La QChara

Quaint family friendly coffee shop! While tiny, this place has a nice menu with traditional and…read moreseasonal/unique beverages. All the pastries and baked goods seem freshly made and are displayed in a unique way in the shop. Everyone here was super friendly and clearly had great camaraderie which added to the feeling of being in a family run place. I found the coffee in general was made well and the craft lattes had a nice balance of flavor and sweetness. I also ordered a raspberry muffin which had actual fresh raspberries in it! Im excited to have found this place and can't wait to come back!

First visit since COVID to this charming but cramped and aging shop with over-the-counter service,…read moreabout a dozen different muffins, and a single tiny table by the window. It's almost entirely takeout and on weekend mornings the line is as packed as a subway car during rush hour. The staff is efficient, courteous, and businesslike. I bought a box of muffins at opening and the whole box felt warm-- a great sign. -- Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffin: I ate this in the shop shortly after opening, while it was still piping hot, with the raspberries nearly a liquid and the chips somewhat melty. Nice soft texture and good contrast of flavors. -- Blueberry Muffin: I broke off and sampled a piece a little later in the morning (okay, 15 minutes later). Still somewhat warm, with a sponginess leaning toward Play-Doh territory (not necessarily a bad thing), but overall good. Neither noticeably sugary nor noticeably buttery. Blueberries were closer to adequate than impressive. Good muffin but with no standout characteristic to hang your hat on. -- Cranberry Muffin: Probably the best of the bunch. The highest crown (though no overhang), with a crusty surface and a good amount of big cranberries on top. Decent understated flavor to the dough, almost biscuit-like. -- Chocolate Chip Muffin: Overloaded with chips on the top surface (I'd hesitate to call it a crown), with none below. Plain dough that's thankfully not overly sugared, but not particularly moist. These muffins aren't cheap. Once you factor in the tax and tip, it's close to $7 each, and we're not talking about particularly large muffins. If anything, they're small, with no overhang and no streusel. Nothing wrong with small (they're dense, so will still fill you up), but for the price it catches your attention, as does a "coffee house" with only one table. The muffins are a well-deserved 4 even without overhang and streusel, but the other aspects bring it to a 3. Best for local pick-up.

Pastry/ baked good display

See all

Goodies

The Remedy Exchange

4.0(81 reviews)

2.4 mi

A so-cal girl finding a slice a home here! There are LOADS of vegan and gluten free options. The…read moreowner Justina, is super knowledgeable when it comes to dietary restrictions. All of their smoothie bowls are made to order, so you can switch up the ingredients to fit your dietary restrictions. I am just traveling through the area but came back two days in a row to get breakfast here!! Ordered the butter pecan smoothie bowl without the vanilla protein and made with water instead of oat milk. It was sooo delicious. You are allowed to switch out all the toppings too, there is a list of plenty of fruit/ nuts/ GF granola 10/10 recommend!

BLT came back soggy, 90% lettuce and inedible. Expensive and could not eat it a hot wet soggy…read morelettuce wrap.

Inside

Pesto Caprese Sandwich

See all

Wellness Warrior Smoothie

The Studio Cafe

4.6(99 reviews)

4.3 mi

Excellent GF Egg and Cheese Sandwich (not on generic Udi's bread and a welcome treat but NOT…read more Celiac safe for my spouse) and the Narino Colombian is 5 stars / from a coffee snob with an Italian Gaggia espresso machine at home -thanks team keep up the great work!!!

Ordered an oatmilk matcha, received oatmilk with the tiniest bit of matcha in it. I asked if they…read moreput any in and they said they were out and put all they had left in. No offer to give me a refund or something else instead to make up for it. My first bad experience there but I won't be going back.

Vegetarian breakfast on a bagel.

See all

Fresh baked pastries and the wall menu.

Playa Bowls

4.1(18 reviews)

3.7 mi

Food: pure vida acai bowl with bananas and coconut flakes added. Delicious and fresh tasting…read more Service: order at the counter then pick up when ready. Ambiance: great music playing and the decor is super cute. Will come back if around the area.

