Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage

Dining at Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage near Harvard Square was an amazing experience. The food was awesome—the burgers were packed with flavor, served with creative toppings, and the portions were so big that we left completely satisfied. The atmosphere made it even more memorable: the walls are filled with photos and memorabilia of famous people who have eaten there, making you feel like you’re sharing a spot with legends. With the lively vibe and friendly staff, it felt like we were experiencing a true Cambridge icon. If you want a taste of local character and incredible burgers, Mr. Bartley’s is the place to go.

Really great atmosphere and employees here! Definitely has the feel of a Boston institution. I got the Masshole burger, and my wife got a bacon blue cheese burger. I got mine cooked medium and she got medium well and they both came out cooked well done, so that’s my one complaint. Slightly dry, but otherwise good. Their secret sauce makes a great fry sauce too.

A must visit quick and easy casual burger joint with some unique names and combos. Think Bob's Burgers type menu. But came way before the show. Wasn't a fan of the onion rings but that would be my only real complaint. The cheese steak egg rolls and the burger were perfect. Worth noting that there is no bathroom in this sit down restaurant. They will point you a few doors down to a cafe/bakery/coffee shop. Quirky. May be a bit of a hassle if you need to get up in the middle of the meal and you have a lot of things with you but manageable and worth tolerating for the food. Parking was easy, place was clean and the staff was very friendly.

To each his own- for me this place was lackluster. Infact I have decided not to visit any restaurant where Guy Fiery has visited. The burgers were charred despite of asking for a medium. The fries and fried pickle were amazing. The milkshake was good but too much sugar and a load of Oreos. Our server was great though, he even accommodated a change of order.

Our Culinary 🧑‍🍳 Travels have taken us to Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Harvard Square. We Ordered a mix of Fried Pickles and Jalapenos 😋 Appetizer that were very Tasty 😋 with Ice Cold ❄️ Beers 🍻. Burgers: 😋 Single College Town with Grilled Onions and Mushrooms with Onion Rings,😋 Masshole topped with Pulled Pork and Sweet Potato Fries , 😋 Cottage Deluxe with Sweet Potato Fries 😋 and a few more Ice Cold ❄️ Beers 🍻. The Burgers were Delicious 😋. The Service was Excellent and our Waitress was on Point 👍. Definitely Recommend Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Outstanding! Food was fresh and delicious 😋 I didn't enjoy the onion rings, they tasted like nothing TBH. Friendly atmosphere and engaging staff. Place filled up quickly around noon. We had to find the parking garage about 2 blocks away, street parking is impossible. There no restrooms 😔 That was a bit odd & disappointing But there's public restrooms just a 30 second Walk up the block at the bakery. Ticked this place off my bucket list! Glad we went. The special sauce they offer is actually very good with just the right amount of heat from the siriacha. Definitely recommend stopping in for a burger 🍔

I went with my family of 5 and the service was amazing. Hilarious menu and super friendly staff. The food came pretty quickly. The meat was juicy and the bun was delicious. Portion sizes were great, would definitely recommend.

Try the macaroni and bacon burger. So good!! Visiting from the west and wanted to have lunch somewhere fun and real. The menu is creative, the burgers were delicious and the atmosphere was a must experience.

If you want a great burger go to bartleys! Finally tried this place after walking by over the past few years and I'm glad I did. It's a small restaurant that has served many celebrities over the past few decades. When you look around you can see where the different people have sat which is cool if you're into that. The server was super nice and our food came out quickly. I got a Diet Coke and the D-Luxe burger. It was the perfect size and super tasty. The fries were also delicious! I could've upgraded to a double for $8.99 but I definitely wouldn't have finished it. I do think it's a little pricey but still a great place to stop by for lunch or dinner.

