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✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Named after Grendel, the antagonist in the Old English poem of Beowulf, Grendel’s Den has been serving Harvard Square since 1971. We figured, Grendel may have been an hideous ogre, but he knew a good mead hall when he saw one. That idea of lively merriment is still alive and well at Grendel’s Den. A dyed-in-the-wool Harvard staple, Grendel’s has always been known as a comfortable, friendly environment where you can enjoy great food and a wide selection of drinks in good company. We pride ourselves on serving only high quality dishes made fresh with every order. Our extensive menu has a diverse selection of options that are both familiar and worldly, with a range of options for all eating preferences.
Staple pub that’s popular with students for beer selection, happy-hour bar bites & a patio.
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Grendel’s Den Restaurant & Bar
Full service dining and full bar in the heart of Harvard Square. Just blocks from the Red Line Harvard T stop, you can find affordable, delicious food and …
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Reviews
Précillia Turgeon
I stumbled upon this little pub and was pleasantly surprised! The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming — the kind of place where you instantly feel at home. The staff are friendly and quick with a smile, which makes the experience even better.
Their margaritas are absolutely amazing — perfectly balanced, refreshing, and made with care. But the real star of the menu is the clam chowder: rich, creamy, and full of flavor. It’s one of the best I’ve ever had!
This pub is the perfect spot to unwind after a long day. Great drinks, comfort food, and a warm vibe — I’ll definitely be coming back!
… moreTheir margaritas are absolutely amazing — perfectly balanced, refreshing, and made with care. But the real star of the menu is the clam chowder: rich, creamy, and full of flavor. It’s one of the best I’ve ever had!
This pub is the perfect spot to unwind after a long day. Great drinks, comfort food, and a warm vibe — I’ll definitely be coming back!
Sylvia Davidson
If you’re interested in a true dive bar tucked in the basement of an otherwise beautiful basement, look no further. If you have the family with you then let me suggest a seat on the patio. The food is pretty good, the drinks better.
… moreAla Prochaine
Best place to have a bite and drink in Harvard square area. We ended up there after having already dined elsewhere and not feeling happy. This place saved our evening, super user friendly atmosphere, we were invited to seat wherever we pleased, the service was perfect: fast, fun but not imposing. We took brisket nachos and Guiness and it was delicious. They have all kind of great choices both food and drinks. We were only sad not to have found this place earlier.
… morekevin sheehan
The server took about 10 minutes to get our drink order. She seemed very new, asked us if we wanted singles or double for drinks then said if we did get doubles it would be above the legal limit. We also sat in their patio seating and on their menu it said if you eat it from 5-730 you get half of food with a drink purchase. At the end of the meal. When we go the check she said that it does not apply to sitting on the patio. The menu should be more clear as dine in meant to most that you just cannot do take out. The food at the point as well was very bland and the chicken on the grilled chicken looks like something microwaved and the Mac and cheese was more oily than cheesy. Which the food came out about 10-15 after we ordered so my expectations should have been low.
… morePatrick Mungovan
I’ve just had dinner at grendels and have been here many times. I likely will not return. Our waitress was astonishingly inattentive and the food was lacking. Usually the chili is solid. Their beer selection is great though. What killed me was that the tip number was fraudulent. Per the attached image it listed various tip amounts as being certain tip percentages, but they were no such thing. A 20% tip was listed as being $18.00 on a $67 bill. You don’t have to go to harvard to know that is lincoln off. Despicable.
… moreDeniz Yazicioglu
Excellent Bar at the Cambridge near to Harvard square. Old-school American pub, feel intimate and cozy. Service was nice. They are friendly.
… moreJennifer Lee
Uncomfortable racist, misogynistic, dehumanizing service plagued by nepotism and lack of empathy for people with cancer.
