Went here expecting a great meal and came away pretty shocked as to how this restaurant has such good reviews. The service was pretty slow and we didn't receive our cocktails until after both our app and main had been served. The ambiance was fine. It was the food that was really disappointing. Started with the fried oysters, which were pretty average, and the croquettes, which we enjoyed. The mains were quite disappointing. The presentation of the food was great but that feeling faded away once we dug in. We had the burger which was unseasoned and came with tomatoes that were still semi-frozen. I've had better burgers at airports. We also got the salmon which was again very underwhelming and bland. We mentioned to the staff that we were disappointed by the lack of flavor/seasoning and they suggested we use the salt and pepper shakers... Finished with the beignets which were again lacking much flavor. Sadly we will not be returning.
Christina D.
Today was our last day in Boston during our four day outing and we were looking for a place to end off our trip with a bang. Did not disappoint!!! The layout and vide of the restaurant is beautiful, perfect for a date night or night out with any loved ones. Our waitress, Shivahni, was amazing! She was very nice and super attentive. For appetizers, we got the cornbread and their croquettes. Both were tasty and had their unique flavors. For entree, both my mother and sister got the mushroom risotto, my father got the scallops, and i got the panini. This has to be one of the best french dip panini's out there. 100% would recommend!!! I wish they had this exact place back in Miami! When we come back, we are totally coming back here :)
Sara R.
Amazing experience at Oak Bistro. Food portions were perfect for us and delicious. Our server Noelle was great and we will definitely be back! So glad to have this establishment in the neighborhood.
JimW
Oak Bistro is one of the most delicious restaurants I've eaten at in recent years. Everything from the salad to the ragu pasta to the burger was impeccably flavored and cooked. And the service was fantastic. The bar area isn't as bright or charming at the main restaurant, and it is a little noisy. The main restaurant however is lovely -- not too loud, bright, with lots of room between tables. Will definitely be returning!
Kassim R.
Food is amazing. Heart and soul went into the menu and drinks. Cozy environment, perfect for dates or a night out with friends.
Alice Kaanta
Delicious scallops on butternut squash grits! Also loved the mocktails. Ambiance is fun and pleasant, a place where you can have a conversation.
Thomas Conner
I've been slacking on writing reviews... I even missed writing one for this place the first time I went, but better late than ever. Better yet, I'll keep it short and sweet:This is not just a Cambridge/Somerville food destination, it is a Boston metro destination. I'm not sure exactly what it is, I mean sure the food is outstanding, the atmosphere is nice and the service is delightful and engaging... but also, the sum is greater than its parts as it is really special experience.Try all the small plates, try the (cauliflower) soup, get the gnocchi, get the duck, get the Tia Maria (drink), thank me later.The corridor from Inman to Union has so many great options and this is easily in the must-try category among those greats....Also they stay open till 2AM with full menu till 1:30 for some reason, and god bless them for it.Vegetarian options: This is the sort of place that works with whatever restrictions and qualifications you have on your diet with specific callouts for gluten-free and vegetarian main dishes as well as options to convert dishesDietary restrictions: This is the sort of place that works with whatever restrictions and qualifications you have on your diet with specific callouts for gluten-free and vegetarian main dishes as well as options to convert dishes
We were hungry vegans roaming around Inman Sq. Cambridge, MA on a chilly, drizzly day looking for a satisfying, nourishing meal when, to our surprise we found vegan items on the menu in the window of the Oak Bistro. We are in! Our server Amelia is an amazing, kind and super helpful person who answered all our questions and offered suggestions. We ordered the Winter Bliss Farro Bowl made with local beets, roasted sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, baby kale, cranberries all lightly coated with a maple cherry vinaigrette that was stunning! We had a side of Garlic Roasted Broccolini and an order of Grilled Asparagus in Meyer Lemon vinaigrette……it was a party for the taste buds!! The vegetables all were bright green (except the beets/sweet pots) and flavors complimented each other beautifully! Highly Recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
BV P.
