Short story: not the best fried chicken in boston. Side dish was too salty, chicken bland. Arugala pasta ok. I personally love the midwestern 70-80s dive bar theme...but hark ***this is NOT a real dive bar. Have pool and a laid back atmosphere. Long story: i think i know what the review discrepancy is in this and other reviews... The beer palate factor... I don't drink and feel the food here was barely ok. I don't know that i'd even rate it a-ok, but i like the kitch and ambiance of the bar and pool tables. Like I would totally hang out here if i drank. But i don't...not because some moral high ground i try to tread but because my cursed genetic background makes me physically unable and lo must i suffer the mediocrity of some food places that are over rated by my jovial and drunk fellow yelpers... So chicken was nice and crispy on the outside but bland for a honey tabasco and a little dry...where was the flavor? i think they finish cooking under the hot lamp cuz the chicken had THAT taste to it. Garlic confit kale had no garlic and a wholly S#%t ton of salt and was not fit for consumption. My friend enjoyed her arugala pasta so maybe ill try that next time. read more

This place is really awesome for a summer night. We were able to get seats outside with just a half hour wait and the drinks were really good and they had a GREAT cider selection. They had a rare Citizen Cider which is only in liquor stores. The food was a little bit weird (not sure what the friend pork thing with beef was) but otherwise they have all your standard healthy food and some weird things. The vibe is very chill and the service was great and friendly. Don't live in the area but highly recommend! read more

My first reaction to State Park was ambivalent. Walking down the stairs to the entrance, I spotted a bunch of vintage pool table lights and other decor that could have been lifted out of a faux "dive bar" in Bushwick or any number of similar neighborhoods. I thought to myself: do we really need more of THIS? And then I walked in. And quickly relaxed. The vibe was friendly. The room managed to seem both spacious and buzzing. I met up with my friend and we ordered cocktails. Our server was delightful. But, truth be told, it's hard for me to recount the meal without cutting to the chase: the fried chicken was TREMENDOUS, the best I've had in Boston. How State Park managed to maintain layers of juicy meat, an intact coating of honey Tabasco sauce, and a crunchy exterior -- all in perfect harmony -- is a marvel. I suppose that's to be expected from the Hungry Mother team. Fried pickled okra was nice, but I echo the comments of other reviewers about the fried catfish. Ours was flat, dry and mealy. I'll be back for the chicken and the pinball. read more

Imagine you are in a small town Wisconsin beer hall, circa 1985. Now imagine that the person in charge of the kitchen has actually been to culinary school. That's State Park. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from the name: a sort of hunting lodge feel, with wood paneling, low light, and every promotional light-up sign ever made by a low-brow brewer, packed tighter than the line for the reptile exhibit at the Iowa State Fair. The noise level was high enough to make conversation near impossible. Even making eye contact and yelling across the narrow restaurant booth, my companion and I often had to repeat ourselves several times to be heard. The food is an odd combination of beer hall and haute cuisine. We ordered the pork chop sandwich, crudite with za'atar, oysters, and honey tabasco fried chicken, to give you an idea of the sorts of improbable neighbors you might find on your table there. The pork chop sandwich deserves special mention. The "pork chop" was what any Midwesterner knows to be a pork fritter, and was wonderfully juicy--not like the shoe leather pork fritters I used to get in college. It is served on an unassuming hamburger bun with chili, slaw, mustard, and tomato. You might not guess that the slaw is *on* the sandwich, but it is. It does not come with enough napkins, but it was the best pork fritter sandwich I have ever had. I might get it to go next time. read more

Love this place for breakfast/brunch. I got the cheddar biscuits and gravy and it was awesome. Their home fries and coffee are amazing. read more

State Park - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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First and foremost, great food! Highly recommend fried chicken (only choose hot, if really like hot, otherwise stick to buttermilk) and smoke pork broth. Cocktail drinks are good and ok beer selection. Great addition to the area. Service is fantastic. Go, drink and eat:) read more

State Park - Buttermilk fried chicken - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Loved it. Dive bar atmosphere with fantastic southern inspired food. Loved the fried chicken and collards. Pool, pinball and shuffleboard provide entertainment while your sucking down tasty beers or cocktails. read more

