Emerson’s Cafe

Saw a worker spit into a bagel, which are soft, never toasted well, and consistently over-​cream-​cheesed anyway.

This place is a dysfunctional mess. I ordered a plain bagel with peanut butter, that’s it, and waited 20 MINUTES for it. There was only one guy making the bagels, and he sliced all the plain ones open, left them there, and then proceeded to make all the hot bagels, meaning anyone who ordered a hot bagel (both people before and ahead of me), got their bagels before the people who ordered PLAIN BAGELS. Oh, and instead of bringing stuff out as it was ready, he let bagels that were ready to go lie there and brought them all out at once instead of bringing them out as they were ready (literally he was just standing there most of the time when he could’ve been giving people plain bagels while he waited for the hot bagels to heat up), so after he brought out 5+ hot bagels all the cold bagels were still lying on the counter for another good five minutes before I said something. Then I was handed a container of peanut butter and the bagel, which literally could’ve only taken 30 seconds if they had done that in the first place. The bagels are okay, but this place is severely understaffed and does NOT have an organized or logical routine.

This was pretty awful. The food was the food you’d expect. Places like this need to thrive off their service, because they don’t have the most mind blowing boiled rings of bread. It took 15 minutes to get a couple sandwiches. Music was like some sort of comedy pot rock. And in this day and age, free wifi is a must. Haven’t been in such a stingy city with its wifi before in my life. Again. A good customer experience is what makes places like this succeed. If I’m ever back in Boston, will avoid this place for all it’s worth

I really like this place, the people their are so nice and because I go there a lot they know me well. They have several really good items but what I love most is their soup. Honestly nothing beats hot soup in the winter and they have some great soup. My favorite is their buffalo chicken soup… perfectly seasoned so it’s not too hot to enjoy. They also make a great clam chowder and vegetable soup too. Most of their sandwiches are really tasty and they have a choice of delicious desserts. I really like their café latte as well.

I needed some caffeine and a restroom, but not in that order since I am 9 months pregnant. I was feeling hot so I ordered an iced chai. They were out of chai. I settled for an unsweetened iced coffee. Then I asked to use the restroom. I’m assuming there wasn’t one because the answer I got from an employee was «Nah,» the lazy cousin of the word «no.» Would I go back to Emerson Café? Never again.

The café management has changed and the food started out a little different (and not better) but has more or less improved back to the same standards as before. They’re still kind of getting their seal legs, so to speak, but it’s better than a month ago.

This café is okay for a quick stop if you need an urgent coffee (since there won’t be anyone in line) or something quick to eat, but it really has no redeeming qualities to make it worth the thought of a visit. The paninis seem pre-​packaged, as do most of their pastries, so again, only good if desperate.

A few years ago, when I was an Emerson undergrad, the café was a much needed relief from dining hall food. While there are a lot of non-​school food options in the area, they don’t take the prepaid money on Emerson student accounts. Emerson’s Café does, on the other hand, so I found my young self here often.
But now I’m older and wiser. I have to pay with regular cash/​credit, so I don’t eat at my alma mater in favor of better places. A college friend of mine came visiting from out of town, however, and insisted we eat here, for nostalgia’s sake.
The paninis are already pre-​assembled, and then heated to order. My tomato and mozzarella panini was a little soggy in the middle. I thought it was a little pricey given its not too impressive size. Luckily, we visited on a weekend and not on a weekday when students are trying to get coffee or a quick bite between classes, but I still felt damned old.
Thanks for the memories, but I think I’m happy with keeping my relationship with Emerson’s Café solely in the past.

As an Emerson student who used to live on-​campus, it was the best food option that accepted Boardbucks when trying to avoid the runs. And it wasn’t that bad. Of course, you should avoid the café during class times like the plague, because it get crazy busy.
But as an Emerson student who lives OFF campus, it’s an expensive sandwich, which could be way cheaper for what I’m getting. So I haven’t bought anything from that place since I left campus.

Emerson Café sometimes gets a bad rep that it CERTAINLY does not deserve.
First of all, it’s one of the only places nearby that puts the butter or cream cheese on your bagel for you. And they aren’t stingy either. My personal favorite panini is the Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella but most people love the French Connection. Their sandwiches and wraps are fabulous, even the pre-​packaged Pilgrim.
I’m don’t recommend the iced coffee or the pre-​packaged sweets, but everything else is ace.
Some Emerson folks complain about the wait, but come on guys. Everyone wants to spend their board bucks instead of cash, and we all know the rush hours by this point.
Finally, if you’re under the impression that the staff there isn’t friendly, you’ve clearly forgotten to say «Please» or «Thank you.» If you respect them, they’ll be nice back! They’re all great people.

