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Russell House Tavern

Gastropub$$$$

Harvard Square, Cambridge

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8.5^/10

974

ratings

Ranked #2 for seafood in Cambridge
The experts at Eater and Boston.com recommend this place
"Flatbread pizzas, rotating secret burgers, and oysters"(8 Tips)
"Great burger and tasty late night $1 oysters after 11pm."(11 Tips)
"Try the breakfast pizza, our favorite breakfast dish in Boston."(8 Tips)
"Steak tartare is the best I've ever had! Pomme frites are good, too."(6 Tips)

270 Tips and reviews

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good for dates
bar
sandwiches
trendy
meats
great value
casual
salads
eggs
cider
bone marrow
spicy food
off-menu items
outdoor seating
chartreuse
short ribs
pumpkin soup
bacon
dinner
margaritas
(15 more)

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Max ZhiltsovJanuary 5, 2015
It is awesome place to take a lunch or dinner. Delicious food and good serving, perfect service! Try pumpkin soup, Harvard Beet salad (it has an awesome pistachios sauce) and chicken sandwich!
LatifMarch 31, 2017
The best place that you can eat in Boston .. great food and service .. try the short ribs with spoon to dig and get bone marrow .. this place deserves all the good rating
Kazem EdmondDecember 30, 2016
Anything you order will be served with prociutto or other pork related things...And it'll be amazing. The pork 5 ways is excellent, but it's more like pork 4.5 ways. :-) Good beer and expert service!
Steph HillMarch 27, 2014
Loved everything from the friendly bartenders (Alex & Les) to the tasty food and cocktails. The pizzas are great for sharing and the cocktails and beer list is a lot of fun. High & Mighty was great.
T BAugust 8, 2016
In terms of food, the best of the Grafton Group restaurants. Quality selection of oysters ($1 after 11 pm). Friendly bartenders. The mushroom and leek pizza with truffle oil is out of this world.
Helen HuppuchDecember 15, 2013
Been here 50+ times
If you get the mussels, when they are brought over and you are asked if you would like anything else, ask for some extra bread because you'll want it to soak up the awesome sauce goodness at the end.
CassidyJanuary 9, 2015
the burger is my personal favorite (with double fried fries!!) but the chicken sandwich is also strong. $1 oysters (usually wellfleets) from 4 to 6 and after 11pm weekdays.
Seong HwangMay 21, 2014
Been here 10+ times
$1 oyster between 2-5pm as well as after 11pm! So good! I strongly recommend leek and mushroom pizza as well as fried oysters andnlobster slider.
Elaine CourtneyMarch 19, 2016
Brunch here is amazing. Breakfast pizza, anti-benedict, grilled chicken sandwich are all must-haves! Wash everything down with a pint of Rising Tide Ishmael and you'll be golden.
Jessica RacineApril 11, 2016
Both the brunch and drinks are amazing . Bartenders downstairs have the magic touch. A word to the wise not to order your steaks well done because they come extremely well done!
Lisa SaMay 12, 2017
Delicious fresh oysters, crab cakes and fantastic service. Highly recommend after your visit at Harvard
Lauren ChristopherJanuary 18, 2017
The seafood is amazing! Order the swordfish if it's in season. They also had an excellent drinks menu. I had a smoky scotch there that changed my world.
atusa aMay 12, 2013
The Benedict was really good. The torched banana with yogurt tastes good but is too small. Overall a great brunch spot. Very friendly staff and excellent service.
RachelMarch 6, 2018
Been here 10+ times
Very fresh and savory oysters. I especially love visiting here after 11pm during $1 oyster happy hour.
Boston.comJanuary 31, 2012
Bacon-infused bourbon, house bloody mix, crispy bacon. The bourbon combined with the spicy bloody mix leaves your mouth deliciously on fire, and the slice of bacon adds a yummy breakfast feel. Read more
KarenFebruary 5, 2016
Fantastic cocktails. Split the tuna tartar, cesaer salad, and clam pizza with my coworker and I can't decide what I liked best. Not a crumb left!!
Kate wOctober 18, 2014
Scallop pork belly, seared salmon, fried oyster, crab cake, and the best and unbeatable caesar salad ever!
Megan OutlyAugust 8, 2014
Came here for brunch & wasn't disappointed. Ordered an omelette w/ a side of potatoes (they're tossed in a roasted garlic mash)! On a nice day, sit outside/upstairs.. The basement is a little dreary.
RachelAugust 8, 2018
Been here 10+ times
They have 1 dollar oyster hours from 11pm every night and 4-5pm every day😍 The oysters here are very fresh. Their pizzas are awesome too!!
Nicole WilliamsMay 22, 2011
In Boston for 1 night. Dinner at the tavern was terrific! Had the toasted tuna, mashed potatoes, and the thyme roasted carrots - all were great. Loved the beers! But the creamy spinach- not so great.
Mark LoganDecember 16, 2015
Every item of food I've had is excellent. Just getting small plates and apps for the table works instead of entrees, too.
James DyeJuly 12, 2011
if this place looks packed check and see if there's seating downstairs. the bars get packed but if u want to eat it's a short wait. great burger. tried the bone marrow for the first time. fun place.
Wendy ApisdorfMarch 11, 2015
Great place & great burgers! I loved the house grass-fed burger. Awesome staff too. 👌👌👌
thoughtbotAugust 31, 2013
Smack in the middle of Harvard Square, this place inevitably feels like a smart Harvard student gastropub. The beer is good but the food is, too. Get the oysters and/or the burgers.
Juliet TaylorDecember 20, 2013
Been here 5+ times
One of my favorites. Great service, good beer list, and amazing food. Get the extra dirty Caesar (kale Caesar salad) or the burger !
Pratheeksha KSNovember 26, 2016
Fantastic cocktails. If you like gin and cacao try the 20th century cocktail. Great service, nice ambiance.
Bonnie ChenMay 25, 2014
Crispy fried oysters and their house-made cotechino sausage pizza are really good. Its a thin crust pizza. I recommend sharing it with two.
Nadia SwanApril 6, 2018
Onion soup was delicious as were the French fries. Garlic aioli yummy.
Smashing DrinksApril 25, 2012
Do you like cocktails? Do you live near Harvard Square? In that case you're in luck. Have a seat at the bar and let the bartenders make you something tasty. Try a Last Word... Enjoy!
Mark J.February 21, 2015
Great selection of local beers. Be sure to try some of their more unorthodox appetizers and more exciting cocktails.
EaterJanuary 12, 2012
Delightfully long menu, thorough beer list and creative applications of offal. [Eater 38 Member]
Niki BlakerSeptember 3, 2018
Absolutely love sitting at the bar here. The folks working here love crafting cocktails but aren't pretentious at all.
Neal JainOctober 9, 2016
Great burger and tasty late night $1 oysters after 11pm.
Behnam HeydarshahiSeptember 1, 2015
Mojito is lovely, the steak and blue cheese pizza is a killer, and the grillwd chicken sandwich is a to die for.
James DustinJanuary 18, 2014
Great rotating draft Stout list: Backlash Russian Imperial, Blatant Imperial, Mystic Descedant Saison Stout, & a Jacks Abby Framingham Baltic Porter.
Kavita BabaFebruary 17, 2015
Extensive selection of liquors and beers, and yet I always gravitate towards the Sauvignon blanc. Great for any time of day.
John CapecelatroJune 13, 2012
Great and loud vibe that gives you the center of the city feel (ala NYC) without the obnoxious cabs and rude people. Go for tapas and cocktails. $$
Alexandre BarbosaNovember 7, 2014
If you are hungry near Harvard Yard, don't miss the opportunity to try the delicious food of Russsel House Tavern!
Tom HalleranFebruary 3, 2016
Great beer and liquor list. Burger was great, and fries were crispy and good. Great stop!
Vanessa GatlinMarch 11, 2014
(Best of Boston 2013-CAMBRIDGE (Harvard Sq.)) Improper Bostonian says, "Chef Thomas Borgia has recently taken the helm at this Harvard Square favorite, where he reinvents American classics."
Open Air PublishingApril 16, 2012
Our favorite breakfast dish in Boston has to be the Breakfast Pizza here. Tip: you can find chef Michael Scelfo's receipe in "The Better Bacon Book" for iPads. http://bit.ly/foursq_bacon
JariJuly 8, 2018
Great house burger. Tasty patty with English muffin. Ask fries and salad half and half.
Ben FishnerMarch 17, 2013
Great house made ginger beer (non alcoholic). Everything everyone says about the charcuterie plate is true and then some.
MelissaMay 2, 2013
Grab a seat outside in the warmer months and enjoy the Harvard Happy Meal: delicious burger, 16 oz Gansett and a shot of Fernet
Tina MarieMarch 23, 2013
steak tartare and pork belly sandwich were by far the best I've ever had!
Chris KonecnyJuly 19, 2017
Sit outside for good people watching. Decent beers and menu. Good place to stop after a bunch of walking around
Diana BrodyDecember 23, 2016
Been here 5+ times
GREAT cider list! Perfect place to grab a drink that's relaxed but a little swanky/romantic in ambiance.
Benjamin ChaitAugust 28, 2014
Get a “Battle of Trafalgar” -- one of the few cocktails I’ve truly enjoyed.
Sarah NixonMay 21, 2017
Great ambiance! We had some wonderful drinks and tapas. Try the lamb belly meatballs!
Lindsey HoganApril 15, 2015
Huge portions so considering splitting the sandwiches. They also offer to split half fries and half salad with your sandwich.

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