A nice place to hang out, get some sandwiches, and also some groceries. The Italian deli toasted panini was nicely flavored and the bread crisply toasted; my only reservations is that there could have been more veggie-like items in the insides. Grocery portion of the store is quite spacious. read more

Nice little country store with a deli counter where you can order both hot and cold choices from their menu. Plenty of outside seating to enjoy the weather and watch the world go by. Even though it is a deli style they still stopped off to check on us to be sure everything was good and to see if we needed anything else. Top notch read more

This place hasn't had the same charm as it used to since Arts Specialties took over. Last straw for me was today. I was followed around the store by a male employee who asked me questions like how often do I come here, and commenting on how young I looked. No thank you. I would say that they just lost a customer, but judging by the new atmosphere here, they don't seem to want customers in my income bracket, anyway. read more

Actually the food was very good, service was good. The store was nice and located right across the street from an interesting old cemetery. Use the restroom before you go because it was the most disgusting toilet I've ever seen due to neglect! read more

Over the past year, I've stopped in there six times to grab a sandwich and each time they were so delicious. The atmosphere in the store is very cool, easy parking, and quick service. It's a beautiful little quaint spot. Sad to know that it's closed right now. read more

This is the only place to get food and quick groceries in the center of Carlisle. Under new ownership in 2023. read more

I love ferns. Maybe it's the home town feel. Maybe it's the wine selection or even just the friendly employees. They do not sell tomatoes, but you can pretty much find anything in there. I haven't gone in a while, but they've updated the store, and it looks gorgeous and amazing. It looms a lot more organized and stocked. read more

We couldn't have been more pleased with Ferns! This is the definition of an all-in-one experience; literally a one-stop shop! Here we were able to grab groceries and a raspberry danish to go late on a Saturday night-- and if we wanted some wine and a sandwich too? That was all available! Located in a quiet town, this has to be one of the absolute best "hidden gem" stores we've ever come across in our travels! read more

See all

I have done a really good review for ferns many years ago. They switched owners years ago and just switched again recently. Ferns has totally gone down hill. Their whole coffee and breakfast area has just been awful the last few weeks. No lattes or specialty drinks. They are also so short staffed sometimes but even with the short staffing the deli workers are always welcoming. read more

I miss the old Ferns where the owners were alway on sight and cared about their business. Live in the next town over and stopped in yesterday. I didn't know Tuna could be that bland. I attempted to eat outside but was driven back in by the bees. I was disgusted to see food, used knife, bottle cap, & napkins on the floor. The windows looked like they hadn't been washed in months. I could get over lunch costing $20 (barely) if it was good but what a waste of money. It aways was so good, what a shame. read more

Get out of the breakfast sandwich business. How can you cook the egg and have melted cheese, but the bagel is soft and mushy? Probably impossible but that is what I was served this morning. In the future, cook the egg, bacon, and cheese on some sort of frying surface. While this is happening, place the bagel in a toaster or ask the customer if they want it buttered and cooked on the frying surface (better taste option). Combine the toasted or fried bagel with the bacon, egg, and cheese; you now have a non-mushy breakfast sandwich worth eating. read more

I've been here a couple of times for pastries in the morning. The prices are ridiculous for a pastry and they are not good. They seem like they've been sitting out for days- they're dry and tasteless. read more

Once we got the food it was yummy, but service was so slow. I can't stand it when I have to wait at a counter for 15 minutes, as dazed teenagers walk by me as if I'm not there. Just a quick, "be right with you," would go a long way. Also, the layout of the store is all wrong. And confusing. You order at the deli counter go down some stairs and pay around the corner, go back up the stairs for utensils and napkins and out the door. Outside seating on the patio is nice and self-service. The place was being run by a few teenaged girls and they obviously had never chopped a cucumber before, nor made a wrap until today. The chicken salad sandwich was good, but wish they had gluten free bread. Lastly, they had tons of drinks in the refrigerator area, but no unsweetened iced tea? And no salads in the take away fridge either. Sigh. I really wanted to like it here. read more

On a road trip back from NH my mom and I stopped by based on its curbside appeal alone! The inside did not disappoint with a very cute general/country store vibe. We were stopping for lunch and split a Black Bird and an Autumn Turkey sandwich and both knocked it out of the park!! We're not usually sandwich fans but theirs really hit the spot(and now we're twice as happy we picked up a log of bread too!) I would definitely recommend this place, the staff was very friendly, and the pastries looked phenomenal! read more

See all

Went at night. The food was fresh, the place was clean, our trio enjoyed fresh, delicious sandwiches, and since it was night time there was room to sit. I wish the new owners well in an area not used to change. read more

Got a great Italian sandwich here and loved all of the other foods and products that were on the shelves. You can find just about anything here, including old-timey candy. read more

Yhe afternoon weekend closing deli stfaf is beautiful and good at ambience. Tehy are aslo good at food and service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like other reviewers mention, Ferns Country Store really is a one stop shop. I stopped in on a Friday afternoon around lunchtime, and there was a small line at the deli, but it went by quickly because they had multiple staff members working the counter at the time. I had seen this neighborhood gem in a "Country Stores of New England" book, and I figured I'd stop in since I was in the area. Based on the employee's recommendation, I ordered the Chicken Pesto Sandwich, and it was good. I didn't order any this time around, but they also have several different sides for sale at the deli counter, and the grocery section is pretty well-stocked considering the size of the store. They also offer a bakery, a coffee counter, and a decent wine section. They have plenty of parking and picnic table seating outside for anyone looking to enjoy their meals there. It's another neighborhood gem, and I'm all about it. read more

Love ferns, but really wished you guys didn't serve sandwiches in plastic containers. In general you should have a more eco friendly approach, especially in a town like Carlisle where 90% of the town are environmentally aware. Please stop using plastic whenever possible. read more

The sandwiches seemed to have greatly improved with new management, as has the whole store's "vibe". Employees seem to have actually been trained. Still quite expensive but doesn't seem as much of a "poser" establishment as before (one that was clearly more interested in appearance than operation). Store flow and layout (left over from prior management) still leave much to be desired. I wonder if they'll hang up the phony "Retailer of the Year" banner every year? Hopefully the new owners will actually run a nice shop rather than pretending and seeming to miss every point of what a good local store should be. No place to go but UP from the old owner's bad attitudes, poorly trained employees taking breaks while people on lunch break anxiously waited in lines for sandwiches, stale bread and $20 cc minimums. I wish the new owners the best in their new endeavor. Hopefully they didn't pay too much for a once thriving Superette. I hope local lunch customers (contractors, landscapers and workmen) will give it another chance again after years of skimpy overpriced sandwiches of questionable taste and freshness. read more

Over priced sandwiches. Sometimes paying 12 dollars for a couple slices of ham and turkey with cheese between bread just makes me feel ripped off. Sometimes the sandwiches are jam packed with ingredients, sometimes not at all! The amount of people that don't even make an attempt to move out of the main pathway at the deli is sickening. Friggin MOVE! 5dollars for a small nitro brew? No thanks. Maybe if I could afford to live in Carlisle, I wouldn't care about being overcharged for everything. P.S. The sandwiches used to be Giant and about 8 dollars... read more

Great sandwiches & soups, fresh pastries and baked goods, and friendly staff! They have a great selection of beer & wine and the deli always has fresh ingredients. They have delicious new specials all the time. I love this place! read more

Rude women behind counter and filthy outdoor eating area. I came in to alert them that the outdoor trash can was so full that it was impossible to throw away any further garbage. Garbage all over the ground. The women inside were busy chatting with each other (doing nothing) and didn't come to the counter when I entered. When I told them that the trash was full, they said that they were busy and would get to it later --- clearly annoyed that I was interrupting. Pretentious place with unpleasant workers (not all of them -- just these two). Happened on Sunday Oct. 17. read more

I love it here!!! The food is good and the general store area is great. This place draws a lot of bikers (emphasize: a lot). They are really nice however and usually pretty happy to make conversation if you are up for it. The only downside the shop has is their bathroom because of the septic systems, but totally understandable, and it gets the job done. Totally recommend! read more

