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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Middle Eastern [Edit]
Neighborhood: Harvard SquareHarvard (Red)
I've been hanging out in Harvard Square for 20 years, and have seen a lot of great coffee shops come and go, so the fact that I only recently discovered one of the best remaining cafes in the city is... shameful. Considering how many years I drank away at Casablanca's downstairs, I feel like a complete retard for missing the perfect study cafe above.
SERVERS: Just the way I like 'em: Quick to take orders, competent, and not too chatty. Service can be slow, but it's a poky cafe, so it's nice that they're not pissy if you have to track them down because they're a little laissez-faire. I did have one super-friendly waitress who was a little off-putting (I haven't come to expect smiles at Algiers), but she brought my sammich fast and didn't stab and SWF me so it turned out okay.
FOOD: By which I mean coffee. REALLY good coffee. I drink whatever swill they give me so I can hole up for a few hours of studying, and I'm always pleasantly surprised when I take the first sip of Algiers. The strawberry smoothie thing and the falafel wrap are also tasty.
ATMOSPHERE: A little cramped, but that adds to the European feel I love so much. No annoying music, which is welcome after the 1369 Gwar Experience. Occasionally annoying Harvard kids talking at the top of their lungs like they're interviewing for another consulting job, but they seem to do that in most of the cafes around town, so no points off for Algiers.
Obviously, this is a great, classic old-school HS coffee shop that everyone knows and loves, and I'm just late to the party. But that's okay, because I'm staying and inviting my friends.
Boo! Way to simply destroy my earlier characterization of Harvard as a remarkably photogenic campus. I am not sure whether Algier's is the exception or the rule. But, in any event, it certainly had a different "look" than the other places I visited today.
Points off for the initially brusque service as well. While I understand that it is annoying when someone sits down and plays on the Internet all day, I'm not that customer (believe it or not, in between Yelp reviews, I am getting a ton accomplished today). I actually BUY stuff. In this case, I even bought a couple of beverages spaced over time. Why? Because I'm not an asshole like that.
The hot apple cider here is relatively remarkable. Each cup is served with a generous cinnamon stick which thoroughly infuses the hot cider. The result is a wonderful apple cinnamon treat that soothes the body.
Algiers is definitely the largest spot that I have visited today. As far as a place to conduct work, it is a bit louder than Tealuxe (despite the fact that Algiers had classical music flowing as opposed to mainstream rock). There are probably a few more plugs here than at Crema or Tealuxe. The work space is fine. Still, if you are going to conduct work, try and go before 5 PM.
Algiers is definitely the ugly duckling (in more ways than one) of the Harvard coffee shop scene. Still, it makes excellent beverages and is serviceable as a place to finish work. I would recommend it if Tealuxe and Crema are already full.
4.5 stars. Algiers makes me want to live in Harvard Square. The location alone is fricken adorable: an old house filled with all kinds of nooks and crannies and different table configurations and really cool decorations, the kind of place I could curl up and stay all day.
The coffee/tea drinks are excellent... I can't get enough of their mint-anything, but even their regular stuff is tasty. I definitely make a point to travel here for the special mint coffee though... the whipped cream is the icing on the cake, mmm.
I wasn't expecting to really like the food here, but the one time I ordered something to eat I was totally surprised at how good it was... fantastically flavored lamb chunks swimming in a pool of to-die-for hummus. Man that was good. Service can be a little slow (we had a hard time just getting some water), but hey, it's worth it (and adds to the whole relaxed-cafe ambiance).
We were really really really hungry when we got here for dinner and Algiers did not disappoint. We got a spinach salad type thing and they delivered it to us along with pita bread post haste. I spent an entire day at a seminar, my friend spent the entire day writing a grant application and her boyfriend just rode 8 miles on a bike. None of us really ate lunch. So we went all nom nom nom nom nom nom and there was still salad left so we nom nom nom some more and oh my god more salad nom nom nom okay finally that was delicious.
And then our entrees arrived.
I had a giant plate of lamb and cous cous. It was amazing. Possibly the best cous cous I've had (not that I've had many from real Middle Eastern places; also, I was real hungry). My friends' sandwiches and kabobs looked good too! We were definitely very, very happy with our meal. The service was great; we were sitting on the top floor but our waitress was definitely around to refill water and stuff pretty often.
