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Andala Coffee House
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Middle Eastern [Edit]
Neighborhood: Central Square286 Franklin Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-2212
- Nearest Transit:
-
Central (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- None
Cafe Luna
- 114 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Central Square
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152 reviews for Andala Coffee House
Review Highlights
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A tenth of a mile from my church, I have now found a new place to get my mid-food-coma, pre-church caffeine!
I can only comment on the atmosphere and iced tea, but I still think it's reviewing because this place really has the most seating I've ever seen in a place with the words "coffee house" in the name. Seriously, tons of seating, especially in warm weather with the outdoor patio.
It's got a warm feel with maroon-colored walls, high ceilings (on the main floor) and it's spacious. A great place to grab a meal, a coffee, to study, whatever! I'll definitely be back.
Oh, my iced tea was delicious, by the way. Unsweetened, very herb-y. :) Love it.
Really, really enjoyed this place.
Went here for dinner on the recommendation of a cool coworker, and walking up the steps already knew I was going to like it here. It felt like walking into someone's apartment - cozy with a coffee bar area and a quaint side room, my dining companion and I opted for the side room - nice ambiance and the room all to ourselves at prime dining time on a friday night! i didn't discover the downstairs area until using the ladies room at the end of the meal, but there's ample seating down there as well. we each ordered the lamb and a pot of peppermint tea to split. the lamb was stewed perfectly with carrots and potatoes, and the price was very right at just over $10 a pop. i'm surprised this place isn't teeming with hipsters yet, but it's a prime place for mediterranean dining.
so why only 4 stars, you ask?
~minus 3/4 of a star for slooooow service. our waitress didn't come to ask us how we were doing until we had nearly finished our meal, it wasn't clear we were supposed to seat ourselves, and tho i don't really mind laid back service, it may have been slightly overly laid back.
~minus 1/4 of a star because my tomatoes weren't fresh. everything else about the meal was so delicious, having gotten clearly-refrigerated tomato slices (which totally ruins the flavor and texture of a tomato) detracted from the dining experience, but only a teeeeeeeny tiny bit. yes, it's picky, but i freakin love tomatoes, and it makes me sad when they're not good. if it weren't for the slow service, i'd've still given 5 stars.
Coffee, Kabobs, Tea & Slothful French Service
Hey where's my spoon??
Oh wait maybe I should order.
Where is our waiter??
Five minutes later waiter enters.
Water is now on table & waitress vanishes.
Okay so living in NYC I'm spoiled we get the best of all possible worlds. We have excellent variety, great waitstaff (if they're not there are a bevy of actors/singers/artists to replace them) apparently Cambridge this isn't the case. It looks like you're either catering to the Students of the to Staff.
This was a noisy, packed little cafe, where we sat ourselves, begged to order, enjoyed our conversation (no rush) chased down our waitress for the check and even though I'm only giving this spot three stars still had such a great time ( I guess my company distracted me).
Date Rating: 5
Pick up Scale: 1 (definitely bring your own posse here if you're coming)
Strong Suggestion: The lentil soup was good. Huge portions here choose a few and share.
I agree with Katrina L. This place is an Oasis in the middle of the Sahara. After just moving here, and searching for any place to work other than my apartment, because Harvard won't let me into it's libraries (because I'm just an auditor), I searched high and low for any coffee shop that was even tolerable.
Harvard Square's establishments generally are overrated. Crema Cafe is always crowded, and Algiers Cafe is cold and it feels disorganized (although those are my favorites at Harvard Square).
But Andala is warm. It's spacious. The wi-fi works very well. The servers are punctual and they even smile! There is always seating at Andala, though it is never empty. The coffee and pastries are great. Maybe it is because it is slightly off Central Square that it isn't insanely crowded. They have an upstairs and downstairs, it's spacious and has lots of natural light, and it has a good, organized vibe. Definitely five stars!
Nice ambiance, a great place to study or read. The downstairs area is good for conversations and group meetings. When it is not sub-30 degrees outside, you can usually find me smoking hookah in the outdoor garden.
Food is very good and reasonably priced. Although they do have very slow service, but then you just need to ask for things, which I have gotten used to in Andala. Overall, it is a great place to have a laid back Sunday afternoon.
Sometimes you're a stranger in a strange town and you need a good cup of coffee to put things right.
