Alden & Harlow

Alden & Harlow is a contemporary American restaurant in Harvard Square serving thoughtfully sourced, flavor-forward food in a subterranean, modern dining room. Chef Michael Scelfo cooks in the style he uses for family and friends at his home kitchen table, aiming for bold, unpretentious dishes that honor a sense of place. The menu draws on local ingredients, with plates such as grilled rosemary focaccia, hickory smoked carrots, fried Brussels sprouts and pickled corn pancakes.

Larger plates include basil pasta with carrot bolognese, crispy pork belly over Anson Mills grits, grilled local swordfish and a New York strip with blue cheese butter. The kitchen’s Secret Burger, an eight-ounce house Creekstone grind on a house-made roll, lists no toppings on the menu, so diners order it on faith. The restaurant is part of a group with sister restaurants, and an email list shares news from all of them.

What to Know

• Brunch is served on weekends.
• Some dishes, such as the beef tartare and bluefin tuna crudo, are served raw.
• It is a member of the Harvard Square Business Association and a Meet Boston partner.