Two different pictures for two different times. IM A REGULAR. I'll warn you now once you have this place for breakfast, breakfast anywhere else will never be the same !!! Gluten free options are also delicious! Owner Mike is amazing and each and every single staff are always beyond helpful. Typically I leave detailed reviews but this is a must try! Highly recommend the fit for a queen/king for alittle bit of everything (grilled mash) MUST TRY. Also, the French toast to die for. They even have fresh orange juice.... just try this place you won't regret it. If you're going on a weekend keep in mind there will most likely be a wait. read more

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

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This place was a 5 star experience! Honestly one of the best breakfast experiences I've ever had. If you are coming here expect a line. However they have even managed to make waiting in line enjoyable. There's cool jazz music playing, with warm heaters over your head, and coffee! You can get your self serve coffee and head back out until they have your table ready. We had almost an hour wait but it was worth it! We came in ordered or food and had thee most friendly and attentive service! This definitely goes down as some of the best customer service I've ever had! Now the food! My goodness the food is good! Their menu is big without being overwhelming! You will surely find something to suit your taste and your hunger level! I got the Fit for a Queen! Dad had the Broadway blues, and my mom had the Off the griddle! He loves blueberry muffins, and she loves corn muffins! It was perfect and the fact that they cut the muffins and grill them, served with butter! Geez! The grilled mashed are Devine, the French toast is so delicious! Oh and the portions are HUGE! Worth it, Worth it, Worth it! Come here! And start your day the right way! You won't be disappointed. read more

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Items Selected: Coffee Blueberry Scone Griddled Corn Muffin Whoopie Pie Pancakes Jelly Donut French Toast Coconut Macaroon French Toast Located along the main drag in Somerville, as 'locals only' a spot as one is likely to find in a metropolitan area the size of Boston, Ball Square Café was *the* surprise of a trip that saw forty-four stops throughout New England over the course of eight days, both as a result of the food and the service. Quite literally a place where "everybody knows your name," a Friday at 8:15 finding the spot slammed with locals and soon to generate a short queue, Ball Square Café has gained acclaim over recent years for offering a menu of signatures as well as specials that far outperform the typical café or diner while the serve yourself Coffee features no less than five flavors to go along with at least twice as many types of tea. Easily spotted as out of towners, the lack of a New England accent probably enough in this sort of place, it was with the assistance of a young man who grew up locally that decisions were made from a menu that offers no lack of variety, cooks in the semi-open kitchen no doubt underpaid given the tight quarters in which they operate with both skill and speed. Told that housemade Scones are "the best" by an elderly man near the door, a Blueberry version joined by a griddled Corn Muffin showing no sign that the fellow was false as both outperformed anything similar tasted in downtown Boston or Cambridge, those fancying flavored coffee are encouraged to explore French Vanilla or Hazelnut that are each well flavored without being overwhelming, the standard brew a good medium roast of which free refills are sure to leave patrons buzzing. Going all sweet on the menu, a small plate of late arriving bacon requested almost as a necessity to clear the palate, those interested in a true "signature" are encouraged to enjoy the Coconut Macaroon French Toast that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Italian Meringue Cookie, the Sugar Tossed Brioche lightly fried with Raspberry filling and Whipped Cream an equally diligent reminder of a classic Jelly Donut while the Dark Chocolate Pancakes are a truly over-the-top indulgence. read more

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By far the best breakfast place I've been to in Boston. We arrived around 10, and the line was a little long. The host, Mike, was amazing and tended to everyone while they were waiting. This restaurant will give you a home feel with their good portion sizes.I ordered the Celtic green omelette and the caramelized strawberry and banana french toast. The french toast didn't need syrup at all, and it had fresh banana and strawberries. The eggs and vegetables inside my omelette were tasty and cooked with attention to detail. If you have to wait to get your meal, trust the wait is absolutely worth it. read more

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Came in for a weekend brunch here. Tried the coconut macaroons french toast and Moroccan Eggs. The french toast was sweet and does not need any additional syrup. It was delicious! The eggs and house fries were flavorful without being overwhelming. The portions are on the larger side with not pricey at all. The staff is friendly and welcoming! Overall a good experience. read more

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

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A+ French toast. Coconut raspberry is the best I've ever had. Long line some weekend mornings but if you don't mind a little wait it's worth it read more

