Food and Drink
Spilling the Tea: Chi Cha San Chen to Become Harvard Square’s Fourth Boba Shop
Taiwanese tea chain Chi Cha San Chen will open its second Massachusetts storefront at One Brattle Square in late summer — marking the third time in four years that Harvard Square will have four boba shops.
Açaí You There: BoostBerry to Open in Harvard Square
BoostBerry Açaí & Smoothies, a chain serving Brazilian açaí bowls, plans to open a location at 99 Mount Auburn St. complex next month — joining four other shops serving açaí that have opened in Harvard Square over the past six years.
Beyond Full Shutters Cambridge Diner Less Than a Year After Opening
Beyond Full, a restaurant offering a hipster take on traditional diner fare, closed its Cambridge outpost in June — less than a year after the location opened last September.
Kong Mountain Tea To Pour Into Harvard Square in August
Online tea shop Kong Mountain Tea is set to open a physical location in Harvard Square this August, combining a retail storefront with a traditional Chinese tea room.
Cambridge License Commission Drops Proposed 30-Minute Drink Rule After Backlash
The Cambridge License Commission walked back two of the most controversial provisions of its proposed liquor regulations overhaul Tuesday, removing draft rules that would have barred alcohol purchases in the final hour before closing and required patrons to wait at least 30 minutes between drinks.
It’s ‘About Thyme’: Lebanese Bakery To Open in Harvard Square
About Thyme, a Lebanese fast-casual bakery, is set to open its first location in Harvard Square by early August — bringing saj-baked wraps, coffee, matcha, and labneh to the corner of Brattle and Mt. Auburn streets.
Cambridge City Council Opposes One-Drink-Per-30-Minutes Limit, Calls for Review
The Cambridge City Council voted Monday to formally oppose proposed updates to the city’s liquor licensing regulations that would limit patrons to one alcoholic drink every 30 minutes, referring the drafted changes to a committee for public review.
Harvard Square Clover Location to Permanently Close Amid Financial Struggles
Clover Food Lab will permanently close its Harvard Square location after nearly a decade in the Massachusetts Avenue storefront, a Clover spokesperson confirmed Thursday afternoon, citing “drastic” rent increases and long-term financial sustainability.
Allston Brighton Food Pantry, Brighton Farmers Market Return for Summer
The Allston Brighton Food Pantry resumed full grocery distributions and the Brighton Farmers Market opened for the season last week, bringing back two neighborhood food access programs for the summer.
As Harvard Square Becomes a Public Drinking Zone, Bars Move Quickly
Harvard Square bars and restaurants are moving quickly to take advantage of a new summer alcohol policy after Cambridge officials last week authorized to-go drink sales in mapped public consumption zones and allowed some businesses to sell alcohol for an extra hour, as late as 3 a.m.
Clover To Reopen Zimmer Hall Location as Harvard Square Outpost Remains Closed
Clover Food Lab’s Zimmer Hall location will reopen on June 22 — less than two weeks after the Boston-area vegetarian chain announced it was halting all retail operations — the company told customers Monday.
Michelin Guide Shines a Spotlight on Cambridge Restaurants for the First Time
Eight Cambridge restaurants made the list when the Michelin Guide published its inaugural directory of recommended Boston establishments on Tuesday last week.
Cafe Sushi To Roll Out In-Person Dining After Five Years
Cafe Sushi, a staple Harvard Square Japanese restaurant, is set to reopen for in-person dining for the first time in five years this December.
New Ice Cream Store Kyoyo Haus Brings Handmade Mochi to the Square
A new store in The Garage complex is joining the growing number of ice cream vendors and Asian-inspired shops in Harvard Square with mochi ice cream and soft serve that drew hundreds of eager customers on Sunday.
HMS To Temporarily Close Countway Cafe Ahead of 2026 Reopening as Fully Self-Service Operation
Harvard Medical School will temporarily close the Countway Connection cafe in mid-December due to “operating costs” far exceeding its revenue, HMS spokesperson Laura DeCoste confirmed on Monday.
Harvard Square Offers Treats for Students and Shoppers on Halloween
Harvard Square haunts will come alive with costume contests, themed menus, and discounts this Friday night as local businesses celebrate Halloween.
Annual Jollof Festival Returns for the Third Year
Students packed the Boylston Hall’s Ticknor Lounge to try a variety of Jollof and other rice dishes from African and Caribbean countries as part of the annual Jollof Festival, hosted by the Harvard Association of Ghanaian Students on Sunday.
McCarthy’s Brings the Beat to Porter Square
Porter Square’s newest Irish pub, McCarthy’s & Toad, has become a hit among Harvard students and Cambridge residents alike.
HUDS Adds Breakfast Sandwich Bar, Pickles to Fall Menu
When Harvard College students returned to campus this fall, they were greeted by a flurry of changes in their dining halls, including Make-Your-Own breakfast sandwiches with fried eggs.
Cone and Get It: Students and Cambridge Residents Head to Ben & Jerry’s for Free Cone Day
Thousands of Harvard students and Cambridge residents flocked to the Ben & Jerry’s Harvard Square location for a free scoop of the Vermont ice cream as a part of the company’s nation-wide Free Cone Day on Tuesday.
PopUp Bagels To Pop Up in Harvard Square, Replacing Pokeworks
This fall, East Coast bagel chain PopUp Bagels will fill the hole left by Pokeworks in Harvard Square. PopUp Bagels is set to open at 1440 Massachusetts Ave. after Pokeworks closes its doors later this year, according to Gazit Horizons, a building management firm.
Harvard Square is Berry Enthusiastic About New Açaí Bowl Shop
Harvard Square got a taste of freshness and flavor on Wednesday with the grand opening of SoBol — a shop primarily selling açaí bowls, smoothies, and other fruit-based foods.
Harvard Square Stirs the Pot With 15th Annual Chili Cook-Off
El Jefe’s Taqueria won the Harvard Square Business Association’s 15th annual “Some Like It Hot” Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, in which customers in Brattle Square to taste-test competing free chili samples from local restaurants.
Serving Up Success: Two Cambridge Chefs Named Semifinalists for James Beard Award
Two Cambridge chefs got a taste of success after being named semifinalists for a James Beard award — one of the most prestigious honors the culinary industry has to offer.
Harvard Square’s Red House Restaurant Closes for Renovations
The Red House, a seafood restaurant in Harvard Square, has temporarily closed for “a few months” ahead of planned renovations, according to Harvard Square Business Association executive director Denise A. Jillson.
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