That's how I ended up at Andala two days ago. Someone told me that Andala served an excellent cup of coffee.
Well, that's not true, by a long shot. But it was a decent cup of coffee, nicely brewed (two shots in an 8 ounce 2% latte). The espresso was one dimensional, with a nutty quality. The milk was properly foamed.
Andala uses Lavazza coffee from Italy, a reputable brand of "standard" espresso. But the best places either roast their own beans in small batches or toss any roasted beans over one week old. Lavazza beans, of course, are neither roasted in small batches nor fresh. I think this accounts for the single flavor note.
I'd go back to Andala for coffee, given what I've heard about some of Cambridge's other places. The atmosphere was quite wonderful - big windows, high ceilings, bright and cheery. The table service was a little slow, which puzzled me since the cafe was not busy. I didn't eat anything so can't comment on the food.
Perhaps it speaks more to the other establishments I've dined at since my move to the beast coast, but this place was like an Oasis in the middle of the Sahara.
The main caveat is that as a lover of ethnic and spicy food, which I hadn't had any of in nearly a week, I was salivating at just the thought of this place. The menu is short and sweet, but there were several options I was excited to try. I ended up getting something I couldn't pronounce that was basically a beef patty of rice-- and MMMMMMMMMM, I was so so so happy. It was absolutely delicious, the spices were perfect, it was filling but not overwhelmingly large-- love. And certainly reasonably priced, we ended up at $15 each for a Chai and entree each.
I'm so glad this place is walking distance to me and that I won't have to eat huge hamburgers and 'salads' loaded with cheese and crap for my whole beast coast stint!
Andala proximity is one of the best things about living next to Central. The traditional breakfast with zatar is wonderful. Their Jerusalem omelet is surprisingly delicious. The Andala tea has a perfect sprinkling of cardamom.
I think my review has already been stated by some of the people below, but here goes:
Food
I'm inclined to think that some of the food is over-priced and some of it is just right. I've been to Andala twice and the first time had a plate that had a bowl of oatmeal and tons of fresh fruit; the oatmeal was kind of dull, but the fresh fruit was so .. fresh. So good. The second time I had some kind of spiced chicken and onions on Arabic bread, which was INCREDIBLE (but I was famished, so you know how that always sort of skews your taste buds). I was also fortunate to grab some pastries during a visit - they were excellent.
Service:
This is such a relaxed atmosphere that the waitresses watch to see if you come in then eventually come to greet you .. trust me, there is no rushing in this place. I've never found the servers to be mean or idiotic, but severely lacking in their presence or returning to your table, yes. On a completely different note, Andala has the most beautiful servers you have ever seen in your life. I noticed a "Help Wanted" ad in the window and despite several years of serving experience and the need for a PT job, I was intimidated as hell to apply cuz these women are bananas hot. Just sayin.
Atmostphere
I remember sitting at a table with my friend and noting that someone had created the funniest, most eclectic playlist to rock over the speakers. There is SO MUCH SPACE in Andala and gorgeous, just beautiful decor. People are scattered about drinking coffee, eating food/pastries, or just using their computers on the free wifi. I have to give Andala props for that, along with their long hours.
I think this was incredibly disjointed .. idiocy. It was a great introduction to middle eastern fare.
I was really drawn to this place when I first rode by it. It looks so inviting from the outside and the word Cafe screamed out at me- amiably of course.
I finally planned a day to go with my boyfriend and it was pretty disappointing. When we walked in the first thing we did was obviously walk up to the counter where all the waitresses and Batista's were and they all gave us awkward blank stares, then we saw the sign that said to seat ourselves.
That wasn't a big deal but we would have appreciated a gesture or something indicating this fact.
The service was OK once we sat down.
When we sat down and looked over the menu, I noticed that there wasn't very much variety.
I was going to settle for a Tuna sandwich, but I wanted to try a signature dish seeing as though this place was so unique.
I eventually ordered a caramel latte and the Jerusalem Hummus Plate (Msabaha). (When I ordered it and asked for a caramel latte, the waitress said she didn't think they had caramel, and I thought it was strange that a cafe of all places didn't have caramel...)
The latte is was ok and though the hummus special was really like 'no hummus I have ever had' (according to the menu), but it was more like an appetizer than a meal. I had about 5 slices of thin pita bread and a whole cup of hummus to eat. It's not really what I expected and the description is vague.
