Tempo

American restaurant · Waltham

Tempo

American restaurant · Waltham

1

474 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453

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Highlights

This upscale-casual bistro serves creative New American dishes with a lively atmosphere, fantastic drinks, and attentive service that keeps diners coming back.  

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474 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453 Get directions

tempobistro.com
@tempokitchencocktails

$30–50 · Menu

Information

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474 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453 Get directions

+1 781 891 9000
tempobistro.com
@tempokitchencocktails

$30–50 · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"Tempo is owned by Texas-born percussionist Javier Solis and his family, who opened the shop in 2018. And if there’s one thing most Texans know well, it’s breakfast tacos. The Nolensville Pike shop offers nine true Texas breakfast taco iterations, including chorizo and egg, bacon and egg, sausage and egg, and potato and chorizo. Catch ‘em Thursday through Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones, Eater Staff

Here Are Nashville’s Top Tacos
View Postcard for Tempo

Chuck Ingala

Google
First time here and it won’t be my last. The welcoming ambiance, great food and great service was top notch.our server Billy was very accommodating. Mostly seafood dishes however there are steak and chicken dishes are delicious Chuck

Rolando D

Google
Amazing food! Had the hangar steak and it was perfectly cooked medium rare. The steak came with a carmel sauce, asparagus, and a potato square. The potato square had a crunchy coating--very unique and also tasty. The rum and coke was in a tall glass with a lime, and it was prepared well.

KC

Google
Phenomenal! First time here and it was amazing! Gigi at the bar was very attentive and was spot on with her recommendations. I had the flat iron steak with lobster risotto and asparagus. Washed it down with a glass of the house pinot noir. Highly recommend this place!

Paola Palma Sisto

Google
Overall good. We had the fried oysters yum, the Greek salad very yum, and the tagliatelle with beef which was a bit watery and needed a bit more spice for my taste, pasta consistency excellent. Also had the chicken parm which was very good especially the pesto linguine just very big so be warned. The triple sorbet very good. The “I can’t even” drink was excellent.

Aisie Maire

Google
My partner and I are in town for only a week and went into tempo on Tuesday at 5 with no reservation hoping for a table for 15… crazy of us, we know. The staff were extremely nice and accommodating and offered us several solutions of where we could sit and were very happy to help. Thank you, Billy for problem solving with us!! Molly, our server was so kind and accommodating and did a great job getting all of our food and drinks orders in even as friends came and went. We loved all of the beers in draft, spicy margaritas, the brussel sprouts, wings and cauliflower bites being especially yummy! Thank you for being so kind and accommodating!

Hasmig Broukian

Google
Were a party of 5 for dinner last night. 3 of us ordered the pan seared sea bass, that had something that looked like fish, but tasted nothing like it. some of the fish was as thin as a potato chip, (not exaggerating), burnt, and was topped off with a super sweet sauce not mentioned on the menu. ( we asked for a well done, but edible fish ). To top it off the service was so bad that we had to go into the kitchen to ask for salt/pepper, walked to the receptionist to have the waiter bring our bill, and the list goes on...Manager was informed.

Stephen Hartford

Google
This place was DOPE! We got there early but you’ll probably need a reservation after 5. They blew my expectations away! I had the steak medium well perfectly cooked and juicy, it was unbelievable. We will definitely be going back and I highly recommend!!

Saranya Velayutham

Google
This is the first time we went to this restaurant. The food was super delicious. The flavors were fantastic. The portion size was not big. Dishes we order was rich and flavorful . Desserts are Must Try. Definitely worth trying if you haven't been to this beautiful restaurant.

Marlana Y.

Yelp
Loved coming here. If you don't want to go all the way into the city, I would come here! Service was excellent and when we first came to visit many years ago it was for their dollar oysters . But they make their desserts in house and you can't go wrong with what you order here! Everything was delicious

Jennifer G.

Yelp
10 out of 10 please see screenshot below for details! Yummy scallop dish for an entrée and for an appetizer had the freshly made sourdough with honey hot butter. Please see the screenshot below for a detailed review. Can't wait to go back!

Antoinette S.

Yelp
Stopped by for dinner 2 days ago while in Waltham area. restaurant on a busy street. Parking is a lil hard to find if it's on a Saturday. But we found parking a block away next to a school. Nice restaurant w friendly welcoming staff. We ordered the sourdough loaf w honey butter, bang bang shrimp,fried Brussels sprouts and the autumn harvest salad. Generous portions. Sourdough bread was so good w the honey butter. The salad is a big portion n Sharable. Brussels sprouts was so good w blue cheese crumble n bacon. Any ban shrimp was ok. Thought it would be mixed w seasonings but came w a dipping sauce. For entrees we ordered the short ribs, pan seared sockeye salmon, shrimp stuffed sea bass and butternut squash risotto w buratta . They all tasted good n generous portions. We topped it off and shared the warm apple crisp and the tres leches cake. Yummy . Tx u for a great dinner.

Mindi A.

Yelp
We had a good meal here. Our favorite thing was the potstickers. It seems like a very popular place and was busy on the night we visited. We did have a reservation.

Elizabeth M.

Yelp
Love this place. We have dined in, got takeout, and even had a private party in the back room and all experiences have been fabulous. Staff is always 10/10.

Bea T.

Yelp
I really like the food here. It's relatively casual and very popular for the nearby residents. It's also known for their live entertainment. I got there early for dinner at 6: 15pm and it was packed! We have had the table for two by the window which was so very nice. Our server helped fix the wobbly table and there was a french fry by the foot of the table and I said oh there's a french fry and she said, "yeah there were kids here before." And then she walked away. I'm thinking you could have at least picked it up because that's just gross. Anyway, we ordered the Kung Pao cauliflower and it was a little too saucy for me. The truffle shoe string fries where good. What was a big hit for me was the most delicious pan seared scallops on risotto! They nailed it! I tried the short rib too which was very hearty and delicious. The tres leche dessert was marvelous and the sorbet was refreshing. I have to come back here at a later time to try the other dishes but if you're looking for something that is a casual environment but good food come here.

Alexa S.

Yelp
Hasn't been there in a few years but my husband and I went with my 90 year old parents for my birthday. The food remains remarkable, the service is very good and I love how philanthropic they are (I had their cocktail for a cause).

Amanda L.

Yelp
It's got a nice vibe but the wait time on food and drinks was a really really long and the restaurant wasn't even full. Food and drinks were pretty good I don't know about good enough to go back. Friendly wait staff however and helpful I

Haley F.

Yelp
Tuesday $1 oysters are great, they have so many apps to share that everyone will like. Many seafood and non-seafood options for those who are not a fan, the scallops were cooked to perfection with spinach and pesto risotto.

Rose M.

Yelp
Yum!!! Another great find!! One of the best short rib dinners I've ever had. I'm also a huge fan of dry rubbed chicken wings and ribs. They had the wings. They did not disappoint!! Great bar service and unique yummy drinks!! Check out if u r in Waltham !

Mia D.

Yelp
The food and service was just AMAZING! Our server (Bella) was so sweet and was always checking in with us! Our drinks (which she also recommended) were delicious!! 10/10

Philip W.

Yelp
Arrived at 10:35 tonight and they locked the door already. Didn't move when I rattled it. Off to IHOP.

B T.

Yelp
First time visiting this restaurant and enjoyed the meal AND the setting. The staff was very helpful in recommending tasty items from the menu. Pan-Seared Scottish Salmon was as good as it gets.

Thuy L.

Yelp
I am in such complete disapproval of this restaurant. After hearing great things about this restaurant, I decided to try it out with a girlfriend for dinner. We started with a round of cocktails, I got the spicy margarita and she got the honey & th Eric bees knees. I should have known to lower my expectations when my spicy margarita came out orange/red with no spicy salt on the rim, and it was actually on the sweeter side of the spectrum. Next up the food: we ordered the bang bang shrimp, the sweet potato bravas, and the Brussel sprouts for appetizers. The bang bang shrimp was so over cooked that you really needed to dip it into the dipping sauce just to swallow it. The Brussel sprouts were drenched in sauce and bleu cheese which overpowered the whole dish. Finally, we ordered the sockeye salmon for our main which came on a bed of basil risotto. The risotto was so heavily salted and the salmon was dry and well-done despite requesting that the fish be cooked medium. Perhaps it was an off night, but my friend and I were completely unimpressed.

Deepa G G.

Yelp
This place is one of my favorite restaurants on moody Street in waltham. I always with friends or family get the Brussels sprouts with Gonzala cheese and bacon which is excellent! and for my mail meal the pork chop with mashed potatoes ( now I am gluten free) instead of the Mac and cheese which I used and still love and Brussels sprouts and the cranberry sauce yummy Dessert is a mix variety that waiters give us. I like the chocolate cake or sorbet mix, I get coffee also latte. Everyone should come! I have had plenty of birthday celebrations here and everyone is so sweet and kind

Joe B.

Yelp
Drinks = good, tempura shrimp = good, dumplings + good, lamb empanadas = good, tres leches = good, and the kitchen let me do a custom combo. Taking the Japanese fried (karage) chicken - TOSS it in Buffalo with a side of delicious parm saturated Mac and cheese. Heaven. Service is so friendly and nice, would love to come back!

Kelsey A.

Yelp
Nice spot for American food, it does not have many vegetarian options though if that is what you are looking for.

J S.

Yelp
Food took way too long. Food was good but the steaks and fish tacos came out burnt. Also had to change my order twice due to them being out of cod and steak tips. For a Saturday evening to be out of certain foods is disappointing . We will be skipping this place next time in town. Waitress was nice but that's not my reason to return.

Karl N.

Yelp
Excellent bourbon/whiskey/rye list, also tequila and scotches are interesting! Nice selection of appetizers, I had lobster rangoons (delish)! The interior bar and restaurant is comfortable and eye pleasing, especially the artwork on the southern wall. I found out tonight that on Thursday nights there's a dj in the back room, Friday and Saturday nights it's live music! ($5 cover) I gave this place five stars, not because of the above information but because of its fine staff (especially the bartenders!) YesI'll be back, gotta check out the weekend music scene here!

Jill C.

Yelp
Unique menu with great choices and everything is fresh and extremely tasty . Highly reccommended

Destiny F.

Yelp
The dish I decided to go with was Pan Seared New Bedford Sea Scallops & Shrimp. This dish was divine. I could probably eat it 3x a week and not get sick of it that's how good it was. It had tomato and turnip puree, melted leeks, Roasted tomato, and local mushroom, kale, and white truffle oil. The Chef of this dish for sure knows how to create a dish worth remembering. We did end up getting an appetizer on the specials menu, some truffle fries (to die for) and they brought me out a nice dessert for my B-Day and it was all around a very good experience. The service was enjoyable, our server was so cool and all-around a great feel of the environment. I also wanted to share a photo from my husband's dish, his dish of choice happened to be on the Specials Menu. It was the Chipotle Marinated Filets, he loved them! I can't wait to go back to TEMPO it's categorized as American Cuisine, and it for sure is American Cuisine but American done right. I love how detailed their menus were and everything tasted super fresh good for you. So if your ever in Waltham Massachusetts I totally recommend this savory spot!

Tommy G.

Yelp
We went to Tempo for a celebration dinner and we couldn't have chosen a better restaurant. Our waiter, Billy, was fantastic! We enjoyed the Cocktails. The food was over the top good! If you like Portuguese Fisherman Stew, then you'll be very happy. Their dessert was amazing too! Enjoy!

Greg M.

Yelp
Found this via Yelp, my wife and I were looking for different spots to go. Based on reviews and menu we picked here. Please do not listen to the disgruntled woman who instead of discussing her issues with management decided to post on Yelp, not good etiquette. If you're going to this place for 18 years, don't they know you?! This is what's wrong today, talk to the staff if you're upset. This is a gem, food, drinks fantastic, waiter very nice. Good ambience, moderate noise levels. No room for dessert unfortunately maybe next time. House made bread made by 2 young brothers, they have a bright future. Perfect spot to hit after going to breweries, beer bars in area. We will be back! Greg & Lori

Bill M.

Yelp
Called ahead, was told no reservations but we could also sit outside and push tables together for our party of ten. Great. Showed up at 630. Got seated outside, waited a bit for service. Waiter and waitress took our drink orders. Then a hostess came out and told us we could not push the tables together. No discussion. We all just went and found a much better venue who was happy to accept our dinner and drink requests. Probably a $700 evening! Maybe re-examine policy or communications a bit more !

John L.

Yelp
My wife and I met friends to have dinner and cocktails at tempo for New Year's Eve. We went a day earlier just to avoid crowds. The bartenders knew how to make quality drinks. I had the smoky old-fashioned at the bar, and was very impressed. They tasted very good. The server at our table was extremely nice, professional and very friendly. The appetizers came in good time had nice flavor. We had the red beet salad, the grilled Caesar salad, the shrimp, and brussels sprouts. I thought the two salads were decent. I'm not a big beet salad fan but I think it was pretty good. Brussels and shrimp were great. For main course I had the butterfly lamb chops, which were very good although I thought the sauce was a little bland no complaints really. For sides we had the brussels sprouts as I asked to swap for the asparagus (wasn't an issue). I really thought the server was super friendly. I do not recall her name but wish I could call her out by name as I thought she was fantastic! She told us that they automatically add a 20% tip to parties over six but she would take that out if we preferred we left it just like that as she deserved it! It was not an inexpensive night, but we enjoyed ourselves, and I thought it was a good fair value with excellent service! Happy new year everybody

Jenn S.

Yelp
My friend had been raving about this restaurant for months, so we finally joined for dinner. I LOVE their outside setup. I'm sure it will go away eventually, when Moody is back open to car traffic, but it's a perfect outdoor space right now. We ordered a TON of appetizers to share, and almost every single one was delicious. Some were better than others, but all were yummy. They have a good kids' menu and the desserts were decent. I will definitely be back to try more!!

Erica L.

Yelp
Food is pretty good. I loved the risotto once and went back but they changed the menu sadly. The outdoor area in the summer is adorable, and the back room is a very fun bar with live music.

Marina O.

Yelp
It is a nice place right on the Moody St. They have a nice atmosphere inside and outside. The day I was there we decided to sit outside, unfortunately, that day rain started. We asked a host to sit inside and they moved us right away. They have a cool cups for water, they change color depends on the temperature. This is super cool. The food and drinks were great. We ordered appetizers and desserts. We ordered Shoestring Truffle Fries, Crispy Japanese Fried Chicken Bites, and for dessert Peanut Butter S'mores Pie and Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee. I ordered a cocktail that called Zombie MILF Island. OMG, I love it! It was sweet and nice. It was not extremely sweet but it tasted amazing! I highly recommend trying this cocktail when you have a chance.

Christopher W.

Yelp
Phenomenal food - innovative and well executed. Great choice of vibes too with posh front end and party in the back.

Anthony C.

Yelp
Wife and I had a date night at Tempo last night. Sat outside. Had the Pu Pu Platter and the Snake Island Oysters. They were good. For cocktails, I had the spicy margarita and my wife went with wine. The margarita was tasty and spicy! My wife went with the Yellowfin Tuna and Salon Tartare as her entrée and I had the Signature Lobster Paella. Again, both were good.

sarah h.

Yelp
The food is amazing! The menu is unique and cycles often which is fun. The drinks are very unique and are all very good. Have never had an issue getting a table. Wait staff and hosts are very friendly, not any excessive waiting

Ana Velia S.

Yelp
Great food and great service. The fisherman's seafood stew was delicious. I would totally recommend.

Monica V.

Yelp
Delicious! Plenty of cute, well-lit outdoor seating in the front and back. Try to snag a seat in the front on Moody Street :) There is a parking lot a few minutes away behind Patel Brothers.

Mark P.

Yelp
A top spot for Waltham dining. Good ambiance and food - hanger steak and $1 oyster (Tue) are my go-to's, but plenty of good options and specials. Frequent customer.

Christophe R.

Yelp
Good quality overall. Meals are well presented and the ambiance is nice. On the cons: the service was a bit expensive and the menu is a bit expensive considering the products

Ibrahim M.

Yelp
The drink selection is pretty good. The service is pretty quick. The food is absolutely delicious. I would highly recommend their truffle fries. Will definitely go back again.

Annette A.

Yelp
Made reservations at the last minute for my team of 10 to get together after work. They said they could put us in the back bar area. When we arrived it looked like we were going way back but when we rounded the corner it was a pleasant surprise. Perfect setup and not overly loud. Service was excellent. We had a round of drinks and some beers. Great craft cocktails and very tasty. The apps were just as awesome. Ones to note- the potstickers were a big hit and the dipping sauce was great, the kung pao broccoli (my favorite I think), the garlic truffle fries were good and garlicky. The calamari was light but just ok. Wish I had pics but we were so busy eating it didn't even occur to me! I had to run but my team stayed on and had dinner- they all loved the food. Can't wait to come back and actually have time to eat here again. Tip- parking is behind it because Lexington parking is awful.

Kaylee A.

Yelp
Service was amazing. The overall atmosphere of the place was great. Unfortunately the food was too expensive for the quality, I order the Pu Pu Plater for 32$ and for being so expensive it didn't fill me up nor did it taste that good, got chunks of just bread crumbs for the chicken. Luckily I also ordered this lovely sour dough bread loaf which tasted amazing for only 5$. I would rate 5/5 if food was priced to reasonably and actually got chicken instead of bread crumbs.

Racquelle W.

Yelp
I love this place!!!! This was definitely a surprise I asked the waiter for a recommendation between the pen seared shrimp and the spicy scallop and shrimp dish and she recommended the spicy scallop and shrimp and I could not believe the amazing explosion of taste that I experienced. The drinks were also very good and the vibe was very lively I would 100% revisit when I'm next in the area. Our party was very big about 10 people but they still managed to give us great and excellent service. I have absolutely no complaints.

Glenisha M.

Yelp
Was sat in the back facing the kitchen, young hostess scrambling a place to hide me and boyfriend like we weren't paying for our food. Goods decent bar food at best, would come back if they knew how to seat people better.

Justin R.

Yelp
Great menu really cool place to bring a fun group or date, personally I'd prefer it if you left the kids at home

Jaimie F.

Yelp
Every time we go here I am thinking about when I can come again. The food and drinks are out of this word and the restaurant has a great bar space to dine at! Only recently did we discover the back room, a $5 cover bar charge led us to live music and DJd dancing. Great place, definitely recommend checking it out.

Luke F.

Yelp
Tonight was my third time at Tempo, a restaurant at which I plan to become a regular. The food is inventive, delicious, and consistently well-prepared and service is friendly and casual. I always start my meals here with the calamari, which is among the best I've had anywhere. It's flash-fried in a very light and crispy batter, and is extremely tender. They also serve it with 2 dipping sauces, which are addictive. And don't pass up on their homemade beer bread, which is complimentary. I've had 3 different seafood entrees here. My first was the salmon, which is accompanied by some of the most delicious risotto I've ever had-- with butternut squash, cranberry, and sage. I've also tried the seared tuna, which is served with stir fried vegetables and rice. The tuna was lightly seared with a nicely seasoned crust, and the vegetables were nice and crisp. Most recently I had their cashew-crusted cod, which was both sweet and savory-- a real feast for the senses. Their selection of beers on draught is extensive. Most recently I had the Jack's Abby Leisure Time Blood Orange, a tasty wheat beer that wasn't overpowering with fruitiness. Their dessert menu looks excellent, though I've never sampled it. I'd like to, but I'm usually stuffed by the time I've finished my meal; Tempo's portions are generous.

Tom H.

Yelp
This past weekend we came back to Tempo for the first time since before Covid started, and its as good as we remember. Dishes taste fresh, well balanced, very comfortable portions, and a great atmosphere. Drinks were expertly prepared and refreshing. We ordered the Stroganoff and the Hangar steak. To me it looked like the noodles of the Stroganoff were hand made, and done so perfectly. We also had the Chipotle Chicken Taquitos for an appetizer. While they may have not been my favorite thing on the menu, that entirely comes down to personal preference. The flavors were still very well balanced and melded together well. It should speak to how good this restaurants food is when even the dishes you don't particularly care for are still good! As a side note, we used to come here for $1 oysters on Tuesdays. I'm not sure if they still offer it, however I'll be back to find out.

Leah K.

Yelp
Stopped at Tempo the day of this year's hurricane, right after a wake. I know, doesn't seem like a very good day. We were one of the few people sitting outside, because of the hurricane, but while it was windy, it stayed dry, so we were happy. So much was closed on Moody Street so this was sort of the last choice on the street but since Tempo was open we decided to come visit. It was some of the best food I've had in a long time. We shared shoestring truffle fries, wings, and asian steak skewers. Everything was so delicious, the fries were hot and crispy with aioli, the wings were super dark and somehow were sweet, smokey and spicy, and the skewers were simple and good. We also had a beer and a cocktail, both of which were great. But the best part was the quick, kind service we received even during such a tough time.

Christina A.

Yelp
This was my first time coming to Tempo! The space was really unique and open. Great ambiance, gave me Boston vibes. The sangria was super yummy, and the highlight for me was the dessert and the yummy lobster rangoons. Everything at tempo is made super fresh and delivered every day. I brought my friend and she said she would come back to Tempo soon for more. Only thing is that it is pricey. But for the quality you get it's pretty reasonable.

Michael B.

Yelp
Great food, great fun, great bar - the staff is always amazing - they have an amazing menu with many food options for your whole party - after dinner go see the amazing entertainment at the bak bar. Soooo much fun !!!! .

Sara B.

Yelp
I have been dying for Tempo recently and decided to order during quarantine. The food arrived fast and hot, and was SO GOOD. This will always be my favorite restaurant no matter what. Thank you for continuing to serve us during this time.

Lisa b.

Yelp
wow.. never have I ever had an employee of a business write such a nasty response to my not so great view.. considering the fact that we have been customers since Tempo opened and had a lousy experience with our time at the restaurant, Erin the business employee of Tempo told me we should maybe go to McDonalds instead. Considering the fact that our reservations were for 6:30 and by 7:00 they were out of bread and by 7:30 they were out of desserts was our complaint. Plus, we had to-ask another waiter to get our wine since our waiter completely forgot about us. Erin said in her response that maybe we would be better off going to McDonalds instead.. well, would probably get better service there compared to Tempo. So, Erin, don't worry, we won't ever be back..