Russell House TavernGreat dining from start to finish!!Our experience was excellent from start to finish. Our server was pleasant, friendly and well versed in the dining offerings. She had a server in training with her who was just as pleasant. The steak tartar and the lamb belly appetizers were unique and very good, the scallop entrée with farrow, raisins and carrots was presented beautifully and delicious! Their beer and wines by the glass list was a nice, varied selection. We dined on Mother's Day which is traditionally a very busy "Dine out day" so it was great to be in a place that the food was still fresh, with all the menu selections available, and a staff that was still enthusiastic and eager to please!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMA quick biteThis is my first time using Open Table but not my first time being to Russell House Tavern. This place is great, the food is fairly priced and delicious. There is something for everybody on the menu, and that goes for the bar menu as well. If you have been yet I totally recommended it. If you want more energy and a bar feel try to sit downstairs at the bar. If you want to be more intiment stay upstairs, or ask for a table along the back wall downstairs, and the patio will be open very soon!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect patio and window seatingWent to have their burger with a friend who wanted to sit on the patio (to take advantage of the nice weather). No seats were open, but the nice hostess found us a table at the window next to the bar, which was perhaps more fantastic. We could people watch and eat great food. The burger was interesting but nothing incredible (except for the bacon - I loved that). I tried the "secret" burger which was beautiful and really intensely herbal because of mint (I loved it). I will definitely be going back for some other menu items and their cocktails!5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMVibrant Restaurant in Harvard SqRussell House Tavern is a reliably good restaurant with an excellent (and extensive) drink menu. The food is delicious, albeit rich and indulgent. The staff is consistently friendly and welcoming.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat lunch spotLove the smoked arctic char with arugula salad. Very pleasant place to have lunch and conversation. Noise level very bearable. Highly recommended!4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMA beefy birthdayWe went to Russell House to celebrate a birthday and because we were celebrating we didn't hold back!
The wine and beer list was interesting (I'm a beer novice, but the list was long and included fancy names).
We ordered:
Oysters and clams from the raw bar - fresh, clean and tasty
Beef tongue meatballs - surprisingly good, with a gamey note
Raw tuna with fritters - a small, simple but refreshing plate
Pork trio - holy mother, this was a winner
40-day aged steak - hands down, this was birthday-boy worthy
Chocolate cake - heaven on a plate4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat food, even better service!We were new to the Russell House but had read great things about it. I was overwhelmed by the server's knowledge of the food as well as the appropriate beer to couple with my dinner (the pork trio!). My guests both decided to order the hamburger and loved them.
We will certainly bring out-of-town guests to this wonderful dining experience!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMDELICIOS food!The reason I gave it only 4 stars is the fact that the hamburger was just OK (you expect more from a place like this), and the deserts are not impressive at all. Since I don't care for deserts in general I didn't mind it much. Every other dish we had there (during the last two visits this month) is more then just delicious. The steak tartar is amazing! Do get the big one, coz every bite is a delight and you do wish it would never end. We also VERY much enjoyed both steaks they have in the menu, local greens salad, bone marrow, crispy soft poached farm egg (it's one of my sisters fav appetizers ever) and the melted cambozola cheese.
Definitely the best place to eat in central Cambridge!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMSome odd food choices. NeedsSome odd food choices. Needs to get back to some basic/staple foods. What I got was good but I didn't feel like I had a lot of options.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my boyfriend for hisI took my boyfriend for his 30th birthday dinner on Monday. Even on a Monday at 8:30 it was very busy! I mentioned in my OpenTable reservation that it was his birthday, and if they could just say "Happy Birthday" that would be nice. Not only did the host and waitress say happy birthday, they treated us so well the whole time, and also surprised us with cappuccinos and birthday cake with a candle. It was so sweet!! Probably my best dinner out in Boston/Cambridge.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding Customer ServiceExtememely accommodating. I made an 11:30 pm reservation from my phone at 10:50 pm and wrote a comment to increase it to 9 because I was only allowed to make it for 4 for the time I requested. At 11:15 pm I followed up with a call to confirm and spoke with a kind and helpful hostess who discussed with a manager who agreed to my request within minutes. Upon our arrival at 11:20 pm, to a rather busy restaurant, we were warmly greeted and amazingly seated by 11:30 pm. Our server was most attentive, patient and thoughtful. There was something for everyone except cheesecake but a second choice satisfied. Our wonderful server provided without prompting separate checks for all 9 of us which was the topping on the cake for a stellar night out.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMas good as it gets overallall went well - they are dialed in and run like a finely tuned Swiss instrument!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe walked by and thought itWe walked by and thought it mught be small and cramped. Turnd out there was a basement area and we found it to be very cozy and the food was great and reasonably priced.
