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Craigie On Main
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants French American (New), French [Edit]
853 Main StCambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-5511
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Sidney St (1, CT1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Sidney St (1, 64, 70, 70A, CT1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Front St (1)
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5:30 pm - 12 am
Sun 10:30 am - 1:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
500 reviews for Craigie On Main
Review Highlights
"I'll be back for the 10 course tasting menu next time."
(in 69 reviews)
"The Chef's Whim was definitely a winning choice."
(in 36 reviews)
"Anyway, the pork three ways was ecstasy."
(in 17 reviews)
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500 reviews in English
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Review from Linda B.
Waban, MA
1/28/2012
We had visited Craigie Street Bistro numerous times and enjoyed wonderful meals there-everything from tasting menus, a la cartes, and New Year's Eve celebrations. I grieved when I heard Tony was moving the restaurant from its intimate, below ground setting which felt quite French, to a larger space on Main St.
However, we decided to give it a try in the new locale and I am very glad that we did.
We have had quite a few meals there and have never been disappointed.
Most recently, we enjoyed the earlier New Year's Eve Dinner with Wine pairing. All was excellent. The entire experience was well orchestrated, to perfection. I am always in awe of how the staff can pull off such a perfect experience without a hitch, on such a busy evening when the place is packed!! I mentioned to Tony on our way out: "Once, again, your orchestra is in fine tune!" I savored the experience for days and we are looking forward to attending the Super Hunger Brunch, tomorrow! -
Review from Mike S.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 2/6/2012
Update 2/6/12:
One of the owners contacted me about my negative review and did her best to address the issues we had throughout our meal. Our experience must not be the norm, based on the reaction I received. They were truly sorry for the mistakes made and I'm very impressed with the response. Its very rare to see an owner or manager who clearly cares so much about how they treat their customers. If we lived in Boston I would definitely give them a second chance!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/22/2012
Our dinner at Craigie on Main was basically a let-down from beginning to end. A very, very, very… Read more »
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Review from Amy D.
1/23/2012
Craigie on Main was nominated for a James Award and it is very apparent why. We went into the restaurant on a wknd and the place was packed, i was so glad i reserved a table a few weeks prior. I absolutely love the look of the restaurant, as soon as you enter you can see the ins and outs of the kitchen, it is a neat experience. My meal sort of started with a low, i chose the Winter Pt. oysters as my app, and they were actually too big, making it very difficult to swallow, i thought i was going to get one stuck in my throat, and they were missing the standard brininess of an oyster. As well i didn't like the mignonette that accompanied it. My sis had probably the best plate from our entire trip, it was the tuna sashimi with watermelon and crispy basil. The presentation was gorgeous, with the watermelon and tuna being similar colours. The whole dish was just very clean tasting, the additional of the crispy basil gave it some texture, it tasted like something you would get in a Japanese restaurant.
For my next course i had the grilled octopus with chorizo, cipolinnis and hearts of palm. The meat was of perfect texture, i love the sweetness from the onions, with the smokiness of the chorizo, it was well balanced. My sis had the squash soup with Florida pink shrimp, the presentation of the shrimp on skewers in a bowl of soup was beautiful. There was actually too much soup though, since we ordered three courses, a smaller sized bowl would have been sufficient. Lastly we tried the crispy pig tails with pickled peanuts and onion rings. We both had never tried pig tails before and surprisingly they tasted like short ribs, they glaze was sticky and delicious.
Overall, to do craigie's right, order three course, you will not be disappointed, and just enjoy the bustling and lively surroundings. -
Review from Gabe L.
Medford, MA
Updated - 2/8/2012
Sent my parents there for their anniversary, and informed the staff it was their anniversary, arranging flowers to be delivered. My parents were amazed at the attentive service and exquisite dishes. Nice touches included the champagne that was brought over in honor of their anniversary (huge points) and Tony Maws wishing them happy anniversary when he came over, and really made them feel special. And of course the dishes in the Chef's Whim were amazing. They happily described in detail what they were served. I was certain that Craigie would be a wonderful experience for them and Craigie managed to exceed my expectations..
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/1/2011
I just realized I didn't write a review for Craigie On Main. What can I say? It's amazing. It's… Read more »
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Review from Julie B.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I hated every last minute of my meal here. Just kidding. It's as good as everyone says it is. Highly recommend trying the tasting menu at least once. It's quite the culinary experience.
Didn't enjoy hearing Maw throw a fit in the kitchen, but the guy is fantastic at what he does and I can't blame him for being a perfectionist.
Long story short: eat here. -
Review from Blair H.
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Craigie is so awesome that my 5-star review got flagged and removed...for being too awesome? Who removes a 5-star review???
Still my top three fav restaurants in Boston/Cambridge. -
Review from Kevin L.
The following statements may have been made during our epic eating endurance test named Craigie on Main's pig head:
Me: We're ingesting roughly the equivalent of the total caloric consumption of a Tanzanian village for a month...
B: Can I bring home the bacon?
Me: I can't handle any more meat.
Me: I think I'm done. I can't finish another bite.
B: You're going to let a pig's head defeat us?!
Me: Okay... one more bite. That's it.
----
I'd been reading about Craigie on Main for ages on Cocktail Virgin Slut's blog and had been meaning to try out their drinks for months. The boy was thoughtful enough to snag us a booking for Christmas Eve, after I landed on an inbound flight from Chicago.
As fortune would have it, some poor schmucks had to cancel their chef's table reservation, so we lucked into getting the best seats in the house - right at the kitchen counter, overlooking all the dishes being plated and sent off to their destinations!
Not only were the servers extremely professional and generally efficient (sans one minor incident where a drink order got mysteriously held up), they were also a wealth of knowledge about cocktail lore as well. Not just one of them. -All- of them. Not dissimilar to Blue Duck Tavern in DC, it appears that while we had a primary server, the setup is much like team service, where anyone is happy to help you with putting in an order or bringing you whatever you need. Quite grand, really.
