Friendly service, good coffee (intelligentsia), and awesome decor. I got an americano and sat in the room that used to be a bank vault. I worked for a little while on the table made of bullet proof glass, from the old teller window. It was getting a little stuffy, so I moved outside. Outside seating is definitely the way to go on a sunny day. read more

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Quality of food is great but service and food prep is always terrible. All I ask if for my bagel to be toasted. This means it's hot and a little crunchy. 9-10 times its served to me cold, like it's been in the fridge. Only go occasionally when I really want a bagel because there is nowhere else in Union that serves halfway decent bagels. One day I'll learn not to go back to bloc haha. read more

Nice little lunch spot when you're just looking for the basics: soup and sandwiches. We waited upwards of 20 minutes for our food when we were quoted a 10 minute wait. Seating was scarce because many students were there studying for an elongated time. Although I was loving all of the vegetarian options, I was so happy I went with The Pallet, which is turkey, goat cheese and fig spread on multigrain bread. It was so simple and delicious, and I'm excited to recreate it at home. My boyfriend got the 777, which was roast beef, olive Mayo, onions and greens. He asked for it toasted, but it came out cold and hard. Definitely not something he would order again... Both came with the tiniest portion of pasta salad on the side, and they were out of forks, so we looked crazy eating it with our fingers. I would return for coffee and that phenomenal Pallet sandwich again, but definitely NOT during a peak lunch hour. read more

Bloc Somerville - The Pallet - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I used to really enjoy Bloc, but the last couple of months, the service has seriously gone downhill. The last 3 times I went there, I told them my name for my order, spelled it out for them and everything, and whoever was taking my order didn't bother getting it down correctly. Then, when my order was ready, it just sat on the counter because no one bothered trying to find me or tell me that my food was ready, so I had to go up there to ask about it and prove that it was mine. This level of service (or lack of service) is absolutely unacceptable for the prices they charge ($15.50 for ONE sandwich...). They only way I'm going to come back here in the future is if someone else pays for my food. Would not recommend. read more

the food is good and fresh but it's very expensive for what you're getting and the service is always really slow. the environment is cozy and spacious, it is a converted bank and they have kept a few of the quirks. cool that you can sit in an old master safe, but definitely don't come here for to-go orders if you have a schedule to adhere to. read more

This is one of my last resort coffee spots in Somerville, and I've been back a few times (maybe 5?) in the hopes it will be different - I give up. Their menu is seemingly always out of date, and regardless when I've come by, they have always been out of several ingredients so it's a mystery what will be available. I expect to wait at least 20min even if I just ordered coffee to-go, and at least 30min if I order food from the kitchen. The bank theme is cool, but after spending 20min for my order, I never want to linger. Mismanaged or understaffed, Bloc is cool to walk through, but I try to steer my friends to other coffee spots every time. read more

This place is mostly is pretty solid for coffee and a place to chill. But I ordered a bagel with peanut butter spread to stay, and for some reason the PB was on the side and had been put in a little plastic container, with barely enough to use. Why? Why not put directly on the bagel like other spreads? And why use up plastic unnecessarily? Let's use less plastic. read more

Bloc Somerville - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I was looking for a place to use my laptop on a Sunday afternoon and I stumbled upon Bloc. They have lots of seating in a cute environment and they also have a section with lots of natural sunlight. I ordered a small coffee (very bitter and not good) and a plain bagel (literally plain - not toasted and no topping but I like it like this). The bagel was tasty but had kind of a weird smell but I was able to get over that. The wifi here is the main problem. They have a 3 hour limit per day which is fine but after only half an hour of using it disconnected my laptop and I wasn't able to get back on unless I wanted to pay. Not only that but it was super slow. If you guys fixed your wifi I would come back if I ever wanted to do some work. read more

Bloc Somerville - Plain bagel and small Drip coffee - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

All of their breakfast sandwiches are delicious. The Pallet was great, if you're a pesto lover definitely get that one!! The focaccia bread is soft and fresh. The latte was also delicious, huge drink portions and a cute atmosphere. Order at counter and take to your seat. read more

