50 Best American Restaurants in Cambridge

“Amazing food. Don't miss out on the pasta dishes or the bread. They actually make for great sharing apps. The staff is so nice and welcoming. Drinks are delicious and unique.“

“I couldn’t give any other review—I completely fell in love with the food here!! I still dream about the crème brûlée with pear. Absolutely insane!
It’s a bit pricey but nothing outrageous compared to other restaurants of the same quality in the area. Service is lovely too!“

“Nice space, attentive and friendly team and great food. Highly recommend.“

“The best meal- great service- Beautiful atmosphere And warm friendly hostess“

“Outstanding. Brenna surpassed my expectations of service. By far the best experience I’ve had in the last 3 days.“

“Staff, atmosphere, live music, food, beer - all great. What's not to like!“

“I "cried" when my fave VEGAN or VEGETARIAN "GO-to" eat-in place closed all their locations around Boston. That was sadly & formerly GrainMaker .. (gone now) However DiG has grown on me as their deFACTO replacement for all FRESH VEGGIES and otherwise ALL FRESH MEAL VEGAN or VEGETERIAN eats and eat-in place! This is becoming my greatly reccomended "hidden vegan and veggie gem" in Boston with LOTS of locations. They have 3 locations thus far in Boston and 2 in Cambridge. I hav ONLY visited their downtown location thus far! Just as formerly with GrainMaker, DiG is as close to authentic home cooked! & genuinely HEALTHY! AND fresh meals that you can get to. Always fresh veggies, steamed & otherwise. --(they also serve a variety of proteins, as in variety of meats and fish, but i stay vegan. I have NEVER tried any of their meats or fish here.. ONLY their veggies and seasoned TOFU on occasion.. more oft than not, i do not even get their TOFU as a protein and opt to feast on JUST their steamed or boiled or baked veggies, bases. like rice and excellent mixed veggie salads sides!) Have been frequenting it for about 2 years since 2023 now, but held off on reviewing it until i was SURE of my experiences here. Decided to review it today bcs "it's time". I spoke to the very customer service oriented and responsibve supervisor here at this location, his name is DiJuan and was served by Adonis today and he was also very accommodating (after i explained i eat vegan) and on showing me my MANY fresh veggie choices, bases, proteins (including delish prepared Tofu) and PLENTY of heavenly veggie sides, all preped like you'd expect to find in a Thanksgiving grand day family meal. (AND they do this EVERY DAY!! ) This is HEALTHY eats and quite tasty and delish! See my posted pic w this review of my choice of eats today. In short, just today, i started with very little brown rice as my base and added 2 types of their fresh salad, Cannellini Beans w dill & greens along with their steamed or boiled Kale greens and added also a sweet potato that had been steamed & also steamed brocolli. I LUV eating fresh, healthy, TASTY and "homemade style" (as in NOT processed!!). I added their Garlic dressing to top it off. It came to something like 10+ bucks (B4 tax)! Unheard of !! for a BIG & FULLY portioned full veggie plate like this! BIG PORTION of a FULL PLATE! -- i declined, as usual to get any protein with my meal today, is why, STiLL i got a HUGE portioned plate! ( I normally HAVE2 order 2 - 3 separate orders and combine them, at HoneyGrow, anuther fave local "vegan" franchise in Boston, in order to get filled up if i'm only eating OMAD, as in One-meal-a-Day, in order to get full elsewhere usually!). They have a FAMILY (feeds4) option after 3pm every day that feeds 4-5 people (adults not kids) for like $43. QUITE A BARGAIN for something like this. AND it look like a Thankgiving day meal to top it off! --(formerly anuther non-vegan place "had this", now gone, called Boston Market. However they LOADED their side protions and even base meal with SO MUCH SALT, yuck! so that was ALL you could taste. THEY supposedly made home made, but found out NOT SO!!, theirs was loaded with processed sh*t, like their supposedly home-made mashed potatoes were the powder kind, loaded with pseudo milk and SALT, YUCK!!) NOT SO ! with this place.. DiG is 180 degrees fr tht.. This is truly GREAT tasting REAL and "home-prepped" veggies. They are winning me over from my other 2 "go-to's" "vegan-ish" franchises in Boston whcih have steadily been declining for various reasons, those being Bon-Me (their employees, over at Bon-Me for last 2-3 years it seems at ALL locations i have tried, simply do not undertsand nor speak english for the most part, their food WEN i can get it ordered the way i want it, is generally good, oft times its taken over 2 returned plates in order to get it prepared the way i orderd it.. v“

