Such an awesome late night food spot. Stopped in after a night boozing and pigged out. The short rib on top of my burger was a great twist for the fat kid inside me. It really hit the spot. The homemade chicken fingers were perfect and crunchy. I would be a regular here if I lived in the area. read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Short Rib Burger & Double Jalapeño Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

We came here in search of good dollar oysters and we were pretty disappointed. The atmosphere was fun, bar area upstairs is almost like a dive bar. Patrons are able to choose songs to play. The ordered our oysters and they didnt have a very fresh taste. They tasted funny. Was hard to get service attention but when we did, they were friendly. Serves typical bar foods. Probably won't be going back read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We went for the raw oysters. On their website it states 2 oysters for $1.50 when got there that wasn't factual they were now $1.50 each for 12 then $2.00 for any additional oysters. I LOVE OYSTERS. These were not good at all. They weren't cleaned well nor were all of them shucked from the shell. I guess I will only eat oysters at a seafood restaurant, the waiter at least knew what kind of oysters they were. We were offered cocktail sauce, small amount of horseradish and no lemon, but there was hot sauce! These oysters were not small they were petite total waste of money. I also had a lobster melt because I was still hungry and that sandwich was good. Their fries I could've done without or hot, they were lukewarm at best. If I ate meat I might've thought about going back for a burger, but I doubt it! Service was ok. Nothing special about this place. read more

You come here to sit out at the beer garden PERIOD. Nice Harvard Square ambiance especially on sunny day. Food is average and bathroom out in beer garden "train spotting-esque" Funny, sitting next to two clowns eating oysters and drinking martinis! It's tough to be away from home the 1st time read more

That burger was freaking awesome. Friendly and professional bartenders. Nice job! I will be back

This is easily the single most awesome bar to which I have ever had the pleasure of venturing on Friday night after a hard week's work. The food is not exactly first-class, but then again it is dive bar food, so what do you expect? I especially love the beer fries and waffle fries, particularly to supplement those big juicy hot dogs. If you have a big enough stomach, get the double! These dogs are of super high quality! I am also quite fond of the mozzeralla sticks and calamari; my best friend and I are always sure to get at least one of these as our appetizer. The beer is priced very fairly also, depending on what kind it is, and the staff are very attentive. This place does get very busy on weekends, and they do the best they can accommodate. I have worked at restaurants before, so I would know. Dikshawn (did I spell that right?) and Lila are the BEST! My best friend and I have also found this place to be an ideal means of getting away from the mainstream scene just to rock it out, and crank up the jukebox with some Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Slayer, etc. and not have to hear any of that stupid, generic, pointless pop dance or rap garbage that is being slammed through peoples' heads on a regular basis. Plus, it's always fun to scare away any wimpy, yet stuck-up preppies who think they can come in here and ruin us rockers' fun with any of that stupid mainstream trash... priceless! Bottom line - if you are looking to "get down on the dance floor" then you can forget about coming to Charlie's Kitchen! You are going to LOSE! GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! We don't want your kind here, because Charlie's is the type of place where we anti-mainstream folks come to get away from people like you! There are PLENTY of bars in Cambridge that will be more than happy to have you play your generic pop dance garbage, but Charlie's IS NOT one of them! Thank you! EDIT: Since I first wrote this review, there was an occurrence at Charlie's that illustrates PERFECTLY the type of environment this is, in terms of the type of crowd for which this place is ideal: Someone had the nerve to put on Justin P.O.S. Dweeber on the Jukebox one Friday night, and it didn't even take 5 seconds into the track (not song) before practically the whole bar started booing very loudly and chanting "SKIP IT!!! SKIP IT!!! SKIP IT!!!" When the bartender took the remote and skipped it, everyone cheered! Not only that, but they cheered even LOUDER when my first song, Judas Priest's "You've Got Another Thing Coming" came on! To this day, this remains by far the most EPIC moment I have ever experienced at Charlie's and I simply HAD to include it in my Yelp review. It just simply COULD NOT be ignored, and should serve as a warning to all the stuck-up, musically illiterate mainstream pop fans out there. All in all, with the food, the drinks, the crowd (particularly my fellow regulars Bob and Steve - you know who you are!), the scene... it's all there and great, and I would strongly recommend this place to anyone who wishes to unwind and get away from the mainstream scene. Also worthy to note is that this where my best friend and I have had the pleasure of doing a Blues Brothers dance impersonation to "Gimme Some Lovin" on Halloween night of 2014, invoking laughter in many. Ever since then, our tabs have been marked with the name "Blues Bros" - HILARIOUS! Oh, and to Ian B. - As I have said, we don't want your kind here, so don't even bother coming here again! As I have said, Charlie's is the type of place where we anti-mainstream folks come to get away from people like you. Not having scum like you or your GF around is what makes Charlie's an awesome place. Thank you! read more

