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Categories: Restaurants, Lounges [Edit]
Neighborhood: Kendall Square/MITCentral (Red)
Mon-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Saturday night - roommies birthday so we decide to have a girls dinner and 8 of us went to Cuchi Cuchi. I expected a tapas restaurant. What I got was so much more and then some.
We walked in and immediately felt like we had gone back in time to the 1920's flapper era. Are we here to eat or are we here to try on fun wigs and costume jewelry? Do we have time for a movie montage?
A definite nod to the prohibition period speakeasy as we were greeted by women in wigs and hats and brought to a booth made up of a large coffee table, day bed, and cushion-y bench. The drink menu was filled with fun cocktails such as the TickleYourBrain and the LetMeEntertainYou.
Our waitress was adorable. Annamarie was so much fun and was dressed in a slinky red number with tassels hanging, and black elbow length gloves.
We had the Chicken Kiev, Cuban Cigars, Artichoke Hearts, Baked Brie... just to name a few. Delicious. Plates are small so we ordered a couple rounds of each. Annamarie was fine with keeping them coming.
The whole experience was a blast... a perfect spot for a girls night. Not so sure this would have been a spot for the boys, as was proven later when we met up and they all asked how Vagina Vagina was. *Siiigh silly boys*
A bit expensive but worth it. You gotta try it. Get there early - the place gets packed! And if you really want to get crazy where a bright colored wig - they'll love it and you'll fit right in!
First off, the atmosphere is so cute, which makes the experience awesome in itself. But the food was also really good and the waitress was super friendly even though a loud group of us bombarded her with orders.
The absolute favorite dish of everyone at the table was the Cuban Cigar (Beef short ribs wrapped in dough w/black bean salsa). The Brie en Croûte (Brie, walnuts, bacon in puff pastry), Gratin Dauphinois (baked thin-sliced potatoes, onions, cheese & cream) and Sizzling Garlic Shrimp were also really good. However, I didnt like the Prosciutto-wrapped Melon so much....despite my love for prosciutto, I found it to be too tough.
The tapa dishes are pretty small and can quickly add up in price so its a much better deal to go in a big group to get a taste of everything without breaking the bank.
Cuchi Cuchi is what happens when you turn your waitresses into half-burlesque, half-vaudeville servers, and you decide
"I want food from all over the world in one place."
From Russian to Latin, Cuchi Cuchi offers an amalgam of tastes that will leave your taste buds satisfied. Most of the appetizers are flavorful and worth of splitting between two: the mushrooms in particular are incredibly sweet and savory.
The main courses, however, are a bit small on portions, even though they're big on flavor. The grilled lamb is delicious, but the real take-home entree is the Cuban Cigar, which is a wonderful blend of shredded flank steak wrapped in a flaky pastry and garnished with a bean salad.
Dessert is also hit or miss -- the cheesecake is tasty, but you could literally have it in one bite, and you're down a pretty penny. The ice cream and fried plantains is a large portion that you could split between two people, and yet the price difference is minimal.
Finally, the cocktails shine, despite a relatively high price for them.
The service overall is fast enough and courteous.
The overall atmosphere is totally fitting of the anachronistic setting; a great place to meet up for drinks or bring a date to.
I was so excited to come here, but the food was disappointing, and menu limited. Some it was good - the fried tomato and the tiramisu. But other options, such as shrimp wontons and the Asian salad left much to be desired.
I would not come here looking for a meal, but would definitely come back for the drinks - wow. I had the Splendor in the Glass, and it was delicious. My friend's gimlet with basil looked quite good, as well. And the service was good - friendly, though they took a little long with the bill and asking for our order. But I loved my drink. Everything written about the ambience & atmosphere is right on. Just a note: got her around 6 on a Monday, and there was a wait for a table, so I reccommend making reservations. We were able to sit at the bar once a table was called.
This is officially my favorite place on Earth right now. I could really live in this gorgeous restaurant.
Not only did the decor and atmosphere go above my expectations, but the food really was phenomenal and worth the $$$ you pay. I had the duck crepes and the brie en croute which was nothing short of an orgasm in my mouth. One of my girl friends had the skirt steak and scalloped potatoes which were also delicious. I think dessert may have been my favorite though: French Banana Bread Extravaganza. Goddamn, they give you a lot. Quality AND quantity?! That rarely happens anymore at restaurants. I would eat here every weekend if my metabolism and wallet could handle it. Till then, I'll recommend this to everyone and count down the days till a date takes me here.
I was So. Excited. to finally try Cuchi Cuchi tonight for the first time, and Yelpers didn't disappoint- it was just fabulous. There were 10 of us celebrating a friend's b-day, and we got the awesome LED table... can we say easily amused? Seriously, I think we could have played with it all night and not gotten bored. But aside from that, the whole decor and ambiance is soooo what I would have come up with if it were up to me to make a wicked awesome bar/restaurant (also I couldn't stop goggling over the waitresses' attire, absolutely adorable- HUGE fan of the 20s/30s/40s, I can't get enough). Our waitress was efficient and easily handled our large table- props for the lovely 'happy birthday' renditions the waitstaff did throughout the night (not to our friend though, we spared her that).