“If you’re looking for well-known dishes without unnecessary fuss, but prepared to absolute perfection, this is the place to go. Unfortunately, the service felt a bit unmotivated. However, the food was so outstanding that it still fully deserves five stars.“

“This was one of the finest dining experiences we've had. We've heard about Giulia for months now, reputed as one of, if not the best Italian restaurant in Massachusetts, which meant we had extremely high expectations going in. Combined with the difficulty of getting a reservation due to the popularity (with many nights waiting at 12am sharp hoping that I refreshed fast enough), and finally we had secured a reservation. The food is heavenly. We ordered the erbazzone and grilled rosemary flatbread for appetizers, and both were so delicious— especially the erbazzone, which was probably the tastiest appetizer I have tasted. I still crave it as I am writing this, and my girlfriend feels the same way. The flatbread was also amazing, though the erbazzone trumps almost anything from the night. My girlfriend ordered the vegetarian bucatini, and I ordered their famous wild boar pappardelle. Both pastas were excellent, though not as standout as the appetizers. It was really nice to note that they deducted the price for the vegetarian pasta from 28 (which would include meat) to 18, which we really appreciated. Finally, we ordered the yogurt panna cotta with beach rose, toasted coconut and winter citrus for dessert. Oh my god, this is the greatest food I have tasted in eons. My girlfriend thinks it's the best thing she has eaten (and we're both very judgy with food!). Neither of us had thought we would enjoy anything rose-flavored so much, with the taste recurring with each bit of saliva, slowly dissipating with time. It is as if rose bloomed in our mouth, slowly melted to our tongues, and withered away as we bit away and let it wither. The sweetness gave way for the rose, and the rose enhanced the coconut and yogurt tastes. We should have ordered another one. Overall, this was probably one of the top three meals in my life, and certainly best in the New England area. I HIGHLY recommend everyone to go, and honestly it might even be better to just order appetizers and dessert“

“nice state park.lots of wild life to see.“

“Very unique restaurant that does some super cool things! Pros: - Any of their baked goods are TO DIE FOR. - Lovely environment - Nails the diner theme - An experience!! Cons: - I’ve been here three times now and honestly I just don’t think their actual entrees are super memorable. I tried their clam chowder, their jackfruit bowl, and the chicken waffles. And only the chicken waffles stood out as being good (still not fantastic) the others were meh 🤷 - wish it was all vegan. To break it down: 4/5 experience 5/5 sweets and baked goods 3/5 food So highly recommend visiting and trying it out! Get your nostalgic diner food and your favorite baked goods and have a blast.“

“I had a great experience at Cambridge Commons. My server was lovely and the atmosphere was nice as well, the bar area and lights made good vibes. I ordered the chicken sandwich which was pretty good, and the price is also affordable. Didn’t have to wait long at all. I would recommend😁👍“

“Incredible food at the Chef’s Table. Amazing coordination between staff in a small space. Very friendly and accommodating. Probably the best meal I have ever had and I didn’t choose any of the courses!“

“The oysters were fresh and i enjoyed the ambience!!!“

“An excellent dinner. Purple carrots! Lemon potatoes! Tahini mushroom with an egg! Blue fish! Good service. Guy ran down The block to return my bracelet which had fallen off! They give you the check in a Copy of the Constitution! Recommend but why are you not accessible! Such a contradiction of your stated philosophy. Should at least put it on your website with your apology“

“I was nervous about my stay based on reviews, but I really enjoyed it overall though I do think the price is steep for the size of the rooms and the hotel amenities. I'd stay again if the price was lower.