The lure of outdoor drinking is hard to deny, especially when the beers are cheap and the air is nice. Cambridge and Boston residents have reason rejoice over their very own beer garden! Owned and operated by the attached Charlie's Kitchen, there are a few things to note about this under-the-sky oasis of alcohol and fried food: 1. Almost all of the food is indeed fried. It's bar food, with highlights being the waffles fries and a very cheap lobster roll. Avoid the wings, unless you like "Tabasco hot" as opposed to "buffalo-style hot." Beware that not all items come with fries, because sometimes your server will ask what kind you want with your meal and they will end up on your bill for an additional charge. 2. There is a seat yourself policy and, because it's always packed, it's highly unlikely you'll get a seat unless you come early, 3. The above ensures slow service. Somehow, the taps are always being changed. 4. There is no beer list. Your server will surely rattle off what they have, but don't expect to see a printed menu. 5. Parties of 6 or more get an auto gratuity of 18% added to their bill. read more

I do not like posting negative reviews, but this restaurant does not honor table reservations. I called about making a reservation for a party over 6 (as per their website). I received an email confirmation. When we showed up for the reservation, the server ignored us and finally rudely informed us that they did not have room for us. The manager was completely unapologetic and dismissive of the fact that the staff had reserved and confirmed our table in writing a few days before. I would not recommend this restaurant; no accountability for their own mistakes and poor customer service. read more

Natalie Portman got seated at a table next to me one Saturday afternoon in July 2008 where she appeared to be catching up with her friends from Harvard, and I had to keep my (then) boyfriend from keeling over now that his life was complete. Charlie's has an air of nostalgia to me. While I may not be old, I have memories of Charlie's ranging back to a decade or so when I was a wannabe punk kid hanging out in Harvard sq and trying to be a vegetarian. Like those days, Charlie's isn't exactly the cleanest or more pristine place. The food isn't full of substance or care to go on and on about (but I will, and others will too). Don't go to the bathroom here. Have an escape plan or wait till you've had too many beers to care. The tables are clean enough, and I haven't spotted a mouse *inside* the establishment. The waitstaff does their job, my most recent server didn't even write down our order as we were likely the only people eating close to 11pm on a Sunday. The jukebox churned out a steady stream of '77 style punk and the neon proudly glowed. Our food came super quick, and my companion was pleasantly surprised at his crab cake and waffle fry plate, which frankly made me honest at first. The menu has a nice little chunk of veggie friendly items, and food for the more carnivorous amongst us. I've had my fair share of tuna melts and veggie wraps, all with their perfectly cooked shoestring fries. This time around I went for the veggie Reuben and it was good, really good. The bread was crisped up perfectly on the grill and the sauerkraut and dressing didn't make the Sammy a wet mess. Don't expect AAA diamond food here or sanitary bathrooms and you'll likely love this dive too. read more

See all

We first ate at Charlie's Kitchen on Harvard Square when we brought our son to admitted students day in 2001. Charlie's was a hang out of the staff of Let's Go travel guides, and that was good enough for me. Since then, I've eaten at Charlie's Kitchen many times, always getting the double cheeseburger and fries and a draft Guinness. Most recently we ate there last week when we had dinner during the wedding weekend of our son. I again had the double cheeseburger and fries, with a Guinness back. The cheeseburger is just a C+, the order of fries is smaller than it used to be, but it's only $6. Amazing! This is Harvard Square at its best. Charlie's Kitchen. Long may it continue and prosper!. read more

