Dinner ideas for Saturday Night in Cambridge

[Kranepool]

Will be attending a show at the American Repertory Theater on Saturday night. Am hoping to get a nice meal in the neighborhood before the show. Ideas?

[Snowflake]

I would also add Casablanca

[ChinaCat]

We often go to Harvest before shows at the ART. It's very close by, and I think they offer a discount when you show your ART ticket stub (at least they used to). I like eating on the patio when the weather is nice.

[scratchie]

People are always raving about Tamarind Bay and Flat Patties around here... both of those are very close to ART (esp. the latter). There's another Indian restaurant whose name eludes me, almost next door to ART which was good the last time I ate there (many years ago), but that was a much more typical menu.

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Tamarind Bay
75 Winthrop St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Flat Patties
81 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[bella_sarda]

Not sure if these relatively casual places (Tamarind Bay and, even more so, Flat Patties) are what the OP has in mind by "nice meal." Also, I think Casablanca is really nothing special. Upstairs on the Square has great food---you have your choice of formal dining in the soiree room or less formal (but still quite classy and delicious) dining in the Monday Club bar. They take reservations.

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Flat Patties
81 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[scratchie]

Good point on Flat Patties. I think Tamarind Bay should qualify as a "nice meal" even if it's casual, if half of what I've read about it is true. The OP didn't say he/she wanted a 'fancy' meal necessarily.

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Tamarind Bay
75 Winthrop St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[justbeingpolite]

If you're coming in from Fresh Pond up Concord Ave., consider stopping at T.W. Food on Walden St.. Similar in style to Ten Tables, perhaps a little more low-key.

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T.W. Food
377A Walden St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[Kinopio]

I enjoyed Ten Tables but when I was there a couple months ago I had to wait 45 minutes past the time of my reservation for a table for 2, so if you have a show to catch make sure to make an early reservation. Russell House is a good idea and between the two floors Im sure you'll find a couple seats. Its my favorite place in the Square right now.

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Ten Tables
5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, MA 02138

[pemma]

Chez Henri is another possibility, just a bit outside the square. On the more casual side (but with very good food) is the new Russell House Tavern smack in the middle of the square.

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Chez Henri
1 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Russell House Tavern
14 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

[Small Plates]

Ten Tables at Craigie Circle is fantastic. It is a neighborhood boite in the lower level space once occupied by Craigie Street Bistro. The menu is seasonal, local ingredients prepared by Chef David Punch - some of the things I have enjoyed are tasting menu with housemade boar sausage, ricotta gnocchi, roast Gianonne chicken... the food is always thoughtful and flavorful...excellent service... nice wines. Not cheap, but mains are in the $20s.

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Ten Tables
5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, MA 02138