Coast Café

The Coast Cafe is a soul food restaurant on River Street in Cambridge that bills itself as home to the best fried chicken and mac and cheese in New England. It serves Southern-cooked dishes including slow-smoked barbecue, wings, ribs and sandwiches, along with vegetarian options. Two traditions hold true: diners choose their own sides, and the hospitality is casual and family friendly. The cooking is described as a progressive, healthier version of the food the owners’ families grew up on in the South.

Anthony “Tony” Brooks founded the restaurant in 1997 with his sister Julie and the help of their parents, Major and Velmer, naming it for the neighborhood where he grew up, known as The Coast. It opened in 1999 but closed after a year when Major was diagnosed with cancer. Tony later took over ownership in memory of his father, a dedicated community volunteer in Cambridge, and reopened the restaurant in 2004.

What to Know

• Plates come with two sides and cornbread.
• Takeout and delivery are available, including through Grubhub and Uber Eats.
• Catering is offered six days a week.
• The restaurant is listed by the Central Square Business Improvement District.