The Tasty served the community from 1916 to 1997 and was a small one-room diner and lunch counter about 7 feet wide and 30 feet deep. Its sole location operated in the Read Block building at 2a JFK Street, right by the Wursthaus, in Harvard Square. The Tasty was one of the few places open late and was often crammed with hungry students between midnight and 4 a.m., sometimes serving hundreds of burgers a night. It was a popular spot among locals, students, and visitors, known for its traditional American diner fare and bare-bones, nostalgic atmosphere. The restaurant was one of a kind and became a much-beloved institution in Cambridge.

The Tasty was considered quintessential Harvard Square and even had a cameo in a scene from Good Will Hunting. In the 1997 movie, Will (played by Matt Damon) took Skylar (played by Minnie Driver) to The Tasty. The restaurant’s appearance in the film helped elevate its profile and cement its status as a cultural landmark in Cambridge. It became a must-visit destination for fans of the film and attracted tourists eager to experience a piece of movie history.

Unfortunately, The Tasty closed its doors not long after the release of the movie, due to redevelopment of the Read Block and rising rent pressures. Despite its closure, The Tasty remains fondly remembered by those who dined there, and its role in the film immortalized it in popular culture, ensuring its place in the history of Cambridge.