Christopher's Restaurant & Bar

Christopher's Restaurant & BarChristopher's Restaurant & Bar
Christopher's Restaurant & BarChristopher's Restaurant & Bar
Bar, Eatery

1920 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02140-2101
United States

(617) 876-9180 | map
christopherscambridge.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.86
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
25
pDev:
11.14%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of BrucehQ0983
Reviewed by BrucehQ0983 from Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +14%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Great staff,and beer list is best in this area. Nice sours, local, and specialty beers. Pub food with flair and a warm atmosphere!
I'm reviewing this establishment because it's close to home, and always welcoming.
Jan 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.01 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.98 by TrilliumFan from Massachusetts

Dec 23, 2014
Photo of PatriotsRule
Reviewed by PatriotsRule from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +29.5%
Fantastic beers in all 24 taps. Always have some jacks Abby, and the food ain't shabby neither. Great spot to grab a clam chowdah, nachos and a few beers. Toad next door has solid beers too, and free live music. You can walk right up from the red line and/or commuter rail station, and these two places are less than a hundred feet away.
Nov 13, 2014
Photo of skinny_mcginley
Rated by skinny_mcginley from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.6%
Good food, good prices, pretty good craft selection. (They had Breakfast stout on tap so I was happy)
Oct 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by turcobrau from Massachusetts

Oct 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by cshafer7 from Massachusetts

Sep 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by dubdrop from Vermont

Apr 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by dmachado from Massachusetts

Apr 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by tegelaar from Massachusetts

Jan 29, 2014
Photo of celticfutblclub
Reviewed by celticfutblclub from Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4
christophers is the occasional stop for me as its right across from where i take the T home. its definitely got some good qualities but also could improve on certain fronts. overall though its a decent place to meet up with friends.

the atmosphere is that of a bar/restaurant and its nothing exceptional nor does it have any major issues.

the quality and selection of the beer can be a bit of a bother at times however. i notice they tend to weigh heavily on a beer style or two instead of trying to offer as many things as possible. they also seem to always go with 4 or 5 breweries which limits the amount of surprise beers they do have. with that said there is always a beer on tap that you probably won't find on tap at too many other bars (if any) in the boston area.

the staff and service is definitely amazing and they will do anything to make sure you have a good time. never had bad service there and i've been many a times..

the food is good and above average for bars in the area (its also not that over priced either).

overall its a good place and with a bit better beer menu i think it could be a real winner..
Jun 19, 2011
Photo of Fluke828
Reviewed by Fluke828 from Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
Decided to give this place a try for some after dinner beers with the lady friend. Really enjoyed the exposed brick and overall appearance of the place. Bar is around the back when you first walk in and is rounded and quite nice. The selection of crafts on tap was pretty damn good and supposedly they rotate them quite often, (even weekly I think, from what we could tell) and the brews tasted fresh.

I was curious about a few that I had never tasted or even heard of and the bartenders were nice enough to let me try a few small samples before committing to a full pint. I tried a Notch Hop Session, which I late found out is still only available in kegs, while the lady tried a sour from Haverhill, and then I moved onto the McRogue Scotch Ale by, well, Rogue, obviously. Both tasted very fresh and very good, especially the Scotch, which was served to me in a nice tulip.

Overall, I really enjoyed Christopher's although the service was a little spotty between my first and trying to get my second beer(so that took the service down to a 3.0 but it was a pretty busy Saturday night and we were at the end of the bar) however they were nice and accommodating especially with letting me try several samples before buying anything. We didn't eat, so I can't comment on the food but since this is right across the street from the Porter stop on the Red Line and the taps are constantly changing, we will definitely be back fairly often.
Feb 16, 2011
Photo of Duhast500
Reviewed by Duhast500 from Rhode Island

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5
I went in here the other night for a burger and a good craft beer. I got a table by myself right in front of the big screen so I could watch the game and had a Bruery's Three French Hens. Christopher's is one of those places where you can get a great hamburger and a good craft beer. The car was crowded but was not too loud and had a great atmosphere. The staff was quite helpful and knew some stuff about the beers offered when questioned so I consider that a plus. There beer list was a good size and had a good amount of seasonal craft beers to keep me interested. The food was outstanding like I expected and I ended up really enjoying my quick bite out alone. This is really a great place to stop by if you're in the area.
Dec 20, 2010
Photo of HT75
Reviewed by HT75 from Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2 | food: 4
This is a fun neighborhood joing but not a beer bar. They rotate their taps often, so there is bound tot be something a little different that you will like. The staff doesn't know much about the beer often but at least they don't try to pretend like they do. They will usually let you have a little taste before you commit to something. The menu is very simple but tasty. Basically bar food. However, i would recommend trying the Sunday brunch. It's usually pretty good and they make a decent Bloody Mary.
Nov 22, 2009
Photo of jamie2dope
Reviewed by jamie2dope from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I went in to this place last night for a pint. Nice looking round bar, with some interesting movie artwork on the walls. Tap selection was very good. Some of the things i saw included Southern Tier Jahva, Backburner, Smuttynose Weizenbock, Haverhill Leatherlips, Paper City XXX Pale Ale and Cambridge Spring Training IPA. The bartender was friendly, and the beers were served in appropriate glassware. Did not get a chance to try the food, but maybe next time. This place deserves more credit than it gets. I plan on coming back again soon. Cheers
Apr 21, 2009
Photo of Trailmix242
Reviewed by Trailmix242 from Nevada