On to the food and drink... I dare say CC's cocktails rival Eastern Standard (and you know that's hard to do). The Raspberry Beret, the SoMuchToDrinkSoLittleTIme... fall down flawless and worth every sip at $11 each. The food, although pricey, was really solid: I ordered the duck a l'orange crepes which were quite good (not as good as everything else I tried IMO, but still really tasty, especially considering I'm not normally a duck fan- don't ask why I ended up ordering it), and the mushroom risotto with truffle oil that was mouth-wateringly fantastic. I tried bites of the Brie en Croute, the garlic shrimp, and the scallop provincale, and each were delicious. And the bread... yes you pay for it, but hot damn was it good, warm and toasty from the oven with great flavor, accompanied by herbed olive oil. Addictive.
I was pretty full with the duck, risotto, a bread roll, and 2 cocktails; I recommend sticking with 2 plates each (especially if you get two heavy dishes), unless you get something like the shot of seafood which is only a mouthful or two. The size of your dish can really vary, so choose wisely (especially with the high price of each dish, you wanna get as much for your money as you can- I suggest sharing 3 with someone).
I gotta say, Cuchi Cuchi was not too far from 5 stars, not too far at all. I can't wait to try it again (after I save up for a few months, that is).
God damn this place is fabulous. Do you love feathers? And boozing with friends in a place where you feel grown up and classy? Come here.
Throughout the course of the evening I had several of their very delicious alcoholic beverages. Normally I am a dollar draft kind of girl (hello recession.. ), but at Cuchi Cuchi i went all out. And it was worth it. Orient Express? Why not. SoMuchToDrinkSoLittleTime? Don't mind if I do...
After getting sufficiently liquored up at the bar, we were seated at the COOLEST TABLE EVER. And those of you that have sat there know what I'm talking about. The one in the corner? with the lights? mmhmm...
All in all, the nine of us ordered 21 plates of food and I have absolutely no regrets. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Everything was fantastic. There were deifnitely some highlights: number one - the brie with apples, walnuts and bacon.. in a puff pastry. good lord. We ordered three. Following that would have to be the deep fried tomato, the cuban cigars, eggplant napoleon, tuna tartare cornets and the indian lamb. And this awesome potato gratin dish.
Sadly, there was no cuchi cuchi dessert to be had at the end of the meal, since it was a friend's birthday. Instead we had this fabulous cake from some crazy family owned italian bakery in Greenwich, CT. unreal. must review them next...
Definitely go here! Oh and prepare to spend half your paycheck.
I've been frequenting Cuchi Cuchi for several years now and it has never dissapointed. The management and staff at Cuchi should be a model for other restaurants to follow. Even on the busier nights, everyone tries to accomodate you and make you feel welcome. The decor is just as fabulous as the people and the music always seems to provide the proper mood.
Over the years I've had just about every dish on the menu and they are all amazing. My favorites include the garlic shrimp, the fried artichoke hearts, and the brie. The preparation of the chicken kiev was recently modified and the dish went from being good to being truly outstanding.
I'm not into cocktails but I've heard nothing but compliments about the various drinks on the menu. I've always been quite happy with the wine selection. On the great majority of my visits to Cuchi I generally sit at the bar and chat with the very friendly bartenders and other patrons. This is definitely 1 bar where you will not feel out of place dining alone. Recently, celebs like Uma Thurman, Rosario Dawson, and Ben Affleck have discovered Cuchi. I highly recommend my second home, Cuchi Cuchi.
I have frequented Cuchi Cuchi several times for different social engagements. I love the decor; it's very artsy/funky, and unusual. And as a connoisseur if fruity girlie drinks, I LOVE their drink menu, my favorite being Moulin Rouge, soooo yummy!
My first visit there was at about 10:30 on a Wednesday night for drinks. The place was mostly empty, and 5 of us easy sat at the bar. Contrary to the opinion of others, I found the drinks to be plenty strong; as did the men who were in our party.
My second visit was on a date, and that is why I deduct a star. It has so much potential to be a great date place, but it's just too cramped and noisy. several bachelorette parties and birthdays made it impossible to have a conversation, and the tiny table we had was not conducive to ordering multiple plates of food, as one needs to do. The bar was also insanely crowded, this place could do well with a bar twice the size.
The food was quite good though, goose liver pate? Sounds so gross, but was delicious. I loved the brie most of all, but the seared tuna was good, and the drinks were again, divine. The mushrooms though were disgusting, inedible really. I don't know why they have these on the menu, they were patently foul.
My third trip was the best, we sat at the bar (by some miracle arrived just as two people got up) we were actually able to hear each other talk, given we were sitting NEXT to each other, rather than across the table. We had more room to spread out the food we ordered too, and with bartenders walking back and forth, we never had to wait for drinks, water, or additional food. Usually I hate sitting at the bar and dining, but in this instance, it might be preferable.
