Ambience is 9/10. Great place, pretty cool spot for dinner. The service was just ok. We ordered a hard kombucha and a margarita, and two very good margaritas were brought to us (mostly ice, very little drink) and 20 or so minutes later we got up and asked the bartender since our waiter had not returned. They took back the untouched second drink and were kind enough to take it off the bill. We also ordered a butternut squash soup and a side of mac and cheese. The soup was decent though the mac and cheese was unexpected: the cheese was reminiscent of Kraft or Velveeta. Not thick... tasted fine though. The pasta they used was perfect perfect perfect. read more

Shy Bird - Mac and cheese, soup, and two very icy drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great place at Kendall square. Food is tasty, especially the seasoning. Servers are nice and friendly. But be aware it is not a big place. So when there is a big party or gathering, it could be really crowded inside even if they borrow the lobby from the apartment building next door. read more

Came here for brunch and they had so many great options. The lettuce wraps were really good, so was the fried chicken Benedicts and breakfast burrito. They do their fried chicken really well. Great service and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Lot of lunchtime regulars too from the kendall working population. read more

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Came here for NYE dinner and they were offering some specials for NYE. Overall it wasn't bad but could have been better. The truffle double smash burger for the NYE special was the best flavor wise but the burger itself was over cooked and even a little crispy on the sides. The chicken was mediocre and the sauces were average, they could have come from McDonald's. The charred broccolini was too "charred" for my taste - to the point where it was flaking off. The chili purée it came with was also very heavy. The chicharrones and fried shallot and salmon roe dip was interesting...and also pretty heavy. The cocktail was very good though! What I liked most of all about this place though, was the ambience! It was dim without being too dark but still quite lively. And the placement of the seats made it intimate without feeling claustrophobic. FYI this is another place with a 4% admin fee read more

Shy Bird - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Came here on a Friday evening for dinner and the place was pretty empty compared to how busy I've seen it, but I think this spot definitely is much livelier on weeknights vs. leading up to weekends. Given how it felt much calmer and quieter though, I didn't see the lack of people as a negative. Service was relatively quick so our orders were taken rather fast and efficiently before the food came out shortly after. The tomato soup was more sour/tart than other tomato soups I've had, but it wasn't too bad. The dinner for two we got was really good quality for its price and portion - we were pretty stuffed by the end, especially with an order of bites, but it was worth it. The chicken wasn't too dry which is my main qualm with rotisserie chicken. The salad was well-dressed, although a little boring as it was just lettuce and dressing. The fries were pretty good - overall, really nice meal. I wouldn't mind coming back in the future to try some of their other sauces. Good deal, good service, thanks Shy Bird! read more

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We loved ShyBird! It was the perfect find during our stay in Cambridge. We were in the area for 5 days, and we visited here 4 times. The herb roasted was my favorite. We also tried the piri piri it was good but the sauce was a bit thick and too spicy for my taste. My son loved the fried chicken too. Every meal was just exactly what was needed after a long exhausting day - not too heavy, solid protein, clean eating, and the greens salad it comes with was a wonderful refreshing side . We also tried the brownie and the cookie desserts and they were also surprisingly good!! Service was wonderful everyone was really nice. Definitely would recommend read more

Came here on a very nice weekday for lunch because they have an outdoor seating and it was a nice spot to meet up with some friends for food n a drink if you want, we had ordered the shawarma pita, chicken tender pieces, rosemary fries and the Caesar wrap. Everything was good but I didn't realized it was 2 different menus for lunch and dinner so maybe I'll be back for their dinner just to try it out. Their espresso martini was good also, I had them changed the alcohol to tequila and it was a good start for the day for me read more

Shy Bird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I am a Shy Bird Fenway location SUPER fan, so I was beyond excited when my friend invited me to lunch at Shy Bird in Kendall Square. We came in during lunch time on a week day and it was packed, but we were able to get a seat. This is located in some sort of corporate office/hotel (not sure), as I found myself walking through a fancy lobby to get to the bathroom. The service here is great, but the food lacks in many departments. I ordered their chicken Caesar wrap, which I heard is life changing, but I was incredibly underwhelmed. The chicken was very dry and the ingredients just weren't mixing well together. I asked for hot sauce to make it more flavorful, but that didn't help either. I also got their fries on the side, which I usually love, but these fries were drowning in rosemary and had no salt, so the spice flavor was completely overpowering. It might have been an off day, but the Fenway location still takes the trophy for me. read more

