John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House
33 Dunster St, Cambridge, MA, 02138
John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House Menu
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Apps & Snacks
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Serious Salads
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The Entrees
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Brew House Classics
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Spent Grain Pizzas
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John Harvards All Natural Gourmet Burgers
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Pub Burgers
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Specialty Sandwiches
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Desserts
Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Healthy Meal suggestions for John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House
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Apps & Snacks
-
Serious Salads
-
The Entrees
-
Brew House Classics
-
Spent Grain Pizzas
-
John Harvards All Natural Gourmet Burgers
-
Pub Burgers
-
Specialty Sandwiches
-
Desserts
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
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Address :
33 Dunster St
Cambridge, MA, 02138 - Phone (617) 868-3585
- Website https://www.johnharvards.com/locations/cambridge-ma/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Loli L.
It's alright. I think that maybe John Harvard wasn't that much of a beer drinker because his beers weren't all that noteworthy- or maybe it's all understated and conservative on purpose. It's not bad. It's just not altogether phenomenal. It's just beer. After seeing an enormous burger delivered to another table we opted to split one and a spring mix salad with the herb vinaigrette. The burger was fantastic - perfectly thick, meaty, juicy = basically everything a good burger should be. The fries were good and the salad was nice (loved the vinaigrette!). All in all, it was a nice, dim, quiet-ish, spot from all the hustle and bustle.
(3)Elizabeth G.
Come on guys, this place isn't so bad! The pizza crusts contain spent grain from the brewing process. Although a bit gimmicky, it's a fun little touch and it actually tastes good! This place also has ultra-trendy items of the moment such as three varieties of baked mac 'n cheese, and fried chicken with waffles. I've found the food to be reliably at least OK, and sometimes even better than average. Not bad, because I normally hate pub food. It makes me sad that some people dislike their beer so much (Jason J). The sampler is a fun way to try small helpings of five different types of beer. Maybe my tastes are unrefined, but I really enjoyed the pilsner (with a nice buttery taste), the pale ale (on the sweeter side for a pale ale, with floral instead of bitter hops), and especially the Bad News Brown ale (full of hoppy, caramelly deliciousness) on a visit last week. I wasn't so fond of the Irish red ale and the Black Watch stout, but this might just be because I don't like nitro. It seemed to give these two beers a weird undertone, and it might just have been that they were served a bit on the warm side. If you're looking for dinner in Harvard Square and you don't want someplace fancy and expensive (Rialto, Henrietta's Table, Upstairs on the Square), or someplace casual and ultra-cheap (Clover, Boloco, Otto's), or someplace that sucks (Om, Harvest), then John Harvard's Brew House will do you just fine.
(3)Monique S.
When you walk into this place, you feel like you're heading into mass. Once you get downstairs, you find a dark, typical pub. i sat at the bar (no food). The drinks were very decent. You can find a good beer for a little over four dollars. And mixed drinks are around five. The stained glass decor kind of makes me feel a pinch of Catholic guilt, but besides that, it's pretty cool to see the fermentation tanks. The crowd is lively and the service is ok, nothing to write home about but no complaints. Next time I'll try a sampler!
(3)Nicholas S.
Definitely decent food, and a meal here won't cost you more than $25, including beers. It's a great place to bring a lot of people because they're almost always willing to accommodate a big group on short notice. I'm not a huge fan of their burgers, but everything else is decent or good. Service can be a bit slow when they're very busy, but usually it's good, too.
(3)Ryan W.
All right, so my tastes have changed a bit since I wrote my first review for this place, and I can now see why people think it's so lame. (I also know that it was kinda lame of my sig. other, now ex, to take me there all the time... but as they say, hindsight is 20-20!) Nowadays, I'd recommend that folks who simply want good beer and cheap food go to Grendel's Den, where the beer is just as good and the food is cheaper. Those who want a "nice" dinner should get a real reservation at Upstairs on the Square or Rialto, where the atmosphere's much nicer and the service is much better. Those who want tasty craft beers should head to Lord Hobo or Cambridge Brewing Co. And those who want "something for everyone" should go to Trina's in Inman Square. John Harvard's hasn't done anything wrong to deserve this downgrade, per se; rather, I'm the one that's changed, and so has Boston. Now, we know enough to know we can do better.
(3)John C.
I can't bring myself to write an in depth review of this place. the food is meh. typical bar food. it's not bad, but it's not great either. the brew isn't half bad. i had the sampler and prefer their dark offerings over their light ones. nothing too special, then again, neither is havard square. it's there because of the name and the fact that it's one of the larger bars in the square that can hold lots of harvard students.
(2)Gaven C.
They have a great beer selection, friendly service and they make a great Cuban sandwich.
(3)M See Y.
Came here w/ a group of buds. Good beers. Food was ok. I didn't like my chicken pot pie. Not enough flavors... the chicken were in huge chunks (I mean it was 'use your knife' to cut the chicken). We all shared food so the dijon chicken was 'ok', and the baked fish was 'ok' (too dry). Everyone else got burgers & those seemed to have gone over well. I am sure we'll give this place another try becos of the beers, but I hope other items are good or damn good becos the pot pie was a let down! akk!
(3)Heather G.
I had an unfortunate experience here during my first visit to John Harvard's. I met some friends at the bar for a few drinks and ordered a glass of Shiraz. After a while, we decided to get a table and so I settled my bill at the bar. The bartender told me my wine was $9. My friend looked at me and said, "That better be a good glass of wine!" It did seem a little expensive but oh well. So I gave the bartender a $20 to pay for it and he hands me back $6. I call him over again and tell him that I gave him a $20 and he asks me how much he gave me. I tell him $6 and without flinching he says, "Okay, I owe you $5" and gives me the money. Despite this, I still leave a tip at the bar. My friends and I go and sit down at a table. When I get the menu, I notice that the Shiraz that I ordered was actually $7 not $9. So back to the bar I go to tell the bartender that he overcharged me. He does not seem remotely surprised and again says, "Okay" and gives me $2. I consider myself a reasonable person. Although I was somewhat suspicious the first time miscalculated, it is possible to make this oversight twice? I think not. So now I am irritated and decide to tell the manager. The manager comes over and respectfully listens to my complaint. He asks me if the bartender was rude to me (No, he was not. Indifferent but not rude) and says that his miscalculations were probably not intentional. For the remainder of the evening, when I order drinks, the manager brings them to me instead of the waitress and this is coupled with various employees walking past our table intermittently to glare at me. It was really classy. The whole experience was shady to me and I won't be returning to this establishment anytime soon. To anyone who does, I would highly recommended verifying your bill to make sure you are charged appropriately for your order. After having a conversation with a colleague recently, I learned that John Harvard's attracts a lot of tourists. All I can say is they are probably make a killing by overcharging tourists. I am giving it one star for the following reason: 1) I think the manager did a decent job mitigating the situation and 2) the spinach artichoke dip was not bad. Oh - I forgot to mention - when we got the bill at the end of the evening, my friend realized he had also be overcharged by the bartender for his drink too. Yeah, it was probably not intentional. My bad.
(1)Meka A.
Nothing to write home about here. John Harvard's is a very average establishment. The food is decently priced, but just OK. The menu doesn't win any awards for creativity and is what you come to expect from a pub. The ambience in the bar is nothing special. I've been here four or five times and that's four or five times too many.
(3)J S.
honestly, this is my first yelp review ever. I felt that strongly about my recent visit here. S.O. and I used to frequent John Harvards, good beer, decent food. We were excited when it reopened after renovations. Holy crap. I understand restaurants go through changes, but the menu has been gone over with a hacksaw. The best dishes are gone, and what's left is overpriced and not worth it. My experience--we were seated in the "pub area". When we asked about the delicious bread they used to give, they said "oh, that's not in the pub area, only in the dining area"... there is a dining area? no one told us. We just asked for a table for 2. Drinks were fast, but the waitress couldn't tell us accurately what our beers were (we got a sampler). We ordered, it took over an hour for our food to come. The waitress even stopped by, saying "oh?! I'll check on your food!" Food was unimpressive, but not any worse than pub-bar places. I ordered a specialty burger, which was supposed to come with many things on it... and I got a cheeseburger. I held off eating and finally flagged a waitress (20+ minutes later?) and asked "hey, isn't this supposed to have bacon/relish on it?" She said no. I didn't have a menu and am a wimp, so I said ok... but on further review...yes. It was supposed to have both, yet had none, and we were charged 13.00 for it. We ate, anxious to leave at this point... and, it took another 45 minutes for the waitress to even notice us to get the check. While we were seated quickly, this dining experience took us about 3 hours of complete mediocrity. I used to really like this place, but I really hope others give it poor reviews to let them know that the changes are most unwelcome. I certainly wont be back unless it changes again.
(1)Allison F.
This place has been a favorite of mine - until tonight. I orderd what I considered a classic for John Harvard - the chicken pot pie. When is arrived I was surprised. It did not look like the pie I remember. Where was the big flaky crust? It looked more like if the pie I get from the grocery store in the frozed section. The filling was tasty, but about about an hour later I am regretting ordering it. Not sure we will be going back there soon, but if we do it will probably be for a beer.
(2)Connie S.
Cavernous brew pub in Harvard Square offering your typical selection of pub food, but with quality and freshness that is generally a cut above the typical Boston bar scene. Appetizers are solid, as far as deep-fried and cheesy things go (the Nachos in particular are hugely portioned), and same with the Burgers. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Salads are are just as tasty: the Green Pueblo Salad had fresh spring greens and the chicken was remarkably moist and flavorful. And if you're looking for an alternative to beer, last time we made a "Eureka!"-level discovery of the Blueberry Vodka Fizz, a delicious cocktail that contains quite a bit of liquor but masks the taste well. A great place for larger groups, really nice servers, and a wide array of options for both dependable bar food and less greasy alternatives.
(3)J T.
In 1768, John Harvard's grandson and 'black sheep' of the family Willie "Blind Dog" Harvard settled into a profitable apprenticeship with a local blues man known as Augustus Mcleary. Mcleary, originally from Scotland by way of New Orleans (which was at that time still known by its traditional name of 'Wampawampcott") worked between gigs as a blacksmith just outside of Boston. Blind Dog learned the blues bagpipe from Mcleary and also helped out with the blacksmithing. One day, as legend has it, Mcleary severely burned his hands fashioning a ceremonial sword for Blind Dog's father, Thelonius, who was the mayor of the young city of Cambridge and would later become a famous revolutionary war captain in the Continental Army, serving under George Washington at the battle of Muddy Creek. Mcleary, his hands ruined for bagpiping, reportedly cried to the heavens "Aye, what have ye done to me hands!? I do declare. I say, What have ye done to my hands, I swear." He had a big gig coming up at John Harvard's Brew House and knew that his reputation would be ruined if he did not perform... Hearing his mentor in despair, Blind Dog sprang into action. He practiced the bagpiping night and day for three days. On the night of the big gig he disguised himself in one of Mcleary's kilts and, bagpipe in hand, walked onto the stage at the Brew House. In the first row, unknowlingly watching his disowned son, was Thelonius Harvard. Blind Dog knocked them dead with wailing bagpipes and more than a little kilt fluttering (for the ladies, or at least for the men to tell the ladies about later, since women weren't allowed in the Brew House until 1967.) After three solid hours of soulful bagpiping, Blind Dog was carried on the shoulders of the crowd, set down in front of unwitting Thelonius, and embraced by the mayor-father. Standing in front of his father, tears welling in his eyes, Blind Dog tore off the fake beard and mustache and sank to his knees. "Father" he cried, "It is I, Blind Dog. Do you know me? Can you forgive me for the transgressions of youth, and welcome me into your embrace not as a soulful bagpiping blues man, but as your son?" Thelonius, speechless, raised his son up and embraced him once more. A cheer went up from the crowd and many tasty beers were served, including a fine summer ale that goes well with a burger. Blind Dog went on to manage the Brew House that bears his grandfather's name for 40 years. He never again touched a bagpipe. As for Mcleary, legend has it he recovered from his burning and went on to raise sheep in the great wilderness to the north, and later to found Dartmouth College.
(4)Karen R.
The service at this place is absolute crap! On Friday, six of us went out for dinner here. Everything just moved a snail's pace: we waited almost an hour for a table, then waited quite a bit longer for our orders to be taken, then we waited some more for bread to arrive, then even longer for the appetizer to arrive, and even longer for the actual food to get there. Nevermind the times we asked for more water/drinks and the ridiculous amount of time we waited for those things. Lastly, as if the waiting wasn't bad enough, the waitress at one point kicked my chair and never said boo about it. The only saving grace was that the food was decent (certainly nothing special), but we might have been happy to eat anything as long as we waited. Definitely not planning a return to this place any time soon.
(2)s c.
I'd been to the basement tavern several times before this summer's renovation. Food was usually fairly good, nothing special, in a dark tavern. We gave it a try after the reno on Fri. While the place is much brighter, sadly, I have to cross this Harvard Sq establishment off my list. I ordered a cup of lobster bisque which was the soup special. There was not a single speck of lobster, and the thick soup was so salty it was barely edible. I had the steamed clams, which were also super salty. My tongue felt numb eating them, but since that was all I ordered, I ate the clams. My colleague had the free range chicken, which was also too salty. This was really disappointing.
(1)Usha L P.
Went for a post-graduation lunch celebration and it was a great time: The Chicken BLT (recommended by our server) is the best I've ever had in my LIFE (grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, grilled naan bread, herb mayo) and I would seriously consider driving from NYC to Boston just to have it again. The Chive Whipped Potatoes were pretty good (I would have liked a little sour cream on them, but that's just me). Fellow diners had the N.E. Clam Chowder and were thrilled by it. Another had the Pressed Cuban and was so enthralled that he did not speak for the entire duration of his meal (a World's record by his own admission). I'm not a beer drinker but I did enjoy my Mai Tai ;) Great ambiance, classic (and classy) decor, friendly service, and rockin' 80s tunes lol so that just sealed the deal for me =)
(4)Bobby H.
So my friends and I come here a fair amount (I ususally forget to check in before I go in and since it's underground I get no service) and before the renovations the place was decent. I probably wouldn't have hesitated on a 4 star review. However right before they closed and since they reopened it seems like the service has taken a turn for the worst. Last sunday myself and 3 of my friends went here for dinner. Now I'm going to preface this by saying that there was an october fest event type thing going on in there. So I'm sure the Bartenders were working overtime as well as the waitstaff probably had an extra influx of people. This factored into this review; which is the only reason it's getting that second star. So first off we get there. Get seated very quickly considering the amount of people. Thats where the good part of this night ended unfortunately. We didn't see our waiter for at least 10 minutes maybe more. Didn't even introduce himself so it's not like we could find him and ask for drinks. No, drinks were ordered the second time he came over to the table, about 10 minutes after the first time. So thats' over 20 minutes just to get the drink order in. That's a bad sign in any place. So we put in our orders (since we've had plenty of time to decide) along with the drinks. Well the side order of fries and the chicken wings were meant to be part of a main meal. Not appetizers. They came out first. However the the chowder that was ordered as an app. Didn't. We didnt see that until the rest fo the food showed up OVER AN HOUR later. This is not even mentioning the fact that our drink order was messed up multiple times while we were waiting. I don't know what more to say except that when we did get the main order of food, we had doubles of the chicken wings and the fries since my chicken wings were now totally cold and the fries had been eaten by everyone who was waiting on the apps they actually ordered, including the chowder which got there cold. So there it is people. I miss the old dark and speakeasy feel of John Harvards and I also miss the better service.
(2)Jason J.
I've tried to like this place, I really have. On paper, it sounds like a magical place...Its a brewpub, so it must be magical, right? Nope. After my third time here last night, I won't be giving it any more chances. First off, their beer is horrible. Out of the five or six beers that I have tried here, every single one was dry, uninteresting, and simplistic. For some reason, I don't think they understand how to keep their beer cold, either. Every beer that I've been served here was probably 10 degrees under room temperature. Yum. If the owners read this, fire your current brewmaster and hire someone who knows what they are doing. Take it from a homebrewer that is a massive beer-nerd: don't go here for the beer. But what about the food? It has to be good, right? NOPE. Ok, I lied. The chili nachos were okay at best. They had clearly been finished by the cooks sooner than the rest of my table's entrees and were sitting in the kitchen until all the food was brought to our table. It was also nearly room temperature but this time 10 degrees above. Not to mention the nachos were soggy. How hard is it to mess that up? My girlfriend's pan seared tuna salad was questionable as well. I sincerely cannot believe she did not get food poisoning from it, however I'm positive she has worms from it after seeing the quality of the fish. Oh, the service here doesn't come close to making up for all this. We waited 20 minutes to get our menus, another 15 minutes to get our warm beers after ordering, and then didn't see our waitress until after we finished eating our entrees. I'm convinced the other reviewers who like the beer have only drank bro-beer up until going to John Harvard's.
(2)Elle C.
Perfect night out.. Appetizers: boneless buffalo wings with blue cheese, nachos, and calamari. The Calamari had a mexican food twist to it almost. The nacho's were so good that I saw them on another table walking in and decided to order them. I had the blonde beer and then the buffalo buffalo wing salad. So yummy and perfectly spiced for me, which means mild but I was sweating. I would def go there again if I was in the hood. 6 of us ate, drank and got aps for $160, not too shabby.
(4)Michael S.
Sorry John, not so good. I got Fish and Chips and was expecting hand battered cod and some good chips. I got 1 very small frozen fish stick and some soggy frozen French fries. Very disappointing. The tartar sauce was bad too, it was not homemade, but rather Heinz bottles sauce. I would not recommend. Maybe the other food is good? But fish and chips was on par with Long John Silvers. On the other hand, the bread and dip was really good! Thats what got it a second star.
(2)Izzat A.
Went here after visiting Harvard. It's got a really cool ambiance and is very Boston pubish. I got the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and it was very very good. Portions were huge so I couldn't finish it but damn is it worth trying. Service was quick and friendly. Would recommend to try it out for sure.
(4)Laura H.
I have two words for you: Chocolate Cobbler. Yes, I realize that John Harvard's is a brew house. Yes, I realize that they are known for their beer selection and pub food. That's just nonsense. The reason to go to John Harvard's is obvious: layers of chocolate delight, served warm, topped with vanilla ice cream and a raspberry drizzle. (Yes, I memorized the menu. Sue me.) I typically substitute caramel or chocolate sauce for the raspberry, as I'm not a big fan, but it's amazing. I have them wrap up half my meal at the beginning to make sure I have room for this. Incidentally, the burgers and steak fries reheat much better in the oven than I would have expected. I also appreciate John Harvard's beer selection - there's always good stuff on tap, and I usually like the seasonal beers. The Gourmet burgers are pretty good. I order mine medium rare, and I get it medium rare, every time (I shouldn't be surprised or impressed by this, but I am). The service does leave something to be desired at times, but we go in a big group, and I try to understand that big groups can be difficult (especially considering some of the people in my big group). But the chocolate cobbler is what gets me there regularly.
(3)Kat V.
The food at this place is pretty good - from the basic burger to the most unique thing on the menu, it is not bad. Really from food to cocktails, this place is almost worth 5-stars. So why 3 stars? The service. Service is SO hit or miss at this place. I have been here with with a 2 top and with a 16 top. I have been here at least a dozen times. I cannot seem to find any sort of balance. It either sucks to bad I want to walk about before my food even comes or I want to close my night there and tip my server 40%+ because they were so awesome. How is that even possible?! Sometimes it is even the same server on the opposite ends of the spectrum! I mean people have their good/bad nights - but man, reign it in folks! If I was that moody at my job it would not fly! John Harvard's - I love your cider's, I love your Bobby Orr window, I have brought my parties to you, please stop making me regret it and have to the walk of shame as I leave....
(3)Shendi X.
Commercial in a not *not* Applebees sort of way, but surprisingly personalized (stained glass! Excellent design and décor!), and solidly good food and beer. I arrived for the experience of novelty, and that I did receive.
(4)Jim S.
Im a bit conflicted on this place. Harvard Square needs more combo bar/pub/restaurant places that are reasonably priced. Charlie's is the only cheap place left in the square. Daedalus and Grafton Street type places are very good, but not inexpensive (in this context). John Harvard's used to fill this niche, but now they renovated it (why? looks similar), made the menu smaller, and raised the prices. I find the food good but not spectacular - more to the point, what's to keep people coming here if their prices are creeping up toward the better places
(3)Amy B.
Solid beer, solid food, solid service. I don't like every beer at John Harvard's, but most of them are a pleasure to drink (and the ones that aren't seem to be a taste issue rather than a quality one). I enjoy starting off with a beer sampler and then having a pint of my favorite. If you order a sampler at a table, they bring it in a neat paddle-shaped rack that is space-efficient. At the bar, we got the traditional long wooden racks. The bartenders and servers seem knowledgeable about the beer and have been able to make good recommendations when we've asked. We used to get appetizers here all the time when I was in college (over 10 years ago now) and I remembered the food being pretty good. Recently we came for dinner and it turns out my memory was correct. Our buffalo wings were excellent--meaty, crispy, and well-sauced. I had a chicken caesar salad and my husband had a pulled pork sandwich with fries. The chicken caesar was pretty standard--neither the best nor the worst I've ever had. My only complaint about it is that I think my shaved parmesan came from the end of the wedge, since it was waxy and not very flavorful. I enjoyed the fries I sampled, too. After peeping what other diners were ordering, I'm looking forward to having a burger here soon. I particularly remember liking the quesadilla here in college and will order that at some point. Service here is usually good, but I want to call out our waiter Subhash for exceptionally good service when we ate dinner here. He struck that perfect balance between being attentive and overly present. We never wanted for a thing. Despite all the good things I have to say about John Harvard's, they're still a 4 star for me for now. Everything here is good without very much being excellent. They'll never let you down but they'll also rarely excite you. We also had a disappointing experience here when we came with a large group (maybe 12 people) including a friend from England. Our friend is in his early 30s, and the people in our group ranged in age from 25-32 (so no one borderline for drinking age). John Harvard's would not accept our friend's international ID as proof of age and required a passport, which he did not have on his person at the time. I want to say that I do understand and appreciate that JH's needs to protect itself from serving under-aged drinkers, and in a conceptual sense I guess I'm glad they have strict rules in place. It just felt a little ridiculous to have our 30-something friend with his beard and his hologrammed, state-sealed English drivers license denied a beer. We ended up skipping John Harvard's that day. I'm not lowering my rating because of this experience--as I said, I do understand why they have these rules--but I wanted to mention it in the hopes that other international visitors will bring their passports.
(4)Kara C.
Solid spot for a beer. The food is just so-so, but that's not why you're going to a brewery anyway now, is it? I recently discovered that they have a 90s band playing on Thursday nights. They are very open to requests!
(3)Brian D.
The beer is always pretty solid, and I love doing the beer sampler to try the new seasonals. But what I think makes this place pretty special is that the food is actually consistently good. I've tried a lot of different things, but the buffalo tenders, burgers, chicken salad sandwich, and mandarin chicken salad are all standouts. The prices made me give JH's 4 stars vs. 3. In Harvard Square, where EVERYONE and their mother jack up the prices, JH has stayed pretty reasonable for the students, which I appreciate.
(4)Corey H.
This place was aweful. Went with a group of 6 people on a Tuesday night for a couple drinks. We got sat at a faux bar so we were all seperated quite far. The place wasn't very busy but plenty of regular tables open. After being sat, we waited 20 minutes before someone came up to let us order drinks. To my suprise, this place offers 5 beers.... thats all.... They are all their own and they are all close to bad. We waited another 20 minutes for 6 drinks. Then another 45 minutes until we saw our waitress again. Forget ordering another drink... The only thing that kept this place from getting 1 star was the large dining area which would be good for large groups and the live music that was going on. Don't go here....
(2)Alma C.
not a bad watering hole to down a pint or two after class. good wings & fries, prompt service, no complaints.
(3)Meghan M.
"Meh".... That's exactly how I felt after eating here. The food was okay (I had a bit salad with beans, veggies, etc.) but lacking in any real flavor. The beer was okay too but really nothing any more special than a Sam Adams or something. I was expecting more of it since I've been to some pretty fine breweries with some pretty fine brews but I was pretty disappointed. There are many other places in Harvard Square that I'd rather try or revisit.
(2)Mindy L.
I've tried the burgers, I've tried the chicken pot pie...I've tried the mac'n'cheese...but what keeps me coming back is the meatloaf. Yes, that big slab o' meat, stuffed into a pan and made famous by Mom's all over the country...it's tasty. It has a taste of the grill which I find to be unique and the sauce they tastes like a smoky BBQ with a bit of spice. Plus...I'm a sucker for mashed potatoes...and they make a mean mash. Sadly, the place is just too noisy for my taste, especially on the weekends. While they have an interesting selection of beers, including home brews, it's just not enough for me to justify more than a once-in-a-blue-moon visit.
(3)Amelia M.
I've been to John Harvard's three or four times, and they really do have some wonderful brews. The food, though, is just okay -- nothing mind-blowing, but nothing remarkably poor either. Just sort of vanilla. The dark, underground, grotto-like feel in the middle of busy Harvard Square is a nice little novelty at first, but the windowless cellar-like atmosphere gets a little old after a short while (especially when you leave a couple hours later to find snow on the ground). A good place for groups and quick stop-ins, but not one of my favorites, especially not in that neighborhood.
(3)Nicolette T.
Walking around Harvard Square and I was craving some good pub food. Walking into the restaurant, down into a darkened bar reminded me of what it felt like to go to Cheer's, super cool! We sat at the bar, service was a little slow at first. I went with a burger, can't remember the name but it had bacon and cheese. I remembered this time to ask for medium rare, I always forget and end up getting well... The food came before our water and place settings but the food was good. The burger was perfect! The accompanying steak fries were divine and the portion was more than enough. I tried the spiced apple mojito, interesting and tasty.
(4)Alfred K.
Its great for happy hour. They have their own brew and has a great atmosphere.
(4)Stephanie H.
chill place to grab a pitcher of beer with some friends for a thursday night. good service. no clue about the food. nothing spectacular but its nice to be at a place where my friends & i can actually hold a conversation without yelling over others or the music.
(3)Ryan M.
John Harvards -- it's a great place to hang out with office buddies after work, or to bring the family to when they're doing the tourist thing in Harvard Square. Decent beer, decent food, decent prices -- the place is a good, solid, three stars and worth a visit. I highly recommend their appetizers -- I had the nachos and the onion rings (with a fabulous horseradish/bacon sauce!) I've had a couple of their hamburgers. Nothing surprising or unusual about them, just good beef and delicious toppings for $8-$13. The location is great, and the place looks like "authentic-ey" Boston. Like I said -- great for the family when they come to visit in Cambridge, but I wouldn't go there just for the food.
(3)Meghan P.
It is a VERY rare case that I leave a beer unfinished. Even a cheap can of Pabst is usually finished to the last sip by me... my boyfriend and I could literally not get through more than 4 ounces of one of John Harvard's home brews though. It tasted like smoke and fire. Actually, smoke and fire would probably taste better... and they tried to charge us $3.75 for 10 ounces of it! Because they were out of the 5-beer sampler for $5.50 with all the Harvard versus Yale football game business, we tried to create our own sampler with the two remaining beers. The ale was alright but our waiter charged us $4.50 for the 10 ounces of ok-ale and another $3.75 for the smoke beer. Luckily, he listened when I explained this was unacceptable... (he was super nice too!) Our food was mediocre. I enjoyed the shrimp salad but it definitely could have used way more greens and came with only 3 prawns! My bf tried one of the premier burgers and both the patty and bacon were undercooked. He unfortunately left the restaurant feeling a bit queasy... However, I have to add a star on for some old-school John Harvard's college memories. John Harvard's used to boast a 1/2 priced appetizers night. The nachos, bbq chicken quesadillas, and spinach/artichoke dip were so delicious! The restaurant would get so packed with Harvard's social crowd grabbing apps and drinks... I would HIGHLY recommend re-instating this great weekly tradition!
(3)Sidney A.
I used to love this place before they remodled and changed everything, including the menu. The new renovations are gorgeous but the new menu is missing some of their best items. They still have their Pot Pie which is delicious but they used to have a macaroni and cheese that was to die for. The rest of their food is pretty good. They also have great beer. Not a bad hang out spot but I'm just not to fond of the menu anymore.
(3)Mark O.
The brewpub beers here are pretty sub-par. Maybe it's my inner brewer coming out, but saison shouldn't taste like cat pee. I've never sent a beer back before I came here. Most of their in-pub offerings taste as if they're not cared for well - oxidized, grassy, and even dirty glasses; If I was running a brewpub, I'd make sure every glass of beer looked the way I wanted to drink them, which means a clean glass. I also had my food order messed up the two times I came here - asked for chicken Parm and got chicken pot pie both times. I'm a hungry kid so I ate it, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)Lynette S.
4.5 stars actually. I am in love with the chicken ginger sauce appetizer and the chicken pot pie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! try them :) service was awesome by the way. didnt get our server's name but she was wonderful :)
(4)Mollie T.
Go there for the beer. John Harvard's beer is some of the best craft beer in Boston, but it's often over looked due to the restaurants touristy reputation. Go in, sit at the bar, order a sampler and a sausage appetizer. You'll be very pleased.
(5)Lynn C.
i think Julia F hit it home when she said this place is nothing to write home about. Big place with a very good pub ambiance. Pretty busy for a saturday night, but we didn't have to wait too long for a table; everyone seems to just eat and go. Lot's of beer on tap. Nachos for appetizer and the guacamole was amazing. I got the au poivre burger and it was pretty dry I asked for medium and it came out medium rare. I didn't enjoy the whole green pepper corns but the lemon garlic aioli was good. No one else seemed to have enjoyed the burgers they got either. My bf's burger came out rare instead of medium rare. I regret having finished that 1/2lb burger because i made a bet with my friend (who is twice my height and is like 80lbs more than me) that i'd finish my burger before him. I lost, despite having eaten the entire thing...I did, however, win in the who can stay out longest without a coat contest. What an immature night... service was decent, so was price. not something i'd pick to come back again, but i can see why it would be great for a group of people to grab some pub grub and get their drink on.
(3)Steph C.
Wound up at John Harvard's at the end of a long day of eating and drinking after the Harvard-Yale game, and continued to eat and drink. It was packed, though I don't know what the place is like when it isn't swarmed by out-of-towners. We were seated in a cozy downstairs booth. Service was prompt and unintrusive. I got my vodka diets fast. Food was good. Comfort food/fancy pub fare. The mac and cheese was fantastic, as was the bread pudding with ice cream. There were also some notable Asian "crispadillas," which are these fried tortilla things stuffed with chicken and drizzled with plummy gingery barbecue sauce. Pulled pork sliders were tasty too. If I lived in Cambridge, this could be a regular spot for me.
(3)Paige C.
for boston its good pitchers of beer hard to find but you find it here! I've been to John Harvard's a number of times, and I have never been disappointed. Sure it's touristy, but it also has some of the cheapest beer in Boston, and the entrees aren't bad either. Tell me where else you can get pitchers of good beer for a decent price? This is where it's at.
(4)Brad P.
We are in Boston every year for a swim meet and our team always goes to John Harvard's. I have ordered several different items and types of beer and I have loved everything I have ever gotten there. My teammates all feel the same way. The atmosphere is fun and casual and the food is awesome especially the burgers.
(5)James B.
I used to hang out here a bit in the early aughts when I lived in Boston. I recently moved back to the area and was pretty impressed to see that this place has stayed consistently good. Food: The menu is pretty typical bar food - wings, sandwiches, etc. - but the food is definitely not an afterthought. I can't recall having something here that I didn't like. Beer: If you like your Guinness/Bud Light/Nationally Available Beer and that's what you want, then don't come here. JH's brews a wide variety of its own beers, and they're generally pretty good. I almost always get a sampler and usually have a hard time picking just five or six beers to taste. Service: The wait staff knows its beer and doesn't talk down to you while describing the beer list. Service is quick and attentive. Physical space: Wide open basement area with a lot of room at the bar and even more tables. Even then, it's tough to get a seat in either place during the weekend, but you can say that about pretty much any place in Boston worth going to. The parody stained glass windows are a good conversation starter. Overall: A solid 4/5 stars. Maybe not a great place for a first date since it tends to get loud, but a great place for meeting up with friends. Prices are also pretty reasonable relative to the area.
(4)Ben L.
Flies, in December? All about the bar were small houseflies. Not the tiny, black fruit flies that should have died-off months ago, but larger, brown flies. And, let's face it, if it's dirty enough for flies, that can only mean one thing: it's dirty enough for maggots. The employees seemed not to take note....or they were simply used to it. Used to the flies or not, I wouldn't think that anybody could ignore the smell of filthy dishwater. However, it wafted about as a rag soaked with it was used to wipe-up crumbs and water rings, though it left its own spots. Beyond that, a sickening, fetid smell can be detected behind the bar, somewhere near the sinks. It's the sour, rotten smell of spills untouched. Top it all off with sticky menus. The brass here may be polished, but this place desperately needs a deep, professional cleaning and a more intensive maintenance routine. The bartendress was friendly enough, though the slow afternoon had her bored and leisurely. She was distracted by conversation with the waitress in the even-slower dining room, and myself and other new patrons waited a bit too-long for service. The beer I ordered was flattening, metallic, and salty. Whether this is due to tap water, dirty lines, a bad batch, or overall neglect, I cannot say, but better-than-commercial-bottle it was not. The food was so-so, but if the kitchen is even half as clean as the front rooms, it's still too filthy to be making food in. I had the buffalo tenders, and while they were the best part of my experience, they hardly stood out, though I admit this is a plate that leaves little room for uniqueness. Fries were good. To sum-up, the place was dingy, dank, and lazy, but without the redeeming qualities a smaller, denser, equally-rotten "dive" can have. The result is a too-large, too-empty hangout for folks looking to dig-in on Harvard Square without really digging. Considering it's a chain, I'd guess only tourist and bridge-and-tunnel money keeps it in business, and only because they don't know any better, and it misleadingly has the word "Harvard" in the name. My advice: if you need that big-pub vibe, or want to escape the crowds lined-up outside the local gems, go for UNO.
(1)Mary B.
Blah-dom. This is the kind of place where after the first time you go you think, "Hmm, not half bad" but then after the 2nd... 3rd... visit you kind of see it for what it is. It's your basic college pub - yes, even Harvard has one of these. It's designed for people that want to drink a lot of beer and don't mind being herded into an overly large dining area and eating mediocre food. The beer selection isn't that great in my opinon - there are usually several options of their own brew but none of it is that exciting. The service is slow and absent minded and the food is over-salted, under-flavored boring fare. For a brewhouse, you expect a bit more from the food than the usual random pub. I do enjoy the stained glass, though. I look at it while I'm waiting 45 minutes for cold nachos and think, "Holy crap."
(2)Van N.
Awful! Burger buns dry and stale, soup was a gloppy mess, served wrong beers, service horrible and management was not service oriented.
(1)Michelle K.
The food here is gross. If you're looking for a place to hang out with your friends, drink beer, and socialize, then it's a great spot! Don't come here to eat though.
(1)G Z.
I have been here before for drinks but never had the food (oh except for that soft pretzel that one time, but how do you go wrong with that. Especially when I'm certain it was pre-made like most of their food). Returned for a sit down meal next to what looked like a children's birthday party which was terrible when you are trying to relax on a Friday after work...but that's beside the point- they can't help that. The beer is good..the food was forgettable and regrettable. I got a salmon dish and my boyfriend got the fish and chips. Very small portion of fish and chips. My portion was also very small for the price and the asparagus was tiny, overcooked, and soggy. THEN a picture falls off the wall onto a table where an elderly couple was sitting (nobody was hurt but it was a giant picture and it was incredibly loud and shocking for everyone seated near them). The entire place went into a frenzy. Please, save your money and go somewhere else in Harvard Square.
(2)Colleen M.
Two of my favorite things melted into on: buffalo chicken and mac an cheese. Holy smokes. So good. The service was awesome. My ice tea never was empty. I hear their burgers are awesome. My boyfriend got one and it was pretty tasty.
(5)Annette A.
So I haven't really been disappointed, but I've never really been impressed. This is just an beered-up version of TGIF, complete with restless and annoyed staff members who often seem to make it clear they could be doing something better. For a brew house, the beer isn't that amazing. Most taste pretty generic, but I'd recommend trying on the sampler before you come to the same conclusion. They have a nice deal where they bring out 6 or so smaller glasses of their top brews of the day. This place would be great if they really pushed their claim-to-fame as a brew house instead of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades.
(3)Sarah G.
Expensive. Expensive. Expensive. John Harvard's is extremely crowded as well. Customer service is not great either.
(1)Ryan H.
I liked John Harvards. Lately I've refused to read a review of a place on yelp before i go because i feel like they are never accurate and you get a bunch of kuncklehead reviewers who have terrible taste. John Harvards was a solid place. The beer selection was bad but what they have is good. The prices are fair and you get a lot of food. I tried the spinach artichoke dip, onion rings, buffalo mac and cheese and the jalapeno burger. Our server was great.. He made great recommendations on everything.
(4)Thomas N.
have been here several times and was always pleased, most recently during the oktoberfest celebration in harvard square, beer was very good (the spiced ale) burger was excelent and the buffalo chicken salad very good (though it might have been a little too spicy for some), service was pleasant and quick, so over all we were very pleased
(4)Melanie T.
Meh is right. All the food is mediocre, it smells musty inside and the carpet is really dirty. Burgers were bland, salad kind of small, grilled chicken really dry. Beer is ok. Waitstaff has little personality. It's not much better than a Friday's except that it has its own beer and it's local. Otherwise, meh. There's lots better in the area. Worst part is the crazy step going to the bathroom. Beware.
(2)Maxwell W.
John Harvard's is definitely good. It was made infinitely better though when my friends and I booked through Harvard Square happenings ( harvardsquarehappenings.… ). Dinner and drinks for us was $50 off! Pretty good deal.
(3)Sarah L.
- The beer is good, BUT the food is really pretty terrible. - They let you sit forever even if you're not running up a huge bill, BUT the service is not attentive or even particularly present. - I actually like the venue (plenty of space and it's not too
(2)Adam E.
Took forever to get some disgusting food! This place has really gone downhill.
(1)Christine S.
This place is pretty solid. A great place for beers and burgers, and it's large enough that you probably won't have to wait long for a table (if at all), even if you're with a large group. Also great if you're with a lot of indecisive/picky people, as the menu is pretty big. I really like that it has a large bar section with tables if you just want to go in for a few drinks and not be pressured into ordering food (although you can if you want). I love being able to sit down at a table with my drink and not awkwardly stand around a crowded bar trying not to bump into people. the stained glass windows are a nice touch.
(4)Dana B.
Let me preface this by saying that I didn't even bother to try the beer. Not for any reason in particular, I just wasn't feeling it on this particular night. John Harvards is located in the garage section of Harvard Square, but you wouldn't know it once you walked in. The colorful hair and piercings tend to stay out the basement where JH is located. The prices on the menu seemed on par with most places that are the step up from being a chain. Their menu offers a variet of foods. I ordered the BBQ burger which was standard fair. Cooked the way I wanted and delicious, but I've never met a BBQ burger that I didn't like. I thought it was also strange that we were there for a birthday and upon telling the waitress, she did nothing. I'm not saying that we wanted anyone to sing, but the majority of places now a days bring over a complimentary dessert of some type. When we told our waitress she just said "I know. I overheard" and walked away. awwwwkkkwaaaarrrrd.
(2)Maria V.
I really like the burgers here, so yeah, no complaints on the food. The atmosphere is rather dungeon-esque though. I get that it's supposed to be brew-pubby, and you kind of want dark and broody, but I half-expected to see a rack on the wall and some iron maidens in the corner. The homebrew beer is hit or miss. I wasn't too impressed with my selection, but I've only been here once. Definitely tell your server what kind of beer you like so they can recommend something for you. Compared to the description I was given by the server, the beer I actually received wasn't even close. I drank it down, kind of puzzled the whole time if this was actually the beer he meant to bring us. Main complaint was that service was a little off. Not that I expect servers to bend over backwards for you or fawn all over you, but ours really did seem like he did NOT want to be there. A bit puzzling really.
(2)Jo B.
I cannot understand why anyone would waste their money here. Yes, it's cheap for Harvard Square, but if you're in the mood for beer and bar food, spend a few more $$ and go somewhere awesome like Russell House Tavern. The food at John Harvards was awful, even by bar food standards. And, they were out of 2 of the beers (they only have a handful to begin with). Maybe that was a blessing in disguise as they were out of the one that Mark O. said tasted like cat pee. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is that the service was great. The servers were all smiles and I was asked several times, by servers who weren't my original server, if I needed another beer. Gotta love a waitstaff that wants to keep your pint full.
(2)Daniel M.
I dig this place. They have veggie-friendly options, beer, and hot waiters. What more can you ask for? The atmosphere is that of a smaller pub even though the restaurant is remarkably spacious. I like the dark wood and the fact that they manage to keep the place clean. I've never had bad service here. From the friendly hosts to the consistently hot waiters (hello tattoos) everyone seems to enjoy working here which comes through in the service. If you're lucky like me you might even be able to dine across from a table of zombies (apparently brains aren't their only desire). It's nice to see an establishment treating zombie-Americans with the respect that they deserve. Their party wasn't shoved in to a secret back room, no. They were allowed to dine out on the floor with the living. Well played John Harvard's, well played.
(4)Josh M.
In essence, John Harvard's is hit-or-miss, but when it's good, it really hits the spot. The beer: All of the beer that they serve is brewed in-house. At any given time, they usually have about 5-6 different varieties on draft, but their rotation changes very frequently (they offer a five-beer sampler, which is a good way to keep up with all of their new offerings). The quality of the beer ranges from mediocre to pretty good. For such a small brewing operation, they come up with some impressive, creative beers. That said, it doesn't quite hold its own with the better craft breweries. They also have wine and a full bar, but I usually stick with the beer. The food: Standard pub fare, but generally quite good. The burgers (particularly their specialty ones) are great, almost on par with the nearby Bartley's. The pulled pork sandwich is also excellent (and VERY filling). The fish and chips and cuban sandwich are also good, and they usually have a few entree specials that are a bit fancier than the usual pub fare. The service: It really depends on what server you get. I've had everything ranging from totally awesome to inattentive and a little bit rude. But it's usually passable, particularly if you're sitting in the restaurant section (in the bar section, the service can sometimes be very slow). They also have some goofy rules regarding where you have to sit if you want to order drinks at the bar. Go figure. So, while not perfect, John Harvard's is still a great, relaxed place to grab a meal or a beer (or both). I've had enough really good experiences there so that the few less-than-stellar ones don't dissuade me from coming back.
(4)Lauren G.
Solid food- great atmosphere for watching a game! So the atmosphere is very pub- which is great for watching a game (any game... baseball, MNF or basketball... take your pick). There are TV's everywhere so you can catch the game while catching up with friends. The food is actually, surprisingly good... to the point where I have actually come for a casual lunch that was not related to any kind of sports viewing... The hummus is pretty good and the burgers (there are lots of options... take your pick) are also tasty. The service is pretty good and they do a good job of ducking when the sports fans get rowdy. It can be a bit crowded but overall a great place to enjoy the game with friends and get some surprisingly good food!
(4)Rebecca R.
John Harvard's is synonymous in my mind with one thing: buffalo chicken mac n' cheese. Think spicy chunks of juicy chicken and bleu cheese mixed in with creamy, cheesy, bread-crumby pasta goodness. My roommate and I have been coming here on monthly dates because we just can't get enough. Beer selection is plentiful and I've never tried any of their homebrews that I didn't like. Recent samples have included the Raspberry Porter (heavy, but delicious -- almost like a dessert beer) and the Holiday Red (only available during the Christmas season). Best of all, if you become completely obsessed with any of their seasonal beers, you can purchase jugs of the brew to take home. Not a bad way to shake things up from your normal Sam Adams six-pack. :-) The only reason Johnny isn't getting five stars? Service at JH is a mixed-bag. Many of the servers I've experienced here have been super friendly, but others have been equally as blase or uncaring. I just visited on Valentine's Day with a group of girlfriends and, granted, the place was mobbed, but our silverware and waters were basically hurled at us and it took more than a half hour to place our order. Boo.
(4)Michael G.
We were a large group, 8 people, and it took 10-15 minutes for them to seat us...in an empty room with about 10 free tables. The food was really oily. I had the Cajun chicken pasta, and when I was done, there was a pool of oil in the bowl. If you like oily food, knok yourself out. The boneless chicken and wings are good.
(3)Susan D.
Thank goodness that I went to a free lunch today because I would have been very upset to have paid for that meal. We shared a bunch of appetizers. The fried onion rings had a weird grilled mark/taste and were cold. The calamari in a pool of red sauce were chewy and subpar. The nachos with cheese were decent, but how can you really mess up something like that. I tried the jumbo shrimp scampi with linguine. The 5 shrimp were large, but overcooked. The pasta and broccoli heads lacked seasoning and were in a tasteless butter pool. How can butter be tasteless you may ask? Well John Harvard's is a magician and make the best fat in the world taste like nothing. What a waste of calorie intake. I tried my husband's couscous that came with his tandoori chicken. I was expecting savory deliciousness, but it was SOUR and weird. Just terrible. Later that night I tried my friend's leftover mac and cheese with buffalo sauce on the side (??). It was good mac and cheese with pieces of chicken. Though do we need to have add anymore fattening processed favoring like buffalo sauce (which I actually love) to an already cheese-laden pile of carbs?
(1)Josh D.
This is our Harvard Square fallback - good burgers, excellent pizza (the buffalo pizza is the best chicken-pizza I've had anyplace), tasty beers and friendly service. JH's is the kind of place that you take your visiting Aunt and Uncle to, someplace where anyone can find something to eat, and that has lots of affluent-looking Harvard students hanging around... It's a nice place, with a nice crowd, that is predictable and easy. It's a layup, you can't go wrong.
(4)Kristen F.
I am all about local brew houses, but I have to say I'm not crazy about John Harvards selection. Had their wheat beer been available, maybe I'd feel differently. The good news is the bartender was super sweet and the space has a great feel. Easy to sit, stand around, or go with a large group (like the pub crawl I was with).
(3)Leslie W.
I went for a celebration dinner. One of Amy's friends was just asked to join the faculty of a major college. They figured that John Harvard's would be a good choice. The insides feature dark wood and sturdy chairs. I loved that. The menu features mostly burgers, sandwiches, some main dishes (American food), a few pizzas, a few salads and bar food-type appetizers. Both of the ladies got salads with teriyaki chicken. One made a serious dent into hers and the other finished hers off completely. (I love a woman who tucks into her food!) I asked for an Angus beef roquefort (sp?) burger. It comes with a pickle spear and steak fries. I'm not much of a fries kind of guy anymore, but I do love steak fries, especially when they are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. These were not those fries. Some were perfectly cooked, others were limp and had probably been sitting around for a while. I wasn't going to eat them all anyway, so me picking out the ones I like worked out ok. However, if I were truly hungry and wanted to eat more fries, I would have been super disappointed. The fries were dusted with some sort of seasoning salt. (Probably Lawry's) Chop up some garlic, parsley and some parmesan and dust them in that, and you would have some awesome steak fries. I didn't eat the bun on my burger. (It was a soft bread. The menu said kaiser roll but it reminded me more of potato bread. The burger patty wasn't too well seasoned. I asked for well done. It was well done. I couldn't taste the cheese at all. The carmelized onions didn't do much to add to the flavor. The bacon on my burger, however, was delicious. I wish I had asked for a BLT with that bacon. It would have been delicious. Our waitress was pretty good about keeping glasses refilled. This would be a good place for a birthday dinner. I noticed a smaller dining room to the side. I wanted to sit in there! ha ha The pizzas and wings I saw on other tables looked delicious. I think I just ordered the wrong things. Prices weren't unreasonable, either.
(3)Jolene S.
While I still agree that the environment here is as good as it gets for office parties and impromptu get-togethers in the Harvard Sq area, you should be prepared to spend some cash for standard American fare. Sometimes the wait for a table gets to be a bit long (when you're starving on a cold Friday night). But I'd still come back for good food in a relaxing setting.
(3)Eric W.
Asked for a car bomb. Was told "we don't do that." After a fifteen second delay, the bartender decided to explain "we don't have Guiness, we make all of our own beers. And we don't do drop shots." WTF does that mean... we don't do drop shots? NEXT!
(2)Devin C.
Went in with a couple friends on a saturday just for a couple beers, very cool place! Love the atmosphere! Beer was great! Didnt try any food but from what i saw it looks up to quality pub fare, I recommend stopping by when in Harvard Square, esp if you love fresh beer!
(4)Chuck M.
Service: Mixed results -- Hostess wasn't particularly interested in greeting me when I arrived; waiter did a good job. Food: Cuban sandwich -- Bread was good (light, crisp crust with a soft, but not too soft, center); however, it had a distracting coating of grease on the outside. Meat in the sandwich was cold. Fries were cooked well and served hot. I'm unlikely to eat there again.
(2)Meridith H.
What we have here is a perfectly decent brewpub. The dining area is extensive, the list of beer/wine is fair, and the menu is more extensive than it needs to be (3 options for fancy mac & cheese). Pricing is fair for the area and service was good; overall this is a good standby for dinner and brews if you're in the area.
(3)Lauren D.
The service is mediocre and the food is OK at best. But if you like flights, and you'd be crazy if you didn't, John Harvard's has a tasty 5-beer flight. After a few of these, ask the bartender for a Bud Light. They hate that.
(3)Lauren E.
I was surprised to see how nice this place is. Being in the basement of The Garage, I didn't expect much. The menu seems to have more than the usual "burger place" offerings, including some pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salad, and soup. I got a veggie wrap with hummus and feta on it. It was pretty good, though nothing special. Pretty "healthy" tasting. The focaccia they started us out with was really tasty, but very oily. Not many (or any?) vegan options, though there were many vegetarian choices. We went in around noon on a Sunday, and they had some brunch options on the menu. The crowd was mostly middle-aged and older, with some families, which surprised me in such a college/grunge building. I'd be willing to try it again on a day when I'm willing to eat more dairy.
(3)Judy P.
I was puzzled by why this place was so jam packed. Like, how? Why? Yes, food sucked!
(2)Bobby C.
They were out of the one beer I wanted to try. The one that takes a really long time to pour. It's like hiring a clown for a party and then finding out that all he does is cry about losing his kids because he can't stop drinking. It was just depressing. But the beers they did have were good. It was like finding humor in a crying clown. But still, I wish it was blowing balloon animals instead.
(3)John L.
It's okay, in that the food is good enough to consider going to again. That being said, service could be a bit more attentive (it took awhile to get served, which I can understand because of the big games on, but after that my friend ordered nachos without jalapenos, and the overcooked nachos she got still had them), the beer selection could be better updated (the one I tried to order based on their beer sheet thing was not in stock), and the TVs could all be on the same feed (I understand that it's a little tough, and not really a big deal, but when one half of the bar knows what's happening before the other half does watching the same game, it's a little offsetting). It's a decent place for groups, but it does have its issues.
(3)Molly N.
Beer is good, food is just okay. I've been here a few times and most of the food I have had has been okay or good, but the hot dog was shockingly bad. Every part of that hot dog roll was so salty that I couldn't eat more than a few bites. Just gross. The burgers are good, though, and the appetizers are appetizing :) Colonial Ale is my favorite of their brews. It has this awesome bready aftertaste. Super yeasty and hearty, but not heavy on your stomach.
(3)Courtney B.
I came here with my friend for some drinks. When we arrived the bar was packed. It took forever to get a drink and find a place to chill out. Fortunately, they have a full bar, and the bartenders are friendly. I ordered a Washington Apple. It was stronger than I last remember, so they don't skimp on the alcohol. Also, a little tip for the single ladies: this is not a place to meet men if you are female. At least that was the case the Friday night I was there.
(2)Kathy A.
Decent beers and food, but nothing special. They have pretty good appetizers and burgers/sandwiches. The prices are reasonable and the service is generally pretty good, but I HATE that this place is down in the basement. It's so dark and unappealing. I think there are definitely better restaurants/pubs in the Harvard square area that you should try before this.
(3)David R.
I've been here three times with some friends, and I've gotten a little different result each time. Once I got seated almost immediately with five other people at a great table and had great service the whole evening, until I left. Recently, I went with one friend, and while we were able to seat ourselves because it wasn't busy, there was minimal service to speak of. Our beers sat empty for far too long. Plus, regardless of price, the beer selection is unimpressive. A few beers that I believe are unique to the location, but none of the common ones - Sam Adams, Stella, etc. that I love! I think they stock six different beers. Not good for a bar. Food is not bad, and the dinner menu is much more expansive than the beer menu. I've had something different each time I've gone, and haven't been disappointed yet. Chicken, pasta, burger, all somewhere in the middle between McDonald's and Capital Grille or Ruth's Chris. Not bad. I like the atmosphere of the place, but when I was there last, there was a group all in Halloween costumes making a scene at the bar, not far from where my friend and I were sitting, and there was nothing done about one who was dressed like a referee and blowing a whistle... or one who was dressed like goodness knows what and was speaking through a loudspeaker. Not a good addition to a night out watching the game and having a couple drinks. Overall, I'll be back, because despite some occurrences, it's a good place to go and hang out with some friends.
(3)Katharine T.
Decent Place. Went here with a big group, and the food was good. The server could have come by more often for a table our size (20+)... she couldn't manage to keep our water glasses full. The food was good though!
(3)Luyi H.
Still holding to the 2 stars for this joint. Sat at the bar this time. Wow. It took an eternity for the bartender to notice us....so that instead of getting second rounds (b/c the beers were quite tasty), we left and went to Charlie's Kitchen instead! Whoo.
(2)Ali E.
Came here with a group of 16 and they put us at a HUGE round table in the corner which was great, tho you couldn't really talk to the person across from you without yelling. So it got a little loud. Buffalo wings were ok (not particularly hot, but i'm a wimp so i'm ok with that) and pretty decent beer for the price (the Gold was pretty boring, the Pale Ale was good, the Provision better). I ordered the cod, which came with assorted veggies, mussels and sausage. Like I said earlier, i'm a spice sissy, and as a result it didn't really matter what kind of fish it was, I couldn't taste it, just the sauce. The sausage was more flavorful in combination, whereas i think cod is better when there's not a whole lot else going on. Not terrible, but nothing to write home about. EDIT: I bumped it up to 4 stars due to the stellar trivia night on mondays. Yes, you're competing against Harvard kids but at least you can beat them in beer consumption. Get there before nine to snag a good table (with a view of the ridiculously adorable quizzo announcer). The music is good, and you're learning while you're drinking -so that makes it totally ok that you're out on a monday. It's educational.
(4)Séamus C.
Yes, its touristy, but I've always had a great meal and brew. Right in the heart of Harvard Square, making this a fun place to visit.
(4)Heidi s.
We stumbled upon this place for lunch since we had an hour or so before our tour of Harvard started and I'm glad we did! My husband loved the beer and had a huge burger, free-range, organic yummy beef, cooked to order. I had the steak sliders with roasted peppers and blue cheese, which was great. We had Boston Creme Pie for dessert, because...we were in Boston. The service was fast and friendly.
(4)jazzy l.
A hyped up brew house downstairs in the "THE GARAGE". Caesar salad - bleh New England Clam Chowder Mushroom burger
(3)Jazzie F.
MAN does this place suck. I went to John Harvard's for the very first time ever in 2002 or something like that. I was impressed and happy since I didn't know much about beer then and was glad I had been there. Then recently in the past year or so I have been there 3 times (or more). Service, is horrible. It's not exactly the service, the kitchen staff is really bad so the wait staff is really bad. I get the same food. Generic Veggie Burger. It was horrible. My friend got Nachos, they were missing cheese! Like seriously. It was sprinkled cheese just on the top. Hello they're supposed to be nachos. I paid a lot of money to eat there, unsatisfied. Service is horrible. No beer is worth that much effort w/ no result. The beer IS mediocre at best anyway. I have been to better breweries w/ better service.
(2)Purvi R.
This place is big! Really big! They were very accommodating for our group of 12, when we came here in the middle of a bar crawl to get some grub. And the waiter was really nice, and made sure we had full drinks and got everything together just fine. Oh, and the price is right here for dinner - everything is reasonable... ...but mainly because it's not that exceptional. Yeah, everything here was just ok when you really think about it. Boring menu choices, almost NO vegetarian choices (I think I got some falafel dish that was dry and flavorless). Kind of a random crowd of families, students, and old folks. With the breadth and depth of places in Cambridge, and brewpubs in both Cambridge and Boston, there's really no reason to come back here for me. I did appreciate the service and ease of making a group reservation though.
(2)Ann N.
I went here for a quick bite to eat and drinks before going bar hopping around Harvard Square, and I really enjoyed it. For me, the ambiance of a restaurant/bar is really important, and this place is great. I love the lighting and the feel of it. It was quite crowded on a Friday night, but not packed to the point of being uncomfortable. The wine was delicious, and the burger and fries were also great. Our waitress was extremely attentive--she remembered all of our orders, and kept coming back to refill our water and replace our drinks. I'd definitely recommend it, and will come back in the future.
(4)Cy K.
This place has a big bar area - making it a favorite for groups. However, the food here is horrific. Every time I've come, the food has been so bad I've never made it more than halfway through a dish no matter how hungry I am. From hot dog wraps to the humble chicken sandwich these cooks take the time to cook each meat to carbon and the servers let it sit in the window long enough for the enter mess to gel into one solid mass by the time it arrives in front of you. Now I just try and drink enough Guiness to comprise a meal.
(1)Francesca R.
As John Harvard's is a block from my work, it is very often the default for work-related get togethers or, since I usually get out of work later than my friends, the meeting place for a random mid-week casual dinner. Although it is a chain, I think it succeeds in feeling unique (as much as darkly lit pubs can feel unique) unlike, say--Uno's, which has a stale energy and where any ambiance is completely diluted by pandering to the lowest common denominator. I think this cozy, friendly feel to JH is in part to the homebrew, which as it is made right on the premises means there is always going to be an individualistic style to the beer. And also, the staff at this particular location (I don't know about elsewhere) is particularly friendly and adept at their jobs. They sell the food and the beer with understated aplomb - everything just feels likes a helpful suggestion rather than an aggressive upsell. The menu is a little hit an miss but you can't go wrong with the crispadillas (sooo good), spinach & artichoke dip, clam chowder, fish & chips, and all the burgers. I like the beer, and the wine menu is decent (no unheard of bordeaux that will change your life or anything, but not vinegary plonk either). Definitely good consumables and great service. I think the best recommendation I can give them is that having been here at least twenty times in the past four years, I've never had a bad experience.
(4)Mike A.
We came in as a group of six for a few drinks and appetizers after hanging out on Cambridge Common. There was a group in the restaurant of about 15 string musicians sitting together playing some fun folksy stuff that really put a nice touch on the atmosphere. Cool! Three of the six of us asked to pay separately (two bills, please). The waiter said, "oh, I thought you guys (all 6 of you) were friends?" And then proceeded to walk away! Then a 7th friend walked in and joined us at the table a few seconds later, and decided to order his own pitcher "on my own new tab, please." The waiter didn't comply - he instead rang it up on our previous bill that he brought out. And then proceeded to say "I thought you guys were all friends, that's why I put it on the tab." He then refused to comply with our simple bill request. For the second time! We grudgingly paid the single bill and started to make our way out...and before we could even all stand up, a bus boy was literally slamming our chairs back under the table and clearly scoffing at us. Such snotty service anywhere is not acceptable, even in the world capital of snot. We were considering bringing a weekly group of 15-20 people here regularly, but our service has forced us to continue to look elsewhere.
