Lou's

Note the bar, lounge, and dining table areas are close to each other but the lounge area has some couch seating. You need to walk downstairs to enter the restaurant. The fish was good. The steak frites requested medium was served closer to well done. The cocktails are pretty but hit or miss in terms of being very strong or very mixed forward. The fries were good.

Hidden jewel. We stumbled upon it by chance on a Sunday morning, drawn in by the music. Live jazz at brunch was an unexpected treat. The atmosphere has a speakeasy feel, the service was warm and friendly, the food was delicious, and the cocktails were excellent. Highly recommended.

I was greeted immediately upon entering by a gracious host. Wonderful vibe. The decor is beautiful. The waitress was attentive. The food was excellent! The band was on fire🔥. Management was present and approachable. I would highly recommend Lou's to anyone visiting the Boston area or if you just want to enjoy exciting evening out.

We went on tuesday for vinyl night but you can barely hear the music and since it s a large restaurant it s likely you ll be seated far from the music booth, so wasnt quite what we expected. I think as a restaurant/bar it’s good but music is definitely not at the forefront. Tried a few wine/cocktails, not bad.

Oh boy, where do I start. Let’s start with good things The music was amazing, the vibes, the atmosphere - everything was top notch. Cocktails? Great! Now, about not so good things Maybe kitchen and bar were too busy today, idk, but it took us 30 minutes to get our cocktails. Food took another 40 minutes, fine. But when we got it, 2 out of 3 dishes were cold, like they were sitting at the window for the last 10 minutes. When we asked to take the steak back and redo it, we got back a microwaved version of the same steak We were really baffled, but manager came to the rescue and we got a fresh steak and fries. The food itself was just ok. Nothing great. Zero seasoning on steak tartare, really bland. My fish was just some weird mush without anything interesting, but at least it was hot, hey! Would definitely check this place out for the vibes and cocktails, but that’s it.

Lou's is a must-visit spot in Cambridge. The atmosphere is that of an upscale book and music club, providing a safe and sophisticated environment. It's an ideal place to meet up with college friends, hold a business meeting, or simply relax and enjoy some great jazz music. The price is very reasonable! Plus, they serve delicious food and excellent drinks. And entire staff is incredibly friendly and patient. 1000% recommended!

The atmosphere was what took us there. Nice music and the band was really great. Tables are too low for a comfortable dinner at VIP section (booth). Food is ok, menu could be more broad for appetizers and entree. Drinks are ok.Would definitely visit again for the music and ambience but sit on a table/bar rather than booth. Staff were really friendly from hostess to waiter and server.

Leaving a bad review is rare for me, especially as someone who’s worked in the service industry for years. I paid $17 (before tax and tip) for an elegantly advertised martini that came in a plastic cup with no lemon twist. I was told they switch to plastic around 11, but it was only 10:30, and everyone around me had real glassware. I’ve never seen a martini served in plastic, even in the diviest bar. I understand glass breaks, but a plastic-cup cocktail shouldn’t cost $17–20. Period. The manager’s tone was condescending, which surprised me. I appreciated the refund, but having to ask for it felt awkward and a bit ridiculous. My friend’s $17 cocktail was also in a plastic cup and looked like dirty dishwater with ice.

We had a great meal and second experience at Lou's. The space is beautiful and they really nail it with the sound level of music regardless of where you're seated. I enjoyed the burger. And we shared a couple apps which were tasty. Good portion sizes overall. Drinks were perfect, staff were friendly and attentive - even as it got busier. Will be back for sure!

I love Harvard Square. Truly, I don't think a single spot here has ever missed -- and Lou's not only kept the streak alive, it raised the bar. The décor? Stunning. Chandeliers for days and random books scattered around while you wait (because who doesn't love flipping through The Great Gatsby while sipping a martini?). I heard they do live music, but we missed it, which just means I'm already planning my next visit. Our server was an absolute gem! Quick, sweet, and on top of everything. The crispy Brussels? Unreal. So good we ordered another batch, and the smoky ham in there sealed the deal. Mom's meatballs tasted like someone's actual mom made them. The fries came with two mayos (& ketchup) both flavor bombs. And don't skip the charcuterie. Mortadella, perfectly chosen accompaniments, it's giving main character energy. The linguine & clams were simple perfection. The bone-in ribeye? Melted in my mouth. Like, close-your-eyes-and-savor kind of good. We wrapped up the night at the bar with espresso martinis because honestly, we didn't want to leave. The vibe, the food, the service, all flawless. Lou's isn't just a new favorite! It's a must anytime I'm back in Harvard Square.

This place is so cool!! It's a hidden gem - on a lower level in Harvard Square apparently only opened a year ago. It looks like a library inside plus a live music bar. It's huge and with very elegant furnishings and lighting. We stumbled upon this place one evening as we were walking around on a Saturday evening looking for a place to eat and many of the restaurants seemed full or had lines out the door. So glad we found Lou's. They had a live band playing music on the stage at the very back and we got really nice table right in the center so we had a great view. I ordered the roasted fish alla Norma dish and the hubs ordered the burger. Both were good. I would have liked some carbs like potatoes or even some bread with my dish as it was just the fish and tomatoes and eggplant. The band was great and at one point they even did a march around the entire restaurant which was fun. Service was a bit slow at times but otherwise friendly. Overall great experience and we'll be back when in the area.

