Insider Pages Reviews for Temple Bar

4 Stars: Go-To Spot (by CES81)

CES81 — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I love this place. The atmosphere is wonderful and depending upon the server you can rely on good service. I love their truffle oil pizza, casear salad, and drinks. It's not overpriced and just is the perfect blend of atmosphere food and fun.

4 Stars: Lomi Lomi (by veritablepalate)

veritablepalate — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

TB has recently become one of my personal hot spots. Fav on the apps menu- you MUST try the lomi lomi salmon ceviche. If you're a vegetarian, try the seared parisian gnocchi. Everything I've had so far has been delicious and the atmosphere is great.

5 Stars: Awesome Place! (by LynchmobSomerville)

LynchmobSomerville — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Tom Berry is probably the most underrated chef in Boston. He's constantly varying the menu, consistently churning out food that you would get at 5 star restaurant at 1/2 the price. Temple Bar is a great place to go for any occasion, be it a date or out with a group of friends. Always a cool and fun vibe, with great food and drinks.

5 Stars: Loved it! (by partycentral)

partycentral — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

This place is awesome!! I had the time of my life. I havnt been out in 3 weeks, and when my friends dragged me out I ended up having a fabulous time! a few fantastic apple martini's and appetizers, the atmosphere and the vibe gave me and my girls a perfect saturday night. I definately reccomend putting on your favorite party dress, hitting the town with your friends, and having a blast. Temple Bar is the shiznit.

1 Stars: Pretty lousy time (by div0502)

div0502 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I am a regular and went here with my friend last night and was very disappointed by a number of things. Not usually one to complain, I have to say though that the hostess went out of her way to be rude to us. After she finally sat us down, we ordered one drink and waited half an hour before the drinks arrived and then waited another 45 minutes before we could even ask for another one. At this time, we were so aggravated that we asked for the check. This took another 20 minutes and the hostess obviously was no help after we asked her for the check. We finally went up to the bar and paid the bill. I have never walked out on a bill, but last night was the closest I have ever been.

1 Stars: Rudest staff in Cambridge! (by CDP5)

CDP5 — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

My friend's and I were having an OK time here until the end of the night when the bartender refused to serve my friend a much-needed glass of water. Granted he was probably annoyed by customers who have one too many, but it is a bar for goodness sake! It can't have been the first time! All we needed was a glass of water and the response was "I'm through serving you." I can't even imagine what point he was trying to make. After we decided to leave, the manager was extremely rude, too! Condescending and ridiculing. I don't know what they expected, but it's not a coffee house -- it's a bar. I would never go back, and I hope that sharing our experience stops other innocent people from entering that establishment. In addition, none of the four different staff members who served us drinks checked our ID's.

5 Stars: Cool Vibe, Great Food (by maqgav)

maqgav — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We went to Temple Bar last Saturday around midnight, and I was really quite impressed. There was a vibrant bar scene, very cool lounge/down-tempo house music, and dark lighting. It was very New York, and not what I expected, and I was definately pleased, because so many bars in the area are predictable and boring. The kitchen was still open as well, so we got two pizzas, a truffle/avocado and a pepperoni, both excellent. Service was friendly and efficient, and we'll definately be back.

1 Stars: Worst place on Mass.Ave (by baby1981)

baby1981 — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Bad staff, bad food,boring.People are not nice, dont care about anything.there is nothing good to say about this place, I was completelly dissatisfied.I will never go there,try to avoid this place if possible.Hostess are worst than anywhere else.

5 Stars: Excellent food, attentive service (by fdr1968)

fdr1968 — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I'll admit that i was a bit anxious when my friends wanted to take me to Temple Bar for dinner for my birthday due to the amount of negative reviews I'd seen on Citysearch. However, we had a fantastic time; we made a reservation and were seated at a cozy table near the bar; and our service and food was excellent. My friend loved her cheeseburger and my "Chicken Under a Brick" was fantastic. I'd highly recommend the side of Meyer Spinach...tasty. One mishap: our Ceasar salad did not come out; we reminded our server as we were eating our entrees and told him not to bring it, but he brought it anyway and comped us. Nice save. Good wine list by the glass. Overall, Temple Bar is a fun place with great decor, excellent food, and an awesome bar scene. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

1 Stars: Bad Brunch (by nottheowner)

nottheowner — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I recently went to West SIde for brunch and was VERY disappointed. My friend and I waited at least 45 minutes for our food, during which time we had to ask several times for a refill on coffee, which was lukewarm when it finally came. When we commented to the waiter that we were still waiting for our food, he said "yeah, the kitchen is really busy today"...yet the restaurant was less than half full!!! When our food finally came out, it was dry, inedible, and had clearly been sitting under a warming lap for a long time. My eggs benedict with proscuitto was more like dried eggs with prosciutto jerky! My friend's waffle was so hard we had to chisel off a piece. Needless to say, we will not be patronizing Temple Bar for brunch again. What it lacks in quality, it makes up for in pretension. The wait staff couldn't be bothered to bring us coffee or run out the food languishing on a hot plate in the kitchen. The service and the food at Temple were both completely unacceptable.

