1. T.W. Food
377 Walden St, Cambridge, MA
American Restaurant · West Cambridge · 25 tips and reviews
Boston Magazine: The chef’s impeccable technique turns simple dishes like a soft-scrambled egg with trumpet mushrooms into something you’ll dream about for days. Read more.
Michael Bourne: The pasta is sublime and homemade of course!
David Hauser: Great food, the chicken was very odd and not the best. Everything else was top notch. Street parking is permit only, but seemed ok.
2. Harvest
44 Brattle St (at Story St), Cambridge, MA
American Restaurant · Harvard Square · 45 tips and reviews
CITY GRIT: We loved the Seafood Ceviche & Scallop Crudo. Field Strawberry & Lavender Salad, and the English Pea Agnolotti.
Simon Lee: Enjoy a drink at the bar before dinner. Great service, atmosphere and company!
Boston Magazine: Harvest has a problem. We can never decide when to go: enjoy the dinner? Sunday brunch? If only every conundrum were this tasty… Read more.
3. Bondir
279A Broadway (at Elm St), Cambridge, MA
New American Restaurant · Inman Square · 35 tips and reviews
Michelle C.: Bon Appetit "Best New Restaurants"- have homemade breads, including one flecked with seaweed, served with butter, hand-rolled tagliatelle with chicken; braised lamb shoulder
Boston.com: Bondir emphasizes local and seasonal ingredients; nothing new about that. And yet the dishes on the constantly changing menu don’t resemble anyone else’s. Read more.
Bon Appetit Magazine: Each homespun dish is available in either a half or full portion. And then there's the fireplace, appealing staff, and intimate setting that make it feel like you're eating in grandma's country house.
4. Catalyst Restaurant
8.0
300 Technology Sq (at Albany & Main), Cambridge, MA
New American Restaurant · Kendall Square · 52 tips and reviews
Boston.com: Try the beautifully roasted cod in a refined chowder, seared scallops with pickled pumpkin, tender and flavorful tournedos of beef topped with taleggio ravioli. Read more.
Rich Thorne: Try the Pho: a blend of cucumber vodka, lime, basil, cilantro, and sriracha. Perfection in a chilled glass.
Steliane Marques: Super: Roasted Cod, Olive oil Crushed Potatoes Bacon, Mussels Chowder, Herb Nage!
5. Rialto
1 Bennett St (at Eliot St.), Cambridge, MA
Italian Restaurant · Harvard Square · 34 tips and reviews
CITY GRIT: Perfect order = Octopus, Bucatini, Lamb, Spicy Cauliflower.
Bravo: I love it. TCM Chef Jody Adams combines great food with a beautiful atmosphere. The flavors are what they are supposed to be. -Carmen Gonzalez, Top Chef
Boston Magazine: Poor Charles Hotel. How many people pass through its lobby nightly, ignoring its staffers’ smiles and glazing over its décor? Blame Rialto: The second-floor restaurant has such pull. Read more.
Derek K: Very pricey but completely worth it! Brunch, sandwiches, and dinner stuff! Excellent wine selection too!
John Haydon: Breakfast sandwiches are a bit expensive, but very much worth the spend.
John Haydon: Before you die, try their vanilla bean loaf.
8. West Bridge
1 Kendall Square (Hampshire St.), Cambridge, MA
French Restaurant · 59 tips and reviews
Eric Andersen: The sunflower chowder comes with clams — deliciously salty!
Hamo Field: Amazing food and service! The venison was awesome (as were the snails, lamb, kale salad, deserts, etc!)
Senator John Blutarski: Conant's Island is the move; a delicious blend of cucumber infused vodka, rice vinegar, and green Tabasco. Drink!
11. Beat Brasserie
8.1
13 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA
Jazz and Blues Venue · Harvard Square · 91 tips and reviews
Yera Ha: Awesome spot. Live jazz, great drinks, plenty of seating, cool atmosphere for a fun night out. Also, try the lamb nachos!
emma tangoren: from the owners of the beehive in the south end, described as a "subterranean restaurant-bar-nightclub"
Jake Smith: If you're planning on eating, arrive early or plan on waiting a while for a table (or eating at the crowded bar). Try one of the ingeniously developed cocktails, like the Purple Door.
13. Life Alive
8.9
765 Massachusetts Ave (at Inman St.), Cambridge, MA
Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurant · Mid-Cambridge · 197 tips and reviews
Peter Paul Payack: Everything is good, but go with the Emperor or Romantic Wrap. Call ahead for take out & they let you skip the line (it's always packed).
Eric Leist: About 80% of the customers come before or after a yoga class, just bring a yoga mat so you fit in.
Matt S: I'd love to try the rest of the menu, but after having an Adventurer bowl you'll never want to wander.