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First Printer
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants Canadian (New) Bars, Canadian (New) [Edit]
13-15 Dunster StCambridge, MA 02138
Neighbourhood: Harvard Square
(617) 497-0900
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Holyoke St - Holyoke Gate (1, 68, 69)
Harvard Upper Busway @ Red Line (71, 72, 72/75, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 86, 96)
Harvard Lower Busway @ Red Line (71, 72, 72/75, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 96)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 12 am
Thu-Sat 11 am - 1 am
Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for First Printer
41 reviews in English
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Review from Elise K.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here on a whim because the other bar our HBS friends recommend (Grafton?) was an hour wait for a table. (Around 10 PM on a Friday night). We walked right in and got a big table for 8 in the back of the dining area. The resturant/bar was well lit and not dingy like some places. Plus it was beautifully decorated.
I was most impressed by the full bar and the tenders' ability to make me a delicious drink with Green Chartreuse and gin.
Overall, nice place - could use some ambiance music though. -
Review from Jeremy K.
I was quite excited to see this place open up in Harvard Square; I've always thought that while that area is appealing for a fun night out, they always lacked a nice, affordable restaurant that was simple and had a solid menu. This seemed to fit the bill nicely as their menu features all kinds of dishes, fit for all palates and at a reasonable price point.
So I took my hungry self there, accompanied by Erick H. on a nice, spring evening for some dinner and was starving upon walking in. We didn't have a reservation and were gambling on them having a table and the gamble paid off. Our hostess seated us within a couple of minutes and our waitress Jennifer arrived and presented us with some menus. I tried to order a local beer from Slumbrew but they were out. I picked another one... and... they were out. I then decided to get a Chimay beer because I noticed on a blackboard right outside the front door that they had a deal going on where you got to keep the glass for every Chimay ordered. I figured that they'd at least have that one in stock unlike the previous two.
As I ordered and took a quick glance around the dining room one thing hit me: this place is spacious. It's not huge but they didn't overcrowd it by trying to jam tables next to one another. We had a ton of elbow room which was great. It wasn't all that quiet in there, actually it was surprisingly loud considering how many people were present which was a bit annoying. However the decor which featured vintage printing-related materials of all sorts was neat and somewhat distracted from the noise.
As our beers arrived we decided to share an appetizer which, in our case, was their black bean hummus ($7) which comes with some pita chips, some grilled tofu and some cilantro lime sour cream. It arrived a few minutes later, served in a giant, hollowed bread bowl and was served not just room temperature cold but very cold. Actually I found that surprising because I associate bread-bowled items to be warm or hot and when I took my first bite I was rather confused by it. I guess it tasted okay but wasn't all that great or memorable. The side of tofu added absolutely nothing to it and was bland as all hell; I wasn't crazy about the dish or the way this meal was starting but had hopes for a redemption through a solid entree.
The entree that followed by a plate of wild boar carbonara ($21) which was average. It was pretty cream heavy (like most carbonaras) but the seasoning seemed a bit off. It lacked real depth of flavor and the boar was hard to dissociate from the rest of the dish; it probably could have been a sausage or something else and I would have never noticed. The pork belly wasn't noticeable either but the spring peas added a nice texture and freshness to the dish that lightened it up a bit. It was okay.
The one thing I did like a lot about First Printer was their extensive menu. It's not like the Cheesecake Factory in size but it's pretty damn long and is all over the place. All kinds of flavors, ingredients and price points. That being said, it's also a very confusing direction making it difficult to people to get the venue's identity. It's not Italian, it's not American, it's not French. What is First Printer? International?
One last point I do want to make is that our waitress flat out sucked. Jennifer was slow. Very slow. And she didn't speak up at all, reminding me of a Seinfeld episode featuring the "Low-Talker". We both held our breath every time she approached, desperately trying to hang on to every word she said but most of the time just nodded not being able to discern even half of what she said. It got pretty frustrating.
All in all the place seems promising but the lack of identify makes them cook all kinds of dishes which turn out to be average. I'd rather see fewer but better items and more focused direction cuisine-wise. That being said, the diversity isn't all bad. They have everything from pasta dishes, salads, sandwiches, seafood, pizza, you name it. I'll return at some point I'm sure, in search for a much better experience... We'll see.Listed in: Cambridge: Harvard Square Area
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Review from Celia Z.
Okay, there's potential here. But quite a few kinks needed to work through.
We came to First Printer for what we hoped would be Saturday brunch, as mentioned on the website. Instead, we were notified that they didn't serve brunch on Saturdays and thus we were presented with the regular menu. Nearly empty at noon, the restaurant felt desolate, and the waiters even more so.
It took a while for someone to come to our table, and waiter didn't even write down our orders (and trust me, I am a very picky eater and an excellent menu modifier). He swayed back and forth in an annoying way as if this job was a joke. Later, someone brought us coffee, mistaking us for the one other filled table at that time.
