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Centre Street Café
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Cafes Breakfast & Brunch, American (New), Cafes [Edit]
669A Ctr StJamaica Plain, MA 02130
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
(617) 524-9217
- Nearest Transit:
-
Centre St @ Seaverns Ave (192, 35, 38, 39, 41, 48)
Centre St @ Myrtle St (192, 35, 39, 41, 48)
Centre St @ Burroughs St (192, 35, 39, 41, 48)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 3 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 9 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, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
191 reviews for Centre Street Café
Review Highlights
"I miss the waffles mounded with fresh fruit."
(in 21 reviews)
"I love this hip JP brunch locale for so many reasons."
(in 39 reviews)
"The line outside on weekend mornings is a testament to how..."
(in 14 reviews)
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191 reviews in English
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Review from Barney G.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
11/13/2011
Bit of a wait to get in, even at 2:30pm on Sunday, and I would not have minded at all if they had estimated more accurately rather than saying, "it should not be long at all." Once inside though the vibe was really lovely.
I ordered the Banana Split Breakfast, which sounds more decadent than it is, though not even as delicious. It's basically yogurt, fruit (tons! strawberries, bananas, apples, grapefruit, mango...) and granola OVER a large blueberry pancake. My goodness. With a little real maple syrup, if you're into that kind of thing, or without, this was total heaven.
Coffee is self-service and decent, nothing amazing there.
My wife ordered the Huevos Mexicanos without cheese or sour cream, as she is averse to dairy products, and she was not as impressed. Beans, eggs, and salsa were all under seasoned and rather bland. Corn bred too dry. We still think it's worth a second chance. -
Review from Magnus T.
Brookline, MA
12/31/2011
We came in, a family of four (kids 7 and 3), and the waitress did NOT seem happy to see us. She told us that there were no tables available and seemed to be indicating that it was not much use waiting. That seemed strange to us since they were not that full and had a bunch of two-person tables available. Lo and behold, before we even finished the discussion, some people got up from their four-person table! Sheepishly, she told us we could have that table after she cleaned it up.
We sat down and looked at the menus, but then a similar thing happened again: A woman with two kids came in and was told there was no space and little use waiting. That woman pleaded to be allowed to sit with her kids at a two-person table, was finally allowed to (what a request!), and did not seem to have any problems with that.
Things seemed to be heading seriously down-hill by then and we felt very unwelcome. Looking at the menu, the only egg dishes they offered were scrambled and fried eggs which I found underwhelming at a supposed brunch place (no omelets, eggs benedict, or anything like that). Nevertheless, we stayed and ordered anyway.
I got the scrambled eggs with home fries - they were decent, but no more than that. However, both the pancakes and french toast were very good, and in the end we did not regret staying.
We might give this place one more chance, on the theory that this was just a rough day for the waitress, but definitely not more than that if we continue to feel so unwelcome. -
Review from J M.
Boston, MA
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went for brunch and this place was rockin'! The food was spot on every time. The service is super as well. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. On one visit I got the truckstop breakfast and on another I got the kale feta omelette (seasonal special). Both were out of this world delicious. I'm not a huge fan of omelettes but somehow they converted me! :P
If you plan on visiting for brunch, I'd recommend getting there much earlier. For example, if you want to eat at 11:30, get there at 11. There's always a line... I went there at 9AM (when they open) and didn't get a table because there was already a long line forming outside when I got there.
So yeah, Centre Street Cafe = delicious awesome brunch. -
Review from Dawn A.
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had lunch here one Friday while on a stay-cation. My friend had the breakfast, two eggs, sausage, a huge pancake and a side of English muffin. I had to try her pancake as it looked wonderful. It had real maple syrup too. The pancake was to die for! I ordered a Asian peanut noodle dish with chicken. The sauce was tasty. The chicken less impressive, but it wasn't bad. I would definitely run back to this place for breakfast. This place seemed quite vegetarian friendly also.
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Review from Samantha M.
