This is a wonderful restaurant, with one of the best "farm to table" committments I've ever seen in an eatery. All of their food is sourced regionally and sustainably, and that wins points in my book off the bat. The fact that they serve top shelf food is an incredible second feather in their already many-feathered cap. The crab and corn chowder is delightful - I was afraid that the crab would overwhelm the corn, but not so - this is a perfect balance of the rich, earthy flavor of the crab and the sweet corn taste, with a beautiful blend of spice and seasoning enhancements. The ribeye steak was unreal. It was so tender it reminded both me and my friend of a cut of prime rib, but without the bland flavor of that cut: the rich, heady taste of the ribeye burst through every bite. The entrees were so good that they almost didn't call for sides, but the asparagus was a perfectly crisped compliment to an extraordinary meal. With regard to price, Henrietta's is INCREDIBLY competitive for what they offer - non CAFO meats, produce that hasn't been trucked across the country, and healthy meals. The decor was a little weird - I felt kind of like I was eating in a Crate & Barrel outlet, and the service was a little rushed, but hey, Saturday night, what do you expect! One of my more favorite dining destinations in the Peoples' Republik; we will definitely be back for a second visit. read more

14 months and several experiences since my last review, and I am sad to report that Henrietta's has almost become a characiture of the place I fell in love with. While it still focuses on local and organic, it somewhere along the way forgot that no matter the source of the food, you still have to do something interesting with it. and 3 of 3 entrees last night were horrifically bland (last experience trended this way too). especially painful are boring entrees after relatively decent apps. Let's just say this fat boy was starving, and still left half a plate of food because it seemed pointless to consume such uneventful calories.....yup, a first it almost feels like they gave up caring in the kitchen. which pairs nicely with the service, which was scattered, flighty and verging on just plain bad. seriously, sit me outside in a cool setting on a beautiful night and you can pretty much do the minimum and guarantee a 25% reach around from me at tip time - yet I painstakingly made sure I didn't pay a penny over 15% because it was that jarring. My first trip here, it felt like such a cool concept and a nice part of Harvard Sq. Now it feels like a 'farm-themed' restaurant that should be next door to Rain Forest Cafe in the Mall of America. sad read more

We had Sunday brunch, definitely on the pricey side, but they offer a lot of variety. The actual breakfast items like the eggs Benedict were a bit cold and lacked flavored, but I think serving eggs in mass quantity is difficult. The lunch items, meats, casseroles were delicious. The cheese, pate, seafood and shellfish selection were plentiful and delicious! Plenty of dessert varieties. $55 per person plus parking, but worth the splurge if you're in the mood for not your average brunch buffet. read more

Okay, so you watch Top Chef? Yeah, us too. My boyfriend and I are totally addicted. So, you know this past season, with the Kevin and his beard and the simple and the pure, unadulterated flavor masterfully extracted from the fresh and the local? And how everything might have lacked the molecular gastromic hooha, but, we were told, tasted unbelievably delicious? Michael Voltaggio can take his banana polenta elsewhere, is what I'm saying. Kevin's style might not have won him the show, but it won him our hearts. I was taken out to Henrietta's Table for my birthday as part of a Top Chef-inspired weekend celebration. And let me just say: The only thing more bang-on than this place was my boyfriend for picking it. We started with a sample of two local cheeses, a harder cheddar and its runnier goat brie compliment, served with preserves on crostinis (or, if you so choose, the incredible bread that accompanies the meal--heck, even the butter tastes fresh and local). In short? Heaven in two small wedges. We appetized on the Maine Rock Crab Cake, Tartar Sauce, Native Vegetable Slaw with Sorrel Vinaigrette and Grilled Balsamic Portobello, Great Hill Blue Cheese, and Warm Nitrate Free Bacon Vinaigrette (I got the latter and had to defend my plate from the sneak attacks of BF's fork). Outstanding. My entree was a seasonal special, an olive and pistachio encrusted bluefish atop a small pond of orange and lemon sauce, its flavors blending with artistic precision. Seriously, who knows how to do this? BF's pork chop was declared the best he'd ever had. Drooool. Dessert was the phenomenal chocolate and banana bread pudding and apple crisp. By the time the little pig-shaped gingerbread cookies were deposited alongside the check, I think we can both safely say that our tastebuds were worked into a state of bliss akin only to post-coital exhaustion. Bill was...shielded from my eyes. But I think it was a lot. The price of glory. But I bought him a little stuffed pig puppet as gratitude. We christened him Kevin, and wafted languidly home. read more

Best breakfast in boston, hands down. Need to order before 1030 to have breakfast and not the brunch that begins at noon. Red flannel hash, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce? Its the best kept secret in all of beantown. Creamed chipped beef on biscuits - a giant biscuit loaded with creamy corned beef sliced thin. A fantastic version of this southern favorite. Eggs benedict on wholesome but soft anadama bread - the hollandaise is rich yet light, a perfect amount of lemon. Pancakes are thick but light and fluffy. Omelettes made to order. Thick dark roast coffee. Phenomenal sticky buns - dripping with nuts and crispy exterior and flaky interior. The most professional service you will find anywhere in Boston. read more

