When my friend and I arrived, we were greeted by a very welcoming gentleman and seated immediately by the door. The service is great! The same gentleman that greeted us checked in to see if we were cold and offered to move us to a table towards the back of the cafe (an offer that we took). My friend ordered a stack of 3 blueberry pancakes and their grilled mash home fries, while I ordered a stack of 2 strawberry chocolate chip pancakes and their home fries. Like everyone says, the portions are huge. I could only finish one pancake and half of the home fries. The only downside was the fact that the pancakes were a bit soggy from the strawberries, but it was still delicious. The food, the portions, and the service are excellent. I'll definitely be coming back to try out the rest of the menu! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Blueberry pancakes, strawberry chocolate chip pancakes, and grilled mash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Update: I just HAD to come back and share again. I've been to Ball Sq Cafe a few more times in the past couple of weeks, and every time the service and food have been amazing. Two weeks ago, I showed up in a group of 6 (post-run brunch) to find a line practically down the street. We decided if the wait was too long, we'd find an alternative. When I went to ask the manager what he thought, he said, "well, there's a bunch of big groups ahead of you and the line is long... but my parents own the place nextdoor (a deli) and I can open that up and seat you right now if you don't mind being served in there." WHAT?! Mike opened up the restaurant nextdoor, gave us rockstar seating (and service) with no wait! He even turned on the music and showed us around. I just cannot believe how accomodating this place is on top of all the deliciousness. A++! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Bonnie and the Carmelized Apple French Toast! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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TERRIBLE customer service! First of all, they don't have one person to answer the phone on a busy weekend. So I went there with my 2 small children, and walked in to place an order to go. Within less than 1 minute of my arrival, the owner of the business was speaking loud to me and telling me to MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, even though I was standing exactly where he kept telling me to wait. I've been going there for many years, and truthfully, their service has been going down the hill, but this one, was the last straw! I'm a real estate agent and I've had recommended this place and Kelly's Diner for my clients who were moving in to the area. Well, moving forward, all my clients will be getting my recommendations for Kelly's Diner only! read more

Ball Square is a really nice breakfast joint, and it is INCREDIBLY cheap! For the price you pay you would expect a 90 year old waitress named mildred and nasty greasy food, however the place looks great and the food is that of an upscale yuppy eatery you would find in a business district. Although the place is small and not too cozy (no booths only tables) the food definitely makes up for it! The fruit was fresh, the granola was crunchy, and the breakfast sandwich was fluffy and not drenched in grease. Also as a final note the owner loves to greet and meet his customers. When I met him he was very accommodating and open to suggestions. Overall I definitely recommend Ball Square Cafe. Also it's a good place to bring a girl for breakfast/brunch. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Proscuitto and asparagus eggs benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Great breakfast place. Food is good, servers are friendly. Can't miss with any of the omelettes, French toast, or even the breakfast plates. Omar's home fries which are grilled mashed are delicious. Coffee is self serve; typically I like to use the mug and then get a to-go cup when I'm about to leave. My only complaint is they have this 'entire party must be here' policy to be seated which imo is not necessary. Not great for parties of 4 or more although they expanded with next door seating. Food is served quickly. ps. Server Matt has a great attitude. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Mexican omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Great service and even better food. The serving sizes are HUGE and I think you get a ton a food for the price. This place is on the smaller side in terms of seating. It gets crowded quickly so you might find yourself standing outside for some time. They have a self serve coffee/water/tea station that's super convenient so you can start your meal without waiting. I ordered the crab or lobster Benedict and it's fucking Amazing. Also, their fruit cups are legit as hell. It had mango, kiwi, apples, bananas, and berries of all colors and variety. they've found themselves a loyal customer on this side read more

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Great place! The owner has a great personality and made rounds to all guests inside and outside waiting in line giving that warm welcome feeling. Definitely worth the wait - food is delish and plentiful. Coffee and oj also really delish! read more

