I drove by here for over a decade and never had the chance to stop but I stopped today The vibe inside is aged comfort. Marble tables with mismatched chairs and beat up old leather sofas. Chandeliers that have to harken back to much older tenants in this space. The food is good, I had a ham egg and cheese on croissant and it was wonderful. The croissant was surprisingly fresh. The cappuccino was rounded and smooth and didn't taste at all burnt. Service was ok. Polite but not engaging, my cappuccino was forgotten entirely and I had to ask for it again but it was then made promptly. Regulars that came in behind me had a completely different experience. Service was bright and engaging for them. Again, there was nothing BAD about my service, it was just milquetoast and the baristas seemed disinterested. This is definitely a place where people come and linger and there were folks sprawled about the sofas and typing away at the tables. If I lived in Waltham, I's probably make it a staple in my routine. But I did not linger long, I ate my sandwich, sipped half my coffee and took the rest on my way. I have a feeling this is the kind of place that just grows on you overtime, that said, if you need a coffee or tea and a snack on your way, this may be worth a stop. read more

Cafe on the Common - I've driven by for like 15 years and this is my first time in. - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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5 years later same review. Very good dry cappuccino (bless you) , friendly service, great ambience. You could get some work done here. Just as I said last time--you'd have to be a real Scrooge not to give this place high marks. If you have a little gem like this in your town, you should support it. Also. Get the molasses ginger cookie! read more

Stopped in with my boyfriend to grab a quick bite for brunch. The cafe was cute. The food was fine but average. The sandwich and salad we got was pretty simple and not something I would return for. read more

Lots of tables, free WiFi, and good drinks and sandwiches. The prices are good, but they are always looking for more staff, so be patient with the service! read more

Visited this morning with a group of friends. Place is clean and casual with plenty of seating. I ordered an ice coffee which was pretty good. A friend got a cappuccino which she also liked. One thing that was slow was the service. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and it took around 20 minutes for it to be ready. I wasn't in a rush, so it was fine, but this is definitely not an order and go kind of coffee shop. read more

Service was very kind but a coffee shop with bad drinks is a problem. The croissant was good and the Caesar salad was fine. If you're getting a dirty chai, make sure to tell them you want it sweetened. read more

Cafe on the Common - Croissant - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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This coffee shop is solid. Plenty of seating and some really comfy couches. Their iced Americano had me coming back when I was around the area. It's tasty, rich, and flavorful. Even with the ice, the brew doesn't taste so watered down like some places. They also got kids board puzzles available if you just want to sit down enjoy a book with your kid and play a bit. Cheers read more

Excellent oat latte. Comfortable seating. Leather couches and lots of open seating. Only tried the coffee. Great staff! read more

Cafe on the Common - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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Parking is tough in the area. The staff who waited on me was less than motivated and seemed bothered by me coming in. I was the only customer. I ordered an iced latte with vanilla but never got the flavoring. The latte was made correctly and was good. So would I repeat it, no but it was probably an off day for the establishment. The decor and setting was open and inviting. read more

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We went as a school and the male work was working and said if you guys don't all buy something the hold group would have to leaves. The food was awful and they were very rude. I got a grill cheese and the bread taste like they just put in a toaster and just melt the cheese in the microwave on the bread. My friend got a cookie and he say it was hard as a rock and taste like it was baked a mouth ago. I will not be coming back because how awful the place was. I give this place a 0 out a five. read more

45 minute wait for a ham and cheese Sam and an egg and cheese. Was told it would be 20, no problem. 1 person making them despite 3 people working. One employee was putting around while the sandwiches were backed up 45 min. The guy making the Sammies might have been stoned he was moving so slowly. I worked at a deli for years in high school. No reason on earth it should take so long to make cafe sandwiches, there was *not* so many sandwiches that it was a reasonable wait. Bad latte as well read more

You have to love a local place like this. Lots of couches, mixed matched tables and rugs. Pastries, coffee, teas and a grilled cheese sandos. It is smart they keep their menu limited. I saw families, couples, single diners (like me!). Comfort for everyone. Ordered an egg sando on sourdough with tomato, cheddar and aioli. Also had a lemon ginger tea. Sandwich was good. Sheet pan eggs that were pretty moist, not typical for sheet pan eggs in my experience. Nice amount of cheese and aioli. A very solid breaky sando. It's served with a bag of chips, which struck me as odd. For breakfast? Hmmm.... Anyway, come support this spot. We need local businesses to keep our communities alive. Sort a no frills, get a solid cup of Joe and muffin. Nothing wrong with this at all! read more