Fern's is a wonderful place. All the staff are so friendly and welcoming. We drive all the way from Watertown to eat there on weekends. The soups are fresh and the sandwiches are substantial. I love the Little Italy panini and the New England clam chowder. My husband says to be sure and mention the delicious pastries. There is also a convenience store and what looks to be an excellent wine shop. There are four or five indoor tables and two modern easy chairs, plus outdoor seating in warm weather. And WiFi! You will love it. read more

As usual, I'm the sour-puss of the bunch. I've only been there once, but I thought it was just OK. I got a turkey "signature sandwich." They claim it's made with french bread, but it seemed pretty much like Wonderbread to me. The sandwich was overstuffed with turkey. I guess some people like that. I hate it. No wonder there's an obesity problem in this country. I hate having a sandwich that is stuffed so full that I can't open my mouth up wide enough to bite it. Plus, they put it all in the center, so really, it meant I had to rearrange it and remove some to give snacks to my cats. Maybe I would have been happier if the turkey to bacon ratio was better, but the bacon was overwhelmed by the turkey. Just give me a normal sandwich and knock off a buck. The pickle was small and limp, like a bad date. The staff was nice. I guess I'd give this place another try, just because the staff is nice, but I won't go out of my way to go there. read more

A lovely stop. With lots to choose from there is something for everyone. We had 2 sandwiches and a soup between us. We sat inside to enjoy it. It was quiet and comfortable. I had the vegetarian panini. I order these everywhere, and usually love it. Here wasn't quite up to par. It lacked flavor. It needed something.. pesto, hummus, aioli, roasted red peppers?... something. However the soup and my husbands sandwich was lovely. I would stop in again, I would love to try some of the desserts!! read more

See all

Fern's rocks! I have to be honest, I never buy anything but a cold Fuze or flavored water here, and have never tried the deli counter, although the food looks good. Fern's is a great place to stop if you're cycling NW of the city. They have a bunch of bike racks courtesy of Quad Cycles, a nice clean port-o-potty, picnic tables and outdoor seating, and they are very friendly to bike folk, tolerating our clicking around in our cleats and fishing money out of Ziploc bags. This place is CLUTCH. read more

Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns. Our retirement Lunch Project is to have lunch in each one. Sometimes the pickings are few: only two in this small, wealthy, rural-ish suburb about 45 minutes NW of us. It's a lovely town. However, the staff at Ferns were pretty grumpy and unwelcoming which was surprising given the old-fashioned country store vibe. We ordered our lunch from a glum deli worker and were told to pay after we'd eaten in the café area. When we arrived at the register, the owner snarled at me that he couldn't remember the UPC for the chips I had eaten because they "carry over 30,000 items." He stomped off to find it, scanned the item, threw it across the counter, took our money. No pleasantries exchanged. I never thought to bring my trash to the register!? Lots of cyclists stop here for lunch. Food was okay-ish, but next time we'll try the atmosphere at the other food place: Kimball's Ice Cream! read more

Visiting friends is always fun. But when you have to make a quick stop and find something to give to your friends, and you stumble into a good store such as Ferns Country Store, things just get better! Thank you Yelp! I found them because of you, honey! :) I picked up some freshly baked blueberry pie - it wasn't murderously sweet, 'twas just right! Thank god. And the Friendly's ice cream. Yay! The store host was wonderful, helped answer some queries about the cookies and brownies. Btw, brownies SO good!! The store front, the parking, the lil chairs etc..... Lovely, quaint! So inviting. read more

It is a quaint homey store. My family especially loved the sandwiches. Fresh ingredients and very tasty (they use Nashoba Valley Bread and Boar's Head meats). Definitely worth trying out and judging for yourself. Pros: They accept Visa and Mastercard now ($10 minimum), staff is EXTREMELY friendly (I charged my order - the clerk must have bothered to look at the name on my card - and the clerk said, "Thank you Christine"), sandwiches are great Cons: No place to sit inside, not my favorite as far as pastries go read more

I love the cold brew coffee at Ferns! I get it a few times a week and the morning staff at the coffee counter is always so friendly! Sandwiches are excellent as well. This is a great local spot and always has been! read more

