Tapas Restaurants near Cambridge, MA

“Run don't walk to Pagu for absolutely scrumptious food that weaves together Japanese and Spanish Basques Cuisines! A must order is the Tuna Collar - I've never had anything like it - it's huge, great for a crowd, bone-suckingly good (literally have done that) served with rice and nori! Also make sure you don't miss Tracy Chang's homemade nonalcoholic sparking teas - my favorites are the genmaicha and the hojicha - again I've never tasted a drink like this anywhere else. And then you have to end the night with a Basque Cheesecake - I particularly love when Pagu makes a seasonal Matcha or Ube Basque cheesecake! Pagu's dishes and drinks are across the board innovative but also welcoming and absolutely delicious!“

“Excellent food and beer👍🍺“

“Cocktail: The Bam Bam was yummy. I had 2 😀

Apps: I'm a firm believer that bread should be free, so $10 for 4 pieces feels outrageous to me, but it was great bread to sop up the fabulous sauce from the mussels (in addition to the 2 grilled pieces that they came with). The chicken bites were delicious, and the green beans were very tasty as well.

Service: Our waiter Nick was great and didn't bat an eye while 4 women talked about perimenopause, and he even appropriately added to the conversation! I asked him what his favorite dish was, and I went with it-the gnocchi parisienne. The gnocchi was soft, and I think a bit grilled (homemade)? The pesto was different and delicious.
When 2 of us unexpectedly got showered with a bottle of champagne being opened by a server behind us, we were properly apologized to by the person who opened it, Nick, and the manager who took a round of drinks off our bill 👍

Atmosphere: Lovely atmosphere. We were seated in the front room but close to the back where the band was. It was enjoyable, but a little loud as we were there to chat and catch up. The live music sounded like yacht rock to start but then was fun with a jazzy take on a couple of Bruno Mars songs etc.

Parking: Free validated parking a few minutes walk away is fabulous in Harvard Square!“

“Everything 10/10. From start to finish — the food, hospitality, music, vibes. We sat at the bar with Renato who was just the best. We tried the meatballs, garlic bread (omg?), the pepperoni with pearl onions, roasted squash pizza and tiramisu — from start to finish everything was absolutely incredible. We are now garlic bread groupies and can’t wait to be back! 5🌟“

“This was incredible. We came here for a late Valentine’s Day dinner around 9 and the place was still pretty busy. We did have a reservation so we were seated downstairs promptly. The only thing we could even think of being a negative is the time it took for the waiter to approach our table initially but it’s a holiday and they were busy so we weren’t pressed. The drinks were great (Mojito and Hotel Nacional) We really weren’t ready for how AMAZING the food was. We had the Jamon Croquettes, Chicharrones de Invierno, Costillas and Taco del dia. Just try it all. They had a passion fruit mousse chocolate tarte special for Valentine’s Day, also amazing. The AGM (I think?) came to chat with us and he was so animated and friendly. We even asked to give our compliments to the chef. We will be back!“

“Su buen servicio y la comida es deliciosa.“

“Amazing food and bookstore!“

“The food was fresh and fantastic! Service was excellent !“

“Great sandwiches, coffee drinks and a welcoming environment.“

“Rose is a fun and vibrant place! The space is larger than I thought upon entering. Service was indeed amazing (compared to other reviews). I will say that we did enjoy the tapas menu better than our entrees. The drinks were great and we loved that they were willing to make drinks not on the menu. The live DJ just added to the ambiance and yes you will be dancing in you seat haha. My girl enjoyed the birthday surprise with the tres leche cake which was actually good (and I don't let tres leche).“

“Utterly delicious! Got a spicy beef bowl and it fixed me. I was meeting some friends and didn't have time to research any gluten free options in the area. Took a chance on this place and the hostess was very considerate of my dietary needs. Will definitely order again in the future!“

“Excellent tapas in a quaint setting“

“Though we had a reservation, we were seated by the door. On a cold winter day, with the door constantly opening, it was freezing. The hostess was not particularly nice when she seated us there. The waiter was fine and helpful. The food made up for that. The special Chicken and Waffle was so big that it was good for sharing. The beignets are to die for.“

“The Dungeon Master Roll the Dice“

“Food: WOW! Their tapas were amazing. Best spot I have ever had in Boston. We ordered 4 among the 3 of us and it was the perfect portion. I will be dreaming about all of them!!!