Ok food - standard burgers sandwiches etc. nit too pricey. But some of the worst service I've ever had it anywhere. Waiter was absolutemy terrible, the others have been better this visit was horrendous. He seem to do everything he could to ignore us, and made a Facebook messenger BOGO offer as annoying as possible to use. Not the way to make repeat customers. read more

Came in here looking for a mean lobster roll. It came highly recommended. I got the double lobster roll plate for $19. It's a pretty good deal, but I was disappointed. It's not bad, but wayyy too much mayo and filler. Less would be more. read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Lobster rolls - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My wife loves this place. Everytime order 20 oysters and a lobster roll. Down where it's wet! Also if you intend to buy more than one lobster roll, order the the double lobster roll instead of single lobster rolls. It'll save you 4 bucks per lobster. read more

All the liquor drinks are SO VERY watered down. I bought a friend a vodka & tonic water the first night there and she told me it tastes like there was no any alcohol in it. Same thing happened the next time we went - not only that all my friends told me the exactly same thing, but I also tried one myself and felt the same way. Although it's an amazingly chilled place to hang out & meet people, stop watering down your drinks my dudes, not cool. Oh also, there was only one single washroom so get ready to pee your pants. read more

This place is a hole in the wall that has the nerve to ask for more money. I can't believe the prices they charge for being a greasy diner/dive bar. Greasy is appropriate to use while describing this place, because everything I touched was filthy (except thankfully, for the utensils). The food was ok ( I guess), except that the clam chowder I ordered was disgustingly thin. I can't imagine coming here for an actual night out and not just food and starter drinks. It is too small. This place belongs in a hick town in Texas. read more

Last night I saw a drag queen punch this guy in the face; it was awesome! By far one of the best nights yet!! I started coming here years ago, maybe ten, and I loved it even when they didn't have the beer garden. That is to say, I love the beer garden, but Charlie's can stand alone without it if they needed to (like 9 months out of the year when it's cold). Simple food, just better options than the pub, and done so very respectably for the price. The atmosphere is unmatched in this neighborhood. Totally makes going to Harvard worth the trek from JP. If your friends ask you to go to Harvard, make this a must stop. Even if it's a Sunday afternoon, make sure you go upstairs. If you're reading this and thinking "... uh, this sounds a little gritty." STOP. It's not. Just stop going to Harvard to hang out at all these other bush league joints, and go somewhere where they might not care if their fingernails are clean. I mean, really, do you care? I like the food, the beer is good, and it's cheap. You can catch soccer matches on the TV on the weekends and it's always a good time. You don't go here because it's suiting your mood at the time; it provides your mood for you! read more

I was apprehensive. I admit I expected Charlie's to be an obnoxious college hangout--and I'm too old for that scene. But I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised. We sat on the patio, which was full but not too packed for a Friday night. There's a good beer selection, and the pub grub is reliable. As they are proud to tell you, they've got really good burgers. The chicken tenders were surprisingly good: chicken pounded thin into cutlets and covered in a light breading with plenty of herbs. Good, reliable pub grub at moderate prices if you're in Harvard Square and need to eat. read more

Food was very average. Decent prices compared to other restaurants in the area. Oyster price was good.

Solid 3.5/5 We got the prime lobster topped burgers and creamy tomato soup. The server was really nice and friendly and the a/c cold inside! The burgers both a a good deal of lobster on them, especially for $13. They were cooked good and they subbed a salad instead of grains. We will be back to try some other burgers for sure. See Photos. read more

See all

I love fruity sweet drinks and love "Sex on the Beach". I ordered a few here and really enjoyed them. I'll be back. The place was busy and lots of fun. It got a bit loud but not so bad that you had to scream. We could still talk and have conversations but still feel like things were hopping...maybe it was the great group we were with. The waitress did the best she could with our group. There was a bit of confusion but with so many of us moving around I think she did great. Better than I could have done. We were upstairs since it was too cool for the outside beer garden though that would have been fun. Maybe when the weather warms up. It is a busy place! Be prepared for ID check and hand stamp. Some people seemed surprised by this when I was standing outside. Hmm. The menu...well I wasn't up for what was on the menu so I passed. Maybe another time I'll give it a try. I've heard the burgers are good but going back for drinks for sure. The bathrooms are bit scary but hey when ya gotta go. Overall Great time. read more

We were actually headed to Bartley's yesterday for lunch, but even with the cold wet weather, there was still a line outside and the roommate just wasn't willing to wait. We headed to Charlie's, where neither of us had been before, save me being outside in the Beer garden and having some waffle fries once. The menu's interesting, pretty extensive, and cheaper than Bartley's, though less extensive and creative. Roommate had a double cheeseburger with beer battered fries and I had the black bean burger on the suggestion of the waitress. My black bean burger was really good and came topped with cheese and guacamole. They actually make their burger themselves which is really impressive. Good choices for vegetarians, as they have veggie reubens, a hummus wrap, the blackbean burger, and cheeseburger. The roommate said the burger was good, though Bartley's was still better. He was still hungry after his gym workout the day before so he also ordered a lobster roll which caused the waitress' eyes to bug out of her head. He finished that and the fries and said it was good, but a lil heavy for his tastes on the celery. Not a bad substitution for Bartleys and definitely a plus for the vegetarian. read more

I had been in the Beer Garden section before but last night was my first time inside. Last night, I was there twice. Early on, when it was kind of empty, the bartender was awful. Not worst-bartender-ever-awful, but she would ask us questions, not hear our answers, and then make her own assumptions (which were wrong). Later on, when it was crazy, I think the cocktail waitress did a great job keeping up with our large group on a busy night. She'd take your order and cash you out all in one swoop and then come back as quickly as possible with your drink. REALLY busy and can't find your waitress? No problem. You can just text her. There's a sign on the table explaining how. Genius. I, still, have never had any food here, so keep that in mind. This review is only for the drinkin'. But the drinks are relatively cheap and the atmosphere is great. read more

I'm just adding to the pile here, but I'm going to echo the general statement of the masses and say that Charlie's Kitchen is a staple Harvard Square location that does what it does and doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. Burgers and beer, with a lot of noise, laughter and bumping into people as side dishes. You'll either love it or hate it the second you get in. read more

Great restaurant in Harvard square good food and drinks for a reasonable price good burgers definitely a daily restaurant

Wonderful spot for drinking on the patio when the weather is nice. Tends to get super crowded and loud though, so be prepared. I've also gotten the burger. Next time I'll just stick with drinks since I wasn't that impressed (or maybe i'll just order the waffle fries - yum). Both food and drinks are very reasonably priced, which is an added benefit. I've also had attended a big event here with ~90 classmates in the fall. It was a little crowded since the outdoor space isn't that big, but I enjoyed mingling with friends in the sunshine. read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Front entrance - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

I'm really indifferent about this place. Seriously, my opinion is split right down the middle. I spent many a night at Charlie's over the summer, I will say that. My summer was filled with long nights in Harvard Square- starting at Grendel's, then Noir and then ending up at Charlie's. The pros: - cheap - pretty good vibe - karaoke upstairs (which took me forever to find out after going there time after time) - outdoor seating in the beer garden which is great on summer days/nights - one time, a bartender "accidentally" made me two of the one drink I ordered and I got it for free. That was pretty cool. Not so cool when he asked for my number and I found out he was still in high school :-/ The cons: - Maybe I just got too drunk there but sometimes the vibe is not so cool and the people are creepy and or rude - The service (esp in the beer garden) can be really slow/shitty - Once our server asked for our IDs, I handed him my valid passport and he took about 10 minutes to look it over and then ultimately asked if I had another form of ID to verify it (i.e. just a credit card). UGH unnecessary. But let's be real, I will get drunk enough to end up there again. read more

Day 5 of Boston trip We went there for a couple of beers. I didn't really eat much but they had great clam chowder....spicier than the norm which I liked. As weird as it sounds they had friggin ridiculously good guacamole. It had a real college bar atmosphere...very hopping and busy. Our waiter was a trip. If you're visiting from out of town this a great place to go. Check out the beer garden if it's a nice evening. read more

I absolutely loved this restaurant! My boyfriend and I had our second date there! We had cocktails and some very tasty hors d'oeuvres. Service was amazing and so was the price in the quality of our food and drinks too. Would love to go there again and maybe one day tell my boyfriend that I would like it to be our special little place. read more

I want it like this place but every time I eat here I'm so under impressed. Last time I got the lobster role. It was fine. A cold lobster salad made in light mayo placed in a unbuttered, untoasted bun. Nothing fabulous. The cole slaw is solid: creamy with a light spicey thing going on. Their fries are shoe string fries which are fine but they don't come salted... In fact, the flavor factor here is bland to the max. The clam chowder was watery and had almost no clams but a ton of potatoes (which were sliced too big to eat in one easy bite.) the flavor was not bad but not good because it had no flavor. I had to add a ton of salt and pepper just to get through it. Today I ate lunch here and order the fish and chips. The fish was nondescript white fish..maybe catfish? It had literally no seasoning on it! Not even salt and pepper! It didn't come with lemon slices either or a cocktail sauce. I had to hunt down the staff for a few lemons... I was too embarrassed to ask for cocktail sauce even though I desperately wanted it. I am not a big drinker but it seems like that's all it's good for: drinking late night. Just make sure you're wasted when you eat here I guess. /: read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Definitely a dive bar/late night eats place. It's alright. I feel the servers are the best thing this place has going for it. That, the location, and being open late. There is one unisex bathroom. And I needed to go to the bathroom right when we arrived. And now I get to write home to Mom and tell her what it's like to be a female taking a piss in the men's bathroom at the Cantab (also located in Cambridge). How do I know what that's like, you ask? Because my boyfriend always told me at the Cantab that he can smell the piss he took 25 years ago in the men's room. And I think I did smell the piss he took at the Cantab 25 years ago in the bathroom AT CHARLIE'S KITCHEN! No soap? No problem! I carry wet naps with me for those 'riding on public transportation' days when I stop at a street cart for my Listeria-On-A-Stick. My Ultimate Grilled Cheese was not so ultimate. I asked if they forgot to put the cheese on the bread. The bread was nicely grilled and it is a nicer French bread, but I would spring for an extra slice of cheese if I were cooking. The best part of the meal was the tomato soup. It was hearty. So what I did was break up the pieces of my bread from my bruschetta, I mean grilled cheese, and I made ultimate croutons. And that was tasty! Seriously. There is a distinct possibility of it being yesterday's broccoli soup with tomato puree added to it, but even if that is the case, the soup was good. My male hostage got the cheeseburger club. It was okay. Aside from the rather old fries. But credit to my server, we asked and he brought us fresh fries. The frappe was happy in my tummy yummy. It's a hang. If I were a twenty-something dude looking to hang out with the guys and needed to use the bathroom, I'd go back. Alas, I am not twenty-something, nor a dude, so I will go to Tasty Burger next time. read more

Charlie's Kitchen - The Ultimate Grilled Cheese ain't so ultimate. - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

The atmosphere is like an underground rustic garden, surrounded by stone/rock walls it's cool. I ordered he burger with the homestyle buffalo mac n cheese. The burger was average , the Mac n cheese tastes nothing like buffalo Mac N cheese but it was spicy and a little dry for me. The other thing I didn't like about the burger was the bun was much bigger than the burger itself so there was a lot of wasted bread. I order a glass of wine and the glass I got it in was gross, covered in dust and not properly wiped clean after it was washed. I don't know if it's like this all the time but the bathroom was absolutely disgusting. Dirty toilet seat, wet toilet paper, bad smell and flies everywhere . I went to the bar (inside) to use the other bathroom it wasn't much better but at least no flies ! I would go back literally just for the drinks and I'll make sure I use the restroom before it elsewhere . read more

