PAGU is a James Beard Foundation nominated Spanish Japanese tapas restaurant located in Cambridge, MA. Inspired by Chang's experiences at O Ya, Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Spanish three-star Michelin Restaurante Martin Berasategui, Guchi's Midnight Ramen, and Harvard's Science + Cooking Program, the menu highlights local ingredients, while celebrating the harmony of flavors and techniques of Japanese and Spanish cuisines.
PAGU's award winning team works with you to plan every detail from menu, to cocktails, to space design, hotel accommodation and everything in between to ensure that your rehearsal dinner, wedding reception, or ceremony is absolutely perfect. Our chef /owner Tracy Chang is 100% hands on and will custom design your menu and experience from start to finish.
Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Food & Catering, Planning, Se Habla Español, Rentals & Equipment, Tents, Service Staff
Settings
Restaurant
Business Attributes
Asian-owned Business, Woman-owned Business
Pricing for PAGU
Option
Value
Starting Cost
Affordable
Cost Starting
Price Range
$13,400 - $17,750+
Couples Usually Spend
$15,550
Peak Season Months
September-November
Peak Season Cost
$13,400 - $17,750+
Peak Season Reception Cost
Peak Season Ceremony Cost
Peak Season Bar Service Cost
OffSeason Months
January-March, June-August, December
OffSeason Cost
$13,400 - $17,750+
OffSeason Reception Cost
OffSeason Ceremony Cost
OffSeason BarService Cost
PAGU Reviews
Irene Li(bride)5 out of 5 Rating
We chose PAGU for a couple different reasons. We knew we wanted to have a restaurant wedding - I produce weddings as part of my job, and as much as I love a farmhouse wedding, I've seen how much work goes in to it and it didn't feel worth it when what we really cared about was the food, beverage, and convenience. Enter PAGU, where the food is Asian but also modern and fun, the drinks are delicious, the wine selection approachable but interesting, the space is beautiful, and all our favorite bars are within 2 blocks! We also wanted to support another young woman running a restaurant of her own vision and making, and when we really thought about it, there weren't that many options in that category that could also fit a 100+ person party. Why not? Let's change that! So we felt even more excited about making a choice that aligned with our hopes for the future of the industry in Boston. Planning the menu was the best part - so much fun food and drink. Tracy helped us figure out every detail and our guests loved the food, much of which was totally new to them! We had full run of the space, which was awesome, and the patio was fantastic as well. The staff were awesome too, everything was seamless. Reviewed on 02-01-2019
Tara Lee(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We had our Rehearsal Dinner and Welcome Drinks at PAGU, and it was the perfect setting to welcome our friends and family into the Boston/Cambridge area! We did a four-course family style dinner for our Rehearsal Dinner, and the food was amazing - our guests loved the food and the variety that they were able to try. After the dinner, the PAGU staff helped transition the space into a Welcome Drinks space with drinks and passed appetizers. We loved working with Amanda as our event coordinator to iron out the details leading up to and the day-of the event, and the owner Tracy was present throughout the day to make sure everything tasted great and went smoothly. Thank you again to the PAGU team for helping to make our wedding weekend so memorable! Reviewed on 07-08-2023
Sara Krakauer(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-05-2019 We had our reception at Pagu and they were awesome to work with. We took over the whole restaurant (~120 people). The food was amazing, and not your typical “wedding food” which we loved. Some highlights:* They were super flexible about all the different ideas we had, like no assigned tables and bringing in a giant balloon photo frame.* We met with the bartender and designed our own “his” and “hers” signature cocktails which was super fun. * We underestimated how much food we’d need and they just adjusted last minute and it worked out perfectly. * They got us a deal on the hotel that is literally less than a block from the restaurant, and it was very convenient. * They also recommended a local florist, who we found to be very reasonably priced and we loved working with.* They let us bring in our own dessert (along with their yummy ice cream)* We lucked out with the weather and used the patio, which was so lovely. But we had a plan for rain too, which made me feel less stressed on the day of. * My mom is allergic to shellfish and we included shrimp in our menu. They were so conscientious checking in with her and making sure she was safe. * We got LOTS of compliments from our guests that our wedding was one of their favorites of all time. * Everyone was just really nice and helpful! Tracey is talented at what she does and her calm helped make things less stressful for us. Reviewed on 26-05-2023
Beth Shugert(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 21-05-2022 We chose PAGU as the venue for our 70-person wedding because we were really excited about the space, the location, and most of all their wonderful food. They delivered on all of these things and more! The food was indeed magnificent, but also the whole PAGU team was really easy to work with, accommodated all of our requests, and was helpful in suggesting vendors to work with without pressuring us to choose anyone in particular. They supported us well enough that we were totally comfortable not having a separate day-of coordinator. We especially appreciated their firm but reasonable COVID safety policies. Six months later we have absolutely no regrets about our event and friends are still coming up to tell us what a great time they had! Reviewed on 05-01-2023
Amanda Chu(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 02-06-2022 I highly recommend Pagu for your next event! My husband and I held a welcome drinks event there prior to our wedding and had an outstanding experience. Tracy, Caroline and the rest of the Pagu team truly helped bring every aspect of our vision to life. From planning the food and drink menu to the decor, music and the overall ambience, we couldn’t be happier with our experience. The food is always unique and in-season and the drinks are delicious. Tracy and Caroline were also very easy to contact and communicate with throughout the whole process which made planning smooth and easy! Reviewed on 03-01-2023
