If you’re planning on going out for lunch or dinner with friends or family, we’ve featured 10 of the best restaurants in Cambridge, Massachusetts to help you decide where to go.
1. Waypoint
Waypoint is a restaurant located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was founded and is led by Chef Michael Scelfo, famous for his work at the acclaimed Alden & Harlow restaurant. With Waypoint, Chef Scelfo looks to provide the community of Cambridge with another quality addition to the local competitive culinary scene.
For those that are interested in enjoying an evening at Waypoint, reservations are highly recommended. Guests can enjoy popular options like Waypoint’s caviar service, pasta like their lobster cacio e pepe and uni bucatini, as well as masterfully prepared roasted chicken and NY strip steak frites.
Plan a night out at Waypoint!
2. Little Donkey
Situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Little Donkey is a restaurant that is a local favorite. The restaurant serves well portioned tapas-style food to go with a generous selection of alcoholic cocktails, beer and ciders. Choose from their raw bar offerings like their salmon sashimi or tuna poke, or jump right into more meaty options like their grilled kalbi (Korean short rib) or fried chicken sandwich.
The interior of Little Donkey is a beautiful pairing of an open bar and kitchen with beautiful decor pieces, framed against a simple, rustic interior. Little Donkey welcomes reservations from small and larger parties alike and welcomes them to enjoy their patio space as the weather warms.
Little Donkey wants to kindly remind customers to book a table using the platform Resy – and they look forward to seeing you there soon!
3. Harvest
Harvest is a restaurant that has been a part of the Cambridge, Massachusetts landscape since 1975. A proud member of the Himmel Hospitality Group, Harvest is a restaurant that embraces its New England, classic American history and has done everything to respect the history of its roots through the different classic American dishes on its menu, to this day.
Enjoy a meal at Harvest at one of their tables inside their elegant indoor dining spaces, or bring your friends and family out onto the patio at Harvest. Harvest welcomes reservations for corporate events, birthdays and weddings, among other family gatherings. Join Harvest for lunch, dinner or even brunch, when you can enjoy their brioche French toast, New England lobster roll, or simply a mimosa to toast with friends.
Reach out to Harvest today.
4. Pammy’s
Modelling itself as an “American trattoria”, Pammy’s is a restaurant that is equally proud of its historical roots as they are of its modern inspirations. This Cambridge, Massachusetts restaurant draws heavily on Italian cuisine as inspiration but takes every dish in a new direction to elevate the classics and invent new dishes to reflect its identity as an American establishment.
Pammy’s boasts an incredibly friendly staff and talented crew of chefs and cooks, but it is their food that truly sets them apart. Come in for a taste of their steak tartare, aged for 45-days, or their ricotta caramelle served with cured egg yolk and vegetable dashi. Remember to run by the bar on your way out of the restaurant to enjoy one of their cocktails.
Start a conversation with Pammy’s!
5. Oleana
Oleana is a restaurant located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that aims to bring its guests on a culinary trip to the Middle East and Turkey, the locales from which the restaurant draws much of its inspiration. The restaurant is a homely, well-managed joint, with nothing of excess. Their staff is committed to providing guests with the very best experience in terms of both the quality of the food, which is prepared with the freshest ingredients, as well as their professional front-of-house staff.
Sticking to its Middle Eastern roots, Oleana’s menu includes cold meze dishes like topik – stuffed potato hummus with leeks and currants – as well as warm dishes such as their lemon chicken and iskender kebab, made of local Vermont lamb and with a side of Turkish bread and tomato brown butter. Don’t forget to order a dessert— their baked Alaska is one dish that originates closer to home.
Learn more about Oleana here!
6. The Red House Restaurant
Cambridge, Massachusetts is home to The Red House Restaurant, a local restaurant that’s housed right in the famous Harvard Square. Aside from being centrally located, The Red House Restaurant has become known for its incredible ability to transform the ingredients it uses into masterful, classic American dishes.
Guests can enjoy a table inside one of The Red House Restaurant’s themed rooms, including The Conservatory Bar, with all its natural greenery or the aptly named Pink Room. Choose between their delicious pork tacos or grilled swordfish, or enjoy a drink like their Blueberry Basil or Waldorf cocktails with a friend.
Check out The Red House Restaurant’s entire menu here.
7. Toscano
Toscano is a restaurant located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As its name suggests, the restaurant takes inspiration from Tuscan cuisine: delicious culinary masterpieces done simply with fresh ingredients, occasionally complemented by a glass of wine.
Bring your family or friend into the dining halls at Toscano, with its classic brick interior, and white sheets on every table. Start things out with their homemade bruschetta or caprese, or try out their four cheese tasting selection. Ask their knowledgeable staff about which one of their wines will go best with your food choices!
Speak to Toscano today!
8. Pagu
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Pagu is a restaurant featuring talented kitchen staff, servers and bartenders. The restaurant has created a menu that is simple and delicious, appealing to everyone from local students to visiting guests from outside the city. For guests looking to bring a taste of Pagu home with them, Pagu Market is a great place to pick up different items for cooking similar dishes at home, like their duck ramen or pork belly bao kits.
The restaurant’s menu is uniquely American with Asian influences. Their striped bass ceviche uses yuzu and blood orange for flavoring, while their duck confit uses kabocha hummus, arugula and goji berries. Pair it with some of Pagu’s cocktails like Lei It On Me, Kyoto Temple or Django.
Experience Pagu for yourself in Cambridge, Massachusetts!
9. The Hourly Oyster House
The Hourly Oyster House is a classic oyster restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Housed in the historical building at 15 Dunster Street, customers will be seated in classic booths surrounded by photos of the history of the building and restaurant.
Along with other famous fishes, The Hourly Oyster House is best known for their oysters. Customers should pay attention to their calendar for oyster events that are sure to satisfy any oyster lover. The restaurant is open to reservations for both smaller groups and private parties, including corporate events for lunches and dinners.
Contact The Hourly Oyster House today!
10. Gustazo
For a taste of Cuban cuisine on American soil, check out Cambridge, Massachusett’s Gustazo. The restaurant aims to deliver Cuban cuisine with an American twist, drawing on ideas from the Cuban art and food scene from the 1950s. Once guests walk into their restaurant, they will be welcomed by a clean interior layout decorated with reminders of a more colorful Cuban past.
Gustazo is led by owner and executive chef Patricia Estorino. She has put together a menu that pairs both food and drinks to create the perfect dining experience. Choose from cocktails such as Gustazo’s Cuban Cigar, Golden Sands, or their homemade take on the classic sangria. Those drinks will go with hand in hand with Gustazo’s dishes, from their ensalada de lechuga and peurco asado to desserts like flan and churros con chocolate.
Plan a trip out to Gustazo to make up your mind!