Location is excellent and very close to transit lines, but also within walking distance to many major Cambridge attractions. Fantastic selection of restaurants and stores in the surrounding area. Rooms were very clean and comfortable though might be small for more than one person or if you have large luggage. Front desk does offer luggage storage until check-in despite the app saying that they do not, would love to see this info corrected. I was on the 4th floor and even on a Friday night there was minimal noise from the rooftop bar aside from a few chairs being moved. I really appreciated the microwave/water dispenser/extra cutlery/toiletries in the hallway! Worth noting that you were only allowed to take one of any item and that you were otherwise expected to purchase your own (toilet paper included) - this reads as cheap/stingy and the daily rate for this hotel isn't particularly low or affordable to warrant this. Room included shampoo/conditioner/soap/hair dryer and a fridge. Easy to connect the TV to your phone for entertainment. Rooms don't allow you to set the temperature below 20C. Shower curtain was flimsy and the plumbing sometimes squeaked loudly after using the sink or flushing the toilet. The app leaves a lot to be desired in terms of the available information about the hotel and the chat help option, it takes a long time for someone to respond and the agents don't always know what they're doing.

I'm not someone who cares for a lot of bells and whistles in my hotels, and this place suited my needs really well. I was here for work and did not cover the cost of my stay. I had a great experience but if I was paying out of pocket I'm not sure I'd choose to stay here again solely based on the price. If the rate was more reasonable based on the available amenities and level of service I'd be happy to stay again.“

“Here’s a revieWe had a decent meal at The Abby. The food itself was good, but we had a small issue with the salad. I had asked to substitute the fries for a salad, and while I appreciated the option, it came already dressed. I personally liked the dressing, but I usually prefer my salads without it, and would have appreciated being asked. Unfortunately, my partner didn’t like the dressing at all and ended up not eating her salad. A small thing, but it would’ve made a difference if they had checked with us first.“

“You know when they say a "hidden gem"? I feel like the Paperback Tavern encompasses this title. My husband and I had SUCH a great date night here! From the ambiance to the food...they. did. Not. Miss! The food is actually enjoyable to eat and not just "eh...edible". Coming from a Carribean household where we LOVE our food to be well seasoned, I'm VERY picky about non-carribean food. The fact that all the food was cooked perfectly AND tasted Amazing, blew my mind! We had 4 different drinks, 2 appetizers, 3 different entrees and a dessert. Take their Cacio e Pepe Wings for example; With most American food, I always have to dunk or bathe my wings in some kind of sauce to actually enjoy wings, but these wings at Paperback....I ate most of them WITHOUT the need for any sauce (even though it came with it). It was sooo well-seasoned and had a nice crunch to the skin! And OH MY GOSH, THE LYCHEE LEMONADE! When I tell you they have the BEST lemonade I've ever had?? Seriously..all the words: Sweet, fizzy, refreshing, crisp, tart, tangy..Just, SO GOOD! And then we got to dessert.... the Boston Cream Pie!!! Man...Just GO eat here if you get a chance lol. I wish I could go through all the food and drinks for you all but this is just a Lil TASTE of how amazing everything went. If you're ever in Cambridge/Boston MA, it's WORTH IT to try Paperback Tavern. Take our word for it!“

“The cocktails were amazing. We only order appetisers but we really enjoyed the food. In order of preference of what we ordered : 1. Broccoli 2. Focaccia 3. Patata bravas 4. A H burrata We absolutely loved tea ceremony cocktail. Great blend of cucumber and matcha“

“Small beer selection, wine and a bar. But they were great, super friendly, and the food was good.“

“Very good, But I don't want to hamburger anymore“

“Ordered food through Uber eats last night & couldn’t of been happier. I was having a craving for hot pretzel sticks so that’s what I searched on Uber. I came across this place & omg it was sooo worth it. I also got a paper explaining who the owners are and more about the place. I can’t wait until I can come with my family when this all ends! So happy I found you guys. Thanks!!“

