Rafiki Bistro

Very mixed review… after reading all the other reviews on Unilocal I was hesitant to go here but Rafiki had groupons for brunch and dinner so I went for one of each.
I absolutely loved the veggie burger and the mussels were delicious but the brunch was nothing to write home about. Overall we had one good meal and one pretty bad meal and probably won’t be returning.

We were drawn in by discount oysters!
Then we were greeted by the giant list of things they did not have. Always a good sign… :-/​
The husband started with those and they were pretty good. I started with crab and avocado salad which was mostly avocado. Decently tasty, though, not worth the price for avocado salad.
In my never-​ending search for steak frites, I, of course, had to get them here. My steak had good flavor but was very unevenly cooked, parts were rare and other parts medium. A few bites were my requested medium rare.
The husband had bouillabaisse and was pleased.
I ordered a second glass of wine (which I had to flag someone down to do — I never understand that — if my glass is empty when you drop off my plate, why don’t you ask me if I want another glass? That $ 10 glass of wine boosts the bottom line I’m tipping on…) Anyway… that second glass of wine came practically at the end of my meal, which, was kind of a bummer. I had ordered white with my app and really wanted red with my steak.
Since I had some wine to kill — and a chocolate craving — we got the chocolate pot de crème. It was delicious, but, only about a mouthful. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be that little or if we got a bad batch. Definitely not worth the price.
In sum, a solid 3. Not the worst, not the greatest, a bit overpriced. We may go back for oysters and a drink, but, probably not dinner anytime soon.

Sat a full 5 minutes because the bartender «had to make a drink I don’t make very often. My drink, when i got it was a flat lifeless version of an Aviator — even the bartender agreed it wasn’t great, but it «wasn’t his drink» (he inherited it, apparently) and the drinks he had created WERE better. But isn’t the point of being a bartender that you should be able to make any of the drinks on the menu well? I don’t get it.
A couple stars off for the long wait and the inconsistent drinks.
The service did get a lot better when our friends (who go there regularly and know the bartender) came in, but even then, drinks were ordered, but not made until the bartender came and suddenly remembered.
We ordered food a the bar — oysters, chacuterie, and fries, and that was just OK, except for the parmesan fries, which were addictive and fantastic — some of the best i’ve ever had, in fact.
The chacuterie board just wasn’t big enough or interesting enough, and the space is ok, kind of generic.
The oysters were your standard oysters, nothing special.

I am updating my review due to a really bad experience. I have been to Rafiki a few times before for things like drinks, a burger and some appetizers and things were ok. They certainly mix a great drink. However, this past night was a major fail.
Full disclosure — we went on a Tuesday when they have the raw bar specials (12 oysters for 17 for example) and it was the week that their Groupon was expiring. The restaurant was almost full (though not quiet) but severely understaffed. There were what looked like 2 servers being helped by the manager and hostess.
Once sat, we were not greeted for almost 20 minutes. When the hostess realized this she very graciously comped our first round of drinks. However, the problems just kept piling on. The food took a long time. We did not get our wine with the food, but had to remind them once the food came out.
The oysters and clams were not washed well and were certainly not shucked well. There were bits of shell in almost every piece and it was obvious that they were opened from the wrong side as can be seen by the cracks.
I had a «beef burginion» but it was anything but that. It had no carrots and hardly tasted of wine. Just a chunk of (decent enough) brisket on mashed with green beans. blah. My husband’s «steak frite» again was nothing like one would expect. Instead of steak tips it was just a flattened overcooked flank steak.
Anyway, major fail that night Rafiki.

Mussels bland.
Cod cakes, card boardish.
Margarita not bad.
Vegan Lentils, not good.
Ambiance, not my thing.
For the price there are a dozen better places within a half a mile, however I heven’t been back in months.

Just returned from Valentine’s night at the «New Rafiki.» I’ve never been to the old one, so I treated it like a brand-​new place. We had the four-​course prix-​fixe Valentine’s Day menu. I had the winter squash and lentil soup, fancy onion rings, scallops and brown rice, and truffles with strawberries. My accomplice had the soup, a salad with some foie gras, steak, and lemon crepes.
The food, on the whole, was good. Some of the dishes approached excellence, particularly the squash and lentil soup and the lemon crepes. The «New Rafiki» definitely has the potential to serve a menu that is divine from start to finish, but I’ll have to try more dishes before I can go a full five. And the host gave all the ladies a rose on the way out. A stylish gesture!
A star off regarding the restaurant’s layout. The space is split with the tables on one side and the bar on the other. The space behind the bar isn’t big enough for the wait staff to pass through. Wait staff also had trouble getting around the cold-​blocking curtains so they could deliver food to the tables by the windows. A restaurant needs to pack ‘em in, but a little extra breathing room could keep plates of food from decorating the patrons.
Yes, we’d come back, but we might ask to sit farther away from the front door!

Because they promote a green environment and the menu looked pretty impressive, I was looking forward to having a taste. Unfortunately, the food we had was awful.
I had the mushroom ricotta stuffed raviolis, but the raviolis were so old and looked like they had been cooked over again it was inedible. I had to remove the pasta and eat what was left in the inside, which was very little. It was dressed with a balsamic vinagarette, not a good combination here. My partner had the pasta is red sauce and the pasta was overcooked. Our server was so nice I didn’t have the heart to tell her to take the food and shove it.

I’m a traditional girl. I like dinner and a movie. Last night, I didn’t catch a flick, but Chef Jeff Burgess put on a damn show.
Chef started us out with a chickpea mash (not exactly hummus). This was quickly followed by two soups. Pretty standard French Onion Soup and a Cassoulet that may or may not have changed my life for the better. Get this.
Next we had some tuna tartare… again, crazy good. Simple flavors that really highlighted the fish. The fried polenta with sweet and regular potatoes. OMG. I hope they serve this jawn at brunch, because I can imagine that sweet crispy goodness soaking up some bad decisions.
Now…the main event. The entrees. Holy I am in culinary heaven Batman. Honestly, the gnocchi confused me, and it was a bit too rich for me, but it was really good. (Chef Jeff lived in Italy and studied pasta, so if you are into carbs, this is your jam). The scallops were buttery and delicious.
And on the seventh day the Lord made duck. Holy God. There really aren’t any words. Just order the duck.
For dessert we snacked on a crêpe cake with mascarpone and raspberries with coffee spiked with… biscotti (?) liqueur. (The wine pairings were really good, so I’m a little hazy with the dessert details).
Rafiki Bistro is on point and they are coming correct this time around. Another awesome aspect of one of my new favorite restaurants in the Cambridge/​Somerville hood is the fact that they can accomodate my gluten free pals.
Did I mention that they are also going to have live music in the coming weeks?
I’s done died and gones to heaven.

So I saw the crappy reviews, but I knew something maybe you didn’t — THOSE reviews are for the OLD Rafiki. The new Rafiki has a new chef, a new menu (French Provencal), a brilliant staff, and a planet (and flavor) conscious attitude.
There are two kinds of places that you want to go back to over and over again. The first is an intimate space, for yourself and a friend or a date, where you know what you like and you savour your meal, maybe share an item or two. The second is the kind of place you’d go with a group, share everything, talk and toast and laugh and dine. Rafiki, I think, manages to be both places.
On this experience, I came items with a modest group, which allowed us to share and try a lot of different menu items. Let me break them down for you:
Classic French Onion Soup — I shall not lie, this was not my favorite onion soup ever. I like my onion soup to be beefy and heavy and rich and this was not that. This managed to have all the elements of comfort food and still somehow be light and lovely. So, you know, it’s not my favorite ever, but it’s still really damned good, and, probably, more authentic than the heavy stew I often crave.
Petite Cassoulet (with duck confit, andouille sausage, white beans, and a little homemade soda bread biscuit) — Already, here, I’m picking up a theme that you’ll see me repeat item after item. This is a stew. More specifically, a sausage and bean stew. Had I made this at home it would have been also delicious, but it would have also been a heavy brick that would sink to the pit of your stomach and insist on being the meal itself. Despite being all sausage and beans and thick and stewy, the petite cassoulet also managed to be airy and gentle on your palate and your stomach, which works out well, because you’re going to want to eat your main course.
Tuna Tartare (which citrus and other yumminess) — This was a palate cleanser and, also, delightful. Twas simple and, yes, light.
Polenta Napolean — Of the starters, this was my favorite. The flavors here were simultaneously simple and complex. I literally fought with one of my dining companions over the last bite (think «hungry Hungry Hippos,» seriously, that’s the comment that was made from another)!
Pan-​Seared Duck Breast — Oh my. Dude. I don’t even like duck. This was like a steak. A sweet and savory pile of deliciousness that luckily landed in my mouth. While so many of the dishes that I expected to be heavy turned out to be light, this dish I expected to be light, and it was pleasantly rich and filling instead. I am rethinking my future desires to order duck.
Seared Scallops — The part I likes best about this was the grapefruit salad. Citrus is a strong trend in the foods and it definitely lends itself well to seafood. While my least favorite of the entrees, it was still very good.
Handmade Gnocchi Filled with Goat Cheese — Dear Boyfriend, I am really really really really really really really sorry I didn’t order an extra plate of these for takeout to bring home to you. You’re not angry with me because you just DON’T KNOW what you missed, but when I bring you here and feed you this, your anger will be retroactive and, for that, I am sorry in advance. Oh. My. Effing. God. These things are giant, filled with wonderful goat cheese, and then… then. FRIED.
For dessert we were lucky enough to sample something not yet on the menu — a stacked crêpe cake with layers of marscapone cheese in a citrus raspberry sauce. This thing starts off tart and just barely sweet but finishes in your mouth as rich and buttery while still, somehow, being (*surprise!*)… light.
The cocktails we sipped through the evening were well crafted (or well poured — if wine — and I appreciate the correct glassware choices) and the staff was all delightful.
It was a slow night, so our entire group had an opportunity to chat with the co-​owner Dan, Chef Jeff Burgess, and several other staff members, many who I missed because I fell into a long and engaging conversation with Dan who’s passion for getting the right ingredients from the right sources is legitimately inspired (also, this dude is mad interesting, so if you’ve got a chance for a chat, take it). Chef Jeff was also passionate about his work and took the time to explain what goes into every bite.
Okay, so this place is not cheap, but for upscale French dining with as many locally sourced seasonal ingredients reasonably possible (sometimes, you know, flavor comes first), it’s really inexpensive for what you’re getting, and, also, worth every penny.
I will absolutely be back.

Take everything you know about the old Rafiki Bistro, wad it up, and chuck it in the trash.
They hit the reset button on this place in a big way.
Executive Chef Jeff Burgess has created an amazing human-​alien hybrid of a restaurant, combining seasonal ingredients and traditional french bistro fare with a flair for the original that is sure to win the hearts, minds and stomachs of diners in the Porter-​Harvard area.
While I wish they had kept the traditional and original onion soup recipe, which involves a simple, vegetable-​based seasoned herb broth, the more regularly-​seen beef-​stock version here is excellent.
The cassoulet cries out for devouring, classically prepared with haricot verts, duck confit and sausage in a rich, perfectly seasoned broth.
We were treated to a tuna tartare with gorgeous hunks of crusty bread for ease of mouth-​delivery, and with a delicious and good-​looking tomato accompaniment.
Chef Jeff has created his own brand of «gnocchi», about as far out from the original as you can get and still feel comfortable calling it gnocchi. This beautiful bastard child is a large, ravioli-​like creation, stuffed with goat and marscarpone cheese, and deep fried golden. It sounds crazy but it is quite something.
The seared scallops show that the kitchen knows when to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) — they let the fresh scallop flavor lead without dressing it up with heavy accompaniments, and no overcooking.
Am i gushing? Probably. But they deserve a gush for the pan-​seared duck breast. Duck is notoriously twitchy in the kitchen — easy to over– or undercook, but they nailed this dish, with a beautifully complimentary red currant sauce.
The atmosphere and service were both fun and entertaining without being intrusive — this is a laid back, yet stylish place to enjoy really great and creative food. They have a great wine selection, and are really creating a unique space in which to enjoy food, music (did I mention they will be featuring live local acts soon? Oh, yes.) and what are sure to be more interesting events to come.
Congratulations on hitting it out of the park, Rafiki.

We only went here because the bars at Temple and West Side were super crowded, and we just wanted to sit at the bar and have a pre-​dinner cocktail (reservations elsewhere).
I liked the vibe and thought the bartenders were really nice. My blood orange margarita was scrumptious, and the taste I had of my husband’s sangria was also enjoyable. However, we made the mistake of splitting an appetizer to stave off our hunger before we went to dinner. The codcakes were atrocious. I basically just ate them because I was getting wasted off of the margarita.

This is the definition of a 3 star place. Atmosphere is awesome and would be really nice for a date.
However, the service was so slow, but the server was pleasant when she did appear. It should not take twenty minutes to order and receive a couple drinks. The food is overpriced, but pretty delicious. I guess I should try an entrée before really judging the food, but my friend and I got salads (which were small, but awesome) and we split the cheese plate, which was pretty good.
So to recap, I would probably come back to try an entrée, but the service left something to be desired. And it’s expensive for what it is.

I wish I could give Rafiki more than five stars. The food and drinks are wonderful, the service is the best in Cambridge, and the owners and employees make you feel so welcome. I cannot say enough good things about Rafiki — they are wonderful.
P. S. I think a lot of the low-​star reviews are from when they first opened. It takes time for a restaurant to hit its stride, but Rafiki really has now. I am moving out of Cambridge and am so sad I won’t be able to go here for dinner or drinks a few times a week.

What a treasure! I knew nothing of this place before I went by I am so glad I did. We went last night because I wanted to take my boyfriend to a new place for his birthday.
When I called to make reservations earlier in the day the woman who I spoke to was super friendly and helpful and answered every question I had.
Then when we got there to owner greeted us and I said «it’s my boyfriend’s birthday!» and he immediately shook my bf’s hand and wished him a happy bday.
We got two complimentary glasses of champagne from the owner because of my bf’s birthday which was super sweet. The only thing that was ironic about the whole thing — my boyfriend doesn’t drink and I gave up alcohol for Lent. But we didn’t want to tell the owner that because he was so generous so I ended up drinking both glasses! So I failed in my Lent sobriety! So close — just 3 days away till Easter. But the champagne was good! The owner came up to use later and offered us another bday drink but my boyfriend declined. Again super generous — and very attentive.
We both got the vegan chili for an appetizer (so good!). and OMG that bread is soo good. I don’t know if that’s butter or olive oil they put on the bread that comes with the soup (so future vegans ask about that) but otherwise it’s so yummy! I was so happy they had a vegan soup special — that never happens to me! And the bread basket with olive oil is yummy too.
I got the wild mushroom ravioli that is vegan if you leave off the sprinkled cheese. SO GOOD. I never get to have ravioli ever so it was a real treat. So much flavor and the balsamic dressing is great — love all the herbs, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, asparagus, and sun dried tomatoes. I took a little bit home and ate it for breakfast this morning.
My boyfriend got the steak frites which he said was good but it wasn’t nearly as exciting as mine. His was just steak, french fries, and grilled tomatoes. I think they should do it instead with steak, mash potatoes, and asparagus. It would just look nicer + have less bar food appeal if they dropped the fries.
For dessert my boyfriend got the key lime cheesecake and I asked the waiter to bring out a candle with it. He did and that was nice. My boyfriend liked the dessert a lot. I couldn’t get dessert because there were no vegan options (two gluten free options but no vegan options! boo). They should add sorbet to their dessert menu. That way I could experience a 3 course meal too.
We each had tea which was good but whoa they put a lot in those bags. I imagine that’s gotta be really expensive — you don’t need that much tea for those cups. The tea they gave us is more for a pot. I would suggest they cut back on the tea quantity or serve it in a larger bowl.
Anyway it was a great experience, I really enjoyed meeting the owner and everyone was very nice. And they play good music too. I want to come back when I can drink — looks like they have lots of good cocktails.

This place is just meh. It pales in comparison to its neighbor, temple bar.
However, the prices are about the same. I attached a picture of my food. It came out looking less appetizing than it tasted, but overall the food was not great. The sweet potato fries tastes like pumpkin pie (I think they add nutmeg and cinnamon). The table was peeling and they had $ 1 placemats from target covering all that up.
I will definitely not waste my time to come back.

More like 3.5. So in town for the weekend and decided to give this eco-​chic place a try vs. getting my cambridge common burger with sweet potato fries.
It is chic and not crowded for a friday night– must be the weather.
1)Service: Attentive and we had (others) come over and ask about our meal 2 minutes from the time our waitress did/​and again. This was almost over doing it at times. I think they read the Unilocal reviews about service and are trying to up their game– but let’s not over kill it.
2) Good Bread/​Oil dip
3) Maple Turkey Burger with sweet potato fries. This was good, but the mixed greens on my lettuce were really wilted-​dislike. But the fries weren’t greasy-​like. FYI: I like honey mustard with my fries– but they have no condiments besides ketchup.
It’s def. more money than cambridge commons, but the quality isn’t better. However, if you are looking for a nice place to chat/​not a large bar scene/​no wait. This is a great place to grab a casual dinner with friends. Plus– I love it that they do support the local farms– so I’ll def. pay the difference.