Im a fan! What a hidden gem right near Winchester Center. Plenty of parking, which is always a…read moreplus. Upon entering, I was surprised at how big and nicely decorated the space is. Plenty of seating inside and also outside. The menu is expansive and you pick you base and toppings, or select from their curated concoctions. Gluten free options made this a perfect (and safe) spot for my friend. The portions are large and well worth the money. I will definitely be back!

Pura Vida Bowl (add bananas and coconut flakes)

Cute vibes

See all

Nutella bowl

Professor's Market

4.5(108 reviews)

4.1 mi

Everything was delicious from Sicilian pizza to eggplant caprese sandwich. I didn't get a chance…read moreto take any pictures since I was devouring my food, but I would definitely return to try more of the menu.

I finally tried Professor's Market again last week and found a different employee from last time…read morewho did the same thing as the previous one. They are clearly trained to take your order, then your payment, then go off to a little niche far away and make the sub exactly as they want to. If you want extra mayo, or no pickles, or any other adjustment, you are stuck. But, this time, after my last experience, I leaned over the counter and tried to keep my eyes on him and, sure enough, I spotted him start to put pickles and other veggies on it without asking me anything. I called out to him and told him I how I wanted it made and he did so but it was a nuisance. The sub was good again but I don't recommend anyone buy one at this place unless you're happy with the shop deciding exactly how they make your sub. If you want a choice however, virtually every other sub shop in the region will ask you first and give you a chance to tell them how to finish the sub.

Chicken ziti and broccoli for catering

Spinach arancinis

See all

Leaf and Ginger

4.7(84 reviews)

2.4 mi

The food is organic very tasty pleasant atmosphere. I had a chicken wrap. It was moist and…read moredelicious.

It was my first time there. I got an egg sandwich to go. It was excellent…read more I also got a very expensive organic candy bar. (There wasn't a price on it) I haven't tried it yet. They were good to donate to a recent charity auction so I wanted to give them some business.

Cute cafe!

Falafel wrap

See all

Menu board

Planted Organic Cafe

4.8(12 reviews)

0.9 mi

The tahini date smoothie (hold the Nutella), BLT, and the Planted Power Wrap are all really…read moreexcellent here. The entire menu appears to be vegan with the exception of honey being included in the bowls. I have not ordered the bowls yet or anything with granola, but if you're vegan, it's worth asking if the honey can be left off or if the granola is vegan.

Yum yum yum!! Came in with a girl friend for some Açaí Bowls and it was delicious! I have a gluten…read moreallergy and the workers were informed, helpful and kept me safe!! Big bonus points for gluten free granola. Our bowls were delicious and filling! I will come back again and again!

Counter

Chickpea salad sandwich

See all

Peanut butter cup

FJ Juice Bar Café

5.0(2 reviews)

5.5 mi

Stumbled upon this cute little cafe while in the area. It seems to be family owned with friendly…read moreservice. They offer some great healthy options from smoothies to small bites. I opted for the acai bowl which I loved. The portions were generous and it was very filling. Overall really happy with my experience!

I was craving something nutritious after a long hike, when I found FJ Juice Bar Café. I am excited…read moreto report that they have a huge menu of delicious options, from açaí and smoothie bowls to juices, coffee, and sandwiches. With their incredible list of plant-based and gluten-free options, this place is awesome for all kinds of dietary needs. The staff (who I later found out were the owners) were super nice and enthusiastic about making their fresh food creations. I will definitely be back again. Muchísimas gracias, F y J!

Parfait bowl

See all

Interior decor

Liv’s Juice & Acai Bar

3.3(16 reviews)

4.8 mi

Delicious PB J smoothie but goodness gracious it was expensive. At a price point of $10 for a 16…read moreoz, I wouldn't be able to afford this treat more than a few times a year. I'm guessing many folks go here and get a smoothie as a meal replacement, in which case I'm sure it's worth the money. The place was bustling with lots of people and the staff was friendly - I'm glad this business is doing well.

