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Grafton Street
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants Canadian (New) Bars, Canadian (New) [Edit]
1230 Massachusetts AveCambridge, MA 02138
Neighbourhood: Harvard Square
(617) 497-0400
- Nearest Transit:
-
Mt Auburn St @ Putnam Ave (1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Trowbridge St (1)
Mt Auburn St @ Dewolfe St (1)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 1 am
Thu-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat 10 am - 2 am
Sun 10 am - 1 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Validated
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
361 reviews for Grafton Street
Review Highlights
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"My favorite restaurant in Harvard square." In 62 reviews -
"For dinner: Friend had the roasted chickpea burger." In 19 reviews -
"BF had the goat cheese flat-bread pizza." In 15 reviews
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361 reviews in English
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Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
5/6/2012
I'm definitely a huge fan. Beautiful space in Harvard Square with stellar service, great drinks and some fine eats.
I know some people who come here mostly for drinks...but you really are missing out if you don't try the food. I can't find their current menu online but I had two incredible dishes: the pig's knuckles (really rib meat) and this pork dish with three cuts of meat: pork shoulder (this could have been the most delicious, delectable thing I've eaten all year!), pork belly (fatty goodness), and pork loin (a nice lean contrast).
Definitely want to come back, and as much as I like to explore, I would be hard pressed not to order the same thing again. Soooo freakin good! -
Review from M N.
Newport Beach, CA
4/14/2012
Tips: make a reservation and ask about parking because they have a nearby lot that you can park in for free.
Food: nothing fancy that sticks out, but their food is well-cooked and the presentation is nice. lobster mac and cheese is great for sharing. hummus appetizer is generous. scallops dish is highly recommended as is the steak. skip the chowder and the soups.
Bar: nice for an evening drink or for a meeting.
Seating can be outdoors which is great for spring and fall. inside the decor and atmosphere is trendy/chic so definitely relaxing and easy-going. great for young and old crowds. -
Review from Esther Z.
Somerville, MA
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came in for some drinks on a crowded night after a gala. The hostess said it would be an hour wait to get us seated (even with a half empty restaurant), so we decided to try the bar- which was packed! After 10 minutes or so with no luck in getting some booze, we decided to leave. Just then, a super nice hostess (a DIFFERENT one from the two at the front) asked if we wanted to get a table since there were seven of us, and of course we said ok!
Our waiter was incredibly polite and efficient. He wasn't pushy about food or drinks, he just let us have our space. We ended up having a great time just hanging out and grabbing a drink to end our night.
I took off one star for the unnecessary situation earlier in the night - but the rest of the staff made up for it. -
Review from Madeline N.
Cambridge, MA
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is the same feel as Russell House Tavern in Harvard Square - kinda yuppie, room at the bar, room to eat, not too loud to hear your companions.
Busy every night I've been here (Saturday, Wednesday) largely because I came with a crowd for various birthday parties. Not a lot of places to put your coat (a few hooks under the bar area) but you can always precariously place them over the backs of the booths one level down and hope that they don't fall down on the people eating below!
Pleasant. -
Review from Mairead N.
Boston, MA
2/1/2012
I usually come here for work lunch meetings. I've never been here at night. It is a pub/restaurant with the name of a street in Dublin. I'm not sure if its supposed to be an Irish pub, but whatever.
The last time I went I had the salmon with greens and mashed potato and it was quite delicious. The wait staff are ok, a little slow the last couple of times and the place was not that packed at all.
In the summer they open the windows and it can be a nice place to hang out if the weather is fine.
It's ok, not great, every time I want it to be better but it always ends up being just kind of....alright. -
Review from Camille R.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 2/10/2012
The GM emailed me apologized prefusely for the service. They work hard to make sure customers are treated respectfully and would like me to give them another try. She said she would send me something in the mail so that I maky try Grafton Street or another one of their locations again.
This was a very professional gesture and I am looking forward to another visit. Thanks!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/30/2012
If you expect good service, you should not come here. The hosts, all 4 of them, act like they hate… Read more »
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Review from Vanessa D.
Cambridge, MA
Updated - 3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here for dinner recently, and the food was fantastic! They had blood orange sangria (wooh!), herb infused butter with the bread, a HUGE plate of truffle fries for only $4, and a yummy beet salad. I was a happy camper. My boyfriend had their steak entree which was amaaaazing. I kept stealing bites of his. We are planning on returning soon so I can have the steak too :)
I would suggest making a reservation ahead of time because this place can be really crowded. There was quite a wait for walk-ins and even a bit of a wait for people with reservations.