And beyond luscious libations (have the bartenders craft you something!), Craigie on Main's cuisine is beyond reproach (if you don't mind a touch more salt than necessary). We opted for a ever-so-slightly more conservative $65 a head three-course menu rather than either of the chef's tasting menus, as we wanted a bit more control over our choices and a possibly less food. We failed.
The Spanish octopus starter was delightfully tender and flavourful, however the bone marrow 'small' course was absolutely massive. Two huge... I don't even know what they were... femurs?... came with some huge slices of bread and a small pinch-bowl of salt. Absurdity. Delicious, fatty absurdity.
And although our server warned us the pig's head would take about an hour to arrive, it was definitely to our table within thirty minutes of putting in our order. And it was epic. Served much like the mu shu pork I grew up with (don't judge, I was an Americanised Chinese kid), you're ostensibly meant to slather some house-made hoisin sauce on their pancakes, toss on some posh slaw, and nom away on the fatty, crispy, succulent meat. I loved that upon delivery of the dish, the only instructions provided were these: everything on the pig's head can be eaten, including the eyeball; get messy. So we did.
And whilst the desserts were a great way to polish off a meal (along with a glass of Fernet, of course), they were utterly unnecessary. We were barely able to finish off 90% of the pig's head, let alone anything else. The trio of sorbets were great for cleansing palates, though.
Buck for buck, I'd argue that Hungry Mother is a better deal, however there's a lot to be said about paying for dinner and a show - at least at the chef's table. Though you'll be shelling out for it, our dinner at Craigie on Main was virtually flawless. It's well worthwhile for a 'do before you leave Boston' kind of experience.Listed in: Date Night in Boston, Beantown Drinks
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Review from Joanna F.
Updated - 12/27/2011
I have to update with another five star rating. Went in on Christmas Eve Eve. My fiance and I ordered the six course tasting and I asked if we could do wine pairings. The waiter informed us that not only would the chef personalize a menu for us, but there was no such thing as "wine pairings" because he would put together a personalized wine list. The waiter even let us split glasses of wine and half glasses of wine to make the bill a little less of a blow to the wallet. It also allowed us to have a couple glasses of wine instead of 6 whole glasses. The waiter asked us what kind of food we liked, if we had any allergies and how adventurous we were with food. He also asked us if we had any wine preferences.
The food was great, yet again, but this time the service completely blew me away.Listed in: Five Stars!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/31/2010
I do not consider myself a foodie even though I like eating nice food. I don't claim to know… Read more »
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Review from Jeff M.
Updated - 1/6/2012 4 Check-ins Here
On a recent visit I ordered the tasting menu for the first time. The menu featured mostly fish and left me wishing I ordered a la carte. The stuff on the a la carte just taste better.
At no fault of its own, the atmosphere at Craigie On Main has changed from a local Central Sq treasure to the type of place that business men go to and take clients out. Long gone are the days of a casual local Craigie; except the ingredients are still local! I guess this is what happens with James Beards and other accolades. The food is still superior.Listed in: My Favorite Restaurants In…
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/15/2011
Tony Maws strikes again. Brunch is one of the best, if not the best, in town. Can Craigie go wrong?… Read more »
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Review from Jan Mark H.
Bedford, NH
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went their a couple of times and most recently for the New Year brunch.
The food is very good and consistent.
Great flavor and quality.
Only downside for the (one off) NY brunch was a slight disappointment with the Tuna tartar and sturgeon caviar , the overall taste was dominated by a very fishy taste and the consistency reminded me a little bit too much of canned tuna. But than again I may have been spoiled having been to O Ya for the dinner the evening before :)
I think I prefer to go there for their evening tasting menu as it gives you a much better experience and exposure to their capabilities.
Craigie is famous for their use of bone marrow so if you go for dinner you certainly should consider their bone marrow burger.
Waiters are friendly and efficient. A little sterile for my liking , not much personal interaction and seemed to be not very keen on offering suggestions/ideas.
The only gripe I have was that they have not been able to offer a skim late or sweetner (I know this not the place to be carb/calorie cautious but being diabetic I still want to be good in some areas :) ) . -
Review from Julie L.
Boston, MA
1/12/2012 4 photos
I had a wonderful meal here last year and I'm counting down the days until I go back.
The service was polite and knowledgeable, the atmosphere was elegant and energetic, and the food was wonderfully creative and delicious.
We got to sit at the chef's table, which consisted of 4 bar stools along the kitchen. It overlooked the people who were in charge of plating appetizers. Such a stressful job, I don't think I could ever work in a kitchen.
Although the tasting menu was ubiquitous (and delicious looking), we opted to create a little pig feast of our own. We had the crispy pig tails, trio of pates, crispy pig ears, and the pig's head for 2. It ended up being a little heavy (as we were warned), but so tasty. I was most impressed with our 2 pig appetizers. The pig tails had an asian flavor (prob the fish sauce) and were topped with crispy onions. The pig ears were atop this salad of prawns and citrus flavors. Outstanding! Of course, there is no rival to the pig's head. The presentation alone was worth ordering it, not to mention releasing my carnal instincts upon it.
This is definitely one of the best fine dining experiences I've had anywhere. Thanks Craigie, for creating such a memorable night. -
Review from Karen K.
Lakeland, FL
2/6/2012
We had a lovely dinner with our son and daughter-in-law. Someone had given them a gift certificate as a wedding gift (great idea for wedding attendees!). We sat in the bar area not in the "view the kitchen" area and it was better for our purposes, that is catching up with our kids. The atmosphere is cozy, the service excellent (thank you, Alex) and the menu inventive. All of us left feeling like we had had a special evening, indeed!
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Review from Craig W.
