Bartley's Burger Cottage

My girl friend and I had terrific burgers, a noisey, fun place. But, they have no rest rooms. Jim Hill, los Angeles, Ca. more

One day I was walking about in Cleveland Circle getting some grub at Pino's pizzeria, when I was confronted by a homeless guy perched in front of Eagle's Deli. He asked for some change so I gave it to him and we started talking about burgers. We started talking about Eagle's and then he brought up this place Bahtley's. He told me they had the best burgers so I took this nice homeless man's advice and ventured out about a week later in search of Bartley's. Pros: Burgers cooked as ordered, Onion Straws, Milkshakes Cons: High Prices, Cramped more

The yelling of orders are from a saturday night live sketch with people yelling at the top of thier lungs to one another in a rat a tat manner that just isnt neccessary at all in order to run a burger joint. Pros: sorry not observed Cons: numerous more

Some places are hyped up and can't live up to it, other places are praised and have stood the test of time for good reason; Mr. Bartley's is certainly that of the latter. Right in the middle-of-it-all on Mass. Ave in Harvard Square, this family run business has been serving up Boston's best burgers for almost fifty years, and they're not afraid to show it. Bombarded by ""Best of"" signs from any publication possible and Boston memorabilia scattered throughout, Bartley's has no shame in showing its the tops and that its all Boston all the time. But do they live up to it? Well, yes, mostly. Listing over thirty burgers on the big board, there's something for everyone, not to mention house made Raspberry Lime Rickey's (superb) and frappes (also superb). For around ten dollars you get a burger with fries or onion rings and a pickle. The burgers aren't huge, weighing in at 7 oz., but honestly, I can't say that I need much more then that these days anyway. One of us receives a very generous portion of onion rings while I seem to be lacking on the french fry end. The fries are good, solid, if unspectacular. The onion rings, however, are beyond awful. Limp, mealy and downright offensive, they have to be among the worst I've had in some time. The burgers, ground daily from choice beef, are nice, they come served on a delightful toasted sesame bun and my burger (the Tom Werner) comes with bacon and cheddar cheese. The first thing I notice is the cheese, as it oozes its way from all sides of the patty into melted cheese heaven, there is a perfect symphony of bread, meat and cheese in the first few bites. After that, however, I feel a little dryness, not in the burger itself, which is juicy, just not overly-so, but without condiments included in the sandwich, I feel the need to add some ketchup. (thankfully we're not at Louis Lunch) Ketchup could go either way for me, if I need it so be it, but its not a make or break situation, in this case I do need something, and I'm okay with that. My last few bites are all bread unfortunately, a big pet peeve of mine, and the meat was good, nice flavor, but not the best I've had. I will compliment them in that they are the first place to actually cook my burger properly. ( in this case a nice and red medium-rare) The waitress also offers a follow-up inquiry upon first bite to make sure it is cooked to my liking, so a huge compliment for that. Maybe its not the best burger we've had yet, but its up there, and there is something about this place you can't help but love. Maybe its the history, the fact that its still a family run establishment and all the sites, smells and sounds of a great burger place are all prevalent. Worth all the press and accolades? I'd say so, but still not burger perfection. more

There is a reason these burgers are considered some of the best in the Boston area. The taste is superb and the variety of toppings offers something for everyone. The onion rings are lightly battered and a perfect compliment to any burger choice. Orders are taken outside as you wait, meaning the food is ready shortly after you are seated. The atmosphere is fun and the waitstaff was very courteous on my visit. Make sure you take cash as they do no accept credit or debit cards which some see as a hassle. Slightly pricey but well worth it in my opinion. Pros: Variety of Burgers, Onion Rings, Atmosphere Cons: Slightly Pricey more

I was served a half cooked burger, a half eaten pickle, and the floors were filthy. Pros: Cutesy place to take guests Cons: Awful service, disgusting food more

This place needs to get with the program and start accepting credit and debit cards. The prices for the burgers is entirely extravagant even though they are good. Our service was very good. The good service doesn't seem to be a common thing reading other posts. I will not be going back because of the prices when in Boston. Pros: good burgers & fries Cons: price and cash only more

WORST of all is that every single time there I have been made to feel unwelcome and unliked. The incredibly brusque and ill-tempered wait staff are only outdone in pure rudeness by the cashier who was sullen and seemingly disgusted with my intrusion on her picking her nails clean. I've been there 3 times in the last 2 months. They have an excellent selection of burgers and options. Two of my three burgers arrived the temperature I wanted. While they are delicious, they are not worth the prices. I say this...best $10 burger in Harvard. But for that price go to Abe and Louis' downtown. Cash only is a problem, it's the 21st century already...please, put your prices up by 2% so I don't have to go the the freakin' bank to eat. Please, go to Charley's instead, where the staff are super friendly, and while the burgers and only 80% as good, you can buy two of them for the same price. Pros: Lots of Burger Choice Cons: Bad service, rude wiatstaff, rude cashier, cash only more