The food would rate 3 stars for being pretty average but I'm deducting one because this place is pricey and absolutely not worth it. Glancing at all the other positive reviews, most came for brunch or prix fixe specialty menus, but I was here for dinner. I ordered the duck and a few sides to go with it. I don't know which sides, since the meal wasn't the least bit memorable; the bill was though. The highlights were the crab cakes, which were really good, flavorful and crisp throughout.. but $20 for two is pushing it. I'm totally down with Henrietta's ingredients. I love the idea of farm fresh and locally produced food, except when I'm paying through the teeth for what doesn't amount to much. Crab cakes, duck, a few sides and cocktails.. for $120 after tip, I expect to rave, not walk across the street to Charlie's for fries and a Chimay. And it's tough to find a cocktail on their menu to get excited about. I tried a few that were overly saccharine, but there are better watering holes in Harvard Square. Rialto and Legal are spitting distance with more to offer. read more

Is there really a point in my reviewing something that has been reviewed over 100 times? I don't know, but I'm going to. It was ok. Just ok. But that's kind of my fault for going there on a "no meat Friday" in Lent (stupid Catholic guilt). I had a mediocre bowl of vegetable barley soup that was good but I thought there were a few too many big, chunky tomatoes. I also had the appetizer portion of the crab cake and it was delicious. A little small though, for the price ($11 for 1 crab cake). They make a homemade tartar sauce that was amazing, and I don't even like tartar sauce. I'm not really sure what the purple ingredient was on the plate, but I ate it. (Did I mention the crab cake was kind of small). My husband had a pork chop and he really enjoyed it. He also got a side of beets and I tried one. It was alright, but to quote him the beets weren't "$5 Side-dish good". I guess that's my take-away here. The food is good and the ingredients are fresh. But, I think it's a little pricey for what you get. I mean, a $20 pork chop entree (with something else on the plate beside the pork chop) in a restaurant with a nice atmosphere, is great! But a $20 pork chop all by itself (plus $5/side, if you want to add any) in an atmosphere that felt sort of like a cafeteria, wasn't all that exciting. We split 3 cheeses for dessert. They're $4 for one but the cost per goes down the more you add. One of the 3 portions was so small that my husband laughed and said to me "Thank God we got 3 because if we just got this cube of cheese for $4, I'd be pissed." I'm not overly price-conscious when I go out to eat, provided the food, the service, the atmosphere and the overall experience make it all worth while. I just don't think Henrietta's Table is really all that. read more

This cozy, welcoming place offers hearty, healthy, simple and fresh food....no frills, no gimmicks....or maybe the whole simple food things is their gimmick...whatever it is-- I dig it. It is tough to find local restaurants that use fresh meats and veggies all of the time--and boy does it count. My salmon burger couldn't have been more fresh and tasted SUPERB. Also of note: The fruity ice tea, yummy nutty bread, and the adorable mini-retail experience in the front of the store. It may have been the interesting company I was dining with, but I thought the whole experience was great. read more

I needed a great place to take my parents and my boyfriends mother for Sunday Brunch. After reading the great reviews on Yelp, I decided that Henrietta's sounded like the perfect place. Honestly, I don't think I could have made a better choice. Located right in Harvard Square in the Charles Hotel and right by fantastic parking--this place was a total winner. I loved the look and feel--it was a lovely place with taupe colors and various sized tables, four our table of 5 we enjoyed a nice round table indoors--but there was also outdoor seating for nice weather. I loved the comfortable, homey feel --and was pleased that the place seemed popular with groups of 5-8 as well as tables of 2 or 4. I booked a table through OpenTable.com for 5 people for 12pm about 5 days in advance and when we arrived at 12, we were sat right away. Our waitress came over and greeted us and filled our coffee and juice then told us to go ahead and make our way to the all-you-can-eat buffet. Holy crap--there was pasta salad, grilled chicken, well fleet oysters, various fruits, veggies cheeses, cold peeled shrimp, lamb tenderloin, waffles, eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage, and a dessert tray. I wasn't sure what to try next, it all looked so amazing. I was also pleased that when I got up from the table to get seconds--my last plate was already gone when I got back. Even as the restaurant got busier with the brunch rush--our waitress was attentive, helpful and kept the juice refills flowing! The food, god, the food was fantastic. I was stuffed all day long. Everything I tasted was wonderful and the oysters were beautiful, huge, and wonderfully chilled. My parents (and Russ's mom) felt comfortable there and Henrietta's made for a great first-meeting place. I will be back many times over. read more

Horrible dinner! I came here one night thinking that we were going to have a nice quiet dinner but the food was simply awful. I started with the rock crab and corn chowder which was slightly bland at a lukewarm temperature. Next I had the free range duck in a port reduction with blackberries. The only thing on that plate worth eating were the blackberries. They were the plumpest and prettiest blackberries I have ever seen. As for the duck, I usually don't expect duck to be bone in and if it is bone-in it shouldn't be dry. Well, the duck at Henrietta's was both bone-in and dry. Certainly not worth the $18 I had to pay. As for the pot roast it was tender and cooked to perfection. The mango margarita was also very tasty. From all the other reviews I have read avoid Henrietta's for dinner but stop by for brunch. Note: The restrooms are part of the Charles Hotel so they are superb. read more

