The Kendall Square Dining Guide

Head to Kendall Square for gravy fries from Abigail's. (Photo by Scott M. Lacey/Boston magazine)

Boston and Cambridge diners may not be accustomed to thinking of Kendall Square in the context of food. After all, for most of its existence, the neighborhood’s been better known as a tech haven. But with countless restaurant gems popping up right and left, that’s changed and Kendall’s officially the city’s new successful culinary underdog. Everything from gastropubs and sushi stops to Southern-themed restaurants serving comfort food done right are either alive and well there, or coming soon.

To prepare you for this unexpected foodie hotspot, we’ve collected our past coverage of the restaurants. Read through for some dinner ideas — and for you Foursquare enthusiasts, check out our new Kendall Square tips list.

Abigail’s: Raw Bar and Barbeque, by Brittany Jasnoff
The sophisticated yet funky new eatery features a raw bar that is only the beginning of what the casual, eclectic menu has to offer.

291 Third St., 617-945-9086, abigailsrestaurant.net.

Area Four: Bakery, Pizzeria, by Maggie Brooks
The wood-oven smell wafting out of a biotech center in Cambridge isn’t your imagination. It’s coming from chef Michael Leviton’s Area Four, a casual spot where a massive hearth anchors both the space and the menu.

500 Technology Sq., 617-758-4444, areafour.com.

Bondir: Locavore, by Corby Kummer
No need for added bells and whistles at this inventive new Cambridge restaurant that caters to visiting and local foodies alike with unpretentious, fresh, and local food.

279A Broadway, 617-661-0009, bondircambridge.com.

Catalyst: French, by Corby Kummer
When rustic and industrial meet French-style finesse, good things happen, most of the time, at this new kind of brasserie.

300 Technology Sq., 617-576-3000, catalystrestaurant.com.

Evoo: New American, by Corby Kummer
The location may have changed, but chef Peter McCarthy’s cuisine keeps diners on their toes with his plates featuring a variety of jumbled influences from Korean to Indian and everything in between.

350 Third St., 617-661-3866, evoorestaurant.com.

Meadhall: Gastropub, by Donna Garlough
The gastropub has more than 100 craft brews on draft and special glassware for each, targeting the same beer-geek clientele as nearby bars Lord Hobo and Cambridge Brewing Company.

4 Cambridge Center, 617-714-4372, themeadhall.com.

Redbones: Rib Shack, by Maggie Brooks
Somerville’s Redbones has taken the next step toward citywide barbecue domination with fresh-from-the-smoker basics done mostly right.

300 Athenaeum St., 617-628-2200, redbones.com.

Firebrand Saints: Eccentric , by Brittany Jasnoff
This funky new Kendall Square spot may appear to be all show with its stylish décor as the initial main attraction, but the substantial eats certainly measure up.

1 Broadway, 617-401-3399, firebrandsaints.com.

Hungry Mother: Southern, by Erin Byers Murray
Hungry Mother brings southern charm to a high-tech hub with its comfort foods galore.

233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave., 617-499-0090, hungrymothercambridge.com.

Kika Tapas: Tapas, by Leah Mennies
The Spanish-style small plates restaurant rounds out the newbies opening in the area, sporting a menu fully stacked with sangria on tap.

350 3rd St., 617-245-6030, kikatapas.com.

The Blue Room: Mediterranean (a Q+A with incoming chef Robert Grant), by Leah Mennies
Robert Grant has recently stepped into The Blue Room’s kitchen, hoping to revamp the menu, starting with the wine list.

1 Kendall Sq., 617-494-9034, theblueroom.net.