“Living nearby, Kantipur has become my go-to every week for quarantine takeout. I've tried all the chicken dishes about 3 times by now and I still can't decide which is the best! But my favorite menu item is the vegetable pakora appetizer. Dip it in the chutney sauce and you'll understand. 🎁🎊“

“I was so good I recommend it“

“S&S is OPEN for deli takeout during this time from 11am- 7pm. Curbside pickup. Enter only at front door 1334 Cambridge St.“

“This restaurant is dope. The interior is warm and inviting. It’s modern and chic. Definitely an elevated hipster vibe. A chill spot to hang out after work or nice date night. The food is bomb! For apps, I’ve never had a Chinese-inspired arancini. These crispy delights are addicting with their crack sauce. The sauce is a must have on the arancini. The salad is light and refreshing. The Kokoda is a well made dish. I never had blue fin tuna until I came here. The combo with the fresh fish with the acidity from the lemon juice and smooth finish of coconut sauce - oof, worth a try. There’s also another surprise about the Kokoda - there’s something called sea grapes 🍇 and were bursting of flavor and freshness. A nice addition to the dish. I could go for seconds with the Kokoda because it’s a bit small for me. I wish they made it 2x bigger so it could be more shareable with a date or with company. The Maine Uni was surprisingly delicious 😋. I honestly thought it was too expensive but after having it, it was an amazing amuse bouche (the perfect bite). I couldn’t believe that small bite packed so much flavor and complexity. It was balanced and left me feeling happy. Totally worth it. For mains, the pork belly adobo melts in your mouth. So good! The mushroom raviolis are my favorite out of this menu. The salted duck egg sauce is what makes this dish memorable. I would definitely eat this again. The bitter melon ratatouille is not my favorite because it wasn’t seasoned enough for me. It felt as though it was missing salt. The veggies were perfectly roasted though, but it didn’t quite smack like the other dishes. The ribeye is good, but not my favorite. I might be biased because I’ve had better at other places. For desserts, the pandan sorbet is tasty. I’m not a fan of the pandan taste. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but I enjoyed it because I love avocados and bananas and in ice cream form? No brainer. I wished they had a version without the pandan flavoring. I’m curious as to how it would taste then. The matcha cheesecake is surprisingly well-balanced. Not too matcha where it’s overbearing. The matcha is subtle while the richness of the cheesecake smacks just right and not overly sugary. The late night menu - I only tried the Chicharrón taco 🌮. The combo of crispy pork belly and the acidity from the lime is perf. Nothing else to say. Surprisingly really filling. I probably can’t have more than 2 of these tacos and I’m a pretty big guy. The drinks - I love the names and how they have a play on words. The blood orange and the banana espresso are my favorite. These drinks have enough booze and not too much where it’s offensive. Blood orange is enjoyable to drink and the banana espresso is complex with a chocolate finish. Their nice, clean cocktails. Service was awesome! The servers were friendly and quick. They regularly checked in with my wife and me. I don’t think I even had to do the awkward “please help us” lean at all. They were there when you needed them! Amazing 5 star service! You want a culinary experience. This place won’t disappoint.“

“everything wonderful service food atmosphere“

“Wow, if you like the best of the best in Craft beer, you gotta stop by, grabbed the garlic knots too, they were delicious...“

“great bar. cash only. located between Harvard and Central.“

“Clover is super fast and easy to order from, this location is no exception and conveniently located too where there aren’t already many vegetarian/vegan places. I do wish this location was open a bit later, but a lot of restaurants in Inman seem to close early, so perhaps an area-specific thing. I’ve never had a bad meal at Clover - all the vegan options have been great, and I appreciate that they change up the menu based on local, seasonal ingredients. My go-to is the chickpea fritter, the current lemonade flavor, and the rosemary fries. Just make sure you eat the fries right away, they’re wonderful but they do get dry!“

“Went with friends this last weekend and had a great time. Service was top notch, food was well prepared and tasty, drinks were creative and delicious. We’ll be back!“