This is such a great place to eat. My friend and I enjoyed a great dinner here and both of us had such a great time b/c it's like eating dinner at home but the food/service is superb. Okay, this time around, it was more the environment than the food (more on that later). The whole restaurant is very homey. The kitchen is visible and the furniture / table ware is rustic. Very un-pretentious and just lets you relax. The food had potential. We had the "yard sale" deal - a two/three course dinner. We got the crab cakes and pastrami smoked salmon for appetizers. My smoke salmon was delicious! Really fresh and the pastrami crust added a little kick. The crab cakes were good too - I'm not a big fan of crab, but I would definitely eat these. For the main course, I had the pot roast (waiter recommended) and my friend had the rotisserie chicken. Both were a little dry and flavor wise, a little bland. But the ingredients were really high quality - and even with not necessarily superbly made dinner, I enjoyed the dinner. And being a carb lover, I have to talk about the bread basket. (Is it bad that I judge a restaurant by it's bread basket?) The bread is SO GOOD. I don't know if it's made in house, but the bread w/ pecans and cranberries. To die for. And fresh butter. YUMMM I had the bread pudding for dessert - which was great. I think I would have loved it more if I hadn't stuffed myself with the other bread. It didn't necessarily impress me too much, but again, it's hard to enjoy something when bursting from the seams. :) I will be back! read more

Dropping by Henrietta's my family and I had high hopes. The interior looks like a farm-to-table, country and homey vibe which I loved. We got seated right away, but that's pretty much where the service stopped. Our server didn't come to take our drink and food orders until we flagged someone down to take our order... and this happened on multiple occasions throughout the entire meal when we needed other condiments. My mom did enjoy her buttermilk hotcakes - They were fluffy and tasted really good from the bites I had! My dad and I had the 2 eggs any style, sausages, and hash browns. Hash browns were burnt.. sausages were really hard and chewy. Nothing to rave about in any way. However, I think with the mediocre food and really slow service, I wouldn't come back here. There seemed to be a lot of workers, but nothing was done quickly. Our server seemed disoriented the whole time as well. read more

Honestly... I was very disappointed with my visit here. I really wanted to like it, but couldn't. The worst part for me was the decor. I felt like I was at a pottery barn/cracker barrel hybrid. The area near the hostess looked like a souvenir gift shop. It was so strange, and I couldn't get myself out of feeling like I should be eating chicken pot pie and cornbread, not duck breast or salmon. I had the crab corn and bacon chowder to start, which was terrible. There was no bacon? seriously, none. The crab tasted okay but it was shredded rather than in chunks which I found strange. The corn was pretty flavorless, and the chowder lacked that normal chowder consistency (cream). It was a little watery. Next I had the duck breast. I love duck, and pretty much always get it if it's on the menu. It came with a breast, one leg (wing?) and 5 blackberries. For $23 they couldn't throw in a vegetable? The duck leg was delicious, very moist, but the breast tasted like ham. Wasn't very good at all. For dessert, the vanilla cheesecake was very bland. The whipped cream tasted like nothing. we went there for restaurant week. There were three specials that you could get, but it would be $43 instead of $33. The duck was one of them. So, if I had the duck ($23), the chowder (7.25), and the cheesecake ($7), I would have been charged $43 for the restaurant week deal, but a la carte those cost only $37.25. what? not worth it. I skipped dessert and shared my boyfriends cheesecake. Very strange. read more

I went to Henrietta's table for brunch on sunday. Best. Brunch. Ever. Loved loved loved loved the decor, the staff was soo friendly and the food ROCKED MY WORLD. We ordered: THE best granola w/ yogurt I have ever had, DELICIOUS Mini Pancakes (redundant, i know), Banana Walnut Bread (my mouth is watering just remembering it), Sticky Bun (Hot mess of deliciousness), Croissant, and a a huge, shameless Blueberry Muffin. Great coffee (I'm from Colombia, I know my coffee) and OJ. I LOVE brunch. Even a bad brunch is better than most other meals. This brunch was good COMPARED TO OTHER BRUNCHES. This is saying a LOT. I cant wait to go back. Warning: GET THERE BEFORE 10:30 OR YOU WONT BE SEATED. THEY LITERALLY DO NOT SIT ANYONE ELSE THE MINUTE THE CLOCK STRIKES 10:30. PLAY IT SAFE, ARRIVE THERE ON TIME. ITS SO WORTH IT. read more

