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Ball Square Café
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants American (Traditional) Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional) [Edit]
708 BroadwaySomerville, MA 02144
(617) 623-2233
- Nearest Transit:
-
Broadway @ Boston Ave - Ball Sq (80, 89, 89/93, 9109)
Broadway @ Josephine St - Ball Sq (80, 89, 89/93, 9111)
Broadway @ Pearson Rd (80, 89, 89/93, 9109)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6:30 am - 3 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
268 reviews for Ball Square Café
Review Highlights
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"With those delish grilled mashed potatoes." In 21 reviews -
"I think it was the best french toast I ever had." In 48 reviews -
"...why, since the owner of Sound Bites is SUCH a pleasant guy..." In 38 reviews
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268 reviews in English
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Review from Teresa B.
Cambridge, MA
3/7/2012
Just got back from this place and was super impressed! The greeter and wait staff were very friendly upon our arrival, the menu was amazing, and the food followed suit!
It was the best fruit plate I've ever had in a restaurant, eggs were great, the servings were generous and inexpensive. My friend, who accompanied me, is a former breakfast cook with very discerning standards. She loved her eggs over medium which were expertly cooked, as well as the perfectly toasted bagel, and the signature potatoes of Omar!
The cafe was clean, attractive, the coffee bar is awesome! The only, only disappointment for me was the supermarket style wheat toast, but now I'll know to try something else next time! (Our neighbors' pancakes and French toast looked like something I must try on future occasions!) -
Review from K.P. M.
Portland, OR
4/13/2012
I came here Easter morning for some hangover breakfast. I got there around 12pm and there was a line out the door. I did have to wait about 20 minutes, and may have had to wait longer if I was not by myself. (There were other groups that got there before me but were only ordering when I got up to leave)
The staff was friendly and quick. The food was good but not mind blowing. I got cornbeef hash eggs benedict with the mashed and grilled home fries. Delicious but not enough to become a favorite or standby.
Self serve drinks, quick and friendly wait staff, a relatively small space (so watch out big groups. I saw some awkward table formations happening to accomodate bigger groups) and about $10-15 a person. I think after tax my meal was $13.50 and I only had water.
I would definately recommend this place, HOWEVER, there were about three other breakfast/diner places on that one block that I could see that had no waiting. I have never tried these other places, so maybe they're crap. But if you go and dont want to wait in line, there are other options that might be just as good and/or a bit cheaper.
Happy eating! -
Review from DJ N.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2012
What a fantastic breakfast spot!
The food is great. The service is very good. It's a no frills type of spot, but it definitely hits the spot.
I love the sweet pepper corn beef hash! Either as an entree with eggs & grilled mashed potatoes or with eggs benedict. The flavor is outta this world. The place next door, Sound Bites, should take notes... Ball Sq. Cafe is the real deal!
I also love their hot chocolate. It will warm you up on a cold winter day. Don't pass it up. -
Review from Sascha S.
Somerville, MA
3/19/2012
Definitely a fan...especially compared to Soundbites next-door. Great omelets, awesome staff, lots of interesting coffee and the fruit is the bomb!
Sweet potato pancakes are also excellent...be sure to try them!
They also load up on the avocado in their dishes, which is always pleasant.
Only downside is the cost. Yea, the coffee is unlimited, but 4 bucks for it? Asking for an english muffin instead of potatoes, 50 cents? Every request comes with a price here, and dishes themselves aren't cheap. I came with a friend and for 2 omelets, 1 pancake (just a side) and 2 coffees it came out to $35 bucks. Their new menus (from just last week) are more pricey than the last one.
This place is great and price is not a reason to dock the star rating...just a bit misleading in terms of racking up unexpected charges. I think this is the best breakfast joint in the Tufts/Davis/Medford region. -
Review from Jess M.
Boston, MA
5/24/2012
I don't miss a lot about Somerville, but I really, really, really miss the marble topped tables and fried mashed taters and HUGENORMOUS waffles at Ball Square Cafe. Holy mother of god, the food here is awesome. The eggs benedict with asparagus is amazing. LOVE YOU, BSC.
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Review from elana v.
Medford, MA
5/10/2012
Me and my boyfriend come here often. The food is always fresh, good quality and consistent. I'd recommend the apple cinnamon pancakes. Definitely the best breakfast place in the area.
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Review from Ardo S.
Arlington, MA
5/21/2012
I love everything about this place. Love the food (the stuffed french toast, the Delight, and their Turkey Club sandwich are my personal favorites), love the owner, love the tight-knit neighborhood vibe you always get when you're here. Everyone who works there has always been extremely nice to our now-2-year-old daughter, which gets them a few more points. On busier days (Holidays, Sundays) you might find a line, but that's any good diner in the Metro area for you, and this one moves faster than most. Exploring new diners around New England is something we love to do, but this is the only place we keep coming back to.
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Review from Paul C.
Somerville, MA
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here for two reasons:
1. A friend told me that it was good
2. and another friend saw it on yelp (and he drove here).
The restaurant itself is pretty nice and the food is really good. I heard that the hash browns grilled and mashed were good, and THEY WERE!
I would say that everything on the menu is safe to get, and would definitely recommend a visit here -
Review from Jasmine M.
Thousand Oaks, CA
4/4/2012
Great food! Cute and clean place with a great menu, grey service, and good coffee. The fruit was great quality compared to other Boston restaurants, and the eggs Benedict and French toast was some of the best I've ever had. Really pleasant experience. Good prices. No complaints. :)
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Review from Dorothy T.
Falls Church, VA
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
We think they served the best egg benedicts we ever tasted! The meal was very filling but very delicious. We stayed at a hotel for a nite within 6 miles from the restaurant and moved to town for the next 3 nites. That breakfast meal was so unforgettable for us and kids that we will definitely visit the restaurant again should we visit Boston in the future.
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Review from jasmin v.
We had to try this place based on all the good reviews; we ordered...
-Lobster Benedict: Huge chunks of Lobsters! YUM! English muffin is perfectly toasted!
-Roasted Mushroom omelette: It has my favorite cheese, Boursin! Just cheese & mushrooms but this omelette is missing something.
-Grilled Mash Potatoes: Great side; very different option for breakfast.
*Not the biggest place; might have to wait outside (even during the winter!)
*Self serve beverages.
*Metered parking -
Review from Jonique S.
Boston, MA
12/24/2011 14 photos
*Tips for newbies:*
1) If you're waiting to be seated or waiting in line, stay off of the black carpet (fire hazard I presume :)
2) As you're waiting to be seated, help yourself to drinks. The pumpkin spice coffee was absolutely superb. It is probably tastier than even my over-the-top Starbucks concoction.
3) Make sure that all members in your party are with you before requesting a seat.
4) If you get an omelet and have to choose between the chopped potato home fries or Omar's mashed and grilled hash brown... CHOOSE THE MASHED & GRILLED! It was herb-y in the best way...not aggressive, and extremely distinct and memorable.
5) If you're trying to decide between this place and its neighbor and rival, choose Ball Square Cafe! I found it to be cleaner, warmer, more welcoming, more fragrant, and more in tune with the little details (that matter)! Ball Square Cafe cares about the customer. I like that in a venue. If you're indifferent then feel free to go next door!
6) Whatever you planned on talking about with your party, will be null and void. For 2 hours, all my friends and I did was eat, talk about the food we were eating, and take pictures of food (ours and other folks') ---I haven't seen my friends in a while but we just too impressed with our overall dining experience and our plans to discuss NYE plans, never happened.
*Pros:*
1) The owner, Mike, knows how he wants his business to run. He runs a tight ship! He has both customer and server/owner etiquette at the forefront of his mind. He was friendly and even brought my party a complimentary strawberry-shortcake Belgian waffle (just because) that we devoured!
