We love Darling, and have had overall really lovely experiences. Even when the kitchen or service lacks, they always do their best to make it up and make you feel like a guest, not just a patron. There is a lot of gum under the tables which is not what you want. read more

Excellent all around in terms of food, drink, service and ambience. - Concise food menu but each dish tasted amazing. Sizes are more tapas size but still felt very full - would recommend maybe 3-4 for a couple. I really liked the Suan La Show Chow and Bang Bang Gai. - Extensive drink menu. Best cocktail I've had in Boston. I highly recommend The Common stripe. - Interior was very chic and elevated. A bit pricey but a great experience. Definitely worth coming back to try the rest of the menu and the drinks. read more

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As someone who grew up eating Hong Kong cuisine, Darling thoroughly impressed me. We had to book a few weeks in advance for a party of 4 Food 5/5: we got almost the entire menu, with standouts being bang bang gai (crispiest and most flavorful chicken bites), filet o fish bao (trust me on this one- perfect textural contrast and beautifully fried fish), and sago pudding (coconut bombs in a tapioca "pudding"). honorable mention to the comforting soy sauce noodles and fried enoki bao (so crispy!). Drinks 5/5: every single drink my friends got was a delight Ambience/Service 4.5/5: 15min delay on seating beyond our reservation for 4 (def rec a resy but can sit at the bar if lucky), attentive and prompt service otherwise, great spot for an intimate date night, music at the perfect volume Price 4/5: incredible quality food, but the price tag felt a little steep; expect $70/person on food alone Parking: a few metered spots nearby, but very accessible via red line MBTA Can't wait to be back. read more

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Great spot for a night out, all the drinks here were unique and delicious. Despite being very busy, the drinks came out very quick and additionally the service we received was amazing. Would definitely recommend to try the HK French Toast if you're into a sweeter cocktail. The filet o fish bao is also a must get! read more

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Sexy date night spot in Central; more hits than misses in the relatively limited food offerings. Bottom line: you can't go wrong with the cocktails or the fish baos. Here's what I loved: - The very creative names given to the drinks, including my personal favorite, "everyday, another apocalypse" (truly). I ordered the "turn of the phrase" because I will order any drink that has the adjective "vegetal," and this was amazing - super smooth mescal, with faint notes of bell pepper and kiwi. - The homage in the decor to "In the Mood for Love," which if you have not watched Wong Kar-wai's masterpiece, you need to immediately. - The filet o fish bao. As a kid, I used to beg my parents for McDonald's just so I could get the fish sandwich and the bao version is absolutely transcendent. Super crispy, flaky fish, with a generous dab of tartar sauce, scallions, and Kraft cheese. I would come back just for this. - The bang bang gai or double-fried chicken thighs in an absolutely drinkable gojuchang, cilantro, and lime sauce. Here's what I didn't love: - The suan la chow show or hot and sour chili wontons. Can't go wrong, right? This was the dish we liked the least - the pork filling was under-seasoned and an unappealing gristly texture, and the wrapper was so doused in the sauce that it disintegrated as soon as we picked it up. Overall, the dishes were on the salty side; we were guzzling water throughout the night. Parking: One of the managers kindly pointed us to the 2-hour parking lot behind the McDonalds across the street. The Mass Ave spots right in front of the restaurant are only 1-hour and they do ticket, so avoid those if you can. read more

Darling - Fish o filet bao - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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When you first walk in, you're met by a striking metallic wall with "Darling" glowing in neon. It hides the rest of the restaurant just enough to build anticipation, especially as you catch a small peek through the built-in bookshelf before entering the main space. Once inside, the restaurant opens up beautifully. You'll notice the bar stretching across the room, the moody, intimate atmosphere, the lively hum of conversation, and then the smell of great food drifting through the space. Our experience was a full one. We tried one of everything on the menu and finished with the sesame and ube cheesecake. The dessert was different from my first visit, so don't expect the same thing every time, but whatever they have will be worth trying. Overall, it's a fun spot for a date night or a night out with a group of friends. read more

Darling - 8 DOLLAR CUCUMBER? + FILET O FISH BAO - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Asian fusion cocktails are so unique, this place is super cool for a bar/cocktail night vibe. Food wise it's good for small bites, but lots of fried/heavy items which wasn't the best tummy feel after a while. Ribs and enoki bao were my favorites though! Service was fantastic too. read more

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Unique Asian style cocktails and they also serve chinese food! Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time as this place is extremely popular during rush hours. Great vibes to chat over a few drinks. Beautiful environment. read more

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Asian fusion take on dim sum with a fun, lively atmosphere! It's a great spot for date night. The bar is stunning and the wait staff were very friendly. Portions are pretty good and executed well. Some dishes were a tad salty but nothing too crazy. We got the filet o fish bao, lo bak go (turnip cake), pork braised ribs, colossal shrimp, and sago pudding. All of them we really enjoyed! 2-3 plates per person is sufficient. We also got a cocktail (Common Trope) - very fruit and sweet! Would definitely come back! read more

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Such a lovely experience and the food did not disappoint!! Customer service was so welcoming and attentive. I was only a party of 2 so we were sat in the bar area. With that being said many workers were in front of us. However, the check did take a while to get to us despite my party being in front of the register. The inside was very lively and dim. It was loud (like all good places!) with chatter and laughter which added to the good vibes. The inside is definitely a plus! The food was bombbbbb!!!!!!! I was so hungry this day so maybe that's why it was so good. I got soy sauce fried noodles and they were delicious. My only complaint is that at times it felt too oily/greasy, especially the greens, which I didn't finish. You can't go wrong with their $3 bowl of rice!! It was yummy! I will definitely come back :D read more

Darling - Soy sauce noodles - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Okay wow!! I love the vibes here. The bar is stunning, I think next time I'd want to sit there. We started with the suan la chow show, which were these perfectly cooked pork wontons covered in chili crisps. So juicy, spicy, and delicious. Then we got the filet o fish bao, which was so unique! I definitely recommend this if you like fish and chips. The fried fish was perfectly cooked. My favorite item of the night was the red-braised pork ribs. The meat falls right off the bone and melts in your mouth. We got 2 drinks and neither of us were crazy about them but we will be back for food! Also, the service was great. All the food came out super quick. read more

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Made a reservation a few weeks in advance to come to Darling on a Friday night. I was so excited to try this place because it has a lot of great reviews. It has a satisfyingly short food menu, so we were able to order almost everything and share amongst the group. Fantastic and creative selection of cocktails as well. The parachute cocktail has a delicious taro foam on top. The crowd favorite were the fish fillet buns. read more

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I sadly never got to try Mary Chung's before it officially closed down, but have been pretty happy with Darling in its place! I was more impressed by Darling's cocktail selection than their food menu, but appreciate their homage to Mary Chung's through the suan la chow show on the menu (which also happens to be their best dish that I've tried). The food items come in small plates ($8-16). Two of us split four items which I thought would be not enough food, but I ended up being pretty full. Their cocktail menu supposedly changes every day but in the two times I visited, there have been quite a handful that reappeared. My favorite so far has been the "sweep the leg" ($17) which has a tomato that adds a lot of umami freshness. The "hk french toast" ($18) also has a fun, creamy, peanutty profile. It has been a couple of months since I last visited and I noticed that their online menu is a little different from what I have in my camera roll-- I will still write some of my impressions of the food, but there is a chance that things have improved. As I mentioned, the suan la chow show ($15) is quite good. The wontons swim in a vinegary, savory sauce with plenty of greens on top that add freshness. The wontons themselves are meaty with a wrapper that has a nice bite to it. I also tried the filet o fish bao ($15). It truly just tastes like a filet o fish from McDonalds, although the bun is steamed. The red-braised pork ribs ($17) are very tender and fall-off-the-bone! My only complaint is that I felt that the flavor profile was a bit one-dimensional. The meat was mostly just salty, with not many spices. Finally, I tried the soy sauce noodles ($14). I was super excited when this dish arrived at our table because it had such a smoky aroma, but the taste was unfortunately a bit one-dimensional like the ribs... mostly salty without much else going on, and very greasy. I would come back here to get more cocktails in a small group, with an order of suan la chow show to share! read more

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New trendy spot in Central. Was excited that it's a modern spot with Chinese food and Hong Kong dishes! The decor was sleek, but the music was so loud it was difficult to maintain a conversation. Lo bak go: good texture and fun twist with mushrooms on top Filet-o-fish bao: probably my favorite of the night, the fish was flaky and well cooked and I actually liked the cheese slice, felt very nostalgic Soy sauce noodle: unexpectedly spicy, basic flavors Charred Chinese broccoli: decent, the hint of lemon was a nice Colossal shrimp: great flavor Drinks: Hope I Packed a Parachute: Taro foam was delicious!! Unique flavor and texture, unfortunately this drink got pretty sweet the more you drank Overall nice experience, but probably the only dish I would crave again is the filet-o-fish bao and drinks. read more

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I was really looking forward to trying this place out, but I wasn't fully satisfied with the experience. If I were judging based on the food alone, I'd give them at least 4 stars. Everything we ordered was delicious. However, I was disappointed with the drinks, which is the main reason for the 3-star rating, especially since they advertise themselves as a cocktail lounge. I do appreciate that they change their cocktail menu daily, so perhaps another visit would be a different experience. The space itself is cute and intimate. The music is meant to be part of the overall vibe, but it was hard to hear during our visit. On the positive side, the bar staff were friendly and made great recommendations, and the service was fairly quick. I may give it another try in the future. Check them out for yourself and see what you think read more

Darling - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Would give this a 4.5! Darling is such a cool spot in Cambridge. It's tucked away, has great vibes, and the ambiance is just right, cozy but stylish. The cocktails are amazing. Hope I Packed a Parachute was super unique. The taro foam on top is deliciously good and makes the drink stand out. The Common Trope might be one of the best cocktails I've had in a while, dangerously smooth, balanced, and you really get the a floral lychee flavor. Food-wise, the Lo Bak Go was way heartier than I expected. It was really flavorful with a bit of chili crunch that gives it great depth. The cucumbers were also surprisingly delicious, not basic at all, with tofu and this tasty vinegar flavor that elevates them. The menu's small but has a couple of vegan options, which is nice. Service was great too, friendly and attentive without being over the top. Overall, loved the experience. read more

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Had a reservation for 8pm. Took a while to be seated but the host was lovely and I enjoyed talking to her about her recommendations for dinner. We ordered the shrimp, wontons, broccoli, and got the cheesecake for dessert. The food was all quite yummy, the wontons were my personal favorite. Everything came out at an appropriate time and was served at a good temperature. The tables are a bit too close to one another which can be annoying to get up or even just for talking throughout the night. Overall the ambiance is nice. It's a dim-lit establishment that has a bit of an upscale vibe. The price for the dishes was not the worst when you take into account the service and aesthetic, but you can definitely get something similar for cheaper in Chinatown. Overall, 7/10 and I would go back for a late night bite. read more

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This is one of my favorite bars I've found in Boston! The place is small and intimate with very little seating availability. However, the food is exceptional (I would come back just for the food) and the drinks are crafted so beautifully! If they are still offering their guava cocktail, I highly recommend! read more

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I was so pleased with the service here - it may have been the most professional I've experienced recently. The server was gentle yet super attentive in his interactions. The host had a welcoming presence. Special touches like asking if I'd like my coat stowed felt very high end. The food and drink were spectacular! The guava haichū cocktail was subtly sweet, lightly fizzy, and oh so clarified! For food, I recommend the bang bang gai - texture and heat were perfect. This place is a win all around! read more

Darling - Bang bang gai - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Still loved the vibe, super cute place. Came here for tea and the tea was too hot and burnt the leaves - thus too bitter. Total waste of money and the group I came with had ordered one each and thus all our teas were ruined. Stick to the food or alcohol. Responding the the comment below - we did bring it to the staffs attention but nothing was done. If the only the owner can take accountability and ensure patrons in the future can have a good time. Definitely not going here again after being sassed by bad management. Reducing review to 2 stars. read more