Henrietta's Table has multiple personality disorder. Let me tell you why. It's a restaurant that can be so many different places depending on time of day, season, and staff. Experience 1: Many years ago, went to HT with my parents (I was in college then) for dinner. Despite the fact that everything was a la carte (which, generally, I hate), we still loved the place- the delicious bread basket (anadama bread!), the fresh clean taste of everything we ate, and, of course, the magnificent chocolate bread pudding. Yum! Repeat this experience about 15 times. Experience 2: A few years after Experience #1, I go to HT after the dinner rush -- in fact, it's nearly empty -- and ask hostess if friend and I can be seated for dessert and coffee. She says yes, then waiter refuses to serve us just dessert and coffee. It becomes awkward and weird, and friend and I eventually leave. Experience 3: Breakfast with husband. Everything feels rushed- and I know that breakfast at HT on any weekend gets hectic- but our food comes out at different times, my husband's toast is burned, and everything is just unbelievably bland and blah. The famous blueberry muffin tastes at least one day old. The hash browns are oily. It's a big disappointment. Experience 4: I go with my dear friend for lunch. It's a weekday, the restaurant is nearly empty. I order the chicken salad, and while it isn't magnificent (please, use salt and pepper, HT!), it's decent, and when I eat it with the anadama bread, it passes for good. We enjoy a long lunch, the service is good, the room is sunny, the place is relaxing - we feel like we're on vacation. We feel like we're guests at the Charles Hotel. All of this to say, my experiences with HT have been very, very uneven -- from the downright terrible to the decent. Two things for sure: First, the food has consistently become less terrific. While I love HT's freshness and commitment to local produce, the food just isn't as interesting and original as it once was. Plus, it's served in a lackluster way, without any refinement or subtle touches. Second, avoid HT during packed times. The waiters (who are generally excellent) just get overwhelmed. Especially avoid HT during any major Harvard parents weekend. You'll feel dizzy by the sight of all of those parents discussing the complexities of modern undergraduate life with their children, er, grown-children. read more

I call the whole Charles Hotel the "Compound," because they basically have everything there that I need. Part of the Compound, is - of course - Henrietta's. The food is always excellent, but because of their ethos of "simple foods" it is - by definition - not very complicated or inventive. However, they make the best pot roast in the area, and their duck is tremendous. The best part about it all, tho, is the bar. Although I am endlessly annoyed that they recently added a flat screen TV over the bar (suddenly we're in a Boston sports bar??????), the bar is one of the most congenial I have seen. The bartenders are amazing, and treat me like family (hello Cassandra, Ali, and Fenton!)..... read more

Although I dined at Henrietta's Table during Restaurant Week, the menu was comprised of its regular offerings, and I feel well within my rights to judge it on its everyday merits. And unfortunately, while those offerings were hearty and filling, they were mostly bland and unimaginative. The corn and crab chowder I had to start was all corn, no crab, and the corn itself was stringy and flavorless (seriously, did that soup include the husk in addition to the kernels?). My lamb entree was better, but it was in desperate need of seasoning. I can't remember the last time I had to reach for the salt shaker at a restaurant. I got the feeling that the food was being produced in mass quantities for the Restaurant Week crowd, and it showed in the quality of each individual dish. Dessert was probably the highlight for everyone in my party of five, although no one was really blown away by that either. I thought the chocolate bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream and caramelized bananas was going to knock my socks off, but it was merely very good. I actually preferred my friend's maple cheesecake, if I'm being honest. In hindsight, it was actually rather silly to go to Henrietta's Table for Restaurant Week. They have a prix-fixe year-round that allow you to sample one appetizer, entree, side, and dessert from their regular menu for $35. I saved $1.88. Woo. Hoo. read more

The Sunday Brunch was very, very good, and this review is ONLY about Sunday Brunch. I've never been to Henrietta's Table for any other meal. Artichoke and mascarpone ravioli...a variety of fresh oysters (I've spent as much at an oyster bar for what this whole buffet cost alone)...hot dishes ranging from herb encrusted roast chicken to broiled fish; Eggs Benedict, plus all the usual breakfast fatties (grab a piece of bacon to stick in your Bloody Mary!). There is a carving bar, and fresh waffles and made-to-order omelets; a perfect salad/cheese/fruit table; a wonderful array of several patés ranging from duck to salmon to pork and chicken...amazing! Then there were the toasts, muffins, raisin breads, bagels, various smoked salmon, etc, etc. This ended with an incredible desert table which couldn't seem to keep up with the demand for the fresh blueberry cheesecake...who cares, I was all about the Butterscotch Pudding Cake. WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE BITCHING ABOUT? Oh...Okay...the $45 price tag. Yeah, but remember, you're in Harvard Square. But our service was excellent (contrary to the other naysayers). Servers were attentive. Almost too much. Could it be that we were seated five feat from the server's station? The orange juice (part of the buffet) was definitely fresh squeezed, and they kept it coming as long as you asked. The coffee was good, and the Bloody Marys, while nothing special, were quite good -- I would have expected them to be about $5 more than the $7 charged, given the price of the buffet. Bottom line...you're in Harvard Square. There are a lot of good brunches. But there aren't as many of such quality in such a nice space. I liked it. No, it is not "intimate." But it is classy,the surroundings are nice, and the food choices are excellent. If you're spending a weekend in Harvard Square and complaining about the price of brunch at The Charles...maybe you should seek brunch in Worcester instead. read more

