I understand that some people appreciate variety but I value quality over quantity. It would be much nicer if they did a few breakfast items well then to do tons of not particularly well, especially for the prices charged. It's rather ridiculous to have a $14 "meat lovers omelette" that only comes with one meat & every additional meet costing extra. That being said customer service could also be improved. We called in advance letting them know we had a large party coming in. However we ended up waiting over 20 minutes while several other groups got seated in tables that could've been pushed together for our group. I don't want to say there was a racial aspect to it but it seemed to me like there was, since we were the only people of color in the restaurant besides the staff. In short, Yelp reviews lead us astray on this one. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Broadway Blues $15 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

There food are the best I only go for a week not weekend so much busy I love will go back again

Very controversial opinion, but I actually like this place more than the popular SoundBites next door. You won't go wrong with either choice, but in terms of flavors I just enjoyed Ball Square more. I've never dined in at Ball Square, but I picked up an omelette and French toast and everything was cooked perfectly, it just made me really happy. read more

Hot damn! Went here for brunch and arrived around 1 PM. We were dismayed to see a huge line, but then realized half of it was really for Soundbites. We were greeted by someone I think is the owner, Mike, who told us we could help ourselves to beverages b/c those were self serve and we should wait in line. The peeps in front had been waiting 30 mins and so we settled in for a wait. However, there was a table for four (we were a party of 5) so we got in before them. Score!! The food was AMAZING. The options are ridiculous and everyone's food looked so good. I shared a mushroom omelette with homefries and a bagel with a friend and a side order of the deluxe pancakes. The pancake "side" was HUUUUUGE - two pancakes and piles of fruit. When it came, my friend was like, that's not ours. I'm all, yes it is. He's like, no it's not. I'm all, YES IT IS - that's the side. He's like, WHAT?! That's the SIDE?! Yes, yes it is. Other friends got the yogurt and fruit (counted the fruit - 14 in total: pineapple, cantaloupe, honey dew, strawberries, bananas, orange, blueberries, blackberries, apple, kiwi, grapes, papaya . . . I can't even remember the rest), another omelette, and the belgian waffle with caramelized bananas. That was DIVINE OMG. So yes, I would highly recommend this place and be prepared to wait, though we definitely lucked out. I also read about the war between the two places, and knowing the history now, I'm a lil appalled at Ball Square Cafe's tactics. I guess business is business ya know. But daaaamn, food war fo shoooo. I might have to try the place next door now . . . PS they're only open till 3 PM. read more

Ball Square never disappoints! I've tried many breakfast places and Ball Square is by far my favorite. There was a long line when I arrived, but I was quickly seated. The servers are always friendly and you're always greeted with a smile. My go to is the Fit for a King or Queen - a great hangover cure when paired with a bottomless mug of coffee. This place keeps me coming back! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Fit for a King or Queen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Our first time here, superb food and service. They do everything to make it a memorable meal. Pleasant and inviting atmosphere read more

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

Enjoyable place for breakfast! Something for all ages. Great food and fast service. Great vegan and vegetarian food.

Up from NY dropping our son off at college. Found this place on Yelp and it deserves 6 stars. Terrific food....nice people. Although its not cheap. read more

Been here at least a dozen times and never had a bad bite of food. Owner is great, always greeting and talking to everyone! Chicken and waffles is the go to! read more

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

Food - AMAZING Service- AMAZING Staff- AMAZING Was quoted a 20-25 minute wait time Sunday morning at 10am, happily waited 30 minutes and didn't mind at all because they let you get unlimited coffee while waiting to be seated Everything about this place is perfect The owner is there on weekend mornings and happily greets everyone. He is very nice, funny and friendly. I like a hands owner because he makes sure everything flows perfectly (which it does) Definitely pricey - Our bill was $40 for two people.. $7 side of fruit, $14 breakfast and $12 breakfast and two coffees Most importantly - every item on the menu is amazing. They are very consistent here and have never messed up an order, made me feel rushed, or had me leave less than perfectly happy read more