While I was living on-​campus at Emerson this was a staple of my diet, and I admit that I will always love their mozarella paninis. The location is obviously great for students of the school, and they accept both Board Bucks and EC Cash. However, for someone who’s not a student its probably just a so-​so place. The coffee is alright, the chai is terrible, and most of the food (but not all) is good. I can only attest to the meatless stuff, and aside from my favorite panini I also like the spinach wrap. The service here is different depending on who’s working, and for the love of god don’t try to go there around lunchtime or you will be engulfed by a crowd of Emerson hipsters.

I once was at Emerson Café getting coffee and decided to use their bathroom. MISTAKE.
There was, and this is not a joke, a live rat inside the bathroom. Not kidding.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m an Emerson student so sometimes I’m forced to patronize Emerson Café out of convenience. But only when I’m desperate. The rat still haunts me to this day. Plus, their sandwiches are poorly made and overpriced, and I’m never sure if I’m actually drinking coffee or just warm brown water, that’s how flavorless it is.

The only reason I go here is because it’s right next to Emerson and sometimes a girl needs a little snack to get through a four hour class.
The people that work there always seem miserable. The sandwiches are awful. Every time someone would bring one back after break they took one bite, pitched and whined about how much they paid for it.

Coffee? Meh. Sometimes it tastes metallic. Sometimes it’s okay. Nevertheless, it’s more expensive than Dunkin Donuts down the block, and also much slower. On occasion, I’ve felt that I could cultivate my own coffee bean crop in the same time it takes to pour a cup.
Sandwiches? Meh. Panini are okay, if uninspired. Basil sneaks its way into every sandwich, just like that unpopular, obnoxious freshman who manages to snag Facebook party invites and shows up to steal all your cheap liquor. The chicken pesto panini is dry and kind of sweet, in a bad way. They’re all big sandwiches, though, and relatively cheap. You could probably get two uses out of one, if you’re poor.
Other stuff? Yogurt and fruit cup are good, salads are standard and taste like they came out of the dining hall, bagels and pastry are probably all right but I’ve never tried them.
Unfortunately, the atmosphere is terrible, the seats are uncomfortable, and it’s not really a café to hang out in. For being a supposed hotbed of creativity, Emerson has a way of creating really bland, antiseptic, Mondrian-​inspired public places. This is one of them. It’s not comfy. It’s good to grab a quick bite, but that’s it.

I love the Emerson Café.
My favorite things: Apple Spice Tea, Coffee, Raisin Bagel, Pesto Chicken Panini, Tomato & Mozzarella Panini, Tuna Salad… and the jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Sometimes during the school year the lines are long.
The service is friendly and efficient. They have recently undergone renovations so there is room to meet up with friends or study if you like distractions!

So, went in to Emerson’s this morning (a normal thing for me) and ordered my standard large coffee and a bagel. Much to my dismay, the woman at the counter tells me, «we are out of large cups.» Ummm… what? Out of large cups… at a place that clearly caters to students stressed out from exams?
So…politely, I ask what my options are. She tells me they have the larger iced coffee cups. Now, I hate iced coffee. I am just not a fan. However, in the interest of Caffeination I suck it up and say sure.
Then, as the woman behind me comes up to order, she says, yes, Large Coffee please. And what does the woman behind the counter say? Sure, cream and sugar with that?
WHAT?

Every morning when I go to school…
and the weather is rather cool…
I step into this café and get a bagel with cream cheese…
(add tomato, if you please).
The ladies there give a warm smile…
even if the line goes on for a mile.
Their sandwiches are really quite divine.
the tuna melt and pepper turkey are worth any (between class) line.
They’ll make your sandwich really quite quick and…
I just love hearing them yell «PESTO CHICKEN!»

EC Cash (dining $ for Emerson Students) only works in one place besides residential buildings at Emerson, and it’s the over-​priced, under-​spiced Emerson’s Café. Everything here is bland and clearly prepared in the dining hall, just a building over.
Because it’s the only communal place for Emerson students to be loud, eat, and get wireless indoors, it’s always packed. Walking there between passing class hours is usually a nightmare due to the clouds of smoke you’ll be forced to trek through.
Overall: Cool if you’re an Emerson student, I guess. But anyone looking for good food & flavor should walk a block and a half to Lambert’s Marketplace (140 Tremont)

I stopped in here for a coffee while waiting to meet for Shabu. I wanted to go somewhere besides Starbucks and DD. I wasn’t that impressed. It took the kid behind the counter, five minutes to ring up my coffee. When I finally received it, it tasted burned and horrible. I saw no difference between their coffee and the SB’s down the street.
Maybe their food is better.

I always go here before my morning classes. The bagels here are great. I usually get it toasted with cream cheese. They put the cream cheese on thick something I’ve noticed DD’s and Starbucks won’t do. the ladies behind the counter are really nice and friendly.
However the line can be a little too long and inside it’s sometimes crowded. Also sometimes they run out of the bagels I like.
Overall great place to grab a quick breakfast for class, and the bagel comes out to under two dollars.