Bartley's Burger Cottage

My boyfriend and I had been wanting to try this place for a long time. I must say, it does live up to its reputation. The burgers are fantastic: juicy, not TOO big, and tasty. I love the fries, but was not crazy about the ""famous"" onion rings. I love the selection of soft drinks (Rasberry-lime rickey...YUM) and the desserts. We were too full to have any dessert, but they looked great. It is not a place to linger and have a quiet lunch, however. The space is super cramped and the noise level is very high. Right after we finished, we needed to leave just to escape the atmosphere. I might go back once a year, but mainly because I'm not a huge burger fan to begin with. Pros: BURGERS BURGERS BURGERS!!! Cons: Uncomfortable space and NOISE NOISE NOISE more

Big juicy burgers cooked to order, probably the world's greatest onion rings, real New England styled frappes and an unlimited supply of napkins to wipe your mouth after every bite. Bartley's is one of the great burger joints in the entire USA. If you dare, there are many excellent non burger choices including franks and beans, great sandwiches and fried seafood. Pros: Burgers, onion rings, frappes Cons: Cash only, monstrous lines during busy times. more

I had been wanting to go to Mr. Bartley's, but my husband isn't into the communal dining thing. I took my Aunt here when she was visiting, and we loved it. We forgot to order the ""world famous onion rings"" but the fries, burgers and lemonades that we did have were delicious. We went right at lunchtime, and sat right down. Our waiter was attentive and efficient. The atmosphere is great, but some might be put off by the crowded seating. Ill definitely go back! Pros: Awesome food, kitschy Harvard standard Cons: Crowded, a bit of a walk from the T more

I first saw this place on an episode of ""This Old House"" and though maybe some day I'd like to try it out. Well, my partner and I were in Boston for vacation this year and decided that we'd see what everyone was talking about. Somehow we missed out on the huge lines that seem to be the norm here, we walked right in at 11:45 and sat right down. The burgers were top notch and the atmosphere inside is definitely tight on space, low on privacy, and high on background noise. However, the onion rings and the good quality beef made up for all those shortcomings. Our waiter seemed to have better things on his mind than waiting tables, but the girl waiting on the people next to us seemed really great, so let your money do the talking, that's what tips are for, huh? Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for that ""Harvard Square"" experience. Pros: Great onion rings, good burgers, interesting atmosphere Cons: Service, value more

If you're looking for a place in the Square with ""fine dining"" and leisurely, long meals, this is NOT the place for you. But if you KNOW what you're going to Bartley's for: burgers in a diner atmosphere with a twist of Harvard-ite (political and social) fun, this IS a destination worth seeking out. #1 I have never been to Bartley's when the line is flowing out the door. I just refuse to go there then. Living in the area, however, affords me the ability to go to Bartley's sometime other than the weekend. #2 My husband and I know there is no bathroom at Bartley's and we plan accordingly. #3 It's a ""made to order"" diner atmosphere. Expect the wait staff to be yelling to the cook (NOT the ""chef""...the ""cook""!!) ""Gimme a 'People's Republic' medium w/ American."" #4 It's a highly sought out, homegrown Harvard location. They pack you in tight. Just expect to be sitting next to a stranger and get over it! #5 When you go with a friend: You've both gotta' get a burger, one should order a razp-lime rickey, other should order a frappe and just sit back and ENJOY the atmosphere!!! Pros: Burgers, Rickey's, Frappes Cons: Crowded, Avoid high-volume Harvard weekends. more

Great turkey burger but the line is huge and inside there's no restroom. Ask the waitstaff about the bathroom, and you'll be the recipient of a bad attitude. I vow never to return. Cons: no bathroom more

The creativity of the menu will definitely give you a chuckle. The burger is so tasty and you have to try their famous sweet potato fries. Remember to bring cash with you because they do not accept credit card. Burger Fans or not .... you will not be disappointed!! Pros: Burgers, Seating, Service more

The burgers are great! It's worth going atleast once. fun to go with small group. the place is so much fun. i felt a little rushed when i was there though. Its a little pricey - the menu burgers w/ fries are $8-$13 - menu board burgers $6-$8 the sweet potato fries are the best I have had and I try them from everywhere! Pros: food, atmosphere, easy to find Cons: limited seating, rushy waiters(varies), could be cheaper more

It would seem that everyone loves this place. Natives, visitors, tourists...I was in town for day with my husband and we were dying for a good burger. The sign outside drew us to Mr. Bartley's although we had originally had another location in mind. This place is not for someone who enjoys their privacy...yes, you may sit right next to a stranger -but for us that was part of the fun. The burgers have fun, descriptive names (I ate a ""Bill Clinton"") and are probably a buck or two more than you'd pay elsewhere - but worth it! They are fresh and cooked to order - delicious. Nothing special about the fries, but this place isn't called the ""Fry Cottage"". Try a rickey - the raspberry lime is probably something you haven't had before unless you live in town. Mr. Bartley's is lots of fun and I'll definitely go back! Pros: burgers, screaming servers, hostess lady more

