Althea – American
Althea unfolds as a soulful sanctuary where the comforting nostalgia of golden-griddled muffins and flaky biscuits meets the sophisticated allure of a modern coastal bistro. The kitchen masterfully balances textures and temperatures, pairing the crisp snap of fried green tomatoes with the silky elegance of salmon crudo and the smoky, indulgent richness of BBQ oysters. Every dish, from the earthy depth of mushroom arancini to the savory complexity of a BBQ duck crepe, celebrates a thoughtful harmony of rustic charm and contemporary culinary finesse.
2, Columbia Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139 +16173492967 https://altheacentralsq.com/0Cuisine: American
Price range: $$
Dietary options: dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, high-protein, keto, low-carb, vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-fat, low-sodium, paleo, pescatarian, plant-based, whole30, anti-inflammatory, atkins, dash-sodium-reduced, gerd, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, south-beach, aip, alkaline, renal, tlc, volumetrics, zone, lectin-free, macrobiotic, slow-carb, soy-free
Diet fit at Althea
Dairy-Free at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 5 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack, Oyster of the Day and Deviled Eggs. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Gluten-Free at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 5 gluten-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Oyster of the Day, Fried Brussels and Deviled Eggs. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Halal at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 16 halal-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack, Norwegian Salmon and Broccolini. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
High-Protein at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 1 high-protein-tagged dish on its current menu, including Shrimp and Grits. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Keto at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 3 keto-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Broccolini, Vitamin Sea Rotating IPA and Ten Bends x Althea Pilsner. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Low-Carb at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 3 low-carb-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Broccolini, Vitamin Sea Rotating IPA and Ten Bends x Althea Pilsner. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegan at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 9 vegan-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack, Sunshine Daydream and Orange is the New Pink. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegetarian at Althea
Althea in Cambridge has 16 vegetarian-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack, Broccolini and Warm Beet Salad. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
How tags work: Dish-level menu analysis by Chefi's rule-based diet engine with AI assistance; nutrition values are estimated from ingredients unless marked verified. Allergen and certification claims are never inferred.
What to order at Althea
| Dish | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Warm Beet Salad | 73.4 g | 50.7 g |
| Shrimp and Grits | 22.1 g | 32.9 g |
| Mushroom Omelette | 76.1 g | 31.5 g |
| Farm Lettuce Salad | 8.6 g | 31.1 g |
| Mushroom Arancini | 74 g | 28.4 g |
| Little Gem Caesar | 4.2 g | 27.7 g |
| French Onion Soup | 16.7 g | 23.6 g |
| Spicy Crab Spaghetti | 54.1 g | 21.7 g |
| BBQ Oysters | 32.3 g | 20.2 g |
| Smoked 1/2 Chicken | 14.2 g | 19.5 g |
| Fried Brussels | 35.9 g | 18.3 g |
| Pork Ribs | 0.4 g | 18 g |
Nutrition values are estimated from ingredients.
Currently open
Hours
- Monday - Sunday
- 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Menu
Snacks & Appetizers
- Griddled Blueberry Muffin - $7: maple Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Greg's Biscuit - $6: honey butter Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Mushroom Arancini - $13: lemon, herb aioli, parmesan Available at: dinner, lunch
- Deviled Eggs - $5: bacon & chow chow Dietary tags: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Anti-Inflammatory, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: brunch, dinner, lunch
- Oyster of the Day - $3: the usual suspects Dietary tags: Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Anti-Inflammatory, Alkaline, AIP, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- BBQ Oysters - $15: garlic butter, althea bbq, bacon Available at: dinner, lunch
- Salmon Crudo - $16: puffed farro, pickled mushroom, black garlic aioli Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics Available at: dinner, lunch
- Fried Green Tomatoes - $12: pimento, chow chow Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- BBQ Duck Crepe - $16: apple-onion puree, asian pear & kohlrabi slaw Available at: dinner, lunch
Soups & Salads
- French Onion Soup - $16: shreddy beef brisket, potato focaccia, gruyere Available at: dinner, lunch
- Little Gem Caesar - $14: cracker paper, white anchovy, parmesan Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Farm Lettuce Salad - $14: smoked feta, almonds, pomegranate, lemon-honey vinaigrette Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Smokey Corn Chowder - $14: chili oil, red potatoes, local corn Dietary tags: Anti-Inflammatory, High-Fiber, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics Available at: dinner, lunch