My absolute favorite place to get smoothies. I highly recommend the Blueberry Cobbler smoothie and…read morethe Açaí Bowl House style. Perhaps the best ingredient they use besides fresh fruit is their homemade honey roasted peanut butter. Açaí bowl was made quickly. Great healthy options for a pre or post-workout meal. I prefer the dining area of the Medford location to the Woburn store. A lot of the seating here is bar seating that is facing the windows, there are no tables.

See all

Jamba

1.0(1 review)

1.0 mi

It says open until 7 pm on here and Google but they close at 2. It's near impossible to get there…read moreif you can survive the panic attack that is driving in this area. It's also meshed with a brugers and when you call there is legit no way to get in contact with the Jamba Juice portion. Waste of space and time honestly I hope they go out of business

From the owner: Jamba in Melrose serves fresh smoothies, bowls, and bites made to brighten your day. Choose from…read morefruit smoothies, protein smoothies, smoothie bowls, acai bowls, toasty bites, and snacks perfect for kids, families, and on-the-go lifestyles. With plant-based and better-for-you options, Jamba fits a variety of food preferences. Stop by for takeout, order delivery, or arrange catering for events and group orders. Whether fueling your day or treating the family, Jamba brings refreshing flavor to Melrose.

See more unrecommended reviews

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

28 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Daniel C.

8 years ago

This might be the first review I do on Yelp and I felt compelled to do so when I saw the rating wasn't up to what it should. This is hands down one of the best places I've ever eaten in. It's got a contemporary vibe, kind of like an energetic coffee shop. You'll have coffee available and a ton of goodies to grab and go. We were there New Year's Day and saw holiday themed pops. The tequeños are hands down the best ones I've ever had in my life. I had the arepa burger special, absolutely fantastic mix of the burger I've been used to my entire life, the arepa my wife has introduced to me later on in life, flavorful meat and an egg on top as the kicker. It came with yuca fries in the style of home fries. I normally hate that stuff, usually comes out flavorless and mushy on the inside. This was crispy and well seasoned on the outside and flakey on the inside. Awesome. My wife had the chilaquiles and even though she's a picky eater, absolutely loved it and was even tempted by a stuffed avocado that she saw being served to someone else. Will be coming back very soon. read more

Reggie G.

12 years ago

no service, when you walk in, even when nobody is in line, you have you ask for help or stand there waiting for 10 minutes while the workers chit chat. food is awful, i asked for no chicken in my tacos because i am allergic, everything was cross contaminated. the beef tasted like it came out of a can that read "Carne" in the bottom of a single engine Cessna 5 years ago. Watered down beef and pork with nasty salsa on top doesn't = good. I can't believe all the good reviews for this place on here.....I read one review that said the positive remarks were made by employees. this is not authentic latin food, i can't look at the menu and pick one thing that looks good and i am a big fan of mexican, latin, etc. cusine. the plantains tasted like deep fried cardboard rolls you find inside toilet paper. Bring back Peacuddy's, at least their food tasted good and they acknowledge you when you walked in the place. Go to Mother's Pizza instead and get a meatball sub. La QChara gets an F in my book. Sega Dreamcast for life. read more

Leanna K.

12 years ago

La QChara is a one of a kind spot convienently located in my hometown. My boyfriend and I are HUGE fans. It is a biiiit on the pricey side for breakfast, but when you know the food is amazing and in large portions, it's worth it. Friendly staff, very accomodating. I'm guilty of always getting the same thing--the Periquerro Omelette but I literally can't choose anything else because I know I love it. My boyfriend resorts to Huevos Rancheros, with chorizo added! YUM. read more

Schievink C.

8 years ago

I was excited to find this place had horchata on the menu, and was highly disappointed when I got what tasted like overly watered down horchata mix and to make matters worse it was hot. Horchata is normally a milk like drink that's served cold, I also know that certain places make it differently as I have tried many variations of it. This was by first the worst I've encountered. read more

Amy H.

11 years ago

This is a excellent gluten free restaurant ! Dishes are made with whole foods, delicious and inexpensive .Usually when I go out to eat I worry about calories , chemicals and gluten . Not here !! People that want to take care of themselves physically will love this restaurant Thank you so much for coming too Melrose! read more

Rich K.

4 years ago

The frozen coffee drinks are amazing and the empanadas are delicious. Definitely worth checking out plus the products they use are good quality and some organic, vegan and healthy stuff and since I have allergies it's a great place to go to. Rich K read more

Mariam P.

9 years ago

I went here with a group of friends and I had a very great time. I ordered chilaquiles and it was amazing! I tried yuca fries for the first time and it was great! The owner, Lorenzo, was amazing and really friendly. Ten out of ten would recommend. read more

Igor K.

13 years ago

I love this place! Great atmosphere, awesome food. I love the Latin flavor of all the dishes and how different they are from your traditional american cuisine. Great place to come and work on your laptop if you so desire. Free and fast WiFi. read more

Steve L.

10 years ago

This place and the employees are the greatest food addition in the region for as long as I can remember. I'll never be satisfied with the traditional American breakfast again. Open a store in peabody! And months later, same sentiments! read more

Janet R.

11 years ago

Absolutely the best coffee in the area! Nice strength and flavor but not bitter. Decaf and regular. Nice people and great food. Please, stay forever. Also appreciate the early opening. Thanx, Lorenzo!!! read more

Ilya G.

193

9 years ago

Love the food. I order something different every time and have always enjoyed my meal. When the place is really busy make sure you can wait as the food time can get up there at times. worth the wait though! read more

Hannah L.

9 years ago

The food at La QChara is amazing! I had the breakfast torta and tasted delicious. The menu carries so many great options and all of it is incredible. I would give this place 6 out of 5 stars if I could! read more

Cheryl R.

8 years ago

I used to come here all the time, but since they changed their menu, not so much. I miss the quinoa bowels they used to have and until they bring them back, probably a no for me. read more

Isaac W.

7 years ago

Excellent!!! Great Place, I had the Venezuelan Benedict and my friend had the yucca con huevo, I had the Isabella smoothie as well all amazing Cant wait to come back! read more

Alyssa D.

11 years ago

The food is super fresh and delicious: I was so happy with my meal I couldn't stop thanking the friend that suggested we stop here for a quick bite. read more

Sarah O.

13 years ago

Love it! Came in for lunch a couple of weeks ago. Food was great, kids loved it! Definitely recommend. Can't wait to try it for breakfast! read more

Cintia L.

160

4 years ago

Delicious food made to order. Everything is always fresh. They offer a variety of healthy choices, including smoothies and green juice.

Allison K.

3 years ago

Great neighborhood cafe. Yummy treats. Love the mint iced tea and the decorations. Everyone is so nice!

JP J.

9 years ago

Great food and great service! I have been dining hete for a few years and tgey never disappoint.

Rebecca C.

7 years ago

I have been coming here for years! Always get amazing service and the food is always great!

La QChara - latin - Updated September 2026

People who viewed La QChara also viewed

Pressed Cafe

4.2

(29 reviews)

I love Pressed Cafe! I have gone to quite a few of their locations and am always impressed. I love…read morehow each location has its own style and flair from a layout and decor standpoint but that they all keep the same level of efficiency and quality. I was really happy to hear that a location was opened in Woburn as it's wicked close. This one is in a great spot with plenty of parking - while the street itself on can get busy/hectic, something has to be! This location also has a nice sized outdoor seating space with a mixture of tables both in sun and shade via umbrellas. The inside is open and spacious with lots of nooks and crannies. They have a menu dock when you first walk in, and they have added two kiosks for self-service ordering. If you prefer to order with a person, you can still do that too up at the counter, and then there is another menu dock up by the registers to dispose of the menu upon ordering. The placement of the self-serve kiosks is good because you can't miss it, however, with how crowded and busy Pressed Cafes can get it can easily get really crowded since it is by the door - and if you don't realize it's kiosks, I'm afraid people will stand around waiting not necessarily knowing they can go order at the counter. Now let's talk the menu. It's massive with so many options. They do breakfast and lunch items all day long. So many options like you could go to pressed every day for a long time and/or for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and still have a different item for days, weeks, and maybe a few months. Now, every location has the same core menu, but some locations have extra sections or items - most notably for this Woburn location, is the brick oven and pizza - which smells so delish! The food is always amazing, always fresh, and made to order. Plus the portion size is very generous!! I have never got something that was not good and I did not like! I find the service to also be excellent. They are very friendly and again with how busy it gets there, they do a phenomenal job at keeping things moving - from taking orders, to delivering your order, to getting pickup/online orders ready, to cleaning up tables, etc. - they are so efficient. Prices are moderate. Depending on what you get, it can get pricey but it's not terribly overpriced considering - it is an upscale cafe and well, you do get what you pay for. All in all, I rant and rave about Pressed Cafes. You want breakfast, Pressed. You want coffee shop, Pressed. You want lunch, Pressed. You want a cool, hip, vibing place, Pressed. You want quick and efficient service, Pressed. Not sure what you want but want fresh, Pressed. Just go to Pressed! I did a pick up order for Chai Tea Latte a while ago for my first time at this shop and then went back most recently for sit down meals twice in one weekend - lunch and then breakfast. Pictured is my coffee from breakfast. Forgot to snap pics of the rest, but all looked and tasted great!

