Area Four — Restaurant in Cambridge

Pros: Food that could taste fantastic if more care was taken, nice location, interior looks nice

Cons: Terrible waiter, mice, food that could taste fantastic if more care was taken, too pricey considering everything

We had tried a few pizza places in the area and finally got to Area Four, a place I had read good reviews about. I often passed by thinking it was a nice place, but never stopped in before this.

The host who greeted us was very friendly and she attended to us immediately. We were sat outside as it was crowded indoors and it was a nice night. Our experience up to this point was very pleasant. The table we were at was relatively close to a trash can. And with it, came the mice. The mice darted back and forth from our table to the trash. After a few times of us stomping our feet to scare the mice away, they finally left.

Unlike the host, the server who took care of us had no intention of making our dining experience great. He did not greet us, he did not state his name, he did not respond to any "thank yous". The only time he said anything was when he took our orders. He definitely had a thick accent, so I'm wondering if it was a cultural difference kind of thing?

The food arrived rather quickly and we were happy. At the core, the food tasted good and that's why I did not give this place a 1 star. However, it all seemed like a rushed job with lack of attention to detail. We had ordered pre-made pizzas and did not customize. Therefore, i would expect that these pizzas would be safe or their creation mastered by the cooks. 1 pizza came with a goopy, soft, undercooked center. The other, which came with clams, was full of shells and gravel, making the eating experience awful.

The pizza is definitely premium, and for that I am fine with the higher cost. But with all of the issues facing this place, the amount you are paying for their pizza is far too expensive.

All in all, I think the food could be good. But they need to take more care in cooking it. That being said, this was most likely my last time at...

Area Four is number 1 in the illustrious Technology hub found in quaint Cambridge, MA.

Great little eatery that has a fairly trim menu, which allows them to focus on quality & flavor. Some attractive small plates, wood fired pizza, & assorted entrees adorn the list of offerings.

Of course, they have a small, but nice selection of craft beer that pair nicely with your favorite plate.

I was fortunate to be in town for business for a few days, down by Kendal Square recently & decided I need a pizza fix. When I Googled the local area a few places made my short list, but after further discussion with a colleague, my attention was drawn to Area Four.

During me initial visit I found the atmosphere to be bustling, but comfortable during the mid week dinner rush. Flying solo, I opted to sit at the bar & get acquainted with the tap offerings. My first selection was Rhode Island’s Proclamation IPA. Very familiar with the West Kingstown microbrewery start up, I was immediately pleased to find some local flavor.

For dinner, the wood fired pizza was an obvious choice. Being a fan of anchovies, I set my sights on the small White Anchovy pizza for $16.00. Aside from the San Marzano tomato based sauce & Mozzarella cheese, the pizza was adorned with the requisite anchovies, green olives, capers, pecorino, & parsley.

A lover of anchovies would appreciate this pizza, but folks who only mildly appreciate anchovies, would probably find this selection a bit offensive. I myself love anchovies, & appreciated the salty pungent attitude that this pizza delivers. The crust was just as expected of a wood fired pizza. Chewy with a nice char & very complimentary to the fresh house made sauce. A wonderful delivery receptacle for a great selection of toppings.

The small pizza at $16.00, was an average sized pizza & perfect for one hungry fella or two picky folks who wish to supplement their drinking endeavors with a tasty bite.

Overall, I was very pleased with Area Four & have gone on to recommend. I know I’ll back when opportunity...

A lot of thought and creativity was put into the design of the architecture, aesthetic, and menu options, providing a variety of selections where the topping compliment each other nicely. However, their pizza is made to be mass produced. I have tried their White Anchovy, Hawaiin, Margherita, and some mushroom pizzas. All shared similar characteristics: a sauce that did not stand out, and a crust that stood out in the wrong way. Unfortunately, these are the two characters of a pizza that define my whole experience, with cheese and toppings weighing second. Even with the margherita pizza, the sauce lacked the punch I was looking for from a traditional San Marzano tomato red sauce. Despite the sauce being a defining feature of the Margherita, it turned out lackluster. Although most disappointing in the Margherita, the same can be said about the others. What more can say about the crust other than the fact that it's flatbread? Arguably one of the worst types of crust but has somehow maintained its position as one of the most popular ways to make a bougie American pizza. I will let you decide your opinions on how a flatbread crust defines your pizza experience as it is up to personal preference in what you're looking for in a pizza. But for sure the definitive star of the show is how the flavors of the toppings and cheese blend together, and I believe it achieves this quite nicely. All four types of pizza all tasted very differently, and this wouldn't be possible with a powerful crust and sauce so I will give it that. Overall, I will say that I am disappointed in the lack of texture and flavor to some parts of the pizza where the sauce is made and spread mechanically, but a lot of thought was put into the top of the pizza to provide a somewhat delightful response. The atmosphere and customer service are both above average for a nice bougie evening with your friends...