Stopped at Fern's for lunch after walking around Great Brook Farm State Park. Fern's is a quaint little store with a deli attached. I had a roast beef sub, multigrain tortilla chips, and an Honest Tea. Sandwiches are made with Boar's Head cold cuts, so they're high quality. Nothing too fancy, but it's a good sandwich and portions are generous. The staff here was extra friendly, and there was ample seating outside, even on a crowded sunny day. The employee behind the cash register said Fern's will have indoor seating in a few weeks. read more

Serendipitous stop passing through toe on a road trip. Quaint old-fashion country store feeling with a café, sandwich shop, wine store all in one. Wicked friendly folks and locals passing in and out constantly. There's placards for music, wine and beer tastings, family activities and more. Specials and pizza. A cute little café with tables and soda fountain chairs and an outdoor patio with umbrellas. Homey, warm, and the fresh baked goods fill the air with a delicious aroma. Free wifi and a bathroom available. Open 24 hours. Sweet! read more

See all

One of the best things about Fern's is that they are there. There aren't many food choices in Carlisle, after all. They don't have any indoor seating, but this year have added lots of outdoor seating. I can't fault their coffee bar, or their sandwiches; they are both good. I think what makes them special is that they go out of their way to connect with the community; and because of that, have become an irreplaceable town landmark. Genius marketing idea, and a terrific antidote to strip mall living. read more

Good coffee, baked goods, and deli with nice people working there to boot (but please don't boot them--they're nice). To echo Orly, it's a great place to stop off when you're biking out in the area (I'm generally not out in Car-slile unless I'm biking). One really weird thing about the place--the owners apparently *want* people to hang around there because they've got chairs on their covered porch as well as a picnic table(!) It really gives a nice, old-fashioned friendly vibe. read more

This is effectively the only store in Carlisle. It has a coffee section, a sandwich & pizza section, a convenience section, and a beer & large wine section. If you've ever biked through Carlisle, this is where everyone stops to take a break. read more

Ferns must be under new management, the customer service is terrible. There are no Covid-19 precautions. Customers are jammed together in a 2 foot square area trying to order. They don't bother to list prices. Once you order you have to go back through the 2 foot square area to pay at the cashier then walk back through the 2 foot square area to tables that are not cleaned between customers. They have space in the bakery area that could accommodate ordering sandwiches, pastry etc. while not jamming clients together. It is a classic work flow and bottleneck issue. While everyone is backed up in the 2 foot square area there are two guys at the register , one dealing with customers and the other standing there playing with his thumbs. He could be dealing with customers in the bakery instead of standing around. I can not believe the people working there are owners Why? Because they show a complete disregard for customer service, sanitation or any awareness of Covid-19 protocol. read more

I have been a customer at Fern's Country Store since it opened in 1775. The British would often stop for coffee and biscuits on their way to finding the Garrison House in neighboring Chelmsford. Fortunately, the Brit's never found the Garrison, a place where the Massachusetts Militia would store the ammo that eventually did the Red Coats in. As the story goes the proprietors of Fern's, Larry and his trusted wife Robin, would slip a little rum in the coffee, hence, by noon time the Brit's would give up the search and take a nap instead. I guess you could say that Larry and Robin were the key to winning the Revolution. Thank you Larry and Robin. Now, most every morning I go down to Fern's for a great cup of coffee and a fine breakfast sandwich. The coffee is still great after all these years even without the rum. If you stop by for lunch any of their Signature Sandwiches are delicious. My wife Judy loves the Reuben's and I still prefer a good old fashion Italian sub. Now, you may think that I am going to rate Fern's at 5.0 stars. You would be wrong. 4.0 stars is sufficient. This morning I stopped by for my coffee at 6am. The chairs out on the piazza were still wet from last night's rain. Okay, I may be a bit picky due to my many years, but it appears that someone is not paying attention to detail. I just love this place, and I know you will too. read more

Best local store. Michael knows his wine, pizza is good and best of all they support the community. This is a must stop when heading to Great Brook for a picnic. Too bad they are for sale. Hope the new owners carry on the legacy read more