I have eaten here for 35 years for a great burger. Last visit was very good burger. I stopped in and order exact same order as my last visit.... iPhone burger with onion rings. I ordered the burger medium rare. Well onion rings were excellent as always. Burger was the worst I ever got there in 35 years .' Burger was thin and 1/2 size I got last time . Maybe if they smashed it out vs. a thick burger... looks reduced 1/3 lb burger down to 1/4 lb or 4oz The burger was beyond well done... I clearly ordered med rare and thought maybe waitress made mistake but receipt clearly says med. rare... So grill guy not looking at orders and basically screwing up orders then... bad and inconsistent I don't think I'll ever return now. The burger needs to be the attraction vs the distraction. The burger had mushrooms and onions as stated in description . The Brie cheese was way too much on burger but maybe because burger so thin? I realize inflation affecting costs, but 18.99 for this burger should be a decent burger not a thin McDonald's size patty . I saw another person's burger and that one looked thicker as I remembered. Many other burger options nearby and I don't see myself returning here again... 35-40 years of burgers and this one ruined my burger memories here ... my advice is to review the cook's issues and he needs to read the orders or fire the person fast. Med rare is red center and not over well done dried out black center burger....sorry to leave a bad review as always good in past... something has changed here... size of burger, quality of meat? Or making them smashed thin. I saw owner wasn't there during this mess, he walked in with bag of groceries gay he must have did a supply run... Ton of employees working there and wasn't busy ; so gad burger wasn't a quality or time issue...just a bad cook or grill person ... Owner needs to get his act together... over staffing wasted money, losing customers in highly competitive Harvard square burger environment With now Tasty burger, Shake shack, Charlie's kitchen, other good burgers places there as well ...

No restroom for customer use! Make sure you go before you arrive. How is this legal for a restaurant in progressive Cambridge in 2024? "We're grandfathered," we were told.

While visiting Harvard, we decided to grab lunch in the area. I had my dog with me, so we ended up here due to their outdoor tables that welcomed dogs. Plus, they even have a dog menu! Even though we were seated outside, our server was very good about checking up on us with a cheery attitude. The menu has a huge variety of burgers with unique names from Joe Biden to iPhone to Swifties --kinda lovin' it. We ended up choosing the Triple "D" ($24.95) and Chicken Wings ($15.75). The burger is stacked with double patty, cheese, grilled onions, bacon, and BBQ sauce. It's so huge that it's being held together with an entire spoon! It can get overwhelming, so I'm glad we shared this one. The wings were just OK though as they were kind of small and sauces were nothing special. I probably would've enjoyed it better with ranch too. Anyways, pricey spot to grab a meal and taste was nothing special. It seems this spot is super popular with celebrities though.

Mr. Bartley's is an institution for lovers of a classic burger and nostalgia. The burgers are perfectly cooked - juicy, cheesy, and seasoned. I ordered the BOSOX to try the pepper relish which brought a strong vinegary kick to the burger which may not be for everyone. I also tried the BC chicken sandwich and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The pesto was spot on and worked beautifully with the other toppings. Highly recommend it if you aren't feeling a burger. The fries and onion rings were fine - not much seasoning so you'll need the ketchup. Portions are large so a single burger with fries is plenty for most. We were able to grabbing seating outside on a nice day which offered great people watching and room for our kid and stroller. Only bummer is they don't have a restroom so you'll need to run over and wait in the long line at Tatte or walk another block over to the Harvard visitor center

Best burgers in Boston! Great patty size, cooked to a temperature, great toppings, super customizable if you want it you can have one of the ones they premade and named - these are ever changing. The toppings were all generous, and the house sauce was too good. Sweet potato fries were extra to sub in for fries, but they were so well made, soft center, crisp outer, not too thin. Grab a down east cider to try with your burger! They have it on tap and it goes well with the burger. Buns could be a little bit better toasted but otherwise still soft and complemented burger nicely. We sat outdoors because it looked a bit crowded indoors!

Haven't been back to this great burger spot in a decade. Still loving the creativity behind the menu names and delicious burger creations. I came in at 3pm on a weekday afternoon and wasn't busy, exactly as I wanted. No heavy crowds or rushed wait/cook staff. The walls are packed with posters, signed autographs of famous folks, and very random knick knacks. Food: Coyote Ugly - cheese was hit and melty. Great presentation and portion. Bacon was nice and crispy with just right thickness. Pineapple grilled perfectly and the crisp red onion and spicy ketchup gave the juicy medium rare burger just the right tangy spicy kick. The fries were decent, crispy and enjoyable. Average pickle. Grape soda by bartleys was great accompaniment and washed down the saltiness and grease well in a refreshing gulp. Overall excellent burger place and will go again to try other burger items.