Altogether, out visit was great and we really enjoyed the vibe of the restaurant!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2012
I only stopped in there for drinks one evening but I only have good things to say. The bartenders… Read more »
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Review from Julie-Ann B.
Medford, MA
2/14/2012
Grafton Street was the only place in Harvard Square that was willing to accommodate a reservation for 13 people for my birthday dinner in Harvard Square this past weekend (we called around to various places over a week before). At first they weren't sure they could fit us all, but the manager confirmed that it would be fine, and indeed it was!
We were in the back, but not too squished in, and the server was very sweet and never seemed stressed about having a large party. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we had no complaints. The drinks were delicious (Blood Orange Martinis and Left Banks were the two drinks that quickly took over the table... I personally had the sangria because, well, I can never resist a good sangria!)
The pork belly appetizer was swooned over by one of my friends, and a few of us really enjoyed the cheese board.
I had the Lobster Mac and Cheese for an entree, and it could have fed 3 of us, it was so rich (and very good!), and my husband really loved his Margerita pizza. Looking around the table there was an assortment of meals and no complaining, so overall a great night!
Oh - and since my husband and I were staying just down the street at the Hotel Veritas, we even went back for brunch the next day! We had the same server too, she remembered us and asked how the rest of our evening had been.
The brunch was DELISH! I had pancakes with caramelized bananas and he had the Irish Breakfast. We also got the Nutella Crepes to start and OMG so good. :)
In the past I had only been there for drinks or dinner with just a few people, and it's always been crowded, so I do recommend a reservation! Enjoy! -
Review from Erin B.
Somerville, MA
4/1/2012
Food was decent, although nothing too special. All three of us ended up ordering the chicken panini, which was a good portion. I think they pride themselves on their drinks, which were impressive. They had a fairly extensive wine list, creative cocktails, and broad beer selection. I enjoy it when a bar has their own cocktail menus and puts something on there for everyone (They included drinks with varying main liquors.) It was rather busy, so I would recommend making a reservation (we did so can't so much about the wait time). Despite it being packed, the service was speedy and friendly. Grafton Street feels like an upscale restaurant because of its presentation and service, but its casual and not stuffy. Good balance. If the food was better, I'd come more often!
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Review from Courtney M.
Newton, MA
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Every time I come here it is decently crowded. I enjoy the crowds though and the food isn't bad. I had one of their pizza's which was very cheesy. I like the high energy it has here and the food is good enough for me so I will come back for sure.
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Review from Crissy H.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
We stopped here after finding out that the burger place around the corner was closed due to the holiday. My bf was very disappointed since he wanted to witness one of the "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" but we were assured by his aunt that this place was also a really good spot.
We started off with Sangria which was delicious. The menu stated that it serves up to four glasses - but it served way more than that - there was three of us and we all probably filled up our glass at least three times.
We then all shared the calamari - which was just okay to me - kind of chewy I thought. They also had the beet salad and pork belly - they both said each dish was outstanding.
We then moved on to dinner. I had the lobster mac and cheese, he had the gorgonzola, fig, prosciutto pizza, and his aunt had the scallops. Of course we had to try each others dish, since each one looks more appealing then the next. And they were. I really don't know which one was the best - I think it's a toss up before the lobster mac and cheese and the pizza. So rich and flavorful...Yum!
Normally I don't take home leftovers - but this time I couldn't let one piece go to waste...now that tells you something! -
Review from Nick M.
Somerville, MA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Grafton Street several times in the past few years and I haven't had a bad experience there. We've gone there to eat as well as just for drinks and each time our visit was enjoyable
The area near the bar with the windows that open is my favorite spot to hang out. We usually end up scoring some seats over in this area and then ordering food and drinks from the bar. I love that they have Allagash on top year round and when we went last night, I noticed that Harpoon BPA (Belgian Pale Ale) was on tap as well -- definitely one of my favorite beers on tap
While there can definitely be a younger crowd from time to time in there, for the most part, it's right on par with what I'd expect -- young professionals, grad students, etc
The bartenders are friendly and attentive as well. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area -
Review from Tim S.
Cambridge, MA
3/31/2012
I've been here many times for dinner and I'm pleased with it. You're putting yourself in a price range where you expect good service, solid food, and a reasonable selection of beers. That's exactly what you get. It's a great standby.
