Henrietta's Table — Restaurant in Cambridge

Totally overrated for poor, snobby service. I am far from a restaurant connoisseur but had heard great things about Henrietta's Table and figured that such an elegant place in Harvard Square would provide a nice backdrop for a small family cake-cutting ceremony for my little sister's 20th birthday. I was making a surprise trip up just for the occasion and had made a reservation for a Sunday four days ahead of time and called to request a chocolate dessert and small candle. The staff on the phone happily obliged. On the morning of my sister's birthday, I called back again to confirm, and confirmed again at the front desk when I arrived. They even promised a serenade! When we arrived, they seated my family and then the waitress informed us that table seating was only for folks doing the Sunday brunch buffet. Funny that when I made a reservation for a Sunday, the past four people had failed to mention this.

I figured the staff would rectify their oversight by obliging to give us a small pastry and candle at the table (since there were plenty of empty tables available), but they actually took our table away from us and asked us to sit outside of the restaurant at a small cafe/bar area. The mistake here was mine, because at this point we should have just left Henrietta's.

When I went to the counter to order a small dessert, I was told that desserts couldn't be served before 3:00pm. Strange?! I had a train back to New York at 4:00, so I then CHANGED MY TRAIN RESERVATION so that I could sit with my sister as she blew out the candle they eventually brought. I must add that the manager added a small chocolate pastry with compliments from the chef which was a nice touch but felt like too little too late.

My recommendation would be that an establishment located somewhere as "classy" as the Charles Hotel should be a bit more flexible in meeting the needs of their guests, and a bit clearer about their arbitrary Sunday brunch policy over the phone. It's just good...

A big room, but with soft lighting and recessed ceilings, so neither noise nor panoramic dining room views detract from what's on your plate. And what's on your plate is very good indeed.

If you subscribe to the theory that the way to a restaurant's recipes is through its bread basket (alright, not always put that way), then after plucking out the preprandial goodies, you'll rightly be confident of stellar plates to follow. In fact one of the delectable little rectangles actually had a little bit of a wine flavor, perhaps a nod toward the fermentation process both consumables share.

If you didn't know going in, Henrietta's Table subscribes as closely to the farm-to-table ethic as can be. Naturally, in mid-winter this is problematic in New England, but the superstar soup on the menu employs crab from the cold waters just beyond combined with corn and lumpy potatoes to make an excellent, comforting crock of chowder.

The entrees also lean heavily toward fish and a simple baked scrod filet, with a spare but flavorful crust of big breadcrumbs, was cooked to perfection and obviously of the utmost freshness. The sides are all a la carte and substantial. Four brussel sprouts were stout enough to leave very little room on a side plate. Their cabbage-y interior had just the right amount of rawness to protect the integrity of this fiber powerhouse. But use the salt shaker. These dishes allow you to make the adjustments to your palate, rather than imposing the chef's preferences on you. So give the lemon a squeeze or two over the scrod, and by all means, don't let that parsley sprig go to waste.

The servers are always there at the ready, should you need a refill of a beverage or simply when you've decided to get on with your evening. Very efficient and...

I was quite surprised with how good was here at this point dining restaurant in Boston. The staff were extremely accommodating in seating our large group, and we were appropriately waited on in a reasonable time. We started out with some sides of their roasted cauliflower and asparagus. The roasted cauliflower is incredible - beautifully charred and infused with great flavors. The asparagus was roasted and infused with a lemon butter and shepherd’s cheese from Vermont.

The bread that they serve is awesome album. They provide three different types of bread, sourdough, one with Craisins, and the wheat bread. All of them are freshly baked and sliced. Served with butter, it’s the perfect starter to a meal.

For the main courses, I got to try their grain bowl with tofu, their veggie burger, and their Yankee pot roast.

The grain bowl was filled with warm grains, roasted veggies, toasted pistachios, arugula, and all topped with crispy tofu and a warm vinaigrette.

The veggie burger was incredible, with the buns being grilled with butter. They put a generous amount of avocado and a spicy mayo on top.

The pot roast was my favorite. The beef was incredibly tender and covered with a sweet and savory gravy. It was all laid on top of beautifully mashed and buttery potatoes. They also provide some soft, grilled carrots on top for color and flavor.

Do note that this restaurant includes a 20% gratuity charge already in the bill, and they do bring out your final bill with another spot for additional tip. I would suggest that they inform the diners that tip has already been included so that people aren’t unknowingly...