The red house

Pros: Good service. Quaint decor. Fabulous oysters and lobster. Diverse drink menu. Good olives and oil. Well dressed salads. Quality bread and soft butter. Cons: low ceiling. Limited seating. Main dishes were a little slow to come out.

Absolutely darling! If history is your thing, definitely stop by this place. The home turned restaurant is over 200 years old. The retaining wall is from the 1600's!! Haha the food was really good too. I'd recommend the salmon! The atmosphere is charming and relatively peaceful considering the area it's in. The waiters are super nice and they have some fantastic happy hour deals! If you want something super polished and fancy though, don't go here. It is a little old, but that's the fun of it!

We where 5 on a tour group and where looking for a light lunch and a refreshing drink. We made the best choice for us because there is on the menu a lot of so called * small plates dishes * we all picked a different plate and every one was really happy that we stopped at this place, as we had not make a reservation, we where offered the little terrace but that is what we were looking for anyway.

Have walked by this charming historic house on Winthrop Street for many years, but never had a chance to stop in until recently. What a delight! Terrific menu, tight but with options for everyone, great craft cocktails, unpretentious atmosphere of mostly locals and college professors chatting over dinner. We sat out on the porch where the acoustic were a bit milder and had a flawless mid-week meal. The small 'shared' plates are a bit smaller than expected, so I wish I'd ordered one or two more, but the main courses are generous.

The brilliance of this postage sized bistro starts with the menu, which is broken into four sections: 4$, 11$, 19$ and lobster. I love that. It simplifies everything and lets you explore their varied offerings without silly odd dollar amounts taking away from the moment.
There are also some sides and after ordering the charred roots and greens, I was convinced this spot is really onto something in terms of char, crunch, tender, and acid. At this moment, The Red House is the reigning champion of small plates in Harvard Square. Every bite was well balanced and expertly prepared. Fabulous wine and beer selections. The staff are aloof but capable. I wish there was salt and pepper on the table- even teeny tiny ones. Children would likely not be comfortable here, it's just too small and does not seem particularly hospitable to anyone under the age of wisdom to appreciate that this is one of the only chill, quiet places to eat for miles.