Ball Square Cafe - Fit for a king entree - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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My friends and I go to The Breakfast Club WAAAY too often so we decided to go somewhere else for a change (don't get me wrong; TBC is still the bestttt). We got the Irish eggs benedict and French toast. Eggs benedict: Pretty good and similar to TBC. I didn't like the corned beef hash because it was way too mushy for my liking. The mashed potatoes that we got on the side was really great as well, but if I had to choose again, I would go for the home fries. French toast: Best French toast I've ever had! Super nice and fluffy. Service: Our waiter was awesome. Super nice, outgoing and helpful. Showed us how to use the coffee bar while we waited for our food. read more

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A perfect spot for Sunday breakfast. Aside from the fantastic food, every single staff member is super friendly and makes the experience so much more enjoyable. The menu has great combinations of classic breakfasts with a small twist. Was definitely hard to choose and after ordering I would be confident any of the dishes would be amazing. Would definitely come here again. read more

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This place! Just flat out scrumptious I tell ya. The hubby and I grabbed some brunch after dropping the kiddos off for the day. As soon as we stepped in, Mike, one of the owners, greeted us with a welcoming smile and firm handshake. We had about a five minute wait, and this was while they cleaned off the table. The place was full, but there wasn't a line, so we didn't feel rushed while eating our food. We went around 11:00~11:30 on a Friday. I had the Mexican omelet with a half portion of Coconut Macaroon French toast. My hubby had a cheese omelet with a half portion of Apple Caramel Cinnamon French toast. Okay, WAY too much food. The portions are extremely generous. We would have done well to split an omelet and a half portion of whichever French toast. I ended up bringing half the omelet and the sides home. A common mistake for Ball Square Cafe first timers. They have a nice selection of Mighty Leaf Tea flavors. The hubby was super thrilled about that. It's a self-serve set up for the beverages, but I kinda like it. With the size of the place, getting our own beverage was never a bother or inconvenience. The servers are very busy. I'm sure this helps them attend to customers and provide great service. Jason, Ryan Reynolds' twin (LOL), was great. He never left us wondering where he was. Great music, cozy decor, yummy food, solid customer service and smiling faces all around. We'll be back! read more

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Very consistent! Lets be clear this is the breakfast spot to go to. Pros Food is great from the waffles, pancakes, omelette to the home fries. Presentation of the plates 1 Really hot waitress Cons The wait Small dinning space I always go here with fam and friends. read more

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

Arrive early to this cute little brunch spot! My friends and I arrived around 11 AM on a rainy Saturday and the line was out the door! We waited about an hour for a table for 5, but there were menus outside so we got to spend time picking out food and salivating over pictures. We got in and seated towards the middle of the room. The inside is tight and there are people walking around because there is self serve coffee at the front of the cafe (amazing!!). The foot was delicious! The sizes are big and if you are craving both a salty and savoring it is worth getting one of each and sharing with someone! We had a berry French toast and it came with powdered sugar and whipped cream! The toast is soft and the berries were fresh and sweet! The service was fast and they were patient to get all of our orders correct! I would suggest getting here early, but definitely worth the wait!! read more

Ball Square Cafe - The most delicious berry french toast combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Treated my boyfriend to brunch this morning who had never been to ball square and he already can't wait to go back! We came hungry during peak hours and the line was long so we thought about going next door to sound bites where there was no wait at all. The line moved quickly and the staff was beyond welcoming/friendly which left us SO glad we stayed. Food was amazing as always, even tastier than it looks in the picture. I had the French toast delight and he had the Tuscan chicken sandwich. Highly recommend either one or anything else on their menu!! read more

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

Absolutely love this place!!! Wish I lived in Boston to go every weekend. Hands down, one of my all time favorite brunches and I'm from Philadelphia where there are a handful of really great places, too. I had the Tri-Berry French toast and it was amazing. The berries were fresh, whipped cream was so good, and the portion was huge. Boyfriend had the crab meat benedict that came with GRILLED mashed potatoes and I'm not an egg kind of person but I loved it. It was perfectly seasoned and was so filling. Prices were so reasonable. Staff cannot get any better. Everyone was welcoming and smiling and was so nice to be around. The owner (or at least I think he was) even made his way around to each table to check on everything and to say thank you. All in all, loved it. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Tri-Berry French Toast & Crab Meat Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Saw this restaurant with great reviews on Yelp, so I spend half an hour Uber here. It didn't disappoint me! Although there's a long line waiting for the seats, the owner and waiters were all very friendly and kept checking on me. The homemade hot chocolate was not too sweet, perfect match with my breakfast platter! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Fit for a King or Queen Turkey Sausage English Muffin Homemade Hot Chocolate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I hate to give this place two stars, since I really do appreciate the place - serve yourself coffee, attentive (if abrupt) waitstaff, and a big menu. But I ordered a breakfast sandwich and I hated it, so I have to do what I have to do with the star rating. I ordered the "Pure Protein" sandwich. Sounds good from the description, right: Egg Whites, Grilled Tomato, Sautéed Fresh Baby Spinach, Salmon and Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Unfortunately, the salmon was in two small globs that fell out of the sandwich while it was sitting on the plate. The spinach wasn't wilted enough, so that also took on glob-like characteristics and slivered out of the sandwich the second I bit into it. The sandwich would've be better texturally if it was blended and served as a smoothie. I'll certainly be going back. I just won't order this sandwich again. read more

