Catalyst Restaurant

Just had dinner last night (family of four)……..AMAZING!!!! Service was spot on (the team made us feel like VIPs) and the food was on point (try the scallops they were one of the best I’ve ever had). Chef William and his entire team nailed it again. Already looking forward to going back! Thanks again for an amazing dining experience.

Finally made it to this Cambridge restaurant after hearing rave reviews for years and it exceeded expectations! Unique pre-dinner cocktails at the bar were delightful. The lamb kabob with hummus was a perfect starter. Choosing mains was a challenge as everything looked amazing. We went with the seared blue cod, ginger lemongrass salmon (on delicious coconut black rice), and pork tenderloin, all of which were fantastically flavorful. Catalyst's staff is perfectly attentive and friendly, and its open, airy space still manages to feel intimate. Our only regret? We were too pressed for time to indulge in the dessert menu. But we'll be back.

A science themed restaurant with excellent seared blue cod and side of asparagus. Love the cosy tables quiet enough to have a conversation.

The food, the service, and the space at Catalyst were all excellent. I tried to get a dinner reservation for a large group of people for this restaurant and it was completely booked out. I was able to come here with a small group for lunch. We enjoyed the appetizers and the entrées.

Amazing staff that went above and beyond to make our group meal perfect. Food was excellent and would definitely go back.

Very good food, we had something to share other than the personal dishes. The desserts were quite creative and very tasty. Everything was amazing. Quite expensive, but it is fair considering the quality of the food and the ambience. Highly recommended!!

My sister and sister in law had their "Brunchaversary/wedding reception" here this past Sunday. Everything was absolutely wonderful. The servers and bartenders were so friendly and attentive...props to the bartender who made my gin-sours (they were divine) Food was delicious and the venue was gorgeous!!! I will be making the trip back to dine here soon.

I really wanted to like this place and chose it for my birthday dinner because of the interesting vegan dishes on the menu. However, this was the first time I've had to request salt and pepper (as usually restaurants are quite generous with salting dishes) and the gochujang tofu that I ordered was quite small and barely had a detectable flavor (other than a ton of sugar) - definitely no heat whatsoever. I also couldn't taste any truffle in the truffle fries; the draght beer menu was decent size, but not a single lager; and no desserts that were non-dairy. All this came with a very hefty price tag.

You might not think of this place as a feasting place but come with your favorite friends, order a bunch of things, and enjoy. My favorites were the ribs, the buffalo chicken dip, and the Parmesan fries. So. Delicious. It's very laid back, service is wonderful, and prices are decent. They make a good tequila sunrise, too. Come for a date, come for after work drinks, or come for a feast. You won't be disappointed. ((Except in me for not getting pictures))

Catalyst is located in a cozy spot in Cambridge. The service was a bit slow, but the food was amazing! We were able to make reservation on the same day and it was packed for a weekday night. We got the focaccia to start, which was great -- super nice, flavorful, and soft. For our mains, we got a steak and pasta. The steak was juicy, which was delicious; however, the pasta was more on the doughy side (almost like gnocchi texture) which may be good or bad depending on how you like your pasta. I love that their pasta has two sizes so you can choose between a small or large size! Lastly, the desserts were delicious. The chocolate macaron was sweet and chocolatey while the passion fruit tart was tangy and a tad sour.

Came here for dinner, and I would say it was very a modern and lofty chic ambience. We were seated by the window and the service was very nice. The food is Contemporary cuisine. We started with tuna tartare, which was really delicious and we had side of wedge, potato, sweet potatoes serve with aïoli, which was delicious, and the blue cod was phenomenal! I like, but they use fresh ingredients. They added muscles in the purée. It was so flavorful !I had a sampling of beef tornedos and it was delicious and for desert I had the Matcha chocolate, which sounded interesting, because I actually like the flavors separately, but it was beautifully decorated in design. The prices were reasonable for what you're getting and the ambience is gorgeous. Definitely come back here again.

Delicious food on our anniversary. Staff gave us a complimentary flute of rosé and a dessert, excellent service and really delicious focaccia, pasta, and halibut.

