The Biscuit

They brew my favorite coffee (Fazenda) and always have great pastries. I love the back patio during the warmer months, counter help is always very pleasant.

This is my favorite coffee shop/​café; the cold brew and almond milk chai latte are my go-​to drinks. I’ve yet to be disappointed by their food, but the scones (both savory and sweet) are especially delicious. The breakfast toastie was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve had, and the price was very reasonable. The folks who work here are really friendly. I just wish they were open later!

The baked goods are fine. What I am really complaining about is the coffee (based on several experiences) — uninspiring, varying in temperature, no complexity. Based on their location (no coffee shop in 1 mile radius), I am baffled why they have not picked up their coffee game. Look at what Tatte does with Stumptown, or Forge with Intelligentsia, or Dwelltime with Barismo. These places are serious about coffee. I wish The Biscuit would get serious too!

Quickly hopped into this place to get a breakfast to go for me and my girlfriend.
The staff was very friendly, and the place had a nice atmosphere.
My girlfriend enjoyed her savory onion and cheddar scone, while I thoroughly enjoyed my banana bread pudding. I was also pleasantly surprised by the reasonable prices, and relatively big portions.
We both agreed to definitely come here again for breakfast, if we ever pass by Boston again!

I used to love this place for its great baked goods, but the last few times I’ve been, I haven’t been particularly impressed. My last experience with a scone was rubbery and unpleasant. I was so disappointed! I’ve had similar experiences with some of the other items. Maybe it’s hit or miss?
3 stars for the good coffee and excellent atmosphere though.

Great spot! Everything is delicious and it’s just an adorable location. The breakfast sandwiches and the muffins are a must.

So admittedly, I did enjoy the Biscuit the few times I’ve visited. The pastries were good, and, if you got there early in the morning, they were still warm. It always seems to be pretty busy so it can definitely be hard to get a seat, and at peak times, it can be a long wait to order and then get your coffee and food (especially if you get an espresso drink or grilled sandwich).
The low rating is due entirely to what I’ve seen and heard about how they treat their workers. A friend had a pretty miserable experience when she worked there. Each time I visited, I saw the owner being beyond brusque and, frankly, just inappropriate with her employees. I understand that many cafes see a high turnover in staff and that few besides the owner have a true investment in the business, but it just doesn’t seem right to be so visibly angry at your employees (especially when I’ve witnessed this each time I’ve been in). Unfortunately, this behavior seems to be a trend (there are a bunch of reviews to that effect), and it was all confirmed once my friend started working there.
I don’t like to give low reviews to locally owned places, but after what I’ve heard/​witnessed, you’re better off supporting other cafes that treat their employees a little more ethically (give them breaks, don’t harass them on the job, communicate clearly and effectively, etc. etc.). I know it might not seem like a big deal but as someone who’s worked in food service before, it’s a hard job and only made harder when your boss sucks.

Reasonably priced baked goods in-​house plus coffee. What more can you ask for?
We were in town for a 10-​day work trip, and stopped here nearly every morning for coffee and breakfast. Really loved it. Pastries are good, as are the breads. Seating a bit limited and can get crowded.

All their scones and croissants are realllllyyyy solid — I’ve never been disappointed. I’d say the scones here are slightly better than Three Little Figs in Somerville.
Chai latte — they steam milk really well (not sarcastic) but the chai flavor was lacking — would not get again
Def coming back for pastries or even to buy the bread they sell there
Staff is also friendly and accommodating

Best scones in the area. Enough said. You won’t find another café that will make whole wheat scones or cornmeal scones with the perfect textures. I have tried at the very least 15 places and their scones in the Boston/​Cambridge area. If you want your scones fix, come here.

After getting coffee at the Biscuit every morning for a month I feel ready to review. Hard to find fault with the wonderful, funny and courteous staff for starters. The coffee is consistently on point, the pastries are excellent and there’s good variation. A steady flow of regulars, just enough seating space but not too much that it looks empty, and a gorgeous patio space for this weirdly warm November.
If you’re in Somerville and looking for a chill place to grab a coffee this spot will fit the bill.

I was lured into the biscuit by the classic café chalkboard sign outside. I just wanted something fresh and hot since it was a chilly afternoon.
I had the mushroom Swiss panini. On the menu it seemed like it should have been a rockstar, mushroom, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese… and strangely pesto. Definitely not terrible, but I wouldn’t order it again. The pesto makes no sense, the onions were undercooked, and the mushrooms underseasoned.
Servicewise– it’s a café so the standard isn’t fantastically high. Maybe I’m just spoiled, but a «good morning» or even just a smile would go a long way. Instead the vibe could best be described as «grumpy», even when the front counter girl swiveled the screen around so that I could leave a tip.