Bloc Somerville - The Pallet Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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It is a cute cafe. People come in here and can sit, relax and enjoy their beverage. When I come here I typically get a hot chocolate. I sit in the cafe when I come here and the hot chocolate is put in a nice mug and topped off with whipped cream. It is a pretty good size and always looks delicious. I have tried a brownie from here and it was pretty good. It was very sweet especially paired with a hot chocolate. This is a nice place to come. read more

Lots of people working on their laptops. Love how they serve coffee by Intelligentsia. Love the natural lighting of interior. Great baked goods variety and breakfast. read more

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What a cool little coffee shop! My local friend took me to this hot spot. Parking on the street can be a little tricky unless you're awesome at reversing diagonally. Sunny patio for outdoor fresh air. Plenty of seating and greenery. The inside is the remnants of an old bank complete with vaulted doors and cage bars fir extra security. Lots of cool nooks to hide out with a hot cup of joe and a your favorite read. Service was friendly, quick and coffee was delicious. They even sell the local brand Mexican hot chocolate disks that were up for grabs. Looks like a great place to spend a few hours. read more

Bloc Somerville - fun place to explore - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

While we may have been the only patrons in the entire place without tattoos and big, black rimmed glasses not playing on our Macbooks, at least the food is worthy enough to keep a non-hipster couple from possibly venturing in here once again. The coffee cake and sticky bun were really spot on and perfectly sweet to start our weekend day, dense and uber-caloric. The oatmeal was hearty and we were lucky to grab the absolute last bowl that morning (does it take more than like a half hour to make a decent sized batch of backup oats?). We added the complimentary brown sugar and topped it off with coffee freebies of cinnamon and cream. The almost $5 egg and cheese "everything" bagel was standard, nothing stood out here but it was yummy enough to devour the whole thing. I'm not the biggest fan of chopped up eggs in a sandwich like this because they fall out easily but I did end up only losing about three pieces of yellow fluff. It was crowded on a Saturday morning, just like EVERYTHING else in Union Square. We had to somewhat fight over a table in the front section after a lady took a chair from our table and we had to search around for another. The dining section inside the old bank vault in the bank is by far the coolest aspect of Bloc 11 and I was jealous of those that were able to score a table inside the vault itself. I bet it's even nicer when there is more welcoming weather for patrons to sit outside and dine on the attached patio. No, I don't listen to your crappy bands that nobody else has heard of, fellow hipsters.....but I can still spot a decent breakfast/coffee shop when I see one. As long as you're willing to share. read more

Bloc Somerville - Coffee cake and sticky bun. - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

We came here yesterday for brunch and had a great time. The thing I absolutely love about this cafe is that they are dog friendly! You can bring your dog in and order and then sit outside with your dog and eat. The menu has soups, sandwiches, and salads as well as a baked good assortment. My husband had the breakfast egg sandwich and I ordered the chicken salad sandwich with sprouts and tomatoes. Everything was delicious. My mint tea was made with fresh mint. Our dog made some other doggy friends! It was a great time overall. I also really love the outside seating here. It has open and has a ton of seating. On a beautiful day, I could sit here for hours. We will definitely be back! read more

Bloc Somerville - Breakfast egg sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Now this is the kind of bloc you want to live on. I was obsessed with Bloc Somerville from the second I walked in. It was like a millennial cafeteria and I loved it! This looks like a converted warehouse location with the café in the center and sporadic seating throughout the area. The inside is massive and to top it off they have an outside picnic style area with a bench and little circle table seating amongst the trees. I was super excited about the extensive menu! They had a lot of cool flavors I've never seen before. I went for the iced cardamom latte [cool right!?] it was very very good! The cardamom blended so well with the taste of the coffee!! As an afternoon snack, the barista's favorite vegan lemon shortbread cookie paired perfectly. It was the perfect lemony chewy cookie. I had a wonderful afternoon with my drink and cookie sitting outside and street watching. I really like Bloc Somerville - you should definitely go! read more

Great atomphere. Slightly more expensive but the food is amazing. I got their Terrance sandwich $11 and it was delicious. I also got a chai tea $4.15 and it was also great. This is definitely the type of place I would come back and sit while getting some work done. Nice friendly quiet atmosphere. Used to be an old bank and still has the old vault repurposed into a sitting area. Would definitely recommend. read more

