Cicada Coffee Bar

This is my second time at Cicada and I can't decide whether I prefer dining here in the evening or for brunch. It's romantic and cozy at night but brunch offers a light and airy take. Both menus are fairly small but the dishes that are offered are thoughtfully curated for sure.Packed with lots of fresh ingredients, flavors, and colorful arrangements, I had a difficult time deciding my distorted dish. Nonetheless, the pho noodle salad, the black rice with chicken, the coconut eggplant, and the passion fruit yogurt were to die for. Dinner time requires a reservation in advance. Lunch time is first come, first serve. There is usually a line regardless.

RATS, RATS, RATS, RATS!! They should be closed for allowing customer to eat in the backyard. We spoke to the server and was told it's a neighbor issue and she has to spray the back everyday. There are reviews from 2022 that complains about this. It's crazy to think people still eat here.As for the food. It's way too overpriced for what you get. Instead of having authentic vietnamese food, they rather overcharge for Asian entrees that they label as vietnamese. Save yourself some money and support local authentic locations in Chinatown and Dorchester.

While staying in Cambridge, I happened upon Cicada Coffee and Bar during a leisurely stroll. The timing was perfect, as it was lunchtime, and the menu displayed in the window immediately caught my attention. It was refreshingly concise and thoughtfully curated, with just 3-4 options per category. The selections included Bánh Mi, noodles, and salads, each available with a choice of meat, salmon, or tofu.I decided to try the chicken confit Bánh Mi and the roasted eggplant tofu Phở noodle. The noodle dish was an unexpected delight. The inclusion of cashew pesto was a brilliant twist that transformed what could have been a simple vegetarian dish into something truly remarkable. The pesto infused the noodles with a rich, nutty depth of flavor that was both surprising and satisfying. Crispy shallots added a delightful crunch, elevating the texture and adding another layer of complexity to the dish. This combination of flavors and textures resulted in a dish that was simple in its ingredients yet extraordinary in its execution.The experience left me with the impression that the chef at Cicada Coffee and Bar is not just any ordinary cook but a creative and seasoned culinary professional with a deep understanding of how to elevate traditional dishes with innovative touches.The Bánh Mi with confit chicken was incredibly tasty. The bread, as expected, was excellent, playing a crucial role in distinguishing a Vietnamese sandwich from others. Its crisp exterior and soft interior created the perfect foundation for the flavorful fillings.I've grown quite fond of this small café. After my first visit, I returned for morning coffee and pastries, which were just as delightful. I can easily see myself stopping by any day for a coffee, a quick lunch, or even staying for dinner. The quality and consistency ensure that I know I won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.

I've been here a number of times for lunch and for an afternoon pick me up. Their coffees are all really good - especially the sea salt shaker. As the drinks are mostly Vietnamese style, they might be on the sweeter side. The pastries here are also delicious - they are sourced from Cafe Beatrice, located in East Cambridge. My favorite was a pastry with passion fruit filling. Lunch and dinner menus are really simple - there's a few main entrees to choose from. I really like the rice bowl with cooked salmon - the seasoning is delicious and you leave feeling really satisfied. Tonight I tried the Cicada noodle salad, with duck meat. This meal was also delicious but portions are a bit smaller and thus it felt kind of pricy. The duck meat was cooked rare, but all the flavors of the noodle salad came together nicely. Their outdoor patio is nice and there are plenty of seating options. I always prefer sitting outside as the inside of the cafe is quite small and tends to feel packed. May not be the best for large groups.

We came here for lunch. It is a very charming small space, with outdoor garden seating in the back as well. We got chicken banh mi and a salmon noodle bowl. The food was good, but I think I prefer my salmon raw. The two coffee drinks (I forget what they were but I think one was salted) were stunning. The cookies were so so good (one fudgy and one I think was pumpkin). I would say the coffee and cookies here wowed me a lot more than the food. Would definitely come again.

Cool fusion concept cafe w drinks and food. Great for studying, lunch date, or catch up with friends. Has indoor and outdoor seating in patio.I had the eggplant and tofu noodle salad, it was very refreshing. I liked the sauce but can't exactly explain what it was. I also had the pho spiced nitro cold brew, which was quite delicious. Highly recommend if you like black/strong coffee drinks as opposed to sweet drinks.You order at the counter and get your food/drinks from the counter, and you bus your own table. They don't come to you at all, but the service is friendly. There is one restroom inside.

A small and cute Vietnamese fusion coffee bar that serves comfort food in a small restaurant in Cambridge. Their menu is light and healthy, definitely not like your traditional Vietnamese food. I got the lemongrass chicken confit and it was decent and lightly flavored. The sea salt shaker was good. The portions are quite small given the price you're paying but the vibe is really nice and it's a good spot for friends to catch up over brunch. Food: 7.8/10Value: 7/10 Experience: 8/10 Service: 8/10

Cicada is an excellent restaurant for Vietnamese food & coffee in Cambridge - if you're nearby and can swing a visit, make it happen! Some friends and I recently stopped through Cicada for brunch on a Sunday. If it's a peak time, you can expect there to be a line out the door, but trust me -- it's worth it. It's definitely less of a conventional restaurant and more of a coffee bar that has food, but as long as you align your expectations that way, you're in for a great time. The line out the door is just to order your coffee/ food at the bar, but afterward you'll have to find some seating. Generally speaking, it seems like people flow in and out quickly, but depending on how packed it is, it may be more of a challenge for a larger group to find seats together. The restaurant has 10-15 seats indoors, but also has a few tables outdoors that provide open spots for bigger groups (I'll also mention that this means you may end up sitting at a big table next to another group). The food options are good all around, but if you're there for coffee... don't miss the Salt Shaker. It's by far one of the best coffee drinks I've ever had. Overall - definitely swing by Cicada if you are in the area and wanting to try something new!

The food was good. Service was okay. We came on a Wednesday night and it was quite busy. There was quite a waitlist so make a reservation if you're planning to come here. We waited outside for 20 minutes for a table. The host mentioned that we would be seated at a communal table which I expected to be a circular table close to each other, but it was a long bench separated with small blocks for dividers. It was the perfect amount of space. The food was so light and refreshing. It was interesting to taste the Vietnamese fusion dishes that incorporated duck. The flavors mixed so well. The lady forgot our wines and also forgot the drinks for the table next to us which was the only downside. It's located on a busy street so there is not parking immediately in front of the restaurant

*cue David Attenborough's voice* the cicada, an elusive creature that spends much of its life underground, only emerging every 17 years. While common knowledge is that they emerge into be adults and mate, what people might not know is that another of their adult goals is to seek out good coffee. And it is in this quaint little store, aptly named cicada that we find some of the most creative coffees. Their sea salt espresso is delectable. The contrast of the sea salt and the sweetness imparted by the condensed milk blends together with coffee to form a truly great drink. The only thing that would make it truly great is if they have wifi so I could live here like one of those underground cicadas, emerging for coffee