Charlie’s Kitchen

Oh, Charlie's. Since I came of age, you have been one of my standby's for good cheap drinks, delicious food, and perhaps most importantly, an unerringly cool rock and roll vibe. The juke box selection is on point, the staff is hip and cute, and you never know what sexy stranger in a leather jacket you may meet upstairs. Want to see some rad local bands? Charlie's got em. Karoake nights? Yep. A beer garden for soaking up the sun in the summertime? Check. They even have a pub trivia night if you want to prove you know your pop culture better than those brainy Harvard kids. Don't forget to try the waffle fries!!

There aren’t many culinary intersections between Town and Gown in Cambridge, but this is one. Just a short block from the Harvard Square T stop, this two-story bar greets all comers with a chaotic front display of neon signs. The neon signs are inside, too, behind the first story bar, which is lined with shiny red stools. Most people, however, sit at the booths that run the length of the wall opposite the bar. But Charlie’s is two bars in one. Up a rickety staircase is another bar serving many similar tables and booths, but up here everything is grungier. Here the customers choose the music at the jukebox, and you’re more likely to find a sports game on the TV without a team from Boston in it. Just watch out for flying darts. During Boston’s two weeks of summer, however, Charlie’s becomes the most popular bar in town. That’s because its beer garden is the perfect place to mingle in pleasant weather. What unites all three sections of Charlie’s, however, is its budget menu. The all-star is the delicious double cheeseburger with fries, which is actually less expensive than many of its beers, which are impressively diverse. The menu offers soup, fried treats, and even some wraps, but it’s no place for the dieting and the meat-averse. It is the perfect place, however, for those looking to get away from the snootier parts of Cambridge and kick up their heels among a true cross-section of Cambridge.

Charlie's Kitchen is one of those well-kept secrets that every local cherishes and every visitor and new resident is dying to discover. Nestled in a busy section of Harvard Square, this charming bar and restaurant has, for over 40 years, provided cheap, delicious eats, an expansive list of flavorful draft beer, and exciting contemporary live music to a large and dedicated local populace. Their famous $5 cheeseburger alone has legions of ravenous college students for generations. The place is always packed and bustling with a diverse crowd of young professionals, students and old locals. Its got a homey, lived in feel, but is surprisingly clean and professionally staffed. Charlie's is the sort of place where one can read quietly for hours, meet a first date, or celebrate with friends for a long night of revelry. In short: Charlie's Kitchen is a must-know standby for anyone who likes comfy, local bars with cheap quality eats and a personable, friendly ambiance that only decades of steady success can produce. If you're visiting Cambridge, this bar/restaurant is a perfect mid-day stop, and if you live in the area, its a reliable choice for local nightlife spot without pretense. What more could one want?