"You've just walked in: Give us your first impression. Just upstairs from chef Michael Scelfo's popular Harvard Square institution Alden & Harlow is Longfellow Bar, a sexy, two-story lounge with a seasonal roof deck. The 130-year-old building exudes charm, and Scelfo's loving restoration of the space has created one of the city's most intriguing places to have a drink—think globe lights, cathedral-ceilings, original window panes, and a stunning Carrera-marble bar top. Cool. So who’s there? The best of Cambridge: intelligentsia coming or going from Harvard; good-looking young professionals on after-work dates, and coworkers catching up over drinks and snacks. What does the bar do best? The bartenders spin housemade seasonal syrups, infusions, and bitters into intriguing, somewhat surprising drinks. Consider the Fire in the Hole, a potent mix of Irish whisky, charred peach, and chartreuse. Food-wise, anything good to pair with those cocktails? The menu is filled with decadent, elevated comfort food favorites like pigs 'n' blankets with black truffle, honey, and dijonaise. The Longfellow Messy Fries come with an indulgent slather of beet chili, queso, and pickled jalapeños. How's the service? The bartenders here know their stuff. If you don't find something on the cocktail menu that tickles your fancy, they're happy to mix up something bespoke. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? When you have an hour to kill in Harvard Square, this is the place to do it." - Todd Plummer
