Catalyst Restaurant

We hosted our wedding reception here. It was a truly unforgettable night for us. We booked the Crick + Franklin combined room. Not only can it accommodate a 24-person long table, but there's also plenty of space to set up a welcoming area, a check-in zone, and a wedding cake display table. The restaurant also offers complimentary parking for guests. We ordered 4 courses of plated dinner. Every course of the day was truly astonishing. I felt really delighted when our guests told us how delicious the courses were. The wines here were absolutely fantastic as well. The Sauvignon Blanc I had here is the best white wine I've ever tasted. We enjoyed it and even brought a bottle home as a memento.

We hosted our rehearsal dinner at Catalyst, and it couldn't have been better. The food and drinks were phenomenal, and the service was outstanding. The space was great too - we had a private room, with a large enough table to seat 30 guests. Robyn was great to work with, and helped us with all the little details that made it such a special, personal event. She even designed personalized menu cards with names for each place setting. Parking was a breeze (and validated!) in a garage next door - ideal for a busy area of Cambridge. Highly, highly recommend!

We just got married here and cannot say enough wonderful things about it! Robyn was wonderful to work with throughout the process. Her expertise and experience meant that we could sit back and enjoy our day. The staff was incredibly friendly and professional. (As we were still in the pandemic, the staff was fully masked.) The space itself is beautiful and made a lovely backdrop for our wedding party. They have a wonderful private space that we used for the ceremony and we were able to use their dining area for the reception. And best of all, we were able to introduce our guests to the fantastic food that they serve, which was one of the reasons why we choose Catalyst to begin with. From start to finish, this was a great venue and we look forward to coming back.

This place is a phenomenal wedding venue! My husband and I looked at 10+ venues in the greater Boston area but we ended up choosing Catalyst Restaurant. It was the best decision we made for our wedding. We got married here in August 2021 and it was just perfect. When looking for a venue we wanted a place that had good food and was in a convenient location for our guests. Catalyst checks off every box. All of our food from cocktail hour to dessert and everything in between was exceptional. People kept coming up to me during the wedding to rave about the food and my parents kept pulling me aside to tell me how happy they were with everything. I still have people telling me how good our food was months after our wedding. Many of our guests walked to the venue since there were several hotels nearby. Those who drove in had their parking validated at the garage nearby. We had our Vietnamese/Chinese tea ceremony inside Catalyst right before our traditional/western ceremony which was held outside in the courtyard. The restaurant is so beautiful you don’t really need a lot of decor. The courtyard area is an open green space surrounded by buildings/restaurants which was nice during the summertime because during our ceremony there was shade to keep our guests cool. Everything went so smoothly the day of our wedding because of Robyn and her team. Communication with her was great and she acted as our day of coordinator. I made all of my wedding florals to save money and we dropped off everything the day before our wedding. Robyn and her team set up everything for us and even moved the ceremony florals indoors to be reused during the reception. We just simply showed up and enjoyed our wedding because Robyn took care of everything. Carlo was our personal server and always made sure we had whatever we needed. He is such an incredibly nice person. The entire staff at Catalyst is absolutely amazing! Kind, professional, attentive - this doesn’t even begin to describe how wonderful these people are. They were truly excited for us to get married and be a part of our special day. They did everything possible to ensure we had the wedding of our dreams. My husband and I were so happy. I HIGHLY recommend booking with Catalyst.

We were married at Catalyst at the end of May -- right after the restrictions were lifted. We had such a great time. The venue is big enough so that we had the ceremony in the private room, the cocktail hour on the main floor, the lunch/dinner in the private room and then the reception back in the main floor. It's a really bright and big space that is flexible and still seems intimate. (We had 85 guests.) We were going to have the reception outside (Catalyst has rights to the park next door), but it rained, so we had to move the ceremony inside. Robyn and her team have it down, and the switch wasn't a problem at all. The space for the ceremony indoors is bright with a lot of windows, too. Catalyst also has really nice tables and chairs, so the indoor ceremony and the lunch/dinner settings are really pretty. The entire staff is fantastic. We went back a few nights ago to pick up some things I had left, and the bartender and a couple of the waiters remembered us and came over to say hello. They made sure everyone had a great time. It was fun and personal. I can't imagine being married some place else.