Brookline, MA
2/9/2012
The most UNDERWHELMING and DISAPPOINTING dining experience, SHAMEFUL! We arrived at 5:45pm on a Tuesday, sans reservation. After throwing us a look of disdain, hostess told us they were fully booked. Surprising as it was early, and all of the tables except ONE were EMPTY. I asked about the tables in the bar "those too were reserved." I told my wife we'd go to Rendezvous, just down the street, which we love. On cue, the hostess said that we could have a drink and see if there is a cancellation. Since the few bar seats were the only things occupied, they told us that we would have our drinks standing on a cramped, ramp by the bar area.This was an awkward and uncomfortable location. We waited 20 minutes for our drinks, which seemed excessive given the emptiness, after receiving them, the hostess told us that they had a cancellation. We were seated at 6:15. The cocktail was very good. Unfortunately things only got worse from there. Bread - disappointing, as it was stone cold. We are foodies. So when I say that I enjoy trying new things, I mean it. However, this menu was so full of odd and unappealing choices...Starters:1. 6 Wellfleet Oysters - Being from Boston, I can get these at any of a hundred restaurants, and for less money. At $18 (the price for all first courses - main courses are all $37 - which btw, I think most people would agree, that at those prices, it is fair to expect to be "wowed" by the food, and the experience) I want something that has been impeccably prepared by the extremely talented and award winning uberchef. Not something that I can get at any local shuckhouse-Pass 2. Crispy Fried Pigs Tail - Interesting to try if I were, say, buying from a Thai street vendor in Bangkok, but come on, if you are going to take the cheap, scrap parts of the animal, which in many cases would have been thrown out, and offer it in tiny portions for twenty bucks as an appetizer, then you should do more than deep fry it.-Pass 3. Ragout of mushroom, pork heart sausage, and Cock's Combs. Cock's combs, really? I mean is this what haute cuisine has come to, offering the most undesirable, shocking, gross-out animal parts, so that the diner can brag to his friends that he ate Cock's combs? ...or is this the only way to make the margins work nowadays in upscale restaurants? Maybe that's it, maybe the only way to make bottom line in the restaurant business is to buy crap cuts for practically nothing and sell them for exorbitant prices. I dunno, but either way not for me-Pass. 4. Crispy Fried Main Clams - Come on $18 for a fried clam or two? You have got to be kidding in this town! I can get the greatest, freshest, tastiest, crispiest, heaping, plate of fried clams with homemade tarter at the Busy Bee diner on Beacon St in Brookline every Friday and Saturday for $12.95! not to mention any Legal Seafood location and any of another 1000 restaurants in Boston!-Pass 5. Fusilli, goat, sweet potato, brussel sprout leaves - Maybe I should have gotten that, might have been good, although goat can be a strong flavor for some. And once again, it seems to be a case of using the cheaper cuts-Pass 6. Beet and Pigs Ears Salad - Really? Pigs ears? The only salad on the menu, really? ("What about that beautiful looking salad with frisee we saw being eaten at the bar?"-We asked. "That is only available at the bar"-reply.) Pigs ears is what my aunt has a giant bag of, as treats for her dog. Once again, as adventurous as I am, I'm not paying twenty bucks for a bite of pigs ears and raw beet-Pass 7. Soup of butternut squash - grilled cheese and pork belly sandwich - This is what my wife chose after learning they would not serve her the salad she saw at the bar. This was the high point of the dinner. The soup was very tasty, seasoned heavily with Indian Spices. And the grilled cheese was tasty too, albeit much too small of a portion, it was a small slice(several inches) from a sandwich . Good bread, good cheese, and the pork belly although hardly visible, added a nice flavor. Let's be honest though, you are not going to a restaurant of this acclaim, reputation, and price level for grilled cheese. And come on, twenty bucks for a vegetable soup appetizer? Please! 8. Grilled Spanish Octopus-This is what I chose as my starter. What arrived - a single Octopus tentacle about 5 inches in length. The Octopus was very tender, which is good. The taste, however, was not bad, it was just wholly unremarkable. The dish was simply several bites of underwhelming and disappointing mediocrity for twenty bucks! Not worthy! Service was slow, especially since it was empty note; after we were seated at 6:15, the next party to be seated was at 7:00 Main Courses;My wife had theSea Trout-tiny in portion size. My wife said it was ok, nothing to write home about. My dish was a duck breast sliced & fanned in a little pool of blood red "pomegranate" sauce. I like med rare steaks, rare tuna and sushi, but this was RAW-dark red all the way through,bland....
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Review from Brandon H.
Cambridge, MA
1/28/2012
Food was good, did the 8 course chefs tasting menu. A little expensive for what you are given (8 course tasting plus a few drinks for 2 ran us 300 without tax or tip) but all the courses were good tasting. Favorite course was the scallop sashimi. The service was quite slow, the water and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time but our main waitress was definitely not attentive in making sure we didn't want anymore cocktails.. All in all a good place to go but I'm not rushing back given the price and lack of service.
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Review from John A.
12/11/2011
The one thing I really want to make clear in this review is that dinner at Craigie on Main is fun! It was an absolute blast. The menu is like a culinary safari with some things that I've never seen before on a menu. For example, you can get fried pig tails as an appetizer, cock's comb (you know, the rooster mohawk thing) and braised bone marrow.
This was probably the best meal I've ever had. I started with mushroom ragout, had the pork three ways as an entree and ended with the homemade sorbet. I never knew that pork could taste so good. The entree was served as pork rib, pork confit and braised pork belly. I feel like all of the other pork dishes I've ever eaten was just not cooked right or completely sub par. Quote of the night from my girlfriend: "I didn't know food could taste like this."
Oh and let me tell you about the service. Awesome! Our waitress was super attentive without being over bearing and she even came through with some great drink recommendations for my lady.
