Waypoint Review: One-Dollar Oysters and Creative Dishes Paired with Rather Inventive Timing

If one ever decides to take a stroll along Massachusetts Avenue during peak dinner-time hours, one is sure to find Waypoint packed to the brim. A seafood restaurant located in between Harvard and Central Square, Waypoint offers a variety of dishes for everyone to enjoy, with selections ranging from the raw bar to pasta, pizza, and more.

Waypoint is the second Cambridge restaurant by Chef Michael Scelfo, who also founded Alden & Harlow in Harvard Square. For Chef Scelfo, the forward-moving connotation of the restaurant’s name mirrors the food selection offered, as his food blends familiar coastal-inspired dishes with creative elements.

In terms of the dining room layout, although the tables are placed relatively close to one another, Waypoint still manages to feel quite spacious — especially considering its location in Cambridge, where many restaurants operate in smaller spaces. Waypoint offers bar seating, cozy booths along the perimeter, and even large tables in the middle of the main dining floor, allowing parties of all sizes — nervous couples on their first date or three generations of a family having a reunion — to feel comfortable within the confines of the restaurant.

Waypoint is perhaps best known for its one-dollar oysters available every day from the hours of 5 to 7 p.m. As oysters are generally associated with luxury dining experiences, it is surprising that a small business in Cambridge is able to offer such an affordable deal to consumers on a daily basis. Yet, it seems that this deal has been a constant staple of Waypoint — some of the restaurant’s promotional material for this steal traces back to 2018.

The oysters offered on one particular day in October were Spindrift oysters from Westport, Mass. Relative to other oysters, these are much larger in size, giving the impression that one would really be getting a lot of bang for their buck. However, this variety tastes rather salty on its own — akin to swallowing seawater — but thankfully Waypoint offers the classic array of sides and condiments, including lemons and cocktail sauce, that pair nicely with the oysters. It’s truly hard to overlook the value of enjoying a luxury food like oysters at such an affordable price.

Although the tables are placed relatively close to one another, Waypoint still manages to feel quite spacious. By Wonjae Suh

Entrées at Waypoint are delivered to the table as soon as the kitchen finishes preparing them, so the restaurant’s staff recommends sharing dishes since they do not course them out. Despite this, it’s difficult as a consumer to take their advice to heart, as Waypoint is not exactly a tapas-style restaurant; figuring out how exactly to split cast iron salmon or a seared tuna and rice bowl feels like an unusual task.

The cast iron salmon dish features a block of salmon accompanied by a small salad. While the salmon itself is somewhat bland alone, the nuts scattered around the edges of the dish add a welcome crunch of flavor. Moreover, the salad, topped with torched grapes, offers a zesty, refreshing contrast. Individually, the salmon and salad are decent, but together, the combination feels mismatched — like having a light lunch alongside a hearty dinner entrée.

Beyond the typical seafood options, Waypoint also finds somewhat innovative ways to integrate seafood with Italian dishes like pizza and pasta. The uni bucatini is definitely a highlight of their menu, offering a rich, creamy flavor from the uni. While undeniably delicious, it is unfortunately one of those dishes that — with its intense flavor — could become overwhelming if enjoyed in large quantities.

Due to Waypoint’s approach of delivering dishes as soon as they are ready, the noticeable gap in time between the arrival of the cast iron dish and the uni bucatini is understandable. However, for those who prefer not to navigate sharing non-tapas-style dishes or would rather keep an entire entrée to themselves, the wait can be inconvenient, especially for hungry guests eager for the rest of the table to receive their dishes.

Overall, Waypoint offers an intriguing mix of innovative seafood dishes, but the dining experience may not appeal to everyone. While dishes like the uni bucatini showcase a rich, inventive approach to seafood, other aspects — such as the disjointed timing of courses and the challenge of sharing non-tapas-style dishes — can detract from the experience. Nevertheless, for those willing to navigate these quirks, Waypoint provides a creative and varied menu.

—Staff writer Allison S. Park can be reached at allison.park@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @allisonskypark.