Service: Tapas were pretty fast! Service was good. No complaints.

Ambiance: SO clean inside! Bathrooms were super clean, lots of space to put coats and stuff too. Loved the interior design as well.“

“A birthday meal that blew me AWAY“

“This place is amazing. Everything. We flew in and were so tired but it was my husbands bday so we had to get brunch… I’ve never had better pancakes, Benedict, avocado/salmon toast, bacon & egg sandwich… 5 stars for service, atmosphere and cuisine! We’ll be back and you should too!“

“If you want to be rushed come eat here! The service was good but we got sat at 8:05pm, our appetizer took a bit to get to the table that our server came over to apologize for the delay, we didn't receive our meal till almost 9pm. They have a 90 minute seating rule so by the time we were done eating around 9:27ish and were thinking about desserts we got told that our allotted time in the table was coming to an end, we had to chug our drinks and basically run out of there. The servers were already talking about our table being empty so they could sit other people, we left and there was no one even waiting for a table. Food was delicious though but if you aren't a fast eater and don't want to be rushed just do take out.“

“Muy delicioso todo muy buena atención“

“10/10 our favorite restaurant. We drive about an hour to come here, and it's our favorite restaurant. The food is always amazing and the staff is incredible. Would always recommend this to everyone.“

“Great Food , Good atmosphere“

“Incredible place with incredible food and drinks! I love going to the original location in the North End, but this exceeded expectations. Luana, specially, was a fantastic server! Would highly recommend this location! Great food, drinks, and service!“

“Wonderful place to eat on our trip to Boston. Went with my dad and then took my wife there 3 days later for a different experience. Owner was kind and friendly. Birthday party was in the middle room and the whole restaurant sang along.“

“Excellent food. I have had both breakfast and dinner at this location. Breakfast buffet is fantastic with omelets made to order. Breakfast food quality was above most Hilton breakfasts. For dinner I tried the Halbut, great flavor and I highly recommend.“

“Had my first visit to Bootleg Special last night and it did not disappoint. Every aspect of the meal, from the creative drinks to the delicious appetizers to the fantastic main course was outstanding. Our server, Alex, was attentive and very pleasant. And last, but certainly not least, the beignets after dinner were spectacular. Looking forward to my next visit!“

“The atmosphere, food, service and the team that works there are great. I will go back to try more of the delicious menu items.“

“The cheese pizza (Quattro Formaggi) has to be one my Top 3 pizzas. Very tasty.“

“It is always dependable and delicious“

“Amazing food and staff. Mi primera vez y no sera la ultima. Muchas gracias por su gran atencion y ambiente super agradable y seguro. La musica en vivo es un super + excelente el Grupo El Grupo Chevere. Me encanto el Ceviche peruano, el Expresso Martini super rico.“

“Attentive staff, delicious food, funky tasty cocktails (potions!), the best dessert I've tasted in a LONG time, a super friendly owner meeting/greeting and getting his hands dirty with the rest of his staff, unique decor, and just a hop, skip and jump away from the Opera House making the perfect pre-show or post-show spot! We'll be back 🙌“

“Food was awesome! Service was great too!“

“I ordered my daughters 6th birthday cake from La Casa Del Pandebono and it literally the best experience I’ve ever had with any business. Not only was the custom cake beautiful and delicious, they provided a level of exceptional customer service that I didn’t even know existed. The “Tangled” cake included a beautiful edible gold crown as it’s center piece, and it was packaged separately. Despite my best efforts to handle it carefully, I accidentally broke it the night before the birthday party. I texted the owner asking if he has recommendations for me to reassemble it (knowing it was unlikely, but I was desperate). He immediately responded and asked for my address, letting me know he’d deliver a new one when he closed the store (I live in another town). I was shocked at his generosity and beyond grateful. As an expression of gratitude, a sent him an additional tip which he politely attempted to reject (I wouldn’t allow it…haha). In return, he delivered not only the grown, but an order of birria tacos and an empanada (which I was admiring when I went to pick up the cake) - literally the best tacos I’ve ever had. I cannot emphasize how touched I was by this experience. La Casa Del Pandebono is a rare gem - baked goods that are truly a work of art, and incredible food that is only surpassed by the unbelievable customer service. I will be a customer for life.“

“Love the back bar and service was 10/10“

“Im not easily impressed by any means. The current chef, Chef Valentine from Black Cat Eatery went crazy. Every dish seemed like he was trying to let you know there is no competition.