The atmosphere is wonderful. It feels like a real Turkish-ish coffee house. Not that I've been to one; I've only seen them in a documentary in a museum exhibit on the history of coffee. So I guess my standards are pretty low. But! The ambiance was still fantastic.
So yeah, great place.
Yesireee bob, I am a fan, the iced tea in the summer and the mint tea in the winter, it has all my bases covered. It's nice after rushing everywhere to come in, sit down, and relaaaaaaaaaax. If you don't have the mindset that you are coming in to relax then don't bother, the service will probably irritate you.
I love the tiny roof deck in the summer, and the upstairs for the colder moments, the food is good but the desserts, I do love me some babousa!!!!
I would recommend that if you are just rushing in and out for a coffee hit one of the other places, if you are looking for a place to study or just relax and you have time to chill this is the cafe for you.
I love this place- they have the best coffee in the Boston area (so smooth and rich), and it is a wonderful place to hang out. You never feel rushed... but don't expect to get in and out quickly, either!
As for the food, their hummus and falafal are delicious. The only thing I would not recommend here are their crepes, which are nothing like traditional french crepes. The ones here are very large and doughy, as opposed to the delicate and thin. They aren't bad, just not great either.
This review is mainly for the coffee. Because that's all I care about in a coffee house.
It is good. Damn good. It is slightly more expensive than average for coffee but the quality is commensurate with the price.
I have to also agree with other reviewers: the decor and the space is very nice, too, upstairs or down. I could see getting stuck in there reading a good book for hours.
One caveat: this is a cafe, not a coffee shop. It has table service. Don't expect to roll in and roll out. This place is for sitting and relaxing. If you can't wait go to Starbucks. There's three of them near Harvard Square.
who doesn't walk in the front door of algiers and immediately fall in love?
undoubtedly the best place to grab a myriad of tasty warm drinks in the harvard sq, area.
service can be slow, but sit back and relax for a minute and soak in a) the beautiful upstairs b) the sights of harvard sq. from the adorable roof patio.
5 stars, despite less than desirable service (yes, i am that charmed).
This is probably my favorite coffee house in the Boston area. I remember spending a couple cool summer nights with close friends on the rooftop patio. If it's too cold to stay outside, the upstairs and downstairs seating is just as cozy. It's a great place for a low-key date or catch up on life with a close friend. I also appreciate the service, they're nice but not overly attentive. Which, I realized some people might not appreciate. But I actually like not having someone come by every 20 minutes to ask how you're doing. They usually drop off the check and let you take your time in paying it. I would know because I spent too many hours here. :-P
Did I mention that I love love LOVE their coffee??
Algiers does both the coffee shop thing and the full restaurant thing. My party of three came here for dinner and were pleased. I ordered a cup of coffee ahead of my meal (I know, I know, it was getting a little late in the day for that) and I can attest it is a good-tasting roast.
Between everyone at the table, we ordered the falafel, fattayer (meat), and hamburger. The hamburger and falafel came with fries; the waitress was nice and honored my friend's request to sub the fries for vegetable couscous on the side.
Pricing can be a little weird: my meat fattayer (which was quite good) was under $10, but a plate of vegetable couscous would have set you back $11. A hamburger is also under $10, which is why I was surprised that they agreed to serve it with a side of the pricier couscous.
All our dishes were good; my only suggestions or requests for next time would be 1) not to put my fattayer on top of the already-soaked-in-dressing salad, because it makes the pita soggy (not to mention the vinaigrette-y taste!) and 2) to reconsider accompanying the falafel with fries. A fried main course with a side of fries just seems a bit much (and the french fries weren't too good).
The waitress brought out a basket of pita bread for the table along with the main courses, but it was dry and stale. If that's what they serve with the hommos appetizer, I will be skipping that in the future.
Algiers is a quirkly little coffee house in Harvard Sq...great place to grab a coffee/tea with a friend. My friend introduced me to it as her favorite coffee house, and I can see why--it's a somewhat eclectic atmosphere inside, and it's a place you can go to just drink coffee and read for a bit.
I normally sit upstairs--they've got outdoor seating, you get a nice view of Harvard Sq. They have a really good mint coffee...I get it every time I go to Algiers!