Our server Noelle was so sweet, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu and the ingredients! She really took care of us this meal and brightened our day! Thank you, Noelle, for a great dining experience! We learned this place was a relatively new establishment but a true gem. We came here for brunch/lunch and were seated immediately (table for 2). The ambience was just what we were hoping for: lively yet quiet enough to hear your dining companions, well-lit yet cozy, with lovely modern decor all around. The food was absolutely delicious and we were so impressed with the quality and flavor of the food! The avocado toast was among the very best I've ever had. I was dubious at first about the mushroom addition upon seeing it on the menu, but it was really a highlight of the dish--incredibly fresh and (apparently) locally sourced from a mushroom specialist they have! My partner got the French Dip Panini which was also delicious! The fries were really flavorful and tasty (that's coming from someone who doesn't usually enjoy fries), and the braised beef and melted cheese inside the panini were on point. We thought the price point was really affordable for the quality of food and service. Portions could have been slightly larger, but we felt it was the perfect amount for us; we left feeling satisfied, not bloated. We look forward to coming back again for lunch and to try out the dinner menu sometime too!!
My friends and I were excited to try this restaurant but they seemed to be out of everything we wanted to order which was not great. Most of us got the short rib pappardelle and thought it lacked flavor. I will say, this place had great appetizers, but sadly the meals were subpar. Great ambiance, they just need to work on overall flavor of the main dishes.
Great service, great food & drinks. They were super accommodating when we had to add an extra person to the reservation last minute.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TonyT
Tasty food and drink in a cozy setting. Definitely will be back! Really enjoyed the ribs. The pappardelle and octopus dishes were great as well. I thought the potato pave could have done with a bit less salt but was also nice. The West Coast IPA (can't recall the name) was not one I've seen around here but very good. Staff and service were uniformly excellent.
ChristineH
Service was perfect. Food arrived in a sufficient time frame. Our food was so delicious. Made sure our server told Chef that everything was outstanding. Looking forward to our next dining experience!
Smiley3298
Our waitress was good but my group of 10 had varying experiences. Two in our group ordered two menu items that wound up being unavailable, and were told this after the waitress tried to put the order in twice. Another in the group ordered hot sauce to eat with his home fries and when we got the check, we discovered we had been charged an extra $2 for it (which he wasn't told about when he ordered it). Some people were satisfied by their dishes while others were not. Overall, it's very cute inside and the staff seem friendly but there definitely appears to be some kinks that need to be worked out for their brunch service.
MirkoR
Great addition to Inman Sq dining scene. Appetizers (small plates and to share) were great. We especially liked Octopus and Mussels .We had only one main course and it was good as well (Ragu). Cocktails were excellent. Server was great: informative, attentive, friendly and funny!
Went here expecting a great meal and came away pretty shocked as to how this restaurant has such good reviews. The service was pretty slow and we didn't receive our cocktails until after both our app and main had been served. The ambiance was fine. It was the food that was really disappointing. Started with the fried oysters, which were pretty average, and the croquettes, which we enjoyed. The mains were quite disappointing. The presentation of the food was great but that feeling faded away once we dug in. We had the burger which was unseasoned and came with tomatoes that were still semi-frozen. I've had better burgers at airports. We also got the salmon which was again very underwhelming and bland. We mentioned to the staff that we were disappointed by the lack of flavor/seasoning and they suggested we use the salt and pepper shakers... Finished with the beignets which were again lacking much flavor. Sadly we will not be returning.
Today was our last day in Boston during our four day outing and we were looking for a place to end off our trip with a bang. Did not disappoint!!! The layout and vide of the restaurant is beautiful, perfect for a date night or night out with any loved ones. Our waitress, Shivahni, was amazing! She was very nice and super attentive. For appetizers, we got the cornbread and their croquettes. Both were tasty and had their unique flavors. For entree, both my mother and sister got the mushroom risotto, my father got the scallops, and i got the panini. This has to be one of the best french dip panini's out there. 100% would recommend!!! I wish they had this exact place back in Miami! When we come back, we are totally coming back here :)
Amazing experience at Oak Bistro. Food portions were perfect for us and delicious. Our server Noelle was great and we will definitely be back! So glad to have this establishment in the neighborhood.
Oak Bistro is one of the most delicious restaurants I've eaten at in recent years. Everything from the salad to the ragu pasta to the burger was impeccably flavored and cooked. And the service was fantastic. The bar area isn't as bright or charming at the main restaurant, and it is a little noisy. The main restaurant however is lovely -- not too loud, bright, with lots of room between tables. Will definitely be returning!
Food is amazing. Heart and soul went into the menu and drinks. Cozy environment, perfect for dates or a night out with friends.
Delicious scallops on butternut squash grits! Also loved the mocktails. Ambiance is fun and pleasant, a place where you can have a conversation.