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Review from J T.
New York, NY
12/18/2011 2 photos
Grafton Street. Great location, nice look. I went for a dinner by myself and had a burger and beer. When you're out to dinner by yourself, especially when you're drinking by yourself, it's doubly sad to spend a lot of money. I'm certainly not about to impress anyone with my wealth, but I like a nice place for dinner now and again. My clothes, while not shabby, probably made it known to the bartender that I wasn't a big spender. The fact that I ordered the cheapest beer on the menu ($3.50, Narraganset... everything else is over $5) and nursed it through the entire dinner sealed the deal.
But what I lack in coin I made up for in a knowledge of random information, most of which I've gleaned from internet news sites while I should have been working. Amazing how the brain can pull out buried bits of information at the right moment, given the proper inspiritation.
Anyway, back to the bar. The burger was very good, the fries thin and tasty, the beer not so much. But they had a particularly intriguing football game on the TV and those of us at the bar enjoyed a conversation about the various benefits of the read-option offense (if you've been following the NFL in 2011 you'll recognize which team this must be referring to), injuries to notable players and how the teams would adjust to their absence, etc...
I would highly recommend the Grafton Street bar and grill for a nicer than average but still casual meeting place...
The bartenders are also knowledgable about football and will gently correct any errors in your conversation, if you like or are bothered by that sort of thing. -
Review from Thuy T.
Boston, MA
3/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The first time I went was just for drinks! It was fun and the people there were really nice. The second time I cam I ordered a salmon. It was undercooked and way to salty for me. I had them take it back. I ate the mash potatoes - the was good!. They did not offered me a new plate but just did not charged me for it. My waiter was really nice though. But It was extremely hard to get the waiters attention. We waited for at least 15 mins to get a check and another 10 for them to come back with our cards.
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Review from Meghan G.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
2/5/2012
I love this place! I've eaten here several times and it's always good. They have $1 oysters starting at 11pm and the most delicious Lobster Mac'n Cheese. We also went here for their 2011 NYE bash and it was super fun - and they were also very generous with the champagne toast filling glasses around 11:30pm and continuing to fill them until the clock struck midnight.
Really great for a date night or taking the parents out when they come to visit. Great atmosphere and the food is worth the slightly higher than average prices. -
Review from Celia Z.
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I pass by here twice everyday to and from class. Until this semester, I never tried it. Its upscale nature really doesn't cater to the college student population unless for schedule occasions.
When special occasions arrive, especially for student organization outings and recruiting events, Grafton Street is on the the radar. To make up for my lack-of-presence for the last two years, I came here twice in the last month.
The first time, I ordered the seared scallops with chorizo, fingerling tomatoes, kale, and roasted cherry tomatoes. The dish was tiny: a long plate with exactly four scallops. The sauce had a creamy base, and the scallops were seared to a somewhat crispy nature. The kale was wilted, as if it had been soaking in sauce for way too long. While the dish was quite delicious, I was not too impressed, especially with the high cost of the dish.
But Grafton redeemed itself today. While the fries were only a notch above mediocre, the hummus and pita bread was heavenly, and so was the Seasonal Cheese Plate with apricot honey mostarda, walnuts, and toasted brioche. But my favorite was the Gorgonzola and Prosciutto flatbread pizza. Small and thick pieces of delicately seasoned prosciutto, with a generous helping of thinly sliced caramelized onions, strategically bursting with flavor. Creamy gorgonzola. And then there was the little star who stole the show...
Little pieces of fig seeds, dancing around in my mouth. I can still sense their energy and joy. Bring it back. Bring that delectable pizza back. Bring it back. -
Review from Joe F.
Westport, MA
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went there with family on st patricks day. Real good meal, and the beer was great.
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Review from Liliya M.
Somerville, MA
9/27/2011
We recently brought a crowd of 20+ for a birthday and everyone made sure that we were comfortable and taken care of. Our waitress was very attentive and had a phenomenal memory. The food is always good and the drinks are superior. The truffle fries own my heart.
Disregard the disgruntled reviews posted here and try this place for yourself! -
Review from Josh D.
Cambridge, MA
12/9/2011
Fun place for a Friday night dinner. The pizza with caramelized cauliflower and ricotta cheese was a great appetizer to split! The steak dinner was tasty, particularly the mashed potatoes, could have done without the bland greens on the side though. The roasted chicken meal was flavorful and has surprisingly good polenta. I don't love bacon or the flavor of it, but it was mild enough to still taste good. I think just the right amount, even for bacon lovers.