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Went to Christopher's for the first time last night and I was quite impressed. Having not heard a whole lot about this place the draught selection was pretty darn good. They do not have a ton of bottles to choose from but they did have Founder's KBS available which was quite a bonus. All of the high octane pours were 13oz which is more generous than most places in town. Food was pretty good with some interesting selections. Service was a little slow at first but picked up. I will definitly visit the place again when I am in Porter Square.
Apr 07, 2009
Photo of applky
Reviewed by applky from New York

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
The selection is just average, but earns a 3.5 in my book simply because they do have ten rotating taps, and they often have great stuff (Stoudt's, Schneider, Southern Tier, Mayflower, Berkshire, Founder's, Stone, and Cambridge Brewing Company, to name a few) on those taps. Their website isn't as updated as religiously as Cambridge Common's, so call ahead if you're going specially to try a specific beer.

Unlike Cambridge Common -- which is owned by the same family -- samplers can only be selected from lower ABV beers. The other night, I tried to get them to put the Schneider Aventinus in a sampler for me, and the barman, who was otherwise very friendly and knowledgeable about the brews, said he couldn't. Other than that, service is great. Some have quibbles about this, but there's a section of tables that are "self-serve," i.e. you sit and go to the bar and get your beers yourself; I personally think this is a nice, informal touch in a place that has a slightly more formal feel to it than your average gastropub.

The food is excellent, and obviously similar to Cambridge Common's. Despite the decidedly more upscale ambiance, prices are almost the same as well, which is to say very reasonable, especially if you stick to appetizers and sandwiches, which are the best offerings on the menu anyway. The nachos are highly recommended, in all their various permutations.

The edge Christopher's has over Cambridge Common, in addition to the ambiance, is its location. It's across the street from the Porter T stop, whereas Cambridge Common is half a mile down Mass Ave. Yes, Cambridge Common has a better beer selection, but if you don't want to walk, don't mind fewer rotating taps, and want a place that's a bit nicer and quieter, Christopher's is your ticket.

(Also, apparently they serve lunch now.)
Dec 21, 2008
Photo of CJohn
Reviewed by CJohn from Wisconsin

3.4/5  rDev -11.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
Atmosphere: Exposed brick, Dim lighting, lots of noise from the people, which I thought was nice. dark wooden tables and dark wooden chairs.

Service: Our server was nice enough, He didn't make me feel like he was happy I was there, not that he has to entertain me, just smile more. His service was a little shotty, a little late to the table, late to ask if there was anything else, didn't say much, smiled little.
Selection: (of Beer) Pretty good! They have about 15 kinds bottled, 24 on tap (8 of which are rotating). I had the CBC Hefeweizen and the Brooklyn Blast., Not a beer bar, but a bar with a pretty good beer selection.
Food: Average. Chips with salsa and guac... average. Veggie fajita's... average.
The beer was expensive, about 4.00-8.00 a glass, standard stuff. I didn't walk out feeling like I was tapped.
Notes: Multiple levels of seating, I assume they could accommodate large parties. 25 seater horseshoe bar. I would go back for drinks with friends, not necessarily the food.
Aug 06, 2008
Photo of YonderWanderer
Reviewed by YonderWanderer from Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This is one of my favorite places to go in Cambridge. Located right across from Porter Square, it's easy to get to, has good service, a good beer selection, and great food. The beer selection is comprised of numerous bottles and around 15 taps, 3-4 which are rotated on a fairly regular basis. The rest are rotated more on a seasonal basis except for the standards (Sam Adams, etc). However, they do get some good unexpected beers in here, as well as a good number of local brews from New England. They offer a 4 beer sampler for a reasonable price, with good sized samples. The food is what does it for me here though - all freshly made and delicious. The burgers are some of the best in the area, and their homemade veggie burger is simply amazing. Highly recommended.
Jul 31, 2007
Photo of albern
Reviewed by albern from Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
This place has a warm spot for me because it is where I had my first date with my now wife. I chose this place on purpose because it has decent beers, a decent menu, an unpretentious atmosphere and available parking nearby. The beers have always been good, with some local beers on tap. I particularly like the Cambridge Pale on tap. The bar is a wrap around one and the restaurant extends upstairs. If you stay late enough you can go to the Toad next door, hear local bands, and continue imbibing with a good selection of beers as well. Christophers is an institution in Porter Sq and will be around long after the rest of us have left this mortal coil for the great beer cloud in the sky. If you're in Porter Sq and want a decent, reasonably priced place, then this is your joint.
Jul 08, 2007
Photo of ridedammit
Reviewed by ridedammit from New Zealand

3.7/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
A and I have been here a few times and it took me that long to warm to the place. Our first visit we were sat next to the stairs and felt outta place like we were sitting in the wrong place, the next 2 times we were downstairs near the fireplace or at the bar, much nicer. The bar itself wraps around in a horseshoe and you need to go into another room to see if there are seats. The food is above average,
I had a burger (rarely eat meat) because it is naturally grown, eco-friendly beef, whatever that means, and it was good.