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Great sandwich place located minutes from Union square. There's an outdoor seating area but given how hot it was, the air conditioned indoors we're fine. They have a good variety so your vegetarian friends will have good options. read more

Bloc Somerville - The Terrace - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Had been here just as COVID restrictions were being lifted. Enjoyed my first visit, the patio is nice and there were several dogs with their humans enjoying the morning. Came back this morning and knew to order ahead. It's about a 15 min walk for me so I ordered as soon as I left since the estimated time was 15-20 min. Within 5 min of ordering my food was ready so when I picked it up along with my hot coffee it was cold. Also I went with my dog to sit and enjoy the patio only to be told she was not allowed as she isn't a service dog. There were no signs stating this but instead was told by an employee after having an initial rude encounter asking what I wanted when I went to pick up my pre ordered breakfast. Overall not a good experience this morning and the food was nothing to call home about. As I was leaving I noticed 2 dogs who did not appear to be service dogs and were not be having like so on the patio. Wish I would have read the other reviews before going this morning though I assumed it would be fine as I had been here before. read more

I come here at least weekly - for breakfast, lunch or a coffee or tea treat to go. The patio is the loveliest spot in the square. The space is great for working remotely. The staff are friendly and kind. The food and drinks are delicious, too. I used to come here every Tuesday morning with two friends from work before biking into the office together - it was a lovely tradition and I highly recommend the spot. read more

Loving this place from my first experience here, except for one thing. Please take the "Vietnamese coffee" off your menu. It's not Vietnamese coffee and it's nowhere close to one. Just because condensed milk was used instead of fresh milk doesn't make a coffee Vietnamese. I'm just very sad about my so-called Vietnamese coffee... read more

Oh my gosh! Bloc 11 is amazing! The food and beverage is delicious. I first tried them for breakfast and the egg & avocado sandwich was heavenly. I've been back for tasty pastries, a lime ricky, and today I visited for lunch. Their lunch sandwich menu will make you drool! I ordered the Clover. It was mozzarella cheese, pesto, tomato and greens. I didn't think a vegetarian sandwich could taste so good! The staff is always super friendly and efficient at taking orders. There is both indoor and outdoor seating and the front door has a ramp available so wheelchair users and those pushing strollers are both welcome. Now that I work in the area, I intend to become a regular patron at Bloc 11. read more

Food is extremely over priced ($30 for two sandwiches and an iced coffee?) and it's mediocre fare at best. Staff is fine, mostly friendly. Ambience is good for studying or getting work done, although they get some sketchy characters lurking around the back room every now and again. Baked goods are really the only thing worth the price, which they get from Forge down the street. 3 hour internet limit is irritating but I switch to hotspot if I need it. All in all I come here frequently (studying for the Bar) but it's more out of necessity. Given a choice, if I was looking for a place to enjoy breakfast, I'd go for coffee or breakfast sandwiches at Fortissimo instead. Better food, better price. Big ol three-star MEH from me. read more

I've been going to Bloc a couple times a week for years. It's one of my favorite places and I genuinely don't get some of these reviews. Everyone who works there is extremely friendly. There's never much of a wait for food or coffee (minus back in the day on like a Saturday morning). The online ordering is way easy too. You can just order on your phone with Apple pay and it's ready when you get there. Their covid response was really good too. It's kind of everything you want in a coffee shop. read more

I asked for a short latte and they gave me short espresso, even after the cashier clarified that I meant short milk. Was in a time crunch so didn't have time to clarify with the barista (different person) who made my drink. Cute place really appreciate the environment-conscious effort in using spoons rather than stirrers and no straws. read more

I often pick something up from Bloc on my way to work and love that it's so convenient and Covid safe. You can order on your phone and it's ready pretty quickly. They have the best bagel I've had in the area! I always get the everything and there is actually seasoning on both sides! And not too salty. I also love the ham and cheese croissant, which also has a sprinkling of the everything seasoning. I am a bagel snob (I have had bagels in Somerville that have ruined my whole day) and I approve. I am not a coffee snob, but I do enjoy the beverages here too. The vegan club sandwich is also delicious and that's coming from someone who eats meat. The cookies, I have to say, and underwhelming and the prices here are on the higher end but I don't mind because of the quality. Overall, would recommend! read more

Such a cute little place to grab a drink and some food! Great location for walking around before or after!