I went here for a fancy office dinner after work on a week night with colleagues along with some top brass. So we had the private room with 3 round tables and a 4-course menu plus charcuterie platters on the table. We've driven by this place many times and didn't really know much about it until this visit and it's nice! It's a nice elegant restaurant, cool ambiance and food is great. I was still somewhat full from lunch so I had three of the 4 courses. I had the salad with apples, skipped the second course, got the salmon entree and then the seasonal fresh fruit for dessert. Everything was tasty. I tried the second course butternut squash ravioli that my colleague ordered and it was really nice too. Service was efficient although this was a private function dinner so can't say if it's the same in the restaurant. Overall a great experience and would love to return!

I recently went for lunch with my co-workers. The service was great and the menu is varied. I enjoyed my meal (though the portions were slightly small). The house ketchup is interesting - though if you're ordering take out, you're not missing out on anything (you might even be better off) if you have a bottle of Heinz at home.

Update - I meant what I said in my original post , I will compliment Catalyst on there prompt reply to my email to them regarding my disappointment . It was prompt and kind, and they did refund me for the bird and some of the sides I was unhappy with along with another kind gesture. It was very much appreciated .

My colleague and I sat at the bar and had a wonderful dialog with the bartenders and enjoyed multiple variations of old fashions. We ordered dinner, and as a vegan, I was disappointed to find very few choices. I chose the gochujang tofu, which should have been spicy and flavorful, but the dish was tasteless. Very disappointing meal, but enjoyed the conversations regardless.

We had a work related team dinner Tuesday night with a fixed menu and they did a good job for us to be honest. Seafood tower was decent and as usual the cold lobster tails were a bit tough but the oysters were solid however. Mushroom soup was nice and my beef dish was a bit over cooked which is unfortunate. Cream brûlée for dessert was hard to mess up. Serve was fine, wines were good and they refilled water glasses often. A solid meal but I doubt I'd go there on my own - for the $$$ I'd go more exotic, ethnic or such.

I loved the tacos they were really good and just enough. The French fries were crispy just how I like them. I went for a lunch with all my colleagues from work. We had over 20 people and the service was amazing. Your team really did a wonderful job so great work taking care of such a large group. I also had the chocolate cake too but forgot to take a picture. Needless to say it was great too. If you are new in town give it a try.

We recently planned a wedding dinner with Catalyst, the food was good but the whole planning experience was absolutely terrible, stressful, and I would NOT recommend to any couples. We first reached out to Catalyst events, everything worked out great until it has transferred the responsibility to the sales team, the coordinator was 1. Not responsive even with constant follow-ups 2. Not answering any of the questions we have brought up 3. Not reading emails even though we have expressed our needs multiple times 4. Messed up with the total bill with 50% at the end I had to reach out to the owner of the restaurant on Instagram desperately because she didn't give us sufficient guidelines to settle on our menu before the stated deadline, which was also just a week before the wedding. The owner did help me out. Big thanks! I would NOT recommend Catalyst if you would like your mind at east.

Mushrooms were great. Two orders of salmon. One was thicker and cooked properly. One was thinner, overcooked and dry. Sent it back and the next one was edible but still overcooked. Rice and broccoli served with the meal was fine. Service was just so so. Water was not refilled until at the end of the meal I asked the waiter when they asked about dessert.

Here for Easter brunch buffet. The good: the crepe, the salads, the eggs in the Benedict were poached just right. The bad: the lobster in the Benedict was about a tablespoon's worth or less per egg, the popover was flat, the potatoes dry, the pastries were all from frozen so a bit chewy and lack of any buttery nuance of flavor. The ugly: it took 45 minutes to get our order. Our waiter was a bit checked out though friendly. Also the Easter Bunny, advertised to make an appearance, was no where to be found. Do not recommend.

Overpriced. Drinks were not strong in the slightest and the entrees were mediocre. Minestrone soup had hardly any soup! Great waiting service and nice atmosphere but everything else was meh

Slow service. Overcooked meat. Overpriced. A real dud. Look elsewhere to the many fine restaurants in the area.

Cassie was our server tonight and she was awesome! She provided great service, friendly and all around made me want to come back! Her recommendations on drinks were perfect!

Came for lunch this week. The food was great. Ordered the linguini and broccoli rabe special they were offering and had some really delicious focaccia. I only saw our waiter once when he took our order so service could have been better.

