Viale

The food was excellent and very unique!
For dinner, we ordered cocktails and several of the small plates along with our main courses.
I ordered the duck and it was absolutely amazing. Compliments to the chef! The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable.
If you’re in the area, give this place a try. You will not be disappointed.

Went here for drinks and colleagues one weekday night. Definitely great atmosphere. The drinks were fine but nothing special. The appetizers were very tasty especially the cauliflower.
One complaint: the servers kept trying to clear our plates and we felt rushed even though the place was not even close to full.

Wow I remember coming to this location many years back when it was a completely different restaurant! Bought a Gilt City voucher and headed on over to Central Square for a weekday dinner.
Darn, too bad we came too late for oyster happy hour. $ 1 is a sweet deal, mental checklist for returning again sometime for that.
We had the charcuterie to start which was excellent. When home made pasta is advertised, I never turn that down. We got a veal pappardelle and a seafood ravioli with saffron sauce. Both pastas were cooked al dente and tasted very good.
Excited to come back again to try out more of the menu!

Selected this place, because Central Square has few upscale classy places for a fun celebratory evening (though there are many delicious places).
The owner was incredibly down to earth – he happened to be working as the host the evening we went. At one point during our meal, introduced himself & was delighted it was our first time. He shared a brief story. Beyond the owner, every single staff person was incredibly warm & friendly.
I appreciated the fact their pasta dishes can be ordered in full & half sizes too — so you can order to the scale that you are hungry for.
Also loved the fact the bartender was so knowledgable about both the beers & wine available. She let us sample when we couldn’t decide – again something that I love because I truly found the wine that made my tastebuds explode. Their beer special was unlike any beer I have ever tasted – in a good way! Found both the beer & wine menus to be relatively unique & engaging for my palette.
The atmosphere of the room was also great for conversation. The night we went the dining space was maybe half full, but you could still hear every party member a-​ok.
As for the food, we ate a lamb pizza, spaghetti squash, & kale pesto pizza which was phenomenal. I ate a goat cheese pasta dish, Cappellacci, that was an explosion of lemon & goat cheese flavors – such freshness! And other members in my party ate the Gnocchi with boar & rosemary, again an explosion of spices & heartiness & the Pappardelle, a rag dish. All were delicious. We were also able to try the Pimenton Fetticini, which had a spiciness too it. The seafood bits in that dish were plentiful.
This place demands a definite repeat visit! And if you’re looking for a more formal date night, pick this place!

Great vibe. A nice upscale break from my usual haunts in Central Sq.
The wait staff was great; they even were amused by my offbeat quips
(remember waiters/​waitresses — chuckling at my jokes == bigger tip).
The cocktails were yummy. I had some concoction with grapefruit, absinthe and rum.
It was awesome.
The food was good too. We went with a sampling of the small plates. They were very tasty.
The highlights were the arancini and the wood grilled lobster.
It’s a great place to either go more formal and grab a table or grab something light at the bar.
I will definitely be back.

GO TO THIS RESTAURANT FOR A GREAT DATE NIGHT!
Just came back from Viale and had to sit down and write a review because we were so happy with our dinner.
When we arrived the owner, Mark, brought us to our table and informed us of the 1 $ oyster deal from 5 – 7 on weekdays — wait WHAT! So we had 12 of those suckers.
The charcute (pronounced SHAR-​COOT like Tony Soprano), was phenomenal. Chicken liver mousse, carrot hummus, house cured ham, and they even anticipated we would need more crostini before we were finished and brought warm fresh ones. CROSTINI FO DAYS. I was very impressed by every part of the dish.
Then for the main course my wife had the beet and shortrib tortellini (tastes as good as it sounds) and I had the mushroom gnocci (earthy, soft pillows of flavor). All the patsas are home made and the flavors were unique and really complimented the dishes as well (there was a sunchoke sauce on the tortellini that was a velvet flavor drape for my tongue).
All in all an amazing dinner and an even better experience. Tanya took it the extra mile by making sure everything was PERFECT and you could really tell how passionate this place is about making his restaurant one of the premier joints in Cambridge. We will be back!
Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, and come to Viale.