Finally got my hands on the renowned Mr. Bartley's, and I can safely say this was the first of many visits to come. It's a small dining area located on the fringe on Harvard Sq, but it definitely aces decor for a traditional burger place. It also places a large emphasis on the celebrities that have dined there. You'll see familiar names on their menu like Al Pacino, Brad Marchand, Bill Bellicheck, and Matt Damon. I thought that was pretty neat. The service here is personable and excellent in every regard, which makes for an extremely fun dining experience. As for food, I went for the "Matt Damon" wrap, which was a Buffalo chicken wrap with veggies. It came with carrots and celery in the wrap which I thought was an interesting take, but it actually worked very well. Overall, it was fantastic and satisfied all of my cravings. It came with fries which were cooked well and not overly salty. I had a great experience dining here and I'll be back soon!

Burgers are amazing! Right in the middle of Harvard's campus. Fries are decent. Really cool posters w/famous people "sat here" and such.

Amazing vibe with soundtrack in back playing Jungle's album, some NEIL FRANCES, MYD and A-Trak. Had via server in person: Cambridge cowboy (amazing) Pulled pork sandy to go (great as well)

This place specializes in one thing: hamburgers. it is a couple of blocks up from Harvard square. the have seating outside as well as inside. I ordered a classic cheeseburger with onion rings. The burger was really juicy. I found that the serving was plenty large enough. The wait time was about 12 minute which I found reasonable. The service was very good as the waitress came over to take my order. She returned to make sure everything was alright. I would recommend this place for anyone who is a connoisseur of hamburgers.

This is a fantastic burger spot in Cambridge. The fries are always well seasoned and hot and the burgers always hit the spot. Once you pick the burger up, you need to eat it all. There's always too much on it for you to put it down- not a bad thing at all. A little messy but they give you tons of napkins. Staff know the menu super well and are great at giving recommendations. Decorations around the restaurant are super funny and they show all the celebrities that have eaten there. Makes you feel like you are one yourself. Only taking one star away as they don't have a restroom. They have a sink to wash your hands after/before you eat but wish they had a full restroom for patrons to use.

Such a fun place! This is a legit hole-in-the-wall. Like, it's genuinely hard to find. But, it's worth the search. There are signs on the wall letting you know what famous person ate in the seat you are sitting in. And, the menu is overwhelmingly full of choices. They serve truly unique burgers named after famous people and characters. Fun toppings like macaroni and cheese, arugula, pimento cheese, cajun spice and ghost pepper cheese. The Mac Jones with Buffalo Sauce was excellent! The fries are great, too. Good and crispy. And, the location is great for an after lunch stroll through Harvard Square.

I won't lie the burgers are amazing but on this trip they messed up the order totally my mate hates onions and they put onions when he asked for the burger he had last time. It might have just been a misunderstanding bc I ordered a build your own burger: my only other comment would be regular fries again not everyone likes fries with batter, nonetheless I will go back again. Sidenote: the pickle shouldn't go underneath the fries either maybe on top or better yet individually wrapped

This was my first time going and I literally CANNOT WAIT to go back! All four of us ordered different burgers and they were all superb. The Brussel sprout appetizer was absolutely excellent as well and cooked to perfection. If you like it crispy, then you have to order it. Atmosphere is super lively and fun, especially the long community table. Highly recommended!!

I hadn't been here in over a decade. I'm pleased to say the burgers and onion rings are still fantastic! I just went for a simple cheeseburger w/ bacon and it was cooked perfectly, nice and juicy, and the onion rings were crispy and light. The staff was very friendly. Glad to know this Cambridge institution still lives up to the hype.

Fast service by really great people really made this experience great. Not only that, but the food was absolutely delicious and you really can't go wrong. It's a bit on the smaller side, but the place is full of Boston charm it's impossible to not have a great experience here. Can't wait to come back!

We went last month. Got to Cambridge and realized we were hungry. Got a table right away. Our timing was good. Good service and we all liked our food. A little high for burgers honestly but everything's up so... The lowest priced burger is the Joe Bartley (classic cheese burger) at $14. All others are minimum $17. Walls are entertaining to look at. Lots of famous people have stopped by. Oh there were 6 of us and they automatically added a 20% tip. Our total was under $175.

Best burgers! Got buy one, get one cheeseburgers on UberEats and we absolutely loved it. It was a juicy and flavorful burger with just the right amount of cheese.

Love this Harvard Sq institution. I grew up in the area. Sadly many Harvard Square institutions have closed. Happily, Bartley has remained. You cannot visit the square without stopping by for its signature burgers named after local personalities and universities. One item you cannot miss is its onion rings. The service is friendly. And ambiance is fun, eclectic and quirky. Pass by and eat its sumptuous hamburgers. Your taste buds will thank you for it.

Food: We had the iPhone burger medium rare. It was cooked perfectly. It needed a little salt but I'd prefer to add vs it be too salty. I really appreciate that you can do a half order of onion rings and pickles as we were debating which to get. The onion rings were good, but the pickles are definitely better, IMO. Service: was great and friendly - was nice that for a college town they were very accommodating to families with kid meals and cups. Ambiance: it's a college burger joint, so we didn't have high expectations. Seating was a bit crowded, but fine. The walls are adorned with signs of where famous people have dined. Overall, it was good experience and a Harvard iconic restaurant so I am glad we went and you should check it out if you can.

First time here, very small and busy restaurant so it was quite loud on a Friday at noontime. Burgers and sides were delicious, but way too much food. Keeping that it mind, we would still return and just plan on not eating all the food, which is a shame because it's really tasty! Maybe skip the sides and just plan on eating a juicy burger on its own. We weren't disappointed and will definitely return when we're visiting Boston.

Very busy restaurant! We were there at lunchtime. The first thing I noticed was the exotic, western or fusion decoration, then all tables full of customers and the busy open kitchen. The server style was cool and our order was written on paper, not an iPad or a mobile phone. That's so nice. The food was great! The burgers were so big and delicious. Everyone was enjoying their meal. I definitely recommend having lunch there!

Never had a bad Bartley's burger. Super juicy, meaty patties that are always cooked perfectly. The menu is expansive and there is something for everyone. The burgers are pretty large so I tend to end up saving half for later. The staff are kind, welcoming, and knowledgable about menu items. Bartley's interior is a retro vibe that makes you feel at home. Also love the little chalkboard they keep outside with daily quotes/ jokes. Outdoor seating when the weather is nice is also a plus.

I used to come here often almost two decades ago. It was nice to be back in my recent visit. I'd say the burgers were slightly different from what I remember. But that's not a bad thing. The roll had a crust to it that made it solid and helped to keep it together. The meat had a perfect crust to it. In my time I've had burgers that were probably a little juicier and more flavorful. But these were of a high quality and still worth the trip after all these years.

I finally made my way to the famous Mr. Bartley's Gourmet Burgers which has been featured in several television shows. As I walked in, the inside was small, but the interior was very cool. There were pictures and memorabilia of the famous people that ate here including Johnny Cash, Al Pacino, Shaq, and more. Anyways, I decided to order the Mac Jones burger with onion rings and fried pickles. With that in mind, I received my food fairly quickly and I was ready to dive in. The Mac Jones burger was topped with bacon, bbq sauce, Muenster cheese, and macaroni and cheese. I bit into the burger and it was delicious. To elaborate, the meat was juicy and flavorful. In addition, the macaroni and cheese was cheesy, creamy, and went great with the burger. Also, the bbq sauce was sweet and tangy and matched perfectly with the macaroni and cheese. To add on, the bun was a sesame seed bun and it tasted fresh. My only complaint about the burger was that I ordered it medium rare and there was no pink in the burger at all. On the contrary, I tried the onion rings and I was not impressed. To explain, the breading was incredibly light and had no flavor at all. It tasted like I was just eating raw onions. Honestly, you really couldn't even call these onion rings. On the flip side, the fried pickles were fantastic. They were crispy and seasoned to perfection. The pickles tasted incredibly fresh as well. These were some of the best fried pickles I've ever had. In closing, Mr.Bartley's has excellent gourmet burgers and delicious fried pickles, but stay away from the onion rings.

It's been open 63 years, you'd think they would have perfect burgers and fried sides by now. First of all I'd point out that the service was excellent friendly and fast. Though, if it's important to you, there are no public restrooms on the premises. They have a list of nearby locations with restrooms. Ok the food... this place hypes up their burgers and onion rings, so that is what I ordered. I got the 'iPhone' not sure of the connection, but I'm a sucker for sautéed mushrooms and onions with a melted cheese on my burger. My partner ordered. Basic build your own. On the recommendation of the menu we ordered the onion rings on the side. The mouth feel of the onion rings was on point, cooked but not soggy, breaded but not greasy. Unfortunately that's where the complaints end. They didn't taste bad, they just didn't taste good either. There seemed to be no seasoning in the coating they were dipped in as far as I could tell, no pepper, salt, cayenne anything. Not as far as I could tell and I offer the pictures showing no specs of flavor as second opinion to my taste buds. The burger was equally uninspiring. While the toppings were on point the burger seemed too finely ground and lean. Ordered 'medium' they seemed grey throughout without a hint of juiciness from fat. And 'fat is flavor' I submit a second photo of the patty my partner ordered as evidence of this too. I'd like to return as the location itself is fun and eating outside in the shade on a summers day is nice. Perhaps in another 63 years.