The patties are made with multiple cultures in mind. Fusing the styles effortlessly. Then topped with an aioli sauce that brings it all together.

The special of the night was scallops. I believe they had a touch of jerk on top because it was a bit of spice. But nothing overbearing. Perfectly prepared and presented like a game winning trophy.

The spin on Ackee And Salt fish was next level. I usually am not a fan of ackee. I tend to just make saltfish with a side of bammy or fried dumplins. But turning it into some what of a puree is nothing short of genius. Ill definitely be stealing that idea.

Ill be back for sure. I need to try the Griyot, the Oxtail and the Suya Beef.

- next review ill include the ambiance because I was too focused on the food.“

“We got there at 5 when it opened and that's the way to do it! Noise level was fine but by 6 it was LOUD and the place was only 75% full. My wife and I ordered a total of five dishes plus two desserts, and everything was really good. I especially recommend: - The burrata - The egg and potato omelet - The Brussels sprouts (but be sure to ask for extra sauce) The sliders were good, but they could have used more flavor. The flan for dessert was great. The chocolate churros were okay. Service was exceptionally good.“

“The New Crash Test Dummies and Dorilocos!!!!“

“We are in Cambridge for a few nights and found Dali being a restaurant nearby. It turned out to be an unexpected surprise. Luckily we made reservation as the restaurant was packed. The menu was extensive; the service was friendly; the meal was served quickly and delicious and the atmosphere was great. We ordered 4 tapas plus an order of focaccia and a bottle of wine. All come to less than $100 not including tips. A must try in Cambridge, MA.“

“I’ve always loved this restaurant every time I’ve been. Just a really special place!“

“I walk by this place every day and wonder why no one is in here, I assumed it was bad. We finally stopped by to try it and all I can say is I don't understand why it’s not packed like every other place on W Broadway. The food was so good and what made the experince incredible was the warmth and hospitality from who I can only assume was the owner. She was great, and it felt like I was a friend having a meal at her home. Great wine recommendations and helpful tips on food. We will definitely be coming back!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely delicious. The jalapeño grits were incredible — rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced — and the specialty drinks were creative and expertly made. Every dish was thoughtful and satisfying. A must-visit for great food and drinks. 🍸✨“

“I celebrated my 52nd birthday today with my daughter. Our service was amazing. I recommend this place to everyone“

“Came from Georgia to visit and I absolutely loved the environment. All the waiters were great and drinks were good too. The guacamole was to die for as well as the chips. I come from a Mexican town and this place was on spot, I felt very welcomed. They also had a Banda which was great.“

“Amazing food ❤️ lovely people and the best cocktails“

“Great tapas. Lots of flavor“

“Hot chocolate bar experience was truly fantastic. The dessert spread and hot chocolate were delicious. The vibe is also festive! The service staff is very attentive and nice. The pastry chef personally came to our table to ask how our experience was going which was a nice gesture. We loved our experience and had a great time“

“Charming old school beer hall. Sadly, it was damaged in 2018 due to a fire upstairs, and never re-opened. As of early 2019, the building appears to be for sale, so it looks like the closure may end up being permanent. :-(“

“Great experience dining here. Today is the 5th time in the past 3 weeks. The food is prepared to order and is superb and full of flavor! The chef is also the owner and he does an awesome job! He came out the last time to say hello and thanked us for our patronage. The wait staff are super friendly and are attentive to you, eager to satisfy. I've had the swordfish special the last two times and it was really fresh and very flavorful, my father had the lamb shank and he loved it! If you have a food allergy, the chef is very effective in completely omitting that ingredient and is so good in his profession that he is able to whip up a flavorful substitute. It is not always that you find a restaurant that knows how to prepare duck confit properly and if you love lamb shank, look no further.“

“Yesterday was our first time at Fete. The hostess was friendly and explained how their menu worked. Our server was Alexis she was so attentive and great at her job. Food was great, music was awesome. We came to celebrate my bf birthday and Alexis and the fete team was great acknowledging that and giving him a cheesecake.
Definitely would recommend fete and ask for Alexis.“

“Superb food, intense and unique tastes. We are repeat customers and have become addicted! We always share small plates—two per person and a large plate for four people. This time we ordered desserts and were not sorry at all because the churros were perfect.“

“Un lugar muy rico para comer creo que hay meseras que es falta un poco de entrenamiento pero el lugar super agradable y súper“