Ten Tables

I am shocked to hear that the owner of Ten Tables gave her hard working staff NO notice that Ten Tables Cambridge was closing immediately. They worked hard over the holidays, including New Year’s Eve and then she told them on Jan 2^nd that Jan 1 had been the last day. It seems that she timed it to rake in the profits when the restaurant was busy and didn’t tell them she was closing because she was afraid they’d leave her before Jan 1^st. I heard she had employees with small children to support, who had worked for her for six years but they were given no notice. I can’t imagine my employee saying that through no fault of mine yesterday was my last day. Keep in mind unemployment for waitstaff is minuscule because minimum wage for waitstaff is $ 2.63/hr. She’ll never get another penny from me at Grass Fed or Ten Tables JP!!!

The 5:30 to 7pm $ 1 oysters are worth going. I love the staff and the food. My goodness the burger or steak frites are to die for. Everything on the menu is amazing. I had an appetizer that was a golden beat pavè. Wow. That was amazing and so creative. If you like a intimate and creative rustic foods. Ten Tables is you spot.

Oh, TT. After six years, I think we’re through. You’ve grown too big for your britches. Gone are the days they lived up to their slogan of a «true neighborhood restaurant» with an open and «welcoming» environment.
Six years ago, TT was a Destination. There wasn’t much else in the category of delicious, yet affordable food in Cambridge. My then boyfriend (now husband) lived in the apartments upstairs. We used to come here all the time. After we moved to another neighborhood, we would still come back for special occasions. So after all these years of telling my family about it, I was really looking forward to bringing them here last weekend. My family and in-​laws were in town for my PhD defense.
What an occasion to celebrate! And I thought I knew the perfect place to take them– until we were told there would be a $ 100 minimum per person for our party of 8.
At that price, we could have gone to Craigie on Main or Journeyman or a number of better reviewed places. We offered to come in at any time (5pm? 9pm?) if it was a matter of changing out the table, but no dice. I’m not even sure HOW you’d spend $ 100/​pp here. A bunch of bottles of wine??? I was really disappointed, especially because it *was* our neighborhood restaurant for years. We are the «neighbors» in your slogan! And then not letting us bring our families to celebrate this big occasion? It felt like a total slap in the face.
The last time we went (May), our food was just ok. Not spectacular. I chalked it up to being spring time, which is hard for locally-​sourced restaurants (root vegetable extravaganza, anyone?). Whenever any of labmates are looking for a special occasion, I always directed them here. This summer, my colleague returned with a review of… «Good, but not worth the price.»
I have to say, now, I kind of agree. The price has crept up, the quality has stayed the same, and the attitude has become worse. Maybe things changed around the time the restaurant was going to be sold, and then the deal fell through.
Back when they were the only hotdog stand in town, perhaps TT could get away with it. But now, we have a bunch of amazing new restaurants in Cambridge to choose from. The nostalgia kept me going back, but now, why would I go here when I could opt for Viale, Loyal Nine, Alden and Harlow… all of which happily accept my business?
I hate going to places where I feel like being a customer is an inconvenience. Now TT has moved into that category. I don’t need the attitude. Sorry for bothering you with our reservation request. I’m heartbroken that this is how six years of patronage have ended.

Went in here with high hopes and was slightly disappointed. Ambiance was cute and cozy, service was good, and drinks were tasty. The food was mediocre — our party ordered the steak frites (overly salty and a bit tough), roasted chicken (pretty good, sauce was a bit rich), burger (bun to meat ratio was high, slightly undercooked for well done), and sweet potato gnocchi (gnocchi was cooked well but sauce was too creamy). We got the tres leches for dessert, which was tasty — light and not too sweet. Our table was in a weird spot, so we kept getting bumped into.
If you plan on driving, parking is hard to find. We parked about 10min away by the church on Concord Ave.

This is a great restaurant! I recommend the steak tartare (slightly tangy from the goat’s cheese) and sweet potato gnocchi (little pillows of heaven). Very intimate dining setting, part of Ten Tables is nestled in a cove. Thus, the volume can get overwhelming on a busy night. But, the food and service are still worth it!

One of the best restaurants in Cambridge! Their monthly Monday dinners are a steal! Book well in advance, and maybe even at odd hours to score a table.
Been to the restaurant couple of times both for the monthly special dinner and their regular menu. For the monthly Monday dinner, ambiance was great, wine pairings were perfect and the food was exceptionally good for the value.
For regular menu, got their burger, and was pleasantly surprised! It’s hard to find good and consistently good burgers in Cambridge (Craigie has the best, but this reviewer has had mixed experiences with them), but hopefully ten tables will continue to serve up great burgers! The meat patty was probably home ground and made, the patty was slightly crunchy on the outside, but still maintained the medium rare redness in the inside. Perfect balance. The bun was perfectly toasted and holds delicious caramelized onions! Their «pickle» is fantastic and unique. A must try!
Also had the honey glazed ricotta cheese dip. Goes so well with their bread. I could eat that all day!
Definitely will come back. Waiter was attentive to our every need, and very friendly.

It’s still good, but yeesh, has this place deteriorated over the last 3 years.
The good: The fish. Any and every fish dish I have had here is excellent. The portions of the mains are much larger than you’d expect. The service is always excellent. The bread and olive oil are delicious. Every soup I’ve had there is outstanding.
The frustrating: The burger is one of my favorites in Cambridge – deliciously rich – but not worth $ 19. As of summer 2015, they’ve gotten rid of their house wines, which were nice and decently affordable. Beer selection is quite poor. Food is very obviously over-​salted. The steak frites is not very good at all.
The inconsistent: The tasting menu can be really awesome, or really mediocre and not worth the cost. Overall, pricing in the last 6 – 12 months has been all over the place.
The deal breaker, though, was a recent visit for our favorite seasonal desert, the goat cheese cake. For whatever reason, instead of bringing out a traditional slice – what we’ve had served to us before – a half-​palm-​sized circle came out. Maybe four bites. For 10 bucks. And this will sound a bit snobby, but… they used to bring out a sorbet palate cleanser in between dinner and desert that was always delicious. I guess they don’t do that anymore.

I tried Ten Tables for the first time and was overall happy with the experience. Food was good, service was great, and its tucked-​away and intimate setting made it different from the usual Harvard Square eateries.
Food: 3.5 stars. I ordered the Bass dish, which was really well prepared. The fish was perfectly cooked with flavorful, crispy skin; the crab, bacon, and salsa relish was fresh and added to the salty part of the pallet; and the sweet corn purée balanced out the flavor well. Though I won’t be dreaming about this meal, I really enjoyed it and are every bite.
Service: 5 stars. This was stellar. We didn’t have reservations but the restaurant was able to seat is quickly. Our waitresses were nice, non-​imposing, and attentive. My water glass was always full and empty plates didn’t sit out for too long.
Ambiance: 4 stars. Ten Tables has an understated feel, which I liked paired with the $ 30 plates. It’s not fancy (I was arguably overdressed while my partner underdressed) but it’s classy, which I appreciate. For the ambiance alone, I would come back.
Really happy I tried this place. It’s a great spot to keep on my list!

My wife and I rented out Ten Tables for the rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding, and it was just about the best decision we made. Everything was perfect from start to finish — Cassie did an amazing job of organizing everything and making sure there was no stress on our plate! The food was out of this world, to the point where multiple people told us that it was the best meal they’d ever had at a rehearsal dinner. The staff was super courteous, and they even let us play our own music. We look forward to returning for years to come. Also, special thanks to Tara for putting together our amazing personalized cocktails!

Went here for my 2.5 year with my manfriend and couldn’t be more satisfied! We tried the tasting menu again this time and it was delizioso!

Ten Tables is a wonderful place, and each time I go back it’s like I’m returning home after a long time away. I know I’ll be taken care of and not have to worry about a thing.
Each course is carefully thought out, and even when placed in a vacuum each is delicious in its own right. The best time to go is the first Monday of any month. Four courses — each paired with a wine — for $ 49. I feel like I’m stealing when I see the check arrive. The wines are perfectly paired and always interesting. The courses blend together, each well thought out, and so long as you have an admiration for food and are willing to be surprised, you’ll find yourself eating something that is always texturally and colorfully diverse. Every single detail of the food has been thought out, and the transition from dish to dish is an art form.
That said, when trying their Sunday dinner deal, or an experimental brunch (I went for Easter to their first brunch), or really anything on it’s own, the place loses some of it’s magic. Individually looked at, some of the dishes don’t stack up to one another, which is only so noticeable as everything else is set to such a high bar. That said, I think Ten Tables is still trying to find it’s place, to a degree, and I think they’re nearly there.
The service is always impeccable and friendly. Should you leave the table you’ll return to find your napkin folded. Truly a wonderful experience, the only reason I don’t give it five stars is I feel it’s inches away, still trying to figure out some piece of existence, and while doing so it let’s a few things go here and there. A must try for anyone in the area.

Very disappointing — location mediocre ((too dark and too noisy) food and service both very average — too costly for a mediocre quality.
One of the dishes was so over salted that it literally was inedible. When it was pointed out to the manager, it was dismissed with a vague apology and no alternative offered.
Definitely will not go back

If you go to Ten Tables, do the chefs tasting. I typically do not get to participate in tastes as I am a pescitarian. However they accommodate here for vegetarians as well. The four courses were incredible. Fresh fish and vegetables! The wine list was great and we enjoyed everything that was placed in front of us. The reason I’m giving four stars is because we made a 9:30 dinner reservation. The place had cleared out, but we still felt a little rushed, not encouraged to try more wine or dessert wine. Would definitely go back!

I was hugely optimistic about Ten Tables. Having been in twice in the last couple months and although the meals were good and the setting was perfect for a winter dinner (small, basement space with just over 10 tables), it’s not quite good enough for me to recommend. Here’s the rundown from the last couple visits:
— Bone Marrow Dumplings (A-​) — Dumplings w/​Crispy Chicken Confit & Cognac Cream is a decadent pairing
— Mackerel (B-​) — paired w/​Ricotta Agnolotti — average
— Steak Frites (B) — average at best
— Cavatelli (C-​) — absolutely drowning in ricotta
— Arugala w/​Goat Cheese Salad (A) — excellent
— Maple Bread Pudding w/​Bacon Ice Cream (B) — Dessert was one of the highlights
Excellent service from Cassie (Dining Room Captain) & Diane almost rounded this up to 4 stars, but the food didn’t hold up.

Date night was last night, and Ten Tables was the dinner venue.
I’d heard great things about the JP location and was planning to go there, but after looking at the menus online, the Cambridge location looked to have more alluring options for us.
We were seated promptly and our knowledgeable server came by immediately. We ordered wine and a cocktail and perused the menu. My girlfriend went with the cheese plate and I got the bone marrow dumplings. For mains, she ordered a line caught local mackerel and I got steak frites. My thoughts:
1. The cheese plate was nice. We only went with three cheeses, but you get a lot of each, plus toast, greens, some apples, and candied nuts.
2. The bone marrow dumplings were insane. They were served atop a small pile of confit chicken, sitting in a cognac cream. It’s an amazingly rich dish. The dumplings are an absolute flavor bomb, and they’re stacked on top of two more flavor bombs of chicken confit and that cream. If you like decadent richness and savory flavors, this is your dish.
3. My date’s fish entrée was excellent. Great sear on the obviously fresh mackerel, served atop three large ricotta agnolotti, with a slaw of kale, cabbage, and chestnuts, all plated on a red pepper coulis. The slaw was excellent, with the chestnuts providing a necessary texture change from all the softness of veggie, ricotta, and pasta. The red pepper coulis was a concentrated burst of bell pepper sweetness. The only drawback to this dish is that there were 3 or 4 bones that remained in the fillet. But the portion was huge and the flavors were excellent.
4. My steak was great. I went with the hanger vs the ribeye, and it was unbelievably flavorful. It was as if the steak had been injected with butter. So rich. The fries were crispy, salted, and delicious, especially when covered in the provided garlic aioli. Unfortunately, the steak was served rather lukewarm. But in my book, that’s not something worth complaining about to the server. (That’s what Unilocal is for!) It was still an excellent plate of steak frites.
Dessert was the apple churros, served with spiced crème fraîche. They were served piping hot and could have been sweeter, but were still good.
All in all, a very good meal. There were a couple technical slip ups (fish bones, cool steak), but the flavors were excellent, service was fantastic, and the environment was intimate and warm.

Wasn’t too pleased. My friend wanted to take us for a «nice» dinner. It is a planned three course meal, but you get to have some choices. For starters, I had a kale salad, which was pretty good with sweet pears and goat cheese on top. Main meal I had steak and fries. Steak was burnt which they told me it’s suppose to be cooked that way. I informed then it tasted burnt, which they decided to bring me out a new piece. The new piece was better but this was after I was past my appetite. Best part of the main meal was my French fries. For dessert I had the chocolate cake, which wasn’t so Cakey. It was good, especially when eaten with their ice cream. Coffee paired perfectly with the cake.

Tiny place. Only 4 spots in front of the restaurant, they look like they are part of the apartments next door.
We had the chef’s tasting menu. 4 courses for $ 55. Very good. Had scallops with vanilla risotto, mackerel «ceviche» with orange vinaigrette, lamb short rib, and because there were 3 of us, they gave us a taste of each. Servings are small but that’s why it’s a tasting menu I guess.

Came here for the Tasting Menu ($ 55) along with a wine pairing ($ 25).
Long story short, it was good not great.
The wine pairing is a good deal at $ 25, but the execution on the dishes kinda fell flat in my opinion.
The Lamb entrée tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for about an hour or so. The plate was wicked hot, and in turn the meat was totally dried out.
On most nights, I’m sure they probably serve pretty decent plates of food. However, on a night when we really expected everything to be perfect, it just wasn’t.

My gf & I just went to dinner there tonight & it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was a low lit/​laid back atmosphere, which we both appreciated.
For appetizers we ordered the «Mozzarella with Housemade Rosemary Focaccia, Chili Pepper Jelly & Black Salt» & the «Roasted Pumpkin & Apple Soup with Cranberry-​Walnut Gremolata». Both had excellent flavor & we were happy with our choices.
Next she ordered the «Delicata Squash Stuffed with Confit Vermont Rabbit, Leeks, Apples, Cranberries, Cured Egg Yolk & Butternut Squash Purée». She said that the rabbit was savory, the apples, cranberries, & squash were sweet, & that all the flavors were complimentary to one another.
I wanted a vegetarian option that didn’t include mushrooms. I gave them notice, when I booked my reservation two nights before. They prepared me a pumpkin pasta with kale, pumpkin seeds, & a delicious cream sauce. This was not a dish offered on the menu & they told me that as long as they’re given notice beforehand, they try to accommodate to food allergies. It was amazing.
For dessert, we each decided to get our own & share. We got the «Pumpkin Crème Brûlée with Cider Glazed Cinnamon Cookies» & the «Chocolate Terrine with Thai Basil Ice Cream». We were very pleased with our choices. The crème brûlée was cooked to perfection. The chocolate terrine was rich with dark chocolate & salted, & the Thai basil ice cream was surprisingly refreshing. I never would’ve imagined chocolate & basil going together, but it worked so well.
Overall, we had a great time & we will definitely be returning in the future.

Came here a couple of weekends ago with my friend who lives in the neighborhood. We both settled on getting the vegetarian tasting menu, which was an extremely reasonable $ 35 per person.
The place is a bit cramped (didn’t actually count to see if there were only 10 tables within the establishment), so be prepared to be quite close to your neighbors. The service was great and the food was pretty good. Pretty extensive wine selection. I was a fan of their risotto for the night and I would love to go back during my next trip up to Boston to try out their tasting menus in the future.