I'm a bodybuilder, so my refeed meals matter...BIG TIME!! Mr.Bartleys, oh my gawdddd. Incredible. The beef was so flavorful. Got an order of Mac n cheese, mozzarella sticks, and their Mac n cheese burger. Everything was great from the service to dinner. Thank you for fueling these muscles and making a meal I truly enjoyed!!

Found this place after touring Harvard. Initial downside, no bathrooms. I had to walk to the next block and use one in a bakery. Service was fast very tasty. Will try it again. We had the Megan Thee Stallion, Mac & Cheese burger and the Arugula Salad with chicken. Perfect if you are not too hungry. Chicken was a little on the dry side. Fresh lemonade was pretty good.

Food was amazing ! Cooked perfectly ! Flavors in point ! Don't even get me started on the shakes ! Goodness sakes ! I had the Brie and fig burger . Could've used some extra cheese but other than that was perfect. Also had the coffee milkshake which was delicious! Will def come back again next time we're in the area! And the service was great too! Only negative that there's no restroom in the restaurant :( Still recommend !

An institution. I make it a point to eat here every few months. It's well worth the trip!

More dressing in that cup than meat on those bones. Not worth $17 at all.ordered a build my own burger that was delicious. These wings tho... awful.

the burgers here are REALLY REALLY good. the patties are thick, juicy and well seasoned. I usually like a standard cheeseburger or hamburger so I didn't try any of their crazy combinations (however when I looked around at other tables- they looked really good as well!) i will definitely be bringing my parents next time as they love a good restaurant burger.

Lively bar-like burger place with tons of celebrity visits, not bad burger. If you are movie fan, check out their Stephen King/Al Pacino meals! Walked in Friday 5:45 PM, and the diner was almost full. Food arrived fast and the the portion was very generous. The burger themselves were good but not impressive (it's hard for a burger to be impressive). The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and all fries were fried to order and arrived crispy. The service was quick and attentive. Overall, the restaurant felt very rustic, great place to go for a Saturday night.

Amazing burgers! The onion rings are out of this world and you have to make sure to get a frappe (shake)

Nasty food. Downright inedible bean-town gag-shop. Burned black and disgusting 'burgers' served with freezer burned 'fries' on fingerprinted and filthy plates. Inside you are welcomed by a ramshackle clutter of inconvenience, draft and slovenliness. Why are the tables sticky?? Mr. bartley was anything but a delicacy for a gourmand. This pathetic attempt at a burger joint should be filed with the health department and shut down! The 'food' is not fit for animals.. The burger was cold, stale and burned.. period. Buy a burger here, add tar, and you can fill some dilapidated boston drive ways. Or just flush it. I did! Review: 0

A MUST DO! 4 Stars for the Food & a an Extra one Star for Such a Cool Iconic Place. Mr. Bartley's is So Much Fun! This is one of the restaurants you have to visit when in Boston. You have to come here at least once in your lifetime. It has so much History in here. You come come here for The Experience First the Food is Secondary. Mr Bartley's is an Institution in Harvard Square Cambridge since 1960. If only their walls could talk! LOL! Every kind of Politician, Sports Star, Rock Star, Religious dignitary & other noteworthy persons have all sat in here & dined. It is a small-medium sized restaurant smack dab in the middle of Harvard Square right near Harvard University. There are tables & chairs inside & on the sidewalk as well. Here's just a sampling of people who have stepped foot on these premises: Chief Justice John Roberts, Peter Wolf of The J Giles Band & Jefferson Starship, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Bill Belicheck coach of The Patriots, Joan Baez 60s Folk Singer, Cardinal O'Malley & Actor Ben Affleck . What an eclectic group & there's many many others. Their Most Popular Item even though he has left the New England Patriots & was Their MVP & Quarterback & The GOAT - The Tom Brady Burger. The TBB is a Burger with Cheddar Cheese, Guacamole, Lettuce, Tomato & Red Onions with a Side of Fries. I had to try it & it was GOOOOD! I just upgraded to the Onion Rings. This is as Close as most people will ever get to Tom Brady. LOL! Mr Bartley's can get Loud in here with all the many conversations. Now even though it is a smallish place, it is Packed with Memorabilia & News Clippings & Signs from the 60s & 70s through Today. You've got to walk around & check out the whole place. Every inch of wall space is covered not with paint but with something that will make you Smile or Laugh. They have sandwiches named after Politicians, Schools & sports figures like Kamala Harris, Julian Edelman, The iPhone Burger, Crypto Burger, The Harvard, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern, Berkeley, MIT & many others. When we went Mr Bartley was Retiring after 45 years & was selling the place to a new owner. It's Sad; the end of an era but hopefully the new owner will continue the legacy. They also sell their own line of Merch. T Shirts, Hats etc. What a Fun Experience. Be sure to walk around all the shops & The University in Harvard Square in Cambridge as well. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