(2)Bill N.
started with the hummus plate. Cold Pita and not much of it made the apetizer less than OK. Meg and I had sandwiches in Pita bread that were lumpy and were just OK. Joe had a pulled pork sandwich that he really like. My porter was $5 for a 12 ounce glass. The standard is a pint... 3 stars
(3)Marie C.
Pretty much everything about my Sunday lunch here was average. Our waitress was sweet, the service was fine and the food was OK. Nothing really stood out for me. John Harvard's strikes me as a place I'd go back to if I was already in Harvard Square and hungry for some typical "American" food. I probably wouldn't get on the T to come here, but if I was in the neighborhood, I wouldn't avoid it.
(3)Jason H.
A pleasant underground brew-pub which sells decent beer and good food. The beers are about on par with what you can expect at most chain brew-pubs, although the selection is a little weak...Expanding the choices would be a nice touch. The food is actually pretty good considering its a chain and I love the bread and oil combo they serve up... This place has a nice comfy feel inside with the dark wood and stone & stained glass windows. Definitely a place to try and conveniently located to everything cool in Harvard Square.
(3)Tony P.
Been here a couple of times, never too impressed. Still returned recently, due to the convenience of location, and that fact that it can accommodate large groups. Meh. Slow service, and apparently a medium rare steak means a well-done here. The beer on tap was quite alright though.
(3)Brian M.
John Harvard's is the place you go in Harvard Sq when you're not up for the 'keeping up with the cool kids' vibe of Charlie's and you can't be arsed going anywhere 'nice' It's adequate, never terrible, never great. Last night's meal was a case in point; great fries, good ribs, terrible (terrible!) coleslaw. The g/f's chicken quesadilla was tasty but curiously...protestant - the dour Anglo-Saxon version of Mexican food. It made me think "somewhere out there, there's a better quesadilla than this..." The service is nearly always good - our host was friendly and helpful when I asked for a different table. The servers tend to teeter on the edge of chain restaurant automaton but are on the ball and don't leave a man thirsty. During term time it tends to be full of students with poor social skills but it's worth bearing in mind in that I have never, ever had to wait - there's always something,even if it's stools at the bar. The beer is pretty good, as should be the case for a brew pub, but a bit bland - honestly, if you put a gun to my head, I couldn't describe one of them.
(3)Opal L.
I'd like to give this place a fourth star but the food is just not that good. Most of their dishes are either lacking in flavor or just too oily. The one good dish I would recommend is the meat loaf. It's the kind of meal you would expect to eat in a brew pub, right? I had the cuban sandwich recently and it was very oily for some reason. However, if you want some good beer, this is a pretty good place for that. They have their own brewing facilities. I like to have the sampler, which is made up of five little glasses of their own brewed beers. And finally, the reason I'm giving this place only three stars is the fact that it's a little noisy. When there's a full house, it's very difficult to have a conversation at your table. Then, sometimes they do something oh so lame, they have some kind of microphone set up with some loud mouth yelling out trivia questions or something. You can forget about saying anything to anyone at your table without screaming at the top of your lungs. They could put some kind of carpet or soft insulating material on the walls to absorb some of the sound. I don't think it's gonna happen though.
(3)Lisa R.
Update: Okay, so after coming here several more times, I have to say that the beer is a disappointment. The last couple of times I wasn't crazy about it anyway; last night they had a strangely small beer menu, and then they were out of 2 of the beers on it. Another thing was that the "pulled pork" sandwich was simply awful. It wasn't even pulled . . . it was chunks of meat that was FULL of fat and gristle. The barbecue sauce was alright, but the bun was stale. I don't think I'm going to come here again.
(2)Nicholas K.
Pretty standard stuff here. I had a burger and one of their in-house beers. The burger was decent and probably clocked in at 5000 calories. The beer was above average but there are better brews around. The service was pretty bad. They get extra points for brewing their own beer, but overall this place is pretty standard, and almost touristy. It isn't as expensive as you'd expect, but it isn't cheap.
(3)K G.
Went in here on a Friday night at around 10PM and it was just over run. We couldn't get seated after standing around for 15 mins. Then we decided to just go up to the bar to order drinks and they didn't have time for us either. We tried another part of the bar and still failed. This is the most under staffed place I have ever walked into. You enter and walk downstairs into a dungeon-esque room from years past. Very dark, very loud. It seemed to have an impressive beer list and that was the attraction, but it was just out of hand. After around 30 minutes of roaming in here with no luck to even get one drink we left. Good idea, but pathetic execution.
(1)Dawn E.
don't really know why anyone would give this place less than 4 stars... and it truly deserves five. The in house brewed beers are some of the best I've had, and the food is worthy of a visit, even for someone who isn't' a beer drinker. Even the bread they start you off with is fantastic, and the meal only gets better with every bite. Anytime someone comes in from out of town I take them into Cambridge to eat at John Harvard's. (At least the folks I can't get to go for more pricey or exotic eats.)
(4)Michael A.
The food is good the beer selection is good. The service was excellent. We had a private function in the back room and everyone working at John Harvard really took the time to help us. If you're looking for a not so noisy place he may want to try somewhere else. John Harvard brewery will validate if you park in two of the parking garage is nearby. The chocolate dessert with strawberries was quite good. A scoop of ice cream on top would not hurt.
(3)Thomas O.
Nice atmosphere for both either grabbing a drink in the pub area or sitting down with friends for dinner. Haven't had any bad experiences with the menu, but definitely would recommend the Shepherd's Pie...mmmmmmmmm. Live music pretty much every night with Trivia on Monday nights to start the week, which is nice since Monday's are usually dreadful.
(5)Lindsay M.
If my friend had not introduced me to john harvards, I likely would've missed this gem! It's become our "cheers" this term! The staff is all outstanding! Super polite and great service! The food is amazing the fries are top notch and the hummus plate everyone simply must try! I am so so on the spinach dip; it isn't bad don't get me wrong but it's a little too onion-y for my personal liking. Drinks here are top notch! Our favorite beer is the blonde, all the beer is brewed on site! Definitely a place you don't want to miss out on!!!!! Highly recommend
(5)Tim S.
The food isn't that good, sure, but after taking off a star for that, I only have good things to say about this place. I found the beer great and cheap. There was an IPA on tap when I went that was delicious, and I don't normally like IPAs. This is the place you want to hang out to avoid the Harvard yuppies (mostly) and get a great brew and watch a sports game. It can get crowded despite its spaciousness, and it can get loud if it is crowded. But overall, it lives up to its reputation: a spot where you can have a beer and watch TV with your friends. The service has generally been on the slower side, especially when it's really crowded, but it wasn't slow enough to get angry about. The wait staff is very nice.
(4)Holly B.
Being nice, 3 stars, Nice atmosphere. The wait - very slow with every and anything including water. Our waitress was nice but maybe new. Highlight - desserts. We tried all 3 and they were all good, not great but def good especially compared to the food. 5/7 orders were wrong and 1 was cold. We all ordered burgers.... How do you mess up a burger and how it's cooked?!? I had the sweet potato fries and they are made different than the usually and I personally did not like the mushy texture. Great place for college students/grads!! Probably will not return...
(3)Karina L.
A big peeve I have is when someone organizes a huge group dinner and insists on landing us reservations to a minuscule boutique restaurant for 10:30pm on a Tuesday. Sometimes, you need a place to hang out with a group of friends while not worrying about space, location, or noise. Always, there is John Harvard's. Decent bar food - the onions rings are huge, the fries are huge, the burgers are huge, the salads are huge and surprisingly not terrible. The beers (all brewed in-house) are fine and fun to try out. If you're looking to have your socks knocked off with cutting edge beers you're probably at the wrong place. But if you want a place for your friends (classmates, reunions, people you don't really care to impress, etc.) in a cool and spacious basement level bar (it's dark), then John Harvard's is a great choice.
(3)Dawn A.
I got the flat iron steak which was good. The cognac mustard sauce was really good, like finger licking good! My guy got the grilled meatloaf. Not impressed. I found it dry. He liked it enough and ate it, but I would never order that, based on my taste of it. I don't drink so I didn't try the beer, but my guy did. He liked his ale. It was busy here on an early Saturday evening but we got a nice table in the bar section.
(3)Kelly O.
Not bad for a local/homemade pint or two and a snack. I tried the Farmhouse Spiced Ale which tasted like fall in a glass, and split an order of the the mussles frites in a coconut curry broth, which were tasty but a bit on the salty side. The space itself is large and subterannean, good for large groups with a bit of a sporty, casual atmosphere. Boston Beer Works has a larger selection of homebrewed beer that's slightly better IMO, but John Harvard's is still a decent spot for the area.
(3)Celia Z.
John Harvard's was closed for quite a while due to renovation. Then it finally opened, not that I missed it to begin with. I first came here as a part of a networking dinner, when I ordered the grilled vegetables with a side of beer battered onion rings. Though I am personally not vegetarian, I can often judge the quality of a restaurant by the way it cooks its vegetables - the same care that goes into making vegetables taste good is often carried over to other dishes. Soaked in oil and grilled to perfection, with a mix of crunchy and soft vegetables, my dish was delicious. This complemented perfectly with the onion rings, in which the restaurant did a darn good job of. No wonder "brew" is in its restaurant name. Since then I have come here multiple times, for drinks and for food. The hummus salad was delicious, as was the very solid clam chowder and the chocolate brownie dessert (albeit they used cheap Edy's ice-cream). John Harvard's is a place for good pub food, though very much overpriced. A great place for socials, with a great casual atmosphere, if you're willing to pay the price.
(4)Rinaldo D.
I really like the beer selection here! It gets SUPER busy as its in Harvard Sq, but the early side of the evening is much more manageable. There is both a bar side and restaurant so the menu has options as such.
(4)Dan K.
Although this is a beer place I don't drink so this review is silent based on food and other restaurant factors. Love the atmosphere felt like a legit pub/college hang place with old school colonial/Euro feel. The location is really nice to right near/on campus. Everything was pretty solid. My favorite though was the Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and cheese. Some of the best Mac and cheese I've ever had and the buffalo chicken was surprisingly well meshed in with the Mac and cheese. Would definitely come back here if I'm in Cambridge.
(4)Andrew H.
I like that John Harvard's brews its own beer. There's a good variety of beers, including some great lower priced ones for those on a budget. I also like that you can get a salad instead of fries for no extra charge. Great for those of us trying to limit fried foods. I will complain about disabled access. There is a platform chair lift for customers needing help down the entrance stairs. But as I saw last night when elderly customers who were trying to visit, the employees had no clue how to operate it.
(4)David H.
Snooty crowd, great food! I really enjoyed their nachos here, one of the best in the area. I am not a fan of microbrews, and this month's selection did not impress me. As a matter of fact, I didn't like it. Plus the waiter was pretty rude to say the least and paid little attention to my poor table. When it gets to the point where I have to wave my credit card like a flag to pay for my meal, that's when I get scathing with these reviews.
(3)jessica s.
This is my first time here in about 10 years. I had a bad meal 10 years ago, so avoided the place ever since. I'm back for a friend's bday, and my meal was awful again. My quesadilla tastes like a jar of sea salt. Beer is good though! And the space is nice. Don't eat here. Also, some friends ordered food (salad and burger) and waited over an hour for it to arrive. Waitress hadn't even come back to take more drink orders. The place isn't very crowded, but it looks understaffed.
(1)Tamara W.
Any bar in Boston or Cambridge that doesn't offer hard cider other than Magern's doesn't deserve more than 1 star. There is Bantam, downeast, and so many other brands....................... until they get better hard cider my review stands at zero stars.
(1)kevin g.
I order drink from list and they don't have... I order "staple" BBQ ribs and they don't have??? Really!!!
(1)Madame M.
Decent place. Earned four stars because that was the best coleslaw I've ever had in life. I've never even liked the stuff... But that was really good.
(4)Tom B.
I watched Game 1 of the 2013 World Series at John Harvard's. The food was terrific and watching the game with 300 of your favorite Sox fans was as much fun as being at Fenway!
(4)Marie P.
I felt good walking in because of the crowd and the temperature, but the service was well below sub par. We ordered 3 pitchers of beer and had to wait for at least 12 minutes for actually glasses to drink the pitchers of beer in. Our group was hustled/harassed out beginning at 135. So yeah in not a fan of Boston bc public transportation closes so early, but when I'm willing to stay out late and pay a cab to get home, I expect to get FULL service until 2 am when they close. We weren't obnoxious or rowdy, just students trying to unwind and relax after midterms. Can't you give us the couple extra minutes?
(2)Kim B.
Gwynn and I had just done a 5 mile run. In the snow. Following that, we had an open bar, live band, post-run celebration. After showering and warming up, we wanted to go to somewhere in Cambridge, that wasn't ethnic food (it is really hard to find there), but could get good food and good beer. I would say this place had good food and good beer. I got the chicken fingers, and I LOVE my chicken fingers.These rank in the top 4 of chicken fingers I've had in the past 4 years. They definitely do not get the 1st/2nd place, but are in the 3rd/4th range. Very good. Gwynn got a salad, and it was mediocre. She had wanted the one with bacon and didn't get the one with bacon. They did however give her a large, and only charged her for a small. Either way, it wasn't good since it wasn't what she wanted. When ordering beer, I suggest not to get the 10oz, cus it really is just an oversized shot. Girls dont really notice the whole "oz" thing on menus, just the price. Definitely get bigger than 10 oz. Our beers were local and delicious (just small). Thankfully though, since I had to drive back to RI after. The atmosphere was really neat, kind of like an old dungeon/church, you felt like you had stepped back in time, but not in a bad way. The floors/tables/lighting was all up to scale, but the decorations/ stained class/ stone walls atmosphere was just... like you were there when Harvard started. Overall, it would be fun or a good place to go, when it wasn't 2pm on Super Bowl Sunday. Probably cool when lots of smart Harvard students were there.
(4)Keli K.
My husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food was here. We were just looking for a good place close by. The buffalo wings were the best I've had in this area! We also had the French Dip which is made with pastrami and it was very delicious! I was glad that I didn't see the yelp reviews before we stopped as we might have passed it by. Next time we are in Cambridge we will make sure to eat here again!
(5)Jenna L.
I came here with an old friend during off-hours on a weekend and it was so quiet. We did get pretty good service because of that. Anyway, as soon as you walk in you get a true tavern feel - dark, but still cozy. I dug the vibe. They were out of quite a few beers because there was a big party there the night before, so very limited selection. I'm not a big beer drinker so it didn't bother me much. I ordered the lobster mac and cheese, and it was pretty good - I couldn't finish the majority of it because it was so rich, but I would definitely order it again. Not bad at all. A couple of people I was with got the fish and chips which also looked pretty tasty. Overall, not a bad place (at least for food) especially since it's not rated very highly on Yelp.
(4)Caitlin M.
John Harvard's just changed their menu. They got rid of the salad I liked, but I had the chicken BLTA, which was pretty good; however, they did burn some of the chicken. My friend had the chili burger, which he didn't love. My husband gets the shepherd's pie which he always raves about. We really like the atmosphere and the beer is good at a good price. Try the sampler if you've never been, and then order a pint of your favorite.
(4)Jenn T.
Came here after they recently renovated the place. It's got a nice ambience with a whole new layout. We ordered a few pitchers of beer, which were all OK, but nothing spectacular. I got the lobster roll, which was very very tiny! It was packed with lobster, but the bun was basically a piece of toasted bread folded in half. It was tasty though and came with a LOT of fries. My brother got the pot pie, which looked pretty good. It was very hot and steamy but looked like it had a lot of veggies and chicken inside. We also got a ceasar salad too, which was good. Overall, the restaurant is ok, with simple bar food and homestyle cooking. The service here was a little subpar. Our waitress was a little slow with things and remembering peoples order as well as forgetting to bring out some of the things we ordered. But, overall decent for a place to grab a bite.
(3)Amanda F.
My husband and I are beer snobs. We have high expectations. We were excited when we saw this place while wandering around Harvard Square. Brewpub? We think so! The place is huge and we sat in the open seating bar area. Our first choice was the sampler. Not one beer was palatable. Everything about them seemed a little off-weird aftertaste, and almost burnt flavor in the stout, the pilsner was super bitter, the IPA and amber ale were barely drinkable. We each had two more ten ounce beers and neither one made us happy. I really don't understand how so many reviewers like this place. I would rather have had cans of Pabst. No kidding. I can't believe I just typed that. We had an order of nachos. Based on the menu description, we were excited. They arrived. Excitement faded. Guac tasted weird, again, like the beer, something was just off. The first layer of chips was decent, but, and I don't understand this about cooks who assemble nachos, the rest of the plate was cheese less, LAYER THE CHEESE, PEOPLE. We had a variety of servers and it took forever to get our bill. My husband had to ask the hostess to send someone to our table. I'd skip this place if I were you.
(1)Jay A.
Eh, I forget that this exists in the square. If you are looking for a place for a large group, then this is the space. It has a nook entrance that leads you to a deceptively large basement, where Harvard undergrads tend to avoid and instead is filled with locals? tourists? Very unclear who the regular audience is. Food is subpar given the range of standard bar food available in the Square. My review is based on random instances of group dinners. I have not had the chance to try the beer or attend a live show, but I think that these elements would greatly impact how much I enjoy this bar.
(2)Jeff B.
If one expects a listening room environment for the Thursday night music, FORGETABOUTIT, there are 11 flat-screen televisions in the pub section, all tuned to sports. The patons are unaware of the music, engaged in loud conversation amongst themselves. My advice to bands and music lovers, you'd do better patronizing pubs where the musicians are respected and appreciated, such as Toad or Atwood's.
(1)Kacey B.
I came to John Harvard's for a local band and was satisfied with service, atmosphere, and beer. Not a lot of choices for beer but they got the basics right. Food appeared as typical bland stuff though it was delicious after a few. It was fun to watch the band there, typical restaurant/bar in Boston; add stain-glass windows for more entertainment. Was that Bobby Orr?
(3)Sara M.
John Harvard's has come a long way. The food is better than ever and the beers are great. Last Friday a band played and we enjoyed a pitcher and some snacks. We have especially enjoyed the Wednesday night tastings - 3 courses and beer pairings. There was so much food I didn't have room for the desert course. Worth a second look!
(4)Igor S.
I always stop by this place every time I'm in Boston. I've only had chowder and fish&chips (both were good) as well as lots and lots of beer. Interior is quite cool and service is fast and friendly.
(4)Caitlin W.
We popped into John Harvard's for a cold beer on a warm summer day. The bar had a pretty decent crowd for a Sunday afternoon. The bartender didn't seem to know much about the beers on tap, but he was friendly and honest about it, which was appreciated. The many TVs were all tuned to various sports, and it was nice to see cycling and soccer represented. While I can't speak for the food, the Race For the Prize pale ale was crisp and tangy, with a solid drinkability and an average price point. We glanced at the menu and saw a few dishes we'd probably try if we came back (the calamari sounded fantastic!), but decided to stick with beer for this trip. Overall, our experience at John Harvard's was a good one. I've been here on a Friday night during the school year and left less than impressed with both the service and atmosphere (like most brewpubs in the city, it's often crowded with students -- though multiply "student" by the Harvard factor and, well...you can use your imagination). For a Sunday afternoon, though, it's a good spot for when you want to duck out of the crazy in Harvard Square for a spell. We'll be back!
(3)Jane S.
We started the meal with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder ($5.49). I was disappointed that the restaurant didn't have a bread bowl, but I guess that's more of a San Francisco thing? We added a packet of "All Natural Oyster Crackers." The oyster crackers taste the best when they have sufficiently absorbed the clam chowder and taste soft in the mouth. The clam chowder was quite thick! The pepper I added definitely enhanced the taste, but there is no need to add salt because it was already seasoned all right. The clam chowder had tiny pieces of clams--not big enough to impress me. Even though the soup was thick, it wasn't super creamy. Other chowders I had before had large chunks of potatoes, but I think this was a minimalist clam chowder in that it didn't have that many other ingredients. My friend ordered the Steak House Burger ($12.99), one of John Harvard's All Natural Gourmet Burgers that is built on a Kaiser roll with beef steak tomato and crispy romaine on the side. It was accompanied by cedar spiced steak fries and a pickle spear.Specifically, the Steak House Burger was a half pounder with Shedd's sauce (I'm not quite sure what that is...), Swiss cheese, and crispy fried onions. Personally, this dish would be way too heavy for me. I am not a huge fan of burgers nor fried food. I liked that the burger wasn't served on a lame sesame seed bun, but on a Kaiser roll. Also, what makes John Harvard's All Natural Gourmet Burgers different from other burgers, according to the menu, is that these burgers are all natural, using humanely raised, hormone, steroid, and antibiotic free cows. I usually order the special when I come to John Harvard's, but the day's special was pork chop. I decided to go with the Steak Tip Salad ($13.99). To be honest, I was quite surprised when the waitress brought the dish. I had expected it to be a regular plate of salad with pieces of sliced steak on top. What I got instead, however, was a deconstructed salad. The dish had an odd presentation...something just made it look incomplete. There were two skewers of ranch spiced steak tips over crisp wedge of iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and waffle fries. I skipped the crumbled blue cheese and had the red wine vinaigrette on the side. I didn't know where to start with this dish. I just grabbed one of the skewers and got a taste of the steak tip. The tenderness of the meat was not constant throughout. There were some pieces that were moist and juicy, while other parts were dry and slightly tough. I certainly didn't expect an actual half of iceberg lettuce to be a part of the menu! Also, instead of tomato wedges, I got tomato slices. I asked the steak to be cooked rare, but it was more medium rare. It would have been much tender had it been cooked rare! Oerall, though, I was okay with the salad...that is, if we could even call it a salad! I felt like I was just eating salad with some vegetables on the side.
(2)Marie S.
I used to really like this place, but the last few times I went I've had either lackluster food or service or both. When it's good, this is a great example of Boston's awesome dark-wood-pub-restaurant Thing that so many of us enjoy; but it's hit-or-miss, and when it misses, yowch.
(3)Kayan H.
Brewery nachos - pretty good. We came for a quick beer and bites while wandering around Harvard Square.
(3)Bianca O.
decent but didn't really knock my socks off
(3)Z R.
Lame.
(1)Xiao Z.
Another one of those "lazy go to places" that hasn't really steered me wrong. I've always had good bar food with great services and decent local brewed beers. This is a fun place to relax and hang out with your friends. It may not have too many bells and whistles, but it does what it's supposed to do, which is to bring people together for a good time.
(4)Herbert K.
I come in here every once in awhile just to see how things are... Today I was met with indifference by the bartender - no beerlist was shown, just the chalkboard which had, to it's credit 8 or so selections. Unfortunately 4 or 5 of them were described as Pal Ales. Again, great, I like Pale Ale, but - I'd love to know the differences. Food was amazingly overpriced, but this is no longer a brew pub, it's now a full blown tourist trap. My bad.
(2)Chris F.
Decent beer and food
(3)Ryan A.
Great service, excellent beer selection, food was about what you would expect for the price. Reserving a table on OpenTable for Saturday night was easy and worked very well.
(4)Mike C.
Ok if you want beer in an ale house don't come here keg was out on my wife's request. No Sangria as advertised and then next choice was moonshine punch on the menu and could not have that because they ran out of Bully Boy whiskey.you gotta be kidding me . They do have diet coke though. WTF!
(1)Dana W.
Friendly staff. Our table did appetizers- popcorn shrimp, wings and thick cut fries. All were piping hot with good flavor. Refills kept coming on the drinks. The band had a nice sound and not too loud in dining area. Decor felt "breweryish" and just right. History panel boards on wall.
(5)Allison K.
large space, good live music, good booze. I was wiped out from a day of sailing and walking around and needed an energy boost, and the bartender was more than willing to change up one of the cocktails on special to incorporate a little red bull for me. friends got the flight of the house brews to taste. Seemed to be a few in there that they weren't fans of. My fave was a more fruity, blueberry beer.
(4)Anna W.
I came here for a conference happy hour after a LONG day of attending talks, so truthfully anything you had given me would have tasted good and quenched my need for alcohol... I will say, though, that the beers are okay. I didn't love the pale ale, but the blonde was decent. If you're looking for a great microbrew, I would likely send you elsewhere. As for food, we got a ton of appetizers. I thought the quesadillas, sausage/potato mix, and fried shrimp were great. The escargot was okay..the wings were pretty good. Basically, this seems like your standard locally-owned take on a place like Friday's.
(4)Tony T.
Good beer, delicious food, live music, and Boston sports on every TV. Had the bourbon and ale salmon... Most perfectly cooked salmon I've ever had and I eat a lot of salmon. Good atmosphere and friendly wait staff. Will definitely go back, especially for Sox baseball. Worth a try!
(5)Joanne L.
We found this tavern while roaming around Harvard. From the street, it doesn't look like much. The interior is really cool, though. Huge stained glass type panels make the place look like an old church. It has a really neat pub feel. We tried some of the house brews, and they were great. The food was hearty and good, but nothing unusual. The service could have been better though. All in all, we enjoyed the restaurant probably more for the atmosphere than anything else, but would come back again.
(4)Tanya I.
i used to like this place for lunch. After the renovation, they changed the menue it got more expensive, service declined, and the portions less, and the food just ok.
(2)Marc L.
Ate here with my family while in Cambridge for a festive family gathering. This was on 'off' night, not the official celebration, so we wanted something festive yet informal and low key. We are non-meat eaters, and we enjoy brewpubs. I found this place to be perfectly acceptable, but nothing special. I had fish and chips, typical brewpub fare. It was fine, acceptable, but nowhere near the best I've had in other brewpubs. I found the beer to similarly be acceptable but nothing special. They were out of some of the advertised brews, which is annoying. I had the John Harvard Pale Ale, which was tasty. I don't think I would return here just for the beer. Again, perfectly fine, but nowhere near the level of other brewpubs. Atmosphere perfectly fine, they have cool stained glass depicting local figures in the style of medieval knights. When we were there I didn't find the place particularly warm/attractive/fun, again, perfectly acceptable but not compelling. Given the many great choices at Harvard Square, let alone the rest of Boston, this would be toward the middle-low end of my list for a return visit.
(3)Lauren P.
I have been to John Harvards and typically disappointed. However, the last time I was here two weeks ago it seemed that they had made strides on both the service and food fronts. The vegetarian sandwich was quite good, I would definitely order it again. Our waiter also took great care of a demanding bunch - we were time constrained and demanded separate checks and he just smiled and made it happen. I've never thought their beers were anything to write home about, but they were cold and did the trick.
(3)Matthew B.
Decently brewed beer, plenty of space. We had a strange saturday eve with a band taking over the normally-perfect-for-chatting location, but all in all a reliable spot to gather the troops.
(3)Charles N.
Average burger but fries were below average. Service was okay at the bar - no complaints.
(3)Hannah M.
Good, solid brew house food. We went for brunch with the whole fam last weekend (January 6th) and everyone was pleased with their food. My only complaint? Chill out on portion sizes (and prices accordingly) - no one needs THAT much food for 1 meal. Tuna melt (special for the day) was good, but so big it had to be deconstructed to fit in my mouth. The pulled pork (special for the day) was BBQ-y, messy, and good. The chicken BLT was a hit (and more appropriately sized than the tuna melt) and whatever salad my sister got, she also much enjoyed. Apparently the pork burger (another daily special) was quite good as well. The michaladas were not good - don't waste your time or money - not spicy enough and way too watered down. Bloody Mary was good, according to my sources (I'm not a vodka fan, so I didn't like it). The 2 men sitting at the table RIGHTNEXT to ours (which was totally unnecessary given how many empty tables there were) were incredibly pretentious and annoying. And I did not need to know the nitty-gritty details of the party they went to the night before and how many people each of them made out with. I'm not sure how that could have been dealt with other than not putting people seated directly on top of each other. Another Harvard Square solid choice, but not a destination location.
(3)Sarah S.
Really a 2.5...but had to round up to a 3. I can't comment on the beer, my boyfriend tried some and said it was quite good. My issue lies with the food. I ordered the "Dunster" burger, which was smoked Gouda cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, crisp onion rings. The patty must not have been very fatty to begin with, because it was well done and totally dry. I've ordered burgers well done (as it should be, ground beef shouldn't be pink) without them being completely dry. This baby needed sauce. It supposedly came with BBQ sauce but it wasn't enough. The burger was a mish mash of dry, tasteless ingredients. I couldn't bring myself to finish it. On the upside, the fries included were delicious. Maybe this was just a bad egg though, who knows. My sister and boyfriend both ordered the French Dip Beef Pastrami Panini, which I had a taste of and was amazing. Service was okay. We weren't acknowledged very much beyond the initial drink and food orders. The waiter was so soft spoken and not very outgoing, which didn't exactly marr the experience but if you have a big place in a semi-touristy area, you should be more welcoming! Overall, not a terrible experience, but not a great one either. I have family in Boston and I probably wouldn't recommend that they come here, there are better places.
(3)K P.
I think "meh" describes this place pretty well, especially being an establishment in Harvard Square that has space to accommodate such high volumes of people. Been here once for drinks just after they re-opened, and just went back last week and sat at the bar for dinner. Table service (a while ago) for drinks was slowish but good, but bar service (last week) kind of stank. The food was pretty good, and came out in a reasonable amount of time, however whatever pizza the bf ordered was not what came out. The "special pizza" that night on the menu was vegetarian and had olives and red sauce, whereas the pizza that came to us had no sauce, a fig jam and bacon. Luckily, neither of us are veggies. Why not send it back, you say? Because despite not being all that busy (bar and floor were less than a quarter full), the bartender was too inattentive for us to not suck it up and eat the good (but half wrong) food in front of us. We were without silverware for five minutes after our main courses came out (we ate our apps without them as well, but it was finger food anyways) and had to ask the host for them when we grew impatient. It was only then the bartender came over and huffily asked if we needed anything else. He DID however have enough time to chat up his friends at the other end of the bar. I will say that my food, including a small modification, DID come out exactly as i had ordered and was very yummy. Also, the bartender did ring in "special pizza" into the computer (that is what was on our bill), so there are several options as to why the "pizza problem" happened. The short of it is: Inconsistent service, rather good food from our experience, OK beer and drinks, but for the price and the location there are SO many better options in Harvard Square. Many people I've talked to agree that this place seriously needs to step it up if they want to fill their gigantic restaurant in a huge metropolitan area.
(2)Jess A.
CHICKEN POT PIE, HOLY SHIT. Seriously. Service = good enough for Boston!! Beer list is awesome, love their house micros. Legitimately swanky atmosphere. You're in the most polished, cozy basement ever. Get the chicken pot pie. And enjoy the stained glass window of Richard Nixon, while you're at it!
(5)Militza P.
3.5 (rounded up to 4...because that's how math works) I like this place and it pains me that the food isn't better. JOHN HARVARD'S LISTEN UP and just raise the quality of the food a bit and you'll be a slamming success on Yelp, please!! Besides that ((minor)) detail, how can you not like it? it's spacious and college vibe-y and the beer is good.
(4)Stella P.
I went to John Harvard's freshman year of College, when my parents where around and we had no idea what is good in the Square. Pretty lost we thought that a restaurant with John Harvard in its name would have to be interesting at least. And it was. Cool atmosphere, a bit gloomy for my taste but pretty mediocre food. Wouldn't recommend it if you want to try out the best restaurants first. It is pretty cheap though ($10 per person) which it is good for big group dinners and poor college students.
(2)Terry D.
For some reason we decided to try this place again. This time we ordered clam chowders and a shrimp appetizer. The chowder was really good and the shrimp were good though outrageously overpriced. We won't return again though because the service was sooooo unbelievably slow. We work at Harvard and only get an hour for lunch so it's important that we get in and out relatively quickly. We were late back from lunch yet again and had to ask another waitress for our check because we couldn't find our waiter. If you have plenty of time to wait and stare at the wall, you could totally have lunch here, otherwise I'd skip it.
(1)Adam G.
The food and beers are decent, but nothing to write home about. The service, however, is some of the worst I've ever experienced.
(1)Eileen L.
Really great food and friendly staff. We had a large group and were in a hurry and they were accommodating and timely.
(4)Christopher H.
I came here and got a burger. The bun was very dry and crumbly and the burger tasted pretty bland overall. I was disappointed to say the least. Otherwise, the beer was very good and the decor is very nice. I like the (fake) stained glass windows on the wall. Good for beer, but considering the price I would be reluctant to grab dinner here again.
(2)D H.
The one positive thing about this place is that they brew good beer. I was very happy with my beverage selection. However, this was my second time at this place and I will never be back again. Subpar service and food both times. I ordered the "pork sausage" sliders. When it was served, I (and three others at my table) tasted beef. I would have gotten over it if the execution of this simple dish wasn't so horrible. My husband gently explained to our waitress that the meat was not pork and requested something different. Instead of apology and quick solution to our complaint, we got ridiculous amount of attitude from our waitress and we were told on two separate visits to our table that we were just wrong. Even the second waitress had little interest in recognizing the issue and gave us more attitude even when my husband tried to diffuse this awkward and crappy experience. I was waiting for John Taffer to come out with cameras because it was just so unbelievable. At the end of the day, there are too many good options in Harvard Square to pay for horrible service and food over and over again.
(1)Angel M.
The hardest part was finding the bathroom, the easiest part was finding the bar, John Harvard was no fool, do what he did with his tool. The bartender was really welcoming, and as bartenders should do, she eavesdropped onto my conversation with my new Yelp friend and inquired on museums of the sex. Anyway, the stained glass Jesus people, really freaked us out. Were we the bad people at church that sit in the back, talk, and allow their children to run up and down the pew? My beer was good, high in alcohol, sure. The chili nachos were better than most, but nothing out of the ordinary...thats about it really.
(3)Wilma E.
Ok, the bartenders don't like people. I know that we as customers can be stupid and annoying, and John Harvard makes sure we know that. You know there are white people out there that can focus on the food and the beer and not make it personal. Not me. I am not white, ergo I am over sensitive. I take offense to everything. I blow everything out of proportion.
(1)Saira K.
Not sure what the appeal is - touristy, loud, and the food is nothing special. Nor is it fun watching chicks crossing their fingers and raising their skirts to oooh, I hope I land a Harvard man, tonight. So guys, this is the place to be (but I'm sure you already know that)..
(2)Camille R.
I'll start off with letting you know that I avoid Harvard Square as much as I can. Too many tourists, too many elitists, and it's superrrrr boring! But I ended up here because I had a meeting with a group of people to coordinate an event next month. The dining area smelled like an old bar that hadn't been clean since it's opening and it was packed with annoying college students. I was skeptical about most of the menu options - there isn't much vegan/vegetarian items! - so I went safe and ordered the vegetarian nachos. It was DISGUSTING. The chips were stale, beans were hard to find and very dry, the guacamole had no flavor - NONE! and the overall presentation couldn't have been more unappealing.. One of the ladies I was with said her pasta was too bland for her liking and didn't feel bad leaving more than half of it behind. No one filled up our water or beers. I had to wave both of my hands in the air like a madwoman before I could ask the kid for our check. I watched him as he continued his business like I didn't just ask him for something - getting beers for other customers, went missing for a little while, started cleaning empty tables, and took orders from another. And again, I starting waving my hands like a crazy lady and yelling though I was ignored for the most part and by the time he made it back to our table more than 30 minutes had gone by and he looked at me like "oh yeah! I totally screwed you." Getting our check only took 2 minutes. I can't believe I had to wait 30++. All of us were exhausted, annoyed, and totally dissatisfied by the entire experience.
(1)Sara S.
Went here a few times during the Head of the Charles Regatta this past weekend. The service was generally pretty decent (hard to do when it's shoulder-to-shoulder crowds). The servers I dealt with on both nights were attentive and cheerful - however, at one point I flagged down one staff member to point out a water spill on their slick floor. I asked if he would please mop it up so no one would slip & fall. He looked at me like I had 3 heads, said, "OK" and then just stepped right over the spill. Umm.... okaaaaayyy...? The beers are EXCELLENT. Tried the espresso stout, the Golden somethingorother, and the Belgian Pale Ale. All 3 were quite deeelish! The food, however.... not as good as the beers. Despite the varied ingredients in each of the dishes, most of them lacked flavor. For instance, one of my visits, I tried the nachos appetizer. Bland...and the guacamole was from a mix. I'm so used to real avocados in my guac that I wasn't quite sure what this green goo was...It *tasted* like a chemical. Had to scrape it off. Also tried one of the burgers. Can't remember the name of it, but it had Gouda cheese, bacon, a smoky BBQ sauce, and a huge fried onion ring on it. The first bite was pretty good, but the mix of strong flavors eventually cancelled everything out and by the end of the burger, it just started to taste like greasy onion. (Good thing I had a great beer to wash it down). Would I come here again? Sure. But I couldn't really "recommend" anything on the menu - except the beer.
(3)Louis B.
Outstanding brew house in the middle of Harvard Square. We entered and were immediately seated in the basement area, with wonderfully appointed furniture and decor. The Roquefort Burger was the rage. And the best Clam Chowdah I've had. Service was uniquely friendly and efficient. The best part was the beers. I tried their beer sampler, a compendium of five beers, all outstanding. Pale Ale, Pumpkin Spice, Porter, Stout, and another I can't remember. A must visit in the area.
(4)Andrew R.
Awesome pre-review side note: There was a group of musicians that had gathered on the other side of the restaurant that were playing various string instruments while sitting around a table. Just drinking beer and playing music. Awesome. Also, ask to sample a few of the beers because they'll let you to your heart's content. Honestly. Drinks: The cask minuteman IPA was smooth and clean. It was exactly as described - a less hoppy, less carbonated version of the IPA. The lemonade was both tangy and sweet, balancing out nicely. Food: We ordered the Hummus Platter appetizer, and it had a wonderful presentation, flavor, and quality of food. There was more hummus than there was pita bread to go with it though. The Smoke House Pizza was very flavorful, and sweeter than we were expecting, which turned out to be a nice surprise. I don't think the bacon really shone through however. The Cuban Sandwich was also excellent. There was no Creole mustard as advertised, so occasionally it was dry. The side of rice (instead of french fries) was moist, and paired well with the sandwich. The Apple Crisp was served with the lemon sorbet on the side instead of the ice cream. Both the crisp and the sorbet were sweet but not over-the-top sweet. There was just enough oatmeal crumb on the crisp to not get overloaded with it, and the apples were soft, warm, and delicious. The service is what could do with the most improvement at the restaurant. Drink refills, bread for the table, and remembering drink orders could definitely use improvement. It may have just been our table/server. We would return based on the drinks and food selection, as well as the friendly atmosphere.
(4)Kareem F.
Its a fun location for drinks around Havard University. Their clam chowder is delicious but entres were just ok.
(3)Down P.
I went to this restaurant for 20 years. Rolled through the changes - they took away the salmon salad, raised prices, improved the beer. But some things stayed steady : always the Pale Ale, stained glass, TVs, free bread plates When the new management came in at the end of last year, they messed this place up in a lot of little ways. The bread was no longer free, and they didn't tell us. By the time we found out it wasn't coming, it was too late. They were out of all the good beers. We had to get a pitcher of something heavy that wasn't on the menu, and turned out to be $20. The fish & chips was tiny. They gave us the wrong menu, so the 3 tough ribs turned out to be $20 instead of $15. All the little stuff added up to one really depressing, overpriced meal. Maybe we'll go back in another 6 months & see if they've got it back together.
(2)Dan S.
This pains me to write this. I've been going to JHBH since I came here 5 years ago for grad school. Mostly it's adequate food and good beer. Yesterday I went around 4pm (an off hour I know) and three issues occurred that led to this review: 1. I asked for a sampler. The server informed me that it comes with 5 preselected beers. I asked to substitute a couple and she said that their policy is to not do that. I said I'd pay more. She left to check with her manager and returned to say that they didn't have enough of one of my selections to include in a sampler. But, illogically, I could order a full beer of that same kind. 2. Our food was way below their own average. I've gotten the same chicken sandwich every time I go there and this time was exceptionally bad. Small, burned portion of a breast (and my dinner companion was served the other measly part of the breast). Bad but not yet and irrevocably negative experience. 3. I kindly pointed this out to the server, that she should know that the kitchen was serving out some bad food that was not to their usually pretty good standards. She explained that there was a small kitchen staff midday and have her my credit card with the bill. She returned seconds later, having charged me the full bill and said "sorry you had a bad experience this time." What!? In a completely rescuable situation, she ensured that there would be no next time. Five years of visits with grad school colleagues, done.
(1)William K.
When ever I go to Boston, this is one of the places I make sure to visit. This brewery is in the basement of large building. It is really nice and clean. It has really cool stained glass windows down stairs. You can see the beer being brewed behind glass. They have a great selection of beers. You can order samplers if you want to just try a taste. This time I went and tried the cask beer. It was very light with a strong pine taste. There was also live music (Saturday night).
(5)Dan N.
Totally mediocre, conveniently located.
(3)Molly Y.
I'm surprised to see negative reviews of this place. I've been twice and had a great experience both times. Good waitstaff, GREAT food, and good beer - and this is coming from someone who doesn't drink beer normally! The food's easily the best part of a John Harvard's visit, though. Oh man. We've had the chicken pot pie, the burgers, the New England clam chowder, and the macaroni and cheese - all exceptional. Plus, on the beer front, the waitstaff were very knowledgeable and friendly when I had questions about the different kinds of beer available. Made the whole experience very pleasant both times. I'm looking forward to bringing friends to this pub for dinner whenever we have guests!
(5)Kim P.
in a plate of nachos I believe the chips should come with cheese but it seems the chef at Harvard's did not agree with me. our requests, they went unanswered our waitress appeared quite bored I could understand if they were busy but it was ten 'til four! the wassail, great, the cobbler, good; the dungeon ambiance, I liked it I just won't return for stale chips (with no cheese!) served by Miss Existential Crisis
(2)Katie W.
Great beer selection--Loved their seasonal brew, it was a Mid Winter's Strong Ale. It had great flavor and wasn't to heavy and similar to a wheat beer. Love it! Only had some bar apps but the spinach artichoke dip was fantastic-- a little on the oily side but really good flavor and lots of large chunks of artichokes.
(3)Chaviva G.
I see there's definitely mixed reviews about this joint, and understandably so. It seems like the kind of place people go when they're in the area because it's the "right thing" to do. But my host suggested it and I didn't know otherwise, so we went. The waiter -- Dan? Dave? -- was incredibly friendly, naming the beers things like "This is what Bud Light aims to be but isn't" and "This brew is like Guinness, but better." The man knew how to sell a beer, and he was right about the Bud Light-wannabe. I just wish I could remember the actual name. My friend and I toyed with what to get -- fish and chips? Burgers? Sandwiches? Dinners? But we both opted for burgers, though we were both a little bemused at the "Patriot" burger (laden with bacon and cheese). I can't remember which I got, but I believe it was just the standard burger fare, and his had mushrooms or something on it. There's bread for an appetizer and the sandwiches came with fries. We had to resist ordering desserts, as we were sufficiently stuffed. The burger was good, cooked just right. And the fries? Well, they tasted like butter. Which was minorly nauseating, but yet, I consumed them. I guess I have nothing to complain about. It was one of those places you just go to, not expecting anything amazing, and being satisfied with general mediocrity. Thus, it garners four stars for being just about on par with what it strives to be.
(4)Christopher M.
Worst service EVER! I sat down and ordered a beer. The bartender gave me a menu and disappeared. 10 minutes later a busboy or barback (i.e. not a server or bartender) noticed I was disgruntled and asked if He could get me anything. I said yeah, told what I wanted and he went and told a bartender. . .15 minutes later, the bartender came over to take my order. Gee, thanks, but at least I had beer. Then I drank the beer. No food, no refills, no more service. I waited 10 minutes, 20 minutes, finally my food came. I ate my dinner. Still, no more beer. Eventually the same support staff member noticed the pissed off sober look I had and came over to ask if I needed anything else. He talked to another bartender (who was just standing around) and then both disappeared. At that point I gave them 10 minutes to get me a beer or get me the check or I was leaving (normally I'd ask for a manager, but with so many people ignoring me, why bother?) Right at the 10 minute point, my illustrious bartender came back to ask if I was done and wanted anything else. "Yes, another beer and the check. You're having the *whatever I was drinking* right?" "yeah" 5 minutes later I got the wrong beer from a different bartender. Hey John Harvard's - YOU SUCK!!!
(1)Rose M.
The beer is good, the food is not
(3)Lauren F.
John Harvard's has good beer and decent food at relatively high prices. I go here occasionally with my husband because he loves their meatloaf. Last night he had the meatloaf and a stout, while I ordered a Pale Ale and the Carbonara mac'n'cheese. The meatloaf was its usual self but I wasn't too impressed with the mac'n'cheese. It had way too many breadcrumbs, and they were crisped with oil, so the whole dish was very heavy. I love a good mac'n'cheese, and I know it's no salad, but this was much more oily than necessary. The waitress was attentive until the very end of the meal. After we declined another round of beer she didn't come back until we were getting impatient. I'm sure we'll be back at John Harvard's again to satisfy the hubby's meatloaf craving, but I'll be sure to try something different for the meal. The Pale Ale was great though.
(3)Trish F.
I never really feel like I'm going into battle when I come here with a lot of people. I've had spontaneous cast parties here and last time I was here with 6 people from work. Even though we got a smaller table than desired, we were never really considered a burden which sometimes happen when you roll up to a place with more than 4 people. I think John Harvard's is always good for groups (minus Monday night trivia.. heh). The food is definitely hit or miss. Sometimes they try and go over the top with sandwiches by making them HUGE. Salads are great, but get the dressing on the side to avoid soggy leaves and an overdose of creaminess. I'm not crazy about the regular beers, but sometimes I'll get one of their features. And they have growlers for those interested in taking home their favorite beer from this brew house. Like I kind of mentioned up top, the service is really great. Most if not all the waiters I've had have been pretty entertaining and definitely chill. I just wish the food was just as consistent.
(3)Ashley V.
This place was cool. Ok-ish. Nothing lavish or anything. Prices not so bad either. It's a very chill environment where you can go and grab a drink and a bite to eat. It's pretty spacious and typical of a pub. Great service, the servers and bartenders are all very nice, funny, and quick with your orders. I'll probably go back again and sample all the beers another time. And don't worry, for you girly girls who don't drink beer, they're a full bar so you can have whatever girly drink you want! :) 3 stars. Go try it!
(3)Beth B.
Came here with a "local" family member (ie, she goes to MIT) while in town for a conference. The whole group was happy to have a place that felt very "Harvard" - dark and cozy and full of students and beer. We a couple pitchers of whatever the server recommended and then everyone got burgers. They were FANTASTIC! We had three different types of burger between all of us and we all left stuffed and happy.
(4)Juli R.
Great beers! And really good food, all of us in our group enjoyed this place. I'm normally not a 'pub' kind of girl, but this is not your average brew house. Way more than fried foods on the menu here!!!
(4)Stephen R.
I was surprised how easy it was to seat a party of 6 for dinner on a Saturday. The food was pretty good, but nothing terribly special. The beer was great though!
(3)Carolyn G.
We were tired and hungry from walking around Boston and Cambridge and every restaurant in the area seemed bsusy, busy, busy. The 20 minute wait at John Harvard's seemed to be the shortest wait of every place we tried, so we pulled up a spot at the bar and waited. Once we were seated, our server was very pleasant, but we were quite hungry and had little patience for the order one round at a time route. We ordered drinks and appetizers because some other people in our party were ordering chowda', which meant our meals would be delayed in coming out. I had the Black Watch Stout and nachos. Yum! The nachos by themselves could have been a meal! The plate was piled high with nacho, cheesey goodness. For dinner, I had the bleu burger. It had everything I love on a burger: bleu cheese, mushrooms, sauteed onions, and the surprising addition of buffalo hot sauce. I'm a sucker for hot sauce! All in all, John Harvard's provided just what we needed. Good food, great beer, pleasant atmosphere.
(4)Patrick H.
I used to really like John Harvard's, but over time I've realized that their food is just above average, as is the service. There's nothing truly special about this place, but I can say that the beer (micro brews) is pretty darn good, so if you're looking for just a few drinks, Johnny H's is a good bet. The space is pretty nice and very spacious, so you should be able to get a table fairly easily. It's below ground though, so forget about sitting near a window. I've had quite a lot of the menu items, and none of them are really "fantastic." But some options, like the burgers, are pretty good. If you want bar food and good beer, and don't want to deal with waiting for a table at your other options in Harvard Square, this is a good place to go. But you can find better food elsewhere.
(3)Sara S.
Good food, not amazing. I've had the nachos, chicken pot pie, buffalo chicken sandwich, and pumpkin pie from this place. The nachos were pretty sloppy, and the cheese wasn't even melted all the way. The buffalo chicken sandwich was pretty good, but quite spicy... so be warned! Request the steak fries rather than the regular fries (much better). I will say that their chicken pot pie is AWESOME, and I would highly recommend getting that! Pumpkin pie... once again, just A-OK. The scene feels like a Harvard cafeteria, so I'd suggest going on an "off" night (not Friday or Saturday), or during lunch. I DO want to try their mac and cheese though.
(3)Kristin P.
Waitstaff isn't super attentive but food is pretty tasty. I recommend their Crab cake florentine on the brunch menu. Also their "Le Bleu" sour blueberry beer is a nice crisp and refreshing fruit beer to sip in the heat.
(3)Sam F.
I've been here three regrettable times. Why, do I keep going? Well because other people keep suggesting it, and I'm too weak to resist. So this place is just plain blah. The decor is dark and dreary, the service is bare bones, and the food is nothing special. All those combined would get this place three stars. But my biggest problem is the beer. It stinks. If I was the proprietor of this establishment, I would have fired the brewer years ago, and raised the quality a bit. I mean, maybe this stuff was considered primo stuff back when they founded Harvard and didn't have craft beer, but given the abundance of tastier options... I just can't bring myself to go here. Sorry John, maybe you should have stuck to universities and avoided the food industry altogether.
(2)Sun Y.
Good for a casual night of drinks out with friends-- great atmosphere. For food, it's nothing special.
(3)Matthew R.
I would say that John Harvard's is a little too hyped, but their beer is fine and food above average. As a recent student transplant to Cambridge, I've been here about 5 times in the last two weeks. It seems to be the go ahead bar for students in the area, or at least one of them. I don't know if it's the name or what... That should be noted though, you're going to get a lot of students here. The beer is alright but nothing special. I found it watered down and not very unique. It's not bad by any means but just not one of my favorite brew houses. You could call me spoiled, though, because I grew up on the Brewer's Art in Baltimore. The food is very good. I've had a burger there, the Green Pueblo Salad, and a pizza. It's a little bit better than a TGI Friday's or Chili's, but has that sort of menu and taste. The location is great and it's reasonably priced. Not great, not bad.
(3)Wendy L.
Always really loud and crowded but the food is pretty reliable pub fare. Given some of the waits you'll encounter in Harvard Square, John Harvard's is a pretty good compromise if you're looking for a relatively inexpensive meal...and quickly. I typically stick to the burgers and sandwiches...nachos the usual. It's actually a great place to get large groups of people together too...and it's pretty easy to get a drink at the bar. If you're meeting friends, be sure to solidify your plans in advance. It's like a cell phone dead zone in there - I feel like nobody can get cell phone service down there!
(3)Juli W.
It's a convenient lunch location from where I work. The basement location isn't ideal but they have plenty of space and I never had to wait for a table. Lunchtime favorites include the chicken pot pie and buffalo chicken sandwich, but the food is nothing to write home about. Also a decent place for after work drinks.
(3)Anna C.
International ID's not accepted here. I went with a group of people clearly in their late 20's who couldn't drink without a passport. How ridiculous.
(1)rewan a.
I really like this place. The decor sucks but I always have a good time when I go. I especially like their darker beers, altho my friends always say good things about the pale ale. The food is okay. I usually get the southwest roll up. It's spicy which makes me drink more beer so I hardly ever leave that place sober. Good times. Also, I like their monday trivia nights AND I met BJ Novak and Mindy Kaling there last week.. so holla john harvard. One more thing, Fran the bartender is awesome. I love sitting at the bar because of him.
(4)Jon H.
I had a pretty good time here. Mainly because we brought five people and ALL ordered the sampler, which annoyed the waiter but he still obliged and proceeded to bring 5 samplers full of beer. Its a good place, good foods to munch on and pretty fun environment. I haven't spent much time here, so my review may change, but still, my first impression was not bad.
(4)Victoria M.
I have only been here once with the fiance, his boss, and their work studies as an end of the semester dinner bash. This was a couple of years ago, so bare with me. Alright... so as I remember it. We put in a reservation for 15 people. Everyone shows up 30 mins early so we can have a few in the bar. When our time rolls around, they tell us it will be an additional 45 mins because of the amount of people. No one cares because we are having a good time boozing in the bar. We are finally seated in the most obscure corner you can find... it was definitely a good thing because as everyone consumed more alcohol, everyone got louder and louder. The waiter shows up, clearly is not in a good mood, and mumbles something about a drink order. Everyone places their order and then continues talking... obnoxiously loud. Who cares?! We are there to have fun just like everyone else. Well our drinks show up, but it was a different waiter that brings them. Some time passes and the original waiter shows up and takes our food order. Some more time passes ( A LOT OF TIME). And our food finally arrives. We never saw our waiter again after that. We were all sitting there wishing we had a drink, even water *gasp*. Still nothing. We paid... and went else where.
(3)Kate S.
Ok--the food tastes like it came from Applebees , but I can always find a seat to drink...which can be hard in Harvard Square.
(3)Rachel H.
Roomy with reliable food, John Harvard's is a great bet for groups for dinner or drinks.
(3)Layla P.
This place was better than I expected. The highlight was definitely the pumpkin spice beer which is a seasonal thing, it tasted just like pumpkin spice bread but with bubbles. The food was good, we tried a burger and a veggie pizza. The service was above average as well. Recent edit - also tried to Twelfth Night Ale which I was told "had a hint of cinnamon and orange peel" - very nice
(4)Paul I.
Overpriced. The worst brocolli chicken dish I've ever had. Poor service. Come here only if you don't know any better. PS. The beer is good.
(2)S S.
Flashback: Year: 2002 Place: Janice Joplin's old apartment, Austin, TX Scene : Clink*Glass breaks Sweta: Oh these are from John Harvard's Brew House Roomate: If you didnt break your dishes as much as mine, i would think you do it deliberately Sweta: You've been to Boston? Roomate: Yep, i went to this fun beer place in Harvard Square Sweta: I love that place, its almost like a dungeon, with great beer on tap. It so much fun, i love the brick walls, stained glass window Roomate: Yep me too, i went there with...blah blah and did blah blah.... you buy me a set of their beer glasses when you go back home Fast forward 2007: I will mail those glasses-ABSOLUTELY!
(3)Jen H.
Roomie had a friend in from DC visiting for the night. She is a former Bostonian, and so on her one night in town she decides she wants to go to John Harvard's. I'd never been there before, nor had my friend... so our 4some ventured out of the Dot and all the way to the other side of the river for JH's. The whole reason we went here was because she wanted a Chicken Pot Pie. Apparently... they're amazing if you like pot pies. I do not so ordered some asian style chicken thing... sesame i think. It was yummy - very good. So for the main meal, everyone game two thumbs up. Desserts..... not such rave reviews. The brownie sundae... not so terrific. The brownie was cold (hello, brownie sundaes where the brownies are nuked and warmed and then the ice cream on top are amaaaaaaaazing). The butterscotch bread pudding apparently didn't have like any butterscotch taste and like zero drizzlings of the advertised caramel syrup. We had a reservation and were seated right away. We thought things were going well, but the waitress took for forever to do anything as if she were slammed! Why??? The restaurant wasn't overly busy. So, I have no idea what she was doing. All in all the experience was OK so I gave 3 stars. I'd go back there again if I was in the area, but I'd skip dessert here and get something somewhere else..... and would never go here if I was crunched for time (i.e. - before a movie).
(3)Ashley J.
I'm new to Boston, so when it came time to celebrate my birthday, I had absolutely no idea where to go. Enter my dear friend Cabul, who suggested John Harvard's--and I'm so glad he did! Not only is it the place where he met his fiancee, but this awesomely casual and fun bar was the perfect place to celebrate with my friends. We had a much larger group than I anticipated, and the hostess was awesome. She let us push three big dinner tables together, we ordered a bunch of apps, and were able to just stay put all night. It was such a great birthday night and I couldn't have picked a better spot! I'll definitely be back. Oh, and just because it's a brew house doesn't mean they don't have liquor--hooray for a full bar!
(4)Lauren L.
Great atmosphere down at JH's. I've been there a handful of times for dinner and I've always enjoyed the pizza and burgers. They've got a pretty good spinach and artichoke dip too. Trivia nights are always a lot of fun, and you're guaranteed a fun and smart crowd whenever you go due to its location. The coolest part is that all the beer served is made there. To uninitiated beer drinker, this could be daunting, but for enthusiasts it's a great time.
(3)Vanilla P.
Well, it is what it is. You visit Harvard? You go to John Harvard's Brew House afterwards to talk about Harvard. The original John Harvard might just like the restaurant John Harvard.... If he was wearing beer goggles and was completely deaf. I don't know why there's a wait on weekends, when during the week, JHBH is a ghost town. The salad I ordered was the Aztec Chicken Salad, which came out on a warm plate with hot chicken and a toasty enchilada sauce on top. I guess I haven't learned enough about Aztec culture, because I had no idea the salad would be un-cold. Maybe that's the way they did it in the Mesoamerica hey-day, but I don't get it. I did love the butterscotch bread pudding I ordered... Lovely, with delicious butterscotch drizzled over spongy cake. I'll go back again for the dessert. By the way, they card everyone here. I sit down at the bar and order a lemonade. "ID, please" -- for a lemonade? Puh. Lease.
(3)dan m.
I'm giving 3 stars for now but would love to offer a second chance. I tried two house beers here and they were so weak/watery they would make bud light taste like a full bodied beer...but the fact that the house brews were present racks up some points. Never tried the food here but the service was kinda lacking. The server treated us by demographic and didn't know we were the tipping type of college grad aged kids. Let me try your other beers/diff offerings and don't serve me like a deadbeat tipper per my demographic and I;ll give you a shot at more stars.
(3)Amy H.
I would have given one star for the food alone, but the service and atmosphere are pretty good. We had lunch there, and I got the weirdest thing that I thought was going to be a hot dog. It was a sausage wrapped in a seasoned tortilla with sauerkraut, bacon, and other odd things inside. It tasted funky. The beer is good, and the staff was very accommodating to us and our toddler. But I won't be eating here again.
(2)Deepa C.
This was our fall back place for birthdays and parents and group outings all through college, but every time i came here, i always went for the pot pie. it was amazing. and then i started making my own pot pie and this one didn't seem to great. but the foccacia, fries, sandwiches and soups are all hearty and comforting. i LOVE love love with nut brown beer and ask for it any time i go to a microbrewery. i have been here so many time that statistically, i have had bad service, but not a ton, like any chain restaurant. good for a group, good for a bite in harvard square after work or before a movie, good if you don't feel like cooking on sunday. but it is not fine dining.
(3)J D.
definitely has that "mcChain" feel - but all in all a decent beer and more or less respectable place, just not awesome
(3)Theodore Y.
I like coming here once every year or so, or when I have family/friends visiting from out of town. First off it's in the Harvard Square area so it's nice to just walk around to do some touristy things anyways. And 2nd, they brew their own beer. They have flavors and hops for pretty much every palate. The light ale, the moderate ale, the fruity ale, and the heavy stout. Get the Beer Sampler, you can't go wrong. The food here is very very good also. From the salads, burgers, sandwiches, to the chicken/steak entrees, they've all been very good. The last time I was there they had customers (i believe) playing some Irish folk music. The music definitey added to the Euro atmosphere feeling. They also have a few dozen tv's mounted on their walls for the sport jocks. Oh yeah, they've got a full bar for you to sit and watch your sports. This place can get busy and with busy restaraunts, you get poor service. But hey, it's not really their fault!
