Ball Square Café

Amazing food and very friendly staff. We went there for a Sunday brunch. I had Mexican omelet which was great! Everyone in our party loved their food as well. Will definitely go back there.

I understand that some people appreciate variety but I value quality over quantity. It would be much nicer if they did a few breakfast items well then to do tons of not particularly well, especially for the prices charged.
It’s rather ridiculous to have a $ 14 «meat lovers omelette» that only comes with one meat & every additional meet costing extra.
That being said customer service could also be improved. We called in advance letting them know we had a large party coming in. However we ended up waiting over 20 minutes while several other groups got seated in tables that could’ve been pushed together for our group. I don’t want to say there was a racial aspect to it but it seemed to me like there was, since we were the only people of color in the restaurant besides the staff. In short, Unilocal reviews lead us astray on this one.

pretty solid but just a few minor touches away from being 4 stars vs. 3.
first off, there was a line out the door and many people quite willing to wait, which wasn’t annoying but really tickled my curiosity to try this place i had bookmarked for a while now. the owner/​manager guy was super friendly when he checked in with us while in line and i noticed him saying hello and hugging people as they passed by the café and even shouting greetings to people driving by. i found that incredibly charming! loved it already.
i got a breakfast sandwich with massive thick cuts of avocado, cheddar, grilled red onion & grilled tomato. it was delicious but the bagel they served it on was kind of cheap and not a great bagel overall. the red onion was also cut a little too thick for my liking, so while it was delicious there were a few places for improvement imo.
the french toast is massive and quite yummy– their whipped cream is more like a stabilized whipped cream with that cool whip-​like texture (in a GOOD way). the only thing however was that the bread used wasn’t really ideal (it didn’t soak up the egg/​batter enough and got dense and tough when you cut into it) and overall not eggy enough.
i think this place is totally solid and i’d go back again if i were a local, but it wasn’t really so great that it’d be worth me going here vs. somewhere closer to home. still, i would easily recommend it but again, not push anyone to go out of their way. that’s just my 2 cents but clearly this place has a huge following and some serious loyalists waiting in line and leaving some stellar reviews!

My review is amended not by my choice but because the owner sent a complaint in to Unilocal.So here is an amended review.
The one star is due to the rudeness of the hostess/​seater. The food is worth the wait and the owner did reach out to see how my experience went AFTER I wrote my original review (which is included at the end of this «amended» review. If there were separate reviews for food and service I would give the food a good rating and the service a very poor rating. I do hope the owner «Mike» will take better care at training the staff with more sensitive customer service skills. I know they get busy and they have their policies for how they handle their crowded busy hours but really, some basic human decency would be a good addition to some of their staff.
I will NOT be visiting this place again EVER. I stand by my one star rating because it expresses how my experience went at this establishment. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
My original review:
Too bad there is no option for zero stars. This place has no human decency. Worst service I have ever had in my life. Don’t go eat here. They are rude and nasty and have no human decency. Avoid it like the plague. Really. I can’t say any worse without using foul language. Just terrible.

Charming, consistently tasty, and the menu variety will keep you coming back for something different each time. Coffee and tea options are unique and I love that I can self-​serve when my cup gets cold.
This is a must-​do for those out of town guests you want to impress!

About a 30 – 45 minute wait at 11am on a Sunday for 3 adults and one baby. Not bad at all. Super affordable, the food was good, and the owner was incredibly nice.
THE SERVICE
Beyond amazing. The owner has a big personality and seemed to know half the people in line. He was super accommodating of my friends having a 4-​month-​old, and we absolutely felt no judgement when the baby cried for a little bit. In fact, the staff seemed to go out of their way to say hi to the baby, see how she’s doing, and make us feel at home.
THE COST
I think $ 20 total including tax/​tip. Crazy cheap!
MUST-​HAVES
Grilled Potato Mash!
SIDES
You have the option of their two types of potatoes to go with the omelette — you can also get both. After having tried both, I would’ve just gotten the Grilled Potato Mash.
* Grilled Potato Mash — 5 stars
As good as everyone claims it to be. The garlic flavor & the crisp are great, and you get a lot of it.
* Classic home fries — 4 stars
Still great, though could use just another thin layer of crisp to give it that perfect crunch.
OMELETTES
* Athenian (sauteed fresh baby spinach and tomatoes w/​feta cheese. $ 12.95) — 4 stars
The omelette was just the right texture. The ingredients were great. My only small complaint is the spinach/​feta weren’t evenly distributed in the omelette. I was sharing this with my friend and went for the half that ended up being mostly egg.
FRENCH TOAST
* Pear Stuffed (stuffed w/​sliced pears & goat cheese. $ 11.50) — 4 stars
Yum! This stuffing was a great combo. I ate this after my friend so the french toast itself had hardened a little, but it seemed much softer when the dish first came out. The whipped cream was dense and buttery, and the toast with that plus maple syrup was great.

