Boston Restaurant Talk: Harvard Square restaurants

Showing posts with label Harvard Square restaurants. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 01, 2026

7th Street Burger to Open Locations in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Saugus

A growing group of burger spots with roots in New York City will be opening at least two more Boston-area locations.

According to their website, 7th Street Burger is planning to open in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Saugus, with the former being at 37 Brattle Street and the latter being at 880 Broadway (Route 1). Once they are up and running, they will join two existing locations in the Back Bay and South Boston, and expect to see smash burgers at the two restaurants.

7th Street Burger first started out in the East Village of Manhattan in 2021. Its website can be found at https://locations.7thstreetburger.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Friday, July 17, 2026

IHOP in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

Another Boston-area location of a chain of pancake houses has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, IHOP in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge has closed after being in business for approximately 20 years, joining another location in Quincy that shuttered a couple of years ago though it appears that that one will eventually reopen in a new, nearby location. A number of locations of the chain still remain in the Greater Boston area, including in Braintree, Brighton, Brockton, Dedham, Framingham, Norwood, Revere, Salem, Saugus, and Tewksbury.

The address for the now-closed IHOP in Harvard Square was 16 Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. The website for the chain is at https://restaurants.ihop.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, July 02, 2026

Clover Closes Harvard Square, Newtonville Locations; Zimmer Hall/Harvard Science Center Location Remains Open

Several weeks ago, it was reported that a local restaurant chain featuring vegetarian fare was ceasing operations only to have the business being saved at the last minute. Now we have learned that at least two outlets of the chain will not be returning to their spaces.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, brick-and-mortar locations of Clover in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Newtonville are shuttered with a "for lease" sign in the latter while a Harvard Crimson article states that the former is indeed closed while also saying that the nearby outlet in Zimmer Hall/Harvard Science Center remains open for business. As mentioned in an earlier article here, locations in Cambridge's Inman Square, Central Square, Kendall Square, Boston's Financial District, and the Prudential Center are back open along with the aforementioned Zimmer Hall/Harvard Science Center space, though it isn't yet known at this point if any other locations that have not reopened will actually be reopening.

The website for Clover can be found at https://www.cloverfoodlab.com/

[Earlier Article]
Clover Is Returning; Boston and Cambridge Locations to Reopen June 9

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, July 01, 2026

Beyond Full in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

What was once a pair of comfort food spots appears to have ceased operations, as its sole remaining location has shuttered.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Beyond Full on the eastern edge of Harvard Square in Cambridge is no longer in business, with a "for lease" sign shown in the window out front at the Massachusetts Avenue storefront. The restaurant first opened late last summer in the former Zoe's space, joining its original location in Hopedale (which is also closed), and it featured such options as breakfast dishes, burgers, and shakes.

The address for the now-closed location of Beyond Full in Harvard Square was 1105 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, December 05, 2025

The Curry Chapter to Open in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A Pan-Indian restaurant is on its way to Cambridge.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston mentions that The Curry Chapter is planning to open in Harvard Square, moving into a space on Eliot Street. The social media for the dining spot mention "Indian soul food in Harvard Square | Slow cooked | Mom approved" and "Stories from Nani & Maa's kitchen | Rooted in love, memory, and spices," though no specifics have been given as to what might be on the menu as of yet.

The address for the upcoming Curry Chapter in Harvard Square is 18 Eliot Street, Cambridge, M, 02138. Its Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581539859191 while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/currychapterboston/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Lou's Opens in Cambridge's Harvard Square

Last fall, it was reported that a new dining and drinking spot featuring live music would move into a subterranean space in Cambridge that had once been home to another restaurant and bar, and now we have learned that it is open.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Lou's opened over the weekend in Harvard Square, taking over the former Beat Brew Hall space on Brattle Street. The article and the website for the place indicate that the new spot offers a raw bar, small plates, larger meals, and beer, wine, and cocktails while also featuring both DJs and live music, and the team behind the place includes co-owners Tom Keane and Harry DiLeo of American Flatbread and John DiGiovanni, general manager Allison Finney (Roadrunner), and executive chef Jason Bond (Bondir).