One of the best burgers I've had! Great Wall decor gives it a dive bar feeling. It seemed we got the least personable server, but she got the job done. However, I find the prices to be a little high

Heard of this place from travel book and triple D. So naturally had to stop in when we were around the area at dinner time. It was really a great experience. The restaurant was small and a little busy when we first got there but we had an attentive server and things cleared out. We ordered the Mac Jones burger and onion rings. The burger was cooked as ordered and very tasty. The onion rings were thin and simple but good. The vibes in the place were so fun! It was neat to see where different celebrities had sat when they came in and the fun menu items named after them. Thankful we tried this classic Boston burger joint!

Came in on a cold winter saturday around 7pm. luckily the place was not busy, half a dozen tables filled out of the two dozen. the menu is pretty fun, the restaurant is on top of the latest political news and you can see that in the menu. we ordered two burgers, most are priced around $15.50, i opted for the onion rings for an extra $2 instead of the fries. the decor is fun. laminated homemade signs tells you what famous person sat where before. plastic lawn chairs line the tables. vintage signs with sarcastic humor hang on the wall. the burgers come out and they are as you expect, big. however, the ingredients used wasn't what i expect from a burger priced point at the $15 mark. canned mushrooms and canned jalapeno peppers were used. black/burnt to the point of charcoal....what's suppose to be caramelized onions. the buns will make or break the burger. the buns here are store bought regular bungs. no toasted potato bun no nothing. again, not what i expect from a burger priced at this level. buns were cold, as if they just came out of the fridge a hour ago. the onion rings were not crispy, some part of the breading were still doughy. i'm glad i came here to see what the hype is. there are so many competitors at lower price points for a burger with much more quality built into the menu than here. this was a huge disappoint. i walked away really dissatisfied having wasted money to eat what a cafeteria can whip up for gourmet prices and some B rated vintage feel.

Wonderful burgers and frappes!!! Quite famous for any tourist in Cambridge. Kitschy but worth grabbing a simple meal at a reasonable price! Be advised that there's no public bathroom!?!?!

This is EASILY one of my favorite Cambridge establishments so I had to intervene when I saw it's surprisingly low ratings. Burgers exist for us to be full and happy. Here's why Mr. Bartley's burgers goes above and beyond in that regards Size: The burgers are as big as your head and the fries spill out of my plate every time it arrives at my table. The portion sizes are generous and you will be full. Guaranteed. Taste: If I had to nitpick, the burgers are sometimes a little well done and the onion rings are sometimes bland but its signature appeal come from the entire composition of its burgers. The toppings are unique (avacados, eggs, bacon, etc) and as a whole, the burgers are juicy and melt in your mouth. Vibe: Take a look at the interior design. Patriots Jersey, Boston alums and vintage posters create a uniquely Boston dining experience. Right by Harvard, MIT it's an entertaining space in and of itself that has a conversation starter at any line of sight. 5/5 for it being a stalwart of American virtue- the pursuit of happiness. Come hungry and curious, leave full and happy.

Solid experience in this longtime Harvard Square establishment. Great burger, friendly staff. Only negative is no restroom in the restaurant.

Just because lots of people go to a certain place that's been on a TV show... it doesn't mean it's a tourist trap. In this case, beautifully cooked burgers...and a slogan promising "you can't beat our meat"...that's true. You can't have a great burger without great foundation ..and whatever their meat blend...it's absolutely delicious. But also? They're not chincy with regard to the size of the patty...it's gorgeous. When you add the mythology of the place (many celebs have eaten here...I sat where Stephen King did, for example), to great service and perfectly cooked food? A total win.

I do not say this lightly but this may have been the best burger I've ever had. I do not like thick burgers, which this one is, but even coming from the "thinner patty school of burger" I must admit this burger was exceptional. The burger was medium/medium rare and had a bun that could handle any level of juicyness. It was a modern miracle of bun engineering that my burger did not break apart despite the juices from the burger. Fries were crunchy. The chocolate shake was exceptional and I may have had the best Arnold Palmer of my life here. There was not a single weak point in this meal. Perfection in ways unexpected.

If I could give zero stars, I would! What a disgusting and awful experience from start to finish. When the original owners were running Mr Bartley's, the burgers were always spot on, the service awesome, and the spot was always full of energy. There WAS a reason that this place was so good, and it was clearly the original owner that made it great. When I heard that it was purchased by Josh Huggard (Google him), I was immediately skeptical, having worked with him in the past, and knowing how he was never quite able to pass a Food Safety course back then... I can't say if he finally did or not, but I do know that if someone can't pass basic food safety, that is a big concern for me and the customers! That alone made me nervous. So when I was back in Boston last month, I stopped in to see how it was after the change in ownership. Well, I can tell you this - it's definitely not the same place as it used to be. Don't be fooled by the fact that the look hasn't changed, as that's about the only thing that has stayed the same. To start, ordering was a disaster. I tried to order a simple cheeseburger with bacon, and the person taking the order couldn't seem to figure that out. You would have thought that I was ordering a specialty burger with exotic ingredients with how long it took to place an order for a simple cheeseburger with bacon and fries. Once I got past the incompetence of the counter person, I watched the process of making the burgers... and man I wish I hadn't. Between the kitchen staff wiping their faces and then flipping the burgers, to the amount of grease that was soaking the bun and meat, I could almost feel my pores and veins clogging just from watching the cooking process. Let's just say that I almost left before getting my food. After about 15-20 min (no joke, it took that long for a burger and fries when I was one of perhaps 10 people in there), my food finally came out.... Wrong. Seriously. How can you totally screw up a burger and fries order?? Well, they managed to do so. At that point I was beyond frustrated and told the person who gave me my food that I would take it anyway. My mistake once again. It was gross. They forgot the bacon and the burger literally slid off the bun as I took my first bite, as it was so lubed up with grease that it slid around on the bun like Tanya Harding on the ice... and it looked about as appealing as well. I realized right away that if I kept eating the burger, not only would I be ingesting about a 1/2 pound of old grease, but I would most likely be on the toilet or throwing up later that day... Not something you want to be thinking about when trying to eat your lunch. Needless to say, I ended up throwing out 95% of my meal, and walking out. This place is like a sequel - it's never as good as the original and I just wish the original owners still were running this place. It's sad to see such a historic place drop so far in quality and experience. This is a definite "STAY AWAY" on my list.

I went and got the Megan Thee Stallion burger, which was around $19 and came with fries. I personally enjoyed it and thought it had a lot of flavor, especially with the jalapeño and onions. And it was a lot of food, I felt pretty full after the burger and some fries. But they definitely bulk up the plate with fries. The service was prompt and attentive. I think the burger could be considered a bit overpriced, but it's also in Harvard Square so I don't think they could really charge less. Very much a bit of a tourist spot rather than a everyday eat.

Attended this establishment on a Friday around lunch time... wasn't too busy! Must say our waiter Marcus made this a visit I will never forget. He was truly so awesome and I couldn't say greater things about him! 10/10 service and place to eat! Marcus, you killed it! Give this man a raise!! He captured my heart, laid it in a bed of roses, and topped it with a strawberry shake!

Just had lunch at Mr. Bartley's. This place is the "real deal"! Absolute best burgers, salads and Shakes in Town!!! I highly recommend the strawberry frappes and the Tom Brady. Also LOVED the Capital Police!! Best burgers in Boston hands down!! Very cool atmosphere!! I loved the entire place and all the history. Don't miss this gem!! They were also very careful with Covid and had sanitizer on the tables and hand wipes for all.