Large portions, great quality, and justifiable price point. Great atmosphere too. If you’re looking for your dependable café fix, look no further.

The server made it clear she was being specifically rude and nasty to me because I am pregnant. Don’t give this place your custom.
So yes, I’m 8 months pregnant with twins. You can’t miss that I’m pregnant! I went into Ball Square Café on Broadway. They had about 5 empty tables. I walked in and asked for a table for 2. The server said yes, then said, I can’t sit you until all your party is here. I replied that my boyfriend was parking the car. She said, I can’t seat you. I said, I’m heavily pregnant, please can you let me sit down? Her reply was to LAUGH IN MY FACE and say, No! I’m not changing the rules because you are pregnant! So, I said I wouldn’t be bringing my business there. I went outside to wait for Jim and when he arrived I was outside on the sidewalk quite upset. He went in to have a word and I followed in. He asked her if that was how they treat all their customers, and couldn’t they have some flexibility. Her reply was «No. Pregnant women work until they pop». We must have both looked so shocked because she then tried to back track and say that she «would have» offered me a seat — except she just didn’t. And she didn’t even when I was clearly upset and waiting outside for Jim after my first encounter with her. She also tried to say that I yelled at her, which if you’ve ever met me… well, let’s just say, I’m English and I really do conform to that stereotype… I just don’t yell. Actually by that point I was so upset I was shaking and crying. But that didn’t seem to bother her. — still no apology! We walked out and I am never going there again,

First time in Massachusetts and this was the first place I was taken to for breakfast. The atmosphere was very comfortable and I was greeted with a smile by our waiter. Everything on the menu was very reasonable and looked oh so good. They even had pictures on the tv display that showed actual size and how it’d look. When I got my food, everything smelled and tasted PERFECT. The eggs weren’t your ordinary eggs! They were scrambled wonderful and the cheese melted in them so great. I had caramelized French toast with strawberries they were hug slices of bread. I’d def go again before I leave the area!

This place is by far THE BEST breakfast/​brunch place I’ve been to. It beats any IHOP or Denny’s or any other place. Their portions are enormous!!! I go into this place every time with the mindset that I’ll share a plate. But that never happens because I look at the menu and I want everything. Their whipped cream is to die for. I’d wanna make castles out of it. Their pancakes and waffles are so huge that I could order one plate of it and split it into hree meals. I almost always get the Nutella French toast. Haven’t been able to finish it even once. The fruits are bought from a local store nearby and they’re soooo fresh. I don’t have enough words to describe how amazing this place is. Everybody please try this placr out. Oh and don’t forget if you get there around 11 be prepared to wait in line for at least an hour even though the owner may say that the table will be ready in 20mins.
And now my mouth is watering thinking about the food. Where are my keys!!!