The address for Lou's is 13A Brattle Street, 13A Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website can be found at https://www.wearelous.com/

[Earlier Article]
Lou's Plans Plans to Open in the Former Beat Brew Hall Space in Cambridge's Harvard Square

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Tuesday, May 06, 2025

Danny Meyer Is Opening Daily Provisions in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A couple of months ago, it was reported that the person behind a NYC-based restaurant group would be bringing two dining spots to Boston, and now we have learned that he will also be bringing one of those places to Cambridge as well.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Danny Meyer and his Union Square Hospitality Group are planning to open a location of Daily Provisions in Harvard Square this summer, and it appears that this outlet will debut before the one coming to the Seaport District. As mentioned in an earlier article here, Meyer is going to be opening both Daily Provisions and a location of Ci Siamo (an Italian restaurant) at Commonwealth Pier in the fall/winter, and expect both locations of Daily Provisions to be all-day cafes that offer such options as crullers, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, roast chicken, and coffee (the Seaport location will also serve beer and wine, though it is not yet known whether the Harvard Square location will do so as well).

Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group includes such restaurants as Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and The Modern, while Meyer is also behind the Shake Shack chain.

The address for the new location of Daily Provisions in Harvard Square is 1 Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for Daily Provisions is at https://www.dailyprovisionsnyc.com/

[July 23 update: Eater Boston states that Daily Provisions is now open in Harvard Square.]

[Earlier Article]
Danny Meyer to Open Ci Siamo and Daily Provisions in Boston's Seaport District

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

TooHot Is Opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A brand new Chinese restaurant is coming to the heart of Cambridge.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston mentions that TooHot is opening soon in Harvard Square, with an earlier Cambridge Day article stating what Leah tells us, that Han Wang--who runs Noah's Kitchen in Brookline--is behind the upcoming spot, and like Noah's, it will focus on Sichuan fare. An opening date has not been given as of yet for TooHot, with its website simply saying that it is coming soon.

Noah's Kitchen is known for such options as handmade dumplings, noodle dishes, cumin lamb, spicy popcorn chicken, and sauteed whole fish.

The address for TooHot is 18 Elliot Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website will be at https://toohot.kitchen/

[July 2 update: According to its website, TooHot is now open, having debuted on June 25.]

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Beyond Full Is Opening in the Former Zoe's Space in Cambridge's Harvard Square

It looks like a comfort food spot southwest of Boston is expanding to Cambridge, taking over the space where a diner that offered a mix of Greek and American fare had been.

According to a poster (Geoff Wong) within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page as well as an article from What Now Boston, Beyond Full is planning to open in Harvard Square, moving into the former Zoe's space on Massachusetts Avenue. The upcoming dining spot, whose original restaurant can be found in Hopedale, focuses on breakfast dishes, burgers, and shakes, and it is actually located inside Hopedale's Town Hall.

Zoe's closed last summer after being in business for approximately 20 years.

The address for the new location of Beyond Full in Harvard Square is 1105 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The Facebook page for the original location is at https://www.facebook.com/beyondfullinc/

[September 2 update: According to a source (Jonathan Spiller), Beyond Full is now open in Harvard Square.]

[Earlier Article]
Zoe's in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, December 27, 2024

Lovestruck Books Opens in Cambridge's Harvard Square; George Howell Cafe and Wine Bar on the Way As Well

A new bookstore has come to Cambridge, and it will soon include a cafe and wine bar within its space.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Lovestruck Books is now open in Harvard Square, moving into a space on Brattle Street that has 5,000 square feet of space and which focuses on romance books. The poster included a link to a boston.com article that says the shop will become home to a George Howell coffee spot and wine bar by late January, with a Cambridge license commission page indicating that "The concept is similar to Trident in Boston, but it will be unique in its own way."

