Catalyst Restaurant
Where olive oil flows like conversation and every dish tells a sun-dappled story
The Special Occasion — dress accordingly
Modern Mediterranean in the Kendall Hotel. Farm-to-table focus with seasonal New England ingredients.
The Maitre d' Recommends
The Vibe
Catalyst feels like a power lunch destination that remembered to be good. The Kendall Square location in the Kendall Hotel attracts biotech executives and MIT professors, but the Mediterranean-influenced menu transcends its business-dining context. Bright, modern, and professionally run, it's where deals happen over actually excellent food.
Comfortable conversation level
Why It's Great
Where Kendall Square Does Business Over Food That Actually Matters
Hotel restaurants have a reputation for mediocrity—places that exist because hotels need restaurants, not because anyone would choose them. Catalyst defies this expectation. Chef William Kovel has created a menu of Mediterranean-influenced dishes that stands on its own merits, regardless of the Kendall Hotel address.
The morning crowd is serious: biotech executives planning clinical trials, MIT faculty discussing grants, startup founders pitching investors. The breakfast and lunch menus accommodate this—efficient service, proper coffee, food that fuels rather than distracts. But the kitchen cares about quality in ways that surprise.
Dinner reveals more ambition. The Mediterranean focus allows Kovel to explore seasonal ingredients through a familiar but creative lens. New England seafood gets Turkish treatments. Pastas show proper technique. The vegetable preparations prove that farm-to-table isn't just a phrase here.
For Kendall Square—a neighborhood long underserved by quality dining options—Catalyst fills an important role. It's the restaurant you can trust for any occasion: client dinner, team celebration, or just a meal that's better than it needs to be.
A business dinner that exceeds expectations: Mediterranean sharing plates, proper wine service, and the realization that hotel dining can actually be good.
Grilled Branzino
Mediterranean sea bass with seasonal accompaniments
Seasonal Pasta
House-made pasta with rotating preparations
Mezze Platter
Hummus, babaganoush, and accompaniments for sharing
Business Breakfast
Efficient, quality morning options for working meals
Why It's In Our Guide
Catalyst proves that Kendall Square deserves quality dining. The Mediterranean menu works for any occasion, from business breakfast to client dinner, with a kitchen that actually cares about the food.
“Catalyst is the rare hotel restaurant you'd choose even if you weren't staying there.”
— Boston Globe“Kendall Square finally has a restaurant that matches its ambition.”
— Boston MagazineKendall Square professionals have adopted Catalyst for business meals, appreciating that it takes dining seriously in a neighborhood of grab-and-go options.
Insider Tips
Lunch for business efficiency, dinner for a more relaxed experience.
Reservations recommended for dinner. Lunch usually has availability.
The main dining room works for most occasions. Private dining is available for larger business groups.
The Mediterranean dishes are the strongest. Ask about seasonal specials that showcase local ingredients.
The Kendall Hotel has parking. Otherwise, Kendall Square garages are nearby. Kendall/MIT T is a short walk.
Ratings & Reviews
Based on 999 reviews
567 reviews
Updated 2024-12
432 reviews
Updated 2024-12
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Catalyst is open to the public for all meals. While it's located in the Kendall Hotel, locals and business diners from the area make up much of the clientele. Reservations are recommended for dinner but not required.
Reddit Mentions
Contact Details
300 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139
Mon-Fri: 7AM-10PM, Sat-Sun: 8AM-10PM
5 min walk from Kendall/MIT
RedIn Cambridge, even casual dining involves a thesis statement.
“She was my Rushmore.”
— Herman Blume, on Cambridge dining