4 Stars: Great place for late afternoon weekend cocktails (by northshorefoodies)

northshorefoodies — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Two friends and I found ourselves just outside of Harvard Square on saturday afternoon and hungy for some light snacks and a good cocktail. We stepped into Temple Bar and had a lovely time in their bar that is open to the street. The pizza, fries and salad were just right, although the pizza had a slightly soggy, limp crust. Our cocktails were good too - their drink list leans toward the sweet side of things, but classic drinks (side-car, old-fashioned) were just right. Our waitress seemed half-asleep and bored, but overall we had a very enjoyable time there.

5 Stars: Great place for drinks and appetizers (by kristylsummers)

kristylsummers — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Great drinks, including martinis, beer and wine. Fabulous appetizers and woodfired pizzas.

5 Stars: Great Experience! (by jaime_greg)

jaime_greg — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The lighting is perfect and there are a plethora of comfortable places to sit with friends or a date. The larger tables are round for good conversation and the tables for two are mini booths perfect for intamacy. It was later, so, available dinning was limited to a late night menu. The server was very pleasant, which is sometimes a rarity on a slow late mid-week night. The food and wine were definitly not a let down. We had the pork ribs and a pizza. Sounds simple, but simple is sometimes the hardest to accomplish. The ribs are accompanied by a delicious slaw with asian influences...soy, seasame oil and I think a hint of ginger. Normally I do not like slaw, but then again I am also not a rib lover; however I admit I was impressed. We will definitely be back to try the extended dinner menu!

3 Stars: Disappointing (by mill2024)

mill2024 — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Went for Sunday brunch based on reviews and was extremely disappointed. Reservations were not necessary, walk-in was easy. Food was standard brunch fare, nothing special. Service was good, nothing special. Asked for hot tea, was brought a big box with mostly empty spaces where tea bags were. Would not go back, there are better places in Boston for brunch.

4 Stars: Trendy bar and restaurant (by Mike M.)

Mike M. — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 11:05:00 GMT

A very harvardesk trendy bar and restaurant. A little pricy but the food is very good in this somewhat dark but hip spot on Mass Ave between Harvard and Porter square. Grab a bite with some friends, or go for the bar.

5 Stars: THIS PLACE IS GREAT (by summerguy12)

summerguy12 — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I consider myself a little bit of a restaurant snob, and I have to admit that this place was really something. My girlfriend and I went in last night and were simply amazed. The hostess was really sweet and welcomed us the moment we walked in the door. We first got a seat at the bar and the bartender made us these funky martinis that we loved. For dinner I had the sirloin and my girlfriend had the salmon. We both loved our dinners and we especially loved our waitress. It is such a relief to get a server who really loves their job and knows how to take care of their guests. . As former waiters, my girlfriend and I notice these things. My family will be coming to the city next week and I will be sure to bring them to my new favorite restaurant.

1 Stars: A BAD IDEA with BAD SERVICE.... (by southshorecritic)

southshorecritic — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

A small menu with unusual pairings. Hostess was polite and timely, not so for the waitstaff. Music was horrible. Food was reheated. It has potential, but would rather travel into Boston or Providence for better dining experience.

1 Stars: Time for a Change (by arlingtoncritic02474)

arlingtoncritic02474 — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

This little wannabe Bistro needs an Overhual. Fire the Chef & Hire Waitstaff that actually enjoys working. Small Portions and Overpriced Drinks and Entrees will keep this Consumer & Friends away from this Mass Ave Diaster.

1 Stars: Avoid TEMPLE BAR CAMBRIDGE (by cambridgetour)

cambridgetour — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

A tidal wave of bad luck or just poor service. Take my advice, spend your money and your time looking for better dining experiences. The food was greasy, fatty, undercooked and thrown on a plate. Our service was an order taker and made no recommendations and offered no guidance. I found that what little knowledge I had about thier Wine List was volumes over what our Waitperson possessed. Entrees were overpriced and the bread was not available at 8pm. Another disappointing Night!
AVOID TEMPLE BAR CAMBRIDGE. Save Your Money & Your Time!