Come early for brunch!
WAIT
On a Saturday or Sunday, if you come around 9:00 — 9:30, you will wait less than 30 minutes. By the time we left around 11:00 AM the line was well down the block. The location is pretty small and diner style, so the line forms on the street. Mike, the owner, greets every new party, letting them know of the wait (which is very accurate) and tells guests they can self-​serve coffee. However, it is not free! Hot coffee costs almost $ 4 (free refills), and iced coffee costs ~$ 2 (no refills). I wasn’t aware of the prices beforehand.
+ COWBOY BENEDICT (SPECIAL) /​/​This special eggs benedict came accompanied with bell peppers, onions, & bacon with grilled corn bread and the option for grilled hash browns or home fries. My boyfriend opted for the grilled hash browns and it was so good! I loved the combination of benedict, corn bread, and hash browns!
+ TRI BERRY WAFFLE /​/​I asked for my waffle to come with their house made whipped cream, which made all the difference. They also do not skimp on the fruit here! I had plenty of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries with every bite of my waffle. I do wish the waffle was a little bit more crunchy!
Because this place gets crazy busy, it is not a place where you want to linger and catch up with friends. Get in and get out so others can try the food here!

Solid breakfast spot. Best on weekdays when its slow, weekends are a nightmare because it’s simply too busy and I hate waiting for breakfast! :)
I like their selection and its classic and quick.
I always get the same thing which is the Fit for a King breakfast that has eggs, sausage, french toast etc. Can’t go wrong.
I think this is my favourite spot of the 3 brunch places in Ball Square (Sound Bites, Kellys)
Definitely recommend and go early or with extra time to wait in line. Self serve coffee, tea, juice which is kind of cool

My other half and I came here for breakfast on Monday.
At first glance, the prices for breakfast seemed high. However, when the food was delivered to our table, we saw that we were getting what we were paying for .
Portion size left nothing to be desired, and we could barely finish it! Food was very tasteful.
Our waiter George was very attentive.
Mike, co-​owner manager was very attentive, very personable. Working like one of his employees .
We both enjoyed our experience dinning in.
Because of distance, we probably will not be back as soon as we would like, but that doesn’t mean we won’t keep this restaurant in mind as our first choice for breakfast if we are in the area.

Came here again with three friends and I’m so happy to say that they also fell in love with Ball Square Café!
We got the Famous Coconut Macaroon French Toast (which was utterly divine), Chocolate Chip Strawberries Pancakes (also so good!!), Avocado and Tomato Eggs Benedict (also very good), and Multi-​Grain Belgian Waffle with Fresh Fruits (very good as well!).
We got there at around 9:55 and only had to wait 10 min for a party of 4 so definitely come around then.
I’ll be sure to stop by Ball Square again before I leave for summer vacation!

Ball Square Café is a very solid breakfast place. Everything we got with our group of four was on point. The proprietor was friendly and kept checking on us while we waited in line. We will be back again.
There are 4 tables for groups of 4, and I believe 7 or 8 tables for groups of 2. Lines can get long, so be aware! You can go inside and get yourself a coffee while you are waiting with others.

It’s like a delicious cross between a hipster Café and your favorite diner. The food is A-​MAZ-​ING and the service will knock your socks off. Coffee and tea is bottomless, and it’s the good stuff, too.
The only downside is that it’s street parking only, so make sure you bring lots of quarters!
My friends and I shared a fruity waffle, and I must say, that whipped cream is HEAVENLY. Definitely strive to get something with whipped cream. The fruit on top was ultra fresh as well. Yum.
I also got the classic Eggs Benedict and very much enjoyed them. They have a new (to me) and exciting side for all your starchy needs called a grilled mash, which is perfectly seasoned mashed potatoes that are then grilled to give you that delicious brown crust that you know you’ve always wanted.
Great place, great service, and I will definitely return (with more quarters).

This place!
Just flat out scrumptious I tell ya. The hubby and I grabbed some brunch after dropping the kiddos off for the day.
As soon as we stepped in, Mike, one of the owners, greeted us with a welcoming smile and firm handshake. We had about a five minute wait, and this was while they cleaned off the table. The place was full, but there wasn’t a line, so we didn’t feel rushed while eating our food. We went around 11:00~11:30 on a Friday.
I had the Mexican omelet with a half portion of Coconut Macaroon French toast. My hubby had a cheese omelet with a half portion of Apple Caramel Cinnamon French toast. Okay, WAY too much food. The portions are extremely generous. We would have done well to split an omelet and a half portion of whichever French toast. I ended up bringing half the omelet and the sides home. A common mistake for Ball Square Café first timers.
They have a nice selection of Mighty Leaf Tea flavors. The hubby was super thrilled about that. It’s a self-​serve set up for the beverages, but I kinda like it. With the size of the place, getting our own beverage was never a bother or inconvenience. The servers are very busy. I’m sure this helps them attend to customers and provide great service. Jason, Ryan Reynolds’ twin (LOL), was great. He never left us wondering where he was.
Great music, cozy décor, yummy food, solid customer service and smiling faces all around.
We’ll be back!