Sloooooow service.
To all those who complain that Algiers is crowded and claustrophobic, I wonder what you would have thought had you seen the place in its heyday, back in the 80s, when it was a tiny space hidden away in the basement of the current building. Back then, Algiers was consistently the single most crowded and claustrophobic room I've ever seen, either before or since, and I loved it. The old Algiers defined the word cozy, and was the best place to study on a blustery winter night.
That all changed when the building was renovated and Algiers expanded to occupy most of the new space. Much has been gained: a soaring rotunda and small rooftop deck, but more has been lost in the transition.
Surprisingly, the menu seems to have survived almost entirely intact over the intervening 25 or so years (albeit with much higher prices). The Turkish coffee and mint tea are as good as ever, as is the food.
Just don't be in a hurry. Did I mention the service is stunningly sloooooooow?
For those of us who remember fondly the olden days, the current incarnation of Cafe Algiers serves as a physical embodiment of Thomas Wolfe's observation that You Can't Go Home Again. Sadly.
Beautiful cafe in a wonderful location. Sweet service, slightly elevated prices, a convoluted second floor. It's got my heart.
Nice atmosphere, oozes CAMBRIDGE everywhere you go. The mango juice is actually nice and yummy and fresh, and perfect to duck into to work, read, over a cup of hot cider.
Though a bit pricey and though the patrons come off as a bit snooty, this is a very nice coffee… Read more »
love this place! recipient of my saturday night post-raucus 5-star slam down.
unique building. italian soda. legit wraps.
I love it there! The coffee is delicious! The crepes are epic. The hummus can use work, but it's good too. I love the paintings and the gorgeous set up (it's a former mosque I believe). Gotta try it at least.
Normally I wouldn't review a restaurant after only getting a cappuccino, but considering they call themselves a "Coffee House," I figure it's fair game. It was, in fact, one of my stops on my search for the best cappuccino in Boston.
I walked in and wasn't really sure where to go. There were barista stations on either side of me, a wine & beer bar in front of me, and an area for sitting wayyy in the back. A waitress nearly body-checked me and spilled most of a tray of water as she walked into the kitchen.
A friendly young lady came out from behind on of the espresso bars and asked what I would like. I told her I'd like a triple wet cappuccino to go. She giggled nervously and replied, "I... don't know what that means." So I coached her a bit ("three shots of espresso, go a little wet on the foam") and stood back, expecting that this was going to be a complete disaster.
A couple of minutes later she came out from behind the bar with a very short cup (I mean, smaller than a Starbucks "tall"), which seemed weird since I'd gotten three shots, but I guess those were their only to-go cups. It came to $5.20 (PARDON?!?!?!) and she actually had to ask another server to go into her purse to get change for my $20. Again, she was very sweet, but that was just a little strange... I kind of felt badly for using a big bill, but hey, it's Harvard Square; they should be kind of used to that, and prepared to give change.
Now, on to tasting what I was sure would be an pitiful for excuse for a confused cappuccino... and (drumroll)... it was really good! Even though the barista had had NO idea what I was talking about, she ended up making exactly what I wanted. Given, she should have known what my order was in the first place, but winging it with a single sentence of advice and making it perfectly takes talent. So I really have to give her credit.
I was still disappointed that it was so small for a triple (and for a COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS PRICE), but it was definitely a nice drink. They use pretty good espresso, too. It went really nicely with a couple of cupcakes from Sweet down the street. :)
A confusing and confused place, but in the end it turned out okay. I also took a peek at the menu and it looked great and authentic, but that's for another day...
First time I went to this place I had a first date with this absolutely beautiful and intelligent but equally crazy Greek girl I fell in love with for a little while. She was such a disappointment that I should hate anything that reminds me of her, but Algiers is just too good to be blamed on.
Let's start with the location... can't get better than that! Just a few steps from Harvard Sq. Station. Next is its architecture. I consider myself no expert North African or Andalusian architecture, but the place does seem to transport you a bit to a cozy house in the Sahara. And then there's mergasa, a lamb sausage pitta sandwich that's absolutely delicious. Of course their minted coffee and tea are above the bar.
