Veggie Grill - Harvard — Restaurant in Cambridge

GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS NOT GLUTEN-FREE

I came to this location on 6/5/24.

I was very excited to be visiting this restaurant in Cambridge. I am vegan and have a gluten allergy and saw on the menu that many items were denoted gluten-free so I was very happy that there would be food for me to eat. (I had also not eaten all day so I was extra excited.) I went up to the counter to order and while ordering was told (in a very rude/smug way) by the people working the register that everything that is noted as gluten free is not actually gluten free but “gluten friendly” and not safe for an allergy and they would not recommend for anyone who actually eats gluten free to eat at their restaurant. Either the menu needs to be changed to say “gluten friendly” or a kitchen process needs to be changed so the gluten free options are actually gluten free and there is no cross contamination. I do appreciate that they let me know so I didn’t get glutened but I shouldn’t have found out while ordering - it should have been clearer (and that’s on Veggie Grill).

The staff at this location were also rude, unhelpful, and didn’t offer any suggestions. They honestly didn’t care and were not kind at all. I hope management changes the menu to be clearer so people that do have a gluten allergy are able to either eat safety or don’t come with their hopes up only to not be able to eat not anything. They should also train their staff on some basic customer service/kindness. (They didn’t even apologize - which I feel like is just like basic customer service.) Maybe other staff members are great and the ones that were working the register were just the bottom of the barrel but I am honestly shocked with how I was treated.

Luckily, I don’t live in Cambridge so I won’t run into this issue again but I want to flag this for future gluten-free travelers (and honestly anyone who may come into this seemingly...

First of all I miss their old menu...I’ve been eating veggie grill for the last 6+ years when I lived in SoCal, then NY, and now when I have an excuse to drive into Boston. I ALWAYS get the kale Caesar salad and add Buffalo chicken. They changed this salad maybe a year or 2 ago and it was still good but now it doesn’t exist anymore - no more tempeh bacon?! It was so good though!!! Fairly saddened by this, I ordered the new Reuben sandwich. It was good but kinda greasy.

Service complaint: I also ordered nachos and my date ordered Mac and cheese (his fave VG dish) and side of 3 bean chili. After 15+ minutes waiting for our food to go, I was asked if it was ok if I wait another few minutes for the 3 bean chili side. After some pressing, it was disclosed that “another few minutes” = about 10 minutes which is not okay because 1. All other food had been sitting for some time already and was bound to be cold and 2. How could they ask me to wait another 10 minutes for something that was used to prep the nachos in my order? How did they not realize this was going to be a problem with my order when they prepped the nachos 15 minutes ago? My date ordered another side of Mac and cheese instead and I was given a coupon to use for my next order that was put in the to go bag and was obviously thrown away before we remembered it was in there. And yes, my nachos were cold. Womp womp.

One more gripe: I needed to use the restroom while I waited for our food and as I went to the door, noticed I needed a code while 2 dudes lined up behind me. I excused myself to walk to the counter to get the code from the associate who shouted it loudly enough that the dudes seized the opportunity to use the code first, cutting me off from using the bathroom...

Truly the best restaurant in Harvard Square—bar none. I’ve been frequenting this place for three years, and I am never ceased to be amazed by the quality of food and service. Manny, the manager, is one of the kindest, most generous individuals that I have ever met. He has cleaned up a mess that I made after spilling a drink (a drink that he gave me free of charge by the way). Afterward, he offered me another drink along with a dessert. Employees have greeted and bid me goodbye with a level of warmth that can stop you in your tracks; it is the kind of feeling that you get when you know that someone is extending genuine care in your direction. I could go on about the level of care and attention and hospitality that the employees of Veggie Grill have given me, but I am constrained by time, and the potential risk of sounding overly laudatory (though in this case, the praise is deserved).

To boot, the food is very delicious and entirely plant-based. Also, Harvard students take note: You get 20% off with EVERY ORDER (so long as you show your ID).

I know the praise may seem effusive, and some may question whether I’ve been goaded into posting this review or, at the very least, paid off to do it. I haven’t. I just love amazing food paired with amazing service, and that is what you’ll get here. I only regret waiting three years to post this!!!

Oh and before I forget: Great casual and relaxed study atmosphere (with free wi-fi) for those who want to be a little closer to...