My boyfriend just moved nearby and this could easily be one of our new favorite brunch spots. We are breakfast people who like to sleep in so I appreciate them serving breakfast into the afternoon. They've got all the classical gluten menu, but for anyone avoiding gluten, it feels like a little slice of heaven. This place actually gives me options from gluten‑free pancakes to gluten‑free French toast. I ordered the gluten‑free buttermilk short stack with strawberries and chocolate. Boyfriend gets the steak tips and eggs and we devoured it so fast I forgot to take a photo. The staff are genuinely some of the nicest people you'll meet and are warm, wicked funny, and incredibly accommodating. The place is clean (not sticky like some other diner/breakfast spots) and has an open feel, good vibes all around. Highly recommend a visit! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Really busy inside, first come first serve restaurant! There's a good amount of tables and it's a pretty cute and casual brunch spot. I'm not a huge eggs benedict person, but the potatoes were sooo good! I loved the waffle with nutella and strawberries. read more

Ball Square Cafe - waffle with strawberry and nutella - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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TLDR: Huge portions, great flavor, busy service leading to inattentiveness We came for brunch on Sunday around lunch time so it was busy and had a wait. The food was great! I ordered from the lunch menu while my friends got breakfast meals. We have zero complaints as to the flavor and portion sizes. I think the only issue was that my friend expressed no cheese for her omelet and we can see that our server noted it down on the receipt. However, her omelet came with cheese, and because it was so busy, the server didn't have a chance to come by to check on us. So, my friend ended up just taking the omelet to go for her boyfriend and ate other food instead. We had also asked for powdered sugar to be on the side rather than on the pancakes and that was missed as well. I think the kitchen must be very busy and overwhelmed. Lastly, I wish we were checked on more because it took a while for me to flag someone down for water mid meal. read more

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Ball Square is a great spot for copious breakfast. My son loved their grilled cheese sandwich that was melting in his mouth and well presented. My standard two eggs Sunny Side up were also well served with side roasted potatoes. Service was a little bit on the slow side but only one server showed up. So overall he did a solid presentation! The ambiance is low key dinner-style. There was a group of three young marines have breakfast in uniform. I decided to invite them for their service to our nation. Sean and Shree had a blast and loved the place. Overall- this is a super solid dinner with great comfort food. The atmosphere is relaxed and not formal. A great for students and friends to enjoy tasty breakfast and more!! read more

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A cafe that serves hearty breakfasts!! We got the corned beef hash plate and it was fresh and amazing. The portions are huge here. They also have $4 unlimited refills for coffee. Staff was friendly but service was a little inattentive, we had to try to get the servers attention multiple times and only got 1 coffee refill. Overall, a nice place to get some breakfast on a weekend morning if you don't feel like cooking! Food: 8.5:10 Value: 7/10 Service: 7/10 Experience: 7.5:10 read more

Ball Square Cafe - Corn beef hash plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The Moroccan breakfast is amazing, perfectly cooked eggs and veggies and home fries with incredible flavor. The seasoning is amazing. The strawberry pancakes - the batter was delicious but we weren't fans of the strawberries mixed into the batter and cooked. Somehow it made the strawberries really mushy and just didn't taste quite right. Service was super friendly though; definitely a great breakfast all day long spot :) read more

Ball Square Cafe - Strawberry pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I really liked eating here for brunch. Came on a Saturday no wait. Avocado toast was really good and generous portion. I loved that they had grilled mashed potatoes as well as home fries. I had never had that before they were delicious. Food came very fast. Reasonable prices. Server was friendly. Nice ambiance inside I like the music they were playing. Solid neighborhood spot. read more

Ball Square Cafe - breakfast sandwhich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Ball Square Cafe catered my son's grad party this past Friday night. Mike the owner/operator was great to work with, friendly and knowledgeable. He made suggestions and calculated the proper amount of food with great pricing. He was professional, and delivered the food timely even though he had a difficult commute through the city. I ordered chicken parm, tremendous!! Good size cutlets and prepared perfectly! Chicken, ziti, broc was creamy and very tasty! Sausage, peppers and onions, a hit Meatballs were like Mom's. Took me back to her kitchen!! They were large and tender, really good. Thank you Mike for your service and great food. Third time we used you and every time was a great experience. read more