Loved it. A little skewed to the vegetarian palate but nothing wrong with that when a place does it so right. The bar is very comfortable, the bartender knowledgeable and skilled (we had a hot toddy and a pumpkin hot toddy, both were awesome) and for tapas it didn’t make my wallet want to kill itself which I appreciate.

3.5 stars for brunch. Food was average, nothing remarkable. Enjoyed the smoked pork hash with sweet potato, but portion was rather small, felt like should’ve come with a side green or something. Friends enjoyed the turkey blt, which was beautifully done, and the duck carbonara. The brioche rum french toast was a disappointment, a surprisingly flat/​dense brioche compared to the fluffy goodness we were hoping for. Came drenched in the rum sauce, which was fairly one-​dimensional.

Three of us went to Viale last night and everything was good. The restaurant seems to be fairly new, based on other reviews and the fact that it doesn’t show up on Google Maps street pictures, but the important thing is that they’ve been open long enough to have their act together.
The food was all really delicious. I could quibble about the fact that they were a bit heavy handed with the capers in the Pimenton Fettucini and with the five spice in the Heirloom Pumpkin Soup, but I’d eat them both again without any changes. One thing I’d like to see change is the size of the pour for a glass of wine. It seems small enough that I found myself wondering if there was someplace else that they were cutting costs. The service at Viale couldn’t be beat. Multiple servers were always checking in to see how we were doing and that’s way better than being ignored. The restaurant also seemed very clean, so not too much could be better. I found Viale because of Unilocal and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back.

We recently popped in to Viale for dinner before catching a show at the Central Square Theatre. I’ll be honest here — I’m currently pregnant, which means my food tastes shift about every 60 seconds. Dining out can be a gamble when 7:05pm has me wanting Mexican and by 7:13pm nothing but Pad Thai will do. Viale does Italian favorites with an interesting spin — which was fantastic because we could order some small plates to experiment and a more traditional bolognese entrée for a sure thing.
Luckily for me it didn’t end up mattering because almost everything we ordered was delicious. The highlights by far Saffron Arancini (that pesto? ridiculous) and the Pappardelle with wild boar bolognese.
Drinkswise, I’ve had some hit or miss luck with ordering mocktails since getting knocked up — but sometimes a girl’s tired of ordering Shirley Temples, so I decided to give it a go. Not sure this has ever made it into one of my reviews before but Viale’s mocktail game is strong. The bartender was excited to tinker and came up with two delicious non-​alcoholic drinks for me after our server asked me a few questions about preferences (sweet? citrus? savory?)
And about that server– she was fantastic. In fact everyone was fantastic. The servers were down to earth, friendly and informative. Only thing I wasn’t crazy about here was the space itself. A little bit too utilitarian and chilly for me.

Service is phenomenal food is great. Mark the host is the man. Definitely my favorite place to get a nice dinner in central square. Highly recommend going here.
Also, $ 1 oysters 5 – 7 during the week are great!
Got the orecchiette tonight… unreal saucer shaped pasta with fat chunks of chopped octopus

I came here for an impromptu Sunday morning brunch and must say that I am pleased to have another great brunch option in the area! Compared to other Boston brunch places, Viale sits at a higher end, classier establishment, with slightly smaller portion sizes (in my opinion more ideal sizes), but very reasonable prices. The brunch menu was split between small plates and large plates, and while the small plates sounded delicious, my friends and I stuck with the large plates and pomegranate mimosas.
I ordered the smoked pork hash, which came with 2 eggs and sweet potatoes. I thought the dish was very lightly seasoned, which I appreciated, and the sweet potatoes were a great touch. The eggs were slightly yolky and sat atop the bed of hash. I also have to put a plug in for the homefries. They were super crispy on the outside (definitely fried) and delicious!