Just okay, place was not busy but service was slow. Sat at least 10-15 minutes before anyone took our drink order. Server friendly enough, drinks fine. read more

quickly seated, food came quickly, food was amazing. quieter but busy vibes. love everything. read more

Shy Bird - chipotle cheddar bacon smashburger, ceaser wrap, rosemary-pepper fries, and umami bowl. SO GOOD. everything tastes AMAZING!!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here yesterday for lunch with family. Our server was Chester and let me just tell you--he's the bomb! He had a very bubbly and outgoing personality; but not too "in your face " at all. I was visiting from out of town and I think he could tell that we didn't want to be rushed. Two of us had the Calabrian Chicken Cesar Salad wrap, which was as amazing as everyone says it is. One had the Breakfast Burrito, which was a little bland to be honest; but not bad. The other person in our party had the fried chicken sandwich and loved it. We would definitely go back again and we would specifically ask for Chester if he was working that shift. read more

Chicken and cocktails YES Please!! Had dinner Friday night with my bf and this place did not disappoint! We ordered a few cocktails to start and decided on their dinner for two special. Dinner for two consisted of a whole chicken with a side of fries and a side salad. The chicken presentation looked amazing! We really liked the spice rub that coated the entire chicken. The chicken was juicy and tender and we had fun digging in and slicing huge pieces of the chicken. We also ordered a flight of sauces to dip our chicken and fries which made dinner so much fun. After we devoured our meal, we ordered some cookies and coffee for dessert. Service was great and we had a great night. read more

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Griddled banana bread was phenomenal!! The service was great and we really enjoyed the breakfast burritos. It's a busy place, but we sat in the back and it was not too loud. Shy bird is at the top of our list for brunch! read more

Nice vibe here. There weren't many open tables but we were still sat immediately upon entering. The waitstaff was very sweet and prompt with their service. The menu options service everyone. I recommend trying the shy bird sauce. No complaints here! I forgot to take pics because I was enjoying my time :) read more

I'm newly OBSESSED with this place- their rotisserie piri piri chicken has me in a chokehold- and the chicharrones and db dunks are such good starters. For drinks I tried the shy lady which was so yummy and my friend tried one of their zero-proof drinks the "side eye" which was also delish. I rarely rave about a side dish but the charred broccolini on a Calabrian chili puree was ridiculously good. The service is fast and the staff is all very friendly. I think this would be a great spot for a date or dinner with friends. Will definitely be back to try their brunch! read more

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brunch spot. Good for a friend gathering. Some dishes were unreasonably priced (such as my $10+ yogurt bowl) but I guess you pay for the environment for a place like this in Kendall Square read more

Shy Bird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I had a catered spicy cauliflower pita wrap from here and it was absolutely delicious. Love that they have great vegan options! read more

Shy Bird - spicy cauliflower pita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Shy Bird is the go-to destination for fun bites and drinks with some friends. It has a classy atmosphere mixed with cozy ambiance at night to make for a perfect night out. Some friends and I met for dinner and go reservations on a weekend, which was terribly difficult to get. We ordered the chicken sandwich with fries, which was absolutely delicious. Was it the best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had? No, but it certainly hit the spot. The waiter was very patient with us and gave us time to look over the menu as we chatted away. Great place! read more

Shy Bird - Chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

New York delis wish they could make a bacon egg and cheese as good as this place makes it.

Came here recently and tried chicken and waffles for the first time. The chicken is the best I've tried in Boston so far! We had to sit at the bar to eat as all other tables were booked which wasn't as comfortable as it woke have been at a table. The service was good and the atmosphere in the restaurant was great and felt like we weren't rushed. read more

Shy Bird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Oh my the chicken sandwich!!! If you don't want the carbs, ask for rotisserie chicken- absolutely fantastic, nice spicy kick YUM! I had salad as my side, hubs had the fries so we could share both. We each had a Pacifico as well. Service was friendly and quick. It was pretty early, we are still jet lagging from home, so the place wasn't crowded, but was definitely already hopping this time of the evening. I know I'm going to crave the spicy sauce on this chicken! read more