When my friend and I arrived, we were greeted by a very welcoming gentleman and seated immediately by the door. The service is great! The same gentleman that greeted us checked in to see if we were cold and offered to move us to a table towards the back of the cafe (an offer that we took). My friend ordered a stack of 3 blueberry pancakes and their grilled mash home fries, while I ordered a stack of 2 strawberry chocolate chip pancakes and their home fries. Like everyone says, the portions are huge. I could only finish one pancake and half of the home fries. The only downside was the fact that the pancakes were a bit soggy from the strawberries, but it was still delicious. The food, the portions, and the service are excellent. I'll definitely be coming back to try out the rest of the menu! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Blueberry pancakes, strawberry chocolate chip pancakes, and grilled mash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

TERRIBLE customer service! First of all, they don't have one person to answer the phone on a busy weekend. So I went there with my 2 small children, and walked in to place an order to go. Within less than 1 minute of my arrival, the owner of the business was speaking loud to me and telling me to MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, even though I was standing exactly where he kept telling me to wait. I've been going there for many years, and truthfully, their service has been going down the hill, but this one, was the last straw! I'm a real estate agent and I've had recommended this place and Kelly's Diner for my clients who were moving in to the area. Well, moving forward, all my clients will be getting my recommendations for Kelly's Diner only! read more

Great service and even better food. The serving sizes are HUGE and I think you get a ton a food for the price. This place is on the smaller side in terms of seating. It gets crowded quickly so you might find yourself standing outside for some time. They have a self serve coffee/water/tea station that's super convenient so you can start your meal without waiting. I ordered the crab or lobster Benedict and it's fucking Amazing. Also, their fruit cups are legit as hell. It had mango, kiwi, apples, bananas, and berries of all colors and variety. they've found themselves a loyal customer on this side read more

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A standing rule for breakfast out: don't order what you can make at home. It helps when perusing a diner's menu for a little sunrise face-stuffing, but the eclectic onslaught of brekkie entrees at Ball Square Cafe doesn't make it easier to cut down on the available options. Already a fan of the hash bene, I recently sampled the Tri-Berry waffle, a malted batter crisply griddled and loaded with straw-, black- and raspberries on a platter spurted with fresh whipped cream. Bright, beautiful and bursting with berries, the most excellent choice boasted only one fleck of hubris: the price. Call me old fashioned, but I have a difficult time justifying a $9 price tag on an a la carte waffle, especially when the unadorned waffle rings in at a mere $5.50. Still, it's a damn fine start to your day. That and the hilarious oxymoron that is Ball Square. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Tri-berry waffle? I will. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Mike and his staff are truly amazing. I went super early this morning with my mom and he greeted us with hugs. He is so hands on with his business and it shows. I ordered the coconut macaroon french toast and it was absolutely delicious. Sweet, with toasted coconuts, raspberry sauce and freshly made whipped cream. I didn't even need syrup. My mom got the breakfast plate- eggs over easy, grilled mash and turkey sausage. Everything was scrumptious. We went at like 7AM and there was no wait. PERFECT! read more

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Come early for brunch! WAIT On a Saturday or Sunday, if you come around 9:00-9:30, you will wait less than 30 minutes. By the time we left around 11:00 AM the line was well down the block. The location is pretty small and diner style, so the line forms on the street. Mike, the owner, greets every new party, letting them know of the wait (which is very accurate) and tells guests they can self-serve coffee. However, it is not free! Hot coffee costs almost $4 (free refills), and iced coffee costs ~$2 (no refills). I wasn't aware of the prices beforehand. + COWBOY BENEDICT (SPECIAL) // This special eggs benedict came accompanied with bell peppers, onions, & bacon with grilled corn bread and the option for grilled hash browns or home fries. My boyfriend opted for the grilled hash browns and it was so good! I loved the combination of benedict, corn bread, and hash browns! + TRI BERRY WAFFLE // I asked for my waffle to come with their house made whipped cream, which made all the difference. They also do not skimp on the fruit here! I had plenty of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries with every bite of my waffle. I do wish the waffle was a little bit more crunchy! Because this place gets crazy busy, it is not a place where you want to linger and catch up with friends. Get in and get out so others can try the food here! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Strawberry pancakes // cowboy Benedict // tri berry waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Great service and great food! The owner is always so friendly and accommodating. Try the coconut macaroon French toast. You won't be disappointed! read more

Great place! The owner has a great personality and made rounds to all guests inside and outside waiting in line giving that warm welcome feeling. Definitely worth the wait - food is delish and plentiful. Coffee and oj also really delish! read more

The service here is really magical. The owner, Mike, is well-loved and just seems like a genuinely great guy who tries to remember all of his customers and make them feel at home. The food is really good too. Their delite dishes are probably the best thing they have. Really huge and have a ton of every kind of fresh fruit. But truly, they have had a special for the last six weeks called the COCONUT MACAROON FRENCH TOAST WITH BLACKBERRY DRIZZLE and it is absolute heaven. Try it while it's still available!!! read more

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

Sarah G and I came here for breakfast last Thursday morning. It was about 8 a.m. and there were about three other tables. I went with the Western Omelette and Sarah had the corned beef hash. The Western omelette is basically a Denver omelette with ham and lots of bell peppers. It was nice they had red bell peppers and not just green bell peppers in it. I also enjoyed the onions in it. The egg was just so thin and pristine when we got it. They really know how to flip an egg! You have a choice of potatoes with the omelettes and I went with the brick of a mashed potatoes that's a bit garlicy and grilled. I know it's not mashed potatoes but man, it sure did taste like something I'd probably enjoy more for dinner. The waitress did check with me to make sure I knew it had garlic. I had to try it so yes, go for it if you love garlic mashed potatoes. I also ate a bit of Sarah's corned beef hash. Surveying the tables around us, this was definitely one of the more popular items. It was heavy and warming. Perfect for the cold brisk day ahead of me. She got it with grilled English muffins which were definitely different. The place looks newly renovated. You are allowed to server your own water and coffee. Iced coffee refills though cost extra. What I found fascinating about the place was the people in it. I guess this is a good breakfast date place. I saw a couple on what seemed to be on their "morning after" date complete with rumpled clothes from the night before. As well as a young single mom with a small toddler in tow on a date. The boy spent most of the morning running away and crying. The mom explained he wasn't used to strangers. Aw, hope love comes to both these couples. If not, there are always fluffy omelettes and wonderful corned beef hash! read more