The address for Lovestruck Books (and the upcoming cafe and wine bar) is 44 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for the bookstore is at https://lovestruckbooks.com/

[January 27, 2025 update: The Boston Globe mentions that the George Howell cafe is now open within Lovestruck Books, with the wine bar on its way soon.]

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Lou's Plans Plans to Open in the Former Beat Brew Hall Space in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A new dining and drinking spot is on its way to Cambridge, moving into a subterranean space that had previously been home to another restaurant and bar.

According to a press release, Lou's is planning to open in Harvard Square, taking over the former Beat Brew Hall space on Brattle Street, with the upcoming place being a restaurant, bar, and lounge that features live music. Little else is known about the spot other than the fact that John DiGiovanni of Trinity Property Management and Thomas Keane and his team at Churchill James are involved along with design firm Elder & Ash, and that it hopes to open sometime in 2025.

Beat Brew Hall first opened in 2018, replacing Beat Brasserie, with both places being run by the team behind The Beehive and Cosmica in Boston's South End as well as the recently-opened Spy Bar.

The address for the upcoming Lou's is 13A Brattle Street, 13A Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, September 13, 2024

Tenoch to Open in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A local group of Mexican restaurants is in expansion mode once again, as it now plans to open a new location in one of the busiest parts of Cambridge.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via a Harvard Crimson article), Tenoch is going to be opening in Harvard Square, moving into a space in The Garage that had been home to Las Palmas, and before that, El Jefe's Taqueria and The Taco Truck. Once it opens, the new location of Tenoch will join others in Boston's North End, East Cambridge, Medford Square, Somerville's Davis Square, Malden, and Melrose, and it will likely offer such options as tortas, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and more.

The address for the upcoming location of Tenoch in Harvard Square is 83 Mt Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for all locations is at https://www.tenochmexican.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Monday, July 15, 2024

Zoe's in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

It looks like a Cambridge diner that offered a mix of Greek and American fare has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Zoe's in Harvard Square is no longer in business, with a sign out front at the Mass. Ave. eatery indicating that it has closed for good. This appears to be confirmed within a Reddit post, with a picture showing a "permanently closed" sign, and that poster indicates that it had been open as of a few days ago.

Zoe's first opened approximately 20 years ago, offering such dishes as omelets, spanakopita, lentil soup, burgers, kabobs, baked lamb, and gyros.

The address for Zoe's was 1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website is at https://www.zoescambridge.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, May 17, 2024

Luxor Cafe Is Replacing Roust in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A new coffee shop is replacing a cafe in Cambridge, and the space had previously been the flagship location of a local group of sandwich/coffee shops.

According to an article in Cambridge Day, Luxor Cafe is looking to open in Harvard Square, taking over the space on Mt Auburn Street that has been home to Roust, and which had previously been home to a location of Darwin's. The post mentions that Abdelrahman Hassan--who will run the new spot--wishes to have a concept similar to Roust though with additions to the menu and expanded hours, while also telling the licensing commission that "I'm trying to kind of return back to what Darwin was....The way it is right now, it's a smaller operation. [Valentin Terteliu Hefco] has done amazing at Roust. I'm just trying to extend it out a little bit."

Roust first opened in early 2023, a short time after all four locations of Darwin's in Cambridge closed.

The address for Luxor Cafe (and Roust) is 148 Mt Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The Instagram page for Luxor Cafe is at https://www.instagram.com/luxorcafee/

[July 8 update: A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston mentions that Luxor Cafe is now open.]

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, March 01, 2024

Ten One Tea House Opens in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A small group of tea shops has expanded to another space in the Greater Boston area.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Ten One Tea House is now open in Cambridge, moving into a space on JFK Street in Harvard Square. The new shop offers such items as milk tea, bubble tea and slushes, and it joins others locally in Boston's Back Bay, Fenway, Assembly Row in Somerville, and Arsenal Yards in Watertown.

The address for the new location of Ten One Tea House in Harvard Square is 54 JFK Street, Cambridge MA, 02138. The website for all locations is at https://www.tenoneteahouse.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Friday, November 24, 2023

The Painted Burro Opens in Harvard Square

Early last year, it was reported that a small group of Mexican restaurants was planning to expand to a new location in the heart of Cambridge, and now we have learned that it has finally opened.

The Boston Globe mentions that The Painted Burro is now open in Harvard Square, with the website for the business saying that its grand opening took place on November 20. As stated in an earlier article here, the new outlet has moved into the former Border Cafe space on Church Street, and it joins other locations in Somerville's Davis Square and Waltham, while another outlet in Bedford shut down last spring.

The Painted Burro is part of The Alpine Restaurant Group, which also includes Posto in Somerville and Burro Bar in Brookline and Boston.

The address for the new location of The Painted Burro in Harvard Square is 32 Church Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for all locations is at https://www.thepaintedburro.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Painted Burro Plans to Open in the Former Border Cafe Space in Cambridge's Harvard Square

NOTE: We need your help, as Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and some major related expenses. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, November 06, 2023

Blank Street Coffee Is Opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square on November 16

A growing group of coffee shops and coffee carts based in New York City will soon be opening a fourth outlet in the local area, nearly a year after it was first announced.

According to a press release, Blank Street Coffee is slated to open in Cambridge on November 16, moving into a space on Mass. Ave. in Harvard Square that had previously been home to a location of Starbucks. The new location will join others locally on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, Charles Street in Beacon Hill, and Cambridge Street also in Beacon Hill, along with others in Manhattan, Brooklyn (where it started out), and elsewhere.

The address for the new location of Blank Street Coffee in Harvard Square is 1380 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for the business can be found at https://www.blankstreet.com/

[Earlier Article]
Blank Street Coffee Plans to Open a New Outlet in Cambridge

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, October 30, 2023

The Sea Hag Opens in the Former Boathouse Space in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A new restaurant has come to the heart of Cambridge, taking over the space where another dining spot had been for a bit more than 10 years.

According to a source (Tom Meek), The Sea Hag is now open in Harvard Square, moving into the former Boathouse space on Mt Auburn Street. An earlier Cambridge Day article mentioned that the new spot has an ownership connection with the nearby Grendel's Den, and much like that place, The Sea Hag has a bit of an English pub vibe to it, according to owner Kari Kuelzer. The menu at the new restaurant includes such items as Jamaican beef patties, fried pickles, smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish and chips, seared scallops, shrimp cocktail, potatoes au gratin, and scones, along with beer and wine.

The address for The Sea Hag is 49 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website can be found at https://www.seahag02138.com/

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, September 18, 2023

Joe's Pizza Opens in Cambridge's Harvard Square

Earlier this year, it was reported that a landmark pizzeria in New York City was expanding to Cambridge, and now we have learned that it has debuted.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Joe's Pizza is now open in Harvard Square, moving into the space on Brattle Street where &Pizza and Milk Bar had been. The new location, which offers NYC-style slices of thin-crust pizza, is its first in New England, with other locations being found in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Ann Arbor, MI (the original is in Manhattan's Greenwich Village).

The address for Joe's Pizza in Harvard Square is 3 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for all locations is at https://www.joespizzanyc.com/

[Earlier Article]
Joe's Pizza in New York City Plans to Expand to Cambridge

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

The Friendly Toast Opens in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A new outlet of an eclectic local group of dining spots has come to Cambridge after being in the works for more than a year.

According to an email, The Friendly Toast is now open in Harvard Square, moving into the space on Mass. Ave. that had been home to Grafton Street Pub & Grill until it moved to a new space on JFK Street. The new location of the eatery joins others locally in Boston's Back Bay, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Danvers, Dedham, and North Andover, and there had also been one in the Kendall Square section of Cambridge but that one closed in the summer of 2020.

The address for the new location of The Friendly Toast in Harvard Square is 1230 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for all locations can be found at https://thefriendlytoast.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Friendly Toast to Replace Grafton Street in Cambridge's Harvard Square

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]