Make sure you check your bankroll before going though because you'll be dropping at least 2 bills on dinner for two. -
Review from Erin O.
12/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I came here with my husband for their tasting menu, and we were not disappointed. It was a fantastic meal, and all things considered, the price was very reasonable for the quality of the food and dining experience.
The tasting menu as we had it was 9 courses, and they did not provide us a menu before, but asked if there were any specific tastes or flavors we saw on the standard menu that we wanted to incorporate. I found that to be unusual, but lovely. We specifically mentioned we wanted to try the bone marrow and the pig's head. Oddly as we looked at the menu forming, we noticed we were eating a large quantity of milk-fed animals... a lesser person would have found it disconcerting, but I assure you it was all delicious!
The pig's head meat was fantastic... very tender with crisp skin (eat it there, do not attempt to eat this later at home...), and the Peking duck treatment was great. The bone marrow was very good, but I've had a lot of great bone marrow. This one wasn't a magical standout. The ingredient is going to always be good unless it's massacred.
The fish dishes struck me as being excellent. Delicate enough to taste the quality of the fish, and a nice balance of textures and flavors. We had a veal dish, and a young goat dish as well, and both were top notch.
I appreciated their service as well. It was there if you needed them, never hovering, casual, informative, and friendly. They asked us about our wine pairings, and tailored each again to the food and our palates. My husband and I each had different wines, and they were all suited well to the food, but even more so to each of us. Had I had his wines, the experience wouldn't have been nearly as good, and vice versa. All in all, the next time I'm in Boston, I'll be back. -
Review from Jason S.
MA
12/30/2011
A solidly gourmet meal that may or may not live up to expectations.
Craigie has been on our Restaurant Bucket List since it was the Craigie Street Bistro. After finally coming around to it again, we decided to give it a try for a post-Christmas / early New Years meal. The expectations were high given that this place is always on the Best of Boston List and scored one of the highest of Phantom Gourmet (before they switched to only reviewing oohhy---gooyey pizza and burger places).
Setting: Casual, romantic, french farmhouse inspired. The kitchen is open, so you can see the young chef staff working furiously on your meals. It was nice to see owner Tony Maws keeping it real and actually cooking in the kitchen (and not off doing some celebrity chef television show).
Food: They make a big point to stress that this is a farm to table restaurant with very fresh and local ingredients. The front of the menu lists all of the farms the meats and veggies come from. We tried the 3-course prix fix (versus the 7-course tasting menu) since we had a late evening reservation. The appetizers were outstanding (spanish octopus and then mushrooms with sweetbreads) that were cooked perfectly. The entrees were of excellent quality (venison and then trout), but nothing that really set it apart from other quality farm to table restaurants in the city. And that's what cost Craigie the 5 star rating. This place has superb quality and cooking technique, but I feel like you have some truly innovative expensive restaurants out there pushing the envelope, and making Craigie feel...ordinary.
Drinks: The wine list is exclusively European, with a heavy dose of French. We know our way around Californian, Australian, and even South African wines, but French leaves us lost. The descriptions of the wine are also non-existent (it's almost like they expect you to know all about them), and the prices are high ($48 - $250 for a bottle). Luckily, you can order by the glass (which we did considering we couldn't agree on a bottle).
Service: Our waiter was a true professional, and was proud of the restaurant and it's reputation. He helped us through the wine list (though always suggesting some of the priciest wines). The only small gaffe was that he send a glass of wine to the table with dinner that I had considered, but never officially ordered. Also, I should note they have great hosting and valet service.
Overall, I really like Craigie...it's quality, conservative, farm-friendly, and remains true to it's original mission. I just wish it took a few more chances or pushed the envelope slightly more with some risky culinary combinations. For some people, this is all they'd ever want in a high quality meal, but for me at the price...I like a little more adventure in my meal. -
Review from Betsy A.
Cambridge, MA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cragie is a great place for the food snob. I however wasn't impressed.
Pros:
- Food was Interesting. Craigie prides itself in it's concepts. It creates plates and mixes that I would have never thought of but somehow work. Definitively not your mama's meatloaf...
- Waiting staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Considering the list of questions and back and forth changes we put the guy through, he managed them well and courteously.
- The Space. The decor was excellent and made you want to ask them were they got this and that...
Cons:
- Food was Interesting. Yes, same as the pro... Sometimes I just want my mama's meatloaf darn it! And this is not the place to look for it... Not to mention some of the plates tasted a bit too greasy or salty for my liking (or for the price paid for them).
- The wait, Yes same as the pro again... The waiters were stellar, the wait? Not so much... we waited close to an hour for our food. I expect more (meaning less waiting) from a place of this caliber.
- The Space (you get the theme)... Even though it was greatly decorated it felt cramped. Not to mention, if you're close to the kitchen, expect to repeat the odorous experience, over and over again, courtesy of your clothes...
Net, good to experience once (if only to brag about it with friends) ;-). Will give it another try during Sunday Brunch, which I hear is a must do... -
Review from Greg B.
Cambridge, MA
12/10/2011
I have been coming to this Cambridge location since it was "La Groceria"... When Craigie had first opened I was very skeptical and sad that the old 30 year old Italian restaurant had closed.
However, I must admit I was wrong. Toscanini owner, Gus, suggested me to go try Chef Tony Maws cuisine, and so I did. I was simply blow away. It is one of the most interesting and satisfying culinary experiences I have ever had. Since my first visit I have gone there about 4 times, but it is really hard to get reservations especially in weekends and in 4+ groups.
Recently they became very famous for their burger and the bar, which indeed is very good but is not the best thing that you can get there. The menu changes daily based on what the chef finds on the marker, but some plates are classics. The mushroom ragout, the pumpkin soup, the bone marrow, the pigs head (Yes the real deal) and all the different amazing deserts.