We went exotic: swamp bowl (fried alligator, frog legs, swampbugs) and the buffalo burger. Buffalo burger was a four: like beef, but more tough, and seasoned quite well. The alligator tasted a bit like duck in texture but drier and tougher. The tail was a glob of juicy (and tasteless) meatball. Yet I am in no position to judge because it is my first time eating alligator. But frog leg wise, I am certified: when little, my grandmother could always get me to dinner by making frog legs. And the frog legs tasted juicy but bland. Can't beat grandma's cooking here.
"I'm just going to douse this in ketchup and eat it", my friend said with reference to the swamp bowl. When you have to douse something in ketchup to make it edible, that spells frozen, canned, or dining hall food on bad days. But oh the pinwheel fries! Oh those fries! Now there's First Printer's winning streak.
The check was not even in a nice cover, but instead a piece of folded, poorly ripped paper that was literally thrown at our table. When we paid in cash, the waiter took the money before we even left.
Beautiful atmosphere, mediocre food, and awful service?
I look forward to coming back and changing my rating. But until then, closing Yelp until I finish my exams. -
Review from Roscoe R.
Cambridge, MA
4/21/2012
After watching this place being renovated soooo slowly, for what seemed like two years, I was glad to see it open!
The food First Printer is okay, though not as good as Tory Row or Russell House Tavern. As others have said, it has potential, and I'll definitely try it again once they've worked out the kinks in the food (not horrible kinks -- it just could be better). I hope to update my review and give it 3 (or more) starts sometime!
Here are the specifics:
SERVICE. Service was outstanding. I went with a work colleague for a weekday lunch. The restaurant was about half full. Our water was refilled constantly (even though they leave a chilled bottle on the table), and the wait staff was polite without being intrusive.
AMBIANCE. I really like the feel of this place. It looks like they could fit quite a few more tables inside (between the bar and the kitchen) if they wanted to, but I hope they keep it nice and spacious, like it is now. They did a great job with the renovation.
FOOD. I tried two starters: We split the Foccacia Pizza, and I also got the Gazpacho (a special, not on the regular menu). The Foccacia Pizza was tasty but unremarkable. It was pretty thick -- loaded with 3 types of cheeses -- and I'm not convinced that melted cheddar and melted smoked gouda really go together in the same bite. The Gazpacho was similarly tasty though unremarkable. It's the well-pureed kind of gazpacho -- no chunks of anything. For an entree, I got the Crab Cake Po Boy sandwich. This would've been a REALLY good sandwich if only two things had been different. First and most important, the crabcakes hardly tasted like crab because they had way, way too much filler (bread) in them. This high bread-to-crab ratio also caused them to be too dry. The second problem (minor) with this sandwich was that you couldn't taste the aioli at all. There was way too little of it. I actually had to look inside the sandwich to see if they included it, and I did see it upon visual inspection. I would've asked for more, but we were in a bit of a rush. The sandwich came with a Caesar Salad, which I would not recommend. The dressing was too mayonnaise-ey and had too little spice (anchovy, pepper -- whatever) in it. The croutons were really good though (very light -- not the kind that cut up the insides of your mouth!). I also tried a Lobster Pup (which is a fritter) off my friend's plate, and I had the same feedback as I had for the crabcakes: Where's the lobster? Way too much breading, even for a fritter. If I closed my eyes and you gave me a Crabcake or a Lobster Pup from First Printer, I wouldn't be able to tell you what I was eating, because the shellfish taste is basically absent. They need to use more shellfish & less filler in these items! I'll end with the high point of my culinary experience: the Hen of the Woods Risotto side dish. The risotto was perfectly prepared, and the mushrooms were amazing. It was creamy, cheesy, and wonderfully balanced. This side dish is a must-try.
BOTTOM LINE: I'd wait awhile to try First Printer -- wait to see if it improves. If you do go, avoid the fried shellfish-with-breading items such as Lobster Pups and Crabcakes, because you'll hardly taste the shellfish (too much breading). Definitely try the Hen of the Woods Risotto as a side dish, though! -
Review from Xavier M.
Cambridge, MA
5/23/2012
I got the Wild Boar Carbonara. Delicious. Unfortunately we got to the restaurant around 9:40pm, so by the time we had finished with our entrees, the kitchen was closed and we couldn't get dessert.
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Review from Jolene S.
5/5/2012
Great place for lunch. NY brisket sandwich was two meals in one (with fries and onion rings--you can ask for fruit if you're being healthy). Very clean, spacious and good service. Great addition to Harvard Sq and beats Russell House any day of the week. Good value for a sit-down lunch/meeting place (~10$ pre-tax/tip for huge sandwiches with sides).
Will definitely find a reason to go back -
Review from Katie V.
4/16/2012
I have to say, I wasn't thrilled with First Printer. The service and food were uneven. But there's potential, I think.
The space is pretty cool, esp. the weird little windowless bank vault corridor where some small tables are set up. I could imagine it being nice for solo diners to be tucked away in there with a book and away from the bar.
The menu has a little bit of everything and could use a little focus. There are the apps you see on every Boston bar/gastropub menu (calamari, beet salad, flatbreads). There are sandwiches. There are pricier entrees like lamb, fish, etc.