The bartenders are knowledgeable and helpful. (We got to try a wine before ordering- great customer service!) The hostesses (there are many) and servers were very attentive and never felt pushy.
I will definitely go back again for a nice dinner and/or drinks. -
Review from oiyan p.
Boston, MA
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is how my friend Sherry described our experience last night: "It's like we're in an abusive relationship with this place." One minute the service was really friendly and attentive, the next minute it was like we weren't there for long periods, then we were being offered free dessert, then we weren't there....
After a good 90 minute yoga session, I was starving, and Sherry joined me for dinner down the street from the yoga studio so we could catch up. I was really excited about the truffle fries! I mean, can you ever go wrong with truffle infused foods? I also ordered the lobster mac and cheese with truffles! Sherry ordered the heirloom tomato salad. After ordering, we waited.... and waited.... 20 minutes went by, and then another 10 minutes went by... all this time, no one came by, and we had drank all of our water. Finally we waved our server down, and she asked if we needed more water. We said yes, but then also asked her how long our food would be since it had been about 35 minutes since we'd ordered. She said it was on it's way, and that the lobster mac and cheese was what takes longest. Before even being able to ask/say anything further, our server was already walking away.
A few minutes later, another woman (the manager? owner?) came over to us to apologize for the long wait and to offer us free dessert. It was a really nice gesture.
There was clearly a lack/break down of communication between the server and us. If a certain item takes longer to prepare, I suggest that the service staff make the customer aware. I probably would have ordered something else. Or at the least, we could have asked for the fries to come out first. Instead, when we were ordering and she asked us if we wanted everything to come out together, we assumed that it would be faster to have it all come out at the same time. I was sorely mistaken.
We also didn't get a refill of water for another 20 minutes. When I looked around, I saw all the other tables with bottles of water so they could refill their water themselves. Granted, Sherry and I asked for iceless water, and the bottles we assume were chilled, but couldn't they have filled a bottle with room temp water for us?
The food - the truffle fries were ok. They were sort of shoe string fries, which were just ok by themselves. With the truffle oil, it took them up a notch, but these weren't very memorable truffle fries. The lobster mac and cheese was really really hot, and pretty decent. I wanted memorable since there was truffle and lobster together covered with cheese (3 of my favorite things), but this was somewhat under-seasoned. Sherry didn't seem terribly bowled over by her heirloom tomato salad either.
The ambiance - I really wanted to like the place because it is really cute. I like the big booths and the outdoor patio. The music playing was really great!
Like Sherry said, it was kind of an abusive relationship. There was bouts of great friendly and attentive service, followed by bouts of extended neglect, then followed by offers of gifts.
In the end we decided not to get the free dessert because it took so long for the server to come back and check on us when we were done eating our meals. We were both tired. It was 10:10 p.m., and I still needed to get home to JP!
Overall, the experience was disappointing. -
Review from Katie C.
10/1/2011
Two friends and I came here one afternoon for a late lunch after an afternoon around Cambridge. Since it was nice, we were seated outside and enjoyed people-watching while enjoying our food.
For the lunch menu, the prices were great for that area of Cambridge. I had the tasso ham Cuban sandwich, and it was one of the best Cubans I've had in a long time. The ham was perfectly seasoned and the mustard used was something like I've never tasted before. The fries, however, were a disappointment. Lukewarm at best and soggy. Seriously, how hard is ti to mess up fries? Total let-down.
Service was just okay. Take drink order, put drinks on table, take food order, put food on order, and drop check. He wasn't very personable and barely smiled. We weren't expecting five-star dining, but just a friendly, "Hi ladies, how are you?" instead of "What can I get you to drink?"
Overall, it's a great lunch spot. Not sure if I would return for dinner. -
Review from Michael W.
New York, NY
9/29/2011
It has such a great atmosphere. The outdoor seating area where we sat is a cute enclosed space that affords privacy but also a good people-viewing platform.
But the food was so disappointing. And while the service picked up as the meal went on, we went 15 minutes without being offered water or a drink.