They also have a great selection of wines and beers especially. Definitely one of my favorite places in MA! -
Review from Pavee S.
San Diego, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe my expectation was too high. I found the food here is good but not impressive. It is more for people who are more adventurous with what they eat. They have a great wine list though (a lot of French wine).
You will need to make a reservation if you want to eat there on Friday or Saturday. You can sit at the bar too (and you can order burger there). They don't offer burger on a regular menu. -
Review from Karyn V.
Boston, MA
11/20/2011
I took my boyfriend to Craigie on Main on his birthday so we could try their award-winning hamburger. Wow! It is definitely on our list of top three burgers we have ever tried!
The burger ($18) is made of grass-fed Hardwick Beef. To make up for the leanness of grass-fed meat, they add pure beef fat -bone marrow and suet into their burger mix of sirloin, short rib, brisket and dehydrated miso paste for a kick of flavor. The burger is then steamed in a CVap oven and then grilled on a steel plancha. The result is a perfectly charred and juicy patty.
Maws only makes about twenty burgers a day, so if you want to give it a try, you have to go on the early side of dinner (5pm - 6pm) or brunch service. If you are going for dinner, you can only order the burger in the bar area of the restaurant. You won't find the burger on their menu so don't be afraid to ask your server for it. I also recommend making a reservation a week in advance as the bar doesn't have much seating.
In addition to the burgers, I surprised my boyfriend by ordering one of their delicious cakes. The cakes are fairly expensive ($42 for a cake that serves 1-3 people) , but you won't be disappointed! I ordered the "pastry chef's whim", and we were pleasantly surprised to get a lemon chiffon cake that has layers of lemon chiffon, lemon curd, homemade orange marmalade, and white chocolate butter cream frosting. Yum!
We have both tried their "chef's whim" tasting menu (which we both thoroughly enjoyed). However, if you are a burger fan, I highly recommend you go to Craigie On Main to try their burger!
And, if you are unable to get a reservation (or they have already run out of burgers for that day), go to Four Seasons. While we loved Craigie On Main's burger, I think the Four Seasons burger is slightly (very slightly) better. -
Review from Martine K.
Cambridge, MA
1/25/2012
I don't even know what to say about this restaurant. Is "everything is the best thing I've ever eaten" too much? Make sure to try the oysters and get a bottle of wine.
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Review from Janie W.
York, ME
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our highly anticipated second visit to Craigie did not disappoint. The food is one of my top dining experiences. This is a great place if you are adventurous in nose-to-tail eating or if you are more conservative in your food choices.
For the appetizer I had the ragout - which was one of the tastiest things that I've ever eaten. It had cock's comb - something you don't see much of on menus, and it was so meltingly delicious. My entree was the pork three ways - which was what I had last time and it was every bit as tasty as I remembered. The best one was the rib, then the belly, and then lastly the confit. The bf had the sirloin, and it was perfectly tasty. The desserts were great but not the highlight of the meal.
The only tiny wrinkle on the evening was that the waiter had a slightly condescending attitude, but it was hard to disturb the bliss of an amazing dining experience. -
Review from Cassy H.
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
My dining experience at Craigie on Main was legend (wait for it) dary!
My girl friend and I made a Friday night dinner reservation for 6:30 pm. We were both stoked b/c of all the great things we have heard about this place. The chef, Tony Maws, was a James Beard Award Finalist - Best Chef Northeast in 2009 and 2010. Yes, I swoon over big name chefs. :)
Anyway, we arrive promptly around 6:25 pm (pay attention to the time in this Yelp review). The hostess took our jackets and showed us to our table. We sat down and was ready for an amazing feast. Without a doubt, we knew we had to try the ultimate Craigie on Main tasting menu, which was an eight course meal.
Each course was great and distinct in its flavor profile. We enjoyed a variety of fish, pasta, sweetbread, venison, duck, etc.. Oh, it was a freakin' EPIC eight course meal. We started out light and small. So, we were stoked.. thinking alright, we can do this tasting menu of small bites. However, by course 4, the flavors and portions started picking up, crescendoed to full blast with sweetbread followed by venison and duck sausage (this latter dish was presented to us by the one and only Tony Maws). Anyway, by course 6, I was pretty much done, feeling overwhelmed and extremely full. The portions were quite generous, so you definitely get your money's worth. However, I stuck it out and experience the end of the meal with a beautifully decorated dessert dish... ginger cheesecake and chocolate mousse cake or some sort and followed by hot warm cider and home-made marshmallow.
Finally, our waitress presented our bill which was accompanied by two delicious mini macarons. The damage was pretty bad.. around $150 per person, but hey, we stayed and ate at the restaurant for exactly 4 hours. Yes, we didn't leave until 10:30 pm, so I'd say we got our money's worth.
While the food was delicious and epic, my only concern for this place was the layout of the place... I normally like open kitchen restaurants, b/c I like to see the action of the kitchen. However, Craigie on Main's kitchen kind of took over part of the dining room and as a result, the kitchen noise of chopping, timer beeping, chefs communicating, etc.. blended over to the dining area.. so, it was rather loud, hard to engage in conversation and hear the music of the restaurant. Anyway, it was just slightly annoying.. :(
Anyway, Craigie on Main... I will be back, but will probably stick with the three course meal and call it a night. However, thanks for helping me break my own restaurant eating record of freakin' 4 hours! :)Listed in: Bawston Favorites
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Review from Lana T.
This place is just--not good. My friend and I are huge foodies and were really looking forward to trying this place after reading the reviews. Alas, we ended up being vastly disappointed.
We went with the 8 course chef's tasting menu. While the ingredients were fresh and high-quality, it just wasn't very tasty or creative. If I'm paying $100 for a meal, I expect a certain caliber of food as well as service. Service here was just average and the ambiance was very casual. I mean, one of the dishes was pumpkin shells. Like, straight grilled pumpkin shells. Pass. The one mild standout was the venison, which we both enjoyed. The other 6 savory dishes were just okay. I mean, I just expect more from a James Beard award winner.