A wonderful reimagination of the prior restaurant that lived here for many years.
Decidedly and unabashedly Italian, Viale does the basics very well.
The oysters are fresh and shucked flawlessly.
The drinks are cold and thick.
Gnocchi in wild boar bolognese is rich, hearty and earthy.
A veal oasis bucco arrives as a mammoth piece of meat. Seared nicely on the exterior, the meat is tender. The bone is seated upright on a red cabbage slaw with creamy polenta.
The service is polite and efficient. Worth visiting regularly.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: did you know Viale does a great brunch?!?
We love this place for dinner. I think their pasta is some of the best in town (see my previous review for details). And now! Brunch!
I love that there isn’t a line. By the time we are talking brunch, I’m starving and hangry and do not want to wait an hour for food. Nor do I want to go to places that have essentially become reservation only brunch spots (ahem, Luna). Viale is also a big space, so it can accommodate you and your whole #squad.
There’s a great selection of brunch cocktails, including classics like Bloody Mary.
Their brunch menu includes staples and some creative interpretations. If you’re feeling guilty about last night’s indulgences, try the goat cheese and mushroom omelette with a side of greens. If all you need is to nurse that hangover, I’ll recommend their majestic brunch burger, served on an English muffin with a fried egg and a side of the BEST French fries. I even took a picture. I never do that. I also had a cool flatbread there last weekend, sort of a twist on bagels and lox– flatbread with cream cheese, lox, and cucumber. The prices aren’t cheap, but in line with other restaurant brunches: $ 12 – 15 per entrée.
Go to viale! For dinner and for brunch! Great food, reasonable prices, no line.

Delicious $ 1 oysters. The oysters are on the smaller side compared to some other places in Boston I’ve been to, but I like these because they have a light flavor to them and aren’t overly fat.
Tried the flatbread here. It’s absolutely delicious, dough consistency just right. The atmosphere is great for chatting: not overly loud like the places next door, but not quiet to the point of 5 star restaurants. There were always at least two attentive servers making sure you got everything.

I’ve been to Viale a few times now.
Highlights:
$ 1 oysters everyday from 5−7pm
above average cocktails — the ones I have tried have been unique and delicious
cheese plate was nice
they have small portions and large portions of pasta
service has been mixed — both at a table and at the bar
Overall Viale has potential, but as I’ve seen in other reviews, it doesn’t stand out amongst the other options. I’ve yet to try the pasta and wine special that I’ve caught wind of so I’m sure I’ll be back.

Again, another fancy modern American /​Western European place in Cambridge. While I enjoyed my food here, this place does not stand out enough amongst the many options. I would give the food close to a 4, but round down because of atmosphere and some aspects of the food.
I had high hopes when this place replaced the French place that was here before. The French place was very tasty, but stuffy and not so memorable. Unfortunately, I feel the same about this place. The lighting and decoration are uninviting to the young crowd of Central Square — it is probably difficult enough drawing people in the area to a place of these prices, but some places make it work with their young or innovative atmosphere. That being said, the food here is tasty. So if you’re just craving fancy somewhat innovative Italian /​modern American food and you’re in the area, I still encourage you to come here.
— Bass toast — this was tasty and interesting, where most places would do something with a «safer» fish or meat. It makes a good appetizer.
— Clam soup — my friend enjoyed it enough and gives this dish a 3.5. The soup was very strongly flavored and could have used something else to balance it out (more bread, pasta, etc). My friend actually took most of it home after eating the clams to dilute it down with rice for another meal.
— Wild boar gnocchi — the gnocchi was nicely textured, and the boar was delicious and a unique choice. However, the dinner /​pricier portion didn’t fill the dish at all and I finished it in five minutes. It makes me wonder how small the $ 15 portion must be, or if they made a mistake with me.
Overall, the food was tasty and interesting, but not extremely innovative or memorable. The place is also just too large (so it often looks empty) and stuffy. If you have the money and time to spend, I would try this place, but don’t go out of your way.

On a lightly snowy evening, go ahead and take your significant other to Viale with or without a reservation. Viale won me over when they had seating availability at 6:45 PM in their bar area (high tops) on Valentine’s Day of all nights (yeah, the storm may have had something to do with it. *shrug*)
There was a special menu for the evening, but the regular menu was also available. Viale offers a nice mix of Italian/​Mediterranean fare, small shareable plates, sides, homemade pastas, and larger dishes, including seafoods and hearty meats. Although the menu fits on a single page, the variety felt like enough to provide choice for its patrons.
I ordered a little from the special menu and a little from the regular. Here’s the 411.
Special menu: Homemade tagilatelle, fresh shaved truffle, black trumpet mushrooms ($ 14). Jonah crab salad, meyer lemon, olives ($ 15). The tagliatelle was nicely prepared with a just-​chewy bite to it. In this small plate, there was maybe a cup of pasta; enough to share several hearty bites with your partner, but with a richness that had us eating slowly so as to enjoy every bite. The jonah crab was SO yummy. Jonah crab is sweet and light and was complemented perfectly with the sweet lemon and salty olives. Melts in your mouth. Mmm!
Regular menu: Steelhead trout, mushroom risotto, grilled rapini ($ 24, i think.). Steelhead trout has the color and consistency of salmon: oily, pink, best when underdone. The skin is left on and impossibly crisp (so good). And although the risotto is a creamy companion, balsamic vinegars cut through the fat and make an excellent counterpart.
Can’t wait to go back and try the other fish dishes and pastas. Without a reservation.

