Pagu

Pagu is a James Beard-recognized, Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in Cambridge's Central Square from chef-owner Tracy Chang, a Lexington native who draws on her experience cooking Japanese, Spanish, and Taiwanese food. The menu centers on inventive Spanish-Japanese tapas, and the bar program extends to a thoughtful lineup of named non-alcoholic cocktails alongside its spirited list and Spanish wines. Its signature mocktail, the "Bara No Bara," layers tart blood orange and pomegranate with rice vinegar and cacao rose water for a complex, garden-like sip, and the "Makrut Mojito" reworks the minty classic with creamy coconut milk. The kitchen is fully nut-free and can modify dishes to be gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, reflecting a broadly accommodating, hospitality-first approach. The 310 Massachusetts Avenue space sits in the heart of Central Square and is open daily for dinner, Sunday through Wednesday 5-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 5-10pm. Pagu's mocktails have been highlighted by Boston Magazine in its roundup of the city's most creative non-alcoholic drinks, underscoring a bar team known for combinations that are as inventive as the food.