Jamaica Plain, MA
12/6/2011
Brunch in Boston has stiff competition, and I'm so glad this place is in my neighborhood. I was really impressed with the brunch menu... so many unique ingredients and options to choose from! But alas, I went for the standard Truck Stop - eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon with a gingerbread pancake. Delicious! Nice service too, they're really on their game here. Almost as good as the Breakfast Club.
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Review from Kevin V.
Lynn, MA
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Freshest salsa ever!
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Review from Austin J. A.
Wellesley, MA
9/7/2011 2 photos
We came here for dinner about two weeks ago. We'd always wanted to try this cafe that lauds its local, organic offerings. I really liked that there was a menu - separate from their regular menu - that incorporated everything that was sourced locally that day. I liked reading about the relationships between the restaurant and the farms they love. I'd like to see them make some more connections with farms and producers in the western part of the state.
The service was great; our server was cheery and helpful. When we ran out, she brought extra bread for our appetizer, which was a nice hot goat cheese, garlic, tomato and basil pesto. dip. There's a homey feel to this restaurant, in terms of staff and decor, which is something I appreciated.
What was a little surprising was the sign in our booth window, telling us that it was incredibly dangerous for children to sit in that booth, because of the window, so don't even ask. There were houseflies that bothered us during our meal, landing on our food.
The Cafe Burger with bacon and cheese was so-so. The meat wasn't very flavorful, and I felt that it was overdone. The mayo was outstanding, and the fries were okay; I felt that the fries were too salty. The Sloppy José, a deconstructed burrito/taco plate, was another dish that I thought had a lot of potential and was serviceable but didn't really deliver.
The blueberries and fresh cream was a nice summer dessert. The cheesecake was kind of meh.
I really want to LOVE this place, rather than just sort of like it, because it is a great local/organic food resource, but maybe it's best left to the brunch eaters. I feel really badly having to give this experience an overall two stars, but it's the truth, and I'm sure we'll give them a shot again sometime.
[Fellow fat/criptastic folks alert: The place is small, not accessible (the tiny bathroom is through the kitchen, and although it is painted beautifully, is NOT accessible), and it isn't the kind of place that I'd come often as a result, even if it was five stars. This accessibility comment did not factor into my review.] -
Review from Aaron L.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you like big portions, this is the place for you. It is not a greasy spoon. Rather, what you get is greasy spoon for the neo-hippie set. The service is friendly. The ingrediients are fresh, yet somewhat incongruously combined with more regard for getting lots of fresh stuff on a plate than making plates that are flavorful. Big and bland is what rules here. It is a genuine mystery why the lines are typically so long. Sorella's down the street in Hyde Square is a better bet.
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Review from Esteban E.
Boston, MA
11/27/2011
The use of great ingredients translates into great food at this place. They do a great job of producing a menu full of dishes that aren't duplicated anywhere else in the area. Just prepare yourself to wait in a line full of stank hipsters.
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Review from Michael J.
Boston, MA
11/27/2011
This place is one of the best brunch spots in Boston. Prepare for a line if you get there after 10:00am or 10:30am on the weekends, but it moves pretty fast and there's a guy at the door who likes to talk with folks (many weekends he wears a Gay Games shirt from the 1990s, which also cracks me up). You can also have free coffee while you're waiting in line, which is a huge plus.
As other folks have said, the Cuban Scramble is superb. But my favorite? The Banana Split. It's a tasty pancake, with yogurt on top, and tons of fresh fruit (from bananas, obviously, to kiwis, grapes, and cantaloupe). I could eat this every weekend.
One other plus? They also use fresh ingredients, and many times those ingredients are from local farms. This place is great for those looking for awesome brunch, and a place that cares about sustainability. -
Review from Dor Z.
Cambridge, MA
8/28/2011
I wanted to love Centre Street Cafe, I really did...but the discrepancy between my experience and everyone else's reviews makes me wonder if I was really at the same establishment. First things first - the people who work there are suuuuper nice. Our interactions were very pleasant and we felt very welcomed. CSC has a laid-back vibe and seems to fit in with the JP scene.
