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Mark sure you check out Alden and Harlow in Harvard Square. The basement restaurant is a mainstay favourite for locals and the special burger is simpl…
Global Foodie
Alden & Harlow
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Present on several Best New Restaurant lists both local and nationwide, Cambridges Alden & Harlow was selected for Saturday brunch largely based on a …
Michael U.
Alden & Harlow
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My favorite restaurant in the square! I think they have the best burger in Boston, and I'm a huge fan of their weekend brunch. Love the bacon, pain Pe…
Confessions Of A Chocoholic
Alden & Harlow
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Alden & Harlow serves American. Incorrect or missing information? Make a report, or claim the restaurant if you own it!Details
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7 Reviews on “Alden & Harlow”
Mark sure you check out Alden and Harlow in Harvard Square. The basement restaurant is a mainstay favourite for locals and the special burger is simply awesome!
Present on several Best New Restaurant lists both local and nationwide, Cambridges Alden & Harlow was selected for Saturday brunch largely based on a menu that seems to fly in the face of conformity almost for the sake of proving that the New American movement need not be so stagnant, the concept at times hitting a homerun by way of experimentation while other compositions seem to be trying too hard to be creative.Located at 40 Brattle Street, an underground space that expands much further than one would guess from the exterior, Alden & Harlow opened in 2014 and under the toque of Chef Michael Scelfo has gained critical acclaim almost from the beginning by taking a modern approach to locally sourced ingredients while also featuring one of the most innovated Bar programs in the area by barrel aging several options while also offering a good mix of novelties as well as the classics.Best described as shabby chic in design, several odd references to Drugs perhaps lost on those unfamiliar with the area or space, it was just after the 10:30am opening that seats were offered at a far back banquet, the music overhead taking the now-trendy route of channeling classics from the 50s and 60s while the menu presented was anything but expected, the five items ordered all delivered almost simultaneously in a matter of moments.Locally sourcing as much as possible, Coffee from Gracenote refilled repeatedly by a server who was not particularly in-tune with the menu, though efficient and pleasant enough, dining at Alden & Harlow began with fluffy Cornmeal Pancakes lightly tinged in acid and Buttermilk atop a lightly sweetened Cream plus Strawberries, the follow-up Buckle taking a similar route in terms of flavor profile as bursting Berries densely pocketed piping-hot cast iron with a stiff dollop of Crme Fraiche slowly melting down into a buttery Streusel top.Intentionally veering sweet, though savory selections also beckon, further tastes entailed a crisp yet flexible curl of Cinnamon Brioche sitting in a pool of caramelized Butter beneath a mountain of Maple Icing, the Pain Perdu unfortunately falling short in the flavor department by eschewing any sort of sweetness in the custard while Hickory smoked Pigs Tails actually proved to be the highlight of the morning with the shredded meat fully imbuing the grits with smoke and sweetness and a stick-to-the-ribs richness fortified by the poached Egg. endoedibles.com
My favorite restaurant in the square! I think they have the best burger in Boston, and I’m a huge fan of their weekend brunch. Love the bacon, pain Perdue (French toast), and the bruleed fruits. Awesome cocktails too. confessionsofachocoholic.com
The scallops were very fresh and light. The duck flavour packed a punch. The clams were buttery and garlicky but a bit too salty. Would have been good to have a pasta dish or something to mop that up. The rabbit was subtle but a bit lost due to it being deep fried but does go well with the fennel dressing.
After seeing all the positivity pouring in for this place, I needed to pay these guys a visit. On a Friday, there were no open reservations until 9:45 PM, so we just showed up at 8:30 and were seated about 15 minutes later. Sweet!Truthfully, this place was a bit difficult to find since it is in the lower level of the building and there isn’t yet a permanent sign. But once you do find it – wow. The space is impressive and much larger than you would expect. And full to the brim with happy people. The decor is simple with a contemporary flair, and I especially enjoyed the open kitchen.During our wait, we squeezed ourselves over to the bar, and they offer a great variety of libations. The Hot Tiger’s Milk caught my attention right away, and it tasted like all the things you would want in a winter drink – milky, sweet, ideal blend of spices like cinnamon and orange. It’s one of those drinks your mom would make you on a snow day. Plus rum.Once seated, the waitress explains that the restaurant’s dishes are primarily small plates made for sharing and that typically they recommend 2-3 plates per person. In my experience, tapas places always recommend to order more than I can eat, so we just pick 3 to start out with and we’ll assess our hunger (and wallets) as we go.Instead of bread, we are served some cold, pickled green beans with sesame seeds. Although I wouldn’t order or crave this dish, it was unexpected and served as a nice palate cleanser without being filling, showing that their focus is on taste and experience. Cool, guys.Next up was the Ubiquitous Kale Salad, which was a slam dunk. Amazing texture! Leafy, crunchy. And that dressing! Creamy, nutty. Gotta love pistachios, amirite?Then comes the beef neck, which was a much smaller portion than we were expecting, but presented absolutely beautifully atop a parsnip puree and adorned with tiny purple flowers (yep, flowers are in our food). The meat is so tender you can easily cut it with the fork, and the flavor was nice. Beefy. The crisp parsnips on top provided a nice balance. Overall a solid dish, but I wouldn’t necessarily get it again, especially considering the price relative to portion size.Last up were the corn pancakes. This was also something to look at, as they’re served with popcorn kernels and jalapenos. The cakes themselves were both savory and sweet, with a nice little kick from the peppers, although I would have liked some more spice. Again, an interesting concept which I’m glad I tried, but it didn’t blow me away.After the three dishes and two drinks, we were pretty full! So I recommend starting out with 1-2 plates each and then going from there instead of ordering a bunch all in one go. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here and am interested in exploring the menu further. The Hot Tiger’s Milk and Kale Salad alone are worth coming back for.
I have to come here every time I visit Boston. Food and service are always on point. The stone fruit plate and charred broccoli kicked a$$.
This is one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in a while. The waitstaff is on point and attentive, and the food is amazing. I thought for tapas it was a bit pricey, but the portions are entree portions and you can split about 2 plates per person (and maybe a snack or two if you can fit it, it’s all just so good it’s hard to decide which.) My FAVE is the fava beans. If anyone is visiting Boston/Cambridge definitely take them here!