Better than Sound Bites, Kelly's, or any other brunch places nearby. Best staff, always willing to accommodate your preferences, little on the pricier side for breakfast but so worth it. We are regulars to Ball Sq Cafe and don't plan on changing that. Everything is cooked to order, to your liking, and sometimes they'll make things that aren't even on the menu. Our most recent trip here (today) my boyfriend and I placed our order and I asked to have my order slightly different than offered, our server joked "Of course you can, it's your day!", keeping the banter going, my boyfriend jokingly said "Don't say that! Next thing you know there will be a candle in her omelet and I'll be hearing about it all day!" .. wouldn't you know my order came with a candle on top. You don't get better service. Family owned, perfectly run, fantastic food and a great experience. DON"T BOTHER GOING ANYWHERE ELSE! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Candle in my grilled mashed potatoes just because - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Mike the owner and his family create an authentic, compelling brand. Greeted with a "is this your first time?", the intent is clear. This is meant to feel like a 2nd home as Mike runs around greeting and making everyone feel comfortable. It is impossible not to root for this place. But, there's a few problems 1) Food - Given the number and quality of reviews, I thought this was top tier Luna Cafe or City Girl Cafe level. That's just not the case. Got the Boston Creme french toast since I love those donuts and it was 2-3 star food quality. Not sweet enough but also just didn't hit the mark. Shared the strawberry shortcake waffles and they were a solid 3-4 stars. Really solid whipped cream, good waffle flavor and fresh strawberries. At about $12 after tax for these, not unbelievable value 2) Wait time - Got there at 8:45 and were just able to squeeze in. There is a very leisurely attitude once you're in so we left about 10:15 and there were 15-20 people waiting outside in the 20 degree weather. Mike was happily chatting them up but cold is cold and waiting is waiting. 3) The open door - In an effort to increase capacity, Ball Square patrons sit in the empty Victor's Deli next door. The problem is the very friendly wait staff is understandably going in and out to get food and serve orders and that means there's a cold draft so you're never really warm enough to take your jacket off. Overall, have to love and respect what Mike has achieved in building an institution and creating a genuine brand but the overall experience does not justify your likely wait time and certainly not the 460+ reviews at 4.5 stars. read more

Went back this past weekend, had the Mexican Omelet. Loaded with delicious salsa! I could barely finish it. I swapped the toast for fresh fruits. I had a hot and tasty mocha, perfect for the cold and rainy day. For clean freaks, you can eat off the table, they're that clean! I noticed because I was at another restaurant on Saturday and got syrup on my shirt. Again, loss of 1 star because they bring the check out before we're done eating. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Tri-berry french toast, mmmmm :) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Yesssss, the best brunch place! This is the place that you dream about when you want breakfast foods. Just picture the fat slices of stuffed french toast, huge waffles topped with all the best fruits, meaty omelettes, perfect poached eggs benedicts... everything!! The line is long after 9AM on weekends but they have a decently efficient system to keep the line moving. Just don't dawdle when you're done or you have people (like me) giving you the evil eye. Coffee and water are self-serve and they usually have a couple great specials. They let you do half-orders so you can try more! Had a 1/2 order of french toast and 1/2 order of eggs benedict. Kept it simple. My only complaint is I wanted more and everything else that other people were eating. I think I have a problem... Next time I need to try the nutella stuffed french toast and then go to the gym right after. The fresh-squeezed OJ is delicious and refreshing but at $6 it's a premium. The constant line here is a testament to how good it is. Definitely the place to go to satisfy your brunch cravings. read more

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amazing service and fast, food was amazing and huge for the price it was extremely good and the service was amazing

