Had a veggie burger with roasted poblano. Size of meal kind of small for $10, and looks a little sad on the plate. I was left hungrier than expected. I also thought the bun was denser than it should be and the poblano was not roasted enough for my taste (it was crunchy). That said, I ate the whole thing. I like the place's apparent commitment to local food and significant presence of vegetarian options, but I would probably not try a veggie burger here again. Little nuances like the fact they don't accept credit cards make me roll my eyes a bit especially in light of the fact that it isn't a home run in other respects. I've tried the place before, though I neglected to review it then. I can't remember what I had before which I guess may speak to why I haven't been back in more than a year. I came back I think because I really want this to be a place that I love. I worry though that next time I'll recall this review and opt for the far less charming on the face of it Common Ground next door.
(4)
Amanda O.
This place is unique and the food is excellent . The employees are super sweet . I never feel guilty when I eat here . The food is farm fresh and nutritious . I certainly recommend breakfast, brunch and burgers from here . They now serve home made juices !
(5)
Aaron K.
This place screams local. Good fresh product, and a really nice staff that cares about what they're serving. The food tastes good, but not great. At the prices you're paying you would expect greatness. The christie burger featured bacon, american cheese, and a tasty homemade avocado sauce. Their menu says 4.5 oz of beef and this was $11. While the burger tasted good, it was overcooked, ordered medium, but came out medium well. The falafel wrap special only featured a few falafels and was $12. The mix of fresh veggies with the falafel was nice. The fries were the best thing we had. We ordered mixed but they came out all sweet potato (second execution mistake). These were definitely hand cut freshly prepared fries. Came out hot and had great sweet potato flavor. Pretty much perfect. A small at $4 was enough for two. We ran a check of over $30 with a drink and tax and the place is cash only! The taco place down the street is 2/3 the price and takes credit cards. A minimum charge would be more realistic but to ask people to pay this much cash on every visit is unfair to your customers, especially when people bring large groups. If you live nearby probably worth checking out once, if you're visiting Arlington you can do better.
(3)
Devin M.
Overall great place to grab some food. I got the "Take a chance" burger, and I gotta say... I'm glad I took the chance. The burger will be different when you order it, which is kinda the fun part. My burger: Crumbled blue cheese (Strawberry?) jam Beef patty covered in melted cheese Sausage slices Fried egg Baby spinach tossed in a creamy aioli Tomato Onions It was well executed. But a little expensive. All three of my friends got the Falcon eggs Benedict. The bacon stole the show. Also the potato hash was a mix of sweet potato and russet (amazing combo!) Their critique was that the baguette it was served on was difficult to manage.
First time here, I was blown away! Hamburgers are amazing, ambiance is nice too. The menu has a wide variety of choices, can't go wrong here !
(5)
Hillary L.
Love the veggie burger :)
(4)
Erin Z.
Very cute location with seating inside and out - there is free 2 hour parking on the same street (but I think it fills up pretty quickly, so the earlier, the better). I got the Lexington breakfast sandwich ($7 - egg, pesto, mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella on a housemade baguette) - I thought it was pretty good, but it didn't blow my mind. My husband got the Not So Hungry with bacon ($9 - 2 eggs, 2 slices toast, potatoes and 3 slices bacon) - the flavor of the potatoes was great, but in my opinion should have been fried (they were served warm, and I think dressed in oil/seasonings, but not crispy). Large iced coffee was $4 and came in a to-go cup (hooray!) and orange juice was $3. All-in-all, it was an alright breakfast... I would go back because it had reasonable prices and the staff was nice, but I think I'll give the lunch menu a try next time.
(4)
Maddie E.
I have visited Madrona Tree three times and have never been impressed. There have been issues with our orders each time. I went last week and ordered take out. While sitting at a table outside for our subpar food one of the employees asked us what we were doing and gave us two nasty looks. I would have been happy to move or stand if she had simply asked. I ordered the BLT with avocado -- bacon was fatty, very very little avocado, a few greens and a sorry tomato slice...doesn't this place advertise that they get their produce locally? I thought it was tomato season. My boyfriend ordered Grandpa's Kibbah last time we went, which was almost completely dominated by nutmeg. This place has a lot potential with outdoor seating, some parking, and a great mission. But, I am sorry to say I will not be back.
(2)
Nigel K.
Very yummy food at a perfect spot. The firecracker sprout is a personal favourite of mine. Lots of healthy options reasonably priced and all day breakfast. Overall, lovely food with lovely people at lovely Arlington!
(5)
Inês L.
THANK YOU YELP! I would have never, ever come here. In fact, when I posted the pics of my food to Instagram, people were shocked that they had a vegan burger! I forget the exact name of their veggie burger but it IS vegan. When I asked the waitress to double check she confirmed. A few minutes after placing our order, she came back to indicate that the avocado creamy dressing it comes with is not vegan. Major points to her for not letting that go by and picking that up for me! So awesome she had my back :) So I had the option of adding avocado slices or there's a spicy mayo of some kind that's made with Veganaise (win!). I got the latter and it was AMAZING. This is easily the best vegan burger I've ever had in my whole life!!!! I was so, so impressed. We also got 1/2 and 1/2 garlic fries which were also really delicious. I loved the chunky sweet potato but I think next time I'll even just stick to the regular shoestring. SO. MUCH. GARLIC. It's globs and chunks and it's fantastic. We also sat outside and it was lovely. We had to use a lot of napkins. My bf got some meat burger. He also loved it lol.
(5)
Justin S.
Great food and wonderful staff. Had breakfast here this morning. Very good food and quick service for those on the run.
(3)
Tyler L.
Good creative, local farm based ingredient menu. But again in that price-range, food should be much better. Most importantly, service was rough. Younger lady can use better manner and service ( the owner seems to be nicer.) Won't be back unless things changing.
(2)
Meghan C.
Excellent brunch experience! I came in with a group of 10 on a Sunday morning and the staff was super friendly about moving tables together for us outside so we could enjoy the beautiful morning. Top-notch service continued the entire time we were there. The menu has plenty of options (almost too many to choose from!) and they had cute local names. Everyone ordered different things and everything was delicious! The portions were generous too, especially for the price. 5 stars across the board!
(5)
Yasmin C.
Amazing food!! I sniffed this place out in Arlington because its menu and its commitment to local, organic food reminded me of brunch back home in California. In three days I came twice: once for lunch by myself, and once for breakfast with my brother, who lives in Arlington and whom I was visiting at the time. Seriously loved my food during both visits. For my lunch trip, I ordered Uncle Marc's veggie sandwich, which was delectable. The patty was hot, savory, and super tasty...also sizeable. I was full after just the sandwich, no sides. For my breakfast visit, I refrained from ordering French toast and went with the Otis St. scramble with egg whites, which includes spinach, tomato, feta, olives, and garlic. SO delicious that I didn't even miss the French toast!! Really really well done. The scrambles also come with hashbrowns which are actually shredded white AND sweet potato, which was delicious. We were also given some amazing housemade mixed berry jam which my brother and I scraped clean onto our toast, then asked for seconds. Only issue was that my waitress during my first visit was very short and unfriendly. Probably an anomaly because my second waitress was lovely. Anyway, the first experience clearly wasn't bad enough to keep me away. Then again, I'd endure all kinds of $#%^£ for good food... Super awesome!! Big fan right here.
(4)
Cee C.
This place is pretty good, yummy sandwiches. Not good for kids as the space is really small and not very likely to get a seat at anytime of day.
(4)
Laila M.
I came here for saturday morning brunch. All three of the staff checked in on us and made sure our glasses were full. I suggest getting their sandwiches on baguette and ordering a side of hash.
(4)
LivelyLajja M.
Wannabe green vegan friendly cafe with horrible and unhealthy food. Our veggie burger patty was super duper deep fried and came in crumbles. Olives used were full of vinegar. Brussel sprouts were deep fried with so much buffalo sauce that we couldn't get the flavor of anything but the sauce. We couldn't finish half of the food we ordered. Won't return again! 1 star for the service.
(1)
Rebekah P.
Just not good. No horror stories, just not great food. Extremely tight space- that generally felt kind of dirty.
(2)
Michelle A.
Total score on the first try! This tiny little eatery is a winner. Quaint, eclectic, hipster. All the things the Arlington Center crowd is looking for. IPads to take orders, multiple daily specials and great all around vibe. Outdoor seating when applicable. Fast and friendly service. Its not coincidence that all the Elite Yelpers love this place. Myself included. Sandra the waitress is cordial, efficient, funny and seems to like her job. Very knowledgeable about the menu and willing to give you her personal likes on it. I will definitely be back for breakfast! French fries are skinny, well done and yummy. Tomato basil soup was the best I've every had! Unique names for sandwiches which I always enjoy. A diner destination for sure. Tell Sandra you read my review and tell her Go Villen!
(5)
Jordan G.
Excellent! Stopped in for a late lunch today and it was delicious! The staff were really friendly also. Will be back to try something off their delicious looking breakfast menu.
(5)
Joan C.
Local friendly yummy. Need I say more? Words of wisdom adorn the wall. Come in and cop a squat as Julia said.
(4)
Tamarleigh G.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly We really, really wanted to love this place. Their ingredient sourcing is, according to their website, far more ethical than most restaurants. We had been planning to eat there for quite some time. When we finally ate there, however, we were badly disappointed. There were several things we did love -- and yet there were also deal-breaking things that made us unlikely ever to return there for a second meal. The Good: they have outdoor seating in Arlington Center, which is quite a nice spot to be able to eat a meal. The falafel was excellent, as was the hummus. The strawberry-basil homemade soda was amazing. The server was very friendly. The Bad: The hummus comes with salad greens underneath it. The ones under mine were disgusting. There were about a dozen pieces of lettuce in there that were partially rotten (black, wet, mushy). But I didn't realize that at first. I was sitting there enjoying the hummus (which, as I mentioned, was excellent), and I came across a piece of lettuce that had a rotten part. Well, ok, these things happen. I picked it out and set it on a napkin on the table. I went back to enjoying the hummus, but a moment later I came across another bad piece of lettuce. Ugh. I picked it out and set it on the napkin next to the first one. I figured the server would notice this when she came to check on us and we would discuss the lettuce. As I kept eating the hummus, I kept finding more and more gross pieces of lettuce. I kept setting them on the napkin. The napkin started to fill up. I stopped eating the hummus. Someone else brought me my falafel wrap. Like a fool, I just started eating it without opening up the whole thing to check for rotting lettuce. It was super good (the falafel itself), but suddenly it struck me that I really needed to check the lettuce. I opened up the wrap and sure enough, it was the same problem as with the hummus. Most of the lettuce was fine, but again there were several pieces that were not. I started to pull them out, but the "rotting lettuce napkin" was filling up, so I just deconstructed the wrap and ate the falafel itself and some of the pita, leaving the lettuce behind. This entire time, no server had noticed the Rotting Lettuce Museum napkin in front of me. I think to say that this place is lacking in attention to detail would be an understatement. Finally, I call the server over to the table and tell her about this issue. Her FIRST response is basically to insult me by suggesting that there was nothing wrong with the lettuce, but that I, the customer, was merely unfamiliar with different types of lettuce (some of it was red leaf) and mistaking darker colored lettuces for rotting lettuce. Seriously -- I pointed out the Napkin of Doom to her, and THAT was her response. I pointed it out again--the rotting lettuce was sitting right there. So she went away and another person appeared. This new person didn't bother to introduce herself, but she had a sort of manager/owner vibe about her. Her tone of voice and facial expression when she asked what the problem was made me think she thought the problem was ME. I showed her the Rotting Lettuce Museum, but she barely glanced at it. Her initial response was identical to the server's -- she questioned whether I was just ignorantly mistaking red leaf lettuce for rotten lettuce. I showed it to her again, holding it out to her so she would have to actually look at it, and she immediately snatched it away, apologized (not very convincingly), and left. Nothing was removed from the bill. This reminded me of those restaurant owners on Kitchen Nightmares who can't seem ever to admit that anything is wrong with their food and instead think that there's something wrong with their customers. As though I can't tell the difference between mesclun greens and rotting iceberg or something. SMDH The Ugly: Then I made the mistake of going to the ladies' room. While waiting in line to use it, I was standing next to the door of the kitchen. I couldn't help but notice that the kitchen floor was filthy. But that was NOTHING compared to the filth on the bathroom floor. I will spare you the details. Let's just say that I sure hope that hummus-looking stuff smeared on the floor near the toilet was actually hummus. Needless to say, you could not pay us to return to this place. We're only giving them two stars because they set such a good example for other restaurants in the area of ethical ingredient sourcing. But once you have quality ingredients, you also need to treat those ingredients -- and your customers -- with respect. That means serving food FRESH from a CLEAN restaurant. Oh yes, and I forgot to mention -- the plastic water tumblers were not even close to clean, either (even when my dining companion gave her the tumbler and asked for a clean one instead, the second one she brought was no cleaner than the first one. He ended up not drinking any water at all.)
(2)
Andrea B.
It is positively criminal that I've lived one-tenth of a mile away from Madrona Tree for the past two years, and have failed to stop by until now (really, I just punched it into Google Maps for giggles...0.1 miles...so not OK!). In addition to their fantastic regular menu, they post mouthwatering daily specials on their Facebook page, and that's what drew me in. MT is dedicated to serving local and organic food (seriously, even the bottles of Heinz Ketchup on the tables are labeled organic), and I swear you can taste the difference. I ordered the burger special (4.5 oz burger, grilled onions, avocado, and "tangy sauce"), and I've never tasted a burger so full of flavor while simultaneously being not at all greasy! And that Iggy's roll! It was light and fluffy and fresh and not slathered in butter like most burger buns tend to be. It didn't need to be! The chips that came with it were just OK and half of them were burnt, but that can be easily overlooked because OH MY GOD, that burger! Twelve bucks well-spent. For once in my life, I'm glad I live in Arlington and can frequent Madrona Tree often. It is truly a great yet under-recognized place to grab a really, really good burger. For those who don't live nearby, Madrona is right on the 77 bus route from Harvard station. Make the trek! It's worth it! It's cash only, so make sure you stop at an ATM while you're hiking out to the boondocks and get some dolla dolla bills!
(4)
Camille C.
This is by far one of the best brunches I have had. I had the Marauder and it was perfectly cooked, beautiful and incredibly delicious. The coffee is also really good. The waitress told us it was ordered from Seattle. It was clear that they live up to their word of using fresh, local ingredients.
(5)
Mimi W.
I always have high hopes for Madrona Tree. It has a great location, with tables outside so that you can sit and eat with your dog. There is an extensive list of burgers but the burgers themselves are so disappointing. The patties are frozen and the buns (even though they say they make them at the restaurant) were cold and not toasted. For $10 I would have expected more effort. Our sweet potato fries were burnt. I won't be going back which is too bad.
(2)
Donna D.
Nice cozy spot to enjoy some tasty comfort food. I only wish their hours where more accommodating to a breakfast lunch restaurant. Previously they didn't open to 8 now 7:30 but closer to 7 would be better.
(4)
Melina M.
Amazing! Cozy and friendly environment that compliments the incredible, local and delicious food. We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast and lunch plates and our waitress even gifted us with their homemade cookies to take home. Definitely come here for a satisfying meal and great time.
(5)
Jessica P.
Love this place. Stumbled upon it when looking for someplace local, non-chain to dine in and we have made it a regular spot! The food is really good (the "take a chance" burger (vegetarian or not) is the best). Breakfast and lunch are fantastic. Everyone who works there is great - we really love it. So accomodating to kids too. Space is small but there is a tiny corner w/ toys.
(5)
Christine J.
3.5 stars. I got the falafel. it was yummy with yogurt and a nice wrap. but my stomach didn't quite agree with me later that day. hmmm. bf ordered a diff chicken wrap, it was too saucy, tasted like a stir fried chinese dinner in a wrap. love the decoration and creative look of the restaurant, wish it was a little bigger. but nevertheless fun to be in and made me feel like i was in a lil NYC cafe.
(3)
Maria T.
This place is absolutely wonderful! The food is fresh and inventive. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. I have been here for both breakfast and lunch and have tried various things on the menu, as well as their delicious homemade sodas. For breakfast recently, I got The Falcon, which is a fabulous twist on the eggs benedict with avocados, crispy onions and BBQ sauce. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
Dick D.
I ate at Madrona Tree with my daughter , and found the food to be decent, but the service lacking. From the moment the waitress approached us, she had an attitude, and it seemed to deteriorate steadily. We waited for our our drinks which came when the sandwiches arrived , and she seemed annoyed when I asked for ice, because my iced tea had none. She didn't bring any utensils, although we could have used a fork. She failed to check back once she delivered our order, and at the end, tossed ( and that term seems kind) our check on the table, without asking if we wanted anything else. Afterwards we talked about our experience, and couldn't understand her attitude . For the price, I am certain that a better dining experience can be had.
(2)
Anthony L.
Friendly people offering a unique emphasis: locally sourced pretty much everything. Stopped in on a slow night with my girlfriend for a falafel and kibbeh. It was healthy fare, but not a substitute for authentic version. The onion rings were good, and prepared on ordering. Despite the food being pretty good, we both felt a little out of sorts later. A homemade raspberry-lime soda was nice and not overly sweet. They have a variety of choices in tgat vein. The decor is friendly/crunchy, but the folksy witticisms chalked all over came at a cost of making the place appear a little dusty and in disrepair. It was a little like hitchhiking in a Volvo wagon.
(3)
Will S.
Fresh ingredients, but they use tons of oil to make them. Taste good though. I ordered a burger and it has half an avocado, bacon, and pouch egg. Not a kid friendly place to be at.
(3)
Anna S.
Such delicious vegan friendly options, the garlic fries here keeps me coming back for more each time, staffs treats you just like family, they're super thin fries fried with pieces of chopped garlic, yummy!!! Their homemade soda is quite delicious too! It has much fruit and after you finish the soda, best part of all is getting to eat the sugsry fruits at the bottom of the soda!
(5)
Anna G.
I love this place. we order weekly company lunch here once a month for a Monday meeting and the food is always great. the staff is also super sweet and helpful. they have nice outside seating during the summer as well. great falafel and always check their FB/give them a call to find out what the specials are. can't go wrong with their special salads. it is pretty pricy, but it's all organic so I guess you get what you pay for
(5)
Erin C.
Unfortunately my friends and I did not have the amazing experience that so many people have had here. We stopped in for lunch on a Sunday. It was busy, but there were a few empty seats on the patio and it was fantastic weather. The restaurant is quite cute and is located in a perfect little space. I was given menus when I walked in originally, but it was about 10 minutes before anyone came to see us once we sat down. The server was fine, but pretty short with us. Two of us ordered the special salad of the day that came with a blue cheese & falafel crumble on top and my other friend ordered the falafel wrap. After waiting for about 15 minutes our food arrived. There was no falafel in our crumble and for $12 I didn't think the salad was all that filling. My friend's falafel was extremely mushy and didn't taste like it had been cooked all the way. We would have mentioned this to our server, but she was on the phone taking a To Go order when she came out to the patio the next time. I also ordered one of their teas which was quite delicious and definitely the highlight of my meal. Overall, we didn't have a great experience. The food wasn't that good and unfortunately the prices and service didn't make up for that. I should note that other reviews have mentioned that it was cash only dating all the way back to 2011. The sign in the restaurant says Cash Only -Temporarily! (or something like that). I don't think this is a temporary thing. I definitely think we had an off experience because so many people have raved about this place, but I would totally think twice before returning here.
(2)
Susan D.
This is the only place in Arlington where one can dine outside, which in and of itself, is worthy of a five star review. It seems to me that the MT started small for a reason, Their place is in high demand. Rumour has it that they have applied for more outdoor space, and they are now serving dinner, which I have not experienced yet. My husband and I like to go for lunch on weekends, with our two small dogs. The owner always provides a bowl of water too. My husband is vegetarian, so he always orders the veggie burger. I love their salads and their Syrian wraps. Their falafel is delish, and there is a new wrap, which name escapes me, but it is a croquette with chicken, veggies and feta - my fave so far. We love their homemade sodas too. French fries are a bit on the soggy side, so we don't order those - better for us anyway. The wait staff, if you don't know them, can sometimes come across as abrupt, but they are actually really nice and accommodating.
(5)
Laura A.
