The restaurant can be difficult to find -- it is underground and has some subtle signage pointing to a staircase. It was very dark inside, but I really liked how the restaurant looked and felt. It was simultaneously cozy and modern, with a huge wraparound bar, open kitchen and exposed ceiling. I didn't snap any photos, but I was a fan!
The menu at Alden & Harlow is based around creative small plates made with local ingredients. They recommend 2-3 plates per person, so our party of five shared 12. We started with some drinks -- beers all around despite a nice cocktail menu. With our drinks we were brought a plate of pickled green beans. I actually loved them and was happy to have gotten the beans versus bread.
The food started rolling out FAST! I was actually shocked at how quickly our first round of plates arrived. In the first round we ordered:
Salt cod & turnip brandade, chick pea, fennel cracker, pickled mustard seeds.
Washington state mushrooms, 60˚ egg, pine nut crumble.
Pickled Verrill Farm corn pancakes, buttermilk, maple, shishito peppers, topped with popcorn.
Scallop crudo, cauliflower kimchee, chili oil, uni aioli.
Chicken fried local rabbit, celery, apple, blue cheese, chili oil
My favorites in the first round were the scallop crudo and the mushrooms. Luckily no one in Tom's family would eat the crudo, so the plate was basically mine and Tom's to split. The mushrooms were a hit all around, and I may have been scooping up the mushroom puree at the bottom of the bowl with a spoon.
The second round came out quickly after we finished the first round of food. Honestly, I would have liked a longer break or for the food to have been broken up into more rounds. I didn't take any photos during this second course (oops!) but here's what we ordered:
House made rye pasta, confit chicken thigh, crispy skin, fig and liver butter.
Island Creek oyster gratin, uni toast, creamed leeks & guanciale.
Crispy Berkshire pork belly, Anson Mills grits, roasted kumquat, bergamot cure.
Seared Hudson Valley foie gras, spiced fruit, sherry vinegar, warm crumpet (only photo from this round).
My favorite during this round was the gratin, but the pasta and the foie gras were close seconds! I'm generally not a huge fan of pork belly, but I did like the flavor in this dish!
For our last round, we ordered:
Grilled lamb sirloin, cocoa rub, grilled carrot mash, ramp puree.
I was a big fan of both of these dishes. I especially liked scooping the marrow onto the bread, adding a piece of steak, and topping it with some blood orange. Yum!
Even though we were all stuffed, we couldn't leave without one final birthday dessert. We ordered the smoked chocolate bread pudding with Jacobsen salt ice cream and 5 spoons. This was super delicious and a great way to end the meal. The smokey flavor almost made it taste like there was bacon mixed in!
Overall I really enjoyed dinner at Alden & Harlow. I'm so glad I got to experience the restaurant in a group so that we could taste a large portion of the menu. I would definitely go back for dinner or a drink at the bar if I'm in Harvard Square!
Alden & Harlow is located at:
40 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 864-2100
We eat the best foods.
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