Finally, there is a back room that appears as though it might actually be more quiet. I have not been lucky enough to get seated back there though, I have been seated in the front room, where the bar is.
In Summation:
All in all, the art nouveau decor and the fun flapper style waitress outfits, coupled with setting appropriate music (when you can hear it) makes Cuchi my preferred spot in Cambridge; I'm going there tonight!
It IS a bit expensive, especially the drinks, but it's a unique experience and worth it IMO. Also, I prefer to dine "tapas style" because usually an entree is too much for me, and I hate carrying around left overs!
This place was a joy, from start to finish. I've visited both of the related establishments, Tapeo (v good) and Dali (overrated), but have to say this is definitely the pick of the bunch.
The overall ambience is quite feminine; but in the fun, sexy sense rather than a cuddly toy / 'hold my bag' way.
In terms of dress code, it is actually somewhere you'd make an effort for. Jeans are fine, but maybe paired with shoes and a shirt rather than sneakers and a T-shirt.
The food we sampled I can divide into three categories; good, excellent and superlative:
Very good:
* Brie en Croûte - Brie, walnuts, bacon in puff pastry
* Duck a l'Orange Crepes
* Gratin Dauphinois
Excellent:
* Bracioletta - pork rolls stuffed w/ cheese, pancetta, garlic
* Chicken Kiev - with a twist - mushrooms
Superlative:
* Savory Cornets w/Tuna Tartare & Avocado Mousse...I could have eaten these all night
* Grilled Eggplant Napoleon...wonderful...especially considering I don't really like eggplant
Service was excellent; the staff were very friendly and very helpful - little touches like giving us a heads-up that our table would be ready shortly.
All in all, a great experience, soon to be repeated
Listen, five stars for the drinks. Hands down. This is one of the most creative drink menus I've seen in my life and the flavors were luscious. Who wouldn't want luscious drinks? Hi alcoholism.
Now that I've got that off my chest...this place really is cute and charming. It has a fun 1920's American revival feel. All the girls dressed as flappers with costume jewelry. It looked like the best little girl dress-up party ever. haha! This is a fun little date spot in Cambridge and I'm definitely going back. We were sort of in a rush and not terribly hungry (more thirsty, obv) so we only ordered a couple plates. They were really good (no Toro, but still).
My advice: Your last drink of the night should be "SoMuchToDrinkSoLittleTime." You can't drink it all night, because there's a whole lotta sweet mango in there. But really, you'll thank me.
Met up with 8 girls last night around 6pm. Had a great time. We had made a reservation for the 8 of us but they wouldn't seat us till we all where there. Wouldn't it have made more sense to seat us as a party of 6 and get out us out of the bar so they could free up those seats? oh well.
We had great drinks! Great food! and the table service was great. I ordered the Fried artichokes, baked brie and i had the Moroccan chicken Tangine. SO DELICIOUS. I'm going to be dreaming about the chicken for days.
Ambience: Super fun. 1920/30/40s. Dress up a little and stick a feather in your hair before you show up.
Martini review ONLY (haven't tried the food...YET):
All drinks with fruit/herbs are muddled right before your eyes so they are fresh and delicious.
Splendor in the Glass: If you like Tequila and want to keep it classy (and keep your shirt on, maybe) DRINK THIS!!
Dirty Little Secret: NOT actually a dirty martini, but a wonderful substitute for your dessert calories. A white chocolate and vanilla vodka masterpiece with a Hershey's kiss sunk in the bottom of the glass. AMAZING.
Some Like it Hot: Seriously. It's like drinking hot sauce. Not my cup of tea (glass of vodka?), but the gorg-stuffed olives were excellent.
Black Dhalia: You may like it if you're into blackberries. It's a very pretty dark purple color, but not my favorite martini.
@ $11 a pop, they aren't cheap, but they are SOososososo worth it.
What an awesome place!!! After a friend suggested going there after reading some reviews, we decided to go (as a group with 10 girls). This restaurant does not take reservations and you better make sure that if you do have a big group, that you have everyone there....otherwise you won't be seated.
After telling everyone to arrive at 7:30, we didn't get seated until about an hour later. The drinks were the prominent items on the menu. I think they had more cocktails than they did food items. Yes, this place serves tapas-like portions in small plates and the items very much resemble items you might get at a tapas restaurant, but don't let them hear you call it tapas. They said that it was "international cuisine" and not just strictly "tapas." Okay then.
The food was excellent. The portions were small, but that's what they are. We split up into pairs so that it would be easier to order. We got a plate with duck l'orange, a thing with gorgonzola cheese fried with mussels, and we got some kind of vegetable. Everything was excellent. They even had a vegan and gluten-free menu for my friend who is allergic to gluten. I was very surprised and very delighted that our friend could enjoy some of the food as well. I had the vespar as my cocktail and it was absolutely delicious. A little bit of gin, a little bit of vodka, some lemon zest, its so delicious that once you taste it, you never want anything else...so james bond said:)
Our waitress had a little bit of attitude that we could have done without. She was this small woman of about 5' tall and when 2 of the girls said that they didn't order something, she came over and said disagreed with them.