Love, love, love this place! I have never had a bad meal. All yummy and fresh ingredients. I am so happy to have this place in Arlington.
(5)
Matt M.
We live right nearby and order from here all the time. They're awesome! The food is always excellent and I have never been disappointed. My Girlfriend loves the Wraps while I love the burgers. The breakfast menu is great too (best hangover cure I've found in Arlington Center). It's a little expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for.
(5)
K K.
Honestly I would've given this place at least one more star if it wasn't for the customer service. My friend got me a awesome burger from here almost a year ago so I figured I would give it a try this morning for breakfast. The sandwich was $8 which is really expensive, but the sandwich itself was just ok. I had tomatoes in my sandwich and they left it a bit watery which I don't like. The thing I didn't like was the feeling that I was bothering the girl upfront or that my business was not wanted. She was sitting at the table with a guy and lady when I walked in. Nobody immediately said hi and she didn't get up from the table until I walked past her and stood at the counter. She acted nice but it wasn't genuine, almost rushed. My total was $11.77 and I gave her a $20 bill and she handed me back $8. I didn't want to bother her even more so I didn't ask for the rest of my change. Her personality changed when her co-worker walked in and she acted all bubbly towards her which reinforced to me that the issue was my presence. Unsure if I would come here again, maybe for a burger, definitely not for breakfast or their customer service.
(2)
Kayleigh S.
I'm giving three stars instead of more because of the prices. The food was delicious, especially the fries, but you'll be hard-pressed to get a full meal here for less than $20. $8 for a grilled cheese cheese sandwich and another $4 for a small fry is too expensive for lunch in Arlington. The cheapest item on the menu is a $5 hot dog, again with no fries or sides. Onions and peppers will set you back another $0.50. Again, no complaints on the food, that's just too expensive. If you can afford to spend $20 a person on a very casual lunch, I recommend Madrona Tree, but if you're on any kind of a budget you may want to look elsewhere.
(3)
Deb S.
I was visiting family in Cambridge and decided to try this place due to the many reviews of "farm to table" and fresh, homemade food. There was a 30 minute wait, and just be warned..this place is really tiny. Of course, Sunday brunch is a big draw here, so plan accordingly. I was underwhelmed. Although the sweet potato soup was thick and tasty, it arrived cold and had to be reheated. The side of hummus was nicely prepared on a plate with red onion, olives and tomato but it was tasteless...not a hint of garlic. White low quality flat bread was served...tasteless and cheap.....not expected at an eatery that calls itself "organic, farm to table." There was no choice of whole grain bread. Really surprised. All in all, almost $15.00 for a very average meal that left me hungry.
(2)
Damien S.
Any beef purveyor offering Papa's Fireburger will get my business. At least once. Indigo Girls philosophy with a Buddhist aesthetic, the Madrona Tree holds 6 tables inside and a few seasonal savvy patio place settings. The walls are swirled with airy purples, heady quotes and a pretty fantastic menu. Expect loads of sandwiches, wraps and salads, with rotating daily specials that makes use of ingredients sourced a mile down the road. Our übergrüvy server totally recommended the burgers, man. I must admit - they sounded simple and savory. Mushroom swiss, the aforementioned heat-seeker (roasted poblanos and a spicy spread), and a bacon double chee, all boasting farm-to-table freshness. Kara ordered the a grilled cheese, I rocked the FIREBURGER and we split a basket of hand-cut fries. All said and done - $20 for an early dinner. Definitely reasonable. Then the sandwiches came and we understood why. My burger, while incredibly tasty and served on a bomb Iggy's roll, had the smallest 1/4lb patty I've ever seen. Maybe some weird illusion created by big, colorful veggies - the charred poblano is a definite win - but the weeness (hehe, I said weenus) of the meat left a hole in my appetite. Good thing those crazy addictive shoestring fries filled it with ease. A must-split serving for only $3.50 is one helluva deal, and a strong suggestion when coping with slightly anemic burgers. I'll definitely return; it's a very inviting lunch spot. Next time, I'm swinging for the falafel! Oh, and the rumors are true: cash, check or debit card. No credit!
(4)
Rick B.
I ordered off the breakfast menu for the first time from here today. I got " the highlander "- poblano, lunguica, homemade hollandaise, tangy sauce drizzle -. I don't order this breakfast item much, or others like it, when I got out for breakfast but it was recommended by the waitstaff and figured I would give it a try. I am very pleased that I did once I got a taste of it. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the hollandaise sauce too. The bread it came on was very good, made even better by the warm runny yolk and sauce. I have to say give it a try when you get the chance. You wont be disappointed.
(5)
Man M.
Food is good. Service is abrupt, one liner. Just a poor way to complement your dining experience. I am not looking for royal treatment but kindness and decency is universal. Cash only. Don't expect to see that at the door. And yes, I won't be back and I am removing them from my Facebook likes.
(2)
Meg P.
One of Arlington's gems! They have tons of different options though I almost always go for a burger and fries. The sodas (esp. Blackberry Mint) are light and refreshing and the staff couldn't be nicer and more accommodating. Such a nice little non-chain restaurant offering fresh, local ingredients. Love it! I haven't tried their new breakfast but believe you me, I will soon!
(5)
D F.
The egg scramble was very wet and mushy, and the home fries just meh. I feel like their heart is in the right place but they haven't quite figured out the details. The service was excellent though - extremely friendly and attentive.
(3)
Dave S.
Little locally-source food restaurant turned out to be a hit. Got the "Amy's Falafel" wrap which was quite enjoyable. Great for an avocado-lover like myself and the blue cheese was a new but deliciously tangy combination. Falafel was a bit less crispy than falafel than I've had in the past, but maybe they just prepare it differently. Also, be sure to try their homemade sodas for a fruity blast of carbonation
(4)
Juliet A.
My brother-in-law, who lives in the area, loves this place. It is easy to see why. The staff is incredibly friendly, the place is cozy and inviting (there is even a little kiddy corner with toys and books for the wee ones), the food is locally sourced and delicious, and the portions are generous. Lots of Middle Eastern influences with the foods (Syrian wraps, kibeh, REAL hummus, etc) that I appreciated. I had a kibeh wrap and loved it - a little heavy on the red onions, but otherwise excellent. It was so filing that I had to take half to-go to finish later. My husband loved his healthy "Luke" sandwich, and my brother in law is a huge fan of their burgers. There are things that are a little out of the ordinary (brussel sprouts and green apples - so good!) and regular comfort foods you'd expect from a burger shop (hand-cut fries and milkshakes). Madrona Tree is a satisfying stop for a meal!
(4)
Glenn B.
I went to Madrona Tree with friends on an early Saturday afternoon. We typically go for more "traditional" (read: unhealthful!) diner fare, but had heard some positive rumblings about this place. On the plus side, the food -- from my one experience with it -- is interesting: creative play on the above-mentioned more traditional diner/brunch choices. I had a tofu scramble that had vegetables, curry and turmeric. Very tasty, though a bit on the dry side. The shredd-y hash browns will need more work, I think, before they give the more hash-slung, greasy variety any competition -- I thought they tasted odd (sorry, I can't be more specific). On the downside, the place is quite small and, if you go in cold weather, sort of chilly. The door is not exactly configured for cold-weather dining comfort. The ambiance or atmosphere is a mixed bag. The decor and bric-a-brac suggest more kid-friendliness than I typically care for: there's kids' art all over the walls, baskets of toys about, etc etc. I don't want to come off as a kid-hater, but screams and shrieks in a small space when I'm trying to eat and converse with othr people ... no thanks -- my nerves will wind up as shredded as the hash browns. I guess I got a "we're aiming at yuppies with kids" vibe from Madrona Tree. I suppose one has to aim at something, but I felt out of place. Oh, and did I mention the cavalcade of 1970s music that was playing? Olivia Newton-John, Jim Croce ... please, not while I'm eating! :^)
(3)
Ryan S.
My goodness, this place is expensive! The ingredients are fresh and organic, which is so trendy, but still--it's a just a burger joint. It's still greasy and messy. And for $13 my med-rare patty was cooked well done. But overall I did enjoy the food. The kids meal chic nuggets were homemade perfection. There is no other food this tasty on this end of town. Just wish it cost less.
(4)
Mona N.
We recently moved to Arlington and I read the good reviews about this place on Yelp. Locally sourced, farm to table, and so on. I seriously gave the place five chances before giving up overall after our visit last week. The cleanliness of the dishes, the cups and those bottles that they refill and put water on your table is less than desirable. Our cups at our most recent visit had a white sludge like substance in the bottom of each cup. Now for the food. I've tried the Syrian wraps, sandwiches and burgers. Of those items the food is palatable and tastes pretty ok, but I have never received my entire meal together. The hummus was some of the worst I've ever tasted and it was on lettuce that had gone bad. The fries are good if you get them hot, my last visit I did not. I also got my soup (that was not what was described to me) and it appeared to have just been heated up. Had lots of cold spots so it seemed it was microwaved. My husband and I both agreed that we won't go back again. The bathroom is filthy as is the kitchen that you can see from the hall area. They even have the audacity to charge $10.00 for a small jar of their organic jam. I love businesses like this but can't continue to support it due to basic filth, inconsistent food and mediocre service.
(2)
Ahmed R.
Great food , new ideas full of flavors. Every time you try something out of the menu it turns delicious . Service staff became better , I had an awful experience earlier with one ! And actually today was perfect , quick and friendly . Well revisited the review , it's just a set of waiters . Specifically one of them , she just not interested in the job. Loosing food , being totally not nice to people . Still food is good
(3)
Sandy C.
The breakfast menu is limited. The food was mediocre and the coffee was very strong, cold and no refills. Also, they only accept cash.
(2)
Shane T.
Breakfast is fantastic. Simple wholesale varied menu with kibbeh linguistic and other interesting meats. Great veg selections as well. You even get chocolate bread as a breakfast appetizer, perfect !
(5)
Steven P.
With the cool motto, "eat like you give a damn," the Madrona Tree inspires very high expectations. And though my burger was pretty good (finely chopped on a sourdough roll) as was my profoundly tart lemon/lime soda, the cramped dining room and over-the-top prices make it unlikely I will return any time soon. And while the restaurant's philosophy of environmental responsibility is infinitely noble, if as a consumer I can't tell the difference and don't enjoy the experience, then "frankly, my dear..."
(2)
Cyrille C.
As a sandwich brunch casual family place you can not find better Very friendly staff just love it!!!!
(5)
Marissa D.
Disclaimer: This was my first visit, but I will be back. Weekly, if I can fit it into my schedule. I'm vegan, and I've long been searching for the holy grail: a veggie burger I can lust over. Found it! I've tried almost every burger within a 50-mile radius (burgers at Veggie Galaxy, Pulse-when it existed- Red Lentil), but nothing-NOTHING-can top this. Moreover, many veggie burgers are not even vegan. Or if they are, the bread has egg in it. What's up with that? Am I supposed to wrap it in a lettuce leaf like some Atkin's-crazed dieter? No thanks. Not only is this lentil-based burger juicy, succulent, meaty (FYI: Meat can refer to the essence of nuts, legumes and plants, not just animal flesh) and luscious, but the sauces and toppings (some of which can be made vegan) make this burger a meal to behold. I had mine made as the "Freddie" with caramelized sweet and red onions and the Tangy Sauce, pickles, tomato and lettuce. Best way to describe the sauce? Reminiscent of the sauce they used on the Whopper, but 100x better, and made with Vegenaise. And I mean the Whopper reference as a compliment. Also, I don't know what they put in their 'Special Tangy Sauce', but it might not be legal, because I am now addicted. All burgers come served on Iggy's breads, and you definitely need both hands manage these babies. The bun is light on the inside, but sturdy and crisp enough to hold in the burger and the toppings. Actually, the burger is a bit on the crumbly side (and it's large, so some of the burger falls out. Just fork it up or shamelessly grab it with your fingers). We also had a large order of Garlic Fries (they have several varieties of fries), and again, addictive. Little bits of pressed garlic garnish these shoestring fries. Not too greasy, but perfectly fried and perfectly dressed. The garlic flavor was zesty without being overwhelming. They have organic ketchup on each table for your dipping pleasure. I tried the Noble Salad as well, and had it served with some "family dressing" instead of the Italian standard. It was made on the spot with fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil and herbs. The salad was a nice size and had plenty of veggies. You can also get grilled or fried veggies of the day or other veg-friendly sides, but I was in the mood for crisp greens. I wanted a substantial amount of salad with my burger, so our server recommended a regular dinner salad. A note about the service and the atmosphere: It's so warm and welcoming here that we were actually singing along to the awesome background music. Mix of indie rock/grateful dead/early 90s type stuff. The staff made every effort possible to make sure our meals were as kick-ass as possible, and confirmed that everything was vegan before serving us. They said they can always switch things up in the kitchen if we give them advanced notice. One of the chefs is actually vegan and they even had vegan brownies on the night we were there (score!). They have plenty of vegetarian options on the menu and lots of fresh juices so we look forward to coming back and trying them. It will be hard to lure me away from that burger, though.
(5)
Bryan Z.
This place is great. I work right down the street and come here for lunch a few times a week because the food is very tasty at a reasonable price. I will be coming back again, and I recommend you try it out if you're in the area.
(5)
Janelle E.
Organic restaurant! Yum. I had minutemen Benedict. My partner had mustang Benedict. We shared Celtic twisted French toast. Sooooooo good. I plan to go here again when I visit MA. Sigh. So hard to find good one in DC.
(5)
Francesca L.
I go here quite often. Don't expect huge portions, but the wraps tend to be more filling than the burgers. Friendly staff, delicious locally-sourced ingredients, and cash only. UPDATE! They now have Level Up!
(4)
Julia F.
Pretty disappointed. I came in on a weekday morning for breakfast. I had one of their breakfast scrambles, which came with some scrambled eggs, hash browns, and toast. The eggs were so-so, the hash browns tasted a bit undercooked, and the toast was hard. My friend, who also ordered a breakfast scramble, also thought the food tasted pretty bad. I had heard great things about this place, which is why I was so excited to finally come here. It's really too bad that the food was so disappointing. Perhaps the lunch menu is much better, who knows. I probably won't come back after this experience.
(2)
Emily A.
I've been here a few times now - wanted to wait a bit before reviewing. Thanks to Jenny who was working tonight I finally am prompted to review it because she surprisingly very nice and upbeat. Really like the concept and glad it's in Arlington. Want it to succeed. Before tonight though, the wait staff has been a bit JV - grumpy and a borderline gritty. Clearly a different experience than other yelpers - maybe the times we've gone in? Like the freshness / localness of ingredients and healthier options. Casual little spot. Food has been pretty consistent. What I love most? A corner of toys for the little ones. Simple thing for an eatery to offer - but a godsend for parents who actually want to try eating out at a table. Ok, not the cleanest toys on the planet, but it works. So all in, it's worth a try.
(4)
Zoe P.
Delicious, fresh, healthy and/or filling. Pretty much the perfect lunch stop. I've had salads with impeccable produce. I've had fresh, moist falafel wrapped in actual pita bread, flavorful and with the appropriate tug to it. I've had very accommodating waitstaff. My husband has had a large and satisfying burger and my favorite vegetarian lunching partner has had a colorful, joyful bean-based salad. I've had such a strong craving for their homemade, fresh-fruit-filled sodas that I've stopped in to get them to-go, when I felt like treating myself. There is literally no where else in Arlington Center to get a grown-up drink like this. And, last but not least, I've had the best onion rings in the greater Boston area. Crisp, tender, lightly fried with a strong, fresh onion-y taste. Man, I love onion rings and these are damn fine. Although this kind of carefully prepared, local-foods, large menu type of place is a dime a dozen in Northampton, MA or Charmsbury, VT, Madrona Tree is a rare bird (plant?) in Arlington. And I'd go so far as to say that the only place to get better food in Arlington is Flora, and that's a real restaurant and all. Also, the record album covers hanging on the walls of the girls' room are amazing. Vintage Whitney! Melissa Etheridge! You have to see this for yourself.
(5)
S Z.
Decent breakfast. Attention to detail sometimes lacking - potatoes sometimes underdone and eggs sometimes overdone. Have been 3-4 times and it seems hit and miss but the service is nice and sitting outside is great. 4 bucks for an iced coffee is outrageous.
(3)
Claire W.
I really enjoyed my burger and a side of brussel sprouts with apples. It was a tasty meal and the ingredients were incredibly fresh. I was there on a slow night and the woman who took my order and brought my food was very personable. I enjoyed chatting with her. It was a relaxing, satisfying meal in a welcoming atmosphere. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Hise G.
The best veggie burger you will ever have. I highly recommend the "Take a Chance" burger. You will not be disappointed. I also went in for breakfast and it was amazing. I take my family here often and we are always glad we decided to dine here.
(5)
Alan S.
This is the type of restaurant that I really want to support. And I'm willing to spend a little more money for quality ingredients. But I couldn't help but notice how everything is overpriced. The ice tea was like $4! I got the side salad and a soup. Both were great tasting but a couple dollars over what I would expect to spend. I'd probably would give this place 3 1/2 stars but I'm not sure id come back.
(3)
Helen V.
House made sodas, burgers with Iggy's Bread, and fried pickles?! Madrona Tree, you've had me at 'Hello.' Burgers are juicy and oh-so-pure tasting! I say pure because I love that everything is sourced local and fresh. The sodas are not made with any of the HFCS stuff, which is truly a symbol for their care of the society health. Ok, maybe I'm stretching that one, but it's good for you if you're a soda drinker. Iggy's Bread is delectable and an important part of a hamburger. I liked that they had fried pickles on the menu, but...I wish they were served in chip form because the spears were a bit much, a little too salty even for a salt lover like me. The space is eclectic and quaint. I like the quotes and pictures on the wall. It definitely screams neighborhood charm. I'm glad this exists in the center! I'll come back soon!
(4)
Robo T.
great little place with a focus on organics and local sourcing. I stopped in and got an applegate farms organic hotdog and the greatest homemade onion rings this side of the connecticut river. OH cant forget the half and half served in a mason jar mug poured but not mixed (like a black and tan) that was delicious. the place is tiny and seats about a dozen people or so. I went on a cold day thus it was cold inside because the seating is at the windows.
(4)
Jamie S.
Great burger - I got the one with the roasted poblano pepper on it. AMAZING taste! My wife and I split some rosemary fries, and those were great too. The homemade sodas are good, but probably not worth the $3.50 price tag. It took a little while before we were greeted, but we were sitting outside and they were mad busy, so no big deal. Our server was very nice and attentive. One thing that's really annoying is that there's no spot to write in a tip for your server on the credit card receipt! Luckily I had enough cake in my wallet to leave a tip, but that is bull-isht. If you owners are so concerned about sustainability, make the job more sustainable for your servers! Or just can the machines and make it cash-only!
(3)
CW W.
I live in Arlington and decided to try this new place with my bf. We were in the mood for not the normal burger, read the menu online and said why not. The waitstaff was friendly but could have been a little more attentive. The place itself was clean and had a good vibe. My bf and I each got a burger, the garlic fries and I got a fresh raspberry lime rickey. Are food arrived in a fair amount of time but I would have expected it to arrive a little faster since there was only a couple other tables. The lime rickey was listed as fresh and came with mashed raspberries but they tasted on the verge of spoiling, it was ok but I worry for the next person who orders it. So we got our garlic fries first and were surprised at how oily they were and also how they were cut. There were a lot of things wrong with these fries. First they're supposed to be garlic fries but they didn't taste like garlic fries at all, it just looked like someone took a scoop of minced garlic (from a jar) and cut up some herbs to sprinkle over. Second the fries were very oily. Lastly the fries were cut as thin as shoelaces. Why is that a negative you ask? If you're going to make garlic fries and just put minced garlic over it, wouldn't it make sense to cut the fries big enough to hold the garlic? They ended up tasting like oily fries. Onto the burgers. We each got a non classic burger which flavor wise was fine but so thin! Our burgers didn't even fill the bun and they were completely uneven. For the prices they charge I was expecting at least a decent size burger. Overall I think this place has a good idea but the execution was not good. We won't be going back. As always never take my word and see for yourself.
(2)
Layla L.
I'm really happy this place opened. Sometimes the service is a bit kooky, but I feel like that's because they're just getting started, so it's okay. Everyone who works there is really friendly and willing to please, and they will make your food any way you ask for it. I've tried at least 5 of the dishes on the menu at this point, probably more, and they were both vegetarian and meat based ones... and again, I just cannot with the people calling this food "bland". I've eaten "bland" food in my life: it's called powdered cauliflower soup and hospital ice cream, not freshly made gourmet salads. At this point, whenever I read someone's review of a place- any place- and they start using the word "bland" my eyes immediately glaze over and I go to my happy yelping place. "Bland" could mean so many things at this point that you could at least do us the favor of saying why you didn't like the food. Was there not enough salt, or spices, or dressing, or contrasting ingredients? Or do you just have some minor brain damage somewhere behind your temporal lobe? Everyone's entitled to an opinion of course, but I'm entitled to stick voodoo pins into a doll when I read your review and I see this word. Okay, back to the point... The food at Madrona Tree is definitely not bland, it is in fact very flavorful and delicious. Arlington can really benefit from having a little cafe-restaurant like this and I hope they stay in business for a long time. Yay.
(5)
gabriella s.
I want to give it a 3.5+ and here are the reasons why. The local farm concept is exciting so I had big hopes for this place. It was really good but not great though. But they could have had a bad night. Here are some highs and lows. I ordered a hamburger, fries (half regular cut/half sweet potatoes) and a diet soda. Highs, the homemade bun on the burger was delicious, the cheese was quality, nice and gooey, the burger was good, meat was good, nice and grilled, a bit on the dry side but could tell the beef was of higher grade. Another high point was their diet soda- it was delicious, completely better than the competitors diet cokes/diet Pepsi. Now to the low, the half and half fries, they were completely charred and burned, cold. I can't believe they would put those in a bag. Because I got take out I was too far gone to return them but Who ever put those in my take out bag should evaluate food expediting. The staff all though I stood there for a while before they attended to my take out order was very sweet and nice and polite. Overall I would try this place again, like I said everyone has bad days, the place is neo hippy which I loved the vibe and the quality of the food is above average. If the fries came out better i would have given it a 4.0 took a .5 for the expediter and the cook who cooked those fries.
(3)
Steph P.
Beyond. If I could, I would eat here every day of my life. Madrona tree prides itself on local, organic and homemade. Note the chalkboard that lists where everything came from. The beef for the burgers is so juicy and flavorful. The veggie burgers are equally awesome. Garlic sweet potatoes to die for. Hand breaded onion rings that don't lose the whole onion when you bite. Homemade simple syrup sodas in flavors like strawberry basil and blackberry mint. You could call it pricey, but for the quality, I will pay up. You can taste the love in this food, from farm to prep to table. I will keep coming back Madrona Tree as long as you keep serving it up.
(5)
Lisa H.
I am generously giving this place 2 stars. I have tried them many times, hoping for improvement but finding none. Ok, so where to begin? The food. At best the food is good, not great. Most of the time it is just ok. And sometimes it is just bad- for example, the hash browns (they have recently started serving breakfast so I thought I'd give it a try) were disgusting! Couldn't eat them. I have tried many different things from their menu too- sandwiches, burgers, fried pickles, fried tomatoes, soups, salads, wraps, home-made sodas... so this review is based on a wide sampling of the menu and experiences of dining in as well as take-out. Alright, so I've found some things on the menu that are actually decent but everything is way over-priced. I understand they're all about organic local ingredients and that's great, but the food is not. Organic or not, the food just isn't that good as I said before, and so, it is not worth that much $$$! Also, they're a burger and fries place, so organic/local/whatever- it's still not that healthy! Moving along to the service. Not particularly friendly-- only once have I actually had someone nice wait on me. But more importantly, they often get orders wrong and don't really seem to care. Their motto is "eat like you give a damn." Well guess what? I DO eat like I give a damn, so I will NOT be eating here anymore.
(2)
Jessie C.
Had delivery from here last night with a few of my friends. We where all pleased with the food - it's hard with delivery to make the bun not soggy which these guys succeeded to do. I do wish the bun-to-meat-ratio was a little more even, more meat more meat! We also had the trio fries and onion rings which where both tasty.
(4)
Bertha B.
(2.5 stars) Madrona Tree is a cozy restaurant tucked into Arlington Center that dishes up creative organic burgers, salads, fries, and sweet treats. While it is kid friendly, equipped with books and toys in one corner, it is quite small and fills up quickly at lunch time. Food is fresh, locally sourced, and all organic, which I greatly appreciate. There are also a good mix of meat and vegetarian options. However, the quality of preparation is inconsistent and prices are a bit steep, especially when you customize your burger. The first time I went to Madrona, my veggie burger was large, but very soft and fell apart immediately after the first bite. It was tasty, but difficult to eat any way other than with a fork and knife. On my second visit, the veggie burger was smaller and more well done. It had a more burger-like texture, but was less flavorful. The fries are quite tasty and portions are sizable, great for sharing. Overall, this place is a nice addition to the neighborhood, although I would hope for greater consistency so that it can be my reliable go-to place for good, healthy burgers.
(2)
Kara O.
I love this place! The food is delicious, service is good and the atmosphere is cozy.
(5)
Katy G.
This little spot is such a welcome addition to Arlington center! About a dozen burgers (including vegan and vegetarian options) plus sandwiches and salads. I had one of the blackberry mint homemade sodas, it was delicious. They have a selection of books and toys and a big basket of apples for little ones. The staff is super helpful - when I was in there a takeout customer complained about finding a parking spot and the woman behind the counter said that if you call they'll bring the order out curbside! They are temporarily cash only and the prices are not fast food prices (8.29 for a burger, 6-8 for a sandwich), but since they serve organic and local food I think it's a good value. I can't wait to try the pie. Very very very kid friendly!
(5)
G G.
Tried it again with my wife a month or so back, this time skipping the burgers. I had the kibbeh wrap, and found the meat tender, juicy and flavorful (everything their burgers are not). They also managed to hold the tomatoes as I had asked, which a surprising number of places manage to mess up. Everything else in the sandwich was fresh, and they had a light hand with yogurt dressing... so many other wrap places load it up so you have a yogury geyser at the other end of your sandwich. My wife had the falafel sandwich, which she liked, although she thought there was just too much wrap (as in, too much pita bread) overall. It's a nice change of pace when you're seeking a Mediterranean/Middle eastern sandwich iption, which I think is an option that's otherwise mssing in the area.
(3)
Martha L.
I love this place. Very friendly family place, great food, commitment to local products, who could ask for anything more? My family and I love the veggie burgers, even though we are omnivores. Great toppings and very flavorful. I've also had the regular sliders and they are great, and we've also had the falafel, kibbeh, pie, cookies, soup, sweet potato fries and have really enjoyed all of it. My son has systematically made his way through more of the burgers on the menu and gives them a big thumbs up with a special mention for the Fire Burger. Definitely worth checking out: you do need to be a bit patient as it's busy and everything is made to order. Totally worth it!
(5)
Olivia S.
Love, love, love these guys! The food is delicious and the service is friendly. Great location, excellent ingredients and interesting flavors. Their veggie burgers are to die for and the falafel patty I had the other day was divine. The French fries are fantastic, the green stuff is always fresh and their home-made sodas are delightful. It's my new favorite place to stop for lunch (alone, with a friend or the family). The decor is also cool and funky, plus the bathroom with the LP covers from the 80s is a riot. Oh, and they have a corner for the kids to play/read and a changing table in the bathroom - a must-have in Arlington center where so many people with babies and young children like to hang out (why don't more businesses understand the basic need for such amenities in a town where a lot of young families live and are moving constantly?!). Plus when the weather is nice, you can sit outside and enjoy your burger because they have a few tables and chairs right in front (perfect for people-watching at the center square). The only thing that could make this place even better is a bigger space (like right next door instead of that pizza place) so that more people could support their business! ;-)
(5)
Caileen F.
Extremely overpriced and very small portions. I got a salad and a diet soda and left with a more than $16 bill. For a salad. With barely enough chicken to call it a proper portion. (on top of that when I brought it home to eat there was no salad dressing!) I understand their mission and vision and I want to love this place. The food itself is actually quite tasty, but this will be the last time I go. The slow service, small portions and crazy expensive prices just do not justify the yummy taste. I suggest they lower their prices if they want to stay.
(2)
Nick M.
The Madrona Tree is a splendid addition to the restaurants in Arlington. The food is organic, creative, and delicious. Long may the place thrive and prosper!
(5)
Al K.
Their apple fritters are the best I've ever had! 11/13/11: The Thai curry soup is excellent also. 12/13/11: I tried the Southwestern Chicken soup today. Highly recommended. Note: It would be great if they had a no cell phones policy like some restaurants do these days. In such a small space, telephone conversations can be very distracting and disruptive.
(4)
Amy C.
Very Disappointing! My 24 year old son and I were looking forward to trying this restaurant - local family-run, organic ingredients, locally sourced, all good things. Unfortunately, good intentions do not make for a good restaurant and this one has little to recommend it. The place is small - 18 seats, but rather than being cozy, it's just uncomfortable with chairs scrounged from wherever with little thought put into the comfort of the seating. The menu is EXTREMELY confusing and somewhat redundant, and for all of the advertised local sourcing and organic ingredients, AMERICAN CHEESE (yes, processed by Kraft) makes it on to nearly every item (you can substitute another cheese, but why would it even be there as the principal suggestion?). We both found it quite difficult to sort through all of the items, but settled on a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese (yes, we substituted), bacon, lettuce and tomato. We also ordered a basket of fries as nothing came with the sandwiches. The fries arrived first and were undercooked and tasteless. When we mentioned that they were not fully cooked (they were still hard), the waitress took them back, doused the same fries in more oil and returned them to the table, now more cooked but also very oily. I don't know what sort of potatoes they used, but they really were utterly tasteless with a slightly odd consistency. Our sandwiches took fully 35 minutes to arrive. The roll on which they were served was rather dry and tasteless. The chicken was bland - had obviously not been much seasoned or marinated - and was overcooked and dry. The cheese was barely present. Even the lettuce and tomato were undistinguished - not that lovely vegetable you'd expect to see from a place that advertises such pride in its ingredients. They make their own sodas and my son's (quite expensive for syrup and soda water) was incredibly sweet. I almost never review restaurants, but this one seemed to put so little care and love into the guest experience that I felt moved to do so. Why are there no fresh herbs in anything? Why is the food so tasteless and improperly seasoned and cooked? Why in the world would they offer a burger that consisted of 2 1/4 lb. patties (reminding one of McDonald's or Burger King, and difficult to properly cook) rather than one 1/2 lb. burger? Very disappointing - such a great concept, such poor execution.
(1)
Jim M.
The food is great. The location is homey and neighborhood with a real family feeling. I had both the Falafel and a Uncle Marc Special protabello-bean burger and both were stellar. The falafel was more "burittoesque" than I had had before but it totally worked for me because the Falafel themselves were not nasty over fried golf balls like some places serve. It was great, but the Uncle Marc burger was awe-inspiring: tasty, with a creamy avocado sauce. I also had the blackberry mint homemade soda with dinner and that was great too. Finally try the onion rings with the houses tangy sauce. These are not your normal onion rings- they have a corn meal batter that is not greasy and the flavor of the sweet onion really comes through. I was in Boston for a short time and I am a recently converted vegetarian and frankly was really disappointed in the availability of fresh, local, organic or for that matter vegetarian food out in Boston. I wish I could take this place home with me.
(5)
Anne T.
Visiting this place again recently with a few friends and have yet to be disappointed. We tried a little bit of everything from onion rings which were cooked to perfection and very tasty to heatlhy brussels sprouts which were amazingly delicious not to mention a very nice tomato basil soup, perfect on a cold day! The Papa's Fireburger and Robin's Honey BBQ have become quick favorites and the homemade sodas with fresh fruit are always the go-to beverage, we tried blueberry, raspberry-lime and blackberry which were all delicious and we loved eating the fresh fruit hanging out at the bottom of the cup once the soda is gone, yum. Food is fresh, delicious and interesting. Food is locally grown and organic but mostly it is delicious! Wait staff and owners are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and the whole experience at the Madrona Tree was awesome.
(5)
Steven L.
Newest addition to Arlington Center's dining scene --- excellent burgers and salads; featuring local farm produce and very nice owner. Great place for a casual lunch in the center ---
(3)
Sarah B.
Friendly, cozy place serving lots of local and organic options.
(4)
Rob J.
I'm with some of the others on the board in saying that I REALLY want to like this place. I like the concept, and the ingredients are generally really sound and I've had some good meals there. I'm also willing to pay the premium for that kind of food. But the preparation is very inconsistent. As an example, my wife and I ordered take out the other day. The falafel was good, but the fries and onion rings were greasy and cold. You can't serve food like that. The worst was that we ordered two of their italian soda drinks. Both were undrinkable. One was Raspberry-lime that had so much lime it was sour beyond drinking and burnt our stomachs. The other was strawberry-basil, which came with a pile of basil leaves at the bottom of the glass, and tasted like very sweet dirt. I assume at some point they came up with these drinks, and they tasted good. The concepts were great. IMHO they need get some serious quality control and consistency in the preparation of their food across the board.
(3)
Priyanka S.
A welcome and healthy addition to the neighborhood! My partner and I went for dinner and really enjoyed the food. The chick-pea vegan wrap was very flavorful. The chickpea (falafel-like) patty was housemade and pan-fried. The veggies in the wrap were fresh and crunchy. The veggie burger was delicious as well with the housemade lentil patty and yummy avocado sauce. The owners were very cordial and sweet!
(4)
Linda H.
Gone here three times now. The cheddar/apple hamburger was the best hamburger I have ever tasted, the BLT with fried tomatoes was excellent, as was the side dish of brussels sprouts with stewed apples. Sweet potato fries another fantastic choice-Quite a varied menu. Healthy, hearty without losing comfort food taste. Highly recommend.
(4)
Patricia H.
This is a wonderful little restaurant, with a chef owner so helpful that she brought out the boxed vegetable broth she uses as soup base to show me it didn't have ingredients I need to avoid (I've had a sensitivity reaction to hydrolyzed vegetable protein and autolyzed yeast, which are commonly used in soup base mixes). There are two soups every day -- my favorite is a curried carrot soup that really spicy, just a great comfort food. I also like the burgers -- some people complain that they are small, but the amount is really fine for me (and those who want a bigger percentage of meat in their meal can pay a little extra to have a bigger burger); the roll is a bit on the large side for the small burger, but it's an Iggy's roll, not some tasteless textureless gob of soft bleached flour, so it tastes good, and is additionally flavored by the sauce that comes with the burger. I haven't tried the regular fries -- for me the ideal meal is soup and a small burger; however I did have a taste of a friend's portion of garlic sweet potato fries, and thought they tasted great. There are cheaper places to get a burger, but I don think any of them will tell you what farm the beef comes from, or that the beef is raised without hormones or antibiotics. Madrona Tree can be a bit uncomfortable at crowded times, but usually the wait isn't long, and it can be a wonderful peaceful place for a late midweek lunch.
(5)
Linzy B.
I want to like this place, and my conscience totally supports the concept. Local food, locally sourced, organic, and passionate people running the place. Creative, unique menu, good for vegetarians and non-gluten people as well as everyone. Then there's the food. -Burnt sweet potato fries -tiny portions -high prices. They cook all meat medium-well unless you tell them otherwise (this is NOT standard burger practice). So like I said, I really want this restaurant to succeed, but they need to work on putting food over concept.
(2)
Patricia F.
Loved the food and the friendly staff! We tried this place for the first time today, and they were super busy, but we were willing to wait. Glad we did! There was something for everyone here: yummy burgers for the teenager, creative and delicious salads and vegetarian burgers for the parents. Price was totally reasonable-- Our bill was less than the cost of our breakfast at a Watertown diner. We're big fans of good food from local farms, and love to support small businesses.
(5)
Emily G.
I've been to the Madrona Tree 4 or 5 times now. I've had the soup, grilled cheese, and two different burgers (with veggie patties), the french fries, onion rings, and the frappe. First, the bad: - the onion rings were not good. They were too batter-y, if that is possible? And not fried enough, more like baked? In any case, they didn't have enough flavor. - the soup is too big. I've had it two different times and it is impossible to finish the whole cup without exploding. - the prices. Very expensive if you want a burger, fries and a frappe. I would prefer some smaller portioned offerings. Perhaps a half grilled cheese and smaller soup, a half salad with smaller soup, etc. That would be easier on my wallet and my belly. - I wish there were more drink options. Sometimes I like a ginger ale or juice with my meal - something more flavorful than water but not as thick and filling as a frappe. - the kid's toys. Okay, for full disclaimer, I don't have kids. But last time I was here, my friends and I sat at a four-person table on one side with kids toys immediately behind us. It's a small space, and so we didn't really have a choice of seats. The kids playing noisily behind our table and running back and forth all night was not conducive to easy conversation. Maybe that table should be reserved for people with kids? Not sure. Now, the good: - everything tastes so good (except the onion rings). I tried to finish off everything each time I went and I definitely appreciate the home-cooked, organic-style option in Arlington center - the fries! oh the fries! absolutely delicious. - the veggie burger is the best I've had at a restaurant in the Boston area. Big patty, tasty, and lots of interesting burger toppings to choose from. A bit messy to eat, but totally worth it. I know, the bad list looks longer than the good list, only because I am trying to give some honest feedback as to how things could be better, but I really like this place.
(4)
Robert R.
Good intentions don't matter if the food and service are bad. I ordered take-out on Sunday and this is how it was when I got the food home: My Mediterranean burger was burnt to a shriveled char and then smothered in mushed up feta cheese inside the bread. I literally had to look around inside the bread to find the meat. I cannot even describe the taste. I could only eat a few bites. The Pilgrim sandwich, which consisted of turkey, stuffing (I think), cranberry sauce, and some loose salad greens, was just enough to keep me from returning the whole mess because I could actually eat most of it (although I'm still not sure if that was stuffing in it or not). There were some signs of a gray mushy something, but there were no distinguishable layers of anything. There wasn't much turkey meat and everything was mixed up inside the bread. Whatever the ingredients, they kept wanting to fall out of the sandwich because it was so loose and poorly constructed. The flavor was a slight improvement over the Mediterranean burger. The brussels sprouts with apple tasted okay, but again, they too looked like leftovers. The mixed fries (some potato, some sweet potato) were a batch of cottage style fries in varying sizes and in varying stages of doneness (probably for the very reason that they were all different sizes). I don't know if that was intentional or not. They all had a dark color to them, which I had not seen before with fries. Some fries were a little crispy. Most were mushy. It is also important to mention that when I placed my order, I wasn't told on the telephone that they don't take credit cards yet, so when I arrived to pick up my order, I had to go back home to get cash. Fortunately, I live right across the street, so it was not a major inconvenience to go home and come back. My review of the food has nothing to do with that small inconvenience. However, they were not even apologetic about not having explained their cash-only policy in advance. When I politely suggested they mention to callers about their cash-only policy, the woman behind the counter merely said, "It says so on our website." (I ordered from the take-out menu that they had given me when I stopped by earlier in the day. It didn't say anything about cash-only on the menu and I had no reason to go to their website. Again, this was a minor inconvenience, but I'm sure other customers got the same inconvenient surprise.) What is most bothersome about my experience with The Madrona Tree is that the food I paid for was bad. I don't know if they truly realize that what comes out of the kitchen has to be something people will actually want to eat, regardless if it is eat-in or take out, or if the cute names of the dishes sound appetizing or not. This take-out meal cost us over $25.00. When I got home, neither my friend nor I were happy with anything that came out of the bag. This was not a good value at all. I was optimistic when I first stopped by and picked up a menu. I never could have guessed the experience would be such a letdown. I hope they can really raise the bar higher and create a successful business. I may try them again in several months.
(1)
Torvic V.
Great addition to Arlington. We ordered a veggie burger (Luke option), falafel wrap and sweet potato fries. Everything exceeded expectations and the portions were generous. Definitely check this place out.
(4)
Lara S.
We went here the other night for a relaxed anniversary dinner. The food and service were both very good, and they definitely get kudos for using local & healthy products.
(4)
Evan L.
I had high hopes for this place given it's organic/local/veggie theme. I was sadly disappointed. The service was great and the place is nice but the food and prices were what made me give it a 2 star review. The food was largely bland and kind of average. The fries were absolutely terrible... bland and soggy. The menu was not very extensive although they did have some nice Mediterranean options. I have no idea why people are saying this is cheap... we had 2 burgers and a side of fries and 2 sodas... the whole thing came to $26! Sorry but that's not cheap. The burgers were TINY and the bun was twice as big as the burger. My friend and I both felt sick unfortunately within an hour of eating there. Sadly I really would not recommend this place and won't return. Too bad :-(
(2)
sabina T.
Love this place. Great place to stop for lunch/informal dinner if you like organic food and prefer to avoid meat with antibiotics and hormones. In each case substitutions have been made freely (which I very much appreciated being on somewhat restricted diet). I'm convinced that the people who own and work at this place really care.
(5)
Esther K.
Service is very friendly and a nice vibe in the place, but the food was terrible. Veggie burger was so greasy that by the time I got home and it had cooled off, it was inedible.
(2)
Sarah D.
Went here day 1 got Carrie Grilled cheese, fresh mozzarella YUM! Took my father who got the Papa Fireburger and liked it. We went back the next day with coworkers, got more Grilled cheeses, some sweet potato fries, fried tomatoes, and SHAKES. Everything was delicious. As someone mentioned their goal is to be organic and local! YAY FOR LOCAL! Even more so the staff is wonderful, I was talking to them and they said they reclaimed alot of materials from other restaurants. YAY FOR ECOFRIENDLY! The only downside is the place is small and getting in there with more then one stroller is tough, but they've since added outdoor seating for the extra room! As a 38 yr resident of Arlington, Definitely a great addition to neighborhood.
(4)
Kathleen M.
Love, love,love this place! I have now been to the Madrona Tree three times. First let me say I love the decor, the friendly knowledgable staff, and the organic food prepared with locally purchased ingredients. I have tried the falafel( best I've ever had), a burger with cheese and bacon(cooked to perfection and delicious), the fried artichokes(the dipping sauce is to die for) and of course the fries and onion rings(addictive). My new favorite restaurant,I can't wait to go back!!!!!!
(5)
John E.
update: Had a better meal by ( nicely) making a big deal over how I wanted medium rare and I really meant it, and other times I asked but got well done. Was happy with the burger. initial review below. I've eaten lunch here 4 or 5 times. Was thrilled when they opened and like the menu. BUT they cook only one temperature- over cooked well done. They don't ask for a temp when you order and even if you specify for medium rare, you get well done. It is a shame the ingredients are great but even local organic beef tastes bad when burnt. 2 stars
(4)
Bekah D.
First off, this review is NOT about their food, which seemed amazing based on the menu, but unfortunately we were unable to experience it. My husband and I won't ever be back and I will tell you why. We sat down outside at an open table and were given menus and addressed by a waitress. After 10 minutes of sitting at the table and being ready to order we were told to leave. Apparently, someone had put their name in at the front desk inside, (which there were no signs to do so), and as we were new customers did not know we had to put our name in. If we were addressed at first that this was their policy we would have been totally fine with it, however were disappointed because we sat there for 10 minutes, were given menus and were ready to order. The situation should have been handled completely differently and in a more professional manner.
(1)
Rich W.
This is one of those hard to review places. I love that it's organic and everything is homemade. But in a nut shell...the prices are a bit high (a little sarcasm there...it cost me $18 for a burger, fries, and a root beer.) I've walked past it several times and each time I thought, "I should try it." So I did. The staff was courteous and friendly. I ordered the "Christine" Burger which was good. Prepared well - although on the menu it read "Grilled onions" and there was a couple fried onion rings on the burger - but that worked. I asked if it came with fries and the reply was "No." It does come with 2 carrot sticks. Nice...but I'll bet 99% of people would rather have fries than carrot sticks with their burger. So I ordered a side of Fries. Good...standard fries. And a Root Beer to wash it all down. They did give me a glass of water as well. I get that it's all organic. I get that the food will be a bit more expensive. But $18 for a burger, fries, and a root beer??? It was good and I did enjoy being able to eat outside. But I can go to RF O'Sullivan's in Somerville, have a just as much flavorful burger with fries and a beer for less than $18. Good food...good service...but I won't be back or recommend it based on the price. That's why I give it 3 stars rather than 4 or 5.
(3)
Susan K.
Great chicken burger, tastes, like a greek salad on a burger.Tasty frappes in seasonal flavors like Vermont maple frappe or decadent chocolate peanut butter as well as yummy fries, try the garlic fries, reminds me of truffle fries. A little on the pricey side. Love the quotes on the walls/mirror.
(5)
Bill L.
Good food, burgers and sandwiches with Iggy's bread. Homemade sodas. Very nice staff.
(4)
Paul C.
Awesome food. Good people - really relaxed ambiance. They use local products.
(4)
Mary C.
Fabulous!! I work around the corner at the Regent Theatre and frequent Madrona Tree a lot for an on the spot meal. Everything I have had there has been delicious!! Great addition to Broadway Plaza!! :)
(5)
Andrew H.
Our first two experiences here were fantastic. Delicious healthy sandwiches and a creative menu. We get mostly takeout from them and so this review is a reflection on that experience only. Last two have been let downs. Seems like they're starting to mail it in. What were previously delicious wraps and now mostly wrap material instead of delicious filling. $9 is a lot to pay for a half empty wrap. We'll take a break and hopefully they get it together.
(3)
Sunny S.
Local foods are sometimes hard to find. Sure, you can buy Brussel sprouts at a farmer's market, but can you enjoy them cooked to perfection at a humble cafe? At the Madrona Tree you can trust that everything on their menu is local and tasty. From standard fare like burgers and salads, coffee and cookies, to the more sublime Lebanese salad and the delicious Brussel sprouts with caramelized apples Madrona is a tasty and true place. Nice seating area with woman-positive decor ("Nice women rarely make history" types of quotes on the wall.) A play area for kids ... friendly staff... and with free WIFI to boot! I'll definitely be back. Just one word on the cost -- real, local food does cost more, so the burgers are $8-9 and salads are $9-$11. Whatever you order it'll be delicious and likely to be a total of $13-$15. Check it out and enjoy!!
(5)
Emily K.
Great food and service. I like that they are mostly organic and still very flavorful!
(4)
Sue R.
Visiting Boston for the first time and tried the Madronna Tree. There were 5 of us and we all ordered something different. Everything was great, but especially the soup and the grilled cheese sandwich. The hamburger was very good, with homemade sauces and the bun was made form wonderful soft, rich and chewy bread. The decor is fun and our service was excellent. Next time we are in the area we will be back..
(5)
The Roving V.
Good, fresh food. Portions are humongous. Simple sandwiches, salads, etc. Nice vegetarian options. It's family run which is great. The fries and onion rings are incredibly greasy though. I believe their web site says "delivery" which they do not do. However, a great option for a fairly healthy meal in Arlington Center!
(4)
Ceren P.
Say whaaaaaaaat?!?
(5)
Julie E.
I love this place! It has great food- I would eat the soup for every meal if I could! I am a vegetarian and there are so many options on the menu- it is such a relief to find something different in Arlington! I am impressed by the owner's dedication to families with kids- it is nice to be welcomed versus shunned when you walk in with kiddos!! I also love that the food is local and organic :) Eating healthy is something I feel is very important and we are just one more restaurant closer to healthier with the Madrona Tree! Kudos to the staff who are amazing- friendly and caring!
(5)
Lisa M.
Finally, some decent food in Arlington!!! We had the "Ashley" wrap and we both thought it was AMAZING! It has "sweet and spicy chicken," bbq sauce, grilled onion, poblano, bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and tangy sauce. The poblano peppers made it just spicy enough and we loved the tang from the sauce. Fantastic. The Nikki's grilled cheese (American cheese, tomato, spinach) was also great, and the soup of the day (beet and carrot) was very good for being SUPER healthy. Kid-friendly to boot. We'll definitely be back. My dream would be that they eventually expand for more seating... hopefully they'll be popular enough to do so! *** I had to reduce this to 3 stars because I came back and ordered the same thing, and it was very meat-heavy without any lettuce, tomato, or cheese... weird.
(3)
Arto A.
Really good food, and the owner and server were both very friendly. Our son has multiple food allergies, and they were happy to help us sort out the menu and easily find food that was perfect for him. The space is small, but very kid-friendly. They have a bunch of toys and kids books in the corner to keep little ones entertained. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Rachel K.
What a charming and warm restaurant. The walls are filled with quirky quotes and pictures with great stories attached. The staff were friendly and patient. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Madrona Tree, as did my mum-in-law when we went for lunch this past week. We shared the special salad which had a plentiful amount of delicious figs, apples, gorgonzola cheese and great balsamic dressing. Then we enjoyed the avocado BLT and handcut french fries. The sandwich was awesome, it had thick, hearty bacon and the bread was toasted perfectly. The serving of fries was generous and tasty. Also, they have great locally brewed and homemade sodas to choose from. I love that they have outdoor seating, weather permitting and a doggie bowl of water outside. Looked like they had a lovely selection of toys and books for little ones to stay occupied too! Update: I stopped in the next day for an afternoon dessert of apple fritters and cream soda, both delicious and hit the spot! I am looking forward to my next visit; although, I look forward to when they accept debit/credit cards.
(5)
Jeannie W.
They seem to be trying to be kid friendly but they don't get it. Refused to get kids order going first. Despite only four tables in this tiny place, food took very long to come. Drinks with lids not available. Cash or check only and bill for two small kids, two adults was $43.
(2)
Annette F.
I would like to say first and foremost that everyone who works here has treated me like I'm a part of their family since they opened. I really stand behind what these people are doing environmentally, and through their food. I have never tasted such an amazing burger IN MY LIFE. After about 2 weeks since they opened, I made the decision to eat vegetarian, and instead of being disappointed by that they only welcomed the idea with open arms, suggesting things on their menu and mentioning I could substitute any beef patty with a (delicious!) portabella mushroom patty instead. Their fries are hand cut, and taste like it too. I don't feel guilty after eating here, because everything is so fresh and not doused in oil or grease. All of their sides come with unique, tastebud shocking sauces that I don't think I could think of myself. The atmosphere is casual, and fun. They're always playing dancey music and making jokes with one another, it's nice to see a business in a town full of yuppies actually enjoying themselves at work. These people are inspiring, whether through their attitude or dishes, to be healthy and live well. I have never seen them discriminate or give anyone an attitude, or rush anyone to order, even with a line to the door. I am happy to say I have become quite the loyal customer of The Madrona Tree even though they've only been open for a short time. I saw some reviews mentioning their price, and honestly I spent a lot fo years spending money at places like Panera or Subway thinking I was eating healthily because that's the attitude they portray. In reality, you're spending the same amount at Madrona as you would either of those chains, and actually getting the fresh, locally grown, organic ingredients they promise. So, all in all, if you're in the mood for a fun environment, people you're going to want to get to know, and food that'll leave you feel full and refreshed, then head on over to Madrona and see what the fuss is rightfully about!
(5)
Alec S.
Burnt sweet potato wedges Mushy falafel with a funny flavor. Aside from 3-day old falafel balls which are dried out from the grocery store, I think these are the worst I've had. We also tried the chicken pesto wrap. For a healthy organic place, the food was very heavy. This wrap was mostly pita and cheese and pesto, with a bit of chicken and a touch of tomato. Perhaps I was just in the mood for something fresh and healthy tasting, but definitely did not find that here. I left feeling a bit sick. One star for that. On the plus, service was good.
(1)
Local E.
Hooray for the return of burgers (etc) in Arlington Center. Madrona Tree uses excellent local ingredients in a menu split in two: creative tasty burgers and a variety of Middle Eastern salads and sides. Pros: Friendly service, very good food, many tempting choices, cool 80s album covers in restroom, funky sodas, awesome burgers, very large vegetarian portions. They are happy to customize your order. Now, accepting debit cards. Notes: Be sure to specify how "done" you'd like your burger. Suggestions, after visiting numerous times: excellent falafel wrap and veggie burgers; Christine's burger; bean salad is great; onion rings are a must-try with a friend. Go eat a burger and be happy!
(5)
Michelle P.
I frequent this location and highly recommend it. They have the best salads. The salads here are so fresh and mouth watering you dont even need dressing. The burgers and wraps are always cooked to my liking and are delicious. I have talked to the staff members and owner on more than one occasion about the message they are trying to send "eat like you give a damn" and i think that providing the customers with organic local products is a great idea and a much healthier option. All my dining expieriences have been everything that i expect when being served at a resturant the wait staff is always very nice and friendly and go out of the way to make my expierence there a good one. They have out door dining in the nice weather to which is always nice feature at a resturant. This place is a all around awesome family run establishment with excellent everything!
(5)
Regina H.
As an Arlington resident I am thrilled to see a business like this in town--no need to go to Cambridge for a tasty, fast and healthy vegetarian meal! My veggie burger was delicious, with a tangy and smooth avocado dressing. I had a side of the sweet potato fries and I do not exaggerate when I say these were probably the best sweet potato fries I have ever had. It's hard to find thickly-cut s.p. fries that aren't soggy and have a nice crisp outer coating, and these were just perfect. My husband's regular potato fries were also very nice, cut in thin slices almost but not quite like potato chips. The gourmet sodas are a nice additional touch. The downside--my husband would agree with the critiques below that the meat burger is too small for the size of the bun, and he commented also that the patty was so small that it lost all its juices, despite being cooked medium rare as per his request. It was also dwarfed by the slice of cheese that lay over it. When he asked, he was told that you can order a 1/4 pound burger for an extra charge (I forget how much that was). He felt that the rest of the fixings were good enough that it would be worth it to order the larger burger, but was definitely disappointed with the regular serving size. I would really like to see this place succeed, so I hope some accomodation can be made with the burgers to keep the meat eaters coming--as it is, they will be disappointed. Price was a little high, but I felt that my meal was definitely worth it, and I will certainly go back. This place has a lot of potential and I wish them all the best, because I want to be able to keep eating there.
Both my husband and I are always on the quest for new breakfast places that stand above the rest, in taste, service, and ambience. We just learned that the Madrona Tree has recently started serving breakfast, and though they don't seem to have the bf menu on their website, we decided to walk over this morning and give them a try. We were pleasantly surprised! I ordered the Cambridge breakfast, with eggs, spinach, olives, feta, and garlic - served with homefries and toast. The homefries actually included sweet potato and a little cheddar cheese and were nicely crispy on the outside. The toast was served with a homemade lavender/blackberry jam that they just made. The eggs had a nice rich flavor to them and were scrambled more like a frittata. they had some unique tea bag options, like herbal chai and Yerba mate. The place is small but since not a lot of people know about their delicious breakfast yet- there is plenty of space to sit. The waitress was super nice, and genuinely wanted to make sure we enjoyed the meal. I highly recommend skipping the starbucks run on a sat/Sunday morning, and trying place. It feels great to support a local business that puts care and thought into their food and their service.
(5)
Eric R.
Pluses: organic, local, friendly, eco-friendly, interesting menu choices, fresh, prompt, tables outside. Minuses: Every vegetarian / vegan entree I've had there has been quite bland. (And I'm used to low-sodium food, so it isn't simply the absence of the heart-shattering levels of salt that you usually see in restaurant meals. It genuinely tastes underspiced.) If they amped up the seasoning by 1-2 orders of magnitude, I think they'd be good, but as-is not so much. However: all of the other entrees I've had here (and the fries / shakes) have been very tasty indeed. Luke's mushroom cheeseburger was *fantastic*. I'm also very happy that you can order mixed fries: some normal, some sweet potato. It's not an economy eating place, but neither is it pricey: $5.80 for a milkshake instead of the usual $4 - $5? $8.50 for a burger instead of a more usual $7.50ish? The 'green surcharge' looks to be about a buck or a buck fifty per item, which isn't bad at all given they're shooting for local, organic, *and* eco-friendly, each of which is its own sort of challenge.
(4)
Erin B.
I think there food might be best if you dine there. We've gotten take out several times, and it's always luke warm by the time we get home, which isn't great for burgers & fries. We haven't been in awhile, and decided to try delivery this weekend. My husband had to give our order 3 times and they still didn't get it correct. The girl on the phone waited until he was 1/2 way through and then said "Oh I guess I should get a paper". Then he had to remind her again that this was delivery and she probably wanted to get our address. The guy who delivered it was equally as spacy, standing there and forgetting to tell us who much it cost. And of course, they didn't get the order correct, and it was even less than luke warm. Actually a bland, bad dinner this night. Waste of calories. I think they were all smoking the same thing or something, but they certainly were not on their game that night.
(2)
J C.
Rarely do you find stellar service and tasty, affordable food occupying the same space. I get take out from Madrona Tree once or twice a week and the food is always fresh and delicious from the veggie selections to the burgers and salads. And oh, those onion rings and sweet potato fries. They also have home baked goodies for dessert and different kinds of natural sodas and other concoctions to drink-my current favorite is lavender lemonade. Don't ask--I have no idea--it's just a party in my mouth. The wait staff and chefs are so helpful and pleasant and will answer any questions you may have about the menu. They also have a nice seating area outside on the Arlington Center Plaza so that you don't feel like you're going to fall over into traffic. And the food is fresh and locally sourced. The inside seating area is funky fun and decorated with pithy sayings and cool art. And when winter comes, try their homemade soups. I lived on them last winter. Yum. It is so refreshing to write a 5 star review, ain't it? And the soup is to die for!
(5)
A M.
I really want to love this place.... it's local, they offer great sounding food and it's a much needed venue in Arlington Center.... BUT thier food needs some help. The fries are over done and way too salty.... I think thicker fries would be better than slighly burnt shoe string fries. Some of the soups are too salty as well. My kids love this place but something thier meal is too salty :-( The hummus sandwich lacked flavor (maybe needs more tahini??) I'm hoping they improve the menu and tweek the recipes because I like the vibe there.
(3)
David L.
So my wife & I have gone back twice more since my first visit and not only is everything as good as it was the first time but they continue to add a lot of new items to their menu (they now have salads, soups & desserts). First while the ordering/delivery can be a little hectic (it is a small place after all), the people who run the place are EXTREMELY friendly which more than makes up for it in my opinion. We've had the following items since my first review: Papa Fireburger: This is a very tasty burger with a spicy mayo type sauce and a large grilled pablano pepper on top. The combination makes this quite a spicy burger (at least it was for me, if on the other hand you like going to East Coast Grill's Hell Night it'll be mild to you). Those that like heat will find it a nice tasty burger though. Tanya's Mediterranean Burger: My wife is addicted to this burger. The spices and feta combine very nicely and the only thing that could make this even better is if it were a lamb burger (drool). Fried Green Tomatoes: Served piping hot with a thin but deliciously crispy batter coating. It also is served with the avocado sauce which is the perfect cool buttery compliment. Fried Pickles: These aren't little pickle chips like at other places but full fried spears served with a kickass spicy sauce (I think it's the one from the Papa FireBurger). I'm not necessarily a huge fan of fried pickles, enjoying the fried batter more than the pickles generally, so while these were tasty & large overall it was too much pickle for me. Bacon Cheeseburger: The second time I ordered this I got the Papa Fireburger sauce on it and if I could have given 10 stars for it I would have. It complimented PERFECTLY to give that tangy kick. This combo will be my goto from now on. Apple Fritters: Seriously what can I say about these, they are huge, tasty, cinnamon sugar covered fried dough bites with chunks of REAL apple inside. They were probably the best fritters I've EVER had!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
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McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
Daniel J.
Had a veggie burger with roasted poblano. Size of meal kind of small for $10, and looks a little sad on the plate. I was left hungrier than expected. I also thought the bun was denser than it should be and the poblano was not roasted enough for my taste (it was crunchy). That said, I ate the whole thing. I like the place's apparent commitment to local food and significant presence of vegetarian options, but I would probably not try a veggie burger here again. Little nuances like the fact they don't accept credit cards make me roll my eyes a bit especially in light of the fact that it isn't a home run in other respects. I've tried the place before, though I neglected to review it then. I can't remember what I had before which I guess may speak to why I haven't been back in more than a year. I came back I think because I really want this to be a place that I love. I worry though that next time I'll recall this review and opt for the far less charming on the face of it Common Ground next door.
(4)Amanda O.
