Darwin’s

Overal the food is great, but pricey. Quality is good, but over $ 10 for a sandwich after tax is a bit extreme. Service is generally good, but the one thing that really frustrates me about this place is that they run out of ciabatta bread every day. If I arrive after 12:15pm for lunch, it’s very likely they’ll be out of ciabatta. If the ciabatta is so popular then why don’t you just have more of it on hand instead of running out every single day before the lunch hour has really started. Just seems like either bad planning or you don’t really care about giving customers what they want. If I’m going to pay more than $ 10 for a sandwich I at least expect to get the bread that I want.

Food and coffee was good. I went there for the first time today. The woman behind the counter acted as if it was a privilege for me to be served there and I wasn’t worthy her service.
I wanted to order a sandwich asked for wheat bread. We are out of wheat. Here are you options as she tosses a list of breads available on the counter in front of me.
I order the sandwich and wait. We had waited for just a few minutes and then out of the blue she says your sandwich is waiting here and points to it on the counter. There was no one else in line. She could have handed it to me but no. I then asked for a bag to go and she points over to the area and says bags are over there.
Small coffee shop like this that wasn’t busy, I would expect a more friendly environment. Maybe hand me the sandwich and smile. Is that to much to ask for? Luckily I don’t live in Cambridge and won’t be frequenting this place. Poorly done woman!

This is a great place to pick up a delicious mocha or latte. In addition to regular milk, they also have almond and soy milk for an extra charge. I frequented this establishment several times during the week I was in the Cambridge area for work. The mocha with almond milk was my favorite — it was creamy and had a well-​balanced full flavor of espresso and chocolate. It was not overly or artificially sweet so it was a great way to start my day.
The girls behind the counter were really friendly which is so refreshing to see in Boston! I ordered the Essex sandwich (eggs, asparagus, tomato, and brie) with gluten free bread and the girl taking my order made sure to ask me if it was an allergy. I added bacon to the sandwich and the girl making the sandwich called me over when it was done and apologized that she forgot to add the bacon until the end. She said the bacon would have been incorporated better if she had remembered while the sandwich was being assembled. It was no big deal to me at all (bacon is bacon) but I just thought that it was so nice for her to explain and apologize for this.
It’s a nice place to grab a quiet and quick breakfast or just a cup of coffee in the morning if you’re by yourself. The seating is limited as other Unilocalers have mentioned. It’s also not conducive for chatting because of the odd set-​up. Also the prices were reasonable for the area. I would definitely go back if I’m in town again especially for a mocha!

So many negative reviews, and I don’t know why. I’ve been here all afternoon and I don’t plan on leaving! My biggest issue is that it’s freezing in here (though I don’t have many layers on so that may be my fault), and I still don’t plan on leaving.
Darwin’s is located on Mass Ave, with a very long space. The shape of the café is probably the reason why they would have trouble with tables, and instead have a long bar-​like table that extends along the sides of the walls. There are many stools and a bunch of outlets, so people (like myself!) can work comfortably. Thankfully there’s also wifi, so you really never have to leave.
Their specialty is their sandwiches, and in my opinion, their Chai Tea Lattes. I can’t remember precisely what the barista told me, but I think they make their own chai tea. It’s incredible! Foamy, warm, and tasty. It wasn’t very spicy, which personally I was thankful for. Quite honestly, it was probably one of the best I’ve ever had. I’m glad I got it hot, instead of iced, which is how I usually get it.
I also got The Fairmont sandwich on Ciabatta bread, which, according to the website, is made of. «Turkey Breast & Swiss Cheese with a Sundried Tomato Pesto Mayonnaise, Lettuce, and Tomato.» Delicious! It was also rather large and I couldn’t finish it, and the sundried tomato pesto mayo made an otherwise normal sandwich quite tasty. Highly recommend. Wish I had enough room to try another.
The staff is friendly. They asked for my name and used it to thank me and call my order (as per usual), which is always nice. I really liked the couple of people working here today (March 20, 2016). The guy I spoke to told me about their chai tea latte, and he seemed quite knowledgable about their various teas, which is comforting to know. His description of the chai tea convinced me to get it.
The stools are surprisingly more comfortable than I thought they would be, though chairs with backs would be nice. I’m by the door and it’s quite cold here, but otherwise this café is lovely and I could see myself frequenting this place if only I were a student in the area. Everyone who has been to Darwin’s is quite a fan, and now so am I! Definitely stop by if you want to get some work done, or want to grab a bite to eat or tea to drink!

I used to go to the Darwin’s near Harvard frequently in undergrad, so I was excited when I finally stopped by this location.
The downsides:
–not much seating
–quality has gone down a bit in recent years for the price you pay
–not super clean when I went
The upsides:
–Good breads/​pastries
–Fun breakfast sandwich options — MUCH better than the lunch options
–Friendly service
I think I’d stop by again for breakfast sandwiches, but will stay away from the deli meats. They aren’t as good as they used to be — a little slimy, seemed a little old.

Only 3.5 stars? What is up with the hate? I’ve read the reviews and there is some messed up things that people are saying about the staff? Dear Unilocaled who do you think you are to judge these people? Do you even know what you are talking about? The people who work at this location are some often sweetest folks in the industry. So dear Unilocaler please stop trolling and being a blue meanie. Life is too short for that non sense.
As far as the food goes. unbelievable! My weekend go to spot for some righteous breakfast. The sandwiches are great too! Fresh ingredients and

MIT breakfast burrito+pastrami=best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had. And it was HUGE. My girlfriend got the Main St (avocado+bacon) on sourdough and had a similar breakfast experience. Worth the money.