However, the celery sorbet they served before the dessert was disgusting. There were little bits of celery and cheese mixed along with it and there was literally no way we could eat it, so we sent it back in exchange for some regular raspberry sorbet. The desserts were not bad, the panna cotta was just average although I enjoyed the flourless chocolate cake with miso ice cream. However, it wasn't anything special, just decent. Overall, we were extremely disappointed with our meal and felt it was a huge waste of our money...
My friend and I were quite confused and disappointed at all the rave reviews--"is it because it's Cambridge?" he puzzled. Perhaps we would have been less disappointed if we had ordered a la carte (so it would have been cheaper) but we had heard good things about the tasting menu. It genuinely confuses me that you can spend the same price on the prix-fixe menu at L'Espalier and get food that is just on a completely different level and impeccable service. Go to L'Espalier instead. You won't regret it. -
Review from Annie P.
New York, NY
2/7/2012
french deliciousness! service is great and the donuts are amazinggg. everything is made fresh to death. good for dinner and brunch. their burgers are soo good! next time i'm in the neighborhood with a big appetite i will try out the tasting menu.
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Review from Dan C.
11/3/2011
I had the Pork Three Way.
Normally I jazz up these reviews with sexual innuendo or word puns, but I'm serious. That's what the damn dish was called! And much as I could have tried to spin that into some raunchy type comment, I think I'll just let your imaginations run wild as to how decadently amazing it was. I'll say this though; rarely while eating, do I imagine hearing porn-esque music in the background on my mind. This dish came with a sex-tastic soundtrack that was banging in my head ALL evening.
Vermont Pork Three-Ways: Suckling Confit, Spice-Crusted Rib, Grilled Belly...
Mmmm.....
*Bow-chicka-wow-wow*
Other reviews already touch on the basics on Craigie. Expensive. Fancy. Delicious. Etc. They are all true. Come here for a special occasion and you won't be let down. -
Review from Katie V.
Updated - 11/19/2011
Craiggers, I'm a bit surprised....had dinner like a real grown up person in the restaurant instead of at the bar and it was a letdown. Probably my expectations were too high. I was hoping for transcendent and got just fine.
I had been thinking that my companions and I would go in for a tasting menu, but we were all exhausted and didn't think we could do 6 courses, so we just did the pre-fixe. I was in a weird mood and ordered two things I never order-- soup (pumpkin) and chicken (stuffed with chicken sausage).
But before I go any further about the menu or the food, I need to say this: the bread basket is so perfunctory/terrible that I wish they just hadn't brought any bread. I mean, the bread was COLD, colder than room temp. And not baked on the premises, I'm pretty sure. The butter was also too cold to be spreadable. Look, I don't advocate filling up on bread before what is meant to be an amazing meal, but I just found it strange that Craigie wouldn't try to do something to make the bread not suck so much. The bread basket made the statement that no one should care about the bread basket. It was a mockery of bread baskets and diners who love their free bread.
Now that that tangent is out of the way, here's how the rest of the food went down: pumpkin soup was good, but not amazing. Came with a delicious sliver of grilled cheese and pork belly panini. It was served with a comically large spoon. Friends got fusilli with confit chicken and veg and the smelts. No rave reviews on either -- but no complaints. My chicken was very tender and obviously high quality meat -- but there was very little sausage, like a small "ribbon" of it through the breast. And it just wasn't that flavorful. I did taste my friend's swordfish and thought it was very good -- I probably should have gotten either pork or fish.
We also shared a side of brussel sprouts cooked in duck fat. They were tasty and I love b sprouts, but I couldn't really detect the duck fat flavor....which I thought was what was going to make them special/memorable. They smelled amazing, though.
My panna cotta for dessert was excellent -- light but creamy, and the granola gave it a nice crunch.
All in all, nothing was bad, but nothing was stellar. And for what you're paying, it should be stellar.Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/16/2010
I really couldn't find any fault in the service or food at Craigie -- it is worth the hype heaped… Read more »
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Review from Catherine K.
New York, NY
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe I was expecting too much...but the tasting menu wasn't worth the $$$. When and IF I EVER go back there, I WILL NOT choose their multi course Chef's menu.
By they way, I got sick when I got home and the toliet was my friend for the night! -
Review from Meems L.
Boston, MA
1/15/2012
I recommend for appetizers the pate trio (taste testing ecstasy) and the mushroom ragout (meaty and satisfying with generous portions). For entrees, we also had the chicken with stuffed sausage and the venison (though my partner was more interested in stealing pieces from my chicken dish.) We also had the chocolate tort and a butterscotch dessert with the imaginative and ingenious miso ice cream.
When I think about my dinner at Craigie on Main, the first word to come to mind was "heavenly." There's a character in the show "Coupling" who zones out when she has to hear something extremely unpleasant. She goes to her "happy place," a misty, ethereal location in her mind equipped with a string quartet, which represents satisfaction, calmness, and carefree delight. Well, the memory of eating Craigie's chicken entree is now my "happy place." If I'm feeling anxious on an airplane or in a dentist chair--I just invoke my memory of eating at Craigie's and I am filled with inner joy again. Yes, that is the power of Craigie on Main.
The chicken with stuffed chicken sausage was succulent, buttery, delicious perfection. It was paired with the smoothest and best mashed potatoes and gravy I've ever had, with some sweet onion slices. I did not know it was possible to infuse chicken with such rich taste. Did they massage this chicken for three hours in the kitchen? I have almost given up eating chicken meat, because it was always so dry and bland. My faith is now restored. Or at least, I will not eat any other chicken except made by Craigie...because the act of chewing any other chicken is a waste of energy. One bite of this succulent piece of meat is worth ten years of all other chicken eating experiences.
