Went for Mother's Day 2026 and could not have been more disappointed. We made a reservation for 2pm…read moreand by 2:50 had still only received water. When our tea came we did not even have napkins or spoons to stir the tea; the place had only one server for a holiday and everyone in the restaurant was waiting an extremely long time. Why wouldn't you have more servers at a tea house on Mother's Day? I wound up getting up from our table to get our spoons, knives, and napkins from a stand I saw because we weren't being paid attention to. The food itself was pretty measly. Would never ever return. Very bad experience.

I heavily regret to say this was the worst experience ever in Tea Service!…read more We arrived here promptly at 10:00 AM as it was the only availability for Mother's Day. Firstly, I wasn't entirely thrilled about the tacky decor with peeling wallpaper. I understand they were trying to be vintage and eclectic, but it looked very cheesy to me as mismatched, teapots and plates and cups was displayed for a yard sale. On top of it they had very dirty filmy water glasses on the table which is very interesting considering we're there for tea. Why on earth would you have bottled water in Tea service? I requested another glass so our server literally picked the other glass from another table which was equally if not more filmy. Here's the most annoying part. We were there on time at 10 o'clock and there were two other parties that came literally 5 to 10 minutes after we were seated. What I don't understand is these two other parties had their tea and tea plates first and we are literally sitting there with the tea we ordered without anything to eat. Our server seemed to be overwhelmed, unnecessarily considering it wasn't crazy busy with a line out the door on the contrary, there were a couple of empty tables. There was no real reason for us to wait for our food. We waited for a good 20 minutes. We did not complain at all, but our server knew that we weren't happy based on my husband's very hungry expression and my silence. She however, apologized voluntarily about the wait and said "Sorry for the wait ...as you can see we're quite overwhelmed". When our tea tower finally came, it looked fine except we were missing the two scones. She never checked up on us and when we flagged her down regarding our missing scones. She comes back with the two ugliest scones ever one tiny one and one larger one. I was trying to not think that this was a personal vendetta. If this person was properly trained, they would know that if we're waiting, you should put two extra stones to make up for the horrible experience.. now honestly she was an older woman (who am I kidding? We're probably same age) so I felt very bad for her for some reason. There was no reason for any issues honestly, how hard is it for anyone to plate pastries and tea sandwiches on a plate??? it shouldn't take long. I have gone to many Tea services in Boston ( like The Courtyard) and even the Vintage Tea House in Lexington, which I believe might be the same company. So what happened? Different ownership? The restroom is equally bad and this entire place needs a serious upgrade. We left without any acknowledgment or goodbyes, which also confirmed the lack of warmth here. I want to be clear that it is not my best interest to put down any small businesses. On the contrary I am a big promoter of smaller businesses. But unfortunately, I know my teaware, Teas, bites, and proper service. This establishment could be top notch. If you look like looking for an upscale experience where you can have bridal showers or any celebratory occasions I would recommend other places. If you are more casual, then this place would be more appropriate. I think I overdressed for the occasion.

Each visit has made me truly fall in love with this tiny little spot that ports you back to the…read moreside streets of France. I don't find it pretentious; rather, I find it humble and unique in the way it serves up phenomenal pastries that tickle every single corner of your palate. From the croissants, the turnovers, to the delectable desserts or macarons, not one detail is spared in the intricate process of making each item stand out. They sure make the French proud (as some of the patrons openly brag about this being closest to "home"). The friendliness that they greet you as you enter to the simple smiles and gestures accommodating any and every possible question you may have is truly what seals the deal for this spot. As I sit and slowly put away whatever pastry I decided to indulge in the moment, sipping on my cafe au lait, I get to watch as different locals enter and go, chatting up a storm with each other like long lost loves, before disappearing in delight with full bags in hand. Can't wait to be back. Definitely now a weekend staple.

Horrible customer service, rude, especially by the owner. The pastries are relatively good, but…read morethere are plenty of other establishments that are able to treat customers w a modicum of respect.

Super cute place, very good vibes!! Would love to come back and sit and have tea. Only negative was…read morethat it was a teensy bit dusty. The drinks were SO SOO good. My favorite milk tea boba I've had in Boston so far. Really delicious classic tea and perfectly made boba. Nicer server too!

Really nice store. Felt very zen inside. Chill music and a nice little grass display with little…read morestuffed animals. Puerh Milk Tea: Milk tea tasted pretty average. The balance between milk and tea was missing something, I think. The boba was also average. Not bad, but not a standout. A little on the pricier side.

Super happy to have a banh mi spot that isn't so far into Boston!…read more Super yummy flavor in the banh mis, my boyfriend loves the grilled pork and I love the cold cuts. The grilled beef skewers are also super good. I love the thai tea here as well. Would definitely keep coming back!!!

