Where to eat Contemporary food in Cambridge: The Best Restaurants and Bars

August 1, 2020 Myesha Cogley

Find out what Contemporary restaurants to try in Cambridge. Home to two of America's most prestigious universities, Cambridge exudes a certain intellectual quirkiness. A mix of historical haunts, student hang-outs, alternative art and culture venues, vintage clothing shops, bookstores and ethnic restaurants, the city is, well, really cool. Although it is located just across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge has a distinct vibe that is noticeable immediately. Start at Harvard Square, a hub of activity and mishmash of trendy stores, outdoor cafes and colorful local characters. Pick up a walking tour map at the visitors information booth in the center of the Square. The route will take you past many important landmarks including the Mount Auburn Cemetery, Tory Row and the Longfellow National Historic Site. Harvard University offers student-led tours through the illustrious buildings and monuments of its sprawling campus. Art and architecture buffs should meander around the M.I.T campus, which includes outdoor sculptures by masters such as Picasso and 20th-century buildings designed by modern greats like Eero Saarinen and I. M. Pei. Along the way, browse through bookstores, stop to watch street performers and grab a coffee at an outdoor café to take in all this captivating city has to offer.
Things to do in Cambridge

1. Tasting Counter

14 Tyler St 1st Floor, Somerville, MA 02143-3224 Contemporary Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Accepts Visa, Reservations, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Parking Available [email protected] +1 617-299-6362 http://tastingcounter.com
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

5 based on 77 reviews

Tasting Counter

Tasting Counter is an innovative restaurant in Somerville, Massachusetts, offering a multi-sensory dining experience. The philosophy of the restaurant is to establish the shortest distance between the production of food and the dining guest. Guests are se

Reviewed By BillR2390

My friend and I dined at Tasting Counter for our first time last weekend. Unlike most who comment here, I've had numerous dining experiences at such counters/bars--including O ya in Boston, Somni in Los Angeles, and minibar by Jose Andres in Washington, DC. The latter are 2* Michelin restaurants. All 3 vastly surpassed Tasting Counter. Tasting Counter looks the part but doesn't quite deliver. At $225 per person, it failed. The food, while beautifully presented, didn't remotely blow us away. Everything was...fine. A few courses were pretty good. Only one was really good. For that much money, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more. The wine pairings also failed to deliver any punch; rarely did any of the pairings noticeably elevate a course. They were unimpressive overall.Service was brusk and fine, but I wouldn't call it friendly. The woman serving the wines rarely smiled and sounded like she was going through the motions. Servers came from behind you to change dishware and silverware, something that created awkwardness and which was almost entirely avoided by other bar restaurants. At one point, my dish clearly hadn't been finished off with some vegetables pieces that were on everyone else's plate. When I mentioned it, the chef looked visibly annoyed with me and petulantly placed the vegetable pieces--without even a hint of apology. I was pretty surprised at that.For this much money, the food needs to be more delicious, the service needs to be much friendlier, and the wines need to elevate. No, I won't be returning.

Top 4 Cafe food in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

2. Deuxave

371 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02115-1811 French, Contemporary Dinner Seating, Street Parking, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Reservations, Private Dining, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service [email protected] +1 617-517-5915 http://www.deuxave.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 856 reviews

Deuxave

Co-Owners Brian Piccini, Executive Chef Christopher Coombs & General Manager/Sommelier Jason Irving are proud of their award winning Restaurant & Bar, Deuxave in the Back Bay. The inspiration behind the restaurant's American Nouveau Cuisine is seasonality

Reviewed By JoeyZ347

This is a beautiful restaurant with exceptional service and a relaxed inviting atmosphere. The wine list is extraordinary and the sommelier was really helpful and knowledgeable leading us to a superb choice of an affordable Langedoc varietal. The apps were well prepared and very delicious, particularly the beef carpaccio/tartare. I was not as enthusiastic about the mains - while well prepared and excellent tasting, they were not especially creative or "special." I was more impressed with the food on previous visits. I will look forward to returning because of the A+ overall experience.

Where to eat Bar food in Cambridge: The Best Restaurants and Bars

3. EVOO

350 3rd St Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142-1136 American, Bar, International, Contemporary, Pub, Wine Bar Dinner, Lunch, Late Night, Drinks Parking Available, Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Valet Parking, Highchairs Available, Free Wifi [email protected] +1 617-661-3866 http://www.evoorestaurant.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 232 reviews

EVOO

EVOO is a full service restaurant using local and sustainable ingredients. We are proud to be a LEED Gold certified restaurant and of being a sustainable member of our community since 1998. Lunch and dinner menus change daily based on available local ingr

Reviewed By hollind

We enjoyed our business dinner here very much. The waitstaff provided excellent service for such a large party. I enjoyed a savory squash soup that was delicious to begin the meal. The main course of a crusted haddock was truly outstanding. The filet was thick and flaky and perfectly cooked and the accompanying ingredients accented the gentle flavor of the fish. The apple crumble dessert with homemade ice cream was definitely work the trips to the gym I’ll need. Our hosts offered us a preselected menu so I can’t answer more about the menu but our meal was memorable.

Top 3 Middle Eastern food in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

4. The Hawthorne

500A Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215-2606 American, Bar, Contemporary Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Private Dining, Wheelchair Accessible, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Free Wifi, Table Service [email protected] +1 617-532-9150 http://www.thehawthornebar.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 166 reviews

The Hawthorne

Opened in 2011, The Hawthorne is Jackson Cannon's craft cocktail lounge located inside the Hotel Commonwealth in Boston's Kenmore Square. A logical extension of sister restaurant Eastern Standard's celebrated bar, The Hawthorne takes the finest elements o

Reviewed By thordiskaren

A must go to when in Boston! Drinks are delicious, didn’t try the food but it looked and smelled really good. Our bartender, Altamash (if correct spelled) was the best! I’m managing a bar back home and never met anyone with such a knowledge in beverages and service minded! Would bring this place back homeIf I could.

Most Popular Asian food in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

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