Shy Bird - Chicken sandwich with rotisserie chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I had a wonderful time at this restaurant. A little hidden gem. Let me break this down. Music on point, the vibes were everything the servers were nice attentive and asked us how we would like our meals to come out, and had good attitudes. I really enjoyed the treatment here. Theeeee food - I ain't gunna hold you, the food was amazing. They have plenty of veggie and vegan options. I was able to enjoy my friends meals and not be concerned about the food I was having. So yes, I was vibing with the music and having a good meal. Their mocktail selection was AMAZING also. I highly recommend this place. I want to come back for brunch. Check this place out!!! read more

Shy Bird - Salad with Tofu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The ambiance is super nice! We saw the place as we walked by and thought it was super nice. We went in and definitely didn't disappoint. My husband ordered the burger and I ordered the pasta. The pasta was delicious ! Our server recommended the chicken but we passed on it. The service was Great. We definitely would go back and this time will try the chicken! Highly recommend if you are in town read more

Caitlyn and Dee were awesome bartenders!! Great conversations and even better drinks! Go see them, they're wonderful . read more

Seriously delicious restaurant by Kendall Square! We came here after an event and although it looked packed and busy, we got a table after only a couple minutes of waiting. The atmosphere is loud and social, great for a dinner with friends or coworkers. They also had outdoor seating options which was decorated very nicely with lights all around. After ordering, all the food came out all at once, which took up the entire table and made it difficult for us to fit everything (but this could be a personal preference). My favorite dish was definitely the chicken and waffles, I've tried a lot and I think they have one of the best! I also loved the chicken to waffle ratio. The pumpkin soup was very creamy and delicious too. Overall, it's an amazing restaurant for a night out and has great service! read more

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The service is terrible, the waitstaff in the dining room aren't very helpful or friendly at all. I ordered the Calabrian Chicken Cesar Wrap, it was terrible! The the wrap hardly contained any chicken. It was extremely dry and lacked flavor. I think they honestly relied on the flavor of the croutons to season this wrap. It was a waste of $15. Don't believe the hype save your money I wish I would've. read more

cascatellli pasta primavera 3.5/5 half bird w/fries 3.75/5 umami bowl 3/5 dunks w/honey mustard 3.75/5 Went here to grab dinner with a couple of friends. Food was ok. Interior is nice - high ceilings, clean decor. We hadn't made a reservation, but didn't have to wait long to be attended to. Once seated, our server took our order promptly and gave us recommendations for things to try. They are known for the rotisserie chicken so I would recommend trying that if you haven't. It isn't bad! Overall, service was great, but I'm not sure the quality of the food is at a price point where I would be willing to come again. The interior is quite nice for the quality of food served. Think nice atmosphere with diner food. Street parking only, but didn't have too terrible of luck finding parking a short walk away. read more

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For a restaurant that specializes in chicken, I was impressed by the number of vegetarian options this restaurant has! The Tuscan Bowl was delicious. There is a great ambiance in the restaurant as well and lovely outdoor seating. Service was very attentive and quick! read more