Anyway, onto the food. I ordered a Grafton burger, which was a good burger, if a little greasy (some people like it like that?). But the fries that came with were soggy, thin, oily, and virtually unseasoned. What is it with restaurants still not seasoning food, expecting you to season it yourself? That's so 1960s (but then again, I wouldn't know because I wasn't born yet)
Girlfriend ordered a goat cheese and spinach omelette, which was even more of a letdown than my dish. First, the omelette itself came out looking like the egg had been fried for way too long, with a brown-ish tinge and crispy edges. Then you cut into it, and realize that the ingredients were probably never cooked with the egg, because the cheese wasn't melty and the spinach was in clumps of precooked form. Really disappointing.
I'm confused as to why a business with such varied reviews gets so much business. Is there really such a dearth of options in the area? Or maybe I'm just being too harsh. -
Review from sonia d.
Boston, MA
10/19/2011
Randomly walked by after leaving the Donkey Show at Oberon on Saturday night and can I say that I have been craving the dish I had ever since. I'm not a big meat eater but was craving it and ordered the hanger steak with garlic mashed and it was fantastic! The meat was perfectly cooked and very enjoyable. It was accompanied by a nice glass of pinot noir. There was a DJ there which I thought was funny because it looks more of like a restaurant than a club but it was perfect, jammin while eating with great company.
We also ordered the creme brulee of the day which was cardamom and it was interestingly tasty. I will definitely be back to try out more of their menu. -
Review from sarah f.
Boston, MA
2/20/2012
I went there on a Monday afternoon for lunch with a friend. Any restaurant should be able to accommodate an afternoon lunch.
There was a 15 minute wait for a table. My friend and I chose to wait in the bar area for about 10 minutes, while staring at an available empty table in the bar area. Eventually, the indifferent hostess came over and tried to seat us there. We opted to wait it out for a table, but I was annoyed that we were even forced to wait when there was a table available. Shouldn't the hostess know how many empty seats there are available?
Service was quick and friendly. No complaints there.
However, they were out of several things on the menu. That was actually a disappointment because I had to adjust my order. When the food arrived, it was lackluster and actually kind of bad. By burger was slightly overcooked and greasy with only about 4 caramelized onions, the fries were stiff, and my salad was underdressed.
My friend got the steak tips, which were pretty much the worst tips we may have ever tried. The cut of the meat and the cooking was fine. However, they were drenched in poorly tasting barbecue sauce and sautéed with red peppers and onions. The flavors of the sauce and peppers were overpowering and absolutely ruined the dish. The green beans were soggy and over salted. It came with a heaping side of bland stiff white rice. The whole dish was a disaster and especially unpalatable.
I can handle restaurants with lackluster service, but if the food is bad, there is little reason for me to return. We threw $50 at probably the worst lunch we have had outside of a fast food joint. Bummer. -
Review from Robert S.
9/5/2011
I had the steak tips. I asked for medium rare and they came more medium-medium well. They were not tender and I got like 6-7 tiny pieces.
The size of the meal and the quality of the meal were not great.
Disappointed... -
Review from Champika F.
Brooklyn, NY
10/2/2011
Had breakfast/ brunch here the other day.
Had the eggs benedict which were pretty good. And the service was great. The only reason this place loses stars is because it's pretty over-priced. The food (i had) was good but not exceptional. And the meals themselves aren't actually overpriced... it's the drinks that are kind of ridiculously marked up. A tumbler full of from concentrate grapefruit juice is $3.00 as is a cup of house coffee. -
Review from Emeline M.
ALLSTON, MA
1/2/2012
Thank you Grafton Street for exceeding my expectations for a New Years eve dinner and proving that there are still restaurants out there that know what they are doing and are doing it well!
We had 830 Reservations for NYE, we arrived on time but our table was not yet ready, which I completely understand especially on NYE so we had a drink at the bar while we waited... $10 for a martini only on NYE will I spend.. well my boyfriend spend.. $10 on a single drink , but I wasnt disappointed. I totally suggest the blood orange martini if you are willing to spend the dough!
We were shortly seated at a beautiful table with a great view of the street ( I love people watching!) Our server was super cute, but still professional and in a good mood for having to give up her own NYE to wait on us. I was actually quite surprised by the demeanor of the entire staff, its been awhile since we've been out and actually felt like the staff liked their job! Everyone was friendly, happy, and attentive! Way to go guys!