Soooo good here! I've been here twice and everything is delicious as always. Get the coconut macaroon French toast and egg Benedict. Soo much flavor, I always get the icings on the side tho because it can be a lot. The service is great and the owner is super nice. Parking is on the street if you come early You'll be fine. It does get busy tho so I recommend coming before 9am or after 12:30pm since they close at 3. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Coconut macaroon French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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It was a 3.5 star but rounded up to be nice, the French fries were terrible but the bagel and eggs were good. Service wasn't great and they took forever to bring us water and take our order read more

Cute and cozy breakfast spot. Can we talk about the French toast!? You have got to try the coconut macaron. It was nice and THICK. I asked for the toppings on the side because it may be too sweet for me. Overall, a must try and I can see why they're famous. The potato's on the breakfast place was cooked to perfection and flavors were on point. We got here right when they opened but my friend did mention to me that it gets insanely packed! read more

First time coming here and it will not be my last! This clean cozy cafe has everything you need for a nice brunch! Service was efficient and amazing! I ordered the meat lovers omelet and the waitress recommended the grilled mashed potatoes and THEY WERE OUTSTANDING!! I am now hooked. Their hot chocolate was tasty too! I enjoyed everything on my plate! I will be back! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

What a lovely neighborhood spot for brunch/breakfast! They have great portion sizes and classic brunch foods made not too greasy. Two of us had dairy allergies, so I also appreciate that they called out this ingredient in their omelets without us having to ask. Service was fast and friendly despite them being packed (the line was out the door when we left), though it was a bit confusing getting seated at first since they don't have an hostess stand area. I got the moroccan eggs, which were delicious and filling. I thought it would be like shakshuka, but you have the option of how you want your eggs done (poached, scrambled, fried, etc). I would come back to try their other menu options! read more

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I usually dislike breakfast places for the high upcharge on dishes made with traditionally cheaper items (pancakes, eggs, potatoes, etc.). Ball Square Cafe is actually pretty value, though. Challah French Toast: Only $9, and you get 4 large pieces! Great deal and very tasty. Egg and Cheese Sandwich: It's $8, or $10 if you add a protein. I chose to add sausage. The sandwich was actually pretty good. It comes with a side of potatoes. I recommend getting half and half homestyle and grilled mashed. The grilled mashed potatoes are genius. Mashed potatoes, but with a nice browned exterior. They have a nice garlicky sour cream taste. Good stuff for a very reasonable price! We came for brunch on a Saturday and service was still super speedy. This place checks all the boxes of a good breakfast joint! read more

Can I tell you about a place that has the heart of the customer and the mentality of crafting a winning business? YES, Ball Square Café! Absolutely winning! I stumbled upon it while searching for a different spot for my post-run brunch! Because my 13.1-mile run stopped just about there, and I saw a line of people waiting, plus I couldn't remember the eatery my friend had pointed out to me while running on the same street, I decided, 'Why not?' Even though there was a party waiting outside (they encouraged me to go in and speak to the manager about getting a table, as they were a large group waiting for a table), it certainly helped. As a party of one, I found a seat quickly, then placed my order, and not too long after, it came out. But while waiting, I already had my coffee and water. Since I was sitting in the entrance area, I had the luck of seeing the in-and-out traffic. Customers ushered in by the manager/proprietor with a hearty welcome and appreciation, "Welcome, thank you so much for coming in. You're table is ready." Or "Thank you so much for waiting. We'll get your table ready very soon." Or "Thank you so much for your patience." "Have a great day. Thank you for coming in today!" That was the Mgr/proprietor/host of the day greeting and communicating with customers like the best thing since Nutella (I love Nutella ). Bless his soul! And the servers were as exceptional as the manager; so was food! I ate to my fill, and only 1/2 of my order...and got me a to-go dish. I had to tell them before I left, "You have excellent customer service," wrote "Awesomeness" on the receipt, and gave them a fat tip! Thank you for making me feel my money's worth and more! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

