4. Restaurants

Craigie On Main

853 Main St, Cambridge, MA, 02139
  • (617) 497-5511
  • Store is closed

Craigie On Main Menu

  • First Courses
  • Entrées
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  • Desserts

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  • First Courses
  • Entrées
  • Entrées to Share
  • Desserts

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  • Helen L.

    Awesome brunch. A complimentary chocolate donut with chocolate sauce was offered, which was a nice touch with my morning coffee. I got the Grilled Two Cheese and Roast Pork Sandwich with a fried egg. This was one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've had (and I've eaten a lot). There was a perfect balance between the crunchy bread and the soft gooey cheesy deliciousness and tender pork. The crispy fries were also very yummy (a favorite of mine now!) The burger was good but was a bit too peppery. There are better ones out there. It did seem like we were waiting for our food for a long time. Portions were good and the food was plated nicely. Our server was very friendly.

    (4)

  • Hibah H.

    Came here for brunch, and I'm glad we did. First of all, my bloody mary was PHENOMENAL. Like, it was hands down the best one I've ever had (and um, that actually means a lot). So spicy, so fresh! Other highlights: the biscuits that came with my crepinettes, the rhubarb panna cotta with cashew and cardamom granola. Surprisingly, I wasn't *that* blown away by the burger, which is supposed to be amazing. Oh well. Definitely pricey, but worth it for the drinks and desserts alone.

    (4)

  • Blair H.

    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.

    (5)

  • Amanda Z.

    Everything about this place is incredible, the food is beautifully crafted, the drinks are amazing and most importantly, the service is unlike any other I've seen in Boston. Respectful, attentive, thoughtful, you really feel special here. Highly recommend, worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Laura H.

    Craigie is my favorite restaurant in Boston. What Chef Maws and his staff create will be something that you will never forget. Everything I have eaten there has been outstanding. I have been for Dinner, Brunch, and just dessert at the bar some night and I have never had a bad experience. The staff is always friendly and ready to serve. If you do not try Craigie you are surely missing out on something wonderful.

    (5)

  • Jorge G.

    Amazing! Our favorite restaurant in Boston, our visit happened last year and was a memorable one, one that we still talk about these days. Outstanding service and attention to detail without being overwhelming. But make no mistake about it, the food is the star, incredible, a journey of flavors and the season. Really wish there were six stars to truly reflect what we thought of our experience at Craigie.

    (5)

  • Mike T.

    Enough has been written about this place, so I'll keep it short. It was my first time trying pig's tail, but it won't be the last. Incredibly delicious. I had the famous burger and it was even better than I thought it could be. I'm not sure it should legally be considered a burger, however. It fits more appropriately in the "orgasmic meat sandwhich" category. It's jsut not fair to compare it to other burgers...

    (5)

  • Wayne D.

    Perfectly prepared, perfect portioned, delicious food. Comfortable clean setting. Yum cocktails. Yum for brunch. Dinner is a bit pricey, however its so good 4.5 stars rounded up!.

    (5)

  • Nicholas C.

    This place is absolutely amazing! Sit @ the bar and get the burger - You'll never eat anything so amazing!

    (5)

  • Heidi O.

    Went here for my husbands birthday. The food was good with nice presentation and just right time in between the meals despite restaurant being packed. The waitress we had was awesome (short, curly hair) and gave good suggestions on non-alcoholic cocktails. There is a separate room/bar area as well where I arranged a surprise gathering of his friends afterwards.

    (4)

  • Pauleena M.

    AMAZING! Service was phenomenal, our server was extra attentive and brought out mini tastings throughout the entire dinner which was very much appreciated! Wine selection was great, I ordered the Vermont pork cooked three ways and that was outstanding. Succulence and extreme richness! Ordered oysters for app and pork as the entree. Ordered a la carte rather than the 8 course tasting..maybe I'll try that next time! Will certainly return. Thank you for a great dining experience!

    (5)

  • May W.

    We came for brunch and I got their hash, which was amazingly flavored, served with really good wheat toast (the fact that I'm raving about the toast says something, it's toast!). Another friend got their pancakes and it was delicious! I ordered a side of the pork belly, and it was perfection. Dessert was the coffee ice cream profiteroles. I would have licked up the plate if no one were looking.

    (4)

  • Jenny G.

    By far the best meal we've had in the Boston area in a long time. From the wait staff, to the environment, to the food, to the drinks, the place was top of its game. We had a hightop table across from the kitchen were we could see all the action and everything that was plated made us want to order it. We had the tasting menu and the favors got bigger and bolder as we moved through the meal. I also need to call out the cocktails as they made the night. We had a cocktail flight which meant we were able to sample 4 cocktails along with our meal. I would strongly reco you try this as it was the perfect way to try drinks you might not order yourself! Fantastic night!!!

    (5)

  • P. K.

    This place was amazing. I met my friend here for a ladies' brunch and we were blown away. The food was incredible, the reuben was one of the best I had ever had and the donut with dulce du leche was superb. Loved my champagne cocktail as well! Also, thank god for a brunch spot with fantastic tea. That made a world of difference to me! The service was excellent too, we were seated at the bar and the bartender was great at giving recommendations. My friend is a big meat snob (also Brazilian) and said the steak she ordered was one of the best she had ever had in this city. Can't say enough nice things about this place, going back for my birthday brunch hopefully!

    (5)

  • Julia Z.

    Went there for dinner on a Friday night, food was well prepared and exquisite. I had goose liver pate for first course and trout for main course; both were tasty but I wish they had more seafood selections for main course. The chief seemed nice but our server felt cold compared to other restaurants of similar scale. We ordered the half bottle champagne but next time I will definitely go with their specialty drinks. Overall it was a very nice experience and I would come back again.

    (4)

  • Sean P.

    As if Craigie and Chef Maws need another gushing review. This place is simply the best. Maybe the best restaurant I've ever been to. The hostesses, servers, and bartenders are all top notch. Never had anything less than a fantastic time. The burger is orgasmic... cocktails are expertly shaken... and the vino is on point. Try the burger, the pigs tails, pretty much anything, and you'll fall in lust. Tony Maws is slowly climbing up my (short) man-crush list... Eddie Vedder, Tom Brady, Ben Harper, Tony Maws...

    (5)

  • Michael F.

    As a regular, I am a little biased - but its all around super... enjoy!

    (5)

  • Snowmade S.

    I've heard about this place from multiple people, and finally my two friends took me there. There are two sections of the restaurant - the more formal one and the bar area. We ate at the bar and the food was absolutely to die for! I've tried octopus more times than I can count, but this was definitely the best I ever had. For dessert we had a sheep's milk cheesecake with a pine nut crust, which was so delicious. All the staff is extremely friendly without exception. Their friendliness and the warm atmosphere of the place makes you want to come back there time and again.

    (5)

  • Shimi L.

    Ate here for Sunday brunch. Excellent! Started off with coffee and a fried doughnut in Dulce du Leche. Moved on to some creamy grits with shrimp and lobster sauce as my entree. Also tasted some of the corned beef hash and lox bagel entrees, all so good! Ended with pannacotta, just fabulous. To top it all off, sat "ringside" and watched all the dishes being created, we had a blast!

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    Excellent all around! Eat here, you won't be sorry you did. Top notch food, impeccable service, warm & welcoming atmosphere. Have the smelts with squid ink sauce as a starter.

    (5)

  • Vijay I.

    Great food (not cheap)

    (5)

  • Katia V.

    If you live anywhere near Cambridge, love food and have not been to Cragie On Main, do yourself a favor! The ambiance is buzzing with customers excited to experience the menu and it does not disappoint! Don't miss the octopus, the bone marrow, the burger and the brussels (in duck fat!). And of course, don't miss the cocktails...I loved the 3-2-1! Servers are great too! Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Lindsay N.

    I love this place. Consider eating at the bar - so fun to watch the most expert bartenders mix up drinks. They're super friendly too. I find the food a little too fancy for my taste - something that is wrong with me, not them. It is truly impressive. They take perfectionism to a whole new level. Excellent service.

    (5)

  • Nancy S.

    We must have gone on a bad night. They seated us about 15 minutes late despite having a reservation. The pig's head was extremely fatty. Something we ate, we think it might have been the Pate, made the whole table sick for a day. Even the steak was just ok.

    (1)

  • patty b.

    we went on opening night with no reservation and actually scored quite a nice little table in the bar area. the place was buzzing yet the staff seemed as enthusiastic, calm, and professional as i remember from craigie st. bistrot. the drinks were great and the food, though it took a very long time to arrive, was wonderful. i suspect if i go back, this time with a reservation, on a night other than opening night, i will likely have an even better experience. i think they've done wonders with the old la groceria location. i will miss the old quirky craigie, though...

    (4)

  • Rachel R.

    Unbelievable. There's not much more to say. Excellent service, lovely atmosphere, amazing food. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary here in December. We enjoyed the ten course tasting menu and a fantastic bottle of wine... and spent soooooo much money. I couldn't have been more pleased and every penny was worth it. I would absolutely go back.

    (5)

  • Elle J.

    Outstanding!! The food was to die for and the service was excellent. It's pricey but worth it! Great for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Peter W.

    We returned to Craigie on Main for a birthday celebration and decided to go all the way with the Eight tasting with Pig Head option. Fantastic dishes: Appetizer (bite each of Uni, Monk Fish Liver, and Sardine), scallop with refreshing sauce, slow roasted tasmanian fish, grilled cheese with mushroom and squash bisque, braised mixture with egg on top, whole wheat pasta with ham, Pig head with pancakes, Vermouth gelatin, Cheesecake, Coconut espresso, Mexican Hot chocolate, and Almond cluster. Drinks - Cabernet by the glass and Bourbon Manhattans. Over 3 hr to finish :)

    (5)

  • Yiwen G.

    I have been here three times, tried vegetarian tasting menu and regular tasting menu, i can only say it is good, but not outstanding, didn't give me any surprise....

    (4)

  • Anna I.

    We had wanted to go to Craigie on the Main in search of their tasty burger that is available in the bar area (only 18 served a night). But alas, we could not get one. But I want to first say their service and hostess were top notch. They were very accommodating and understanding why we wanted to get a burger. In the end, we just barely missed getting the last one. So we still got some apps before leaving. My sis had heard that the pig's tail was delicious. Well we ended up getting two orders of it! It was perfectly fried and very flavorful. The other item was a charcuterie plate. I remember thing everything was tasty and I wish there was more to eat. All the stuff accompanying the meats-pickled onions, mustard etc were delicious. We need to go back again to get our hands on that infamous burger! Totally worth a trip back there again!

    (4)

  • Lynne T.

    Very good, in general. On this date, however, the flavors seemed a bit too concentrated and salty. The Salmon poached in olive oil was likely unnecessary as it was like eating a salmon terrine rather than salmon itself. The vegetarian potato galette with roasted vegetables was delicious. Cramped and noisy as we sat next to a long table of 12. I would go back again, though would wait a time as their small menu is limited.

    (4)

  • Lauren H.

    #16 of 52 in 2014. There is a lot of hype about this place, so we had to try it. It felt very much like a lot of the other new, trendy restaurants I've been to lately in boston. Smart looking wait staff. Artisan cocktails. Pork belly. And the food was good. I guess I just wasn't totally wowed by anything in particular.

    (3)

  • S E.

    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.

    (4)

  • Philip H.

    25,000 calorie Pig's Head? If having the pork rib and belly at Rialto for dinner on Friday and bacon for breakfast on Saturday wasn't enough, my wife and another couple decided to have some Pig Tails and to share the Pig's Head at Craigie on Sunday for dinner. We didn't have reservations, but since I only live a few blocks away from this epic establishment, it wasn't much of a detour to see if there were any seats available at 5:30 PM. We got lucky as there happened to be a cancellation for a 4-person table in the bar area. I didn't feel super lucky though, seeing that the restaurant was two-thirds empty. I later realized that most of the tables were allocated for later reservations and by the time our appetizers came, the house was packed! I should mention that we got the corner table in the bar area by the wall closest to the receptionist at the front door. There was draft coming from the ceiling A/C that made the corner seat cold. Fortunately, Craigie's staff brought our ladies cashmere shawls to keep them warm! Dang! Taking the details of customer service to another level. Since we had lunch only 4 hours ago, we only ordered the pigtails, Craigie Burger, and the Pig's Head. They service Iggy's bread, Francese, which is their mild sourdough to be exact! I love Iggy's Francese with butter, so we had about 2 baskets of that before the app came. We started off with the pigtails. The average person would find the sound of these to be REPULSIVE sounding and I had my doubts, but the candid-sounding assurance of the waitress, "people will fight for the last one," took care of any doubts I had. When the pigtails arrived, they looked like wonderfully browned/crispy pieces of pork. The closest reference I have visually is the crispy pork at Latino shops. The pigtails had a perfect balance of marinade, meat, fat, and tendon. To properly enjoy the pigtails, one must use a combination of fingers, nibbling, and sucking. Absolutely messy and labor-intensive (like eating Jamaican oxtail from the bone), but absolutely delicious and rewarding when you can suck off the pigtail yumminess under the arches and cavities of the pigtail cartilage and between the joints. Each person at our table got their hands dirty and I was so proud of us 4. After our yummy pigtails, our Pig Head and Craigie Burger arrived. The pig's head was actually only 1/2 the head, basically 1 side of the profile, eyeball, cheeks, and teeth in tact (no tongue from what I could see of the roasted beast). The pig's head was served Peking Duck Style with the thin, pancake wrapper, hoisin sauce variant, and an orange slaw. They say it's a pig's head for 2, but I cannot see how 2 people could finish this thing. I'm estimating about 25,000 calories total alone for the pig's head. The taste of the facial meat in the eye sockets, around the ears, cheeks, chin, nose, forehead were all of surpremo quality. Super soft and tender like it had been slow-cooked for a day. The challenge was to figure out how much of the fat to eat. There was so much blubber surrounding each piece of meat. It felt wasteful to trash the blubber give this was a $70 head, but soooooo much blubber, like at least 15,000 calories in fat alone. As believers of eating the whole animal and not wasting any bit of the meal, we tried to eat as much of the fat and skin as possible, but to put it bluntly, my mouth and stomach was coated in pork fat about 75% of the way through the Pig Head. My beer couldn't wash it down anymore. Conclusion: don't try to finish all the blubber! The Craigie Burger was the redemption burger for me. I had a failed burger from Craigie the first time I came about 2 years ago. Perhaps, this was during the blowup period, when the burger was wildly popular and Tony Maws was getting his meat from an inferior meat supplier instead of Hardwick feef, his typical supplier. Speculation aside, I was ready for Rev 2.0, so I could compare it with Radius, Sel De La Terre, Garden, Porter's and other gourmet burgers of Boston. I found it to be amazing and redemptive, but not as amazing as the Radius burger. Equal portions of short rib, flap meat, and brisket with 15% suet and bone marrow to balance out the leanness of the meat formula. Perhaps, it was the pig tails as an appetizer that spoiled it for me. Next time, I'll have to have the burger as a stand alone meal to get a more accurate assessment. The Craigie experience was phenomenal as everyone makes it out to be. The pig's head could be a 5 star meal, but just don't try to eat all the blubber as we did! I'll be back for the 10 course tasting menu next time!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth S.

    Craigie on Main is one of the places I have wanted to try for a really long time. Then again, part of me never even wanted to step food inside. After all the good things I had heard over the years, I had a feeling I was going to fall in love and always need to go back for more. Bone marrow, pigs tails, burger, wine selection - all fantastic. Our server was excellent and not pushy at all. Nicest part might have been the complimentary dessert sent over since we were celebrating a birthday. Everything was so nice and being there made me very happy. And now, of course, I need to go back for more.

    (5)

  • Carla K.

    One of the best meals of my life. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Shani T.

    Let me tell you, I'm all about riding the hype train. When I found out about the burger at Craigie, I knew I had to try it. As a quick primer for anyone who is not aware, Craigie serves 18 of their off-the-menu burgers every night. The 8 oz grass-fed patty is made of three different cuts of beef with bone marrow and suet, seasoned with dehydrated miso, and served on a homemade bun with mace ketchup, lettuce and onions cooked in the beef juices, and a slice of yellow tomato. Our group of three got to Craigie at 5PM thanks to my persistent nagging and we were successfully the first ones in line. While waiting for the doors to open, I did some reading on the burger to kill time and by the time we were let in at 5:30PM, I felt slightly bad for coming just for the burger (Eater article that I read, for reference: boston.eater.com/2015/4/… ) Regardless of my slight guilt, our group of three was graciously let in and I made what, at the time, seemed like a grave mistake of telling the hostess that we wanted to sit in the bar area (instead of just sitting at the bar). I then proceeded to freak out as the 11 other people (yes I counted) who were lined up behind me filled all the bar seats as we stood to the side waiting for our table to be set up. There was no way I just waited 30 minutes to not get a burger--nuh uh. I would've moved heaven and earth for the burger at that point. We got seated shortly after my mini panic attack and our waiter was swift to take our order. We said we were interested in the burger and he told us he'd put in a hold order for us, but strongly urged us to look at the actual menu. We did, but didn't end up getting anything else (this coupled with that Eater article caused me to feel even more guilt). I ordered a Hotel Street Punch, which came out quickly and was very strong and very delicious. The service at Craigie is absolutely amazing. Our water glasses were never more than half empty before someone came over to refill our glasses (mind you, the bottle of still water was on our table and we would've happily refilled the glasses ourselves). The attentiveness of the wait staff is beyond anything I expected. We didn't need to wait long for our burgers, and despite being seated after everyone at the bar, we got our food first (perks of being seated, perhaps?). So on to the burger! The burger, in complete honesty, lived up to all the hype. The ingredients tasted so fresh--the salad served on the side was delicious and I don't even like salad. The patty was perfectly seasoned, incredibly juicy, and cooked to a nice medium rare. This was literally the most flavorful burger patty I've experienced. The mace ketchup added a nice kick as well, and I'm a sucker for yellow tomatoes so that sold me completely. I do have to admit that the burger is so dense with flavor that I had trouble finishing the last bite or so. I was very grateful for both the side salad and the amazing home fries that came with, as they balanced out the burger when the flavor felt overwhelming. By 6PM, the burgers were sold out, so definitely get here early if you're looking to try the burger. You must sit at the bar or at the bar side of the restaurant to order the burger. At $18 per burger, this was definitely the most I've ever paid for a burger, but the first time experience was well worth both the price and the wait. I don't think I would come back frequently due to both these points, but if I were looking to treat myself to a high-quality burger, Craigie would be it. Now go forth, young padawan, and experience the burger at Craigie on Main for yourself!

    (5)

  • Wilma O.

    I was here for the prix fixe - an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $67. The items were all innovative and mostly delicious, although the service took forever (especially in the beginning with ordering) - it ended up being a 3.5 hour business dinner where the people ran out of steam before the food! - Little taste - I'm not sure if this is a regular tradition, but the chef gave us a little experimental taste (mine was prosciutto on a fried pork something). It was tasty and I always enjoy those little culinary surprises. - Squid ink pasta - amazing! The flavors are wonderful and the razor clam is a nice touch. - Stuffed chicken - the texture of the chicken was wonderful and tender, but the stuffing and sauce didn't have great depth to it. - Chocolate foie gras mousse - this was delicious and the foie gras added good creaminess to the mousse without adding liverness. That being said, I would have liked to see more unique options beyond the obvious mousses and fruit tarts in every other fancy restaurant. The waitress also had good wine recommendations that matched the food well. Overall, this is delicious food and this place is famous for a reason. But some little aspects of the food or speed of the service could be improved a little.

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    Fresh from Yelp's Burger Binge Week in Seattle and Chicago, KL and I embarked on a mission to find the best burger in Boston. Craigie on Main was recommended to me by a friend of a friend, and it was a recommendation not to be missed. The burger isn't on the menu, but may be requested as an entree. CoM only makes 18 burgers each night, so arrive early for this well-crafted burger. We started the night with booth seating near the bar, and were given the choice of sparkling (complimentary) and still water. Water service was on-point, and our glasses were consistently refreshed. KL and I ordered the burger, but were encouraged to look at the menu. We opted to try the octopus (octopus with KL is a trend), and weren't as impressed with the appetizer. The octopus was done too well, and we missed the tender and flakiness of the octopus meat. The burger, though, was on point and stole the show. KL and I have had the single burger at Au Cheval, which Bon Appetit named the best burger in America. I have had the burger three times in a two week period. Its good, it really is, but CoM does their own thing and its more to my liking than Au Cheval. KL tacked on a fried egg and thin and crispy bacon. The burger comes with a thick slab of meat patty, the freshness of which is indisputable. There is a side of greens and potato wedges, with chives. Yes, chives. Boston loves their chives. There are three sauce/side accouterments, including pickles, that are served separately and are replenishable (like Korean BBQ). In addition, we received a complimentary ham and trout belly "taste." Loved the trout belly, and KL loved her ham. Its like they knew which one of us would go for what taste. Overall, this burger is Boston's best. Its fresh, juicy, tender, and meaty, but its also flavorful, and that makes it stand out.

    (4)

  • Wilma D.

    For some reason, I really wanted this place to have a hearty, old-timey pub feel with candlelight and a convivial atmosphere. I think it's the name. It sounds like a place in the heart of an old town that has worn floorboards and has been passed down in the family. The "ie" at the end of "Craig" really hammers that home. Dudes with names that end the same way most pet names do (aww, you're a cute little cheffie, you are!) really know how to have a good time. OR so I thought. Leave it to Boston to take a place with an adorable pub-by name and make it very modern, very overpriced and rather pretentious. Oh, Boston *sighs*. If you want to try to get your date to drop their Chanel panties, or prove to your yachting Uncle that the time spent at Harvard really did help you find your truth, then by all means come here. Remember to wear your cardigan, preferably in a pastel shade. But for people who consider themselves more "white-ish" than "thoroughbred WASP", the groove here may not be your style. Also for mere mortals the check here is hefty. Baby elephant hefty. Entrée prices hover near 40 bucks a plate, apps almost 20, and desserts around 12 bucks. THE FOOD: Meh. Good, I guess. The chef clearly cares and is a bit whacky. The kitchen tries some stuff it can't really pull off, but that's better than not trying. What I had: Trio of Amuse bouche (free)-Yay, free food! But tiny doll-sized free food. Forgot what they were, mainly tasted fishy. We get it Craigie, you're fancy. Crispy-Fried Essex Clams with preserved lemon, pickled peppers, dried black olive, squid ink anchoïade ($18) The sauce with the fried clams had squid ink, which translated to a dot of intimidatingly black, almost bloody tasting (like if you've had pig's blood in a sauce, that deep umami iron-heavy taste) aioli. It was unusual, not bad, but not truly satisfying. I didn't feel like I was indulging so much as spelunking in a murky cave of tastebud confusion. Date and Chicken Sausage-Stuffed Chicken with spiced yogurt, pea tendrils, pea hummus, chermoula($38) It's one thing to kill a chicken because it's tasty. But then to stuff its sad lifeless carcass with the ground body of another of its feathered friends just seems a bit....rude. It was ultimately an overrated dish. After hearing Boston natives foam at the mouth while talking about it I expected orgasms. But it was not the juiciest chicken I've had. And for almost 40 bucks that needed to be one heck of a better buttered beautiful bird. Char ($38)-Tasted salmon-like to me. Delicately prepared, I liked the dill, and presentation. Pavlova with Strawberry Consommé raspberries, goat's milk tapioca, tarragon ice cream ($11)-Favorite dish of the night. Well plated, good colors, and the tapioca provided a nice texture contrast with the merengue and tarragon ice cream. It tasted like a summer dessert should. I should note though that the pastry chef here clearly likes playing with savory flavors in desserts, which can be wildly unsuccessful sometimes (see below). Asparagus and white chocolate malted Milk Shake ($13)-I ordered this to see if they could pull it off. And the answer was no. Not really their fault though. The best case scenario of putting asparagus in a milkshake is the sugar bludgeons the asparagus to the point you can't taste it. Otherwise, it just tastes like you tried to sneak more greens into your three year old's diet somewhere and in a fit of desperation you liquefied it. In conclusion, all I learned from this is try as you might to make asparagus a dessert, it's not a dessert. Don't put asparagus in a milkshake y'all. Points for creativity though?

    (2)

  • Tanya Y.

    So, we came back. Our second experience made up for the first disappointing one. Craigie definitely redeemed themselves. This time, we decided to take a chance and walked in without reservations. We also made it a point to arrive earlier, in hopes to be served the better options as soon as Chef's Whim started at 9:00pm. We didn't care to be seated at Chef's Table anymore and were seated in a side room at a table near the bar. We opted for the 6 course Chef's Whim tasting and were given a basket of rolls (which were still relatively hard) and softened butter to eat while waiting. The courses offered are as follows: Amuse Bouche: Wiley oyster, charred blood orange Course 1: Pastrami style sea trout over a horseradish cream Course 2: Striped bass with manilla clam, razor clam, broccoli rabe, and cauliflower Course 3: Veloute of macomber turnip, squid ink breadcrumbs, chorizo, and sweetbread Course 4: Pork 2 ways: Sausage and porcetta, served w/broccoli rabe, fingered potatoes, and apricot glaze Pre-Dessert: Pear and champagne sorbet with ginger meringue and tapioca Course 5a: Apple fritters with apple jam and a maple bourbon ice cream Course 5b: Salted chocolate mouse with coffee ice cream and coffee crumble High points: - Sea trout infused pastrami flavor? Super good - Razor clams are awesome. - Give me more of that apricot glaze! Put it on anything to make it taste bomb. - I could eat the pear and champagne dessert all day, every day. Perfect. - The ability to have two options for dessert is a plus. (PS: Apple Fritters are the best out of the two!) - Service, as was the first time, was stellar. We were described everything we were being served, our glasses always remained full, and we were given different utensils and place settings with the change of a course. - Love the unique ingredients and having the chance to try something I typically wouldn't choose for myself. Low Points: - The striped bass dish was a little salty - The charred taste was unpleasant for the oyster and could have used more citrus notes. Lowest Point: Craigie counts an amuse bouche and pre-dessert as one course. Might as well call it a 5 course Chef's Whim instead. Definitely a bit deceiving. Overall, we left full and happier than our first time here. I'm happy we were able to give Craigie a second chance and had a much better unique culinary experience,

    (4)

  • Tuli S.

    The burger is amazing. Every single burger you eat the future will fall short. This is kind of a problem..but you can always come back to cragie! I've also had the apple fritter dessert. I'm not sure what the name was but they were delicious donut like puffs full of apple and it came with ice cream. I'm planning on trying the Chef's Whim soon!

    (5)

  • Madame T.

    Great food, experience. Welcoming ambiance. A fun, bustling place. Open kitchen, great to watch the action from a counter seat. Jesse the waiter was very helpful and informative. Lovely amuse bouches before meal & sweet surprise tastes at the end. Each dish was unique with fresh ingredients. I had the matzo pasta with boudin noir and a vegetarian entree with baby carrots & camargue red rice. Dessert was roasted blueberry parfait with an interesting herb gelato.

    (5)

  • Vicky H.

    3 course Sunday brunch was pretty delicious. Portion size was good. The place was completely booked. The waiter was cool. He came to check on us a few times. Lots of staff members around, anticipating the crowd. There were a couple of times where food was auctioned and the waiter got a little upset at them because he placed the food with the wrong person. Meredith, Tony Maw's (owner of Kirkland Tap and Trotter) wife was very nice and pleasant with a bubbly personality. We had some special needs with the kids (no gluten and non dairy) and the chef was accommodating and may variations of the same foods so the girls could eat too. Mainly, the first course of granola topped with fresh foods and nuts instead of yogurt, second course - no cheese on the burger, and no buns, and 3rd course - one generous scoop each of 3 different sorbets instead of either chocolate decadence cake with white chocolate ice cream or the panna cotta. I had the pork belly fried in batter with eggs sunny side up and pigeon peas. What a beauty that was. Tasted great. Batter was light and brown. The peas were rich and wonderfully a complied with the eggs. Normally I'm not huge on eggs sunny side up but this was great! The yolk was cooked just about half way so it wasn't too runny. My sister had the Smoked Capon and chicken sausage. Amazing dish. Tasty and rich. My brother in law has the local grass fed beef burger with steak fries. I also had the panna cotta and I have to say that it wasn't the best I've had. It was very good but it could be just a to at less liquid would make it perfect. I also tasted my sister's chocolate decadence cake. I was jealous. Positive experience. Great atmosphere. Surprisingly wasn't too hard to find parking either (probably because students aren't back yet and it was New Year's Day). Either way, had a great time with family and that's all that matters.

    (4)

  • Sophia N.

    O.M.G. - I died and went to heaven. One of my top 10 meals of all time, ALL TIME. I came here for my birthday and everyone from the host to the server made a point to make my experience extra special. I got the six course tasting menu with wine pairing and my only regret is that I didn't get the eight course tasting menu instead. I started my evening with a monkfish liver pate and salmon roe amuse bouche, followed by red snapper sashimi with a beet, watermelon radish, and grapefruit salad. Then Spanish duran a la plancha with oyster broth and chestnut flour pasta with ragu and parm. The dessert was absolutely to die for. The almond ice cream with cranberry orange blossom and toasted almonds was not too sweet and had delicious roasted almond flavor. It tasted like a Chinese almond cookie. The wines were perfectly paired. I'm not sure I loved the wines by themselves but with the food, it was absolutely phenomenal. One of the priciest meals I've had to date but on Sunday evenings after 9, the tasting menu is chef's whim. I am most definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • Lyndsey C.

    Definitely pricey but everything we had was delicious. Drinks, food, service... all excellent (until dessert... I didn't enjoy this course as much but it was just because I wasn't into their choices for me as much). We did the 6 course tasting and it really was fresh and great! Service is always a highlight.

    (4)

  • Kevin J.

    Food: 4 Stars Service: 4 Stars I've only been to Craigie for their late night menu so I can't speak for the tasting menu and sit down dining experience. My girlfriend and I wanted to drop by for desserts and took a seat at the bar to do so. This was later in the evening (around 10 or 11) so apparently there was a late night menu being offered at the bar which included small plates so we thought we might as well have some! I ordered the Funky Bone which was a very unique dish where you could taste the bone marrow. And she ordered the tomato toast which was crunchy and delicious as well. Afterwards, we got the panna cotta which was quite nice, but didn't match up to the two tapas we got. In addition, we were offered complimentary bread and butter which was delicious. Definitely a steal in terms of value and glad we got to also try some of their food items. Next time we'll be back for the actual tasting menu!

    (4)

  • Sophie P.

    CRAIGIE BURGER REVIEW -------------------------------- I came here promptly at 5:20, waiting for the doors to open at 5:30, to be able to eat the Craigie burger that is so praised on Yelp. They only offer 18 burgers each night! We were sat at a beautiful booth table that sat two people and overlooked the bar and dining area. The service was prompt and attentive, and we had multiple servers throughout the night. Overall, it was a great dining experience and we never felt like servers were too attentive or lacking throughout the night - it was the perfect balance. FOOD + SPANISH OCTOPUS A LA PLANCHA: The octopus was cooked very well, with very fat pieces of octopus. The eggplant puree complemented the chewiness of the octopus very well. - CABBAGE, FRISEE, PISTACHIO SALAD: The thing I most enjoyed about this salad was the pistachio. The cabbage was very soggy; it must have been boiled for too long. I would not order this dish again. - BURGER: This is what we came here for, the burger. The patty was very thick, and we got it cooked medium rare. However, the patty was definitely over seasoned and peppered, because the saltiness of the patty overpowered everything else in the burger, from the buns to the cheese and little greens in the burger. It was a great size, but the balance of flavors did not work well. Also, the potato wedges varied from under cooked, overcooked and burnt, to some well cooked pieces. Overall, the potato wedges were nothing special, even with their house made ketchup and pickles. I am disappointed to say that this was not the best burger I have ever had, and I will probably not return to pay over $30 for this burger.

    (3)

  • Lillian C.

    I came here strictly for the burger... We got here right when they opened for dinner and was quickly seated at the bar. I ordered the burger and I think right after we put in our order they were out of burgers for the night. So be sure to come early if you want to get the burger! The service was nice - the bartender checked up on us often and was quick to refill our drinks! Now on to the burgers... they were so delicious! The patty was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. It's also huge! I think I ate half of it and was full... The large potato wedges were also seasoned well... Even though they were thick, they were still cooked well. The burger was delicious and I would come back if I was in the area!

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    I have now been to Craigie over a dozen times in the last few years and thought it was time for an update to my review. I have now been here for numerous meals at the bar (my favorite place to grab a seat), brunches (which. as of this writing they are moving to their sister restaurant Kirkland), and a tasting menu in their formal dining area. I do prefer dining in their bar area because I'm usually not in the mood for a big tasting menu and its less formal with more of a cocktail bar feel. The dining area where the tasting menu is ordered is white tablecloth but not overly formal. They also have a 4 top bar that overlooks the kitchen. The kitchen definitely has a "Masterchef" and military-like efficiency to it, these guys are very talented. The Burger - Not much to say about this burger that hasn't been said. Not only is it one of the best in Boston, it's one of the best burgers in America. My only criticism is the homemade ketchup. Maybe I'm a peasant but I prefer Heinz. Everything else is perfection. You can only order these at the bar area and they have a limited number daily so go early. Roasted Chicken - One of the best preparation of chicken I have ever had. Often I will think chicken is a boring menu pick, but not here. On my visit it was prepared 3 ways on the place. Bone Marrow - My first experience with bone marrow was at Craigie so don't be afraid. It spreads on bread like butter and is similar in a lot of ways. It came flavored with garlic and other spices. A must get item. House made doughnut - As of this writing this menu item will have retired along with their brunch. It was pretty amazing, the last time I had it, it was topped with caramelized goats milk. Sorbets - Pretty standard but they usually have an interesting trio of flavors. Great palette cleanser at the end of the meal.

    (5)

  • Laura K.

    This review is for a cocktail and dessert only. Popped in after a late dinner and sat at the bar. I had a rhubarb tequila cocktail. I don't remember what all was in it expect the awesomeness. Seriously good. The dessert was insane! It was a strawberry consume with tarragon ice cream, tapioca, a giant pavlova. It was creative, beautiful and above all tasty I would love to eat a meal here. I can see why it's a hot ticket.

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    This is the best meal that I have EVER had. I took my boyfriend here for his 30th birthday. We opted to do the 3 course meal although I believe they also have a 6 course, and then they have a chefs tasting menu. As a nurse, I can't afford myself fine dining on a regular basis, in fact, I have never seen the point....but we knew we wanted to try this place and had heard good things. I can say that I have never had better service in my life. They were attentive but not intrusive. We were able to have a nice intimate dinner. We started with a salad and crispy pigs tails. I am so glad I braved the concept, because they were SO GOOD. For dinner my boyfriend had the steak, and I had the diver scallops. Portions were small, but I definitely realized that this is the first time that I have ever had Scallops cooked correctly. They were delicious. I can't remember what we had for dessert, because I was so preoccupied with the fact that I had 45 people waiting at our house to surprise my boyfriend. I can tell you though, that we are going back to sit at the bar for my birthday. We can't wait to try the burger and have some more pig tails. This is definitely a special restaurant, and I suggest it to anyone who is celebrating or wants a night out. Oh also great beer selection and excellent mixology with cocktail!

    (5)

  • Ngan T.

    This update is long overdue. We were here about 3 weeks ago and everything about craigie blew me away. We were seated immediately upon arrival where I (of course) checked into Yelp. Our waitress walked right over, and immediately apologized about our first experience here. She understood that we loved everything about craigie except for the excruciatingly long wait. Dinner service was stellar. The manfriend and I were each served a different amuse bouche which were fitting of our apps. We ended up trading since he wasn't a fan of octopus (shhhhh don't tell anyone). The oysters were fantastic, and the foie gras were both fantastic. Manfriend was envious of my choice for foie gras..definitely get that if it's available. Unfortunately we missed out on the burger again but the sous vide salmon was AMAZING, and manfriend loved his bleeding steak. The reminder that we were at a restaurant with tablecloths was the only thing that kept us from licking our plates. Dessert was my turn to be jealous. I did not go for the fritter recommendation a chose the pain perdue--delicious but the fritters were SO bomb. Our waitress came over before we left and again apologized, told us she never forgets a face, and that she looked forward to seeing us again. It wasn't a presumptuous statement. We WILL be back :)

    (5)

  • Yuan J.

    I came here for Craigie's version of Dine Out Boston on a Thursday night. No surprise, Craigie still remains my favorite restaurant in Boston. I opted for the 6-course tasting menu ("Chef's Whim), and had: 1. Pork Belly Tartine with frisee and beet puree 2. Shrimp with scallions, hazelnuts, and blood orange puree 3. Dover sole with vanilla clams, pea greens, and barley risotto 4. Veloute with chorizo, turnip, maitake mushroom, kale, and chili oil crumbs 5. Braised beef short rib with red wine sauce and forked potatoes 6. Chocolate Decadence Cake with ice cream Everything on the tasting menu was delicious and cooked to the perfection, and my two favorites were the dover sole and the soup. Will definitely be coming back soon! :)

    (5)

  • Steph C.

    LOOOOOVE! Been wanting to try this place for a LONG time, now. When I say long, I mean a few years. Haha. Why oh WHY did I wait so long? It was really a great experience. When I went with my bf, it was during Passover so they featured a Passover menu. Yum! My bf is Jewish and we really were looking forward to trying the chef's take on all the faves he had growing up. First of all, atmosphere is great. It has a casual feel to it, over all, which I really enjoyed. There is an open kitchen and we were initially offered seats at the "bar" to see the kitchen in action, but we decided to be a little more intimate for our first experience there. Next time, though!! Drinks were good, mine was great. I don't remember what it was called but it was really yummy. The food. Oh the food. YUM. We couldn't decide so we decided to do the 6 course tasting. Everything was spectacular !!!!! The food was done so well, I don't even know how to review it. Everything was cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly and I had a disco party in my mouth. My faves were (everything).... Green pea hummus, matzo pasta with braised veal (!!!!!) and the salted chocolate mousse dessert. I am already dreaming of my next visit..... I want to live there!!!!

    (5)

  • Rachel R.

    Came here with my dad for a late dinner on a Friday night. I live nearby and have been dying to try this place for ages but since I am what might politely be called "economically challenged" I wanted to save it for a special occasion. My dad had also seen this place when the make-a-dish-inspired-by-a-great-work-of-New-­England-literature challenge was held here on Top Chef, so he was basically just as excited as I was. We had a 10:00 reservation but arrived around 9:15, figuring we could have a few drinks at the bar, but the hostess told us it was good we arrived so early, as the restaurant was quite crowded. She made it sound like we were going to have to wait for hours, but we hadn't even finished our first round of cocktails (the Hotel Street Punch for me, and the Mellow Yellow for my dad, both very good) when we were seated at a nice table near the bar. In lieu of doing the tasting menu we decided to try a few different things. We started with the fried Essex clams, the crispy pig's tails, and the raw oysters. They were all incredible--the oysters fresh and briny, the clams plump and crispy with a tasty squid ink-based sauce on the side. And the pig's tails? Absolutely divine--almost like eating ribs, full of porky flavors with alternating crispy and tender bits. Then for an entree, we decided to split the pig's head. We had pig's head a couple months earlier at the Greenhouse Tavern in Cleveland, where the head was prepared like a barbecue, but at Craigie on Main it is prepared Peking-duck style, with a crunchy bright-pink skin, served with pancakes, pumpkin sambal, and boudin noir hoisin sauce. It was absolutely incredible, and to me far surpassed Greenhouse Tavern's also-excellent preparation. It was like the best of a banh mi-meets-Peking-duck, with the fattiness of the pig's head perfectly contrasted with the fresh, crunchy sambal and the slightly-sweet hoisin. I highly recommend it, though it does require a certain willingness to not be squeamish as it really does look like a head (a very drunk woman at the bar leaned over to us and exclaimed 'WHAT THE HELL IS THAT????') and the eye is still included in the mandible. The way I see it, it's no different in terms of product than what you get shrinkwrapped at the store, and I enjoyed every minute of it. A flawless meal from start to finish. Service was prompt and considerate. I would come back in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • Lucy Y.

    An early dinner reservation was a must, so that we could ensure the availability of the most spectacular dish on the menu: Confit of Milk-Fed Pig's Head - half a suckling pig's head, gorgeous browned & crispy skin, with a layer of unctuous fat, & then tender pork (& then bone, & TEETH!). Served with a lightly nuoc mam-tasting dressed salad of bean sprouts, shredded kabocha squash, & cilantro, hoisin sauce & freshly house-made tortillas for making into your own piggy soft tacos. Yum! I admit that peeling back the face & seeing teeth threw me a bit, even more than seeing the eyeball come out of the socket as it clung to the skin. The face took about 45 minutes to prepare, so we tried the Pig Tails as an appetizer first. Served in pieces like wings, to be eaten with your fingers, & dipped in the vinegary nuoc mam sauce. A fluff of super thin onion strings topped the tails & cilantro leaves were the perfect garnish. Yum! After a porky meal like this, the only dessert I could handle was a digestif. Fernet did the trick tonight, cutting through all the porky fat & settling my tummy. Though their 3-course, 6-course & 8-course tasting menus looked tempting, & you could choose the pig face as an entree, I cannot imagine having room to eat anything more than what I ate tonight. Do yourself a favor & get the tails & the face! Just don't look at the teeth underneath : /.

    (5)

  • Marilyn C.

    This was my third time at Craigie. My experience this time around was 5 star, but I can't say my other experiences have been as amazing so I am settling at 4. Came here the night of the blizzard for the chef's whim and had a fantastic meal. Started with a cocktail, a wonderfully bitter wintery punch, and a duck pate. Followed by clams, lamb 2 ways (one of the best dishes I have had at any restaurant in a long time) and a chocolate dessert with vanilla ice cream. My date got an apple fritter dessert - it was like they knew what each of us liked! Service was excellent. Never felt rushed - our server had great suggestions on wine and was very pleasant. It was a very nice meal. I think I've found my go to inclement weather restaurant. I also want to go back to try some of the other cocktails as there were a few interesting ones on the menu.

    (4)

  • Andrew R.

    I couldn't even last a whole year without returning. The fond memory of that night passes through my mind several times a month, especially when comparing other restaurants, though sometimes I just daydream about it. Anywho, we went back, but this time to try their apps and entrees. Holy guacamole, the octopus app was the best octopus I've ever had in my entire life without question. It was like some sort of better lobster...yeah. Grilled, charred, and tender, it was everything you'd want from a piece of meat. And them suckers didn't sucker me one bit. The other star was the squid ink pasta app. Extremely flavorful, that's all I can say about it because my fork was denied entry many times. The main courses were still great, but they were less stellar. Pork three ways and bluefish were pretty darn good, just not as good. For my money, I'd get two apps for the same price as one main course because the mains are more or less the same size. But oh man, I may be daydreaming about that octopus for another year.

    (5)

  • Ellie L.

    Amazing. Truly inspired food. You will leave fully satisfied and with much to talk about! The first time I came here, I had the 8 course tasting menu and it was phenomenal. I loved how each course had its own personality and was complex but not over powering such that you wouldn't have room for the rest of the courses. This review, though, is mostly about my most recent experience with the a la carte menu. 1. pig tails - asian flavored with surprisingly delicious and crispy onion rings. the pig tails themselves are finger-licking good, literally 2. whole wheat "shell" pasta - soooo good. I also enjoy a pasta that is rich but in a flavor way instead of a creamy way. This pasta was wonderfully savory and had a great variety of flavor notes 3. whole pig's head - the meat just falls off the bone. Also, even if you avoid the layer of fat, the meat underneath is still exceptional. The hoisin sauce and veggies on the side help to balance out the richness of the meat. The thin wrappers were also a perfect balance of texture. 4. strawberry rhubarb pavlova - I'm not a huge pavlova fan but this dessert was really fun. There were all sorts of different textures and I really liked the subtle but suiting tarragon flavor.

    (5)

  • April K.

    Overrated and overpriced. The bread that they served at the beginning was rock hard; my dad didn't even eat it because it was like chewing through a rock. I started off with the oysters and they were incredibly bland. They weren't the regular saltwater/lemon oysters. I am not sure how to describe them except that they were flavorless with a hint of parsley, and they were $3 a piece! I think the other appetizers that my family ordered were better (such as the mussels or the octopus). I got the steak for my entree and there was nothing memorable about it. My dad got the fish, and it was too salty/boring. The portions were small and left me starving. For a $500 meal (amongst the 5 of us), I would have expected something stellar. However, nothing about this restaurant made me wanting to come back for more.

    (2)

  • Jenny C.

    GET THE BURGER. I almost want to leave my review as just that but it doesn't do justice to the best burger that I've had of my life. They only serve 16 a night, so get there early. The beef is local, grass fed and mixed with miso and bone marrow for the most melt in your mouth flavors. They cook the meat perfectly, and it's served with house made ketchup. It's worth noting that their cocktails are divine and unique- sitting at the bar at craigie is always one of my favorite experiences. BUT SERIOUSLY, I HAVE DREAMS ABOUT THIS BURGER.

    (5)

  • Denise A.

    I've been here a couple times now and Craigie does not disappoint. Pricey as hell but so tasty. This is on my list as one of a few restaurants in Cambridge/Boston that really knows how to handle it's animal fat. The first time I came here, I ordered the prix fixe from the regular menu with some apps on the side. This was the first time I had ever tried bone marrow and I was left wanting more. They brought out what must have been 2 or 3 bones cleaved in half with the marrow glimmering under the understated lighting. I was there with three other friends but I probably ate more than my share of the marrow. Other stand outs from that evening were the orange beignets and the octopus. Last time, I came with the bf for a nice dinner out. We came ready to order the chef's tasting menu but took a peek at the a la carte menu instead...obviously looking for the bone marrow but we were severely tempted to share the confit milk-fed pig's head. I asked our waitress about the bone marrow and she said the kitchen had run out and didn't have enough to put it on the menu. That got me down a bit but not too much because we were definitely getting the tasting menu and I had just ordered a cocktail with bourbon in it. The makings of the best Sunday night ever. The tasting menu is lovingly crafted. It started with some lighter seafood fare working up to heavier sea food, pasta, duck, oxtail, and mushrooms. There isn't a wine pairing for the tasting menu but the staff is more than happy to recommend some. The featured wines-by-the-glass are supposed to go well with the meal but we decided we were happy with our cocktails to start. One of the lighter dishes included some oysters topped with roe and a light citrus sauce that really left an impression on me from how light and airy it felt. I very much enjoyed the warmth and heartiness of the the seasonal pasta with mushrooms featuring some local fungi that you don't see too often at restaurants. But, of course, the surprise was when our waitress brought out some glistening bone marrow with bread for us. I almost cried. Craigie knocks it out of the park in all areas. Consistently novel and delicious plates, fantastic service, a quaint ambiance, and a pretty killer cocktail menu to boot. Definitely one of my favorite fancy night out spots anywhere.

    (5)

  • Maia D.

    a perfect hearty brunch was had at craigie on main. no complaints here from the service to the food to the bill. we started with (and i don't recommend missing) the donut with cajeta (a thick carmel-y sauce) which was devoured in seconds. our main course of brunch was the grass-fed beef cheek and smoked beef tongue hash served with a soft egg and topped with delicate crispy onion rings. i was hesitant at first to order this dish only because i am not a huge fan of tongue or organ meats but our waitress assured us that the tongue was braised long enough that it was just melt in your mouth tender and not chewy or strong flavored. in the mood for heartier fare on a cooler fall day in which i was ever so slightly hung over, i decided to trust her guidance and was happy that i did. the meat was diced in small cubes (think hash) and was melt in your mouth as promised. i only wished there was more of it. the bloody mary that i washed it down with was also noteworthy. the burger (which is one of the things that craigie is known for) was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. it was also topped with an egg because isn't everything better with an egg these days? i felt like we couldn't come all this way to not have desert. we ended our meal with coffees and the sweet corn pannacotta with berry coulis, spiced blueberry sorbet and cornbread crumble. we were fighting over the last bite. nice cool, refreshing bites of sorbet and creamy pannacotta - perfect for ending our amazing meal. one of the other menu items that was recommended to me by the waitress were the shrimp and hominy. a house favorite and a dish the chef takes pride in making himself. reservations recommended - this place was packed on a sunday morning.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    We went their for mothers' day brunch. The restaurant is quite small, so every seat was crowded together. It was hard to get out my seat and went to the restroom. However, the service was good and food was delicious. Mango smoothie and granola yogurt were tasty but the portion was quit small. The breakfast basket included cinnamon roll, lemon poppy seed muffin and donuts. For moan dished, I had the lobster, scallop, shrimp, with corn grits. My mom had bacon rapped filet with two sunny eggs. The desert is too sweet for me. However, it was a great dinning experience overall.

    (5)

  • Carlo M.

    I'm giving 3 stars for the Chef's Whim 6 course tasting menu. The service and the atmosphere were actually pretty on point. I just thought that the tasting menu was off. I just felt if you have a tasting menu that you make up on the fly, then the big picture of the meal will be missed. Me and the wife had the meat, and vegetarian tasting menus. I knew there was something not right when we both got the same first course, but one had meat, and the other did not. That set the tone for the rest of the menu. The dishes were fine, I just felt that if you are going to have 2.5 hr 6 course tasting menu, each dish should be spot on. I would love to go another time, and try their regular menu.

    (3)

  • Sylvia C.

    We ran about 20 mins late for our Friday dinner reservation. Fortunately, they didn't cancel on us. Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by friendly hosts. Got our jackets checked in. With the open kitchen in the middle of the restaurant - one can't help but gaze over to see what dishes were going onto the line up and wonder will that be something I'll be having tonight. We decided to start off with a cocktail. None of the liquor was familiar to us. Our server, Emily, was kind enough to explain and recommend some drinks to us. We decided to try the full 8 course tasting menu (@ $118pp) and ordered 1.5 bottles of wine. We informed Emily of our dietary restrictions (1 pescatarian, 1 pescatarian+bird and 2 no restrictions). I'm the pescatarian+bird (eat all things that swims and flys). I would say the entree highlights for me were the cooked fish dishes (poached local cod and spanish grey). Both fishes were cooked to perfection - I never had such well cooked fish. The low lights were the back to back poached egg dishes (one would had made it memorable enough) and the dessert round (though interesting (i.e. basil seeds and tarragon ice cream) wasn't exactly what I would consider satisfying to the sweet tooth). The service was impeccable - Emily and other staff were attentive to us throughout the night without being instrusive to our dining experience and conversations. One of my girlfriends (bday girl) didn't like one of her course and they offered to give her something else. As a far-fetched attempt, my girlfriend asked if she can try the bone marrow and they agreed! At our request to help us remember what we for our courses - they printed our tasting menu for each of us to take home. When we were about to leave - Emily asked if she can get our jacket tickets so we won't have to wait long for them to retrieve our jackets. My only recommendation is adding moderately priced wines to the wine list - think most or all the bottles start from $100+. Given this was a special ocassion (we broke our piggy banks).

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    This is an excellent restaurant - and you pay for it. I had the six course tasting menu although they ended up giving us eight courses. They had several versions of the tasking menu - vegetarian, pescatarian, no-fish, no-red meat, and everything - and asked us if there was anything beyond that we would prefer not to try. Each course was interesting and tasty. The sashimi tuna and rabbit pasta were my favorites. They also have a great wine list, but the beer list is a bit limited. The wait staff was very knowledgeable about the food and wine. They worked well together as well. This is definitely a great restaurant for a special occasion or great meal.

    (5)

  • It's M.

    Completely over rated joint in my opinion! Wine, bread and coconut sorbet were very good.... Service was courteous and professional.... Burgers and fried clams were a real real disappointment.... I will definitely try to digest the $215 spent on this meal.... Not worth it!

    (2)

  • Amanda M.

    Absolutely amazing! I went here with a friend and did the 8 course tasting menu. Food: When you do the tasting menu all the food is chefs choice, so each course is a surprise. Some may find that a bit scary but I loved not knowing what was coming next and then getting to hear about each dish as it arrived. Each course paired well with the next. Everything tasted amazing and continued to get better and better as we went along. The ingredient were fresh, food was cooked perfectly, I could not have asked for a better meal. Service: The service here is impeccable. From the moment I walked in I felt welcomed, like I was part of their family for the night. We had several waiters as the night went on with Jesse being our main waiter. Each one was kind, polite and very knowledgeable about the food and wine we were having. Silverware was replaced between each course, water glass never went below half way and they even folded my napkin nicely when I left to go to the restroom. Everyone who came to our table was really fun to talk to and they really took the time speak with you. Not once did they just put the food down and run away. They took a few minutes to describe the dish and answer any questions we had. One thing that really impressed me was how well they all work together as a team. Our main waiter had asked us if we had any allergies and I told him I had allergies to certain fruits that were raw but if they are cooked it was fine. Later in the evening a different waiter brought us mango sorbet and made sure to tell me the mango had been cooked. It really impressed me that he made sure to share my allergies not only with the chef but with the rest of the wait staff. Ambiance: Very clean and classic, light music playing in the background. Open kitchen so you can watch the chefs as they work. Atmosphere was relaxed and easy to enjoy. I like that even though the food is so high-end you can wear jeans and still feel very welcome here. Over all this place is nothing short of amazing. Best meal and dining experience I have ever had. I will be sure to be back and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great night out with good food and excellent service. You will not be disappointed here.

    (5)

  • Lisa R.

    Ate here with my sister and her mister. We didn't have any reservations but were able to snag seats at the bar on a saturday at 5:30PM. The ambiance is suave and sexy. It is a great place for a date. Mellow yellow cocktail was good. It was fun to watch the bartender at work, but next time I would get a table near the kitchen so I could see the chefs do their magic. Complimentary bread was yummy as well as the amuse bouche. We shared the octopus appetizier, the pig's head, and a burger between the 3 of us. Overall, the food was executed really well. My favorite was the octopus grilled to perfection. The pig's head was saved peking style with pancakes, hoisin sauce, and sprouts and pumpkin sambal. I honestly didn't love the dish, but I admit I do not frequently eat pig's head so I have nothing to compare it to. I thought it was rather fatty and had little meat. Favorite part was the ear. I didn't like the hoisin sauce and their wasn't enough of the veggie accompaniment. The burger was nicely prepared, but to be frank I liked the side of fries more than the burger. Service was phenomenal and the experience of dining hear can't be beat. Complimetnary housemade peppermints were a great way to the end the meal.

    (4)

  • Joe S.

    Huge list of interesting cocktails, flavored with organic essential oil ... Tasty and delicious.... We took the fix menu .... The Burgundy wine was good octopus as my 1st plate ... One word:wow... I never taste it as good as here.... And the texture was perfect... Sole fish as my main course: a little bit disappointed... It's 3 bites exactly and they add some kind of stuffing that dominate the fish taste... Pain perdu for dessert... Be aware, nothing to do with the real original french pain perdu, but it was tasty and full of spices and flavors ... The waiter was amazingly nice and cute ... Guys, you better go with a full wallet !! especially if you wana taste cocktails in the begining followed by some French bottle of wine !!

    (4)

  • Connie L.

    This review is for brunch. i don't get the hype?? Shared the pork belly grilled cheese and hash dishes with a friend because we both wanted to try both and could not decide! We were hungry so we shared the chocolate donut and it was YUMMY! nice and warm. The main dishes though, were a little too greasy for me. the pork belly in the grilled cheese was literally all just a slab of fat. the cheese was good though. i did not like the potato wedges. The hash was pretty good! lots of flavor! it came with a piece of buttered bread. If I had the hash alone, it probably would have been fine, but that plus the grilled cheese .. was way too much grease. the little pickles that came on the side.. i devoured that in order to balance the heavy greasiness of the dishes. overall, it's SUPER cute inside and really good service. but i don't understand the hype. the food was just way too greasy and heavy for me.

    (3)

  • Cindy T.

    Some friends and I were looking for dinner and happened to stumble upon this place. And I'm so, so glad we did. They happened to seat us right away on a Saturday night since a reservation failed to show up. Score! The cocktails here was amazing! And the food was solid. I had the oysters with lemon foam for my appetizer and the pork three ways for my entree. Everything was so good, including dessert. Loved this place!

    (5)

  • Johnny S.

    I went here with a friend for my 31st birthday and was definitely very impressed by our whole experience. Experience is the best way to describe the culinary adventure my friend and I took. We ordered the 8 course "Craige on Main Experience"sampler. Every dish was a wonderful surprise-- full of flavor, just the right amount of heat and perfect sizing to enrich even the discerning palate. Every night the sampler changes-The highlight of the meal for me was the salmon--busting with flavor. The salmon slides into your mouth and you just want more and more of it. Every part of the meal was a joy. The service was beyond exceptional. The wait service was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about wines. We were waited on no less than 6 different people-- all ready to fill up our cups of water at less than a moments notice. I highly recommend this gem of a place. I only regret that it has taken me this long to discover this wonderfully inventive and friendly place. If you want an experience to remember look no other place than Craige on Main. I can't wait to return and make new memories.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Very well done, I had the burger, no need to photograph a meal

    (4)

  • Sam W.

    There is a phrase in my native country which means, "Oh dang, this is excellent food that I am eating," but I cannot remember it right now, nor the country to which I am referring. I have cast aside the shackles of my mortal frame, and surpassed time itself. I am adrift in the galactic void, illuminated by the pinpricks of a thousand distant amuse-bouche. Back when I had a mouth, I salivated at the supple texture of gently seared octopus served over black ink aioli. I gazed at egg-topped veal sweetbreads with eyes that had never witnessed galactic dawn. I sniffed - oh, how I sniffed! - the aroma of duckfat-roasted squash and zucchini. Have you ever dipped your head into the churning furnace of a neutron star and drank deeply? I am not saying that Craigie's Improved Whiskey Cocktail provides the same fermionic rush of energy, the same purity of light from the birth of the universe itself. I am simply implying it. Who was my Virgil on this, my last flavor pilgrimage before transcendence? She called herself... Olivia. I suspect that, like Bacchus arriving at a feast swaddled in robes to conceal his identity, she was actually an emissary from the Vault of Heaven, sent to observe our lowly plane and uplift us from dullness. She showed me the Way, and the Way involved salted caramel ice cream with almond nougat and a thin chocolate shell. The Chef's Counter, a primordial altar that was presumably dug up by an expedition to the lunar surface, offers a glimpse into the whirling waltz of the kitchen staff. They move like water in low gravity: turbulent with purpose, still with precision. They are the Watchers in the Night, the Stones at the End of the Road, the Mayors of Flavortown. Come join us, fledgling mind. We are everywhere and everything. But mostly we're at Craigie On Main, stuffing our simulacrums of faces. We're waiting for you.

    (5)

  • David C.

    I want to love Craigie, I really do, but after three meals there and only one that I'd actually recommend, I'm finding it hard to. My most recent disappointment involved dinner at the bar. My mother and I showed up early to snag a seat and try the famous Craigie burger, and things started promisingly enough. Our slightly aloof (perhaps too cool for school?) bartender had a deft hand with spirits and crafted us two delicious cocktails. Craigie being known for all things pork, we decided to go with the crispy fried pig's tails for an appetizer, and a rabbit hash with fall vegetables for good measure. The pig's tails were definitely a highlight (if a little difficult to eat), but the hash was bland and unmemorable. Onto the main course, my mom decided to skip the burger and try the cod. It was a wonderful piece of fish and beautifully prepared, but absurdly overpriced at $38. At $19 (plus $3 for bacon), my burger seemed like a steal...until I tried it, that is. Words cannot express my disappointment. I have heard the term "umami" thrown around to extol the virtues of Craigie's burger, but mine was (dare I say) bland. Not only that, it was medium rare bordering on rare, and falling apart. I honestly should have sent it back, but my mother and I have had to do that before at Craigie, and I was afraid our picture might end up on the wall. At this point, I think I'd only ever return to Craigie if it were on someone else's dime. I still have fond memories of the Chef's Whim tasting, but they're fading fast.

    (2)

  • Shilpa T.

    A really special place for a special meal. Came here on Friday night with reservations for 5:30 in the bar area. I have a sesame allergy and when notified prior, the hostess made a point to let the chef know and they had 2 sesame seed free brioche buns ready for us, pending our timely arrival. They did assure us that the burgers are first come first serve, so we made sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to the reservation to ensure us a burger and a good spot in line. They have very knowledgable wait staff as well as bartenders. The bartender was able to recommend a good beer that went with the burger for each of us based on our beer preference, and prior to beer I had an earl gray and champagne cocktail that about blew my socks off. What did we eat? The Spanish Octopus à la Plancha. A delicious tentacle of moist, perfectly cooked and charred octopus. This was a perfect appetizer sized portion for 2 people. There was a lovely green salad underneath which was not overdressed and complimented the richness of the meat just perfectly. Duck Fat Carrots Beautifully roasted carrots with a rich, divine duck fat flavor. You MUST get these if they are offered. They were a special on Friday Feb 21 when we went. Split the Craigie Burger. We can both attest to the fact that this is the best burger we have eaten. A very reasonable portion to share (about 7-8 oz even when cooked), we got it cooked medium rare and it was served with thick cut fries and a lovely celery slaw which was to die for. What makes it so good? There is something to be said about impeccable meat quality and simple ingredients. A burger does not need to be piled high with unnecessary additions. This was served with a light cheese (A cheddar) and a housemade ketchup and homemade pickles. Simple, executed well, with impeccably knowledgable staff is the way to run a restaurant. I an truly impressed by the hospitality and accommodation of something as simple as pre-baking a bun. Go, try a few different things, they only make 18 burgers a night, so be on time. (We didn't eat the chicken for 2, but saw it being served a table over, oh my gosh. I would come back to try it.)

    (5)

  • Dessa R.

    Headquartered only a couple of blocks away, I end up here a lot. For a drink, for a snack, for a dinner... My friends always look at me incredulously and say things like "woah, fancy!" And I go ahead and let them think I'm baller. The truth is when it comes to snacks, cocktails, and bar meals, Craigie is pretty competitively priced with all of the other eateries in the area. I'm spending no more here than I do at any local restaurant. Eating at the full restaurant is a different story-- what do you think I am, a Medici? A Rockefeller? I come here during snowstorms because it's empty and they serve hot buttered rum. I come here when I want an absinthe done right. I come here when I want to eat crispy pig tails (which, by the way,taste like large tender chunks of bacon and are delicious). I come here when I don't mind spending $20 on what has been called the best burger on the east coast (okay, fine, in that situation I really am baller). The bartenders exude libation badassery, and the service overall is classy enough to make you temporarily forget that you live just above the poverty line and still owe five figures loans for your graduate degree. For just a few minutes, you get to pensively stare at the condensation on your perfectly-crafted drink, suddenly look up, and think things like, "I should buy a boat."

    (4)

  • S J.

    First of all, the food is mediocre at best but anyone can stand mediocre food, right? Our waitress, an average-height brunette girl, was extremely rude and was on the highest horse in the barn. She acted like she was clearly better than us. She was so rude to the point where we felt like we were actually being discriminated against (three Asians). When we commented on how we were dissatisfied with our steak, she blatantly rolled her eyes right in front of us as if we weren't there. At this kind of establishment, we simply expected more. If it was any other cheaper restaurant, who cares. But at Craigie On Main, when you're paying that much money, you just can't settle for anything less. We will not be coming back and will tell everyone we know to stay away.

    (1)

  • Eric M.

    We went to Craigie on Valentine's Day, and they had a special Prix Fixe menu of 5-courses and we elected to do the 5-course wine pairing to go with it. We were greeted warmly and the hostess took our coats immediately at the door. The table was nicely decorated with paper hearts and there was a fresh rose waiting which I thought was a nice touch. The service remained extremely attentive, friendly and professional throughout the entire meal. Both of us started with Sashimi which was very well-prepared. This was paired with a champagne cocktail which was a fun way to start the evening. Next I had a pork and pear salad, followed by a lobster, truffle and beet pasta. I decided on the Red Miso-Marinated Venison with blood orange marmalade for my dinner. It was cooked to perfection and had a very complementary wine pairing. We finished with a chocolate extravaganza for two which was a nice mix of small dessert samplings. Overall the experience was fantastic. It was clearly a bit pricey ($400 for the dinner + wine pairing) but it was worth it and I think we will return on a non-holiday when prices are a bit more reasonable.

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    Have been meaning to come here for a long time and finally made my way over when a friend suggested we go get 1 of the 18 burgers they make each night. We go, we order, we eat... in conclusion it is 1 of the Top 3 burgers I've ever had!! (one being my own and the other being a restaurant in DTX). Everything is fresh and/or made in-house. The house-made bun was delicious and perfectly toasted, the mace ketchup is made in-house, the burger itself has suet, bone marrow and dehydrated miso mixed in it. This guy created a GREAT BURGER!! Worth every penny! And you should definitely add the bacon because... it's BACON! Skip the egg, and just focus on delicious meat! And after you enjoy that burger, you know there's a little bit of room for some dessert in there. I'll make it easy for you... go for the Praline-Nougat dessert, you will not be disappointed! Will definitely be back to try the rest of their culinary genius as well as repeat trips for the burger!

    (4)

  • Mary B.

    I can't even describe what my taste buds experienced. They were very happy when they were introduced to the food served at this place. I recommend doing the tasting menu. Just try everything no matter what it looks like. Service is great too. Tip: call ahead to make reservations well in advanced.

    (5)

  • Alex A.

    I'm going to just say this: The Burger. Holy. Shit. OK, context: you know that episode of "How I Met Your Mother" where Marshall is trying to find the perfect burger in New York that he once had? Yeah, I think that place that served those burgers simply picked up their shit and moved up to Cambridge. Because THIS IS THAT PLACE. When you get the burger (and you WILL get the burger), make sure you just get the burger. Don't get the fucking egg on it, don't get any weird shit. Don't fuck with perfection. OK, if you're one of those hipster assholes who has to get bacon on everything, get bacon. Just... I don't know, get it on the side. Here is why: This burger is magic on a bun, garnished with fresh garden vegetables. The patty is made up of shoulder chuck, hanger, marrow, suet, and sirloin tips. LISTEN TO ME: make absolutely sure you get it very rare, because that is the only way to enjoy this combination of meats. It's like the chef just makes the patty, throws it on a slab of stone, passes it over with a blowtorch for ten seconds, goes: "OK, done!!" and puts it on a bun in front of your face. Honestly, I have no idea what Craigie on Main's other food is like because, well... see above. Why would you want to get anything else? Granted, it is pricey, and unless you get there at juuuuuuust the right time, you will have to wait in a long line, plus they might run out of The Burger. So plan accordingly. But otherwise, that's all there is to say. You must Obey The Burger. Go eat one right now.

    (4)

  • Nathan O.

    Three words: to. die. for. Welcome to foodie paradise. Quaint and cozy, it felt like dining at a lifelong friend's home. No-fuss service. [Melanie YOU rock]. The wine offerings are impeccable--sorry friends, you will not find any American staples or boxed Franzia here. Chef's whim tasting (six or eight course) is definitely recommended. It changes daily, and yes, there is a vegetarian option! Locally sourced, freshest ingredients, and a chef's sophisticated palate take you on a truly unique culinary journey. The experience and melt-in-your-mouth dishes are worth every dollar. p.s. you'll want to give yourself at least 2.5 hours.

    (5)

  • Arianna G.

    The food was decent, service and presentation were good, and it was incredibly overpriced. The brunch entrees start at $17. I got the burger--it was decent, but not worth $17. It was also the greasiest burger I've ever eaten. Decent food, but not that special.

    (3)

  • Ian D.

    Best meal I've had in years. Let the chef and bar tender choose your path. You won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Danielle M.

    Went there for brunch. We needed reservations 1 week in advance (although it was close to v-day). I had fruit salad to start. It was filled with different types of fruit and mint - delicious and regressing. My boyfriend has the donut because it was voted best in the US. It was different from regular donuts and delicious. I then had the best omelet I've ever had in my entire life! The eggs were perfect, the portion was just right, and the balance of cheese, spinach, and herbs was perfect!

    (5)

  • Miranda H.

    My experiences at Craigie can only be described with two words: happy tears. I've eaten here for both brunch and dinner and have never been less than completely blown away by the food. Creative, consistent, beautiful and delicious--an all encompassing world of amazingness. For those who are scared of the price tag, check it out for brunch and get the burger. Reasonably priced and always so, so good. I also had the beef cheek, brisket and smoked beef tongue hash--freakin' incredible and topped with a perfectly poached egg. To finish brunch, had the donut. I promise you this is not just any donut--it's total perfection. Warm, toasty, covered in a creamy chocolate glaze. Seriously, you have to try it. You can start your diet tomorrow. If you're not so scared of the price tag, try the eight-course chef's tasting. While I'll admit it is on the pricier side, it is completely worth the experience. I went with a friend and we sat at the chef's counter--it was so much fun getting to sit back, watch the open kitchen and be served dishes based on the chef's recommendations. The only thing I regret is not doing the wine pairing with the tasting (if you're going to spend the money, why not have a full experience, right?). Instead, we got a few cocktails, my favorite of which was the Civilian (a little spicy, touch of sweetness, perfectly balanced). Also really loved Ulises Abroad. Environment is homey and welcoming. Staff is knowledgeable without being pretentious. Tip: Make reservations through opentable.com and accumulate points for dining. For a romantic date night, try to reserve the corner booth. Or to feel like you're part of the action, sit at the chef's counter and watch the open kitchen.

    (5)

  • Megan D.

    This review is for the hamburger only. I am not a hamburger connoisseur, but the burger here is worth getting in some trouble over. It's made with three cuts of meat, bone marrow, and suet. It's just large enough in size to make one ever so slightly concerned with a single serving consumption of it. But please, *please* don't leave any on the plate or try to bring some home. Just eat this delicious burger and get over yourself. If this isn't the food highlight of your week, you must be living pretty large, bro. I would go into details about how perfectly balanced the fat of the burger and crunch of the bun was, or how the flavor of each bite was different and surprising, but then I would be that girl talking about burger like it was the best sex of her life. While that may be true, I'm not yet ready to take that step.

    (5)

  • Kristina N.

    Came here for the burger special. It was ok, not worth the hype. You can get a much tastier burger elsewhere and for cheaper. We ordered an octopus appetizer which was good-- but not the best octopus I've ever had. We also had a few cocktails by the bar, but nothing memorable.

    (4)

  • Smedley B.

    Was just Ok. We were pretty disappointed actually. When you factor in the price maybe three stars is a bit too high. The service was mediocre and pushy. The fish was mediocre my wife's 18 dollars tomato salad was an embarrassment- 3 or 4 thin slices of mealy tomato with a sprinkling of couscous. Nice atmosphere, lousy neighborhood except Toscaninis next door is fantastic and always has been.

    (2)

  • Cara S.

    The Milk-Fed Pig's Head was sublime, as was the Spanish Octopus and wine choices. Nice selection of vegetarian options also. Warm, cozy space and great staff. I took a group 6, was perfect.

    (4)

  • Meg N.

    Came here for a birthday dinner during the week - we tried the 6 course tasting menu plus the pig's tails. Pros: The space was really nice - relaxed and casual but you still knew you were in a nicer restaurant. The service was good - not great. The bathrooms were nice. Cons: There were definitely ups and downs with the menu - some dishes were really good - some were terrible and many were very salty. Overall I think the fish dishes were better than anything else (veg or meat dishes) and the only dessert we liked was the apple fritters. I found the pig's tails very fatty - and tasted like fatty chicken wings - but other people in my party really liked them. By the time we were finished with the meal and a bottle of wine it was about $200/each which I think is too much for a good but not amazing meal. I would like to go back and check out the bar menu or maybe try the regular menu - however if one person wants the tasting menu everyone has to order.

    (3)

  • Annie c.

    Casual cozy dining but has looks like plenty of seating - and full on a Thursday night Went with the 6 course tasting menu which changes daily Loved the progression (Seafood to dessert) All beautifully presented and delicious with one major miss - the pork belly - too hard to chew, I couldn't finish it which was a shame

    (4)

  • Nina S.

    My husband and I have visited Craigie several times in the past and we have always loved it, however last Monday's experience (6/8) has solidified Craigie as our favorite restaurant in Boston. It has even inspired me to write my first Yelp review! We made reservations to celebrate our 1 month wedding anniversary (I know, not a traditional milestone, but we make any excuse to have a great meal). FOOD: we were hoping to both try to Throwback Bistro menu (45 dollars for 3 courses...we are both residents after all). Upon arriving, we were informed that they had run out of 1 app and 1 entree from the menu. We were a little bit disappointed initially and my husband ended up ordering off of the regular menu. We were both blown away by our meals! I had the asparagus appetizer, bluefish and chocolate mousse from the discounted menu. The fish was so delicious, the skin was very flavorful and the fish perfectly cooked. My husband raved about his chicken and proclaimed it the best chicken he had ever eaten. The only course that was slightly underwhelming was his pavlova dessert. We would have appreciated a bit more tart flavor, perhaps a plain or greek yogurt to balance out the sweetness of the meringue. But altogether amazing food. And almost forgot, we were given many freebies - a seafood appetizer, a mango sorbet and a grapefruit granita which were all so tasty! AMBIENCE: lovely as always. Modern and elegant. We always ask for seats overlooking the kitchen so we can pretend to be Padma and Tom. SERVICE: now this is what really blew us away. The service was fantastic during the meal, our waitress was lovely and attentive, however at the end of the meal, another staff member approached us and apologized for running out of 2 of the prix fixe items. We reassured her that we were absolutely delighted with our food choices. On our way out, at the coat check, she presented us with a 45 dollar Craigie gift certificate - the exact cost of the Throwback meal. Wow. Thank you Craigie for a wonderful evening!

    (5)

  • Wanxin C.

    The sea trout is amazing! But be prepared for the price.

    (4)

  • Jack H.

    I and my family had dinner at the place. Few unsatisfactory. First, when we arrived, the entrance was locked(I don't get it why it would be locked!) no one open it for us until we walk around to try the different door. Second, when we were waiting to be seated, I saw a chef who's used a spoon to taste the food and stir right back in with the same spoon! At least I'm not comfortable with it. THIRD! We were only could order one side of the menu for the table. Which I do get it it's easy for time controlling. But I was disappoint with the set menu that I was surprised! I was served yellowtail sashimi, tempura soft shell crab and stuff! I CAN HAVE JAPANESE FOOD AT JAPANESE CUISINE. WHY WOULD I PAY HIGHER PRICE TO GET WORSE JAPANESE FOOD AT A FRENCH RESTAURANT! The most satisfy part was the waitress was nice. But maybe the wine could come before the food.

    (2)

  • Jess M.

    I like Craigie, I really do, but I'm not an adventurous eater. If I was I would probably be more okay with paying $18 (salads and apps) to $38 (entrees, $43 for steak) on a special occasion. Considering some of my only options are chicken (38) and salad ($18) and my boyfriend makes better chicken, pass. That being said, when I'm in the mood for a burger ($18- only at the bar area) I come here. I'm always in the mood for their Corpse Reviver #2, best one in the city. If you're looking for an excellent meal in Cambridge without the Craigie sticker shock (well as much), I recommend Puritan and Co., Helmand, and Hungry Mother.

    (4)

  • Ne N.

    Somewhat underwhelming!

    (2)

  • Linda R.

    Craigie exceeded my expectations. I can see why it gets all the hype that it does. That being said...the meal wasn't perfect but the that's me being rather picky. We were a party of three that sat at the bar (we walked in without a reservation on a Sat at 5:30). The ambiance was great. The service was stellar. My cocktail was one of the best cocktails I've had in a while. I got the Mellow Yellow..it was very well-executed. The bartender was working the bar very well. For food we got the octopus appetizer, the burger, and the pig's head (for two). My favorite was the octopus appetizer. The burger was very good but I'm not sure if I'd say it was the best burger I've ever had. The pig's head was rather fatty...not as meaty as others that I had. For a $72 half's a pig's head..I ate everything...fat and all...and it was a lot of fat. I regret doing that just a bit. The main gripe though with the hoisin served with it....texture was off..it was rather grainy in texture...you can taste the flour or corn starch or something in it. And they did not give us enough of the bean sprouts and pumpkin sambal. Still..given all of that...Craigie deserves 5 stars. It's definitely a place you must try!

    (5)

  • C K.

    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!

    (1)

  • John A.

    A top drawer fine dining experience all the way around. You'll pay for it, of course, but it is very satisfying that the quality of the food, the experience, and the service are all consistent with the price. We had the tasting menu last night - 6 excellent courses - and the service featured a full remove of all silverware (used or not) for each course. That speaks volume about the attention to detail.

    (5)

  • Abdullah A.

    Locally sourced ingredients + culinary mastery = Craigie on Main. No wonder this place was voted one of the top new restaurants across the US in GQ magazine (although the restaurant is not new, but the refurbished location is). Service: Great. Attentive. Punctual. Food: Changes all the time. But full of surprises. Don't go to Craigie if you are looking for a staple dish (unless you sit on the bar and have the burger...which is phenomenal). Speaking of the bar, was served one of the best cocktails I have had in Cambridge.

    (5)

  • Alice N.

    Casual atmosphere, amazing culinary experience. The service is great. Definitely the place to go for someone who enjoys trying new food, which is why I'm giving it 5 stars. It is the perfect place to celebrate an anniversary with a loved one, or go with other foodies. It is a little pricey, so don't go there in large groups or on a first date. My only complaint was the food was a tad-bit too heavy, and was not as great as expected.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    I did the five course tasting menu. Unbelievable. I enjoyed every dish. Jeremy our waiter was fabulous as well, very knowledgable about the food and wine. The service was great, the food was great, and the wine was great. I go out to dinner once a week to a different good 4-5 star restaurant in Boston and this was absolutely one of the most memorable meals I've had in a while. The head chef even came out to serve us one of our courses. Top notch. I recommend this place to anyone who considers them self a foodie.

    (5)

  • Bryan E.

    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.

    (4)

  • Natasha A.

    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.

    (5)

  • Jacob S.

    Extraordinarily disappointing meal tonight. When I spend well in excess of $100 per person, I expect an exceptional meal, and my dinner tonight was anything but. First, the seats my wife and I sat in we're very cold, a complaint you'll virtually never hear from me. I ended up putting my jacket back on and wearing it through the meal. We also waited about 40 minutes before we had a drink order taken. That was followed by a decent appetizer and then a very cold pork entree. Additionally, my wife ate almost none of her undercooked swordfish entree. I expected so much more, and am deeply disappointed, particularly given the positive reviews that I had previously heard.

    (1)

  • Vivian C.

    For the Restaurant Week period, I found out that while Craigie on Main was not participating in RW, they were offering an expanded version of their $39.95 Neighborhood Menu - three courses, three choices per course. What a great opportunity to try out this special occassion (for me anyhow) spot! The afternoon before our scheduled visit, I received a call to confirm the reservation. As a pleasant surprise, I was offered 2 of the 4 seats at the Chef's Table, overlooking the open kitchen. Sure! Thank you! Now, I say, if you get the chance, go! Sit at the Chef's Table, and enjoy! I felt like I was enjoying front row seats of my very own Kitchen Stadium! "Yes, Chef!" "Runners, please!" "Toast for bones, hurry!" Oh, and I watched them dissect half a pig's face... so if you are against the consumption and cruelty of animals, consider that before you ask to be seated at the Chef's Table. We were a bit early for our reservation, so we were initially guided towards the bar side to wait a bit. Bar seats themselves seem a precious commodity, as a couple that wished to fill a pair of just emptied seats were discouraged. Perhaps they were reserved? Later on, we did watch as a number of wonderful looking hamburgers with a mountain of shoe string fries headed that a way during our dinner. The staff here seemed rather sizeable, as I witnessed a number of servers darting here and there, popping out wine corks, serving dishes. The kitchen staff themselves numbered perhaps 9, minus the dishwasher I spotted through a swinging door. Serving us alone were a multitude working together to take our order, provide us with fresh silverware with each course, wipe away our crumbs, and deliver our numerous courses. Not that we ordered one of the grand tastings... no, we selected the "Neighborhood" 3 course prix fixe for $39.95. Oh, and a side of bone marrow for $10. But we also received a number of complimentary small tastings throughout our evening. Sometimes we received the same items, such as the blood sausage spread on crostini (interesting) and the rhubarb hibiscus foam, while other times they were different, like the salmon pate(?) and the eggplant something or other, and the samplings of sorbet (peach for one and plum for the other). Corn must be in season as I've been spotting corn soup in various forms on several recent menus. But I'm always up for a good one, so for my appetizer I selected the Potage of Local Butter and Sugar Corn $16 over the other choice of mussels. It was a pureed soup served hot with a nice corn flavor. Both proteins in the entrees (Red Quinoa-Crusted Arctic Char Mi-Cuit Wellfleet and manila clams, cockles, roasted cherry tomatoes, pistou-dashi broth $30 and Onion-Smothered Vermont All-Natural Chicken Two Ways: Slow Roasted Breast, Crispy Thigh Confit three bean ragout, tatsoi, natural jus $26) were cooked perfectly, leaving the meat moist and tender. The bone marrow we had elected to have with our entrees. The single large bone sliced in two and two pieces of toast sliced in triangles were plenty for the two of us. If you've never had marrow before, think of it as fat, or rich buttery spread. Dig some out of the center gooey stuff out of the bone half and slather it on to the toast point, sprinkle it with sea salt and go ahead and take a bite! What I imagined to be a simple panna cotta turned out to be Sour Milk Panna Cotta with banana puree, dried milk and some kind of nut. I was curious to see if I could find a contender to match my top (and now idealized) panna cotta experience at Icarus (RIP), and Craigie On Maine did very well indeed! It was tasty and smooth and melty good compared to Icarus' which started out with a body and melted on your tongue. Ahhhhh! I accidentally forgot my leftover chicken when we left. But before we even turned the corner, one of our servers ran out after us with the brown paper bag in hand. The only thing I tasted that night that I would not care a repeat of is the rhubarb hibiscus foam, which was not to my personal enjoyment, and left a odd feel on my tongue. Fortunately though, my final taste of the night was the chocolate almond cluster. Before we left, I made the suggestion that they add purse hooks for the ladies at the high topped Chef's Table, after all, hanging your purse on the chair behind you in such a busy area isn't such a grand idea.

    (4)

  • Catherine K.

    Little Piggies beware!!!! This place loves pork :) ...which means I was in heaven. Ian and I went for brunch and ooh and ahh'ed the entire time. There wasn't a single dish we did not finish and to finish the entire experience, we ordered the sugar donuts that came with the most delectable raspberry jam. After the donuts were gone, we started eating the jam with a spoon. Yes, it was THAT good.

    (5)

  • David L C.

    Everything was fine until I saw inside the kitchen. One of the chefs had a horrible and obvious case of PINK EYE! Constantly scratching his face and body as he prepared dishes. Another chef had cuts and gouges all over her hands, but no gloves! She said from falling off her bike. This is disgusting and unacceptable for any restaurant! Tony Maws should be ashamed. I'm never going back and I'm just trying to help people out: don't go here, unless you want pink eye.

    (1)

  • Anna S.

    We went to Craigie on Main for my husband's birthday--a special occasion and a bit of a splurge, as we had heard great things about the food and the restaurant. We had the eight course tasting menu. A few of the dishes were both delicious and unusual--a super fresh scallop dish with pear and herbs, a salmon jawbone in chili sauce, a slow-roasted cod with wild mushrooms. Others were odd and less flavorful--a pork confit with tough skin on the top. Some were fine but just not that interesting--the final savory course was beef with beef tongue, and was good but unremarkable. Desserts didn't quite come together. Mine was a bland apple pancake with a bit of pine nut butter and goji berries. It was pretty doughy and tasteless. The big disappointment, however, was the service. Throughout, our server was brusk, rushed, and mechanical. We asked her about a wine pairing for the tasting menu, and she wandered off without giving us a direct answer. We ended up paying more than we probably would have for a bottle for a couple of half carafes of wine because we didn't feel like navigating the extensive winelist without a guide. At the end of the meal, she did this robotic and strange "happy birthday" to my husband in exactly the same way, at three separate moments. We wanted to feel a lot more coddled and cared for, on a special night when we were dropping $400+. Ultimately it was decent food for an awful lot of $.

    (2)

  • Christine D.

    If you want to ball out for someone, this place is THE best date night ever. They have this 6 course tasting menu that is just absolutely delicious. The service is beyond amazing. I hate seafood but the atmosphere was so lovey-dovey that I just said "f-it" and tried duck for the first time in my life here- it was amazing. The whole experience is amazing and I was totally blown away and it takes a lot for me to be impressed.

    (5)

  • P K.

    This place is great! The service is exceptional. I sat at the bar and both bartenders were friendly, professional and quite knowledgeable. I ordered a few starters. The octopus was tender and prepared perfect. The fried pig tails stole the show. With a dish like that on the menu it better be great. They knocked it out of the park. In addition, after I asked the waiter if there was a pork belly appetizer when there was only pork belly as an entree; he surprised me with a complimentary small dish of seared pork belly. The impromptu dish was crispy in the outside and tender and juicy in the inside. I would like to thank the chef and staff for that delectable treat. A must go. I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Laura C.

    We went to Craigie for my husband's birthday, as he'd been wanting to go for a while, and it was just ... disappointing. It's been a week or two and the things that stand out in my memory are that disappointment, and the ridiculously long time it took to be served the three-course meal. A lot of sitting there, after a course had been cleared, waiting for the next one. NOT what you expect at a restaurant of this reputation. And the food ... just doesn't stand out in my memory except that I left thinking through all the better meals I'd had at places of similar price and reputation and, more, the better meals I'd had at places without Craigie's reputation -- or prices. The food wasn't bad, it just wasn't what you go to a place like Craigie on Main expecting. For $250 for two people, I don't look to be bored by the experience of waiting for good but ultimately forgettable food.

    (3)

  • Emily G.

    I somehow felt guilty making a reservation for bar seats at Craigie on Main, interested in only one thing: the burger. Now off menu and offered in limited quantities, I was afraid of being resented for needing to try this world famous creation. As it turns out, the staff at Craigie is impeccable in all aspects and the only anxiety about ordering the burger should be whether or not you showed up early enough to snag one. Start with an expertly made cocktail, put in an order of (admittedly pricey) pigs tails to start and wait for burger bliss. The burger is built on a freshly baked sesame bun (thank you, thank you THANK YOU for eschewing brioche) which maintains structure even after a good soaking of juice from the patty. The meat blend has been talked about endlessly, but do believe Chef Maws has done right here. The dehydrated miso is a unique touch, but I did wish for a bit more salt on the patty itself. Housemade pickles, tangy celery root slaw, mace ketchup, and farm fresh tomatoes (summertime only, but integral to the burger's success) bring the whole package together. The fries are good for wedge style, but it's not my preferred mode of fried potatoes. Is the burger worth the hassle and $19 price tag? I'd say at least once, yes. Although I don't have an overwhelming desire to head back for the early bird dinner to ensure I score one, the experience made me want to plan a tasting menu excursion soon, and very soon.

    (4)

  • Jeff Q.

    I'm no professional foodie, but this restaurant has been on my list for over a year. We finally decided to celebrate and luxuriate in Cragie's top tier tasting menu. Sure, there were a couple things I didn't love, but far more commonly I found myself enjoying an ingredient I had never tried or thought I disliked. I'll admit to being a little intimidated by the place, mostly due to its reputation and my ignorance of haute cuisine. Our waiter immediately put us at ease and at least knew enough to pretend to be entertained by our ignorance and enthusiasm. The one word that we'll always associate with COM is fun. Occasionally whimsical dishes, a friendly staff and a special but unstuffy atmosphere makes for an incredibly fun dining experience.

    (5)

  • Michelle C.

    Finally got to try the burger I've been drooling over....and it was everything I imagined and more. How is it possible to have a burger melt in your mouth?!?! The egg was cooked perfectly and oozed everywhere, so perfect! Birthday donut appetizer was soo good. I was waiting to share with my friend and the smell was killing me, I could barely wait until she got back to the table. I loved the thick, crusty outer part and the soft cakey inside with that yummy light dolce de leche/caramel sauce. Counting the days until my next visit....

    (5)

  • Tony P.

    Go to Craigie. Bring a friend. Chat with the bartender. Try some bitters. Imbibe cocktails. Get the pig for two. Perfect night.

    (5)

  • Shanar R.

    I can't say I was wowed by this place. The food was very good, excellent actually. Great presentation as well. The servers were knowledgeable and it was evident they had a great respect for their head chef's abilities! Great wine selection. Why three stars? When spending $225 for a dinner for two I expect to be pleasantly full. On the way home my husband and I joked at the temptation of stopping off for another dessert somewhere :(

    (3)

  • Margaret C.

    Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I go back for a full-on meal? No. Perhaps it was the hype, or perhaps it was the fact that they just changed their chef de cuisine, or perhaps it was because we went at an unwittingly poor time (more on that below), but I was way underwhelmed. FOOD. We did the 8 course tasting menu because, honestly, their pricing scheme pushes you that way. it was our anniversary and we thought, What the heck. The 8 courses were supplemented with an app amuse and a dessert amuse, plus truffles with the check. We did leave completely stuffed, but for over a $400 tab, we had better be! Some things were amazing (like the dessert amuse, a Concord grape and kaffir lime sorbet served with basil seeds and a vanilla foam; venison with a sweet apple puree was my husband's favorite). My favorite savory was hake roasted just past raw--flaky, tender, sea-salty, with lovely tender roasted mussels and nice bright radish curls. Most things were yummy but not special, and a couple things were mis-steps (an amuse of kombucha-marinated mackerel so unrelievedly fishy it seemed like no one could have tasted it before leaving the kitchen; pork belly served lukewarm so the fat was rubbery instead of melty; and while I loved it, there were *bones* in the hake--at this price point, not cool). Also, in 8 courses, not ONE was vegetable-based or focused. I felt heavy and too full of protein at the end of the meal. The only veggie-ish course was pasta made of corn...with rabbit and guanciale. Bread tasted good but was either old or had been stored in plastic--tough, chewy crusts. AMBIENCE. I like the decor. They seem to be shooting for bustling French cafe-feeling, which they do sort of achieve...but only too well. In the main dining room, there are simply too many tables for the space; it's crowded. Despite the nice lighting and warm surroundings, it does not feel intimate or cozy. The bathrooms were utilitarian and not immaculate--in one, a trash bin was overflowing--and again, just took away from what should be a luxe experience. The music was flat-out awful. Alt-rock, electronic blues, stuff I might want to listen to while driving or working out but certainly not while lingering over a ridiculously extravagant meal. It was so bad we asked our waitress about it, who said that on Sunday nights after 9 it's a "manager's special" of music where they play whatever they want. We were seated at 7:30, though, and the music was something both my husband and I noticed right away. It seriously detracted from our experience, partly because it was being played loudly and compounded the issue of poor acoustics in the space. We often could not hear each other across the table. Hardly romantic. SERVICE. After a chilly reception at the door, we had a darling waitress. The pacing of the courses was excellent. However, beverage service was off-kilter, and while she was super friendly and attentive, the waitress was weak on wine (and it's a small list). We had a spill at the table and it was handled well once someone noticed. In sum, the next time I want a real splurge dinner out I'll return to the superb Journeyman or try for Bondir; and for a celebratory delicious meal whose tab is easier to stomach, I will keep returning to my beloved Bergamot.

    (3)

  • Emily G.

    I went to Craigie for the Sunday night Chef's Whim tasting so this review should be read with a grain of salt given that I did not have a "typical" experience or access to the regular menu. With that said, I thought the meal was absolutely delicious. I had the vegetarian whim menu. Started a cute amuse bouche, followed by an heirloom tomato and blue cheese salad that was delicious and right on with what was seasonal at the time. Next up was roasted peaches with savory seasoning that was so creative and absolutely delicious. The "main" course was a creative summer squash and veggie dish that was very well done. Dessert was a buttermilk panna cotta that was amazing, creamy but light and flavorful. Our service was excellent, if maybe a little too attentive, we technically had one main waitress, but were also frequently waited on by two other and very attentive servers, so it got a bit confusing when ordering wine refills, but that's really nit-picky and it wasn't problematic. My main complain with my meal at Craigie, and the reason I did not give 5 stars, is that I left hungry. The vegetarian tasting menu was 3 small courses of almost entirely fruit and veggies, nothing very hearty or satisfying, and I am a girl with a pretty normal (read not insatiable) appetite. I ended up trying to stuff myself with bread, which was disappointing given how much I paid for the meal (which was a LOT).

    (4)

  • gabe c.

    This review is for an a la carte meal at the bar. I had the duck fat roasted Brussels sprouts and the pork 3 ways. The sprouts were mediocre. Flavor not impressive, and served lukewarm. The pork, while tasty, was nothing special in terms of either presentation or flavor. On the flip side, the bartenders were great, as were the bourbon drinks. If I went back, I'd try out the burger, rather than one of the seemingly overpriced regular menu items.

    (3)

  • Milena P.

    We had reservations at 8:30 on my birthday. We showed up early and hung out at the bar-- the young bartender who is an MIT alum (I don't remember his name) made us outstanding drinks and chatted with us for a bit. He even brought me a cocktail to my table once we sat down. I was a bit bummed that we were seated almost 30 minutes after our reservation time. I thought they were running a super tight ship! But the food was really, really good. There were a few things I'd tweak/improve, but overall worth the money. The steak was perfectly cooked. The portions are generous-- I'd venture say that nobody needs 3 courses here, honestly. Next time I'll share an app and dessert and then get my own entree. We didn't feel rushed and the service was attentive. I'll come back when I'm feeling flush with cash, because this is definitely not a regular-Friday-night spot.

    (4)

  • Madeleine Q.

    The overall dining experience is aesthetically pleasing to senses. Craigie on Main is probably one of the best fine dining restaurants I would recommend in Boston/Cambridge.

    (5)

  • Andres P.

    Fantastic 5-star dinner. Prix fixe dinner outstanding. Food phenomenal and thoughtful. Service was outstanding. Worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Burger Guide D.

    The Local Grass-Fed Beef Burger at Craigie on Main is one the hardest burgers to get in the United States. A secret menu item limited to only 18 burgers a night. I showed up early to wait to enjoy this combination of Shelburne Farm cheddar, mace ketchup, house-made bun, and house-smoked bacon. The bun is tender, beef is juicy, bacon is salty, and the pickles pack a punch. The onions are sliced thin, which is good for the texture. The final toppings on the burger are a melted slice of cheddar...and some lettuce which may be better left off (however it added a splash of color for my photo). My only issue with my burger was that the house-smoked bacon was a little tough (almost like beef jerky), however I loved its peppery flavor. All of these flavors work together brilliantly and the taste of the meat is the star. The meat is very juicy, tender and perfectly cooked. The ketchup, pickles, cheese, and bacon create a savory palette that complements but never overpowers the beef. This is probably one of the best burgers in Boston, and one of the best in the country if the bacon was not so tough like the burger I experienced.

    (5)

  • Evan Q.

    I know, I know, Craigie on Main has won all kinds of awards, and the rating here on Yelp is at or very near the top of the chart. But when your 3 course Prix Fixe runs around $65/person, and the wine list lists far more 3 digit wines than two digit wines, you better nail it on all fronts. Craigie on Main had too many misses. But first, give credit where credit is due: 1. If it isn't on the menu, try to special order the bone marrow. This was Olympian bone marrow. Yes, you will gain several pounds. Yes, your cholesterol levels will skyrocket. It is worth it. An order comes with 3 bones, you really only need one bone per person unless someone plans to make a meal out of it. You don't need one of those little marrow spoons, you need a marrow tablespoon. Just do it. 2. Food preparation was generally excellent, and there was an extremely wide range of ingredients, textures, and tastes to orchestrate. The kitchen was, to use rock and roll band terms, tight. 3. Want a food adventure? You have found your wild ride. You will have the opportunity to eat things you may have never eaten, or eat things you have eaten before but concocted in a unique fashion. With Craigie on Main you will experience a crazy culinary roller coaster. But... 1. That roller coaster tipped over the rails several times. Just a few examples: (a) Chocolate plus Mexican spice continues to be in vogue, and twice that combination was delivered. The idea here is to provide just barely enough heat and flavor offset from the Mexican side of the border to draw out nuances in the chocolate. The Mexican flavors and heat here destroyed the chocolate, making the dishes inedible. (b) Similarly, one of the sorbets was so tart, it utterly numbed the palette. (c) A coquillage of generally yummy bits of several shellfish broke down into a cacophony of flavors and textures - and some of the bits were cooked to rubber; too much all at once. One could chalk up these missteps to the desire to take the diner on that great culinary adventure though, and many of our other dishes were excellent. One or two dishes, beside the bone marrow, were even transcendent, however: 2. Bottle of red wine served too warm, north of 70 degrees. At your local pub, okay, forgiven, but not here and not at these prices. 3. Glass of wine delivered by the server who swirled the glass furiously before putting it down on the table, and he stopped only when requested, and he protested that request. Hey, if I want to swirl my wine to open it up I will, but this swirling over-fascination was an intrusion, a presumption, and unacceptable. 4. Service either overwhelmed or was non-existent. There was a 15 minute window where we saw nobody, with all our dirty plates stacked up in front of us. But then there was a rush, you could barely sip your water without it getting refilled. Service was, being nice here, rough around the edges. 5. We were not once, but twice, by different servers, hard sold the tasting menu. Did they steal these servers from the lot stalkers of Boch Toyota or Muzi Ford? In both cases when it was clear that we were not biting they kept going on. Funny how they could take several minutes to blast us with tasting menu pitch, but couldn't get us first glass of wine/cocktails within 15 minutes of ordering. Finally, I asked 3 different servers to turn down the rock music coming out of the speaker right over my head. Eventually, using hand signals with a sharp bus person, the music got turned down - about 30 minutes into the seating. If I want to listen to acid rock or Fleetwood Mac at volume, I will do that in the privacy of my own home or vehicle, thank you. I couldn't hear the people across the table from me. The response to my first request should have been, "Of course, right away!" with the execution nearly immediate, either that or they should have offered us the option to be reseated not so close to the ceiling speaker. All in, Craigie on Main ran us nearly $150/each, and we did not tip @ 20%, it wasn't deserved. Funny thing, when Craigie was on Craigie, the service was excellent, and the kitchen, while still adventurous, produced more integrated, thoughtful, subtle, flawless food. Feel free to buy into the hype, into the Cambridge coolness, but at half the price I will take the Ten Tables that now inhabits the original Craigie on Craigie half basement. The bone marrow, alone though, almost made it worth it.

    (2)

  • Kate A.

    I am so glad I finally had the chance to eat at this wonderful place! The bf and I settled in at a bar seat this Sunday early afternoon and enjoyed the burger, and the beef tongue hash. Both were exceptional, although I have to say I think my burger beat out the hash. I ordered suggested medium rare temp, and it did come out closer to the rare side, but I had no qualms in devouring it anyway. I got it sans bun since I'm GF, but with the depth of flavor, I'm kind of glad I got to focus just on the beef. The burger comes with a side of ketchup, (what I am assuming were housemade) pickles, small bite of coleslaw, and small lightly dressed greens salad. The coleslaw was underwhelming, but really didn't detract. Besides the burger, the other star was the Civilian Cocktail, a mezcal libation. The bf had the bloody mary and I found it to be just OK. I'd aim for a craft cocktail next time.

    (4)

  • Danielle S.

    I really enjoy this place. On a student budget though, the prices are a lot to swallow. I've found a workaround for that. While the burger is not on the dinner menu, if you ask, they will serve it. And wow is it good. Juicy, high quality meat cooked to perfection. I've also had brunch here and left very happy. Make a reservation! I tried to make one three months in advance for graduation in May without luck. Too bad.

    (4)

  • Erin C.

    I came here again, despite being slightly disappointed in their tasting menu last time. But this time, I have to recommend the pig's head for two. It was absolutely delicious and executed perfectly. Cocktails, as usual, were very good--perfectly balanced and we had a nice chat with the bartender since we were sitting at the bar. Service is also excellent. Just minus one star for our vegetable dishes, which were tasty but uninteresting. I would probably just minus half a star if I could.

    (4)

  • Kavya S.

    I had very high expectations for Craigie On Main given the high Yelp reviews. Unfortunately, the dining experience did not fully meet my expectation on two counts: food and service. FOOD: My table went with the three-course menu. As a vegetarian, there were very few options to choose from. While the waitress said that they could be accommodating, I found that my pasta appetizer's flavors were slightly off and that the pasta texture was a little bit too chewy. My main entree--a collection of vegetables--were pretty bland. And the dessert was a bit too exotic for my taste, with the dessert wine pairings a little bit spicy? Maybe my palate is not sophisticated enough, but I felt that the food was "trying too hard" (if such a thing exists). SERVICE: The service was definitely off-putting. Our waitress spent at least 10 minutes trying to convince us that we should go with the chef's tasting menu.... seriously? 10 minutes? It didn't feel genuine, but felt that the waitress was just looking to bring in more money for the restaurant. Overall, the venue is classy, the food is decent, the service is fast enough, but I think there are nicer restaurants that you can opt for in the Boston area!

    (3)

  • Marko C.

    FIVE STARS for Chef Tony Maws' Craigie on Main Restaurant. It doesn't get better than this! Move over Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Move over Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Move over Chef Tom Colicchio. Move over Chef Rick Bayless. Move over Chef Susan Feniger. I've eaten at all of your (above) restaurants in the last year, and Chef Tony Maws' gets my personal James Beard Award for his cooking. He's the man to beat! yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… I was fortunate to come here for dinner tonight and experience Chef Maws excellent cooking. We first started off at the bar and were entertained by Bartender / Mixologist Ted's unique drinks. I asked him to make me one of his famous drinks, and I got the "Citizen". It was a mix of home-made orange liquor, bitters, Thai Chili pepper water, and sparkling wine. HOME RUN! Drink Grade: A! yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… We were served two different types of amuse bouche (since my dinner companion is a vegetarian): Amuse Bouche #1: Pork Head Cheese with an espresso mustard sauce, garnised by fresh greens. LOVE how they included dark green fern leafs as part of the creation! Delightful! Grade: A- yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… . Amuse Bouche #2: Home made goat cheese on Radicchio. Looked very fresh and the flavors of the goat cheese was very rich and deep! Grade: A- yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… Appetizer #1: Grilled Spanish Octopus. Grilled cipollini onions, green olive, and lemon salad, bulgur wheat, spiced artichoke puree. Octopus was very tender and the accompanying sauce balanced out the seafood. Nice. Grade: B+ yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… Appetizer #2: Asparagus soup. My colleague had this soup and he said it was very mild and well balanced. Tasted like it had a bit of potato in the soup stock. Delish! Grade: A- yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… Main Meal #1: Confit and Roasted milk-fed Pig's Head. This dish was supposed to be for two people to share, but I ate the entire thing by myself. Crispy skin outside and fatty juicy pork on the inside. Served with a Kabocha samal (slaw), boudin noir-hoisin sauce, fresh home-made Peiking style pancake, and French Grey Salt. I wanted to crey with delight at the table. The entire restaurant looked at my dish in envy. Note: Order this early because there are only limited quantities of this! Grade: A+ yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… Main Meal #2: Dayboat Black Bass a la Plancha: Iraqui beet stew, pine nuts, and horseradish. This dish was visually beautiful. The bass was cooked to perfection - seared on the outside with a tender flesh inside. Bravo on this dish! Amuse Bouche / Palate Cleanser: Before they served our dessert, they brought to the table a small amuse bouche of white asparagus ice cream surrounded by a rhubarb puree. The chef put pieces of cooked rhubarb chunks in the puree, which gave it a nice texture. Ingenious dessert. Visually sexy! Grade: A+ yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… Dessert: We ordered the trio of artisanal cheeses - sheep, goat, and cow milk cheese - each chosen daily. The sheep cheese was served with Spanish fruit jelly, the goat cheese was served with diced medjool dates, and the cow's milk was served with bee honeycomb. OUTSTANDING cheese selection and combination. Served with fresh French baguette. Grade: A+ yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… Drinks: Craigie has about 75-100 bottles in their wine selection! Wine is imported in from all around the world and the price ranges are reasonable to very reasonable. We ordered the 2008 Bourgogne Domaine JF Coche-Dury ($130/bottle). You won't be disappointed! The wine was delicious with notes of fruit, oak, and cheese. Grade: A+. Amuse bouche finale: French macaron of Chai Tea! Yum! Grade: B+ yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… For dessert wines, order the Tawny port (sorry, can't remember the name). yelp.com/biz_photos/58cD… Service by waitress Emily was absolutely outstanding. She provided excellent service and knew both her food and drinks. Service was also excellent from backup server, Greg. Chef Tony Maws - BRAVO on such a wonderful restaurant. I like the vision that you have for the food, and all of your dishes are well executed!

    (5)

  • Rich W.

    A friend and I went there because we heard the burger was really good. We planned on getting there right after work at 5:30pm. We got there at 5:25pm. Why is that important? Because they keep the door locked until 5:30pm exactly. It was about 15 degrees outside with some wind so standing there waiting for them to unlock the door kinda sucked. We got in and took our seats at the bar - we had heard they don't serve the burger anywhere but at the bar. We ordered drinks - beer for me and mixed drink for my friend. The beer was one I had never had before (I'm not a "Bud" type beer drinker. Frankly, that's not a beer.) and it was pretty good. My friend's mixed drink was great and we inquired with the bartender what they put in her drink as it had a different flavor than she was used to. Burgers were really good but not great. I wouldn't go there for a burger again basically because of the cost. I know a few places where I can get a really good burger for about half the price. The fries were really good as well. The staff was great - very friendly and customer focused - except for not opening up 5 minutes early when there were 5 people waiting outside in freezing weather to get in. I want to go back and try their regular menu. Based on the burger, I'm sure the other selections are just as tasty. I'll just make sure to have a reservation that's later than 5:30pm. This looks like a great date night restaurant.

    (4)

  • Tina K.

    LOVED IT! I went with four of my girlfriends for Sunday brunch and we all got something different, and tried and tasted of everyones dish and EVERYTHING was AMAZING!!!! loved it!!!! A little pricey, but def. WORTH IT. p.s. the homemade donut just melts in your mouth~

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    If you are looking for a charming location for your next special dinner, consider Craigie on Main, relocated to this cozy setting near the MIT Museum. A lovely dining room and the chance to observe a legion of chefs at work in the open-plan kitchen will greet you. If however you are looking for a welcoming experience, memorable food, and reasonable prices, keep looking. Craigie on Main "knows what's best" and you had better do what they say. Wait patiently. It may be 6 degrees outside; still they will not open their door, even to the vestibule, until 5.30pm. Order the burger. You will be told at the front desk that there are only 18 burgers available on any night so put in your order before you are seated. (Sort of a cool early decision plan for food rather than college admission. ) Do as you are told. The "burger" does not appear on their menu--if it did, I suppose it would be under the category Manufactured Scarcity--so you will have no idea what you're signing up for or the cost. You will be scorned as a novice if you don't add the requisite fried egg and bacon. But be grateful for small flavors. The amuse bouche is either a rice cracker with "trois gras"--I swear that's what they said (I asked twice to be sure that was trois not fois)--or a sardine pave the size of half a postage stamp. Remember they know best. The oysters will arrive with the chef's choice of sauce already added to each crustacean. The fried clams will huddle on one side of an otherwise empty plate...looking rather like something that might accompany a ransom note to underline the dire nature of the demands. And do order that rare and famous burger... which turns out to be a cheeseburger. Consistently described as "a burger" and with no written description provided ("it's not on our menu"), there was no escape from the cheese. You're lactose intolerant? Too bad; we know better what you should eat. More surprises: the "it comes with bacon and a fried egg" is actually a supplement billed at $3 per item. The meat is ground in-house, proven by the inclusion of miniscule bone chips. There was a lot of laying and taking away of silverware but we still had to wait for appetizer forks and salt. We were given a "time when we will need the table back." When our server brought dessert menus, and we explained we were on the clock, she appealed the deadline--to no avail. So wait patiently, do as you're told, leave when they say...but do enjoy the space, the exclusive burger, and their superior sense of what you ought to have ....and you will (or let's say we did) take all this attitude and instruction and pay $150.00 (tip not included) for 2 appetizers, 2 glasses of wine, and 3 burgers. As we drifted happily out the door, the manager was instructing a server "And if they just showed up then, well, the answer is "No." That's my answer to Craigie on Main as well.

    (1)

  • Laura P.

    Love, love, love! We went for the first time a few weeks ago for my boyfriends birthday. We decided to splurge and we both went for the 8 course tasting menus. It was a little nerve racking letting the chef plan the full meal, but I recommend going for it. It was exciting waiting to see what would come to the table next. The flavors, variety and presentation were impeccable. In addition to the amazing food, the service was stellar. We had an wonderful server that was down to earth and didn't make us feel foolish for asking what some of the ingredients were. Can't wait for another special occasion to go back!

    (5)

  • Emma S.

    It comes time for me to write my review about Craigie after my second visit. First of all, this is a **nice** restaurant. The atmosphere is lovely (though time #1 we sat at a high-top table which doesn't feel fancy and was really loud) and the food is made from fine ingredients at a high price. The food really is quite good. The service is attentive (overly so at times with multiple servers coming to the table). However, I have a bunch of gripes. Mostly, I think this is a nice restaurant for people who want to feel like foodies but aren't actually foodies. It's fantastic if you've never been to Bondir, for example. The first time we went, we gave some feedback via OpenTable, as we'd spent $400 for a dinner that we just weren't blown away by at all (we'd had the tasting menu) and it was frickin LOUD and we couldn't hear each other across the table. Craigie responded by sending us a $100 gift certificate which we used recently. Our second time was much better (we stuck to entrees), but I still left feeling very "meh" about it overall. Here are my gripes: --the tastes don't match the price. if you're paying 100$+ for a tasting menu or 38$ for an entree, it should be excellent, with fine and interesting tastes.There are many other fancy restaurants in the Boston/Cambridge area that are half the price of Craigie, but better. --Craigie uses certain ingredients and serves certain dishes to SEEM gourmet, not because they actually taste good (example: cow tongue, fish head, pig's head, etc.). I love weird food and am not a picky eater at all, but the menu always comes across as trying too hard, not genuine. --The first time we went, we were served a fish head. This bugged me, not because fish head is gross, but because it's basically trash that they're trying to pass off as gourmet, and the nice little cheeky party of the fish head isn't worth it, and all I could think about was being at a seafood market in Korea and seeing piles of fish heads in the trash. I know it's dumb to be overly fixated on the fish head, but I am. All in all, Craigie on Main is a "very good" restaurant with "very good" food, but it's not excellent or outstanding, and it's not a 5 star write home about experience. If the prices were a bit more reasonable, (like, say, maybe 25$ for an entree), it would be an excellent place that I'd recommend. I just think you leave thinking "I just spent $400 on that?" Really, we just weren't blown away by either visit to Craigie, and for the price--- I WANT TO BE BLOWN AWAY.

    (3)

  • Jenney Z.

    Overall, I would say this place is easily rank top 5 in boston. The pig head is dreamy! It's labeled for 2 but it's enough for 4! You eat it as Peking duck style with the meat wrapped inside the pancake. The sauce is just right, creamy and not too salty. The meat is moist and juicy and the skin is crispy. I can't wait to get the dish again! We also ordered the squid ink paste and pig tail. Delicious! Paste cook al dente and buttery and topped with clam and croutons. Perfect combo! The pig tail, oh the pig tail...I am still drooling now. I mean I am Chinese, well if you hadn't known from my last name. And I haven't had as good of a tail as this one. Well, maybe the one from Drink on congress st is a close call. It's crispy and yet falling of the bone. Just like the pig head! My only complain is the price. The apps are 18 and entrees 38. So pig head is 76. That's half head. If I go to Chinatown, I could get a whole baby pig for like less than 200.

    (5)

  • Hannah C.

    Summary: Chef's Whim during Restaurant Week was a nice treat for our anniversary dinner at a reasonable price, but only 2 of the 5 dishes were standouts... fun to try, but not planning to go back again :P Our friend recommended we try to catch the Chef's Whim dinner while we were in town to celebrate our anniversary in Spring. Since it was Restaurant Week, we were able to make a reservation for a Thursday night at 9:30 pm, but the Chef's Whim is usually only on Sundays, I think. It was REALLY late for us to be eating dinner, but our schedule was bonkers anyways, since we were jetlagged a bit from traveling. We arrived a little early and were seated right away. However, the service was a bit spotty as throughout the evening we found our eyes rolling about the restaurant trying to locate our server and waiting for what would come next. We went with the 6-course menu, but in hindsight, we were so stuffed by the time we hit the 5th course with some courses being rather mediocre that I don't think it's a huge step up to go 6 over 4. For moderate eaters like me, I would just go with the 4-course menu so you can thoroughly savor and enjoy each course and not be SUPER stuffed by the end of the night. Definitely appreciated how they were trying to tailor their courses to their diners... newbies seemed to be getting the specials while repeat customers looked to be getting some other dishes, but it actually made me a little sad thinking that maybe we weren't getting special treatment and might be missing out on something stellar someone else received. I appreciate the concept of a slow meaningful meal, but there were points at which we were waiting 30-40 minutes between finishing the last bite of one course and starting the next one. It made the flow of our dinner a bit choppy, since we wavered between excitement at seeing what would come next and grumpiness that we were having to wait for so long to see what it would be. That said, there were a few highlights among the variety of food we enjoyed. GOOD: Amuse bouche - poached & chilled Maine mussel over funnel cream (something light and savory to get the meal going) 1st - sashimi kona kampachi on sesame seeds/citrus coulis with mustard seeds 2nd [BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT!] - slow-roased monkfish with curred spinach, split pea puree and crab & maine shrimp - some of the freshest and impeccably well-cooked seafood I ever had... the firm texture and surprisingly harmonious flavors were perfection itself. It was all downhill from that apex of fine dining. MEH (everything else): 3rd - asparagus over golden raisins with a poached egg 4th - chicken. It wasn't that memorable. 5th - Meyer lemon sorbet with candied Meyer lemon peel 6th - Dessert (Orange blossom beignet with orange marmalade & creme anglais / Spearmint affogato) Maybe it was the late hour. Maybe it was the packed house. The 2nd course was the absolute star, so it was disappointing for the rest of the meal to not live up to that early highlight. I wouldn't give the main dining room another try, BUT I'm very intrigued by all the hype about the burger at the bar. It was highly recommended by our server.

    (3)

  • Craig Z.

    I've dine at Craigie on Main twice now and had two somewhat different experiences. The first time I went, I did not feel like the food, though good, justified the prices, which are steep. I thought the ingredients were common, and the prepartions nothing special. Upon returning, I found the ingredients still fairly unadventourous, but they had been transformed into much more exciting, and certainly delicious dishes. The best example of this is the chicken, which was stuffed with sausage and accompanied with a combination of fresh and cooked apricots, served in a generous portion. Sure, the chicken is high quality, but the kitchen deserves the credit for making this humble protien extraordinary. Similarly, the octopus app, though very traditional with green olives and chorizo, was excellently cooked, which is not something to be taken granted for at all. For completeness, here are my impressions of other dishes: Sunchoke volute - outstanding, though the caveteli did much, much more for me than the cockscomb Pork 3 ways - very nice, but nothing too exciting here Fried smelt - good, but a big budget production that delivered more in sytle than taste Asparagus - very good, and the egg was delicious, but this dish was a little too plain...some multigrain breadcrums alone may made it pop more Pig tails - excellent, even if a little pricy for what it was Monkfish - yawn Chocolate marquis - truly memroable; loved the beet ice cream Bengiets - too good Some nice other touchs worth noting: nobody does a better amuse bouche, the bread basket is quite generous--though I would gladly trade quantity and variety for the bread to be warmed up, and I was very surprised the butter wasn't salted--and I LOVED the horchatta! Overall, I find the service pleasurable, though I have experienced some mis-steps: one server that was just too familiar and casual, another that didn't alert us to specials and make multiple errors on our check. On both visits, timing left something to be desired. And the atmosphere is nice, but I have found it drafty on both visits. My second meal was the best dinner I've had in serveral visits to Boston, and I found the value much better than on my first visit, so I would highly recommend it for sure to experienced diners; however, I wouldn't recommend it for a special occasion or for people that only can afford to go out occassional for expensive meals...too big a risk based on the inconsistency I experienced. I would certainly return. (5 stars for Boston, probably only 4 in NYC...no offense anybody)

    (5)

  • Rani P.

    Local ingredients, amazing service, five stars all around. We did the 8-course seasonal tasting, and after each course we announced that it might be the best we've ever had that food prepared. By the end, we were so happy that the venison dish ended the savory courses, because we knew NOTHING could top it. Even the desserts were fabulous- and the server's wine recommendations were perfectly paired with each amazing course. I highly recommend you go and celebrate life here with amazing wine, food, and people.

    (5)

  • Jennifer K.

    I love surprises! Especially when it is the Chef's Whim ($40) at Craigie On Main. I don't even know I would be getting the Chef's Whim because originally my reservations was at 7:30 pm and thinking of what to order has been on my mind after reading all these reviews on yelp: Fried Pig Tails? Octopus? Burger? Pig Head? But after switching my reservations to 9:30 pm... my only choice is the Chef's surprise. Can I just say I enjoyed everything? Bluefish Kampachi sashimi Tautog Cape Cod Fish - nicely panfried with a nice crispy skin Sirloin with Bok Choy - so tender with a oxtail based sauce prepared medium rare All were nicely presented and prepared with great care. From the light in texture/flavour/complexity to the heavy. Each dish has it own character. Small portions were great for me so I can savour every bite!! Dessert Time! Another surprise!! We were presented with 3 different desserts! All so pretty and delicious too!! Flan with a ribbon like cake on top Warm Dark Chocolate Brownies with Ice Cream and caramel sauce Torte - layered with cake, chocolate and butter cream The Craigie On Main Chef's Whim Menu is definitely worth every penny. Just come with a open mind and willing to try everything and you would not be disappointed!! Services are attentive and professional!! The wait staffs served all our dish exactly the same time... and explain everything items in the dish for us. The blank menu is perfect for us to take some notes! Oh Kampachi is from Hawaii? Can you spell Kampachi for me.... I am taking notes! ;)

    (4)

  • Ali W.

    I recently had a great brunch here on a Sunday morning. There was a large party that day, so we just sat at the bar. The bar tender was nice and attentive. We started with the House-made Donut and Confiture du Lait (Condensed Milk Jam) -- who doesn't like a good donut?! Then I tried the Grass-Fed Beef "Tongue and Cheek" Hash and Smoked Sablefish Hash, both with a Slow-Poached Egg. I was a little wary about the beef tongue, but it was seasoned well and tasted like delicious brisket. The girl next to us got the Beef Burger, which sounds simple, but it looked liked America's Most Wanted Burger. It makes vegetarians want to eat it. I am not a vegetarian, but I also wanted to eat it.

    (5)

  • Mitali T.

    Updating my review after receiving a lengthy apology and reply from one of the managers. Their message was sent soon after my review but I don't check my Yelp inbox often :) The manager was apologetic and went through each of my complaints to try to address them. I stand by the service being stand-offish but the food being great. Unfortunately I have moved out of Cambridge temporarily but I hope to give Craigie another try sometime in the future. Bumping the review to 2 stars until I'm able to visit in person.

    (2)

  • k n.

    I strolled in for a spot at the bar with a friend at 8:00 on a Friday. We knew we were truly gambling- trying to eat out in Boston on the weekend is near impossible even at the mediocre places, let alone the reputable ones like Craigie. The staff was kind, welcoming, and utterly accommodating. Although there was no room for us right away, they took our names and constantly checkied in with us to let us know how long it would be, to freshen our drinks, and to see how we were. The atmosphere is a bit hectic with a lot of rushing around on a busy weekend night, so I recommend the dining room, not the "chef's table" or the bar area, and a corner table if possible. There it is charming and cozy. The food was fabulous, creative, ultr-fresh, and obviously prepared with a great deal of knowledge and care. I am super hard to please and have found few truly skilled restaurants in Boston. Along with Ten Tables, this is now one of my favorites. We had the veggie mushroom ragout, the salmon for two, sauteed squash and a vegetable plate. Everything was very fresh. We chose a lot of veggies because they are purchased from local farms and the salmon because it was wild Alaskan (in season) and all were spectacular. After some arguing over the dessert menu, we chose the fruit crisp. Despite the unpromising name, this was simply one of the best desserts I have ever had, with very fresh caramelized slightly tart local apples and topped with homemade iced cream. The meal was supplemented by an amuse bouche and two dessert palate cleansers, all phenomenal. I would like to see a slightly fuller selection of red wines by the glass. Otherwise, everything was perfect.

    (5)

  • Uptodate C.

    We dined at the bar and, to be fair, we only ordered wine and a side. Both were not to our taste. We ordered 3 different glasses of wine and only one was any good. The others were weak and vinegar-y in our opinion. We ordered a side of the bone marrow, which comes with bread. The bone marrow side was probably one of the worst bone marrow preparations we have ever had. After ordering this side, we decided we did not need to sample any more of the food. The other patrons plates looked very unadorned, small portions, and unimpressive to us in any visual way. There was nothing to tempt us. Update: the business did offer to reimburse us or to comp us some future food to allow us to taste things that might be more to our liking. We may take them up on it since it has been so many years and things may have changed. At this point it is worth giving them another try. Will update my review once we have dined again.

    (2)

  • Katherine P.

    Chef's Table: Awesome opportunity to the see the chefs at work. Best as a reservation for two people since talking in a line of four is kind of ridiculous. Chef's Whim: 6 Courses Cons: Salt masked 2 / 6 of the dishes Pros: Fried rib and 24 hour cooked pork belly = MOUTHGASM. Fantastic cocktails. It's restaurants like this that make me happy going out to eat doesn't have to be about pouring butter on a piece of fish. Although I'm fine with that too.

    (4)

  • Josh O.

    It's been far, far too long since I've Yelped anything, but it seems quite appropriate that my first review after such a long hiatus is one of the best meals I've had in a perhaps even longer. I was actually at Craigie for their opening, but wasn't there long enough to form an impression other than that the decor was a huge improvement over La Groceria's. That isn't really saying much, but I would say that Craigie on Main has one of the most attractive, modern dining areas that I've seen in the area, and their fully open kitchen does a lot for the atmosphere of the place. But on to the food. Their menu is renewed daily based on whatever the best, freshest ingredients they can get that morning are. The menu last night, for example, had been printed at 5:08 pm that day (putting that info on the menu was, I thought, a nice touch). I decided to go with seafood and had the Spanish octopus with chorizo oil appetizer followed by the Irish Sea trout and finished off with the white corn grits dessert. The octopus was among the best I've ever had, and was certainly a dish where the attempt at ultimate freshness really shines through. It was completely not rubbery as you might expect from other octopus dishes you've eaten. In fact it was even more tender than I knew octopus was capable of being and had a fantastic texture to match (and I'm a big octopus fan). The same was true for the trout. It looked more like salmon than any trout that I've ever seen, but certainly tasted like the freshest trout you've ever had. It was lightly seasoned such that you thought you were eating it straight out of the sea, and was paired with equally delicious rock shrimp and mussels. The mussels, it's worth mentioning, were also the best I've ever had. In the past I've thought I didn't like mussels and so avoided them; I actually almost didn't order the trout because the menu said it was served with mussels, but I'm glad I did. As with everything else, they were so fresh, and so well prepared that the only word that can even come close to adequately describing them is delicious. This is probably not a place that I would go for dinner often, but the quality of the food is so good and the prices, though high, so appropriate, that it's certainly been put at the top of the list of places to go for a nice night out. Having lived literally right around the corner from this place not too long ago, I can say that Craigis on Main is a fantastic addition and is definitely going to be doing its part to drag Central Square, kicking and screaming, into the realms of classiness.

    (5)

  • Ashley J.

    We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Craigie on Main this weekend and all I can say is UNBELIEVABLE. If you love food and can afford to splurge, get your bootie to Craigie ASAP. Get the 10 course tasting menu, sit at the chef's table, and prepare to enjoy every minute. To see pictures of our meal and my husband's review of the night, check out seedancook.com/2009/07/1… .

    (5)

  • Roxanne C.

    Arguably the most expensive meal I've ever paid for, but totally worth it. I'd go back in a heartbeat... well, maybe after I've saved up some more $$ or if someone else was offering to pay. Drinks were very tasty, food was very tasty, wine was very tasty. An added bonus: Chef Tony presented our final savory course... awesome.

    (5)

  • J. G.

    We went for brunch today and they were having a special prix fixe menu to support the Greater Boston Food Bank. This was by far one of the best meals I've had in Boston. I can't wait to go back for dinner. We ate at the bar since we didn't have reservations and I think if I went back I would probably sit at the bar again. Great to people watch and the bartenders are all great. It's nice that they don't make you stalk people for their seats and have an order. I've honestly never seen that at any restaurant. I started with the fruit salad and yogurt, which was perfect while my husband had the fresh doughnut. The doughnut was warm and perfect. I had 2 eggs sunnyside up and the skirt steak. The skirt steak was PERFECTLY cooked and PERFECTLY seasoned. My husband ordered the burger, which was good but not amazing. I think I prefer my burgers to be more classic and I didn't particularly like the sauce on it. The fries were ok, but I don't particularly like shoestring fries, so that's just probably a personal preference. The burger was well cooked though. I had the fruit crisp with ice cream for dessert, which was good but nothing stellar and my husband had the profiteroles with peanut butter ice cream, which was also good.

    (4)

  • jordan n.

    Maybe my last 6 years in SF have tainted me but What a huge let down... The food was really heavy, a lot of flavor but in some dish and not enough in others. My hanger steak was pretty good but there was way to much peppercorn, seriously I started coughing on a few bites. My wifes fish on the other hand had no taste, Or friends got the duck which was ok and the chicken which was good but no better then a 10 dollar whole chicken from russo's or whole foods. These are $30-38 entrees they really need to step it up. The Service was good but for $60+ per person the food fell way short. I am not sure what all the hype is a bout but I would skip this joint for sure. SECOND VISIT I need to add to my post and have added 2 stars, after my 1st review I was contacted by the owner, they comped us another meal and this time it was much better. I had chicken 3 ways and wife had the fish special both were very good. Our drinks apps and dessert were also very good. On another note local business should pay much closer attention to their reviews. Cragie definitely cares about this and value their customers experience.

    (4)

  • Fortress A.

    I had the Prix fixe Sunday Brunch with free tea and coffee for $29 with 2 friends. The Jasmine Pearl was so fragrant, that I was almost distract by it. We all had basically the same thing, fruit salad, scallops with corn oatmeal kind of thing. And rice pudding type of thing for desert. Every course was delightful, and the servers were so cute and helpful:).

    (5)

  • Sandy T.

    We went to Craigie after hearing rave reviews from our friends who had their burger for brunch. I got the scallops with corn polenta and my husband got the burger. The burger is smaller than your average burger at other restaurants so if you are a big eater, you may need to get an additional side to fill you up. Overall we thought the dishes were good but not great. It's definitely on the pricey side so going there for brunch will cost you about $18 - $25 for an entree depending on what you order. Not sure whether their food is worth the craving to go back but it is a good restaurant so it is worth trying at least once. 4 stars for the food but 3 stars for the price.

    (3)

  • Thor T.

    Tony Maws runs an excellent restaurant where - so it seems - every table is occupied by happy diners. The concise seasonal menu offers something for all tastes and the carefully sourced dishes are executed with superior skill and care. We admired a fritto of greaseless and impeccably fresh smelts and the ragoût composed of mushrooms, house-made sausage, cock's combs, and various fall vegetables. A juicy (and very tasty) chicken over polenta made for a very satisfying main course, as did the local pork prepared three ways - melt-in-your mouth suckling pig, unctuous pork belly, and a rib that featured a faintly Asian rub (star anise). The gingerbread pain pedu was outstanding, light yet rich, its sweetness accentuated by an intense pineapple sauce. The service is knowledgeable and attentive. One small gripe: while I applaud the trend of restaurants to serve filtered tap water (both still and carbonated), I think that charging $7 per carafe is a bit much. The kitchen, with its fascinating ballet of chefs concentrating on their various tasks, is in full view and (at least for me) endlessly fascinating. Many diners love this "openness." I find the strong, often intrusive smells (from frying) a bit distracting.

    (5)

  • John C.

    Written 10/6/08 before move to Main St. My wife and I arrived with another couple at our appointed time and were quickly seated. The dining room is quite small but warmly appointed. Our waiter was excellent; friendly, knowledgeable, self effacing, there when we needed him and not when we didn't. Two things at Craigie can conspire against the unadventurous. One, the menu is short. And two, they serve a fair amount of offal. The American Heritage Dictionary defines offal as (1) Waste parts, especially of a butchered animal; (2) Refuse; rubbish. Foodies will agree that this is an awful definition for what can arguably be some of the best food on the planet, especially in the skilled hands of the folks at Craigie. Examples of the offal on Craigie's menu last weekend: 1. Beef marrow - offered as an appetizer. 2. Cocks' combs - also an appetizer. 3. Sweetbreads - an appetizer you guess? Wrong, an entree! 4. Cod cheeks - okay, not actually offal but it sounds like it. The food was so good that I wished for more variety but I was delighted by my two choices, cocks' combs and sweetbreads. The cocks' combs were served as a ragout with mushrooms, in-house sausage and a poached egg. The sweetbreads were perfect as well. Served with a deliciously rich brown sauce. The only knock on this dish is there wasn't much else on the plate besides the sweetbreads. My wife had them as well and she felt a bit overwhelmed by the amount and the lack of sides. I wish I had the ability to wax more poetically about my first experience here. My final analysis is that it was a wonderful experience and one I highly recommend. If you love food and are willing to go out on a limb, you'll love Craigie Street Bistro.

    (5)

  • Edward K.

    Came here a second time and the experience was even better than the first. We tried the usual items from the a la carte menu but also got the Veal for Two special and it was off the hook awesome. John and Ted at the bar were as always incredibly helpful in mixing us off-the-menu drinks that I would never be able to even begin imagining. Will definitely be coming again soon.

    (5)

  • Sutanuka L.

    food was good but nothing to rave about... have been there 3 times but everytime I feel like there is always something missing.

    (4)

  • Tiffany P.

    I LOVED Craigie on Main- so much that I had to provide my first ever review!!! We went to Craigie on St. Pat's Day for my bday and had a great time. We sat at the Chef's table/bar which was fun and had an incredibly helpful waiter. When my husband and I arrived we sat down and had no clue what to order since the menu was so unique. Our waiter was phenonmenal at providing recommendations starting with cocktails. We gave a few of our favorite drink types and he gave some killer recommendations - and the drink I had became my new favorite drink. We then proceeded to order dinner and completely (thankfully) ventured outside our comfort zone with the guided hand of our waiter and tried cod cheecks, bone marrow, sweetbreads, and all kinds of amazing food. We also had bass, amazing dessert, and fun appetizers. Overall, a GREAT experience and I cannot wait to go back. I already know that I have to try the burger that I kept seeing pass by which prokoved constant mouth-watering as well as go back to try the chef tasting menu. Highly recommend! Make sure you get reservations!

    (5)

  • Connie U.

    Most overrated underwhelming place I have been to in a LONG time. This was the same for the couple seated next to us last Saturday night. The only thing they had going for them was the service was good. The food was sooo limited and what we did order wasn't that good at all. I ordered Soup, which was good, an appetizer - grilled octopus (I think) is was not good after the second bite. Just not cooked well. Sashimi, not good either. Scallop entree, decent at best. I would NEVER go there again. I almost had friends meet us there and I am VERY glad I didn't because I would have been embarrassed by suggesting it.

    (1)

  • Nancy M.

    My family and I tried Craigie on Main on a recent trip to Boston and were impressed. Sat in the bar, which is quite comfortable, and liked the roast chicken, the mi-cuit arctic char and the pork. In our case, we were seated on time, and service was friendly.

    (4)

  • J C.

    Been here twice. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston area. First time, did a proper meal with apps, entre, dessert, and wine. Favorites are the burger, bone marrow, and pork. Second time sat at the bar and ordered a bunch of appetizers with cocktails. Love the octopus, cod cheeks, and seafood sausage. The bartenders are experts at mixing various cocktails and really know their stuff; ask them to recommend and mix up something off the cocktail menu. Craigie's is definitley one of those restaurants that my tongue salivates when I just hear the name spoken out loud.

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    Last night I went to Craigie on Main for Chef's Whim. It was my birthday. I hadn't been feeling well all day, but I was really looking forward to dinner. By 930pm it seemed like I was on the mend. When we were seated at the table, there was a card from Craigie wishing me a Happy Birthday. Our waiter and hostess knew everything about us based on casual questions my husband had asked or mentioned on the phone. Both wished me a happy birthday upon arrival, and our waiter let us know that he knew my husband was a pescetarian and he would talk to the chefs to accommodate. They did, gladly. Again, neither my birthday or my husband's diet were big points when making the reservation. They just paid attention. I've worked in restaurants before, so service is something that often disappoints me when going out to eat. I have never felt so welcomed and taken care as I did last night. When our first course arrived I felt instantly revitalized and felt like I was definitely feeling better. 2nd course I still felt ok. Right before the 3rd course I was feeling faint and began shaking. I was picking at this delicious plate of monkfish with yuzu, ginger, and chickpeas and was worrying if I was going to be sick. What to do? I couldn't finish. My husband called over the waiter to let him know that I'd suddenly had a turn for the worse. He was concerned, stopped the courses and brought the hostess over. They just wanted me to be happy, they would do whatever we wanted. Continue with the remaining three courses, trim it down to 4, or we could possibly even come back the following Sunday. I knew that if they brought out the 4th course, I would not be able to eat it, but I really didn't want to leave when we had been treated so wonderfully. Unfortunately, I had to admit that I could not go on. They re-booked us for this Sunday, they only charged us for our drinks, and continually made us feel that they just wanted the best for us. I was nearly moved to tears. This was the type of service that I dream about. Kind, knowledgeable, unobtrusive, elegant but welcoming, and with obvious love for food and the experience of dining. Without question the best dining experience I have ever had. I cannot wait to finish my 6 courses this Sunday and I would recommend Craigie to anyone and everyone.

    (5)

  • Shirley Y.

    craigie would have received a higher rating if it wasn't for the fact that it took me 25 minutes from the time i walked in the door from a full time job and a part time class at school to get a sip of wine. what was ironic was that there were probably three times as much waitstaff employed than at any other restaurant establishment, even in this economic downturn, and the hierarchy was apparent. i had walked in and gave the two hosts at the door my name and that i was part of a party for two with an 8.00pm reservation. i had actually arrived early at 7.40pm. the host proceeded to check in my coat and my bag, and reported that i was the first to arrive [obviously, being this early] and that i am welcome at the bar. first, i walked to the wrong bar -- at the open kitchen. silly me. the host had to apologetically tell me that the bar was at the other side of the restaurant. no worries. i walk over, and took a seat at the end of the bar next to some guy with a pile of bones in front of him. he was chatting about how good the bone marrow was and that he would like to pack them up to take home to his dogs. the bartender he was chatting to saw me sit down and peruse the bar and dinner menus already laid out in front of me. i asked the bartender for a drink menu, which he promptly produced. i requested a recommendation, but by then, the bartender was making another drink. he said that he would be right with me, but then he disappeared. probably five minutes later, some other guy with a marron shirt, black vest and glasses showed up, and recommended a bottle. i quickly and decisively said, "i will try that." ten minutes later, nothing. by then, my date had arrived, and we left the bar to get seated. i requested for them to transfer the bottle of wine to our table, whenever they remembered. when we approached the hosts to get seated [by then, there were three of them], they explained that our table was being set. five minutes more of us waiting by the door with the heavy traffic speeding by us. we were finally presented with a four-person table adjacent to the door and by the open kitchen with high bar stools. we looked longingly at the normal tables, where people could sit closely together. we sat down across from each other, until i finally got exasperated, and changed seats so that i can be next to my boyfriend. that, and the fact that the wine finally arrived, made me much happier. when we sat down, we were blessed with a very sweet server. i had asked her if she was aware that the bottle of wine i had ordered was being transferred to the table, and she assured me that "it's right there, looking at you!" she sensed it was what i needed, immediately. after the wine, a hearty but slightly fruity bordeaux [they have a good wine selection, with few sweet fruity wines], we ordered the assiette of three terrines and the greek sardines. the pate plate was great, my favorite being the liver pate, but the greek sardines were superb. i had no idea that the oiliness of the fish could complement the mild sweetness of beets so well. we elected to skip the tasting menu to just order entrees. my boyfriend's tasmanian sea trout was described as, and eventually looked, a lot like salmon with the pink color, but was less meaty and lighter in flavor. the meat flecked off perfectly with the touch of a fork. i had elected to go with the pork done two ways: crispy and pork belly. delicious but so rich, i had to pack it up and save it for lunch tomorrow. our server threw in more of the yummy iggy's french bread for me. we still had our traditional dessert despite being rather full -- they split the one glass of laphroig scotch in to separate glasses. the atmosphere was not what i expected. i suppose it should be what i expected, since it is essentially a french bistro. the open kitchen, with tony maws presiding [he's the one without the hat] conveyed a sense of bustling activity, rather than the more sophistocated, serene atmosphere i had envisioned. i would go back again, knowing that it had a more casual atmosphere, and sit at the bar instead next to my boyfriend, where we can sample the equally interesting bar menu.

    (3)

  • Bruce J.

    Read the reviews and expected a great meal....but what I had was an "out of this world "meal. Got lucky and was able to book a table for the same evening and it kept getting better from there. Seated promptly with view of the kitchen. As an amateur wanna-be chef, watching the kitchen at work was a treat. The Chef was on top of every plate leaving the kitchen. The colors, presentation, and taste of everything from the selections of terrines and pates to the mushroom ragout were stunning. My partner and I each had the Pork Three Ways and I am now a devotee of the porcine world. The waiter helped me select a wine and it was perfect (and reasonable). I've lived in Europe and Asia and have eaten in some of the finest restaurants in the world....and Craigies has now joined my list. Loved it.

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    burger! donut! burger! donut! any place where the small board indicating which foods to "86" includes donuts and burgers and profiteroles is ok with me. everything i've eaten here has been amazing. even the coffee is amazing (made my friend say OMG). bet on the meat if you cant decide what to order. if you want the burger, get a brunch reservation and then you can get a donut too. i might be a little obsessed with this donut...

    (5)

  • Matthias J.

    Our dinner at Craige on Main has to be described more as "culinary entertainment" than a regular meal. While my wife and I usually get in and out of a restaurant in about one hour, we lingered at Craige for over two. My wife and I, not wanting to make difficult choices, decided to go with the Six-Course Tasting Menu. This consisted of 6 dishes, all of which without exception were far from anything I had had anywhere else previously, much less something I would have been able to make myself, ranging from squid noodles (not noodles WITH squid but noodles made FROM squid), to "sabre fish" and ending in "sweetbreads in lobster sauce". I have to admit, I had to look this last one up on my iPhone as we sat at the table. Turns out, "sweetbread" is the culinary name for thymus gland. Maybe I am just redneck more familiar with BBQ than haute cuisine, but this was a first for me, and it was excellent! Our culinary adventure continued to roasted bone marrow, and although I am not a fan of this extremely heavy dish, I need to take the blame myself, as this was one of several side choices and therefore the only dish we actually ordered ourselves. Don't be alarmed when you see the portion sizes. At the end of the meal, between the 3 amuse-bouches, the sorbets prior to the desert and the bread, your 6 courses ends up being more like 8 and you don't leave the restaurant hungry. Before starting the meal, we ordered some excellent cocktails from the bar. The only disappointment of the night was, that we had planned to start there, but it was full when we arrived. Our waiter was superb. She explained in detail every one of the complicated dishes, that just after hearing them, my wife and I usually boiled down to "some kind of rabbit" or "two types of duck" summaries. Our waiter noticed I was not drinking my beer and inquired if there was an issue. When I indicated it was OK but not quite what I liked, she immediately offered to exchange it for a glass of wine she thought would go better with the meal. I declined, but after about 10 minutes, she came back and insisted. Everyone in the restaurant, from the valet boy who opened the door, to the chef that came out to explain the main dish, were extremely friendly. We paid almost $280 for the two of us (and my wife had no alcohol after the initial cocktail). Although it will be a while before we come back, we will most certainly do so.

    (5)

  • Scott R.

    Fantastic. My wife and I have been wanting to go here for a while, and last night we finally got around to going. We had a great table in the corner, affording us a view of the open kitchen as well as all the other tables. The wait staff was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. And of course, the food was out of this world. We had the 6-course tasting dinner, consisting of 2 seafoods, 1 soup, 1 vegetable, 1 meat, and dessert. The absolute standout of the evening was the spring onion soup with a grilled cheese sandwich made with cheese from Borough Market in London (which we had just visited in January). The soup was creamy and tasted just like spring should taste, and the sandwich was quite possibly the most perfect grilled cheese sandwich in existence. Also fantastic was the yellowtail tuna over avocado and the lamb trifecta - loin, tongue, and sweetbreads. I would heartily recommend CoM to anybody who loves food.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    Amazing experience. We tried the 6 course chef menu and were not disappointed. Everything was unique and delicious. Servers were very good. We will be back.

    (5)

  • Leah L.

    I came here with my partner to celebrate his birthday and we had a wonderful experience. The food lives up to its hype. The menu changes slightly on a nightly basis, so I'm not sure if what we ate is offered all the time. The Crispy-Fried Pig's Tails were literally one of the best things I've ever eaten. It felt kind of naughty to eat them with your hands when everyone is dressed so spiffy around you. They were sweet, tender, and crispy, and I wish I could eat them every day of my life. For an entree, I had the Grass-Fed Steak, which is a rarity for me since I don't eat a lot of red meat. It was delicious, as where the sides it came with. My partner had the Whole Wheat Conchiglie Pasta, and kept groaning in happiness at each bite. He ordered the Vermont Pork Three Ways for his entree, and wouldn't share a bite with me, which I know meant it was delicious. The service was very pleasant, but definitely a bit slow. Other tables that sat after us were served their food before ours, even parties that we overheard making many dietary alterations. For special occasions, Craigie is a must. Enjoy the delectable food and your company, but don't focus on the service.

    (4)

  • Frank M.

    From beginning to the end and all in between Craigie on Main is Utopia. knowledgable service with a smile to ambrosial menu, comfy atmosphere! I'll be back for shizza!

    (5)

  • Alon R.

    So after posting this negative review someone from Craigie on Main reached out to me and apologized. They even sent me a gift card for $150 to come back and try eating there again. It took us a few months to get back there but boy am I glad we went back! We went last night for dinner and were treated like royalty! Our waitress was on point! She was attentive, calm, and very knowledgeable about the food. The menu had a lot of tastier options (personal preference) this time around and the food had some outstanding moments. The Cepe Mushroom Ragu dish was OUTSTANDING. I kept saying mmmm and ahhh and couldn't resist every bite. Truly a 5 star dish. My fiance got the fried clams to start which were sort of meh. They were a bit of a miss, they were good but no where near as special as my dish. Then for our main dish I got the Sirloin with the tongue and my fiance got the Chicken stuffed with sausage in a Mediterranean inspired dish. This time my fiance's dish was a 5! So yummy and special. Mine was a bit confusing...while all of it was very good I felt that it should've been lamb based on the spices they used. I give my main a 4 and his an absolute amazing 5!! Also - important to note dessert was great and on point and they even gave us free wine to pair with our desserts this time. Our seats were also the best in the house in the corner so we can see the entire kitchen and the whole restaurant. I feel like we must have been flagged in their internal system as patrons who complained last time and need to be treated super well this time. Regardless it worked! We were def super happy and overall had the experience we wanted to have the first time we came in! Craigie has still got it and was able to turn a sour experience in the past into a truly great one!

    (4)

  • Noa C.

    I have been here a handful of times and I'm always reminded how great this place is. I have come most frequently for the Chef's Whim, a Sunday night 4 or 6 course adventure for a great price. The dishes are small, but I'm always surprised at how satiated afterwards. It is always fun and exciting food and they accommodate for food allergies/aversions. One of my favorite parts is the dessert - everyone at the table gets something different and it's so fun to share! We also came once at opening time for the elusive burger. We were seated at 5:35, ordered our burger at 5:40 and they were sold out of it by 5:46 (I know b/c I looked at my watch). The meal started, as always, with an amuse-bouche: this evening it was either beef tongue or whitefish crudo. Both beautifully presents and delicious. Then the burger arrived. The best way I can describe it is as a steak burger rather than a ground-meat burger. It was perfectly cooked, and we opted to add bacon to it, which was a perfect addition! The cocktail list is lovely, as is their beer list. The service was fantastic! The waiter was even super nice to the terrible, complaining table next to ours! While this place is a bit pricey, it is worth every penny!! Definitely check out the Chef's Whim!!!

    (5)

  • Ashley Z.

    An institution at Boston yet I have never been until recently. Shame on me! Went there with couple friends for dinner. It was snowing and stormy out, yet the restaurant surprisingly filled up. I took it as a very good sign. For starter i had the House-Made Pâté de Trois Foies. To be frank I think Russel House serves a better dish - this one is just overly salty and bland. I did like all of the accompaniments though. We also shared the Crispy-Fried Pig's Tails. So much collagen! Good for the skin ladies =) For mains we shared the Confit and Roasted Milk-Fed Pig's Head and the Vermont Pork Three Ways. The Pig's Head is not for the faint of the heart - it was a very realistic presentation of what you are eating. But I'm Chinese! Nothing can deter me. Although I liked it enough, at the end of the day it tasted more like the crispy roasted pork you can get in any good Cantonese BBQ place. Great for novelty factor, so so for value. The Vermont Pork on the other hand I highly recommend! I loved the three distinct presentations and ways of cooking it. It was rich without been fatty. At the end of the meal I realized I just had a head-to-tail meal! I guess that amounts to something...

    (4)

  • Sebastian S.

    Come here for the tasting menu at night. The chefs serve you random plates of delicious concoctions in a 6 course meal. The lobster soup was exquisite. Everything was exquisitely made, actually, from the first appetizer to the doughnut balls for dessert. The waitresses and waiters were very professional. Craigie on Main should get awarded for their professional waiter service, because not only were they accommodating, helpful, and friendly, but they treated you like an old friend. I would definitely come again.

    (5)

  • Sean S.

    No better place to eat in Cambridge than Craigie on Main. Everything exceeded our expectations, which were high from past visits. The wine list is fun. Service was solicitous without being obsequious. Unfortunate that the pig face was unavailable even though I called the week before. We will try again.

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    So, I was on the fence between 3 or 4 stars and would have given a 3.5 if I could. This place serves awesome food, and the service is knowledgeable and very friendly. We had been wanting to try this place out for some time now (like, years) and just never had. We spontaneously joined some friends one night for a birthday celebration and it was an awesome time, great vibes, great food - really fun night. We all went with the "Ultimate Experience" 8 course tasting. Each course was small but delectable and by the end we were more than satisfied (full)... But then the bill came. I suppose it wasn't anything unexpected but there's a difference between knowing sorta kinda what the bill is going to be, and actually seeing it on a receipt and agreeing to put your credit card down for it. There were four of us and the bill was over $800 including tip. Now, granted, we each had 3 cocktails and we split a bottle of wine (note, the cheapest on the menu ~$37). We certainly spared no expense and didn't worry much about what we were ordering because we had accepted, before even entering the restaurant, that it was going to be an expensive night. With everything considered we really felt the meal was not worth $400+ for my wife and I. Again, I'll say, we very much enjoyed ourselves and our friends and the food was really good. But for $400+? I think this is a one-and-done. If you're willing to fork over that type of cash on one meal experience, go for it! We just feel that it's a little rich for our blood. We can gladly cross this one off the list and say we went, had a good time, and won't be back.

    (3)

  • Zach N.

    Since I moved to Boston, I wanted to see if the legends are true. All of my food-conscious friends talked Craigie up, and I finally had a chance to go. It was brunch, and it was insanely good. The deets: 1. We started off with coffees and a cappuccino. All were great. 2. Appetizers were several of the house-made donuts and the granola and house-made yogurt. The yogurt and granola was good, but didn't knock my socks off. That was the donuts' job. Holy hell... those donuts. I've dreamt of them every night since. Delicious chocolatey sugar-coated nuggets of pastry goodness, smothered in an uber-rich cajeta. I licked the plate. Actually. 3. My girlfriend got the roasted veg entree. It came with scrambled eggs and salsa verde and was very good. I only had a bit, but the veggies were awesome and the eggs were ridiculously creamy. 4. My friend got the beef cheek and tongue hash. An egg an crispy onions completed the dish, and from what I could tell by my single bite, it was delicious. The cheek and tongue were melt-in-your-mouth tender. 5. My dish... oh my... my dish was the shrimp and hominy. On the menu it's scallops and crab, but mine was rock shrimp instead. The hominy is from Anson Mills and in itself is a nearly transcendent experience. The shrimp were plump, plentiful, and delicious. The egg was perfectly runny. The red chili broth/sauce was super flavorful with just enough spice, and the radishes offered a nice textural changeup. To make a relatable comparison, this dish was the best pozole I've ever eaten, but with shrimp instead of pork. It. Was. Insane. If it's available, you need to order it. The legends are true. Craigie's reputation precedes it. The service is impeccable, the food is great, and all the good things you've ever heard are true. Next time, I'll be there for dinner, and I cannot wait.

    (5)

  • Adam L.

    Went here for the prix fixe Valentine's Day meal. The food is 5 stars. The service was 3 given the price point. If you are going to charge over $200 PER PERSON, you need to do things like wipe the crumbs off the table. They did fold napkins when I got up and refill drinks, but I didn't see the server as much as I would have liked. She was very pleasant but I could barely hear her she was so soft-spoken. What really stood out to me was they brought the wrong wine pairing for one of the dishes. He offered to just leave it at the table and let us drink it. THEN THEY DIDN'T BRING THAT WINE PAIRING WHEN THE DISH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO WITH CAME. Seriously? You could see I didn't have a pairing when that later dish was out. It was very good, but for the price I expected a lot more.

    (3)

  • Shawn C.

    Epic eating experience. Only in Boston for one day so every eat had to be on point / and this one thankfully was well worth it! Got a reservation by fortuitous timing. Nice ambiance even in the bar area. Bread was great - always a good sign. Loved everything we had. Highlight was Vermont Ham. Squid ink rigatoni was an especially nice touch to start with.

    (5)

  • James M.

    This place is cool. Really pretty inside. Bar is awesome. Drinks are perfect. Everyone is very polite and friendly. Food ranges from confused and overproduced to the best fish i've ever had. I was a pretty upset that the hostess tried to seat us in the bar after I had specifically made a reservation for the dining room. We then had to wait 15 minutes for a proper table and as I realized that she had given our table to someone else, I graduated to very upset. My ire soon dissipated once we were sat in the dining room and I couldn't help but focus on the beautiful pork smell emanating from the open kitchen. We got 8 courses. the pates were perfect the sashimi was good if a little overdressed the asparagus dish was trying way too hard (i did not enjoy this one) seafood risotto was excellent rabbit sausage pasta was creative and delicious THE FISH HEAD OMFG THE FISH HEAD BURY ME WITH THE FISH HEAD BEST FISH HEAD IN THE WORLD MAYBE idk the filet with tongue was a pretty sloppy dish imo why put tongue?? it doesn't add any flavor. I thought that the tongue was a silly distraction from what would've been a really nice dish. the desserts were all fantastic but i wasn't even hungry by then. the digestifs were a nice ending At times i feel like the chef was doing way too much and needed to take a step back, but on the other hand, a lot of it was perfect. I actually would give this meal 4 stars but at $200 a head, excellent is only average. I would come back but probably just to lurk in the bar.

    (3)

  • Katie O.

    Bind blowing!!! One of my favorite restaurants. We have been a couple if times. Most recently, we went for their "game dinner". It amazed me how the chef thinks of some of these dishes. Every course was a different food orgasm! There is an open kitchen, and I love watching the chef and cooks in action. You know when they plate the food with tweezers it's gonna be good. The service is impeccable as well. As far as the bad reviews go...yes, sometimes you have to wait even with a reservation, but the cocktails are fantastic. Just plan on waiting around enjoying a couple. Anyone who was "underwhelmed" by the food probably just doesn't know enough about food to appreciate it. Craigie is expensive, but well worth every penny. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    I needed to write a review for the exceptional experience I had with my boyfriend here this past weekend. I had heard amazing things about this place for a while, and picked it to celebrate an anniversary with the boy. I was a little hesitant about the price point and the fanciness of the place upon seeing the menu online, but wanted to enjoy the experience! We had 9pm reservations, easily accommodated and seated right away. The service was exceptional throughout the whole evening, with waitstaff bringing us out small tasting dishes, folding napkins whenever we got up, and highly attentive to any needs. Our waitress was amazing, I wish I remembered her name so she could get kudos :) We decided on the a la carte option rather than the chef's tasting plates, every dish was amazing, fresh, and unique. I got the whole wheat pasta with the ragout for a first dish and the striped bass for my entree, the boyfriend got the salad with celery root and pork belly and the pork three ways. Most impressively, our waitress noticed that I did not eat all of my entree as the inside was slightly underdone (after she had made a point to steer me away from the salmon entree as it would be too tender for my taste). She immediately spoke to the chef, who agreed it was cooked improperly and COMPED THE WHOLE ENTREE. I certainly wasn't expecting this but felt this was an exceptional example of the service we received all night. The night ended with two small complimentary cups of sassafrass mint tea served with a candle to end the night on a special note. I will definitely be returning here for my next special event :)

    (5)

  • L F.

    If you are ready to go on a culinary adventure, Craigie on Main is your spot! Wow, amazing food, wonderful ambiance and excellent service. I can easily say that Craigie on Main served the best meal I have enjoyed in the six plus years I have lived in Boston. Tony Maws serves a lively, innovative menu that delights the senses. If you are feeling extra spendy definitely try either the six or eight course tasting menu, you won't be disappointed. Since it was my birthday, our waitress convinced us to try the eight course tasting menu. It was the most wonderful experience. We arrived around 6:40 and were there until after 10 pm. We didn't feel rushed. The portions were perfect! We even tried things that wouldn't normally would have not necessarily ordered from the menu, like the frogs legs. I appreciate that Craigie on Main sources many of its ingredients locally, and adjusts its menu to what is seasonally available. They also have an extensive, interesting drink menu, so if going all out for a fancy meal isn't your thing, you can always go to the bar for something lighter and imbibe. I also have to commend Craigie on Main for their excellent service. I found all of the serving staff to be extremely friendly and polite (not the typical upscale snobbery found elsewhere in the city). I was pleased that the restaurant took note of my Open Table request for a corner table, which proved to be a lovely, intimate dining experience.

    (5)

  • Annie S.

    I got the 6 course tasting menu and it was so delicious, but also just so fun. It's definitely an experience- you don't know what's coming! There were five courses and then a dessert one. I went with my parents, and we each were given a different dessert course which was yummy. The best one was the apple fritter. The 5 courses were a nice range- sashimi, a pate (though honestly i hated the pate, but my parents liked it), wheat pasta, a fish, and veal 3 ways.

    (5)

  • Minh C.

    It was the first huge snowstorm of 2013. It was in fact still heavily snowing when I left for Craigie. I was glad I journeyed through the foot of snow to get to Craigie. Inside, I was first greeted by the hostess, standing in front of the open kitchen bustling with activity. I was quickly taken to my table, where the Lady of the Table was patiently waiting. Craigie quickly replenishes the bread basket, so be careful to not fill yourself up on it! We had the six course chef's tasting menu with the theme around fish. Overall, I thought most (not all) of the dishes were great. Tony even came out of the kitchen to bring us our last dish. As with most restaurants though, I thought the dessert was so-so. Regardless, I will definitely return.

    (4)

  • Bob M.

    Went early on a Friday night and sat bar side , so we could get a chance at one of the 18 nightly burgers. Great staff, although the waiter deftly pointed me to the most expensive beer on the menu. Guys, this is Boston. Why wouldn't you have Harpoon IPA as a choice? Sierra Nevada is great, but Harpoon is local, fresher, and just as good. Main problem I had was the physical layout. We were at a long table, arranged parallel to the bar, with very little space to move. Every time some one walked behind my chair (often) I got slammed or jostled. After 90 minutes I felt like I needed a chiropractor. Gotta believe that table is regular trouble for both customers and staff, and they've made a conscious decision on revenue over comfort. On the minus side, the burgers. There were three left, we grabbed them all for the table. They were a bit over-seasoned with some salt/herb mix, so the flavor of the beef was masked. Also a bit too dense, with a pate quality rather than fat. I wouldn't order one again, given the other choices. The fried clams were very good, but a bit too frou-frou in presentation and sauce. If you're going to go fried clams, give me a greasy half-pint paper container and a mayo-based tartar sauce. Full whole belly please. Again, we're in Boston here. Best thing I had was the octopus, Served with an ink (?) based sauce on micro-greens, it was perfectly cooked. Savory, complex, delicious. I could have done three servings. Damned good, but not really up to the hype.

    (4)

  • Steve C.

    One star? I know it might seem harsh, but cold over-cooked eggs with bland hash and oily potato strings is not a good breakfast by any measure. Let's start with "Phantom Gourmet", the television show that I can only surmise takes bribes to write reviews. I have gone to nearly a dozen restaurants over the past four years based on Phantom reviews and I can assure you they have no relation to the actual quality of the food or service. This place is rated as the best brunch in Cambridge by the Phantom, but I would contend you would be better off eating donuts from 7-11 than going here, or maybe just skipping the meal all together. Okay, so that was a bit strong. The food is made for Facebook/Instagram folks. It's very pretty and the plating was nice. For the 15 seconds I saw the food coming to the table I was very pleased. That was the highest point of the experience. The coffee was okay but oily, like it had sat out and been re-heated (this needs to be said as that is a key part to any brunch in my eyes). I know someone out there is going to argue "You just don't know good coffee!" Well, maybe. I've been at MIT for 4 years killing myself with the stuff and I know what I like. I drink coffee everyday, 3-6 cups of it, and I drink it from almost anywhere I can buy it, and never have I had such a gross cup of the stuff, that is except for when I make the mistake of re-heating it in a microwave, and surprisingly that is exactly what this tasted like... I ordered the hash, thinking it would be a nice simple meal. I need to state that I have a deep love for diner corned beef hash, it is to me simply the best hangover/drinking food known to man. What came to my table was a concept of hash (meat+potatoes) redesigned by an art school freshman thinking that piling things on top of each other made them better tasting. Served in a pristine white bowl with ~1/2 the total food volume consisting of deep-fried shoestring onions. These "onion rings" were incredibly chewy and greasy, I had to use a knife to cut through them so that I didn't end up dragging the whole woven mess onto my shirt (which was pretty difficult due to the bowl they were all piled in). The egg was stark white, the yolk was a hard yellow disk of jelly. It was prepared over easy I guess (until that point I hadn't realized that they did not ask me how I wanted it, I would have said over easy, but still). It's pretty easy to cook eggs so they're hot when they reach the table, so it was a real surprise to bite into a cold egg, especially one so over-cooked as to have a solid yolk. It ended up a good thing that the yolk was so hard though, as the "toast" they put in front of me was the hardest, most stale and oil soaked brick of bread I have ever touched. This toast would have made great breadcrumbs. I however made the mistake of biting into it only to find it wedged around my teeth gouging the roof of my mouth. With greasy oil dripping from my hand I had to rip the bread out of my face (weird phrasing, but this bread was epic bad!). As an aside here, they didn't ask me what type of toast either. I usually go for wheat or rye. This was an italian bread, very airy with an incredibly tough crust. Not really appropriate for breakfast foods. Now for the hash! Is it hash if home fries touch steak? Is it hash if french fries rub up to ham? No. Hash is a delicate mix of meat and potato and spice that makes a man's mouth water and is belly rejoice. What they made was a mix of fancy sounding meat (tongue and cheek, literally those parts) with skillet fried potato cubes. That was it. No co-mingling or mashing or flavor swapping. Just a stack of small fried cubed potato with some flecks of fancy meat. The meat was basic in flavor. Cheek is supposed to be very tender, but the way they had prepared it made it dry and flaky. The tongue was chewy with some serious browning on the edges. The size and shape of the meat and potato medley made it such that I had to skewer a few pieces at a time by fork to eat them. 2 pieces of potato, 1 piece meat, chew, swallow, repeat. I tried to work in the egg, that was like wrangling a rubber tire with a pitchfork. Oh, and those damned onion rings. They didn't go with anything. By the time I was half way through with them I was having to chug the dank coffee to get the greasy feeling down my throat. I ended the meal about half way through the food, which is really impressive when you consider the whole lot of it was probably the size of my fist, making it the smallest brunch I have ever been served. I paid my bill (~$29 after $5 tip, that's for only 1 person too) and walked out. In summary, this was the single worst brunch I can recall having. TL;DR - Bad hash, bad coffee, not worth it. Original posted 9/11/2014.

    (1)

  • Daniel S.

    I have been to Craigie on Main on two different occasions now, and in both instances the experience has been exceptional - both from the service end, the food end. Beyond the entrees which were all great, the drinks, appetizers and desserts were also wonderful - I would put in a very strong recommendation for the pork three ways entree, the warm apple fritter dessert, and if available the bone marrow as an appetizer. One thing worth noting - I check in with the restaurant a few days before my reservation since I normally hear something from a restaurant asking me to confirm the restaurant. Turns out there was a snafu on the reservation. The host was very apologetic and immediately worked with me to find me a workable option which was very nice.

    (5)

  • Julie B.

    Another fabulous tasting menu in the books! I always imagined my first (and probably only) experience at Craigie would be for the infamous burger. Luckily, my favorite dining partner enjoys tastings as much as I do, so this first time at CoM was a special one. The restaurant feels far homier and rustic than I expected. I loved the immediate view of the kitchen upon entering. As soon as you walk in the plating line is right in your face -- you can hear and see the chefs squabble, rush, and improvise in plain site. It's pretty awesome. I was a little disappointed that our table was far from the kitchen, but because of it I was able to concentrate on the two most important things: the food and my date. My new plan of action for tasting menus is to avoid filling up on drinks. I spent a long time perusing the cocktail menu to make sure I picked the best one, as it was the only one I planned to drink throughout the evening. I ended up with the Old Cuban: Barbancourt 15 year rum, lime, mint, sugar, angostura, sparkling wine. It was perfect. Despite the 5-star rating, I have one tiny complaint with Craigie. Throughout the evening I kept wishing I had brought a pen and pad with me to take notes on the food. We noticed about halfway through that all of the other tables around us were offered a pen and paper to take notes during their meal. I'm sure it was just an oversite, but I really do wish we had been able to take notes without have to take out our phones! I'll do my best to recount our fabulous meal from memory but I'm sure I'm missing tons of important and unique ingredients/preparations. You'll just have to go see for yourself! Almost immediately after letting our waitress know we'd be doing the 8-course tasting, we were delivered a big basket of bread and an amuse bouche highlighting salmon and mango. After, that the courses started to roll in: 1. Raw course: fluke with apricot and creme fresh 2. Foie gras and rabbit rillette with mushrooms and toasty sourdough bread 3. Black rockfish with oysters and mushrooms 4. House made whole wheat noodles topped with a soft boiled egg, provolone cheese and mushrooms 5. Sweetbreads with crispy onions and turnip 6. Venison with brussels sprouts 7. Basil seeds and sorbet - "shot" of a yummy frozen yogurt treat 8. Two desserts to share: chocolate panna cotta with avocado and banana cream and ice cream, and I have no clue what the other dessert was, but it was delicious! - banana bread truffles with the bill I really loved that each course featured seasonal, local food and while presented beautifully, still had a rustic feel to it. Take a bite, close your eyes, and you could be in some New England cabin eating the deer your uncle just shot outside. Really! You could just tell this food was truly farm to table. Course #4 (pasta) was definitely my favorite of the evening. Seriously, if I could eat that for dinner every day for the next ten years I'd be one happy camper. The venison, rockfish, fluke and panna cotta were all at the top of the list as well. The sweetbreads were my least favorite, but that's just because I don't like sweetbreads. Service from start to finish was great. Our water glasses were always full, and I think we heard from just about everyone who worked in the restaurant -- each course was presented by a different person! Craigie is an obvious high recommendation to anyone who enjoys the tasting menu experience. Save some money for a special occasion and do it up in Central Square!

    (5)

  • Des Y.

    It's difficult to laud praises that are informative for a restaurant that already has shedloads of well-earned praise for doing so many things so write. But they so deserve it. We were greeted by a most lovely hostess who actually remembered our phone conversation when she'd called to confirm my reservation. In particular, my interest in Craigie On Main's not-so-secret-limited-edition-each-night burgers. We got two of them. But before we got there, we started with a cheese plate. Goat's milk cheese, cow's milk cheese, sheep's milk cheese, with accompanying almonds, candied orange peel, and a blueberry jam. Simply amazing cheeses. Then came our burgers. They were massive. Mine was topped with a fried egg (because of course you top it with a fried egg!), and my kid had his with bacon. Not gonna lie - the burger was so huge it had trouble staying together. The fried egg made mine a little messier than usual. But that didn't matter. Short of the Minetta Tavern's Black Label burger, this was easily one of the greatest burgers I'd ever had. Done, nuff said. The other dishes we ordered were incredible, too. Pasta rolled in a savory sauce made with boudin noir? So rich and hearty. One day I'll have to try other things on the menu. But those burgers are gonna be hard to pass up.

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    Went there for dinner with a couple of friends. Food was decent but overpriced. Good quality but nothing to eve about.

    (3)

  • Gina L.

    Great food, great service, and great experience! I really enjoyed my meal here- so many nice courses. I took advantage of Natalya's wonderful suggestions and had a great evening.

    (5)

  • Kate R.

    I met some friends here for brunch on a Sunday morning a few months ago. I don't like breakfast food, but agreed to go because I've found most brunch menus have multiple non-breakfast options. Here, my only choice was to get a burger. So I got a burger, and it was ok. Nothing memorable. Extremely overpriced. Waiter and menu both oozed pretentiousness. I have absolutely no desire to return here.

    (2)

  • Jordan B.

    So my girlfriend and I decided to come to this place for our anniversary. We were very excited since we've heard a lot about this place. My girlfriend is all about oysters so she order the raw oysters as a start. It was so fresh and briny that even as someone who's not really into oyster, I was impressed. We're big seafood fans (although I'm not crazy about oysters) so we ordered the lobster soup and wow, it was so flavorful and different than what I've tasted. We went into the restaurant knowing that it's going to be pricey so can't complain about the price. It was a different experience so I'd say it's definitely worth it.

    (4)

  • Quang Q.

    When I first walked in, my impression of this place felt warm. I liked the fact that their menu is different from most restaurant. They have this option for 95 u get a six course meal and u tell the waiter what u like and dislike and they make it up for u to however u like it.....

    (5)

  • Evan A.

    Everything about our dinner was perfect. My fiance and I went for the burgers, got there at 5:25 on a Tuesday and found a line waiting to get in. Well worth it. We sat at the bar, service was prompt and friendly. We ordered beers, burgers and ribs. Even the beers here are great, and the atmosphere is just right -- busy, bustling, but not too loud. The ribs were amazing, and had awesome onion strings with them. The burgers came and they were absolutely ridiculously good. Juicy and cooked just right and perfectly seasoned. The food is expensive but worth it -- totally worth it. The bartenders were phenomenal -- it was like they were reading our minds, because we had everything we needed super fast, but it never once felt like they were hovering or interrupting us. We wrapped up what we couldn't finish and, as we do at every restaurant, we forgot it. But walking to our car, literally 2 blocks away by now, we heard someone yelling behind us, and turned around and saw the hostess -- in a skirt and flats, booking it down the street with our food. So nice, so above and beyond! And she was so funny about it. That really sealed it for us -- this place is awesome, everyone should go here, and we'll definitely be back. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Amanda R.

    I hate writing this review, but I had high expectations for Craigie on Main and am quite disappointed with my experience. This is my first one star review on yelp outside of bob's discount furniture. First. We arrived 5 min late for our 8pm reservation and sat down at 8:09pm. We did not have a waiter or waitress approach us to ask our drink order until 8:50pm. I love talking to my husband, but waiting 40 min to simply order a drink is completely crazy. Amuse Bouche- mine was a sliver of fish with roe. Looked so delicious. Tasted like stuff you might scrape off a rock at the beach. Appetizer- squid ink bucatini. This dish was actually amazing. Perfectly balanced flavors, well executed, really a lovely plate of food. Entree- swordfish. Undercooked and tasted really off. It was reminiscent of the low tide, fishy, barnacle flavor of the roe from the amuse bouche. I really think grilled swordfish with lemon on my father's grill tastes better than this super fishy disaster. It was a real low point in the meal and hugely disappointing. My husband got the pork which he liked but was cold. As in not hot. Dessert was very, very good! A real high point in the meal. It was our 5 year anniversary so I was really hoping that dinner would be special. I was so, so disappointed in my experience at this restaurant. For $250 for 2 people, this was a hugely disappointing experience. Also the restaurant was freezing as was the bread. I wore my jacket most of the time. By the way, the Kirkland Tap and Trotter, owned by the same chef is one of my all time favorites! Would highly recommend gonna there instead.

    (1)

  • Pablo N.

    Not cheap but worth the experience. We had a delicious meal for 6 co-workers. The service was outstanding, but the sommelier didn't do the best wine recommendations. The atmosphere was impeccable and the food was just amazing. We had a variety of dishes from oysters and octopus to sirloin and swordfish. You could pick the fixed price menu and choose from a wide range of dishes or just pick the tasting menu for all the table.

    (4)

  • Daniel M.

    I had the grilled octopus wirh the chorizo puree; well grilles piece of octopus. Plenrtful appetizer, could have been a main course. The octopus had a nice searing and there was a hint of garlic and olive oil that left a nice after taste. For my main course i had the sirloin which was nicely done to medium temperature. Well seasoned with the side of bone marrow and brussels sprouts. Dessert was very intricate as i picked the black sesame chocolate bar...truly remarcable dessert. I dare to say my appetizer and dessert were in line with expectations which is not the sane way i felt about the main course. Overall it was an expensive experience but a must have none the less

    (3)

  • Simon C.

    Good but not great; somewhat overrated, based on my experience and what I've heard. The food would be a 4, but I've docked one star due to the price (expensive!). As for the food itself, my favorite thing we ate was actually the monkfish liver amuse-bouche.

    (3)

  • Peter S.

    Awarding the food, drink and service less than five stars for Craigie on Main would be a travesty. Excellent!

    (5)

  • Lindsay H.

    One of my all-time favorite restaurants. Had one of the best meals in my life. Had the 5 course and they made it all vegan. Unbelievable!!! Great service too. Going back again in a few weeks-can't wait!

    (5)

  • Julia H.

    Felt like a queen here. All stops are pulled out. I loved the fried pigs tails. Will dream about for years to come. Absolutely melted in my mouth. Burger had a lot going on- not my favorite kind of meat- but I think 99% of people would disagree with me.

    (5)

  • Liz L.

    My boyfriend and I have been to Craigie on Main twice before. We returned for a third time for dinner because the food has never disappointed. He also had a particular craving for a bone marrow special they have had in the past - they ended up not having it on the menu this time, but our experience was still flawless. The service on this trip made the experience better than the rest. My boyfriend and I like to have fun at restaurants, try new things and be generally surprised by the experience - our server delivered. I believe our server's name was Monica. She greeted us with a smile and made us feel welcome immediately. We asked about her recommendations and she let us know that pork was the way to go, but that as a starter she recommended the octopus and if we didn't want pork for a meal, then the bluefish was very popular that evening. We had planned on ordering oysters for an app, but were now torn with her recommendation of the octopus, so we asked her to surprise us. Surprise us, she did! We received one oyster to start and then the octopus app. It was the perfect treatment for our indecisiveness. I then ordered the bluefish and my boyfriend ordered the pork three ways. Delicious on all accounts. Further, our entrees were perfectly complemented by two beers of Monica's choosing - one German smoked beer and the other a Belgian. She helped us to expand our beer horizons and our palates. You can't ask for more in a dining experience. We will definitely be back. Thanks, Monica!

    (5)

  • Corey L.

    The legend of the Craigie on Main burger. So we heard legends of the burgers here - not on the menu, only a certain number pre-made a night, and only served from the bar. So, for my girlfriend's birthday, we set up to get some. I called ahead and asked - he said the doors open at 5:30, so it's best to get there at 5:20 (enough time to get a good spot in line) and as long as you're part of the first set of ppl into the bar (both the bar itself and the tables near the bar), you shouldn't have trouble getting the burger. It was a miserable freezing rain day. My girlfriend wanted to take our time as it was such miserable weather, but I said we are NOT messing this up - we DESERVE those burgers. So we got there at 5:20, right as like 4 other groups of ppl walked up. One was a group of 8 - but they already had reservations, so we didn't have to worry about them. We walked right in, straight to the bar, and let the waitress know we were interested in burgers. I'm sure they hear this all the time - frantic ppl making sure to get on the list for burgers. Anyway, we perused the menu, ordered some brussels sprouts as an appetizer, and got the burgers with fries. Bottom line: all the food was pretty great. The burgers (there is actually a recipe near the bathroom - so you can see the numerous ingredients in them, including beef, bone marrow, brisket, etc) were great. I eat a LOT of burgers and really enjoyed these. They melted in your mouth, but not all over your face. And full of all sorts of delicious carcass-y flavors. I added bacon, came with cheese, fixins, and a delicious sauce. We were both super happy. Burger came with some thick steak fries that I believe were cooked in a truffle oil. Also pretty great. Additionally, the brussels sprouts were really good - very well flavored/spiced, and cooked in this almost burnt/crispy/moist way that I can't do on my own no matter how hard I try. Also drank some beer and wine with dinner - nice assortment of wine. Food was pricey, but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Back for a 2nd visit about a year and a half later. The place totally rocks it! Amazing food, outstanding service and a warm, comfortable space. There are some things I ALWAYS do when I am in Cambridge. I stay at the the Charles and I have dinner at Craigies on Main....they are non-negotiable!

    (5)

  • Katherine C.

    As it's been years since I've visited Boston, I asked friends and family for "must do" food recommendations, and this was the top pick on one of my cousin's lists. She called it "nose to tail seasonal eating," which I think is a great descriptor and definitely intrigued us enough to go. Easily made 6:30pm dinner reservations for this past Saturday night, and it was WONDERFUL. The atmosphere was relaxed yet classy, the open kitchen was delightful to watch, and the service was excellent. While you can order a la carte, they offered a 3-course prix fixe menu for $67, and 6-course and 8-course tasting menus for $100+, all of which felt reasonable to us for the complete experience. We opted for the 3-course approach and had: - First course: fried pig's tails, house-made pate with beets and pickled cherries - Entrees: grass-fed sirloin, olive oil poached salmon - Add-on's: seasonal salad, sweet roasted corn, bone marrow - Dessert: three flavors of sorbet, almond cake - Cocktails: Serius (vodka, crystallized ginger-infused honey, lemon), Shore Leave (navy strength gin, rosemary, dolin genepy, celery bitters) -- BOTH SO GREAT! It was all incredibly delicious in that quality, savory, fresh, perfectly prepared way that makes you eat until you're far too full, just because you have to have more. Everything we had was fabulous, and the entire wait staff was confidently knowledgable (that especially impressed my husband), answered our questions, and shared their opinions and advice, which I always appreciate enormously, given how surprisingly rarely I find it is to encounter that kind of service. LOVED it, totally felt it was well worth the splurge, and would highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Victoria P.

    My boyfriend surprised me with a 6-course chef's choice dinner for my birthday. Apparently they do chef's choice dinners after 9PM on Sundays. I was really excited and while everything was presented beautifully, I was really let down. It was so uninspiring that I hardly remember what I ate. Nothing was terrible, but also nothing worth mentioning. Service was great and the drinks were delicious - my boyfriend loved The Grand Tour and I loved the Serius. I did enjoy my dessert - praline and nougat, but other than drinks and dessert, I was a bit disappointed in the meal. Overall, it's okay, but not worth the price.

    (3)

  • Erin M.

    Love this place, whether eating a burger in the bar or do an 11 course tasting, you can't go wrong. The wait staff is attentive and knowledgeable and they make it a dining experience. And everything is delicious!

    (5)

  • Cindy S.

    As a foodie in Boston, I've been long awaiting the chance to eat here. Went in a group with my four other roommates for Sunday brunch,--one of the last few brunches offered before they take the menu down at the end of the year. We all ordered pretty different things: the roasted local summer vegetables, the seasonal pasta, a few house-made donuts, and of course the famed grass-fed beef burger. Everyone was happy with what they ordered, but the stars of the table were *definitely* the burger and donuts. Listen to everyone here on yelp, and--despite Tony Maws saying his burger is somewhat overhyped--ORDER THE BURGER AND DONUTS. Can't wait until I get a chance at their dinner tasting menu, but until then...I'll still be dreaming of their doughnut and burger.

    (5)

  • Julie V.

    I probably won't be saying anything particularly new about Craigie on Main, but here goes... Phenomenal food all around. I was just there this past Sunday evening to try out the Chef's Whim for the first time, and I was far from disappointed. The four-course tasting menu was executed perfectly, with some of the most memorable flavors I've tasted in a long time. It was also a strong showing, with no particular "weak dishes" that tend to crop up in a tasting menu. I will note that it seems like Craigie on Main is less experimental with their tasting menu than T.W. (Improv Night) or Asta. In my opinion, the focus is more towards the traditional, and in a sense, mastering the traditional. The menu had a strong leaning toward meats (no complaints here), and that comes across as a unique point. I remember most two particular dishes. One featured wild-caught Scottish salmon with rock shrimp and mussels. I still have no idea how they prepared the salmon, but in the end it was just so soft and buttery, tasting as if I were eating the highest-grade sashimi! Very surprising. The other dish featured sirloin and veal sweetbread. The veal sweetbread had to be my favorite part -- surprisingly tender, rich, full of flavor, and yes, slightly sweet. All in all, an amazing dinner at a great value! I highly recommend it. *With my bf, we each received the same dishes up until dessert. This is a bit different than at Improv Night (all different courses) and at Asta (few dishes in common, most were not, ordering a 5 + 8 combo). *I've been here previously and had the half pig's head for two. Definitely try this if you're a fan of traditional Chinese BBQ style pork, crispy skin, and deliciously tender meat with plenty of fat to go along with it. Also be warned that it is not for the squeamish once you get past the first layer of skin/fat/meat.

    (5)

  • Corona W.

    My boyfriend took me to this restaurant for my birthday and we had an excellent time. Everything - the service, food, wine, and drinks were impeccable. The only dish I did not like was the duck ragout which the restaurant was testing. If you are not a fan of gamey meat, I would suggest opting for the vegetarian alternative, which I believe was ragout with wild mushrooms, instead. My boyfriend received that dish with his tasting menu and it was sooo good. Compared to Journeyman, another great restaurant with a tasting menu, Craigie on Main's portions are larger and more filling. My boyfriend and I each had the 6 course tasting menu and we were both stuffed by the end of the night. There is also a very cute bar area for after dinner drinks. I can't wait to go back again!

    (5)

  • Sarah A.

    Craigie is superb! I went with a couple of my girlfriends and enjoyed every dish that we were served. I opted for the pork done 3 ways and I finished everything on the plate. I think the highlight of the night was the bone marrow. I've had some bone marrow that smelled a little funky/off but the one at Craigie was very clean and unctuous and just phenomenal!! For dessert we had panna cotta that had this gelatinous layer to it and it was some of the best panna cotta I've ever eaten. I can see why their ratings are so high!! Would love to come for breakfast some time.

    (5)

  • Bing X.

    My husband and I absolutely love this place. The food was good to the last drop as well as the wine. The oyster was so refreshing! The bone marrow was amazing! It was fatty but not greasy. The beef cheek was so tender that it did not require teeth. The steak was tender and flavorful with great sauce. The dessert has multiple layers of flavor. It was also interesting to see the whole cooking process. I noticed some of the Kitchen gear was also used for my own cooking. :) The service was super nice and our waiter gave us great recommendations. He even offered to wrap my leftover bread after I told him how much I loved them. He said the bread was specially made and not available to sell in any bakery.:( Well, I guess I have to come back again.:p

    (5)

  • Hammy E.

    I ordered the chicken entree here which was stuffed with chicken sausage and it was delicious.The cocktails are really good too. Some of the items are the menu were a little out there for me, so this place is probably better for those with adventurous tastes. I would like to try the burger sometime.

    (4)

  • AnneMolly M.

    I've been to Craigie on Main three times and each experience was absolutely fantastic -- but last night was full.stop.amazing. We booked a reservation for two for our anniversary and even managed to get the "Ringside Seats" for a front row seat to the kitchen. As soon as we arrived and sat down, we were greeted with two complimentary glasses of champagne and very sweet, "Happy Annviersary!" wish - it was an unexpected, classy touch that set the tone for the entire dinner. We took our time settling in (plan on spending time here - we were there for 3 hours enjoying everything). To kick things off, we ordered a French 75 and an Old Fashioned - both of which were utterly amazing. During my past visits to Craigie, I've sat at the bar and have seen how much care and precision goes in to each cocktail - and you can really taste it. Our tag-team waitress duo, Monica and Tatiana, made sure we never wanted for anything and let us take our time, which we really appreciated since it was a special night. When we did make our choices, Monica helped pick out a fantastic bottle from their selection of Old World wines. The kitchen sent a complimentary amuse-bouche to prime our pallettes that included three tastings of beets, fish and scallops. For an appetizer we had the charred octopus and oysters and for dinner the pork three ways. There's no other way to say it - the food is the best you'll have in Boston. Subtle notes coming together perfectly punctuated by surprising bursts of flavor in all the right places. When dessert came out, Monica and Tatiana brought out a candle and a sazerac digestif to cap off a fantastic night. Yes, it's expensive. But you'd never think twice about spending that $300-$400 for a dinner for two with such excellent service and such breathtaking food. Insider Tip: If you like eating at the bar like we do, Craigie is the place to do it. Bar patrons aren't allowed to mill about behind bar - diners, which keeps it classy.

    (5)

  • Cameron C.

    What's not to like about this place. The decor/atmosphere is well done, staff is friendly, attentive and the food was spectacular. Was treated to this restaurant for a recent birthday and had high expectations, and the did not fail. To me service is almost as important as the food and Craigie's was flawless. Knowledgable wait staff who genuinely wanted to enhance your dining experience. As far as the food, superb. Highly recommend the 'crispy pigtails.' They were topped with the best onion strings I've ever had and teriyaki type sauce that was incredible. Also recommend the 'pork three ways.' Perfectly cooked and incredibly tasty. This place is pricey but you absolutely get what you pay from with high quality food and service. Will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Chris Z.

    We returned to Craigie a couple weeks ago, and I am happy to say it has gained a star! Our last visit was great. My date had the grass-fed steak, and I had the pork three ways. My meal was absolutely amazing. We also had the fried clams as an appetizer, which were good, but I don't love clams (this was mainly for my date). Finally, we ordered the praline nougat for dessert - while it was interesting, the nougat was quite tough, lending itself to a bit of an awkward dessert to share, so I'm not sure I would recommend that if you're sharing. We had great wine, recommended by the waitress, and prosecco. Great service again.

    (4)

  • Kyle C.

    Really enjoyed this restaurant. We visited today while in Cambridge and were not disappointed. The food was excellent. We also really enjoyed their homemade rolls. Had to stop ourselves from eating several more baskets. For me, I categorize restaurants as 4-star if they serve excellent food that I would readily recommend. This restaurant meets that standard. To get to a 5-star, I always want that "memorable" flavor of taste that sticks with me for a long time. I usually have a meal like that two or three times a year. I'd say that for me this wasn't at that level. We ordered the beef brisket, which was very good but certainly not something that was memorable versus others I've had. I think it's safe to say that everything was very good, but not amazing. It also did not help that we sat in a high-top table right next to the fire extinguisher, which was just a bit uncomfortable. But the place is popular and that was the only table we could get. So it was no big deal, really. Special shout out to Sandy for taking good care of us with drinks and water. She has a great personality and honestly we didn't want anyone else to come to our table but her! Just having her there boosts the restaurant to a 4-star in my book.

    (4)

  • Kim R.

    Everything about this place is wonderful. The food was all excellent with such interesting and creative desserts! I had such a hard time choosing between all the options so my friend and I each ordered from the prix fixe menu and shared everything. Most places would have given us a hard time about sharing, but the staff made it effortless. For such a relatively small space, I was expecting noise to be an issue but I never even noticed there were other people around. Loved everything! Only thing I would have liked better is for the bread to be served warm, and the oysters to be served with cocktail sauce/horseradish, but that's just my personal preference.

    (5)

  • CJ N.

    I can't believe I haven't written a review on Craigie yet! What an utter gem. Chef Tony Maws is a madman genius with his creations. I have had the 10-course tasting dinner. Have you ever been drunk and giddy on food alone? That's the experience. It's joy, fun, and seriously should be the first thing on anyone's list of Things to Do Before I Check Out to the Great Beyond. If it were socially acceptable, we would've started dancing on the tables at the squid noodles. Go to Craigie. The atmosphere is fantastic, the food is otherworldly, and the whole experience is worthy of your time and money. The staff loves what they do, and that comes across in spades. Brunch, dinner, multiple course menus, or drinks at the bar - just go!

    (5)

  • T A.

    A friend of mine was battling cancer, and she craved a simple burger. She didn't get to have that burger before passing away. Unable to attend her memorial service, I made it my personal mission to get the best burger in Boston in her honor. I'd been to Craigie on Main before (though not for a burger), so I already had built up a trust in the establishment and knew that was where I had to go. I made reservations, but then called back to ensure we'd be seated in the bar area (you can't order a burger in the main dining area). (The hostess was amazingly accommodating and lovely to the point of making me emotional). As the juiciest, richest, most flavorful first bite of MEAT hit my taste buds, I knew that my friend was with me in spirit. As melancholy a mood as I could have been in, this was the absolute right way to celebrate someone's life because nothing can make you feel more alive than the right flavor combinations dancing on your tongue in an atmosphere electric as other diners are sharing that exact same special experience. But maybe you don't have a special reason to come here. Maybe you just want perfection on a plate. That's good enough because that's just what you'll get. Go there. Celebrate YOUR life.

    (5)

  • Lili T.

    Craigie has been my favorite restaurant for a few years but since having our little one, it's been hard to go for dinner here! Brunch a few times was good, but we decided to risk it and bring our now 3 yr old for NYE dinner. Great idea! Every course was delicious. Kampachi sashimi app, celery-root velouté w/scallop, then cod. All was excellent, though Black Forest dessert wasn't my fave. Hubby got foie and pork instead of velouté and cod. Ordered a pasta for little one which was also good, though she ate plenty off our plates. She couldn't get enough of the kampachi. We remarked that she eats a lot faster at Craigie than at home, so I guess it's her favorite restaurant too. Service was great, friendly and efficient.

    (5)

  • Nick V.

    Everything you could ever want from a neighborhood restaurant. Had the charcuterie for an app and the pork three ways for an entree. Everything was excellent. Service was exemplary--muted but attentive. Even amuses before apps and dessert were great, as were the macaroons after dessert. Can't nitpick about a thing.

    (5)

  • Su-Yee L.

    Oh Craigie, after all I'd heard about you, I had high expectations. I thought your food would be mindblowingly creative and delicious. For the bf's birthday, I treated him to a 6 course tasting at Craigie. Here are my thoughts on it: 1. Squid noodles- good, especially if you like fish sauce which I definitely do. Unfortunately, the portion size was about the same as an amuse bouche. Actually, the lack of an amuse surprised me; I feel as though most new American restaurants offer them as well as French restaurants. 2. Hiramasa sashimi- awesome! Especially with the avocado it was layered upon. About a 2-3 bite portion. 3. Grouper with beet dashi broth, rock shrimp, mushrooms, horseradish creme.- Really good, the fish was cooked perfectly. 4. Croquette of pied au cochon with a sunnyside duck egg over lentil salad- well-balanced and rich. 5. Chicken thigh confit with potato galette and onions- best chicken I've ever had! Honestly. Crispy skin, tender juicy and tasty meat. The onions that came with it were too sweet though. Big portion too! 6. Dessert: Vanilla panna cotta with cardamom crunchies and bourbon ice cream with salted mexican chocolate (I think)- I remember both of them being really good. So pretty much everything was tasty but I was expecting a little more craziness; the tasting seemed pretty tame for what I expected Tony Maws to be doing, ie, I could have gone to some other restaurant and gotten similar items. And nothing except for the chicken thigh confit was mindblowingly delicious. Also, I thought the sizing of each course was a little inconsistent. Great meal but I don't know if I'd do it again :/

    (3)

  • R T.

    My husband and I went here to celebrate his birthday. We each got the three-course prix fixe - a starter, an entree, and a dessert - along with cocktails before and coffee for me after. I agree with other reviewers who rave about the quality of the service. Everyone restaurant employee was friendly and helpful. In fact, when the restaurant called to confirm our reservation, the woman asked me if there were any food 'concerns' we might have. When I said I try to eat gluten free, she assured me they could accommodate me _and_ that the server would be informed, too. Sure enough, while he was seating us, he told me specifically that he could answer all my questions about gluten on the menu. If only all restaurants treated their customers this way! The food was excellent, too, an ideal range of poultry, seafood, beef, and vegetarian dishes. The mix of tasty flavors really impressed me as well-- the chicory greens in my salad, the apricots and mushrooms with my slow-roasted chicken, the prunes marinated in port with my husband's pork belly entree. My husband raved about the rustic rolls--crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside. I asked the bartender to make me a mocktail and he sent over an exquisite concoction of grenadine, honey, fruit juices, and ginger ale-- it was peppery and citrusy, not too sweet, just perfect. I just don't have anything bad to say about our experience. We dined for about two hours, we never felt rushed or overwhelmed by noise--it was just simply a quality meal in a comfortable atmosphere, and I would gladly go back again.

    (4)

  • Brian W.

    Possibly one of the best restaurants....ever. Pros: Romantic, Food is fantastic, service is great, wine is great (also bourbon). Been several times now, and I highly recommend the chef's testing menu. Cons: Expensive. This place rocks. It's expensive, but totally worth it.

    (5)

  • Han C.

    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.

    (3)

  • Mike B.

    Oh look, another Craigie review! Look, these guys are crushing it. It's quite expensive and it just doesn't matter. It's not about bragging, it's about delivering...and they do. It may not be for everyone, but isn't that the point? True not everyone wants to eat fried smelts with squid ink, roasted pig's head, fried pig's tail with peanuts and nuoc cham, or $20 burgers...or $18, whatever...add the egg and the bacon it's at least $20 for a burger. If you like cow, they'll treat it with respect and it really tasted like a tribute to cow. I know a few extra ingredients that go into it and it's damn tasty! nom nom nom...go get one and become the 1000th review on yelp!

    (5)

  • Karen F.

    The burger at the bar and specialty drinks are top notch. The local food and friendly service are some of the best in Cambridge.

    (5)

  • Rob Y.

    After hearing a lot about this place from a friend this past year, Craigie on Main was on the agenda for my next visit to Boston. Food (9.0/10) = Came here on a Sunday night for the Chef's Whim 4-course meal. 1) Amuse-bouche of Squid Noodles = I thought this was a nice way to start off a great meal. It wasn't spectacular, but still delicious. 2) Hamachi with avocado = the avocado went well with the the delicate piece of raw fish. 3) Olive oil poached halibut with beat salad, risotto, and shrimp = My #2 dish of the night. Halibut was very delicate and the beat salad enhanced the flavors of the fish. 4) Lamb 3 ways (tongue, loin, and belly) and Grilled Spanish Octopus = My friend doesn't eat lamb so she got the octopus, while the rest of us got the lamb. The octopus was cooked well and very tender. The lamb 3 ways was my favorite dish of the night. I've never had lamb tongue before, so the experience was a pleasant surprise. The amount of resistance I felt cutting the tongue with my knife, was the same as cutting a piece of chicken breast. However, once I placed a piece of it in my mouth, the texture of the tongue was very creamy. A very unique experience. The belly was the most flavorful of the 3, with all the juicy fat. 5) Bone Marrow (ordered this extra for my party) = I decided to order this separately after watching it being prepared several times that night. Bone marrow...mmm...pure fat in my mouth. This is a great dish to share with 4-6 people. Eating this practically by myself...not a good idea. I quickly got a headache after eating this much bone marrow. I basically drank a cup of oil. I learned my lesson. 6) Desserts = (a) Sour Milk Panna Cotta (with coriander-cashew granola, dried cherry and kirsch puree, brown butter) (b) Apricot Frangipane Torte (with pistachio crust, grains of paradise, amaretto ice cream) (c) White asparagus ice cream All of the desserts were delicious. But the one that stood out the most was the white asparagus ice cream. I love the creativity. I never thought white asparagus could taste so good as a cold dessert. Ambiance (9.0/10) = This was a really cool place. As you enter the restaurant, you can see the kitchen and all the chefs cooking. Service (10/10) = Wonderful service. Our waiter was very knowledgeable with the food that evening. The staff was attentive. Overall Opinion = Craigie on Main is a great restaurant. However, the reason I'm not giving the 5th yelp star was because most of the dishes I had didn't blow my mind. Given this place's reputation, I had high expectations. I had a hard time writing this review simply because I struggled to remember details of the dishes that night. Would I recommend the Chef's Whim? Absolutely! Would I come back to this restaurant? Of course. I've heard their burgers are really good, and I witnessed multiple burgers being prepared that night. So the next time I visit Craigie, I'll go for the burger. And maybe that would push me to give this place the 5th star.

    (4)

  • Meg W.

    Unfortunately I did not have a great experience. The food was well cooked but it took FOREVER. 1 hour 45 minutes to get an entree and in the end I would not say it is better than most other seafood restaurants (I got bass). Went with 5 people and sat at a table in the dining room to the right near the bar- It was freezing. I was wearing my coat and the table next to me was wrapped in scarves- poorly insulated windows. We tried a ton of things- oysters, salad, pork, salmon, bass, chicken, and everything was good but not exceptional. There was a miscommunication with the wine and she thought we ordered a more expensive bottle than I said which they took off but the manager maybe? was basically snarling but our server (or one of the 6 people who frequented the table. a lot more waitstaff than other restaurants) was nice. I usually give places a couple of tries but it was my sisters third unhappy experience so it is probably not worth the time (dinner is 3 hours for the pre fix).

    (2)

  • Ian B.

    Wow. Went for the Chef's Whim and the experience was amazing in ever facet. Each course (opted for the four course option; there is a six course offering too) was delicious. The carpaccio was perfect and drizzled in a delicious citrus sauce. The hake was cooked to perfection and complimented very well with a spinach purée. The chicken was tender and divine. Lastly the chocolate cake and citrus based cake were awesome and complimented one another surprisingly well. Service was prompt and fantastic. Drinks are strong and very good. I will return. Just a heads up - the Chet's whim changes every week apparently so don't expect the same courses. Regardless I have the utmost confidence in any course they put in front of you.

    (5)

  • Kamille W.

    First, the atmosphere: upscale, but casual. I wore a t-shirt and jeans and didn't feel out of place. The mood inside Craigie on Main is exactly the opposite of the stereotypical fancy restaurant. Not overly staid or fussy at all. It was full of people bustling around, chatting and enjoying themselves. Super comfortable. The service was probably the best I've ever experienced. Everyone I encountered was friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. Even though we were there for more than two hours, at no point did I feel rushed or pressured to leave. We were able to really relax and enjoy our meal at our own pace. The food. Good lord, the food. I can really only describe it as transcendent. There were three of us at our table and we all made sure to order something different for each course. Every single dish was delicious, but there were definitely a few standouts. The grilled octopus I had for my appetizer was so tender and succulent -- I have never before had octopus so expertly prepared. The bone marrow that we ordered as a side dish was incredible -- rich and gelatinous. We also HAD to try the famous pig's head, and it did not disappoint. Crispy skin, tender meat, that delicious hoisin-based sauce with the Peking pancakes... I was so sad when it was all gone. For dessert, I had a summer fruit galette (so flaky and buttery!) with amaretto ice cream. And yes, it was as good as it sounds. I cannot recommend Craigie on Main enough. It is, hands down, my new favorite restaurant.

    (5)

  • matt s.

    Ok so i posted this review today and by afternoon it was gone. Seems alittle odd to me. This place gets great rating but as soon as someone gives a bad review the review disappears. hmmm My Wife and I went to Craigie last night. We have been hearing & reading all the glowing reviews and press. So we were really looking forward to it. We try and get out a few times a month to eat at some of the better restaurants in Boston. We got there early and had a drink at the bar and then we were seated at our table in the dining room. Bar was nice and drinks were good. We ordered 3 Apps. The Server told us they were the best three on menu 1.Scallops ( Very very Bland & Boring & small) 2.Octapus ( Tender & Tasty but far from mind blowing) 3. Pasta with wild Boar (The best of the three but still i expected much more) As we finished the apps The dirty plates sat in front of us as our water was filled and server asked how we liked everything. But no one took plates so I ended up asking if they could take them. Our Main Dish, My Wife got the Roasted Chicken and i got The Pork Trio. I have read good things about both of these dishes in other reveiws. Here is where Craigie loses me. The mains came out and they were the same size if not smaller than the appitizers. Both dishes tasted ok. Again far far FAR from mind blowing. The pork dish came with 1 pork rib, a small piece of pork belly and another small piece of pork. My wifes Chicken was gone in a couple bites. We understand fine dining and more is not always better, but this was like a joke. So after about 2 minutes of eating our tiny main dish it was time to think about dessert. My Plate was cleared but my wifes sat in front of her for way to long. (over 10 minutes) Dessert, My wife got the Chocolate Peanut Parfait and i got the Rasberry Tart. Parfait was ok but the Tart was nothing great you could get a better one from any local bakery. I understand Craigie gets great reviews but i just dont get it. The Flavor profiles were not that good and portion size was all wrong. There are so many amazing places to eat in Boston that crush this place. I have no idea how craigie does so well. Our bill came in at over $200 before tip. For that much money you can bet I would be eating at l'espalier anyday. We will never go back to Craigie on Main. There are just way to many other choices that have way better food,service and portions. Such as Hungry Mother, Eastern Standard Kitchen, l'espalier, Gaslight, Bergamot, Russell House Tavern the list goes on and on.

    (2)

  • Reneé R.

    Considering I'm on a college student who has a part time job, and works at an internship for 40+hrs a week for free budget, it was pretty nice to be able to enjoy a nice meal at a fancy ass place like this. My friend and I weren't really aware of how expensive this place was/what the menu was all about, and our kind waiter helped us out/walked through the menu with us. For a bit I felt like my waiter was a saleswoman for food, and I felt a little guilty about turning down her exotic food suggestions. We ended up getting a burger (not mentioned on the menu), with fries and salad. The burger was huge, cooked medium rare, and filled me up. The salad, and the fries were also wicked good. My friend got the bone marrow, and he was talking about how delicious it was hours afterwards. I really enjoyed the waiters being friendly, laid back, and not intimidating. If you're interested in fine dining for the first time, have a laid back personality, and want to explore some exotic food choices then you should definitely check this place out.

    (4)

  • Colleen H.

    What an amazing meal. Let me tell you -- We started with cocktails, the ardoise and something swizzle. The ardoise was beautiful, it's hard not to drink 100 of these. My swizzle drinks flavors unfolded as the ice melted... I'm pretty sure that's never happened before, but it was amazing. Highly suggested. The atmosphere here is dimly lit, dark, romantic, with an eclectic flair. Bring a date. ;) We spoiled ourselves with a bottle of Barolo which was recommended by the waiter after I told him I was a fan of Italian wines, and wanted something big and jammy with no spice whatsoever. And he couldn't have suggested something more perfect! For the amuse bouche, I chose seafood, he chose meat. Mine was better, ha! I had squid noodles topped with crunchy garlic (so sad it was just a bite...). He had something with a bit of beef and beet, really pretty and delicate. First course, absolutely delicious. Especially the tuna which was layered with watermelon and pickled cucumber (? ...think cucumber salad cucumber). I chose oysters with a candied lemon mignonette that was just so dainty and fabulous. Second course, we both chose the beef...I was hesitant over the Salmon, but with this big Barolo, baby, I couldn't help myself. It was fantastic, dressed with greens, beets and carrots. Just lovely. And for dessert? Oh, just a little magic to finish off our palettes. I chose the goat cheese and pears which, if you love goat cheese as much as I do, you'll be in heaven. Pure bliss. They don't slack on the goat cheese either, just so ya know. He got a parfait, which was good, but really cold on my teeth. Haha, but hey -- I wouldn't have ordered it anyway. I was torn between the pears and the cheese spread. All in all, it's pricey, but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Wesley H.

    Wonderful presentation and great thought behind the dishes. The place always has an energetic vibe. The pig's head is very good albeit one of the most greasy dishes I have ever had! Also, if you can get the seats at the dais where you can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, it is a great experience that will help you understand how a chef's kitchen works better!

    (5)

  • Allen Y.

    This is a great restaurant. The food is really innovative, presented professionally (complete with amuse bouche), and the meal was just an overall great experience. A couple highlights: -homemade pasta with boudin noir ragout: the flavor of the ragout was extraordinary -yogurt sorbet: this was a sorbet that was yogurt flavored, and it was oddly delicious

    (5)

  • Melissa R.

    My husband recently went to Craigie on Main for the first time for a business dinner. He mentioned to me that he greatly enjoyed the meal and that we should go back sometime. I went online and made us a reservation without doing any further research. Yesterday a few hours before our reservation time I went online and looked at some customer reviews. I nearly cried! I saw people complaining about the cost, about portion size, about snotty service and I thought "Oh no this is not the experience I am looking for at all!" My husband and I live about 40 minutes outside of Cambridge and have 3 children that need to stay with a babysitter when we go into the city for a nice meal. We don't eat out often and have decided we would rather splurge on a very nice meal once in a while than eat fast food on a regular basis. So for us an evening out really needs to be an enjoyable relaxing and special experience. After reading some very negative reviews I was quite upset that our special night out was going to be a bust. I was so convinced that we would have an awful time that I would have cancelled our reservation but with it only being a few hours beforehand, already having the babysitter and knowing we wouldn't be able to get a reservation anywhere else on a moments notice we decided to take our chance at Craigie. We were pleasantly greeted and taken to our table right away. Very shortly after sitting down we were greeted by a cheerful waiter named Rob. Patiently and knowledgeably he answered our questions about both the menu and the drinks list. We decided to do the prix fixe menu which is $67 a person and allows you to have an appetizer, entree and dessert. They brought bread to the table and our appetizers of fried clams and another of linguine came out shortly after. They both were of a very normal size for an appetizer and were delicious. My husband ordered one of the special cocktails and I ordered a locally made farmhouse ale that was fairly new to the menu, both drinks were excellent. For our main course I had the Vermont Pork cooked 3 ways which also had red cabbage, barley and mushrooms with it. Again the portion was perfect and all the flavors were a true delight. My husband got the Craigie burger and loved it. For dessert my husband had the 3 flavors of sorbet which were delicate, fresh and full of fresh fruit taste. I had the beignet which is a type of deep fried doughnut which was unbelievably amazing! Warm, crispy on the outside, moist and light on the inside with a light dusting of cinnamon and sugar. Honestly I cannot come up with even one thing to complain about from our evening at Craigie on Main. I am very picky about service and I thought the waiter, his helper and the manager who I spoke with briefly when he checked to see if our table was enjoying ourselves all were attentive and courteous. Regarding people's complaints regarding portion size I just don't know what to say. I have a healthy appetite, I'm not one of those people who just picks at a salad and I was unable to finish all of my main corse or my dessert. If a diner is looking for the typical american main stream experience that you will get at a place like The Olive Garden or Applebees then yes in comparison you are going to say the portions are small. The plates do not come mounded high with more food than a human should reasonably consume in one meal. But was I left hungry or even wishing that maybe there had been just a little bit more, no absolutely not. In retrospect I wish I had not touched the bread they brought to our table because then I would have been able to finish the rest of my meal which was definitely the best part. In respect to price, no it's not a cheap meal. I would expect that most people going know that they are going to be spending more on a meal than they might in other places. If you are in need of having a less expensive night out while still enjoying the excellent food offered at Craigie you could have only a main course and dessert or a main course and appetizer only. You could also have no alcohol or just one drink as opposed to many. These options would allow you to enjoy a great meal for less than it would cost if you did the tasting menu. As I mentioned we each had the prix fixe menu option, we had 3 alcoholic drinks and I had a coffee with dessert, before tip our bill was $165. This is within range of other restaurants we have enjoyed dining at in the area. I very much want to offer other diners an honest review by which to judge this restaurant as I know how helpful it can be when deciding. I walked in the door of Craigie on Main with great trepidation the other night and came out with a full belly, a smile on my face and the memory of a truly excellent dining experience. My husband I would not hesitate to go back or recommend it to friends.

    (5)

  • Jerom N.

    Tried a roasted veal sandwich, AND IT WAS AMAZING! Interesting, interesting place!

    (5)

  • ZZZZ T.

    Best restaurant in Boston right now. We went with the chef's tasting menu (and requested no offal). At every turn we were further impressed. The Amuse bouche to kick things off set a great tone, and the chefs stepped up for each course. This is an involved meal, and I encourage you to go in with an open mind. The waiters are extremely attentive, but not overbearing. The bartenders make a bevy of delicious libations. The chefs put on a show. This is quite a dining experience.

    (5)

  • Jeff D.

    One of the best meals of my life, bar none. We actually asked for and received a copy of the menu so we could remember what we ate. We also carefully chose different items so that we never duplicated anything and could try the full range of porky goodness that Tony Maws and company was serving that night. We also splurged on the drink pairings which were all spot on and complimented their dishes very well. They started us off with Les Cochonailles, which was a small dish with many bite sized tasting of pork. The fried crouton of pork cheek was a divinely salty treat, as was a small dollop of pate where I think the goal was to make a tastier version of deviled ham. Mission accomplished. Lastly was a light and fatty pork rind that didn't even require chewing. You just put it on your mouth and allowed it to melt. This was paired with a 2007 Sydre 'Argelette", Eric Bordelet. Second choice for me was a salad of crisphy-fried pig ears and fresh shrimp with watercress, frisee, beets and bacon vinaigrette. Surprising the pork did not overwhelm the dish. The ears are less porky but chewy and long lasting. I'm not really a fan of beets, but when combined with everything else they mixed into a very tasty mouthful of food. This came with a 2008 Pinot Blanc, Domaine Meyer-Fonee For my date it was the red chile-rubbed St. Louis pork ribs with pickled peanuts, toasted garlic and jalapeno. They were a bit to spicy to her heat-averse tongue but I thought the heat built up nicely towards the end and was very enjoyable. This came with and Olde School Barleywine from Dogfish Head. For the next course she had the blood sausage tagliatelle with suckling pig ragout and maitake mushrooms paired with a 2009 SP68, Occchipinti. The pork saugage was fantastic and really went well with the win. My choice was the rye flour fusilli with a ragout of pork heart sausage and sea urchin. Of the two pasta dishes this was by far our favorite. The urchin lent a nice additional saltiness when you stumbled onto a piece. This came with a 2008 Beta Delta, Tanutae Lageder. My choice for the next course was braised pork cheeks with pig tongue confit, country sausage and garbanzo bean cassoulet. Had etiquitte allowed I'd have licked this plate clean. I managed to maintain my composure and simply scrape as much goodness off my plate with a fork as could be had. This came with a 2009 Beaujolais Villages, Damien Coquelet. She got the Berkshire pork belly with morcilla (a Spanish blood sausage), bluefoot mushrooms, tangerines and pistachio butter. All was fantastic and once again the ingredients really complement each other and the wine. My date is not a huge fan of mushrooms but loved them in this dish. This was served with a 2009 Chinon 'Les Galuches", Jean-Maurice Raffault. After a refreshing grapefruit-Campari sorbet with champagne foam we moved onto dessert. Mine was a huge piece of bourbon and pecan ice cream tart with lard crust and crunch bacon on top. By itself it was absolutely decadent. It was served with a Farmhouse Flip, which if memory serves (I had to ask the waiter as the ingredients were not on the menu) was essentially a shot of espresso, bourbon and a few spices. It was the absolute opposite of sweet and I enjoyed it alone but when mixed with a bite of the tart it was even better. She got the cornbread pain perdu with bacon and pineapple caramel and buttermilk ice cream. I wish I could make cornbread so melt in your mouth sweet and delicious. It came with a 2009 Lambrusco Biano, Lini 910. This was more than a meal, it was an eating experience. For us, probably a once a year at best experience because of the cost but well worth pinching pennies to insure that you can pull it off. If you have considered visiting Craigie on Main but haven't yet I encourage you to save your money, eat in for a few weeks and make the trip. You will not leave disappointed.

    (5)

  • Vanessa T.

    After a long afternoon spent in the rain, we settled at the bar about twenty minutes before our reservation. The adventurers that we are, we couldn't decide between the half pig's head and the tasting menu. Our server told us that both could be accomplished and that it would be filling, but not overfilling. My stomach would beg to differ. The courses before the pigs head were small enough that the pigs head seemed reasonable, but perhaps the suggestion of three half bottles is what made our experience a little too indulgent. In hindsight, I don't regret the experience. The stars of the night were the expertly created craft cocktails (they actually carry Arak!) and the pig's head. We had pork in many forms, but this is probably my favorite! If we were to return, I'd most likely order off the menu. Everything is seasonal, and the pasta and veg were fresh. Try Craigie for a casual or nice night out.

    (4)

  • Jason K.

    Excellent. We did the 8 course tasting menu. It was a great way to experience their menu. I highly recommend this place. It is a little casual for the high quality of the food that was kind of refreshing.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Wow. I searched for several days on Yelp and Google combing through about 40-50 restaurant options with Valentine menus for myself and partner. In all my searching their were only two other restaurants I found that were more expensive than Cragie on Main but Cragie on Main had the best reviews I've ever seen so I choose that. I reserved a 9pm low top table and it was a beautiful corner booth. I think literarily the best seat in the house. We parked on the street and arrived 10 minutes early. The checkin woman seemed a bit overwhelmed with constant phone calls while also managing checkins. My only recommendation is that on holidays they might need one person dedicated to just phone calls. We sat down and ordered a cocktail and our waiter enthusiastically greeted us. He discussed the wine pairing menu to compliment our 5 course meal. I wasn't planning on it but we decided to try it for a change. The waiter didn't pressure us at all which was great. Each course was simply amazing and full of several flavors. There wasn't a single food item we didn't like. My only regret was getting the wine tasting as while I imagine any wine fans would love it, we would have been quite fine without it. Mostly, because we talked with each other all dinner so we were drinking very slowly and got back logged on glasses of wine. The night seemed to fly by, but I think that's because we were having such a great time as we realized we had actually been there for just over 3 hours after looking at the clock. The only real downside is the cost. At 300 for two people, plus 100 for wine tasting, plus 2 cocktails, plus 20% tip you can see how it adds up to potentially your most expensive dinner you may ever have. I can't take any stars off for that however as they are upfront on all their costs, and the food could not be any fresher or tastier nor the staff any nicer. So you get what you pay for and I recommend everyone visit here at least once in your life. Amazing!

    (5)

  • Kimmy H.

    The place is nice, so does their service. We had 8-course tasting menu and everything is good. They also gave us sorbet before last dish(dessert), it's an addition and free service. My favorite one is the trout which was cooked so perfect and come with their house chowder. They are cooked, but tasted like medium rare..... so tender and fresh.

    (5)

  • John L.

    I have been living very cose to Craigie on Main for a few years. All that time, I thought the restaurant was a random low-scale (up-scale wanna be) place. Little did I know that it was actually a quite famous upscale place. Check out my girlfriend's blog. She has some really nice pictures of what we had! beanosbeantown.blogspot.… I heard from a few friends that the place is actually quite nice and especiall the bar was pretty nice. I went there a few days ago with my girlfriend to check out their bar. We went around 10pm, well after we had dinner. The place was still pretty packed both with pople having dinner as well as grabbing drinks. As soon as you walk in, you can see their "open kitchen" and see all the chefs working busily, which I especially liked. Everybody from the host, waiters/waitresses, bar tenders were very nice and welcoming. We had to wait a bit for the bar. There were only about 10 seats or so at the bar and it is first-come-first-serve. My girlfriend had a cocktail called sunrise something... and it was probably the most delicious cocktail I have ever tried. I had a somewhat dirty martini and it was excellent as well. We also tried their $18 cheese platter... but I didn't like it too much. 3 not so large slices of cheese and they were ok. Nothing special. We heard so so much about their famous burgers from friends. (Presumably the best burger in Boston if not in the whole U.S.) We were so curious that we returned the next day to try their burger and bone marrow. Key is to come for an early dinner. They open at 5:30PM on Saturdays so we went right around 5:20 and waitied. The door was actually locked and we were the first in line. Within a few minutes, people started lining up. They all looked like they were coming for the burger. Once we got in and took a seat the bar we ordered a burger with a fried egg and bacon. Price = $19 + $3 (egg) + $3 (bacon). Bone marrow ($10) had 3 pieces of oven roasted (?) with salt and pepper + maybe some spices. To be honest... the burger was just ok. It was definitely rich. Not too big in size, but a bit tall. But it feels like it lacks.... something. It doesn't taste that special. Some might not agree, but I actually would prefer shake shack or in-n-out or one of those burgers over Craigie on Main. The bone marrows were pretty good. Pretty good portion actually for $10. Very rich but I guess that's bone marrow. Overall... The ambience is good. Some cocktails are quite good. Burger is just ok. I will update if I save enough money to try their regular dinner menu. Hopefully the 8 course tasing? :)

    (3)

  • Sharon Z.

    Absolutely Appealing and Almost Affordable All of their flavors are strong yet sane, Assorted menu, seldom mundane, As you dine, sip some champagne, And service is a beauty and brain (neither a pain nor plain!) An open kitchen to witness your meat slain, Albeit, worry not, it is all humane, Artery it clogs though and the vein, After many courses it will you detain, Appetizers over main courses reign, Although the price makes your head spin in vain, A-minus grade goes to Craigie on Main.

    (4)

  • Cordy E.

    I have been dying to try it here for years - and finally went with some friends last evening and was unfortunately very dissapointed. First - they need to PUBLICIZE that you cannot get the burger in the dining room. They should absolutely know that this is what they are most famous for. I recognize it costs much less than their entrees (more on that later) but we didn't know and that was really the only reason I wanted to go. I also think this is an absolutely ABSURD policy to begin with and I find it rude. I do give them props for trying to make it up to us by finding space in the bar...then when we couldn't move they brought us free samples of the soup and hot chocolate at the end of the night. Though something tells me this was more a direct result of me putting on Twitter my frustration as it was happening than their flawless manners. Another issue I have - I have heard rants and raves about the food - the menu isn't very large or accessible - and everything I tasted was GROSSLY overpriced for what it was in my opinion. I ordered the Cod and found it good, don't get me wrong I ate it, but I probably could have made that myself. It wasn't anything special and I would have asked for pepper since there wasn't any on the table to try to boost the flavor but felt I was already on their sh*t list. I will say that the Matrie d was adorable and VERY nice. I found him genuine and apologetic. I also loved the second waitress we were given by the end - she had excellent recommendations on wine. By the way our first waitress seemed very new...we couldn't hear a word she said and she was so awkward but she was quickly replaced without us saying anything. Overall really not what I was hoping for - less inclined to head back to try this "famous" burger after I found the rest of the menu rather odd and my dish pretty blah. We will see.

    (2)

  • Libby T.

    My travel plans were spoiled one Friday night, so alone in Boston for the weekend, I treated myself to dinner at Craigie - something I had wanted to do since I moved to the city. Something about dining in such decadence alone made me feel uncomfortable, but the hostess was friendly, seated me at the bar, and my fears were assuaged. I had gone in for a burger, but upon seeing the open kitchen and the bartenders enjoying mixing cocktails (and other solo patrons at the bar), I decided I was in for the long haul. I ordered the seven course tasting menu. Three cocktails, eight PERFECTLY executed courses and one encounter with Tony Maws later, I hopped in a cab - blissful about my poor circumstance. With a date or without, this is a must-must-must do.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    This is also more like 4.5 but is the best food I had in Boston. I lived in the city for a month tried many places and while this was fairly high end price wise it was worth the money. They food was diverse, it was all well prepared especially the raw fish dishes. I had the tasting menu and would recommend it to anyone who is eating here for just one go on a trip or vacation. Bartender is very talented and she was very knowledgable about whiskey which I appreciated tremendously.

    (5)

  • Subhash R.

    My wife and I came for our 14th anniversary. As we were seated, my wife noted that she was cold, a shawl was offered by the staff during the dinner. Very nice touch! Service was most very good, except when we arrived. It took 15minutes for our server to come by. We ended up having the eight course tasting menu. Our evening started with a set of drinks - a strawberry puree, lemon, Chambord, and champagne. Very nice! Then an amuse, then the meal. Pictures of the meal - flic.kr/s/aHsjvjHCGi The highlights for us were the squash soup and grilled shrimp, watermelon and tuna sashimi, Veal Sirloin and Sweatbreads, the transition dish - Green Apple and Celery Sorbet, Candied Celery, and Stracciatella, and the dessert - Sour Milk Panna Cotta with Kirsche. official meu below Tasting Menu Thursday, July 14th, 2011 Three Amuse Preparations: fresh lily bulb, sesame-scallion vinaigrette Armenian cucumber, beet purée smoked bluefish rillettes, hackleback caviar ~~~ Salad of Bluefin Tuna Sashimi watermelon, cucumber, beet, red onion ~~~ Soup of Yellow Summer Squash grilled pink Florida shrimp ~~~ Spice-Crusted Striped Bass Kama ~~~ House-Made Farro Flour Straccetti Pasta Sea urchin and crab ragoût ~~~ Grilled Vermont Pork Belly pickled cherry, radish, pea greens, cherry and boudin noir sauce ~~~ All Natural Veal Two Ways: Herb-Crusted Tenderloin and Pork Belly-Wrapped Sweetbreads Boston brown bread, fried green tomatoes, beer, house-made mustard ~~~~ Celery-Apple Sorbet candied celery, stracciatella ~~~ Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream Tart smoked Mexican salt chocolate sauce, bacon pecan crust ~and~ Sour Milk Panna Cotta coriander-cashew granola, dried cherry and kirsch purée, brown butter ~~~ Yogurt Foam with Red Beet and Blood Orange Granita

    (4)

  • Erin C.

    After a celebration dinner I was neither disappointed or blown away by Craigie's. I'm sad that I didn't have the mind blowing experience that so many others seemed to enjoy. First, our service was spot on. From the hostess to the server, we were treated wonderfully. For our appetizer we had the brussels sprouts and a pasta dish. I can't remember much about the pasta dish because it was actually quite bland. Not much seasoning or taste. The brussels were great though! For our entrees we had veal two ways and the cod. When the dishes came out we were surprised to see that our meals looked almost identical. The only difference was the protein on the top. They both had the same foam on top and the same accompanyments on the bottom. My cod was cooked amazingly. It was light, flaky and other restaurants could learn something from whoever cooked this fish. Not much flavor with my dish, but the fish was excellent. My date said the veal was "ok". :( For $35+ for the dish I was hoping for more than "ok". Since we weren't really wowed by our meals we decided to skip dessert. We left with a $130 bill and a sense of disappointment.

    (3)

  • Odin B.

    Craigie on Main left a very unpleasant taste and I didn't even dine. You should note that the Chef tasting menu ($118) is only availabe to you if your entire table orders the same. It doesn't matter if two of you want to order it, all members of your party need to order it. We could have come as a table of 2 and gotten this but because we were a table of 4 we couldn't, and no, they wouldn't allow us to split up into 2 tables of 2 either. Not sure what the reason is for this, we kept asking, but the only answer we got was that "THE CHEF WON'T DO IT" so we left. Very disappointing but we didn't let these folks ruin our special occasion. We headed over to the next block for a fantastic meal and wonderful dining experience at Cuchi Cuchi.

    (1)

  • Tiffany D.

    I do, I do, I do adore you.... Came here last weekend... the only reservation available was one at 9 at a high table. I remember asking them "Is that enough room for all the food? My boyfriend and I eat a lot...." We got the Chef's Tasting [10]... and then some... As usual we started off with a glass of champagne [Montlouis Brut - Francois Chidaine] but continued the night with two bottles of 2000 Riesling Spätlese Dalsheimer Hubacker - Weingut Keller.. we usually like to try different wines but we loved this so much we HAD to order it again. We got there at a great time.. the one month out of the year that Fiddlehead Ferns are in season and available. SOOO GOOD. And of course the Octopus and the Bone Marrow. YOU MUST GET THE BONE MARROW. Onto the tasting. PERFECTION. 1. Amuse Bouche Trio - Seafood Preps a. Squid Noodles b. Morrocan-Spiced Gravlax c. Crispy Fried Maine Clam with Squid Ink 2. Salad of Hiramasa Sashimi 3. Miso and Sake-Lees Marinated Wild Alaskan Sablefish Extra: Grilled Spanish Octopus 4. Maple-Braised French White Asparagus 5. House-Made Farro Sacchetti Pasta -- THIS WAS MY FAVORITE OF THE NIGHT!!!!.... the creamy uni and the delicious and surprisingly springy but tender pork heart.. paired with a delicious sauce and FARRO pasta!!!! 6. Ragout of Forest Mushrooms 7. Pork Three Wyas: Spiced-Cruster Rib, Suckling Confit, Grilled Belly At the last savory dish of the tasting we even got to meet the famous Chef Tony Maws :] What a delight and super night [and super genius] SIDE: Fiddlehead Ferns - simple steamed and with a touch of butter :] EXTRA: Bone Marrow - TWO HUGE chunks of delicious creamy bone marrow.. omg... THEN came the desserts *kisses the air, delish! 8. Tea-Infused Panna Cotta a. Jasmine b. Rooibos 9. Cardamom and Vanilla Arborio Rice Pudding 10. Sheep's Milk Yogurt Cheesecake 11. Ancho-Chile and Cardamom-Spiced Valrhona Hot Chocolate and some chocolate covered almonds to end the night.. :] so about 16 different dishes/tastes ;D YUM! IT WAS SO GOOD.... I came home and booked for Mother's Day Brunch :] Shouts to our waitress Lindsay :D

    (5)

  • Heather F.

    Shortly after I posted my initial review of Craigie, the owner contacted me personally and was genuinely upset that we had not had an amazing experience at her restaurant. She then offered to send me a gift certificate with confidence that we would receive a superb meal next time. I was really really surprised - that level of hospitality is rare, especially in fine dining. I accepted her offer, and my BF and I returned to Craigie in late February. My only complaint for the whole meal was that our cocktails took a REALLY long time to come out. (I'm talking 25 minutes here, we were already enjoying our appetizers when they were finally delivered). In short: the pigs tails were one of the best things I have ever had. Totally not what I expected - deliciously crispy with interesting, well balanced flavors. Several "amuse bouche" were delivered throughout the meal, which were always a welcome surprise. No complaints on our entrees, either. The chartreuse syrup on the chocolate dessert we had was a really cool idea, too. (side note: As a cook, I always find it really disappointing to hear the staff being verbally berated by their chef - especially in an open kitchen. It seems tacky. Pursuit of perfection is one thing - total disrespect is something entirely different. I applaud the rest of the staff for holding their tongues and maintaining professionalism.) I'll give Craigie 5 stars for Boston; however if it were in NYC, Chicago, LA, or most other places, I'd say only 4 stars. Still worth checking out.

    (5)

  • Andi P.

    My ex took me to Craigie's original location for Valentine's Day dinner once upon a time. I can't even remember what I ate, and I'm not even sure I knew at the time--oxtail and all, with well-executed wine pairings to go along with each course--but it's kept me coming back on occasion, first to the old location, and now to the new, especially to brunch on Sundays and to the bar. When I drink, I invariably need food too, and this place has a nice little bar menu. Also, my ex was a vegetarian at the time, but she definitely went carnivorous for the V-day occasion, and not because they didn't have a vegetarian prix-fixe menu for the night too. The meat-eaters menu simply looked that good.

    (5)

  • Jonathan R.

    Outstanding food, great service, and the best bar in Boston. And Sundays only, Craigie consistently delivers the best brunch experience I've ever had. Exquisite and original *morning* cocktails, a great elegant-but-energetic atmosphere, outstanding and varied food (even as a vegetarian), and impeccable service, just like they offer every evening, but customized for the most delightful Sunday morning you can find anywhere.

    (5)

  • Geri K.

    Unbelievable! Service excellent but not at all overbearing. Waiter knowledgable with personality. Very expensive but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Heidi X.

    I was here for Sunday brunch. Not totally bowled over, but I had a relatively good experience. The brunch menu is quite different from the regular dinner offerings, but all sound delicious and are of course marked by the restaurant's signature use of locally sourced meat and produce. The grilled pork belly was absolutely delicious, with perfectly caramelized, melt-in-the-mouth layers of belly fat. The coriander and cashew granola was really quite special - fragrant and savory. Can't say that the portion size (2 bites) was worth the menu price of $6, but at least it was original. The bay scallops with grits was tasty but I did expect more than the 3 medium scallops that came on my plate. The peanut butter ice cream profiteroles we had for dessert were yummy too, and, like the granola, had a pleasant salty element to them. Service standards here seem to vary a lot depending on whom you have in attendance. The hostesses were friendly and attentive, and went out of their way to help us with the table settings and open the back entrance for us to wheel our pram in, for which I was grateful. The folks sitting at the bar looked like they were having a great time, and I concluded that the bar attendant was doing a great job as well. Our server, unfortunately, fell far below the standards of his colleagues. He took no initiative to offer us a high chair for my infant, was unnecessarily snarky in his replies to our questions regarding the menu, and brought out my food missing the poached egg I had ordered. I thought about asking for it but let it pass, which was just as well since it was yonks before he made a reappearance at our table.

    (4)

  • D H.

    Outstanding food. A few years back I had an entree called "beef three ways" or something very much like it. Either way, it was an excellent small steak, another portion I do not recall, and finally a patty of seared bone marrow. I do not know how they manage to get it to stick together like that, but it had a slightly crispy exterior, and gooey marrow interior. Outstanding. Twice now my wife and I have gone here for an anniversary dinner and ordered the tasting menu, except we asked for savory-only. No desserts, that is. Costs a tiny bit more. We ended up getting a few extra courses on the House each time. I strongly recommend the 8-course tasting menu if you have some extra cash to spend. (It was somewhere between $90 and $110. Cannot recall). I believe they also do a less expensive tasting option with fewer courses. Let's just say it is, again, outstanding. Pig's Knuckles appetizer is also excellent.

    (5)

  • Matt T.

    Without a doubt the best tasting meal I have ever had in my life! I went with 3 friends and we all ordered the prix fixe option (3 courses for $65). If I wanted to type out a description of the entire meal it would take me days, so here is a review of the overall experience. The service was top notch; the second you clean your plate it is whisked away and another is replaced. Not only that, but we had several servers who were all completely knowledgable as to the production of each component of the meal, the source of the ingredients, and the process of the kitchen staff. We were seated with a view of the open kitchen and the staff there was professional, clean, and orderly. The rest of the dining room was small, but comfortable, well operated, and warm. You could wear jeans and a button up or a suit and tie and either way you would fit right in. The food is incredibly unique with smaller portions, but by the end you will be more than full. I experienced more flavors in one meal than I can even remember. Highlights were the fried pig's tails, bone marrow, and the fruit galette for dessert. The presentation is nothing short of art, and the care Chef Maws takes in each component shows why he has won so many prestigious awards. I also tried a few signature drinks that were amazing in their own right and fit the overall feel of the menu. Another thing that is superb about this place is that he sources all of his ingredients from local, organic farms, and he posts those farms right on the menu so you know where your food is coming from. While ingredients like bone marrow and pig's ears may be unconventional, it shows that Chef Maws truly works to include ALL parts of the animals he brings in, and never seems to waste anything. If you want to splurge and enjoy an insanely good, unique, blow-your-mind dining experience at one of Boston's best, then it's a must that you try this place.

    (5)

  • Meghan M.

    After a year of their being opened, hubs and I finally made it to Craigie on Main right outside of Kendall Square in Cambridge. I had a meeting with Plummelo.com , where I will be guest blogging twice a month (check out my first post: blog.plummelo.com ), and since Craigie was close by and it was Thursday night, we decided to make a reservation. Highly recommended to do so. Upon arrival at Craigie on Main, we were seated at the most perfect table, all the way in the back corner. Romantic, but also ideal for a shy food blogger who HATES taking photos of food in public. I want to have them; I don't like feeling like a weirdo, and I am afraid I may get yelled at! I started the evening with a champagne cocktail, the Tavern Sparkler, which was made of the following: Medicinal Spiced Elixir cider, Becherovka, honey, Champagne Definitely medicinal after a rushed afternoon, and delicious, this drink was the perfect way to start an autumn meal. It tasted of sweet honey and spicy cider and a slight hint of effervescence from the champagne. My dining companion had a Piraat Amber Tripel IPA which was delicious but not as good as the beer he had later in the evening. Keep reading to find out. . . The menu at Craigie offers a long list of tempting, local creations. As you can see Craigie locally sources just about everything from places like Verrill Farm. They make their menu after buying their ingredients, ensuring the freshest food possible. Unable to decide on meals, we opted for a six course tasting menu and the staff at Craigie were very happy to accommodate my no venison, no beef, no lamb, no rabbit request. Apparently all of those proteins were options though, showing the breadth of dishes one can try at Craigie. Our first course was an amuse bouche of three seafood delights. The middle dish is a monkfish liver, and the one on the right is crispy brandade de morue with squid ink. I can not remember what the dish on the left was, except completely delicious, I want more of it. Next up, Hiramasa sashimi with red onion shiso salsa, avocado, and harissa-rose vinaigrette. I loved this dish. The bite of the onion, the creaminess of the avocado, and the perfect fish was subtly spiced with the harissa vinaigrette. It was light and flavorful. Then there were the grilled monkfish cheeks, meaty, substantial, delicious. I think it was at this point that I finished my cocktail and requested a wine pairing. Our outstanding server brought me a glass of 2007 Grüner Veltliner 'Lois', a nearly clear Austrian wine with an acidity that went very well with the richness of the seafood. We often think of seafood as lighter, but as the meal progressed, we definitely had some very substantial fish dishes. The wine stood up to them without overcoming their flavors. This wine exemplified the elegance and flavor of the Austrian wine that we tried in Vienna, wine that was beautiful and strong, like many things Austria has to offer. . . The hubs ordered another beer, a Foret, which was like champagne. No, not like the champagne of beers. Like real champagne, with a beautiful bubbly, yeasty nose. Next up was collar of a fish whose name I can not remember (sorry!) with a salty, messy, sticky miso laced sauce. Our server made sure we had plenty of bread prior to this course, and now I know why. We wanted to mop up every drop of the sauce! Think we were done after that? Not quite yet. Our next dish was Ragoût of Local Forest Mushrooms, House-Made Rabbit Sausage, Hakurei Turnips and Romanesco farm-fresh egg, Macomber turnip purée, herbs This may have been my favorite part of the entire meal. A farm fresh egg makes such a huge difference. With the crisp radish, earthy mushrooms, and ooey gooey egg yolk, this dish was both rustic and elegant. Our final savory course was grilled pork belly with pomegranate arils and a thick apple sauce, brought to us by a server and Chef Maws. To end the night, our server brought us Olive Oil and Taza Chocolate Mousse and Long Island Cheese Pumpkin Parfait. They were both perfect, but the Taza chocolate mousse and olive oil offered an unbelievably rich and smooth treat. The pumpkin parfait offered exquisite fall flavors. I loved being able to taste the squash flavor of the pumpkin along with a little bit of sweetness. Again, perfect portions and balance of flavors. Craigie on Main offered such a special, delicious meal, and I can not wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Tiffany Z.

    Really friendly, top-notch service. Maybe I've become accustomed to snooty or aloof service in Boston/Cambridge (particularly in pricier restaurants), but in any case, I was happily surprised by this welcomed change to my expectations. Cocktails were great. I had the pretty pink Blinker (a grapefruit and whiskey combination) and sweet and sparkling Bellini. The grilled octopus was definitely the stand-out in my mind in terms of food -- meaty and delicious, seasoned perfectly. We were only looking for a light meal so shared this appetizer in addition to an arugula and roasted chickpea salad and a side of brussel sprouts. Everything was fresh and tasty (if not a bit too salty for my tastes). Our waitress also informed us that the menu changes daily and is expected to significantly change once more in season vegetables are available locally. Note: I should mention that we ate at a table in the bar area and not the main dining room (it's a great option on a busy night as you can still order from either the bar menu or the dinner menu).

    (5)

  • Christopher M.

    It took me a while to write this review, seeing as how my girlfriend and I were there in February. However, I feel that the staff at Craigie deserve every bit of it... If i could give Craigie 10 stars I would. From the time we walked in, until the time we left, we were treated like royalty. Bar staff was great. Our server Holly was knowledgeable and helpful. The food is unbelievable. Easily one of the best dining experiences we have ever had. My girlfriend and I went with the 6 course tasting menu. After a while, we realized we had more than 6 courses, we had a total of 10. The Chef came out to explain one of the courses to us, which was a nice gesture. Thank you! It seemed that each course was better then the last, even down to the dessert, which was incredible, and I don't have much of a sweet tooth. The atmosphere was relaxed and exciting at the same time. It was nice to see everyone working hard and taking pride in what they were doing. Chef Tony and his team made this a night to remember. I can not wait to go back...perhaps for brunch next time. Thanks again!

    (5)

  • Nam T.

    I don't ever give 5 stars, but Craigie On Main definitely deserves it. Upon walking in, I was greeted with an amazingly friendly hostess which quickly seated us. The environment is nice and RELAXED. You feel at home, but at the same time the atmosphere definitely lets you know you are about to taste some fine dining. My friend and I started with the Rabbit Porchetta, Goat Rillette, Pâté de Campagne plate. Every single one of them were amazing. Served with thick country toast, it was easy to say that this was one tasty appetizer. We then moved on to a plate of bone marrow. Holy Moly these were amazing. SOOO buttery and light to the taste. It's really hard to go wrong with marrow. We ended with the Lamb three way. This dish consisted of a lamb fillet, braised beef tongue, and also pork belly. This was a great way to end the meal. Everything was cooked to absolute perfection!! It was paired with a great mix of sauteed summer vegetables. I can't say much more than for you to just try it. You're sure to get an amazing meal.

    (5)

  • J P.

    Went to Craigie again. This time for the burgers. Oh boy! It's definately worth the hype!

    (5)

  • Oliver K.

    One of my very favorite restaurants of all time. I should clarify that I'm actually referring to Craigie St. Bistro, but unless they've done something very wrong since they moved I'm sure it's well worth 5 starts. My girlfriend and I went at least once a week (we lived on craigie circle above the restaurant's original home). I have to say that I'll definitely miss that first location. Such a great, intimate space. Fantastic overall dining experience. Up there with 9 Park in my book. Tony is a genius chef. Rather than over complicate, he keeps the food simple yet elegant, and lets the excellent quality of the ingredients shine. His style and approach to food comes across in every beautifully executed plate. A testament to his love of the food, the ingredients, and the techniques. Temps are always spot on, and everything is plated with confidence and finesse. Very seasonal and you're always in for a few wonderful surprises. Excellent wine list. Lots of great bottles at great prices. Never felt up-sold. In fact, quite the opposite. I was talked into many an inexpensive gem. I don't think Will is there anymore, but if he is, you're in luck. Best server I've ever had. Anywhere. Incredibly passionate and knowledgeable. Always excited to talk about food and wine and anything else. Truly great guy. We were often treated to wine and cheese while (if) we waited for a table. They always accommodated us in every way--Prime time on Friday night was never a problem. I guess that comes with loyalty--But it's certainly not a given. I don't have any pictures of the food, but there are plenty of great ones here already. I have nothing bad to say about CSB, er COM. Oh, almost forgot! Not sure if they still do them, but look for a sunday prix fixe. Best deal in town, by a long shot!

    (5)

  • Derek B.

    So, I know I've already reviewed this place, but I happened to go last night for dinner here with some friends and was able to order off the bar menu. This was new for me and not included in my previous reviews. A few things: 1.) There was some confusion about our reservation when we arrived, but the hostess and manager on duty were amazingly kind and helpful in sorting it out. When the answer was that our reservation was going to have to be delayed a few min, the round of free libations helped. In the meantime, the entire staff continued to be really attentive and extremely kind. 2.) I actually had a kick-ass martini here last night (my only complaint from my last post) Wohoo! 3.) The pig tails w/ cilantro jalapeno, etc., were delicious. The jalapeno really balanced the fat of the pig tail; an excellent starter. I can also recommend the brussel sprouts cooked in duck fat. If you don't think you like brussel sprouts or ever at them as a kid, definitely try these. you'll change your mind. 4.) The burger. I'm not a huge fan of this whole premium burger movement, to be honest, nor do I like to use superlatives in describing what can be subjective experiences so let me say this: the burger (available only at the bar, btw) was the best premium burger i've ever had. I could go on and on about how much i enjoyed it, but i won't. it's for you to decide. Just give yourself the opportunity to try it. 5.) At less than $20 and with a mound of salad and (delicious) fries, the grass-fed burger is a full (and filling) meal that's also a great value for the money...a feat most premium burgers have never achieved.

    (5)

  • Kristyn M.

    Easily one of the best meals I've had in Boston since moving here in August. We had the chef's 6-course vegetarian tasting - not even offered on the menu, but upon hearing both my boyfriend and I are veg, our server was more than happy to accomodate us in such a personal way. Every single dish was fabulous - not always something I would order, but great to experience fresh new dishes. Service was impeccable. Great wine and beer selection. Did not have any of their signature cocktails, although I've heard good things. Only one qualm - had a 9pm reservation and it took about a half hour to get seated. But a drink at the bar was a perfectly acceptable way to begin the evening, and I can understand how unpredictable and busy Saturday nights such as that one could be.

    (5)

  • Monica B.

    The food is delicious and tastes simple, each dish prepared perfectly. Not inexpensive but worth the cost. Nice atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Skimmilk K.

    Yum yum yum! If you are a foodie, this is a must! I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here. My only disappointment is that there wasn't enough room in my belly to eat more! I started with the pig's tail (sounds gross but it is good and surprisingly meaty). I also tried all of my friend's appetizers which were all lovely including the octopus salad and the cod pieces with squid ink. For the entree, I had the bass over risotto. Cooked perfectly! I cannot compliment this place enough. They had great service. I found parking nearby. The hostess was friendly. The restaurant was pre-warned that it was my friend's birthday and gave her a candle with her dessert.

    (5)

  • Dan S.

    Excellent, creative, fun and unexpected, high quality. Not sure what else to say. Oh, expensive!

    (5)

  • Heidi L.

    I cannot decide if I love or hate a particular dish at Cragie....so I've been waiting for my epiphany! We went ther Cragie for a friend's birthday dinner. It was a weekday and it was still packed when we got there around 830-9. We had a reservation but we still had to wait for a little bit...didn't mind at all as the server and the host were very attentive, gave us suggestions about drinks and talked to us almost the entire time. Later we were seated at the bar area (they did ask us if that was okay) and handed the menus. We ended up getting the Pri-Fixe and my love-hate dish "THE PIG HEAD"! For appetizer, we had the rabiit sausage/pig blood, a potato/watercress soup, and the rigatoni. I LOVE the rabbit sausage dish, everything was cooked perfectly even the pigs blood! For entrees, we had the skirt steak, pork loin with sweet bread, and ****THE PIG HEAD****! My friend got the skirt steak and she liked it. I got the pork loin and it was good...perhaps I was a little bit full at that point, I didn't think the dish was outstanding. Last but not least, THE PIG HEAD! OH MY MY MY, the meat was super tender, very juicy, basically it just dissolved in my mouth. The reason why I hated it for a moment was because the way you eat it. It's basically half a pig head served on a white plate, with a knife and a fork. At first I could still eat and look at it...but later I had to ask my husband to cut the meat for me as the "head" became kind of disgusting to look at. This dinner was a couple months ago and I can still remember the flavor of the pig head...I think it's fair to say I LOVE this dish and definitely will go back for it again! The service was great at Cragie. Our server explained all the items to us patiently and also gave us recommendations. Oh, do try the ginger drink if you like ginger. Both my friend and husband loved it! I will probably go more often if its not as expensive...don't get me wrong though, Cragie does live up to their $$$$!

    (4)

  • Jon R.

    I'm psyched that this place is a few blocks from my house yet my wallet is very upset at my exuberance. My bro + I ate brunch at this establishment yesterday and it was outstanding. We both had skirt steak + eggs with a well-prepared cocktail = food coma! The chipped ice/turn-of-the-century cocktail bar was a pleasant surprise.

    (4)

  • John B.

    If you are hooked on the Travel Channel's Bourdain and Zimmern and want something out of the ordinary this is the place for you. The service was awesome (at the bar, the only place we sit), the menu was eclectic, the decor outstanding. We got fried pig's tails, Hirmasa tuna shashimi, and roasted bone marrow sides. It's a very cool place to hang out, my martini was $10, thats not bad, for the two of us it ran about $80. The only bummer is there is no TV in the bar so if you want to see/hear any games its a no go. Other than that its really a must check if you are a foodie.

    (5)

  • Mina K.

    alas, bc i cannot afford dinner here. this review is for brunch. prix fixe brunch for 29$ includes coffee and tea. seems pricey for brunch. buttt if you think about. its 2 meals (breakfast and lunch). and considering its the best meal of your life. its totally worth it. homemade donut, dunkin has nothing on this donut. try it for yourself. it comes covered with a light caramel-like sauce. came with a party of 4, everything we ordered was spectacular. menu changes from time to time. everything that touched our lips was amazing. so you cant go wrong if you just make it here to eat, everything will be perfect. see photos... if youre like me, visual guides are key :)

    (5)

  • Sam H.

    Finally got to go to and enjoy this famous restaurant. It went beyond my high expectations--it was really almost perfect, from the ambiance, to the service, to the plating, to the food. The only thing I had that wasn't an "A" was my coffee with dessert. That's it. Here's what our dinner party had. For first courses, we ordered the pate plate, a sashimi plate and for me, a fresh egg (poached) on a bed of mushrooms and fiddle heads. All were spot on--unbelievable. The entrees we had/shared were pork 3-ways, salmon with beets and pine nuts, and for me, a sirloin steak with potatoes. Again, all were amazing! I think mine was arguably the best: the steak was perfectly cooked and had tremendous flavor and juice, and the potatoes were possibly the best potatoes I've ever eaten. For the dessert course, we ordered the 3-sherbert dish (grapefruit, yogurt, and mango flavored), the apricot tart with amaretto ice cream, and my dish, a chocolate/bacon crust pie filled with bourbon/pecan ice cream and pecan crumbles on top. Holy WOW, I can't even begin to describe how phenomenal all these desserts were, but my pie was...pure genius and probably the best and most creative dessert I've ever had. Note that all Craigie's ice creams/sherberts are homemade. Amazing. Last but not least, I should mention my mojito was fantastic, and on par with the best ones I enjoyed in Aruba. Craigie on Main may be the best restaurant I've ever been to. It's definitely in the top 2 or 3. Truly an experience of a lifetime and worth every penny. Don't second guess a decision to go here; it just doesn't get better than this.

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    Craigie on Main lives up to the hype. The space is a bit tight, but very intimate. Almost every spot in the dining room has a view right into the working kitchen. This feature makes the dining experience both fun and intensely intriguing. In so many other restaurants your order goes off into the great unknown, only to have your food magically appear with no real connection to its creation. Chef Tony Maws whirls around his perfectly functioning kitchen like Belichick patrols the sideline at Gillette. He knows his players and his plays. It it obvious, to watch him, that he is seeing everything five steps ahead. Mesmerizing. The food...ohhhhhh the food...I started with the Trio of Terrines. The foie gras was other worldly. Our waiter helped steer some decision making for us when ordering dinner. It was remarkable to have a waiter that actually stopped for a few moments to explain and discuss the menu with you. I decided on the Beef Ribeye, partially because of the accompanying roasted bone marrow. My wife opted for the Sable-fish in miso broth with razor clams and squid. Both were very well executed. The beef was one of the finer pieces of meat I have ever come across. The bone marrow and creamed spinach were both rich and flavorful accompaniments. The final piece to our dining puzzle was a last minute decision. At the waiter's suggestion we opted for the brussel sprouts roasted in duck fat. These just sounded too good to pass up. I mean, how can you pass up anything roasted in duck fat? To say the least, they were spot on. We ended with a gingerbread cake with fresh ginger ice cream and a pineapple sauce. The contrast of the sweet pineapple and fresh ginger ice cream on top of the warm gingerbread cake was heavenly. The meal, overall, was aces. Though the prices are steep, the full experience is more than worth it. Craigie is a must for any foodie...especially those excited about snout to tail dining. My only regret is that I did not opt for the half roasted pig's head, though the look on my wife's face when the option was presented to us may have made up for that...priceless. If you have not experienced Craigie on Main, now is the time. If you have, you already know what I'm talking about.

    (5)

  • Katherine I.

    ASTOUNDING, I've been knocked over with a feather named Marjorie Maws. Marjorie Maws, co-owner of Craigie on Main, read my abridged review, and contacted me. She asked for every detail of our miserable evening. I explained. In prompt responses, here's some of what she wrote: "Thanks for taking the time to post about your visit. Obviously there were some problems the service and, on behalf of our management, we are terribly sorry. I would like to get to the bottom of it so I can make things right for you, and make sure nothing similar never happens again... We really pride ourselves on our service and hospitality so I would like to do whatever I can (and whatever would feel right to you) to fix the situation...Obviously the situation was mismanaged....We welcome any and all feedback and act on it immediately- I only wish this wasn't from 3 months ago as it will be difficult to figure out who might have been on duty that night. I am sorry for whatever series of glitches must have ruined your evening and we deeply apologize...Of course, we'd still like a chance to show you that your experience was an aberration ." Marjorie offered to issue a refund for the exact amount of the meal, or give us a free meal on her. We opted for the refund. A copy of the transaction was provided by American Express. Marjorie sent my partner a check in the mail for the exact amount within days. Unbelievable. In all my years of dining, this has NEVER happened. Marjorie has blewn me away, created a blustery draft in my perception, and in my future expections. Well done.

    (5)

  • Janine A.

    Let me preface this by saying I this is the most $ I've ever spent on a meal and drinks in my life. This probably made the experience even more special for me. To celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, we enjoyed the 10 course tasting. The service was spectacular. The owner left a card on our table for my boyfriend's birthday. I really appreciated this personal touch. We had to wait 10 minutes for our table so our first few drinks were free! Not expected at all, what 10 minutes? They actually took 3 drinks off the bill. I now know what judges on Top Chef are talking about when they refer to "the marrying of flavors, and using texture to compliment a dish." This place is a grand architect of food and drinks. I have never had a drink with both juniper and sage and it was extraordinary. The 10 course tasting is not for the faint of heart, it is a lot of food, but spread out so it is not overwhelming. This process does take up to 3hours. This is totally worth it and something I recommend everyone try at least once. Apologies, there were so many complex parts to our 10 courses I couldn't name them all, but I devoured ever morsel. If you are going for a special occasion the staff are so attentive they truly make you feel special. If you are willing to throw down some big $, this is the place to do it.

    (5)

  • ms m.

    Get the tasting menu! It's pricey but worth it!!

    (5)

  • Wes A.

    I went here for a Christmas treat and was not disappointed. I got the tasting menu, and it was very worth it. The food was top-notch, and the service was excellent. Its too expensive to go here regularly, but its totally worth it for special occasions.

    (5)

  • Tanya A.

    Wow, this place had amazing food. Not amazing prices, but definitely amazing food. We had the 6-course tasting menu, and my one complaint is that the waiter could not give us ANY idea what would be on it before we ordered. He said it was the chef's choice, and it varied from day to day, but you'd think he could at least tell us what kinds of ingredients were likely to be served. In any case, we took the plunge and ordered it, and were pleased to note that he did ask if we had any allergies, particular dislikes (sweetbreads, etc.) or anything the chef needed to know. First came a trio of seafood-- there was a tartare of smoked fish topped with tiny potato chips and caviar, which was good and not too "fishy" for my tastes. The sashimi of smoked fish with the skin still on was unfortunately on the fishy side for me, and the texture left much to be desired. Hunks of raw fish with skin on are not fun to put in one's mouth. The last was a bite of octopus (cut to be almost noodle-like) with a yellow beet salad and citrus vinaigrette. Very refreshing, though I still had to have a sip of wine and some bread to get the fishy taste of the skin-on sashimi out of my mouth. Next we had a tiny salad of fennel, shiso, avocado, and thin slices of trout, with more citrus vinaigrette. My husband thought the trout added nothing, and would've been fine eating the salad alone, but I think it added richness to the dish. Very good, though it needed touch more acidity. Next was a giant seared scallop with a fennel puree and some other components I can't really remember. The scallop was excellent, though. Next was foie gras with persimmon puree, candied pistachios, and a paper-thin slice of candied persimmon, served with brioche toast. I would've preferred if the foie gras weren't quite so chilled-- it was definitely cooler than room temp and the flavor didn't spread over the tongue until it got warmed up in my mouth. As it was, the temperature made it feel a little congealed, not as indulgent-- my favorite preparation for foie gras is to have it seared, so you get some textural contrast. Good flavors, though. Next was pork belly with some sort of wilted greens, and you'll have to forgive me if I can't recall all the accompaniments, because I was just so wrapped up in the meat. It was incredible. The texture, the flavor, everything. I'd never had pork belly before and always thought the fattiness would be a turnoff-- boy, was I wrong. It was perfect. For the next course, Chef Tony came out to serve us the venison with potatoes and "Cape Cod olives" (I think). This was my husband's favorite course, though I still have to hold out for the pork belly. The venison was very tender, but the flavor just couldn't compare to the previous dish. Next came a series of desserts. They brought out two small glasses, both filled with sour milk panna cotta-- one was infused with jasmine tea, one with orange. The jasmine tea was subtle but definitely the best. Texture was spot-on. Next was another pairing-- I got a dish of sweet grits with stewed apples, pears, and other fall fruits, and a cinnamon ice cream (though it tasted more like a sherbet, and I could swear I heard another waiter tell another diner it was Meyer lemon sorbet). It reminded me of breakfast in autumn, though it wouldn't have been my first choice for a dessert. My husband got a napoleon filled with coffee cream, which had a strong coffee flavor but needed another dimension to it. Not bad, but not spectacular. Finally (and you'll notice this is the 9th course of a 6-course menu) they brought out tiny cups of very thick Valrhona hot chocolate, spiked with cinnamon, cardamom, and pepper. Well-balanced, chocolatey, and a nice finish to the meal. Overall, it was totally worth the price. We spent 2.5 hours there, and despite the tiny size of each dish we walked away stuffed. I can't imagine how we could've eaten the 10-course tasting menu! We are absolutely going back for our next special occasion!

    (5)

  • katy S.

    My experience here for dinner last night was a little up and down. I had very high expectations going in. The atmosphere was quite nice, the service was well paced, and I did have a few moments when trying my friend's app and entree when I experienced fireworks on my tongue from the deliciously unexpected flavor combinations. She had the scallop cevice and the sea trout. I, however, found both my app (grilled octopus) and entree (corvina) to be much too salty. That was disappointing. I wish I had said something to the staff, because all I could really take away from my eating experience was salty salty salty. Also, I asked my server for a wine pairing with the corvina and I felt like her choice did not complement my food very well. Desserts and cocktails were heavenly. The menu was heavy on foams, which was a little gimmicky. I tried dishes including green apple foam, leek foam, and banana foam... Oh well. I love what they're trying to do and I'll hope my overly salty food was just a fluke.

    (3)

  • Joel S.

    Delicious food and very innovative cocktails, served with flair by bartenders who are clearly mugging for the clientele. Quite the experience, but bring some cash. It's pricey.

    (4)

  • David R.

    This is, hands down, the best restaurant in the Boston area. The service is incredible. The kitchen staff is professional. And the food is amazing. Try it once and it will be your favorite restaurant too.

    (5)

  • Jess M.

    I have been here once before for dinner and wasn't too impressed with the food. The saving grace of the meal was the wine. This leads me to my experience at the bar. First, get there EARLY. Doors open at 5:30, you be there at 5:30. The bar is small and was full by 5:45 and stayed that way for the entire evening. The bartender was absolutely wonderful. He was extremely knowledgeable and was more than willing to give a sample tasting of anything. The bar hosts a fantastic selection of great finds (local and imports.) The only Debbie-Downer of the evening was the entree. It wasn't terrible, but Betty Crocker could have knocked out a better potato dish from a box. That being said, the bar is totally worth spending your time (and money) there.

    (4)

  • Ethan H.

    Hands down the absolute best restaurant in Boston. Everything is perfect and well thought out. The servers are incredible but not stuffy. The bartenders are great. The food is incredible- creative, well thought out, and perfectly executed. The burger- amazing, the pig tails- sounds weird- but they are insanely good. After so many letdowns at other Boston restaurants my wife and I decided to save our money and eat here as much as we can. The bone marrow- to die for. The pates- with homemade condiments- ridicuously good. Best chef in Boston- hats off- you better win the James Beard award- you deserve it!

    (5)

  • Adi C.

    This is, hands down, the best restaurant I've ever been to. I've done a few tastings as well as stopped in for drinks and dessert, and every time I go I'm amazed by the knowledgeable and attentive staff, the casually beautiful ambiance, and the absolutely amazing food. An anecdote: One of my least favorite foods is mushrooms. I have always hated them. At Craigie, I have had no fewer than four mushroom dishes, and each one was spectacular. No exaggeration. I brought a friend from out of town here, and though she'd heard me rant about the excellence for years, even she got more than she expected. And the bar--oh my god. The best wines and mixed drinks I've had ANYWHERE. The servers can tell you every detail about everything, if you're a foodie and want to know everything. The last tasting I did, Chef Tony came over with our final savory course and even he took the the time to answer a question I had about its preparation. It's the best dining experience of my life, every time I go. Can't recommend it highly enough.

    (5)

  • Katie S.

    Saw Conan O'Brien here over the holidays. Enough said. Oh yeah, and the food is good.

    (4)

  • Julia L.

    Sure, it's pricey, but it is worth every penny! The food, the drinks, the service, the location, the decor, absolutely everything here deserves five stars! The manager took care of us from the initial reservation all the way until we were walking out the door and the waitstaff and bartender were friendly and knowledgeable. If you are looking for a hot spot for a special occasion, look no further, this is it!!!

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    WOW...what a kick! This was a pure happenstance dining choice. I was at MIT, I searched Yelp for the nearest high rated restaurant and walked in and got seated...at one of the 4 seats at the counter looking into the kitchen. (I got there 15 minutes after they opened, but if you were any later than that there can be substantial waiting times) I was there on business, and alone (that is not a special occasion with my sweetee), so when I looked at the menu with price numbers at the top for tasting set, or prix fixe...I nearly dropped my eye teeth (I hadn't bothered to look at the details on yelp beforehand). More than what I'd normally opt for.... but that said... for me...and that night... WHAT A BLAST! OK, first, it can be a real expensive meal (mine was $125 with 3 glasses of wine and getting just the main course and dessert). Second, don't sit at the counter if you want to have a relaxing meal...there's just too much activity going on around you, but was a real kick for me to watch all that ENERGY! There were 10 people in the kitchen cooking and a head chef coordinating it all, not to mention the "runners" heading out with the food for the dining tables. But this was just a perfect entertainment for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the precision, detail, and choreography that was right there in front of me. To watch small pieces of various adornments put down with tweezers, as well as watch the head chef send a plate back to be re-plated if it wasn't perfect was just plain fun. The entire staff was there to make it an informative, enjoyable and tasty experience. They appeared to take great pride in explaining the nuances of whatever they brought out for you to try. My main course for the evening was the Cod. Incredible! The fish, and every bite of the accompaniment was a taste treat. Now I'm not a big eater, so the portion was perfect, but someone with a heartier appetite might think otherwise. I had the dessert which was a chocolate tart with... White Chocolate Miso ice cream... you got it... I said "miso"... (Japanese fish base). Someone was obviously trying to get very creative. It added a very interesting complexity to it, but I'm not quite a fan, but glad I tried it. I'd definitely come back, but will have to save up my pennies... and make sure I bring my wife with me so we can enjoy the experience together. (note: I didn't give it a perfect rating because I can see that this place isn't for everyone as you can get real surprised by the price and "creativity" that might not match expectations)

    (4)

  • T F.

    5-stars again, this time all for Tom, the bar manager, and his amazing mixology skills. I told Tom the other night that I was hooked on Campari this summer, and he concocted the most amazing cocktail I've had in some time. It started with him lighting a snifter on fire before pouring in the cocktail itself; need I say more? Once again, Craigie takes the cake.

    (5)

  • Cheryl L.

    Expensive but very good. What you see on the plate might not seem like a lot of food but it sure filled my tummy. Atmosphere and wonderful cuisine has done the Groceria better than proud. A very nice place to treat yourself. The wait staff were friendly and very helpful all around.

    (4)

  • Pangus H.

    Seriously, don't believe the burger hype. I heard that Craigie served the best burger in town, so I went there and had it. The burger was AWFUL. It was very SALTY and greasy (and overpriced. It was $18 + $3 extra for 3 mini slices of extra-salty bacon). I honestly think McDonald's beef burger tastes better than Craigie's.

    (1)

  • Sasha K.

    Really delicious. Just consistently great. Went there with someone else the other night and had a flawless meal. Lovely service, nice and warm decor (GREAT date spot), and awesome food. Absolutely nothing disappointed me in the slightest. The only issue I had with this restaurant was how difficult it was to choose our food. Everything looked so good! I combed through some other reviews and spotted some objections to the exotic nature of essentially everything on the menu. "Pigs tails, chicken feet, boudin noir, smelts, tongue, sea urchin, fish with collar bones, bone marrow, pork jowl, squid" were all referenced below as "showoffy," and I guess if you're not into trying some new things, this isn't your place. But I certainly wouldn't say that the menu choices were based on pomposity. I had the smelts, the bone marrow, and the boudin noir, and they were all fantastic. The boudin noir, especially, was absolutely central to the rich, warm, smokey flavors of the dish (a farro risotto that was out of this world). The smelt were delicious (They're great fish. Why should the chef avoid them?), lightly battered and fried with a delicious, thick, and tangy squid-ink aioli and crunchy, vanilla-scented heart of palm. Other exoticisms were equally well chosen. The chef isn't trying to show off so much as he's trying not to let conventions get in the way of what's in his head. I guess part of this issue is what a Boston resident might be expecting from a French restaurant, especially one that, up until a few months ago, called itself a "bistro," a word that conjures for most people images of moules manieres and steak frites. In a food-capital like New York, the menu wouldn't stand out particularly much as exotic. That the chef is so willing to experiment -- or, to word it more accurately, so knowledgeable as to feel comfortable making smart culinary decisions like enriching his risotto with boudin noir -- is really what makes this restaurant so great. This place is really trying (and succeeding) to be a cut above. I really think the food makes this one of the very best restaurants in the city. This place could definitely hold its own in San Francisco or New York, which could NOT be said about most Boston or Cambridge restaurants. And it's a really pleasant, un-stuffy place. Definitely the only place I'd think of taking a foodie on a date in the city.

    (5)

  • Moses V.

    Went to this restaurant for brunch and was asked to wait on the ramp for a couple spots to open up at the bar because all the tables were reserved. We waited for nearly an hour before finally getting two seats at the bar, and the bartender took forever with everything. Waited for ages to get the check, and once we finally got the check and left a credit card, we finally decided life was passing us by and that we'd just leave cash instead of waiting for her. So, we spent two hours in that restaurant for a meal that was pretty good, but what really set me off were the empty tables that were "reserved" the entire time we were there. The food wasn't worth it, nor was it worth the scowls on most of the staff's faces.

    (2)

  • Julie R.

    Meh. Went to Craigie with high expectations which unfortunately were not met. The service was efficient, though not terribly warm. Unusually long waits between ordering and receiving drinks and food, no amuse bouche, no apologies for delay, nothing. And then there were the flies. The colony of flies that hovered on the wall behind our table and which swattered around our food and drinks the entire evening were not something I would expect at a restaurant of this caliber. Worse, when we mentioned this to the waitress, the response was a dry "we are aware of the fly problem." The food was well prepared and tasty (desert in particular), though not anything memorable or beyond what I can get at many of the very good restaurants throughout Cambridge. All in all, a disappointing evening.

    (3)

  • Jeremy G.

    Oh my god this place is incredible--it brings a big city decadence to cozy little Cambridge. The bar, the drinks, the food--all were superlative. I spent years hearing about the Bistro but never made it. I'm psyched that Craigie on Main is on my walk home from work, it's likely I'll spend 3-5 nights here at the bar. I can't wait to try the Brunch!

    (5)

  • Judy B.

    Given their list of awards, we expected Craigie to be a great dining experience and selected it, on that basis, for a special occasion. Bad decision! Service gets an A, ambiance a B. Wine gets a C for being overpriced by up to 50%...and this is Cambridge, not Boston!! Unfortunately, the remainder of the meal gets an F. Our first course was leek soup with sweetbreads...why was it green, and why were the sweetbreads the only flavor element? Our main courses were chicken breast and Vermont pork. The chicken was nondescript and the pork was an odd assortment of fatty, supermarket quality meat that one might have expected as leftovers. Sadly, the desserts more closely resembled concoctions put together by someone with artistic talent but no sense of taste in terms of complimentary flavors. The bottle of filtered water was a nice touch but given that it was served at room temperature, an offer of ice would have been a nicer touch. Perhaps, as some of the reviews indicate, this is a place for burgers rather than dinner. Attractive plates filled with unusual blends of ingredients applied to run of the mill cuts of meat does not equal gourmet, though the descriptions do qualify as pretentious. I doubt that Julia would have liked the food, it is not equal to what is served in Paris (or Quebec, Montreal, London, NYC, SF,etc.) as anyone who travels can attest to. We would have been dissatisfied with this meal at any price, but $230 simply added insult to injury.

    (1)

  • Elizabeth M.

    We went to Craigie on Main early on a Wednesday evening and sat at the "Chef's Table." We were talked into the 6 course chef's tasting. My God! Thank you, waiter, for showing us the light! It was amazing and decadent and adventuresome and basically a total knock out. We recently had been to No 9 Park for a tasting menu treat.. in the end, C&M may have won the battle for best tasting menu due to the more casual atmosphere and the rabbit sausage lasagne. meow.

    (5)

  • Linzy B.

    We made a reservation a week in advance. We knew it was going to be expensive, but accepted the price point because of its reputation and awards. Terribly disappointed. We had a seat in the bar, fine, but the waiters kept banging into my husband's chair. We were squished and uncomfortable. Best part of the dinner was the mocktail, which the bartender surprised me. Portions incredibly small, we had the terrine plate, which was good. I had the chicken and my husband had the lamb three ways. It serves me right for ordering chicken; moist but bland and flavorless. The lamb was o.k., what there was of it, but not exciting or original. Desserts not appetizing. We went down the street for ice cream. For $150 for two people, with no drinks, the food should be outstanding and it is NOT outstanding at Craigie Street.

    (2)

  • Peter K.

    Our dinner was quite good, the food preparation was excellent and the culinary artistry was evident in all aspects of the meal. It is a complex and unconventional menu that has exhaustive wine pairing possibilities - requiring really good waitstaff if it is all to come together well. Our service was reasonably prompt, but we were serviced by a somewhat humorless troupe of waiters in their 20's who gave the appearance of being college graduates who had not yet launched their professional lives rather than professional waiters who loved their jobs. It seems a minor point, until you realize that a couple of orders for the tasting menu and a good bottle of Pinot might run you half way to a four figure bill, and your being guided by a smug and somewhat bitter classics major who, while they can pass the test when describing ingredients and preparation details, has little feel for the nuance of Tony Maws approach to food, and even less of a feel for the accomplishment of having succeeded in delivering a unique experience.

    (3)

  • Sarah S.

    My boyfriend and I went here for our anniversary since it came highly recommended on yelp and personally. I also have to preface this in saying that my boyfriend is very allergic to dairy (not just lactose-intolerant, which most people don't understand) so going to any restaurant is an adventure. Pros: -The food was delicious and the wine pairings great. My favorite dish by far was the goat cheese cheesecake. ( I got the 3-course tasting menu). The cods cheeks were also excellent as an appetizer- very rich The drinks were good, but kind of overpriced for a pretty typical cocktail. -The service by the servers was great- very attentive and carefully listening. Cons: The atmosphere is a little lacking- it is quite loud and the kitchen is open so you can here the chefs talking- which meant we heard all of their snotty comments about the 'allergy table" - My food was lukewarm-cold when it came out, presumably because they had to cook my boyfriend's food separately from everything, but if I am paying over $200 for a meal, I want it to be perfect, so I found that pretty annoying. I rarely spend more than $20-25/person at a restaurant, so I wanted this to be special and it was, but not as good as I wanted it.

    (3)

  • Lisa P.

    This place was amazing! I enjoyed myself from the moment we entered to the moment we left. Our waitstaff were perfect. Friendly, attentive, knowledgable, yet not over bearing. This is the mixture of ease and professionalism that every restaurant should strive for. The food: The chef is a person who loves food and understands flavors. I love that they offer proteins that are often overlooked but shouldn't be. I had the pig's tail to start and my only regret is that I didn't order two. Good doesn't do this plate justice. The peanut sauce, peppers and cilantro cut the richness of the fat perfectly. Sometimes a plate is perfect and this is one of them. We were so happy to hear they had a special side that night, bone marrow. It was cooked beautifully and so plentiful. Finally I had the veal two ways (sweetbreads and breast) and it was great too. I love sweetbreads. They were wonderful. The breast was nice but not fantastic. Still worthy to finish though! We shared a piece of the bourbon pecan pie which isn't my thing(bourbon) but I could still appreciate how nicely it was made. My husband finished it and even liked his coffee at the end. Four courses, coffee, wine and fantastic service for under $200. Totally worth every penny. I hope we head back there soon so I can try the pig's head for two. This is a place for people looking for an experience.

    (5)

  • Michael F.

    I desperately want to love this place. I do. I love pig ears, I love poached eggs, and I'm down with organic and local and Cambridge and yadda yadda yadda. But I've been to Craige 7-8 times now, and its never lived up to the first time I went (when it was Criagie St. Bistro), and I'm tired of making excuses for Tony Maws and co. They do serve some outstanding dishes, but it's just too expensive to serve mediocre food, and they serve lots of it. Before I get to the negatives, let me just say that we've had some great food at Craige. We went once and had the 10 course chef's tasting menu, and the first course was this unbelievable 3 bites of seafood with oysters, octopus and squid salad. Amazing. Also had their goat cheese cheesecake for dessert which rocked my world, and a fried pig ear's salad that was rich and delightful. So there's plenty to like, for sure, and I can remember plenty more great dishes. But there's just too many negatives to live up to its rep and its price. Couple examples: we went once and had the roast chicken dinner for two. That should be a softball a place like Craigie, but the chicken had this unappealing thyme jus and the potato side dish was not good (i think it was something like au gratin, how do you mess that up?). Another: just went for brunch, and the scallops and grits was just too much fat and a strange combination of flavors. A friend had the ham and cheese panini which was oddly gross. It had this piquant flavor in the ham that left a very unappealing aftertaste in your mouth. Finally: that 10 course chef's tasting menu - by course 5, we felt bloated and ready for bed. Literally didn't eat the last 2 courses. I mean I know 10 courses is decadent, but EVERY COURSE had loads of butter/duck fat/pigs ears/pulled pork/etc and its was just too much. Trust me: I love all those things. I'm the guy that has 5 lbs of duck fat in his freezer from the last 2 batches of turkey leg confit. But 10 courses of that and even I feel like death. It was just a poorly designed meal and for the price was not at all worth it. So go to Craigie if you must and order that amazing burger with bone marrow, or just have the pigs ear salad at the bar. But be warned, and honestly, for less money, you have better options in Cambridge (Ten Tables or Bergamot come to mind).

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    The more I think about it, the more I'm a fan of this place. I'm not used to "nice" restaurants, where the wait staff will go through the menu and explain each item, or where the person who brings out the food will repeat in detail exactly what you ordered, or where the waiter can rattle off a full description about a randomly chosen bottle of wine, so at first I was put off, but have come to appreciate the effort put forth. The menu is $$$, so I opted for the "Neighborhood menu", which came with a watercrest salad (with delicious, thin onion rings on top), the duck confit, and a dessert of the chef's choosing (the peanut butter parfait). I don't usually go for duck (mostly because I never think of it), but this duck was tender, already off the bone, and the ingredients fully complimented each other. The parfait was good, and while the sour milk gel-like substance (can't remember the name) was yummy by itself, I didn't think it went all that well w/ the parfait. But, absolutely no complaints since I gobbled it up, the only regret being that it was gone. The portion of the main dish was a bit smaller than I would have liked (I'm a sucker for doggie bags), but I walked away from the restaurant fully satisfied and not overly full. Even after two bread baskets (which they offered to refill after the first was gone-- we didn't even have to ask!). My friends and I sat in the bar area, which seems slightly more relaxed than the dining room. There were people in suits, but also people in jeans and sweaters. Older crowd (a nod to the pricing). Previous critiques may have been put off by the "slow" service, but it's really just the type of service that comes with that type of restaurant-- a night out should be enjoyed, not rushed.

    (4)

  • Carol K.

    Went there last night. We had a great view of the kitchen. The next time, I want "ring side". The staff are extremely knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. Our server, Sara, was awesome! The food was very good. I had the tuna and the beef. Some of the flavors challenged my pallette. I felt some of the spices and marinades overpowered the natural flavors. As far as temps and presentation, they were spot on. My partner had the corn potage which was sooooo yummy. He loved the chicken too and was especially impressed with the spices under the skin. I went to Craigie Bistro back in the day. That was one of the best food experiences I've ever had. This one wasn't quite up there but I will definitely go back to On The Main and try again. I've heard the burger and potato are awesome!

    (4)

  • Wade S.

    I'm only here to make a mention of the burger, 'cause I've been to the Bistro from its days up Craigie to its reincarnation on Main, several times and totally enjoyed all of 'em, but I hadn't had the opportunity to have the bar food, so, last night, with the usual suspects, I sat at the bar. Everything said about the cocktails is true. And the burger is fantastic. First, they ain't afraid to leave it alone and serve it rare. You have good beef, freshly ground, there ain't a problem, and beef is better still walking, IMHO. Good garnishes- just like something I'd make for myself at home, and I know what I'm doing with a hamburger. The place is very busy, very popular, and very good. Tony Maws, the chef extraordinaire, is a local treasure.

    (5)

  • Rebecca H.

    Had my second birthday dinner of the week here. OMG! This was way more enjoyable than the fancy steak place. Our table ordered the 6 course tasting menu. Mainly because I decided that is what I wanted before we were told that the tasting menu had to be for the whole table or not at all. But it was definitely the way to go! It was so much fun to see what was going to be brought out to us next! My brother didn't even notice when the chef came out to great us and present the last dish to the table because he was so intent on the food itself. We didn't try to make reservations until Monday for a Thursday night so we couldn't go until 8:30. The tasting menu was an event upon itself and we left a little after 11:30 very, very full. "6" courses was 6 savory courses plus a dessert. And then they threw an order of the brussel sprouts in for good measure because we had mentioned that they sounded good when ordering. Excellent food and excellent service. We are already trying to find an excuse to go back.

    (5)

  • T D.

    So far, this is the best American/western restaurant that I have tried in the greater Boston area. I actually went to the old Craigie Bistro, but I am assuming that the one on Main is the same. It's warm, inviting, fresh, creative. I love to try new/interesting things on the menu so I was able to try cocks' combs, which was deliciously flavored and pared with other fresh ingredients. The profiterole dessert was fairly good. The service is superb. The one set back of the old restaurant was that the seats were excruciatingly close to one another. I was practically sitting on my random neighbor's lap.

    (5)

  • Jesse A.

    man, oh man... can't i say i've ever had many dining experiences better than this in boston...just a shout out to the impeccable local sourcing of the menu and true (not just lip service) to sustainable, small-scale farming, organic ingredients, and truly "green" philosophy the pork three ways was phenomenal... best belly i've ever had, well carmelized and oh, so tender... the rib perfectly tender and fall off the bone good... the worst of the three was the suckling confit, which was a tad dry, but still delicious... the scallops seared in chorizo oil were divine, and a nice break from the reliable but predictable butter/oil traditional method of preparation...the whole chicken for two was beautifully roasted and above-average, but not superlative.. price is a mark against the place, but i'm willing to pay for the local sourcing, organic ingredients, and classically trained kitchen now, if the review sounds great, but not sublime... three things pushed the meal into decidedly five-star territory (or beyond): (1) the rabbit sausage appetizer! - prepared two ways with perfectly poached eggs, expertly cooked mushrooms and edible flower garnish was just as beautiful as it was delicious... the dish came together on the fork and was inspiring (2) bone marrow side order with toast... enough said! truly a treat... (3) the open kitchen is a beautiful sight, and the service perfect, attentive, instructive, but not overly solicitous...

    (5)

  • Rainer F.

    The menu is, well, unusual... Definitely not your usual fare. I like that. When l dined here last night I had the tilefish, which was very nice. Just the right texture, and the clams and broth turned out to complement the fish very well. The refresher between main course and dessert, a small bowl of cranberry sorbet, was fantastic. Why didn't I give it a better rating? The dessert that was recommended by my waitress (apple and almond cake) was quite one-dimensional in taste --- not sure I would have recognized the main ingredients of that cake if I hadn't known what it was. Not bad at all -- if I had bought it at a grocery store. While I enjoyed the food, there are better places in town in that (upper) price range. I also didn't like the ambiance. Okay for a business dinner, ideally with a group of people, but given the noise level, definitely not the place for a dinner that includes a conversation. The low point of the evening was the check. The $30 main course had morphed into a $75 prix fixe. The waitress immediately corrected the error when I pointed it out but this simply shouldn't happen.

    (3)

  • Lena S.

    Man alive, this place was amazing. If you've got a chunk of change to throw around definitely get the tasting menu! Pricey but worth it. There were internal organs involved, but you know what? They were good, damn good. The only draw back for me was they didn't have wine parings with the tasting menu but the chef made some great recommendations so problem solved.

    (4)

  • Anthony S.

    Excellent Sunday brunch - a great restaurant with *none* of the attitude. We had really great bagels, steak and eggs and the corned beef hash. Craige's take on each was very unique and well worth trying. Very strong focus on local ingredients, right amounts of flavours (some may surprise you), and very friendly staff. A welcome addition to the neighborhood!

    (4)

  • Erik S.

    We loved the old Craigie. Great food. Intimate dining. The new Craigie on Main is disappointing. Busy atmosphere from too many wait-staff, almost feels like you are in a cooking school. Food, although tasty, was over-salted. Felt bloated the next morning. Fois Gras appetizer bread was too crispy and shredded the top of my mouth. Waiter gracefully asked for any issues with any dishes and without our asking, the restaurant host gave us a gift certificate for a free appetizer at another time. Tempted to go back just for the Spanish Octopus which is wonderful, but probably won't.

    (2)

  • Nathan H.

    I've been here once for dinner and twice for brunch. For dinner we had the tasting menu which was a ton of fun. The food was great and the courses presented interesting takes on their ingredients. They had lamb sweet breads as well as scallops that had more than just the one typical muscle included. Before the last major course the chef came out and talked to us, which was also fun. I love the open kitchen atmosphere and you can tell that the head chef puts a lot of personal attention into the restaurant. For brunch we've always just walked in and eaten at the bar. Everything we've had there has ranged from good to great. I'd recommend the corn beef hash and the potato galette.

    (5)

  • Jessie O.

    completely wonderful in every way. the drinks alone are a step above all others, and the food... no words can describe! marry me, craigie on main!

    (5)

  • Austin H.

    I signed up on Yelp just because I felt that I needed to give Craigie a shout out! I love fine dining and Boston, sad to say has a few fine dining restaurants but not as many as I would like to see in a metropolitan city. Craigie on Main was such a surprise! I work in Central Square and I must have passed this place about 50 times and never knew how great this place was! The food and service here are what fine dining establishments should look up to. I went with my Girlfriend Julie R and we had a great experience! I had the pre fixe country menu that featured a first course of pate with cornichons and diced onion, a second course of Duck Confit over unbelievable potatoes (I have no idea how they cooked them but they made potatoes taste like nothing I have ever tasted before) and a third course of warm fruit cobbler with vanilla ice cream, all courses were out of this world! Julie got the White Salmon entrée and the fish was cooked perfectly. Julie's portion of salmon for 33.00 was like the size of a deck of cards but was fabulous! The portion was the only thing that was a bit disappointing. Julie wrote a short email to the owner about this concern and he graciously returned her email with a gift certificate to come back in. We were not expecting anything but this is what I mean when I say he was a consummate professional. I will definitely be back to Craigie!!

    (5)

  • Marie L.

    Hands down my all time favorite!!!!! Nothing much to say, just simply FANTASTIC!

    (5)

  • L C.

    Amazing!! My favorite restaurant experience ever!!! I had the 6 course tasting menu and it was a wonderful experience. I just told them what type of things I liked and disliked and then they surprised me with each course. It was so much fun!! And and fyi they are even vegan friendly which is great!! So go and enjoy it is definitely a foodie place.

    (5)

  • Molly L.

    Best. Burger. Ever. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is because the atmosphere was a tad too stuffy for me. They pride themselves on great service and you definitely get that, but sometimes a too attentive staff can be a turn-off for me. I felt a little weird ordering the burger, but I had read such good reviews about their burger that I just had to try it. It literally melted in my mouth. I do wish it came with better fries (other than "shoe string fries") - how about sweet potato fries, no??? We ordered a tuna sashimi appetizer that was delicious - LOVE the spicy asian sauce layered underneath the sliced avocado. I was pleasantly surprised by the portion for the sashimi appetizer, then again it was approx $17 so maybe it was about right. Although pricey, the food is well worth the money. Even the bread basket was fantastic!

    (4)

  • Krissy A.

    This past weekend my hubby and I finally made it to Craigie on Main along with another couple. Let let me tell you, things may never be the same. My hubby has even gone so far as to declare his meal at Craigie *possibly* better than his beloved L'Espalier. For starter's the craft cocktails are amazing. I have been gushing about the "classic" cocktail for many a post lately, and I still think it's fantastic. The bartender, sorry ... mixologist, was like a mind reader. I told our waiter Jonathan (who by the way was really great at explaining everything to us) what I liked and didn't like, he conveyed it to the mixologist and the result was the perfectly crafted cocktail, just to my liking. Order off the menu if you like ... or be whimsical and let the craftsmen (or women) perfect their trade. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. I will also add a plug for the mocktails with amazing ingredients such as homemade almond syrup, rhubarb juice, ginger beer, bitters - the list goes on and on. Cocktails in hand, the four of us began perusing the menu. With SO many appealing options, how were we to choose? Well it was easy, we didn't. We let the Chef choose for us. We all opted for the 6 course tasting menu for $80 bucks a pop. Not cheap, but heck, we're here for a culinary experience right? This is where I let the menu and the pictures do (most of) the talking (see pic of full printed menu and pictures in blog). They kinda speak for themselves. There is NO possible way I could have remembered all of the courses and the unique ingredients that comprised them. No possible way. Luckily, I didn't have to as Jonathan graciously offered to have the hostess prepare a personal printed menu of the chef's selections for each of us to take home. And you'd think, that's easy, right? That the hostess can simply print out the pre-set chef's tasting course of the night? Nope. Each and every table gets a different make up of courses, so the menu was totally personalized for our table. Honestly, where can you find such personalized service? Oh and before I forget - many of the ingredients are local-yocal. Chef/Owner Tony Maws finds the ingredients first, surveying local farmers and purveyors, each and every day, and then creates the menu. Literally, the menu changes daily. In fact, the last page of the clipboard menu lists all of the local food suppliers that were used in preparing the day's menu. Really freakin' awesome. So the first four courses consisted of seafood. Tony uses uncommon or rare ingredients such as caviar, geoduck, squid noodles, etc. Of these delicious dishes, my favorite was easily the sashimi dish, but truly, everything was phenomenal. Though, the geoduck got a few skeptical glances at first. Now onto the meat. These were the hits of the evening for me, a true carnivore at heart. The Vermont (local!) meats, both the organic braised lamb and the pork were absolutely out of this world. The lamb meat was so tender it was falling off the bone (as it should be). And the crunch of the shallots and zing of the ginger provided just the right compliment. Fantastic, it shouldn't get any better ... but it did. When I was first looking at the menu, I had my eye on the "Pork Two Ways" dish. In fact, if there was any disappointment with choosing the tasting menu at all, it was because I wasn't going to get to try this dish. Well, low and behold, to my surprise, it was one of the courses. Yippee! And it was the favorite of the night, for me. The suckling confit had just the right amount of crispness to the skin to set off the soft tender meat below. And the pork belly? Just enough fat to meat proportion to make it one of the most delicious things ever. Not to mention the mushrooms and perfectly cooked cashews on the side. So that should be it, right? The 6 courses above ... well Tony is so into the creativity of the Chef's menu that he doesn't really stick to the numbers, he just keeps cooking away. Instead of 6, we ended up with a full 9 courses, rounding out the evening with 3 dessert courses. Everyone got the first selection which was the panna cotta, but there were two different types. A jasmine infused and a rooibos infused. Two of us got the jasmine and two of us got the rooibos. The rooibos was my personal favorite, the smooth creamy panna cotta, with a hint of the rooibos and citrus kick. Then, for the second round of dessert, instead of each of us getting the same exact thing, we were each brought a different treat. Needless to say, there was a lot of dish passing going around. My favorite was the chocolate terrine, but I have a feeling the overall winner was the market fruit crisp with the champagne mangoes. The miss, there be, would have to be the grits. I don't think any of us were too into the grits. Too savory for us, but if that's what you're into, you might enjoy it. The final selection was a small cup chile and cardamom hot chocolate. Need I say more?

    (5)

  • jenilee p.

    i'm not sure that i've ever bore witness to a large, bustling open kitchen prior to setting foot in craigie on main. shouts of "service please! all runners!" offer color and character to the front of the restaurant as soon you state that you're a party of XX and have a reservation at XX. while this loud environment may not be for some, the experience of observing a busy staff, as well as the diners clad in tweed and business wear staring straight into the kitchen (or completely trying to ignore it) make for an incredibly interesting, and unique dining experience. i had very high hopes for craigie on main after reading shining review after shining review. and i think that for the most part that expectation was fulfilled, except perhaps with a little sour feeling that this may be a little too overpriced for what it is. all this being said, my bigger half and i had saved up to order craigie's 10 course tasting menu: amuse bouche: inevitably the amuse is my favorite part of any meal, and craigie's proved no different . this was a trio of seafood. 1. tiny slices of sweet, and perhaps slightly beaten geoduct clam with an orange coulis sauce. 2. a white square of florida shrimp, topped with a miniature salad of grapefruit and greens- very clever. 3. the most surprising and delicious- house cured greek sardine with a little balsamic. salty, strong, and an item you're not likely to find elsewhere in the boston area. hiramasa sashimi with a pine nut salsa and puree, minuscule cubes of yellow beet and mango, and a dollop of white fish roe. second course and feeling fine, tony maws seemed to exercise a muscle from his clio past. an excellent piece of sashimi was presented with a complex topping: an unlikely combination of mango, beets, and pine nuts. dueling skewers of diver scallops and their roe- having never eaten diver scallop roe before, i am not dumbfounded at how anyone could ever throw out this part of the shellfish. chewy, tender, and a great eye opener, not to mention the perfectly cooked scallops themselves. this dish was presented on a lightly spiced yuzu sauce, and bits of pineapple. seared american snapper- charred snapper was not my favorite, but may appeal to those who appreciate barbecued fish with that lovely smokey flavor. this piece of fish was served on a tahini sauce, and a splash of bitter lemon, adding a very refreshing taste to this fish course. god bless the beginnings of veggie season! - reminiscent of a spring garden, perfectly cooked asparagus, radishes, celery were presented with micro greens and a sweet pea coulis, and topped with a soft boiled egg and a scattering of snails. after all, what spring garden is complete without a few tender snails:) ps. cracklins to add a salt note. braised lamb belly- the one truly low point of the meal (disclaimer: it is possible that i do not like braised meats as they are often not my favorite course). a large piece of lamb belly was presented on top of some of its resulting juices. frankly, this was very very salty, and i had been slightly surprised that more of the fat had not been rendered off. i was unable to finish this course. a trio of duck - a nice end to the savory portion of the meal, chef tony presented this course himself. 1. duck neck (I think... i had been too shy to ask the chef to repeat his description) had been stuffed with foie gras. 2. a slice of breast, smoked in tea was served over sauteed spinach. 3. a cake of duck confit presented as a third bite. very enjoyable, nicely salted, and tenderly cooked on all three portions. ~~~~ desserts: a duo of panna cottas: rooibos and jasmine flavored. honestly i hogged the rooibos flavored serving. i'm not sure if you can picture a jiggly bit of panna cotta that tastes exactly of the smell of south african rooibos, but i feel like i need a bucket of this to get me to a happy place at the end of a bad day. tony? buddy? chocolate mousse (for me) and sweet corn grits for the bigger half - both were excellent. in retribution for the rooibos panna cotta incident, the bigger half polished off most of both. the big surprise? ancho chile and cardamon spiced hot coco. just a little cup full of some of the richest hot chocolate you'll be able to savor in a lifetime. fantastic. overall? an interesting place to observe, and a very busy restaurant. i recommend going a little on the earlier side to avoid some timing chaos if you're planning on ordering the chef's menu. this restaurant is absolutely a fantastic addition to a neighborhood of great restaurants in cambridge. generally excellent food, despite a couple low points, and unfortunately a bit overpriced, as in personally a trip to craigie for the tasting menu is not something i'll be able to afford on a regular basis. in the words of my husband, however, "i just wanna like...sit at the bar...and order a bunch of terrines." sounds like a plan to me, guy.

    (4)

  • Mary F.

    My sisters and I went for cocktails - the absolute best in Boston, even though it's Cambridge. I had the chef's whim of four mini cocktails, and they were all delicious and completely different from anything I've had anywhere else. The bartender, John, was knowledgable and incredibly skillful, mixing magic potions with eyedroppers and shaking till his arms fell off. Absolutely worth the trip.

    (5)

  • johnny r.

    I took my girlfriend there for her birthday. The menu is pretty eclectic and pricey. Don't get me wrong, the quality is great, but the quantity is pretty light. The choice between a price fixe and a la carte to save 3 dollars on a 3 course meal is pretty absurd. You really need to have 3 courses or you'll starve. I had the mixed green salad with pigs ear garnish for 18 dollars. It was yum but not too happy paying 18 dollars for less than 2 dollars worth of lettuce...The steak was very flavorful but needed a side of potatos or starch to accompany it. My girlfriend raved about the octopus appetizer, but i thought it looked a little scary. She thought the sea bass was just average for its priciness. The desserts (mainly of fruit and cheese type dishes) were too eclectic for my taste. This is a great restaurant for foodies. I would go back, but only to try their burger that i've heard lots about...The service is great, which is hard to find in boston....

    (3)

  • I D.

    I came here for just one burger and left burger, two drinks and a dessert later. The restaurant is spectacular- starting with the wait staff, to the decor and most important the food. Our waiter was super knowledgeable about the food and drink menu and helped out in picking 2 really good cocktails. The hamburger was out of this world amazing! It's tender, melt in your mouth beef that you will be dreaming about for the next few days. The dessert was good too, but the burger is where it's at! It's pricey, but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    In an attempt to expand our culinary palettes beyond potato skins and pizza (to be fair, it's the wallet not the palette that needs expanding), my boyfriend and I are on a plan to try one new "best burger in Boston" each month, and Craigie was our first stop on the list last month. To get right to the point, the burger did not disappoint - juicy and perfectly cooked (does ANY place understand "medium" anymore??), with a side of wonderfully salty potato sticks. VERY satisfying. We weren't as moved by the sides we got (marrow, brussels sprouts), but the atmosphere was good, the service was impeccable, and the crowning glory on the night was the delicious Pretty Things Jack D'Or on tap. An amazing beer. Immediately the bf wrote his manager about getting it on tap at their bar, where it has also been a hit. Great beer, and from a local (Cambridge) brewery - what a treat! Once we have hit up the other "best burger" places in Boston (Radius, Toro, Flat Patties), I vote we return to Craigie asap.

    (4)

  • fefifofum h.

    very nice experience at Craigie on Main. don't usually go to high end restaurants b/c i prefer a more casual dining atmosphere but i must say the atmosphere was not stuffy and there was a good mix of people dressing casually as well as elegantly. the ambience was very warm and nice even if it was very busy the night i went. the appetizers were wonderful. the sashimi was very nice. i learned that i'm not a big fan of ragout but that's ok. i was very impressed with everyone at the restaurant especially Ted the bartender for that night. very professional, very creative, provided personalized attention to everyone at the bar and knew exactly what drink would suit my nonalcoholic taste. it was very obvious that he was very good at his job. if you go, reserve early for a table.

    (4)

  • George M.

    There should be a funeral for the loss of the confit'ed pig head on the menu. There is nothing better in life than an entire plate full of delicious pork fat. On the bright side, it will apparently return one day. The cocktails are above average and everything I've ever had here has been amazing. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Adam A.

    (This review is for the bar only.) In an era when people rate their drinks by the obscurity not quality of the ingredients, and when it is perceived as fashionable for bars to be located in hard-to-find back alleys staffed by poor souls in 1920s costumes, Craigie is an island of stable excellence. Though the place is obviously food-focused, their bar has a large selection of interesting cocktails and great wines by the glass. I had a couple of whiskey drinks, including one really stellar one (Continental Relic) based on peat monster scotch. And while the hordes were waiting for hours to get into the bars down the street, we had no trouble getting a seat for two immediately at 9pm on a Friday night. Objectively excellent, and definitely the best place in Central for drinks and a nice conversation.

    (5)

  • Ambrose C.

    Are you looking for a sophisticated and tasty light dinner in a nice, but casual environment? Are you willing to spend at least $50 for it? Well if you said yes, this place has your answer. It is highly recommended that you make a reservation since this place is not a really big restaurant. Even changing the reservation from two people to three was a little difficult because we would have to go at a later time, which indicates how popular this place is. We arrived at our table, and we were told that we will have the Chef's Whim menu. This menu is a surprise, and it is whatever the chef will make. They provide a note card and a pencil to write down what the servers explain to you and in case you want to remember what you ordered here. We ordered a four course version, which consisted of the following: Bluefish with a rice cracker served in a small dish. Kampachi sashimi with a Harissa rose vinaigrette, red onion shiso salsa and avocado puree. Tautog Cape Cod Fish with red Quinoa Puree, Peeky Toe Crab and Jerusalem Artichokes. Sirloin with Bok Choy, oxtail pastrami, and a creamy potato puree. The first two dishes were extremely small, but presentation was impressive. I ate the bluefish in one bite. The texture of the fish combined with the crunch of the cracker made this a great snack. The sashimi was tasty and the avocado gave it a nice flavor. The Tautog was fantastic. Every bite had a great texture combined with a nice rich flavor. It was very freshly cooked and I really liked the Quinoa Puree. If I had two of those Tautog dishes combined with a generous large scoop of rice, it would have been a hearty, but very delicious and excellent meal I would not mind eating often for dinner. The Sirloin was also fantastic, and shows that steak and bok choy can make a great and tasty combination. The beef was juicy, tender, flavorful, but most importantly, really tasty. The texture of the bok choy was just right, and the potato puree was a great complement to the sirloin. We got a variety of desserts, which included flan, a couple thin strips of chocolate, and an ice cream dish mixed with brownies and peanuts. The ice cream was all right, it was a little melted, but the brownies and the nuts were good. The flan though was probably the best dessert. The desserts were able to make our stomachs significantly fuller than before. The four course Chef's Whim menu, combined with a couple rolls of bread, a dessert dish, and a glass of fresh drinkable water, should be enough to feed one person as a light but almost moderate dinner, especially if one had a really heavy lunch several hours before coming here. Service was actually really good. The server was really nice, patient, professional, and very knowledgeable about the dishes. One of the bartenders happens to be a classmate who went to my high school, so it was cool to see her again after eight years. I was surprised she even recognized me and we talked a little bit. Interior looks casual so I guess my recommendation is that you can wear jeans, but wear a nice buttoned shirt with a collar. It also gives a slight feeling that you are almost in a large living room rather than a restaurant. Overall, this place probably has one of the tastiest light dinners I had in Cambridge so far. This place is a worthwhile visit if you have a good amount of money to spend for a light dinner with an impressive presentation and good service. This place may have a legitimate chance to be the best restaurant in Cambridge and one representation of some of the finest restaurants in the somewhat decent State of Massachusetts.

    (4)

  • Tu-van L.

    One of the best meals I've ever had. Our eight course tasting included: Trio of fish bites: smoked Scottish salmon with horseradish cream sprinkled with chives; pickled sardines; smoked fish spread of some sort topped with some caviar. Tuna sashimi with pea coulis. Good piece of fish in a very refreshing dish. Tasmanian sea trout with tamarind sauce and garnish. Perfectly cooked and tasted/looked like salmon. Soft shell crab fried with squid ink aioli. Some of the best aioli I've had despite its disturbingly black color. Fusili pasta with duck ragout. Hearty burnout too rich. Loved it. Lamb sausage patty topped with farm egg. Like eating a hearty breakfast. Roasted squab with roasted mushrooms and bok choy. The cherry and jus added perfectly to the gamely but lean and delicious squab. Like duck but smaller and not as rich. We also opted to add the bone marrow side as a supplement to our meal. You get three HUGE bones with plenty of roasted marrow. Delicious but was actually too much richness for me. Palate cleanser of rhubarb sorbet with crumbles and candied rhubarb. Lovely. Affogato with spearmint ice cream. I don't care for affogatos I'm general but the spearmint ice cream was delicious. This was my dessert while my husband had... ....a chocolate dessert with red beet sauce. Very rich and chocolatey and the beet sauce actually went really well with the chocolate. Plum, hibiscus foamy shot for some thing post-dessert. Was absolutely refreshing, balanced in flavor, and overall delicious. Check came out with pecan pralines. Sugary, rich and delicious since I don't care for pralines. Everything else was impeccable. Decor was elegant in a casual, non-fussy way. Wait staff was very attentive and genuinely friendly (there was always someone taking care of our drinks, removing plates, replacing silverware). Overall this is the place for an excellent dining experience. Don't need to say more than what everyone else has already raved about.

    (5)

  • Lilly W.

    Wow. What an experience. My boyfriend and I sat by the kitchen - which is the right choice if you want a show while you enjoy uniquely delicious food. The service is definitely the top of the line by everyone - wait staff, food runners, kitchen staff, one of the chefs said hello to us so we could gush about the food and restaurant overall. Seriously such a great place. This is definitely a MUST come in boston. We ordered the crispy pig ear, pork three ways (we got 5 ways anyway because the chef is awesome), and the swordfish. The food was seasoned so well and cooked perfectly- nothing over or under cooked. Temperature was on point.

    (5)

  • Valerie S.

    Multiple James Beard Awards very well earned. We decided to splurge and got the Chef's Tasting Menu. Amazing food, great wine, and our server was super nice. It was total treat to sit at the kitchen bar and watch the well-oiled team in the kitchen prepare our food. Looking forward to coming back for brunch.

    (5)

  • Juniper K.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge. The chef's whim is a great deal, and the bar is wonderful. The octopus appetizer and the hamburger are among my favorite dishes.

    (5)

  • Ken S.

    Poor vegans, all these great tasting menus and they usually get left out of the action. Across the river, we enjoyed a fine dining experience that hit all the right notes, but one: flavor. It turns out that their vegan menu is the same as the regular option, but the meat is just left off the plate. As the chef told us later on the tour, 'Oh, that dish is much better with the bacon.' Don't worry, across the Charles, at a restaurant known for its pig head and bone marrow, there's an outstanding vegan tasting menu. You do have to give them two-days notice, but it's worth it. We were warmly greeted and quickly seated in the stylish dining room. The open kitchen is central to the restaurant just as the food is the star at Craigie. The vegan menu is unique each night based on what's available, but I'll mention a few dishes to give an idea of what to expect. Our meal started with a trio of amuse bouches, which included crispy brussel sprouts with green apple; kale salad with pickled garlic; and oyster mushrooms and tahini dressing. Each was artfully presented and a hint of what was to come. After a hearts of palm dish, we were served carrots roasted and spiced with urfa. I'm not the biggest carrot fan, but this preparation gave it a taste almost like like a roast and it was absolutely delicious! One of the cooks then came out and showed us the roasted cauliflower in its pot and then took it back to the kitchen to be sliced. Cooked with savory chilies and savory granola, this dish was also outstanding. A serving of beet pasta was fine, but we really enjoyed the yukon gold potato served atop forest mushrooms and turnip puree. Roasted butternut squash and marfax beans was another pleasing course with black garlic vinaigrette, charred leeks and bok choy. The bok coy didn't seem to fit, but it was otherwise quite tasty. The first dessert was lemon sorbet served over basil seeds, which served as a nice palate cleanser. The orange blossom and mango dessert with citrus and carrot was truly exceptional. The service was very friendly and not at all pretentious. The staff was clearly knowledgeable about the food they were serving and were great about answering questions. Also, the servings were nicely spaced, which is something other restaurants struggle with on occasion. There were a few small things that raised eyebrows, but that didn't take away from the superb food. At one point our waiter answered a question and said, 'But you probably would only care about that if you were a crazy Whole Foods person.' Umm, at these prices, most people here are probably crazy Whole Foods people. The birthday candle came out after dessert on a glass plate with our caramels, probably a bit of an afterthought. If you're looking for wines by the glass, check the cocktail list. The wine list only includes bottles, so you might miss the by-the-glass option like we did. Oh well, those are all very minor details and we were very happy with our experience and the hostess was particularly helpful. It's only because she got us a printout of our servings that I remembered so many of the ingredients in our dishes. The vegan tasting menu at Craigie is an excellent option for vegans and non-vegans alike. Go ahead and make your reservation and get ready to be impressed!

    (5)

  • Shing H.

    I got to try this place on my first night in Boston thanks to my brother and future sis-in-law. The food was pretty good, though the pig tails were a bit disappointing -- as much of a fan of both pork products and crispy / fried things as I am, I guess I expected more. Maybe it's intentional, but I could barely taste any meat -- it was more like eating carbon plus their sauce, which was alright. I also went with the pork three ways (see? I like pork), and while everything was cooked correctly, it didn't stand out too much either. The other issue was that we had reservations, and still had to wait over 45 minutes before we got seated. We were all starving and it even seemed that a couple who arrived after us were seated before we were, but the staff were indifferent, borderline snobby, when we tried to ask what was going on -- we were simply told that they can't control how long people take to eat... uh, isn't that what all restaurants that take reservations do all of the time? What stood out was that the management reached out and genuinely seemed to want to improve the restaurant. They asked us to give them another try, and when we did everything had improved. That is how you restaurant!

    (4)

  • Tamara W.

    Amazing excellent cocktails, food, and service... Came here for graduation dinner after booking 2 months in advance for dinner. Totally worth it! Go for sure! Small portion sizes which is nice and amazing oysters!

    (5)

  • Jenn Z.

    Craigie On Main was good, but not as good as I was led to believe based on its ratings. I can't speak for the brunch, but for dinner, it was neither memorable nor worth the price. Although we liked our food here (lamb sausage pasta, octopus salad, pork three ways, char, and swordfish), none of us found the taste to be spectacular or the dishes to be creatively prepared. Personally, I could think of at least two restaurants in the area that offer comparable food at a much lower price. Also, the presentation of the dishes was ordinary at the best. Some of the dishes could've been a bit less sloppy looking and better color coordinated. The same could be said for the environment. It was fine, but not what I had expected from a restaurant at its price range. The setting reminded me of a $$, instead of $$$$ restaurant. Quoting a friend who also came to dinner, "they try to be high end but..." -It was noisy with closely packed together tables, which when moving between tables, one could've easily bumped into the neighboring diners by accident. -Paper cloth for napkins: I'm assuming they are disposable, which seemed a bit counter intuitive for a restaurant that emphasizes on being environmentally friendly. -A constant line of people waiting to use the restroom. Given how many people the restaurants could hold, it didn't seem like two restrooms were enough. I know this isn't easily fixable, but the wait does affect the overall dinning experience. Had a similar experience with the Tasting menu. Again, it was good. But there are better tasting as well as priced restaurants. The bright side was that our service was good.

    (3)

  • Eric F.

    A couple years after my first visit, I finally made it around to trying the infamous Craigie burger! The patty is 100% grass fed beef and the texture is outstanding from the incorporation of several cuts of beef. The flavor profile is spot on and, in fact, elevated very nicely by the miso powder with support from the delicately soft house-made bun. I've gotta add that the accompanying steak fries were unusually tasty and stayed crispy even long after cooling down. So, how'd I come to the 4 stars? CoM absolutely deserves a visit for the burger, but could be skipped for everything else really. The food overall is good, but overpriced as I've had better at enough other places for less money. So if you want to try dinner here, go for the Chef's Whim if anything. Service is generally top notch, yet I had the misfortune of having an older and rather awkward gentleman serve us the other day. And to totally echo Cassy H.'s sentiments, the restaurant itself is awfully cramped and noisy for a fine dining establishment. Anything that interferes with meal conversation is a huge pet peeve of mine and sadly, CoM hits the nail right on the head.

    (4)

  • robert k.

    Based on the reviews, i was confident that Craigie on Main tasting menu would rival that of other restaurants that i had the pleasure to experience. This was not the case: neither the food nor the service would warrant 1 Michelin star. Although the staff was very attentive and friendly, the dishes arrived irregularly sometimes more than 20 min between plates. It seemed as if each dish in the tasting menu was submitted as a new order: one would think that the chefs would plan the plates for the entire menu and have them arrive with some regularity. not 40 mins for the 2nd dish and 20 mins between the third and 4th plate, etc. After about 2 hrs and half-way through the menu, we told our waitress that at this rate, that the final plate would arrive at 1am (we were seated at 8:30pm). Regarding the food, although each plate was carefully and skillfully prepared, creativity was lacking. I always look forward to chefs that successfully combine flavors in unexpected ways using interesting ingredients. There was an over salty tendency that diminished flavors of the otherwise interesting rabbit ragout. the grilled fish was very good as well, but the final dish of spare rib, pork croquet, and pork belly was heavy and perhaps not the right choice for the final plate. Finally, each plate in the tasting menu should stand alone, but also contribute to the progression of flavors among the series of dishes served. These plates appeared poorly integrated. Overall, we did not have a very good experience at Craigie on Main and we're not likely to return.

    (2)

  • Jeff F.

    Craigie is easily one of Boston's best restaurants. I came in for the burger this week. The Craigie burger alone is the best burger in Boston. However, I'd give best burger plate in Boston to JM Curley's since Curley's pairs the perfect fries with their burger. Craigie's steak fries don't cut it. Aside from burgers, we tried the octupus app which is easily the best octopus I've had anywhere. Must get back here for the tasting menu.

    (5)

  • Olga G.

    Disappointing meal overall. Not enough flavor in any of the dishes we tried. My tomato appetizer included over-ripened tomatoes. Chicken entree seemed undercooked. Extremely over-priced for the dishes served. Pleasant atmosphere.

    (2)

  • Colby B.

    Outstanding. I have never left here disappointed. I can't even begin to type out the meals I have had here - I would be here all day. The best of them all was not a chefs tasting though. It was the pigs head. Holy smokes. If you like pig don't let the face freak you out it is the BEST pork meal you will ever have and the way they prepare it is absolutely flawless. So good. I haven't been to Boston in 9 months but once I get a chance to this will probably be the first place I go. I miss it so much! Its phenomenal, end of story. Also, if you make reservations for 4 or less, request the 'ring side' seats. But really make sure they put that down on your reservation! We requested those seats when it was my birthday and I was sadly let down when we got there and saw it with four people mid meal nowhere near being done. Bummer, yes, but the food made me (almost) forget about it.

    (5)

  • Brent M.

    I have been here 4 times now. This last time was for their annual whole hog event. There is a set tasting menu that really uses the whole pig. There was not one course that I didn't like nor was scared to try. The service was not the best that night at first. The BEST part was the manager recognized there was an issue, worked hard personally to make it better for us and really went the extra steps to make the whole evening great. Taking those extra steps makes me want to go back again and again.

    (5)

  • Imran G.

    Tony Maws, Rick Ross, BAWS (pronounced 'boss'). The head chef doesn't blink, flinch, or change facial expressions as he captains his ship. Tony must have a heart made of stone, because if something isn't done to perfection when he randomly samples it then into the sea it goes. Its heartbreaking considering there are so many homeless people right down Mass ave, but I guess it'd be heartbreaking to patrons who would have to pay $96 for the 6-course tasting menu. Thankfully, my boss/PI gave me a $100 gift card to Craigie on Main which was used As awkward as this may sound, Tony will do things with your tongue that you didn't know were possible. Its like poprocks for adults, the tasting menu is absolutely insane, and you'll be appreciating every bit of thought that goes into every dish. You can taste nothing but quality for every course. Its worth mentioning that the tasting menu seems to heavily rely upon seafood, so if seafood isn't your thing like mine, make it known to your server. Service is excellent, what else would you expect? Portions on the tasting menu might seem small, but they keep you busy with bread and water in between. I remember barely being able to make the 5 minute walk home with my wife because we were very full. Its not satiating in the same way that a big Chipotle burrito is, its satiating because you get to try all these unique tastes. I'm usually against places that have small portions, but Craigie On Main is really special. If you appreciate different flavors and cooking styles, check out Craigie On Main. The tasting menu is bold and adventurous, but even the regular menu is great. Its something that is worth trying at least once.

    (5)

  • Dan R.

    One of the best meals I've ever had. Sunday brunch crowd was not too busy, service awesome and the hash with eggs was fabulous.

    (5)

  • Jennie C.

    Came in early for our reservation and was invited to the kitchen table due to last minute cancellation. Hooray! I was mesmerized by the open kitchen, the energy, the synchronicity, the spotlessness. We opted for the 3 course prix-fixe...and really was impressed with everything, starting from the razor clam amuse to the tender monkfish, melt-in-mouth pork belly, and silky citrus parfait. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was the orange blossom beignets, which were dense and the caramel stuffing too cloyingly sweet for our taste. I couldn't really taste the orange blossom advertised at all. Aside from the food, service was attentive & friendly. Our server looked like Argo-Ben Affleck...so no complaints :) Next time, I'm gonna starve myself for 3 days and get the pig head.

    (5)

  • Amie G.

    My boyfriend really wanted a Craigie burger for his birthday so I made an early reservation in the bar. I also pre-ordered a special occasion cake from the pastry chef in honor of the event. We were seated at a high top table in the bar. Our pre-dinner cocktails were delicious. I had the Serius which was a delicious adult lemonade. We started with oysters for an appetizer which were great. We both ordered the Craigie burger with bacon and egg. It deserves all the hype. It was cooked perfectly and it was delicious. Everything from the meat to the house made roll. My only critique is that I didn't love the mace ketchup. The chocolate and coffee cake I ordered for dessert was also delicious. There was a bit of a hiccup with the cake getting to our table but the more than made up for it with there excellent customer service. We will come again.

    (5)

  • Yinan H.

    We went there for Easter brunch，it was a three-course meal with wonderful pastry and coffee. I had granola and yogurt for the first course, lamb leg and double eggs for main course and a chocolate flavor thing for dessert. Everything was so good, my friends and I really enjoyed it. Service was good too.

    (5)

  • Ameena E.

    It was a cozy experience. Service was excellent. The food was good - was there for brunch. The fresh squeezed was yummy...potato galettes were a modification - hash style - excellent. There were not many pork-free options (hence , the three stars). And was not able to order off the menu. Had to stick to the daily brunch specials - bummer - which meant I could only order bagel & lox.

    (3)

  • Michael T.

    This place is off the hook. Amazing, crisply prepared cocktails at the bar. Friendly, knowledgeable, efficient staff throughout the meal. The freshest local proteins and veges, prepared with care and dished up with a twist. I had the prix fixe featuring a trout amuse bouche, a sashimi course that was out of this world, an organic pork dish prepared 2 different ways, and some kind of brilliant gingerbread thing for dessert. One of the greats in Boston, a really special meal.

    (5)

  • Eugi H.

    I came with the bf for the Chef's Whim, available Sunday nights after 9pm, during our trip to Boston. It's like the American version of omakase, where the chef chooses what to serve you based on what he feels like making and feels is the best for the night. I had originally been told that I would be sitting at the chef's counter, which overlooks the open kitchen, and had been super excited about that, but when we arrived there happened to be an open table so we were seated there instead. Ah well, a table made the meal seem more intimate anyways. The decor gives a feeling of being in someone's living room, with the some bookshelves and vintage serveware decorating the area, as well as some vintage posters decorating the walls. Very homey. Since it's been awhile, I don't remember all the specific dishes we had, but I do remember them being very well executed. There were some that I remember enjoying immensely, and others that, though I knew it was done very well, just didn't fit my palate. Overall though, it was a wonderful experience, the food was good, and I am pleased to have been able to try one of these classical institutions.

    (4)

  • William R.

    The bar staff made fun of my date when she said she didn't like the ginger beer. They neglected to mention it had Thai chili peppers in it! Also, i did the long tasting menu here, and it had three straight white fish courses with Asian citrus and ponzu as the major flavor ingredients. Finally, i asked for a recommendation on a half bottle of white to start, was told the Trimbach was good. I expected the yellow label, and she brought out Freddie Emile. Opened without presenting. If you recommend a high end wine, be clear. Difference of $35 to $75.

    (1)

  • Christina M.

    Craigie on Main has never stood out to me when passing it on the street. I always assumed from its unassuming exterior that is was just a local pub-like restaurant in Kendall Square. So you can imagine my surprise when I found out what a foodie hot spot this is in Boston, after being invited to tag along to dinner with some friends. The food itself was exotic, and in some cases a little strange. The entrees themselves were pretty small....think small beautifully presented food at big prices. Although you can dress up here, the atmosphere seemed casual to me. You'll have to make reservations if you want to guarantee yourself a seat, or be one of the first in line to get a spot at the bar right when they open. On the night we went, the bar line was down the block already at 5:30 pm. While some might think of the food as pretentious, the service, for the most part, was not. I think the hostess came off as a bit unwelcoming, but the waiters were great. I liked how willing they were to explain what different ingredients and items were on the menu, and didn't make you feel silly for not knowing in the first place. The food I could eat was yummy. I tried the chicken for two, which was super tender and juicy. They even showed us the whole chicken before cutting it for us. I just wish it came with some sort of side. Their iconic dish, the pig's head, was scary to look at. Our friends seemed to enjoy it though, and it came with little pancakes to serve the meat in. There is something just really strange about ripping flesh off a head on your table. I was adventurous to try the pig tails, which were tasty and reminded me a lot of fried chicken wings. The pasta ragu appetizer was very good too. Overall, although I was happy to have the experience of coming here once, I just don't think this kind of place is for me!

    (4)

  • Alyssa F.

    I wish i could just move into the kitchen here and take a bite from every table-bound plate. I've had the 4, 6, and 8 course tasting menus and each is a beautifully orchestrated symphony for the senses. The food grows progressively warmer and richer with each course. Favorites from my last visit were octopus with truffle oil (part of a cold/raw opening trio), sturgeon with pea shoots (3rd), and lamb belly bacon and sausage (5th, final savory). The bone marrow (served in pretty good sized femurs) is a must have, although it's easy for me to fill up quickly spreading this on bread. With the pacing of courses, I'm close to done at around 5. It's hard to resist splurging on 8 courses for fear of missing more amazing creations, but that bit of restraint means I can enjoy the velvety ice cream at the end of the meal (though I wouldn't mind swapping it for bone marrow). There's an excellent selection of local beer and ales but also fun cocktails that blend citrus and chilis and bitters. I usually prefer wine or beer, but Craigie is one of the few places where I really enjoy sipping a spicy, icy mixed drink.

    (5)

  • Joyce H.

    I can say that my dinner at Craigie on Main was one of the best meals of my entire life. And I've had a lot of good food. But no meal has struck me as so creative, so flavorful, and just so darn delicious in a very very long time. Worth every cent. Thank you to the Chef, Tony Maws. That James Beard award was well deserved! We weren't too hungry so decided to order a la carte, and got 2 appetizers and the roasted chicken designed to share between 2. The starters were so creative - lasagna style pasta with mushrooms and the ragout of early summer vegetables. The pasta was very unique, made with coffee instead of water for additional flavor in a delicious meat sauce that we mopped up with bread. The ragout was basically a medley of fresh veggies mixed with fresh flower petals, razor clams, ham, topped with a half cooked farm fresh egg in a foam sauce. Very refreshing and different from what you would see anywhere else. The main entree took ~35 minutes to prepare in the oven, but when they brought it out it all made sense. I'm not a huge fan of meat, but this whole roasted chicken for two was PERFECTLY cooked. Even the chicken breast meat became tender, melt-in-your mouth morsels. The creamy gravy sauce had mushrooms and apricot mixed in, making a very interesting but delicious complement to the meat. This chicken could have fed a family of four. I also love that they bring the whole roasted chicken out for your inspection, and then bring it back to carve it all up for you so you can just enjoy the meat. They also plate it with the mushrooms and the gravy so you get the fullness of flavor in every bite. Highly recommend this dish! Overall fantastic dining experience. I haven't experienced such innovative twists on food in a while, and I am so glad we ate here. Do not miss a chance to visit if you are in Boston!

    (5)

  • Ashley K.

    6 course prix fixed menu is the way to go. I did not see anyone get the half pig head which I really wanted to see but my courses were so delicious I was distracted and could have totally missed it. Clean delicious flavorful and thoughtful food. Would go back any day. The wait staff was fabulous. Service impeccable and smooth. Valet parking is $12.

    (5)

  • Lauretta L.

    I wanted to treat my boyfriend to something special for his birthday and ultimately decided to surprise him with Cragie's 6-course tasting menu. Although the tasting menu puts a dent in one's wallet, it is a palate-opening experience that won't easily be forgotten. The basket of Iggy's bread was full of my favorite rolls: A soft and spongy interior encapsulated by a hearty crust. I ate 2 rolls + a couple bites of the boyfriend's and had enough room to finish the tasting menu. We even asked for more rolls because they were so delicious! Since we couldn't finish them by the end of the meal, we asked to take them home but our server forgot and we were so caught up with savoring the incredible dessert beignets that we didn't realize we left bread-less :(. Noooo! Our Tasting Menu: Side note: I love that Cragie uses local ingredients! Trio of Amuse Bouche: Our favorite was the monkfish liver in a miso-mustard vinaigrette. Such a lightly smoky and unique flavor! I could eat an entire plate of this. Our second favorite was the smoked bluefish rillettes with hackelback caviar. The cured Scottish sea trout with charred jalepeño cream was ordinary to us. It tasted similar to smoked salmon but a bit more bland. Salad of Kona Kampachi Sashimi: Delicious fresh sashimi enhanced by the subtle flavors of whole pine nuts, pickled mustard seed, and sweet Asian pear. Wonderful! House-Made Whole Wheat Flour Garganelli Pasta with ham ragoût and forest mushrooms: Our least favorite. Too ordinary to be included in a tasting menu, in my opinion. Butternut Squash Bisque with lobster, cock's combs, rye cavatelli, and Tennessee black truffle: I would say this had the most interesting concept. Personally, I wouldn't order this a second time, but I'm glad I got to try it because my tongue and brain were going insane with the flavor contrasts. Confusing, but in a good way. Vermont Pork Three Ways: Suckling Confit, Spice-Crusted Rib, Smoked and Grilled Belly with Calville Blanc d'Hiver apple purée, turnips, port-soaked prunes, and maitake mushrooms: This was incredible. The belly and rib were outstanding and the dish had just the right amount of sweetness. Grilled Spanish Octopus: Omygoodness. An entire tentacle, grilled to tender perfection. Orange Blossom Beignets with date-orange caramel and cardamom anglaise. So Freaking Delicious. I loved the crunchy yet dainty cinnamon sugar exterior and how the date-orange caramel lightly oozed out of the beignet after each bite. Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Tart with smoked butterscotch and white chocolate-miso ice cream: Not a fan. Perhaps it was the miso? My personal preference? I wish we got a second order of the beignets instead. The waitstaff was the best. Ever. Engaging, knowledgeable, fun, and attentive. The kitchen was very accommodating to my requests, as I had a pescatarian version of the tasting menu while my bf had the regular. Tony even came by to introduce our main courses to us while we of course stared in surprise and grinned stupidly the entire time. We've already planned to sit at the bar next time and watch all the bustle in the kitchen. Until then, I will dream of delicious beignets...

    (5)

  • Nicole P.

    wow wow wow So I had been dying to eat here since it opened but never got around to it until last week and it did not disappoint! I am not a huge meat eater but am fascinated by the nose to tail ideal and although I wasn't brave enough, this time, to order the crispy pig tails or pig head for two, I did enjoy some bone marrow! We also had oyster soup (can't recall the fancy name)and foie gras to start- beautiful plating and amazing flavors. For dinner I had the chicken sausage stuffed chicken which was good but next time I might be more adventurous. My wife had the pork 3 ways and loved it! I finished with a fruit pana cotta- refreshing and delicious. My wife had the chocolate fernet with tarragon ice cream which she devoured. Usually places with a lot of hype fall short in my experience but not Craigie on Main. I'd only advise that this isn't the place for vegetarians!

    (5)

  • Wasim Q.

    This review is for the 8-course tasting menu. Bottom line- total disappointment and not worth it. The food is good, don't get me wrong; it just will not blow you out of the water. There were a lot of fish preparations, e.g. kampachi w/ citrus vinaigrette and mustard seeds and pine nuts. You can tell they're using fresh ingredients, but they dishes don't always come together well-- more like discrete fresh ingredients on the same plate. I'll admit that the desserts are amazing: chocolate coffee semifreddo and lemon custard beignets, respectively. What was really disappointing, though, was the service. It look amount 10 minutes after being seated to even be greeted by our waiter. And each course is brought out by a different set of waiters who tell you about the dish-- gives the place a really chaotic feeling and a lack of personal attention. We had to re-ask one of our waiters for extra bread, 10 minutes after he said he'd bring it out. And surprisingly, they charged for each refill of soda, which you wouldn't expect at a place like this. They were good about our vegetarian and pescetarian respective dietary restrictions (give them a 2-3 day heads up). But for $118/person, I was expecting perfection, like you'd get at L'Espalier. I think people seem to have better experience with the 3-course here. The 8-course is out of place at this restaurant and they don't seem to have the service to be able to execute on it well.

    (2)

  • Olivia R.

    Be sure to make your reservation early here because it gets packed! In order to have the famous secret burger you must be seated on the bar side of the restaurant. There are only 18 burgers available so if you definitely want one, I suggest getting there on the earlier side. I went on a sunday at 6pm and there were only 2 burgers left. Needless to say the burger was delicious! I actually broke being a vegetarian for it. I also got the squid ink pasta and loved it. The staff was great and I will definitely be going back again!

    (5)

  • DV P.

    We didn't end up eating here. The girl at the front who assigned tables was very haughty and seemed to care little about politeness and decency. However amazing the food may be, it would have been difficult for us to enjoy our meals (on our anniversary, no less) with such poor service. Fortunately, there were/are plenty of other restaurants for us to choose from in the area, many of which have polite service along with their excellent food.

    (1)

  • Jennifer P.

    I have literally never written a review like this before, but I am so appalled at the utter lack of customer service and the rudeness of the manager at this restaurant that I had to do it. We have been to Craigie before and it was quite good. Last night we had a reservation that we were very much looking forward to, but unexpectedly had to cancel due to a very sick child. Obviously NOT my first choice for many reasons, but just one of the realities of life. When I called to cancel, I was informed that I would be charged $50 b/c it was within 24 hours of the reservation. When I suggested this was a tad unfair due to a sick child, and mentioned that I would be more than happy to reschedule, the manager said "Well actually, I see that you cancelled once before." When I said I had no idea what she was talking about, she said "Well, I can see here that you cancelled your Open Table reservation here in 2011." !!!!!????!!! Excuse me??? You are tracking my (apparently acceptable) online cancellations from 4 years ago--and continue to hold them against me? Lovely. Way to take care of a potential--now only former--customer. I work in a very intense customer-service oriented business, and I simply can not imagine treating one of my clients this way. I will absolutely never go back to this restaurant, and will tell anyone who will listen how disgusted I am. If you have kids that might get sick, I suggest you make your date night reservations elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Lily F.

    Amazing burger! At 7:30 on a Sunday I got one of the last few of the 18 made nightly. So did my friend, and they were incredible. However, he ordered medium rare and I ordered medium, and out patties were cooked exactly the same when they arrived. We also had the bone marrow, which was incredible. Nice presentation, and very good. We sat at the bar and the bartender was on point and very friendly. Overall, I will happily return!

    (4)

  • D. K.

    Came here for an anniversary dinner last winter. We had an incredible meal & a hot toddy that still has me thinking about it a year later (the best I've ever had) The chef has won a James Beard award and you can easily see why when you taste the food and experience the service. This place is at the top of my list for Boston dining!

    (5)

  • Wini H.

    The experience I had at Craigie on Main isn't for a weak stomach. I mean this in two ways--beware, I'm going to get detailed. We ate some of the more adventurous items on the menu. And if you're the type who can't handle too spicy or acidic (acid reflux), too greasy or creamy (diarrhea), or too much meat (MORE diarrhea), then you're like me. Anyway, Craigie on Main gets a 3.8 from me: the food was good but some of the dishes we ordered were similar to dishes in cheaper Asian restaurants, the experience was memorable and recommendable, and the aftermath was...also memorable. The service was great and our waiter was amazing. That being said, I think we could have gotten a very different dining experience with different menu choices. Craigie on Main deserves a repeat. We ordered pork ragout, pig tails, the shared pig's head, a praline-nougat dessert, and vanilla saffron pudding. I also had 2 cocktails (the Serius, a delicious lemon/ginger/vodka concoction) and my boyfriend had a beer. We ordered the pig head right off the bat as it takes a bit longer than most of their entrees. First, the food. The bread was decent; it was a nice sourdough, but it was being served from the basket next to the computer. My boyfriend wanted his bread straight from the oven--nitpicky, but, as he pointed out, the amount we paid might justify something like this. For the amuse bouche, we received what I believe was beef heart pastrami with a touch of mustard underneath. It was sliced thinly and was surprisingly tender. Definitely a great first impression for my first experience with heart! The food was pretty much perfectly executed. The pig tails were perfectly seasoned, delicious, and very Vietnamese-inspired. There were onions (I think) lightly breaded and fried on top, cilantro, and thinly sliced jalapenos. The pigtails were, as the server said, basically (delicious, tender, collagen-y) chicken wings except with pork. With the exception of the onions on top, however, I think you could walk into an Asian restaurant and get a similar dish of equal tastiness, except with slapdash presentation and a less pleasant environment. The pork ragout topped with a farm egg was great--a much lighter appetizer than the pig tails, but one that really showcased the talent of Craigie's kitchen. That leaves us with the pig head. It was a delicious mess and an incredibly fun thing to do, if not to eat. For the faint of heart, it does get kind of gross to look at the fuller you get. I recommend the experience at least once. Taste wise, again, very Asian inspired. Barbarically ripping chunks off the skull, placing them in a Peking pancake with a smear of boudin noir/hoison sauce and a bouquet of sambal...I had a few critiques, some of which might have to do with my skill in choosing what parts of the head to eat. Tips based off impressions: Avoid the fat for the sake of your gall bladder and because although it will initially be delicious, it gets really disgusting biting into a mushy pocket of fat as you start getting fuller. Fight your partner over the cheek muscle. Don't put too much boudin noir sauce on. I found a little went a LONG way--it was very rich, and you could taste the graininess and pastiness the blood introduced into the sauce. I actually thought a slightly more acidic sauce would have been better; this one was a touch too creamy. The sambal was DELICIOUS and did add some acidity, but had a very strong flavor on its own that would have overpowered the other "burrito" components if there was too much. It had bean sprouts, which I thought I hated, but I found myself cleansing my palate with fistfuls of the stuff. I do not recommend the ear (had a weird musty smell to it) and the pupil of the eyeball (yes, it's there. Weird texture). Lastly, desserts were a surprise delight. I love praline and nougat, and this dessert was perfection. The vanilla/saffron pudding was also great, and we received teeny, tasty macarons while paying the $200+ check. Then came Wilbur's revenge. Even on the 40 minute ride home I felt my gall bladder furiously squirting/cramping and wondered what the heck was happening down there. I was pretty much stuck on the toilet for the rest of the evening and periodically the following day. Fighting for the toilet in a 1 bedroom apartment with your significant other is not fun. My thought was it was caused by too much fat, too much meat--hence, not for weak stomachs. But I don't regret it at all! Go to Craigie!

    (4)

  • Jason R.

    Think about what your favorite restaurant in Boston does, and then go to Craigie only to discover that Craigie does it better. This is true whether one is talking about cocktails, comforting pork dishes, sashimi or service. I've been dining at Craigie since it originally opened in 2003 at its original location on Craigie Street. So this review is based on eight years of experience and I dare estimate 125-150+ meals at Craigie over that period of time. But you don't have to take my word for it. In addition to the fact that his restaurant is absolutely packed at 9pm on a Sunday night (when you can hear crickets at many other establishments), Chef/owner Tony Maws has recently been awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef Northeast (an award for which he has been nominated since 2009) and is regularly lauded in local, national and even international media as a chef who always offers the absolute best for his loyal patrons. If that's not enough to convince you, then you should have a chat with some of the notable chefs that have dined at Craigie like El Bulli's Ferran Adria. If Julia Child was still alive and residing in Cambridge, I could easily imagine her sitting at the end of the bar, fingers and lips wrapped around a Craigie burger! So much can be said and has been said about the food at Craigie, but so much more needs to be said about the people who make the magic happen at Craigie. If you've never had the pleasure of chatting with members of Maws' fantastic staff (or Maws himself), I suggest that you do. They come from varied pasts such as 3-Michelin star restaurants and local Cambridge eateries, but they all bring a single, uncompromising level of service to your table that is without parallel in Boston, to say nothing of beyond the environs of Boston. Their care for the customer is genuine and it shows. My advice to you: go in with all guns blazing and order the 6 or 10 course tasting menu. Maybe open with a cocktail or two and throw in a bottle of wine. Over the years, I've brought in dozens of friends, family members and colleagues for this experience and all were absolutely delighted. Without prompting, many of them still talk about the happy experience months and years after the fact. I can empathize as some of my happiest memories at at Craigie, and I know you'll have more than a few such memories once you dine there.

    (5)

  • Oren K.

    i have had few meals so delicious in my entire life. i have also had few cocktails so complex and special in my entire life. add to that, the service is attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. besides the price tag, this place is essentially perfect.

    (5)

  • Jessie E.

    Always Fabulous. I have been here for the Chefs Whim, The Whole Hog Dinner and countless times in between. The bar is always well cared for, it can be a great place to go with girlfriends for drinks or just to sit and have their amazing burger for a solo dinner. Their staff is knowledgable and passionate, they take their time and have great wine recs. Their Offal is always incredable, highlights have been boidin noir, sweetbreads and all the pates are excellent. Dont miss the pigs tails on the bar menu!! Not cheap but sooo worth it, if I want huge plates of food w leftovers Ill head to Chinatown or the North End, when I want beautifully composed dishes in a perfect sequence Ill head to Craigie.

    (5)

  • Amikam R.

    Criagie on Main started life as the Craigie Street Bistro, a small, cramped venue on Craigie Street. Now it's in a bigger, nicer place on Main with a gleaming open kitchen but the tables are still almost touching. If you move your arms too much you could knock something over on the next table. This was my first visit to the new place. We were four for dinner on a Saturday night. The tasting menus are flexible and let you get practically anything from the menu. The wine list is huge and the servers are knowledgeable and helpful. I had a nice trio of terrines, a lovely halibut and a great assortment of cheeses with a very good viognier-llike wine. So, why only four stars? I have had to ask twice for water refills, something that should not happen in this kind of restaurant. One server was right to say that she was sorry I had to ask. The prices are high and the noise level very lively.

    (4)

  • Karen K.

    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!

    (5)

  • Sara G.

    Another trip to Craigie, another fantastic dinner. Currently prego, but still craving the deliciousness that comes from that kitchen, I rattled off the list of what I can't eat. The kitchen prepared an awesome tasting menu with both vegetarian and meat options (I remarked that pork belly was my kind of vegetarian food). It was amazing. My husband enjoyed his full-on fish/meat tasting. Dessert was fabulous, and I really can't say enough about the service. Already looking forward to the next visit.

    (5)

  • Danielle B.

    Had a great Prix Fixe here last night, the Kampachi Sashimi may have been the best thing i've ever eaten in my life. Our table wasn't ready when we arrived, so they comped us our delicious libations at the bar, without us asking- such great service. Our table was ready after only about 10 minutes, and it was worth the wait. Looking forward to come back and try the brunch here.

    (5)

  • Ariana G.

    WOW! This place is the very best! I loved it from beginning to end. The staff was warm and welcoming. Our server Emily was fantastic. The food was tremendous. Everything was so good. Stared with the beet salad that had an incredible miso dressing and oysters that were so fresh and sweet. Shared the roast chicken and it was everything I hoped for and more. Added the two special side dishes for the evening - bone marrow with toast and brussel sprouts roasted in duck fat. The meal was exceptional. Had the sour cream cheese cake and the affogato for dessert. Both were wonderful. I love this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Karen M.

    I've been looking forward to trying this restaurant for a long time. It was good, just not as fantastic as I expected. I tried the 8-course tasting menu. I had to because... if one person at the table gets the tasting menu, everyone has to get it. The reason was not clearly explained by the waitress, but I expect it's because it's hard for them to coordinate the timing when one person is getting 8 courses and others are getting 3. We counted the courses. Including the amuse bouche and the sorbet palate cleanser, there were nine (so I guess one of those doesn't count). Presentation is lovely, portions are small. If you're hungry don't fool around with the six course version. When they have to come up with 8 courses every day, selling the restaurant on novelty and what's fresh in the market, naturally not everything is going to be as successful as if they worked on each dish for a long time. So that's the story here. Some things on the tasting menu I liked (the stuffed cabbage, the pate and terrine, the sorbet), some things were mundane (the latkes), some things were more pretty than flavorful (cod with beets). I can see the fun of the experience, but it's a lot to pay for the uneven quality. There were pistachios on so many things for some reason. Why? Are they currently in season in Massachusetts? It is a very assertive nut, does not go with cabbage stuffed with lamb and rice and half the other stuff they tossed it on. When it does work with the dish (rice pudding) it could be ground up a bit so it flavors every bite. Anyway these are details that won't help you, as the tasting menu will obviously not be the same when you go there. Extra praise for all the tableware. I hate when servers put my old fork back on the table and expect me to use it for the next course, so I thought it was classy that Craigie gives me new silverware for each course. We looked forward to the little ritual of setting silverware that happened each time, like an overture to the next course. The service was friendly, enthusiastic even. (Our waitress said "Yay!" and did a little hop of happiness when we ordered the tasting menu). But it was very slow, probably because they had to arrange each tiny leaf of microgreen on each teaspoon of condiment and so forth. We started eating at a little before 8, and didn't finish until well after 10. It only takes about 2 minutes to eat each course, and there's a good 10-15 minutes between courses while you're staring at an empty plate, so go with a good conversationalist and plenty of stories to tell! Overall, not worth $360 for two, including two glasses of wine, one cocktail and tip. (The bartending was good BTW.) I'm glad I went to experience it, but probably would not go again unless everyone is briefed in advance about the tasting menu thing. I'd like to order a la carte and see what they can do with dishes that they've mastered. And if that ever happens, I'll definitely update this review! After all, maybe it's my fault, in a way, maybe I'm just not the type of customer that's right for the tasting menu approach, that person who likes to "put myself in the hands of the chef." I mean, I have to cook to please my family every day. So when I go out to eat, I like to be the one in charge.

    (3)

  • Jamie F.

    Craigie On Main has been on my Yelp bookmark list forever...and now I can finally join the Craigie Club and say, "been there, done that." For my bf's birthday last weekend, we went all out and ordered the 8-course tasting menu for two. Courses: - ceviche (amuse bouche) 1. scallop sashimi with sunchoke and microgreens 2. roasted striped bass and red cabbage 3. red chile and sesame-marinated kona kampachi kama (yellowtail collar) 4. house-made pasta in ragout sauce 5. venison two-ways: seared tenderloin and roasted medallion 6. pork belly and poached egg 7. orange sorbet & yogurt (palate cleanser) 8. dessert two-ways: milk chocolate panna cotta with corn tortilla ice cream and avocado-banana puree; chocolate-fernet branca cremeux with tarragon ice cream and lemon puree - caramel candies, with the bill Overall, it was a memorable dining experience and we felt like happy fat pigs at the end. I'm docking a star for minor issues: overly salty sides in a couple dishes, and #4 (pasta) simply appeared to be a struggle plate - legit looked like tiny worms, still cleaned my plate though. Meanwhile, my fave courses were: #3 (kama) the aroma nearly made me fall off my seat! It tasted as good as it smelled too - the flakiness of the skin, the tender meat, the vibrant flavor, and the chile sauce were heaven in my mouth. Other favorite was #8 (desserts)...OMFG, I died. BEST desserts I've had in a while, and I eat a lot of sweets...see my muffin top? No hiccups with the service, and the timing was perfectly paced. Ambiance was not as upscale/stuffy as Clio or Menton; instead, it had a cozy and rustic feel that worked for a special occasion. +1 for the birthday candle with the desserts :) love it when restaurants remember the little details. For next time (and I foresee many next time's in the future): - request booth seating - try the famous burger - drink myself silly with their libations. #$%^&...WHY did I order wine this time?! - save room for desserts, plural Until next time, Craigie.

    (4)

  • eliza b.

    It doesn't get better than this! Just dive in, open your mouth & mind. Started with a Northern Lights cocktail made with Scotch & Elder Flower. Grilled Spanish octopus, Vermont Pig three ways, brussel sprouts cooked with duck fat, and ended with sour milk panna cotta. The servers were all on point, gave great recommendations and the kitchen provided tastings throughout the meal. If you read other reviews that talk about price; lets say those people probably should stick with TGIF.

    (5)

  • Jackie K.

    My sister is a big foodie and she took me here for my birthday. What a treat! We both got the 6 course tasting menu. We were able to try a variety of food. The service was great and we didn't feel rushed at all as we ate our way through the courses. I would absolutely go back for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • David V.

    Boston owns a large piece of my heart. Before traveling back to this beloved city I did some serious research. I kept hearing and seeing things about Craigie on Main. As I continued to come across rave reviews I began to be afraid that COM would inevitably disappoint in some way...how could any place live up to the hype?...especially with an 8 course tasting menu for $118! I only pay that kind of money a few times a year for a meal, so I was excited, anxious, and terrified that I would be disappointed. CRAIGIE ON MAIN DID NOT DISAPPOINT IN ANY WAY! HANDS DOWN THE BEST MEAL OF MY LIFE! The place is very non-assuming and down to earth on the outside. We walked in on a weeknight and were incredibly glad that we had reservations. Inside the ambiance is wonderful! A sense of life and enjoyment fill the restaurant. I loved that you could be at home in casual attire...It's about the food here, not pretentiousness. We were a several minutes early so went to the bar for a drink. I don't remember what I ordered, but it had gin and sage...and it told my pallet to wake up and be ready for an astonishing evening. The service was on-point! The team that waited on us was one of the best we've ever had. We order the 8 course tasting menu and explained that we prefer red wine, especially interesting blends. We were incredibly pleased with a Grenache/Carignan/Syrah/Cinsault blend that allowed the cinsault to make beautiful contributions of depth and balance. The 8 courses were fantastic! We were so pleased with the overall meal. Nothing fell short, and several items truly wowed us!...and the Chef sent out and a couple extra bites between corses. Some of our favorites: Seared scallops and scallop roe served with broth Slow-Roasted Sea Trout with peekytoe crab and artichokes House-Made Spaghetti with chicken thigh confit, farm fresh egg, guanciale, and chicken liver cream Veal Three Ways: Braised Short Ribs, Grilled Tongue, Roasted Sweetbreads Peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter cookie, served with a muscat syrup and foam There is no other way to put it, than to say that we were continually awed and amazed! Like I said, best meal of my life...better than a few of the Las Vegas Michelin Star Restaurants that I love eating at! The food at COM is real, satisfying, genuine, incredibly balanced, and memorable!

    (5)

  • El C.

    Underwhelming and Over-hyped. Had their "signature" dish the Vermont Pork and my husband had the chicken. I can't even remember what we had for apps, it was so disappointing. The wine was also meh. Maybe I'll go back and try the burger. But never again for dinner.

    (2)

  • Michael D.

    NOTE: this review is only for the 6 course tasting menu! I've heard such amazing things about COM, but for some reason, I wasn't terribly impressed. We got the 6 course tasting menu, and lemme tell you, it's a decent amount of food.. I've had tasting menus where I've left hungry, and I've had tasting menus where I nearly had to unbutton just to breath.. but here they gave the perfect amount. The restaurant itself is nice, the staff is very professional, BUT unfortunately, even though each dish was carefully planned and executed, I wasn't impressed with any of the dishes. If it was my first tasting menu, perhaps I'd think it was phenomenal, but compared to others I've had in NYC, I was a little underwhelmed. That being said, I still wanna give COM another shot... perhaps next time I come I'll order a la carte? And I hear their burger is one of the best....

    (3)

  • Anne W.

    **UPDATE** I went here again to try their tasting menu with a friend. Apparently it was a special occasion for him (his bday) and I was oblivious to this. We made no reservations and were able to walk in which was nice. Would have liked the seating that looks into their open kitchen. We sat at a high table near the bar area. This place is supposed to be known for cooking outside of the box instead of what you'd traditionally expect. Although I did appreciate the meal... and everything did taste good.. I was not over the moon about anything. I did like the extra dessert courses but I was so full at this point I could barely eat anything. The company was the best and that doesn't come with the restaurant.. so, too bad.. you're out of luck. I still hate the parking situation around here.. it's annoying to find anything on the street. I did hear that the hamburger is the best here but they only sell 20 per night and it's only sold at the bar. **************************************************­************************ This restaurant is about a 3.5 star place for me... it's not the best I have ever had... but it's not bad. It's way better than No. 9 Park... the flavors go together better.. but it just isn't omg, I have to come back here soon for a special occasion pronto! First off.. the cocktails were really good. If I could rate them, I would give it a 5 star. They don't sound good when you read it on paper.. but they taste good. I think I got the popular Northern Lights.. and this other drink they had that tasted like lemonade... stick to the top of the cocktail list because they go from sweet to really bitter. Well.. if you're girly like me. :) Onto the food... they provided an amuse bouche for free. The squid noodles were good and had an Asian flavor.. then they gave us this tiny plate with some sort of sausage. It wasn't that good and tiny! We went for the prix fixe. I tried the fried clams with the squid ink (which was okay but nothing special.. the squid ink wasn't that good compared to Ten Tables.. and certainly not any better than getting fried clam strips in the summer from a cheaper place). The sashimi appetizer was pretty good. Six pieces that was perfect for sharing. For the main course.. we went for the pig's head to share. I thought it was a euphenism... umm.. literally they brought us half a pig's head. It had teeth! Although the meat was tender.. it was mostly fat. We are both Asian so we were adventurous.. but it was served Peking duck style. I liked the bean sprouts and sauce with it.. the eyes tasted like fish eyeballs. But honestly.. it was kind of gross. We saw the bill and saw this dish is $130! Wow! Maybe next time we should be less adventurous and go with steak next time.. The dessert was... a hit and miss. Tried the banana mille feuille. So.. I thought there would be more layers than two. I nearly laughed.. but it was good. The banana was carmelized just right. Good... Then we got a milk chocolate something... the next thing on the menu. That was not good. The nuts were carmelized well but we didn't really like the ice cream or brownie or whoppers it was served with. Overall... a decent find. But 3.5 stars. Oh.. and this place is sooo difficult to find parking at!

    (3)

  • 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.

    (2)

  • Andreas L.

    Had the pleasure to enjoy brunch on a Sunday and had some drinks at the bar. The bartender Anne is a legend. She is a rock star!

    (5)

  • Harri S.

    The Biff took me here for my birthday/part of a bet (The Biff should not make sports bets. Period.). And boy am I glad that he did. Apparently he reserved a seat at the chef's table/ burger bar thing, but I guess they forgot. We got seated at a high-top near the actual bar. DRINKS: Hate to say it, but really not memorable. They were fine, but not nearly as great as industry guys and people on Yelp claim. Maybe it was the bartender's birthday too and he took the day off.... MENU: Assiette of Housemade Terrines: I REEEALLY REEEALLY like eating fluffy rabbits. There was a rabbit pate and I was not disappointed. It was like a super-fancy charcuterie and I enjoyed myself. Squid: Biff ordered this. I remember liking it, but not as much as the terrines. Bone Marrow: The first time that the Biff ate bone marrow. He loved it, and frankly it's amongst the best I've eaten as well. They split it down the middle before roasting it, making it not only easier to eat, but it was also cooked so evenly. Suckling Pig's Head: JESUS MARY and JOSEPH, this was so amazing and fatty and weirdly cute, but equally sad. This little pig went straight into my stomach and I loved every minute of it. Came with some tortillas and garnishes, certainly needed more than they provided considering it was an entire effing head, but wow, seriously, wow. Did we have cake? Maybe. Probably. Looks like it wasn't good enough to write home about. I gotta bring The Biff back for the burger.

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    Everything I tried here was excellent. The pork three ways, the fried pork tails, the pasta, the drinks, the octopus, the fish, and the panna cotta. It was all just wonderful. The bread was nice too, with a good crackly crust and airy crumb. The entrees were quite good, but I highly recommend the so-tender octopus, the fried pork tails, and the mole panna cotta. The panna cotta has a thick consistency, with a chocolate and cayenne flavor, and is topped with a spoonful of avocado-banana purée that just melds the flavors together and rounds it all out into this pleasant and tender sum that is greater than the excellent parts...oh, and it comes with corn tortilla ice cream that cools off the mild burn and some crunchy bits that provide texture variety. The prix fixe is not going to leave you stuffed, but it's a solid enough meal that I didn't leave hungry. Staff was friendly and efficient. Wish they had a bit more space...I accidentally elbowed a waitress squeezing between my chair and another table about 8 inches away.

    (5)

  • Craig F.

    The whole hog dinner was worth every penny. Special kudos to the manager for making what could of been a bad situation and turning it into an awesome night.

    (5)

  • Jiyea C.

    Came to get drinks at the bar, which were really good. The bartenders were really nice and although it was crowded at the small bar, we never really had to wait long to get drinks. I think 2 out of the 3 drinks I had there were things that the bartender whipped up because nothing looked promising on the drink menu. Thanks, bartender whose name I didn't catch! Got kind of hungry so decided to split the brussel sprouts and famous Craigie burger! I've been hearing about this burger for so long and I was really curious to try what multiple foodie sources have named "best burger in Boston." I honestly have not tried enough burgers in Boston to know if this is true, but I have to say the Craigie burger was delicious! The meat was perfectly cooked, and I liked the texture of the bun. Sure, it wasn't as "creative" as some of the other burgers I've tried elsewhere, but I don't think a burger has to include a bunch of high-end, exotic ingredients or be doused in inventive sauces for it to be amazing. As my English teacher in high school said: "Keep It Simple, Stupid" (KISS). Not that I'm not a fan of the out-there burgers of Bartley's, for example. I must admit though that the fried egg made it extremely messy to eat, which was slightly embarrassing. I liked that it came with potato wedges, which I prefer over fries. Oh yeah, they gave us amuse bouches and this little citrusy cocktail at the end of the meal. Cute. I'd come back to try the food. If it's as good as the burger I had, then definitely worth it. But not without a reservation..it's a small place and it gets crowded fast! Restaurant area was full every time I got up to use the bathroom and there were people waiting for seats at the bar.

    (4)

  • Joel S.

    I'm ambivalent about this restaurant. It's charming and a nice scene. The waitstaff were pleasant, efficient and well informed. They paced the meal beautifully and we enjoyed interacting with them. One major issue is that our party of four was seated at a bar height table, with tall chairs. This may be OK for a drink, but it's not OK for a restaurant that takes itself seriously. I guess we should have objected to being seated there. It was an uncomfortable way to spend two hours. Management should consider this seriously. We were served excellent bread upon being seated. The bread basket was refilled cheerfully. The cocktails were very good. Wine was OK. The menu was a bit challenging- this is not the place for a picky eater to go. Appetizers were excellent. I had some of the best fried clams ever. A friend ordered the fried pig's tails. They tasted like spare ribs. My wife had a pasta appetizer that was very good. Entrees were not as excellent. My wife had the mullet, which she didn't love. I had the pork three ways. The rib and the confit were excellent. The pork belly was OK. Dessert was really disappointing. The desserts were all avant garde/deconstructed/intellectual/challenging dishes. We uniformly hated them. I had "banana bread bread pudding", which tasted like something that may have been freeze dried and served to astronauts during the 1970's. My wife had deconstructed carrot cake that was the rare carrot cake that she didn't like. It was accompanied by goat cheese ice cream that could only be described as heinous. The uncomfortable table and unpalatable desserts were disappointing. The service and appetizers were excellent and the entrees were good over all. This meal wasn't worth the price. Under other circumstances, I could see it being a better experience. For $250 per couple, including tip, it didn't deliver.

    (3)

  • Amy C.

    I dined at at Craigie on Main one Saturday evening, after glowing recommendations from my sister and other Bostonian friends. My mother and I were in town for 48 hour trip and this was where we decided to have dinner. Food-wise, it does not live up to the hype; though atmospherically, the open kitchen and the choices in low light and furniture all lend an intimate cadence to your meal. (But more on the open kitchen later). The service was also impeccable; but good service should be the cap to a fantastic meal, not the most positive part of a dining experience. +1 We decided to get the 6 course tasting menu and started out with a few drinks. Whoever the bartender is, he probably saved the night, to the extent that the one drink I ordered thrilled me in its perfect balance of liquor to mixers ratio. It was a perfect cocktail. +1 An amuse bouche arrived of kona kampachi with some sort of apple gastric, radishes, and microgreens. It lacked seasoning, but that was forgivable, despite the fact it did absolutely nothing to amuse my palate. 2/5 Our first course was a scallop sashimi dish with olive oil, more microgreens, olives (castelvetrano? I don't think we were ever told), seasoned with salt and fresh black pepper. This was decent, but while the amuse bouche was underseasoned, this one was overly salty. Indeed, the salt was a little overwhelming to something as delicate as a raw scallop. 3/5 Our next course was an Atlantic cod served over pieces of uni, a poached local oyster, microgreens (what else), and a sauvignon beurre blanc. This was also incredibly salty, and while the beurre blanc was good, I kept needing my water to help wash it down. It overwhelmed the fish and uni. 1/5 The third course was a housemade pasta with 40 year old age parmesan and a poached egg. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and loved how the unctuousness of the raw yolk as a sauce helped balance out the nutty, saltiness of the parmesan covered pasta. This is where I need to start speaking about the kitchen and the expediter. (But the food itself was 4/5.) So, open kitchens are great, but they also open themselves up to be observed, particularly by people who love food (like myself). I loved that everyone tasted their food as they were going and re-seasoned as needed. What I was not thrilled about? While /everyone/ else in the kitchen threw away tasting spoons as they tasted, the expediter used the plating spoon to taste and then dip it back into the pot or pan to continue plating. And then tasted some more. I'm sure this has happened before in my life, where a chef or expediter has done this very behavior in a closed kitchen, but you'd think there'd be some more care in an open kitchen scenario. He did this for /every/ dish that you could taste. :P It was incredibly gross and not what I would expect of a restaurant that has as many accolades as Craigie on Main. I would have mentioned something at the time, but my sister was desperate for my mom and I to love this place and I really didn't want to burst her bubble; since this is/was her favorite restaurant in Boston. But really? Disgusting. -5 (ETA: and really, what do you say in this kind of situation: um, could you please ask the expediter to stop doing that?) The fourth course was a beef two ways: seared tenderloin medallion with a beef tongue and some sort of red wine sauce on top of pureed turnips. I love my beef rare. I joke about how I like it mooing still. What I don't like is when blue beef (and this was blue) is so difficult to cut (as a tenderloin cut) that I have to wrestle with it with my sharp steak knife. I left most of this plate untouched. It was not up to the caliber I expected. (0/5) We also supplemented our meal with bone marrow, as I love bone marrow on toast; it's like a fatty, rich, yummy meat butter. The bones were under roasted, leaving the marrow more gelatinous than buttery. It was disappointing. (2/5) Now this is where I am not sure what happened. I've never been in a restaurant situation where the intermezzo/palate cleansing course is an actual course. I'm assuming, though, that's what it is, because otherwise I'm left with 5 courses rather than 6. The palate cleanser was delicious, down to the basil seeds in lychee jelly. But it seems like it'd be hard to mess up sorbet. (5/5) Dessert was done in 4 ways, as we had a party of four and each person got a different dessert. I loved mine; a pear tart with a butter 'butter' (like butter flavored peanut butter type deal), with an almond ice cream, goji berries, and rice puffs. The other desserts were tasty, but not my style (but my sister loved hers, and her fiancé seemed to like his, and my mom ate all hers), so I feel the server did a fantastic job at deciding who got what; or made a fantastic accidental choice of it. (4/5) We ended the meal with strawberry macarons that were decent; missing on the airy crispness, but with a nice chew to them.

    (2)

  • Evelyn S.

    Best meal in boston. Black pasta and blue fish were Devine!!! Dessert was just as good if you're a foodie go!!!

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    Much has been said about the "burger experience" at Craigie. After my stab at it, I can say that I understand why it's not on the menu, and why Chef Tony Maws treats it as a bit of a sideshow. It's amazing, to be sure, but there are a few caveats. Emily G. and I came here with a mission: lets see if the burger experience really stacks up to the hype. Many of us have heard by now that Chef Maws has created what he believes to be the pinnacle of burger achievement. For my part, I'd say he's not wrong. Hugely flowing with umami, the blend of meats, suet, dehydrated miso, and bone marrow creates a flavor and mouth feel that is completely unrivalled in any other burger experience. My burger was made by someone with a lighter hand on the salt and pepper, and so was just slightly underseasoned, but by no means bland. The soft but structurally sound bun, the light touch of cheese, just a few rings of red onion, and a thin leaf of lettuce lightly coated with their house ketchup is the perfect base construction, and that's how I enjoyed it. For those wanting more accents, a side plate of extra house ketchup, house pickles and house celery root slaw is served - the last being made with a spicy mustard. But let's be clear here: this is a "burger" like a Ferrari F430 is a "car". Yeah, it's got wheels and an engine and you drive it, but you're not taking it to work every day. This thing is HEAVY. And by that I mean, it's going to sit in your stomach like a big, sleepy atomic bomb. I love that chef Maws has constructed his ideal of what a burger should taste like, and I'm happy to have experienced it, but I'm probably not going to try for it again anytime soon. RATHER: I'm interested in trying a tasting menu. After experiencing the pure joy that was the pig's tails - little fried nuggets of porky heaven - and the smoky, salty delight of the bacon-roasted corn on the cob, I'm ready for more of the Craigie menu! Service, is, as many have said, impeccable, and the cocktails here are pure delight. Never mistake though, this is not your everyday dining destination - prices on everything are pretty high, but that's to be expected from a top-tier master chef who creates a seasonal, local menu, and sources his foods responsibly. Craigie is, as DeNiro said of the bank job in "Heat", worth the stretch.

    (4)

  • Jonathan M.

    I've been meaning to write a review about Craigie for awhile, as it is maybe my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. Over the past year, I've been there maybe 10 times. Most of the times I've gone, I've had some version of the tasting menu, which are always different each time, thoughtful, creative, and with high quality seasonal ingredients. If you do the tasting menu on all nights (except Sunday), you're paying over $100, depending on how many courses. I know that is expensive, but to me it is worth every penny. Execution of the food, the timing, and the flavor profiles are always an experience each time. But if you want a less expensive tasting menu with the same type of quality, go on a Sunday night at 9PM on, and there you can get a 6-course tasting menu for $57 (!!) called the Chef's Whim. It is the best deal in the Boston area by far for the quality of food you're getting and what you're paying for. The idea stemmed from the Craigie Street Bistro days where before the end of their work week, they would have quality ingredients left over, but not enough to make large portions or put anything permanent on the menu, due to the seasonality and availability of the ingredients. Essentially, you're getting creative preparations with high end ingredients for a fraction of what you might be paying during the week. This restaurant easily has great ever-changing menu items. Of course, the pig's head and the hamburger are stellar standouts, already written by a lot of people. But to me, Craigie is a place where the best experience is when you submit your tastes to the will of the kitchen, and eat whatever they give you because you will be surprised each time. Like I said, I've eaten there close to 10 times over the past year, and it's been great each time. You get the same quality of food you'd get at the best of Boston restaurants (No. 9 Park, L'Espalier, etc) but in a less formal setting and in most cases, less expensive. In terms of service, I've always had amazing servers, bartenders, managers, etc. Everyone was courteous, quite personable and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. The servers were always willing to give suggestions depending on your taste. If there's any wine you're unsure about, you'll always get a taste of it first, even at the table. Normally this happens when you're at the bar, but they do this readily at the table. It's something small, but definitely makes you feel like the server's out for your best interests. Their bar program mirrors the mission of the kitchen. They can make you any cocktail, but the menu focuses on creative craft cocktails. This is not a beer garden, so no 20+ beers on tap. They have a rotating selection of 4-6 beers on draft and a large selection of hard-to-find bottled brews. The same with wines. I'm not the biggest fan of white wines, but the sommelier at Craigie has certainly changed that. I'm one of the many Americans that's caught up with the whiskey craze, and they have an impressive collection of scotch (including several Japanese whiskeys), bourbons, and rye whiskeys. That being said, if you're a bourbon cocktail fan, go for the Mellow Yellow or the Golden Fizz. And they will remember you if you go there more than once a year (i.e. chef's whim Sun nights). After I had been there only a couple times, they were throwing an extra course or amuse-bouche during my meal. They appreciate regulars, and I think it's easier now more than ever to be a regular, and not just because of the chef's whim. They recently started a late night bar menu which begins around 10 PM. This usually ends up being 5-6 dishes at $6 each. You put 2-4 of these dishes together, and you pretty much have a complete meal. Like the chef's whim, this will not be average bar bites and will depend on what's available and fresh that day. Menu items have included "shroom and eggs" (whatever wild fresh mushrooms paired with a fried egg...simple but delicious), pate and toast, smoked bone marrow (when available), and duck tenders. They've also had various grilled octopus parts. One night I went for the late night menu, they had an oyster/caviar dish. I thought it would be fresh oysters topped with salmon roe or tobiko. Instead, I got 2 fresh Duxbury oysters topped with foam and Beluga caviar...for $6 (Beluga caviar option usually goes for at least $30 in other restaurants). The menu is written on a small chalk board at the bar usually around 9:30ish, and it has 1-2 word description of each item, but you'll be getting much more than just that. The brunch here is pretty f***ing phenomenal too, but this review is already too long. So go to this restaurant as soon as you can. If you're tight on $$, go around 10 PM and grab some late night menu items for $6 a piece...or if you're willing to splurge a little, go for Brunch or better yet, go on a Sunday night after 9 PM for the chef's whim.

    (5)

  • Ab G.

    Having recently moved to the US, we were keen to try out some new restaurants. Having read great reviews about Craigie on Main and tasting samples at "Taste of Cambridge" we were super excited to try it out. First some positive feedback - the burger patty tasted great! Unfortunately this was the only highlight. The waitress was extremely abrupt. She nearly forced us to order drinks upon sitting down, hardly having time to glance at the menu. Then when we asked for a few minutes, she returned 3 times until we eventually, nervously ordered the first cocktails that came to mind. She also told us to have the donut (which was not listed on the menu) as an appetizer. We were not explained what it contained or what it looked/tasted like. My husband has a sensitivity to goat's milk. Unfortunately the donut contained it!! Eek - she should inform people about that!! My husband ordered the burger. He likes his meat well-done (I know it is not "Michelin" star or whatever) but it is what he wants and is paying for. The waitress just gave him this look. How rude! If a customer asks for something, should they not get it? He also just wanted a plain burger, but she said that is already comes with bacon and an egg so we ordered it like that (he did not eat the egg or bacon, but left it on his side plate) but we were charged for it??? I had the fish plate, it was lovely. I asked the waitress for a new knife, never got one so had to eat my meal with ONLY A FORK! At this stage our new server was a guy. We ordered coffees and profiteroles to share. A new waitress, brought us a panna cotta :-( WRONG DESSERT! Why keep on switching waiters if they cannot keep track of the order? Overall the food was slightly greasy, but inventive. Yet the service was very very poor. Such a disappointment.

    (1)

  • MS S.

    Extraordinary and certainly 5 stars. The 6-course tasting meal was unique, exotic, and so delicious. The chef accommodated a no-pork request in our dining party and provided inventive, delicious seafood replacements. At the end of the 6-course meal, we were happily full but not uncomfortably stuffed. Only criticism is the price of wine bottles. Sure, restaurants have markups on wine bottles but some were just way too high.

    (5)

  • L P.

    The chef's whim is amazing. Delicious food, attentive service, fantastic drinks and great ambiance. The pork belly schnitzel was unbelievable.

    (5)

  • Yoojean K.

    I absolutely love this place. Everything I have tried have always been very flavorful, and the seasoning never extreme on either end of the spectrum. They even manage to make stir-fried Brussels sprouts incredibly tasty. Service is always great. Definitely worth trying!

    (5)

  • Matt D.

    100% expensive, 20% delicious. I had the prix fixe menu - 8 courses. Everything was fine, but that's about it. At no point was I wowed. Our wait staff was nice, if not overly subservient. The only reason I can think of for the high ratings Craigie has received is that customers are willing to let their tastebuds be fooled by extremely detailed descriptions of the one to two bites of food that are placed before them.

    (2)

  • Joshua R.

    Literally the only time in my life I have had to send food back to the kitchen (oysters). I'm a man so I normally bear the consequences of poor food selection with the silent shame that society demands, but in this case I only managed to get down two oysters before I gagged and was forced to admit defeat. The waitress was gracious enough to remove them from the bill, but I felt the judgment and disappointment radiating from the young lady sitting across the table from me. I don't know how I'll ever be able to tell our kids what those oysters did to me. How does one even make oysters taste bad? Our pork belly was good, but I truly don't think one can make bacon fat taste like anything other than happiness. I give them two stars instead of one because they had aquardiente on the menu, but I will say that in my opinion, this is the most overrated restaurant I have eaten at in Boston.

    (2)

  • Sarah R.

    We came to Craigie for my 30th birthday - because I have the best husband in the world and he booked it for my treat! Honestly, I know it's been said before, but I just couldn't fault it. The service, the food, everything about our evening was perfection. It's no secret that Craigie is expensive - but to me, worth every penny. We had the eight-course tasting menu (hey, you're only 30 once. Thank God!) and every course was stunning. The food is adventurous - there was a lot of cured fish, and things like pigs ears as a garnish - but nothing so wacky that it was scary. Every mouthful I ate was beautifully balanced - just a delight. I also liked the fact that the staff rotated so we had different people bring our food - each one as knowledgeable as the next. Sadly, we can't come back as regularly as we would like - cost is prohibitive! But that will make our visits even more special. Yes, it's pricey, but if you like innovative food and great service, it is money well spent.

    (5)

  • Heather G.

    I am certainly not in the five-star club here about Craigie...not even the burger, to be honest. 4 stars? Absolutely. 4.5? yeah, maybe. But 5 stars? I just don't understand what makes this a five-star place over somewhere like, say, Bondir or Asta on the high-end. Maybe Craigie is a victim of its own hype, destined to be a letdown to those who have built it up so much? Maybe my changing tastes and my newfound appreciation for price-to-value scrutiny have left me unable to 5-star this famous restaurant. Now, that said, hyped? Sure. Still incredible? Absolutely. Yes, there are plate-swooshes and formal service and multi-courses and hefty-price-tags, but at least it's cozier than L'Espalier and smaller/more quaint than Menton. You must still wear your Sunday-best (well, you don't have to, but when going to a nice, expensive restaurant, get rid of the jeans, will ya? You're ruining it for everyone else), but you'll be very at-ease in this bustling, loud, busy, small dining room...even more so if you sit at a table overlooking the open kitchen. There are three experiences here, all of which I recommend, and all of which have their rightful place in the community. 1. Sunday brunch. If you do this route, sit at the aforementioned seats facing the kitchen. It's laid back, it's fun to watch the chefs run around back there, and let's be honest...brunch is an unpretentious and informal meal. Order a bloody mary (they make theirs with gin, thank God) and tuck into a plate of duck confit hash for the long-haul 2. Burger at the bar. The rumors are true - they only make like 20 per day, only serve these suckers at the bar, and there is ALWAYS a line to get in at 5:00pm to have one. Go early, line up, sit at the bar, enjoy one of their (small selection, but very expertly chosen) draft beers or a cocktail, order a burger, split with your partner. Split it? Yes, split it. These things are injected with bone marrow (I call that CHEATING, but whatever), topped with bacon, and served, cheesy and delicious, on a fluffy, buttery roll. It's a rich burger, so tackling one on your own is aggressive. The fries? Skip-em. They're too thick and greasy on the outside, and any fry-lover would likely turn a nose up to this. In my opinion, the only real fail of the dish. 3. Dinner in the dining room. This means dressed up, full-on date, order a bottle of wine and everything. Take 3 hours, have many courses, drink a little too much and fall into a nice, warm, fuzzy, wine-and-food soaked lull while you laugh, kiss, hold hands with your date across the table like the world around you doesn't exist. While I was in love with my better-half before he took me here (to settle a bet, no less - a bet I made with him to sucker him into taking me on a date. Girls are so transparent), by the time we left, I was completely enamored. There's something about an evening here that does this to ya. It will be among your fondest memories with your significant other...not because the food is outstanding (it is very good), but because, at Craigie, they create a whole experience of touches, tastes, sounds, smells, and a visual that will knock your socks off.

    (4)

  • Simon L.

    Simply not possible to review less than 7 stars. Yes it was a rainy Friday evening, yes my buddy and his girlfriend were impossibly impatient and hungry. Yes, after one hour and one half of waiting on the ridiculously too slanted ramp into the bar area, we were seated at the bar. Three in the wolfpack, the dinosaur bones full of marrow with toasty french baguette served the amazingly simple purpose of defeating the impending doom of helplessness following such a long wait. The burgers arrive. I say no more, they were as good as noted in the 422 reviews before this one. These folks know what is up, they know how to do it well. And you shall return for sunday nights chef tasting menu. Can not be beat, this burger has flavoring and substance beyond your wildest imagination. Go quickly, the run out of meat some times!

    (5)

  • Adam W.

    The most pleasurable solo dining experience I have enjoyed in recent memory. I lucked into a seat at the bar on a busy Friday night, and decided to enjoy some dinner. Of course the food was fantastic, but what bears mention is the extremely high service standards upheld by the bar staff. During the time of my visit, the bartenders were extremely busy making cocktails and keeping the restaurant's servers supplied with whatever they needed. Despite this work load, "my" bartender was able to greet me and make me feel welcome, answer questions about the menu, make recommendations about wine, and in general insure my experience was of quality. It is highly unusual, and extremely pleasurable to experience such a high service standard in a busy bar environment. Kudos to COM staff and management for exhibiting this level of excellence.

    (5)

  • Amica M.

    This place is really good. From an expensive night out ordering the tasting menu or getting a burger at the bar, so consistent.

    (4)

  • Jerry H.

    Excellent dinner. All 3 courses were interesting. However service needs to be improved. We had to remind server to pick up our main courses. Servers do not seem well trained. Also very high markups on good wine. Markups on medium wine not too high.

    (4)

  • L T.

    BEST MEAL I've had in Boston thus far. We did the 6-course chef's tasting menu and I enjoyed nearly every dish. It was mostly seafood, which was like hitting the jackpot for me. My two favorite dishes were the tuna and the banana bread dessert...out of this world. The only thing I did not like was the very first sampler dish, which had three little samples. The first sample was bass I think and it was just too fishy for me to handle. Other than that, everything was excellent. Service and ambience were great. Our waitress made great wine recommendations as well. I especially liked the Sancerre they had.

    (5)

  • Nick S.

    Third time's the charm. Finally got ringside seats, and it was awesome. I'd forego eating if I could sit there and watch the symphony of chef's create these beautiful dishes all night. Ok maybe I'd want to eat too. But these seats are great. We did the chef's whim (Sunday night after 9) and this was probably my favorite time at Craigie thus far. Tony wasn't there (even though the website says 'Chef Tony Maws cooks for your table...') but the meal was still spectacular. I had met him at the Smoke This Rib Fest in Cambridge a few weeks prior and he was more than happy to chat for a few (and to take a picture). Chef's Whim took about 2 hours (9:30 to 11:30) and service was great from start to finish. It was almost as satisfying to see the cooks break down the kitchen and clean everything as it was to watch them cook. Being ringside leaves the kitchen completely transparent, and it is so fun to watch the communication and camaraderie between everyone there throughout the night as they create the food for the dining room. In terms of the food, I don't think there was a misstep all night. This is definitely the way to do it if you don't want to break the bank but still get delicious food (57$ for 6 courses). They give you a notecard to write down the dishes (see attached picture), but for me the highlight was (surprisingly) the pumpkin soup with crab. I didn't think the butter soup at Menton could be beat but I liked this even more. Savory, sweet, and spicy with texture from the crab meat was perfect. The kampachi sashimi was delicious with the pine nut cream and pear. There was only one meat course, but the lamb neck was meltingly tender. We got the brussel sprouts and bone marrow sides, which were perfect per usual. The green apple sorbet palette cleanser and three different desserts (one for each of us) was the perfect nightcap. Three 6 course meals, 6 cocktails, a beer, and two sides ran us $340 with tax and tip. Not bad. We got to converse with a couple of the cooks as they were cleaning the kitchen at the end, and as I think of our experience I still marvel over the organized chaos that is the Craigie kitchen. Can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Karen K.

    I don't get it. It was extremely expensive, an 8 course tasting menu took 3 hours, it was a hard sell all night for alcohol and the food was meh. We have eaten at 6 of the 9 3 Michelin star restaurants in the US so I understand pricing and pacing of tasting menus but this was absurd. Go to the Salty Pig instead, eat better and save at least a hundred bucks.

    (1)

  • Rosaleen D.

    This is an updated review. I have not gone to this restaurant in 4 years. My friends and I are going to Boston Mag's top 50 restaurants each month and of course, Craigie on Main was on the list. I went with one companion and we chose off the prix fix menu. I had the octopus appetizer, the sea trout with a hazelnut sauce and the chocolate decadence cake with ice cream. My companion had the beef entree with the beet salad with the fruit sorbets for dessert. The food was divine and the portions were perfect. I left there full but not overstuffed. The octopus was a very big portion compared to other restaurants I have had it yet and was delicious. The trout was slow cooked so it was very lightly cooked (kind of like tuna). The flavor was mild, texture lovely and the hazelnuts gave a nice crunchy contrast. The decadence cake was really good and it had a chocolate crunchy crumbs sprinkled over it. If you grew up loving the chocolate crumbs in a Carvel cake- this was the big girl's version. Great service and I look forward to having dinner here again.

    (5)

  • Kate W.

    Unfortunately our experience at Craige On Main was mainly negative compared to our experiences at other expensive restaurants in the Boston area. Some background...we are a middle aged couple, came in in a great mood ready for a great meal. On the pro side, our table was waiting for us when we arrived about 10 minutes late due to no parking spaces nearby, the sous waiters were quite good, the food came to the table in a great rhythm and the bread and butter were fabulous....BUT: Our main waitress was loud, condescending, not very observant and either not well informed about the food, or in too much of a hurry to answer our questions. At her first appearance at our table she presented the option of the tasting menu ($98, 6 courses) as if only cheapskates and people that don't appreciate fine dining would order anything else. The prix fixe menu ($67, 3 courses)was presented as a poor second choice. And it wasn't until we asked if there was a way to order a-la-carte (since we don't usually eat desserts) that she directed us to the tiny print below the prix fixe menu that indicated that one could order any appetizer on the prix fixe menu for $18 (even for a salad) and/or entree for $38 (+$5 for the steak). But, she made it really clear that only dolts would order a la carte. Then over the next 10 minutes as my husband and I were obviously perusing the menu(eg holding it up and eyeing it), deciding what to order, she proceeded to come over to our table no less than 6 times...each time asking in a loud, cutting voice "Are you ready to order, YET". It was said in a way that made it clear we were inconveniencing her by not being ready to order. Since we had come in at 8:30 as an early last seating we couldn't figure out why she felt the need to rush us. When we were ready to order and asked her about how dishes were prepared she didn't seem to have a clue. The best she could do was tell me that the bass had a red butter sauce (no idea why it was red, but evidently not tomatoes) and that the cod had cream in it (but no it wasn't a cream sauce). Unfortunately, for us, the food did not make up at all for service that approached on rude. The fried clam appetizer was OK. I didn't like it, but my husband did. And my husband described his octopus appetizer as rubbery and tasteless. The entrees were similarly uneven. My husband got the pork 3 ways...one way was a extremely fatty cut, another way was something that resembled and tasted like a small piece of ham(I think pig's ear) and a third way was one nice tasting rib (a little less tasty than what we had had at a friend's bar-b-que the week before). My stripped bass was probably the best dish, very well cooked, a tasty sauce, and the one piece of walnut that was on this dish tasted heavenly with the sauce and fish....too bad they couldn't have spared a second walnut piece to go with it. The check with 1 beer, 1 cocktail and 1 glass of of their most inexpensive ($14) red wines came to about $185 with tip. And yes because we have worked in the food industry we did tip the waitress 20% anyway. We won't be going back. We found the service pretentious, approaching on rude ..without the food to back it up. Maybe the food is better if you get the tasting menu, but at close to $300 per couple, if you have drinks, we are not willing to take that risk. I have to wonder if opening a new restaurant is taking too much of Tony Maws time and attention away from Craige on Main. PS.. If the check had been a bit cheaper I might have given Craige 2 stars....however in my book, you shouldn't charge top dollar and deliver this kind of experience ever.

    (1)

  • Kelsey C.

    I went into Craigie on Main prepared to love it. Not only was it my goodbye-for-now dinner with Josephine L, it was one of her favorite restaurants. And considering the height of her standards combined with her breadth of food-savvy, I was predestined to click with Craigie as instantaneously as I clicked with her. As it turns out, my attempt to love Craigie bore a much closer resemblance to my attempt to love swimming. I tried all the strokes, and I tried the 6-course chef's whims with the same enthusiasm, but I left not completely impressed and feeling like I wanted to swim with fins. Some highlights from my chef's whims: The Tuna Sashimi was amazingly fresh, and the toasted garlic topper made it absolutely exceptional. The Potato and Green Onion Vichyssoise with oxtail pastrami is as green as sea glass, and the light, crisp green onion evenly balances the rich, heavy potato perfectly. I love skillfully-made soups, and this one is no exception. The venison sausage, suckling pig confit, and grilled pork belly with cherry coulis was amazing. The sausage was a bit too rich and salty, but the gamey flavor of venison is always welcome on any plate of mine. Grilled pork belly is guaranteed to be fantastic as long as it's not cooked grievously poorly, but this one was perfectly seared. The fatty sweet-meats of the confit and belly fit my definition of umami to a tee. My one huge issue was that the they had the nerve to charge the Strawberry Sorbet palate cleanser, a one-inch ball of sorbet, as a full course. When we complained, the manager handled it quickly and politely, thus the only deductions earned were applied to our check and not to my star rating of Craigie. The service here is the stuff of legends. Dessert did end our tasting on a high note as my Coconut Sorbet with pumpernickel, bing cherries, and chocolate crumbs was simultaneously rich and refreshing and Josephine's Apricot Frangipane Torte was yet another tasty conclusion. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and I tearfully bid Craigie a premature, untimely goodbye, much like the one I bid Josephine at the conclusion of our meal. I will see Josephine again and I hope it will be soon, but I'm not sure I'll see Craigie again, even in the remote future.

    (4)

  • Ess P.

    Food = delicious. Seriously. Everything was terrific. Service = impeccable. 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Priyanka A.

    Came here for cocktails. The drinks were great, and the bartender lit one on fire, which is always fun!

    (4)

  • Vivian H.

    Came here and splurged a bit on the Chef's Whim 6-course tasting. From an amazing amuse bouche of squid noodles to a couple more-than-satisfying desserts, everything was top-notch. First few were seafood -- the squid noodles, crab, scallop -- then faro pasta, hanger steak, ice cream and flan, a couple macaroons to round out the night. Trust the chef, he knows what he's doing. And he's very generous with the portions, we left completely stuffed. Waitress was very nice, though we did have countless servers throughout the night. Tucked away on a side street just behind Toscanini's, this place is really a gem. Makes me a happy girl.

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    Do you call yourself a burger lover? If so, you need to get your burger-loving ass over to Craigie on Main and treat yourself to what is arguably the most decadent and delicious burger in Boston (Cambridge). We got here around 5:45 on a Thurs night and snagged a couple of seats at the bar before that area filled completely up. After mentioning that we wanted to try the highly praised burger, the bartender surprisingly suggested an alvarinho, which paired quite well with the rich meal. The burger didn't disappoint- the meat was incredibly tender, cooked perfectly to a juicy medium rare, topped with housemade ketchup, lettuce, onions on a homemade bun. I wish that there was something on the burger that gave it a different textural element (maybe a crisp pickle or thicker/chunkier cut onions), because the bun got squishy and saturated with burger meat juices. Not a terrible thing, but I think I would've enjoyed it just a bit more if there was a contrasting texture served on the burger. Yeah, yeah, yeah, this burger did cost $19, and yes, it was SO WORTH IT.

    (5)

  • Christopher L.

    Yelp said, "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" and I agree! My two friends and I came here to celebrate a friend's new job. It was late on a Friday before we even decided to go out but were quickly sat at 10p. This place was still bustling. The open kitchen, I'm sure, creates a great visual show for those in the dining room. The Bar is a little more low-key. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. Some other people refer to the service as being spotty but for us, it was not the case. We did the 6 course tasting menu: A trio of amuse bouche's (various fish preparations), ahi tuna and pork belly over celery root puree, fish course, pasta in a lamb sausage ragout, and pork prepared three ways. We also got the two side offerings: a sauté of summer vegetables and bone marrow and a palate cleanser before the desert course. The food, the service, the drinks all made this my favorite Boston dining experience thus far! Well done!

    (5)

  • L M.

    Amazing. The service. The food. The desserts. GO!

    (5)

  • NINI P.

    Way too expensive for what it is. The waiters here are also very very slow and can get arrogant. If you don't look like you are about to drop $500 dollars here for two people, then they probably won't give much attention to your table. I guess the lesson in eating at Craigie on Main is : Dress like you make dough, and they'll provide the best service ever, but if you don't have any fancy pants, then please don't bother with Craigie, your night will most likely end up being empty glasses, long waits between courses, and an unattended table. Nonetheless, I have to give Craigie some credibility to its food, if they charge about 5 bucks a plate, I'll get it, yea, its' that good.

    (2)

  • Riley M.

    Best burger in Boston hands down!!! Outstanding service and extensive wine list as well! You have to sit in the bar to get the burger, but it is just as lovely as the main dining room. Love this place!!!!

    (5)

  • Jahnavi B.

    I don't review restaurants a whole lot because I know there are so many factors that go into experiences. I've been to some places several times and have had up and down experiences. I think that's just the nature of a business that's so sensitive to people's feelings/emotions/burdens that day. Anyways...I decided to write a review for COM for the one time I went, because I felt compelled. I'm giving it 5 stars because everything came together perfectly--the service, the timing, the quality, the atmosphere. All of it. I met my boyfriend here after work on a Friday. He wanted to sit at the bar, so he got there a bit early to avoid the crowds. I got there around 6, and we both sat at the bar. The bartender (his name evades me, I was there a few months ago) was. The. Absolute. Best. Friendly, informative, and engaging, he had a wide knowledge of spirits, liquors and cocktailery (not sure if that's a word). The cocktails were crafted by him, and he was great at recommending beers and cocktails that suited each of our tastes, and was happy to give us samples. Truth be told, my boyfriend and I were there to try their famous burger. I'm not going to tell you how to get the burger since it will not be on the menu, but if you read this review carefully, you'll be able to get an idea of how to do it. Anyways, safe to say it was really the best burger I've ever eaten. I'm not even a huge fan of burgers (or beef, for that matter), but I will go back just for this. We ended up splitting the burger and a side of duck-fat-roasted brussel sprouts (all their food products are locally sourced, BOOYAH). And then the manager came out with...three giant bones of roasted bone marrow. I LOVE BONE MARROW. And these weren't the gimpy, underfed cow bone marrow bones. These things were LEGIT. I'm drooling thinking about them. And they were complimentary. Which was the sweetest thing, because we felt we were pretty unassuming and didn't really order a whole lot off the menu. It was a small gesture, but just very thoughtful--how did they know I love bone marrow?! Magic, I say. Atmosphere-wise, I can see how this place has the potential to attract a slightly pretentious crowd. It's price points are on the slightly higher side, but it's worth it. And potential douchery isn't enough to retract a star. Quite frankly, people who do that are the pretentious ones. It was just a lovely experience. Get there now Get there early (it can get busy). And seriously--be kind to the entire staff there. They appreciate it just as much as you would appreciate their kindness. They're great, friendly people, who seem like they highly value paying it forward.

    (5)

  • Caitlyn T.

    Has anyone ever asked you "What would you eat if you had to pick your last dinner?" Well I would probably just head back here for their 8 course meal again. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday after my friend recommended it to us. It was the perfect choice! We did the 8 course meal where everything they bring you is a surprise and made fresh. The food was exquisite! We literally enjoyed everything that was put in front of us. You aren't just paying for food here but for an experience as well. The service was impeccable. I have eaten many nice meals at restaurants all over the world but this one really stands out. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves food, you won't leave disappointed.

    (5)

  • John M.

    I was really disappointed after my girlfriend and I spent an evening for dinner here with the eight-course tasting menu. I didn't at all feel that this place lived up to its reviews and publicity. Everything seemed off. The service was uncoordinated--we had been asked several times by whom I initially believed to be our server if we had in fact "met" our server. Drinks were not promptly refilled even after making eye-contact with the members of the waitstaff. Despite the fact we mentioned our previous experience with tasting menus at other restaurants had taken an upwards of 3 hours to get through a dinner, and given assurances that was not the case here, we still wrapped up a 9pm seating at 11:30, averaging about 20 long minutes between courses. But the food was the biggest let down. From the cold bread (why even cover it up with a napkin in a basket if it's ice cold to begin with?), to the lack luster progression of unpleasant flavors and textures, the inclusion of micro-greens on every single dish (even dessert) led to just a very odd menu. Nothing seemed to be tied to the time of year either--we experienced spring and summer inspired flavors in October. We were also miffed the amuse was counted towards one of the courses. In all of our other experiences this is usually compliments of the kitchen. The standout dish was the slow roasted cod which was texturally magnificent, but just didn't work with the other elements of the dish like broccoli. The scallop sashimi was overly acidic--like licking a lemon--ruining the subtle sweetness of the scallop. In fact all of the first three dishes shared the same overly bright profile and suffered the same flaws, fatiguing us by the time we got to the fifth course a simple pasta which was just fine. The duck-breast-stuffed porchetta (incorrectly described to us as porchetta-stuffed duck-breast) was throughly gag inducing, basically like eating a piece of solid pig fat--a textural nightmare compared to the cod. The dessert was a major downer. Two dishes, one with fennel ice cream (ugh) and the other, a miso cheesecake, featured puffed rice and japanese sweet potato (just because japanese is in the name doesn't mean it belongs in a dessert) both misfired with odd compliments of flavors and ingredients. I've had unconventional desserts that have forever changed my mind about the inclusion of certain ingredients in a dessert; this was not one of those unfortunately. We left feeling very disappointed as well as a bit confused. Was there something we missed? Was this an off night? Maybe we just didn't understand the food? Is that even possible? Too many questions went unanswered unfortunately.

    (1)

  • Stefne W.

    Went here earlier in the year with high expectations because of all of the great reviews and James Beard awards. Thought we would catch the regular menu but because it was earlier in the day on Sunday, we ended up ordering from the brunch menu. I remember that I quite enjoyed the atmosphere and our server was nice. The bread was good (which I can't say for that many places anymore) Got fresh squeezed OJ and the forest mushroom and goat cheese quiche. Pretty good! Loved Boston and would visit here again to taste a differnt menu!

    (4)

  • Riccardo M.

    OK, everyone is just saying that it is a great place. So I decided to give it a try. I wanted to spend a special evening and didn't want to make a mistake. Well, the place was crowded and noisy. The waiter super kind but exaggeratedly acting. The style of the place pretentious but neither classy nor cozy. The dishes were nothing special (more an them below) and everything was extraexpensive (for what they offered). Just to give you an idea, we had only two courses, a shared dessert and two glasses of wine. Total=140$. Well ... at least the dishes ought to have been special. They weren't. My partner had a cod and she send it back. I had a Vermont pork. It consisted in three small pieces of pork meat. One of them was just a little ribs with no meat at all on it. Definitely, I will not return. If I spend that kind of money, I like to have to spend a nice evening, eat nice food (in reasonable quantity), not being compelled to fight against the noise and the like. Bottom line: pretentious, expensive, overestimated.

    (1)

  • Catherine W.

    Really enjoyed this place. It was on a quiet street in Cambridge; valet is $12. The inside was very cool and pleasant place to dine with different shaped mirrors hung on exposed brick; the dining room was roomier than I expected from the few photos I had seen. A nice buzz in the restaurant, but not too over the top. We splurged for the 8 course tasting menu, and it was very good. Greg our waiter provided great, knowledgeable service without being too in your face. Our favorites were: kampachi sashimi, sea trout, veal cheek, lamb chops. Pork belly was so-so. Our desserts were fantastic - dark chocolate Marquis and a Japanese tangerine flavored cake. Would return again.

    (4)

  • Marissa S.

    I took my husband here for his birthday solely to get one of the "hidden" hamburgers. They only serve 25 per night and only in the bar. Make sense they are a high-end restaurant. They don't want to be know for hamburgers. We did start with the octopus appetizer. I had never had octopus and it was very good. The texture was a bit strange but it was good. The burger was amazing though. Full of flavor, a lot of food and you can add bacon. What more can you ask for? They also have homemade ketchup! Delicious!! I would love to go back with a foodie friend and try the dining room. I need to save a bit first though!

    (5)

  • Leah D.

    There's not one bad thing to say about this place. I went at 530 (when they open) on a saturday night and was lucky enough to get a seat at the bar. My bf has been wanting to try a burger here for years now and it did not disappoint. The burger is a good size and the outside is peppered and has a good crust on it. The bun was very good too, fresh and solid - which is important. There are few things worse than a bun that falls apart mid burger. While we did only have burgers, the next day my bf and I both agreed that we'll be going back for a special occasion to try the tasting menu.

    (5)

  • Lala I.

    after hearing so many good things about craigie on main i was excited to come here. the bff and i decided to try out their brunch first since its rated "One of the 'Hot 10' Best Brunch Places in the USA" - Bon Appetit Magazine the place wasnt packed. i made a reservation earlier this week and we were seated quickly upon arrival. we both ordered freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. and we both ordered House-Smoked Scottish Salmon & Albacore Tuna Rillettes with bagel and traditional accompaniments this was pretty good. onion cream cheese + bagel + salmon and tuna ummmmmmmm. i also had two caperberries in my dish which i thought it was intelligent. ive never had it before, it looks like a olive and taste kinda like a olive but sour like a pickle and it has orange seeds inside. it def goes perfectly with fish giving a refreshing taste. the smoked salmon wasnt super salty like most smoked salmon. the thing i also wanted to mention about this restaurant is that their service is fantastic. at the end of the meal i wanted to ask for check, so i turned around to look for our waiter. a guy (dressed in a blue shirt and didnt look like he's a waiter) saw me and approached me immediately and asked me if i needed for help. i thought that was pretty impressive. i wonder if he just stands there and observe if anyone needs help. i also had to go to the restroom and i asked a random waiter where the restroom was. instead of just pointing it to me which he totally could he actually walked me all the way to the restroom, it was very nice of him to do that. the meal was pretty good and very well made but i dont think it wowed me. i def loved the friendly and professional service and the casual relaxed atmosphere. that's how every restaurant should be cuz i would not like a restaurant if they have bad service NO MATTER how good their food is!!!! even it's best food on earth or from heaven!!!!!

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    We were given a gift certificate to visit Craigie and had a nice experience. The menu was unique and the dishes primarily centered around comfort food. I enjoyed the food but it was not "stop in your tracks" delicious. Perhaps my expectations were too high? The service, on the other hand, was wonderful. Our server was very knowledgeable and served the dishes at the perfect tempo. We were enjoying our experience and so we wanted a slower pace and our waitress was able to sense that and present the courses at the appropriate speed. The atmosphere is upbeat and upscale but not too loud. The open kitchen helps enhance the home-style feel of the menu. Overall, we enjoyed the experience but it was just a "nice" night out, nothing that knocked our socks off.

    (3)

  • Miércoles F.

    The pig's head for two is incredible. The bone marrow appetizer and pig tails are both incredible. Craigie on Main is incredible.

    (5)

  • T T.

    Overall, I was disappointed with Craigie; I found most of the dishes to be pretty dramatically overseasoned and somewhat underwhelming. Service was very slow with over a 30 minute wait for some of our plates. Here's what I remember from the meal: Crispy fried pig's tails with pickled peanuts, nuoc cham, and cilantro - This dish was fine but not memorable. The vegetables in particular were lackluster. Potato and radish green vichyssoise with glazed veal sweetbreads, ramp kimchee, and paprika oil - This dish was too salty and had a very off aftertaste. The sweetbreads were fine. Vermont pork three ways - suckling confit, spice crusted rib, grilled belly with turnips, pickled cherries, pistachio butter - Being the restaurant's speciality, this dish was unsurprisingly the best of the night. It's a lot of meat, but if you love pork, you are in for a treat. Sirloin steak with oxtail pastrami, forked potatoes, fava leaves, and crispy ginger-shallot salad - The steak was well cooked, but I found the accompaniments to be merely okay. Malted milk parfait with roasted peanuts, chocolate sorbet - This dessert was way too sweet and really had no complexity to it. It needed something to contrast with the sweetness of all the components. At the end of the day, I thought Craigie didn't live up to the hype.

    (2)

  • Helen W.

    My biggest complaint: I went on Sept 13. One of Craige on Main's desserts had been featured in the Sept 30, 2014 Wine Spectator. The magazine had JUST been published. When we asked about the dessert, we were told that management took it off their menu about 2 weeks earlier. It would have been logical for management to offer the dessert for a few weeks after the publish date, no? We went to Toscanini for dessert.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    Not that they need another 5 star review or anything, I think its probably pretty well known at this point that Craigie is arguably the best restaurant experience in Boston. Here are the facts: I've been to dinner here 8 times strong and I can literally say that every meal was better than the last. If there's anything in the world any restaurant would want its customers to say it's that statement right there. Chalk that up to a half dozen 6-course tasting menu extravaganzas (highly recommend this at the chef's table), a chef's whim dinner on a Sunday night, and a "hey lets just order some food" on another occasion. I would break up the act of eating into a couple categories: 1. I'm hungry, therefore I eat food. 2. I'm hungry, but I don't want just anything. 3. I'm hungry and want a transformative experience through the act of nourishing my body. You go to Craigie if you're seeking #3. If you want a simple sashimi of dayboat scallops to give you goosebumps. If you think there's something inherently awesome about Chestnut Flour pasta tossed with a pig's foot ragout. If you want food that you can rave about for the rest of your life...dude, seriously to this day that "tongue & cheek" dish at my second 6-course was borderline life affirming. But like anything great in life: moderation people. Its a good thing I don't live in the area because I'd be miserably obese and broke.

    (5)

  • Cassy H.

    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! :)

    (4)

  • Clayton S.

    I was very excited to bring my girlfriend here for valentines day. It was a set menu and I knew it was going to be $150/person going into the dinner. So with this, we were expecting this meal to blow us away as it should at this price. The food was very good, but not amazing. And in my opinion when paying about $400 (with tax, tip, and a couple drinks) for a dinner for two, we should have had one of the greatest dinners of our lives. I believe that while the food was very good, it was almost a bit rude to price it this high. I would go back again, but would only want to pay 50-75% of what I paid.

    (3)

  • Bradley N.

    CoM-600. Let's get two things straight: 1. CoM is the best restaurant in Boston, period. It's a Michelin star waiting to happen. Ask the locals who come at 9 pm on a Sunday for the special 4-course menu. Ask the chefs on their feet from 10 am to midnight, in constant creative motion. They come to work for and to stand tall with the best. 2. You can possibly have the greatest meal of your life here, if you do it right. And for most of you, "doing it right" will be harder than you think. But if you're up for it, then keeping reading. (a) Come alone. Yes, alone. No distractions from the food and the chefs in the beehive of an open kitchen. No wives, no boyfriends, no anniversaries or birthdays or promotions. No special occasions or people whatsoever. It's got to be just you and the food. Nothing and no one can get in the way, not even the ones you love. (b) Ask for one of the four seats at the chef's counter, which look directly into the kitchen and allow you to see, hear, and sometimes even talk to the chefs. Your gaze is at them, not at the other 95 or so diners and 30 staff who make this place run to feverish perfection. The 3:1 ratio, by the way, is one of the secrets here. That's serious attention to every little detail possible. (c) No matter what, always order the 8-course tasting menu. And no matter the cost, always go with the white and red wine recommended pairings. This will cost you around $250 (including the 20% tip). That's the price you will pay for greatness. (d) Eat slowly. Use your hands if necessary (it will be). Do not let a single trace of food served to you go back to the kitchen. Sop up the sauce with the bread. Eat each and every last piece of bread in your basket, including the crumbs. Do not let a single morsel go to waste. These are gifts given freely, not cheaply. Do not under any circumstances turn them away. (e) Think about texture and not just taste. Imagine that each course is a museum of art masterpiece and you are walking from one gallery to the next. Except in this museum, the paintings come to you, and not the other way around: (i) Chilled Maine mussels with essence of fennel, a kiss of the sea, and discs of red radish; (ii) Kona Kampachi (ocean-ranched Almaco jack) sashimi with Asian pear and baby red shiso leaf - delicate pieces of the Pacific from half a world away; (iii) Tasmanian sea trout filet slow cooked with chorizo oil, pimenton, and chives - red smoke and pink flesh and yellow oil all melting and merging into one; (iv) Seared scallop with peekytoe crab and polenta - crunch, crust, crustacean, corn. (v) Whole wheat pappardelle with duck hearts and wild foraged mushrooms - the deep and dark tastes of a New England forest floor in the leafy throes of mid-autumn; (vi) Veal sweetbreads (the hypothalamus, in this case, not the thymus) with a roasted parsnip glaze reminiscent of light maple - would that all brains were so delicious; (vii) Venison in rare loin medallions and in sausage casing, with chestnuts and quince - hoof, antler, fruit, nut, tree. (sorbet course) candied celery and green apple - a cleansing cool rush of chlorophyll; (viii) Pumpkin cheesecake with gingerbread foam and orange - sophisticated sweetness in grandma's old-fashioned spiced form. Wines - Chenin Blanc, Loire valley; St. Joseph, Northern Rhône (100% Syrah). Sometimes I say to people who review on Yelp to focus on the experience, not just on the food. But here, it's different. The food and the experience, they are one in the same, locked in a passionate embrace that you cannot escape, because you won't want to. But the food *is* your companion that night: your date, your friend, your lover, your secret affair; if you want it to be the best, you must leave behind all the rest. While there are many reasons to come here, if you truly love great food and genuinely admire the chefs who create it, then there is only one initial option. For the culinary crusader, CoM must first be done solo, or it can never be done at all.

    (5)

  • Molly K.

    I had been to Craigie on Main once before, a couple of years ago, when T & I were in the midst of becoming sick. Neither of us had happy memories of this dinner, as we were both in a sickness-induced fog of miserableness. I never had any interest in returning to this restaurant, but when I set out to visit each of the highest rated #-Z restaurants in Boston, I realized Craigie on Main would be mandated to be re-visited. We headed over with minimal expectations...and we were blown away by the experience. Located between the Central and Kendall/MIT T stops, Craigie on Main is also car-friendly, with some street-parking as well as valet available. An interesting mix of local seasonal New England cuisine with French techniques, Craigie on Main has moved towards the top of my Boston-area favorites. We arrived (a bit late) for our reservation, and were told that there was a recent cancellation for the chef's counter, and were asked if we would like to sneak on in. We snatched the opportunity to peek into the kitchen, and plopped ourselves front and center. The whole restaurant is focused on the open kitchen, which is a nice change, but does create a bit of a bustle for those that don't have front-row seats like we did. Fortunately, there are many mirrors placed throughout the dining room so diners are able to see bits and pieces of the cooking. Every night the menu may change, but there are always prix fix menus along with tasting menus of 6- or 8-courses available. T and I went with the prix fix as we had our eyes on certain items already. After ordering, we were surprised with one amuse bouche each, for T, a mussel, and for me, a beef heart pastrami with spicy mustard. As an appetizer, T went with the house-made farro flour spaccatelli with wild boar and forest mushroom ragoût. T reported this was very savory, and I stole a piece of the spaccatelli which I can report was very rich & tasty. I went with the grilled Spanish octopus with grilled cipollini onion, green olive & lemon salad, bulgur wheat, and chorizo purée. Soft, delicate, and delicious, this was the perfect light appetizer. We were also amazed by how large our appetizers were. For entrees, I chose the slow roasted chicken breast (since I love restaurant chicken so much) with chicken sausage, dried apricots, forest mushrooms, spring-dug carrots, and a scotch whisky jus. This is the dish that single-handedly blew me away. This chicken has undoubtedly moved to the top of my Boston-restaurant-chicken list...a hard list to even get near. Moist, tender, and flavorful, the combinations on the plate were unbelievable. Travis went with the Vermont pork three ways: suckling confit, spice crusted rib, smoked & grilled belly with russett apple purée, turnips, port-soaked pruned, and maitake mushrooms. The confit melted in his mouth while the rib was crispy and moist. The grilled belly reportedly paired well with the mushrooms. We also split a side of duck-fat roasted brussel sprouts, which were fresh, crispy & scrumptous. As T was stuffed and out of commission for dessert, I took control and ordered for us (....me, really). I have always loved anything malted, and the moment I read those four little letters on the menu (m-a-l-t) it was decided. We got the malted milk parfait, with honey roasted peanuts & a chocolate sorbet. I allowed T to have 2 bites, but then after tasting this dish, I hoarded it for myself. This dessert is easily in my top-2 desserts in Boston. Unbelievably tasty, the contrasting textures harmonized into an amazing flavorful bite. Bits of chocolate brownie, a small almost peanut-buttery-caramel textured bit, with crunchy pieces resembling cocoa crispies and the salty honey roasted peanuts...I was in food-heaven after bite one. We will most definitely be back to Craigie on Main. I now have the Chef's Whim's tasting menu on my to-visit list. Every Sunday after 9pm, chef Tony Maws will cook up a discounted 4- or 6-course tasting menu on a whim. Pictures and more on -- ----

    (5)

  • Brittany H.

    Proprietor/Chef: Tony Maws STELLAR!! one of the rare reviews i've seen that merits all 5 stars and actually spot on. i give it my high five. a gf and i originally was planning on going to cuchi cuchi instead. the hostess with her fancy red lipstick and avant garde look, much like the rest of the restaurant and its decor. its presence is to be seen and to be remembered. something unforgettable that's for sure. as much as i was looking forward to eating here, 45-60 minute wait was unacceptable. especially considering my last real meal was 7 hours ago. glucose levels decreasing by the minute. NO CAN DO!!! we rolled through next door to craigie (not an easy name to remember btw)...without reservations at the main table (next time slot avail. @ 10pm) we gladly seated ourselves at the bar. what the hell, i have more fun sitting at the bar anyways, as past references will tell. the one thing i didn't like about sitting at the bar was my view away from the open, visible kitchen. I was in love with the set up. everything prepped, cleaned, cook right in front of your very eyes. Transparent as day & night. Clearly, my level of trust on the food here was in their hands now... i decided to go with the mussels when a couple adjacent to the corner of us, had their monstrosity of a burger come out.... the husband saw my dimly light eyes bright up... and said "she's been thinking about this burger all day...since 2pm". better than sex i thought? i so desperately wanted to find out. i quickly chased down the bartender who kindly enough was able to change my order just in the nick of time. Local Grass-Fed Burger - stuffed with cheese, house made sesame bun, mace ketchup, home made celery root slaw and pickles and the thinnest shoe string fries ever made on earth. tasted straight like potato stix from the can, plus the chives, garlic and cayenne pepper that it was topped with. amazing crack substance, i mean...additive. it was the perfect complement to the over-sized juiced burger. safely medium please. i put my money on eating "half" the burger before giving up. the fries, the burger... gracious gluttony. i'd be a complete fatty (and quite the feat) if i were able to finish it. gluttony knows boundaries too...and i still had a "night" to get through. the comatose would just have to wait a few more hours. ladies and gentleman, i have to say for the first time in about 10 years, i forgo seafood for RED MEAT...and it felt wonderful. my friend highly enjoyed her sturgeon... she offered, but i happily declined. i was much content stuffing my face with the burger & fries instead. that's what she said! it's important to note that this place is not your typical, traditional french fare. rather modern american, nuances of french infused. this place is brilliant- for upscale foodies, saavy'nites, masochists, modernists... forgo the well mannered, prim & proper tables and get your ass to the bar and enjoy the food there...(unless you obviously want to try the tasting menu...which i definitely do for next time...) it's one hell of an experience wherever you end up. or be smart and call to make reservations ahead of time. that's what she said...

    (5)

  • Denise C.

    Been here twice for brunch and both occasions were great in overall experience. I'll speak to my latest visit: Arrived at noon on Saturday at noon just after the new years without reservations and had no problem getting a table for 4. Our waiter was friendly and patient with us as we chatted and took our time ordering. Food: Pork belly: I've had this before and I thought the first time the fat was more tender. Still enjoyed. Beef Cheek and Hash - my brother got this dish and though I'm not much of a beef eater it was a pretty tasty dish. He finished the dish with no complaints, mopping up the gravy/juices with bread. Whenever anyone is mopping up anything with bread, that's always a sign of a good dish. Grilled cheese and pork sandwich with an egg on top - anything with an egg on it is good food. This was my dish and like my brother I was mopping up the runny yolk with anything that was remotely spongey. House cured ham and forest mushroom gravy - the heaviest of the dishes but full of flavor. We couldn't see the ham at first but its cut into small pieces and mixed with what I thought was grits but the menu says its gold rice. The grits/rice were full of the ham flavor. Spicy Bloody Mary - Perfection. I'm a stickler for a good bloody mary and this hit the spot. Great place and looking forward to trying dinner.

    (4)

  • Julie L.

    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.

    (5)

  • Leslie Z.

    The food was great and though the restaurant is a bit meat-centric, vegetarian options and accommodations were not a problem. The food was fresh and deliciously prepared. The bar and wait staff were knowledgeable, pleasant and very much willing to please. The problem was the kitchen staff. The food was beyond slow. They were yelling and looked in a frenzy. In a rush to deliver our apps, the waitress dropped one plate on the floor which further slowed things down. We ended up having to get our entrees to go. Not sure I would go back.

    (3)

  • Jordan P.

    This is one of the best meals I've ever had in my entire life! We had the 6 course tasting menu and each course was better than the last. The chefs pay close attention to every detail and each bite is perfectly seasoned. Now normally I'm not one for overly fancy food. But this meal delivered on taste in addition to being beautiful on the plate. The highlights were the beet pasta with venison ragout (sounds like an odd combination, but it was to DIE for... I still dream about this pasta) and the scallop sashimi. I also love the ambiance of the restaurant. It's very casual and laid back despite having upscale food. It was very cozy and warm and inviting inside. The staff is also great! They're knowledgeable and attentive without being overwhelming. Next time I'm in Cambridge, I'll definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Amy V.

    Host and wait staff were exceptional - well trained, hospitable, personable, engaged. Loved them. Kitchen staff grossed us out - chef repeatedly licked a utensil and returned it to food without cleaning it. Our "medium" steak was super rare, medium-well burger was very rare. Oysters unpleasant. Fries were really good - but rest of the meal was unmemorable at best. Oddly, I spent the time to fill out a review card, and, a week later, haven't hear from them. I'm not sure what the raves are about. Overpriced. Under delivered.

    (1)

  • Nate Y.

    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.

    (5)

  • Paul Z.

    We've been going to Tony Maws' restaurant since it was the Craigie Street Bistro. If there's better, I literally can't imagine it. Every time, we surrender to the Chef's wonderful manifestations of culinary creativity and precise execution. The wine pairings deserve separate praise, and speak to the thought put into your experience. Sure, it's expensive, but for the special occasions when we dine there, they have always hit it out of the park. Absolutely worth it.

    (5)

  • Bobby C.

    Been meaning to try this place for years. Every time I try to make a reservation, the place is booked. Have to book way in advance. Anyways, my friend was visiting from LA last weekend. I was going treat her to a nice dinner. Luckily, there were tables available early Sunday evening. Some friends had told me to try the tasting menu, that it was to die for! The food was amazing. The dishes started off light and slowly got heavier. We started at 7PM and left around 11PM. Our server was very attentive. I will definitely be going back there again!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth P.

    Upon moving up to Boston last year, Craigie on Main quickly became one of those places I really wanted to try, thanks in part to the combined praises of James Beard and Yelp. Unfortunately, there was the issue of "when." Reservations here aren't always easy to come by, particularly for a party of five seeking a weekend date between 6 and 8 pm. The solution if you're in my shoes is, of course, to plan ahead (like a month or more ahead). Trust me, it's worth it. Craigie did not disappoint: everything was pretty darn outstanding. To start, the ambiance is great. The staff is serious about the food (and drink), but not stuffy, and the restaurant has a laid back, slightly hipster but not obnoxiously so, feel. It's modern, yet comfortable; upscale, but down-to-earth--if this makes any sense at all, the restaurant feels "real." There's also an open kitchen... if you can snag the chef's table, do it. Libations-wise, the wine and spirit menus are both nicely assembled. I started out my evening with a glass of the house-made fortified wine, which was oh so delicious--not too sweet, with a lovely citrus note. Meanwhile, others in my party had a grand old time with the wine list, which included many nicely priced options and unexpected finds. If you're into the "snout-to-tail" style of dining, Craigie's is definitely for you. That being said, there are also plenty of options if you're like me and tend to stick with tamer fare. For an appetizer, I went with the pumpkin soup, which I enjoyed greatly, though others at my table commented that they found the curry flavor to be a bit strong. The soup also came with a small grilled cheese sandwich, which was deliciously buttery--the two cheeses had that perfect amount of tang you expect a good grilled cheese to have, without being too sharp. Others at my table very much enjoyed the octopus, which they deemed to be well-prepared and what I believe was a smoked trout? salad (I'm afraid at this point I was so absorbed in my fortified wine that I did a less-than-admirable job of paying attention to other dishes around me). From the pumpkin soup, I moved onto the slow-roasted chicken breast, in further testament to the fact that you really don't need to have an interest in consuming a pig's head to enjoy Craigie's (but go ahead and enjoy it if that's you're thing--it's the place for that too). This might have been my favorite dish on the night. Somehow it had the lovely tenderness of sous vide chicken, but the superior taste and texture of roast chicken. In addition to the chicken itself, the plate as a whole was well put together: the carrot puree and apricots added a subtle sweetness, which beautifully complemented the savory chicken and earthiness of the mushrooms. Others at my table enjoyed the tautog and the pork three ways a great deal, as well as the side of marrow bones. By this point in the meal I was debating whether or not I really needed dessert, but then the dessert menu came and the decision was made for me... the malted milk parfait sounded too good to pass up. And it was: the chocolate cake, the malted milk ice cream, and the saltiness of the peanuts (to cut all that sweetness) left me a very happy, albeit full, camper. My table also tried the affogato, which was simply delicious, and the trio of sorbets, where the concord grape was a surprising stand out. Overall, this was an excellent experience... if you're into food, I really can't recommend Craigie's enough.

    (5)

  • Eric M.

    3 stars on the kitchen, 4 1/2 stars on the service. I probably won't be back simply because I didn't feel like I got my money's worth, however I did receive very good service. I ate in the bar area. Three things: First, service. I was welcomed nicely, seated promptly, attended to very well. Their service was very good and I left a very nice tip for that reason. Second, food. Some of the food was very good - for example, the meyer lemon sorbet was very nice. Too often lemon sorbets are made only from the juice and are over-sweetened at that. This one had a very nice balance of acid, sweetness and bitterness from the peel. I appreciated that. The beignets were also very well executed, and I'm not even much of a sweets person. Some of the food was not. But for the six-course whim menu, I was served: Some sort of fish that was amuse-buche sized. - tasty Smelts - which I love, but there were only 3 Gigantic asparagus spears with a lightly-poached egg - this dish could have used seasoning and a thicker-yolked egg, perhaps a duck egg instead of a chicken one A pasta with ragu - this was good, but the pasta flavor overpowered the ragu, which is impressive in a way, but maybe not in a good way. And the pasta on the edges were stone cold, which was a disappointment. Some sort of rolled-up chicken on a baby-food-like bed of something - this dish was hotel-restaurant quality. I had a similar dish at the now-closed 2-Michelin-starred Ria in Chicago that was mind-blowingly good, but this one was boring and executed only moderately-well Lemon sorbet - this was the best lemon sorbet I've ever had Beignets - these were very good Kitchen: I know a whim menu will be less predictable than a fixed one, but it was kind of an odd collection and order to the food, everything from the sizing to the content didn't seem to flow well. Also, I wasn't expecting to be there over 2 hours for a 6-course meal. Alinea in Chicago can get you through 18 courses in 3 hours, so six courses, where only two of them were larger than appetizers, seems a bit long - especially when seated at the bar. Overall, the chef obviously has talent, and he's assembled a wonderful service staff. The level of the food, however, did seem inconsistent. Granted the price I paid was partially due to the drinks I ordered, however if the food had come a bit quicker, I would have gotten by with fewer drinks. At any rate, I'm glad I went, and I enjoyed myself thanks to the excellent service, but I'm not sure I'll be back for the food anytime soon.

    (4)

  • Kaitlyn O.

    Went here for a business dinner. It was very good food but very expensive. They definitely put a lot of thought and care into their food. The salad I had was amazing!

    (4)

  • Shaina P.

    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.

    (5)

  • LaShanta H.

    Get the tasting menu!! It was an amazing dining experience!!

    (5)

  • John A.

    Just an update from our Boston friends. The couple with whom we had our miserable experience went back to Craigie to give it a second chance. They, and another couple, said it was MUCH better. The food was better and the service flawless. They commented, "It was if we went to a completely different resturant.". I'm glad for them, and Craigie, but it just made our experience now seem even worse.

    (2)

  • Adam S.

    Inventive and gourmet but in a laid-back, friendly atmosphere. Would certainly recommend it for special occasions.

    (4)

  • par n.

    I'm from California, so I've been having a hard time adjusting to quality of food in boston. This restaurant is the best food I've had in boston and also one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. We did the 8 course tasting menu and it was a lot of food, but every single dish was cooked to perfection. the goat cheese ice cream was my favorite.

    (5)

  • A B.

    Exquisite and expensive! Yes, this is the place of the moment. It's very, very fine. And excels at what it aims to do. Service is excellent, even on the hectic Saturday night prime time when I was dining. Overall, very well done. I would challenge them to produce what they do a more reasonable price point (which would still be quite expensive).

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    Every time, really delicious - all that really needs to be said. Friends took us to the chef's "whim" on Sunday night - not only is it fun it is delicious. The dessert was especially to die for.

    (5)

  • Will D.

    To be completely honest, I am doing this review for myself. If one can't decide they should visit Craigie on Main prior to reading my review, they shouldn't go. I will try not to borrow from other reviews and just simply give the best representation of my overall experience. I am a fairly serious foodie and have eaten at great restaurants across the SE. On my first real trip to Boston for business, naturally I gravitated to Yelp for restaurant picks. This one stuck out from the get go. The story, pedigree, reviews...all signs pointed to greatness. I didn't make it here until my last night but I am so glad I did. My friend and I walked in at 9:30 on a Tuesday night without reservation and were promptly seated. The place was moderately busy, about what I expected. Neither of us were hungry enough to do the tasting menu but I'll save that for another day. We decided on the prie fixe menu. Everything looked great but amazingly, the first course options spoke to me a bit more than the entrees. When the waiter gave us the two side specials of the night which included brussels sprouts roasted in duck fat and roasted bone marrow with grilled toast, I knew what I'd be having. I went with the grilled spanish octopus, fried maine clams, and the latter two sides. My friend had a pasta dish with mushrooms and sausage. I can't do any of these items justice. The grilled octopus was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I actually went to Spain earlier this year; this killed anything I had there. The clams were breaded and fried nicely, with what I recall to be a squid ink cream sauce. Not the standout but solid. The bone marrow was an experience to be had. It had an aroma that can't be replicated with an unparalleled mouthfeel. The brussels sprouts were as good as a one could ever expect. I could eat that as a side daily for the rest of my life. My friend thoroughly enjoyed their pasta dish and from the bit I sampled, it had a very pleasant flavor and texture. Look...I didn't even mention the good cocktail I had or the decent wine. This place isn't about that. If you consider yourself a legitimate foodie and you are ever in Boston for dinner, do yourself a favor and make it to Craigie's. I know I will be back for the tasting menu one day. Also, the service was impeccable. I could not find one thing to criticize the restaurant for. I even think it offers value. Just go.

    (5)

  • Monica O.

    On Saturday, 4/26, I dined at Craigie On Main. It was my first time ever dining at the lauded restaurant and the experience left me rather disappointed and unsure if I'd go back. As a party of 8 women, we had an 8:30pm reservation but had to wait approximately 45 minutes (in heels) to be seated. Of note, the staff offered us sparkling wine, which without their saying it, we took as an apology for having kept us waiting, corralled in a tight, inconvenient space where we were bumped about and shuffling out of passers-bys' ways. There is some sort of confusion about where we were supposed to be seated as my friend who made the reservations was under the impression that we were going to be seated in the dining room; however, it became clear that they were setting us up in the bar area. As she attempted to discuss the situation, my friend said that the hostess was rude, impatient, and dismissive. Finally seated, our experience improved significantly. We had a serving duo with one of them Jeremy, a new server, who was particularly attentive and pleasant. At about 9:40pm, about 20 mins after being seated and 70+ mins of waiting, I had to ask our female server if we could put in our food order, to which happily obliged. When someone ordered the hogshead, she appropriately alerted them that it would take about 45 mins to prepare. All of us quite enjoyed our appetizers as they were served rather quickly and were enticing. Additionally, the the hogsheads came up in the window of time she stated. Unfortunately, the hogsheads was not a hit with the women who ordered it but the staff was quick to remove it from the table and from the check, offering other food options for my friends. I was impressed by the gracious and swift handling of this situation. And as for me, my sirloin was cooked perfectly and was delicious. So what had started off as a frustrating experience, made a full turn throughout dinner. Unfortunately, it was during the dessert course that the "wheels fell off the wagon" once again. For dessert, my friend prepaid for one of Craigie's cake. The brought it out and presented it to the table, but then took it back to cut it. At this point, it then took about another 30 mins for them to cut and serve the cake, which seemed excessive and only fanned the previously weaning flames fire of frustration, though not specifically for me. Instead, I had my own separate issues of frustration and very poor service. While waiting for the cake, I asked the female server what teas they had, she just named "black, green, and herbal." I was surprised at her response but politely asked her to be specific about the herbal teas. She initially stated they only had only two herbal teas, a red zen and a rooibos, but then added that there was a third blended tea. I said I'd hope for something fruitier but I'd take the red zen. About a min later, I asked our other server, Jeremy, for the dessert menu so I could see it since I'd never dined there. Jeremy brought the menu back immediately and I saw that there were about 6 different herbal teas, specifically they had a simple hibiscus tea, something I mentioned I'd like, to the female server. Jeremy called her over and I asked her if she'd already put my order in for the tea because I actually wanted the hibiscus instead. She told me it was okay and that she would update the order, however, only mins later she returned with a pot of tea, poured it, lied to me when I specifically asked if it was the hibiscus tea (she said it was) and sharply responded to me that "it was fine" when I asked if it had enough time to steep, and then walked away and did not return. I asked Jeremy to come over and verify that I received the correct tea, because it appeared to be the red zen. He took it to the kitchen and returned with the correct tea, apologizing for the other server's mistake. I can not say if this server either made a simple mistake, mistakenly underestimated my knowledge of tea to know the difference, or if she is working as a lead server but does not know Craigie's featured teas. Yet, this whole tea exchange was the tipping point for me and my personal experience there. Throughout the evening, I anticipated moments of waiting since we were a large party. I also appreciated that the management tried to offer some sort of amends for keeping us waiting for so long. Furthermore, I was happy with my meal and found the food worthy of a positive review. The service to our large party, on the other hand, was deplorable. I write this review unsure of whether a large parties happens to be Craigie on Main's Achilles heel or if the fact that our particularly diverse, large party played some part in us receiving poor service. Most of the other women in our group do not share my concerns as to the reason we received such service, but we all undeniably agree that our service was unacceptable (with the clear exception of Jeremy).

    (2)

  • Erin O.

    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.

    (5)

  • Debbie B.

    You know what- I hate writing reviews on things that already have a ton of 5 stars because I feel like...yeah, you get it. But my first experience at Craigie On Main last night is 5 star review worthy. Like most other yelpers, I go out to eat...probably too much. So it was awesome to be able to see a menu that is unlike anything else in Boston and the burbs. Everything was fantastic. We started with the house made cocktails before we went to wine. When I go back, I will probably get another 4 cocktails because they were amazing! I highly recommend the trio of pork. The man got the crispy pig tails to start and raved about them (though I did not venture there). This is a dining style experience, so settle in and enjoy the rhythm of the meal. Also, from almost anywhere in the place you can see the kitchen, which makes for a fresh, exciting, and sometimes intense atmosphere. I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • John D.

    Absolute garbage. I have no idea how this place is rated so highly. We ordered the 6 course tasting menu, which puts you at the whim of the chef. For our main course, we received the pork shoulder. So many servers came by to tell us how lucky we were. While well cooked, it was incredibly bland. I was about to type out all of the other courses that we had, but every single one other than the mushroom pasta was terrible, so it wasn't worth my time. Cragie's already stole 3 hours of my time and $330, I'm not going to let them steal any more of my time.

    (1)

  • Jeremy K.

    I'd like to think that I know a lot about food. I've tasted it and experienced it in many ways growing up in France and it's always been a huge part of my life. The food network is always on in my apartment and I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen when I can. Hell, the only reason why I'm not in the culinary industry is because I'm allergic to seafood which would have limited me. But I digress. I've had many meals but the one I've had earlier this evening at Craigie on Main was one of the best. Their menu is very modern and eclectic and we were lucky enough to get the ringside seats (there's only 4 of them available in the restaurant) because a previous reservation had cancelled rendering them free. Those very special seats are for a select and very lucky few and overlook the kitchen directly. You even get to interact with the chef a little bit. That alone made my night. Then came the amuse-bouche, which in my case was pork belly sliced very thin over fennel and mozzarella. It was very tasty and opened up my pallet nicely for what was a memorable meal. Not being able to eat seafood I settled for Potage of Sweet Butter and Sugar Corn which was absolutely exquisite. They replaced the seafood sausage pieces that come with it with fried squash flowers. A very interesting item that I had never tried. At that point I was very impressed and was looking forward to my entree. I saw that they offered bone marrow and it has to be my favorite dish ever, all time. It's literally what I want for my last meal and it's not found everywhere so I jumped on the occasion and thus ordered the hangar steak which comes with bone marrow, smoked beef tongue, shiitake mushrooms, Camargue red rice and huitlacoche jus. It was very intriguing yet very tasty. The bone marrow portion was HUGE which made my night as well. It was so, so good! The wine paired it very well. Then we had a sour milk pannacotta. I had quite a bit of wine at that point and can't quite remember what it was exactly, but it was flavored with tea and had a very delicate, soothing texture. It was wonderful. My friend and I both ordered the same desert, which was the Market Fruits Crisp, a crumble which featured berries. It wasn't over sweet at all which was nice. They let the natural sugars in the berries express themselves. To end the meal, we were given shots of a hibiscus froth. Overall it was a very intriguing, fun and wonderful experience going to Craigie on Main. The prices are high but you get what you pay for. Their menus change daily based on what's fresh and what looks good and the chef and staff are very attentive to the food they serve and the details making for an excellent experience. A dish never sat more than 10 seconds at the pass before being picked up by the runners. What I do recommend you do is try to get the ringside seats (or whatever it's are called) so that you can sit and get to peak at the kitchen. It's very entertaining and you'll learn quite a bit. The head chef is very friendly and for those feeling adventurous, you can order a half of a pigs head, roasted. They have a whole bunch of interesting items on their menus and my friend and I made a deal that we will be heading there every three months from now on to experience the menus as they change with the seasons. I love this place, it's a real gem! And boy will I remember these lovely 2 and a half hours of delightful food!

    (5)

  • Erin B.

    Like others, I really wanted to like Craigie. We went once before, sat at the bar, had a fabulous burger and delicious wine & it was a blast. This time I made a reservation as typically you can't just walk in and get a spot at the bar. I was told it was for one of the high tops in the bar area, which was fine with me. We got there and were told to wait near the bar (their waiting area) and someone would get us a drink. Like other reviewers, we were ignored for the drink order (but given plenty of water??) and actually never ended up ordering anything because by the time they came to us, we had drank enough water to fill us up. We decided to wait for our seat. We ended up getting seated in the main dining room. I really like the bar area, so I was slightly disappointed. I then realized that the burger was not on the menu. So when the super sweet waitress came back to ask us what we we were thinking of for dinner, I told her I was really looking forward to the burger that I keep seeing go by. She seemed put off, and blankly said that the burger is ONLY available in the bar. That was it. No offer to get me one anyway. Just no. If you're a foodie, you'll enjoy this place. I like good food, but am by no means a foodie. This menu is too eclectic for me. But I figured I'm about to dish out some REALLY good money for this meal, so I'm going to try EVERYTHING that comes to me. I got a vegetable salad, which seemed like it should have been warm, but it wasn't. I tried each vegetable, and actually thought I made a respectable showing, but apparently I did not. The woman who cleared my plate asked if I wanted to take it home. I very nicely & sweetly said No I'm all set (because I know it is good food, and just because I don't like it, I didn't want anyone to think it was bad. It just wasn't my taste) Then right before our main dish came, a different woman came by and asked if I wanted something else, because she realized I didn't like my salad. Shocked, I said oh no thank you, I'm all set. She left and my husband said to me "did you say something??" - to which I answered no. I purposely did NOT say anything because I didn't want to make a scene. I had the swordfish, which was much less cooked than I like, and small pieces for the price. In the end I really just wanted their burger. Lesson learned. I should have told them that my reservation was for a table in the bar, so I could have GOTTEN the burger I wanted, and not spent $350 on food I really wasn't into. yes. $350. So maybe our wine was pricey (and the best part of the meal), but still. that is a lot of $$ for a meal. You'd think they'd make an exception for a patron who asked for something they actually sell on the menu.

    (2)

  • Hise G.

    Always fantastic. The absolute best burger I have ever had. Also they have great cocktails.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    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.

    (5)

  • Michael U.

    See blog for full review: Walking in to Craigie on Main I must admit I was hesitant; as a matter of fact, for the sake of full disclosure I'll note that until Chef Tony Maws won the Beard Award for Best Chef Northeast one month earlier I'd been ignoring suggestions to add Craigie to my agenda largely because the menu simply seemed too much like everything else trendy out there these days - offal this, local-regional that, and nose-to-tail porkcentricity. Rarely one to question trusted palates in the cities I visit it was in fact the Beard Award (and particularly who he beat out) that forced me to reconsider my decision and after a week or so of watching the restaurant's social media feed I decided to give it a go. With the room mostly heavy woods and brick plus some off white wallpaper juxtaposing the white tablecloths and quality service ware I actually liked the feel of Craigie save for one thing - the music which when combined with the open kitchen and room full of graduates, families, and parties was one of the loudest I've ever experienced. Seated for approximately 5 minutes before Joseph, my captain for the evening, would arrive my water was filled (and kept nearly filled to the brim throughout) and a menu was delivered by a young woman. With the menu divided into a la carte options, a six course, and a ten course I asked a few questions (largely to make sure that the main course was not beef and that a copy could be provided) and Joseph explained to me that the way the ten course worked was he would ask if there was anything I really liked and/or didn't want and the chef would craft it from there; thinking this sounded ideal and noting my likes and dislikes I opted for the ten course and things were underway. With the two-top next to me notably requesting the six course (hard not to eavesdrop when everyone is yelling over the din of the room) and the table of six to my left opting for the ten course I will note that although the restaurant was busy service was quite good throughout and descriptions of each dish were detailed - but save for a couple of items it really didn't seem like the tasting was tailored at all. With the room still loud but starting to fade as the hour approached 9:30 the check was delivered along with two small macarons described as "Chocolate Almond Tobacco" and although their dry texture was not ideal the flavor was certainly intriguing. Also delivered with the check was a comment card, something I always take the time to fill out whether good or bad but especially in this case as it came with check-boxes a long note from Chef Maws requesting feedback. Of course, since Joseph had also forgotten to pass along word of my desire for a printed menu I had a good fifteen minutes to fill out the card and as such became rather wordy - mostly praise but also noting that while some dishes shined others disappointed, especially in the setting of a "ten course menu" when four courses could have been served as amuses or palate cleansers rather than proper courses. Having now been up for nearly twenty hours I settled my bill and with menu in hand I made my way to the door where my bags were gathered and within moments I found myself in a cab en route for the South End. Having spent a good portion of the day eating I most certainly was not hungry, but at the same time I also wasn't terribly satisfied with my visit to Craigie on Main either. Sure some of the courses were good - as a matter of fact, some were excellent - but for $150+ I tend to expect more from a Beard Award winning chef...and when I returned home to Ohio perhaps I found out just what I should have expected and received in the form of an apology and offer from Marjorie Maws stating "...of course we're upset that you weren't blown away by our food. Here's a possible explanation (but definitely not an excuse.). You came in at a time when there are lots of out of town visitors who are here for one of the many graduations in the area. We learned a few years ago that many of these diners were not as adventurous as our local crowd and so we made the menu a little more "normal" for a couple of weeks. We do, however, still have several "funky" preparations available and our servers are instructed to ask where each party is on the "funk scale." It sounds like that may not have happened in your case and, if that's true, we are terribly sorry. May I offer you a gift certificate for a return visit to Craigie so that you can enjoy our full range of our selections? Again our apologies and we really appreciate your feedback. We can't wait to cook for you again!" While I can't say my first visit to Craigie on Main was my best in Boston all things being equal I'd definitely be willing to give anyplace that classy a second chance and on my next visit to the North East I shall.

    (3)

  • Lauren K.

    Central Square doesn't have a tremendous amount of culinary delight to choose from. While Craigie on Main is definitely in its top tier, it's not the most AMAZING food I've ever had. It's very good but not "5 star" good. To be honest, I don't remember all the nitty-gritty details of the meal so here's what I do remember: - We ate WAY too much bread. The bread is tasty but its also extremely filling. By the time we had our entree, I could barely eat another bite of food for fear of bursting. I actually looked up how much food the human stomach can handle before bursting. It's about 4,000 cc's. While some people have eaten significantly more without exploding, I don't recommend trying. Apparently, you will die of sepsis. It's not pretty or quick; it's supposedly pretty agonizing. Anyway, back to the review... - We ordered the Crispy-Fried Pig's Tails and Grilled Spanish Octopus as starters. I ordered the Octopus and wasn't particularly impressed. This is a tricky dish to get right. Like scallops, if it's overcooked, it loses all its delicious texture and flavor. These were probably just a bit overdone. Sadly, they had little flavor. I was a bit reluctant to try to Pig's Tails but my BF knows his food so I was more willing than usual. As he went to cut me a piece, there was no meat to be eaten...it was just a giant hunk of fat. Eventually, he was able to find a piece that was more meat than fat. It was tasty but again, not mind blowing. - For our entree, we ordered the Whole Roasted Misty Knolls Chicken. When they say "whole" they mean it's the entire chicken. And although it says "For Two" in parentheses, it's really enough to feed 4 people who also ordered appetizers. Was it delicious? Completely. But was it worth spending $70 on it? Not really. We were so full that we could barely eat more than a few bites. We wound up taking it home but had dinner plans most of the coming week and wound up tossing the majority of it. It was utterly painful to toss more than half of a $70 chicken. Finally, the restaurant gives you a complementary dish before your official meal begins. Honestly, I don't even remember what it was. All I know is that I wouldn't have ordered a starter had I known how much food was coming our way. Granted, I haven't tried their burger (which they're known for). I will definitely go back since the food is really good but I'll skip the bread and starters so I can actually enjoy my entree!

    (4)

  • Andrew F.

    Very eclectic menu and great service. Did not get the tasting menu, but I would next time since our selections were very good. I am having trouble remembering what I ordered, but everything was delicious and creative.

    (5)

  • S T.

    Went here for brunch and ordered: 1) Donuts - delicious 2) Hamburger - too salty..(I don't see what the hype is all about..sure the quality of the meat was excellent..you can tell by how the meat melts in your mouth with each bite. Maybe it was an off day, but it was too salty..for such great meat..hold back the salt! 3) Pasta w/duck - delicious Service was excellent. Will be back!

    (4)

  • Emily Z.

    I came back for my mum's birthday, as I mentioned earlier. We ordered a la carte to try as much stuff as we could. For appetizers we had: 1) grilled spanish octopus: succulent and flavorful, yummy. 2) crispy fried pig tails: I expected those little curly cues, but instead we were presented with pork chop looking pieces of tender meat! 3) assiette of house-made terrines: not the best foie gras I've had, but pretty good. Could have been richer and creamier. the non-foie gras components were delicious. 4) ragoût of four bean and local forest mushrooms: if you are a mushroom fan like me, then this is a must. a light, savory flavor. innovative egg turned soup. 5) house-made rye flour radiatore pasta: hearty and savory, and a nice large portion For entrees: 1) grassfed sirloin à la poêle: solid steak. 2) Vermont pork three ways: delicious! This was the best. Reminded me again of how well this place makes the piggies. 3) some trout dish: my dad ordered this dish, but I think it might have been a bit undercooked for him, so I took it instead. I think it was cooked well, just it had dill (I think) and I learned that I don't like dill very much. This was obviously not on Craigie though. For desserts: 1) Malted Milk Parfait: delicious and chocolatey, with the extra crunch of peanuts delightful. got swiped by my dad, it was so good. 2) Three house-made sorbets: yummy and fruity! 3) Whole Wheat Crepes: lighter and creamy but with an almost airy texture I plan to come back! Can't wait to have some dishes next time all to myself XD

    (5)

  • Mac O.

    4.5 stars. Husband and I arrived at Craigie well in advance of the rest of our party of five and happily pulled up two stools at the bar to enjoy some cocktails while we waited. If I were to describe Craigie's carefully crafted and thoughtfully composed cocktail menu, it would be, "wowee wow wow." Over the course of our several hours here we sampled the Flower Sour (bourbon, Cardamaro, lemon, honey and lavender); Never Setter (Szechuan Plymoth, maple, lemon, Barolo Chinato); Northern Lights (St. Germain, scotch, citrus, Bittermens Tiki Bitters); Civilian (Mezcal, orange, lime, date molasses, Thai chile); Root Down (Salers Gentiane, barrel-aged genever, sour orange, Gran Classico); and Ardoise (sage, Rain, juniper, lime). The last time I was this over the moon about cocktails was more than a year ago at Salt of the Earth in Pittsburgh. The other bonus of spending time at the bar was chatting with local Bostonians celebrating the start of the weekend and learning about Craigie's top-secret, off-menu hamburger. "They only make like, 18 a night," the Lilly Pulitzer-clad debutante next to me whispered breathlessly. "Once they're gone, they're gone. Trust me: YOU WANT ONE." Actually, I didn't want one; I came for the simply irresistible, best whole-roasted chicken Alex Guarnaschelli ever ate. But it turned out FIL and our friend did and -- once we were seated in our plush booth in the bar area -- ordered them from our server. "You're in luck!" she whispered as breathlessly as debutante. "There are only three left!" Once the rest of our party showed up, we were seated at our booth. I was worried about the potential noise level in the bar, but the hostess informed us there's no standing allowed in Craigie's bar. Noise really was kept to a minimum and, frankly, our booth seemed to be one of the more comfortable tables in the entire restaurant, with interesting views into Cambridge outside. It seems we inadvertently scored one of the better tables in the house. Since there were five of us, we decided we could probably sample our way through much of the menu à la carte. Each course was beautifully plated and impeccably prepared. Every bite was elevated by the fact that Craigie sources its food from local farmers and growers, meaning its meats are all-natural, free-range, and humanely raised. Before we even started servers were setting amuse bouches before us: Sardine Fritters for the ladies, Beef Heart Carpaccio for the boys. Appetizers soon followed: Ricotta Cavatelli with Mushroom and Boudin ragoût, Grilled Spanish Octopus with Cipollini Onions, Bluefin Sashimi with Onion-Shiso Salsa, and Crispy Fried Pigs' Tails. The cavatelli was rich and chewy, the octopus as tender as a cloud, sashimi buttery soft, and the pigs' tails an extraordinarily crunchy and unctuous treat. For entrées FIL and friend ordered those famous burgers, which arrived accompanied by some of the thickest, crispiest fries I've ever seen, as well as house made pickles, ketchup and celeraic roulade. SIL ordered the hangar steak which had great flavor but was unfortunately a touch dry. Husband and I eagerly requested the Misty Knoll Farms whole-roasted chicken with apricot, chanterelles, and whiskey jus. A runner presented us with the entire bird tableside before it was carved; after we'd ogled its golden hue and plumpness, it was whisked away for plating. It was, if I do say so myself, the runaway best of the entrées -- including that burger which was good, but didn't impress like we'd expected. The chicken however was succulent and moist, served atop a subtly sweet apricot purée and earthy mushrooms. We devoured every bite, and husband even set to work on the carcass, which is also presented if you so desire ("Really, it's some of the best meat," our server confided). I couldn't bring myself to pick at a structure of bones, tho... For dessert, a sorbet trio of Blackberry, Raspberry, and Yogurt (my favorite of the three for its tartness); Coconut Ice Cream with pumpernickel tuille; espressos for the lame, er, I mean, responsible; and an Islay Smokey Peat Scotch for me. Craigie's is a fabulous find in Beantown. I'd come back for the cocktails alone. [15 Minutes of Fame: "The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Simply Irresistible" (Alex Guarnaschelli, Misty Knoll whole-roasted chicken)]

    (4)

  • Timothy H.

    My wife and I went here for New Year's Eve and had a great time! The food was very good and drinks were great! Kitchen was very well run, also! We had a slight issue with the bill being incorrect, but after writing my first review and expressing that "We had a great time but..." , the manager contacted me and resolved the accidental overcharge. They took care of everything without me having to return on a day off to resolve it. She was very accommodating and friendly. I was already going to come back for more since I have a gift card to use from christmas time, but I will definitely be back after it has long been used up!

    (5)

  • Michael W.

    It's so nondescript on the outside. You could seriously walk past chatting loudly about the latest Kristen Stewart drama without a hint of the delicious surprise that awaits if you were to walk in the doors. Well, your loss. We booked a 6pm table on Saturday and were seated promptly to my favorite table in any restaurant, the back corner, while the place was still relatively empty (As to why it's my favorite, the back corner is usually the most quiet table, you have more privacy, but you get a view of the whole restaurant). Server was very knowledgeable and after quickly (easily?) deciding on the 6-course tasting menu, we embarked on a truly memorable culinary adventure. The set menu was masterfully composed and uniquely diverse. From fish with yuzu to heart ragout to perfectly cooked venison, the courses were ordered (as they should be) from delicate to strong on flavors and were inventive, interesting and most importantly, well balanced and delicious. As an avid fan and proponent of offal (it's really good when understood and cooked well and brings new flavors and textures you wouldn't get otherwise, plus it's humane), I loved the incorporation of lesser used ingredients. To top it off, Tony Maws was kind enough to stop by us random diners and talk about the farm in Texas where he sourced the Sika venison we were at the time vigorously noshing on. After quickly wrapping up the bill, my (now fiancee) and I walked out with wide smiles and wider bellies (although the portioning was actually done well) and vowed to come back again when our wallets allowed. At their next nose to tail event mayhaps? Bravo

    (5)

  • Stacey Y.

    My husband suggested coming here last week for two reasons: 1. He heard that the Craigie burger was the best in town and 2. I was feeling under the weather and he's convinced that fatty burgers cure sickness (Is this what they teach in med school?) We arrived at 5:30. I thought that my husband was being consider and planned this so I could go to bed earlier, but now that I've read through some reviews, I've learned that it must have been because there are a limited number of burgers served a day. The actual number of burgers Craigie limits itself to seems to be somewhat of a mystery since various reviewers are throwing out different numbers (18, 20, 25?). The point is, it's limited and in high demand. The burger came out and I immediately knew I would have trouble holding it. It wasn't wide, but it was pretty tall. When I tried holding up the burger, the patty started sliding out of the buns because the juice from the patty made it slippery. Then, the bun started falling apart because it was soaked in juices too. When I was finally able to bite in, the meat looked on the rare side even though we asked for medium rare. There was a puddle of oil and blood forming on my plate so I had to place a piece of bread on top of it to soak it all up so I wouldn't have to look at it. I, along with my plate, was a total mess. It was one of those tricky situations where I couldn't place my burger down because I would cause a bigger mess, but then I really wanted to put the burger down so I could grab a napkin so I could wipe my grease-covered hands on something. To sum it up, the burger itself was good, but a little too fatty for me. I've had better at a couple of places in SF and even within Boston, I think the burger at Radius (now closed) was a better fit for me. The potatoes wedges were great and the red vinegar pickles were amazing. Wish I could buy a jar of the pickles alone.

    (4)

  • M D.

    Tucked away on a quiet street in Central Square, is Craigie on Main, one of the hottest, new restaurants in Boston. This organic, head-to-tail restaurant serves French fare, using farm-fresh, local ingredients. Snag a seat at the dark, romantic yet casual bar, where the full menu is served. You will be entertained by Craigie on Main's sharply-dressed, dexterous bartenders who craft old classics, attested by the small bottles of house-made infusions and bitters that line the bar. Like a mad scientist, our bartender poured, tasted and stirred two cocktails at a time, doling out Northern Lights ($11) with St. Germain, Scotch, citrus, Bittermens Tiki; and Ardoise ($11) with Rain, sage, juniper, and lime. Start with an appetizer of crispy fried pigs' tails ($17), sprinkled with pickled peanuts and pungent, sweet nc chm. It tastes like the adopted baby of Susur Lee and Jacques Pépin--distinctly South Asian but rich and very decadent. Fried onion rings on top? Yeah, that would be Jacques' idea, too. Maybe I watched too many Looney Tunes episodes as a kid, but I thought pigs had coiled tails. Who's will open my wine now? I originally came for the milk-fed confit baby pig's head for two, but alas, a nor'easter prevented a proper delivery. The pied de cochon Farci for two ($64) however, did not disappoint. Enjoy a craft cocktail or two, as this pig's foot takes a full 45 minutes to prepare. When it arrives, it is a glorious, glistening trotter that is de-boned and stuffed with its own lush, succulent meat, wrapped in pork belly. Jacques would be so proud. Beautiful cross-sections of pork are soft, custard-like and gelatinous. Served on a bed of creamy potatoes and kasha, sweetened with a mix of chestnuts, pioppini mushrooms and parsnip purée, it is a mosaic of flavors and colors.

    (5)

  • Kevin C.

    At the heart of the restaurant, you will notice the clean open kitchen filled with chefs frantically working and occasionally getting yelled at by the head chef. It was like Iron Chef without the camera. A very uniquely interesting layout. Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the nonpretentious vibe of the place. We tried the eye catching ultimate experience option. One person in our party of four does not eat beef so we advised them of that. Not sure that was the reason, but our table ended up with seafood after seafood. We kinda expected more variety. The seafood entrees didn't end until after one of us started choking on fish bone. Think they started panicking as our dining experience got pretty awkward. Fortunately, they probably got the message that we are not huge fans of strict seafood diet, so we finally got the good stuff. We all had beef while the non cow eater had a chicken dish. That saved the night. Would have been five stars if it wasn't for the fish bone course.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    One word. Overrated...........Overrated. Overrated. The people over booked(even though we took a later time) and the food is not worth it. Actually two words. Overrated, pretentious. The three stars are for Travis who was a great waiter and turned around a 300$ cluster f$$$. The bartender asked for an opinion he clearly didn't want(wise crack remark to my girlfriend and walked away before I can smack your stupid bow tie in circles). The dessert however was fantastic. I want something I CAN'T make at home! We were so disappointed. My suggestion is to not try and make 30 different things mediocrely and make 10 things amazingly.., but hey what do I know I've just been everywhere.

    (3)

  • Sarah G.

    "Ummmm...so what does this pig's head for two look like?" "Well, it is half of a pig's head that is slow roasted for about 45 minutes. The cheeks are the best part and really the more you get into this dish and the more open you are with it the better it tastes and the more you eat! It is honestly our best dish we offer." So Matt J. and I were bold and ordered this bad boy and yes, it really was a head. It is served Asian style with little pancake type things and some hoisin sauce and some toppings so as you slice away at the cheek and ear and the skin you get to make little wraps which actually made it easier for me to eat. Matt however was having a field day with it! His eyes were all aglow just like a 5 year old on Christmas morning! I didn't want to order it, but the look of his face even at the idea of it was simply priceless. And boy were we full. That crunchy skin from the slow roasting is pretty awesome I do have to say. I think those should be turned into chips or something because it is addicting. Overall a fatty dish since it is well, you know, a pig's head, and I actually was fine with it until we got to its eye socket and saw its teeth! Yup, it was all there. But we asked our waiter where the tongue was and he said he had never thought about that and honestly had no idea why it wasn't eaten....hmmm...There is food for thought! This dish was definitely a unique experience you can't get very many other places. Our service at the beginning of our meal was pretty slow and it took quite a long time for our drinks, but Matt's mom's steak was the most tender delicious thing ever. The sashimi appetizer was just so so though and the rabbit porchette honestly was not the most amazing thing either even though our waiter definitely hyped that up as well. So come here and be bold and get the pig's head and bring your camera. Then you can gross out all of your friends via facebook with a pic of those teeth like Matt did ha ha And hey, people back in the day used to eat every part of an animal, so at least we got back to our roots in our food adventure!

    (4)

  • Matt K.

    We went for brunch here, and wow what a fantastic experience. The service is impeccable, it is obvious that this place is very professionally run. Two hostesses, two expediters, many many waitstaff, and the place was packed. We had a special cocktail made with Pisco, a Chilean grappa-like brandy. Very cool and inventive and tasty. I had the tongue n cheek hash. It was delicate and tender, and had some nice microgreens on top. Just perfect.

    (5)

  • Rob M.

    This is a hard restaurant to review. (Though just to put it out there first, the service is fantastic. They treated us wonderfully. This is a review of the food and the environment.) There are about three different ways I can think to review Craigie. 1. Is it worth 350 dollars for a dinner for two? -- Maybe 2. Is it the best restaurant to spend 350 dollars for dinner for two? -- Probably not, I think there are better ones. But its worth it for novelties sake. 3. How does it compare to other restaurants I've been to: It's one of the best in Boston but have no desire to go back. Compared to the average Boston restaurant, Craigie on Main is much better, much different. But the whole appeal which you are paying for is for it to be better and different than your average Boston restaurant. So its a low bar, which they and about 30 other restaurants easily clear. The other thing that makes it hard is that the experience of Craigie is very different depending on where you sit. We asked to be sat at the bar that looks into the open kitchen to see all the meals being prepared. Which I would recommend, though would caution that if you are someone that gets anxious for other people, your entire dinner is side-lined by the fact that you are hoping that that one cook that dropped the four nearly done haddock doesn't get fired because as instant replay would have totally shown that the oven has pretty serious design flaws or that the fresh out of culinary school chef that prepares the little appetizers will get more confidence and guidance throughout the show. Because basically if you are sitting at the table you are enjoying a show, The food you eat isn't really enough to tear you away from it. If you don't sit at the open table, you are probably just going to hear dropped pans and people screaming, but miss all the aggressive comments muttered under breath, all the panic. We did the tasting menu, the 8 courser. Which with the number of small addons they give you is actually an 11 courser. And its a gut puncher. You are going to need to walk home. For me, the dessert, a three course service disguised as the final course became anxiety-provoking. How rude is it to just say I am sure so much care went into this intricately prepared chocolate roll but if I eat it I might throw up? The main damning critique for the restaurant, is that none of the meals were especially memorable. When counting up/down the courses we couldn't really remember them all. There were only two that really stuck with us, the polenta and fried egg, and the plum soup soda, as these were the gustatorially surprising and fun, interrupting what felt more like a conveyor belt of high quality but not especially interesting courses.

    (3)

  • Barry S.

    This is truly one of the greatest restaurants, meals and values for great food I have found in the country ... I am from dc and travel a bunch for great food ... The breakfast hash is one of the most elegant dishes I have had ... And the pork creponettes were solid ... Fu vibe Note ... Donuts are away overrated cake donuts .....

    (5)

  • Aboud Y.

    So I finally made it to Craigie! It was a long time coming but I hate to report that I left a little disappointed (not sure if/when I will be back). I had the Sunday night 4-course chef's tasting menu (which is a fantastic deal) with a side of bone marrow and a side of fresh asparagus. Here's what we ate: 1. Smoked sturgeon with American caviar: this was good but really not anything out of the ordinary. I feel like I could buy this at an ethnic Eastern or Northern European foodstore and get alot more for the money. Grade: C. 2. Fish with harissa: Cant remember the details of this dish but it was a good inventive mix of flavors. Some delicate fish topped with Moroccan harissa and a side dollop of avocado puree. Grade B. 3. Fried Maine Clams in Squid Ink: Not doing this dish justice with the description but there really wasn't much to it other than the use of high quality ingredients and the delicious squid ink. Grade B. 4. Venison and Sausage: final course was good...but nothing really mind-blowing. In fact, a bit disappointing as the final course of the meal. I expected mind-blowing. Luckily, this was served with the asparagus (which was tasty) and the bone marrow (the biggest and best I've ever had). Overall Grade: C+ 5. Dessert Course: Caramel flan with candied kumquats and sweet potato crisps. The other dessert had an amaretto sorbet with pistachios and some kind of tart (can't remember). This was all very good and more than I expected given the rest of the meal. Grade: B+ I guess the next time I go back I'll try my luck with some a la carte selections. The tasting just didn't deliver on expectations (even though it was an unbelievable value).

    (3)

  • Jesse M.

    Super fine dining in a casual atmosphere. Craigie on Main is a great place for a special occasion, so make reservations and get ready for an incredible dining experience. We were seated in the bar area at a high-top which was great so we could watch the olde-timey mixologist bar tender, complete with vest and handlebar mustache, stir and shake up cocktails as we enjoyed our meal. It began with unique cocktails and I would highly recommend anything on their libations list. Our server was very knowledgeable and happy to offer suggestions when we asked. At her recommendation I had the Never Setter which was delicious and the server suggested something off menu for my wife who just described that she wanted something light and fruity For our first course i had crispy fried pig tails that were absolutely sublime. When they arrived at our table the food runner told me that "Tony likes you to pick them up and eat with your hands." Who am I to say no to a James Beard award winning chef, so i happily dove hands first into the crispy, melt in your mouth fatty, fall of the bone swine tail. My wife had asparagus a la schmaltz, which she described as the best asparagus she'd ever had. For the main course I had Vermont pork 3 ways, the best of which was the suckling con-fit. My wife had the famed burger, and it was every bit as good as it was hyped up to be. Just the right amount of meaty flavor and topped with local cheese and delicious homemade ketchup. We split a slide of crispy, duck fat fried, brussel sprouts that were perfect. Soft in the middle and crispy burnt leaves on the outside. Since my meal was the 3 course prix fix we split the dessert it came with. I'm not usually a big fan of dessert right after dinner, but the creme caramel was light and delicious - the perfect amount of sweet to end the meal. Overall Craigie on Main was a fantastic experience worthy of a special occasion. I can't wait for an excuse to go back!

    (5)

  • tim c.

    My girlfriend and I came for the "best burger in Boston" and was told that they only made 18 burgers a night and that we should have came earlier, around 6pm. This was met with the uncomfortable fact that we had arrived at 8:30pm and we literally saw someone get their burger 10 minutes after we were seated. I think it's somewhat misleading when you claim to have one of best burger in boston and you can't make more than 18. We figured we were already here and this place is rated 4 1/2 stars on Yelp, it must be worth ordering the regular fare here anyway. So instead of having the burgers we had the grilled octopus, 2x pork three ways, and the sorbet dessert. The grilled octopus was pretty decent except for the fact that we got SAND in almost every bite we had. You would think that a restaurant of this caliber would be able to clean their octopus out properly. The pork three ways was horribly unbalanced and way too salty with no acid to balance it out, especially the rib. The confit was extremely oily (yes, I know it's supposed to be stored in fat) and made both of us feel extremely greasy. The pork belly was not bad, but really nothing special and definitely was a very tiny slice for the amount we were paying. By the end of the dish the flavors were so greasy and overpowering that my girlfriend actually felt sick from it. I am not exaggerating. On a side note, we both LOVE pork and we practically eat pork every other meal we go out, so it's not a problem of not having love for pork. In the end, the we ordered sorbet and it was a huge relief from all that. Again, it was nothing to rave about and I have to emphasize that the pricing for very normal tasting sorbets at an "a la carte" value of $13 is kind of pushing it. This place is incredible overrated and overhyped. We came away feeling extremely disappointed and ripped off by the experience.

    (2)

  • Jill B.

    I went back to Craigie to use a gift card they so kindly sent me and to give them a second chance. I''m glad i did! We sat at the bar on a saturday night with no reservations. My friend and I split the beef (for two) on the entrees section. I took a photo. It was amazing and we were both stuffed afterwards. Also, i am GF so they gave me a delicious plate of marinated olives instead of bread - very nice! I will be back! Thanks Craigie!

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    Came here for the 4-course Chef's Whim. It was quite amazing actually, although unfortunately I can't really say what it was that I got. I think by far my favorite dish was the starter of day scallops, beets, cucumbers, salmon roe, coriander berries, topped with a quail egg. It was such a wonderful confluence of flavors and textures. Totally made my day. But as their menu apparently changes from day to day, I'm not sure what I can say about it all. Each dish was presented well, and the portions were just right, not overwhelming so you don't really get a chance to get sick of anything. You still leave the restaurant feeling very well satiated after it all though. The 4-course meal actually also comes with a nice plated dessert. I really enjoyed the banana chocolate profiteroles. EDIT: I came here again a few more times, once for their bar food and once for sit down dinner. Bar food, their crispy pig tail is delicious!!! It's actually less like a pig's tail and more meaty, more like what you think of oxtail. It's deliciously fried and crispy with a lovely nuoc cham sauce on it. Exquisite! Also, their bone marrow is very good too, rich and flavorful paired with toasted bread. I would definitely recommend splitting it with several people and not eating anything too heavy afterwards! J had their burger, which I wasn't particularly overwhelmed by, but I think he loved it - which says a lot! I came here for dinner and got the boar's head for 2 with a friend. It was a little scary to look at and difficult to figure out how to eat it... but omg it was SOOOO good. Perfectly roasted and crispy skin and flavorful and fatty meat. It was waaayy too much food for us, but my goodness it was soooo delicious!

    (4)

  • Yb W.

    Phenomenal!! Relaxing, unpretentious, and approachable take on fine cuisine. It's all about the food here. Each of our 10 courses was perfection. Most had a decidedly asian flare: starting with trio of squid noodle, rillete of smoked bluefish, crab fritter, and moving on to three successive courses of fish: hiramasa sashimi salad, rare Tasmanian trout in consumme, then hamachi collar.Even the home made taglatelli pasta course with pig heart sausage was adorned with a little uni. The two main courses included a delightfully unctious pork belly followed by goat loin so tender, it was criminal. Not quit satiated, we added two orders of bone marrow and brussel sprouts sauteed in lard. Cloud nine! (must have been a very heavy cloud after 7 courses!). We rounded out our meal with concord grape and yogurt sorbet, then sour milk panna cotta (out of this world) and pain par du with icrecream. The tenth and final course was a cider and yogurt foam-appropriately airy. Their website bills their tasting menu as the "ultimate Craigie experience". I wouldn't be so modest. The "ultimate experience", period, is no exaggeration.

    (5)

  • Barry W.

    While not deserving of five stars, CoM was excellent and we'd gladly return to try a dinner. This review is for a Sunday brunch. All the food achieves the difficult balance of taste and innovation. Service was friendly and very efficient. We order two of the hashes, one made with in-house smoked haddock and brussel sprouts and the other with potato and corned beef cheeks. Probably preferred the haddock one because it was a bit lighter and smokier but both were very good. Nitpicking, the corned beef hash sauce was a bit heavy and we didn't finish the potatoes. Orange juice was fresh squeezed and fab. A fresh fruit crumble with apple, plum and annise/mint ice cream was excellent.

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    I have put off yelping about Craigie on Main for a while, because I don't think anything I write can do it justice. Hands down the best restaurant in town. OK, let's start with the drinks. Amazing. Every single one I've tried has been incredible. Northern Lights - who knew scotch made such a good cocktail? Jalisco Mule - yeah, it's called that because of the amazing ginger kick on the finish. Tavern Sparkler - everything you think it is. And so on. No triple sec here - everything is handmade, including their grenadine, which is made onsite from pomegranates. I have sampled many delicious things in my visits to Craigie: octopus. cod cheeks. Long Island cheese pumpkin. brussel sprouts FRIED IN DUCK FAT. lamb many ways. fiddlehead ferns. pigs' tails. olive oil chocolate mousse. ALL AMAZING. The service is impeccable every single time. On my most recent visit, our table was not ready for our party of five at the appointed time. No problem by me - more time to sample the drinks. The managers, however, felt it was a big problem - and comped us some drinks and a bottle of wine, while apologizing profusely. Servers are always attentive and knowledgeable but not pushy. Bottom line: foodie heaven, and worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Wendy B.

    I'm really glad that we returned to give Craigie on Main another shot. This time we had the vegetarian tasting menu, which was spectacular. I am not sure that I've had a better vegetarian restaurant meal in my life. The service was also fantastic. We are very impressed with what Tony Maws and his team pulled off. It would be great if there were more options on the menu like the things that we were served on the vegetarian tasting. Sometimes you just want an app and an entree, and the CoM vegetarian options on that front aren't as good as what's included in the tasting. In any case we did love it, and we will certainly return as soon as we can afford to do so again!

    (5)

  • Abdulrahman B.

    Went there with two friends. We sat at the bar after waiting for half an hour. The place is neat and the staff were friendly and hospitable. I ordered their signature cheese burger and it is so far the best in Boston. The burger patty was so thick. Not to forget to mention their crispy and tasty french fries. I enjoyed having my dinner at Craigie's.

    (4)

  • Cha Cha W.

    The Maître d', hostess and I are locked in an eternal battle of wits whenever I try to make a reservation and am told that I should just forget about eating there cause every seat in the house has been reserved at 15 minute increments from open to close. Ridiculous! Food is decent and on some nights, potentially deserving of 4 stars. Word of advice, service quality heavily correlates with busyness, minus 1 star. If you find yourself at the bar waiting for a seat, don't just stand there, be sure to talk to the bartender and get your name penned, tattooed and burned onto the 'bar list.' After waiting 3 hours one particular night, we wandered over to Salts across the street and had an even better meal with truely exceptional service and Cuchi Cuchi for an even livelier nightcap.

    (3)

  • Nanette S.

    Great food, very good (almost too attentive) service. The vibe is cool and busy.The octopus salad, in particular, was the most tender I've ever tasted. We had smelts, bass and veal and it was all good. Frankly, everything was perfect except the coffee at the end of the meal. Perhaps decaf is declasse but it was burnt. Would have been better not to have had it available.

    (4)

  • Julian H.

    So well liked yet did not meet the hype. Dined 12/13/11 to celebrate a special occasion. Cocktails and wine delightful, the amuse bouche was creative and perfect, terrine was well executed, good accoutrements, and the sour cream cheesecake, which we never ordinarily order, was a real winner. But oh sad, what an inconsistent meal. The Brussel sprouts were mush and so carmelized that they were too sweet. The pork entree, while cooked beautifully, was so strange. I couldn't tell you the exact ingredients but it was like sweet grass or Chervil, soy, tangerine, pear - the savory was lost, sweet and thin. The rib eye was herbed - one of us like it, um, I did not though again, it was a nice piece of meat. I'll even say the bread basket was brilliant, since this is so often overlooked. The waitstaff was attentive and pleasant and the energy in the restaurant lively but my, my...what an on/off experience.

    (3)

  • Oz L.

    The food is very good and they are a bit pricey. We had the 10 course tasting menu. The dishes were a bit small but it does give you a sampling of their menu . It does get crowded and the next time I think we will do the bar. I definitely recommend reservations in advance. They have a different menu at the bar then they do on the dining room. The specials are what I recommend if you are in the dining room and try the burgers at the bar...

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    Cragie is easily one the best restaurants in the city. Tony's style of cooking and taking rustic ingredients, great prep, and a semi-casual environment works over and over. This place was great in Harvard Square, and it is even better now. I went there two weeks ago, and they had a $75pp special with amuse, app, entree, dessert, and your selection of dessert wine. The new space is great, but can get a little loud. Otherwise the ambiance is great, busy, friendly, and warm. The kitchen is open and is the first thing you see when you enter the space. Here is the rundown: Amuse - Banyuls cured duck and lardo - Very nice, the duck was tasty, seasoned well and just enough. The lardo was luxurious and a nice way to start Appetizer - 3 Terrines - 4 livers, goat shoulder, and head cheese. These were all fantastic, the accoutrements were fantastic as well - cornichons, pickeled shallots, along with two other sauces that I can't remember. The head cheese was the star in this one though. My Fiancee had their octopus that was fantastic and like octopus I had in Italy. A friend at the same dinner had sashimi he couldn't stop raving about. Main - Pork two ways: Grill Belly and Confit of suckling pig. This was a religious experience. The belly was just barley grilled and so decadent I almost passed out. The suckling pig was delicate, but had a crispy layer of skin that was awesome. This was served with cashews and a simple sauce (among other things) that kept it interesting, yet simple. Dessert - Profiteroles: This one is hard to screw up, but it was also great. Valrhona chocolate and rum sauce and homemade banana ice cream. I also had a Saussignac dessert wine (like Sauternes) that was fantastic. I've been there before and I'm definitely going back. The food was great, the drinks from their bar were awesome (Northern lights!) and there were few things to complain about. We liked it so much, we're having our rehearsal dinner for our wedding there!

    (5)

  • Benjamin B.

    I am afraid that making plans is not my forte. I have been trying to go to Cragie on Main since it was Cragie St. Bistro. Unfortunately it is not the type of place that (apparently) you can just go to dine without reservations. I bit the bullet and made reservations a week prior for my wife and I and another couple equally appreciative of world-class cuisine. Cragie on Main requires a credit card to hold reservations, $25 per person if you cancel prior to 24 hours in advance if they are unable to fill your table - based on the number of people the on a Saturday, losing any money due to a late cancel doesn't really seem feasible. We arrived just prior to our 9:00 PM reservations; our table was not yet available, so we headed to the bar for a few cocktails. Good list, I would recommend the 1:2:3... The bar was packed and apparently has its own menu, made a mental note to come back and check it out separately. We were sat at approximately 9:15. Our waiter arrived shortly there after to go over the menu. When you have prepared yourself to spend over $100 per person on a single meal you expect a certain level of competency from your gastronomic guide, our waiter (his name escapes me) exceeded our expectation. Not at all rushed, genuinely interested in our questions, confident in his recommendation without a hint of condescension. We inquired about the 6 course tasting menu ($90) but unfortunately all members of the table must participate, and my friend and I were unable to convince our dates, a shame, I'm sure it would have been fantastic. We settled on a four-course menu for $75 and frankly could not have ended up more pleased. My meal consisted of Pork belly, Sashimi, Venison & a cheese plate to top off the meal. Each course was unique but each shared a common quality to expertly prepared dishes, uniquely paired components that stand out independently but come together to exceed the sum of their parts. No dish exemplified this more that the sashimi - Assiette of Kona Kampachi Sashimi. All in all I was very impressed, and my meal was among the best I have ever had. It was about $215 for the both of us, and frankly paying that seemed quite reasonable. I have spent similarly (L'Espalier- a bit more, Troquet - a bit less) on similar types of meals and left disappointed. In Boston, I believe this is about as good as it gets.

    (5)

  • Julie R.

    I've been in here twice. The first time was impressive until I got my entree, which I wasn't that pleased with. I had a very tiny portion of salmon for $33 and was disappointed in the fact that I left hungry after spending over $120 on dinner. So I emailed the owner afterwards instead of blowing steam on yelp. She was completely professional and sent me a gift certificate to go back. Time to put it to use and do a review. I recently returned again with my Yelp Kendall Passport and took advantage of the free drink and appetizer along with dinner. It was perfect timing to celebrate an anniversary too. For the appetizer we got the seafood sausage. It was delicate and tasty. Everything was ground up like sausage. The bartender highly recommended it. I chose in advance to get the $39 pre-fixed menu. The selection that night was a pate, which I have had there before and was delicious. Along with that I got the roasted chicken. The chicken was amazing. The best I ever had. Super juicy with so much flavor. My boyfriend got the pork three ways entree which he gobbled down. For $36 he was a bit disappointed with the small amount on the plate, after it it was just pork so why so skimpy? It was a good thing I had enough chicken cause he shared the rest to feel full. One thing I wish this place would do is add a bit more to your entree or beef up the size of what you get, both times I found one of the entrees to be very skimpy for the hefty price. The tasting menus look substantial but are in the $75-$95 range per person. I really thought the food was great, however there really should be a veggie or starch on the plate to balance it out when you are already paying $36 for your entree. For dessert we had a berry cobbler. Again it was delicious and just a great way to end the meal. Drinks were poured creatively. Everything is carefully measured out and quickly replenished. Service at the bar was friendly, almost interactive as you watched them make some cool drinks, dropping potions here and there. It reminded me of Drink a little bit. The food is very tasty and the place has the right customer service attitude. Clearly there are some very well trained chefs in there. For the steep prices though and tiny portions, I probably won't rush back.

    (4)

  • Kathleen H.

    One of my Boston favorites. Excellent specials (including scallops when i was there) plus delicious (but sometimes overly rich) desserts. Parking is tough and while valet is nice, it isn't cheap - use the garage option for sure. The bar is a nice option for a more casual meal.

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    We had the six course Chef's Whim. All the dishes were delicious except for the "trifecta" pork dish that consisted of spice-rubbed pork rib, fatty pork belly, and dry, fibrous pork confit. Pork overload! Some particular dishes that stood out above the rest were the hiromasa sashimi, and buttered corn soup and grilled cheese. I also liked tasting the variety of three different types of yummy desserts. The service was friendly and attentive. The wine pairings were also spot on.

    (5)

  • Annie P.

    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.

    (4)

  • Mr C.

    My wife and I were in town from Philadelphia celebrating our 5 year anniversary with 2 of our great friends from Boston. My friend recommended here saying it was a very good restaurant. After reading reviews and researching, we agreed to go. Upon walking in, my friend noticed the Chef was not in the kitchen. We should have just left then. But we didn't. We sat at our table, which seemed to be in the middle of the servers paths and began our meal. The full Craigie experience, with the addition of fiddlehead ferns cooked in duck fat. I won't bore you with a course by course, plate by plate, but will just give you the lowlights. There were barely any highlights. The aforementioned ferns were charred to a crisp with absolutely no taste. Like they were some how charred while being cooked in water. One course was salmon collar, which would have been better served with the meat scraped out and offered as an amuse. Rather it was served with a jicama and Asian pear slaw, I did not realize it was the year 1995. It also had a sea salt accompaniment. I'm not sure what kind because the server and food runners didn't even mention it. It just appeared. The only bright spot was dessert, and I normally don't get dessert because I order heavy on the food side. Luckily I was still hungry and needed something more to eat. Our bill for four was in the mid $700's, can't remember exactly. And we did have drinks and wine. Service-poor. Food-disappointing. Atmosphere-loud, whoever Jill is in the kitchen better get her act together as her name was heard yelled all through dinner, which is annoying since it is my wife's name as well. Perceived value-in the pooper. Maybe when Chef is there things are different but it's his failure as well if they are that bad in his absence. This was the Saturday of the Kentucky Derby. Next visit to Boston will not include this destination.

    (1)

  • Chris C.

    Got a tasting menu and sat ringside. I didn't think I would leave stuffed but I did.

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    Underwhelming and seriously overpriced. You can get better meals and service for less money in this area (ahem, Ten Tables and Hungry Mother). The meal started with an amuse bouche served on an oversized plate. It looked like something you'd see in a parody of a super fancy restaurant. Turnip soup was....turnip soup, I guess. Turnips and cream. The wacky oversized theme continued when I asked for the spoon that they had neglected to provide me with and I was given a serving spoon that I couldn't fit in my mouth. The vegetables and sauce with the polenta were outstanding, but the polenta itself was way over-seasoned and impossible to enjoy the sauce with. It was a tiny serving for ~$25, and, uh, it's corn. There's no such thing as corn worth $25. I was psyched about the valrhona sauce on the banana profiteroles, but it disappointed as well. The whole dessert was heavy on the sugar and scratchy on my throat - reminiscent of when I used to OD on hershey's syrup as a kid. The "ardoise" cocktail tasted like lemonade (i.e. boring), the camino cocktail was slightly better. It was pretty hard to track down our server without waving our arms in the air, and the abundance of back waiters that someone else mentioned was absent during our visit. Bright spots were the chicken entree, which was well cooked, and the grits dessert. Not worth returning for, though.

    (2)

  • Coco P.

    Wow! We went to celebrate our 15th anniversary and we truly celebrated. We were treated to complimentary champagne and enjoyed every morsel of the 10 course tasting menu. We loved not knowing what was coming next! The courses move from light seafood to savory entrees to desserts and each one was as delicious or more delicious than the next!! Chef Tony came by to personally introduce the main course and wished us a Happy Anniversary. They even had a "Happy Anniversary" card for us, personally signed by him. Everything was excellent! My husband had our very attentive server Emily pair wines with the courses along the way. She brought half-glasses which were perfect. All were excellent! The food is unbelievably fresh and flavorful and we ate things we probably never would have eaten otherswise but they were delicious! Everything is fresh each day (organic is always the first choice) and some of the wines were from local co-ops and didn't even have names! But they were delicious! The service was also excellent. You have a main server but you are cared for by just about any server who passes your table. Your water glass will never have a chance to be empty! I love that it is family owned and operated and much of the bistro's decor was handed down through generations of their family. Do fill out the information card that comes along with your bill--the staff reads them every night. They make absolutely everything from scratch and buy from small independent farms, distillers and wine makers. And you can truly taste and appreciate how fresh everything is. BTW, this is not a restaurant to bring kids to. We'll most definitely go back and I'm dying to try brunch!

    (5)

  • Teju P.

    I went here for my birthday - its very pricey. I would say the vegetarian tasting menu is worthy of the price. The portions start out small but the main dish is the perfect size. So many dessert options! I was shocked. I am a big peanut butter fan, so the pb parfait hit the spot. Yum. My friend had the chicken as the main dish and she could not stop gushing about it. As we were leaving we saw a potato dish waiting to be served so we asked about it - since it looked so delicious. The dish was off the bar menu ...so I will be heading to Craigie soon to try out the bar drinks/food!

    (5)

  • app P.

    I don't know what more to add that hasn't been said -- Craigie is almost perfect. Well-deserving of a five-star review, as I don't think I'll ever have better bone marrow, nor a better donut. The service is first-rate as well.

    (5)

  • william m.

    Don't Arrive Without A Reservation. We arrived on Monday night at 720pm without a reservation. We asked for bar seating and there was a line with two small parties ahead of us. Ok, no problem."How long is the wait?" Hostess: Not long at all. Would you like a drink while you wait? We: Sure. An hour and five minutes later we were seated. Stood the entire time. Their strategy is to tell you it won't be long. Then 20 minutes into the wait they tell "very soon". They keep you till they get you past the threshold point where you have waited too long to not leave. There were two other parties behind us. I roughly timed them. They waited 50 minutes and the other 46 minutes. The staff knows it will take close to an hour at least to be seated in the bar. They don't tell you that. They smile at you, speak softly, suggesting you will be seated "soon". If they told me Close To An Hour, I would have gone elsewhere. Like Cuchi Cuchi, maybe. The food wasn't bad. Good food. The drinks are pretty good. Especially the bourbon. But neither worth the hour plus wait

    (3)

  • Daniel L.

    This is one hard review to write! I took my girlfriend to Craigie on Main Monday night for her half-birthday dinner. We both love French cuisine, so Craigie seemed like a great choice ... 4 stars on Yelp, great recommendations from several friends. I had high expectations for one of the best restaurants in the Boston area. I love the location and its close proximity to Central Square. The restaurant was packed on a Monday night, but we were seated immediately. Thank goodness for OpenTable! The dining area has simple decor, with an exposed brick wall, mirrors hanging on the wall, books sitting on a bookshelf, and a dining bar overlooking the open kitchen (huge plus!). The bar looked well-stocked, but I didn't try any of their cocktails. Check out the virtual tour on the website: craigie-on-main.everysca… Craigie changes and prints their menu every night to reflect the ingredients they receive that day. I like their attention to buying local natural and/or organic foods and their commitment to their values ( craigieonmain.com/?page_… ). The service was excellent! The host recognized me immediately, because I had called earlier in the day to confirm my reservation. Our waitress Sarah was very detailed in her descriptions of the specials and menu items. We asked about the great bread (from Iggy's), and she even gave us some more to bring home! Here's the tough part about my review of Craigie: the food. We had the Vermont Organic Pork and Tasmanian Sea Trout. Both entrees were executed perfectly, presented extremely well, and were of good-sized portions. It's an upscale restaurant, so we didn't expect huge platters of food. Then we tried our food ... it was just underwhelming, vanilla, disappointing, lacking in flavor. The spice-encrusted pork rib was tasty, but the grilled pork belly and crispy suckling confit weren't spectacular. I simply did not think an establishment of this caliber should produce dishes without more of a punch. The Tasmanian sea trout was cooked very well, tender and just a bit raw in the middle. There was a sauce with a bit of a spicy kick, mussels and a bean of some type, too. Unfortunately, the fish didn't have much flavor and was bland. Regular salmon has more taste. Maybe it was the particular dishes we selected or the ingredients that they happened to select that day, I don't know. The prix-fixe menu looked great, and we decided that we would come back in the future to give that a try. Granted I had high expectations, but a $30-something per plate restaurant with a James Beard Award finalist chef, named one of the top restaurants in Boston should produce more exciting food. When our waitress asked how we were enjoying our meals, we were honest with her. She apologized, offered to get us something else, told us about their Chef's Whim tastings on Sunday nights and invited us to come back another day to give them another chance. She listened to our opinions and was sympathetic. Now here's the best part of it all ... when our check was supposed to arrive, they comped our meal and gave us a $50 gift card for our next visit!!! That was so unexpected and generous, and now we definitely have to try Craigie again! Honestly, I rarely find such great service, and it's so refreshing when I find a restaurant that actually cares about their customers. Based on my only on my experience with the particular entrees we had at Craigie last night, I would have given only 2 or 3 stars. With the excellent service, Craigie on Main has definitely earned 4 stars in my book. I will be updating my review after my next outing to Craigie. If anyone from the restaurant is reading this, I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Zach S.

    A few weeks ago, I took my girlfriend here for the ten course tasting menu. I don't feel qualified to critique the food except to say that I even liked the dishes with primary ingredients that I hate (e.g. pork). We opted for the "ringside seats" (their term, not mine). Basically, they're bar stools (with a back) at the edge of the kitchen; you can watch as the sous chefs prepare the food (we were at the salad/appetizer and desert end). The view was wonderful, but it's a long meal; if you don't like bar stools, I don't recommend it. One thing we observed was that they're very picky about what food leaves the kitchen; several times we watched as dishes were redone because they either didn't look good enough, weren't large enough portions, or weren't cooked just the right amount. The service was absolutely wonderful. As an example of how attentive the staff was, one of the staff managed to "top off" our water glasses even though we hadn't taken a drink since the last time they had been refilled. Chef Tony Maws himself served several of the dishes. A note - if you're interested in the tasting menu, don't make the reservations online; the day we wanted was listed as being almost entirely booked, but when I stopped by in person and mentioned we were interested in the tasting menu, they were very accommodating - I don't believe the "ringside seats" were included in the online system.

    (5)

  • Erik K.

    The food is very good and the atmosphere is great, especially compared to the old location. There's an excellent selection of affordable wines by the bottle and a good selection of rich French bar food. When it's busy, the waiting list for the bar is a little off-putting, but I am a fairly frequent customer here.

    (3)

  • Matthew M.

    Hands down best restaurant in MA. My date and I did the 10 course tasting....3 hours of bliss. With each course we claimed it was the best dish we had tasted.... and every plate got better. Our server was flawless. He was truly committed to making sure we got everything out of this experience. He went out of his way to accommodate our request to create our own wine pairings (they don't offer wine pairings so we had him pick his own and split each glass in two for us). He was a presence throughout the meal but yet gave us enough space to melt away. The Craigie team has got service down to an art. I don't think there was a single server who didn't, at some point in the night, bring us food or refill our water. Hell, even the host staff and bus staff helped out. We never waited on anything. Everything we needed was already thought of and it was if the whole restaurant was taking care of us and us alone. Truly amazing. But it gets better. We were seated right next to the open kitchen. Yet not a single word was heard. They operate like a well-oiled machine with Tony at the switchboard. I am dumb-founded as to how they churn out these breath-taking dishes and yet make it look so easy. At the last savory course Tony came to our table to thank us for dining. Who does that?! It is obvious he loves what he does and it was the perfect touch. Tony, if you read this, don't ever get too big to forget how important this is. You really made our night. I love so many Cambridge restaurants. Salts, Oleana, Rendezvous. But Craigie is extra special. It was like being at a magic show....I am still trying to figure out how they do it. You really have to see to believe.

    (5)

  • Ariela M.

    Second time was an improvement... After my previous review, the owner was actually nice enough to contact me personally and offer a chance to try the restaurant again. I came with my boyfriend and requested to be seated in the bar area (where I had previously been so I could make a fair comparison). We were a little late and I called to let them know, and they were very nice over the phone and thanked us for calling. We were seated promptly and politely, and a very nice and spacious table at the back of the bar area. Our server was very polite and generally attentive, though my main issue was the timing of the service. The bread came promptly but it took quite a while for the appetizer to come after that. The main course came promptly after the appetizer, but the waitress came to ask us how the meal was before we even had one bite (too soon). The main course was cleared at an appropriate time, but after we paid it took overly long for them to come take the check, and we ended up leaving the money on the table (thank goodness we paid cash not with a card, because that could have taken forever). In general the service was polite and the servers were knowledgeable, but the timing needs a bit of work. My boyfriend had the octopus appetizer, and they switched from chorizo sauce to carrot jus when he asked for this. He enjoyed the dish very much. I had the burger for dinner, and it was juicy though I asked for it very well done and there were areas that were quite pink so I would have called it "medium well" rather than well, and it was certainly NOT very well done as I would have liked. Other than this, the salad was good and the fries were very tasty. My boyfriend had the chicken, which was moist and very tasty as well. Overall this experience was much better than the previous one, but I think the restaurant still has some kinks to work out in terms of the service timing. Also, the prices are quite high for the overall experience. It is a very nice restaurant but I would not call it one of the BEST restaurants in Boston, so I don't think that the prices should be as high as they are. They are the same as the prices at Clio or Salts, and these two restaurants have flawless service flow and food presentation. Again, nothing wrong with Craigie, but it is just not quite yet on par with the best places I've been to. I would come back, but not before trying a few other places I've been meaning to check out.

    (4)

  • Derek K.

    I wanted so much for this to be a great meal, but alas, it simply fell short. My wife and I went here to celebrate our anniversary. We heard great things, read great reviews, so we were excited. We opted for the 10-course tasting menu, the "Ultimate Cragie Experience." The first two courses, however small, were absolutely awesome. A trio of one-bite seafood items that each tasted incredibly perfect, followed by a scallop and melon ceviche that might have topped the first. The next two were a bit blah, a shrimp dish followed by some salmon. Good, but certainly not on par with the first two courses. Things got back on track with the pasta course, a bolognese that was simply spectacular (and I'd never said that about any pasta dish before). Things fell backward again with the final two savory courses, veal sweetbreads and a trio of lamb. Two were so-so, one was quite good. And then three dessert courses. Three! But none were all that good or all that substantial. A golf-ball size serving of sorbet, pana cotta, and a shot glass of peach tea foam. The setting is quite nice, one can be mesmerized by the open kitchen. But I found our primary server to be a little short, uninterested in answering any questions we had. And I always feel that when one pays a premium price like you will at Cragie on Main, one should get great service. It's expensive, and to get a shot glass of foam, a small scoop of sorbet and not a single piece of pork (for which the chef is known) was oh so disappointing. The food was good, at times great, but given the cost it just doesn't add up. I'd love to go back and order off the menu, to steer my own meal, but I'm not sure I'm willing to take that risk.

    (2)

  • Suzanne S.

    hands down my favorite place in Boston. fantastic cocktails, exquisite food, great great people. i come here on my own once or twice a week just to sit at the bar, have a cocktail or two and have the mussels for dinner. i can't sing high enough praise for craigie, but in a way am also tempted to tell people to stay away - it's already hard enough to get a seat at the bar anyway ;)

    (5)

  • Jeff R.

    Craigie on Main is the real deal. The New Year's brunch was inspired, as was the previous meal there. Impeccable food and service.

    (5)

  • yolanda w.

    decent menu, but the star of the show was clearly the burger. i don't think i've had anything better in boston! the bun was so fresh.

    (5)

  • Gigi B.

    Craigie on Main is hands down one of the best restaurants in Boston -- fresh, local ingredients cooked and seasoned to perfection. The service is outstanding and the ambiance is relaxed yet sophisticated. The open kitchen is a great touch. Dinner is great, but brunch is fantastic as well. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Cody W.

    Craigie is just fine. The food is decent, but the dining area is below average. For the price, you'd expect better. It's always busy, so they're obviously doing well. In the future, I'll use it only for ordering at the bar.

    (3)

  • Parks M.

    Yeah, I can go into a long review about how great the food and atmosphere are, but really lets be honest, it doesn't need to be hashed out--the place is incredible, simple as that.

    (5)

  • Benjamin O.

    Overrated, overpriced and uneven. Service was subpar given the price level of this place. Our latte arrived filled to overflowing with the saucer filled with spilled coffee. Server took no notice. After my 70 year old mother used her napkin to sop it up, I finally had to ask server about it. "Do you want me to take that?" he said, pointing to the soaked blob of napkin. "Uh, yeah, duh....". Nobody came to refill coffees throughout meal...unacceptable at $5 a cup. Doughnut with cajeta was totally overrated....not "hot" as advertised but only slightly warm, cajeta sauce was bland. You could have warmed up a Dunkin Doughnut in the microwave with some caramel sauce and had something that tasted just as good. A $1.25 malasada in Honolulu baked fresh and piping hot puts this $5 doughnut to shame. Roasted vegetable plate tasted fine, but they were a pretty meager portion worth of veggies with literally one tablespoon of egg for $18. Nobody asked us how the the food was throughout the brunch. The food is made of decent quality ingredients and tastes fine, but given the meh service, you're just paying an awful lot for the fancy factor. I've had same quality food at Flour, etc. for half the price.

    (2)

  • A P.

    Pluses: Service, Stripped bass entre, tomato side dish Minuses: Bread (expected better from a french restauraurant), tuna appetizer (cooked and tasted like canned), poor ventllation (kitchen fumes were choking dining area at times) OK Expected to be wowed based on all the reviews.

    (3)

  • Ta-Chung C.

    I had Chef's whim dinner at Craigie on the Main with a bunch of friends Sunday. Service was very good. There were a variety of bread that taste pretty good, but can be better if they warm them up. The food was ok for me. A couple of dishes are spectacular, rest does not fit with my taste well. I really liked the fresh egg/crab meat dish and the fried smelt with squid ink and I am ok with the sashmi dish (not any better than a sushi restaurant) and mussel. I am not a big fan of pork two ways (too fatty for me), asparagus ice cream (some things are better as vegetable), and coffee ice cream (sometimes normal ice cream is good enough). Overall, I am not wowed by the food, and given the price, probably won't go back.

    (3)

  • Leanna T.

    When searching for restaurants for our Boston vacation, I happened upon Craigie on Main, and when I saw that they serve fried pigs' tails, I was sold. I read Little House in the Big Woods as a kid, and was always intrigued by the scene where Laura's father roasts the pig's tail for her and Mary. She just made it sound so fucking delicious. Here was my chance to finally try it! Craigie did not disappoint, and neither did the pigs' tails. They were probably the best part of the meal (I was so attached to the idea of them that I ordered them *in addition to* the eight-course tasting menu -- probably a mistake, as you'll find out later), but not by much! All eight courses ranged from very very tasty (the house-made corkscrew pasta) to "holy shit I'm dying of delicious" (the sashimi with harissa). It was all a bit too much for me, though -- after the 5th course, I ended up having to tell our server to box the rest, as I was beyond stuffed. I managed to save room for a bite of the apricot-marzipan pie, though, which was pretty divine. Overall, a worthy choice for fine dining in the Boston area. I'm really glad we went here and I'd definitely go back, for the pigs' tails alone!

    (5)

  • Apollo C.

    Service I went here for dinner, and signed up for a tasting course. When I first arrived, I was immediately asked if I had a reservation. The restaurant was already full, so I waited about 30 min and was able to get a seat. CALL AHEAD! As I was waiting, I was given an area on the nearby banister / half-height wall, leading down to the bar area. Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. I got a full view of the open kitchen, a hostess ordered a drink for me, and I really enjoyed watching the kitchen staff work. Our bartender was Jared, and he impressed me the entire night. He clearly had a thorough knowledge of spirits, wine, and food. A rare mix. Cocktails + Wine Once my friend arrived, we chatted for a bit. The hostess brought her a cocktail as well, and after a few minutes we were given a seat at the end of the bar. We both started with the "Northern Lights" cocktail, it had St. Germain, Scotch, citrus, Bittermens Tiki Bitters. We decided to go for the 8 course chef's tasting menu, and split it. I' do tastings once a month, they take 2+ hours to do, and many times it's hard for me to actually eat all the food served, so splitting a tasting menu for 1 actually works well for me. I next had a glass of Alsatian white wine, it reminded me of a riesling with a touch of wood (turpine, not oak), citrus notes, and a medium rounded body. It paired well with the first few courses. Next I had a glass of the Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 'Le Pigoulet en Provence' H. Brunier; a Provencal red with nice complexity of fruit and tannins. Followed later by a glass of Italian red, Sangiovese; a solid all round red, the most common grape grown in the area. Finally at the end of the meal, we finished each with a shot of W.L. Weller Bourbon, that has a complexity on par with a good Scotch, at a lower price. I was hoping for a "rusty nail", but oddly they didn't have any Drambuie.. Food Honestly, I can't remember every detail of the 8 course tasting, however I was thoroughly impressed. This was one of the best meals of my life! Keep in mind, I cook things like beef bourguignon, duck confit, and frog leg curry, as well as going to tastings regularly. One dish my friend and I found a bit odd was the scallops with asian pear. The flavors paired well, but the texture contrast of creamy scallop with fibrous pear was a bit weird. One of the deserts was a celery ice cream, and it wasn't bad, just a bit odd. The top highlights to me where the variety of fish served, the pork 3 ways, and the sweetbread! I love sweetbread / thymus gland of a cow or big generally... Atmosphere The open kitchen really impressed me. I tell my friends, the mark of a top-notch restaurant is when they let you peer into the kitchen, because then they can't hide anything. The patrons are upper-middle class, lots of "new money", and a bit of "old money". The staff is very polite, and will usher you through the restaurant by stepping out of your way. Noise levels is moderate, I didn't notice any background music playing. Definitely a great place to get a nice meal. Overall I was thoroughly impressed by my time here, as was my friend. You will pay for the experience, but there are few places in the city that can match this. Keep up the great work Jared!

    (5)

  • Clara L.

    So I finally made it to Craigie. After all the hype and amazing reviews, I can't say that I was blown away like I expected to be. The boyfriend and I chose the 10 course tasting. I will say the service is a solid five stars. Sam was incredible, checking in at just the right times and just frequently enough to make us feel like we were his only table, but not too frequently to bug us. His pacing of our meal was also great and he made great wine pairings with the meal. The chef did stop by the table to serve up the last meat course, which was quite nice. As for the meal, I would imagine that the 6 course tasting would be a better value and more impressive than the 10 course that we had. After hearing so much about Chef Tony's love for the pig (we absolutely love Kevin Gillespie's Woodfire Grill in Atlanta for this reason), we were disappointed that only one of the courses featured pork. The first four or five (I can't remember now) courses featured seafood, which I didn't mind, but I don't feel it showed off the chef's strengths. Although I will say the squid noodles were the best showing of the night. As part of the first course, I just couldn't get it out of my head and perhaps that spoiled my view of the rest of the courses. Don't get me wrong, all of the food was cooked and seasoned wonderfully, but I would have liked to see what everyone else is raving about. Sam told us that we could suggest some items off the menu that we might like to see, but after asking for the raw oysters (they can't add that) and the pig's tail (chef said he was already featuring pork), we just went with what the chef chose to serve up. The couple next to us got the bone marrow and loved it, so perhaps that's the next thing to try. The desserts were great. We had a sour milk pudding that was absolutely delicious, and a frozen yogurt with beet that was quite good also. Although assured by Sam that the portions were not that big, it was quite tough to make it through all 10 courses. Perhaps the portions could be sized down just a bit more for the 10 course option. All in all, it was a fine meal, but nothing that blew us away. The amuse bouche that is typically offered with a tasting meal was absent, which was somewhat disappointing. The ambiance of the restaurant was really nice, intimate but not too much so. The open kitchen was also really great to see. If we return, we will either order off the menu to pick exactly what we have heard is the best of show or perhaps try the 6 course Chef's Whim. I'm still looking for all five of those stars.

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    We were here last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It was raining so, even though we live within walking distance, we drove (using our resident sticker to park). They do have valet parking for $12.There was barely any parking- husband dropped me off at the restaurant for our reservation (which was at the earliest available 8PM... on a TUESDAY). The place was packed and now I'm thinking that it's graduation week which explains why I was seeing parent-looking people in the dining room. I was seated right away and given a wine/cocktail list until husband arrived. I sat waiting smelling the delicious food cooking in the kitchen (which is in the middle of the restaurant). The service throughout the evening was attentive. We had the same waitress who took our order, but the serving and busing came from all different people. They were well staffed, for sure. The seating area (at least the one to the left from the entrance) is a little tight for all the foot traffic but we were pretty comfortable. We decided to do the Prix Fixe menu; this way you can try most of everything and it does save you a few dollars overall (not much, mind you-- this place is muy expensivo). I had the Rose' they had by the glass ($12). Before we even began our meal, a server gave us two little tastes of something from the kitchen (complimentary). I can't even remember now what it was exactly, but it was definitely bacon. :) To start we had the Octopus (a large 1st course!) and the Six Oysters. Then, I had the Vermont Pork Three-Ways: Suckling Confit, Spice-Crusted Rib, Grilled Belly and Husband had the Swordfish. For dessert, I had the Apricot Frangipane Torte (pistachio, grains of paradise, amaretto ice cream) and husband had the Banana Millefeuill (parsnip, dates, cocoa wafer). Each part of this meal was amazing and delicious. I was pretty full after the second course, but I also had taken my time to savor and taste every bit of the dish in the way I would think the chef would want me to enjoy it. The spice crusted rib: the meat fell off the bone with a little knock from my fork. Husband and I tasted each others dishes. This was an indulgent meal, so tasty and delectable. Husband received a perfect pour of his Full Sail Session Lager (perfect head). The service was classy, with the addition and removal of appropriate silverware, wine service, bottled still water, etc. But, I think you are are reminded you are in Cambridge when the waitress and and staff are unpretentious, friendly and attentive. Everything here is New England local and they list the businesses they work with in the menu. I spotted a sign in the kitchen that reads, "no compromise." This is a perfect place for celebrations, client meals and for people who have large wallets. Oh, and PS-- you should make reservations well in advance to get the time you want.

    (5)

  • Sunny S.

    I brought my clients here for a dinner, there were eight of us. We all got the ten course meal they offer. Think it was around $120 a person. The individuals I brought have a lot of allergies and I let them know before we came, I must say the restaurant did a great job catering to the allergies. Every course was well presented and well described. Overall the service was great except for one major reason that I'm giving them three stars. One of the waitresses was a straight up bully. We didn't have any wine connoisseurs so we looked to her to recommend some good bottles. She let my clients choose between a $400 bottle and a $750 bottle without anyone knowing the price. I understand that I could have gone out of my way to ask her what the prices are but this was my most important client and I didn't want to look cheap. She could have easily just said to me, this is one of our more expensive bottles. The second bottle was $400, also pretty expensive. Anyway, this would have all been fine if she showed even a little compassion that she cost me over $3,000 for a dinner but when I said wow I didn't realize the bottles would be this expensive she just didn't care at all or show any compassion that she totally screwed me. When I said this will probably get me trouble with my company, she again just basically said shit happens (not in those words).

    (3)

  • Sandra C.

    Craigie On Main is 5 stars for food, but there's only one reason keeping me from giving it the final star. I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday, and had the 10 course tasting menu prepared for us (mm, delicioso!). He loved the food, but the poor boy was miserable the whole time. We sat at a table where I sat on the booth, but he had a chair. That chair was positioned in between three tables! The servers, patrons, and hosts were ALL kicking his seat during our 3 hour meal! Out of all the courses that we had, my least favorite was the plum sorbet...that was kind of...gross. But all in all, Craigie On Main is on point. Also, if you're wondering about dress code...just don't wear sweatpants and you're all set. I felt a bit overdressed with my plain black dress and heels. It wasn't even that dressy...but compared to the family wearing a t-shirt and jeans, I was dressed like the Queen.

    (4)

  • Lo-an L.

    Been back on numerous non occasion and tried for the first time last night the veal sweetbread with cock's comb mushroom ragout topped with an egg. Yes, I said cock's comb. That little funny thingamajig on top of a rooster. Has a very chewy ligament like texture to it but taste oh so luscious. The egg-y chewy mixture were out of this world! I might just head back tonight to order just that and a glass of ardoise (a light refreshing juniper libation), the menu seems to change on certain nights (which fascinate me). We also had the marinated grilled swordfish, it was tender and moist... very unlike swordfish behavior but our server swears by it. Mmmm... can't wait for more cock's comb.

    (5)

  • Yas N.

    Expensive, great tasting menu and good service - try 6 /8 course meal

    (4)

  • Ryan S.

    So the manager contacted me and was very nice. That makes up for the service on my previous visit and I will give the server the benefit of the doubt as just maybe a bad day. Everybody has them. The food was good and now my opinion of the service has changed and I am adding a star. Thanks for having good customer service reply. I like that and it should be complemented!

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    I came here to celebrate a very special occasion with a party of 7. We emailed with Karin, who is in charge of larger parties, and she was pleasant and very accommodating. On the night of the dinner, we had the 6 course Craigie experience. Our first course was 3 types of fish, cured and smoked, including the smoked bluefish rillete. Second course was lobster, and the lobsters were cooked to perfection--tender. Our third course was the fish course. This time, the slow cooked Tazmanian trout. It was the best tasting fish of some people's lives as it was proclaimed this evening. Our pasta course and pork 3 ways were great as well. The final course was dessert and we had 4 different types of dessert among 7 people. So we were able to share and taste each other's dessert. The service here is impeccable as always. Your bread basket and water glass will never be empty. And each course came in seamlessly so our conversation was never interrupted. One of the highlights was that Chef Tony Maws came and introduced our meat course, so some of us had "fanboy" moments. And because it was a special occasion, they wrote a congratulatory plate in raspberry (I think) sauce for us. Craigie is always a place that I go for an important event in my life. And they always deliver.

    (5)

  • Jen C.

    Had the 6 course tasting menu, was worried it might be too much food but it is just perfect. Every dish is thoughtfully and carefully prepared. Great service. I think the Scottish trout was my favorite dish.

    (4)

  • Rico I.

    Eh - was actually underimpressed with the food. Not to mention, everyone working in there got that scruffy Ben Afflack in a dumb movie about Boston crime look to them. Too much facial hair close to my food? Plus, it wasn't that imaginative, given the price. Not sure i will be stopping here again.

    (2)

  • Kevin C.

    This was the best dining experience I've had in Boston so far. We came here on a Sunday night for a six-course Chef's Whim tasting. We started with an amuse bouche of squid noodles and crispy garlic and it only got better. There was a crab salad dish, a seared scallop dish, faro pasta, hangar steak, ice cream and flan, even some macaroons which came with the check. For $55 a person, dinner was a steal. The only issue is you have to make a reservation for after 9 pm on a Sunday to get this offer, but it's totally worth it. The ambiance was classy without being snooty, the noise level was boisterous without being overwhelming, and the wait staff are courteous and attentive. Amazing all around.

    (5)

  • G G.

    Reserve Ringside Brunch. Witness the artistry and meticulousness. Everything was soooo good. Try the beef cheek hash and pork belly!

    (5)

  • Len S.

    If I looked in the mirror I'd probably be dressed like a Dallas Cowboy's Cheerleader. But I'm not, I assure you, there's just far too much surface area to wax in order to get into one of those outfits. But enough about me, let's talk about burgers. Oh yes, juicy, delightful, drop dead succulent knock you into a primal red meat trance state burger. That's what we had tonight, but before I get to that, let me cover other ground. First of all Tom, hat's off to you, you were a true alchemist behind the bar and served up some treats. 1919 might be my new favorite drink and was a perfect spot of sweet desert before we left the joint. I'm going to order that once more. In terms of gastronomical goodies... oh jesus the, the pig tail, we had to order a second portion of it it was so bloody good. I'm lying here in bed and getting hot and bothered thinking about those lightly meated bones of sweet joy with the jalapenos. Madre Dios! Did I mention the pig parts? The octopus was one of the most tender tendrils I've ever tasted. The appetizer feast continued with small balls of joy made from ground goat and the potato something or other was a standing ovation. Now I'm finally ready to talk burgers... you see there are grilled meat patties and then there are burgers. But there's a third category I'd label as Burger with the capital B and that's where Craigie's burger belongs. Until this point in my short life I believe that the Hungry Cat in LA had the best piece of grilled ground meat I'd ever run across. Hang on to your hats kiddies because out here on Beantown they gots something great. Yeah, you don't get this Burger if you want two pieces of bread and a hunk of meat, you get it because you understand that fine beef should be rare, crying and mooing when you bite down on it, and that the juice that dribbles down your chin should be bloody. If you get that, then you're ready for Craigie's burger, otherwise there's plenty of other delights on that menu... but this is a serious burger for the aficionado that thinks they've had it all. I'll be back in 3 weeks... I'm counting the days and the airline miles in between... *sigh*

    (5)

  • Lynn C.

    The service here is phenomenal. We made a reservation two weeks ahead on a Saturday and we only were able to get 9:30pm. We arrived promptly but unfortunately we still had to wait until 10pm, at which point they asked us if we wanted to be seated at the Chef's bar, which we did not mind at all (it was like watching an episode of top chef). Once we were seated, complimentary sample drinks and appetizers were brought to us to "make up" for the wait time and the table at which we were seated. Both the hostess and our server were extremely pleasant and gracious. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that their famous grass-fed beef burger was a bar menu only (and the bars don't take reservations). According to our server, people start lining up for the bar at 5 for their burgers and they often run out. So if you are interested in having that burger, you should keep it in mind. Last time I was here, I had the pig's head, which was...interesting. This time around, we decided to play it safe and we ordered the Sea Bass and the Veal two ways, both of which were marvelous. Honestly, there's not much more to be said for a restaurant that does everything perfectly. I'm really glad I had my last meal in Boston here. Just go.

    (5)

  • Snuffles B.

    Definitely a mistake to come here for a third dinner of the evening. The mistakes were 1) eating 3 dinners in the same night which led to 2) insufficient space in my belly for more food here. Even on a weds night at almost 10 PM the place was packed. A restaurant in Boston open till 1AM on a weekday? Major plus. The decor is minimalist but warm and cozy. All the staff were very attentive. We made it for the late night menu: - Bread - 3 varieties, all decent but not memorable - Terrine - I love jiggly meat, period. The presentation was beautiful and most items were very good. Wish that the plate came with little crostini rather than big toasted bread which was a bit unwieldy for the delicate terrines. - Bacon cheeseburger - A perfect medium rare, juicy, flavorful, bacon was not overwhelming - a very superior burger but does not touch Sel de la Terre's. Bland salad, average frites. I was somewhat dismayed that my first meal here could not be the 10 course tasting menu. Having missed out on this experience, I can only say that my impression of the food was about a 4, but with the service and overall experience put it right up there. I can't wait to come back for the full on experience, next time I'll be prepared with empty stomach and stretchy pants. ***UPDATE*** Full tasting menu - Decent, not great - Odd progression, 1 outstanding course, 1 that I didn't want to eat after 2 bites, and most others I enjoyed but were ultimately forgettable. Service was strangely overbearing yet unaccommodating. Win some, lose some.

    (4)

  • Chad T.

    When you want a burger or a whole pig's head, come here. Their burgers are blended with bone marrow, so they are incredibly juicy and flavorful. They even make their own house ketchup for the fries. Unless you're going to go with the tasting menu or one of the crazy options like a whole pigs head for 2, get the burger (and add bacon). You'll love it. Start with some great cocktails like Jupiter's Acorn and share the trio of terrines (goat, pig, and duck). AWESOME!

    (5)

  • Jake W.

    After reading all the glowing press for this place over the years, we decided to finally check it out to celebrate a birthday. When we arrived, the hostess apologized for not having a table immediately ready for us (we had a reservation), but offered us the option of trying the Ringside Seats, as the party that had reserved them had canceled very late. She explained these seats look into the kitchen and feature a chef's tasting menu. We love a good culinary adventure, so we eagerly accepted the offer. It was an amazing experience. First of all, watching a high-end kitchen in action is really fascinating. I'm not much for reality television, but I understand why people watch shows like "Hell's Kitchen." It looks incredibly fast-paced and stressful, especially in a place like Craigie on Main, where everything is prepared in such an interesting way. Anyway, the food itself was fascinating. I could go into it at length, but I'll just say it was one of the better meals I've had in a while. Top shelf fare without the stuffiness normally associated with it. The wine pairings were excellent. It was a tremendously enjoyable experience all around. Next time we go, we'll try to reserve the Ringside Seats well ahead of time.

    (5)

  • Josephine L.

    Since my last review, I've also eaten from the bar, and done brunch, the Cocktail Whim, the 6-course Chef's Whim and the 10-course tasting menu. All equally fantastic, all equally expectations-exceeding. It is absolutely amazing how well Craigie consistently combines incredible service with mind-blowing food in an intimate, cozy, elegant setting. I heart Tony Maws & Co. P.S. The Chef's Whim is the best deal around. The perfect way to experience Tony's culinary genius. But don't be fooled by the late time--definitely make reservations! P.S.S. If you are a cocktail fiend like me, the Cocktail Whim is just plain awesome-ness. Four tasty, delicious, unique creations served in the cutest glassware I almost stole, challenging the palate in incredible ways. P.S.S.S. I think the best value dining experience is still the 6-course tasting menu (first impressions are lasting impressions and all that). No, but seriously, the reason is that it's obviously cheaper than the 10-course but they stretch it out to technically 9 courses because dessert consists of 3 courses instead of just 1. Fellas, do the 6-course tasting menu for your ladies' special occasion and I guarantee she'll still be thanking you a long time afterward.

    (5)

  • Brita F.

    This place really didn't impress me. Maybe if there wasn't so much hype, and I didn't have such high expectations as it was my birthday dinner, it would have been fine, but over all... just eh. The food was uninspiring, and my drink was pretty bland. It could have just been an off night for the menu, as I understand it changes daily. But if I ever go back (and that's a big if, it's a bit pricey to be so unimpressive) I definitely wouldn't order fish again. I would have given it two stars, but I must say, the waitstaff was tremendous. Very attentive to detail, and gave me a replacement cocktail when they noticed I didn't like the one I had (the replacement wasn't any better, but I appreciated the effort).

    (3)

  • Carol C.

    Went to try out Chef's Whim at 9pm, and my date and I both got the 6 course meal and, as older yelp reviews recommended to us, asked to be seated at the chef's table, which is the bar facing the kitchen immediately to the left of the main doors. There are 4 seats there. We had fun watching the kitchen, but had we been seated elsewhere I don't think we would've enjoyed the meal too much less. We both got the non-vegetarian 6 course Chef's Whim, which was a single bite, a charcuterie plate, a salad, a fish dish, a meat dish, a palate cleansing sorbet, and a dessert. The single bite was a sliver of scallop and sauce, and was delicious. The salad was endive, cured duck breast, toasted (or roasted?) hazelnuts, and a very tasty cheese. The fish was Scottish salmon over rock shrimp, mussels, and a few bits of lobster in a celery puree sauce and another sauce. The meat was veal wrapped in bacon with (sorry, it was last night, and rather late) several small vegetables. The palate cleanser was lemon-mint and vanilla and had some seeds along with the sorbet. We were given 2 different desserts - their Milk Chocolate Mole Panna Cotta and Vanilla Mascarpone Mousse (I think - the second could've been something else.) I got a mocktail (which I didn't see listed on the menu) that was tasty enough when I told her what flavors I liked, and he got one of the specialty cocktails. The single bite was delicious. They then brought a basket of rolls, which we partook of. The rolls weren't terribly special, but I'd read reviews about people not thinking there was enough food in the Chef's Whim. We were both full at the end of the meal, so I somewhat regretted the rolls. I didn't mention what the charcuterie was, because I generally don't like sausage and the effect was lost on me, as was the description of what the main piece of meat was. My date enjoyed it. The salad underwhelmed me. He enjoyed the bites he took of everything together, and I particularly liked the bites that had toasted hazelnuts, but it didn't seem possible to get them in every bite and the other flavors didn't work well enough for me without the hazelnuts. The fish was delightful, all around. Very tasty, everything tasted well together or even if taken in bites of only bits. The meat course was divine. The palate cleanser existed, and I think that's about all that can be said about it. On the other hand: my mocktail was already doing a fairly good job of palate cleansing, so maybe that's my bias? It was a bit grittier of sorbet than I wanted it to be. The desserts were both tasty in their own ways. There was a couple seated next to us that ordered the 4 course Chef's Whim. They received the same single bite, charcuterie, and dessert as we did. They may have also gotten the salad? They definitely didn't get the same meat course and didn't get the fish course at all. They may or may not have gotten the palate cleanser, depending on presence of the salad? So: I thought it was interesting that the 4 course did, in fact, have a different set of food than the 6 course, though that may not always be the case (this is the only time I've been.) On the experience: It was fun to try. My date said he especially enjoyed not having to make choices, and just waiting for people to bring him food, though it wasn't as much of a draw for me, in the end. If it were standard for me to lay out that kind of money per person I might try it again sometime.The food didn't wow either of us enough (even though he did say he had enjoyed all of the courses, and I had very much enjoyed a few of the courses and had just moderately "not gotten" a couple) nor the experience knock our socks off enough to be worth it in the "special occasion" type price range, since I feel like I've had better experiences at other restaurants for similar or better prices. I would put this on a list of "fun things to try if you've lived in Boston for a few years and have the money to throw at it", but not a "must do if you're visiting the city and looking for the best food experience ever." My opinion my also be colored by the fact that a 9 pm dinner is rather late in the day for me. I think the couple next to us almost caught up to us time-wise, but not quite. We arrived and were seated a few minutes before 9 and left the building around 10-15 minutes before 11.

    (4)

  • jenners s.

    Fabulous food served in a very serious atmosphere with a slight Oliver Twist attitude when it came to the bread & butter... My date and I had the 6 course prix fixe meal and every course was done perfectly!! The food was hot, well prepared, and tasted delicious!! I loved the bread they served and the great butter. And since each course (they are small plates, like tapa size) takes a while to get to you the bread & butter was helpful to have & fills you up. The only problem, I didn't like that we had to keep asking them for more bread (since their wait staff was so attentive, like 3 to a table!!...it was odd that they would not just re-fill the basket--I ended up feeling as if I was being too greedy or something...) "may I have more bread sir, please?" Also, they serve only about a tablespoon and a half of butter on a plate for like 6 large pieces of bread, what??! So we had to keep asking them for more butter too...sigh The wine they suggested was superb. And I like that they offer both sparkling and non-sparkling water :) So my date & I LOVE good food & wine and were enjoying ourselves. But each time we would laugh out loud it was like the whole place stopped to glare at us. We weren't being obnoxious just having a fun time, but the GRAVITY of the place was slightly a downer. The wait staff were not very friendly either. So I can't tell if it was pretentiousness because their food is so good or just an intensity to get everything right.

    (4)

  • Irene H.

    Found this spot, thanks to Yelp. I was looking for something in Cambridge and this kept on leaping off of the page. I got lucky with reservations. I checked OpenTable the day of and only 5:30 and 9pm were open. Not that great. I called around noon and was told they were going through cancellations and that she would call me back. I ended up with two seats at the Chef's table (which are front row seats to the kitchen). I guess they stagger the reservations because we were told they were fully booked when I tried to adjust the headcount last minute, but when we arrived we saw plenty of empty seats. Understandable. We opted for the farm to market menu: $80 for an amuse bouche, app, entree, and dessert with wine pairing. We varied our choices for more variety. I asked for a copy of the menu, but never got one, so this is going off of memory. AMUSE BOUCHE: We had one with proscuitto. The other was two croquetas with squid ink. APPETIZER: - Ragout. This was a beauty. Wild forest mushrooms, vegetables, egg, and rabbit sausage. The egg breaks over everything. - Scallop Appetizer. A la plancha. Also, beautifully plated. There were two of them and had a nice char. ENTREE: - Pork 3x. A little underwhelming. - Striped Bass. Came with chorizo broth and razor clams. It was good. Side: Bone Marrow. Excellent. Came with toasted bread. DESSERT: - Sorbets. - Grits with Anise Ice Cream and Strawberries. I really enjoyed this. I'm typically not a big fan of anise, but the bruleed grits and sauteed strawberries was perfectly balanced with the quickly melting anise ice cream. - Monbazillac. I got a dessert wine since it was included. Good, but I could've done without it. I also enjoyed watching the kitchen and seeing how much attention to detail, teamwork, and preparation goes into each dish. Our server was ok. Seemed a little nervous, but did not deter from the experience at all.

    (5)

  • Raymond W.

    This has always been a top 5 Boston restaurant based on years of reading countless articles and food blog about Craigie on Main. After 8 years, I finally got to visit with some college friends and I'm a fan. I ordered a 3 course fixed prix and got crispy fried Maine clams, venison leg and bittersweet chocolate mousse tart. Another friend got the crispy fried pig tails, chicken sausage stuffed chicken and bourbon pecan ice cream tart and the last got bone marrow, grilled spanish octopus, and sour cream cheesecake. All the appeziters were delicious, but the grilled octopus and pig tails were my favorite based on tastiness and uniqueness. For entrees, my venison leg was so tender, but the portion was pretty tiny. For dessert, the bourbon pecan ice cream tart was the winner. Now I need to plan how I'll get a hold of the burger that is so hyped that it can only disappoint. I may have to take a day off work just to try it at this point.

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    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!

    (3)

  • Abby N.

    Best meal I've ever had and I'm a tough critic. The pig tails will change your life.

    (5)

  • Nima Y.

    A little tough to get a reservation, but finally had the chance to do dinner here. The atmosphere is nice; trendy, somewhat quaint and buzzing with staff and full tables. Initial impression is that it's a casual semi-upscale restaurant, but having three different servers (for some reason) seemed a little over kill. I would expect that from an old school shirt and tie place, not a semi-hipster bistro in Cambridge. The menu choices are somewhat limited. Either the Craigie's experiences @ $98 and $130 or the Prix-Fix of three courses at $67. We chose the prix-fix. Without getting into the details of the actual dishes, our first thought was that there were too many ingredients in every plate, almost unnecessarily so. This didn't mean that it all didn't taste good, but the question was why all the fancy ingredients - seemed a little pretentious. Though everything did taste good, unfortunately it followed (10 minutes after leaving) with some pretty bad stomach ache and nausea. No doubt due to something I ate.

    (3)

  • BostonBestEats X.

    EITHER I EAT AT CRAIGIE ON MAIN TOO OFTEN: Or Yelpers don't eat there often enough #duke Unlike my last Craigie bar burger, this wasn't over seasoned with pepper. Also, the fries were better than usual, crisper. Really tasty slice of tomato too. Served with Brasserie de l'Abbaye du Val-Dieu Grand Cru from Belgium. Wednesday is a good night, no line down the street at 5:30 and pretty empty in the bar until 7PM.

    (5)

  • Dave D.

    Service: excellent Food: Just ok Great staff, super friendly. We had the chef's tasting menu, and it wasn't worth the price. Some of the dishes were good, but some were not. Nice ambience for a date, but overall too expensive to justify an average meal.

    (2)

  • Marissa C.

    Maybe it's me, but I simply was not impressed with "the burger". The beef was good, not exceptional, and I got a few pieces of gristle that detracted. The bun was good but other accompaniments--barely there cheddar, bespoke catsup--didn't hold up. I liked the celeriac slaw and pickles on the side and perhaps should have loaded them on the burger for an extra spurt of flavor that was missing. Excellent cocktails and a fun atmosphere but with a $150 tab for burgers and drinks for 2, we won't hurry back.

    (3)

  • Jin C.

    Long over due review. 1st time: Went with 3 others. I believe I had poached sole, it was .... so... good. We all kind of tried one another's food, everything was great. The amuse bouche was spectacular, which is an understatement. We had a reservation, but ended up waiting from anywhere to half and hour to an hour, but it was worth the wait. If this happens to you, grab a drink, they are delicious also. (Waitress ended up giving us some free dessert, which was nice of her and very tasty as well.) 2nd time: Party and I opted for the tasting menu. The food was good, but I found myself longing for my first experience, unfortunately. However, I will not be deterred from going again. 1st visit I'd give 6 stars if I could. 2nd visit more like a 3.5. Lasting impression of amazing 1st visit - 5 stars it is!

    (5)

  • Nicole L.

    Trusting Justin C.'s recommendation (Thank you), we reserved a table for Saturday night when we arrived in Boston. This was one of my two most favorite part of the weekend Boston trip. I indulged in this 10-course Chef Tasting experience. Though it was $115 per person, the portion was very generous well worth every cent compared to a lot overrated places in DC. I was also offered the chef's kitchen table where the entire food preparation took place in front of our eyes. I was very impressed by all the chefs, diligently working away in the most organized fashion - I think this is also why Craigie is successful. The kichen was immaculate and the chefs all had their station prepared and kept clean at all times. From kitchen to floor - all the staffs' attention was on serving the food hot! Head chef Tony Maws even chased after waiters when they were not ready when the food was ready. Now that's something to note for! Our waiter - he was very enthusiastic about recommending wine and all kinds of stuff to us. He was also very nice about letting us substitute any a-la-carte items if we wanted to try them. He also printed us two copies of the 10-course menu - now that's great service! We didn't need to ask for too much - it's a wonderful restaurant with a 'giving' attitude. The wine list was mostly french and I was just in heaven with it but my friend wasn't so sure. We were a bit apprehensive about the choice of wine but I ended up picking the 1999 Bandol Domaine du Gros Noré which the waiter recommended over and over. It's Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache - you can't go wrong with that! It had to open up hence it needed decanting - it was a very fine wine with a nice tannin yet balanced. I liked it alot. Seafood trio of fish liver, squid noodles w/ nuoc cham and fried shrimp. I read that the nuoc cham is made in-house, together with the squid, it was very complex yet delicious dish. That was my fav of the trio. Salad of hiramasa sashimi w/ red onion-shiso salsa, avocado, & harissa-rose vinaigrette: The sashimi was great but I thought the cumin in the harissa was slightly overpowering even though it tasted fresh toasted. Slightly less cumin would be better. My friend made a comment to the waiter and the chefs probably heard it but I hope they took it constructively. Waloo with Yuzu - The fish was so fresh yet sweet and fatty resulting in this creamy taste with the yuzu sauce which was incredible. We both nodded our heads for this one. Red chile & sesame marinated Faroe Island Sea Trout Kama (the collar, Maws calls it shoulder) - with higher gelatin level near the cartilage, it's like Chef Maws understands why the asians love fish that are not detached from the cartilage, it's priced for the gelatinous layer that provided the fish flavor and tenderness. It's smooth and melts in your mouth. The fish swam in a red sauce made from red chile and sesame. I hope I am wrong on this but the sauce if mixed with something from ready made from a jar which gave it the extra saltiness. The sauce was velvety and aromatic but just a tad too salty for me hence it's off balance. The fish however was cooked to perfection. I still give this dish a 5 star for the chef Maws' adventure with experimenting with something most chain-restaurants-overcooked-flavorless-fish-­fillet type fans would freak out about. Pork heart sausage ragu, uni and fresh pasta - I know I like the dish below but this is my favorite dish of the night - Hands down. I gasped for a second when they told me what was served the sound of pork heart didnt resonate well for me because I am not a big fan of organ meat. Untill recently I started loving foie gras and sweetbread but pork heart!! I didnt let my fear get the best of me so I just sank my fork into this amazing ragu. The pork heart sausage was well spiced and cooked till very tender in the sauce. Then I combined it with the uni. The flavor of this dish worked wonderfully, more than I expected. I think Chef Maws is a genius at this point. It was simply an amazing dish. I wonder if my palate has matured or it's just simply organ meat made simpler Veal Sweetbread, blood sausage, egg, farro - absolutely amazing bursting with such complex flavors. This dish had me going on a tasting galore I was speechless - First three gave it such a complex flavor and I absolutely love the farro absorbing all the flavors. Loved it! Lamb trio - lamb tenderloin, lamb sausage and lamb belly - I heart the lamb belly in this dish, belly is becoming a popular part but the lamb belly was a nice touch. We also ordered the bone marrow which seemed like the hot ticket item, the prep chef who toasted fresh bread that accompanied the marrow had the alarm clock going off practically the entire night. Jasmine tea infused panna cotta w/ candied citrus zest Peanut Butter Ice Cream, Banana mousse Ancho chile & cardamom spiced Valrhona hot chocolate 3 Desserts were great but too much food at the en

    (5)

  • Lauren D.

    This is an INCREDIBLE restaurant. Can't say enough about the service, food, ambiance etc. However, the purpose of my visit to Craigie on Main was to experience one of the so-called best burgers of Boston. Without further ado, here is my review of their burger, in direct comparison to my benchmark burger at Sel de la Terre: MEAT: a win! Craigie's patty was both thicker AND juicier than Sel de la Terre's - a most commendable feat. BUN: a loss. The bun at Craigie is good...but it's still not the same as the crispy brioche I've come to love at SDLT. TOPPINGS: another loss. SDLT has some sort of heavenly aioli that pairs so well with ground beef you'd think they were made for each other. Craigie has a more traditional ketchup-y sauce that is good, but no where close to the aioli-crack that SDLT uses. FRIES: Both restaurants serve shoe-string fries, but Craigie's are what I would describe as dental-floss fries. They are crispy, plentiful, and spiced with cayenne or something. SDLT has fantastic rosemary fries that are also plentiful and crispy, but have a higher potato to fried ratio. Win goes to SDLT. So...I would say overall, Craigie lost the burger contest. That being said, if I were to crave anything else, Craigie would certainly win over SDLT.

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    I didn't want to like it as much as i do. I hate hype, and pretentious trust-fund kiddies who think spending money equates to taste, but this, friends, is no Deuxave. Uber-competent FOH staff, warm, dark, but clean interior, a sincere devotion to quality, and food that was perfectly seasoned from amuse to lagniappe. I love finding fault with things, but really, there was very little here with which to quibble. And extra thanks to Chef Maws for his unexpected, generous, and over-the-top hospitality.

    (5)

  • Stephen C.

    Having gone to Craigie Street Bistro a few years back and learning that Chef Tony Maws recently won the James Beard award, I came in to this meal with really high expectations. I left simply blown away in every way and consider this arguably the best meal of my life. The food was simply amazing. Knock you off your chair amazing. Amuse Bouche: squid noodles - absolutely delicious with the toasted garlic on top being a standout component. I randomly asked a server, who wasn't even our ours, how they prepared this dish and he listed the entire culinary process, step-by-step. So impressive. Appetizer: ragout with mushrooms, morcilla (Spanish blood sausage) and pig - an unbelievable mixture of flavors, textures and colors. The blood sausage was rich, complex and simply delicious. The most beautiful plate of the meal. Entree: pork three ways - simply stated, this was one of the top three entrees I've ever had in a restaurant anywhere. All three preparations (rib, belly and confit) were mind blowingly awesome. They literally couldn't have tasted any better. The vegetables on this plate were wonderful as well. Dessert: panna cotta with granola and brown butter "powder" - light, delicious and unique. The granola was flavored with lavender. The brown butter "powder" disappeared on your tongue instantly and then left a brown butter flavor afterwards. Very unique and well executed use of molecular gastronomy. The macaroons served with the check were delicious as well. Service: perfect in every way. Friendly, not intrusive and most of all, knowledgable. Very, very knowledgable. Such a wonderful thing to experience when you go out for fine dining. Our table was a high top for four that basically overlooked the open kitchen. Probably about 10 feet away or so. Sitting at this table and watching Chef Maws and his team work was fascinating and inspirational. It added to the dining experience in ways we weren't expecting when we sat down. I plan to specifically request this table again when I return to this restaurant. Watching this team work during our meal was breathtaking. Other items I tried throughout the night were the vegetable amuse bouche, pig's tail appetizer, charcuterie appetizer, bone marrow appetizer, chicken entree, steak entree, oxtail pastrami side, galette dessert, bread/butter and espresso. Everything I tasted was great. The pig's tail appetizer was ridiculously delicious. Like eating the greatest Chinese food you could ever fathom. I cannot wait to return to this restaurant and experience the food, service and ambience again. Chef Maws and his team have created a dining experience that is second to none in Boston/Cambridge and as good as any place I have eaten in the U.S. or Europe. Congratulations!

    (5)

  • Sean B.

    I wish I foresaw ordering an appetizer, an entree and then an appetizer, and I totally would have gone for the discounted Price Fixe, but I underestimated the power of COM to over power my taste buds to that extent. Started with the Spanish Octopus appetizer. I've never eaten octopus, but the tenderness has vaulted it toward the top of my seafood pecking order. I then had the chicken sausage stuffed chicken (Yes, chicken stuffed with cheicken - brilliant), and my girlfriend had the Serloin. Both were solid choices. I was set with the chicken filled with chicken. Really, I was. And then I was given the choices for dessert, and my will power took a vacation all the way to Pecan-piesville, population me. You get what you pay for.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth D.

    The only reason I didn't give this restaurant 5 stars was that we had to wait 45 minuets for our table, and we already had late reservations. We called several days in advance and the earliest table we could get was 9:00. As we waited for our table we ordered a drink, but never got it. Apparently there was a mistake at the bar. Once we were seated and they realized what had happened, the bar tender personally came over to apologize, and brought us a complimentary cocktail that he had just prepared with fresh peach puree. The rest of the evening went smoothly the wait staff was wonderful, they all seemed to work together. One waiter, who wasn't ours, over heard my friend say that she needed a new napkin and came right over with a replacement without us even asking. We both ordered the 6 course tasting menu. I can't remember everything I ate because it was a little while ago, but it was amazing! The Amuse Bouche was so tasty and probably not something I would have ordered myself. The softshell crab tempura was perfect. The balance of flavor and texture were right on. I have never had tempura so perfectly crispy like that before, not even in good Japanese restaurants! It's quite pricy, however, reviewing the ingredients in each of the dishes I had no issues with the prices. The food was exceptional and I left feeling overly stuffed! because we were seated to late we ended up missing the last T and had to take a cab home, so I would recommend trying to get earlier reservations if you are going to have the 6 or more course tasting menus, because it's an experience that can take time. I won't say exactly, but our bill had some adjustments to it for the trouble we had had earlier, which we weren't expecting and appreciated!

    (4)

  • Mike M.

    So this review is a little different and related to the one star reviewer from the other day. I went there with my last night intending on getting the Valentine's Day prix fixe menu, but because my date was getting over being sick, we ordered off the a la carte menu instead. Everything was typical Craigie excellence - wine suggestions, great table, the desire to order EVERYTHING off the menu. I went with the rabbit and sausage lasagnette and the hangar steak and Laura went with the cod cheeks app and organic chicken entree and we split the Tazo chocolate/espresso tart for desert. So the hangar steak comes out, looks amazing, but actually tastes a little off. I take another bite and offer some to Laura - we both agree it is ok, but not amazing, maybe too much vinegar. I am basically freaking now, because this is our favorite fancy restaurant and i am about to send back my steak. I call the waiter over and tell him it tastes a little off. He didn't respond with the "why?" or make me feel like it was my fault at all! It was all about what can we do to fix this? new entree? another glass of wine? have the chef taste it? I apologized profusely for not liking it, but they are BEYOND GRACIOUS and wanted to make sure that we didnt just like our entrees, but LOVED them. I ordered something else which emerged quickly and we enjoyed a great rest of the meal. The moral of this story is that if you dont like it - tell them! The one star reviewer who hated her veggie valentine's day didn't say anything until the end of the meal! Let them know and trust me they will take care of you. I was pretty embarrassed to send back my steak, but I have to say that because of the service we received, we would 1000% absolutely go back.

    (5)

  • Natalie S.

    We went to Craigie on Main for my graduation dinner. Initially, we were seated in the dining room, but after learning that the famous Craigie burger could only be ordered in the bar room (kind of a weird, nitpicky restriction, but maybe burger is bar food?), we asked if there were any available tables in the bar room, and there was - so we moved to a table there. The service was wonderful - attentive, but not overly attentive. Our waiter was very gracious and attended to all the details of our meals. He also gave us great recommendations when we asked what the most popular/delicious dishes were. If you are in the camp that believes that a restaurant's bread and butter are reflective of the quality of a restaurant's food (as I am), then Craigie on Main will not let you down. Craigie on Main serves a basket of bread pulled from a pain d'epi. The crust is crisp but not brittle, and the insides reveal a delightful crumb, with large air holes. Sour, soft, and slightly chewy, the bread is served with a high-quality, rich butter, the kind of sweet European butter that is rarely matched in America. We started out with: (1) Fried Pig's Tails - the most popular first course. Met our expectations - crispy, sweet and salty. Tony Maws is the master of the pig, as the logo of the restaurant suggests. (2) Octopus - most succulent octopus flesh I've ever tasted. Very impressive. (3) Ragout of boudin noir with farm fresh egg - boudin noir is black pudding. The ragout was a overly salty (a pattern I found with several of their dishes), but the farm fresh egg was cooked perfectly. I wish the incorporation of the fiddlehead ferns was more apparent, as the showcasing of that vegetable could have enhanced the meal even more. Plating was quite beautiful though. (4) Bone Marrow (side order) - It's hard to be disappointed by bone marrow, especially with the thick slabs of crispy toast and large grains of sea salt that were served alongside, but in my opinion, the fatty creaminess of marrow is even more delicious when balanced out by the tang of a parsley/caper/garlic salad. Our main dishes were: (1) Craigie on Main Burger - the medium-rare burger was perfectly cooked, with a touch of red at the center - so flavorful, juicy, and thick. More meat and less bun, which is how burgers should be served. We went without bacon, but that would have been a nice addition. This bougie burger is made more bougie by the accompaniments: housemade ketchup, celery root sauerkraut, and housemade pickles - but who can complain? Also served with fries that are tasty but not stellar. (2) Pork three ways - Some Asian influences going on here. Meat was fall-off-the-bones tender. No complaints here. (3) Glacee of Early Spring Vegetables - a mix of glaceed vegetables, including fiddlehead ferns, purple cauliflower, and turnips. This was actually a bit heavier than I would have liked, especially since such fresh vegetables are so beautiful, fresh, and tasty on their own that they seem weighed down by the excess oil. I love that the plating of the smoky, sweet mushrooms was a play on ribs/marrow. The grain pilaf was a nice mix of quinoa, wild rice, and farro, but I thought that the glaze that held them together was a bit thick and syrupy. (4) Halibut with crab on top - a great pairing. The halibut was tender and flaky, which is impressive, given that halibut is usually a tougher fish. Dessert: (1) We all split the Banana Millefeuille (we went to Toscanini's afterwards - I would highly suggest doing the same! The best ice cream in all of Cambridge) - which was such a delightful dessert. The caramelized banana and crunchy caramel pieces are apt bitter accents to the moist (but not cloyingly sweet) banana cake - which is fluffy and light. A few dabs of foamed cream are delicious as well. The cooking and service are superb here. The dishes were all salty, oily, and a bit on the heavier side, but Tony Maws has certainly perfected the art of cooking meat, and the care with which he treats food is readily apparent. Highly recommended, especially for a special occasion meal.

    (4)

  • Ben R.

    Excellent restaurant. This place seems to really know what they're doing and executes at a really high, consistent level. The food is simple, and very well prepared. Particularly remarkable was the various preparations of red meat, and unusually high quality cocktails. I would strongly advise to get a drink at Craigie, especially a whiskey one if possible. If you want something special, give some kind of guidance and let the bar tender take it from there- if you've never done that before, just say something like "I read on yelp that you make amazing drinks. I'd love a drink that includes tequila and isn't too sweet or fruity." It'll be good. So will pretty much everything you order. If you don't want to shell out for the full meal, mosey on over for a drink at the bar and then head to toscaninis for dessert. That also will be good.

    (5)

  • Maureen G.

    Wow! My husband and I decided to splurge and finally made it to Craigie on Maine for a special occasion. We went all out and did the 10-course tasting menu. When we requested if perhaps one of the 10 courses could include the pigs tails on the app menu, the waiter said of course...but then let us know that it would be in place of an asparagus/bacon dish. We quickly decided to go with the asparagus/bacon dish instead - after all, chef knows best, right?! we can get the pig tails next time. the service was great. he was helpful with wine selection and was very forthcoming with details about the food. my favorite dish was the branzino - i've never had branzino prepared like that before. my husband loved the beef tongue, which was served as the main course. and quite frankly, there wasn't a single dish we didn't love. we both agreed at the end that we had felt like we had been on an adventure and that the two and a half hour meal was as good as a weekend getaway - and cost about the same too. so worth it! look forward to going back and trying some of the dishes off of the menu. i've heard the burger is amazing.

    (5)

  • Meka A.

    Right after moving to Boston, I originally visited this restaurant thanks to a Food Network show that named the chicken at Craigie on Main as "one of the best thing I ever ate." I don't often agree with the food on that show, but this one I agree with a thousand times over - the chicken was out of this world! Note that the chicken is for two, so bring a food buddy with you. I haven't done this, but rumor has it you can eat at the bar and get a really awesome burger. I also heard they have pre-fixed themed days/dinners that you can check out. After having an amazing dinner, I tried Craigie on Main for brunch and was equally pleased (although the service this time wasn't as fabulous). Craigie on Main is really into pigs, so all pork-related dishes are both creative and delicious. We ordered two main dishes at brunch but couldn't help ourselves so we ended up with a side of pork belly. This is a Cambridge staple - you must go!

    (5)

  • Jeni N.

    best valentine's meal that ever happened. seriously never wanted to bottle my saliva to use later as a sauce before. eyes involuntarily dropping shut in order to savor each bite as much as humanly possible. craigie on main. we made friends with one of the waiters (Jonathon) at another foodie convention and he recommended the place. he hooked it up with a free round of drinks and also brought us a tasting of a new drink they're adding to the menu. also, it is ranked second in the nation in GQ. amazing. first: amuse bouche - oyster tempura on squid ink, grey mullet crudo, rillettes of arctic char: the oyster tempura was the perfect bite, salty with a hint of sweet. the crudo was a little salty for my taste, actually overpoweringly so. the rilletes were delicious, the perfect texture and smoothness. second: hiramasa sashimi, w/ red onion-shiso salsa, avocado, harissa- rose vinaigrette & foie gras au torchon with blood orange marmalade, brioche toast (i was a little bit appalled by the idea of foie gras but the waitress assured me they came from happy free range fowl. and it was amazing.) the foie was rich, creamy, well seasoned.. everything you could ask for. third: house-made rabbit and guanciale sausage lasagnette w/ celery root puree, natural jus & native lobster ravioli w/ kohlrabi puree, herbs: the ravioli was good, but not amazing. had better at Pazzo on Newbury. definitely still delicious though! fourth: sika venison two ways: three pepper-crusted leg, grilled crepinette with braised red cabbage, creamy puree of potato and whole grain mustard: this was seriously the must eat dish of my evening. my eyelids dropped of their own accord upon the first taste. perfectly prepared, the crepinette was fatty but it was the melt in your mouth kind of ambrosial fat not chewy at all. everything pared perfectly together, i was hard pressed not to lick my plate. & elysian fields lamb three ways: roasted loin, shoulder confit, heart sausage with artichokes, beets, dates and olives fifth: blood orange sorbet: good tang, blood oranges are my fave so this was a great transition. sixth: chocolate tasting. homemade smores, macarons, bourbon chocolate creme, chocolate napoleon, and chocolate dipping sauce. - okay. i know i'm a chick and chicks & chocolate yadda yadda whatever. i don't like chocolate.i don't particularly care for sweets in general. but i was blown away by not only the presentation but also the options on this plate. i could have drank the milk chocolate dipping sauce. there were two brioche-esque crueller things on the plate too that were lightly dusted with cinnamon sugar and they were phenomenal. the drinks were also incredible. well prepared, and hearty. my azn glow was poppin off by the end of the night. service, impeccable. might have helped that jonathon was clearing our table and stopping to chat, but our waitress was very attentive and good at recommending drinks. definitely coming back, and soon! although the refusal to let me see the bill and my date's sister's reaction to him telling her the price was a teeensy bit totally horrifying. absolutely want to try the bar menu and the nights when they don't have only the pre-fixe menu

    (5)

  • Doris W.

    Beware, long story/review. But please feel free to read it. You may find it useful, maybe? ;) This was the best dining I've experienced in a long time. A few weeks ago, I decided to surprise my boyfriend with a nice dinner for his birthday. A couple recommended this restaurant to us when we were dining at Mistral a few years ago. Service was wonderful from the very beginning when I made reservations. I wanted to do the 10 course tasting and I read on their website that they were able to accommodate dietary restrictions. I decided to call and give it a shot. The woman on the phone made sure she got my allergies correct (I'm allergic to shellfish, raw carrots, fresh cherries, peaches, and apples except when cooked). She said she would get back to me the next day. I didn't hear from her for a few days so I got worried. I left them a voice message and the very next day I got a call back. The woman told me the chef said no problem. I asked if they did anything special for birthdays. She mentioned a card, maybe a candle, but since it was a 10 course tasting, it would depend. I told her she could do whatever she wanted but it wasn't a big deal. Fast forward a few days later and we came in at 8:30pm and it was busy for a Tuesday night! At our table, we were surprised by a card printed with Happy 29th Birthday and a message from the chef with his signature. (By the way, I didn't remember telling her my boyfriend's age but apparently I did because it was on the card. Great attention to detail, score!) Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable. In fact, he even double checked the allergies. Our awesome dinner went as followed: 4 seafood dishes, 3 meat dishes, and 3 desserts. The food was good. Darn good. My favorite was the 2nd course which was hiramasa (Australian yellowtail) with avocado, an onion relish, chilis, and I forgot what else. Oh man, the flavors were amazing. It was light yet bursting with flavor. I started to feel gross around the 5th course, which was the pork belly, because I was getting full. The greasy goodness of the pork belly didn't help much, but I was being a tough guy. There wasn't a dish that I wasn't crazy about which made me very happy. For some courses, we got different dishes, even if it didn't have the food I was allergic to. That was cool. The cherry on top was Chef Tony Maws himself presenting our last main course to us. That was much cooler. I think everyone working in the restaurant presented a course to us. The wines were good and everything was just... good. We didn't leave the restaurant until midnight, and even then there were still people there eating. Did I mention this was a Tuesday night? To wrap up my novel, even though I came here once, it was an experience that will keep me wanting to go back for more. The meal made up for the price, which I think is actually inexpensive for a 10 course dinner. I wrote them a thank you e-mail and I got a response the very next day. Now that, is what I call a restaurant.

    (5)

  • Sheila S.

    We sat at the bar to try their raved-about burger. The burger was pretty OK, but the drinks and service were outstanding. I highly recommend sitting at the bar and having a few sober drinks --- you'll really enjoy them.

    (4)

  • Anthony R.

    Craigie on Main is excellent in just about every way a restaurant could be -- except for the price, I suppose. The food is delicious, locally sourced, creative, and rich. The wine list (although interestingly un-local, with only Old World wines) is expansive, the cocktails (and bartenders) are top-notch, and the service is impeccable. I took my father here for his birthday and we both got the Sunday night's "Chef's Whim," a 6-course tasting menu which included probably the best lentil soup I've ever had (with a little slab of melt-in-your-mouth pork belly on top, natch), perfectly fried smelt, and a to-die-for Taza chocolate mousse dessert. If you're going to make it over to Craigie for a special occasion meal, I can't recommend one of the tasting menus enough. The genius of Craigie, however, is that it's not just for tasting-menu haute cuisine experiences. I was here with friends earlier this week to try Craigie's legendary burger. All of the ingredients are calculated, including several cuts of fresh ground steak, bone marrow, and miso paste. Seriously. ( goodeater.org/2009/11/24… ) It's not going to satisfy your craving for an old-fashioned burger, but it might push the boundaries of what you think a burger could be. Coarse ground meat makes it surprisingly light and juicy -- really a treat. Accompanied with duck fat fried brussels sprouts (oh my god yes) and a top-notch charcuterie plate, it made for a decadent weeknight meal. Finally, it's worth noting that Craigie has a bar to back up everything. The $20 "Cocktail Whim" is well worth your cocktail dollars -- the expert bartenders will make your four miniature cocktails, drawing from a menu of both classics and more modern and original creations, starting from light, fruity, and sparkling and ending with something rich and desserty. Out cocktail flight ended with their original Jerez flip, merging sherry, Pimm's, Benedictine, and egg into an absolutely delicious nightcap. Craigie may not be cheap, but I'd say it is easily worth the money. Mmmm.

    (5)

  • Josh M.

    My wife and I were in Boston for a couple days and we chose Craigie as our "nice dinner" location. Neither she nor I had ever experienced a tasting menu, so we decided ahead of time to go with that. We also requested to sit at the counter overlooking the kitchen, which they call "ringside." We thoroughly enjoyed everything. Our server, Taylor, was extremely helpful. Although they don't offer a traditional wine pairing with each course, he directed us toward a couple wines which went perfectly with the food. Unfortunately I don't remember the specifics of each course, but I do remember each one tasting amazing. If you're in the Boston area, it's definitely worth checking out. Next time we make it up there, I'll try the burger.

    (5)

  • Jim F.

    So this place was fine. However, when factoring in price , we dropped $350 for 2 people, and the fact that I spend $175 a person, well, never, except if it's my 15 year anniversary then it get's the two star and considered one, because at that price you should be wowed. For the particulars, we arrived with no reservation because we just got out of the house and started driving, we usually end up eating at the bar because,well, that's how we roll pathetic planning. We first went by Highland Kitchen but it was mobbed but the decided to head over to Main Street because I know some stuff has been popping over there. Arriving with no reservations, hostess and a waitress who was helping us with drinks on the ramp were super. Then got seats at the bar. Cocktails, excellent. We went for the 6 course tasting menu because we thought that would knock our socks off, and thought, hell I could either get that electric guitar I've been pining for,forever, our do the foodie splurge. I like to cook and have been all over the Boston food map, from Hammersley's, to Rialto, #9 Park, to the blue room when Frankenthaller was still there, etc, so I was fired up to be here because of the accolades but I cannot imagine that the chef/owner was in the kitchen that night. 1st Course was presented as the Amuse Bouch,that I thought would not be the first course, but it was, thought it would have been a cool way to start, in the sense, you ordered the Six but I'm really going to give you the six and a half but was not to be. It was fine. I believe it was Swordfish collar, marinated, as a crudo, some smoked/cured salmon and some caviar,single bites, the swordfish was most tasty. Second was blue fin tuna with some melon coins, good/buttery, melon nice foil but a little sinew left on the tuna made for an extra chew. Then the striper with daikon broth and ribbon of daikon, fish was cooked perfectly,skin was left on, love fish skin, but not this fish skin, it was rubbery, like it got poached, personally crisp it skin side down in oil, be done with it, but rubbery, this seems really wrong. Next was rye flour pasta with boudin noir, you would think the flavor profile would be good, something you want to be impressed with, but it was flat, no earthy anything from the boudin, and,for me, jury is still out on whole grain pasta. We then had venison 2 ways, 2 or 3 slices of sausage, 2 or 3 small coins of meat, with what appeared to be and tasted like, I don't maybe mild Sirachha type sauce in the middle decorating the plate. The palate cleanser was the nicest suprise, apple/celery sorbet, apple on the front of the pallete, celery on the back, really nice. It was served with the equivalent of fresh string cheese. I don't really get it, but it tasted good. 2 deserts, that is one plate each of different deserts, the apple with crepe and sour milk ice cream was dissappointing,the crepe, seemed again of whole grain, and tasted like the whole wheat roll ups I use for the kids to get them to eat something health, the apple scattered on top, again fine. My wife had something with chocolate, salt was sprinkled on it, pretty good, but seems hard to screw with good chocolate. The bread had the it was made fresh in the morning but you got here late so deal with it 'bite' to the crust. We waited something like 25 minutes between 2 courses. My expectations were high, at this caliber of restaraunt I would think that A) Flavor Profiles would be awesome something you could not do at home, this did not happen. B) Presenation/preparation would be flawless, this did not happen. I really wanted to love the restaraunt and experience but $175 per person, $350 all in, I know of a variety of restaraunts that would have been better at half the price so just disappointed. My guess one or two things off the menu and the bar burger would have been much better and expected so much more from the "Craigie Experience" tasting menu,and if that's the experience, sorry, don't want to experience it again. would rather have the used stratocaster.

    (2)

  • Douglas Q.

    Thank you, Craigie on Main, for doing everything right. I now trust Tony Maws with my life, and would consider making him the executor of my estate.

    (4)

  • mickey l.

    Say Hello To Holly WHo is the most awesome server In a long while. The food, French Influenced as it is-- is not my style. But that does not mean I don't appreciate it. I loved certain aspects of all the dishes I won't explain here. Just go there. Say Hello to Holly. The drinks great. The food they use wisely is the best you can find for many miles.

    (5)

  • Colin G.

    Craigie on Main is truly a treat and one of the finest restaurants I have ever dined at. Chef Tony Maws is truly deserving of his James Beard Award nomination (I cant believe he did not win) I recommended getting there a little early to have a house inspired cocktail. The bar is superior then most much like that of Drink in S. Boston. The menu is very interesting and changes slightly daily. I suggest going with a tasting menu the chef is truly a master at his craft and all meals were excellent. I had and enjoyed the grilled Spanish octopus followed but the flat iron steak. Lastly for dessert I had a peanut butter parfait paired with a wonderful dessert wine perfectly as suggested from the chef. Overall the experience was fantastic and will definitely come back.

    (5)

  • K T.

    After reading my review of a less than stellar first visit, Chef Maws personally invited us back to redo the tasting menu. I will commend the service at Craigie upfront. For instance, my date and I were given individual wine and beer pairings, respectively, after I briefly mentioned that I was more of a beer person. You are definitely pampered by the service staff-not to the overwhelming level of classic French restaurants, but still top-notch. We were started off with a nice citrus-flavored aperitif with the faintest hint of licorice. Then came a basket of *warm* bread followed by a fish trio amuse. The sashimi with horseradish and roe was fantastic. The horseradish added zest without overpowering the sweetness of the fish, and the briny pop of the roe added a nice textual contrast. The two smoked fish rillettes were forgettable. My date noted that they were seasoned with similar spices, muddling their individual flavors and the flavors of the fish-also, one of them had a texture reminiscent of canned tuna, which wasn't too pleasing. A Riesling accompanied our next course, kampachi sashimi with citrus, mustard seed, and pine nuts. The mustard seed and citrus paired well with the sashimi and the pine nuts added a more unctuous earthy note that brought everything together-excellent. We were then given champagne with a lightly poached salmon with clam and Iberico ham. This was the highlight of the meal-the fish was velvety in texture and accompanied by salty, paper-thin bits of ham, and a buttery shellfish bisque tied everything together nicely. Next was farro pasta with mushroom and tripe ragu and shaved truffles. I enjoyed the flavor and texture of the pasta, but the truffles added little earthiness to the sauce. I'm a fan of offal, particularly the texture of slow-braised tripe. Unfortunately the tripe was cut into such small pieces that all of its spongy gelatinous texture was lost-this seemed like an offal dish for the offal-averse. The accompanying champagne, which went great with the previous course, was ill-matched. Our next course was cotechino with lentils topped by a runny egg and foie gras foam. This was paired with a Belgian IPA and white wine for my date. I get fried eggs on my burger so this dish really spoke to me-unfortunately it looked better than it tasted. The runny yoke combined with the lentils to make a great sauce with a nice texture, but the flavor of the cotechino was mostly lost unless eaten by itself. Like the truffle shavings in the previous dish, the foie gras foam added little flavor to the dish and seemed contrived. The beer paired well and the hoppiness helped cut the richness of the egg and lentils. Rebounding from the cotechino was two giant halves of roasted marrow bones topped with pastrami. The unctuous marrow on perfectly crusty pieces of bread was given a nice textual and flavor kick by flakes of sea salt and cut by the bitterness of the beer. While I love both marrow and pastrami, the combination was approaching fatty overkill and I would've appreciated a little acid-perhaps the standard parsley salad? Our final savory course was a trio of duck: roasted breast, seared foie with grapes, and homemade sausage. These preparations were accompanied by a farmyardy red that was bold and flavorful by itself and paired well with the duck. The slices of breast were decent, but the fat could have been rendered a little more and one of the slices was a little sinewy. My date extoled the seared foie, which was beautifully caramelized and matched well with tender juicy grapes, as the high point of the meal. Unfortunately, the duck sausage did not have any semblance of duck flavor but instead had an unpleasantly mealy texture that made us give up on it. The first dessert was a panna cotta with pomegranate jam and ginger gremolata. The panna cotta had a wonderful texture and the hint of ginger was really exciting. Then came a bittersweet chocolate mousse tart and white chocolate ice cream and caramel and jam-filled beignets with a creme anglaise dipping sauce. The chocolate tart was paired with a great imperial stout and the beignets were paired with a much-too-sweet dessert wine. The tart and ice cream were good, nothing special. Much to my dismay, the beignets were dense and cakey and not at all reminiscent of the light, pillowy beignets I've had previously. Our second Craigie experience was better than our first. Unfortunately, the highs of the night were weighed down by a few lows. I can't say if we were left unimpressed because we were expecting the kitchen to wow us with every course or because we just had a spectacular meal at The Breslin last week. While we appreciate the generosity of the restaurant (the comped meal came to $400 before tip), we were still left underwhelmed. There were definitely standout dishes on both visits, but there were simply too make 'just ok' dishes and dishes that missed the mark that could not be overlooked, especially to justify the price.

    (3)

  • Alex J.

    Took a friend for her 40th, party of four. Reservation for 9:30pm, kinda late but plenty of others being seated so we expected this is normal for Craigie - more on that later. Service was friendly, but rather casual, a little snotty even. They were pushing the multi-course tasting menu, but we opted for the prix fixe. The bread basket was cold! Come on, you're charging us a second mortgage for this experience, bust out some warm bread! I inquired about the famous the burger - sorry, can't have it at the tables - but the guy seated 2 feet away from me at the bar is however allowed to stuff his face full of burger. The chef doesn't think it jives aesthetically in the 'dining room'. Okay... In the same breath, the server suggest the pig's tail, cool, we'll have that. BTW - he suggests we should eat it with our hands... Eating a burger offends his aesthetic senses but licking my fingers after eating pig's tail is acceptable?? Seriously... The food was good, but not James Bear winner phenomenal. Maybe our expectations were too high, maybe they had an off night. Doesn't matter, you're selling yourself as a uber-special place so it should be uber-special in every way. The highlight was the brussel sprouts dish we ordered as a side. Worst of all, the servers completely forgot about us after the main course was delivered. Everybody was too busy cashing out and cleaning up for the night around us. Hello!! Still sitting here, could use a drink, and the dessert would be nice! Again, the experience was somewhat ruined by the service. Definitely not worth the money. You can do about the same for a lot less down the street at randevouz.

    (3)

  • buckminster f.

    My kind of place! We started with an amuse bouche: the duck prosciutto on a bed of cheese with some type of a delectable compote.. next came the grilled spanish octopus, which was as tender as could be. The sauce was incredible- the lemon zest was the icing on top. I was surprised to find that the entrees were substantial in portion. The pork three ways- the pork belly, the rib, and the suckling confit- were each so tasty and aesthetically pleasing. For dessert we had the sour milk pannacotta which came with pralines and a jam- maybe fig? can't wait to go back for the tasting menu... in a couple months since the bill is not the easiest on the wallet.

    (5)

  • Yvonne W.

    My boyfriend and I just came back from dinner here tonight. We went to celebrate his birthday, and when I was making the reservation on Open Table (which was incredibly easy and I highly recommend it -- you don't even need to set up an account!), they asked what the occasion (if any) was for the meal. I wrote in that it was a birthday, and then they sent my boyfriend an email telling him that if he printed out the email that he would get a complimentary champagne cocktail and dessert ($21 value!!). So we came in and were seated. I was a little annoyed that despite the fact that I had made a reservation, they gave us a table in a part of the restaurant that I would not consider ideal or suitable for a birthday dinner -- we were right by the busy walkway, right behind the handicap ramp! It was too busy so we couldn't get another table, but for the money we're paying and booking in advance I don't really find that acceptable treatment. Besides this, though, service was excellent and attentive, and not only did my lovely get a complimentary cocktail, but he also got to choose any dessert from the menu on the house! Craigie is not one of those restaurants that gives you some random not-even-on-the-menu free dessert - they actually let you have what you want for free when it's your birthday. Sweet. We shared the fois gras served with a persimmon puree, candied pistachios, and two slices of toasted brioche; lamb three ways (loin, belly, and sausage), and the arctic char fish with fresh shrimp and mussels in a serrano ham broth; my lovely chose the profiteroles with banana ice cream and valrhona chocolate sauce as his free birthday dessert. They also gave us a truck load of house bread, which was amazing -- my boyfriend loved the sweet toasted sesame rolls; the sourdough-type bread was really yummy, too, and the butter was super creamy with just the right saltiness. The fois gras was really good, very creamy, but I've had pate before that was just as good and not that pricey. The lamb was a real highlight, especially the lamb belly -- not as fatty as pork belly, and cooked perfectly. The fish (cooked sous vide, so a little on the raw side) was good, but not anything amazing -- I really liked the mussels that came with it, though. They were incredibly fresh and tasted just like the sea.The profiteroles were really good, maybe a little bit too overpowered by the chocolate sauce, but the banana ice cream was very banana-y, and the profiteroles were nice and light the way they should be. I went to Craigie when they were still at the original location, and I must say that the quality of the food is the same (which is a positive thing) and the service is still good -- not as formal as it was at the Craigie Street location, but more low-key, which is what I'd personally prefer. The decor is also more modern here as opposed to being on the fancy side like it was before. Like other reviewers have noted, it's nice that they let you know what time they printed the menus to reflect how fresh their food is; I love this place, and I love how generous they are with their "birthday gift" to you. You must come here on your birthday!

    (4)

  • Sahil G.

    The GF and I went to Craigie for her 21st birthday. We had put in a reservation about a month ahead with no issue. When we arrived the hostess told us it would be couple minutes so we went to the bar to grab a drink. While the bar area can get a little crowded and is a bit hard to navigate, the entire staff does an excellent job to make sure that you are being served no matter where you are standing. We put in an order for a Sazerac and a Hendricks Gin Gimlet. Within a minute of ordering drinks a hostess came and told us that there was opening at the Chef's table, which we jumped all over. We were promptly sat at the Chef's table, a granite four-top that is literally next to the kitchen. Nothing separates you from the kitchen staff, no glass window or anything, and it's amazing. It's like dinner and a movie, but better, and yummier. Our waiter asked if we wanted anything to drink and I just mentioned that we had put in an order for a couple drinks over at the bar. Within minutes, a hostess came by with the drinks and comped both of them because of the wait. It really wasn't too long at all, but we were thrilled with their attention to detail. We ordered the 6 course tasting menu and told the waiter that we ate everything, no dietary restrictions. Awesome, we are in for a ride. We started off with a amuse bouche of three types of seafood. Squid noodles, smoked halibut, and a crispy potato and cod fritter. Each one supposedly got more intense, but I honestly fell in love with the squid noodles, best taste so far. First course comes out, Halibut ceviche with lemon oil and dehydrated corn powder. Best dish so far. Second course, crispy frogs legs with chorizo, best dish so far. Rabbit and chile stuffed pasta, best dish so far. Tony Maws and his staff outdid themselves dish after dish. Veal sweetbread, duck, sheepsmilk cheesecake, anise ice cream. God, I don't even know. We ordered another round of drinks off their cocktail menu, and they came promptly and were amazing. Extremely creative, well balanced, and using house-made ingredients. The meal was fantastic, there is no doubt about it, there wasn't a single under or overcooked item, all the tastes, flavors, colors, they all popped individually together. It was a goddamn symphony in my mouth. The kitchen was amazing. Getting to see how they worked together, how they encouraged, chided, and worked so efficiently was amazing. plating was amazing, Tony manages his staff extremely well, they are a well-oiled machine. He even served us one of the dishes and checked in from time to time. Craigie is amazing, it's not a meal, it's an experience, the best one you can have. Beyond the food and drink, the service is impeccable. Everyone on the floor shares an equal responsibility to the patrons outside of their own specific job. All the waiters wait on everyone, the hostesses wait and serve drinks, the managers do too. Attention to detail and perfection are standard for them. There is no above and beyond for them, if they can do anything better, they do it because it should be standard. Craigie has ruined my life. My lunches are boring, my dinners are boring, hell even my mother's home-cooked Indian food is boring. Nothing matches Craigie and my taste buds constantly are telling me, "GO BACK!".

    (5)

  • Mike G.

    high expectations, all (nearly) met. with minor flaws easily forgiven as flavors, quality and warm service made up. went for the 10-course chef's menu with a request that grilled spanish octopus be included. sat at chef's table(Jeremy K. said) for a close-up of the best reality show in town. this is one busy, busy kitchen. and tony maws one hardworking dude. chers amis français...ne manquez pas de visiter ici pour le meilleur goût de Boston.

    (5)

  • Augustus H.

    Had the "chef's whim" tasting at Craige, a most incredible deal. They close mondays, so it benefits both parties (diner and management) for them to sell their incredible food in a 55 dollar six course tasting, drawn up and garnished at the whim of the chef, rather than throw it out on tuesday. Quite frankly, the meal blew my effin mind. Some highlights: Amuse Bouche: Sea Urchin w/ Nasturtium leaf puree. (Eating this brought an ear to ear smile to my face. I don't think I stopped smiling for the rest of the night.) 4th: Hanger Steak w/ Sauce Verde, Beef Tongue Ragout (the beef tongue ragout transformed the hanger steak from the cheap cut about which any lousy cheap chef can charge big bucks, preaching the belief that because butchers would take the hanger steak home rather than selling it to customers as though it MUST be the very BEST piece of meat on the cow, which is certainly an exaggeration of the actual truth, into the cut that one brilliant butcher would hide from customers because no one else appreciated the incredible flavor of the meat located so close to the kidney when paired with a light garden-of-herbs sauce growing from an earthy ragout of beef offal. It was depth beyond my warmest memories of demi glaces.) 5th: Concord Grape Sorbet with Candied Fennel (The freshness of the grape in the sorbet reminded me of eating them raw at the end of a night at l'Esp.. However, it was a little salty. Standing alone, the grape flavor would not benefit from this obtrusive seasoning as an intermezzo.. but then the sweet licorice of the candied fennel, just a tiny piece on top of the sorbet, trickles down your palate on the salty wave of savor. One bite prompted this journey of flavor, a happy New Englander marries an Italian and the whole laughing drinking family is gathered around the table in the yard under the shade of the very tree the grapes came from, and the chef is reminding you very gently, there will be no more meat and fish and vegetables, thank God. Desert is next.) 6th: We each got something different. I got the chocolate. Dark chocolate torte with layers of ganache. Each layer was thin and light, the cake was more crispy than rich, and the flavor of chocolate was nearly overwhelming. Luckily, perched atop the ghoulishly inviting old house of chocolate decadence was a scoop of white chocolate miso ice cream. I was irritated. I was irritated some whacked out modernist cuisine fashionably asian gastronomer would throw miso in my white chocolate ice cream simply to turn some heads in the culinary world, or please a silly chef who needed wild and whacky flavors trying to stay hip in the ever-evolving foody world. Just another crazy way of forcing the time honored elegance of salted white chocolate seem new and we're-just-having-some-japanese-iron-chef-fusion-­fun... But, the rest of the meal had been so directed, so passionate.. Could there be more to the dish than first angry and mildly drunk impressions? It was only slightly less irritating but ever so delightful to admit to myself, mid bite, I was actually enjoying myself more than I ever had out to eat in a restaurant. It's something special to think, especially considering that I pride myself in being a cook and a gourmand interchangeably, had I not gone out to eat the night I had and received the tasting I got I may never have tasted that combination of flavors in my entire life, which in spite of my irritations and reservations, in fact utilizing their slight discord to the benefit of the chocolatey melody, played a classic but complex movement effortlessly. My love of chocolate united after a brief courtship with the flavors on my tongue, presenting themselves with the powerful swing of a 60 piece brass band in the dark corner of a small but crowded restaurant just before closing.

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    I'd just like to put in an edit to note that the owners responded to this review to look in to the potential food poisoning, which is pretty damn good business, I think. To be fair, I didn't (couldn't) go to the doc, so I can't confirm that it was food poisoning, but it was much more than a "something didn't agree with me" case (still not totally back to normal), and I didn't notice any additional symptoms that would signal an allergic reaction. Either way - I'll never eat oysters again, and good on their part for doing what they can to ensure that this doesn't happen to another customer. I'd still like to try the brunch, so I'll review again once I go back for that (someone else here reviewed their doughnuts, and I can't say that I've ever met a doughnut that didn't love me as much as I loved it, so that should be safe!) ----------- My Craigie experience was, in the end, pretty bad. I went for dinner at the bar with someone who is a far more adventurous eater than I, and who wanted to share everything (and who was also paying). So between the two of us, we had the pumpkin soup, the duck-fat roasted brussel sprouts, the oysters, the terrines, and the burger. We started with the oysters and the terrines... I wasn't a huge fan of the terrines, and although I had only had oysters once before (admittedly not a huge fan of seafood), the oysters were incredible, and had a bit of a lemony after-taste. nom. I was not at all a fan of the brussel sprouts (but I had never had them before, so...). The soup was really quite tasty, as was the little grilled cheese sandwhich that came with it. The burger was insanely messy but also full of buttery, meaty flavor. The fries were ok. They should really consider sweet potato fries, that would have been a bonus. Someone else commented that the bread was cold, and indeed it was. From what you're paying at Craigie, I'd expect piping-hot, from-the-oven fresh bread. Still, it was quite tasty. So what was the problem? We left the restaurant at 11 ish... at about 2 am, I was hardcore paying homage to the porcelain gods, which happened several more times until 5 am, and I'm still feeling pretty queasy. I have no idea what happened - I only had half a glass of wine, so maybe it was the oysters, maybe the medium-rare burger, maybe a delayed reaction to my newfound disdain for brussel sprouts. I'd love to try their brunch, so maybe I'll consider going back to try that after I can hold down food again.

    (3)

  • J S.

    I'm certainly a fan; however, was a bit underwhelmed by the food and ambience after reading all the RAVE reviews touting the restaurant as one of the finest in the city. My friends and I ordered the tasting menu and it was good overall but sorely lacked in some areas and there is definitely room for improvement...my gripes about the dinner are more with the servers perhaps than the chef. The food is fantastic but my main entree was nowhere near hot when it arrived at the table and trust me, tepid mashed potatoes under a tepid chicken, even if it is fantastic chicken, is underwhelming. The appetizer was the best part of the meal, the foie gras, and the dessert, the cheese plate, was an unsavory regrettable choice. The ambience is good but the tables are too close for comfort and the guy behind me was actually bumping my elbow with each forkful, which was more than annoying, it was just plain unacceptable. For a $500 meal with drinks, I definitely expect more. I will go back to try the brunch and sincerely have high hopes.

    (4)

  • Carol L.

    Oh my oh my. How I loved eating at Craigie On Main! I haven't eaten at all the establishments in Boston, but holy cow - this place has got to be one of the best in the area. Food quality and service was spot on, and prices were decent. Must eat here if you visit Boston! If you have a party of four or less, ask to be seated ringside. You get front and center bar-like seating, looking directly into the kitchen. You can watch the kitchen drama unfold...If you're taking advantage of the seating/views, and watching intently, you probably won't have the most calm/peaceful dinner. Sitting so close, you get caught up in the hustle-bustle kitchen atmosphere. I loved it!! We got the 6 course chefs menu - which really meant 8 or 9 dishes. 1. trio of squid spaghetti, tuna tartare, and sardine. Beautiful presentation, delicious. 2. Hamachi salad - 2 small slivers of hamachi with avocados, mango, and special sauce. Perfection! 3. Seafood sauasage in some type of soupy liquid. Sausage was just ok, soup addicting. I could've done without this course. 4. Softshell crab with fennel or shallots - delicious! Half a softshell crab standing tall, adorned with tiny basil sprouts 5. Sweatbread with asparagus, poached egg, and spring flowers - my favorite dish. It was so incredibly beautiful, especially when you break the yolk. Work of art, and delicious to boot. 6. Squab - tasted like red meat, delicious. I saw the head chef plate this, one vegetable at a time. wow! 7. Panna cotta - OMG. I lied. This was my favorite dish. Ever so tiny, but packed with flavor. There are two flavors - jasmine and roobius (sp?). The jasmine was heavenly. 8. Desserts: gingerbread with young ginger ice cream, peanut butter cookie with peanut butter ice cream, seasonal fruit crumble with tarragon ice cream, olive oil chocolate mousse. Desserts were all solid...but nothing stood out like the panna cotta one. Olive oil chocolate mousse was really interesting. I wouldn't crave it, but it tasted unique. So ya...I'd recommend this place hands down. Price, with tax/tip - around $100 I think. Not bad for such a great dining experience...almost 3.5 hours I think :)

    (5)

  • Daniel C.

    Truly a superb meal. I'd list recommendations here, but all the things I tasted were excellent. The grilled octopus really stood out though. My only reservation in recommending this restaurant is that the staff is overwhelmingly pretentious and self-righteous at times. They rarely miss an opportunity to demonstrate that they know far more than you do about wine, beef, local foods, etc. They're right though, so I didn't mind so much.

    (5)

  • Marty E.

    I travel a lot and on a recommendation from Yelp, visited this location for dinner. OUTSTANDING!! Service was great. Atmosphere was good. The meal was incredible - had the coveted and much talked about hamburger. BEST hamburger and homemade condiments I've ever tasted. Had a side of brussel sprouts baked with duck fat..YUM! Overall, one of the best meals I've had in Boston. Pricetag for the evening - very very reasonable. wow.

    (5)

  • Chandra A.

    Fantastic. Amazing. All the superlatives. Top notch chef and service.

    (5)

  • Peter F.

    ONE OF THE MOST FULFILLING MEALS OF OUR (MY G/F AND I) LIVES!!! My adventure that lead me to Craigie On Main started with the realization that my g/f's birthday was coming up in a couple weeks. This past winter we traveled to Paris and dined at a place called the Hidden Kitchen (a private dinner club hosted at a chef's apartment). We were treated to a 10 course tasting menu that was like nothing we have ever tried. We are not foodies at all but going through that experience in Paris opened our eyes to what food could be when it is prepared with the skill and love of a true chef. Anyways, I tell you all this because when I was looking for a place to take my g/f for her birthday I immediately thought about a classy restaurant that had a chef's table so that we could see all the action and relive our time in Paris. Surprisingly there aren't as many of these in Boston as you might think. Most of them have tables that accommodated 10-12 person parties so they would not rent them out for just 2 people. When it came down to it the restaurants I was deciding between were Craigie On Main, L'Espalier, and Menton. All 3 have wonderful food and service but I just thought that the cozy feel that Craigie seemed to have suited us more then the ritzy/dry/uptight atmospheres that the other 2 places seemed to offer. Before I evened showed up for our reservations the staff was VERY helpful in making my g/f's night as special as possible. I had flowers ordered and send to the restaurant earlier in the day and they had them set up on the ringside chef's bar (looking right into the kitchen) before we arrived. They also, helped me pick out a great champagne and had that accompany the flowers. A birthday card signed by the chef was also there. I couldn't ask for anything more from the tremendously helpful staff. We decided to go with The Craigie Experience (six course tasting menu) because we were feeling a little adventurous piggy backing on our Paris experience. We did inform the server that we did not want to be served any organs meats but that was our only restriction. They had no problem with that and once again were very accommodating. I won't go through every dish but some of the dishes included: smoked sashimi salmon, sashimi geoduck, bass, pork ragu (my favorite), and pork belly (my g/f's favorite). Once we had our 6 courses of food we thought it was over but then we were also served 4 more dessert dishes that included fresh fruit sorbets, a funnel cake creation, panna cotta, a sweet ginger drink, and finally some homemade chocolates. Needless to say we were STUFFED. The presentations of every dish were great and each server (even the head chef) made sure we knew what we were actually eating. Through out the dinner, which was about 3 hours, almost every employee came up to my g/f and told her happy birthday and that just showed me what a warm and inviting place this really was. All the reviews I read about this place raved about the food but the service was just as good! Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had and I have to give great thanks to Craigie for making me look like a king in my g/f's eyes! If you are reading this you need to go eat here and see for yourself what great food can taste like. P.S. during dinner we could not keep our eyes off the burgers that were being made in front of us. We are defiantly going back to get one of those because they looked AMAZING!!!! P.S. during dinner we could not keep our eyes off the burgers that were being made in front of us. We are defiantly going back to get one of those because they looked AMAZING!!!!

    (5)

  • Erin E.

    You have to understand that we're both students. We eat out maybe once a month, and sometimes once every six weeks. And after that meal, we tighten our belts and will eat pancakes and eggs until the budget evens out again. Now, keep in mind that our meal out is usually somewhere nice, somewhere worth it. We'd of course read about Craigie Street Bistro, and then Craigie on Main for years before coming here. As a rule, I choose the restaurant, but he chose this time for some reason. The only bad thing about Craigie on Main is that I have eaten NO WHERE ELSE since we first came here. We now come once a month, and it's the best day of the month, let me tell you. We really enjoy the bar area, where we can order the burger if our cholesterol can stand it and watch the bartenders whip up delicious, unique concoctions. The service is unbeatable: Once, they were thirty minutes beyond our reservation in seating us, and took extra care to make sure that the meal was memorable and special. Their system is noteworthy. Everyone working there is so professional, friendly, unpretentious, and seriously into food. They are genuinely excited when you like what you're eating, they will engage you if you want to know about your food, yet they give you space if you are more interested in your dinner conversation than whether the ramps were sourced from Massachusetts or New Hampshire. Once, we were examining a knife because we liked its design, and, a minute later, a server clandestinely replaced the knife, assuming we had seen a spot or something. Also, we asked about the delicious marinated cherries that had arrived in a Sidecar we'd ordered, and we heard all about how the cherries were marinated and were given a few more to try. It's these little gestures that really make you feel special when you're eating there. We've eaten in the dining room and the bar, for tasting menus (I have had both the vegetarian and non-veg tastings), a la carte, brunch, and bar food. Admittedly, I am not a picky eater, but I can honestly say that I will eat anything put in front of me at this restaurant. The chef (Tony Maws) can make anything taste good. The food is absolutely transporting, and I have tried such exciting combinations with the freshest ingredients. I can't even tell you what to order because everything I've tried I've really enjoyed. I would go in with an open mind (smoked smelt with squid ink?) and an empty belly. You will come away stuffed, happy, and excited about food in Boston.

    (5)

  • John P.

    Love the bone marrow. Love love love it.

    (5)

  • Kenneth T.

    Tried the eight course tasting menu for a double birthday celebration. The smoked buefish course was outstanding.although the roe caviar topping didnt quite have the saltiness or crunch a better caviar would have added (nor the price of such- a trade off ) Two other fish courses including an amberjack sashimi and a nice seabass in vinaigrette type sauce were perfectly done. Loved a tagliatelle type pasta with red sauce. The main was a great veal chop with sweatbreads - cooked perfectly. The wine selection s ok - we had a white burgundy to start (2005 chassagne Montrachet) then a great 2005 brunello di montalcino- this needed decanting to air - they have inadequate decanters that don't do this properly and need to step up their wine expertise. With desert we had a fun flight of del maguey single village mezcals- the chichicapa was the star if you like a smoky style. Service was friendly and attentive and the chef came out to say hello with the veal chop course! Which was nice. a great meal - perhaps 4.5 stars for food, 4 for wine expertise and service? Ambience is more bistro than fine dining- also a 4.

    (4)

  • Bethany M.

    This place is good, not great. The seating is very cramped -- they pack the diners in like sardines, and do a very high volume of business. While the wait staff is more than capable of keeping up with the crush, I'm not sure that the kitchen can meet the demands of the busy dining room. Lots of little missteps in our meal -- undercooked six minute egg, which made the texture of a "ragout" a bit off-putting; forgotten razor clams in the swordfish entree; missing ingredients in a couple of the desserts... Slapdash execution at what is supposedly a "five star" dining institution. Nonetheless, the flavors of the food here are thoughtful and sometimes challenging; I would go back... Just not on a Friday or Saturday.

    (3)

  • Jeff S.

    Great place, but to get the whole experience get the ten course tasting, but be prepared to spend a lot if money. Make reservations at the table by the kitchen so you can watch them cook. Chef very friendly and personally brings you the last course himself. Worth the money.

    (5)

  • Angel D.

    well worth the 45 minute wait on a Friday to sit at the bar; the burger is unbelievable. Also ordered the crab meat salad which was tasty but pricey. We will be back again for that burger.

    (5)

  • Ben K.

    Truly enjoyed the dinner we had at Craigie on Main. We had 6 courses even though we only asked for three, our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and affable, and the food was pretty spectacular. The service, the vibe, the decor, (most importantly!!) the wine, and the location were all great. I greatly enjoyed my halibut, which was perfectly cooked and complimented by some fresh spring ingredients like pea shoots and lemon peel, and I tried the chicken (heavenly) and the lamb three ways. The amuse-bouches were also phenomenal-- from the house-cured pork belly to the trout with caviar and kumquats... mmmmmm. I will be coming back to this place, but I just don't have the funds to frequent it *yet*!!!

    (5)

  • luke s.

    the best bad experience i've ever had i've eaten in the dining room at craigie a few times, usually the 'chef's whim', but more often i take a place at the bar and order from its more modestly priced menu. the food is fantastic, no doubt, and many fellow yelpers have offered helpful and articulate reviews of it here. but, rather than further extolling its many culinary virtues, i want only to attest to the staff's attentiveness, and to highlight their genuine concern for their guests. last night, after waiting an hour or more for a seat at the ever-busy bar, a friend and I watched in horror as our seats were given, presumably accidentally, to some guests who had arrived after us. this sort of injustice, however petty, provokes in even the most level-headed a sense of indignation, and stirs powerful emotions. this was an inauspicious beginning to what i hoped would be a pleasantly indulgent evening. the series of sincere apologies that followed actually made me feel like the staff was genuinely concerned about my experience. while we waited for the next open seat at the bar they offered us a spot with a view of the kitchen, brought us drinks (no charge), and something tasty (again, no charge). the rest of the night--the carefully crafted drinks, the outstanding food, and the engaging conversation--was remarkable, but the point i want to make here is that the people at craigie, the gracious hosts, the smiling wait staff, and the capable bartenders, are what make the place distinctive.

    (5)

  • ryan y.

    I came here with my girlfriend for my birthday. I was very disappointed by the food. PROs: - Bread rolls were delicious (but I don't think they make it) - Bourbon pecan ice cream tart was solid CONs: - DON'T come here for a birthday celebration if you're expecting the restaurant to help celebrate. They give you a signed card and a candle in a small plate, which I found disappointing. - Burger - Supposed to be one of the best in Boston but it had too many flavors. The wedge fries were too crispy; I tasted more oil than potato. - Pork Two Ways: My girlfriend really liked this because of the varying textures, however I thought the flavors didn't mesh well. The plating was beautiful however. Overall, I couldn't recommend this place to friends and I'm not sure I would go back again.

    (2)

  • Nicolas S.

    First off -- this is a review solely based on their cocktails. I showed up too late to try anything from their kitchen, so that will have to wait. I finally found a place that takes cocktail-making seriously. A place that stocks several kinds of bitters and knows how to use them; a place that infuses their syrups for an extra layer of flavor; a place that knows how to use ice (so rare to find a place that understands the importance of good ice); a place where bartenders understand their role as performers and magicians behind the bar. I can't say anything about their food, but you'd be crazy not to try their cocktails. Unbelievable stuff, and friendly service. Tip heavy, because you'll want to come back!

    (4)

  • Elle W.

    Brunch Review Things I LOVED: The service. Arrived on time for our reservation, our table hadn't turned over yet. While we waited, the hostess offered to go get us drinks while we stood there. Yes please, we like drinks while we wait! The donuts. Get.Them! Even if you really don't want to start your breakfast off with dessert, just get one for the table and all share a bite. It shouldn't be missed. Things I LIKED: My meal. I eat fish but not meat. Aside from the pancakes and omelette options which I feel like I could get anywhere, the only other choice was a bagel with smoked trout. It was good, I have no complaints. But it's no better than your local jewish deli and at 4x the price, it's not going to blow you away. If you're a vegetarian, your only entree option is the omelette. If you're a vegan, BYOB-runch. Things I DISLIKED: The cocktails. That hurts to type. I really love cocktails so it makes me so sad to say that I didn't care for the drinks. I got the Winter Equivalent. Imagine a hot cup of whiskey, and that's it. LIke an Irish Coffee without the coffee. All the women in my party now have hair on their chests. The Bloody Mary was tasty but it was so spicy I joked that I was going to run outside and throw myself in a snowbank. Unnecessary hotness! Even after all that criticalness, I still really liked this restaurant and I will be back.

    (4)

  • Neno S.

    Excellent! The chef knows his meat, everything is seasonal and tastes great. You can get pretty funky things in this restaurant like Bone Marrow and Rillette. I have to say I've been to many nice restaurants but my beef was never cooked to perfection like it was at Cragie. The color was unbelievable. The meat was first class. I suggest you end your meal with the banana ice cream dessert. Trust me on that one. I almost forgot... If you are a burger fan, you have to try one here.

    (4)

  • Kostas B.

    I guess a review is most informative when it goes against the consensus and this is why I decided to share my thoughts on Craigie on Main. I really wanted to like the restaurant especially since the Boston metro area is really behind when it comes to high quality food. Dining is not just about the food (especially when the the bill can easily climb up to 100$/person), it is also about the place. And unfortunately it seems that the Criagie on Main managers need to take some engineering lessons: an open kitchen floor plan definitely adds to a restaurant (look for example at Toro in South End) but to make it work you need a good ventilation system. Otherwise, the restaurant stinks like a diner and every meal tastes like any other. I hope that there was something wrong with their system that particular night, because it is a huge pity for such a restaurant to fail on something that simple. A piece of advice: it is good to invest on adventurous cooking, but when frying pans are overused in the kitchen, nearby MIT may come in handy.

    (2)

  • Mike T.

    Order the corn potage! It is the absolute essence of corn, rich and savory and a perfect maize color. It's amazing either with the pork croutons or without. I ate the organic chicken breast, which was quite good-- very light and juicy. I do wish the accompanying veggies were more interesting-- they were good enough, but not great. Highlight of the meal was beef marrow with toast-- the waiter described it as 'beef butter' and that's exactly what it was, four giant slabs of toasted sourdough with marrow to spread on them, presented still sitting in the bone. Downside: the dish is so rich that there's no way you'll have room for dessert. I certainly didn't. I came away pretty impressed with Craigie on Main. I am going to go back soon-- I'm not sure if I'm going to go cheap and order a burger from the bar (the bar menu looks tantalizing and is quite reasoanble) or go all-out and get the nearly $100 chef's menu. Either way, I'm looking forward to making the choice.

    (4)

  • Sara B.

    After reading my review, the owner Marjorie Maws personally reached out to me to offer an explanation and apologize for our bad experience. Goes to show how much he cares about the place and the satisfaction of his clients. He even sent me and my husband a gift certificate to dine at the restaurant for free. While we haven't had a chance to return, we are impressed by his commitment to his clients

    (4)

  • Megan L.

    Craigies, I love you. This is easily my favorite restaurant in Cambridge. There's nothing to not love about this place. From their atmosphere to their staff, their generosity and their philosophy (using the whole animal, local, organic), not to mention the food. Here you can get dinner and a show. Request the chef's table while making a reservation or eat at the bar. I've come twice for the six and ten course tasting at the chef's table and once for their burgers at the bar. This is not somewhere you can go every night, unless you want to spend $300-400 a night, but it's great for special occasions. The first time my boyfriend and I went here, it was my 21st birthday on a Sunday night. There was a signed card from Chef Maws sitting at our table. We ordered the 6 course, but ended up getting 9 or 10, the additional courses were comped. Our waiter was the older waiter and he was fantastic. Always willing to answer questions about the menu, and the wine. Had fantastic suggestions. He was wonderful. Maws wasn't there, which was somewhat disappointing, but the food was top notch regardless. Their wild boar ragout was my favorite course. Home made rye noodles. Perfection. Complementary dessert wine at the end of the meal as well. The second time we came was for my boyfriend's birthday on a Saturday. We had the same table and there was again a card for him. We decided to try the 10 course, which again impressed us. Chef Maws was there this time, which made everyone else seem pretty tense. Less laid back than the first time. Our waiter was okay, but not as good as our first waiter. Our first waiter was actually the only person who recognized us and came and made it a point to talk to us. We were served by who I am guessing was the Manager and used the same line as the first time. No big deal, but would have been nice if he remembered us. We were in a food coma by course 7, but muscled through the dessert courses. Their bourbon pecan ice cream tort is ridiculous. It has a savory-sweet crust with bacon in it. The most recent time I went was with my brother. After deciding to not wait an hour for a table at Cuchi Cuchi, we walked down and waited for seats at the bar. We tried their elaborate drinks, most of which included bitters. The bartender was training their wine director, and we had a good time watching. The bartender got our names and it made the experience more personal and enjoyable. I didn't know what I was ordering for drinks half the time, but they were all something I had never had before and were all delicious. We got their burgers, which was probably the best burger I have had. We added the house cured bacon, which was another $3, but totally worth it. The green salad alongside the burger and stack of thick fries was well dressed and savory. At the end of our dessert, the bartender made us an additional drink with eggwhites, which I was skeptical about, but it matched the quality of everything else there. If you're going to come here, plan to spend a chunk of change, because it's well worth it and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • CM G.

    The food was good, the service was good, the cocktails and bread are very good. We came in for my boyfriends birthday and I do have to say that I really appreciate the subtle birthday items offered by the restaurant. We both dislike any type of song or dance for birthdays. COM had a postcard signed by the chef waiting at the table wishing my boyfriend a happy birthday and also brought out a small candle when our desserts came. That was just perfect. We both did the prix fixe menu. All the food was good, although very rich. I felt a little sick after my entree (I had the veal two ways- short rib and sweetbreads) because everything was just so heavy. The highlight of the meal was the pigs tails appetizer, which were both unusual and tasty (although very rich). The low point was my boyfriend's entree, the Loup de Mer. It was incredibly salty, even for a salt lover such as himself. The desserts were good. The service was good, but again, not spectacular. The waitress seemed indifferent to our opinions on the food and was really not engaged with us. Everything was described as "beautiful" and "how could you not like it." Very generic. Nothing memorable. When asked how our desserts were, I described mine as interesting. She didn't ask why or if I really liked it. Just smiled and nodded. haha! Perhaps it was late into her shift. You'll notice my general theme here is good. Besides the fish, everything was good. I was looking for remarkable and memorable. Perhaps I was in search of the best meal I've ever had in Boston(not such a high expectation given other Yelpers' reviews). Unfortunately, I didn't get it. I would probably give COM another chance for brunch, a chef's whim tasting, or drinks after work- something much cheaper than the meal we just had.

    (4)

  • L B.

    Overrated and overpriced. Sure, there was great service - but almost too much to where it was intrusive on our experience. The food, while very very small portions, was of good quality. But even with the "discount" 4 course dinner, this was still not worth half what we paid. Save your money and try other places around the area that aren't as heavily priced on fluff.

    (2)

  • Amy H.

    My friend and I shared an appetizer and dessert, and we each ordered a entree, in the end the dinner cost each of us around 60 bucks. This is a lovely restaurant, service good, and good ambiance, but I just think that the good was good but not great, and didn't really worth that money. I'll give it five stars if the bill was 30-40. Service was really nice though, we commented on the chocolate dessert to our server that it had too much acidity in taste, and later she brought us a complimentary mini dessert as compensation.

    (3)

  • Will E.

    This was our first time dining at Craigie. We sat in the bar area because we couldn't get a table in the dining room at late notice - it was fine in there though - nice and casual. We ordered from both the bar menu and the regular menu - you can order from both in the bar. My wife got the oyster appetizer and cod. The oysters were good but a little bit citrus-y for my tastes - my wife liked them though. The cod was really good. I had the potage (soup) and the polenta. The potage was *amazing*. Shaved with truffles. Great. The polenta was really good. I liked the vegetables on the side. I could have used a few more vegetables but it was good. Bread was good Service was very good and attentive. We will definitely go back on weeknights here. They have an $18 grass fed super-burger we want to try. A lot of the food at Craigie is organic and locally sourced which is great. The wine list was pricey but the beers were pretty reasonably priced. Too bad they don't have a reasonably priced house wine. That would be a nice touch.

    (5)

  • Cindy W.

    My boyfriend and I spent our anniversary here during our visit to Boston. The service was impeccable and the food were delicious and beautifully presented. We were so full by the end of 6-course, but the food kept coming - the desserts were on the house and we even got more chocolate cookies after that. This is definitely the place you would go for special occasions.

    (5)

  • Lauren B.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Whether for pulling a seat up to the bar and ordering their fantastic burger and some bone marrow or having the chefs keep you company at the "ring side seating" with 8 OUTSTANDING courses. I have never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Rosie Z.

    Beautiful restaurant, love the open kitchen and brick walls. It was very romantic and quaint. The Chef's Whim was definitely a winning choice. Service was very professional and subtle. Love the bartenders who were playful, helpful and had great sense of humor.

    (5)

  • John Paul N.

    For my 30th birthday, Abby took me out to a restaurant we've been dying to try: Craigie On Main. (As a side note, after we found parking a few blocks away from the restaurant, we walked in and gave our name for our reservation. The lady at the front looked in her book and told us that there was no reservation with our name on it. I tell her that I got a call that day from the restaurant confirming the reservation. She tells me she is sorry, but she can seat us when something comes available. Then I look onto my phone and show here the number that called me...yup, not their number. Apparently we walked into another restaurant instead of Craigie on Main. Awesome...we looked like idiots.) Anyway, once we walked the extra block to the restuarant that actually says "Cragie on Main" on it's windows, we were seated right away. I knew immediately that I would love this restaurant. The open kitchen is almost larger than the entire dining area. There were bar seats right at the kitchen, but we were seated around the corner at a nice two seat. Our waiter came over and asked us if we had any questions. We said no, that we were both going with the Chef's 10 course tasting. Then the waiter asked us if we had any likes and dislikes. He told us that Craigie on Main is a "head to tail" restaurant and pondered if we were ok with eating items like sweetbreads. Of course we are fine with it. We told him we love pig cheek and he said he'll definitely try to see if we can get some pig head's in our meal. (Each chef's tasting is catered to each table apparently. Though throughout our meal, I did notice other tables getting some similar dishes, but that's ok.) I will now recount what we ate, thanks to the printed menu we received at the end of the meal. I told our waiter we were food bloggers (he noticed us taking pics of everything) and he said he'd get us a menu. That was nice of him. #1. Three Chilled Seafood Preparations "fresh uni, lime pickle vinaigrette", "foid de lotte au torchon, sea trout roe", "lobster salad, hackleback caviar" Right off the bat I'm freaking excited. Monkfish liver, something I've been dying to try for the last couple of years. I'm so glad we get to try something new. First the uni. It tasted like most uni I've ever had, which is to say smooth and creamy and very good. The lobster, which Abby absolutely loved, had a tiny dab of caviar on it that made the dish for me. And the monkfish liver...it was everything I had hoped it to be. Foie gras from the ocean is the best way to describe it. So good...so rich and decadent. #2. Salad of Big Eye Tuna Sashimi Laying on top of a red onion-shiso salsa that was so good, Abby used bread to soak it all up. #3. Grilled Hawaiian Walu One of my most favorite plates of the night. Walu, a fish I've never heard of before, was meaty and very flavorful. #4. Red Chile and Sesame Marinated Salmon Kama The collar of a salmon. Again, something I've never had before. Other than the small bones that hid inside the piece we were given, this was a fantastic dish. The crispy skin and the delicate flesh were perfect together. The bones though, could not be ignored. One of the only knocks during our dinner. #5. Pork Belly and Cepe Tortellini My least favorite plate, mainly because I didn't like the pumpkin puree too much. The pork belly was very good and I was wishing we had a little bit more of it... #6. Grilled Pork Belly Ask and you shall receive. The pork belly was perfectly cooked and I enjoyed the pomegranate seeds that accompanied the meat. I did not, however, care for the glazed chestnuts. No matter, the pork belly was scrumptious. #7. Vermont Organic Lamb 3 ways: Roasted Loin, Braised Belly, Crispy Confit Abby hates lamb. If there's one protein that Abby refuses to eat, it's lamb. She liked the lamb at Craigie on Main. Nuff said. (An incredible dish, though the sausage was just ok, the braised belly and roasted loin were unbelievable.) #8. Jasmine/Rooibos Tea Infused Panna Cotta Let's just say we didn't like either and leave it at that. #9. Olive oil and Taza Chocolate Mousse or Long Island Cheese Pumpkin Parfait My chocolate Mousse came with a little candle for my b-day. That was nice. The mousse itself was very rich, but was a good size portion that I wasn't hit with too much sweetness. Abby loved her pumpkin parfait. Abby also ordered a cup of tea, that came with it's own pot. #10. Chilled Phttp://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/central/each Mousse A very nice way to end the dinner. Very light and refreshing. Overall, a fantastic meal. Other than the bones in the salmon, nothing to really complain about. The service was at times slow, especially when we were waiting to pay the bill and leave, but since we weren't really in a hurry it didn't matter. Water was refilled in a timely manner, and the waiters were very knowledgable and friendly. I give Craigie on Main a 4 1/2 out of 5.

    (4)

  • Jodie K.

    I'm ruined! I no longer care to go out to eat anywhere else. Sorry, friends and family, I know you're sick of hearing about it. I'll take you there whenever you want.

    (5)

  • Christy F.

    Great food, really stellar service, fantastic wine list. If I lived here I would come every night.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    My wife and I ate here with another couple. We were able to secure a great table in the bar area. The service was nothing but stellar. We did not opt for having the chef cook for our table, but we all took advantage of the prix fixe menu, which allowed us to sample many different tastes. Everything was spectacular, and it left me wanting to return so that I can sample more of the menu.

    (5)

  • Will s.

    Yes! I knew I was holding out a 5 star rating for a reason. This place is without a doubt a true 5 star worthy restaurant. Probably the best restaurant I have ever been to. It is that good. Simply amazing.

    (5)

  • Sameer N.

    Kid. I have been around the world and have tried to eat a burger in every city that I have visited. I've been on tour doing stand up comedy and subsequently decided to do turn it into "The Burger World Tour". I'm trying to find the CREAMIEST BURGER on the F'ING PLANET THO! Enough about me. I was just establishing that I know WHAT IS UP with burgers. So I heard a legend that Craigie had the most bonkers burger in town, and it was something like $18. "If you're going to charge $18 that burger better come with a little sucky suckly love you long time" I thought but I was wrong. It's a burger with potato strings. Over all, the place is super dope. It's always crammed to the brim, you can take your chances and try to get a spot at the bar. If you do though, you probs don't want to be there with more than 2 other people cause it will take a while to find some seats next to each other at the bar. Oh and the bar is LEGIT. The cocktail dudes are super serious about their craft. They have all sorts of eye droppers with bitters in them that are spritzed with the essence of other shit, it's mental kid. You'll get banged up there, BUT you'll pay a super high price to do it. Now on to the burger.. I ordered it like any sane person should. Medium rare. They brought it to me and it was in fact cooked to perfection. It's crammed deep with bone marrow and other delightful treats that gives it the consistency of smooth butter. The only problem I had was that the ketchup was made in house, and it didn't have the taste of the ketchup I like. It kind of killed it for me. The bun was a sesame seed bun, and again.. it wasn't to my liking. The fries or.. potato strings or whatever they called it were BOGUS. I want something with a thick consistency. They didn't have the feel I was looking for. All in all, the burger meat was worth it, but the bun and the strings were a total bum out. Bring your own ketchup packets and order the burger with no ketchup. Hmm what else.. uh I had a bite of the short rib which was pretty dank but I've had better. I had a complimentary taste of the marinated mackerel, and it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The ambiance is a 10/10 The food is unreal, but I wouldn't spring for the burger if I were you. Even though it's dope you'd need to BYO bun or BYO ketchup or BYO fries. You should stick with the other choices. If you want a SIQQ burger go to Five Leaves in Brooklyn or Kumas Corner in Chicago. Otherwise, save your money. $18 gets you like 18 whacks at a jack shack in San Francisco. Go here if you're celebrating the loss of your virginity, your birthday, or a new job/success in life. Don't go here if you have less than $80 a person to enjoy it to the fullest. You know me though, I ball hard regardless. SHTUPES!

    (4)

  • E. R.

    I don't give out five star reviews very easily but with this restaurant there's little doubt. This restaurant comes as close to perfection as one could hope for. Expertly prepared food and drinks. Fine service. Craigie on Main is amazing.

    (5)

  • J M.

    Love, love, love this place. The food is always amazing, the service phenomenal, and the drinks are sinfully good. The bartenders are knowledgeable, friendly, and very good at what they do. I live in the neighborhood and when I'm in the mood for a quality meal, a bite at the bar, or just a really good cocktail or glass of wine in the company of others, this is the place I head. It's expensive but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Richard C.

    Desperately trying to fit Craigie into my (not so) busy schedule before the end of the year, we finally made it over last night. If you haven't been, it truly is a spectacular space, open kitchen right when you walk in, well lit, and overall very appealing. We hustled to get there right when they opened at 5:30 pm to make sure we could grab a table at the bar area (the only place to get the burger) and were fortunate enough to be seated immediately. We've been delegated to eating in bar area's before (see the Met Bar) but have never been treated this well. In my experience the service in the bar is never as good as the main dining area, and in the case of Radius, the service overall was borderline arrogant and snobby despite eating in the main dining room. Craigie does not mess around, as the service, and everyone we interacted with, was impeccable, very attentive, and made it feel like a special night even if we were just eating burgers, again, the polar opposite of my Radius experience. The burger was not like anything I've had all year, I wouldn't call it gourmet, but it's not your run-of-the-mill burger either. This felt special, I still can't say any burger is worth $18, but the effort is there. It's beefy, and unbelievably so, cooked to a perfect medium-rare, the cheddar fully melted and tangy, the house-made bun crispy and chewy all at the same time. The mace ketchup, again house-made, is nice, with a complementary sweetness to it, and there are so many different flavors going on, it's difficult to pick them all out. There is some serious Umami, with the miso flavor the true backbone of this burger, it really takes it to another level. It's easily the best tasting burger I've had in a while. It's not a perfect plate, however, as it comes with shoestring fries, which as I've written before are not my preference. I never know how to eat them, if you use your hands it's nearly impossible to dip in to ketchup, otherwise your using a fork to eat fries and feel like a fool. And there is some seasoning on the fries that I don't love, not quite spicy, but assertive, I much rather just see some regular fries. But unlike most shoestrings, these are fried perfectly and are utterly crispy. The fennel slaw on the side also adds a much needed refreshment component to the meal. Craigie on Main easily delivers the beefiest, juiciest burger of the year, and although it's become a hot destination for burger lovers alike to come to, it's still a process. You need to come early to guarantee a seat, and for two burgers and one beer plus tip, it costs nearly $30 per person. We're talking burgers here, fundamentally, I still take issues with spending that much on a burger, but at least on this night, it was worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Mara R.

    Wonderful, amazing, sophisticated, unique, and really really good! Want an amazing gastronomic experience?? This is the place. I HAD PIGS TAILS and LIKED THEM!!! I now dream about them.

    (5)

  • Ben G.

    Last night, my friend Jenny and I had dinner in the bar. We arrived promptly at 530 to assure we got a seat at the bar which is first come first serve (ie no reservations). The bartender (who's name escapes me) was great. She was an extremely seasoned bar tender and it showed by her finesse behind the bar. With an expert hand, she crafted cocktail after cocktail effortlessly. She made for me the Ardois (Rain vodka, sage, juniper and lime) which was delicious. There was great flavor out of this sour drink. Jenny and I decided on splitting an appetizer of the fried pig tails. I don't know about you, I have never had pig tails before and let me tell you - these little suckers were amazing. So rich and full of piggy flavor, fried to perfection, this dish made me a believer of the head to tail philosophy of Craigie on Main. Then after much hype in the local news, we each had to try the famed hamburger. Cooked to a perfect medium rare, topped with cheese, fried onions, house cured bacon, homemade ketchup and other accoutrements; this was by far one of the best burgers of my life. You could really taste the meat which is so important. The thick wedge cut fries that came with it were nicely crisp. On the side, we also sampled some bone marrow and some sautéed mushrooms. If I had any idea, how large the bone marrow side was, I probably would not have gotten it. With the pig tails, giant burger, I was bordering on being way too stuffed for my own good. Yet the bone marrow and the mushrooms were both delicious. Just as I was about to call it quits, the amazing bar tender sent over some dessert foam that tasted like an apple pie. I'm glad is was foam and not pie as I was so full. Speaking of full, I had no idea how full of flavor foam could be. Great food, Great service, and nice decor. What an amazing first impression of Craigie on Main. I'm anxious to go back, get all dressed up and try that tasting menu which I've heard so much about.

    (4)

  • Frank G.

    Magnificent cocktails. Entertaining service. OUTSTANDING tasting menu. Perfectly-paired wine. Expensive; worth it. Best meal I ever had. Come here someday.

    (5)

  • Allison D.

    Craigie on Main is the garden of earthly delights. The ten-course tasting menu was extraordinary -- every dish was interesting and thoughtfully created. Service was deft but warm. It was a bargain for the quality, flavor and beauty. I'll dream of the ricotta gnocchi with beach pea blossoms forever.

    (5)

  • Bruce W.

    Big improvement over the old place. Doesn't feel as humid, dank, and claustrophobic as the old location. The most impressive open kitchen I've ever seen. Order the hanger steak.

    (5)

  • Peter C.

    After several unsuccessful attempts to get reservations at four other restaurants we decided to drive to Craigie's and take our chances. We arrived too late for the dinner menu but were pleasantly surprised with the bar menu which has plenty of interesting and delightful options. The ambience, décor, is outstanding and I love how the kitchen is part of the dining room; the state of the art cooking station was made in France. This was my third visit and I was surprised to see the place half empty; I've never been able to get a seat at the bar. The staff has always been very knowledgeable about the food and drink menus and tonight was no different. We were sat as soon as the staff cleaned and set our table; within minutes our server greeted us and asked if we would like bottled or tap water. I checked out the extensive wine list, most bottles are in the $45-$100 range with a few in the thirties. This was my second time ordering 2005 Faugères 'Vieilles Vignes Château d la Liquière from the Languedoc region at $34.00 and we've been extremely pleased with the quality and consistency. It's a darker, heavier blend of grenache, carignan, syrah, cinsault and others; there are some bold tannins, probably oak-derived, with a smooth vanilla finish. I was happy to hear our waiter offer the roasted bone marrow to the table behind us (it's not on the bar menu), I've been eager to try this resurrected dish for a while. The sour dough bread (which happens to be my favorite) had a beautiful hard crust; soft on the inside with large air pockets and the perfect balance of sourness. We started out with the Dodge Cove Oysters on the Half Shell with candied lemon mignonette; fresh, plump, and succulent; the lemon mignonette complimented the oyster's butter texture. Next up were Maine Mussels with toasted garlic, chile caribe, miso, and herbs; my first reaction was holy $%&* these are the largest, meatiest, mussels, I have ever seen. They were served with plenty of toasted sour dough for dipping in the jus. It would be impossible for me to visit Craigie's without sampling the Terrines, Assiette of House-Made Charcuterie: Duck Rillettes, Pate de Campagne, Foie Gras au Torchon; with a home made mustard, some type of blackberry sauce, and again plenty of toasted sour dough. The texture was fine, smooth, not a country style; well seasoned and perfectly executed. As we were enjoying these our server brought over the Crispy-Fried Pigs' Tails with pickled peanuts, nuoc cham, cilantro; a little too greasy for my wife but well worth the effort if you don't mind using your hands and getting a little dirty. She thought the cartilage was fat; it does look similar. Crispy Fried Nova Scotia Smelts pickled peppers, preserved lemon, dried black olives, squid ink anchoiade; these were large and de-boned which made it easier for us. I do prefer the smaller ones with the bones intact, you can eat the bones and heads; these are one of my father's favorite foods. Perfectly seasoned but could have been a bit crispier and slightly less greasy in my opinion. I guess our main course would be the Local Grass-Fed Beef Burger and a pricy $18.00. The burger was pretty huge at least 8-10 oz with Shelburne Farm cheddar, house made red wine pickle, celery root slaw and mace ketchup, house made sesame seed bun and crispy shoestring potatoes. It was ordered medium rare, but it came out slightly undercooked and rare (which was acceptable), we enjoyed the burger; it is easily big enough for two. The texture was smooth and moist, but I'm not sure if it beats Fuddruckers, I might have to do a side by side taste test. The shoestring fries reminded me of some chips that I would eat out of the can as a child, I'm still not sure if I prefer them with the shoestring cut. The service throughout all of the courses was timely, not overbearing or annoying, the server topped off my wine and water when it was low and answered all of our questions; he gave his opinions on beverages and dishes when asked by my wife. Last but not least was the Peanut Butter Parfait house-made hobnob cookie, cocoa nibs, banana foam. I guess the banana foam could be considered molecular gastronomy; but to us it just tasted great and made sense. Store.gourmetsleuth.com describes cocoa nibs as "simply roasted cocoa beans separated from their husks and broken in to small bits. The nibs are a new chef favorite and can be used in place of nuts atop ice cream or in cookies and even as a snack" Was everything 100% perfect? No, but it's about as close as one can get; definitely a solid "A". My wife didn't finish her Hot Buttered Rum Cider with Fragrant and Lush Appleton Estate, canella, orange, and clove; she found it too buttery. She didn't complain about it, but our attentive waiter noticed and told us he had them comp the cocktail. I thought that was a nice touch to a perfect evening.

    (5)

  • Betts C.

    I fear that I can tend towards indecision. So I'm really all about it when a chef and/or a bartender select my food and drink for me. This made the fact that I could walk in at nine on a Sunday night, sit at a bar, and have an incredibly knowledgeable group of people prepare four tiny cocktails and six courses of food in sequence pretty much fantastic. The fact that, while waiting for our food, we sampled the first three miniature cocktails and couldn't decide which was best seemed like a good sign. Even better, the delightful bartender, who knows how to handle a shaker in a way we just don't see in Kansas City, responded to our request for "something to work with our food" (our food being a six-course meal of the chef's unknown and random choices for the evening) with something incredible, lovely, and that did in fact go with the food. Managing that was a feat in and of itself, as the courses were as varied as possible, from delicate fish to possibly the finest chicken I've ever eaten. I'll admit that, when the main course came out, I was a little sad. I wasn't sure chicken could hold up the deal after the prior couple of courses. I mean, I'm the kind of girl that normally doesn't order chicken in restaurants because I actually can handle chicken pretty bloody well at home. But this time? This was so beyond my capacity for cooking and creativity, and I have no idea why. But it was mighty fine. The funny thing about that is that we actually were given two different preparations of chicken, and I couldn't tell you which was better. The breast option was the most tender thing I've ever eaten, and absolutely mouthwateringly juicy. The other version was a thigh with the most perfectly crispy skin that every calorie counter in my brain switched off and just savored. The desserts were also phenomenal, and clearly working with the spring seasonal fruits available. And the dessert drink, which the bartender had saved for us, was like a creamy dream, but a dream that packed a punch. Mostly, Craigie on Main fulfills my demands for what makes phenomenal, not just great, food. I don't need foods about which I don't understand. I don't need preparations so complicated I would never be able to handle them. I just need wonderful, fresh ingredients prepared beautifully, keeping their individual flavors but working together on the plate. Basically, I just want simple food prepared beyond the norm. And Craigie on Main takes that one step further, with slightly complicated, extremely well-cooked food. And I didn't have to pick any of it, and that's certainly something.

    (5)

  • Jon P.

    I went to Craigie with my girlfriend for the chef's whim tasting on Sunday night. The first thing that I noticed about the place, other than the head chef berating the waitstaff, was how crowded it was for 9pm on a Sunday night. Definitely make reservations if you are planning on doing the tasting, the place appeared to be full. We opted for the 6 course meal which was exceptional overall. The waitstaff had great knowledge of the menu items as far as how the meal had been prepared. I was a bit surprised that they served us skate at a restaurant this nice as I didn't think that was generally a classy dish. It was prepared nicely though and I'm happy to have finally eaten the fish that is almost always thrown back by fisherman. The restaurant didn't have an especially romantic or classy feel to it, which I guess is a pro or con depending on who you are. I wasn't exactly stuffed after the meal, but definitely enjoyed everything I was served. Next time, I'm going to request to sit in front of the their open kitchen and order their supposedly limited edition burger.

    (4)

  • Mikhail Z.

    I ordered 6-course degustation menu and it was very good. What I like best of all is service at Craigie on Main. Though I have dinner at upscale places rather often, this place is remarkable for its service! I think almost every waiter came to my table and asked how is my current course, for all six courses. Once I finished the course, it took no more than a inunute to wait until one of the waiters came and took an empty plate. The food itself is not what I particularly like, sometimes a bit heavy. The best course was slowly cooked char. It was soooo juicy, like sashimi, and cooked well at the same time. Waiters said they have special way to cook it. That was the thing not to be missed. Other stuff was very good, I clearly saw it and understand that, but not of my particular taste. That's why just 4 stars...

    (4)

  • Lynette M.

    Did the tasting menu, fabulous.

    (5)

  • Nors P.

    New favorite restaurant in cambridge! Service: Fantastic - knowledgeable while still being friendly and approachable. Gave the perfect amount of attention - from the greeting/coat check at the door, drinks in the hall, and dinner. Decor: Nice - at the table you feel like you have lots of privacy - even though you really dont - not stuffy at all! Food: Fantastic. We had the 6 course tasting menu. I had the pescatarian and my friend had the regular. Everyone has raved sufficiently - I would say that I was more impressed by the small plates than the large plates (wow to the trio of fish first course, scallop sashimi and homemade pasta) less wow to the fish dish that was more entre-like and a veggie dish with duck egg. Unfortunately by the 6th course I was too full to finish or really enjoy the rest of my meal - thought I did have a few bites of both dessert! Yum! Makes me want to go back and just try more apps! Of course, the cocktails were great as well!

    (5)

  • Mona L.

    I wanted so much to like this restaurant. I had heard such good things from old friends who went to college with me in Boston... so I came in here with an old college friend to reminisce about the old days. The decor was lovely; the service was prompt. But the food was just not all I had expected it to be. The octopus appetizer was tasty-but a little bit on the chewy side. My halibut as the main course was just OK though--nothing spectacular and a little bit underseasoned. It didn't really taste like much of anything. And it came out cold! Maybe my main course was a fluke, but it definitely wasn't one I liked.

    (3)

  • David P.

    if you are ready to put down the money, you can't do much better than Craigie. Tony Maws continues to reliably put out incredible food. The space is alive with energy, but has plenty of quieter spaces where you can pay full attention to your food if you wish to. Most of the staff seem to really love the food and take pride in providing a great experience in a top notch restaurant. Suggestions: Avoid peak hours as Craigie can get a little zooey. Also, consider some of the off-hours pice fixe specials - such as the late Sunday (after 9PM) Chef's whim and the pre-theater dpecials.

    (5)

  • Kevin M.

    This past weekend, my wife and I enjoyed the 6-course tasting menu: a relaxed and delicious 2-hour experience. Tastes were amazing and portions perfectly sized. In the CoM tasting, there isn't a selection you make from a list for each course It's based on what's fresh that morning (menu is printed daily and is based on what is purchased that day...love that!). Service was excellent, but slightly marred by the fact that timing on 2 courses was a bit off and we were left impatiently waiting. In one, we had finished our wine and were not about to order more, so that timing issue detracted from the meal. Our server (and the host of servers that helped) did an excellent job especially with wine suggestions. CoM doesn't have a a good bar scene as there is no place to comfortably stand. Even standing around the bar, the wait staff comes to take your drink order and are very attentive, but it feels very awkward. There are tables for diners around the bar and the bar was packed with people enjoying an evening meal. I'd say forgo getting there early for a drink. Despite the price and the quality, the crowd isn't ultra-dressy. Wait staff and most patrons had jeans. Definitely a worthwhile experience. If you're keeping score, I think Pigalle still has the best tasting meal with paired wines in Boston.

    (4)

  • Rachel G.

    I know Craigie keeps making its way onto various "Best Of" lists, but I have eaten here twice now and both times was unimpressed. The first time I went was wiht my parents during the Christmas holiday. Although we sampled a variety of offal/non-meat-based appetizers and each tried a different entree, all three of us left feeling underwhelmed. Although expensive, the dishes we sampled lacked innovative preparation and complex flavor. It seemed the kitchen was relying on their use of unorthodox pig (and chicken and cow...) parts to spice up the cuisine, when, in reality, all these ingredients made for was a foodie-sounding menu. Service was so-so, and was certainly nothing to write home about. Fast forward almost a year: after reading numerous articles lauding Craigie's brunch, kitchen, bar, and especially their burger, I was ready to give the restaurant another chance. After all, maybe they were just having an off night. We made a reservation a week and a half in advance, but when we arrived, our table wasn't yet ready and we were herded to the bar for a 40-minute wait. Fine- I've worked in restaurants for five years. I get that tables don't always turn when you want them to. Forty minutes behind on a reservation in a highly celebrated restaurant with no comp was, however, a little unexpected. We enjoined our cocktails at the bar and, after our wait, were finally seated at a nice table by the window. After a couple minutes our server arrived and we asked if the burger was still available and we could get it at a table (instead of in the bar). She said she'd check, then walked away. Returning several minutes later with a tray, she wordlessly began stacking the contents of our table atop it. As she pivoted to walk (ostensibly) to the bar, I said something to the effect of "so can we get the burger?" A little put-off, she responded with a "no" and that it "had been sold out for hours," but she thought we wanted to sit in the bar anyway and thus was taking us there. Arbitrarily. ... I appreciate the proactive attitude, but not asking guests what they wanted to do, silently and inexplicably clearing their table, and generally adopting an attitude of annoyance really left a sour taste in our mouths. After the table location confusion, we ordered a nice bottle of wine and settled into our booth (not at the bar). I ordered the roast chicken, while my boyfriend ordered a rabbit dish. We also split an assortment of pates and cured meats as well as the duck fat brussels sprouts with dinner. The pates were pretty standard fare, but were served with a variety of interesting sauces, mustards, and compotes which really made the dish something special. The duck fat brussels sprouts were as rich as expected- they had a great char and nuttiness that made them truly addictive. Our entrees were, unfortunately, rather a disappointment. Although my chicken was moist, it tasted like something I could have made at home. My boyfriend found his rabbit similarly underwhelming. After two attempts at Craigie, I still can't figure out what makes this place such a favorite for (what seems like) the rest of Boston. That said, I've yet to try the burger or brunch--both of which have quite venerable reputations of their own. Whether or not those accolades are to be trusted, though, is something yet to be seen.

    (2)

  • Jeannie H.

    It took me 4 years to get here and I was expecting to lament that I had missed out on 4 amazing years of dining experience. Instead, I'm not lamenting. All the dishes were well executed - a little on the salty side but overall, well balanced. However, there wasn't a single dish with unexpected flavour combinations that vaulted my palate into another universe. The meal crescendoed at the beginning with each course better than the last and then things slowly petered out with dessert completely falling flat. I left thinking that this won't end up being a memorable experience. ATMOSPHERE - The decor is really consistent with a bistro, which is discordant with the level of cuisine they are trying to achieve. I really enjoyed the homey atmosphere with the open view of the kitchen. However, after 3 hours of sitting on a hard wooden chair, I was wishing I was at L'Espalier. SERVICE - I thought service was extremely slow. There was a significant lag time between dishes with our entire dining experience being 3.5 hours for 10 courses. FOOD - They served Iggy bread, which is definitely one of my preferred bakeries. It made me a little sad that they didn't bake their own bread but I wont knock off points for that....better to buy bread than bake crappy bread. Three Chilled Seafood Preparations (tempura-fried cod cheek with squid ink, squid noodles with nuoc cham, house-cured trout) - Meh. Nothing on this dish tasted great. The nuoc cham is meant to be a dipping sauce so when you douse the squid noodles in it, it's extremely salty. The cod cheek was well fried but uninteresting. Salad of Scallop Sashimi (green tomato-red onion, melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew) and lemon-caper vinaigrette) - This was a lovely dish. I think they slightly overdid the citrus but the scallops were sweet and well complemented the melon. Miso and Marinated Australian Cobia (Wellfleet and razor clams, roasted cherry tomatoes, pistou-dashi broth) - This was the highlight of the evening. The flavours were delicate and the fish perfectly cooked. Red Snapper Collar - This was initially introduced as Hirmasa collar but I know my fish and this was no Hirmasa. After some further inquiry, it was red snapper. It was smothered in this sauce that was really reminiscent of Szechuan cooking except without the spiciness. Overall, the sauce was heavy handed and overwhelmed the delicate fish flavour. I could have done without this course. Sheep's milk cheese and squash Tortellini (broccoli purée, purslane, squash blossoms) - I could have done without this dish as well. The puree inside the tortellini was so mashed up that it completely lacked texture and discernible flavours. Grilled Vermont Organic Pork Belly (crab, mustard greens, smoked cinnamon, hominy) - The pork belly was well cooked but uninteresting. Elysian Fields Lamb Chop with Roasted Sweetbreads (farro verde, summer vegetables, kohlrabi purée) - The lamb was again well cooked but uninteresting. It was just a lamb chop on a plate. The sweet breads were fried and extremely grease laden. House-Made Sorbets - There were 3 of us and we each got a different flavour - yogurt, blackberry, and plum. The plum was delicious. I would have called this an amuse bouche but it was hardly a course. Creamy Anson Mills Corn Grits (demerara brulèe, lemon-thyme ice cream, warm blackberry compote) - I don't know what to say about this course. Grits as dessert turns out not to be a winner. It wasn't horrible, it just wasn't a dessert. The other two people in our party got a sheep's milk cheesecake and a panna cotta with banana cream. Rhubarb-Hibiscus Mousse (buttermilk foam) - Two problems with this. 1) It just didn't taste good at all (bordering on yuck) and 2) It's in a tiny shot glass and hardly constitutes as a course. I felt cheated. I'll be back only because the "Milk Fed Pig's Head for Two" has caught my attention. However, they seriously need to find themselves a new dessert chef. In general, I like savoury courses over the sweet ones but dessert is not a course to be disregarded. You need to end the meal on a positive note.

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    This was my second time at Craigie, and I already can't wait to go back. It's just a pity my wallet and my waistline can't afford to go there more often. My memories of my first meal there are excellent ones, but vague, so I'll just focus on last night's meal. It was my boyfriend's birthday. We wanted to have the pig's head for two, so I made sure to specify that when I made the OpenTable reservation. A couple of days before our reservation (they were closed the day before), I got a call to confirm, and the person I spoke to said that they had the pig's head in stock, but that she'd double-check the day of, to make sure we'd get what we wanted. She did indeed call back the afternoon of our reservation to say that yes, they had it. Nice! Although we wanted a nice cozy table for two to celebrate his birthday, both my boyfriend and I were intrigued by the idea of coming back sometime to sit at the counter surrounding the open kitchen, whose high energy and beautifully controlled chaos were attractive and exciting. The waitress who served us was already aware of our desire for the pig's head, and immediately recommended the pig's tails as an appetizer. Granted, that sounded like Too Much Pig (and technically, it really was), but we couldn't resist the idea of literal nose-to-tail (or vice-versa) dining. We also got a riesling as recommended by the waitress. The bread that came to us shortly before the appetizer was good--made by Iggy's--but not anything to rave about. The pig tails were crispy on the outside, tender-fatty on the inside. They were perfectly accented by the nuoc cham, peanuts, and cilantro, which added an exotic note and a brightness to the rich meat and made it sing. The riesling did, indeed, pair perfectly with the richness of the pork and the southeast Asian flavors. Then came Mr. Pig. Please note--this is actually HALF a pig's head, not a whole one. It does not include tongue or brains, but does include an eyeball. It was accompanied by little pancakes (as for Peking duck), a boudin noir-hoisin sauce, and a pumpkin sambal, which was basically a salad of bean sprouts and pumpkin and herbs with toasted sesame oil and chili. My boyfriend took the first crisp square of scored pig skin, and I knew instantly I'd brought him to the right place. It was pork heaven. The meat was impossibly tender. The fat was meltingly soft and luscious. I'm someone who generally hates the texture of fat on meat, but this all seemed to blend into this sumptuous deliciousness that was irresistible. The skin was not at all tough or hard to chew, but was crisp and crackling like well-cooked bacon. So was the ear. I offered my boyfriend the snout, because it's a fairly cartilagenous piece, and I don't like that texture. He enjoyed it. We split the eyeball. After all that cooking, you couldn't really distinguish its texture from that of the meat and fat around it. The flavor was somewhat metallic, not unlike liver. Not at all unpleasant. The waitress was impressed with our fearless and enthusiastic deconstruction of Mr. Pig. Dessert was whole wheat crepes with Macoun apples and butternut ice cream. The nuttiness of the whole wheat flour was perfect with the sweet apples, and the butternut ice cream had a wonderful salted-caramel note to it that tied everything together beautifully. It was autumn on a plate, complete with the ice cream as a farewell to summer. Delicious. When she brought the check, the waitress also brought a couple of nuggets of almonds held together by milk chocolate, a delicious last bite. The service was wonderful. The waitress was extremely knowledgeable and attentive, and much more approachable than the staff in some other fine dining establishments. Her enthusiasm for the food and drink was obvious in how she described it, and she seemed genuinely happy about the pleasure we took in our meal. The energy of the place just seemed perfect. I felt like I was in a place where everyone and everything was working beautifully together. That sort of thing come through in the overall atmosphere of a restaurant, and can make the difference between a good experience and a great one. I look forward to coming back here again, to taste some of the other magical-sounding non-pork-related dishes.

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    This review is quite possibly the easiest review I will ever write. I could take the easy route and just say it this restaurant is incredible, groundbreaking, and sets the bar like no other restaurant I've been to, and this would suffice. This place is so amazing I am almost speechless..and a bit overwhelmed because I want to go into extreme detail about everything..but not this review. I'll save that one for the next time around. The service was wonderful. All of the waiters were knowledgeable, friendly, polite and encouraging of questions. They all made sure to let us know that they would accommodate us in any way they could - from the drinks to the actual food, and they did. The menu is incredible. As a vegetarian, it was one of the few times that I actually regretted not eating meat because I felt as though I was seriously missing out. Every plate that was brought to us not only looked perfect, but tasted perfect. Even though we didn't really eat a lot of food or drink a lot, we were still treated like favored patrons, and were given not 1, or 2 or 3 but 4 complimentary dishes. One of the complimentary dishes given to us was raw tuna, and one of my friends is pregnant, and I am a vegetarian, and they were so gracious about taking them back - and bringing out yet another complimentary dish that was vegetarian, and so delicious that I couldn't help but savor every single bite. We sat at a spot that gave us a direct view of the open kitchen. We were literally sitting a few feet away from where the kitchen staff performed something akin st synchronized swimming. There are some folks that when they go out to eat, prefer to not see their food being made because it takes away from their appetite, but me? Watching these men and women at work...the accuracy and dedication that went into each dish being prepared, made me want to taste everything they were making. I have not had a dining experience like this in so long...I plan to go back and spend half a weeks paycheck in one sitting. I can't stress enough how incredibly wonderful the staff is at this place. EVERYONE seemed to be in tune with each other, but more importantly in tune with the diners. Craigie is worth every cent spent...and more. And though my next statement has nothing to do with food, it added to my atmosphere - there were two chefs who were very hot, one who I kind of couldn't stop looking at (heh)...and watching them making this food that could be considered art, made my dining experience that much better. I never thought I would find a place where I was happy with everything...but I have found that place with Craigie on Main...and I am already planning my next visit, where I will have the full vegetarian meal, and as many of their amazing cocktails as I can stomach. It is pricey, but I can honestly say that here, you get what you pay for...which is excellence created by passionate people who are good at what they do and work hard at it. I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for an all around incredible dining experience, and if you are lucky to sit by the open kitchen, I suggest you take the seats...because it is a show worth watching...even though the performers are not really performing (they are only focused on what they are doing, not who is watching), but creating meals that please all of the senses. Simply put? I am in love with this place and plan on going there any and every chance I get.

    (5)

  • Johnny B.

    An epicure's delight as long as he/she doesn't show up with an appetite. The food was extremely complex and flavorful, and the presentation was very appealing, but the portions were meager at best and not at all a good value. The appetizer was more generously portioned than the entree and quite delicious--a ragout of wild forest mushrooms, vegetables, egg, and rabbit sausage. My entree was Vermont Organic Beef Rib-eye a la Poele, which arrived at my table as two minuscule pieces of rib eye (i.e. a few small bites each) , two sweet potato spears and a small side of creamed spinach--all for $40! I can appreciate the penchant of some restaurants/chefs to concentrate on complex flavors and smaller portions, but I also buy groceries each week: $40 worth of rib eye could feed several people very well. This was just pretentiousness unbound. The waitstaff was charming and attentive, and having a view of the kitchen was very enjoyable. The space itself was hip and lively, and would be a great venue for an office holiday dinner I've heard that the brunches are tasty, so it might be worth a return visit.

    (2)

  • Betsy A.

    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...

    (3)

  • Jungmin L.

    I just went to Craigie brunch for the multiple-th time and feel it's ripe time to review their brunch. The pancakes are always perfectly crunchy on the outside and fluffy+tender inside, so aptly delicately sweetened and the toppings are always so perfectly sweet and omg...delisssssh. I never put syrup on it because I want to taste the fruit compote and pancake batter properly. Mouthgasm!! It will be close to impossible to recreate this in a home kitchen by a home cook, it's worth paying for these. Burger (toothsome, loosely packed beef patty of top top flavor+awesome mace ketchup, perfectly buttery brioche, crunchy exterior-puffy interior thick-cut fries), panino (melty cheese inside crunchy, hearty bread with always top notch pairing of fillings!) come next in the recommendations. There are also always something interesting, like some hash dish and some special. Those are good too. I would skip the smoked fish dish (fish changes) just because there are too many other items that are way better.

    (5)

  • V J.

    We enjoyed an amazing dining experience while also getting to know a business vendor. Not only was the food beyond expectation (tasting menu to die for) but the service was extraordinary. We arrived after ten on a weeknight, were seated in the bar area and were nearly the last people to leave. It was pouring out, our dinner companions soaked and weary and we were nervous that this would be an all out bomb. But by the end of the meal we were making plans for future food excursions, our companion asked for a copy of the day's menu as a memento of the evening and we all ran out into the storm content. Could I tell you what I ate? Yes. But you should just go, order outside your comfort zone or play it safe and get some chicken because as the server said, "It will be the best chicken you've ever had."

    (5)

  • Stephanie G.

    My dining experience at Craigie On Main may have been my best, ever. First of all, I love what they have done with the place. It is an amazing restaurant, but it's not pretentious. All the waiters wear a black shirt and jeans and the tables are simple, dignified wood. And the food - ohhh the food. We got the four course meal, and while I wasn't wow'd by the bite sized first course (this may have been my fault - I ate it in small pieces and I think you're supposed to just stick the whole thing in your mouth and chew), the other courses were incredible. The sashimi was a heavenly mixture of tastes and textures (soft and crunchy) and the venison was incredible. We also had ordered a side of brussels sprouts in duck fat - yes, yes. My scallops were also amazing, and the dessert was delectable (I have never, never used that word before) and it came with a generous serving of port - yum! It's hard to express through writing how completely amazing this restaurant was. This isn't food, it's like art that you eat. It was absolutely incredible, and as soon as my bank account is replenished, I will go back. I could gush all day about this place, and I still wouldn't do it justice. Also, this review is really long already, but the cocktails were fantastic! A word of warning - do not go hungry (peckish I would say is okay): the quantities are small, and though your tastes buds may be overwhelmed, your stomach will be just fine. They cook every thing to order, so you can expect your meal at least an hour after you sit down. If you're like me, and your hunger can cause you disengage from reality (my friends call it "murdering hungry"), definitely have a snack beforehand. There is bread, but, you know, I get hungry!

    (5)

  • Kate L.

    I'd say second best meal I've had in Boston, but I didn't do the full monty; I only had an app and a an entree. Sadly, I didn't have room for dessert...tragic I know. Luckily I am local and will return. The pig tails app was 5 stars all the way. Everything about them was a tasty fireworks display. They were crunchy, salty, and so rich they melted in my mouth. The peanut oil gave it an asian touch that was unique and unexpected. The pork 3 ways was equally decadent-I didn't know I could apply that word to anything but dessert, but that is what this meal was. The pork confit was like nothing I've ever tried before. Crunchy on top, perfectly cooked pork on the middle. I loved the rib next, full of flavor and fall off the bone. But I didn't like the pork belly. This I believe is due to my dislike for the texture of the dish. I've only had pork belly once before in a much smaller portion and I liked it, so maybe this wasn't my night for it. The service was stellar, as was the atmosphere. The Nettle Settle cocktail was again unique and complimented my food choices well. The only thing I didn't love was the bread. Don't get me wrong, I love Iggy's Bread, but it seemed out of place. Why not make your own bread and serve it warm with a maple butter or something equal to the high quality of everything else? In the end I will be back either to eat in the bar or for another special occasion.

    (5)

  • Mark W.

    For me this place was just excellent. I think the combination of service, ambiance and food were just great. I went with a friend for the 6 course chef's whim. My friend got the vegetarian whim and i got the everything whim. No matter vegetarian or not the whims were filling and great. Each course was unique and interesting. They took the time to explain the ingredients in everything and also answered any questions we had about them. We got a couple glasses of wine to go with the meal too. The waiters were excellent at recommending what went with our meal. I don't remember exactly what was on the whim but almost all the dishes were not on the menu. All i remember is after the end of the meal i was in full and extremely happy. Especially since they ended with the sheep cheesecake. If you are around on sundays after 9pm and want to take someone for an unique dinner take them here. You won't be disappointed. Your wallet won't hate you that much either.

    (5)

  • Hillary B.

    My partner and I went to Craigie on Main for the first time to celebrate our anniversary. Given the price point, we were waiting for a special occasion to visit Craigie on Main, and it did not disappoint! The food and drinks were very good, but it was the service that really stood Craigie on Main apart. Our servers were very informative, attentive, and really went above and beyond to ensure that we were enjoying our meal and experience there. Would definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Shannon S.

    Feeling adventurous? Save up and do the 10 Course Chef's Tasting. I believe it may be the best way to experience the range of deliciousness and inventiveness available at Craige on Main. I took my parents here during their last visit (August 2009) - after realizing that not only the Elephant Room & Cuchi Cuchi were totally closed on a Sunday night - we showed up an hour before our reservation and tried to unsuccessfully find room at the bar. Fortunately, the staff stepped in and cleared out a bar table for us to roost in while waiting for our diner table to open up. We were seated a little before when our reservation was supposed to start in the far back corner. I wish we were seated closer to the window, especially since all the tables were not filled but our waiter turned out to be awesome. After looking over the menu a bit, our waiter came over and told us about Craige and the options available to us. After not -too- much deliberation we decided on the 10-course Chef's tasting which is about $125 per person. Our first few courses were light and fresh - almost entirely seafood based. There was everything from squid noodles to a delicious piece of lobster salad to a plump juicy scallop. They were all delicious but the next 3 savory courses were incredible. A couple of those stand out in memory - especially the Sweetbreads and Chicken Confit plate and the Lamb three ways: OMG. Those were seriously out of this world. Our waiter was really helpful in telling us about everything on on our plate and kept the water, drinks and wine coming for our table. It was quite an experience. Our dessert courses were so unique (there were 3 of those) - one course was a tea-infused Panna Cotta - Absolutely amazing - the tea tingled my senses and I highly recommend this if your are a fan of herbal, light desserts. We were also served 4 different things all in the same course - each of us got a different plate and we took turns sampling each other's plates - Out of that course the Taza Chocolate Mousse stood out as well as a Peanut Butter Ice Cream dessert that was out of this world. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to splurge on a true culinary experience. The chef even came out to talk to us. Craige, thank you for an awesome experience vs "just a meal" - I will and my family will be back!

    (5)

  • David Z.

    + food was good but if you are used to fine European cuisine it is not even close +/- service was ok but not superior - open kitchen smells and your clothes smell as well afterwards

    (3)

  • Gabe L.

    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..

    (5)

  • Renee B.

    I love this place and I can't believe I have not reviewed it. Really everything here has been said, I just wanted to recommend two things. 1) Sunday night chef's whim. Great value and same amazing flavors. 2) The bartenders - let them help you find the perfect cocktail or wines or beers...whatever. These guys know flavor and make some outstanding drinks.

    (5)

  • Kristina P.

    I took my husband here for his birthday last night. We did the 10-course tasting which was excellent. The waitstaff was wonderful and our server in particular, Johnathan, was very helpful and informative. He made great suggestions for wine and made sure to ask us about our preferences for the tasting. The food was excellent and the environment was unpretentious. I tasted some foods which I never would have tried and ended up liking everything. The most adventurous thing we had was the veal sweetbread.I don't typically eat beef but it was prepared very well and it was my husband's favorite dish. We were at the restaurant for almost 5 hours but we could have done it in about half the time if we wanted to. My suggestion would be to save some money and splurge for one of the tasting menus. We did spend a lot of money especially since we got 2 bottles of wine and 2 dessert drinks but it was worth it for a special occasion. I would definitely recommend going here for the tasting menu at least once for the experience.

    (5)

  • Angela A.

    Great experience, great food. We had a 6:30 reservation on Sunday night. We arrived at around 6:20 and were seated right away. Through Open Table I had requested a "comfy table" because we were planning on having the 10 course tasting menu. They seated us against the window at a nice table. Our waitress came over immediately and brought water, and said that she heard we were interested in the tasting menu. I thought it was super that they paid attention to the OT reservation request. We ordered a bottle of wine, and it came out just before our first course, which was a fish foie, squid noodles, and brandade on top of squid ink. Quick rundown of the courses (all excellent - the boar could be my favorite): Second course - scallop ceviche Third course - seared fish. Fourth course - trout collar - very good, dangerous bones! Fifth course - wild boar ragout on some pasta. Sixth course - pork belly with pomegranate and maybe chestnuts Seventh course - pheasant Then there were three dessert courses - panna cotta (two different kinds), the last was a hot chocolate with cardamom and chili. Who would have thought to put those flavors together? But they work! The food was fantastic. Flavors were spot on, and it was a nice progression of the meal. Nothing was too heavy, and I didn't feel over-stuffed (well, until I put that last dessert course in my mouth). It was expensive, but not more than we were expecting. Craigie on Main is aces, baby!

    (5)

  • Mike W.

    I've only been here for brunch so far, so that's the limit of my knowledge. But this brunch literally rocked my socks. It was awesome. First of all, the bloody mary was great and that's my first test of a brunch place. It makes my list of best bloody marys. They even offer a few different vodkas (pepper infused, vegetable infused), which is neat. But they followed up with an equally awesome meal. I had the hash. And normally hash is a tasty diner food. But they made it something special, like a diner made out of pure gold. It was corned beef and tongue hash. It had home fries in it. And it had fried onion strings on top. The flavors combined so well. It was a one-of-a-kind dish, it was breakfast reinvented. They also had less "out there" dishes if you're not a tongue fan. So, don't be scared off by that. If I won the lottery, I would eat here every day and get very fat and very happy.

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    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.

    (4)

  • Mary K.

    craigie on main was enchanting from start to finish. did the 6 course chefs whim and was blown away by the intricacy and detail that was put into each and every detail on the plate (and how ridiculously delicious everything was). Highlights included the smoked mackerel, sturgeon, and bagel chip amuse bouche, the salad of warm greens, asparagus, asparagus foam (yes, this was as exciting as it sounds!), ham, and farm fresh poached egg, and the entree of the most tender hangar steak i've ever encountered with oxtail pastrami and bok choy. i mean i would probably have never noticed if they left off the oxtail pastrami, but i loved knowing it was there. my only complaint is that i was really craving a chocolate dessert, but then again, perfect flan and pineapple sorbet is nothing to get too upset over. overall, a perfect meal in a delightful setting. i cannot wait to return!

    (5)

  • Tina A.

    Went here twice in a week since we used to love it when it was Craigie Street Bistrot (then we had to move to Asia). First visit was not very pleasant as we were seated in the main dining room. It was dark and claustrophobic especially since we have 2 young boys. We ordered the Degustation menu and that too was a disappointment because it was too seafood heavy. Our waiter was efficient but not overly friendly. The only highlight of the night was the pig's tail appetizer. This was finger licking good. Second time around, we opted to sit in the bar room and what a difference. We were seated by the window, and the layout of the room meant there was more space between the tables. Husband ordered bone marrow appetizer and steak main to share the with the kids. I ordered the pig's tail as well duck ragout with poached egg appetizer, and pigs three way. Everything is as we remember....Craigie that we loved: fresh ingredients, daring combination carried out with panache and sophistication. Service this time was also more relaxed and friendly. Suggestion: pick seats at the bar room for space and sun (at least in the summer!) and avoid the degustation menu as it takes too long in a restaurant with no ambiance. I hope the pig's tail stays on the menu for a long time.

    (4)

  • Shelley S.

    I could not have been more impressed with my 1st visit to Craigie on Main. The food was amazing, the service was impeccable, plus the Chef's Table experience was out of this world. It was like we were inside of an Iron Chef showdown. Try their ten course tasting menu, it was 3 incredible hours of perfection.

    (5)

  • Jocelyn C.

    This place is amaaaaaazing. Yelp should let me give this place an entire galaxy of stars to rate it. I've been here twice now - once for birthday dinner at the bar, another time for Sunday brunch at a table like a civilized person - and both times were mind blowing. The food is seriously the best out there, service is impeccable and ambiance is superb. The best part? You can order anything off any menu and it is guaranteed to be the best that they can give you. Tony Maws and his awesome team know their way around a kitchen and this girl's tummy, for sure. It doesn't hurt that the bartenders know their way around cocktails equally as well. Well, that part might hurt the next day if you're not careful. But knowing you had a fantastic meal should more than make up for it.

    (5)

  • Deann M.

    Top knotch! -Excellent, attentive, educated, polite service. -Lovely ambiance without being too stuffy or too trendy. -Carefully prepared dishes for amuse bouche to dessert. -Tasty cocktails and extensive wine list. Would def go back to just sit at the bar and have cocktails. -The 4 course meal blew my mind but was probably a little too much. Will prob just get an appetizer or side (bone marrow) and a main course next time (pork three ways was delish). - Desserts are fabulous. Loved the peanut and banana one. All in all - such a lovely, special treat for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Zac C.

    I went for the burger....Amazing! It opens at 530PM and we show up at 525PM and there were 7 people in line ahead of us. Crazy right? Everyone goes straight to the bar area since everyone is there for the same thing- Cragie on Main's infamous burger. We order that as well as a side of Bone Marrow with fresh bread which I found quite gross but the other guys I was with found it amazing. The burger on the other hand was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing....I would say it was in my top two or 3 burgers ever with Farmstead in Providence and Kooper's Tavern in Baltimore. The bartender and service was also amazing. Very attentive and we had amazing liquor drinks made for us. I would recommend this place to anyone for a classy burger or a fancy (but expensive) meal.

    (5)

  • Buster M.

    I realize that my dissenting view won't really change folks' impression of Craigie, but I'm going to stick to my guns and offer only three stars. Here's why: Friends and I came in for the 4 for $40 "Chef's Whim" special on a Sunday night. We were a tad bit early, so we mozied on over to the bar area to get cocktails. We reviewed the drink list. While we were favorably impressed by the originality of the mixes, we were unfamiliar with most of the drinks, so we asked our server for some help. "They are all well-balanced and delicious," she said. Ummm, okay, but maybe some specifics? "I don't know. I'm Mormon so I don't drink." I'm not recommending religious discrimination, but putting a Mormon in charge of taking cocktail orders seems like a bad idea. I ended up getting an Old Fashioned, so I could at least tell if the bartender could make a good drink in addition to putting on a good show. (Imagine a hipster in a buttoned vest shaking up cocktails epileptic seizure style.) Result: the drink was a little flat, overly sweet with few bright notes. On to the meal. We were seated in the bar area since the main room was over capacity. Our new server confirmed that we were there for the Sunday special and asked if we wanted wine. "Sure, what would you recommend?" we asked, not knowing what the Chef's whim might be. "What kind of wine do you like?" "Well, do you think a red or a white will go better with the menu?" "Oh, I have no idea what Tony'll serve, do you like reds or whites better?" "I suppose reds, generally speaking." "What kind of reds?" "I'd probably go with a pinot noir for versatility," I say, feeling like I'm doing the waiter's job. "Oh, we have a great pinot," he replies, pointing out the most expensive pinot on the menu. While we are finishing our cocktails, a smoked bluefish amuse bouche comes out. But it isn't announced as an amuse, so we are trying to figure out if this half-teaspoon of food is the first course or the amuse. It's pretty tasty and pairs well with the wine. What luck! The next course is three slivers of hamachi with compressed watermelon, cukes and a slightly spicy fatty sauce smeared across the plate. The watermelon is interesting, but the hamachi is only average. (Maybe Los Angeles has me spoiled with its quality sushi?) Also, altogether, there's about an ounce of fish on the plate. Our server still hasn't clarified if we are on our first or second course, so we're a little worried. "Maybe we'll stop at McDonald's on the way home," my pal jokes. Also, the pinot doesn't match up with this course at all. Two runners approach with plates of fried clams. They are light and crispy on the outside and perfectly tender and savory on the inside. The sauce offers a little tart and spicy contrast. I'm finally starting to see what the fuss about Craigie is about. My friend, however, seems more concerned about going home hungry. Since the Chef's Whim menu promises a dessert as the fourth course, he's worried that this was the last savory course. And our waiter has been missing for the past 20 minutes. When he finally passes a nearby table, we hail him, asking if the smoked bluefish was an amuse bouche or one of the courses. He looks completely confused. "Is it possible to switch to the six-course $55 menu?" my hungry companion requests. "Yes, but you'll only get one more course then." "What?" (My math skills are somewhat rudimentary, but 4+1=6???) "Is there another course coming?" "Yes, you'll have one more course." "Well, if only dessert is coming next, then we'd like to upgrade to the six-course, even if it's only five, I guess." "Oh no, steak will be served next, then dessert." We cancel the upgrade. The confusion, unfortunately, has distracted us from how good those clams were. Once more the runners appear, quickly shuffling out with pan-finished steak, running away from the screamed orders emanating from the kitchen. (I'm pretty happy that we didn't get those prized ringside seats.) The meat is rich, buttery, and well-seasoned. No gustatory surprise here, but the execution is spot on. Finally, my friend's fears of going home hungry are allayed. Before dessert, the server half-heartedly attempts to up-sell us a pricey flight of whiskeys. I'm not that impressed with the booze on offer, so we stick to plain dessert. Three different ones come to the table: a berry tart with basil ice cream, crepes with a sweet creamy filling, and an orange cake with whipped cream. The basil ice cream tastes like pesto and doesn't match the tart at all. The orange cake is solid. The crepes are predictable, but fine. Overall, the food was quite good, though nothing was so memorable that I imagine talking about it later. Moreover, again and again, our experience was marred by poor service. For all the buzz about Craigie, I wanted better.

    (3)

  • Kristen C.

    After having to wait for over half an hour past our reservation time to even sit at our table, we still had to deal with the exceptionally slow waiter. Over an hour after our original booking, we finally got to put our drink order in. Now, I realize it seems totally acceptable these days to put up with such behavior in highly-hyped 'in' places, but as good as the food was, and it was delicious, it takes away from the dining experience to have such inattentive service at this caliber restaurant. So I am reluctant to recommend it for that reason. If you must go, I will say the food was highly enjoyable, the Pork Three Ways, distinctive. Wine list had a good selection. So while the food was highly satisfying, the service needs work. Try it out on a night you have tons of time to kill.

    (3)

  • Derek E.

    Went here with the wife for a postponed valentines day dinner. We had an early reservation at 6:30 on a Friday. We both ordered the 3 course meal and a half bottel of champaign. In addition we had a bone marrow appetizer. All around the food was very good, although I will probably go with something more exotic than a steak next time, it was somewhat boring. We were given a complimentary tasting of a small dish and mine was a fish on a crispy chip. I think that was my favorite dish of the whole meal. I will certainly have to try the tasting menu next time around. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 has to be the service. It was adequate but our server seemed cold and somewhat uninterested. For a $300 meal adequate service just is not good enough. With that said we will certainly be back in the near future.

    (4)

  • Tyler C.

    This place was a little intimidating at first but they do a good job at making you feel at home, and they take their culinary creations seriously. The staff here just oozes enthusiasm. Prices were a little intimidating on a student/post grad budget but probably reflects the amount of effort and preparation that goes into the food. It's worth going at least once, though (as a student...).

    (4)

  • Elisabeth G.

    Four words, quickly becoming my favorite four in the English Language: Fried. In. Duck. Fat. Yes yes, I know. Not healthy. Does it help that the fried items involved were Brussel Sprouts? Because, it must be said, they were beyond delicious. They were also just the after-thought add-on to the amazing 4-course meal I had with my grandmother a few weeks ago. I really can't say enough good things about Craigie. I'm a big foodie and work in the service industry and my grandmother is, well, just really really difficult to please. We came out of that meal fat, happy, and the perfect level of drunk. Everything we had was really creative and fresh, with eat first bite usually followed by "omg, you gotta try this!" The waiter was very nice and attentive and paired our two meals with a great bottle of wine. The menu changes often enough that I don't know if the pork 3-ways or the scallops poached in oil and curry are even offered anymore, but if they are, you really have to try them. I only have one very minor criticism, but it's nothing that would ever stop me from going again, or even take it down to a 4-star review:. If you make a reservation, request to sit on the perimeter of the room, or at least not in the very middle. The rest of the dining room seemed so cute and cozy, but we were smack in the center. It gave a great view of the open kitchen (which i personally love), but also felt a little like we were just kind of an island in a very busy ocean. Wine helps that, however.

    (5)

  • Hannah F.

    Best meal of my Boston life thus far. The food was incredible and the people were absolutely wonderful. My boyfriend took me for my birthday dinner and we did the 10 course tasting--quite possibly the best birthday present ever. They were super respectful of our respective food allergies and even had a happy birthday card waiting on the table when we arrived. As my birthday was ages ago and I'm just now catching up on all of my reviews, I won't write as much as I normally do. In a nutshell, Craigie is the best of fine dining in an unpretentious, friendly atmosphere. Everyone is happily milling about with wonderful, artfully presented food and from the moment you walk in you feel like part of the family. The 10 course tasting was exquisite. There's really no other word to sum up the meal. Their special cocktails are also quite tasty...I can't remember for the life of me what I had but it was something like a Lost In Translation. Just lovely. Service was amazing, presentations were beautiful and the food was, as I said, exquisite. Thank you, Craigie, for giving me an absolutely amazing birthday dinner. Hopefully, once I save up some money, I'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Daniel M.

    Went Last Friday and We had: Last Smash and Moscow Mule Cocktails, Domaine Cheveau Macon Chardonnay, Cheese Plate, Bone Marrow, salad, Loup de Mer, and the Swordfish. Total bill: 185 before tip, Very reasonable. All the food was delicious. Though my swordfish seemed bland (it was a delicate umami flavor) I blame myself for ordering a mild flavored dish after eating rich and awesome bone marrow (my first time). Her entree and salad were both excellent and the cheese was phenomenal. Cocktails were out of sight and the wine was very nice. The service was average. Our server was attentive, but in a pushy way and after every sip of water a staff member topped off our glass of water. Also the bar high top chairs felt purposefully uncomfortable with short cushions and no place to rest your feet. Overall, we were treated very well and enjoyed our evening immensely. The wine list was priced a little steep, but I am comparing it to other lists, that are purposefully reasonably priced. The food was very very good. The service was totally adequate, and the atmosphere was fun. The only thing holding me back from 5 stars is, that I had really high expectations for the "best" restaurant in Boston and felt that it fell a little flat. I am totally going to give it another try though!

    (4)

  • Colleen C.

    The best restaurant in America. the tasting menu is inventive and delicious (i have had it twice), but too much. even the portions of each taste are too much. Last night i went for the fourth time this year, and the potage with grilled cheese was amazing (wish for more of the grilled cheese), followed by the ragout of wild mushrooms with eggs also amazing. we love the food so much but want to savor each taste, so combined a few small plates and one main. Very hard to choose. The chef oversees all of the food; he and his staff truly care about your experience. They have opinions (our waiter recommended a very fine and unusual red wine from Austria--a perfect complement for our meal, and was surprisingly reasonable.) go for any occasion, but most importantly, go for the food.

    (5)

  • Karlis B.

    I...wow, uh...yeah, ok. I don't know where to start with this. For the second year in a row, we've celebrated our anniversary here. We went for the 6 course chef's tasting menu both times. And have been floored both times. The way Craigie works with food is experimental and amazing. If you go, do not fret about having the chef choose everything for you. Just put your little palette in Chef Maw's hands and let him delight you. You'll wind up trying something new and unexpected and you'll love it all. Upon making our reservation, we let the hostess know Brendan has a gluten allergy and that we wanted the tasting menu. Craigie was beyond accommodating. Here is what we had: - Three bites on one plate: squid noodles in an Asian vinaigrette; house smoke waloo; salmon rillette with caviar and micro-greens. - Tuna sashimi with avocado and sugared lemon - Wild Australian Travalo (I tried Googling this fish, but couldn't find it) cooked in chicken schmaltz (fat) with a roe and horseradish mayonnaise. And on top of all that, chicken schmaltz powder which feels like confectioner sugar but tastes like the best part of the chicken. This fish was caught that morning and you could still taste the seawater. - Soft-shell crab tempura over pureed stinging nettles and white beans. For such a exquisite dish, it was recommended that we just use our hands. It was Brendan's first time having soft-shell crab and now he loves it. Also, stinging nettles! - Wild mushroom ragout with blood sausage and poached farm fresh egg. I normally do not like wet eggs. But this year, and last (served with farrow), I have thoroughly enjoyed this egg. Don't ask me why. - Veal two ways: sweetbread; veal loin wrapped in pork fat over greens. This is one of those times when you just gotta eat what you're given and ask questions later (recommended for any tasting menu). I enjoyed the taste of this and that may not have happened had I known what sweetbreads were. - Mango sorbet with fennel for me; blackberry sorbet with candied kumquat for Brendan. - Sour milk panna cotta with housemade granola and brown sugar powder (made via the same process they use to make the chicken schmaltz powder). I LOVED this dessert. I could not get over the creaminess of the panna cotta. Brendan had rice pudding with pina colada sorbet. - (The thickest) hot chocolate (I have ever had) flavored with Ancho (?) chili. When it comes to cocktails here, you have to order an Old Cuban, a refreshing rum drink with mint. Since this was our anniversary (and we had gift cards), we also decided to get a bottle of wine. The wine list is extensive, so I'd recommend asking the server (and feel free to say that you have a budget. They can work with that info!). They even removed the label from the bottle and set it on a postcard so we could remember our night. Craigie is on my list of "must haves." It is more than worth saving all your change and cashing it in to truly enjoy your visit here.

    (5)

  • Gina Q.

    Amazing! Outstanding local burger (grass-fed, but the meat melts in your mouth and is perfectly cooked), great libations, great atmosphere. Everyone in Boston should come here for the burger! Loved it.

    (5)

  • Mark M.

    A friend and I had the eight course tasting menu last night. The strongest impression that I had was how bland the food was, the only really outstanding course was the delicious venison. Otherwise 3 of the 8 courses were devoted to sweet flavors (even fish was given an icky sweet citrus coulis), and one item was actively repulsive (a bimbao inspired thing with raw egg all over the top). I live in Portland (Oregon), where maybe the food scene is more robust, I don't know, but I was really perplexed that such unimaginative, almost flavorless food would receive the accolades as Craigie apparently has (New England is known for bland food for a reason I suppose). The lack of textural interest and appealing mouth feel to most of the items was also noteworthy, and the final course, a very generic panna cotta with a berry compote, was a fittingly dull conclusion to such a meal. On a bright note, the wait staff was pleasant and professional and is the reason the review is not a one star.

    (2)

  • AJ S.

    To borrow a phrase from Anthony Bourdain, this place is one of the "Stations of the Cross" on the Boston culinary circuit. The food presides here, and the servers (foodies all) favor you with sound counsel when ordering and knowing winks when your plates arrive. You will ogle and salivate, but not at/over your fellow diners -- at Craigie, it's definitely more about the board than the room. For me, the fare runs the short gamut from pants-creamingly-good (skate wing, pork belly) to just-south-of-nirvana (the bone marrow). I partook of the winter tasting menu and I was delighted throughout. Why is roasted bone marrow so good? I have no idea. But at Craigie it's hematopoetic heaven. There are many excellent and meticulously wrought descriptions of the offerings at Craigie on this site so I won't waste your time with those. Suffice it to say that Craigie is the uber and the utter in Boston dining, and you should try it.

    (5)

  • Aaron G.

    Craigie on Main is a stone's throw away from another excellent French-informed restaurant, Hungry Mother, but the feel is very different here. The decor is classy and upscale without being imposing, and will leave you with an impression of the color white, and of course of the stainless steel of the kitchen which is planted firmly in the dining area. Humorously, France stars prominently in the Men's room decor of both restaurants, and it's clear that the chef/owner here thinks that all things masculine and delicious have emanated from that country's hallowed soil. The cocktail menu deserves special mention: these are some seriously tasty and creative drinks. Barring encyclopedic knowledge of alcohols and spirits, you will not recognize the names of the drinks ingredients, but you can play a game called 'identify the noun' as you browse through a slew of foreign and impossible sounding alcohol names. Rest assured that all of the drinks are delicious, and most will teach you something interesting about spirits that you didn't know before. Although it's a verbal item only, if the burger is available you should seriously, seriously consider dropping all other plans that you had for ordering off of the menu and eat the burger instead. Try to go early in the night to maximize your chances of being able to eat one of these things. On a scale of "mmmmm" to "my brain has melted" the burger hovers somewhere around "sexual". The menu changes often. This is a first-rate, James Beard blessed establishment, so most of the time the appetizers are exciting and the entrees are indulgent and delicious. However, they are experimenting back there in the kitchen, and the prices make a dud on the menu all the more painful. I had the smelts, and for $18 dollars it was a plate of expertly fried fish - no more, no less. It could be that it was plated incorrectly, as the small amount of garnish added an important flavor to the dish. However, the mushroom ragout was very nicely done. Just...be ready... If something does not wow you and if you're vocal, but courteous, in expressing your opinion, they may allow you to order something else at no charge. The servers and runners are numerous and efficient, as is to be expected in a French style gang. The restaurant also understands that servers need to be able to eat the food to know what the hell is going on with the menu, and they allow the servers to bring guests for a meal that is steeply discounted. This is necessary, as any good server will tell you: Henry Ford was right, workers need to be able to buy the products they are helping to produce. Do not come here with someone who doesn't know or appreciate food. They will complain of small portions. They will harass you about the writing on the menu. They will gawk at the prices and make comments about the blue light special meat deals at the local Stop N' Shop. If your partner is someone who likes to have their food's weight listed right on the menu (16 oz steak!), wait until they are out of town and come here by yourself, checkbook balanced and ready for the hit. If you're going with a friend, I recommend that you sit at the bar: the full menu is available and you can ask many more questions of the bartender than you will be able to of your server (not that the servers are inattentive, it's just that bartenders are conveniently imprisoned). Also, the diners at the bar are usually of the open and interesting variety and it is a great place to strike up a conversation with a new set of people while enjoying great drinks and a great meal.

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    Cannot say enough about the service, the attentiveness of the staff and the dinner that we enjoyed. Although I'm a bit delayed in leaving a review, as it's been well over a month, I can still chatter on about the dining experience, itself. My boyfriend made this reservation for us for my birthday and when we arrived, parking was nearly impossible. Be advised that you should expect to valet, unless you expect that the parking gods will be aligned with you. Parking is mostly Resident Only and very difficult. Don't distract from the awesome experience you're about to embark upon by getting po'd at the lack of parking. Just valet it. We waited just under 5 minutes to be seated and once we were, we had plenty of attention, from numerous employees. They were generous with their time, explanations and almost 'over did it', which would be my only complaint, if I had to have one. It felt as though they were watching each time I took a sip of the bottled water and rushed over to refill the sip of water I just took, which was a bit disruptive to me. Attentive, yes. A bit too frequent, yes. As I said, though - my only complaint. I don't recall exactly what I had, so I won't go into the details, but I can say that it was delicious and beautifully presented. I mentioned, in passing, to the waiter as a photo was being taken that it was my birthday and the waiter took it upon himself to accompany our desserts with a simple candle on a separate plate for me to quietly celebrate with. Quite nice. We had a great corner booth (not sure if that was pure luck or the doings of my outstanding boyfriend) and I would highly recommend requesting that seat, if allowed. We had a great view of the entire restaurant, weren't seated very close to anyone and it was very intimate which was perfect, considering the occasion. A truly wonderful birthday experience.

    (5)

  • Kimble M.

    Craigie on Main never fails to disappoint as an excellent splurge. While I haven't gotten the chance or money to eat in their main dining room since they moved, I've eaten at their bar several times, and loved it each time. If you're going to try to eat at the bar, I recommend getting there early, and bringing no more than 1 friend with you. It gets busy and people linger, being as good as it is. Their burger is by far the best in Boston. They will tell you how they generally cook it, and you should just agree. I don't even like ground beef and find just thinking about this burger is craving-inducing. Chef Maws is also a master of the odd meats - his terrines are out of this world and definitely enough to share between at least 2 people. Even dishes like pigs tails, which make the least squeamish cringe, are done in a way a vegetarian could appreciate. The cocktails, like the food, are well thought out and well executed. You can go in and ask Tom for something refreshing or something with flowers and he will make the best drink you've had in years. They make their own sour mix and only use the freshest ingredients. The service, though, is really what makes this worth five stars. It never fails that they include something for free, whether they think we didn't enjoy something enough (just because we didn't finish it) and take it off the check, or find a Rhubarb-Hibiscus foam in the kitchen for us, there's always something above and beyond. Going in later in the evening, they once turned us away with free drink coupons because the wait was going to be too long. The waitstaff is the definition of attentive, the bar tenders are friendly, and the hostesses keep you constantly up to date on your status while you wait. This should definitely be considered the next time you want to be spoiled for an evening, and ruined forever.

    (5)

  • Brian K.

    First off, I am sure if you get one of the tasting menu's, don't sit in the bar area and are not on a mission for their burger only, that this place is a foodies dream. Came last night solely for the burger and so the wife could also sample some of the goodness. I have to agree with some other reviewers who left feeling that they paid a lot more than what they actually ate and enjoyed. Not to mention that our food came out came out about 5 min after ordering. The cocktails were great, I had the Northern Lights and my wife had a drink very similar to the Old Cuban at Eastern Standard except with St Germain. I ordered the burger and added bacon. Wife ordered the Octopus app and brussel sprouts cooked in duckfat as a side. Maybe it was just the burger hype that left me feeling let down, but I must say I was a bit underwhelmed. The meat itself was amazing. tasty, juicy and cooked to perfection medium rare as they suggest. The big picture was just not "life changing" as our waitress had asked me following a few bites...Life changing is the Suribacha burger at Swagger in KC! The bun was too small for the burger and with all the juices flowing, things became very soggy, very quickly. The bacon was also not all that cooked which was a turn off. For $21 and all the hype, I definitely expected more. My wife's octupus was good, but not $17 good and the brussel sprouts were also very good. The bar menu leaves you with very limited choices now since they combined it with the regular menu and now all apps are $17 and ala carte entrees $27. Our waitress was probably the best part of our meal, very friendly, knowledgable and willing to help lend a hand at the end of the meal when we asked for some recommendation for a nightcap elsewhere. In summary, the burger was definitely underwhelming and it could just have been because of all the hype leading up to it. Definitely, not a $100 meal based on what we ordered and drank. I will definitely be going back, but only on a special occasion where I am willing to spend $200+ and go for the full tasting experience. Thanks Tony. Oh and I forgot to mention, the housemade ketchup being a spicy food fan, was amazing and it seems they made a big improvement on the fries!

    (3)

  • Roger O.

    I have been to Craigie on Main several times and been pleased with the service and the food. However, I believe they are overpriced for what they deliver.

    (3)

  • Beth G.

    Haven't been to Craigie since they moved from their old location - this location is much more inviting. Server was fabulous, helpful, attentive, nice wine list, octopus & asparagus apps were very good, fish entree was nice, pork three ways was good (although not a huge fan of pork belly), brussel sprouts grilled with duck fat were awesome, bone marrow (side dish) was not for us. Desserts were absolutely fabulous. Be in the mood for meat and you'll be all set.

    (4)

  • Sheila M.

    Underwhelmed. The service and the ambiance are very nice, everyone is solicitous and helpful, as well they should be for the prices you are paying. I had the prix fixe which includes first course, main course, and dessert (no glass of wine), for $67. The pumpkin soup I had for first course ($18 a la carte) was nearly tasteless. And the brisket I had for the main was also pretty bland. All main dishes are $38 a la carte. Prices (and it should be noted if you are concerned about such things, you shouldn't be here) are located way at the bottom of the menu. I was also disturbed that my main was served lukewarm, atop a small mound of root vegetables and one lonely shiitake. I could have sent it back to be reheated yet realized that would not improve the flavor (are the cooks tasting the food? I'm not a fan of oversalting, either, and I once criticized Sportello for this. Seasoning, however, I do appreciate). My friend's main of chicken with whiskey soaked apricots was also bland and she said it was also served lukewarm. The third person in our group simply had a first course and a dessert since she isn't made of money, and she had no specific complaints, but didn't rave about her choices either. For dessert I had a tasty affogato with spearmint ice cream (finally, a flavor!), yet it was served in a glass similar to a pint glass with a long, large spoon, so I had to dig for it and eat it awkwardly with a utensil meant for soup. Low marks for presentation and user-friendliness there; a simple white bowl and smaller spoon would make more sense. Our total bill with tip came to about $240 and I'm wondering if each person needs to spend at least $100 to be taken seriously here? Even the music was odd - a song would come on every five or ten minutes, then silence. Then another song. Just strange.

    (2)

  • Elena A.

    Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed by Craigie. It was good but didn't knock my socks off. While food was delicious with unusual combination of flavors and service was absolutely impeccable, I can't honestly say it was memorable or outstanding for the price. It was one of the most expensive dinners I've had and while I certainly enjoyed my meal, it just didn't measure up to my high expectations. We had a chef tasting menu and I left feeling hungry after six dishes. While very well thought-through and flavorful, each dish was super tiny. Amuse bouche was nothing to write home about, I can't even remember what it was. I loved the scallop sashimi but definitely would have liked to have more than one bite of it. The fish, pasta and venison courses were good with fish being my favorite, pasta - meh (I don't like whole wheat pasta but the sauce was good) and venison - great but I could have eaten three of them! On a plus side, vermouth mint palate cleanser was so yummy and the desserts were to die for, definitely one of the best desserts I've ever had! In general, I prefer more casual, bistro-type French restaurants like Gaslight. What I found sort of appalling is that Gaslight serves you a fresh warm baguette whereas bread at Craigie was cold and hard - oh the annoying little details! Do they get to you when you're dropping some $250+ for dinner ;) What can I say? Check it out, it's definitely worth experiencing for a special occasion. You will enjoy your dinner if you're a foodie and adventurous about trying new dishes and ingredients, just don't come here on an empty stomach!

    (3)

  • B C.

    Just came back from a Mother's Day meal with my wife. Lets start with a quick listing of the items we ordered. Appetizers: Grilled Spanish Octopus $18 cipollini onions, fresh hearts of palm, chorizo sauce Assiette of Three Terrines: Quatre Foies, Fromage de Tete, Lamb Rillettes $15 traditional accompaniments Salad of Hiramasa Sashimi $17 pine nut-mango salsa, avocado, whitefish roe, shiso Entrees: Organic Hangar Steak à la Poêle $36 bone marrow, smoked beef tongue, shiitake mushrooms, Camargue red rice, walnut-foie gras purée Grilled Vermont Organic Pork Belly two ways $36 walnut-foies gras purée, crispy shallots Wine: 2003 Rosso di Maremma, Tuscany $109 Massa Vecchia Dessert: Market Fruits Crisp $10 champagne mango and rhubarb, macadamia nut topping, tarragon ice cream* Total tab without tips was around $260. By Boston standards, the food was above average. The ingredients were first rate, execution and technique above average, while the level of imagination with the ingredients was merely average. With regards to the wine list, I thought it was narrow, limiting and not particularly well edited. The entire list was devoid of any fine US wines. It was heavily Franco centric with a smattering of Italian vintages. Of the three appetizers, the best of the lot was the Salad of Hiramasa Sashimi. The sashimi was well sliced and nicely paired with pine nut-mango salsa and avocado serves at the perfect temparture. At restaurants, you very often get sashimi that is ice cold because it was just taken out of the freezer. The grilled octopus was a bit under seasoned, but otherwise it was nicely grilled without being rubbery. The charcuterie plate was just ok... nothing exceptional. The hanger steak was well marinated and grilled to perfection, but the smokey marinade completed obliterated the accompaniment of bone marrow, smoked beef tongue, shiitake mushrooms, Camargue red rice, and walnut-foie gras purée. It was a shame. My wife had the pork and it was again very good, but not memorable. The dessert was a real disappointment. The fruit crisp was luke warm with the filling of champagne mango and rhubarb indistinguishable from each other. A fine dinning restaurant should not serve such a "peasant" desert at $10. Its time that this place invest in a real pastry chef. Lastly, the wine list needs some attention as discussed earlier. Again with the price points of the entrees, a knowledgeable sommelier would be helpful. So you ask why it is only three stars if its above average. Because the rating are based upon food not just in Boston, but around the world. The rub here is that the price point at Craigie is pretty much at the top end of the Boston market and there are a number of places that offer a superior overall experience. They include Clio, Dante, Carmen and 51 Lincoln. Looks like Maws has a few more things to learn from Oringer. This will not be a place we will frequent.

    (3)

  • Anney J.

    Crowded for a Wednesday night at the beginning of winter so they must be doing something right. I started with the pate, which was good and followed up with the special of the night, suckling pig head split between two people. It was interesting to see a restaurant serving this and the pig was delicious. My husband was a little disappointed because the pig ear (the best part) was a little burnt and we couldn't eat it. All in all the service was good and food was good. Nothing mind blowing, but worth going back.

    (4)

  • Back B.

    After wanting to come here for the last 8 years due to all the press on their exceptional hamburger, I finally came here to see what all the buzz was about. The waitstaff were exceptionally accommodating, and seemed like they wanted to make the experience memorable. But, some thing seemed deceptive. Cutting to the story, my fiancee and I ordered two hamburgers, which we were told was not on the menu, but we ordered them anyway. While we waited for our meals we observed filled tables with parties sipping wine, while an open kitchen with animated chefs cooked and prepared orders for their patrons. When our meals arrived, I took a bite out of the hamburger and was at a loss. It occurred to me, that this hamburger was like every other bar burger I have ever eaten from any dive bar to average burger joint. It was not that great, but just average. I'm not sure where all the hype is coming from. When looking at dessert, the waiter mentioned that we should get two deserts because we can share them, and they are just that amazing. I took another chance, but maybe I was suckered into something again. After the fact, the dessert was very good, but still the overall experience was average at best. When the check arrived, I was taken back by how much the total bill came to for two hamburgers and two desserts. In sum, I wasn't really happy with our experience at Craigie On Main. This restaurant is a hyped up restaurant and I won't be coming back.

    (3)

  • Frank M.

    Came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Did the tasting menu. Service, food, and wine selections were flawless. A true treat.

    (5)

  • H L.

    This was my first meal at COM and it was fabulous. Even though we had reservations, I specifically went earlier to sit at the bar to drink a few cocktails and take in the place. I also had been dying to try the pig's tails (on the bar menu). They were so yummy. They had two specials, one of which was roasted bone marrow. Even though we were set up for the tasting menu, we requested to start off with the roasted bone marrow -- it is one of my favorite things to eat. Now I grew up eating many parts of an animal so nothing was really out of my comfort zone. What was truly delightful was the preparation -- unique, creative, and yet so simple. While I can not really pick a favorite because everything was so delicious and different, the lamb and pork courses from the tasting menu were very memorable. Both dishes offered the featured animal prepared in multiple ways and through different parts. There was the incredible slow roasted pork belly to the deliciously creamy lamb sweetbreads. Desserts were very good and part of our tasting. I had a lovely and fragrant jasmine panna cotta. So, deep fried pig's tail, roasted bone marrow, the six course tasting menu and some cocktails. To top it all off a fabulous service in a casually elegant space. Exceptional.

    (5)

  • Yill C.

    My husband left a very honest and educated review about our dinner here on May 8th. It was disappointing from the time we sat down at our badly placed table until we left over three hours later. The service was very poor and honestly there is not one dish I remember. The only memory I have is of the chef at the pass constantly yelling for "Jill" to give her time on whatever she was dragging. Bad dinners and poor experiences are expected and sometimes excusable. But, taking down a review without contacting the writer I feel is cowardly and shameful.

    (2)

  • Dave M.

    The decor is excellent, and not distracting from the food. The waitstaff is the same: professional, very comfortable, super capable, pleasant and with no additional flourish or artifice that you if find sometimes when they aren't sure of what they are doing. The drinks were excellent, served with perfect timing. The food was clearly the centerpiece of everything, without screaming it to you. Absolutely delicious. I think what impressed me most, was the level of consciousness that went into the food. Each flavor was clearly present, balanced with some other flavor that made sense in an interesting way for that flavor to be there. The portions were actually generous for gourmet food and I left pleasantly stuffed and buzzed. I could not ask for more. The staff in general took care of us in a way that is impressive. The valet took our crappy car in a way that was assuring that it would not be further crapified. The hosts took our unneeded outerwear, in a manner that appeared more as a desire for us to be comfortable. Our waitress gave us time with each other so that we could enjoy each other and enjoy the food. Other waitstaff brought things at different times based on the food and our state at that moment. I had the thought there, that they really completely understand the whole package of fine dining, not just one part of it.

    (5)

  • Julie A.

    Craigie on Main's Chef's Whim menu was, hands down, the most fun I've ever had dining out at a restaurant. It's still somewhat of a splurge, but think of it as dinner AND a show. And you can eat the show. The 6-course menu wove through new and familiar culinary territories, from a bluefin and caviar amuse-bouche, to a venison rillette, to sweetbreads, and all the way back to a delightful spin on the peanut butter and banana sandwich. Some things I liked, some things I didn't, but it's exhilarating, going to dinner and leaving it all up to someone else. They even give you a pencil and some paper so you can write down what you were served. Love the open kitchen, love the bar (and, incidentally, the bartender), love the waitstaff with their helpful answers to all of my "um, what exactly am I eating?" inquiries. This is the best way to experience a great restaurant with an award-winning chef - on it's own terms, and with a discount!

    (5)

  • Alan B.

    After starving ourselves for most of the day, we celebrated a birthday here and got the six course tasting menu, and sat at the chef's table...it was delicious. Our pleasant and helpful server guided us to the perfect bottle of wine that really opened up nicely about 10-15 minutes after being opened. The chef's table was awesome. You sit at a granite counter top and get a full view of all the sights, sounds, and smells of a well organized and efficiently ran kitchen. I've never worked in a restaurant before, so I was viewing it as an outsider, watching several moving parts (and bodies) work together to assemble each diner's meal. Watching the kitchen staff work was like listening to a complex symphony play, just beautiful. We got six wonderful courses, each just as appetizing a beautiful as its predecessor, with the final course hand delivered by the Chef himself. This tiny restaurant serves up immaculately plated and tasty courses. The meal was pricey, but worth it for special occasions. Try the Sunday Brunch or Sunday night meal chef's whim meal options for a cheaper, but likely equally tasty, meal. For those griping about the lack of fanfare for a birthday, what do you want? A Mariachi band? They know how to keep it classy. You get a personalized card and a candle, and we got some extra desserts. This place was expensive, no doubt about that, but a fun experience.

    (5)

  • Mardget P.

    For the adventurous foodie, this place is perfect. My husband, who will eat almost anything, fits this profile, so for his birthday, away we went. We both very much liked the vibe--lots of happy people clearly excited to be there, super busy kitchen and bar, friendly and efficient staff, nice enough for a special date but casual enough to remember you're still in Central Square. Even my not-easily-fazed husband had to pass on the whole pig's head (our server said, "there's nothing subtle about it--it comes with the ears), but he loved the crispy pig's tail, the grilled octopus, and the perfect execution of the assiette of terrines (assiette de terrines? pardon the poor French). His sirloin wasn't quite so memorable, and my non-adventurous choices were good but nothing spectacular--which to me means, if you're coming to Craigie and want the real experience, go for broke. If you just want a cool night out at a happening but not overly hipster place (and want to save a little money from the prix fixe menu too), wait for a seat at the bar, order the supposedly Best of Boston burger, and then get dessert at Toscanini's next door.

    (4)

  • Val F.

    I nearly starved to death!!! While I loved - and devoured (who could blame me!) - the deliciously decadent $18 burger, I almost passed out waiting 90 minutes for it. So I understand, Craigie on Main was busy, it's a new restaurant, the waitstaff is just getting their rhythm down, blah blah blah. But seriously, when have you EVER waited that long without someone coming over to explain what was going on? Our waiter was NOWHERE to be found, our water glasses empty, our mouths parched and our stomachs growling in anticipation. Was it worth it? The burger was amazing but the sides were a little too precious for me...I challenge anyone to figure out how to eat that haystack arrangement of microscopic fries!

    (3)

  • VT H.

    Craigie on Main seems to be slipping... this was our second dining experience and we left feeling like it did not live up to the hype. The service was incredibly slow with long waits between courses. The food was average for a restaurant billed as finer dining. It was almost as if the creativity of the ingredients had become more important than the overall dish. Overall, will not be going back for awhile. Too many other great choices in Boston at that price point.

    (2)

  • Yuko I.

    Ate before Christmas here, pretty good bread and food is good too. We ordered several appetizers (ham, salad), main roasted chicken and pork - they were all good. Dessert was somewhat disappointing... Miso grazed ice cream... tasted very miso, just weird.

    (4)

  • John C.

    I want to start off by saying that if i had loved every dish COM would have gotten 5 stars, everything has to be perfect, i just don't give out perfect scores very often. with that said, the tasting menu was a great experience, i wish i got the 10, but i'm glad i didn't because i was very full by the end. i highly recommend the tasting menu, the experience is worth the money, let alone the good eats. Box Score: 6 course tasting menu for myself and date and a cocktail. total price $240 with tip and tax. The meal started off with an amuse bouche of clam ceviche, squid and a fried clam. this dish started off with a bang. the squid really hit home, there was a hint of sesame oil and the friend onions on the top gave me palate flashbacks of my childhood when my grandmother used to cook. Yelp doesn't allow me to review each meal, so i'll just speak of what stood out and what didn't. One of the savory dishes was the monkfish, i was delighted to finally get to try monkfish, it's not something you can find at the grocery store and i was surprised at its texture, somewhat like scallop as my companion so kindly noted. everything about the dish was nice with the exception of the broth, i felt the chefs hand was a bit heavy on the salt. another dish that stood out was the veal two ways, i was not a big fan of the braised cheeks, it was succulent and tender, but it lacked in flavor, it almost felt as if it was covered in hoisin sauce. the sweetbreads on the otherhand were fantabulous, just a bit heavy by that point in the meal. my companion absolutely LOVED the sashimi dish, i was a big fan as well, it was clean, crisp and very refreshing. Ragoût of Local Forest Mushrooms, House-Made Country Sausage, Turnips and Romanesco was also a delightful dish... it was honestly not that special until you broke the egg and let the yolk infuse the salad, once done it really tied everything together... this was one of my more favorite dishes. Also made was the pork belly tortellini, i was a big fan of these.. it would have been an absolute perfect dish if it was cooked perfectly, i had a piece of tortellini that was not cooked enough, therefore not being very tender. dessert was nothing to rave about, probably our least favorite part. the chocolate mousse was good, but only with the walnuts, alone it was nothing out of the ordinary imo. the cornbread was very interesting, but i've never been a big cornbread fan so it didn't really jump out. The service at craigies on main was really good. our waiter appeared to be very knowledgeable and helped us communicate with the chef to plan our tasting menu as my companion is not much of a pork eater. i asked about the 1771 and he described it very well, it was a very delightful cocktail. the only downside to having a tasting menu is that it's almost overwhelming how often waitstaff is there to clean/clear your table, which is something my companion noted to me. all in all craigies on main is a restaurant i will return to.. maybe not anytime soon as i want to explore more restaurants in the central area. not to mention that their prices are not really "date friendly", they are more for anniversaries, b-days and special occasions.

    (4)

  • Stacey H.

    If you like the cocktails at DRINK, then you'll love them at Craigie on Main. They infuse their "libations" with cherry, juniper, and anise to name a few....and the results are spectacular! I would venture to say that these are the best cocktails in Boston/Cambridge hands down. As for the food....my date and I sat at the bar and nibbled. We split the ragout appetizer with mushrooms and sausage. WOW! YUM! It can only be described as tasty x tasty x tasty x infinity. Also - and this is just my own little critique of restaurants - good bread goes along way. Craigie's bread bowl was great and came with a mix of different rolls - the best one being a multigrain roll that included seeds. I love seeds - so I also loved this roll. If you've been thinking about coming to Craigie - don't think, just do it.

    (5)

  • Vv V.

    Wonderful food. Incredible service. Worth the cost.

    (5)

  • Jen H.

    My boyfriend decided to surprise me for our Valentines dinner. We had already discussed ahead of time that we were going to celebrate sometime on the weekend, vs on actual Valentines Day since it was a Monday. Where we were going, I had no idea... until about 30 minutes before when he dropped a few hints and I figured it out. Needless to say, I was super excited because I had been meaning to try this place! Jeremy K had given my boyfriend a tip before we headed out. Originally, he had asked for a quiet table, but per Jeremy K's recommendation of sitting at the bar/prepping area we decided to do that. What a treat! You can have a quiet table in a nice restaurant anytime... but having ring side seats for the prep of all the food was truly something special to watch. Those guys move around SO FAST, you'd swear they were former professional athletes. Scoop some ice cream and plate it here, run and pop bread in the oven there, throw some precisely placed garnish on a dish, and send it out... you name it, they did it all. My boyfriend and I have VERY different tastes. I can't eat seafood. He doesn't like meat (other than chicken) and doesn't like creams/cheese, etc. He likes red wine. I like sweet white wine. Being that it was our Valentines day celebration, and he is a true gentleman, he gave me ladies pick for the wine. I chose (with the help of our server) the 2008 Willi Schaefer Riesling. The wine was a sweet, wet, wine... just the kind I like, and for $55 it was a very nice bottle, and both of us enjoyed it. For dinner our server was really talking up the Chef's tasting, and after I told her that I always missed out on those because I can't eat seafood, she assured me it was no problem to do one all meat. I thought this over and although I can be a picky eater... decided I was going to go for it. My boyfriend decided he was just going to have some seafood... and then we were told that when they do the Chef's tasting, they really ask for both of you to do them. Not to worry... they did his all seafood since he doesn't eat most meat! We heard our order get put in "Tasting All meat, Tasting All seafood." Fantastic. Now, I'll admit, I am not a foodie. I have absolutely no idea everything that I was served. I know I had some pig cheek (wasn't a fan of the texture of this), I had a few different types of foie gras, goat with soup around it, and all kinds of other dishes. For one of the courses, Chef Tony Maws himself came over to present it. In fact, just about every course had a different presenter. It made me realize how extensive the knowledge ALL of the staff have... not just one or two people. Now, again... I'm not a foodie, so I apologize for not doing these dishes justice with describing what they were, what was involved, and how rich the flavors were.... because they were truly amazing. The sweetbreads were good, but knowing what they are I don't think I'd opt for them again. My boyfriend loved just about every bit of seafood that crossed his plate... and we were so stuffed after this tasting... but wait... there was dessert on the way! We were served some sorbet to cleanse our palates. This is probably the only sweet thing that my boyfriend likes to eat. We made a comment similar to this to our server and she goes "Well.... there is more dessert on the way... what kind of desserts do you like? You're not a big chocolate fan... okay... do you like... cake?" After a bit of back and forth she talked with the chefs. Not only did my boyfriend get an extra scoop of the sorbet, but he was also given a dessert that best fit his tastes - an apple tart of sorts. To top it all off I had a glass of Muscat, and my boyfriend had some green tea. Our server retrieved our coats for us, and even called us a cab. Excellent customer service from the very beginning until the very end. We left very full, extremely happy, and very impressed with our early Valentines Day celebration. Other restaurants should take a lesson from Craigie on Main's customer experience, as few execute on it so superbly.

    (5)

  • Onur U.

    My friends in Boston have raved about Craigie on Main so it was long overdue that I finally made it. We got the four seats at "ringside" which overlooks the kitchen. It's a neat concept, but I'm not sure it totally worked. The chefs were very busy all night. We couldn't really interact with them and it made it hard to talk to the servers because they were in a rush to get out of the way and it was kind of loud. I think I would've preferred to sit at a table and really discuss the food since we felt timid critiquing the dishes in front of the chefs who were preparing them. I liked a lot about the meal. The dedication to fresh ingredients is evident not only in the quality of the dishes, but also in the preparation that highlights the individual components with simple preparations. The quality from dish to dish was very high, there's obviously a lot of skill in the kitchen. All that said, I had some issues with the meal. We ordered the full chef's tasting, and it was A LOT of food. Too much really. I've had meals with 20+ courses and not felt as full as I did at Craigie. I think this had a lot to do with the arc of the meal. Many of the early dishes were spreads or charcuterie that they served with bread. Even the fish was served on a bed of cous cous. We were pretty full when the last dishes came and they were total overload. First they served a steak and eggs dish that, though delicious, really needed some bread to sop up the creamy eggs. Then they served four, fairly large chunks of quail with a side of bone marrow that we ordered extra (not knowing it would come at the end). The marrow was excellent, but much too heavy to serve at the end of the meal, along with a quail entree, and naturally with a side of toast to spread it on. I've never had marrow served after the appetizers and this really was a detriment. I was too full (of bread) to really enjoy the last couple dishes, and honestly, I wanted nothing to do with the three dessert courses they brought out. I was basically eating out of politeness at that point (another issue with being next to the kitchen). Nonetheless, the cuisine is hitting at a high level. There were some real highlights to the meal, but if I'm to return I'd do the smaller chef's tasting and avoid any of the add-ons (though the locally foraged mushrooms were terrific). I should also mention that I thought the meal was reasonably priced and the service was excellent. I think there's a five star experience to be had, but you have to know what you're doing to get it.

    (4)

  • George T.

    Absolutely impeccable service. They bring new silverware after every course, brush the bread crumbs from your table, always check in to make sure everything is going well. When we came to the bar at Craigie after dinner, they held our leftovers from dinner and handed them to us as we left without out ever requesting them to do so. Great food. I recently went for the Chef's whim 4 course, where the Chef chooses the dishes. Each dish was unique and creative. I thought the tastes were kind of hit or miss, for example, the main entree was a hanger steak, corned beef with mushrooms topped with a piece of fried bone marrow, sweet potato, and creamed spinach. Admittedly, I am not a fan of mustard and the steak was drizzled with mustard oil, which ruined the taste. The corned beef was excellent and the fried marrow was perfect. Go to Craigie on Main, you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Mischa T.

    I called ahead of time and was told there were many vegetarian options and the cooks were very flexible. It was a completely different story once we were seated. The menu had 0 vegetarian options. When we asked the waitress if the cooks could modify anything she became extremely rude. She left for 15 mins and returned to say the cooks would try to pull something together. We should have left. But I had faith that even though the waitress was an idiot the cooks were not. The food was beyond disgusting. A plate of veggies soaked in BUTTER. Really- if I had ordered a meat dish I would have at least had pasta or something to go with, but I forgot vegetarians only eat tasteless lettuce. Yummy. Even dessert was awful. I recommend Salt across the street over this place.

    (1)

  • Dana W.

    This was my 5th time dining at Craigie St, and it will be my last. Whether I am dining at a modest place or a fine-dining restaurant, I seek value, and Craigie does not deliver anymore. I felt like a sucker. Found the wine-by-the-glass list to be mediocre. Appetizer (trio of terrines) was microscopic and uninteresting, and there were 9 - count them 9 - accompaniments on the plate. I felt like I paid $18 for a plate of mustard. Very pretentious and ultimately, detracting. My entree (sausage-stuffed chicken) was cooked nicely but the whole thing was salty (and I love salt!), and the potato gallette (bland, mushy) over whole yellow potatoes (really??) was terrible. My husband's pork trio was OK, but again, a measly, bland offering for the price. The single smoked rib was very tasty. The staff is enormous and there is a lot of coming and going - the kitchen expediter was yelling out orders constantly, and the staff dropped and broke not one but two wine glasses during our meal. I have had more creative (and generous) food for the same price at Oleana, Hungry Mother, and No. 9 Park, and have had better food for far less money at Petit Robert Bistro and even Brasserie Jo.

    (2)

  • Al A.

    awesome food. awesome service.

    (5)

  • Aaron B.

    Back in the not too distant future when a Bush was in the White House and a Bistrot was on Craigie Street I fell in love with French cooking. The last time I was at Craigie Street Bistrot was 2004. I only went twice in it's entire existence and that was a travesty of epic proportions. Then, that little enterprise by Chef Tony Maws, decided to move. Chef Tony would get his dream kitchen and Central Square would have another phenomenal notch in its gastronomic belt. Here in lies the problem. Ever since it moved I have basically been there every single Wednesday and the occasional Sunday for the Chef's Whim Tasting (which, conveniently has expanded to include Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays). First the atmosphere is a little bit French and little bit of the local neighborhood hangout. It's warm, like one of those snuggle, but not as pointless. The food, is fantastic, but I don't know why. Oh, wait, I know why - it's because it's fresh. Wow, fresh food, what an amazing concept. And it tries to stay as local as possible. No, you can't have tomatoes on your burger until they are actually grown. So, Chef Tony supports local farms to help out the local economy. Take that, Recession! The food items change because of that whole "what's available fresh" aspect, but I will delve into items that are fantastic... Cod cheeks. Who knew fish had cheeks? Who knew that they would also taste so good? Yeah, Chef Tony did. Farro Verde. I had no idea what farro was except that it was a grain of somekind and it fed the Roman Legions. If it was good enough for Scipio, it's good enough for me. Sure, throw some sausage in there. Hell, put a poached egg on top. Now, that's what I'm talking about. It's filling, but it makes you want more. Pork Three Ways. I really can't tell you the three ways, but I like pork. Pigs are fantastic creatures and smart (have you read Animal Farm, they like Communism...wait, that actually wasn't good). Oh god, bacon - I could get bacon for days. I would go to war for bacon. For get Helen, I would launch a thousand ships for a pound of bacon. Anyway, the pork three ways was ecstasy. Sashimi. Yeah, I'm just getting into the raw fish scene and this was divine. Light, simple, but the favors took over your tongue like the people of Paris took over the Bastille. The food is amazing and it tastes so damn good, but we cannot forget the libations. Tom Schlesinger, formerly of Eastern Standard, manages the small and intimate bar. The drink list is small, but Tom, the prodigy that he is, can whip up anything your heart (liver) desires. The wine list is tight and fantastic spanning many countries and a good portion of it being a tad eclectic so you can expand your palate from the routine sauvignon blanc and pinot noir rut people have stuck themselves into. Just go there...soak in the atmosphere...guzzle down the libations...savor every bit of the FRESH food.

    (5)

  • Ellen C.

    I finally got to Craigie on Main last night, and I was not disappointed. Having heard wonderful things from friends, I'd been looking forward to the atmosphere, and to the food. For a late night dinner, our table split a bottle of the Japanese Mikan brew along with medium rare burgers. I'd highly recommend the beer- great complex flavor, it's one of their new options. On the burger side, I usually go a bit more cooked, but they managed to do medium rare well. I would have liked a bit more of the cheddar on my burger, but now I'm just being picky. I was with a friend who frequently goes there, and the chef sent out some rooibos infused panna cotta, milk punch, and chocolate almonds after our meal. The milk punch was definitely something different, it's allowed to curdle and then filtered and infused with bourbon and black tea. I'm not entirely sure how the process works, but it was one of the more interesting drinks I've had recently. It was definitely worth going to, and I'm only sad I didn't go sooner.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    Went here for brunch on Mother's day (yikes!). Yes, I have a tendency to pick the most inconvenient times to go to a nice restaurant. Anyway, the only options were prixe fixe. So choose from 3 options each for starter entree and desert - bc don't we always need a desert after breakfast? I got fruit salad, "lox" (ok, not really it was a variety of smoked/pickled fish) and bagel, and fruit crumble for desert. And I'll be honest, I was not blown away. Although I did try a friend's homemade donut, and it was glorious! That being said, for the food I got I thought the price was a little steep- I think it was $60 for the prixe fixe. It was insanely busy that day, and I don't eat meat (except fish) so, for me, there weren't many choices. So I will give Craigie another chance one day. But NOT mother's/valentine's or even flag day!

    (3)

  • Alisha P.

    I heard good things about Craigie on Main from the Improper Bostonian top 100 restaurants/bars of Boston and have been talking about trying it out for months. The hostess were very hospitable. They found us a space at the bar and took our coats, but somewhat awkward in the process. We had to wait on the ramp (as they called "queue") for our seats at the bar as opposed to standing by the chairs, waiting for the couple to leave. Once we sat, it took a few minutes 5+ for the bartender to greet us and ask for drink orders. He (Jared) seemed nervous as first but quickly warmed up and was also very accommodating. He offered us a variety of wines to taste. I was impressed by his knowledge of the wines, types location, grapes, etc. Brussel sprouts and beef burger were very yummy, complex flavors, well cooked, fresh and in addition, all ingredients harvested from Mass and NE farms -keepin it local (A+++ in my book) After dinner we ordered the Ardoise (sage infused vodka gimlet) and the Lawnchair Observation (mojito with ginger beer sub for soda). The latter is not listed on the menu so be sure to ask Jared for it!! It's absolutely worth giving the place a shot if you're in Central. If you're not in the mood for food, you have to at least stop in for a drink, which were unmatched to any cocktail I've ever had!!

    (4)

  • M J.

    What is all the fuss about people? I'm no stranger to fine dining but I'm sorry, I just don't get it. The menu, I mean. We sat and ate at the bar, and so there was the regular menu and the bar menu to choose from but I was not at all happy with the choices. Are they trying to be as odd as possible?! Pigs tails, chicken feet, boudin noir, smelts, tongue, sea urchin, fish with collar bones, bone marrow, pork jowl, squid, sea urchin. It's showoffy, crossing the line into unappetizing. How about some fillet of... anything?! More vegetables and salads? There was no balance in the menu. I ordered a perfectly cooked, smallish and overpriced burger (given the room/rent they are likely paying) and I was not impressed. Sadly, the Vt beef was pretty tasteless. The side of sweet potato sticks were so julienned they were hard to eat. Galette, meh. Asian fish bar item was tasty and had amazing sauce but lose the bone in thing, it's unnecessary. Bread was outstanding. We had a great Pino Nero and did not partake in the eclectic mixed drinks, but I was impressed with the offerings. It looked like an apothecary behind that bar, with the droppers of this, little bottles of that. They also have various shaped ice cubes for different drinks - right on top of the current local bar trend. I was impressed with the professional and efficient staff, at the door and especially Tom at the bar - wow, was he perfect. While we stood waiting for seats, he walked out from behind the bar to pour our wine. Throughout the meal, he was unbelievably attentive. I was so impressed. Bottom line, I know the chef has accolades and it's got to be for a reason. I guess I'll return in Spring or Summer to see if things have lightened up and balanced out a bit. Maybe marrow, tongue and pigs feet will be out of season by then.

    (2)

  • Kate H.

    Lots o' good, a dash of snobbery. Both cocktail and food (main dining and bar) menus are good. I had pork 2 ways as my entree, and it was absolutely 5 starts delish. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food and drink both times I dined there. Craigie loses one star (well, 1/2 for stupid name, so I guess half a star) for thinking it's God's gift to restaurants. Unaccommodating hostesses who seat my party in the bar area without warning=bad. Demanding a credit card for my small party on the weekend and my larger party during the week=bitch please! Once I've dined at your place and dropped several hundred dollars don't make me give you my credit card to hold my reservation like I'm some train-jumpin' hobo who may or may not show up. Get over yourself, you're a bistro, not heaven.

    (4)

  • Jordan G.

    2 words sum it all: Pork Belly Not something you hear on a Sunday brunch menu but there you have it. I went with a group of close friends and we all were yearning for this meal. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. He walked us through the menu, and while the pork jowls (fried fatty deliciousness) sounded really tempting, none of us wanted to indulge that much on a Sunday during Lent. He gave my very indecisive group ample time to hem and haw. We all settled on our dishes: Burger, Burger with Pork Belly, Pork Belly Panini, and the grits. A gigantic fry lover myself, the shoe string fries that came with my pork belly panini were out of this world. I'm not sure how they seasoned them, but they had just enough of a kick for my senses to do a double take. The burger is a popular item that seems to be get props here and was, as expected, heavenly. But my panini - I am at a loss for words at how delicious my pork belly was. I still have dreams of the pork belly. It was perfectly textured and seasoned, and, accompanied with the fried eggplant, gave it the right flavor combination to send my senses through the roof. I have a friend visiting soon and we plan on going there for dinner. Yes, it is SO good it merits 2 (and more) visits.

    (5)

  • Pam J.

    Went to this restaurant on a Thursday night with some friends (6 of us). I got there a bit early. Sat at the bar alone and the bartenders were very friendly. It was obvious from the talk that they were very knowledgeable. I ordered a sparkling wine and they told me all about it as well as let me taste it before ordering it. Nice. Friends arrived and we sat. We all ordered the 6 course tasting menu. I wish I had written my review earlier, because I don't remember what everything was in detail - but I did like the food very much. The wine waiter was knowledgeable and suggested several good bottles of wine that went very well with the meal. I found I really liked not knowing what I was getting. Be prepared however, if you - like me - have been on a low fat diet for the last 10 years. This is full fat. In fact, probably full fat with some extra fat injected. Everything has skin and... well... everything. Nothing light or healthy about this meal. Seriously, be prepared. I was sick as a dog the rest of the night and all the next day. I'm not used to to this type of food. I think it was worth it, but nothing I'd do again for another 10 years.

    (4)

  • Sam N.

    It doesn't get 5 stars because they're selling 'Gansett beer for $4. Having Naragansett sponsor my fraternity when I was in college and having them dole out numerous mugs, hats, and t-shirts, I'm happy for them that a restaurant thinks their beers are worth $4. But after drinking their beer for 4 years, I can personally tell you that it is not worth more than $2 (even at an upscale restaurant). But, I am glad they chose 'Gansett over similar American brews (e.g. Bud Lite). On to the real review.... Their liquid concoctions are very tasty. My girlfriend had some lemon scotch thing that was... (...I wrote three paragraphs more that just got deleted somehow...here we go again I suppose. I'll try to be as eloquent, but the deletion was a bit discouraging). The lemon scotch thing was quietly potent. I was very close to having the bartender teach me his magic. I just got a beer (an Allagesh Double). My other dinner mate ordered a delicious rhubarb drink. We split a nice, not too sweet, Riesling (be aware that they only serve European wines) for dinner. To start, I ordered a phenomenal yellow fin sashimi. Topped with avocado, some crispy stuff, and a truly incredible spicy chili sauce, it was perfect. I expected a scant 3 pieces of fish, but was blown away by the 10 little squares that arrived on my plate (biggest portion of an upscale sashimi starter I've ever had). I was reluctant to split it with my girlfriend, but she had ordered the trio of terrines, and I was not about to miss that boat. It was composed of headcheese, a 5 liver, and a rillette, that were all delicious and fresh. It was served with some purple mustard, prune puree, and some pickled cucumbers and onions. Very tasty. For dinner, I opted for the steak, while my girlfriend went with the veal two ways (1. slow roasted sweetbreads 2. cheek). After the gargantuous portion that was my appetizer, I was a little let down that the entrees seemed to be of equal size. Not that it wasn't plenty of food; I was just spoiled by the first course, I suppose. But the steak was cooked perfectly and the battered and fried bone marrow was delectable. The veal was equally amazing, especially the sweetbreads. Served with mushrooms, greens, baby spring vegetables, and a delicious sauce. Our waiter was the most chatty guy I've ever had serve me. He was very knowledgeable (or at least was a great actor) and provided excellent service. He exclaimed, "To be honest with you...Canadian rye sucks," to my other dinner mate when he was inquiring about their Canadian rye selections (they have none). He realized my friend was a little offended and 4 little desserts appeared out of nowhere (a rhubarb mouse topped with lemon foam...exquisite). Cheers to you mate.

    (4)

  • Sonia D.

    I went Craigie last night for dinner with a friend who I haven't seen in a while. We decided to sit at the bar and it turned out to be a great experience. Ted the bartender was great and let us chat and didn't interupt at all. Watching him make those amazing drinks was pretty interesting. We finally ordered a bottle of Beaujolais which was sooo smooth and delicious. We also both ordered the "infamous" burger and it definitely met the hipe. It came with huge steak fries and a little side salad which was a good touch to the dish The first bite into the burger was amazing and it continued to be good. The sides were a nice little touch and the spicy homemade ketchup was tasty! We ordered the corn bread dessert which was also good. It was served with vanilla ice cream and pineapple salsa. Needless to say my first experience was great and I can't wait to go back and try the specialty drinks and all the other things on the menu.

    (5)

  • Chanpon N.

    Craigie is one of those special places that I think every good foodie should treat himself/herself to every once in a while. Even if you're not a foodie, but really want to impress one, you can't go wrong with this place. Craigie does just about everything right from hospitality, service, and of course the food. The staff was warm and inviting, and the service was about the attentive yet unobtrusive. For its high-end caliber food, the atmosphere is more casual and relaxed rather than uptight and pretentious. Craigie's food though is the true highlight here with great quality and care put into selecting fresh local ingredients, and if you opt for a tasting menu, to creating unique dishes for the table. I opted for the 10 course meal to experience the breadth of flavors, and was not disappointed. A warning that the food might be meat heavy was not warranted at least for our menu that evening. We had 3 seafood-centric dishes, 2 veggie centric, 1 pasta, and then 2 meat dishes. That was topped off with 5 desserts for me and my friend. Each dish was well crafted, flavorful and distinct. If there were anything to nitpick for me, I would say the desserts aren't quite up to par with the rest of the meal. This preceding dishes were spectacular while the desserts were just good (save the homemade peanut butter cookie with peanut butter ice-cream which was out of this world). However, I don't really like dessert at all, and my usual complaint would be that they were too sweet for me. Others may find them more to their liking. The true highlight of the evening for me though were the mocktails. As a non-drinker, often relegated to water or some boring juice drink, the bartender crafted what was a series of lovely and beautiful drinks - with unsual flavors - that complimented the food well. Truly eye-opening, and in my opinion, worth visiting Craigie for alone. I had my friend who does drink try them, and she was equally impressed with the unique concoctions. Yes, this place is expensive but worth every cent. I came out stuffed, unlike another well-received local restaurant offering wonderfully creative fair too *cough* o ya*cough*. In all seriously, the bill for both places probably came out to about the same, though Craigie offers about 3x as much food. Not a knock on the other place (I like it there too) but just different.

    (5)

  • Colleen Y.

    I'm definitely a foodie and am enamored with those who choose to become chefs (such a thankless job and almost no one succeeds in opening their own place), so I love open kitchens. Lots of restaurants have open kitchens but none like this. We were seated 5ft or so from the expediter and it was awesome to see the orchestra of chefs, waiters and managers -- taking control on a semi-busy night. We saw every spoon drop, every saute pan whisked and every dessert plated. The locale is much improved from their last spot. The new place must be gathering a whole new crowd. They are going for a hip look, clustering of old pictures and mirrors, worn wooden floor and sleek tables. The only thing that doesn't vibe are the fugly ceiling panels. Super middle school classroom looking. They could have upped the legit factor with a different choice. The old place was just that, old. And stuffy and too small and totally off the beaten path. But it had a French style grace to it that meshed well with the style of food. With that said, I love the newly added bar area (and the drink menu in general since they used to only have wine), I definitely plan on grabbing a drink there with a girlfriend soon to people (or maybe manager) watch. My only complaint about COM is that they beat you over the head with their food knowledge and local food policy. It is kind of like if you are in high school and go on a date with the star basketball player who've you've watched play, read about many times in the paper and fantasized about for years and then he bores you to death by spewing his stats all night. COM--you're cool and hip, so don't ruin it by spending the whole night telling us how cool and hip you are.

    (4)

  • Michael W.

    Being a graduate student, normally Craigie would be a bit out of my price range. But for a birthday brunch, wow, I was blown away. The beef cheek and tongue hash was simply crazy good. If only they had bigger servings!

    (4)

  • Martine K.

    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.

    (5)

  • Kristina F.

    Got the burger. HEAVEN. And worth the wait. So the bar side serves the burger, as you may recall from my last post. And I was determined to get the burger this weekend. I got there in the heat of dinner traffic, and we put our name in for any open seat for the bar or tables. I knew this may require a long wait, as the bar is popular, but I didn't care. I was on a mission. Plus, I knew the drinks were delicious and I could use a few after a busy Saturday. I had one of their delicious libations, something with sage in it. It was just what I wanted, tart, crisp and yummy. My friends got perfect manhattans and they raved about the homemade cherries and the almost perfect ice cubes. The bar was crowded. But good energy. Kinda hot. We finally got seated at the bar, but within minutes they came back and decided to seat us as the table. Strangely this table was empty for about 20 minutes, but I wasn't going to complain! I was excited to eat. For apps, we had the oysters. They didn't even need any dipping sauces as I think it had some sort of champagne or whatever on it. It was really good. Grilled octopus also on the list and I was really impressed by this. It was like BBQ - it was cooked very well, had a lovely BBQ-like sauce and had a great texture. But the fan favorite was the tuna sashimi. I had it last time and had to get it again and share the wealth. We each had the burger, cooked to their recommendation of medium rare. It's pink, very pink, just to prepare you. But it was filling, decadent and just pure bliss. Even the ketchup was something of a bit fantastic. It was juicy, rich and so good. Like really good. Shoestring fries were good, but I was too stuffed to eat too many. And we ordered the duck fat roasted brussell sprouts, which I love. No room for dessert, but the staff treated us to a small cup of cinnamon chocolate, which was a perfect way to end the night. The staff was really on top of it. While we waited for our table, they were extremely attentive and checked in with us constantly. When we sat, our waiter was really cool and the manager came up to chat as he heard I was in need of the burger. All in all, everyone at the place was really lovely. It was a pricey night, but worth every penny. Amazing food, good energy, good people. Next time, I want to sit at the kitchen, I think its called the chef's table. Watch those peeps at work!

    (5)

  • Ben L.

    The whole experience was a mess. Drinks that were taking ages to show up, ton's of people packed into a small area, orders that seemed to have been lost only to show up 15 minutes later. But it was great. We were a small group, packed into a corner by the bar. People multiplied at an alarming rate and we even took turns sitting down on the few available seats. The servers had to forge through small cracks between us to deliver alcoholic sustenance. Orders were yelled over heads as other people were pointed at to see if they wanted in. With everything I had a fantastic black bass that I still think fondly of and a couple of terrific drinks. I'll be back, with less people.

    (5)

  • Kevin M.

    My favorite restaurant in the Boston area. The tasting menu is incredible. The layers of flavor throughout keep you happy from dish to dish. I ate here for my fifth wedding anniversary dinner and had the tasting menu. The chef accommodated my wife, who was pregnant at the time by choosing alternative dishes for the raw fish. One of the dishes was roasted hamachi kama, which was very memorable. The other item that I remember vividly was the lamb rib with a sweet glaze. It was unlike any rib I've ever eaten.

    (5)

  • Melissa P.

    Craigie on Main: the gift that keeps on giving. I currently have a neat little package waiting for me in the office refrigerator. Inside are my leftovers from dinner last night and I am literally staring at the clock, counting down (and killing time writing this review) until it's a reasonable time to eat lunch. Last night, I had the slow-roasted chicken and I can almost still taste it. The chicken was so tender, I didn't need a knife, and with every forkful I picked up the beans, spinach, and puree served with it. All of the flavors worked so well together (the sauce was rich but very light), and the textures complimented each other perfectly. This entree is a hefty portion, so about halfway through I forced myself to slow down to ensure a leftover lunch large enough for today. Of course it helped that we had started with the grilled octopus, ended with the gingerbread pain perdu, and padded the middle with bread and a bottle of wine. We spent way too much money, but were too happy and full afterwards to care. Things we commented on throughout the meal: the attentiveness of the staff, their knowledge of the menu, and their passion for the food and wine; how we saw a different server for each course of the meal; how the exposed kitchen was surprisingly calm, cool, and collected which made us feel comforted and well taken care of; and how most of the customers were twice our age and we should have had our parents take us there so they could treat. Next time, for sure.

    (5)

  • Catherine L.

    my overextending gf's treated me to the 6-course tasting menu here for my 30th bday + 3 weeks. which effectively meant I had to wear a pink-feathered Birthday tiara the entire dinner. to my benefit, guys love making comments to deceptively childish looking girls wearing bachelorette apparel. pervs. getting back to Craigie... yea so the meal was SICK. not just because it was creative, perfectly flavored, and subtly ostentatious in presentation, but because i could still appreciate it even though I was going to drop dead of a cold at the time. the cuts of meat were PRIMO. i went googly-eyed when i saw the daily list of farms and providers they source their ingredients from at the back of the menu. short of listing the animal's names and their likes/dislikes, i felt really farm-iliar (ha) with the food. the star of the meal was this lamb trio featuring the most succulent, flavorful cuts from body parts i would rather be ignorant of. i wish i took my leftovers back in my pocket! another signature dish was the squid noodles. so light, fresh, tangy, and sweet. try finding that anywhere else (tho i saw Wylie Dufresne make something similar on Iron Chef). but all this was K.O.'d by the APPLE+CELERY SORBET ...... {singing angel interlude} ....... i'd take this over the olive oil gelato that NYC'ers get all hot and bothered about. i'm pretty sure i sprouted leaves after eating this it was so fresh and green and intriguing. alas, there were 3 subsequent desserts that washed out the flavor. but i still have my memories. and it's against my religion to say no to free dessert. especially because i earned it waiting 45 min for a table while i was secretly dying but trying to look regal. despite my feeling of entitlement to the free desserts. i was FLOORED by the service. and it wasn't stuffy either. they maintained the perfect balance of professional, efficient, yet completely amicable. you really feel like ppl are going REALLY out of their way to do something for you that you will REALLY want or are sure to love. i'll be back. for sure. and i will eat that pig-head dish that i was convinced was on the tasting menu but ended up torturing me by not showing up after 5 courses. Elmer Fudd, i will nibble on your ears. and you will like it.

    (5)

  • Meredith K.

    Best restaurant in the city. They are located right on a corner in a funky space - it's a bit tight when it's packed (and seriously it's ALWAYS packed - one Friday night we were there every table was filled till 11:30 at night). Reservations are not easy to come by here, but it's worth it - so book in advance. Service is always good - the staff is so friendly here. But it's the food and drinks that keep folks coming back. The dishes are inventive (like pigs head!) but absolutely delicious. I've been here a half a dozen times and never tasted anything I didn't like. And the cocktails are so tasty - not the standard ones you see at every restaurant. Even ones I was skeptical I'd like were awesome (like the northern lights and ardoise).

    (5)

  • Kabir H.

    Tabula rasa--I've never been to the Craigie Street Bistro, so this review lacks all the "back in the day" pretension, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't positively giddy at the prospect of another fine dining establishment in Central Square.. Craigie on Main delivers. The venue is gray and the fiberglass ceilings are hard to conceal, but it's still spacious and warm. I watched the bar spill over from the opening night crowds, but it was never obnoxious or claustrophobic. In fact, the bar space rocks! I'm convinced my bartender must moonlight as a superhero on his off nights. I've never seen anyone move with the quickness and his sixth sense came in handy, since he knew exactly where everything was on OPENING NIGHT. Hell, I walked in and he was swinging two shakers over his head at once. Clearly not a man to be fucked with. I wanted to sample the cocktail menu my first time out and I wasn't disappointed. They hit all the high notes and your favorite intoxicant is surely represented, dressed in a lovely number, and ready to please. It's always interesting to order a drink and ask the bartender if they'd recommend something else. It's a quick way to cut through the filler and find the gems on a cocktail menu, but it's even more interesting when they won't do it--an act I'd compare to asking a parent which is their favorite child. I went with the stock Champ de Elysees, which rocked. If brandy, chartreuse and lime do it for you, there's no reason to walk by Craigie on Main. And that's how I'll end it; I'm so looking forward to revisiting until I feel comfortable handing over that fifth star and I have no reason to believe Craigie will disappoint.

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    Crispy pig head, crispy pig tails. Northern lights cocktail. Love it, love it, love it. Craigie never disappoints.

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    Poor value for the money The food was good, but VERY expensive for what it is. The service comes complete with serious attitude. I would not recommend this place, unless you feel the need to follow the hop crowd.

    (2)

  • Quentin F.

    I had the six course tasting menu paired with a Bandol, absolutely the best meal I've ever had! Chef Maws is brilliant. I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Mikell T.

    I love, love, love Craigie on Main. It's the go-to place for me and a good friend of mine when we have our "girl date" nights. The food is excellent and the service is always impeccable. Additionally, their burger (on the bar menu) fully converted my friend from vegetarianism. When we go, we typically sit at the bar so we can order off the (slightly cheaper) menu. Unfortunately you can't call ahead for the bar, so even on a weeknight we usually end up waiting 30-45 minutes. But we order cocktails while we're waiting, and the staff are just as helpful and attentive to us as if we were already seated. The bartender(s) are incredibly nice and personable. They'll leave you alone if you're happily engaged in conversation with your dinnermates, but you can also have a good talk with them if you are in a sociable mood. The food is great, of course. Their pate plate as an appetizer is particularly good. Wine list is excellent. Cocktails are strong and I usually have no idea what we're ordering, since the cocktail menu lists ingredients by brand name, not type of alcohol, and as I'm not a cocktail ninja I usually don't really know what to expect. We also usually end up with something small for free. Once it was our appetizer, since they felt bad that we'd waited so long for seats, and we've also gotten an extra glass of wine or a small dessert. As a result we try to tip big. It's not a cheap place for dinner, but I think it is worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Emmanuel S.

    The food is great, changes pretty often, with great ingredients. The service is I guess the bad point of the restaurant. For instance, we waited 10 minutes to get a napkin... Another time, my meal arrived 15 minutes after my friend. However, the restaurant reacts well in this kind of circumstances: we left with a 50-dollar voucher, a great way to be reconciled with a great place in Cambridge.

    (4)

  • Rebecca S.

    Every sip, every bite that I took was delightful. And pricey! The pricey factor will ensure that Craigie's glorious roasted chicken doesn't become a regular habit for me, but the yummy factor will make me think about it frequently with longing. I also had a couple of bites of my companion's milk-fed, organic veal -- wonderfully tender, lovely flavor. And then there's the Northern Lights cocktail (recommended by our exceptionally helpful waiter): simply gorgeous. I had three! And the thing is, usually I eschew brightly colored pseudo-martinis, having long ago graduated from cosmos to rob roys. But Craigie's "libations" menu tantalized with an array of intriguing concoctions. These, too, are pricey, but the mixture of scotch, St. Germain (a spirit made from wild elderflowers), lemon & bitters was irresistible. My entrée was too filling to even consider having dessert -- but the offerings on the dessert menu sounded like they'd be exceptionally good had there been room in my stomach. I'm giving this five stars because the food, decor, service, and drinks were all superb. I attach a caveat: Craigie on Main is far too expensive for a grad student like me to frequent, unless someone else is paying ;).

    (5)

  • wolf t.

    Is there no part of the pig which these people can't make taste amazing? We weren't able to sit in the dining room, so a group of 8 took over the bar and ordered everything on the bar menu to share family-style. I'm glad we ran the board because it encouraged us to go deep into the strange but rewarding stuff like fried pig tails. The potato galette with salmon roe was also a pleasant surprise. My favorite was the charcuterie plate with its buttery foie gras and earthy rabbit. The wine list is expensive and limited, but carefully curated for quality. Those who ordered the "whim" flight of cocktails were very happy with the offerings. (I admire a place gutsy enough to serve a Corpse Reviver to someone who has not specifically ordered it.) Now that I've been introduced to this place, I need to go back and try the half pig's head and the chef's whim menu. Word of advice: if you're planning on ordering the Chef's Whim menu on Sunday, make a reservation if at all possible. Seatings happen only every half hour and you may have to wait a long time or look for other alternatives.

    (5)

  • Corey M.

    I've been twice and never ate fresher or tastier food. 1st time a la carte, second time a pescetarian tasting menu, amazing. Farm to Table. What more can I say. I mean, octopus that was as tender as a white fish or salmon, and I thought I didn't like octopus... I could talk all day...

    (5)

  • Joanna W.

    Visited this establishment a while back and thought it had a really nice atmosphere and great service but unfortunately, my food experience was a little disappointing. At least half of the dishes I had on my tasting menu were not cooked well or were underwhelming. I had really looked forward to the six course tasting here, having heard so much about it. In many ways, I was impressed. We had technically more than just six courses if you count the lovely jasmine infused panna cottas that were complementary. I may have had an irregular experience but tastings aren't things I can afford to try multiple times at the same place if my experience the first time was mediocre. I really loved the salad and desserts but am terribly disappointed by the pork belly. It was unbelievably salty! The same can be said for the other meat dishes and makes me wonder if I just got the bottom of the pot (they did say at first that they ran out). Aside from the meats, I did thoroughly enjoy the unique flavor and pairings of the other dishes, but being a meat lover, not having a well flavored meat dish put quite the damper on my evening.

    (3)

  • Rob R.

    There's a reason this is repeatedly cited as one of the best restaurants in the Boston area. It really is that good. I've been to Craigie twice, and both times I've had the 10 course tasting menu with wine pairings selected by the staff. Both meals were spectacular. The service is consistently excellent. Every employee with whom we interacted was knowledgeable, courteous, and professional.

    (5)

  • Cristina D.

    My fiance and I were looking for a fine dining experience that we could enjoy comfortably (which in our life, means in jeans) for his birthday. Craigie's was superb - everything we were looking for and then some. The ambiance is great - lots of energy radiating from the kitchen up front, not too close to the table next to you (which in Cambridge is refreshing!). The waitstaff was obviously impeccably trained - friendly, professional, knowledgeable about the menu, and completely dedicated towards making sure you have the perfect meal. The cocktails were sensational, and most used fresh herbs and fruits. Obviously, the best part was the food. Every ingredient was obviously fresh, and menu was really creative. The portion sizes were perfect - not so much you were overwhelmed, but not so little you were upset to be dishing out the money for it. The food was beautifully served, and absolutely delectable. I actually closed my eyes during certain bites to allow myself a moment to savor what I was tasting. We will definitely be returning to Craigie's for a future celebration!

    (5)

  • Brandon H.

    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.

    (3)

  • Maia B.

    I love cocktails. I go to the bar at Craigie on Main for the same reason I sometimes get a BMW or Mini Zipcar -- just because I can't afford the real thing doesn't mean I don't enjoy a taste. and oh, what tastes Craigie on Main's top-notch servers will bring to your table. The $20 grass-fed hamburger (turns out, I'm just *mostly* vegetarian). The Northwest cocktail. The oysters. Next time you feel like treating your tastebuds (and your squeeze), dig out your nice clothes from the back of your closet, head to Craigie on Main, and order the cocktail flight (the bartender's choice of 4 cocktail samples, served from light to dark, for $20ish). and then, the next time you walk through Central, you can show off to your friends "Oh, do you ever go to this place? It's pretty expensive but, you know, worth it".

    (5)

  • T Z.

    SOOoo good. We did a cocktail sampler and the bartender picked the drinks. They were amazing, old fashion, delicious drinks. The wine list was great as well (had wine w main courses). Food is def. the best I've had in MA so far. Good rich flavors, spiced just right and perfect portion sizes. Service was on point as well! Worth the $$$

    (5)

  • Chloe B.

    Craigie on Main is expensive. I'm just putting that out there. It's expensive, although arguably it's worth it. I have been to this new location twice, and both times I've enjoyed the bar menu (again, expensive), and several delicious cocktails. Our bartender was quite the charmer, and our other various servers were all knowledgeable and entertaining. My dining partner had the pig's tails the first time we went, and he enjoyed them, although wished they had come with a leafy green (to off-set the salty, fatty quality of them). I had the potato croquettes with salmon roe, and they were delicious and crunchy. We also shared the charcuterie plate. Loved the grilled bread, and the headcheese, also the lamb rillette. I have to admit that the swoop of purple mustard charmed me as well. All in all, this was my favorite thing we ate. On my second trip to Craigie, I split a burger with someone. It was well-cooked, seasoned, and the bread was good. I was pleased to see that tomatoes are not served out of season. Both of my dining experiences were above par, and I hope to come back for a full dinner service some day. Just have to save up, first...

    (4)

  • Barney B.

    OK, Craigie on Main is impressive. Never made it to Craigie on...itself (kinky) but i have a feeling that this is just a bigger, newer, funkier version of its original self. You can tell it's a new restaurant, because even the seasoned looking staff look a little disoriented - but not to the point of affecting the evening or experience. And the menu created and printed at 5:09pm today - how in the hell can you beat that? it's hard to compare this to most other restaurants that seem to pump out carbon copies of the entrees from previous nights - here you are destined to get something fresh and thoughtful I could go back for the soup alone. and I will.

    (4)

  • Rachel J.

    Amazing food, service and atmosphere. We had dinner in the bar in a cozy booth (great for people watching) and it was fantastic. The waiter was well versed on the bar and the menu. Crazy food here (pigs head, sweetbreads, octopus) if you are adventurous. The organic chicken 2 ways was the best chicken I think I've ever had. Loved it and will definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Meems L.

    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.

    (5)

  • Kristy J.

    We were visiting Boston from Los Angeles. As we do consider ourselves foodies we had to go to Craigie On Main while visiting the city. We made reservations far in advance and when we arrived we got a great seat over looking the kitchen. Because we had a late lunch (which was poor planning on our part) we weren't going to be doing the 8 course meal. When our server came over and we ordered, one of us got the three course meal, a few of us ordered just entrees and a couple of us shared a handful of appetizers. Throw that in with multiple rounds of wine and 4 desserts we were well on our way. The snobby experience we had w/ the waiter was almost unbelievable. When we told him that we weren't doing the tasting he pretty much turned over our table to a food runner. We were staring at empty plates that would not get cleared. It was a pretty awful experience as we weren't ordering the large meal because we were cheap but rather not starving...... Aside from that the food was good but nothing to write home about. We have such amazing restaurants in LA that I guess we expected more from this hyped up restaurant. The service honestly could of turned us off to where there was no way we could enjoy the food. All and all the food was decent, certainly creative but nothing that is so memorable and outstanding you savor every bite good. Lastly, since one of my girlfriends is such a foodie, she was hoping the James Beard awarded chef could come by our table since he had been dropping off food for other tables all night. The server pretty much laughed and said he was far too busy for that. Overall this was a pretty disappointing dinner but I guess our expectations are just too high..........

    (2)

  • Kara S.

    The food was beyond anything I ever expected, even after reading all the rave reviews. The waiter almost scared me away from the slow cooked organic Tazmanian sea trout, because he gave me such a schpeel about how many customers order it, expecting a white flakey fish, and are shocked when the fish comes and resembles salmon more than trout. I was happy for the information that it was similar to salmon, but perhaps didn't need to know that some customers are disappointed with it when it arrives. Fortunately it didn't scare me enough to make me change my order (though I did hesitate for a moment) and I'm so glad I had it. It was tender in texture and robust in flavor. The almond-Serano ham broth had so many layers of flavor going on, dotted with delicious marinated shrimp and plump mussels. I also had a bite of the organic roasted chicken and was equally wowed. Again, such robust and interesting flavors, and perfectly cook, juicy meat. We also shared the Octopus appetizer, which again was amazing, due to the Chorizo sauce that it was dressed in. I really think the chef is a master of sauces, and I imagine every dish is a homerun, because of this mastery. I was slightly disappointed that we couldn't try some appetizers off the bar menu while sitting in the non-bar area, but the waiter said that they would be happy to put in their notes to ask us which side of the restaurant we want to sit in, the next time we call for a reservation. It's service like that that makes this restaurant shine. The interior was beautiful, so cozy and perfect for a winter night. I loved the exposed kitchen, loved seeing the calmness with which the chefs worked. It's not what I would expect from a busy restaurant, and it made me feel like my food was prepared with love and good energy. I look forward to coming back soon to try the bar side of things.

    (5)

  • Austin R.

    I came here yesterday for Sunday brunch and had an amazingly enjoyable meal. Arrived 30 min early for a noon reservation and we were seated in 15 after enjoying some of the best coffee I've had while standing by the bar. Service was extremely attentive throughout the meal, and the manager came over to chat half way through the meal. I got the burger which had a wonderfully buttery flavor, I guess due to the added bone marrow. Came with fries (good, not amazing) and a simple salad (delicious and perfect to counter the very heavy burger and fries) as well as house-made ketchup, pickles, and slaw. My one complaint about the burger is that it was next to impossible to eat with my hands. I took two bites and realized it just wasn't going to happen and resorted to the knife and fork, making me feel a bit affected and snobby. I also ordered the doughnut with dulce de leche which was truly amazing. Tasted kind of like a high-class funnel cake. For dessert I got the light-as-air and silky smooth sour milk panna cotta, which I highly recommend. Overall, a great experience and wonderful food.

    (5)

  • Peter A.

    I don't usually give five stars but they deserve it now, I went there for the third time this year and just sat at the bar. The place was as always jammed but not too overcrowded. Their selection of spirits was awesome and growing, I like that very much. I had the scallop ceviche and Ipswitch clams which I love because I mapped nearly all the clam flats in the Essex river basin 25 years ago. My scallops were very fresh and I really enjoyed the delicate flavors. My clams were nicely crusted with corn flour and i could really taste the marsh, only something I would like. But I observed people eating what looked like the best burger in Boston and they only make a limited few each night. Another fun time at Craige on Main now a Boston tradition for me.

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    We decided to give it another shot tonight and had a better experience. We ordered from the prix fixe menu. I got the octopus, sirloin, and chocolate coffee & ice cream. My girlfriend ordered pork belly ragout, cod, and chocolate mouse torte. We started with drinks. My old fashioned was good, but had a little too much ice for my liking. Bread was brought out followed by an amuse bouche for each of us. Sadly, the bread wasn't warm when it arrived. It was tasty, but cold. I had a fried pig ear amuse bouche and my gf got scallops. Both were delicious. Our appetizers were both pleasing too. My steak was a little tough, but cooked suitably. My gf really enjoyed the cod. When I tasted it, I agreed that it was one of the better dishes of the night. We also opted to get the bone marrow side dish. Neither of us had had this before, and I had heard good reviews about it. We both thought it was a little too salty. However, that may just be how bone marrow is. We were brought a sorbet to cleanse our palates before dessert. It had a very strong lemon flavor. Almost too strong. My Taza chocolate coffee with ice cream came with a very nice presentation. It wasn't very unique or creative, but it was just what I needed after a large meal. My gf's torte was ok, but nothing special. Overall we thought the service was friendly and attentive. It was a little on the slow side, but I could see how some guests may enjoy the servers not being too intrusive. I think this is something that every guest has a different opinion on, so the restaurant may have a difficult time pleasing everyone.

    (4)

  • Ellen L.

    Hands down the BEST burger I've ever had, and I've had many a burger... (It's not on the menu and you have to order it at the bar..) The burger itself is a houseblend of different meats, the bun is a house made, delightfully sesame-seedful bun and the bf couldn't get enough of the fries and homemade sauce... It's a little pricey at 18$ a burger, but SO worth it. We also started with some sort of pigs feet dish with onion rings on top, DELISH but a little messy. Kudos to the bartender who told us it was ok to dig in with our hands, even at this super classy establishment. ALSO, this is a reservations kind of place, though we showed up unannounced (and dressed down) and the hostess was extremely accommodating and got us a spot at the bar after a short wait..

    (5)

  • Eric C.

    My wife and I went to Cragie On Main for our 1-year anniversary. To keep the review short and to the point, we had a wonderful experience. The staff was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable and the ambiance of the restaurant was both refined and relaxed. We had the 6-course tasting menu and our waiter first asked about dietary restrictions, allergies, and things we didn't like which was a first. This level of attention to detail was excellent and it stayed throughout our entire meal. We also had "mocktails" paired with our dishes that were excellent (we had to drive home, hence the 'mock') - the amount of flavors that dovetailed perfectly with our food astounding. And, of course, the food itself was brilliant. The flavors were complex yet detailed enough that we could recognize individual ingredients without it all blending together. While each course seemed tiny, we were totally stuffed at the end. I can only imagine what a 10-course menu would've been like (wheelbarrow to the car, please). Of course it's going to be a little pricey but Craigie On Main is an experience for any lover of fine food and drink. Excellent service paired with knowledgeable staff and fantastic food created an unforgettable evening for the both of us. We will definitely be coming back (and bringing friends)!

    (5)

  • Amelia G.

    This review is overdue. We went a few months ago. Service was painstaking, marrow generous and delicious. My meal was great. My husband had salmon, I really didn't like his fish, but he loved it so go figure he is eastern european, so if you like "herring in a fur coat" you will like the salmon. He was bummed not to get the burger, but I do understand the chef feels he can't keep up quality if he increases quantity, so go early if you want it. Otherwise, my opinion can be summed up thusly: in the great Craigie v. Hungry Mother debate, we are a Hungry Mother couple.

    (4)

  • Sarah L.

    Our waitress described everything as "beautiful." And she was right. Ask for the fleur de sel.

    (5)

  • J D.

    The anxiety is palpable. First and foremost, I don't care how hyped your restaurant is... it is just plain annoying when, having made a reservation three weeks in advance, my choices for a Saturday night dinner time are 9:30pm or 10:00pm, everything else booked solid. We're not talking about culinary enlightenment here. Perhaps this is due to their somewhat small size. I like making a dinner reservation a couple days before, maybe a week tops. Apparently three weeks just wasn't enough in this case. The cynic in me just instantly feels like I'm dealing with a pretentious establishment. It's not entirely fair to blame this on Craigie... tables are just in high demand. But know that I went into my reservation with an attitude of "This better be worth it..." Get your reservations out of the way as early as you can. Secondly, this place will stress you out. The environment may seem cozy, but on a Saturday night Craigie On Main is bedlam. Servers rush back and forth, and the whole thing seems a little disorderly. It is very interesting to be able to observe an open kitchen, but the cacophony emerging from this open space can really put a damper on anyone expecting a relaxing meal. You will also leave smelling like the kitchen. I will note that I was here for a date, and so I was hoping for something a little more intimate. On any other night, this kind of environment may have been exciting and an experience in and of itself. As we were walking in, I caught a glimpse of the hostess having a private moment: She was pushing down with the palms of her hands, taking frantic breaths, and saying, "Ok... ok... breathe... breathe...". However, she greeted us with a lovely smile and calmly and efficiently directed us to the bar while they prepared our table. The bartender was also visibly stressed, but upon closer observation she was holding the entire operation in order and handling herself like a pro. Want a cocktail that isn't on the menu? Not a problem. Our server was also top notch and knowledgeable. I regret that I don't remember names, here, but I made sure to compliment the staff on their survey (provided with the check). We were seated 15 minutes late. Not a big deal, but again a little frustrating given the already late hour. Ultimately, what ruins the entire experience are two things. First is the anxiety level mentioned above that will turn off most casual diners looking for a pleasant, intimate meal. Second is quite simply the perceived value for the price. This is an unusually pricey meal. Quite frankly, it's good, but it's not THAT good. For two of us, we spent (after tax and slightly over 20% tip) approximately $175.00. What we received at that price level were two cocktails while we waited for our table, an appetizer which we shared, two entrees, and two glasses (not a bottle) of wine. The value just isn't there. Especially when the entrees (both were pork 3 ways) were small, and much too salty. And look, I'm not Joe American who needs a heaping plate of food in front of him. The price and perceived value just didn't match for me. Maybe this is just the inflated cost of good, local ingredients. I can't really say. The pork was mostly fatty and over-salted. Where I did perceive a better value is in their brunch offerings. At around $55 per person, their fixed price brunch menu is a much more satisfying choice. Having done both brunch and dinner at this establishment, I can honestly say that I will probably only return for brunch... and probably not very often since it is still a very expensive brunch, indeed. All in all, I just can't justify a fourth star. For me, the only thing keeping it from dropping down to two stars is their service, who seemed to admirably handle themselves well despite the anxious nature of this establishment.

    (3)

  • R G.

    My lovely boyfriend took me here for my birthday recently. It was a most pleasant experience. We started off with cocktails. I ordered the 1771 with cardamom and rhubarb and it was one of the top two cocktails I've ever had (the other being from Wildwood in Portland, OR). The bf got a Coastal Cooler with blueberries, lavender, and lemon. And let me say *thank you*, Craigie, for providing a spoon for his drink. Delicious liquor soaked blueberries *should* be eaten but many establishments would unfortunately look down on fishing them out of the glass with a spoon. We both got the prix fixe menu. It's a good deal, (especially as you can order anything from the menu for your courses rather than a select few dishes) but in the future I will order less and enjoy it more. While everything was good, both of us ended up enjoying our appetizers the best. The amuse bouches were tasty, but not mind blowing. His was fish something (the better of the two) and mine was prok something. For appetizers he got the plate of terrines which were well chosen and tasty (and I'm not generally a huge fan) which came wit hsome very good toast (which he ate too much of and got too full-- beware!). I got the house smoked wild king salmon sald with, among other things, lily bulbs. It was amazing. So simply, yet flavorful, clean, light-yet-filling, just perfect. I would really go back and have this as my main course, possibly with a side. For our entrees we both got the pork two ways. The portions were small, but really didn't need to be any bigger. It was very, very rich (especially after our previous courses)-- almost too rich to be enitrely enjoyable (it was very good, just a bit overwhelming!). For desert I had the cornbread pain perdu. It was tasty, but not extraordinary. The bf had the three fruits sorbet which was refreshing and better than it sounded on the menu. The service was very nice, no complaints there. The decor is fine, but not that special (the building itself is average), though the lighting is nice. It is definitely a good special occassion restaurant, but now I'd really like to go back jsut for a nice evening out when I'll be less tempted to over-indulge!

    (5)

  • Ashley M.

    In the interest of full disclosure I must admit that I'm a total ethicatarian and find anything with local ingredients entirely appealing. I went to Craigie on a Friday night and they were packed. We were told we could not have a table in the bar area because they were reserved, but after a half hour and a few drinks we asked a server passing by. He reported back to us that the tables indeed were not reserved but just that the kitchen couldn't handle any more traffic at the moment. Nevertheless he invited us to sit at a table and promised to come by and take our order as soon as he could. Maybe this situation waiting for the table would have seemed annoying if I had a specific timeline, but I like to enjoy my drinks, and I like to enjoy my food and thus, I was happy to have a long and leisurely meal - particularly in the name of serving quality food. In any case I am not a pork person ever- really - but for some reason I felt inspired by the pork dish on the menu that night - I believe it was pork served three ways. Absolutely phenomenal, you may be reading the words of the converted when it comes to pig. I also recall the oysters being particularly fresh and my drink made with organic Rain vodka and sage to be strikingly refreshing. I therefore wholeheartedly recommend Craigie on Main to anyone who appreciates good food and drink, AND who importantly has the time to wait at this very busy Cambridge spot.

    (4)

  • Linda B.

    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!

    (5)

  • Joanie L.

    Maybe I just waited too long and it could never live up to the hype, but I wasn't overly impressed. My friends arrived before me and were seated early for our 8:30 res so that was good, altho they said the host was awkward, not sure why. It's a crowded room and we sat by the walkway to the bathrooms and kitchen entry, so esp. busy. I swear when I looked at the menu a few weeks ago deciding whether to eat here or at Salts, the prices weren't all uniform for apps/entrees/desserts. Now it's $17, $35 and $13 or prix fixe for $65 for 3 courses, like it's some sort of deal. Isn't the prix fixe price supposed to entice you to go for all 3 courses with a little bit of a break? Drinks took a while but were nice and some non overpriced wines by the glass. They gave us a choice of veg, meat or fish for the amuse and the duck was *very* pickled which I didn't like. The grilled octopus was excellent but our app plates sat there for a long time when we were obviously done. In addition, someone refilled a couple glasses of water at the table but not mine, the most empty one. The pork 3 ways was tasty except for one fatty preparation. The tiny bit of greens on the side were nice. The pistachio/apricot dessert was decent but not worth breaking my $10 barrier for dessert rule. Server was knowledgeable but not overly friendly. I don't know, I'd give an extra 1/2 star but for more than $100 pp, I expect more.

    (3)

  • Heidi D.

    Amazing! I'm big on eating at new restaurants whenever I go out, but I have to say this is a place I WILL repeat. I went for brunch and have to go back for dinner. It was great from the moment we walked in the door. We were celebrating our anniversary, which I noted in our reservation, and most restaurants never reference those notes - but the moment we walked in the door, they were all about helping us celebrate the special occasion. The ambiance is great - open kitchen, enough space between tables to give you a private convo, but close enough to check out everyone's dishes. Started with their famous donut -read about it on yelp, so had to give it a try. not a fan of donuts, but this was delicious! The grits and flank steak were amazing. The bloody mary very spicy - YUM. Great for a special occasion, date, or dinner with parents.

    (5)

  • d w.

    Wow...what a wonderful dining experience. Completely unpretentious. Totally delivered on the food. Great service. (Shout out to our waiter Jonathan). Went to dinner on 7/13. Reservations and all for my Bday dinner. During the day C.O.M. called my lady to inform her the A/C was broken. Very courteous. We arrived anyways, albeit early to see if we could handle the heat. We ended up snaging a table in the bar area (A/C working slightly there). Couldn't have been happier we stuck it out. They started us off with complimentary N/A beverages to cool us down. Amuse-bouche's (can you pluralize that?) followed, including a duck prosciutto that was elegant. We began our meal splitting the Crispy-Fried Pigs' Tails(pickled peanuts, nuoc cham, cilantro), My lady who is at times reluctant to try certain adventurous foods was persuaded by the waitor who described them as the best spareribs ever. And they were. Succulent, crispy, savory fat-lace pig tails. Mmm. Nice work Jonathan (Again, our waiter) For the entrees, our waiter suggest the Striped bass as it was a daily menu item, being the first day of striped bass season. Usually when at a new place we try and get two entrees and split them. Well we couldn't resist both ordering the bass. It was nothing short of perfection. Ramsey would have been proud. Ill try to get more details on what it came with but it was an Olive-oil poached, line caught striped bass served with little-necks. The fish was cooked perfectly. Moist but firm, crispy skin. Nice work C.O.M! Legals, Skipjack's, Kingfish, B&G have never cooked me something this well. For Dessert we had a Panna Cotta. Again, Boom goes the dynamite. The mark of a good Panna Cotta is when you are completely full and can handle no more, you polish the entire dessert off. Then, compliments of the house (not sure if all this was b/c they liked us, it was my birthday or bc of the faulty A/C but worth it) we were given small Rhubarb-Hibiscus Mousse, Yogurt Foam. All flavor, no fill, food technology is getting so cool. Can't wait to go back for the burger. Looked bomb...kept seeing them stroll by me. Also the pig's head. Sonds so cool. Farm to table, a menu tailored to what's fresh, unpretentious dining, great service...this is what a restaurant should be. It lived up to its hype and then blew past that hype...

    (5)

  • F L.

    Dined here on a Sunday evening for the Chef's Whim. This was a lot of fun, a great deal, and an opportunity to sample several items on the menu. If you're a picky eater, this is not for you, as the kitchen simply serves up whatever they feel like serving up that evening. Enjoyed myself thoroughly and planning to return to try some items on the regular menu sometime.

    (5)

  • Amanda B.

    Craigie is responsible for one of my best dining experiences yet in Boston. Everything from the staff, to the drinks, and especially the food were exactly what I thought it'd be and more! There were four of us dining together and every dish was delish, however, we are all still talking about the pig's head we ordered! If you are an adventurous eater, you HAVE to get this. The meat was tender (and, of course, fatty in places), and eating the head was an experience none of us will ever forget. The staff was very knowledgeable at explaining every part of the pig's head to us (including texture and general likability) and they were very encouraging when we were hesitant to eat the eye (which, b-t-dubs was the best part). Seriously, go there and eat your heart out, and be sure to get the pig's head, and a tasty cocktail to boot.

    (5)

  • May N.

    I had been thwarted on previous attempts to eat here. My so-called "friends" like to have Sunday "brunch" at 1:30pm or later. Well, this place is always busy and closes at 2 on Sundays so that usually doesn't pan out. But today! Enjoyed a cheap movie at the Sunday matinee price and voila, found ourselves looking for lunch in Central Square around 1pm. Yay! We didn't have a reservation, but our group of three was seated within 10 min. The restaurant is located on the corner of a triangular-shaped block so it's an unusual space, but they've made it work. The bar, kitchen, and bathroom are along the hypotenuse. The corners are full of tables, including one area that can be closed off with curtains for a small private party. There are lots of homey touches with pigs, books, pottery, mirrors, and pictures that give the space a modern French country feel. They were pretty busy so it took a little time to get drinks, order, and eventually our food, but it was worth it. My partner got an omelet with mushrooms, spinach, herbs, and just enough feta for taste, but not overpower the flavor. It came with toast and thinly sliced potato salad. I ordered a burger (the last of the day!) with grass-fed beef, cheddar, "mace" ketchup, housemade sesame seed bun and came with a celery root slaw, housemade pickles, thinly sliced fried fries, and fresh greens. I split this with a friend who got the whole wheat pancakes with apple compote, ginger ice cream, and a raspberry jam on the side. The food was so good. Everything just tasted so fresh. My burger almost melted in mouth and the ketchup had this hint of spice and tanginess. Before I knew it, it was all gone. The fries are deceptively thin, crispy, and not greasy, but there's plenty to fill you up. The pancakes were wholesome and dense; the ice cream and syrup added a touch of sweetness without any heaviness. My partner finished everything on his plate. And he doesn't usually eat much. We were stuffed after these plates so no dessert for us. It was fun to watch the exposed kitchen at work. Service was fantastic, attentive without hovering. I had to pee the second I got home because they kept our water glasses full. They offered literature with their menu and the check about their beliefs. All of the ingredients are locally sourced. They recycle almost everything and compost. The entire immediate family works at the restaurant. All of the staff undergoes training. They review all written customer comments nightly. It's an amazing place. Pricey, but well worth it, especially considering the quality of the food you're getting and to support their business model. Go for a special occasion. Handicapable-accessible, best for small groups, reservations recommended.

    (4)

  • Justin C.

    Craigie was the best meal I had in my entire stay in Boston, and a perfect way to end my culinary tour of the city. Chef Tony Maws does a fantastic job of using unconventional ingredients and powerful flavors to make really memorable dishes, and if you reserve early enough you can even snag a table right in front of the kitchen for a really special treat. I had been anticipating my evening at Craigie the entire time I was in Boston, so it was an easy decision for me to do the 10 course tasting menu for $115, and to go ahead and do the 4 drink "cocktail whim" tasting along with it for just $20. [Note: Photos of each course are uploaded here and Flickr: flickr.com/photos/wedoit… #1 - seafood trio of crispy brandade fritter, fresh uni w/ lime pickle vinaigrette, & squid noodles w/ nuoc cham: While these were probably the most simple flavors of the night, each item really showcased its raw characteristics, and I especially liked the fritter. The noodles were also very unique, and the quality of the uni was very high. # 2 - salad of hiramasa sashimi w/ red onion-shiso salsa, avocado, & harissa-rose vinaigrette: The quality of the yellowtail was top-notch and harissa is probably my favorite spice, so this dish was a major hit. The avocado was a nice addition as well, as the creamy texture really mirrored that of the fish, and did a nice job cooling down the harissa heat. # 3 - grilled Nantucket Bay scallops w/ salsa verde, golden raisin-verjus sauce, & curry oil: My third rendition of these scallops in less than a week, and unfortunately these were the least impressive of the three, mainly because of the simplicity compared to the other two. Although, the size of these was slightly greater, but you only get a few, so it doesn't really make up for it. The curry oil was a nice addition though, and they were probably the best cooked scallops of the week. # 4 - red chile & sesame marinated Faroe Island sea trout kama (the shoulder): Wow, this course was absolutely out of this world. If you ever see this on any of the menus here I suggest ordering it, the kama is so delicious and fatty and it just melts off the carcass. The red chile goes great with the fish, neutralizing any overly fishy characteristics this piece would normally have. Freakin awesome! # 5 - lasagnette of house-made rabbit sausage w/ fresh local mozzarella & celery root puree: Another home-run dish. The rabbit flavor in this dish is intense and game-y in a really pleasing way. There was plenty of meat too, and the mozzarella was so gooey and delicious with the rabbit. The presentation of this dish is also interesting and you get a real surprise out of your first bite. # 6 - slow cooked Vermont organic lamb rib w/ burnt caramel vinaigrette & crispy shallots: As you can probably imagine this was another fantastic course, it's obvious Chef Maws is an expert with meats. The lamb was so tender and moist, and the burnt caramel was a delicious rub to put on the rib, I'm definitely going to try this combo back home. I would of course have liked a little more than one big rib, but I'm sure most people are really full by the end of this tasting menu as it is. # 7 - Pain d'Epice crusted Texas sika venison leg w/ venison sausage, red quinoa, autumn olives, quince puree, & fall farm vegetables: Finally, the main event! I was really excited to try this duo of venison, and was not disappointed at all in the execution. The vegetables were nice, but really seemed like an afterthought, especially separated from the meat like they were. The flavors in the venison half however were uber delightful, really taking you straight into the woods. Every ingredient really stood out distinctly, which is hard to do when you've got such a strong game meat as the highlight. # 8 - jasmine tea infused panna cotta w/ candied citrus zest: Like most of the other reviewers, I was a little bummed by this course, and it was the only one I would really have liked to replace. Flavor wise the dish is ok, it just comes across as really underwhelming, and considering there were two other "desserts" on their way I thought this felt a little unnecessary. # 9 - olive oil & taza chocolate mousse w/ walnut coulis: It looks pretty ugly, but it tastes outstanding. The flavors here mesh so well, and the chocolate is superior quality. # 10 - ancho chile & cardamom spiced Valrhona hot chocolate: A very nice, fitting end to the evening. Never miss a chance to indulge in something simple, yet refined, and always add a bit of spice. As for the cocktail whim, here were the drinks, in order: "Belle de Jour" - champagne w/ housemade grenadine "Corkscrewdriver" - gin & absinthe "Communal Rye" - whiskey, housemade vermouth, orange "Jerez Flip" - Oloroso sherry, eggnog, nutmeg They were all great drinks, especially the Rye. This restaurant exemplifies what I expect from a tasting menu (not a bunch of fru-fru veggies).

    (5)

  • Saskia S.

    Truly a 5-star experience & a perfect way to end our Boston trip. We lucked out and ended up at the chef's table (some silly couple canceled their reservation for the evening)--but their loss was our gain! Lovely & attentive staff, and really inventive and delicious food. We tried the tasting menu and enjoyed every single bite. It isn't worth listing the courses, as they change depending on the season/evening...but there wasn't one single miss. They also happily accommodated some allergy issues and produced a particularly delicious gluten free dessert option. If we lived nearby, I think this would be our go-to special occasion restaurant.

    (5)

  • Sarah H.

    Easily my favorite restaurant in Boston. We've had both the tasting and the pre fixe dinner option. Looking back, the pre fixe dinner option was more satiating but both were exceptional. While I realize the menu changes per what's freshest that day, I highly recommend ordering the fried pig's tails for the pre fixe appetizer or the lamb with wild mushrooms and egg if it's on the menu. We ordered the marrow side and the memory of it renders me speechless. Only sad thing was there was only two of us and I'm the only one who loves marrow. It broke my heart to not be able to eat it all--do make sure you have a a few helpers when tackling the marrow. Really, you can't go wrong here. I've never had a disappointing dish and every aspect of the meal was perfect. You can tell there is great care and pride put into crafting the menu at Craigies. The service was great--super patient and helpful with explaining the menu and making recommendations for courses and drinks. And I'm always looking for another good excuse to go back soon :)

    (5)

  • Sue S.

    Attentive service, nice cocktail list, lively vibe but food was disappointing. I had heard many fabulous reviews about Craigie on Main, but found the food unexciting and somewhat bland. I had a friend in town from Los Angeles, who is exposed to really wonderful restaurants. We had the eight course tasting menu and when we left she said "it wasn't great". That about sums it up.

    (2)

  • Melissa R.

    I've eaten here twice - once for the ultimate Chef's Tasting menu, and once for the Chef's Whim offered only on Sunday nights - so, funnily enough, I've never ordered off a Craigie's menu (excepting of course the wine list!). But I've been served close to 20 courses here, over a range of flavors and products, from trout to scallops to soft-shell crab, from pig's tails to sweetbreads to pork ribs, from palate-cleansing sorbets to beignets to chocolate tarts....and every single bite has been absolute perfection. My boyfriend and I eat everything, but we've also loved quite literally everything we've eaten here. Also, the service is stellar - I don't have a bad word to say about Craigie.

    (5)

  • Terry C.

    For birthday dinner #3, I chose Craigie On Main. We made reservation 2 weeks in advance and still had trouble scoring one during "dinner-time". We took the 9pm. When we arrived, the table was actually not ready. But the hostess took our coats and we ordered drinks. After a few minutes, they asked if we mind seating in the bar area since that table was available. It didn't matter to us so we followed her and my night of Adventurous eating began... The server was very nice. He asked if we had questions, and when we did ask, he patiently explained everything to us. He told us the menu is designed to get people to try new things but still offer the basics. For example, the skirt steak is served with ox tail, pork loin is with sweetbread, etc. I can't tell if Craigie's either love pigs so much that everything they have is pig or they dislike pigs so much that they want to eat them all. Haha. The server also recommended that if anyone is doing the Tasting menu, then everyone at the table should do the same. Instead, we opted for the Pri-Fixe. After 15 minutes or so, I finally decided what i wanted to try. But then the server comes back to let us know my chicken entree has been sold-out. So after a few more minutes, I chose my food. For appetizer, we tried the rigatoni, potage of potato and watercress and rabbit sausage with pig's blood. For entrees, we got the skirt steak, pork loin and the Pig's Head. Everything we had was good. The pig's head has a lot of fat so beware. But the meat was really tender and flavorful. Only Craigie's can get me to try pork blood, sweet bread and dine with half a pig's head on my table!

    (4)

  • Jenzy Y.

    This place is what everyone says it is. I would bring friends here, hands down. Our table of 4 ordered the 6-course dinner. 3 of us ordered the "house" dinner while 1 of us ordered the meat-only dinner. All the food was excellent. The staff was on-point with everything. All plates were served together and the staffs' description of the dishes was very detailed; good for us foodies who wonder what ingredients are used! All dishes were cooked very well. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the experience. The pinot was a recommendation by our waitress and went well with all dishes. The only downside we thought was the bone marrow. The marrow was prepared beautifully and it was very light in flavor. We were expecting a bolder experience. This is a great place for any celebration/occasion.

    (4)

  • Sara B.

    I received a very kind, thoughtful email from Craigie on Main after my previous review. They apologized for our experience and asked for a chance to do it right. I appreciated their efforts and finally got around to trying again. We had a delicious meal with very attentive staff. We had the tasting menu again and I would say that 70% of it was bang for buck and the service made up for the 30% that was just average. Turns out they are/were having a problem with their coffee provider. I am not the only client who found the espresso rancid so its good to know they are working on it.

    (4)

  • Dave F.

    My only complaint about Craigie is that I wish it was closer to Brookline, because this was one of my favorite dining experiences I've had since moving to Boston five years ago. My fiancee made reservations--months in advance--at the chef's table for my birthday. We started out with a cocktail at the bar. I ordered the Civilian, a mezcal based drink featuring Thai chiles, which boasted incredible flavor. The bar area, and the restaurant as a whole, is no-nonsense, and all craft, from the bartending to the atmosphere to the service. Our meal at the chef's table was enlightening. Watching this team of professionals turn out such delicious, enticing food so rapidly was a pleasure to watch. It was no surprise that the food was so delicious. My fiancee and I both ordered the Prix Fixe menu for $65. For starters, I recommend the Sashimi, which just wows the palate. The octopus was delicious too. For the main, go with the pork three ways, featuring suckling confit, spice crusted rib, and grilled pork belly. The rib really shines. For an extra $10, a side of bone marrow is a MUST. I had never eaten bone marrow before, and this dish was a revelation. We finished the meal quite nicely with Banana Millefeuille and a selection of house sorbets -- can't go wrong with either. The service was excellent throughout the meal -- attentive and informative without being overbearing. Craigie is a wonderful place to eat a delicious meal. For a special occasion, a trip to the chef's table is a delight. Craigie just does things right, which is why we'll be back, hopefully soon to sit in the bar area and try that famous burger of theirs.

    (5)

  • Lara R.

    We love to try new restaurants and especially experience tastings with creative chefs. We have lived in 4 countries and eaten at the best restaurants both domestically and internationally. The tasting we had at the chefs counter was clearly one of the best meals we have ever experienced.

    (5)

  • Lillian I.

    I'm sure by now you don't need me telling you how amazing this restaurant is. Craigie is really one of the best restaurants I've been to. I've been there a couple of times for brunch and everything was absolutely delicious! The staff there are simply the best. They will answer any and all questions you have, make excellent recommendations, and are extremely attentive even when it is really busy, which mostly it is. I haven't thought of writing a review since this place already has such awesome reviews, but my experience during restaurant week this year prompted me to leave this review anyway. I'm not going to go into how amazing the food it here (Pig Tails, OMG), but what really stood out to me this time was the service that was provided by our waiter. I think the success of a restaurant is not just the quality of the food, but often more importantly the quality of the service. If you don't serve fine cuisine, then you should at least provide good service. Craigie accomplishes both. Our waiter was super nice, attentive, and extremely knowledgable about the dinner and wine menu. He made excellent suggestions. He recommended the corn grits for desert. It was my first time trying corn grits, and I realized corn grits weren't my thing. I felt bad for not finishing it, so I told our waiter I was really full already. When we got our bill, he had taken off the corn grits. He told me he noticed that I didn't eat much of it. I was really impressed. He could've let it go, and it really wouldn't have changed my opinion of this restaurant, but he made the extra effort to make me feel like he cared about his customers. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who lives in or is visiting Boston. I promise you, you will not be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Tyler G.

    I am so glad this is one of the fews restaurants i went to in Boston! Pricy, but well worth it. The whole menu was wonderfully contemporary american with french flair. I think it is best to get a seat near the bar since they allow you to order from both menus. The charcuterie plate is phenomenal for starters and definitely get the bone marrow for a side with you entree. Presentation was beautiful and I appreciated the staff's patience with their explanation. The cons were that the drinks took way too long, staff apologized too much (caused more of a nuisance rather than making us feel better), and the front of the house was really fake and way to happy. I realize these cons are minimal and that's why there's still 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Brittany D.

    Loved loved loved for brunch. Definitely need reservations. I had house made spaghetti with pork ragout, husband had grilled cheese with veal Both were amazing. Also j Had homemade donut which was good, but I'm a yeast donut kind of girl. A little pricey but food is worth it for sure. One strange thing happened when we got there. We had 115pm reservations and showed up a few minutes early (1:11pm to be exact). The hostess told us she couldn't seat us until 1:15 which I thought was strange given there were several open tables. No big deal really, just odd.

    (4)

  • Leo O.

    Came here with reservations for 3 and we got seated immediately. I am giving this place 4 stars only because the service was excellent and I enjoyed the overall experience BUT the food was just alright. Let me explain. Some things going for the restaurant was the service as I mentioned above. They have a row of tables that seats up to 4. The waitress poured 2 glasses of water on one side, then walked all the way around to the other side to pour the last glass just so she didn't have to reach over the table. I thought that was above and beyond what she needed to do. They give a little more than enough for each portion. Especially when you compare to it NYC, they give more BUT it doesn't taste as good as some of the NYC restaurants for similar or equal pricing, hence the 4 stars and only recommending to come here once and not again. This restaurant might be the most sophisticated food in town, then I understand why a lot of people gave this place 5 stars. If it were to stand up against restaurants in NYC, I think it would be around 3.75 rating. In any case, onto the food. 1st course, we ordered: Crispy Fried Pig's Tails, Grilled Spanish Octopus, and Lamb shank pasta The pig tails was delicious but overly salty for my taste, my companions thought the salt content was just right. The flavor profile is more asian/thai mix. The meat was tender but there are some small bones. The waitress recommended using my hands to eat it, but a fork was just fine and much more civilized. I would recommend this dish. The spanish octopus in my opinion lacked seasoning. You got the full tenticles. Because it was the entire length with varying thickness, the ends of the tenticles were burnt and that ruined my taste buds. I would recommend preparing the tenticles differently so everything is evenly cooked. The thicker portions of the tenticles were tender though. They didn't make it rubbery or chewy, I'll give them that much. The lamb shank pasta was flavorful. I wish they gave more of the sauce/broth. The sauce/broth had deep lamb flavors to it. Absolutely lovely. Reminded me of a bolognese sauce. I would recommend this dish. Earthy flavors to the dish. 2nd course we ordered: Tor Tor fish? of the day (don't remember what it's called, ugly fish head which is dis proportioned to the rest of the body), Venison, and beef brisket (forgot the full description). The fish did not complement the red beets at all. Didn't go well together and didn't taste good. My assumption is that they tried to use the beets to cover up some of the fish taste. It didn't work. I think the fish would have worked with just seasoning and pan frying it. Then combine it with a liquid sauce, maybe an earthy type of sauce. The venison was cooked to perfection. Loved the marble meat. Definitely enough pieces on the dish if you want to share. Flavors went well together, quite a heavy dish. The beef brisket was decent. Lots of sauces and it was basically a well season brisket, nothing spectacular. But I preferred the venison much more. 3rd course we ordered: Banana Millefeuille, Apricot tort, and Cajet Creme Caramel. Loved the millefeuille, lots of banana flavor and the glazed sugar over the banana on top really added to the dish. The apricot dish was presented beautifully but it's on the tarty side. I think if you just ate the apricot with the ice cream and pistachio without that yellow gel on the dish, it would taste a lot better. The cajet creme caramel was decent as well, but it was my least favorite out of the 3. If you don't like kumquat, then you won't like the dish. The kumquat just didn't complement the other components, the flavors from the kumquat was just too strong. I think they should have just made it a powerful dessert dish. Overall, decent meal but I would only go once.

    (4)

  • Alexander D.

    A review of the late-night 6 course tasting menu ($57). I'm a foodie, my date was a...newbie. We enjoyed the meal tremendously. This isn't Michelin quality, but they're not going for that flawless, neurotic perfection. Meat, fowl, or fish - they employ the very best techniques. Not every side sauce will be perfect, nor will every microgreen stand magically on its narrow stem. Focus on the goods, and you'll have a great time. Service specifics... The front-house staff noticed us staring at the pass, so they found us two rink-side seats. Much appreciated! We ordered drinks while we waited. I asked for a bourbon recommendation, and they made a great choice. Beyond that, our service was good, not great. I relish interacting with knowledgeable servers, and I was grateful for every course introduction we received. Later, we were asked, "How was your___?" What this really meant was, "Do you have any complaints?" I made the mistake of attempting to discuss the merits of each dish; it was clear our server had other places to be. Food specifics... Bluefin amuse and Duck rillette - forgettable. The duck featured an fatty goo on the rim, which was more a commentary on fowl than a good idea. The mustard was the standout. Fried clams w squid ink - you weren't craving them, but they're the best fried clams you'll ever have. Swordfish - couldn't be more tender or juicy. I craved a crispy skin, but I got that with the... Pork Two Ways - an ode to an amazing creature. Spice crusted rib and a crispy crackling. Delicious. Chanterelle mushrooms - how did they acquire that lovely taste of sage (rosemary)? Sweet corn and buttermilk ice cream - what a terrific idea! My date doesn't like corn but loved this. Her dessert: something with chocolate (great!), white chocolate ice cream (great!), and a sauce that lacked the tingency to be a factor My dessert: corn grits with a berry sauce and anise ice cream. This is a very good idea that ought to be refined. I love the combination of warm and cold. The ice cream, if you like anise, was lovely. Berries - can't go wrong. But the brulee on the grits didn't come through - too much going on. The grits did for this dessert what rice does for teriyaki - provide a staple base for the sauce on top. But why would you need that after a 5 courses? A very good meal, with minor flaws. It's certainly worth more than the $57/head they charged.

    (4)

  • Kathleen H.

    Continuing with my method of giving stars by how much enjoyment I got at an establishment regardless of any other standard - I had a flippin' great time here. I ate - A lot. bone marrow, pig tails, shrimp, something something something. . .I just kept ordering stuff. And I drank - a lot. And it was awesome. There were people and a bartender and great wine and cocktails and really good bread with really good butter. I hope to get back someday and write a more detailed and coherent review referencing culinary principles and critiquing the ambience. . . NAH. For now, I'd just say it's definitely worth the trip.

    (5)

  • Shemal ..

    I've only made it to the bar, but this place has a great vibe. I am a self-proclaimed foodie and I conduct serious restaurant research when I am away from home. This place is spot on. The food is phenomenal. I have to admit that I had the fish for dinner and then ordered the burger to take with me for the next day. The burger never made it to the hotel that night. Absolutely delicious.

    (5)

  • Sara L.

    Deeelish. Service was outstanding, so was the food. We had the pig's head, which, while wonderful, was so fatty and rich, that while I'd happily recommend it, I'd suggest that everything else you order be on the lighter side, or you'll feel like a rhinoceros when you leave. Which means you wouldn't try the pig tails, which would be a shame, 'cause they were spectacular. Drinks were all just wonderful. Plus the pre fixe price at about $60 was pretty great, as the portions were quite generous. Desserts were lovely but the chocolate one was by FAR the best, maybe even the best thing of the night. It was huge, rich, deep...perfect! I'll be back next time for the burger! Thanks, Craigie!

    (4)

  • Amanda B.

    I had been looking forward to trying Craigie On Main for over a year and my boyfriend made a reservation for our anniversary a little earlier this month. I actually started a countdown the week we were going because I was so excited. Our reservation was for 9PM and it was still bumping in there! I liked looking into the kitchen and seeing everybody bustling around and preparing the plates. To my dismay, we were led around the corner to a table right next to the kitchen door. I was trying to not let it get me down, but it set the stage for the whole evening, and put a sour spin on what was supposed to be a special occasion. There were no other tables available at that moment, so there we sat. Service was mostly good and like others have mentioned, all of the waitstaff pitches in. Our "main" waiter was an older gentleman and I felt uncomfortable asking him anything - it was almost like he was too busy to take much time with us unless we absolutely needed it and when I saw him laughing and joking with other tables around us, it made me wonder what the deal was. This really bothered me. It was a very awkward dynamic. We got the prix fixe menu and I started with the octopus, and my bf had the Maine clams. Both were delicious and cooked to perfection. The octopus took me back to my year spent working in Spain. For our mains, bf chose the rib eye, and I had the pork three ways. I wasn't crazy about my dish due to the suckling confit and the rib being a little dry, but I tried a few bites of the rib eye and it was everything you want a steak to be. For dessert I got the sorbets and I loved the grapefruit, felt ambivalent about the mango, and was slightly repulsed by the yogurt flavored option. The bf was very happy with his choice of the malted milk parfait. At the start of the meal I had wanted a glass of wine. Not being familiar with the whites being offered by the glass, I asked our waiter for his recommendation. He seemed confused by this and asked me what kind of wine I usually liked. I said I wanted something slightly sweet and crisp. Apparently this was not enough information, so I said that I generally enjoy most Rieslings. I felt kind of stupid at this point. He offered to bring a half bottle of Riesling. I really only wanted a glass, but bf said he would partake in a glass of wine as well so we went along with it. I didn't notice until the next day, but I thought that the bill was a lot higher than I had expected. I asked my bf to see the receipt and discovered that we were served a $60 half bottle of wine. My bf told me not to worry about it, but I was upset. Presumably if somebody asks for a glass of wine then they are not looking to spend that much on a half bottle, especially when there are full bottles of Riesling on the wine list that are within the same price range. It's just another way that our waiter came off as careless about our visit. I was really hoping for a special night and this fell short. The food was overall very good but I didn't feel welcome and don't think I will want to give it another shot in the future.

    (3)

  • Dan C.

    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.

    (5)

  • Karyn V.

    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.

    (5)

  • Frank F.

    I've been here four times now, three times for the bar and once for the 8-course tasting menu. The bartenders at Craigie are really good and clearly take a lot of pride in their creations--one of them explained to me in great detail the symbolism behind the Bayeux Cocktail, a ridiculous mix of Calvados, aquavit, and Earl Grey. The burger is easily the best one I've had, really flavorful and perfectly medium-rare all the way through, and an amazing deal at ~$20. They make a very limited number every night, though, so you have to get there early. The tasting menu was excellent, although it was a bit expensive for what we got.

    (5)

  • Katie R.

    Somewhere between the price tag and the meal size, somewhere in the ambiance and the attitude, Craigie On Main lost a star. I'm not saying the food wasn't awesome, because it was great, and the drinks too, but thanks to Yelp, the hype had me expecting gourmet orgasms, and frankly, I've had better. Maybe I'm just in the wrong age group for Craigie. When we got there at 5:30 (the only time available for a reservation), the other parties who arrived were, shall we say, in the autumns of their lives. Robust, full-salaried, pearl-earringed autumns of their lives. I got the steak special, and the BF got the two-way veal: sweetbreads and cheek, two unusual cuts of meat for our sheltered diets. It was good, but nothing worth writing home about (except that the consistency of sweetbreads makes me a little squeamish). The atmosphere really didn't help things. It was supposed to feel cozy, I think, but the room was wide open and empty at 5:30, which made the loud shouting from the kitchen stand out all the more. The waitstaff wears jeans, which I think is supposed to reflect a relaxed, homey vibe, but there was an overwhelming air of stuffiness. Again, the place was empty, save us and some septo- and octogenarians who were giving their server the snobbiest third degree on a menu I'd ever heard. But Yelp has convinced me to try again, with the two following points in mind - try the bar, and try the brunch. And I will, Yelp. I will. And I'll report back once I do.

    (4)

  • Kay J.

    We had a wonderful birthday celebration here - interesting menu - some unusual offerings - great desserts - delicious food - excellent service - a little loud - a bar in the middle of the restaurant - pricey.

    (4)

  • Alexis C.

    I always rolled my eyes when hearing about the locavore movement, but Craigie on Main presents your tastebuds a compelling case. I personally don't care where any of my food comes from as long as it's not filled with mercury, lead, or other toxins, so I glazed over a bit when the waiter told us about tomatoes from farm x and beef from source y. The eggs were the freshest ones I've ever had, though! I try to go back whenever I can, and my goal next time is to try to pay attention to the waiter's presentation.

    (5)

  • Shuchi K.

    Go on a Sunday night at 9 pm (if you don't mind eating late the day before work) and get the Chef's Whim (4 to 6 course tasting menu). My fiance and I finally went here after hearing so many things about Craige on Main. We were not disappointed! The food was great! And the wine was also excellent. The service is also attentive and we were overall really satisfied with our meal. The bill was really high (to be expected) so don't go if you're not ready to spend a decent bit. It's a great place to take a date since not only is the food and wine great, the atmosphere is really nice too - very intimate and cozy (even though it's not that small).

    (5)

  • Stacey D.

    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.

    (3)

  • Kevin T.

    Brunch with a larger party. Service was very good. Drinks were good. Food was shockingly bad. An incessantly praised chef and restaurant and with a brunch sandwich not fit for fast food. 3 at the table ordered it. All agreed. A Burger was undercooked. Out of French fries so we were served potato galettes that were super super salty. We were at the end of the brunch serving window... Totally felt like they mailed it in for the last table. Terribly disappointing. I'm no dining rookie. End of the day it comes down to the food. Craigie was way off their game. p.s. The pretentiousness only makes it worse when the food isn't good.

    (2)

  • Marc O.

    This place is the best of all. The decor is just amazing, very cozy u can have food becoming art in front of your eyes. The chef observes cautious every dish that leaves the kitchen before it comes to your table. The food is indescribable. Such a increhible combinations of contemporary tastes. A must do in Boston!!!!

    (5)

  • Mary C.

    I went to Craigie on Main last night with three other people. I have to say that we all felt this was one of the best meals we have ever had in a Boston restaurant. Everything was sublime. The service was superb. Our waitress was extremely well informed, helpful, attentive and pleasant. In addition to our waitress, about four other people attended to us. I thought the service was well paced. Not slow as some reviewers said. It was paced more like a meal in a restaurant in France. There was time in between each course to talk with each other. Our dishes were not whisked off the table before others had finished. We did not feel hurried or like they were trying to turn the table. It was a nice, leisurely evening. We were in the restaurant for about 2 1/2 hours. The food was absolutely amazing. We went with the prix fixe three course meals. Everything was so delicious. I had a vegetable soup first course, swordfish entree and an ice cream with chocolate dessert. The swordfish was the best I have EVER had. It was moist and juicy. Their wine list is very good. We ordered a bottle of Meursault which was delicious. The vanilla herbal tea was incredible. We will be back again!

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    Pig's head for two sold out! So I got the chicken two ways. This is still my favorite restaurant in the Boston/Cambridge area.

    (5)

  • ME G.

    The food was very good, nearly uniformly. The prices were high, uniformly. The pork 3-ways was really good. the pig tails were good, but not curly enough. The wine was as advertised, and exceptional, but not as wanted. But, they made me laugh. They are playing the Michelen guide star system style dining price and style. A busser or assistant waiter (we don't know, they did not introduce themselves) made about 8 mistakes in about 10 seconds: [Eating bread on a paper table cloth overtop of cloth tablecloth at end of meal] "would you like a plate for your bread" "no, thanks" "Are you sure?" with slight tone "yes, I'm sure" later scraps crumbs with nice, French tool 1. you don't need a plate to eat bread at a bistro, you use a table cloth, no butter was involved 1b. no butter provided at that point 1c did not offer butter for bread at that time 2. if you want to offer a plate, then have a plate to hand 3. paper table cloth noticed as being on top of cloth 4. did not offer more bread 5. [reminded, we had to ask for bread in first place] 6. asking customer twice 7. someone took plate away 8. and did not replace it 9. miscommunication between busboy and this person about replacing plates 10. ostentatiously removing crumbs with scraper 5 min later they also amused as as servers, they looked like busboys, trying to deliver food to tables they were not sure of. they would stride off confidently, then lose their way, then get stuck in the tight tables, and eventually plop it down. so, 4 stars for failing to meet their own standards, being fussy, and over selling the wine (which made the sale, but cost the yelp comment)

    (4)

  • Jenny N.

    Craigie on Main is absolutely charming--like French countryside meets Southern hospitality. I loved the little piggy touches of decor and the open kitchen space. We came for Sunday brunch and had a lovely meal that included highlights like THE best corned beef hash and homemade donut with confiture de lait (aka caramel sauce). The boy had the $29 prix fixe course, which was a good deal considering that it includes coffee/tea, starter, your choice of entree and dessert. We share the homemade donut as starter and it was incredible--crisp, sugared outside with a soft, cake-y inside. Topped with a sweet caramel sauce, this was like warm bites of HEAVEN. The boy's entree was the corned beef hash. It was really rich with great meat and potatoes flavor enhanced by a farm fresh egg and a judicious amount of creamy hollandaise sauce. I had the sausages with biscuits and gravy and while it was good, I thought it was lacking a certain richness. The biscuit was slightly tough and--dare I say it?--perhaps could've used a touch more butter. The sausages were great though. We ended our meal with delicate profiteroles filled with calamintha (a mint-like herb) ice cream, covered in bittersweet chocolate sauce. Soooo good. The pastry was supremely light and crisp. Profiteroles are usually not my favorite dessert, but the combination of the herbed ice cream and perfect pastry shell made them stand out. And on a note unrelated to the delicious food, I admire Craigie on Main for being a family-run business operating on a core set of principles that allows them to be a successful and responsible member of the community. In our checkbook, I saw that they outlined these principles in detail and explained their passion for local and seasonal ingredients. I think it only adds to their charm. We walked out feeling full and pleasantly satisfied, vowing to return for dinner on another occasion!

    (4)

  • Stacey W.

    Craigie was one of the first restaurants I fell in love with when I moved to Cambridge. It's lively, not too pretentious, and the menu is very interesting. If you're like me, and you're not very good at choosing between equally delicious-sounding options, try the chef's whim or the tasting menu: you won't be disappointed, because everything that is served here is daaaamn tasty. Sometimes, almost too tasty (yes, there is such a thing)! This place is about unsubtle, bold, loud and proud flavors. The portions are not particularly large, but maybe because they are so flavorful, they feel dense and sit heavy, especially for dinner. One last thing: if I had to choose a meal to eat here, I'd pick Sunday brunch, because the doughnut they offer is orgasmic/out-of-this-world.

    (5)

  • Justin C.

    This was my first time at craigie. I heard so much about this burger that's all I wanted. I was naive not to inquire when booking a reservation for dinner to ask if I could get the burger at sit down dining (apparently it is only available at the bar seating or during brunch). I was well aware of the prices going into this but was not aware of how much the staff pressures you to order from the chefs ultra deluxe menu (and you must order for the table not individually). This chef tasting menu is an extra $50 or so a person so we bailed on that. The food was extremely creative and tastey but for over $100 a person for a standard dinner I was expecting more. Atmosphere is great, quality was great just not what I was expecting for the price. Still waiting for that burger.

    (3)

  • John A.

    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.

    (5)

  • Janet L.

    we went to Craigie for my brother's birthday. Lovely staff, efficient service, and the place has a great vibe. excellent drinks (the civilian was perfect). The shrimp and artichoke, fried clams, and octopus were excellent. The ribeye steak was too rare for me but my brother's sirloin looked great (and he loved it!). we also enjoyed the panacotta. the management team here gets five stars for being so professional, efficient, and pleasant. i have a lot of respect for this place. i hope to come back again for our anniversary in august -- can't wait!

    (4)

  • Mike O.

    Easily among the best French Provencal inspired cuisine I've experienced in the Boston Metro region, if not the entire East Coast; Tony Mawes has done it again! With methodical innovation (while maintaining tradition), flavor and quality is abundant in every dish. A stalwart in the slow foods movement in Boston, Mawes effectively offers the best in local, seasonal, and fresh ingredients in an ever changing menu while not offending those who do not appreciate sustainable initiatives. I've been to COM several times now, and every visit is filled with utter satisfaction as the service, food, beverage(s), and decor are in a league all their own. From the warm, home-like feel in the dining room to the aromas emanating from the kitchen, there is simply not enough acclamation I could pay to this establishment for all of their efforts and grandeur. My sister who, God bless her, is a vegetarian even tried the rabbit sausage, unbeknown to her, and loved it! Certainly, there is something for everyone at COM and a discriminant palate, while appreciative of the more technical aspects of the food's preparation, is not required. I would obviously endorse anyone's inclination to go here; missing the opportunity while in this city would be truly your misfortune. Yes, it is rather pricey, but this is a case where I am confident that you will be getting what you pay for. I would recommend reservations since dinner can get crowded and bar seating is as pleasant as the dining room, so don't be dissuaded if your party does not want to "settle" for the bar. This is a great place for a date, a family gathering, after work dinner, and an impressive meal with your friends; and I honestly cannot wait until I get the chance to go back here again.

    (5)

  • J. P.

    Very good Sunday brunch at Craigie, with friends who live nearby and have been a number of times before. Bright, comfortable room with an impressive open kitchen and decently-spaced tables. Service was friendly, professional and polished. I had the corned beef cheek & smoked beef tongue hash with poached egg and onion rings -- a moist, flavorful and savory dish, with a runny yoke to sop up with sturdy 7-grain toast. One companion had the ham, comte and cheddar panino with potato fries and fried egg, and the other had the chicken-fried country pork terrine with egg and black-eyed peas -- both of these were very good as well. We did note a wide variation in portion sizes -- the hash was relatively modest with a single piece of toast, but the panino was a very ample affair, almost twice as much food on the plate. For dessert we shared the almond bakewell tart with yogurt ice cream -- this was decent if not memorable. Coffee was under-roasted (with slightly sour overtones) and not strongly brewed -- this could have been better. Overall, though, a very fine brunch indeed. I look forward to returning for dinner some time.

    (4)

  • Terrify J.

    I had a simple dinner at the bar and got to see the talented bartender work his magic. The food was really flavorful and "just right" in both size, presentation, freshness and taste. I was surprised how expensive the restaurant is - its up there with the priciest in the city - but ultimately it was worth it considering the results. Staff was very nice.

    (5)

  • Jan Mark H.

    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 :) ) .

    (4)

  • Jon S.

    I waited to write a review until I completed my own personal Triple Crown/Treble/Tricycle at this restaurant: 1) brunch, 2) dinner, and 3) the burger at the bar. The summary of this review is CoM is a spectacular restaurant. The passion for their food permeates through all of the staff. I find its casual upscale vibe very appealing. My basis is limited (mostly restaurants in Chicago and Boston) but this place is my gold standard for restaurant excellence. What's amazing is I've dined here over a handful of times and I remember everything I've eaten from the rotating seasonal menu except for maybe the desserts (I'm not much of a dessert guy). Notable standouts include olive oil poached halibut over beets (the best fish dish I've ever had), pork three ways, and grilled octopus with citrus flavors (an appetizer). I also recommend getting the bone marrow as a side to share. The first time I dined here was for brunch with my now fiancé. We started playing a game to see if our glasses of water would ever go beyond half empty (it was a warm summer day). They never did. Needless to say we left well hydrated and were impressed by the attentive service. For brunch, I usually look for something with a poached egg and the donut and the hot chocolate (containing flavors I've never experience before) are worthy additions. My most recent visit here was to try the heralded burger. My fiancé and I arrived 30 min early on a Saturday to make sure we would be seated at the bar. We ended up being the first ones served the burger that night. I ordered the burger medium rare with bacon. In short, the burger is perfect and I wouldn't change a thing. It is beyond me how it is so juicy. The flavor of the bone marrow that is added to the patty really comes through. I really like their house made ketchup (conventional ketchup I find too sweet) and the potato wedges are a great compliment to the burger. My final note is half the times I've dined here, I've been served by the older gentleman. I have to admit, I initially thought he was a little brusque. I also tend to mispronounce the French terms on the menu which elicited a look from him as if he's saying "are you sure you can handle the level of food you will be eating?" But like any good server, he is attentive and politely answers any questions. He ends up being the perfect server for enjoying this restaurant. In short, a terrific restaurant and one that I look forward to each time I visit.

    (5)

  • Greg B.

    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!

    (5)

  • Ronnie D.

    In my humble opinion, this is the best Restaurant in the Boston area. Atmosphere is upscale casual, services is on point, bartenders/drinks are excellent, and the food is the best. I have been here 4 times, 2 at the bar and 2 at tables. I had the burger at the bar and it was the best burger I have ever had. The bartenders are super friendly, and willing to share their endless booze knowledge. Sitting g at the tables, the services was great and all of the dishes were inventive and delicious. the fried pig tails are a must try. expensive but completely worth it.

    (5)

  • Janie W.

    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.

    (5)

  • Katie V.

    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.

    (3)

  • Mark L.

    I guess I'll start by saying, I wish nothing but success for the team at Craigie on Main. It's clear that they're passionate about what they do and are definitely doing something right. Maybe it just wasn't for me. The evening was a date-night with the lady...something that was long overdue. She had made the original reservations, after reading about the $40 chef's tasting. Unfortunately, she missed the part where it's only offered after 9 PM and our reservations were for 8 PM. When tried to push the reservation back, we were told that they were completely booked. Nevertheless we changed our mindset and decided to go for a splurge of a dinner. We started with two wonderful cocktails. Our waitress recommended Ardoise for the lady while I got the Northern Lights, which was a lovely riff on a Sazerac. Additionally, the service was impeccable the whole night, glasses always full, everyone really chipping in to make sure we always had the appropriate flatware, etc. The fish amuse was bluefish pate topped with some black roe...a great way to start the meal with a bright brininess that was pleasantly jarring. The mrs.'s starter was quite nice...a trio of pates with a palette of accompaniments, violet mustard, cornichons etc. Great execution. My octopus, on the other hand, was underwhelming. While it was super tender, I felt it was under seasoned and the chorizo sauce was decidedly ordinary. It lacked any kick, smokiness, or richness that I was anticipating. Our mains followed a similar pattern, with my other-half again ordering the better dish. Her rib eye was easily the best piece of red-meat we've had in Boston. It's more memorable than anything we've had at Capital Grille or Grill 23. I only wish I knew how they seasoned the extra tender meat, it was a mix of sweetness and earthiness that was really well balanced. My trio of pork, confit + pork belly + rib had a few wonderful elements, but also had some missteps. It had a decidedly Asian flair, accompanied with the bok choy side with pickled Chinese mustard greens that was slightly soggy. While I appreciate the nod to my peeps, it seemed, out of place on a fine-dining plate. Furthermore, the confit showed up cold and the pork belly was unmemorable. I much preferred the pork belly served as a side at the brunch at Jose Garces's Tinto. Craigie's didn't have that same balance of the sinfully oozing fat melding with the lean meat. I guess it was too dry, which was odd for a piece of pork belly. However, the fried pork rib was outstanding. The prominent sweet flavors reminded me of Chinese sausage. It was a real treat, probably tying with the cocktails as the highlight of my meal. (The rib eye takes 1st place in the overall competition). Then came desserts. My apricot torte with amaretto ice cream and pistachios was, so so. The alcohol from the amaretto didn't pair well with the sour apricot sauce and both overpowered the pistachios. My girlfriend's buttermilk ice cream with strawberries and shortcake was also a little off the mark. The buttermilk ice cream by itself was way too sour. However, when all of the components of the dish were taken together in one bite, it was like you were eating a frosty strawberry cheesecake. Unfortunately (and unfairly so), I'm still reeling two days later from the angel food cake with mascarpone gelato, nut florentine and strawberry coulis from Sibling Rivalry (the nutinees of the florentine really elevated the entire dish and added a wonderful contrast in texture to the spongy cake). The mellow tartness of the marscapone was much better at tying everything on the plate together than the cloyingly sourness of the buttermilk ice cream. Independent of the food, the night was slightly marred by the open-kitchen concept. There was a pervasive undercurrent of stress throughout the restaurant. Flashes of rolling eyes and exacerbated sighs from various staffers underlies the exterior of a tightly run ship. While a small part of me enjoys watching Gordon Ramsay faking aneurysms at "cheftants" who have been exploitatively miscast for his punching pleasure, it's not so fun in real life. I understand that's the reality of running a successful kitchen. While the chef tonight was no where near that level of verbal abuse, I lost count of the number of times, "Matty!" or "Runner! I need a runner!" interrupted our conversation. I think the highlight was, "O-K. What does that spell? Okay!" I guess it's not fair to sit in ivory towers, choosing instead to hide our heads in the sand, but snarky condescension can still put a real a damper on a meal. Lastly, when we left at 10 PM, there were two 2-tops, a 4-top, and 80% of the bar by the kitchen still open. Maybe they limit the # of discounted tastings, but we couldn't shake the feeling of slightly mislead. Bottom line: 2 nights ago, we had a 3 course meal (2 apps, 1 app + 1 entree, 1 split dessert, 2 drinks) at a similarly celebrated South End restaurant...for less than 1/2 the $.

    (2)

  • jim b.

    Five start service. Great setting. Lovely menu. Just as simple as a star off for the food (it was very good, not at all great) and a star off for the price (the food is not worth the price). $74 for a half a pigs head? Oh, vegetables are extra. I'm used to a glass of wine costing as much as a bottle. You know, the prices would be fine, if the food was AMAZING, it isn't. It is very good.

    (3)

  • Noah S.

    If Cragie isn't the best restaurant in Cambridge, it's surely right there at the top of the list. There are two distinct areas in the restaurant, the main dining room, and the bar area. Both are amazing, and will be covered in the review. The main difference is that the bar tends to be a bit louder, but it's a nice and lively environment. Food: Chef Maws and the entire kitchen crew do an amazing job taking local (and high quality, seasonal, organic) products and giving them a new American twist. They also show their "nose to tail" philosophy by serving both pigs tails (in a spicy nuoc cham sauce) and a 1/2 pigs head for 2 people. The burger is one (if not the) best in Boston. Sides of bone marrow appear as massive bones split length-wise with plenty of Iggy's bread. Having eaten at the bar several times, as well as a la carte and tasting menu in the dining room, I've never been disappointment by anything. Drinks: Let's start with beer, being the most straightforward. The selection is small, but very well selected, and rotates frequently. You will probably find some local brews, along with some European brethren. Wine, the wine list is very well selected, and has many odd/funky bottles from areas that are lesser known (try the Philippe Bornard "Tant Mieux" with the pig head). Now lets get to the cocktails, Craigie is a restaurant that I would go purely for the drinks. Get a seat at a bar, and chat up one of the bartenders. Much like the food, I've never been disappointed by any drinks. If I'm at the bar, I'll usually ask for drinks that pair with whatever I've ordered. Atmosphere: The bar is busy, but never overly so. It gets lively, and with enough people enjoying themselves it can get a little noisy. The dining room is calmer, and a little more upscale without being stuffy. Everyone is very friendly and accommodating, service is very professional with still being friendly. It is also fun to peer inside the open kitchen. Final Thought: A must try! Go to the bar with a friend and get a burger and drinks. If you are looking for a special occasion dinner, Craigie should be at the top of your list!

    (5)

  • Nik B.

    Accommodating! Very accommodating.. This is not a trait you find at swanky places that could easily be snooty and dismissive, but they're not! They're very nice at Craigie, We came ready to sit at the bar, have some bar food and a couple cocktails, and it was completely packed. We waited around awkwardly and it was only a few moments before the bartender approached us, and perched us on a counter near the bar. He gave us drink menus and made us feel more at ease. He, like any great bartender should, was able to recommend great drinks based on our preferences. He was also nice enough to make me a great drink not on the menu (Corpse Reviver No 2). Ultimately, he got us a place to sit, and our food was brought to us momentarily. Uh, fried pig tails? I had never heard of this before. And my curiosity got the best of me. I had to try it. And as the bartender described "you have to get messy and get right in it." Pretty true. You'll have to use your hands to eat them, but they're pretty tasty. Good bar food to go with your alcohol. Good amount of heat, perfect amount of crisp, and the peanuts and garlic go real well with it. I also tried the seasonal sparkler (can't remember what it's called.) I'd say it was a bit on the dense side, but still delicious nonetheless. A very sweet, autumn spice taste at first, and a very bitter ending. Great drink. I wish I lived in Cambridge so I could come to Craigie more often.

    (5)

  • Steph C.

    I've been to Craigie On Main twice, and I live in L.A. I don't think I'll ever visit Boston without trying to get a meal here. It's one of the best restaurants I've ever visited, and I was as happy with my dinner as I was with the brunch in my previous review. We arrived early for our reservation and had a drink while we waited. There wasn't a great place to do this, but the staff did their best to keep us comfortable. I had a disappointing cocktail. It was $12 and had a preposterous name (Nature of Nurture), so I expected some craft. Made with hibiscus tea and flower-steeped London dry, Domaine de Canton, Grand Marnier, maple, and sparkling wine, it was overly sweet and medicinal. As we drank, we saw a burger go by, and for that reason we decided to eat in the bar room rather than our table in the main dining area. It was a comfortable space, more casual and tavern-like than the other side. Service throughout the meal was attentive and friendly. The food was stellar. We got started with a nice warm basket of bread, nothing too fancy but certainly good. There was one wheaty variety studded with sunflower seeds that took the win. Then we ordered. With four people, all family, we shared two prix fixe menus and got a couple entrees a la carte. It was a perfect attack plan. The prix fixe is not really a deal, but if you're going to get an appetizer, entree, and dessert, you might as well get the amuse bouche and paired dessert wine for a total of $75. The whole table doesn't have to participate, so sharing is good, and you can order your priciest items prix fixe. We had a choice of three amuses, of which we tried two. Both were hard but not impossible to share, and they were excellent. A chewy squid "pasta" with nuoc pham and tiny sliced radish offered a ton of flavor and a fun novel texture. Cured goose breast pastrami with pickled okra, carrots, and corn was tasty even in shreds. The appetizers were superb. The grilled Spanish octopus was tender and meaty, and it delivered a fantastic tomato depth of flavor. It was served with grilled ciollini onion, fresh hearts of palm and lemon salad, and a savory chorizo sauce. House-made black pepper straccetti pasta with house-cured ham and Peekytoe crab ragout was another wonder, with a strong wheat flour taste to the al dente pasta and great texture from the crab. I often find that entrees at nice restaurants break the promises made by strong appetizers - not the case at Craigie. We got fish, steak, vegetables, and a burger, and every one was delicious. The line-caught tautog a la plancha was phenomenal, a luscious, fatty cut of fish served with toothsome Wellfleet and razor clams, whelks, mussels, and a cardoon puree. All-natural hangar steak a la Poele was cooked a perfect tender pink. It came with a sweet beef tongue ragout and spinach, prunes, almonds, and a parsnip tsimmes laced with sweet potato, date, spices, and a lot of comforting flavor. Craigie can do beautiful things without meat, as shown by a glacée of early spring farm vegetables. This was an artful medley of beet, asparagus, broccoli, white and purple cauliflower, peas, and more, served alongside a stripe of parsnip puree, spring ramp coulis, and walnut oil, and a heap of five grain and mushroom pilaf. There were a lot of things going on, but the result was harmonious, with earthy flavors and some definite heft. And finally, that burger, which was only available on the bar side. It was a simple burger with Vermont cheddar and crispy onions, and it came with fries, lightly dressed greens, mace ketchup, red wine pickles, and a Southern slaw, all on the side. The meat had an even fine grind that cooked to a beautiful soft medium rare, and it oozed juice. The bun did its job and the cheese and onions were just right. The ketchup and pickles made the burger even better, and I even liked the fat potato wedges, a type of fry I rarely favor, thanks to their significant crispy outsides. Craigie does not skimp on portions, and we were full by dessert. Even so, we made quick work of what we ordered, as well as the wine pairings. I had the sour milk panna cotta at brunch and wanted it again, this time with coriander-cashew granola, dried cherry and kirsch purée, and brown butter. It was ridiculous, with a lush thick texture and an irresistible tang. The granola added great crunch, but I could've eaten the pure panna cotta on its own, out of a bucket. It was paired with a sweet white wine, a golden glass of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. The bourbon pecan ice cream tart was almost as good, a hefty slice of pecan ice cream topped with soft chocolate, sitting on a subtly salty bacon pecan crust. A crunchy crumble and smoked Mexican salt chocolate sauce finished the plate, and it paired well with a bold cuvée. The meal ended with some almond rochere clusters, which were quickly replaced when we polished them off. Like everything else at Craigie, they were just about perfect.

    (5)

  • Christina S.

    We went to dinner last night with some friends, one of whom owns a restaurant in New York City, and none of us left overly impressed. While the menu selection was certainly innovative and the kitchen staff talented, we weren't blown away by the food. In all fairness that was our opinion of the offerings, and everyone's palate and tastes are different. So I would recommend that you at least try it because so many people do seem to enjoy it. Our biggest issue was with the service. We found our primary server to be condescending and unaccommodating. She answered the majority of our questions with a yes or no, no elaboration or explanation. For example 2/4 of us wanted to order the tasting menu. Her response to our order was, "no, the whole table has to order the tasting menu". And then she just looked at us. That was it. It was so uncomfortable. She didn't offer an alternative or maybe offer an explanation. This "rule" was not on menu. So was it even true? We would ask her, "can we do/have .....", her answer, "No". And everything was "super delicious". Could she have offered additional information? Yes. Did she? No. A restaurant of this level should have a staff that can offer why the plates are "super delicious" and willing to at least entertain your requests. Truthfully, it was almost as though we were being treated as though we were too stupid to understand so it was easier for her to just say as little as possible. Overall, I felt as though she was treating us as if we should have been grateful to have the privilege of dining there. It was truly obnoxious. However, the server who offered us dessert was lovely. She smiled, was lively and bright and engaged us. She certainly made up for the other's lack of personality. Now here is why we ALL had a problem with that type of treatment, we spent over $500 on dinner. That is a premium to spend on dinner in Boston, and the staff, all of them, have an obligation to put their best foot forward and accommodate the patrons with a willingness to at least TRY and placate them. This didn't happen and for that reason we will not return to Craigie on Main. I would rather frequent Mistral or L'Espalier where we are respected and welcomed into their establishment.

    (2)

  • Elinor A.

    This was totally my lucky week, because I ate at Craigie's twice. The first time I was at the bar. My friends had the special burger and said it was to die for; I stole their fries and I don't know how you can make a fry extraordinary, but Craigie did. The cocktails were amazing; like Drink, it's the kind of place where you can tell them in general terms what you're in the mood for, and they will improvise something delightful. The Northern Lights cocktail on the menu was tangy, light, yet complex--recommended. For the second trip, I took some business partners there for dinner. I had some trepidations because one is a foodie who divides his time between NYC and Paris--so what in Boston can possibly compete? Yet both my guests hugely enjoyed their dinners of steak, octopus, pork, and squash with duck fat. Yes, there is a lot of meat here, but they are veg-friendly too! I had noted in my Open Table reservation that I'm vegan, and Craigie treated me not like an annoying minority, but like a VIP. LOVE THEM! Upon arriving at the restaurant they told me the chefs had conocted a special creamy broccoli soup (smooth, herbal, and divine) AND a special dessert: coconut-based affogato, which I still have swooning memories of. Craigie seems happy to accomodate dietary issues/allergies if you notify them in advance. I was blown away by the special treatment. Totally OTT in a really nice way. Service was extraordinary and efficient. I had been to Craigie when it was on Craigie St. and it was good, but in its new location it is superb.

    (5)

  • Alicia J.

    We showed up to Craigie on Main for the Sunday brunch with dreams of a perfect hamburger. We were not disappointed. The atmosphere of Craigie during brunch is pretty relaxed, aided by the ample spacing between tables and the midday sunlight filtering through the wooden blinds. We were twenty minutes early for our reservation but were seated immediately. Our inaugural time at Craigie, the hamburger, corned beef and hash and a doughnut were ordered. I saw videos of the hamburger being prepared, and I was worried that the hype was greater than the meal would be. This was happily not so: the burger was wonderfully rich, flavorful and pink on the inside. Delicious. The fries were perfectly crispy, and the condiments (especially the pickles) were great. The corned beef and hash was also a wonderful dish, perfect for brunch. We finished up with the doughnut which was a cake-style type with a caramel sauce. It wasn't too sweet, was crispy on the outside and not dry on the inside. I think I've never had such a good cake doughnut. Its actually fortunate that there was only one, because it might not be the kind of pasty where two could be consumed. The brunch was a great meal, and we will definitely be returning to try other menu items!

    (5)

  • Danny F.

    I feel like such a hater giving only 4 stars, but after my second visit, I cannot say I have found perfection here yet. The first time here, I got the "big" tasting, and it was overwhelming to say the least. After half the meal, I could barely taste the remaining, because I was so focused on just getting things in my stomach. I cannot even remember anything I ate... More recently, I returned for burgers. They are good. Really, really, really yummy - 5 stars all the way. But, I could care less for the thick starchy fries. And the salad had too much frisee to my dismay (I HATE frisee). The dressing was pretty good. What else did I have? Oh yes, pig tails. Mmmmm. It's all about the sauce though. There's no reason to use pig tails, instead of any other type of meat. And we got a side of brussels sprouts roasted in duck fat. I LOVE brussels sprouts, and I also prefer my veges soft rather than crunchy, but these were way too soggy. I also could not distinguish anything different about roasting in duck fat. I was too full for dessert, but instead received a free little hot chocolate. That was pretty divine - superbly balanced between sweet and bitter and spicy. Craigie is a very very fine restaurant indeed. Definitely worth a visit, and maybe some repeats, but not something I spend my days at work dreaming about.

    (4)

  • Brian D.

    I've been to Craigie twice (once for the tasting menu and last night for the burger), and I think it's easily one of the best restaurants in Boston. Not only is their food incredible, but their service is also on par with what 5* restaurants should aspire to. Last night we took a group of friends to the bar to try the infamous Craigie burger. Due to some miscommunication when I called a couple of weeks back, I thought they didn't take reservations in the bar (they do apparently). The manager was incredibly sympathetic and helpful, and we worked it to split our group into 2 smaller tables. She kept checking up on us, brought the ladies out a bowl of the brussel sprouts to taste (awesome), and was super attentive even when we were only ordering off of the bar menu. Now on to the burger: The beef is sourced from Hardwick beef in Western Mass. It's mixed with miso paste and bone marrow, cooked in a CVap open and quickly charred on a plancha. It's topped with cheddar, fried onions, and house-made ketchup. It's served with perfectly seasoned, slightly spicy steak fries. It's indescribably good, incredibly rich, and quite simply the best burger I've ever tasted. The burger was cooked a perfect medium rare, stays unbelievably juicy because of the cooking methods, and the bone marrow takes it to the edge of being too rich... without quite getting there. It's great to see how versatile Chef Tony Maws truly is... Craigie is known for unique culinary masterpieces, but Maws also can perfect the burger for the bar. Combine this with awesome service, and you've got Craigie on Main. Tips: For the burger, try to make a reservation at the bar - they apparently have like 4 tables you can reserve. Otherwise, get there early (they open at 5:30), grab a seat at the bar, and enjoy. I've heard they run out of burgers, because they only get enough beef for 20-30 per day.

    (5)

  • Daisy D.

    This was one of the best meals I have ever had! I could not have asked for a better birthday dinner :) The dishes we had were very complex, yet approachable and familiar. Amazing use of seasonal, local food with a constantly changing menu. Definitely worth a visit for a special occasion dinner in the Boston area.

    (5)

  • Julie B.

    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.

    (5)

  • R Paul M.

    After two meals there my partner and I decided it was only worth 3 stars on this rating system. Why? After all, the food is terrific and mostly locally sourced. The service is excellent, also. But we believe that the score should be for the overall experience, and that includes the experience of paying the bill. $37 for an entree may be common in New York, but in the Boston area there are many restaurants that can provide as good a dining experience with entrees in the $25-27 range. Some of them have actual tablecloths. You are paying for the awards on the wall, not the food. If that's OK with you, fine. But we won't be back.

    (3)

  • Amber L.

    Amber, do you go anywhere aside from Craigie when celebrating an occasion? No...not really. So here I was at Craigie again for a belated graduation celebration with one of my best friends who offered to take me here for dinner. I have great friends...who apparently love me enough to take me to my favorite restaurant ever! This particular evening ended up being a book signing/tour event so there were several ingredients and plates on the menu that are not usually there. The bartender also made a drink up for that evening that went with the prix fixe and it was pretty darn tasty. For appetizers I got the ragout and the bone marrow. The ragout had veal sweet breads and cocks comb on it that evening. I've been dying to try cocks comb and while they were prepared fantastically, but they are not my thing I've discovered. But at least I get to cross it off of the list...As usual, the egg on top was cooked perfectly and the yolk flowed beautifully. I love a well cooked egg. The marrow was absolutely sublime as well and I never noted this before in any of my reviews, I think, but I love the fact that they cut the bone for you so it is easier to get all of the marrow. For my main course I had venison 2 ways -- sausage and steak. This was a real treat as I rarely get to have venison in a restaurant and it was cooked to perfection -- medium rare, with a beautiful center. My dessert was absolute heaven. I got the chocolate tart with salted butterscotch, a huckleberry sauce, and white chocolate-miso ice cream. I was super excited to try this because the ice cream alone sounded really interesting. It was a fantastic mix of salty and sweet and provided a great addition to the tart. After we left, I noticed there is a pumpkin soup on their menu that sounds great. Time to save up for another trip to Craigie! :)

    (5)

  • Monique K.

    When we heard that this restaurant served THE BEST hamburgers in the Boston area, my husband, being the burger connoisseur that he is, anxiously made a reservation. People, oh my heavens! The burgers were amazing. I don't even really eat meat all that often, especially not burgers, but this one was truly delicious. The house-made ketchup, the peanut oil-fried fries, the grass-fed beef ... all of it was excellent. Even the waiter's beautiful description of the food enhanced the overall experience. The service was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was elegant, and the philosophy of the establishment was exactly my style. Oh, and I especially loved that the owner was in-house, acting as head chef. We loved this restaurant and will definitely be returning to experience the 'finer dining' side in the near future. One more thing: I was especially pleased to find that the staff was more than willing to accomodate our toddler, taking the stroller upon our entering the resturant, providing a high chair without us having to ask, and offering to create a healthy whole-grain pasta & vegetable dish since there wasn't anything on the menu that seemed suitable for a young child. It was easily one of the most pleasant experiences I've had taking my son out to eat.

    (5)

  • Alicia L.

    By the grace of the heavens I was able to come here while in Boston on a work trip. Who am I kidding, I would have paid for it anyway! I managed to score a random table on a whim (at opening time there were two tables left for the whole night on a Thursday), and I'm so glad I did. We did the eight-course tasting and ordered a bottle of wine. Pre-dinner, waiting for the table to be available, we had a cocktail with sage called an Arboise (I think) and it was delicious. We hand-muddled the sage leaf a bit and it was even better. The wine was of fantastic quality. The dinner was just amazing. I was concerned it would be pork-heavy given the fact that I watched someone torch half of a pig's face in the kitchen (yes, really did), but the chef presented us actually with mostly seafood, which I thought was great. And I learned something - the Tasmanian trout looks like salmon. You know it's a successful dinner when you're full, happy, a little tipsy, and you're smarter than when you went in! I won't describe every course, but every bite was worth it. Things I didn't think I would like (I like seafood in theory but rarely in fact), I loved. I loved all of it. We never wanted it to end. If I had to pick a favorite, which would be difficult, it would be the rye tube pasta with the mushroom sauce. It's nearly an eight-way tie however...everything was just amazing. Never have had panna cotta that perfect in consistency and flavor. I didn't know you could neutralize the stank of pate with chilled lobster. The whole thing was totally worth the money, for sure. The really special thing about this place is that it's not all stuffy and pretentious. Even the layout is designed to be open and effortlessly cool; the first thing you encounter when you come in is the open kitchen where you can see everybody working and just marvel at it all. We came in wearing jeans and didn't feel out of place at all, but neither did the more formally dressed. All staff, from hostess to the guy opening the door when you leave, were super nice and friendly, and seemed genuinely so and not just faking it for the dollars. Chef even came out to our table to discuss one dish and introduce himself, and he seemed really nice, cool, and welcoming. Our waiter made great chit-chat with us, talking to us and joking about different wines and courses, which really made the experience fun as well as high end. Yes, you can have it all! And at what I consider to be an excellent value!

    (5)

  • Lil O.

    their food is really good, but i'm not all like OMG. it's more like, wow, this is really solidly delicious. i do like the cheaper bar burger that everyone is into. i also like coming for brunch and getting the donuts.

    (4)

  • Choc P.

    After hearing a lot of good reviews, this place failed to meet my expectations. Food was overrated, service was bad, loud like a bar.

    (2)

  • John G.

    Amazing service, food, and ambiance.

    (4)

  • Alex O.

    Craigie on Main is an excellent restaurant! I had an awesome experience there. It was quite busy on a wednesday night, and had to wait to get a seat. We sat at the bar, and it was extremely fun. The two bartenders, Paul and John, were so fun and informative. We asked them tons of questions about their past experiences, the restaurant, food, and bar. They had a great answer for everything. The atmosphere is inviting and clean. It is not too flashy, and does not seem like a fancy restaurant, which Craigie on Main is not. The food is expensive, but the restaurant, servers, and overall experience is more fun than fancy. In the front of the restaurant, you can see all of the chefs hard at work which is very exciting. The amount of focus and seriousness was inspiring. To start the night in terms of food, we ordered a pate which was excellent. The presentation was superb. Next, we had the Potato Galette, which is like a potato pancake. It was very tasty! Finally for the appetizers, Grilled Octopus arrived. The octopus was grilled perfectly, and my friend said it was the best he ever had. For entrees, my two friends that I was with ordered the Pig head for two, yes a fricken pig head! HAH! It arrived at the table, and was a real sight to see. The eyes and teeth were there, and was kind of nasty. It was very fatty, but this is not the restaurant's fault. It was cooked well, but they did not love it. I tasted it and it was pretty good, but it is a one time experience. I ordered the pork three ways: Crispy Suckling Confit, Spice-Crusted Rib, Grilled Belly. It was very tasty, but a little on the small side. For $36, I expected it to be a bit bigger. I uploaded a picture of it if you want to see. I never had pig belly before, and loved it. We were very full from the meal, and did not order desert. The restaurant gave us a complimentary desert drink with rhubarb and buttermilk creme on top. The small drink was excellent, and ended the meal very nicely. :) Overall, the food was very good, not incredible, but something I will remember. My favorite part of the restaurant was sitting at the bar. John and Paul were excellent bartenders! The best I have ever had! The service at Craigie on Main is exquisite. The prices are expensive, but the food and experience is worth it.

    (5)

  • Leo L.

    What?! Still trying to figure out why this place is so well-known for its food! Probable the worse Monkfish dish I've ever tried ever! Just a huge waste of my money and time. Only thing good here was the wine list. It would be a 1 star if it wasn't for the wine list.

    (2)

  • sophia l.

    This is just for the blonde hostess. Kitchen is RAD and everyone els there is nice. She was rude and should be gotten rid of. As an industry person, I'd never let anyone like that continue to work in my restaurant. You don't get rude and defensive just because a customer asks how long the wait is.

    (2)

  • Kat B.

    Great food and amazing service. Every employee we encountered was so nice and genuine, and the food was out of this world. Went on a Sunday night, sat at the bar, and ordered their tasting menu. Highly recommended!!

    (5)

  • Nate L.

    Yeah, they are good, and that cannot be said as much as I would like in Boston. They have creativity too. On the night I went they might have lagged a smidge behind a 27+ rated Zaggat's restaurant in NYC.....but you can also get out of there for under $200 for two, which might be a stretch at WD-50 or something. You can also get reservations and there is parking. The only complaint I had is that the cheese plate was a little stingy....I mean like barely enough of each cheese for two little mouth full's worth. Also, on the night I was there, they did not absolutely crush it in terms of the vibrancy of their recipes....but that happens once in a blue moon at all but a 3 star Michelin restaurant in France.

    (5)

  • Farrah H.

    My husband and I went for dinner the other night. And I have to say that everything was excellent - the food, the atmosphere and the service. So, why I don't give it five stars? Honestly, if I could give it four and a half, I would but I couldn't bring myself to give it five for a couple of reasons. First, you really have to know what you are getting into. The food, although excellent, is overly stuffy. The ethos of the restaurant really is that the chef knows best. Obviously, the chefs are very good but it was tough for my husband and I to find something that we could eat with enthusiasm. Be prepared to be adventurous and to not be overly controlling of your meal. (Think half of a hog head landing on a table next to you - in full form. That actually made me give up me (excellent) tea and leave. It might make me a wimp but I just really couldn't stare at it.) My husband's meal was cooked to perfection. Mine (the sirloin) had some really tough parts to it. I do have to say that I normally don't like clams but their clam appetizer was really good. Second, the service is really attentive. However, it is not exceptional. To me, exceptional service is when you don't even feel the waiter's presence. Things happen and are moved along precisely when they need to. My husband and I felt that we were being asked how things were every 5 minutes. Attentive - but intrusive as well. I often felt interrupted, rather than helped. However, the waiters communicate all your needs with each other. When a new waiter came with our dessert menus, they already knew what we could and couldn't eat due to religious restrictions. It was a nice touch. Overall, it's definitely worth a try. But, will I being going back whenever I can? I don't know - I think I prefer a homier, simpler aesthetic to my food. But, if you want good food creatively prepared and are ready to be adventurous, this is a really good option for you.

    (4)

  • Anya C.

    I've had several delicious meals here, both for brunch and dinner. In addition, this place is very accommodating and respectful of those with celiac disease. This was the first place that I dined at after being diagnosed and the servers were so knowledgeable that they ended up educating me. Could not recommend this place enough!

    (5)

  • Leighann F.

    My personal heaven? A ten course tasting menu complete with cocktail, beer and wine pairings. On the evening of January 30, 2009, I'd thought I'd died and gone to straight to that big chef's kitchen up in the sky. It was my birthday and at precisely 7:30pm, our cab pulled up to Craigie on Main, our destination for the evening's celebration. From start to finish, the entire experience (nevermind the food) left me asking for nothing. Every person we encountered graciously wished me a happy birthday, including chef Tony Maws, who delivered the last savory course himself, a trio of pork: prepared confit, with pig's feet and crispy pork belly. A meal of this proportion is not for the faint of heart or small of tummy. Though they are tastings, ten course is a lot. And give that each some comes with an expertly paired (thanks to Bar Manager/Mixologist Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli) wine, beer or cocktail, I was near-begging for mercy by the end of our meal. A course of ceviche seafood, oxtail, striped bass, turnip soup...I should be ashamed that I cannot remember them all. Pairings included sav blanc, a rare belgium beer, several cocktails, and several more wines. Our dessert courses included with two tea-infused panna cottas, profiteroles and some cardamom hot chocolate. Of course, we could not escape the evening without a nightcap of Fernet Branca on ice with just a hint of mint. A special occasion can be spent in no better way in my opinion, than with good food and wine (and cocktails and beer), and in good company. The attention paid to us throughout the evening was some of the best service I've experience in all of my dining experiences (from the card on the table wishing my a happy birthday from the chef) to each course being explained with attention to detail, and all my questions answered with ease. Though most of my experiences at Craigie are summed up by sampling a few cocktails at their very chill bar, tasting treats like house-made vermouth, I knew I couldn't review Craigie until I had eaten a proper meal here. Eaten I had. And proper it was. Arrival Time: 7:30pm, Departure Time: 11:30pm Status: Happy Birthday, confirmed.

    (5)

  • Burger G.

    Flaming hot sugar crusted donut? You better get one. Seriously. Just go here for the donut. But also the pickles. Ahhhh the pickles. Mind blowing. Burger for brunch? Uh huh. Works perfectly. What about the mace ketchup? Again, home run. French Fries? Excellent. Crispy. Hot. French frygasm. Excellent service, difficult parking (it IS decidedly Cambridgey), just a hair on the pricey side but pretty good for a fancy food brunch. Coffee was just coffee. We did ask for the music to be turned down a bit. We were sat directly under a speaker. The waitress said "wow that is pretty loud." She promptly restored the musics to a reasonable level to allow discussion without shouting.

    (5)

  • Carolyn T.

    Wonderful service, interesting people, delicious food and drink. While their cocktails are magnificent, I wouldn't mind a more extensive and varied beer selection. More than enough has been said about the burger but I can't help myself. The Craigie burger is an edible celebration of the cow. Were I a cow, I would be honored to give myself to this burger.

    (5)

  • Xavier M.

    I was home alone on December 29th, lots of snow coming down in Boston. So I decided to treat myself with some good food. I went for the 8 dish tasting menu. I was surprised the waiter didn't tell me anything about what I was going to be eating. In general, the service was bad. I don't know if this is a difference on service between the US and Europe (where I come from). The waitress was kind of pushy, not to say impolite but very informal. If I am paying over 100USD for dinner I expect a much better service. Also for such an expensive place, I am not expecting paper cloths and tables so close one to the other. Oh, and the lighting, I like to see what I am eating. More light would be appreciated. And the important thing: the food. I wasn't impressed by any of the dishes. They were good but not impressed. I was confused with the trout with chorizo (didn't like the flavors), thought the whole weat pasta was too al dente (hard) and the starting amuse bouche of scallops tasteless. One last thought: why do people put fake candles on the tables? Please, get rid of them. Too expensive for what I got.

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    Been here twice now, and all I can say is I love this place. The decor feels cozy, not stuffy like most of the other high-end places. The view into the kitchen when you walk in is exciting and intriguing, not flashy. Drinks are delicious, food is spectacular, but what I love most about this place is the service. Wait staff is ALWAYS relaxed and happy to answer your questions, never felt pressured, condescended, or age-discriminated (I'm a younger guy). I'm looking forward to whatever next major event will bring me back to Craigie On Main, it never fails to impress me.

    (5)

  • Me B. M.

    Superb ingredients. Excellent technique. But in the end, and for the price point, nothing special. Mostly all kind of bland. Maybe they are going for subtle and delicate. I dunno. For $130+ per person with wine, completely not at all worth it. I tried the squid noodle (best savory item I had, but as the amuse it was teeny), sashimi (boring but fresh) , pig tail (very nice), pork 3 ways (salty), the sausage stuffed chicken (bland), and the haddock (was ok). The best thing I had all night was the apricot-almond torte. Also, THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WORKING THERE. I have never seen anything like it. There were never fewer than 5 of them crowding around our table chatting. Sometimes 8 or 9. It felt freaky and circusy.

    (3)

  • Pavee S.

    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.

    (3)

  • Emily A.

    Absolutely delicious. This is hands down the best 10 course tasting menu in the Boston area. Certainly it has topped our culinary experiences living in this area for the past few years (and we eat out a lot :)). My girlfriend pronounced our veal as the best meat she's ever eaten (and she's eaten some pretty expensive, foodie meals before). The scallop with avocado and lovage was so yummy I wanted to lick the plate. Only one course left me a little disappointed (a pasta course that substituted as my gf does not eat pork). Oxtail pastrami, hamachi collar cooked in chili sauce, smoked grilled eel, ramp kimchi couli, you name it - whether the course or just some of its ingredients - ......delish, delish, delish. Oh, and the service was top-notch. Probably top 3 service I've received at any restaurant in the world.

    (5)

  • Helen W.

    I went yet again and this time enjoyed the ringside seating and the tasting menu. Way cool for any foodie!

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    Ok...I am in the minority as I see glowing reviews There is a ton to like about Craigie. It is a nice space with an open kitchen in the front, a dining room to the left and the bar to the right. The decor is very tasteful We sat on the chefs table for my birthday. The service is very officious as each waiter knows the food and wine. The problem on that night was the food My salmon was slow cooked so it had a different hue. All of this was explained by the knowledgeable waiter. Unfortunately, slow cooked can still be overcooked My girls pork was also overcooked.....Now the hostess saw that she barely ate the food and she removed it from the bill. We did not even ask. I wanted to like this place, yet did not....However, I understand even the best have an off night and respect them for at least caring enough about customer experience to do the right thing Added Star because the owner cared enough to call

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    I knew this place was going to be good, but really, I had no idea. Arrived at 6pm on a Wednesday with no chance at a table without a reservation (people like good food I guess - who knew?), but we snagged the corner seats and the bar which were some of the most comfortable bar seats I've ever experienced (I hate bar seats...I'm short). Tom, the head of the bar, is a very nice guy! It may have helped that my friend I was with was buddy buddy with him, but he knew what he was doing and was very friendly and knowledgeable, even with the patrons around us. They take care of you here - gourmet service all the way, even at the bar. We decided to do the $75 prix fixe menu, because it seemed that everything we wanted was on there anyways. They have a different and seemingly fantastic bar menu as well - I wish I could have eaten 3 dinners at once. For the Amuse Bouche course I can't remember what my friend had, but I had pork belly and oh. my. god. It was like the best tastes of prosciutto and bacon in one, mixed with some shaved crispy pear. Gah. I commented to my friend that I don't understand why the most delicious food has to sound so unappealing. Pork belly? Really? Yes. Really. F'in get it. (and that was just two bites of food!) For the App course we each got the asparagus soup with pork jowl croutons (again...why?). I think it takes some serious skill to do a soup exceedingly well and Tony Maws, my friends, has some serious skizills. And those croutons? WTF?! Delicious little nuggets of salty heaven. The entree choice was easy - my friend got Lamb 3 ways, and I got the dayboat scallops. Good GOD those scallops were good. If you like seafood, and seafood done well, I highly recommend them. I'm a cute-atarian (don't eat cute things - sure, go ahead and laugh), so I don't "eat" lamb persay, but I tried my friend's and wow. Kinda makes me want to eat cute sheepies on a regular basis. We were given a palette cleanser before dessert of infused panna cotta (mine with rooibos, his with jasmine) and this alcoholic drink called milk punch I think? I don't think that's exactly right, but it was clear and amazingly interesting. I'd never even dreamed of either dish and they were really inventive and a great experience. Dessert was a peanut butter parfait for me (pb mousse between two rectangular cookie-biscuits with some kind of grape foam on top) and an Olive Oil and Tazzo chocolate mousse for my friend. Mine was more interesting than awesome (though it was pretty good), and his was drool-inducing. So - long story short (too late) - it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience with excellent food in a fun atmosphere that was upscale and casual at the same time. When you've got a pretty penny to drop on a great dining experience, I highly recommend Craigie.

    (5)

  • David D.

    My wife and I had a fantastic evening at Craigie on Main. Arrived at 7:45 for our 8:00 reservation. Our table was waiting for us. Service is absolutely top notch. We were celebrating our 5th anniversary and it seemed the entire staff knew. The atmosphere is perfect. Not pretentious at all. We were welcomed with a drink compliments of the owner just as we sat down. Our server was quite nice and recommended a fantastic, yet reasonably priced bottle of wine after inquiring as to what our types we typically like. We went with the prix fix option for $65 each. Includes an amouse bouche starter, app, main and dessert. My amouse bouche was a duck breast with mushrooms and beets, my wife had squid noodles with something. Small, but amazing. For apps I ordered the pigs tail. First time I've had pigs tail - like a bacon chicken wing. Excellent. I would have been more than satisfied if that was my main course. My wife ordered the squash soup with pork belly grilled cheese. Fantastic. The chef sent over another grilled cheese for my wife when they saw she ate it so quickly. First time I've experience something like that. For our main course we went with the roast chicken for two. It came with a rice polenta. A staffer brings out the chicken whole (cooked) then takes it away and carves it up. They come back with two plates and all the hard work done. By far the juiciest and most delicious chicken we have ever had. For dessert I had a chocolate mousse with white chocolate icecream and my wife had smoked pear with a scoop of icecream and cracker crumbs. Both were great. Big surprise, another well deserved 5 star rating for Craigie on Main. we cannot wait to go back. Forgot, after dessert a staffer brought over a couple cookies for us that looked like mini Pepperidge Farm Milanos along with another 'Happy Anniversary'.

    (5)

  • Cindy W.

    Empty plate....burp !

    (5)

  • David V.

    A certain generous lady recently got her tax return and decided it was time to break out of a frugal stretch in style. I've read up about Craigie and had been dying to try it for quite some time, so we decided on this night to dive in headfirst with the ten-course tasting menu. Our server was very attentive and helpful throughout the meal, and it seems as if he spent quite a bit of time replacing the silverware for each course. As most tasting menus are pretty much set in stone, I was surprised to be asked if there were any foods I didn't care for, or alternately, things I'd like to see. Many of the early courses were lighter seafood dishes, including a trio of squid noodles, sardine and tuna terrine topped with caviar. Yellowtail sashimi was garnished with, among other things, some of the freshest salmon roe I've ever tasted - the "pop" was miles ahead of most sushi bar salmon roe. Around course five, a buckwheat pasta dish with uni and salty pork came out and represented a transition between the ligher seafood courses and the later meat-oriented dishes. I wouldn't have felt right about it without more pork, and I was not disappointed with a beautifully prepared pork belly course. The meat and the preparation were top-notch, but some bites were a tad on the dry side... probably the only thing in the whole dinner that wasn't a slam-dunk. A lamb course featured loin and lamb tongue, which I'll definitely be looking out for on future menus. The lamb was brought out by Tony Maws himself - not sure if he does this for everyone, but even a brief visit from a chef as acclaimed (not to mention busy) as Tony was a really nice touch. Several dessert courses rounded out the evening, to which I added a glass of Blanton's bourbon. I should mention the wine - the bottles aren't cheap and I was surprised, with the focus on local foods, to find that most of the wines were European. Of course, I've got no problem at all with that, and we enjoyed two pricey but thoroughly enjoyable bottles with the meal. The 349 reviews that came along before this one can attest to this as well - Craigie is big-league. A destination for foodies from down the street and across the country. While the total bill had a rather eye-popping figure at the bottom, at $110 a person the ten-course tasting menu might even be a deal. Sadly it'll be awhile before either one of us can afford this again, but I'll be back for the pig's head and the marrow bones.

    (5)

  • Alison H.

    Second time having brunch at this place. The first time was a more formal occasion whereas this time it was a smaller group and we took counter seats. At first I was reluctant to sit at the counter but it ended up being a great choice. The counter looks right into the kitchen and it was lovely and warm and bright. We all started with the homemade donut and then I chose the whole wheat pancakes with fruit. The pancakes and fruit were delicious but I could only finish half after that donut. We also ordered a side of the potato galette, which is like a slice of magic fried hashbrown pie. Coffee was great, service was excellent and I felt like I was on the Food Network with our front row seats to the kitchen.

    (5)

  • Jeremy H.

    This is a review for the bar only. Knowledgable bartenders really talked me through the Libations list. It seems like most of the Libations list had confusing ingredients on it. Not only that, but they explained the menu too and were very helpful but also professional. I could see they were busy making libations but they struck just the right balance between helping the customer and making libations. Bravo guys! My GF and I were seriously impressed with you guys!!!

    (5)

  • Sishab S.

    Excellent service, amazing burger! We went to the Craigie On Main while we didn't have a reservation for the bar section (They only serve their famous burgers in the bar section!). We didn't want to sit in the main seating area because it was later in the evening, we had our young child with us and we didn't want to stay there for hours, and go for a multiple course dinner. Although they were full in the bar section, they set a new table for us and accommodated us very nicely with two chairs and a high chair. We truly enjoyed our dinner. We paid $60 for two burger dishes (Burgers come with side salads and awesome hand-cut fries) and two soft drinks including tax and 25% tip (we loved the service!). Reasonable price for such food and service!

    (5)

  • Alex M.

    Overall, the food was good. Not great, but good. However, the server was quite pretentious and the menu was unnecessarily complex. I'm glad that I tried it, but will never return due to the general attitude I experienced.

    (2)

  • Shawn H.

    I should have written this review a long time ago so I could give my fellow Yelpers the play-by-play of an excellent dining experience, but since it's been almost a year since I visited Craig on Main I'll give you this summary instead. Overall Thoughts: Craig on Main is one of my very very few FIVE STAR ratings. This place serves up everything a five star restaurant should: superbly delicious food, beautiful plate presentation, perfectly trained wait staff, and an atmosphere that is elegant and inviting without being pretentious or overwhelming for the average Joe who also enjoys a $5 burger meal from In-N-Out on occasion. Food: My date and I each ordered the chef's prix fixe meal. Our server asked us if we had any food allergies or aversions and from there every item placed in front of us was a surprise. A delicious surprise! Not one serving disappointed. Service: The service was probably the best I have ever had. I have eaten at other "five star" restaurants where the wait staff was so attentive that I felt like they had joined the dinner table with me; not so at Craig on Main, there wait staff are like ninjas. They just show up quietly and without intrusion when something is needed and then they quickly vanish without a sound. Price: For a cocktail at the bar while waiting for you table, the prix fixe with wine pairing, tax, and gratuity expect to pay $125 per person. If you love food and good service, then you will surely get what you pay for at Craig on Main. Side Note: The day I ate here, I came down with a head cold and was not in the best of moods when we went for dinner. None the less, the experience was great! Next time I'm in Boston I will be returning for sure.

    (5)

  • Todd T.

    Came here the other day with my girlfriend for the Chef's Whim. We got the 4 course option because we weren't expecting the courses to be as small as they were. First course was squid noodles which were interesting, but probably the weakest part of dinner. Next we had a sashimi, I don't remember what kind of fish it was, but it was very good. Each course was better than the next. The third course was fried clams. They were really delicious and the squid ink sauce they came with was amazing. Lastly, we had pork three ways. Each style was delicious and the sauces accompanying them were great as well. For dessert they brought us random dessert. My girlfriend got a chocolate tobacco dessert which looked really really cool and I was given an almond lemon bar dessert which didn't look too great. At first sight, I was not excited. After tasting both desserts it seemed like mine was much better! They were both very odd and a picky eater probably would not have liked either, but I thought they were both good, although the desserts at L'Espalier at much better, these were enjoyable. During the dinner I also had a couple of cocktails. First, I had the Northern Lights which was very good and although I don't like citrus much I thought they made it work very well. Second, I had the drink under the Northern Lights. I don't remember what it's called and it's not on their website, but it was made with gin. The waitress assured me you couldn't taste it, but the gin made the drink dry which I personally did not like. The drink was very cool though it had a large cube of ice with a blood orange on top of it. After dessert my girlfriend had a cappuccino which was also very tasty, but nothing incredible.

    (5)

  • Christine C.

    Hands down my favorite dining experience. Amazing food, amazing decor, wonderful service. I'd take a trip to Cambridge from NY just to eat here, it's that good.

    (5)

  • caroline e.

    New life motto #47 -- if Tony Maws cooks it, I will eat it. Here's what you need to know...go to Craigie and devour whatever they put in front of you. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Dan P.

    1st stop on my best burger in Boston tour My girlfriend and I tried this place out after hearing about "The Burger". I'd seen write up on MSN, and had multiple friends tell me about it, and we finally got to try it. Let me start with the fact that the burger blew away my expectations, and this was after I'd been told it was the "best burger you'll ever have." We arrived at the restaurante just before 5:30 on Sunday, which is when the open, and there was a line of people waiting at the door. We sat at the bar, and the bartender, Anna, was extremely nice, knowledgable and quick. We ask her multiple questions about the drink and food menus, and she responded with no hesitation. The food was great. From the bread that came out, to the burger (a perfectly medium rare), the cheese , the bacon on the burger (probably the best slice of bacon I have ever had) the french fries (crispy on the outside, perfectly seasoned and cooked) Maybe I should have waited to go to this place, since it's not really fair to compare other burgers to this one...

    (5)

  • David P.

    Definitely better than our last experience when we had the six course tasting menu. This time we decided to go the a la carte route. The fried pig tails alone are worth coming back for! We loved them so much we ordered another serving to go. So succulent, slightly crispy and savory. Nice touch of cilantro to brighten it up. NOTE: the take home order was much fattier with less meat...maybe it was ordered late into the night that they ran out of the good stuff?! The whole chicken was definitely above average. Moist chicken with slightly crispy skin...could have been crispier. But the taste was good. The bone marrow was nice. Could have used a touch more salt. The duck fat brussel sprouts were pretty good. The octopus was nice and soft but the sauce was a touch too salty. All this with a very good bottle of wine recommended by our super helpful and knowledgable server...Domaine du Gros Nore 1999 Bandol

    (3)

  • Val S.

    One word: OINK or two words: Pig Night. It was awesome, the best meal by far from start to finish and all connected by this amazing animal. Least you think it was all meat - noooo, seafood and pasta and all else but it all had some perfect porcine nods. And the wine pairing - perfect. Looking forward to next year's pig night. Oh, and by the way, I don't even bother anymore with another restaurant when I want to splurge. This place is so consistent every time.

    (5)

  • Richard B.

    Amazing food, that takes full advantage of the farm to table movement. The octopus and pork 3 ways was pitch perfect. Service was amaze-balls: the wait staff was spot on with their numerous recommendations. One downside: chef was in Uber Gordon Ramsey mode and we saw several loud and rude exchanges between line chefs and the master. Off-putting and clearly within ear range of upper dining room.

    (4)

  • Alicia H.

    This place ...transcends. It's the first time I've ever eaten somewhere where I felt that I lacked a sophisticated enough palette to enjoy the food offerings properly. For my money it's the top food experience in Boston I've had. The staff here is..mm..elegant. Even the people bussing our table knew everything about what we were eating, where it was grown, what to suggest for drinks - offered very informed suggestions when they thought we may enjoy another wine more - the whole deal. From what I understand, the menu changes daily as everything is chosen fresh that morning. The night I visited last week, one of the specials was a pigs head meant to be shared - my friends and are rather adventurous so we went for it, and while a bit daunting it ranks as the most amazing culinary experience I've ever had. If you're there - definitely order a pigs head. I've never tasted anything quite so savory and delicious. There are few dining experiences I can point to and say I will remember that night for the rest of my life, and that was definitely one of them. :)

    (5)

  • Erick N.

    My tour of Boston area restaurants continued with Craigie on Main. I had a fabulous dinner here tonight with my wife and parents; everybody had a great time and immensely enjoyed the food and service. Craigie on Main features creative, fresh upscale cuisine but in a relaxed, casual environment. Our server, Holly was fantastic and our evening began with a round of cocktails. Several of the drinks on the cocktail menu are concoctions created in house and I opted for one of these which consisted of gin, sherry, an herb, lime and an egg (Drop You Gun #2 was the name). They also feature an extensive list of French and European wines as well as a handful of beers on tap, mostly local craft beers. Craigie on Main really has a fun menu. You have the option of a chef tasting menu (two sizes of courses to choose from, six or ten, but entire table must participate) or an a la carte menu where all foods of each of the three courses are priced the same. We opted for a la carte and my father and I shared the much heralded crispy fried pig tails and the octopus. The pig tails were exciting to eat and did not taste at all what I was expecting; it had the general flavor and texture of a sweet Chinese dish with fried pork. The octopus was amazing; very tender and flavorful and well prepared; every last morsel was consumed. For my main I went with the Vermont pork three ways (as alas, I was not successful talking any of my table mates into sharing the pig face for two, despite my attempts to have Holly try and help sell this idea to one of my family members). Nevertheless I was very pleased with my dish. The pork three ways features pork confit, pork belly and a pork rib - all were good, though my only complaint was it was a bit over salted for my taste. Serving sizes for the all the courses were rather generous. Holly took great care of us all evening and while she was our principle server, they have a team approach and several other servers made sure we were always being looked after. Napkins were refolded during bathroom trips and water glasses always kept full. The pace of the meal was quite leisurely, which for us was a plus, but if you are looking for a fast dinner this might not be the best venue for you. The tables are set somewhat close together, but there are excellent acoustics and we noticed that despite a full house, it was not loud at all and was very easy to converse. The best dish of the evening was the side of bone marrow that the table shared. This dish has a striking presentation; two large pieces of split cow femur set in the center of the table served with bread; you scoop the tender marrow onto the bread and wow was it good! I was pretty tempted to pick up the stripped bone and suck out the last few bits! Do not be scared to order this dish if you have not tried marrow before; while it sounds and looks a bit intimidating if you are into more plain foods, it does not taste challenging at all, just lots of great taste, texture and flavor. All four of us settled on a different dessert. My wife went with the cheese plate (featuring three cheeses from Formaggio, each with a different accompaniment). I went with the trio of house made sorbets (the rum sorbet was my favorite). Dad had the affogato and mom went with a poached peaches with goat cheese. Each of us enjoyed the final course. When the check was delivered it came with one last tasty treat; some chocolate covered nut clusters that were also excellent. All in all an outstanding dinner and I will definitely be back (and if you are willing to share the pig face with me, message me and maybe we will go together)!

    (5)

  • Karl R.

    Absolutely fantastic. One of the best restaurants in the greater Boston area for sure. Tony Maws definitely deserves the James Beard award for best New England chef. This restaurant is wonderful for celebrating special events for 2 or grabbing their absolutely fantastic burger at the bar. If you want to sit at a table, I strongly encourage you to make a reservation early. If you want to sit at the bar, then try showing up a few minutes before opening (depending on the day). Their menu changes daily and every single ingredient comes from local farms... every, single, one. They are also big on being environmentally friendly, so they encourage deliveries of produce to the restaurant by bike, etc. Although the menu is always changing, you can count on their delicious hamburger to be available and for at least one amazing pork dish (they really love pork). Let me emphasize this hamburger: Craigie's hamburger is without question the most delicious hamburger I have ever eaten in my entire life. I recommend trying it out sometime at the bar. I've been here for the tasting menu, and it blew me away. I had the ultimate/extreme/top-of-the-line tasting menu with my fiancee and we were amazed at the beautiful flavors we experienced. I could not contain my excitement the entire night. Every plate was perfectly prepared and lived up to expectations. Even the desserts were fabulously tasty and unique, and I'm not a dessert person! A note about the tasting menu: Craigie generally does not provide wine pairings for their tasting menus, so you will need to choose the wines yourself or ask your waiter for help. This did not appear to be an issue for my fiancee who generally always has wine with her tasting menus. I haven't been to L'Esplalier or Menton yet, but Craigie definitely has beaten my experience at No. 9 Park (in case you were contemplating between the restaurants). Do your loved one a favor and take them to enjoy a tasting menu at Craigie. Also do yourself a favor and add yourself to their mailing list so you can reserve a table for special events like the Mason-Dixon Line dinner (the James Beard best chef winner for the south east region will be cooking with Tony Maws).

    (5)

  • Andrew G.

    Undoubtedly the best meal I've ever had. My dad gave my wife and I a gift certificate for our anniversary. Be warned, it was a $100 certificate and covered around half of a not-huge dinner, tip, and four or five drinks. I'm not complaining - just be prepared. We don't often dine at quite this level. They were highly accommodating of my wife: provided an EXCEPTIONAL vegetarian meal that did not feel at all like the compromise/boring veggie meal given at many upscale restaurants. Everything I had was unique and delicious. The highlight was an appetizer grilled octopus that was cooked perfectly and had a subtle and refreshing citrus flavor with no acidity. Nearly magic. The only place where I've ordered a 'designer' cocktail (I let our exceptional waiter choose after I told him what I usually drink) and didn't wish I had ordered a single malt instead. Promotion? Bonus? Proposing to a woman you just met? (Okay, that one's a little strange)... Here's a meal that truly wows. Oh, and you need not be a foodie...we asked for three or four things to be explained (even though we've both worked in upscale restaurants along the way) and were answered politely, professionally, and accurately...he didn't even use the word 'basically.'

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    OK. Very loud and busy. Not as farm to table as you would expect.

    (2)

  • Jason S.

    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.

    (4)

  • Kara H.

    Craigie on Main was delicious. I don't know if there is anything more I can add to the already raving reviews of this place. My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night at 5:30 so the place wasn't super crowded. We started with some oysters for appetizers, I got the 3-way Pork and my boyfriend got the Ribeye for dinner. Everything was fresh/tender and amazingly good. I usually dislike drinking alcohol, but I loved the Savannah cocktail they made. The service was prompt and incredibly attentive, the chef came out at the end to chat briefly with us about what we liked/disliked. A very wonderful evening before the BSO concert. Of course you pay for the good food/service. I think it is a little pricey, our bill came out to be $120 before tip. So it is something to indulge in infrequently. I think they have a Chef's Whim on Sunday night that is a pretty good deal though.

    (4)

  • Monica R.

    My labmate James and I went on a whim on the snow day here in Boston. The scene was busy, but still very intimate. We arrived around 6 and were the first table seated, and didn't feel rushed at all even though we enjoyed our meal over 3 hours. We decided to have a pig fiesta. Appetizers: pig's tail and rye fusilli with pig confit ragout, entree: the pig's head for two and desserts: valrhona chocolate cremaux and the creme caramel. Drinks: Northern Lights, Orchard Mule, Plainfield Swing and the Martinez. The pig's tail and the pig's head were amazing: confit done perfectly, crispy skin, succulent flesh, and yes, fatty, but overall very enjoyable. I agree with the other reviews that an acid would have helped cut the richness of the pig's head, but even without it was a great dish. In our ignorance, we expected the pig's tails to be the cartoon-style curlicues but instead it was more like oxtail - fatty tender meat on the bone. The drinks were also fantastic, intriguing flavor combinations that didn't overwhelm any of the food. The desserts left a bit to be desired - great textures, but the anise of the Chartreuse in the chocolate was a bit overwhelming and the creme caramel was tasty but not something to write home about. The service was a definite highlight: our server was very charming and knowledgeable, and steered me away from drink selections that wouldn't pair well with the food being served.

    (5)

  • Daniel J.

    Did a 6 course chef's whim for restaurant week. Very impressed with the cocktails and desserts. Service was impeccable and the kitchen is frenetic, completely controlled, and very fun to watch. Squid noodles & fish sauce 5 stars, yellow tail sashimi 4 stars (delicious), Grouper & beets 3 stars, Duck Egg 3 stars (lentils were delicious, dish overal sorely needed acid though), Chicken 4 stars (awesome), 5 different desserts each of which were spectacular. Several dishes lacked acid in some components that screamed for it. Overall I had a great time, given the price and the small missteps I might suggest cocktails and dessert at the bar rather than a tasting menu though.

    (4)

  • Seth B.

    My sister, friend and I went here last night. All our first time. We all started with a cocktail. I had a twist on a Manhattan which was quite good. Small bites came out first, my was some sort duck with a tart veggie base under it. Absolutely divine. 1st course came next, I had the sashimi salad with watermelon. This was bright, fresh and delicious. My sister had the grilled octopus and my friend the winter point oysters. They enjoyed them a lot. Next we picked out a really good bottle of Sancerre 'L'Autentique' which was a really amazing sauvignon blanc. After the wine came out our server (who was helpful and knowledgeable) suggested a few sides that weren't on the menu. We went with the bone marrow that came with a nice toast and sea salt. I have to say this was my first time and it was one of the more savory delicious things I've had in some time! Main Course was the pork belly wrapped swordfish. I'm normally hesitant getting fish in most restaurants but this was cooked just right. Closed out the dinner with a raspberry chocolate dessert that was quite good. Expect to spend a hundred plus for the full experience but it comes with a smartly done dinner with exceptional service. Note: After ordering the marrow and enjoying with no tact or discretion (I joked of gnawing at the bone itself), three of the surrounding tables ordered it in turn! Well worth a visit.

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    Only one word can properly describe Craigie: HEAVEN. It's that good. This was, simply put, the best dining experience of my life. The waitstaff was excellent - very attentive while also managing not to disrupt your conversation or overall experience. They also managed to be very funny and upbeat. The food was amazingly delicious. What was my favorite of the tasting menu? The venison was sublime and left me speechless. The apple cider foam was addicting (excuse me, can I get mass amounts of this delivered to my apartment on a daily basis?) and the fish courses were exceptional. The drinks (and bartenders) are also amazing. You can get an excellent craft cocktail here or choose a wine from an varied selection. The waiters are helpful and spot on with giving recommendations. This place is definitely deserving of all the praise it gets (and maybe even some additional praise) - it's a wonderful experience. I can't wait to go back! This is truly how fine (yet casual) dining should be.

    (5)

  • Andrea S.

    We went back here for dinner, so I'm going to update this post--it was a much better experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the food: oysters, lobster/artichoke soup (type thing), bass and pork three ways. The service was attentive (our waitress, Ann, was helpful.) Overall, the ambiance was fine--nothing special, and there were several empty seats, which surprised us. The #1 issue with Craigie on Maine is that it is very expensive. We had a $150 gift certificate, and still paid $80. With all of the excellent restaurants in the area, it's simply hard to justify spending over $100 per person--on a dinner that isn't life changing. That said, it's high quality so I'm going to up this from one star to three. *************** I was extremely disappointed. We had a 1:30pm reservation on Sunday for 5 people and I tried calling ahead to squeeze in a 6th person - but no one picked up - and when we came for our reservation, the staff freaked out at me that we'd dare bring another person. They claimed they didn't have a spare chair in the entire place...we went to the bar, got some (JUST OK) bloody maries and bided our time until the table -- which was perfectly fine for 6 people -- was ready. I think they realized that they overreacted when the restaurant basically emptied out after 20 minutes. The kicker was that they ran out of the burger, sausage and one of the only three savory dishes on the very short brunch menu. Maybe dinner is better here, but brunch sucked. The waitress was rude...and the food was pretty mediocre. The bill high. Not impressed!!

    (3)

  • Brian D.

    You know how women like a man with confidence? Not cocky, just strong and confident? That's sort of the way I felt Craigie on Main was treating us as restaurant-goers. They led me and my girlfriend in and said "Just get comfortable, and let us take care of you." Honestly, if the restaurant had a voice it would sound like Barry White. The treatment began when we first walked in about 10 minutes early. They took our coats and led us to an open spot on the ramp down to the bar. They gave us a drink menu and poured us glasses of water. And that summed up the entire evening. Now, I know this seems like a little thing, but it was a fascinating piece of service psychology. Instead of "go to the bar and wait" it was "you're our guest from minute one, and we're going to look after you." Honestly, we didn't even really need glasses of water, they were just establishing that space for us and nobody else. Even if we didn't have a table yet, it was: "Right now, this is where you belong." Our choices in drinks were complimented. Later, our choices in food were complimented. Our waitress seemed the entire time to be assessing our level of food knowledge, without judging it. When things arrived they were explained, but only lightly. With our appetizer plate of pates she listed what everything was but didn't say "this is x, which is y made with z." Again, they have a lot of confidence. "We know you wouldn't be here with us if you didn't know what we were talking about." But never cocky. Never "you're lucky to be eating here." I should mention the food. The pates were excellent, great mustard, great selection of sauces, lots of toast points. My Chicken stuffed with Chicken sausage was expertly cooked and delicious. They offered a side dish of marrow, which I'd never tried before and jumped at. It was a huge beef bone split length wise and grilled, and when I asked what kind of bone it was (one of those questions that sounds incredibly stupid the instant it leaves your mouth), our waitress treated it seriously enough to actually go back to the kitchen and ask. Turned out it was a femur. Obviously, this is a five star restaurant with very good food and impeccable service. But when I was done with the meal and getting ready to leave, I found myself comparing this great place to others I love in the city. If you'll indulge the "seduction" analogy I started earlier, I think I can classify it this way: Craigie on Main is a one night stand. It's an amazing night you never forget, but it isn't a "form a loving partnership that lasts for years" kind of place. No matter how many times I go back, this place is too well-done, too indulgent to ever think of as "MY place." But for that one night, it will make you, as a diner, feel special, loved and respected all at once. Now THAT is a smooth talking restaurant.

    (5)

  • Cecilia L.

    I've been to Craigie probably ten times now, and it's just a place that makes you feel comfortable and happy to be there. Tony Maws says he's a T-shirt and jeans guy who likes champagne and caviar, and it shows in his restaurant. When Craigie first moved to its Main St. location, my husband and a bunch of coworkers called them up on a Tuesday and said, "We have no reservation and we're not dressed nice." Craigie: "Come on over." You can propose to your girl/boyfriend or just drop in for a snack here, and it's not unusual for Chef Maws to bring the meal to your table himself. There's several ways to eat here, depending on what you're after. You can do an eight-course ($118) or six-course tasting menu ($98) or a three-course a la carte ($68). You can sit at the bar and order a few snacks, or Craigie's famous burger, a bargain IMO at $18. Every night I've been there, they've offered sides of duck fat brussels or bone marrow for $10. Or you could eat my favorite way with the four-course, $45 chef's whim, offered on Sundays after 9 and made of whatever Maws feels like cooking (well, and needs to use up). The wines, beers and cocktails are consistently excellent. The menu changes but the emphasize is always on sustainable, local sourcing and French influences, with Maws's Jewish roots coming through now and then. Some of my favorites have been the charcuterie, the grilled Spanish octopus, the house-cured fishes, the orange blossom beignets, of course that burger, and, on one whim night, crispy Chinese duck necks. The last thing to say is that Craigie is an amazing supporter of the neighborhood, staying open to feed us when weather closes every other place. It sure is nice to come in from a blizzard to a Valrhona hot chocolate or rum punch.

    (5)

  • Mick A.

    We started with high expectations and we left with those same expectations embedded - nearly. It was a fine experience although for what we paid it nearly had to be perfect. We sat at the counter overlooking the kitchen and had the privilege of watching an integrated team at work. We were attentively looked after - the balance was good without being overbearing however there was a moment of real surprise after we had both choosen the eight course degustation. The server then offered further dishes not on the "ultimate" experience! Once over this the following hour and half was real enjoyment of an array of wonderful dishes. We varied the degust menu by substituting the Pigs Head in - our idea. We were encouraged to do this by the serving person and it was a great decision. We also added a side of mushrooms too.....delightful. The pasta with it's subtle flavours and the soup with crustation were the other highlights......along the way we enjoyed a complimentary cocktail. The wine list is excellent and the French Cotes du Vivarais Syrah that we enjoyed balanced subtly with the dishes. This dining experience is expensive however you pay for what you get. It was a dining pleasure and worth the money in nearly ever sense.Four stars, well for the spend it was not quite perfect................

    (4)

  • Jannelle R.

    Simply Amazing! I went recently for my anniversary and had the tasting journey and wine pairing. Everything was delicious, but the slow-cooked salmon was the best item they served. Fully cooked and super tender. I have even tried to replicate the experience at home. You can duplicate with any salmon recipe. Slow-cook room temperature Salmon at 200F for 20 to 30 minutes (You can't over cook it).

    (5)

  • Cathy S.

    Second time at Craigie, this time for its brunch. And my research showed that brunch at Craigie means two things: the house made doughnut and the burger! Now the judgement: The doughnut: simply the BEST i have ever had. I am constantly overwhelmed by how much sugar Americans tend to put into their pastry, but this doughnut has just the right amount of sweetness. Even better than those asian cakes! The camel sauce compliments the bun so well, and the texture inside is close to a cornbread. Very very nice. You have to try it. The burger: I am not sure if the brunch burger is the same one that everyone is raving about, since i have the feeling that most people (at least from previous reviews) got their burgers during night when eat at the bar, however the burger is a really popular order on brunch menu. It is a beautiful, beautiful burger with soft,fresh house-made buns, AMAZINGLY delectable potato wedges (the wedges are to die for) and some greens (mainly lettuce but the dressing is kind of weird), but the patty is way too dry for my taste. I was expecting something really juicy and tender, like those patties in Shake Shack's burger, especially when i heard that they mix bone marrow with the meat. Maybe it's because i asked for medium well not medium rare, or maybe it's simply because they use grass-fed beef, which we all know lacks some juiciness compared to corn-fed beef. When they came over to check upon me (i think it's the manager), i mentioned this to him and he apologized instantly and offered to make me a new one (talk about service!). Since i was already half-way done with the burger and really full (it is a big burger), i told him not to go through this trouble since it is still a pretty good burger. Later they told me the burger is on the house. Major plus. I even felt a little embarrassed about this.: )

    (5)

  • Cassie B.

    Went here for a birthday dinner with family. Opted to do the whole shebang tasting menu. I will say that the majority of the food was absolutely creative, delicious, well prepared, and thoughtful. However, great food isn't the only part of a great meal. Here is where i deduct fractions of a star from Craigie: We were never offered cocktail menus, and i was insaaaanely jealous of the awesome looking cocktails that went out to tables around us. Yeah the two bottles of wine we had were great, but i love pre-wine cocktails, and i was not facillitated in getting one. Despite discussing meat and meat free amuse bouches, we were never brought one at all. Which was disappointing. The side of the evening was roasted bone marrow, we jumped all over that. Unfortunately, waiting with quite bated breath, it never came. I was deprived of my meat jelly experience! There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth over this. Also, it doesn't effect the rating negatively, but i was confused why the first 4 courses of an 8 course menu were all fish. Seemed very fish heavy, but it is summer i suppose. Positives: staff was pleasant and informative, nice wine list, the assortment of desserts for our final course was really nice, we all got to try different things and share around. Nice to see an open kitchen, and how focused their team is. I was fascinated by the pull down food heaters at their expo station. We were all pleasantly surprised when Tony Maws came out to say hello. Ah! Final point of contention: The chairs Craigie supplies for you to sit on, for a 3 hours multi-course tasting menu are torturous. No amount of adjusting, squirming, or talking walks between courses could bring a semblance of comfy feeling to my bum. Dead leg by the end of the meal is not pleasant. Overall though, i really did enjoy the dining experience!

    (4)

  • James A.

    Well, finally got a chance to try Craigie last night, after hearing so much about it. We did the Ultimate Craigie experience which was the 8 course tasting menu. Having tried a lot of what the restaurant is about, I will say this: for the price, it's a solid 4 stars. The food ranged from very good to a-maz-ing. The starting hor d'ourves were good (plate of three tastes) but one stood out - the chilli squid roots? I think that's what they were. Whatever it was it was one mouthful of out of this world. Then, later, the homemade pasta with ham and crab - wow-o. Unbelievable. Everything else came in after this in terms of impressiveness, though the pigs head stood out for the experience as much as the taste. The service was friendly and attentive. The people working there are all pretty relaxed which I personally liked. It's fine dining, but it's not too formal. Also in the positive column, there were a couple of complimentary things sent out way during the evening. Thanks guys! So given all this, why not 5? For the price we paid - for two people, we dropped $400 with a bottle of wine - you have to manage to make everything AMAZING, not just a good part of it. I didn't think it was at that standard. None of the dishes were bad - don't get me wrong - it's just they all weren't 5 stars. But the thing that got me the most was this, however: after selecting the "ultimate craigie experience" of 8 courses, the first words out of our waiter's mouth were "would you like to get the beef bone marrow as well? how about the mushrooms?". I didn't quite know what to say to that. We had just opted for an 8 course tasting menu - the "ultimate experience" - and now you're trying to upsell us? Clearly, it's not ultimate enough. Craigie: if you're going to put something like this on your menu, please put your best foot forward. We should not be asked if we want other things because they're "so good tonight" - they should simply be included. This extends to the pig's head pancakes, which again, we had to pay extra for. That is clearly part of the zeitgeist surrounding your restaurant, so include it in the ultimate tasting menu. If you have to increase the price, fine, but the way you're doing it at the moment feels like I'm being upsold at a cheap and less reputable institution. In summary: it's good, but not good enough for the perfect 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Erin W.

    Went on Saturday night for a friend's birthday dinner-cozy, inviting, (busy!) atmosphere......love the open kitchen! The pig's tails appetizer were deliciously flavored, crunchy and tender and the octupus was delish as well. Unfortunately, they were out of the hamburger by our reservation time-my husband was bummed out, so he opted for the ribeye-quite tender and tasty, although I wasn't overly fond of the marinade-a little too sweet for my taste. My entree, cod, was way fresh and very enjoyable. The duck fat brussel sprouts were YUMMY! Our desserts were ok, but not fabulous. Our service, too, was just ok-friendly and pleasant, but not as effecient as I anticipated. Our experience was enjoyable, but disappointingly not what I expected after reading all the excellent reviews. I would suggest going on a week night when it might not be as busy.

    (3)

  • Jeff C.

    Let me start off by saying that I NEVER write reviews for restaurants. But I NEED to write one now. SO i just ate at Craigie tonight. I made reservations 4 months in advance for Valentine's Day weekend. This restaurant is rated as one of the BEST in the nation so I HAD to go of course. Never expected the restaurant to be located next to city projects but dont judge a book by its cover. So we walk in...great service and ambience. Our waiter was super nice at first and explained the eclectic menu well. I ordered the famous fried pig-tails...BIG MISTAKE, recommended by the waiter. Although I will say that my boyfriend's roommate that i will admit is older and wiser (as much as i hate to admit this) did tell me that I may deserve this as to eat anything that grows so close to a pigs but... is stupid. "It's a fracking pig's tail... here let me draw you a picture... here is the but hole, and here is what you ate at the fanciest restaurant in the country..." some lessons must be learned and can't be taught.... (don't get the pig's tail.... ) you are an idiot. Sincerely, the 38 year old roommate that took over writing this. I'm sure it's great... if you don't order fracking appendages of pigs. ANYWAYS! Back to me! So my boyfriend got the butternut squash soup which was fantastic. Dishes taken and soon the entrees arrived. I ordered the Halibut doused in some sort of cream sauce....BIG MISTAKE, also recommended by the waiter. And my boyfriend got the sirloin which was cooked to perfection! YUMMM. Honestly, my biggest complaint about the restaurant was the lack of attentiveness of the waiter after our appetizers were removed. He DID NOT once ask us how our entrees were. He DID NOT explain the dessert menu to us. He DID however conveniently show up at the end when we were about to give the tip and asked how the food was. I said it was "okay", he of course was taken aback. He did try to make the experience better by giving us cheap rose flavored marshmallows and sesame macaroons. Conclusion: Overrated and expensive (185 dollars for the two of us), One time deal.

    (2)

  • Sean K.

    After reading all the glowing reviews I finally had the chance to dine at Craigie on Main. Trying to reserve a table for two few days before, we ended up getting a table for 10:30pm on a Friday night and we sampled the 6 course tasting menu with the bone marrow plate as an add on. Overall it was on par with what I expected from the reviews on Yelp. Staff was very friendly and the meal was presented with a nice flow without the long wait or rush in between dishes. I would have to say the apple/celery sorbet was quite unique. Nothing screamed out of this world good but all the dishes were creative blend of flavors that worked well together.

    (4)

  • Steven D.

    Good reviews are boring, so I shall try to keep this brief; Wonderful, expensive but worth it (if you can afford it) and classy (writes a European).

    (5)

  • Mike I.

    This really is a 5 star establishment. I was introduced to Craigie (when it was still on Craigie St) by my former roommate who used to be a server there. Since that first amazing experience, I've been back for a birthday meal with my parents, a birthday dinner with my girlfriend, a Chef's whim experience with roommates, and most recently, brunch yesterday. Each of these meals has been nothing short of incredible, and all shared the extreme satisfaction with the food, top notch service, and leaving the restaurant knowing that the money spent (while expensive) was well worth it. Dinner is a meal that is always awesome at Craigie. It's definitely the least economical offering they have, but you need to eat right? Ranging from a la carte meals to a prix fixe and a tasting menu, the choices really depend on how hungry you are and how much you care to spend. Obviously, the more food you get, the happier you are going to be, because all of the parts of the meal are executed incredibly well, each course is better than the next. The Chef's Whim menu (I think it's just on Sunday nights at this point) is an awesome way to taste really good food at a more affordable price for a prix fixe. You don't know what you're going to get for your three courses, you just know that it's going to be awesome. The only thing the server asks when you order the Chef's Whim is if you have any allergies, other than that the meal consists of whatever the Chef wants to make. It can involve parts of animals you wouldn't otherwise try, which makes it a delicious, adventurous event! Brunch yesterday was awesome. The coffee was flowing - delicious and strong. The bloody mary was spice well with fresh horseradish. I got the hash - made from beef cheek and beef tongue with a poached farm fresh egg. Just incredible. My girlfriend decided she was more in the mood for lunch and went with the burger. What can you say about a burger that amazing? I can't really put it into words, other than saying it was amazing! Check out Boston Burger Blog's Rich C,'s review for a better description than I can give the burger justice ( yelp.com/biz/craigie-on-… ). The best advice I can give about Craigie on Main is to make a reservation, and go hungry!

    (5)

  • Deb L.

    We went for Sunday brunch to have the cheeseburgers that everyone talks about. They lived up the hype and endsome. Although it might sound strange if you haven't had it before, but the fried egg on top takes your taste buds to another level. Also tried the donut which was amazing too. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Linda R.

    Living in a small beach town we look for superior dining experiences when we travel and Craigie on Main had the creds. We were able to reserve a table for 4 in the bar and arrived early for our 8:30 reservation. We of course had to wait and we were all so grateful to be shown a place to stand and be out of the way while we waited. We were served drinks and proceeded to get caught up with our friends. As 8:30 came and went we didn't fret, it's busy on a Friday evening, the apologies came from both our bar server and the hostess, finally we were seated at 9, really no problem. We were promptly given menus and chose a bottle of wine. The marble chiller was placed on the table, the amuse bouche was served and then we sat and sat and sat when finally our bar server caught my husbands eye and saw the situation, he got our waitress and she finally came over to bring the bottle we had ordered, opened the wine and took our orders,each of us getting the 3 course prix fixe. The first course came out in a reasonable time, my husband had the sashimi, very good. I had the Spanish octopus...ehh. And our friends had a beautiful chick pea soup, delicious. Next our entrees, slow cooked salmon with crab, the best entree by far. I struck out with the pork 3 ways. The ribs were salty and though pork belly is always yummy, I've had better. Our friends had a steak, well cooked yet not really great he didn't enjoy it, the double stuffed chicken was espoused to be just delicious. Yeah, then we had that little problem again...we were out of wine, and our dirty dishes sat on the table for a very very long time. My husband was finally able to flag down the waitress and actually had to ask to have them removed. We all had our final course and all the desserts were delicious. Home made sorbets, almond tart all so good. Again we sat and sat. Finally we got a hold of the waitress and told her we needed to leave soon because I had to work early the next morning. Got our bill...wow...and we waited and waited for her to come back. When she came, we again said we had to leave and asked about getting our coats. She said she'd take the tickets and have them out front for us...needless to say they were not there. She 'forgot'. I must say that at that point in the night, 12:20AM (yes, 3 hours and 20 minutes later) our bar server was at the front desk, he immediately saw what was going on and got our coats for us. We didn't complain but the mood was glum and he realized the situation, I would have loved to hear the conversation that ensued after we left. I've never eaten in a restaurant of this caliber and had such poor service. I don't want that stuffy white glove clang of the cloche, just a friendly comfortable and yes attentive person bringing these delights. I'm sorry but you should never have to call the wait staff to your table in this type of restaurant, it really ruins the experience and as I read my review I admit that it sours the taste of the food! I really wanted to have a great meal, we were all so looking forward to it but the next time I go out in Boston and spend that kind of money I'll go to 9 Park. The food and the service there is impeccable, Craigie on Main could learn a lot from the team at 9 Park.

    (2)

  • Kate F.

    One of THE BEST dinners we've experienced. Rivals Eleven Madison Park in creativity and is (at least i think) in a more comfortable space ... who needs to feel stuffy when eating?! Loved doing the 6 course tasting that we helped build with the chef. Everything was incredible, but the squid noodles were off the chart. It will be a splurge, but its SO worth it. Boys, take your lady (or guy) here for your next special occasion.

    (5)

  • Kalun L.

    There really isn't much more that I can say about this place that the 329 previous reviews hasn't already touched on. The service is warm and inviting, as is the decor. A meal there is expensive, but the food is well worth the price. Craigie is one of the better dining experiences I've ever had (and I've been fortunate to have a lot). The only thing I want to emphasize is how amazing the slow-roasted pig's head is. The dish serves two, so you have to find someone who's not just willing, but excited to eat it with you. Let me digress for a bit. I used to think that the only people I didn't want to eat with are picky-eaters and vegans. I have discovered through bitter experience that half-hearted adventurous eaters are even worse because they pretend to be open to new experiences and then half-ass it. So, a typical meal goes something like this: Me: "So what do you think about [interesting house specialty] on the menu?" Half-Ass: "Looks great!" Me: "Are you sure? Get whatever you want. I'm just being a food nerd." Half-Ass: "Nope, I'm willing to try anything once (I'm soooo adventurous, la-di-da), get the [interesting house specialty]." (food arrives ...) Half-Ass takes the barest of nibbles: "That's disgusting!" Me: "I'm sorry, why don't you get something else?" Half-Ass: "No, I'm fine." (proceeds to tell me during the rest of my meal how disgusting she thinks the food is). (days later, in a conversation with other people ...) Half-Ass: "Kalun L. and I ate this [interesting house specialty]. Have you ever tried it? You really should (I'm soooo adventurous, la-di-da)" ANYWAY, I was fortunate that my dining companion last night tackled the pig's head with the same gusto that I did. The dish is amazing, smoky, sweet, rich, with crispy skin like a Peking duck, served on house-made mu-shu pancakes with hoisin sauce and a vegetable sambal. It's also fun to eat. Here's the take-away: The service and decor at Craigie is great. Get the roast pig's head, but only if you're likely to appreciate it, otherwise, it's a waste. Don't get the pig's head if you can't eat something with a face. Oh my God, the pig's head ...

    (5)

  • H T.

    i had heard great things about this place. seriouseats.com also did a spread on craigie a while back when one of the editors was going vegan for a month. since my husband is veg, i thought it would be a great place to try. he got a veg prix fixe, and i ordered a la carte. i got the hamachi app, which was delicious, and a white fish for dinner. i can't even pronounce the fish i tried, nor can i remember it, but it was tasty. we shared a creme caramel for dessert. food was good but nothing blew me away. ambience was great tho, and there was definitely a buzz in the place.

    (4)

  • Jessica E.

    Craigie is very expensive, but it's totally worth saving up for a special occasion. I loved the service and the ambiance - it was relaxing and calming and the staff were very friendly and down to earth (I love that they wear jeans). We had the six course tasting menu, and it was paced very well. Although I didn't personally love the first three dishes (although the person I dined with thought they were superb), I still give it five stars based on the overall experience, the quality of the entree and dessert (phenomenal!) and the wonderful wine advice from our waiter (he suggested a surprisingly affordable wine that went with everything very well). Sure I winced a little at the price tag, but I can't wait to go back. :)

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    Wonderful dinner tonight. Our first time at your wonderful establishment but certainly not her last. Caitlyn was our server, but we also got to talk to Karin, Kim, Ari and quite a few others. Terrific experience. Great food. We'll happily be back.

    (5)

  • Caro M.

    Consider my mind..... blown. Like Paula Dean always says, "Mmmmm...mm.mmMm.MMMM." "Mmmm." 10 Course tasting menu. 'Nuff said. Craigie on Main will change your life.

    (5)

  • Anastasia R.

    If there is an afterlife, I hope it's a bar. I specifically hope it's this bar, and I say this because I think that the cocktails are actually crafted by god. I was tipsy from just one Mezcal drink called the Loose Translation. For my second drink I asked for another Mezcal creation, but didn't want anything from the cocktail list. I let our waiter know I didn't want anything too sweet, and the barkeep sent over an Indian Summer: Mezcal, Green Cardamom, Homemade Pineapple Syrup, Pimms, and a twist of lime. There are not words for the level of satisfaction I experienced sipping this masterful concoction, so I won't even bother. My date and I attended this Sunday's Chef's Whim and had the 6 course tasting menu. From Cod Balls to Sweetbread to some crazy banana custard, everything was phenomenal. (Sweetbread is not brains as it turns out, but the thalamus gland. Of what I'm not sure but I think it was veal, and at any rate I still feel like less of a zombie...) Basically sh!t I would never have ordered off of a menu no matter how good the restaurant was supposed to be. I ate all of it. It took me 2.5 hours or so, but it was worth every bite, and every minute. The waiters were actually so good, I'm surprised the bill didn't come with an optional happy ending. They were precise, knowledgeable, courteous, friendly, and their execution was so impeccable, I would have eaten sweetbread if they put it in front of me. Wait, I did. Yay for culinary adventuring! (But I think that the cocktails were actually better than the food which was pretty top notch.) We are going back for the Bartender's tasting menu as soon as we recover. I can't wait to see the bar menu! In my opinion, this is the best restaurant in Boston. Thank you all for making my evening flawless.

    (5)

  • Fred H.

    The service was lacking but the food was good.

    (4)

  • Ali W.

    I dined at Craigie on Saturday night with my grandparents (yes, it seemed the most affordable route). Everyone I have spoken to had nothing but praise for the establishment and I truly looked forward to trying it out. Overall I have no complaints. I was aware going in that this was a very expensive restaurant so I wasn't super shocked by $18.00 apps and $37.00 entrees. We ended up getting a last minute reservation in the lounge. It was fine, I've enjoyed better lounge type dining but I don't think I've had better lounge service. From the moment we walked in the door we were greeted by extremely friendly waitstaff, our coats were taken for us, and our table was ready immediately. Our server was very friendly and helpful yet not overbearing and she dealt with my grandparents well who can be a bit old-fashioned. The oysters I ordered were delicious. I was hesitant at first because they were described as coming with a candied lemon topping, which threw me, but they really pulled it off. The wine I had was also very good but for $12.00 per glass they were a little on the smaller side. All of our entrees were wonderful and cooked perfectly. This is the kind of place you might want to go if you have the extra cash and you really want to impress your first date, but I would say, call in advance and try to get a seat in the dining area. As good as this experience was, I probably can't afford to go back except possibly for a drink and I'm okay with that.

    (3)

  • Julia F.

    How's the food? Julia F: I couldn't tell you. Didn't get any. The plan was to eat dessert there and have a few drinks.. Why's that? Julia F: I couldn't be seated. Who told you that? Julia F: The woman at the front door. Gotta tell you, I was less than impressed with the presentation, and the communication was less than desirable. What did you do next? Julia F: We waited "first in line" as some sort of fire hazard, lined up making the ramp connecting the bar area and the kitchen impassable. Did you find this upsetting? Julia F: Greatly. We weren't told upon arrival that only people who had reservations for dinner (at 10pm?) were the only ones who could sit at the tables (of which there were two available upon our arrival...) had we known that, we may have made an informed decision to stand in the way of the second means of egress, or leave. What did you end up buying? Julia F: Two caipirinhas, which we had to ask for simple syrup to doctor the oppressive lime taste out of, shortly after we received them. Not only had we JUST left a bar that made them PERFECTLY, but these specific drinks took an AGE and a half to get to our hot little hands... Anything that you did or didn't like that you'd like to add to this? Julia F: The space is nice. I really like what they've done with it. The open kitchen is a nice concept, I wish the bar was larger, or the seating area around the bar were broken up a little bit so that while you waited to be seated you didn't feel like a loitering bum on a handicap ramp. The service needs to step it up a little bit with the communication with patrons. There were two ladies, neither of them told us why there would be people seated before we were, until we stopped one of them and asked. I may come back, if I can get myself to a table - but it's fairly to very unlikely. I SO wanted to be wowed, but in a very different way.

    (2)

  • Adam B.

    In Short: A restaurant with great aspirations to cuisine, but which falls short by relying on ingredients with no real thought to composition and flavor harmonies. Unremarkable waitstaff and an ungenerous kitchen. My Girlfriend and I decided to celebrate a year and a half together with a dinner at Craigie on Main. We had the 10 course tasting menu. I don't usually do this, but I want to throw in the disclaimer that I am comparing this experience to Eleven Madison Park, which may just be unfair. I will not go into the individual dishes, both because that would be extremely long and the dishes are constantly rotating, so there is no guarantee you would ever get any of them again. The first thing that I noticed is that there was a MASSIVE variety in the sizes of the plates. The first three were absolutely tiny (think about 4sq") and I found myself gorging on bread so that I wouldn't have to try and find late-night food in Somerville. Then came dish four which was the cheek of some massive fish (were talking a meal of meat on its own). By the end I was so full that I found myself merely tasting the dish because I simply couldn't eat anymore. The dishes themselves were obviously made from very high quality ingredients. That seems to be this place's shtick. The scallop sashimi was divine and had a hint of the vinigeriness of ceviche. Yet none of them transcendent the sum of its parts to create a greater whole. The fish cheek was overpowered by a chili-oil sauce. The first course, a collection of three amuse bouche each was a bit interesting, but they didn't play off of each other in a way that would explain why they were served as a single dish. The wait staff was casual, but not unpleasantly so. I, however, am used to giving my tastes at the beginning of a chef's tasting menu and I am used to having the kitchen at least consider them. For example, I love lamb and all lamb related products, and when I told my waitress this, her face read "So? Then you should have ordered lamb." Now maybe that is more of an issue of restaurant policy than my waitress and maybe I am being unfair. I also told her I loved bone marrow. However, rather than having bone marrow as a course, it was brought out as $20 10th course (wedged between 6 and 7) and was served so late in the night that I had trouble really appreciating the texture and flavor because of how full I had become. A quick note on the deserts. One was simply a slice of the a la carte cake and the other was a thimbleful of hot chocolate. Neither was great and both were frankly disappointing. Now maybe this seems harsh, but I think that if you are going to offer a $115 10 course chef's tasting menu, there better be some good thought going into it and you better come out of it feeling like a king. It didn't and I didn't.

    (3)

  • Mark H.

    Loved it!!! The food is adventurous and perfectly executed. Desserts need some work. The service impeccable.

    (5)

  • Clare D.

    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).

    (5)

  • Aaron M.

    Craiggie on main. Such potential, such a great reputation. Was I expecting too much?? Probably. I love their whole genre; local, nose to tail, a true respect for food. Perhaps a chefs dream of a restaurant. My brother in law suggested we go, he owns 2 of the best restaurants in his area and has been recognized as one of the best chefs in New England. I have to tell you this man has true talent! Not to play my own horn but I have been a chef for 30 years and have been teaching culinary arts for ten. I reluctantly say that yelp has never been the end all! The soap box that so many use to just give themselves a forum is usually self serving, how ever I do use it to discover new places, and trust it with a bit of reservation. Now on to my first review on yelp. Over 700 reviews of craggie on main. I do believe they are mostly positive and I hope deservedly so! Unfortunately my experience was not as fortunate as those who have posted before me. My experience should not reflect the astounding bill but only express the the service and food. Our waiter and his back waiter were terrific! We were taken on a journey of exploration and perfection! So yea we were set up for a lot! The first of of our 6 course tasting menu were absolutely fantastic. The amuse bouche hit it perfectly with our " bubbles". The sturgeon with pickeetoe crab risotto was to die for! Well my wife says not so. Then um well it kind of fell to pieces. We were sort of on an island where bread an butter were our dinner. Then came the venison two ways. One was seared but actually raw, kind of like really great bluefin tuna at a sushi bar but man that's just wrong, raw veni? The other way had a beautiful name but was supposed to be like a tureen or a pate or just a piece of sausage. Whoops! Got that totally wrong. Sawdust meatball is the way I describe it! Then one of the dessert courses...we left with one of the bitterest/saltiest nastiest mouthfuls ever! Kind of a bad finish. Oh wait, the bill was $298 dollars! Really? A bad finish! How do you possibly think you can get away with that? Tell you what, change your skewed sense of value and culinary respect! I do appreciate your "concern" for my comments after dinner because I was honest (I never complain) but what you really need to do is stop riding your reputation and get back to business.

    (3)

  • Taryn M.

    My husband and I went to Craigie on Main to celebrate our first anniversary and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. It is a great restaurant that really knows how to take care of their diners. For starters it felt like we were being served by every worker in the restaurant. At one point Chef Tony Maws came out himself to present the last of our 6 course meal. Both Jon and I thought that the staff and service were top notch. Now for the food. Everything we had was super delicious. I don't know if it's too helpful describing what we ate since their menu changes all the time based on what's in season. However I will say that they sure know how to cook and appreciate pork. Also, the 6 course tasting menu was a perfect choice for us since it was our first time there. It was a good mix of dishes on their menu and those made special by the chef. If it is your first time there or if you are just being indecisive, I highly recommend it. What sealed the deal for us was the complimentary dessert we got to help us celebrate our anniversary. It was a thoughtful, classy touch that left us completely satisfied and feeling all warm and fuzzy.

    (5)

  • Tamarleigh G.

    A friend visiting from the west coast took me here for a full tasting menu. Because I don't eat meat, but I do eat fish, dairy, and eggs, the chef accommodated my particular diet and made me a custom version of the tasting menu. The wine pairings were excellent, the service was exquisite, and the cocktails were simply divine and very creative. The food itself was very impressive and delicious. I would eat here again in a heartbeat, and wish I could afford to eat here regularly. Will have to wait for some very special occasion to justify the high prices, but in my experience, if you have the money to eat here, it's worth it. A memorable experience.

    (5)

  • Mary C.

    I've been here a handful of times for both brunch and dinner. And the food is always prepared and plated very nicely and tastes even better. When i eat out i usually like to get what I already know is good. And their pork trio (or pork 3 ways... i'm not sure what they call it anymore) is always my main course. This one day however I was already pretty full and left half my dish uneatten. And the meal itself isn't terribly large, so our server must have taken notice that I didn't finish my meal. The manager came over specifically to ask us how our evening went and asked me if there was anything I didn't like about my dish because I didn't finish it and if there was something else she could offer me in replacement. That one small gesture made me realize DAMN THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!

    (5)

  • Katherine T.

    Over priced, tiny servings, slow service, over wrought food that is surprisingly forgettable and the bizarre flock of servers rotating among themselves leaving you wondering if anyone is really serving you makes this place a sad disappointment. Their sense of grandeur is laughable as if we are the "blessed" to have been allowed to graze at the precious COM tables. Their supposed love of food just does not come through. A disappointing miss.

    (1)

  • Kelsey A.

    I went to Craigie almost a month ago, on June 29th (My amazing boyfriend, Sahil G., took me there for my 21st birthday -- read his review too!). It's clearly taken me awhile to write this review, but the thing is, I can still taste the food. The flavors of all the amazing things I ate at Craigie are permanently imprinted in my mind and my mouth. Hands down, my meal at Craigie was the most memorable of my life (yes, I know I'm young, but still - it was extraordinary). Sahil G. and I arrived about 5 minutes before our 7 PM reservation, and the very friendly hostess directed us to the bar for a drink while our table was prepared. Within seconds a waiter came to give us a cocktail menu, and then returned soon to take our order (Hendrick's gimlet for me, Sazerac for Sahil G.). Not soon after, the hostess came over and said that there had been a cancellation at the chef's table, did we want it? Um, YES. We sat down at the Chef's Table -- bar seating right in front of the kitchen -- and our waiter came over to offer us water and drinks. We told him that we had put in an order at the bar, and he promised to go get him. I wish I remembered our waiter's name, because he definitely deserves compliments! He is tall, with medium length blonde hair. He was extremely attentive and polite. About five minutes later, another hostess came over to us with our drinks, which she told us had been comped because of the wait. I honestly felt that the wait was reasonable, but this is just a testament to the outstanding service that all of the wait staff at Craigie provides. The free drinks made me feel appreciated and important, which is exactly how you want to feel when dining at a nice restaurant (though sadly, this is often not the case). Sahil G. and I had originally planned to do the 4-course prix fixe menu, but since we were seated at the Chef's Table, we felt obligated (both to the staff and ourselves) to see what they could do with the tasting menu. We told our waiter we had no dietary restrictions -- we wanted Chef Maws and his staff to give us whatever they wanted to. The food was unbelievably good, and while the actual meal was "6 courses," it actually ended up being 9 when you factor in the amuse bouches, etc. In order, we received: Seafood three ways (Squid noodles, smoked halibut, cod fritter) Halibut ceviche with lemon oil and dehydrated corn Fried frogs legs with chorizo Rabbit and ancho chile filled pasta (this dish was my absolute favorite, hands down...I still dream about it, and I swear if I could pick my last meal it would be this) Veal sweatbreads with hominy Duck two ways -- confit and tea smoked breast blackberry and plum sorbet sheepsmilk yogurt cheesecake with blackberry tequila compote sweet corn grits with brown sugar, raspberry compote, and anise ice cream rhubarb hibiscus foam with yogurt Each dish was brought out by a waiter or manager who explained what was in the dish and how it was prepared -- and Chef Maws came out to explain the duck two ways, which was very cool. I could go on for hours, literally, about how good this food was, but I will refrain. You just have to go and eat there yourself. My experience at Craigie was unforgettable. The food was out of this world, and so was the service. I absolutely cannot wait to go back there.

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    I won't bore you with another essay about this place (you can read those, below), but here are the highlights: - I had the 10 course tasting menu, and it was really more of an "eating" menu. The entire dinner took nearly four hours, and I was wonderfully full at the end of it. This definitely isn't a tasting menu where you're going to feel like getting a burger afterwards. - My date had the pescetarian menu, which had similar portions (and was also awesome-tasting! I would have shared my lamb, but, you know... pescetarian) They were incredibly accommodating, and asked us, not just when making the reservations, but before we started the meal if we had any dietary restrictions. - I mentioned to the server that I wish my local grocery store carried cock's comb (you know the red flappy thing at the top of rooster's heads) because it was so delicious, and he gave me the address for a local butcher I could get it from! All the staff were incredibly helpful, funny, took time to talk and answer questions, while not being intrusive. - Ninja wine and water-pouring skills. Seriously, I didn't even notice them doing it, but my glass was full the entire time. - Amazing, amazing food. But that one should be obvious. - The champagne was great!

    (5)

  • Win O.

    Imagine my excitement when I discovered that Craigie on Main made birthday cakes to order! I quote: "Pastry Chef Jessica Scott has come up with yet another winner: Cakes for your special occasions - birthdays, anniversaries, and others. With 48 hours notice, she can create a cake for your table in flavors ranging from peanut butter, to burnt caramel, to chocolate infused with espresso, to a traditional carrot cake and beyond. Or, if you just can't decide or are feeling adventurous, have Jess choose for you! Our Pastry Chef's Whim is guaranteed to delight. Just give us a call at the restaurant if you'd like to order a cake for your special occasion." Then imagine my extreme disappointment when I called a week in advance requesting for one and was denied because the restaurant does not entertain pick up orders but only for dine-in customers only--This was not entirely clear on their website at all. Seriously, I don't think all 30 of my guests can afford to dine here just to have a slice of cake (even if they wanted to). I was just surprised that the restaurant was willing to forgo my business when I all wanted was to do a pickup for the half sheet ($95). I wish I had known this earlier so that I could make other arrangements because this glitch totally messed up my party plans as I had to scramble for another bakery to take my last-minute order. I'm a fan of your food, CoM, but this is not cool at all.

    (2)

  • Mark T.

    Disgusting and UNSANITARY. I saw a waitress pour a half bottle of wine that was at a table back into a larger bottle that was being served by the bar to the restaurant. The manager agreed it was not sanitary but still did not get rid of the bottle of wine that was tainted.

    (1)

  • David L.

    A friend with a gift card offered to take me to Craigie on Main, so I was glad to take him up on a free dinner. Oh man, was I glad I did. This wonderful restaurant restored my faith in Boston dining. The grilled octopus appetizer was out of this world. The tender, almost dough-like octopus left me wondering what I've been eating all these years. Then, organic Vermont pork done three ways left me feeling like the chef timed the dish perfectly. Three pieces of pork, each cooked just right, each with it's own signature flavor. Dessert was a most mouth-watering fruit cobbler. Peaches, cherries and other summer fruits a la mode was heaven. Paired with a delicious dessert wine, this prix fix was right on. Honestly, every plate I saw that emerged from one of the most professional open kitchens I've seen made me want to return. Pricey, yes. But my buddy with the gift card? That's a true friend.

    (5)

  • Richard L.

    The food was sort of amazing... We got pig's tail and the terrine plate to start. Pig's tail was surprisingly awesome. It kind of reminded me of really good Chinese-style spare ribs to be honest. The terrine plate was just "meh." Shared a pig's head with a side of bone marrow. There was just two of us, so I have to admit that we were over-zealous with the amount of food, but since we were there, we figured might as well go all out. The pig's head: creamy, buttery, crispy on the outside, and definitely fatty. They give you these warm (but kind of oily) pancakes on the side to roll up with some pumpkin slaw and hoison sauce (reminding me of Chinese-style Peking duck). It was delicious... Bone marrow... it was like eating butter. Food is definitely too rich to be eaten in one sitting. We had plenty of left overs to bring home, happily. Great experience. We want to come back to the regular tasting menu. We saw other tables get it and all the courses looked awesome (and not as lethally rich as our meal was). Service: I found everyone to be quite awkward. From the host to the back-waiters who served and who filled water. Our main server was more sociable, but he was so busy with all the other tables, we received lackluster service. Definitely surprised and slightly bummed by this...

    (4)

  • Kat T.

    The rating speaks for itself. I was very impressed with the quality of food and service. We got the 6-course tasting menu which surpassed any expectations I had of this place. I've always heard really good things and have read rave reviews but now I could actually attest to the great testimonials. It is highly suggested to make reservations because the place is not that big and it is always packed. Also, it is worth spending a bit more to get the tasting menu. The servings are not that big so if you are worried about not being able to handle all that food, I wouldn't worry. Bon appetit!

    (5)

  • Howe L.

    What a beautiful experience. We had the luck/pleasure of eating at the Chef's table, so we were able to watch first hand all the passion and meticulous craftsmanship that goes into delivering our delicious food. Simply incredible.

    (5)

  • Walt M.

    It doesn't get any better. Four of us enjoyed a terrific restaurant experience. Drinks, food and service are all five star. Not much more needs to be said.

    (5)

  • Mary G.

    So I ended up back at Craigie on Main, after taking a spell away after a pretty mixed experience (some fantastic food incomparable to other places, some middling over priced dishes, and very odd customer service) while my friend Hannah was in town. The glue that binds Hannah and I together the fact that will eat just about anything, that weekend included two types of beef stomach, pigs ears, rabbit liver, beef tendon, pigs intestines, durian pudding (nauseous yet?), chicken feet, and more. A.K.A. a typical weekend when we get together. Craigie fit right in. So Hannah, Damon, and I hit up Craigie for a mix of reasons; nose to tail dining was definitely one of the biggest ones. I'll admit, I should have written this review sooner because I can't remember all of what we ordered (but I could certainly tell you what I thought if you reminded me of what it was), though I suppose it'd be off the menu anyway... Given there were 3 of us, and we were def't going to be sharing everything, we wanted a table. It was a Sunday night, so we figured it wouldn't be too hard to drop in, but we called ahead to make sure, asking if we could make a reservation for 3 in the bar area, they said they didn't take reservations but it should be fine to get a table at the bar space. We got there and they said to just get our selves to the bar area, where we did... There were a couple of tables free there, so we sat down at one only to be informed of them being occupied. We reminded them of our call, but had to sit at the bar anyway. Thankfully I was acquainted with one of the waitresses, who said a table may be opening up soon but we could relax at the bar, muse about our orders, and enjoy our selves with a few drinks in the meantime. I don't know what boutique places like Craigie on Main or No. #9 Park go to to find their bartenders, but they are certainly a special sort (have you _seen_ their anachronistic and well-styled facial hair?). Delightful and masterful, always glib and entertaining; Craigies 'tender is no exception, fashionably or otherwise. As for the food, I recall that we got the grilled Spanish octopus, pig's ear salad. Hiramasa sashimi, an arctic char entree, the Craigie burger, and bone marrow with crostini, and a couple slices of pie (the chocolate pie and the peanut butter pie). I am probably leaving something out there, but that is certainly most of it. It is hot and humid and I don't want to wax food, but needless to say everything was quite good. The marrow is a particularly good deal, at 10 dollars it is easier and cheaper than doing it your self. The arctic char was one of the more forgettable dishes, wonderfully cooked, but... It seems like the entrees aren't always the best option, and if you want a variety of food, the money is better spent on their side dishes. The service was much improved, none of the odd over intensity and inconsistencies of my previous time. I will definitely be back to get the pig head, one of these months, now perhaps a little sooner rather than later. All in all a good restaurant with some pretty exquisite food, not cheap but some items could certainly be more expensive (others, perhaps a little bit less), unlike any other eating experiences in the area. This restaurant can fit a whole variety of experiences, from dates, to snacks with friends, and congratulation-style dinners with the family.

    (4)

  • Natalie M.

    The food at Craigie is always good, but you'd better have a reservation! We went recently with a group of 6 to celebrate my wife's birthday. She wanted one of their amazing burgers, but we were sat in the main dining room and they don't serve the bar food there. Small sadness. Most of the table got the steak. It had a sauce that some felt was too sweet and others felt was perfect. It was unanimous, though, that the steak lacked a robust beefy flavor. Disappointment all around. I had the veal tenderloin and sweetbreads. I was a little nervous about the sweetbreads since I'm not big on organs and glands, but it was delicious. It had a springy yet soft texture and a very mild flavor that was complimented well by the sauce. The tenderloin was tasty but nothing really to write home about. We also got a side of brussel sprouts cooked in duck fat. Even if you don't like brussel sprouts, do yourself a favor and get these if they have them. The sprouts are halved and then browned in a pan with the fat giving them a rich, smoky flavor that was to die for. The staff was friendly, attentive and quick. Craigie's always been a good bet for us when we want to have a special night out but don't want to spend a fortune.

    (4)

  • Laura H.

    I am not sure that it gets much better than this- Craigie is an experience that we should all have at least once in our lives. (or once per month if your bank account can handle it) The service is impeccable without the snobbery that you can run into at an establishment of this caliber. The waitstaff was friendly, knowledgeable, and more than happy to help with wine selections as we gorged ourselves on amazing food. The meal was perhaps one of the best that I have ever had. Fresh meat, fresh vegetables, and interesting combinations. You can't be picky if you want to eat here as the menu is changed daily and based on what is available at market but my god you will not be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Ross C.

    After placing Craigie on my short list after stopping by for a cocktail a few months ago and gazing into the open kitchen, we were not disappointed in our choice to go back for a birthday dinner last week. Our waitress and bartender were almost as excited as the food as we were. We don't often have the opportunity for fine dining in our budget, and were impressed by how many staff seamlessly attended to every part of our meal. My meal was best described as a 'festival of meat', with the mixed charcuterie plate (which was served with so many accoutrements that I ordered more bread just to try different combinations) to the 'small' (huge) side dish of bone marrow, to my pork three ways, which I could barely eat for being so full but still enjoyed every bite. We didn't do dessert, electing to go to Toscanini's which is right down the street. Thank you Tony and staff for a wonderful experience- we will be back. We saw a couple get their burgers while waiting at the bar- that's our next order!

    (5)

  • Ann G.

    Great service, lovely interior, and fabulous food. Five stars all around! I visited Craigie on Main for a special occasion dinner and we had the six course chef's choice. Here is our meal: 1) Smoked bluefish with caviar, 2) Raw bluefin tuna with fresh cucumber and beets, 3) Swordfish wrapped in guarcino in a French curry with garbanzo beans, 4) Grilled scallop with a summer squash potage, 5) Pork three ways (blood sausage, belly, and something I can't remember), 6) Apricot tarte with amaretto ice cream and a fresh panna cotta. Amazing! Unfortunately I don't like seafood very much (I knew I would be faced with many seafood options ahead of time) but each course was presented well and paired well with the wine we ordered. The service was polite, professional, and cheerful. Loved my evening at Craigie and will definitely return!

    (5)

  • Sasha B.

    I was here last Friday for my one year anniversary with Jacob. It was a nice experience overall, but I would say the food did not live up to the expectations (and prices). The service was superb. Our waiter was very nice, and we were given a complementary cocktail for our anniversary! We ordered 4 appetizers and 1 entree. The first app was the sashimi. The fish was good, very fresh. However, the avocado was brown. For a place that is all about the freshest produce, I was unimpressed. The next was the lab ribs. Incredibly salty and fatty. There were 2 ribs, and actually the one Jacob took was good because it had more meat, but the bottom one I went for was only fat and salt. Don't worry though, because it got better. Our next two apps were yummy, although not perfect. The poached egg over oxtail pastrami was delicious! Fabulous flavors! The egg was very lightly poached/soupy, so there was little to no egg taste. I would prefer a more poached egg/sauce taste. The pasta with venison was delicious as well, I could have used more meat/mushrooms, but I'm a chunky sauce kind of person. The wheat taste of the pasta was overwhelming without more chunky sauce. The main course was lamb 3 ways. The neck was also very fatty and unappetizing. The tongue was actually fabulous, as weird as it looked in its curled up presentation. The breast was very good as well, very tender! I could have used a better side, the veggies looked like the stuff that comes out the frozen package, and tasted like butter. I would like more complex flavors for my veggies for fine dining. Now, the desserts were AMAZING. The sweet grits were to die for! Definitely the highlight of the meal. We also had the goat milk cheesecake, also yummy. In all, the food had its ups and downs, but for an over $200 bill, there really shouldn't be so many oversalted or all-fat cuts.

    (3)

  • Bridget H.

    Okay, so to get right to the point. Whereas some businesses don't seem to care what experience people have in their establishment, Craigie on Main really cares. I mean *really* outstandingly, genuinely, fabulously, cares about your experience. I had a sort of grumpy reaction to my first meal there, which we ate at the bar (though my partner later reminded me that he actually *had* really enjoyed his drink the first time around, the "northern lights"). The day after I posted it, I got an email from the owner of the restaurant, not just apologizing for the experience, but genuinely I would say concerned and distraught about what had happened, wanting to know the details. She then, I kid you not, sent me a $100 gift certificate in the mail, a menu of their specialties, and a sweet invitation to come back and try it again. I was shocked and delighted. It took us a while to make it back to Craigie (and even longer to get to this review, which I feel awful about) as I've been caught up this year with a series of insanely draining events (e.g. planning a wedding, moving to India, starting a new degree program that draws heavily on the math I never learned in high school), but we finally did. I wish that I had documented at the time all the details of our absolutely blissful meal at Craigie, but I was just selfishly caught up in enjoying being treated like an absolute princess and was not thinking of you, fellow Yelpers. Sorry! But the first and strongest thing I have to say, is that we got the absolute best service we've ever gotten, ever, anywhere, that night at Craigie. They treated us like royalty, but not in a stuffy or weird way, just in that absolutely effortless way that always characterizes the best service. (and we weren't getting special treatment or anything, we didn't whip out our gift certificate until the end). The food was also wonderful. I got the vegetarian prix fixe and my husband got the meat prix fixe with the pork 3 ways. We had wanted to try the tasting menu, which looks like the end-all be-all of delightfulness, but I have shellfish allergies, and there is a lot of seafood on that menu. I wish I could give more detail on the food, but it's all become a white wine-fueled blur of exquisite sensations, topped off by a stunning, shockingly good homemade sorbet. In all ways, including food, service, and genuinely caring, Craigie is genuinely world class. If you can afford it, this is the most special special-occasion place I've been to in the Boston area. Kudos to Craigie! You're amazing. We'll be back. (Someday in a few years when we move home from India...)

    (5)

  • Kirkwood J.

    Came here for Sunday brunch, as dinner res are hard to get on even relatively short notice (unless you like 9:30pm dinner). The donut is mandatory with brunch, everything else we tried was excellent, from variations on breakfasty classics to a yummy burger. Menu constantly changing, excellent ingredients, good eatin'!!!

    (5)

  • Carolyn C.

    My husband and I came here tonight and tried the 8-course tasting menu. We were not disappointed. The food combinations blended together perfectly. We liked the food that we had so much that we added another dessert (3 kinds of sorbet) and 2 different kinds of teas. Everything they do is understated but perfect. The service was spot-on and friendly. We will come back and try their burger and more of the dessert menu. The ambiance is warm and definitely doesn't have the stuck up feeling that lots of other high-end restaurants have. I liked how we could see the kitchen from the dining area.

    (5)

  • Cat L.

    I'm glad I didn't judge this book by its cover. I went to Craigie while in Boston for work on K's recommendation. I arrive just a tad before my reservation (wasn't sure about the timing of the T). I don't have a problem waiting for my table if I'm early; however, Craigie's space is not conducive to early arrivers. I was told to wait on the ramp between the bar and the dining room, and someone would be able to get me a drink. So I waited. And waited. FINALLY, a manager (I'm guessing) asked if I had been helped. He was kind enough to take care of my thirst. And then dinner began. First, where can you top such a deal: $75 for any app, any entree, any dessert, AND a dessert wine paired with it?! AWESOME. I opted for the delectible yellowfin sashimi, the pork three ways, and the mango rhubarb crisp for dessert. The sashimi had excellent flavor, without losing the actual taste of the fish (which, IMHO, is why you choose to eat raw fish). The pork trio was RIDIC - the rib fell right off the bone, the belly was fatty and delicious, and the confit was as tender as it should be! Dessert reflected the turn of the season, highlighting the sweetneess of the rhubarb and champagne mangoes. I always wonder if the staff feels sorry for the solo diner. At Craigie, they didn't. They were extremely courteous, and allowed me to enjoy my meal without being overly intrusive. Craigie, thanks for what turned out to be my best dining experience in Boston...

    (5)

  • douglas h.

    Dinner One of my favorites in Boston. Super tasty and creative menu

    (5)

  • Nikki B.

    Dear Chef Tony Maws and Craigie on Main staff: I would like to thank you for the best dining experience of my foodie life. The service was impeccable. With each course (we did the six-course tasting menu), we were more excited to try the next: 1. Three Chilled Seafood Preparations 2. Nantucket Bay Scallop Sashimi 3. Fried Maine Smelt 4. Pekin Duck Noodles Two Ways 5. Poached Egg Vegetable Salad 6. Pork Three Ways Everything was uniquely superb from the cocktails (Ardoise) to the cozy, unpretentious decor. I offer you my unwavering praise. I was happy to pay the price for this opportunity as the quality, creativity and pork belly were second to none. What a treat. Kudos! Sincerely, Nikki B.

    (5)

  • S. M. S.

    Decided to try the famous Craigie burger for Sunday brunch and found it to be almost good enough to justify the $18 price tag. Service was awkward (our waiter obviously just left a job at Applebee's because he kept trying to up-sell donuts and coffee drinks, which seemed kitschy and unnecessary). I keep wanting Craigie to be a Boston equivalent to Zuni in San Francisco but this visit quashed any shot at the title.

    (3)

  • Christine H.

    My husband I had dinner at Craigie on Main last month for our anniversary and had a great experience. We got the 8 course Ultimate Craigie Experience tasting menu which was was delicious! The drinks were very good and the service was excellent. I wanted to get the cocktail flight but you can only get it in the bar area, so if you want that make sure to get it before you head to your table or eat in the bar. Chef Maws was fun to watch in the kitchen. He seemed to get along well with his staff, although they all seemed much more relaxed when he was not around. hehe! He brought out our entrees which was exciting and a nice touch that I appreciated and enjoyed. I love when restaurants do that. I think it adds a personal touch when the chef/owner interacts with the customers and it makes it seem like they are proud of their food. My only complaint is that the vegetarian tasting menu did not leave me satisfied. I do not think I have ever left any restaurant still hungry before. I rarely finish meals so this was disappointing to me. The entree seemed more like a side than a meal. It has been over a month since we dined here, so I will just highlight some of the courses that I remember. The trio to start was very interesting. Each of the bites was simply delicious! The potato tempura was something I had never had and was my favorite bite. The 2nd course was an avocado salad for me and a tartar with avocado salad for the husband. I like that they had the same flavors so we could discuss it. I have never enjoyed avocado quite so much! I had a consume with tempura squash flowers that was so good! The server said it was something that Chef Maws had never made before and I told him that it is something that he should add to the menu. It was light but so satisfying and perfect. The gnocchi were my favorite part of the meal. They were cooked perfectly and had a wonderful texture. I wish they came in a slightly larger portion and were the main entree. The main entree was a grain pilaf with some root vegetables. I kept looking over at my husbands lamb with jealousy. I did not understand how my entree that looked like it should have been a side dish could have been served next to my husbands entree. As I said above, this was the only disappointing experience of the evening. It is unfortunate that it happened with my main entree. They also had a mistake with our desserts. They mixed them up and gave me my husbands panna cotta which is normally made with geletan and not vegetarian. I asked about it when it was served. The waiter whisked it away and took it back to the kitchen to ask. He brought back the deserts and switched them so my husband had the panna cotta. We both had a wonderful evening. I wish that we lived closer so we could become regulars. I would love to try the Sunday night whim. It sounds like a lot of fun! Considering how much I loved the consume that Chef Maws made on a whim the night we dined there, I would love to do the full course whims. I am sure my husband and I will be back to Craigie soon! Next time I want to sit in the bar so I can try the whim and my husband would like to try the burger which has gotten rave reviews and is on many "best burger in Boston" lists.

    (5)

  • Anne-Marie A.

    Once again, a superb dining experience -- again, we had Sarah, the amazing server who waited on us last time (And, Sarah -- we under-tipped by mistake -- didn't realize til we got home -- but we'll make it up to you next time!) -- and we FINALLY got our burgers in the bar. Chef Tony and his wife just run a fabulous restaurant -- fascinating to also watch Chef the Maestro running his kitchen. My kids gave us a gift certificate -- they knew we loved it there. Not cheap -- but worth every penny. Can't wait to do it again. (Hint, hint, kids!!)

    (5)

  • Faye Z.

    Impressive! I have hearded about Craigie On Main for a long time and it was so hard to get a reservation since we always go out with a bunch of people so we would need large tables. I made my reservation 2 weeks ahead this time just for 2 of us. Decor - modern bistro open kitchen, close seating. some people are dressed up but I still felt relaxing and comfortable. Food - you have to try this! There are so much creative food on the menu. seasonal and organic ingredients were used. We had pate, bone marrow as appertizers, chicken sausage and veals two ways as entrees, and shared the pecan ice cream tart as dessert. They were all amazing! I loved my veals! one part was super tender and juice, and the other part was baked to perfection with crispy skin and lean meat full of flavor. The hubby was crazy about his bone marrow and ate way too much toasts because of it. (he is usually very picky and I can barely hear him make compliments to any food.) Service - perfect we had to catch a movie afterwards so we told our server during our second course. he then paid more attention to us and brought our dessert quickly and got us the bill so we were on time. the bus boy, the hostess and our waiter were all very friendly and helpful throughout the night! Best restaurant in Boston! (not too pricy either!)

    (5)

  • Lucio G.

    An awesome experience. Visited Craigie while on a trip to Boston and opted for the "Chef's Whim" menu. What a great experience. There's something about not knowing what dish is next and knowing that you are in the chef's capable hands makes the experience that much better. The timing of the service was great (not rushed and not too slow) and the food was superb. The ingredients were fresh and top notch. For a tasting menu, I thought the portions were also generous. I opted for the 6 course and it was well worth the upgrade. Everything - from service to food - made this a great experience. This has to be among the best restaurants in Boston - take advantage of the Chef's Whim while the prices stay relatively low. Also, a little something about the restaurant -- it does get a little warm since there is an open kitchen but I found it had a great atmosphere. The room was airy but there was still some intimacy within the tables.

    (5)

  • Zachary S.

    One of the best meals I've ever had and, by far, the best I've had in recent memory. Extremely high quality food, excellent service and relatively inexpensive for the quality. I've never been into the food that looks more like art than a meal but these guys pull it off. We had to wait over an hour for a seat at the bar but that's our fault for going on a Saturday night with no reservations. They made every attempt to compensate us by serving us drinks while we were standing in line and constantly coming over to check on us. We sat at the bar and had our option of the bar menu or the dining room menu. The bartender was extremely nice, informative and friendly. She recommended different beers with the meal and came off as knowledgeable without being snobby or condescending. The first few things I noticed about the menu is all the food they get is ordered fresh and locally. Most of the meats and cheeses come from farms in Vermont or MA and the menu is printed nightly...even time stamped. I ended up getting the Vermont Organic Pork Three Ways: Crispy Suckling Confit, Spice-Crusted Rib, Grilled Belly. A meal I cannot even imagine eating...never mind ordering....a few years ago. The portions always look so small but by time you eat the bread, an app and have a few beers...it's plenty of food.

    (5)

  • Ina C.

    For my 500th review (omg), I will sing the praises of our Valentine's dinner at Craigie on Main! We decided to go the day after V-day so that we could get the $75/person prix-fixe menu (instead of the $150 menu on the 14th!). Each course offered two options, so we decided to just order ALL of it! I'm no restaurant reviewer, so please excuse my limited adjectives. First course: amuse bouche - The crab was really fresh, and it was surprising to taste crab this good in the NE. (I'm from Maryland. Blue crabs are the best!) - The teeny slivers of pork belly with fresh mozzarella was delicious. The little splash of balsamic vinegar was a nice touch. Second course: appetizer - His mushroom ragout was out of this world. We were intrigued by this gelatinous form in the middle of his plate, and we discovered it was a poached egg! Yum! This dish was creamy, rich and delicious. - My sashimi was perfection. There were so many different textures and unexpected that went really well together! Our appetizers were definitely the highlight of our meal. Third course: entree - His scallops were good, but not great. There isn't much you can do to scallops. They're either good or bad. - My lamb three ways was really delicious. My favorite among the loin, lamb heart sausage and lamb confit was the confit. Fourth course: dessert - His mixed fruit dessert was amazing. It sounded pretty plain on the menu, but this is a very special dessert. The canela ice cream really topped it off - such a unique flavor! - My gingerbread pain perdu was soooo gingery. Beware - this dessert is for ginger LOVERS only. The poached cranberries were too tart to eat, even with the other elements of the dessert. - A complimentary dessert wine was included in our prix-fixe, and ohhhh, I love dessert wines!!! - A Taza hot chocolate with cardamom and other spices was also complimentary, and I've decided that I don't really like cardamom. But it was free, so we slurped it up! So, the best part about our meal was definitely the appetizers, but I also have to mention the service. Our server was awesome. He really made us feel welcome--even appreciated! He was friendly, pleasant, calm, professional, efficient, and available. I have to conclude this review by making a little comparison. Our other mind-blowing Valentine's Day dinner was at Ten Tables JP last year... and I have to say that I prefer TT over Craigie. Every single course and element of our Ten Tables dinner was completely unforgettable. Nothing about it was so-so or just good. But I'm still giving Craigie on Main five stars because I do think it was pretty much as good as it gets. Oh! One tip about attire. Yelpers have categorized the attire as "dressy," but be aware that the servers themselves wear dark jeans. I'd say it's more on the casual side. No ties or jackets necessary. THE END!

    (5)

  • Sarina H.

    We stumbled onto Craigie on Main years ago. The original location was in Harvard Square where it was called Craigie Street Bistro. Brian's parents were in town, so we figured we'd give it a try having heard so many great things about it. We were so glad we did...it was a fabulous meal! Ever since then, we've gone to the new location at a dozen times in the past 2 years. Once for my birthday, and then for the rehearsal dinner. We couldn't have imagined a more perfect venue. Betsy, the private events coordinator, was nothing but professional & sincere about making our event as perfect as possible. We met Betsy about 3 weeks before the RD to go over the menu and I had no doubt in my mind that everything would be perfect. She made sure of it. The only negative thing I have to say is that she spelled my name wrong on our personalized menus, but small beans. I can't wait to go back soon & get the pork again! Guests are still raving about our amazing gastronomic wedding held at Radius...Craigie played an integral part in kicking off the festivities with an oustanding RD! For all the foodies out there, here is the menu. Guests were allowed to select from the following: Appetizers: Potage of Sorrel & Potato - with pork jowl croutons & paprika oil Assiette of Kona Kompachi Sashimi - with red onion shiso salsa, avocado, harissa-rose vinaigrette Quattre Foies of Vermont organic pork - served with traditional accompaniments Fresh Maine Mussels - toasted garlic, chile caribe, miso and herbs Main: Organic Chicken Three Ways - slow roasted breast, thigh confit, braised wing - schmaltz-braised vegetables, aged balsamic vinegar and bagna cauda Organic Pork Two Ways - crispy suckling confit, grilled belly - chantarelle mushrooms, early summer vegetables, spring peas Slow Roasted Line Caught Halibut - mussel and leek ragout, grilled lemon and butter herb salad, oyster sake lees sauce Vermont Organic Lam Two ways - hon shimeji mushrooms, cashews, blood orange, cognac Dessert: House made profiteroles with valrhona chocolate sauce - calaminthe ice cream Market fruits crisp - walnut topping, tarragon ice cream Cornbread pain perdu - candied fennel, red plum puree, anise hyssop ice cream Three fruits sorbet - with candied kumquat, limequat, mandarin

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    I'm going to Miami for a while, where the only quality food I'll be having will probably be Cuban...so to top off my Boston area culinary experience, I finally listened to everyone and went to Craigie on Maine. I have to say this is probably another redundant review, because yes, this place is all the...216 other reviews are raving about. Fresh, quality ingredients, creative flavor combinations, SMALL portions. Although I would never expect to get Chinese-restaurant sized plates from a gourmet place, in this case the deliciousness of the dishes was actually a detriment to my rating: it was so good that I felt in constant dissatisfaction as I ate and realized each dish was gone in 5 seconds. But anyway GO TO CRAIGIE ON MAINE GET THE PIG TAILS GET THE CRISPY BERRY TART (orgasmic) You can also try making a reservation at peak dinner time (like I did), arrive on time, wait for 25 minutes until a table is cleared, and subsequently get free delicious special chef dishes and drinks throughout the rest of your meal experience that will certainly return a smile to your face, yay for overbooking! (and EXCELLENT SERVICE)

    (4)

  • Elizabeth T.

    I was really disappointed after my boyfriend and I spent an evening for dinner for my birthday here this past Saturday. While we were waiting to be seated, the hostess brought us over to the bar and told us a waitstaff would come over to take our order of drinks. After waiting through 10 minutes of their staff ignoring us, we finally had our order in. However, as soon as the drinks were made, and we saw them made, no one brought us our drinks. 10 minutes later, when someone had realized there were drinks sitting behind the bar with no customers to drink them, they walked around the entire area asking people if they had ordered drinks, finally asking us last. When I got my drink, my glass felt very sticky and dirty. The food was a major disappointment. Our bread came in a basket burnt, hard, and cold. I wondering why the bread was wrapped in a blanket to start with. I think, the best part of our dishes were the starters, the pig tails, pate bread, but our entree (I got the black bass, and my boyfriend got sirloin) was completely unappealing! My fish was cold and drenched in curry. The sirloin, on the other hand, was a very mediocre sirloin. And then, the dessert came. We, or my boyfriend, had told them that it was my birthday. They came out with my dessert, and then in a cup was a candle. We left both disappointing and confused in our meal and the service. Was this an off night where everything was Asian fusion, when this place was suppose to be a French/American place? Maybe we just didn't understand the food? Is that even possible? Later looking at the Facebook page, I found a post offering for pre-ordering cake for a special occasion( facebook.com/photo.php?f… ). I asked my boyfriend if he was notified of this or not, and he said he was offered that option.

    (1)

  • Ollie M.

    Update: Upon reading my review, the manager Kyla contacted me to discuss our experiences. She stressed that the chef's 6 course dinner is supposed to be similar in size to a regular entree. This means that we could have gotten the same amount of food for way less by just ordering from the regular menu. Keep this is mind if you feel included to go to Craigie. As far as the price is concerned, Kyla countered that they use local fresh ingredients, like this even begins to vindicate the price. Plenty of restaurants use fresh local ingredients and don't charge over $50 a plate. Bondir (also a 10 minute walk from Craigie) bases their entire system on using fresh local sustainable ingredients only and their entrees do not exceed $30. So obviously, using the "fresh local" excuse to explain a $220 dinner is ridiculous. Kyla offered us a complete refund and we took it. Now that is GREAT customer service, and we are very grateful to her for that. And we were so ashamed of ourselves for having paid so much for the food we got at Craigie that we donated part of the money we got back to the Boston Food Bank. So, we got a free dinner. Since this is a rating of my personal experience at Craigie's it's only fair that I bump the review from 1/5 to 2/5 stars. 1 star for the friendly staff, and 1 star for the customer service.

    (2)

  • John W.

    Expectations met! An amazing dining experience, from beginning to end. The ambience was casual yet elegant, whether you're joined with friend(s) or that special someone. We sat at a quiet corner booth as requested. The service was impeccable, servers were polite and knowledgeable, each menu item were well explained when asked. The food was excellent! I started with the Spanish octopus and bone marrow. The Spanish octopus was accompanied with grilled cipollini onion, green olive and lemon salad, bulgur wheat, chorizo purée. The octopus was smoky, tender, sweet, and cooked perfectly. The bone marrow, well what can I say, it was smoky, gelatinous melt in your mouth goodness. My friend had the Assiette of House-Made Terrines, pork liver terrine, rabbit terrine, venison terrine, with traditional accompaniments. Each was amazingly flavorful. For my entree, I had the Vermont Pork Three Ways, Suckling Confit, Spice Crusted Rib, Grilled Belly, with pistachio butter, turnips, pickled cherries. OMG! The rib was perfectly spiced, so tender, melted in my mouth. The grilled pork belly was like butter, the sensation on the tongue and taste buds was indescribable. The confit, the crispy skin on top was crunchy and salty (Hallelujah!), followed by a yummy adipose layer, then ending with a delicate layer of tasty confit. So so GREAT! My friend had the Slow-Cooked Wild California King Salmon Mi-Cuit fresh rock shrimp, summer succotash, Vadouvan-spiced yogurt. Delicious!

    (5)

  • Stephanie B.

    With memories of that perfect chicken from Craigie Street Bistro dancing in my head, I talked the boy into checking CoM out when our first choice, Salts, turned out to be "closed for repairs". We checked upon entering that they could accommodate a vegetarian, and were reassured. We settled in for a 3 course meal. Cocktails were good, albeit dainty, and the recommended wines were amazing. Service was also quite good, especially the 2nd server, server in waiting, understudy, busgirl, whatever her title -- she was wonderfully refreshing and friendly. I wish the food lived up to my fond memories! The amuses were delicious and appreciated. The boy liked his veg version of the romescu pasta, but was completely underwhelmed by the vegetable glacee with wheat berries main. Probably that order should be reversed, even if pasta is traditionally a "first course". My requested chicken initially arrived as striped bass on a small misstep, but was quickly replaced by the chicken itself. The spätzle accompaniment was delicious. The chicken was tender, if flavorless, and might have benefited from a crispier skin. My octopus first course was just ok (Neptune's is amazing and nothing compares). Dessert was interesting and I thought tasty, but the boy was not to be consoled and we left a bit disappointed (and his wallet quite a bit lighter) after our date night. Sigh.

    (3)

  • April M.

    How to have an incredible 5-star experience at Craigie On Main: 1) Make reservations for any Sunday evening after 9pm. The Chef's Whim tasting menu is available only at this time. (6-course $55; 4-course $40.) Vegans, you're in luck as there is a vegetarian option as well. :) 2) Ask to be seated at the Chef's Table. (Good luck! It's limited to 4 seats.) On February 5, 2012, we did just that. That day also happened to be Super Bowl Sunday and despite the heartbreaking loss, the folks at Craigie On Main still managed to create a wonderful meal for us. Watching them work in the kitchen as they skillfully prepared and delicately plated each course was icing on the cake. O.M.G. Moments: + The skate wing course was delish. I've never had skate wing taste that good. The last time I had skate wing, it was topped with black truffles and tasted terrible. + The celery and green apple sorbet was delectably ingenious and I hate celery. + The tobacco flavored ice cream was interesting and creative. Kudos to the staff and the culinary artists of Craigie on Main. Me and my taste buds thank you. :)

    (5)

  • Melody N.

    I went here again with my husband after reading about their Chef's Whim tasting menu. We had a six course tasting menu. There were no written menus, so each dish came out as a surprise. The servers were very knowledgeable about the different dishes and the preparation required for each. I can't remember all the names of things we had, but I was a big fan of pork two ways, one way being a rib sous vide for 12 hours in and then fried to order. We also enjoyed salmon, fried sweetbreads, and the desserts. One of the desserts was a malt ice cream with chocolate cake( or brownie?) with peanuts and sauce. So delicious! I knocked down a star just because every time I was done with a course, I wanted more! Truly gave me a taste of what Craigie has to offer.

    (4)

  • Sharon Z.

    One of the best rated restaurants in all of Boston (and for good reasons). The ambiance is high end but sweet and cozy, and the service staff is extremely attentive and top notch. The plating of the food is a treat in itself, extraordinarily beautiful and simply elegant. The food is very savory, their Fois Gras appetizer is one of the best I have ever tasted, a specialty, bone marrow butter - where inside of the bone marrow is melted and can be spread on bread is one of their most recommended dishes. We also had the perfectly cooked Swordfish and Sirloin is superb. The pecan pie ice cream - oh my god, so delicious. The proportions are perfect for the contrast of warm and cold, smooth texture of the ice cream with the bread texture of the pie. Very expensive but you get your money worth.

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    These folks know how to cook. Attention-to-detail is underrated but the folks here pay attention to extreme detail. We had proof - we sat in front of the kitchen and witnessed painstaking detail with every dish. It was Superbowl Sunday; I'm sure no chef wanted to be there but they still worked hard. Any restaurant that gets 5 stars in my book must make you think about food beyond simply tasting good. Whether it's $3 pork intestines or $40 sole from Dover, it must make you be inquistive. Highlights: tobacco ice cream. Tobacco leaves soaked in milk. Then they made ice cream with it. Absolute masterpiece. Best skate wing I've ever had. Get the tasting menu and chef's table.

    (5)

  • Joseph F.

    Call me McKayla Maroney, but I was very unimpressed. Given all of the hype surrounding how incredible the brunch menu supposedly is, I had very high expectations for this place. Sure, the environment is cozy, the servers are friendly and attentive, and the dishes are beautifully prepared. However, portions were tiny and the food was just so-so. The Grass-Fed Beef Cheek, Brisket, and Smoked Beef Tongue Hash - sounds delicious, right? - came out cold, soupy, and just plain inedible. The beef was overcooked, the egg had been sitting out way too long, and there was very little flavor. The House-Cured Scottish Sea Trout & Mackeral Rillettes did not fair much better. While the sea trout concoction was pretty tasty, portions were just way too small to justify the $18 price tag. Not to mention, the bagel and accompaniments seemed like they were purchased straight out of Costco. The Coriander and Cashew Granola, and Organic Yogurt was also, sadly, a miss. The flavors just didn't work for me and there was way too little yogurt to balance the strong flavors from the coriander granola. The only sweet spot in my meal came from the House-Made Donut with Confiture du Lait. Probably one of the best donuts I've ever hard. Perfectly crispy/fluffy and with just the right amount of sweetness to keep you coming back for more. Overall, however, I left the restaurant paying ~$75 for party of two (and this was without alcohol!). Way overpriced for a brunch that was just mediocre. My advice? Walk a few blocks down to Cafe Luna to discover what a real brunch should taste like. You'll pay half the price and your stomach will thank you.

    (2)

  • Mel C.

    My first experience at Craigie was 3/5. We got the chef's tasting menu, and (possibly) because we are Asian, they decided to give us 8 courses of Asian fusion. I can't say it was bad, but it also wasn't good. Everything just tasted okay. The ingredients were really fresh, but they killed it with muted fake Asian flavors. For $150, I did not leave a satisfied customer (I wrote this on their comment card). So I was wondering why everyone loves Craigie when the food was just okay. I came back a second time for their Farm Fresh Event. The food was so much better this time around. No sriracha, miso, sesame oil, etc. It was everything you could expect from a farm to table meal, topped off with a delicious dessert. I'd come back again.

    (4)

  • Jennifer P.

    I came here once, about 6 years ago with my then-boyfriend. We both still maintain that the experience and the food that we had at this restaurant was hands down the best meal we have ever had. I do not remember every dish that we had, but I do remember that we enjoyed every last dish. They asked when we first sat if we had any requests for dishes and I asked for fois gras. It was one of the best fois gras dishes I ever had - light, fatty, but not overwhelming. The meal lasted several hours and the small intimate ambience of the restaurant was a perfect setting for our anniversary dinner. The price is nothing to laugh about, so you will definitely want to save up some cash to be able to afford this place, but you will definitely feel as the money was worth the price of the food and the amazing service that you receive here!

    (5)

  • Shefali R.

    Yummy pig tail. Three words I can say because I went to this place once. I can't remember anything else I ate.

    (4)

  • Brittany C.

    You don't need to see another four star review to know that Craigie is a classy, worthwhile establishment. BUT, having come to Craigie multiple times for brunch and dinner in the past few years, I can tell you that they are consistently good, and pretty much worth the money. Tips: Highly recommend the chef's whim! If you don't already know, this is a 4 or 6-course meal based entirely on the chef's, well, whims. And that's totally fine, as you'll try things that you wouldn't normally order. For instance, my boyfriend laughed at me upon learning that I had eaten olives and *liked* them, even though I vehemently claim to dislike and avoid eating olives. So, live and learn! Although there are vegetarian and omnivore versions of the chef's whim noted on the restaurant website, they graciously catered to my preference for pescetarian dishes. The monkfish/shrimp/lobster entree was AMAZING. The pumpernickel breadcrumbs accompanying my chocolate bomb dessert with beet coulis were also a highlight. There's a bar adjacent to the kitchen, and I also highly recommend calling them and making a reservation to specifically sit there. You can't do this through OpenTable. You basically get dinner and a show. Highly entertained. So why four stars instead of five? Well, while I was highly entertained sitting at the counter during the chef's whim, it did occur to me that the dishes came out just a *little* too far apart. If I was sitting at a regular table, I could see the timing dampening one's experience. But maybe that's just time to imbibe more. Also, the steak and eggs option has disappeared at brunch. This is humanity's loss, really. Bring this dish back, Tony! Then you'll have yet another five star Yelp review.

    (4)

  • Tamper J.

    I'm giving four stars; 5 for atmosphere and 3 for food. Really great site but the food just didn't do it for us. Why? One of us ordered a pork belly strip that was more fat than pork. I order a tilefish. It was ok but nothing fantastic, just kind of plain and average. Cooked fine but not much taste in the whole dish. I did order a side of polenta and, while super rich, it was very good. In the end, the banana bread pudding was good but nothing over the top.

    (4)

  • Alisa K.

    Craigie's 8-course tasting menu is heavy on the tasting (and $) and low on the taste, execution, and service. The only good part was dessert, which was amazing. Loved the beignets and lemon custard cake. My husband swore his semifreto was perfection but he coughed all over it before I could try it. We ordered the 8-course tasting menu. I went vegetarian; my husband and a friend went pescatarian. To their credit, Craigie was was very accommodating about our dietary restrictions (albeit requiring 48 hours notice). Perhaps it was just an off-day. Or the fact that we ordered the tasting menu. Or maybe vegetarian and pescatarian alcohol-free fare is just not their thing. All I can say though, is that if you're gonna charge over $100 bucks per person, you better be flawless in execution, taste, and especially service. I would give them one more chance because everyone loves them so much, but I'd probably order off their menu. If you are looking for a special occasion multi-course prix fixe, though, go to L'espalier instead.

    (2)

  • Alec S.

    There is really not much more to say about a place that's been reviewed by everyone and their mother. I've had the pleasure of dining at Craigie twice in my life. Both times I have visited I did the 6 course tasting menu. The great thing about the tasting menu is that it isn't set in stone. The chefs do an amazing job picking 6 dishes that will make your mouth water. If there is something you want on the menu, you can ask that they put it in the tasting. The first visit, I had to try the pig's tails and they showed up! They were amazing, of course. My most recent visit, we made sure the trio of pork was included as well. I love the confidence they show when you trust them to put together your entire meal without you knowing what you will be eating ahead of time. To be honest, I could not tell you exactly what my 6 courses were, but I can tell you the fish was all mouth watering, the pork was brilliant, and the desserts were gone very, very quickly. The servers definitely know their stuff. While your main server might not be the one to drop off each course, whoever does will tell you in full detail what you are about to enjoy. The cocktails are great, the wine selection is above average. The decor and open kitchen is an amazing concept. I'm definitely going to try and grab a seat that looks directly into the kitchen next time I visit.

    (5)

  • Aubrey G.

    From the food to the cocktails, everything here was exquisitely crafted and made from scratch. Even the ketchup and the pickles for the burgers! The Craigie burger is definitely a highlight and worth getting there early to eat. The pigtails were another (surprisingly) delicious dish. While pricey, if you want a fine dining experience with creative cuisine, Craigie on Main would be it.

    (5)

  • Craig D.

    (5) EXCELLENT! ~ Still my Favorite Restaurant!;-) * My Favs included the Octopus(best I ever had), Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream Tart & the german Lagerbier!:-) Great selection of "High Quality" Beers! And (4) superb Amuse Bouches to cleanse our pallets!;-)

    (5)

  • Yue Z.

    I had high expectations for this place, but found it in every way disappointing. We went for the Chef's whim on Sunday evening, which is a tasting menu of small dishes. Prior to arrival, they must've called me 5 times to ensure we were going and to clarify allergies. Then, when we arrived, we had to repeat the allergies answer at the table. What was the point of asking over the phone via 3 phone calls then? The service was quite slow. We had a reservation but still had to wait before being seated. Once seated, we were not brought any water or bread till 10 minutes later. Once we ordered, we waited at least 30 minutes before the first dish was served. The portions of the food are TINY. While I think the food was good, there really wasn't enough to make a proper judgment. You literally were served a bite of anything. While the Chef's whim is theoretically good value, with such little food, we weren't quite sure. I honestly think the lines of the menu describing the dish took more effort than the food. The wine list was decent but quite expensive. The cheapest bottle was $50, which is sold for $20 in retail shops. While we had a good time through ordering 2 bottles of wine, the food wasn't really up to our expectations at all.

    (1)

  • 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.

    (5)

  • Stephen C.

    We've lived in Boston for about 5 years. This was the best meal my wife and I have had in the city.

    (5)

  • Jenny S.

    i heard Craigie was THE PLACE to get a tasting menu so that's just what we came for!! love the "home-ey" feel of the restaurant the staff is SUPER professional & observant of their patrons, they noticed us eye-ing the counter where you get front-row seats to the open kitchen, SO they asked if we wanted to be moved!! great experience.... they also made sure to only bring out the next course if both of us were sitting at the table! so why 3 stars? although some of the dishes were good, this tasting menu fell short of expectation compared to others i've had in NYC.. i'd probably stick to ordering a la carte here! 6 course tasting menu (since they say the 8 course is A LOT of food), even the 6 course seemed like a lot due to all the freebies! ---basket of fresh assorted iggy's bread!! like the sourdough rolls the best!! ---amuse bouche: trio of seafood! salmon, razor clam w/ dashi sauce, & pickled herring w/ beat puree ---kompachi sashimi w/ asian pear, pickled mustard seed & pine nut puree: not bad ---monkfish w/ hoisin sauce & chorizo plus chorizo oil: a very meaty fish w/ little flavor ---house made whole wheat spaghetti w/ sea urchin & mushroom: MMmmmm this was one of my fav dishes! ---braised pork shank w/ quinoa & cargine puree: the MAIN course to share! this was SUPER TENDER & enjoyable... as was the quinoa! ---apple sorbet w/ straciella cheese & candied celery: (complimentary pre dessert palette cleanser) refreshing ---(they gave each of us a different dessert) sour cream cheesecake w/ gingerbread foam & candied orange .. this was a little underwhelming.. & chocolate mousse w/ white chocolate miso ice cream ... i enjoyed this one much more ---toasted barley marshmallow over apple cider (on the house) i heard they only offer a limited number of burgers per night & i didnt even see these on the menu so maybe i'll come back to try that!

    (3)

  • Bob B.

    Nice restaurant but very expensive for what you get. Had the chicken for two and it was excellent, but being honest I have to say I was only moderately impressed. Service was a bit slow as well. Waitress was very nice but brought us an app we didn't order and when we pointed that out she took it away but still charged us for it. A bit bush league.

    (3)

  • Jon H.

    After living in the area for years and hearing so many great things about Craigie on Main, I finally gave it a shot. There is really nothing wrong with Craigie on Main, in fact my experience there was quite nice. The service was good, the food was good, I wasn't huge on the ambiance but I get what they are going for with the open kitchen and everything. The only problem was the price - $260 for two people, including tip, and a bottle of wine. Take away the bottle of wine since a bottle of wine can cost just about anything, and the bill would have been $200 with no alcohol. If Craigie on Main was really the mind blowing experience that so many people claimed it was, then I would have no problem paying $200 to go there (again, that would be $200 for two people with no booze). But really I'd put it on par with other places in Boston where two people could escape for around $100. I kind of feel terrible giving it 3 stars, because everything was actually quite nice and the food was delicious. Bottom line though, is that I would go back to a place that I rated 4 stars, and would not go back to a place that I rate 3 stars, and I just won't go back to Craigie on Main because of the inflated prices.

    (3)

  • Judy L.

    10-course tasting menu. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. One of the best tasting menus I have ever tasted. Omg. You get to put in requests for what you want to see on your tasting menu. Or else it's entirely up to the chef's mood for the day. But it would usually involve some seafood trio, more seafood dishes, and a protein (the server mentioned it's often beef bone marrow or lamb). We requested pork belly to be included per other yelper's recommendation. I WAS SO HAPPY. My favorite things: - squid noodle (sounds weird, right? tastes amazing though) - lamb 3 ways (the chef came out to explain the dish!) - kama (fish head. correction. GIANT fish head :) my fav) - scallop sashimi - epi baguette bread! - champagne foam on the sorbet sidenote: apparently if you are douchey enough, you can get a discount. The table next to us complained about the price after they had completed the entire meal (! with multiple courses!) and the floor manager came and offered them a free meal for the next one. If only they would award the good-behaving people like us! Alas, we were way too happy with the meal to even attempt to fake disgruntled-ness to schwing for discounts. Downside: distilled water was $7! why?

    (5)

  • Joanna F.

    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.

    (5)

  • Grace C.

    I've been here twice - I came here because my friend was in town. Her brother is a regular here. I came a second time for my birthday with a friend. She knows her food, so I thought that if my taste buds were pleased, she'd at least like it. Duck fat roasted brussel sprouts, and bone marrow filled me up and I really thought there would be no room for the burger. The burger was huge but it was so good the steak potato fries were perfectly seasoned. Whoever gave them the title of "best burger in MA" definitely got it right.

    (5)

  • Philip G.

    Went there on a hot Friday evening at 5:30 pm. The A/C couldn't keep up and it was fairly warm inside. Service was attentive, but the pacing of the meal was strange. The appetizers came out quickly then there was a wait of more than 30 minutes for the main dishes. They kept stocking the breadbasket so the four of us filled up on way more white bread than anyone should eat. Everything was good but not commensurate with the prices. I would say that the whole experience was on a par with Henrietta's Table at the Charles Hotel, which is dramatically cheaper and a lot more functional. Maybe I was spoiled by going to O Ya earlier in the week.

    (3)

  • Katy B.

    Had a delicious meal, and was VERY impressed by how KIND everyone working there was. Went with two friends; we shared the $10 bone marrow special as a "starter"--greasy, fatty, salty goodness! And a bargain price for a very generous portion (three bone shanks, so each of us got one good serving). My friends had the burgers and also really enjoyed them. We ended with dessert--goat's milk sorbet that was a nice mix of sweet and almost tart (goat's milk) and a DELICIOUS mascarpone with almond crust. In many ways, a lick-the-bowl-clean good meal. I also recommend the signature cocktails. Between us we tried three or four of them, and each of us enjoyed our drinks. We ate at the bar, and Anne, our bartender/server, was wonderful. She was kind and patient when I arrived worried about getting in the burger orders on time, provided excellent advice re drinks, and let us enjoy a break between dinner and dessert without pressure to either order more or get out of the way--on a Friday. The other bartenders and servers were also great. I'd never had bone marrow before and the woman who brought the plate over very nicely explained how to eat it. In addition, as I observed the waiters, hostess, owner (?) during the evening, I noticed they were always polite, nice, and observant of what people needed, giving the whole restaurant a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.

    (5)

  • R B.

    Yup, it's the real deal. The whole snout to tail thing (and yes, get the pigs tails) done really well. We got the smaller tasting menu, yet other little things kept coming out of the kitchen so it ended up being 9 items instead of 6. All really well executed, well paced. The room was draft when we first arrived, but warmed up and was quite loud by the time we left. Well worth the $$$.

    (5)

  • Stephen L.

    Update - We were able to return to Craigie on Main for a second visit and I must say that the second time around was much, much, better. Once again the service is definitely excellent (we didn't have an issue with the service the 1st time, it was good then as well). Greg, our waiter, was very personable and had a very good method of checking in, while not being intrusive. He was knowledgable on all the food items and did a great job. The cocktail i tried was very interesting, in a good way. It was some sort of agave/tequila based drink, with a very smokey flavor. I would recommend it, although it's very different from anything else. For our starters, we had the friend pigs tails and the asparagus (a new dish). The fried pig tails were very flavorful, hot (yay) and had a very interesting flavor from the peanut sauce. The asparagus dish wasn't quite as delicious, but was still good. The asparagus themselves were very very fresh however. As our reservation was at 5:30, we were quick to point out we would like one of the burgers, which Greg put on "hold" for us. They did not disappoint and were quite delicious, along with the home made ketchup and fries. For a desert, we had some excellent local cheese and then were treated to some spiced hot chocolate. All in all, a much better experience the 2nd time around which leads me believe that our first experience was perhaps a fluke. Kudos to Craigie on Main management for reaching out and making things right, I'm glad we were able to return and enjoy a nice dinner here. Maybe we will try the brunch next!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:30 pm - 12:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet, Garage, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Craigie On Main

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