2) The food is amazing! I am a stickler for ambiance, food presentation and food taste. Truth be told, I like food that gives a darn! I like food that does an additional mirror check before leaving the kitchen. Not only was the food at Ball Square Cafe delicious, but it was also beautiful! I took pictures of everything!
3) What we ordered:
Nova Smoked Salmon Omelet,
Artichoke Omelet,
Celtic Omelet
5 stars for--- flavor, freshness, fragrance, friendliness, and the familial feel
*The Only Con:*
It's too late to add an additional door to keep out the inclement weather, but I wish there was some kind of partition or something to separate the diners from the elements (on such brisk days like today! 27 degrees F!)
*I wonder if...*
* ...they do outdoor seating in the summer time. I hope so. I will definitely be back to Mike's Ball Square Cafe!
*... it was intentional to have the women busting the tables and the fellas taking the orders (I kind of liked the contrast as it ensured that every customer's attention was on the food and experience vs getting overly and inappropriately comfortable with the wait-staff) -
Review from Mike P.
Cambridge, MA
Updated - 2/8/2012
I was slightly disappointed when I tried the Black Bean Salsa omelet. It wasn't anything to write home about. Same goes for the corned beef hash my friend had. It was mushy and flavorless. We also did not like the 1.5 pounds of Omar's home fries they give you on the side. Yes, it's a lot of potatoes but, again, there was no flavor. I'd go with the traditional, more flavorful diced potatoes. However, the fruit dish was still awesome.
I'd recommend sticking with their pancake or French toast options. I think that's their bread and butter (no pun intended).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2011
I finally had the chance to try this place after hearing about it for a few years. We had a… Read more »
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Review from flora R.
1/3/2012
Always a line, but it usually moves reasonably fast if you're here early enough. The 'serve it yourself' drinks bar help make the wait more bearable.
We had a great omelets and waffles but the potatoes needed salt and the hash was embarrassingly bland, dry and cold.
I think because it's so close and popular we might give it another try - but only if there's no line. -
Review from Tyler A.
Somerville, MA
3/9/2012
I love this place. I have come here a bunch of times, the food is always great, the service is dependable and I will continue to come here as long as I live in Davis. My only complaint is that the owner is kind of a "good ol' boy" and practices nepotism passionately, I have seen his acquaintances get bumped ahead of the line at least half the times I have been here. I don't really care too much because their food is the best around Ball Square. However, I will not be going here as much nor going to Sound Bites again because I discovered Alfresco's which is less expensive, no wait, better food, but unfortunately, no grilled mash and less selection, but hey, when I crave some grilled mash, I will be waiting in line with the rest of you.
Comment from Mike M. of Ball Square Café 3/9/2012
Hello Tyler, First I would like to thank you for being our… More » -
Review from Cindy W.
11/25/2011
I would give this a 5 star but I had to take one away for the lack of parking in the area.
Mike (the owner) and his staff can cook a mean breakfast!!!! Everything on the menu looks and sounds awesome. Mounds of fresh cut fruit on top of large warm fluffy pancakes served with REAL maple syrup. I didn't know that there was a such thing as "real syrup" v. syrup until Mike brought it to our table. There is a difference...REAL DIFFERENCE.
As for other suggestions to get...the sweet pepper corn hash. YUMS!! If you here with a few friends/family, get a side of grilled mashed home fries. THink of it as garlic mashed potatoes, grilled. Can't really explain it well...but it was dam good.
I would like to add that I really like their "get your own drink" concept. Cool! The only gripe I have about this place is the parking. But that is nothing they could do. Its somerville...parking sucks. -
Review from Morgan T.
Boston, MA
11/5/2011
Went here this morning and everything was great!! Get here early because I here the line is crazy and you have to wait outside (they did have overhead heaters which was great!)
Once seated, the service was very quick. At this place you get your own coffee and water at a station set up in the back. I've never seen this before and thought it was a great idea!!! Definitely makes the place able to turn over very quickly.
I love that they have whole wheat and multi grain pancakes and waffles. I had the whole wheat waffle with apples and cinnamon on top. So good! I also had the diced hash browns which were great too. MmMm I want to go there right now.
Overall, this place was wonderful (good service too!). I would most definitely go here again. -
Review from Aaron K.
My favorite breakfast place. Been going here once in a while for a couple years. The reason I don't come here more often is because of the long lines I've heard about. I usually come here on a day off or in the afternoon if I dare come on a weekend. Never had to wait for a table more than a couple of minutes.
The food is amazing and all super huge portions for the price. If you are looking for a feast you can do no better than the fit for king/queen combo. My fiance usually goes for the eggs benedict which are amazing with a great hollandaise sauce. Get the grilled mashed (crispy grilled exterior, creamy on the inside, wonderful all around), skip the diced potatoes. My favorite thing here is the french toast as I've always been a sucker for good french toast. This is probably my favorite of all time with THICK challah that will make you holla. Definitely a regular in our rotation and should be in yours too! -
Review from Christy C.
Malden, MA
1/20/2012
This place is good, but not as great as I thought from reading the reviews.
We purposely drove 15-20mins from Jamaica Plain to this place because I was craving for a good breakfast/brunch and wanted to try something new. After I read a lot of reviews here, I got very excited about their french toast and grilled mashed potato and they were good, just not outstanding.
The atmosphere is pretty nice: good decoration, layout, service, and selections of self-served drinks,
We had french toast, Our Favorite (egg, potato, sausage, & toast), and Broadway Blues. They were good, just above average regular breakfast you get. They do a very good job making the french toast, I liked it. All the ingredients they used were very good, and food were nicely cooked and presented, BUT BLAND - not much seasoning or any specialties.
Personally, I was not wild about the grilled mashed potato. It was good, but WAY TOO sour that I couldn't even taste anything else except the fact that I could see it's mashed potato. Also, they could do a much better job making the potato thinner and grilled it a little more to make it crispy on the outside.
It is an overall good breakfast/brunch place. If you are around the area, it's definitely worth a try. To me, it's just not a place that would attract me to go out of my way to have a brunch. -
Review from Rachel W.
Boston, MA
11/9/2011
Best brunch ever.
I went last Saturday.. and it was pretty chilly out and there was a line.
However. They have those overhead heaters, which is a nice touch. And the owner, Mike (who introduced himself) brought out little hot chocolates with whipped cream to everyone in line. This made the wait very tolerable.
My friend and I decided that we needed one and a half entrees each, because we couldn't pass on the seasonal waffles.
That being said, I had a corned beef hash benedict and a side of pumpkin waffles with caramelized apples... YUM.
The eggs benedict was HUGE. And had the best "homefries" ever on the side, which were actually grilled mashed potatoes.. Seriously. Get them. I can't even begin to describe how delicious the waffles were. Needless to say I didn't successfully finish either of the entrees I ordered.. as much as I tried to.
Seriously. It was the best brunch I've ever had. Ever. Huge portions, deliiiicious food. The service was great. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Totally worth the trip. I only wish that one of the T lines extended right to the outside of Ball Square Tavern. -
Review from Eloni F.
New York, NY
10/19/2011
3 star's is not a bad rating though sometimes it may seem so. It just means the place is ok but I DO prefer to go to Sound Bytes next door. I decided to try this place because they seem to have a long line at Sunday Brunch times and I wanted to see if this place was any better than Sound Bytes (that and the drama behind the restaurants warranted a taste test).
I got Salmon Benedict. It was not offered on their menu but they made it anyway. The english muffin they put it on was either put in the toaster too long or was old... I felt like I was eating the eggs off a chewy cracker. I even started comically sawing through the english muffin so that the waitresses might see, they didn't care. I started to time how long it would take to saw through the chewy crackers... about 35 seconds.
The grilled mash was pretty good. On par with Sound Byte's. Nothing totally different.
The place was small and felt a little clausterphobic. The brick walls were cute.
Overall... I'll keep going to Sound Bytes. They have almost the same food but with better english muffins. They are also nicer and usually offer me fruit. -
Review from Katty H.
Somerville, MA
11/27/2011
I've eaten here a few times for brunch and the biggest complaint that I have is that sometimes the fresh fruit isn't ripe yet and you have to pay more for real maple syrup - everything else is delicious! I love their waffles with whipped cream that is halfway between whipped cream and butter. The BF usually gets an omelet or corn beef hash, with their side of potatoes that satisfies the Irish in me.
The line can get long on the weekends, but it's never a bad wait - 20 minutes tops. In the winter they turn on some outside heaters, a hospitable gesture. The owner is incredibly sweet, friendly and accommodating, and he makes this a pleasant place to eat. I've never felt rushed despite the constant line outside. -
Review from Bobby C.
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Three of my friends and I came here for bunch on Saturday around 12:30. It was nice that the manager/owner would come out to update people on the wait and inform us that we could get coffee or juice as we waited.
There was one guy ahead of us. He was waiting for his three other buddies. The owner informed all parties that it is a first come first serve basis. Since our entire group was all present, we would get the next table since not everyone in the other party had shown up yet. The guy in front of us got annoyed with the "rules." The manager explained the situation if allowed that to happen. 30 mins go by and two of his buddies show up. The manager and the guys in the party in front of us talk some more. A table opens up, and they get seated. We eventually get seated. Later on the fourth guy from that party shows up. Supposedly they ordered from him something to-go. He joined and ate with the guys. I didn't care either way. Thought I'd share my experience.
Large menu selection, good portions, decent service. The manager must have liked the guys since he checked on them a bunch of times. -
Review from Nida I.
Somerville, MA
3/2/2012
I went here for brunch for the first time two Sundays ago. There was a line outside the door when my boyfriend and I got there, but there's an awning with heaters up top, which I thought was a nice touch. Being just a party of 2, we got a table fairly quickly, and our waitress was very nice. I ordered a mushroom omelet with the grilled mashed potatoes and my boyfriend got the Fit for a King breakfast platter with french toast and extra berries, and we were both extremely pleased. The food was absolutely delicious! The price of our meal was reasonable as well. Definitely coming back!
The one negative to this place (which isn't really their fault) is that parking can be difficult to find. -
Review from Angband A.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
2/27/2012
The first time I came here, I thought this place was amazing. Then I came here again, and ordered a few more dishes, and decided that the only can't -miss item is the french toast. The omelette featured this really thick layer of egg, and the eggs benedict, while good, was nothing special. The pancakes are actually quite terrible; worse than the kind I make at home. I have to admit, though, the not insignificant type-A part of my personality gets great joy from seeing how efficiently this place is run.
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Review from Damien S.
A standing rule for breakfast out: don't order what you can make at home. It helps when perusing a diner's menu for a little sunrise face-stuffing, but the eclectic onslaught of brekkie entrees at Ball Square Cafe doesn't make it easier to cut down on the available options.
Already a fan of the hash bene, I recently sampled the Tri-Berry waffle, a malted batter crisply griddled and loaded with straw-, black- and raspberries on a platter spurted with fresh whipped cream. Bright, beautiful and bursting with berries, the most excellent choice boasted only one fleck of hubris: the price. Call me old fashioned, but I have a difficult time justifying a $9 price tag on an a la carte waffle, especially when the unadorned waffle rings in at a mere $5.50.
Still, it's a damn fine start to your day. That and the hilarious oxymoron that is Ball Square.Listed in: Tiny Places, Ball Square: Total Paradox, Breakfast of Champions
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Review from Raghav N C.
Medford, MA
2/20/2012
One of the best egg breakfast..
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Review from Stephanie G.
Somerville, MA
8/21/2011
Man if there is one thing in the world I love, it's a good breakfast. Whilst trying to decide between Ball Square and the legendary Sound Bites, a man walking by wholeheartedly recommended Ball Square Cafe.
It has a huge menu with omelets, eggs benedict, waffles/pancakes and I am definitely forgetting stuff. The Omar's home fries were delicious!
So what, do you ask, does this place have over Sound Bites, if anything. Well, I honestly think they are both great, but I felt less rushed in Ball Square Cafe (though this case perhaps be attributed to the fact that I got up abnormally early - will try to confirm next time!), but seriously, the fruit salad amazing. I substituted it for the potatoes (knowing that I would of course eat my boys, duh), and the fruit was all so ripe and delicious. That may have been the best mango I've had in my life. So, if every salad is like that - I'm down to eat there for any brunch. -
Review from Adam A.
Boston, MA
7/12/2011
They have the best breakfast around (never go to Soundbites, Ball Square Cafe is exponentially better - it is not even a comparison). The portions are enormous and the prices are very fair. Their stuffed French Toasts are ridiculous. The service is also quick.
Only concern is the size of the place. If they expanded, they would run Soundbites under the table. -
Review from molly b.
Brookline, MA
5/17/2011
I had such high expectations, but the service and attitude of the waitstaff and owner turned us off so much that we all decided we'd never return. We waited 40 minutes early on a Sunday and were starving. The portion sizes did not disappoint! My french toast was huge and decadent, the whipped cream was delicious, but overall it was nothing really outstanding. The fruit plate was fresh and tasty.
The problem was that we had been sitting for maybe 30 minutes, still eating, when we kept getting pestered about the bill. The server came back 3 or 4 times in the next ten minutes to bother us for the bill. Finally, as we were putting on our coats, the owner came by and demanded we leave. It was so rude! We had been there all of 45 minutes! I realize there's a line, but we had barely finished. It totally ruined the whole experience for us. -
Review from Francis C.
Wellesley, MA
9/24/2011
Freaking delicious
Freaking generous portions.
The lobster benny is seriously worth every dime.
GRILLED MASH GRILLED MASH GRILLED MASH!!
I thought about taking 1 star away but then I figured its not their fault that they always have more people who want to eat there compared to the space...but I doubt an expansion would really alleviate anything. -
Review from Michele G.
Boston, MA
Updated - 3/6/2011
Sadly, I didn't get to eat at Ball Square Cafe today because of a very angry waitress who shocked and embarrassed my fiance and I. We we the second in line for a table... and an open table stayed open for at least 10 minutes with either the party ahead of us or our party being seated. We kept having to move out of the way of the servers, who don't seem like they have the easiest job ferrying food between two small rooms between people; anywhere we stood, we were constantly asked to move. It would have been easier had they simply asked us to wait outside against the window or something.
My tired fiance sat down at the open table (apparently it was being reserved??) just to read the paper and be out of the way while we waited. He didn't think it'd be an issue since it seemed like he was finally out of the way, at a seat. However, 20 seconds later a waitress came running over and asked him to get up and move. He said he'd been moving all over the place. She suddenly snapped and said that he could leave if he "didn't like it and DON'T GET WISE! You gotta problem with the policy, the owner's right there!" HOLY HELL, woman. We've never been treated so badly at any dining spot. Just the way you snapped was terrifying and I thought you were going to start swearing and screaming.
We decided to leave right away. On the way out, the owner seemed to apologize to me. So, so odd. And I really wanted to eat your lobster sandwich and sweet potato fries today, but we went to Soundbites instead. You can keep your scary waitress.Listed in: The Groupon Follies!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/12/2010
I finally got to use my Groupon today! We had to wait outside a little bit, but I don't think it was… Read more »
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Review from Karmen W.
Medford, MA
7/31/2011
So before I even start writing, I'm thinking of things that I don't like about this place- even just a little bit. But nope! I absolutely adore this place and on my 5th or 6th visit, I brought my friend here and now he shares the same love I have for this place.
1. I'm not a big fan of parallel parking but the street parking available in this area isn't a hassle at all.
2. I'm ALWAYS welcomed by the owner or acknowledged by him somehow. Seeing a friendly owner always sets the mood right.
3. You get a good amount of yum-tastic food for a great price. The Multigrain Delight is my go-to if I'm shooting for something sweet for breakfast/brunch. It's got a MOUNTAIN of fresh fruit on top of that waffle ..which I'm in love with. But if you're feeling adventurous, there're a lot of other options on the menu, and don't forget to look at the specials!
And from my last visit, I noticed they had added a Lobster Eggs Benedict (if it's not that new, then I guess I haven't been there for a while), and after seeing that, I instantly made my mind to get it. Perfect for the summer for breakfast! Breakfast fit for champs :) -
Review from Emily L.
Queens, NY
4/24/2011
Rarely do I go to a restaurant and feel like I ate delicious home cooked food. This place does it right in terms of portions, taste, service, everything. My bf and I came around 11am on a weekday so the wait wasn't too bad. We waited around 10 mins.
There was this guy (owner?) who was very friendly and making sure the people waiting + the people eating were happy and made sure to tell us that the beverages are self serve in the back.
The menu is huge with very reasonable prices and I couldn't choose at first. Finally we got:
+Crab Benedict with nom nom grilled mashed potatoes yumm
+Breakfast plate with 2 perfectly over easy eggs, amazing diced potatoes, more than enough toast and pork sausage
+Tri-berry waffle (wow the fruit was so fresh and sweet)
Everything was DELICIOUS. I felt content and happy with the food, even when I was stuffed to the limit.
I am sad this place isn't in NY. I'm gonna miss it. -
Review from David S.
Middlesex, MA
12/23/2011
Good eggs benedict! I don't mind the crowdedness, as the bustle is one thing I enjoy in a breakfast place.
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Review from John S.
3/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hate to give this place two stars, since I really do appreciate the place - serve yourself coffee, attentive (if abrupt) waitstaff, and a big menu. But I ordered a breakfast sandwich and I hated it, so I have to do what I have to do with the star rating.
I ordered the "Pure Protein" sandwich. Sounds good from the description, right:
Egg Whites, Grilled Tomato, Sautéed Fresh Baby
Spinach, Salmon and Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Unfortunately, the salmon was in two small globs that fell out of the sandwich while it was sitting on the plate. The spinach wasn't wilted enough, so that also took on glob-like characteristics and slivered out of the sandwich the second I bit into it. The sandwich would've be better texturally if it was blended and served as a smoothie.
I'll certainly be going back. I just won't order this sandwich again. -
Review from Heather G.
Boston, MA
2/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't claim to have a preference for or loyalty to one place or the other - in the great Soundbites/Ball Square debate, you can just call me the Swiss Miss. The only thing I ask is that you serve me a great breakfast and leave the crazy out of it. I don't want to hear about the feuding and punching and kitchen-staff-thievery (I've read enough Anythony Bourdain books to know this is commonplace in the industry, so let's grow up and move on, no?). I want some damn eggs. That's it.
However, my brunch date one morning was an ex-Davis-er who most CERTAINLY has an opinion on the matter and is a die-hard-Ball-Square-er, so for the day, I was on Team BSC.
What I didn't love:
The place was a busy ruckus with a line out the door and down the sidewalk. As a newbie, i had no idea what I was supposed to do upon approaching this scene, but apparently I'm supposed to just stand in the line and ask no questions. An unsettling way to queue up for breakfast, but I tried to go with it.
My eggs were over-poached. That's an understatement. Let's try this again - my eggs were HARD BOILED on my Benedict. Ick. Someone had to have left the stove to go watch the morning news or something to have allowed this to happen.
The chicken salad was really dry and too chunky to eat comfortably in a sandwich, making it embarrassing when golf ball-sized chunks fell out of the sandwich and into my lap. Classy.
Skip the bowl of granola - it tastes like rolled oats and walnuts, and has no caramelized clusters or chunks in it. While cheap and large, this bowl isn't worth the calories.
What I absolutely adored:
The prices are so low. Even with the hard boiled egg debacle, this place is a steal. The non-egg portion of my lobster Benedict was absolutely delicious - I recommend ordering this if you are feeling lucky and want to risk having overcooked eggs.
The fruit bowl is like nothing I've ever seen before. We're not talking apples and melon - we're talking a giant, heaping bowl of pineapple, mango, pear, etc. Gorgeous, cheap, fresh.
The coffee (self-serve bar) is fantastic, fresh, and hot. Nothing tastes stale or burnt, and there were a large variety of flavors to choose from.
I am very much anti-sweet potato fries, but these are really fantastic.
The service at this place is outstanding. From the moment I queued up in that bizarre line, the communication was top-notch. The owner came out, chatted, told me how long the wait would be, offered me coffee. When we were seated, the waitress was sweet, friendly, prompt, and seemed to love her job.
Bottom line: While I tried to stay out of it and have no opinion on the epic feud that's been rocking Davis Square for ages, I can't imagine myself even trying the place next door since BSC treated me to such a great experience. I'm going to stick with what works, and come back here often. -
Review from Jose L.
Somerville, MA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a great spot! Great menu and better tasting food. Mike was an awesome individual! Loved the personal attention. Feels like a place you've been going for years after the first 10 min. Hands down my favorite brunch place, can't wait to go back!
-
Review from mandie h.
Somerville, MA
8/21/2011
My only complaint about Ball Square Cafe is that they close at 3pm, and I hardly get out for brunch before 2pm. The coffee bar stops getting stocked around 2pm usually so there's no point in coming to get brunch at that point. Otherwise I love this place.
Staff is friendly, coffee is fresh and hot, their omelets are fluffy and not overcooked, they can poach an egg on the first try every time, and I'm not afraid if my order comes out wrong of sending it back. I love being greeted at the door and it actually feeling genuine.
They actually have *rotating* specials too... they can be hit or miss (blue cheese in an omelet?) but they actually change.
A regular favorite on my weekend brunch circuit. -
Review from Kimberly H.
Cambridge, MA
3/15/2011
One of my favorite Boston breakfast spots. Thankfully, it's about a 10 minute walk from my apartment.
The best way to find Ball Square Cafe is to look for the line of patrons waiting under the heat lamps. You may be skeptical of a semi-long wait outside in the winter, but those heat lamps do their job - often times, I am sweating before I even get inside.
One of my least favorite things about brunch in the city is the wait - if you're going to a decent place, you will wait at least 30 minutes, with nothing to do. Ball Square takes care of you from the second you get there. Have a friend secure your spot in line, and walk inside to the back where there's a huge coffee station with a bunch of roasted flavors, iced coffee, iced tea, and a really fun selection of teas. Take your to-go cups back outside and happily sip while you plan your feast, using the full menu displayed on the windows. The owner, Mike, summons you by party number. I highly recommend going here in pairs. One time, my boyfriend and I completely dodged the wait, passing large groups of Tufts kids. Ha-ha, suckers!!
Once you're inside, and know what you want, there's a mere 10 minutes before your food is served. And it's delicious:
- Carmelized banana french toast with homemade whipped cream: pheomenal. fluffy. 4 huge slices.
- Get any of the french toasts, you really can't go wrong: banana & cream cheese stuffed, banana & nutella stuffed, and so on.
- Celtic Green Omlette: very fresh, although we couldn't find our goat cheese very easily.
- I have yet to try the Eggs Benedict dishes but did order a single poached egg that was great.
- Veggie sausage: I forgot it was veggie.
- Banana Walnut pancakes: a little dry, but order some Vermont maple syrup and you're set.
- Corn muffin: we got it grilled, but it was still a too dry
Your portions will be big. Ball Square Cafe also makes it easy to taste a little bit of everything. If you can't split two plates with a friend (my recommendation), there are plenty of side options and single servings.
Can't say much about the lunch, but who needs lunch when you have breakfast available till 3pm?
The waitresses here are always nice. I've only met one of the owners, Mike, whose big personality and constant attention on the customers works the place like magic.
