What a delightful little neighborhood cafe in the south end. It was across the street from our hotel and we ended up having breakfast there three times in one week. The owners are sweet, the food is an excellent value, and the location was super convenient. We can't wait to visit Boston again and come back! read more

I came here for the first time today with my mother and aunt. (My aunt has been here many times before.) There is an artsy, charming, small neighborhood cafe vibe inside. Tall ceilings, art on the wall, chalk board menus, a table with a water dispenser and coffee accessories. A few booths, high tables, low tables, and an order counter. The guys in the staff are super nice, Jimmy and Jordan, who were very friendly and engaged us in conversation in general and about the establishment and the food. We also met their chef, who was most gracious. I personally had the Susan's Sandwich, which consisted of 2 scrambled eggs with ham, my choice of cheese, on a bagel. The one word that comes to mind for the food here is FRESH! Everything was made to order and came out piping hot. The bagel was toasted perfectly. Everything was flavorful and not too oily or salty. I also had an Iced Tea, which I appreciated because it tasted like tea. So many restaurants offer Iced Tea for purchase but it usually tastes like water with no, or not much, tea flavor. My mother and aunt had a la carte breakfast items, like fried eggs, sausage, and toast, all of which they enjoyed. We shared a couple of pieces of coffee cakes, the regular and the apple, but I liked the apple one more. I'll be back soon to try their lunch items. read more

A cute clean place for Breakfast. It is quite cozy and a neighborhood feel as I sat in front of the cafe peering out to the street. I had a sausage egg muffin...nice. The coffee is good too. Go on a Sunday. read more

Berkeley Perk Cafe - Yum! - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We found this spot for breakfast by accident and appreciated the thoughtful menu. The Katie bowl was delightful, fresh, and a reasonable portion. The only reason for limited stars was when we went to get water at the side counter there were a stack of solo cups. The cups were being re-used as both of our red solo cups had someone else's lipstick on them. read more

Our VRBO hosts recommended this locale as it was a five minute walk from our place. We did a carry out order of a Egg, bacon and cheese on an English muffin with coffee. The sandwich was huge. I ordered two and could barely finish the first. Coffee was strong just the way we like it. Service was quick and friendly. They have dine in as well. read more

The perk cafe awesome neighborhood place great Breakfast & lunch options also no wifi so you can find a spot and enjoy ur drink or sandwich also great having a real coffee shop which is not a chain in the SouthEnd read more

Love Berkeley Perk Cafe! Our "go to" breakfast place. Jimmy is great behind the counter, always friendly with news about what's going on in the restaurant scene in the South End. The eggs are excellent: we typically get the Katie Breakfast Bowl with eggs, arugula, beans and pico de gallo or the breakfast tacos. And Jimmy makes the best Americanos in the city, not watery, always rich and flavorful. Great neighborhood place that's worth a visit if you live nearby or far a away. read more

Love love love this place! We stayed on Berkeley on a recent visit to Boston and we found this place on Yelp as a great breakfast place so this is where we ventured to start the day. The surroundings were super trendy, cozy, and definitely made me feel like this was a great place to spend some time enjoying a Cafe Mocha and a breakfast sandwich, which is exactly what we did. They had a great selection of breakfast sandwiches as well as coffee, hot and iced drinks. I ordered the Sarah Sandwich and Friendsay the Revolution Fitness Omelet. Both were great and were freshly made. Once we ordered, we sat down and the food and coffee were brought to us. We sat, planned our day, and felt like we were part of the community as everyone who came in and out were super friendly, including the staff. read more

Berkeley Perk Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I dream about their Italian! It's perfect: authentic meats, stellar hots and a crusty roll. I'm tempted to eat everything else on their menu but I can't bring myself to forgo the Italian. Thank you!! read more

Out of whip cream and plain bagels on Monday morning, but generally overall good service.

