The cuban sandwich at Montrose Spa is delicious! Well-pressed so that it's crispy on the outside and an optimal ratio of meats to bread. The pickles inside add further flavor, texture, and juiciness. They also cut the sandwich in a clever way (on the diagonal) so that it's easier to eat. This is not one of those super-thick attractive-to-the-eye sandwiches with crusty bread that ends up jabbing your gums and the insides of your mouth and resulting in half of the filling falling out in a chaotic mess. This sandwich-of-substance allows you to take comfortable, perfectly civilized bites while maintaining the integrity of its fillings. The store also carries fresh cherry tomatoes. The lady at the register is also very nice. As the weather gets warmer, this is a great place to pick up a meal/picnic on the go and some fresh produce for cooking at home. read more

Quality of their sandwiches have suffered greatly since change in ownership Sandwiches are so overpriced now. You get no meat with your order. It's all a fluff of lettuce and bread read more

Cuban sandwich was pretty flavorless and the meat was still cold after it came off the press. Gatorade and the sandwich was $20. New ownership definitely changed pricing on everything. Probably wouldn't go back. read more

Great place to grab a bite and a snack as you walk around the area. Kind service. We will plan to return! read more

You can't beat their sandwiches if you're looking for a solid deli option in Cambridge! The friendliest staff will accommodate any request. I've been coming here for years and have never had a bad sandwich. And they have all the fixings to make it a meal-- great variety of drinks, fruit, chips, sides, etc. 10/10 bodega! read more

20 years later (after I graduated) the Cuban sandwich still Kills. Make sure you ask for extra crispy. read more

With all the gentrification comes overrated and expensive deli style corner shops so it's not as easy to find these nice classic spots where you just get a reasonably priced breakfast sandwich and a coffee. Luckily I had been working nearby and found this spot on my way to Starbucks so I was able to go here instead. Great and friendly service, there's sweet older couple that owns and runs it. There's usually flowers out front giving it a warm and inviting ambiance. Grab a quick breakfast if you're drinking down mass ave in Cambridge. read more

Montrose Spa - Coffee and strawberry danish. Delicious. - Grocery Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Montrose will always be close to my heart. Their Chicken Salad with cranberries sandwich got me through the pandemic, and they still remain one of the most affordable spots to grab a full sandwich that hits all the right places. read more

For a little convenience store, I'm shocked that they have everything that corner stores typically don't have - berries, Impossible Meats, salads, and more. While things are cheaper at Star Market (down the street), just go to Montrose Spa if you need something quick and don't have the time to walk or bike down to the grocery store. Just keep in mind that in order to use your credit card, there has to be a $5 minimum. read more

We always get subs from here. We usually order Italian. The bread is fresh and the meats and cheeses are all done correctly for this sandwich. Family run store too. Nice atmosphere. You can call in your order ahead of time which is recommended as it gets very busy at lunch time. read more

They have an amazing selection for a small convenience store: it's more like a gourmet store. I think they keep an inventory of items their food-savvy customers like to have. For me, Organic Stonyfield Yogurt, a good selection of fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. Plus a good selection of herbal teas, breads, crackers, etc. They also carry newspapers. I think the owners really know what they're doing. Basically, anything I need on short notice, they have. They are always busy with people buying homemade sandwiches. And they have a good selection of high-end ice cream and treats. The people working there, including the owner, are very pleasant. read more

I love this place! It has everything I need--so many times that in the middle of cooking I've realized I don't have something, from tofu to potatoes to coconut milk, and found it at Montrose Spa. I also love the selection of snacks and drinks, including a wide variety of hipster chips/pretzels/etc, fancy cookies, and a million types of seltzers and sodas. I love their breakfast sandwiches, they are a really great deal! Most of their normal sandwiches are also good, varying from mediocre to quite good. My only complaint is that they are usually quite slow at making sandwiches. There is usually only one or two people working there, and they are trying to juggle making sandwiches and checking out customers at the same time. I recommend calling ahead to put in your order (which is very easy to do, no credit card or other information required) at least 10 minutes in advance. Also take note that they have a credit card minimum, I can't remember if it is $5 or $10. read more

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In a quaint storefront on Mass Ave lives the greatest convenience store, bodega, depanneur, spa, whatever the hell you want to call it: Montrose Spa. Somehow, this tiny place manages to have most of what I would buy just down the road at Star Market, yet it's much closer to my apartment and also, sometimes...cheaper? I'll never understand that, but I'm here for it. Anyway, from fresh eggs, dairy, and produce to kombucha and bougy Swedish cookies, to Method (!) dishwashing soap and birthday cards...Montrose has it all. My only complaint WAS the old refrigeration unit that was starting to smell, mm, a little ripe, but that was recently upgraded to a new and odorless version. In other words, this place is perfect. I'm saying that, and I've never even had the Cubano sandwich. read more

In my opinion the most authentic Cubano sandwich in the area. Also a great variety of creative and tasty sandwiches.