The service, on the other hand, was quite lacking. It was f@#$% slow. A couple was seated next to us seconds we sat down - they were able to order and finish their entire meal before our appetizer even came out. Our entrees didn't emerge until 30-40 minutes after we placed our orders. My boyfriend spent 5 minutes explaining to the waitress that he would like a medium-rare burger and it STILL came out way overcooked.
I ordered the Catch of the Day which was super bland and not worth a single cent. I can't cook to save my life and I still could have made something far tastier. So sad, because I love fish and I am usually content with anything that gets put in front of me.
The one saving dish was the Maple-Chipotle Chicken Livers. I know this isn't a dish for everyone, but HOLY SMOKES this rocked my socks!! I mopped up every last drop of that delicious sauce and was fiending for much, much more. Perfect flavor, perfect texture - some of you will just have to ignore the fact that it's liver, because it is to die for.
When we mentioned that the meal was far from satisfactory, the guy that seemed to be running the place was very understanding. He gave us 2/3 off the price of the burger, which was nice. He seemed genuinely sorry that we were not happy with the food, which goes to show that CSC is a place with a lot of heart. Given others reviews, it looks like we just came on a bad day - hopefully no one else goes in with high expectations and leaves just as disappointed.
Service 4/10
Food 4/10
Ambiance 8/10 -
Review from Ben C.
Melrose, MA
11/18/2011
The service was a 10+, we had a big party with 2 kids and they were awesome. They had pancakes and some crayons waiting for the kids before we sat down. The food(brunch) was terrific and full of fresh vegetables. Great craft beer selection as well.
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Review from Sue P.
Boston, MA
9/4/2011
I actually came here this morning for the first time for Brunch. Exploring the offerings of JP a bit more.
The wait here was about 25 minutes for a table for two.
It's tiny, but the friendly employees and the fun music really pump up the ambiance. The actual food came much quicker than I expected
Everything was pretty solid, except for the chicken apple sausage. It was extremely bland.
I was going to give Centre Street Cafe three stars but decided to bump it up four based on the pure awesomeness of the staff and the speedy service. -
Review from Brian R.
Boston, MA
8/10/2011
Go here when you seek a riot of fresh fruit atop pancakes/waffles/french toast.
Dinners are okay, maybe a bit on the high side but their proteins are very good - think grass fed beef and line-caught fish - so you get what you pay for. Loved the sloppy joe with hatch chilis! -
Review from Clare D.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/15/2011
I have yet to understand why this place gets such high ratings. The food is consistently bland and boring regardless of how great it sounds on the menu. The service is generally fine although I've had some very slow and very unhelpful servers as well. I've actually resolved to never go again, I've given them multiple tries over the last 6 months and have been continuously and consistently disappointed. I appreciate that they use local and organic ingredients but it seems to do nothing to increase the quality of the food. The only thing I like about the place is the way the cafe is decorated-very fun.
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Review from Howe L.
Cambridge, MA
7/27/2011
This is a review of my dinner (not brunch) experience.
My first peeve was the service. I don't mind the nonchalant, friendly style, but the waitress was pretty slow and clueless. There was only one waitress for 12 tables, so not surprisingly: food took forever to get to our table as it got cold on the counter, never received tableware, water was not refilled, and had to find my own napkins.
The food: delicious fries!! They were perfectly crisped and had a hint of garlic. The crab cakes were average - the insides were not chunky enough nor cooked through for my taste. The burger was average as well - too much bread, thick slab of beef, but nothing outta this world. Wasn't a fan of the sloppy joe - the bread was drenched in grease and the chili topping was too bland. -
Review from Julie N.
Boston, MA
8/2/2011
Very casual, cute cafe. My husband and I were there for brunch one Saturday morning. There was a line outside the door, but it moves surprisingly well considering how small the place is (packed full of tables and chairs!).