This please has long been a staple in my weekend coffee rotation. If you're looking for a quaint coffee shop that won't get overly crowded and has delicious breakfast & lunch sandwiches. This spot is for you. Let me lay out the pros and cons for you: Pros: Good atmosphere, can always get a seat, The Merinda Sandwich (My favorite breakfast), California Tuna (My favorite for lunch), Newspapers everywhere, Cons: No Wi-Fi, Closed Sunday, Breakfast is only served until 11 on weekdays and noon on Saturday, cold sandwiches are below average, coffee is only average Hope this helps! I usually come once a month if I don't need Wi-Fi read more

The Berkeley Perk is one of the few adorable, non chain cafes left in this area. The staff is super friendly with a little swagger. They're slower than other joints that crank out sandwiches nearby, but the cozy leisure feeling is a great vibe. It's a nice way to escape your workday and their lack of WiFi means tables aren't all taken by people on laptops barely sipping coffee. We had the California tuna hot wrap which includes tuna, avocado (I'm a basic millennial - of course avocado), and your pick of cheese pressed to toasty warm perfection. The specials are posted on white paper on top of the menu board so don't miss out by not seeing them! read more

Berkeley Perk Cafe - California Tuna Melt* - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I work a block down from the cafe and I was pretty excited to check out this spot. It's really cute and you can grab a window seat and people watch on a rainy day. Having said that there really isn't anything too memorable about the coffee. It was hot, and the service was nice. That's about it? read more

Good food, interesting menu, and friendly staff. An excellent breakfast stop. I would certainly stop by again!

Best breakfast diner in the city. I've been to all of them. They take pride in what they serve, and it always looks good on the plate. The price is quite fair also. read more

It was awesome having a quick cafe so close to the hotel we stayed at (The Chandler Inn), this one was right below the hotel. I had some hot tea and a chocolate croissant. Nothing special on either one, the chocolate croissant was like any other one I've ever had, although I did get the last one! Come early if you have specificity. Neat old looking interior and seemed like a locals type place. read more

Berkeley Perk Cafe - Looking out the front window - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Checks all the boxes. Great food. Superb coffee. Friendly service. Cozy. Comfortable, with a good mix of both tables & booths. Favorite spot with locals and for lucky tourists who dare stray from Tremont Street. read more

Berkeley Perk Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Love this place! Small and cozy, with super delicious food and coffee. :) No WiFi so it's not necessarily the best place to do work or study. But everyone's so nice, it's quality food without being too expensive, and it sort of feels like stepping out of the city and into a quiet little fairytale. The grilled chicken caesar wrap is my favorite ever. read more

Berkeley Perk Cafe - Mocha Rage - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We stumbled across this cafe while in Boston to tour colleges for my son. It seemed cute and we were hungry and the menu seemed to offer something for everyone in our group, so we walked in, having no idea of the treasures that awaited us. I will spend most of my review telling you about just one thing: the drip coffee. And before I tell you about it, I want you to know that my husband and I once owned a coffee shop. I'm the kind of person who drinks coffee just about everywhere I go, always comparing the quality to the previous cup. The drip coffee at Perk was the best dang drip coffee I've ever had in my life. The flavor was so robust that my mother--who has never once wanted coffee without milk and sugar in her 80 years--drank hers black and asked for a second cup. But the flavor is just the beginning. This coffee made my brain feel 10 years younger and 27 IQ points smarter. The food is also wonderful, especially all of the bread products, which are bakery fresh. My mother grew up in the Bronx on NY bagels--and she remarked that her bagel reminded her of her childhood. The men who run the restaurant are also wonderful--happy souls that will make anyone's day a little bit brighter. No matter where you live--in Boston or on the other side of the world--this place is a must. Put it on your bucket list. read more

Such a cozy, wonderful cafe! Super friendly people, amazing coffee, and delicious treats! Try the Mocha Rage, so delicious! Definitely coming back!!! read more

Berkeley Perk Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I stopped in here during lunch for a quick cup of coffee. I immediately ordered the Cafe Au Lait, since the last time I had one was in New Orleans. A small cup cost me $2.25 total. (I list the price because so often we as reviewers leave price out, and yet price plays a big factor in whether the quality of food was worth the price paid.) Anyway, the cafe au lait was excellent! For the price of a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee, you can get delicious, quality coffee with steamed milk. I'll return here for sure. Update: Now I eat their tuna melts, avocado tomato melts (with pesto) and they are delicious. Just absolutely love the food and coffee here. read more

