Temple BarFood was good, energetic atmosphereFood was good, energetic atmosphere with lots going on both at the bar and in the dining area. We shared the Calamari ( light, cooked perfectly with tasty seasonings ). The knowledeable and speedy waitor recommended the steak frites and the daily catch. The catch was a lobster shelled on a bed of risotto, a good choice,maybe a bit salty. The steak frites was what was expected.
If you are into trying something unique, this is probably not the place for you. However, if you want a vibrant scene where the food is good and served with a great group of servers who are attentive then you will be happy. The wine list is on the weak side, but the bar drinks and beer choices are fantastic.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMBistro cozy with cool vibeMy husband and I went her to celebrate his birthday. We arrived early and had a drink at the bar. The hostess was very accommodating. There were seats at the bar and the restaurant boasts an extensive line of on tap beers -- mostly micro brews and not-your-average beers which was great to see well thought-out variety. Each beer came in it's branded glass. We were seated just inside the open-air windows. There is seating on the outdoor patio (aka sidewalk) which didn't look that great unless you don't mind crowds walking behind you on the sidewalk or the Mass Ave traffic. Service was attentive without being pushy. I liked Tempo and would likely return, probably not for date night though -- maybe girlfriend night out.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMMe and my family had a wonderfulMe and my family had a wonderful time at Temple Bar. We made reservations for Mother's day brunch and everything (service, food, atmosphere) was absolutely delightful. Were planning to come back again for dinner. Thanks !5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious mothers day celebration!Delicious mothers day celebration! Service was attentive without being pushy and the food was fresh, lively and satisfied a wide range of likes and dislikes from our group. A little noisy but nothing too intrusive.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Menu and Down to EarthThey do a great job making the basics into something special. The Maple Brined Pork and the Smoked Apple glaze for the chicken breast are both wonderful. They also have some items you don't find everywhere like Rainbow Trout and occasionally Venison or Rabbit.
The beer list is great. I'm not a wine person but that list seems pretty varied as well.
I've been there for first dates, anniversary dinners, lunch with friends, and even a small family dinner with my five year old nephew. It's great for any occasion. I've never been there for the bar scene but I've heard that's great too, and with the TV's, the well stocked bar, the open air, and the location, I would expect as much.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWe liked it!I was a little disappointed in my Caesar salad, but everything else was good. We really liked the mussels appetizer. The wait was available, but did not hover. I liked having a choice of still or sparkling water for free, and having the bottle left on the table.
Nice assortment of bread too.
Free parking helps too.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food service & atmosphereMy friend and I really enjoyed this neighborhood gem. Décor is casual yet elegant, really nice bar atmosphere, and window seating for people watching, if you prefer. Also has outdoor dining in the summer. Nice eclectic mix of menu choices, appetizers and signature cocktails, all reasonably priced. Service is excellent as is the presentation of food. Bread was wonderful - loved the brown bread! The halibut special was amazing! The calamari was delicious but the dipping sauce wasn't our favorite. Overall, we definitely will go back and recommend to friends.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMCan be an expensive treat.If you split a pizza and a salad (and pass over the drinks/dessert menu), this can be a tasty and relatively expensive *weekly* treat! I recommend the White Truffle Pizza and Mixed Green Salad.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dinner with friendsThis restaurant has a great ambience that created for an intimate dining experience for our group of four. The place was still bustling around 9:30/10pm when we showed up but we could all still hear each other speak without needing to yell. The food has not disappointed and our waiter was one of the better ones I've had in a long while. Very friendly and made sure we were attended to. Can't really ask for more.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWarm and tasy Cambridge gemWonderful service by our server (Danielle) and the food was delicious. Has a perfectly done salmon and my wife had the steak frites (excellent fries). You won't be disappointed!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMI was very, very impressedI was very, very impressed with Temple Bar. The food was delicious and innovative, the service was pleasant and willing to make suggestions when prompted, and the bill came out much smaller than I imagined.
The drink menu was impressive as well, boasting a wide array of wines and cocktails as well as some fancy beers and ales (my personal fave)
If I had to criticize something, it would be the dessert. I wasn't blown away by the variety, and after the amazing meal it sort of felt short.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMA regular spot for us. GreatA regular spot for us. Great food, Staff is great.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWell prepared and surprisingWell prepared and surprising number of vegetarian options for a bar restaurant. Service was uneven. While the server was friendly, he would disappear for extended periods of time and the service dragged between courses. We've eaten hear before and did not experience this problem. We would go back again.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMCambridge favoriteTerrific neighborhood upscale destination. Great mixed crowd of professionals, Harvard and grad school faculties and students, date night diners, and locals enjoying excellent American cuisine and buzzing bar.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the Temple Bar. The foodLove the Temple Bar. The food is outstanding. we have had brunch and dinner and loved both. The waitstaff are superb. Parking is available on street usually and in back of building. This is the place to bring friends cause it's a sure thing.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was outstanding withThe food was outstanding with the fish dishes being incredibly fresh and well prepared. Service was wonderful. The waiter was knowledgeable and didn't rush us at all. Looking forward to our next visit.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a thoroughly enjoyableWe had a thoroughly enjoyable experience - good food, good service. Though it was noisy (Friday night bar scene), it was not too noisy to be able to talk with our friends.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMI was dissapointed with myI was dissapointed with my salmon entree; it was a bit bland and floating way too much liquid; I can remember better. My husband said his food was fine.
The hostess tried to seat us at a tiny table, barely room to hold drinks even though a) we told her we were having a full dinner plus a bottle of wine and b)the place was empty. I felt that her attitude was rude. We were early for our res., but were perfectly happy to wait. I would like to say however, that our waitress was excellent, very pleasant and helpful. I don't know if we shall return.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMPhenomenal service, with thePhenomenal service, with the exception of our server removing our bottle of water and forgetting to replace it. The food was delicious, although both I and my date were very disappointed in the prosciutto that was wrapped around the monkfish; it had much more of a taste and texture of bacon than prosciutto. We went during restaurant week; I'm not sure the food would be worth the regular cost otherwise.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM