Cafe Barada in Cambridge - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Every time we come here (and we’ve been coming for over 20 years), we have a delicious meal served by charming hosts. Everything is delicious, but their standout is their hummus!

This place is such a hidden gem. I keep forgetting about it, but every time I go I'm blown away by the quality of the food. It's like an incredible home-cooked meal. You just can't really compare it to most restaurant food. It's a little pricey but more than worth every penny, and I always have tons of leftovers. I really don't know why it isn't always overrun with people. I hope it gets enough business to stay with us for a long time. They don't have a kids menu but it's still my 4-year-old's favorite restaurant!

Epitome of Lebanese cuisine and hospitality.

They have the absolute best hummus. It is extremely smooth, lemony and so tasty with olive oil. It’s a nice family oriented restaurant with exceptional service. Besides the hummus I get the chicken kabob. The stuffed grape leaves are also really good.

Absolutely incredible — best falafel I've ever had, amazingly flavorful chicken kabobs, and super fresh hummus, baba ganoush, and lentils. We brought our 2-year-old and they were incredibly accommodating and kind. Big portions, so lots of leftovers, but can't wait to come back!

Wonderful family middle eastern place

Of all the restaurants I’ve been to, I go to, Barada feels the most like a home cooked meal. Their food is bright and beautiful and, it’s just so good.

Unpleasant, to say the least. The service was abrasive to the point of being impolite and came off as borderline aggressive. I felt like I was being nicer to the servers than they were to me. The ambiance was dark and outdated, and the food was uninspiring. I would not recommend bringing anyone here. Maybe if you need a quick, solitary bite to eat, but there are much better options in the area.

We were group of 8 people dining in cafe barada, it was great because they were able to accommodate a big group on short notice. The appetizers that we ordered were amazing, the hummus is silky smooth, the baba ghanooj was tangy, the kibbeh was excellent, but unfortunately the mains weren’t great, the chicken kebab is simply chicken breasts with a simply rub, not marinated authentically. The meat kebab was tough. I also don’t like the way they serve the mains, it’s like an individual portion, rather than a big dish sharing style, which is fine but not how Lebanese cuisine is meant to be served. Would recommend getting apps only

I went here for a friend's birthday party. Great food and fast service. Lots of dishes for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. They also have gluten free options. The falafel was the best. I would definitely go back again.

Small, family owned restaurant. Small menu, large portions with every dish well done.

Great food and service. Amazing Falafils.

Great Service and Great Food. The lamb was spectacular.

Everything was so good here. Can't believe I've lived in Somerville ten years and have never been here. The hummus is silky smooth and delicious. Everything we ordered was excellent. Don't miss this wonderful restaurant!

Great place. Great food. Although I have been going here since when it was located in Arlington, I don't get here often enough.

Best Middle Eastern food I've found in Cambridge!

One of the best Fattoush salads I've ever had. The mujaddarah was different than I've had at other Lebanese restaurants - more like a stew and I would be happy to have it every day! I used to go to this restaurant years ago when it was in Arlington, MA. Loved it then and now. While I was there someone came in expecting to just order soup and he enjoyed the lentil soup so much that he ended up ordering lamb kabobs.

One of my favorite meals among over 65 restaurants in the Cambridge/Somerville area. And a vegetarian paradise! The baba ghannouj, falafil, and vegetarian kibby were stellar.

Excellent place to eat. We also get take out from there too.

My favorite restaurant! The owners are so nice and the food is always fresh. I order the house salad sometimes twice a week and never disappoints. The food is both healthy and taste amazing! Must try!

Incredible service, and the best falafel I ever ate omg they were so amazing. Everything was delicious!!!

Food was delicious. Waitress was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Can't wait to go back

One of my favorite restaurants! The food is absolutely delicious and the family that runs the place is so nice. Definitely check this out if you're looking for great Lebanese food!

Best Tabouleh ever, everything tastes homemade and delicious.

Family run, service can be a little slow when busy but food always well worth it!

Excellent, Excellent Lebanese restaurant in the Camberville area. The food and the service was so good. We got the appetizer sampler which included hommos, tabouleh, mujaddara, and baba ghanoush, the labneh+zaa'tar plate, the vegetarian kibbe, and topped it off with 2 baklava plates. It was a great experience which for me was nostalgic and reminded me of some of my grandma's home cooking. Best baklava i've had in the area too. The hosts were so friendly, and it was lovely to chat with them. Definitely coming back.

Phenomenal flavors, atmosphere, and host! + I'm now destined to aimlessly search for better baklava.

Delicious food, and wonderful service. Definitely worth going to.

I love Lebanese food. Whenever I find a Lebanese restaurant in an area I'm visiting, that's where I'll eat; and I'm always eager for the kibbe. This ranked as some of the worst food I've had of any cuisine, ever. Actually, of our 4 entrees, 3 were just fine - not stellar, but just fine; the kibbe, however was just flat out disgusting. Thank goodness I had the opportunity to eat really good Lebanese food and really well prepared kibbe the following week in Michigan.

astonishingly delicious food... So many great flavors!

Excellent food and great service in a true family restaurant

We got the appetizer sampler, the Kafta, limeade, and the house salad. And it was all AMAZING. I would come back for all of it but the appetizer sampler and wine would be a perfect day 😍

This family run restaurant is an absolute GEM. I love to treat myself to lunch here when I’m in town. I have been enjoying Cafe Barada for many years now. My favorites are the Fattouch Salad and the Lentil Soup. Everything is absolutely delicious and you can taste and feel that the food is made with love and passion. The service is amazing, too.

Family owned and run. The staff were all family members. They've been in business for many years.

they just don’t miss. truly nothing on this menu isn’t worth ordering. GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!

We found the best Lebanese restaurant while staying in Cambridge for a short staycation. We met the owner who provided exceptional service and everything was so fresh and delicious. Definitely will be returning with friends and family!

Delicious. Large portions. Definitely want to go back. Shared with my group. Bazella was amazing.

This family run restaurant features a wonderful selection of dishes. Everything that came to our table was the right temperature and absolutely delicious! The service is fantastic too.

Good food, wonderful people. I felt very welcome here.

Delicious and reasonably priced

Cafe Barada quickly has become one of our favorite neighborhood spots! The most flavorful, comforting, tantalizing and authentic Lebanese food in this area, for sure, and it is also run by the kindest family. The grapeleaves are the closest I can find to Situ’s!

What’s nice, cozy spot. Nice people delicious food even though we just got some snacks. Olives, Feta and cucumbers with yogurt all amazing.

Great place and good service, food was okay.

Great food, service, and atmosphere.

Great food and great atmosphere. I seem to come here whenever a good friend needs my best ear. The owner is charming and an excellent host who makes you feel at home.

a warm, homey place with amazing, authentic Lebanese food. great food + drink menu, great portions, and you can just tell they care :)

A great place. The food was wonderful. The Hummus is the best I have ever had. The amount of food you receive for the price has to be seen to believe. It a wonderful family owned restaurant right on Mass Ave. At night we have never had any issues with parking.. still a wonderful time with great food.

I grew up in Cambridge and Cafe Barada was one of my favorite families go to dinner spots. There food is INCREDIBLE!! Family owned and the staff was always super kind to me and my sisters growing up. Highly recommend!!

such yummy food! we got the falafel and a roll ip and baklava and all were 10/10 such friendly service too- highly recommend

Delicious & fresh! I got the chicken kebab pita with pickled turnips. The chicken was cooked perfectly and covered with just right amount of tahini sauce stuffed into a thin pita bread. I love the thin pitas! It was served with a fresh side salad delicately seasoned. The Arabic coffee was fabulous with just the right amount of infused cardamom. I usually take Greek and/or Arabic coffee with sugar - but this one didn’t need it. The pistachio baklava was divine, not too sweet with flavorful buttery layers of fillo. I can’t wait to go back!

A middle eastern gem in Cambridge! This family run restaurant serves delicious Lebanese food, with the friendliest service. This family genuinely hosts you and takes pride in their food. And they should - the hummus is exceptional.

This was my first time at Cafe Barada, but I was blown away with how nice the staff was, how tasty the food was, and the portion sizes are great. I'd highly recommend the desserts pictured here the baklava and halvah my partner a regular baklava consumer said it was the best they ever had!

Delicious, amazing food. Everything I’ve had here is great. Staff is awesome

So charming and takes you back to a relaxed state of mind. Their patio is a bonus too! I could get anything on the menu and love it

We ate on the terrace in the sun, it was so pleasant. The staff was very friendly and helpful, I liked the high quality cloth napkins, and the menu was interesting. The Arabian coffee is a fun way to enjoy a hot drink in a cute tiny cup. Strong Turkish coffee lightly flavored with cardamom. I tried the macdous, a new dish for me. Thought they don't look appetizing on the plate (kind of look like a small brown liver!), they are delicious and complemented my lamb kebab perfectly. If you order the kebab rollup, don't mess with the paper wrapping. I did, and most of the tahini sauce dripped out. Looking forward to going again and trying new dishes.

First time at this Lebanese resto! Fresh and delicious! The sampler is an excellent starter. Filling and satisfying! Very friendly staff! Great customer service. Will stop by again on our next trip to Boston from Canada! 🥰👍🏻

I still don't know how they do it, but somehow their lentils are one of the top ten dishes I have ever eaten. Lentils aren't supposed to work that way. Yet the evidence says otherwise.

we stopped in because this place looked good, and oh boy was it so much more than we expected! we got the appetizer sampler and that was a great choice- you get so much bang for your buck! our favorites were baba ghanoush and the lentil/rice dish. definitely stop in!!!

This place is delicious! I just recently moved to town and we've already been here several times. All the good is really flavorful and cooked perfectly.

I have been going to Cafe Barada for years! The food is great, you can taste the passion they have in each bite. The baklava is the best I have ever had! I bought gift packs of baklava for the holidays and everyone loved them!

They offer authentic Lebanese food. It's good, and I'm sure it's authentic, but it won't knock your taste buds off or leave you wanting to post to Insta

Outstanding food! The vegetation kibby was delicious, and I also enjoyed the Lebanese pickles. Excellent service as well.

Got the kebab and it was excellent. Lebanese beer and cocktails added to the experience. Will be coming back!

Excellent hummus and falafel. The people who took care of us are very kind. Loved it!

Tribble customer service and very rude I never go back again my first time going there and last time

I wish I could give them ZERO star! TERRIBLE customer service! RUDE staff!! I was gonna meet up with 3 friends of mine at this restaurant. They didn’t let 2 of us in until the rest of us got there! They kept us outside while there were plenty of seats available! Ridiculous! They didn’t let my friend face time her friend while having food there! Ridiculous policy!! Moreover, they didn’t accept to split the bill nor did they accept more than one credit card per table! ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! STAY AWAY!

I LOVE this restaurant!!!! The food is fresh, healthy and delicious! Their signature cocktail, the Barada martini, is perfectly flavored with interesting herbs. The Fattoush salad is divine and it can be topped with grilled chicken or lamb. The service is also personalized and amazing. I can’t rave enough about this hidden gem of a restaurant in Cambridge. I only wish that it hadn’t taken me 36 years to discover it!

Loved the hummus and meat dishes. Coffee was great and so was the halva.

Delicious Lebanonise food, polite and friendly staff following good covid safety. Outdoor seating available, and drinks where delicious and strong.

Great Hummus, amazing babaganush, food was yummy and the service was friendly and welcoming.

All the food is excellent. Everything is made fresh and you can taste the freshness. They staff is friendly and the pricing is good. Highly recommend this restaurant!

This place is super authentic and delicious. I particularly love the baba ganoush and hoummus! Definitely be sure to get that when you come here. The pita is great too.

Delicious food, and the staff are very friendly and charming.

AMAZING FOOD!! I got the chicken kebab which came with pilaf and grilled veggies and I cannot stop thinking about how great the flavors are. I wish I knew about Cafe Barada earlier! So happy I tried it and will definitely be back!

We are very glad to see this place is open again

The food is delicious and the services always been great. Sad to be moving further away from here but will definitely still come back to eat

Delicious Lebanese food! We were in town visiting friends and will be back whenever we are in the area again. Loved the atmosphere and the food was amazing. I had the chicken kabob and hummus. Cannot wait to go again!

Best Lebanese food on this side of the pond! Their rice dishes with lamb are fabulous. Add some labany bil toum, just amazing! Thank you!

The first visit was for a lunch with my family and we are the only serviceable table at that time because no one else around and I was talking on the phone with my mother and she wants to talk to my son I put the phone on the speaker then a guy came to us who works at the restaurant said phone with the speakers is not allowed in our restaurant. I respect that as a first visit then I turn speakers off. The second visit long story short, it was with my family of 3 people and the total bill was $92 ish which is so expensive at his restaurant-level so I paid with a credit card, and the old man who works in the restaurant or maybe the owner not sure about that asking for 20 bucks as a tip and I told him why there's no percentage to choose the tip I want then he said we took 20 bucks on every bill and that's our rules then I paid him what he wants it and I respect him as an old man then from that day I will not even think to come back again.

The food as always was excellent but what is even more wonderful was the ability to donated to the fund for Beirut, essential workers and/or a good pantry. What more can we ask for than excellent food from a restaurant with a soul!

Nice ambient, the place is clean and neat and the food is delicious! Highly recommended!

cool place for small plates and delicious food

We have dined at Cafe Barada twice and both times have been a pleasure. We ordered Grape Leaves as an appetizer which were really excellent with great taste. We've ordered The Chicken Kebab Lunch with Rice Pilaf which is a generous serving and delicious and the Kafta Kebab Lunch which is also fantastic. You can eat well for a fair price. We spent around $40 (including tax) for two each time. Go. You won't be disappointed in the food.

High quality delicious food. Falafel lunch plate and lamb lunch plate were both very yummy. Arabic coffee was just amazing, so aromatic and flavorful. Highly recommend this cafe. Friendly staff

Nice homely feel to this place. Dependable quality Lebanese food.

Great lunch with a nice regular menu, lunch menu, and a few good daily specials.

My wife and I have been several times and had great food each time. The staff is very friendly and the service has been wonderful. We will be back again soon!

Combination plate of beef lamb and kata is fibine. I substituted the salad instead of rice pilaf. Delicious exciting appetizers. I enjoyed the stuffed grape leaves. Authentic Food All fresh ingredients Family run

Another fantastic dinner at Cafe Barbara! This place is two words : FRESH and DELICIOUS I'm so sick of overpriced fried food that makes me feel fat and lethargic- the family owned gem serves homemade fresh food that seriously hits the spot. You can't beat it. I feel full when I leave but a good full. I will come here time and time again - LOVE IT!!!

One of the top 3 Lebanese restaurants in greater Boston area

Food is delicious! Could use a more diverse, larger menu though.

Everyone should eat here! Amazing hospitality and consistently delicious, thoughtfully prepared meals. This is one of Boston's hidden gems!

Great gluten free pita chips and baba ganoush! Ok entrees. Very cute small place, loud when busy. Ok service- asked for water no ice , got ice, food took awhile.

Very authentic Lebanese that was highly recommended by a Lebanese friend. The food is consistent and the ambiance is quaint that would be good to catch up with a couple of friends, family or even a date.

We live on the West coast and every time we come back to Cambridge our highlight is to eat at Cafe Barada. Never had a bad meal. From beef to chicken to lamb to vegetarian and desserts!!

Delicious and healthy food! Nice cozy atmosphere! Great service and price!

Exceptional! This is a family-run Cambridge establishment with delicious, authentic Lebanese food using fresh ingredients (we are vegetarians and it never disappoints). We leave feeling both completely satisfied and healthy. Enjoy for lunch or dinner in a relaxing/cozy yet nice/stylish atmosphere.

Food and service top notch. The family that runs it really cares about giving diners the best experience. I always leave feeling very satisfied!

My wife and I were looking for a Middle Eastern restaurant on our way home. Saw this neat looking place and stopped. It was superb. A family affair, husband, wife and son. I don't know where some of the reviewers who complained about the service ate but it could not have been this restaurant. Both father and son served us and could not have been more helpful and pleasant. The food was really delicious--some of the best I have had. And it is very reasonable priced. I'll be back.

Some of the best Middle Eastern food in the Boston area. Very cozy, low key place, served by people who take pride in their food. Save room for the baklava. I'm usually not a fan, but this was the best I've ever had.