Source Restaurants — Restaurant in Cambridge

We went for their 3 course dinner for Me & You Mondays after I came across a tiktok and thought not bad for $26. It’s something relatively new that they started according to the server.

I’ll talk about the food before I get to the service….

My boyfriend and I split our 3 courses. Course 1: Whipped ricotta (10/10) Chopped Salad (9/10). Loved both! The whipped ricotta is a must. The bread is fresh and the fig&honey with the ricotta is just scrumptious.

Course 2: Margherita pizza (6/10) and Tagliatelle Primavera (9/10). The tagliatelle is spicy which our server warned us when asked and she was definitely right. If you like a kick to your pasta, this was very good. Not a super big portion but would get it again. The pizza on the other hand I was extremely disappointed by especially hearing from people that their pizza is good. It tasted like it was tomato paste on the pizza… wouldn’t recommend.

Course 3: Mango passion fruit cheesecake (6/10) and Tiramisu (2/10). The desserts are definitely not a highlight. I’ve had a good amount of tiramisu in my life and this ranks quite low on the list considering it tasted like just cream. The cheesecake was alright especially compared to the tiramisu.

The food overall, 8/10. Lost points due to the lack luster dessert. If I were to come again, I don’t think I would do the courses as I could get an appetizer and entree for a similar price since the dessert was not worth it.

What disappointed me the most was the service. It was a busy day and I think they weren’t prepared for the crowd that this promotion would give them (considering it’s fairly new). When we got seated outside (didn’t make a reservation), we didn’t get water until 10 minutes in. Our appetizers took a “normal” amount of time to get to us, as did the mains. However after we finished our main course, we asked for a water refill and didn’t get one for 30 minutes! We didn’t even see our waiter for a good duration of time to ask her. It also took our dessert 30 minutes to come out too (after they cleared our plates) which is quite a long time considering the dessert was probably prepared ahead of time. I eventually had to ask another waiter to get our water that was just a jug outside (I could have gotten up and filled it myself…) I had to go inside and ask our server for the check just to ensure we weren’t waiting another 20 minutes. It was pretty cold and they didn’t have heat lamps, only a few blankets that were all used up. Our server informed at the end that they were short staffed which I totally understand, it just would have been nice to know that at the beginning. Know that 20% gratuity is automatically added due to it being prefix.

After course 1, we said we would want to come back especially if they rotate the prefix menu but after the service given, I’m not so sure about that. Just be prepared to eat for 20 minutes and be waiting...

My boyfriend and I have been to Source about once a month for years now and love the place for several reasons:

The staff alone are wonderful, hilarious, personable, attentive…I could go on. The ambiance is completely our style. We’re the type to enjoy reading a book while Outcast is bumpin in the background. Not for everyone, but it’s definitely for us :) We love a little treat every once in a while and Source definitely satiates that craving. The cocktails (and mocktails) are so goooooood. I haven’t tried them all, but am excited for every menu change as they come up with such interesting mixes I wouldn’t have otherwise tried/thought of on my own. My boyfriend is also super into their rotating beer menu if that’s for you! Their food is to die for! We just recently tried the burrata and though the portion size is small, burrata is super filling on its own so it was a perfect pairing with an entree. The burrata is also incredible, absolutely try that, the combo of honey comb and agrodolce - sooooo good.

Some tips/recommendations having dined here many times:

We usually reserve a couple days in advance to get a seat where we want as we do at any restaurant in busy areas of the city (highly recommend as they can get packed at random). Get extra mozza on the margherita pizza, you won’t regret it. Ask questions! This is basically a gastropub guys! This isn’t just a pizza place, it’s an experience and that experience can differ greatly from regular sit down restaurants or those found further away from the city. As a result, larger parties are difficult to accommodate sometimes, prices are higher due to the increased quality of food, and wait times can wax and wane due to an array of reasons small businesses experience. Try to give some grace to servers and other associates. We’ve been lucky enough to have great experiences with every person that works there since our first visit, but I’ve been to places nearby and throughout Cambridge with not so great experiences. With any restaurant, I recommend giving one more try after a bad experience before giving up. Most times, I feel as though they’ve redeemed themselves by the second visit and if they haven’t, that place isn’t for me and my circumstances and that’s okay.

Cons: They don’t play enough Def Leppard, just my...

I highly recommend Source Restaurant to anyone living or visiting the Cambridge & Boston area, it has been a great addition to the neighborhood called Harvard Square. My wife and I visit several times a month, with this spot being our GO-TO when friends and family are in town.

Food/Service/Ambiance

The food is simply delicious! The majority of each Seaons' menu is "Sourced" local to ensure the best and freshest ingredients. For the neighborhood, the food is reasonably priced and I would argue the best bang for your buck in the Square by far.

Our Favorites are the Source Chopped, (I know, a salad, but trust me it's worth it), the Rigatoni and Tagliatelle if you like Pasta. Personally, I am generally not into anything Pasta but once I tried these I can't go back.

I'd consider most the plates on the menu shareables so make sure you order a few for a party of two.

The Pizza is fantastic too. My favorite is the New York Style version of all the pizzas, just a preference, but the house Napolitano pizza's are off the charts and the most popular. With the Napolitanos, I'd recommend ordering at least 1 per person for a party of two, or 3-4+ pies with anything 3+ ppl. The Pepperoni is so unique and different you need to experience it.

Drink Menu has plenty of local beers, a nice selection of wines, and a seasonal cocktail menu that changes often with the fresh ingredients. Pretty amazing.

Service: the Staff is TOP notch. The servers are very attentive, friendly, and if you are lucky enough to sit at the Bar ask for Ashley, she will whip you up a beautiful craft cocktail and if you want something off Menu she will be happy to recommend something delish!

Ambiance: the vibe at this gem is on point. Awesome space, the background music is full of hits and trendy tunes, always the right volume and never too loud that it drowns out conversation.

The one thing that most places really screw up bad is lighting, not Source, the lighting is always dimmed to the perfect mood setting experience depending on time of day. Rest assured, you won't feel like you are in a stadium like some places in the area.

Don't take my word for it - get in and try...