I can't believe I forgot to include Henrietta's when I made my Best of Boston list. It definitely deserves a spot on the list! I've been here twice and loved it each time. Some of the fantastic food I've had here -- Malted waffles with homemade apple butter Eggs benedict (my fav so I always order it but the bread & ham they use is terrific) Granola parfait (my other favorite, and theirs comes with homemade granola and honey) Love the freshness of all the ingredients they use (fresh squeezed OJ and real maple syrup shouldn't be a lot to ask, but sometimes is!), the brightness and light that filters into the restaurant, and the great service I've received here. read more

I went to Henrietta's table with the fam about a week ago. I hadn't been there since becoming a vegetarian and was pretty surprised at the lack of veggie options. I'm consistently surprised at (in my mind) high end restaurants that just don't have much in the way of veggie options. The dish was in season veggies, beans and home-made tortillas (commonly refered to as "Tacos"). The server informed me that it was a really popular option. I am not a rude person so I did not tell her my thoughts, yes when you run a big restaurant in Cambridge and only have one vegetarian option, I'm sure it will be popular. I didn't get that option because I can make myself delicious tacos for fractions of the cost. Overall the food I did choose was OK. I got heirloom tomatoes with mozz and balsamic reduction. This is probably my fault, its too early in the season for good tomatoes, and these tomatoes weren't good. Also got a small, but amazingly tasty, portabella mushroom with a cheese that was something like farmhouse dance, great name. Anyways, as a veggie, I would reccomend staying away from Henrietta's. The options were overpriced and decent at best. Maybe the meat was excellent, but I can't vouch for it. read more

I do not know why I don't come here more often. For some reason I always forget about it when looking for a place to eat. The chef is awesome. He/she? uses locally grown produce as much as possible, they cook with the seasons, have a very high standard of quality and freshness. The menu is classic with a twist and not boring at all. Service is wonderful, do they send their servers to boot camp?Etiquette school? they are terrific. The decor is simple, comforting and ads a lot of character to the place, you'd never guess it was in a hotel. The bathrooms are the best bathrooms I have ever been in, OK, at least in the top 3. It's a great place to come any season, with any number of people, for any type of food (carnivores, vegetarian, vegan, alcoholic, etc) The prices seem a little steep at first, but there are huger portions, and again the quality is just so superb, it's sooo worth it. read more

Located inside the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, this place boasts using only locally grown ingredients to promote sustainability in... Ok, so yea, I don't really care about any of that either. Just tell me how the food TASTES. Fortunately, the verdict is pretty delicious. Do yourself a favor and pick the "Henrietta's Yard Sale" option, which is just their term for a prix fixe menu. I started my meal off with the Maine crabcake, which was so-so. It came with with a slaw/herb vinaigrette that I found to be pretty bland. The crabcake itself though was bursting at the seams with crabmeat, so kudos to that. For my entree I chose the maple duck confit with a raspberry compote. The duck had a nice crust on it, and was fall off the bone tender. Cooked to perfection and not fatty at all. To put simply in Ebay terms -- A++++++ WOULD ORDER AGAIN. I really like the ambiance of the place, as it lends to the illusion that you're eating your meal in the barn/farm where your meal was raised. Our waiter was also really nice and helpful when navigating the drink menu. read more

Henrietta's Table is alright. We came here for Valentine's Day dinner to try a new restaurant. We were promptly seated even though we were about ten minutes early for our reservation. I find it strange that the hostess doesn't give you menus, having the waiter bring them is just awkward, and he was awkward enough on his own. Honestly, the service was the biggest reason that the restaurant doesn't get 4 or maybe even 5 stars in my book. We ordered a bottle of wine and weren't quite ready to order our entrees and starters, which apparently means that you don't get bread for a really long time and then it takes a long time to have your order taken (despite the section being relatively empty). We ordered a cheese plate to start which was very good. The jam served alongside was absolutely delicious and the cheeses were very fresh and flavorful. The bread basket was ample when it finally arrived, the bread with fruits and nuts was the best, the honey bread could have benefitted from salt. The crab and corn chowder was pretty good and served whimsically in a little cast iron pot, though this too could have used seasoning. Andy had a HUGE salad, which was served in a nice bowl. Our entrees were the star of the evening. Andy had the lamb shank which was melt in your mouth good. I had the Yankee Pot Roast. It was so tender and flavorful. The bed of mashed potatoes and gravy were also delicious and substantial enough that I couldn't finish the whole plate. Our entrees were well seasoned and robust. I think had we thought a bit harder, we would have ordered a side dish or two to share. Something green or otherwise textural might have elevated the experience, but that was our mistake. After reading the other reviews here, I'm sad that I was too full to order dessert. EDIT: After reading many of the other reviews, I've decided to upgrade to 4 stars, because, like many others, I really thought it was a 3.5 star experience and everyone else rounded down. read more