We come to Bloc literally all the time and love it! We came today with our dog and got a spot on the patio but shortly found out they are not allowed. I should not have assumed dogs were allowed outside when I checked in, but we could have done without the screaming employee. It would have been perfectly fine to just say to us calmly that dogs are not allowed. Instead someone came out of the kitchen area and yelled it at us in front of the entire patio. It was odd and not the vibe. Update - employees were extremely rude for no reason. Honestly wow. Will not be going back despite having been a regular customer. read more

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. read more

Bloc Somerville - raspberry lime ricky - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Bloc 11 is a cool cafe. As many people have noted, Bloc 11 is brought to you by the folks at Diesel Cafe. It's quite different from Diesel -- much quieter. read more

Bloc Somerville - La Marzocca - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Friendly staff, neat location, outdoor seating options, and tasty food. What more could a girl want? Oh yes - they also have free wifi! Great little soup and sandwich shop near the farmer's market in union square that we stumbled upon one Saturday afternoon. They had a lot of vegetarian and vegan options which is always excellent to see. Really enjoyed my sandwich and tomato orzo soup and would definitely come by here again to try other options. It is a bit pricey for a sandwich shop but it's quality produce and menu options so we really couldn't complain. Plus the interior is awesome - a former bank! And there is great patio seating too. read more

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Like the outdoor seating area and the coffee is good but comes at a price. Appears to be one size drinks so a cafe latte will you set you back $5 after tax. The machines you use to order in store automatically add a 3% service charge in advance on any order and that appears to be mandatory. Not sure who gets that service charge but it would be good to give people the option to pay the charge or not. read more

Brought to you by the folks behind Diesel Cafe, Bloc 11 Cafe is a modern update to the industrial aesthetic you've come to know. The cafe is ideally located off the main square in the former East Asian Bank. An outdoor patio appears to be in the works but not to worry, the interior is brightly lit and spacious. The counter/bar/kitchen area dominate the center of the space with a fairly open design. You'll find a good selection of drinks, pastries, salads, and sandwiches. There is seating spread throughout with a small area in the front, a larger space towards the rear with bar seating and cozy spaces in the rear including two bank vault spaces. There's a fireplace back there as well. Bloc 11 Cafe sources its coffees from Intelligentsia Coffee. I ordered coffee and a macchiato, both prepared from house blends. As I'm not a fan of drip brew, I was surprised by the smoothness in the coffee. Espresso-based drinks are prepared on a stunning lime green La Marzocco FB/70. The macchiato was attentively prepared with beans freshly ground and resulted in a nice drink. The cherry walnut scone was average. The place was fairly empty while I was there on an early weekday evening. I enjoyed the opportunity to read in peace while enjoying the sounds of modern rock playing over the speakers. I would've enjoyed being online as there are outlets scattered about, however, I don't enjoy paying for access. Bloc 11 Cafe is a welcome addition to Union Square. There are few hangouts I enjoy there aside from this and Sherman Cafe. Pro: atmosphere, cafe menu, modern space. Con: pay for wifi access. read more

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Still early days, but my initial feel is that I'm wicked glad Bloc 11 exists in Union Sqare. The layout of the place is great -- A mix of wide-open and cosy spaces (who *doesn't* want to hang out in an old bank vault?) and plenty of power outlets scattered around for the laptoperati. The food and drinks that I've sampled so far have been uniformly delicious. Personal favourites are the Sparkler (sparkling limeade) and the Fuse sandwich (apple tuna curry). And the atmosphere is hip and laid-back, without being unpleasantly snobby. A good place to lurk and people-watch. The downsides? It is PRICEY! $2.25 for a 16oz coffee, $8 a day for wi-fi access, and $8 a sandwich adds up pretty damned quickly. That said, I look forward to hanging out here. Union Square needed a place like this. read more

