Between breakfast and lunch, I probably eat here 3 times a week. Breakfast: 2nd Street is the only game in town when it comes to real filling breakfast sandwiches. My favorite breakfast item is egg and cheese on pumpernickel bread. It's $4.50 but it's the size of two egg sandwiches anywhere else. I hear half sandwiches are available if you're not as hungry. For lunch, I always order the same sandwich. Chicken pesto on pumpernickel. It's so good. I like the way the cold fresh mozzarella cheese tastes with the hot grilled chicken breast. The pesto is tasty and plentiful and the tomato slices are well represented. When I'm very very very hungry, I order soup too. They've been good and you get to pick your own dipping bread from the big basket. They used to write daily riddles on the little chalkboard in the back. Why did that stop? The counter stools are kind of uncomfortable but the other seating options are fine. In the summer, you can get sandwiches here and eat in the park around the corner. Don't let the noon to 12:30pm crowds dissuaded you. Arrive at 11:55am and there won't be a line at all. Or, have a later lunch after 12:30 and there won't be much of a wait. Even at busy times, the wait isn't more than 5 minutes. There's a great atmosphere amongst the staff and if you come frequently, they will learn your name and your usual order. read more

It's official. I've become white. Backstory: Friend from NYC visiting. Quite possibly, the whitest man ever. It's lunch time, we're hungover, and we're hungry. Good burrito and thai place around the corner, but when comes time to picking where to eat, I suggest... "Oh I know a great sandwich place.." And that was it. My moment of realization that four long years in Boston have turned this rather handsome Indian fellow into a white yuppie, like the rest. But it is all so worth it. The Cuban here is quite legendary, really, As is the meatball grinder and really, any of the other sandwiches. The soups are hard to resist as well.. and, you see what Im talking about... Lucky for me, a pint of curry later that evening got me right back on track. read more

This is the only thing that made my Jury Duty worthwhile. As I got off the Lechmere T stop on a dreary Boston Morning, I was looking for breakfast. I was expecting to find a Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks, considering I was after all in Cambridge. As I was walking, I accidentally walked down 2nd Street. I am glad I did. This place may be the best breakfast cafe I have ever been to. It is the type of place you expect to see in a NH Ski Town or Nantucket. The food was excellent, the staff was friendly, the coffee was fresh and the atmosphere was great. While I don't care to go on Jury Duty again anytime soon, I will certainly head back to this cafe. I just need an excuse to get there..... read more

Total hidden gem. Quaint cafe/diner tucked away in the back streets of east cambridge. Terrific variety of sandwiches, wraps, paninis etc. All good, fresh and very reasonably priced. The specials are always creative and a good option. Highly recommend to anyone who works in the area for a quick reliable lunch spot. read more

I live right down the street from this hidden gem. I wish more people knew about it, yet it *is* pretty much hidden from main street foot and vehicle traffic....I have only been after lunch hours but I am sure it is bumping from all the court employees and lawyers...and the galleria mall employees (the food court bites the big one)...I got the caramelized onion soup...oh my...it was mouthwatering.....My SO loves the chicken salad....I plan on going back there to grab some morning bites.....I love this little cafe.......I am so happy it is near me.....I always feel like I am missing out when I read a review of a little obscure cafe not near me...but now I have my *own*.........PS The employees are SUPER friendly.......and the place is CLEAN! Two big enthusiastic thumbs up! read more

Killer lunch (and breakfast). Very fresh salads and sandwiches that are prepared right in front of you by very friendly people. Plus bomb chip and beverage selection. Three homemade soups are offered each day, anddd they update their website each morning with a daily (changing) selection: their Cream of Tomato is the best I've had! Delivery is ONLY for lunch catering, so don't try to order a sandwich for delivery. Also, it's packed inside at lunch, so take-out is your easiest option, though outside the 12-1:15 rush, seating is easy to find. After working nearby for a while, 2nd Street is the only place I'll go for lunch... try the chicken salad... golden raisins mmmmmm... read more

I love 2nd street cafe. I stop there in the mornings before work and sometimes for great salads and soups at lunchtime. The owner John was a chef at a big time Boston Restaurant (Aquitaine)before opening this place. The girl who works the register in the morning is awesome, her name is Tammy! She is so peppy it's refreshing and a nice start to my day. I also really love the guy(William) working with Tammy in the morning chopping away, Say "hi" to William if you head in there. They are all so helpful, I love that part of my day! read more

chicken salad sandwich --- soooo on point. I've had a couple of their other sandwiches which were okay, but not memorable like their chicken salad sandwich. The service was okay -- the chefs/cooks always look like they have some place better to be. The cafe is cute, but way too small to get any work done if I wanted to get away from my office. Pea soup is good... but it tasted better the next day! That's homecooked meal trait! read more