I have friends who tell me, "You could just make those spring rolls yourself, you know..."…read more Lies. (I've tried. They tasted like sadness.) The ones from Banh Mi Cafe are enormous, sooo fresh, and exactly what I wish mine tasted like. Both the fish sauce and the peanut sauce are excellent, and when I need to bring something to a summer potluck but don't have time to cook, I just order six orders of spring rolls and suddenly everyone at the potluck is happy. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is also absolute jet fuel. It's my go-to whenever I need to work a late night. But the reason I'll always be loyal to Banh Mi Café has nothing to do with the food. ::IT'S STORYTIME:: One evening I developed an absolutely irrational craving for their avocado smoothie with boba. I spent the whole day thinking about it, finally placed an online order, and then got a phone call saying they had just run out. They apologized and offered a replacement or a refund. Instead, I asked them a weird question: "I know this is kind of crazy...but if you'll have avocado again on Saturday, could you just make this exact order then instead, and I'll come pick it up?" To my surprise, they said yes. A couple of days later, I picked up my avocado smoothie, my fresh spring rolls, and went home happy. Maybe it was more work than it was worth for the employee, maybe it wasn't; either way, they took an odd request seriously, and that's the kind of customer service that sticks with you. Beyond the spring rolls, I've also really enjoyed the nem chua, the cold cut banh mi (I wish the bread were a little softer, but the condiments and veggies are excellent), and the grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves, which I hadn't tried before and now LOVE. I still have a growing list of desserts to work through, including the flan. One thing to know before you go, regarding ambiance: this is more of a grab-and-go spot, not somewhere to settle in for lunch. There are only a few bar seats, so I almost always take my food with me, sometimes to the nearby park. There are plenty of Vietnamese restaurants around Boston, and while I'll always happily try new ones, Banh Mi Cafe has earned my loyalty, one avocado smoothie at a time.

I woke up with a very specific craving for mochi, and my dear husband gave in and drove me 20…read moreminutes to Crystal Bakery. We ended up getting two strawberry cream mochi, one mango cream mochi, and the mango pomelo sago. The sago was definitely on the expensive side for the portion, but it absolutely hit the spot and satisfied the craving. The mochi was the real star. The outer layer was soft, chewy, and pillowy, while the filling was light, creamy, and not overly sweet. The strawberry cream mochi tasted fresh and delicate, and the mango version was rich, fruity, and refreshing. Each one felt like biting into a little cloud. The mango pomelo sago was creamy and packed with mango flavor, making for a nice contrast to the mochi. Not exactly an everyday treat given the prices, but for a special craving, it was worth the drive and I'd happily come back.

Confusing looooong menu. The menu isn't very user-friendly, so we went for a recommendation by…read moreanother yelper - get the fresh mochi they said. So we did. Fresh mochi with matcha cream and taro paste, rolled in butter crunch flakes. The order took more than a few minutes to get ready, and it's a little hard to know if your order is ready because there is no visual indicator (a screen displaying order numbers would be so helpful). The staff also wasn't the most careful with the way they were using gloves, they touched their face, the register etc etc. Plus the place is small without any seating so it can get crowded and you don't even know how much time for your order to be ready. But omg the mochi was spectacular. Soft chewy tasty not too sweet. Absolutely smacked it out of the park. A lot of points to improve upon but 5 star mochi.

While my family was visiting from out of state, my boyfriend and I took them to this charming and…read moreadorable diner in Watertown. If you are driving, be mindful that just like their cafe, the parking lot is also quite tiny! However, they do open up their outside dining in they summer when ther weather is nicer which opens up a lot of space to eat! This diner had a gluten friendly labeled menu and was able to accommodate me with Celiac Disease. On top of that, they had amazing lattes. My boyfriend got the mocha, which in terms of mochas - may have been one of the best ones I've had (and I am NOT a mocha fan). I had a milkyway latte with almond milk which I thoroughly enjoyed, along with my breakfast which consisted of gluten free pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Overall, if you need allergy accommodations and want diner food - this place is definitely on my recommendation list!

Came here by total accident. Seriously ... I was thinking of a different restaurant when I…read moreaccidentally clicked on this one. So happy for the mistake because this place is so quaint and yummy!!! From the outside ... and honestly on the inside too, it's very underwhelming. However, once you experience the home town friendliness and delicious, diner-like food, you really forget about the ambiance and instead ... enjoy the diner-next-door vibes and hominess. The place is small, but I appreciated the online "waitlist" feature. It goes by a lot quicker than expected. I had to re-put myself on the waitlist cuz we weren't at the restaurant yet. This place also has a "order at the counter" first and then get seated situation, which helps things move along and turn tables over, but I'd have to say that this is my least favorite part. You get more fast food vibes than dining in vibes. The food, however, was definitely worth it. They have a large menu with amazing coffee drinks. The coffee drink I got was probably my favorite part. The food is also really good and feels like breakfast without being too greasy and heavy feeling. I came here for breakfast, but I definitely want to try their lunch menu too. I'm glad my family and I stumbled on this place by accident cuz I definitely discovered a gem in the rough.

Hidden in the residential corner of Watertown/ Cambridge, this cafe has gone under my radar for…read morequite some time although I drive by there a lot. It has a small parking lot and street parking but I made a mistake of going there on a Sunday morning and it was all full nearby. Cute cafe and decor with quite a lot seating but it is packed into a small area. I have tried pour over and vanilla latte there. Pour over was great; you can choose over their different selection of beans. Coffee is good quality and delicious but their lattes can get expensive. They also have pastries that I haven't tried. -7.5/10

The parking is limited. It is definite pricey where I spent 6:00 for a large ice coffee. I was…read moresmall at any other establishment. There was seating inside. It looked like it was strictly a coffeehouse. I would think twice before returning.

1st time experiencing this gem that sits by itself other than the salon next door - all because I…read morehad seen the hashbrown waffle and had to try it! Although it took a while to prepare - I enjoyed my hazelnut oat milk latte with a delicious flavor of ESPRESSO throughout the entire drink - not just the syrup! Once the hashbrown waffle arrived I knew I made the right choice for my Sunday brunch - YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY THIS and I can't wait to come back to try their remaining menu items.

First time here. Fantastic service and food. All made fresh. Coffee is incredible. Cortodito was…read moreamazing. I had the avocado toast, but I added salmon on top. Excellent definitely coming back. Cute clean atmosphere.