Great food and great customer service, it doesn't get much better than that! I arrived around 9:45am on Sunday and the place was packed. We only had to wait a few minutes for a table but once we were inside our waitress quickly approached our table to take our order. The food came out pretty fast and I was really impressed with the portion sizes. I also noticed that the servers had smiles on their faces and the manager even touched base with us to make sure everything was ok. This place definitely is worth the wait. I'll definitely be back! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Mexican Omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Tips: 1. Don't come to this place if you're not hungry!! :) This is my favorite brunch spot and I luckily live half a mile away, which can be dangerous. They have a large selection of all the typical brunch items you'd like-- eggs, omelettes, egg benedicts, pancakes, french toast, etc. and from my experience you can't go wrong with any of them. Most brunch places I know are only good at making either the savory OR the sweet items, while others try to make really unique items at the risk of it being overpriced and mediocre. I think Ball Square is *consistently* good at making solid, classic brunch food. This place does have huge portions, so either come hungry, split a plate or take some home. 2. Be sure to take into consideration wait times on weekends-- during popular brunch times there tends to be a very long line out the door. No reservations, and you and your party have to be physically present in order to get the table when you're up next. Otherwise I've never had an issue with seating on weekdays or late (past brunch rush times) on weekends. To credit this restaurant and the staff, I have come during busy weekend brunch times and during slow downtimes, and we've always gotten attentive, warm and timely service. It seems the waiters/waitresses are all friendly and happy (or at least okay?) working there which always elevates my appreciation for the restaurant. Cons? I love coffee with brunch and I just don't like their drip coffee, which would be fine if I could pay less for just a small cup rather than than $4 for unlimited. But, obviously I'm nitpicking and food is the point of this place and for that I highly recommend it! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Tuscan omelet, grilled mash potatoes, cranberry scone (substituted the toast) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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A most worthy brunch spot in Ball Square (who'd have thunk?) that destroys a nearby establishment that shall remain unnamed... As some others have mentioned, the proprietor, Mike, was quite the charismatic one and set a great tone for the rest of our brunch experience. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so attentive to guests in line as he provided frequent updates and made sure that we were more than welcome to grab some self-serve beverages while we waited. Upon being seated, my friends and I went with a mix of omelettes, the Moroccan breakfast and French Toast Delight for myself. Simply put, it was pretty darn delicious! Though not the best I've had, the toast itself had great weight and held its own. It was complemented exceptionally well by the TONS of fresh fruit piled high atop as well as hefty dollops of whipped cream. If it isn't apparent by now, the portion was most generous and the same was true for the omelettes. I didn't get a chance to try them, but my friends said they all enjoyed their dishes. As for ambiance and service, both got the job done. Despite the minimal square footage, BSC's seating arrangement made it feel much more spacious than I expected. I'd also note that one of the younger waitresses was a bit too obvious with her little stink eye when my group split the check with several credit cards. She could learn a lot from Mike with regards to customer service. read more

I went here today for the first time with my family, after seeing great reviews on Yelp. Overall I was impressed & satisfied! I got a bacon, egg, & cheese on a bagel and a grilled blueberry muffin. The breakfast sandwich was great (can you really go wrong?) but the blueberry muffin was disappointing. It was dry and not at all sweet, maybe due to the grilling. Other entrees that were ordered were Mexican omelettes and a mushroom omelette. One person who got the Mexican omelette thought it was bland, and we did hear someone else tell their waiter they thought theirs was too. Portions are huge! If you opt for fresh fruit instead of the potatoes or toast, you won't be disappointed! It came with watermelon, a variety of berries, kiwi, apples, & grapes. We also shared an order of plain French toast. Pretty good, I thought it could've used a bit more flavor. But still decent! Drinks are self-serve and they encourage you to get something if you're waiting to be seated. One of the owners, Mike, is super friendly and greeted guests that were waiting. The rest of the staff was pleasant and friendly as well! We got there around 9:15 on a Sunday and only waited about 10 minutes. read more

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I like the coffee they have set out...it smells wonderful. I had a bite of pancakes and it was delicious. I had a mediterranean combo lunch and it was huge. I think I left my leftovers at the table and the busboy ran after me! read more

For the first time in a really long time I'm finding myself leaving very upset from this place. I brought up 2 problems with my brunch to my waitress, my Belgium Waffles were almost burnt, they tasted dry and almost oily, not soft fluffy as usual, i think it was left on the press after the timer was done, my eggs Benedict were way too over cooked, and I'm sorry but that's not Ok when you are paying $70 for breakfast. When I politely notified my server she just shrugged and said "hmm OK.. sorry" Still I could not bring myself to leave a bad tip. 20% as usual. The only reason why I wanted to leave a review was because I understand that food can easily be over or undercooked sometimes, but I think a servers genuine attention and kindness isn't replaceable. I've been coming here most Saturdays or most Sundays for quite sometime and we still don't mind the wait. One of the owners even gave me one of their shirts one day after I came in from a workout. Now I'm afraid as they are getting busier and busier they are paying less attention to the food as it leaves the kitchen. Which was never the case, we always had everything prepared perfectly. Which makes me sad leaving a review only after a bad experience. read more

Amazing breakfast and service. Gigantic portions of homemade goodness. Don't miss the grilled mashed potatoes. They're divine. Owner was so friendly and came over to check on us. read more

D is for the delightful menu A is for the awesome associates M is for the management team being fantastic N is for nothing being wrong with this place S is for so many good memories O is for o my gawd N is for nOPE I'm not gonna turn this into a song but I love you bro read more

I went with a friend on Saturday morning. It wasn't as good as Sneakers in Winooski, VT but it wasn't bad & it was reasonably priced. I don't see it as anything more than 3 stars. It wasn't a mind blowing experience but I definitely would suggest it to a friend. read more

Ball Square Cafe - yum - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Our server Todd was warm, friendly and helpful. The food was amazing, but we already knew that. Highly recommend the gluten free English muffins. read more

We went here for the first time and missed sides and other items for our order such as no toppings for French toast and a side of hashed browns - extra $$. Called and did not care and said we would have to go to get $ as they do no credits! Kind of defeats purpose of delivery and all the charges associated. Because of the dollar amount which we didn't get we paid higher taxes and other charges! I guess you are busy enough to not care, but we won't be eating there, ordering again and for all you who think of ordering from here don't- they don't care! read more

It's like a delicious cross between a hipster Cafe and your favorite diner. The food is A-MAZ-ING and the service will knock your socks off. Coffee and tea is bottomless, and it's the good stuff, too. The only downside is that it's street parking only, so make sure you bring lots of quarters! My friends and I shared a fruity waffle, and I must say, that whipped cream is HEAVENLY. Definitely strive to get something with whipped cream. The fruit on top was ultra fresh as well. Yum. I also got the classic Eggs Benedict and very much enjoyed them. They have a new (to me) and exciting side for all your starchy needs called a grilled mash, which is perfectly seasoned mashed potatoes that are then grilled to give you that delicious brown crust that you know you've always wanted. Great place, great service, and I will definitely return (with more quarters). read more

Ball Square Cafe - Classic Eggs Benedict with the grilled potato mash and the Belgian waffle with homemade whipped cream and fruit on top, too! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My other half and I came here for breakfast on Monday. At first glance, the prices for breakfast seemed high. However, when the food was delivered to our table, we saw that we were getting what we were paying for . Portion size left nothing to be desired, and we could barely finish it! Food was very tasteful. Our waiter George was very attentive. Mike, co-owner manager was very attentive, very personable. Working like one of his employees . We both enjoyed our experience dinning in. Because of distance, we probably will not be back as soon as we would like, but that doesn't mean we won't keep this restaurant in mind as our first choice for breakfast if we are in the area. read more

Came here with some friends who live in the area. It's great that u can get a half order of eggs Benedict so u can try different types. Hubby and I split the pastrami Benedict, corned beef hash Benedict and crab Benedict. The best was def the pastrami. We ordered them on a croissant instead of an English muffin which was a genius idea cuz it was soooo good. Corned beef hash was ok and I wasn't a fan of the crab (but I don't really like crab so take that with a grain of salt). My husband did like it though. We also shared a side order of the French Nutella / banana which I loved. Hit the spot. There is no where to write ur name down so u just stand in line which is a little odd /old school but we only waited like 10 min on a sat at 10am with 4 people. read more

Ball Square Cafe - From left to right: pastrami Benedict--crab Benedict ---corned beef hash Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Great food, owner is super friendly. Food came out quickly. Nice selection of different items on menu. Ample parking, and not busy on weekday mornings. Appropriate social distancing is being adhered to. Reasonable price for quality. Portions are huge, definitely can share a meal. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Macaroon french toast, banana caramel ranch toast, nutella/berry/banana waffle, and omelet with potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

There food are the best I only go for a week not weekend so much busy I love will go back again

Being the second time Ive frequented this particular restaurant I have to say I'm extremely pleased with both the food and service. My husband and I travel all the way from Boston, which has many good brunch places in itself, just to dine at this cafe. The staff is impeccably attentive and ready to make sure you'r experience is as enjoyable as possible. The food is always hot and fresh. Hands down the best brunch cafe I've visited so far. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Bottom Left: Lobster Eggs Benedict Bottom Right: Pear and Goat Cheese French Toast Upper: Western Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Ball Square never disappoints! I've tried many breakfast places and Ball Square is by far my favorite. There was a long line when I arrived, but I was quickly seated. The servers are always friendly and you're always greeted with a smile. My go to is the Fit for a King or Queen - a great hangover cure when paired with a bottomless mug of coffee. This place keeps me coming back! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Fit for a King or Queen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Been here at least a dozen times and never had a bad bite of food. Owner is great, always greeting and talking to everyone! Chicken and waffles is the go to! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Chicken and waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Best gluten free pancakes EVER! Period. Oh, and everything else is excellent too. Customer service is top notch!

My friends and I go to The Breakfast Club WAAAY too often so we decided to go somewhere else for a change (don't get me wrong; TBC is still the bestttt). We got the Irish eggs benedict and French toast. Eggs benedict: Pretty good and similar to TBC. I didn't like the corned beef hash because it was way too mushy for my liking. The mashed potatoes that we got on the side was really great as well, but if I had to choose again, I would go for the home fries. French toast: Best French toast I've ever had! Super nice and fluffy. Service: Our waiter was awesome. Super nice, outgoing and helpful. Showed us how to use the coffee bar while we waited for our food. read more

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A perfect spot for Sunday breakfast. Aside from the fantastic food, every single staff member is super friendly and makes the experience so much more enjoyable. The menu has great combinations of classic breakfasts with a small twist. Was definitely hard to choose and after ordering I would be confident any of the dishes would be amazing. Would definitely come here again. read more

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My my my, the things we do when we don't have a reservation system. The boy and I came here on a whim one lazy Sunday morning after realizing we'd bought a bunch of vouchers for the place and needed to start using them up. The commute was pleasant, the walk past Tower Sq Park was lovely and then HOLY HELL, IS THAT THE LINE??!! We could see a teeming mass of people a block away. It was like when you stick a camera in one of those bug colonies and you just watch hundreds of them crawling all over each other...seething...as one big mass. With trepidation, we joined this mass. Thankfully--and first-timers take note--we were actually seated pretty quickly on account of being a couple. By that I mean a party of 2, not my romantic status. There's quick turnover and lots of tables for parties of 2. Great for us, bad for the Sex and the City brood of girls in front of me who were STILL in line by the time we left. Anyway, the fooooood: Me likey the artichoke heart and tomato omelet. And turkey bacon side. And grilled mashed potatoes infested with the best spice known to man--pepper. And giant plate of colorful fruit so very, very fresh and conveniently cut. And humongous saucer of perfect hot chocolate and whipped cream that's only $1.75! Come to think of it, there wasn't anything I didn't like. Service was pretty good considering the crowd. Not the friendliest, but not unfriendly either. Not looking forward to trying to come back with a party of friends, but maybe we can get in right at 9am.... read more

This place is a hidden gem in Somerville, with excellent food and courteous service. We went for a Friday brunch, were greeted at the door and seated promptly when a table emptied (had to wait only 5min). The self-served coffee/tea bar is a little unusual, but adds to the character. I had the Athenian omelet, and my friend build an omelet with ingredients of his choice. They were both light and flavorful (as opposed to oily and heavy!!). I asked to substitute potatoes with fruit, and was presented with an elegant fruit plate (yes, presentation matters!!). We ended our brunch with a chocolate chip and coconut pancake (well, I stole some bites from my friends...); the best pancake I've ever tried! Place is bookmarked - we are certainly going back! read more

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Arrive early to this cute little brunch spot! My friends and I arrived around 11 AM on a rainy Saturday and the line was out the door! We waited about an hour for a table for 5, but there were menus outside so we got to spend time picking out food and salivating over pictures. We got in and seated towards the middle of the room. The inside is tight and there are people walking around because there is self serve coffee at the front of the cafe (amazing!!). The foot was delicious! The sizes are big and if you are craving both a salty and savoring it is worth getting one of each and sharing with someone! We had a berry French toast and it came with powdered sugar and whipped cream! The toast is soft and the berries were fresh and sweet! The service was fast and they were patient to get all of our orders correct! I would suggest getting here early, but definitely worth the wait!! read more

Ball Square Cafe - The most delicious berry french toast combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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 read more

Ball Square Cafe - Lobster Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Saw this restaurant with great reviews on Yelp, so I spend half an hour Uber here. It didn't disappoint me! Although there's a long line waiting for the seats, the owner and waiters were all very friendly and kept checking on me. The homemade hot chocolate was not too sweet, perfect match with my breakfast platter! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Fit for a King or Queen Turkey Sausage English Muffin Homemade Hot Chocolate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This is one of my favorite places. The food is tasty and the portions are enough for two meals. I love how they changed up the place to be Covid 19 compliant. You have the option of indoor or out door dining. We ate indoors and noticed the doors being opened as people came in, which gave the place constant refreshes air circulated air.The staff wore mask and all customers are required to wear a mask until time to eat. You can't go wrong on anything you order. I especially like the owner who comes around making certian everyone is satisfied. Great customer service and fabulous food. I had the Western omelette and a side of French toast. It was super delicious. The price is very reasonable and I love the options. read more