If you're looking for a solid brunch spot and craving some classics, this was a great stop in. We enjoyed their Nutella waffle spread and a create your own omelette. Volume portions are substantial and there is enough variety on the menu to cater to anyone. Service was somewhat attentive (but it was super busy on a Sunday AM). Ambiance is casual. Will definitely come back! read more

We were headed to a near by cafe when we came across Ball Square Cafe by accident. It caught our eye, the atmosphere seemed warm and there was a pleasant man with the biggest smile. We decided to actually just stay there and check this place out. Todd our waiter was the sweetest person, he recommended the eggs Benedict and oh my were they delicious. He was very attentive and made us feel welcomed. The food was delicious in every single aspect. I can't emphasize how good this breakfast was. Definitely worth trying if you are in the area and want delicious amazing food with pleasant service. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Avocado and tomato Egg Benedict's. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Solid breakfast/brunch spot in Teele Sq. They have tons of sweet and savory options including different types of omelettes, eggs Benedict, French toast, pancakes. I got the corned beef hash and potatoes which was a pretty big portion! The hash was well seasoned and the potatoes were crispy. The service was fast too. Would recommend if you're looking for a classic breakfast spot! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Corned beef hash with potatoes and English muffin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The food is ok. The servings are pretty big- I always bring a to go box home with me. The orange juice is refreshing. Today I tried the famous macaroon coconut French toast. I give it a 3.5 out of 5. It's really sweet and coconutty. If you like coconut, this is for you. The service is good for such a busy spot. Sometimes they get the order wrong, something missing from the order or don't offer you a bag for your to-go box. But they all are always warm, welcoming and accommodating. read more

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The waiters never checked if our food was ok or if we needed anything, never offered to pour more coffee. The omelette had zero salt, and the "grilled" mashed potatoes were outrageously dry. read more

We were feeling a little silly during brunch and it was fun how our waiter felt proud we filmed his iced mocha that he made (it tasted great!) What we ordered a littleee too much (on part of my hungry stomach) but enjoyed our food and leftovers very much! Definitely would come back for a solid brunch when we're feeling too lazy to cook! read more

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I've been going to Ball Square Cafe forever, and I always said the day I had to cater a big event, I'm calling them. Because I'm sorry... I'm not catering 120 people with some sad chain restaurant tray that tastes like it got shipped here from Ohio in a box marked "good luck." We had about 120 guests, needed a menu with a ton of variety, plus options for different diets -- and Mike (chef/owner) handled it like it was nothing. We built out the menu together and I figured it'd be solid. Solid?? Mike and his team absolutely cooked. People were coming up to me all night like: "This Chicken Ala Rosa is wicked good." "I'm going there this weekend." And the vegetarian crowd? The roasted veggies and eggplant rotini were devoured like it was the last supper. The portions were generous (like "somebody's Nana is in the kitchen" generous), everything was fresh, and the whole setup was painless. Mike took care of everything -- no stress, no drama, no last-minute panic. If you've got a small get-together or a big crowd, do yourself a favor and call Ball Square Cafe. Already thinking about the next event... maybe a Super Bowl party in a few weeks. read more