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

This is a cute little cafe in Somerville that I discovered recently. It is a great place for weekend brunch! You know this place is good when you see the long line that goes out the door of people waiting to dine here. The owner of the restaurant is super friendly. He greeted each customer and even the ones who were waiting outside. The owner was very hospitable. He offered coffee to customers who were waiting for a table. Coffee at this restaurant is self served so you can grab a coffee before you get a table and just have your waiter put it on your bill later. I was craving something sweet for brunch that day. I ordered the banana and nutella french toasts. I also tried the chocolate chip pancakes. Both dishes were satisfying and delicious. The portion was also really big. They also have a lot of other items on their menu as well. I would definitely go back to try other delicious entrées! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Banana and Nutella French toast and chocolate chip pancakes! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This is hands down my favorite brunch spot. There's always a wait, but it's totally worth it. All of their delight dishes (pancakes, French toast, Belgian waffles with mounds of fruit) are suuuuper good. They come with their homemade whipped cream, which is basically sweet butter and to die for. And I don't know how they do it, but their fruit is always impeccably ripe. You say pineapple/kiwi/watermelon is not in season? Ball square doesn't give a shit what you think. Expect to be wowed. Their savory dishes are also really good. I've had their eggs Benedict with turkey bacon on an English muffin - oh my god. And their mashed home fries!! They basically take mashed potatoes and grill the outside so that it has a crispy shell, and it is heavenly. Super flavorful - I could eat this all day. The owner Mike is this friendly Italian guy and he's very attentive to everyone, making sure they're all comfortable and has what they need. And if you come back often enough he'll remember you and make you feel cool and special. A lot of people compare this place to sound bites. I tried eating there once, the menu is pretty similar. I got a French toast dish and it was pretty good, but just doesn't compare. Stick with this place - you won't regret it. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Banana Nutella stuffed French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Tips: 1. Don't come to this place if you're not hungry!! :) This is my favorite brunch spot and I luckily live half a mile away, which can be dangerous. They have a large selection of all the typical brunch items you'd like-- eggs, omelettes, egg benedicts, pancakes, french toast, etc. and from my experience you can't go wrong with any of them. Most brunch places I know are only good at making either the savory OR the sweet items, while others try to make really unique items at the risk of it being overpriced and mediocre. I think Ball Square is *consistently* good at making solid, classic brunch food. This place does have huge portions, so either come hungry, split a plate or take some home. 2. Be sure to take into consideration wait times on weekends-- during popular brunch times there tends to be a very long line out the door. No reservations, and you and your party have to be physically present in order to get the table when you're up next. Otherwise I've never had an issue with seating on weekdays or late (past brunch rush times) on weekends. To credit this restaurant and the staff, I have come during busy weekend brunch times and during slow downtimes, and we've always gotten attentive, warm and timely service. It seems the waiters/waitresses are all friendly and happy (or at least okay?) working there which always elevates my appreciation for the restaurant. Cons? I love coffee with brunch and I just don't like their drip coffee, which would be fine if I could pay less for just a small cup rather than than $4 for unlimited. But, obviously I'm nitpicking and food is the point of this place and for that I highly recommend it! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Tuscan omelet, grilled mash potatoes, cranberry scone (substituted the toast) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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*Tips for newbies:* 1) If you're waiting to be seated or waiting in line, stay off of the black carpet (fire hazard I presume :) 2) As you're waiting to be seated, help yourself to drinks. The pumpkin spice coffee was absolutely superb. It is probably tastier than even my over-the-top Starbucks concoction. 3) Make sure that all members in your party are with you before requesting a seat. 4) If you get an omelet and have to choose between the chopped potato home fries or Omar's mashed and grilled hash brown... CHOOSE THE MASHED & GRILLED! It was herb-y in the best way...not aggressive, and extremely distinct and memorable. 5) If you're trying to decide between this place and its neighbor and rival, choose Ball Square Cafe! I found it to be cleaner, warmer, more welcoming, more fragrant, and more in tune with the little details (that matter)! Ball Square Cafe cares about the customer. I like that in a venue. If you're indifferent then feel free to go next door! 6) Whatever you planned on talking about with your party, will be null and void. For 2 hours, all my friends and I did was eat, talk about the food we were eating, and take pictures of food (ours and other folks') ---I haven't seen my friends in a while but we just too impressed with our overall dining experience and our plans to discuss NYE plans, never happened. *Pros:* 1) The owner, Mike, knows how he wants his business to run. He runs a tight ship! He has both customer and server/owner etiquette at the forefront of his mind. He was friendly and even brought my party a complimentary strawberry-shortcake Belgian waffle (just because) that we devoured! 2) The food is amazing! I am a stickler for ambiance, food presentation and food taste. Truth be told, I like food that gives a darn! I like food that does an additional mirror check before leaving the kitchen. Not only was the food at Ball Square Cafe delicious, but it was also beautiful! I took pictures of everything! 3) What we ordered: Nova Smoked Salmon Omelet, Artichoke Omelet, Celtic Omelet 5 stars for--- flavor, freshness, fragrance, friendliness, and the familial feel *The Only Con:* It's too late to add an additional door to keep out the inclement weather, but I wish there was some kind of partition or something to separate the diners from the elements (on such brisk days like today! 27 degrees F!) *I wonder if...* * ...they do outdoor seating in the summer time. I hope so. I will definitely be back to Mike's Ball Square Cafe! *... it was intentional to have the women busting the tables and the fellas taking the orders (I kind of liked the contrast as it ensured that every customer's attention was on the food and experience vs getting overly and inappropriately comfortable with the wait-staff) read more

