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Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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This cafe is most excellent.
Why, is this?:
- They serve the best coffee bean in the USA: The Intelligensia ( http://www.intelligent.../ )
- They get almost all of their ingredients from organic, local farms, supporting the scene
- The interior is spacious and well designed, music is never too loud, and there are small corner rooms where you can escape from the bustle of a rush.
- In the wintertime, the back room has an amazing furnace that is soo nice and warm to sit next to and thaw from your walk . In the summer time the courtyard area is perfect for weather worship.
- You, too can know what its like to enjoy a coffee inside of a vault.
Con
- No cushy couches, or soft seats. I'm definitely one of those type who comes to a cafe for my coffee, lunch etc and stays for a few hours with my book, laptop or a friend in conversation .. Frankly, a NUMB BUM is the result of sitting on hard chairs.
I will give the 5th star when a couch-like area or couch like seating is available in the entire cafe.
- Considering internet is so cheap these days, Free WiFI would keep me here longer, drinking more coffee and eating delicious sandwiches
Things that make me not want to frequent Bloc 11:
Walking into a fenced in area where there are people with a dog are sitting and being told I can't bring my dog in the "courtyard" because of health codes. WTF??? Hi, did you NOT see the other people sitting with their dog? Seriously, I'll keep my money that I was going to spend on two mochas.
Not. Happy.
There sure are a lot of Subarus parked out in front of Bloc 11 Cafe.
This place opened this past…
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To break my normal routine, today I bundled up and bustled over to Bloc 11 Cafe, a little place that's been on my work-from-home to-do list for quite some time.
Much to my chagrin, I underestimated the amount of time it takes to walk from my home near Harvard Square to Bloc 11. I caught up on the phone with my mother whilst walking, so the time flew. But when I arrived and checked the clock, it was a whopping 30 minutes--and I walk notoriously fast.
Once I'd arrived I was determined to get the most out of my visit and proceeded to enjoy the following:
-a seat in front of the pleasantly chilly open windows
-pleasant chatter with various Bloc 11 staff members
-a delectable sandwich piled high with hard-boiled eggs, Gorgonzola, turkey and prosciutto
-the most ginormous tart and satisfying raspberry lime ricky (see photo)
-an absolutely perfect soy latte (see photo)
-a gluten-free pumpkin whoopie pie
-three and a half hours of focused click-click-clicking on my laptop
For this, I will again walk 30 minutes in the cold. Like, freezing New England cold. Like two layers of socks cold. So.Worth.It.
I don't get around this area much but when I do I will stop for some coffee and a sandwich/salad. This place was an old bank turned into a warm trendy cafe. You can find people sitting here for hours with a book, newpaper, or people on their laptops sucking up their FREE wifi.
ONe thing that sets Bloc 11 from many coffee shops in the city and around the area is that most of their coffee beans and ingredients are organic and come from local farms. I am a true fan of supporting local businesses and stock!
My only complaint is that they use this french bread that is fantastic but sometimes its over cooked and it gives it a very chewy and hard texture. My mouth was exhausted after finishing their sandwiches one time. This place is a very relaxing place to have lunch and chill on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
I have eaten the food from Bloc 11 and sampled the coffee. The food (sandwich & salad) was quite good, though it seems to be more expensive since I last tried it. The coffee seems to be the same brew as offered at the partner cafe, Diesel, in Davis Square. It's competent, but doesn't blow me away. The location, just outside Union Square is fabulous. The remodeling of the former bank is somewhat successful, if not a bit quirky not making the most efficient use of space. I wouldn't object to dining in the former vaults if it were not for the obvious association with Block 11 barracks at Auschwitz where one means of torture/execution was to lock prisoners into an airtight room either in a large tight group or with candles burning until the oxygen in the room was depleted.
I have had a previous review deleted by Yelp, at the request of the owners of Diesel/Bloc 11, I am sure, allegedly because it did not meet the rules of reviewing, though as far as I know it did, but I am trying again. I really did eat and drink here and have visited it on other occasions. I don't see why part of my review shouldn't be about why I find the name of the cafe offensive and the failure of the owners (also the owners of Diesel Cafe) to change the name insensitive.