This a great place to go to be social with a group. I went yesterday and had to wait in line ten minutes just to get in, but no big deal, as the newest addition to Kendall Square the "new" factor of State Park delivers on the hype and is worth the wait! The place was packed but it somehow did not feel crowded and while we were only there for drinks I will be back for the southern food. The bar tenders kept everyone happy in the crowded restaurant and with good Juke Box tunes, fun shuffle board and great decor all of the ingredients were primed for a fun fueled night. Kudos to the female bartender for making me and my friends 8 Moscow Mules and one great dirty Vodka Martini. The group all agreed - delicious, 8 for 8! A raucous good time in the always fun and classy Kendall Square. If you're bar hopping near Inman and Kendall save yourself the walk to Central and crash the party at State Park. read more

They got a $3 Genny Cream Ale, which I'm totally down with! Not a bad spot, bartenders were attentive and nice. Just feels like you're on a movie set where the scene is a "dive bar." Confusing, but ultimately had a nice experience here. I wanna try the food. read more

The salad might as well have come out of a bag. Mushrooms on the katsu sandwich might as well have come out of the freezer. Not to mention they completely forgot to make it until we asked 30 minutes later read more

Fantastic followup to the Hungry Mother at a lower price point but still excellent food and atmosphere. It will likely be loud and crowded, but still worth it. A few notes: - The drink and shot options are great, and it can be a struggle to leave this place sober as a result. - I know it sounds really weird, but get the State Park Cocktail... it's almost nutty in flavor but so tasty. - Yell at them to bring back the Kentucky Hot Brown... I know it's summer and that's a super heavy dish, but it's soooo good. - Not exactly veg/healthy friendly, but f that noise anyway. read more

I went with my lovely girlfriend Friday night. It was the first time either of had ever been. If you want a great fun atmosphere and friendly servers than State Park cannot be beat! The have a really unique a non-expensive appetizer menu. We tried the fried okra and it was AMAZING. The SHUFFLE-BOARD is a ton of fun and i have never seen one at any bar in Boston! We could have played all night...but we kept losing...lol Even the owner came out to greet us with an appetizer, she was extremely friendly and quite honestly she could not have put the place together any better. We will be visiting State Park for years to come... read more

The brunch here is AMAZING. They serve pretty much the best pancakes that I've ever found at a restaurant in Cambridge/Boston. The latkes are golden crispy and delicious, and the restaurant staff is incredibly friendly. I've come 5 or 6 times and the food has been consistently good. I would highly recommend checking out State Park on a Saturday or Sunday morning instead of waiting in line for an hour at other nearby brunch establishments in the 1 Kendall Sq. complex. read more

State Park - perfect pancakes - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Discovered State Park on an Off The Beaten Path Food Tours Kendall Square Food Innovation Tour, and I was so excited to be here. I've already come back for a tasty brunch. The food is high quality and the atmosphere is just what I was looking for: non-pretentious and relaxed. It's a great spot for a first date, friend or co-worker gathering, and weekend hang. Cannot wait to come back! read more

Best Dive bar in the Kendall Sq area. I found out from my co worker that they have pinball and shuffleboard. Its a great spot to just hangout grab a beer and meet people. Highly recommend the chicken katsu! Delish!!!! read more

The fried chicken is SO GOOD! My friends tried the spicy one, but I didn't dare to. Wish the sides were a little larger. Desserts were out of this world! I'd come here again in a heartbeat! read more

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State Park have really upped their game since Hungry Mother closed, been twice in the last few weeks, and food has delighted both times. Today I had the BBQ spaghetti and my buddy had the katsu chicken burger, which he said was the best he ever had. The BBQ spaghetti was great, and very interesting, pulled pork with a mix of BBQ and marinara sauce. Really cool place to go for lunch in the Kendall area! read more

EH. I like what they're doing with their drink menu; so many fun options! But the food...no thanks. We ordered the mussels, brussel sprouts, the pickled egg (only good thing we ate), Tabasco honey fried chicken (ok flavor, appeared to be re-fried though, not fresh), collard greens (if you're not southern, you shouldn't even be attempting this tricky vegetable, fight me) and the oxtail perogis (ok). ALL were insanely over seasoned. Gets two stars for a cool drink menu and good service. That's about it. read more