I've been slacking on writing reviews... I even missed writing one for this place the first time I went, but better late than ever. Better yet, I'll keep it short and sweet:This is not just a Cambridge/Somerville food destination, it is a Boston metro destination. I'm not sure exactly what it is, I mean sure the food is outstanding, the atmosphere is nice and the service is delightful and engaging... but also, the sum is greater than its parts as it is really special experience.Try all the small plates, try the (cauliflower) soup, get the gnocchi, get the duck, get the Tia Maria (drink), thank me later.The corridor from Inman to Union has so many great options and this is easily in the must-try category among those greats....Also they stay open till 2AM with full menu till 1:30 for some reason, and god bless them for it.Vegetarian options: This is the sort of place that works with whatever restrictions and qualifications you have on your diet with specific callouts for gluten-free and vegetarian main dishes as well as options to convert dishesDietary restrictions: This is the sort of place that works with whatever restrictions and qualifications you have on your diet with specific callouts for gluten-free and vegetarian main dishes as well as options to convert dishes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck, Braised Short Rib Croquettes, Jalapeno & Cheddar Corn Bread, Parmesan & Garlic Fries Truffle Aioli, Potato Pave
We were hungry vegans roaming around Inman Sq. Cambridge, MA on a chilly, drizzly day looking for a satisfying, nourishing meal when, to our surprise we found vegan items on the menu in the window of the Oak Bistro. We are in! Our server Amelia is an amazing, kind and super helpful person who answered all our questions and offered suggestions. We ordered the Winter Bliss Farro Bowl made with local beets, roasted sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, baby kale, cranberries all lightly coated with a maple cherry vinaigrette that was stunning! We had a side of Garlic Roasted Broccolini and an order of Grilled Asparagus in Meyer Lemon vinaigrette……it was a party for the taste buds!! The vegetables all were bright green (except the beets/sweet pots) and flavors complimented each other beautifully! Highly Recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our server Noelle was so sweet, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu and the ingredients! She really took care of us this meal and brightened our day! Thank you, Noelle, for a great dining experience! We learned this place was a relatively new establishment but a true gem. We came here for brunch/lunch and were seated immediately (table for 2). The ambience was just what we were hoping for: lively yet quiet enough to hear your dining companions, well-lit yet cozy, with lovely modern decor all around. The food was absolutely delicious and we were so impressed with the quality and flavor of the food! The avocado toast was among the very best I've ever had. I was dubious at first about the mushroom addition upon seeing it on the menu, but it was really a highlight of the dish--incredibly fresh and (apparently) locally sourced from a mushroom specialist they have! My partner got the French Dip Panini which was also delicious! The fries were really flavorful and tasty (that's coming from someone who doesn't usually enjoy fries), and the braised beef and melted cheese inside the panini were on point. We thought the price point was really affordable for the quality of food and service. Portions could have been slightly larger, but we felt it was the perfect amount for us; we left feeling satisfied, not bloated. We look forward to coming back again for lunch and to try out the dinner menu sometime too!!
My friends and I were excited to try this restaurant but they seemed to be out of everything we wanted to order which was not great. Most of us got the short rib pappardelle and thought it lacked flavor. I will say, this place had great appetizers, but sadly the meals were subpar. Great ambiance, they just need to work on overall flavor of the main dishes.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great service, great food & drinks. They were super accommodating when we had to add an extra person to the reservation last minute.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tasty food and drink in a cozy setting. Definitely will be back! Really enjoyed the ribs. The pappardelle and octopus dishes were great as well. I thought the potato pave could have done with a bit less salt but was also nice. The West Coast IPA (can't recall the name) was not one I've seen around here but very good. Staff and service were uniformly excellent.
Service was perfect. Food arrived in a sufficient time frame. Our food was so delicious. Made sure our server told Chef that everything was outstanding. Looking forward to our next dining experience!
Our waitress was good but my group of 10 had varying experiences. Two in our group ordered two menu items that wound up being unavailable, and were told this after the waitress tried to put the order in twice. Another in the group ordered hot sauce to eat with his home fries and when we got the check, we discovered we had been charged an extra $2 for it (which he wasn't told about when he ordered it). Some people were satisfied by their dishes while others were not. Overall, it's very cute inside and the staff seem friendly but there definitely appears to be some kinks that need to be worked out for their brunch service.
Great addition to Inman Sq dining scene. Appetizers (small plates and to share) were great. We especially liked Octopus and Mussels .We had only one main course and it was good as well (Ragu). Cocktails were excellent. Server was great: informative, attentive, friendly and funny!