I will definitely go back. Can't wait til the next time. And with a name like cuchi cuchi...you dont' want to miss it.
A friend of mine had been telling me about this place for a while. One night after work, we met up, drove around Cambridge, and found ourselves there. She's a vegetarian, and I'm not, but we found plenty of things that we both liked so we could share them. We got:
-Gratin Dauphinois: basically Potatoes au Gratin. Tasty, but not incredibly flavorful. I'll probably try something else next time.
-Mushroom Risotto: self-explanatory. So far beyond unbelievable, I can't even explain it. I'll definitely be getting this again.
-Fried Artichoke Hearts: crispy artichokes with gorgonzola, pistachios and basil. They only give you 3 pieces, so I might go for an extra order.. or 10 of these next time, but they're definitely worth ordering again.
-Mexican Deep-fried Tomato: a crispy tomato filed with mexican cheese, avocado and pico de gallo. This one was hard to share because it fell apart when we cut into it, but it was so good that I'll order it again, and deal with it falling apart.
I need to go back here ASAP and eat those dishes again and try more things (plus the drinks, which I've heard good things about)
At the end of the night, we paid $30 and that didn't include drinks.
Best ambiance/decor/vibe in town. They go to great lengths to create a feeling of elegance and succeed on most levels.
The food is good, but lacks some of Dali's more sublime flavor combinations. Some of the croquettes are so over-fried that they just taste like breading. But the asian salad is refreshing and the baby back ribs heavenly.
As with any other tapas-like place, go with a big group and share everything. (Especially a liter of Clerico.)
Great cocktails and martinis but the food it's not that great, the bar is definitely the best spot if you are just having drinks, it's also a little bit loud and service can use some help.
If you love the following items, get off your butt and visit this place:
-A HUGE, glittering mermaid that greets you upon entering.
-A staff that dresses like sassy 1920's cabaret performers.
-A drink list that makes you drunk just looking at it.
-Delicious plates of food you can selfishly devour yourself, or share (eh hem) graciously with others.
-A variety of said delicious plates, from all over the world, to please even the pickiest of eaters.
-A GLITTERING MERMAID, people.
I rest my case.
Entering Cuchi Cuchi is what I imagine it would be like to visit the mind of Alphons Mucha while he's on a bitchin' acid trip. It's a magical Art Nouveau mystery tour of sensual delights. There has been great care taken to make every inch of this place a visual journey, from the giant kimono on the wall to the impeccably dressed flapper waitresses to the jewel-encrusted tampon disposal boxes in the bathrooms. If this was someone's apartment, it would be your melodramatic aunt who used to be a courtesan in Borneo and now just swans around in silk dressing robes and still smokes with a cigarette holder.
This artfully crafted experience continues with the walloping drink menu, which has pretty much every kind of cocktail you can imagine or didn't even know you would like but now must have. You Give Me Fever (muddled strawberries, lime juice and vodka) was a big hit around the table. We ordered a carafe of Cava which you pour directly into your mouth--a style of drinking imported directly from Spain that lent a festive air to every table, bachelorette party (as ours was) or no. The Bottom's Up drinks come in glasses that cannot be set down because the bottom is straddled by a wee naked man and his pert bum. You have to drink it down and then set the cup upside down on its little resting plate. Here's a place where most of the menu is dedicated to alcoholic confections and this adds to the dizzying pleasures.
Next up on this delectable adventure is the food--words cannot describe. No, really, I don't have the right words. We shared 28 plates between 14 people. We managed to pass all of them and I took a wee bite of everything. *Everything was delicious.* There was not one single item that was boring or bad. The two plates I ordered were Brie en Croute (warm brie, walnuts and bacon in a puff pastry) and the Seared Tuna (with watermelon tartar and couscous). Those were amazing. The two other standouts were the Duck a la Orange crepes and the seafood-filled avacado. ::drools remembering the taste::
The only time the luxurious whimsy fades is if you suggest these are tapas--no no, these are international dishes. They are quite persnickety about it--presumably because the owners have an actual Tapas restaurant called Dali? Fair enough, but the Spanish definition (small portions of food served with drinks) still holds.
I'd say this is the perfect place for a big group, boys included. But it's not exactly romantic--it's a bit too ornate, tawdry and loud for romance. As long as there's more than two in your dining party, however, you will definitely have a good time.
I had to knock off a star because after a fantastic night, our waitress came running out after us (well, I say running out--we were all standing around the entrance saying goodbye to some people) and said we were $20 short. We had counted that sucker about 17 million times, and paid all in cash, to the penny. I'm sure she just miscounted and wasn't being deliberately snotty, but it was a lame ending to an otherwise perfect night.
Even so, I will be back--I'll just be sure to count the payment with the server next time.
Cool, vintage 20s feel to the place. Old jazz rounds out the ambiance. Amazing, classic, original, and forgotten cocktails. Perhaps eat at Salt's across the street the mosey in here for some great drinks. Good date spot if you wanna impress a classy lady and still have fun. Expect to pay about 10 bucks a cocktail though...
The food is pretty lame. They insist that it IS NOT a tapas joint because tapas are from Spain and they serve "international" small plates. That's bullshit. That's like saying if you add creamcheese to a sushi roll that it isn't sushi anymore. It's tapas. Deal with it. Your atitude don't make tapas not tapas. And the tapas are WAY too expensive for their quality, and we had quite a few. Their desserts, especially the chocolate banana thing was excellent.
For character, you can't beat this place. Most people dress up to come here and nobody does that anymore which is a real shame. Stupid jocks and their stupid white hats!! The hostess is always sporting some kinda 1920s era frock. Awesome. One time she had on this KILLER hat. God bless her. The bartenders know their stuff too. They are usually wearing some kinda hipster t-shirt. I don't care. Just get me a Fred-a-la-Pear. Don't know what that is? Yah you haven't been here have you?
The food is awesome. They don't like it when you call it tapas so I'm CALLING IT TAPAS. Small dishes you share with other people. A few are nothing special but for the most part they are wonderfully flavorful and fun to share. Deserts - do they still have that banana-bread-ice-cream thing? That was so good I almost cried. But then I remember I am a man and paid the check. Holy Macinoli! Expensive! But it's worth it. Nice place to take a chick if you really wanna WOW her. And your bank account.....
I FINALLY made it back to Cuchi Cuchi... and it ooooonly took me about 1 year and 7 months to do so. haha. Actually, I probably still wouldn't have been back except for the fact that I had a date last night and they recommended going here. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to come back to try the tapas... it's just that there are SO many places I still want to try that I just hadn't gotten around to it yet! Anyhoo, I digress...
Each plate is around $15 and they recommend two plates per person. If you go in hungry, this is about right, and I would stick to that golden rule. I wasn't really hungry so I just ordered one item, and my date ordered two. All in all we had the Grilled Indian Lamb, Cuban Cigar (beef short ribs wrapped in dough to look like a cigar), and the Mexican Deep Fried Tomato (white cheese, avocado, tomato, and salsa). The steak was good, and dipping it into the mint yogurt sauce added a good amount of additional flavor. The Cuban Cigar, honestly the best thing that we ordered. It was ultra flavorful, the meat was tender, the dough was nice and flaky/crusty, and just overall very well done. Now... the Mexican Deep Fried Tomato... what to say about this. Going into it we were both thinking: it's got tomato, cheese, avocado, and it's going to be fried. How can that possibly go wrong?! It can't, it will be delicious. When they brought it over, it looked so crispy and yummy on the outside... and when my date cut into the tomato the various elements started going all over the place. No worries, they're all going the same place anyway, just scoop them together and .... nothing. Total blandness! *sigh* It had the makings to be GREAT, but it just fell short. It was also served cold. Very odd, not what we were expecting, and while it looks and sounds great, it's just not worth it. Both of us agreed that we'd not get that again.
So, now I know... Cuchi Cuchi has some great food, some good food, and some some meh food, but all in all it's a nice spot. I think this is a good date spot, it's nice, you get to share in the ordering process together, you get to try little bits of everything and conversation in an environment where, should you not know what to say, you could always comment on the decor because it's eclectic.
Came here for like two seconds after the Yelp event. Not really feeling th after-hours vibe on a… Read more »
Drinks are great, but the food, although interesting - is inconsistent.
Sometimes really good, sometimes disappointing. For the price, that's not very easy to forgive. The ambiance, however, makes up for a lot. They try hard to make it visually interesting, both with the decor and the costuming of the staff. It is a lively bar, and the bartenders are really good. So the food gets a 2, the drinks and decor get a 4 - yielding an overall 3..
I just went here for my bachelorette/ birthday. Food is great and drinks are even better. A lot of people compare this place to Dali's. Food wise I think Dali is better but drink selection wise this place is way better, although Dali does make a mean sangria. Atmosphere wise Cuchi Cuchi is awesome. I love the 20's themes decor and drinks. If you wanted an intimate date like setting I would go with Dali, but to go and have a great time with a group of friends then Cuchi Cuchi is the place to be.
I love this place. It's so sexy 1940s city! The waitstaff is great! The food is scrumptious! Get the blini with caviar - yum. The drinks are great! They have soooo many drinks, and they are all good. The decor is so romantic too. I went here for before dinner drinks for my b-day last year. I loved it! Either sit at the bar or grab a table -- both work for me.
I'm not embarrassed to say that I hate to share. What can I say, I'm an only child and always had everything to myself. My "issue" has transcended to my adult life and dining. I am not a sharer of food. I don't like to split meals, appetizers, desserts, whatever. What's mine is mine, what's yours is yours. However, Cuchi Cuchi is different. You HAVE to share at Cuchi Cuchi. You WANT to share at Cuchi Cuchi! The large, eclectic, delicious-sounding menu nearly made me jump through my computer when I read it online, and I was more than ecstatic to go to Cuchi Cuchi and share the hell out of many "small plates".
The atmosphere is what first struck me. Jeffrey H. said it perfectly. Cuchi Cuchi is like an antique shop. There are tons of vintage items all over the place, as well as beautiful stained glass light fixtures and a large stained glass piece behind the bar. The room is dimly lit, and the waitresses are dressed like flappers (right...?). The music is a mix of reggae, Middle Eastern, and techno and strangely fits the mood of this antique-shop-turned-small plates restaurant perfectly.
I started with a Dancing With Ginger, which had amaretto, fresh ginger, ginger syrup, and a few other ingredients in it. It was rimmed with sugar in the raw, which was a nice sweet touch.
From least favorite to favorite, we had:
Seared Tuna (five small pieces)
Fried Artichoke Hearts (3 small pieces)
Brie en Croute (one big puff)
Chicken Tagine (one plate)
French Banana Bread Extravaganza (HUGE dessert)
The Seared Tuna really isn't tuna tartare. There were five seared pieces of tuna with mount of couscous and watermelon served in the middle. The flavors were good and the watermelon added a nice refreshing touch and crunch, but it wasn't exactly what we excepted.
Artichoke hearts: the pistachios weren't detectable, but the Gorgonzola cheese was. There was NOTHING healthy for you in this dish, but the cheesy friedness in combination with the tartness of the marinated artichoke hearts was delicious.
Brie en Crouts was AMAZING. It was a huge puff pastry filled with tons of brie and bacon. There was enough puff pastry so you didn't feel like you were just eating a huge glob of brie, and enough bacon pieces to be detectable.
Chicken Tagine: I was surprised this was nearly my favorite. I'm typically a little weary of dishes with fruits in them, but the flavors of this went perfectly. I think because the white raisins and fruits were balanced out with salty olives and other vegetables. It was served over couscous and could have been a small meal in itself.
Banana Bread Dessert: Wow, another suprise. I'm not a huge banana fan, but this dessert was AMAZING! The bananas were almost grilled and tasted carmalized. They were spread on thin pieces of bread pudding which was also served with vanilla ice cream and fresh whipped cream.
Cuchi Cuchi is the exact reason why I hate the geography and public transportation system of Boston. There T isn't quite as close as I'd like, and you have to cross a river to get there. Plus, the whole Cambridge thing in general. ANYWAY, I'll be back very, very, VERY soon. As in tonight.
Girls nights out, night out with mom, bachelorette party... THIS PLACE IS FOR YOU!
Stopped in (early) on a weeknight recently. Have always wanted to try and finally got around to it. Man have I been missing out!
First off, a creative and exceptional martini list. The newly updated Thai Basil martini was outstanding and alone worth the price of admission.
Food was creative and of very high quality - we had a variety of small plates with no disappointments.
The atmosphere is funky, fun and unpretentious.
What more do you want from an evening out.
Enjoy.
When I first opened their menu, their extensive list of cocktails and "bottom up" shots put a smile on my face. I think it's pretty sweet having more than half your menu consist of alcohol.
Anyway, I originally was told this restaurant is a tapas place; however, the waitress told me to not refer to their dishes as tapas because their dishes are larger.
Go for the lamb and the skirt steak. Both are delicious!!!! I also enjoy the Gratin dish.
I'd recommend this place to anyone who loves to try everything. This is a international restaurant and they cook each dish accordingly to their country roots.
CUCHI? do you have any idea what this does inside my brain? to hear the word CUCHI?? not once but TWO TIMES?? IN A ROW?????
gyrating,
lady secret,
"cuchi cuuchi coooo0000oooo,"
flock of hussies,
pink panties,
alcohol,
sex,
low lights,
potty mouth,
private part,
ruffles,
lubricant,
ostrich feather..
well... i got 2 right. alcohol and ostrich feather. they have an extensive list of fun cocktails with scandalous names, hot young thangs zipping around in roaring 20's type getups, GORGEOUS and EXTRAVAGANT decor- this place is dripping with rich color, wild accent lamps, life-size taxidermy peacocks.. ok, why are you still reading this? you should be on your way to cuchi cuchi.
i'm kidding, keep reading. here are my cons:
i say this all the time because i think people are suckers- this is nice food folks, some of it's even great, but if you don't have tons of cash to toss around this ain't the place to have a sit-down, full fledged meal. by the time you have enough of their small plates to constitute a full meal, you're averaging 30 dollars and up per person on just their dinner. we're talkin' sky high.
HOWEVER- i fully condone and encourage setting up camp at their so so fabulous bar, ordering tons of their yummy cocktails (great pisco sour) and enjoying a small plate or two with a pal- the menu is really really diverse, there really is something for everyone.
don't jump all over me- i'm not saying their food is not good, it is. just isn't 35 dollars a person not including apps and drinks brilliant- toss in 3 drinks and an app and you're sitting at about 75 a person. all i'm sayin.
***the garlic shrimp was really really tasty- i highly recommend.
final statement: cuchi chuchi's atmosphere is pretty much unrivaled. you have to go and try.
Cuchi Cuchi is probably my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. The atmosphere is fun -- the waitstaff wear vintage costumes and festive hats and jewelry. It's like being in a 1930s movie. The cocktail menu is very exciting -- my blackberry cosmo was delicious! They have some very inventive concoctions plus old fashioned drinks like sidecars.
The food menu is equally innovative and exciting, with a wide range of global tapas. Favorite dishes: the tuna/avocado mousse cones, the fried artichoke hearts, and the sizzling garlic shrimp. Lamb and beef dishes also did not disappoint. Portions are good for sharing but not skimpy. Everything comes to the table quickly and looks beautiful.
Also, if you can save room, you should try the banana bread dessert. It's like french toast with carmelized bananas and ice cream on top. Our waitress described it as "sex on a plate" and she was not exaggerating!
It's like how they say you're either an Elvis man or a Beatles guy.... you either like Superman or you like Batman.... Magic or Bird... vanilla or chocolate... Ginger or Mary Ann....
Well, you either love Cuchi Cuchi or you love Dali. I don't begrudge the Cuchi Cuchi fans, but I'm a Dali guy.
Cuchi Cuchi has latched onto a concept that is great in theory but hard to come through on. Fortunately, it does so masterfully. International tapas can make for some strange bedfellows on the table but the potential combinations are awesome. Between my friend and I, we shared Spanish, Thai, Russian, Italian, and French foods along with some bread and fabulous cocktails. Though not all of the food matched perfectly, there were some pleasant surprises. The crisp Thai salad paired amazingly with the rich Beef Stroganoff, as one example. The portions were perfect and more generous than other tapas places I can get to. Inevitably, tapas can make for an expensive meal because there are so many things that each person wants to try. As long as you come with the expectation of spending a bit more than you might on a standard three course meal, the price is perfectly reasonable.
The cocktail list is truly a sight to behold, almost to a fault. There are so many choices that we had not even looked at the food menu the first time our waitress came to ask if we were ready to order. When combined with the myriad of food options, this can be a bit dizzying. I tried one with thai basil and lime that was really refreshing, and my date had a rose flavored martini that was really unique, in the good way. The smell and taste of the rose were there but they weren't overpowering or diminutive in any way.
I also cannot speak to dessert here because we ended up going to Toscanini's down the street but I bet that their creative takes on international sweets are as successful as their savory ones.
The servers are exuberant in their personalities and their dress; they make you feel as if you have walked into the world's greatest cabaret show. The atmosphere was lively but relaxed, and everyone was incredibly friendly. I had a great experience and I will definitely be back again.
There is radioactive glass on the walls.
No, really. The glowing glass on the walls is radioactive. And the staff dresses straight out of the glamor of old Hollywood. I can't speak for the food since I haven't eaten here yet, but I really love the vintage cocktails and the atmosphere.
I've been here before, and returned, and will return again.
I hope I don't get cancer from the radioactive glass, though.
This place is consistently yummy, and conveniently near work. There is a nice 1920s vibe (waitresses dress as flappers) and the ambiance is awesome.
It can get a little noisy, but depends on where they sit you.
Haven't tried all the dishes yet, but there hasn't been a bad order yet! Favorite dessert of all time is the Banana Extravaganza - to die for!
Cuchi Cuchi gets super-mega-awesome-points for having such a sweet theme. All of the wait staff were dressed in beautiful attire, and the decor was great. It's kind of like a mix between 1950s and Spain. I'm not sure exactly what the theme is meant to be, but it appears to mix in varying forms of awesomeness, combined to form one awesome blob of ridiculousness.
In terms of actual food, it gets a meh. The drinks were good. I ordered two dishes: First I had a plate with scallops and stuffing; not sure exactly what it was called, but it was amazing. Second I had the seafood stuffed avocado, which wasn't so good. Somehow, even though it combined two of my favorite foods, it just plain didn't taste good. Overly tangy or something. Still, considering their somewhat extensive menu, I wouldn't necessarily assume that such disappointment is typical. I'll definitely go back again, and you can expect an update then. Woot.
As my birthday week continues, I picked Cuchi Cuchi for dinner last night with my dad and his gf. I really wanted to try this place and naturally my dad is into your traditional American fare, so I knew this place might be a stretch. (I made sure there was some form of steak on the menu) I have to admit I knew it would be built in entertainment watching him react to this girly, vintage establishment :)
Talk about sensory overload! I loved everything from the jazzy melodies and bustling bar at 7pm to the waitresses scurrying around in 1920s garb and the elaborate decor (nothing matches, but everything goes). Here is a breakdown of what we ordered:
Duck a l'Orange Crepes- This perfectly packaged pair was drizzled with a delicious citrus and fennel vinaigrette that complemented the duck quite nicely. I sipped a Strawberry Basil cocktail, which was delightful in every way. Do not underestimate the power of a basil leaf in a martini, it totally made this drink.
Beef Stroganoff - This was my dad's choice and a good one for him. Our food was at the table after I returned from the powder room (have to check these out, the beautiful tile accents will totally inspire your next home reno) I saw the size of his plate and I said to Rose, "What did he say when she put this in front of him?...Where is the rest of it?" They both smirked; I know this guy too well. He did enjoy the beef cooked medium and actually had a little left, because he was full. One last note: my dad needs his salt and pepper and of course these are not fixtures on the table, so our beautiful, Colombian waitress returned with a white duck salt shaker for him...priceless.
Bracioletta Ripiena di Maiale- Rose enjoyed these stuffed pork rolls with
just the right hint of spice. This was my favorite of the three, and I will def be sharing this with someone on my next visit. She also fancied her Watermelon cocktail garnished with a pink melon star.
We rounded out our meal with the French Banana Bread Extravaganza and the pizzelle Cornucopia with fresh fruit. The bananas were caramelized goodness with vanilla ice cream, but I found the bed of bread to be slightly charred. The cornucopia was a light, tangy and refreshing close to our meal.
I've read some reviews saying that the waitresses insist it is not a tapas place because the portions are larger, but I still found them to be fairly small, yet tasty and filling nonetheless.
Can't wait to bring my girlfriends, get all dolled up and travel back in time at this treasure in Cambridge.
A friend of mine introduced me to this place a month ago. It's a favorite hangout of her and her girlfriends. We had delicious cocktails and enjoyed the ambiance, but it was crowded and noisy. However, I wanted to go back to try their dinner, and when the opportunity arose this evening I took advantage, this time with another friend. What a great choice. This being a Monday night CC was much more conducive to conversation. We ordered 3 dishes, my fav being the tuna tartar with avocado mousse cornets and hers the fried oysters with caviar. Of course we had some crazy cocktail and followed up with some delicious desert. The meal was perfectly satisfying and well presented. Our server gave no pressure to turn the table. All together it made for a wonderful evening with a great friend over excellent food in a unique environment.
Love Cuchi. It's a wonderful exotic place. The food is always fabulous - although I will say a bit scant these months. Usually bread comes with an entree - I had to ask. The bartenders are good - although the "chronic cocktail muddling" as I sat at the bar got a bit annoying, with ice splashing over everywhere. She was in a hurry I suppose. She moved away when my food came and apologized.
The psychic was not too good - very quick to take the cash - reading was low-to-mediocre and short. I believe the "psychics" come from the tea room in Boston. I was somewhat intrigued, but have had much better readings. For 20 bucks, they should give a good 20 minutes. It was half of that. I didn't even bother to write anything down.
Food and service otherwise, is good.
There's no better way to celebrate someone fabulous than by taking them to Cuchi Cuchi for their special occasion. Why? Because you can't help but feel like a king or a queen when you are partaking in everything that Cuchi Cuchi has to offer - from the food to the beverages to the cleverly costumed waitstaff. Whoever says over the top is too much obviously hasn't been to Cuchi Cuchi or is just in dire need of some fun to be sent their way.
It's a bit pricey, but you certainly get what you pay for: tapas-style dishes (small plates, meant to share) and not just from one region - you can get anything from risotto to beef stroganoff and anything in between. And if you like specialty drinks, get ready for page after page of the drink list from heaven. My drink had a chocolate kiss on the bottom of it while others' had fresh fruit soaking inside. Things are just dandy over at Cuchi Cuchi, I'm telling you!
Now I won't spoil the surprise too much because you should experience it for yourself -- but if someone you know is having a special birthday, this is the place where you should go. No question about it. Get ready to sit in a big, grandiose chair and let loose. You won't regret it!
Cuchi, cuchi, cuchi!!!! All that comes to mind when I think of this place is Charo shouting out that catch phrase (on Hollywood Squares, no less).
I love Cuchi Cuchi. It's one of my favorite "fun" places. Yes, there are long waits and crowds but the amazing drinks at the bar that you get while waiting are well worth it. The Lemongrass Martini is phenominal (and I'm not a huge sweet mixed drink person). It is a little bit of a pain that you have to keep re-checking with the hostess on your table but the wait staff there is so cute that it can't possibly be that bad! The food here, every time I've been, has been surprisingly excellent (usually these kitchy places have so-so food). I'd highly recommend the cheese-stuffed artichoke hearts. The seafood/ceviche filled avocado and many other things are very good as well. Enjoy everyone...See you there!
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