Cafe ArtScience in Cambridge, MA

Ate dinner here for the first time last night. It is a very cool place. The owner was a Harvard prof whose company created inhalable insulin which he sold for many millions so he moved to Paris and opened Le Laboratoire which is kind of a food lab trying to solve all sorts of problems (edible packaging so no waste, potable water solutions etc) as well as interesting food concepts. He opened a second Le Laboratoire in Cambridge (Kendall Square) (a few good minds in this neighborhood) and then a restaurant - Cafe ArtScience just a little over a year ago. It was terrific. The cocktails are a blast - The drink on the left is a Smoked Cocoa Nip Negroni with Beefeater, Cocoa Nib infused Carpano, and campari. The Scorched Earth was burnt lime tequila, Grand Classico, Creole Shrub and topped with a burnt strawberry that gave off this unreal aroma when you took a sip. The large ice cubes are cracked by hand with a hammer (bartender said he had nailed his thumb many times) and the smell of the place from the torching was just awesome.

If I knew you were in Cambridge, I would have gladly bought you those drinks for rescuing us in a Gustavia parking lot last March. Thanks for your review...we haven't made it there yet. My favorite thing about dining in Cambridge is the inevitable fascinating conversation at the neighboring table. Cambridge has the single greatest concentration of diverse, accomplished and brilliant people than anywhere I've traveled.

KaraBrooks said:

Ate dinner here for the first time last night. It is a very cool place. The owner was a Harvard prof whose company created inhalable insulin which he sold for many millions so he moved to Paris and opened Le Laboratoire which is kind of a food lab trying to solve all sorts of problems (edible packaging so no waste, potable water solutions etc) as well as interesting food concepts. He opened a second Le Laboratoire in Cambridge (Kendall Square) (a few good minds in this neighborhood) and then a restaurant - Cafe ArtScience just a little over a year ago. It was terrific. The cocktails are a blast - The drink on the left is a Smoked Cocoa Nip Negroni with Beefeater, Cocoa Nib infused Carpano, and campari. The Scorched Earth was burnt lime tequila, Grand Classico, Creole Shrub and topped with a burnt strawberry that gave off this unreal aroma when you took a sip. The large ice cubes are cracked by hand with a hammer (bartender said he had nailed his thumb many times) and the smell of the place from the torching was just awesome.

Click to expand...

Yummy! I'll try to get there next time I'm up there! Those cocktails look delicious:star:

Jeanette said:

If I knew you were in Cambridge, I would have gladly bought you those drinks for rescuing us in a Gustavia parking lot last March.

Click to expand...

That was so random! (Jeanette and Dennis' car broke down last March and they asked Bob and myself if we had jumper cables (do I have that right?). Anyway - I recognized Jeanette from her former avatar and kind of freaked her out. But with your new avatar I would never have recognized you!

Cafe ArtScience was great. Worth the long trip from Boston Cocktails were super fun (and I am very over the craft cocktail thing but this was more "fun" cocktails than "bow at the altar of the bar" cocktails and the food was very good.

Yes, your memory is spot on (again). How lucky could we be that our car was broken down and your car was parked next to us. You also remembered that my niece was an editor for Food & Wine. Kristin's big news is the release of her first cookbook next July ... Modern Potluck - Beautiful Food to Share



Looking forward to future Boston area reviews...

What great news for your niece!! Sounds like a great concept.

On the Boston food front we are really loving Select Oyster Bar in the Back Bay right now. We went the other day for lunch (followed by a trip to the MFA for the Classes in the Age of Vermeer and Rembrandt exhibit - highly recommend). It is probably our 6th or 7th visit and every time has been just spot on. Beats out its fellow oyster bars like Neptune (where the chef used to work), B&G, Row 34, and Island Creek in my opinion. Also totally crushing on L'Espalier for lunch. Best food in Boston.

Thanks, Kara. We've dined at L'Espalier for a special occasion dinner, but not lunch. I keep trying to get there on Monday for one of their wine dinners (a bargain at $78 person including dinner and wine). Select Oyster Bar's menu looks great. We'll give it a try.

I love dining at the bar at No. 9 Park. The prune-stuffed gnocchi with a foie gras, almond and vin santo sauce is the most heavenly dish I've ever tasted.

We've been burned a few times at Menton so I have pretty much taken all Barbara Lynch restaurants out of the rotation and the last time we tried to eat at the bat at No. 9 we ended up ordering sushi to go that we picked up on the way home because the wait was so long at the bar (of course right after I called for sushi two seats opened up). We may have to give that another try because it has been a long time and I like the room.

I wrote up our Select lunch with pics if you are interested - http://www.pearlsandoysters.com/2015/12/13/boston-select-oyster-bar/ - Ironically (I thought) the "hooch" of the day was a Ti Punch. I really do think it is a great place.

Any favs in Cambridge/Somerville?

KaraBrooks said:

I wrote up our Select lunch with pics if you are interested - http://www.pearlsandoysters.com/2015/12/13/boston-select-oyster-bar/ - Ironically (I thought) the "hooch" of the day was a Ti Punch. I really do think it is a great place.

Click to expand...

Wow, what a great meal! (sad oyster plate)

Kara...Island Creek is my favorite of the bunch you mention....Moonshoals are a very underrated Oyster too...love them..Brewster is turning out an outstanding Oyster these days and its slowly starting to turn up on restos off Cape...look out for it...

getting my Christmas Eve Wellfleets delivered to me this weekend

Wow, what a great meal! (sad oyster plate)

Click to expand...

Yes - very sad oyster plate but followed by terrific food. It is really a favorite of ours right now.

Mike - if you haven't tried Select yet give it a try next time you are in town. They now take reservations which is so great (used to be a party of 6 or more) but I like eating at the bar. I've eaten at Island Creek a ton of times and really like it but the food is way more interesting at Select. The Moon Shoals were wonderful. I'll be on the lookout for Brewsters.

cool....I think I might be in town pretty soon...I ll check it out....

Island Creek has an outstanding burger

Island Creek has an outstanding burger

Click to expand...

That's just so wrong

I know!!!...but I read about it somewhere of how ironic that was.... and so i tried it...and it was!!!!

I'm not a burger eater but apparently the new "it" burger is at Alden & Harlow in Somerville. Limited availability etc.

The problem is Kara I typically do not eat seafood out....for the most part They can't give me what I get on my own so being as spoiled as I am with seafood I usually.just don't bother and order something else......like a burger!!!....or the chicken.....that being said I had a terrific Cod fish at a place called Still River

KaraBrooks said:

We've been burned a few times at Menton so I have pretty much taken all Barbara Lynch restaurants out of the rotation and the last time we tried to eat at the bat at No. 9 we ended up ordering sushi to go that we picked up on the way home because the wait was so long at the bar (of course right after I called for sushi two seats opened up). We may have to give that another try because it has been a long time and I like the room.

I wrote up our Select lunch with pics if you are interested - http://www.pearlsandoysters.com/2015/12/13/boston-select-oyster-bar/ - Ironically (I thought) the "hooch" of the day was a Ti Punch. I really do think it is a great place.

Any favs in Cambridge/Somerville?

Click to expand...

Do give the bar at No. 9 Park another try. My recent experiences there have been very positive and I love that I can order from the bar or regular menus.

We've enjoyed many good dinners in Boston/Cambridge, but only a few really great ones so far. We have not tried Menton yet and may not after your review. We were disappointed with Sportello and that was after a strong recommendation from the chef at Amis in Philly. I have yet to find an Italian restaurant in Boston that I love as much as any of Marc Vetri's restaurants in Philly. I am hoping that will change if I can score a reservation at Giulia's. We ate at Crudo in the North End on Saturday and I would not go back. We've been to Babbo in the Seaport and it was surprisingly excellent.

We've dined at Alden & Harlow in Harvard Square a few times. We found the burger to be over-hyped...good, not great. They just landed the no. 1 spot on Boston Magazine's top 50 list. The food is locally sourced, creative and very good. For carnivores, Craigie on Main has a much better burger.

My favorites in Cambridge are Oleana, West Bridge, Cafe Sushi, Russell House Tavern and Sofra Bakery. I especially enjoy Oleana. I've tried to get a spot in cooking classes with Ana Sortun, but they fill quickly. Russell House Tavern has a really great burger and I love the melted leek and white truffle oil pizza. Dennis really enjoys the omakase at Cafe Sushi and he thinks it rivals the sushi at Oishii and O Ya. For $80, the omakase is a steal. Unfortunately, West Bridge just announced they are closing at the end of this month.

Last month we were in the Fenway neighborhood and ended up at Sweet Cheeks. I am not a big BBQ person, but I thought the food was delicious.

If you like Island Creek oysters (the oyster, not the restaurant), they typically have them at the inside and outside bars at The Red House in Harvard Square for 50 cents each before 6:00 p.m. and $1 each after 6:00. I don't love Red House's menu, but it's a great place to stop for a dozen oysters and a glass of wine for $20.

Your photos form Select Oyster Bar are fantastic. I was compelled to go online and book a table. (Thank you.) They were wide open for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The problem is Kara I typically do not eat seafood out....for the most part They can't give me what I get on my own so being as spoiled as I am with seafood I usually.just don't bother and order something else......like a burger!!!....or the chicken.....that being said I had a terrific Cod fish at a place called Still River

Click to expand...

Ha! But I hear you. We get access to such awesome fish here (JEK reposted my serious bluefin tuna addiction - https://www.sbhonline.com/forums/th...-tuna-South-St-Barth-or-bust-from-Kara-s-blog) like scallops, lobster, hake, halibut, fluke, tuna, monkfish (got some great monkfish cheeks the other day), striped bass, red fish, swordfish and on and on that I (basically a non-meat eater) go for more adventurous and well traveled fish when eating out (hamachi, sea bream, madai anyone?). I also love when someone ELSE shucks my oysters (except that super old guy in Provincetown - sweet as all get out but worst oyster shucker ever???). I am happy to shuck when necessary but it does harsh my oyster mellow a little.

Jeanette - per your suggestion we are heading back for No. 9 park for a holiday lunch next week! We've been meaning to do this for a couple of years (always forget that they are open for lunch during the holidays) so I am glad your recommendation was so timely!

Sportello is ok but never great. Best meal we had there was when we had reservations at Menton. After waiting nearly an hour for our table they informed us that our table would be ready soon because they just ordered dessert. Yeah right. People camp out at Menton so I bet we were easily looking at another hour. We said we were bailing and would grab a seat at Sportello. They ended up escorted us there via a secret back staircase. Gave us free champagne. Sent out extra dishes from Menton as an apology and ultimately comped our entire meal (with wine). We tried to love Menton after that amazing gesture but it never really clicked for us. We have not been in a while so it maybe worth another try.

We tried Giulia's once and did not love but I know we are in the minority. Bob loves Amis in Philly. Maybe you would like Coppa in the South End? Can be great and sometimes not. Best bet is lunch outside on a nice day.

Glad you liked Babbo. I'm hoping they get their act together. We have had good and bad experiences. Next time will try the bar.

We used to love West Bridge (but feel like it has fallen a bit) but was still surprised to hear they were closing a few weeks ago. Used to love Belly Wine Bar next door when Frannie was there. She is at Central Bottle now.

Cafe Sushi. We ate there once and need to give it another try if Dennis thinks so highly of it. We were a little put off by the setting but would expect it the second time around. O Ya was our FAVORITE restaurant pretty much anywhere until our last visit in November which was not bad but lost some of its sparkle (we've been there a bunch of times and but for the last visit it was always perfect --we always order a la carte (their omakase is overpriced imho). I hope they are not stretched too thin. We are heading back next month so fingers crossed.

Hope you enjoy Select. We're looking forward to No. 9 Park!!

We changed our pre-Christmas plans and are now doing a Feast of the Seven Fishes at L'Espalier instead of No. 9!!! Very psyched and the menu and wine pairings look great.

More Boston area dining snaps - dinner last night at Spoke Wine Bar in Davis Sq (Davis Sq!!??!!). We were in the area but it was truly awesome and worth the trip even if you have NO reason to be there. Drinks rocked too! That pic is the Maximilian Affair. Lighting in the place was great for funky drink pic but less so for the food. The MA is Mezcal, elderflower liquor, vermouth, and lemon juice. An old friend from Drink in Fort Point.

A bit belated in my responses...

Your experience with uneven dining experiences in Boston is a consistent trend for us. Even the egg in a jar at West Bridge wasn't the same the last time we went. Oleana and Rendezvous are/were our two consistently reliable local favorites. We are holding out high hope for Giulia to be our Amis of Boston. Speaking of Italian, I forgot about Erbaluce. We dined there last year and it was outstanding.

Spoke Wine Bar... "Truly awesome" is high praise coming from you. Can't wait to check it out after the holidays. It's been on my (very long) list. Davis Square is a thriving area right now.

The menu and wine pairing for the L'Espalier New England take on the Feast of the Seven Fishes look magnificent!!! We really wanted to go after seeing the menu, but had a travel conflict. We would love to enjoy it vicariously through a review on your blog. We very much enjoyed reading your blog on a recent sunny December morning over coffee and Christmas carols. (BTW - Dennis thought your blog name was a reference to a Thomas Keller dish...)

Thanks again for the great recommendations.