The Longfellow Bar — Restaurant in Cambridge

Updates: We went back a second time two weeks later as we were craving for more creative cocktails. This time I had the Code of Silence (W/ Cyndi Lauper) - It’s vodka with meyer lemon and sage oil. This was my 2nd drink I had the first time when we came. He had the Running on Ice - Mezcal, Grapefruit & Cardamom with a Salted Finish. The devil eggs and tuna crudo tostada were decadent and delicious! Try them if you haven’t!

One of my to-go-cocktail bars to check! So glad we came and tried it out! Alden & Harlow did a GOOD JOB!!! We love the cocktails and food here. I think this is my #1 cocktails place in Boston now. I tried two girly cocktails - Bee’s Knees & ForgotMySecond drink but it’s YUMMY!!!! For food, we tried eggplant & white bean dip, hickory smoked wing flats & tuna crudo tostada. The eggplant & white bean dip and tuna crudo tostada are on the lighter side. The hickory smoked wing flats are delish with the blue cheese dip and pickled celery. Everything we tried from cocktails to food are two thumbs up, esp the cocktails. Tried to seat at the 2nd level bar area, quieter and better lighting for food and drinks. For parking, they validate University Place Garage for $10. So.... what ya waiting for! Check it out...

Headline: Seriously overcooked burgers and apparent indifference from staff and kitchen.

This is a lovely space and atmosphere. Drinks were fine. Server was mostly fine at first. Three of us ordered the Alden burgers. Two of us shared the Brussel sprouts as a side. The burgers were all ordered medium rare. Mine came well done (dried out and gray- brown everywhere), another came medium well, and the third looked to be medium. When the server came by I showed him my burger noting that it wasn't medium rare, but well done. My friend with the other seriously over-cooked burger also chimed in. Without apology, the server said he would let the kitchen know. He made no offer to replace the burgers or to do anything about them. I waited for the server to return, eventually gave up, and just ate the burger - it seemed nicely constructed, but the overcooked meat ruined it. The server never followed up with us about the burgers. Nothing on the bill reflected the problem. I still left a solid tip, even if I had mixed...

A standout choice for cocktail lovers in Cambridge. The upstairs and bar-centric sister of Alden and Harlow, Longfellow Bar has two floors of seating (the upstairs is especially beautiful, and even has a small patio for standing), tasty small plates (if pricey, but consistent for the restaurant group), and a serious cocktail program.

Their featured drinks change seasonally and are creative and beguiling, rewarding the cocktail nerd but also pleasing the more common drinker. They typically have a cocktail on tap, and seem to always have a clever mezcal drink or two. They also have a section of bartender favorites that are less “out there” but still sport an in-house take. They typically also have some non-alc cocktails. Be warned, the beer is ALL cans here, and pricier than it needs to be. For food, I often get the burger or fries to share - it’s all good if a little expensive as I said, but I mainly come here...