(4)Brian C.
Atrocious Treatment of Customers Waitress disappeared for long stretches of time, at least forty-five minutes at one point, despite the fact that the restaurant was barely half-full. When we finally got her attention, she "memorized" our drink orders and got them all wrong. When she promised to return with the correct drinks, we didn't see her again for at least another half hour. We ended up getting the drinks ourselves from the bar. The manager was completely unresponsive and uninterested in remedying the situation. He eventually assured us he would "talk to her" which resulted in making it effectively impossible for us to leave as no waiter or waitress approached our table again. At one point, after sitting with empty plates in front of us for at least twenty minutes, we moved all the plates ourselves to another table. This is all happened while the waitress glared at us every time she walked by, glancing away any time we began to wave her over for service or pretending she didn't notice. I have never seen such disrespectful treatment of customers and will never return.
(1)Colin N.
I've been here twice. I think if I came here a third time, I would be plunged into the depths of depression. It's so dark down in the basement. Good for brewing beer, but not for brewing happiness. The beer is decent there. Not amazing for a brew pub, but a nice change from poop light. I've had their burger and it's not bad... but I was drunk so everything tastes better. Still I can't remember it a week later other than I finished it. The man after whom John Harvard's is named would be rolling in his grave if this brew house was his only legacy.
(3)Bryan C.
So far I'm not sure.
(3)Evette M.
Service was really poor - everyone seemed busy and it was really hard to get drink refills. Maybe they just didn't have enough wait staff? Portions were ample, but when I asked for the burger I didn't finish wrapped up they threw half of it away and told me they thought I didn't want it (despite putting the rest of the burger and fries on the plate into the to-go container). Who does that?
(2)Astro J.
1 word: Roaches Ok - numerous words: I was there a couple of years ago (and a few times before that.) The last time i was there, they were crawling EVERYWHERE. They were on the pipes up by the bar and they would literally jump down onto the bar or the floor. I was never so grossed out in a restaurant in my life. I hope they got this under control but I cannot physically go back in there. God knows what is in Le's or the rest of the garage - cuz if there in here, they're everywhere, but seriously...sick. The food was always decent though....but it's too noisy & dark in here too.
(1)Betsy K.
John Harvard's is a Chachky's to me (other Chachky's: Naked FIsh, TGIF, Chili's). It is a good Chachky's with the homebrews and all, but still a Chachky's. My cobb salad was pretty decent, not so much bacon and not enough blue though. My father in law (who doesn't know that not all restaurants carry rare selections of fine wines and crumb your table) was supremely annoyed at the amount of times people that worked there asked us "Is everything okay?". "They were just being friendly, besides it's a Chachky's! " I said as I heard the people next to me order Extreme Fajitas and Pizza Shooters.
(3)d h.
They were out of several of their signature beers. How can a brewpub be out of their own beer ? We did try the Belgium, Brown, & IPA and the only thing that distinguished them was the color - all were otherwise tastless and watery. The burger had been frozen and the place needs a serious update to its decor. Avoid this College dive bar.
(1)Christopher N.
Awesome food, quick service, and a great selection of beer! I've never been disappointed. Love this place!
(5)Brian D.
I didn't know you can jam this much crap, and by crap I mean people and tables, into a cave of this size. Holy crap, is this place jam packed. I've only been here a few times and I've never seen it not crowded and by default really congested. The servers have the patience of saints, they must put up with so much petty bullshit being in such a busy location. The only thing I really compliment is the beer, which is pretty OK. I'm a fan of a good pale ale and theirs is just fine enough to be above mediocre. The porter was pretty bearable as well. Everybody was eating burgers as far as the eye could see so I guess the food is Ok though I did hear everybody at my table complain that all orders were served medium rare - this wouldn't bother me but I guess that does suck if you really wanted a charred sandwich.
(3)Jeremy S.
A large brew pub in Harvard Square, this place has brewed-on-site beer and your typical American fare (burgers, chicken, etc). Fine for taking your out-of-town guests, i.e. parents, but please don't take a date here...you won't get a call back ;).
(3)Mabel C.
I like their beer. I like their stained glass windows (so basically, the ambience). I take visitors here for the novelty and for the beer they can't have elsewhere. The food is only so-so, though.
(4)Mark P.
Tough one for me to review, because it's a Harvard Square favorite and has emotional appeal to me. However, objectively, the place is very mediocre. The microbrew beer is good, but the food is lacking as is the service. There's little character about this place. No reason to go there unless you really like microbrewed beer.
(3)F. B.
This place is among the best in all categories, except for parking.
(4)Amy O.
This place has become a traditional meeting place for my New Year's hangover. If you're a fan of tuna, for the love of God order their tuna melt. It is the BEST TUNA MELT EVER, served on this tasty focaccia bread. Their fries are good too and lots of beer to choose from. It tends to get too noisy to talk, which is annoying but that tuna melt is so freakin' good I am speechless anyways..
(4)Sara S.
Used to be a GREAT place, but unfortunately they changed chefs a few years back and now the food is... acceptable. Not really worth the price. The beer is great, but I might as well be at chilis otherwise...
(3)Sarah G.
Who would have thought that a brewhouse as big as this could exist amongst the crowded streets and restaurants of Harvard Square. The door looks so small from the outside, and then the moment you walk in, there are high ceilings and tables everywhere! I actually almost had to call Matt J. in order to find him and his friends since this place is big enough to hide in I'd say. One person in our group loved his cuban sandwich and it did smell like bacon which made me like it at least a little bit, and the other food I saw come out actually didn't look half bad for bar food. But the beers I had expected a little more from, especially for a place that seems overall like a pretty chill spot to hang out in with a group. I tried two of their beers, and they just weren't anything special, but they weren't bad either, so really a good average spot to hang out at. One weird thing, is that they have flat screens everywhere, except for in one or two spots where they have some of the oldest models of TVs possible. Pretty funny to see those amongst the flat screen HDs and you would think that with the money they make off their beer and selling those giant jugs of beer to go, they could afford to buy one or two more flat screens ha
(3)Rani P.
When I was meeting my boyfriend and his mom here, after they spent the day touring breweries, I thought it would be a great end of their day- dinner and more beer. We ordered the beer tasting to get a sense of which beers we would like. It was a great way to try their original brews- although they weren't hands down incredible. I ended up ordering their wheat beer which wasn't featured in the tasting, and was pretty disappointed. Their oil and pesto dip for the (bizarre) bread they bring to the table was incredible. I was hoping that they would leave the bottle at the table, and I could continue covering the plate in the awesome concoction. The maple dijon salmon, however, which I ordered as a main course wasn't anything special.. I've had other dishes before at John Harvard's that were awesome, so I was disappointed this dish lacked the extra something (maybe beer?) But our waiter was incredible- he we so pumped and happy about every aspect of his job, he basically was high-fiving us with his mind. I will definitely be returning when I'm craving fish and chips and a cold brew.
(3)Susan S.
Excellent service from the whole staff and especially from Katherine! We had a 20oz " farmhouse spice ale (seasonal brew) and K recommended the "Dunster" burger and the fish and chips! Also the chicken pot pie was amazing! Come here next time you visit Cambridge!
(4)Dela B.
I came here on a Tuesday night with a friend and between the live music and the multiple gaming areas, we could hardly hear one another over the noise. We ordered the beer sampler which was actually quite tasty. Both of us were very impressed with their home brews, but the incredibly limited beer menu really threw us off. We also got ourselves an order of nachos with "chipotle chicken", but I don't know if something just went wrong or if they ran out, but the chicken we got on our nachos was white in color, devoid of much taste, and even if tried to lie to ourselves, there was simply no chipotle in any shape or form in that chicken. We were pretty disappointed about that and agreed that we should have opted for the pulled pork instead. House made chips, an okay amount of cheese and other toppings, and pretty good layering on these nachos, but overall, not very memorable. Cool place though... sort of reminds me of a hipper Jacob Wirth.
(3)Sara M.
I used to get dragged to this place by my old roomie (whom I love dearly) but thankfully I have not been here in a long time. However, when we did go in the past, there was nothing very special about the place. It was a typical restaurant/bar and the prices seemed a bit above average. The reason for the one star is due to the food and the service. We never received good service (forgetful or rude or slow or some combination) and the food was always subpar or cooked incorrectly. The last time I was there a large group of us went for a birthday dinner. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger medium rare - it was basically one of their specialty burgers without the BBQ sauce since I am not a fan of it on burgers. It came out completely well-done and burned on the outside. I explained to the server that this was not medium-rare and sent it back. The burger came back medium-well with burnt edges. Does anyone really like the taste of burnt food??? I sent it back again and the meat was medium but now slathered in BBQ sauce, which I specifically requested to not have added at the beginning. At this point, I gave up and ate the fries. The server was not happy with me and I am pretty sure there were some bodily fluids hidden in that BBQ sauce. To top it off, they tried to CHARGE me for the burger that I didn't eat and they never got right after 3 tries. I will never come here no matter what as they do not deserve my business.
(1)Patrick V.
First off the burger is delicious but the patty was a little burnt and the mayo wasn't very good. The fries were nice and crisp but they're a bit oversized. The bacon I got with the burger was great. It had the perfect level of crunch. The chicken was amazing. It was very nice and moist. Overall the meal was good.I would definitely come back.
(4)Paris Q.
I have been to this restaurant to hang out with friends several times. I love their nachos, and I like their pizzas (much preferred to conventional fast-food style pizzas). I have not been to the bar, but the beers I have had with food have been good. I am taking away one star, because I spotted a big roach in the ladies' room once. Since then, I have always avoided the ladies' room!
(4)Brad T.
While looking for a place with A/C to hide from the horrendous heat we found this pub with a nice relaxing atmosphere though a bit loud. I got the Dunster which was pretty good though I couldn't really taste their bbq sauce they make their. Seating was nice the booths were fairly large and the staff was pretty quick. This is a great place I think to get some lunch and would recommend to those looking for a place to eat around Harvard Square.
(4)Dinara E.
The hostess didn't hand me a menu and just directed me to the pub section. The waitress was attentive and nice. The chicken tortilla soup with avocado was awesome! The Asian crispadillas were weird. It's fried puff pastry with some egg-like thing in between. Then just doused with some sauce. It was weird and to be honest - it's better off being thrown out than eaten. Now their NY strip was cooked a perfect medium - but it was lacking in flavor, but it was still good for the price ($24). I didn't add any seasoning because I assumed the sauce would do the trick (the pan au jus thing that it comes with). The sauce was lacking as well. But their mashed potatoes are AMAZING! I can;t wait to go next time and try their chicken pot pie. It looked so good!
(4)Megan S.
I wish these guys tried a bit harder. I mean they have a great space right in the middle of Harvard Square. A great name. Brewing equipment. Despite all this, or perhaps because of it, they're just okay. Food is fine. Beer is better than PBR. Staff are mildly attentive.
(3)Titty P.
Many dates I've taken to here have all ended well fed and the service is great. The ribs, calamari, burgers, or Mac and cheese are what I recommend
(5)Dan G.
I havent been here in a few years, but this was a nice hang out place to go. It looked like a pub, located in cambridge, clean, beer flowing and good food. Now that i enjoy beer, i would love to go back and drink 5 glasses of all of the ones the serve. its just a nice hang out place.
(4)Danny K.
This restaurant reeks of a place that has zero passion for food, either because their main revenue stream is their beer, or that they are a tourist trap restaurant. The cooking is careless, recipes unthoughtful, and prices inflated. For example, their "classic" fish and chips are supersaturated with oil (cooked at too low a temperature), and comes with a supermarket-quality coleslaw. The sauce on the pasta special was curdling from its overdoness, and severely underportioned. I would not come back here for food, or beer- there are much better places for both quality and value such as Russell House Tavern and First Printer.
(2)Arjun K.
My friends really like this place but my first experience there was nothing special, at best. The food was reasonably good. I had a Mediterranean salad which came with hummus and Pita bread, decent. Beyond that, my friend and I split a pitcher, also decent. though the serving sizes were a little bigger, the food and drink both seemed over priced. And then there was the waiter, who didnt stop by the table to take our order until 15 - 20 minutes after we sat down and only after someone called him over. the service remained poor through the rest of the meal. overall, over priced food and beer with less than adequate service. Probably not going to go out of my way to go back.
(3)Ploy K.
John Harvard's is definitely a staple of Harvard Square. If ever a group is at a loss for where to go, someone inevitable says, "Well, there's always John Harvard's." I don't mind this place; in fact, I think it's pretty good. The food tastes alright, though not spectacular, the staff is efficient and friendly, and the general ambiance of the place is great for meeting friends and hanging out. I'm not a huge beer drinker, so there are always other places I'd rather go, but if someone suggests it, I won't put up a fight. That's about all I have to say about that.
(3)Jason F.
A-OK pretty much sums it up... went there the other day, got a spent grain smokehouse pizza which i really liked, especially the smoked gouda cheese. we also got the fish and chips, which was average, i have had much better. the staff was nice, not a bad experience.
(3)Michael B.
Great bar! very accommodating, and a great atmosphere! Definitely a must in Harvard Square!
(5)Scott B.
First and foremost, a hot waiter. Thin and handsome and beatiful tattoos all over his arms. Ok, you know how I roll... Atmosphere was not at all what I was expecting in Harvard Square. I would've expected a tiny little cramped restaurant with a limited menu and maybe a signature beer. This was not the case. The place is quite spacious inside, lots of menu choices, and some seriously tasty home brews (that are brewed right there in the big tanks behind the bar). I recommend the White Ale... it was awesome. My food recommendation: The baked mac and cheese. Elbow macaroni mixed in this spunky sauce with peas and strips of bacon... baked with a top layer of breadcrumbs. wooooweeee. It was incredible. I brought home leftovers, and decided it's even better reheated.
(4)Sunil N.
We were at this place on Sat evening. Ordered some apps (wings, O rings and Quesadias. O Rings were excellent. Other stuff was barely ok. The main drag was about their draft. It was not even properly chilled. Server refused to accept that it was not chilled properly. He told that it is 38 F and that is how they serve all drafts. Sounded more like a prepared speech rather than the truth. Seems like a happening place, people had lined up by the time we left. I will call it just avg. Won't be going back.
(2)Katie W.
Literally the worst experience customer service I've ever experienced. A group of us (6) came by for some food and beers before a friend's show at TT's. I was excited to check this place out since I'd never been there, we're beer fanatics, and everyone we were with spoke highly of it. I doubt they will again. Everything started off great! My boyfriend mentioned to the host that we wanted to watch a hockey game and he was so kind as to change the channel on the TV we were facing. We ordered beers from the bar and asked for food menus. After awhile, our server came over to us and we ordered. Soon enough, my friends' dishes came out. My boyfriend and I were planning on sharing a spinach and artichoke dip. We waited patiently. Meanwhile, no one ever came to check on us. We were drinkless and waterless and foodless. After my friends were halfway through their food, I decided it was time to say something. Since we still hadn't seen our server anywhere, I went to the bartender and asked him if he could help us. I just wanted my food. He told me that the server would be taking care of us. I then went to the host and asked if he could grab our server. He let a manager know what was going on and I then spoke with her. i asked her to please cancel the order because it had been so long and we would have to go soon. She said she would figure out what was going on. 20 minutes later, we really had to go to the show. I got up to ask the host again to grab the manager. She then asked me what I had ordered. Are you kidding me??? I reminded her we had spoken and she said she removed the dish- um, yeah. I never got it. Of course you should remove it. I told her no one had offered us more drinks, water refills, anything. She again said she would look into it and disappeared. Eventually she came over with the check and said she had taken care of the food. The server also came over and simply said 'Sorry, we're understaffed'. My boyfriend said he had had a tab going for us at the bar and she told us she would look into it. She then brought over the credit card slip for him to sign. REALLY?? Thanks for taking care of our friends food- that was nice. But we seriously would have preferred having the drinks we had had while waiting for our food that never came comped instead of our friends food which they were able to enjoy and would have paid for anyway. I was appalled at the service here. I have never experienced such incompetent service and most importantly, management. We came to eat, drink, spend time with our friends, and to spend money. Instead we left hungry, annoyed we had to pay for the rounds of drinks we purchased while waiting, and shocked that we could be treated so disrespectfully in someone's place of business. We will not be back.
(1)Catherine S.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I had that option. Their beer is really fantastic. I like their saisson, IPA, and pale ale very much. And you can't beat the freshness when it's brewed right there! But the reason they don't get four or five stars is the food. I had a burger that was pretty unexciting, and the wait staff was meh. Plenty of space and TVs for watching sports though, so I'm sure I'll be back!
(3)Nas D.
If you're looking for a casual night out with friends, this is a great Harvard establishment to frequent. I come here for comfort food and appreciate the graduate student environment that is often found. I'm giving it a 4-star because it's one of my favorite hang out spots in Cambridge.
(4)Scott P.
Come here for the beer, stay for the...beer. I love this place, tons of space, a few nice TVs behind the bar, decent food. But what really makes this place special is the beer. After drinking more than my fair share of Bud Lights and Coors Lights around Harvard Square, it's nice to finally go to a place that has beer with flavor and character. That's not to say they don't have lighter beers, if that tickles your fancy. But the selection here is amazing, and there are always new seasonals on tap to experiment with. The only minor downsides to this place are that the food isn't exceptional (it's decent pub food), and the atmosphere can be lacking. The space is almost too big for the number of people in here at any given time. It can have a bit of that big chain restaurant feel, which isn't what you're normally aiming for in a pub.
(4)aland f.
A lot has already been said, but I have to add that the microbrews at this place are awesome. If you're looking for something fun to do with friends, you might want to try the "beer flight," which is a mini sampling of some of their most popular brews. I've never had a bad experience at this place and I've been to it atleast 20 times since moving to Boston. This is exactly what you'd expect in a decent sports bar/grill.
(4)Brandon V.
Their beer is fine. The service is at least passable and usually good most nights, and was wonderful last night with a very attentive waiter from Armenia who really warmed up to us. The food has gotten worse over the past 8-9 years that I have been going there. I ordered the fish & chips at 8:30pm on a Saturday night. The place wasn't completely packed, but busy. Three of the four of us at the table ordered the fish and chips, actually. The fish came out completely undercooked and totally bland for all three of us. The batter was soft and not done completely. It was the same for all three of us. It could have used just a couple more minutes in the fryer to finish up. Also, the place was wicked noisy. I have a hard time hearing, and I don't remember the place ever being so loud. The only reason for the two stars is the quality of the food. Everything else, well, that's understandable and a matter of taste. But when a restaurant cannot even get fish and chips, a simple staple of Boston food, done right, I begin to worry.
(2)Julie S.
I love John Harvard's. The atmosphere is great, the burgers are tasty, and the booths are comfy. Their "gourmet" burgers as opposed to their "pub" burgers are made with all natural, hormone-free beef that's raised in Colorado. They're also served on fancier buns and with steak fries as compared to their pub burgers. Nachos are full of melty, cheesy goodness plus a generous helping of guacamole, salsa, jalapenos, and olives (I ordered them without sour cream. I loathe sour cream). My husband loves the beer selection, and has been known to take home a growler. I love the people watching. Never a dull moment, no matter what hour it is. And the stained-glass window of Teddy Roosevelt out front? Pure genius.
(4)Allen L.
This pub in the heart of Harvard Square brews its beer on site. We ordered a few pitchers of the pale ale, and not being that big of a fan of beer, I really enjoyed it! The calamari was pretty good, but I've had better spinach artichoke dip elsewhere. For the entree, I got there shrimp-avacado salad with onions, cilantro and lime juice. The shrimp and avocado were diced and served in the avacado's shell. The shrimp was well seasoned, and the avacado was pretty fresh. It's a pretty nice hang out if you want to grab a drink with friends. So yeah, get a beer here!
(4)Thuy L.
I heard about John Harvard's a while ago but finally went yesterday. Pretty great bar food, great beer, and great service. That is totally enough for me. We started off with their homemade kettle chips, layered with cheese, bacon, scallions, and sour cream. Delicious. I also got the buffalo mac & cheese. Are you kidding me? Buffalo sauce & gorgonzola creamy cheese sauce--sounded like an interesting combination to me...but absolutely amazing. Definitely one of my favorite Mac & Cheese places and I will be back for sure. My fiance got the pork bbq burger. His was okay, it didn't have enough bbq sauce for me, but hey, some people like it like that. The fries were EXCELLENT. The portions were huge. I took 4 bites and took the rest home. My fiance couldn't even finish his sandwich because it was big. Definitely a sharing kind of place....but casual and fun.
(4)Shaina P.
John Harvard's is a chain, but if you're entertaining someone who doesn't come to the area that much, it's a great spot. It's spacious, so you don't feel cramped. You can hold a conversation over a fresh-brewed beer and Monterey Jack-smothered Kettle Chips (best thing about JH). The food is decent and there's really not much to complain about. And did I mention the kettle chips with Jack cheese? Great starter! But best shared amongst parties of more than three...
(4)Rob C.
i will always have a soft spot for John Harvard's for one snowy winter Saturday five or six years ago. A friend of mine was in town to give a talk or something like that, and a small group of us met up in Cambridge for lunch and drinks. It must have been January, because it was deserted. We were practically the only one in the place. They had an imperial stout made that was basically the perfect thing for that nice snowy day. Went down easy, but was warm in the tummy, complementing the good food nicely. They have comfortable wooden tables, including some really impressive large-diameter round ones for bigger groups like mine. And we just took it over for several hours. What was better still, though, was the fact that the waitress was totally content to ignore the posted limitations on the service of imperial stouts, and just kept bringing it. And myself and my friend Dan just kept drinking it. And it ended with merry, drunken tromping through the slush. Last night, they were out of the aforementioned imperial stout, but the pale ale and cask bitter were both superb. The kettle chips are possibly the best appetizer ever (and i substituted them for a proper dinner). Oddly, i did seem a group of people doing shots. Who does shots at a brewpub? But anyway, good food, reasonably priced, a comfortable place that tends not to be horribly crowded, and really good beers.
(5)Susan G.
Where to start? My son goes to grad school in Cambridge so we have eaten at many local establishments during our visits. This one probably worst service ever. Food so-so. Atmosphere was very nice. Our waiter completely indifferent from the start. Pointed us to our table. Told us not doing samplers that day. Later during our meal a large group came in and low and behold they all hot samplers. Our food was dropped off and my husband then had to hunt around to find someone to get us silverware. His hamburger was raw, not well done as he has ordered. But waiter never showed up to ask how things were so he picked at it. My salad had specks of bacon and blue cheese. I expected more substance to the salad as it was an entree salad. We were ignored the entire meal and had to seek out someone to bring the check. The bartender rang up out bill. Really lousy service, mediocre food in a pretty setting. They need to try harder
(2)The Dude L.
I've been coming here for years, and I've seen it go through phases. Right now (2010), their food menu is great, and that's why they get four stars. Whoever is running the kitchen is doing a great job. But if you're a beer geek, be aware that 90% of the time, you're not going to be able to get the good beers off of the menu. If I had a dollar for every time I've been told that the best beer on the menu was out, I could open my own brewery. I know they're a busy place, but if they want street cred from the beer geeks, they have to either get bigger tanks or be proactive on the beer menus.
(4)EC S.
I end up going here a lot just because the location is good and I know I can sit at the bar alone and not feel awkward. The beer is fine, nothing I crave but nothing I'd turn down either. The food is average and expensive for what it is. The menu is fairly big so you can probably find something you want as long as you don't have too many dietary restrictions. One of the things that bugs me about John Harvard's is the layout. The reception/bar half is crowded and there's just no clear way to negotiate the area. It's difficult to go from the side of the bar/bar tables to the restroom without squeezing past two or three hostesses and people waiting for tables. They could definitely do a minor remodel to promote better traffic flow in this area. John Harvard's does offer a fun and "young" atmosphere (often tough for beer bars) but never feels too frat-y or too 21st birthday party-y. I think this is what it does best.
(3)Jillian C.
This place is ridiculously yummy. I went here for lunch with a friend on a Sunday afternoon, and we were both enormously pleased. We started off with the Kettle Chips: homemade potato chips covered in cheese, bacon, scallions, and sour cream. How can you go wrong with that? For my entree I got the Buffalo Chicken Mac'N'Cheese and it was delicious. I was excited because buffalo chicken and mac'n'cheese are two of my all time favorite things to eat ever, and the combination was everything I ever dreamt it would be! Even though this is a brewery; ironically neither of us got beer. I actually got a bloody mary, which was pretty great. To top it all off we had great service. Will definitely be returning!
(5)rach m.
I went here while visiting a couple friends - figured it would be a chill place to catch up with good beer. We were half right. The beer was good, but that was about it. That's the only reason this place gets 2 stars. The service was just pathetic - both at the bar and at the table. The bartenders all but ignored our group. It took 20 minutes for them to even acknowledge us for our first round of drinks while we were waiting for a table. We thought that was pretty crappy, but it was a Friday night and the bar area was pretty busy. The service at the table was just SHAMEFUL. From start to finish, our one course meal ended up being 2+ hours (and not because we were schmoozing). She was slow to take our drink orders, slower to take our food order and even slower to bring our food and refill our drinks. Oh, and the food left something to be desired, too. Over priced and not Given this experience, I wouldn't put John Harvard's on my list of places to frequent when I'm in Boston.
(2)Seth A.
Been there twice in the last month. Both times I got the beer sampler and both times was thrilled. It's not every day you get a "flight" of beers and enjoy each and every one. The calamari is some of the best I've had. I also really dig the old-school Harvard-y atmosphere. This place is underrated in my opinion! Excellent beer, very good food, and decent service. I'll be back!
(5)Brian W.
This place is great. From the atmosphere to the prices and from the food to the beer, John Harvard's is inexpensive, casual and a very laid back place to enjoy beers and drinks among friends. I went here last night before heading to a party to get a bite to eat and tried the Harvest Spiced Ale; amazing. It was a delicious home-brewed beer that resembled fresh apple cider with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.. absolutely good on a cold and rainy night. The Buffalo Tenders were great as well. Clocking in at around $7 (the food is very inexpensive overall), the portion was huge with 5 strips of thick chicken perfectly covered in buffalo sauce and with a side of bleu cheese dressing, celery and cucumbers. One thing I love about John Harvard's is their beer sampler; for around $5.75 you can sample all of the home-brewed beers in sampling glasses. Or, try asking a bartender to taste-test a beer and he or she will probably hook you up with a few samples on the house. Every beer we ordered was delicious and after downing a few pitchers I was regretting walking out the door. The only negative thing I can say about John Harvard's is that the receipts given to patrons when closing a tab don't list what was ordered, just the total owed (at least at the bar). We had transferred a pitcher from my tab to a buddy's but they left that total on my bill. I didn't argue simply because of how cool and informative the bartender was. I'm definitely going back to John Harvard's as soon as I recover from this hangover.. although that delicious spiced ale might just be the hangover cure I need.
(5)Ryan S.
I went to this place a couple year's ago...but stumbled upon a review and wanted to toss my two-cents in regarding the beer...this may be a reminder to myself more than a review for others... NOTE TO SELF: STOP GETTING THEIR BEER! It really isn't that good...didn't really like it when we went to the restaurant...and haven't liked it at any of the many beer festivals we've had it at...yet I keep wasting time and energy getting it...LET IT GO SELF!!! If you like brew pubs, I suggest giving it a whirl just for the experience...but as others have said (and I think the 2-star rating says it well) the food and beer is just "meh" for me.
(2)Eric F.
Great place to hang out with friends and kick back with some quality food and beer. I had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and it was fantastic with exceptionally tender chicken. It's always fun to sample local brews and the ones at John Harvard's were very good, particularly the oatmeal stout and ESB. Though service could have been better, the combination of in-house beers and great food at very reasonable prices earns my approval =D
(4)Allison B.
Maybe its unfair to judge a beer-n-burgers place based on their lentil hummus salad, but if they're selling it, it counts. First and foremost, there really are not many vegetarian options at John Harvard's. So, the aforementioned salad it was, which to be honest, I was pleased and surprised they offered. Lentils? Portabellos? Artichokes? That's my kind of salad. Unfortunately, the dish itself was disappointing. First and foremost, there was barely any hummus. It was as though someone dipped their finger in hummus and then drew a circle around the perimeter of the salad, leaving behind only a faint trace of the chickpea-y goodness. Sad! The lentils dominated the salad, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when there's nothing to accompany them they get a bit bland after a while. The portabellos, artichokes, and olives were also in short supply. Come on guys, for $10, a salad should be loaded up! We ordered three pitchers of their in-house brews to split among us - and left one of them nearly full. Yes, between 4 dudes and 1 chick we left a pitcher of their porter - not because we weren't thirsty, but because, as one of them mentioned, it tasted like "robitussin." And finally, we were seated under a ceiling fan that was on at full-blast. In the Bostonian summer heat it sounds nice, but after about 10 minutes it's actually quite unbearable. Please turn them down!
(2)Jason U.
Pros: -Good house beers on tap at a great price for the area. -Service is great. Host/hostesses, servers, bar tenders... all above average. Cons: -Smells like it's a restaurant in a basement -In a basement. -Slightly overpriced food. I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie ($12.99) and it was above average. Friend got the Tandoori Chicken ($13.99) and it was a letdown. The menu describes a cucumber salad and it was 4 thin cuke slices on top of the chicken, which was on top of a small amount of Israeli couscous. Overall portion was small.. My friend ate that before I really got started. He finished my Pot Pie. Go for beers and apps.
(3)April P.
I've been here 3 times. The first time was on a pub crawl, a couple years ago, and I only had beer, and it was pretty good. I like to try new beers and they have a good selection. The second time was also pretty good. No complaints. So why the one star? Well I went here last weekend for dinner and drinks before a movie, and I went home with more than I bargained for: food poisoning. After spending a day over the toilet and another day in bed too weak to move, I will NEVER go here again. I probably won't even be able to walk by without dry heaving.
(1)Jen G.
I took my parents on a historical guided tour of Boston and our guide recommended John Harvard's Brew House as a place for decent, cheap comfort food in Harvard Square and I think he was right on the money in his description. It is way bigger inside than it looks from the outside. You descend down into a dark, pubby environment with cozy oriental rugs, dark wood, low light, and ...stained glass? The food here was good but not amazing or anything that I would travel up to Harvard for specifically. We were here late in the afternoon for lunch so it was not very busy but I still had to ask our waitress three or four times to refill my water before she took care of it. She seemed more interested in slowly rolling silverware over in the corner than she was with how our meal was going....ANNOYING! The bread you get while waiting for your meal is excellent. Toasted with some delicious olive oil for dipping. DO NOT get the pizza here, my brother had the most greasy, soggy flap of crust and cheese ever. Granted, he should have known better getting pizza in a pub. My Buffalo Chicken Sandwich was pretty good but I have had better.
(3)Paula H.
Strong drinks. Good spinach avocado dip
(4)Alex M.
The food is excellent but the service is mediocre. The waiter once got my order wrong and then didn't really offer any apology. I have also found hair in my food. I wish they would set up their game a little because their mac and cheese is so good!
(2)Joe B.
John Harvard's is a good stop if you're looking for a nice atmosphere and good service, but just decent beer and food. Less than 60 seconds' walk from the famous Harvard Square Pit is John Harvard's Brew House. Descend a staircase down to a basement with a surprisingly high ceiling, and you'll find large, wide tables with plenty of elbow room, plus enough space to walk around comfortable. And, the bathrooms are in good shape and are easy to find. (There's no squeezing yourself around a corner Calista Flockhart-style here.) My two friends and I had the chips and cheese / cole slaw / whatever, and they were fine. The chips tasted homemade, which I always appreciate. Just a little soft so some oil stays on them, and they're great. I then had the fish and chips as an entree. As fish and chips go, I'd say they were about average. The coleslaw was excellent, as the mayonnaise was a little sweet and really complemented the julienned carrots and lettuce. The fries were, well, pub fries - not as thick as steak fries, but not McDonald's-style fries, either. The fish portion was very large, and I think I have had better-tasting fish fillets before. I had three beers, which went from very good to okay to meh. I started with the Pacific Coast Ale, which is a West Coast-style IPA. This was very good, with a nice balance of hop floral and malt sweetness. I then went to the porter, which had a surprisingly strong coffee and caramel taste. It almost came across as too strong, as I could taste the alcohol (even though porters don't have a lot of alcohol). The last beer I had was the wheat beer, which was overly malty, slightly astringent, and really nothing to write home about. Service was helpful, particularly when I asked about the beers. The atmosphere was laid-back and casual. It did take a while for us to get our check when we were leaving, though. Overall, I think I'd come back here. While it won't be my first choice in Harvard Square, I still think it's a good place to take a casual date or to go out with a group of friends. The menu really has something for everyone, and at the end of the day, the company is more important than the beer!
(3)BklynMama K.
Stumbled on this place on Boxing Day when nothing else was open, and they took very good care of us, wiping up our TWO spilled drinks, bringing our food quickly so we could make our show, and giving our gluten free diner good menu options. Also, the food was good.
(4)Julia M.
John Harvard's is a Cambridge staple, a must-do experience for the out-of-towner and an occasional stomping ground for locals. The food is surprisingly good. Two words: buffalo macaroni and cheese. Fine, four words. Also, great burgers and reasonable prices. Ample seating for large groups and relatively decent service. My only complaint is that the home brews leave something to be desired. They are not as bad as Rock Bottom, but you will struggle to find a tasty draft beer.
(4)Erin M.
The atmosphere at John Harvard's is great. You're in a basement, so it's dark and cozy and feels like an old-timey hangout. Our waitress was also very knowledgeable about beer, unlike me. I had to ask her what the difference was between "cask" and tap beer, and she gave a very thorough and helpful explanation. The burgers were very tasty, although not the best burger in Harvard Square by far (ahem ahem *Bartleys*). The steak fries were great. Overall, a very nice, relaxed, casual dinner experience.
(3)Hurjane V.
First time ever going to a brewery! Came here on a Thursday night around 10:30 pm with my cousin. To my surprise, it was pretty packed, and bustling with life! We sat ourselves down, and were quickly given the drinks menu and the late night snack menu. We ordered: -1 Fernet buck: fernet Branca, lime juice, ginger beer, orange bitters -1 tropical sunrise: tanteo tropical tequila, grenadine, pineapple juice Pros: -good atmosphere. It was a warm and cozy environment with people there just chilling. -good service. Server was nice- she would ask us multiple times if we wanted food since the kitchen was closing down. Cons: -drinks came quite slow. We waited for a good while before anyone actually took notice of us. -pretty limited cocktail menu. Maybe because it's a brewery...not exactly sure. I'm not a frequent drinker (just turned 21 not long ago) so I started with something simple and hopefully fruity. The Fernet Buck tasted kind of weird at first, but I got used to the taste. I could taste hints of alcohol in it, which is good since I wanted something refreshing but not too crazy. The tropical sunset looked nice (pretty color!) but I really didn't like the jalepeño in it. My cousin was fine with it though- to each their own! Overall, I would come here again if I was around! But I might try a different drink instead.
(3)Renae C.
Black and Bleu burger was delicious. I recommend the sweet potato fries and their on tap IPA. Cool vibes, wasn't extremely busy, so it was easy to converse with our group. Service was prompt and considerate.
(4)Harrison E.
I feel obliged to up the average here because after 2 visits I have nothing bad to say about this classic boston brewpub. Great pub food and above average microbrews are plentiful and the excellent whiskey selection is a nice bonus. They have a lot of tvs for watching sports. I loved Flameout, the mosaic lager and I wish they had growlers of it, but they do fills for cheap also.. like $10 for a full 64oz. That's great considering it's all grain. A great spot to grab a beer and a bite.
(5)Jason B.
This is a tough sell on three stars. It's right next to Harvard, so it's convenient. It's also down in the basement with a lot of wood paneling which makes comfortable but abundant space. It seems like a good place to hang our with a group of friends. I can't speak for the food as I didn't have any, but I did try the beer. We got a flight. The tap list is a little confusing because it's written in several places (not all on one sheet) and it wasn't completely clear what was on tap and what was on deck. The beer was ok, but there was nothing that really jumped out crying for a full pint. If you're brewery hopping or just wanting a quick drink, i'd give it a try. If you're looking for your favorite new brewery, I don't think this will be it.
(3)Denise A.
They've got trivia on Mondays, some brewing tanks right by the bar, and some pretty tasty desserts. Other than that, I'm afraid John Harvard's falls a little short. There's a lot of space and some TVs which are good for game watching. They also have music on certain nights. Overall, this is not the first place I think of when I want to go have a meal or even a beer in Harvard Square. But if you do go, check out their stained glass renditions of some of Boston's better known "saints."
(3)Isabella C.
For the price range and a pub in this area, the food was pretty good. I had the grilled chicken BLTA -- bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. The sandwich was served on naan bread, which was a nice change from the usual. Although the chicken breast was a bit overgrilled in certain parts, it was tender and not too dry. The avocado was generous, as was the bacon. I thought the sandwich would have benefited from more garlic aioli but overall it was a good eat. The fries served alongside it were also delicious -- fluffy on the inside (without being too potato-y) and crispy on the outside. I went at lunchtime on a weekday and we were told to seat ourselves in the general pub area. All the tables there are raised, so it's good to keep that in mind if you ever go with someone who would rather sit at a regular table. The service was a little slow at times but it didn't take more than 10 minutes for the food to be served. Would probably go back if I ever had a large group of people around the Square and needed a place to eat. Might not go back for fine fare but definitely not a bad bet for lunch/pub grub.
(3)Anthony M.
Always a friendly staff. Burgers & Pulled Pork are always delicious and cooked perfectly. The beers are nothing to write home about, but still enjoyable & adds an extra element to the experience. As far as Burgers go, I'd definitely recommend it.
(4)Kim A.
This is a solid 3.5 star joint. No parking. It can get busy. And the service is hit or miss. Sometimes you get an amazing server and some times you get an ok ish server. The food is just as unpredictable. There are things on the menu that I enjoy such as the Mac and cheese and there are more things that I have not enjoyed. I come because it was convenient to work and able to meet up with friends, but I never go out of my way to go here.
(3)Ana C.
The food is a little pricy, the beer is well priced. Great service (o sat at the bar) I had a sampler flight for 8 bucks. I liked everything I sampled except the black lager, it tasted like black licorice. My sampler started with the blonde ale, it was a good opener but if you're looking for more flavorful beers I would forgo the blond ale and pick up another one of their IPAs l. They also have cask ale. Good clam chowder. The decor is pretty funny, they have satirical rain glass and poke fun at their origin.
(4)Misty S.
I've been to John Harvards a few times, mostly with larger crowds because it's one of the easier places to get a table. The food is just not good. We were in on Sunday and got beers and dinner. I am a vegetarian and got the vegetarian sampler which is 3 sides. I got mashed potatoes, beets, and butternut squash. My potatoes were cold and bland. both my squash and beets were drenched in oil and were poorly seasoned, to the point where my squash was almost squishy. The only thing that I enjoyed was the hummus that we got... and the pita that came with the hummus was stale. The beer is also just not good. With so much good beer in the Boston area, I'm really not sure why anyone would come here for beer. The IPA was super underwhelming. The only beer that I felt had potential was the stout.
(2)Kelly O.
Hadn't been here in a long time, but was looking for a Cambridge location where we could have a meal but also linger over drinks. Reasonably busy but not crazy-packed on a Saturday evening. Server very friendly. Had an IPA that was excellent, the Pale Ale which was very good, an ESB which was not to my taste at all (and while I'd have paid for it--my mistake--the server took it off the bill with a gracious offer that next time I should ask to taste it first) and a Belgian which was excellent (recommended by the server but just in case I did taste first!). Had the Cuban sandwich and was honestly surprised how good it was--and likewise for the thick-cut hot fries that were crispy outside and soft inside. It was exactly the experience we were looking for.
(4)Joanna C.
I've been to John Harvard's a few times and it's one of those standard bars with a good amount of space and okay food. Good for large events or just a quick bite. I love the Hummus and the little toasted breads and pitas that come with it. Pass on the Point Judith Calamari, but definitely go for the Spinach & Artichoke Dip. The Brewery Nachos are mountainous! Crazily high stack of nachos on nachos on nachos. The cheese on them is so rich and once you start, you can't stop but eat yourself into a food coma oblivion. I've also had the Mediterranean Salad with Tofu and enjoyed it. The tofu was just okay, but the rest of the salad was spot on. While John Harvard's isn't a spot I think of when I think great food, it is a solid option in the Square.
(3)Joshua K.
Mediocre at best. Avoid if possible! Shepherds Pie was bland. Turkey pot pie was lacking flavor as well. Hamburger was average and their special steak was anything but special! Venture out of Harvard Square. There are much nicer restaurants in and around Boston. Gordon Ramsey please help this restaurant! Excellent location. Large capacity. How can they serve what seems like frozen crap and continue to stay in business? Are there really that many first-timers visiting the area?! This restaurant gives real restaurants a bad name. Avoid like the plague!
(1)Aleks G.
The bartender was unobservant and most of the beers on the list were out. The only thing keeping this a two star is the black lager. Quite tasty.
(2)Lorenz S.
Sure, it is not one of those cozy, distinct neighborhood places -- but it is good at what it is: a large, group-friendly, well-designed pub with reliable food and a great beer menu. Lorenz' pro tip: Try some of their own brews!
(4)Gautam G.
My all time favorite hangout spot in Harvard Square and Cambridge. Spacious and great ambience. Nice collection of rotating draughts. Delicious nachos! Food is good too. I've had their burger, fish and chips among other things in the past and they never disappoint. Good for having big group outings too, Will always make sure I go back when I visit Cambridge.
(5)Tamr A.
I thought the food was pretty good. This place gets a 5 stars because the craft beer is actually pretty cheap compared to other places I have been. The portions were excellent, I would go here again
(5)Heather H.
I really wanted to give this place a 2.5 rather than a solid 2 or a solid 3. The ambiance and service are what give them the extra star. You could easily fit huge groups of people in here, and I dig the basement wood paneled pub vibe. HOWEVER. We had a flight of beer and didn't enjoy anything enough to stick around for a pint.
(3)Strazdas D.
I was in Thursday, June 25th, awesome meal! This would have been a five star review if the hummus was served warm or hot, but it was good none-the-less, "the bard" burger was awesome, my mother who hasn't enjoyed a burger in years was very impressed, the drinks were good, and the service was adequate, but the most enjoyable part of John Harvard's for me is the consistent good quality of the food!
(4)Tyler S.
Dimly light establishment that really puts out a great vibe. Felt like I was in the early 1900's during prohibition! Beautiful big bar with great selection of beer! Also a lot of liquor. I was here midday so I can't tell you about the night clientele. I would highly recommend swinging in to John Harvards for a couple pints or beer samplers! Enjoy I know I did!
(4)Anna J.
For a chain this brew house is pretty cool. The food is good but the beers are amazing! My friends and I always enjoyed grabbing food and drinks here, especially on game nights. For every visit I loved buying a growler to take home to keep the party going :-) My going away party was here and the staff took good care of us. With lots of yummy food and tasty beer by the end of the night we were fat and happy. I like that it is family friendly, and when I get a chance to visit again. I will be taking two growlers home to make up for lost time! Check this place out it won't disappoint
(5)Gabrielle P.
This was the perfect football Sunday location for me and my friends. We came here after a long weekend of site seeing and this was a great way to end our trip. They have more than your typical bar food. I had the lobster roll which was fantastic and a salad. The rest of my table got burgers, anchors, etc. everyone was happy with their food. They have plenty of TVs so we were able to watch all the games at once. Two thumbs up!
(5)Charles W.
This is an excellent restaurant! The food was good (although I am not sure I liked the hot sauce on the Lobster Mac and Cheese...). Aside from the hot sauce, everything was great!
(5)Kelly R.
The triple chocolate sundae is amazing, and the Pinterest loving girl in me loves it even more because it comes in a mason jar. And the musicians tonight (That One Eyed Kid, Kyle Harris & Brian Staples) were fantastic. Come in on a night when they're playing, grab a dessert in a mason jar, and it'll be the best $6 you've ever spent.
(5)Kristine A.
Although they don't have a ton of vegetarian options they do have a side sampler which is great & more restaurants should do the same. You get to choose 3 of their side dishes as an actual meal. It is like the prefect amount & decent price. The interesting thing about this place is the stained glass windows of various people. It's not something you see regularly so take it in. Because this is located downstairs there isn't any natural light which is a downside. I am not a beer drinker but for those who are find this place to be pretty decent.
(4)Danielle L.
Stopping at John Harvard's was kind of a last minute decision for lunch in the middle of the week. It was not busy which was nice. The restaurant is definitely a pub style with typical pub style food - comfort food - not much on the "good for you" meal plan. I can't say that anything stood out and was necessarily great. But perhaps it would be better if I was still in college and came here at 11pm! My burger was fine and the beer selection was good. Can't say much else as it wasn't really anything over the top.
(2)Stephanie S.
Atmosphere: Fun place, but man is it LOUD. I can't hear myself think there (I'm not old, I'm in my 20s) and I hate how I have to practically shout across a small table so people can hear me. Food: nachos were good. God, pitchers are $15 on the low end, to $18 and $20. Your bill can pile up fast. Service in the bar section is awful. Good luck flagging down your waitress on a Saturday night. She probably would have made more money if she'd bother to check in on us for beers every half hour. This is my second time there and I'd rather not return if I can help it. At least in the Framingham location I can actually hear what my friends are saying.
(2)Brian D.
I came there the other day and did not have an enjoyable experience. Service was slow and seemed bored, food was legit some of the worst I've had while living in Boston, and I've been to places such as Papa's Roast Beef by the Garden and I've even ate a hot dog at the BHP before when they used to offer hot dogs during NFL games on Sunday. Just appalling. Place is such a lousy chain, should be removed off the face of the earth. Stop stealing a famous name for the sake of trying to up-sell $hit food. There are so many other places in Harvard Sq to check out and enjoy, definitely don't come here under any circumstances.
(1)Jasmine C.
I honestly don't know why someone, given the choice, would come to eat here. Sure, the portions are gigantic but the food tastes terrible - I ordered the vegetarian entree with three vegetable sides of broccoli, mushrooms and sweet potato and the broccoli was literally two huge steamed heads of broccoli, the mushrooms were oily and salty and the sweet potato was honey glazed but so sweet and really just tasted artificial. I definitely couldn't finish everything, and am glad I didn't.
(1)Tim S.
Harvard Square at 7PM on a Friday night and we were seated immediately! Should have known there was a reason.... Our last vsit to JH was likely more than a year ago. Who knew a restaurant could go downhill that fast. Waitress was pleasant and efficient, took our order promptly and brought out the 2 stouts we ordered quickly. If only they tasted like stouts. I'm not saying the I didn't like this particular Stout, I'm saying I may not know much about a beer but I do know what a Stout tastes like, and this ain't it! Maybe they just put caramel coloring into an Ale, but if that's the case, stay away from the Ale's also -- it was tasteless. My wife's meatloaf was presented as a slab of meatloaf with a small dab of gravy on the top, a scoop of mashed potatoes, likely served with an ice cream scoop, also with a dab of gravy, and a single large oily onion ring. Again, the wait staff politely brought out additional gravy when asked. My cheeseburger was served medium rare as I asked, but the burger was certainly a pre-formed burger similar to what you buy in a grocery store. The fries where the highlight on this plate - they were normal fries and tasted like fries. This plate would have been far better covered in ketchup to cover how bland the food was, but apparently one small metal cup of ketchup is all you can get, or the waitress was beamed up at that point, since I could not get anyone to get me more. Don't get me wrong, they didn't poison me. If bland food priced reasonably in the middle of Harvard Square is what you want, this is the place for you! For me - Never More!
(2)Melissa A.
Why's Harvard always so good to me? In a past life I must have been John Harvard's mistress. This place is amazing. We always get along beautifully. Their hand crafted beers give me a will to live. Their burgers are juicy and fatty and perfect. Everything on their menu is perfect. Order whatever the f*** you want. You'll die happy.
(5)Eddie K.
I loved the John Harvard's in Natick and in Washington DC. I was sad to see them close. I think there are only a few locations left but this one has been around for a long time. It was very hot (near 93) when we came. It was refreshing that it was very cold in there. I was looking forward to their pale ale, but found out it wasn't there anymore - so I got the replacement beer. It was pretty good. My in-laws enjoyed the clam chowder, and pot roast while my wife liked her steamed clams. I had the lobster, avocado and bacon sandwich. This was just okay. The sandwich is huge but filled mostly with avocado. Wish they put more lobster chunks in there - especially being in Boston. The fries tasted like it was sitting out for a long time. Even though there were only 4 occupied tables, the service was really slow. Never brought out utensils, napkins or water. My beer came after I was done with my meal. I tried to flag our waitress, but she disappeared for a long time.
(3)Kaitlyn H.
HUGE cockroach crawled up the wall right next to my friend's face as we were drinking beers. The manager did offer us two free pitchers, but our waitresses was slammed and not attentive/had an attitude. Won't be back. cf
(1)Troy S.
I found this place to be the best place for a good meal, good conversation, and cool air. We walked around Harvard Square looking for a good place to sit inside and find a good meal. this place delivered. Cold beer for $3.25 and a local brew made me happy. I wouldn't rave about the Columbian Gold but it was decent, cold, reasonably priced, and hit the spot. The waiter also screwed up because I ordered a 10 oz and he brought me a 20 oz. Thank you which gave you an extra $1 in tip. I probably would have given him more if he would have been a little quicker. He seemed to disappear for 10-15 minutes at times but he was a nice guy. I ordered one of the specials-shrimp Tacos- for $10.99. I was glad for this special because I couldn't decide between burgers. These were pretty good and I would order them again. The wifer ordered the Chicken Club which is on naan bread instead of regular bread. She loved it and would order it again in a heartbeat. The Boston Mai Tai is a bit expensive at about $9 but it was also pretty good. Our two friends ordered the Dorchester burger and clam chowder. Everyone seemed to be happy with their meals, I think we were a little happier with both of our meals. I would recommend a stop here if you want to sit and realx in Harvard Square. There are cheaper options, ethnic options, but if looking for pub food then this place is a pretty good option. The decor inside keeps it dark but very nice.
(4)Irene C.
Perfectly adequate food, service, and space. Fantastic location in the heart of Harvard Square, and a promising title, but alas the food does not deliver. Everything I've eaten here is fairly bland and generally supbar. PROS - Rarely a wait - Great for large groups on short notice - Impressive drink menu - Nice enough staff CONS - Bland, possibly overpriced food
(2)Colin M.
Went there Friday night after the Harvard game (sounds pretentious I grant you but the football is pretty good and my family has been going there for a very long time). Some non Harvard friends needed to decompress after spending a good chunk of their evening hearing the Alums decry the invention of the light bulb and therefore Friday night football. That Edison wasn't a Harvard fellow and probably didn't even get into Yale! Easy walk from the stadium. Drive not so much with Eliot Bridge construction attempting to out do the BiG Dig at least in terms of time. We got there! My friends realized that younger people can even seem normal around the college. They had a cool band. The wait staff was attentive. The appetizers were great! A definite stop while in the Square!
(3)Claire G.
I came here Saturday night for drinks with friends. There was no wait and I received my first drink pretty quickly. I got the strawberry daiquiri and it was a little to sweet and weak for my liking. I then ordered a mint mojito which was much better. I also got fried pickles which were AMAZING. Seriously, get them. Overall, good food and decent drinks. I took a star off because it was super loud (there was live music which was nice, but I couldn't hear the person a foot from me). We also had 4 or 5 different waiters so we weren't sure who to ask questions to and whether or not to tip.
(3)Natalie D.
Great atmosphere for a good beer and some solid clam chowder in Cambridge. It is a great place to tuck away to on a cold rainy day. It feels really warm and inviting and the food is comfort food. The game is usually on and the lobster Mac and cheese changed my life forever... Just saying. My boyfriend didn't know he liked beer till he went here. It's a pub/restaurant in that they have bar food but they also have quality entrées.
(5)Monique M.
Yall, the baked lobster mac and cheese was absolutely out of this world. As a southerner, I was not expecting the amount of flavor but I was delightfully wrong. Would 100% recommend this place to anyone visiting. But I'm also not from here so, take that with a grain of salt. I'll be dreaming of that Mac and cheese for a while though.
(5)Danielle S.
Admittedly, I go here primarily for the drinks and not for the food. The place is quite spacious compared to other bars in the area, so if you have a group, this is the spot for you. Even so, beware that this place gets pretty crowded and noisy on the weekends. Lots grad students hanging out. If you are looking to catch a sports game, John Harvard's does have some TVs. I once watched the Harvard-Yale football game here and the place was very rowdy with people from both schools loyally sporting their gear and antagonizing one another. The bartenders are friendly enough - if you can get their attention - which is tough. The bar is either perpetually understaffed or there are some efficiency issues.
(3)Christian S.
Overall thought this was a solid place. Pulled pork nachos were delicious. Besides that my burger was good, but was on the same level as many other places. I also got the beer sampler. The beer was pretty good, but the downside is that they don't let you pick what 5 beers you want. Service was also pretty solid, but it was a relatively slow night. I'll probably be back and if you're looking for a spot to try some new brews and get some food, check it out.
(3)A A.
Beers are horrendous. .. a sour "IPA' a hoppy oktoberfest. Bartenders who are defensive from sheilding complaints. Ive had an excellent IPA here. But more often than not, what i order, is NOT what i get. Its not a bad beer for the style you order, its a completely wrong beer.. i think a dyslexic is tapping the beers....
(2)Nick D.
We went here for Oktoberfest and it was a big disappointment. Their oktoberfest beer was very hoppy, yellow, and cloudy, it definitely seemed like they gave us a pale ale or an ipa but when I asked the waitress she sniffed our pitcher and said nope that's the oktoberfest. Usually I like John Harvards beer but if that really was their oktoberfest then that's a big disappointment because it should be dark and malty. So then we got their german potatoe salad which should be diced up potatoes with caramelized onions and bacon served hot but instead we got cold manshed potatoes with raw red onions.
(1)Emily D.
I was visiting Boston for the weekend, because I had an audition. And that weekend happened to be Valentine's weekend. So, my friend and I were looking for a place that we heard had great food and wouldn't be overrun with lovey couples. So, we ended up here, and I've got to say, I really like this place. John Harvard's boasts a rotating set of brews that are brewed on site. I can't remember that I got (it was delicious, one of their lighter brews) , but my friend got the Russian Imperial Stout and it was goood. Anyway, I'm a sucker for pub food, so I got the Shepherd's Pie. It was a generous portion of beef, veggies, and a whopping dollop of mashed potatoes. And at $12.99, the price wasn't so bad. The atmosphere of the place was comfortable with an extensive bar area and plenty of dining room space. Dimly lit, but I enjoy that in a pub setting. Good beer and good food = a good time. Overall, I would definitely come back again.
(4)Dhvanit P.
Loved the place and the atmosphere ! Great place to hangout with friends. Pretty good choice of beers...limited but not bad.
(3)Lisa D.
Quite nice beer. Decent, but not stellar, service. I went here with friends, and I had the avocado lobster club, which was unusual. Like guacamole with lobster mixed in. I enjoyed that a lot. The 'texas toast' the lobster salad was served on was not good, They slipped the heels of the bread in the middle--bad form. And the onion rings were a disaster. I love onion rings and these were barely edible. They weren't salted and the batter was bland and too crispy on the outside and not quite done in the middle. My friend had fish and chips and the fries were visibly soggy and flabby. The waitress was very knowledgable about the beer menu and the beer. We had the sampler, which was great. I think I would have enjoyed this place more if I'd just come in for a beer.
(2)Ian Y.
I love local breweries that serve beer samplers. I don't particularly like drinking beer, but I do enjoy tasting it (if that makes sense). Too bad the sampler doesn't include the seasonal specials. The staff is pretty accommodating, and the service isn't slow. It can get crowded and loud, though (to be expected, I guess). Not a bad place at all.
(3)Mojo M.
It's a brew pub, so one would think the beer would be pretty good "AAAAAAAANNNNNPPPPPHHHH" Wrong. Beer sucks. Really really sucks. Its all so generic, like those brew your own kits they sell at WalMart. Unflavorful. Oh, oh so lame. The food is typical bar fare on nicer china and at a premium price. I ain't really recommend anything but the meatloaf. The reason I gave the place 2 stars is often when I am drunk in Harvard Square I do end up at the place so it would be hypocritical to deny something about the place attracts me. It could be the really clean bathrooms.
(2)Jennifer C.
John Harvard's is a dark basement Temple of Ale, complete with stained glass windows portraying religious iconography. I stopped in here yesterday to duck out of the rain and get a late lunch while visiting the Harvard U campus. After being instructed to seat myself at a bar table, I waited around 10 minutes to receive a menu, during which time I pretend I understood a lot more than I did about the hockey game playing on the TV overhead. A variety of servers ranging from indifferent to quite congenial waited on me throughout the meal, which begain with a very forgettable cup of thin, under-seasoned New England Clam Chowder. On the other hand, the chicken breast in my BLTA had excellent herb flavor and hardly needed the bacon topper (though I suppose that would eliminate the "B" of BLTA). Whereas the bacon was ample, John H was skimpy on the other sandwich toppings, with the other ingredients consisting of a petite piece of lettuce, a single tomato slice, and one loan wedge of avocado perched atop the other fillings. I mashed it up to get better coverage. The marble-rye creation was unfortunatly soggy-bottomed (a term never used in a complimentary sense) but the accompanying French fries were EXCELLENT. Perfectly cooked with a delicate, slightly crumbly exterior. Cucumber salad provided a fresh counterpoint to the plates heavier fare. Prices aren't a bargain but aren't outrageous, with my sandwich plate ringing up at a little over $10. John Harvard's seems like a decent place to gather with friends for a casual meal or to watch the game over beers...not something to go out of the way for, but a great resource if you're in the area.
(3)Paul A.
I had an awesome burger here. It is just my kind of place for great casual food. Great quick service
(4)Kwan H.
Food is delicious. Beer is good and locally brewed! Location is perfect (right on my walk back from school)... Until graduation, John Harvard's will keep me sane.
(4)Sean E.
The Monday Night Trivia gets 3 to 4 stars depending on how well my team does that night. Last night we didn't do very well and the two teams that did win both had over 6 people; lame. A less morally ambiguous Trivia Master would not allow such shenanigans. Putting these things aside, the trivia night here is a pretty good deal. It's not that Stump! crap -- you're getting the real McCoy here: A trivia master who's put some work in the night's game and knows what he's doing. So why the two stars? We'll I've been here more times than I can count and I've never had a decent meal, hardly ever had good service (especially on trivia night), and the beer makes me angry. The typical night: Find a table, wait 15 minutes, twiddle thumbs. --- Waitress shows up, order beers, wait 5-10 more minutes. --- Waitress returns. "We're out of that beer," or "We're not doing pitchers of that beer." Order different beer. --- Beer shows up. "What is this? This is an IPA? It's red and tastes like it got left out on the porch overnight..." Drink beer anyway and hope the waitress decides to come back in the next half hour so you can try a different beer. Second beer is usually worse than the first. Usually stale tasting, or like the beer didn't get finished in the idea phase. I'm not going to get into the food. The only items on their menu I can recommend are desserts. But you should still cross your fingers after ordering one of those. Last issue is the clientele. You get a few beers into some of these Harvard kids and the next thing you know part of their privileges is treating everyone around them like a second class citizen. For the most part it's fine, expected. But sometimes when you're just trying to unwind here it can be annoying as all get out. The recommended scenario -- you and your friend grab a stool at the bar. The bartenders have always been much better than the waitstaff. Test out a couple beers to find the one decent one they have going at the moment and enjoy the prototypical college bar experience.
(2)Tristan B.