Should we try the replacement for Rendezvous? Sure, why not? Better yet, let’s make it an impromptu birthday celebration!
With ample metered parking, friendly and knowledgeable servers, and delectable dishes, the overall experience was made that much better.
My friends and I visited on a brisk evening for our monthly ladies’ night gathering after a very long day at work. Upon entering, we were greeted by no less than two hosts and several waiters; one of the hosts kindly guided us to our table by the window and left us under the care of the servers. We had brought in a cake as well; restaurant policy is that cakes can be brought in from other vendors, with a cutting fee charge of $ 2 per person.
We started with small plates and appetizers: the Cheese Board, Antipasti Plate, Winter Salad, and Bone Marrow were all quite delectable. The blue cheese was a favorite, with the maple almonds and orange-​brandied cranberries bringing out the tartness of the cheese. Tender beef tongue and the mustardy horseradish with prosciutto and parmesan-​like cheese disappeared quickly, with the white bean purée topping off each meat. The escargot accompanying the bone marrow was a nice touch; one disappointment was the seasoning of the marrow — it was nearly flavorless, save for the black garlic and Thai basil juices underneath the bone. The winter salad was light and left us less guilt than if no vegetables had been eaten.
Shared entrees included Steelhead Trout, Saffron Fettucini, and Duck Breast. The coloring and tenderness of the trout led us to believe it was salmon; the mushroom risotto and rapini it was served upon provided a texture and flavor contrast that made the entire dish delightful. We didn’t expect such spice from the fettucini, but it was welcome with the wind chill we’d just endured. Chunks of lobster and squid cooked to perfection tossed with chili peppers to bring up the heat were devoured quickly. And the duck breast disappeared amongst the omnivores — the apple-​currant mostarda atop medium-​rare slices of duck was just enough to leave us happy and full.
–1 star for a limited wine list. One would think that it would have a wider range of options than what we were offered, and more selections by the glass vs. the bottle. That’s not to say the drinks weren’t fantastic, however — half our bill was cocktails! We tried multiple glasses of The Eldridge (what smooth gin!), the Owl Farm (who knew tequila and beet juice would produce such complex flavors for a margarita?), The Ludlow (mmm, scotch), Off to the Races (a white rum lime rickey), and Easy Sunday Morning (love the blood orange flavor).
Service was 5 stars; our server was keen on keeping our water and cocktail glasses full, and cleverly took our surreptitious cues to surprise the birthday girl with our cake. The other servers who brought dishes to us as they were ready were knowledgeable as well, as demonstrated with their explanations on the origin of the cheese and antipasti.
You bet I’ll be back!

4.5 stars — I loved it! Service was attentive, restaurant was spacious, and loved the food. It seemed slightly more Italian than Mediterranean (this is not a bad or good thing, just a feeling). For the pastas I recommend getting the half portions and trying more types — then you get to sample more things! Note that this place is not cheap. This is what we tried.
Pork ragu — pork was tender, perfectly cooked, falling off the bone nicely, and very meaty, so it was good sharing it for three people. Very delicious.
Lamb pasta — It wasn’t called «pasta“I can’t quite remember what the type of pasta was, but imagine flat large pasta pieces with many bits of delicious lamb and a slight creamy touch.
Saffron fettuccine — fragrant, light and with plenty of seafood (squid, crabmeat), tomatoes, a garlic-​ky more aglio olio type of taste (ie not a creamy base).
Also tasted abit of the duck cappelletti, which was excellent. Well cooked duck stuffed in riavoli (my interpretation of what the dish was).
Definitely looking forward to try more dishes. Hope the standard holds even as the restaurant gets more popular.