Such a lovely spot. The ambiance is incredible. I came here for a work dinner and the cocktails were incredible. I had the cocktail with elderflower and really enjoyed myself. For a meal, I got the brown buttered sweet potato pasta. It was quite incredible.

We dined at the restaurant tonight and while many things we consumed were quite good, I can't stop thinking of how terrible my meal was personally. I ordered the t-bone pork chop with the Maine beans. The pork was so over cooked and dry it was difficult to cut, even with the steak knife I had asked for. And the beans, were downright hard and not the least bit edible. Not soaked or cooked through all the way. Beans are not supposed to be al dente. They just aren't. To say I am so utterly disappointed would be a huge understatement. My boyfriend has talked about this restaurant for ages. So here we are, finally dining here, and my meal was horrific. Shame on the chef for not checking the beans before serving them, and for not knowing how to prepare a good cut of pork.

Came here for a friend wedding. Everything was perfect. The service was professional and the atmosphere was wonderful. The mix drinks were good depend on the person that mixed it. The food was overall decent. Definitely, will make my way back another time.

Excellent in terms of quality, atmosphere, and service, and even price considering the experience as a whole. Suitable for a variety of occasions ranging from casual to semi formal.

I wish I were not forced to give a one star. We sat on the patio and only two other tables were occupied. We were walked past 3 times and finally asked for a menu. We received one for two of us. We waited selected what we wanted and were walked past 3 more times- never acknowledged, never offered water, never asked if we were ready. We sat approximately 12-15 minutes and zero acknowledgment. Others place seem more interested in having our business

Ive worked in Kendall about 6 years and all I have ever heard from everyone is OMG Catalyst is the best around, and its the best ever and all these other things, Maybe 5 years ago it was... Now that so many other new places have opened up Im not sure so... So I finally went to Catalyst with a team dinner one night and was expecting to be WOWed and just wasnt, I mean everything was great and the food was good, but it was just Ok. We had a large party & we had to make special reservations and we had to go back & forth several times & were stuck to a picked menu, maybe there are other things on the menu that are better, the steak was good, I mean everything was really good dont get me wrong, but from the years of "OMG its the best ever" I didnt get that.. I would def go back maybe without such a large group to be able to order freely from the menu.

Delicious spot with beautiful decor right next to Area Four / Tech Square. Very friendly service. An excellent choice for group lunches and corporate outings, as it is a little expensive. Healthy lunch options are available, as well as tasty comfort food.

Another restaurant I visited while in Cambridge and this too was very good. I had the Tempura Battered Delicata Squash Rings for an appetizer and the Block Island Swordfish for dinner. Another very good Cambridge restaurant. Sat at the bar here as well and the food and cocktails were very much enjoyed as was the service.

I work across the street but never understood what seemed like overpriced hype about this place... until my SO introduced me to the cod. If you think there's a chance at all you might eat white fish, just get it. Drinks good too.

At this point I've come here a TON because it's close to work. Bar service is inconsistent and I've had a few times where it was impossible to flag someone down. I definitely wouldn't come here if it wasn't work related. I've stopped going for drinks because the bartenders have been unfriendly several times. Food wise the burger continues to be pretty good. If you split it then you get twice the fries :).The steak salad is alright and the chicken wings are good but it's a small portion.

Super nice place especially so close to MIT -- meaning if you have not been in the area in a long time this is just one example of the change that has taken place over the years. I was only here for lunch. Service was quick and efficient and the wait was not long at all for the food. I ended up having a beer battered fish sandwich that was on special. It came with fries and those were thinly cut and quite tasty. The sandwich, however, looked good, tasted good, but seemed to be missing a spark of flavor that would make it go better with the elegant surroundings.

We had a wonderful experience with Catalyst Restaurant. We chose Catalyst for my husbands LCDR promotion celebratory luncheon. We had the restaurant to ourselves and sat in their fireplace room. Robyn was an ease and wonderful to work with from our initial phone call to setting the menu. Table was beautifully set on arrival with printed menus. We had a beautiful 2 hour lunch with a champagne toast and dessert. Food was delicious and a wonderful time was had by all. I would not hesitate to recommend Catalyst for any special event!

If you're coming here from Broadway downward and not from Main, you might miss this place. I came here for a wedding reception, not really knowing what to expect and what we'd have for dinner that night. The entrance was a little dark, with a fireplace nearby. The decor was somewhat intimate, but modern at the same time. The reception room itself was well-lighted and airy enough to not feel constricted. The first course of salad was fine, nothing too special. The thinly-sliced granny smith apples did not offend, as its tartness didn't over-power the salad. The second course of lobster ravioli was fairly nice. The filling was okay, with a passable lobster taste to it. However, the pasta was delicate and cooked properly., not to mention it wasn't too thick as well. Ravioli that's too thick and starchy can cause a sad face. The roasted artichokes somewhat cut into the richness of the ravioli. The beef tournados was surprisingly excellent and the best part of the meal. The tenderloin was cooked at a reasonable medium. I generally like my meat medium rare but this medium was fine. The butter on top gave the beef a velvety finish. The creamed kale was a nice variation of creamed spinach, with the former having a bit more of an earthy bitterness than spinach. The cream wasn't too thick, yet not watery like some creamed spinach offerings I've had in the past. Service was polite and prompt. The staff definitely did a venerable job handling this reception. I'd consider this spot for a date night.

tl;dr: not super flavorful, but nice. I might be back to try the burger, but I'm in no rush. I had the seafood linguini last week. It was okay. I felt like there was something slightly off about the noodles, but maybe I'm just not used to the taste of freshly made pasta. The seafood was all fine, but the dish cooled off a little fast. Maybe it would have been nicer if the plate as heated. I feel like the dish itself was lacking in seasoning. Everyone besides me got the catalyst burger. It looked really good. I think I might go again to get the burger, but I'm not too inspired.

This place is good for cooperate dinner or large groups! I went there for a business dinner and we were 28 people. Staff is very professional and food and drinks are not bad at all. In fact, the steak that I asked to be rare was perfectly cooked and well seasoned! I enjoy this place every time I go!

Went here on a Friday night and had a nice experience. The restaurant was spacious and comfortable. We started with the focaccia and crab Rangoons which were both very nice, I was not a fan of the sauce served with the Rangoons. for entree we ordered the cod which was perfectly cooked with a nice crisp crust and flakey inside. we also tried the Bolognese which was amazing as well. the sauce was not too tomatoey or runny and the pasta was well cooked.

I wish I could like this place. I have been here a number of times and find the food quality incredibly inconsistent. Occasionally it's clever and spectacular and then I come back to order the same dish and am very underwhelmed. I've never had a restaurant be so inconsistent. I've had one of the worst (very overdone) and dry omelets ever. An omelet! Ah well. The staff can be periodically haughty (especially hostess) but mostly is fine. Requests for window seats in reservations aren't regularly accommodated but many tables have window views. The mimosa bar is pleasant for brunch. They accommodate gluten free well. But I cannot get over how inconsistent they are even for the same dish. Will try to avoid in the future.

Catalyst has great food and drinks and is a decent option for a special dinner or a business event. The scallops were amazing and cooked perfectly. Other dishes were good, too, but out of what our party ordered, the scallops were what really stood out. They also have a wide range of appetizers that were great for starting off the meal and great cocktails. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal here, although I don't know if it quite measures up to some of the other excellent restaurants on Main Street.

Great food and service! I tried the Beef Tournedos and it was delicious. Incredible sauce. I also had the Dark Chocolate Fondant and it was amazing. Great contrast in textures. Will definitely be coming back!

I had the burger (17$), which was tasty but expensive. I don't usually like the bacon that comes in burgers, but this one retained the crispiness, which was quite nice. The fries were kind of sad though, a bit limp.

Came here on a Sunday night with the best friend. Decor was classy, hip, and romantic. We were seated quickly and the service was quick and attentive. We split the chicken liver mousse appetizer which was delicious and came with good crusty bread and mustard. They also brought out bread (wish it had been warm!) with olive oil and butter, which I haven't seen before and was interesting. We each got one of their homemade pasta dishes which were awesome. The best part was that they offered half portions and we were so glad we went with the half because the whole would have been way too much! I got the linguini with shitake mushrooms, lobster, and escarole. I really loved this dish because the first bite was very fragrant and lemony, but became savory with the flavors of the mushroom and lobster. My friend got the fusili which was much more savory with pancetta, brussel sprouts (which we wished there had been more!), and the pine nut crumb. For dessert, we split the flourless chocolate cake. The salted caramel ice cream and peanut butter mousse went really well with the chocolate cake. All in all, super tasty and would definitely come again!

With a spacious bar and dining area fireside seating, an outdoor patio for winding down after a long day, and a serene event room, Catalyst serves delicious and refined dishes, beautifully plated, in dark, sexy atmosphere that still manages to feel welcoming. Catalyst is a great option for a relaxed meal in an upscale setting or a drink or two at the lively bar. I visited for an event and was struck by the attentive staff, and the beauty/consistency of plated meals - first, main, and dessert courses were all creatively presented. The inventive cocktails and simple menu make it deceptively simple to spend over $100 on a meal for two, but after devouring the beef tournedos and catching a glimpse of the other entrees, I'd reckon it's well worth it.

I don't understand people's gripe about this place. I had a very good experience there while having dinner with a friend. Having heard many things about this place and receiving recommendations on what to order, I was very much looking forward to my meal there. I OpenTable'd a reservation a few weeks ago and met my dining companion at the bar there for a quick drink before being seated for dinner. Immediately upon entering, I noticed how sleek, modern and yet so simple and welcoming the decor was. There's a lot of metal, woods and even stone: yet it is very simple and quite elegant. I can't exactly describe it, but it is very modern and with a naturish kind of twist: I totally dig it. On my left, I also noticed a nice gas fireplace which was a nice touch. The place isn't too dark either - I feel like they really outdid themselves and designed a very clever layout. It's spacious, it's inviting and has a great flow to it. At the bar, I decided to order up an "Undecided" ($11) which let the bartender decide what I was drinking, after asking me what I was in the mood for. I requested something with some whiskey and ended up with a drink featuring some bourbon, Benedictine and lillet. It went down smoothly and i was now ready for the meal. We were seated and bread arrived along with the menus and some water. After taking a quick glance at it, I was ready to order. I was going to get an appetizer and an entree and share a side or two of their small plates with my friend since we were both very hungry. My meal started with their caramelized onion soup which was topped with a raclette toast and some roasted Cipollini onions ($9). Then came the main course which was a medium rare tournedos of beef with some rainbow chard, some house-made Tallegio ravioli with a Bordelaise sauce ($28). The meat was absolutely divine and extremely tender; the pasta was tasty however a tad dry (maybe from a heat lamp?) but the sauce paired well with the dish and my plate was clean within instants. I loved every single bite. Luckily my meal wasn't over - as my main course arrived, so did two smaller, shareable plates: the first was a dish which was recommended by a friend of mine who had dined there previously and was their Garganelli pasta served with chicken oysters, bacon, black truffle butter ($10). That dish was pretty damn tasty and the chicken oysters were both original and absolutely amazing. For those who aren't familiar with the ingredient it's basically a piece of dark meat that's in the back of the chicken's thigh. They are about the size of the quarter and there's only two per chicken making it somewhat of a delicacy. It's delicious. Along with that dish came an order of their grilled scallions which came topped with some almond pesto ($6) - They were pretty tasty as well. All in all this place is an incredible addition to the Kendall Square food scene. While it's not a very affordable option, it's also not completely out of price and the quality is great. But aside from the great food, the service and the atmosphere make it a neighborhood gem. I look forward to returning there in the future whether it be for lunch, dinner, brunch or drinks. High five!

I am back from my hiatus and am starting with a BANG! CATALYST people...it's incredible. Start with the strawberry arugula salad. It's so simple, yet so bomb. Arugula, extra virgin olive oil, strawberries and goat cheese with cracked pepper on top. That's it! Let's talk fries and dipping sauce. The Catalyst fries are perfection, but the sauces are the cherry on top. The homeade roasted red pepper ketchup is a revelation. It's like no other ketchup you've tasted. The garlic aioli is also incredible, and mixes so well with the ketchup (thanks for the tip, Virginia from the bar)! Virginia rocks guys, go to her. Last but not least, I'd like to review the fish tacos. I'm a fish taco snob, and I can honestly say that these are my second favorite fish tacos in the world. It's simple, it's fab and it's on a corn tortilla like it SHOULD BE! The only thing that could make this fish taco better would be a touch of roasted corn inside. If you're in Tech Square, do yourself a favor and check this place out.

So this is the first restaurant I've been to since quarantine and it was fantastic. I chose it because they had put good safety measures in place: I was able to make a reservation online in advance - so no standing around in crowd - and choose where I wanted to sit - indoor, outdoor, or bar - when reserving. When we arrived, everyone was wearing a mask (except diners), there was hand sanitizer readily available, the tables were well spaced, and the staff were attentive but also safety conscious. It was so nice to go out to eat after so many months of cooking and takeout and the food was beautifully appetizing and really really good (I had the summer salad with chicken, mmm....) Now I want to go back and do it all again, but this time with a glass of wine.

We recently had a small family luncheon following our wedding at City Hall. Food was amazing as always and service was impeccable. Event manager Robyn was very helpful throughout the process. All our guests were impressed by the lunch and had a great time.

Hey Ya'll, It's me again your neighborhood foodie. This was my last time walking into the Cat's Dine! I really tried to like this place. I have eaten here a total of four time and they got my order right once. SMH, I ordered the Catalyst Burger three time and I could not get them to make a medium well burger at save their sole. The fourth time I asked for a Turkey BLT you would think they could not mess that up! WRONG, they forgot the bacon!!!!!!! Need I say MORE! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!

WOW!! Came here for brunch on Sunday with a 12:30 pm reservation for two and was SO IMPRESSED. When we first walked in, we were shocked how large the restaurant and bar were. We also saw many others table with enormous bloody mary's. Upon sitting, we immediately looked at the blood mary options. You get a huge mason jar (1L) bloody for 15 dollars and can customize it (i.e. alcohol, spicy mix, lime, lemon, horseradish, blue cheese stuffed olives, cream cheese stuffed olives, jalapeno, pickles included; meats, cheese are extra). We each ordered one of these. For food, we split the panko-crusted french toast and the american breakfast. The american breakfast was really something else - succulent bbq chicken hash with perfectly prepared eggs on top and just-right crunch ratio for the toast. The panko french toast resembled the taste of a fried dough; it had some whipped cream and fresh bananas on top. I wish it came with more bananas on top. It was pretty sweet so I am glad we split the dishes to try each. The bloody's came right before the entrees. I wish they came out a little after ordering them and not right before the entrees, but everything was still finished. Great food, service, and overall experience here. Can't wait to bring friends for brunch and also try dinner.

Love the bartenders! Shelby is amazing at figuring out what drink you like..and then you will love get it! Order the roasted cod and thank me later!

Yum. Yum, yum. Starting with the moist and flavorful focaccia with warm butter, moving onto the pan roasted blue cod served atop a creamy chowder with mussels, clams and crushed potatoes...accompanied by a nice glass of wine, and, then on...to another slice of focaccia with butter...so delicious!

I had grilled blue cod for lunch. Really tasty. It was interesting that the fish in the cream with potato. It was quite tasty but the portion was small, since I am a big eater. The desert chocolate torte was very good but again the portion was small. The interior is very nice and cozy, especially quiet; it's good to have a nice conversation.

This place was extremely, OK. We came on a Wednesday night after work, and there were few tables in the restaurant aside us. It took over 10 minutes to be greeted, and only happened after we requested a server. The drinks took probably another 10 minutes, and the bread another 10 after that. We ordered some french fries to share as a table, and some burrata, both of which were nothing more than average. For my main, I had the salmon, which was nothing to write home about, though the puree was quite good. Presentation was nice, and the cocktail list had some fun drinks. Overall, I'd pass on this place in the future. Might be a nice spot for a date night for older couples on the weekends, but there's better restaurants in the area, especially given the relatively high pricetag.

The food was very tasty, the service was very good, it was (at that time) reasonably quiet. Good beer selection, too. A little expensive, but not excessively so for the quality. It's odd, I enjoyed my meal greatly and yet I'm in no hurry to go back. It was good, but somehow failed to be striking.