The calamari was not good. Too much breading, very dried out. The crab cakes were a bit better, though still more filler than crab meat. The drinks were a nightmare -- all too strong and too sweet. Look, I know no one wants to pay $10 for a watery weak drink, but there's still something to be said for a well-balanced cocktail with a good amount of booze. The drinks were too strong to be enjoyable -- I wasn't looking to be hammered after consuming half of my Ink Blot (or whatever it was called). It contained Hangar One Mandarin, Domaine de Canton, Lemoncello (all alcoholic) and a shot of some kind of blueberry liqueur. THAT'S A LOT OF BOOZE. A few sips and I was slurring my speech.
The entrees were ok, I think. I got lamb with mashed potatoes. Everyone else got sandwiches and seemed to like them. The vibe of the place is definitely still in process -- you could tell they've only been opened a little while. Our server was nice enough, but at one point disappeared for like 40 minutes. -
Review from Clare F.
3/23/2012
First Printer has seemed to have worked out all the kinks that people have complained about.
Went there tonight - Friday, 8:15, on the nicest evening of spring so far - 45 minute wait for a table. Reasonable enough, so we head to the bar. Boy got a Negroni, I got the Vault, their St Germain/Gin concoction. The Vault was perfectly refreshing, with the cucumber, mint, and lime accents.
We were seated 15-20 minutes after putting our name in, and the host was super apologetic. No, really dude. Its ok. Its Friday night in Harvard Square - to not expect a wait would have been madness.
We looked at the menu, and there were so many interesting looking items. Chose lobster pups (how could you not?) and the black bean hummus, thinking we would order entrees.
OH how wrong we were.
First of all, the $7 lobster pups. For all you complainers that there wasn't enough lobster? THEY'RE SEVEN DOLLARS. You get six of them. And they definitely taste of lobster. They're like fried, solidified lobster bisque. Not really, but you have the same lobster taste without the chunks - and the added bonus of meyer lemon butter. I was hesitant to dip something fried into butter. How silly I was. The lemon butter added a perfect sweetness. Hit the spot.
The black bean hummus is huuuuuuuge. Make no mistake. This is not something you enter into alone. A bread bowl of hummus, with grilled tofu squares, veggies, and pita. The only lacking part of the meal were the pita triangles. First Printer, why fry perfectly good pita bread? It was greasy and weird. The hummus was filling, with an awesome cilantro/allspice/cinnamon flavor that I can only hope to replicate.
The restroom was perfectly clean, had hand lotion (always a plus) and an entertaining sign by the door that said "Lock the door... or make new friends." Cute!
The only other negative thing I'd comment on is the amount of time it took our server to bring the bill. Sorry dude - we aren't going to order more just because you're dragging your feet.
Having worked in the square for over 4 years, I'm glad to have another good restaurant. Yay for more options! -
Review from Erik T.
Cambridge, MA
3/15/2012
Dear Yelp Community:
Let me start by saying that I didn't have particularly high expectations going here on a Tuesday night when the choices were First Printer or John Harvard's next door, yet somehow I was overwhelmingly disappointed by First Printer and will not be returning. This review should serve as an informative warning, though I won't say that I was slighted or offended in any way that should keep you, the reader, away if you can overlook those things that made my experience so negative.
I was in a party of three on, as I said, a Tuesday night, and we got there around 7:15. The place wasn't empty, but we were seated immediately and most of the tables around us had patrons. The first strike against this place was the uninspired menu. I sensed no real common theme on the menu--some appearances from Cajun, New England, New York Deli, and BBQ. On top of this, not a single item on the menu stood out. Sure, there was something called a "Printer Dog" (hot dogs with sauerkraut and chili) and a "Printer Burger" (regular burger), but there was nothing that I saw that seemed like a unique offering from this restaurant. I ordered the Crimson Reuben, which is exactly the same as a reuben anywhere else, except greasier (the bread seemed to be grilled in butter). I will say that there was plenty of corned beef on the sandwich, but that's about all.
Between the 3 of us, we ordered two cocktails, and drank a total of one and a quarter. Someone else in my party ordered the Holland Razorblade, which was gin, citrus, syrup, and cayenne pepper. It was served on crushed ice, which was already partly melted, and the drink was too watered down to enjoy. I ordered the Ginger Snap, with ginger liqueur, maple whisky, cinnamon, and topped with cream. The cream was so overwhelming that the entire drink tasted unpleasantly like the icing that accompanies a Cinnabon. Would not order again.
We had the calamari appetizer, which was actually quite good, but sides that we ordered were underwhelming. The pinwheel fries sounded appealing, but ended up being plain steak fries that were bent a little. Again, a sad attempt to personalize some ubiquitous menu item. The lobster pups, their "sophisticated" lobster and butter infused version of hushpuppies, were dry to the point that our two orders of them went uneaten save the one each of us had to ascertain their inedibility.
