Cicada
106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA
Crema's Take
“Cicada is a charming hybrid spot that pairs exceptional specialty coffee with Vietnamese small plates in an intimate Cambridge setting, complete with a breezy backyard patio that feels like a secret getaway. The vibe leans toward romance and relaxation—think date-night energy with a vacation-like atmosphere—though the small space means you'll want to reserve ahead if you're stopping by on a weekend. Their kitchen shows real creativity with standout dishes like chicken confit and inventive preparations of seafood, though portions run modest and the menu stays focused rather than sprawling.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
This is a small coffee bar with limited indoor seating and a nice backyard patio with additional seating. They also serve Vietnamese small plates which are tasty but the portions are a bit small for the price. There is no table service. You order your food and find a place to sit. They call you up to get your food when it’s ready and you’re expected to bus your own tables when done. Friendly staff.
Delicious chicken confit with forbidden rice and sushi grade salmon with medium wide rice noodles and cilantro chimichurri. Amazing ginger lemongrass hot tea.
The food was good but as someone who previously worked in food I don't think it's appropriate to serve blatantly chipped dishware. It's a health hazard both as porcelain is sharp but also becomes nonporous and can't be properly cleaned. It was also a bummer because when they took our plates away and I mentioned the chip, they came back and simply left the portable checkout terminal on the table, (a) not asking us about dessert or anything else (even though we'd only been there for less than an hour) and (b) having bypassed the itemized receipt so we didn't know what was included (we guessed correctly that tip was not included). Given that the food was pretty reasonably priced I'm not upset about it. I do think it would be better to visit during the day when it's a cafe. Also note that they don't have any warm beverages available on their dinner menu, even though they are a cafe during the day.
Delicious! Limited menu but really great food. The interior is so cute, such a good date spot. The restaurant is pretty small, so I recommend making a reservation if you want to come during the weekend.
The atmosphere is beautiful and makes me feel like I’m on breezy vacation. I got the duck pho which was okay, I’m that big a fan of pho in general. It was well made. But my friend got the pork bowl which was delicious. The yogurt reduction was like tasting heaven.
Crema Reviews
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