Urban Hearth — Restaurant in Cambridge

Finally, a Farm-to-Table that delivers.

I’ve been meaning to try this place for a while and last week, I finally made it. The restaurant is small and intimate, the kind of space where quiet details matter. We had initially booked a patio table, but the weather rerouted us indoors. Our reservation also got pushed back by an hour, but given how notoriously hard it is to snag a spot here, we weren’t about to protest.

The menu isn’t long, but that’s the point. It’s built around what’s fresh and in-season, all sourced from local farms. Chef Erin Miller, a protégé of Dan Barber, brings that same ethos of sustainability and agricultural precision to her own kitchen. And like many New England farm-to-table spots, it could’ve easily leaned into the overly earnest. But this one didn’t. The cooking was restrained and balanced. Easily one of the best meals I’ve had in Cambridge.

We opted for à la carte over the five-course tasting menu (which runs $160—steep, even by NY standards). As expected, the menu leaned heavily vegetarian, but the dishes didn’t feel like apologies for a lack of protein. There was no overcompensation via aggressive seasoning. Instead, each dish was seasoned just enough to let the main ingredient speak.

The Tandoori Roasted Carrot Brochette was our favorite from this category. The carrot itself lost its earthy sweetness, reduced mostly to texture. It felt like an intentional blank canvas for what followed. Fragrant, nutty, and tangy thanks to ramp toum, with a hit of umami anchoring everything. Then the knotweed granita added a lovely lift: a sweet and herbal burst that surfaced in a single bite.

Some of our other favorites were the Buttermilk biscuits and the Grey Sole with Fennel Marmalade. The biscuits were dense like a classic version but layered like a croissant. Thus more indulgent than rustic. The maple miso butter had a subtle bacon-like savoriness that added depth. The grey sole was definitely our favorite dish of the night. The sole was gently poached and rolled into a clean cylindrical form. Because the fish itself is so flaky and mild, the kitchen wisely kept things restrained. A quiet, elegant dish—especially refreshing after the intensity of the vegetable courses.

The Flat Iron Steak was good but didn’t quite justify its price tag. The koji marinade added a mild funk that resolved into umami, brightened by a ramp vinaigrette. Unfortunately, the steak itself was slightly overcooked and dry (understandable given how thin the cuts were, but still disappointing).

The menu shifts frequently, so aside from the biscuits, there’s not really an “iconic” dish. But if you’re into seasonal vegetables with subtle surprises, I recommend...

Last night, I finally tried Urban Hearth. It has been on my list of places to get to for a while, but it wasn't a place I wanted to try with my five-year-old, so I had to wait. The restaurant is tiny, 24 seats in total, with a little kitchen in the dining room. There are some additional seats outside too in good weather.

Our reservation was for 7:00 and it seemed like just about everyone sat down at the same time. All the empty tables and even some seats outside filled up at once, making for a slightly frantic start to the meal. I ordered a very nice Summer Boulevardier with bourbon, strawberry infused campari, and vermouth. I also got a bottle of French Chablis. It was Bastille Day after all!

The style is farm-to-table with shared plates, perfect for date night. We opted for five small plates, skipping over the larger ones. First to arrive were the Crispy Harissa Duck Wings which were falling off the bone like slow cooked ribs. They were intensely seasoned and served with addictive bread and butter pickles. I would have bought a jar to take home if offered one. Next came the scallops, which were so beautiful. They were garnished with a bacon agrodolce and bbq snow peas.

Next came my favorite dish of the evening, Smoked Bluefish Pâté served with grilled focaccia. This dish is worth the visit alone. I'm not one to sit out on Mass Ave, but I think I might go back and sit outside and just have the pâté and a glass of wine for dinner one night.

The last two dishes came roughly at the same time. First to arrive was an off menu special of squash blossoms stuffed with rice and goat cheese served over a fennel salad. One bite into it I was in heaven. The rich goat cheese and the fried blossom balanced with the acidic salad was perfect. A moment later the quail arrived. It was semi-boneless and halved, decadent with a bright green tomato sauce. Quail is one of my favorite meats and the preparation was outstanding.

There is a lot to like about Urban Hearth. The space is charming and the service is friendly. But the real reason to go is the food. Every dish was exceptional. Although the pâté was my favorite, I adored the squash blossoms almost as much. It still isn't the place I want to bring my kid, but hopefully we will find a way to get back. Maybe he can sit outside with me...

Glassware had bits stuck to it. We were not greeted when we walked in, despite having a reservation and the physical eatery being quite small. (A cook had to point us out to the hostess.) The glass of red wine I had was served ice cold. My dessert whiskey was ordered on the rocks and was served with crushed ice which made for a very watery beverage quite quickly. Every other dish on the menu contained nuts, so if you have an allergy, steer clear. We were seated outside because there wasn't room for our party of four indoors (fair, this is what our reservation stated in advance) which means we were treated to the traffic of a busy Mass ave, pedestrian and vehicular, and enjoyed a slatted bird-poop-coated table on which to balance our glassware and cutlery- we were seated at said table by way of metal benches so we had zero agency over even how close we sat to our table unless we negotiated with our fellow sitter. Our meal for four was about $100 per person. The almost $30 charcuterie board contained about 6 bites of cheeses. All this said, we enjoyed our meal. It was a leisurely 2 hour experience of strong flavors and varied textures. The teens really enjoyed sharing the plates (you're not supposed to order individual meals so as to free the kitchen to custom-send you singular platters throughout the evening instead of being asked to serve your entire table at once.) And it was fun to discuss the aspects of each dish and savor each bite. We will absolutely not return as such an experience is beyond our means usually and the details really did not come together for me in terms of service. (My husband used his napkin as a placemat to keep his cutlery from falling through the table slats onto the street beneath us- this is an ad hoc patio area set up in what was street parking on Mass Ave. The fruit fly diving in and out of my ice cold red wine really harmonized perfectly with the passing bus engines.) :/ I greatly admire and value food as art and think the whole menu was very well curated and executed. Maybe if they had made sure our glassware and table...