Shy Bird - Tuscan Bowl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The five star food is only outdone by the five star service from the amazing team members. Ren, our server for the evening, had some great recommendations, as did Manager Shannon, who stopped by not to assist because it was needed, but to enhance everyone's experience because she wanted to. Food: Definitely recommend the street corn dip, and eating off of the rotisserie menu as was suggested. I had the salsa verde rotisserie chicken, which was a really large half chicken, with a generous portion of fries. Highly recommend. Delicious crispy skin, and succulent meat. My friend had the rotisserie octopus, which I tried and was unique and delicious and juicy - get both! Drinks: ask your server, and they can recommend a plethora of different mocktails and cocktails depending on your mood. I forgot what it was called, but my friend had a white foamy looking mocktail that he said was delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed my drinks. Kudos to the bartender. Shy Lady was just the right amount of sweet and citrus, and I'm blacking out on the other two drinks but Ren and Shannon were able to match them perfectly with my taste. Reasonably priced. Hot tip - the Matcha latte is also to die for, proper coffee shop experience latte for a cold evening. Service: Sometimes you go into a place that has great reviews and you are let down by the service, either because people are too stuffy, or the team is short-staffed, or there is just not a great culture that values the guest experience. The complete opposite was true here - and as someone that works in hospitality, I can honestly say this is some of the best service I've ever had in a restaurant, no matter the price range or level Michelin stars or James Beard awards or Zagat ratings. The team is on point, helping each other out and all very aware of what guests need. All I had to do was glance at something and there would be somebody to take a plate away, as if they were reading my mind. There was also a point towards the end of the evening where we were deep in serious conversation, and Ren and her co-workers could see that and gave us a few extra minutes before clearing dessert, (quietly without interrupting). Ren has this demeanor of warm and welcoming while also professional and expedient, never rushing customers to make a decision, and yet always giving thoughtful recommendations and arriving at the right time when service is needed. Great Leadership there, from her and from Shannon. .Kudos to Ren and the entire server team, as well as the management team. Having such great service from multiple people for multiple tables means that this is truly a restaurant that values the diner/guest, and creates an experience where elevated hospitality is not a "one-off on a special night", but an everyday experience for guests, whether it is a busy Saturday or a low-key Tuesday. Thank you to manager Shannon and Server Ren for truly making our evening special, and providing unexpected surprises that enhanced our evening - definitely get the brownie dessert! Room for improvement: The only thing I will say is that since this is Cambridge, there are certain things out of the restaurant's control: the weather, nature, and being in a Cambridge city environment. A few control measures could be put in place for the future, but again this was outside of the team's purview. And the team literally addressed my concerns as soon as I mentioned them - well done. Final thoughts: To me, it is not necessarily about what happens when something goes amiss, It is about how the team responds and rushes (or doesn't, as happens at other places!) to remedy the situation. Something happened that was outside the restaurant's control (Micky), and the management team and servers responded in a professional and sincere manner that truly solidifies why Shybird deserves to hold the top spot on all of the lists for local and national dining scenes not just for their food, but for their five star service that is approachable, fun, and above all - sincere. The world needs more Rens. The world needs more Shannon's to help teach others how to serve and provide hospitality like Ren! If I owned a restaurant, I would definitely poach members from this team (Ren, Shannon, and others !) to train others on how to provide sincere, approachable luxury hospitality. This is not just based on how they assisted just our table, but other guests as well. Kudos all around. And don't forget that the food is amazing, best rotisserie that I've had in a long long time, with vegan vegetarian creative options as well!! I will be back multiple times, for intimate romantic future dates, and also large parties. Thank you to the entire Shybird team. read more

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I simply went to Shy Bird for a breakfast wrap that I was impressed with. The potato had really good flavor mixed with the eggs and a touch of hot sauce really gave it some zest. I've driven by Shy Bird a million times and finally got an opportunity for a good breakfast meal. I also got a chocolate croissant which was delicious and they heat it up for me. Will definitely try them out for dinner soon. read more

Try the Mediterranean Mai Tai and the street corn dip! The burger was also pretty good. The dunks surprisingly tasted a bit floury and weren't as crispy as I would have liked, though they were tender and juicy. Nice patio area, but our table was pretty small for three people. On the whole, we enjoyed ourselves! read more

The vibes here are pretty fun. You could come here for a casual lunch but also a nice dinner. I don't think the food is as bad as some of the reviews say. However, I do agree that the rotisserie chicken is a little dry and underseasoned, which is a bit disappointing because a place named Shy Bird should have good chicken! We decided to split a dinner for two which came with a whole rotisserie chicken, salad, and fries ($32.95). The chicken had a really nice seasoning on the outside but I wish they brined it more-- the breast pieces were dry and the flavoring from the seasoning mostly stayed on the skin and did not soak through the rest of the meat. We got the chipotle BBQ and honey mustard sauces. I really enjoyed the chipotle BBQ, as it was nice and smoky without being overpoweringly sweet. The honey mustard was kind of strange and lacked both honey and mustard flavor. The side salad was very simple and only had spring mix, red wine vinaigrette, and oil. The greens were drenched in the oil. I think the highlight of my meal was the fries! They had a nice rosemary aroma, were crisp on the outside, and still fluffy on the inside. If a friend wanted to come here for a meal I would not say no, but I probably wouldn't come back myself. read more

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The food was very good and very fulling. It helped me recover after a flight. The service was very good and the staff were kind. The ambiance is nice although a little crowded. Overall a very good restaurant. read more

Chicken was really good. Breading had really good seasoning. Only thing I was expecting a bit more from these chicken bites with the sauce given the price. I only got takeout so I can't speak for the service and the placs itself but I will for sure give it another try and get a prooper meal. read more

