01/21/09

Delicious and unique Algerian-Tunisian and North African cuisine.

by hardinghouseinncambrdge

This cozy restaurant nestled on Pearl St. off Cambridge?s Central Square offers delicious and unique Algerian-Tunisian and North African cuisine. Main courses include wonderful couscous, tender lamb chops, and eggplant stuffed with a tasty concoction of olives, spinach, scallions, and two cheeses. At this hidden gem you will have an aromatic flavorful meal that you will not soon forget.

03/19/08

Terrible Service

by tomksmith

I'm writing to warn everyone not to go to Baraka Cafe. It used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area but I just can't go back there given the behavior of the owner. It's also interested to see that several other reviews on this site also mention that service is an issue.

As several other reviewers have mentioned, I was initially served the wrong thing. However, the appetizer that she sent me was the same as my entree, so I just assumed that it was coming out in stages. However, when the bill came, I saw that I had been charged for an extra dish because of her mistake. I politely told the owner that I didn't feel comfortable paying for it because I hadn't ordered it in the first place, and because it was her mistake in sending it to my table. Immediately she lashed out at my, raising her voice and yelling at me so that everyone in the restaurant heard her, and telling me that she was on the side of "justice" and that I didn't know what it was like to run a mom and pop restaurant. Later, when we were getting up to leave (having not paid for the extra dish) she turned to me again to yell at me in front of the entire restaurant. All the other customers were pretty much horrified at the scene. I don't recommend this restaurant to anyone - the owner is one of the rudest people I've ever encountered.

• Pros: good decent food
• Cons: absoltely worst service i've ever encountered

08/12/07

Not as good as many other places, but all right if you're in the neighborhood anyway

by zoechance

I had heard and read rave reviews of this place, and we were disappointed when we went. There were three of us for dinner and we ordered pretty much every vegetarian dish they had, and none of them were worth a second trip back to Baraka. We got olives, eggplant, carrots, harissa, soup, salad, and cous cous, and the cous cous was the blandest of all. The rosewater lemonade was interesting, but felt like drinking sugary soap. It's not that Baraka's terrible, it's just that with so many great ethnic restaurants in Cambridge and Boston, there's no reason for me to go back. Try instead: Casablanca (Middle Eastern tapas) in Harvard Square, Helmand (Afghan) near the Cambridgeside Galleria, The Kebab Factory (Kashmiri) in Inman Square, Bengal Cafe (Bengali) between Porter & Davis on Mass Ave, and Sabur (Mediterranean) in Davis Square.

• Pros: It's a funky, cute cafe
• Cons: The food's not worth the trip

12/19/06

Great vegetarian food in a comfortable atmosphere

by kgoodfellow

I went here the other day after having had it recommended to me multiple times by a good friend. It was not at all what I expected, but I loved it. The restaurant is tiny, warm and full, someplace I'd fall in love with while travelling but never expect to find in the Boston area.

I was actually served the wrong meal. I had ordered an eggplant meal and wondered what I was eating at first when I couldn't find the eggplant, but because it was so good I couldn't stop eating to ask, although the owner did say something about orders being switched. I didn't find out I was eating North African Crepes until our plates were being cleared. Normally that is something that would upset me at any restaurant, but because of the relaxed atmosphere, I was actually happy I got to try something I might not have ordered on my own. My brother got a vegetrarian couscous dish which was also delicious.

• Pros: Great for vegetarians, intimate atmosphere
• Cons: Small space could lead to long waits

12/02/06

A hidden gem tucked away a few blocks outside of Central Square

by chesterprynne

The food here is excellent! My favorites are the vegetarian platter and the hot mint tea with assorted nuts. They also make some wonderful desserts. The owner is very charming. It is cozy but definitely worth checking out!

10/21/06

Hidden Gem

by foodie221

Tiny and unassuming, but one of the best restaurants I have been to in Boston. The only downside is the wait, waiting to get the menu, waiting to put in our order, waiting for the food and even waiting for the check (grand total of 2 hours at the restaurant). But the food was fantastic. The lamb was flavorful, the couscous some of the yummiest I have ever had. The lemonade is also a bargain and very unique. Definitely worth a try, but make sure you plan a good chunk of time for the dining experience (and don't go if you are starving).

• Pros: Great food
• Cons: Wait too long

Clandestine Cambridge cafe serves North African cuisine with the flavor of French joie de vivre.

by Contributor

In Short
Expertly seasoned with cardamom, cinnamon and clove, Baraka's dishes properly represent the essence of Tunisian cooking, while maintaining a level of sophistication. Lamb and beef sausage, flavored with the traditional Tunisian paste of roasted red chiles, black pepper, cinnamon and cloves, is a classic rendition. No alcohol is served, but the signature lemonade is wickedly flavored with orange essence and rose water.

08/05/06

Good food in homey environment, a very unique experience

by nayiak

Dining at Baraka is like having a love-hate affair, but I keep going back, so I think I have more love for it. It has great authentic Northern African food. I have tried almost every dish on its very limited menu, pretty much everything is good. It is difficult to go wrong. That being said, I still want to stress that its lamb dishes are great, so are its appetizers. I dont usually like sour stuff, but I just cannot pass its lemonadea musteven if you dont like sour stuff. Dessert menu is very limited, but delivers with high quality.

The environment is so homey and intimate. If fact, if you have a group large than 4, it can hardly fit you with comfort. It is great if you want to just bring a couple of friends along, but certainly not for crowds. They didnt try too hard to decorate, but that is actually the beauty of it, less pretentiousness and homeyness. The entire place is so small, probably only seats 20 people the most at a time, and the kitchen is even smaller. Go early (5 or 6pm for dinner) or on week nights. Still, I keep going back even though half of the time I had to wait.

The staff had very unique personality. The first time I went there, I didnt enjoy it much b/o the owner was a little loud (and it was very much amplified in a small restaurant). But as I went there more, I began to love its staff. The owner is actually a very warm woman and yes, she sometimes talks a little bit more, but she does treat you more like a friend. Because of that, she is more straightforward to express herself more than your typical restaurant owner. She did not try too hard to please you, but I actually enjoy her straightforward friendliness. The dinning experience there is more like going back to your hometown and eating at a restaurant you grew up with, even if this is your first time to dine there. Another frustration is that it only accepts cash, but there are tons of ATMs on Mass Av.

• Pros: good food, homey environment, staff with unique personality
• Cons: small place, long waits

07/13/06

among the worst dining experiences

by mshur

I used to really like cafe baraka - even recommended it to friends and co-workers, but after last night's experience, i'll never go there again. after waiting for some 45 minutes for a table, we were treated in the most unpleasant manner. the owner was clearly stressed out by the huge party that overwhelmed her tiny restaurant. for some reason or another she lashed out at them in front of all the other guests. she then proceeded to rant about them to the kitchen staff. luckily, i don't know french and didn't understand her. that made the rest of the evening quite unpleasant. she was entirely inattentive, spending time sitting around and gossiping with a visitor, not once asking us whether we liked our food or needed anything. oh, and on top of that, my food was completely wrong. i ordered the same thing as last time (melkha) - and it was terrible. but maybe my appetite had already been ruined by then.

03/28/05

Outstanding

by theduke37

Flavorful, fresh and authentic preparations of North African cuisine. Their eggplant appetizer is one of the best things I've had anywhere. The merquez was great as well. The lamb was very tender and the seafood stew special had a great sauce. The spiced lemonade house drink is incredible.

As good a value as you will get anywhere for dinner in Boston. Just note they don't take credit cards or reservations for 2 (and it does get crowded).

• Pros: Food, Value
• Cons: No credit cards