How do I get roped into these places all the time? John Harvard's is yet another "brew house"/restaurant that has nothing going for it besides "making their own beer" and typical pub food that is insanely forgettable. What really stands out pretty poorly is the fact that you're going to be waiting around for a seat here for a while, you're stuck in the basement, and the service is terribly bad. I was with a party of five (No, not the television show, okay?), and they managed to bring out all but one order, and we kept waiting for our fifth order. The manager apologized and gave it for free, but by the time that happened it was almost two hours later, and by then it was just like we wanted to leave. The beer is kind of eh. I mean it's decent, but I really can't claim its superiority over anything you can get in a decent bar. I'm pretty convinced at this point that brewing your own beer for a restaurant is a gimmick for "not having any distinctive beer" and aiming directly for that middle-america road. "Of course it's a good beer! It's brewed on site!" It's better than Charlie's Kitchen, if only because it doesn't pretend to be what it is.
(2)Courtney H.
So I have been here before and always thought it was an okay place, but the other week I have to say I was extremely impressed with the service! We were looking for a place to watch the game that had some decent food so we stopped in here. After an hour or so a couple friends joined me and the bf so our party was up to 5. But then something crazy happened. 150 people dressed up as Santa Claus bombarded the bar! I had heard of Santacom before but never seen it in live action. I was almost getting claustrophobic from all the Santas surrounding us. We figured we would finish our beers and head out. It was just way too crowded and crazy. But our server was excellent, and kept refilling our beers before we could even finish them. We ended up staying an extra 3 hours. I couldn't believe how great of service we received being one of the few tables not full of drunk Santas. Afterward I made sure to tell the manager how great our server was, which did make my friends laugh at me a lot, but it's always great to compliment when someone does an excellent job! And this kid was top notch! I hope he got a raise or a bonus that day because he sure deserved it!
(4)Chris S.
Good food and great beer. Good stop for any travelers.
(4)Adam N.
I sampled 4 of their beers prior to dinner with my fiancé. We also got their tavern pretzels. Very enjoyable atmosphere and good beer. I could see myself coming back here frequently if I actually lived in the area.
(4)Julia F.
John Harvards is the place that my friends and I go to if we are meeting people who have never been here and are likely to get lost if they wander more than two blocks from the T, or if we can't decide or agree on anywhere else - we usually don't stay for that long, regardless. The staff is seemly preoccupied and or unaware, or perhaps indifferent is the word, towards us as customers the past few times. It's a good place to bring a group - only if you get there at specific times, god knows what they are - it's about as much of a chance you have of not hitting traffic on 95S in the mornings to get a table by the bar. The food is decent, but nothing to write home about, the "hosts" seem totally out of place and for the longest time I've wondered what exactly their job entails... Maybe some day I will figure it out. If you are going and drinking for a while and have to break the seal? Watch out for the step into the women's bathroom, I've seen some people wipe out on it - hopefully after a few pitchers...
(3)Kristin C.
In my humble opinion John Harvard's has the best bacon cheeseburger in the Boston area. They need to open a place on my side of the river :)
(5)Greg C.
Go for lunch! Way better!
(4)Nelson M.
Ok, but need more variety of Brews!!! Granted, their beer is good and their dark is about as good as Guinness, but when I want a Guinness I can't get it here. Try Cambridge common on mass instead for a great selection. Good nachos!
(3)Mary R.
I had a decent dinner here last night, but it was nothing amazing. My veggie burger was good -- the added fresh mozzarella helped a lot. But my real question, and the reason for not giving more stars is: Why, when you're trying to be healthy and substitute the french fries you really want for a salad are you charged $1.50 more? Lettuce can't be that much more expensive than potatoes!
(3)Kristin G.
Blech. I've been here on numerous occasions and haven't been impressed by the beer OR the food. There's really no need to stop in here with so many other tempting food/drink choices in the area.
(2)Christopher M.
John Harvard's is a respectable brew house if you know how to work it: do not go when it's busy and always sit at the bar. If you don't follow these basic guidelines, you can read the reviews here to commiserate with all those people with good intentions, but bad timing. In the off-hours, notably between lunch and dinner (2-4:30 PM), this place rocks. Some people are turned off by the dark interior. Yes, it looks kinda like a dungeon, but any place with a stain-glassed window depicting Jerry Garcia and JFK dressed as saints I think is pretty funny. The beer is good, but I wouldn't write home about it. The food can be good. I generally like their burgers and fries and the chicken pot pie. The service...well...this is why you go during off hours. The waitstaff generally seems to think its more your pleasure to be there than theirs to serve you. But during the between lunch-and-dinner hours, who cares? You'll be one of three people sitting at the bar and the bartender is almost always there. Jonny H's: great for a late lunch or early dinner but the standard hours imbiber beware.
(4)carmen l.
Game night- bring the crew! This is a perfect place to grab a bite, catch up , watch a game and let's not forget have a pint of your favorite beer.... or maybe even a pitcher?! The food is great, service medium and atmosphere cozy. A definite must for a game night or a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's also a great place to bring visitors from out of town....it's low risk-everyone will find something on the menu that they like.
(4)Steven F.
I will have to come back to John Harvards and actually try a meal so as to give this a more well-rounded review. All I can talk to you about is the service (excellent, even on a busy night) and the black bean nachos. Now, let me tell you. I would consider myself a connoisseur of black bean nachos. Previously, the best I'd ever had were at Rudy's Cafe in Teele Square, but John Harvards blows the competition out of the water. These nachos are a STUNNING blend of cheeses, beans, chips and general goodness, baked to utter perfection. No. Joke. I'd rate higher on the quality of the nachos alone, but I do wish they had a more extensive beer collection (I know, I know, they're a brewery, whatever). What beers they do produce are excellent, I was a big fan of their oatmeal stout-but more than four or five choices would go a long way.
(3)Ronda W.
A hang out spot for students, and if you're hungry late at night they'll feed you. If that's all you want, and if you don't care about service, you'll be fine. I do NOT recommend the veggie burgers. They're dry and tasteless, the mushrooms are canned and the cheese is rubbery. The atmosphere is loud and the service is horrendous. We asked for a table, and were asked if we were ordering food. We said yes, and were then told we could only have a table if we were ordering food (we had ALREADY said we were ordering food). I can understand how they might think they could get away with telling that to undergrads, but as an adult who is well past that age, I was offended by the attitudes of the servers and the fact that they somehow expected me to "convince" them I was really going to order food just because they didn't believe that was our intention. My initial response was to leave, but since I was with others who wanted to stay, I was out-voted. Definitely would not recommend and I have not been back since.
(1)May N.
Went there with a friend on a Sunday, early evening to get the evening started. Got a few beers and the spinach artichoke dip. Wasn't too loud, service was ok. Large menu for a pub, but definitely had a chain-restaurant feel.
(3)Steph H.
Pasta with sausage and chicken, and the porter beer. Everything was good but not great. Service was nice and friendly, atmosphere was nice. Kinda expensive for what it's worth. I also understand that John Harvard's brew house promotes its own beer and everything, but I think I would have appreciated a few other choices - perhaps that's absurd to suggest. In the end John, I give you 3 stars because I spent more than I wanted to (and more than what I thought the meal was worth) and that leaves a sour taste in my mouth no matter what I ate.
(3)Alex N.
Yeah, this place is a three. its a safe bet if portions are your thing. The atmosphere is good, with friendly service. The food is eh. I gave this place 2 tries, I probably wont give it another. You are better off at Grafton's.
(3)_ _.
Scale of 1-10 (multiple visits): 6 Food 7 *Drinks* 7 Service 7 Atmosphere 5 Value
(3)Kimberly P.
This place is so loud that I couldn't even hear the people sitting next to me. That lead to a very obnoxious convo filled with "I'm sorry, what did you say"'s and blank stares. The food was standard bar fare - I had the mushroom swiss burger which was decent. The fries get two thumbs up (fries are my thinggggg!) but the wine was shitty. (I guess I shouldn't have expected much). This place was so so. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but if I was in the area and wanted an ok burger, I'd consider it.
(3)Bryanne R.
Beer sampler for $5.50 -- Tasty. Fresh, Hot, Soft Pretzels -- Heaven. Brings you right back to the days of getting a snack in high school study hall. That pretzel hits the spot. Didn't have a meal here, or drink here very long...but it's a good place to get things started...get everyone to meet up...gear up...grab a few drinks and hit the town.
(4)Diana G.
I stopped in here recently just to try their Harvest Spice Ale. This beer tastes nice, but it doesn't have the body I expected it would. I didn't stay for a second beer because I didn't really like the atmosphere. Too dark & too loud. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back to this place, but if I were in the neighborhood & starving, I might stop in one more time just to try a burger. We'll see...
(3)reese w.
The beer is pretty tasty here, and the food is passable, but nothing I would go back for. On the plus side, they can usually handle really large parties and have typical American food that would please most large groups. I'd call them a safe choice if you don't know the eating habits of people in your group. If you are a foodie, please go somewhere else.
(3)Gigi B.
I have been to John Harvard's on a few occasions to grab a bite to eat and/or have drinks with friends. The large basement dining space with abundant tables and booths has a great atmosphere, but overall (especially in the summer) I find it to be filled with tourists. The burger is acceptable and I was surprisingly in love with the bread pudding. I do not drink beer, but friends seem to enjoy their brews, which are created on site. John Harvard's is worth a visit but not an establishment I crave visiting.
(3)tom k.
John Harvard's seems to be going downhill. I seem to remember enjoying food here ... but now, it's a question if I'll even stop by for a beer. The other night, the only thing interesting at the place was my dinner friend. They seem to be hopping up too many beers, as hoppy as IPAs ... their current offering of Octoberfest and Red Ale are too hoppy for me. The Stout is more like a smoky porter, and the Golden is like Bud. Eeeeh. So so. My "entree" was really the letdown that I gotta Yelp about ... I ordered ravioli (a simple request), and they delivered 8 smallish ravioli (lined up like they counted them out) on a plate fulllll of salad. I was like ... "where the ravioli at mang???" It's not like it's expensive stuff, and this was obvious because the edges were a bit tough like rehydrated dried ravioli. Yet ... some Harvard B-school student probably meandered accross the street and was like "Man, I have a great business strategy for you to cut back costs and increase margin. All you have to do is load a plate up with lettuce and cut back on everything else ... no one will even notice." Well guess what, I noticed, and it's a lame strategy ... it was a sad site, those 8 accounted-for ravioli ! I think John Harvards shows all the symptoms of turning into a chain-restaurant. When there are sooo many interesting places in Boston, I don't think I'll be back here soon. I really should have gone to Pho Pasteur upstairs, darn !!!
(2)Dave M.
John Harvard's a great little place in Harvard sq. I love that it's downstairs and they've left the foundations exposed, it creates a great old English pub feel. I'm giving ole' Johnny 4 stars because the food here is great and the beer is too. That said, a few notes on both the food and the beer. Food: they changed their menu about a yr ago and cut out a lot of things, some of which I really liked. What remains is still good, but I find the menu some what limited now, I like having enough choices that I don't have to pick a restaraunt based on the kind of food I want (not style/cuisine, but optoins for light, heavy, refreshing, warming etc). With the new limited menu, I feel like that's harder to do. Beer: As a beer-brewer myself I'll say making great beer every time can be really tough. Usually they manage to do it. As a general rule I enjoy the beer here, but I have had a few that were really off, and off not in a I-just-don't-like-this-beer kind of way, but a this-is-so-bad-you-shouldn't-serve-it kind of way. The point? Take advantage of the FREE tastes b4 you order a full pint. P.S. if you happen to be out in Framingham/Natick there's another one out there that's also really good
(4)Michael C.
Great food. I love their salad with mandarin oranges and peanuts and stuff...I don't remember what it's called, but I crave it. They also give you focaccia with olive oil--wonderful! Good atmosphere, too. And unlike most places in Harvard Square, it's big enough that each time you can sit in a different area, and almost feel like you're in a different dining room. I can't think of anything I don't like about this place. Great place to go with your parents, but also for a meal with friends, or alone. (Then you get all that focaccia for yourself!) (If you use a wheelchair, by the way, they have a funny lift that kind of spins around to bring you down (and up) the staircase at the entrance. My sister, who uses a wheelchair, finds it an odd feeling going around on it. But it's good to know they spent the money on a fancy lift that fits their staircase perfectly.)
(5)Olga G.
Maybe NYC prices have left me scarred for life, but when I see a 16 oz. glass of beer for less than $5, I automatically think I've gone to heaven. So that's pretty much where I found myself on Saturday -- heaven. You can't get a Bud Light here, but they do have a pretty good selection of their own brews and they're happy to recommend something if you tell them what you like. Once you've had a few discount beers, you can appreciate the ambience of a place like John Harvard's. It's a little dark, so you won't be able to enjoy the late autumn sunshine from your table, but the warm service more than makes up for the lack of sunlight. Food arrives very quickly, and despite the speed, the quality doesn't suffer. Everything we ordered -- from the nachos to the chicken pot pie -- was extremely satisfying and tasty. Don't come here expecting to be blown away by gastronomic ingenuity -- but John Harvard's certainly doesn't disappoint. No wonder the place was so busy on a late Saturday afternoon.
(4)Topher D.
First thing that should have turned me away was a funky smell when we walked in. But the allure of homemade beer was enough to get me in - got a flight, not bad, then got a burger, supposedly medium well, not good - lets just say an hour later it came out hard - food poisoning is no way to treat a customer - I won't be back (at least for food)
(1)Jacquelin K.
This place gets an O for Outstanding... if the characteristic in question is mediocrity. It just puts me to sleep. What else can I say? The fish in the fish & chips is tasteless. The nachos are ok. Calamari's fine, but it's pretty hard to screw that up, don't you think? Nothing compelling about John Harvard's, but it will surely always rake in the cash b/c of the location & the blandness of the offerings. As for me, I'll take my booty elsewhere.
(1)Tim S.
The prices aren't too bad, and I've never gotten a meal I didn't like. A great brewery, too.
(4)Jim C.
Great place to grab some local microbrews with friends, scarf down one of their famous chicken pot pies, stumble down the street to the Harvard T station and somehow get home without realizing how you did it. Their chicken pot pie is simply awesome with a huge handmade flaky crust and huge pieces of chicken breast and other veggies in the pot pie. Bottom line: Chicken pot pie - yum. And beer too.
(4)Isabella Z.
I wasn't too excited when i heard we were getting dinner at a brew house. Since i'm not a beer drinker, thoughts of congealed cold fries and heavily ranch dressed, warm salad were on my mind. So glad i was wrong! Our server (wonderful and completely knowledgeable about the various beers for the others in our party), recommended the calamari to start, and she was so right! It was lightly battered and browned, with red and cherry peppers. Drizzled with a chunky tomato (pomodoro) sauce. I ordered The Blue Burger. Medium-rare. Because most restaurants always overcook it and I didn't want to order it rare and have it come out moo-ing. Just a lee-tle bit bloody is all I ask. It came out on a sesame bun with spicy buffalo sauce, bleu cheese, sauteed mushrooms and onions, lettuce and tomato. Mmm! And fries. Seasoned fries. Hot seasoned fries. I'm so passionate for pipin' potato products! The only disappointment was after the appetizer and half pound burger...there was no room left for dessert!
(5)Kim P.
The following items on the menu are the world's best: microbrewed beer, nachos, bread & olive oil, fish & chips. I stumbled upon it with my dad during my freshman year of college, and I was blown away by the food, and once I was able to drink legally it became my hangout for the remainder of college. Perfect place to bring out of town visitors -- dark, cozy, intelligent. It's true Boston.
(5)Amanda M.
i go here for one reason only: my girlfriend is OBSESSED with the mediterranean lentil and hummus salad. OBSESSED. And pretty much everyone we ever bring there falls in love with it as well. i'm not really a big fan of lentils or hummus but i have to say this salad is a winner. it keeps us going back that's for sure.
(4)Tim F.
Had gone here a few times before, and the service was awful every time. We were either ignored or the waitress was rude, but more likely it was both. Stopped in for a couple of beers last night after a hockey game...yup, nothing's changed. Took us forever to have the waitress acknowledge us, then she ignored one of our beer orders. Rather than get a tray or make two trips, she took 5 beers in her hands and dribbled 2 of them across the floor and on our feet. It's amazing this place is as busy as it is....
(2)Justin G.
The burger was poor, kind of dry. The Amarillo IPA started good, but had a lager aftertaste- not good for an ale. I would go back with friends, but wouldn't make it a destination.
(2)Mihir P.
The lackluster menu at John Harvard's is made up for by the high-quality pub grub and chain-bar&grill selections, This subterranean eating house is worth a visit. as the ingredients are quality and supposedly this restaurant makes its own mayonaisse! I can highly recommend the calamari with hot peppers and shallots, meatloaf, burgers and especially the fish & chips. If you go here, definitely get one of their four regularly available beers. There are only four available but they each are solid. A bonus is that there are also seasonal/special brews available year round. This place is great for large groups so order pitchers!
(4)Rob D.
I just...kinda...keep going here. Back before it was John Harvards, it was 33 Dunster...and I was still there. At the same table. Anyway - its better now. Is it a place you good for that special night out with that certain someone? Uh...nope. But is it somewhere to meet your buds, have good-to-great beer and a really awesome bowl o' chili? Yup.
(3)Angela H.
Given that my current state (very hungover) has not little to do with John Harvard's, I figure I should write them a review and say thanks. We found ourselves in this dark basement pub for the ~seventieth time this year and whilst I was complaining about being stuck in the dungeon, an incredible thing began to happen. I started to enjoy myself without even realizing it. We've been here a bunch of times, and I usually do have a great time, but I'm always troubled by the lack of natural light. Last night's outing was no different. But then my chicken sandwich came with those great fries. It wasn't anything special, nothing to rave about, but it was good, decent bar food. Which is really, in the end, pretty spectacular, right? The beer came too, two pitchers of it (hence my yelping instead of working which requires standing -- bleh). The waitress recommended the Demon "D"PA (instead of IPA -- they get cute with their beer names which sometimes isn't so successful: "The softest bullet ever shot," for instance, is too long and indicative of a suppository*). This waitress , along with many of the bar tenders and other staff, was great. Here's why: 1. she got pissed at the swarm of Harvard students who inundated our communal high top and asked us to move! 2. she resembled one of my favorite authors 3. she overheard me asking the bar tender for a spoon. He didn't have any but when I returned to my table she magically appeared with one...never had to ask her. And now, for the best part: It was trivia night!! And we didn't even know it when we walked in. So after sitting for a couple of hours, eating, drinking, moving to another table, drinking more -- we decided to order another pitcher and stay for the entertainment. Trivia night happens a lot places, I know, and this wasn't any better than any other (actually it was worse because I guess you have to be smaht to go to that college there, or something). But here's the thing, the moral of this whole story, the reason John Harvard's wins me over despite it's mediocrity and darkness: It's just a nice place to be. I'm comfortable here. What could be better than that? *That suppository thing was stolen from Rob P. He said it first. Oh and please don't condemn me for the rambling, probably incomprehensible, nature of this little spout: it comes from having too much fun last night.
(4)Jennie W.
Kinda feels like a place for Harvard meat heads to congeal over sophisticated brews and rugby matches. Also, feels like a tourist trap. However, this place is surprisingly good. Here's why I like: 1. Damn good burger. Perfectly cooked (I like med-rare, maybe that's the only way they roll--lucky me) and smothered with BBQ sauce and good cheddar. 2. Great beer. I know what I like, but I don't know much about brewing beer. This is the sort of place where they don't make you feel stupid for asking questions. 3. Really good service. I asked for thousand island dressing on the side, and the waiter said they didn't have it. Later, he brought over some homemade dressing someone in the kitchen had made specially for me. Impressive.
(5)Tanvi D.
So, I recently went to John Harvards with 7 of my other friends. We had reservations and we showed up on time for our reservation and were promptly seated. The waitress came by to take our drink orders. We ordered 2 pitchers of beer (She only brought out 7 glasses) .. One of my friends had to wait about 10 minutes before we could locate her, so, she could bring another glass. She took our dinner order and brought the food out. While we were still eating, she started clearing the table. She was about to take my friend's half eaten burger while he was still chewing. In five minutes she brought out our checks. And we promptly paid. While we were still finishing our beers, the waitress came to us and told us that we had to leave becuase the next party that had reservations was already there. Well, we were in the middle of a conversation and didn't quite want to end mid sentence. So, in the next, I'm not kidding, 2 minutes, the host came over to tell us that WE HAD TO LEAVE. What kind of service is this? Oh yes, I was almost tempted to ask for the 18% GRATUITY that they had AUTOMATICALLY added to our bill. I think this place is going to be my "Last Choice" for food again.
(1)Alex Z.
I am rating this place on the beer and things related to the beer. The atmosphere seemed typical for a brewpub and based on what others tell me and the review say, the food seems typical so I might as well comment on what is not typical. This place changes its beers all the time...which is good, but...it doesn't provide accurate information on their beers on their website. THIS IS FRIGGIN' LAME! Also, I have called and written to various people in the company asking for information on their beers and they never get back to me. In particular, I want to enter their beers onto ratebeer.com and I cannot because they don't provide me with this info. AAAH!!! Makes me want to scream. Piss-ant of a brewery! The quality of the beer? It's above-average for a microbrewery. I've tried, I think 7 of their brews, and all were good. But the variability from one brew to the next is minimal...there's something about these beers that tastes more or less the same. They all have a sort of coarse, grainy texture to them, a sort of mild but complex sourness, a certain quality that is hard to describe. None of them were bad but none of them were outstanding either. I would drink them again except that I am currently boycotting this miserable establishment because of their lack of information on the beers. What good is it to drink a beer if I cannot rate it on ratebeer.com Piss-ants! I'm never going back.
(1)Michael W.
Based on previous experiences I would have given John Harvard's 4 stars, but because of todays meal, i have knocked it down one. We arrived with a slightly larger party, but it was not very busy when we first sat down. It took close to 10mins to even get a member of the wait staff to take our drink orders. Bread comes out which is put at the opposite end of the table, there are 11 of us, so maybe 2 baskets would have been appropriate, but nope. The beers here are brewed on site and its one of the reasons why I like coming back. I had the Plymouth Porter, which was a great light and nutty porter... I order this Asian chicken kinda quesadilla, it was different, but good. I also usually order the burger, and after my night last night, i needed some beef and bacon... ordered bloody rare as usual. and it came out with cold fries, which were replaced after i complained, the burger was not what i remember, it was much thinner and was cooked medium. While it was over cooked, it didn't take away from its flavor, but in the end it left me still looking for more and a waitress for some mustard for my fries. I got the mustard as my check came and that was it. i think it will be sometime, before Johnny H's sees me again...
(3)Arestia R.
John Harvard's is reliable: I can get a decent burger, some crafted beer & probably find some ivy league eye candy. My friends and I don't come here for the food, but we come here for a good time. We can relax and be shameless and get the beer in flight where we can have all 5 of their current special beers. I find myself there when I find myself in the square, but we have been known to all gather for a meal and a laugh.
(3)Courtney H.
I went here again last night and had a very nice time. We had a great waitress, good food, and their holiday spice ale was nice. Their spinach and artichoke dip really hit the spot on a cold night. But I'm keeping this place at three stars because I'm still wary of most of their menu. If I go here again and have a good time, I'll upgrade them.
(3)Dragony F.
Our going away celebration for labmates VS: My dinner of an apple crisp AND a Brownie Sunday My dessert of grilled meatloaf My postdessert dessert of bread pudding Several pitchers of stouts, ales and porters Who wins? The bread pudding by a sweet caramelly landslide. My dinner of dessert items - apple crisp wasn't very spicy or apply, brownies were rock hard and dense, made eating a chore Meatloaf - grilled?! Isn't that just a flat square hamburger? I don't want grill marks on my meatloaf! Unfortunately, I also expect soft, crumbly texture for meatloaf not the chewy consistency here. Bread pudding - only outstanding thing, pillowy, soft topped with a wonderful caramel sauce, nice to have on a chilly night, get this instead of any other dessert on their menu Appetizers - pretty typical fare, nothing outstanding, buffalo wings needed to be kicked up a notch in spiciness Overall, if you need to entertain a large group of friends or coworkers in Harvard Square, here's a decent place to go for some pitchers of beer.
(3)Becka D.
This would be a 3.5 star if I could...but I rounded up just because I'm in a good mood. Definitely a good group meeting place. A fairly central area & very close to the T. Big space too, so a group can spread out/grow in size...which is nice when you just tell a whole bunch of people where you are going & have no idea how many of them will show up. Never done the food here, but mixed drinks are strong. Waitstaff could be a bit more attentive, but overall a decent choice for group outings.
(4)Hilary J.
One time I came here after bar hopping through the square... I settled down at the bar with my partner in crime and we ordered drinks. It smelled funny... like sour milk! So we kept moving seats until we couldn't smell it anymore. I'm sure it was some milk stout they were brewing up behind there or something, so we can't fault them for that. But it did make things rather uncomfortable. And then some nerds came over and talked to us and we nodded and smiled while trying very quickly to finish our drinks so we didn't have to listen to them drone on about their latest Dungeons and Dragons escapade. That night I didn't get a very good read on what this place was about... partially due to my intoxication, partially because of stink, and partially because of the relentless dweebs. Yesterday I came here for lunch. My experience was pleasant. I got a nice little bartenders sampler thingymabob, with 5 different beers. My favorite was the stout, but the others were "ok". Go for the stout!! YUM. I got a burger, which did the trick. It was the Bleu Burger and it had buffalo sauce, bleu cheese and caramelized onions. It was cooked just how I ordered it, which was good, but I really thought they should have put the bleu cheese directly on the burger (not the caramelized onions) so that it melted a bit more... then onions, then buffalo sauce. But that's me being picky. The quality of the meat was a bit questionable as well. But it tasted good, so that's all that matters right? Mad cow doesn't scare me. So far this review doesn't sound very nice, I just realized... but keep reading... it's intended to be nice. The service was good. Everybody smiled, which is always really important to me. To quote a favorite movie of mine, "I like smiling. It's my favorite". Our server was very upbeat and on top of his shit. Attentive and friendly with recommendations on what to order (even though we didn't take them). The price is right, the atmosphere is that of a cozy pub... and bonus points because the stink was gone and the place seemed goober free. My point is, the food is average... not the best, but not the worst... but HEY! Its a pub, and I can be a snob sometimes.
(4)Leslie J.
This is a great place to meet friends. They have huge tables that you don't have to wait too long for. The food is good, consistant and very reasonable. The crowd is lively, but you can listen to and enjoy conversations with friends. The only downside is that there is no parking in Harvard Square.
(4)Ray G.
Went with five friends from high school, Class of '73! Most of us had the Colonial Gold to drink and it was quite good. We had two apps, buffalo wings and nachos which were both very good. Most of us had burgers and they were outstanding. Our server Nina was just about perfect. She was personable and very prompt without being obtrusive. Overall a great night and I'll be back for sure.
(4)Jenn Y.
Super friendly server who enthusiastically served a group of 15. Prices were decent for a Harvard Square restaurant and chain, food was fairly good. I had a Green Pueblo salad that was pretty tasty, and they very kindly replaced the bacon and chicken with egg and avocado. (However, they did charge extra for this...which...is not unexpected, but not really cool). The beers were not bad, though not spectacular or particularly noteworthy. Overall, not bad, but not really standout in any way, it was fairly mainstream and not someplace I would personally choose to go unless I needed to find a place that would seat a big group.
(3)Sara L.
Wow, I am glad all the reviews say the food blows -- now I know I didn't miss anything. Went there with a group of 6 people, in the middle of the day on a weekday, well after lunch time but well before dinner, and the host said he couldn't seat us. The place was empty, but he told us he couldn't accommodate us for at least 45 minutes. No one else had to wait, just us, standing there staring at all the empty tables while he gave us a dirty look and had a nasty attitude that basically suggested we go somewhere else. So we did.
(1)Bevin C.
The atmosphere is pretty nice. I especially like the big wooden tables and vast expansive dining room. But the food is b-l-a-h. I ordered a salad and couldn't eat it because it was swimming in salad dressing - the lettuce was all limp. The portions are off too - my order of buffalo fingers was half the size of other places. The beer is okay I guess, but not nearly as good as Watch City Brewing Company's.
(2)john e.
This place is OK. The staff are polite and friendly. The food is adequated and reaonable value. The place is quite clean. It is one of the better places around for microbrew.
(3)Laura F.
They wouldn't make a hot toddy here and I left feeling very upset. The food is so-so blah too.
(1)Karlis B.
I went here again recently and it was packed. But the service was much better. Y'know sometimes I feel like a nut and sometimes I don't.
(4)Sham Y.
I generally like breweries because I enjoy a good beer. The ones I've tried here were decent. Both times they were out of my first choice though. The food was average and a bit highly priced.
(3)Anne A.
The plate of olive oil served with our bread basket had a piece of hair in it. We told the waitress, who acted as if we were being difficult, inconveniencing her, and lying about the hair. She didn't seem concerned, didn't apologize, and the next dish of olive oil ALSO had a piece of hair - WTF? Plus both of our orders were messed up - unreal!
(1)John T.
This place is great. The atmosphere was really nice, sort of like an old colonial tavern that has been modernized. Despite what some people said, I found the service to be great. My friend and I are both vegetarians, and were delighted to find that they were willing to make any of the burgers on the menu with a veggie patty. When I inquired about the %ABV of the cask ale I was enjoying, the waitress was more than happy to go ask for me (it was a stiff 6%.) After drinks and before the meal, she brought us out a basket of bread and poured out this amazing seasoned olive oil on a plate, for dipping. Most places just give you crappy packaged pads of butter! As for the food, I was very pleased... I had a veggie burger with mushrooms, sauteed onions, blue cheese, buffalo sauce, lettuce, and tomato - all the ingredients seemed very fresh and tasty, and it was well made. The fries here are AMAZING, and I would seriously consider an extra order of fries on the side. The beer I tried was the "cask ale" of the day, which was a brown ale. It's unfiltered, so it's a bit heavier than your average ale. It was delicious, though - sweet, rich, hoppy, and malty, all at once. Went really well with the meal. If heavy beers aren't your thing, they also have lagers and lighter ales, as well as wine (my friend got the Chardonnay, she said it was pretty good - very sweet, but that's to be expected with a Chardonnay.) All in all, a good experience. It's certainly not life-changing, but definitely worth checking out if you're in the Harvard Sq. area.
(4)Jacob E.
I think the beer is fine. The burgers are pretty standard, though I think both CBC and the Thirsty do the same thing better. For some reason my friends consistently repeat the mistake of ordering the nachos, which are are a soggy pile of goo. To me, the atmosphere is irritating, but that depends on what you're into, I guess. The service is often confused and inattentive. So, you ask, why come here at all? Easy -- it's the minor leagues of pub trivia. Teams that would get destroyed at other trivia nights bring home fabulous prizes on a weekly basis. The only reason I'm telling you this is because I've decided that on balance it's not worth it, and because my teammates drank the growler that we won when I wasn't around.
(2)Lucy B.
Whoa whoa whoa...Someone just knocked the Lentil Salad. I guess it's all in opinion, but! It was not called a Hummus plate, it was not called a hummus dipper it was a Mediterranean Lentil Salad and I found it to be perfect. The green lentils were moist, but still held together well. I found the amount of hummus perfect, the baby lettuce was great, and to top it off the portabellas were perfect! Marinaded to perfection. I eat a lot of salads and this is quite possibly my favorite. The hummus on the bottom of the salad was not meant to be globs and globs of it as the main focus was the lentils, I thought it was a perfect portion and personally, when I leave things on my plate I feel that it was wasteful. Yes I finished the whole thing and felt full. If you want to have a salad with globs of hummus and some more to take home or leave on the plate go to Tossed or some other make your own salad place. I'll start a feud over this salad because my personal experience with it was so good. Oh and Dan has the grilled meatlf which he thought was very good, he loved the mashed potatoes. Dude who called this place like TGIfridays - go eff yourself Go John Harvard!
(5)Jason C.
It was my first time, and service was horrible. The only reason it won't be my last time is that my friends swear the service is usually good. The rest of our group had already seated and ordered appetizers when I arrived. I patiently waited for 30 min, trying to order a drink. Eventually I just ordered my own drink from the bar. I would have liked to order another drink after I finished the first one, but their waitstaff had other plans. Luckily, one of my friends didn't want like 80 % of their pint of oatmeal stout and another didn't want his oatmeal stout sampler, so that went to me. And their darker microbrew stuff is way over carbonated, except the oatmeal stout or porter. On the plus side, they have big fried calamari rings for an appetizer, which is something I haven't seen elsewhere.
(2)victoria r.
Pretty good. I'm not sure if it seemed so perfect because it was about 30 degrees outside or what. The chili was great and my boyfriend enjoyed their chicken strips. Waiter was very nice and was quick... especially since we had to catch our flight. We went for lunch but seems like the type of place the students would hang out at on the weekends or nights. Cozy atmosphere. Was good but not sure I would return to if in the area. I'm sure Cambridge may have something better to offer?
(3)T K.
This is one of my favorite restaurants at the moment. I only eat here when I can get the food for free because it is so expensive! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Barney B.
sometimes you can sum up a restaurant experience solely on an ordered menu item. my friend ordered a beer steamed hot dog wrapped in a flour (burrito) tortilla, stuffed with relish and lettuce. I called it the "WTFrankfurter" - she 'enjoyed' it but perpetually had a confused look on her face each bite in. and so goes John Harvard's - like a hot dog-in-tortilla, the place is just kinda....strange. It's way too big to be in the middle of Harvard Sq - the menu is way too big for them to specialize in anything, so they do everything mediocre. And I have a funny feeling that the waitstaff changes based on the semester - no one on staff ever feels like they have been there long enough to settle into the groove of serving - and I guess I get it - if you are a decent waiter, this isn't likely the place to stick around when there are other pricier (and less chaotic) venues to get yer tip on. As for the microbrews, not bad. they rotate a lot and seem to always have a cask conditioned choice - and they serve ptichers. But like most microbrews - too many pints (or pints too late at night) can really eff up a Saturday morning. (maybe that's just because I am an old bastard??) So here's my suggestion - come here for a few pints early in the night, then head off. the food's boring, so go grab grub elsewhere.
(2)Jess L.
great atmosphere for groups. their beer is good, nice taste. i didn't eat last time, but i'll definitely go again.
(4)Sarah B.
This place is touristy/popular for a reason. As far as touristy places go, the ambiance isn't bad. The beer and food is great, and the service is reliable. The BBQ smoke house pizza is one of my favorite dishes. It's also a good spot for brunch.
(4)Julia W.
I share in the sentiments of those distressed with the waitstaff. Sometimes I'm not sure who my waiter is, and too often I'm left with an empty glass. That being said, I do enjoy their beer. Particularly, they have this red ale occasionally that is just heaven. Food is decent. As for the atmosphere, I love the thick wood tables, and I enjoy the cozy under-ground scene. Don't go to J.Harvard's to meet people- everyone pretty much just talks to their table (but that is Cambridge in general, no?)-- but it is great to people watch.
(4)rachel b.
I've been to John Harvard's a handful of times, usually sitting at a hightop table and enjoyed the food pretty well... but last night, I sat at the bar, ordered me a quesadilla and a glass of wine only to be scared out of my wits by an enormous cockroach creepin' along the bar in front of me... needless to say, I won't be back. When they get that brazen it usually means they are backed by thousands...
(1)Kristine M.
It's 95 degrees out and John Harvard's is comfortably air conditioned. I don't believe I've had the food here, but the beer is good and so is the iced tea. The service wasn't great but it's got a nice atmosphere and was a nice place to retreat from the heat.
(4)Sarah R.
John Harvard's is one of those places where I'm not sure if it garners the 3 or 4 star rating. It's decidedly solid good fare. The decor is dark and warm, the lighting is dim, and for a late Sunday lunch on a warm August day, felt a little strange. Both times I've been here have been satisfying. The service has been fine on both occasions. The whole experience is the epitome of the word "ambivalent". Thus it does not stir any great passions within me. However, there's nothing that would prevent me from coming back if I were hungry in Harvard Square again. Meh. I think I need a nap after writing this review.
(3)Stephie P.
I've lived in the Somerville/Cambridge area for almost 5 years and had never been to John Harvard's. So my trusty friend YJ and I decided to try this place for lunch. We went there on a Wed and the place was pretty dead. First off let me say that the 2 stars are for our waitress Christine, who was phenomenal. She was friendly, efficient and was very knowledgeable about the beer selection. I would highly recommend requesting to be seated in her section if you decided to go here (and the big word here is "if"). I ordered the veggie nachos and my friend ordered the tuna melt. The food was bland and mediocre at best and did not taste fresh. I don't mean it was rotten or spoiled. It just tasted like everything came out of a can and then had been microwaved to death. I also ordered an Abbey De Dunster Ale which was non-impressive as well. I don't know, if you're going to call yourself a "brew house" you'd better have something to brag about and that ale I had certainly wasn't it. Again, our waitress was the only "highlight" of out John Harvard's Brew House experience, which is actually quite pathetic if you think about it.But for that we gladly left her a 20% tip. Here's anther tip and it's free, make the small trek further down Mass ave to the Cambridge Common for tasty food and excellent beer. Nuff said......
(2)Melissa M.
Just got back from a lunch at John Harvard's with 11 co-workers. Good menu selection, my burger could have been cooked more as I always ask for med well and it definitely was medium rare. Can't stomach that, I also now have headache not only from the screaming child that was yelping about throughout our lunch, but from the noxious chemicals that were eminitating from our table. It smelled like a very strong bathroom cleaner and a dead body. Not too fun to injest. I can't comment on the beers/bevs as this was lunch but all the guys I know who go there end up getting the runs from the beers so that's all I know about that. The decor in the place is nice, but it looks like they could use some new carpeting and a good floor wash/waxing as it was very sticky. The waiter was pleasant which was nice, I can't comment on the bathrooms as I could not wait to get outside to warm up since the AC was on about 52 degrees. I'd go back at night for a drink and to watch football though, this seems like a wintry place. This place so has the potential to be fun, but seems too corporate for me.
(3)Donal C.
I really don't have much good to say about this place. Every time I've been there, I usually come away thinking I would never go there again. Lets start with the basics. The service - pretty bad. I've always had to search for a waiter. Once I actually had to chase one down to get a re-order - after waiting probably 20mins. The beer. The beer is pretty decent, but pretty limited in choice. The food. As basic as it gets. Absolutely nothing special. The price. for what you get? Overpriced. If I ever end up here, it's because someone else made the plans.
(2)Mats K.
Went to get some beer some food and watch the Sox game. The place was too crowded, too loud, and the manager was rude. The wait-staff were trying to be nice and helpful, but they were overwhelmed and seemed to keep forgetting we were there.
(2)Allison L.
Seems very consistent!!! People worked there were very rude.... just like the one in Framingham!! oh well.... There are so many better places to go in Harvard Square..... Why bother!
(1)Holly M.
While Harvard Square teems with exotic and often expensive restaurants, John Harvard's boasts regular American fare at reasonable prices. It's loud. All the time. Great for big groups and celebrations, but not an intimate setting. None of the food is spectacular, but you can count on a sturdy, easy to understand meal. No menu deciphering needed. The bar is really packed on weekend nights, and the prices are decent: Gin & Tonic for $5 flat, pitcher of beer for $16. They are serious about their beer, but also have a fully stocked bar. However, don't come here for fruity, frozen margaritas - they don't exist. All in all, a decent place in my repertoire of restaurants, but not at the top of any lists.
(2)Jessica T.
Always a nice place to meet friends, when you can't agree on anything else. Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the macho -nacho guzzling crowd, but to each their own. It' s a big space, so there's room to share. I've had great memories here, and their micro-brews are pretty goo. I can imagine it would be a fun place to get wasted and rowdy - before hitting the Cambridge scene.
(4)Michael K.
Spinach Artichoke Dip here is great. It's your generic pub food, so I'll just stick with the various Burgers they have. The fries have always been fresh, crispy and hot. I'll always stick with their own brew of the Belgian Blonde Ale. There aren't any monks back there brewing it, but it's pretty close!
(3)Ja H.
Good brewpub selection with decent food. Great for tourists and groups.
(3)Pilan C.
A Harvard Square "landmark," I always end up taking visiting friends to John's Harvard's. It's a great place to meet up with friends to have a few drinks. They have some very good homemade beers, which change all the time. Their stouts are especially good. The food is also pretty good, but I prefer the appetizers. Trivia night on Mondays can also be a lot of fun.
(4)matt k.
Not that great in terms of food. The beer's OK but not always perfect. The men's room urinal is a godsend, with a vent of nice cool air that is just at face level.
(4)Nicholas P.
A reliable place to eat in Harvard Square. I wish they would have more variety and experimentation in their brewing ventures. Nonetheless, they specialize in comfort food. The chimichangas, fish 'n chips, and nachos are great. The room is a bit loud. It's a great place to watch a game or just wind down.
(3)Josh O.
Before I moved here, John Harvard's was my main Boston bar. I'd go there every single time I was in the city. Their beer is great, their food is great, and the atmosphere is great. Now that I live here and know about more places I don't make it there as often, but it's still way up there on my list.
(4)Jeff B.
Beer lovers beware, only homebrews are served and they're not all that good. The best I've had there reminds me of a less carbonated Natty Lite with a drop of honey. The food is decent if you don't mind getting really really fat. This is my Alamo when Border Cafe is impenetrable.
(3)Andrew K.
I always ended up here when I was in Cambridge and never understood exactly why. The food is unhealthy as Hell, so of course it tastes OK. The environment is dark and lively -- very New England -- but it's still a chain for Christ's sake. I think it gets a lot of play because of its name/location. The beer sampler is great though.
(3)Michael M.
John Harvards has great pub fare. aswell as incredible beer, and top notch service !!! The beers they brew in autumn are my favorite!!!!!
(5)R F.
just an average brew house at which i never tried the food nor probably ever will. i love places that have their own brewed beer and it was good. nothing special, but still good.
(3)Mags L.
i've never come here of my own accord. it more or less happens like this: -hey let's go to john harvard's -uh, okay (says everyone in huge group) and so it goes. we get the big round table in the corner and have to set up a system of thread and paper cups in order to communicate w/one another. appetizers are okay. they have a draft cider (not their own - original sin - not as deelish as hornsby's amber draft, but decent) which is always a plus for me.
(2)Marco M.
Dark, dingey, and full of good times; best describes my experiences here at John Harvards.The food here is excellent and the beer selection is f'ing awesome!!!! The Nut Brown Ale is stellar. Thumbs up to our server Dave, who gave us all souvenir Pub glasses for being from California.
(4)David D.
Probably my favorite place in Boston to eat. The beer is amazing and it's always changing with the time of year. Food is perfect for a brewhouse. Gotta watch out on weekends as it can be a bit crowded, especially around Head of the Charles time in the fall. A Harvard Square must.
(5)Andrea M.
If it weren't for a party that my sister was throwing for her husband's birthday I probably would never have stepped into this place based solely on the majority of underwhelmed reviewers. I am certainly glad I did though because I had a hell of a time there and it wasn't because of the people I was with (I'm really not a fan of my brother-in-law's friends). Our server was awesome. He was funny, right on the ball with service and just an overall cool guy. The food was good, I mean it wasn't some 5-star dining event, but it was pub food and comfort food and it was good for what it was. It was the kind of food I would hope to be done well at a place with the words "brew house" in the name. We went on a busy Saturday and there was no lapse in service despite the large crowds. I'd strongly urge anyone with a negative experience to give it another shot because I didn't see any of the negatives that others have experienced. As for pricing, it's NOT expensive ALL. $7.99 for a huge pile of calamari is more than reasonable. My boyfriend got a HUGE meatloaf dinner (delicious) with mashed potatoes and asparagus for around $13 and he had to take half of it home because there was so much. It's the same type of pricing you'd see at a '99 or a Chili's type of place, only the food is a little more creative and the atmosphere a hell of a lot more friendly. We'll be repeat customers for sure.
(4)Maggie H.
This place was ok to me. I ordered a southwest wrap and it tasted like perfume to me. Everyone elses meals seemed to be ok. But I just don't think I will ever go back. I went for lunch...I would recommend not going for lunch. If you go you should try it out for dinner and hopefully that will be better than my experience.
(2)buckminster f.
the nazi server would not let the table order soft drinks. the only thing allowed was beer or entrees. talk about money grubbing!
(1)Jessica E.
Decent atmosphere, but they could do a lot more with the place, honestly! Yummy burgers and fries ($8) And the beers were okay. A bland experience, but the staff was very friendly.
(3)Kristina M.
I've been there only once (and, admittedly, it was the night of the new Harry Potter release which might explain the surprisingly low age average and the noise level), but found the beer OK, the food decent (the burger wasn't great, but the fries were really nice and crisp), and the service friendly. They did screw up my order, but brought a new dish almost immediately - and took it off the bill, which definitely gives them a huge plus. Unfortunately, it was so noisy that it was absolutely impossible to have any kind of conversation, so we decided to leave after the first beer.
(3)Emily Z.
I am a Mac and Cheese aficionado and theirs is the best I've ever had at restaurant. The bread pudding is amazing too. I don't drink beer but my friends all say the selection of beers is great. The wait staff are friendly. Creighton is my favorite.
(5)T T.
OK this is completely subjective. I went to this place twice when I had one amazing Road Trip with my friends from Russia, France and the Netherlands. I will never forget this place because of it. Their beers were pretty tasty and not too expensive. Also food such as pasta was definitely OK as well. I went back there last year to trace back my memory again. I like the atmosphere of this place too.
(4)Scott S.
I absolutely love their french fries. The veggie burgers are decent, and the atmosphere is okay, but the fries are what bring me back. The service is, frankly, sub-par most of the time, but not so bad as to drive me away from the fries. Did I mention I like their fries?
(4)Stephen J.
Average, but still a fun time. The menu is pub grub no matter how you try to spin it, and it's okay but in the many times I've been there the dishes don't really stand out. Burgers are standard, nothing unique - if you want a far better tasting burger, go up to Bartley's just around the corner. They do have a decent (rotating) number of beers on tap, and their beer sampler includes five beers instead of the standard four. They have a ton of tables downstairs but still expect to wait on the weekends if you're a larger party, and all taken together it's hard to forget that, despite paying $15 or so for your dinner and a beer, you're still eating just average food in a basement.
(3)Patrick B.
Sometimes the food and beer at John Harvard's is great - sometimes one is good and the other passing and sometimes both are only average. I still like to stop in every now and then hoping to hit them on a day when both are good. My guess is that they're surviving on the tourists which doesn't give them as much incentive to keep the locals coming back...
(3)Kiki B.
i'm all for microbreweries. it can get a bit loud in here, but if you want some burgers and a pitcher of beer it's not really going to disappoint.
(3)Mina I.
I don't even drink and I like this place.. Good pub-ish atmosphere and a super fun place to go with friends. I really like the fake out stained glass.. you can get a little flight of their beers to make sure you're not missing the one of your dreams. I would say super thumbs up for a really relaxed unpretentious casual diner place & you can grab a crazy jug of their micro-brew on your way out!
(4)Captain H.
I used to go here to waste time before class or before the 75 bus came, or just to unwind. It feels like a basement and it's dark and loud, but that feels fitting for a brew house. The beer is good and the bartenders are nice, and that's what matters. I haven't tried any food so I'm basing my review on beer alone.
(4)Michelle N.
I am new to Boston and WOULD NOT recommend this place. Service was bad and the manager was completely unprofessional. Totally standard food, nothing impressive. I wouldn't return to this place even if someone was buying my meal.
(1)Sam D.
John Harvard's is a good place to be aware of in Harvard Sq., but it's hard for anyone to actively dislike so it usually makes a good compromise place to eat. Atmosphere is fun, food is good enough, menu has all the standards, price is decent. The burgers are extremely good and a definite safe bet. Salads are pretty good, too. Parking isn't the easiest, but it is Harvard Sq., so plenty of ways to get there.
(4)Jim C.
Always a good place to go when you want some pub food. I really enjoy their beer along with one of there many burgers. People we ate with also had a salad, which they stated was pretty good.
(4)P'raka ..
4 stars for the bread they serve during dinner. It's insanely good. The dinner itself was ok, but the bread! Go for bread!
(4)Rina R.
This very popular Harvard eatery is the kind of place you bring the parents when they're in town. Fun, good enough food, and great prices. The atmosphere is inviting and cozy, so get warmed up there on a cold fall or winter day.
(3)Jud P.
Gets pretty crowded, especially on the weekends. The service can also be slow and inattentive at times. We had trouble getting more bread for our large group, but the food came out quickly. The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. I also enjoy the beers quite a bit. The aren't as inventive or imaginative as those at Cambridge Brewing Company not far away, but they are all pretty solid and much better then Boston Beer Works. There is also usually a cask beer available served out of a beer engine. Overall, a good place to eat and drink if you have some patience.
(3)George K.
Best beer in Harvard square, and the apps are great too!
(3)Alan Y.
just had the worst meal i've ever had at JH. it's been a year or so since ive been back and they usually have pretty good food when i have gone there in the past but ive heard ownership has changed and the food definitely reflects that. I ordered a mushroom swiss burger. you figure you cant really mess up a hamburger...wrong! tasted worse than any frozen burger ive ever had. I ordered it cooked medium and it was tough and flavorless and it was definitely not fresh. was definitely a frozen burger. a friend ordered a turkey and brie wrap and the wrap was stuffed with spinach with VERY little turkey. it shoulda been called a spinach wrap with turkey sprinkles. HORRIBLE. its very disappointed knowing that they used to have very good food. to be fair their chicken pot pie is still decent. i wont be back there again unless i have a huge urge for CPP. there are definitely much better options that JH for pub style food.
(1)Simon G.
i really like this place. i think the beer is really good. the food is surprisingly good, it's arguably the best bar food i've had. not that the menu is anything particularly special, but it has been well-done in the 7 or so times i've been here definitely more of a restaurant atmosphere than a pub atmosphere. good place for dinner and mid-day beers
(4)Katia M.
I'm a big fan of the beer, and I've enjoyed the food. I mean, I got the standard bar food (buffalo chicken fingers and fries), which aren't exactly hard to mess up, but still, what I had was good. Like the general vibe of the place and it's definitely somewhere you can get actual good beer at a good price. Places like that are all too few and far between.
(4)Anonymous P.
OK beer, horrid food.
(2)Steve N.
very, very, very good beer. i've had most of the menu and it doesn't suck.
(3)Joe R.
A huge bar with private rooms (by reservation), but holy heat. It was probably in the 50's outside, but at least 90 in the bar. I hate when my beer gets tainted by beads of sweat.
(2)Sharon S.
Want to know what happened to me at John Harvard's Brew House? Well, I will tell you, but it is not for the faint-of-heart (and, PS, I do fall into that category myself).... Sitting in a booth against the back wall of the restaurant with a good friend, I see some kind of commotion beyond the last booth...in the dark crevasses of the place. A waiter comes over and seems to calm the people down. OK. Our food arrives, we start to eat. The maitre de or some other guy who is not a waiter, but does work there comes to our table, looks down and there it is: A Roach. He lifts his foot and with much bravado, smashes the thing right in front of us, then swoops down to retrieve the corpse with a paper napkin. I, apparently, have the look of absolute horror on my face and the man proceeds to ask if I am OK. I ask if that was a roach, he reluctantly says yes. And I inform him that no, I am not OK. He walks away with the evidence in hand. As I sit there, I cannot eat another bite but my friend continues to eat her entire entree: I don't know how, somehow she is unaffected. Several more times, the well-dressed bug killer comes back to ask if I am OK, and I assure him I am not, but he does nothing about that, perhaps there is nothing he could do. I do think, in light of what happened in front of us, and that I had perhaps 2 bites of food, he could have comped the bill, but no. Full price for witnessing live action roach battles....I will not be back. And, honestly, I am not naive, I know roaches are found in many eateries, but I, for one, do not want to see them.
(1)Julie T.
I've eaten here many times in the past, and the food has always been acceptable. I brought a bunch of friends here for my birthday recently, however, and my experience was very different. I like the size of this place (they don't look panicked when you ask them for seating for 7 at 6pm on a Saturday night). As other people have said, though, the service is a bit lacking. Our waitress acted slightly annoyed to be there. I got a chicken pot pie, and the crust, while appearing flaky and tasty, was mostly hard. And the chicken was extremely dry...and I'm pretty sure it had a cheese sauce, even though the menu said nothing about cheese. My friend ordered a burger and asked for medium well, and it came out "raw" to him (I saw some light pink, which I didn't consider raw, but then again, it wasn't my burger and he was at the other end of the table from me, so I'll take his word for it!). Since I had a number of out-of-town friends with me, I was actually a bit embarrassed at the experience. If this had been my only experience there, I definitely would not go back. As is, I think I would only go back there if it was someone else's idea. There are just too many other good places in the area!
(2)Evan P.
good place, great food, the Belgian White's money, the stained glass is funny, the restaurant is popular/packed, the meals are hearty, and the times are good.
(4)Sandra C.
Great place to get appetizers. They also make their own beer so it's really fresh and tasty. It's mostly the college crowd so it's a rowdy atmosphere with many tables like a restaurant.
(4)Alan N.
I'd say this place is in line with Friday's or Chilis. Went here for dinner on Saturday night with 5 friends, and I think i've been here for drinks but this time i had dinner. we got a few pitchers of Helles beer which was pretty good i must say. at $15 each, one pitcher yields 4 (16oz) pints. so it might make sense to get imperial (20oz) pints individually, as we originally anticipated a pitcher yielding 5 pints. Sarah and Neil recommended getting these asian crispadillas which were ok, but nothing to write home about for me. I ordered the smoke house burger which was a burger with smoked gouda, bacon, and LTO, it came with steak fries seasoned with old bay. As far as burgers go, this was edible. Neil also got burger, sarah got mac n cheese, Dan got a buffalo chicken sandwich that looked great, Jen got the corned beef sandwich special which also looked pretty good, and Vik got the buffalo chicken mac n cheese, in which there was minimal buffalo sauce. the place is huge and is probably good for groups but the food is just run-of-the-mill. There's def better food in cambridge (i hope), but if you're looking for a dinner centered around drinking then i guess this establishment is ok.
(2)Michel R.
Not a bad pick if you want to get a pitcher to watch a game or if you are going out with a group of friends. The food is not fantastic but the fries are pretty good.
(3)Jenna H.
The food here is pretty good - typical pub food and I usually don't stray from the hamburger or the sandwich because of that - but it's more about the atmosphere and the beer. I'm not a fan of dark beers so their house beer is not my favorite, but they have other good ones and a great sampler. There are a bunch of TVs, so it is definitely a place to go while the game is on and is fun if you're in the area and want a pub-like sit down dinner or lunch.
(3)B D.
The worse and I mean WORSE customer service ever! We waited well over a half hour for our check. And once the waiter gave us the check, he walked away and another 15 minutes later we were still waiting for him! It looked as though he was coming our way, however just continued on and into the kitchen! The food is okay, nothing memorable. Stick to getting a growler of their beer (which was pretty good) and getting the hell out of there!
(1)Irene F.
The beer here is excellent, and I've become a rather serious beer snob in recent times. They make some great brews, check out the sampler and try them all. The food is OK, but it's really the beer you should be coming for. It definitely gets crowded as all hell in here, especially Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, so try to avoid it unless you really like to fight for your beer.
(4)PL H.
Nice, historical-looking ambiance - no, not authentic. John Harvards has been here less than 20 years. I've eaten here several times and not impressed with the food. I recommend giving the home made beer a try, and maybe just an appetizer if you're desperate.
(2)Kristen G.
This place has a very old, boston bar style. The atmosphere is pretty warm with dark wood and stained glass. The beers are great and the food is decent. If you've never been, you should at least experience it once.
(3)Stephanie W.
This place is OK...they used to have 1/2 price on all appetizers on Mondays, but they reduced the menu you can choose from! They also have this really corny trivia night that is fine if you are into that stuff. Nachos are great here though.
(3)Alice K.
The perfect college hangout- tasty, uncomplicated food, decent beer, lots of people all trying to make their conversations heard simultaneously and about six screens devoted to the Red Sox at any given time. I'd give them a fourth star for their Union Jack Nachos alone, but my agent wouldn't let me. ;) Oh, and anyone fond of red meat should try the spiced ranch steak with onion strings.
(3)Clayton N.
Big draws for this place: probably the best option if you and colleagues are looking to grab a pint brewed on premises. As bar food goes, the menu is above par, and served in an appealing way. The big drawback is the service. The place always seems to be understaffed. Count on the wait staff to forget about you once they bring your first round of drinks. For a more grungy and cost-effective tavern experience, I recommend Charlie's Kitchen.
(2)Michael G.
Come here for beer, beer, and more beer. It's a pretty large place, but it can still easily get really packed. It's a dark place that is your typical Boston pub, except it tends to be packed with college students.
(3)David T.
John Harvard's is way too big to be a good tavern. They do a good job trying, but it just loses that wonderful cluttered and claustrophobic appeal that any good tavern or pub must have. The food is good but unremarkable.
(3)Aaron S.
This place is good, but not so good that it is great. Basically if you want a burger and a beer you'll get it. The atmosphere isn't bad, but the best part of the place is the stainglass window outside of Jerry Garcia holding a copy of the Electric Coolaid Acid Test.
(3)kimberly H.
It gives me great pleasure to talk shit about this place. Be prepared to wait for what seems like forever for service, receive screwed up orders, and surround yourself with obnoxious people who think very highly of themselves. This is not a cool college hangout -- it's harvard for crying out loud -- maybe the staff and owners should request some complimentary courses in basic customer service.
(1)Travis G.
John Harvard's: Good for occasional after-work commiseration sessions. Burgers have been pretty good over time but have gotten worse recently. Staff ranges from indifferent to extremely unpleasant. The darker beer varieties are good, the lighter ones are mediocre. I have mostly boycotted this restaurant for a year since the time they were rude to my hot girlfriend.
(2)g g.
I've been here for lunch several times with boyfriend, who is a burger loving fool. I don't eat burgers, so I can't say anything about those, but boyfriend thinks they're pretty damn great here. The other food available there is okay, but nothing special. I've only tried one of their beers, which if I recall was pretty good, but it's been a while. The wait service is pretty blah. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but it's not a bad place to end up.
(3)Erin G.
If you're coming here for dinner, this place does not have anything to offer that you couldn't get at any other brewery. The beer was pretty good, but there were definitely kids running around the tables, which was NOT expected for a brew pub. Prices were in the normal range. Had a pretty cool bathroom. Randomly ran into a friend from college, so it might be a place you end up running into people!
(3)Andrea C.
Yeah, decent food, dark inside, but it's usually got a good, full crowd and it's kinda a local obligation to go. Good burgers. Sill stainglass mocking local legends. Uh, yeah, grab a pint and some Caesar salad.
(4)Josh F.
Not a bad place for a chain brew-pub. Grab a burger and a beer at the bar but not really worth the trip for a sit-down dinner. Food is of varying quality, with a good choice of salads, and a few surprises. Meatloaf ain't half bad, especially for $10. The beer is consistent and fresh. Try the IPA or the Oktoberfest if it's in season. The service kind of sucks, at least in my experiences.
(3)Samuel B.
Just a basic place, hamburgers, chicken, beer etc. The calamari is excellent, but the other items, such as a chicken sandwich is average. Still, not a bad place for casual eats.
(3)Roshni R.
a good place to go out with groups. the food is mediocre at best, but then there's a wide variety (american stuff, tex-mex, salads, etc) so no one will go hungry. i'm not overly fond of them b/c they'd always id-ed me junior year when i wasn't 21 :(.
(3)Anika K.
sorta fratty. that's not a compliment. maybe it's because my fratty cousin took me there. who knows. anyway - nothin' terribly special about it.
(2)Tom R.
Not bad for a group or brunch, otherwise skip it.
(3)Christina Y.
The beer is great and highly compliments most of their menu. The food is great, ranging from burgers to pizza to large entrees. The wait can be long, but the last time I went, they were handing out free small slices of cheese pizza (which was excellent) that went great with the beer that we were waiting with. Def worth the time of checking this place out. It is loud when it is crowded, so if you want some privacy, go somewhere else.
(4)Tim S.
The food isn't that good, sure, but after taking off a star for that, I only have good things to say about this place. I found the beer great and cheap. There was an IPA on tap when I went that was delicious, and I don't normally like IPAs. This is the place you want to hang out to avoid the Harvard yuppies (mostly) and get a great brew and watch a sports game. It can get crowded despite its spaciousness, and it can get loud if it is crowded. But overall, it lives up to its reputation: a spot where you can have a beer and watch TV with your friends. The service has generally been on the slower side, especially when it's really crowded, but it wasn't slow enough to get angry about. The wait staff is very nice.
(4)Holly B.
Being nice, 3 stars, Nice atmosphere. The wait - very slow with every and anything including water. Our waitress was nice but maybe new. Highlight - desserts. We tried all 3 and they were all good, not great but def good especially compared to the food. 5/7 orders were wrong and 1 was cold. We all ordered burgers.... How do you mess up a burger and how it's cooked?!? I had the sweet potato fries and they are made different than the usually and I personally did not like the mushy texture. Great place for college students/grads!! Probably will not return...
(3)Karina L.
A big peeve I have is when someone organizes a huge group dinner and insists on landing us reservations to a minuscule boutique restaurant for 10:30pm on a Tuesday. Sometimes, you need a place to hang out with a group of friends while not worrying about space, location, or noise. Always, there is John Harvard's. Decent bar food - the onions rings are huge, the fries are huge, the burgers are huge, the salads are huge and surprisingly not terrible. The beers (all brewed in-house) are fine and fun to try out. If you're looking to have your socks knocked off with cutting edge beers you're probably at the wrong place. But if you want a place for your friends (classmates, reunions, people you don't really care to impress, etc.) in a cool and spacious basement level bar (it's dark), then John Harvard's is a great choice.
(3)Hurjane V.
First time ever going to a brewery! Came here on a Thursday night around 10:30 pm with my cousin. To my surprise, it was pretty packed, and bustling with life! We sat ourselves down, and were quickly given the drinks menu and the late night snack menu. We ordered: -1 Fernet buck: fernet Branca, lime juice, ginger beer, orange bitters -1 tropical sunrise: tanteo tropical tequila, grenadine, pineapple juice Pros: -good atmosphere. It was a warm and cozy environment with people there just chilling. -good service. Server was nice- she would ask us multiple times if we wanted food since the kitchen was closing down. Cons: -drinks came quite slow. We waited for a good while before anyone actually took notice of us. -pretty limited cocktail menu. Maybe because it's a brewery...not exactly sure. I'm not a frequent drinker (just turned 21 not long ago) so I started with something simple and hopefully fruity. The Fernet Buck tasted kind of weird at first, but I got used to the taste. I could taste hints of alcohol in it, which is good since I wanted something refreshing but not too crazy. The tropical sunset looked nice (pretty color!) but I really didn't like the jalepeño in it. My cousin was fine with it though- to each their own! Overall, I would come here again if I was around! But I might try a different drink instead.
(3)Renae C.
Black and Bleu burger was delicious. I recommend the sweet potato fries and their on tap IPA. Cool vibes, wasn't extremely busy, so it was easy to converse with our group. Service was prompt and considerate.
(4)Harrison E.
I feel obliged to up the average here because after 2 visits I have nothing bad to say about this classic boston brewpub. Great pub food and above average microbrews are plentiful and the excellent whiskey selection is a nice bonus. They have a lot of tvs for watching sports. I loved Flameout, the mosaic lager and I wish they had growlers of it, but they do fills for cheap also.. like $10 for a full 64oz. That's great considering it's all grain. A great spot to grab a beer and a bite.
(5)Jason B.
This is a tough sell on three stars. It's right next to Harvard, so it's convenient. It's also down in the basement with a lot of wood paneling which makes comfortable but abundant space. It seems like a good place to hang our with a group of friends. I can't speak for the food as I didn't have any, but I did try the beer. We got a flight. The tap list is a little confusing because it's written in several places (not all on one sheet) and it wasn't completely clear what was on tap and what was on deck. The beer was ok, but there was nothing that really jumped out crying for a full pint. If you're brewery hopping or just wanting a quick drink, i'd give it a try. If you're looking for your favorite new brewery, I don't think this will be it.
(3)Denise A.
They've got trivia on Mondays, some brewing tanks right by the bar, and some pretty tasty desserts. Other than that, I'm afraid John Harvard's falls a little short. There's a lot of space and some TVs which are good for game watching. They also have music on certain nights. Overall, this is not the first place I think of when I want to go have a meal or even a beer in Harvard Square. But if you do go, check out their stained glass renditions of some of Boston's better known "saints."
(3)Lindsay M.
If my friend had not introduced me to john harvards, I likely would've missed this gem! It's become our "cheers" this term! The staff is all outstanding! Super polite and great service! The food is amazing the fries are top notch and the hummus plate everyone simply must try! I am so so on the spinach dip; it isn't bad don't get me wrong but it's a little too onion-y for my personal liking. Drinks here are top notch! Our favorite beer is the blonde, all the beer is brewed on site! Definitely a place you don't want to miss out on!!!!! Highly recommend
(5)Isabella C.
For the price range and a pub in this area, the food was pretty good. I had the grilled chicken BLTA -- bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. The sandwich was served on naan bread, which was a nice change from the usual. Although the chicken breast was a bit overgrilled in certain parts, it was tender and not too dry. The avocado was generous, as was the bacon. I thought the sandwich would have benefited from more garlic aioli but overall it was a good eat. The fries served alongside it were also delicious -- fluffy on the inside (without being too potato-y) and crispy on the outside. I went at lunchtime on a weekday and we were told to seat ourselves in the general pub area. All the tables there are raised, so it's good to keep that in mind if you ever go with someone who would rather sit at a regular table. The service was a little slow at times but it didn't take more than 10 minutes for the food to be served. Would probably go back if I ever had a large group of people around the Square and needed a place to eat. Might not go back for fine fare but definitely not a bad bet for lunch/pub grub.
(3)Anthony M.
Always a friendly staff. Burgers & Pulled Pork are always delicious and cooked perfectly. The beers are nothing to write home about, but still enjoyable & adds an extra element to the experience. As far as Burgers go, I'd definitely recommend it.
(4)Kim A.
This is a solid 3.5 star joint. No parking. It can get busy. And the service is hit or miss. Sometimes you get an amazing server and some times you get an ok ish server. The food is just as unpredictable. There are things on the menu that I enjoy such as the Mac and cheese and there are more things that I have not enjoyed. I come because it was convenient to work and able to meet up with friends, but I never go out of my way to go here.
(3)Ana C.
The food is a little pricy, the beer is well priced. Great service (o sat at the bar) I had a sampler flight for 8 bucks. I liked everything I sampled except the black lager, it tasted like black licorice. My sampler started with the blonde ale, it was a good opener but if you're looking for more flavorful beers I would forgo the blond ale and pick up another one of their IPAs l. They also have cask ale. Good clam chowder. The decor is pretty funny, they have satirical rain glass and poke fun at their origin.
(4)Misty S.
I've been to John Harvards a few times, mostly with larger crowds because it's one of the easier places to get a table. The food is just not good. We were in on Sunday and got beers and dinner. I am a vegetarian and got the vegetarian sampler which is 3 sides. I got mashed potatoes, beets, and butternut squash. My potatoes were cold and bland. both my squash and beets were drenched in oil and were poorly seasoned, to the point where my squash was almost squishy. The only thing that I enjoyed was the hummus that we got... and the pita that came with the hummus was stale. The beer is also just not good. With so much good beer in the Boston area, I'm really not sure why anyone would come here for beer. The IPA was super underwhelming. The only beer that I felt had potential was the stout.
(2)Kelly O.
Hadn't been here in a long time, but was looking for a Cambridge location where we could have a meal but also linger over drinks. Reasonably busy but not crazy-packed on a Saturday evening. Server very friendly. Had an IPA that was excellent, the Pale Ale which was very good, an ESB which was not to my taste at all (and while I'd have paid for it--my mistake--the server took it off the bill with a gracious offer that next time I should ask to taste it first) and a Belgian which was excellent (recommended by the server but just in case I did taste first!). Had the Cuban sandwich and was honestly surprised how good it was--and likewise for the thick-cut hot fries that were crispy outside and soft inside. It was exactly the experience we were looking for.
(4)Joanna C.
I've been to John Harvard's a few times and it's one of those standard bars with a good amount of space and okay food. Good for large events or just a quick bite. I love the Hummus and the little toasted breads and pitas that come with it. Pass on the Point Judith Calamari, but definitely go for the Spinach & Artichoke Dip. The Brewery Nachos are mountainous! Crazily high stack of nachos on nachos on nachos. The cheese on them is so rich and once you start, you can't stop but eat yourself into a food coma oblivion. I've also had the Mediterranean Salad with Tofu and enjoyed it. The tofu was just okay, but the rest of the salad was spot on. While John Harvard's isn't a spot I think of when I think great food, it is a solid option in the Square.
(3)Joshua K.
Mediocre at best. Avoid if possible! Shepherds Pie was bland. Turkey pot pie was lacking flavor as well. Hamburger was average and their special steak was anything but special! Venture out of Harvard Square. There are much nicer restaurants in and around Boston. Gordon Ramsey please help this restaurant! Excellent location. Large capacity. How can they serve what seems like frozen crap and continue to stay in business? Are there really that many first-timers visiting the area?! This restaurant gives real restaurants a bad name. Avoid like the plague!
(1)Aleks G.
The bartender was unobservant and most of the beers on the list were out. The only thing keeping this a two star is the black lager. Quite tasty.
(2)Lorenz S.
Sure, it is not one of those cozy, distinct neighborhood places -- but it is good at what it is: a large, group-friendly, well-designed pub with reliable food and a great beer menu. Lorenz' pro tip: Try some of their own brews!
(4)Gautam G.
My all time favorite hangout spot in Harvard Square and Cambridge. Spacious and great ambience. Nice collection of rotating draughts. Delicious nachos! Food is good too. I've had their burger, fish and chips among other things in the past and they never disappoint. Good for having big group outings too, Will always make sure I go back when I visit Cambridge.
(5)Tamr A.
I thought the food was pretty good. This place gets a 5 stars because the craft beer is actually pretty cheap compared to other places I have been. The portions were excellent, I would go here again
(5)Heather H.
I really wanted to give this place a 2.5 rather than a solid 2 or a solid 3. The ambiance and service are what give them the extra star. You could easily fit huge groups of people in here, and I dig the basement wood paneled pub vibe. HOWEVER. We had a flight of beer and didn't enjoy anything enough to stick around for a pint.
(3)Strazdas D.
I was in Thursday, June 25th, awesome meal! This would have been a five star review if the hummus was served warm or hot, but it was good none-the-less, "the bard" burger was awesome, my mother who hasn't enjoyed a burger in years was very impressed, the drinks were good, and the service was adequate, but the most enjoyable part of John Harvard's for me is the consistent good quality of the food!
(4)Tyler S.
Dimly light establishment that really puts out a great vibe. Felt like I was in the early 1900's during prohibition! Beautiful big bar with great selection of beer! Also a lot of liquor. I was here midday so I can't tell you about the night clientele. I would highly recommend swinging in to John Harvards for a couple pints or beer samplers! Enjoy I know I did!
(4)Anna J.
For a chain this brew house is pretty cool. The food is good but the beers are amazing! My friends and I always enjoyed grabbing food and drinks here, especially on game nights. For every visit I loved buying a growler to take home to keep the party going :-) My going away party was here and the staff took good care of us. With lots of yummy food and tasty beer by the end of the night we were fat and happy. I like that it is family friendly, and when I get a chance to visit again. I will be taking two growlers home to make up for lost time! Check this place out it won't disappoint
(5)Gabrielle P.
This was the perfect football Sunday location for me and my friends. We came here after a long weekend of site seeing and this was a great way to end our trip. They have more than your typical bar food. I had the lobster roll which was fantastic and a salad. The rest of my table got burgers, anchors, etc. everyone was happy with their food. They have plenty of TVs so we were able to watch all the games at once. Two thumbs up!
(5)Charles W.
This is an excellent restaurant! The food was good (although I am not sure I liked the hot sauce on the Lobster Mac and Cheese...). Aside from the hot sauce, everything was great!
(5)Kelly R.
The triple chocolate sundae is amazing, and the Pinterest loving girl in me loves it even more because it comes in a mason jar. And the musicians tonight (That One Eyed Kid, Kyle Harris & Brian Staples) were fantastic. Come in on a night when they're playing, grab a dessert in a mason jar, and it'll be the best $6 you've ever spent.
(5)Kristine A.
Although they don't have a ton of vegetarian options they do have a side sampler which is great & more restaurants should do the same. You get to choose 3 of their side dishes as an actual meal. It is like the prefect amount & decent price. The interesting thing about this place is the stained glass windows of various people. It's not something you see regularly so take it in. Because this is located downstairs there isn't any natural light which is a downside. I am not a beer drinker but for those who are find this place to be pretty decent.
(4)Danielle L.
Stopping at John Harvard's was kind of a last minute decision for lunch in the middle of the week. It was not busy which was nice. The restaurant is definitely a pub style with typical pub style food - comfort food - not much on the "good for you" meal plan. I can't say that anything stood out and was necessarily great. But perhaps it would be better if I was still in college and came here at 11pm! My burger was fine and the beer selection was good. Can't say much else as it wasn't really anything over the top.
(2)Stephanie S.
Atmosphere: Fun place, but man is it LOUD. I can't hear myself think there (I'm not old, I'm in my 20s) and I hate how I have to practically shout across a small table so people can hear me. Food: nachos were good. God, pitchers are $15 on the low end, to $18 and $20. Your bill can pile up fast. Service in the bar section is awful. Good luck flagging down your waitress on a Saturday night. She probably would have made more money if she'd bother to check in on us for beers every half hour. This is my second time there and I'd rather not return if I can help it. At least in the Framingham location I can actually hear what my friends are saying.
(2)Brian D.
I came there the other day and did not have an enjoyable experience. Service was slow and seemed bored, food was legit some of the worst I've had while living in Boston, and I've been to places such as Papa's Roast Beef by the Garden and I've even ate a hot dog at the BHP before when they used to offer hot dogs during NFL games on Sunday. Just appalling. Place is such a lousy chain, should be removed off the face of the earth. Stop stealing a famous name for the sake of trying to up-sell $hit food. There are so many other places in Harvard Sq to check out and enjoy, definitely don't come here under any circumstances.
(1)Jasmine C.
I honestly don't know why someone, given the choice, would come to eat here. Sure, the portions are gigantic but the food tastes terrible - I ordered the vegetarian entree with three vegetable sides of broccoli, mushrooms and sweet potato and the broccoli was literally two huge steamed heads of broccoli, the mushrooms were oily and salty and the sweet potato was honey glazed but so sweet and really just tasted artificial. I definitely couldn't finish everything, and am glad I didn't.
(1)Tim S.
Harvard Square at 7PM on a Friday night and we were seated immediately! Should have known there was a reason.... Our last vsit to JH was likely more than a year ago. Who knew a restaurant could go downhill that fast. Waitress was pleasant and efficient, took our order promptly and brought out the 2 stouts we ordered quickly. If only they tasted like stouts. I'm not saying the I didn't like this particular Stout, I'm saying I may not know much about a beer but I do know what a Stout tastes like, and this ain't it! Maybe they just put caramel coloring into an Ale, but if that's the case, stay away from the Ale's also -- it was tasteless. My wife's meatloaf was presented as a slab of meatloaf with a small dab of gravy on the top, a scoop of mashed potatoes, likely served with an ice cream scoop, also with a dab of gravy, and a single large oily onion ring. Again, the wait staff politely brought out additional gravy when asked. My cheeseburger was served medium rare as I asked, but the burger was certainly a pre-formed burger similar to what you buy in a grocery store. The fries where the highlight on this plate - they were normal fries and tasted like fries. This plate would have been far better covered in ketchup to cover how bland the food was, but apparently one small metal cup of ketchup is all you can get, or the waitress was beamed up at that point, since I could not get anyone to get me more. Don't get me wrong, they didn't poison me. If bland food priced reasonably in the middle of Harvard Square is what you want, this is the place for you! For me - Never More!
(2)Melissa A.
Why's Harvard always so good to me? In a past life I must have been John Harvard's mistress. This place is amazing. We always get along beautifully. Their hand crafted beers give me a will to live. Their burgers are juicy and fatty and perfect. Everything on their menu is perfect. Order whatever the f*** you want. You'll die happy.
(5)Eddie K.
I loved the John Harvard's in Natick and in Washington DC. I was sad to see them close. I think there are only a few locations left but this one has been around for a long time. It was very hot (near 93) when we came. It was refreshing that it was very cold in there. I was looking forward to their pale ale, but found out it wasn't there anymore - so I got the replacement beer. It was pretty good. My in-laws enjoyed the clam chowder, and pot roast while my wife liked her steamed clams. I had the lobster, avocado and bacon sandwich. This was just okay. The sandwich is huge but filled mostly with avocado. Wish they put more lobster chunks in there - especially being in Boston. The fries tasted like it was sitting out for a long time. Even though there were only 4 occupied tables, the service was really slow. Never brought out utensils, napkins or water. My beer came after I was done with my meal. I tried to flag our waitress, but she disappeared for a long time.
(3)Kaitlyn H.
HUGE cockroach crawled up the wall right next to my friend's face as we were drinking beers. The manager did offer us two free pitchers, but our waitresses was slammed and not attentive/had an attitude. Won't be back. cf
(1)Troy S.
I found this place to be the best place for a good meal, good conversation, and cool air. We walked around Harvard Square looking for a good place to sit inside and find a good meal. this place delivered. Cold beer for $3.25 and a local brew made me happy. I wouldn't rave about the Columbian Gold but it was decent, cold, reasonably priced, and hit the spot. The waiter also screwed up because I ordered a 10 oz and he brought me a 20 oz. Thank you which gave you an extra $1 in tip. I probably would have given him more if he would have been a little quicker. He seemed to disappear for 10-15 minutes at times but he was a nice guy. I ordered one of the specials-shrimp Tacos- for $10.99. I was glad for this special because I couldn't decide between burgers. These were pretty good and I would order them again. The wifer ordered the Chicken Club which is on naan bread instead of regular bread. She loved it and would order it again in a heartbeat. The Boston Mai Tai is a bit expensive at about $9 but it was also pretty good. Our two friends ordered the Dorchester burger and clam chowder. Everyone seemed to be happy with their meals, I think we were a little happier with both of our meals. I would recommend a stop here if you want to sit and realx in Harvard Square. There are cheaper options, ethnic options, but if looking for pub food then this place is a pretty good option. The decor inside keeps it dark but very nice.
(4)Irene C.
Perfectly adequate food, service, and space. Fantastic location in the heart of Harvard Square, and a promising title, but alas the food does not deliver. Everything I've eaten here is fairly bland and generally supbar. PROS - Rarely a wait - Great for large groups on short notice - Impressive drink menu - Nice enough staff CONS - Bland, possibly overpriced food
(2)Colin M.
Went there Friday night after the Harvard game (sounds pretentious I grant you but the football is pretty good and my family has been going there for a very long time). Some non Harvard friends needed to decompress after spending a good chunk of their evening hearing the Alums decry the invention of the light bulb and therefore Friday night football. That Edison wasn't a Harvard fellow and probably didn't even get into Yale! Easy walk from the stadium. Drive not so much with Eliot Bridge construction attempting to out do the BiG Dig at least in terms of time. We got there! My friends realized that younger people can even seem normal around the college. They had a cool band. The wait staff was attentive. The appetizers were great! A definite stop while in the Square!
(3)Thomas O.
Nice atmosphere for both either grabbing a drink in the pub area or sitting down with friends for dinner. Haven't had any bad experiences with the menu, but definitely would recommend the Shepherd's Pie...mmmmmmmmm. Live music pretty much every night with Trivia on Monday nights to start the week, which is nice since Monday's are usually dreadful.
(5)Michael A.
The food is good the beer selection is good. The service was excellent. We had a private function in the back room and everyone working at John Harvard really took the time to help us. If you're looking for a not so noisy place he may want to try somewhere else. John Harvard brewery will validate if you park in two of the parking garage is nearby. The chocolate dessert with strawberries was quite good. A scoop of ice cream on top would not hurt.
(3)Claire G.
I came here Saturday night for drinks with friends. There was no wait and I received my first drink pretty quickly. I got the strawberry daiquiri and it was a little to sweet and weak for my liking. I then ordered a mint mojito which was much better. I also got fried pickles which were AMAZING. Seriously, get them. Overall, good food and decent drinks. I took a star off because it was super loud (there was live music which was nice, but I couldn't hear the person a foot from me). We also had 4 or 5 different waiters so we weren't sure who to ask questions to and whether or not to tip.
(3)Natalie D.
Great atmosphere for a good beer and some solid clam chowder in Cambridge. It is a great place to tuck away to on a cold rainy day. It feels really warm and inviting and the food is comfort food. The game is usually on and the lobster Mac and cheese changed my life forever... Just saying. My boyfriend didn't know he liked beer till he went here. It's a pub/restaurant in that they have bar food but they also have quality entrées.
(5)Monique M.
Yall, the baked lobster mac and cheese was absolutely out of this world. As a southerner, I was not expecting the amount of flavor but I was delightfully wrong. Would 100% recommend this place to anyone visiting. But I'm also not from here so, take that with a grain of salt. I'll be dreaming of that Mac and cheese for a while though.
(5)Danielle S.
Admittedly, I go here primarily for the drinks and not for the food. The place is quite spacious compared to other bars in the area, so if you have a group, this is the spot for you. Even so, beware that this place gets pretty crowded and noisy on the weekends. Lots grad students hanging out. If you are looking to catch a sports game, John Harvard's does have some TVs. I once watched the Harvard-Yale football game here and the place was very rowdy with people from both schools loyally sporting their gear and antagonizing one another. The bartenders are friendly enough - if you can get their attention - which is tough. The bar is either perpetually understaffed or there are some efficiency issues.
(3)Christian S.
Overall thought this was a solid place. Pulled pork nachos were delicious. Besides that my burger was good, but was on the same level as many other places. I also got the beer sampler. The beer was pretty good, but the downside is that they don't let you pick what 5 beers you want. Service was also pretty solid, but it was a relatively slow night. I'll probably be back and if you're looking for a spot to try some new brews and get some food, check it out.
(3)A A.
Beers are horrendous. .. a sour "IPA' a hoppy oktoberfest. Bartenders who are defensive from sheilding complaints. Ive had an excellent IPA here. But more often than not, what i order, is NOT what i get. Its not a bad beer for the style you order, its a completely wrong beer.. i think a dyslexic is tapping the beers....
(2)Nick D.
We went here for Oktoberfest and it was a big disappointment. Their oktoberfest beer was very hoppy, yellow, and cloudy, it definitely seemed like they gave us a pale ale or an ipa but when I asked the waitress she sniffed our pitcher and said nope that's the oktoberfest. Usually I like John Harvards beer but if that really was their oktoberfest then that's a big disappointment because it should be dark and malty. So then we got their german potatoe salad which should be diced up potatoes with caramelized onions and bacon served hot but instead we got cold manshed potatoes with raw red onions.
(1)Emily D.
I was visiting Boston for the weekend, because I had an audition. And that weekend happened to be Valentine's weekend. So, my friend and I were looking for a place that we heard had great food and wouldn't be overrun with lovey couples. So, we ended up here, and I've got to say, I really like this place. John Harvard's boasts a rotating set of brews that are brewed on site. I can't remember that I got (it was delicious, one of their lighter brews) , but my friend got the Russian Imperial Stout and it was goood. Anyway, I'm a sucker for pub food, so I got the Shepherd's Pie. It was a generous portion of beef, veggies, and a whopping dollop of mashed potatoes. And at $12.99, the price wasn't so bad. The atmosphere of the place was comfortable with an extensive bar area and plenty of dining room space. Dimly lit, but I enjoy that in a pub setting. Good beer and good food = a good time. Overall, I would definitely come back again.
(4)Dhvanit P.
Loved the place and the atmosphere ! Great place to hangout with friends. Pretty good choice of beers...limited but not bad.
(3)Lisa D.
Quite nice beer. Decent, but not stellar, service. I went here with friends, and I had the avocado lobster club, which was unusual. Like guacamole with lobster mixed in. I enjoyed that a lot. The 'texas toast' the lobster salad was served on was not good, They slipped the heels of the bread in the middle--bad form. And the onion rings were a disaster. I love onion rings and these were barely edible. They weren't salted and the batter was bland and too crispy on the outside and not quite done in the middle. My friend had fish and chips and the fries were visibly soggy and flabby. The waitress was very knowledgable about the beer menu and the beer. We had the sampler, which was great. I think I would have enjoyed this place more if I'd just come in for a beer.
(2)Ian Y.
I love local breweries that serve beer samplers. I don't particularly like drinking beer, but I do enjoy tasting it (if that makes sense). Too bad the sampler doesn't include the seasonal specials. The staff is pretty accommodating, and the service isn't slow. It can get crowded and loud, though (to be expected, I guess). Not a bad place at all.
(3)Dawn A.
I got the flat iron steak which was good. The cognac mustard sauce was really good, like finger licking good! My guy got the grilled meatloaf. Not impressed. I found it dry. He liked it enough and ate it, but I would never order that, based on my taste of it. I don't drink so I didn't try the beer, but my guy did. He liked his ale. It was busy here on an early Saturday evening but we got a nice table in the bar section.
(3)Kelly O.
Not bad for a local/homemade pint or two and a snack. I tried the Farmhouse Spiced Ale which tasted like fall in a glass, and split an order of the the mussles frites in a coconut curry broth, which were tasty but a bit on the salty side. The space itself is large and subterannean, good for large groups with a bit of a sporty, casual atmosphere. Boston Beer Works has a larger selection of homebrewed beer that's slightly better IMO, but John Harvard's is still a decent spot for the area.
(3)Celia Z.
John Harvard's was closed for quite a while due to renovation. Then it finally opened, not that I missed it to begin with. I first came here as a part of a networking dinner, when I ordered the grilled vegetables with a side of beer battered onion rings. Though I am personally not vegetarian, I can often judge the quality of a restaurant by the way it cooks its vegetables - the same care that goes into making vegetables taste good is often carried over to other dishes. Soaked in oil and grilled to perfection, with a mix of crunchy and soft vegetables, my dish was delicious. This complemented perfectly with the onion rings, in which the restaurant did a darn good job of. No wonder "brew" is in its restaurant name. Since then I have come here multiple times, for drinks and for food. The hummus salad was delicious, as was the very solid clam chowder and the chocolate brownie dessert (albeit they used cheap Edy's ice-cream). John Harvard's is a place for good pub food, though very much overpriced. A great place for socials, with a great casual atmosphere, if you're willing to pay the price.
(4)Rinaldo D.
I really like the beer selection here! It gets SUPER busy as its in Harvard Sq, but the early side of the evening is much more manageable. There is both a bar side and restaurant so the menu has options as such.
(4)Dan K.
Although this is a beer place I don't drink so this review is silent based on food and other restaurant factors. Love the atmosphere felt like a legit pub/college hang place with old school colonial/Euro feel. The location is really nice to right near/on campus. Everything was pretty solid. My favorite though was the Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and cheese. Some of the best Mac and cheese I've ever had and the buffalo chicken was surprisingly well meshed in with the Mac and cheese. Would definitely come back here if I'm in Cambridge.
(4)Andrew H.
I like that John Harvard's brews its own beer. There's a good variety of beers, including some great lower priced ones for those on a budget. I also like that you can get a salad instead of fries for no extra charge. Great for those of us trying to limit fried foods. I will complain about disabled access. There is a platform chair lift for customers needing help down the entrance stairs. But as I saw last night when elderly customers who were trying to visit, the employees had no clue how to operate it.
(4)David H.
Snooty crowd, great food! I really enjoyed their nachos here, one of the best in the area. I am not a fan of microbrews, and this month's selection did not impress me. As a matter of fact, I didn't like it. Plus the waiter was pretty rude to say the least and paid little attention to my poor table. When it gets to the point where I have to wave my credit card like a flag to pay for my meal, that's when I get scathing with these reviews.
(3)jessica s.
This is my first time here in about 10 years. I had a bad meal 10 years ago, so avoided the place ever since. I'm back for a friend's bday, and my meal was awful again. My quesadilla tastes like a jar of sea salt. Beer is good though! And the space is nice. Don't eat here. Also, some friends ordered food (salad and burger) and waited over an hour for it to arrive. Waitress hadn't even come back to take more drink orders. The place isn't very crowded, but it looks understaffed.
(1)Tamara W.
Any bar in Boston or Cambridge that doesn't offer hard cider other than Magern's doesn't deserve more than 1 star. There is Bantam, downeast, and so many other brands....................... until they get better hard cider my review stands at zero stars.
(1)kevin g.
I order drink from list and they don't have... I order "staple" BBQ ribs and they don't have??? Really!!!
(1)Kim B.
Gwynn and I had just done a 5 mile run. In the snow. Following that, we had an open bar, live band, post-run celebration. After showering and warming up, we wanted to go to somewhere in Cambridge, that wasn't ethnic food (it is really hard to find there), but could get good food and good beer. I would say this place had good food and good beer. I got the chicken fingers, and I LOVE my chicken fingers.These rank in the top 4 of chicken fingers I've had in the past 4 years. They definitely do not get the 1st/2nd place, but are in the 3rd/4th range. Very good. Gwynn got a salad, and it was mediocre. She had wanted the one with bacon and didn't get the one with bacon. They did however give her a large, and only charged her for a small. Either way, it wasn't good since it wasn't what she wanted. When ordering beer, I suggest not to get the 10oz, cus it really is just an oversized shot. Girls dont really notice the whole "oz" thing on menus, just the price. Definitely get bigger than 10 oz. Our beers were local and delicious (just small). Thankfully though, since I had to drive back to RI after. The atmosphere was really neat, kind of like an old dungeon/church, you felt like you had stepped back in time, but not in a bad way. The floors/tables/lighting was all up to scale, but the decorations/ stained class/ stone walls atmosphere was just... like you were there when Harvard started. Overall, it would be fun or a good place to go, when it wasn't 2pm on Super Bowl Sunday. Probably cool when lots of smart Harvard students were there.
(4)Keli K.
My husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food was here. We were just looking for a good place close by. The buffalo wings were the best I've had in this area! We also had the French Dip which is made with pastrami and it was very delicious! I was glad that I didn't see the yelp reviews before we stopped as we might have passed it by. Next time we are in Cambridge we will make sure to eat here again!
(5)Jenna L.
I came here with an old friend during off-hours on a weekend and it was so quiet. We did get pretty good service because of that. Anyway, as soon as you walk in you get a true tavern feel - dark, but still cozy. I dug the vibe. They were out of quite a few beers because there was a big party there the night before, so very limited selection. I'm not a big beer drinker so it didn't bother me much. I ordered the lobster mac and cheese, and it was pretty good - I couldn't finish the majority of it because it was so rich, but I would definitely order it again. Not bad at all. A couple of people I was with got the fish and chips which also looked pretty tasty. Overall, not a bad place (at least for food) especially since it's not rated very highly on Yelp.
(4)Caitlin M.
John Harvard's just changed their menu. They got rid of the salad I liked, but I had the chicken BLTA, which was pretty good; however, they did burn some of the chicken. My friend had the chili burger, which he didn't love. My husband gets the shepherd's pie which he always raves about. We really like the atmosphere and the beer is good at a good price. Try the sampler if you've never been, and then order a pint of your favorite.
(4)Madame M.
Decent place. Earned four stars because that was the best coleslaw I've ever had in life. I've never even liked the stuff... But that was really good.
(4)Tom B.
I watched Game 1 of the 2013 World Series at John Harvard's. The food was terrific and watching the game with 300 of your favorite Sox fans was as much fun as being at Fenway!
(4)Marie P.
I felt good walking in because of the crowd and the temperature, but the service was well below sub par. We ordered 3 pitchers of beer and had to wait for at least 12 minutes for actually glasses to drink the pitchers of beer in. Our group was hustled/harassed out beginning at 135. So yeah in not a fan of Boston bc public transportation closes so early, but when I'm willing to stay out late and pay a cab to get home, I expect to get FULL service until 2 am when they close. We weren't obnoxious or rowdy, just students trying to unwind and relax after midterms. Can't you give us the couple extra minutes?
(2)Jenn T.
Came here after they recently renovated the place. It's got a nice ambience with a whole new layout. We ordered a few pitchers of beer, which were all OK, but nothing spectacular. I got the lobster roll, which was very very tiny! It was packed with lobster, but the bun was basically a piece of toasted bread folded in half. It was tasty though and came with a LOT of fries. My brother got the pot pie, which looked pretty good. It was very hot and steamy but looked like it had a lot of veggies and chicken inside. We also got a ceasar salad too, which was good. Overall, the restaurant is ok, with simple bar food and homestyle cooking. The service here was a little subpar. Our waitress was a little slow with things and remembering peoples order as well as forgetting to bring out some of the things we ordered. But, overall decent for a place to grab a bite.
(3)Amanda F.
My husband and I are beer snobs. We have high expectations. We were excited when we saw this place while wandering around Harvard Square. Brewpub? We think so! The place is huge and we sat in the open seating bar area. Our first choice was the sampler. Not one beer was palatable. Everything about them seemed a little off-weird aftertaste, and almost burnt flavor in the stout, the pilsner was super bitter, the IPA and amber ale were barely drinkable. We each had two more ten ounce beers and neither one made us happy. I really don't understand how so many reviewers like this place. I would rather have had cans of Pabst. No kidding. I can't believe I just typed that. We had an order of nachos. Based on the menu description, we were excited. They arrived. Excitement faded. Guac tasted weird, again, like the beer, something was just off. The first layer of chips was decent, but, and I don't understand this about cooks who assemble nachos, the rest of the plate was cheese less, LAYER THE CHEESE, PEOPLE. We had a variety of servers and it took forever to get our bill. My husband had to ask the hostess to send someone to our table. I'd skip this place if I were you.
(1)Jay A.
Eh, I forget that this exists in the square. If you are looking for a place for a large group, then this is the space. It has a nook entrance that leads you to a deceptively large basement, where Harvard undergrads tend to avoid and instead is filled with locals? tourists? Very unclear who the regular audience is. Food is subpar given the range of standard bar food available in the Square. My review is based on random instances of group dinners. I have not had the chance to try the beer or attend a live show, but I think that these elements would greatly impact how much I enjoy this bar.
(2)Jeff B.
If one expects a listening room environment for the Thursday night music, FORGETABOUTIT, there are 11 flat-screen televisions in the pub section, all tuned to sports. The patons are unaware of the music, engaged in loud conversation amongst themselves. My advice to bands and music lovers, you'd do better patronizing pubs where the musicians are respected and appreciated, such as Toad or Atwood's.
(1)Kacey B.
I came to John Harvard's for a local band and was satisfied with service, atmosphere, and beer. Not a lot of choices for beer but they got the basics right. Food appeared as typical bland stuff though it was delicious after a few. It was fun to watch the band there, typical restaurant/bar in Boston; add stain-glass windows for more entertainment. Was that Bobby Orr?
(3)Sara M.
John Harvard's has come a long way. The food is better than ever and the beers are great. Last Friday a band played and we enjoyed a pitcher and some snacks. We have especially enjoyed the Wednesday night tastings - 3 courses and beer pairings. There was so much food I didn't have room for the desert course. Worth a second look!
(4)Igor S.
I always stop by this place every time I'm in Boston. I've only had chowder and fish&chips (both were good) as well as lots and lots of beer. Interior is quite cool and service is fast and friendly.
(4)Jane S.
We started the meal with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder ($5.49). I was disappointed that the restaurant didn't have a bread bowl, but I guess that's more of a San Francisco thing? We added a packet of "All Natural Oyster Crackers." The oyster crackers taste the best when they have sufficiently absorbed the clam chowder and taste soft in the mouth. The clam chowder was quite thick! The pepper I added definitely enhanced the taste, but there is no need to add salt because it was already seasoned all right. The clam chowder had tiny pieces of clams--not big enough to impress me. Even though the soup was thick, it wasn't super creamy. Other chowders I had before had large chunks of potatoes, but I think this was a minimalist clam chowder in that it didn't have that many other ingredients. My friend ordered the Steak House Burger ($12.99), one of John Harvard's All Natural Gourmet Burgers that is built on a Kaiser roll with beef steak tomato and crispy romaine on the side. It was accompanied by cedar spiced steak fries and a pickle spear.Specifically, the Steak House Burger was a half pounder with Shedd's sauce (I'm not quite sure what that is...), Swiss cheese, and crispy fried onions. Personally, this dish would be way too heavy for me. I am not a huge fan of burgers nor fried food. I liked that the burger wasn't served on a lame sesame seed bun, but on a Kaiser roll. Also, what makes John Harvard's All Natural Gourmet Burgers different from other burgers, according to the menu, is that these burgers are all natural, using humanely raised, hormone, steroid, and antibiotic free cows. I usually order the special when I come to John Harvard's, but the day's special was pork chop. I decided to go with the Steak Tip Salad ($13.99). To be honest, I was quite surprised when the waitress brought the dish. I had expected it to be a regular plate of salad with pieces of sliced steak on top. What I got instead, however, was a deconstructed salad. The dish had an odd presentation...something just made it look incomplete. There were two skewers of ranch spiced steak tips over crisp wedge of iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and waffle fries. I skipped the crumbled blue cheese and had the red wine vinaigrette on the side. I didn't know where to start with this dish. I just grabbed one of the skewers and got a taste of the steak tip. The tenderness of the meat was not constant throughout. There were some pieces that were moist and juicy, while other parts were dry and slightly tough. I certainly didn't expect an actual half of iceberg lettuce to be a part of the menu! Also, instead of tomato wedges, I got tomato slices. I asked the steak to be cooked rare, but it was more medium rare. It would have been much tender had it been cooked rare! Oerall, though, I was okay with the salad...that is, if we could even call it a salad! I felt like I was just eating salad with some vegetables on the side.
(2)Marie S.
I used to really like this place, but the last few times I went I've had either lackluster food or service or both. When it's good, this is a great example of Boston's awesome dark-wood-pub-restaurant Thing that so many of us enjoy; but it's hit-or-miss, and when it misses, yowch.
(3)Caitlin W.
We popped into John Harvard's for a cold beer on a warm summer day. The bar had a pretty decent crowd for a Sunday afternoon. The bartender didn't seem to know much about the beers on tap, but he was friendly and honest about it, which was appreciated. The many TVs were all tuned to various sports, and it was nice to see cycling and soccer represented. While I can't speak for the food, the Race For the Prize pale ale was crisp and tangy, with a solid drinkability and an average price point. We glanced at the menu and saw a few dishes we'd probably try if we came back (the calamari sounded fantastic!), but decided to stick with beer for this trip. Overall, our experience at John Harvard's was a good one. I've been here on a Friday night during the school year and left less than impressed with both the service and atmosphere (like most brewpubs in the city, it's often crowded with students -- though multiply "student" by the Harvard factor and, well...you can use your imagination). For a Sunday afternoon, though, it's a good spot for when you want to duck out of the crazy in Harvard Square for a spell. We'll be back!
(3)Dan N.
Totally mediocre, conveniently located.
(3)Molly Y.
I'm surprised to see negative reviews of this place. I've been twice and had a great experience both times. Good waitstaff, GREAT food, and good beer - and this is coming from someone who doesn't drink beer normally! The food's easily the best part of a John Harvard's visit, though. Oh man. We've had the chicken pot pie, the burgers, the New England clam chowder, and the macaroni and cheese - all exceptional. Plus, on the beer front, the waitstaff were very knowledgeable and friendly when I had questions about the different kinds of beer available. Made the whole experience very pleasant both times. I'm looking forward to bringing friends to this pub for dinner whenever we have guests!
(5)Kim P.
in a plate of nachos I believe the chips should come with cheese but it seems the chef at Harvard's did not agree with me. our requests, they went unanswered our waitress appeared quite bored I could understand if they were busy but it was ten 'til four! the wassail, great, the cobbler, good; the dungeon ambiance, I liked it I just won't return for stale chips (with no cheese!) served by Miss Existential Crisis
(2)Katie W.
Great beer selection--Loved their seasonal brew, it was a Mid Winter's Strong Ale. It had great flavor and wasn't to heavy and similar to a wheat beer. Love it! Only had some bar apps but the spinach artichoke dip was fantastic-- a little on the oily side but really good flavor and lots of large chunks of artichokes.
(3)Chaviva G.
I see there's definitely mixed reviews about this joint, and understandably so. It seems like the kind of place people go when they're in the area because it's the "right thing" to do. But my host suggested it and I didn't know otherwise, so we went. The waiter -- Dan? Dave? -- was incredibly friendly, naming the beers things like "This is what Bud Light aims to be but isn't" and "This brew is like Guinness, but better." The man knew how to sell a beer, and he was right about the Bud Light-wannabe. I just wish I could remember the actual name. My friend and I toyed with what to get -- fish and chips? Burgers? Sandwiches? Dinners? But we both opted for burgers, though we were both a little bemused at the "Patriot" burger (laden with bacon and cheese). I can't remember which I got, but I believe it was just the standard burger fare, and his had mushrooms or something on it. There's bread for an appetizer and the sandwiches came with fries. We had to resist ordering desserts, as we were sufficiently stuffed. The burger was good, cooked just right. And the fries? Well, they tasted like butter. Which was minorly nauseating, but yet, I consumed them. I guess I have nothing to complain about. It was one of those places you just go to, not expecting anything amazing, and being satisfied with general mediocrity. Thus, it garners four stars for being just about on par with what it strives to be.
(4)Christopher M.
Worst service EVER! I sat down and ordered a beer. The bartender gave me a menu and disappeared. 10 minutes later a busboy or barback (i.e. not a server or bartender) noticed I was disgruntled and asked if He could get me anything. I said yeah, told what I wanted and he went and told a bartender. . .15 minutes later, the bartender came over to take my order. Gee, thanks, but at least I had beer. Then I drank the beer. No food, no refills, no more service. I waited 10 minutes, 20 minutes, finally my food came. I ate my dinner. Still, no more beer. Eventually the same support staff member noticed the pissed off sober look I had and came over to ask if I needed anything else. He talked to another bartender (who was just standing around) and then both disappeared. At that point I gave them 10 minutes to get me a beer or get me the check or I was leaving (normally I'd ask for a manager, but with so many people ignoring me, why bother?) Right at the 10 minute point, my illustrious bartender came back to ask if I was done and wanted anything else. "Yes, another beer and the check. You're having the *whatever I was drinking* right?" "yeah" 5 minutes later I got the wrong beer from a different bartender. Hey John Harvard's - YOU SUCK!!!
(1)Rose M.
The beer is good, the food is not
(3)Lauren F.
John Harvard's has good beer and decent food at relatively high prices. I go here occasionally with my husband because he loves their meatloaf. Last night he had the meatloaf and a stout, while I ordered a Pale Ale and the Carbonara mac'n'cheese. The meatloaf was its usual self but I wasn't too impressed with the mac'n'cheese. It had way too many breadcrumbs, and they were crisped with oil, so the whole dish was very heavy. I love a good mac'n'cheese, and I know it's no salad, but this was much more oily than necessary. The waitress was attentive until the very end of the meal. After we declined another round of beer she didn't come back until we were getting impatient. I'm sure we'll be back at John Harvard's again to satisfy the hubby's meatloaf craving, but I'll be sure to try something different for the meal. The Pale Ale was great though.
(3)Trish F.
I never really feel like I'm going into battle when I come here with a lot of people. I've had spontaneous cast parties here and last time I was here with 6 people from work. Even though we got a smaller table than desired, we were never really considered a burden which sometimes happen when you roll up to a place with more than 4 people. I think John Harvard's is always good for groups (minus Monday night trivia.. heh). The food is definitely hit or miss. Sometimes they try and go over the top with sandwiches by making them HUGE. Salads are great, but get the dressing on the side to avoid soggy leaves and an overdose of creaminess. I'm not crazy about the regular beers, but sometimes I'll get one of their features. And they have growlers for those interested in taking home their favorite beer from this brew house. Like I kind of mentioned up top, the service is really great. Most if not all the waiters I've had have been pretty entertaining and definitely chill. I just wish the food was just as consistent.
(3)Ashley V.
This place was cool. Ok-ish. Nothing lavish or anything. Prices not so bad either. It's a very chill environment where you can go and grab a drink and a bite to eat. It's pretty spacious and typical of a pub. Great service, the servers and bartenders are all very nice, funny, and quick with your orders. I'll probably go back again and sample all the beers another time. And don't worry, for you girly girls who don't drink beer, they're a full bar so you can have whatever girly drink you want! :) 3 stars. Go try it!
(3)Beth B.
Came here with a "local" family member (ie, she goes to MIT) while in town for a conference. The whole group was happy to have a place that felt very "Harvard" - dark and cozy and full of students and beer. We a couple pitchers of whatever the server recommended and then everyone got burgers. They were FANTASTIC! We had three different types of burger between all of us and we all left stuffed and happy.
(4)Juli R.
Great beers! And really good food, all of us in our group enjoyed this place. I'm normally not a 'pub' kind of girl, but this is not your average brew house. Way more than fried foods on the menu here!!!
(4)Stephen R.
I was surprised how easy it was to seat a party of 6 for dinner on a Saturday. The food was pretty good, but nothing terribly special. The beer was great though!
(3)Carolyn G.
We were tired and hungry from walking around Boston and Cambridge and every restaurant in the area seemed bsusy, busy, busy. The 20 minute wait at John Harvard's seemed to be the shortest wait of every place we tried, so we pulled up a spot at the bar and waited. Once we were seated, our server was very pleasant, but we were quite hungry and had little patience for the order one round at a time route. We ordered drinks and appetizers because some other people in our party were ordering chowda', which meant our meals would be delayed in coming out. I had the Black Watch Stout and nachos. Yum! The nachos by themselves could have been a meal! The plate was piled high with nacho, cheesey goodness. For dinner, I had the bleu burger. It had everything I love on a burger: bleu cheese, mushrooms, sauteed onions, and the surprising addition of buffalo hot sauce. I'm a sucker for hot sauce! All in all, John Harvard's provided just what we needed. Good food, great beer, pleasant atmosphere.
(4)Patrick H.
I used to really like John Harvard's, but over time I've realized that their food is just above average, as is the service. There's nothing truly special about this place, but I can say that the beer (micro brews) is pretty darn good, so if you're looking for just a few drinks, Johnny H's is a good bet. The space is pretty nice and very spacious, so you should be able to get a table fairly easily. It's below ground though, so forget about sitting near a window. I've had quite a lot of the menu items, and none of them are really "fantastic." But some options, like the burgers, are pretty good. If you want bar food and good beer, and don't want to deal with waiting for a table at your other options in Harvard Square, this is a good place to go. But you can find better food elsewhere.
(3)Sara S.
Good food, not amazing. I've had the nachos, chicken pot pie, buffalo chicken sandwich, and pumpkin pie from this place. The nachos were pretty sloppy, and the cheese wasn't even melted all the way. The buffalo chicken sandwich was pretty good, but quite spicy... so be warned! Request the steak fries rather than the regular fries (much better). I will say that their chicken pot pie is AWESOME, and I would highly recommend getting that! Pumpkin pie... once again, just A-OK. The scene feels like a Harvard cafeteria, so I'd suggest going on an "off" night (not Friday or Saturday), or during lunch. I DO want to try their mac and cheese though.
(3)Kristin P.
Waitstaff isn't super attentive but food is pretty tasty. I recommend their Crab cake florentine on the brunch menu. Also their "Le Bleu" sour blueberry beer is a nice crisp and refreshing fruit beer to sip in the heat.
(3)Sam F.
I've been here three regrettable times. Why, do I keep going? Well because other people keep suggesting it, and I'm too weak to resist. So this place is just plain blah. The decor is dark and dreary, the service is bare bones, and the food is nothing special. All those combined would get this place three stars. But my biggest problem is the beer. It stinks. If I was the proprietor of this establishment, I would have fired the brewer years ago, and raised the quality a bit. I mean, maybe this stuff was considered primo stuff back when they founded Harvard and didn't have craft beer, but given the abundance of tastier options... I just can't bring myself to go here. Sorry John, maybe you should have stuck to universities and avoided the food industry altogether.
(2)Sun Y.
Good for a casual night of drinks out with friends-- great atmosphere. For food, it's nothing special.
(3)Matthew R.
I would say that John Harvard's is a little too hyped, but their beer is fine and food above average. As a recent student transplant to Cambridge, I've been here about 5 times in the last two weeks. It seems to be the go ahead bar for students in the area, or at least one of them. I don't know if it's the name or what... That should be noted though, you're going to get a lot of students here. The beer is alright but nothing special. I found it watered down and not very unique. It's not bad by any means but just not one of my favorite brew houses. You could call me spoiled, though, because I grew up on the Brewer's Art in Baltimore. The food is very good. I've had a burger there, the Green Pueblo Salad, and a pizza. It's a little bit better than a TGI Friday's or Chili's, but has that sort of menu and taste. The location is great and it's reasonably priced. Not great, not bad.
(3)Wendy L.
Always really loud and crowded but the food is pretty reliable pub fare. Given some of the waits you'll encounter in Harvard Square, John Harvard's is a pretty good compromise if you're looking for a relatively inexpensive meal...and quickly. I typically stick to the burgers and sandwiches...nachos the usual. It's actually a great place to get large groups of people together too...and it's pretty easy to get a drink at the bar. If you're meeting friends, be sure to solidify your plans in advance. It's like a cell phone dead zone in there - I feel like nobody can get cell phone service down there!
(3)Juli W.
It's a convenient lunch location from where I work. The basement location isn't ideal but they have plenty of space and I never had to wait for a table. Lunchtime favorites include the chicken pot pie and buffalo chicken sandwich, but the food is nothing to write home about. Also a decent place for after work drinks.
(3)Anna C.
International ID's not accepted here. I went with a group of people clearly in their late 20's who couldn't drink without a passport. How ridiculous.
(1)rewan a.
I really like this place. The decor sucks but I always have a good time when I go. I especially like their darker beers, altho my friends always say good things about the pale ale. The food is okay. I usually get the southwest roll up. It's spicy which makes me drink more beer so I hardly ever leave that place sober. Good times. Also, I like their monday trivia nights AND I met BJ Novak and Mindy Kaling there last week.. so holla john harvard. One more thing, Fran the bartender is awesome. I love sitting at the bar because of him.
(4)Jon H.
I had a pretty good time here. Mainly because we brought five people and ALL ordered the sampler, which annoyed the waiter but he still obliged and proceeded to bring 5 samplers full of beer. Its a good place, good foods to munch on and pretty fun environment. I haven't spent much time here, so my review may change, but still, my first impression was not bad.
(4)Victoria M.
I have only been here once with the fiance, his boss, and their work studies as an end of the semester dinner bash. This was a couple of years ago, so bare with me. Alright... so as I remember it. We put in a reservation for 15 people. Everyone shows up 30 mins early so we can have a few in the bar. When our time rolls around, they tell us it will be an additional 45 mins because of the amount of people. No one cares because we are having a good time boozing in the bar. We are finally seated in the most obscure corner you can find... it was definitely a good thing because as everyone consumed more alcohol, everyone got louder and louder. The waiter shows up, clearly is not in a good mood, and mumbles something about a drink order. Everyone places their order and then continues talking... obnoxiously loud. Who cares?! We are there to have fun just like everyone else. Well our drinks show up, but it was a different waiter that brings them. Some time passes and the original waiter shows up and takes our food order. Some more time passes ( A LOT OF TIME). And our food finally arrives. We never saw our waiter again after that. We were all sitting there wishing we had a drink, even water *gasp*. Still nothing. We paid... and went else where.
(3)Kate S.
Ok--the food tastes like it came from Applebees , but I can always find a seat to drink...which can be hard in Harvard Square.
(3)Rachel H.
Roomy with reliable food, John Harvard's is a great bet for groups for dinner or drinks.
(3)Layla P.
This place was better than I expected. The highlight was definitely the pumpkin spice beer which is a seasonal thing, it tasted just like pumpkin spice bread but with bubbles. The food was good, we tried a burger and a veggie pizza. The service was above average as well. Recent edit - also tried to Twelfth Night Ale which I was told "had a hint of cinnamon and orange peel" - very nice
(4)Paul I.
Overpriced. The worst brocolli chicken dish I've ever had. Poor service. Come here only if you don't know any better. PS. The beer is good.
(2)S S.
Flashback: Year: 2002 Place: Janice Joplin's old apartment, Austin, TX Scene : Clink*Glass breaks Sweta: Oh these are from John Harvard's Brew House Roomate: If you didnt break your dishes as much as mine, i would think you do it deliberately Sweta: You've been to Boston? Roomate: Yep, i went to this fun beer place in Harvard Square Sweta: I love that place, its almost like a dungeon, with great beer on tap. It so much fun, i love the brick walls, stained glass window Roomate: Yep me too, i went there with...blah blah and did blah blah.... you buy me a set of their beer glasses when you go back home Fast forward 2007: I will mail those glasses-ABSOLUTELY!
(3)Jen H.
Roomie had a friend in from DC visiting for the night. She is a former Bostonian, and so on her one night in town she decides she wants to go to John Harvard's. I'd never been there before, nor had my friend... so our 4some ventured out of the Dot and all the way to the other side of the river for JH's. The whole reason we went here was because she wanted a Chicken Pot Pie. Apparently... they're amazing if you like pot pies. I do not so ordered some asian style chicken thing... sesame i think. It was yummy - very good. So for the main meal, everyone game two thumbs up. Desserts..... not such rave reviews. The brownie sundae... not so terrific. The brownie was cold (hello, brownie sundaes where the brownies are nuked and warmed and then the ice cream on top are amaaaaaaaazing). The butterscotch bread pudding apparently didn't have like any butterscotch taste and like zero drizzlings of the advertised caramel syrup. We had a reservation and were seated right away. We thought things were going well, but the waitress took for forever to do anything as if she were slammed! Why??? The restaurant wasn't overly busy. So, I have no idea what she was doing. All in all the experience was OK so I gave 3 stars. I'd go back there again if I was in the area, but I'd skip dessert here and get something somewhere else..... and would never go here if I was crunched for time (i.e. - before a movie).
(3)Ashley J.
I'm new to Boston, so when it came time to celebrate my birthday, I had absolutely no idea where to go. Enter my dear friend Cabul, who suggested John Harvard's--and I'm so glad he did! Not only is it the place where he met his fiancee, but this awesomely casual and fun bar was the perfect place to celebrate with my friends. We had a much larger group than I anticipated, and the hostess was awesome. She let us push three big dinner tables together, we ordered a bunch of apps, and were able to just stay put all night. It was such a great birthday night and I couldn't have picked a better spot! I'll definitely be back. Oh, and just because it's a brew house doesn't mean they don't have liquor--hooray for a full bar!
(4)Vanilla P.
Well, it is what it is. You visit Harvard? You go to John Harvard's Brew House afterwards to talk about Harvard. The original John Harvard might just like the restaurant John Harvard.... If he was wearing beer goggles and was completely deaf. I don't know why there's a wait on weekends, when during the week, JHBH is a ghost town. The salad I ordered was the Aztec Chicken Salad, which came out on a warm plate with hot chicken and a toasty enchilada sauce on top. I guess I haven't learned enough about Aztec culture, because I had no idea the salad would be un-cold. Maybe that's the way they did it in the Mesoamerica hey-day, but I don't get it. I did love the butterscotch bread pudding I ordered... Lovely, with delicious butterscotch drizzled over spongy cake. I'll go back again for the dessert. By the way, they card everyone here. I sit down at the bar and order a lemonade. "ID, please" -- for a lemonade? Puh. Lease.
(3)dan m.
I'm giving 3 stars for now but would love to offer a second chance. I tried two house beers here and they were so weak/watery they would make bud light taste like a full bodied beer...but the fact that the house brews were present racks up some points. Never tried the food here but the service was kinda lacking. The server treated us by demographic and didn't know we were the tipping type of college grad aged kids. Let me try your other beers/diff offerings and don't serve me like a deadbeat tipper per my demographic and I;ll give you a shot at more stars.
(3)Amy H.
I would have given one star for the food alone, but the service and atmosphere are pretty good. We had lunch there, and I got the weirdest thing that I thought was going to be a hot dog. It was a sausage wrapped in a seasoned tortilla with sauerkraut, bacon, and other odd things inside. It tasted funky. The beer is good, and the staff was very accommodating to us and our toddler. But I won't be eating here again.
(2)Deepa C.
This was our fall back place for birthdays and parents and group outings all through college, but every time i came here, i always went for the pot pie. it was amazing. and then i started making my own pot pie and this one didn't seem to great. but the foccacia, fries, sandwiches and soups are all hearty and comforting. i LOVE love love with nut brown beer and ask for it any time i go to a microbrewery. i have been here so many time that statistically, i have had bad service, but not a ton, like any chain restaurant. good for a group, good for a bite in harvard square after work or before a movie, good if you don't feel like cooking on sunday. but it is not fine dining.
(3)J D.
definitely has that "mcChain" feel - but all in all a decent beer and more or less respectable place, just not awesome
(3)Lauren L.
Great atmosphere down at JH's. I've been there a handful of times for dinner and I've always enjoyed the pizza and burgers. They've got a pretty good spinach and artichoke dip too. Trivia nights are always a lot of fun, and you're guaranteed a fun and smart crowd whenever you go due to its location. The coolest part is that all the beer served is made there. To uninitiated beer drinker, this could be daunting, but for enthusiasts it's a great time.
(3)Theodore Y.
I like coming here once every year or so, or when I have family/friends visiting from out of town. First off it's in the Harvard Square area so it's nice to just walk around to do some touristy things anyways. And 2nd, they brew their own beer. They have flavors and hops for pretty much every palate. The light ale, the moderate ale, the fruity ale, and the heavy stout. Get the Beer Sampler, you can't go wrong. The food here is very very good also. From the salads, burgers, sandwiches, to the chicken/steak entrees, they've all been very good. The last time I was there they had customers (i believe) playing some Irish folk music. The music definitey added to the Euro atmosphere feeling. They also have a few dozen tv's mounted on their walls for the sport jocks. Oh yeah, they've got a full bar for you to sit and watch your sports. This place can get busy and with busy restaraunts, you get poor service. But hey, it's not really their fault!
(4)Brian C.
Atrocious Treatment of Customers Waitress disappeared for long stretches of time, at least forty-five minutes at one point, despite the fact that the restaurant was barely half-full. When we finally got her attention, she "memorized" our drink orders and got them all wrong. When she promised to return with the correct drinks, we didn't see her again for at least another half hour. We ended up getting the drinks ourselves from the bar. The manager was completely unresponsive and uninterested in remedying the situation. He eventually assured us he would "talk to her" which resulted in making it effectively impossible for us to leave as no waiter or waitress approached our table again. At one point, after sitting with empty plates in front of us for at least twenty minutes, we moved all the plates ourselves to another table. This is all happened while the waitress glared at us every time she walked by, glancing away any time we began to wave her over for service or pretending she didn't notice. I have never seen such disrespectful treatment of customers and will never return.
(1)Colin N.