A beautiful new space in Harvard Square! This place is huge! There are at least 4 or 5 different areas to sit. I went here with my friend on a Thursday and bookedthe performance seating but initially got sat at the bar next to the performance. Maybe that is also considered performance seating? However, the hostess was very kind and accommodating and sat us at an available table in front of the band where we assumed we'd be sitting from booking our reservation. They have a great selection of drinks and both the lemon drop and where's barb were delicious. The where's barb was very sweet if you like that. Our server was very kind and attentive. You also turned the lamp on to get their attention which I liked. For the food, we got the fries to share and wow the curry dip was delicious. For food I got the roasted chicken which was good but a little on the saltier side for my tasting. I did love the mashed potatoes though because it was more a puree. My friend got the halibut which she said was good but not in love with. Overall, great service, drinks, ambiance (especially hearing jazz while you eat), but I would come here again to maybe try some other stuff on their menu. Great experience that everyone should check out.

Omg! These guys are crushing it. Great cocktails. Great apps! Bartenders are so kind and they worked so hard. Right through a power outage. Jake is the kindest and his cocktails were so tasty!!! Highly recommend

I stopped in at Lou's in Harvard Square for a late evening dinner. This restaurant, cocktail bar and live music stage is located downstairs from The Gap. The place was very busy since there was a performer on the stage towards the back. You can reserve a table near the stage online. I decided to sit up at the bar towards the front, which is open seating. The bartender gave me a food/drink menu to look at and still water was poured. The food menu offers a selection of shareables, sandwiches, soups, salads, raw bar, larger plates (pasta, steaks, seafood, chicken), and desserts. The prices are on the slightly higher spectrum. I decided on the Chicken Bites ($11 plus tax) and the Roasted Fish Alla Norma ($28 plus tax), to be brought out together, served in about 23 minutes. The chicken bites were lightly breaded and crispy, served over a creamy spiced ranch dressing in a small skillet. The roasted fish alla nonna was an oven roasted halibut, with roasted tomatoes, thick hearty tomato sauce, eggplant puree, basil oil & pickled eggplant on top. After I finished my food, I had enough. I got the check which was $41.73 with tax and before tip. Overall, a solid good meal and a nice casual upscale vibe with nice classic decor (pictures, old books, oldies record covers), live music and jazz music playing over the speakers. Despite being busy at the bar, the service at the bar was good with two bartenders taking care of things Including a refill on the water as I was finishing up dinner. I will definitely have to come back for the nice relaxing vibe here.

Came here for drinks after dinner and it was so fun and lively. Unfortunately we missed the live music, but the DJ was great afterwards. It was feeling like a lively speakeasy. The drinks were great and I especially enjoyed the Bitter Blues (it's under the zero proof section, but I added vodka).

First time visit at the old Beat Hotel location. The vibe is great, renovation is on point. There was an issue getting the right menu but the food turned out to be pretty good. My only comment was for some of the bar staff and the his staff. Do you really need 3 people hosting? Also, bar staff should focus on. Customers 3 female bar standing around talking in front and not once acknowledged me or offered me a drink. Ladies focus on the customers not your fellow girlfriends. Thankfully both male bartenders came over to over a beverage and correct menu

This place has potential and I'm rooting for them but unfortunately I cannot give a higher rating given that they served me the thing I told them I'm allergic to and I had to discover it by having eaten it, and when they remade the dish they accidentally omitted another key component that was allergen-free. They did take it off the bill which I appreciate but that's really not cool. Otherwise the place has nice vibes, nice staff, and a large menu!

Lou's has such a cool and fun ambiance! The moody lighting, jazz club aesthetic, and disco balls makes it fun place to be for a night out. I love that there is live music, and the restaurant turns in to nightlife with a dance floor. I ordered the baked pasta which I did really enjoy. The ricotta was absolutely delish and the crunch from the bake was perfect. We also shared the milk and cookies for dessert - loved that the milk had a vanilla flavor and the cookies were good i just wish they were served warm. I really have a hard time giving a higher rating though because the service was such a mess! We were called an hour before our reservation and told they needed to push it back 1.5 hours or potentially cancel which I have never had happen before. But then when we got there we still had to wait quite a bit for our table to be ready and food came out super slow (I do think they forgot to put in our order). I do know Lou's is super new and this doesn't seem to be others experience so I am hopeful for improvement for sure!

I LOVED Lou's! This is exactly what Cambridge needed -- we went for a Sunday dinner and it was such a fun vibe. Live Jazz music, 10/10 food and drinks. I'm already planning my return visit!

Met some friends for dinner and drinks. We had a party of five. There were no tables available so we agreed to sit on a sofa. The bar was also fairly busy. We gave our drink order to a server. Finally after waiting 45 minutes, I got up and asked the host if he could help find our server. Then after another few minutes a manager came over and apologized for the long wait. Still waiting for drinks, no one took our food order. A short time later we got up to leave and I asked the host to cancel our drinks because we decided to go to another restaurant nearby. Sadly we never tried the food or beverages. Service was sorely lacking that night. Being a new restaurant, they need to work out a few issues.

This place has so much potential but seriously lacks leadership and structure. We came here for dinner, and at first, the atmosphere and music were great it really could be an amazing spot. Unfortunately, it was hard to enjoy because the staff seemed completely uncoordinated and unhelpful. When we arrived, we sat for about 15 minutes before our waitress even approached us. She seemed totally unbothered by how "busy" things were, and eventually, the manager had to step in to take our order. We ordered three appetizers, which took an hour to arrive and even then, only two came out. The third one, the pumpkin soup, arrived another 20 minutes later and was honestly terrible. It tasted more like curry than pumpkin. At that point, we decided to cancel our entrées (which the manager admitted hadn't even been put in yet) and went to another restaurant instead. Not a single apology from any of the staff not that I expected one but rather than taking responsibility, the manager blamed the chef. This place could be great, but without real management and organization, it's just chaos.

Excellent food, service and ambiance. Thoroughly enjoyed the live music, perfect for a Sunday birthday brunch.

A very cool spot, heard about it via social media and got a dinner reservation for Saturday night with live music. Music started at 7 pm and was excellent, great small venue to listen to talented musicians. Crowd got younger after 10 pm as DJ started to play around 9:30. Very comfortable seating. Drinks were good and prices were very reasonable. Food was average, but prices reflected that. Service was pretty good, our waiter knew the menu and was helpful. Looking forward to a return visit.

Went to Sunday brunch this weekend with a group of 5 other people. We liked the ambience and the fact that the music wasn't too loud so you could carry on a conversation without yelling. The food, on the other side, was a disaster, either the waiter or the kitchen staff decided not to serve our table, and when we finally received the food after waiting for an hour it arrived lukewarm (Brussels Sprouts), dripping wet from the peppers (egg sandwich) or made with what looked like fake eggs (omelette). How can you mess up brunch food so bad? My first and last visit.

Cocktail: The Bam Bam was yummy. I had 2 Apps: I'm a firm believer that bread should be free, so $10 for 4 pieces feels outrageous to me, but it was great bread to sop up the fabulous sauce from the mussels (in addition to the 2 grilled pieces that they came with). The chicken bites were delicious, and the green beans were very tasty as well. Service: Our waiter Nick was great and didn't bat an eye while 4 women talked about perimenopause, and he even appropriately added to the conversation! I asked him what his favorite dish was, and I went with it-the gnocchi parisienne. The gnocchi was soft, and I think a bit grilled (homemade)? The pesto was different and delicious. When 2 of us unexpectedly got showered with a bottle of champagne being opened by a server behind us, we were properly apologized to by the person who opened it, Nick, and the manager who took a round of drinks off our bill Atmosphere: Lovely atmosphere. We were seated in the front room but close to the back where the band was. It was enjoyable, but a little loud as we were there to chat and catch up. The live music sounded like yacht rock to start but then was fun with a jazzy take on a couple of Bruno Mars songs etc. Parking: Free validated parking a few minutes walk away is fabulous in Harvard Square!

Tried the porterhouse steak. Very tasty (au poivre) but the cooking was uneven, ranging from rare in spots to medium or well done in others. Just have to go to a steakhouse if you really want a reliable steak. Good fries though, good drinks and good service.

This place is absolutely amazing! The service is impeccable, the food is fantastic, and the live music makes this place so cozy! Please come here for an amazing hang out or first date!

good ambiance but really bad service - that's all you need to know. an hour went by and all we had were 2/3 of our apps and our drinks. everyone else around us also seems confused about when their food and waiter were going to come around. manager (man, black outfit, tied back curly hair) was also very unwelcoming and not very nice - pretty condescending. even when we politely asked about the soup, he did not show any form of empathy or care. sweet potato bites were good but pumpkin soup tasted like curry...not really pumpkin at all.

My husband and I are in town from out of state and went here for some after dinner drinks. The place was packed but we were able to get seating at the sofa which was perfect! However, my husband went up to order our drinks and the bartender with the long beard ruined the experience for us. He was rude and condescending. My husband asked for 2 espresso martinis which to his response was "well then I need 2 ID's." I understand being in a college town but respectfully just asking for both ID's or telling my husband that I needed to get my drink would have sufficed. When we closed our tab, the tip was set at 22% and he didn't give me the handheld, he said "all I need is a signature here" and held it for me to sign without giving it to me to choose my own tip and sign. This was one of MANY things that both my husband and I dealt with him just in the short interactions that we had. His attitude made us feel unwelcome, which was disappointing since the atmosphere otherwise seemed great. We wanted to enjoy ourselves, but the service left a bad impression. 2 stars for the fun atmosphere and music.

Food and ambience is incredible. Great for a date night or a birthday party. We went towards the end of the summer so it was a sort of warm day and it was steaming hot inside. Not sure why there was no air circulation at all, my friends and i were sticking to their leather seats. It's worth sweating through tho!!