Free coffee at a new cafe

[prog.livejournal.com]

I dropped by the brand-new Ball Square coffee house on Broadway, across the street from True Grounds. (Yeah, I know.) They seem to be going for a slightly more restauranty vibe, having place-set tables with matching napkins and all, but they're happy to sell coffee to go as well.

I met one of the owners, a friendly dude who was enthusiastically greeting everyone coming in. He told me that they're serving coffee on the house for their first few days of operation. Dunno how long that's gonna go on, so look for the balloons and follow your nose if you'd like to try a complimentary cuppa. I can attest that they have a decent dark roast!

Comments

[ron_newman]

New coffee place? What's it called?

the trick is

[cthulhia]

sneaking in when Yasser isn't watching.

he'd never forgive me, but, *I* benefit from having cafe competition in Ball Square.

[lac.livejournal.com]

That's the new Ball Sq Cafe right? It's in the old spot that Soundbites was in. From what I understand (from my mom actually), it's run by the same people who own Victor's next door. And if that is indeed the case...the 2 owners are absolute sweethearts.

Taking it literally

[prog.livejournal.com]

I believe it's just "Ball Square Café".

[sekala.livejournal.com]

What would everyone consider the best coffee around here? I just moved here from the Albany area where I worked as a Barista at what is possibly the best coffee house I've ever been to. Needless to say, my palette has become /very/ refined and picky. I've tried Diesel, Wicked Coffeehouse(ick), Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts(I don't really count either of these... starbucks is okay but not really all it's cracked up to be from a Barista standpoint). I don't really know what the others in the area are. Someone want to enlighten me?

[ron_newman]

I'm not going to get into "best", but you should also try Rao's coffee at Mr Crepe, and the coffee at True Grounds in Ball Square, and whatever they serve at Cafe Zing in Porter Square Books.

[sekala.livejournal.com]

I've actually worked at an original Rao's in Western MA. :) They've got decent coffee but sometimes it's a little too starbucksesque tasting for my ...er...taste. I'll have to check it out there(preparation can make a big difference) and Cafe Zing as well. They also serve Rao's coffee at Soliel Cafe which has woefully poor hours but good food imo.

[nomirena.livejournal.com]

I like the coffee at The Biscuit (Formerly, Toscanini's and Sons) at Kirkland and Beacon. A little further away, but still in Somerville. Their pastries, soups, and sandwiches are also good.

[ron_newman]

Also, click on the "coffee houses" tag to see all the past discussion of this topic, going back a few years....

[ron_newman]

Why did they change their name? Did they disaffiliate from the local Toscanini's ice cream chain?

[aquaflame16.livejournal.com]

AFAIK they were never all that affiliated in the first place, they just served Toscanini's ice cream (and had permission to use the name), and part of the reasoning behind the name change was to clear up this confusion. I remember reading about this somewhere but for the life of me I can't remember where, so I might be wrong about the details.

[ron_newman]

They used to be called "Panini". Wonder why they didn't go back to that name -- it was surely better than "Biscuit".

[nomirena.livejournal.com]

Was it the same owners for Panini? They still sell Toscanini's ice cream.

[ron_newman]

Dunno. I notice that Toscaninis.com now lists only one location, their original in Central Square. So I guess they dropped all of their affiliates as well as their Harvard Square branch.

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

You should just wait for the Someday Cafe to reopen. Last I heard was they were building a stand at the bowling alley, like 9 or 10 months ago. It should be open any day now.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

The Harvard Square branch is under renovation - they're currently selling Toscaninis ice cream at Serene Chocolates on Mass Ave between Harvard and Central Squares.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I can attest that they have a decent dark roast

Which True Grounds does not. (At least not the last time I was there.)

[ron_newman]

Haven't seen any progress on this and wonder if the idea is dead.

[mrboboto.livejournal.com]

"It should be open any day now."

Was this sarcastic? I'd given up any scant hope that that would ever happen. I can't imagine that the former employees haven't moved on to other day jobs by now.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

Seconding True Grounds here. They have excellent coffee and yummy sandwiches too!

[dylanesque29.livejournal.com]

I would consider Diesel to be the best coffee in the neighborhood, with True Grounds a close second. I didn't hate the coffee at Mr. Crepe either.

[ceo]

I am told, probably by someone here, that the owner of the building, who also owns Victor's, kicked SoundBites out and hired their chef because they wanted that lines-out-the-door action for themselves. They were apparently not expecting Yasser to simply move next door.

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

yes

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

You get any sense of the menu? I walk past there all the time and I keep hoping they'll post one in the window, but no luck yet.

anybody know what happened to i-café?

[ezraball.livejournal.com]

I had discovered i-café in Teele Square in May or so, but it seems like just when I found out about it and started to evangelize, they closed. Their hours were always a little erratic, so at first I thought it was just that I was missing their open times, and then I thought maybe the owners were on vacation or something. I pretty much despair of their ever re-opening, yet the sign stays up. What gives?

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

You know, I need to do a full taste test once. I still haven't found a local brand that I love. This isn't coffee, but I do enjoy the chai at True Grounds. It was quite tasty. I also had a FABULOUS wrap there.

I will say that I had some fanncy mocha thing at Diesel Cafe, and it was VERY good. I recommend it!

Oh, and Blue Shirt Cafe has this peanut butter smoothie that makes me just so happy.

Um ... so that's my round-up of beverage recommendations :).

[(Anonymous)]

The entire block of storefronts where the Harvard Square Toscanini's was was recently cleared out and renovated, except for Leavitt and Peirce Tobacco.

Re: anybody know what happened to i-café?

[winterhill.livejournal.com]

They just applied for an awning license at the last BOA meeting, so it seems they are still around. I have never been but I understand it's a funky little place.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Wrong area, of course, but I'm a big fan of 1369 in Inman and Central squares. Of course, those are not only the wrong area but I don't drink coffee and can only speak to their tea. As far as tea goes, however, they are my Chai Standard.

[elements.livejournal.com]

OOh, I went to a really fantabulous coffee place in Albany that I wish I could remember the name of. If the place you worked at was it... well, you're not going to find anything here that's quite as amazing, but we've got nice stuff. I'm not a coffee connoisseur though so I'd say just try 'em all once and see what works.

Re: anybody know what happened to i-café?

[by-lime.livejournal.com]

I called them up to figure out where exactly they were. This was in the beginning of the summer and the guy who answered the phone said they were closed for renovations. I believe they said they'd be re-opening in a few months...which would be now.