They did a 3 course menu for $48 dollars a person. I ordered the oysters, perfect seasoning and nicely chilled loved them! My boyfriend ordered the pork belly - mouth watering! it was crisp on the outside and had a perfectly pulled pork texture served with mashed parsnips( I forgot how much I adore a little parsnip ) The other couple we were with had the pork belly as well and the bisque which was also amazing, not to mention how nice all the plates looked! Three of us ordered the beef tenderloin which to be honest with you was the best piece of meat I had in ages, I try to keep my "dainty" figure and rarely finish everything on my plate but in this case it would have been an injustice to leave any bit on my plate( or thats how im going to justify that I could not put my fork down The meat was so tender i don't even think I really needed the steak knife. Chloe ordered the duck which she was very impressed with as well.
I had the boston creme pie cake whatcha ma call it and it was perfect, just the right size and a great end to an even better meal. Ray ordered the mint chocolate brownie mouse... the mouse was delightful, the brownie was a little too hard and cold but we arent complaining. I might also mention that the timing between courses was right on! I can not stand when courses come out on top of each other or directly after one another!
All in all it was a great low key beautiful night. They had a dance floor set up and it wasn't super crowded but fun, no obnoxious 21 year olds, now that im in my mid-twenties i have no desire to be around a crazy drunk crowd on NYE like i did 5 years ago I just wanted a happy medium!Grafton street gave us just what we were looking for- a classy fun joint, a great meal, and great time with each other. We will definitely be back soon.
Happy New Year! -
Review from Colleen M.
Rosamond, CA
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped on for a quick light dinner and got exactly that. We had the tomato salad and the margarita pizza, both were great.
Service was a little slow but I hate reviews that dock a restaurant totally based on their wait staff.
Overall, I'd go back. Next time I wanna try the cookie sunday; it looks great! -
Review from Melissa W.
Somerville, MA
1/15/2012
This is my third visit to Grafton Street. In previous visits, I have nothing but positive reviews for the establishment. For this evening, our bartender/server was super busy, so she did the best she could considering how busy she was. That said... the drinks were great, the food was great (had the lobster mac & cheese), and I left happy. I don't agree with the previous poster who compared this place to "Fridays"... its much classier and is not nearly as obnoxious as the chain. I'm sure most bartenders at Fridays wouldn't even have a clue what a port or a Manhattan was, while the food showed a certain attention to detail that a chain restaurant could never match.
And even though the bartender/server was super busy, she was always cheery and happy to wait on our table... we never seemed to be a burden to her. I'm actually quite impressed with the way that she handled her patrons for the evening.
I will absolutely be back. -
Review from Tamarleigh G.
Belmont, MA
Updated - 5/31/2011
Top Ten Reasons I'm Not Going Back
This review update was far too long, so I'm going to try to sum it all up in 5000 characters. Too bad you will miss out on the entertaining details.
1. Veggie Benedict: english muffins are pathetic. Have ordered this each of the 3 times I've visited. First time, it was so hard I had to hack through it with a knife (a steak knife would have been better), second time was slightly better but still very hard, and third time was blatantly burned and was served to me anyway.
2. This english muffin issue is not at all isolated to the benedict arena. My boyfriend got an english muffin instead of toast, all three times we've been there, and ALL THREE TIMES, his english muffin has arrived cold and dry, with nothing to put on it. No butter, no jam, no nothin'. He asked me in bewilderment, "Who looks forward to a dry english muffin? What person, when a dry english muffin is placed on the table, looks at it and thinks, 'YUM!!'??"
3. It was super hot on Sunday. We were looking forward to the air conditioning. No dice. It's too expensive to run the AC, they say. So we sat there in the heat, with the windows open, waited more than 10 minutes for even a sip of WATER, and had flies and other insects to shoo away during our meal.
4. When you ask, long before your meal arrives, for hot sauce, and the waiter actually THANKS you for thinking of it ahead of time and letting him know, how many minutes would you expect to sit there staring at your food before the guy shows up with the hot sauce? How about if right when you get your food, he meets your eye and mouths across the room that he'll be right back with hot sauce, and it's still more than 5 minutes before he's back with it?
5. Not that it mattered so much, since I was sending the dish back because one of the main components was totally burned. And even looking at the burned muffin, he actually asked me what was wrong with the dish. It wasn't just a little burned--it was a lot burned. Making me point it out was just pathetic.
6. And on a hot day, when you're already making mistakes with a table, how long do you let someone sit there with an empty glass in front of her? How about ten minutes? This was after I couldn't even get the drink I wanted, because they were out of raspberries. The drink I got was good, so why did I have to stare at an empty glass for 10 minutes before being asked if I wanted another one?
