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    Big Bear Cafe & Espresso Bar

    4.6 (203 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Big Bear Cafe & Espresso Bar Photos

    BIG BEAR CAFE & ESPRESSO BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Ally B.

    I've been a loyal patron of Big Bear in Dedham since 2022, and it continues to be one of my favorite spots in the area. Owned by Donna, whose vibrant and snazzy personality sometimes lights up the café in person, Big Bear is more than just a coffee shop--it feels like a community. The staff are familiar faces, welcoming and consistent, and they bring a sense of warmth and care to everything they do. It truly feels like a family-run place where people love what they do. The food and drinks are always on point. I'm more of a tea drinker myself, and their matcha is top-of-the-line--easily one of the best around. Their iced drinks are equally refreshing. Recently, I brought a guest who's a coffee fanatic, and they said the coffee was "perfection." That says a lot. My go-to items are the Daily Catch (a flavorful tuna sandwich) and The Coop (a delicious egg sandwich). Both are simple but thoughtfully made, with fresh ingredients and great taste. Even after moving further away, I still go out of my way to support Big Bear. It's more than worth the trip. If you're ever in Dedham--or even if you're not--it's a hidden gem that deserves your attention. Give it a try; you won't regret it.

    Jocelyn L.

    My friend and I went on a Saturday morning and it was packed! The coffee was one of the best I've had in MA. I highly recommend this spot.

    Megan Y.

    Great food, and a nice place to work for the day, especially on those gloomy rainy days. We got the yogi boo-boo (I think that's the name?) and both of the acai bowls. Loved all of them, the acai bowls use real acai and not smoothie blends which I appreciate, and the lattes were huge! Only iffy part was placing an order over the phone, I get they're super busy and they were very nice when we actually came in to pick up, but I thought I was taking away someone's first born son when asking for my acai bowls

    Cappuccino
    Rachel M.

    This was a small shop that was very homey and cozy! The woman behind the counter (who I presume is the owner) greeted me immediately asking if I needed help with the menu, etc. I loved the fact that there was a mix of to-go and for here orders. It felt like a real small town coffee shop which is a nice change from running into Starbucks. Loved getting a real mug to sit down and drink at and I noticed there was a variety of mugs - which again made it feel very homey. The cappuccino was strong and tasty! The breakfast sandwich was really nice too! I would definitely come back

    Hummus TOAST with all the greens
    Amanda C.

    Okay this place is adorable. Smaller seating inside but they had some spots for the sidewalk on a nice day and it looked to be a spot I'd run in for a quick bite or coffee! I had a training down the road and got a quick bite - their hummus avocado toast with EVOO, crushed red peppers and spring mix was awesome. About $7 but honestly filled me up for some time. After ordering that, this beautiful looking croissant (I am the furthest from a croissant lady) caught my eye - spinach and cheese oozing from the sides with an oat, slivered almond and everything but the bagel seasoning coating its top. Scarfed that down. Wish I was closer to here seems like a perfect, do work at a coffee shop/quick grab, spot.

    Ann A.

    Cute little coffee shop that has just enough space to get some work done. Service is great -- friendly people. I tried their Maple drink and it was surprisingly very good (coming from someone that doesn't like coffee). Free Wifi, close to other businesses, and free 2 hour street parking. Will be back!

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    3 months ago

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    30 days ago

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    28 days ago

    The coffee & sandwich were great. Enjoyed the visit! Very convenient location & comfortable seat & table. I will return!

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    3 months ago

    Drinks are great here. I love the London fog and the grizzly sandwich. Ingredients taste fresh. I just wish it was a bigger space.

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    10 months ago

    Love the atmosphere and the food at Big Bear cafe in historic Dedham Center. I especially like that it's locally owned -- shop local!!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Exceptional local coffee shop with seating enough to meet a friend or client. Awesome staff.

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    2 years ago

    Decent drinks and food. Ambiance is nice if you're able to get a seat. Some of the staff who work here and grumpy and terse, though.

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    3 years ago

    Do yourself a favor and get a cappuccino! If Big Bear Cafe ever offers an espresso/coffee making class I will be the first to sign up.

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    Page 1 of 6

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    The Friendly Toast

    The Friendly Toast

    4.0
    (323 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Had a first date at the bar yesterday and were taken very well care of by Ashlyn and Kayla (sorry…read moreI'm not sure on spelling here)! I've been in this business a long time. These ladies (though both fairly new to the bar) were warm, engaging and respectful - checked in just enough to make sure we were happy and enjoying, but were never disruptive or intrusive. The food was delicious, as were the mocktail/lemonade we ordered. Multiple managers also did a quick table (bar) touch to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. Great time all around, would highly recommend, thank you

    Me and my sisters came for brunch. First things first...we were greeted by a Mr. Leon, with a…read morebeautiful smile who seated us at table #1. Our waitress name is Breanna. Another One! (Shout out to Dj Khalid) She was the hostess with the mostest!! She knew everything excellent to order, was attentive w/o being intrusive, and her bubbly personality was a plus. Now. About the food. Fluffy Eggs althoughI couldn't taste the jalapeno cheese, excellent pork sausage, french toast and pancakes were awesome. My sisters complaint was about the jalapeno cheese. Y'all gotta get a better jalapeno cheese or add a real jalapeno to it. The other issue was, the smashed potatoes were inconsistent due to the salt content. However, everything else ordered was very good. By the way. Met the manager. Her name is Ms. Abigail. Talk about accommodatingly awesome! With her confident and compassionate customer service acumen, she made everthing perfect. We'll be back soon. Hope to see y'all here in the near future.