I have known this place since 1978 - it has not changed, and it still has the best burgers in the NE. Big, fat, juicy, and rare if you so desire. It is crowded and noisy, but there are no better burgers to be had. I just introduced my son to Bartley's when he started college nearby. Unfortunately, I had to order the Mitt Romney burger even though it was the wrong political affiliation - just the combo I needed. I now live on the west coast, but will go out of my way to have lunch there when I visit. Ken Pros: food, cooked to order, variety Cons: small, noisy, crowded more

We have read wonderful reviews about the burgers at Bartley's and were very excited to finally try it. Although the burgers were OK, they were extremely overpriced. Neither the burgers, nor the experience in general was worth the money we were charged. We were rushed to place the order as soon as we got in line outside of the restaurant -- half hour before we were seated. The restaurant itself was very crowded and so drafty that the food was cold in a couple of minutes. We had a toddler with us and since there are no bathrooms at Bartley's, we had to go searching for one in the neighborhood stores. The burgers and fries were ok, but considering the lack of simple comfort in the restaurant the experience was overrated and the food was overpriced. more

With out question the best burger in town! Don't come expecting a luxurious dining experience, that's not what this place is about. It has incredible burgers and a fun atmosphere that exemplifies the harvard square experience. Pros: Great Burgers, Fun Cons: Crowded more

This is a real fantastic place to eat. It's pretty much a hole in the wall in Harvard Square. Don't expect bathrooms or spacious interior. Do expect great burgers and charm. The burgers are great and the raspberry lime rickeys are to die for. Where else can you order a godzilla sized soda? Don't let the very rare negative reviews deter you from going. Take it from a native Bostonian and visit Bartley's. The lines also move very quickly. Pros: Burgers, Lime Rickeys, Location more

I went to Mr. Bartley's with two friends after hearing how great the burgers and milkshakes. We were seated at an extremely drafty table in front of the door on green plastic deck chairs. The cramped inside was made worse by waiters screeching their orders to the cook and then squeezing by our table, kicking the extra chair into the aisle multiple times. The burgers were extremely overpriced and my coffee frappe had a sickly fake sweet taste. Maybe people find this place hip and cool, but to me it was greasy burgers and not so great frappes that made up a forty dollar lunch. Pros: convenient location Cons: no parking, bad service, overpriced more

Run - don't walk to this Cambridge burger barn. Casually decorated with vintage stickers and such, be ready to sit amongst the people. Burgers are juicy and add-ons are countless. The french fries are good, but it's the 7oz beef burgers that take the cake here. Best burger in Boston? Maybe! Pros: FOOD, service, FUN LOCATION more

i have been going to bartley's since 5th grade (i'm now in grad school in NYC) and this is still the best burger place ive been to. the ambiance is dark, dirty, and politically humorous. there are anti republican posters and elvis sighting reports and 'this is your brain on....' posters all over the walls, tables, and ceiling. there is one big community table and a bunch of 2-4 seaters crammed all together to make you feel chummy with the other meat lovers. the burgers all have names. my fave used to be the bob dole. there are many many varieties which all are good and everyone will find something to their liking. Ok, lastly, the fries are to die for, the sweet potato fries are da bomb, the onion rings are my personal fave, and the milkshakes are everything you want them to be. Pros: food, ambiance, location Cons: , crouwd control, bathrooms more

Everyone has their personal favorite burger joint, and Bartley's is mine. The hamburger juices literally explode in your mouth with the first bite. Their milkshakes are the best around also. I live in NYC now, but I still haven't found anything that compares to Bartley's. Pros: Terrific hamburgers, Great milkshakes, Great onion rings Cons: Air smells greasy more

I walked by this curious place for probably 25 years before stopping in. That was a mistake. But now I eat here quite regularly. My favorites here are the Ted Kennedy Burger, the Yuppi e Burger, the Great Onion rings, and the Raspberry Lime-Rickeys. In addition to the burgers, Bartley's has entrees both chicken and vegetarian as well as great frappes. One of my favorite spots, but not recommended for the claustrophobic. Pros: diverse menu, interesting patrons, funky waitstaff Cons: very crowded sometime, hard to find parking, no rest rooms more

the burgers at bartley's are better than most steaks in boston. I can't fathom how any of the reviewers could have been indifferent to the burgers there, but I guess everyone's different. I myself never realized there could be such a thing as a really great burger 'till I ate at bartley's. It has ruined burgers from chili's and the like for me. They also have great lime rickeys and onion rings. I think most of the other food (besides the burgers) is only so-so. Pros: Burgers, Burgers, Burgers Cons: Most everything else more

Absolutely terrific burgers - don't miss the Sweet Potato Fries. Also feast on the collection of original posters: theater, movies, concerts, Elvis, Bogey; and on some really wild bumper stickers; the place is plastered with them. There's a wonderfully mixed clientele: local residents, Harvard students, faculty and nostalgic alumni all packed cheek by jowl, chowing down. Pros: Great burgers, Good value, Funky atmosphere Cons: crowded, difficult parking more