Bloc Somerville - Coffee - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I love this place for two reasons: concept and food. Concept being, sustainable, local ingredients, in a funky, architectural cafe setting. Food is fresh, delicious and everything you want in a late weekend lunch - which, for me, is a rockin' salad or sandwich, and tall mocha latte. In short: - I love the Union salad. - I love their coffee. - Their baked goods rock, too. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because it's always crowded (not a bad thing for them I guess) and this is part due to the fact that they let people sit around on their laptops for hours after they've been served, taking up precious space. I tend to come here on a Saturday, feel incredibly anxious that I won't find a clean spot for two, and then eventually sit down, enjoy my meal, and forget my initial panic. But, something to consider if you're coming in a large group and not everyone is patient... :) read more

Bloc Somerville - Mmm mocha - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Pre covid review: got a breakfast sandwich (starlight) and raspberry lime rickey and both were great. Staff were friendly and everything came out quickly. The starlight had a great cheese spread on it and the bread was perfect. read more

I'm just echo-ing what a lot of people on here are saying: I frequent this place a lot, but I still give it 3 stars. They are the ONLY good cafe to work at in East Somerville/Union Square area. Bloc cafe is THE place if you want to get some work done in this area and have some decent wifi, coffee, music, food, cool vibe, all that. Everywhere else is either too small so not enough space (i.e. Union Square Donuts) or has kind of a weird vibe & plays music too loudly (NU Cafe). But honestly, Bloc could do better. a) some of their baristas have some fuckin tude. like i'm not the first person to express this. why oh why do you have to be rude, y'all? chill. b) they're not snobby for good reasons. this isn't the soup nazi. the food is good, but only good (not amazing). the coffee is fine but it's not like they roast it themselves, it's just intelligentsia. this would be fine if they weren't so uptight and hella rude. Like, I'd prefer a dive cafe with friendly people behind the counter & literally OK food/coffee. otherwise, you know the aesthetic is great (local art, good music, outdoor seating, a cool bank vault) and practically speaking we can camp out on our laptops for 3 hours (plenty of seating, they could use more outlets but it's better than nothing, 3 hours of free wifi). that's why we come right? read more

I am probably the only person on Yelp who actually LIKES the fact that this place doesn't have free wi-fi. Why? Because if I come here with my laptop to work on a paper, or bring a book to read, etc. I always get far more done than when I have all the evil temptations of the Internet (e.g. Facebook) to wrestle with. Besides, if you were some sort of working professional (as opposed to the dime-a-dozen neighborhood student/slacker/hipster) whose livelihood truly depended on it, you would probably bring along your own 3G internet anyhow. And even with the by now well-known lack of free internet, this place is still packed more often than not...can you imagine how much WORSE it would be if they had free wi-fi? There'd be scores of slackers (not to mention all the unruly high school kids who currently plague the Somerville Public Library for this reason) here buying a lousy $4-5 drink and hogging tables all day long. Anyways, this is an attractive place with a nice vibrant energy, good for people watching if you like that, or simply chilling and reading a book or working on your Great American Novel if that's your thing. The coffees and teas are not cheap but good (although a bit small compared to the larger sizes available at Starbucks), and the food is your usual overpriced organic salads and sandwiches and pastries...CARB CITY, in other words, so I have never bothered with any of that. If you do, my advice is keep your expectations modest. You are basically paying for the space and the vibe, which are excellent for the aforementioned purposes. There are times when they play rather aggressive and intrusive music, alas, but that's why you should always have a pair of earbuds around to plug into your laptop, tablet or smartphone. All in all this is a unique and charming place...am glad that it exists. Do wish it had better hours, though. read more

I Love the coffee, I tried both cold and hot. I like their mocha! The sandwiches are really good specially the beef. Quick tip: The sandwiches are quite large, so consider sharing! read more

Amazing vegetarian sandwiches. Very happy these guys are still open and making everything work during covid. Order online and pick up in a very safe environment. read more

My iced coffee was delicious! Smooth, creamy & very flavorful - loved it. My egg & cheese sandwich on focaccia was also delicious but I will say there was so much garlic Mayo on it that I couldn't fully enjoy it...learned lesson but would definitely go again! read more