*** DO NOT GO HERE!!! Ever! ***
If I could rate this place zero stars, I would. The food is mediocre at best, the coffee is abysmal, and they are way over priced. By far the worst though, is the way they treat their employees. Every time I go here I feel guilty because of how unhappy the staff always seems, but today was the last straw. The woman who owns this place is straight out of that movie a Devil Wears Prada to them. I’m honestly a little nervous to even leave this review and I didn’t even interact with her, just saw her interacting with her counter staff– THAT’S how scary she is! I thought the poor girls working were going to start crying.
With so many higher quality cafes in Somerville, it’s so easy to avoid supporting people like these owners. Just down the street there’s 3 Little Figs or Bloc 11 for great food and coffee or 1369 for both those things plus great value and a neighborhood feel!
Keep Somerville’s community thriving by taking your money elsewhere.

THEIR FRESH MADE SOUPS!!! to die for! Pumps this up to a 5 star place. I still wish they served their bread warm… but whatever its very high quality food that is expensive but you feel healthy and happy after your meal!
Café, Soups, Sandwiches, LUNCH PLACE, pricey, delicious!

Perfect neighborhood café.
Great spot to grab coffee, baked goods/​pastries and sandwiches! I stop here at least once a week to get a sandwich to-​go to bring to work & eat for lunch.
Food is predictable & reliable. Always know what I’m getting, no frills. Staff is very friendly. Polite and helpful, even when something goes wrong.
Downsides: nothing special as far as food, and the sandwiches usually take longer than they should to get out to you.

You’re not serious about life if you have not had their lemon scones. Coffee is good quality. Not a ton of seating and the line can be long, but for a good reason. They used to not have free wifi, but it looks like that’s been corrected. With that in place they are very tough to beat as a coffee shop.

The biggest problem with this place is the name! Why call yourself the Biscuit if you don’t sell biscuits? When I came in, I expected to be able to order a chicken biscuit, bacon egg and cheese on a biscuit, ham and cheese biscuit, etc. I didn’t even see a plain old bare biscuit in the pastry display case! What a letdown. I was looking forward to a southern breakfast.
Besides that, the sandwiches are expensive for their size.

At this point, I’ve tried a couple items from every menu category. The sandwiches are a little pricey for what you’re getting, although the Iggy’s bread is fresh, and I found the iced coffee to be a little less strong/​watery than I like. The scone will carboload you for a few hours for $ 2.50. (I’m a fan of the lemon, which comes with an excellent, hyper-​tangy frosting.) That said, they are a bit more moist biscuit-​y than I like my scones (hence the name of the place?) For a quarter more, you can get a great, generously sized muffin — check out their seasonal flavors for those.
Finally: my friend says that this is one of the few places where you can get almond milk.

I really enjoy their coffee but I always have to get a large because their sizes run small.
The fruit tart and the broccoli quiche are my favorite items on the menu. I also get the cranberry lemon bread and lemon scone sometimes. I haven’t really tried their other items because I like these so much.
Now to the 2 star rating… A few months ago they implemented a $ 5 minimum for credit cards. I come here less these days because I barely ever have cash on me. They also used to have free refills and now they are an additional 75 cents. Not a big deal but it would be nice if they didn’t enforce the minimum because I only get 1 coffee in the morning.
Also service could be better. Some of the people that work there are friendly and some seem to be annoyed.

This coffee shop may be a little out of the way, but it’s worth a little walk!
The atmosphere, both inside and outside, is great. Inside is cute and a bit eclectic with mismatching chairs and tables. Outside has lots of seating and canopies to add shade. There is about a four foot fence topped with flower beds around the patio providing some privacy and insulation from the surrounding streets and residences. In my experience, people have been very willing to share a table or scooch over on a bench when it’s more crowded.
I love their scones and really need to try more of their pastries! Iced coffee, iced tea, and ginger lemonade (very gingery) are all good, too.
My one complaint is that a couple of the times I have been sitting inside, there was loud unpleasantish music playing. I know it helps when you’re working to have music you like playing, but it just wasn’t conducive for quiet conversation or reading.
Overall one of my faves!