The beer slection is decent, but the bartenders didn't seem interested in tending. They were not unfriendly, but didn't really make you feel welcome. If you live around Porter Square its a good place to eat, but I actually enjoy the Toad
next door for drinking.
Aug 15, 2006
Photo of MuddyFeet
Reviewed by MuddyFeet from North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -14.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 2
I used to go to this place a lot when I lived near Porter Square 5 years ago. Their beer has improved but the food has gone down hill much further. We used to go there for decent pub grub but now it is much more of a commercialized, large-production "fast" food type of restaurant. And they have a huge menu with something that will appeal to everyone or ever craving.

Nice atmosphere around the bar but it was real packed this particular Friday night. Has a kind of cheap-date-but trying-to-impress feel. There was a 30 minute wait for a table so we grabbed a round of beers to wait. Bartenders were quick and while not knowledgeable about the beers on tap they would at least try to answer questions and one even provided a sample. The waitress at our table was efficient but nothing more.

Nice beer selection. One tap from Cambridge Brewing Company. A couple of Great Divide. One Berkshire. And a couple of taps that kind of grabbed my attention as a place to check out for a pint after work. But not the food.
Feb 16, 2006
Photo of bjohnson
Reviewed by bjohnson from Massachusetts

2.85/5  rDev -26.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 1.5
Went here the other night after work to check the place out. Right on Mass Ave. in Porter Sq., very accessible by T. It seemed pretty hoppin' so we had a beer at the bar and made our way upstairs to eat dinner. Not as many beers on tap as I would have liked, although the beer I had did taste as it should so I'm assuming the quality is good. They did have a Magic Hat seasonal, Harpoon, and Sierra, but nothing else jumped out at me. Mostly macros and your run of the mill stuff. I think this place might have changed owners over this past year as a friend of mine raved about it but hadn't been back since summer 2004.

The waitress we had was attentive and nice, but didn't bring anything extra special. Atmosphere was ok in the bar area, but upstairs I felt as though I was in a wood cabin. Huge brick wall in the center of the floor divides the two sides of the eating area. Walls are clapboard wood that makes it seems like you put a fist through them.

I've heard from people that the food is akin to a Friday's or the 99, which in my book isn't very good. I wasn't really interested in anything on the menu so my buddy and I ordered a 22 of Sierra (the upgrade is a good thing) and a plate of Chicken nachos. The chicken nachos came and we dug into them. At first I was happy, although all I was having was cheese and nacho chips. When we go to the meaty section of the nachos I thought I was eating nachos with chicken parm. on top. The Chicken wasn't in cubs or small pieces like regular chicken is supposed to be on nachos. It was chicken tenders with marinara sauce. Also, who puts CARROTS in their nachos? I've never heard of that, ever! Food was bad to terrible. We promptly paid our bill and left.
Feb 11, 2006
Photo of Truh
Reviewed by Truh from New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Christopher's always has a solid tap line up, which comes as no surprise as it's owned by the same folks who own the Cambridge Common, a mere hop, skip, and a jump down Mass. Ave. You can rely on taps from Magic Hat, Wolaver's, Anchor Steam, Otter Creek, Brooklyn, Smutty, and some other interesting stuff (rercently had on some Pennichuck and Sothern Tier).

Atmosphere is low lighting, calming wood, and fake fireplaces for the cooler months - kind of an older person's, mid 30s vibe, a nice change from all of the hipster douchebag places in the Cambridge/Somerville environs. Quality is much better than that of Redbones if for no othe reason than this, but the beer offered is starting to overtake that of Redbones, if it hasn't already.

The menu tells a story of glorified pub-grub with some Tex-Mex thrown in, and "famous burgahs", including "build your own" with 100% Coleman naturally raised beef. I ordered a bowl of vegetable soup for $3.95 to keep things light. The bartender took my order quickly, and the drinks were poured expediently and with great care. All in all a quality place.
Mar 15, 2005
Photo of warriorsoul
Reviewed by warriorsoul from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
The perfect place to go with your significant other, or just a bunch of friends. They have TV's at the bar to catch the Sox or a fireplace to sit by during the colder months.
The staff are real friendly and take great care of you.
They have a nice selection of beer on tap (which is all I am interested in alcohol-wise) with many local NE Micros represented.
I must admit, the last time I was in...both beers I had were flat. I had Magic Hat's "Heart of Darkness" and Sierra Nevada's "Celebration Ale" and they were really weak...this was the first time I experienced this here, so I will call it a off night.
They have roughly 15 or more beers on tap and always keep a updated beer menu handy at your table.
I love the buffalo chicken tenders, but be very scared if you don't like spicy...they kick it up a few notches!
Everything I have had here was real tasty...and fresh.
Christopher's is a great place to go and have a fine meal w/ plenty of choice when it comes to brews.
Jan 29, 2005
Christopher's Restaurant & Bar in Cambridge, MA
Place rating: 3.86 out of 5 with 25 ratings