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Russell House Tavern, Cambridge, MA

Russell House Tavern

4.5 (2856)
$30 and under
American
14 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Lively
  • Good for groups
A New American Tavern, Russell House Tavern is a comfortable gathering spot for every occasion-from casual lunch breaks on the patio to after-work cocktails in the upstairs tavern to functions in the private dining room and everything in between. Russell House Tavern delivers a seasonally-inspired menu of modern interpretations of American classics, including signatures like the R. House Burger, a selection of Tavern Pizzas and Steak Frites among other dishes. To complement the menu, Russell House Tavern serves an interesting collection of all-star American wines, and a locally-driven craft beer selection. The cocktail menu strikes a balance between familiar classics and modern hand-crafted recipes using only fresh juices, homemade syrups and infusions.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Gastro Pub, Pizza Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Bar Mon 11:00 am–11:00 pm Tue–Thu 11:00 am–12:00 am Fri 11:00 am–1:00 am Sat 10:00 am–1:00 am Sun 10:00 am–11:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–5:00 pm Sat, Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Nemo Bolin
  • Private party facilities
    From intimate dinner parties to festive cocktail receptions, the events team at Russell House Tavern awaits your next private function. Our contemporary yet casual atmosphere in the heart of Harvard Square is the perfect backdrop for any special occasion. Please email us at events@russellhousecambridge.com or visit us at russellhousecambridge.com.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Cambridge
  • Cross street
    Brattle Street
  • Parking details
    We offer a $2 validation for the Harvard Square Parking Garage located at 20 Eliot Street.
  • Public transit
    We are located just steps from the Harvard Square T Station on the Redline.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Dinner & A Show

    Multiple dates available
    Heading to a show at The Sinclair or catching a performance at the A.R.T.? Make Russell House Tavern your go-to spot for the perfect pre-show dinner—right in the heart of Harvard Square. And when the curtain falls or the encore ends, keep the night going with some $1 oysters—served every night after 10PM. Whether you’re winding down from the show or just getting started, there’s no better way to end the evening than with fresh oysters and a perfectly crafted cocktail. Located in the center of Harvard Square—just steps from the action. Dinner before the show. Oysters after. See you at Russell House Tavern!
    Dinner & A Show Photo

What 2,856 people are saying

Russell House Tavern reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Russell House Tavern offers a vibrant dining experience in Harvard Square. Guests appreciate the "amazing food," "friendly and attentive staff," and "great service." Highlights include "delicious oysters," enjoyable cocktails, and diverse menu options. Whether dining inside or on the patio, it's perfect for "a relatively cheap night out" or "a lively restaurant experience."
2,856 Reviews
  1. Nancy VIP

    Greater Boston26 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Love the original tavern room - it's the best. Basement room could use better ventilation from cooking smells. Greeter could be more customer service friendly! Server and food was GREAT! Fried chicken sandwich to die for and loved the half and half: half salad and half fries!

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  2. Susan VIP

    Greater Boston16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The restaurant was nice. Nothing to complain about. Next time I would make reservations for outside dining.

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  3. Colby VIP

    Nashville2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing Father’s Day experience. Multiple families all enjoying great meals. Homemade cinnamon buns are easily the best I’ve ever had.

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  4. Jaimee

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our FAVORITE local spot — the seasonal mule-style cocktail with their house ginger beer is what I come back for everytime and we LOVE the burger/polenta fries!!

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  5. John

    Greater Boston1 review

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    It was nicer than the photos, food was good, however our server left mid meal and we didn’t get a new server till the end of the night.

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  6. Katie

    West Palm Beach1 review

    2.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Steak was rare when asked for medium. Have to chase down waitress. Screaming baby the whole time and mother never took his out of the room

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  7. Krishnakali VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, including oysters, polenta fries, and pizza. Great and friendly service too!!

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  8. Henry

    Greater Boston1 review

    1.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    I ordered steak frites. Unflavored steak, with the desired cooked temp (Medium) was not even close. The steak was completely flavorless. I ate 2-3 bites, paid for everything and left. The server behaved as if she did not want to be there, did not check on us at all. Another server brought our meal, and she finally came back 30 minutes later.

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  9. Maureen

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate on the patio - first outdoor dining of the season! Food and service were great as always.

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  10. Marylyn

    Detroit / Eastern Michigan19 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 30, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    This is a very popular spot and I've been there twice. We had some mistakes with our orders but nothing terribly awful. Our server could have been a bit more attentive. We were visiting with relatives we hadn't seen in a while and were not concerned about getting out quickly but did feel abandoned for quite a while at the end. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. It has a nice outdoor seating as well as in the restaurant. Food was good.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Russell House Tavern offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 500-3055.

Russell House Tavern is rated 4.5 stars by 2856 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Greater Boston
  4. Boston
  5. Cambridge

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Russell House Tavern

14 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Brattle Street
  • Neighborhood
    Cambridge
  • Hours of operation
    Bar Mon 11:00 am–11:00 pm Tue–Thu 11:00 am–12:00 am Fri 11:00 am–1:00 am Sat 10:00 am–1:00 am Sun 10:00 am–11:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–5:00 pm Sat, Sun 4:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Gastro Pub, Pizza Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    We offer a $2 validation for the Harvard Square Parking Garage located at 20 Eliot Street.
  • Public transit
    We are located just steps from the Harvard Square T Station on the Redline.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Nemo Bolin
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    From intimate dinner parties to festive cocktail receptions, the events team at Russell House Tavern awaits your next private function. Our contemporary yet casual atmosphere in the heart of Harvard Square is the perfect backdrop for any special occasion. Please email us at events@russellhousecambridge.com or visit us at russellhousecambridge.com.
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