GGG. Good, good, good. Good service. I sat at the bar alone. It didn't take long for two bartenders to ask me several times how I was doing and if I wanted anything to eat or drink. One of them gave me the menu and offered to give me updated info. Because I was meeting a friend, I elected to wait. But the cheerful attentiveness that didn't feel forced or fake is worth so very much. So very much. I'm a single woman who spends money out on food and drink. Keep up the service and I'll spend my money at your place. Great to good food. I'd read about the Nashville hot chicken. I wanted to try it. I didn't expect to be discouraged from ordering it. I mean, why put it on the menu if it's too hot to eat? I'm not sure if bartender was waving me off because I'm a woman ("girls can't eat hot food") or he'd do the same song and dance about how hot it is if we were two bros attempting to order the spicy chicken, but I let it slide because of the generally very good and attentive service (see above). Date and I decided what-the-hell and got the chicken. If it was too hot, well, we tried. Chicken came and it looked so good that nobody took a picture. It's a small half a chicken deep fried and sauced with spice. Not too hot, not if you like hot stuff, as I do. The greens were a lightly tossed kale. Not too-anything although some of it was cold. Not sure why they couldn't make it all the same temperature. But it was tasty. I love real food. Cocktails looked great but I was only doing beer. Notch Left of the Dial -- a favorite of mine -- on draft was the perfect light counter to the hot chicken. I'd love to work my way through the menu. Ambiance? Lovely. Lots of games, shuffleboard, pool, pinball, and interesting objects and signs and stuff. A lot of different spaces -- tables and bar and rooms and whatnot. And while we were busy eating and drinking and talking, a blues band set up in the corner. Yay for Sunday nights!! If this bar were more convenient, I could see becoming a regular. Anyone know when the Longfellow Bridge will be back in business? read more

Institutionalized sexism - not ok. I recently came here after a holiday party and a friend had too much to drink. I brought him multiple waters and escorted him out but apparently that meant I was also blacklisted from being served here as well. Was a shame, because I was totally fine. And my male friend, who was also denied initially, ended up being served after an hour but I was denied because i looked uneasy on my heels (That I was wearing since 3:30 pm btw). When I called the Male bartender out on this Behavior, the female bartender decided she needed to get involved and come out and confront me with the body guard in tow - totally unnecessary and standoffish behavior, and will never be returning to this sorry excuse for a dive bar. When you serve a male in a group but not a female who is not showing signs of being drunk, that's just plain sexism. I appreciate the caution but at the same time it was ridiculous and RUDE. Avoid this sorry excuse for a bar. Spend your money elsewhere. read more

Honestly the atmosphere is great for a fun divey bar but the staff really does not align with the vibe I got a drink from the bar and made the mistake of bumping into the "manager" while I was walking back to my seat. I tried to apologize but he asked me to leave because I was too "wasted". He truly seemed to take pleasure in making me feel bad about making a mistake. He was small and so is this bar. Skip it. read more

This place is freakin' amazing. Went last night on a whim and didn't want to leave. I expected it to be good with the Hungry Mother team behind it, but it exceeded my expectations. Definitely makes up for what Boston/Cambridge is lacking for the most part -- laid back neighborhood dive bar with good energy where the bartenders really know their stuff. Prices are also very reasonable which is a nice bonus. I didn't end up eating, but had a few cocktails -- whiskey smash, Moscow mule and a green walnut liqueur/caramelized rye drink from the menu. All were awesome. The bartenders were very attentive and friendly. When I told one of the bartenders, Gina (who was unbelievably nice), what type of drink I was in the mood for, she made me a custom Moscow mule (light on the sugar, heavier on the ginger) that was super well balanced and exactly what I wanted. The crowd was also great last night; lots of people having fun playing on the pinball machines, shuffle board and pool table. Oh and if you're interested in seeing a movie after food or drinks at State Park, they sell $8 movie tickets. You can pay for them at the restaurant to get a pass that you then just present at the theater when getting your ticket -- nice way to save a few bucks! This is definitely my new go-to bar in the Kendall area. Can't wait to go back and try the food. read more

Checked this new place out when visiting! A good kind of dive bar with a better than average food selection. The staff is amazing - Pete was so helpful! Definitely will return when I am in the Boston area. read more

Good burgers and fries, but a bizarre and overpriced menu. The "greens" had an inordinate amount of salt. Service was decent. If you're a hipster, you'll like this place. Don't fall for the movie ticket trickery! read more

I've been to State Park multiple times but today visited for lunch, and was pleasantly surprised by their crispy-skin trout sandwich, which was served alongside some pickles and a pile of really nice, crispy french fries. The sandwich was a wonderfully flavorful filet of trout on a bed of creamy slaw and a slightly sweet, fluffy brioche bun. The sandwich was $12 before tax and tip; paired with a bottomless coffee, it was the best splurge lunch for a hot summer day. They also offer great lunch mocktails, for those of us who don't get summer Fridays! read more

Do you know what is a travesty. The lack of tabletop shuffleboard in our fine cities. I have visited and lived in many a place and enjoyed a rousing game of shuffleboard in those places. When I heard that we finally had a bar that had free shuffleboard, I knew I had to check it out. Unfortunately, state park is not quite the homerun I was looking for. We didn't try much of the food so maybe thats where it strength lies. The drinks were teetering on the brink of pricey, but landed safely in play. I was really hoping for a $3 or less cheap beer to while away the hours while I played on the board. Unfortunately nowhere to be seen. I tried a taste or two of friends cocktails and none of them really impressed me. Furthermore the menu claims that you can have an off menu drink if you know what it contains... Isn't that half the fun of getting a cocktail, making something I can't get at home? The atmosphere was fine. I would never refer to this bar as a dive. Its far too polished. It also seemed pretty heavy on the Kendal crowd (shocking, it being in Kendal and all). Not a bad thing but definitely an interesting mix. All in all I think state park is fine. There is nothing that I disliked about it but there is also nothing that stood out (besides shuffleboard) read more

I'm on the fence with this one as far as 4 or 5 stars. I'll definitely give this place 5 stars in the summer if they have the same great food and pretty good service plus they change out the booths for picnic tables. I imagine this must be in the cards, because come on the place is called State Park not Johnny's Mom's Basement. Stopped in here before going to the movies across the way. We tried the fried, pickled okra and it was perfect! Great cornmeal crust. I can never get okra to taste halfway decent myself so I'm impressed. Also tried some sausage which was pretty good - it came with saltines and mustard. Upon receiving the pork sandwich #2 I was a bit skeptical - what is this white bread?!, but don't let it's appearance fool you, it was yummy. The service was pretty good. My water was always full - which is big for me and it was a pretty pleasant experience. I could see where it could get a bit loud at times depending on where you are sitting, but that doesn't bother me. There are some tough decisions to be made when eating out in this area these days - lots of good options and State Park is one of them. read more

Let me start by saying I hadn't had service so spot-on and attentive in a long time, especially Carla! That said, I also hadn't had food less artfully or more lazily constructed in a long time. It was almost as though they were afraid I might actually taste the fish in the char sandwich and the pork in the bbq chopped pork sandwich. I'm typically a huge eater, and I pride myself on the fact that I'm not picky and will eat just about anything, but, not picky isn't the same as not discerning. I took literally just one bite of each sandwich (my friend and I split them, so that we could try more than one) because the char was unbelievably salty, and the bbq pork was so *doused* in sauce that I could hardly taste the pork. On top of all that, the sandwiches were so small for the price--grocery-store-sized hamburger bun for the char and wonder-bread-sized white bread for the pork. Only reason this even gets two stars is the pickles. read more

Three words: chicken Katsu sandwich. It's a fantastic flavor combination with the right textures and it's perfectly filling. I'd love to try their fried chicken, but that menu item is a bit $$$ for a workday lunch for me. Gotta admit: their cookies and ice cream desert is yummy. read more

One of my boyfriend & I's favorite spots in Boston. Consistently delicious food in solid portions, a witty menu, and excellent wait staff. They're warm, funny and they take really good care of you. Ambiance is a plus, it reminds me of summer camp somehow (in the best way) and they also have seating outdoors. I especially loved the shot & a beer combo I ordered last time I was there - well-priced and well-matched. The food rides the $ to $$ dollar sign range. I always look forward to coming here! Definitely recommend. read more

The best pancake I've ever had. We went there for brunch and we truly enjoyed. The egg sandwich as well the other sandwiches was perfect. Great cocktails.i will definitely returned. read more

Funky vibe, minimalist but creative. First impression based on hostess was meh, but maybe she was tired. Good drink menu and good food menu with vegetarian options. We had miso Caesar salad, burger and side of garlicky greens. Burger was great, fries amazing! Salad was disappointing. Primarily Napa cabbage, and shredded carrots making it feel like coleslaw. Nice watermelon radish and rye croutons. Greens were good, but overly salty. For dessert we had coffee and the ice cream sandwich, flavors change daily, and triple chocolate chip cookie. Coffee was served iced, not exactly welcomed on a snowy night! The cookie was outstanding, served warm, yum! Ice cream sandwich was creamsicle flavor...not my fav, but good anyway. Would be nice to have a choice of vanilla or flavor of the day. Server was nice, nothing remarkable. Would recommend this place if you're in the area for sure. read more

State Park - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've been to State Park twice and enjoyed it both times. It's a bit loud, but that's sort of part of the energetic vibe. The Charred Artic Char sandwich is AMAZING, as was the fried oyster po' boy. The fried catfish with hushpuppies was disappointing -- very bland. I also enjoyed the twice-baked potatoes (so cheesy!!), bar nuts (we ate the whole thing so quickly we had to order another round), whipped cream cheese and pepper jelly, and the preacher cookies (immediately went home and Googled "preacher cookie recipe"). Beer selection isn't as impressive as other local beer-centric restaurants, like Lord Hobo and Meadhall, but I was there for the food! read more

I will start by saying I have never had a bad time at State Park. When I'm in my hometown in country-Pennsylvania, my friends and I go to Veterans' Clubs, Legion Halls, and Elks Lodges in order to be able to drink pitchers, throw shuffleboard and play pool, all while our songs are playing on the jukebox. State Park is the hipster's take on this idea, and I'm more than OK with that. The tobasco honey fried chicken is nuts. The collard greens are too. Order the bone marrow. A lot of people think the State Park Cocktail tastes like pennies. That's fine, more for me to drink. The Surfer on Acid shot w/ a Genny Cream is quite possibly the best Beer and a Shot Combo ever concocted (@ $7.25). There will inevitably be at least one white kid (sometimes me) who puts "Jesus Walks" or "Straight Outta Compton" on the jukebox. Never a bad time. read more

Excellent, for both food and service. Dimly lit, the way a subterranean restaurant/bar should be. Beet salad is memorable, this coming from a meat eater primarily. As is the Tabasco and honey fried chicken. Highly recommended. read more

Brunch was excellent!! Pancakes were thick but still light with a cinnamon and nutmeg flavor. Fried chicken plate came with 3 pieces. Delicious! Sausage patties were chorizo. Smoky with a little spice. read more

The bartender touched every piece of ice that went into my Bloody Mary. Then he took cash, charged cards, touched his face, wiped down the bar, then touched more ice. I'm too grossed out to finish my drink. read more

Stopped in for Saturday brunch and was not disappointed. Great service but the star of the show was the breakfast sandwich! The sausage patty was flavorful and unique. The aioli was amazing! I will go back specifically for the breakfast sandwich! read more

My fiancee and I came here recently for her birthday. We tried out a variety of dishes such as the fried chicken, the gumbo poutine, the beet salad and the charcuterie board. They were all pretty good. the poutine was a bit salty but otherwise it was fine. The drinks were pretty good too. Overall the price was very good for what we got. In terms of quality, it's just as good as The Gallows but better value. read more

My husband had been here a couple of times before and loved it, so we decided to grab lunch today. When I first looked over the lunch menu, I wasn't absolutely blown away. Nothing really stood out to me, but I decided to go with the chicken katsu sandwich at the suggestion of our waiter. And wow, I am so glad I did. This was a superb sandwich. The combination of flavors was surprising and absolutely delicious. I wolfed the whole thing down in ten minutes and-if I had a little more space in my stomach-I would have had another. Although this place looks kind of unassuming, the food completely makes up for it. My husband had a burger (he has some food allergies that restrict his options) and it was certainly tasty as well, though not necessarily mind blowing. Regardless, I would give this place 5 stars for my sandwich alone. I ordered a honey smash, one of their non alcoholic drinks. It was refreshing, a little less sweet than the name would suggest. However, I really appreciate having several non-alcoholic options for workdays, designated drivers, or people who don't drink. read more