This is the only Pressed location with a Pizza Oven! They have a nice space here, it's a newer one…read moreand has all the favorites you love. You can come here 20 times and still not try their entire menu. I love their sandwiches, pizza, bowls, coffee--you name it. Plus breakfast all day. This location has lots of parking but it can get busy. Staff is friendly and food comes out quickly. You order at the counter and they bring it to your table.

Cibo Cafe & Bistro Stuzzico Osteria & Bistro

3.6

(175 reviews)

Finally tried Cibo Cafe & Bistro after seeing so much hype online, and it absolutely lived up to…read moreit. I'm very picky about lattes and this was genuinely one of the best I've had. I ordered the Coconutella latte and it was perfectly balanced, flavorful without being overly sweet. The Nutella cold foam was definitely indulgent, but the latte itself was smooth and delicious. We went on a Saturday morning and only waited about 15 minutes for coffee and food, which honestly felt very reasonable considering how popular this place is. I also got the cinnamon roll, which was HUGE and really good. I do wish it had been served warm, but after reheating the leftovers at home I loved it even more. The standout pastry was a donut-style pastry filled with pistachio cream. We also ordered the Il Classico, which was super flavorful, a great portion size, and definitely had a spicy kick. On top of the food and drinks, the service was amazing, the decor was adorable, and parking was surprisingly easy. After finally going, I completely understand why this place gets so much attention. Definitely worth the hype.

Went here on a Sunday morning. Ordered two coffees for pick up. They were $20 and they took 30…read moreminutes to come out from the time of order. While I was waiting for my coffee, the guy from across the street came in yelling for me to move my car that was parked on the street (legally) in front of his house/business. My car had my wife and 4 month old in it and he accosted her before coming to find me. To top things off, Cibo screwed up the order completely. What a disaster, I couldn't even believe people were still ordering after walking in and seeing 20 people waiting for their order. It seems like a decent place but they should shut their order ahead off if they can't handle it. This experience made me never want to step foot in Wakefield again. I surely won't be going back to Cibo. I can't find a reason to provide more than a star here.

Leaf and Ginger

4.7

(84 reviews)

The food is organic very tasty pleasant atmosphere. I had a chicken wrap. It was moist and…read moredelicious.

Dempsey's Breakfast and Lunch

3.7

(148 reviews)

Wtf happened to the absolute best breakfast place? I'm so sad…read more The food is still decent. However, the server recommended a cinnamon bagel with a bacon egg and cheese. What?! It was good with an asiago bagel. The prices have skyrocketed- breakfast items are all over $10. $13 for two slices of french toast, $11 for a bacon, egg and cheese. Most menu items are around $20. Yelp, change the price point for Dempsey's. The check came with an automatic 18% + tip suggestion. That irks me. 15% is an acceptable tip. I used to recommend Dempsey's. Not anymore. There is nothing special about it anymore.