“great place to pack all my fans love the staff looking to perform here sometime in the near future“

“Went to get a flat top haircut like American basketball player Gary Thompson but nobody inside had scissors. Then I met a few fellas and asked if they wanted to shoot a few balls. Now these were young guys, full of spunk but lacking in proper life experience, so what I did was I laid right down on that pool table and just started telling them about my marriage. How it started beautifully on a cliff overlooking a sunset, to how it ended in a waste water treatment facility and me losing custody of my ferrets. Eventually, they all just started shooting around me and all over me, sinking balls until the game was up and they had to go back to their dorms for the night. Those boys made me feel young again. I might not have gotten a flat top, but I know I made friends to last a lifetime. Brandon, Kenny, and Big Smokes if you see this and wanna hang out please call me with the number I gave you! Its been a few days and you still haven't called! Please!

Parking was a bit tricky during peak hours but I found a spot around the block. I attached a picture so you can get a general sense of the bars layout, its easy to get lost but a good time for sure.“

“Awesome burger and the fries were delicious too!“

“Amazing“

“Great place for brunch and good customer service“

“What a great lunch outside on a beautiful afternoon!! The menu is great with lots of options for sharing delicious salads and sandwiches. We highly recommend the asparagus soup-delectable!! The lamb burger was very tasty and beyond my expectations. Our waiter was super and all the staff was very friendly and they genuinely seemed happy to work there! We're still t a liking about the special birthday dessert! Many thanks to all the staff and we're already looking foward to our next visit! The partial parking validation at the Technology Square Garage is an extra perk!“

“I wandered into Harvest based solely on their Google rating, with no inclination as to what the menu might hold. I'm so glad I did! The staff was friendly and attentive. My goblet was refilled before the thought crossed my mind that I may need more. Dishes were cleared almost immediately after each course. The food came out beautifully presented and piping hot. I ordered the Humboldt Fog plate, Mushroom & French Onion soup (Who thought to put miso in it?! Yum!) and roasted asparagus. I was very pleased and would certainly recommend folks give Harvest a try!“

“I can praise Henrietta”s table enough! The choices are amazing all healthy and sounds delicious and fresh! Having gluten and dairy allergies it’s hard to find a restaurant that is kind and respectful and understanding is hard but here they will make sure you have a fabulous safe meal. Been here a few times and last night we had Brit who was absolutely a doll helped me get out of my scrod box and try the salmon. I HIGHLY suggest for all. Thank you Brit much appreciate it“

“Great food, perfect for a casual lunch, or if you are in a hurry. Healthy ingredients, although saldas have 900 cal because of the amount of sweet potato they put, or teh sauces. If you avoid that, you'll be good! totally recommend it.“

“As a group of five we wanted to find a place to have conversation over food and drinks. We visited 3 places but their sound levels were ridiculously loud. We came here and it was better, so I asked where the quietest table would be and they sat us in an empty side area, allowing us to enjoy a very enjoyable evening at last.“

“i love the place and the waiter who serves us was so nice and he offers us another bread for free because i asked if they sell the bread ..i loved what i ordered it was worth it and full filling that we end up to bring home the desserr..“

“I just Love the New Republic great atmosphere amazing food great drinks beautiful vibe“

“We ate at Grendel's Den with another couple last night. Everything was wonderful. Good food, good drinks, great service in a happy friendly atmosphere. We all loved everything but the predominate memory is the genuine hospitality.“

“The ribs are fall-off-the-bone, tender, and well seasoned. The ribs & chicken dinner comes with a side of toast, rice or fries, 2 onion rings, salad, and a sauce of your choice. I loved the variety of food in my meal. The service was amazing, and so are the prices. Highly recommend!“

“Wow, if you like the best of the best in Craft beer, you gotta stop by, grabbed the garlic knots too, they were delicious...“

“everything was wonderful!“

“My friends and I had a great time at the tavern. The service, food, atmosphere and the host the best.“