Shy Bird - SB dunks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

In addition to my taco quest, I've also started looking for the best chicken sandwich in the city. The sandwich here had the making of something great, but the execution needs some polishing. The chicken was thighs (instead of the more common breast) and cooked beautifully. It was very moist and juicy (in so far as chicken can be). The breading was seasoned nicely, gently crisp, and very thin. The jury is still out on the breading thickness... I liked that there wasn't more bread than chicken, but I sometimes enjoy a slightly more substantive coating. Other than the pepper relish, which added a pleasant level of heat. The ranch and lettuce were present, did not make much of an impression. I will say that the bread started falling apart quickly, especially with the thighs making the sandwich uneven. Then there were the fries; these guys were shoestring fries, which compounds the problem that they had an almost painful amount of salt. I don't typically leave fries on the plate, but finishing all of them is asking for a heart attack. To their credit, when I mentioned the salt to my server as a no-big-deal just FYI sort of thing, they took the fries portion off the bill. read more

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Great spot attached to a brewery and pickle ball club. Nice area. Great indoor and outdoor seating. Service was a bit slow at first but staff were super nice about it and offered us a free app for our wait (which wasn't long at all). The overall experience was very enjoyable. The chicken bites were better than the whole chicken and you MUST get the side sauce flight. read more

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My friend made a reservation for brunch on a Saturday. When we arrived they sat us outside - which was cold for November. The host said there were no available seats inside, but on the reservation my friend did not have a choice of inside or outside. Only one heat lamp worked as well. The food was really good and came out really fast. I had a Bloody Mary and the egg and cheese sandwich with aioli and avocado. I also got a hash brown on the side, which was really big, but I recommend putting it on the sandwich. The food here was really good, I just wish we weren't outside or that they would have said that while making the reservation. read more

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We came to Shy Bird on a Thursday night without a reservation. Although there were no separate tables available, we were able to snag some seats at the communal table near the entrance. We ordered both of the ciders on the menu. My personal favorite of the two was Feels Like Home, which had a more sweet apple taste to it. For our meal, we ordered the Dinner for 2, which comes with a whole chicken, a choice of sauce, fries, and a house salad. I've never had rotisserie chicken the way that Shy Bird prepares it, and it was a pleasant surprise. The chicken had lots of herbs that almost created a dry-rub-like crust. It packed a lot of flavor into each bite. Although it was a tad bit salty for my taste, it was overall cooked well, with the chicken not feeling dry at any part of the meal. I really enjoyed the fries, which were thin, crispy, and tossed with some rosemary and black pepper. The house salad had a bit too much dressing for my personal taste but was otherwise pretty standard. The staff was very attentive, sometimes a bit too much. We had three people check in with us consistently, averaging around once every 5 minutes. They were very nice and cheerful, but it took away from the actual experience at times. Overall, Shy Bird offers a unique take on rotisserie chicken. I feel like it was on the pricier end considering its quality and portion, but nothing too drastic to prevent you from going here if you're ever considering it. Make sure you grab a reservation if you ever want to check it out! read more

Shy Bird - Dinner for 2: Whole Bird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stopped by this place after kayaking and using the city Bluebikes. We were able to get seated right away on a Sunday morning. For drinks, my friends ordered a Moscow Mule and I ordered a dirty martini. It was my first time trying a dirty martini and it tasted exactly as I expected it to. Not sure it's a good brunch drink choice in the future. My friends enjoyed their drinks however. For our meals we order the breakfast wrap, breakfast sandwich, and the gluten-free roasted chicken half. The bread for the sandwich was very soft and fluffy. For both breakfast meals the eggs were nicely scrambled. The tortilla used for the breakfast wrap was not anything special. I did enjoy the guacamole and other fillings served with the egg. The half roasted chicken was quite literally half of an entire bird. It was tender and moist from what my friend said. Overall food and service was good and would be willing to come back again. read more

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I walked into Shy Bird on a Saturday morning and was immediately seated. The restaurant has a ton of seating both indoors and outdoors. And even better is that it doubles as a cafe if you just want a coffee and to get some work done. The prices were fairly affordable for brunch ~ around $14 to $18 for entrees. I ordered the Ranch Chicken Fried sandwich -- it had a nice toasted bun, creamy ranch, crisp lettuce and crunchy on the outside but tender on the inside chicken. I was disappointed by the fries which were not well seasoned or particularly crispy. The iced coffees were great too! Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience and I recommend it for a weekend brunch place with no lines and fast service. read more

Shy Bird - Harissa bowl w/ tofu and Ranch fried chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts