I have gone to the Comedy Studio for years and miss being close by! I love how there is a variety of different comedy styles, and the show is a good two hours long. For $10-$12, it is a great deal for a night out. The food options aren't the greatest, but it's a comedy show first and foremost. I suggest making reservations online. Yes, you'll pay a convenience fee BUT you can arrive closer to 8 and have a guaranteed, reserved seat. The studio usually books up when school's in session, so if you know you'll be in town, reserve well in advance.
Review Source:Great evening. Intimate setting. Causal. Host is equally has entertaining as the comedians. there was a nice variety of comedians the night I went, some were better than others, but the variety left something for everyone's sense of humor I think. Inexpensive tickets & inexpensive drinks. And if you feel like hanging around, you can go downstairs to Hong Kong & have drinks with the comedians afterwords. The establishment isn't the fanciest of places, so don't expect white table cloths or fancy things such as that. It's pretty much a hidden Boston gem.
Review Source:First comedy club I've ever been to and had a blast. Â They get their food from the resturant, Hong Kong, which is located underneath the club. Â The food and drink prices are very competitive, and they usually have a good special going. Â The comedians are quite good, however definitely seem to be under a tight schedule. Â The show started around 8pm and promptly ended at 10pm. Â Will certainly go again.
Review Source:Great value! Highly recommend checking this place out at least once.
Show: There about 8-10 comedians who perform each night. Some are funny and some are not. Each performer only has about 5-10 minutes of show time so its not big deal if you don't like them.
Location/Ambiance: Easily accessible, convenient location in Harvard Sq. You can take the train or park at garage ($10 discounted rate at ProPark). The comedy club is located on the top floor of Hong Kong Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant. The first floor is the actual restaurant, the second floor is a bar and the third floor is a dance club, which turns into a comedy club in the evenings.
Food: You can order Chinese food from the restaurant during the show. The food is not very good so if you have time to grab a bite in Harvard Sq before the show go for it. They also do not have proper utensils (aka no butter knifes). Therefore if you order chicken, you cannot cut it with a knife into small pieces. You have to rudely bite into large chunks of meat...certainly not ideal first date etiquette! When I asked for a knife, the staff told me that they don't have them. I find it odd, mainly because there is a Chinese restaurant right downstairs. Even when you order take out Chinese food, they usually provide you with both a fork and knife. I mean these are plastic utensils, which probably cost a couple of cents.
Drinks: pretty reasonably priced beverages. I suggest getting bottled beers instead of draught beers. Shock top is what they have on tap for extremely cheap...however it tastes rather funny. It doesn't taste like normal Shock top...tastes more like a carbonated juice.
Service: One thing that bothered me was that during the show a keg malfunctioned and made an extremely loud sound. It took them at least 10 minutes to fix it. I couldn't hear the comedians or focus for those 10 minutes. I am not sure if that is a common occurence as I have only been to this place once.
Value: The price of the show is a flat $12 rate per person (no drink minimum required). The price makes sense to me. I think that if the show was anymore expensive, it wouldn't be as great value. This is because the not all of the comedians are funny so you're never sure what you're going to get. When you're only paying $12, you have low expectations...therefore it always ends up being a good time!
Overall, I had a great experience at the Comedy Studio. I would recommend checking it out as it is something different to do in Boston / Cambridge. If you plan on attending on a Friday or Saturday, you may want to get you're tickets ahead of time because the show does sell out.
Absolute best comedy spot in the city; I've been a regular here for years. Cool atmosphere (attic of a Chinese restaurant that looks like a scene out of Big Trouble in Little China), but go here for the quality of the comedians. Friday and Saturday nights tend to sell out, so buy your tickets early.
Review Source:This is my absolute favorite comedy studio that I have ever been to ever, (and that including NYC, San Fransisco, Philly and more)
You get mixed bag of comedians (about 8-12 performers) and not all of them are funny but I would say about 80% of them are. I have had many a riotous night at the comedy studio.
The price is super reasonable, you can order Chinese apps, and the drinks are generous.
I went once a week when I lived in Boston, and now whenever I visit I go while I am in town.
Too funny to pass up!
Best comedy in town! Granted, it's the only comedy stop I made while I was in Boston, but I"m pretty sure no one could do it better. Â This one is located in the attic of a Chinese restaurant and only 12$ to get in. BIG and LITTLE stars stand up here. Â Don't miss this laugh a minute show in Harvard Square.
Review Source:Just like all the other reviews, this place is great! The drinks are stiff, entry is only $12, and the host is great. Get there early, as parking is a bit tricky and tickets sell out fast- it's first come, first serve. I found it especially interesting to see a comedian that I've seen several times in Vegas. In total, there were 10 comics each performing 10 min each. It was great to enjoy a show in the attic of an asian restaurant in the Harvard district and it was one of the highlights of my trip. You can order chinese food during the show. The crab ragoon was an okay snack, but I would skip the greasy fried rice. All in all, just go! You will not regret it!
Review Source:Holy cow, this place is great! A small, intimate venue with first-rate shows, plus Chinese food and alcohol (beer, wine, fruity cocktails) on demand. The shows are very reasonable priced, and you're under no obligation to order anything.
Also, the Comedy Studio stands out for treating little-known comedians with respect. On the website, a show's lineup is listed alphabetically by last name, rather than putting the headliner in BIG BOLD FONT and relegating the openers to a footnote. They have a program called "Comedian in Residence" that takes an upcoming local talent and has him or her open for every show for an entire month so they can hone their act. In short, this place is a fantastic boon to Boston's comedy scene.
Don't overlook the magic show on Tuesdays. It's an amazing show that deserves to be better known. There are plenty of laughs to go with the mind-boggling tricks.
One tip: If you buy your ticket online, you pay a little extra, but you get a reserved seat toward the front. The earlier you book your ticket, the closer to the stage you'll be. So even if the show doesn't sell out, you'll be glad you bought your ticket in advance.
A hidden gem! I came here with a date not knowing what to expect. All I knew was that it was open for only 2 hours of the night and they served scorpion bowls. Turns out it's part of the same building as a Chinese Restaurant, which makes food and drinks easily accessible for the wait staff, who happen to be very friendly and on the ball. Its a relatively intimate-sized room, but thats part of its charm.
The Comedy Studio tends to book anything from amateur to weathered and more experienced comedians, which makes for a little hit or miss. But that's what makes this place important. To paraphrase the host/owner, "great comedians get their start at places like THIS".
This is a great place to go with a date and a group of friends alike. Hell, go down even if you're forever alone. At $8 bucks per entry fee, you CANNOT go wrong.
This place is raw. This place is dark. This place is bare bones. This place is pretty awesome.
It's basically some guy's passion project where he rents the out-of-the-way function room at a restaurant and brings in comedians. The barren stage is dark and deliciously low fi. They pack the place with as many folding chairs as will fit snaked along collapsable tables and the beer stained walls.
But the comedy itself? This isn't a glossy club that books known acts. Like I said, this is raw.
You might get killed by a big name who wasn't on the bill trying out new material before he goes on tour. You might be checking your watch while a  scientist spews awkwardness as he tries to fulfill rock-and-roll dreams (on a comedy stage).
But there's a reason it always sells out. And that reason is raw awesomeness.
We went on a Thursday night, had a great time, and will definitely be back! Scorpion bowls, per usual at Hong Kong, are great. I always love supporting local comedians (I can't imagine getting on stage like that) and while some were awesome and some were not great, the overall experience was awesome.
Everyone there was super nice, the owner was great and super accomodating and I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to do a birthday party or some other event that isn't just the usual "dinner and drinks" (nothing wrong with that but it can easily get sort of repetitive).
Dropped by again on a Thursday for some more fun. Â Sean Sullivan is the host on Thursdays, and is super funny. Â This is just such a great spot to check out some new comics that you haven't seen before.
I have to give a special shout to Alex Grubard who easily stole the night for me. Â He killed it. Â Hilarious guy with impeccable delivery. Â I'm keeping my eye on him and so should you.
I'm impressed: Â 12 comics, and all of them solid. Â They even threw in some surprise local semi-famous comedians. Â Also, super cheap!
And...... GIANT SCORPION BOWLS!!!!! Â Good thing I shared one with 3 other people. Â Had I taken on this monster by myself, I would've been on the floor.
I went to last Friday's show at The Comedy Studio. All of their shows start at 8pm, and tickets range from $8-10 (depending on the day of the week). I'm a huge fan of stand-up, so I was excited to check out The Comedy Studio. A lot of seats were reserved- groups can call ahead and reserve their seats. The space was small, but we walked in around 7:45 and got a table for 3 people in the back without a problem.
We saw about 9 performances over the course of the night. A few were hilarious, a few were pretty good, and one or two bombed pretty bad. Overall, I was laughing for most of the show. For $10, it was a great deal. My friend had gone to a show a few weeks ago, and he said all of the comedians were different.
My one complaint was the service- we had a lot of trouble ordering drinks throughout the show. Our waitress seemed to get orders from one table, meander back to the bar, sit there and wait for the bartender to make the drinks (often texting while waiting), and then meandered back to bring the drinks to the table and slowly move to the next table. We could easily have drank double the drinks that we did, or ordered a bowl.
But I would go back in a heartbeat- it was a great start to my Friday night!!
returned for the second time tonight, a week from my first visit
the second time always better :)
Despite the fact that I missed the first half, there was a great variety of awesome comedians tonight - higher quality than a week ago (esp the indian comic and the gal with the awesome hair) .
worth the T ride ...
again-friendly staff, funny comic/owner Rick, bouncer who remembered my friend and me...
if i were a resident here, I'd be a regular patron of the comedy studio.
Would definitely add this venue into a must-see/return-visit place whenever I'm in MA again. :D
I visited on a Friday night when they typically have a series of comics do short sets. FYI, the Friday night show actually starts on time and is not interrupted by many people moving, so plan to arrive on time and stay put/quiet while you're in there.
Compared to other stand-up in the area, this was much higher quality. Out of the 8 or so comics we saw, I'd say 2 were awful, 4 were funny, and 2 were truly hilarious. This is a pretty good ratio. This is a great deal for $10 and I plan to go back.
One Tuesday Mystery Lounge (magic+comedy) night, I "shared" a scorpion bowl with a friend. Apparently, drinking the bowl with 3 straws can either be a really great night or a really bad night. Sure, I may have been picked for the magician's act every time to be drunkenly duped (perhaps slightly intoxicatedly swaying). It's true they will give you a dvd of evidence, but damn what a great night that was.
I've been here many nights just to replicate that one night. While they don't come close, it's damn good enough. I love this place.
OH. MY. GOD. WOW. just WOW.
first off:
2 words: SCORPiON BOWL(S) (as per the suggestion of fellow yelpers)
you can't even taste the alcohol, but be assured there sure is SOMETHiNG in there. I am hardly ever the type to jump up on stage to participate in antics, but after a few sips out of scorpion bowl #1 I was already up on stage acting a fooL!
I went for the Tuesday Night MYSTERY LOUNGE. And by time you stumble out of there you'd swear it was a Friday night!!
I HAVE NEVER had so much fun on a TUESDAY night. The vibe was beyond excellent.
I almost don't even want to go back because I'm pretty sure I can't recreate the awesomeness of last night. And they even gave DVDs out to the people who participated on stage!! I HAVE NEVER gotten more BANG for my BUCK!!
THANKS to GROUPON I brought all of my friends. Go with a group. . .makes it even more hystericaL!
only 1 con: the 3 flights of stairs are a bit daunting after 2 scorpion bowls. . .
The Scorpion bowls were awesome, tasted like jungle juice and is in a large bowl. Â We ordered our tickets through the ETix site and had VIP seating up front. Â There were supposed to be 10 comedians but there were a couple additional special guests which made the show run a little longer. Â Overall the comedians were good, but its still a 50/50 hit or miss. Â Some were really bad, but others were very good. Â
The place also sits atop Hong Kong restaurant, which is comedic in itself, but also very convenient if you are running late and need some food. Â I recommend the Beef Chow fun, pretty good stuff.
This place can be hit or miss. It's more often hit, but there are definitely some misses. I've seen some really good shows here with some very funny performers, but I have also seen a couple of shows that had very awkward hosts and some comedians simply are not so funny.
I would've given it 3 stars, but one of the times I was there, Bill Burr stopped in as a special guest and was so funny. That right there gives it an extra star.
Went to Mystery Lounge last night (Magic Show - Tuesday Nights) and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Â That's right! Â We have been to the regular shows at Comedy Studio and they are fantastic and then we got 2 for 1 coupons for Mystery Lounge and decided to give it a shot.
Well, let me tell you, do they put on a show!
The performers are both magicians and comedians. They capture your attention and wow you with some simple tricks and tricks that make you go WOW!
If you're ever bored on Tuesday night, save yourself and go to Mystery Lounge at the Comedy Studio. Â You'll love it
I had pretty low expectations for this place since it's in Hong Kong. (Nothing against Hong Kong but it's not really a shining beacon of fine evening entertainment.) It turned out to be REALLY FUNNY! For I think six bucks I saw six or seven comedians (there were more but I had to leave early). Probably four were hysterical, another one or two were quite funny, and probably only one was a real miss.
Admission does vary, or so I've heard, but I still wouldn't hesitate to pay the full $10. Hell, I think it's good enough to be worth even more than that, but I'm not gonna go giving them any ideas...
This place is truly the definition of a hidden gem.
Seriously, it's hidden above a Chinese restaurant and one of the rowdiest bars in Harvard Square. They also don't advertise.
I've been to improv in San Francisco, cracked up with Nick Swardson in Chicago, rolled my eyes at Jay Leno in Coronado, and heckled several comedians coming through Covington so I like to think I know my comedy. I laughed my hardest and was most impressed on Saturday night at The Comedy Studio.
The best part is that there are several comedians and they were ALL funny. Every single one. Most of them have been or will be on Comedy Central or The Late Show so see them now while you can.
The host gets major points for mentioning Yelp, making the birthday girl feel special (he ripped her a bit and she loved it), and just being an all-around friendly guy.
This is by  far the best entertainment venue I've found since I've lived in Boston and better yet, I can walk (crawl) home after a few scorpion bowls.
I've been here twice, so this review is for a Friday night show and a Saturday night show. Â The Saturday night show was HILARIOUS. Â One of the best. Â Rick Jenkins (the owner) hosted that night, and he was the man.
That being said, I went to a Friday night show, and it was a real let down. Â I was excited to bring my little brother here after a real positive experience the first time, but ugh. Â Maybe it's just that I could NOT stand the host (Renata Tutko) who ironically performed at the first show I went to and was the worst part of the whole thing.
The venue is tiny, but doesn't feel like it. Â I love how you can order chinese too, if desired. Â The beef chow foon is great.
Bottom line: an amazing time, but go on Saturday.
Improbably located upstairs from the Hong Kong Restaurant, the Comedy Studio makes for one of the best nights out in Harvard Square. For a very reasonable fee (admission varies between $8 and $10) you'll be able to see a diverse lineup of up-and-coming stand-up acts, some of which are likely on their way to being famous on the national stage.
The comics here are seriously funny (I don't think I've ever seen an act that was a dud during my visits). The material can be quite edgy, but the overall vibe is pretty laid back. The audience heckling that does go on is good-natured, and the performers, staff, and Rick Jenkins, the host and owner, are all very friendly and seem to really enjoy what they're doing.
Shows tend to sell out very quickly on the weekends and holidays, so I would suggest booking your ticket online in advance to get a table and a $1 discount on your admission fee. If the tables are all booked, do not fear, you can get there early in person and snag one of the seats available along the wall--this setup however, is not terribly conducive to enjoying Chinese food and scorpion bowls while watching the show ;-)
Pros: Saturday night shows are only $10, most of the comedians are at least decent if not good, the owner is a cool guy. Â No drink minimum.
Cons: A few comedians in the lineup are more miss-than-hit.
Other: Avoid the seats near the ice-cold AC. Â Reserve online if you want a table, but the general admission seats are still decent. Â The entrance to the pantry looks like a cave.
This place is a hidden gem for the Boston newcomer. When was the last time you saw hilarious comedy in Boston for 10 bucks? I've been here at least half a dozen times and noticed that the main performer usually has the same jokes...but that doesn't make them any less funny. If you're at least a semi-attractive woman, just know that you might get hit on as part of the act.
You can order a scorpion bowl and a chinese app. platter and watch the show. No seat is a bad seat as it's a small place. But, you do kind of feel like you're part of a group up there. I'd recommend it!!
$10 + an array of great comedians = a no brainer! Â Â
There was a good variety of comedic styles, pretty much something for every taste. Â Â Often some great comedic talent you've never heard of either. Â
You may want to purchase tickets in advance as seating is tight. Â Located upstairs from the Chinese joint.
Shhhhh, keep it quiet, the chinese don't know they're up there!
A friend introduced me to this place, and I've enjoyed it every time I've gone. Â I honestly think a big part of it is the variety format: if you don't like an act, just wait a few minutes. Â I think that's a step up from places where if you don't like the headliner, you're out of luck.
High points: Â Admission is cheap, the location is convenient, the acts are funny and varied, the host is quite a character (with a knack for remembering his regulars and a penchant for corny jokes), the venue is cozy, they serve the full menu of food and drink from the restaurant downstairs (although the wait is a bit long, and it's good to reserve a table if you want to enjoy a full meal, the edge seats are better suited for finger food).
This place is a good stop for anyone feeling down and in the dump. Â There are usually a handful of solid comedians that are here each night. Â The host is usually entertaining and tries to involve the crowd in some of his corny jokes. Â He has a tendency to reuse some stuff, but you can either laugh with him or you can laugh at him. Â He goes for the perve act and tries to hit on the younger girls in the place, but it is all in good fun. Â
This place not only has comedy, but it also has a fantastic drink, the scorpion bowl. Â Beware of these though. Â They may not taste like alcohol, but there is plenty in one of these to get you going. Â Before you know it, you will be up on stage doing the macarena with the creepy host. Â
It is a bit small in here, so on the busy nights you should probably get here early to get a good seat, or a seat at all. Â There have been times where there was plenty of seating and there have been times where we had to sit on each others laps because there was no other place. Â This is a must stop when in Harvard square with some free time or if you don't have anything else to do.
Was just there this past Friday night because a good friend told me an Emerson alum was headlining. Â The environment is great, save for the 3 flights of very steep stairs you have to climb to get there. Â If you order your tickets online (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fetix.com&s=43a27432fdd0da812ba4f65983fff21f46aad245742df23294145a401ff843c9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://etix.com</a>), there is an extra $2.44 service charge per ticket, but when you arrive, you will have seats reserved at a table (instead of having to sit in chairs against the wall). Â & something I noticed is that even if you don't purchase your tickets together, they somehow manage to still get friends sitting together.
Unaware that they serve the full menu upstairs, hubby & I ate downstairs before arriving. Â Next time, we'll know better. Â The food & drink service is a bit slow at times, but drinking scorpion bowls while watching comedy is totally worth a couple minute wait.
There were about 8 comedians when we were there - some funny & some incredibly not so funny (mostly these are the college undergrads so they just need work). Â The show started about 20 minutes late, which meant that everyone had to rush through their sets a bit, but it kept the more seasoned comedians on their toes.
The RA of my floor organized a "group outing" to The Comedy Studio on a Wednesday night. Â The comedians seemed to try to cater towards the undergrad lifestyle (since we essentially had all the tables reserved, comprising roughly 60-70% of the crowd), which was a mistake. Â Jokes about drinking, facebook, random hookups are old and kind of insulting to my intelligence. Â I can't blame it all on them, as many of others in "my group" (ugh) were there mostly to get drunk off their cheap scorpion bowls. Â Also the "smarter, socially aware" comedy seemed to make a lot of my fellow BCers uncomfortable, especially some race jokes (which were really fantasically on-target). Â I loved the intimate space and think it would be much more enjoyable with a different/better audience.
The plastic monkeys in the scorpion bowls are fun :)
For my sketch comedy final a couple years ago, we had to put on a show at the Comedy Studio. The fact that the audience/friends had access to scorpion bowls while watching the show was pretty awesome/helpful. hah
I've been to the studio on different nights and the magic shows on Tuesdays are always pretty funny (what can I say, I'm a fan of Dr. Magogo). I've been randomly chosen (after a friend in front of me backed out) to get up on stage to put cards under my tuckus so that they can be magically removed and stowed under some other person's tuckus.. so that's always great after a couple of Buds. You definitely get a lot of bang for your buck on weekdays because you generally get to see not just one or two comics.. but several people.
I dig the camp-style tables that have pictures of comics that have passed on through. The cover changes...although I remember getting in free as a student because my teacher did stand up there. Check the website for more details. Be careful what you say in the bathroom..if the studio is in between sets.. the people outside just might hear you. Oh and don't sit up front if you don't want to be chosen/picked on.
This is the best place for the budding stand up or the novice audience member. It's small, cramped but not uncomfortable. There are enough comedians to keep the flow going and if you're (un)lucky you may see a comedian go on completely bombed. Always a good show. You're guaranteed one great act and one act so bad it makes you cringe.
Rick Jenkins runs the place and knows comedy. He's served as a mentor to tons of new comics and knows how to encourage their talents.
You can hear anything from celebrity jokes, crude sex talk, child molestation jokes (for some reason that is a recurring theme) and tons of jabs at Boston.
Oh yeah, there's free candy too. Good deal.
The Comedy Studio is one of the coolest, smartest standup comedy venues in the country. It's definitely one of my favorite places to perform.
It's been run by Rick Jenkins for over 10 years now, and is the place to go if you like to laugh at more than penis jokes. Plus you get to enjoy yourself more with a scorpion bowl in front of you.
Major talent scouts recruit from here including: Comedy Central, The HBO Comedy Festival, The Montreal Comedy Festival and Conan O'Brien, whose producers call it "the greatest comedy club on Earth."
Comedy shows run Wednesday through Sunday, 8pm-10pm, and there's magic on Tuesdays at the same time.
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