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I'm on a Cambridge kick lately, so I had to make my nerdy way to this hip bar. We grabbed a seat at the bar and in no time the place is packed and seats are scarce. The bartenders are on top of their game almost like there isn't anything better to do than to refill your drink, swipe your card, grab an order with such each aplomb.
cool easy vibe plus a nice mix of young adults and middle age people. Plus the long line for Middlesex lounge outside gives this place an even cooler hipster vibe!
If I were in the MIT area again, I would definitely visit this unique experience that makes you… Read more »
This place runs down the middle of the road for me. It's always too packed to find a seat, and not in a good way. They have a pretty good beer selection, which scores points for me, and in the summer they open up a huge window on the side that's kind of like a big garage door.
I've only eaten there once and the food was so so. I had a burger and it was way too well done for my taste, but that could have been a mistake. I'll have to go back and update!
Scale of 1-10 (multiple visits):
8 Food
7 Service
10 Atmosphere
7 Value
I'll tell you what's a 'miracle of science'--however the hell they make everyone want to come to a place this LAME. It takes you like fifteen minutes just to get up to the bar, and then some MIT oaf catches your eye with the protractor in his pocket protector. Next thing I thought was, "Let me triangulate a route the fuck out of THIS joint."
I am a nerd. I admit it. I went to MIT; it's part of the job description. Every MIT kid has been here and almost every MIT kid loves it. If you're going on a Thursday-Saturday evening, you will have to wait forever to get in. However, during the week early evening, no problem.
The menu is definitely the best part of the atmosphere of this place. Yay periodic table of foodiments! Not sure what I'm talking about? Take a look at the back wall- it's a periodic table!
Food and drinks are casual- your regular bar fare. It's cheap, so don't complain! I've been out of Cambridge a couple of years, but I gotta get back to this place!
Burgers and skewers are good. Can't complain. Good drink selection.
It gets very crowded and people will definitely be vying for your seat as they see you finishing your meal. Beware!
I have been here a couple times and had a decent time. Fairly standard beer selection. I haven't tried the food.
Every time i've been here it's been on a friday night, so the place has been way too crowded. It's a pretty small room, and they don't seem to worry about exceeding capacity. That turns me off, i like a place to be busy, but honestly you can't move in here sometimes. That's true of a lot of places on the weekends, but that's also why i avoid a lot of places on the weekends.
A lot of people love this place, and I haven't tried the food, so I am willing to admit that this is an incomplete review. I'd like to try to get in here for lunch some afternoon to see what the place is liked when folk aren't packed in like sardines. If i had time to get to know and love the place when there's room to breathe I might just change my tune.
Been here plenty of times drunk, but this is the first time I've tried their food!
I wasn't all that hungry so I ordered 1 Beef skewer ($6.50) cooked medium rare. It came with 4 pieces of beef on a skewer served on top of a warm tortilla, apricot chutney, and lettuce/onion garnish. The apricot chutney was delightfully sweet and when paired with the savory beef, tasted pretty darn well! Who would've thunk? Price is definitely steep for what it is, so I won't be getting it again, but I have been left with new inspiration for preparing/cooking beef =)
My friend ordered the chicken sandwich ($9) with spicy habaneros mango mustard with potato sides. The mustard reminded me more of a spicy curry/coriander paste for some reason. It's a pretty good sandwich, but pricey as well. I'd rather go to Bartley's in Harvard square for a real burger.
Ambiance/vibe? Reaffirmed my opinions. Miracle of Science is def a place to hit up for a drink, not so much of a place to enjoy a sit-down meal. Bottoms up!
Kick ass MIT grad student hangout! The periodic table menu says it all.
Head over here with a…
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I'm a grad student. A science grad student. So, when I heard there was a bar that was science themed bar near MIT, I was super stoked. That being said, I was a little disappointed by this place. It was not nearly as dorky as I was thinking (read: hoping) it was going to be. Sure, the menu is in the form a periodic table, but that's really where the science thing ends. Oh well...