Very consistent! Lets be clear this is the breakfast spot to go to.
Pros
Food is great from the waffles, pancakes, omelette to the home fries.
Presentation of the plates
1 Really hot waitress
Cons
The wait
Small dinning space
I always go here with fam and friends.

This place is everything! I’ve also had the pleasure of dining next door at Soundbites, but Ball Sq is definitely my favorite.
During my first visit I popped over with my God Father to celebrate my birthday with waffles. I ordered the «Delight» and after seeing its presentation and consuming the amazingly fresh fruit I’m convinced they’ve shortened the name from «Delightfully OMG Melt in your mouth waffle with every fruit you can think of on top.» That was definitely the original name. Their whipped cream is homemade and THICK. A little goes a long way. The waffle, itself, was perfect and only needed a hint of syrup for the «hmmmmm» effect.
We also had omelets, I had the Mexican and the GF had the Tunisian (with artichokes). The eggs were fluffy, the veggies were cooked to perfection (neither under nor over). I almost forgot the most important part: the portions! It was massive! Of course, due to the ton of fruit on the waffle, I was unable to eat my Mexican which was chock full of goodness and fresh avocado with sour cream on top. My GF was also unable to finish his.
Coffee, tea, water, and bottled juices are self-​serve. One caveat is the price of the java. I was unhappy there. If you have your coffee in a mug it’s $ 3.99 vs $ 3.49 in a to-​go cup. Not sure I understand the concept.
The long and short of it: Ball sq IS your restaurant hot spot.

Food — AMAZING
Service– AMAZING
Staff– AMAZING
Was quoted a 20 – 25 minute wait time Sunday morning at 10am, happily waited 30 minutes and didn’t mind at all because they let you get unlimited coffee while waiting to be seated
Everything about this place is perfect
The owner is there on weekend mornings and happily greets everyone. He is very nice, funny and friendly. I like a hands owner because he makes sure everything flows perfectly (which it does)
Definitely pricey — Our bill was $ 40 for two people. $ 7 side of fruit, $ 14 breakfast and $ 12 breakfast and two coffees
Most importantly — every item on the menu is amazing. They are very consistent here and have never messed up an order, made me feel rushed, or had me leave less than perfectly happy

It was our first time visiting Ball Square Café last Sunday, and we enjoyed every bit of it. We only had to wait for a couple of minutes before a table opened up. We both ordered a breakfast platter and it was delicious!

I don’t care how long the wait is… I’ll wait! The food is that awesome #ballsquarecafe

Awesome place! They pay attention to every detail, thus you have perfect coffee, fresh fruit, delicious whipped cream.

Great food, nice interior and really big portions! Service was superb and it was nice chat with our waiter and also with the owner! We ordered omelets and also pancakes and had to take some of the food to go because we were so full. Pancakes were the best we have had so far!

Far and away my favorite breakfast spot. It’s an odd week when I don’t make a least one trip here for a meal. The wait staff, particularly Brad, Brittany and Jason, along with the owner, Mike, treat me like I am Norm from Cheers when I walk in and have made any guests I bring with me feel just as special. The food is always spot on and delicious, clearly made with the best, freshest, ingredients available. Despite this always being a busy spot I have never once felt rushed and have never seen any other parties, regardless of size or length of wait outside, get rushed along.

Just visited on a rainy Sunday, and I’m upping my rating to 5 stars. Why? The quality of the food and menu options is just outstanding, down to the freshness of every ingredient. Your dish will look and taste as you imagine from the pictures. The service and overall friendliness of the staff is outstanding, from the moment you arrive in line until you leave.