Waitresses were not friendly. We didn't even know who was serving us. Each time we needed something we had to call someone new. What made us so angry is that the lady who shows you your table told me that parking was 'complementary' so I called my friend to tell her she can park at the hotel garage because the staff just told me they stamp for a complementary parking. My friend could have parked somewhere else but thanks to the staff we ended paying $22 of parking. She should learn what complementary means before giving wrong info to the customers. the stamp of henrietta's table was only a $2 discount of the parking!! Desserts were good but staff and service were not up to the standards of such a restaurant. Also macaroni in my chicken was cold. read more

Henrietta's Table - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Went to Henrietta's Table during restaurant week and thought the food was relatively good but nothing amazing. For appetizer, I had the house smoked pastrami salmon which was over a bed of field greens dressed with chive oil, crispy potato wafer and lemon. This was a nice light appetizer that was rich in flavor. The salmon was very fresh and the salad was lightly dress and not overbearing in flavor, which I enjoyed. For my entree I got the house maple smoked and grilled free range duck breast, confit leg, blackberries, port wine reduction. I have to say that this dish was one of the best duck dishes I've had in my life. The duck's flavor was rich and brought out the flavor of the duck. There was a good portion of both white and dark meat with the dish. I'm usually not a big fan of white meat because it's often cooked too dry but the restaurant did a good job of leaving the breast juicy. The chocolate bread pudding, caramelized bananas topped with vanilla bean ice cream. Other friends I was with ordered their other desserts and were somewhat disappointed with what they got. I, however, being both a chocolate lover and ice cream lover, was a big fan of this dessert option. The food was well done at Henrietta's Table but if it wasn't for restaurant week, I think it's quite difficult for most people to afford a good meal at the restaurant. You can probably get the same quality of food at other restaurants in Boston and not have to wait for restaurant week in order to eat good quality food. I'd give the restaurant five starts if it wasn't for the price tag that comes with their dishes. read more

We spent our 6 year anniversary here, and even in our open table reservation where we wrote that we were coming here for our anniversary, we still got no acknowledgement...sad... We had been wanting to come here for quite some time and finally picked ourselves up to try it out! And the verdict? It was good, but definitely not as amazing as I thought it was. Definitely a little overhyped, even though it was a cute little restaurants especially for being randomly in a hotel. Matt J. and I got one of their Yard Sale dinners, which I think is really the only way to dine here. It isn't every night, but any 2 courses and a side is only $22 which is a steal when main courses on their own average around 20 a plate and first courses 8-10. This is just from their classic menu though, so none of the specials are included, but there are plenty of options to choose from. What not to get? Don't get the crab and corn chowder. It was just bland. I was pretty sad to have that as my first course. Matt J. got their portobello salad and it was also just okay (according to him since I hate mushrooms heh). But our main courses were definitely the saving grace. I got their duck breast that was served with this pretty tasty port wine strawberry rhubarb sauce that I found myself trying to soak up every drop of with my duck bites. And the meat was perfectly cooked too. Matt J. lost the main course battle with his lamb shank that we both thought was a little overcooked and he just kept stealing bites of mine instead heh. But I guess after 6 years we can share heh read more

I've been to Henrietta's Table a few times now - twice for breakfast / brunch and three times for dinner. While I've never had a terrible experience, the place has never blown me away, either. I always come away somewhat disappointed. With that said, I really like the focus on utilizing local farmers and fishermen to source ingredients. I just wish the resulting food and service were better. The breakfast / brunch menu selection is pretty good, and while I can't claim to have tried everything on the menu, the dishes I've had have been OK (. Service in the mornings is so so, as I've found it to be at other times as well. The dinner menu also has a good selection, but I've found many of the dishes to be a little too heavy, and on the bland side. Service has always been friendly, though generally slow and not particularly refined. As a few others have mentioned, the restaurant can get really noisy when busy, so don't get expecting a quiet dining experience. Overall an OK place to check out, but not highly recommended. read more

My girlfriend lives in California, and each time she comes to visit we endeavor to try out a new restaurant; rainy weather compelled us to abandon our initial choice in favor of the (relatively) close-to-home Henrietta's Table. Upon entering I was relieved by the informal atmosphere, as we were dripping wet and hauling our backpacks. The decor was unimpressive -- there were some horribly ugly sculptures scattered about -- but comfortable. The large, wide-open space (filled to the brim with tables) seemed like a nice touch until the restaurant proceeded to fill up; then the space became uncomfortably, but not overwhelmingly, noisy. The menu presented some tough choices -- I'm a sucker for dishes based on simple, fresh ingredients. The waiter promptly brought us a basket with a variety of warmed breads, each of which was quite tasty. We started with a drink apiece, one of the cheeses and the arugula salad with goat cheese and prosciutto. The cheese presentation was excellent: a board with crostini, jam, grapes and dried apricots to accompany the absolutely delicious cheese. The salad was comprised of wonderfully fresh greens, topped with just the right amount of dressing, goat cheese, and prosciutto. Unfortunately, the meal would go downhill from there. My girlfriend ordered the pork chop for her main course; I went with the polenta. We threw in sides of broccoli and carrots with parsnips. Every one of these was disappointing. The polenta was appropriately creamy, but otherwise rather bland, and the accompanying vegetables were nearly flavorless. The broccoli was on the verge of overcooked, and oddly fishy; the carrots with parsnips were so cooked as to be almost completely dried-out, and had no semblance of flavor. The bites I took of my girlfriend's pork chop were similarly dry and slightly overcooked. This was one of those rare occasions where neither of us cleared our plates, so we decided to forego dessert. Strangely, the same servers who rushed us through our earlier courses took their time checking whether we wanted dessert and subsequently bringing us our check. As we left, we noticed bins of pre-prepared vegetables laying around, which may explain why the sides were sub-par. Ultimately, for an $80 meal I expect much, much better than this -- there's just no excuse for overcooked dishes and bland food at that price point. read more

