About pammy's
Pammy’s is a New American restaurant inspired by the feel of an Italian neighborhood trattoria. Perched between Cambridge’s Central and Harvard Squares, Pammy’s is a cozy yet sophisticated neighborhood destination. For husband and wife team Chris and Pam Willis, who live right up the street, Pammy’s is an extension of their living room. They’ve brought together their love of great food, easy hospitality and chic vibe to create a lively space that is welcoming to all looking for a memorable meal. With dishes that lean heavily on Italian flavors but are not restricted by any rules of the cuisine, the food is unpretentious and delicious. As the kitchen pulls from Italian culture and American innovation, the wine list also juxtaposes New and Old World wines from small vineyards in both countries. A dual-opening fireplace wrapped in white ceramic, an oversized salvaged communal table designed for side-by-side dining and rich leather banquets are just some of the design elements that make up Pammy’s charm.
Pam + Chris Willis
Chris Willis was going to be a drummer. Pam had her sights set on acting. But deep down, it was always their fate to open a restaurant.
Chris’ life has been surrounded by food - growing it, cultivating it, cooking it - even from his early days on his family’s fourth-generation farm. There, he was inspired to appreciate the nuances of produce and discover the delicate seasonality of flavors.
Hospitality is in Pam’s blood. The daughter of a hotelier and a restaurateur, Pam lived in New York City hotels when she was a young girl, finding herself often left with cooks and busboys as babysitters. She spent hours with Maître D’s after school, folding napkins and steaming silverware.
Chris built his impressive resume across many fine establishments, but attributes his career to five impactful experiences: the fundamentals of cooking at Rialto; discipline at Clio; balance, texture and spice at Cafe Gray; how to cook pasta at Sfoglia; and the importance of maximum flavor impact at ABC Cocina. The combination of all of these things is what makes Chris the chef he is today.
In defining his approach to food at Pammy’s, Chris believes in power of simplicity. Showcase just a few star ingredients in a dish and allow the care, knowledge and skill to shine through. Together, Chris and Pam’s goal is to serve unfussy, great food and channel their natural knack for hospitality.
STAFF
Nicholas Kooken
Bio coming soon...
Katie Hubbard
Katie Hubbard was born into the restaurant industry. Not really, but that's what it feels like as a Massachusetts native when your first ever job is at Dunkin' Donuts. Katie started pouring beverages and never really stopped. A trained printmaker and poet, during art school hospitality became a way of life, and wine became her favorite medium. This love was honed further while Katie was entranced in the magic of Sherry and craft cocktails at Taberna de Haro under Chef-Owner-Sommelier, Deborah Hansen. Now for the past 3 years at Pammy's, Katie has been having a blast curating sustainable, thoughtful, and unique natural wines from producers of lesser known regions and lesser grown varieties all over the world. The Pammy's wine list is built of winemakers who care for their land and dedicate their lives to the Earth. These are the wines that become the ornate gilded frame around Chef Chris's artistic menu. Katie has curated for the local wine subscription, Upper Glass, and poured as Guest Sommelier at Bubble Bath in High Street Place, and was recently named 2024 Rising Star Sommelier by StarChefs. In other media, you can check out Katie's poetry at 86 Logic and The Bookends Review, and her visual arts & design at Deadword Theatre Company. When she's not chatting wine on the dining room floor, you can find Katie drinking bubbles, floating in the ocean, or bopping around Somerville with her sweet dog, Benji.
Rob Ficks
Rob got an early start in the restaurant industry, working as a dishwasher as a young teenager, bartending by 18, and trying out a stint in restaurant marketing after college. His passion for hospitality brought him back to the bar, where he loves interacting with guests and experimenting with obscure ingredients. Prior to Pammy’s, Rob executed impressive bar programs at Cambridge’s Craigie on Main and Kirkland Tap & Trotter. Most recently as Bar Manager at The Hawthorne, Rob dove deeper into the technical aspects of spirits to become a true curator of the bar’s extensive collection. Rob’s deep knowledge and playful style allow him to dabble with diverse ingredients and unexpected pairings, bringing together an unfamiliar liqueur and seasonal herb to create exactly what his guest has in mind. In the role of Bar Manager at Pammy’s, Rob continues to layer upon his knowledge of pours from all over the world and curate cocktail menus to compliment the sophisticated, delicious flavors coming out of the kitchen.
James Dunne
James (Jimmy) Dunne found himself unexpectedly behind the line one day when a cook called out sick at the restaurant where he was working front of house. He had been immersed in restaurant culture for several years, running and preparing food, and loved the energy and camaraderie that it had to offer. That first evening behind the line was such a rush that Jimmy never looked back and his enthusiasm for cooking was born. After a few corporate stints, Jimmy came on board as sous chef at the popular Back Bay Social. From there, he spent four years developing proper technique as well as an appreciation for working closely with farmers at 80 Thoreau in Concord, Mass. Jimmy most recently delved into the bold world of spices and innovative flavors at Sarma in Cambridge. As Sous Chef at Pammy’s, Jimmy enjoys working closely with Chef/Owner Chris Willis, focusing on the details and elevating local ingredients to create a special experience for the neighborhood.
Joseph Schwartz
Hailing from Greater Boston originally, and growing up in Pennsylvania, Joe's first foray into food was cooking dinner for his mom and his sister as a kid. What was once a childhood chore soon became a passion! During college at WVU, Joe took jobs at restaurants to pay for beer and rent, moving from BBQ joints to pizza and sub shops, and finally a gastropub. Joe was quickly taken by the thrill of a busy night, the grind, the heat, the burn scars. Wanting to take his culinary dreams to the next level, and return to New England, upon graduation, Joe enrolled in culinary school at NECI in Vermont. After which he landed a position at Craigie on Main working for Tony Maws. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Joe walked into Pammy’s with a resume and a firm handshake and asked for a job. A year later, Chef Chris asked him to be a Sous, and he couldn’t have been more excited to accept. Outside of work, Joe is definitely a momma's boy. He counts her as the reason why he puts his head down and grinds each and every day, just as she did raising his sister and him on her own. He’s a fanatic for sharp knives, and is constantly trying to instill that same passion and importance for proper tools to his fellow cooks. On his days off, you can usually find Joe wrenching on old motorcycles, sharpening his knives, or cooking with friends while spinning a record. Keeping his hands dirty is the only way he knows how to live!
WE’RE HIRING!
We are looking for dedicated, hardworking team members in both Front and Back of House. Send your resume to hiringatpammys@gmail.com
All reservations are for our $84 Choose-Your-Own Adventure Prix-Fixe Menu.
An A La Carte version of the menu is available daily in our Bar & Lounge. Walk-ins welcome!
$84 PER PERSON // 3 DISHES EACH
sample menu, subject to change
We apply a 6% Fee on All Checks.
There is a 6% is a Kitchen Administration Fee that exclusively and directly benefits our Back of House staff (line cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers), who by Massachusetts law may not be included in the tip pool.
info
PHONE
(617) 945-1761
EMAIL
info@pammyscambridge.com
LOCATION
928 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
HOURS
Monday - Thursday 5:00pm - 9:30pm
Bar: Last call 10:30!
Friday - Saturday 5:00pm - 10:30pm
Bar: Last call 11:30!
Closed Sundays
gift cards
Physical Gift Cards are available for purchase in person at the restaurant.
RESERVATIONs
Reservations are for groups of 5 or smaller and can be made up to 30 days in advance. We do not currently accept reservations for more than 5 people under any circumstances. We are serving an $84 choose-your-own-adventure 3 course menu for all reservations. We hold walk-in space daily in our Bar & Lounge for a la carte dining.
parking
Street parking is now extremely limited. Garages can be found a half mile in either direction in Central and Harvard Squares.
We advise our guests to take public transit, Redline Central Square and Harvard Square, 1 bus, 63 bus, or to partake in a ridesharing app.
For those driving in, we encourage you to account for time to find parking. Please call us if you need any help!
CONTACT US
Interested in hosting a private event? Celebrating something special? Have some feedback?
We would love to hear from you!
Reservations can be made for up to 5 guests, 30 days in advance. We cannot accommodate parties larger than 5 under any circumstances.
For reservations, please call our host team at 617-945-1761 Monday-Saturday after 3PM or click the OpenTable widget right above! For all other inquiries, please complete the form below.
PRESS
The Best Restaurants in Boston
“The standout dish is a luscious, smoky pasta that’s equal parts braised tripe and wavy mafaldine noodles, an incomparable bowl of squiggly goodness” by The New York Times
Best of the Best 2024
“Always classy, never pretentious. The staff cook and serve up the best Bolognese you’ve ever had, as well as cuts of meat and fish typically reserved for Michelin-starred spots, while also wearing jeans and cracking jokes like old friends” by The Boston Globe
Iconic Restaurants in Greater Boston
“A centerpiece tile hearth, rich leather banquettes, and a 14-foot communal table lined with flowers make Pammy’s feel like a good friend’s cozy living room. With an approachable menu of hearty Italian American dishes that could include lasagna bianca with wild onion chutney, wife-and-husband team Pam and Chris Willis have created an inviting space you’ll want to return to again and again” by OpenTable
What to order at Pammy’s
Owner Pam Willis shares what to order at her Cambridge trattoria by Jillian Dara
Star Chefs
Bartender, Rob Ficks Featured Cocktails
Sommelier, Katie Hubbard Featured Wine Pairings
Boston’s Best Restaurants for Weddings and Other Private Events
“[Pammy’s] blends New American cuisine with an Italian neighborhood feel: charming and thoughtfully designed interior, inviting vibes, and an innovative menu that combines familiar ingredients with something new” by Eater