Unfortunate to be writing this review as this is a place that holds a lot of memories. On Sat Feb 21 at 8pm I had a very negative experience with a blonde, male waiter. I told my server very politely that we were ready to order (that was the only exchange I had with the waiter). Immediately said waiter exploded on me and started mansplaining to me what the definition of a restaurant and a waiter was as if I was a dog. He further condescendingly asked me if I had ever in my life been in a restaurant before. We were in such shock that I completely lost my appetite and didn’t know what to say. The waiter when explaining the specials completely ignored me and would only talk to my white acquaintance almost as if I wasn’t there. Strangely, between the two of us, I am the only one who speaks American-English but that didn’t matter to him. Because of my gender and who I am, that was an excuse to come after me and belittle me while speaking to my friend in the complete opposite manner. The service offered was deplorable, dehumanizing and disgusting.
I found another server to report the incidence to but the server said there was no manager and that the only people in charge were the bartenders. When I spoke to the bartender they said there was nothing they could do as the waiter was the owner’s son. Nepotism should not exempt someone from being racist, misogynistic, and narcissistic. When I was about to leave, the server came up to me, and I assumed that he wanted to apologize. What I received instead was even more disgusting. I told the waiter I understood when things get busy or stressful, as I myself work in a busy cancer institute. He seemed offended and responded with “I am not a cancer patient; I am not ANNOYING like a cancer patient”. Safe to say, I will not be returning here seeing that this server has no common decency or empathy. I do not accept any of the excuses that this restaurant may offer to defend this person. No one should be treated this way and to describe people who are going through some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives as “annoying” is cruel and sadistic. No longer will I be supporting this business who once was my go-to place.
EDIT: To the owner – if you respond condescendingly, that will testify the behavior of your son and that there is no respect for women or people of color in your bar.
… moreUnfortunate to be writing this review as this is a place that holds a lot of memories. On Sat Feb 21 at 8pm I had a very negative experience with a blonde, male waiter. I told my server very politely that we were ready to order (that was the only exchange I had with the waiter). Immediately said waiter exploded on me and started mansplaining to me what the definition of a restaurant and a waiter was as if I was a dog. He further condescendingly asked me if I had ever in my life been in a restaurant before. We were in such shock that I completely lost my appetite and didn’t know what to say. The waiter when explaining the specials completely ignored me and would only talk to my white acquaintance almost as if I wasn’t there. Strangely, between the two of us, I am the only one who speaks American-English but that didn’t matter to him. Because of my gender and who I am, that was an excuse to come after me and belittle me while speaking to my friend in the complete opposite manner. The service offered was deplorable, dehumanizing and disgusting.
I found another server to report the incidence to but the server said there was no manager and that the only people in charge were the bartenders. When I spoke to the bartender they said there was nothing they could do as the waiter was the owner’s son. Nepotism should not exempt someone from being racist, misogynistic, and narcissistic. When I was about to leave, the server came up to me, and I assumed that he wanted to apologize. What I received instead was even more disgusting. I told the waiter I understood when things get busy or stressful, as I myself work in a busy cancer institute. He seemed offended and responded with “I am not a cancer patient; I am not ANNOYING like a cancer patient”. Safe to say, I will not be returning here seeing that this server has no common decency or empathy. I do not accept any of the excuses that this restaurant may offer to defend this person. No one should be treated this way and to describe people who are going through some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives as “annoying” is cruel and sadistic. No longer will I be supporting this business who once was my go-to place.
EDIT: To the owner – if you respond condescendingly, that will testify the behavior of your son and that there is no respect for women or people of color in your bar.
Lily Mai
I’ve yet to be let down by a visit to Grendel’s. Good pretzel bite shape
… moreJuan Castellanos Álvarez
A fantastic spot for a sunny day in Cambridge! The terrace is super cozy, the food is great, and the drinks are delicious. Perfect place to relax and enjoy the afternoon. 10/10!
… moreKatzen Cuisine & Cocktails
It’s one of my favorite hole in the walls. The cocktails are fantastic (I highly recommend their mocha nut espresso martini) and the brisket nachos were delicious! Staff is friendly. Wish they had a larger outdoor area for dining/drinking during the warmer seasons.
… more