This truly is as good as it gets for a dinner party. Henrietta's Table was perfect at every turn. They were highly communicative and friendly in the lead up to the dinner. The night of the event, I was graciously greeted by the staff who would be serving the whole group. They made sure I had everything we needed well before the main guests arrived. They were attentive, warm and present throughout the evening. And then there's the food...which was delicious. I selected a prix-fixe menu that everyone raved about...the rabbit, salmon, spinach salad, chocolate banana pudding...all were incredibly well received. The decor was modern and rustic, approachable and upscale. It had just the right amount of noise - a hard balance to strike. I seriously intend to try and book all future events here; it was that good. read more

Pros: Excellent food. Lovely, homey atmosphere. Cons: Only the price! Balance: PROS BOTTOM LINE: When the parents are in town, this is a great place to take them. But be warned as a young person that if you're not with your parents, this place might make you feel like one. read more

Listen, this is my fourth restaurant for this round of Restaurant Week. Maybe I'm cranky, maybe I just need a plain ol' salad. Whatever it is, I wasn't over the moon about this place. The atmosphere is kind of hokey, what with the stuffed pigs and Vermont chocolate as soon as you walk in, the service is slow and impersonal, and our table of 8 couldn't get a glass of water if one of us was on fire towards the end of the meal. My starter of crab cake with asparagus was pretty good - the crab cake was moist and flavorful, but for some reason the tartar sauce was slopped over my grilled asparagus which made me sad. The pulled lamb shank was tender and well seasoned, although the "wilted greens" that accompanied the dish seemed more like three leaves of green they tossed in there on the way to my table. My bread pudding dessert was delicious, but huge. The only plate I finished completely was my starter, everything else came in such large portions I only finished half. They have a decent wine selection, but there was nothing under $30, and those $30 selections weren't that great. Even at The Oceanaire, I was able to get a decent bottle of wine for under $30. I won't be back here, for RW or otherwise. Well. Maybe if someone else was picking up the tab. read more

Henrietta makes a hearty meal, and offers a nice 2 course dinner deal with side dish for only $24. if you think you can tear through 2 courses you'll pay a $30 price. I started with the maine rock crab cake which was small but tasty and well seasoned, then continued with Anson Mills Stone-Ground Organic Grit Cake, Sauteed Mushroom, Roasted Tomato and Flageolet Bean Ragout which was DELIGHTFUL. I couldn't finish it but i made the effort. my side dish of choice was the grilled asparagus which was bright green, thick and crunchy. apparently famous for brunch, Henrietta's Table definitely delivers a delicious dinner. read more

In some ways, Henrietta's is the perfect brunch spot: Sun streams in the skylight, the atmosphere is classy country, and the service is cheerful and professional. There's nothing exotic or jarring about the brunch menu, but I didn't find it boring at all. (We were there on Saturday, which has a 3-course brunch option; the Sunday extravaganza is a whole 'nother story.) We started with cocktails, which fit right in: a gingery sparkler (with mead!) was a good wake-up, and the root-vegetable bloody mary was a whole lot peppier than its name implies. Bread basket is varied but restrained (i.e. contained excellent bread, not pastries). I started with butternut squash soup, which was nicely seasoned and not overly rich. Oddly, the much-touted crab and corn chowder someone else ordered was greeted with a shrug and a "nothing special." The quiche entree was among the best I ever tasted. The pastry was flaky deliciousness, and the filling was light and creamy. Wow. A huge portion (which I ate every last bit of), plus an unobtrusive side salad. My friends' entrees (turkey sandwich, salmon burger, breakfast skillet) again were said to be fine but not brilliant. Maybe I'm an ordering genius. Everyone agreed on desserts, however. The bread pudding was fabulous as well as gigantic; get it and share. We also tried the tea cake, at our waitress's suggestion, and it was less flamboyant but just as lovely. Henrietta's didn't feel like a hotel restaurant, and neither did the prices. Although nothing here is cheap, there's no price gouging. Considering the location, the attention to local sourcing, and the attentive service, it can be a surprisingly good value. read more

