-- and always had a great experience. My favorite cocktail is the Paper Anchor: rum, apricot, vanilla white-tea syrup, lemon, prosecco. This restaurant week they had fried cauliflower with (amazing!) caper-brown raisin brown butter and anchovies (which I gifted to my table-mate as I'm just not a huge anchovy fan); duck liver mousse toast with crispy shallots and dried fruit moustard; gnocchi bolognese; and rigatoni with veal sugo and pine nuts. It was hard to decide which pasta dish was better-- both were so flavorful and satisfying. read more

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A satisfying Italian dinner. The beet salad was good and a shareable portion. The arancini was great, with the taste of the saffron risotto really coming through. The fried cauliflower was surprisingly sizeable and very enjoyable, especially with the anchovies and the sauce. The lobster and saffron fettuccine was good, with one nitpick. The veggies were chopped quite small which didn't match the noodle form factor, which made it a bit annoying to eat. The taste though was interesting and different with a good balance of creaminess and acidity allowing the subtleness of both the saffron and lobster to come through. The noodles were also nicely cooked. The potato gnocchi had a nice texture that was on the firm side, but without being to heavy. The boar meat sauce was basically perfect. Service was good. The atmosphere is great for a nice date or a small celebration. I'm quite happy to have a good Italian restaurant in right in Central. read more

This is a go to spot in Cambridge! Nothing beats the $1 oysters M-F 5-7pm, and the service has always been great when I've gone. We got the chicken croquettes and arancini (possibly the sauce I've ever had), as well as the spicy sausage pizza (I'd give it a 4/10). Overall would recommend! read more

Viale - Spicy sausage pizza - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Went for brunch, was hoping to catch the $1 oysters but I guess it's only on Saturdays. Even on a rainy day it had beautiful natural light in the front of the dining room. Mimosa was tasty and I got the breakfast sandwich. The portion was big and messy to eat. Was able to find street parking. Maybe will try to make it for the oysters one day. read more

$1 oysters! Our new summer spot. Been there a few times this season, and it's been great oysters and snacks, and they have a great wine program. We love sitting outside or at the bar. Food is hit or miss--but when it's a hit--it's a HIT! Don't bother with the pizza, it's just some weird burned bread with cheese. The daily specials are great! read more

Came back here using a Gilt deal. The food was absolutely incredible. I am going to suggest Viale to all our friends and family whenever we are in the mood for some Italian! Calamari pizza was the best pizza I have ever had. The calamari wasn't oily. The pizza was thin and light. The cherry peppers added the right amount of spice. God, I'm craving that pizza right now! I ordered the boar with potato gnocchi and my husband ordered the ravioli with pears and gorgonzola sauce. The gnocchi was like heavenly soft pillows and the boar was tender and incredibly savory. My husband couldn't stop raving about this ravioli as well. Although I did think the pears were a little under cooked, the ravioli was very tasty. We vow to come back for many more date nights!! read more

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Had a great Saturday night here! Pictures didn't come out great, but this food was awesome. We walked in around 8:30 on a beautiful Saturday night and was seated immediately in their outside patio area. We started with two arancini and the meatball starters. You can order the arancini by the piece $3 each and the meatball order $11 came with three. The appetizers were steamy hot - the arancini were crispy and had a cheesy goodness inside while the meatballs had a tangy red sauce that went well with the moist bites. We got the squid ink pasta with calamari and shrimp and the potato gnocchi with wild boar as our main courses. The squid ink pasta was cooked perfectly and the shrimp were plump and not over cooked. The sauce had a pretty nice kick to it and I wouldn't change a thing. The potato gnocchi was absolutely delicious as well - each bite was packed with flavorful rosemary wild boar flavor. Although the food took a little longer than expected to come out it was all worth it. They have $1 oysters from 5-7 daily. Can't wait to come back for those and more! Don't overlook this place!! read more

Viale - Squid ink spaghetti with calamari - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Totally a Viale fan! Popped in on a Friday evening and started right off with 2 dozens of their fresh Barnstable dollar oysters. Yes guys, dollar oysters and they don't taste like dollar oysters. That's the word, bird and they offer them here every weekday from 5-7pm. Huzzah! After we got our fill of oysters, we shared their AMAZING grilled Spanish Octopus and Mackerel special. Not going to lie, the octopus plate looks like sh*t but tastes oh-so-heavenly! The squid ink added loads of flavor to the cut up potatoes and the mackerel were huge slices of fresh fresh fish that just melted in our mouths. We couldn't choose a favorite. Both are 5/5 hands down. For our entrees, we ordered the Seared Tuna and the Club Ribeye. The first steak had to be sent back since it came out well done when it was ordered rare but we appreciated the manager's thoughtfulness when he came out with a complimentary antipasti plate for us to work on while another steak was being prepared. The second steak that was delivered looked much better and I got to try a couple bites of the potato on this and it was very savory. My tuna, although cooked perfectly and served rare, was probably my least favorite of everything I tried. Very fresh but wasn't as memorable at 3/5. On a last note, I do want to mention that the service here is exceptional. Dirty plates were cleared instantly and all the bartenders, servers and runners work closely in perfect cohesion. That and the thoughtfulness and care the manager took when it was called upon makes this place a 5/5 for service. Overall, it was the perfect way to end a long work week. So glad we gave it a try and we'll be back to partake on their dollar oysters and other yummy offerings. read more

