50 Best American Restaurants in Cambridge

“Fantastic experience- first with the greeting from the host/mgr., then collaboratively between the mgr., our server, and the chef, accommodating my food allergies with an X marked menu of what I couldn't have and marking through ingredients of menu choices remaining as to how they'd accommodate. We ordered the broccolini, kale salad, and both ordered the grass-fed steak and brisket, and the chef hit it out of the park, still maintaining mouth watering taste, while adapting those without dairy & garlic. SO GOOD! Just make a reservation & GO!“

“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 "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“

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

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

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

“My group ordered the bone marrow hush puppies, bavette steak, prime rib, and monkfish. Only the prime rib met expectations. The monkfish consisted of 3 small slices sitting on cubed root vegetables. The lobster broth was pretty bland and was not enough to salvage an otherwise meh dish. The bavette was cooked well, but our piece contained a lot of sinew and was other connective tissue. Lastly, the desserts left a lot to be desired. We were in a rush so had to have our two desserts packed to go. One was a lanna cotta that came with the prime rib and we ordered an apple tart. We either did not receive the lanna cotta or it was more a cheesecake that looked and tasted nothing like a panna cotta. The apple tart also either lacked components or was not as described. Overall...pretty mundane meal.“

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

“We thought this was a nice affordable restaurant in the area. We had food here multiple nights and have nothing but great things to say. The English Burger and the Roasted Chicken Dinner is good. I’d recommend those as well as the Warsteiner Pilsner on the beer menu. 😁“

“Amazing“

“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 restaurant is amazing. The menu offers plenty of dishes mainly meat-based.
We went for the specialty of the house: the catalyst burger: a classic burger with bacon, cheddar, caramelized onion and tomatoes served with french fries and two different sauces.
Catalyst restaurant is the perfect choice for a nice romantic dinner or for a business dinner in cambridge.“

“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!“

“Extensive vegan menu, delicious for a date night! Vegan does not equal healthy so come expecting fried, salty, sugary (yummy!) food. I had the steak frites which was really delicious, and a side of cabbage slaw which I was on the fence about. The only word I can think of to describe the texture is “viscous”. Hubby got the blue plate special which was tamales. He wasn’t blown away. But of course the deserts at Veggie Galaxy more than make up for any disappointment about dinner! We got Oreo cheesecake and tres leche cake. Divine! Updated from previous review on 2026-01-12“

“Ribeye’ sauce and butter on top are next level incredible. Bass crudo was our favorite, the fennel sauce with the olive oil is amazing (definitely want bigger portions of the crudo I could eat that all day). Had a resy but seats were available at the bar and we prefer that, service was great.“

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

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

“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 place for brunch and good customer service“

“Despite the name, we went to this restaurant around 6:30, and it was still pretty damn good. The million dollar burger was a bit of a misnomer, since it only cost around $19. Just a few puns for ya there, haha, no worries tho, it was great food and service. This meal was also paid for by my dad's credit card, which made it even tastier because it was free. It's also a bar. Zach, signing off!“

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

“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“

“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.“

“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..“

“Who knew the best scrambled eggs of my entire life would be hiding in a hotel restaurant? The Paperback in Cambridge is that girl!!! The scrambled eggs were buttery, salty, cloud-like fluffy perfection that puts every trendy brunch spot in Boston to shame.

The atmosphere is super cozy with a warmly lit sophisticated book theme plus drop dead gorgeous views of the city and water. The staff are serving realness with kind, attentive, and genuinely welcoming dispositions and provide amazing hospitality 🖤 .

Paperback is the definition of a hidden gem with equal parts comfort, charm, and culinary gag-worthy goodness!!! I would come here again and will be back for dinner for sure 😊“

“Very good food. Got catering, and the chicken was excellent. Usually salmon at American restaurants aren't that good, but the salmon here was well done. The herb pesto sauce was also really good; it perfectly complemented the chicken with the rice. The broccoli and carrots were also tasty.“

“Got lunch here yesterday for the first time. The man who took our order was extremely kind and flexible about our questions. The food came out promptly and was delicious especially for the price. Excellent experience, was previously unaware this place existed but I will definitely be eating here again!“

“My wife and I live close by and really love this place. Great food (including delicious daily specials), a very nice rotating selection of draft beers, and reasonably priced mocktails. The kitchen closes late, which is also a big plus. What we most love, however, is the atmosphere. The staff has always been very welcoming and nice to us. In fact, we had to evacuate our building quite late after a fire broke out a few weeks ago and they kindly offered to shelter us until we found somewhere to spend the night. No wonder why we keep coming back :)“

“I was so good I recommend it“

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

“everything was wonderful!“

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

“everything wonderful service food atmosphere“

“Second time here. The food we ordered was amazing yet again. I ordered the black peppered biscuits with sausage, eggs Benedict and gravy. The other two orders were the pancakes & NY strip steak with eggs Benedict. The service was outstanding — our server named “Indira” was incredibly sweet, attentive and had absolute perfect timing when it came to checking in on us and delivering the food and drinks. The hostess was kind and helpful. The ambiance was great too, not too quiet and not too loud. Kid friendly with crayons and coloring paper. Intimate setting good for casual dates but also great for groups. I really like to this place I'll definitely be back.“

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

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

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

“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.“

“Awesome livestream concerts! Thank you Passim!“

“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. 🎁🎊“

“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!!“

“saw Darlingside 's late show which wasn't a seated event.But the kind Lara,attending the merch table got a seat for my very pregnant niece.The venue is like a renovated subway station concrete cold but with a full house it warms up balconies on either side of stage and center give good views of stages.Restrooms clean as are bars efficient and stocked.Management had a good control of evacuating crowd .Band was very pleased too which made for a great show..will return to a seated show“

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

“This meal felt like a little adventure: sandwiches dripping with flavor like treasure spilling from a chest, fries that crunched like stepping on autumn leaves, and lemonade that sparkled like bottled sunshine. Everything worked together in perfect harmony- playful, refreshing, and absolutely delicious. 10/10, would happily risk sandwich stains again.“

“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!“

“Amazing Greek dishes, the Octopus was the best I've ever had.“

“Amazing atmosphere with iconic decor. An antiquated feel to it. I was here for a conference and there are quite a number of meeting rooms, but seating is rather limited. Also, parking is a gigantic problem, so use public transportation if possible because most conferences go all day long, so the zones limit you to either one hour or two hours with NO option to extend your time. You will have to keep moving your vehicle and driving around & around & around in hopes a spot will open up. Very friendly people here and it has a prestigious feel to it.“

“Absolutely gorgeous place to have dinner! We went on a warm night, through a Boston heat wave, and the open doors and patio-style setup - in addition to the amazing food and service (my drinks never stayed empty for long, and there were more appetizers than I could sample) truly made the night feel like paradise.

If you're in downtown Boston/Cambridge and are looking for a relaxing environment with a high-quality atmosphere and excellent cuisine, this is definitely a place to put on your list.“

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