I've been here twice. I think if I came here a third time, I would be plunged into the depths of depression. It's so dark down in the basement. Good for brewing beer, but not for brewing happiness. The beer is decent there. Not amazing for a brew pub, but a nice change from poop light. I've had their burger and it's not bad... but I was drunk so everything tastes better. Still I can't remember it a week later other than I finished it. The man after whom John Harvard's is named would be rolling in his grave if this brew house was his only legacy.
(3)Bryan C.
So far I'm not sure.
(3)Evette M.
Service was really poor - everyone seemed busy and it was really hard to get drink refills. Maybe they just didn't have enough wait staff? Portions were ample, but when I asked for the burger I didn't finish wrapped up they threw half of it away and told me they thought I didn't want it (despite putting the rest of the burger and fries on the plate into the to-go container). Who does that?
(2)Astro J.
1 word: Roaches Ok - numerous words: I was there a couple of years ago (and a few times before that.) The last time i was there, they were crawling EVERYWHERE. They were on the pipes up by the bar and they would literally jump down onto the bar or the floor. I was never so grossed out in a restaurant in my life. I hope they got this under control but I cannot physically go back in there. God knows what is in Le's or the rest of the garage - cuz if there in here, they're everywhere, but seriously...sick. The food was always decent though....but it's too noisy & dark in here too.
(1)Betsy K.
John Harvard's is a Chachky's to me (other Chachky's: Naked FIsh, TGIF, Chili's). It is a good Chachky's with the homebrews and all, but still a Chachky's. My cobb salad was pretty decent, not so much bacon and not enough blue though. My father in law (who doesn't know that not all restaurants carry rare selections of fine wines and crumb your table) was supremely annoyed at the amount of times people that worked there asked us "Is everything okay?". "They were just being friendly, besides it's a Chachky's! " I said as I heard the people next to me order Extreme Fajitas and Pizza Shooters.
(3)d h.
They were out of several of their signature beers. How can a brewpub be out of their own beer ? We did try the Belgium, Brown, & IPA and the only thing that distinguished them was the color - all were otherwise tastless and watery. The burger had been frozen and the place needs a serious update to its decor. Avoid this College dive bar.
(1)Christopher N.
Awesome food, quick service, and a great selection of beer! I've never been disappointed. Love this place!
(5)Mojo M.
It's a brew pub, so one would think the beer would be pretty good "AAAAAAAANNNNNPPPPPHHHH" Wrong. Beer sucks. Really really sucks. Its all so generic, like those brew your own kits they sell at WalMart. Unflavorful. Oh, oh so lame. The food is typical bar fare on nicer china and at a premium price. I ain't really recommend anything but the meatloaf. The reason I gave the place 2 stars is often when I am drunk in Harvard Square I do end up at the place so it would be hypocritical to deny something about the place attracts me. It could be the really clean bathrooms.
(2)Jennifer C.
John Harvard's is a dark basement Temple of Ale, complete with stained glass windows portraying religious iconography. I stopped in here yesterday to duck out of the rain and get a late lunch while visiting the Harvard U campus. After being instructed to seat myself at a bar table, I waited around 10 minutes to receive a menu, during which time I pretend I understood a lot more than I did about the hockey game playing on the TV overhead. A variety of servers ranging from indifferent to quite congenial waited on me throughout the meal, which begain with a very forgettable cup of thin, under-seasoned New England Clam Chowder. On the other hand, the chicken breast in my BLTA had excellent herb flavor and hardly needed the bacon topper (though I suppose that would eliminate the "B" of BLTA). Whereas the bacon was ample, John H was skimpy on the other sandwich toppings, with the other ingredients consisting of a petite piece of lettuce, a single tomato slice, and one loan wedge of avocado perched atop the other fillings. I mashed it up to get better coverage. The marble-rye creation was unfortunatly soggy-bottomed (a term never used in a complimentary sense) but the accompanying French fries were EXCELLENT. Perfectly cooked with a delicate, slightly crumbly exterior. Cucumber salad provided a fresh counterpoint to the plates heavier fare. Prices aren't a bargain but aren't outrageous, with my sandwich plate ringing up at a little over $10. John Harvard's seems like a decent place to gather with friends for a casual meal or to watch the game over beers...not something to go out of the way for, but a great resource if you're in the area.
(3)Paul A.
I had an awesome burger here. It is just my kind of place for great casual food. Great quick service
(4)Kwan H.
Food is delicious. Beer is good and locally brewed! Location is perfect (right on my walk back from school)... Until graduation, John Harvard's will keep me sane.
(4)Sean E.
The Monday Night Trivia gets 3 to 4 stars depending on how well my team does that night. Last night we didn't do very well and the two teams that did win both had over 6 people; lame. A less morally ambiguous Trivia Master would not allow such shenanigans. Putting these things aside, the trivia night here is a pretty good deal. It's not that Stump! crap -- you're getting the real McCoy here: A trivia master who's put some work in the night's game and knows what he's doing. So why the two stars? We'll I've been here more times than I can count and I've never had a decent meal, hardly ever had good service (especially on trivia night), and the beer makes me angry. The typical night: Find a table, wait 15 minutes, twiddle thumbs. --- Waitress shows up, order beers, wait 5-10 more minutes. --- Waitress returns. "We're out of that beer," or "We're not doing pitchers of that beer." Order different beer. --- Beer shows up. "What is this? This is an IPA? It's red and tastes like it got left out on the porch overnight..." Drink beer anyway and hope the waitress decides to come back in the next half hour so you can try a different beer. Second beer is usually worse than the first. Usually stale tasting, or like the beer didn't get finished in the idea phase. I'm not going to get into the food. The only items on their menu I can recommend are desserts. But you should still cross your fingers after ordering one of those. Last issue is the clientele. You get a few beers into some of these Harvard kids and the next thing you know part of their privileges is treating everyone around them like a second class citizen. For the most part it's fine, expected. But sometimes when you're just trying to unwind here it can be annoying as all get out. The recommended scenario -- you and your friend grab a stool at the bar. The bartenders have always been much better than the waitstaff. Test out a couple beers to find the one decent one they have going at the moment and enjoy the prototypical college bar experience.
(2)Tristan B.
How do I get roped into these places all the time? John Harvard's is yet another "brew house"/restaurant that has nothing going for it besides "making their own beer" and typical pub food that is insanely forgettable. What really stands out pretty poorly is the fact that you're going to be waiting around for a seat here for a while, you're stuck in the basement, and the service is terribly bad. I was with a party of five (No, not the television show, okay?), and they managed to bring out all but one order, and we kept waiting for our fifth order. The manager apologized and gave it for free, but by the time that happened it was almost two hours later, and by then it was just like we wanted to leave. The beer is kind of eh. I mean it's decent, but I really can't claim its superiority over anything you can get in a decent bar. I'm pretty convinced at this point that brewing your own beer for a restaurant is a gimmick for "not having any distinctive beer" and aiming directly for that middle-america road. "Of course it's a good beer! It's brewed on site!" It's better than Charlie's Kitchen, if only because it doesn't pretend to be what it is.
(2)Courtney H.
So I have been here before and always thought it was an okay place, but the other week I have to say I was extremely impressed with the service! We were looking for a place to watch the game that had some decent food so we stopped in here. After an hour or so a couple friends joined me and the bf so our party was up to 5. But then something crazy happened. 150 people dressed up as Santa Claus bombarded the bar! I had heard of Santacom before but never seen it in live action. I was almost getting claustrophobic from all the Santas surrounding us. We figured we would finish our beers and head out. It was just way too crowded and crazy. But our server was excellent, and kept refilling our beers before we could even finish them. We ended up staying an extra 3 hours. I couldn't believe how great of service we received being one of the few tables not full of drunk Santas. Afterward I made sure to tell the manager how great our server was, which did make my friends laugh at me a lot, but it's always great to compliment when someone does an excellent job! And this kid was top notch! I hope he got a raise or a bonus that day because he sure deserved it!
(4)Chris S.
Good food and great beer. Good stop for any travelers.
(4)Adam N.
I sampled 4 of their beers prior to dinner with my fiancé. We also got their tavern pretzels. Very enjoyable atmosphere and good beer. I could see myself coming back here frequently if I actually lived in the area.
(4)Julia F.
John Harvards is the place that my friends and I go to if we are meeting people who have never been here and are likely to get lost if they wander more than two blocks from the T, or if we can't decide or agree on anywhere else - we usually don't stay for that long, regardless. The staff is seemly preoccupied and or unaware, or perhaps indifferent is the word, towards us as customers the past few times. It's a good place to bring a group - only if you get there at specific times, god knows what they are - it's about as much of a chance you have of not hitting traffic on 95S in the mornings to get a table by the bar. The food is decent, but nothing to write home about, the "hosts" seem totally out of place and for the longest time I've wondered what exactly their job entails... Maybe some day I will figure it out. If you are going and drinking for a while and have to break the seal? Watch out for the step into the women's bathroom, I've seen some people wipe out on it - hopefully after a few pitchers...
(3)Kristin C.
In my humble opinion John Harvard's has the best bacon cheeseburger in the Boston area. They need to open a place on my side of the river :)
(5)Greg C.
Go for lunch! Way better!
(4)Nelson M.
Ok, but need more variety of Brews!!! Granted, their beer is good and their dark is about as good as Guinness, but when I want a Guinness I can't get it here. Try Cambridge common on mass instead for a great selection. Good nachos!
(3)Mary R.
I had a decent dinner here last night, but it was nothing amazing. My veggie burger was good -- the added fresh mozzarella helped a lot. But my real question, and the reason for not giving more stars is: Why, when you're trying to be healthy and substitute the french fries you really want for a salad are you charged $1.50 more? Lettuce can't be that much more expensive than potatoes!
(3)Kristin G.
Blech. I've been here on numerous occasions and haven't been impressed by the beer OR the food. There's really no need to stop in here with so many other tempting food/drink choices in the area.
(2)Christopher M.
John Harvard's is a respectable brew house if you know how to work it: do not go when it's busy and always sit at the bar. If you don't follow these basic guidelines, you can read the reviews here to commiserate with all those people with good intentions, but bad timing. In the off-hours, notably between lunch and dinner (2-4:30 PM), this place rocks. Some people are turned off by the dark interior. Yes, it looks kinda like a dungeon, but any place with a stain-glassed window depicting Jerry Garcia and JFK dressed as saints I think is pretty funny. The beer is good, but I wouldn't write home about it. The food can be good. I generally like their burgers and fries and the chicken pot pie. The service...well...this is why you go during off hours. The waitstaff generally seems to think its more your pleasure to be there than theirs to serve you. But during the between lunch-and-dinner hours, who cares? You'll be one of three people sitting at the bar and the bartender is almost always there. Jonny H's: great for a late lunch or early dinner but the standard hours imbiber beware.
(4)carmen l.
Game night- bring the crew! This is a perfect place to grab a bite, catch up , watch a game and let's not forget have a pint of your favorite beer.... or maybe even a pitcher?! The food is great, service medium and atmosphere cozy. A definite must for a game night or a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's also a great place to bring visitors from out of town....it's low risk-everyone will find something on the menu that they like.
(4)Steven F.
I will have to come back to John Harvards and actually try a meal so as to give this a more well-rounded review. All I can talk to you about is the service (excellent, even on a busy night) and the black bean nachos. Now, let me tell you. I would consider myself a connoisseur of black bean nachos. Previously, the best I'd ever had were at Rudy's Cafe in Teele Square, but John Harvards blows the competition out of the water. These nachos are a STUNNING blend of cheeses, beans, chips and general goodness, baked to utter perfection. No. Joke. I'd rate higher on the quality of the nachos alone, but I do wish they had a more extensive beer collection (I know, I know, they're a brewery, whatever). What beers they do produce are excellent, I was a big fan of their oatmeal stout-but more than four or five choices would go a long way.
(3)Ronda W.
A hang out spot for students, and if you're hungry late at night they'll feed you. If that's all you want, and if you don't care about service, you'll be fine. I do NOT recommend the veggie burgers. They're dry and tasteless, the mushrooms are canned and the cheese is rubbery. The atmosphere is loud and the service is horrendous. We asked for a table, and were asked if we were ordering food. We said yes, and were then told we could only have a table if we were ordering food (we had ALREADY said we were ordering food). I can understand how they might think they could get away with telling that to undergrads, but as an adult who is well past that age, I was offended by the attitudes of the servers and the fact that they somehow expected me to "convince" them I was really going to order food just because they didn't believe that was our intention. My initial response was to leave, but since I was with others who wanted to stay, I was out-voted. Definitely would not recommend and I have not been back since.
(1)May N.
Went there with a friend on a Sunday, early evening to get the evening started. Got a few beers and the spinach artichoke dip. Wasn't too loud, service was ok. Large menu for a pub, but definitely had a chain-restaurant feel.
(3)Steph H.
Pasta with sausage and chicken, and the porter beer. Everything was good but not great. Service was nice and friendly, atmosphere was nice. Kinda expensive for what it's worth. I also understand that John Harvard's brew house promotes its own beer and everything, but I think I would have appreciated a few other choices - perhaps that's absurd to suggest. In the end John, I give you 3 stars because I spent more than I wanted to (and more than what I thought the meal was worth) and that leaves a sour taste in my mouth no matter what I ate.
(3)Alex N.
Yeah, this place is a three. its a safe bet if portions are your thing. The atmosphere is good, with friendly service. The food is eh. I gave this place 2 tries, I probably wont give it another. You are better off at Grafton's.
(3)_ _.
Scale of 1-10 (multiple visits): 6 Food 7 *Drinks* 7 Service 7 Atmosphere 5 Value
(3)Kimberly P.
This place is so loud that I couldn't even hear the people sitting next to me. That lead to a very obnoxious convo filled with "I'm sorry, what did you say"'s and blank stares. The food was standard bar fare - I had the mushroom swiss burger which was decent. The fries get two thumbs up (fries are my thinggggg!) but the wine was shitty. (I guess I shouldn't have expected much). This place was so so. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but if I was in the area and wanted an ok burger, I'd consider it.
(3)Bryanne R.
Beer sampler for $5.50 -- Tasty. Fresh, Hot, Soft Pretzels -- Heaven. Brings you right back to the days of getting a snack in high school study hall. That pretzel hits the spot. Didn't have a meal here, or drink here very long...but it's a good place to get things started...get everyone to meet up...gear up...grab a few drinks and hit the town.
(4)Diana G.
I stopped in here recently just to try their Harvest Spice Ale. This beer tastes nice, but it doesn't have the body I expected it would. I didn't stay for a second beer because I didn't really like the atmosphere. Too dark & too loud. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back to this place, but if I were in the neighborhood & starving, I might stop in one more time just to try a burger. We'll see...
(3)reese w.
The beer is pretty tasty here, and the food is passable, but nothing I would go back for. On the plus side, they can usually handle really large parties and have typical American food that would please most large groups. I'd call them a safe choice if you don't know the eating habits of people in your group. If you are a foodie, please go somewhere else.
(3)Gigi B.
I have been to John Harvard's on a few occasions to grab a bite to eat and/or have drinks with friends. The large basement dining space with abundant tables and booths has a great atmosphere, but overall (especially in the summer) I find it to be filled with tourists. The burger is acceptable and I was surprisingly in love with the bread pudding. I do not drink beer, but friends seem to enjoy their brews, which are created on site. John Harvard's is worth a visit but not an establishment I crave visiting.
(3)tom k.
John Harvard's seems to be going downhill. I seem to remember enjoying food here ... but now, it's a question if I'll even stop by for a beer. The other night, the only thing interesting at the place was my dinner friend. They seem to be hopping up too many beers, as hoppy as IPAs ... their current offering of Octoberfest and Red Ale are too hoppy for me. The Stout is more like a smoky porter, and the Golden is like Bud. Eeeeh. So so. My "entree" was really the letdown that I gotta Yelp about ... I ordered ravioli (a simple request), and they delivered 8 smallish ravioli (lined up like they counted them out) on a plate fulllll of salad. I was like ... "where the ravioli at mang???" It's not like it's expensive stuff, and this was obvious because the edges were a bit tough like rehydrated dried ravioli. Yet ... some Harvard B-school student probably meandered accross the street and was like "Man, I have a great business strategy for you to cut back costs and increase margin. All you have to do is load a plate up with lettuce and cut back on everything else ... no one will even notice." Well guess what, I noticed, and it's a lame strategy ... it was a sad site, those 8 accounted-for ravioli ! I think John Harvards shows all the symptoms of turning into a chain-restaurant. When there are sooo many interesting places in Boston, I don't think I'll be back here soon. I really should have gone to Pho Pasteur upstairs, darn !!!
(2)Dave M.
John Harvard's a great little place in Harvard sq. I love that it's downstairs and they've left the foundations exposed, it creates a great old English pub feel. I'm giving ole' Johnny 4 stars because the food here is great and the beer is too. That said, a few notes on both the food and the beer. Food: they changed their menu about a yr ago and cut out a lot of things, some of which I really liked. What remains is still good, but I find the menu some what limited now, I like having enough choices that I don't have to pick a restaraunt based on the kind of food I want (not style/cuisine, but optoins for light, heavy, refreshing, warming etc). With the new limited menu, I feel like that's harder to do. Beer: As a beer-brewer myself I'll say making great beer every time can be really tough. Usually they manage to do it. As a general rule I enjoy the beer here, but I have had a few that were really off, and off not in a I-just-don't-like-this-beer kind of way, but a this-is-so-bad-you-shouldn't-serve-it kind of way. The point? Take advantage of the FREE tastes b4 you order a full pint. P.S. if you happen to be out in Framingham/Natick there's another one out there that's also really good
(4)Michael C.
Great food. I love their salad with mandarin oranges and peanuts and stuff...I don't remember what it's called, but I crave it. They also give you focaccia with olive oil--wonderful! Good atmosphere, too. And unlike most places in Harvard Square, it's big enough that each time you can sit in a different area, and almost feel like you're in a different dining room. I can't think of anything I don't like about this place. Great place to go with your parents, but also for a meal with friends, or alone. (Then you get all that focaccia for yourself!) (If you use a wheelchair, by the way, they have a funny lift that kind of spins around to bring you down (and up) the staircase at the entrance. My sister, who uses a wheelchair, finds it an odd feeling going around on it. But it's good to know they spent the money on a fancy lift that fits their staircase perfectly.)
(5)Olga G.
Maybe NYC prices have left me scarred for life, but when I see a 16 oz. glass of beer for less than $5, I automatically think I've gone to heaven. So that's pretty much where I found myself on Saturday -- heaven. You can't get a Bud Light here, but they do have a pretty good selection of their own brews and they're happy to recommend something if you tell them what you like. Once you've had a few discount beers, you can appreciate the ambience of a place like John Harvard's. It's a little dark, so you won't be able to enjoy the late autumn sunshine from your table, but the warm service more than makes up for the lack of sunlight. Food arrives very quickly, and despite the speed, the quality doesn't suffer. Everything we ordered -- from the nachos to the chicken pot pie -- was extremely satisfying and tasty. Don't come here expecting to be blown away by gastronomic ingenuity -- but John Harvard's certainly doesn't disappoint. No wonder the place was so busy on a late Saturday afternoon.
(4)Topher D.
First thing that should have turned me away was a funky smell when we walked in. But the allure of homemade beer was enough to get me in - got a flight, not bad, then got a burger, supposedly medium well, not good - lets just say an hour later it came out hard - food poisoning is no way to treat a customer - I won't be back (at least for food)
(1)Jacquelin K.
This place gets an O for Outstanding... if the characteristic in question is mediocrity. It just puts me to sleep. What else can I say? The fish in the fish & chips is tasteless. The nachos are ok. Calamari's fine, but it's pretty hard to screw that up, don't you think? Nothing compelling about John Harvard's, but it will surely always rake in the cash b/c of the location & the blandness of the offerings. As for me, I'll take my booty elsewhere.
(1)Tim S.
The prices aren't too bad, and I've never gotten a meal I didn't like. A great brewery, too.
(4)Jim C.
Great place to grab some local microbrews with friends, scarf down one of their famous chicken pot pies, stumble down the street to the Harvard T station and somehow get home without realizing how you did it. Their chicken pot pie is simply awesome with a huge handmade flaky crust and huge pieces of chicken breast and other veggies in the pot pie. Bottom line: Chicken pot pie - yum. And beer too.
(4)Isabella Z.
I wasn't too excited when i heard we were getting dinner at a brew house. Since i'm not a beer drinker, thoughts of congealed cold fries and heavily ranch dressed, warm salad were on my mind. So glad i was wrong! Our server (wonderful and completely knowledgeable about the various beers for the others in our party), recommended the calamari to start, and she was so right! It was lightly battered and browned, with red and cherry peppers. Drizzled with a chunky tomato (pomodoro) sauce. I ordered The Blue Burger. Medium-rare. Because most restaurants always overcook it and I didn't want to order it rare and have it come out moo-ing. Just a lee-tle bit bloody is all I ask. It came out on a sesame bun with spicy buffalo sauce, bleu cheese, sauteed mushrooms and onions, lettuce and tomato. Mmm! And fries. Seasoned fries. Hot seasoned fries. I'm so passionate for pipin' potato products! The only disappointment was after the appetizer and half pound burger...there was no room left for dessert!
(5)Kim P.
The following items on the menu are the world's best: microbrewed beer, nachos, bread & olive oil, fish & chips. I stumbled upon it with my dad during my freshman year of college, and I was blown away by the food, and once I was able to drink legally it became my hangout for the remainder of college. Perfect place to bring out of town visitors -- dark, cozy, intelligent. It's true Boston.
(5)Amanda M.
i go here for one reason only: my girlfriend is OBSESSED with the mediterranean lentil and hummus salad. OBSESSED. And pretty much everyone we ever bring there falls in love with it as well. i'm not really a big fan of lentils or hummus but i have to say this salad is a winner. it keeps us going back that's for sure.
(4)Tim F.
Had gone here a few times before, and the service was awful every time. We were either ignored or the waitress was rude, but more likely it was both. Stopped in for a couple of beers last night after a hockey game...yup, nothing's changed. Took us forever to have the waitress acknowledge us, then she ignored one of our beer orders. Rather than get a tray or make two trips, she took 5 beers in her hands and dribbled 2 of them across the floor and on our feet. It's amazing this place is as busy as it is....
(2)Justin G.
The burger was poor, kind of dry. The Amarillo IPA started good, but had a lager aftertaste- not good for an ale. I would go back with friends, but wouldn't make it a destination.
(2)Mihir P.
The lackluster menu at John Harvard's is made up for by the high-quality pub grub and chain-bar&grill selections, This subterranean eating house is worth a visit. as the ingredients are quality and supposedly this restaurant makes its own mayonaisse! I can highly recommend the calamari with hot peppers and shallots, meatloaf, burgers and especially the fish & chips. If you go here, definitely get one of their four regularly available beers. There are only four available but they each are solid. A bonus is that there are also seasonal/special brews available year round. This place is great for large groups so order pitchers!
(4)Rob D.
I just...kinda...keep going here. Back before it was John Harvards, it was 33 Dunster...and I was still there. At the same table. Anyway - its better now. Is it a place you good for that special night out with that certain someone? Uh...nope. But is it somewhere to meet your buds, have good-to-great beer and a really awesome bowl o' chili? Yup.
(3)Angela H.
Given that my current state (very hungover) has not little to do with John Harvard's, I figure I should write them a review and say thanks. We found ourselves in this dark basement pub for the ~seventieth time this year and whilst I was complaining about being stuck in the dungeon, an incredible thing began to happen. I started to enjoy myself without even realizing it. We've been here a bunch of times, and I usually do have a great time, but I'm always troubled by the lack of natural light. Last night's outing was no different. But then my chicken sandwich came with those great fries. It wasn't anything special, nothing to rave about, but it was good, decent bar food. Which is really, in the end, pretty spectacular, right? The beer came too, two pitchers of it (hence my yelping instead of working which requires standing -- bleh). The waitress recommended the Demon "D"PA (instead of IPA -- they get cute with their beer names which sometimes isn't so successful: "The softest bullet ever shot," for instance, is too long and indicative of a suppository*). This waitress , along with many of the bar tenders and other staff, was great. Here's why: 1. she got pissed at the swarm of Harvard students who inundated our communal high top and asked us to move! 2. she resembled one of my favorite authors 3. she overheard me asking the bar tender for a spoon. He didn't have any but when I returned to my table she magically appeared with one...never had to ask her. And now, for the best part: It was trivia night!! And we didn't even know it when we walked in. So after sitting for a couple of hours, eating, drinking, moving to another table, drinking more -- we decided to order another pitcher and stay for the entertainment. Trivia night happens a lot places, I know, and this wasn't any better than any other (actually it was worse because I guess you have to be smaht to go to that college there, or something). But here's the thing, the moral of this whole story, the reason John Harvard's wins me over despite it's mediocrity and darkness: It's just a nice place to be. I'm comfortable here. What could be better than that? *That suppository thing was stolen from Rob P. He said it first. Oh and please don't condemn me for the rambling, probably incomprehensible, nature of this little spout: it comes from having too much fun last night.
(4)Jennie W.
Kinda feels like a place for Harvard meat heads to congeal over sophisticated brews and rugby matches. Also, feels like a tourist trap. However, this place is surprisingly good. Here's why I like: 1. Damn good burger. Perfectly cooked (I like med-rare, maybe that's the only way they roll--lucky me) and smothered with BBQ sauce and good cheddar. 2. Great beer. I know what I like, but I don't know much about brewing beer. This is the sort of place where they don't make you feel stupid for asking questions. 3. Really good service. I asked for thousand island dressing on the side, and the waiter said they didn't have it. Later, he brought over some homemade dressing someone in the kitchen had made specially for me. Impressive.
(5)Tanvi D.
So, I recently went to John Harvards with 7 of my other friends. We had reservations and we showed up on time for our reservation and were promptly seated. The waitress came by to take our drink orders. We ordered 2 pitchers of beer (She only brought out 7 glasses) .. One of my friends had to wait about 10 minutes before we could locate her, so, she could bring another glass. She took our dinner order and brought the food out. While we were still eating, she started clearing the table. She was about to take my friend's half eaten burger while he was still chewing. In five minutes she brought out our checks. And we promptly paid. While we were still finishing our beers, the waitress came to us and told us that we had to leave becuase the next party that had reservations was already there. Well, we were in the middle of a conversation and didn't quite want to end mid sentence. So, in the next, I'm not kidding, 2 minutes, the host came over to tell us that WE HAD TO LEAVE. What kind of service is this? Oh yes, I was almost tempted to ask for the 18% GRATUITY that they had AUTOMATICALLY added to our bill. I think this place is going to be my "Last Choice" for food again.
(1)Alex Z.
I am rating this place on the beer and things related to the beer. The atmosphere seemed typical for a brewpub and based on what others tell me and the review say, the food seems typical so I might as well comment on what is not typical. This place changes its beers all the time...which is good, but...it doesn't provide accurate information on their beers on their website. THIS IS FRIGGIN' LAME! Also, I have called and written to various people in the company asking for information on their beers and they never get back to me. In particular, I want to enter their beers onto ratebeer.com and I cannot because they don't provide me with this info. AAAH!!! Makes me want to scream. Piss-ant of a brewery! The quality of the beer? It's above-average for a microbrewery. I've tried, I think 7 of their brews, and all were good. But the variability from one brew to the next is minimal...there's something about these beers that tastes more or less the same. They all have a sort of coarse, grainy texture to them, a sort of mild but complex sourness, a certain quality that is hard to describe. None of them were bad but none of them were outstanding either. I would drink them again except that I am currently boycotting this miserable establishment because of their lack of information on the beers. What good is it to drink a beer if I cannot rate it on ratebeer.com Piss-ants! I'm never going back.
(1)Michael W.
Based on previous experiences I would have given John Harvard's 4 stars, but because of todays meal, i have knocked it down one. We arrived with a slightly larger party, but it was not very busy when we first sat down. It took close to 10mins to even get a member of the wait staff to take our drink orders. Bread comes out which is put at the opposite end of the table, there are 11 of us, so maybe 2 baskets would have been appropriate, but nope. The beers here are brewed on site and its one of the reasons why I like coming back. I had the Plymouth Porter, which was a great light and nutty porter... I order this Asian chicken kinda quesadilla, it was different, but good. I also usually order the burger, and after my night last night, i needed some beef and bacon... ordered bloody rare as usual. and it came out with cold fries, which were replaced after i complained, the burger was not what i remember, it was much thinner and was cooked medium. While it was over cooked, it didn't take away from its flavor, but in the end it left me still looking for more and a waitress for some mustard for my fries. I got the mustard as my check came and that was it. i think it will be sometime, before Johnny H's sees me again...
(3)Arestia R.
John Harvard's is reliable: I can get a decent burger, some crafted beer & probably find some ivy league eye candy. My friends and I don't come here for the food, but we come here for a good time. We can relax and be shameless and get the beer in flight where we can have all 5 of their current special beers. I find myself there when I find myself in the square, but we have been known to all gather for a meal and a laugh.
(3)Courtney H.
I went here again last night and had a very nice time. We had a great waitress, good food, and their holiday spice ale was nice. Their spinach and artichoke dip really hit the spot on a cold night. But I'm keeping this place at three stars because I'm still wary of most of their menu. If I go here again and have a good time, I'll upgrade them.
(3)Dragony F.
Our going away celebration for labmates VS: My dinner of an apple crisp AND a Brownie Sunday My dessert of grilled meatloaf My postdessert dessert of bread pudding Several pitchers of stouts, ales and porters Who wins? The bread pudding by a sweet caramelly landslide. My dinner of dessert items - apple crisp wasn't very spicy or apply, brownies were rock hard and dense, made eating a chore Meatloaf - grilled?! Isn't that just a flat square hamburger? I don't want grill marks on my meatloaf! Unfortunately, I also expect soft, crumbly texture for meatloaf not the chewy consistency here. Bread pudding - only outstanding thing, pillowy, soft topped with a wonderful caramel sauce, nice to have on a chilly night, get this instead of any other dessert on their menu Appetizers - pretty typical fare, nothing outstanding, buffalo wings needed to be kicked up a notch in spiciness Overall, if you need to entertain a large group of friends or coworkers in Harvard Square, here's a decent place to go for some pitchers of beer.
(3)Becka D.
This would be a 3.5 star if I could...but I rounded up just because I'm in a good mood. Definitely a good group meeting place. A fairly central area & very close to the T. Big space too, so a group can spread out/grow in size...which is nice when you just tell a whole bunch of people where you are going & have no idea how many of them will show up. Never done the food here, but mixed drinks are strong. Waitstaff could be a bit more attentive, but overall a decent choice for group outings.
(4)Hilary J.
One time I came here after bar hopping through the square... I settled down at the bar with my partner in crime and we ordered drinks. It smelled funny... like sour milk! So we kept moving seats until we couldn't smell it anymore. I'm sure it was some milk stout they were brewing up behind there or something, so we can't fault them for that. But it did make things rather uncomfortable. And then some nerds came over and talked to us and we nodded and smiled while trying very quickly to finish our drinks so we didn't have to listen to them drone on about their latest Dungeons and Dragons escapade. That night I didn't get a very good read on what this place was about... partially due to my intoxication, partially because of stink, and partially because of the relentless dweebs. Yesterday I came here for lunch. My experience was pleasant. I got a nice little bartenders sampler thingymabob, with 5 different beers. My favorite was the stout, but the others were "ok". Go for the stout!! YUM. I got a burger, which did the trick. It was the Bleu Burger and it had buffalo sauce, bleu cheese and caramelized onions. It was cooked just how I ordered it, which was good, but I really thought they should have put the bleu cheese directly on the burger (not the caramelized onions) so that it melted a bit more... then onions, then buffalo sauce. But that's me being picky. The quality of the meat was a bit questionable as well. But it tasted good, so that's all that matters right? Mad cow doesn't scare me. So far this review doesn't sound very nice, I just realized... but keep reading... it's intended to be nice. The service was good. Everybody smiled, which is always really important to me. To quote a favorite movie of mine, "I like smiling. It's my favorite". Our server was very upbeat and on top of his shit. Attentive and friendly with recommendations on what to order (even though we didn't take them). The price is right, the atmosphere is that of a cozy pub... and bonus points because the stink was gone and the place seemed goober free. My point is, the food is average... not the best, but not the worst... but HEY! Its a pub, and I can be a snob sometimes.
(4)Leslie J.
This is a great place to meet friends. They have huge tables that you don't have to wait too long for. The food is good, consistant and very reasonable. The crowd is lively, but you can listen to and enjoy conversations with friends. The only downside is that there is no parking in Harvard Square.
(4)Ray G.
Went with five friends from high school, Class of '73! Most of us had the Colonial Gold to drink and it was quite good. We had two apps, buffalo wings and nachos which were both very good. Most of us had burgers and they were outstanding. Our server Nina was just about perfect. She was personable and very prompt without being obtrusive. Overall a great night and I'll be back for sure.
(4)Jenn Y.
Super friendly server who enthusiastically served a group of 15. Prices were decent for a Harvard Square restaurant and chain, food was fairly good. I had a Green Pueblo salad that was pretty tasty, and they very kindly replaced the bacon and chicken with egg and avocado. (However, they did charge extra for this...which...is not unexpected, but not really cool). The beers were not bad, though not spectacular or particularly noteworthy. Overall, not bad, but not really standout in any way, it was fairly mainstream and not someplace I would personally choose to go unless I needed to find a place that would seat a big group.
(3)Sara L.
Wow, I am glad all the reviews say the food blows -- now I know I didn't miss anything. Went there with a group of 6 people, in the middle of the day on a weekday, well after lunch time but well before dinner, and the host said he couldn't seat us. The place was empty, but he told us he couldn't accommodate us for at least 45 minutes. No one else had to wait, just us, standing there staring at all the empty tables while he gave us a dirty look and had a nasty attitude that basically suggested we go somewhere else. So we did.
(1)Bevin C.
The atmosphere is pretty nice. I especially like the big wooden tables and vast expansive dining room. But the food is b-l-a-h. I ordered a salad and couldn't eat it because it was swimming in salad dressing - the lettuce was all limp. The portions are off too - my order of buffalo fingers was half the size of other places. The beer is okay I guess, but not nearly as good as Watch City Brewing Company's.
(2)john e.
This place is OK. The staff are polite and friendly. The food is adequated and reaonable value. The place is quite clean. It is one of the better places around for microbrew.
(3)Laura F.
They wouldn't make a hot toddy here and I left feeling very upset. The food is so-so blah too.
(1)Karlis B.
I went here again recently and it was packed. But the service was much better. Y'know sometimes I feel like a nut and sometimes I don't.
(4)John T.
This place is great. The atmosphere was really nice, sort of like an old colonial tavern that has been modernized. Despite what some people said, I found the service to be great. My friend and I are both vegetarians, and were delighted to find that they were willing to make any of the burgers on the menu with a veggie patty. When I inquired about the %ABV of the cask ale I was enjoying, the waitress was more than happy to go ask for me (it was a stiff 6%.) After drinks and before the meal, she brought us out a basket of bread and poured out this amazing seasoned olive oil on a plate, for dipping. Most places just give you crappy packaged pads of butter! As for the food, I was very pleased... I had a veggie burger with mushrooms, sauteed onions, blue cheese, buffalo sauce, lettuce, and tomato - all the ingredients seemed very fresh and tasty, and it was well made. The fries here are AMAZING, and I would seriously consider an extra order of fries on the side. The beer I tried was the "cask ale" of the day, which was a brown ale. It's unfiltered, so it's a bit heavier than your average ale. It was delicious, though - sweet, rich, hoppy, and malty, all at once. Went really well with the meal. If heavy beers aren't your thing, they also have lagers and lighter ales, as well as wine (my friend got the Chardonnay, she said it was pretty good - very sweet, but that's to be expected with a Chardonnay.) All in all, a good experience. It's certainly not life-changing, but definitely worth checking out if you're in the Harvard Sq. area.
(4)Jacob E.
I think the beer is fine. The burgers are pretty standard, though I think both CBC and the Thirsty do the same thing better. For some reason my friends consistently repeat the mistake of ordering the nachos, which are are a soggy pile of goo. To me, the atmosphere is irritating, but that depends on what you're into, I guess. The service is often confused and inattentive. So, you ask, why come here at all? Easy -- it's the minor leagues of pub trivia. Teams that would get destroyed at other trivia nights bring home fabulous prizes on a weekly basis. The only reason I'm telling you this is because I've decided that on balance it's not worth it, and because my teammates drank the growler that we won when I wasn't around.
(2)Lucy B.
Whoa whoa whoa...Someone just knocked the Lentil Salad. I guess it's all in opinion, but! It was not called a Hummus plate, it was not called a hummus dipper it was a Mediterranean Lentil Salad and I found it to be perfect. The green lentils were moist, but still held together well. I found the amount of hummus perfect, the baby lettuce was great, and to top it off the portabellas were perfect! Marinaded to perfection. I eat a lot of salads and this is quite possibly my favorite. The hummus on the bottom of the salad was not meant to be globs and globs of it as the main focus was the lentils, I thought it was a perfect portion and personally, when I leave things on my plate I feel that it was wasteful. Yes I finished the whole thing and felt full. If you want to have a salad with globs of hummus and some more to take home or leave on the plate go to Tossed or some other make your own salad place. I'll start a feud over this salad because my personal experience with it was so good. Oh and Dan has the grilled meatlf which he thought was very good, he loved the mashed potatoes. Dude who called this place like TGIfridays - go eff yourself Go John Harvard!
(5)Sham Y.
I generally like breweries because I enjoy a good beer. The ones I've tried here were decent. Both times they were out of my first choice though. The food was average and a bit highly priced.
(3)Anne A.
The plate of olive oil served with our bread basket had a piece of hair in it. We told the waitress, who acted as if we were being difficult, inconveniencing her, and lying about the hair. She didn't seem concerned, didn't apologize, and the next dish of olive oil ALSO had a piece of hair - WTF? Plus both of our orders were messed up - unreal!
(1)Jason C.
It was my first time, and service was horrible. The only reason it won't be my last time is that my friends swear the service is usually good. The rest of our group had already seated and ordered appetizers when I arrived. I patiently waited for 30 min, trying to order a drink. Eventually I just ordered my own drink from the bar. I would have liked to order another drink after I finished the first one, but their waitstaff had other plans. Luckily, one of my friends didn't want like 80 % of their pint of oatmeal stout and another didn't want his oatmeal stout sampler, so that went to me. And their darker microbrew stuff is way over carbonated, except the oatmeal stout or porter. On the plus side, they have big fried calamari rings for an appetizer, which is something I haven't seen elsewhere.
(2)victoria r.
Pretty good. I'm not sure if it seemed so perfect because it was about 30 degrees outside or what. The chili was great and my boyfriend enjoyed their chicken strips. Waiter was very nice and was quick... especially since we had to catch our flight. We went for lunch but seems like the type of place the students would hang out at on the weekends or nights. Cozy atmosphere. Was good but not sure I would return to if in the area. I'm sure Cambridge may have something better to offer?
(3)T K.
This is one of my favorite restaurants at the moment. I only eat here when I can get the food for free because it is so expensive! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Barney B.
sometimes you can sum up a restaurant experience solely on an ordered menu item. my friend ordered a beer steamed hot dog wrapped in a flour (burrito) tortilla, stuffed with relish and lettuce. I called it the "WTFrankfurter" - she 'enjoyed' it but perpetually had a confused look on her face each bite in. and so goes John Harvard's - like a hot dog-in-tortilla, the place is just kinda....strange. It's way too big to be in the middle of Harvard Sq - the menu is way too big for them to specialize in anything, so they do everything mediocre. And I have a funny feeling that the waitstaff changes based on the semester - no one on staff ever feels like they have been there long enough to settle into the groove of serving - and I guess I get it - if you are a decent waiter, this isn't likely the place to stick around when there are other pricier (and less chaotic) venues to get yer tip on. As for the microbrews, not bad. they rotate a lot and seem to always have a cask conditioned choice - and they serve ptichers. But like most microbrews - too many pints (or pints too late at night) can really eff up a Saturday morning. (maybe that's just because I am an old bastard??) So here's my suggestion - come here for a few pints early in the night, then head off. the food's boring, so go grab grub elsewhere.
(2)Jess L.
great atmosphere for groups. their beer is good, nice taste. i didn't eat last time, but i'll definitely go again.
(4)Sarah B.
This place is touristy/popular for a reason. As far as touristy places go, the ambiance isn't bad. The beer and food is great, and the service is reliable. The BBQ smoke house pizza is one of my favorite dishes. It's also a good spot for brunch.
(4)Brian D.
I didn't know you can jam this much crap, and by crap I mean people and tables, into a cave of this size. Holy crap, is this place jam packed. I've only been here a few times and I've never seen it not crowded and by default really congested. The servers have the patience of saints, they must put up with so much petty bullshit being in such a busy location. The only thing I really compliment is the beer, which is pretty OK. I'm a fan of a good pale ale and theirs is just fine enough to be above mediocre. The porter was pretty bearable as well. Everybody was eating burgers as far as the eye could see so I guess the food is Ok though I did hear everybody at my table complain that all orders were served medium rare - this wouldn't bother me but I guess that does suck if you really wanted a charred sandwich.
(3)Jeremy S.
A large brew pub in Harvard Square, this place has brewed-on-site beer and your typical American fare (burgers, chicken, etc). Fine for taking your out-of-town guests, i.e. parents, but please don't take a date here...you won't get a call back ;).
(3)Mabel C.
I like their beer. I like their stained glass windows (so basically, the ambience). I take visitors here for the novelty and for the beer they can't have elsewhere. The food is only so-so, though.
(4)Mark P.
Tough one for me to review, because it's a Harvard Square favorite and has emotional appeal to me. However, objectively, the place is very mediocre. The microbrew beer is good, but the food is lacking as is the service. There's little character about this place. No reason to go there unless you really like microbrewed beer.
(3)F. B.
This place is among the best in all categories, except for parking.
(4)Amy O.
This place has become a traditional meeting place for my New Year's hangover. If you're a fan of tuna, for the love of God order their tuna melt. It is the BEST TUNA MELT EVER, served on this tasty focaccia bread. Their fries are good too and lots of beer to choose from. It tends to get too noisy to talk, which is annoying but that tuna melt is so freakin' good I am speechless anyways..
(4)Sara S.
Used to be a GREAT place, but unfortunately they changed chefs a few years back and now the food is... acceptable. Not really worth the price. The beer is great, but I might as well be at chilis otherwise...
(3)Julia W.
I share in the sentiments of those distressed with the waitstaff. Sometimes I'm not sure who my waiter is, and too often I'm left with an empty glass. That being said, I do enjoy their beer. Particularly, they have this red ale occasionally that is just heaven. Food is decent. As for the atmosphere, I love the thick wood tables, and I enjoy the cozy under-ground scene. Don't go to J.Harvard's to meet people- everyone pretty much just talks to their table (but that is Cambridge in general, no?)-- but it is great to people watch.
(4)rachel b.
I've been to John Harvard's a handful of times, usually sitting at a hightop table and enjoyed the food pretty well... but last night, I sat at the bar, ordered me a quesadilla and a glass of wine only to be scared out of my wits by an enormous cockroach creepin' along the bar in front of me... needless to say, I won't be back. When they get that brazen it usually means they are backed by thousands...
(1)Stephie P.
I've lived in the Somerville/Cambridge area for almost 5 years and had never been to John Harvard's. So my trusty friend YJ and I decided to try this place for lunch. We went there on a Wed and the place was pretty dead. First off let me say that the 2 stars are for our waitress Christine, who was phenomenal. She was friendly, efficient and was very knowledgeable about the beer selection. I would highly recommend requesting to be seated in her section if you decided to go here (and the big word here is "if"). I ordered the veggie nachos and my friend ordered the tuna melt. The food was bland and mediocre at best and did not taste fresh. I don't mean it was rotten or spoiled. It just tasted like everything came out of a can and then had been microwaved to death. I also ordered an Abbey De Dunster Ale which was non-impressive as well. I don't know, if you're going to call yourself a "brew house" you'd better have something to brag about and that ale I had certainly wasn't it. Again, our waitress was the only "highlight" of out John Harvard's Brew House experience, which is actually quite pathetic if you think about it.But for that we gladly left her a 20% tip. Here's anther tip and it's free, make the small trek further down Mass ave to the Cambridge Common for tasty food and excellent beer. Nuff said......
(2)Melissa M.
Just got back from a lunch at John Harvard's with 11 co-workers. Good menu selection, my burger could have been cooked more as I always ask for med well and it definitely was medium rare. Can't stomach that, I also now have headache not only from the screaming child that was yelping about throughout our lunch, but from the noxious chemicals that were eminitating from our table. It smelled like a very strong bathroom cleaner and a dead body. Not too fun to injest. I can't comment on the beers/bevs as this was lunch but all the guys I know who go there end up getting the runs from the beers so that's all I know about that. The decor in the place is nice, but it looks like they could use some new carpeting and a good floor wash/waxing as it was very sticky. The waiter was pleasant which was nice, I can't comment on the bathrooms as I could not wait to get outside to warm up since the AC was on about 52 degrees. I'd go back at night for a drink and to watch football though, this seems like a wintry place. This place so has the potential to be fun, but seems too corporate for me.
(3)Donal C.
I really don't have much good to say about this place. Every time I've been there, I usually come away thinking I would never go there again. Lets start with the basics. The service - pretty bad. I've always had to search for a waiter. Once I actually had to chase one down to get a re-order - after waiting probably 20mins. The beer. The beer is pretty decent, but pretty limited in choice. The food. As basic as it gets. Absolutely nothing special. The price. for what you get? Overpriced. If I ever end up here, it's because someone else made the plans.
(2)Mats K.
Went to get some beer some food and watch the Sox game. The place was too crowded, too loud, and the manager was rude. The wait-staff were trying to be nice and helpful, but they were overwhelmed and seemed to keep forgetting we were there.
(2)Kristine M.
It's 95 degrees out and John Harvard's is comfortably air conditioned. I don't believe I've had the food here, but the beer is good and so is the iced tea. The service wasn't great but it's got a nice atmosphere and was a nice place to retreat from the heat.
(4)Sarah R.
John Harvard's is one of those places where I'm not sure if it garners the 3 or 4 star rating. It's decidedly solid good fare. The decor is dark and warm, the lighting is dim, and for a late Sunday lunch on a warm August day, felt a little strange. Both times I've been here have been satisfying. The service has been fine on both occasions. The whole experience is the epitome of the word "ambivalent". Thus it does not stir any great passions within me. However, there's nothing that would prevent me from coming back if I were hungry in Harvard Square again. Meh. I think I need a nap after writing this review.
(3)Allison L.
Seems very consistent!!! People worked there were very rude.... just like the one in Framingham!! oh well.... There are so many better places to go in Harvard Square..... Why bother!
(1)Holly M.
While Harvard Square teems with exotic and often expensive restaurants, John Harvard's boasts regular American fare at reasonable prices. It's loud. All the time. Great for big groups and celebrations, but not an intimate setting. None of the food is spectacular, but you can count on a sturdy, easy to understand meal. No menu deciphering needed. The bar is really packed on weekend nights, and the prices are decent: Gin & Tonic for $5 flat, pitcher of beer for $16. They are serious about their beer, but also have a fully stocked bar. However, don't come here for fruity, frozen margaritas - they don't exist. All in all, a decent place in my repertoire of restaurants, but not at the top of any lists.
(2)Jessica T.
Always a nice place to meet friends, when you can't agree on anything else. Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the macho -nacho guzzling crowd, but to each their own. It' s a big space, so there's room to share. I've had great memories here, and their micro-brews are pretty goo. I can imagine it would be a fun place to get wasted and rowdy - before hitting the Cambridge scene.
(4)Michael K.
Spinach Artichoke Dip here is great. It's your generic pub food, so I'll just stick with the various Burgers they have. The fries have always been fresh, crispy and hot. I'll always stick with their own brew of the Belgian Blonde Ale. There aren't any monks back there brewing it, but it's pretty close!
(3)Ja H.
Good brewpub selection with decent food. Great for tourists and groups.
(3)Pilan C.
A Harvard Square "landmark," I always end up taking visiting friends to John's Harvard's. It's a great place to meet up with friends to have a few drinks. They have some very good homemade beers, which change all the time. Their stouts are especially good. The food is also pretty good, but I prefer the appetizers. Trivia night on Mondays can also be a lot of fun.
(4)matt k.
Not that great in terms of food. The beer's OK but not always perfect. The men's room urinal is a godsend, with a vent of nice cool air that is just at face level.
(4)Nicholas P.
A reliable place to eat in Harvard Square. I wish they would have more variety and experimentation in their brewing ventures. Nonetheless, they specialize in comfort food. The chimichangas, fish 'n chips, and nachos are great. The room is a bit loud. It's a great place to watch a game or just wind down.
(3)Josh O.
Before I moved here, John Harvard's was my main Boston bar. I'd go there every single time I was in the city. Their beer is great, their food is great, and the atmosphere is great. Now that I live here and know about more places I don't make it there as often, but it's still way up there on my list.
(4)Jeff B.
Beer lovers beware, only homebrews are served and they're not all that good. The best I've had there reminds me of a less carbonated Natty Lite with a drop of honey. The food is decent if you don't mind getting really really fat. This is my Alamo when Border Cafe is impenetrable.
(3)Andrew K.
I always ended up here when I was in Cambridge and never understood exactly why. The food is unhealthy as Hell, so of course it tastes OK. The environment is dark and lively -- very New England -- but it's still a chain for Christ's sake. I think it gets a lot of play because of its name/location. The beer sampler is great though.
(3)Michael M.
John Harvards has great pub fare. aswell as incredible beer, and top notch service !!! The beers they brew in autumn are my favorite!!!!!
(5)R F.
just an average brew house at which i never tried the food nor probably ever will. i love places that have their own brewed beer and it was good. nothing special, but still good.
(3)Mags L.
i've never come here of my own accord. it more or less happens like this: -hey let's go to john harvard's -uh, okay (says everyone in huge group) and so it goes. we get the big round table in the corner and have to set up a system of thread and paper cups in order to communicate w/one another. appetizers are okay. they have a draft cider (not their own - original sin - not as deelish as hornsby's amber draft, but decent) which is always a plus for me.
(2)Marco M.
Dark, dingey, and full of good times; best describes my experiences here at John Harvards.The food here is excellent and the beer selection is f'ing awesome!!!! The Nut Brown Ale is stellar. Thumbs up to our server Dave, who gave us all souvenir Pub glasses for being from California.
(4)David D.
Probably my favorite place in Boston to eat. The beer is amazing and it's always changing with the time of year. Food is perfect for a brewhouse. Gotta watch out on weekends as it can be a bit crowded, especially around Head of the Charles time in the fall. A Harvard Square must.
(5)Andrea M.
If it weren't for a party that my sister was throwing for her husband's birthday I probably would never have stepped into this place based solely on the majority of underwhelmed reviewers. I am certainly glad I did though because I had a hell of a time there and it wasn't because of the people I was with (I'm really not a fan of my brother-in-law's friends). Our server was awesome. He was funny, right on the ball with service and just an overall cool guy. The food was good, I mean it wasn't some 5-star dining event, but it was pub food and comfort food and it was good for what it was. It was the kind of food I would hope to be done well at a place with the words "brew house" in the name. We went on a busy Saturday and there was no lapse in service despite the large crowds. I'd strongly urge anyone with a negative experience to give it another shot because I didn't see any of the negatives that others have experienced. As for pricing, it's NOT expensive ALL. $7.99 for a huge pile of calamari is more than reasonable. My boyfriend got a HUGE meatloaf dinner (delicious) with mashed potatoes and asparagus for around $13 and he had to take half of it home because there was so much. It's the same type of pricing you'd see at a '99 or a Chili's type of place, only the food is a little more creative and the atmosphere a hell of a lot more friendly. We'll be repeat customers for sure.
(4)Maggie H.
This place was ok to me. I ordered a southwest wrap and it tasted like perfume to me. Everyone elses meals seemed to be ok. But I just don't think I will ever go back. I went for lunch...I would recommend not going for lunch. If you go you should try it out for dinner and hopefully that will be better than my experience.
(2)buckminster f.
the nazi server would not let the table order soft drinks. the only thing allowed was beer or entrees. talk about money grubbing!
(1)Jessica E.
Decent atmosphere, but they could do a lot more with the place, honestly! Yummy burgers and fries ($8) And the beers were okay. A bland experience, but the staff was very friendly.
(3)Kristina M.
I've been there only once (and, admittedly, it was the night of the new Harry Potter release which might explain the surprisingly low age average and the noise level), but found the beer OK, the food decent (the burger wasn't great, but the fries were really nice and crisp), and the service friendly. They did screw up my order, but brought a new dish almost immediately - and took it off the bill, which definitely gives them a huge plus. Unfortunately, it was so noisy that it was absolutely impossible to have any kind of conversation, so we decided to leave after the first beer.
(3)Emily Z.
I am a Mac and Cheese aficionado and theirs is the best I've ever had at restaurant. The bread pudding is amazing too. I don't drink beer but my friends all say the selection of beers is great. The wait staff are friendly. Creighton is my favorite.
(5)T T.
OK this is completely subjective. I went to this place twice when I had one amazing Road Trip with my friends from Russia, France and the Netherlands. I will never forget this place because of it. Their beers were pretty tasty and not too expensive. Also food such as pasta was definitely OK as well. I went back there last year to trace back my memory again. I like the atmosphere of this place too.
(4)Scott S.
I absolutely love their french fries. The veggie burgers are decent, and the atmosphere is okay, but the fries are what bring me back. The service is, frankly, sub-par most of the time, but not so bad as to drive me away from the fries. Did I mention I like their fries?
(4)Stephen J.
Average, but still a fun time. The menu is pub grub no matter how you try to spin it, and it's okay but in the many times I've been there the dishes don't really stand out. Burgers are standard, nothing unique - if you want a far better tasting burger, go up to Bartley's just around the corner. They do have a decent (rotating) number of beers on tap, and their beer sampler includes five beers instead of the standard four. They have a ton of tables downstairs but still expect to wait on the weekends if you're a larger party, and all taken together it's hard to forget that, despite paying $15 or so for your dinner and a beer, you're still eating just average food in a basement.
(3)Patrick B.
Sometimes the food and beer at John Harvard's is great - sometimes one is good and the other passing and sometimes both are only average. I still like to stop in every now and then hoping to hit them on a day when both are good. My guess is that they're surviving on the tourists which doesn't give them as much incentive to keep the locals coming back...
(3)Kiki B.
i'm all for microbreweries. it can get a bit loud in here, but if you want some burgers and a pitcher of beer it's not really going to disappoint.
(3)Mina I.
I don't even drink and I like this place.. Good pub-ish atmosphere and a super fun place to go with friends. I really like the fake out stained glass.. you can get a little flight of their beers to make sure you're not missing the one of your dreams. I would say super thumbs up for a really relaxed unpretentious casual diner place & you can grab a crazy jug of their micro-brew on your way out!
(4)Captain H.
I used to go here to waste time before class or before the 75 bus came, or just to unwind. It feels like a basement and it's dark and loud, but that feels fitting for a brew house. The beer is good and the bartenders are nice, and that's what matters. I haven't tried any food so I'm basing my review on beer alone.
(4)Michelle N.
I am new to Boston and WOULD NOT recommend this place. Service was bad and the manager was completely unprofessional. Totally standard food, nothing impressive. I wouldn't return to this place even if someone was buying my meal.
(1)Sam D.
John Harvard's is a good place to be aware of in Harvard Sq., but it's hard for anyone to actively dislike so it usually makes a good compromise place to eat. Atmosphere is fun, food is good enough, menu has all the standards, price is decent. The burgers are extremely good and a definite safe bet. Salads are pretty good, too. Parking isn't the easiest, but it is Harvard Sq., so plenty of ways to get there.
(4)Jim C.
Always a good place to go when you want some pub food. I really enjoy their beer along with one of there many burgers. People we ate with also had a salad, which they stated was pretty good.
(4)P'raka ..
4 stars for the bread they serve during dinner. It's insanely good. The dinner itself was ok, but the bread! Go for bread!
(4)Rina R.
This very popular Harvard eatery is the kind of place you bring the parents when they're in town. Fun, good enough food, and great prices. The atmosphere is inviting and cozy, so get warmed up there on a cold fall or winter day.
(3)Jud P.
Gets pretty crowded, especially on the weekends. The service can also be slow and inattentive at times. We had trouble getting more bread for our large group, but the food came out quickly. The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. I also enjoy the beers quite a bit. The aren't as inventive or imaginative as those at Cambridge Brewing Company not far away, but they are all pretty solid and much better then Boston Beer Works. There is also usually a cask beer available served out of a beer engine. Overall, a good place to eat and drink if you have some patience.
(3)George K.
Best beer in Harvard square, and the apps are great too!
(3)Alan Y.
just had the worst meal i've ever had at JH. it's been a year or so since ive been back and they usually have pretty good food when i have gone there in the past but ive heard ownership has changed and the food definitely reflects that. I ordered a mushroom swiss burger. you figure you cant really mess up a hamburger...wrong! tasted worse than any frozen burger ive ever had. I ordered it cooked medium and it was tough and flavorless and it was definitely not fresh. was definitely a frozen burger. a friend ordered a turkey and brie wrap and the wrap was stuffed with spinach with VERY little turkey. it shoulda been called a spinach wrap with turkey sprinkles. HORRIBLE. its very disappointed knowing that they used to have very good food. to be fair their chicken pot pie is still decent. i wont be back there again unless i have a huge urge for CPP. there are definitely much better options that JH for pub style food.
(1)Simon G.
i really like this place. i think the beer is really good. the food is surprisingly good, it's arguably the best bar food i've had. not that the menu is anything particularly special, but it has been well-done in the 7 or so times i've been here definitely more of a restaurant atmosphere than a pub atmosphere. good place for dinner and mid-day beers
(4)Sharon S.
Want to know what happened to me at John Harvard's Brew House? Well, I will tell you, but it is not for the faint-of-heart (and, PS, I do fall into that category myself).... Sitting in a booth against the back wall of the restaurant with a good friend, I see some kind of commotion beyond the last booth...in the dark crevasses of the place. A waiter comes over and seems to calm the people down. OK. Our food arrives, we start to eat. The maitre de or some other guy who is not a waiter, but does work there comes to our table, looks down and there it is: A Roach. He lifts his foot and with much bravado, smashes the thing right in front of us, then swoops down to retrieve the corpse with a paper napkin. I, apparently, have the look of absolute horror on my face and the man proceeds to ask if I am OK. I ask if that was a roach, he reluctantly says yes. And I inform him that no, I am not OK. He walks away with the evidence in hand. As I sit there, I cannot eat another bite but my friend continues to eat her entire entree: I don't know how, somehow she is unaffected. Several more times, the well-dressed bug killer comes back to ask if I am OK, and I assure him I am not, but he does nothing about that, perhaps there is nothing he could do. I do think, in light of what happened in front of us, and that I had perhaps 2 bites of food, he could have comped the bill, but no. Full price for witnessing live action roach battles....I will not be back. And, honestly, I am not naive, I know roaches are found in many eateries, but I, for one, do not want to see them.
(1)Julie T.
I've eaten here many times in the past, and the food has always been acceptable. I brought a bunch of friends here for my birthday recently, however, and my experience was very different. I like the size of this place (they don't look panicked when you ask them for seating for 7 at 6pm on a Saturday night). As other people have said, though, the service is a bit lacking. Our waitress acted slightly annoyed to be there. I got a chicken pot pie, and the crust, while appearing flaky and tasty, was mostly hard. And the chicken was extremely dry...and I'm pretty sure it had a cheese sauce, even though the menu said nothing about cheese. My friend ordered a burger and asked for medium well, and it came out "raw" to him (I saw some light pink, which I didn't consider raw, but then again, it wasn't my burger and he was at the other end of the table from me, so I'll take his word for it!). Since I had a number of out-of-town friends with me, I was actually a bit embarrassed at the experience. If this had been my only experience there, I definitely would not go back. As is, I think I would only go back there if it was someone else's idea. There are just too many other good places in the area!