Rarely do I go to a restaurant and feel like I ate delicious home cooked food. This place does it right in terms of portions, taste, service, everything. My bf and I came around 11am on a weekday so the wait wasn't too bad. We waited around 10 mins. There was this guy (owner?) who was very friendly and making sure the people waiting + the people eating were happy and made sure to tell us that the beverages are self serve in the back. The menu is huge with very reasonable prices and I couldn't choose at first. Finally we got: +Crab Benedict with nom nom grilled mashed potatoes yumm +Breakfast plate with 2 perfectly over easy eggs, amazing diced potatoes, more than enough toast and pork sausage +Tri-berry waffle (wow the fruit was so fresh and sweet) Everything was DELICIOUS. I felt content and happy with the food, even when I was stuffed to the limit. I am sad this place isn't in NY. I'm gonna miss it. read more

Came here again with three friends and I'm so happy to say that they also fell in love with Ball Square Cafe!! We got the Famous Coconut Macaroon French Toast (which was utterly divine), Chocolate Chip Strawberries Pancakes (also so good!!), Avocado and Tomato Eggs Benedict (also very good), and Multi-Grain Belgian Waffle with Fresh Fruits (very good as well!). We got there at around 9:55 and only had to wait 10 min for a party of 4 so definitely come around then. I'll be sure to stop by Ball Square again before I leave for summer vacation! read more

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

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Service was decent considering it was a busy weekend afternoon. But the food was terrible. My friend's pancakes arrived raw in the middle. My omelet was undercooked and dripping grease. Like it had more grease that filling. read more

This is one of my favorite places. The food is tasty and the portions are enough for two meals. I love how they changed up the place to be Covid 19 compliant. You have the option of indoor or out door dining. We ate indoors and noticed the doors being opened as people came in, which gave the place constant refreshes air circulated air.The staff wore mask and all customers are required to wear a mask until time to eat. You can't go wrong on anything you order. I especially like the owner who comes around making certian everyone is satisfied. Great customer service and fabulous food. I had the Western omelette and a side of French toast. It was super delicious. The price is very reasonable and I love the options. read more

Stopped in for breakfast with two friends in Sunday May 27th. There was a line and we were told 25-30 minutes, we felt this was a good time and decided to wait. Time ticked by and we were sat 75 minutes after we got in line. It was cold and rainy out, the heaters that were above us in the outside line were never turned on. The mgr/owner would come it and tell people how long the wait was but not once said anything to us waiting so long, not an 'I'm sorry it's taking longer than expected'... nothing. He seemed nice enough and told people to help themselves to coffee inside. Waiting in line for 45 minutes longer than quoted is not easy as a disabled person. Be honest about the wait time because not everyone can stand in line for that long. Food was good - when you order home fries they come out as mashed potatoes, apparently they are called something else on the menu, just be aware of this. Coffee was good but I felt swindled that the iced coffee is not bottomless. It's iced coffee, not a specialty espresso drink. I drink at least two cups at breakfast, but out of principle I only had one - I didn't finish it as it was cleared from the table while I was at the ladies room and my friends were finishing eating and refused to pay another 3.00 to replace my taken coffee. Oh and it was a bit unsanitary (and gross) that jugs of orange juice were just sitting on the floor next to the grill. They should be in a walk-in or any type of refrigerator. From where we sat, I could see people's juice being poured out of this jug and then served. All and all, I wouldn't come again based on how the long wait was handled as well as charging people for another coffee. Seems like a cheap move to me, perception matters. Also, I've worked in restaurants for over 20 years and am very familiar with wait times, I've never a longer wait time handled so poorly. read more

