Grendel's Den Restaurant & Bar

Has not changed much, always welcome and dicey-homey to me. Good food and enough drinks to meet your need. I used to like to come here on dates. Staff is layed back and friendly. Relax and enjoy.

A true dive bar. Nothings changed over the near 40yrs I have been going to this place? Doesn't have the allure it had in my collegiate days. Had some oddly made and tasting quesadilla so not recommending the food. Service was good and had a half way decent beer list

Came here with a friend for a quick lunch away from work. This is a pub/home style restaurant. The entrance is a bit tricky to find, as it is located on the basement floor. It is a small dining room with some tables and bar, and we sat ourselves. It was pretty quiet on a Wednesday at noon time.We chose a table to the corner and we're assisted by a very welcoming gentleman. The service was prompt, personable, and efficient. Everything came out very quickly. We started off with some garlic bread (not pictured) which came with a tomato based sauce which had olives in it. It was just okay- a bit underwhelming. There were 6 very small pieces and tons of sauce. I wish the pieces were bigger, as they all disappeared within 2 minutes. For our entrees we both ordered the Chicken Caesar salad wrap, which was also okay. A pro was that it was full of chicken, and the size of the wrap was pretty big. It came with a side of chips, which was surprising. I have never seen a restaurant which doesn't serve fries. After doing some investigating I now realize it is because Grendel doesn't have a fryer. Unfortunately this is something worth docking points for.To end the experience, we got the molten brownie. Very average- reminded me of those Little Bites brownies that you'd have as a kid. Overall, this is a very average place on Harvard square. The pros are that the service and prices are good, but the food is just okay. I'm glad I tried this place, but I would not eat here again. Honestly, I think the lack of a fryer really sold me.

After years of living in the area I finally had the chance to come by Grendel's for a dinner. My friend and I came by around 6, when the place was still pretty empty (there were plenty of tables for us to seat ourselves at), but when we left around 7 the place was packed and thriving.We wanted to take advantage of their half-off deal - between 5-7.30pm every day, all food is 50% off if everyone orders a drink at least $6. I had ordered a Hefeweizen and my friend had a crimson berry cooler (which was good! I quite liked the sweet cranberry/mixed berry flavours.)For food my friend ordered the Lala's grill with steak and I had the chicken breast sandwich. Long story short, I don't think anyone comes here for the food. The chicken was dry and a bit over cooked (although I liked the toasted baguette it was on!). The coleslaw was really strange in that it actually had no flavour - nothing good, nothing bad, just nothing.My friend's steak was chewy and even a bit difficult to cut. Salad was decent but nothing too special. Overall, though, the food was really quite cheap, especially with the happy hour deal, so as a supplement to the drinks they worked well.I will note that my rating attempts to capture the overall experience, which includes the quality of the food. The drinks were great and very reasonably priced, and the service was quick, efficient, and very welcoming. If I came solely for drinks I think I would have given a 4-4.5 instead.

Was this the best food I've had in Cambridge? No. Was this still a really enjoyable bar with great drinks and dinner deals? Yes!!I visited with a group of friends and it was a great place to chat over some delicious drinks and bar food. We came during their "50% off special" which meant if we ordered a drink that our food would be half off - which ended up being a great deal for us. I ordered the hot cider (which was delicious) and tried some of their mulled wine (which was even more delicious) and ordered a beef burger. The food was nothing special, but it also wasn't bad at all. The veggies on the burger were fresh and tasty, and it left me feeling full. Our server was also lovely, although service was pretty slow. If you're looking for something fast-paced, this restaurant probably isn't for you. But if you're looking for a good time with great drinks and decent food, I'd recommend Grendels!

The food is cheap, but mediocre. Half off food during happy hour brings the price for the main dishes to below 10$, which is pretty good for Harvard Square! Unfortunately, of the things I tried (spinach pie, chips + salsa, guac, hummus, garlic bread, and lemonade), it's pretty obvious that your choices should be dictated by the stuff that reheats well. Chips were great and the dips not bad! The lemonade was way too sweet and didn't have much ginger/turmeric/lemon flavor, and the spinach pie distinctly... limp. I feel like this is really an alcoholic drinks place (not many non-alcoholic options), with some nice snacks.

Nestled near Harvard, Grendel's Den beckons with its cozy underground charm. Sip beer, ponder life, and people-watch amidst nostalgia. Friendly staff, great drinks - an unforgettable college favorite. Cheers to Grendel's Den!

A better than average place for a vegan and a non vegetarian. We had a great experience. Bummed about the lack of fries. On the lower side of cost. Our server was very attentive and just over all great! The place is as cute as cute can be. We will definitely be back

Some of the fairest prices for drinks and food in this area. Cool environment, nice staff, average food, and will most definitely be returning!

Grendel's is my go to in Harvard Square. Decent food, service and ambiance. A third date or meet friends place. I had my family meet me there last night and I was able to get outside seating. Unbeknownst to me, the 5 to 730p half of food special does not apply to outdoor seating. The servers did not alert me either. Interesting. When I received my bill it was full priced. I found my server and he said oh it's because you were seated outside; there are different menus outside. My family was with me so I didn't want to fight it. The server, who'd did well BTW up until then, received a 12% tip; maybe it should have been lower. User error or deceptive practices. I will leave that up to you. I will go back but that was not good.