[This story first appeared on Boston Restaurant Talk.]
A landmark dining spot in Cambridge has officially said farewell.
According to a source, Charlie’s Kitchen in Harvard Square has decided to permanently close, with a Facebook post from the Eliot Street place saying the following:
It is with a heavy heart that Owner and Head Chef David Toraji Oshima announces that after 75+ years of serving the Harvard Square and larger Cambridge community. Charlie’s Kitchen has given up its historic location and will not be reopening. Charlie’s Kitchen served Boston’s most famous double cheeseburger and was part of the fond memories of generations of Harvard students and Cambridge families. “I would like to thank anyone and everyone who came to Charlie’s in all these years, from the bottom of my heart. I’m sorry to have to give the community this sad news,” says Chef Oshima.
Early this year, a dishwasher malfunction at Charlie’s Kitchen caused more than $2 million in damage, and while there was hope that it may open back up, it never did.
Charlie’s Kitchen, which first opened in 1951, came under new ownership in 2024 when Chef Oshima took over the restaurant and updated its menu and renovated the space. The place was known in part for its cheap eats and its beer garden.
The address for the now-closed Charlie’s Kitchen was 10 Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.
(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)
[A related post from our sister site (Boston’s Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]
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Dining and Cooking