4 Stars: Great Brunch (by Leigh S.)

Leigh S. — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:43:00 GMT

The Temple Bar is a very stylish Bar/Restaurant that is a nice place to go whether the sun is up or down. On the weekends they have a wonderfully rich and diverse brunch menu. At night time Temple Bar is a hoping place to grab a drink and hang out with your friends. The menu is moderately priced, the drinks are a little over priced.

5 Stars: something for everyone (by zorbetics)

zorbetics — Sat, 14 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Unbelievable! Great food, amazing service--then we stayed late night and met some beautiful girls. This is a place to bring your grandmother for brunch, your parents for dinner and then put them all in a cab and get wild with your friends at the bar.

4 Stars: Must Try It (by fiverfiver)

fiverfiver — Fri, 13 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I have had a great time every time I go here. Great seafood and music. Fun staff.
Gets dark and loud and really puts you in a scene.

5 Stars: Great Service (by brequinn)

brequinn — Tue, 08 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Even though we had a reservation we ended up waiting quite a while for a table but the bar was great so we didn't mind. We we did get sat they gave us three fantastic app's on the house as well as a great dessert. The management and server went out of their way to ensure a geat evening. We will certainly go back!

5 Stars: Not Typical (by ricks6758)

ricks6758 — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 01:00:00 GMT

Anything but ordinary - the menu is outstanding. I've tried the Duck, the Lamb, the Lobster Bisqe, and the Calamari. It was all excellent. The service is extremely friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The waitress didn't mind playing with my VERY messy 18 month old nephew - how much nicer can they be? The same meal anywhere else (as if you could find it) would cost at least 20 percent more. Oh, they even have parking! Fantastic!

5 Stars: Neighborhood Fave (by paul_daigle)

paul_daigle — Fri, 01 Oct 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I'm not sure why more people don't know about Temple Bar. I come here all the time. The food is delicious (try the steaks) and way underpriced. It's the type of stuff you can eat every night & it's still good, and the waitresses and bartenders are great (and cute). The desserts are definately the best in the area, no kidding. They're also the only decent late night menu in this part of Cambridge. Check it out!

5 Stars: Nice latenight (by colinj)

colinj — Fri, 24 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Went to this place for the first time. Some friends told me it was a great latenight joint and they were right. My girlfriend and I sat down and right away our waitress was there with this awesome martini list. We both had a few and loved em all. The Espresso Martini was my favorite. We also shared the Chocolate Fondue which came with all this great fruit for dipping. Really enjoyed myself. I'll definitely be back to try dinner. This place was a perfect ending to our evening.

5 Stars: Great place to celebrate (by sld023)

sld023 — Fri, 24 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Went in for dinner to celebrate a close friend's birthday the other night - great atmosphere, friendly service. dinner was excellent. at the end of the meal the waitress sent over a creme brulee on the house with 'happy birthday amy' written in chocolate for my friend- she was thrilled! this is a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion.

4 Stars: cute girls - fun times (by charlesives)

charlesives — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Lots and lots of cute girls in the restaurant and cute waitresses. Plenty of eye candy. Food was great--Awesome crabcake dish and the NY Sirloin was like 22 bucks, would have been 30 anywhere else. Server was informative and fun. Right in my neighborhood too. Wish they delivered!!!

5 Stars: A great experience (by amy128)

amy128 — Tue, 21 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

My friends and I had a great experience at Temple Bar this past weekend. The menu catered to everyone's tastes and the servers were very attentive and friendly. The chocolate fondue was the perfect end to a great evening. We will definitely be back.

5 Stars: Brunch at the Temple (by tala414)

tala414 — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I had a very good brunch experience at Temple Bar on Sunday. I sat by one of the open windows and enjoyed a big Bloody Mary and some excellent french toast. My waitress was friendly and upbeat. If you are looking for a new place to go for brunch in Cambridge on a lazy Sunday morning, this is the place to go!

5 Stars: Night at the temple (by garret_strombley)

garret_strombley — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

The atmosphere here is great! The staff were very friendly and courteous. We didn't have to wait to be seated and the martini's were exotic. This is our second time here. The first was for drinks with friends and the recent was for dinner. The night scene here is exactly what you would expect of Boston. Good looking friendly crowd, good music and of course, great drinks! I highly recommend this place as a night spot for the younger crowd that want to have a good time.