After this meal, I spent days raving about it to everyone who would listen. They all thought I was a little crazy with the proselytizing. But then I mentioned Craigie on Main to a friend, and his eyes bugged out as he exclaimed "OH MY GOD--THE CHICKEN!" I knew then by the enthusiasm on his face that he too had experienced chicken nirvana at Craigie's.
Yes, the place was pricey, but I support their mission of seeking local, sustainable food. The service was excellent and cheerful. I came in jeans and a sweater, and felt very comfortable. It was not hoity-toity at all. The atmosphere was similar to Henrietta's Table. -
Review from Stacey D.
Boston, MA
11/9/2011
So, I am almost afraid to write this review. Everybody loves Craigie on Main! But um, I didn't...
So I have been here twice now. A few months ago, I was here for my birthday and had the chef's tasting menu. In general at that time, I wasn't terribly impressed, I thought the food was a bit salty and not terribly innovative, nor polished. But I refrained from writing a review, thinking maybe it was just an off night.
So I went for brunch the other day and had
the donut
the craigie burger
their hash
and profiteroles
(yeah I eat a lot)
the donut was delicious, light fluffy, but it's fried dough right?
both their hash and craigie burger lacked the ooMph
and finally the profiteroles while delicious didn't make me want more than a bite.
I want to like Craigie (I want to be like everyone else daymnit!) , but honestly, if I am going to spend this money, I'd go elsewhere. -
Review from Greer M.
Cambridge, MA
1/11/2012
I've been to Craigie a couple of times now for special occasions. It's as good as it gets for fine dining, in my opinion. It's not stuffy, or boring. I had an incredible cocktail involving mezcal, grilled octopus appetizer, and some sort of lamb. Waitstaff has always been attentive without being overly intrusive, and knowledgeable without being patronizing.
It ain't cheap, but it's worth it. If you love trying new dishes, Craigie is the place to go. -
Review from Nate Y.
9/30/2011
Go here for a dining experience with an open mind and a clean palate and you will be rewarded.
The goods;
Dark n' Stormy - the make their own ginger beer with a bit of chili oil, giving it a kick like my favorite ginger beer (Goya), +1
The following is based on the 8 course tasting;
Tuna sashimi - delectable pieces of tuna with a spicy Asian sauce, I made sure to finish the sauce even after eating the tuna +1
Mullet - an ocean fish which, according to our waiter, was from a fish farm in Spain. A nice, meaty fish served with a cooked clam, mussels, etc. +1
Venison - rare pieces of venison, mmm, me like +1
Service -attentive, informative, friendly, and Tony Maw himself serving and describing one of the dishes. More than willing to take into consideration dietary restrictions, or hinted food likes (me like chocolate!) +1
Best to set a reservation (i.e. Open Tables) otherwise come early or very late. -
Review from Shaina P.
Updated - 10/4/2011
Get ready to set your expectations high and turn on cruise control.
Me and my husband enjoyed a relaxing 2.5-hour 6-course + 2 half-bottles-of-wine SPLURGE of a meal at Craigie for our first anniversary. Our meal began with cool, bright, and fresh, followed by umami punch, then tantalizing technique and texture, to home hearty, to man-that-is-good, bisected with clean, and ending on a cloud from heaven.
Our dining experience was the best I have ever had: the staff know their sh*t but deliver with complete ease. They must telepathically communicate, because somehow we were met with 4+ different staff who never got in the others' way. We were never rushed. Our meal came with a congratulatory glass of champagne and a card signed by T. Maws (so sweet). All of these things, including the creative, thoughtful, colorful, delicious, satisfying, filling, and locally foraged meal, made this once in a lifetime meal (being a 1st anniversary, but hopefully not my last feast at Craigie) worth every single penny.
They don't even mind if you lick, scoop, and soak-up every last bit on the plate. You're going to want to.Listed in: My Cambridge: the…, And this size is juuuust…, Burly Burger
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2010
If I could date a burger, Craigie's would be "the one."
Complex with just the right proportion of… Read more »
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Review from Clare D.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/21/2011
I'd been told I had to go to Craigie on Main for their tasting menu, and I will be back for it but my first visit was for a Sunday brunch. You must get the doughnut. Best $5 doughnut ever. The coffee is fantastic. The side of house smoked pork belly was salty and meaty and perfectly crisped. I had the House-Smoked Ham, Comte and Shelburne Farm Cheddar Panino which was the perfect combo of cheesy, greasy, melty and sour with the garden pickle thousand island dressing.
My boyfriend got the famous burger which was decided to be famous for very good reason. The spicy bloody mary was quite tasty and spicy but a bit full of chunky things once you got to the bottom, not the best part. The service was very attentive although we did see various bussers more often than our specific server but it all worked out.
I'd been a tad nervous about a dress code because the place is so high-end on cost but we turned up there in jeans and sneakers and no one blinked an eye. It was a fun and delicious time for sure and we'll be back (once we've saved a bit more money) for the tasting menu (for which I'm told it's best to pull up to the bar and chat with the chefs). -
Review from David C.
Updated - 10/17/2011
Those of you looking for a nice night out could certainly do worse than a $40 four-course tasting menu at Craigie On Main. The catch? It's only available after 9 o'clock on Sundays and, barring a food allergy, is completely predetermined by the chef. I have no problem leaving my meal in the hands of a James Beard award-winning chef, but others might. My friend and I, who are always looking for fine-dining at affordable prices, stumbled across the Chef's Whim, and knew we had to try it. We had both been to Craigie before and been disappointed, but saw this as an opportunity to set things right.
We actually opted for the $55 six-course meal, but could have easily done with the cheaper version. Everything was the same between the two tasting menus (as we saw firsthand with the table ordering next to us), except for two supplemental courses, a cheesy pumpkin soup with grilled cheese and pork belly (rich and decadent, and maybe worth the extra cost alone), and a scoop of blackberry sorbet (lame, and a waste of a "course").
