Basha Cafe

Basha Café is great! I love the food and the ambiance — great spot for a big group of people. Will absolutely go back!

Went for drinks and hookah earlier in the evening on a Saturday. My date and I had a table on the patio.
Took some time to get served and setup with the hookah but we weren’t in a rush to get to dinner afterwards so we were fine with that. The guy who brought us the hookah was attentive in checking the coals for us a couple times. We shared a refreshing tomato salad appetizer. More people started arriving after 8:30 pm. Would come back for another relaxing evening with friends!

I visited this restaurant many times it is so good
Food is delicious the atmosphere is great will recommend it to friends and family

My review is long overdue. Basha hosted my son’s high school graduation back in June and I couldn’t have been more pleased!
They let us take over the whole restaurant… rearranging furniture, replacing table clothes, adding decorations etc.
DJ and his brother were the best and super accommodating. He helped me with the menu and ordering for our party. I have had Ethiopian foods several times and love it! For most of our guests however, it was a first time experience. They all loved the spices and the shared experience of family dishes.
I highly recommend Basha and look forward to returning for hookah one night this summer!
Thank you!

We went to Basha for a graduation party and we were all so happy with everything. The food was outstanding and just kept coming and coming. The management was fabulous and helpful. And I had a really good drink, specially made for me. I will go back to this wonderful hidden gem again and again.

Basha Café
Same name, different restaurant. No longer is it Mediterranean food run by questionably nice people. It is now Ethiopian food run by class gentlemen. Manager DJ and his brother Habtamu Tadesse are bringing authentic rustic cuisine to Cambridge.
New Street has mostly been home to auto body shops and bus parking. However, over the last few years more pedestrian friendly places have started cropping up. Basha is one of them. They are tucked in right along side Extreme Dancesport.
We spoke to the new manager DJ about renting the restaurant for a graduation party. He was very amenable to the idea so we stopped in to flat iron some details. In person, he was very accommodating to our requests and quite fair with time and price. Everything was squared away and off we went.
Party night came along and we went in to arraign the tables, hang decorations and get things ready for the guests. Everyone was extremely helpful in preparing and things were finished quickly.
Once the guests arrived and the food platters came out the party got started! We ordered the vegetarian platters as appetizers. All around the injera were succulent stewed and slow cooked veggies, lentils and a seldom seen dish made with sweet potato (which became the star of the tray). Heaped in the center was torn injera mixed in with tomatoes sliced jalapeño and onions. The whole platter was literally soaked with flavor!
Next out were trays filled with chicken, lamb, and beef. They all looked and smelled magnificent. Being a vegetarian, that’s where I had to stop. However judging by the hush that settled over our gathering I am assuming the meat dishes were just as tasty as the vegetarian one.
I finished my evening at the bar with a traditional Ethiopian drink made from warmed apple cider, homemade Thyme infused vodka, and a splash of Sambuca. So good.
They are also one of only 3 establishments to have a hookah license. So if that’s your thing come have a bowl. The covered front patio is where to light up.
We had a great experience at Basha. The food was outstanding, the service was excellent, the staff was friendly. The music was great. I am adding this to my list of places to come to every time I am back home in Boston.

*Note– this place is now an Ethiopian place with new management.
I felt pretty awkward when I walked into Basha, like I had walked into a place that was reserved for a private party by accident. Every table looked up at us as we entered, prob since there’s nothing separating the entrance area from the table area. Though I wasn’t crashing a party, the place does feel like a small party hall, with a club like vibe due to colorful ceiling lighting and a blue neon lit bar.
It took a while to get our drinks, and it felt like 15 minutes in between getting my drink and the boy’s drink even though we ordered at the same time. We got a honey wine and a Mai tai. Both tasted pretty watery and the Mai tai was definitely not a Mai tai.
We then ordered the beef tibs and the vegetarian combo… This also took a while to come out. However both were pretty decent and the veggie combo came with a sweet potato dish I haven’t had before. Unlike other Ethiopian places in the area, they don’t give each person a plate to rest your injera on. This was fine though, more Eco friendly, and probably more traditional. Also, we got nice soft brown injera instead of the odd white injera other places have been doing lately.
Later in the night, I got some really annoying indigestion. The bf was fine though. Not sure if it was related.
Meh I’ll prob stick to the other Ethiopian places in Boston.

So… yea… this is a toughie to judge…
The food is bad, but it’s probably not mostly their fault.
We had a good time, but the worst Indian/​Chinese/​Mexican/​Greek/​ETC food is certainly better than what’s probably passable Ethiopian.
In short, after trying Injera, I have a new appreciation for naan…

Having found out about this place through Groupon, I went with a couple of friends and was immediately impressed with the authenticity of the Basha as a true ethnic restaurant. It was hard to find – tucked in on New Street, sort of behind Whole Foods in Fresh Pond. Good sign. Clear plastic table cloths, plastic flowers. Still looking good! And a TV playing Ethiopian folk dances, too-​loud music, and lots of Ethiopians eating and hanging out. Things looked very promising – all the touches of authenticity were there!
We ordered the veggie platter for three, thirteen bucks a head. Perfectly reasonable price. Lots of fresh, spicy and well-​prepared food. Great service, friendly staff, parking behind the restaurant on the right. The food didn’t taste like it had been on a steam table for hours, it seemed largely made fresh. Water glasses were refilled without our asking, and they brought extra injeera.
We will definitely be back!

A note: this place used to be middle eastern, it changed hands a few months ago, and under new ownership and management, it is now Ethiopian. So if you read the crummy reviews about the place, keep in mind they no longer apply.

This place is a hidden Gem
PROS:
–LOTS OF PARKING
–Good Food
–Hookah Service
–Dance Floor
–Bar Avail
–Takes Reservations
–Live Music
–Closes Late
CONS:
–Hard to find

My first visit to Basha Café was on Sunday, October 20, for a special event. If you read reviews for this establishment, I hope that you scroll to the bottom and read the filtered reviews as well so that you see ALL of them.
The restaurant appeared to be staffed normally, i.e. enough staff to handle the 4 or more large party tables we had, and a handful of 2 person parties. It’s not a big restaurant, so we had the place almost totally full.
The service was 100% horrible and then the manager on duty (who is also apparently a vocalist and entertainer, as he got up and sang with the live band a few times) randomly claimed that all of the 2 person tables at the event needed to cough up a minimum of $ 50.00 per table/​$ 25.00 per person if their bill was less than that. I really don’t even know who else he tried it on. Patrons of this event had also bought tickets beforehand. He seemed to want to argue with the event manager that he had every right to do this out of the blue.
I felt bad for the event manager, whom I know, because it had nothing to do with her and she was blindsided with this treatment of her guests. Nowhere on their printed menu or their website does it say customers seated at tables will be charged a minimum of $ 25 per person. He seemed to «randomly» forget to include this minimum for the large tables.
I don’t know if it was because I was seated at the table on the far end of the restaurant from the bar and kitchen area or the lady serving most of the event by herself just couldn’t handle it. My table (me and about 6 other patrons) waited at least 75 minutes for our food to be served. I watched the table next to us have their food served, they ate, an employee of the restaurant bused their empty plates, and their check was delivered all before our food arrived. No water refills, ever. I don’t think they even bothered to start preparing the food for my table until about 65 minutes into our wait. Why? Because I saw the guy in a chef’s jacket standing around the bar socializing earlier in the evening.
I ordered the crab and avocado salad. I didn’t expect a lot, but I was expecting a little more than some shredded crab meat on top of guacamole that was clearly watered down with mayonnaise or dill sauce to make it go farther. It did have a nice flavor, but that was more from the lemon juice and olive oil the dish was doused in. I am an experienced cook myself, so I do know lemon and olive oil are staples of Mediterranean cuisine, but it felt like they were just used to mask what wasn’t there in this dish. Others around me ordered shish kabobs and those plates did have a nice presentation.
This establishment seems more interested in billing itself as a nightlife destination for those who like to party into the wee hours. That’s fine, I like to party as much as the next person, but if you want to sit down to a nice meal with great service GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!

Hey, everyone! I just want anyone who isn’t aware of it yet
to know that Basha Café
IS NOT closed; it is under new, and fantastically better, ownership
and operation.
Go there!
If you like Middle Eastern food — REAL! — Middle Eastern food,
ENTIRELY AUTHENTIC, then go there.
And as a not-​so-​side note, I’ve had Turkish coffee
at many different places throughout Cambridge and Boston,
and hands down, Basha Café has THE* best — *pronounced: «THEE!»
I don’t drive or own a vehicle myself, but for those of you who will be driving there,
you’ll have the fringe benefit of free, off-​street parking in a safe location,
just off the very easily accessible road of Concord Avenue.
Harvard Square parking!
Need I say more? Not so here.
Friendly, engaging and attentive staff — meet the owner!
At how many places does that happen anymore?!
And the food will speak for itself…

good place, nice management but awesome entertainment specially with the chamounssssssss.

Basha has taken over this place once again. Decent food, patio dining, easy parking, hookah service, occasional live music. Go to

I’d love to write a review about the food but there won’t be one. I attempted to call them for a pickup order over a half hour period today from 1:45 — 2:15 and nobody ever answered the phone to take my order, I guess they just aren’t looking for business… very disappointing.

This is one $ 250 tab I don’t regret.
I was skeptical when a friend brought me to a parking lot across the street from where I brought my car the few times it was dinged by the plow. We got in around 6 and were the second people in the door, and left around midnight when Brazilian night was REALLY getting going. What happened in those six glorious hours out on the patio was magic, despite there not being anything spectacular about the food or décor.
The environment was great– our server was awesome (I wish I could remember her name) and was at the table quite often, refilling our drinks and hookah, and making suggestions when needed. The people around us were also great– just a quick conversation of «hey, what’s that you’re eating» turned into them sharing their raw almonds with us and chatting it up. And then maybe because we were chicks the men (being traditional Middle Eastern men) wanted to do everything for us, which I did NOT object to. Sometimes it’s nice to travel back to a time when women needed to be waited on hand and foot. They kept our hookah in perfect working order, bringing refills for us without asking (wait, do you refill a hookah? I digress).
Between myself and my friend, we drank through the cocktail menu and enjoyed it all, even the ones made with bubble gum vodka. Who would have thought it would taste just like bubble gum and not some cheap, plasticky alternative?
I enjoyed this place enough that I will definitely be back. But maybe next time I’ll try some more food.

My fiancé and I went for dinner the other night. We have been passing by Basha Café for months when heading to Fresh Pond shopping center, but had not had a chance to try the food.
When we arrived we were given our choice of table by the chef himself. Our waitress was extremely helpful explaining the menu options. My fiancé and I both love Mediterranean food and have both visited Greece and Turkey. The food at Basha Café was the best Greek cuisine I have EVER had.
This is an absolute must if you are in the area and want an authentic taste of the Mediterranean. Absolutely LOVED it! Can’t wait to go back!

I didn’t start my experience at Basha with the food, although I will be making it a point to soon. Instead I went casual and endulged in some local-​not-​so-​local fare of the spirit variety. After our lovely waitress Naheed presented us delicious coctai after delicious coctail we thought we’d seen all sides of Basha while taking in the lovely musicianship of the performing trio; little did I know the night’s entertainment would have transitioned into a brief love affair with beautiful belly dancer who seemed to break all physical principals I was aware of (and a few I wasn’t). I also heard they have hookas; although we couldn’t partake as the huka hangout was c-​l-​o-​s-​e-​d due to the wintery state of Cambridge.
Bottom line: Great place, unique atmosphere, and totally worth the trek off the beaten path of the people’s republic, even in a snowstorm.

I had a total, absolute blast here last night.
This post is long because there was just so much incredible stuff that happened.
I was so unprepared for what awaited me, after reading the other Unilocal reviews for this place. I went with my Arabic teacher and we got there at 9, which I thought was strange because usually she likes to go to bed early.
But 9:00 is just when this place starts to pick up. There was an oud player and people were talking. I liked the décor — pretty Middle Eastern, from my own experience. The cocktail list was great — lots of cool drinks (and they use canton and st. germaine in a bunch, which are my favorite). We got some food and the hummus and baba ghanoush were really great.
By 10:00 more bands members came and joined the oud player. Some people started dancing next to the band but sat down pretty quickly. Some people danced a little in their seats. It was full of tension, but no one was dancing yet.
At maybe 10:40 the band put on a great song, and maybe a third of the whole restaurant got up to dance. The music was loud and the band was soo good. People started throwing one dollar bills on the floor in front of the band — like fifteen at a time!
11:00 — the belly dancer comes. Now, I’ve been to other Middle Eastern restaurants with belly dancers, and I HATE how they dance to individuals tables. It is so awkward. And you’re supposed to tuck the dollar bills into their skirts? Belly dancers are not strippers! Anyway, this belly dancer was fantastic (although my teacher said the other one she had seen there had been much better). She was a great performer and people were throwing one dollar bills — and no one was touching her (which they wouldn’t dare do in the middle east either).
11:45 — 1:00 The belly dancer finished and all hell breaks lose in the restaurant. The band plays great music with great drum beats and everyone is up dancing. There are dollar bills all over the floor (I later saw them sweeping them up with a broom) and I’m holding a strangers hand as they show me how to circle dance. The songs are all in Arabic and everyone is singing along (there were maybe only four people at the restaurant who didn’t speak Arabic, at this point).
Nobody was sloppy drunk, but this is the Middle East with alcohol — and it’s great. I had so much fun. The other non-​authentic thing I would say is that none of the men there hit on me (hurray! That’s always the most awkward part about the Middle East, for me anyway). But everyone was having a great time and the music and dancing was so good!
I would guess, from reading the other reviews, and from my arabic teacher, that you really only want to go to this place after 9 — or even 11. Good news — now it’s open until 2 (starting next week!). So go, wear your biggest hoop earrings, rock your arabic dancing, and have a great time!

Tasty food, over-​priced menu.
I bought 2 Groupons here and have gone twice. I really enjoyed the food, especially the grape leaves (soo tasty! especially love it with extra lemon juice on top). However, I def wouldn’t be going here unless I had the Groupon, which is sad, because the food is really good.
The martini/​drink menu is cool. I don’t love martini’s but tried one anyway. I didn’t think it was worth $ 10, but it was ok. My friend got one and loved it though.
The owner and staff are super nice. They always make sure you are happy and taken care of. Especially where the hookah is concerned!