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Russell House Tavern, Cambridge, MA

Russell House Tavern

4.5
4.5
2413 Reviews
$30 and under
American
Top Tags:

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-American wines, including two regional wines on tap, 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.

Make a reservation

2 people
May 2022
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7:00 PM
Booked 108 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    American, Gastro Pub

  • Hours of operation

    Brunch Mon–Wed 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Bar Mon 11:00 am–11:00 pm Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–11:00 pm 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 Lunch Thu, Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Wed, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:00 am

  • Phone number

    (617) 500-3055

  • Website

    http://russellhousecambridge.com/

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Pay with OpenTable, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • 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 our website for more information russellhousecambridge.com.

  • Private party contact

    Janelle Jenkins: (617) 500-3055

  • Location

    14 JFK Street Cambridge, MA 02138

  • 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, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,413 people are saying

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
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

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Filters

  1. TJ

    TJHH

    Tallahassee

    90 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    90 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Waitress was terrific

  2. LN

    LukeN

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall2food2service4ambience2

    disappointing and dated, food mediocre, the basement sitting area is a drag

  3. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Loved the place

  4. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Houston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We are on vacation & picked it because we had enjoyed the restaurant on a trip to Cambridge five years ago. Good food & atmosphere!

  5. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food is so good! Love Love The Crab Cake’s cocktails always good and strong!

  6. PJ

    PJP106

    New England

    16 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    The service was excellent, and everyone else’s food looked good except I had the avocado smoked salmon toast which was a little odd because it had grapefruit sections underneath. And it was very light on the avocado. It needed something more like red onion or tomato and capers. It was Mother’s Day and horrible music was blasting. I think for mothers they could have played a different type of music.

  7. L

    Lucai

    New England

    17 reviews

    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience4

    the brunch menu is great-lots of choices! Best ever Nutella stuffed French toast! Dipped in egg batter than deep fried-OMG! Smoked salmon avocado toast very good! Great cocktails

  8. A

    Anaya

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall2food1service3ambience3

    Unfortunately I will not be returning. The food was very bland, and their were lots of little kids there. I would not recommend if your looking for a laid back dinner with adult presence.

  9. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Caribbean

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall3food1service3ambience3

    Mothers Day Brunch Have been to the Russell house many times for dinner and been pleased so felt it would be a safe bet for Mother’s Day. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong. The appetizers ( we ordered 4). Were overwhelmingly awful. The charcuterie board was almost empty, the “homemade” cinnamon rolls were hard as a rock , and the oysters and Brussel sprouts were okay. Let’s fast forward to the entrees. We have the steak and eggs that were so bad that it wasn’t even eaten after the first 2 bites, the 2 brisket meals were so short on supply and almost all fat. The pizza was good and the fish and chips average. And to make things worse nothing was served hot. We were meeting future in-laws for the first time and no one wanted to complain but most of the food was terrible. I was so disappointed as this isn’t what I was used to at the Russell House Tavern and unfortunately based on this I /we won’t be rushing back. Disappointing Mother’s Day meal!!!!

  10. EC

    EmilyC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 7, 2022

    overall3food2service5ambience5

    Most bland fried chicken sandwich I have had ever.

  11. AR

    ArtR

    New England

    61 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    61 reviews

    Dined on April 29, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    We ate downstairs. It was an upscale gastro-pub experience; not elegant, but pleasant enough. The noise level was up there. Service was excellent, and the food was very good. The house-made Andouille sausage was toned down from what you would expect in Louisiana, but masterfully seasoned. We also had the swordfish special and the cavatelli bowl, both very fine. Prices were reasonable for the quality of the food. All in all, an enjoyable dining experience and we would not hesitate to return.

  12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 27, 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience4

    The noise was out of hand for a sit down dinner. Too bad they can’t section out the place a little better than that. Food was good, space is nice.

  13. C

    Cab5

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 26, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    The food was wonderful except the chocolate cake was stale…maybe dried out from being in the fridge?

  14. KB

    KenB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Reina was a tremendous waitress! Very professional, courteous and attentive having great customer service skills!

  15. MK

    MikeK

    Minneapolis

    42 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience3

    Food was excellent as was the service. They seated us in the bar area. It was only about 1/2 full but very loud.

  16. SR

    SamRK

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Terrific food, service and experience! Really enjoyed the tavern and the poutine fries were amaze!

  17. DM

    DanaM

    New England

    10 reviews

    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on April 22, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Excellent service, very good food and outstanding Mule with homemade ginger beer 🤩 Recommend and I’ll be back!

  18. s

    seafoodie

    New England

    27 reviews

    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    The Brussel sprouts were outstanding!! Chicken wings were deliciously spicy. Street corn was ok. Great flavors, but not the time of year for great corn on the cob. Would definitely go back soon!

  19. H

    Honestly

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 21, 2022

    overall2food5service1ambience2

    The service was atrocious. The waitress watched my friend accidentally drop her cutlery on the floor, then did absolutely nothing and did not offer new silverware. They then gave my friend the wrong food and never adjusted it. Our glasses were dirty and we had to take some from another table. The waitress never even noticed and seemed annoyed to even be working. I still tipped 20% because I am polite but they absolutely did not deserve it.

  20. C

    Cristinad

    Washington DC

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We went for Easter Brunch. It was great! The ambiance was wonderful and the food delicious!

