Green Street in Cambridge is a bar and restaurant that is tucked away behind a series of music lounges and shops off of Mass Ave. It looks unremarkable and looks like it needs to be renovated on the outside, but on the inside, it’s got remember-able charm. To some it’s a dive bar that looks like a veritable dump, to others it’s a great place to discover new beers and try classic and new cocktails. For me, it’s certainly the latter. This neighborhood fixture is place that I will be exploring more often as time allows.

Service was excellent and the waitress took the time to let my dining companion try several samples of the many beers they have on tap. I immediately settled on the drink below:

Parisian Orchid- Reyka vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon and pineapple juice $8

I love anything with St. Germain or pineapple in it, so the moment I saw this on the menu I had to try it. This would be a great drink for warmer weather since it is so refreshing yet not overly sweet. However being the St. Germain/pineapple nut that I am, I’d have this anytime.

Musque de Provence soup- red curry creme fraiche, toasted pumpkin seeds $9

This simple starter is delicious. The red curry creme fraiche added another mildly creamy spicy bite while the pumpkin seeds added crunch. I could eat this for a light lunch or dinner alone with a side salad. I love to make pumpkin soup at home so I will be trying to recreate my own variation of Green Street’s.

Fried chicken wings- nuoc cham, basil, coriander $8

These chicken wings weren’t deep fried, but pan-fried. They were crispy, savory with a hint of herbs and sweetness in the background. Be forewarned, the nuoc cham can leave you with sticky fingers!

Pan-roasted Gianonne chicken- rosemary & potato gratin, swiss chard, roasted shallot-sherry jus $22

The boneless chicken was quite good. The meat was firm but tender and well seasoned with salt and pepper. The skin was delightfully crisp from being held face down in the pan with a brick on top to add pressure.  The gratin was well made- paperthin slices of potato layered with rosemary, cream and cheese. The top was nice and crunchy, how I like it.

Special of the Night- Braised beef short rib, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, grilled broccoli rabe

My dining companion throroughly enjoyed this dish because he didn’t say one word while eating it. Not one. I had a few bites and was struck with how comforting this dense short rib in beef jus was. The garlic mash was great for sopping up the extra jus.

I will be returning to explore the extensive cocktail list and try other items on the menu. There’s something for everyone on the menu and the price points are variable depending on the items you order. If you ask nicely, there is a special A-to-Z cocktail list that has classic egg flips and well executed classic drinks like the Zombie.

Exterior image of Green Street from MC SlimJB.