We came on a weekend morning and it was surprisingly nearly empty. Place was clean with classic…read morediner vibes, but when I opened the menu I had a bit of sticker shock. I understand everything is more expensive these days, but $20 for an omelette with homefries and toast at a diner is steep. The western omelette was pretty solid and the homefries looked good but weren't seasoned at all. Our server forgot about us and I had to go to the register to ask for our coffees to be refilled and get hot sauce. They were really nice, but not attentive. It was strange because there was a pile of staff just hanging out, not doing a lot, waiting for a rush I suppose. While the omelette was good, the prices and inattentive service wouldn't bring me back.

Brothers Deli Lynn

4.4

(92 reviews)

What a great find! I was looking for a place to have breakfast on the way to the airport. Lynn was…read morea perfect midway point and I found Brothers Deli on Yelp. Very large inside with lots of tables. Different format, it's not table service. You grab a tray and go thru sort of a cafeteria type line. We came for breakfast and our food was made fresh while we waited. It was fun to see them prepping and cooking our meals. We definitely wanted to fill.ip.before our Long flight home. We both ordered eggs dishes with home fries along with an order of blueberry pancakes. I had Eggs Benedict. Ham had a nice smoked flavor and the eggs were runny as they should be! My husband had Srambled eggs with bacon, excellent. Those blueberry pancakes were so good!not sure what's in that batter but some if the best pancakes we have had! Staff was very friendly and helpful. We were a bit lost when we first walked in. Bookmarked for our next trip back to New England!

This place is truly a hidden gem! The freshness of the food makes it ten times better. They offer a…read morewide variety of dishes, all of which look appetizing. I ordered the chicken dinner, and it was honestly the best piece of chicken I've had in a long time. The rice and mashed potatoes were excellent sides as well. The staff were very friendly and provided great suggestions since it was my first time there. Don't hesitate to stop by!

King's of flavor

4.5

(16 reviews)

What a great find this was! We were looking for a breakfast place on Thanksgiving morning and…read morethankfully King's of Flavor was open. It's a short distance from downtown Wakefield and offers a mix of Latin and American food with an interesting and diverse menu. Everything we had was fantastic. My son said the the huevos rancheros were the best he ever had. My Western omelette was willingly customized by substituting sausage for ham and was delicious and plentiful. This is a very friendly family run restaurant that was perfect. I'll be back soon!

This is a cute diner with good food, service, and an industrial location. The menu has various food…read moreitems like omelettes and pancakes, and also some fun Latin American specialties. For lunch; they also have papusas which we need to try. Parking is readily available as this is in an industrial area. If you are in the area and want a place for a good meal without a wait, this is good. Tip: They also support pay-by-phone with QR codes to make things easy for those who like to pay without a wait or the back and forth with a server. A slight cash discount is also available.

KASA

3.3

(7 reviews)

I love everything about this restaurant. It's minimalist style is elegantly hip. It's menu is…read morethoughful. The food and cocktails are always on point. Each time I've had the pleasure to dine at Kasa the staff has been friendly, helpful, and welcoming. I look forward to my next visit!

If you are looking for quality Brazilian food for sure this place will not be a good option rice…read moreunited we will win and without seasoning it was the most absurd restaurant that has no dessert can close the doors besides being very expensive, they think people are idiots, a fest food is much better!

Oasis Cafe & Bakery

3.8

(138 reviews)

We ate breakfast at the cafe here. Ordered pancakes and coxinha, as well as a breakfast plate. Food…read morewas pretty good, nothing special. My pancakes were raw in the middle. Service was also surprisingly not the best, wasn't very helpful. They had a pan de quejo deal which if I had ordered one more would've gotten them for a better price but no one informed me. If I were to come back I'd go to their actual restraunt or just get bakery items, no breakfast.

I wish they actually have labels on all the items behind the glass. That would help immensely…read moreinstead of having to ask. Thanks!

Tulum taqueria

4.8

(8 reviews)

The ambiance is so cute after a nice beach day! The staff is friendly and the food is quality :)…read moresee photos

The food here is amazing- we had the pollo tinga, Al pastor, and birria tacos and we loved them all!read more

Pressed Cafe Burlington

4.3

(989 reviews)