7. On one visit, when my boyfriend asked for butter for his dry english muffin (and you know they're always stone cold before the butter arrives), the waitress brought something that was not butter. It started as butter, but had other stuff such as vanilla and sweetener added. It was clear just by looking at it that it wasn't butter but was some flavored butter spread. So we asked what it was and were told, "butter." After tasting it, we asked again and were finally told the truth. When someone asks for butter, why would you bring them flavored butter without asking if they wanted that? And why, when they notice it's not butter, would you answer "butter" when they ask what it is? If I ask for water, and you bring me lemonade--the fact that it's MOSTLY water doesn't mean you can tell me "water" when I ask what is this thing with lemons floating in it? Just as an analogy.
8. The manager wanted us to have a good experience when we returned. So I mentioned to the hostess on our way in, that the GM had asked me to let him know when I came in. It was his day off, and the hostess basically just mumbled that at me and proceeded to not pay any attention (CLEARLY) to making sure the service was good for that table. A hostess/host is part of a team, and it's the whole team's responsibility to work together to achieve great service. The manager, dedicated as he clearly is, cannot achieve this without the support of a good team. As a hostess, your job is more than just to look pretty when someone walks in the door. You're supposed to give a damn--that IS part of your job.
9. I shouldn't have to have my meal personally supervised by the manager in order for it to be a decent meal. I've given it three tries now, and although I do believe that if the GM were there and knew it was me, I'd have had a better experience--that isn't good enough. I want to be able to walk into a restaurant and have a decent meal with decent service, without having to go out of my way to let the manager know I'm coming.
10. In summary--you know what costs more than air conditioning, more than raspberries, more than decent english muffins, and more than quality hostesses? Losing a bunch of customers because your restaurant isn't very good. Honestly, the manager seems like a dedicated guy. I wish him luck with this situation, because short of Gordon Ramsay coming in with a camera crew and whipping the place into shape, I don't know what to suggest. I've given it three tries and I give up.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/11/2011
The service was slow, but the problem was clearly staffing/management rather than poor… Read more »
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Review from Chris J.
Cambridge, MA
10/21/2011
This is a trendy spot in Harvard Square that serves up strong drinks and tasty, simple dishes. For a long time, I wasn't too pleased with Grafton Street because I thought the quality had really declined. I think they just had a bad spell. As of this writing, the quality and service seem to be back up to high standards.
Food and service quality are fairly consistent. I've definitely had some "off nights" here but not with any regularity. The burgers are very good and they are good about not overcooking them. The fries aren't too greasy and are nicely seasoned. They have above-average steaks and fish. My wife frequently praises the salads for flavor and not being over-dressed.
The drinks are mixed strong. I've got a hollow leg and a cast-iron stomach but I've been known to put a nipple on my bar glass and nurse these drinks. The drinks seem to come out fast even when the restaurant is busy. Wine selection is decent and is what you would expect for a casual restaurant.
I'm also pleased to report that the dessert menu has been greatly improved. The white chocolate cheesecake is superb - tell them to give you a little extra raspberry sauce. The chocolate cake and apple walnut cake are also very good.
The restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly. Service is typically quite good. Bathrooms are generally clean but things can get funky late at night when the hard drinkin' starts. The noise level can be quite loud but I've never had difficulty with conservation.
I would consider Grafton Street to be slightly inferior to its cousins Russell House Tavern and Temple Bar. That being said, it is still a fine place to dine or just get completely pissed. -
Review from Alexa C.
6/13/2011
The meal here I had while visiting Boston to watch the marathon was out of this world delicious!
I had the scallops with butternut squash, bacon and apples and also the flourless chocolate torte for dessert. I dream about this food and being able to go back here!
The chef was very versed on Gluten Free dining practices as well.
Enjoy! -
Review from Marko M.
4/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a very popular place to go for lunch while you are visiting the Harvard / MIT area. It's a cute little pub that reminds you of the Cheers episodes on TV. People are friendly and work very hard here.
I give the service here 4.5 stars. I give the food here 3.5 stars. I had the cheese salad (sorry, can't remember the name) here and it was made nicely with candied nuts (walnuts?), glazed and carmalized onions and was served with a chunk of cheese.
The thing that I liked about this place was that they didn't try to rush you out of your table. I was in a business meeting and they respected our time. -
Review from Richard C.