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My good deed did not go unnoticed today. While waking up at 5:30 am to scout for floral arrangements at a cement lot with a bride-to-be is not exactly my idea of sanity, I nonetheless found myself awake and ready to smell the flowers. After 20 minutes of pacing up and down aisles and looking for KK's perfect purple orchids, karma kicked in and I found myself at Somerville's Ball Square Cafe & Restaurant. This is not your typical cafe (as coffee is not their forte) ... or even breakfast joint for that matter. Unlike typical breakfast scenes, the exposed brick, granite tables, and understated decor at Ball Square has a welcoming effect. It gently suggests you sit down and ease into your morning as opposed to the hustle and bustle of most breakfast joints. The stainless steel self-serve coffee station in the corner was a minor eyesore but I easily overlooked it once our breakfast arrived. KK's Tri-berry Belgian Waffle was a sight to see. Sitting on top of a thick Belgian waffle were sliced strawberries, whole blackberries, raspberries and blueberries then topped off with homemade whipped cream and powdered sugar. The slight crunch of the waffle along with the tang of the fruits and sweetness of the whipped cream culminated and made food magic. I love when seemingly simple ingredients can make dishes aesthetically and gastronomically delicious. Always a sucker for french toast when Challah bread is involved, I did not think twice about ordering the French Toast with Caramelized Strawberries and homemade whipped cream. The toast was beautifully thick and soaked in Ball Square's secret sauce. There was a little too much sauce in my dish, threatening to overwhelm my "sweet" taste buds, but overall it managed to satisfy. Note to self: in the future ask for sauce on the side. We left the restaurant $25 poorer but full to the hilt and energized by our new find. For me, karma is rarely ever this delicious. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Serving up delcious karma via Caramelized Strawberries on French toast with secret sauce - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Dear Ball Square Cafe, I like you. Do you like me? Check one: [ ] Yes, and I therefore give you every possible delicious permutation of breakfast meat, egg, vegetable, and starch, often mixed together, always extremely fresh and stuffed to the gills with high-quality ingredients. I even have that amazing protein sandwich of egg, lox, and veggies, so you won't lose the rest of your day to a brunch-induced coma. Also, I give you fruit. TONS of fruit. A HEAPING BOWLFUL of fruit. And not that crappy loser fruit. Mangoes and raspberries and strawberries and melon. Let's run away together. [ ] No, which I demonstrate weekly by making you wait outside in line if you dare to snooze that alarm one time too many and show up even a minute after 8:45am. On a weekend. Sucker. [ ] Maybe. I mean, there are heaters outside so you don't get too cold. This might be how I tell you I like like you. Or it might be how I let you down easy. I mean, how emotionally astute can I be? I'm a restaurant. Please return to my locker. Thanks for reals, mean it! Love and kisses, Tamar read more

Ball Square Cafe - Protein sandwich: lox, mozzarella, egg whites, tomato, spinach on whole wheat. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

For the first time in a really long time I'm finding myself leaving very upset from this place. I brought up 2 problems with my brunch to my waitress, my Belgium Waffles were almost burnt, they tasted dry and almost oily, not soft fluffy as usual, i think it was left on the press after the timer was done, my eggs Benedict were way too over cooked, and I'm sorry but that's not Ok when you are paying $70 for breakfast. When I politely notified my server she just shrugged and said "hmm OK.. sorry" Still I could not bring myself to leave a bad tip. 20% as usual. The only reason why I wanted to leave a review was because I understand that food can easily be over or undercooked sometimes, but I think a servers genuine attention and kindness isn't replaceable. I've been coming here most Saturdays or most Sundays for quite sometime and we still don't mind the wait. One of the owners even gave me one of their shirts one day after I came in from a workout. Now I'm afraid as they are getting busier and busier they are paying less attention to the food as it leaves the kitchen. Which was never the case, we always had everything prepared perfectly. Which makes me sad leaving a review only after a bad experience. read more

This place is everything! I've also had the pleasure of dining next door at Soundbites, but Ball Sq is definitely my favorite. During my first visit I popped over with my God Father to celebrate my birthday with waffles. I ordered the "Delight" and after seeing its presentation and consuming the amazingly fresh fruit I'm convinced they've shortened the name from "Delightfully OMG Melt in your mouth waffle with every fruit you can think of on top." That was definitely the original name. Their whipped cream is homemade and THICK. A little goes a long way. The waffle, itself, was perfect and only needed a hint of syrup for the "hmmmmm" effect. We also had omelets, I had the Mexican and the GF had the Tunisian (with artichokes). The eggs were fluffy, the veggies were cooked to perfection (neither under nor over). I almost forgot the most important part: the portions! It was massive! Of course, due to the ton of fruit on the waffle, I was unable to eat my Mexican which was chock full of goodness and fresh avocado with sour cream on top. My GF was also unable to finish his. Coffee, tea, water, and bottled juices are self-serve. One caveat is the price of the java. I was unhappy there. If you have your coffee in a mug it's $3.99 vs $3.49 in a to-go cup. Not sure I understand the concept. The long and short of it: Ball sq IS your restaurant hot spot. read more

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D is for the delightful menu A is for the awesome associates M is for the management team being fantastic N is for nothing being wrong with this place S is for so many good memories O is for o my gawd N is for nOPE I'm not gonna turn this into a song but I love you bro read more