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Came here in the summer and had my very first oyster at Viale during their $1 oyster special! Every day from 5-7p they have dollar oysters which is such a steal. I really liked that their special was during prime dinner time (as opposed to other restaurants where they have dollar oysters only during off-hours). I also really enjoyed their cocktails. They were creative and strong, just the way I like it. Will definitely be coming back to try more of their dinner dishes. read more

Service was very good, but the food was mediocre. The arancini was pretty good, especially the tomato sauce (the menu said it was spicy but it wasn't). I also got the bucatini carbonara and the pasta was over cooked. I also never tried guanciale, but it was too salty and made the entire dish way too salty. The carbonara was also very pricey. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong entree. read more

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

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Food is great and so is the service. They have happy hour oysters everyday! I love this place.

Viale is amazing! We had a large party and had to add a couple of people at the last minute on a busy Friday night and they were very accommodating. Additionally, our server was very friendly and helpful and made the experience even better. The food was also very good; I would especially recommend everyone try to arancini appetizer. read more

I was walking down mass Avenue and saw sign that said one dollar happy hour oysters from 5 to 7. And that's what Drew me in and I got seated outdoors. I ordered A dozen oysters and they were delicious! I thought that was all that I was going to get but then decided to order some pasta. I ended up getting the pappardelle. The servers came by and brought me bread once I ordered my pasta. The bread was nice and warm and they gave me some olive oil to dip. Finally the pasta came and it was a pretty small portion which I was surprised about given the price was $27. It was good it had a Hint of Indian flavor maybe Cumin? It Had chunks of fatty pork. Overall great experience however took away 1 Star only because I probably wouldn't get the same dish again and I thought it was fairly overpriced for what I got. I would go back for the one dollar oysters and maybe try another pasta dish. read more

Viale - Papparadelle and $1 oysters - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Right of Central station and there is parking nearby. I had a reservation but I think if you were to drop in you would be able to get a table. The service was great and very attentive. Oysters were just the perfect salt level of my liking, seared calamari had a lemon squid ink aioli which was my favorite. The house special grilled flank steak with aioli was also good. I am not much of a coffee fan but got the affogato and I liked it a lot. We did not talk to the chef but he was speaking to the table near as and was very friendly to the customers and clearly showed passion and connection to those he served. Would recommend making a stop here. read more

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My friend and I stumbled upon this restaurant while walking down the street trying to get out of the snow. It's definitely fancy on the inside, but the service is impeccable and the staff some of the friendliest I've ever encountered. The food was AMAZING, though definitely pretty expensive. It's super close to Central Station (red line), so definitely convenient. read more

Came here on graduation weekend. Mass ave has been transformed with plenty of outside dining. I hope they can keep it. Our meal at Viale was excellent. The 3 of us each had the 3 course meal so that we could try different starters, entrees, and desserts. They were all excellent. I think the beets and the steak were amazing. The tiramisu is not to be missed. Service was speedy and very pleasant. An all around great meal. Good job, Viale! read more

Everything was absolutely delicious! I'm so impressed. Definitely try one of the cocktails-- I got the oaxacan tea party. Great location in Central Square, too read more

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It was a mix of cozy with a modern touch. The staff where all so friendly and the food was fantastic. The calamari was amazing. Though it was very busy and at times loud I can't wait to go back. read more

Delicious pasta and fun cocktails. Went for Valentine's weekend and had a great experience.

Highly recommend! Ate dinner here recently and I cannot wait to return. We ordered the canary in a coal mine (drink), social smoker (drink), grilled asparagus, pappardelle, potato gnocchi, and panna cotta. The drinks were good - standard specialty cocktails. I LOVED the grilled asparagus. The egg on top added so much flavor. I want to note the my husband found the asparagus to be "underwhelming" but he isn't writing this review - is he? Now to the main event - the pappardelle and the gnocchi. Both of those dishes were my favorite. My husband and I kept switching back and forth and I would think "this is my fav dish" then we would switch and I would be like "THIS is my fav dish" and we would switch again and I would be like "NO THIS IS MY FAVORITE DISH." Needless to say, I couldn't decide. I am a glutton for fresh made pasta and this met me there and then took me there. Couldn't be happier with the food. We also decided to get a white wine to pair with the pappardelle and a red to pair with the gnocchi. So we asked our waiter to make it happen and he brought us one of each and they really enhanced the flavor. Good choices on his part! We then finished with the panna cotta. That was the only meh part of the night for me. The panna cotta was presented in a small mason jar - very cute. But it caused there to be this huge layer of topping before you could get to the dish. I didn't really enjoy the mouthfuls of topping. I think that dessert would be perfect if presented is a shallower dish so that you had equal access to panna cotta as well as toppings. Overall 4.5 star experience and will return. read more

Sat outside on a Thursday evening, soft live music playing next door added to the wonderful ambience :) Loved the arancini, the octopus was delicious! Will definitely be back to try more pastas. My friends loved too! read more

Great menu of food options that beats your average bar and cool cocktails too! The $1 oysters was also fun to have with a group - I'm not even usually an oyster person but they were pretty good! read more