Cafe on the Common - Egg sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

My drink was extremely hot and I asked for a couple of cubes of ice, they said they actually had to charge, I thought they were joking with me but no. They were serious. Afterward the masc woman sneered at me, "it's extremely rude to complain about pricing." Again, I thought it was a joke. It wasn't. This person had been rude previously many times and had not been fired or corrected. Cafe blacklisted until issue corrected. read more

This has been my go to coffee shop for years (including my study location in grad school). The baristas here know your name and everything feels like home. The drinks are fantastic and they always have a bite to eat available. The cafe has plenty of seating and gentle music for a casual hang out, first date or a place to write your paper for hours. read more

Trying to find latte spots in the Waltham area since moving here last year, and this will for sure be one of them. They have great flavor shots like pumpkin (spice) and caramel along with the usual vanilla, my general favorite. They seem to have a lot of other flavors and food items as well that I will have to check out. I had a special flavored latte recently and it was like $7.50 which irked me though. read more

Cozy little neighborhood cafe w/ charming staff. Baked goods look very yummy. Free wifi.

Just went to meet some one to talk to and had a cappuccino and it was amazing. Did not try any kind of foods . Was a great place to meet someone! read more

Coffee is tasty but their sizes are small. Nice airy, bright seating area. Bathrooms are a mess. Avocado toast is not worth the money. As a coffee place, not terrible. I'd give them 3.5 but I'm rounding up. read more

A lovely cafe in Waltham. Bright, open, plenty of seating without being crowded. The staff was friendly, the treats quality. The quiche might be confused for cheesecake initially for as luxurious and deep as it appears. Fantastic bathrooms. LOTS of bike parking nearby and a good amount of car parking options on Sunday. If I were in town longer I would for sure return! read more

Cafe on the Common - Matcha latte and an almond croissant- sweet and earthy bitter. - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Pros: Cozy place, old fashioned cafe, spacious with comfortable seating, very nice atmosphere. Friendly staff. Food was good (had a breakfast sandwich, iced coffee and Apple Juice). Some cons: Yes, I agree a bit pricey. They did not have croissants as is advertised on their menu. The "cold" drinks were very limited (only apple Juice, water and cranberry juice), 80% of the chest was empty. No orange juice, no milk. AND, the refrigeration for the chest was not working so the drinks were warm. The major problem was that AFTER I ordered AND paid, I was told that they were out of bacon. At a breakfast cafe??!! This is a major no-no in food service (or any other consumer business for that matter). You tell someone you are out of something BEFORE you take their money. Or you at least offer some sort of compensation if they've already paid. Which by the way is not the purpose of the review. Would I return? Yes, for the sole purpose to see if these issues were addressed appropriately and in a timely manner. Stayed tuned for follow-up review. read more

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Really cute coffee shop that is comfortable and gives a great homey feel. There even is an ice cream shop that is connected to the coffee shop! I had the breakfast sandwich which was above average. I was not a fan of the eggs as they tasted like carton eggs, but that is just me! The coffee shop is convenient and staff are very nice! read more

I love the coffee and the food here. I always get a vanilla lavender latte and it's so good! Always perfect. Interesting location with lots of seating. Seth, the manager, is amazing and so nice. I highly recommend. read more

Avocado Toast with the aioli, tomatoes, pickled onion is delicious! Very happy. Great place to sit and work while enjoying a coffee or tea. read more

Cafe on the Common - Avocado Toast - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Their steam wand was broken when I went in, so couldn't order any hot espresso drinks. Staff was nice and very friendly. Spacious, but the flow seems off since half of it seems to be an ice cream shop that went out of business read more

A really good place to pick up morning coffee! The Waltham Fog is one of my favorites. A special shoutout to Seth who's ever so polite and amazing! read more

I love this cafe. The hot mocha latte is so good, it's the reason I keep coming back! Made with real chocolate and quality espresso, that makes a huge difference . Today I tried the avocado toast with tomato, onion, and zesty chili aioli. Absolutely delicious. The employees are always very friendly, and positive. Good vibes, I love this place! read more

Cafe on the Common - Delicious - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Perfect place for a late afternoon cup of coffee with a friend. The place is huge and there were only a few people there. I felt completely safe and we've now made it a weekly thing. The staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean. Definitely not the experience so many have written about! read more

Cafe on the Common - Photo taken 1/14/22 - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Liked the Waltham fog and the interior is pretty spacious. During the day it's quiet and you can read, write, easily. Seems like the people working there know a few regulars which is sweet. Gets the job done. read more

Worst breakfast My 10Yr daughter got French toast and not fully cooked and it was on the worst bread.. We ask if she can get pancakes they bring 1 out on the plate.. Get the bill they didn't take the French toast off I asked the waitress and she said the manager doesn't take anything off just because of someone taste preference..I wasn't looking for Anything for free but maybe charge the kid price if only bringing out 1 pancake... Waitress rings up bill on debit card I ask to talk to the manager and she so rude... Says nothing we can do about it.. Not for nothing 9.25 for 1 pancake pretty pricey.. I will never be back.. Terrible management going to lose more customers... read more

This was my first visit. I met a friend here only because it was centrally located. It worked out great. We had a seat by the window over looking the Common. I had a very nice and different vegetable soup. I could get either soy or almond milk in my iced coffee. I had a really great, healthy tasting granola bar to go. The menu wasn't very large, but what I had was good. People were pleasant and so was the experience. I parked around the corner on Lexington St (I think) in a public lot for $1 for 2 hours. read more

I ate here with my family for Thursday morning brunch. The coffee and mocha hot drinks were ok. The breakfast sandwich were very good though. Bedsides being out of a couple ingredients, the meal was put to Hether very well. I enjoyed the cafes decor and friendly staff. read more

Cafe on the Common - Decor - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

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This is my favorite coffeeshop in Waltham. Seriously,the staff is amazing. The food is great. Perfect if you want to grab a cup of tea/coffee and work a little bit. It's dog friendly, which i enjoy so very much If you're here, make sure to try the fruit tarte, the Waltham Fog, the croissant, and the cappuccinos. Here is a picture of the Waltham fog. read more

Cafe on the Common - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Amazing service, barista was very sweet. Only had the vegan snickerdoodle and good size for the price. It was pretty decent. Very cozy vibe.

Overpriced breakfast sandwich took 29 minutes to get. People ordered food and drinks after we did, and we still waited. Food was average at best. read more

I am genuinely confused as to how this place has a decent rating. The food is fine but absolutely nothing to write home about, the physical environment is not particularly cohesive or well decorated, and the staff are randomly rude for no reason. I saw the person at the counter argue with almost every customer over something trivial and stupid, in between complaining to coworkers about the job. Then I saw this little beauty (picture attached.) If I had seen this prior to coming here I probably would have opted to go somewhere else - I don't feel compelled to support businesses who view their customers as stupid annoying burdens and who talk down to customers, even if it's meant to be cute and *~quirky*~. There's a line between "sensitive, artistic and high strung" and obnoxious, pretentious, and rude; this place misses the mark for me. read more

Cafe on the Common - absolute douchebaggery - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

For some reason every time I've come here in the past couple months (only like 5 times lol) the staff has been arguing behind the counter, it's really awkward but also kind of entertaining. Bad vibes. Just again today and saw this extremely rude diatribe against customers, there is seriously something wrong with this place. It oozes anger and misery. Also the food here is lame and usually stale. read more

Cafe on the Common - What is wrong with these people? Lol this is so aggressive. Totally unprofessional and awful. - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

I've been coming back here ever for years. The grilled cheese never disappoints. Great customer service here, too! read more

Cafe on the Common - Grilled cheese with a mix of cheddar and parmesan. With a small iced hazelnut latte with soy milk. - Sandwiches Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Delicious and big lattes and pastries. The cinnamon roll was out of this world (def ask to warm it up)

Not sure if it's a Waltham thing but everything seems to move much slower. Internet was so slow that I couldn't even connect. People ordering are incredibly slow and service was slow. But the baristas were nice. I ordered a green tea latte and it was all milk and 2 scoops of matcha. I wish there was a little more to it because it was a bit bland for me. Customization also gives customers options but i wasnt asked. There wasn't anything special. Also whats up with the $1.00 charge for ice :( read more

Been a patron here for years. I don't know what happened to this place but I have attempted to get lunch here 5 times at around 2 pm and they are always out of bread any of the components to make ANYTHING on their lunch menu. I will never be back even though they have great coffee. How can you have a menu that you can not make anything on. These 5 visits are separated by a couple months each so not right in row. read more