I like the coffee they have set out...it smells wonderful. I had a bite of pancakes and it was delicious. I had a mediterranean combo lunch and it was huge. I think I left my leftovers at the table and the busboy ran after me! read more

Amazing breakfast and service. Gigantic portions of homemade goodness. Don't miss the grilled mashed potatoes. They're divine. Owner was so friendly and came over to check on us. read more

So sad. Ball Sq has been in our top two breakfast places for many years. Yesterday will be our last visit. The last few times we have eaten here it was as if there is a new chef. The batter for Belgian waffles is tasteless and doughy no matter how crispy they try to make it. Yesterday they wanted to charge me $9.50 to add strawberries & blueberries! The waiter thought that was high, and maybe a mistake, but there didn't seem to be anyone to ask. I opted for the $9 small fruit plate, ugh. Regretted it. Overall, we spent $58 for two for breakfast -- a poached egg plate, waffle and fruit. $4 for 3T of real maple syrup? One coffee drink & a soda. We tipped 22% because our waiter was busting arse and under-staffed. I should have been more attentive to the prices before I ordered. I eat out 4-5 times per week so I am used to recent inflation. But this bill was painful for food I didn't eat. FYI, the woman next to me also asked about a kitchen change. She also eats here often and she left a lot of her usual mushroom omelet. She also wondered if chef has changed. Sigh. read more

This place always have a line outside, but my friend and I did not have to wait long. I went on a Sunday morning and the restaurant next door allows Ball Cafe to use some of their tables on the weekends when it gets busy. Same food and service. All the food here looks amazing and everything comes in really large portions!! I wanted to try everything. I finally decided on the Tri Berry French Toast. It was delicious and the fruit was very fresh. My friend got the Grill Special which he said was good too. I was looking at the other plates as they were coming out and they all looked so good! I really need to go back and try their other stuff. There were so many options! read more

AMAZING french toast - but I have a lot of work to do - they have Seven different kinds of french toast! Not to mention pancake and waffle sections The SEVEN: 1.Omar's Favorite With powdered sugar 2. Caramelized Banana 3. Caramelized Banana and Strawberries 4. Banana Stuffed with cream cheese 5. Caramelized Strawberry 6. Caramelized Apple-Cinnamon 7. Tri-Berry I will make it my duty to try all 7 of course. The Caramelized Banana and strawberries (or just bananas or just strawberries) was fantabulous - don't get the extra real maple syrup, there's plenty of wonderful liquid sugar to dip it in already. The banana and cream cheese stuffed french toast had just the right amount of cream cheese but I would go with the caramelized hands down. The caramelized apple cinnamon was also great, especially if you like apple over banana, the soft cooked slices of caramelized apple are nicely arranged atop the french toast. The banana and walnut pancakes were not as good as the french toast but still amazing; one of the omelets I tired was cooked just perfectly, the veggies inside seem so fresh, and the grilled mashed potatoes are to die for. Also, the fruit bowls are fabulous with melon, kiwi, mango, papaya...yum, the waitstaff is great and friendly, the drinks are self-serve, you're going to wait in line but a good tactic is to hang out in True Grounds across the street until you see the line die down and then go jump right in (or go earlier - they open at 7 or 7:30 I think)! Mike is (one of?) the owner and he makes it his duty to introduce himself and remember you - it's adds a lot to the place and I adore him! read more

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

BEST BRUNCH PLACE IN TOWN! I absolutely love love LOVE Ball Square Cafe. The food is amazing, the service is great, and the staff are incredibly friendly. I used to live in Boston and came here all the time for brunch on weekends. There's usually a line no matter how early you go, but the wait's not too bad. Typically it's a 15-20 minute wait but it varies. I've gone at 11am on a Saturday before and was seated almost immediately. Either way, it's worth the wait. Their waffle delight or French toast delight is always HEAPED with fresh fruit. And not just some store-bought berries and melons like some other places. The fresh fruit here includes mangoes, kiwis, all types of berries, grapes, bananas, pineapples, and more. Also their grilled mash is absolute heaven, perfectly crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside. The owner Mike is very accommodating and always makes an effort to keep everyone in line happy. He makes sure to update everyone on how long the wait is and also has a really good memory considering how many customers he greets each day. He remembered my friend the second time we came here! In summary, I love this place. I come here every time I'm in the mood for brunch. Even after I've moved away, I still come here every time I visit Boston. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Waffle delight heaped with fresh fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Before I went vegan I enjoyed dinning here, but I've gone once since and was super unimpressed by the lack of options. Hopefully they will add more soon!! If not that's okay because Taco Party is right across the street haha read more