At first I was charmed and impressed by the atmosphere and décor of this place. It really is beautiful, as some of my friends had told me. But upon looking at menu prices and when we got the bill, it seemed a little excessive. The food is pricey, and nothing special (though it's certainly not bad). But just going for coffee or tea would probably be worth it. It's definitely a beautiful place to sit and chat with some friends, just beware that the $ add up pretty quickly if you're getting food and coffee, etc.
Oh, Harvard Square, the gems that you hold. Like Algiers. I came here last week for the first time with friends, and right away fell in love with several things simultaneously: the gorgeous wood paneling and very high ceilings, the cozy multi-level setup, and the seat-yourself policy. I will note that the spiral staircase may be difficult for some to ascend, and there didn't look to be a bounty of seating on the first floor. Though the service wasn't rapid, we certainly weren't forgotten, and I'm kicking myself because I didn't order the Turkish coffee like my friend did. I never thought I'd discover coffee that doesn't require sugar or cream to taste grainy, thick and rich, but it exists at Algiers.
Now let me touch upon the food, which, once ordered, came promptly. I ordered the falafal sandwich (comes in wrap form with salad) for a very reasonable $10 or so, and it was worth every penny! I couldn't even finish it!! We also ordered the hummus app which was SO generous- the three of us couldn't clean the plate- and the hummus was certainly homemade, and most definitley the best I've ever tasted. It took another few minutes to get our check, but like I said, the service wasn't ridiculous and our waitress was super nice.
All in all I was shocked not to have heard of the place before last week. For all the lame chains that are springing up around the Square, and all the over-priced, under-portioned restaurants to choose from, Algiers is truly a find. It's a great place to study, chat with friends, eat some dank hummus, and enjoy the peace and quiet that Harvard Square still does, Algiers proves, have to offer.
Normally I'm a late night at Algiers kinda girl, but today I had made plans to meet a friend for lunch, and instead of meeting her Brookline (which is what I normally do), I thought "why not meet in Harvard Square"?? And at my favorite spot, to boot!? And that we did. It was perfect, rainy, dreary weather for Algiers cozy-ish, Moroccan style atmosphere. Unfortunately, they did not have any chicken today, but they DID have chocolate cake. So, no worries. My friend really enjoyed her meal, as did I. Their couscous always hits the spot.
AND our waitress was FANTASTIC!!! Very attentive (a rarity) and sweet, but not too sweet. Great service.
This small, atmospheric coffee house in Harvard Square is a great place to meet friends for a quick,… Read more »
Love the upstairs area, which strikes you with its randomly put-together architecture styles, yet relaxes the senses with its looming coziness.
For you Berkeley kids currently at Harvard, I see Algiers as a combination of Cafe Milano and Tandoori Kitchen. Good for Coffee and North African food. Not sure if good for studying, for at the time of my visit, the school was out. Good crowd, good, but as mentioned previously, slow service. May need to hire two-three more waiters. Our waiter was Russian, which always happens to me, dammit, when I travel away from my people, they end up finding me everywhere I go. She was very nice and professional, while not expecting to take orders in her native tongue.
People, remember, the Russians are not coming, they've been here for a while now.
Lovely little coffee house right in the Barttle Theater. Authentic middle eastern food and ambiance. The rooftop seating is nice and romantic and not that busy during the week. The service is a bit slow and forgetful, so just prepare yourself for that and enjoy the experience.
My roommate, Joce, and I decided to bike to the Algiers Coffee House today for brunch. We didn't know what to expect. As soon as I walked in I knew I loved it. The restaurant is a two story building with lovely, authentic decorations and full of warmth. We wound ourselves around the staircase to the roof deck where we sat. Besides being flanked by a beautiful blossoming tree, we also had a perfect view of the sidewalk, which was great for people watching. Joce and I split a big plate of the best hommus (very garlicky) and both ordered the grilled eggplant sandwich with sumac. There was no rush for our table so ended up spending an hour and a half eating and reading, atop our Harvard Square perch.
Oh, and its vegetarian and vegan friendly :)
I have walked by Algiers probably one hundred times and had no idea that it was a coffee shop. I swear I thought it was a jeweller and had no interest of ever walking in. My friend told me it was beautiful in there and practically dragged me up the stairs into the front door. You can only imagine my surprise when I realized this was not a funky, crap jewellry shop but a coffee house with a middle eastern vibe.
We quickly walked up the stairs to the second floor and shoved ourselves into a small table. There were a few tables of people, talking loudly but it fit in with the atmosphere. The wood work was beautiful, we had sat right on the edge of the center dome. I would have preferred to not be jammed in so tight, especially without another table near us but it wasn't so bad. Still full from dinner, I had planned on ordering a coffee. Maybe an espresso but nothing more than that. Imagine my surprise when I saw baklava on the menu. Waistline be damned!I was having myself a piece of honey, nutty, pastry goodness. My friend ordered a piece of chocolate cake and I also ordered the Cafe Royale (I believe that was the name of the drink, this was over a week ago and my memory fails me).
For the price, I would have liked a slightly larger slice of baklava and maybe a knife? But it was fine. The coffee drink was delicious as well. I was slightly annoyed by the lack of a sugar alternative on the table and the waitress was not available to ask for one. Another strange happening was that a customer asked for a glass of water and the waitress pointed her over to the carafe and asked her to pour one for herself. This was not particularly bad and does not change my opinion of Algiers, I found it a bit puzzling though.
I would bring out of town friend's here after a night out in Harvard Square. It is right next to the Brattle Theater and down the street from Border Cafe. It has a nice atmosphere, with the wood work, funky artwork and opera music playing in the background, loud enough to hear but not be offensive. This is definitely a place to check out if you are in the area! Don't be fooled by the exterior as I was.
This restaurant and café offers indoor seating on two floors and limited outdoor seating only on the second floor. The menu consists of North African fare with an obvious emphasis on Algeria. Everything was very tasty and well-prepared; the only negative being the service. To be fair, it was very busy; however, in my experience a busy restaurant does not imply subpar service.
My roommates and I went for dessert and coffee. The place is very cute with a great atmosphere. When you walk in the front door and look up, there is a really cool round mirrored ceiling. You can sit and drink tea or coffee and chat.
The wait staff was friendly but way short handed. It took about four tries to get someone to take our order, but once they took the order they were attentive and friendly.
I got the chocolate cake and the earl grey tea. I highly recommend getting the tea. It comes in a cute little tea pot and the tea leaves are free and bagless. They give you a little strainer to strain the leaves out of your tea. It is really yummy. I also really liked the cake although it may have been sitting out for a while and was a little dry, but really all around not that bad.
One of my roommates got the crepes and the other got Beabousa. The Beabousa was basically a cake drenched in honey, lemon and rose flavor. I am not a fan of sogginess when it comes to pastries, but one bite of this was ok. I don't think I could have eaten the whole thing. The crepes were not very good, they were cold and the fillings (chocolate and strawberries) were also not very good.
I would like to return to have a dinner. Looking around I could see many things that I would like to try. I shall return.
3.5 stars...
I never knew that there was a coffee shop/Middle Eastern cafe hidden behind the 40 Brattle Hall sign and I've been living near Harvard Square for 2.5 years now (and going to the eye doctor in an adjacent office). For shame. There were SO many people packed in there yesterday, warming up with drinks and snacks. I liked the upstairs, with its really tall ceiling and fun arabic wall decorations.
Anyways, finally made it there yesterday and got a hot cocoa and a Combination Plate full of hummus, taboule, baba ganoush, and um some rice/kasha combo with pita slices of course. It was more than enough for me and my friend and we both had a little to take home. I liked the food a lot but the service was mediocre. It took a long time to get attention, then our waitress interrupted our meal because her shift was over and she wanted to collect her tips. But then she accused both me and my friend of taking the Merchant Copy of the receipt (I did not - I think our waitress must have dropped it on the floor) and when we asked for 2 to-go containers were handed only one and, since we did not have any more utensils to split our leftovers had to use a pita to scoop it and it just put a bad ending on what started as a really nice afternoon with delicious fare in a lovely cafe.
Love Algiers! I find the architecture of the whole thing lovely, very cozy with a personnality. Great colors.
This is a great place to study, especially in the afternoon. Not too loud and there isn't always music (and if there is, it's usually classical or instrumental). Also a good place to socialize with friends late afternoon. Yes, the place is small and it gets crazy to move around when it is crowded. But, unlike other places, it doesn't bother me. Why? because it goes with the whole ambiance: it is a 'juste milieu'.
The food is okay. I love the fact that they have merguezs and they are yummy too. The merguez wrap is my favorite thing on the menu. Love the mint tea (even though sugar is needed).
Inconspicuously fantastic in so many ways...
A roof deck patio built not for people watching and the see-and-be-seen, but actual intimate conversation over delectable food and coffee. Quiet and unassuming, Algiers' "patio" probably wasn't even on the list of considerations for Boston Mag's 25 Best Alfresco Dining spots, and for that I am glad. Some of those spots are so chichi that I believe the essence of eating out has completely gone out the window in favor of the name-dropping, eye-popping crowd just looking to get looked at.
Tonight, I watched the sunset over a plate of hummus and barbecued lamb, had amazing conversation and espresso Romano for about three hours and hardly noticed a person noticing a person noticing, well, pretty much anything but the person they were with.
It's hard for me to admit this, but I can overlook the slow, sometimes non-existent service because the food and atmosphere are so unusually unadulterated that waiting for 10 minutes for the waitress to re-fill my water wasn't as unpleasant as it would have been in another place.
Come hither children and let me offer you some sage advice and instruction. Now listen carefully - I'm going to offer you secrets to a perfect summer afternoon and evening. Listen closely - I'll only tell you this once...
Arrive at Algiers around 5/6 on a Saturday or Sunday and you'll notice the downstairs patio area seems crowded. Disregard - you can't imbibe there anyway. Move on in, say "hello" to the charming staff, grab a menu, and walk on upstairs. Exit the staircase but keep going - look for the natural light. Ah, here you are. The roof deck.
Grab a seat, wave down a server, order up some provisions (I'd suggest a pot of gunpowder green tea or the adult beverage of your choosing and a plate of baba ghanoush). Settle back (don't lean against the building though - little green and red beetles will take kindly to you). Go ahead, lounge, and spy on the happenings of Brattle Street below.
Ease back, settle down, and take some time to unwind and recharge before moving back into the hectic summer routine of barbecues, parades, parties, concerts, grilled babies, and other affairs...
I've never been completely sold on coffee/tea houses, if only because their comfortable nookiness is almost always too cozy. Everyone goes to them, and the cramped conditions get kind of claustrophobic. That said, Algiers isn't without its charms. I went on a whim with some friends when we were wandering Harvard and was told to get a hot chocolate, which was nothing short of amazing, but it took so long to come I kind of forgot I ordered it.
If you're going for just a coffee or tea, make sure you leave some extra time to chill out. Upstairs is far better than downstairs, where the tables practically lean on each other, but I suppose if you're going to a coffee house, you probably have enough time to dick around.
Don't go in a large group; you'll have nowhere to sit (which was probably our downfall). 2-3 people is an ideal number.
I had just finished reading all about Turkey the first time I came here. I know Algier isn't in Turkey, but it still reminded me of all the little tea and coffee shops my book was talking about. It feels like an island amidst Harvard Square, quiet and relaxing and just plain cool. Upstairs, downstairs, inside or on their roof, this place has a great vibe for catching up with friends are just sitting party of 1. They also have great wraps filled with goodness - yum! It's definitely a Harvard Square gem and favorite!
Algiers has lots of corners for getting lost in a book or a conversation over mint tea. I've spent a number of evenings around one of the small Moroccan tables, sharing baklava and watching snow fall, or enjoying the breeze from the terrace.
The food is good (try the lentil dish!), with large portions and reasonable prices. The service is good enough. The atmosphere - and the fact that they're open late - is what keeps me coming back.
The coffee is ok. The food is ok. The atmosphere is awesome.
But the service is abysmal. If I wanted to be treated like a virulent leper I would have auditioned for a role as an extra in 1995's "Outbreak." I love Dustin Hoffman as much as the next gal.
I had no monkey from the Congo with me during my visits. I'd never been to Africa. Nothing on my clothing or my person displayed the frantic, red BIOHAZARD symbol, so why the lack of love? Or basic human decency?
I've been there four times, each time trying to offer Algiers a fresh chance to show me that I'm not in need of a penicillin shot. Or that the staff doesn't think I smell (I shower daily, thankyouverymuch). But it's always the same routine - the server takes our order, delivers it, and then apparently goes on vacation to the actual Algiers. Oh...is that where the name originates?
Each time I've been there, once the caffeine has been consumed, I've sat at my table, my friend and I glancing around, wondering if our server had died. Four times in a row we've had to track our server down, pounce on her, and ransom her first born for our check. As an ex server myself, it's in the restaurant's best interest to get lingering tables out of there.
My time spent at Algiers has convinced me of the following:
1. I must have some sort of facial gangrene that I don't know about to drive my server away. Or is it some persistent body odor? Should I try Teen Spirit?
2. I should possibly reevaluate my career as an extra in movies centered on the effects of biological warfare. I could be ALL OVER Outbreak 2.
3. Maybe the servers at Algiers just aren't that into me, a totally harmless (somewhat attractive, gangrene-free) 20 something.
Or maybe it's just that the service at Algiers should try to raise itself up to the caliber of its coffee.
Or I go to Hollywood. What is more feasible, I ask?
Algiers is a great place for a date with your favorite book. The cozy and slightly artsy atmosphere draws an eclectic crowd; you'll find your 18-year-old legging wearing college girls looking for a place to chat to your 50-something year old professors looking for a place to grade papers.
The coffees & teas here are strong and delicious-- I recommend getting the Viennese (hot or iced) or the mint tea. I would advise against some of the 'specialty foods'. I got the lamb kabob ($15.95) and was less than impressed; the couscous was good but the lamb came out slightly burnt and dry.
I would highly recommend this place for a place to sip coffee & catch up with friends, but not a place to go if you're looking for great food.
A friend dragged me here with the warning that the service was pokey but it had good coffee... Well it turned out the service was fine, and I didn't even have coffee.
I ordered the falafel platter with fries. Really really good. Fries were decent, and the salad was edible (unusual for a side salad shoved onto a dinner plate).
My friend ordered the hummus app and it was great, and the pitas were super fresh and good.
We opted for the outdoor seating, which was a little cramped but perfect for a sunny autumn Sunday.
Cozy, dimly-lit, warm and welcoming. I love the atmosphere here. It makes me want to sit here quietly and... contemplate things. Sometimes it makes me feel like I've stepped out of Boston and into my own private little (nicely decorated) world.
They have good drinks, nice staff, are efficient, and it makes me happy that they have good Arabic coffee here. I just wish I could smoke in here. Shisha or cloves or whatever, it's just the sort of atmosphere that I'd like to have for surrounding myself with my puffs of sweet smelling smoke and sinking myself into a state of half-oblivion. Sipping on mint tea and getting lost either in the silence (if there on a quiet afternoon) or in the noisy bustle (if later on when it's busy).
To be honest, I haven't yet eaten here but I plan to sometime soon. Will update when I do.
It was 930 on a cold Friday night. My baby and I wanted to go out, but we are so sick of the bars, so we were wondering what we could do. We decided to go grab tea/coffee somewhere and decided to go to Algiers Coffee House in Cambridge.
The place was very cute and cozy. It was also very cramped. I couldn't help but feel a tad bit annoyed, when a customer or a waitress would walk by and hit our table, causing our beverages to slightly spill.
I ended up ordering the Algiers mint coffee. I like strong coffee and their coffee definitely had a kick to it. The coffee is served unsweetened w/wo whipped cream on top. Very yummy. My bf ordered the Algiers mint tea, which was "very refreshing". I wanted to try one of their desserts, so I ordered the strawberry crepes. I must warn you, the crepes are not made w/ fresh strawberries. I think that they fill it with strawberry preserves. Toooo sweet.
I'd like to come back and try the food. Some of the plates that were being served to other tables, looked very interesting.
Overall, the place was very chillaxin. I would come back for some more coffee, tea, or to try the food one day.
The coffee/teas are pretty good, but the food is just ok, and don't order any of the pastries because most of them taste like they're 2-3 days old. The best thing about Algiers is it's laid back atmosphere. You can sit downstairs or upstairs, admiring the cool architecture and get lost in your own thoughts for hours. If you're in a hurry, service is slow so you may want to ask for the check half way through your meal. If you don't, you could be there an extra 20-30 min waiting for the bill.
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
Category: Delis
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Porter Square
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
Category: Spanish
Somerville, MA
Category: Coffee & Tea
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