(2)Alan N.
I'd say this place is in line with Friday's or Chilis. Went here for dinner on Saturday night with 5 friends, and I think i've been here for drinks but this time i had dinner. we got a few pitchers of Helles beer which was pretty good i must say. at $15 each, one pitcher yields 4 (16oz) pints. so it might make sense to get imperial (20oz) pints individually, as we originally anticipated a pitcher yielding 5 pints. Sarah and Neil recommended getting these asian crispadillas which were ok, but nothing to write home about for me. I ordered the smoke house burger which was a burger with smoked gouda, bacon, and LTO, it came with steak fries seasoned with old bay. As far as burgers go, this was edible. Neil also got burger, sarah got mac n cheese, Dan got a buffalo chicken sandwich that looked great, Jen got the corned beef sandwich special which also looked pretty good, and Vik got the buffalo chicken mac n cheese, in which there was minimal buffalo sauce. the place is huge and is probably good for groups but the food is just run-of-the-mill. There's def better food in cambridge (i hope), but if you're looking for a dinner centered around drinking then i guess this establishment is ok.
(2)Michel R.
Not a bad pick if you want to get a pitcher to watch a game or if you are going out with a group of friends. The food is not fantastic but the fries are pretty good.
(3)Jenna H.
The food here is pretty good - typical pub food and I usually don't stray from the hamburger or the sandwich because of that - but it's more about the atmosphere and the beer. I'm not a fan of dark beers so their house beer is not my favorite, but they have other good ones and a great sampler. There are a bunch of TVs, so it is definitely a place to go while the game is on and is fun if you're in the area and want a pub-like sit down dinner or lunch.
(3)B D.
The worse and I mean WORSE customer service ever! We waited well over a half hour for our check. And once the waiter gave us the check, he walked away and another 15 minutes later we were still waiting for him! It looked as though he was coming our way, however just continued on and into the kitchen! The food is okay, nothing memorable. Stick to getting a growler of their beer (which was pretty good) and getting the hell out of there!
(1)Irene F.
The beer here is excellent, and I've become a rather serious beer snob in recent times. They make some great brews, check out the sampler and try them all. The food is OK, but it's really the beer you should be coming for. It definitely gets crowded as all hell in here, especially Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, so try to avoid it unless you really like to fight for your beer.
(4)PL H.
Nice, historical-looking ambiance - no, not authentic. John Harvards has been here less than 20 years. I've eaten here several times and not impressed with the food. I recommend giving the home made beer a try, and maybe just an appetizer if you're desperate.
(2)Katia M.
I'm a big fan of the beer, and I've enjoyed the food. I mean, I got the standard bar food (buffalo chicken fingers and fries), which aren't exactly hard to mess up, but still, what I had was good. Like the general vibe of the place and it's definitely somewhere you can get actual good beer at a good price. Places like that are all too few and far between.
(4)Anonymous P.
OK beer, horrid food.
(2)Steve N.
very, very, very good beer. i've had most of the menu and it doesn't suck.
(3)Joe R.
A huge bar with private rooms (by reservation), but holy heat. It was probably in the 50's outside, but at least 90 in the bar. I hate when my beer gets tainted by beads of sweat.
(2)Evan P.
good place, great food, the Belgian White's money, the stained glass is funny, the restaurant is popular/packed, the meals are hearty, and the times are good.
(4)Sandra C.
Great place to get appetizers. They also make their own beer so it's really fresh and tasty. It's mostly the college crowd so it's a rowdy atmosphere with many tables like a restaurant.
(4)Kristen G.
This place has a very old, boston bar style. The atmosphere is pretty warm with dark wood and stained glass. The beers are great and the food is decent. If you've never been, you should at least experience it once.
(3)Stephanie W.
This place is OK...they used to have 1/2 price on all appetizers on Mondays, but they reduced the menu you can choose from! They also have this really corny trivia night that is fine if you are into that stuff. Nachos are great here though.
(3)Alice K.
The perfect college hangout- tasty, uncomplicated food, decent beer, lots of people all trying to make their conversations heard simultaneously and about six screens devoted to the Red Sox at any given time. I'd give them a fourth star for their Union Jack Nachos alone, but my agent wouldn't let me. ;) Oh, and anyone fond of red meat should try the spiced ranch steak with onion strings.
(3)Clayton N.
Big draws for this place: probably the best option if you and colleagues are looking to grab a pint brewed on premises. As bar food goes, the menu is above par, and served in an appealing way. The big drawback is the service. The place always seems to be understaffed. Count on the wait staff to forget about you once they bring your first round of drinks. For a more grungy and cost-effective tavern experience, I recommend Charlie's Kitchen.
(2)Michael G.
Come here for beer, beer, and more beer. It's a pretty large place, but it can still easily get really packed. It's a dark place that is your typical Boston pub, except it tends to be packed with college students.
(3)David T.
John Harvard's is way too big to be a good tavern. They do a good job trying, but it just loses that wonderful cluttered and claustrophobic appeal that any good tavern or pub must have. The food is good but unremarkable.
(3)Aaron S.
This place is good, but not so good that it is great. Basically if you want a burger and a beer you'll get it. The atmosphere isn't bad, but the best part of the place is the stainglass window outside of Jerry Garcia holding a copy of the Electric Coolaid Acid Test.
(3)kimberly H.
It gives me great pleasure to talk shit about this place. Be prepared to wait for what seems like forever for service, receive screwed up orders, and surround yourself with obnoxious people who think very highly of themselves. This is not a cool college hangout -- it's harvard for crying out loud -- maybe the staff and owners should request some complimentary courses in basic customer service.
(1)Travis G.
John Harvard's: Good for occasional after-work commiseration sessions. Burgers have been pretty good over time but have gotten worse recently. Staff ranges from indifferent to extremely unpleasant. The darker beer varieties are good, the lighter ones are mediocre. I have mostly boycotted this restaurant for a year since the time they were rude to my hot girlfriend.
(2)g g.
I've been here for lunch several times with boyfriend, who is a burger loving fool. I don't eat burgers, so I can't say anything about those, but boyfriend thinks they're pretty damn great here. The other food available there is okay, but nothing special. I've only tried one of their beers, which if I recall was pretty good, but it's been a while. The wait service is pretty blah. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but it's not a bad place to end up.
(3)Erin G.
If you're coming here for dinner, this place does not have anything to offer that you couldn't get at any other brewery. The beer was pretty good, but there were definitely kids running around the tables, which was NOT expected for a brew pub. Prices were in the normal range. Had a pretty cool bathroom. Randomly ran into a friend from college, so it might be a place you end up running into people!
(3)Andrea C.
Yeah, decent food, dark inside, but it's usually got a good, full crowd and it's kinda a local obligation to go. Good burgers. Sill stainglass mocking local legends. Uh, yeah, grab a pint and some Caesar salad.
(4)Josh F.
Not a bad place for a chain brew-pub. Grab a burger and a beer at the bar but not really worth the trip for a sit-down dinner. Food is of varying quality, with a good choice of salads, and a few surprises. Meatloaf ain't half bad, especially for $10. The beer is consistent and fresh. Try the IPA or the Oktoberfest if it's in season. The service kind of sucks, at least in my experiences.
(3)Samuel B.
Just a basic place, hamburgers, chicken, beer etc. The calamari is excellent, but the other items, such as a chicken sandwich is average. Still, not a bad place for casual eats.
(3)Roshni R.
a good place to go out with groups. the food is mediocre at best, but then there's a wide variety (american stuff, tex-mex, salads, etc) so no one will go hungry. i'm not overly fond of them b/c they'd always id-ed me junior year when i wasn't 21 :(.
(3)Anika K.
sorta fratty. that's not a compliment. maybe it's because my fratty cousin took me there. who knows. anyway - nothin' terribly special about it.
(2)Tom R.
Not bad for a group or brunch, otherwise skip it.
(3)Christina Y.
The beer is great and highly compliments most of their menu. The food is great, ranging from burgers to pizza to large entrees. The wait can be long, but the last time I went, they were handing out free small slices of cheese pizza (which was excellent) that went great with the beer that we were waiting with. Def worth the time of checking this place out. It is loud when it is crowded, so if you want some privacy, go somewhere else.
(4)Shaina P.
John Harvard's is a chain, but if you're entertaining someone who doesn't come to the area that much, it's a great spot. It's spacious, so you don't feel cramped. You can hold a conversation over a fresh-brewed beer and Monterey Jack-smothered Kettle Chips (best thing about JH). The food is decent and there's really not much to complain about. And did I mention the kettle chips with Jack cheese? Great starter! But best shared amongst parties of more than three...
(4)Rob C.
i will always have a soft spot for John Harvard's for one snowy winter Saturday five or six years ago. A friend of mine was in town to give a talk or something like that, and a small group of us met up in Cambridge for lunch and drinks. It must have been January, because it was deserted. We were practically the only one in the place. They had an imperial stout made that was basically the perfect thing for that nice snowy day. Went down easy, but was warm in the tummy, complementing the good food nicely. They have comfortable wooden tables, including some really impressive large-diameter round ones for bigger groups like mine. And we just took it over for several hours. What was better still, though, was the fact that the waitress was totally content to ignore the posted limitations on the service of imperial stouts, and just kept bringing it. And myself and my friend Dan just kept drinking it. And it ended with merry, drunken tromping through the slush. Last night, they were out of the aforementioned imperial stout, but the pale ale and cask bitter were both superb. The kettle chips are possibly the best appetizer ever (and i substituted them for a proper dinner). Oddly, i did seem a group of people doing shots. Who does shots at a brewpub? But anyway, good food, reasonably priced, a comfortable place that tends not to be horribly crowded, and really good beers.
(5)Susan G.
Where to start? My son goes to grad school in Cambridge so we have eaten at many local establishments during our visits. This one probably worst service ever. Food so-so. Atmosphere was very nice. Our waiter completely indifferent from the start. Pointed us to our table. Told us not doing samplers that day. Later during our meal a large group came in and low and behold they all hot samplers. Our food was dropped off and my husband then had to hunt around to find someone to get us silverware. His hamburger was raw, not well done as he has ordered. But waiter never showed up to ask how things were so he picked at it. My salad had specks of bacon and blue cheese. I expected more substance to the salad as it was an entree salad. We were ignored the entire meal and had to seek out someone to bring the check. The bartender rang up out bill. Really lousy service, mediocre food in a pretty setting. They need to try harder
(2)The Dude L.
I've been coming here for years, and I've seen it go through phases. Right now (2010), their food menu is great, and that's why they get four stars. Whoever is running the kitchen is doing a great job. But if you're a beer geek, be aware that 90% of the time, you're not going to be able to get the good beers off of the menu. If I had a dollar for every time I've been told that the best beer on the menu was out, I could open my own brewery. I know they're a busy place, but if they want street cred from the beer geeks, they have to either get bigger tanks or be proactive on the beer menus.
(4)EC S.
I end up going here a lot just because the location is good and I know I can sit at the bar alone and not feel awkward. The beer is fine, nothing I crave but nothing I'd turn down either. The food is average and expensive for what it is. The menu is fairly big so you can probably find something you want as long as you don't have too many dietary restrictions. One of the things that bugs me about John Harvard's is the layout. The reception/bar half is crowded and there's just no clear way to negotiate the area. It's difficult to go from the side of the bar/bar tables to the restroom without squeezing past two or three hostesses and people waiting for tables. They could definitely do a minor remodel to promote better traffic flow in this area. John Harvard's does offer a fun and "young" atmosphere (often tough for beer bars) but never feels too frat-y or too 21st birthday party-y. I think this is what it does best.
(3)Jillian C.
This place is ridiculously yummy. I went here for lunch with a friend on a Sunday afternoon, and we were both enormously pleased. We started off with the Kettle Chips: homemade potato chips covered in cheese, bacon, scallions, and sour cream. How can you go wrong with that? For my entree I got the Buffalo Chicken Mac'N'Cheese and it was delicious. I was excited because buffalo chicken and mac'n'cheese are two of my all time favorite things to eat ever, and the combination was everything I ever dreamt it would be! Even though this is a brewery; ironically neither of us got beer. I actually got a bloody mary, which was pretty great. To top it all off we had great service. Will definitely be returning!
(5)rach m.
I went here while visiting a couple friends - figured it would be a chill place to catch up with good beer. We were half right. The beer was good, but that was about it. That's the only reason this place gets 2 stars. The service was just pathetic - both at the bar and at the table. The bartenders all but ignored our group. It took 20 minutes for them to even acknowledge us for our first round of drinks while we were waiting for a table. We thought that was pretty crappy, but it was a Friday night and the bar area was pretty busy. The service at the table was just SHAMEFUL. From start to finish, our one course meal ended up being 2+ hours (and not because we were schmoozing). She was slow to take our drink orders, slower to take our food order and even slower to bring our food and refill our drinks. Oh, and the food left something to be desired, too. Over priced and not Given this experience, I wouldn't put John Harvard's on my list of places to frequent when I'm in Boston.
(2)Seth A.
Been there twice in the last month. Both times I got the beer sampler and both times was thrilled. It's not every day you get a "flight" of beers and enjoy each and every one. The calamari is some of the best I've had. I also really dig the old-school Harvard-y atmosphere. This place is underrated in my opinion! Excellent beer, very good food, and decent service. I'll be back!
(5)Brian W.
This place is great. From the atmosphere to the prices and from the food to the beer, John Harvard's is inexpensive, casual and a very laid back place to enjoy beers and drinks among friends. I went here last night before heading to a party to get a bite to eat and tried the Harvest Spiced Ale; amazing. It was a delicious home-brewed beer that resembled fresh apple cider with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.. absolutely good on a cold and rainy night. The Buffalo Tenders were great as well. Clocking in at around $7 (the food is very inexpensive overall), the portion was huge with 5 strips of thick chicken perfectly covered in buffalo sauce and with a side of bleu cheese dressing, celery and cucumbers. One thing I love about John Harvard's is their beer sampler; for around $5.75 you can sample all of the home-brewed beers in sampling glasses. Or, try asking a bartender to taste-test a beer and he or she will probably hook you up with a few samples on the house. Every beer we ordered was delicious and after downing a few pitchers I was regretting walking out the door. The only negative thing I can say about John Harvard's is that the receipts given to patrons when closing a tab don't list what was ordered, just the total owed (at least at the bar). We had transferred a pitcher from my tab to a buddy's but they left that total on my bill. I didn't argue simply because of how cool and informative the bartender was. I'm definitely going back to John Harvard's as soon as I recover from this hangover.. although that delicious spiced ale might just be the hangover cure I need.
(5)Ryan S.
I went to this place a couple year's ago...but stumbled upon a review and wanted to toss my two-cents in regarding the beer...this may be a reminder to myself more than a review for others... NOTE TO SELF: STOP GETTING THEIR BEER! It really isn't that good...didn't really like it when we went to the restaurant...and haven't liked it at any of the many beer festivals we've had it at...yet I keep wasting time and energy getting it...LET IT GO SELF!!! If you like brew pubs, I suggest giving it a whirl just for the experience...but as others have said (and I think the 2-star rating says it well) the food and beer is just "meh" for me.
(2)Eric F.
Great place to hang out with friends and kick back with some quality food and beer. I had the Buffalo Chicken Salad and it was fantastic with exceptionally tender chicken. It's always fun to sample local brews and the ones at John Harvard's were very good, particularly the oatmeal stout and ESB. Though service could have been better, the combination of in-house beers and great food at very reasonable prices earns my approval =D
(4)Allison B.
Maybe its unfair to judge a beer-n-burgers place based on their lentil hummus salad, but if they're selling it, it counts. First and foremost, there really are not many vegetarian options at John Harvard's. So, the aforementioned salad it was, which to be honest, I was pleased and surprised they offered. Lentils? Portabellos? Artichokes? That's my kind of salad. Unfortunately, the dish itself was disappointing. First and foremost, there was barely any hummus. It was as though someone dipped their finger in hummus and then drew a circle around the perimeter of the salad, leaving behind only a faint trace of the chickpea-y goodness. Sad! The lentils dominated the salad, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when there's nothing to accompany them they get a bit bland after a while. The portabellos, artichokes, and olives were also in short supply. Come on guys, for $10, a salad should be loaded up! We ordered three pitchers of their in-house brews to split among us - and left one of them nearly full. Yes, between 4 dudes and 1 chick we left a pitcher of their porter - not because we weren't thirsty, but because, as one of them mentioned, it tasted like "robitussin." And finally, we were seated under a ceiling fan that was on at full-blast. In the Bostonian summer heat it sounds nice, but after about 10 minutes it's actually quite unbearable. Please turn them down!
(2)Jason U.
Pros: -Good house beers on tap at a great price for the area. -Service is great. Host/hostesses, servers, bar tenders... all above average. Cons: -Smells like it's a restaurant in a basement -In a basement. -Slightly overpriced food. I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie ($12.99) and it was above average. Friend got the Tandoori Chicken ($13.99) and it was a letdown. The menu describes a cucumber salad and it was 4 thin cuke slices on top of the chicken, which was on top of a small amount of Israeli couscous. Overall portion was small.. My friend ate that before I really got started. He finished my Pot Pie. Go for beers and apps.
(3)April P.
I've been here 3 times. The first time was on a pub crawl, a couple years ago, and I only had beer, and it was pretty good. I like to try new beers and they have a good selection. The second time was also pretty good. No complaints. So why the one star? Well I went here last weekend for dinner and drinks before a movie, and I went home with more than I bargained for: food poisoning. After spending a day over the toilet and another day in bed too weak to move, I will NEVER go here again. I probably won't even be able to walk by without dry heaving.
(1)Jen G.
I took my parents on a historical guided tour of Boston and our guide recommended John Harvard's Brew House as a place for decent, cheap comfort food in Harvard Square and I think he was right on the money in his description. It is way bigger inside than it looks from the outside. You descend down into a dark, pubby environment with cozy oriental rugs, dark wood, low light, and ...stained glass? The food here was good but not amazing or anything that I would travel up to Harvard for specifically. We were here late in the afternoon for lunch so it was not very busy but I still had to ask our waitress three or four times to refill my water before she took care of it. She seemed more interested in slowly rolling silverware over in the corner than she was with how our meal was going....ANNOYING! The bread you get while waiting for your meal is excellent. Toasted with some delicious olive oil for dipping. DO NOT get the pizza here, my brother had the most greasy, soggy flap of crust and cheese ever. Granted, he should have known better getting pizza in a pub. My Buffalo Chicken Sandwich was pretty good but I have had better.
(3)Paula H.
Strong drinks. Good spinach avocado dip
(4)Alex M.
The food is excellent but the service is mediocre. The waiter once got my order wrong and then didn't really offer any apology. I have also found hair in my food. I wish they would set up their game a little because their mac and cheese is so good!
(2)Joe B.
John Harvard's is a good stop if you're looking for a nice atmosphere and good service, but just decent beer and food. Less than 60 seconds' walk from the famous Harvard Square Pit is John Harvard's Brew House. Descend a staircase down to a basement with a surprisingly high ceiling, and you'll find large, wide tables with plenty of elbow room, plus enough space to walk around comfortable. And, the bathrooms are in good shape and are easy to find. (There's no squeezing yourself around a corner Calista Flockhart-style here.) My two friends and I had the chips and cheese / cole slaw / whatever, and they were fine. The chips tasted homemade, which I always appreciate. Just a little soft so some oil stays on them, and they're great. I then had the fish and chips as an entree. As fish and chips go, I'd say they were about average. The coleslaw was excellent, as the mayonnaise was a little sweet and really complemented the julienned carrots and lettuce. The fries were, well, pub fries - not as thick as steak fries, but not McDonald's-style fries, either. The fish portion was very large, and I think I have had better-tasting fish fillets before. I had three beers, which went from very good to okay to meh. I started with the Pacific Coast Ale, which is a West Coast-style IPA. This was very good, with a nice balance of hop floral and malt sweetness. I then went to the porter, which had a surprisingly strong coffee and caramel taste. It almost came across as too strong, as I could taste the alcohol (even though porters don't have a lot of alcohol). The last beer I had was the wheat beer, which was overly malty, slightly astringent, and really nothing to write home about. Service was helpful, particularly when I asked about the beers. The atmosphere was laid-back and casual. It did take a while for us to get our check when we were leaving, though. Overall, I think I'd come back here. While it won't be my first choice in Harvard Square, I still think it's a good place to take a casual date or to go out with a group of friends. The menu really has something for everyone, and at the end of the day, the company is more important than the beer!
(3)BklynMama K.
Stumbled on this place on Boxing Day when nothing else was open, and they took very good care of us, wiping up our TWO spilled drinks, bringing our food quickly so we could make our show, and giving our gluten free diner good menu options. Also, the food was good.
(4)Julia M.
John Harvard's is a Cambridge staple, a must-do experience for the out-of-towner and an occasional stomping ground for locals. The food is surprisingly good. Two words: buffalo macaroni and cheese. Fine, four words. Also, great burgers and reasonable prices. Ample seating for large groups and relatively decent service. My only complaint is that the home brews leave something to be desired. They are not as bad as Rock Bottom, but you will struggle to find a tasty draft beer.
(4)Erin M.
The atmosphere at John Harvard's is great. You're in a basement, so it's dark and cozy and feels like an old-timey hangout. Our waitress was also very knowledgeable about beer, unlike me. I had to ask her what the difference was between "cask" and tap beer, and she gave a very thorough and helpful explanation. The burgers were very tasty, although not the best burger in Harvard Square by far (ahem ahem *Bartleys*). The steak fries were great. Overall, a very nice, relaxed, casual dinner experience.
(3)Thomas N.
have been here several times and was always pleased, most recently during the oktoberfest celebration in harvard square, beer was very good (the spiced ale) burger was excelent and the buffalo chicken salad very good (though it might have been a little too spicy for some), service was pleasant and quick, so over all we were very pleased
(4)Melanie T.
Meh is right. All the food is mediocre, it smells musty inside and the carpet is really dirty. Burgers were bland, salad kind of small, grilled chicken really dry. Beer is ok. Waitstaff has little personality. It's not much better than a Friday's except that it has its own beer and it's local. Otherwise, meh. There's lots better in the area. Worst part is the crazy step going to the bathroom. Beware.
(2)Maxwell W.
John Harvard's is definitely good. It was made infinitely better though when my friends and I booked through Harvard Square happenings ( harvardsquarehappenings.… ). Dinner and drinks for us was $50 off! Pretty good deal.
(3)Sarah L.
- The beer is good, BUT the food is really pretty terrible. - They let you sit forever even if you're not running up a huge bill, BUT the service is not attentive or even particularly present. - I actually like the venue (plenty of space and it's not too
(2)Adam E.
Took forever to get some disgusting food! This place has really gone downhill.
(1)Christine S.
This place is pretty solid. A great place for beers and burgers, and it's large enough that you probably won't have to wait long for a table (if at all), even if you're with a large group. Also great if you're with a lot of indecisive/picky people, as the menu is pretty big. I really like that it has a large bar section with tables if you just want to go in for a few drinks and not be pressured into ordering food (although you can if you want). I love being able to sit down at a table with my drink and not awkwardly stand around a crowded bar trying not to bump into people. the stained glass windows are a nice touch.
(4)Dana B.
Let me preface this by saying that I didn't even bother to try the beer. Not for any reason in particular, I just wasn't feeling it on this particular night. John Harvards is located in the garage section of Harvard Square, but you wouldn't know it once you walked in. The colorful hair and piercings tend to stay out the basement where JH is located. The prices on the menu seemed on par with most places that are the step up from being a chain. Their menu offers a variet of foods. I ordered the BBQ burger which was standard fair. Cooked the way I wanted and delicious, but I've never met a BBQ burger that I didn't like. I thought it was also strange that we were there for a birthday and upon telling the waitress, she did nothing. I'm not saying that we wanted anyone to sing, but the majority of places now a days bring over a complimentary dessert of some type. When we told our waitress she just said "I know. I overheard" and walked away. awwwwkkkwaaaarrrrd.
(2)Maria V.
I really like the burgers here, so yeah, no complaints on the food. The atmosphere is rather dungeon-esque though. I get that it's supposed to be brew-pubby, and you kind of want dark and broody, but I half-expected to see a rack on the wall and some iron maidens in the corner. The homebrew beer is hit or miss. I wasn't too impressed with my selection, but I've only been here once. Definitely tell your server what kind of beer you like so they can recommend something for you. Compared to the description I was given by the server, the beer I actually received wasn't even close. I drank it down, kind of puzzled the whole time if this was actually the beer he meant to bring us. Main complaint was that service was a little off. Not that I expect servers to bend over backwards for you or fawn all over you, but ours really did seem like he did NOT want to be there. A bit puzzling really.
(2)Jo B.
I cannot understand why anyone would waste their money here. Yes, it's cheap for Harvard Square, but if you're in the mood for beer and bar food, spend a few more $$ and go somewhere awesome like Russell House Tavern. The food at John Harvards was awful, even by bar food standards. And, they were out of 2 of the beers (they only have a handful to begin with). Maybe that was a blessing in disguise as they were out of the one that Mark O. said tasted like cat pee. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is that the service was great. The servers were all smiles and I was asked several times, by servers who weren't my original server, if I needed another beer. Gotta love a waitstaff that wants to keep your pint full.
(2)Daniel M.
I dig this place. They have veggie-friendly options, beer, and hot waiters. What more can you ask for? The atmosphere is that of a smaller pub even though the restaurant is remarkably spacious. I like the dark wood and the fact that they manage to keep the place clean. I've never had bad service here. From the friendly hosts to the consistently hot waiters (hello tattoos) everyone seems to enjoy working here which comes through in the service. If you're lucky like me you might even be able to dine across from a table of zombies (apparently brains aren't their only desire). It's nice to see an establishment treating zombie-Americans with the respect that they deserve. Their party wasn't shoved in to a secret back room, no. They were allowed to dine out on the floor with the living. Well played John Harvard's, well played.
(4)Ryan H.
I liked John Harvards. Lately I've refused to read a review of a place on yelp before i go because i feel like they are never accurate and you get a bunch of kuncklehead reviewers who have terrible taste. John Harvards was a solid place. The beer selection was bad but what they have is good. The prices are fair and you get a lot of food. I tried the spinach artichoke dip, onion rings, buffalo mac and cheese and the jalapeno burger. Our server was great.. He made great recommendations on everything.
(4)Josh M.
In essence, John Harvard's is hit-or-miss, but when it's good, it really hits the spot. The beer: All of the beer that they serve is brewed in-house. At any given time, they usually have about 5-6 different varieties on draft, but their rotation changes very frequently (they offer a five-beer sampler, which is a good way to keep up with all of their new offerings). The quality of the beer ranges from mediocre to pretty good. For such a small brewing operation, they come up with some impressive, creative beers. That said, it doesn't quite hold its own with the better craft breweries. They also have wine and a full bar, but I usually stick with the beer. The food: Standard pub fare, but generally quite good. The burgers (particularly their specialty ones) are great, almost on par with the nearby Bartley's. The pulled pork sandwich is also excellent (and VERY filling). The fish and chips and cuban sandwich are also good, and they usually have a few entree specials that are a bit fancier than the usual pub fare. The service: It really depends on what server you get. I've had everything ranging from totally awesome to inattentive and a little bit rude. But it's usually passable, particularly if you're sitting in the restaurant section (in the bar section, the service can sometimes be very slow). They also have some goofy rules regarding where you have to sit if you want to order drinks at the bar. Go figure. So, while not perfect, John Harvard's is still a great, relaxed place to grab a meal or a beer (or both). I've had enough really good experiences there so that the few less-than-stellar ones don't dissuade me from coming back.
(4)Lauren G.
Solid food- great atmosphere for watching a game! So the atmosphere is very pub- which is great for watching a game (any game... baseball, MNF or basketball... take your pick). There are TV's everywhere so you can catch the game while catching up with friends. The food is actually, surprisingly good... to the point where I have actually come for a casual lunch that was not related to any kind of sports viewing... The hummus is pretty good and the burgers (there are lots of options... take your pick) are also tasty. The service is pretty good and they do a good job of ducking when the sports fans get rowdy. It can be a bit crowded but overall a great place to enjoy the game with friends and get some surprisingly good food!
(4)Rebecca R.
John Harvard's is synonymous in my mind with one thing: buffalo chicken mac n' cheese. Think spicy chunks of juicy chicken and bleu cheese mixed in with creamy, cheesy, bread-crumby pasta goodness. My roommate and I have been coming here on monthly dates because we just can't get enough. Beer selection is plentiful and I've never tried any of their homebrews that I didn't like. Recent samples have included the Raspberry Porter (heavy, but delicious -- almost like a dessert beer) and the Holiday Red (only available during the Christmas season). Best of all, if you become completely obsessed with any of their seasonal beers, you can purchase jugs of the brew to take home. Not a bad way to shake things up from your normal Sam Adams six-pack. :-) The only reason Johnny isn't getting five stars? Service at JH is a mixed-bag. Many of the servers I've experienced here have been super friendly, but others have been equally as blase or uncaring. I just visited on Valentine's Day with a group of girlfriends and, granted, the place was mobbed, but our silverware and waters were basically hurled at us and it took more than a half hour to place our order. Boo.
(4)Michael G.
We were a large group, 8 people, and it took 10-15 minutes for them to seat us...in an empty room with about 10 free tables. The food was really oily. I had the Cajun chicken pasta, and when I was done, there was a pool of oil in the bowl. If you like oily food, knok yourself out. The boneless chicken and wings are good.
(3)Susan D.
Thank goodness that I went to a free lunch today because I would have been very upset to have paid for that meal. We shared a bunch of appetizers. The fried onion rings had a weird grilled mark/taste and were cold. The calamari in a pool of red sauce were chewy and subpar. The nachos with cheese were decent, but how can you really mess up something like that. I tried the jumbo shrimp scampi with linguine. The 5 shrimp were large, but overcooked. The pasta and broccoli heads lacked seasoning and were in a tasteless butter pool. How can butter be tasteless you may ask? Well John Harvard's is a magician and make the best fat in the world taste like nothing. What a waste of calorie intake. I tried my husband's couscous that came with his tandoori chicken. I was expecting savory deliciousness, but it was SOUR and weird. Just terrible. Later that night I tried my friend's leftover mac and cheese with buffalo sauce on the side (??). It was good mac and cheese with pieces of chicken. Though do we need to have add anymore fattening processed favoring like buffalo sauce (which I actually love) to an already cheese-laden pile of carbs?
(1)Josh D.
This is our Harvard Square fallback - good burgers, excellent pizza (the buffalo pizza is the best chicken-pizza I've had anyplace), tasty beers and friendly service. JH's is the kind of place that you take your visiting Aunt and Uncle to, someplace where anyone can find something to eat, and that has lots of affluent-looking Harvard students hanging around... It's a nice place, with a nice crowd, that is predictable and easy. It's a layup, you can't go wrong.
(4)Kristen F.
I am all about local brew houses, but I have to say I'm not crazy about John Harvards selection. Had their wheat beer been available, maybe I'd feel differently. The good news is the bartender was super sweet and the space has a great feel. Easy to sit, stand around, or go with a large group (like the pub crawl I was with).
(3)Ali E.
Came here with a group of 16 and they put us at a HUGE round table in the corner which was great, tho you couldn't really talk to the person across from you without yelling. So it got a little loud. Buffalo wings were ok (not particularly hot, but i'm a wimp so i'm ok with that) and pretty decent beer for the price (the Gold was pretty boring, the Pale Ale was good, the Provision better). I ordered the cod, which came with assorted veggies, mussels and sausage. Like I said earlier, i'm a spice sissy, and as a result it didn't really matter what kind of fish it was, I couldn't taste it, just the sauce. The sausage was more flavorful in combination, whereas i think cod is better when there's not a whole lot else going on. Not terrible, but nothing to write home about. EDIT: I bumped it up to 4 stars due to the stellar trivia night on mondays. Yes, you're competing against Harvard kids but at least you can beat them in beer consumption. Get there before nine to snag a good table (with a view of the ridiculously adorable quizzo announcer). The music is good, and you're learning while you're drinking -so that makes it totally ok that you're out on a monday. It's educational.
(4)Séamus C.
Yes, its touristy, but I've always had a great meal and brew. Right in the heart of Harvard Square, making this a fun place to visit.
(4)Heidi s.
We stumbled upon this place for lunch since we had an hour or so before our tour of Harvard started and I'm glad we did! My husband loved the beer and had a huge burger, free-range, organic yummy beef, cooked to order. I had the steak sliders with roasted peppers and blue cheese, which was great. We had Boston Creme Pie for dessert, because...we were in Boston. The service was fast and friendly.
(4)jazzy l.
A hyped up brew house downstairs in the "THE GARAGE". Caesar salad - bleh New England Clam Chowder Mushroom burger
(3)Jazzie F.
MAN does this place suck. I went to John Harvard's for the very first time ever in 2002 or something like that. I was impressed and happy since I didn't know much about beer then and was glad I had been there. Then recently in the past year or so I have been there 3 times (or more). Service, is horrible. It's not exactly the service, the kitchen staff is really bad so the wait staff is really bad. I get the same food. Generic Veggie Burger. It was horrible. My friend got Nachos, they were missing cheese! Like seriously. It was sprinkled cheese just on the top. Hello they're supposed to be nachos. I paid a lot of money to eat there, unsatisfied. Service is horrible. No beer is worth that much effort w/ no result. The beer IS mediocre at best anyway. I have been to better breweries w/ better service.
(2)Purvi R.
This place is big! Really big! They were very accommodating for our group of 12, when we came here in the middle of a bar crawl to get some grub. And the waiter was really nice, and made sure we had full drinks and got everything together just fine. Oh, and the price is right here for dinner - everything is reasonable... ...but mainly because it's not that exceptional. Yeah, everything here was just ok when you really think about it. Boring menu choices, almost NO vegetarian choices (I think I got some falafel dish that was dry and flavorless). Kind of a random crowd of families, students, and old folks. With the breadth and depth of places in Cambridge, and brewpubs in both Cambridge and Boston, there's really no reason to come back here for me. I did appreciate the service and ease of making a group reservation though.
(2)Ann N.
I went here for a quick bite to eat and drinks before going bar hopping around Harvard Square, and I really enjoyed it. For me, the ambiance of a restaurant/bar is really important, and this place is great. I love the lighting and the feel of it. It was quite crowded on a Friday night, but not packed to the point of being uncomfortable. The wine was delicious, and the burger and fries were also great. Our waitress was extremely attentive--she remembered all of our orders, and kept coming back to refill our water and replace our drinks. I'd definitely recommend it, and will come back in the future.
(4)Cy K.
This place has a big bar area - making it a favorite for groups. However, the food here is horrific. Every time I've come, the food has been so bad I've never made it more than halfway through a dish no matter how hungry I am. From hot dog wraps to the humble chicken sandwich these cooks take the time to cook each meat to carbon and the servers let it sit in the window long enough for the enter mess to gel into one solid mass by the time it arrives in front of you. Now I just try and drink enough Guiness to comprise a meal.
(1)Francesca R.
As John Harvard's is a block from my work, it is very often the default for work-related get togethers or, since I usually get out of work later than my friends, the meeting place for a random mid-week casual dinner. Although it is a chain, I think it succeeds in feeling unique (as much as darkly lit pubs can feel unique) unlike, say--Uno's, which has a stale energy and where any ambiance is completely diluted by pandering to the lowest common denominator. I think this cozy, friendly feel to JH is in part to the homebrew, which as it is made right on the premises means there is always going to be an individualistic style to the beer. And also, the staff at this particular location (I don't know about elsewhere) is particularly friendly and adept at their jobs. They sell the food and the beer with understated aplomb - everything just feels likes a helpful suggestion rather than an aggressive upsell. The menu is a little hit an miss but you can't go wrong with the crispadillas (sooo good), spinach & artichoke dip, clam chowder, fish & chips, and all the burgers. I like the beer, and the wine menu is decent (no unheard of bordeaux that will change your life or anything, but not vinegary plonk either). Definitely good consumables and great service. I think the best recommendation I can give them is that having been here at least twenty times in the past four years, I've never had a bad experience.
(4)Mike A.
We came in as a group of six for a few drinks and appetizers after hanging out on Cambridge Common. There was a group in the restaurant of about 15 string musicians sitting together playing some fun folksy stuff that really put a nice touch on the atmosphere. Cool! Three of the six of us asked to pay separately (two bills, please). The waiter said, "oh, I thought you guys (all 6 of you) were friends?" And then proceeded to walk away! Then a 7th friend walked in and joined us at the table a few seconds later, and decided to order his own pitcher "on my own new tab, please." The waiter didn't comply - he instead rang it up on our previous bill that he brought out. And then proceeded to say "I thought you guys were all friends, that's why I put it on the tab." He then refused to comply with our simple bill request. For the second time! We grudgingly paid the single bill and started to make our way out...and before we could even all stand up, a bus boy was literally slamming our chairs back under the table and clearly scoffing at us. Such snotty service anywhere is not acceptable, even in the world capital of snot. We were considering bringing a weekly group of 15-20 people here regularly, but our service has forced us to continue to look elsewhere.
(2)Bill N.
started with the hummus plate. Cold Pita and not much of it made the apetizer less than OK. Meg and I had sandwiches in Pita bread that were lumpy and were just OK. Joe had a pulled pork sandwich that he really like. My porter was $5 for a 12 ounce glass. The standard is a pint... 3 stars
(3)Marie C.
Pretty much everything about my Sunday lunch here was average. Our waitress was sweet, the service was fine and the food was OK. Nothing really stood out for me. John Harvard's strikes me as a place I'd go back to if I was already in Harvard Square and hungry for some typical "American" food. I probably wouldn't get on the T to come here, but if I was in the neighborhood, I wouldn't avoid it.
(3)Jason H.
A pleasant underground brew-pub which sells decent beer and good food. The beers are about on par with what you can expect at most chain brew-pubs, although the selection is a little weak...Expanding the choices would be a nice touch. The food is actually pretty good considering its a chain and I love the bread and oil combo they serve up... This place has a nice comfy feel inside with the dark wood and stone & stained glass windows. Definitely a place to try and conveniently located to everything cool in Harvard Square.
(3)Tony P.
Been here a couple of times, never too impressed. Still returned recently, due to the convenience of location, and that fact that it can accommodate large groups. Meh. Slow service, and apparently a medium rare steak means a well-done here. The beer on tap was quite alright though.
(3)Brian M.
John Harvard's is the place you go in Harvard Sq when you're not up for the 'keeping up with the cool kids' vibe of Charlie's and you can't be arsed going anywhere 'nice' It's adequate, never terrible, never great. Last night's meal was a case in point; great fries, good ribs, terrible (terrible!) coleslaw. The g/f's chicken quesadilla was tasty but curiously...protestant - the dour Anglo-Saxon version of Mexican food. It made me think "somewhere out there, there's a better quesadilla than this..." The service is nearly always good - our host was friendly and helpful when I asked for a different table. The servers tend to teeter on the edge of chain restaurant automaton but are on the ball and don't leave a man thirsty. During term time it tends to be full of students with poor social skills but it's worth bearing in mind in that I have never, ever had to wait - there's always something,even if it's stools at the bar. The beer is pretty good, as should be the case for a brew pub, but a bit bland - honestly, if you put a gun to my head, I couldn't describe one of them.
(3)Opal L.
I'd like to give this place a fourth star but the food is just not that good. Most of their dishes are either lacking in flavor or just too oily. The one good dish I would recommend is the meat loaf. It's the kind of meal you would expect to eat in a brew pub, right? I had the cuban sandwich recently and it was very oily for some reason. However, if you want some good beer, this is a pretty good place for that. They have their own brewing facilities. I like to have the sampler, which is made up of five little glasses of their own brewed beers. And finally, the reason I'm giving this place only three stars is the fact that it's a little noisy. When there's a full house, it's very difficult to have a conversation at your table. Then, sometimes they do something oh so lame, they have some kind of microphone set up with some loud mouth yelling out trivia questions or something. You can forget about saying anything to anyone at your table without screaming at the top of your lungs. They could put some kind of carpet or soft insulating material on the walls to absorb some of the sound. I don't think it's gonna happen though.
(3)Lisa R.
Update: Okay, so after coming here several more times, I have to say that the beer is a disappointment. The last couple of times I wasn't crazy about it anyway; last night they had a strangely small beer menu, and then they were out of 2 of the beers on it. Another thing was that the "pulled pork" sandwich was simply awful. It wasn't even pulled . . . it was chunks of meat that was FULL of fat and gristle. The barbecue sauce was alright, but the bun was stale. I don't think I'm going to come here again.
(2)Nicholas K.
Pretty standard stuff here. I had a burger and one of their in-house beers. The burger was decent and probably clocked in at 5000 calories. The beer was above average but there are better brews around. The service was pretty bad. They get extra points for brewing their own beer, but overall this place is pretty standard, and almost touristy. It isn't as expensive as you'd expect, but it isn't cheap.
(3)Katharine T.
Decent Place. Went here with a big group, and the food was good. The server could have come by more often for a table our size (20+)... she couldn't manage to keep our water glasses full. The food was good though!
(3)Luyi H.
Still holding to the 2 stars for this joint. Sat at the bar this time. Wow. It took an eternity for the bartender to notice us....so that instead of getting second rounds (b/c the beers were quite tasty), we left and went to Charlie's Kitchen instead! Whoo.
(2)K G.
Went in here on a Friday night at around 10PM and it was just over run. We couldn't get seated after standing around for 15 mins. Then we decided to just go up to the bar to order drinks and they didn't have time for us either. We tried another part of the bar and still failed. This is the most under staffed place I have ever walked into. You enter and walk downstairs into a dungeon-esque room from years past. Very dark, very loud. It seemed to have an impressive beer list and that was the attraction, but it was just out of hand. After around 30 minutes of roaming in here with no luck to even get one drink we left. Good idea, but pathetic execution.
(1)Dawn E.
don't really know why anyone would give this place less than 4 stars... and it truly deserves five. The in house brewed beers are some of the best I've had, and the food is worthy of a visit, even for someone who isn't' a beer drinker. Even the bread they start you off with is fantastic, and the meal only gets better with every bite. Anytime someone comes in from out of town I take them into Cambridge to eat at John Harvard's. (At least the folks I can't get to go for more pricey or exotic eats.)
(4)Loli L.
It's alright. I think that maybe John Harvard wasn't that much of a beer drinker because his beers weren't all that noteworthy- or maybe it's all understated and conservative on purpose. It's not bad. It's just not altogether phenomenal. It's just beer. After seeing an enormous burger delivered to another table we opted to split one and a spring mix salad with the herb vinaigrette. The burger was fantastic - perfectly thick, meaty, juicy = basically everything a good burger should be. The fries were good and the salad was nice (loved the vinaigrette!). All in all, it was a nice, dim, quiet-ish, spot from all the hustle and bustle.
(3)Elizabeth G.
Come on guys, this place isn't so bad! The pizza crusts contain spent grain from the brewing process. Although a bit gimmicky, it's a fun little touch and it actually tastes good! This place also has ultra-trendy items of the moment such as three varieties of baked mac 'n cheese, and fried chicken with waffles. I've found the food to be reliably at least OK, and sometimes even better than average. Not bad, because I normally hate pub food. It makes me sad that some people dislike their beer so much (Jason J). The sampler is a fun way to try small helpings of five different types of beer. Maybe my tastes are unrefined, but I really enjoyed the pilsner (with a nice buttery taste), the pale ale (on the sweeter side for a pale ale, with floral instead of bitter hops), and especially the Bad News Brown ale (full of hoppy, caramelly deliciousness) on a visit last week. I wasn't so fond of the Irish red ale and the Black Watch stout, but this might just be because I don't like nitro. It seemed to give these two beers a weird undertone, and it might just have been that they were served a bit on the warm side. If you're looking for dinner in Harvard Square and you don't want someplace fancy and expensive (Rialto, Henrietta's Table, Upstairs on the Square), or someplace casual and ultra-cheap (Clover, Boloco, Otto's), or someplace that sucks (Om, Harvest), then John Harvard's Brew House will do you just fine.
(3)Monique S.
When you walk into this place, you feel like you're heading into mass. Once you get downstairs, you find a dark, typical pub. i sat at the bar (no food). The drinks were very decent. You can find a good beer for a little over four dollars. And mixed drinks are around five. The stained glass decor kind of makes me feel a pinch of Catholic guilt, but besides that, it's pretty cool to see the fermentation tanks. The crowd is lively and the service is ok, nothing to write home about but no complaints. Next time I'll try a sampler!
(3)Nicholas S.
Definitely decent food, and a meal here won't cost you more than $25, including beers. It's a great place to bring a lot of people because they're almost always willing to accommodate a big group on short notice. I'm not a huge fan of their burgers, but everything else is decent or good. Service can be a bit slow when they're very busy, but usually it's good, too.
(3)Ryan W.
All right, so my tastes have changed a bit since I wrote my first review for this place, and I can now see why people think it's so lame. (I also know that it was kinda lame of my sig. other, now ex, to take me there all the time... but as they say, hindsight is 20-20!) Nowadays, I'd recommend that folks who simply want good beer and cheap food go to Grendel's Den, where the beer is just as good and the food is cheaper. Those who want a "nice" dinner should get a real reservation at Upstairs on the Square or Rialto, where the atmosphere's much nicer and the service is much better. Those who want tasty craft beers should head to Lord Hobo or Cambridge Brewing Co. And those who want "something for everyone" should go to Trina's in Inman Square. John Harvard's hasn't done anything wrong to deserve this downgrade, per se; rather, I'm the one that's changed, and so has Boston. Now, we know enough to know we can do better.
(3)John C.
I can't bring myself to write an in depth review of this place. the food is meh. typical bar food. it's not bad, but it's not great either. the brew isn't half bad. i had the sampler and prefer their dark offerings over their light ones. nothing too special, then again, neither is havard square. it's there because of the name and the fact that it's one of the larger bars in the square that can hold lots of harvard students.
(2)Heather G.
I had an unfortunate experience here during my first visit to John Harvard's. I met some friends at the bar for a few drinks and ordered a glass of Shiraz. After a while, we decided to get a table and so I settled my bill at the bar. The bartender told me my wine was $9. My friend looked at me and said, "That better be a good glass of wine!" It did seem a little expensive but oh well. So I gave the bartender a $20 to pay for it and he hands me back $6. I call him over again and tell him that I gave him a $20 and he asks me how much he gave me. I tell him $6 and without flinching he says, "Okay, I owe you $5" and gives me the money. Despite this, I still leave a tip at the bar. My friends and I go and sit down at a table. When I get the menu, I notice that the Shiraz that I ordered was actually $7 not $9. So back to the bar I go to tell the bartender that he overcharged me. He does not seem remotely surprised and again says, "Okay" and gives me $2. I consider myself a reasonable person. Although I was somewhat suspicious the first time miscalculated, it is possible to make this oversight twice? I think not. So now I am irritated and decide to tell the manager. The manager comes over and respectfully listens to my complaint. He asks me if the bartender was rude to me (No, he was not. Indifferent but not rude) and says that his miscalculations were probably not intentional. For the remainder of the evening, when I order drinks, the manager brings them to me instead of the waitress and this is coupled with various employees walking past our table intermittently to glare at me. It was really classy. The whole experience was shady to me and I won't be returning to this establishment anytime soon. To anyone who does, I would highly recommended verifying your bill to make sure you are charged appropriately for your order. After having a conversation with a colleague recently, I learned that John Harvard's attracts a lot of tourists. All I can say is they are probably make a killing by overcharging tourists. I am giving it one star for the following reason: 1) I think the manager did a decent job mitigating the situation and 2) the spinach artichoke dip was not bad. Oh - I forgot to mention - when we got the bill at the end of the evening, my friend realized he had also be overcharged by the bartender for his drink too. Yeah, it was probably not intentional. My bad.
(1)Meka A.
Nothing to write home about here. John Harvard's is a very average establishment. The food is decently priced, but just OK. The menu doesn't win any awards for creativity and is what you come to expect from a pub. The ambience in the bar is nothing special. I've been here four or five times and that's four or five times too many.
(3)J S.
honestly, this is my first yelp review ever. I felt that strongly about my recent visit here. S.O. and I used to frequent John Harvards, good beer, decent food. We were excited when it reopened after renovations. Holy crap. I understand restaurants go through changes, but the menu has been gone over with a hacksaw. The best dishes are gone, and what's left is overpriced and not worth it. My experience--we were seated in the "pub area". When we asked about the delicious bread they used to give, they said "oh, that's not in the pub area, only in the dining area"... there is a dining area? no one told us. We just asked for a table for 2. Drinks were fast, but the waitress couldn't tell us accurately what our beers were (we got a sampler). We ordered, it took over an hour for our food to come. The waitress even stopped by, saying "oh?! I'll check on your food!" Food was unimpressive, but not any worse than pub-bar places. I ordered a specialty burger, which was supposed to come with many things on it... and I got a cheeseburger. I held off eating and finally flagged a waitress (20+ minutes later?) and asked "hey, isn't this supposed to have bacon/relish on it?" She said no. I didn't have a menu and am a wimp, so I said ok... but on further review...yes. It was supposed to have both, yet had none, and we were charged 13.00 for it. We ate, anxious to leave at this point... and, it took another 45 minutes for the waitress to even notice us to get the check. While we were seated quickly, this dining experience took us about 3 hours of complete mediocrity. I used to really like this place, but I really hope others give it poor reviews to let them know that the changes are most unwelcome. I certainly wont be back unless it changes again.
(1)Allison F.
This place has been a favorite of mine - until tonight. I orderd what I considered a classic for John Harvard - the chicken pot pie. When is arrived I was surprised. It did not look like the pie I remember. Where was the big flaky crust? It looked more like if the pie I get from the grocery store in the frozed section. The filling was tasty, but about about an hour later I am regretting ordering it. Not sure we will be going back there soon, but if we do it will probably be for a beer.
(2)Connie S.
Cavernous brew pub in Harvard Square offering your typical selection of pub food, but with quality and freshness that is generally a cut above the typical Boston bar scene. Appetizers are solid, as far as deep-fried and cheesy things go (the Nachos in particular are hugely portioned), and same with the Burgers. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Salads are are just as tasty: the Green Pueblo Salad had fresh spring greens and the chicken was remarkably moist and flavorful. And if you're looking for an alternative to beer, last time we made a "Eureka!"-level discovery of the Blueberry Vodka Fizz, a delicious cocktail that contains quite a bit of liquor but masks the taste well. A great place for larger groups, really nice servers, and a wide array of options for both dependable bar food and less greasy alternatives.
(3)J T.
In 1768, John Harvard's grandson and 'black sheep' of the family Willie "Blind Dog" Harvard settled into a profitable apprenticeship with a local blues man known as Augustus Mcleary. Mcleary, originally from Scotland by way of New Orleans (which was at that time still known by its traditional name of 'Wampawampcott") worked between gigs as a blacksmith just outside of Boston. Blind Dog learned the blues bagpipe from Mcleary and also helped out with the blacksmithing. One day, as legend has it, Mcleary severely burned his hands fashioning a ceremonial sword for Blind Dog's father, Thelonius, who was the mayor of the young city of Cambridge and would later become a famous revolutionary war captain in the Continental Army, serving under George Washington at the battle of Muddy Creek. Mcleary, his hands ruined for bagpiping, reportedly cried to the heavens "Aye, what have ye done to me hands!? I do declare. I say, What have ye done to my hands, I swear." He had a big gig coming up at John Harvard's Brew House and knew that his reputation would be ruined if he did not perform... Hearing his mentor in despair, Blind Dog sprang into action. He practiced the bagpiping night and day for three days. On the night of the big gig he disguised himself in one of Mcleary's kilts and, bagpipe in hand, walked onto the stage at the Brew House. In the first row, unknowlingly watching his disowned son, was Thelonius Harvard. Blind Dog knocked them dead with wailing bagpipes and more than a little kilt fluttering (for the ladies, or at least for the men to tell the ladies about later, since women weren't allowed in the Brew House until 1967.) After three solid hours of soulful bagpiping, Blind Dog was carried on the shoulders of the crowd, set down in front of unwitting Thelonius, and embraced by the mayor-father. Standing in front of his father, tears welling in his eyes, Blind Dog tore off the fake beard and mustache and sank to his knees. "Father" he cried, "It is I, Blind Dog. Do you know me? Can you forgive me for the transgressions of youth, and welcome me into your embrace not as a soulful bagpiping blues man, but as your son?" Thelonius, speechless, raised his son up and embraced him once more. A cheer went up from the crowd and many tasty beers were served, including a fine summer ale that goes well with a burger. Blind Dog went on to manage the Brew House that bears his grandfather's name for 40 years. He never again touched a bagpipe. As for Mcleary, legend has it he recovered from his burning and went on to raise sheep in the great wilderness to the north, and later to found Dartmouth College.
(4)Karen R.
The service at this place is absolute crap! On Friday, six of us went out for dinner here. Everything just moved a snail's pace: we waited almost an hour for a table, then waited quite a bit longer for our orders to be taken, then we waited some more for bread to arrive, then even longer for the appetizer to arrive, and even longer for the actual food to get there. Nevermind the times we asked for more water/drinks and the ridiculous amount of time we waited for those things. Lastly, as if the waiting wasn't bad enough, the waitress at one point kicked my chair and never said boo about it. The only saving grace was that the food was decent (certainly nothing special), but we might have been happy to eat anything as long as we waited. Definitely not planning a return to this place any time soon.
(2)s c.
I'd been to the basement tavern several times before this summer's renovation. Food was usually fairly good, nothing special, in a dark tavern. We gave it a try after the reno on Fri. While the place is much brighter, sadly, I have to cross this Harvard Sq establishment off my list. I ordered a cup of lobster bisque which was the soup special. There was not a single speck of lobster, and the thick soup was so salty it was barely edible. I had the steamed clams, which were also super salty. My tongue felt numb eating them, but since that was all I ordered, I ate the clams. My colleague had the free range chicken, which was also too salty. This was really disappointing.
(1)Usha L P.
Went for a post-graduation lunch celebration and it was a great time: The Chicken BLT (recommended by our server) is the best I've ever had in my LIFE (grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, grilled naan bread, herb mayo) and I would seriously consider driving from NYC to Boston just to have it again. The Chive Whipped Potatoes were pretty good (I would have liked a little sour cream on them, but that's just me). Fellow diners had the N.E. Clam Chowder and were thrilled by it. Another had the Pressed Cuban and was so enthralled that he did not speak for the entire duration of his meal (a World's record by his own admission). I'm not a beer drinker but I did enjoy my Mai Tai ;) Great ambiance, classic (and classy) decor, friendly service, and rockin' 80s tunes lol so that just sealed the deal for me =)
(4)Bobby H.
So my friends and I come here a fair amount (I ususally forget to check in before I go in and since it's underground I get no service) and before the renovations the place was decent. I probably wouldn't have hesitated on a 4 star review. However right before they closed and since they reopened it seems like the service has taken a turn for the worst. Last sunday myself and 3 of my friends went here for dinner. Now I'm going to preface this by saying that there was an october fest event type thing going on in there. So I'm sure the Bartenders were working overtime as well as the waitstaff probably had an extra influx of people. This factored into this review; which is the only reason it's getting that second star. So first off we get there. Get seated very quickly considering the amount of people. Thats where the good part of this night ended unfortunately. We didn't see our waiter for at least 10 minutes maybe more. Didn't even introduce himself so it's not like we could find him and ask for drinks. No, drinks were ordered the second time he came over to the table, about 10 minutes after the first time. So thats' over 20 minutes just to get the drink order in. That's a bad sign in any place. So we put in our orders (since we've had plenty of time to decide) along with the drinks. Well the side order of fries and the chicken wings were meant to be part of a main meal. Not appetizers. They came out first. However the the chowder that was ordered as an app. Didn't. We didnt see that until the rest fo the food showed up OVER AN HOUR later. This is not even mentioning the fact that our drink order was messed up multiple times while we were waiting. I don't know what more to say except that when we did get the main order of food, we had doubles of the chicken wings and the fries since my chicken wings were now totally cold and the fries had been eaten by everyone who was waiting on the apps they actually ordered, including the chowder which got there cold. So there it is people. I miss the old dark and speakeasy feel of John Harvards and I also miss the better service.
(2)Gaven C.
They have a great beer selection, friendly service and they make a great Cuban sandwich.
(3)Jason J.
I've tried to like this place, I really have. On paper, it sounds like a magical place...Its a brewpub, so it must be magical, right? Nope. After my third time here last night, I won't be giving it any more chances. First off, their beer is horrible. Out of the five or six beers that I have tried here, every single one was dry, uninteresting, and simplistic. For some reason, I don't think they understand how to keep their beer cold, either. Every beer that I've been served here was probably 10 degrees under room temperature. Yum. If the owners read this, fire your current brewmaster and hire someone who knows what they are doing. Take it from a homebrewer that is a massive beer-nerd: don't go here for the beer. But what about the food? It has to be good, right? NOPE. Ok, I lied. The chili nachos were okay at best. They had clearly been finished by the cooks sooner than the rest of my table's entrees and were sitting in the kitchen until all the food was brought to our table. It was also nearly room temperature but this time 10 degrees above. Not to mention the nachos were soggy. How hard is it to mess that up? My girlfriend's pan seared tuna salad was questionable as well. I sincerely cannot believe she did not get food poisoning from it, however I'm positive she has worms from it after seeing the quality of the fish. Oh, the service here doesn't come close to making up for all this. We waited 20 minutes to get our menus, another 15 minutes to get our warm beers after ordering, and then didn't see our waitress until after we finished eating our entrees. I'm convinced the other reviewers who like the beer have only drank bro-beer up until going to John Harvard's.
(2)Elle C.
Perfect night out.. Appetizers: boneless buffalo wings with blue cheese, nachos, and calamari. The Calamari had a mexican food twist to it almost. The nacho's were so good that I saw them on another table walking in and decided to order them. I had the blonde beer and then the buffalo buffalo wing salad. So yummy and perfectly spiced for me, which means mild but I was sweating. I would def go there again if I was in the hood. 6 of us ate, drank and got aps for $160, not too shabby.
(4)Michael S.
Sorry John, not so good. I got Fish and Chips and was expecting hand battered cod and some good chips. I got 1 very small frozen fish stick and some soggy frozen French fries. Very disappointing. The tartar sauce was bad too, it was not homemade, but rather Heinz bottles sauce. I would not recommend. Maybe the other food is good? But fish and chips was on par with Long John Silvers. On the other hand, the bread and dip was really good! Thats what got it a second star.
(2)Laura H.
I have two words for you: Chocolate Cobbler. Yes, I realize that John Harvard's is a brew house. Yes, I realize that they are known for their beer selection and pub food. That's just nonsense. The reason to go to John Harvard's is obvious: layers of chocolate delight, served warm, topped with vanilla ice cream and a raspberry drizzle. (Yes, I memorized the menu. Sue me.) I typically substitute caramel or chocolate sauce for the raspberry, as I'm not a big fan, but it's amazing. I have them wrap up half my meal at the beginning to make sure I have room for this. Incidentally, the burgers and steak fries reheat much better in the oven than I would have expected. I also appreciate John Harvard's beer selection - there's always good stuff on tap, and I usually like the seasonal beers. The Gourmet burgers are pretty good. I order mine medium rare, and I get it medium rare, every time (I shouldn't be surprised or impressed by this, but I am). The service does leave something to be desired at times, but we go in a big group, and I try to understand that big groups can be difficult (especially considering some of the people in my big group). But the chocolate cobbler is what gets me there regularly.
(3)Kat V.