The dishes that overlapped in both menus ranged from good to excellent. My favorite was probably the cod cheek tempura, served with pickled peppers, preserved lemon, and a decent smattering of squid ink. There was a lot of salt in this dish, but it was not overpowering in the slightest. Seared swordfish with clams, whelks, and "early fall succotash" (which my friend aptly described as the vegetable portion of a tv dinner) came next. It was light and refreshing, and the sea critters were cooked perfectly.
Our main entree, if you will, was a chicken thigh confit that was rather hard to dissect, both physically and flavor-wise. I wrote down the laundry list of ingredients presented by the waiter, but had trouble pinpointing some of them within the dish. I'm still drooling, however, thinking of the skin on our chicken. I may be 6'1" and a lean 170 lbs, but I'm a fatty through and through. Now onto dessert. : )
After my previous brunch here included sour milk panna cotta, I was a little disappointed to see it served for dinner as well. It is a delicious and texturally complex dish (the coriander casher granola is a perfect accompaniment), but I wish I got to try something different--preferably something with chocolate. For $40, I will definitely be back some Sunday in hopes of having my wish granted.Listed in: The Real "Best of Boston"
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/20/2011
My first experience at Craigie on Main, their famous Sunday Brunch, was certainly a mixed bag, but… Read more »
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Review from Sokhary E.
Boston, MA
10/14/2011
I have lost track of how many times my husband and I have dined at Craigie on Main. According to Facebook, we have checked in 10 times this year. Craigie on Main has to be one of the best restaurant in Boston. My husband says, it is a special occasion so Craigie on Main it is! Brunch... sure! Why not Craigie. No matter what the occasion, one cannot go wrong eating at this establishment.
"Someone got the last pig's head?" I said the last time we dined. Then Chef's Tasting it will be. The food has been consistent. My husband and I have never had a bad meal there. We enjoyed every meal whether we are sitting at the bar or the high tables. -
Review from Bryan E.
Brookline, MA
11/29/2011
I've had the pigs head now.........twice. There have been few piggy experiences in my life that have been so amazing and utterly satiated. The menu has fantastic, the burger is one of the best in the nation other than that late night burger you make at home (or Tasty Burger).
Overall Craigie is a solid experience anytime........provided you can get a table. Tony's attention to quality is famous and they source some of the best ingredients available. Great place for a relaxed date or a business occasion, or the occasional "I want a pigs head for my birthday" excuse. -
Review from Natasha A.
Cambridge, MA
Updated - 10/14/2011
We just did the 8 course tasting menu (for $10 more we went for all savory - this is not on the menu but they work with you) and it was a life changing dining experience. Just wow. The 8 courses turned into 10, compliments of Tony, who brought out one of the dishes himself. We also got a couple of complimentary drinks. The service was spectacular. 3.5 hours of dining heaven!
Craigie should be on everyone's list for that special celebration of a birthday or an anniversary, or just of life and great food.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/24/2011
I think Craigie is one of the best restaurants in the Boston areas. Every detail of every dish tends… Read more »
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Review from han c.
New York, NY
10/4/2011
There are some words that I automatically like when I hear them used:
+ effervescent
+ duckfat
+ whimsical
so when I hear of a 4 / 6 course tasting menu available on Sundays called "Chef's Whim," I am instantly intrigued / enamored / ready. Oh, Craigie, I was ready.
The BFF and I had ourselves a reso at 9:30p. The host was super perky and kept using the word "absolutely" to answer any question we had. I never realized the versatility of that word, but love it! (Absolutely!)
We ordered the 4 course and braced for the chef's whims that would ensue upon our table shortly. We tried to reject the cold, crusty bread basket, but the lure of the triangle wedge of butter was hard to ignore. The butter was good. The bread was cold.
The amuse bouche was a salty flat cylinder of white tuna topped with shiny black caviar and paired with a parmesanesque cracker. I liked the flavor of the fish but yo, that amuse bouche seemed as if it had been am-bouched by a salt canister. The amuse bouche had been as-salted. Man, I will be here all night.
The appetizer was a tiny salad of greens and late summer tomatoes, topped with slivers of fried pig ears. Crunchy. Juicy. Ripe. Light. Solid.
The second appetizer were deep fried cod cheeks topped with pickled lemon. Tasted like fish tempura you'd get from a Japanese resto. Like. Piping hot, crispy and good, but not that interesting? That pickled lemon was spot on though.
The entree featured two slices of ribeye, some strands of oxtail pastrami and steamed/sauteed greens that tasted like bok choy and seared/griddled baby carrots. I think I was most bummed by the size of the entree because two slices of meat seems a bit on the skimpo side, but maybe because I'm from TX, I just expect a whole cow to be slaughtered and served up on a platter for dinner. The BFF said her ribeye was too chewy, and she ended up chewing the meat for flavor but then spitting the meat out on her napkin. Reminded me of Seinfeld and the mutton episode. I think the meat ended up falling out of her napkin at some point though - she didn't seem too concerned with seeing where it landed on the floor. She's funny and gross.
For dessert, we were presented with two different plates: one a stone fruit cobbler with anise ice cream, the second whole wheat crepes with pear compote and goat milk ice cream. The crunchy streusel on the cobbler was top notch, but the licoricey ice cream didn't really add anything to that dish / really didn't enjoy it. The whole wheat crepes were bland and boring - bordering dry. The compote was equally dull. Appley and cinnamony. C'mon Craigie! Where's the whimsy in this?
All in all - not an ultra fan of the whims of our night, but I did espy some major looking burgers being eaten at the bar, so I dare say, I will go out on a whim for that beefy beast on my next Boston visit.