My fiancé and I tried this place today for the first time and it was such a good find! The food was great but what really stood out was the service. Our waiter (George) was so nice and the owner/​manager (didn’t catch his name) went out of his way to make sure we had a great experience.
When we arrived there was a line but there were heat lamps, which helped, and you can go inside and get some coffee to enjoy while you wait. I walked inside to ask if there was a list and the owner/​manager said it was first come, first serve. But then he asked how big my party was, assured me the wait wouldn’t be long, and sure enough it wasn’t. Really good food and exceptional service!

I’ve been here a few times and it has always been awesome. I recommend not going on the weekend if you don’t plan to wait in a long line, but they do try to turn tables over pretty quickly. When I was there on a weekend, I was sitting and talking to a friend long after we were done, and the owner super politely asked us if we wouldn’t mind giving up our table for someone in line. He hugged us and promised he would do the same for us if we were in line. It was the best possible way to be asked to leave and I really appreciated how thoughtful he was.
In terms of food, it’s all delicious. My favorite thing that I’ve had is the french toast stuffed with goat cheese and pears. So. Good. Tons of goat cheese, making it a great sweet/​savory combo. The pancakes are also great. I’m not sure you can go wrong here.

Outstanding service rivaled by the food quality! The staff is very considerate and helpful, we were visiting from California and I have celiac… Welcomed by lots of gluten free options! The regular food for my family was delicious as well! We were treated like rich relatives haha! Try this place if your able!

Showing some love for hands down the best breakfast I’ve ever had! My boyfriend used to live in Boston and every time I visited from New York we HAD to go to Ball Square for breakfast!
The staff is so friendly and attentive, it really feels like family there. Mike is a very present owner and treats every patron like a VIP, constantly checking up on the line and talking to us as we wait to be seated.
I’ve tried the Broadway Blues, the French toast with Nutella and bananas but then fell in love with the Caramelized Apple French toast and have never looked back.
Trust me, it’s a line worth waiting on. Even in the freezing snow last winter we let nothing stand in the way of a breakfast at Ball Square.
Keep up the great work!

I ‘ll admit it. I’m addicted to Food Porn. And man, Ball Square Café is definitely easy on the eyes. The pictures of their fresh fruit waffles and french toast, different takes of eggs benedict, and breakfast plates lured this puppy right in.
I’ve been to Ball Square Café a handful of times and it all tasted as good as it looks in pictures. A few tips and note-​worthy points:
— The waitstaff is awesome and will always ask if it is your first time here. The manager/​boss man also walks around often and definitely makes sure he says hello to every single person.
— The drinks are self service: go up to their drink area for do-​it-​yourself coffee with a range of brews, teas, and water. If it’s more comfortable, refrigerated bottles of drinks are available as well.
— The only exception is their freshly squeezed orange juice: the staff will assist with this.
— There is a rotating list of specials located on their large television marquee display, which are always sure to please.
— The portions are pretty hefty! A friend and I ordered a triberry french toast and a Broadway Blues breakfast plate with enough left to take in a doggy bag to go.
— On weekends, this place gets packed! Get here early at around 9AM to ensure prompt seating.
— Metered parking can be found up and down Broadway St.
Ah, and final tip? Get the grilled mashed potatoes rather than the traditional home fries. You’ll thank me later.

I found a new great place for having breakfast in greater Boston, this place is a must visit of you are a fan of break fast.
I tried the Moroccan egg and it was light and tasty, in addition to the French toast with Nutella and banana, which was the highlight, to the amazing hazelnut coffee.

It’s my third time coming here for brunch. The place is small and cozy. There’s always a line but that’s because the food is worth the wait! Be advised not to over order unless you want to bring a box of delish home.
Must go back for their Bananas & Nutella Stuffed French Toast and omelettes!

Had a brunch with my fiancé this past Wednesday. We ordered French Toast, crab meat with egg and. We thought it taste good, nothing to be so surprise. It’s taste like any other breakfast. What’s surprise me was the price, very pricy for breakfast.
Their coffee are good, great selection. Maybe not coming back again, for this price we can get 2 breakfast somewhere else…
Friendly service by the way.