Perhaps you've noticed a negative tone in this review that seems out of touch with my description so far, which brings me to the service. Oh, the service. The service alone made this review a 1-star no-brainer, but the food and drinks did the restaurant no favors. Anyway, we walked in at 7:15 and were seated, and our order was taken in a reasonable amount of time. Our drinks and appetizers arrived in a not-too-long window, but then our waiter must have forgotten to place our food order, because at 8:15 we asked about our entrees, and he said "oh, sorry, this is my fault, they should be coming out soon" and vanished. When our food FINALLY did come, the sides we had requested accompanying each appetizer were matched with the wrong entrees, which resulted in a lot of scraping food onto bread plates and then passing those around the table.
There is absolutely no reason that our food should have taken over an hour from time of order to time on table (finally after 8:30) considering we ordered 3 sandwiches and the restaurant wasn't crowded. However, somehow it did manage to take our server over an hour to feed our party--unacceptable. To his credit, he did apologize and take the appetizer and sides off the bill. However, when he brought the bill to our table, he handed us the check for another table--a man a few tables away who had a couple beers and a couple appetizers. I almost wish I lacked the integrity keeping me from silently paying that bill instead of ours, as it was less than half the price of ours and I was pretty fed up by my experience at First Printer, and so swapped that bill for the real one, settled up, and got out of there, swearing to both write this and never return to First Printer. -
Review from Naomi R.
Boston, MA
3/14/2012
My very first review for Yelp goes to the very new restaurant First Printer. I've been waiting for this place to open for a while, so I was excited to give it a try.
I came here with a friend on a Tuesday night, so the restaurant was decently, but not overly, filled--we got a table easily. We both tried the Vault cocktail, which was delicious, and we both had the brie en croute for an appetizer. It was simple but tasted amazing: apricot jam baked between crust and the brie so that you get a mixture of sweet jam and creamy brie when you cut into it. So incredibly good! My friend ordered the mixed greens salad, and I had the crab cake po boy with mixed greens for a side. I thought this would be a manageable amount of food, but the portion sizes are quite generous, even for the sides--I quickly realized that I would have been fine with my brie en croute and the greens. That said, my po boy was great, if a little too much sandwich for me. They didn't skimp on the crab cake, which I definitely appreciate!
Overall, I really enjoyed my first dining experience here. I'd love to come back and try some more of the cocktails they have on the menu. -
Review from Vanessa P.
Cambridge, MA
4/29/2012
We both got soups and shared a side of Braised Baby Spinach, Rainbow Swiss Chard and Broccoli Rabe. I got the First Printer Clam Chowder and my friends got the Guinness Beef Stew. The greens were fine although pretty watery and nothing to write home about. Both soups were really disappointing though. They tasted as though they were made a couple days earlier and had just been sitting in big pots over a water bath. The texture of the clam chowder was really unappealing, almost congealed. Don't get the soups.
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Review from mimi x.
Cambridge, MA
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars.
You can expect anyplace within 10 steps of the T to have a healthy crowd, and this newbie bar/restaurant draws them in, especially on the weekends. To eat here, you will have make a reservation, expect a long wait, or perfect your hovering technique to snag a seat at the bar which serves the full menu. If you're on a date, try to get a table in the old "bank vault" which is now a intimate section of the restaurant where people are sat side by side. I slyly claimed a bar stool and my boyfriend moved another stool across the room to sit next to me. Mission accomplished.
The bartender recommended a great sauvignon blanc for me, and my boyfriend had a pretty things brew. I noticed a lot of local microbrews on tap, as well as a good selection of bottled beer. To start, we had the ceviche, which was not so great. There was too much fruit in it (strawberries and melon) which made it too sweet and didn't go well with the seafood flavors. Also, not enough lime for me. I love lime like I love lamp.
Luckily, my main course of pork belly carbonara was amazing! Pork belly. goooood. Sausage. goooood. Noodles. goooood. The smoky gouda cheese also made it so rich, I'm probably gaining weight just thinking about it. So worth it though, highly recommended. My boyfriend's pork shank was also good, but I won this time.
Worth trying if you're bored of the Harvard square selection- I will definitely be back. -
Review from Eric F.
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Though initial reviews have been a bit up and down, I can confidently say that Harvard Square has a tasty (and affordable!) new addition to its restaurant & bar scene.
My bro and I came by on a chill Sunday night to grab some dinner and we were seated by the bar with the Grammy Awards in the background...not a bad setup. Our waitress was great and very helpful with recommendations and cautioning us about ordering too much food. Thank goodness I cancelled the side of risotto b/c we were thoroughly food coma'd before we could even finish the rest.
Appetizers came in the form of Calamari and The Crimson Wedge. The batter on the calamari was solid though on the heavier side and the salad had a nice, light Berkshire Blue cheese dressing that didn't overpower the other components. Oh and the portions for both were very, very generous - always a plus.
Next up was the Texas Brisket Sandwich. Tender meat encased in an airy bun and smothered in sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. Good stuff.
The main course was the special for the night - lobster fra diavolo with linguini that ended up being a pesto-based dish per the chef's whim when we found out that they had run out of ingredients for the fra diavolo. Wow...this needs to be added to the regular menu like NOW. Perfectly cooked linguini and mad fresh seafood including shrimp, scallops and whole lobster claws (!!). Easily the highlight of the meal and one of the best pasta dishes I've come across so far.
Dinner finished up with an order of warm bread pudding - quite good and, again, plentiful in portions. All in all, a delicious meal and totally worth another visit sometime. -
Review from Sarah G.
2/22/2012
I want to give a 3.5 for the hopes that with actual food service I will love this place. The menu including things like gator and pork belly bites sounded so intriguing, especially paired with the opportunity of having lobster hushpuppies, so I do hope to come back and write up the food!
So this review is just for the drinks atmosphere. I don't really understand the decor here. One half of the restaurant/bar definitely seems cooler than the other half and I think it is because one half has a lower ceiling so it just seems more comfy. The side with the higher ceiling has no artwork or anything really, just brightly painted walls which is cool I guess, but it just felt a little uninviting to me and some of my friends we were with. My other problem is the kitchen placement. You should think about putting a door on that kitchen opening or at least switching to a non-blinding florescent light because that light just pours out into what is trying to be a warm, inviting space. Sitting at the bar with my glass of Malbec I was often distracted by this bright light shining in. Just didn't seem quite right.
But good music selection, pretty good drink selection too, and for a $10 cocktail type of place, definitely excited to try this spot out again since it does seem classier than the average spot in Harvard Square for sure. -
Review from matt m.
Allston-Brighton, MA
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to like this place a lot but a number of things led to me only liking it a little. First, I'll say the bartender was friendly, funny and offered some suggestions and insight into their drink menu. When we moved to a table things took a turn for the worse.
Our server was slow and very forgetful- we had to ask twice for several items when the place wasn't very busy (3 pm on a Sunday). Onto the food- I had The Herd (buffalo burger). It was good but the bottom bun was so soggy from the aoli and grease (I guess?) that I couldn't pick it up, gross. So I used a knife and fork and it was just ok. Ketchup was served in the tiniest cup, barely enough for the burger so I had to ask for two more for the pinwheel (steak) fries.
Lobster pups were tasty but weak on lobster. Wings were a bit disappointing- they were served plain with the sweet chili on the side so we had to flavor them ourselves- weird. The clam chowder and Guinness Beef Stew were the highlights.
There are a lot of interesting items on the menu so hopefully they'll work out the kinks of being new. -
Review from Zachary C.
Cambridge, MA
3/4/2012
First Printer is a big win for Harvard Square. The prices are below what you'd expect for such an attractive dinner spot in the heart of the square. If it hadn't been so well designed and nicely lit, I would have never known it was there. But it drew me in, so much so that my party cancelled our previous plan for where to dine.
We were greeted by a friendly young hostess who informed us of the thirty-minute wait, but welcomed my request for a call to my cell phone when my table was ready.
Our waitress was great: authentic, friendly, and not afraid to share which were her favorite items on the menu. The menu is filled with dishes you want to try, as well as some interesting surprises. Other reviews have mentioned the Swamp Bowl - it ought to be made clear, the dish is not a gimmick - gator, frog legs, and mudbugs is a refreshingly unexpected dish for such a welcoming Harvard Square restaurant.
I chose to order a broiled lamb porterhouse // mint au jus, Hen-of-the-Woods Risotto, spinach, swiss chard, and broccoli rabe.
The restaurant doesn't serve dinner rolls, which sent me a negative message - that the restaurant was not going to make the extra effort with its food. A great dinner roll sends a big message about the caliber of a restaurant, a good dinner roll still sets my expectations high. But a bad or missing dinner roll lowers my expectations for the meal.
My dish looked very good, it was presented as well as I'd hoped it would be, in line with what one expects from a nice restaurant. The way the greens are presented, it looks as though there aren't enough, but it turns out there are more than initially meet the eye. The lamb was presented beautifully, but tasted disappointingly average. The treat was the risotto - it had a decadent creaminess, the mushrooms were filled with punchy flavor, and mixed with a dribble of au jus there was an added a zing of flavor. There was more than enough risotto to enjoy.
Atmosphere, food, staff, location, and price - First Printer has the right combination of these elements to make a great dinner destination for a Saturday night dinner with a date or a friend. -
Review from MisoSoup O.
Brookline, MA
3/21/2012
Went there Sat. night with my hubby for a drink and a calm talk.
Nice decoration (and make sure not to skip the vault setting), not noisy
Sat on the Bar, had several drinks and French Fries.
Nice Bar collection (Great Whiskey selection). Both Bartenders were amazing and went the extra mile,
Very good experience. Will return with our little one for a lunch/dinner. -
Review from Ellen S.
Somerville, MA
3/14/2012
We had a great experience at First Printer on a Friday night before we were catching a show at the ART.
We had a group of five and we ordered drinks and entrees. Our waiter Ron was great. He gave us his honest opinion of the different options on the menu, which was a refreshing change from the normal "oh I love everything". He also knew a lot about the cocktails. I'd recommend the Hanky Panky, and the Holland Razorblade. For dinner I got the chicken pita sandwich. It was a delicious combo of flavors but insanely messy. I also thought it was great that they have so many different options for sides with the sandwiches at no additional costs.
The location is obviously great - right in Harvard Sq - but it's tucked around a corner, so I don't think lots of annoying tourists will stumble upon it. The interior is decorated so that it feels comfortable with a vintage touch. Plus there is an old bank vault in the back that you can eat in, and I think maybe reserve for private parties. As long as you're not claustrophobic, it's super cool.
I was a little nervous that the service would be slow since it's a new restaurant, and that we'd be late for our show. However things moved along at a good pace and once we told our waiter that we were had a time constraint he got us out as fast as he could. Overall great and I'll go back! -
Review from Melissa W.
Somerville, MA
2/3/2012 1 photo
This place has great potential. Went here last night for opening night and sat at the bar... which is made of a beautiful wood by the way. They did a LOT of work renovating the space and it shows... lots of beautiful rich wood, exposed brick and beams, high ceiling, cool light fixtures, and a tile floor that had been lying under a foot of concrete. So, definitely a great atmosphere... A+
The service needs to work out some kinks... there were three bartenders working but it took a while for us to get drinks even though it wasn't that busy. And our food order somehow never got sent to the kitchen so we were waiting and waiting for our food. However, the staff was very friendly and were trying their best to be helpful. C
Now the food... we ordered the "lobster pups" and the "swamp bowl". The swamp bowl was fried frog legs, fried alligator and crawfish. The alligator was almost inedible... very tough to eat. The frog legs were ok, but may have been better if they were sauteed. The lobster pups weren't very lobster-y and were mostly corn. I didn't eat most of it, so we ordered the steamed mussels that were served with a red sauce... that was fantastic. D for the fried stuff, A for the mussels.
One guy at the bar had a very yummy looking steak... I wish I had ordered that!
At any rate, I am willing to try this place again in a month or so once they smooth out the kinks. -
Review from Brian D.
2/8/2012
Brand spanking new bar in Harvard Square. I've been walking by this place as they have been rehabbing it and I have been on pins and needles waiting for it to open. Speaking of pins and needles, my but is asleep. I think I need a slightly more ergonomic chair.
So, my experience was pretty passable. But. It was only my first visit and I only had a few drinks at the bar. The bartender was nice enough and made me fairly stiff drinks which is always a plus. The food I saw coming out, and what I saw listed on the menu was all pretty tempting. (The food section will be next review update.)
The atmosphere is sort of flat, but I think I get what they are going for. Sort of classy, but welcoming to the sort of academic crowds. I get it. Could be cool. They have some nifty prints up and the menus are printed on nice heavy weight crafty sort of paper. There are some print related goodies here and there and the place is in all warm tones. Fun fact the ceiling in the mens room is super low and they have a sort of private dining area that is set aside in what appears to be an old time bank vault.
Certainly an interesting spot in a good location that I will be back to. -
Review from Beth K.
Somerville, MA
2/15/2012
I was super excited to check this place out after reading about it on GrubStreet. We were a little nervous about heading there on a Saturday evening, given that it is in Harvard Square and thus might be packed with students, but luckily we scored a couple bar stools! Yay!
The bartender looks like Morgan Freeman. Serious. And aww, shucks, is also a super nice guy. We thoroughly enjoyed the service. Decent tap beers (nothing to write a book about, but will satisfy the beer lover).
The food, well,...(cough cough...let me clear my throat)...ah, left not such a great first impression. At first they claimed to be out of the ceviche, so we ordered our second pick for an appetizer (the lobster hush puppies). After ordering the pups, we were informed that, well, in fact, they now HAD the ceviche. Wha??? How did they not have it 10 minutes earlier. I don't work in a kitchen, so perhaps this is normal, but it seemed a tish strange. Maybe Criss Angel was in the kitchen.
Anyhoot.
We did not need our arms to be twisted to order the newly discovered ceviche, and immediately added it to our order. My cat would have been happy with us.
Okay, let's discuss the actual taste of the food. Not sure where the lobster was in the pups (those tiny pink looking sprinkles may have been lobster...or tiny pink sprinkles...couldn't tell you by the taste). The ceviche...well, let's just say that my first question was "Would you like some seafood with that salt?" SALT BOMB. I was not a fan. My hubby, however, found the taste to be decent. So it really depends on how seasoned you like your food! Nonetheless, in my opinion, a simple reduction in seasoning would have greatly improved the flavor (or I should say, would have allowed the flavors of the seafood to shine through).
The service was what brought this from a 2-star to a 3-star review.
It should be noted that we only tried those two items. So really, this review is about just a very teeny tiny part of the food offering, and to be honest, some of the main courses/sammies look fabulous and we will definitely be back...
...if only for the reason that we will get to chill at the bar with a super cool bartender and people watch:)
cheers. -
Review from Jessie Z.
2/9/2012
Disclaimer - these guys have been open a little over a week. So we'll need to cut them a little slack as they get their BLEEP together. I've found it takes restaurant teams about a month or so to get their groove down.
With that said...service was good. There were a few hiccups with the timing of our food - we ordered a whole mess of stuff from each of the different areas of the menus but as our entrees and I don't think that was clearly communicated. IE I ordered a bowl of soup in a bread bowl, came in a regular bowl. We were missing an order of fries. My friends sandwich came wayyyyyyyy after all the rest of our food. The staff was nice and understanding, appreciated the feedback.