I can't believe that I never stumbled across this place in 20+ years of visiting Harvard Square. Ok, so it's not elegant or commodious or even very comfortable (we got a cold draft of air whenever anyone opened the door and had to keep our coats on). It's loud and crowded. And I got whipped cream splashed on my head. But the place is lively and it's a great burger joint. Since I don't eat beef, I was glad to find that they will substitute a turkey or veggie burger in any selection. Don't go if you are expecting a quiet , refined dining experience - but if you want an excellent selection of creative burger toppings, eclectic decorating (an Elvis theme prevails along with lots of bumper stickers and ""your brain on ..."" posters) and upbeat atmosphere - you can't beat it. We were there on a Thursday evening and had prompt seating, attentive service and a nice conversation with our cheek-by-jowl fellow diners. The waitress tried to warn us away from the large size order of onion rings (she was right - it was huge), but we had no problems demolishing it in short order as we awaited our burgers which arrived thick, juicy and piping hot. I need to make up for the past 20 years and visit more often! Pros: Lively spot, extensive selection as long as you like burgers Cons: Noisy and crowded more

We were 4 going to dinner, my husband was parking our car and us three ladies walked in ahead of him. We told them we needed a table for 4 and that the fourth person was parking the car but we would place his order for him. We were told to wait OUTSIDE! It wasn't even crowded inside, plenty of tables were available! When we were getting seated there were multiple tables available and we requested a table in a corner. She replied with a NO, you can sit here! And threw our menus on the table almost hitting the guy next to us! A table for 4 opened up next to us and we were moved there finally. We placed our order and I placed my husbands order as well. When he walked in, the waitress walked over to my husband and asked if the order I had placed was indeed what he wanted! HOW RUDE! Of course it was! The check came way before we were done eating and she tried to take our plates half way through dinner! As she removed a plate she pulled it off the table and the fork on top of it fell on my friends arm and on the floor, the waitress didn't even apologise for the ketchup that ended up on my friends' sleeve. We gave a $5 tip for a $51 dinner, yes, I would have given less, but my husband insisted... I will NEVER go here again and I will spread the word of the terrible customer service, either way, the food isn't worth sitting through that! And it's dirty in there! We had to ask the waitress if she could please wipe off our table before we sat down! Pros: Large menu Cons: Terrible Service, tight seating, waitresses screaming, dirty, rude more

Bartley's Burgers is a fine example of genuinely great food. I have gone there so many times, and have always left full and happy. This is a true example of Boston at it's finest, and is quick also (as long as you don't go on a Friday/Saturday night!) The oreo cookie milkshake's and the Mitt Romney Burger are both highly reccomended. It is truly a burger place though, plastic chairs and ""communal"" eating tables, a.k.a. tables pushed together, but that doesn't really make any difference in the quality of the food. If you're looking for a Burger, Mr. Bartley's is the place! more

One of the few places in Boston where I've felt happy eating. Mr B took our order, and we were shoved into the crowded hole of a restaurant. They use proper beef patties that aren't pressed into perfect cow-patties. Got a couple of different types of burgers. Nothing fancy, just what I like from a burger. Fries were hot and crispy, and the onion rings aren't the kind that are batter-rings filled with pureed onion. They were nice and crispy, lightly floured onions. It's a hoot if you're taking normal people around Boston. Pros: Good beef, good onion rings, Mr B still takes pride in his restaurant Cons: Crowded and well known more

I have eaten here many times but in the last couple of years this place has really tanked!! The tables are now so close that you can't get comfortable, even if you could with the management breathing down the Pros: nice servers Cons: everything else more

I've been a regular customer of Bartley's for 5 years, but yesterday's?and today's consequential?experience with their management has left me with a resolve never to go back. more

I heard about this place from a bunch of people and went with my boyfriend this past March. We were lucky... more

I heard about this place from a bunch of people and went with my boyfriend this past March. We were lucky to go late enough so there wasn’t a line,... more

Don't ever go there! Horrific food, outrageous prices. Don't be fooled by the incredible interior design,... more

Don't ever go there! Horrific food, outrageous prices. Don't be fooled by the incredible interior design, it is a terrible place. more

I had never eaten at Mr. Barley's prior to today, but an old friend of mine suggested that we get together for lunch there. It was definitely worth going! We arrived around 12:30 and were seated immediately. As other reviews have noted, the place has a unique atmosphere which includes zero privacy. But that's half the fun! Pros: A little pricey, but worth it in my opinion. Cons: Small and noisy, but that is the nature of the place. more

I have very little of an idea as to why people think this place is so good. I have never been so disappointed. I have been hearing raves about this place for months, and finally tried it today. Mr. Bartley's is the most overrated burger place in the USA. The hostess is rude and only interested in seating you where she wants, not where you want. The waitress got my drink order wrong. The frappes, which supposedly are ""famously"" good, were terrible. Very thin and fake-sweet tasting (I had a chocolate one). The burgers are OK, but nothing spectacular. Super greasy and very expensive for what you get. The bun is good, the veggies are fresh (although the tomato was hard and tasteless) and the meat is OK, although cheap. They pile the stuff on too high so you can't even get your mouth around it. I hate that. Certainly better than a fast-food burger, but I have had much much better at places like In-n-Out on the West Coast. Even the 5 Guys chain in DC is better than Mr. Bartley's. They have no restroom, they only take cash, and it's dirty. They are obviously counting on word of mouth, Harvard square tourists, non-discriminating college kids and magazine hype b/c the place is substandard by any definition of a great hamburger stand. Also, if you are interested in smelling like grease, by all means go to Mr. Bartley's. The place is so small, crowded and non-ventilated that sitting in there for 15 minutes is the equivalent of being dipped in hamburger grease. I can't wait to take a shower. Wow, what a disappointment. I guess Boston/Cambridge people have never had a truly good burger at a clean place with good service. Pity. Pros: sweet potato fries Cons: everything else more