Ordered takeout from here last night and I'm torn. The spicy chicken on the chicken sandwich…read moreapparently just means that they cover the chicken in hot sauce. The chicken itself and the rest of the sandwich were good, I think the hot sauce actually kind of hid the quality of the fried chicken cause it was covered in it. The fries were fire. I'm gonna try again and get a different chicken sandwich. I think I'll have a way better experience.

Hello, I ordered a…read more4-piece dark meat chicken from this location but received white meat instead. I spoke with the manager, Sara, who declined to issue a partial refund despite the error and stated that redelivery was not possible because my location is not located in Somerville or any of the surrounding neighborhoods. Afterward, I received a call from a male manager who indicated that he would process a partial refund. However, when I called back, I was again connected to Sara, who refused to process the refund. This was extremely confusing, as I had just been told moments earlier that the issue would be resolved. I am very disappointed with the customer service I received. Update: After posting this review, I was contacted and pressured to remove it, which further added to the discomfort and confusion surrounding this experience. I ended up passing on the partial refund to put an end to the back and forth with management.

I was craving some soul food in the Boston area and I found The Coast Cafe on tik tok. Let's just…read moresay I was super happy I did! This place is super cozy with delicious food in Cambridge. I got the mixed chicken plate with Mac n cheese and candied yams. The chicken was very good--fried very well with great seasoning, a crispy exterior, and juicy interior. The Mac was very gooey and cheesy. And the yams were excellent as well. I thought the texture of the yams was near perfect--not too hard but not too soft and mushy either. Also not overly sweet. I also felt like the price was very fair. A lot of times, similar entrees can cost near $30, but this was just over $20 which was super reasonable especially for the quality. The staff was very kind and friendly as well. Keep in mind that the interior is quite small, so plan ahead on whether you're going to eat inside or take it to go. But overall I'd recommend this to anyone in the area, and I'd love to go back!

I ordered from Coast Cafe expecting something special given all the awards and recognition--but…read morethis was a major letdown and honestly felt like a waste of money. Let's start with the "Jamaican" patties. These were not patties. They were empanada-style, lacking the flaky crust, seasoning, and depth you expect from a true Jamaican beef or chicken patty. At $5 each, that's not just disappointing--it feels misleading. Then the soul food. This is where it really fell apart. The chicken was dry, under-seasoned, and surprisingly small--more like an afterthought than a centerpiece. Soul food should be rich, flavorful, and comforting. This wasn't! The greens were another miss. No depth, no richness, and completely lacking the traditional pot liquor that gives them their signature flavor. It felt like a stripped-down version of what should be a staple dish.The only bright spot was the candied yams--they actually had flavor and were enjoyable. What's frustrating is the gap between reputation and experience. When a place has awards and hype, you expect authenticity, quality, and consistency. This didn't deliver on any of that. Overall, I wouldn't return. There are too many places doing this food the right way to spend money here again.

Got the junior combo - a chicken sandwich with medium spice level, and mac and cheese for $14. Def…read morebig enough for an adult. Sandwich was bomb, and the Mac and cheese was solid as well. Friendly and helpful service. Would definitely return if/when in the area.

Came back for the hot chicken sandwich and it's delicious! Batter is so light and crispy and super…read morejuicy. Though I got hot, it's barely anything. One of the best fried chicken sandwiches for sure As for the sides, would pass on them... the potato salad was so overwhelmingly tasting of corn and the fried pickles were not fried enough or with any flavor

Absolutely amazing!! Chicken is wonderfully seasoned and flavorful. My sister and I also tried the…read moreperuanisimo sandwich & yucca fries, which we both thought were delicious.

Machu Picchu, a well-known Peruvian restaurant in Somerville, has opened a budget-friendly branch…read morespecializing in roast chicken. The roast chicken was indeed good, but the other dishes were a bit lacking. 1/4 Dark: This is the lower-end option, while the white one is the upper-end. The chicken thigh meat was roasted until tender and juicy, easily falling off the bone with a fork; unfortunately, the skin was also soft and a bit too salty. Fries: The fries were piping hot, but without any seasoning, which detracted from their appeal. The restaurant offers three dipping sauces: yellow/green sauce and white dressing, which tasted essentially the same as yellow mustard mayonnaise, Thousand Island dressing, and regular mayonnaise--the flavors were actually quite similar.

My mom said this is the best burger she's had outside of Texas. The 3 way roast beef sandwich was…read moredelicious. I would absolutely go back there next time I'm in town. It comes in 3 sizes and I got the biggest one because it came on an onion bun. How could I say no to that? Look, I will prob be dreaming of this sandwich back home. Heck, I wish I had another one right now. I know y'all city slickers are used to places without restrooms, but it would have been nice to wash my hands after scarfing down this yummy albeit messy sandwich.