Food was good though! I hade the chicken wings, the soup of the day (chicken tortilla) and the Pinwheel fries...
Don't be fooled, the pinwheel fries aren't in the shape of a pinwheel, they are cut like steak fries just a little less thick and a little more crispy.
I'd go back but probably not any time soon. -
Review from Curtis M.
Watertown, MA
2/23/2012
As far as Harvard Sq goes, this spot was good. Like the look "lights kind of hurt my eyes" could have been super cool with larger artwork on the far wall and white christmas lights. So outside of Decor.
We had fried calamari (very good) chicken sandwich (also good) and a stake (mediocre at best)
the service was very attentive -
Review from Clark G.
Cambridge, MA
2/3/2012
I have been looking forward to eating here for quite a long time. Years in-fact. The decor is great. The service I would give a C+ to B-. The real gripe came at the end of the meal. There was one young cute looking waiter that delivered food and silverware who seemed especially great. Always had a smile and was very nice. When I return I would probably ask to sit in one of his tables.
Everything I ate was tasty. As a previous review mentioned food is super rich. We had 2 apps. Lobster Pups and Shrimp and Grits. Both were excellent. I ordered the Strip steak which was the special. It was $17.00 and cooked perfectly. I like my steak cooked medium well. Most of the time people either cant get that right or want to filet it to make sure its cook well enough. I was impressed. I also got a side of Risotto. It was RICH, cheesy, and damn good. If there was one thing on the menu I would recommend this. (and maybe the lobster pups!)
The rest of my party didn't seem too impressed. An undercooked burger. A side of smashed potatoes that lacked flavor. I, however, was content. I thought the food was yummy.
Most of the entrees averaged about $22-24. Cocktails are $10 and glasses of wine start at $6-7.
Our biggest issue with the First Printer came at check time. We were splitting the check 3 ways. We wrote the correct amounts for each credit card on the back of the bill. 40 minutes later they still had not figured out how to split the check up between 3 cards. As this was going on my friend needed to use the bathroom. As she walked by the manager trying to figure out the credit card machine she hears the woman say "who orders a burger!?" I'm sorry but not everyone wants a lobster Po Boy. If a burger is not acceptable to you take it off the menu and we will go to Mr. Bartley's.
When the check did arrive the amounts were not correct. We gave them then benefit of doubt that it was just our bad handwriting. While our waiter repeatedly apologized I really expected a manager to come over and offer an apology or perhaps a free dessert. 40 minutes to wait for a bill is a bit absurd.
Once got up to leave and there was only one member of our party left at the table the same manager approached him attempted an apology and made some off handed comment about having to "call India" about the credit card machine.
In summary... Food was good. Service needs a little attention. We dined here opening night. I hope they can work the kinks out. -
Review from Judy L.
2/7/2012
A group of 5 of us came to try this new place on a Monday night. The decor was quite nice, with quite a few printing press items and political cartoons around the restaurant. There was a door that looked like an entrance to a vault.
There were only 2 servers last night, so the service was very slow. Our quick dinner ended up taking about 2 hours.
The menu seemed quite interesting, and adorably nerdy with references to "First Edition" "notes" etc.
And now, onto the food. I ordered the prime rib French dip, which had layers and layers of meat on top of a bed of perfectly toasted baguette. It was delicious. :)
Others ordered the fish sandwich (baked), crabcake sandwich, the vegetarian sandwich with black beans, and the Texas brisket sandwich. All had fairly good reviews. What was quite surprising was the size of the side salads. The salads were dinner portions! I don't know if it's going to continue to be served in such a large size in the future though.
Overall, food was fairly decent, service was ok. Might give it another try after it has gained a bit more momentum later this year. -
Review from Denise p.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
2/15/2012
Three stars overall. Food was good, tastey. Drinks expensive. The floor was authentic, in it's original material and design, dated 1638. Four stars for it's original design and emphasis on the history of : First Printer.
dp, harv sq. -
Review from The K.
Boston, MA
3/20/2012
Two words: French Dip. $7. It doesn't get any better than this. I've been waiting for years for a good French Dip sandwich to return to the Square long after Grendel's retired it's excellent French Dip and now I can finally say that day has arrived. The service was expectedly a little off as is common for new restaurants still figuring things out with relatively inexperienced wait staff. Still, the service was fine. But that sandwich, man, there's no better value. It's awesome. Go get it.
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Review from Amy C.
Cambridge, MA
3/19/2012
I was ever so hopeful that this new restaurant in Harvard Square would be a great addition, but it wasn't. I had lunch there with several colleagues during the work week. For lunch, it was very loud - we were a table of five and could hardly hear each other. The food was okay, but the service was awful. The waitress was very conscientious to take the women's orders first, but then brought the food in a haphazard way and in stages. This meant that some of us had to wait for the others' orders to arrive. It wasn't a long wait, but still. The table made serving awkward and one plate nearly fell on the table as it was placed in front of the patron.