This place is amazing. Huge portions and everything was delicious. I got the breakfast meal fit for a queen. The French toast was delicious. Also our waiter Brittany was great and we were brought strawberries and cream, compliments of the chef, prior to our meal. I will definitely be returning here! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Strawberries and cream. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Had brunch there twice and tried several dishes. I would say it's a regular level brunch store and the 4.5 star is definitely overrated. Overall very oily - the omelet my friend ordered has a layer of old on the plate; the beef dish is super heavy with a lot of oil in it - coffee is like motel coffee so blend read more

I haven't been there since pandemic, this time when I come, it's still the old taste, didn't change, love it!

I love this little hole in the wall cafe, the customer service is always great and energetic. It's a very small place, so if you go at the wrong time you will be waiting in a line outside for a table to clear (Saturday and Sunday mornings are rough)! When I go I usually try something different or a friend and myself will order two completely different meals and try each other's food. They have good pancakes and waffles and they offer turkey and veggie sausage, which is great because a lot of breakfast spots only offer pork. Their eggs always taste fresh, scrambled, omelet or however you order them. They have a section in the back near the kitchen where you can go up and get coffee and tea and other other drinks, and there's a huge variety for the coffee lovers. I love this restaurant, I go often. read more

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Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, isn't it? I read some of the reviews that Ball Square Cafe is an imitation of it's neighbor but we ended up going this morning and had a good breakfast. The omelettes were light and fluffy (the asparagus and prosciutto one was delicious) and the mashed browned potatoes were so well seasoned, I didn't want to stop eating them! read more

Update: I just HAD to come back and share again. I've been to Ball Sq Cafe a few more times in the past couple of weeks, and every time the service and food have been amazing. Two weeks ago, I showed up in a group of 6 (post-run brunch) to find a line practically down the street. We decided if the wait was too long, we'd find an alternative. When I went to ask the manager what he thought, he said, "well, there's a bunch of big groups ahead of you and the line is long... but my parents own the place nextdoor (a deli) and I can open that up and seat you right now if you don't mind being served in there." WHAT?! Mike opened up the restaurant nextdoor, gave us rockstar seating (and service) with no wait! He even turned on the music and showed us around. I just cannot believe how accomodating this place is on top of all the deliciousness. A++! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Bonnie and the Carmelized Apple French Toast! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This a hole in the wall place but don't let that deter you from coming! When it comes to drinks you serve yourself, so with coffee/tea/water you grab that on your own. A server comes by to take your order though! I mixed two types of coffee, the hazelnut one and donut blend and it was very good. They also have different types of sweetener and cream. Mario I believe was helping us. He told me that they do half orders of everything they offer which is really neat! So if you're looking for a smaller portion or want to try multiple things this is the perfect place for that! I tried a half order of the coconut French toast it was really good! I have never tasted anything like it before! Apparently this is one of their signature dishes. The texture was perfect and it was very sweet! Oh also, the half orders are like a whole portion, so keep that in mind when ordering. I also ordered a half portion of their banana/Nutella French toast too and I unfortunately couldn't finish it because I was SO full. read more

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

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Delicious and big portions. Coffee was tasty. Friendly and quick service. All you want in a breakfast spot. Michael the owner very nice.

Ball Square is a really nice breakfast joint, and it is INCREDIBLY cheap! For the price you pay you would expect a 90 year old waitress named mildred and nasty greasy food, however the place looks great and the food is that of an upscale yuppy eatery you would find in a business district. Although the place is small and not too cozy (no booths only tables) the food definitely makes up for it! The fruit was fresh, the granola was crunchy, and the breakfast sandwich was fluffy and not drenched in grease. Also as a final note the owner loves to greet and meet his customers. When I met him he was very accommodating and open to suggestions. Overall I definitely recommend Ball Square Cafe. Also it's a good place to bring a girl for breakfast/brunch. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Proscuitto and asparagus eggs benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Great breakfast place. Food is good, servers are friendly. Can't miss with any of the omelettes, French toast, or even the breakfast plates. Omar's home fries which are grilled mashed are delicious. Coffee is self serve; typically I like to use the mug and then get a to-go cup when I'm about to leave. My only complaint is they have this 'entire party must be here' policy to be seated which imo is not necessary. Not great for parties of 4 or more although they expanded with next door seating. Food is served quickly. ps. Server Matt has a great attitude. read more