This place is unique and the food is excellent . The employees are super sweet . I never feel guilty when I eat here . The food is farm fresh and nutritious . I certainly recommend breakfast, brunch and burgers from here . They now serve home made juices !
(5)Aaron K.
This place screams local. Good fresh product, and a really nice staff that cares about what they're serving. The food tastes good, but not great. At the prices you're paying you would expect greatness. The christie burger featured bacon, american cheese, and a tasty homemade avocado sauce. Their menu says 4.5 oz of beef and this was $11. While the burger tasted good, it was overcooked, ordered medium, but came out medium well. The falafel wrap special only featured a few falafels and was $12. The mix of fresh veggies with the falafel was nice. The fries were the best thing we had. We ordered mixed but they came out all sweet potato (second execution mistake). These were definitely hand cut freshly prepared fries. Came out hot and had great sweet potato flavor. Pretty much perfect. A small at $4 was enough for two. We ran a check of over $30 with a drink and tax and the place is cash only! The taco place down the street is 2/3 the price and takes credit cards. A minimum charge would be more realistic but to ask people to pay this much cash on every visit is unfair to your customers, especially when people bring large groups. If you live nearby probably worth checking out once, if you're visiting Arlington you can do better.
(3)Devin M.
Overall great place to grab some food. I got the "Take a chance" burger, and I gotta say... I'm glad I took the chance. The burger will be different when you order it, which is kinda the fun part. My burger: Crumbled blue cheese (Strawberry?) jam Beef patty covered in melted cheese Sausage slices Fried egg Baby spinach tossed in a creamy aioli Tomato Onions It was well executed. But a little expensive. All three of my friends got the Falcon eggs Benedict. The bacon stole the show. Also the potato hash was a mix of sweet potato and russet (amazing combo!) Their critique was that the baguette it was served on was difficult to manage.
(4)Dara R.
I had a pesto chicken wrap and my partner had a falafel wrap. The food was very good and it was nice to sit outside at their café tables. The thing I did not like at all was the service. The waitress never came over to see how we were doing after the food was brought over. When she brought the check she just put it on the table and didn't say a word, didn't check in to see if we wanted anything else. I found that rude.
(4)Sjannon R.
First time here, I was blown away! Hamburgers are amazing, ambiance is nice too. The menu has a wide variety of choices, can't go wrong here !
(5)Hillary L.
Love the veggie burger :)
(4)Erin Z.
Very cute location with seating inside and out - there is free 2 hour parking on the same street (but I think it fills up pretty quickly, so the earlier, the better). I got the Lexington breakfast sandwich ($7 - egg, pesto, mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella on a housemade baguette) - I thought it was pretty good, but it didn't blow my mind. My husband got the Not So Hungry with bacon ($9 - 2 eggs, 2 slices toast, potatoes and 3 slices bacon) - the flavor of the potatoes was great, but in my opinion should have been fried (they were served warm, and I think dressed in oil/seasonings, but not crispy). Large iced coffee was $4 and came in a to-go cup (hooray!) and orange juice was $3. All-in-all, it was an alright breakfast... I would go back because it had reasonable prices and the staff was nice, but I think I'll give the lunch menu a try next time.
(4)Maddie E.
I have visited Madrona Tree three times and have never been impressed. There have been issues with our orders each time. I went last week and ordered take out. While sitting at a table outside for our subpar food one of the employees asked us what we were doing and gave us two nasty looks. I would have been happy to move or stand if she had simply asked. I ordered the BLT with avocado -- bacon was fatty, very very little avocado, a few greens and a sorry tomato slice...doesn't this place advertise that they get their produce locally? I thought it was tomato season. My boyfriend ordered Grandpa's Kibbah last time we went, which was almost completely dominated by nutmeg. This place has a lot potential with outdoor seating, some parking, and a great mission. But, I am sorry to say I will not be back.
(2)Nigel K.
Very yummy food at a perfect spot. The firecracker sprout is a personal favourite of mine. Lots of healthy options reasonably priced and all day breakfast. Overall, lovely food with lovely people at lovely Arlington!
(5)Inês L.
THANK YOU YELP! I would have never, ever come here. In fact, when I posted the pics of my food to Instagram, people were shocked that they had a vegan burger! I forget the exact name of their veggie burger but it IS vegan. When I asked the waitress to double check she confirmed. A few minutes after placing our order, she came back to indicate that the avocado creamy dressing it comes with is not vegan. Major points to her for not letting that go by and picking that up for me! So awesome she had my back :) So I had the option of adding avocado slices or there's a spicy mayo of some kind that's made with Veganaise (win!). I got the latter and it was AMAZING. This is easily the best vegan burger I've ever had in my whole life!!!! I was so, so impressed. We also got 1/2 and 1/2 garlic fries which were also really delicious. I loved the chunky sweet potato but I think next time I'll even just stick to the regular shoestring. SO. MUCH. GARLIC. It's globs and chunks and it's fantastic. We also sat outside and it was lovely. We had to use a lot of napkins. My bf got some meat burger. He also loved it lol.
(5)Justin S.
Great food and wonderful staff. Had breakfast here this morning. Very good food and quick service for those on the run.
(3)Tyler L.
Good creative, local farm based ingredient menu. But again in that price-range, food should be much better. Most importantly, service was rough. Younger lady can use better manner and service ( the owner seems to be nicer.) Won't be back unless things changing.
(2)Meghan C.
Excellent brunch experience! I came in with a group of 10 on a Sunday morning and the staff was super friendly about moving tables together for us outside so we could enjoy the beautiful morning. Top-notch service continued the entire time we were there. The menu has plenty of options (almost too many to choose from!) and they had cute local names. Everyone ordered different things and everything was delicious! The portions were generous too, especially for the price. 5 stars across the board!
(5)Yasmin C.
Amazing food!! I sniffed this place out in Arlington because its menu and its commitment to local, organic food reminded me of brunch back home in California. In three days I came twice: once for lunch by myself, and once for breakfast with my brother, who lives in Arlington and whom I was visiting at the time. Seriously loved my food during both visits. For my lunch trip, I ordered Uncle Marc's veggie sandwich, which was delectable. The patty was hot, savory, and super tasty...also sizeable. I was full after just the sandwich, no sides. For my breakfast visit, I refrained from ordering French toast and went with the Otis St. scramble with egg whites, which includes spinach, tomato, feta, olives, and garlic. SO delicious that I didn't even miss the French toast!! Really really well done. The scrambles also come with hashbrowns which are actually shredded white AND sweet potato, which was delicious. We were also given some amazing housemade mixed berry jam which my brother and I scraped clean onto our toast, then asked for seconds. Only issue was that my waitress during my first visit was very short and unfriendly. Probably an anomaly because my second waitress was lovely. Anyway, the first experience clearly wasn't bad enough to keep me away. Then again, I'd endure all kinds of $#%^£ for good food... Super awesome!! Big fan right here.
(4)Cee C.
This place is pretty good, yummy sandwiches. Not good for kids as the space is really small and not very likely to get a seat at anytime of day.
(4)Laila M.
I came here for saturday morning brunch. All three of the staff checked in on us and made sure our glasses were full. I suggest getting their sandwiches on baguette and ordering a side of hash.
(4)LivelyLajja M.
Wannabe green vegan friendly cafe with horrible and unhealthy food. Our veggie burger patty was super duper deep fried and came in crumbles. Olives used were full of vinegar. Brussel sprouts were deep fried with so much buffalo sauce that we couldn't get the flavor of anything but the sauce. We couldn't finish half of the food we ordered. Won't return again! 1 star for the service.
(1)Rebekah P.
Just not good. No horror stories, just not great food. Extremely tight space- that generally felt kind of dirty.
(2)Michelle A.
Total score on the first try! This tiny little eatery is a winner. Quaint, eclectic, hipster. All the things the Arlington Center crowd is looking for. IPads to take orders, multiple daily specials and great all around vibe. Outdoor seating when applicable. Fast and friendly service. Its not coincidence that all the Elite Yelpers love this place. Myself included. Sandra the waitress is cordial, efficient, funny and seems to like her job. Very knowledgeable about the menu and willing to give you her personal likes on it. I will definitely be back for breakfast! French fries are skinny, well done and yummy. Tomato basil soup was the best I've every had! Unique names for sandwiches which I always enjoy. A diner destination for sure. Tell Sandra you read my review and tell her Go Villen!
(5)Jordan G.
Excellent! Stopped in for a late lunch today and it was delicious! The staff were really friendly also. Will be back to try something off their delicious looking breakfast menu.
(5)Joan C.
Local friendly yummy. Need I say more? Words of wisdom adorn the wall. Come in and cop a squat as Julia said.
(4)Tamarleigh G.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly We really, really wanted to love this place. Their ingredient sourcing is, according to their website, far more ethical than most restaurants. We had been planning to eat there for quite some time. When we finally ate there, however, we were badly disappointed. There were several things we did love -- and yet there were also deal-breaking things that made us unlikely ever to return there for a second meal. The Good: they have outdoor seating in Arlington Center, which is quite a nice spot to be able to eat a meal. The falafel was excellent, as was the hummus. The strawberry-basil homemade soda was amazing. The server was very friendly. The Bad: The hummus comes with salad greens underneath it. The ones under mine were disgusting. There were about a dozen pieces of lettuce in there that were partially rotten (black, wet, mushy). But I didn't realize that at first. I was sitting there enjoying the hummus (which, as I mentioned, was excellent), and I came across a piece of lettuce that had a rotten part. Well, ok, these things happen. I picked it out and set it on a napkin on the table. I went back to enjoying the hummus, but a moment later I came across another bad piece of lettuce. Ugh. I picked it out and set it on the napkin next to the first one. I figured the server would notice this when she came to check on us and we would discuss the lettuce. As I kept eating the hummus, I kept finding more and more gross pieces of lettuce. I kept setting them on the napkin. The napkin started to fill up. I stopped eating the hummus. Someone else brought me my falafel wrap. Like a fool, I just started eating it without opening up the whole thing to check for rotting lettuce. It was super good (the falafel itself), but suddenly it struck me that I really needed to check the lettuce. I opened up the wrap and sure enough, it was the same problem as with the hummus. Most of the lettuce was fine, but again there were several pieces that were not. I started to pull them out, but the "rotting lettuce napkin" was filling up, so I just deconstructed the wrap and ate the falafel itself and some of the pita, leaving the lettuce behind. This entire time, no server had noticed the Rotting Lettuce Museum napkin in front of me. I think to say that this place is lacking in attention to detail would be an understatement. Finally, I call the server over to the table and tell her about this issue. Her FIRST response is basically to insult me by suggesting that there was nothing wrong with the lettuce, but that I, the customer, was merely unfamiliar with different types of lettuce (some of it was red leaf) and mistaking darker colored lettuces for rotting lettuce. Seriously -- I pointed out the Napkin of Doom to her, and THAT was her response. I pointed it out again--the rotting lettuce was sitting right there. So she went away and another person appeared. This new person didn't bother to introduce herself, but she had a sort of manager/owner vibe about her. Her tone of voice and facial expression when she asked what the problem was made me think she thought the problem was ME. I showed her the Rotting Lettuce Museum, but she barely glanced at it. Her initial response was identical to the server's -- she questioned whether I was just ignorantly mistaking red leaf lettuce for rotten lettuce. I showed it to her again, holding it out to her so she would have to actually look at it, and she immediately snatched it away, apologized (not very convincingly), and left. Nothing was removed from the bill. This reminded me of those restaurant owners on Kitchen Nightmares who can't seem ever to admit that anything is wrong with their food and instead think that there's something wrong with their customers. As though I can't tell the difference between mesclun greens and rotting iceberg or something. SMDH The Ugly: Then I made the mistake of going to the ladies' room. While waiting in line to use it, I was standing next to the door of the kitchen. I couldn't help but notice that the kitchen floor was filthy. But that was NOTHING compared to the filth on the bathroom floor. I will spare you the details. Let's just say that I sure hope that hummus-looking stuff smeared on the floor near the toilet was actually hummus. Needless to say, you could not pay us to return to this place. We're only giving them two stars because they set such a good example for other restaurants in the area of ethical ingredient sourcing. But once you have quality ingredients, you also need to treat those ingredients -- and your customers -- with respect. That means serving food FRESH from a CLEAN restaurant. Oh yes, and I forgot to mention -- the plastic water tumblers were not even close to clean, either (even when my dining companion gave her the tumbler and asked for a clean one instead, the second one she brought was no cleaner than the first one. He ended up not drinking any water at all.)
(2)Andrea B.
It is positively criminal that I've lived one-tenth of a mile away from Madrona Tree for the past two years, and have failed to stop by until now (really, I just punched it into Google Maps for giggles...0.1 miles...so not OK!). In addition to their fantastic regular menu, they post mouthwatering daily specials on their Facebook page, and that's what drew me in. MT is dedicated to serving local and organic food (seriously, even the bottles of Heinz Ketchup on the tables are labeled organic), and I swear you can taste the difference. I ordered the burger special (4.5 oz burger, grilled onions, avocado, and "tangy sauce"), and I've never tasted a burger so full of flavor while simultaneously being not at all greasy! And that Iggy's roll! It was light and fluffy and fresh and not slathered in butter like most burger buns tend to be. It didn't need to be! The chips that came with it were just OK and half of them were burnt, but that can be easily overlooked because OH MY GOD, that burger! Twelve bucks well-spent. For once in my life, I'm glad I live in Arlington and can frequent Madrona Tree often. It is truly a great yet under-recognized place to grab a really, really good burger. For those who don't live nearby, Madrona is right on the 77 bus route from Harvard station. Make the trek! It's worth it! It's cash only, so make sure you stop at an ATM while you're hiking out to the boondocks and get some dolla dolla bills!
(4)Camille C.
This is by far one of the best brunches I have had. I had the Marauder and it was perfectly cooked, beautiful and incredibly delicious. The coffee is also really good. The waitress told us it was ordered from Seattle. It was clear that they live up to their word of using fresh, local ingredients.
(5)Mimi W.
I always have high hopes for Madrona Tree. It has a great location, with tables outside so that you can sit and eat with your dog. There is an extensive list of burgers but the burgers themselves are so disappointing. The patties are frozen and the buns (even though they say they make them at the restaurant) were cold and not toasted. For $10 I would have expected more effort. Our sweet potato fries were burnt. I won't be going back which is too bad.
(2)Donna D.
Nice cozy spot to enjoy some tasty comfort food. I only wish their hours where more accommodating to a breakfast lunch restaurant. Previously they didn't open to 8 now 7:30 but closer to 7 would be better.
(4)Melina M.
Amazing! Cozy and friendly environment that compliments the incredible, local and delicious food. We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast and lunch plates and our waitress even gifted us with their homemade cookies to take home. Definitely come here for a satisfying meal and great time.
(5)Jessica P.
Love this place. Stumbled upon it when looking for someplace local, non-chain to dine in and we have made it a regular spot! The food is really good (the "take a chance" burger (vegetarian or not) is the best). Breakfast and lunch are fantastic. Everyone who works there is great - we really love it. So accomodating to kids too. Space is small but there is a tiny corner w/ toys.
(5)Christine J.
3.5 stars. I got the falafel. it was yummy with yogurt and a nice wrap. but my stomach didn't quite agree with me later that day. hmmm. bf ordered a diff chicken wrap, it was too saucy, tasted like a stir fried chinese dinner in a wrap. love the decoration and creative look of the restaurant, wish it was a little bigger. but nevertheless fun to be in and made me feel like i was in a lil NYC cafe.
(3)Maria T.
This place is absolutely wonderful! The food is fresh and inventive. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. I have been here for both breakfast and lunch and have tried various things on the menu, as well as their delicious homemade sodas. For breakfast recently, I got The Falcon, which is a fabulous twist on the eggs benedict with avocados, crispy onions and BBQ sauce. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)Dick D.
I ate at Madrona Tree with my daughter , and found the food to be decent, but the service lacking. From the moment the waitress approached us, she had an attitude, and it seemed to deteriorate steadily. We waited for our our drinks which came when the sandwiches arrived , and she seemed annoyed when I asked for ice, because my iced tea had none. She didn't bring any utensils, although we could have used a fork. She failed to check back once she delivered our order, and at the end, tossed ( and that term seems kind) our check on the table, without asking if we wanted anything else. Afterwards we talked about our experience, and couldn't understand her attitude . For the price, I am certain that a better dining experience can be had.
(2)Anthony L.
Friendly people offering a unique emphasis: locally sourced pretty much everything. Stopped in on a slow night with my girlfriend for a falafel and kibbeh. It was healthy fare, but not a substitute for authentic version. The onion rings were good, and prepared on ordering. Despite the food being pretty good, we both felt a little out of sorts later. A homemade raspberry-lime soda was nice and not overly sweet. They have a variety of choices in tgat vein. The decor is friendly/crunchy, but the folksy witticisms chalked all over came at a cost of making the place appear a little dusty and in disrepair. It was a little like hitchhiking in a Volvo wagon.
(3)Will S.
Fresh ingredients, but they use tons of oil to make them. Taste good though. I ordered a burger and it has half an avocado, bacon, and pouch egg. Not a kid friendly place to be at.
(3)Anna S.
Such delicious vegan friendly options, the garlic fries here keeps me coming back for more each time, staffs treats you just like family, they're super thin fries fried with pieces of chopped garlic, yummy!!! Their homemade soda is quite delicious too! It has much fruit and after you finish the soda, best part of all is getting to eat the sugsry fruits at the bottom of the soda!
(5)Anna G.
I love this place. we order weekly company lunch here once a month for a Monday meeting and the food is always great. the staff is also super sweet and helpful. they have nice outside seating during the summer as well. great falafel and always check their FB/give them a call to find out what the specials are. can't go wrong with their special salads. it is pretty pricy, but it's all organic so I guess you get what you pay for
(5)Erin C.
Unfortunately my friends and I did not have the amazing experience that so many people have had here. We stopped in for lunch on a Sunday. It was busy, but there were a few empty seats on the patio and it was fantastic weather. The restaurant is quite cute and is located in a perfect little space. I was given menus when I walked in originally, but it was about 10 minutes before anyone came to see us once we sat down. The server was fine, but pretty short with us. Two of us ordered the special salad of the day that came with a blue cheese & falafel crumble on top and my other friend ordered the falafel wrap. After waiting for about 15 minutes our food arrived. There was no falafel in our crumble and for $12 I didn't think the salad was all that filling. My friend's falafel was extremely mushy and didn't taste like it had been cooked all the way. We would have mentioned this to our server, but she was on the phone taking a To Go order when she came out to the patio the next time. I also ordered one of their teas which was quite delicious and definitely the highlight of my meal. Overall, we didn't have a great experience. The food wasn't that good and unfortunately the prices and service didn't make up for that. I should note that other reviews have mentioned that it was cash only dating all the way back to 2011. The sign in the restaurant says Cash Only -Temporarily! (or something like that). I don't think this is a temporary thing. I definitely think we had an off experience because so many people have raved about this place, but I would totally think twice before returning here.
(2)Susan D.
This is the only place in Arlington where one can dine outside, which in and of itself, is worthy of a five star review. It seems to me that the MT started small for a reason, Their place is in high demand. Rumour has it that they have applied for more outdoor space, and they are now serving dinner, which I have not experienced yet. My husband and I like to go for lunch on weekends, with our two small dogs. The owner always provides a bowl of water too. My husband is vegetarian, so he always orders the veggie burger. I love their salads and their Syrian wraps. Their falafel is delish, and there is a new wrap, which name escapes me, but it is a croquette with chicken, veggies and feta - my fave so far. We love their homemade sodas too. French fries are a bit on the soggy side, so we don't order those - better for us anyway. The wait staff, if you don't know them, can sometimes come across as abrupt, but they are actually really nice and accommodating.
(5)Laura A.
Love, love, love this place! I have never had a bad meal. All yummy and fresh ingredients. I am so happy to have this place in Arlington.
(5)Matt M.
We live right nearby and order from here all the time. They're awesome! The food is always excellent and I have never been disappointed. My Girlfriend loves the Wraps while I love the burgers. The breakfast menu is great too (best hangover cure I've found in Arlington Center). It's a little expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for.
(5)K K.
Honestly I would've given this place at least one more star if it wasn't for the customer service. My friend got me a awesome burger from here almost a year ago so I figured I would give it a try this morning for breakfast. The sandwich was $8 which is really expensive, but the sandwich itself was just ok. I had tomatoes in my sandwich and they left it a bit watery which I don't like. The thing I didn't like was the feeling that I was bothering the girl upfront or that my business was not wanted. She was sitting at the table with a guy and lady when I walked in. Nobody immediately said hi and she didn't get up from the table until I walked past her and stood at the counter. She acted nice but it wasn't genuine, almost rushed. My total was $11.77 and I gave her a $20 bill and she handed me back $8. I didn't want to bother her even more so I didn't ask for the rest of my change. Her personality changed when her co-worker walked in and she acted all bubbly towards her which reinforced to me that the issue was my presence. Unsure if I would come here again, maybe for a burger, definitely not for breakfast or their customer service.
(2)Kayleigh S.
I'm giving three stars instead of more because of the prices. The food was delicious, especially the fries, but you'll be hard-pressed to get a full meal here for less than $20. $8 for a grilled cheese cheese sandwich and another $4 for a small fry is too expensive for lunch in Arlington. The cheapest item on the menu is a $5 hot dog, again with no fries or sides. Onions and peppers will set you back another $0.50. Again, no complaints on the food, that's just too expensive. If you can afford to spend $20 a person on a very casual lunch, I recommend Madrona Tree, but if you're on any kind of a budget you may want to look elsewhere.
(3)Deb S.
I was visiting family in Cambridge and decided to try this place due to the many reviews of "farm to table" and fresh, homemade food. There was a 30 minute wait, and just be warned..this place is really tiny. Of course, Sunday brunch is a big draw here, so plan accordingly. I was underwhelmed. Although the sweet potato soup was thick and tasty, it arrived cold and had to be reheated. The side of hummus was nicely prepared on a plate with red onion, olives and tomato but it was tasteless...not a hint of garlic. White low quality flat bread was served...tasteless and cheap.....not expected at an eatery that calls itself "organic, farm to table." There was no choice of whole grain bread. Really surprised. All in all, almost $15.00 for a very average meal that left me hungry.
(2)Damien S.
Any beef purveyor offering Papa's Fireburger will get my business. At least once. Indigo Girls philosophy with a Buddhist aesthetic, the Madrona Tree holds 6 tables inside and a few seasonal savvy patio place settings. The walls are swirled with airy purples, heady quotes and a pretty fantastic menu. Expect loads of sandwiches, wraps and salads, with rotating daily specials that makes use of ingredients sourced a mile down the road. Our übergrüvy server totally recommended the burgers, man. I must admit - they sounded simple and savory. Mushroom swiss, the aforementioned heat-seeker (roasted poblanos and a spicy spread), and a bacon double chee, all boasting farm-to-table freshness. Kara ordered the a grilled cheese, I rocked the FIREBURGER and we split a basket of hand-cut fries. All said and done - $20 for an early dinner. Definitely reasonable. Then the sandwiches came and we understood why. My burger, while incredibly tasty and served on a bomb Iggy's roll, had the smallest 1/4lb patty I've ever seen. Maybe some weird illusion created by big, colorful veggies - the charred poblano is a definite win - but the weeness (hehe, I said weenus) of the meat left a hole in my appetite. Good thing those crazy addictive shoestring fries filled it with ease. A must-split serving for only $3.50 is one helluva deal, and a strong suggestion when coping with slightly anemic burgers. I'll definitely return; it's a very inviting lunch spot. Next time, I'm swinging for the falafel! Oh, and the rumors are true: cash, check or debit card. No credit!
(4)Rick B.
I ordered off the breakfast menu for the first time from here today. I got " the highlander "- poblano, lunguica, homemade hollandaise, tangy sauce drizzle -. I don't order this breakfast item much, or others like it, when I got out for breakfast but it was recommended by the waitstaff and figured I would give it a try. I am very pleased that I did once I got a taste of it. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the hollandaise sauce too. The bread it came on was very good, made even better by the warm runny yolk and sauce. I have to say give it a try when you get the chance. You wont be disappointed.
(5)Man M.
Food is good. Service is abrupt, one liner. Just a poor way to complement your dining experience. I am not looking for royal treatment but kindness and decency is universal. Cash only. Don't expect to see that at the door. And yes, I won't be back and I am removing them from my Facebook likes.
(2)Meg P.
One of Arlington's gems! They have tons of different options though I almost always go for a burger and fries. The sodas (esp. Blackberry Mint) are light and refreshing and the staff couldn't be nicer and more accommodating. Such a nice little non-chain restaurant offering fresh, local ingredients. Love it! I haven't tried their new breakfast but believe you me, I will soon!
(5)D F.
The egg scramble was very wet and mushy, and the home fries just meh. I feel like their heart is in the right place but they haven't quite figured out the details. The service was excellent though - extremely friendly and attentive.
(3)Dave S.
Little locally-source food restaurant turned out to be a hit. Got the "Amy's Falafel" wrap which was quite enjoyable. Great for an avocado-lover like myself and the blue cheese was a new but deliciously tangy combination. Falafel was a bit less crispy than falafel than I've had in the past, but maybe they just prepare it differently. Also, be sure to try their homemade sodas for a fruity blast of carbonation
(4)Juliet A.
My brother-in-law, who lives in the area, loves this place. It is easy to see why. The staff is incredibly friendly, the place is cozy and inviting (there is even a little kiddy corner with toys and books for the wee ones), the food is locally sourced and delicious, and the portions are generous. Lots of Middle Eastern influences with the foods (Syrian wraps, kibeh, REAL hummus, etc) that I appreciated. I had a kibeh wrap and loved it - a little heavy on the red onions, but otherwise excellent. It was so filing that I had to take half to-go to finish later. My husband loved his healthy "Luke" sandwich, and my brother in law is a huge fan of their burgers. There are things that are a little out of the ordinary (brussel sprouts and green apples - so good!) and regular comfort foods you'd expect from a burger shop (hand-cut fries and milkshakes). Madrona Tree is a satisfying stop for a meal!
(4)Glenn B.
I went to Madrona Tree with friends on an early Saturday afternoon. We typically go for more "traditional" (read: unhealthful!) diner fare, but had heard some positive rumblings about this place. On the plus side, the food -- from my one experience with it -- is interesting: creative play on the above-mentioned more traditional diner/brunch choices. I had a tofu scramble that had vegetables, curry and turmeric. Very tasty, though a bit on the dry side. The shredd-y hash browns will need more work, I think, before they give the more hash-slung, greasy variety any competition -- I thought they tasted odd (sorry, I can't be more specific). On the downside, the place is quite small and, if you go in cold weather, sort of chilly. The door is not exactly configured for cold-weather dining comfort. The ambiance or atmosphere is a mixed bag. The decor and bric-a-brac suggest more kid-friendliness than I typically care for: there's kids' art all over the walls, baskets of toys about, etc etc. I don't want to come off as a kid-hater, but screams and shrieks in a small space when I'm trying to eat and converse with othr people ... no thanks -- my nerves will wind up as shredded as the hash browns. I guess I got a "we're aiming at yuppies with kids" vibe from Madrona Tree. I suppose one has to aim at something, but I felt out of place. Oh, and did I mention the cavalcade of 1970s music that was playing? Olivia Newton-John, Jim Croce ... please, not while I'm eating! :^)
(3)Ryan S.
My goodness, this place is expensive! The ingredients are fresh and organic, which is so trendy, but still--it's a just a burger joint. It's still greasy and messy. And for $13 my med-rare patty was cooked well done. But overall I did enjoy the food. The kids meal chic nuggets were homemade perfection. There is no other food this tasty on this end of town. Just wish it cost less.
(4)Mona N.
We recently moved to Arlington and I read the good reviews about this place on Yelp. Locally sourced, farm to table, and so on. I seriously gave the place five chances before giving up overall after our visit last week. The cleanliness of the dishes, the cups and those bottles that they refill and put water on your table is less than desirable. Our cups at our most recent visit had a white sludge like substance in the bottom of each cup. Now for the food. I've tried the Syrian wraps, sandwiches and burgers. Of those items the food is palatable and tastes pretty ok, but I have never received my entire meal together. The hummus was some of the worst I've ever tasted and it was on lettuce that had gone bad. The fries are good if you get them hot, my last visit I did not. I also got my soup (that was not what was described to me) and it appeared to have just been heated up. Had lots of cold spots so it seemed it was microwaved. My husband and I both agreed that we won't go back again. The bathroom is filthy as is the kitchen that you can see from the hall area. They even have the audacity to charge $10.00 for a small jar of their organic jam. I love businesses like this but can't continue to support it due to basic filth, inconsistent food and mediocre service.
(2)Ahmed R.
Great food , new ideas full of flavors. Every time you try something out of the menu it turns delicious . Service staff became better , I had an awful experience earlier with one ! And actually today was perfect , quick and friendly . Well revisited the review , it's just a set of waiters . Specifically one of them , she just not interested in the job. Loosing food , being totally not nice to people . Still food is good
(3)Sandy C.
The breakfast menu is limited. The food was mediocre and the coffee was very strong, cold and no refills. Also, they only accept cash.
(2)Shane T.
Breakfast is fantastic. Simple wholesale varied menu with kibbeh linguistic and other interesting meats. Great veg selections as well. You even get chocolate bread as a breakfast appetizer, perfect !
(5)Steven P.
With the cool motto, "eat like you give a damn," the Madrona Tree inspires very high expectations. And though my burger was pretty good (finely chopped on a sourdough roll) as was my profoundly tart lemon/lime soda, the cramped dining room and over-the-top prices make it unlikely I will return any time soon. And while the restaurant's philosophy of environmental responsibility is infinitely noble, if as a consumer I can't tell the difference and don't enjoy the experience, then "frankly, my dear..."
(2)Cyrille C.
As a sandwich brunch casual family place you can not find better Very friendly staff just love it!!!!
(5)Marissa D.
Disclaimer: This was my first visit, but I will be back. Weekly, if I can fit it into my schedule. I'm vegan, and I've long been searching for the holy grail: a veggie burger I can lust over. Found it! I've tried almost every burger within a 50-mile radius (burgers at Veggie Galaxy, Pulse-when it existed- Red Lentil), but nothing-NOTHING-can top this. Moreover, many veggie burgers are not even vegan. Or if they are, the bread has egg in it. What's up with that? Am I supposed to wrap it in a lettuce leaf like some Atkin's-crazed dieter? No thanks. Not only is this lentil-based burger juicy, succulent, meaty (FYI: Meat can refer to the essence of nuts, legumes and plants, not just animal flesh) and luscious, but the sauces and toppings (some of which can be made vegan) make this burger a meal to behold. I had mine made as the "Freddie" with caramelized sweet and red onions and the Tangy Sauce, pickles, tomato and lettuce. Best way to describe the sauce? Reminiscent of the sauce they used on the Whopper, but 100x better, and made with Vegenaise. And I mean the Whopper reference as a compliment. Also, I don't know what they put in their 'Special Tangy Sauce', but it might not be legal, because I am now addicted. All burgers come served on Iggy's breads, and you definitely need both hands manage these babies. The bun is light on the inside, but sturdy and crisp enough to hold in the burger and the toppings. Actually, the burger is a bit on the crumbly side (and it's large, so some of the burger falls out. Just fork it up or shamelessly grab it with your fingers). We also had a large order of Garlic Fries (they have several varieties of fries), and again, addictive. Little bits of pressed garlic garnish these shoestring fries. Not too greasy, but perfectly fried and perfectly dressed. The garlic flavor was zesty without being overwhelming. They have organic ketchup on each table for your dipping pleasure. I tried the Noble Salad as well, and had it served with some "family dressing" instead of the Italian standard. It was made on the spot with fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil and herbs. The salad was a nice size and had plenty of veggies. You can also get grilled or fried veggies of the day or other veg-friendly sides, but I was in the mood for crisp greens. I wanted a substantial amount of salad with my burger, so our server recommended a regular dinner salad. A note about the service and the atmosphere: It's so warm and welcoming here that we were actually singing along to the awesome background music. Mix of indie rock/grateful dead/early 90s type stuff. The staff made every effort possible to make sure our meals were as kick-ass as possible, and confirmed that everything was vegan before serving us. They said they can always switch things up in the kitchen if we give them advanced notice. One of the chefs is actually vegan and they even had vegan brownies on the night we were there (score!). They have plenty of vegetarian options on the menu and lots of fresh juices so we look forward to coming back and trying them. It will be hard to lure me away from that burger, though.
(5)Bryan Z.
This place is great. I work right down the street and come here for lunch a few times a week because the food is very tasty at a reasonable price. I will be coming back again, and I recommend you try it out if you're in the area.
(5)Janelle E.
Organic restaurant! Yum. I had minutemen Benedict. My partner had mustang Benedict. We shared Celtic twisted French toast. Sooooooo good. I plan to go here again when I visit MA. Sigh. So hard to find good one in DC.
(5)Francesca L.
I go here quite often. Don't expect huge portions, but the wraps tend to be more filling than the burgers. Friendly staff, delicious locally-sourced ingredients, and cash only. UPDATE! They now have Level Up!
(4)Julia F.
Pretty disappointed. I came in on a weekday morning for breakfast. I had one of their breakfast scrambles, which came with some scrambled eggs, hash browns, and toast. The eggs were so-so, the hash browns tasted a bit undercooked, and the toast was hard. My friend, who also ordered a breakfast scramble, also thought the food tasted pretty bad. I had heard great things about this place, which is why I was so excited to finally come here. It's really too bad that the food was so disappointing. Perhaps the lunch menu is much better, who knows. I probably won't come back after this experience.
(2)Emily A.
I've been here a few times now - wanted to wait a bit before reviewing. Thanks to Jenny who was working tonight I finally am prompted to review it because she surprisingly very nice and upbeat. Really like the concept and glad it's in Arlington. Want it to succeed. Before tonight though, the wait staff has been a bit JV - grumpy and a borderline gritty. Clearly a different experience than other yelpers - maybe the times we've gone in? Like the freshness / localness of ingredients and healthier options. Casual little spot. Food has been pretty consistent. What I love most? A corner of toys for the little ones. Simple thing for an eatery to offer - but a godsend for parents who actually want to try eating out at a table. Ok, not the cleanest toys on the planet, but it works. So all in, it's worth a try.
(4)Zoe P.
Delicious, fresh, healthy and/or filling. Pretty much the perfect lunch stop. I've had salads with impeccable produce. I've had fresh, moist falafel wrapped in actual pita bread, flavorful and with the appropriate tug to it. I've had very accommodating waitstaff. My husband has had a large and satisfying burger and my favorite vegetarian lunching partner has had a colorful, joyful bean-based salad. I've had such a strong craving for their homemade, fresh-fruit-filled sodas that I've stopped in to get them to-go, when I felt like treating myself. There is literally no where else in Arlington Center to get a grown-up drink like this. And, last but not least, I've had the best onion rings in the greater Boston area. Crisp, tender, lightly fried with a strong, fresh onion-y taste. Man, I love onion rings and these are damn fine. Although this kind of carefully prepared, local-foods, large menu type of place is a dime a dozen in Northampton, MA or Charmsbury, VT, Madrona Tree is a rare bird (plant?) in Arlington. And I'd go so far as to say that the only place to get better food in Arlington is Flora, and that's a real restaurant and all. Also, the record album covers hanging on the walls of the girls' room are amazing. Vintage Whitney! Melissa Etheridge! You have to see this for yourself.
(5)S Z.
Decent breakfast. Attention to detail sometimes lacking - potatoes sometimes underdone and eggs sometimes overdone. Have been 3-4 times and it seems hit and miss but the service is nice and sitting outside is great. 4 bucks for an iced coffee is outrageous.
(3)Claire W.
I really enjoyed my burger and a side of brussel sprouts with apples. It was a tasty meal and the ingredients were incredibly fresh. I was there on a slow night and the woman who took my order and brought my food was very personable. I enjoyed chatting with her. It was a relaxing, satisfying meal in a welcoming atmosphere. I will definitely go back.
(4)Hise G.
The best veggie burger you will ever have. I highly recommend the "Take a Chance" burger. You will not be disappointed. I also went in for breakfast and it was amazing. I take my family here often and we are always glad we decided to dine here.
(5)Alan S.
This is the type of restaurant that I really want to support. And I'm willing to spend a little more money for quality ingredients. But I couldn't help but notice how everything is overpriced. The ice tea was like $4! I got the side salad and a soup. Both were great tasting but a couple dollars over what I would expect to spend. I'd probably would give this place 3 1/2 stars but I'm not sure id come back.
(3)Helen V.
House made sodas, burgers with Iggy's Bread, and fried pickles?! Madrona Tree, you've had me at 'Hello.' Burgers are juicy and oh-so-pure tasting! I say pure because I love that everything is sourced local and fresh. The sodas are not made with any of the HFCS stuff, which is truly a symbol for their care of the society health. Ok, maybe I'm stretching that one, but it's good for you if you're a soda drinker. Iggy's Bread is delectable and an important part of a hamburger. I liked that they had fried pickles on the menu, but...I wish they were served in chip form because the spears were a bit much, a little too salty even for a salt lover like me. The space is eclectic and quaint. I like the quotes and pictures on the wall. It definitely screams neighborhood charm. I'm glad this exists in the center! I'll come back soon!
(4)Robo T.
great little place with a focus on organics and local sourcing. I stopped in and got an applegate farms organic hotdog and the greatest homemade onion rings this side of the connecticut river. OH cant forget the half and half served in a mason jar mug poured but not mixed (like a black and tan) that was delicious. the place is tiny and seats about a dozen people or so. I went on a cold day thus it was cold inside because the seating is at the windows.
(4)Jamie S.
Great burger - I got the one with the roasted poblano pepper on it. AMAZING taste! My wife and I split some rosemary fries, and those were great too. The homemade sodas are good, but probably not worth the $3.50 price tag. It took a little while before we were greeted, but we were sitting outside and they were mad busy, so no big deal. Our server was very nice and attentive. One thing that's really annoying is that there's no spot to write in a tip for your server on the credit card receipt! Luckily I had enough cake in my wallet to leave a tip, but that is bull-isht. If you owners are so concerned about sustainability, make the job more sustainable for your servers! Or just can the machines and make it cash-only!
(3)CW W.
I live in Arlington and decided to try this new place with my bf. We were in the mood for not the normal burger, read the menu online and said why not. The waitstaff was friendly but could have been a little more attentive. The place itself was clean and had a good vibe. My bf and I each got a burger, the garlic fries and I got a fresh raspberry lime rickey. Are food arrived in a fair amount of time but I would have expected it to arrive a little faster since there was only a couple other tables. The lime rickey was listed as fresh and came with mashed raspberries but they tasted on the verge of spoiling, it was ok but I worry for the next person who orders it. So we got our garlic fries first and were surprised at how oily they were and also how they were cut. There were a lot of things wrong with these fries. First they're supposed to be garlic fries but they didn't taste like garlic fries at all, it just looked like someone took a scoop of minced garlic (from a jar) and cut up some herbs to sprinkle over. Second the fries were very oily. Lastly the fries were cut as thin as shoelaces. Why is that a negative you ask? If you're going to make garlic fries and just put minced garlic over it, wouldn't it make sense to cut the fries big enough to hold the garlic? They ended up tasting like oily fries. Onto the burgers. We each got a non classic burger which flavor wise was fine but so thin! Our burgers didn't even fill the bun and they were completely uneven. For the prices they charge I was expecting at least a decent size burger. Overall I think this place has a good idea but the execution was not good. We won't be going back. As always never take my word and see for yourself.
(2)Layla L.
I'm really happy this place opened. Sometimes the service is a bit kooky, but I feel like that's because they're just getting started, so it's okay. Everyone who works there is really friendly and willing to please, and they will make your food any way you ask for it. I've tried at least 5 of the dishes on the menu at this point, probably more, and they were both vegetarian and meat based ones... and again, I just cannot with the people calling this food "bland". I've eaten "bland" food in my life: it's called powdered cauliflower soup and hospital ice cream, not freshly made gourmet salads. At this point, whenever I read someone's review of a place- any place- and they start using the word "bland" my eyes immediately glaze over and I go to my happy yelping place. "Bland" could mean so many things at this point that you could at least do us the favor of saying why you didn't like the food. Was there not enough salt, or spices, or dressing, or contrasting ingredients? Or do you just have some minor brain damage somewhere behind your temporal lobe? Everyone's entitled to an opinion of course, but I'm entitled to stick voodoo pins into a doll when I read your review and I see this word. Okay, back to the point... The food at Madrona Tree is definitely not bland, it is in fact very flavorful and delicious. Arlington can really benefit from having a little cafe-restaurant like this and I hope they stay in business for a long time. Yay.
(5)gabriella s.
I want to give it a 3.5+ and here are the reasons why. The local farm concept is exciting so I had big hopes for this place. It was really good but not great though. But they could have had a bad night. Here are some highs and lows. I ordered a hamburger, fries (half regular cut/half sweet potatoes) and a diet soda. Highs, the homemade bun on the burger was delicious, the cheese was quality, nice and gooey, the burger was good, meat was good, nice and grilled, a bit on the dry side but could tell the beef was of higher grade. Another high point was their diet soda- it was delicious, completely better than the competitors diet cokes/diet Pepsi. Now to the low, the half and half fries, they were completely charred and burned, cold. I can't believe they would put those in a bag. Because I got take out I was too far gone to return them but Who ever put those in my take out bag should evaluate food expediting. The staff all though I stood there for a while before they attended to my take out order was very sweet and nice and polite. Overall I would try this place again, like I said everyone has bad days, the place is neo hippy which I loved the vibe and the quality of the food is above average. If the fries came out better i would have given it a 4.0 took a .5 for the expediter and the cook who cooked those fries.
(3)Steph P.
Beyond. If I could, I would eat here every day of my life. Madrona tree prides itself on local, organic and homemade. Note the chalkboard that lists where everything came from. The beef for the burgers is so juicy and flavorful. The veggie burgers are equally awesome. Garlic sweet potatoes to die for. Hand breaded onion rings that don't lose the whole onion when you bite. Homemade simple syrup sodas in flavors like strawberry basil and blackberry mint. You could call it pricey, but for the quality, I will pay up. You can taste the love in this food, from farm to prep to table. I will keep coming back Madrona Tree as long as you keep serving it up.
(5)Lisa H.
I am generously giving this place 2 stars. I have tried them many times, hoping for improvement but finding none. Ok, so where to begin? The food. At best the food is good, not great. Most of the time it is just ok. And sometimes it is just bad- for example, the hash browns (they have recently started serving breakfast so I thought I'd give it a try) were disgusting! Couldn't eat them. I have tried many different things from their menu too- sandwiches, burgers, fried pickles, fried tomatoes, soups, salads, wraps, home-made sodas... so this review is based on a wide sampling of the menu and experiences of dining in as well as take-out. Alright, so I've found some things on the menu that are actually decent but everything is way over-priced. I understand they're all about organic local ingredients and that's great, but the food is not. Organic or not, the food just isn't that good as I said before, and so, it is not worth that much $$$! Also, they're a burger and fries place, so organic/local/whatever- it's still not that healthy! Moving along to the service. Not particularly friendly-- only once have I actually had someone nice wait on me. But more importantly, they often get orders wrong and don't really seem to care. Their motto is "eat like you give a damn." Well guess what? I DO eat like I give a damn, so I will NOT be eating here anymore.
(2)Jessie C.
Had delivery from here last night with a few of my friends. We where all pleased with the food - it's hard with delivery to make the bun not soggy which these guys succeeded to do. I do wish the bun-to-meat-ratio was a little more even, more meat more meat! We also had the trio fries and onion rings which where both tasty.
(4)Bertha B.
(2.5 stars) Madrona Tree is a cozy restaurant tucked into Arlington Center that dishes up creative organic burgers, salads, fries, and sweet treats. While it is kid friendly, equipped with books and toys in one corner, it is quite small and fills up quickly at lunch time. Food is fresh, locally sourced, and all organic, which I greatly appreciate. There are also a good mix of meat and vegetarian options. However, the quality of preparation is inconsistent and prices are a bit steep, especially when you customize your burger. The first time I went to Madrona, my veggie burger was large, but very soft and fell apart immediately after the first bite. It was tasty, but difficult to eat any way other than with a fork and knife. On my second visit, the veggie burger was smaller and more well done. It had a more burger-like texture, but was less flavorful. The fries are quite tasty and portions are sizable, great for sharing. Overall, this place is a nice addition to the neighborhood, although I would hope for greater consistency so that it can be my reliable go-to place for good, healthy burgers.
(2)Kara O.
I love this place! The food is delicious, service is good and the atmosphere is cozy.
(5)Katy G.
This little spot is such a welcome addition to Arlington center! About a dozen burgers (including vegan and vegetarian options) plus sandwiches and salads. I had one of the blackberry mint homemade sodas, it was delicious. They have a selection of books and toys and a big basket of apples for little ones. The staff is super helpful - when I was in there a takeout customer complained about finding a parking spot and the woman behind the counter said that if you call they'll bring the order out curbside! They are temporarily cash only and the prices are not fast food prices (8.29 for a burger, 6-8 for a sandwich), but since they serve organic and local food I think it's a good value. I can't wait to try the pie. Very very very kid friendly!
(5)G G.
Tried it again with my wife a month or so back, this time skipping the burgers. I had the kibbeh wrap, and found the meat tender, juicy and flavorful (everything their burgers are not). They also managed to hold the tomatoes as I had asked, which a surprising number of places manage to mess up. Everything else in the sandwich was fresh, and they had a light hand with yogurt dressing... so many other wrap places load it up so you have a yogury geyser at the other end of your sandwich. My wife had the falafel sandwich, which she liked, although she thought there was just too much wrap (as in, too much pita bread) overall. It's a nice change of pace when you're seeking a Mediterranean/Middle eastern sandwich iption, which I think is an option that's otherwise mssing in the area.
(3)Martha L.
I love this place. Very friendly family place, great food, commitment to local products, who could ask for anything more? My family and I love the veggie burgers, even though we are omnivores. Great toppings and very flavorful. I've also had the regular sliders and they are great, and we've also had the falafel, kibbeh, pie, cookies, soup, sweet potato fries and have really enjoyed all of it. My son has systematically made his way through more of the burgers on the menu and gives them a big thumbs up with a special mention for the Fire Burger. Definitely worth checking out: you do need to be a bit patient as it's busy and everything is made to order. Totally worth it!
(5)Olivia S.
Love, love, love these guys! The food is delicious and the service is friendly. Great location, excellent ingredients and interesting flavors. Their veggie burgers are to die for and the falafel patty I had the other day was divine. The French fries are fantastic, the green stuff is always fresh and their home-made sodas are delightful. It's my new favorite place to stop for lunch (alone, with a friend or the family). The decor is also cool and funky, plus the bathroom with the LP covers from the 80s is a riot. Oh, and they have a corner for the kids to play/read and a changing table in the bathroom - a must-have in Arlington center where so many people with babies and young children like to hang out (why don't more businesses understand the basic need for such amenities in a town where a lot of young families live and are moving constantly?!). Plus when the weather is nice, you can sit outside and enjoy your burger because they have a few tables and chairs right in front (perfect for people-watching at the center square). The only thing that could make this place even better is a bigger space (like right next door instead of that pizza place) so that more people could support their business! ;-)
(5)Caileen F.
Extremely overpriced and very small portions. I got a salad and a diet soda and left with a more than $16 bill. For a salad. With barely enough chicken to call it a proper portion. (on top of that when I brought it home to eat there was no salad dressing!) I understand their mission and vision and I want to love this place. The food itself is actually quite tasty, but this will be the last time I go. The slow service, small portions and crazy expensive prices just do not justify the yummy taste. I suggest they lower their prices if they want to stay.
(2)Nick M.
The Madrona Tree is a splendid addition to the restaurants in Arlington. The food is organic, creative, and delicious. Long may the place thrive and prosper!
(5)Al K.
Their apple fritters are the best I've ever had! 11/13/11: The Thai curry soup is excellent also. 12/13/11: I tried the Southwestern Chicken soup today. Highly recommended. Note: It would be great if they had a no cell phones policy like some restaurants do these days. In such a small space, telephone conversations can be very distracting and disruptive.
(4)Amy C.
Very Disappointing! My 24 year old son and I were looking forward to trying this restaurant - local family-run, organic ingredients, locally sourced, all good things. Unfortunately, good intentions do not make for a good restaurant and this one has little to recommend it. The place is small - 18 seats, but rather than being cozy, it's just uncomfortable with chairs scrounged from wherever with little thought put into the comfort of the seating. The menu is EXTREMELY confusing and somewhat redundant, and for all of the advertised local sourcing and organic ingredients, AMERICAN CHEESE (yes, processed by Kraft) makes it on to nearly every item (you can substitute another cheese, but why would it even be there as the principal suggestion?). We both found it quite difficult to sort through all of the items, but settled on a chicken sandwich with cheddar cheese (yes, we substituted), bacon, lettuce and tomato. We also ordered a basket of fries as nothing came with the sandwiches. The fries arrived first and were undercooked and tasteless. When we mentioned that they were not fully cooked (they were still hard), the waitress took them back, doused the same fries in more oil and returned them to the table, now more cooked but also very oily. I don't know what sort of potatoes they used, but they really were utterly tasteless with a slightly odd consistency. Our sandwiches took fully 35 minutes to arrive. The roll on which they were served was rather dry and tasteless. The chicken was bland - had obviously not been much seasoned or marinated - and was overcooked and dry. The cheese was barely present. Even the lettuce and tomato were undistinguished - not that lovely vegetable you'd expect to see from a place that advertises such pride in its ingredients. They make their own sodas and my son's (quite expensive for syrup and soda water) was incredibly sweet. I almost never review restaurants, but this one seemed to put so little care and love into the guest experience that I felt moved to do so. Why are there no fresh herbs in anything? Why is the food so tasteless and improperly seasoned and cooked? Why in the world would they offer a burger that consisted of 2 1/4 lb. patties (reminding one of McDonald's or Burger King, and difficult to properly cook) rather than one 1/2 lb. burger? Very disappointing - such a great concept, such poor execution.
(1)Jim M.
The food is great. The location is homey and neighborhood with a real family feeling. I had both the Falafel and a Uncle Marc Special protabello-bean burger and both were stellar. The falafel was more "burittoesque" than I had had before but it totally worked for me because the Falafel themselves were not nasty over fried golf balls like some places serve. It was great, but the Uncle Marc burger was awe-inspiring: tasty, with a creamy avocado sauce. I also had the blackberry mint homemade soda with dinner and that was great too. Finally try the onion rings with the houses tangy sauce. These are not your normal onion rings- they have a corn meal batter that is not greasy and the flavor of the sweet onion really comes through. I was in Boston for a short time and I am a recently converted vegetarian and frankly was really disappointed in the availability of fresh, local, organic or for that matter vegetarian food out in Boston. I wish I could take this place home with me.
(5)Anne T.
Visiting this place again recently with a few friends and have yet to be disappointed. We tried a little bit of everything from onion rings which were cooked to perfection and very tasty to heatlhy brussels sprouts which were amazingly delicious not to mention a very nice tomato basil soup, perfect on a cold day! The Papa's Fireburger and Robin's Honey BBQ have become quick favorites and the homemade sodas with fresh fruit are always the go-to beverage, we tried blueberry, raspberry-lime and blackberry which were all delicious and we loved eating the fresh fruit hanging out at the bottom of the cup once the soda is gone, yum. Food is fresh, delicious and interesting. Food is locally grown and organic but mostly it is delicious! Wait staff and owners are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and the whole experience at the Madrona Tree was awesome.
(5)Steven L.
Newest addition to Arlington Center's dining scene --- excellent burgers and salads; featuring local farm produce and very nice owner. Great place for a casual lunch in the center ---
(3)Sarah B.
Friendly, cozy place serving lots of local and organic options.
(4)Rob J.
I'm with some of the others on the board in saying that I REALLY want to like this place. I like the concept, and the ingredients are generally really sound and I've had some good meals there. I'm also willing to pay the premium for that kind of food. But the preparation is very inconsistent. As an example, my wife and I ordered take out the other day. The falafel was good, but the fries and onion rings were greasy and cold. You can't serve food like that. The worst was that we ordered two of their italian soda drinks. Both were undrinkable. One was Raspberry-lime that had so much lime it was sour beyond drinking and burnt our stomachs. The other was strawberry-basil, which came with a pile of basil leaves at the bottom of the glass, and tasted like very sweet dirt. I assume at some point they came up with these drinks, and they tasted good. The concepts were great. IMHO they need get some serious quality control and consistency in the preparation of their food across the board.
(3)Priyanka S.
A welcome and healthy addition to the neighborhood! My partner and I went for dinner and really enjoyed the food. The chick-pea vegan wrap was very flavorful. The chickpea (falafel-like) patty was housemade and pan-fried. The veggies in the wrap were fresh and crunchy. The veggie burger was delicious as well with the housemade lentil patty and yummy avocado sauce. The owners were very cordial and sweet!
(4)Linda H.
Gone here three times now. The cheddar/apple hamburger was the best hamburger I have ever tasted, the BLT with fried tomatoes was excellent, as was the side dish of brussels sprouts with stewed apples. Sweet potato fries another fantastic choice-Quite a varied menu. Healthy, hearty without losing comfort food taste. Highly recommend.
(4)Patricia H.
This is a wonderful little restaurant, with a chef owner so helpful that she brought out the boxed vegetable broth she uses as soup base to show me it didn't have ingredients I need to avoid (I've had a sensitivity reaction to hydrolyzed vegetable protein and autolyzed yeast, which are commonly used in soup base mixes). There are two soups every day -- my favorite is a curried carrot soup that really spicy, just a great comfort food. I also like the burgers -- some people complain that they are small, but the amount is really fine for me (and those who want a bigger percentage of meat in their meal can pay a little extra to have a bigger burger); the roll is a bit on the large side for the small burger, but it's an Iggy's roll, not some tasteless textureless gob of soft bleached flour, so it tastes good, and is additionally flavored by the sauce that comes with the burger. I haven't tried the regular fries -- for me the ideal meal is soup and a small burger; however I did have a taste of a friend's portion of garlic sweet potato fries, and thought they tasted great. There are cheaper places to get a burger, but I don think any of them will tell you what farm the beef comes from, or that the beef is raised without hormones or antibiotics. Madrona Tree can be a bit uncomfortable at crowded times, but usually the wait isn't long, and it can be a wonderful peaceful place for a late midweek lunch.
(5)Linzy B.
I want to like this place, and my conscience totally supports the concept. Local food, locally sourced, organic, and passionate people running the place. Creative, unique menu, good for vegetarians and non-gluten people as well as everyone. Then there's the food. -Burnt sweet potato fries -tiny portions -high prices. They cook all meat medium-well unless you tell them otherwise (this is NOT standard burger practice). So like I said, I really want this restaurant to succeed, but they need to work on putting food over concept.
(2)Patricia F.
Loved the food and the friendly staff! We tried this place for the first time today, and they were super busy, but we were willing to wait. Glad we did! There was something for everyone here: yummy burgers for the teenager, creative and delicious salads and vegetarian burgers for the parents. Price was totally reasonable-- Our bill was less than the cost of our breakfast at a Watertown diner. We're big fans of good food from local farms, and love to support small businesses.
(5)Emily G.
I've been to the Madrona Tree 4 or 5 times now. I've had the soup, grilled cheese, and two different burgers (with veggie patties), the french fries, onion rings, and the frappe. First, the bad: - the onion rings were not good. They were too batter-y, if that is possible? And not fried enough, more like baked? In any case, they didn't have enough flavor. - the soup is too big. I've had it two different times and it is impossible to finish the whole cup without exploding. - the prices. Very expensive if you want a burger, fries and a frappe. I would prefer some smaller portioned offerings. Perhaps a half grilled cheese and smaller soup, a half salad with smaller soup, etc. That would be easier on my wallet and my belly. - I wish there were more drink options. Sometimes I like a ginger ale or juice with my meal - something more flavorful than water but not as thick and filling as a frappe. - the kid's toys. Okay, for full disclaimer, I don't have kids. But last time I was here, my friends and I sat at a four-person table on one side with kids toys immediately behind us. It's a small space, and so we didn't really have a choice of seats. The kids playing noisily behind our table and running back and forth all night was not conducive to easy conversation. Maybe that table should be reserved for people with kids? Not sure. Now, the good: - everything tastes so good (except the onion rings). I tried to finish off everything each time I went and I definitely appreciate the home-cooked, organic-style option in Arlington center - the fries! oh the fries! absolutely delicious. - the veggie burger is the best I've had at a restaurant in the Boston area. Big patty, tasty, and lots of interesting burger toppings to choose from. A bit messy to eat, but totally worth it. I know, the bad list looks longer than the good list, only because I am trying to give some honest feedback as to how things could be better, but I really like this place.
(4)Robert R.
Good intentions don't matter if the food and service are bad. I ordered take-out on Sunday and this is how it was when I got the food home: My Mediterranean burger was burnt to a shriveled char and then smothered in mushed up feta cheese inside the bread. I literally had to look around inside the bread to find the meat. I cannot even describe the taste. I could only eat a few bites. The Pilgrim sandwich, which consisted of turkey, stuffing (I think), cranberry sauce, and some loose salad greens, was just enough to keep me from returning the whole mess because I could actually eat most of it (although I'm still not sure if that was stuffing in it or not). There were some signs of a gray mushy something, but there were no distinguishable layers of anything. There wasn't much turkey meat and everything was mixed up inside the bread. Whatever the ingredients, they kept wanting to fall out of the sandwich because it was so loose and poorly constructed. The flavor was a slight improvement over the Mediterranean burger. The brussels sprouts with apple tasted okay, but again, they too looked like leftovers. The mixed fries (some potato, some sweet potato) were a batch of cottage style fries in varying sizes and in varying stages of doneness (probably for the very reason that they were all different sizes). I don't know if that was intentional or not. They all had a dark color to them, which I had not seen before with fries. Some fries were a little crispy. Most were mushy. It is also important to mention that when I placed my order, I wasn't told on the telephone that they don't take credit cards yet, so when I arrived to pick up my order, I had to go back home to get cash. Fortunately, I live right across the street, so it was not a major inconvenience to go home and come back. My review of the food has nothing to do with that small inconvenience. However, they were not even apologetic about not having explained their cash-only policy in advance. When I politely suggested they mention to callers about their cash-only policy, the woman behind the counter merely said, "It says so on our website." (I ordered from the take-out menu that they had given me when I stopped by earlier in the day. It didn't say anything about cash-only on the menu and I had no reason to go to their website. Again, this was a minor inconvenience, but I'm sure other customers got the same inconvenient surprise.) What is most bothersome about my experience with The Madrona Tree is that the food I paid for was bad. I don't know if they truly realize that what comes out of the kitchen has to be something people will actually want to eat, regardless if it is eat-in or take out, or if the cute names of the dishes sound appetizing or not. This take-out meal cost us over $25.00. When I got home, neither my friend nor I were happy with anything that came out of the bag. This was not a good value at all. I was optimistic when I first stopped by and picked up a menu. I never could have guessed the experience would be such a letdown. I hope they can really raise the bar higher and create a successful business. I may try them again in several months.
(1)Torvic V.
Great addition to Arlington. We ordered a veggie burger (Luke option), falafel wrap and sweet potato fries. Everything exceeded expectations and the portions were generous. Definitely check this place out.
(4)Lara S.
We went here the other night for a relaxed anniversary dinner. The food and service were both very good, and they definitely get kudos for using local & healthy products.
(4)Evan L.
I had high hopes for this place given it's organic/local/veggie theme. I was sadly disappointed. The service was great and the place is nice but the food and prices were what made me give it a 2 star review. The food was largely bland and kind of average. The fries were absolutely terrible... bland and soggy. The menu was not very extensive although they did have some nice Mediterranean options. I have no idea why people are saying this is cheap... we had 2 burgers and a side of fries and 2 sodas... the whole thing came to $26! Sorry but that's not cheap. The burgers were TINY and the bun was twice as big as the burger. My friend and I both felt sick unfortunately within an hour of eating there. Sadly I really would not recommend this place and won't return. Too bad :-(
(2)sabina T.
Love this place. Great place to stop for lunch/informal dinner if you like organic food and prefer to avoid meat with antibiotics and hormones. In each case substitutions have been made freely (which I very much appreciated being on somewhat restricted diet). I'm convinced that the people who own and work at this place really care.
(5)Esther K.
Service is very friendly and a nice vibe in the place, but the food was terrible. Veggie burger was so greasy that by the time I got home and it had cooled off, it was inedible.
(2)Sarah D.
Went here day 1 got Carrie Grilled cheese, fresh mozzarella YUM! Took my father who got the Papa Fireburger and liked it. We went back the next day with coworkers, got more Grilled cheeses, some sweet potato fries, fried tomatoes, and SHAKES. Everything was delicious. As someone mentioned their goal is to be organic and local! YAY FOR LOCAL! Even more so the staff is wonderful, I was talking to them and they said they reclaimed alot of materials from other restaurants. YAY FOR ECOFRIENDLY! The only downside is the place is small and getting in there with more then one stroller is tough, but they've since added outdoor seating for the extra room! As a 38 yr resident of Arlington, Definitely a great addition to neighborhood.
(4)Kathleen M.
Love, love,love this place! I have now been to the Madrona Tree three times. First let me say I love the decor, the friendly knowledgable staff, and the organic food prepared with locally purchased ingredients. I have tried the falafel( best I've ever had), a burger with cheese and bacon(cooked to perfection and delicious), the fried artichokes(the dipping sauce is to die for) and of course the fries and onion rings(addictive). My new favorite restaurant,I can't wait to go back!!!!!!
(5)John E.
update: Had a better meal by ( nicely) making a big deal over how I wanted medium rare and I really meant it, and other times I asked but got well done. Was happy with the burger. initial review below. I've eaten lunch here 4 or 5 times. Was thrilled when they opened and like the menu. BUT they cook only one temperature- over cooked well done. They don't ask for a temp when you order and even if you specify for medium rare, you get well done. It is a shame the ingredients are great but even local organic beef tastes bad when burnt. 2 stars
(4)Bekah D.
First off, this review is NOT about their food, which seemed amazing based on the menu, but unfortunately we were unable to experience it. My husband and I won't ever be back and I will tell you why. We sat down outside at an open table and were given menus and addressed by a waitress. After 10 minutes of sitting at the table and being ready to order we were told to leave. Apparently, someone had put their name in at the front desk inside, (which there were no signs to do so), and as we were new customers did not know we had to put our name in. If we were addressed at first that this was their policy we would have been totally fine with it, however were disappointed because we sat there for 10 minutes, were given menus and were ready to order. The situation should have been handled completely differently and in a more professional manner.
(1)Rich W.
This is one of those hard to review places. I love that it's organic and everything is homemade. But in a nut shell...the prices are a bit high (a little sarcasm there...it cost me $18 for a burger, fries, and a root beer.) I've walked past it several times and each time I thought, "I should try it." So I did. The staff was courteous and friendly. I ordered the "Christine" Burger which was good. Prepared well - although on the menu it read "Grilled onions" and there was a couple fried onion rings on the burger - but that worked. I asked if it came with fries and the reply was "No." It does come with 2 carrot sticks. Nice...but I'll bet 99% of people would rather have fries than carrot sticks with their burger. So I ordered a side of Fries. Good...standard fries. And a Root Beer to wash it all down. They did give me a glass of water as well. I get that it's all organic. I get that the food will be a bit more expensive. But $18 for a burger, fries, and a root beer??? It was good and I did enjoy being able to eat outside. But I can go to RF O'Sullivan's in Somerville, have a just as much flavorful burger with fries and a beer for less than $18. Good food...good service...but I won't be back or recommend it based on the price. That's why I give it 3 stars rather than 4 or 5.
(3)Susan K.
Great chicken burger, tastes, like a greek salad on a burger.Tasty frappes in seasonal flavors like Vermont maple frappe or decadent chocolate peanut butter as well as yummy fries, try the garlic fries, reminds me of truffle fries. A little on the pricey side. Love the quotes on the walls/mirror.
(5)Bill L.
Good food, burgers and sandwiches with Iggy's bread. Homemade sodas. Very nice staff.
(4)Paul C.
Awesome food. Good people - really relaxed ambiance. They use local products.
(4)Mary C.
Fabulous!! I work around the corner at the Regent Theatre and frequent Madrona Tree a lot for an on the spot meal. Everything I have had there has been delicious!! Great addition to Broadway Plaza!! :)
(5)Andrew H.
Our first two experiences here were fantastic. Delicious healthy sandwiches and a creative menu. We get mostly takeout from them and so this review is a reflection on that experience only. Last two have been let downs. Seems like they're starting to mail it in. What were previously delicious wraps and now mostly wrap material instead of delicious filling. $9 is a lot to pay for a half empty wrap. We'll take a break and hopefully they get it together.
(3)Sunny S.
Local foods are sometimes hard to find. Sure, you can buy Brussel sprouts at a farmer's market, but can you enjoy them cooked to perfection at a humble cafe? At the Madrona Tree you can trust that everything on their menu is local and tasty. From standard fare like burgers and salads, coffee and cookies, to the more sublime Lebanese salad and the delicious Brussel sprouts with caramelized apples Madrona is a tasty and true place. Nice seating area with woman-positive decor ("Nice women rarely make history" types of quotes on the wall.) A play area for kids ... friendly staff... and with free WIFI to boot! I'll definitely be back. Just one word on the cost -- real, local food does cost more, so the burgers are $8-9 and salads are $9-$11. Whatever you order it'll be delicious and likely to be a total of $13-$15. Check it out and enjoy!!
(5)Emily K.
Great food and service. I like that they are mostly organic and still very flavorful!
(4)Sue R.
Visiting Boston for the first time and tried the Madronna Tree. There were 5 of us and we all ordered something different. Everything was great, but especially the soup and the grilled cheese sandwich. The hamburger was very good, with homemade sauces and the bun was made form wonderful soft, rich and chewy bread. The decor is fun and our service was excellent. Next time we are in the area we will be back..
(5)The Roving V.
Good, fresh food. Portions are humongous. Simple sandwiches, salads, etc. Nice vegetarian options. It's family run which is great. The fries and onion rings are incredibly greasy though. I believe their web site says "delivery" which they do not do. However, a great option for a fairly healthy meal in Arlington Center!
(4)Ceren P.
Say whaaaaaaaat?!?
(5)Julie E.
I love this place! It has great food- I would eat the soup for every meal if I could! I am a vegetarian and there are so many options on the menu- it is such a relief to find something different in Arlington! I am impressed by the owner's dedication to families with kids- it is nice to be welcomed versus shunned when you walk in with kiddos!! I also love that the food is local and organic :) Eating healthy is something I feel is very important and we are just one more restaurant closer to healthier with the Madrona Tree! Kudos to the staff who are amazing- friendly and caring!
(5)Lisa M.
Finally, some decent food in Arlington!!! We had the "Ashley" wrap and we both thought it was AMAZING! It has "sweet and spicy chicken," bbq sauce, grilled onion, poblano, bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and tangy sauce. The poblano peppers made it just spicy enough and we loved the tang from the sauce. Fantastic. The Nikki's grilled cheese (American cheese, tomato, spinach) was also great, and the soup of the day (beet and carrot) was very good for being SUPER healthy. Kid-friendly to boot. We'll definitely be back. My dream would be that they eventually expand for more seating... hopefully they'll be popular enough to do so! *** I had to reduce this to 3 stars because I came back and ordered the same thing, and it was very meat-heavy without any lettuce, tomato, or cheese... weird.
(3)Arto A.
Really good food, and the owner and server were both very friendly. Our son has multiple food allergies, and they were happy to help us sort out the menu and easily find food that was perfect for him. The space is small, but very kid-friendly. They have a bunch of toys and kids books in the corner to keep little ones entertained. We will definitely be back.
(5)Rachel K.
What a charming and warm restaurant. The walls are filled with quirky quotes and pictures with great stories attached. The staff were friendly and patient. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Madrona Tree, as did my mum-in-law when we went for lunch this past week. We shared the special salad which had a plentiful amount of delicious figs, apples, gorgonzola cheese and great balsamic dressing. Then we enjoyed the avocado BLT and handcut french fries. The sandwich was awesome, it had thick, hearty bacon and the bread was toasted perfectly. The serving of fries was generous and tasty. Also, they have great locally brewed and homemade sodas to choose from. I love that they have outdoor seating, weather permitting and a doggie bowl of water outside. Looked like they had a lovely selection of toys and books for little ones to stay occupied too! Update: I stopped in the next day for an afternoon dessert of apple fritters and cream soda, both delicious and hit the spot! I am looking forward to my next visit; although, I look forward to when they accept debit/credit cards.
(5)Jeannie W.
They seem to be trying to be kid friendly but they don't get it. Refused to get kids order going first. Despite only four tables in this tiny place, food took very long to come. Drinks with lids not available. Cash or check only and bill for two small kids, two adults was $43.
(2)Annette F.
I would like to say first and foremost that everyone who works here has treated me like I'm a part of their family since they opened. I really stand behind what these people are doing environmentally, and through their food. I have never tasted such an amazing burger IN MY LIFE. After about 2 weeks since they opened, I made the decision to eat vegetarian, and instead of being disappointed by that they only welcomed the idea with open arms, suggesting things on their menu and mentioning I could substitute any beef patty with a (delicious!) portabella mushroom patty instead. Their fries are hand cut, and taste like it too. I don't feel guilty after eating here, because everything is so fresh and not doused in oil or grease. All of their sides come with unique, tastebud shocking sauces that I don't think I could think of myself. The atmosphere is casual, and fun. They're always playing dancey music and making jokes with one another, it's nice to see a business in a town full of yuppies actually enjoying themselves at work. These people are inspiring, whether through their attitude or dishes, to be healthy and live well. I have never seen them discriminate or give anyone an attitude, or rush anyone to order, even with a line to the door. I am happy to say I have become quite the loyal customer of The Madrona Tree even though they've only been open for a short time. I saw some reviews mentioning their price, and honestly I spent a lot fo years spending money at places like Panera or Subway thinking I was eating healthily because that's the attitude they portray. In reality, you're spending the same amount at Madrona as you would either of those chains, and actually getting the fresh, locally grown, organic ingredients they promise. So, all in all, if you're in the mood for a fun environment, people you're going to want to get to know, and food that'll leave you feel full and refreshed, then head on over to Madrona and see what the fuss is rightfully about!
(5)Alec S.
Burnt sweet potato wedges Mushy falafel with a funny flavor. Aside from 3-day old falafel balls which are dried out from the grocery store, I think these are the worst I've had. We also tried the chicken pesto wrap. For a healthy organic place, the food was very heavy. This wrap was mostly pita and cheese and pesto, with a bit of chicken and a touch of tomato. Perhaps I was just in the mood for something fresh and healthy tasting, but definitely did not find that here. I left feeling a bit sick. One star for that. On the plus, service was good.
(1)Local E.
Hooray for the return of burgers (etc) in Arlington Center. Madrona Tree uses excellent local ingredients in a menu split in two: creative tasty burgers and a variety of Middle Eastern salads and sides. Pros: Friendly service, very good food, many tempting choices, cool 80s album covers in restroom, funky sodas, awesome burgers, very large vegetarian portions. They are happy to customize your order. Now, accepting debit cards. Notes: Be sure to specify how "done" you'd like your burger. Suggestions, after visiting numerous times: excellent falafel wrap and veggie burgers; Christine's burger; bean salad is great; onion rings are a must-try with a friend. Go eat a burger and be happy!
(5)Michelle P.
I frequent this location and highly recommend it. They have the best salads. The salads here are so fresh and mouth watering you dont even need dressing. The burgers and wraps are always cooked to my liking and are delicious. I have talked to the staff members and owner on more than one occasion about the message they are trying to send "eat like you give a damn" and i think that providing the customers with organic local products is a great idea and a much healthier option. All my dining expieriences have been everything that i expect when being served at a resturant the wait staff is always very nice and friendly and go out of the way to make my expierence there a good one. They have out door dining in the nice weather to which is always nice feature at a resturant. This place is a all around awesome family run establishment with excellent everything!
(5)Regina H.
As an Arlington resident I am thrilled to see a business like this in town--no need to go to Cambridge for a tasty, fast and healthy vegetarian meal! My veggie burger was delicious, with a tangy and smooth avocado dressing. I had a side of the sweet potato fries and I do not exaggerate when I say these were probably the best sweet potato fries I have ever had. It's hard to find thickly-cut s.p. fries that aren't soggy and have a nice crisp outer coating, and these were just perfect. My husband's regular potato fries were also very nice, cut in thin slices almost but not quite like potato chips. The gourmet sodas are a nice additional touch. The downside--my husband would agree with the critiques below that the meat burger is too small for the size of the bun, and he commented also that the patty was so small that it lost all its juices, despite being cooked medium rare as per his request. It was also dwarfed by the slice of cheese that lay over it. When he asked, he was told that you can order a 1/4 pound burger for an extra charge (I forget how much that was). He felt that the rest of the fixings were good enough that it would be worth it to order the larger burger, but was definitely disappointed with the regular serving size. I would really like to see this place succeed, so I hope some accomodation can be made with the burgers to keep the meat eaters coming--as it is, they will be disappointed. Price was a little high, but I felt that my meal was definitely worth it, and I will certainly go back. This place has a lot of potential and I wish them all the best, because I want to be able to keep eating there.
(4)Geo O.
I want to love this place. Madrona Tree is the kind of restaurant I've been looking for in Arlington. They have a great atmosphere, love the decor, and on the surface, their menu is fantastic. But the verdict: bad service + bad food + high prices = stay away! I have tried this place on multiple occasions -- I understand that sometimes a new place takes a while to get into gear and like I said, I really wanted this place to turn it around. But no more excuses, we will not be returning. Service: On a couple of visits, one waitress was chronically overworked while the other chats with the kitchen staff. Phone orders? They make errors in your order and forget to ask for your name, then when you arrive it takes a committee to figure out which order is yours. If you ignore my review and still go in here, look out for the older woman (owner? waitress? hostess?). When you see her, run away. Seriously, just leave. It WILL take you four times to explain your order to her and she will still screw it up anyways. Food: They don't ask you how you would like your burger done -- they only do it one way: blackened. EVERYTHING they cook is overdone. Burgers? Charred and dry. Chicken? Overdone and dry. Those delicious-sounding garlic fries? Burnt and hard as a rock with some garlic purée slipped over the top. It's just disappointing. If you order something that isn't cooked, you're fine. The one high point with my meals has been their very good frappes -- but at $5.50 for a small, it's hard to call that a selling point. Prices: That sandwich they just screwed up for you? $8.99. Unfortunately, this ends up being a place that's all show and no go. There's too many good restaurants in Arlington -- some of them within a 1 minute walk of this place -- to waste your time or money here.
(1)I P.
Both my husband and I are always on the quest for new breakfast places that stand above the rest, in taste, service, and ambience. We just learned that the Madrona Tree has recently started serving breakfast, and though they don't seem to have the bf menu on their website, we decided to walk over this morning and give them a try. We were pleasantly surprised! I ordered the Cambridge breakfast, with eggs, spinach, olives, feta, and garlic - served with homefries and toast. The homefries actually included sweet potato and a little cheddar cheese and were nicely crispy on the outside. The toast was served with a homemade lavender/blackberry jam that they just made. The eggs had a nice rich flavor to them and were scrambled more like a frittata. they had some unique tea bag options, like herbal chai and Yerba mate. The place is small but since not a lot of people know about their delicious breakfast yet- there is plenty of space to sit. The waitress was super nice, and genuinely wanted to make sure we enjoyed the meal. I highly recommend skipping the starbucks run on a sat/Sunday morning, and trying place. It feels great to support a local business that puts care and thought into their food and their service.
(5)Eric R.
Pluses: organic, local, friendly, eco-friendly, interesting menu choices, fresh, prompt, tables outside. Minuses: Every vegetarian / vegan entree I've had there has been quite bland. (And I'm used to low-sodium food, so it isn't simply the absence of the heart-shattering levels of salt that you usually see in restaurant meals. It genuinely tastes underspiced.) If they amped up the seasoning by 1-2 orders of magnitude, I think they'd be good, but as-is not so much. However: all of the other entrees I've had here (and the fries / shakes) have been very tasty indeed. Luke's mushroom cheeseburger was *fantastic*. I'm also very happy that you can order mixed fries: some normal, some sweet potato. It's not an economy eating place, but neither is it pricey: $5.80 for a milkshake instead of the usual $4 - $5? $8.50 for a burger instead of a more usual $7.50ish? The 'green surcharge' looks to be about a buck or a buck fifty per item, which isn't bad at all given they're shooting for local, organic, *and* eco-friendly, each of which is its own sort of challenge.
(4)Erin B.
I think there food might be best if you dine there. We've gotten take out several times, and it's always luke warm by the time we get home, which isn't great for burgers & fries. We haven't been in awhile, and decided to try delivery this weekend. My husband had to give our order 3 times and they still didn't get it correct. The girl on the phone waited until he was 1/2 way through and then said "Oh I guess I should get a paper". Then he had to remind her again that this was delivery and she probably wanted to get our address. The guy who delivered it was equally as spacy, standing there and forgetting to tell us who much it cost. And of course, they didn't get the order correct, and it was even less than luke warm. Actually a bland, bad dinner this night. Waste of calories. I think they were all smoking the same thing or something, but they certainly were not on their game that night.
(2)J C.
Rarely do you find stellar service and tasty, affordable food occupying the same space. I get take out from Madrona Tree once or twice a week and the food is always fresh and delicious from the veggie selections to the burgers and salads. And oh, those onion rings and sweet potato fries. They also have home baked goodies for dessert and different kinds of natural sodas and other concoctions to drink-my current favorite is lavender lemonade. Don't ask--I have no idea--it's just a party in my mouth. The wait staff and chefs are so helpful and pleasant and will answer any questions you may have about the menu. They also have a nice seating area outside on the Arlington Center Plaza so that you don't feel like you're going to fall over into traffic. And the food is fresh and locally sourced. The inside seating area is funky fun and decorated with pithy sayings and cool art. And when winter comes, try their homemade soups. I lived on them last winter. Yum. It is so refreshing to write a 5 star review, ain't it? And the soup is to die for!
(5)A M.
I really want to love this place.... it's local, they offer great sounding food and it's a much needed venue in Arlington Center.... BUT thier food needs some help. The fries are over done and way too salty.... I think thicker fries would be better than slighly burnt shoe string fries. Some of the soups are too salty as well. My kids love this place but something thier meal is too salty :-( The hummus sandwich lacked flavor (maybe needs more tahini??) I'm hoping they improve the menu and tweek the recipes because I like the vibe there.
(3)David L.
So my wife & I have gone back twice more since my first visit and not only is everything as good as it was the first time but they continue to add a lot of new items to their menu (they now have salads, soups & desserts). First while the ordering/delivery can be a little hectic (it is a small place after all), the people who run the place are EXTREMELY friendly which more than makes up for it in my opinion. We've had the following items since my first review: Papa Fireburger: This is a very tasty burger with a spicy mayo type sauce and a large grilled pablano pepper on top. The combination makes this quite a spicy burger (at least it was for me, if on the other hand you like going to East Coast Grill's Hell Night it'll be mild to you). Those that like heat will find it a nice tasty burger though. Tanya's Mediterranean Burger: My wife is addicted to this burger. The spices and feta combine very nicely and the only thing that could make this even better is if it were a lamb burger (drool). Fried Green Tomatoes: Served piping hot with a thin but deliciously crispy batter coating. It also is served with the avocado sauce which is the perfect cool buttery compliment. Fried Pickles: These aren't little pickle chips like at other places but full fried spears served with a kickass spicy sauce (I think it's the one from the Papa FireBurger). I'm not necessarily a huge fan of fried pickles, enjoying the fried batter more than the pickles generally, so while these were tasty & large overall it was too much pickle for me. Bacon Cheeseburger: The second time I ordered this I got the Papa Fireburger sauce on it and if I could have given 10 stars for it I would have. It complimented PERFECTLY to give that tangy kick. This combo will be my goto from now on. Apple Fritters: Seriously what can I say about these, they are huge, tasty, cinnamon sugar covered fried dough bites with chunks of REAL apple inside. They were probably the best fritters I've EVER had!
(5)