Really disappointed with my visit to Ball Square today. We always order brunch to-go from here because it's quick and they have GF options. I chose this spot specially today to kick off my birthday week. Today was a pretty bad experience. First I tried to call in to place a pick up order for 20 min, but no one ever answered. I was driving so I wasn't able to make an order on line. The restaurant wasn't busy when I arrived. I placed my order with one of the servers and waited about 15 min for the food. I did a quick check of my food thinking it was all correct but once I got home and inspected further, I saw the order was all wrong. I drove all the way back to the restaurant to get my order recooked and again, as I was driving, I tried to call and no one picked up. I ordered GF pancakes and GF white toast with my meal. Once I saw that I didn't receive toast but an English muffin, I didn't trust that it was gluten free since the server said the only GF bread was white bread. Then looking at the receipt, I saw that only the bread said GF but nowhere did it say the pancakes were gluten free so I couldn't trust the pancakes either. I also ordered egg whites and realized once I got home that I received regular scrambled eggs. The only thing I could eat from the food I was given was the sausage and potatoes. When I arrived back at the restaurant, the server was kind, but didn't acknowledge my request for a refund or store credit for having to come all the way to the restaurant and for the incorrect order. Another server gave me fresh orange juice for the wait, but again, customer service was out the window. It was extremely frustrating that the order was so incorrect and nothing was done (other than complimentary orange juice and syrup) to make it right. Not sure if I'll be back here for a while as it's not the first time my order has been incorrect. I guess I need to untie the tightly tied bag each time I come here and inspect every single thing in the restaurant or car before going home because I can't trust the restaurant to get it right. read more

This place is absolutely everything. Every single item on this menu is delicious. Some of my favorite items were the grill special and the waffles. Everything is made to perfection here giving all the diner vibes but it's just better. I definitely would recommend this place for breakfast, brunch and any time to be honest. Also, be sure to come hungry as the portions are huge. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Our grill special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The food was outstanding! Generous portions, and each dish was perfectly complemented by the right sides. The service was efficient, especially considering how busy it gets during peak hours--but they handle it well. The owner personally checks in with guests to ensure everyone's taken care of, which I really appreciated! As for the ambiance, it's a cozy and comfortable spot, perfect for a relaxed brunch. We have been to this place several times and recommend to anybody who loves brunches! read more

So cozy inside!!! Love it here. The smoked salmon Benedict was amazing and so was the waffles! Will be back!

What a little gem . We are out of towners and looking at colleges for my daughter. We wanted breakfast and this place did not disappoint. The service was right on and attentive making sure we got everything we needed to enjoy the wonderful food. The plates came out nice and hot. The portions are big. Everything tasted delicious. The inside is nice and cute. The tables are far enough from each other that you are not sitting on each other. The only challenge is looking for metered parking on the street. read more

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Been here twice. I rate it as one of my top breakfast restaurants in the United States. Awesome breakfast potatoes, French Toast, everything is perfect. read more

Best French Toast I've ever had, amazing. I'm speechless. Great atmosphere, clean, outstanding service. We will be returning ASAP. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Our Famous Coconut Macaroon French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

One of the best breakfasts I have had in years. So many choices with the ability to easily add on meats, bagels, pancakes, etc. that you might want to try. Great service and as a wonderful bonus, some of the best tasting coffee we had on our trip to Boston. Only downside with the huge portions is the food is so good, you want to eat it all. read more

If you haven't stopped by in a while, you will be happy to find out that they have expanded, and also offer outdoor seating - which likely means less wait times on the weekend. The food was as good as I remember and the portions as generous. Menu definitely offers something for everyone and they were very accommodating to customizing orders. Service was very quick and friendly. read more

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Good place for breakfast. I had the omelette quite big by the way, but tasty. I loved the coffee, strong and hot. Service was good as well. Nice quiet place. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Steak omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Some friends and I went hiking and were famished afterwards, so we came over to Ball Square Cafe given the high Yelp reviews. There was a short line, but we were fortunately able to squeeze in at a table near the front window. They have a TON of stuff on the menu, even offering a variety of toppings with pancakes. I ordered the caramelized strawberry and banana French toast, and my first question is...why does every brunch place not have that on the menu?! What a great fruit combination. I do have to say the French toast was soooo sweet that I had a small stomachache later, but it was delicious in the moment! Just get ready for a sugar overload. I had a side of turkey sausage, which was flavorful. Note that they don't serve mimosas or any sort of alcoholic beverages, which is totally fine and just something to be aware of. Our server was a little on the brusque side, but on the whole, we definitely had a good experience here! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Caramelized strawberry banana French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My sister and I wanted to grab brunch nearby. We were able to snag a table as it was easier for a party of two. There is metered parking but spots seems to fill fast. Since they were clearly busy, we ordered everything at once as opposed to saving the sweets for last. We shared a single banana pancake and chicken tenders with sweet potato french fries. Pancake was smaller than the ones served at the table next door so I was a bit disappointed. I prefer mine to be on the more fluffy side with a bit more caramelization on the bananas. Tenders were crispy, flakey, and juicy. The sweet potato steak fries were cooked but could have stayed in the fryer for longer. I had the Moroccan eggs over easy with the grilled mashed potatoes while my sister had the corn beef hash over easy eggs with the chopped potatoes. Moroccan eggs could have benefitted from some garlic or onion powder but they weren't bad. Corn beef hash was definitely homemade and charred nicely on the top and bottom. Can't go wrong with the traditional chopped potatoes which is like home fries, or the Omar's potatoes which is as described, grilled mashed potatoes. Overall, good experience with big portions and fair prices. Our server was friendly and attentive even though it was incredibly busy. Cleanliness is a little questionable as the two small dishes our waiter provided for us had particles of food from the prior users. Since we didn't need them, they were returned back to the kitchen. The other cutlery and dishes appeared to be fine. I recommend! read more

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Solid place for brunch on the weekend. I arrived at 9 am on Saturday and was immediately seated. We were a party of 2. Parking is a bit tough by the location but if you drive like two or three minutes away there are more spots by the park. I got the Celtic omelet and it was plenty of food for one. You get the omelet, potatoes and toast. Overall good service. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I've been here several times and it's hands down my favorite breakfast spot in the Boston area. They're always extremely busy but service is still top notch. Clean, casual interiors. In terms of food, you can't go wrong with the corned beef hash, macaroon French toast, and eggs Benedict - but I haven't had a dish that wasn't delicious and generous in portions here. I only have the one photo since I'm always way too eager to just dig in! Come with a party of 2 to have the highest chance of being seated in a timely manner during peak brunch hours otherwise you'll be facing wait times of up to or over an hour. Street parking is also a pain in this area so watch out for that. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Our FCoconut Our Famous Coconut Macaroon French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Great breakfast spot! First time there and loved everything, the food most of all! I had a south beach omelette (egg white, spinach and cheese) with a side of English muffin...the omelette was ok but the English muffin was grilled to perfection! I could of ate a few of those! Toasty, crunchy, buttery! I also had the best pancake ive ever eaten! Chocolate chip and coconut, best combo! I'd go back just for that! My friends had other things and loved all of it. I tried my friends' french toast and it was decadent, sweet, melted in my mouth! Will definitely go back! Highly recommend. Food came out fast; laid back place, nothing fancy. read more

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There was a bit of a line to wait for a table on a Sunday afternoon. After our order was taken it took quite a while for our food to arrive. Our orders did not come at the same time, with mine being last. I had the eggs benedict with shredded crab meat and mashed potatoes. My entire dish was overcooked but I was too hungry from the wait to send it back. The eggs were completely solid, the toasted bread was soggy, and the mashed potatoes had a crust that was slightly too burnt. This dish may have been sitting out for a bit too long before being delivered... On a positive note, the Belgian waffle was superb - light, flavorful, with excellent crunch. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Ball square cafe is a great place to go with your friends and family. When you walk in, you feel like a true friend and family from the waitstaff to the owners who are all very friendly, helpful and polite. I remember when the cafe was small little shop but it has since been expanded to hold so many more patrons. The breakfast is always so good! Grandma enjoys the eggs, bacon and corn muffin! The bottomless coffee is always a plus. If you want to take a cup to go they happily oblige with a cup to go! However this time I wanted something different and got the bagel and lox. It was underwhelming. The proportion of cream cheese to lox was lacking and at $17 I can't say I would get it again. It tasted fine but the value wasn't there. Overall great place! I'll be back! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Scrambled eggs and bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Every single thing about this restaurant is perfect. Yep, perfect. The food-- omelets, grilled cornbread muffins (!!), fried potatoes... so so good. Then add the waiter-- attentive, fast, kind. The place is clean. I'm shocked there isn't standing room only. You will love this place. read more