5 Stars: better every time (by theclubberlangexperience)

theclubberlangexperience — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I travel to boston/cambridge every couple of months for work and to visit friends. We always stop in at temple bar...the menu is great, the servers are friendly and attentive, and it's a chill place to hang out--especially late night when the bar fills up. Lots of singles. It actually gets better every time I go.

5 Stars: Great Experience (by lili7)

lili7 — Tue, 24 Aug 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I met with friends for dinner. The food was excellent. The martinis are great & the atmosphere was a lot of fun.

2 Stars: Has deteriorated over time (by jko97)

jko97 — Thu, 01 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Once a great place gone downhill.

The food was good but over-priced: the lamb chops dish only came with two tiny chops. There were plenty of mashed potatoes and veggies, but I expected at least three or four chops for $23.

The $9 drinks had risen in price but the quality was not as good as before. Martini came with just vodka, when there was supposed to be grapes and chambord. The martini was close to room temperature when it should have been chilled.

Temple's staff used to be attentive and helpful. Now they are pushy and unfriendly. The overpriced food came promptly, but she kept trying to take away our plates and kick us out. It wasn't a busy night.

We were going to stay for the whole night, but decided to leave after one drink. What a disappointment to what used to be a great late night hang-out.

5 Stars: Temple Has Class!! (by holl1217)

holl1217 — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Temple is a class above the rest. It's a great place to meet family and friends to have a good time. Each time I go I receive outstanding service and feel welcomed by the staff. If you're in the neighborhood, I strongly urge you to stop by for some great food and service!

5 Stars: Fabulous! (by dizcoboobz)

dizcoboobz — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

I haven't had any food here but the drinks are fabulous and the staff is just a joy. Everyone from teh barback to the manager is curteous, pleasant, full of laughs and just great to be around. It's a joy to see people enjoy their work and makes for a nice atmosphere!

5 Stars: good time (by myke)

myke — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

First time visit to the Temple, but it won't be the last. Great food - Drinks- Great Time. (also, lots to look at.......)..See you there.

5 Stars: GREAT PLACE (by mccue)

mccue — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

This bar ROCKS!!!! I had a great time there. Waitstaff was fantastic. The owner is a great guy...we had a drink with him. Good food too!!!

5 Stars: I guess I lack the entitlement mentality (by bbrocks)

bbrocks — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Just passing through Boston from LI NY and had a great time. Didn't get too intoxicated so I remembered what I ordered. The staff was awesome. Have found out in my travels when you treat people well you are treated in kind. Will definately be back on our next spin through.

5 Stars: Great Night (by lancevsmachine)

lancevsmachine — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Went to Temple Bar on Saturday night with my wife and had a great time. We were seated promptly by a gracious staff and our drink order was taken almost immediately. Good stiff drinks too (about four fingers of Grey Goose on the rocks). The food was even better then the drink!
It was my first time at this place, but definitely not my last.

5 Stars: Best Food in Cambridge (by denise_brennan)

denise_brennan — Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

We're from Scituate, we wish we lived closer. The Martinis are GREAT and the staff was wonderful..

1 Stars: Unpleasant (by ms99)

ms99 — Sun, 26 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

I had a very unpleasant experience at Temple, as I found the staff to be rude and the quality of service poor. I would definitely never go there again.

4 Stars: Every Neighborhood Should Be So Lucky (by ShanaLyns)

ShanaLyns — Wed, 10 Sep 2003 02:00:00 GMT

I think it's a misnomer to call Temple Bar a neighborhood hangout. If it were located elsewhere, it would be a prime after work drink spot that melds into an incredible dinner. Some might call the food bistro fare or comfort food, but it's done with a decidedly upscale twist. There's nothing nicer than sitting on their big plush banquettes muching Steak Frites. Go, you'll be glad you did.

4 Stars: Good spot to meet your friends (by bandt)

bandt — Sun, 13 Jul 2003 02:00:00 GMT

The ambiance and decor at Temple Bar is low-key hip and wasn't pretentious when I was there. We went at 9:00 on a Saturday night and even though the restaurant was full, we got a booth in the bar area no problem. For non-smokers (like us), the ventilation seemed really good. Mixed crowd, seemed mostly 30+, most kind of upscale in a business way rather than "hip."

5 Stars: Good Atmosphere (by Sijay)

Sijay — Sat, 25 Jan 2003 01:00:00 GMT

Great place for a drink. Music is always at the right level and atmosphere is positive.