  21. MH

    MaryH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 16, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We were a party of 6 and had a great table in front near the open windows. A very fun festive atmosphere!

  22. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Orlando

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 16, 2022

    overall2food2service1ambience3

    Our waiter was not very attentive, but we enjoyed our outdoor seat. The “burger” is on an english muffin. The chicken sandwich and tavern pizzas were amazing. Not sure if we will be coming back, but it was definitely something good to try!

  23. AW

    AWJ15

    New England

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on April 16, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience4

    Very good service and lively atmosphere but the food could have been more appealing, especially for the price points. Our son's Brussels House Pizza was tasty with a thin, crispy crust but my husband's Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich was just OK – it was a big piece of chicken but needed more flavor. I had the Extra Dirty Caesar Salad with grilled shrimp added – it was basically a bowl of greens with 6 croutons and only 4 shrimp which imho was not worth an extra $9! Our daughter got the Fish & Chips – the fish was very good and there were 3 large pieces but the tarter sauce had NO flavor, almost tasted like dipping the fish (which was a mild flavor to begin with) in soft butter. Overall, great service and a fun vibe but we certainly wouldn't go back for the food.

  24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on April 16, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    Overall pretty good. I wouldn’t go out of my way for it though. Cinnamon Rolls were dry and burnt. Bacon was not crispy but good flavor. Bloody Mary wasn’t anything special. The lemonade was really good. Not sure if I’ll go again.

  25. n

    nuavgkim

    New England

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 14, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience4

    Less than ideal for lunch meetings but otherwise ok

  26. NS

    NinaS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 11, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    A lovely meal, especially when we moved off the street into the back outdoor seating area. Salads and pizza were great, and wait staff quite attentive. We will definitely be back.

  27. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent service. Wide variety of very good food. Friendly staff.

  28. V

    Viniters

    New England

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great service and atmosphere! The outdoor patio is lovely.

  29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 9, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    When trying to return a dirty glass the waitress argued that the glass was not dirty and blamed it on how glassware is stacked/stored but ultimately brought another glass. Waitress not very present, hard to get attention to order food. When my father asked for new utensils after appetizers the waitress huffed and puffed with an attitude and aggressively collected everyone’s silverware and then came back to slam the new silverware down on the table in front of each person. Food was outright bad. Burger was overcooked , chewy, flavorless, side salad drenched with dressing, squishy fries. The half chicken came with undercooked watery risotto. The fish and chips had slimy/oily fish. The creme brûlée did not have a hard shell which was odd. Used to love this place and would come often pre pandemic. This was my first time coming back post-Covid.

  30. BD

    BostonDiner

    New England

    78 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    78 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    The four of us really enjoyed our Saturday brunch gathering at Russell House. Had a reservation and we were seated right away. Service was great: friendly, polite, and efficient, even though the place was pretty busy. I had the breakfast sandwich, which was quite tasty and made with fresh, good-quality ingredients. The Bloody Mary had just the right amount of kick, but unfortunately wasn’t very well garnished. How about some celery? Overall, we had a good experience and would definitely return for brunch again.

  31. N

    Nebraska

    New England

    19 reviews

    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on April 8, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Great food (oysters especially good), great service, terrible noise level. Don't come here evenings for conversation.

  32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    5 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 7, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience3

    Overall great place. Extremely loud downstairs but expected on that area. Cocktails were average. Service was phenomenal, Brittany was attentive and timely.

  33. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 6, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great experience! Felt like the liveliest place on the block!

  34. AM

    AltaM

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 2, 2022

    overall3food3service5ambience4

    Beautiful place (aside from a messy bathroom). Food was okay.

  35. C

    Connaught

    New England

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on April 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Great service and great food! It’s good to be back out dining. Thanks for making it an exceptional experience

  36. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    7 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on April 1, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Only brunch was being served. Hope there were more sandwich or entree options.

  37. a

    annt

    New England

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on March 31, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    We sat next to the bar so it was noisy but fun. The windows were able to be opened a little so it was very nice. The service was great, loved Luca our server. The food wasn’t the best I had the chicken sandwich with fries that were not great. The wine suggestion was spot on. But I’d definitely go back!!

  38. M

    Mary18

    New York Area

    13 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on March 29, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    This restaurant would be a really good one for young people. Good for a burger and beer--not really what we were looking for.

  39. W

    Will

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 27, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    wefwfwf wef wer fier q ef wefeghegh. wr tgwr wr gwr

  40. SH

    StuartH

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on March 27, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A great time, first time there and I hope to go back.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Russell House Tavern using the Order Online button. Russell House Tavern also offers delivery in partnership with Chow Now. Russell House Tavern also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 500-3055.

Russell House Tavern is rated 4.5 stars by 2413 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
May 2022
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
7:00 PM
Booked 108 times today
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

    Brunch Mon–Wed 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm Bar Mon 11:00 am–11:00 pm Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–11:00 pm 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 Lunch Thu, Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Wed, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Thu 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:00 am

  • Cuisines

    American, Gastro Pub

  • 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, Pay with OpenTable, Visa

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Website

    http://russellhousecambridge.com/

  • Phone number

    (617) 500-3055

  • 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 our website for more information russellhousecambridge.com.

  • Private party contact

    Janelle Jenkins: (617) 500-3055

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