Aside from the undorkiness, I suppose it was a decent place. Was here on a Saturday at the beginning of the evening to grab a beer before heading to a show across the street. The beer selection was decent, if not fabulous. And the drinks were reasonably priced. However, there wasn't a drink menu or even a written down list of the beers on tap that they could give us, which did make ordering difficult. The crowd seemed alright, too.
So, yes, another bar in Central. Not really sure if I'll ever make a point of coming back here. It was nothing outstandingly special. Although, the food did look tasty, so maybe it'd be worth it to try out a burger...
Seriously though ... when wouldn't you go to the Miracle of Science?
Have you had breakfast here? Can I say "mmm mmm good" on my tummy and my budget?! Yes, I think so.… Read more »
This is a casual place so don't expect a maitred' holding your hand through the menu and leading you to a table. Yeah, it's on the wall. Go read it. No one is laughing at you. Pick something. Eat it. It will be delicious.
I recommend everything.
The episode of How I Met Your Mother in which Marshall embarks on a quest to find the hole-in-the-wall burger joint that had the best burger he's ever had only to try a bunch of different places & be pretty disappointed at all of them is similar to my story. My Boston burger mecca has always been Tim's Tavern (RIP), home of the best burgers in & around Boston. Since its closing, I've tried to find a place to replace it. So far, no one has been able to. Miracle of Science was recommended to me as a place that makes a burger that (potentially) rivals Tim's (RIP). So one Friday night, a friend & I decided to see for ourselves.
Fabulous space, inside & out. Big windows that open to the street (it's on a corner, so two sides can be almost entirely open), a menu written in a periodic table on the wall (nerdy! yes!), nice lighting, great atmosphere (very open, & very loud). It was crowded when we got there, so grabbing beers & standing around to wait for a table was a little awkward (all the tables & the bar were occupied), but once we sniped a table (downside: you have to totally hover over a group that is getting up to leave if you want to get it, lest someone grab the table out from under your watch - hence the 100% appropriate term 'snipe'.) If you want to sit down anywhere, be prepared to wait. The place seems to cater more to the folks who want to have a few drinks, which would have been fabulous had we not been waiting to eat, too.
Got a burger along with chicken & veggie kebabs. The burger, unfortunately - while good in its own right - could hold no candle to Tim's. But it was a satisfying "neighborhood burger," flavorful & cooked well. The kebabs were delicious.
I wouldn't recommend this place for a legit dinner, but I think it's a great place to have a few drinks & maybe a small plate on a nice evening!
Walking along Mass Ave, I came across this unique looking bar/grill and decided to pop in, and yes, I am glad that i did.
There is a very friendly, Irish pub type vibe to this little venue, which immediately drew me in. It's not overly crowded, and everyone here seems to know everyone else (Think: Cheers gone Harvard/MIT).
The waiters seem to be pretty friendly, although not too talkative but apparently that's what much of the crowd from Cambridge is like.
My favorite part about Miracle of Science is their menu, which is posted on a giant blackboard in the form of the Periodic Table of Elements. For example, they serve things like C1 (Chicken Skewer with peanut satay), Vb (The Veggie Burger served with pepperjack cheese and jalepeno aioli) and Tc (Turkey Chipotle Chili).
Today, I ordered the S1 (Shrimp skewer with pineapple salsa) and was very pleased with my decision! The shrimp had the perfect blend of spice, which balanced out the sweet pineapple salsa wonderfully. It was served with a tortilla and onions on the side, simple yet fit the purpose.
All in all, I'd definitely recommend this place to hang out with friends for a few drinks or just dare to come alone (like me!) It seems like the bar definitely gets hoppin' come nighttime so it could be a great place to check out on the weekend nights as well!
Enjoy, and check out my blog at http://healthblurbs.bl... for more ideas on eating and living a healthy lifestyle!
Beef skewers were good, so was the hummus dish, and beer selection is decent. This place has a good vibe, even though I was sitting right next to the door (i.e. draft every time it's opened) and people were coming in --it seemed- all the time we were sitting there. Neat menu display too. I heard later their burgers are good, but only got a whiff of one when we were leaving (smelled good, that's for sure..).
My goodness, it seems like I'm the only person that isn't a giant fan of the periodic table menu. I love kitsch, don't get me wrong, but having it only posted on the wall (where about half of the tables have to do some necrobatics [neck acrobatics, not corpse floor exercises] in order to read it) seems unnecessary. Totally wasn't just me, too, I saw plenty of other people craning around. It's not THAT uncool to have some menus around for us slow deciders.
That said, I've eaten here twice and both the veggie burger and hummus plate were tasty enough. Uh, miraculous?
I'm not at all impressed. This must be one of those places that's popular just because it's popular, a bunch of idiots sitting around pretending they like the place because all their friends say they like it, too.
The menu on the wall isn't hip, it's annoying because it makes you feel like a fool while you're standing there trying to read it, and there are people sitting in front of parts of it so you can't even see the entire menu. The music is so loud I couldn't hear the waitress and after she brought our food we had to wait five minutes for her to bring our place settings and condiments. I ordered a blue cheese burger and I got a burger with blue cheese salad dressing on it. Salad dressing! I'm not sure why they bother asking how you want your burger cooked, because everyone at the table got the same thing: blackened on the outside and rare on the inside. I guess that's how the cook likes it. MIT kids may know science and engineering but they don't seem to know anything about decent food because I can't see any reason this place should be so popular. Even the beer selection was lousy.
Casual eatery - low key dining. Food was ehh but the bartender was super nice. Place is kinda gimicky with the periodical chart menu. Stopped here just for a pint and a bite before heading over to Middlesex.
This place is okay, but that's about it.
As some before me have said, the burger is not that miraculous, although serving it with a side of roasted potatoes is a fresh departure from the normal french fries routine. Otherwise it's a regular burger that's just okay and nothing to write home about.
The hummus platter was decent, but that's about it.
My real beef is with the chicken skewer (oh, a pun!). Not only are you paying $6 for ONE chicken skewer with peanut sauce, but the one Molly F. was served was undercooked, thus ensuing all sorts of second-guessing and desperate clawings at memories of how it tasted when she was chewing it. Did the pieces she ate taste cooked? How many did she eat? Will she be okay? Where's her car in case she gets salmonella and we need to rush her to MGH? We don't want that kind of mental abuse when we eat out, thanks. At least they didn't charge us for it.
The two times I've been here, I've been waited on by two different girls who were both equally spacey. They were decent enough, checking in to make sure everything is okay, but something about them just made you feel like they were only half-listening to you.
Notice the trend here? Everything was DECENT. And the chicken was undercooked. Sorry, but there are no miracles happening here. I won't be rushing back.
Chill, laid-back atmosphere perfect for a lazy afternoon lunch or dinner. I came with 5 others just after the Sunday lunch rush. A waiter came up to us and said the big table was about to free up, but we could grab drinks at the bar while waiting.
We sat at the right angle high table and ordered off the periodic table menu of burgers and satays. The waiters even have nerdy shorthand to take orders. The mimosas are served in regular pint glasses and decently priced considering how much you're getting to get pleasantly buzzed during the day. My Ronie burger was stuffed with jalapenos and spicy! The fries are really pan-fried potato wedges so they might be healthier for you than regular french fries.
Service was ok. Our server was nice and helpful. I definitely could've used a water refill early into my jalapeno burger. Nice views of Mass Ave where you can people watch and observe men unicycling down the street.
When I travel for work, i love to find the interesting bars where the locals hang out.
The menu is creative at best, as they try to mimic the Periodic table... but they have a simple menu of burgers, meat skewers, salad, and other standard bar faire. How can anyone argue with meat on a stick.
The servers are efficient, always walking the floors, cleaning and making sure that the patrons are well hydrated with beer, alcohol, water, and other.
The place isn't a large place, but it certainly can handle a large group, as long as people don't mind standing.
Get the burgers... nicely cooked, good flavors and simple. Instead of fries, they serve up homestyle potatoes.
Place is great, people are friendly and drinks aren't too over-priced.
This is, in my opinion, Cambridge. Nerdy, cool, fun, laid-back, talkative, funny, and drinkable. Try the booths up by the periodic table for the best view of the place, and you can even peek out to the characters on Mass Ave. Try the veggie skewers, which you can see the chefs grilling on a grill behind the bar (!!). Try some brew and some good conversation. Try coming here with a friend. Try coming with 5.