Don't waste your time here. Go to Bagelsaurus, where the owner and staff remember my name and always greet me with a smile and pleasant conversation, and are always happy to see me. Go to Wholesome Fresh Market in Harvard square on Church street, where they remember your name, are respectful, friendly and happy to talk to you, have a large selection of exotic groceries and everyday items, and make excellent food. I have patronized Montrose Spa since I moved to Cambridge. I would order breakfast sandwiches, lunches , many grocery items, and the newspaper for years. The staff is always polite and respectful. The owner used to be kind and pleasant, but in the last year he has consistently been rude, and lacking any respect for a long term customer. I will not be returning to support his business. read more

Okay, so the first time I came here, I was sent by someone to buy turkey. I know they said "Montrose," and I thought I heard something else that sounded like "spa," but I didn't understand why one would buy turkey at a spa. I didn't feel like arguing, so I headed down Mass ave looking for something that started with "Montrose" and sounded something like "spa." Lo and behold. Montrose. Spa. I didn't get the concept of a New England "spa" when I first moved here, but now I don't think I could live without. I haven't had the cubano, but I've had their other sandwiches, especially the egg breakfast ones, and boy are they good. And almost cheap. I love the store for the sandwiches, the considerate and friendly staff (who know you and what you will order after only two visits), and the random gourmet stuff I'm always tempted to buy when I'm in there. I'm not one of those people who's too lazy to get to Shaw's to do my shopping, but I def. know plenty of people who've lived comfortably on Montrose alone. And the turkey cold cuts are good, btw. read more

My first job in a long time. Met a lot of great friends. I worked hard five nights a week. I kept my nose clean and I nevertheless found a job dream. read more

Curiouser and curiouser. On the recommendation of Kathleen M., I decided to check another spot off the list of Destination: Cubanos. This time, Montrose Spa. It's a convenience store. Scratch, it's the curio shop where Billy's dad got the Mogwai of convenience stores. Every flavor of Ben & Jerry's in the freezer (discontinued Turtle Soup jiggawhat?), local organic teas, Playboy brand energy drinks and Muscle Milk, boutique chocolate and small batch potato chips. It's like someone hijacked a stock semi en route to Whole Foods and loaded their shelves with whatever was in the boxes. White sticker prices on every product. The Cuban: Boar's Head ham and pork, a thin smear of brown mustard, possibly mayo or butter (so little, almost unnoticeable), swiss and pickles smooshed on French. Absolutely flawless in construct - a good heavy press, medium heat and the patience to wait until it was flat and crunchy. Simple, authentic, delicious. Well worth the menu preface "Our Famous." Perhaps I would have liked a little more meat, but that's my only complaint. Rounded out the meal with a Peach Oo-La-Long Honest Tea and Darrel Lea Australian licorice. Screw Red Vines and Twizzlers, old school chewy is where it's at. $10 minimum for credit cards. Open late every day. Just try not to feed after midnight... read more

I don't know what would I have done without you in college. And as I come back to my alma mater for a visit and literally a few doors down from starbucks and other goodies, I know I needed to see you again. Montrose is a small convenient store, but the real deal is the deli/sandwiches that they make here. They are delicious, comforting, and everything you need when you need a pick-me up. The cuban and the desperado are my favorites. They are also huge- so don't be greedy and share. I don't know why I didn't take a picture- since there are soo few pictures of this place. But- this place is amazing and local. Come for a breakfast or a general sandwich. There is no seating in here (b/c it's a small grocery store after-all) but in the summers there is outdoor seating. read more

Excellent sandwiches. The guy who reviewed them and gave them low marks after getting a bagel with lox is RETARDED. Who goes to a small grocery store in Cambridge, MA and expects a good bagel with lox, dumbass. Go to New York. Go to Miami. Hell, cross the river and go to Brookline, dumbass. However, Montrose Spa makes excellent sandwiches. I almost always get the grilled veggie sub with everything. If you are averse to spicy, ask for it without hot sauce, cause it's HOT. My spouse adores their tuna melt and their Desperado. I don't eat meat, so I wouldn't know. Can't beat the prices either. The grocery is overpriced, but that's because it's essentially a convenience store. But they're open late, so when I lived around the corner from them, they bailed me out for cat food and toilet paper many a time. read more

Dear poor law student, Are you in need to a seriously tasty sandwich? Sick of eating at, and waiting in line at, the Hark? Want to see the light of day for a few minutos? Walk a few blocks to lovely Montrose Spa. Yeah the name makes no sense, but who cares?! The sandwiches are delicious and they have my favorito pop chips. Bonus: You can call your order in ahead of time and avoid the wait! read more

I gotta agree with Damien here. This place is a hole in the wall. And it does have like everything you might need, from Barbasol shaving cream to Lindt chocolates. But you come here for the cuban. Now this place is coincidentally 250 feet from the best cuban sandwich in Boston at Chez Henri. But they're different. CH's cuban is more like a piece of art than a sandwich, served with plantains. Montrose makes an actual cuban, which the rectangular shape cut into two long triangles. This is how I've eaten them in Washington Heights and Miami. They do it well, especially for not being in a cuban neighborhood. They do take awhile. So prepare to wait. But they're worth it. Me gusta el cubano de Montrose Spa. I also like the blue lab coat that the lady wore behind the counter that said "Montrose Spa" on it. read more

One of the most overpriced, under-shelved bodegas I have ever been to. They take 12 minutes to make you a sandwich. They keep their refrigerated food and drinks lukewarm. They charge obscene prices ($6.50 for an iced coffee obscene). The entire operation seems geared toward fleecing Harvard kids who live in the Quad or go to HLS and don't want to walk to the CVS at the Square (advice: just walk to the CVS at the Square). read more

The friendly barber told me a good place to get a Cuban sandwich was near Starbucks on Mass Ave. Where could it be... this little store looked tiny. A smiling petite woman was behind the counter. "You.. make sandwiches?" "Yes" "A guy told me you make cubans?" She drew herself up. "The Best!" Es verdad, my friend. Es verdad. The sandwich takes a few minutes to make.There are a couple tables outside to peoplewatch or soak up the sun, or maybe read the Globe article about the family history. read more

This is a great neighborhood convenience store that cooks up some really tasty sandwiches on their panini press. I've had breakfast, lunch, and dinner here and never been unhappy. The Cuban sandwich is fantastic, as are all of the others I have tried. I agree with Tessa B. that the chicken sandwich (called The Lady Grey) has some sort of magic ingredient to help you quickly get over a hangover. I've (sadly) used it many times to get over the previous night's drinking and get myself prepared for the night ahead, and it's worked wonders to help me rally! They have an eclectic assortment of grocery items, but they always seem to have what I want, like that one time they were able to supply the sweetened condensed milk I needed for a cookie recipe I was making late at night for work the next day. They also recently started carrying my favorite candy bar, the Coffee Crisp! Screw you, my Canadian friends, we can now buy this delicious goodness here! Soon, the rest of your candies will be ours as well! Thanks Montrose! read more

Montrose Spa, despite its name, is no spa. It is a small, basic family owned mini-mart and deli, with shelves crammed full of snacks, drinks, and grocery staples. The produce isn't always the freshest, but I come here for the wide variety of beverages! An entire wall of the store is a refrigerated section full of drinks of all varieties - bottled coffee, seltzer water, milk, sodas, and even kombucha! The selection can be quite random, but do they have a lot of trendy and healthy snacks, such as coconut chips, greek yogurt, and even my fave, Halo Top ice cream. The prices are pretty high, but I like to support local businesses, and there really isn't anywhere else nearby to buy some snacks, unless you want to venture down the the CVS at Harvard Square. Or resort to the vending machines in the basement of the Law School... I haven't tried the sandwiches, but I know people that swear by them! There does always seem to be a line around mealtimes. They also sell random supplies like greeting cards and some hardware items. Once I needed to buy a Philips screwdriver, and lo and behold I see one in the window display at Montrose! Last thing - $5 minimum for credit cards! There are lots of great impulse purchases near the cashier (fancy chocolates, sliced mangos!) so you should have no trouble reaching the minimum if need be. read more

One of the better cubano's in town. Half a baguette pressed with ham, pork loin and mortadella with Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. A formidable sandwich. Crispy bread, warm melted cheese. Bam. Reasonable grocery selection as well. read more

The Lady Grey sandwich: Golden chicken breast, dill havarti, thinly sliced cucumber, ranch dressing and watercress (shredded lettuce in the winter months), served on a soft wheat bread. DELICIOUS. Do it. Tell them Melissa sent you. read more

I love perusing the refrigerated beverages! It is the best/strangest bottled/canned beverage selection in the area. The weird options never taste the way you hope they will, but it feels like you accomplished something. If you want a sure thing, the cut mango/pineapple by the register for only $.99 is always a winner. read more

Lovely and very convenient grocery for everyone living in the neighborhood. There's a surprisingly large variety of groceries for the size of the store (I was able to buy Gluten Free Flour, a variety of snacks, and some baking supplies) and, although I've never had one, I've heard great things from friends about the sandwiches. read more

This is a convenience store on Mass. Ave between Porter and Harvard Squares. It's the only real "corner store" in the area (there's a CVS in Harvard Square and a Rite-Aid much farther up Mass Ave). One might expect a place with a monopoly to be unpleasant to visit, but the store is actually quite nice. -They're open until 11PM, which is great. -They have a fair selection, especially of frozen items and drinks (for a small store, keep in mind that this is not Star Market). -The employees are universally friendly. I haven't had too many of the sandwiches, which were good but not always great. I do wish they had certain items, sometimes, or that certain items cost less. But as far as small convenience stores go, this one is a pleasure to deal with. read more

This place is a disaster. The bread for the sandwiches is spongy, the people behind the counter move slowly (and don't seem at all inclined to speed up as the crowd grows), the produce is awful, and the groceries are overpriced compared to the two Shaws stores just a few blocks away. They claim to have Boars Head products, but try ordering a pound of turkey and see if you get the same awful Jennie-O garbage available everywhere else. Montrose's saving grace is that it's geographically closest to everyone who lives near Chauncy/Langdon/Shepard/Everett streets. If the weather's bad and everywhere else is closed, I guess you're stuck with going here. read more

Dear god, if Adam E's review isn't absolutely spot on. Montrose Spa is indeed weird. It's also totally awesome, makes a great chicken salad sandwich, carries Mexican Coke (a-cola), and provides me with my morning neighborhood gossip. There's not much this place can't accomplish, except maybe the mad skill of carrying unprocessed cheese, but I'm working on it. read more

This place kept me alive during law school. I lived in the dorm right across the street. Came down here seriously 3-4 times a day to pick up sundry items - chips, crackers, soda, energy bars, sandwiches. A really convenient place if you're a student and don't want/can't do real grocery shopping. Also have amazing pressed sandwiches and, if you get there early enough, breakfast sandwiches. Also, since I left Cambridge 2 years ago, I've gone back to get a sandiwch there on each of my visits. And they always recognize me and make me feel like I'm still at home. read more

Been stopping in for years, it hasn't changed much, reminds me of a NYC deli (in a good way). Great place for your milks, juices, newspapers, etc etc. Friendly owner and staff and they make a nice breakfast sandwich, egg, bacon, cheese. Simple but good. I need to try their Cuban stuff. Word to the wise: the longer you are in there, the more stuff you're thinking to yourself, "I need this." read more

This is focused on the famous Cuban sandwich. Pretty big for the price. Surprisingly rich and cheesy. Very nicely toasted. Made to order and the wait was not too long. My only criticism is that it could have used something to balance out the richness of the cheese. More acid, maybe from more pickles or mustard, would have perfected it. Still, well worth checking out overall. read more

Montrose Spa - The Cuban - Grocery Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This place is amazing. The De Parma sandwich is incredibly and don't miss their Cubans. Great prices and great service. $5 credit card minimum. No indoor seating, but they typically have three tables outside. read more

I LOVE their grilled panini! I once brought my ex-boyfriend sandwiches from here and when we broke up he asked me what store it was, I had deliberately not told him because I didn't want to see his sorry butt there, and I'm so glad I kept my little secret! :-D Its THAT good! Great top-quality meats and ingredients, very friendly and genuine staff, and the flavors that come out of their little grill, mmmm!! I don't miss the boy but I miss the sandwiches! :-D The store also has a unique and very Cambridge type of selection of drinks and little snacks, I think I had some fried sweet potato chips there that were quite good. Stuff the over-priced Oxford spa and come here! :-D read more

Undoubtedly, a hidden jewel. Since moving to Boston from Providence, I have been on a quest to find a deli/grocery store on par with the famed Hudson Market (I would give it 6 stars if I could) and this deli is right up there. I had a very good turkey & cheese sub - they use Boar's Head meats and Piantedosi sub rolls. Yum! I've only been there once but I will definitely be going back. read more

This is a great little store nestled between Harvard and Porter Squares, on Mass Ave. From my earliest experiences to my most recent, everytime I go in there I leave satisfied knowing that they had exactly what I wanted. If you have eclectic tastes, then this little store may have exactly what you seek. I've found some items here that are hard to find at more traditional type convenience stores, ie. 7/11. Considering that and their fine little deli counter I would highly recommend this fine establishment. Regarding the deli - try out their Cuban sandwich. Everytime I've ordered one from here, my mouth, my taste buds and my stomach have experienced pleasure like none other. In addition, the staff are courteous, willing to offer you help, ask to see if you have found everything you wanted and are always quick with a smile. A great little place, indeed! read more