We attempted to go eat at Temple but it was so incredibly packed on a Saturday night. So we opted to go to Rafiki Bistro’s bar.
Service was good, and the servers were very friendly. However, the food was just alright.
We got a burger that turned out pretty good. But my order of the margherita pizza came out more like a giant cheese pizza. I usually love margheritas because I love having mostly tomato sauce on the pizza versus being lathered in too much cheese. Granted, it was good bang for the buck. The pizza was $ 11 but it was large enough to feed me for 3 meals.

After a complex 20 minute process of brainstorming, menu research, and targeted elimination to decide on a restaurant, a foody friend and I selected Rafiki Bistro for dinner. It’s new, established in place of the old Forest Café. Unfortunately my experience didn’t quite live up to my high standards for Cambridge cuisine…
Upon entering, my friend and I immediately noticed an awkward silence. While the restaurant’s limited seating was mostly occupied, there was no sound other than the soft chatter among patrons. This is a plus if you like a quieter place for dining, but I generally like at least a little music to enhance the ambiance. Now for some quick yays and nays…
Yays:
* Attentive service
* Water bottle (tap) for each table!
* LOVE THE NAME!!! Rafiki Bistro has a nice friendly ring
* Organic, natural, grass-​fed, and fresh ingredients
* Sweet potato fries, I think they had cinnamon? or maybe cloves or nutmeg? They were really good and tasted like fall :)
* Topping on the pumpkin ravioli special — I’ve never had dried cranberries with pasta, but what a great idea! Mixed with mini white onions and yummy zucchini strings.
* Turkey burger had great flavor… when I read during our «menu research» that it has maple syrup I was sold!
Nays:
* Décor did not seem unified — brick wall, funeral-​parlor-​looking red curtains, Asian wall hanging, sticks in a vase (?!) and a podium at the front inscribed with the name of the restaurant in tiki bar font. Weird.
* Feng shui seemed a little off… the space is long and thin and with many of the chairs facing the bar it looked more like a lecture hall than a restaurant.
* The prices on the menu are different (usually $ 1 more) than those we saw listed on the website. I like consistency and truth in advertising :)
* The ravioli itself was overcooked and HARD.
I’d be willing to go back and give Rafiki another chance — I like to support new businesses. Maybe I’ll try breakfast or lunch next time!

Disclaimer — this review is based on drinks at the bar. We didn’t eat.
I like this bar a lot — the drinks are interesting sounding, the bartenders are knowledgeable and tv’s were turned to a reasonable level. We stopped in on our way out in town, just a little drink to get the night going. We both ordered wine, very tasty. The menu is pretty robust with a number of options.
I’ll probably be back.

Who would have thought organic coffee could taste so good? Rafiki did obviously. Really good coffee. It also made me want to stalk their bread delivery person or just wait outside of the restaurant in the morning and steal a loaf or two, because man was that good bread. That multigrain bread was pretty much perfect.
But those two things were really the only amazing parts of this meal. Matt J., Deanna D, Silas S and I were all pretty underwhelmed with the menu options here for brunch… Deanna even asked for specials because there was really nothing fancy about any of their dishes. I could make that entire menu at home. At least the prices were cheap at least.
BUT don’t give me a brunch menu with lunch items on it that I can’t order! The lunch portion of the menu for weekend brunches isn’t served until 11am and we were there at 10, so after I decided on one of the lunch options, I had to go back to the less exciting breakfast options. Boo.
Matt got their pancakes which were really thick and pretty good complete with organic syrup. Three of us got skillets which were really just average. There was no salt or pepper on the table and let’s just say those skillets needed both. And the plates were all luke warm… I know this place just opened, but they should at least make sure the food doesn’t sit too long before it comes out! There were only four other groups in this place, and the service was way way too slow for my tastes.
Overall it was fine, not awful, but I don’t know if I would go back for breakfast again. I hear dinner is better, and I hope it is if this place stands a chance to compete with Temple Bar and Westside Lounge next door!