On their website it says that their Sunday Brunch has been awarded "Best Brunch in Boston" by the Improper Bostonian every year since 2001. Alright, we had to try it out then. Well by jove, yes!!!!! It get's my vote as well. It is pricey, but it is also all you can eat, and all the lovely things you love about brunch are at your feet and disposal. Waffles, eggs, smoked salmon, cheeses, various parts of the pig, raw bar, mimosas, and more, oh my! Oh yea, unlimited OJ--how frakin' great is that, especially when most times you order OJ and it comes in a half sized glass with no refills! My gaaaaaawd... Finally, a reason to wake up early on Sundays. read more

Everything here is organic and fresh. The big wood tables and little "shop" at the entrance give it a home-y, almost barn-like feel. They did pretty well on keeping my water glass full until the end of the meal (important criteria for my restaurant experience). I love that I could see all the food ready to be served as I walked in- a preview of my dinner to come, and that I could see the chefs cooking it. The prices were fairly decent. Not cheap, but not much more that an average night out. This place is vegetarian friendly as it has many nice salad options and a few vegetarian dishes. There is also a cheese menu which I feel that I need to try on my next visit. ****EDIT**** I came here for the Sunday brunch buffet. Totally worth it as an occassional treat. Awesome eggs benedict, a bunch of cheeses, salads, pates, hot dishes, meats, as well as extensive dessert options. Fresh OJ and coffee, of course. Remember to pace yourself because with all this deliciousness, you might not make it through everything you want to try! I love that when you eat here, you can be pretty sure that your butter was churned and your eggs were gathered from a local farm the same morning and are now lying oh so freshly on your plate. We love it!!! read more

Pricey, but the food reminds me of southern, rich Paula Dean-like flavors. Did I mention that's a good thing? Although I've only ever been here for lunch and usually it was a business lunch- there were always moments of silence where food was the focus as opposed to anything else. I've had the Baked Gloucester Scrod which wasn't great- but the Yankee Pot Roast and the Maine Rock Crab Cake have been delicious. My overall favorite is the chicken pot pie- and is the reason why I always want to return. Plus I've heard the occasional celebs stop in for brunch. read more

I have never had a non-stellar meal here. It's pricey, but everything is local and homey and made with care. I highly recommend their prix fixe menu (Yard sale) available Sun./Thur., and they participate in restaurant weeks too. I'd probably be happy just eating a couple of their side dishes. and Their fruity oaty desserts are divine. The servers are always hospitable and courteous and knowledgeable about the menu and the ingredients, and the staff there seems to actually like eating work food, which I think is a big deal. I've been lucky to go here for work lunches a couple time too. They have tasty sandwiches and salads or pot roasts which satisfy even the pickiest of picky coworkers. Their lunch menu is relatively affordable. I'd love to go to their brunch at some point, but it's a little hard to rationalize. read more

I used to come here about once every 6 weeks. Whenever I had out-of-town guests, I would bring them here. I have always fantasized about staying in this hotel (the Charles) for a weekend just to pamper myself because it looks amazing. As this is a hotel restaurant, you will find a great variety of diners here, making for a relatively informal experience. If you sit at the bar, you might find yourself seated next to some talented jazz musicians grabbing a bite before their performance at the Regatta Bar. You mght find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting seated next to a table of 6 sycophants and one Harvard professor, so it is hit or miss. The drinks are a definite hit- strong and flavorful. The food, too, is very flavorful and they tout their support of local farms. The portions are filling. For dessert, they have an individual pie-of-the-day that never fails to impress. Also, the bread basket is remarkable- warm, homemade cranberry walnut bread as well as really good brown bread. A word of caution- I tried the buffalo cheese blueberry tart once and spent 72 hours ridding myself of it. I actually haven't been back since, just so I have ample time to forget the experience. I am sure I will return once the memory fades suficiently. read more

There's some tasty vittles to be had at Henrietta's Table. But the place sure is loud. They should try some drapery or something to dull down the cacophony the large dining room turns into when the place gets full. Which is usually about 30 minutes after it opens. The noise caused one of our main course orders to get messed up but they gave me a free desert so I won't complain (too much). Since the main dining room is so big and the parties at the tables can get so big, service can be a little slow in getting back to you -- but when they did stop by they were very pleasant. Everything was delicious and fresh. If anyone knows the secret behind their house beer, drop me a line, I forgot to ask the waitress. read more

Oh Henrietta's. It all began with a restaurant week visit, where anything on the menu is available for the deals! Before your meal arrives, bread is presented to the table. The beer battered bread is not my favorite, but the other two options are delicious. I tried the salmon burger for lunch and that's when I knew it was meant to be. I'm a fan of anything seafood combined with bread like items, i.e. crab cake. I've heard that most of the dishes are tasty in a very basic and neutral way. Henrietta's is not one to experiment with flavors. Some find it quite bland. I find it masterful to create a satisfying meal with what seems to be basic and expected ingredients. The classics never tasted so good. While the entrees are fulfilling, there is nothing like the chocolate bread pudding. Sometimes, I come to Henrietta's and just eat the bread pudding. I've done it once, but that's enough of an effort to illustrate my case. As a bread pudding enthusiast, I may call Henrietta's one of my favorites. The caramelized bananas are the perfect touch to this perfectly rich dessert. It never disappoints. read more

See all