The story is about a barracks at Auschwitz known as "Block 11" and frequently referred to as the prison with the prison. It was used for torture and execution and it's courtyard was used for firing squads. Among its most notorious achievements was that Block 11 was used to test Zyklon B gas as an alternative to diesel exhaust for extermination in the gas chambers of concentration and annihilation camps run by the Nazis. From that point forward, Zyklon B became the Giftgaz used throughout the system for the extermination of Jews and others.
Apparently the name "Bloc 11" was made in total ignorance of the notorious barracks. Soon after the opening of Bloc 11, this association was made known to the owners. Something has been made of the difference between the word "Block" and the word "Bloc." But, among other things, in French (and some other romance languages) the barracks is known as Bloc 11. Also it sounds the same. Does one letter really make a difference? Would you feel better coming to my "Klu Klux Kafe" rather than the more correct "Ku Klux Kafe"? I doubt it. Since the owners have been made aware of the similar names and have not changed it, I can only describe this as being insensitive to those whose lives have been tragically touched by the Holocaust.
I no longer spend my money either at Diesel or Bloc 11. I think the owners need to become more enlightened as to just how strong and distasteful the imagery of the notorious prison in a prison, Block 11, is to a certain group of people. I am still optimistic that they may change the name and perhaps mount some sort of education about Block 11 and Auschwitz as part of the story as to why they changed their name. In any event, the name change is now very long overdue.
The more I wander around Union Square, the more I like it.
I stopped in here last weekend with a group of friends after hitting up the Urban Country Fair (letdown) and a trip up to the Prospect Hill tower (totally awesome) for a much needed caffeinated refreshment.
Bloc 11 is owned by the same folks who own and operate Diesel, and it's obvious. The two cafes are very similar in style, color scheme, and menu. Bloc 11, however, wins out for the building. Apparently it used to house a bank, and the vault can clearly be seen from the front. Bloc 11 also offers patio seating, something that is sorely missing at Diesel.
As mentioned, the menus are very similar. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I do love hot chocolate and Bloc 11 does it right. My favorite part: the delicate leaf pattern in the foam. It's the little things that matter. Next time I'm totally trying one of their teas.
I also had a sandwich. The menu is full of both veggie and meaty options. I don't remember the exact name of what I ordered, but it was delicious. Artichoke hearts, goat cheese, and greens served on warm toasty bread makes my tummy rejoice. There was a bulghur-tabbouleh-type salad on the side that was totally delicious too.
The sandwiches are in the $7-9 range, which isn't unreasonable by any means, but let's just say that I'm glad I don't have the opportunity to eat here all the time. This place would rape my wallet in no time.
Our group didn't get to eat outside, but the patio seems like a lovely and quiet place to sit down and enjoy the lovely, albeit predictable, days in Boston.
Bloc 11 is one more reason to dig this part of Somerville.
how to blow a 4 - 5 star review, by james w.
chapter 1 - space
convert an old bank. keep the vault intact and throw some tables in there because people love that shit. add a modern, open, loft-like layout with ample seating in several distinct sections, outdoor space, and outlets available for people to bring their compies. throw some cool local art on the walls to cement that cool-kid community feel.
you're lookin' good. real good.
chapter 2 - product
in this chill atmosphere, offer simple but delicious food. add rich, aromatic coffees and cappuccino with foam so thick you can eat it with a knife and fork. you can even charge $12 for an egg sandwich and mochaccino, but you're still well on your way to an awesome yelp review!
chapter 3 - service
employ locals. try to make sure it's obvi they live in somerville & cambridge. in other words, hire the people that are likely to patronize your place. make sure they're friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and as chill as the vibe in your swingin'-awesome-bank-vault-having-coffee-house.
you're so there, dude. you're tiger woods on his second shot, lookin' for an eagle on that long par 5. go for the pin and knock that shit down.
chapter 4 - wi-fi
that's all you need. the icing on the otherwise delicious cake of a cool yelp review. you could have it goin' on! give the kids the free wi-fi. you know they're tethered to their computers and iWhatsits and mp-somethings. plus they just spent $12 on a cup of coffee and an egg sandwich. the wi-fi is a give away. friggin' sbux does it, and it's worked out pretty well for them, yo.
wait. you want to charge $4.95/hour; $7.95/day; $13.95/month? oh. uh. . . .
For a weeknight study session, Bloc 11 is awesome. They've got a good selection of loose leaf teas, including fresh brewed chai lattes, sandwiches that look great (though I didn't get to try one), and tasty soup.
The environment is also nice. They had good music playing, a mix of bebop jazz and some newer things going on. Whether you're in the noisier front of the store where the floor to ceiling windows can be moved aside to make a semi-open-air patio feel, or the quiet but spacious rear of the store, it was a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere, much unlike Bloc 11's always packed sister cafe Diesel in Davis Square.
I'll need to go back in the morning on a weekend to see if it's always so relaxed, but I heartily recommend it as a quiet weeknight study spot.
Bloc 11 is a fantastic edition to the Union Square vibe and they also serve awesome coffee/tea confections as well. I'm a big fan of Chai Tea and their Chai Tea Latte was even better than the one I had recently at their sister coffee shop, Diesel in Davis Square. It was delicious, flavorful and not too thin or watery. I took a sip of my husbands hot version of the same item and it was sincerely awesome, too. Plus, they have exceptional foam art there. My friend ordered a sandwich filled with fresh veggies and goat cheese and she looks super satisfied.
There is a large amount of seating throughout the place - outdoor seating, people watching seating, and quiet, dark seating in the back.
I make my coffee at home, so for me, Bloc11 is a place of spritzers, sandwiches, and salads.
The array of seating areas is nice. At least four micro-environments to suit my changing moods. If I need to work, I hunker down in the secluded back room near the fire. If I want to have a one on one with a friend or colleague, I head to the middle back room that doubles as an art gallery. If I want to people-watch, I grab a street-side window table. If I'm craving fresh air --- I head out to the garden. Love all the options.
Staff people are nice and professional. However it is THE FOOD that stands out here. Especially the salads. I used to make salad at a gourmet lunch spot, so I'm picky about salad. Bloc 11 has mastered the art of salad.
Fresh greens are piled high and framed by colorful crisp veggies, nuts, and fruit on a square plate. The homemade vinaigrette rocks. A real party on the palate.
Otherwise, I recommend the mega-sized fresh-squeezed limeade. Really hits the spot during those two weeks in the summer that you think you're going to sweat to death.
So my 5 star rating might be a little premature, but so far I have not found anything to dissuade me from rating Bloc 11 less than 5 stars.
Anyway ... my preferred breakfast is coffee and a muffin, but a recent diagnosis of lactose intolerance (which made me very very sad) made it more difficult to find a muffin that wasn't going to leave me feeling "blech" for the rest of the day. Bloc 11 always has one or two vegan muffin options available, and while I was skeptical at first (being a frequent consumer of animal products), I have found the vegan muffins to be moist, flavorful, and most importantly, stomach friendly. The coffee has a very distinct "nutty" flavor that I enjoy as well. I take my coffee and muffin to go, but the space is unique and open, complete with some outdoor seating. The lines always move fast, and everyone behind the counter has been nice. When I have the time on a weekend morning, it's definitely been worth it to make the trip over to Union Square!
*One tiny complaint - the eco-friendly cups are a great idea, but they tend to leak by the time I get back to Newton. I tend to leave a Hansel and Gretel like trail of coffee from my car to my kitchen where I have to dump my coffee in a real mug.
Way cool atmosphere and hip/trendy. Went today (Sunday afternoon) for the first time. Grabbed a coffee. Lots of people were there reading and/or studying or just catching up with friends. Very relaxing environment. One woman walked in with her dogs up to the counter and ordered. Awesome (well at least I think so..might not be for everyone). The staff seem to know the regulars by name. I got a "Cafe con Leche" which is a basic coffee with milk. It was Ok, I wasn't blown away but I can't wait to try the other yummy food on the menu. They have a lot of veggie/organic options. yoga studio opening above the cafe. Bonus! Too bad I live in Lexington but thankfully I have a lot of friends who live in the area that I visit so I hope to check out a class sometime.
This was my second visit to bloc 11 cafe and I decided to give it a review. I pretty much agree with the 4 star average. Atmosphere is OK. A bit too modern for me, but very clean. A nice feature though is that the store front opens up, making it nice on days with good weather and they also have outdoor seating in a grassy area. Coffee was OK. but not great (I only drink coffee black and I'm not a fan of Starbucks regular coffee to give a point of reference).
So, why a 4-Star review and not a 3? Well, even though I wasn't impressed with my coffee, my friend loved her iced latte. The staff was very nice (this goes a long way) and the sandwiches I have tried so far have been excellent (Egg sandwich the first time, The Link (added tomatoes) the second time). Prices may seem a bit high, but once you see the decent size of the sandwiches and quality of ingredients, you can't complain. Can't wait to go back to try the scones (they have a blueberry-lemon one that sounds great and I was intrigued by the savory ones available).
Eventhough I am not much of a hipster, at least relative to the clientele... I enjoyed this little hipster ghetto. why?
the food! I ate and left. Hipsters were mucking it up and having little hipster meetings and that's cool. But after my belly was full, I was out.
I will be back for more yummy food. it's sister store, deisel in davis sq inmy experience has been much more crowded and thus bloc 11 is more spacious and comfortable in my opinion.
ps the woman behind thecounter who took my order was very sweet and helpful. i didnt get her name but i appreciated her info. about the food.
Been here a bunch of times... live around the corner. Their mocha lattes (which is only what I've had as far as their coffee beverages go) are delicious, pretty, and significantly different than Starbucks (where I usually go). I always order my mochas with skim milk and their ML's really do taste like they're made with whole milk... nice and creamy! Mmmmm. Of course before putting the lid on (usually on the go) I have to admire the beautiful design on the top.
I've also had a bagel sandwich which was awesome. I ate half that day and ate the other half the following morning, which was just as delicious. The secret creation you ask? Here it is: Poppy seed bagel, egg, cheese, and tomato. Delish.
I sort of don't know what to say about this place. I was stuck in Union Square with some time to kill, so after aimlessly wandering the streets I made my way to Bloc 11.
I grabbed a bottled water from the cooler and ordered a Vietnamese coffee, and then choked a little as the total came to about $5.00. Yeah, I know, it's not Dunkin' Donuts, but eek.
The place reminded me a little of Diesel (later found out its Bloc 11's sister store), and I don't know if that's a good thing. I went to college near Davis Square and spent many years at Diesel, and after a while the place got on my nerves. I can see the same thing happening here. Keep in mind that this entire paragraph is completely subjective.
The staff was perfectly nice, but I found the seating area kind of cold. The chairs were hard metal, and it kind of reminded me of an Au Bon Pain space. I'd like to point out though, that I was able to sit in the back corner with my mug and handheld video game for over an hour, and no one bothered me.
And yes, the coffee was pretty good. (Ok honestly, I have no palate for the stuff - I even kinda liked the coffee they served at jury duty). I *can* say that my Vietnamese coffee was not too sweet - an easy mistake to make. Sweet enough that there was no need to add sugar, but not sweet enough to warrant peeling me off the ceiling. I dare say it was perhaps the best Vietnamese coffee I've had to date. Perhaps.
I can see why a lot of people love this place. It just isn't my thing, I guess.
Second only to Diesel Cafe (same owners) - and only because it is not next to the T, and closes earlier. Tons of diverse seating areas (by the window, in the courtyard, in the vault, in a smaller vault, bar, standard tables). Great food and drinks.
I like this place. Definitely a good addition to Union Square. I find it a little bit expensive and the egg sandwich does not exactly rock my world, but everything tastes fresh and high quality. The lattes are good. The outdoor tables are awesome. The music is pleasing and the staff is very friendly. Oh, and there is a nice clean restroom.
The coffee and ambiance are both great. I have spent time here reading and conversing. The open air atmosphere in this nice weather is a pleasure. However, the one reason why I have been reticent to go here is the music. I was there tonight and it resembled more of a nightclub. I even tried different rooms to escape the blaring music. The woman sitting beside me asked if it is always like that and she left. I left shortly afterward and did not want to since I was enjoying the coffee and fresh air.
And, I did witness someone ask the staff two weeks ago to turn down the music and can attest that it was turned down for about 10 minutes and then turned up even louder. Pleaser realize that you are driving away customers who want to be there but can't handle the headache-provoking music. Many people work all day and would love to have a respite. No one is looking for a library atmosphere but this is the loudest cafe (and I have been to many!) Please moderate this.
Best assessment yet (not mine, but spot on):
"This space is going to make a great bar after Bloc 11 goes under."
Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. This is an old bank, they have tables inside two huge safes with thick metal doors. Lots of seating here outside of the safes too. The sandwiches are wonderful: great bread, fresh vegetables, etc.
No free internet. The setting is cool though, I like this place. The beverages are good (tea, juice) the food is good and healthy feeling, not just dinner food. And the old bank restoration is just cool. They have back rooms with games and kinda feels secluded. Plugs are close and frequent for laptop recharges too.
Second time there and loved it again! Food is delicious! I haven't had coffee yet, so I can't rate them on that. I like that it has "social" tables (front, pretty much), and "I need to concentrate" tables (back). Those I love the most! Not b/c I'm antisocial, but b/c I need to get work done if I'm gonna hang out there. Three things I didn't give it a 5: a) Back tables need a bit more of light; b) couches? maybe I haven't explored the whole place...?; c) I'm a night person, I need to work late after coming back from work, and they close at 8pm :-(
I just moved to Union Square from Davis Square, and can not believe my luck that Bloc 11 is right around the corner from my house. I wasn't sure I'd be able to replace Diesel, but sure enough, it followed me to Union. I actually like this place better than Diesel. The decor is more my style- lots of plants, cozy, lower cielings, and they have a beautiful manicured garden where I can tie up Charley Brown when I want to grab a drink before hitting the dog park.
I've eaten here three times, and ordered drinks to go the rest of the times. The sweet baked goods are the same as Diesel - they look great but some (those f*ing bland muffins) are deceptively void of flavor. Don't worry, though. They more than make up for it with the delish sandwiches. Awesome breads, and they give you a generous portion of it with the soups, which is a bonus. My new favorite addition is the breakfast sandwich w/ cheese and eggs on a rosemary bread. WOW, is that good and very filling.
So, um, hell yes and a woop-woop-fistpump for Bloc 11. Doggy, husband and I will be here all the time this summer.
I'm a little surprised by all the negative reviews here. I live right next door, and come here all the time, so I have a pretty good feel for the place, and I thought I'd throw in my two cents.
Legitimate reasons not to like Bloc 11:
- Paying $8 for a delicious sandwich or $3.50 for a latte occasionally offends your sensibilities
- You are extremely impatient, and can't wait three minutes for a cup of delicious coffee.
Barring these two reasons above, I haven't seen any complaint about Bloc 11 I take seriously. Folks, this isn't Dunkin Donuts. Don't come in here expecting it to be. The food and beverages are a bit pricey. It will take more than 60 seconds to get your latte.
However, I can honestly say that everything I've had here has been delicious or damn close. The pastries (from Iggy's bakery, I think) are uniformly wonderful. I'm a sucker for the pecan rolls, and the brownies rival Rosie's bakery for decadence. I've even had vegan fare here that was surprisingly tasty, considering I'm mostly a carnivore.
And the coffee is seriously great. I'm no coffee snob, but even I know a delicious brewed cup of joe when I taste it.
Some comments on negative nonsense I've seen posted about this place:
- The music is not too loud. I usually don't even notice it's there. Maybe you're confusing Bloc 11 with Diesel Cafe in Davis Square?
- The glasses are not stained. I'm actually a big fan of the free open water coolers.
- They don't screw up orders very often; I come here often enough to know if they did.
Bottom line: If you want cheap coffee and horrendous food, go hang out at Dunkin Donuts. If you want to relax in a gorgeous coffee shop with delicious food and beverages, come here. Or don't, as it will mean an extra table for myself.
I am usually fairly picky with coffee houses. they either feel too cramped, crowded, loud, negative to lingerers, sterile, overly expensive....
this place, based on some of the reviews I read, had potential of hitting at least a few of these chords.
and yet, it didn't - it is huge - tons of well-spaced tables, with little out-of-the-way nooks for different vibes. The music was playing, but not obnoxiously. The sandwiches are a bit pricier than they should be, but tasted damn good. The americano I had was likely the best one I had in ages, and rang up right about the same as anywhere else in town.
the staff were friendly and quick, and I didn't feel guilty hanging out for a few hours doing some work.
Great neighborhood cafe. Friendly staff, and good food. They brew Direct Trade (Intelligensia) coffee, which is delicious, but expensive for bean purchase (16 dollars per pound). Bloc 11 displays art (local?) and has a bulletin board in the back near the vault-- building used to be a bank.
Biggest drawback is having pay wifi, but it's understandable to stick with a plan. Keeps the seats clear, but the place still full.
Along the theme of "In my previous review, I was dead wrong" Bloc 11 continues to struggle to find more customers in Union Sq.
Unfortunately, every time I go there, there is always something the employees are doing to drive away customers.
They always play the music way too loud, the kitchen staff routinely make random raucous unnecessary banging noises with dishes and equipment, and basically treat the place like their sandbox. And the dishwasher is not very effective either. All the glasses are stained. The surfaces are starting to wear down already. It's a shame they are letting it go, because they spent so much money renovating. The coffee quality is variable depending on the barista.
I've asked them to turn down the music several times, they comply, and then 10 minutes later, they turn it up EVEN LOUDER. They simply "yes" me when I bring up complaints.
When they close at 9, they put the volume on "11" as to drive out the rats (us customers that is.)
Not good, man! Not good at all!
Despite 74 reviews and counting, it seems to be a semi-secret, like U2 was the world's biggest… Read more »
What a great place! Stumbled on it . I had a delicious cappucino one of the best I've had. A little pricey but worth it.
This is the kind of coffee place I've been looking for in Boston.
Hip, chic, laid back, good coffee and other drinks, and better- outdoor seating available!
I drove by this place a couple times and finally went with a few friends one perfect weekend when it was nice, sunny, and 75 degrees out. My friends got coffee which they said was really good but I saw that they had raspberry lime rickey!!! on the menu so I couldn't resist not getting that!
Of course, it was fantastic and we found some seats outside which looks like someone's nice backyard and we sat there basking in the sun on one gorgeous day in Boston.
I didn't know until I skimmed through the reviews here that this is a sister store to Diesel Cafe which I've heard people rave about, so I gotta try there too sometime..
But basically, Bloc 11 Cafe is like those nice little cafes on Newbury cept it's in Union Square where it's much quieter and less touristy :)
Dig the food, drink and decor---So much so that I chose to come in and do some reading.
Unfortunately, I couldn't concentrate because they were blasting teen girl pop followed Coheed and Cambria so loud that I just couldn't pay attention to the book. The music was louder than my headphones.
Was I in Spencer Gifts or a cafe? Anyone ever hear of jazz? Air (the band)?
It's sad when a really nice placed is ruined with a 15 year old's ipod.
fin
Just what the doctor ordered!
I had to lunch my work folks quick and simple and in Somerville and this place was PERFECT.
Casual and quick....but with sandwiches and salads packed with flavor and fresh ingredients. It was a fast lunch without fast food.
I, as I typically do had to do splitsys....and had the broccoli and cheddar soup...and splits on two of their hot sandwiches. A roast beef sandwich that may have been too garlicky for most- but not for moi....and a hot turkey sandwich with figs/goat cheese.
Many options for beverages- but I just stuck with an iced tea. Plenty of offerings for the teas/coffees including some simple syrup- which I always think is a nice touch to a coffee garnishing stand. Did I just say coffee garnishing stand-- Kill me.
2 thumbs up!
Some weeks, I go on a Dunkin' Donut Kick. The other weeks, I'm a Block 11 fan. As bi-polar as it sounds, I think both as satisfying for different reasons.
When my inner child (but exterior adult) needs a caffeine kick and something sweet to drink, I hit the Dunks, and will get stuck on that kick for a week or 2. When I'm feeling sophisticated, or want to nurse my coffee for 3 hours, I go to the Block, and will stay on that kick for awhile.
The women in the shop are really welcoming and a great start to the morning. Also, at 7:45 am, there aren't too many people in there- but they all seem to be completely conscious. More than I can say for myself.
I love the layout, the new floors I like (I used to work in a coffee shop and wood floors scratch and don't hold up as well in the long run as the slate they put in), and I LOVE their egg and cheese bagel sandwiches. A bit expensive for egg and cheese on a bagel, but they use organic eggs, a great sharp cheese, and fresh bagels. So yummy I don't mind paying a bit extra as a good breakfast treat to myself.
So rock on, Block 11. Rock on.
(I think I'm going in now for a coffee!)
probably the best vanilla late' anywhere....and i'm a home roaster of my own beans! DEELICOUS panini, and salads that they take the time to look pretty too...prices a bit steep though paid 8 for my sandwhich fun to go to, funky cafe, fun artwork on the walls staff is nice too!
I feel compelled to revise my review after this morning's stop at Bloc 11. After the big snowstorm, the place was pretty dead, but it took about 7 minutes for them to make one small coffee. There was a letter on the counter stating that they are switching to a new brewing system that will take 3-4 minutes to make a cup of coffee, and also that they are raising their prices. They're taking their two biggest weaknesses and magnifying them...not good! They do still have fantastic food, esp. the yummy bakery, but I will probably start going elsewhere for my snickety snacks.
(Just don't hold it against me if you see me in there ordering a mint brownie...they're still the best on the planet!)
I love Bloc 11! I moved up the hill a few months ago and love being able to walk to this little… Read more »
I can honestly say that everything I've had here has been delicious or absolutly fantastic. The pastries are the ultimate comfort food for me. The brownies rival Rosie's bakery for decadence. The coffee is seriously great. I know a delicious brewed cup of joe when I taste it.
The beverages and baked goods here are quite good (I especially appreciate the Vegan offerings - I'm a total carnivore but lard makes me sick, sick, sick, so baked goods without fear are priceless :)
The atmosphere here is fun but relaxed, similar but not identical to their sister cafe Diesel.
What pushes Bloc 11 over the top for me is the outdoor courtyard - it's a little green oasis in the middle of bustling Union Square - I plan to spend a leisurely morning or two there on an upcoming staycation :)
Bloc 11 is a solid 4 stars that might get upgraded to 5 depending on my next visit. The space is enormose and has a cool bank vault in the back. They've also got a nice outdoor seating area. The latte was pretty good. It's not as good as Simon's or Crema, but it is worth going back for. I think the backup barista's were working, so I want to go back when the master barista is working. It may be better. The food options were pretty good. I'll have to sample some more before I make my final decision. It also has wifi, which Simon's doesn't. A really good place that I'll go back to.
This is a great spot for the Union Square area. I would even go so far as to say it makes me want to move down the hill from my not-quite Davis Square digs.
Their coffee is just the way I like it: dark but not burnt. My favorite menu item so far is the breakfast sandwich, very tasty.
So far I've been in this place on weekend days, weekdays and weeknights and it's never crowded. Maybe I'm selfish for wanting it to stay that way, but I always get a lot of work done when I go here. It's a nice atmosphere and nice, open floor plan. Friendly staff. I rate it highly!
Can't beat the space. Old bank. You can sit in the old vault and pretend that you are loaded,
Which would be helpful, because it costs too much for coffee here. $2 bucks for a mug of coffee, no refills. And it's in UNION SQUARE. This joint ain't on the Freedom Trail. I think it's a bit steep.
I understand their motivation: build a cool space that costs a lot of money, and then people just come and hang out and suck the life out of it and drink a lot of free coffee. But I'd at least like one other cup for my $2. I mean, I can get a whole pot at my house made from organic beans for $.70.
You'd be better off giving one free refill and having me sit in the window looking like a poet or a stockbroker and drive some other business into the joint. Not that they need it. The space and the fireplace speak for themselves.
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