6 MA Restaurants Among Top 100 In U.S.
“Six restaurants in Massachusetts are among the top 100 in America, according to a new ranking based on reviews from diners who attest to their quality.” by Megan VerHelst
The 50 Best Restaurants in Boston by Boston Magazine
Top 10 Nominee for Best Restaurants in Boston 2023 by Boston Magazine
For Pammy’s wine director Katie Hubbard, there are no pour choices by Boston Globe
“They’re just teeny tiny little grapes waiting to make someone happy.”
S2 EP 4: “All in the "Pam-ily" (with Pam & Chris Willis)”, Podcast Interview by The Food Lens
“Ever wonder what it would be like to grow up in a glamorous NYC hotel? Or down on the farm? We get the scoop from Pam and Chris Willis. Pam, the gregarious, fashionable front-of-the-house, and Chris, the creative but exacting chef, are behind the alchemy that is Pammy’s in Cambridge. Glamourous yet approachable, this elevated Italian-American spot is a reflection of the couple running the show. We dig into “Pam-ily” dynamics, the unsung beauty of fresh flour, and the emotional pay-off of running a neighborhood restaurant.”
Bon Appétit
“Top 50 Nominee for America’s Best New Restaurant 2018” by Bon Appétit
Best of Boston 2018 Winner: Best New Restaurant by Boston Magazine
“Owners Chris and Pam Willis call it a New American trattoria; we call it perfection in a neighborhood restaurant.”
– Jenna Pelletier and BoB editorial team
Restaurant of the Year by The Boston Globe
“The staff is warm and knowledgable, the space is lovely (that fireplace!), and the details are seen to with care. Eating here just kind of makes you feel good.”
– Devra First
At Pammy’s, Pleasure is the Principal, a 3-star review by Devra First in The Boston Globe
“Pammy’s pork chop deserves its own paragraph. First it’s brined, then rubbed with peppercorns, cardamom, and fennel seed. It’s served with cream of (freshly ground) wheat, a salad of matchstick-cut radishes, and a pool of pancetta dashi, the traditional Japanese stock enriched with cured pork. It’s all smoke upon smoke upon spice upon spice, every element building upon the last. It’s darn near perfect, both in design and execution.”
– Devra First
The Boston Globe
“Under the Influence of Italy” by The Boston Globe
Eater
“The Hottest Restaurants in Boston, Right Now” by Eater
Thrillist
“The Very Best Restaurants in Boston Right Now” by Thrillist
Wham, Pam by The Improper Bostonian
“The Willises clearly want Pammy’s to feel like a modestly elevated, unpretentious neighborhood joint, but the polish and urbanity behind the facade are impossible to miss.”
– MC Slim JB
Zagat
“Hottest Restaurants in Boston” by Zagat
Where Boston
“Pam-tastic” by Where Boston
“There must be a golden ratio that governs the balance of menu and interior design in the ideal restaurant universe. Achieving it can be very tricky but Cambridge newcomer Pammy’s comes pretty close.”
– Mike Hodgkinson
Best New Restaurants by Boston Magazine
“Chris’s beautifully restrained, Italian-influenced cooking…lets top-quality ingredients and textbook technique shine.”
– Jenna Pelletier
The Boston Globe Magazine
“Best of the New” by The Boston Globe Magazine
“Do we really need another Italian-inspired trattoria? We do when it’s this good. A quintessential neighborhood restaurant that might make you want to move to this neighborhood.”
– Kara Baskin, Devra First and Sheryl Julian
The Improper Bostonian
“Boston’s Best 2018 Winner: Boston’s Best Pasta” by The Improper Bostonian
Travel + Leisure
“This College Town Just Might Have New England’s Best Dining” by Travel + Leisure
”This welcoming spot from husband-and-wife team Pam and Chris Willis is quickly becoming a favorite haunt for locals — and a standard-bearer for the city’s revitalized restaurant scene.”
– Hannah Walhout
The Food Lens
“Wine Pairing with a Pro: Lauren Hayes at Pammy's” by The Food Lens