If you eat or drink at the Tempo bar (as opposed to sit down service), make sure you check your bank / credit card statements when the transactions clear. On two separate occasions (out of 2 total)... More

If you eat or drink at the Tempo bar (as opposed to sit down service), make sure you check your bank / credit card statements when the transactions clear. On two separate occasions (out of 2 total) I was actually charged $10 beyond the authorized total on my receipt. This could be repeated incompetence on the part of the bartender or perhaps someone is lining their pockets. Either way, buyer beware! I found a pattern of it. Beyond that, this place is ok at best. The bartenders are not great and provide average to bad service overall. The food is overpriced. The ambiance is nice, but loud. Overall, I would go elsewhere. There are better options in the area that get their billing right.
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I am a weekly, if not more frequent customer at Tempo. I think of it as my "Cheers" restaurant because it is a place where everyone does know your face, if not your name! Beginning with the... More

I am a weekly, if not more frequent customer at Tempo. I think of it as my "Cheers" restaurant because it is a place where everyone does know your face, if not your name! Beginning with the receptionists and including the bartenders and waitstaff, the people are friendly and actively trying to make the dining enjoyable. The food is marvelous. I know that the chef/owner shops himself for the food, frequenting the wholesale fish market every day and the local farmers markets all summer. At Tempo, I particularly love the perfectly fried clams, the succulent butternut squash raviolis and the thin-crusted wild mushroom pizza for appetizers. Each easily serves 2. The salads are spectacular. I go often with a friend who thinks that the week is not complete without a Tempo pear, pistachio and gorgonzola salad. The entrees are delicious and always large enough to pack a lunch from the leftovers. Our favorites are the chicken and artichokes, the Brandt steak (which is almost double the price if you order it in Boston restaurants), and almost any of the creative and totally fresh fish offerings. The veggies that come with the entrees are varied and always compliment the main course. (I also savor the macaroni and cheese and the au grautin potatoes). Desserts are lovely, and like the entrees beautifully presented. I'm almost salivating writing this review! To me the food is of high quality and excellent value. Generally, when we go to a different restauant at the urging of friends, we are slightly disappointed and think that we would have had a more delicious meal in a place with great energy if we had gone to our favorite place, Tempo! Pros: Fun and friendly venue Cons: Can be a bit loud but I heard they are currently addressing this
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Good food, great drinks, great service, but can be very noisy and the tables are far too close together. Great for after work. Pros: great service, good foosd, great drink menu Cons: can be... More

Good food, great drinks, great service, but can be very noisy and the tables are far too close together. Great for after work. Pros: great service, good foosd, great drink menu Cons: can be very noisy, tables too close together, rather pricey
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The service was inattentive at best and the noise was so bad without entertainment that it was nearly impossible to hear my dinner companion. We had the lobster pie and it was pricey and small... More

The service was inattentive at best and the noise was so bad without entertainment that it was nearly impossible to hear my dinner companion. We had the lobster pie and it was pricey and small but the best I have ever had. I think it may have been a special so it might not be on the menu all the time. I hope they do something to deaden the sound. The place is full of hard surfaces with no draperies or soft furnishings. (this was Christmas, 2005). The food is definitely worth a try, but I think next time I may try the bar to see if I can have a conversation.
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Tempo was excellent. My husband and I are seasoned diners and have had many exceptional dinners and many dinners we quickly want to forget. Friday evening we decided to try Tempo. The experience as... More

Tempo was excellent. My husband and I are seasoned diners and have had many exceptional dinners and many dinners we quickly want to forget. Friday evening we decided to try Tempo. The experience as a whole was superb. We sat at a romantic table for two in the open windows and enjoyed wine that we selected off a huge wine list. Our food was mouth watering and the service was even better. I had the halibut which was the freshest I've had in years and my husband ordered the filet which was cooked to perfection. Our server was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. We were concerned about the noise level we had read about in other reviews, but they seem to have addressed that issue. The have installed new rugs in both the bar and dining side which seem to have worked wonders. Overall... Spectacular food, impressive wine, and impeccable service!!!! We will definitely be back. Pros: Food, Service, Wine
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This place has a wonderful menu full of tasty items. The food is a bit upscale. It's a bit pricier, but the quality and taste make it worth it. The bar and restaurant area are well decorated. The... More

This place has a wonderful menu full of tasty items. The food is a bit upscale. It's a bit pricier, but the quality and taste make it worth it. The bar and restaurant area are well decorated. The service is fantastic. I large group of us celebrated a friend's birthday and they took excellent care of us.
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While the wait at 8:15pm was 40 min (expected), we were not prepared for the noise level. The food was decently prepared but not exceptional, which I would have expected for the price. We ordered... More

While the wait at 8:15pm was 40 min (expected), we were not prepared for the noise level. The food was decently prepared but not exceptional, which I would have expected for the price. We ordered a side of fried onions rings and were served french fries. Wine list very good. Service ok. We had to almost shout at the bar while waiting for our table and at the table converstion was almost impossible. After 2 hours of this we left and didn't stay for the music which brought us there. We won't return.
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I have been here several times and each time I like it more than the last - the food is excellent and always has a seasonal flair - the service is great and the atmosphere is top knotch! A great... More

I have been here several times and each time I like it more than the last - the food is excellent and always has a seasonal flair - the service is great and the atmosphere is top knotch! A great place to go!
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my husband and i have been to tempo on three separate occassions, each time enjoying more than the last...we have found the service, ambience and food/drinks to be consistently wonderful...love that... More

my husband and i have been to tempo on three separate occassions, each time enjoying more than the last...we have found the service, ambience and food/drinks to be consistently wonderful...love that the house margarita is only 6.25$ and very much worth it...the food is a little pricey but in the same ballpark and actually slightly cheaper that some of the restaurants in the area...the salmon/tuna tartare is outstanding and well worth the 12$ price tag...the music on sat's we found very enjoyable and love that the windows open in the nice weather for a more open seating look...they do have call ahead seating so on a busy fri or sat evening that is your best bet... Pros: ambience, drinks, great food Cons: parking, a little pricey
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If you venture out of the city to Waltham, make sure you stop byt this new restaurant. Skip the dining room and hang out at the bar instead. The food is excellent especially the scallops. Or try the... More

If you venture out of the city to Waltham, make sure you stop byt this new restaurant. Skip the dining room and hang out at the bar instead. The food is excellent especially the scallops. Or try the pizza which is on a crispy thin crust and made with fresh cheese, herbs and sauce. The wine list is one of the biggest Ive ever encountered with wines in every price range and an emphasis on reds. The service ranges from overly attentive to lax and could definitely use some tweakingbut overall the place is great. Perfect for the 25-35 crowd.
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