- Warm Beet Salad - $15: black garlic yogurt, chicories, pepitas Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Volumetrics Available at: dinner, lunch
Main Courses
- Spicy Crab Spaghetti - $29: green & jonah crab, black breadcrumbs Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
- Potato Gnocchi - $27: smokey wild mushroom ragu, marsala, piave Available at: dinner, lunch
- Althea Cheeseburger - $18: brisket, special sauce, shredduce, pickles, smoked onion, fries Available at: dinner, lunch
- Smoked 1/2 Chicken - $31: creamy grits, roasted brussels, lemony black garlic jus Dietary tags: Anti-Inflammatory Available at: dinner, lunch
- Smoked Beef Brisket - $33: whipped potatoes, collard greens, horseradish cream Dietary tags: South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
- Block Island Swordfish - $29: celeriac, roasted peppers, leeks, pine nuts Dietary tags: Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Alkaline, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Norwegian Salmon - $30: spaghetti squash, dino kale, salsa verde Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
Brunch Specialties
- Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack - $13: vanilla icing Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Renal Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Sausage & Egg & Cheese - $13: house breakfast sausage, american cheese, home fries Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Eggs Benedict - $15: pulled pork or gravlax, house english muffin, bearnaise, home fries Dietary tags: Low-Sodium Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Pork Belly & Eggs - $14: burnt end pork belly skewers, scrambled eggs, potatoes Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Shrimp and Grits - $17: anson mill grits, tasso ham, fried egg Dietary tags: High-Protein Available at: breakfast, brunch, dinner, lunch
- Flat Iron Steak & Eggs - $25: smoked potatoes, salsa verde, fried eggs Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Mushroom Omelette - $15: goat cheese, home fries, toast Available at: breakfast, brunch
Sides
- Smoked Potatoes - $13: chipotle aioli, tangy cabbage Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, Slow-Carb, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Fried Brussels - $16: parm, bacon, egg Dietary tags: Gluten-Free, High-Fiber, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Pork Ribs - $4: tomatillo BBQ Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
- Broccolini - $14: whipped ricotta, piave Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
Draft Beer
- Coors Light - $5: 4.2%
- Ten Bends x Althea Pilsner - $11: 5% Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Atkins, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free
- Lone Pine Blueberry Sparkler - $9: 5.5% Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Plant-Based, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free
- Grimms Weisse Wheat - $11: 5.5% Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Macrobiotic
- Vitamin Sea Rotating IPA - $13: MA Dietary tags: Keto, Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Atkins, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free
Cocktails
- Blossoms Bloomin' - $14: orange bourbon, bully boy amaro, orange blossom, lemon, ginger Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based
- Sunshine Daydream - $14: tangerine-rosemary gin, VT pheobus vermouth, eldeflower, bubbly Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Renal, Lectin-Free
- Orange is the New Pink - $14: pink peppercorn mezcal, aperol, blood orange, rose water, lime Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Lectin-Free
- Friend of the Devil - $14: roasted red pepper tequila, guajillo syrup, grapefruit, ancho reyes Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, High-Fiber, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal
Frequently Asked Questions about Althea
- Is Althea dairy-free-friendly?
- Yes. Althea has 5 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack, Oyster of the Day and Deviled Eggs.
- What can I eat at Althea on a dairy-free diet?
- Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack, Oyster of the Day and Deviled Eggs carry the dairy-free tag, out of 5 tagged dishes on the current menu. Every dish's diet tags are listed in the menu.
- Does Althea have vegan options?
- Yes. 9 dishes are tagged vegan on the current menu, including Cinnamon Swirl Shortstack and Sunshine Daydream.
- Is Althea gluten-free?
- 5 dishes are tagged gluten-free on the current menu. Chefi never infers allergen tags from a dish name alone, but a tag is not a certification — confirm preparation with the restaurant if you have celiac disease or a severe sensitivity.
- What is the highest-protein dish at Althea?
- Warm Beet Salad, at roughly 50.7g of protein (estimated from ingredients).
Restaurants near Althea
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- New City Microcreamery — American
- Catalyst — American
- State Park — American
- Earnest Drinks — American
- Mass Ave Diner — American
- Puritan & Company — American
- Christina's Homemade Ice Cream — American
- Circus Cooperative Cafe — American
- Elmendorf Baking Supplies — American
- Portico Brewing — American
- Tall Order — American