The food was delicious, service was good and I thought the self-serve coffee was a pretty good idea, but that might have been because our table was right next to the coffee station so we didn't have to travel all that far. But even the number of places where our coffee mugs went unfilled during a busy brunch rush, this is not a bad thing.
Home fries are so so delicious but it probably will give you a hefty salt load... -
Review from R G.
Boston, MA
7/2/2011
I've been here for brunch a few time and have always enjoyed it. I've never stood in line more than 20 minutes, which I think is reasonable. The staff has always been friendly and hard working.
I've tried the oat and cornmeal waffles and the potatoes santa cruz. The waffles were unusual and delicious, served with a pile of whipped cream and some fruit. The potatoes santa cruz really hit the spot for me: thank you for having a non-egg savory brunch option! The vegetables were fresh and not over-cooked and the potatoes weren't greasy. While the dish was flavorful, I felt it needed a bit of salt-- better than getting something over-salted though. The only real improvement that comes to mind would be to grill or marinade the chicken for a bit more interest, though at least it was tender and juicy. My boyfriend has also loved all of the dishes he's had and has even found them very filling: a near-impossible task for him.
As to common complaints? Yeah, you have to get your own coffee. I actually of like it: it creates a homey feel and lets me keep track of how much I've had. And yeah, they put the check down on your table pretty much right after you get your food: at some restaurants this would be a pet peeve, but this is a casual place and the servers are seriously hustling, so it saves time to not have to flag them down to get the check. I have never felt rushed out the door because of this and, in fact, the server always tells us to stay as long as we'd like when leaving the check. The food is slightly on the pricey side for brunch fare, but certainly not 'expensive'. It's just not a dirt cheap greasy spoon and I feel the difference is reflected in the food.
The only thing I want to see fixed? Take down those garlands around the windows! It's a little gross... -
Review from Jamie F.
*Brunch review*
Why is there always a line here? The brunch is neither cheap, tasty, nor prepared by Iron Chefs.
My boyfriend and I were seated (finally) at a window table. At most places, it's a score. At this café, it was awkward. We had to sit side-by-side and basically had a staring contest with the patrons across the room. Looking outside, my view was blocked by the people in line ogling at my food.
My hot chocolate was overflowing and legit tasted like Swiss Miss. From the specials menu, I ordered *fancy* french toast, which basically meant brioche bread instead of sourdough bread. It was served with strawberry compote, diced kiwi, and real whipped cream. The french toast was very eggy and somewhat sloppy with excess toasted egg batter around the edges. I definitely prefer fresh fruit topping vs. compote, which had a very dull, unpleasant pink color. The kiwi tasted too tart. Overall it was a filling dish, but not something I'd order again. -
Review from Caroline C.
Boston, MA
5/21/2011
I love Center Street Cafe just as much as everyone else, but I think for completely different reasons -
I mean, their brunch is nice and all - but seriously - it's brunch. Eggs and salsa and hollandaise sauce are just about everywhere. They do it well - but it's not haute cuisine - they do it well in a lot of places. Why are you standing in line for it? In the rain. Cold rain. I walked by you guys standing in line in the cold rain a few weeks ago and I really can't help but be baffled.
Now, the serve-yourself-coffee concept is brilliant. I like a lot of coffee and I just as well go get it myself - and let the servers get our eggs and such out efficiently. Also, I'm in a much better position to see that my mug is empty than the server. I'll handle that.
BUT - one of my favorite parts of brunch is sitting for a while, chatting with your friends in the daylight. There is not a lot of good daylight in that place - and tables are kinda tight. NOT an ideal brunch scenario.
However, I LOVE their dinner - mounds (mounds!) of fresh local veggies. And I'm not sure why everyone is moaning about the prices. Several of their dishes are a steal - veggies piled on pasta, or rice or what not for $10 or so. Perfect carbo loading for athletes who are going for a long run the next day. And a ton of vegetarian options. -
Review from Anabelle D.
Boston, MA
10/16/2011
Awesome food in a very modest location. Please have the crispy waffles. The fruit is extremely fresh, the services is as good as it gets and you truly feel like you get a lot of value for what you pay.
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Review from Cora H.
Jamaica Plain, MA
Updated - 7/5/2011
Not sure what the woman who gave 1 star was complaining about, since Centre Street Cafe provided what the consumer asked for. Extras and sides are provided at an additional cost, that shouldn't have been a great surprise. Expecting something for nothing makes very little sense, especially when that is followed by a negative review on Yelp. "If you don't give me stuff for free I will f**k up your rating on Yelp" doesn't seem like a very reasonable way to behave.
The food is mostly local and organic. We are vegan, and the staff at Centre Street have always provided great food and professional service.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/16/2011
This is a bustling place, especially on the weekends, and for good reason. The food is fresh, mostly… Read more »
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Review from SCL L.
Boston, MA
3/26/2011 3 photos
Hands down my favorite brunch spot in Boston. So what if there's always a line out the door? All of the ingredients are fresh and local, chicken is naturally raised and free range, and the tofu is organic.
The breakfast burrito is always fantastic: Spicy black beans with two organic eggs scrambled to order* or organic tofu wrapped in a large soft flour tortilla with melted Vermont cheddar & topped with our salsa cruda. $9.95 Add sauteed veggies for $2.50 or naturally-raised chicken for $3.50.
Today I tried the Potatoes Santa Cruz and was overwhelmed. It was everything that I could have hoped for, but more (see photo)
Potatoes Santa Cruz
Red Bliss potatoes sauteed with onions & a mountain of fresh veggies. Topped with Vermont cheddar & our homemade salsa cruda . $10.95 Add organic tofu for an additional $2.50 or naturally-raised chicken for $3.50
Also tried the ginger pancakes, which were super-fab :)
When you're in the neighborhood, check out The Kitchen Witch, great stuff for cooking, eating, and storing: http://kitchenwitch.ew.../ -
Review from Sheila T.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/16/2011
I have been waiting a while to go to Center Street Cafe, and today I finally did! I went at 9 on the dot because I had a yound (2 year old) kid with me and wanted to avoid the line. The guy in charge (I wonder if he is the owner?) was super friendly and efficient.
We waited for a brief amount of time, and it was worth it. I got the truck stop breakfast with sausage, and a pancake de jour, which was cranberry. Delicious, especially the pancake. The eggs were good, I think I would have preferred the California dish, but thats just a perference and not a comment on this dish.
My sister had the french toast with fresh fruit, and that was DELICIOUS. I dont know where they find fruit that fresh in January, but I'm glad they did!
The waitstaff was friendly and efficient. Also, it was VERY kid friendly which we appreciated.
I'll be going back soon! -
Review from Monica R.
3/24/2011
went here for lunch. Got a special- the mexican blt and the soup du jour (spicy tomato?). It was ok. It wasn't memorable- and the chips were seriously STRAIGHT OUT OF A TOSTITOS bag.
Not worth the $8 paid. -
Review from Hama L.
Jamaica Plain, MA
5/14/2011
Finally got here for a brunch on a Saturday morning because there was no line.
The Salmon Bennie is absolutely excellent, fully worth the price. It's also HUGE and I could only eat half of it. The sausage patties were very good as well.
My boyfriend had the crispy raised waffles; they were a huge disappointment. They were nicely piled with fresh fruit, but the actual waffle was a thin, sad, soggy affair. Definitely not worth the price.
Service was passable. I'm not a fan of the get-your-own-damn-coffee station and were shoved out the door with the bill right after our food was delivered.
Good food, but not worth the hype. I'd give it 3 stars, but since this place is so expensive and always has a crazy line I was expecting much better. I've had friendly, tastier, and cheaper brunches right here in JP. -
Review from Jim C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
4/11/2011
My wife and I have been to the Centre Street Cafe many times and I have yet to write a review because it is almost second nature to me how good the food is. I really love the diversity of restaurants in JP and Centre Street stands out because of their great customer service and their delicious organic and locally farmed menu. I recently yelped about a less than pleasurable experience at a different restaurant that left a bad taste in my mouth. This bad taste was quickly washed away from my experience at Centre St. My wife and I compared the experiences and I think we figured it out; great customer service comes when someone really believes in what they are doing.
We walked in at prime time on a Saturday night and the joint was hopping. In this scenario, a wait to be seated wouldn't be unusual. Nope. We were sat by a very charming host before the door closed behind us. By the time we sat down, our waitress had made her way over and introduced herself along with the days specials. The overall feeling, the vibe if you will, was that they were really happy to have us there. Warm, conversational, helpful... wow. At this point they could have served me my shoe and I still may have left feeling pretty good.
After perusing the wine list (I love to peruse. My father is a master peruser. If you've ever seen him look at a beer list you'd be convinced he was about to lecture on hops). I digress. I asked our waitress how a certain wine on the menu was (my wife and I keep experiencing really fruity sweet white wines lately when we stray from what we know). "Would you like to sample it first?" Who does that? Nice touch. It wasn't too fruity and we got a carafe for dinner.
Now...for the food.
My wife and I both ordered the potato leek soup. For the main course, I got the Spinach Ravioli with Chicken and my wife got the bluefish. The leek soup was exactly what I expected it to be. I told my wife that I could have eaten a full bowl for the meal. Our cups were cleared and within five minutes...voila...our main course.
My one regret about what I ordered was that I ordered chicken with it. The chicken was perfect by the way; tender, moist and warm...delicious. The reason I regretted it was that this was a perfect vegetarian meal and didn't need anything added. Wow. The handmade ravioli were the right mix of spinach and cheese. The shell wasn't too thick so that the pasta didn't overwhelm the vegetable inside. On their own they were really great. But there was more. The ravioli were served on a bed of braised kale, asparagus and broccoli. Yes, suddenly the ravioli became a garnish for this wonderful bed of greens. Then, they finished it off with a creamy tomato sauce that was so light that it served to complement the plate and not dominate it. When you think pasta you think heavy. This was not the case. This was a perfect, light spring meal.
My wife loved her bluefish.
I was stuffed and happy as a sipped my wine and a great meal turned to great conversation. Our waitress approached us again and asked us if we were interested in desert. While I knew I shouldn't... I did because honestly I didn't want the experience to end. The mousse was great. I cannot wait to go back. Like I said earlier, it's easy to tell when someone is proud of what they are doing and they have every reason to be proud.
Great Food.
Decent Prices (a little pricey but hey, its organic and local).
Great Staff. -
Review from Soda Pop C.
Boston, MA
3/21/2011
Really tasty, FRESH and creative plates made with care in a cozy and laid back setting.
SUPER LONG, hipster-filled lines that don't move all that fast but really good food so it's probably worth it.
Lots of veggie options. -
Review from Joe S.
Jamaica Plain, MA
8/26/2011
Staff are really friendly, but there was a hair in our drink and my burger was over done even though I was very specific about how I wanted it cooked
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Review from Sarah D.
Washington, DC
10/27/2010
I walked past this place for years, believing it was a hokey mom and pop joint. Not so, my friends! After seeing a line out the door one Saturday morning, I figured any brunch that many people will stand in line for is a brunch I gotta try.
We waited for almost an hour, but it was more than worth it. The food was wicked delish. I got a roasted butternut squash omelet with goat cheese and maple roasted brussel sprouts. Pure heaven. And anyone who knows me understands my enormous appetite for breakfast, but I didn't even come close to finishing that thing.
My brunch partner got pumpkin pancakes. Again, truly unbelievable. However, I did come very close to finishing those for her.Listed in: Caffeine refueling stations
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Review from Phil H.
Lexington, MA
8/26/2011
This place is great. Our family has gone here for Sunday breakfast/brunch twice now in the last month, after reading articles about it. The food is delicious, portions are large, and the staff are super-friendly and have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. Yesterday, two of our kids asked them if they could have crayons to color with, since they had them the visit before. For whatever reason, they didn't have any this time, and the server actually popped out to a neighboring store and bought a box specifically for our kids!
Also, the neighborhood, while perhaps a little funky for ultra-conservative patrons, has a number of interesting, smaller, independent shops that are fun to browse in.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Alex H.
Jamaica Plain, MA
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hands down best brunch in Boston, and I take the 5 star posting very seriously. To me, 5 stars doesn't mean that I like this place, but rather, that in all of the cafes in all of the universe, my tiny brain cannot imagine a place that I will enjoy more for brunch than this, kind of seriously.
There is almost always a line outside in the morning and when you eat the food you find that it is for good reason. The fruit is extremely fresh and the portions are wonderfully large, everything a hung-over 20-somethibg year old JP resident could want. Also, just a tip, try the strata, you wont regret it.
I'd considered cutting one star off for the extremely long lines outside on the weekend but, there is a super cool host that always brings large cups of ice water to you in he summer and piping hot coffee in the winter. -
Review from deb y.
5/3/2010
Group of 4 arrived around noon on a gorgeous Saturday. NO LINE. NO WAIT. We were extremely lucky.
Our plates of food came piping hot within 8minutes of ordering. I tell you, magic elves must work in the kitchen back there, esp because everything was so good.
And reasonably priced which is always a fun fact.
Win! -
Review from Melissa S.
Quincy, MA
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love Center Street Cafe!! Great breakfast, creative food and they have great veg and vegan offerings :)
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Review from Adam C.
10/30/2008
I finally went to this mother fucker. I have to say it wasn't what I was expecting. That's neither good nor bad. Kind of the like the 3rd album of {insert band} that didn't quite suck, but wasn't awesome, as in, if you'd only heard the 3rd album, you probably wouldn't have gotten into the band. But I'm only talking about my expectations, not Centre Street Cafe, really.
So, anyway, I thought the food was pretty boss. The place on the inside looks like it belongs to a diner stop that has been owned by the same family since the 40's and is located somewhere on Rt. such-and-such about 13 miles off of the interstate exit for Decatuer, {insert southern state} even though sign before the exit didn't have the common courtesy to give you that information before hand that you'd be going 13 miles off of the fucking interstate. But that's coo, thoughl. That's just the no-frills, simple, "let's just eat some fucking food" feel that I dig.
Hope they keep making music. ? -
Review from Quinn E.
1/20/2008 5 Check-ins Here
The line looks long, but it moves at a good clip, despite being so small inside. The door guy/waiter/owner(?) is always there and is absurdly friendly. He's so good-natured and fun, he makes the wait not so bad. And he's clearly an amazing waiter, he never messes up your order even if you're picky like me and ask for no salsa or whatever.
The food is fresh and local, but not the best breakfast in the world to me. It's delicious, but somehow lacks a little something. Maybe I'm just too much of a fatty and the food here is too healthy, I'm not sure. But I return to Centre Street fairly regularly, so it's not like I dislike it.
Great atmosphere, local ingredients that you can feel good about eating, large portions all equal a solid breakfast joint. You'll leave full and happy.Listed in: Centre Street, Welcome to JP!
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Review from diana y.
9/9/2007
It was okay. Alright, I'm lying, dinner there was bad.
We ordered the crab cakes, which had pretty good flavor, but were made with shredded crab meat (blah) and served with what tasted like thousand island dressing. My sauteed maple chipotle chicken livers were too sweet, lacked chipotle flavor and were overcooked and generally pretty boring. Our arugula salad was fine (the cheesy fried polenta "croutons" were way too salty). Our calamari was a disaster. They hadn't coated the calamari properly, so the fried panko FELL OFF the calamari. So we had a pile of fried panko crumbs with naked calamari mixed in. And the ponzu sauce? It tasted like the store-bought stuff, except more sour and less traditional in taste.
2 stars instead of 1, though, for supporting sustainable agriculture. Good karma doesn't taste very good. We're taking a hit for the local farmers, I guess.
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UPDATE: 04/09/2008
Some people seem to think that we should care more about where our ingredients come from and less about flavor. Really? I think it should be both sustainable and tasty. That's why they cook the food for you, instead of just selling you a bunch of raw stuff like in a grocery store.Listed in: Vandals, Please Come Here
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Review from Deanna D.
7/28/2009
Seeing that all the yelper love this place I had high expectations. I saw that serve locally-grown products which I'm a big supporter of so I was really excited to try them out. We went to Centre Street Cafe for brunch on a Sat. morning and I was really disappointed.
We were a party of 3 and got there around 9:30am. We only waited about 5 mins for a table--great start. Our server was very friendly and fast--another good thing. The restaurant has a cute and funky decor and very cool and eclectic crowd. So far so good.
I ordered the Cuban Scramble: plantains, black beans, cheese, eggs and tortillas with salsa-- sounds perfect! I took about 3 bites and was then tired of eating it. The flavor was lackluster, there were way to many black beans and not enough of everything else especially plantains. The worst part was the dish did not come with any home fries or sides: just a huge plate of the scramble which was good for about 3 bites. My cousin had the same thing and she disliked it more that I did. My bf had something of the special menu that came with ckn sausage and he didn't care for it to much either.
Our bill was over $40 before tip. Definitely not worth it for the meal we had. My experience was more like 1.5 stars on the food but an extra half star for the friendly staff, nice concept and cool atmosphere. -
Review from oiyan p.
Boston, MA
12/28/2009 2 photos
I totally get why there's a line here for brunch. Luckily, me and my brothers got a seat right away the day after Christmas. Seems like the usual folks might have been out of town for the holiday. Overall, this was a great brunch experience - quick service, great food, good company and of course good coffee!
After moving my stuff from Door to Door in Everett to my temporary place in JP, I felt my brothers deserved a treat. So I looked up a place on yelp, and of course yelpies never fail. I had the strata special. One bro had the pulled pork omelet. The other bro got an eggs benedict with sausage.
Because we get along pretty good, we all shared our dishes with each other. So, the strata is basically a massive, fluffy quiche. It was very tasty and satisfying with big chunks of broccoli in it. The dish came with a side of arugula salad. I heart arugula! The pulled pork omelet was pretty amazing, fusing breakfast eggy goodness with a tender, juicy and saucy pulled pork. The bene was very good too, but perhaps the least memorable of the three dishes. The home fries, which my dish didn't come with, were done really well - good spices, perfect texture, with a little bit of crispiness.
I had to get my own coffee from up by the kitchen. It was pretty good, nice and strong. But, I wish they had cane sugar instead of bleached white sugar... especially since it's billed as an organic joint.
All in all, I'm hella impressed by Centre St. Cafe. I'll definitely be comin' back... with my own cane sugar. -
Review from Nicole P.
Cambridge, MA
8/20/2007
Salsa Cheddar Biscuits!!!!!! This place would earn 5 stars for this amazing creation even if nothing else!
I love this hip JP brunch locale for so many reasons:
1. The owner is always working there and greets everyone individually. He clearly cares about the business and about making everyone's breakfast experience wonderful.
2. If you are an old fogie like me and are up at 8:30 on Sunday- you can wait on the line that has already formed and get seated right away at 9:00! If you are young and cool you can arrive whenever and wait on line for a little while, sometimes longer- BUT you get free coffee while you wait.
3. The food is so good! As noted above the salsa cheddar biscuits have stolen my heart but there are also the delish whole grain oat waffles with fresh fruit and whipped cream, the many egg options- burrito style, omlettes, benedict etc, grits, pancakes, chicken sausage and so much more.
4. The service is prompt and friendly, unlike poor Bon Savor...
Please check it out if you haven't already!