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

Great food. Great service. The food is also presented very well. Great staff and the co-owner Mike meets you at the door. Highly recommend this place for breakfast and lunch. Five stars and they earned every one of them. read more

The only redeeming factor of our brunch today was that we didn't have to wait for a table. Once seated, we got coffees and then waited for over 45 minutes for our food- a waffle and eggs Benedict. Only after asking the waiter about our order did the food come out. When they finally arrived, both dishes were lukewarm and seemed to have been sitting out for awhile. The eggs Benedict was over cooked and the waffle was extremely sweet and pretty dry. Not great. read more

Better than Sound Bites, Kelly's, or any other brunch places nearby. Best staff, always willing to accommodate your preferences, little on the pricier side for breakfast but so worth it. We are regulars to Ball Sq Cafe and don't plan on changing that. Everything is cooked to order, to your liking, and sometimes they'll make things that aren't even on the menu. Our most recent trip here (today) my boyfriend and I placed our order and I asked to have my order slightly different than offered, our server joked "Of course you can, it's your day!", keeping the banter going, my boyfriend jokingly said "Don't say that! Next thing you know there will be a candle in her omelet and I'll be hearing about it all day!" .. wouldn't you know my order came with a candle on top. You don't get better service. Family owned, perfectly run, fantastic food and a great experience. DON"T BOTHER GOING ANYWHERE ELSE! read more

Ball Square Cafe - Candle in my grilled mashed potatoes just because - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Mike the owner and his family create an authentic, compelling brand. Greeted with a "is this your first time?", the intent is clear. This is meant to feel like a 2nd home as Mike runs around greeting and making everyone feel comfortable. It is impossible not to root for this place. But, there's a few problems 1) Food - Given the number and quality of reviews, I thought this was top tier Luna Cafe or City Girl Cafe level. That's just not the case. Got the Boston Creme french toast since I love those donuts and it was 2-3 star food quality. Not sweet enough but also just didn't hit the mark. Shared the strawberry shortcake waffles and they were a solid 3-4 stars. Really solid whipped cream, good waffle flavor and fresh strawberries. At about $12 after tax for these, not unbelievable value 2) Wait time - Got there at 8:45 and were just able to squeeze in. There is a very leisurely attitude once you're in so we left about 10:15 and there were 15-20 people waiting outside in the 20 degree weather. Mike was happily chatting them up but cold is cold and waiting is waiting. 3) The open door - In an effort to increase capacity, Ball Square patrons sit in the empty Victor's Deli next door. The problem is the very friendly wait staff is understandably going in and out to get food and serve orders and that means there's a cold draft so you're never really warm enough to take your jacket off. Overall, have to love and respect what Mike has achieved in building an institution and creating a genuine brand but the overall experience does not justify your likely wait time and certainly not the 460+ reviews at 4.5 stars. read more

Went back this past weekend, had the Mexican Omelet. Loaded with delicious salsa! I could barely finish it. I swapped the toast for fresh fruits. I had a hot and tasty mocha, perfect for the cold and rainy day. For clean freaks, you can eat off the table, they're that clean! I noticed because I was at another restaurant on Saturday and got syrup on my shirt. Again, loss of 1 star because they bring the check out before we're done eating. read more

Ball Square Cafe - Tri-berry french toast, mmmmm :) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Yesssss, the best brunch place! This is the place that you dream about when you want breakfast foods. Just picture the fat slices of stuffed french toast, huge waffles topped with all the best fruits, meaty omelettes, perfect poached eggs benedicts... everything!! The line is long after 9AM on weekends but they have a decently efficient system to keep the line moving. Just don't dawdle when you're done or you have people (like me) giving you the evil eye. Coffee and water are self-serve and they usually have a couple great specials. They let you do half-orders so you can try more! Had a 1/2 order of french toast and 1/2 order of eggs benedict. Kept it simple. My only complaint is I wanted more and everything else that other people were eating. I think I have a problem... Next time I need to try the nutella stuffed french toast and then go to the gym right after. The fresh-squeezed OJ is delicious and refreshing but at $6 it's a premium. The constant line here is a testament to how good it is. Definitely the place to go to satisfy your brunch cravings. read more

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