This is the BEST neighborhood cafe in Boston. I almost don't want to say that because it's so good I want to keep it under wraps for myself The Owner who is there day in and day out is the nicest, most personable Boston Cafe Owner ever. If you like 90's F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Central Perk Vibes this place is for you. It's not fancy, no bells and whistles, it's just what it needs to be with delicious and affordable breakfast and lunch sandwiches coupled with killer espresso and coffee. Did I mention you don't have to wait hours for overpriced, under satisfying food like some of the other cafes in Boston?! Yes please. I'm always such a happy customer and want to support this business as long as I can afford to live in Boston. read more

Fresh food and friendly faces for breakfast lunch (closed Sundays). Can't beat the prices. Nice place to sit and eat too

a sandwich and a drink for $10(ish) in Boston? amazing. and the staff here, especially Jimmy, are very nice. my new favorite lunch spot!

As friendly as the corporate chains try to be, it is only a veneer. Here in this unassuming slice of life in one of the rougher edges of the fashionable South End, the smiles are real. The coffee is much better than the corporate places and the repast brings a full belly and an optimistic day ahead. read more

Such a cute little neighborhood spot! Recommended by our hotel to try this place and it didn't disappoint! Very friendly staff who greeted us warmly with big smiles. Coffee was spot on and the menu has a variety of staples that one would enjoy for breakfast and lunch. My husband got the lox bagel and I did the Sarah bagel which had some bacon and eggs on it. We both highly recommend these choices. They had a lot of salmon on the lox bagel so you really feel as though you get your monies worth! As expected in the city, they have the standard street parking. We are walking everywhere so the lack of parking didn't bother us but be prepared you may not see a parking spot. Very intimate dining as it's a small cafe spot. Many were lingering over a morning cup of coffee and chatting it up. All in all, great spot for just about anything. We would come back! I know many mentioned no WiFi here but it's nice to experience a non chain coffee shop. So that didn't bother us at all. read more

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The vibe is everything here good people, great food we came here twice while staying in Boston and It's amazing !!!!!!!!!!

A commentary on the observational skills of yours truly is the fact that I exclaimed yesterday, while walking by this place, "Look, a new cafe!" Too bad it turns out they've been here for NINE years!.. A bit of a hike from my office, although, probably because I suffer from topographical cretinism and took the scenic route, it nonetheless offered a nice change from my usual hop over to Starbucks (will you judge me if I say, I had already gone to Starbucks earlier in the day?) It was empty inside, so I appraised the locale freely. There are high tops, bistro style tables, and a hunk of a booth in the middle, more reminiscent of a bar than a coffee shop. Scuffed up hardwood floors give it a worn in rustic feel. There is art on the walls, and reading material on the tables. The menu and drink selection is written in chalk on a blackboard (it's THAT type of place), and the baked goods are on display in cookie jars. The offerings include wraps, paninis, brownies, cookies, espresso bar, Italian sodas and smoothies. Notably, they have real mugs, I dig that. Pitui, paper cups, I spit on you in disdain! I had a cappuchino and a coffee cake. The cap was strong the way I like, but small. (Can you believe that? I complain that Starbucks serves you a bucket of coffee, but when I get a normal sized drink I'm bitching about it, yeesh...) The coffee cake was moist, rich, and cinnamony. Good thing, too, because despite it being only 2 pm, the baked goods jars were kind of bare. The South End lunch crowd must be voracious when it comes to their sweets. What a cute place, I thought, I hope they do well and stay in business! oh, what's that? Around for the last nine years? Oh. Ok, see you next week! read more

As a relatively new South Ender, I've recently been pushing myself to try new places in the neighborhood. This weekend's jaunt (more like a three block 'trek' but w/e) was to Bekeley Perk, and let me say, I was not disappointed. My boyfriend and I each got the Berkeley breakfast sandwich which consisted of your choice of bagel with cream cheese, scrambled eggs, and bacon. This item also included a small cup of tea or coffee with free refills. Our coffee was served in mugs so there was no guilt about wasting yet another piece of cardboard on a quick cup, and our delicious sandwiches were delivered to our booth on square white dishes. As we munched and sipped I read Lola (it's free ok) and it was so incredibly nice to just sit and enjoy something as simple as a cup of joe and a big roomy booth. The staff was very friendly and accomodating, and the main man behind the counter said he has been working there for 11 years. As someone who has worked in the hospitality industry before, that really says something about the quality of the place. All in all I would say definitely check out Berkeley Perk for a nice meal and some neighborly hobnobbing! PS: Usually I would take off a star for a cash only establishment, but since it's inexpensive just be prepared with some dolla bills! read more

I walked by this place earlier this week and was intrigued - it looked so cute! So today, after the gym, I marched my starving self over there to check it out. Food - had a veggie wrap and fruit smoothie. All very standard The girl at the counter was very nice and we chatted about how dangerous it is going to get food right after the gym, since you want everything in sight (I almost started in on a banana and a cookie while I waited to pay but stopped myself). They have an assortment of baked goods - coffee cakes, brownies, cookies, etc - and i tried some of my friend's coffee cake. One of the best - moist and light. I also got a latte to go as we walked out. It tastes almost exactly like L'aroma's. Decor - Basically, it looks like you took a Cambridge cafe and transplanted it here. Old fashioned booths, tall stools and mosaic tables, big comfy chairs around low tables with The Globe, Weekly Dig, etc. The front windows let in tons of light. They have been around for 9 years and the place has that worn in feeling I love so much. Location - right next to the Chandler Hotel near the 93 overpass and around the corner from work. I could see myself becoming a regular. FYI - As i was waiting to pay, three tall gorgeous suits came and went. The.. uh.. people watching seems to be good here too. read more

It's got the Friends hangout name thing going for it, that's one. Then there's the delightful staff that called me Kid no less than eight times, that's two. And the fact that a giant raspberry jam filled linzer cookie and a tall cup of iced tea cost $4 total, that's three. But the tea was understeeped, old and bitter, even for a powdered pouch kind, and there were half-stocked boxes of inventory haphazardly arranged around the dining room and the service station was completely disheveled. About as comfortable as a teenager's bedroom, it's like a cafe with a serious hangover - completely unnerving. No wifi either, but pleasant for a pastry, maybe a coffee (if that's your thing) and then passing Go on your way out the do'. read more

A pretty Awesome little gem for breakfast and lunch. The breakfast omelets are served with a choice of coffee/tea/hot chocolate and hit all the right spots for a breakfast meal. The lunch sandwiches are made fresh and are HUGE. Best pick turkey sandwich with guacamole. Their coffee/tea/hot chocolates are delicious and organic and totally worth the slightly higher price. The cash only thing is a little weird but the food is worth it. Also their staff is wonderful! read more

The first time I stepped foot in here, it was an alternative when my parents wanted to meet up on my lunch hour in the south end, and I was worried each restaurant would be full of patrons who have seen my bedroom. :( Rather than - "Hey, David. 'Sup with not calling me back?!" I was greeted with friendly service, fuckin' yummy sammichez and reasonable prices. The inside is kind of cheesy, like a Homegoods truck broke down outside, and the owner raided it, but with a touch of the coffee shop on Friends ... I was waiting for Phoebe to show up with an acoustic guitar. :( Whatevz, it's better than saying I had lunch at 7-11 next door. read more

My review is still in-progress for Berkeley Perk. I recently started working around the corner from this cute little cafe, so when I have a sugar craving this is my stop. They always have a nice assortment of cookies, cakes, and brownies to choose from with which to satisfy my sweet tooth. I can't really *rave* about this place, as most of their sweets have been...enough to satiate my craving, but not really great. They have some really cool stuff on occasion, like a pumpkin whoopee pie, that excites me, but usually their treats just fall a little short of delicious. Their brownies are sweet and chocolatey but a little too dry, and the chocolate chip cookies are hard and crumbly and lack a brown sugary richness I expect of this kind. The staff are pretty nice, but it's often very crowded and hard to determine how the line moves, and they don't do much to help that problem. They do make a nice blended coffee drink from scratch - you actually see them pouring brewed coffee, hershey's syrup, milk, and sugar into a blender with ice, which is pretty darn cool, and their chai is a thousand kinds of delicious, like warm ice cream or something. But I do wish that the easiest place to get sweets and pastries from work had things a bit more delicious. read more

I admit I am basing this review solely upon one drink, but dammit, if they make this one drink THAT good, I can't imagine everything being anything by lovely. The drink in question is the iced chai. They make it with whole milk (skim available by request), and it can be best described as s somewhat thin frappe. It's rather sweet, with the familiar chai latte taste one might expect, and delightfully creamy. After grabbing one on my way to the Animal Rescue League, I had to come back on the return trip for a second, this time in a larger size. As for the cafe itself, it seems pleasant; I sat around reading and writing for a while, and it's got a very nice, somewhat cozy interior. It never got too crowded, which was nice; I'm used to 1369, where the battle for a seat is a fierce one. I would recommend stopping in here for your iced chai needs. If you're one of those people who doesn't like them sweet, you may want to pass. But I can't imagine you would want that. I mean, come on. read more

For a what is basically a coffee shop the Perk has a fairly extensive array of sandwiches and the prices are are about the best around! Nice selection of hot and cold drinks and two cases full of bottled beverages. Comfortable place to sit eat and chat. Luckily it does not suffer as much from those (selfish) computer users that hog up seats and tables for hours on end at Flour and Starbucks. Better, healthier, cheaper food than the greasy spoon a few door down, more seating than Mike and Patty's across the Pike, more comfortable and fairly priced than Appleton Cafe and way less snobby than the Buttery. read more

Best chai latte in Boston. I know, because I have tried just about every chai latte in Boston. Their chai lattes are vanilla (which people RAVE about) or spice (which I rave about). You can get your chai tea latte hot, iced, or frozen. Their grill is often shut off up to an hour before closing, which can be disappointing if you want a California tuna melt, but it won't affect a California BLT. Breakfast served until 10am Monday-Friday and until noon on Saturday. These cut-off times are strict. You will not get a breakfast sandwich at 10:01am on Monday. Credit cards ARE accepted; they used to be cash-only. read more

Amazing staff, coffee, food and atmosphere!!! love it here (get the turkey pesto) The coffee especially was a perfect blend of bold and smooth read more

Working near Copley I've tried all of the cafes and coffee shops on Newbury, Boylston and the general surrounding area, so pure curiosity sent me over a bridge and into the South End which is where I found wonderful Berkeley Perk Cafe. The cafe is quaint but has a great deal of tables to accommodate up to 20 people or so at any one time, which is great because this is definitely a local hang out. Most of the patrons are greeted by name - definitely a nice touch. The atmosphere welcomes you to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee while people watching out the large front window that is beautifully framed with trees and brick buildings across the street. The seating is comfortable and has a mix of booths, tall and normal tables and even some big comfy chairs. Now, the food... the food is wonderful and as a vegetarian I recommend this for couples or friends that are both herbivores and meat eaters. Some sandwiches I highly recommend: the chicken salad, avocado and tomato melt and the burrito. Best part? They have several types of freshly baked breads to choose from to personalize your sandwich. Oh, and what makes this an absolute favorite for me is their Big Train Chai - absolutely delicious and a great drink that is both a pick-me-up and a dessert to savor. Finally, for an awesome sandwich and a wonderful drink the tab doesn't usually go over $10, but remember to bring cash! They don't take cards. read more

This is the quintessential neighborhood coffee shop but so much more. I'm a virgin here just looking for a warm coffee and bite to eat in the south end. I usually run to Starbucks and luckily there was none around. The coffee was smooth, rich, and bold - just how I like it. I could sit here all day and drink it. Had the smoked salmon and scrambled egg on a bagel - real good but could have use a little cream cheese to offsite the dryness of the toasted bagel. What I really love about this place is the staff and ambience. They greeted everyone by their first name and if they didn't know the name - gave a warm good morning. You can tell immediately people come back repeated. The inside is cozy, casual, and just how a coffee shop should be. My only complaint is: they are closed on Sunday. But he'll - everyone deserves time off. read more