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    The Friendly Toast
    The Friendly Toast
    A flight - alcohol

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    The Sixties Diner

    The Sixties Diner

    4.4
    (103 reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$

    Stopped in for brekkie and waited aboutb5 minutes for a table for 5. Waitstaff is super friendly…read moreanf very attentive. Its a real experience from the music, artwork and the way everyone dresses, a total throwback. Menu is great something for everyone. We were all happy with our selections. Food was hot, served quickly & delish. We'll worth checking out and if not for brekkie then definitely lunch

    Think of the spongebob episode with the giant paint bubble, but this time, all memories of…read morecharacters, logos, people, etc. from the 60s was shoved inside the bubble so when it exploded, all the walls were covered in everything 60s - this is how I would describe my first impression when I first walked into this diner. It's colorful, it's groovy, it's bright, it's nostalgic. Even the employees are wearing shirts with funky themes and patterns. There are TVs showing shows from back then. The floors are checkered, the ceiling is silver, the chairs are red and the tables are blue. We were seated at a booth, which can more than comfortably sit 4-6 people. The menu is HUGE, think cheesecake factory but for a diner. There's a little bit of everything but the font and everything around it makes it hard to focus on what each item is. I went very simple and chose the Simon and Garfunkel which included two pancakes or French toast, two eggs, two bacon, two sausage, toast, and home fries for $18.99. After about 15 minutes, our food came out. The bacon could have been crispier, with some parts being wobbly. The sausage was thick, juicy, and savory. The potatoes were a little bland and mushy on the outside. The eggs were cooked medium, just how I requested them, and the englush muffin was a little different than your traditional ones since it didn't have the little pockets of air but it was still good. The French toast was moist, but I wish it had more cinnamon - the egg was the dominant flavor. Overall, it was a very satisfying breakfast. There is plenty of parking as it's in a plaza

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    The Sixties Diner
    Hash needs help
    Hash needs help
    Entering the 60s

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    Entering the 60s
    Oscar's

    Oscar's

    3.5
    (177 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Mehh. Just average. Nothing special or unique stood out to me about this place…read more.. My husband and I came here to grab dinner before catching a movie at Legacy Place. We sat at "the snug" bar hidden in a back room (sounds cooler than it was). We started with fries, which were cooked nicely to a golden brown but tasted dry as a bone! They could have used some (or a lot of) seasoning. No salt/pepper was provided and our bartender was missing most of the time so we couldn't ask for it. Thank goodness for ketchup! For my meal, I ordered the "beef & feta toastie" with a side salad. It tasted like a steak & cheese sub and a grilled cheese sandwich had a baby. And even though I like feta, swiss and arugula, the taste of the combination inside my sandwich was odd/not that great. But I'd still say the sandwich was on good quality bread that was toasted perfectly. My favorite part of my meal was the dressing that came with my side salad; I could have drank it out of a cup, it was that good! My husband had the chicken pot pie and said it was just ok. We weren't impressed with this place but I would still recommend checking it out and deciding for yourself ;)

    What a cozy, warm Gastropub to go to on a cold winter night in the middle of charming Dedham…read morecenter! The pasta bolognese was sooo good and I liked it because it was not overbearing with tomato sauce, you could tell it was made from scratch with the tiny pieces of mirapoux carrots in it. The chic pea cake with plantains, lemon white bean spread and arugula was stunning! I should have asked if there was cumin in it but my fault. All for under 100 with drinks and an appetizer!

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    Oscar's
    The Oscar Burger
    The Oscar Burger
    Craft beer

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    Craft beer
    50's Diner

    50's Diner

    3.7
    (321 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $

    50's Diner is a classic neighborhood diner that delivers the traditional breakfast experience with…read moregenerous portions, friendly service, and a nostalgic atmosphere. We walked into a space with an old-school charm that fit the name, the kind of place where regulars gather for breakfast and coffee. The interior had a warm, lived-in feel with counter seating and vinyl booths that added to the retro energy. It was not a trendy brunch spot, but rather a reliable diner that focuses on hearty comfort food at reasonable prices, and the steady flow of customers reflected its popularity as a morning staple. Breakfast is the main reason to visit. We ordered a few plates and found the pancakes standing out immediately, arriving light, fluffy, and large enough to be a meal on their own. The eggs were cooked well, the bacon came out crisp, and the home fries had a crispy exterior with a soft, fluffy center that paired well with any breakfast plate. The corned beef hash was another popular choice, especially if we were looking for a more filling meal. The menu offered plenty of variety beyond the standard breakfast combinations. French toast, omelets, Eggs Benedict, muffins, and lunch items like sandwiches and salads provided enough options whether we were stopping in early or visiting later in the day. Portion sizes were consistently generous, making it easy to leave full or even take leftovers home. The service matched what we hoped to find at a neighborhood diner. Staff were friendly, attentive, and kept the coffee refills coming without making the meal feel rushed. The restaurant could get busy during weekend mornings, so a short wait for a table was common. One thing to keep in mind is that the diner is cash only, so it is worth planning ahead before your visit. The team moved through the room with efficiency, and the food came out hot and well assembled, keeping the pace of the meal steady even when the dining room was full. Overall, 50's Diner is a dependable choice for a traditional breakfast. Between the large portions, classic comfort food, welcoming atmosphere, and reasonable prices, it is the kind of place that earns repeat visits and remains a favorite for anyone looking for a simple, satisfying diner meal.

    Great food & service! Cash ONLY though. Definitely worth…read morethe drive. It was about a 20 minute drive for us from Waltham. There's a line sometimes but it moves quickly.

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    They have plenty of booths
    They have plenty of booths
    50's Diner
    50's Diner

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    Big Bear Cafe & Espresso Bar - cafes - Updated July 2026

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