We got married at Catalyst in May of 2021, and cannot say enough good things about the entire experience. Planning a wedding during COVID involved a lot of moving parts and required flexibility, and Robin and the Catalyst team were accommodating the entire way and made everything as stress-free as possible. Catalyst is not your typical “restaurant venue.” Our family and friends said it was the best wedding food they have ever had, and the team worked with us to completely personalize all cocktail hour hors d'oeuvres and dinner courses, even letting us mix and match different sides/mains that we liked at our tasting. The staff was so caring and attentive and really made us feel special all night. The restaurant itself is beautiful and allows for plenty of space while also keeping things intimate. Anne and Matt were our “day-of” coordinators and kept the entire night moving without our having to worry about a thing. It sounds cliche, but Catalyst really did help to make for a perfect day and we can’t recommend them enough. The best part is, we can’t wait to go back for dinner to relive our wedding over and over again!

We recently had our dream wedding at Catalyst! Robyn was a pleasure to work with and her attention to detail amazed us. The aesthetics are perfect, from the moody lighting, to the glass hanging fixtures and hypnotizing fireplace! Don't even get me started on the food, drool worthy and we swear almost every plate was cleared. The staff was friendly and smiling all night, paying attention to our comfort level and making sure we had everything we needed. I would recommend this venue a thousand times over! We'd like to thank the staff and especially to Robyn! :)

We are so glad we chose Catalyst Restaurant for our wedding reception venue! From beginning to end, Robyn was professional, prompt, detail-oriented, and listened carefully to our ideas for our wedding. Through the craziness of the pandemic--including downsizing our wedding from ~100 to ~30 guests--Catalyst was there for us through all the wedding planning changes. The reception itself was more than we could have asked for. The Catalyst staff attended to every moment of the reception, and made sure the afternoon went smoothly without us having to worry about details. The guests raved about the delicious food, attentive service, and warm ambiance! We could not have asked for more.

My husband and I knew we did not want a traditional banquet hall wedding. We wanted a more fun, vibrant and laid back atmosphere. The second we stepped in to Catalyst, we knew we had found the spot. We loved the decor and ambiance of the space, which required little effort for additional wedding day decor. Working with Robyn was incredibly easy and she made our vision come to life. She was easy to communicate with and quick to respond to questions. We had a small private ceremony outside with family only before moving the reception indoors with 150 people. We had buffet style dinner and everyone raved about the food. We still get compliments about how much fun and different our wedding was. The location was convenient for friends and family that live in the Boston area and we were able to take beautiful photos along the Charles River and at the MIT campus. We celebrated our first anniversary there and have a reservation made for our upcoming second anniversary and are happy to be a part of the Catalyst family!

COVID BRIDE HERE! We had originally planned on hosting our wedding at Catalyst on NYE, but had a feeling as we started nearing the end of the Summer that this pesky little virus was not going away...and we were right! Robyn and the team at Catalyst were so unbelievably accommodating when it came to transitioning our 150 person wedding to an intimate, gorgeous, and unbelievably delicious unforgettable reception of 12. In a matter of weeks after contacting Robyn on a whim asking if we might be able to switch gears and throw an over the top meal for 12 she managed (with her fabulous team of chefs and waitstaff) to throw together an UNREAL 7 course meal, with a custom drink pairing for each course. It was so - seriously - good. None of us are picky eaters and I got the vibe from Robyn that she and the chef knew what they were talking about so I let them run with it and my goodness I am so glad we did. Everyone was floored by the food, if you are planning an intimate wedding up the budget for the food here because you WON'T regret it... Not only was the food spectacular, but Robyn created the most ethereal and gorgeous tablescape that was perfectly coiffed when we arrived from our ceremony. Again, Robyn took the reins here - all I had to tell her was what colors i liked and she absolutely nailed it. I work in interior design, and between COVID stress and my job focused around interiors i just didn't have it in me to get super tactical about the design (especially since we went from 150 people to 12) - set against the backdrop of a very contemporary urban building Robyn had bistro lights strung up and designed this mutli-level tablescape on beautiful farmhouse tables with tons of draping foliage with florals in asymmetrical vessels in peaches and whites. *chefs kiss* I could not have been happier with the presentation, clearly Robyn thrives when left to her own devices! The staff was absolutely fantastic, so attentive, pleasant, and quick. They really made what could have been an awkward or stressful event something absolutely perfect and unforgettable. Oh, and did I mention Catalyst threw this event for us on their patio when they were not technically OPEN?! This crew is committed to creating great events and great food. You really can't go wrong. TRUST! THANK YOU AGAIN Robyn and the whole crew at Catalyst.

