A small and cute Vietnamese fusion coffee bar that serves comfort food in a small restaurant in Cambridge. Their menu is light and healthy, definitely not like your traditional Vietnamese food. I got the lemongrass chicken confit and it was decent and lightly flavored. The sea salt shaker was good. The portions are quite small given the price you're paying but the vibe is really nice and it's a good spot for friends to catch up over brunch. Food: 7.8/10 Value: 7/10 Experience: 8/10 Service: 8/10

Seriously some of the best coffee you can find in Boston. It's pretty small inside, but they have a lovely outdoor area that's just perfect for relaxing and enjoying your coffee! Cicada feels very trendy and cool, and for good reason. I'll be back!

Cool fusion concept cafe w drinks and food. Great for studying, lunch date, or catch up with friends. Has indoor and outdoor seating in patio. I had the eggplant and tofu noodle salad, it was very refreshing. I liked the sauce but can't exactly explain what it was. I also had the pho spiced nitro cold brew, which was quite delicious. Highly recommend if you like black/strong coffee drinks as opposed to sweet drinks. You order at the counter and get your food/drinks from the counter, and you bus your own table. They don't come to you at all, but the service is friendly. There is one restroom inside.

The positive reviews are for good reason. This place is so cozy, has great vibes, and delicious drinks and food. The signage gives a clear picture of what to expect before you enter and the menu at lunchtime is simple but everything was flavorful. I got the turmeric latte and it was so good. Just a tad sweet to offset the spicy turmeric. I also got the smoked salmon bowl and love that it comes with black rice. It was pretty salty for my taste buds but I ate the whole thing (much better when the salmon pieces are all mixed in.) My friend and I sat outside in the small courtyard. You bus your own tables so sometimes if a party prior forgets to do that there's just empty plates on tables which is kind of frustrating. Bathroom is tiny. Overall had a great time with my friend and would totally return to try more menu items.

Cicada is an excellent restaurant for Vietnamese food & coffee in Cambridge - if you're nearby and can swing a visit, make it happen! Some friends and I recently stopped through Cicada for brunch on a Sunday. If it's a peak time, you can expect there to be a line out the door, but trust me -- it's worth it. It's definitely less of a conventional restaurant and more of a coffee bar that has food, but as long as you align your expectations that way, you're in for a great time. The line out the door is just to order your coffee/ food at the bar, but afterward you'll have to find some seating. Generally speaking, it seems like people flow in and out quickly, but depending on how packed it is, it may be more of a challenge for a larger group to find seats together. The restaurant has 10-15 seats indoors, but also has a few tables outdoors that provide open spots for bigger groups (I'll also mention that this means you may end up sitting at a big table next to another group). The food options are good all around, but if you're there for coffee... don't miss the Salt Shaker. It's by far one of the best coffee drinks I've ever had. Overall - definitely swing by Cicada if you are in the area and wanting to try something new!

Had a reservation at 8 on a Saturday and it was pretty empty. The service was okay, except it definitely felt like we had to keep asking for more water, to be served, etc. I thought the salmon rolls were fresh and went well with the peanut sauce. The short rib rice bowl was really great- i thought the meat was juicy and the texture of the grainy rice was nice with the soft meat, and the crunchiness of the toppings all went together. It's a pretty small space with an outdoor section, but the atmosphere is very ambient and cozy.

I got the sea salt shaker. It had an excellent Vietnamese iced coffee based, smoky, bitter, and sweet. The sea salt took it to another level, reminding me of salted caramel.

4.5 rounded up to 5 (5 for cafe section, 4 for dinner) The sea salt shaker coffee is fantastic - the perfect balance of sweet and saltiness, extremely creamy, and quite a potent caffeine kick. There are several small tables that make it perfect for catching up with a small group of people, though there are often waits on weekends. Additional bonus that they stock pastries from Cafe Beatrice. Tried their duck noodle soup off the dinner menu - the duck was tender, but the soup portion fell a bit flat for me. Noodles were on the thicker side. Also, their level of spiciness is higher than other vietnamese restaurants (mild = medium spice at other restaurants). Vibes are fun though with great mood lighting. Dishes are picked up at the counter and have to be bused to the back at the end of the meal, though they do take your order at your table.

Very cute cafe (coffee, tea, and light bites) between Central and Inman. We came here for brunch on a rainy Saturday, so there wasn't any wait. However, the line on weekends usually goes onto the sidewalk. We both got noodle bowls (one eggplant and one tofu) and they were both delicious. My only wish was that the eggplant to noodles ratio was higher, but it was still decent considering it was listed as a noodle dish. The vibes are definitely cute cafe (order at the counter and help yourself to tables, water, and utensils), so it would be a great spot for catching up with friends, going on a date, or any other occasion that would benefit from the laidback but cozy vibes.

Such an interesting concept and a very solid meal! We were initially seated at the counter, which is a bit tight, but when a high top table opened up they so graciously moved us to have more space. Our servers were friendly, fast, and knowledgable, but it was odd having to bus your own table after the meal for what it costs. Not a dealbreaker, though. Everything we ordered was flavorful, well cooked, and fresh. But our absolute favorite dish of the night was the duck. So so yummy. While we were there the owner even popped in with his dog, which was just awesome! Highly recommend Cicada for dinner. We're already excited to come back to try coffee and lunch!