Try not coming back, I dare you.
I am a huge fan of the periodic table. I would love to have an entire restaurant themed after Amadeo Avogadro.
The food at miracle of science is solid and unique, interesting food, well-cooked. The service here sucks all sorts of things.
The two servers we had were extremely bored-looking and rude.
The bartender was super friendly, and poured a decent cape coddah.
The whole first-come-first-serve-seat-yourself thing is a little bleh.
This is the very definition of a mixed-review locale.
The place is a bit small, but I like their fast service. Only thing I hate is having to wait for a seat! I like the layout of the place, I think having the food menu structured as the Periodic Table of the Elements on the wall is neat and creative.
My favorite and only thing I have ever had is the Ronie burger, which has fresh jalapenos embedded in the meat. Plus you get roasted potatoes with tomato sauce instead of fries which is healthier and tastier.
Its also an MIT hangout bar, so dont feel creeped out if you hear a smart conversation happening next to you, its just normal!
helpful yet laid back staff. the bartender was pretty funny and rec'd the jalapeno burger. got the basic cheeseburger which was still delicious.
they have a menu set up as a periodic table - don't worry, not all the elements were present.
they cooked the burger to order, had a tasty red sauce, but the roasted potatoes were really fabulous (if you don't mind it being a little charred). super fast too!
We stopped by for breakfast at 9am on a Sunday and was pleased to see that it was open. The place definitely has a unique look - tables that remind of you science class in high school and the famous periodic table menu on the wall - but it was COLD! I was wearing three layers of clothes, but I still had to keep my down jacket on to maintain homeostasis.
A guy who looked like he'd had a hard night brought us some breakfast menus and drinks. We were pleased with the prices (everything is under $10!), but that pleasure was zapped when we realized we'd been waiting 15 minutes to place our order. Maybe it's because there's literally one cook with one stove. I can't imagine how slow the service could be if this place was more full.
Our sourdough French toast, omelet and breakfast wrap came out pretty quickly after that (there were only two other groups there). Food was yummy. The French toast came with a grilled half-banana which was divine! The omelet was tasty, though one of the requested toppings was missing, and the breakfast wrap was hearty and delicious, especially with that meaty chicken sausage.
The bill for the three of us came out to less than $20, which was great. The experience overall - including the service and the temperature of the place! - wasn't so hot. I don't regret going because 1) we had the time to kill and 2) not too much money to waste, 3) we left with happy bellies and taste buds. Three stars.
Miracle of Science is at it's best for Sunday brunch. But even for lunch and dinner, the food is generally quite good- we love the chicken satays (served with peanut sauce, black bean salad, onions, and some tortillas), the chicken sandwich is consistently good, and the potatoes with a slightly spice tomato sauce are delicious.
There are, of course, some downsides: generally, the service at MOS is lacking, well, any attention to service. The wait staff sort of acts like a bunch of surly graduate students. This is particularly problematic if you have any need to customize anything (i.e. my partner has food allergies, and though he'll specify "I can not eat tomato, I can not eat tomato sauce, I'm allergic," 3/4 of the time, whatever he has ordered will arrive covered in some tomato product). Also, there are times, especially in the early evening when the place is *packed*, and it's almost impossible to even have a conversation because of the noise level.
The beef skewers are good and can be constructed into an actual wrap. The only menu is on the wall in periodic table form, very clever. Burger is good size and tasty. Good beer selection. Recommend pitcher of Brooklyn lager or bottle of harpoon. It gets crowded by the window so snag the table under to menu if you don't mind people looking over your head. In the summer they open the large window in the back and it really opens the place up. A nice balance between real cheap college grub and expensive executive cuisine.
Fun concept with the lab chairs and the periodic table menu, befitting their nerdy environs, and the food is quite basic, simple and tasty, but the fact that they refuse to take your name for a table, telling you to your face that you need to instead hover over seated diners and compete with others for a table once it opens up, is absolutely ridiculous. Last Friday night, I witnessed a fight almost break out between two parties over a table! ...to eat burgers! C'mon--I know that MOS is hot sh*t, but put a little effort into to and make the dining experience for us, your customers, a bit more relaxing. So take my goddamn name next time I walk into the door and give me an approximate wait time, like every other restaurant in this town. Otherwise, I won't come near this place between Thurs and Sat.
After about an hour of randomly scoping out tables hoping to be closer to it than someone else in hopes that I can snag it first when it finally opened up, I gave up and went across the street to the Asgard. It was a less satisfying meal from a culinary standpoint, but I was treated like they actually cared about my business--God bless the Irish!
Love the periodic table menu. I think I heard somewhere the restaurant was started by MIT alums. It's a small restaurant and can be very loud on weekends. Its size seems indicative of a bar, but it does have good food.
It's also secretly a GREAT brunch place! I really enjoyed my brunch there a few months ago. I'll have to go again soon.
It's a simple, cruel fact: the closer you get to MIT, the less there is to eat, drink, or do. The Miracle stands out as the first outpost of civilization north of campus on Mass Ave.
It's tiny and crowded; forget about getting a table after 8 on a weekend. If it's noisy it's just from all the people; the TV and music are reined in. The laboratory theme doesn't extend past the stools and the menu.
I think they only have four taps, but they usually have Victory Hopdevil so I can't complain. The cocktails are workmanlike and standard, but that's pretty high praise when you consider the sugary, watered-down swill you get at a lot of local bars.
The food's pretty good. The only place you're going to find a burger and home fries for less than $9 in Cambridge is Wendy's, and you'll find way fewer drug addicts at the MIracle.
The size of the place would knock off a star or two in a neighborhood with more options, but after a long weekday toiling in an MIT lab, the Miracle is a great place for a nightcap or three on the way home.
At long last, a tasty burger. Okay, maybe it hasn't been that long, Wild Willy's was good enough, but it's been some time since we've actually had a burger that I can honestly say was delicious outside of my own kitchen. It's true Miracle of Science isn't spectacular, there's really two options (more if you factor in different cheeses) but it's a cheeseburger done right, in it's simplest form. Yet another restaurant in Cambridge (on Mass. Ave no less), Miracle of Science is an M.I.T. hangout and isn't shy about being nerdy, as the chalk-board menu is really a periodic table replaced with food items. The menu, while not being a "burger place" per se, is simple, if not pricey, in my opinion. The basic cheeseburger is $9.50 and comes with a hash brown type of side and a pickle. I come to expect fries with my burger or at least an indication otherwise ahead of time, but if that's what they have, then that's what they have. Luckily, the potatoes are very good, cooked well, with a good crust, and are served with a spicy tomato chutney that gives it just the right amount of heat. The burgers are grilled, which I normally don't prefer, but are thin enough they retain at least some juice, and are cooked a perfect medium-rare. The bun is nice, crispy and chewy and a perfect fit for the wide and flat patty. Usually I'm a huge snob for top of the line ingredients, beef specifically, and although I'm not convinced this beef is anything special, it's no frills, and it just tastes good, really good as a matter of fact. It's not drip down juicy, but I don't totally mind, there's no greasy mess and the bread sops up any potential liquid disaster. The cheese is fully melted (at long last!) but I do wish there was more, as one slice can hardly measure up to the girth of this burger. Overall I'm completely happy, easily one of the best burgers we've had so far. The floors are a bit dirty and the tables and wobbly, and I wish there was that extra oomph with the burgers especially at $9.50 plus tip, but it's very good and I'm very satisfied.
MoS is one of my favorite places to meet friends in Cambridge for lunch and a beer. It's not traditional pub fare (fried things, big plates, etc.) as you may expect from a place like this. I love that their menu is simple (skewers of meat, shrimp or veggies...one, two or three; cheeseburger; hummus plate, salad, etc.) and everything I've had here has been really, really tasty. I cannot say that I ever (EVER) order a cheeseburger when I go out to eat but I order them here often. The homemade ketchup that comes with the potatoes is really good. The service is decent but sometimes it's a pain to get a table during the week after 11:55am.
I will be paying you yet another visit tomorrow, MoS, for a Brooklyn and a burger!
Good burgers, great beer list, and big open windows make Miracle of Science a perfect choice for a lazy summer evening.
The nerd-chic accoutrements just sweeten the deal.
not bad... casual open air bar... way more people than sitting room... table that sits in middle of this corner bar... 1 bathroom for the whole place... servers who kinda physically push u outta the way...
local beers on tap is cool
the menu in its nerdy fashion is a nice touch as well
Cool place. I had the best cheeseburger I've had since my time in Cambridge. Very juicy with a little spice. The potatoes on the side were also good. My dad had a good veggie burger (he said).
I was a little surprised that for a place that I knew was known for its burgers, that it didn't have more of a selection. There are about 5 types of burgers.
The periodic table menu *is* cute. But I kind of wish they gave out paper menus, too. Not everyone is far sighted!
Shipyard - $4.50/pint. Nice.
I liked the exposed brick and the seating overall. I was sitting by the drafty door, though, which sucked. It was kind of loud inside, but it definitely has a quirky, student-y feel.
I dig this place. A little cramped inside but nice to grab a few pitchers of good beer and some fresh hot sandwiches in the winter.
MIracle of Science is, of course, a Cambridge classic.
Big, juicy burgers with delicious cheeses and home fries to die for.
Also, very close to my home and work.
MoS, you are dear to my heart and I love you, but I have been introduced to a new, more delicious cheeseburger, and you are small. Go to Phoenix Landing for the burgers. But take your parents to MoS when they visit, because it's not scuzzy at all.
While I can't say that I love it as much as I love Audobon, Miracle of Science is a great little spot, thanks to my favorite duo in the Boston/Cambridge restaurant and bar world, Matthew Curtis and Chris Lutes. While somewhat less refined than their other outposts, Miracle of Science still features many of the Curtis/Lutes trademarks- sleek minimalist design, a short, simple menu, prompt service, and delicious, affordable food.
My chicken sandwich with habanero mango mustard had just the right amount of kick, the chicken and bun were both grilled just right, and the homefries on the side with spicy homemade ketchup made for a perfect compliment. Paired with a few Shipyard Ales, it made for a very satisfying lunch.
If I'm ever in the mood for a pre-Middlesex meal, I will be sure to come back and try their burgers and skewers, both of which looked delicious.
Still a great burger, although last night's was over done. I ordered it medium and got it really well.
Well - there is a chance to earn back an extra star by:
1. Making the burger how its ordered
2. Get a hard cider that isn't overly sweet
3. Replace one of the dozens (or so) ales and lagers with a decent pilsner - (no Hefeweizen is not a Pilsner and doesn't taste similar)
Still a great place to chill though.
I don't see the miracle here...
I was really excited to try out Miracle after all I read on yelp and from friends - but in the end I was left disappointed.
The burger I ordered was nothing more than average - although it was kinda fun to order off of a periodic table since I can master food, but not chemistry.
The beer was good - but it's kinda hard to mess that up.
The service was decent - she got the job done.
The atmosphere was kind of loud and it was really crowded - I felt like I had to crawl over people just to get into my chair or head to the bathroom...which is dangerous for a person like me who would rather risk kidney failure than bump into a stranger with a full bladder...I'm like an old, leaky lady ;(
Three stars for a good bar and decent food - I'd go again with good company - but I can say that for a lot of places.
Oh Miracle of Science... What happened to you? You used to serve great burgers, kabobs and other appetizing menu items, but now your food is just bland and boring. Your service, subpar. Such indignity from what was once a great eating establishment.... And instead of taking recent criticisms at face value and making an effort to reorganize and attempt to restore your provisions/service to what it once was, you choose to send nasty emails to yelp users who leave honest reviews of your establishment. Like the one you sent my girlfriend. For shame Miracle of Science! This is the girl who used to RAVE about Miracle of Science burger like they were to her what cocaine is to Lindsey Lohan. And that girl loves her cocaine! Lindsey Lohan, not my girlfriend. I think... Anyway, I really hope you take this "review" to heart and actually make some needed changes. If not, I await your nasty response.
Yours,
Liam
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