We could not have had a better experience hosting our wedding reception at Catalyst.  With all the madness of COVID and the ever-changing regulations that came with it, Robyn and her team helped us quickly pivot from another venue that canceled on us only a week before our date. Within 48 hours we had decorations selected, a menu created, and crystal clear communication from her on the appropriate measures to make for safety and social distancing.  After three cancelations and countless other unexpected challenges, we cannot stress enough how much we appreciated the entire Catalyst team, their professionalism, the delicious food, and the beautiful venue.  We can't wait for life to get back to normal so we can get back to Catalyst as often as possible!  -Kevin and Hailey Massimino

We had a fantastic wedding at Catalyst. We had a brunch wedding in August, and we are not details people. Robyn helped a ton, by helping us very professionally, walking through the details of the event. They set all our decorations up without a hitch. And the food -- the food! We are food people and this was very important to us. We may be biased, but the food was the best wedding food we've ever had. It is hard to make good food en masse, and every one came out to perfection. Can't recommend this venue strongly enough.

Catalyst was the perfect venue for our July wedding for 120 guests. After a ceremony at MIT we used the restaurant for the reception, including cocktail hour, lunch, and dancing. Robyn and her team did a fantastic job from start to finish and the modern look of the space was exactly what we were looking for. Above all, the advantage of a restaurant venue like Catalyst was clear in the quality of the food; we lost count of the number of compliments we got, and the kitchen was easily able to accommodate dietary restrictions. We had a live band play which Robyn helped coordinate on the day of; this went off without a hitch. Finally, we especially appreciated the layout of the space and how it allowed for a lunch where people's conversations would not be drowned out by music from the band (though if you wanted to set it up a different way that would probably be possible too).

My husband and I cannot count how many times people have said “Best. Wedding. Ever.” If you want a venue that has great food, a great location and a modern vibe, this is it. Robyn and her team were awesome. She made sure what we got a break right after our ceremony so that we could have a breather. She also made sure that we always had a drink in our hand ;). We didn’t have to worry about anything. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves- the Catalyst team flipped the room after our ceremony to get ready for dinner. Then we had dancing and dessert in the main dining area. Everything was flawless. The food was amazing-everyone could not stop raving about it. We can’t thank Robyn and her team enough – 11/10/2018 was something really special.

Catalyst Restaurant did an amazing job with our 130 person wedding (ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing were all held at Catalyst). We wanted an urban venue that would be easy and straightforward to plan at. Once we met Robyn, the events manager, and saw the beautiful space with it's large windows and convenient location, we were sold. Robyn and her team made things as stress free as possible (from the tasting to scheduling and the day of execution). The space is so beautiful that we only needed to bring in a few decorations and Robyn's team set them up in a pretty way that went well with the existing restaurant decor. All we had to do on the wedding day was show up and then the Catalyst events team took care of everything else, telling us where to go, managing the timeline, and checking in with us at each step so that we were just able to completely enjoy ourselves and be in the moment without worrying. The space is large and it's great because you move throughout the venue throughout the different parts of the evening. Having the wedding at a restaurant also meant that there was already a fully stocked bar and kitchen along with restaurant staff who work at weddings on a regular basis, making everything a well oiled machine. Guests raved about the food and the space and it was overall an amazing time!!

I fell in love with this venue the minute I walked in. For someone who's worked in Cambridge for over 10 years, i am sad I have never been there until a few months ago. Everything about it is just dreamy and beautiful. From the minute you walk in, you absolutely just fall in love. The high ceilings, the modern look, the fire place, the warm staff welcome .. I could go on. I met with Sarah initially who walked me through the restaurant and showed me the different areas of what could go where. She was very professional, friendly and vert sweet. I let her know that I was going to likely host my wedding with them right there and then as I was pretty much 'sold'. My husband did not tour the venue with me, and it took very minimal convincing to get him on board after I showed him some pictures online. I communicated with Robyn and Leah mainly after my initial visit and they are pretty much the definition of fantastic customer service. The communication from their end was very clear, thorough, helpful, and most importantly, timely. I had questions that needed some advice, and they were the most wonderful with helping and suggesting ideas. We met with Robyn for a menu tasting a few weeks later, and let me tell you .. she is the most wonderful in every way. Very personable and very caring. We are both foodies, and the food was out of this world, and this is something all of our guests have shared with us after the wedding as well. So sophisticated and absolutely delicious. We worked with another member of their planning team on the day of the wedding and I feel terrible for blanking on her name, but she made sure the day ran smoothly. I won't get into details but she was a life saver and just an angel. Don't hesitate to book with them. The venue is stunning, the food is phenomenal and the staff is WONDERFUL!

