Alden Harlow - Cambridge

This used to be a favorite now it's simply not worth returning. The tables are so crammed in that it is impossible to hear the people at your own table or it feels like you are literally intruding on the people who are sitting mere inches away. The portions are expensive and tiny. Be prepared to order a lot and still walk away pretty hungry. The prices are steep and although that is to be expected nowadays, it's a bit more of a sting when you've eaten a scallop, quarter of a corn pancake, piece of broccoli...you get the idea. They are very clear that it's small plates the second you sit down which I do appreciate. The cocktails were also fantastic which is a plus. Finally, the service is super rushed. The plates were being pulled away while we were still eating which was really annoying. It's a cool concept that just doesn't deliver.

The server did not know the menu, so his descriptions were poor. One of our 4 entries came after the other three people were done eating, and after they said it would only be 4 more minutes, it took 11 minutes. No one apologized or even seemed to care. The chips with the burger were stale and the bread pudding was awful. We've eaten there a few times in the past, but not again.

We generally enjoy the food. This visit the food was subpar compared to previous visits. Most notably their music is played too loud consistently these days. I think they believe they're running a nightclub and not a restaurant. Two tables adjoining us left the restaurant after appetizers because they could not have a conversation. We requested of 2 servers to ask the manager be notified that the music was too loud to consider turning it down two or three notches. In fact, we believe they turned it up for the next two songs. It's a great location, unfortunately, mismanaged these days.

Really good cocktails. Excellent, friendly, and helpful service. We had the broccoli, the scallops, and the plancha of beef. The broccoli was good but the butternut and cashew topping, while interesting, was a little bland and mooshy. The cube of beef was tender and delicious. But three scallops for $27 seemed a little miserly--barely enough to appreciate how tasty it was before the plate was licked clean. I've been there before and got the burger (very good! . If I go again, I'll get the burger again.

They said we should order several more plates than the number of people. There was no way to fit the plates on the tiny table we were given eating proved tough! So overall not a very pleasurable experience.