Middle East Restaurant and Club — Restaurant in Cambridge

I'm 16, and I came here yesterday with my mother to see the archers and a few other bands. Besides the extremely cool niche 2000s atmosphere and the whole scene of the place, our night had a few things that completely offset the rating I would give this club. The sound system is very poor quality, one of the worst I've heard. As I'm saying that though, I do understand some places don't have access to better electronics- but give an amazing experience of which people ask AND pay for. Second thing, I myself came into a very rude encounter with a security guard. I was getting very very tired in the pit, so I decided to leave my mother by her self in there for the last few songs, get some water and sit down. I grab my free water (which was most definitely tap water, but that's not really a big deal.) and go to sit down at a set of small stairs, not thinking much of it. Not many people are around me and I tried to not be in any way at all. However, a guard had came up to me- which isn't normally an issue, if this encounter didn't end the way it did. He tells me I can't sit there, which is fair, as I understand the legality of it. Although, without going up a flight of stairs and walking more than I should, there's no more places to sit. I try and tell him that I have chronic feet pain, dizziness issues and I'm over all feeling very ill. (which, all of those things I WAS experiencing at that moment and did clearly state to him.) Without asking if I needed any medical attention, or any help for that matter, he looks me dead in the eyes with the most undisturbed and, lack of a better word, b*tchy voice, and tells me “then you can go sit in the restaurant upstairs.” I'm sorry, but that is so insanely rude. You guys NEED to hire someone who can actually do there job.

Once again, I do understand why I had to move, and I would have been at least a little better about this situation if it had been handled way...

THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR THE NIGHTCLUB

We were here today for a show. My son got in line at 8:30am to be first in line. Not only was he excited to be first, but he has joint problems and counts on leaning on the barricade to help his knee so he can stand during shows.

Doors open at 7pm. At around 6, ADA people come and get a separate line. With as many friends as they have with them (not just one person).

Then apparently if you dine at the restaurant you get to skip the line. So another 20 people got to go in before us. I have read this club’s website up and down and never did I see that. So you mean I could have slept in. Done the work I needed to and not sat on the sidewalk for over 11 hrs, had a little food and still gotten in before anyone? That’s insane.

After that (the line is wrapped around the block now, sold out show), two girls come up and ask where the line is. The bouncer feels bad sending them all the way to the end so lets them in with the skip the line crowd. When I say something, he says those are the last two …. We’re next.

Then after that the boy behind us has been asking the crew since 11:30am if there’s cost check. He came up from FL so has a backpack but also a guitar. Around 2pm someone finally confirmed there’s cost check. We get in, they tell him they have no such thing. Lucky for him I walked my kids in and then am waiting in the car for them so I held onto his things. But what if I hadn’t been there? No one cared.

I went inside. Venue looked fine. Guys in general were nice loading in all day. But I did get texts from my son that he’s having trouble with his knees already and is miserable. Needless to say we are selling our tickets for tomorrow night and tapping out.

As my friend says, it’s a good life lesson. You can be first. Work hardest. (Wait longest) And then people will still just walk in...

For the record, I never or barely ever make a review anywhere I go. But The Middle East, it's worth writing about as I never had a good experience here.

Don't get me wrong, the atmosphere (according to other user reviews) has improved since put up for sale and possibly sold to a new owner sometime between now and 2020 I believe. Food has probably gotten better too, but not dramatically, but honestly, I don't really think people come for the food... They come for the shows.

Now for the show, well the show I went to was absolutely amazing. I had a blast and met all the performers which leads me to meeting the main act...

For one, when I entered the bouncers were just flat out rude as I always experienced in previous shows. They didn't really give an answer to any of my questions and clearly did not want to be there. I understand you guys are underpaid and understaffed, but I am too and so is every venue in America is too. But also a majority of Americans are generally a lot nicer in their workplaces then these bouncers and staff in general. Anyways, I wanted to get an autograph from all the performers and that included the main act who were only meeting those who were vip. I didn't pay for vip but I was photographing for all acts and the main band was very very kind enough to let me QUICKLY get an autograph in the VIP line. So I did. And the staff clearly hated that I did although it quite frankly took 2 minutes lol.

I'm not coming back. I'm not recommending anyone to go to this venue. I'm going to be asked to email the owner most likely, but I'm not going to give them the graces. I'm very grateful for the band, I'll keep my head up, and yeah...