The food at this place is pretty good - from the basic burger to the most unique thing on the menu, it is not bad. Really from food to cocktails, this place is almost worth 5-stars. So why 3 stars? The service. Service is SO hit or miss at this place. I have been here with with a 2 top and with a 16 top. I have been here at least a dozen times. I cannot seem to find any sort of balance. It either sucks to bad I want to walk about before my food even comes or I want to close my night there and tip my server 40%+ because they were so awesome. How is that even possible?! Sometimes it is even the same server on the opposite ends of the spectrum! I mean people have their good/bad nights - but man, reign it in folks! If I was that moody at my job it would not fly! John Harvard's - I love your cider's, I love your Bobby Orr window, I have brought my parties to you, please stop making me regret it and have to the walk of shame as I leave....
(3)Shendi X.
Commercial in a not *not* Applebees sort of way, but surprisingly personalized (stained glass! Excellent design and décor!), and solidly good food and beer. I arrived for the experience of novelty, and that I did receive.
(4)Jim S.
Im a bit conflicted on this place. Harvard Square needs more combo bar/pub/restaurant places that are reasonably priced. Charlie's is the only cheap place left in the square. Daedalus and Grafton Street type places are very good, but not inexpensive (in this context). John Harvard's used to fill this niche, but now they renovated it (why? looks similar), made the menu smaller, and raised the prices. I find the food good but not spectacular - more to the point, what's to keep people coming here if their prices are creeping up toward the better places
(3)Amy B.
Solid beer, solid food, solid service. I don't like every beer at John Harvard's, but most of them are a pleasure to drink (and the ones that aren't seem to be a taste issue rather than a quality one). I enjoy starting off with a beer sampler and then having a pint of my favorite. If you order a sampler at a table, they bring it in a neat paddle-shaped rack that is space-efficient. At the bar, we got the traditional long wooden racks. The bartenders and servers seem knowledgeable about the beer and have been able to make good recommendations when we've asked. We used to get appetizers here all the time when I was in college (over 10 years ago now) and I remembered the food being pretty good. Recently we came for dinner and it turns out my memory was correct. Our buffalo wings were excellent--meaty, crispy, and well-sauced. I had a chicken caesar salad and my husband had a pulled pork sandwich with fries. The chicken caesar was pretty standard--neither the best nor the worst I've ever had. My only complaint about it is that I think my shaved parmesan came from the end of the wedge, since it was waxy and not very flavorful. I enjoyed the fries I sampled, too. After peeping what other diners were ordering, I'm looking forward to having a burger here soon. I particularly remember liking the quesadilla here in college and will order that at some point. Service here is usually good, but I want to call out our waiter Subhash for exceptionally good service when we ate dinner here. He struck that perfect balance between being attentive and overly present. We never wanted for a thing. Despite all the good things I have to say about John Harvard's, they're still a 4 star for me for now. Everything here is good without very much being excellent. They'll never let you down but they'll also rarely excite you. We also had a disappointing experience here when we came with a large group (maybe 12 people) including a friend from England. Our friend is in his early 30s, and the people in our group ranged in age from 25-32 (so no one borderline for drinking age). John Harvard's would not accept our friend's international ID as proof of age and required a passport, which he did not have on his person at the time. I want to say that I do understand and appreciate that JH's needs to protect itself from serving under-aged drinkers, and in a conceptual sense I guess I'm glad they have strict rules in place. It just felt a little ridiculous to have our 30-something friend with his beard and his hologrammed, state-sealed English drivers license denied a beer. We ended up skipping John Harvard's that day. I'm not lowering my rating because of this experience--as I said, I do understand why they have these rules--but I wanted to mention it in the hopes that other international visitors will bring their passports.
(4)Kara C.
Solid spot for a beer. The food is just so-so, but that's not why you're going to a brewery anyway now, is it? I recently discovered that they have a 90s band playing on Thursday nights. They are very open to requests!
(3)Brian D.
The beer is always pretty solid, and I love doing the beer sampler to try the new seasonals. But what I think makes this place pretty special is that the food is actually consistently good. I've tried a lot of different things, but the buffalo tenders, burgers, chicken salad sandwich, and mandarin chicken salad are all standouts. The prices made me give JH's 4 stars vs. 3. In Harvard Square, where EVERYONE and their mother jack up the prices, JH has stayed pretty reasonable for the students, which I appreciate.
(4)M See Y.
Came here w/ a group of buds. Good beers. Food was ok. I didn't like my chicken pot pie. Not enough flavors... the chicken were in huge chunks (I mean it was 'use your knife' to cut the chicken). We all shared food so the dijon chicken was 'ok', and the baked fish was 'ok' (too dry). Everyone else got burgers & those seemed to have gone over well. I am sure we'll give this place another try becos of the beers, but I hope other items are good or damn good becos the pot pie was a let down! akk!
(3)Izzat A.
Went here after visiting Harvard. It's got a really cool ambiance and is very Boston pubish. I got the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and it was very very good. Portions were huge so I couldn't finish it but damn is it worth trying. Service was quick and friendly. Would recommend to try it out for sure.
(4)Corey H.
This place was aweful. Went with a group of 6 people on a Tuesday night for a couple drinks. We got sat at a faux bar so we were all seperated quite far. The place wasn't very busy but plenty of regular tables open. After being sat, we waited 20 minutes before someone came up to let us order drinks. To my suprise, this place offers 5 beers.... thats all.... They are all their own and they are all close to bad. We waited another 20 minutes for 6 drinks. Then another 45 minutes until we saw our waitress again. Forget ordering another drink... The only thing that kept this place from getting 1 star was the large dining area which would be good for large groups and the live music that was going on. Don't go here....
(2)Alma C.
not a bad watering hole to down a pint or two after class. good wings & fries, prompt service, no complaints.
(3)Allison K.
large space, good live music, good booze. I was wiped out from a day of sailing and walking around and needed an energy boost, and the bartender was more than willing to change up one of the cocktails on special to incorporate a little red bull for me. friends got the flight of the house brews to taste. Seemed to be a few in there that they weren't fans of. My fave was a more fruity, blueberry beer.
(4)Anna W.
I came here for a conference happy hour after a LONG day of attending talks, so truthfully anything you had given me would have tasted good and quenched my need for alcohol... I will say, though, that the beers are okay. I didn't love the pale ale, but the blonde was decent. If you're looking for a great microbrew, I would likely send you elsewhere. As for food, we got a ton of appetizers. I thought the quesadillas, sausage/potato mix, and fried shrimp were great. The escargot was okay..the wings were pretty good. Basically, this seems like your standard locally-owned take on a place like Friday's.
(4)Tony T.
Good beer, delicious food, live music, and Boston sports on every TV. Had the bourbon and ale salmon... Most perfectly cooked salmon I've ever had and I eat a lot of salmon. Good atmosphere and friendly wait staff. Will definitely go back, especially for Sox baseball. Worth a try!
(5)Marc L.
Ate here with my family while in Cambridge for a festive family gathering. This was on 'off' night, not the official celebration, so we wanted something festive yet informal and low key. We are non-meat eaters, and we enjoy brewpubs. I found this place to be perfectly acceptable, but nothing special. I had fish and chips, typical brewpub fare. It was fine, acceptable, but nowhere near the best I've had in other brewpubs. I found the beer to similarly be acceptable but nothing special. They were out of some of the advertised brews, which is annoying. I had the John Harvard Pale Ale, which was tasty. I don't think I would return here just for the beer. Again, perfectly fine, but nowhere near the level of other brewpubs. Atmosphere perfectly fine, they have cool stained glass depicting local figures in the style of medieval knights. When we were there I didn't find the place particularly warm/attractive/fun, again, perfectly acceptable but not compelling. Given the many great choices at Harvard Square, let alone the rest of Boston, this would be toward the middle-low end of my list for a return visit.
(3)Lauren P.
I have been to John Harvards and typically disappointed. However, the last time I was here two weeks ago it seemed that they had made strides on both the service and food fronts. The vegetarian sandwich was quite good, I would definitely order it again. Our waiter also took great care of a demanding bunch - we were time constrained and demanded separate checks and he just smiled and made it happen. I've never thought their beers were anything to write home about, but they were cold and did the trick.
(3)Matthew B.
Decently brewed beer, plenty of space. We had a strange saturday eve with a band taking over the normally-perfect-for-chatting location, but all in all a reliable spot to gather the troops.
(3)Charles N.
Average burger but fries were below average. Service was okay at the bar - no complaints.
(3)Hannah M.
Good, solid brew house food. We went for brunch with the whole fam last weekend (January 6th) and everyone was pleased with their food. My only complaint? Chill out on portion sizes (and prices accordingly) - no one needs THAT much food for 1 meal. Tuna melt (special for the day) was good, but so big it had to be deconstructed to fit in my mouth. The pulled pork (special for the day) was BBQ-y, messy, and good. The chicken BLT was a hit (and more appropriately sized than the tuna melt) and whatever salad my sister got, she also much enjoyed. Apparently the pork burger (another daily special) was quite good as well. The michaladas were not good - don't waste your time or money - not spicy enough and way too watered down. Bloody Mary was good, according to my sources (I'm not a vodka fan, so I didn't like it). The 2 men sitting at the table RIGHTNEXT to ours (which was totally unnecessary given how many empty tables there were) were incredibly pretentious and annoying. And I did not need to know the nitty-gritty details of the party they went to the night before and how many people each of them made out with. I'm not sure how that could have been dealt with other than not putting people seated directly on top of each other. Another Harvard Square solid choice, but not a destination location.
(3)Joanne L.
We found this tavern while roaming around Harvard. From the street, it doesn't look like much. The interior is really cool, though. Huge stained glass type panels make the place look like an old church. It has a really neat pub feel. We tried some of the house brews, and they were great. The food was hearty and good, but nothing unusual. The service could have been better though. All in all, we enjoyed the restaurant probably more for the atmosphere than anything else, but would come back again.
(4)Tanya I.
i used to like this place for lunch. After the renovation, they changed the menue it got more expensive, service declined, and the portions less, and the food just ok.
(2)Kayan H.
Brewery nachos - pretty good. We came for a quick beer and bites while wandering around Harvard Square.
(3)Bianca O.
decent but didn't really knock my socks off
(3)Z R.
Lame.
(1)Xiao Z.
Another one of those "lazy go to places" that hasn't really steered me wrong. I've always had good bar food with great services and decent local brewed beers. This is a fun place to relax and hang out with your friends. It may not have too many bells and whistles, but it does what it's supposed to do, which is to bring people together for a good time.
(4)Sarah S.
Really a 2.5...but had to round up to a 3. I can't comment on the beer, my boyfriend tried some and said it was quite good. My issue lies with the food. I ordered the "Dunster" burger, which was smoked Gouda cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, crisp onion rings. The patty must not have been very fatty to begin with, because it was well done and totally dry. I've ordered burgers well done (as it should be, ground beef shouldn't be pink) without them being completely dry. This baby needed sauce. It supposedly came with BBQ sauce but it wasn't enough. The burger was a mish mash of dry, tasteless ingredients. I couldn't bring myself to finish it. On the upside, the fries included were delicious. Maybe this was just a bad egg though, who knows. My sister and boyfriend both ordered the French Dip Beef Pastrami Panini, which I had a taste of and was amazing. Service was okay. We weren't acknowledged very much beyond the initial drink and food orders. The waiter was so soft spoken and not very outgoing, which didn't exactly marr the experience but if you have a big place in a semi-touristy area, you should be more welcoming! Overall, not a terrible experience, but not a great one either. I have family in Boston and I probably wouldn't recommend that they come here, there are better places.
(3)K P.
I think "meh" describes this place pretty well, especially being an establishment in Harvard Square that has space to accommodate such high volumes of people. Been here once for drinks just after they re-opened, and just went back last week and sat at the bar for dinner. Table service (a while ago) for drinks was slowish but good, but bar service (last week) kind of stank. The food was pretty good, and came out in a reasonable amount of time, however whatever pizza the bf ordered was not what came out. The "special pizza" that night on the menu was vegetarian and had olives and red sauce, whereas the pizza that came to us had no sauce, a fig jam and bacon. Luckily, neither of us are veggies. Why not send it back, you say? Because despite not being all that busy (bar and floor were less than a quarter full), the bartender was too inattentive for us to not suck it up and eat the good (but half wrong) food in front of us. We were without silverware for five minutes after our main courses came out (we ate our apps without them as well, but it was finger food anyways) and had to ask the host for them when we grew impatient. It was only then the bartender came over and huffily asked if we needed anything else. He DID however have enough time to chat up his friends at the other end of the bar. I will say that my food, including a small modification, DID come out exactly as i had ordered and was very yummy. Also, the bartender did ring in "special pizza" into the computer (that is what was on our bill), so there are several options as to why the "pizza problem" happened. The short of it is: Inconsistent service, rather good food from our experience, OK beer and drinks, but for the price and the location there are SO many better options in Harvard Square. Many people I've talked to agree that this place seriously needs to step it up if they want to fill their gigantic restaurant in a huge metropolitan area.
(2)Herbert K.
I come in here every once in awhile just to see how things are... Today I was met with indifference by the bartender - no beerlist was shown, just the chalkboard which had, to it's credit 8 or so selections. Unfortunately 4 or 5 of them were described as Pal Ales. Again, great, I like Pale Ale, but - I'd love to know the differences. Food was amazingly overpriced, but this is no longer a brew pub, it's now a full blown tourist trap. My bad.
(2)Chris F.
Decent beer and food
(3)Ryan A.
Great service, excellent beer selection, food was about what you would expect for the price. Reserving a table on OpenTable for Saturday night was easy and worked very well.
(4)Mike C.
Ok if you want beer in an ale house don't come here keg was out on my wife's request. No Sangria as advertised and then next choice was moonshine punch on the menu and could not have that because they ran out of Bully Boy whiskey.you gotta be kidding me . They do have diet coke though. WTF!
(1)Dana W.
Friendly staff. Our table did appetizers- popcorn shrimp, wings and thick cut fries. All were piping hot with good flavor. Refills kept coming on the drinks. The band had a nice sound and not too loud in dining area. Decor felt "breweryish" and just right. History panel boards on wall.
(5)Jess A.
CHICKEN POT PIE, HOLY SHIT. Seriously. Service = good enough for Boston!! Beer list is awesome, love their house micros. Legitimately swanky atmosphere. You're in the most polished, cozy basement ever. Get the chicken pot pie. And enjoy the stained glass window of Richard Nixon, while you're at it!
(5)Militza P.
3.5 (rounded up to 4...because that's how math works) I like this place and it pains me that the food isn't better. JOHN HARVARD'S LISTEN UP and just raise the quality of the food a bit and you'll be a slamming success on Yelp, please!! Besides that ((minor)) detail, how can you not like it? it's spacious and college vibe-y and the beer is good.
(4)Stella P.
I went to John Harvard's freshman year of College, when my parents where around and we had no idea what is good in the Square. Pretty lost we thought that a restaurant with John Harvard in its name would have to be interesting at least. And it was. Cool atmosphere, a bit gloomy for my taste but pretty mediocre food. Wouldn't recommend it if you want to try out the best restaurants first. It is pretty cheap though ($10 per person) which it is good for big group dinners and poor college students.
(2)Terry D.
For some reason we decided to try this place again. This time we ordered clam chowders and a shrimp appetizer. The chowder was really good and the shrimp were good though outrageously overpriced. We won't return again though because the service was sooooo unbelievably slow. We work at Harvard and only get an hour for lunch so it's important that we get in and out relatively quickly. We were late back from lunch yet again and had to ask another waitress for our check because we couldn't find our waiter. If you have plenty of time to wait and stare at the wall, you could totally have lunch here, otherwise I'd skip it.
(1)Adam G.
The food and beers are decent, but nothing to write home about. The service, however, is some of the worst I've ever experienced.
(1)Eileen L.
Really great food and friendly staff. We had a large group and were in a hurry and they were accommodating and timely.
(4)D H.
The one positive thing about this place is that they brew good beer. I was very happy with my beverage selection. However, this was my second time at this place and I will never be back again. Subpar service and food both times. I ordered the "pork sausage" sliders. When it was served, I (and three others at my table) tasted beef. I would have gotten over it if the execution of this simple dish wasn't so horrible. My husband gently explained to our waitress that the meat was not pork and requested something different. Instead of apology and quick solution to our complaint, we got ridiculous amount of attitude from our waitress and we were told on two separate visits to our table that we were just wrong. Even the second waitress had little interest in recognizing the issue and gave us more attitude even when my husband tried to diffuse this awkward and crappy experience. I was waiting for John Taffer to come out with cameras because it was just so unbelievable. At the end of the day, there are too many good options in Harvard Square to pay for horrible service and food over and over again.
(1)Angel M.
The hardest part was finding the bathroom, the easiest part was finding the bar, John Harvard was no fool, do what he did with his tool. The bartender was really welcoming, and as bartenders should do, she eavesdropped onto my conversation with my new Yelp friend and inquired on museums of the sex. Anyway, the stained glass Jesus people, really freaked us out. Were we the bad people at church that sit in the back, talk, and allow their children to run up and down the pew? My beer was good, high in alcohol, sure. The chili nachos were better than most, but nothing out of the ordinary...thats about it really.
(3)Wilma E.
Ok, the bartenders don't like people. I know that we as customers can be stupid and annoying, and John Harvard makes sure we know that. You know there are white people out there that can focus on the food and the beer and not make it personal. Not me. I am not white, ergo I am over sensitive. I take offense to everything. I blow everything out of proportion.
(1)Saira K.
Not sure what the appeal is - touristy, loud, and the food is nothing special. Nor is it fun watching chicks crossing their fingers and raising their skirts to oooh, I hope I land a Harvard man, tonight. So guys, this is the place to be (but I'm sure you already know that)..
(2)Camille R.
I'll start off with letting you know that I avoid Harvard Square as much as I can. Too many tourists, too many elitists, and it's superrrrr boring! But I ended up here because I had a meeting with a group of people to coordinate an event next month. The dining area smelled like an old bar that hadn't been clean since it's opening and it was packed with annoying college students. I was skeptical about most of the menu options - there isn't much vegan/vegetarian items! - so I went safe and ordered the vegetarian nachos. It was DISGUSTING. The chips were stale, beans were hard to find and very dry, the guacamole had no flavor - NONE! and the overall presentation couldn't have been more unappealing.. One of the ladies I was with said her pasta was too bland for her liking and didn't feel bad leaving more than half of it behind. No one filled up our water or beers. I had to wave both of my hands in the air like a madwoman before I could ask the kid for our check. I watched him as he continued his business like I didn't just ask him for something - getting beers for other customers, went missing for a little while, started cleaning empty tables, and took orders from another. And again, I starting waving my hands like a crazy lady and yelling though I was ignored for the most part and by the time he made it back to our table more than 30 minutes had gone by and he looked at me like "oh yeah! I totally screwed you." Getting our check only took 2 minutes. I can't believe I had to wait 30++. All of us were exhausted, annoyed, and totally dissatisfied by the entire experience.
(1)Sara S.
Went here a few times during the Head of the Charles Regatta this past weekend. The service was generally pretty decent (hard to do when it's shoulder-to-shoulder crowds). The servers I dealt with on both nights were attentive and cheerful - however, at one point I flagged down one staff member to point out a water spill on their slick floor. I asked if he would please mop it up so no one would slip & fall. He looked at me like I had 3 heads, said, "OK" and then just stepped right over the spill. Umm.... okaaaaayyy...? The beers are EXCELLENT. Tried the espresso stout, the Golden somethingorother, and the Belgian Pale Ale. All 3 were quite deeelish! The food, however.... not as good as the beers. Despite the varied ingredients in each of the dishes, most of them lacked flavor. For instance, one of my visits, I tried the nachos appetizer. Bland...and the guacamole was from a mix. I'm so used to real avocados in my guac that I wasn't quite sure what this green goo was...It *tasted* like a chemical. Had to scrape it off. Also tried one of the burgers. Can't remember the name of it, but it had Gouda cheese, bacon, a smoky BBQ sauce, and a huge fried onion ring on it. The first bite was pretty good, but the mix of strong flavors eventually cancelled everything out and by the end of the burger, it just started to taste like greasy onion. (Good thing I had a great beer to wash it down). Would I come here again? Sure. But I couldn't really "recommend" anything on the menu - except the beer.
(3)Louis B.
Outstanding brew house in the middle of Harvard Square. We entered and were immediately seated in the basement area, with wonderfully appointed furniture and decor. The Roquefort Burger was the rage. And the best Clam Chowdah I've had. Service was uniquely friendly and efficient. The best part was the beers. I tried their beer sampler, a compendium of five beers, all outstanding. Pale Ale, Pumpkin Spice, Porter, Stout, and another I can't remember. A must visit in the area.
(4)Christopher H.
I came here and got a burger. The bun was very dry and crumbly and the burger tasted pretty bland overall. I was disappointed to say the least. Otherwise, the beer was very good and the decor is very nice. I like the (fake) stained glass windows on the wall. Good for beer, but considering the price I would be reluctant to grab dinner here again.
(2)Andrew R.
Awesome pre-review side note: There was a group of musicians that had gathered on the other side of the restaurant that were playing various string instruments while sitting around a table. Just drinking beer and playing music. Awesome. Also, ask to sample a few of the beers because they'll let you to your heart's content. Honestly. Drinks: The cask minuteman IPA was smooth and clean. It was exactly as described - a less hoppy, less carbonated version of the IPA. The lemonade was both tangy and sweet, balancing out nicely. Food: We ordered the Hummus Platter appetizer, and it had a wonderful presentation, flavor, and quality of food. There was more hummus than there was pita bread to go with it though. The Smoke House Pizza was very flavorful, and sweeter than we were expecting, which turned out to be a nice surprise. I don't think the bacon really shone through however. The Cuban Sandwich was also excellent. There was no Creole mustard as advertised, so occasionally it was dry. The side of rice (instead of french fries) was moist, and paired well with the sandwich. The Apple Crisp was served with the lemon sorbet on the side instead of the ice cream. Both the crisp and the sorbet were sweet but not over-the-top sweet. There was just enough oatmeal crumb on the crisp to not get overloaded with it, and the apples were soft, warm, and delicious. The service is what could do with the most improvement at the restaurant. Drink refills, bread for the table, and remembering drink orders could definitely use improvement. It may have just been our table/server. We would return based on the drinks and food selection, as well as the friendly atmosphere.
(4)Kareem F.
Its a fun location for drinks around Havard University. Their clam chowder is delicious but entres were just ok.
(3)Down P.
I went to this restaurant for 20 years. Rolled through the changes - they took away the salmon salad, raised prices, improved the beer. But some things stayed steady : always the Pale Ale, stained glass, TVs, free bread plates When the new management came in at the end of last year, they messed this place up in a lot of little ways. The bread was no longer free, and they didn't tell us. By the time we found out it wasn't coming, it was too late. They were out of all the good beers. We had to get a pitcher of something heavy that wasn't on the menu, and turned out to be $20. The fish & chips was tiny. They gave us the wrong menu, so the 3 tough ribs turned out to be $20 instead of $15. All the little stuff added up to one really depressing, overpriced meal. Maybe we'll go back in another 6 months & see if they've got it back together.
(2)Dan S.
This pains me to write this. I've been going to JHBH since I came here 5 years ago for grad school. Mostly it's adequate food and good beer. Yesterday I went around 4pm (an off hour I know) and three issues occurred that led to this review: 1. I asked for a sampler. The server informed me that it comes with 5 preselected beers. I asked to substitute a couple and she said that their policy is to not do that. I said I'd pay more. She left to check with her manager and returned to say that they didn't have enough of one of my selections to include in a sampler. But, illogically, I could order a full beer of that same kind. 2. Our food was way below their own average. I've gotten the same chicken sandwich every time I go there and this time was exceptionally bad. Small, burned portion of a breast (and my dinner companion was served the other measly part of the breast). Bad but not yet and irrevocably negative experience. 3. I kindly pointed this out to the server, that she should know that the kitchen was serving out some bad food that was not to their usually pretty good standards. She explained that there was a small kitchen staff midday and have her my credit card with the bill. She returned seconds later, having charged me the full bill and said "sorry you had a bad experience this time." What!? In a completely rescuable situation, she ensured that there would be no next time. Five years of visits with grad school colleagues, done.
(1)William K.
When ever I go to Boston, this is one of the places I make sure to visit. This brewery is in the basement of large building. It is really nice and clean. It has really cool stained glass windows down stairs. You can see the beer being brewed behind glass. They have a great selection of beers. You can order samplers if you want to just try a taste. This time I went and tried the cask beer. It was very light with a strong pine taste. There was also live music (Saturday night).
(5)Amelia M.
I've been to John Harvard's three or four times, and they really do have some wonderful brews. The food, though, is just okay -- nothing mind-blowing, but nothing remarkably poor either. Just sort of vanilla. The dark, underground, grotto-like feel in the middle of busy Harvard Square is a nice little novelty at first, but the windowless cellar-like atmosphere gets a little old after a short while (especially when you leave a couple hours later to find snow on the ground). A good place for groups and quick stop-ins, but not one of my favorites, especially not in that neighborhood.
(3)Nicolette T.
Walking around Harvard Square and I was craving some good pub food. Walking into the restaurant, down into a darkened bar reminded me of what it felt like to go to Cheer's, super cool! We sat at the bar, service was a little slow at first. I went with a burger, can't remember the name but it had bacon and cheese. I remembered this time to ask for medium rare, I always forget and end up getting well... The food came before our water and place settings but the food was good. The burger was perfect! The accompanying steak fries were divine and the portion was more than enough. I tried the spiced apple mojito, interesting and tasty.
(4)Alfred K.
Its great for happy hour. They have their own brew and has a great atmosphere.
(4)Stephanie H.
chill place to grab a pitcher of beer with some friends for a thursday night. good service. no clue about the food. nothing spectacular but its nice to be at a place where my friends & i can actually hold a conversation without yelling over others or the music.
(3)Mindy L.
I've tried the burgers, I've tried the chicken pot pie...I've tried the mac'n'cheese...but what keeps me coming back is the meatloaf. Yes, that big slab o' meat, stuffed into a pan and made famous by Mom's all over the country...it's tasty. It has a taste of the grill which I find to be unique and the sauce they tastes like a smoky BBQ with a bit of spice. Plus...I'm a sucker for mashed potatoes...and they make a mean mash. Sadly, the place is just too noisy for my taste, especially on the weekends. While they have an interesting selection of beers, including home brews, it's just not enough for me to justify more than a once-in-a-blue-moon visit.
(3)Meghan M.
"Meh".... That's exactly how I felt after eating here. The food was okay (I had a bit salad with beans, veggies, etc.) but lacking in any real flavor. The beer was okay too but really nothing any more special than a Sam Adams or something. I was expecting more of it since I've been to some pretty fine breweries with some pretty fine brews but I was pretty disappointed. There are many other places in Harvard Square that I'd rather try or revisit.
(2)Ryan M.
John Harvards -- it's a great place to hang out with office buddies after work, or to bring the family to when they're doing the tourist thing in Harvard Square. Decent beer, decent food, decent prices -- the place is a good, solid, three stars and worth a visit. I highly recommend their appetizers -- I had the nachos and the onion rings (with a fabulous horseradish/bacon sauce!) I've had a couple of their hamburgers. Nothing surprising or unusual about them, just good beef and delicious toppings for $8-$13. The location is great, and the place looks like "authentic-ey" Boston. Like I said -- great for the family when they come to visit in Cambridge, but I wouldn't go there just for the food.
(3)Meghan P.
It is a VERY rare case that I leave a beer unfinished. Even a cheap can of Pabst is usually finished to the last sip by me... my boyfriend and I could literally not get through more than 4 ounces of one of John Harvard's home brews though. It tasted like smoke and fire. Actually, smoke and fire would probably taste better... and they tried to charge us $3.75 for 10 ounces of it! Because they were out of the 5-beer sampler for $5.50 with all the Harvard versus Yale football game business, we tried to create our own sampler with the two remaining beers. The ale was alright but our waiter charged us $4.50 for the 10 ounces of ok-ale and another $3.75 for the smoke beer. Luckily, he listened when I explained this was unacceptable... (he was super nice too!) Our food was mediocre. I enjoyed the shrimp salad but it definitely could have used way more greens and came with only 3 prawns! My bf tried one of the premier burgers and both the patty and bacon were undercooked. He unfortunately left the restaurant feeling a bit queasy... However, I have to add a star on for some old-school John Harvard's college memories. John Harvard's used to boast a 1/2 priced appetizers night. The nachos, bbq chicken quesadillas, and spinach/artichoke dip were so delicious! The restaurant would get so packed with Harvard's social crowd grabbing apps and drinks... I would HIGHLY recommend re-instating this great weekly tradition!
(3)Sidney A.
I used to love this place before they remodled and changed everything, including the menu. The new renovations are gorgeous but the new menu is missing some of their best items. They still have their Pot Pie which is delicious but they used to have a macaroni and cheese that was to die for. The rest of their food is pretty good. They also have great beer. Not a bad hang out spot but I'm just not to fond of the menu anymore.
(3)Mark O.
The brewpub beers here are pretty sub-par. Maybe it's my inner brewer coming out, but saison shouldn't taste like cat pee. I've never sent a beer back before I came here. Most of their in-pub offerings taste as if they're not cared for well - oxidized, grassy, and even dirty glasses; If I was running a brewpub, I'd make sure every glass of beer looked the way I wanted to drink them, which means a clean glass. I also had my food order messed up the two times I came here - asked for chicken Parm and got chicken pot pie both times. I'm a hungry kid so I ate it, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)Lynette S.
4.5 stars actually. I am in love with the chicken ginger sauce appetizer and the chicken pot pie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! try them :) service was awesome by the way. didnt get our server's name but she was wonderful :)
(4)Mollie T.
Go there for the beer. John Harvard's beer is some of the best craft beer in Boston, but it's often over looked due to the restaurants touristy reputation. Go in, sit at the bar, order a sampler and a sausage appetizer. You'll be very pleased.
(5)Lynn C.
i think Julia F hit it home when she said this place is nothing to write home about. Big place with a very good pub ambiance. Pretty busy for a saturday night, but we didn't have to wait too long for a table; everyone seems to just eat and go. Lot's of beer on tap. Nachos for appetizer and the guacamole was amazing. I got the au poivre burger and it was pretty dry I asked for medium and it came out medium rare. I didn't enjoy the whole green pepper corns but the lemon garlic aioli was good. No one else seemed to have enjoyed the burgers they got either. My bf's burger came out rare instead of medium rare. I regret having finished that 1/2lb burger because i made a bet with my friend (who is twice my height and is like 80lbs more than me) that i'd finish my burger before him. I lost, despite having eaten the entire thing...I did, however, win in the who can stay out longest without a coat contest. What an immature night... service was decent, so was price. not something i'd pick to come back again, but i can see why it would be great for a group of people to grab some pub grub and get their drink on.
(3)Steph C.
Wound up at John Harvard's at the end of a long day of eating and drinking after the Harvard-Yale game, and continued to eat and drink. It was packed, though I don't know what the place is like when it isn't swarmed by out-of-towners. We were seated in a cozy downstairs booth. Service was prompt and unintrusive. I got my vodka diets fast. Food was good. Comfort food/fancy pub fare. The mac and cheese was fantastic, as was the bread pudding with ice cream. There were also some notable Asian "crispadillas," which are these fried tortilla things stuffed with chicken and drizzled with plummy gingery barbecue sauce. Pulled pork sliders were tasty too. If I lived in Cambridge, this could be a regular spot for me.
(3)James B.
I used to hang out here a bit in the early aughts when I lived in Boston. I recently moved back to the area and was pretty impressed to see that this place has stayed consistently good. Food: The menu is pretty typical bar food - wings, sandwiches, etc. - but the food is definitely not an afterthought. I can't recall having something here that I didn't like. Beer: If you like your Guinness/Bud Light/Nationally Available Beer and that's what you want, then don't come here. JH's brews a wide variety of its own beers, and they're generally pretty good. I almost always get a sampler and usually have a hard time picking just five or six beers to taste. Service: The wait staff knows its beer and doesn't talk down to you while describing the beer list. Service is quick and attentive. Physical space: Wide open basement area with a lot of room at the bar and even more tables. Even then, it's tough to get a seat in either place during the weekend, but you can say that about pretty much any place in Boston worth going to. The parody stained glass windows are a good conversation starter. Overall: A solid 4/5 stars. Maybe not a great place for a first date since it tends to get loud, but a great place for meeting up with friends. Prices are also pretty reasonable relative to the area.
(4)Ben L.
Flies, in December? All about the bar were small houseflies. Not the tiny, black fruit flies that should have died-off months ago, but larger, brown flies. And, let's face it, if it's dirty enough for flies, that can only mean one thing: it's dirty enough for maggots. The employees seemed not to take note....or they were simply used to it. Used to the flies or not, I wouldn't think that anybody could ignore the smell of filthy dishwater. However, it wafted about as a rag soaked with it was used to wipe-up crumbs and water rings, though it left its own spots. Beyond that, a sickening, fetid smell can be detected behind the bar, somewhere near the sinks. It's the sour, rotten smell of spills untouched. Top it all off with sticky menus. The brass here may be polished, but this place desperately needs a deep, professional cleaning and a more intensive maintenance routine. The bartendress was friendly enough, though the slow afternoon had her bored and leisurely. She was distracted by conversation with the waitress in the even-slower dining room, and myself and other new patrons waited a bit too-long for service. The beer I ordered was flattening, metallic, and salty. Whether this is due to tap water, dirty lines, a bad batch, or overall neglect, I cannot say, but better-than-commercial-bottle it was not. The food was so-so, but if the kitchen is even half as clean as the front rooms, it's still too filthy to be making food in. I had the buffalo tenders, and while they were the best part of my experience, they hardly stood out, though I admit this is a plate that leaves little room for uniqueness. Fries were good. To sum-up, the place was dingy, dank, and lazy, but without the redeeming qualities a smaller, denser, equally-rotten "dive" can have. The result is a too-large, too-empty hangout for folks looking to dig-in on Harvard Square without really digging. Considering it's a chain, I'd guess only tourist and bridge-and-tunnel money keeps it in business, and only because they don't know any better, and it misleadingly has the word "Harvard" in the name. My advice: if you need that big-pub vibe, or want to escape the crowds lined-up outside the local gems, go for UNO.
(1)Paige C.
for boston its good pitchers of beer hard to find but you find it here! I've been to John Harvard's a number of times, and I have never been disappointed. Sure it's touristy, but it also has some of the cheapest beer in Boston, and the entrees aren't bad either. Tell me where else you can get pitchers of good beer for a decent price? This is where it's at.
(4)Brad P.
We are in Boston every year for a swim meet and our team always goes to John Harvard's. I have ordered several different items and types of beer and I have loved everything I have ever gotten there. My teammates all feel the same way. The atmosphere is fun and casual and the food is awesome especially the burgers.
(5)Mary B.
Blah-dom. This is the kind of place where after the first time you go you think, "Hmm, not half bad" but then after the 2nd... 3rd... visit you kind of see it for what it is. It's your basic college pub - yes, even Harvard has one of these. It's designed for people that want to drink a lot of beer and don't mind being herded into an overly large dining area and eating mediocre food. The beer selection isn't that great in my opinon - there are usually several options of their own brew but none of it is that exciting. The service is slow and absent minded and the food is over-salted, under-flavored boring fare. For a brewhouse, you expect a bit more from the food than the usual random pub. I do enjoy the stained glass, though. I look at it while I'm waiting 45 minutes for cold nachos and think, "Holy crap."
(2)Van N.
Awful! Burger buns dry and stale, soup was a gloppy mess, served wrong beers, service horrible and management was not service oriented.
(1)Michelle K.
The food here is gross. If you're looking for a place to hang out with your friends, drink beer, and socialize, then it's a great spot! Don't come here to eat though.
(1)G Z.
I have been here before for drinks but never had the food (oh except for that soft pretzel that one time, but how do you go wrong with that. Especially when I'm certain it was pre-made like most of their food). Returned for a sit down meal next to what looked like a children's birthday party which was terrible when you are trying to relax on a Friday after work...but that's beside the point- they can't help that. The beer is good..the food was forgettable and regrettable. I got a salmon dish and my boyfriend got the fish and chips. Very small portion of fish and chips. My portion was also very small for the price and the asparagus was tiny, overcooked, and soggy. THEN a picture falls off the wall onto a table where an elderly couple was sitting (nobody was hurt but it was a giant picture and it was incredibly loud and shocking for everyone seated near them). The entire place went into a frenzy. Please, save your money and go somewhere else in Harvard Square.
(2)Colleen M.
Two of my favorite things melted into on: buffalo chicken and mac an cheese. Holy smokes. So good. The service was awesome. My ice tea never was empty. I hear their burgers are awesome. My boyfriend got one and it was pretty tasty.
(5)Annette A.
So I haven't really been disappointed, but I've never really been impressed. This is just an beered-up version of TGIF, complete with restless and annoyed staff members who often seem to make it clear they could be doing something better. For a brew house, the beer isn't that amazing. Most taste pretty generic, but I'd recommend trying on the sampler before you come to the same conclusion. They have a nice deal where they bring out 6 or so smaller glasses of their top brews of the day. This place would be great if they really pushed their claim-to-fame as a brew house instead of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades.
(3)Sarah G.
Expensive. Expensive. Expensive. John Harvard's is extremely crowded as well. Customer service is not great either.
(1)Leslie W.
I went for a celebration dinner. One of Amy's friends was just asked to join the faculty of a major college. They figured that John Harvard's would be a good choice. The insides feature dark wood and sturdy chairs. I loved that. The menu features mostly burgers, sandwiches, some main dishes (American food), a few pizzas, a few salads and bar food-type appetizers. Both of the ladies got salads with teriyaki chicken. One made a serious dent into hers and the other finished hers off completely. (I love a woman who tucks into her food!) I asked for an Angus beef roquefort (sp?) burger. It comes with a pickle spear and steak fries. I'm not much of a fries kind of guy anymore, but I do love steak fries, especially when they are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. These were not those fries. Some were perfectly cooked, others were limp and had probably been sitting around for a while. I wasn't going to eat them all anyway, so me picking out the ones I like worked out ok. However, if I were truly hungry and wanted to eat more fries, I would have been super disappointed. The fries were dusted with some sort of seasoning salt. (Probably Lawry's) Chop up some garlic, parsley and some parmesan and dust them in that, and you would have some awesome steak fries. I didn't eat the bun on my burger. (It was a soft bread. The menu said kaiser roll but it reminded me more of potato bread. The burger patty wasn't too well seasoned. I asked for well done. It was well done. I couldn't taste the cheese at all. The carmelized onions didn't do much to add to the flavor. The bacon on my burger, however, was delicious. I wish I had asked for a BLT with that bacon. It would have been delicious. Our waitress was pretty good about keeping glasses refilled. This would be a good place for a birthday dinner. I noticed a smaller dining room to the side. I wanted to sit in there! ha ha The pizzas and wings I saw on other tables looked delicious. I think I just ordered the wrong things. Prices weren't unreasonable, either.
(3)Jolene S.
While I still agree that the environment here is as good as it gets for office parties and impromptu get-togethers in the Harvard Sq area, you should be prepared to spend some cash for standard American fare. Sometimes the wait for a table gets to be a bit long (when you're starving on a cold Friday night). But I'd still come back for good food in a relaxing setting.
(3)Eric W.
Asked for a car bomb. Was told "we don't do that." After a fifteen second delay, the bartender decided to explain "we don't have Guiness, we make all of our own beers. And we don't do drop shots." WTF does that mean... we don't do drop shots? NEXT!
(2)Devin C.
Went in with a couple friends on a saturday just for a couple beers, very cool place! Love the atmosphere! Beer was great! Didnt try any food but from what i saw it looks up to quality pub fare, I recommend stopping by when in Harvard Square, esp if you love fresh beer!
(4)Chuck M.
Service: Mixed results -- Hostess wasn't particularly interested in greeting me when I arrived; waiter did a good job. Food: Cuban sandwich -- Bread was good (light, crisp crust with a soft, but not too soft, center); however, it had a distracting coating of grease on the outside. Meat in the sandwich was cold. Fries were cooked well and served hot. I'm unlikely to eat there again.
(2)Meridith H.
What we have here is a perfectly decent brewpub. The dining area is extensive, the list of beer/wine is fair, and the menu is more extensive than it needs to be (3 options for fancy mac & cheese). Pricing is fair for the area and service was good; overall this is a good standby for dinner and brews if you're in the area.
(3)Lauren D.
The service is mediocre and the food is OK at best. But if you like flights, and you'd be crazy if you didn't, John Harvard's has a tasty 5-beer flight. After a few of these, ask the bartender for a Bud Light. They hate that.
(3)Lauren E.
I was surprised to see how nice this place is. Being in the basement of The Garage, I didn't expect much. The menu seems to have more than the usual "burger place" offerings, including some pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salad, and soup. I got a veggie wrap with hummus and feta on it. It was pretty good, though nothing special. Pretty "healthy" tasting. The focaccia they started us out with was really tasty, but very oily. Not many (or any?) vegan options, though there were many vegetarian choices. We went in around noon on a Sunday, and they had some brunch options on the menu. The crowd was mostly middle-aged and older, with some families, which surprised me in such a college/grunge building. I'd be willing to try it again on a day when I'm willing to eat more dairy.
(3)Judy P.
I was puzzled by why this place was so jam packed. Like, how? Why? Yes, food sucked!
(2)Bobby C.
They were out of the one beer I wanted to try. The one that takes a really long time to pour. It's like hiring a clown for a party and then finding out that all he does is cry about losing his kids because he can't stop drinking. It was just depressing. But the beers they did have were good. It was like finding humor in a crying clown. But still, I wish it was blowing balloon animals instead.
(3)John L.
It's okay, in that the food is good enough to consider going to again. That being said, service could be a bit more attentive (it took awhile to get served, which I can understand because of the big games on, but after that my friend ordered nachos without jalapenos, and the overcooked nachos she got still had them), the beer selection could be better updated (the one I tried to order based on their beer sheet thing was not in stock), and the TVs could all be on the same feed (I understand that it's a little tough, and not really a big deal, but when one half of the bar knows what's happening before the other half does watching the same game, it's a little offsetting). It's a decent place for groups, but it does have its issues.
(3)Molly N.
Beer is good, food is just okay. I've been here a few times and most of the food I have had has been okay or good, but the hot dog was shockingly bad. Every part of that hot dog roll was so salty that I couldn't eat more than a few bites. Just gross. The burgers are good, though, and the appetizers are appetizing :) Colonial Ale is my favorite of their brews. It has this awesome bready aftertaste. Super yeasty and hearty, but not heavy on your stomach.
(3)Courtney B.
I came here with my friend for some drinks. When we arrived the bar was packed. It took forever to get a drink and find a place to chill out. Fortunately, they have a full bar, and the bartenders are friendly. I ordered a Washington Apple. It was stronger than I last remember, so they don't skimp on the alcohol. Also, a little tip for the single ladies: this is not a place to meet men if you are female. At least that was the case the Friday night I was there.
(2)Kathy A.
Decent beers and food, but nothing special. They have pretty good appetizers and burgers/sandwiches. The prices are reasonable and the service is generally pretty good, but I HATE that this place is down in the basement. It's so dark and unappealing. I think there are definitely better restaurants/pubs in the Harvard square area that you should try before this.
(3)David R.
I've been here three times with some friends, and I've gotten a little different result each time. Once I got seated almost immediately with five other people at a great table and had great service the whole evening, until I left. Recently, I went with one friend, and while we were able to seat ourselves because it wasn't busy, there was minimal service to speak of. Our beers sat empty for far too long. Plus, regardless of price, the beer selection is unimpressive. A few beers that I believe are unique to the location, but none of the common ones - Sam Adams, Stella, etc. that I love! I think they stock six different beers. Not good for a bar. Food is not bad, and the dinner menu is much more expansive than the beer menu. I've had something different each time I've gone, and haven't been disappointed yet. Chicken, pasta, burger, all somewhere in the middle between McDonald's and Capital Grille or Ruth's Chris. Not bad. I like the atmosphere of the place, but when I was there last, there was a group all in Halloween costumes making a scene at the bar, not far from where my friend and I were sitting, and there was nothing done about one who was dressed like a referee and blowing a whistle... or one who was dressed like goodness knows what and was speaking through a loudspeaker. Not a good addition to a night out watching the game and having a couple drinks. Overall, I'll be back, because despite some occurrences, it's a good place to go and hang out with some friends.
(3)Sarah G.
Who would have thought that a brewhouse as big as this could exist amongst the crowded streets and restaurants of Harvard Square. The door looks so small from the outside, and then the moment you walk in, there are high ceilings and tables everywhere! I actually almost had to call Matt J. in order to find him and his friends since this place is big enough to hide in I'd say. One person in our group loved his cuban sandwich and it did smell like bacon which made me like it at least a little bit, and the other food I saw come out actually didn't look half bad for bar food. But the beers I had expected a little more from, especially for a place that seems overall like a pretty chill spot to hang out in with a group. I tried two of their beers, and they just weren't anything special, but they weren't bad either, so really a good average spot to hang out at. One weird thing, is that they have flat screens everywhere, except for in one or two spots where they have some of the oldest models of TVs possible. Pretty funny to see those amongst the flat screen HDs and you would think that with the money they make off their beer and selling those giant jugs of beer to go, they could afford to buy one or two more flat screens ha
(3)Rani P.
When I was meeting my boyfriend and his mom here, after they spent the day touring breweries, I thought it would be a great end of their day- dinner and more beer. We ordered the beer tasting to get a sense of which beers we would like. It was a great way to try their original brews- although they weren't hands down incredible. I ended up ordering their wheat beer which wasn't featured in the tasting, and was pretty disappointed. Their oil and pesto dip for the (bizarre) bread they bring to the table was incredible. I was hoping that they would leave the bottle at the table, and I could continue covering the plate in the awesome concoction. The maple dijon salmon, however, which I ordered as a main course wasn't anything special.. I've had other dishes before at John Harvard's that were awesome, so I was disappointed this dish lacked the extra something (maybe beer?) But our waiter was incredible- he we so pumped and happy about every aspect of his job, he basically was high-fiving us with his mind. I will definitely be returning when I'm craving fish and chips and a cold brew.
(3)Susan S.
Excellent service from the whole staff and especially from Katherine! We had a 20oz " farmhouse spice ale (seasonal brew) and K recommended the "Dunster" burger and the fish and chips! Also the chicken pot pie was amazing! Come here next time you visit Cambridge!
(4)Dela B.
I came here on a Tuesday night with a friend and between the live music and the multiple gaming areas, we could hardly hear one another over the noise. We ordered the beer sampler which was actually quite tasty. Both of us were very impressed with their home brews, but the incredibly limited beer menu really threw us off. We also got ourselves an order of nachos with "chipotle chicken", but I don't know if something just went wrong or if they ran out, but the chicken we got on our nachos was white in color, devoid of much taste, and even if tried to lie to ourselves, there was simply no chipotle in any shape or form in that chicken. We were pretty disappointed about that and agreed that we should have opted for the pulled pork instead. House made chips, an okay amount of cheese and other toppings, and pretty good layering on these nachos, but overall, not very memorable. Cool place though... sort of reminds me of a hipper Jacob Wirth.
(3)Sara M.
I used to get dragged to this place by my old roomie (whom I love dearly) but thankfully I have not been here in a long time. However, when we did go in the past, there was nothing very special about the place. It was a typical restaurant/bar and the prices seemed a bit above average. The reason for the one star is due to the food and the service. We never received good service (forgetful or rude or slow or some combination) and the food was always subpar or cooked incorrectly. The last time I was there a large group of us went for a birthday dinner. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger medium rare - it was basically one of their specialty burgers without the BBQ sauce since I am not a fan of it on burgers. It came out completely well-done and burned on the outside. I explained to the server that this was not medium-rare and sent it back. The burger came back medium-well with burnt edges. Does anyone really like the taste of burnt food??? I sent it back again and the meat was medium but now slathered in BBQ sauce, which I specifically requested to not have added at the beginning. At this point, I gave up and ate the fries. The server was not happy with me and I am pretty sure there were some bodily fluids hidden in that BBQ sauce. To top it off, they tried to CHARGE me for the burger that I didn't eat and they never got right after 3 tries. I will never come here no matter what as they do not deserve my business.
(1)Patrick V.
First off the burger is delicious but the patty was a little burnt and the mayo wasn't very good. The fries were nice and crisp but they're a bit oversized. The bacon I got with the burger was great. It had the perfect level of crunch. The chicken was amazing. It was very nice and moist. Overall the meal was good.I would definitely come back.
(4)Paris Q.
I have been to this restaurant to hang out with friends several times. I love their nachos, and I like their pizzas (much preferred to conventional fast-food style pizzas). I have not been to the bar, but the beers I have had with food have been good. I am taking away one star, because I spotted a big roach in the ladies' room once. Since then, I have always avoided the ladies' room!
(4)Brad T.
While looking for a place with A/C to hide from the horrendous heat we found this pub with a nice relaxing atmosphere though a bit loud. I got the Dunster which was pretty good though I couldn't really taste their bbq sauce they make their. Seating was nice the booths were fairly large and the staff was pretty quick. This is a great place I think to get some lunch and would recommend to those looking for a place to eat around Harvard Square.
(4)Dinara E.
The hostess didn't hand me a menu and just directed me to the pub section. The waitress was attentive and nice. The chicken tortilla soup with avocado was awesome! The Asian crispadillas were weird. It's fried puff pastry with some egg-like thing in between. Then just doused with some sauce. It was weird and to be honest - it's better off being thrown out than eaten. Now their NY strip was cooked a perfect medium - but it was lacking in flavor, but it was still good for the price ($24). I didn't add any seasoning because I assumed the sauce would do the trick (the pan au jus thing that it comes with). The sauce was lacking as well. But their mashed potatoes are AMAZING! I can;t wait to go next time and try their chicken pot pie. It looked so good!
(4)Megan S.
I wish these guys tried a bit harder. I mean they have a great space right in the middle of Harvard Square. A great name. Brewing equipment. Despite all this, or perhaps because of it, they're just okay. Food is fine. Beer is better than PBR. Staff are mildly attentive.
(3)Titty P.
Many dates I've taken to here have all ended well fed and the service is great. The ribs, calamari, burgers, or Mac and cheese are what I recommend
(5)Dan G.
I havent been here in a few years, but this was a nice hang out place to go. It looked like a pub, located in cambridge, clean, beer flowing and good food. Now that i enjoy beer, i would love to go back and drink 5 glasses of all of the ones the serve. its just a nice hang out place.
(4)Danny K.
This restaurant reeks of a place that has zero passion for food, either because their main revenue stream is their beer, or that they are a tourist trap restaurant. The cooking is careless, recipes unthoughtful, and prices inflated. For example, their "classic" fish and chips are supersaturated with oil (cooked at too low a temperature), and comes with a supermarket-quality coleslaw. The sauce on the pasta special was curdling from its overdoness, and severely underportioned. I would not come back here for food, or beer- there are much better places for both quality and value such as Russell House Tavern and First Printer.
(2)Arjun K.
My friends really like this place but my first experience there was nothing special, at best. The food was reasonably good. I had a Mediterranean salad which came with hummus and Pita bread, decent. Beyond that, my friend and I split a pitcher, also decent. though the serving sizes were a little bigger, the food and drink both seemed over priced. And then there was the waiter, who didnt stop by the table to take our order until 15 - 20 minutes after we sat down and only after someone called him over. the service remained poor through the rest of the meal. overall, over priced food and beer with less than adequate service. Probably not going to go out of my way to go back.
(3)Ploy K.
John Harvard's is definitely a staple of Harvard Square. If ever a group is at a loss for where to go, someone inevitable says, "Well, there's always John Harvard's." I don't mind this place; in fact, I think it's pretty good. The food tastes alright, though not spectacular, the staff is efficient and friendly, and the general ambiance of the place is great for meeting friends and hanging out. I'm not a huge beer drinker, so there are always other places I'd rather go, but if someone suggests it, I won't put up a fight. That's about all I have to say about that.
(3)Jason F.
A-OK pretty much sums it up... went there the other day, got a spent grain smokehouse pizza which i really liked, especially the smoked gouda cheese. we also got the fish and chips, which was average, i have had much better. the staff was nice, not a bad experience.
(3)Katie W.
Literally the worst experience customer service I've ever experienced. A group of us (6) came by for some food and beers before a friend's show at TT's. I was excited to check this place out since I'd never been there, we're beer fanatics, and everyone we were with spoke highly of it. I doubt they will again. Everything started off great! My boyfriend mentioned to the host that we wanted to watch a hockey game and he was so kind as to change the channel on the TV we were facing. We ordered beers from the bar and asked for food menus. After awhile, our server came over to us and we ordered. Soon enough, my friends' dishes came out. My boyfriend and I were planning on sharing a spinach and artichoke dip. We waited patiently. Meanwhile, no one ever came to check on us. We were drinkless and waterless and foodless. After my friends were halfway through their food, I decided it was time to say something. Since we still hadn't seen our server anywhere, I went to the bartender and asked him if he could help us. I just wanted my food. He told me that the server would be taking care of us. I then went to the host and asked if he could grab our server. He let a manager know what was going on and I then spoke with her. i asked her to please cancel the order because it had been so long and we would have to go soon. She said she would figure out what was going on. 20 minutes later, we really had to go to the show. I got up to ask the host again to grab the manager. She then asked me what I had ordered. Are you kidding me??? I reminded her we had spoken and she said she removed the dish- um, yeah. I never got it. Of course you should remove it. I told her no one had offered us more drinks, water refills, anything. She again said she would look into it and disappeared. Eventually she came over with the check and said she had taken care of the food. The server also came over and simply said 'Sorry, we're understaffed'. My boyfriend said he had had a tab going for us at the bar and she told us she would look into it. She then brought over the credit card slip for him to sign. REALLY?? Thanks for taking care of our friends food- that was nice. But we seriously would have preferred having the drinks we had had while waiting for our food that never came comped instead of our friends food which they were able to enjoy and would have paid for anyway. I was appalled at the service here. I have never experienced such incompetent service and most importantly, management. We came to eat, drink, spend time with our friends, and to spend money. Instead we left hungry, annoyed we had to pay for the rounds of drinks we purchased while waiting, and shocked that we could be treated so disrespectfully in someone's place of business. We will not be back.
(1)Catherine S.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars if I had that option. Their beer is really fantastic. I like their saisson, IPA, and pale ale very much. And you can't beat the freshness when it's brewed right there! But the reason they don't get four or five stars is the food. I had a burger that was pretty unexciting, and the wait staff was meh. Plenty of space and TVs for watching sports though, so I'm sure I'll be back!
(3)Nas D.
If you're looking for a casual night out with friends, this is a great Harvard establishment to frequent. I come here for comfort food and appreciate the graduate student environment that is often found. I'm giving it a 4-star because it's one of my favorite hang out spots in Cambridge.
(4)Michael B.
Great bar! very accommodating, and a great atmosphere! Definitely a must in Harvard Square!
(5)Scott B.
First and foremost, a hot waiter. Thin and handsome and beatiful tattoos all over his arms. Ok, you know how I roll... Atmosphere was not at all what I was expecting in Harvard Square. I would've expected a tiny little cramped restaurant with a limited menu and maybe a signature beer. This was not the case. The place is quite spacious inside, lots of menu choices, and some seriously tasty home brews (that are brewed right there in the big tanks behind the bar). I recommend the White Ale... it was awesome. My food recommendation: The baked mac and cheese. Elbow macaroni mixed in this spunky sauce with peas and strips of bacon... baked with a top layer of breadcrumbs. wooooweeee. It was incredible. I brought home leftovers, and decided it's even better reheated.
(4)Sunil N.
We were at this place on Sat evening. Ordered some apps (wings, O rings and Quesadias. O Rings were excellent. Other stuff was barely ok. The main drag was about their draft. It was not even properly chilled. Server refused to accept that it was not chilled properly. He told that it is 38 F and that is how they serve all drafts. Sounded more like a prepared speech rather than the truth. Seems like a happening place, people had lined up by the time we left. I will call it just avg. Won't be going back.
(2)Scott P.
Come here for the beer, stay for the...beer. I love this place, tons of space, a few nice TVs behind the bar, decent food. But what really makes this place special is the beer. After drinking more than my fair share of Bud Lights and Coors Lights around Harvard Square, it's nice to finally go to a place that has beer with flavor and character. That's not to say they don't have lighter beers, if that tickles your fancy. But the selection here is amazing, and there are always new seasonals on tap to experiment with. The only minor downsides to this place are that the food isn't exceptional (it's decent pub food), and the atmosphere can be lacking. The space is almost too big for the number of people in here at any given time. It can have a bit of that big chain restaurant feel, which isn't what you're normally aiming for in a pub.
(4)aland f.
A lot has already been said, but I have to add that the microbrews at this place are awesome. If you're looking for something fun to do with friends, you might want to try the "beer flight," which is a mini sampling of some of their most popular brews. I've never had a bad experience at this place and I've been to it atleast 20 times since moving to Boston. This is exactly what you'd expect in a decent sports bar/grill.
(4)Brandon V.
Their beer is fine. The service is at least passable and usually good most nights, and was wonderful last night with a very attentive waiter from Armenia who really warmed up to us. The food has gotten worse over the past 8-9 years that I have been going there. I ordered the fish & chips at 8:30pm on a Saturday night. The place wasn't completely packed, but busy. Three of the four of us at the table ordered the fish and chips, actually. The fish came out completely undercooked and totally bland for all three of us. The batter was soft and not done completely. It was the same for all three of us. It could have used just a couple more minutes in the fryer to finish up. Also, the place was wicked noisy. I have a hard time hearing, and I don't remember the place ever being so loud. The only reason for the two stars is the quality of the food. Everything else, well, that's understandable and a matter of taste. But when a restaurant cannot even get fish and chips, a simple staple of Boston food, done right, I begin to worry.
(2)Julie S.
I love John Harvard's. The atmosphere is great, the burgers are tasty, and the booths are comfy. Their "gourmet" burgers as opposed to their "pub" burgers are made with all natural, hormone-free beef that's raised in Colorado. They're also served on fancier buns and with steak fries as compared to their pub burgers. Nachos are full of melty, cheesy goodness plus a generous helping of guacamole, salsa, jalapenos, and olives (I ordered them without sour cream. I loathe sour cream). My husband loves the beer selection, and has been known to take home a growler. I love the people watching. Never a dull moment, no matter what hour it is. And the stained-glass window of Teddy Roosevelt out front? Pure genius.
(4)Allen L.
This pub in the heart of Harvard Square brews its beer on site. We ordered a few pitchers of the pale ale, and not being that big of a fan of beer, I really enjoyed it! The calamari was pretty good, but I've had better spinach artichoke dip elsewhere. For the entree, I got there shrimp-avacado salad with onions, cilantro and lime juice. The shrimp and avocado were diced and served in the avacado's shell. The shrimp was well seasoned, and the avacado was pretty fresh. It's a pretty nice hang out if you want to grab a drink with friends. So yeah, get a beer here!
(4)Thuy L.
I heard about John Harvard's a while ago but finally went yesterday. Pretty great bar food, great beer, and great service. That is totally enough for me. We started off with their homemade kettle chips, layered with cheese, bacon, scallions, and sour cream. Delicious. I also got the buffalo mac & cheese. Are you kidding me? Buffalo sauce & gorgonzola creamy cheese sauce--sounded like an interesting combination to me...but absolutely amazing. Definitely one of my favorite Mac & Cheese places and I will be back for sure. My fiance got the pork bbq burger. His was okay, it didn't have enough bbq sauce for me, but hey, some people like it like that. The fries were EXCELLENT. The portions were huge. I took 4 bites and took the rest home. My fiance couldn't even finish his sandwich because it was big. Definitely a sharing kind of place....but casual and fun.
(4)