One of the best lunches you can get. The sandwiches are a bit upscale but they're worth every penny of the $6.95. The standard eight or so include roast beef (w/ boursin & horseradish mayo), chicken pesto, and meatball -- or you can design your own. They even have pumpernickel as a bread option. I love pumpernickel! Quality soups and salads are one the everyday menu as well as daily specials which are usually full-on meal type deals like pastas or turkey with a side of mash. The place is a bit small and is popular with the business folk in the Lechmere area so be prepared to walk it down to a bench by the Galleria if you're not lucky enough to get a seat. read more

I've eaten lunch here on a few occasions and it has always been a positive experience. The food is good, the service is polite and fast, and the price and location are right. Personal favorites are the meatball sub and the grilled chicken sandwich with pesto and mozzarella. read more

This place is awesome! The staff is very friendly. If it's your first time here you have to have the reuben! This is by far the best place to get a sandwich in Cambridge. read more

Great people. Good food. The owner always remembers your name when you come in. They have a daily selection of specials that are always tasty as well as great soups. A bit pricy, but the best lunch around this part of cambridge. read more

I was excited to try a new cafe in the area, but 2nd st was a let down. The food was okay but the service wasn't very friendly. I asked nicely if they served expresso and I got a dirty look"Nooo" with a roll of the eye. Then when asking about the breakfast sandwich if it could come on a croissant. Again I was rudely given a no we don't have that here. I was just asking as it was my first time. Sadly it left me feeling like it would be my last time as I felt stupid for liking an iced latte with my breakfast. read more

I go here like twice a week my job is a block away. The breakfast sandwich is delicious and its fairly large in size for 5 dollars. They have fast service, they are always friendly, and the food is fresh. In fact when i call they already know my order. i like the place in general it has a homey feeling to it, so does the food. Its a small place but its worth stoppin in. They do hav funny hours though they are open for breakfast and lunch. read more

Man this was an EXCELLENT sandwich. Good ingredients and the sourdough was great. Loved that they accepted LevelUp, too.

I got a tuna sandwich on white Italian bread that happen to be the freshest bread I have had in quite some time. The tuna was very nice complemented with just a few cranberries, I never order tuna out of the house but this Cafe did a great job! Friendly staff! But the cost was a bit high. That's the only reason it's not a five star for me! read more

I love this neighborhood café, and I always make it a point stop by whenever I'm in the area. The place is small and cozy - there are only a few tables and chairs. The interior is casual and comfortable. I've only gone there for breakfast and although the menu is not extensive, but the food is really good. My only complaint is that they don't open on the weekends, and I've stopped by many weekend mornings to locked doors. Service is very friendly and I always feel welcomed whenever I stop by. Highly recommend to anyone who is in the read more

My pasta entree was simple but solid. I would go back here for a quick, quality lunch.

A hair in my bean soup turned me off. I was so excited to go to this cafe for soup and a salad or sandwich. After seeing the hair, I just couldn't get past the soup. My companion raved about how "cute this little place is" and wished they were open on the weekend, but I've got mixed feelings about going back. The people were nice, the sandwiches looked good, and the location is conveniently along my commute, but the soup wasn't that impressive. For the same money, I can buy more soup at zigo--of equal or better quality. Sure, 2nd St's soup looks more like my mom's, but I still can't get past the hair. Cash only, folks. read more

2nd Street is one of my go-to lunch spots since I work down the street. I love their reubens and the chicken salad. I tried the roasted vegetable wrap last time I was there and I didn't love it. I felt that the goat cheese didn't go with the veggies...I don't know maybe it was just me. Besides that incident, I've never had anything else I didn't love. Remember your cash money. read more

So, I got me some cash and went on down to the 2nd Street Cafe... and then I fell in love with a Cuban, sandwich... and the meatball sub. Holy cow, this thing is HUGE - definitely big enough for two meals for me. The staff at 2nd Street is super friendly, the specials change daily, and I love the walk over there. It really doesn't get much better than this for lunch. read more

I love 2nd Street! It's right by my office so I like to get lunch here. It's usually packed, but worth the wait. All the sandwiches are delish, and they have specials every day. Oh, and they have the best brownies and cookies. However, it's a little pricy, so they lose a star for that. read more

this place is pretty good. Cuban sandwich is alright and really liked the workers. All very helpful and recognize you don't have much time at lunch to get here from work. Hell of a lot better than the 19 versions of chicken you get at the mall food court. read more

Really mediocre sandwiches. The ingredients are subpar -- sometimes the chicken is undercooked, or the roast beef is expired. But other times it's completely ok, so there really isn't any consistency at this place. The only reason to go is because there isn't many actual healthy lunch options in this crap neighborhood. It's either this or the food court, which in my opinion is actually better because at least Au Bon Pain doesn't serve expired, smelly meat. read more

A homey environment, healthy food and super nice people help make this spot a key attraction for breakfast and lunch in East Cambridge. It's a funny location, surrounded by homes and apartment buildings just off the beaten path, but in a way, that makes it special. It's a pleasant experience to walk a few blocks and land in this intimate sandwich shop. The portions are decent and they make very good sandwiches, but I have had a problem with a couple of my orders. Even when I ask for no cheese or dairy, it has crept in. Veggie wraps can be quite bland and heavy on the lettuce. It's always very quick, even when a busy crowd surges in and they handle every bit of confusion with grace and professionalism. I'll be back quite a bit and hope to bump it up a star. We need more places like this. read more

Soups always good-to-great with good variety. Sandwiches excellent. Staff attentive and cheerful. Can get crowded at lunch but to be expected. If they weren't, they probably wouldn't be around. read more

Great spot to grab lunch. Only bummer is its cash only and they close at 3pm. They have an atm, but be warned you are charged a $3 service fee. I get the chicken salad sandwich most of the time. It has bits of apple which adds a little sweetness and texture. I've also enjoyed their cob salad and some of their soups. Im not a huge fan of the meatball sub, but there are so many other great options to choose from. Definitely check out this spot! read more

Quality sandwiches, had the chicken pesto and chicken melt. Service was quick. Cash only!

My grilled chicken sandwich was pretty bland - might be worth some mustard idk maybe I just should have expected to put some condiments on there. Meatball sub was passable but its no LaCascia's. The last straw was a bad Roast Beef sub. The Roast Beef tasted like old boot with a half a cake of boursin spread on top. read more

It's a cute little cafe near the courthouse and FYI - cash only. I went here for the first time the other day and ordered the chicken salad wrap. The sandwich was good but for $7.75, I thought they could give me a drink or a bag of chips with it. That being said, service was quick and polite when I went. There is a basket of bread you can nibble on while you wait and a keg of water ^_^ read more

Nice little place to get lunch. The sandwiches are very tasty, especially the Cubano and the Meatball Sub. They only except cash which is annoying. Otherwise, I'd definitely recommend! I would go back for "2nd's"!!! read more

Typical run of the mill sandwich shop. The usual suspects on the menu. Got the chicken pesto and while it was decent, the chicken was super bland and a tad bit dry. Worth giving the place a few more tries but isn't a place that will have me eager to come back . read more

I grab lunch here usually once a week. Best local lunch place close to my work. Delicious quality food my fav is chicken Caesar salad but they have a lot of great sandwiches too. Daily soups are yummy but I think they are all puréed so gotta be in the mood for that. Have cash when u go they only take cash or its $3 for the ATM in there. Second street always ends up being my go to when I can't decide what to get for lunch. Pretty consistent. read more

bright and sunny a little pricey but dependable don't plan on sitting during lunch, you'll have to fight the lawyers friendly efficient staff read more

A great hidden gem where everybody knows your name. Working in the area, there is no shortage of places to eat but this is the place to come for a home cooked meal. There is a nice selection of delicious sandwiches, soups and salads but the real winners are the daily specials. All sorts of made from scratch delights are available to break up the doldrums offered by other local eateries. Check their website to get a jump on the others and get in as early as you can. A coworker sometimes brings in a breakfast sandwich and I attest that they are delicious as well. Around lunch, the lines can get long but you'll never wait more than a few minutes for your food. Your order is taken as you wait and by the time you get to the register and pay, your food is just about ready. After coming in a few times everyone in the place will know your name. read more

Chicken salad sandwich special with cranberry sauce, some nuts, served on wheat bread with lettuce and a cup of corn chowder was good. Not great, certainly not 4 stars. The bread was fresh, thick and bland. They are super friendly. read more

Great sandwich! Just had a Reuben, it was certainly the best I've had from anywhere in the Kendall Sq. area.

This is a local favorite (at least for where I work), the food is great! They make great sandwiches. Their biggest assets is the quick-friendly staff, I think I heard some where they're all friends who decided to open up a business together. But either way they know your name by face, which is really cool and makes you feel important....lol. You should always call or check the website to see what the daily special is. Bon appetite! read more

I work around the corner from 2nd Street and go here most days for lunch. The staff is very friendly and they remember all the regular's names. The food is made fresh that day, including all dressings and sauces. My personal favorites are the meatball sub, roast beef sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, any specials (fish specials in particular), and all the soups (especially Posole). Without 2nd Street I would have to change jobs for lack of good food. Thank you 2nd Street! read more

Just tried this restaurant out today, and had the Roast Beef sandwich with Boursin. For around $7, they give you a pretty substantial sandwich, and it was pretty tasty. The staff was friendly and helpful. The only drawbacks are that it is cash only, and that the place is really too small to dine in when it's busy. Your best bet is to do takeout or eat in when it is not so busy. I would def go again. read more