Although the quality of the coffee and sandwiches were decent, Darwin’s ambiance and service is a bit too hipster for me

This place is a gem. It’s very quiet and a good place to work. Their sandwich selection looks great, and the one sandwich I had was pretty good. I’m impressed and will be back regularly, I think.

Worst coffee experience in a very long time. Even though not busy I waited 10 – 12 minutes for my drink then when I asked about it, instead of being even mildly apologetic they treated me like I was an asshole for saying something. What’s that all about?
Worse, the coffee wasn’t drinkable, how can you get an Americano in an 8 oz cup and be watery? Or have it taste like bitter drip coffee from last night? It cost $ 3 and I tossed it into the garbage.
Give this place a WIDE berth.

Darwin’s was the luckiest find on a chilly, windy Sunday Saturday morning on the northern side of the Charles. My girlfriend and I had just finished brunch and were wandering the outside, only to find the MIT museum ‘closed’ despite people waiting outside, also terrorized by the chill. Entering Darwin’s was a godsend, and for a coffee nut like myself, really enjoyable.
The guy was really knowledgeable with the coffee, and gave me a well-​enjoyed rundown of the roaster and the flavoring profile of the espresso used for the capp I ordered. I haven’t explored much of East Coast roasting, but it was refreshing to listen to the enthusiasm and the passion that goes into the coffee. The capp was really smooth and slightly bright. The perfect thing to warm me up on a chilly morning.

Great specialty coffee with delicious desserts/​pastries and excellent service!

I really love the Mt. Auburn Darwin’s so when I was eating at Naco Taco I stopped here to get an iced coffee. I tried their nitrogen coffee and thought it tasted like watered down old coffee, so I chose the regular iced. It was also bad. Tasted really old. Major bummer because I always liked Darwin’s coffee at Mt. Auburn and I thought this would be good. It was actually so bad I threw it out. Their desserts looked amazing though.

Love Darwin’s, and glad to see it has expanded into a third location closer to my new apartment. The breakfast sandwiches are a must if you make it in time for them. The other sandwiches are also pretty solid, can’t go wrong with «The Mass Ave».
FYI, this space is smallest of the three locations so there’s not that much seating.

Very tasty coffee and delicious Boston Cream Pie. Unassuming façade. Blink and you’ll miss it.

Cool concept, super «hip» feeling, and the food is good… but not great. For the price, the food should be better (we tried the soup and a couple different sandwiches), and the portions are tiny. The hot pastrami Reuben was tasty, but thin on the meat and not THAT tasty. And no pickle with the sandwich?
Coffee is not bad as well, but well not worth the price. I understand if you need to stay competitive, but this place redefines the meaning of «nickel and dime» :(

I admittedly started my recent Saturday morning heading to Flour, but they were closed. In hindsight, I am glad they were closed as it encouraged me to finally try out Darwins as I have been looking to check out this newbie to the Central Sq. neighborhood after hearing good things about the other location.
The staff at Darwin’s was friendly and efficient. The atmosphere doesn’t seem to encourage hanging out for too long, but that’s not a bad thing. There are no tables, but instead a low counter that wraps around the perimeter.
My iced chai was good and the egg sandwich I had with asparagus was fresh and tasty. There were few pastries on display when we came in as it was pretty early, but they looked yummy. I’d be curious to try Darwin’s for lunch, because I think they could pull together a strong showing.
Overall, I liked Darwin’s and think it compliments some of its neighbors. I hate to draw direct comparisons, but I think it is necessary in this case. There are many times when I want a more traditional egg sandwich for breakfast and Darwin’s offers that, my good friend Flour does not. Prices are comparable for sandwiches between the two establishments — this isn’t to say I think the prices for an egg sandwich are reasonable, but they are somewhat unique and filling. When it comes to raspberry seltzer water or sticky buns, I will head to flour, but when it comes to coffee or a breakfast sandwich — I’m happy there is an additional option nearby.

Was deciding between a 3 and 4 star rating, but opted for the 4 because I’m a fan of Darwin’s in general. I live on the west side of Cambridge, so I’ve been to their two other locations around Harvard (which are amazing and always a go-​to café option).
Glad to see this location open up in Central, but its wall seating makes it difficult for socializing or working. It’s a little strange to be facing a wall with all the seats, and I probably would have liked more open seating. Coffee and food are great, as usual for Darwin’s — it’s a great spot to hit up if you’re on the go!

«Is it wrong to date your ex’s brother?» That sums up my feelings as I tentatively crossed the threshold into the New Darwin’s.
I had just hit my limit with the aggravation and attitude of the Mt Auburn St location and vowed never to eat there again. And then! Two blocks from my house appeared a small outpost of the very sandwich shop I had sworn off.
Since it was the experience and not the sandwiches that drove me away from Darwin’s, I decided to give this new place a shot. It has the same solid sandwich selection as the other locations, but (at least on the day I went) without the attitude. I had The Franklin and was happy with it. They’ve still got some growing pains (putting the menus where people can find them, keeping the water full), but it’s up and running pretty smoothly for a new place.
So, Darwin’s, I guess as long as it’s not awkward to run into your brother at family get togethers, we can give this new relationship a shot.

New outpost on Mass Ave. This location is a bit smaller with less seating, but the clean, polished interior is very welcoming, as is the fine indie/​classic rock playlist and charming staff. There is also less of a food menu than their other shops, but there is a fine selection of sandwiches and breakfast items. However, they brew the same great coffee as the Darwin’s we all love, and the pastry and the food menu seems to be expanding. The kitchen also looks ready to go. You won’t find a market-​like shop in this location either, which can be overwhelming at the other locations. I’m excited to have another Darwin’s among us, and this place will definitely put some pressure on Flour across the street.