Alden & Harlow

  4.4 – 2,403 reviews   • New American restaurant

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A modern institution in Harvard Square, Alden & Harlow has set the standard in forward thinking small plates since 2014. Often using vegetables as center of the plate features, Alden & Harlow is often imitated, but rarely duplicated. Featuring top-notch Hospitality over three floors, including The Longfellow Bar upstairs. A full scale operation offering private events, outdoor dining, and delivery services also in Harlow is the preeminent spot for dining in Harvard Square.

Subterranean restaurant serving creative New American fare & cocktails on tap in rustic-chic digs.

✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out Alden & Harlow 02138

Hours

Friday5 PM–12 AM
Saturday10:30 AM–3 PM, 5 PM–12 AM
Sunday10:30 AM–3 PM, 5–11 PM
Monday5–11 PM
Tuesday5–11 PM
Wednesday5–11 PM
Thursday5–11 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 40 Brattle St #3, Cambridge, MA 02138

Phone: (617) 864-2100

Website: http://aldenharlow.com/

Menu Photos

Order and Reservations

Reservations: opentable.com

places.singleplatform.com

Photo Gallery

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Reviews

Timothy Torres
Ive been a few times during brunch. Once in a group of 2 and another a group of 7. Both times I reserved in advance which was especially necessary for the group of 7. The back patio is lovely during the warmer weather, otherwise, I like inside under the skylight. The interior of the restaurant is dark and has a dimmed light atmosphere which isn’t my favorite for brunch. The Montecristo sandwich was really great as was the focaccia egg sandwich. The bravas skillet is 90% potatoes so I’d only recommend for potato lovers.
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shane oakley
We started with the morning fog drink and coffee. Coffee was smooth, drink layers of flavors amazing. We started with the side biscuit and it was amazing and the homemade butter perfect. We split the focaccia egg sandwich and French toast between us and had plenty left over. French toast was not too sweet, greens on the side of the sandwich and the sandwich was incredible. What a great chef!!
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Jacqueline Lugo-Ortiz
We had such a great experience at Alden & Harlow! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The New York Strip with eggs Benedict was cooked perfectly — tender, flavorful, and paired beautifully with the rich, creamy hollandaise. The Avocado Toast was fresh and vibrant with just the right balance of textures and seasoning.
And the star of the table? The Big Cinnamon Bun! It was warm, soft, and perfectly sweet — easily one of the best we’ve had.
The atmosphere was welcoming, the service was attentive, and the food exceeded our expectations. We’ll definitely be back. A special thank you to Makayla for her amazing service! She was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything came out perfectly. We really appreciated her positive attitude and attention to detail — it did not go unnoticed!
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Noah
Among the best food in Boston… with lemon ricotta pancakes that are life changing and really hit the spot for brunch. Shockingly not crowded even on a popular Sunday! How is this possible? Pricing is on the higher side, sure — but it’s worth it and portions were large. Dinner may not be the same story. We ordered across the menu and didn’t have a single un-devoured item among the lot.

Desserts are decadent and could honestly stand to be less luxuriantly sweet, but the savory dishes were stellar throughout – although I’m going to break my own rule and say the sweetsavory pairs especially the pancakes and French toast were of course the best of the whole selection. The crispy potatoes… incredible! “60 degree eggs” run a bit soft so request a higher cook temp for those if you can.

Try the steak+eggs Benedict too; those were another stand out. Burger was solid. Sandwich was solid. Nothing too fancy from the greens alongside, could have used more color there perhaps? A little tomato and feta?

Outdoors can be WINDY so be aware. It was a little annoying but nice and secluded behind the venue. Indoors is cozy, darker, pretty standard for the area. Service is friendly and attentive.

Do not miss this brunch! Bring a jacket if outdoors though. Would love to see heaters installed in this area.

Portions are plenty big. The idea of 1-2 per person is generous and contributes to the high cost some reviewers cite. Maybe this is a bit different during dinner. Most folks will find one dish is enough but it can vary from dish to dish. Pictures will be helpful here so check those out.
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Ben
It’s a cool place with delicious food. I liked both the burger and the pasta. The pasta sauce very special in a good way. The only downside is that the portions are small and the food is overpriced. Maybe good for occasions.
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Chaffinch
We had a great dining experience. From the food, to the service and atmosphere everything was top notch. The family style dishes were filling and very flavorful. I would say that for 2 ppl, 3 dishes is more than enough. We didn’t have room for desert. The drinks looked great; and the non-alcoholic beverages were reasonably priced. Would definitely go back there!!
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Sara De Gregorio
Great food, front of house lacking.

We’ve been here before and have had great experiences, so this recent visit was disappointing.

The food was excellent. Everything we ordered was well prepared and delicious. Menu has remained largely the same for a number of years. Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the meal.

Our server never once checked in to see how the food was. Our wine glasses sat empty for about ten minutes before we had to flag her down for refills. When we asked for fresh plates, they never came. At the end of the meal, we still had about half of one dish left, and instead of asking if we wanted a box, a dirty plate was placed on top of the remaining food. Just overall the server gave off a very unfriendly, and not customer-oriented vibe.

I wrote a brief note on the receipt saying the experience was subpar and still left a 15 percent tip. After that, the server became visibly upset and eventually brought the manager over to our table. The manager told us she is one of their best servers and said multiple times that it was hard to believe what I was saying. The focus seemed to be on defending her, rather than better understanding the situation and our experience. I was repeatedly told she is one of their best servers, to which I replied “I guess she had an off night” (probably 4-5 times).

We were not looking for a confrontation. We simply wanted to provide honest feedback. We left feeling uncomfortable and dismissed, which was disappointing given how much we have enjoyed dining here in the past.

Front of the house clearly lacks accountability and professionalism and is doing a disservice to the overall operations of the restaurant (and other reviews support this view).
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Eugene Chen
The vibes and the service are amazing! The drinks are very unique! However, the foods are good but not the best. The restaurant filled up very quickly on a weekend night! So make sure to reserved ahead.
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Leslie W
The cocktails here are bananas. Innovative, interesting and worth crossing the river for. Just drank a milk punch that made me see faeries. Beautiful bar with amazing bartenders. Just had drinks this time but have had the burger in the past and it was extraordinary
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Min O
I haven’t been to this beloved brunch spot in quite some time largely due to the persistent challenge of securing parking, but it has remained one of my perennial favorites. On this return visit, we ordered the farm vegetable shakshouka and the French toast with roasted strawberry and rhubarb, and both dishes reaffirmed why this place holds such high esteem in my memory.

The farm veggie shakshouka was a standout. I deeply appreciate that they offer a vegetarian version of this traditionally egg-centric dish, and as the name implies, the vegetables were impeccably fresh. More than just an assortment of seasonal produce, the vegetables were thoughtfully chosen and well-textured, allowing them to stand up to the richly spiced tomato base without being lost in it. The balance between the earthy sweetness of the vegetables and the warming acidity of the sauce demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the dish’s North African roots.

The French toast with roasted strawberry and rhubarb was equally exceptional. The fruit, rather than being an afterthought or garnish, was roasted to intensify its natural sugars and deepen its flavor. The strawberries brought a bright, almost jammy sweetness, while the rhubarb offered a subtle tartness that cut through the richness of the toast with elegance. Together, they created a vibrant interplay of flavor and texture—a true celebration of the season’s best.

This meal reminded me why, despite logistical inconveniences, this place is well worth the return.
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