Summer Shack Cambridge

I went to the Summer Shack in Cambridge shortly after they opened and didn't like the wooden tables and communal seating, and I thought the menu was too expensive. This year they are participating in Boston Dine Out so it was a chance to check them out again.

They are next to the Alewife T-station, so they are not hard to find. Private parking lot.

I was happy to see the wooden tables and benches gone, replaced with proper seating.

lobster tank with the steamers and the open kitchen in the back.

Some warm cornbread with whipped butter arrives quickly. The cornbread was pleasant and not too sweet.

What was advertised as a $20 lunch on Boston Restaurant Weeks Website, turned out to be $25. I started with the "Summer Shack" Raw Bar Sampler. "Oyster on half shell, cocktail shrimp & cherrystone ceviche". The oyster was fine, aren't they always? The good-sized shrimp was very cold and overcooked. The ceviche was OK, would have been better if there was cherrystone in there. The white slivers in the picture were just all the fish I got.

Next was the Blackened Gulf Shrimp Tacos. "Salsa fresca, avocado, chipotle crème & sweet potato fries". The tortillas were old and hard. The rest of the taco was very good and tasty. The chipotle crème was actually spicy. I subbed the sweet potato fries for FF and they were fabulous. Salted and seasoned when they come out of the fryer. The lime was old and dry. The shrimp was tasty with a bit of heat, and cooked well.

It was a three-course meal and for my dessert, I picked the Brownie Sunday w/ Hot Fudge & Vanilla Ice Cream. Nothing to complain about here.

Address 149 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA 02140
Phone number (617) 520-9500