Eva Luo(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 04-06-2022 PAGU could not have been a better place to host our rehearsal dinner. We were looking for personalized service with impeccable food and drink that represented a bit of our Asian heritage, love for adventure, and desire to give only the best to our dearest friends and family. PAGU (+Tracy personally) hosted an incredible tasting and worked with us to develop a customized menu. We also had a special session where we developed \"his and her\" cocktails: feelings and vague descriptions of flavors magically became delicious cocktails. Everyone complimented us that this was some of the best food they had ever tasted and they had an incredible experience. This was the perfect event to kick off our wedding weekend. We highly recommend it! Reviewed on 25-12-2022
Brittany Chiang(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-10-2022 Pagu was the perfect place for our small wedding! From the very beginning, we felt very welcomed by Tracy and the staff. In the months leading up to the wedding, Caroline, the events coordinator, worked with us to nail down everything from our menu & signature drinks to day-of order of operations, table layout, and music. We always felt like we were in good hands. The indoor restaurant space has a warm, sophisticated vibe and was the perfect size for our 50+ guests, just cozy enough but not cramped at all. The patio space was also great for cocktail hour activities like corn hole and simply just getting a breather from the festivities inside. All of our guests had a great time and enjoyed the unique food and drink. Many thanks to everyone at Pagu who helped make our special day run smoothly! Reviewed on 23-12-2022
Zoë Newman(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-05-2022 The entire team at Pagu made sure that my wedding day was spectacular (shoutout to Tracy and Caroline)! From the moment I began planning my wedding, it was clear that they were dedicated to making my day special. They were attentive to details with setting up decor and making the space ethereal. They offered indoor and outdoor areas and gave me options for using the whole space efficiently. They truly made my vision a reality! The food and drinks were also delicious and creative, and the staff were exceptionally professional. Everything was executed smoothly behind the scenes, so I could enjoy every moment of my wedding. I highly recommend Pagu for a fun and unique affair! Reviewed on 21-12-2022
Lauren Sears(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-10-2022 We’ve always been big fans and customers of PAGU so knew it would be the perfect venue for our wedding. Service and food are very important to us, and PAGU exceeded all our expectations. The planning process was easy and stress free as PAGU handled it all and asked all the right questions to understand our needs. Our wedding night was magical and so fun! The restaurant is already a beautiful space but they transformed it with fairy lights and curtains on the glass windows for privacy. Highly recommend if you want a perfect, intimate wedding with amazing food, drinks, and service! Reviewed on 21-12-2022
Zoe Weinstein(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-09-2022 Absolutely wonderful experience!This was a during-Covid wedding and the staff and the masking/vaccination rules made us feel extra safe. I have dietary restrictions (celiac) and Tracy and the chefs/cooks were incredible at making sure everything was safe for me to eat. Our tasting (almost 1 year before the wedding) was fantastic, the food was amazing. The general back and forth for communication could have been slightly faster and we had to be more on top of communications but we felt very cared for. Day of the staff, especially Caroline, was amazing—from small things, like grabbing some bandaids for my ankles, to big things, like making sure that we were aware of where we were in the booze budget. The food was *incredible* and the loft area the perfect place for my wife and I to freak out right before the ceremony started. It’s a small space—mostly standing room for ceremony—but with just enough seats for those who needed it. The staff sent us home with extra cake, a cocktail each, and a gift card for our 1 year anniversary. We had an amazing wedding, and can’t wait to go back. If you’re looking for a cozy venue in the heart of Cambridge with easy parking, a patio, incredible food, and amazing staff, this is the place for you. Reviewed on 20-12-2022
Chelsea Goldberg(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-10-2021 Pagu was the perfect choice for our brunch wedding reception. We purchased a full buy-out of the restaurant with 75 guests, using both the chic indoor space and the spacious outdoor patio. My husband and I are foodies and our main priorities when searching for a wedding venue were the food and choosing an all-inclusive venue so we could truly enjoy our special day eating delicious food with our closest family and friends. We created a customized menu that focused on seasonal ingredients that we found exciting yet was accessible to guests who may be slightly less adventurous. Tracy and Isabel worked with us every step of the way to create our menu while also ensuring we had options for our guests with dietary restrictions. Our menu items included patatas bravas, mushroom toast, Hamachi sashimi, black cod croquettas, pork belly bao, green pea bao, edamame hummus, kale and brussels sprouts salad, tempura brussels sprouts, chicken katsu and waffles, veggie paella, wagyu brisket sandwiches, breakfast pizza, ube/maple twist soft serve, and a dark chocolate mousse cake. So many of our guests, including our less adventurous guests and guests with dietary restrictions, came up to us and told us that this was not only the best wedding food they’d ever had but that it was some of the best food they’d ever had…. Ever. Additionally, we created customized “His and Hers” cocktails with a bartender at Pagu which was so fun and delicious! We specifically chose a restaurant wedding to require minimal additional planning on our part. Pagu took care of everything from the wait staff and bartender to the cutlery, linens, tables, chairs, food, drink, dessert, AV equipment, set up, clean up etc. Tracy and Isabel were very responsive and helpful throughout the entire process, always answering our many questions in a kind and timely manner.In the weeks leading up to the brunch, we met with Isabel and Tracy multiple times to ensure that Pagu was able to follow our vision and that our brunch ran smoothly. Tracy also put us in touch with some other great vendors, including Ben Schaefer of Silver and Salt Photography, who we used for our event.In regard to Covid precautions, Pagu took every step to make our guests feel as safe as possible, including requiring each guest to be vaccinated, temperature checks at the door, requiring all the staff and guests to wear masks, and having the staff distribute food.We 100% recommend hosting a wedding celebration at Pagu and we are looking forward to hosting events at Pagu again in the future! Reviewed on 17-01-2022
Anna Simmons(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 15-02-2020 Pagu was the absolute best. The food and the staff couldn’t be better for a wedding. We are overjoyed at how perfect a party it was! Reviewed on 17-02-2020
Emma Clarke(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-09-2019 We had our wedding reception at Pagu this September and could not recommend it more highly! Tracy and her team were so wonderful to work with. The planning process was easy and fun, and Tracy and her staff were super proactive in anticipating and preventing possible issues and challenges. The food and drinks were simply outstanding (our guests raved about it!), and the venue setup was perfect. Pagu feels sophisticated, intimate and comfortable as a venue. Between the bar area, the outdoor area, and the full restaurant floor, there are lots of different spaces for people to mingle and interact. Tracy and her team are finally just really friendly, warm and caring people - we could not be happier with our choice! Reviewed on 28-10-2019
Kathlyn Kao(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-08-2019 After searching extensively for the right reception venue, PaGU was one the last place we saw, and upon meeting with Tracy Chang, the owner and head chef, and touring the space, it was immediate and intuitive that we had to have our reception at PaGU. We chose PaGU for a number of reasons (delicious, spectacular innovative food, a flexible and lively space and outdoor space, a one-in-all kind of place: drinks, waitstaff, kitchen staff, audio system, etc. that required very little management from us), but most of all we chose PaGU because of Tracy Chang and her staff. There was something charismatic, intangible and all around good feelings from them. They were steady, responsive, professional and provided a quality in their service that you want when you are planning a wedding and you are already inundated with so many things. Tracy and her team made us feel easy, worked with our budget, and they were also excited! It's contagious when you meet people who love what they do, who pour love into what they do, who literally live for what they do, and want to share it with others. PaGU is also a local woman-owned business, that is not only providing spectacular service and food, but also contributes back to the Cambridge community. As locals, this was something that was important to my husband and myself, and even after the wedding, my husband and I will continue to go to PaGU (it's one of our favorite restaurants ;) ) Reviewed on 25-08-2019
Emily Goldsmith(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-06-2019 We held our wedding welcome reception with 100 guests at Pagu and it was excellent!! We had eaten at Pagu before and loved the food so we reached out to Tracy and her team about hosting our reception there. It didn't take long for us to finalize our decision to go with Pagu as Tracy was responsive and open and it was immediately clear that it would be a smooth and fun experience to work with her. We had a tasting and designed the menu (mainly passed appetizers and small plates) and also had a chance to design custom cocktails. The lead up to the event was all incredibly easy and the event itself went perfectly. Everyone raved about the food, location, and ambience. I'm personally obsessed with all of the desserts (in particular the matcha green tea cookies)! If you're looking for a restaurant to host an event, I would highly recommend Pagu. We're excited to go back for lunch and dinner and hope to find an excuse in the future to host another event there! Reviewed on 10-07-2019
Brian -(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-12-2018 We hosted our wedding reception at Pagu and had a wonderful time! Tracy and her team took every step to meet our needs. From the custom food & wine menu to the adaptable and versatile venue layout, we had a bespoke event that suited our style. The space was brilliant and captured the unique nature of our celebration – not cookie cutter at all. The food was gorgeous and delicious. We also loved that Tracy was so accessible and accommodating, and we’re proud to support a local female chef-owner. This was most of our family & friends first time dining at Pagu and many of them, including us, will be back! Reviewed on 30-01-2019
Rebecca Hartman(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-10-2018 We had our rehearsal dinner at Pagu and couldn't have been happier. Tracy and her team are phenomenal - they go through all the details to create the ideal experience for your event. We met with several other restaurants in the area, and Tracy was by far the most reasonable person to work with. She will help make your event delicious, unique, fun, and reasonably priced. We received several compliments from our family and friends about the rehearsal dinner and she accommodated all dietary needs with ease. I really like how Pagu gives you options to meet your needs - you can do a whole restaurant buyout or buyout one area of the restaurant. Reviewed on 26-12-2018