Boston, MA
6/11/2011
Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. It can be easy to forgive a few things; a slightly over-cooked burger, a less than perfect bun or a mediocre pickle, as long as the complete package works in the end. The reality is that it's all about the flavor; bonus points for complete execution and a few carefully crafted "cheffy" tricks here and there. But to be solid, all you really need to is season up some beef, melt some cheese and call it a day. But the Grafton Street burger can't do it, it's simple, but to a fault. As Harold from Best Damn Buger and I soon discovered, the beef has little flavor and is way beyond the specified medium-rare. But it's one of those burgers that probably would have been underwhelming either way, there just isn't much character or personality in this burger. And as we all, know personality goes a long way.
The additions of aged Vermont Cheddar and sweet onion relish should be welcoming, but instead I have to send out a search party because I just don't taste them anywhere. Individually, the flavor is there for these condiments (is cheese a condiment?) but the only flavors as a whole are charred, over-cooked beef. The fries are actually spot-on, crispy and salty, if not slightly cooler than I'd prefer. In many regards it's a very typical burger; not properly cooked, not seasoned aggressively enough and overall plain and boring. It's $11 which is all well and dandy, but completely forgettable in every sense of the word. -
Review from Anushri M.
Hermosa Beach, CA
4/8/2011
I go to Grafton pretty frequently (as you might have gathered from my posts), but I try to order something different and go on different nights of the week. Grafton has always been the restaurant that has waitresses and hostesses that I am concerned are hotter than me. That being said, I keep going back. Why you ask? Well, primarily because of the food and the convenient location.
I went last Sunday night and had a hamburger. Shocker for those who know me, but I was in the mood to do something a little crazy - call it a Lent indulgence. The burger is easily the best value for your buck on the menu. It's only 12 bucks, but it's a standard size burger and you get a choice of fries or a salad. If you're getting a burger, you're clearly splurging - so you should double down and get the fries. My date ordered the tuna tartare appetizer which looked both delicious and filling.
For the price of $12, you can easily make it an appetizer.
I haven't discerned way some tables get bread and others do not. The people to our right had bread, yet we were never offered. It's kind of annoying and the type of thing that can sour you on an experience because you start wondering if you're being treated unfairly.
The service was surprisingly not that great. Normally, whenever I go the people are friendly, helpful, and offer you bread. I guess don't go to Grafton on Sundays. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Berkeley, CA
11/13/2011
Walking in, this place is packed and my friend had to make reservations, so my expectations were pretty high. However, the long wait was probably due to the fact this place is conveniently right next to the college and T-stop, not for the food. I had the toasted chickpea burger, which maybe I struck bad luck but it was not the best thing on the menu. I felt like I had a frozen chickpea burger patty on top of some microwaved naan. The prices are great for the serving size, but it seems to tailor to students...decent food for a low price.
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Review from Clare F.
6/10/2011
Grafton Street is my go-to Harvard Square spot if we cannot decide where to go. I consistently get good service and good food, as do the rest of the members of my party (whoever they may be). I've tried the lobster mac, chickpea burger, truffle rosemary fries, scallops, a veggie pizza, and butternut squash ravioli, and have loved every single dish.
Staff are friendly and accommodating. I have gone with a specific group several times and they have no problem doing separate checks.
Having worked in retail in the square for 3.5 years, its also a good place to recommend (other than Bartley's, which often has a line.) I've had several customers return after dinner to thank us for the recommendation.
Yes, prices are a little higher than the average bar/restaurant, but Harvard Square is PRIME real estate, everyone needs to pay rent. Prices are on par with similar styles of restaurant in the area.
DEFINITELY recommend. -
Review from Jessie Z.
4/22/2011
Menu has been MUCH MUCH improved! This is a great spot in the summer, sit in the open window and watch the people march by. Fondue was great - but honestly anything with goat cheese in it i love instantly.
Crabcake was also lovely. -
Review from Jessica M.
Newton, MA
12/21/2011
I love this restaurant. From the ambiance to the food and drink selection, this place is a go to on weekends. From the outside, Grafton Street appears to be an upscale joint that one might feel uncomfortable entering in jeans and a sweater. However, once you enter you are greeted by the down-to-earth, friendly staff and the reasonably priced menu. My favorite thing not the menu, by far, would be the chick pea burger in grilled naan bread with cucumber yogurt sauce. It is quite literally to die for and I would go back for just this burger time and time again.