I struggle sometimes with places like this because honestly this is probably 4.5. I'm basically hurting their number here, even though I genuinely like the place. To the extent numbers matter. To the extent any of this matters. Let's do this VRBO style, because honestly there's a different rating for each part of it. Vibe - 5, this place got the memo that Central needed more date spots that aren't owned by Cicada and its constant 3 hr waits. Sexy lighting, cocktail vibe, with modern + wood accents. You might not be getting laid after taking someone here, but it won't hurt your chances. Service - 4, it's fine. Kind of inattentive, but it's a busy place. Food - 4, good, though I'm not sure what it brings to the table over 5 spices next door. Besides a bigger bill. I'd come back, but it's not Saigon Babylon level of mind-blowing. Still a good addition to the neighborhood. read more

Good food and mocktails. Their menu is fairly limited but all the items were great. Modern twist to some popular dim sum dishes. It was packed even on a Monday, so make sure to book ahead. read more

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Came here on New Year for their Mc Darling special menu. Loved the decoration and costumes! The menu had really cool things to pick from! I loved the Mc Ribs, the taro fries and the special cocktail drinks. Got the happy meal which came with some cool gifts! Excellent service! read more

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Loved the vibes here! I'm so glad darling opened up in central square. Their cocktails are very unique, it was fun to try a few of them with my friends. The food is a fusion twist on traditional dim sum but still tasted good, but it's definitely not authentic. Service was quick. You will need a reservation as this place fills up quickly read more

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Darling opened its doors 5 months ago. Still a baby with lots of potential! We ordered every cocktail so you don't have to. To keep it short, we'll highly recommend, recommend or not recommend on the photos. Enjoy! read more

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Elevated Hong Kong inspired dishes and cocktails to match the vibe. Darling for me is more of a cocktail lounge with some food snack options. I think it's great for going out to drinks and light snack and probably best to avoid if you're looking for a hearty meal. Extensive cocktail list presented beautify, and options for mocktails for the DD in the group or others who want a zero-proof option. These cocktails are made with care and not the type of bar you're trying to get drunk at. But I mean, you could also do that if you want to spend on that. Overall, really cool vibes and cozy atmosphere. read more

I came here with some friends on a weekday and it was surprisingly packed! We were able to get seats at the bar without too long of a wait. They have a small food menu so we ordered dishes to share and some drinks. We tried the wontons, filet o fish bao, colossal shrimp, soy sauce noodles, and bang bang gai. They were actually pretty flavorful and yummy! My favorite would have to be the filet o fish bao! They have a unique cocktail menu, an Asian twist to classic cocktails! I got the common trope and it was tasty! The place does get pretty loud so it's a bit harder to talk to friends if you're seated at the bar. I do recommend coming here more for the drinks than the food since there's little options. read more

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Had such a fun girls catch up at darling in Cambridge! Best restaurant I've tried in a while. Lively mysterious vibes, creative drinks, and good food! The colossal shrimp was my favorite - massive and grilled to perfection. The dumplings were my friend's favorite. We both enjoyed our drinks especially the "hope I packed a parachute" which was topped with taro foam! Will be coming back for a date night and to try the HK french toast cocktail for sure. Make sure to snag a reservation early :) read more

Darling - COLOSSAL SHRIMP, SUAN LA CHOW SHOW, SOY SAUCE NOODLE, 8 DOLLAR CUCUMBER? - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I want to start with the positives - we really appreciated the staff and service at Darling. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and attentive. In terms of the cocktails and food, however, we felt there was a lot to be desired. Drinks -my friend ordered one of the 'savory' cocktails (sinister something...). First, I was like 3 oz and cost $18. Second, it kind of just tasted like onion (it did have garlic in it to be fair, but the flavor lacked nuance) -I ordered the chocolate oolong tea ($8). It came it the tinieeest little teapot - although very 'darling' it felt like I only got a couple sips of tea. I also expected the tea to taste more special than it did. Food Suan La Chow Show (3.5/5): these were decent. Nothing much to say here Soy sauce noodles (2/5) - spicier than expected and very oily. We couldn't finish this dish Red braised pork ribs (3.75/5): pretty good, but also pretty oily. I haven't really encountered oily ribs before... Filet o fish bao (5/5): taste-wise this was delicious. Despite being fried fish, this was the least oily thing we ordered. We couldn't help but think that we should've just gone to McDonalds across the street for a cheaper alternative Cheesecake (OG Burnt) (5/5): amazing ! Would come back for this alone read more

Without a doubt the best new spot in central square. With unique cocktails and mouth-watering dim sum, Darling does not disappoint. We enjoyed the "Hope you packed a parachute," "common trope," "holy trinity," and the "gorgeous & arrogant" along with noodles, turnip cake, chicken, enoki bao buns and dumplings. Our server was attentive and kind, and the setting was low lit with some upbeat music but not too loud. I'll definitely be coming back to try all the dishes on the menu! read more

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Stopped by after a day in Cambridge for a quick bite and it was so good. Sat at the bar and service was very good Really enjoyed the cheesecake. read more

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I believe Darling will have a hold over Cambridge as soon as it reaches a critical mass in its audience. My partner and I made reservations on a Friday, and 1 week later we were back. Across those 2 nights, we sampled a lot of different cocktails, but my favorite was the Guava Hai Chu and his was the Common Trope. They have a good mix of fruity, spicy, and even some savory cocktails, all well balanced, so you can definitely find something you'll like. For dinner, we've tried bang bang gai, lo bak go, soy sauce noodles, charred Chinese broccoli, $8 cucumber?, filet of fish bao, and crispy fried enoki bao. It is quite funny to me that they acknowledged how expensive the cucumber is. I'll say this: it's not the star of the show, and it probably didn't cost $8 to make, BUT I would definitely recommend it as a palette cleanser, regardless of what else you order. My other favorite was the enoki bao, which as a pescatarian, fulfilled a craving for an umami bao with fun texture that I haven't had in a LONG time. We also really liked the lo bak go. Our service was quick and attentive, and the food came out quickly both times we've been. Darling has upscale bar vibes, so dress accordingly. read more

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Definitely one of my new fave spots! Everything was on point- the ambiance, music, food, & drinks. I got the "hope you packed a parachute" and "French toast" drinks, and both were unique and delicious! The parachute had taro in it and you could really taste it, which I loved. The French toast was sweet but also had an interesting after taste. For food we got the soy sauce noodles and pork wontons, devoured em! I plan to go back to try more of their menu. Such a gem of a spot! read more

Darling - Hope I packed a parachute drink, soy sauce noodles - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Darling has such a great environment inside! The drinks were also delicious and a great blend of asian flavors that are not as commonly found at other bars. I really enjoyed their parachute drink in particular. Would def go back! read more

Lovely and classy, an absolutely "darling" of a place. We came late so we only got to try the drinks. Loved the intimate interior and the sassy drink names. Bartenders were very experienced and our drinks were phenomenal. Highly rec the gorgeous and arrogant and the common trope. 10/10!!! read more

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I was pretty excited about darling - love dim sum! I saw another review say this was more cocktail bar than dim sum and I'd agree. The cocktails were really good! There were a few dim sum dishes that were very good (the ribs, the shrimp toast, the noodles) and then some that were good but not great. This would be a great place to come have cocktails and snacks! What they did well was good enough that I'll keep my eye on them! read more

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My partner and I shared the lovers & strangers drink, Hong Kong shrimp toast, suan la chao shou (pork wontons), crispy fried enoki bao, lo bak go (turnip cake), red-braised pork ribs, filet o fish bao, and soy sauce noodles - TASTE: 5/5 - came in w no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Highlights included the indulgent HK shrimp toast w bits of pineapple, tasty soy sauce noodles, and nostalgic filet o fish bao TEXTURE: 5/5 - the lo bak go texture was different (softer / mushier?) but an interesting change. The enoki mushroom and fish were both fried nicely PRICE: 4/5 - definitely higher price points for an elevated dim sum menu. Total came to $147 SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - besides the baos, larger portions than expected. Had to take some of the later dishes home SERVICE: 4/5 - made a Resy beforehand and arrived at 5pm on a Sunday: not many parties when we walked in, but the space was bumping by the time we left. Our waiter was super nice and helpful w recommendations, and our dishes came out in pairs over the next hour. Random note: multiple employees called the lo bak go "lobo" -- the abbreviation made us laugh in confusion?? ATMOSPHERE: 5/5 - what a swanky space! Appreciated the (very) dark and moody lighting, elegant decor, good music, and nods to the film In the Mood for Love PARKING: 4/5 - got a street spot close by near the Douglass St x Bishop Allen Dr intersection read more

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I really wanted to love this place, but I only liked it. If I could give it another half star I would. I was able to get a last-minute reservation on a Thursday night, which was nice. We arrived 30 minutes early for our reservation, and since our table was already available, they were able to seat us right away. The bar was fully packed, and most of the tables were also occupied. The décor and style of the restaurant are very intimate, perfect for a nice date night or a cute girls' night out. The staff were also very nice. The music was great as well. They played current rnb songs. The drinks were amazing. We got the "Hope I Packed a Parachute," which had taro foam and was unlike anything I've ever had in a cocktail. We also ordered the "Common Trope," which was light but not too sweet. I'm still thinking about the drinks and would absolutely go back for those. I'd love to try the others on the menu. Now, on to the food. The star of the show was the fish baos. They looked underwhelming but turned out to be delicious, hot, and satisfying. The table next to us ordered them too and agreed. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the rest of the menu. We ordered the wontons, cucumbers, lo bak go (daikon cake), braised ribs, and noodles. The wontons were good, but they were over-garnished, which took away from the flavor, and they sat in chili crisp oil that made them a little too oily. I still enjoyed them, but the cucumbers were cut very large and were covered in the same oil, and so were the noodles. You can probably see where I'm going with this: the flavors all started to blend together of chili oil only, yet something still felt like it was missing to make the dishes stand out and be amazing. The soy sauce noodles were more of a fried noodle dish loaded with bok choy. They were fine, but I wished they had a stronger soy sauce flavor. The lo bak go was good, but very fried on the outside. I'm more used to the traditional style where it's soft throughout. The shiitake mushrooms on top, however, were excellent. I honestly hope they turn those into their own dish. The braised ribs were tender and fell off the bone, but I was concerned when one bite was cold and another was hot. I understand that braised dishes are often prepped ahead and reheated, but I would expect them to be consistently warm when served. We had considered getting dessert, but after feeling disappointed and honestly full, we decided to pass. The table next to us tried the OG Burnt and told us it was more of a mousse than a cheesecake, and too sweet for their liking. It was towards the end of the night and the restaurant was slowly emptying out yet our food took a while to come out. I would assumed the rush left so food would come out faster. Overall, the restaurant is still very new, and with a changing menu, I hope they find their niche in the sea of Cambridge restaurants. I could see myself coming back just for the cocktails and the fish baos, but I'd skip the rest of the menu for now. Hopefully, they'll add something amazing that makes it worth a return visit. If you're expecting traditional Chinese food, this isn't the spot. But if you're looking for fusion dishes paired with excellent cocktails, it's worth checking out. read more

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I grabbed a drink here and really liked it! The spaces is very small so they don't have standing area or even walk up seats at the bar. I waited 45 min on a waitlist to get 3 bar seats but it was worth it! The drinks are so cute and thoughtfully crafted. I got the lychee drink and really liked it. Such a bonus that this is on inKind for dining rewards read more

Darling - Dim Sum Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

4 out of 5 stars. Great drinks at Darling! Based on the variety of cocktails available compared to food, I get the feeling that Darling is more of a cocktail lounge vs a restaurant. I really liked how the drink menu shows how the drink is served and how there is a high level description of what each drink is. I felt the food was a little heavier than I expected and would have loved some lighter options but the bao and wontons were excellent. I also felt the music was a little loud. The service was good, some of the leadership asked about our experience at the end and told us a little bit about Darling's story which was nice to hear. read more

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