Alden and Harlow

Food was good. Not great. Definitely a fun atmosphere, enjoyed the food more at their bar upstairs (Longfellow). Both fun places though and good drinks.

amazing food and a welcoming and affable waitstaff

Always a favorite but a few weeks ago we had a terrible experience where literally every dish was just awful, congealed, overcooked, clearly not delivered fresh, every taste of items we've had multiple times in the past was just off-- too salty, to vinegary, etc.. We almost didn't go back it was so bad but it had just been that one time so we gave it another shot and it was mostly back to it's usual standards (maybe they had a replacement cook that night?) although the brussel sprouts were way too salty. Everything else was great. They had a special for Valentines Day that was a lobster tail for $40. It was delicious, except it was so small, like the lobster tail from a chick lobster, my husband and I shared all dishes so for this $40 dish we each got two bites. Overall while the restaurant is pricy I've always thought it fair for the quality but this was really pushing the limit in terms of value/pricing.

Excellent service!

Its simply the best, our go to spot for special occasions

Every time I book Alden and Harlow on Opentable I end up at the same crammed two top table in the bar area. Would be nice to receive a different table sometime.

The two-person tables are very close together so it felt a little squished and loud. They were also out of the secret burger by 6:15! It was Valentines day so it was crowded but they really should’ve prepared more burgers on Valentines day! Otherwise, the food was great and the waiter was very nice.

Fantastic meal with even better service! The chicken thigh torch on was a perfect blend of textures with amazing flavor.

Second visit , appreciated server explaining and suggestions.
Tequila cocktail was very good , extensive beer list.
Secret Hamburger was perfect.
Disappointing was chicken nuggets ( needed more dipping sauce, rather dry to us ) . The Valentine’s Day special dessert was mascarpone cheese cake with carmelized popcorn was a disappointment.

Food was overpriced and frankly not nearly as good as they think it is. Back room was incredibly noisy. Our server was friendly, warm and knowledgeable but that was the highlight of the experience.

My first visit last fall was great! The service was good and the food was really great. This time around I was disappointed in the food as the dishes did not live up to the standard we were expecting. Sorry, but this time around the flavors were nothing special. I will still recommend Alden and Harlow to friends because I liked it so much the first time. I hope that I will be pleasantly surprised the next time i visit.

Food was incredible!! Will be back!! Ambiance was perffect!

My friends had the special burger which they liked and I know is good. I had the kale salad very good and the clams which were ? The clams themselves were pretty good but the sauce? Could not figure out what was in the dense sauce.

We had a high top table which was not clear on our reservation. I did ask to be moved but the request could not be accommodated.

Excellent service from our server and other person.

Our server took the time to review everything on the menu (starring particulars) for one guest who was nervous about spicy items. We ordered 6 items for 3 women, which was more than filling. The Burrata was a particular standout, as were the Verrell Farm corn pancakes, although we managed to rave about every item. Cant't wait to return!

This place is special. They make the food they want to eat, and you'll want to too.

Not much for vegan/dairy-allergic

Beautifully treated vegetables. Every dish put together with car.

Food was excellent. Service was not. For a foodie place with a unique menu, the waitress was terrible. Could not describe the various dishes.

We absolutely love the share plates here. There are many good choices for lacto-ovo vegetarians like me. The quality of the food is excellent and the service is perfect.

Very nice atmosphere. Food was ok, nothing special. The kale salad was very good otherwise we were underwhelmed. Service was lacking, no offers of coffee refills. A bit pretentious and the small plate menu ended up costing a lot more than we wanted to spend on an average brunch.

Great food, wonderful service an all around excellent experience.

They sat us in a freezing area that was obviously uncomfortable!! After two tables complained and they didn’t move us to a more comfortable table,the least they could have done was buy us a drink or something for the trouble!

The service was a little bit slow. I’m not sure if it’s okay if you are ordering a cocktail and it takes 15-20 minutes to make it... I was there before and didn’t have this problem. Hopefully it happened only once

but it is a bit of a problem not knowing when your food will come

Stunning! Meticulously composed plates, beautifully layered, complex flavors and without pretense.

Delicious food, great service at a reasonable rate.

I love this restaurant. The food, service and vibe are wonderful. My one complaint from our meal last weekend was that we ordered a bunch of items to share amongst our party of 4 and I was worried that we ordered too much at once and asked our server to please make sure it was paced out well, without bringing too much too quickly. She assured me that that would not happen. Sure enough, that completely happened and way too much food came at once and happened for the whole meal. I was disappointed that the kitchen could not pace the meal better, and that was a specific concern of mine.
Other than that we loved it and will return but please consider working on that issue!

Always excellent experience! Service and food are best in Harvard Square.

Always a delight for the senses
The flavors here are incredibly well thought out, kudos to the chef, even the vegetarian fare is at a whole different level

Great brunch experience!

Fantastic food, great atmosphere, the servers let us have a nice long brunch and never once rushed us!

Great food and atmosphere as always

Creative small plates and entrees in Harvard Square It's a great option for almost any occasion. The drink list is also strong.
Get there early for the secret hamburger!

I have been here many times over the years, often sitting at the bar, and feel this is one of the better restaurants in Cambridge/Boston. I brought a small group of friends with me this time and we sat at a table in the bar area. The service was not great and the food took forever and it’s too dark and too loud. Unfortunately I don’t think any of my friends left with a positive impression. While the cocktails are always good, it seems the standard pour of wine is about 3 oz, maybe 4 at best. Feels like an absolute ripoff at $14-15/glass. This should be noted on the menu so that a group can make a more informed decision about ordering by the glass or getting a bottle.

Upon arrival, everyone I interacted with was positive, professional and enjoyable to be around. Our food, both appetizers and entrees were uniquely presented and delicious. Our server Collin was exceptional. Professional and very personable. The entire staff was attentive to details, and checked on things at the table with the perfect amount of frequency. It was a very gratifying and tasty experience.

Service was poor. This was my second time going and the food was just as medoicre as it was the first time. I thought i would give it a second chance but the result was identical. 8 different plates and none were outstanding. I expect more for a $200+ dinner.

You have to go early to get the burger but it is truly the best burger I've ever eaten. Sold out by 7pm when we were there on a Saturday night. We really enjoyed the wine and the flavors of the food.

Amazing experience! Food is awesome. Just wish we got a burger!

A wonderfully delicious meal!

Such a lovely space with great food and drinks. We were treated so nicely by everyone. Definitely will come back!