My husband and I held our wedding and reception at Catalyst on July 28, 2018. From the minute we met Robyn, the incredible Event Manager (and so much more), we knew we were in good hands. As I am sure everyone reading this knows, planning a wedding and choosing a venue can be stressful and intimidating. Robyn and the entire staff at Catalyst went above and beyond to ensure every detail was taken care of, guide us through the process and make our wedding day absolutely perfect in every day. Robyn is professional, experienced and a joy to work with. We were fortunate to be able to use the entire restaurant and private rooms for the evening with each space providing a unique and beautiful vibe for different parts of the event. Robyn and her staff flawlessly turned the ceremony room over for dinner in under an hour with no candle out of place. Chef Kovel blew us away with all of the food from appetizers to dessert. The tasting was incredible and replicated perfectly for our 125 guests on our wedding day. The bartenders were amazing and on a first name basis with our guests before the end of the night. Kasey was amazing in managing the logistics and flow of the event alongside Robyn and Maggie was my fairy Godmother making sure I was eating, hydrated and even helping me with my gown! I would recommend Catalyst to anyone looking for five star service, food and cocktails and a wedding that will be unique and truly unforgettable. Thank you Robyn and team for making our dreams reality!

My husband and I had our whole wedding at Catalyst, and we cannot stop talking about how glad we are we chose this venue!! Food and drink was very important to us, and man did Catalyst deliver. Everything from the appetizers, wine, and dinner service was excellent. We had a lot of dietary restrictions, including a severe peanut allergy, and they took care of everything seamlessly. From vegan to gluten free, they made every guest feel like the meal was made just for them with the same level of quality we've come to expect from the chef and team. And let's talk about the staff - Robyn is an exceptional events manager, the wait staff is so professional, and they really did everything to make our day perfect! We ended up having to move our outdoor ceremony inside, and instead of being flustered or showing any signs of frustration, the team turned over the room in record time and even had some fun with it! They were patient with us, and even helped us with a very different table layout than they are used to working with. From start to finish this team is phenomenal. If you're looking for a stylish venue with amazing food and a staff to help you with planning, I can't recommend Catalyst highly enough!

Catalyst Restaurant was the first decision my then-fiancée and I made when planning our wedding, and it was the best. Catalyst was the first venue we visited and, during our tour, led by the Private Events Manager, we both realized that it was the venue for us. Catalyst perfectly encapsulated our desire for an intimate space that could accommodate and provide for ~80-100 guests. Throughout our 18-month planning process, Catalyst always responded to our emails in a timely manner and was very helpful in pointing us toward DJs and photographers. More important, as our wedding date approached, despite being very busy, the staff always responded to our requests and questions and often went out of their way to accommodate our needs. One example: Catalyst does not sell Downeast cider, but the staff were able to secure more than enough cans for our wedding. This meant a lot to both me and my now-wife, as we love Downeast and since a lot of people were visiting from overseas, we really wanted them to try a proper New England cider. In the final week before the wedding, we worked directly with one of Catalyst's owners, Sara Kovel, who was just fabulous. She responded to our emails SO quickly and answered all our questions. We were not stressed about the venue at all, and our confidence in Catalyst was solidified during our reception. We dropped off a lot of stuff before the reception, not knowing how everything would look. It looked amazing. Everything was just fabulous: the food, drinks, staff, space, everything. In short, if you have anywhere from 50-100 guests, who want amazing food, a tireless, friendly, and supportive staff, Catalyst is for you. It's a place that will always be a special place for us, and we can't wait to celebrate future birthdays and anniversaries there. Cheers!

Having our wedding reception at Catalyst was the best decision we could have made! We worked with Maggie, who helped make the planning process very easy. It seemed like no matter what we asked or suggested, nothing was out of reach, and she was always open to new possibilities in terms of the setup, flow of the evening, etc. Her input was invaluable on many occasions, sharing what other couples had done, bringing in samples of linens, going over menu options, etc. Catalyst allows you a very generous tasting before settling on the menu for your event. My fiance and I went with my parents, and we had the opportunity to taste several hors d'oeurves, salads, pasta courses, and entrees, as well as a few wines to serve with them. The food was a highlight of the reception, it is definitely not your standard catered-event fare, and months later our guests continue to rave about it. It is worth noting that our guests really enjoyed the bar as well, which is staffed by their regular bartenders for events. The night of, our guests had an incredible time. As the bride and groom, we were welcomed at the back door with champagne, and allowed into the private dining room which was closed during the cocktail hour so we could have a few moments to catch our breath. They had someone, Junior, to look after us for the night. He brought us samples of each of the hors d'oeurves and water. Throughout the night, even on the dance floor, he kept popping up with cold water, made sure we got to taste the cake, and was genuinely concerned that we were enjoying ourselves - were blown away by the service. This space is not a traditional ballroom, and in many ways gave our guests and us a unique experience that helped make our wedding incredibly special and memorable. If you are looking for a unique space or, like us, are all about the food, we highly recommend considering Catalyst for your wedding. P.S. We had about 160 guests which fit comfortably in the space.