Charlie's Kitchen - MAGNERSSSSS - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Oh Charlie's Kitchen. A Harvard Square staple. No frills, filling food, and sort of tacky decor. Definitely the best. I've been to Charlie's many times, and I'm never disappointed. You know exactly what you're going to get, and you know it will be satiating and affordable. read more

So my boss just got lunch for the crew to the tune of $75 for 4 of their "famous double burgers" and a couple orders of fries... NEVER. AGAIN. The pictures on the website don't come close to what we recieved. There was three times as much bun as burger, the patties were lower quality and size than McDonald's. The cheese tasted plastic. The sea-salt and cracked pepper fries, probably 3 flakes of pepper and no evidence of salt. Severely overpriced for the amount of food/quality we got. 8 thumbs down. read more

After some poor treatment by The Red House's host, we left pretty disappointed. However, one of their servers stopped us on the way out and recommended Charlie's kitchen. Charlie's kitchen is a no frill food pub. Their service and food was prompt. We had oysters and beers. No complaints! read more

50 cent oysters is an insanely good deal. Also got the double lobster roll which was nothing special but a great value for the cost if $22. Fries were delish as well read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Charlie 's Double Lobster Roll Special - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

It looked like a Hipster Haven when the sun set! The casual, fun atmosphere with the rock music blaring, the beer flowing and the french fries frying made all feel welcome. Our tattooed and pierced waitress was cool and got me an electric lemonade, even though it wasn't on the menu. Of course, she also told us that she took too many hits before work and thought she hallucinated the ceiling dripping... though it actually was. But, whatever, she was very sweet and helpful and made the night a little more exciting. The bathroom is kind of interesting... drunk guys with fedoras and keds popping in and out.... and graffiti all along the tiles certainly give it character. read more

This place has my heart - in the spring, summer, & fall! I absolutely love their outdoor beer garden, and it's easily one of my top 10 favorite bars to go to in Boston/Cambridge area. The drinks here are super affordable - beer, cocktails, shots, hard liquor, making it the perfect hangout/bar for college students! I've been going here for 2 years now, and it honestly just never gets old. Definitely giving 4 stars just for the experience I've had the past 2 years and my somewhat attachment to this place.. The food here is nothing too crazy, all the apps are pretty good, definitely stuff students would like. The actual inside of Charlie's is very old-school, but I like it! Only thing they really need to fix in their outdoor beer garden is the TV they keep out there, and the cleanliness of the outdoor bathroom! The TV screen is just yellow and it kinda sucks when there are games on and no one can really see whats going on on the screen. Other than the small things, Charlie's Kitchen and their outdoor beer garden is great - probably go once every week or so with my boyfriend. We love this place! read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I took my six year old and my assistant to Charlies for dinner tonight. We sat at the bar downstairs (see photos). My daughter drank milk from the same (cool) glass as our friend, and she had a hotdog, and played and looked at everything, and the bartenders played back, and gave her really awesome Japanese stickers. Now THAT is my idea of a good bar! Thanks Charlie's! read more

Charlie's Kitchen - Belly up to the bar with Ken - Burgers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sit outside if it's nice out. Charlie's is a dive bar with dive bar food. But for Cambridge it is affordable and it has a very friendly staff and very fun crowd. This is always a great place to bring visiting friends if they are looking for something fun to do. read more

In the past I'd have given Charlie's 2 or 3 stars. Usually it's too loud to talk and the service is spotty. One time we were seated in a booth, given menus and ignored for 25 minutes. Today we had great service from a new waiter named Drew. He was very attentive and got the details right. For a place that always has a TV blasting over my head it's a treat to have a server who presents the coffee nicely and whom I don't have to chase after for cream. The music was at reasonable level today too. They have a great location across the street from the MBTA 66 and 86 bus. The burgers and fries are damn good. They have 17 beers on tap. Whenever there are sliders on the specials menu I get them. read more