Back in the day, I used to go to Nick's house of beef and beer, but alas, it's no longer. I came…read moreacross Skampa near my hotel and I was intrigued. I ordered a beef sandwich not knowing what to expect, but what arrived was pure deliciousness - thinly shaved beef piled high with bbq sauce and mayo and it's just as messy and sloppy as it sounds. It's like an Arby's sandwich without the horsey sauce but all grown up. Fries are extra and an order could feed a family. No booze so I had a soda instead. Would gladly come back here again for another sandwich.

omg! on recommendation of coworker over and over LOL FINALLY…read moreTRIED! looking forward to taste testing more We split a chicken ceasar sub! and a chopped italian No words!

The food is fine. The delivery operation is a hot mess - don't do it. Below is just the latest of…read morefails. This place is very obviously built for takeout and delivery (there is essentially no dine-in experience) so it's genuinely impressive how poorly they manage it. When delivery fails (and it does), they don't fix the problem. They deflect it and then the service gets worse. So Uber Eats delivered the wrong order. When the driver couldn't retrieve our actual order, I drove to the restaurant myself to pick it up. Our food was sitting there. They refused to release it unless we returned the incorrect order--food that, once delivered, cannot legally be re-served (ew and also I'm not doing that). They claimed the driver picked up the wrong order, which points to a basic failure in order labeling and pickup control. Instead of correcting their breakdown, they doubled down and made it my problem. I would have even paid for our food (again) but they were so ridiculous at the counter about getting the old food (red flag) that I left empty handed. It's not me, it's you. Embarrassingly bad execution and hostile customer service. If delivery is your entire model, this level of incompetence is indefensible.

Why I'll go back: Super fresh, super delicious, and super fast subs…read moreYou HAVE to order: My go-to's are the meatball sub (haven't found one better) and the chicken salad (a unique flavor) Tony's Tip: When getting toppings, I ask them to put the tomatoes on the bread first so it stays on the sandwich easier. Also, I have them cut the subs into four pieces - easier to eat than two. Cannot believe I now live within a block of the two sandwich titans in Boston - Sam LaGrassa's and Al's Cafe. Al's School Street Cafe opened on Wednesday, Nov 12, and the line was 20 minutes long, stretching out the door and up to Old City Hall. It will calm down at some point, but just to be safe, I stopped in around 11:15 on Thursday to beat the crowd. It's a great space - larger than the South Street location and at least twice as large as State Street. Plus, there's decent seating in here, but also plenty of room for walk-ins to hang until their sandwich is ready. It's also very bright, and the electronic menu board is a nice upgrade. Other than that, this is the same Al's that you have come to know and love. Very friendly people who work their butts off to make a quality sandwich and do it quickly to get you in and out. The bread is still fresh-baked, and nothing beats taking those first few bites when the bread is still warm. Of course, the big caveat is that these are hearty sandwiches. I'll always order a large, eat half, and enjoy the rest for dinner or the next day. The three subs I tend to rotate are the meatball (ordered as is), Italian's Italian (add tomatoes, lettuce, onions, salt & pepper), and the Chicken Salad (add tomatoes, salt and pepper). If you're a chicken salad fanatic like me, Al's makes a creamy one that is more shredded, less chunky, and a little salt & pepper livens it up a touch. You'll definitely develop a craving. Occasionally, I will do the prosciutto-only High Street Cafe Special or the chicken parm. I didn't realize Al's was doing smash burgers now! Will have to grab one of those soon. Welcome to my neighborhood Al's! I'll be seeing you around...the corner. ;)

Love Al's. Glad they opened one in downtown crossing area, hope they stay open! Great subs…read moreingredients are fresh.

This place is pretty good and well stocked with chicken. What would be nice as if they had chicken…read moresandwiches pre-wrapped in foil ready to go as I likely would have bought one. The chicken's good. Nice, crispy exterior. The flavor is better than KFC but the obe advantage KFC has is the crispiness/batter ratio. This place could have a heavier batter, that would just be the best. Very reasonable prices, and the best thing is, you can do your food à la cart. Instead of having to buy a plate of chicken and fries, I was able to do pieces of chicken if I wanted to. Better than that, I could select individual pieces of different types (thigh, wing, etc.). For that, it's an excellent business model I wish restaurants would adopt it. The rest of the food looks pretty tasty and would easily come back for more.

The food is very good. My only issue is the customer service. When I go into an establishment, I…read moredon't expect perfection, but I do expect to be treated with courtesy and respect. I work in both customer service and the culinary industry, so I understand that everyone has off days. However, from a customer's point of view, service is just as important as the food. A staff member's bad day shouldn't affect the experience of the people coming in to support the business. Great food will always bring people in, but great service is what keeps them coming back.