I had a salad which was fine, but nothing special. I ordered the fried tofu to go with it. The tofu had been fried, but it seemed as if it was saturated with oil and it was cold! Not very appetizing. I know some people prefer to have their plates cleared while others are still eating, but this makes me feel rushed. The waiter at First Printer seemed to be hovering to clear plates as soon as possible. Not sure what his hurry was. The restaurant style was very nice, but didn't make up for the mediocre food and poor service. -
Review from Kim K.
Delicious appetizers, awesome veggie burger, nice ambiance. The service was a smidge slow and inattentive. I won't be rushing back but I'm glad I went.
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Review from Andy B.
Melrose, MA
2/17/2012
To be fair, I didn't have the food. Also, it just opened so I'm hoping the service improves.
Having said that, the service at the bar was horrendous. I know the bar area is small and I understand that ordering a drink can be a lengthy process in a crowded place. I'm fine with all of that. What I wasn't fine with was having the bartender ask us for our orders and then taking twenty-five minutes (not an exaggeration) to bring us our already-ordered drinks.
This also came after our bartender had to come back to us twice (TWICE!) to ask us what it was we had already ordered. That's sloppy work.
The drinks were tasty; the 'tenders know how to mix. However, over the course of the night it took (from stepping up to the bar to having a drink in my hand) thirty-five, thirty, twenty-eight, and seventeen minutes of waiting in order to be served. By the end of the night I was ready to forsake this place forever in favor of equally-visually-pleasing Russell House.
Also, unrelated to service, the lights were way too bright in there. It's a bar, not a movie set.
I'm willing to give it a shot at some point in the future, but not any time soon. -
Review from J L.
Dorchester, MA
2/3/2012
I love this place! I have been three times and come from dorchester. The staff is so nice, the food is amazing! ....and I know the meaning of amazing since I was on The Amazing Race before.....chowder is the best i have ever had. A lot for your dollar and so much history...The First Printer. Ten stars! Xoxo. jLowe
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Review from Jahan H.
Boston, MA
2/20/2012
I came out here to meet up with some old friends. This place is solid!
Location: Right in middle of Harvard Square on Dunster Street. I went to school/worked right across the street so I am very familiar with the territory.
History: Why is it called First Printer? Well, it was the site of the first printing site in North America.
Crowd: A good mix of Harvard students, tourists, and professionals.
I ordered a Hebrew National Hotdog and had some OJ (don't judge, that's how I roll).
Service was top notch, with a server who kept checking in on us. We hung around till closing and they definitely did not mind. The only thing that could have been a negative was that their debit/credit card machine was not working, so some members of my party had to go across the street to get some cash from the Harvard Credit Union.
I will definitely be back! This is one of the few places in Harvard Square with a compelling seafood menu and plenty of Non-alcoholic drink options. -
Review from Lucy L.
Suffolk, MA
Updated - 2/8/2012
Love this place. Interesting menu. Ilove the beet salad and the steamers. The brie app is so good. There are so many wines to pick from. I am going back soon!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/4/2012
What can i say? This place rocks! Very cool bar....love the drink list....best apps in Boston… Read more »
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Review from Waylon B.
Quincy, MA
4/15/2012
This place is pretty good. Just don't order during Brunch hours. They only serve brunch food and the options are crap.
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Review from Regan B.
Cambridge, MA
2/8/2012
Food is great. Had a veggie sandwich with delicious fries for only $7. My friend had the brisket which was delicious, but the sides were also to die for. Rare that a restaurant focuses such attention on the side dishes.
$5 draft microbrews in Cambridge = awesome.
Definitely recommend the Printer Punch. Quite large and pretty strong. I was definitely tipsy upon leaving the restaurant. -
Review from Debra R.
Cambridge, MA
4/8/2012
Generally like the food (have been a few times) but was unhappy today with some serice issues and also some infflexibility (could not make wedge sald from, regular menu as it was brunch as if wedge salad elf would appear only after 3pm to make such prders possible) May come aain for regular lunch or dinner but will skip brunch.
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Review from Sarah P.
Charlestown, MA
2/5/2012
Great food - everything was tasty - chili, crab po-boy, beet salad was excellent. Great amount of food for the price. And great drink prices. Lovely atmosphere. Will be back!
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Review from Ken K.
Great Neck, NY
Updated - 3/31/2012
Just finished lovely dinner at First Printer with my husband and son. salads were fresh and dressing very tasty. the main courses were done perfectly. salmon and side dishes beautiful as well as brisket with thick French fries. service was extremely attentive and we definitely will be regulars even though we do not live in the area. This restaurant has become our first choice when visiting our son in Cambridge.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2012
Great atmosphere and firiendly service. Only complaint is that salmon entre which was presently… Read more »
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Review from Joe V.
Harvard Square, Boston, MA
2/2/2012
nice ambiance, pretty good food (maybe a little too rich). as of opening night they still haven't figured out the whole service thing - how long does it take you to split a check?!
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Review from J B.
Cambridge, MA
2/2/2012
Been waiting a long time for this place to open & it did not disappoint! Had a great steak!!
