Top 7 Gluten-Free Spots with Outdoor Seating to Enjoy in Harvard Square, Cambridge

Melissa Gene

GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS NOT GLUTEN-FREE I came to this location on 6/5/24. I was very excited to be visiting this restaurant in Cambridge. I am vegan and have a gluten allergy and saw on the menu that many items were denoted gluten-free so I was very happy that there would be food for me to eat. (I had also not eaten all day so I was extra excited.) I went up to the counter to order and while ordering was told (in a very rude/smug way) by the people working the register that everything that is noted as gluten free is not actually gluten free but “gluten friendly” and not safe for an allergy and they would not recommend for anyone who actually eats gluten free to eat at their restaurant. Either the menu needs to be changed to say “gluten friendly” or a kitchen process needs to be changed so the gluten free options are actually gluten free and there is no cross contamination. I do appreciate that they let me know so I didn’t get glutened but I shouldn’t have found out while ordering - it should have been clearer (and that’s on Veggie Grill). The staff at this location were also rude, unhelpful, and didn’t offer any suggestions. They honestly didn’t care and were not kind at all. I hope management changes the menu to be clearer so people that do have a gluten allergy are able to either eat safety or don’t come with their hopes up only to not be able to eat not anything. They should also train their staff on some basic customer service/kindness. (They didn’t even apologize - which I feel like is just like basic customer service.) Maybe other staff members are great and the ones that were working the register were just the bottom of the barrel but I am honestly shocked with how I was treated. Luckily, I don’t live in Cambridge so I won’t run into this issue again but I want to flag this for future gluten-free travelers (and honestly anyone who may come into this seemingly wonderful place…).

Michelle Huges

Marissa Gillis

Very nice restaurant all around. The service was wonderful and they accommodated my allergies (gluten and dairy) very well. They do not have a lot of GF and DF options but everything I had was wonderful. Would recommend!

Susie Jackson

Elle Troeger

Atmosphere can be widely variable, depending on whether or not you drew the short straw. We were seated right away without a reservation on a Sunday around 1pm. There were several nicer tables available which is why we asked to be moved from the single DARKEST place in the dining room - right next to the bathroom. We were rewarded for asking with the single BEST seat in the house - upstairs, overlooking the front of the dining area. Reader, this is the brunch experience I was hoping for. Lots of natural light. Great spot to watch people from (you can even see out to the street and sidewalk). Not too loud on the upper level. It was a bit too chilly for outdoor seating. The food: My brunch date got a cortado with the burrata sandwich, noting the sourdough bread was exceptional. We both thought burrata - while wonderful - was a little too runny/drippy for sandwich format... but ideated about how to make it better. (Make it open face and poach an egg on top. Move it to the breakfast side of the menu.) I got the beet latte (hot) and it was tasty except the chocolate powder on top was an unhappy surprise. Next time, I will know to ask for no chocolate. What a strange combo: chocolate and beet. For food, I had the "beef and pickles" sandwich on gluten free bread. The gf bread held together pretty well and the mouthfeel was the okayest. It's not the amazing sourdough they have but it's a solid stand in. That pastrami / saurkraut / mustard / pickles palette is my jam, though, and this sandwich was great.

Deborah Velez

Alfred Amaya