Mike and his staff are truly amazing.
I went super early this morning with my mom and he greeted us with hugs.
He is so hands on with his business and it shows.
I ordered the coconut macaroon french toast and it was absolutely delicious. Sweet, with toasted coconuts, raspberry sauce and freshly made whipped cream. I didn’t even need syrup. My mom got the breakfast plate– eggs over easy, grilled mash and turkey sausage.
Everything was scrumptious.
We went at like 7AM and there was no wait. PERFECT!

Better than Sound Bites, Kelly’s, or any other brunch places nearby. Best staff, always willing to accommodate your preferences, little on the pricier side for breakfast but so worth it.
We are regulars to Ball Sq Café and don’t plan on changing that. Everything is cooked to order, to your liking, and sometimes they’ll make things that aren’t even on the menu. Our most recent trip here (today) my boyfriend and I placed our order and I asked to have my order slightly different than offered, our server joked «Of course you can, it’s your day!», keeping the banter going, my boyfriend jokingly said «Don’t say that! Next thing you know there will be a candle in her omelet and I’ll be hearing about it all day!». wouldn’t you know my order came with a candle on top. You don’t get better service.
Family owned, perfectly run, fantastic food and a great experience. DON“T BOTHER GOING ANYWHERE ELSE!

Yesssss, the best brunch place! This is the place that you dream about when you want breakfast foods. Just picture the fat slices of stuffed french toast, huge waffles topped with all the best fruits, meaty omelettes, perfect poached eggs benedicts… everything! The line is long after 9AM on weekends but they have a decently efficient system to keep the line moving. Just don’t dawdle when you’re done or you have people (like me) giving you the evil eye. Coffee and water are self-​serve and they usually have a couple great specials. They let you do half-​orders so you can try more!
Had a ½ order of french toast and ½ order of eggs benedict. Kept it simple. My only complaint is I wanted more and everything else that other people were eating. I think I have a problem… Next time I need to try the nutella stuffed french toast and then go to the gym right after. The fresh-​squeezed OJ is delicious and refreshing but at $ 6 it’s a premium.
The constant line here is a testament to how good it is. Definitely the place to go to satisfy your brunch cravings.

The service here is really magical. The owner, Mike, is well-​loved and just seems like a genuinely great guy who tries to remember all of his customers and make them feel at home. The food is really good too. Their delite dishes are probably the best thing they have. Really huge and have a ton of every kind of fresh fruit.
But truly, they have had a special for the last six weeks called the COCONUT MACAROON FRENCH TOAST WITH BLACKBERRY DRIZZLE and it is absolute heaven. Try it while it’s still available!!!

This is hands down my favorite brunch spot. There’s always a wait, but it’s totally worth it.
All of their delight dishes (pancakes, French toast, Belgian waffles with mounds of fruit) are suuuuper good. They come with their homemade whipped cream, which is basically sweet butter and to die for. And I don’t know how they do it, but their fruit is always impeccably ripe. You say pineapple/​kiwi/​watermelon is not in season? Ball square doesn’t give a shit what you think. Expect to be wowed.
Their savory dishes are also really good. I’ve had their eggs Benedict with turkey bacon on an English muffin — oh my god. And their mashed home fries! They basically take mashed potatoes and grill the outside so that it has a crispy shell, and it is heavenly. Super flavorful — I could eat this all day.
The owner Mike is this friendly Italian guy and he’s very attentive to everyone, making sure they’re all comfortable and has what they need. And if you come back often enough he’ll remember you and make you feel cool and special.
A lot of people compare this place to sound bites. I tried eating there once, the menu is pretty similar. I got a French toast dish and it was pretty good, but just doesn’t compare. Stick with this place — you won’t regret it.

Certainement le meilleur brunch du quartier, assiettes copieuses, fruits et légumes frais.
Accueil et services très agréables, l’attente est parfois longue mais le patron y met du sien pour écourter notre temps d’attente. En nous proposant de nous servir un café que l’on peut boire en dehors du restaurant
Les cafés, waffle, pancakes y sont délicieux.
En particulier le french toast banana and Nutella
Allez y sans hésiter, vous né le regretterez pas !