12 Best Restaurants in Kendall Square/MIT, Boston

The area's first Afghan restaurant, named after the country's most important river, welcomes you into its cozy Kendall Square confines with Afghan rugs, a wood-burning oven, and exotic, yet extremely approachable food that reflects the motherland's location halfway between the Middle East and India. Standouts, beyond the chewy warm bread, include magical names from a faraway land like aushak (leek-stuffed ravioli over yogurt with beef ragu and mint), chapendaz (marinated grilled beef tenderloin served with cumin-spiced hot pepper–tomato puree), and a vegetarian baked pumpkin platter. The warm atmosphere, courtesy of a small fireplace and a woodburning oven that provides heat for the restaurant's famous flatbread, gives off the comforts of home while maintaining a world's away vibe.

With two restaurants (including Sofra in Cambridge) and two cookbooks to her name, chef-owner Ana Sortun continues to bewitch area diners with her intricately spiced eastern Mediterranean mezes (small plates) made with fresh-picked produce from her husband's nearby Siena Farms. Oleana's menu changes often, but look for the hot, crispy-fried mussels starter and Sultan's Delight (tamarind-glazed beef with smoky eggplant puree) along with large plates of Iskender lamb kebab and lemon chicken. The Chef's choice is a delightful vegetable meze, complete with a rich dessert. When the weather is inviting, the cozy atmosphere of this tucked away spot spills out into a peaceful back patio garden.

This brightly colored place with about a dozen tables turns out fresh, high-quality sandwiches and burgers, all served with coleslaw, dill pickle, and a smile. Beyond multiple beef burgers, you'll find classics like crispy, overstuffed Reubens, the Pastraminator, and the famous Atomic Meatloaf Meltdown, which has been highlighted on a number of foodie networks. Soups, salads, and chili are available, along with a small selection of beer and wine. If pies are more your thing, sister restaurant All-Star Pizza Bar is just across the street.

This Cambridge hot spot is locally loved, which means there are usually long waiting times but the breakfast and lunch menus are worth it. The omelet menu is far beyond your basic egg and cheese, with combos such as fig, prosciutto, and goat cheese, and there's cinnamon swirl French toast, their 20-hour slow-cooked corned beef hash, and the signature eggs Benedict. The lunch crowd dines on panini, specialty sandwiches, and "big bowl" salads, They also serve up fair trade coffee, for an extra kick, as well as beer, wine, and cordials.  Closing time is 2 or 4 pm, depending on the day, so be sure to stop in early.

Chef-owner William Kovel’s simple, approachable French-American cuisine translates to dishes like chicken liver mousse, squid ink cavatelli, pan-roasted blue cod, and house-made pastas. The dining room has views of the semi-open kitchen and the atrium with sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition to cranking out a superb menu, Chef Kovel is a Level 2 sommelier, so he stays on top of exciting new wines, an ever-changing beer program, and a bar program supplemented with house-made syrups and infusions. Reclaimed barn board, hand-blown glass light fixtures, and a two-way fireplace with sofas give the large restaurant a comfortable, intimate environment. The heated outdoor patio is a hot spot for warmer months and a chilly glass of Patio Punch.

Named after the art of the tea ceremony, the new-age feel to this spacious outpost starts with organic teas and coffee (displayed in canisters behind the counter) and extends to hearty meal options such as hot noodle soup, cold noodle salads, multigrain rice bowls, wraps, vegan dishes, and smoothies. Linger over free Wi-Fi.

A nod to East Cambridge's place as the center of the nation’s glass-making industry and home to its largest glass factory, Glass House is an eye-catching restaurant that offers tasty American cuisine that delivers a good balance between sea and land (think charred octopus and bone-in rib eye). While the cocktail menu is full of creative drinks and the draft beer selections are strong, the mocktail list is just as impressive, with several fruity and fizzy refreshing drinks.

Dream team James Beard Award–winning chef-owners Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer (of Coppa and Toro fame) serve crazy-good small plates made from big, bold, unexpected combos: think foie gras with bee pollen, manti (Istanbul meat ravioli), and Wagyu tartare with caviar. While burgers are indulgent—patties gilded with foie gras—you can also enjoy empanadas with Impossible Burger for plant-based protein, as well as a light and refreshing raw bar.

Perched between Central and Harvard Squares, this New American trattoria was created by husband and wife team Chris and Pam Willis. The rulebook goes out the window here as the menu takes traditional Italian flavors and turns them on their tails in a prix-fixe menu (à la carte is available only in the bar/lounge area), with items like Hiramasa crudo, 45-day–aged steak tartare, and sablefish with forbidden rice at the ready. The cocktail presence is strong (so are the drinks), and the natural wine list features small-batch wines from vineyards off the beaten path. Known for its romantic and intimate nature, Pammy's dual-opening fireplace, dramatic floral arrangements, and hand-drawn peacock mural add to its well-known charming nature that brings in foodies from all over Cambridge.

With three foodie destinations under one roof, The Shed is a dining hat trick right in the middle of Cambridge Crossing's Picnic Grove (a new green area in the heart of the city). The Lexington is chef/owner Will Gilson's shining star of the space, serving up dishes that highlight foods from The Herb Lyceum, a four-acre working farm in Groton operated by his family since the 1800s. Dine high above the city on the restaurant's coveted roof deck. Favorites have included grilled Berkshire chops, rabbit mafadine, mushroom tartine, and spring rigatone. The Shed also is home to sister eateries Cafe Beatrice, an early-morning breakfast spot, and Geppetto, an eatery for all things Italian.

Toscanini's Ice Cream is a well-loved local spot, specializing in all sorts of creative flavors; it has garnered national attention from the likes of the New York Times and People magazine. Also a good place for coffee, the shop frequently has small art exhibits. From the MIT Museum, it's two blocks up Mass Ave. toward Central Square; look for it on the right.

If you're looking for serious ice cream, head to Toscanini's. With flavors such as gingersnap molasses, bourbon, cranberry goat cheese, burnt caramel, and green tea, this MIT establishment has few equals, especially when it comes to their microsundae—a teeny scoop of ice cream topped with excellent homemade hot fudge and real whipped cream—a perfect option for kids and adults eager for a guilt-free splurge (well, almost). Their banana pudding was even chosen as a favorite by Bon Appétit magazine.