My boyfriend ordered a chai latte and the Chicken Khalili Sandwich.
I must say that sandwich was quite tasty!
That chai however tasted like watered down cinnamon seasoning.
I don't think I have ever had a worse chai tea in my life.
This place is really pricey as well. At the end of the meal the total came to about $30 for the two of us.
This place is not the worse place I have ever been to, but I don't think I'll be going back.
Things at Andala move at a slow pace -- to enjoyably eat (or drink) there, one has to pretend one is sitting outside at a cafe in, let's say, Barcelona. Then you'll understand that of course the waiter is in no hurry to give you the check -- because you're not supposed to be in a hurry. You're supposed to be slowly enjoying your food and drink. Of course, it's easier to entertain this Barcelona fantasy in summer when one is sitting outside under a beautiful cathedral of stars (ok, fine, we don't get that many stars here, but again, entertain the fantasy).
The drinks at Andala are all great-- most spectacular are the fruit juices. Most recently, I had a delicious pear juice-- I'm pretty sure I had my serving of fruit for the next week in that glass, and it was absolutely delicious. All of the teas are terrific, especially the "special tea." I'm less familiar with the food, but the hummus is extraordinary.
BTW, if anyone remembers the cafe that was here before the Andala, about three years ago, Andala has really followed in their footsteps- they've created a nice space where one can come and hang out for as long as one wants. That's what a cafe is all about. If you want speed, go to Dunkin' Donuts.
I'm so torn about this.
On one hand, I love the food here. I could die happy eating nothing but the Jerusalem Egg Salad sandwich -- it's less egg salad and more hard boiled egg with cheese, olive oil, and tomato -- and I love the "house special" cardamom tea. The other sandwiches and hummous plates I've tried have also been excellent.
But the service is, in a word, abysmal. I know it's a coffee shop, and I know it's a laid-back coffee shop, but there are some simple things I think can be expected even of a laid-back place like this. For example, once while out for lunch with coworkers, two of my group ordered one of the specials. Apparently, for whatever reason, those dishes took forever to make, and as a result, those two got their food a full 20 minutes after the rest of us did. It would have been appropriate to have warned us early on that this dish took much longer to make, thus allowing them to order something else and avoid making us all late for our after-lunch meetings. Today, after waiting a good ten minutes without ever seeing a waitress so I could get more bread for my hummous -- the large bowl was served with three small triangular slices of the Syrian bread -- I realized I needed to get back to work for a meeting. So I had to go upstairs, find the waitress, inform her I needed my check *specifically because I was in a hurry*, and on her way down to give it to me, she veered off to chat with one of the cooks for a couple of minutes. So while I'm not expecting 5-star-restaurant service, it seems simple respect for your customers when they are in a hurry would be appropriate.
I think things at Andala move a little too slowly for me. Albeit, I came on a friday night around 9, primarily for the hookah, but my friends and I weren't seated until 10. As friendly as the waitstaff may be, an hour is a long time to wait for hookah, especially when it comes with a semi-broken hose and no tongs. The hookah is relatively inexpensive here- but I've experienced better service at the Nile Lounge.
Hookah is only served outside at Andala (so I'm guessing this is only a seasonal thing). Had the waitstaff not forgotten about us, I probably wouldve enjoyed the hookah experience better.
I'm sure Andala is great in terms of food and such, I'll have to come back another time. But for now, the Nile Lounge is the way to go, if you want a good hookah experience.
I'm only an occasional coffee drinker so I don't know my espresso's from my latte's, but I do like a good coffee house to hang out sometimes. Andala's has a nice atmosphere and location, but the service and food there are not that great. Food is just kinda overpriced for what you get and the service can be horribly slow. I've waited for over an hour for food on multiple occasions and have gone 30 minutes without seeing any servers around or anything. Way over rated if you ask me.
Yes, the service here is slow, but that's one of the reasons I love the place!
You can sit here all day, munching tasty platters (try the meat pies and then, when you've digested, order the fruit/goat cheese!) at your leisure and never feel rushed or pressured to leave. The only time they'll bother you at all is during waitress shift changes and even then you're free to close out your tab with your original waitress and continue to hang around. I can't think of an area coffee shop better suited for studying or long conversations.
Loved, loved, loved it!
Deconstructed hummus...yum.
Eggsalad sandwich,tasty.
Space is homey and feels like my own brownstone.
Staff is friendly and hands off.
We spent some time here before our train home and it was very relaxing.If we lived in the neighborhood we'd be the several times a week.
This cute spot gave off a Mediterranean feel... the setting, out side patio, menu... everything.. I had a difficult time deciding what to have for dinner... Couldn't pronounce much of the menu... but the descriptions looked really good.. I finally went with one of the specials.. Chicken, with vegetables...(Called something else obviously) I was surprised that there was not may spices..This was something I could have pulled out of my oven.... I thought all Aerobic food was full of spice... but it was still tasty. A great place to go when your on a budget..
when i was there i felt like i was at a friend's house. there are dining tables. the kind that you would imagine having at home. there are some comfy couches and coffee tables. so it looks like a dining room and a living room. i really like the ambiance here. plus, there's free wifi!
i was here just for a coffee in the afternoon and worked on my laptop. there's power outlet and stuff.
the servers were cute and polite. but as other reviews say things here move really slow, which i kinda appreciated. you order a coffee at the table like a restaurant. so i saw some confused people who walked in and ordered a coffee at the counter, and the server told him to have a seat and she gave him the menu.
i ordered iced white chocolate mocha and an espresso. the mocha was little too sweet for me. and the espresso wasn't spectacular. if the drinks were better, i would give this place 4 stars.
If I didn't spend so much money on their goat cheese and honey plate (apple, banana, mango, pear, grapes, goat cheese, honey and pita -- what's not to love?) so regularly, I would encourage the good people at Andala to charge me rent. Seriously. I used to come here frequently about two years ago, and recently rediscovered my love for this legit coffee house now that my exams are nearing.
Between the free wifi, the gracious service (but not of the overly-attentive/hovering variety), awesome sunlight, and the fact that they let me sit at the same table for 8 hours at a time, this is my favorite study spot in all of Bos/Camb.
(Docked one star because lately, the temperature has been a little strange in there -- I go from sweating to reaching for my jacket pretty frequently.)
A beautiful coffee shop, replete with marble bar and shining brass or something shiny, from what I can recall. The decor is really sumptuous.
The free WiFi is great, as is the ease of signing on, and it was a cinch to find a free table near an outlet. It's such a revelation for me to leave Jamaica Plain and JP Licks with its customers' voracious appetite for outlets and tables! If you're looking to come to a neighborhood where the ratio of itinerant worker/sWiFi gypsies to free WiFi squats/outlets is pretty low, then this is a darn good choice.
The menu looked interesting on my visit, but my consumption was limited to bandwidth and coffee, so I can't write up any thoughts regarding food. The setting is so airy, light and pleasant, with such beautiful furnishings, I'm sure I'll be back to sample food in the near future.
The only downside--and perhaps this is only a downside to cranky middle-aged squatters such as myself--was the waitress' eagerness to interrupt my work so as to ask me, quite repeatedly, how everything was and if I needed anything else.
Of course, Andala deserve to squeeze as much payola out of squatters as possible. Just bear in mind that your space will be intruded upon far more frequently than if you were to WiFi squat in a counter-service shop like JP Licks or Peet's or the like.
Great coffee, food and middle-eastern fare, the minuses are a less-than-desirable service , although all the servers are very friendly they seem to move at a glacial place. However, a great place to relax and unwind (especially if you are not in a big rush)
Best breakfast place in Central Square. I've only been there for brunch and breakfast on the weekend. The food is tasty and healthy and the place is super cosy. It is Middle Eastern so don't expect bacon and eggs. They have outdoor seating and the wait staff I experienced is always very friendly.
I want to love Andala, I really do. So close to my house, funky decor and alluring menu, but... my GOD does the service here suck!
No, that's not fair. I should say the service is erratic, as are a few other elements of Andala:
- The coffee: sometimes it's weak, and I can't believe I dropped $2 for it, and other times it's intriguing ("ooh, did they accidentally spill cardamom in this?")
- The food: the pastries often taste stale, but their little meat pies are addictive, and I've had some very interesting soups - all a bit overpriced, though.
- The setting: *Beautiful*. Airy and light, and the world music isn't obtrusive (WTF, 1369 - Gwar?! Are you kidding me?!). Several nooks you can find if you want to study quietly, but it can be a fight to the death over the outlets (as in most coffeeshops). No A/C makes it a stifling deathtrap in the middle of August, however.
But the service is what really blows this for me.... I've had consistently apathetic service from ALL* the waiters I've had in the past three years, and that's quite a few. The turnover in staff is remarkable - I'm not sure if that's because of bad management or whatever, but all waitstaff should be able to bring your change within 20 minutes in a little coffeeshop. Oh, how I wish I could just buy a to-go cup at the counter and then hide in a corner...
*OK, I lied - the waitress in the headscarf who is currently serving me is totally on her game. Thank you for taking my order, bringing me coffee, and fixing the internet within ten minutes!
Most comfortable/quiet coffee place I've been to in Boston/Cambridge. The place is huge and good for large groups.
I'll be back.
I love this place, this has become my official neighborhood cafe. It is spacious and beautifully decorated with big windows upstairs, the service is excellent and really friendly, and the food seems reasonably priced, although i've only eaten something of substance once (an avocado sandwich, which was very good). I've had their house tea several times now and it's always terrific and only a couple of bucks for a pot.
They also have an amazing selection of things to sit on. Seriously. They have regular chairs upstairs and downstairs, as well as the funky couch inset in the wall next to the entrance, couches on the indoor porch, giant pillows in the basement, and then outdoor patio seating. I'm pretty sure your butt will never feel uncomfortable.
I went here for the first time today -- I was expecting an average coffee shop. This place is anything but average!
I had the lentil soup and salad combo. The lentil soup was outstanding, nice and light, and the salad was also delicious, full of crunchy veggies. My husband liked his chicken sandwich, and we both split the goat cheese and fruit platter.
The decor is very pretty, and the free wi-fi is fantastic. There are places to sit outside, and a huge downstairs area, too. I thought the service was fine -- the waitress brought us more water when we needed it, and checked on us a couple of times.
I can't wait to go again!
Andala is one of the best study spots ever. Evar. The establishment is what looks to have once been a large old house that's been reworked into a Middle Eastern restaurant and cafe. This setup works incredibly well as there are several distinct zones to Andala to choose from: the very front and middle "main" areas which are the most busy and restaurant-like, the sun porch area, which is cozy and wonderfully conducive to studying, and the basement, which, while comfy-looking, smells kind of like kitchen (I would avoid). The spaces themselves are sunny, colorful and beautifully decorated.
The food is not mind-blowing, but it is very good, and reasonably priced for what you receive. I would especially recommend the meat pies, baklava, and any of the many teas on offer (these aren't listed separately on the menu, but your waiter will come around with a large box filled with a variety of loose teas for you to choose from at your request). The service is friendly, but not overattentive or smothering.
Not that you should need any further inducement to drop by Andala at this point, but there's also free WiFi. Go, bring your laptop, study a little, loaf a little, eat baklava, drink hot cocoa, sip tea, go home feeling immensely satisfied about the amount of work you managed to get done, lather, rinse, repeat.
I guess the word of the day is "mediocre." There aren't a lot of outlets to be had here, and the food is a bit pricey. But they do have free wifi. And the service is generally pretty friendly. Also, the patio is neat during the warmer summer months.
I'd take 1369 over Andala any day, but if 1369 isn't your style, I guess Andala might be a good substitute in the Central area.
Definitely the best cafe in Central Square.
I generally frequent coffee shops quite a bit and I enjoy the unique environment each has to offer. Andala has both excellent food, and a great atmosphere where you can have lunch, dinner, or simply a cup of coffee while studying or working on something via your (Free)wifi connected laptop.
The downstairs is a more comfy, and generally quieter place to be. Their is also an area for groups to meet in a living room comfortable setting with couches and tables.
Generally, the coffee and tea are excellent, including the Arabic coffee. Currently my favorite dish is the Coq au vin, which is a dinner special running right now. Also the Rice pudding is very very delicious.
I liked this place a lot. In fact, had I known they offered a full menu, I would have eaten dinner here instead of the Indian restaurant down the street. I believe this restaurant and café offers Israeli specialties, as well as al fresco dining and hookah. I was able to enjoy their coffee and pastry the following morning.
I am a huge fan of tea and this is a wonderful place to drink tea and coffee. It is a relaxed atmosphere where you can either sit back with a book, do work, or hang with a friend. There food is also delicious!
I will definitely be back many times to come!
I live around the corner from this place and am so sad I haven't ventured over before!
The food is awesome- from deconstructed hummus to tasty sandwiches this is a great breakfast/lunch place. I hear that they have some dinner specials and live music on Saturdays which I plan to check out. They also have bagels, pasteries, many different kinds of coffees and teas.
The atmosphere is warm and cozy with tables and also couches and little nooks. I can't wait to go there for coffee and scrabble sometime soon!
You must check this place out - especially if you live near by!
Anadala's one of my favorite restaurants in cambridgeport. Staff is friendly and laid back, and they have free wifi.
They also have a huge downstairs that's good to hold big meetings, and an awesome patio.
Quite a disappointing experience. The plates did not look to clean, service was amazingly slow, and on top of it all, we had to wait more than twenty minutes for the fork, and when they were finally able to spare one for us, it still had some soap on it!
The food wasn't to great, fresh but not very tasty and portions where rather small. I don't think I'll ever be back...
I'm all for local businesses, but Andala has a few kinks, despite the cool motif.
Wi-fi works sometimes, and the drinks are pricey. I wouldn't get anything but a basic coffee to go here.
This unique local coffee house is friendly environment I enjoy meeting friends or just read books... or just listen to others talk. They have better coffee than 1369 and friendlier people than C3 cafe. My favorite is their smoothie.
Let me just say that I LOVE ANDALA. Yes, those caps were needed. This little cafe has been my savior in the past few months due to the massive amount of studying I've been doing in preparation for the LSAT.
A quiet, sunny little cafe, Andala has a wonderful, laid back atmosphere. Initially I had thought that it was just another (boring) cafe, and would serve the usual- coffee and croissants, etc., but I was delightfully surprised to find that Andala not only has an extensive range of coffees and teas, but delicious food as well.
For those of you who like really strong coffee with a bit of spice, try the Arabic coffee. It's rich, thick, and is spiced with cardamom. I usually tend to get some Moroccan mint tea (I'm on a no-caffeine kick), which is also good.
As for the food, I have a horrible habit of only ordering two things from the menu. One is the Goat Cheese and Honey Plate, which, of course is a giant block of goat cheese, and fruits drizzled with honey. Really, I order it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The second thing I order is the Lentil Soup. Yes, boring I know, but the soup tastes just like a homemade soup. Nice, thick and delicious.
I do have it on good authority that their other dishes are good too.
Service is kind of lackadaisical, but all of the waitresses I've met are very sweet.. One day you might get an overly attentive waitress, the next, you'll have a hard time finding someone to take your order (even if you go up to the register!). However, because the cafe is so laid back, most of its patrons are as well.
It's a great little place to go for an afternoon, or an evening, alone, or with friends.
Their hummus is very watery and there are full chickpeas in it. Maybe it's the traditional way to serve it but I was caught off guard.
Free wifi and a good study place. Arabic and Turkish coffee are pluses - I also like their chamomile tea.
I'm the 102nd review? And here I thought this place was out of the way.
I've been living within a 15 minute walk of Andala for over three years and only recently learned its name (a friend told me to meet him there). So I went, happy from the get-go to be finally entering the place I passed all the time on the drive home from the Pike.
The first thing I noticed was how much light was coming through the floor to ceiling windows. Because Andala faces the very wide Central Square/River Street intersection, it's very bright, even on a cloudy day. I then noticed the menu, which I picked up off a music stand. I perused the Israeli offerings and opted for a pear juice ($2 too expensive) and an omelette ($2 cheaper than expected). Both were delicious.
Over the half hour or so I was there, I noticed people taking advantage of the free wi-fi on their laptops, reading books, and calmly sipping tea. Because it's within shouting distance of the Central Square Starbucks, it made me even happier to go to Andala and support local business.
The hummus at this place is amazing, though I found the portion sizes to be a little on the small side. if you are really hungry and need to eat a lot of food you should probably not eat here because you will end up spending a lot of $$ for a decent sized portion.
Service was a little slow but very friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is nice and a little funky. I would definitely go back (when I'm not so hungry) especially to try the coffee.