Our server Todd was warm, friendly and helpful. The food was amazing, but we already knew that. Highly recommend the gluten free English muffins. read more

I've been wanting to try this place out and finally got the chance to on a Wednesday morning. I ordered the caramelized strawberry and banana Belgium waffle with a side of eggs and bacon. The timing of food and presentation was amazing but I was a bit disappointed with the food. The bacon was overcooked and literally broke into pieces once the fork touched it. The Belgium waffle and the berries were so soggy, probably due to the fact that I left it sitting for a while. But overall it is a pricey place and in my opinion, not worth going a second time. read more

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

An amazing breakfast experience! I told my sister I wanted to take a visiting friend to brunch, and she and her husband insisted we all go to Ball Square Cafe. The food was so fantastic that when my friend's flight was cancelled this morning, she asked if we could go back for breakfast. Yesterday we got there around 10:15, and had to wait in line, as expected. However, the owner came outside and served us complimentary hot chocolate (with real whipped cream!) to drink while we waited. We were also told that we could go inside and get our coffee/tea before being seated, as the beverages are self-serve. Once we were seated, the service was fast and friendly. The food came out very quickly, and all our meals were awesome. I had one of the specials; challah french toast stuffed with bananas and nutella. When we returned today, my friend got that same special, but added carmelized strawberries and whipped cream to it. I had the asparagus and prosciutto omelet, which was also fantastic, as were the grilled mashed potatoes it came with. The coffee was fresh and delicious, and the bathroom was spotless. I will be back as often as I can afford it. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Challah french toast stuffed with bananas and nutella, topped with carmelized strawberries and whipped cream. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

What a great spot. Banana/Strawberry French toast is a game changer. One of the best breakfast's I ever had-----highly recommend!

We went here for the first time and missed sides and other items for our order such as no toppings for French toast and a side of hashed browns - extra $$. Called and did not care and said we would have to go to get $ as they do no credits! Kind of defeats purpose of delivery and all the charges associated. Because of the dollar amount which we didn't get we paid higher taxes and other charges! I guess you are busy enough to not care, but we won't be eating there, ordering again and for all you who think of ordering from here don't- they don't care! read more

I feel it is safe to write a review now that I have had the pleasure to have breakfast in this fine establishment quite a few times. Service: from the moment you arrive you are greeted and invited to seat to either where ever you'd like to seat or they'll show you the table you may occupy depending on how busy it is. Coffee and juices or soda are self served. The servers are very energetic and have great attitudes and disposition. Thy will accommodate your every need. I came in once with a very hungover friend, the server went next door, bought a Ginger Ale for her since they didn't have that soda in their restaurant.... Who does that? The servers at Ball Square Café. More over, In one occasion I dropped half of my English muffin, a minute later the server arrived to my table with a whole nicely toasted in replacement. Food: OMG, I have had the best strawberry waffles in my life, Their french toast are amazing and their eggs Benedict with avocado and tomato are just ridiculously great, their Asparagus and prosciutto omelet is so yum... As I said I have been there many times. I recommend this place with out reservation, hands down the best for breakfast place in Medford read more

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

Came here with some friends who live in the area. It's great that u can get a half order of eggs Benedict so u can try different types. Hubby and I split the pastrami Benedict, corned beef hash Benedict and crab Benedict. The best was def the pastrami. We ordered them on a croissant instead of an English muffin which was a genius idea cuz it was soooo good. Corned beef hash was ok and I wasn't a fan of the crab (but I don't really like crab so take that with a grain of salt). My husband did like it though. We also shared a side order of the French Nutella / banana which I loved. Hit the spot. There is no where to write ur name down so u just stand in line which is a little odd /old school but we only waited like 10 min on a sat at 10am with 4 people. read more

Ball Square Cafe - From left to right: pastrami Benedict--crab Benedict ---corned beef hash Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Great food, owner is super friendly. Food came out quickly. Nice selection of different items on menu. Ample parking, and not busy on weekday mornings. Appropriate social distancing is being adhered to. Reasonable price for quality. Portions are huge, definitely can share a meal. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Macaroon french toast, banana caramel ranch toast, nutella/berry/banana waffle, and omelet with potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts