Rendezvous in Central Square
Nancy Lee Dellaria '08
Issue date: 12/5/06 Section: Student Life
Rendezvous
502 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-576-1900
www.rendezvouscentralsquare.com
Hours:
DINNER
Sunday - Thursday: 5 - 10 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 5 - 11 p.m.
Rendezvous is a relatively new restaurant from local celebrity chef, Steve Johnson, who has an incredibly loyal Cambridge following. His former restaurant, the Blue Room in Kendall Square, put him on the culinary map. In Rendezvous, he transformed a former Burger King into one of the best dining destinations in Central Square. He told me that he wants Rendezvous "to be a happy place" and he has definitely succeeded in doing so.
Apparently reservations are a good idea at Rendezvous. Most restaurants are quiet on Sunday nights, but when we showed up without reservations, our only option was to eat at the bar. The bar is unusual at Rendezvous, as it is not raised. You sit in normal-height chairs and the bar has a stained poured cement countertop. Most importantly, unlike most bar dining experiences, you'll actually have enough room to enjoy your meal. We were also able to catch the end of the truly shocking Colts-Cowboys game.
The crowd at Rendezvous is a mix of couples and groups of families and friends enjoying a nice dinner. It is a lively crowd. The jazz background music along with the warm ambiance gives the place a sophisticated feel, but you definitely (and thankfully) avoid the typical self-important types you normally see at nice Boston area restaurants.
We started off our dinner by ordering drinks. Sadly, I had three problem sets due the next day so I only ordered a sparkling water. My husband, having zero sympathy, ordered a ginger cocktail with goslings rum, ginger, lime, white peach, and soda, all shaken and poured over ice. I did notice that the cocktail menu has many unique, infused cocktails with interesting ingredients like cardamom, chamomile, lychees, and kumquats. I was not quite sure what cardamom is exactly, but the helpful owner brought some by and it smelled heavenly, reminding me of limes.
502 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-576-1900
www.rendezvouscentralsquare.com
Hours:
DINNER
Sunday - Thursday: 5 - 10 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 5 - 11 p.m.
Rendezvous is a relatively new restaurant from local celebrity chef, Steve Johnson, who has an incredibly loyal Cambridge following. His former restaurant, the Blue Room in Kendall Square, put him on the culinary map. In Rendezvous, he transformed a former Burger King into one of the best dining destinations in Central Square. He told me that he wants Rendezvous "to be a happy place" and he has definitely succeeded in doing so.
Apparently reservations are a good idea at Rendezvous. Most restaurants are quiet on Sunday nights, but when we showed up without reservations, our only option was to eat at the bar. The bar is unusual at Rendezvous, as it is not raised. You sit in normal-height chairs and the bar has a stained poured cement countertop. Most importantly, unlike most bar dining experiences, you'll actually have enough room to enjoy your meal. We were also able to catch the end of the truly shocking Colts-Cowboys game.
The crowd at Rendezvous is a mix of couples and groups of families and friends enjoying a nice dinner. It is a lively crowd. The jazz background music along with the warm ambiance gives the place a sophisticated feel, but you definitely (and thankfully) avoid the typical self-important types you normally see at nice Boston area restaurants.
We started off our dinner by ordering drinks. Sadly, I had three problem sets due the next day so I only ordered a sparkling water. My husband, having zero sympathy, ordered a ginger cocktail with goslings rum, ginger, lime, white peach, and soda, all shaken and poured over ice. I did notice that the cocktail menu has many unique, infused cocktails with interesting ingredients like cardamom, chamomile, lychees, and kumquats. I was not quite sure what cardamom is exactly, but the helpful owner brought some by and it smelled heavenly, reminding me of limes.
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