Bravo!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMEaster sunday brunch for 5Our Easter Sunday group of 5 shared the breakfast pizza - we all loved it. the over-easy eggs on top made it very enjoyable. For entrees, 3 of us got the lamb and white bean special. Delicious! Done perfectly - I ordered mine rare. The white bean side was very tasty - as was that a balsamic vinegar glaze underneath it. My sister had the eggs Benedict which she seemed to enjoy - not sure what her boyfriend had. The portions are a good size so we were all very sated by the end of the meal. But we still had room for the olive oil cake and sticky toffee pudding for dessert - both very good - nice and moist.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMMy daughter and I got justMy daughter and I got just what we wanted at Russell Street Tavern - good steak frites and a salad.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a terrific time atWe had a terrific time at Russell House Tavern on Sat. night. The reservation system worked seamlessly. All of the staff were great - from the hosting staff, to the bartender, to our waiter; we were well taken care of. I have been a longtime fan of RHT and my experience this weekend just solidified my opinion. As during past visits, there were so many great things on the menu it was hard to choose, but I had to go with the Pork Trio in honor of their recent Cochon 555 win - yup, I voted for them. We also had one of the pizzas as an appetizer - pizza at RHT, who knew? Also very yum! The food is fresh, creatively and deliciously prepared and delivered in abundance. You won’t go wrong dining here. Keep up the good work RHT!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a great time. FoodWe had a great time. Food was excellent. Lee, our waiter was by far the most knowledgeable, attentive waiter that we have ever had. His descriptions of the cocktails and the menu were spot on. We enjoyed all aspects of our meal. We WILL be back.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA perfect 10!!!Best burger ever! Amazing breakfast pizza! Great server!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place to go for a laidbackGreat place to go for a laidback after business meal provided that you don't mind a somewhat loud atmospehere.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing bar with a wide selectionAmazing bar with a wide selection of beers, wines, and spirits. Food is several steps up from bar food; the burger is especially good and comes on an English muffin. Great place for couples or small groups for a night out in Harvard square.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMReally good food, awesomeReally good food, awesome beer selections in a cozy spot. Great place to come with a small group, especially, although even small parties will have a good experience. I'd come back for the fries alone... and the great service!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place to catch up withGreat place to catch up with friends over some beers, wines, cocktails, and delicious grub!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything on the RestaurantEverything on the Restaurant Week menu was delicious and the portions were decent (sometimes this is an issue during Restaurant Week). The terrine appetizer and pork chop entree were especially delectable. And there was a lot more meat than bone on the chop - nice, because that is not always the case for pork chop entrees I've had in other restaurants. I loved the olive-oil cake, and that it transitioned from savory (my arctic char entree) to sweet (dessert option). So moist and delicious.
One criticism - the snowball dessert was a bit dry - we didn't finish it, and that's rare for us.
On the whole, a great experience. We'll be back for Easter brunch.
Sincerely,
-Tracey & Matt3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had an excellent meal andWe had an excellent meal and I will definitely go back. We ate at the bar in order to watch NCAA basketball, so I can't speak to the main dining room. But in the bar (which I believe has the same menu) we received excellent service - friendly and knowlegable. I had the fois appetizer (wonderful) and the steak frites (cooked perfectly). My friend made a tasting menu of various small plates and loved each of them. Excellent food in comfortable setting - I plan to become a regular.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic brunchLived in Boston almost two years now and just had brunch at the Russell house last wkend for the first time. Wow! Best brunch in Boston by far (I had the farm fresh omelet). Best bloody Mary I've ever had. We will definitely be back3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThe burger I had here wasThe burger I had here was the best burger I have ever had in my whole life. To such a point that I thought about it all day the following day the first time I went and went back that next night to get it again... and then again 2 days later. And many more times since then. As far as the rest of the menu goes, I have no idea as I can't get past the burger. The staff can be rude and it is nearly impossible to get street parking in the area which results in paying $15 to park in a garage down the road are the two downfalls of this place. But best burger and fries around. Every cocktail I have tried has also been delicious. This is one of my favorite places in the area.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperior service!Russel House Tavern is cozy, has superior service, awesome drink menu and excellent desserts. The fig and burrata flatbread pizza was an amazing appetizer. The burger was perfect with caramelized onions, cheese and bacon. The steak frites was very tender. The scallop dish was the most outstanding main course at our table (presentation and taste were both A+). We also enjoyed the desserts--sticky toffee pudding and chocolate cake. I highly recommend Russel House Tavern.1/12/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious! We came to celebrateDelicious! We came to celebrate my husband's promotion. All our food was great. The selection was excellent and our server was perfect. The cocktails are to die for!!!!!!!1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM