This review is for catering, only :) I hadn't had Black Sheep catering in a number of years and I was eagerly looking forward to it based on past experiences. Unfortunately, the food this time around was very, very mediocre. Though the menu says that the mango chicken is roasted, it seemed poached to me. It was completely pale with no color whatsoever and not much flavor to speak of. It was in a sweet sauce with onions and peppers, but I didn't detect any mango taste at all, just a generic sweetness. It was surprisingly bland and portions were very tough and chewy...this texture, along with the lack of any color, may be why I thought "poached"...because I have over-poached boneless breasts myself on more than one occasion and yielded this same strange, chewy, rubbery texture. The spinach salad was very nice, the sesame noodles were as expected (much like you would make at home; nothing elevated), the red potatoes were bland, and the pesto tortellini was tasty but everything lacked oomph and was sadly under-seasoned across the board (lack of both salt and acid?). Unfortunately, I just don't think the pp price was justified. I generally really like the Black Sheep and hate to say anything negative about them, but there are definitely better catering options in the area.
(2)
Matthew G.
Go here for a delicious whitefish salad sandwich!!!! Great deli speciality sandwiches and breakfasts. Coffee is meh.
(4)
Anna Y.
I've been here quite a few times due to lack of food around Amherst. I know a lot of people would say that there's quite of a variety here, but coming from a big city....I say otherwise. I have tried their sandwiches, salads, and pastries. They are good, but not outstanding, and in my opinion a little pricey. The main reason for three stars is the price for OK sandwiches. I have only tried their caesar salad...with AWESOME croutons...and it's over dressed, so I suggest that you ask for the dressing on the side. I haven't found another place that has good pastries, so whenever I have a sweet tooth, I come here to satisfy my craving.
(3)
Paul M.
Great deli; huge sandwiches, terrific choices and free WiFi if you need to work there. I came back twice because I liked it so much. And the cashier was great to give me change to feed the meter out front, so they're very friendly too!
(4)
Adam S.
Stopped in for a quick breakfast with the family. My daughter had a chocolate croissant, I had a ham and cheese one and my wife ordered the Florentine egg sandwich. I found the croissants to have good flavor, but weren't as light and delicate as others. My wife enjoyed her breakfast sandwich and commented on how good the focaccia was. Good, and we will likely be back, but not the best breakfast spot I have ever been.
(3)
Alex C.
I don't know what's going on with Black Sheep lately, but for the past few weeks they have really disappointed me. The food is still fantastic but the service has been awful! It seems that chatting about their plans for the night is of a much higher priority than completing orders. Very annoying when I'm on my way to work and have to wait for them all to stop flirting so I can get a move on. Several times I've had to interrupt conversations to point out that they were making my order wrong. Maybe they have just gotten lazy for the summer. Step it up Black Sheep! You still get a few stars for the food, but it really sucks to wait ten minutes for a sandwich with three ingredients when it is your only order. I don't really want to stand there listening to you talk about your personal lives. I just want to eat my sandwich.
(3)
Greta K.
The girls and I were in the mood for something on the light side and something that screamed Western Mass. since we were on a day trip in the area. This definitely seemed like a hippie/left wing/college hangout kind of joint. Check out the chalkboard by the bathroom if you don't believe me. The owners/staff are not Republicans in any manner. I ordered a really delicious, yet very large spinach salad. This was a tad on the expensive side for lunch but I was thankful for the day-old brioche, which I bought at half-price and it was still delicious. My friends ordered sandwiches and enjoyed them. The seating area is kind of small so be sure to grab a table quickly after ordering. I loved the acoustic swing band. More restaurants should have live bands play. The desserts looked amazing but we didn't order anything. I'd like to return just for pastries.
(4)
Sean M.
A great bakery, wonderful locations, and unbeatable prices. I've eaten here around 5 times over the past two years and have yet been disappointed. Actually, I've been blown away every visit. My favorite thing on the menu is defiantly the Almond Horn. Only advise is less bitter selection of coffee and offer some Almond Horn cookies that aren't dipped in chocolate, sometimes you just want the almond cookie!
(5)
Rick B.
Great staff, great sandwiches. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Elisabeth Y.
Good iced coffee. I was there a few days ago for breakfast and had a bagel and cream cheese. Very mediocre and not cheap. I made a mental note to come back for what look like delicious sandwiches (judging by the menu) and I am glad I had a sandwich craving for lunch today! I had the Great Garlic sandwich today and loved every bite! Goat cheese, portobello mushrooms, roasted eggplant, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, and roasted garlic on a baguette- I'll definitely try to reproduce this one at home! People-watching there was entertaining, as an added bonus.
(4)
Max L.
The business model of the Black Sheep seems to be: "We are the only hip bakery in Amherst so you will eat our cookies and enjoy it no matter how little we try." Staff are nice. Ambiance is fine. Cute sandwich names. The Black Sheep seems great on paper, but in practice it often disappoints. The baked goods and desserts are just not very good. Cookies are dry. Cakes are too dense. Consistently disappointing food in general. It's really not surprising that Black Sheep has been having some financial stumbles. I don't believe that locals really support it often.
(2)
Meg C.
OK so I'm prefacing this admitting I haven't been here since '06. That said- while I was living there I LOVED it. The food is really wonderful- just about any veggie you can think of you can get on your sandwich. If you want salad or fruit or meat it's all there. The deserts were fabulous and I'm pretty picky- but everything I ever tried was wonderful. The tea is lovely (not a coffee person). I loved the live music and the atmosphere- very relaxed and laid back. I would bring my 18 month old and she could roam (within reason) and there was enough room for it not to be an issue. Personally I found the people there were very friendly. It was the highlight of my Sundays! Heck the only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because it's been so long since I've been there.
(4)
Chris L.
The short and sweet: Meh espresso, quality (but somewhat pricey) coffee Great sandwiches, but nothing mind-blowing. It doesn't help that they are difficult to eat. Also kind of pricey. The deli dishes (i.e. pasta salad)are also quality, yet probably the same as Stop & Shop or even Big Y down the road. NEVER buy the things in the open cooler cabinet like wrapped cheeses, crackers, water, etc. They are unfortunately overpriced. Finally, what saves this place from bring simply overpriced are 1) the salads and 2) the desserts. Both are FANTASTIC and, being so, worth the price tag (maybe only since everything is twice as expensive in NYC). If you're looking for a simple, but excellently done salad, try the spinach. They literally give you two or three servings of goat cheese. You could eat that thing for both lunch and dinner. And I won't say much about the desserts... they will be self-explanatory when you walk in and see the display case! And one last thing: the desks are a pretty good study space on weekends because of the big windows, ample coffee, and background noise. Though honestly, all the coffee shops in Amherst are relatively equivalent regarding study space and accommodations--just pick the one with the best coffee. I'd definitely recommend The Black Sheep, but only for several items mentioned above. For everything else, try somewhere a little cheaper.
(3)
Vilay S.
The baked goods & desserts are ok, but that's the only thing they've got going. Even then, Henion Bakery has better pastries because they just seem to be fresher. The employees: They just don't seem to care. There are two (three?) locations in the store where you can order, and it's unclear how that works. Sometimes people end up shoving in front of you or standing around not knowing what to do while the person behind the counter chats with friends or reads a book. The coffee: I hate Dean's Bean's coffee. Too acidic. Catering: Twice I have ordered party platters from them, and both times I got home with part of my order missing. What the hell am I supposed to do with a crudite platter without dip or a satay platter without sauce? Both are useless at that point. Not surprisingly when I called back to complain, I got a couple of people who didn't care or know what to do, until someone else who offered me a gift certificate. Why, so I can get more shitty service and do this again? No thanks.
(1)
Darci M.
This place is okay. I'd actually like to give it a 2.5 star rating, but yelp does not allow such accuracy. It has the potential to be great- the ambiance beckons you in and as you scan the list of sandwiches and the bakery case, you are convinced the meal will mirror the atmosphere. However, I have yet to enjoy a meal that I felt was really good. They fall short on taste. The sandwiches, the soup and even the pastries just don't hit the mark. I've waited nearly six months to write this review. After each visit, I convince myself that my lackluster meal must have been a result of a bad day. I have now concluded that my experience with this deli is consistently unimpressive. It is not a bad choice if you are downtown and looking for some food. But it seems important to honest and say, don't expect to be thrilled with whatever you order. And if it turns out that you are thrilled, please hop back on yelp and share the secret to your success.
(3)
Diane H.
I like you..My slice of tiramisu was good. I shall return very soon. When I am in need of baked goods. Maybe I'll try to sit down and listen to the music play too..did I mention it's live? Oh I don't think the employee was very nice...hmm there was something I didn't like about her.........
(3)
Ductight D.
I like the Black Sheep. A bit funky inside, they could get better seating in the front room but maybe that is part of the charm. I love that they don't charge extra for soymilk. The iced americano is delicious unless you get it decaf and then it is a total dud. (Different beans, explained the barista). Good local business and cheaper then Starbucks :)
(5)
Rob S.
I have been to Black Sheep twice today. I got breakfast at about 11:00am, ordering an Apple and Cheddar Croissant and a medium coffee. The medium is 16 oz which is great since some places a medium is 12 oz. The croissant was good. The crust was EXCELLENT and buttery and probably horrible for me. The apple part was to be expected, but they totally skimped on the cheddar when they baked it. But a satisfying breakfast for under $5. Round two was lunch. I ordered the Carnivore, which is a roast beef sandwich with onions and horseradish on pumpernickel. My only issue with the sandwich was that it was a normal "my-mom-made-me a-sandwich-size" and cost $7.25. Now I'm not advocating the New York-sized sandwich. It's really just unhealthy to eat that much sandwich at once... But it wouldn't hurt to get a little bit more for your dollar. Other than being $1.25 too much, the sandwich was delicious and I'll probably go back again tomorrow and try another one of their creatively named sandwiches from the board. It is truly satisfying food. A few more words: Apparently the credit card minimum is $5 (not a problem for what I ordered but you can't put just a coffee on a card) and they are a popular place and everything appears to be made from scratch or made in small batches so they are frequently out of something. Nine times out of ten it's not what you ordered, but incase you are unlucky and they start to make your sandwich and find out they are out of something, they are really good about offering you possible substitutes at no extra charge.
(4)
Matt L.
I tried this place when I was passing through town and given that I am originally from Amherst and went to high school here, I think I had only been in here once before. The place is highly overrated and no wonder some of the local students give it good reviews since that is the clientele it is pretty much catering to. The place claims it is a deli and wait a coffee shop and bakery too? Lets not confuse ourselves here. The menu selections are hardly creative and the sandwich I ordered (some odd looking turkey creation on a hard as rock baguette) was disgusting. It tasted day old and had no taste or uniqueness whatsoever. The pastries and desserts in here are garbage too. I tried a normal looking brownie and it tasted like I was chewing on a door stop. Either this place lets things sit out too long or they just don't know how to make good food. Throw in the clueless, snobby staff that seem to try and treat people like they are doing them a favor and the bad prices and we got ourselves one dud of a place that has surely gone downhill in the 20 years since I have left Amherst.
(1)
R S.
Great walnut cinnamon pastries. Espresso and coffee is reasonably good. The ambience is fair and the place could use a little bit of work to make it more inviting.
(3)
S E.
had a croissant sandwich and was not very impressed. cold and didn't taste very fresh. service was not great. smart alecky staff that stands around and chatter with each other a little too loudly. tables and floors had crumbs and sticky spots on them and a bit of a fly problem... cushmans or wheatberry are a much better bet in my opinion.
(2)
Siobhan H.
Sandwiches are fab, desserts are imaginative and tasty, free wifi and usually quick service. Oh and the coffee is wonderful too! Only downside is that prices have risen in the past year or so. Still fairly well priced for down-town Amherst though.
(4)
Emeyes i.
I must have passed this place 1000x but never stopped in. Nice little spot to grab some tea or coffee. My peppermint hot cocoa was supurb, and the employees were attentive and friendly. I'll be back! FYI: They also offer vegan cookies and pastries.
(4)
Nancy K.
I am from out of town and I tried to use this place to deliver brownies to a friend for a special occasion. They never delivered the brownies. When my friend called to say the delivery time had passed by 20 minutes, they didn't seem that concerned. Just said everyone had gone for the night so the delivery couldn't be made. You would think they could have used a cell phone to ask the delivery person to come back to the store for the order. Eventually the owner did call her back and offered a $20 gift certificate, and refunded my credit card, but the experience was extremely aggravating. I wasn't notified by the store until two days after the event. If I had been notified immediately I could possibly have found another vendor. This doesn't mean their in-store food isn't good, obviously, but I was not happy about the catering service or the way they handled the error.
(1)
April G.
I had a sandwich here today and it was deeeeeelicious. I had a hard time deciding which one to order, and will definitely be back to try more! I had the TNT, which is turkey, portabello mushrooms, spinach, and tapenade on a baguette. The large size was big enough to eat half then and half later. Their pastries also look delicious. They have creme brulee and pumpkin pie bars, and their croissants are the best looking I've seen since I moved to MA.
(4)
Gail N.
I went here for lunch during a day-trip to Amherst and really enjoyed it. The menu was extremely diverse and met all of the diet needs of our group - Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, etc. There was a long line but it moved pretty quickly. We were able to grab a table for 8 (though it was a little on the later side for lunch). The desserts looked incredible and the coffee smelled good. It was affordable with good portions. The place was on the louder side but it didn't ruin the experience - if anything we ended up staying longer because we were so busy talking!
(4)
Stephanie S.
I discovered this place while at UMass Amherst. Love at first visit was due to a sweet little cookie that looked like those Girl Scout Samoa's (the ones with the coconut, caramel and chocolate). Turns out their resemblance was not a mistake. They might go by a different name but you can ask for them as the girl scout cookie and they'll know..... oh they'll know. Too bad that more often than not they're out of my favorite cookie. My plan B is usually a good choice but nothing beats the girl scout samoa cookie. They have other stuff too, I'm sure it's good, never tried it though.
(4)
Cait G.
I love, love, love the Black Sheep. Their sandwiches are *fantastic,* and if you love New York bagels, they get them and a lot of deli meats (fresh lox, yum) "imported." Their breads are stellar, too, and they usually have a great variety. If you're not a carb-lover, their salads are great and are inexpensive. I think that they get a lot of their goods locally, too. The reason why I gave the Black Sheep only 4 stars is the price. Holy crap! in the 7 years that I've lived in Amherst, the prices have skyrocketed! The Black Sheep's food is phenomenal, but I'm a starving grad student; $9 sandwiches are a bit out of my price range and more importantly are way out of context for the town.
(4)
Heather D.
I'm really surprised with the low reviews after going here. I had an excellent latte with perfectly pulled shots of espresso. I paired it with their (only) scone offering that day - an apple walnut scone that was absolutely amazing. Large pieces of apple were sandwiched between delicious walnuts in a delightful cinnamon-y dough. My boyfriend said his coffee seemed a little weak, but the staff was happy to warm up his cowboy cookie a bit to soften it up. The menu looked very intriguing, with lots of vegetarian and even vegan sandwich options. Black Sheep has a much more laid-back atmosphere than Amherst Coffee up the street. We sat lazily by the large front window reading our guide book and listened to the lesbian couple do a crossword puzzle at the table next to us. Oh, my beloved Amherst!
(4)
Hilary W.
I've been coming to the Black Sheep Deli for about 2 years and recently my opinion of the place has started to change. I started going there with my boyfriend for weekly lunches. We looked forward to every friday where we could munch on huge salads and sandwiches. A friend of mine worked there and all the staff seemed friendly. They also served my favorite tea ever- lady grey. Recently, I've been noticing that the Black Sheep has gone downhill a bit. My favorite salad, the Mediterranean used to include hummus, baba ganoush, and tabouli. I ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it was fine. I ordered it this past Sunday and they stopped serving tabouli and baba ganoush! It says it on the black board, but that was a salad that I automatically ordered. I was very disappointed and would have liked a heads up. The new Mediterranean salad is boring- lettuce, tomato, olives and hummus. I could easily have replicated that without paying the $6+ price. Not worth it! My boyfriend's caesar wrap was mediocre. Our oatmeal cookie was delicious. The cookies usually are. As for their desserts- I am usually disappointed. As I said before, the cookies are good because I think they are baked daily. They also have a huge array of desserts that all LOOK delicious. I ordered some with some friends and they tasted old. Very disappointing. Black Sheep- a place to be seen by the alternative community in Amherst, but you're not going to get food worth the price or the best service.
(3)
Q S.
The Good - the sandwiches and baked goods are awesome. The Bad - servers are rude college students. And, it took them 20 minutes to make 4 sandwiches for the people I was with even though it wasn't busy at all.
(3)
william d.
Def a fan of Blacksheep... I've never been disappointed there and highly recommend this place.
(4)
Peter E.
Good bread, great sandwiches, coffee and ambience.
(4)
Elena R.
Despite their less than stellar cookies, Black Sheep has incredible sandwiches with fresh and delicious ingredients. Two full boards of options, the friendly staff and Black Sheep is always wiling to customize the perfect sandwich for you. Where their cookies are dry and hard, Black Sheep sandwiches never disappoint!
(4)
Tom T.
Nice spot!! GREAT names for their sandwiches! Be sure to check out the menu posted right near the bathrooms. Had a Grand Marnier & pecan cookie that was damn good!
(4)
Rue B.
I really try to like this place, but a watery drip coffee should not cost over $2, even if Dean is saving the world. Also, I should not have to wait 5 minutes by the order counter to put in for a bagel with hummus, when there are 5 people in the whole place. As other reviewers have noted, service is 'begrudging,' and to me reflects that a job at the Black Sheep is an Amherst rite of passage for Generation Whatever-They-Are's (1986 - 1991 babies?) ironic detachment FROM meaningful human interaction, and attachment TO seeming cool at the expense of projecting genuine kindness to those outside the cliquey anti-fashion fashion show. Excellent sandwiches with fresh and creative ingredients though!
(2)
Mark K.
Really good Deli food and coffee. Very Popular so It can get crowded during typical meal rushes, but the wait is never too long. They can be a bit slow on refilling the coffee for serving, but if you ask they do it pronto. Will go back again
(5)
DeDe Y.
Black Sheep made it very easy to order my daughter's b-day cake even though I was out of state. The grandma's chocolate cake was beautiful and quite tasty. You have to love that chocolate ganache! Side note: The chocolate extreme cake- wow! It makes a girl want to call and ask if it's possible to ship- yes it was that good! Can you tell we like chocolate?! Since she is car less in MA. my daughter made sure that we had a visit to The Black Sheep before I went back home.
(4)
Missus F.
there is not anything in here that isn't at the peak of deliciousness. absolutely nothing. sometimes you get rude people waiting on you and sometimes you don't. go in with an "eff it" attitude, get your ridiculous sandwich, pay, and get out before the pretentious amherst sass gets to you cause the food is that good.
(5)
Huan z.
Nice little coffee shop. Good atmosphere. Very safe( next to the police station) many food choices such as brownies and sandwiches beside hot drinks. Good place to hang out beside Rao's Coffee.
(3)
Patricia T.
LOVE the food, the friendly and efficient staff and the talented musicians that play there on Sundays. We are foodies and this is one of our favorite places!
(5)
Mod S.
i usually am not awake anywhere near the hour of early lunch but i just so happen to be up to see a friend off. Ive been on a 10 day sugar binge and needed some good lunch, so my friend took me here. the place looks homey and kind of san francisco wannabe deli. It has a bakery type cold case up front by the door featuring sweet looking pasteries. walking a little back they have a open cheese case and the deli where you can see the kids making the sandwichs and see it come fresh off the line. A very nice teas selection. this place was such a professor/student hang out as well . i got a black sheep sandwhich. the roasted tomatoes were so enjoyable because they werent dry and hard like at other places. i also got a cream puff , which is gigantic! As well as a napoleon. Both dessert items where good. a little to much weight on the cream puff but the napoleon was amazing. 4 insted of 5 because i felt like the customer client interaction was very minimal. not a good thing when you want to build a nice small town clientele, or leave a good impression on out of state customers.
(4)
H J.
the Black Sheep has super-good sandwiches and amazing salads with lots and lots of veggie options. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is always good, and so are the desserts. I love the atmosphere, relaxed and cozy. The one reason that my boyfriend and I stay away from here is the staff. I have been in there so many times, and have probably had friendly and quick service two or three times. They can be so rude, and are often too busy talking to each other to actually wait on customers, even when it is slower than usual. It drives us crazy, and we have talked to others who agree. We stay away from there now jst because of that. It is really too bad, because the food is great.
(2)
Sandy B.
I've never had their sandwiches before but I have had many of their baked goods and they have all been so delicious! What I really appreciate is that they make vegan cupcakes taste like the non-vegan ones. It's hard to find bakeries/cafes that offer such great vegan treats, let alone baked vegan goods. I always stop by here to get my diabetic coma on!
(4)
Edmund H.
The baked goods and sandwiches are great. I thought the tiramisu was especially pleasing. The place was pleasant, you can enjoy the soft background music while you read a novel without much distraction.I had a bad experience with one of the staff there. I was ordering my items and I had side of attitude along with my order. It was just one of the staff member, and I've been there a few times so I can say that overall the staff is pretty friendly.
(3)
Joe D.
I have been to the Black Sheep several times and it is fair to say they do some things very well. I have had the BLT and the "Thats Italian". Both sandwiches were satisfying, a little light on the meats and vegtables though. They are not the best deli sandwiches, but in the grand scheme of things they do just fine. On the other side of the store are the baked goods, this is a different story from the sandwiches. They are very good, baked fresh, and hit the spot. I would recommend the Chocolate Torte and the fresh baked Apple Cinnamon Muffins. Service is somewhat lacking. The friendliness of the staff is not there, and when it is it feels fake. The atmosphere is typical Amherst "coffee shop", slightly pretentous but a great place to hangout.
(3)
E M.
This has to be one of the best deli/pastry shops anywhere. Their deserts are amazing and the sandwiches are very good. The cheesecakes and the New Yorker sandwich are my favorites.
(5)
LiLi M.
This place is pretty descent but my only grip is their price. I think it's a bit over priced for their food which is not bad. Though even with the high pricing, it's locally owned so I still like to frequent it. The bakery has some delicious desserts as well.
(4)
Mats K.
Decent place to stop in Amherst for a sandwich or a salad. Their Mediterranean salad is amazing. At certain times the hippie-ness of the clientele can be a bit much, but its usually an all-around nice place to dine.
(4)
Andrew K.
Just a fun and funky little sandwich shop located in this quirky little hamlet. They put cream cheese on some of the sandwiches. It's great.
(4)
Jeffrey L.
The Black Sheep would've received 5 stars if I had reviewed this 15 years ago. However, it's changed so much over the years, that I can hardly give it 4 stars. It used to have decent coffee and decent baked goods. In particular, their pecan rolls/buns (all 5 pounds) were amazing. Baked goods are just ok now, and it seems poorly organized. Plus, I miss the cheesy artist photos that used to cover the walls.
(4)
Gavin A.
Good sandwiches, great pastries, maybe a tiny bit overpriced-- but they don't really have any competition in Amherst (Subway doesn't count).
(4)
Derek B.
Expectations rise as I enter this store - baked goods to the right, deli straight ahead, and seating in a separate room to the left. Everything looks delicious, the staff looks friendly enough, so to the right I go for my morning baked good. I opt for the chocolate croissant, mainly because counter-girl was obviously losing patience with me while I tried to decide - but they don't have the best display. There should be a sign in the window that says "decide here because you can't peruse inside." Anyway, chocolate croissant: 1) The chocolate was of the melted-and-hardened type. 2) It was not fresh, and in addition to not tasting fresh, it was cool, 3) it was not flaky. The consistency was something between flaky croissant and hostess fruit pie (but it definitely tasted better than the fruit pie). People spoke highly of Black Sheep, so I'll give the deli a try next time I'm in town.
(2)
D S.
Great sandwiches, great baked goods, but the coffee's not as good as the coffee at Raos.
(4)
amy w.
The sandwiches are good, but the baked goods are the real reason I go to Black Sheep. The eclairs might look small in the bakery case, but pack a hefty amount of tasty custard filling - I'd recommend splitting one with someone you like. Don't miss out on the various croissants either (the chocolate ones sell out before lunch), their dough is so good.
(4)
Gil S.
Kick ass confections, coffee, and sandwiches. Bonus: Live Bluegrass!
(4)
E G.
Ahh the sheep, I've been going there for 15 years...It has introduced me to more food items I never would have dared tried (tougue, for 1) and really helped move this Yankee into the world of NYC deli culture, which led to Zabar's....which is heaven to me now...I've known the Sheep to punt once an a while, but you can always find the owner & he'll make good on it, that goes a long way in my book, that and a 26 inch long BLT made on a toasted baguette with extra bacon and Helmans Mayo, not some Sysco brand crap....
(4)
estelle s.
i tend to really enjoy their sandwiches, but i get really tired of paying their prices. +fresh ingredients +delicious -could be larger in size -$$$$ =decent service behind the deli +usually really nice at the counter -deserts look better than how they taste is what i remember
(3)
Arwen O.
Your local liberal deli, the Black Sheep had sanwiches named after members of the Bush Administration for the election last year (The Dumsfeld, the Condasleezer) and uses mostly local produce, often organic. They have a pretty mouthwatering deli display, and the desserts are amazing: their brownie is the fudgiest I've ever had. However, I must admit to being a little disappointed at the slimness of their sandwich offering at times. Not in terms of options, but size...My chicken salad was just that. Not even lettuce! Still, if you're a vegetarian, this place will not let you down. They have a great selection of veggie and tofu sandwiches, which my sister is devoted to. blacksheepdeli.com
(4)
alice t.
just a few things to add to the reviews already here-- -If you have difficulty making a decision, just stand off to the side and let the counter person know that it'll be a while. I _always_ take a while, and the staff has always been polite enough about it. -the almond croissant I had was decent, though it would have been much better warmed up (even though I went at 7 a.m....). I thought it had good buttery flavor, middling flakiness, tasty filling in an appropriate ratio, but definitely take it to go and warm it up rather than eating it on-site. This, I suspect, would greatly improve outer crispiness and tender insides, bring out the buttery flavor even more, and generally elevate the experience. -The sandwiches are ok. I feel that if you can tolerate cooking/preparing food at all (and if, unlike the students, you have a _kitchen_) you could do as good or better a job at home. Just invest in a couple of key ingredients, like good bread and good pesto or sundried tomatoes, or cheese, whatever. -the clientele is pretty hipster/crunchy, but this makes for amusing eavesdropping and people-watching. This is Western Mass., what did you expect? :-) -it's a popular in Amherst because it has no competition; it's no foodie mecca, it's not a destination bakery. That said, it's better than nothing. For instance, Henion Bakery (down Main St., next to Brueggers) is more of an American-style bakery, so you won't find croissants there. However, I do find that Henion's stuff is fresher, warm in the morning (so important!), if you're into sweet sticky buns, donuts, etc.
Their sandwiches are really amazing, so I start with that. However it takes them literally forever to make a sandwich, EVEN if you're the only one in line and they constantly mess up your order and you have to continue to wait while they fix their mistakes. I think they should focus more on hiring good employees instead of the most alternative looking people they can find...
(3)
Jaecj W.
Watched as the counter person made my hot sandwich by putting meat in microwave. Sorry but microwaving meat is something I can do at home except I've got more respect for sandwich
(2)
Robert B.
The perfect place to get a sandwich, coffee, and a dessert. I've visited many times and am never disappointed. I highly recommend the bagel sandwich for breakfast because it is loaded with whatever toping you like and with such ingredients is the biggest bargain in town. The chocolate mousse is a tremendous treat if you have a sweet tooth. Sandwiches are loaded with fillings and tend to be messy. That's my only critique and for most it's a strength- the place is trying to fit in too much onto their delicious homemade bread. Honestly, a dessert from the Black Sheep is not to be missed. They serve Dean's Beans coffees which are truly exceptional and environmentally friendly. Overall, the value and taste simple cannot be beaten. If you like Amherst, you will love the Black Sheep. If excellence were not enough, the owner is famous for his support of local folks in need.
(5)
Eric S.
I want to love The Black Sheep. It's cozy and feels like home in the way a tired, worn out diner might in another community. Too bad the food and drink is to a similar, weary and dated standard. The coffee is often burnt or otherwise not great, and they burn their espresso. The bread loafs they make are eatable but closer to supermarket bread than what places like Tart, Hungry Ghost and Henion serve up. I've had a few sandwiches there, and would better describe them as acceptable than great. Once, I got served one on stale bread. And, and... I overheard two folks in the deli saying they were going to mix coffee airpots because both were mostly empty! So yeah. I like sitting here. I like their workers, the music they play, the old jazz posters on the walls and the general feel of Amherst history here. I don't really like the food or drink, though... and I wonder if it was better in the 80s, or if we just know better now and are spoiled by a Whole Foods culture.
(3)
Ericka W.
Busy place with options for every diet! I was first faced by a rude employee who seemed distracted and upset because I had to ask for a specific bread? :/ and then I met a nicer women who was very kind. I ordered the Southwest chicken sandwich and it wasss okay, less hot sauce than I would want but you know. Fresh ingredients, and with that, there was a bone in my roasted chicken. I couldn't finish the meal, it just freaked me out!
(3)
D. F.
The pastries are very good. The sandwiches are sometimes very good; sometimes dry. The sandwiches are usually dry and less impressive when they are for a catered event than if you go to the cafe. But it is even hit or miss at the cafe. The place is very popular. Even though they brew Dean's Beans (a very good local roaster), the coffee always tastes burnt, no matter which roast I have gotten. Requisite anecdote about bad service: Some people here were ordering sandwiches for a meeting; 7 sandwiches, 1 salad and 2 wraps (10 items) total. She called at 9am to place the order to be delivered at noon. The person at the deli threw a fit, scolded my coworker saying that "this is just unacceptable!" Apparently 3 hours is not enough notice for 10 items. They need 48 hours advance notice for 6 or more items. We were not asking to cater a 100 person luncheon or even 20 sandwiches. This was her first (and last) time ordering from them and didn't realize that they couldn't handle a normal lunch order 3 hours in advance like other places in town have routinely done without a hiccup. Also, they could have nicely asked her to order in advance in the future. Either way, they were incredibly rude to her.
(2)
Natasha H.
I had an egg croissant sandwich here, recommended by the staff. It was sooo good. It's filling and a perfect brunch menu. The coffee here is pretty good too. A lovely place to enjoy coffee and read the magazine.
(4)
Adira S.
I got a goats cheese, eggplant, portabello sandwich today, along with Mexican hot chocolate. Hot chocolate was good enough, sandwich tasted nice, but later I felt a bit sick. i think that the ingredients used are not of great quality .. Mehh. Will not be eating here anymore.
(2)
Samantha R.
The staff is extremely friends, and the sandwiches are overstuffed which is great of you're hungry. I'm pretty sure they had a mishap and charged me for half a sandwich but I got a whole, considering my total was 5.85 with a water. Also, you can sub anything you want and they're okay with it. The taste is okay, nothing special. Probably won't come back unless I'm low on cash.
(3)
L P.
A little pricey but consistently quality ingredients, consistently well prepared. Out of 20 or so breakfast sandwich orders, the only mistake was not switching out for the bread I had asked for and they fixed it right away.
(5)
Charlotte S.
I'm giving Black Sheep a 3 since there are no half-stars. Our sandwich was pretty good but the wait was horrendous. It wasn't really crowded either and there was no explanation for waiting as long as we did. Look, I'm not a jerk but if the queue's been empty for 10 minutes, and no one else is waiting, there's no reason to wait 15 for a sandwich. It's a sandwich. And if you have a good reason for it taking 15, just apologize. Ya know? However, the sandwich was pretty good once it finally arrived. We got one of the daily specials - I think it's called "The Hot Dirt" which sounds actually kind of repulsive but it was a whimsical take on a tuna salad sandwich with capers and provolone. I liked it and the amount of tuna salad was hearty - I wished I had done two halves of different sandwiches (a full sandwich is $7.95 before tax whereas a half is $3.95 I think so you're really not eating too much in the wallet to do 2 halves) though since they seemed to have a lot of interesting vegetarian and vegan options. The coffee bar was set up in a confusing way (iced beverages are directly in front of where customers pick up and puts you also in the way of people trying to grab hot coffee on the end closest to the pick up counter - the milk/sugar is all the way at the other end - also, there's not an ice machine but a tiny little container where you scoop it yourself - I overlooked it at first glance) but the coffee itself was delicious and fresh. I had never heard of the roaster they use but it had a very smooth flavor and they even have a hot coffee that boasts extra caffeine - yes! If I'm ever in Amherst again, I'll probably give it another whirl. The menu can be intimidating, since there are so many sandwiches, and that is a very good thing. I also liked that they sell discounted day old baked goods rather than tossing them at the end of the night. They had a cute name for their day old rack too - I remember remarking on it.
(3)
Damien S.
NY deli stylings, replete with bubbly chalkboard fonts, Wavy Gravy art and brick thick Rick Krispie treats. Big ups for stacking housemade breads with fillings that'll sate veggies, carnivores and all walks in between (I'm talking to you, fish fans). All the elements for success are there: in-house baked goods, a balance of inventive and comfortable sandwich classics, an entire cooler of sweet tea. Yet, the execution is off with understuffed 'wiches heavy on dry grains, yet lacking a hefty punch of flavor. My That's Italian! (a-bippitybop) shaved a single too-thick slice of capicola, hardly any ham but plenty of provolone. The balsamic drizzle is a bit much, giving the whole thing a lotta tannins. Her Black Sheep Baguette yielded the same response - a hearty "It's not bad." On the plus side, sandwiches can be ordered by the half. And for a paltry $4! Just enough to quell the rumbles, not enough to have you satisfied.
(3)
Whitney H.
The atmosphere is the best. It's sunny and cute. Everyone who works there is friendly and lovely. Ask for extras of stuff! I always get the same- the florentine breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel with EXTRA spinach...they give me a ton of spinach with every order. Overall it's friendly and cute. Good for doing homework if you're a student. Check it out.
(5)
Brinna D.
Best mocha latte I have ever had. Delicious and affordable sandwiches and pastries. The atmosphere is so inviting, comfortable, and open-yet-still-private. Nothing here is anything short of perfect.
(5)
Amanda G.
When I was up in Amherst last weekend, my family and I were on the hunt for an affordable and delicious breakfast and of course, we turned to Yelp for guidance. After spending two mornings at the Lone Wolf next door, the Black Sheep Deli was looking mighty fine and we were over the moon excited for some East Coast bagels. I got an everything bagel stacked to the brim with cream cheese, lox, cucumber, sprouts and onions - and it was everything I'd hoped for, and more. If you're visiting - make sure you stop by here and get your bagel done proper!
(4)
Sarah O.
I can always count on black sheep for a quick sandwich. However, the sandwiches can be pretty mediocre sometimes (sloppy arrangement or hard baguettes). Their pasteries, sweets, and soups are great! I love their minestrone soup and the ham/cheese or cheese/broccoli croissant
(3)
A G.
This place is usually pretty crowded, and with good reason. I love the Green Monster sandwich, so garlic-y and delicious. The bread is fresh and hearty. Their baked goods always look delectable and from what I have tried (chocolate covered macaroons and magic bars) has been delicious. This is a favorite spot for me!
(4)
P B.
One stop shop, the Black Sheep has it all from great coffee, fantastic sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries etc. Not to mention entertainment including Blue Grass jam sessions on Wednesday nights. One tip, if your there with someone else have them grab a seat while you order, it can get quite crowed at times. Also, staff is super friendly!
(5)
Victor O.
The coffee here is always hot! Cherry Danish are among the best I've ever had. Mid get there early enough you can find some of the freshest rolls in town.
(4)
KURT S.
first visit - antipasto salad the worst ever, large lump a procuiutto and slice of cheese, nothing like picture on wall, , next visit - salad had 2 long hairs I'm done spending money here
(1)
Greg K.
Hipsters cant make breakfast. Worst b sang of my life. took forever. over priced and they microwave everything. what kind of shit hole microwaves eggs. Like at first i was like this place has potential, then i went for breakfast and it was like being hit in the face witha cinder block of processed garbage. Right to the face i had a microwaved breakfast sandwich for 6 dollars. If i wanted a piece of turd to eat i would have went to the nearest fire hydrant and find so dog doo-doo to stuff into a bagel. Like what the fuck is wrong with a place to microwave a sponge like brick of egg in front of you. This place sucks. GOOD DAY
(1)
Cathy B.
This place saved my skin because they were open late (until 9:00) and their pastry case was still well stocked. It allowed me to buy up most of their cookies for some meetings I had planned the next day. For that, I am very grateful. However, the cookies are just fine, though awfully expensive considering they're a pretty generic representation of cookie-dom. Beyond that, I would have to echo some of the comments below. Nice kids working there, but they lack some professionalism. For example, after I bought out their cookies, I stayed for a sandwich, dessert, and a tea - all bought "for here." The whole time I sat there eating my dinner, the clerks were talking about how "some lady" just waltzed in there that evening and bought out their cookie case. A) Thanks for making me feel old. ("Some lady"?) B) I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE. I can totally hear you. Beyond that - my sandwich was fine. My salad was pretty awful (who puts Italian dressing on a Caesar salad? The Black Sheep, apparently). As mentioned elsewhere, it was totally over-dressed, making it really quite inedible in parts. I went back for a slice of cake from the pastry case, and was eyeballing the as-yet-uncut carrot cake. Instead, the server said, "Oh yeah, I think we have some slices from yesterday." Really? You're going to tell me that you are basically serving me 3-day old cake----that has already been cut ---- and exposed to air on all 4 sides -- and it a little bit stale? But I still get to pay full price. Despite the fact that they saved my un-catered ass, I found the place pretty ungroovy overall.
(2)
Chris L.
It's the closest option to a true deli in Amherst. They have a pretty adventurous menu, with a bunch of different options one can try. Being in a college town, they offer flavors that should satisfy anyone's taste buds. The wait can be a little long at times, but you're not paying that much, so it's worth the wait. There's also plenty of waiting space once you order and one entire half is dedicated to sitting room. One might say it has a "hipster" vibe, which might be true, but it's really just a younger crowd which appreciates a combination of aesthetics and taste!
(4)
Caroline F.
There is a wide range of vegetarian options that are tasty. They have the most reasonable prices for a good Sandwich in town. The baked goods are very high quality and delish
(4)
Alice L.
I never seem to learn my lesson...every time I come here for a vegetarian/vegan sandwich, I leave very dissatisfied. My Issues: -Sandwich bread is always stale, so toasting it helps -The veggie sandwiches have the same proportion of veggies in it as the meat sandwiches. WHY DON'T THEY LOAD IT UP WHEN IT'S VEGGIE ONLY!? -An $8 sandwich for a few thin slices of cucumber, sprinkle of sprouts, and a cup of mustard that completely overwhelms any vegetable taste that might have been there. I've refrained from writing a bad review right away, and decided to give the Black Sheep a few more chances. This is the 4th time I've been in and have yet to have a good vegetarian/vegan sandwich experience. Not sure what all the fuss is about.
(2)
Brian C.
Before moving to Amherst, I was told by a friend who had attended school here that the Black Sheep was "the best deli in the world." She has lived in twelve major cities on four continents. I believed her. The sandwiches are for the most part very good. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is fair trade and organic, but while the selection of roasts is impressive, it's a far call from the People's Market. The breads and pastries are excellent. I recommend the fruit tart. Though seating is often difficult to find, I come here regularly to study. Black Sheep is not the world's best, but is without a doubt the best in the Valley. It's a great place to meet with friends or to complete that paper you have been putting off all semester. Black Sheep offers free WiFi, is accessible, and is affordable for students.
All about the chocolate covered macaroons and Dean's Beans coffee. Sublime. They offer gluten free bread and bagels for sandwiches, which is nice.
(4)
Arielle F.
Age 1- ate my first muffin from the Black Sheep. Loved it. Age 9- went on my first solo errand to buy bread from the Black Sheep. Nailed it. Age 29- fed my wedding guests a delightful array of sandwiches and salads for my rehearsal luncheon. Ate every bit of it. I hope they never change.
(5)
Eddie A.
Black sheep is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat for breakfast. They have great sandwich options with funny clever names. Their coffee is good too and its apparently "deans beans coffee" which is fair trade and supports sustainable agriculture. (if that kind of stuff floats your boat) The sauces and spreads I really enjoy and I think they are all made in house. I'm reading a lot of comments complaining about the staff, in there defense they have to put up with the arrogant Amherst crowd all day. I'm just grabbing a sandwich I don't need need to be coddled . Overall great place for specialty sandwiches.
(5)
Chris M.
I love this sandwich shop. When I am in the area and I want to eat something fresh & inspired, I come here. They sell homemade delicious breads, desserts, sandwiches, and drinks. They have a lot of unique vegetarian options on the menu. My favorite sandwich is the Smokey Joes... So yummy! You can choose to order a full or half size sandwich. There is usually a line due to its popularity but they are well staffed and make the food fast so its worth the 10 minute wait. Check this place out!
After an intellectually invigorating tour after Emily Dickinson house, we were read to shift from feeding our psyche to feeding our stomachs. Black Sheep was down the street and offered what we w ere looking for: salads and sandwiches. I had their whitefish on a crusty roll. Smoked whitefish salad...a little bit of New York in the the Pioneer Valley. The husband had a salad. Both were delicious. If I had even an ounce of the talent of Miss Dickinson, I would craft a poem to the sandwich. Alas, all I can say is mm, mm good.
(3)
Martha R.
If you like your overpriced sandwich served up with a dose of sanctimonious righteousness and class warfare this is for you. Management better at striking noble public postures than they are at delivering food in a timely manner.
(1)
Tracy G.
I go here once a year, for one reason only: to get my boyfriend's birthday cake, the flourless chocolate espresso torte, topped in fruit and whipped cream. I order it ahead of time. It's a hit every year and I don't know anywhere else in town that makes this cake better than they do. It is expensive. My boyfriend is worth it. But that's the only reason I go here. There are a lot of cafes in Amherst and I'll go to any of them before I subject myself to the service at the Black Sheep. As you've already read,the service here is poor. "Grudging" is a good word for it. You may or may not be welcomed as you enter. And even though you can see three or four employees building a long sandwich together at the deli counter, you cannot count on one of them to turn around to help you. You might just have to stand there awkwardly for a while. It's annoying and I'm surprised all the poor reviews here haven't changed anything. I used to write at this cafe in the early morning but I have switched over to Starbucks, and it's not because I love the coffee so much. It's because of the service. Black Sheep, listen up: good service makes a difference!
(2)
Amber S.
I've been a patron here for years since college and it is solid. Great coffee, incredible pastries and a sweet people watching perch often having cutesy live music. Stop by before a long drive to grab some great snacks for the road.
(5)
Sally O.
Very good sandwiches and salads. The sandwiches on baguettes are a bit hard to bite into and keep everything together, but they come with such interesting and delicious sandwich combinations that it's hard to complain.
(5)
Shawn S.
Fresh ingredients. Unfortunately the southwest sandwich is not southwest in nature. They do not use chipotle, poblano or jalapeño derivative. They made the mistake of thinking buffalo hot sauce is a southwestern flavor...oops! Otherwise nice atmosphere and relatively inexpensive.
(3)
Courtney R.
Yummy sandwiches, cool staff, great baristas and they have the best bear claw pastries ever. Good place to have lunch and do some reading.
(4)
Sanae T.
Flies flies everywhere.. And these were well-fed fat ones. I got a cream puff, yes that huge thing which was quite nice - maybe a little too much chocolate icing - so my daughter wanted me to take the cream and try to catch some of them with it. Well, I should have but didn't... And yes, I agree with the bad service comments. They are just not happy (not even trying to act happy).
(2)
Joan H.
Good! Glad it's close by...loving the cheesecake brownie. Not the best place to do work, but certainly a fun atmosphere (especially when there's music Thurs and Fri nights). Cool spot.
Cool atmosphere, amazing dense, fudgy brownies, several good options for vegetarians with lots of fresh produce, great live music, and terribly unfriendly service (esp. for Amherst!), sums up The Black Sheep Cafe. As another Yelper put it, the service is "begrudgingly" given. Yup. Why don't the owners find or train some waitstaff who actually LIKE other people?
(2)
B M.
B- for ambience. It's pleasant enough and a good place to bring your work, but something about the lighting/layout is a bit depressing. Maybe it's just Amherst in general. B+ for deli. The sandwiches are all pretty good, but a bit pricey. Pastries range from C to A. I've had most of them. I'd avoid the cookies -- usually dry -- and the cakes. The mousse cups, though, are amazing.
(3)
Amanda G.
When I was up in Amherst last weekend, my family and I were on the hunt for an affordable and delicious breakfast and of course, we turned to Yelp for guidance. After spending two mornings at the Lone Wolf next door, the Black Sheep Deli was looking mighty fine and we were over the moon excited for some East Coast bagels. I got an everything bagel stacked to the brim with cream cheese, lox, cucumber, sprouts and onions - and it was everything I'd hoped for, and more. If you're visiting - make sure you stop by here and get your bagel done proper!
(4)
Sarah O.
I can always count on black sheep for a quick sandwich. However, the sandwiches can be pretty mediocre sometimes (sloppy arrangement or hard baguettes). Their pasteries, sweets, and soups are great! I love their minestrone soup and the ham/cheese or cheese/broccoli croissant
(3)
A G.
This place is usually pretty crowded, and with good reason. I love the Green Monster sandwich, so garlic-y and delicious. The bread is fresh and hearty. Their baked goods always look delectable and from what I have tried (chocolate covered macaroons and magic bars) has been delicious. This is a favorite spot for me!
(4)
Robert B.
The perfect place to get a sandwich, coffee, and a dessert. I've visited many times and am never disappointed. I highly recommend the bagel sandwich for breakfast because it is loaded with whatever toping you like and with such ingredients is the biggest bargain in town. The chocolate mousse is a tremendous treat if you have a sweet tooth. Sandwiches are loaded with fillings and tend to be messy. That's my only critique and for most it's a strength- the place is trying to fit in too much onto their delicious homemade bread. Honestly, a dessert from the Black Sheep is not to be missed. They serve Dean's Beans coffees which are truly exceptional and environmentally friendly. Overall, the value and taste simple cannot be beaten. If you like Amherst, you will love the Black Sheep. If excellence were not enough, the owner is famous for his support of local folks in need.
(5)
Eric S.
I want to love The Black Sheep. It's cozy and feels like home in the way a tired, worn out diner might in another community. Too bad the food and drink is to a similar, weary and dated standard. The coffee is often burnt or otherwise not great, and they burn their espresso. The bread loafs they make are eatable but closer to supermarket bread than what places like Tart, Hungry Ghost and Henion serve up. I've had a few sandwiches there, and would better describe them as acceptable than great. Once, I got served one on stale bread. And, and... I overheard two folks in the deli saying they were going to mix coffee airpots because both were mostly empty! So yeah. I like sitting here. I like their workers, the music they play, the old jazz posters on the walls and the general feel of Amherst history here. I don't really like the food or drink, though... and I wonder if it was better in the 80s, or if we just know better now and are spoiled by a Whole Foods culture.
Their sandwiches are really amazing, so I start with that. However it takes them literally forever to make a sandwich, EVEN if you're the only one in line and they constantly mess up your order and you have to continue to wait while they fix their mistakes. I think they should focus more on hiring good employees instead of the most alternative looking people they can find...
(3)
Jaecj W.
Watched as the counter person made my hot sandwich by putting meat in microwave. Sorry but microwaving meat is something I can do at home except I've got more respect for sandwich
(2)
Ericka W.
Busy place with options for every diet! I was first faced by a rude employee who seemed distracted and upset because I had to ask for a specific bread? :/ and then I met a nicer women who was very kind. I ordered the Southwest chicken sandwich and it wasss okay, less hot sauce than I would want but you know. Fresh ingredients, and with that, there was a bone in my roasted chicken. I couldn't finish the meal, it just freaked me out!
(3)
Greg K.
Hipsters cant make breakfast. Worst b sang of my life. took forever. over priced and they microwave everything. what kind of shit hole microwaves eggs. Like at first i was like this place has potential, then i went for breakfast and it was like being hit in the face witha cinder block of processed garbage. Right to the face i had a microwaved breakfast sandwich for 6 dollars. If i wanted a piece of turd to eat i would have went to the nearest fire hydrant and find so dog doo-doo to stuff into a bagel. Like what the fuck is wrong with a place to microwave a sponge like brick of egg in front of you. This place sucks. GOOD DAY
(1)
D. F.
The pastries are very good. The sandwiches are sometimes very good; sometimes dry. The sandwiches are usually dry and less impressive when they are for a catered event than if you go to the cafe. But it is even hit or miss at the cafe. The place is very popular. Even though they brew Dean's Beans (a very good local roaster), the coffee always tastes burnt, no matter which roast I have gotten. Requisite anecdote about bad service: Some people here were ordering sandwiches for a meeting; 7 sandwiches, 1 salad and 2 wraps (10 items) total. She called at 9am to place the order to be delivered at noon. The person at the deli threw a fit, scolded my coworker saying that "this is just unacceptable!" Apparently 3 hours is not enough notice for 10 items. They need 48 hours advance notice for 6 or more items. We were not asking to cater a 100 person luncheon or even 20 sandwiches. This was her first (and last) time ordering from them and didn't realize that they couldn't handle a normal lunch order 3 hours in advance like other places in town have routinely done without a hiccup. Also, they could have nicely asked her to order in advance in the future. Either way, they were incredibly rude to her.
(2)
Natasha H.
I had an egg croissant sandwich here, recommended by the staff. It was sooo good. It's filling and a perfect brunch menu. The coffee here is pretty good too. A lovely place to enjoy coffee and read the magazine.
(4)
Adira S.
I got a goats cheese, eggplant, portabello sandwich today, along with Mexican hot chocolate. Hot chocolate was good enough, sandwich tasted nice, but later I felt a bit sick. i think that the ingredients used are not of great quality .. Mehh. Will not be eating here anymore.
(2)
Samantha R.
The staff is extremely friends, and the sandwiches are overstuffed which is great of you're hungry. I'm pretty sure they had a mishap and charged me for half a sandwich but I got a whole, considering my total was 5.85 with a water. Also, you can sub anything you want and they're okay with it. The taste is okay, nothing special. Probably won't come back unless I'm low on cash.
(3)
L P.
A little pricey but consistently quality ingredients, consistently well prepared. Out of 20 or so breakfast sandwich orders, the only mistake was not switching out for the bread I had asked for and they fixed it right away.
(5)
P B.
One stop shop, the Black Sheep has it all from great coffee, fantastic sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries etc. Not to mention entertainment including Blue Grass jam sessions on Wednesday nights. One tip, if your there with someone else have them grab a seat while you order, it can get quite crowed at times. Also, staff is super friendly!
(5)
Victor O.
The coffee here is always hot! Cherry Danish are among the best I've ever had. Mid get there early enough you can find some of the freshest rolls in town.
(4)
KURT S.
first visit - antipasto salad the worst ever, large lump a procuiutto and slice of cheese, nothing like picture on wall, , next visit - salad had 2 long hairs I'm done spending money here
(1)
Charlotte S.
I'm giving Black Sheep a 3 since there are no half-stars. Our sandwich was pretty good but the wait was horrendous. It wasn't really crowded either and there was no explanation for waiting as long as we did. Look, I'm not a jerk but if the queue's been empty for 10 minutes, and no one else is waiting, there's no reason to wait 15 for a sandwich. It's a sandwich. And if you have a good reason for it taking 15, just apologize. Ya know? However, the sandwich was pretty good once it finally arrived. We got one of the daily specials - I think it's called "The Hot Dirt" which sounds actually kind of repulsive but it was a whimsical take on a tuna salad sandwich with capers and provolone. I liked it and the amount of tuna salad was hearty - I wished I had done two halves of different sandwiches (a full sandwich is $7.95 before tax whereas a half is $3.95 I think so you're really not eating too much in the wallet to do 2 halves) though since they seemed to have a lot of interesting vegetarian and vegan options. The coffee bar was set up in a confusing way (iced beverages are directly in front of where customers pick up and puts you also in the way of people trying to grab hot coffee on the end closest to the pick up counter - the milk/sugar is all the way at the other end - also, there's not an ice machine but a tiny little container where you scoop it yourself - I overlooked it at first glance) but the coffee itself was delicious and fresh. I had never heard of the roaster they use but it had a very smooth flavor and they even have a hot coffee that boasts extra caffeine - yes! If I'm ever in Amherst again, I'll probably give it another whirl. The menu can be intimidating, since there are so many sandwiches, and that is a very good thing. I also liked that they sell discounted day old baked goods rather than tossing them at the end of the night. They had a cute name for their day old rack too - I remember remarking on it.
(3)
Damien S.
NY deli stylings, replete with bubbly chalkboard fonts, Wavy Gravy art and brick thick Rick Krispie treats. Big ups for stacking housemade breads with fillings that'll sate veggies, carnivores and all walks in between (I'm talking to you, fish fans). All the elements for success are there: in-house baked goods, a balance of inventive and comfortable sandwich classics, an entire cooler of sweet tea. Yet, the execution is off with understuffed 'wiches heavy on dry grains, yet lacking a hefty punch of flavor. My That's Italian! (a-bippitybop) shaved a single too-thick slice of capicola, hardly any ham but plenty of provolone. The balsamic drizzle is a bit much, giving the whole thing a lotta tannins. Her Black Sheep Baguette yielded the same response - a hearty "It's not bad." On the plus side, sandwiches can be ordered by the half. And for a paltry $4! Just enough to quell the rumbles, not enough to have you satisfied.
(3)
Whitney H.
The atmosphere is the best. It's sunny and cute. Everyone who works there is friendly and lovely. Ask for extras of stuff! I always get the same- the florentine breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel with EXTRA spinach...they give me a ton of spinach with every order. Overall it's friendly and cute. Good for doing homework if you're a student. Check it out.
(5)
Brinna D.
Best mocha latte I have ever had. Delicious and affordable sandwiches and pastries. The atmosphere is so inviting, comfortable, and open-yet-still-private. Nothing here is anything short of perfect.
(5)
Cathy B.
This place saved my skin because they were open late (until 9:00) and their pastry case was still well stocked. It allowed me to buy up most of their cookies for some meetings I had planned the next day. For that, I am very grateful. However, the cookies are just fine, though awfully expensive considering they're a pretty generic representation of cookie-dom. Beyond that, I would have to echo some of the comments below. Nice kids working there, but they lack some professionalism. For example, after I bought out their cookies, I stayed for a sandwich, dessert, and a tea - all bought "for here." The whole time I sat there eating my dinner, the clerks were talking about how "some lady" just waltzed in there that evening and bought out their cookie case. A) Thanks for making me feel old. ("Some lady"?) B) I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE. I can totally hear you. Beyond that - my sandwich was fine. My salad was pretty awful (who puts Italian dressing on a Caesar salad? The Black Sheep, apparently). As mentioned elsewhere, it was totally over-dressed, making it really quite inedible in parts. I went back for a slice of cake from the pastry case, and was eyeballing the as-yet-uncut carrot cake. Instead, the server said, "Oh yeah, I think we have some slices from yesterday." Really? You're going to tell me that you are basically serving me 3-day old cake----that has already been cut ---- and exposed to air on all 4 sides -- and it a little bit stale? But I still get to pay full price. Despite the fact that they saved my un-catered ass, I found the place pretty ungroovy overall.
(2)
Chris L.
It's the closest option to a true deli in Amherst. They have a pretty adventurous menu, with a bunch of different options one can try. Being in a college town, they offer flavors that should satisfy anyone's taste buds. The wait can be a little long at times, but you're not paying that much, so it's worth the wait. There's also plenty of waiting space once you order and one entire half is dedicated to sitting room. One might say it has a "hipster" vibe, which might be true, but it's really just a younger crowd which appreciates a combination of aesthetics and taste!
(4)
Caroline F.
There is a wide range of vegetarian options that are tasty. They have the most reasonable prices for a good Sandwich in town. The baked goods are very high quality and delish
(4)
Alice L.
I never seem to learn my lesson...every time I come here for a vegetarian/vegan sandwich, I leave very dissatisfied. My Issues: -Sandwich bread is always stale, so toasting it helps -The veggie sandwiches have the same proportion of veggies in it as the meat sandwiches. WHY DON'T THEY LOAD IT UP WHEN IT'S VEGGIE ONLY!? -An $8 sandwich for a few thin slices of cucumber, sprinkle of sprouts, and a cup of mustard that completely overwhelms any vegetable taste that might have been there. I've refrained from writing a bad review right away, and decided to give the Black Sheep a few more chances. This is the 4th time I've been in and have yet to have a good vegetarian/vegan sandwich experience. Not sure what all the fuss is about.
(2)
Brian C.
Before moving to Amherst, I was told by a friend who had attended school here that the Black Sheep was "the best deli in the world." She has lived in twelve major cities on four continents. I believed her. The sandwiches are for the most part very good. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is fair trade and organic, but while the selection of roasts is impressive, it's a far call from the People's Market. The breads and pastries are excellent. I recommend the fruit tart. Though seating is often difficult to find, I come here regularly to study. Black Sheep is not the world's best, but is without a doubt the best in the Valley. It's a great place to meet with friends or to complete that paper you have been putting off all semester. Black Sheep offers free WiFi, is accessible, and is affordable for students.
All about the chocolate covered macaroons and Dean's Beans coffee. Sublime. They offer gluten free bread and bagels for sandwiches, which is nice.
(4)
Arielle F.
Age 1- ate my first muffin from the Black Sheep. Loved it. Age 9- went on my first solo errand to buy bread from the Black Sheep. Nailed it. Age 29- fed my wedding guests a delightful array of sandwiches and salads for my rehearsal luncheon. Ate every bit of it. I hope they never change.
(5)
Eddie A.
Black sheep is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat for breakfast. They have great sandwich options with funny clever names. Their coffee is good too and its apparently "deans beans coffee" which is fair trade and supports sustainable agriculture. (if that kind of stuff floats your boat) The sauces and spreads I really enjoy and I think they are all made in house. I'm reading a lot of comments complaining about the staff, in there defense they have to put up with the arrogant Amherst crowd all day. I'm just grabbing a sandwich I don't need need to be coddled . Overall great place for specialty sandwiches.
(5)
Chris M.
I love this sandwich shop. When I am in the area and I want to eat something fresh & inspired, I come here. They sell homemade delicious breads, desserts, sandwiches, and drinks. They have a lot of unique vegetarian options on the menu. My favorite sandwich is the Smokey Joes... So yummy! You can choose to order a full or half size sandwich. There is usually a line due to its popularity but they are well staffed and make the food fast so its worth the 10 minute wait. Check this place out!
After an intellectually invigorating tour after Emily Dickinson house, we were read to shift from feeding our psyche to feeding our stomachs. Black Sheep was down the street and offered what we w ere looking for: salads and sandwiches. I had their whitefish on a crusty roll. Smoked whitefish salad...a little bit of New York in the the Pioneer Valley. The husband had a salad. Both were delicious. If I had even an ounce of the talent of Miss Dickinson, I would craft a poem to the sandwich. Alas, all I can say is mm, mm good.
(3)
Martha R.
If you like your overpriced sandwich served up with a dose of sanctimonious righteousness and class warfare this is for you. Management better at striking noble public postures than they are at delivering food in a timely manner.
(1)
Tracy G.
I go here once a year, for one reason only: to get my boyfriend's birthday cake, the flourless chocolate espresso torte, topped in fruit and whipped cream. I order it ahead of time. It's a hit every year and I don't know anywhere else in town that makes this cake better than they do. It is expensive. My boyfriend is worth it. But that's the only reason I go here. There are a lot of cafes in Amherst and I'll go to any of them before I subject myself to the service at the Black Sheep. As you've already read,the service here is poor. "Grudging" is a good word for it. You may or may not be welcomed as you enter. And even though you can see three or four employees building a long sandwich together at the deli counter, you cannot count on one of them to turn around to help you. You might just have to stand there awkwardly for a while. It's annoying and I'm surprised all the poor reviews here haven't changed anything. I used to write at this cafe in the early morning but I have switched over to Starbucks, and it's not because I love the coffee so much. It's because of the service. Black Sheep, listen up: good service makes a difference!
(2)
Amber S.
I've been a patron here for years since college and it is solid. Great coffee, incredible pastries and a sweet people watching perch often having cutesy live music. Stop by before a long drive to grab some great snacks for the road.
(5)
Sally O.
Very good sandwiches and salads. The sandwiches on baguettes are a bit hard to bite into and keep everything together, but they come with such interesting and delicious sandwich combinations that it's hard to complain.
(5)
Shawn S.
Fresh ingredients. Unfortunately the southwest sandwich is not southwest in nature. They do not use chipotle, poblano or jalapeño derivative. They made the mistake of thinking buffalo hot sauce is a southwestern flavor...oops! Otherwise nice atmosphere and relatively inexpensive.
(3)
Courtney R.
Yummy sandwiches, cool staff, great baristas and they have the best bear claw pastries ever. Good place to have lunch and do some reading.
(4)
Heather S.
Cool atmosphere, amazing dense, fudgy brownies, several good options for vegetarians with lots of fresh produce, great live music, and terribly unfriendly service (esp. for Amherst!), sums up The Black Sheep Cafe. As another Yelper put it, the service is "begrudgingly" given. Yup. Why don't the owners find or train some waitstaff who actually LIKE other people?
(2)
B M.
B- for ambience. It's pleasant enough and a good place to bring your work, but something about the lighting/layout is a bit depressing. Maybe it's just Amherst in general. B+ for deli. The sandwiches are all pretty good, but a bit pricey. Pastries range from C to A. I've had most of them. I'd avoid the cookies -- usually dry -- and the cakes. The mousse cups, though, are amazing.
(3)
Sanae T.
Flies flies everywhere.. And these were well-fed fat ones. I got a cream puff, yes that huge thing which was quite nice - maybe a little too much chocolate icing - so my daughter wanted me to take the cream and try to catch some of them with it. Well, I should have but didn't... And yes, I agree with the bad service comments. They are just not happy (not even trying to act happy).
(2)
Joan H.
Good! Glad it's close by...loving the cheesecake brownie. Not the best place to do work, but certainly a fun atmosphere (especially when there's music Thurs and Fri nights). Cool spot.
This review is for catering, only :) I hadn't had Black Sheep catering in a number of years and I was eagerly looking forward to it based on past experiences. Unfortunately, the food this time around was very, very mediocre. Though the menu says that the mango chicken is roasted, it seemed poached to me. It was completely pale with no color whatsoever and not much flavor to speak of. It was in a sweet sauce with onions and peppers, but I didn't detect any mango taste at all, just a generic sweetness. It was surprisingly bland and portions were very tough and chewy...this texture, along with the lack of any color, may be why I thought "poached"...because I have over-poached boneless breasts myself on more than one occasion and yielded this same strange, chewy, rubbery texture. The spinach salad was very nice, the sesame noodles were as expected (much like you would make at home; nothing elevated), the red potatoes were bland, and the pesto tortellini was tasty but everything lacked oomph and was sadly under-seasoned across the board (lack of both salt and acid?). Unfortunately, I just don't think the pp price was justified. I generally really like the Black Sheep and hate to say anything negative about them, but there are definitely better catering options in the area.
(2)
Matthew G.
Go here for a delicious whitefish salad sandwich!!!! Great deli speciality sandwiches and breakfasts. Coffee is meh.
(4)
Anna Y.
I've been here quite a few times due to lack of food around Amherst. I know a lot of people would say that there's quite of a variety here, but coming from a big city....I say otherwise. I have tried their sandwiches, salads, and pastries. They are good, but not outstanding, and in my opinion a little pricey. The main reason for three stars is the price for OK sandwiches. I have only tried their caesar salad...with AWESOME croutons...and it's over dressed, so I suggest that you ask for the dressing on the side. I haven't found another place that has good pastries, so whenever I have a sweet tooth, I come here to satisfy my craving.
(3)
Paul M.
Great deli; huge sandwiches, terrific choices and free WiFi if you need to work there. I came back twice because I liked it so much. And the cashier was great to give me change to feed the meter out front, so they're very friendly too!
(4)
Adam S.
Stopped in for a quick breakfast with the family. My daughter had a chocolate croissant, I had a ham and cheese one and my wife ordered the Florentine egg sandwich. I found the croissants to have good flavor, but weren't as light and delicate as others. My wife enjoyed her breakfast sandwich and commented on how good the focaccia was. Good, and we will likely be back, but not the best breakfast spot I have ever been.
(3)
Alex C.
I don't know what's going on with Black Sheep lately, but for the past few weeks they have really disappointed me. The food is still fantastic but the service has been awful! It seems that chatting about their plans for the night is of a much higher priority than completing orders. Very annoying when I'm on my way to work and have to wait for them all to stop flirting so I can get a move on. Several times I've had to interrupt conversations to point out that they were making my order wrong. Maybe they have just gotten lazy for the summer. Step it up Black Sheep! You still get a few stars for the food, but it really sucks to wait ten minutes for a sandwich with three ingredients when it is your only order. I don't really want to stand there listening to you talk about your personal lives. I just want to eat my sandwich.
(3)
Greta K.
The girls and I were in the mood for something on the light side and something that screamed Western Mass. since we were on a day trip in the area. This definitely seemed like a hippie/left wing/college hangout kind of joint. Check out the chalkboard by the bathroom if you don't believe me. The owners/staff are not Republicans in any manner. I ordered a really delicious, yet very large spinach salad. This was a tad on the expensive side for lunch but I was thankful for the day-old brioche, which I bought at half-price and it was still delicious. My friends ordered sandwiches and enjoyed them. The seating area is kind of small so be sure to grab a table quickly after ordering. I loved the acoustic swing band. More restaurants should have live bands play. The desserts looked amazing but we didn't order anything. I'd like to return just for pastries.
(4)
Sean M.
A great bakery, wonderful locations, and unbeatable prices. I've eaten here around 5 times over the past two years and have yet been disappointed. Actually, I've been blown away every visit. My favorite thing on the menu is defiantly the Almond Horn. Only advise is less bitter selection of coffee and offer some Almond Horn cookies that aren't dipped in chocolate, sometimes you just want the almond cookie!
(5)
Rick B.
Great staff, great sandwiches. Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Elisabeth Y.
Good iced coffee. I was there a few days ago for breakfast and had a bagel and cream cheese. Very mediocre and not cheap. I made a mental note to come back for what look like delicious sandwiches (judging by the menu) and I am glad I had a sandwich craving for lunch today! I had the Great Garlic sandwich today and loved every bite! Goat cheese, portobello mushrooms, roasted eggplant, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, and roasted garlic on a baguette- I'll definitely try to reproduce this one at home! People-watching there was entertaining, as an added bonus.
(4)
Max L.
The business model of the Black Sheep seems to be: "We are the only hip bakery in Amherst so you will eat our cookies and enjoy it no matter how little we try." Staff are nice. Ambiance is fine. Cute sandwich names. The Black Sheep seems great on paper, but in practice it often disappoints. The baked goods and desserts are just not very good. Cookies are dry. Cakes are too dense. Consistently disappointing food in general. It's really not surprising that Black Sheep has been having some financial stumbles. I don't believe that locals really support it often.
(2)
Meg C.
OK so I'm prefacing this admitting I haven't been here since '06. That said- while I was living there I LOVED it. The food is really wonderful- just about any veggie you can think of you can get on your sandwich. If you want salad or fruit or meat it's all there. The deserts were fabulous and I'm pretty picky- but everything I ever tried was wonderful. The tea is lovely (not a coffee person). I loved the live music and the atmosphere- very relaxed and laid back. I would bring my 18 month old and she could roam (within reason) and there was enough room for it not to be an issue. Personally I found the people there were very friendly. It was the highlight of my Sundays! Heck the only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because it's been so long since I've been there.
(4)
Chris L.
The short and sweet: Meh espresso, quality (but somewhat pricey) coffee Great sandwiches, but nothing mind-blowing. It doesn't help that they are difficult to eat. Also kind of pricey. The deli dishes (i.e. pasta salad)are also quality, yet probably the same as Stop & Shop or even Big Y down the road. NEVER buy the things in the open cooler cabinet like wrapped cheeses, crackers, water, etc. They are unfortunately overpriced. Finally, what saves this place from bring simply overpriced are 1) the salads and 2) the desserts. Both are FANTASTIC and, being so, worth the price tag (maybe only since everything is twice as expensive in NYC). If you're looking for a simple, but excellently done salad, try the spinach. They literally give you two or three servings of goat cheese. You could eat that thing for both lunch and dinner. And I won't say much about the desserts... they will be self-explanatory when you walk in and see the display case! And one last thing: the desks are a pretty good study space on weekends because of the big windows, ample coffee, and background noise. Though honestly, all the coffee shops in Amherst are relatively equivalent regarding study space and accommodations--just pick the one with the best coffee. I'd definitely recommend The Black Sheep, but only for several items mentioned above. For everything else, try somewhere a little cheaper.
(3)
Vilay S.
The baked goods & desserts are ok, but that's the only thing they've got going. Even then, Henion Bakery has better pastries because they just seem to be fresher. The employees: They just don't seem to care. There are two (three?) locations in the store where you can order, and it's unclear how that works. Sometimes people end up shoving in front of you or standing around not knowing what to do while the person behind the counter chats with friends or reads a book. The coffee: I hate Dean's Bean's coffee. Too acidic. Catering: Twice I have ordered party platters from them, and both times I got home with part of my order missing. What the hell am I supposed to do with a crudite platter without dip or a satay platter without sauce? Both are useless at that point. Not surprisingly when I called back to complain, I got a couple of people who didn't care or know what to do, until someone else who offered me a gift certificate. Why, so I can get more shitty service and do this again? No thanks.
(1)
Darci M.
This place is okay. I'd actually like to give it a 2.5 star rating, but yelp does not allow such accuracy. It has the potential to be great- the ambiance beckons you in and as you scan the list of sandwiches and the bakery case, you are convinced the meal will mirror the atmosphere. However, I have yet to enjoy a meal that I felt was really good. They fall short on taste. The sandwiches, the soup and even the pastries just don't hit the mark. I've waited nearly six months to write this review. After each visit, I convince myself that my lackluster meal must have been a result of a bad day. I have now concluded that my experience with this deli is consistently unimpressive. It is not a bad choice if you are downtown and looking for some food. But it seems important to honest and say, don't expect to be thrilled with whatever you order. And if it turns out that you are thrilled, please hop back on yelp and share the secret to your success.
(3)
Diane H.
I like you..My slice of tiramisu was good. I shall return very soon. When I am in need of baked goods. Maybe I'll try to sit down and listen to the music play too..did I mention it's live? Oh I don't think the employee was very nice...hmm there was something I didn't like about her.........
(3)
Ductight D.
I like the Black Sheep. A bit funky inside, they could get better seating in the front room but maybe that is part of the charm. I love that they don't charge extra for soymilk. The iced americano is delicious unless you get it decaf and then it is a total dud. (Different beans, explained the barista). Good local business and cheaper then Starbucks :)
(5)
Rob S.
I have been to Black Sheep twice today. I got breakfast at about 11:00am, ordering an Apple and Cheddar Croissant and a medium coffee. The medium is 16 oz which is great since some places a medium is 12 oz. The croissant was good. The crust was EXCELLENT and buttery and probably horrible for me. The apple part was to be expected, but they totally skimped on the cheddar when they baked it. But a satisfying breakfast for under $5. Round two was lunch. I ordered the Carnivore, which is a roast beef sandwich with onions and horseradish on pumpernickel. My only issue with the sandwich was that it was a normal "my-mom-made-me a-sandwich-size" and cost $7.25. Now I'm not advocating the New York-sized sandwich. It's really just unhealthy to eat that much sandwich at once... But it wouldn't hurt to get a little bit more for your dollar. Other than being $1.25 too much, the sandwich was delicious and I'll probably go back again tomorrow and try another one of their creatively named sandwiches from the board. It is truly satisfying food. A few more words: Apparently the credit card minimum is $5 (not a problem for what I ordered but you can't put just a coffee on a card) and they are a popular place and everything appears to be made from scratch or made in small batches so they are frequently out of something. Nine times out of ten it's not what you ordered, but incase you are unlucky and they start to make your sandwich and find out they are out of something, they are really good about offering you possible substitutes at no extra charge.
(4)
Matt L.
I tried this place when I was passing through town and given that I am originally from Amherst and went to high school here, I think I had only been in here once before. The place is highly overrated and no wonder some of the local students give it good reviews since that is the clientele it is pretty much catering to. The place claims it is a deli and wait a coffee shop and bakery too? Lets not confuse ourselves here. The menu selections are hardly creative and the sandwich I ordered (some odd looking turkey creation on a hard as rock baguette) was disgusting. It tasted day old and had no taste or uniqueness whatsoever. The pastries and desserts in here are garbage too. I tried a normal looking brownie and it tasted like I was chewing on a door stop. Either this place lets things sit out too long or they just don't know how to make good food. Throw in the clueless, snobby staff that seem to try and treat people like they are doing them a favor and the bad prices and we got ourselves one dud of a place that has surely gone downhill in the 20 years since I have left Amherst.
(1)
R S.
Great walnut cinnamon pastries. Espresso and coffee is reasonably good. The ambience is fair and the place could use a little bit of work to make it more inviting.
(3)
S E.
had a croissant sandwich and was not very impressed. cold and didn't taste very fresh. service was not great. smart alecky staff that stands around and chatter with each other a little too loudly. tables and floors had crumbs and sticky spots on them and a bit of a fly problem... cushmans or wheatberry are a much better bet in my opinion.
(2)
Siobhan H.
Sandwiches are fab, desserts are imaginative and tasty, free wifi and usually quick service. Oh and the coffee is wonderful too! Only downside is that prices have risen in the past year or so. Still fairly well priced for down-town Amherst though.
(4)
Emeyes i.
I must have passed this place 1000x but never stopped in. Nice little spot to grab some tea or coffee. My peppermint hot cocoa was supurb, and the employees were attentive and friendly. I'll be back! FYI: They also offer vegan cookies and pastries.
(4)
Nancy K.
I am from out of town and I tried to use this place to deliver brownies to a friend for a special occasion. They never delivered the brownies. When my friend called to say the delivery time had passed by 20 minutes, they didn't seem that concerned. Just said everyone had gone for the night so the delivery couldn't be made. You would think they could have used a cell phone to ask the delivery person to come back to the store for the order. Eventually the owner did call her back and offered a $20 gift certificate, and refunded my credit card, but the experience was extremely aggravating. I wasn't notified by the store until two days after the event. If I had been notified immediately I could possibly have found another vendor. This doesn't mean their in-store food isn't good, obviously, but I was not happy about the catering service or the way they handled the error.
(1)
April G.
I had a sandwich here today and it was deeeeeelicious. I had a hard time deciding which one to order, and will definitely be back to try more! I had the TNT, which is turkey, portabello mushrooms, spinach, and tapenade on a baguette. The large size was big enough to eat half then and half later. Their pastries also look delicious. They have creme brulee and pumpkin pie bars, and their croissants are the best looking I've seen since I moved to MA.
(4)
Derek B.
Expectations rise as I enter this store - baked goods to the right, deli straight ahead, and seating in a separate room to the left. Everything looks delicious, the staff looks friendly enough, so to the right I go for my morning baked good. I opt for the chocolate croissant, mainly because counter-girl was obviously losing patience with me while I tried to decide - but they don't have the best display. There should be a sign in the window that says "decide here because you can't peruse inside." Anyway, chocolate croissant: 1) The chocolate was of the melted-and-hardened type. 2) It was not fresh, and in addition to not tasting fresh, it was cool, 3) it was not flaky. The consistency was something between flaky croissant and hostess fruit pie (but it definitely tasted better than the fruit pie). People spoke highly of Black Sheep, so I'll give the deli a try next time I'm in town.
(2)
D S.
Great sandwiches, great baked goods, but the coffee's not as good as the coffee at Raos.
(4)
amy w.
The sandwiches are good, but the baked goods are the real reason I go to Black Sheep. The eclairs might look small in the bakery case, but pack a hefty amount of tasty custard filling - I'd recommend splitting one with someone you like. Don't miss out on the various croissants either (the chocolate ones sell out before lunch), their dough is so good.
(4)
Gil S.
Kick ass confections, coffee, and sandwiches. Bonus: Live Bluegrass!
(4)
E G.
Ahh the sheep, I've been going there for 15 years...It has introduced me to more food items I never would have dared tried (tougue, for 1) and really helped move this Yankee into the world of NYC deli culture, which led to Zabar's....which is heaven to me now...I've known the Sheep to punt once an a while, but you can always find the owner & he'll make good on it, that goes a long way in my book, that and a 26 inch long BLT made on a toasted baguette with extra bacon and Helmans Mayo, not some Sysco brand crap....
(4)
estelle s.
i tend to really enjoy their sandwiches, but i get really tired of paying their prices. +fresh ingredients +delicious -could be larger in size -$$$$ =decent service behind the deli +usually really nice at the counter -deserts look better than how they taste is what i remember
(3)
Arwen O.
Your local liberal deli, the Black Sheep had sanwiches named after members of the Bush Administration for the election last year (The Dumsfeld, the Condasleezer) and uses mostly local produce, often organic. They have a pretty mouthwatering deli display, and the desserts are amazing: their brownie is the fudgiest I've ever had. However, I must admit to being a little disappointed at the slimness of their sandwich offering at times. Not in terms of options, but size...My chicken salad was just that. Not even lettuce! Still, if you're a vegetarian, this place will not let you down. They have a great selection of veggie and tofu sandwiches, which my sister is devoted to. blacksheepdeli.com
(4)
alice t.
just a few things to add to the reviews already here-- -If you have difficulty making a decision, just stand off to the side and let the counter person know that it'll be a while. I _always_ take a while, and the staff has always been polite enough about it. -the almond croissant I had was decent, though it would have been much better warmed up (even though I went at 7 a.m....). I thought it had good buttery flavor, middling flakiness, tasty filling in an appropriate ratio, but definitely take it to go and warm it up rather than eating it on-site. This, I suspect, would greatly improve outer crispiness and tender insides, bring out the buttery flavor even more, and generally elevate the experience. -The sandwiches are ok. I feel that if you can tolerate cooking/preparing food at all (and if, unlike the students, you have a _kitchen_) you could do as good or better a job at home. Just invest in a couple of key ingredients, like good bread and good pesto or sundried tomatoes, or cheese, whatever. -the clientele is pretty hipster/crunchy, but this makes for amusing eavesdropping and people-watching. This is Western Mass., what did you expect? :-) -it's a popular in Amherst because it has no competition; it's no foodie mecca, it's not a destination bakery. That said, it's better than nothing. For instance, Henion Bakery (down Main St., next to Brueggers) is more of an American-style bakery, so you won't find croissants there. However, I do find that Henion's stuff is fresher, warm in the morning (so important!), if you're into sweet sticky buns, donuts, etc.
(3)
Gail N.
I went here for lunch during a day-trip to Amherst and really enjoyed it. The menu was extremely diverse and met all of the diet needs of our group - Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, etc. There was a long line but it moved pretty quickly. We were able to grab a table for 8 (though it was a little on the later side for lunch). The desserts looked incredible and the coffee smelled good. It was affordable with good portions. The place was on the louder side but it didn't ruin the experience - if anything we ended up staying longer because we were so busy talking!
(4)
Stephanie S.
I discovered this place while at UMass Amherst. Love at first visit was due to a sweet little cookie that looked like those Girl Scout Samoa's (the ones with the coconut, caramel and chocolate). Turns out their resemblance was not a mistake. They might go by a different name but you can ask for them as the girl scout cookie and they'll know..... oh they'll know. Too bad that more often than not they're out of my favorite cookie. My plan B is usually a good choice but nothing beats the girl scout samoa cookie. They have other stuff too, I'm sure it's good, never tried it though.
(4)
Cait G.
I love, love, love the Black Sheep. Their sandwiches are *fantastic,* and if you love New York bagels, they get them and a lot of deli meats (fresh lox, yum) "imported." Their breads are stellar, too, and they usually have a great variety. If you're not a carb-lover, their salads are great and are inexpensive. I think that they get a lot of their goods locally, too. The reason why I gave the Black Sheep only 4 stars is the price. Holy crap! in the 7 years that I've lived in Amherst, the prices have skyrocketed! The Black Sheep's food is phenomenal, but I'm a starving grad student; $9 sandwiches are a bit out of my price range and more importantly are way out of context for the town.
(4)
Heather D.
I'm really surprised with the low reviews after going here. I had an excellent latte with perfectly pulled shots of espresso. I paired it with their (only) scone offering that day - an apple walnut scone that was absolutely amazing. Large pieces of apple were sandwiched between delicious walnuts in a delightful cinnamon-y dough. My boyfriend said his coffee seemed a little weak, but the staff was happy to warm up his cowboy cookie a bit to soften it up. The menu looked very intriguing, with lots of vegetarian and even vegan sandwich options. Black Sheep has a much more laid-back atmosphere than Amherst Coffee up the street. We sat lazily by the large front window reading our guide book and listened to the lesbian couple do a crossword puzzle at the table next to us. Oh, my beloved Amherst!
(4)
Mark K.
Really good Deli food and coffee. Very Popular so It can get crowded during typical meal rushes, but the wait is never too long. They can be a bit slow on refilling the coffee for serving, but if you ask they do it pronto. Will go back again
(5)
Hilary W.
I've been coming to the Black Sheep Deli for about 2 years and recently my opinion of the place has started to change. I started going there with my boyfriend for weekly lunches. We looked forward to every friday where we could munch on huge salads and sandwiches. A friend of mine worked there and all the staff seemed friendly. They also served my favorite tea ever- lady grey. Recently, I've been noticing that the Black Sheep has gone downhill a bit. My favorite salad, the Mediterranean used to include hummus, baba ganoush, and tabouli. I ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it was fine. I ordered it this past Sunday and they stopped serving tabouli and baba ganoush! It says it on the black board, but that was a salad that I automatically ordered. I was very disappointed and would have liked a heads up. The new Mediterranean salad is boring- lettuce, tomato, olives and hummus. I could easily have replicated that without paying the $6+ price. Not worth it! My boyfriend's caesar wrap was mediocre. Our oatmeal cookie was delicious. The cookies usually are. As for their desserts- I am usually disappointed. As I said before, the cookies are good because I think they are baked daily. They also have a huge array of desserts that all LOOK delicious. I ordered some with some friends and they tasted old. Very disappointing. Black Sheep- a place to be seen by the alternative community in Amherst, but you're not going to get food worth the price or the best service.
(3)
Q S.
The Good - the sandwiches and baked goods are awesome. The Bad - servers are rude college students. And, it took them 20 minutes to make 4 sandwiches for the people I was with even though it wasn't busy at all.
(3)
william d.
Def a fan of Blacksheep... I've never been disappointed there and highly recommend this place.
(4)
Peter E.
Good bread, great sandwiches, coffee and ambience.
(4)
Elena R.
Despite their less than stellar cookies, Black Sheep has incredible sandwiches with fresh and delicious ingredients. Two full boards of options, the friendly staff and Black Sheep is always wiling to customize the perfect sandwich for you. Where their cookies are dry and hard, Black Sheep sandwiches never disappoint!
(4)
Tom T.
Nice spot!! GREAT names for their sandwiches! Be sure to check out the menu posted right near the bathrooms. Had a Grand Marnier & pecan cookie that was damn good!
(4)
Rue B.
I really try to like this place, but a watery drip coffee should not cost over $2, even if Dean is saving the world. Also, I should not have to wait 5 minutes by the order counter to put in for a bagel with hummus, when there are 5 people in the whole place. As other reviewers have noted, service is 'begrudging,' and to me reflects that a job at the Black Sheep is an Amherst rite of passage for Generation Whatever-They-Are's (1986 - 1991 babies?) ironic detachment FROM meaningful human interaction, and attachment TO seeming cool at the expense of projecting genuine kindness to those outside the cliquey anti-fashion fashion show. Excellent sandwiches with fresh and creative ingredients though!
(2)
DeDe Y.
Black Sheep made it very easy to order my daughter's b-day cake even though I was out of state. The grandma's chocolate cake was beautiful and quite tasty. You have to love that chocolate ganache! Side note: The chocolate extreme cake- wow! It makes a girl want to call and ask if it's possible to ship- yes it was that good! Can you tell we like chocolate?! Since she is car less in MA. my daughter made sure that we had a visit to The Black Sheep before I went back home.
(4)
Missus F.
there is not anything in here that isn't at the peak of deliciousness. absolutely nothing. sometimes you get rude people waiting on you and sometimes you don't. go in with an "eff it" attitude, get your ridiculous sandwich, pay, and get out before the pretentious amherst sass gets to you cause the food is that good.
(5)
Huan z.
Nice little coffee shop. Good atmosphere. Very safe( next to the police station) many food choices such as brownies and sandwiches beside hot drinks. Good place to hang out beside Rao's Coffee.
(3)
Patricia T.
LOVE the food, the friendly and efficient staff and the talented musicians that play there on Sundays. We are foodies and this is one of our favorite places!
(5)
Mod S.
i usually am not awake anywhere near the hour of early lunch but i just so happen to be up to see a friend off. Ive been on a 10 day sugar binge and needed some good lunch, so my friend took me here. the place looks homey and kind of san francisco wannabe deli. It has a bakery type cold case up front by the door featuring sweet looking pasteries. walking a little back they have a open cheese case and the deli where you can see the kids making the sandwichs and see it come fresh off the line. A very nice teas selection. this place was such a professor/student hang out as well . i got a black sheep sandwhich. the roasted tomatoes were so enjoyable because they werent dry and hard like at other places. i also got a cream puff , which is gigantic! As well as a napoleon. Both dessert items where good. a little to much weight on the cream puff but the napoleon was amazing. 4 insted of 5 because i felt like the customer client interaction was very minimal. not a good thing when you want to build a nice small town clientele, or leave a good impression on out of state customers.
(4)
H J.
the Black Sheep has super-good sandwiches and amazing salads with lots and lots of veggie options. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is always good, and so are the desserts. I love the atmosphere, relaxed and cozy. The one reason that my boyfriend and I stay away from here is the staff. I have been in there so many times, and have probably had friendly and quick service two or three times. They can be so rude, and are often too busy talking to each other to actually wait on customers, even when it is slower than usual. It drives us crazy, and we have talked to others who agree. We stay away from there now jst because of that. It is really too bad, because the food is great.
(2)
Sandy B.
I've never had their sandwiches before but I have had many of their baked goods and they have all been so delicious! What I really appreciate is that they make vegan cupcakes taste like the non-vegan ones. It's hard to find bakeries/cafes that offer such great vegan treats, let alone baked vegan goods. I always stop by here to get my diabetic coma on!
(4)
Edmund H.
The baked goods and sandwiches are great. I thought the tiramisu was especially pleasing. The place was pleasant, you can enjoy the soft background music while you read a novel without much distraction.I had a bad experience with one of the staff there. I was ordering my items and I had side of attitude along with my order. It was just one of the staff member, and I've been there a few times so I can say that overall the staff is pretty friendly.
(3)
Joe D.
I have been to the Black Sheep several times and it is fair to say they do some things very well. I have had the BLT and the "Thats Italian". Both sandwiches were satisfying, a little light on the meats and vegtables though. They are not the best deli sandwiches, but in the grand scheme of things they do just fine. On the other side of the store are the baked goods, this is a different story from the sandwiches. They are very good, baked fresh, and hit the spot. I would recommend the Chocolate Torte and the fresh baked Apple Cinnamon Muffins. Service is somewhat lacking. The friendliness of the staff is not there, and when it is it feels fake. The atmosphere is typical Amherst "coffee shop", slightly pretentous but a great place to hangout.
(3)
E M.
This has to be one of the best deli/pastry shops anywhere. Their deserts are amazing and the sandwiches are very good. The cheesecakes and the New Yorker sandwich are my favorites.
(5)
LiLi M.
This place is pretty descent but my only grip is their price. I think it's a bit over priced for their food which is not bad. Though even with the high pricing, it's locally owned so I still like to frequent it. The bakery has some delicious desserts as well.
(4)
Mats K.
Decent place to stop in Amherst for a sandwich or a salad. Their Mediterranean salad is amazing. At certain times the hippie-ness of the clientele can be a bit much, but its usually an all-around nice place to dine.
(4)
Andrew K.
Just a fun and funky little sandwich shop located in this quirky little hamlet. They put cream cheese on some of the sandwiches. It's great.
(4)
Jeffrey L.
The Black Sheep would've received 5 stars if I had reviewed this 15 years ago. However, it's changed so much over the years, that I can hardly give it 4 stars. It used to have decent coffee and decent baked goods. In particular, their pecan rolls/buns (all 5 pounds) were amazing. Baked goods are just ok now, and it seems poorly organized. Plus, I miss the cheesy artist photos that used to cover the walls.
(4)
Gavin A.
Good sandwiches, great pastries, maybe a tiny bit overpriced-- but they don't really have any competition in Amherst (Subway doesn't count).
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Jenny J.
This review is for catering, only :) I hadn't had Black Sheep catering in a number of years and I was eagerly looking forward to it based on past experiences. Unfortunately, the food this time around was very, very mediocre. Though the menu says that the mango chicken is roasted, it seemed poached to me. It was completely pale with no color whatsoever and not much flavor to speak of. It was in a sweet sauce with onions and peppers, but I didn't detect any mango taste at all, just a generic sweetness. It was surprisingly bland and portions were very tough and chewy...this texture, along with the lack of any color, may be why I thought "poached"...because I have over-poached boneless breasts myself on more than one occasion and yielded this same strange, chewy, rubbery texture. The spinach salad was very nice, the sesame noodles were as expected (much like you would make at home; nothing elevated), the red potatoes were bland, and the pesto tortellini was tasty but everything lacked oomph and was sadly under-seasoned across the board (lack of both salt and acid?). Unfortunately, I just don't think the pp price was justified. I generally really like the Black Sheep and hate to say anything negative about them, but there are definitely better catering options in the area.
(2)Matthew G.
Go here for a delicious whitefish salad sandwich!!!! Great deli speciality sandwiches and breakfasts. Coffee is meh.
(4)Anna Y.
I've been here quite a few times due to lack of food around Amherst. I know a lot of people would say that there's quite of a variety here, but coming from a big city....I say otherwise. I have tried their sandwiches, salads, and pastries. They are good, but not outstanding, and in my opinion a little pricey. The main reason for three stars is the price for OK sandwiches. I have only tried their caesar salad...with AWESOME croutons...and it's over dressed, so I suggest that you ask for the dressing on the side. I haven't found another place that has good pastries, so whenever I have a sweet tooth, I come here to satisfy my craving.
(3)Paul M.
Great deli; huge sandwiches, terrific choices and free WiFi if you need to work there. I came back twice because I liked it so much. And the cashier was great to give me change to feed the meter out front, so they're very friendly too!
(4)Adam S.
Stopped in for a quick breakfast with the family. My daughter had a chocolate croissant, I had a ham and cheese one and my wife ordered the Florentine egg sandwich. I found the croissants to have good flavor, but weren't as light and delicate as others. My wife enjoyed her breakfast sandwich and commented on how good the focaccia was. Good, and we will likely be back, but not the best breakfast spot I have ever been.
(3)Alex C.
I don't know what's going on with Black Sheep lately, but for the past few weeks they have really disappointed me. The food is still fantastic but the service has been awful! It seems that chatting about their plans for the night is of a much higher priority than completing orders. Very annoying when I'm on my way to work and have to wait for them all to stop flirting so I can get a move on. Several times I've had to interrupt conversations to point out that they were making my order wrong. Maybe they have just gotten lazy for the summer. Step it up Black Sheep! You still get a few stars for the food, but it really sucks to wait ten minutes for a sandwich with three ingredients when it is your only order. I don't really want to stand there listening to you talk about your personal lives. I just want to eat my sandwich.
(3)Greta K.
The girls and I were in the mood for something on the light side and something that screamed Western Mass. since we were on a day trip in the area. This definitely seemed like a hippie/left wing/college hangout kind of joint. Check out the chalkboard by the bathroom if you don't believe me. The owners/staff are not Republicans in any manner. I ordered a really delicious, yet very large spinach salad. This was a tad on the expensive side for lunch but I was thankful for the day-old brioche, which I bought at half-price and it was still delicious. My friends ordered sandwiches and enjoyed them. The seating area is kind of small so be sure to grab a table quickly after ordering. I loved the acoustic swing band. More restaurants should have live bands play. The desserts looked amazing but we didn't order anything. I'd like to return just for pastries.
(4)Sean M.
A great bakery, wonderful locations, and unbeatable prices. I've eaten here around 5 times over the past two years and have yet been disappointed. Actually, I've been blown away every visit. My favorite thing on the menu is defiantly the Almond Horn. Only advise is less bitter selection of coffee and offer some Almond Horn cookies that aren't dipped in chocolate, sometimes you just want the almond cookie!
(5)Rick B.
Great staff, great sandwiches. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Elisabeth Y.
Good iced coffee. I was there a few days ago for breakfast and had a bagel and cream cheese. Very mediocre and not cheap. I made a mental note to come back for what look like delicious sandwiches (judging by the menu) and I am glad I had a sandwich craving for lunch today! I had the Great Garlic sandwich today and loved every bite! Goat cheese, portobello mushrooms, roasted eggplant, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, and roasted garlic on a baguette- I'll definitely try to reproduce this one at home! People-watching there was entertaining, as an added bonus.
(4)Max L.
The business model of the Black Sheep seems to be: "We are the only hip bakery in Amherst so you will eat our cookies and enjoy it no matter how little we try." Staff are nice. Ambiance is fine. Cute sandwich names. The Black Sheep seems great on paper, but in practice it often disappoints. The baked goods and desserts are just not very good. Cookies are dry. Cakes are too dense. Consistently disappointing food in general. It's really not surprising that Black Sheep has been having some financial stumbles. I don't believe that locals really support it often.
(2)Meg C.
OK so I'm prefacing this admitting I haven't been here since '06. That said- while I was living there I LOVED it. The food is really wonderful- just about any veggie you can think of you can get on your sandwich. If you want salad or fruit or meat it's all there. The deserts were fabulous and I'm pretty picky- but everything I ever tried was wonderful. The tea is lovely (not a coffee person). I loved the live music and the atmosphere- very relaxed and laid back. I would bring my 18 month old and she could roam (within reason) and there was enough room for it not to be an issue. Personally I found the people there were very friendly. It was the highlight of my Sundays! Heck the only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because it's been so long since I've been there.
(4)Chris L.
The short and sweet: Meh espresso, quality (but somewhat pricey) coffee Great sandwiches, but nothing mind-blowing. It doesn't help that they are difficult to eat. Also kind of pricey. The deli dishes (i.e. pasta salad)are also quality, yet probably the same as Stop & Shop or even Big Y down the road. NEVER buy the things in the open cooler cabinet like wrapped cheeses, crackers, water, etc. They are unfortunately overpriced. Finally, what saves this place from bring simply overpriced are 1) the salads and 2) the desserts. Both are FANTASTIC and, being so, worth the price tag (maybe only since everything is twice as expensive in NYC). If you're looking for a simple, but excellently done salad, try the spinach. They literally give you two or three servings of goat cheese. You could eat that thing for both lunch and dinner. And I won't say much about the desserts... they will be self-explanatory when you walk in and see the display case! And one last thing: the desks are a pretty good study space on weekends because of the big windows, ample coffee, and background noise. Though honestly, all the coffee shops in Amherst are relatively equivalent regarding study space and accommodations--just pick the one with the best coffee. I'd definitely recommend The Black Sheep, but only for several items mentioned above. For everything else, try somewhere a little cheaper.
(3)Vilay S.
The baked goods & desserts are ok, but that's the only thing they've got going. Even then, Henion Bakery has better pastries because they just seem to be fresher. The employees: They just don't seem to care. There are two (three?) locations in the store where you can order, and it's unclear how that works. Sometimes people end up shoving in front of you or standing around not knowing what to do while the person behind the counter chats with friends or reads a book. The coffee: I hate Dean's Bean's coffee. Too acidic. Catering: Twice I have ordered party platters from them, and both times I got home with part of my order missing. What the hell am I supposed to do with a crudite platter without dip or a satay platter without sauce? Both are useless at that point. Not surprisingly when I called back to complain, I got a couple of people who didn't care or know what to do, until someone else who offered me a gift certificate. Why, so I can get more shitty service and do this again? No thanks.
(1)Darci M.
This place is okay. I'd actually like to give it a 2.5 star rating, but yelp does not allow such accuracy. It has the potential to be great- the ambiance beckons you in and as you scan the list of sandwiches and the bakery case, you are convinced the meal will mirror the atmosphere. However, I have yet to enjoy a meal that I felt was really good. They fall short on taste. The sandwiches, the soup and even the pastries just don't hit the mark. I've waited nearly six months to write this review. After each visit, I convince myself that my lackluster meal must have been a result of a bad day. I have now concluded that my experience with this deli is consistently unimpressive. It is not a bad choice if you are downtown and looking for some food. But it seems important to honest and say, don't expect to be thrilled with whatever you order. And if it turns out that you are thrilled, please hop back on yelp and share the secret to your success.
(3)Diane H.
I like you..My slice of tiramisu was good. I shall return very soon. When I am in need of baked goods. Maybe I'll try to sit down and listen to the music play too..did I mention it's live? Oh I don't think the employee was very nice...hmm there was something I didn't like about her.........
(3)Ductight D.
I like the Black Sheep. A bit funky inside, they could get better seating in the front room but maybe that is part of the charm. I love that they don't charge extra for soymilk. The iced americano is delicious unless you get it decaf and then it is a total dud. (Different beans, explained the barista). Good local business and cheaper then Starbucks :)
(5)Rob S.
I have been to Black Sheep twice today. I got breakfast at about 11:00am, ordering an Apple and Cheddar Croissant and a medium coffee. The medium is 16 oz which is great since some places a medium is 12 oz. The croissant was good. The crust was EXCELLENT and buttery and probably horrible for me. The apple part was to be expected, but they totally skimped on the cheddar when they baked it. But a satisfying breakfast for under $5. Round two was lunch. I ordered the Carnivore, which is a roast beef sandwich with onions and horseradish on pumpernickel. My only issue with the sandwich was that it was a normal "my-mom-made-me a-sandwich-size" and cost $7.25. Now I'm not advocating the New York-sized sandwich. It's really just unhealthy to eat that much sandwich at once... But it wouldn't hurt to get a little bit more for your dollar. Other than being $1.25 too much, the sandwich was delicious and I'll probably go back again tomorrow and try another one of their creatively named sandwiches from the board. It is truly satisfying food. A few more words: Apparently the credit card minimum is $5 (not a problem for what I ordered but you can't put just a coffee on a card) and they are a popular place and everything appears to be made from scratch or made in small batches so they are frequently out of something. Nine times out of ten it's not what you ordered, but incase you are unlucky and they start to make your sandwich and find out they are out of something, they are really good about offering you possible substitutes at no extra charge.
(4)Matt L.
I tried this place when I was passing through town and given that I am originally from Amherst and went to high school here, I think I had only been in here once before. The place is highly overrated and no wonder some of the local students give it good reviews since that is the clientele it is pretty much catering to. The place claims it is a deli and wait a coffee shop and bakery too? Lets not confuse ourselves here. The menu selections are hardly creative and the sandwich I ordered (some odd looking turkey creation on a hard as rock baguette) was disgusting. It tasted day old and had no taste or uniqueness whatsoever. The pastries and desserts in here are garbage too. I tried a normal looking brownie and it tasted like I was chewing on a door stop. Either this place lets things sit out too long or they just don't know how to make good food. Throw in the clueless, snobby staff that seem to try and treat people like they are doing them a favor and the bad prices and we got ourselves one dud of a place that has surely gone downhill in the 20 years since I have left Amherst.
(1)R S.
Great walnut cinnamon pastries. Espresso and coffee is reasonably good. The ambience is fair and the place could use a little bit of work to make it more inviting.
(3)S E.
had a croissant sandwich and was not very impressed. cold and didn't taste very fresh. service was not great. smart alecky staff that stands around and chatter with each other a little too loudly. tables and floors had crumbs and sticky spots on them and a bit of a fly problem... cushmans or wheatberry are a much better bet in my opinion.
(2)Siobhan H.
Sandwiches are fab, desserts are imaginative and tasty, free wifi and usually quick service. Oh and the coffee is wonderful too! Only downside is that prices have risen in the past year or so. Still fairly well priced for down-town Amherst though.
(4)Emeyes i.
I must have passed this place 1000x but never stopped in. Nice little spot to grab some tea or coffee. My peppermint hot cocoa was supurb, and the employees were attentive and friendly. I'll be back! FYI: They also offer vegan cookies and pastries.
(4)Nancy K.
I am from out of town and I tried to use this place to deliver brownies to a friend for a special occasion. They never delivered the brownies. When my friend called to say the delivery time had passed by 20 minutes, they didn't seem that concerned. Just said everyone had gone for the night so the delivery couldn't be made. You would think they could have used a cell phone to ask the delivery person to come back to the store for the order. Eventually the owner did call her back and offered a $20 gift certificate, and refunded my credit card, but the experience was extremely aggravating. I wasn't notified by the store until two days after the event. If I had been notified immediately I could possibly have found another vendor. This doesn't mean their in-store food isn't good, obviously, but I was not happy about the catering service or the way they handled the error.
(1)April G.
I had a sandwich here today and it was deeeeeelicious. I had a hard time deciding which one to order, and will definitely be back to try more! I had the TNT, which is turkey, portabello mushrooms, spinach, and tapenade on a baguette. The large size was big enough to eat half then and half later. Their pastries also look delicious. They have creme brulee and pumpkin pie bars, and their croissants are the best looking I've seen since I moved to MA.
(4)Gail N.
I went here for lunch during a day-trip to Amherst and really enjoyed it. The menu was extremely diverse and met all of the diet needs of our group - Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, etc. There was a long line but it moved pretty quickly. We were able to grab a table for 8 (though it was a little on the later side for lunch). The desserts looked incredible and the coffee smelled good. It was affordable with good portions. The place was on the louder side but it didn't ruin the experience - if anything we ended up staying longer because we were so busy talking!
(4)Stephanie S.
I discovered this place while at UMass Amherst. Love at first visit was due to a sweet little cookie that looked like those Girl Scout Samoa's (the ones with the coconut, caramel and chocolate). Turns out their resemblance was not a mistake. They might go by a different name but you can ask for them as the girl scout cookie and they'll know..... oh they'll know. Too bad that more often than not they're out of my favorite cookie. My plan B is usually a good choice but nothing beats the girl scout samoa cookie. They have other stuff too, I'm sure it's good, never tried it though.
(4)Cait G.
I love, love, love the Black Sheep. Their sandwiches are *fantastic,* and if you love New York bagels, they get them and a lot of deli meats (fresh lox, yum) "imported." Their breads are stellar, too, and they usually have a great variety. If you're not a carb-lover, their salads are great and are inexpensive. I think that they get a lot of their goods locally, too. The reason why I gave the Black Sheep only 4 stars is the price. Holy crap! in the 7 years that I've lived in Amherst, the prices have skyrocketed! The Black Sheep's food is phenomenal, but I'm a starving grad student; $9 sandwiches are a bit out of my price range and more importantly are way out of context for the town.
(4)Heather D.
I'm really surprised with the low reviews after going here. I had an excellent latte with perfectly pulled shots of espresso. I paired it with their (only) scone offering that day - an apple walnut scone that was absolutely amazing. Large pieces of apple were sandwiched between delicious walnuts in a delightful cinnamon-y dough. My boyfriend said his coffee seemed a little weak, but the staff was happy to warm up his cowboy cookie a bit to soften it up. The menu looked very intriguing, with lots of vegetarian and even vegan sandwich options. Black Sheep has a much more laid-back atmosphere than Amherst Coffee up the street. We sat lazily by the large front window reading our guide book and listened to the lesbian couple do a crossword puzzle at the table next to us. Oh, my beloved Amherst!
(4)Hilary W.
I've been coming to the Black Sheep Deli for about 2 years and recently my opinion of the place has started to change. I started going there with my boyfriend for weekly lunches. We looked forward to every friday where we could munch on huge salads and sandwiches. A friend of mine worked there and all the staff seemed friendly. They also served my favorite tea ever- lady grey. Recently, I've been noticing that the Black Sheep has gone downhill a bit. My favorite salad, the Mediterranean used to include hummus, baba ganoush, and tabouli. I ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it was fine. I ordered it this past Sunday and they stopped serving tabouli and baba ganoush! It says it on the black board, but that was a salad that I automatically ordered. I was very disappointed and would have liked a heads up. The new Mediterranean salad is boring- lettuce, tomato, olives and hummus. I could easily have replicated that without paying the $6+ price. Not worth it! My boyfriend's caesar wrap was mediocre. Our oatmeal cookie was delicious. The cookies usually are. As for their desserts- I am usually disappointed. As I said before, the cookies are good because I think they are baked daily. They also have a huge array of desserts that all LOOK delicious. I ordered some with some friends and they tasted old. Very disappointing. Black Sheep- a place to be seen by the alternative community in Amherst, but you're not going to get food worth the price or the best service.
(3)Q S.
The Good - the sandwiches and baked goods are awesome. The Bad - servers are rude college students. And, it took them 20 minutes to make 4 sandwiches for the people I was with even though it wasn't busy at all.
(3)william d.
Def a fan of Blacksheep... I've never been disappointed there and highly recommend this place.
(4)Peter E.
Good bread, great sandwiches, coffee and ambience.
(4)Elena R.
Despite their less than stellar cookies, Black Sheep has incredible sandwiches with fresh and delicious ingredients. Two full boards of options, the friendly staff and Black Sheep is always wiling to customize the perfect sandwich for you. Where their cookies are dry and hard, Black Sheep sandwiches never disappoint!
(4)Tom T.
Nice spot!! GREAT names for their sandwiches! Be sure to check out the menu posted right near the bathrooms. Had a Grand Marnier & pecan cookie that was damn good!
(4)Rue B.
I really try to like this place, but a watery drip coffee should not cost over $2, even if Dean is saving the world. Also, I should not have to wait 5 minutes by the order counter to put in for a bagel with hummus, when there are 5 people in the whole place. As other reviewers have noted, service is 'begrudging,' and to me reflects that a job at the Black Sheep is an Amherst rite of passage for Generation Whatever-They-Are's (1986 - 1991 babies?) ironic detachment FROM meaningful human interaction, and attachment TO seeming cool at the expense of projecting genuine kindness to those outside the cliquey anti-fashion fashion show. Excellent sandwiches with fresh and creative ingredients though!
(2)Mark K.
Really good Deli food and coffee. Very Popular so It can get crowded during typical meal rushes, but the wait is never too long. They can be a bit slow on refilling the coffee for serving, but if you ask they do it pronto. Will go back again
(5)DeDe Y.
Black Sheep made it very easy to order my daughter's b-day cake even though I was out of state. The grandma's chocolate cake was beautiful and quite tasty. You have to love that chocolate ganache! Side note: The chocolate extreme cake- wow! It makes a girl want to call and ask if it's possible to ship- yes it was that good! Can you tell we like chocolate?! Since she is car less in MA. my daughter made sure that we had a visit to The Black Sheep before I went back home.
(4)Missus F.
there is not anything in here that isn't at the peak of deliciousness. absolutely nothing. sometimes you get rude people waiting on you and sometimes you don't. go in with an "eff it" attitude, get your ridiculous sandwich, pay, and get out before the pretentious amherst sass gets to you cause the food is that good.
(5)Huan z.
Nice little coffee shop. Good atmosphere. Very safe( next to the police station) many food choices such as brownies and sandwiches beside hot drinks. Good place to hang out beside Rao's Coffee.
(3)Patricia T.
LOVE the food, the friendly and efficient staff and the talented musicians that play there on Sundays. We are foodies and this is one of our favorite places!
(5)Mod S.
i usually am not awake anywhere near the hour of early lunch but i just so happen to be up to see a friend off. Ive been on a 10 day sugar binge and needed some good lunch, so my friend took me here. the place looks homey and kind of san francisco wannabe deli. It has a bakery type cold case up front by the door featuring sweet looking pasteries. walking a little back they have a open cheese case and the deli where you can see the kids making the sandwichs and see it come fresh off the line. A very nice teas selection. this place was such a professor/student hang out as well . i got a black sheep sandwhich. the roasted tomatoes were so enjoyable because they werent dry and hard like at other places. i also got a cream puff , which is gigantic! As well as a napoleon. Both dessert items where good. a little to much weight on the cream puff but the napoleon was amazing. 4 insted of 5 because i felt like the customer client interaction was very minimal. not a good thing when you want to build a nice small town clientele, or leave a good impression on out of state customers.
(4)H J.
the Black Sheep has super-good sandwiches and amazing salads with lots and lots of veggie options. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is always good, and so are the desserts. I love the atmosphere, relaxed and cozy. The one reason that my boyfriend and I stay away from here is the staff. I have been in there so many times, and have probably had friendly and quick service two or three times. They can be so rude, and are often too busy talking to each other to actually wait on customers, even when it is slower than usual. It drives us crazy, and we have talked to others who agree. We stay away from there now jst because of that. It is really too bad, because the food is great.
(2)Sandy B.
I've never had their sandwiches before but I have had many of their baked goods and they have all been so delicious! What I really appreciate is that they make vegan cupcakes taste like the non-vegan ones. It's hard to find bakeries/cafes that offer such great vegan treats, let alone baked vegan goods. I always stop by here to get my diabetic coma on!
(4)Edmund H.
The baked goods and sandwiches are great. I thought the tiramisu was especially pleasing. The place was pleasant, you can enjoy the soft background music while you read a novel without much distraction.I had a bad experience with one of the staff there. I was ordering my items and I had side of attitude along with my order. It was just one of the staff member, and I've been there a few times so I can say that overall the staff is pretty friendly.
(3)Joe D.
I have been to the Black Sheep several times and it is fair to say they do some things very well. I have had the BLT and the "Thats Italian". Both sandwiches were satisfying, a little light on the meats and vegtables though. They are not the best deli sandwiches, but in the grand scheme of things they do just fine. On the other side of the store are the baked goods, this is a different story from the sandwiches. They are very good, baked fresh, and hit the spot. I would recommend the Chocolate Torte and the fresh baked Apple Cinnamon Muffins. Service is somewhat lacking. The friendliness of the staff is not there, and when it is it feels fake. The atmosphere is typical Amherst "coffee shop", slightly pretentous but a great place to hangout.
(3)E M.
This has to be one of the best deli/pastry shops anywhere. Their deserts are amazing and the sandwiches are very good. The cheesecakes and the New Yorker sandwich are my favorites.
(5)LiLi M.
This place is pretty descent but my only grip is their price. I think it's a bit over priced for their food which is not bad. Though even with the high pricing, it's locally owned so I still like to frequent it. The bakery has some delicious desserts as well.
(4)Mats K.
Decent place to stop in Amherst for a sandwich or a salad. Their Mediterranean salad is amazing. At certain times the hippie-ness of the clientele can be a bit much, but its usually an all-around nice place to dine.
(4)Andrew K.
Just a fun and funky little sandwich shop located in this quirky little hamlet. They put cream cheese on some of the sandwiches. It's great.
(4)Jeffrey L.
The Black Sheep would've received 5 stars if I had reviewed this 15 years ago. However, it's changed so much over the years, that I can hardly give it 4 stars. It used to have decent coffee and decent baked goods. In particular, their pecan rolls/buns (all 5 pounds) were amazing. Baked goods are just ok now, and it seems poorly organized. Plus, I miss the cheesy artist photos that used to cover the walls.
(4)Gavin A.
Good sandwiches, great pastries, maybe a tiny bit overpriced-- but they don't really have any competition in Amherst (Subway doesn't count).
(4)Derek B.
Expectations rise as I enter this store - baked goods to the right, deli straight ahead, and seating in a separate room to the left. Everything looks delicious, the staff looks friendly enough, so to the right I go for my morning baked good. I opt for the chocolate croissant, mainly because counter-girl was obviously losing patience with me while I tried to decide - but they don't have the best display. There should be a sign in the window that says "decide here because you can't peruse inside." Anyway, chocolate croissant: 1) The chocolate was of the melted-and-hardened type. 2) It was not fresh, and in addition to not tasting fresh, it was cool, 3) it was not flaky. The consistency was something between flaky croissant and hostess fruit pie (but it definitely tasted better than the fruit pie). People spoke highly of Black Sheep, so I'll give the deli a try next time I'm in town.
(2)D S.
Great sandwiches, great baked goods, but the coffee's not as good as the coffee at Raos.
(4)amy w.
The sandwiches are good, but the baked goods are the real reason I go to Black Sheep. The eclairs might look small in the bakery case, but pack a hefty amount of tasty custard filling - I'd recommend splitting one with someone you like. Don't miss out on the various croissants either (the chocolate ones sell out before lunch), their dough is so good.
(4)Gil S.
Kick ass confections, coffee, and sandwiches. Bonus: Live Bluegrass!
(4)E G.
Ahh the sheep, I've been going there for 15 years...It has introduced me to more food items I never would have dared tried (tougue, for 1) and really helped move this Yankee into the world of NYC deli culture, which led to Zabar's....which is heaven to me now...I've known the Sheep to punt once an a while, but you can always find the owner & he'll make good on it, that goes a long way in my book, that and a 26 inch long BLT made on a toasted baguette with extra bacon and Helmans Mayo, not some Sysco brand crap....
(4)estelle s.
i tend to really enjoy their sandwiches, but i get really tired of paying their prices. +fresh ingredients +delicious -could be larger in size -$$$$ =decent service behind the deli +usually really nice at the counter -deserts look better than how they taste is what i remember
(3)Arwen O.
Your local liberal deli, the Black Sheep had sanwiches named after members of the Bush Administration for the election last year (The Dumsfeld, the Condasleezer) and uses mostly local produce, often organic. They have a pretty mouthwatering deli display, and the desserts are amazing: their brownie is the fudgiest I've ever had. However, I must admit to being a little disappointed at the slimness of their sandwich offering at times. Not in terms of options, but size...My chicken salad was just that. Not even lettuce! Still, if you're a vegetarian, this place will not let you down. They have a great selection of veggie and tofu sandwiches, which my sister is devoted to. blacksheepdeli.com
(4)alice t.
just a few things to add to the reviews already here-- -If you have difficulty making a decision, just stand off to the side and let the counter person know that it'll be a while. I _always_ take a while, and the staff has always been polite enough about it. -the almond croissant I had was decent, though it would have been much better warmed up (even though I went at 7 a.m....). I thought it had good buttery flavor, middling flakiness, tasty filling in an appropriate ratio, but definitely take it to go and warm it up rather than eating it on-site. This, I suspect, would greatly improve outer crispiness and tender insides, bring out the buttery flavor even more, and generally elevate the experience. -The sandwiches are ok. I feel that if you can tolerate cooking/preparing food at all (and if, unlike the students, you have a _kitchen_) you could do as good or better a job at home. Just invest in a couple of key ingredients, like good bread and good pesto or sundried tomatoes, or cheese, whatever. -the clientele is pretty hipster/crunchy, but this makes for amusing eavesdropping and people-watching. This is Western Mass., what did you expect? :-) -it's a popular in Amherst because it has no competition; it's no foodie mecca, it's not a destination bakery. That said, it's better than nothing. For instance, Henion Bakery (down Main St., next to Brueggers) is more of an American-style bakery, so you won't find croissants there. However, I do find that Henion's stuff is fresher, warm in the morning (so important!), if you're into sweet sticky buns, donuts, etc.
(3)Dan C.
Love the Black Sheep. My favorite pastries are the creme brûlée and fruit tarts. They also have a wide assortment of sandwiches listed via chalkboard. The staff are super friendly and approachable. However, the prices are a bit expensive when living on a college budget. Finding seating is also difficult during peak lunch hours.
(3)Linnea R.
Their sandwiches are really amazing, so I start with that. However it takes them literally forever to make a sandwich, EVEN if you're the only one in line and they constantly mess up your order and you have to continue to wait while they fix their mistakes. I think they should focus more on hiring good employees instead of the most alternative looking people they can find...
(3)Jaecj W.
Watched as the counter person made my hot sandwich by putting meat in microwave. Sorry but microwaving meat is something I can do at home except I've got more respect for sandwich
(2)Robert B.
The perfect place to get a sandwich, coffee, and a dessert. I've visited many times and am never disappointed. I highly recommend the bagel sandwich for breakfast because it is loaded with whatever toping you like and with such ingredients is the biggest bargain in town. The chocolate mousse is a tremendous treat if you have a sweet tooth. Sandwiches are loaded with fillings and tend to be messy. That's my only critique and for most it's a strength- the place is trying to fit in too much onto their delicious homemade bread. Honestly, a dessert from the Black Sheep is not to be missed. They serve Dean's Beans coffees which are truly exceptional and environmentally friendly. Overall, the value and taste simple cannot be beaten. If you like Amherst, you will love the Black Sheep. If excellence were not enough, the owner is famous for his support of local folks in need.
(5)Eric S.
I want to love The Black Sheep. It's cozy and feels like home in the way a tired, worn out diner might in another community. Too bad the food and drink is to a similar, weary and dated standard. The coffee is often burnt or otherwise not great, and they burn their espresso. The bread loafs they make are eatable but closer to supermarket bread than what places like Tart, Hungry Ghost and Henion serve up. I've had a few sandwiches there, and would better describe them as acceptable than great. Once, I got served one on stale bread. And, and... I overheard two folks in the deli saying they were going to mix coffee airpots because both were mostly empty! So yeah. I like sitting here. I like their workers, the music they play, the old jazz posters on the walls and the general feel of Amherst history here. I don't really like the food or drink, though... and I wonder if it was better in the 80s, or if we just know better now and are spoiled by a Whole Foods culture.
(3)Ericka W.
Busy place with options for every diet! I was first faced by a rude employee who seemed distracted and upset because I had to ask for a specific bread? :/ and then I met a nicer women who was very kind. I ordered the Southwest chicken sandwich and it wasss okay, less hot sauce than I would want but you know. Fresh ingredients, and with that, there was a bone in my roasted chicken. I couldn't finish the meal, it just freaked me out!
(3)D. F.
The pastries are very good. The sandwiches are sometimes very good; sometimes dry. The sandwiches are usually dry and less impressive when they are for a catered event than if you go to the cafe. But it is even hit or miss at the cafe. The place is very popular. Even though they brew Dean's Beans (a very good local roaster), the coffee always tastes burnt, no matter which roast I have gotten. Requisite anecdote about bad service: Some people here were ordering sandwiches for a meeting; 7 sandwiches, 1 salad and 2 wraps (10 items) total. She called at 9am to place the order to be delivered at noon. The person at the deli threw a fit, scolded my coworker saying that "this is just unacceptable!" Apparently 3 hours is not enough notice for 10 items. They need 48 hours advance notice for 6 or more items. We were not asking to cater a 100 person luncheon or even 20 sandwiches. This was her first (and last) time ordering from them and didn't realize that they couldn't handle a normal lunch order 3 hours in advance like other places in town have routinely done without a hiccup. Also, they could have nicely asked her to order in advance in the future. Either way, they were incredibly rude to her.
(2)Natasha H.
I had an egg croissant sandwich here, recommended by the staff. It was sooo good. It's filling and a perfect brunch menu. The coffee here is pretty good too. A lovely place to enjoy coffee and read the magazine.
(4)Adira S.
I got a goats cheese, eggplant, portabello sandwich today, along with Mexican hot chocolate. Hot chocolate was good enough, sandwich tasted nice, but later I felt a bit sick. i think that the ingredients used are not of great quality .. Mehh. Will not be eating here anymore.
(2)Samantha R.
The staff is extremely friends, and the sandwiches are overstuffed which is great of you're hungry. I'm pretty sure they had a mishap and charged me for half a sandwich but I got a whole, considering my total was 5.85 with a water. Also, you can sub anything you want and they're okay with it. The taste is okay, nothing special. Probably won't come back unless I'm low on cash.
(3)L P.
A little pricey but consistently quality ingredients, consistently well prepared. Out of 20 or so breakfast sandwich orders, the only mistake was not switching out for the bread I had asked for and they fixed it right away.
(5)Charlotte S.
I'm giving Black Sheep a 3 since there are no half-stars. Our sandwich was pretty good but the wait was horrendous. It wasn't really crowded either and there was no explanation for waiting as long as we did. Look, I'm not a jerk but if the queue's been empty for 10 minutes, and no one else is waiting, there's no reason to wait 15 for a sandwich. It's a sandwich. And if you have a good reason for it taking 15, just apologize. Ya know? However, the sandwich was pretty good once it finally arrived. We got one of the daily specials - I think it's called "The Hot Dirt" which sounds actually kind of repulsive but it was a whimsical take on a tuna salad sandwich with capers and provolone. I liked it and the amount of tuna salad was hearty - I wished I had done two halves of different sandwiches (a full sandwich is $7.95 before tax whereas a half is $3.95 I think so you're really not eating too much in the wallet to do 2 halves) though since they seemed to have a lot of interesting vegetarian and vegan options. The coffee bar was set up in a confusing way (iced beverages are directly in front of where customers pick up and puts you also in the way of people trying to grab hot coffee on the end closest to the pick up counter - the milk/sugar is all the way at the other end - also, there's not an ice machine but a tiny little container where you scoop it yourself - I overlooked it at first glance) but the coffee itself was delicious and fresh. I had never heard of the roaster they use but it had a very smooth flavor and they even have a hot coffee that boasts extra caffeine - yes! If I'm ever in Amherst again, I'll probably give it another whirl. The menu can be intimidating, since there are so many sandwiches, and that is a very good thing. I also liked that they sell discounted day old baked goods rather than tossing them at the end of the night. They had a cute name for their day old rack too - I remember remarking on it.
(3)Damien S.
NY deli stylings, replete with bubbly chalkboard fonts, Wavy Gravy art and brick thick Rick Krispie treats. Big ups for stacking housemade breads with fillings that'll sate veggies, carnivores and all walks in between (I'm talking to you, fish fans). All the elements for success are there: in-house baked goods, a balance of inventive and comfortable sandwich classics, an entire cooler of sweet tea. Yet, the execution is off with understuffed 'wiches heavy on dry grains, yet lacking a hefty punch of flavor. My That's Italian! (a-bippitybop) shaved a single too-thick slice of capicola, hardly any ham but plenty of provolone. The balsamic drizzle is a bit much, giving the whole thing a lotta tannins. Her Black Sheep Baguette yielded the same response - a hearty "It's not bad." On the plus side, sandwiches can be ordered by the half. And for a paltry $4! Just enough to quell the rumbles, not enough to have you satisfied.
(3)Whitney H.
The atmosphere is the best. It's sunny and cute. Everyone who works there is friendly and lovely. Ask for extras of stuff! I always get the same- the florentine breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel with EXTRA spinach...they give me a ton of spinach with every order. Overall it's friendly and cute. Good for doing homework if you're a student. Check it out.
(5)Brinna D.
Best mocha latte I have ever had. Delicious and affordable sandwiches and pastries. The atmosphere is so inviting, comfortable, and open-yet-still-private. Nothing here is anything short of perfect.
(5)Amanda G.
When I was up in Amherst last weekend, my family and I were on the hunt for an affordable and delicious breakfast and of course, we turned to Yelp for guidance. After spending two mornings at the Lone Wolf next door, the Black Sheep Deli was looking mighty fine and we were over the moon excited for some East Coast bagels. I got an everything bagel stacked to the brim with cream cheese, lox, cucumber, sprouts and onions - and it was everything I'd hoped for, and more. If you're visiting - make sure you stop by here and get your bagel done proper!
(4)Sarah O.
I can always count on black sheep for a quick sandwich. However, the sandwiches can be pretty mediocre sometimes (sloppy arrangement or hard baguettes). Their pasteries, sweets, and soups are great! I love their minestrone soup and the ham/cheese or cheese/broccoli croissant
(3)A G.
This place is usually pretty crowded, and with good reason. I love the Green Monster sandwich, so garlic-y and delicious. The bread is fresh and hearty. Their baked goods always look delectable and from what I have tried (chocolate covered macaroons and magic bars) has been delicious. This is a favorite spot for me!
(4)P B.
One stop shop, the Black Sheep has it all from great coffee, fantastic sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries etc. Not to mention entertainment including Blue Grass jam sessions on Wednesday nights. One tip, if your there with someone else have them grab a seat while you order, it can get quite crowed at times. Also, staff is super friendly!
(5)Victor O.
The coffee here is always hot! Cherry Danish are among the best I've ever had. Mid get there early enough you can find some of the freshest rolls in town.
(4)KURT S.
first visit - antipasto salad the worst ever, large lump a procuiutto and slice of cheese, nothing like picture on wall, , next visit - salad had 2 long hairs I'm done spending money here
(1)Greg K.
Hipsters cant make breakfast. Worst b sang of my life. took forever. over priced and they microwave everything. what kind of shit hole microwaves eggs. Like at first i was like this place has potential, then i went for breakfast and it was like being hit in the face witha cinder block of processed garbage. Right to the face i had a microwaved breakfast sandwich for 6 dollars. If i wanted a piece of turd to eat i would have went to the nearest fire hydrant and find so dog doo-doo to stuff into a bagel. Like what the fuck is wrong with a place to microwave a sponge like brick of egg in front of you. This place sucks. GOOD DAY
(1)Cathy B.
This place saved my skin because they were open late (until 9:00) and their pastry case was still well stocked. It allowed me to buy up most of their cookies for some meetings I had planned the next day. For that, I am very grateful. However, the cookies are just fine, though awfully expensive considering they're a pretty generic representation of cookie-dom. Beyond that, I would have to echo some of the comments below. Nice kids working there, but they lack some professionalism. For example, after I bought out their cookies, I stayed for a sandwich, dessert, and a tea - all bought "for here." The whole time I sat there eating my dinner, the clerks were talking about how "some lady" just waltzed in there that evening and bought out their cookie case. A) Thanks for making me feel old. ("Some lady"?) B) I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE. I can totally hear you. Beyond that - my sandwich was fine. My salad was pretty awful (who puts Italian dressing on a Caesar salad? The Black Sheep, apparently). As mentioned elsewhere, it was totally over-dressed, making it really quite inedible in parts. I went back for a slice of cake from the pastry case, and was eyeballing the as-yet-uncut carrot cake. Instead, the server said, "Oh yeah, I think we have some slices from yesterday." Really? You're going to tell me that you are basically serving me 3-day old cake----that has already been cut ---- and exposed to air on all 4 sides -- and it a little bit stale? But I still get to pay full price. Despite the fact that they saved my un-catered ass, I found the place pretty ungroovy overall.
(2)Chris L.
It's the closest option to a true deli in Amherst. They have a pretty adventurous menu, with a bunch of different options one can try. Being in a college town, they offer flavors that should satisfy anyone's taste buds. The wait can be a little long at times, but you're not paying that much, so it's worth the wait. There's also plenty of waiting space once you order and one entire half is dedicated to sitting room. One might say it has a "hipster" vibe, which might be true, but it's really just a younger crowd which appreciates a combination of aesthetics and taste!
(4)Caroline F.
There is a wide range of vegetarian options that are tasty. They have the most reasonable prices for a good Sandwich in town. The baked goods are very high quality and delish
(4)Alice L.
I never seem to learn my lesson...every time I come here for a vegetarian/vegan sandwich, I leave very dissatisfied. My Issues: -Sandwich bread is always stale, so toasting it helps -The veggie sandwiches have the same proportion of veggies in it as the meat sandwiches. WHY DON'T THEY LOAD IT UP WHEN IT'S VEGGIE ONLY!? -An $8 sandwich for a few thin slices of cucumber, sprinkle of sprouts, and a cup of mustard that completely overwhelms any vegetable taste that might have been there. I've refrained from writing a bad review right away, and decided to give the Black Sheep a few more chances. This is the 4th time I've been in and have yet to have a good vegetarian/vegan sandwich experience. Not sure what all the fuss is about.
(2)Brian C.
Before moving to Amherst, I was told by a friend who had attended school here that the Black Sheep was "the best deli in the world." She has lived in twelve major cities on four continents. I believed her. The sandwiches are for the most part very good. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is fair trade and organic, but while the selection of roasts is impressive, it's a far call from the People's Market. The breads and pastries are excellent. I recommend the fruit tart. Though seating is often difficult to find, I come here regularly to study. Black Sheep is not the world's best, but is without a doubt the best in the Valley. It's a great place to meet with friends or to complete that paper you have been putting off all semester. Black Sheep offers free WiFi, is accessible, and is affordable for students.
(4)Marzie M.
I keep coming back here. The reason is the food and the friendly like your brother staff. One of the greatest deals in the Valley, if not the world, is their half sandwich. For just $3.95 you get, supposedly, a half of any of their regular delicious sandwiches (Southern Comfort or Southwest Chicken please), but the steamy dark truth is: it's more like 2/3 of a sandwich! I kid you not and there is no way an ordinary slim dark-haired girl of the '90s could eat the whole half thing, unless she is very very hungry. Which would mean: NO PASTRY. I'm talking éclairs here, which they make themselves in situ. As a student in Paris many moons ago I can tell you. These éclairs are very nearly almost as good. Paris has other attractions that I won't go into here however which make their eclairs, well, sexier. One thing you can't get in Paris is Grandma Cake. Forget the half sandwich, let me eat cake.
(5)Jackie E.
All about the chocolate covered macaroons and Dean's Beans coffee. Sublime. They offer gluten free bread and bagels for sandwiches, which is nice.
(4)Arielle F.
Age 1- ate my first muffin from the Black Sheep. Loved it. Age 9- went on my first solo errand to buy bread from the Black Sheep. Nailed it. Age 29- fed my wedding guests a delightful array of sandwiches and salads for my rehearsal luncheon. Ate every bit of it. I hope they never change.
(5)Eddie A.
Black sheep is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat for breakfast. They have great sandwich options with funny clever names. Their coffee is good too and its apparently "deans beans coffee" which is fair trade and supports sustainable agriculture. (if that kind of stuff floats your boat) The sauces and spreads I really enjoy and I think they are all made in house. I'm reading a lot of comments complaining about the staff, in there defense they have to put up with the arrogant Amherst crowd all day. I'm just grabbing a sandwich I don't need need to be coddled . Overall great place for specialty sandwiches.
(5)Chris M.
I love this sandwich shop. When I am in the area and I want to eat something fresh & inspired, I come here. They sell homemade delicious breads, desserts, sandwiches, and drinks. They have a lot of unique vegetarian options on the menu. My favorite sandwich is the Smokey Joes... So yummy! You can choose to order a full or half size sandwich. There is usually a line due to its popularity but they are well staffed and make the food fast so its worth the 10 minute wait. Check this place out!
(4)John R.
I didn't try the sandwiches; the selection looks and sounds fantastic! We had pastries, which looked fantastic too but unfortunately they were OK and that is a very generous OK. They were one day past being enjoyable. Even if they'd been free we wouldn't have finished them which is what happend. We both took a couple of bites then our pastries went in the bin. I have a huge sweet tooth so believe me I was disappointed. The custard in the Napoleon was drying out and getting hard and the outer shell had absorbed the moisture making it "not-so-good". My friend had the fruit tart which also looked great but wasn't. Most of the fruit was very bitter because it was nowhere near ripe and ready to be used when sliced and put on the tart. Again the inner pastry wasn't as fresh as it could have been. Let's hope for a better experience on the sandwiches we will give them a try sometime because they sounded great but never a pastry from Black Sheep will I try again. BTW they are over-priced, the tart/éclair came out to almost $10. Looking back, I must have been in a really good mood because normally I would have gone back to the counter and said, "no .. these aren't fresh, money back please". Of course w/ a smile and friendly tone cause I'm just so nice. (right!)
(2)David B.
After an intellectually invigorating tour after Emily Dickinson house, we were read to shift from feeding our psyche to feeding our stomachs. Black Sheep was down the street and offered what we w ere looking for: salads and sandwiches. I had their whitefish on a crusty roll. Smoked whitefish salad...a little bit of New York in the the Pioneer Valley. The husband had a salad. Both were delicious. If I had even an ounce of the talent of Miss Dickinson, I would craft a poem to the sandwich. Alas, all I can say is mm, mm good.
(3)Martha R.
If you like your overpriced sandwich served up with a dose of sanctimonious righteousness and class warfare this is for you. Management better at striking noble public postures than they are at delivering food in a timely manner.
(1)Tracy G.
I go here once a year, for one reason only: to get my boyfriend's birthday cake, the flourless chocolate espresso torte, topped in fruit and whipped cream. I order it ahead of time. It's a hit every year and I don't know anywhere else in town that makes this cake better than they do. It is expensive. My boyfriend is worth it. But that's the only reason I go here. There are a lot of cafes in Amherst and I'll go to any of them before I subject myself to the service at the Black Sheep. As you've already read,the service here is poor. "Grudging" is a good word for it. You may or may not be welcomed as you enter. And even though you can see three or four employees building a long sandwich together at the deli counter, you cannot count on one of them to turn around to help you. You might just have to stand there awkwardly for a while. It's annoying and I'm surprised all the poor reviews here haven't changed anything. I used to write at this cafe in the early morning but I have switched over to Starbucks, and it's not because I love the coffee so much. It's because of the service. Black Sheep, listen up: good service makes a difference!
(2)Amber S.
I've been a patron here for years since college and it is solid. Great coffee, incredible pastries and a sweet people watching perch often having cutesy live music. Stop by before a long drive to grab some great snacks for the road.
(5)Sally O.
Very good sandwiches and salads. The sandwiches on baguettes are a bit hard to bite into and keep everything together, but they come with such interesting and delicious sandwich combinations that it's hard to complain.
(5)Shawn S.
Fresh ingredients. Unfortunately the southwest sandwich is not southwest in nature. They do not use chipotle, poblano or jalapeño derivative. They made the mistake of thinking buffalo hot sauce is a southwestern flavor...oops! Otherwise nice atmosphere and relatively inexpensive.
(3)Courtney R.
Yummy sandwiches, cool staff, great baristas and they have the best bear claw pastries ever. Good place to have lunch and do some reading.
(4)Sanae T.
Flies flies everywhere.. And these were well-fed fat ones. I got a cream puff, yes that huge thing which was quite nice - maybe a little too much chocolate icing - so my daughter wanted me to take the cream and try to catch some of them with it. Well, I should have but didn't... And yes, I agree with the bad service comments. They are just not happy (not even trying to act happy).
(2)Joan H.
Good! Glad it's close by...loving the cheesecake brownie. Not the best place to do work, but certainly a fun atmosphere (especially when there's music Thurs and Fri nights). Cool spot.
(4)Jason C.
They played Jimi Hendrix and were nice.
(4)Joe C.
Nice place to get a sandwich in Amherst. See my photo of my roasted turkey sandwich. They offer other things such as pastries, breakfast foods, and coffee. Due to the rustic appearance and scuffed wooden floors, the interior reminds me of something I might find in Vermont. With such a high noise level, I don't know how some students could do their school work at the tables. Their restroom reminded me of a medieval dungeon because of the ugly dark wall/floor tiles. Somebody must have got a killer deal on the tiles, because the color couldn't have been anyone's first choice for restroom décor.
(3)Heather S.
Cool atmosphere, amazing dense, fudgy brownies, several good options for vegetarians with lots of fresh produce, great live music, and terribly unfriendly service (esp. for Amherst!), sums up The Black Sheep Cafe. As another Yelper put it, the service is "begrudgingly" given. Yup. Why don't the owners find or train some waitstaff who actually LIKE other people?
(2)B M.
B- for ambience. It's pleasant enough and a good place to bring your work, but something about the lighting/layout is a bit depressing. Maybe it's just Amherst in general. B+ for deli. The sandwiches are all pretty good, but a bit pricey. Pastries range from C to A. I've had most of them. I'd avoid the cookies -- usually dry -- and the cakes. The mousse cups, though, are amazing.
(3)Amanda G.
When I was up in Amherst last weekend, my family and I were on the hunt for an affordable and delicious breakfast and of course, we turned to Yelp for guidance. After spending two mornings at the Lone Wolf next door, the Black Sheep Deli was looking mighty fine and we were over the moon excited for some East Coast bagels. I got an everything bagel stacked to the brim with cream cheese, lox, cucumber, sprouts and onions - and it was everything I'd hoped for, and more. If you're visiting - make sure you stop by here and get your bagel done proper!
(4)Sarah O.
I can always count on black sheep for a quick sandwich. However, the sandwiches can be pretty mediocre sometimes (sloppy arrangement or hard baguettes). Their pasteries, sweets, and soups are great! I love their minestrone soup and the ham/cheese or cheese/broccoli croissant
(3)A G.
This place is usually pretty crowded, and with good reason. I love the Green Monster sandwich, so garlic-y and delicious. The bread is fresh and hearty. Their baked goods always look delectable and from what I have tried (chocolate covered macaroons and magic bars) has been delicious. This is a favorite spot for me!
(4)Robert B.
The perfect place to get a sandwich, coffee, and a dessert. I've visited many times and am never disappointed. I highly recommend the bagel sandwich for breakfast because it is loaded with whatever toping you like and with such ingredients is the biggest bargain in town. The chocolate mousse is a tremendous treat if you have a sweet tooth. Sandwiches are loaded with fillings and tend to be messy. That's my only critique and for most it's a strength- the place is trying to fit in too much onto their delicious homemade bread. Honestly, a dessert from the Black Sheep is not to be missed. They serve Dean's Beans coffees which are truly exceptional and environmentally friendly. Overall, the value and taste simple cannot be beaten. If you like Amherst, you will love the Black Sheep. If excellence were not enough, the owner is famous for his support of local folks in need.
(5)Eric S.
I want to love The Black Sheep. It's cozy and feels like home in the way a tired, worn out diner might in another community. Too bad the food and drink is to a similar, weary and dated standard. The coffee is often burnt or otherwise not great, and they burn their espresso. The bread loafs they make are eatable but closer to supermarket bread than what places like Tart, Hungry Ghost and Henion serve up. I've had a few sandwiches there, and would better describe them as acceptable than great. Once, I got served one on stale bread. And, and... I overheard two folks in the deli saying they were going to mix coffee airpots because both were mostly empty! So yeah. I like sitting here. I like their workers, the music they play, the old jazz posters on the walls and the general feel of Amherst history here. I don't really like the food or drink, though... and I wonder if it was better in the 80s, or if we just know better now and are spoiled by a Whole Foods culture.
(3)Dan C.
Love the Black Sheep. My favorite pastries are the creme brûlée and fruit tarts. They also have a wide assortment of sandwiches listed via chalkboard. The staff are super friendly and approachable. However, the prices are a bit expensive when living on a college budget. Finding seating is also difficult during peak lunch hours.
(3)Linnea R.
Their sandwiches are really amazing, so I start with that. However it takes them literally forever to make a sandwich, EVEN if you're the only one in line and they constantly mess up your order and you have to continue to wait while they fix their mistakes. I think they should focus more on hiring good employees instead of the most alternative looking people they can find...
(3)Jaecj W.
Watched as the counter person made my hot sandwich by putting meat in microwave. Sorry but microwaving meat is something I can do at home except I've got more respect for sandwich
(2)Ericka W.
Busy place with options for every diet! I was first faced by a rude employee who seemed distracted and upset because I had to ask for a specific bread? :/ and then I met a nicer women who was very kind. I ordered the Southwest chicken sandwich and it wasss okay, less hot sauce than I would want but you know. Fresh ingredients, and with that, there was a bone in my roasted chicken. I couldn't finish the meal, it just freaked me out!
(3)Greg K.
Hipsters cant make breakfast. Worst b sang of my life. took forever. over priced and they microwave everything. what kind of shit hole microwaves eggs. Like at first i was like this place has potential, then i went for breakfast and it was like being hit in the face witha cinder block of processed garbage. Right to the face i had a microwaved breakfast sandwich for 6 dollars. If i wanted a piece of turd to eat i would have went to the nearest fire hydrant and find so dog doo-doo to stuff into a bagel. Like what the fuck is wrong with a place to microwave a sponge like brick of egg in front of you. This place sucks. GOOD DAY
(1)D. F.
The pastries are very good. The sandwiches are sometimes very good; sometimes dry. The sandwiches are usually dry and less impressive when they are for a catered event than if you go to the cafe. But it is even hit or miss at the cafe. The place is very popular. Even though they brew Dean's Beans (a very good local roaster), the coffee always tastes burnt, no matter which roast I have gotten. Requisite anecdote about bad service: Some people here were ordering sandwiches for a meeting; 7 sandwiches, 1 salad and 2 wraps (10 items) total. She called at 9am to place the order to be delivered at noon. The person at the deli threw a fit, scolded my coworker saying that "this is just unacceptable!" Apparently 3 hours is not enough notice for 10 items. They need 48 hours advance notice for 6 or more items. We were not asking to cater a 100 person luncheon or even 20 sandwiches. This was her first (and last) time ordering from them and didn't realize that they couldn't handle a normal lunch order 3 hours in advance like other places in town have routinely done without a hiccup. Also, they could have nicely asked her to order in advance in the future. Either way, they were incredibly rude to her.
(2)Natasha H.
I had an egg croissant sandwich here, recommended by the staff. It was sooo good. It's filling and a perfect brunch menu. The coffee here is pretty good too. A lovely place to enjoy coffee and read the magazine.
(4)Adira S.
I got a goats cheese, eggplant, portabello sandwich today, along with Mexican hot chocolate. Hot chocolate was good enough, sandwich tasted nice, but later I felt a bit sick. i think that the ingredients used are not of great quality .. Mehh. Will not be eating here anymore.
(2)Samantha R.
The staff is extremely friends, and the sandwiches are overstuffed which is great of you're hungry. I'm pretty sure they had a mishap and charged me for half a sandwich but I got a whole, considering my total was 5.85 with a water. Also, you can sub anything you want and they're okay with it. The taste is okay, nothing special. Probably won't come back unless I'm low on cash.
(3)L P.
A little pricey but consistently quality ingredients, consistently well prepared. Out of 20 or so breakfast sandwich orders, the only mistake was not switching out for the bread I had asked for and they fixed it right away.
(5)P B.
One stop shop, the Black Sheep has it all from great coffee, fantastic sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries etc. Not to mention entertainment including Blue Grass jam sessions on Wednesday nights. One tip, if your there with someone else have them grab a seat while you order, it can get quite crowed at times. Also, staff is super friendly!
(5)Victor O.
The coffee here is always hot! Cherry Danish are among the best I've ever had. Mid get there early enough you can find some of the freshest rolls in town.
(4)KURT S.
first visit - antipasto salad the worst ever, large lump a procuiutto and slice of cheese, nothing like picture on wall, , next visit - salad had 2 long hairs I'm done spending money here
(1)Charlotte S.
I'm giving Black Sheep a 3 since there are no half-stars. Our sandwich was pretty good but the wait was horrendous. It wasn't really crowded either and there was no explanation for waiting as long as we did. Look, I'm not a jerk but if the queue's been empty for 10 minutes, and no one else is waiting, there's no reason to wait 15 for a sandwich. It's a sandwich. And if you have a good reason for it taking 15, just apologize. Ya know? However, the sandwich was pretty good once it finally arrived. We got one of the daily specials - I think it's called "The Hot Dirt" which sounds actually kind of repulsive but it was a whimsical take on a tuna salad sandwich with capers and provolone. I liked it and the amount of tuna salad was hearty - I wished I had done two halves of different sandwiches (a full sandwich is $7.95 before tax whereas a half is $3.95 I think so you're really not eating too much in the wallet to do 2 halves) though since they seemed to have a lot of interesting vegetarian and vegan options. The coffee bar was set up in a confusing way (iced beverages are directly in front of where customers pick up and puts you also in the way of people trying to grab hot coffee on the end closest to the pick up counter - the milk/sugar is all the way at the other end - also, there's not an ice machine but a tiny little container where you scoop it yourself - I overlooked it at first glance) but the coffee itself was delicious and fresh. I had never heard of the roaster they use but it had a very smooth flavor and they even have a hot coffee that boasts extra caffeine - yes! If I'm ever in Amherst again, I'll probably give it another whirl. The menu can be intimidating, since there are so many sandwiches, and that is a very good thing. I also liked that they sell discounted day old baked goods rather than tossing them at the end of the night. They had a cute name for their day old rack too - I remember remarking on it.
(3)Damien S.
NY deli stylings, replete with bubbly chalkboard fonts, Wavy Gravy art and brick thick Rick Krispie treats. Big ups for stacking housemade breads with fillings that'll sate veggies, carnivores and all walks in between (I'm talking to you, fish fans). All the elements for success are there: in-house baked goods, a balance of inventive and comfortable sandwich classics, an entire cooler of sweet tea. Yet, the execution is off with understuffed 'wiches heavy on dry grains, yet lacking a hefty punch of flavor. My That's Italian! (a-bippitybop) shaved a single too-thick slice of capicola, hardly any ham but plenty of provolone. The balsamic drizzle is a bit much, giving the whole thing a lotta tannins. Her Black Sheep Baguette yielded the same response - a hearty "It's not bad." On the plus side, sandwiches can be ordered by the half. And for a paltry $4! Just enough to quell the rumbles, not enough to have you satisfied.
(3)Whitney H.
The atmosphere is the best. It's sunny and cute. Everyone who works there is friendly and lovely. Ask for extras of stuff! I always get the same- the florentine breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel with EXTRA spinach...they give me a ton of spinach with every order. Overall it's friendly and cute. Good for doing homework if you're a student. Check it out.
(5)Brinna D.
Best mocha latte I have ever had. Delicious and affordable sandwiches and pastries. The atmosphere is so inviting, comfortable, and open-yet-still-private. Nothing here is anything short of perfect.
(5)Cathy B.
This place saved my skin because they were open late (until 9:00) and their pastry case was still well stocked. It allowed me to buy up most of their cookies for some meetings I had planned the next day. For that, I am very grateful. However, the cookies are just fine, though awfully expensive considering they're a pretty generic representation of cookie-dom. Beyond that, I would have to echo some of the comments below. Nice kids working there, but they lack some professionalism. For example, after I bought out their cookies, I stayed for a sandwich, dessert, and a tea - all bought "for here." The whole time I sat there eating my dinner, the clerks were talking about how "some lady" just waltzed in there that evening and bought out their cookie case. A) Thanks for making me feel old. ("Some lady"?) B) I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE. I can totally hear you. Beyond that - my sandwich was fine. My salad was pretty awful (who puts Italian dressing on a Caesar salad? The Black Sheep, apparently). As mentioned elsewhere, it was totally over-dressed, making it really quite inedible in parts. I went back for a slice of cake from the pastry case, and was eyeballing the as-yet-uncut carrot cake. Instead, the server said, "Oh yeah, I think we have some slices from yesterday." Really? You're going to tell me that you are basically serving me 3-day old cake----that has already been cut ---- and exposed to air on all 4 sides -- and it a little bit stale? But I still get to pay full price. Despite the fact that they saved my un-catered ass, I found the place pretty ungroovy overall.
(2)Chris L.
It's the closest option to a true deli in Amherst. They have a pretty adventurous menu, with a bunch of different options one can try. Being in a college town, they offer flavors that should satisfy anyone's taste buds. The wait can be a little long at times, but you're not paying that much, so it's worth the wait. There's also plenty of waiting space once you order and one entire half is dedicated to sitting room. One might say it has a "hipster" vibe, which might be true, but it's really just a younger crowd which appreciates a combination of aesthetics and taste!
(4)Caroline F.
There is a wide range of vegetarian options that are tasty. They have the most reasonable prices for a good Sandwich in town. The baked goods are very high quality and delish
(4)Alice L.
I never seem to learn my lesson...every time I come here for a vegetarian/vegan sandwich, I leave very dissatisfied. My Issues: -Sandwich bread is always stale, so toasting it helps -The veggie sandwiches have the same proportion of veggies in it as the meat sandwiches. WHY DON'T THEY LOAD IT UP WHEN IT'S VEGGIE ONLY!? -An $8 sandwich for a few thin slices of cucumber, sprinkle of sprouts, and a cup of mustard that completely overwhelms any vegetable taste that might have been there. I've refrained from writing a bad review right away, and decided to give the Black Sheep a few more chances. This is the 4th time I've been in and have yet to have a good vegetarian/vegan sandwich experience. Not sure what all the fuss is about.
(2)Brian C.
Before moving to Amherst, I was told by a friend who had attended school here that the Black Sheep was "the best deli in the world." She has lived in twelve major cities on four continents. I believed her. The sandwiches are for the most part very good. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is fair trade and organic, but while the selection of roasts is impressive, it's a far call from the People's Market. The breads and pastries are excellent. I recommend the fruit tart. Though seating is often difficult to find, I come here regularly to study. Black Sheep is not the world's best, but is without a doubt the best in the Valley. It's a great place to meet with friends or to complete that paper you have been putting off all semester. Black Sheep offers free WiFi, is accessible, and is affordable for students.
(4)Marzie M.
I keep coming back here. The reason is the food and the friendly like your brother staff. One of the greatest deals in the Valley, if not the world, is their half sandwich. For just $3.95 you get, supposedly, a half of any of their regular delicious sandwiches (Southern Comfort or Southwest Chicken please), but the steamy dark truth is: it's more like 2/3 of a sandwich! I kid you not and there is no way an ordinary slim dark-haired girl of the '90s could eat the whole half thing, unless she is very very hungry. Which would mean: NO PASTRY. I'm talking éclairs here, which they make themselves in situ. As a student in Paris many moons ago I can tell you. These éclairs are very nearly almost as good. Paris has other attractions that I won't go into here however which make their eclairs, well, sexier. One thing you can't get in Paris is Grandma Cake. Forget the half sandwich, let me eat cake.
(5)Jackie E.
All about the chocolate covered macaroons and Dean's Beans coffee. Sublime. They offer gluten free bread and bagels for sandwiches, which is nice.
(4)Arielle F.
Age 1- ate my first muffin from the Black Sheep. Loved it. Age 9- went on my first solo errand to buy bread from the Black Sheep. Nailed it. Age 29- fed my wedding guests a delightful array of sandwiches and salads for my rehearsal luncheon. Ate every bit of it. I hope they never change.
(5)Eddie A.
Black sheep is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat for breakfast. They have great sandwich options with funny clever names. Their coffee is good too and its apparently "deans beans coffee" which is fair trade and supports sustainable agriculture. (if that kind of stuff floats your boat) The sauces and spreads I really enjoy and I think they are all made in house. I'm reading a lot of comments complaining about the staff, in there defense they have to put up with the arrogant Amherst crowd all day. I'm just grabbing a sandwich I don't need need to be coddled . Overall great place for specialty sandwiches.
(5)Chris M.
I love this sandwich shop. When I am in the area and I want to eat something fresh & inspired, I come here. They sell homemade delicious breads, desserts, sandwiches, and drinks. They have a lot of unique vegetarian options on the menu. My favorite sandwich is the Smokey Joes... So yummy! You can choose to order a full or half size sandwich. There is usually a line due to its popularity but they are well staffed and make the food fast so its worth the 10 minute wait. Check this place out!
(4)John R.
I didn't try the sandwiches; the selection looks and sounds fantastic! We had pastries, which looked fantastic too but unfortunately they were OK and that is a very generous OK. They were one day past being enjoyable. Even if they'd been free we wouldn't have finished them which is what happend. We both took a couple of bites then our pastries went in the bin. I have a huge sweet tooth so believe me I was disappointed. The custard in the Napoleon was drying out and getting hard and the outer shell had absorbed the moisture making it "not-so-good". My friend had the fruit tart which also looked great but wasn't. Most of the fruit was very bitter because it was nowhere near ripe and ready to be used when sliced and put on the tart. Again the inner pastry wasn't as fresh as it could have been. Let's hope for a better experience on the sandwiches we will give them a try sometime because they sounded great but never a pastry from Black Sheep will I try again. BTW they are over-priced, the tart/éclair came out to almost $10. Looking back, I must have been in a really good mood because normally I would have gone back to the counter and said, "no .. these aren't fresh, money back please". Of course w/ a smile and friendly tone cause I'm just so nice. (right!)
(2)David B.
After an intellectually invigorating tour after Emily Dickinson house, we were read to shift from feeding our psyche to feeding our stomachs. Black Sheep was down the street and offered what we w ere looking for: salads and sandwiches. I had their whitefish on a crusty roll. Smoked whitefish salad...a little bit of New York in the the Pioneer Valley. The husband had a salad. Both were delicious. If I had even an ounce of the talent of Miss Dickinson, I would craft a poem to the sandwich. Alas, all I can say is mm, mm good.
(3)Martha R.
If you like your overpriced sandwich served up with a dose of sanctimonious righteousness and class warfare this is for you. Management better at striking noble public postures than they are at delivering food in a timely manner.
(1)Tracy G.
I go here once a year, for one reason only: to get my boyfriend's birthday cake, the flourless chocolate espresso torte, topped in fruit and whipped cream. I order it ahead of time. It's a hit every year and I don't know anywhere else in town that makes this cake better than they do. It is expensive. My boyfriend is worth it. But that's the only reason I go here. There are a lot of cafes in Amherst and I'll go to any of them before I subject myself to the service at the Black Sheep. As you've already read,the service here is poor. "Grudging" is a good word for it. You may or may not be welcomed as you enter. And even though you can see three or four employees building a long sandwich together at the deli counter, you cannot count on one of them to turn around to help you. You might just have to stand there awkwardly for a while. It's annoying and I'm surprised all the poor reviews here haven't changed anything. I used to write at this cafe in the early morning but I have switched over to Starbucks, and it's not because I love the coffee so much. It's because of the service. Black Sheep, listen up: good service makes a difference!
(2)Amber S.
I've been a patron here for years since college and it is solid. Great coffee, incredible pastries and a sweet people watching perch often having cutesy live music. Stop by before a long drive to grab some great snacks for the road.
(5)Sally O.
Very good sandwiches and salads. The sandwiches on baguettes are a bit hard to bite into and keep everything together, but they come with such interesting and delicious sandwich combinations that it's hard to complain.
(5)Shawn S.
Fresh ingredients. Unfortunately the southwest sandwich is not southwest in nature. They do not use chipotle, poblano or jalapeño derivative. They made the mistake of thinking buffalo hot sauce is a southwestern flavor...oops! Otherwise nice atmosphere and relatively inexpensive.
(3)Courtney R.
Yummy sandwiches, cool staff, great baristas and they have the best bear claw pastries ever. Good place to have lunch and do some reading.
(4)Heather S.
Cool atmosphere, amazing dense, fudgy brownies, several good options for vegetarians with lots of fresh produce, great live music, and terribly unfriendly service (esp. for Amherst!), sums up The Black Sheep Cafe. As another Yelper put it, the service is "begrudgingly" given. Yup. Why don't the owners find or train some waitstaff who actually LIKE other people?
(2)B M.
B- for ambience. It's pleasant enough and a good place to bring your work, but something about the lighting/layout is a bit depressing. Maybe it's just Amherst in general. B+ for deli. The sandwiches are all pretty good, but a bit pricey. Pastries range from C to A. I've had most of them. I'd avoid the cookies -- usually dry -- and the cakes. The mousse cups, though, are amazing.
(3)Sanae T.
Flies flies everywhere.. And these were well-fed fat ones. I got a cream puff, yes that huge thing which was quite nice - maybe a little too much chocolate icing - so my daughter wanted me to take the cream and try to catch some of them with it. Well, I should have but didn't... And yes, I agree with the bad service comments. They are just not happy (not even trying to act happy).
(2)Joan H.
Good! Glad it's close by...loving the cheesecake brownie. Not the best place to do work, but certainly a fun atmosphere (especially when there's music Thurs and Fri nights). Cool spot.
(4)Jason C.
They played Jimi Hendrix and were nice.
(4)Joe C.
Nice place to get a sandwich in Amherst. See my photo of my roasted turkey sandwich. They offer other things such as pastries, breakfast foods, and coffee. Due to the rustic appearance and scuffed wooden floors, the interior reminds me of something I might find in Vermont. With such a high noise level, I don't know how some students could do their school work at the tables. Their restroom reminded me of a medieval dungeon because of the ugly dark wall/floor tiles. Somebody must have got a killer deal on the tiles, because the color couldn't have been anyone's first choice for restroom décor.
(3)Jenny J.
This review is for catering, only :) I hadn't had Black Sheep catering in a number of years and I was eagerly looking forward to it based on past experiences. Unfortunately, the food this time around was very, very mediocre. Though the menu says that the mango chicken is roasted, it seemed poached to me. It was completely pale with no color whatsoever and not much flavor to speak of. It was in a sweet sauce with onions and peppers, but I didn't detect any mango taste at all, just a generic sweetness. It was surprisingly bland and portions were very tough and chewy...this texture, along with the lack of any color, may be why I thought "poached"...because I have over-poached boneless breasts myself on more than one occasion and yielded this same strange, chewy, rubbery texture. The spinach salad was very nice, the sesame noodles were as expected (much like you would make at home; nothing elevated), the red potatoes were bland, and the pesto tortellini was tasty but everything lacked oomph and was sadly under-seasoned across the board (lack of both salt and acid?). Unfortunately, I just don't think the pp price was justified. I generally really like the Black Sheep and hate to say anything negative about them, but there are definitely better catering options in the area.
(2)Matthew G.
Go here for a delicious whitefish salad sandwich!!!! Great deli speciality sandwiches and breakfasts. Coffee is meh.
(4)Anna Y.
I've been here quite a few times due to lack of food around Amherst. I know a lot of people would say that there's quite of a variety here, but coming from a big city....I say otherwise. I have tried their sandwiches, salads, and pastries. They are good, but not outstanding, and in my opinion a little pricey. The main reason for three stars is the price for OK sandwiches. I have only tried their caesar salad...with AWESOME croutons...and it's over dressed, so I suggest that you ask for the dressing on the side. I haven't found another place that has good pastries, so whenever I have a sweet tooth, I come here to satisfy my craving.
(3)Paul M.
Great deli; huge sandwiches, terrific choices and free WiFi if you need to work there. I came back twice because I liked it so much. And the cashier was great to give me change to feed the meter out front, so they're very friendly too!
(4)Adam S.
Stopped in for a quick breakfast with the family. My daughter had a chocolate croissant, I had a ham and cheese one and my wife ordered the Florentine egg sandwich. I found the croissants to have good flavor, but weren't as light and delicate as others. My wife enjoyed her breakfast sandwich and commented on how good the focaccia was. Good, and we will likely be back, but not the best breakfast spot I have ever been.
(3)Alex C.
I don't know what's going on with Black Sheep lately, but for the past few weeks they have really disappointed me. The food is still fantastic but the service has been awful! It seems that chatting about their plans for the night is of a much higher priority than completing orders. Very annoying when I'm on my way to work and have to wait for them all to stop flirting so I can get a move on. Several times I've had to interrupt conversations to point out that they were making my order wrong. Maybe they have just gotten lazy for the summer. Step it up Black Sheep! You still get a few stars for the food, but it really sucks to wait ten minutes for a sandwich with three ingredients when it is your only order. I don't really want to stand there listening to you talk about your personal lives. I just want to eat my sandwich.
(3)Greta K.
The girls and I were in the mood for something on the light side and something that screamed Western Mass. since we were on a day trip in the area. This definitely seemed like a hippie/left wing/college hangout kind of joint. Check out the chalkboard by the bathroom if you don't believe me. The owners/staff are not Republicans in any manner. I ordered a really delicious, yet very large spinach salad. This was a tad on the expensive side for lunch but I was thankful for the day-old brioche, which I bought at half-price and it was still delicious. My friends ordered sandwiches and enjoyed them. The seating area is kind of small so be sure to grab a table quickly after ordering. I loved the acoustic swing band. More restaurants should have live bands play. The desserts looked amazing but we didn't order anything. I'd like to return just for pastries.
(4)Sean M.
A great bakery, wonderful locations, and unbeatable prices. I've eaten here around 5 times over the past two years and have yet been disappointed. Actually, I've been blown away every visit. My favorite thing on the menu is defiantly the Almond Horn. Only advise is less bitter selection of coffee and offer some Almond Horn cookies that aren't dipped in chocolate, sometimes you just want the almond cookie!
(5)Rick B.
Great staff, great sandwiches. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Elisabeth Y.
Good iced coffee. I was there a few days ago for breakfast and had a bagel and cream cheese. Very mediocre and not cheap. I made a mental note to come back for what look like delicious sandwiches (judging by the menu) and I am glad I had a sandwich craving for lunch today! I had the Great Garlic sandwich today and loved every bite! Goat cheese, portobello mushrooms, roasted eggplant, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, and roasted garlic on a baguette- I'll definitely try to reproduce this one at home! People-watching there was entertaining, as an added bonus.
(4)Max L.
The business model of the Black Sheep seems to be: "We are the only hip bakery in Amherst so you will eat our cookies and enjoy it no matter how little we try." Staff are nice. Ambiance is fine. Cute sandwich names. The Black Sheep seems great on paper, but in practice it often disappoints. The baked goods and desserts are just not very good. Cookies are dry. Cakes are too dense. Consistently disappointing food in general. It's really not surprising that Black Sheep has been having some financial stumbles. I don't believe that locals really support it often.
(2)Meg C.
OK so I'm prefacing this admitting I haven't been here since '06. That said- while I was living there I LOVED it. The food is really wonderful- just about any veggie you can think of you can get on your sandwich. If you want salad or fruit or meat it's all there. The deserts were fabulous and I'm pretty picky- but everything I ever tried was wonderful. The tea is lovely (not a coffee person). I loved the live music and the atmosphere- very relaxed and laid back. I would bring my 18 month old and she could roam (within reason) and there was enough room for it not to be an issue. Personally I found the people there were very friendly. It was the highlight of my Sundays! Heck the only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because it's been so long since I've been there.
(4)Chris L.
The short and sweet: Meh espresso, quality (but somewhat pricey) coffee Great sandwiches, but nothing mind-blowing. It doesn't help that they are difficult to eat. Also kind of pricey. The deli dishes (i.e. pasta salad)are also quality, yet probably the same as Stop & Shop or even Big Y down the road. NEVER buy the things in the open cooler cabinet like wrapped cheeses, crackers, water, etc. They are unfortunately overpriced. Finally, what saves this place from bring simply overpriced are 1) the salads and 2) the desserts. Both are FANTASTIC and, being so, worth the price tag (maybe only since everything is twice as expensive in NYC). If you're looking for a simple, but excellently done salad, try the spinach. They literally give you two or three servings of goat cheese. You could eat that thing for both lunch and dinner. And I won't say much about the desserts... they will be self-explanatory when you walk in and see the display case! And one last thing: the desks are a pretty good study space on weekends because of the big windows, ample coffee, and background noise. Though honestly, all the coffee shops in Amherst are relatively equivalent regarding study space and accommodations--just pick the one with the best coffee. I'd definitely recommend The Black Sheep, but only for several items mentioned above. For everything else, try somewhere a little cheaper.
(3)Vilay S.
The baked goods & desserts are ok, but that's the only thing they've got going. Even then, Henion Bakery has better pastries because they just seem to be fresher. The employees: They just don't seem to care. There are two (three?) locations in the store where you can order, and it's unclear how that works. Sometimes people end up shoving in front of you or standing around not knowing what to do while the person behind the counter chats with friends or reads a book. The coffee: I hate Dean's Bean's coffee. Too acidic. Catering: Twice I have ordered party platters from them, and both times I got home with part of my order missing. What the hell am I supposed to do with a crudite platter without dip or a satay platter without sauce? Both are useless at that point. Not surprisingly when I called back to complain, I got a couple of people who didn't care or know what to do, until someone else who offered me a gift certificate. Why, so I can get more shitty service and do this again? No thanks.
(1)Darci M.
This place is okay. I'd actually like to give it a 2.5 star rating, but yelp does not allow such accuracy. It has the potential to be great- the ambiance beckons you in and as you scan the list of sandwiches and the bakery case, you are convinced the meal will mirror the atmosphere. However, I have yet to enjoy a meal that I felt was really good. They fall short on taste. The sandwiches, the soup and even the pastries just don't hit the mark. I've waited nearly six months to write this review. After each visit, I convince myself that my lackluster meal must have been a result of a bad day. I have now concluded that my experience with this deli is consistently unimpressive. It is not a bad choice if you are downtown and looking for some food. But it seems important to honest and say, don't expect to be thrilled with whatever you order. And if it turns out that you are thrilled, please hop back on yelp and share the secret to your success.
(3)Diane H.
I like you..My slice of tiramisu was good. I shall return very soon. When I am in need of baked goods. Maybe I'll try to sit down and listen to the music play too..did I mention it's live? Oh I don't think the employee was very nice...hmm there was something I didn't like about her.........
(3)Ductight D.
I like the Black Sheep. A bit funky inside, they could get better seating in the front room but maybe that is part of the charm. I love that they don't charge extra for soymilk. The iced americano is delicious unless you get it decaf and then it is a total dud. (Different beans, explained the barista). Good local business and cheaper then Starbucks :)
(5)Rob S.
I have been to Black Sheep twice today. I got breakfast at about 11:00am, ordering an Apple and Cheddar Croissant and a medium coffee. The medium is 16 oz which is great since some places a medium is 12 oz. The croissant was good. The crust was EXCELLENT and buttery and probably horrible for me. The apple part was to be expected, but they totally skimped on the cheddar when they baked it. But a satisfying breakfast for under $5. Round two was lunch. I ordered the Carnivore, which is a roast beef sandwich with onions and horseradish on pumpernickel. My only issue with the sandwich was that it was a normal "my-mom-made-me a-sandwich-size" and cost $7.25. Now I'm not advocating the New York-sized sandwich. It's really just unhealthy to eat that much sandwich at once... But it wouldn't hurt to get a little bit more for your dollar. Other than being $1.25 too much, the sandwich was delicious and I'll probably go back again tomorrow and try another one of their creatively named sandwiches from the board. It is truly satisfying food. A few more words: Apparently the credit card minimum is $5 (not a problem for what I ordered but you can't put just a coffee on a card) and they are a popular place and everything appears to be made from scratch or made in small batches so they are frequently out of something. Nine times out of ten it's not what you ordered, but incase you are unlucky and they start to make your sandwich and find out they are out of something, they are really good about offering you possible substitutes at no extra charge.
(4)Matt L.
I tried this place when I was passing through town and given that I am originally from Amherst and went to high school here, I think I had only been in here once before. The place is highly overrated and no wonder some of the local students give it good reviews since that is the clientele it is pretty much catering to. The place claims it is a deli and wait a coffee shop and bakery too? Lets not confuse ourselves here. The menu selections are hardly creative and the sandwich I ordered (some odd looking turkey creation on a hard as rock baguette) was disgusting. It tasted day old and had no taste or uniqueness whatsoever. The pastries and desserts in here are garbage too. I tried a normal looking brownie and it tasted like I was chewing on a door stop. Either this place lets things sit out too long or they just don't know how to make good food. Throw in the clueless, snobby staff that seem to try and treat people like they are doing them a favor and the bad prices and we got ourselves one dud of a place that has surely gone downhill in the 20 years since I have left Amherst.
(1)R S.
Great walnut cinnamon pastries. Espresso and coffee is reasonably good. The ambience is fair and the place could use a little bit of work to make it more inviting.
(3)S E.
had a croissant sandwich and was not very impressed. cold and didn't taste very fresh. service was not great. smart alecky staff that stands around and chatter with each other a little too loudly. tables and floors had crumbs and sticky spots on them and a bit of a fly problem... cushmans or wheatberry are a much better bet in my opinion.
(2)Siobhan H.
Sandwiches are fab, desserts are imaginative and tasty, free wifi and usually quick service. Oh and the coffee is wonderful too! Only downside is that prices have risen in the past year or so. Still fairly well priced for down-town Amherst though.
(4)Emeyes i.
I must have passed this place 1000x but never stopped in. Nice little spot to grab some tea or coffee. My peppermint hot cocoa was supurb, and the employees were attentive and friendly. I'll be back! FYI: They also offer vegan cookies and pastries.
(4)Nancy K.
I am from out of town and I tried to use this place to deliver brownies to a friend for a special occasion. They never delivered the brownies. When my friend called to say the delivery time had passed by 20 minutes, they didn't seem that concerned. Just said everyone had gone for the night so the delivery couldn't be made. You would think they could have used a cell phone to ask the delivery person to come back to the store for the order. Eventually the owner did call her back and offered a $20 gift certificate, and refunded my credit card, but the experience was extremely aggravating. I wasn't notified by the store until two days after the event. If I had been notified immediately I could possibly have found another vendor. This doesn't mean their in-store food isn't good, obviously, but I was not happy about the catering service or the way they handled the error.
(1)April G.
I had a sandwich here today and it was deeeeeelicious. I had a hard time deciding which one to order, and will definitely be back to try more! I had the TNT, which is turkey, portabello mushrooms, spinach, and tapenade on a baguette. The large size was big enough to eat half then and half later. Their pastries also look delicious. They have creme brulee and pumpkin pie bars, and their croissants are the best looking I've seen since I moved to MA.
(4)Derek B.
Expectations rise as I enter this store - baked goods to the right, deli straight ahead, and seating in a separate room to the left. Everything looks delicious, the staff looks friendly enough, so to the right I go for my morning baked good. I opt for the chocolate croissant, mainly because counter-girl was obviously losing patience with me while I tried to decide - but they don't have the best display. There should be a sign in the window that says "decide here because you can't peruse inside." Anyway, chocolate croissant: 1) The chocolate was of the melted-and-hardened type. 2) It was not fresh, and in addition to not tasting fresh, it was cool, 3) it was not flaky. The consistency was something between flaky croissant and hostess fruit pie (but it definitely tasted better than the fruit pie). People spoke highly of Black Sheep, so I'll give the deli a try next time I'm in town.
(2)D S.
Great sandwiches, great baked goods, but the coffee's not as good as the coffee at Raos.
(4)amy w.
The sandwiches are good, but the baked goods are the real reason I go to Black Sheep. The eclairs might look small in the bakery case, but pack a hefty amount of tasty custard filling - I'd recommend splitting one with someone you like. Don't miss out on the various croissants either (the chocolate ones sell out before lunch), their dough is so good.
(4)Gil S.
Kick ass confections, coffee, and sandwiches. Bonus: Live Bluegrass!
(4)E G.
Ahh the sheep, I've been going there for 15 years...It has introduced me to more food items I never would have dared tried (tougue, for 1) and really helped move this Yankee into the world of NYC deli culture, which led to Zabar's....which is heaven to me now...I've known the Sheep to punt once an a while, but you can always find the owner & he'll make good on it, that goes a long way in my book, that and a 26 inch long BLT made on a toasted baguette with extra bacon and Helmans Mayo, not some Sysco brand crap....
(4)estelle s.
i tend to really enjoy their sandwiches, but i get really tired of paying their prices. +fresh ingredients +delicious -could be larger in size -$$$$ =decent service behind the deli +usually really nice at the counter -deserts look better than how they taste is what i remember
(3)Arwen O.
Your local liberal deli, the Black Sheep had sanwiches named after members of the Bush Administration for the election last year (The Dumsfeld, the Condasleezer) and uses mostly local produce, often organic. They have a pretty mouthwatering deli display, and the desserts are amazing: their brownie is the fudgiest I've ever had. However, I must admit to being a little disappointed at the slimness of their sandwich offering at times. Not in terms of options, but size...My chicken salad was just that. Not even lettuce! Still, if you're a vegetarian, this place will not let you down. They have a great selection of veggie and tofu sandwiches, which my sister is devoted to. blacksheepdeli.com
(4)alice t.
just a few things to add to the reviews already here-- -If you have difficulty making a decision, just stand off to the side and let the counter person know that it'll be a while. I _always_ take a while, and the staff has always been polite enough about it. -the almond croissant I had was decent, though it would have been much better warmed up (even though I went at 7 a.m....). I thought it had good buttery flavor, middling flakiness, tasty filling in an appropriate ratio, but definitely take it to go and warm it up rather than eating it on-site. This, I suspect, would greatly improve outer crispiness and tender insides, bring out the buttery flavor even more, and generally elevate the experience. -The sandwiches are ok. I feel that if you can tolerate cooking/preparing food at all (and if, unlike the students, you have a _kitchen_) you could do as good or better a job at home. Just invest in a couple of key ingredients, like good bread and good pesto or sundried tomatoes, or cheese, whatever. -the clientele is pretty hipster/crunchy, but this makes for amusing eavesdropping and people-watching. This is Western Mass., what did you expect? :-) -it's a popular in Amherst because it has no competition; it's no foodie mecca, it's not a destination bakery. That said, it's better than nothing. For instance, Henion Bakery (down Main St., next to Brueggers) is more of an American-style bakery, so you won't find croissants there. However, I do find that Henion's stuff is fresher, warm in the morning (so important!), if you're into sweet sticky buns, donuts, etc.
(3)Gail N.
I went here for lunch during a day-trip to Amherst and really enjoyed it. The menu was extremely diverse and met all of the diet needs of our group - Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, etc. There was a long line but it moved pretty quickly. We were able to grab a table for 8 (though it was a little on the later side for lunch). The desserts looked incredible and the coffee smelled good. It was affordable with good portions. The place was on the louder side but it didn't ruin the experience - if anything we ended up staying longer because we were so busy talking!
(4)Stephanie S.
I discovered this place while at UMass Amherst. Love at first visit was due to a sweet little cookie that looked like those Girl Scout Samoa's (the ones with the coconut, caramel and chocolate). Turns out their resemblance was not a mistake. They might go by a different name but you can ask for them as the girl scout cookie and they'll know..... oh they'll know. Too bad that more often than not they're out of my favorite cookie. My plan B is usually a good choice but nothing beats the girl scout samoa cookie. They have other stuff too, I'm sure it's good, never tried it though.
(4)Cait G.
I love, love, love the Black Sheep. Their sandwiches are *fantastic,* and if you love New York bagels, they get them and a lot of deli meats (fresh lox, yum) "imported." Their breads are stellar, too, and they usually have a great variety. If you're not a carb-lover, their salads are great and are inexpensive. I think that they get a lot of their goods locally, too. The reason why I gave the Black Sheep only 4 stars is the price. Holy crap! in the 7 years that I've lived in Amherst, the prices have skyrocketed! The Black Sheep's food is phenomenal, but I'm a starving grad student; $9 sandwiches are a bit out of my price range and more importantly are way out of context for the town.
(4)Heather D.
I'm really surprised with the low reviews after going here. I had an excellent latte with perfectly pulled shots of espresso. I paired it with their (only) scone offering that day - an apple walnut scone that was absolutely amazing. Large pieces of apple were sandwiched between delicious walnuts in a delightful cinnamon-y dough. My boyfriend said his coffee seemed a little weak, but the staff was happy to warm up his cowboy cookie a bit to soften it up. The menu looked very intriguing, with lots of vegetarian and even vegan sandwich options. Black Sheep has a much more laid-back atmosphere than Amherst Coffee up the street. We sat lazily by the large front window reading our guide book and listened to the lesbian couple do a crossword puzzle at the table next to us. Oh, my beloved Amherst!
(4)Mark K.
Really good Deli food and coffee. Very Popular so It can get crowded during typical meal rushes, but the wait is never too long. They can be a bit slow on refilling the coffee for serving, but if you ask they do it pronto. Will go back again
(5)Hilary W.
I've been coming to the Black Sheep Deli for about 2 years and recently my opinion of the place has started to change. I started going there with my boyfriend for weekly lunches. We looked forward to every friday where we could munch on huge salads and sandwiches. A friend of mine worked there and all the staff seemed friendly. They also served my favorite tea ever- lady grey. Recently, I've been noticing that the Black Sheep has gone downhill a bit. My favorite salad, the Mediterranean used to include hummus, baba ganoush, and tabouli. I ordered it a couple of weeks ago and it was fine. I ordered it this past Sunday and they stopped serving tabouli and baba ganoush! It says it on the black board, but that was a salad that I automatically ordered. I was very disappointed and would have liked a heads up. The new Mediterranean salad is boring- lettuce, tomato, olives and hummus. I could easily have replicated that without paying the $6+ price. Not worth it! My boyfriend's caesar wrap was mediocre. Our oatmeal cookie was delicious. The cookies usually are. As for their desserts- I am usually disappointed. As I said before, the cookies are good because I think they are baked daily. They also have a huge array of desserts that all LOOK delicious. I ordered some with some friends and they tasted old. Very disappointing. Black Sheep- a place to be seen by the alternative community in Amherst, but you're not going to get food worth the price or the best service.
(3)Q S.
The Good - the sandwiches and baked goods are awesome. The Bad - servers are rude college students. And, it took them 20 minutes to make 4 sandwiches for the people I was with even though it wasn't busy at all.
(3)william d.
Def a fan of Blacksheep... I've never been disappointed there and highly recommend this place.
(4)Peter E.
Good bread, great sandwiches, coffee and ambience.
(4)Elena R.
Despite their less than stellar cookies, Black Sheep has incredible sandwiches with fresh and delicious ingredients. Two full boards of options, the friendly staff and Black Sheep is always wiling to customize the perfect sandwich for you. Where their cookies are dry and hard, Black Sheep sandwiches never disappoint!
(4)Tom T.
Nice spot!! GREAT names for their sandwiches! Be sure to check out the menu posted right near the bathrooms. Had a Grand Marnier & pecan cookie that was damn good!
(4)Rue B.
I really try to like this place, but a watery drip coffee should not cost over $2, even if Dean is saving the world. Also, I should not have to wait 5 minutes by the order counter to put in for a bagel with hummus, when there are 5 people in the whole place. As other reviewers have noted, service is 'begrudging,' and to me reflects that a job at the Black Sheep is an Amherst rite of passage for Generation Whatever-They-Are's (1986 - 1991 babies?) ironic detachment FROM meaningful human interaction, and attachment TO seeming cool at the expense of projecting genuine kindness to those outside the cliquey anti-fashion fashion show. Excellent sandwiches with fresh and creative ingredients though!
(2)DeDe Y.
Black Sheep made it very easy to order my daughter's b-day cake even though I was out of state. The grandma's chocolate cake was beautiful and quite tasty. You have to love that chocolate ganache! Side note: The chocolate extreme cake- wow! It makes a girl want to call and ask if it's possible to ship- yes it was that good! Can you tell we like chocolate?! Since she is car less in MA. my daughter made sure that we had a visit to The Black Sheep before I went back home.
(4)Missus F.
there is not anything in here that isn't at the peak of deliciousness. absolutely nothing. sometimes you get rude people waiting on you and sometimes you don't. go in with an "eff it" attitude, get your ridiculous sandwich, pay, and get out before the pretentious amherst sass gets to you cause the food is that good.
(5)Huan z.
Nice little coffee shop. Good atmosphere. Very safe( next to the police station) many food choices such as brownies and sandwiches beside hot drinks. Good place to hang out beside Rao's Coffee.
(3)Patricia T.
LOVE the food, the friendly and efficient staff and the talented musicians that play there on Sundays. We are foodies and this is one of our favorite places!
(5)Mod S.
i usually am not awake anywhere near the hour of early lunch but i just so happen to be up to see a friend off. Ive been on a 10 day sugar binge and needed some good lunch, so my friend took me here. the place looks homey and kind of san francisco wannabe deli. It has a bakery type cold case up front by the door featuring sweet looking pasteries. walking a little back they have a open cheese case and the deli where you can see the kids making the sandwichs and see it come fresh off the line. A very nice teas selection. this place was such a professor/student hang out as well . i got a black sheep sandwhich. the roasted tomatoes were so enjoyable because they werent dry and hard like at other places. i also got a cream puff , which is gigantic! As well as a napoleon. Both dessert items where good. a little to much weight on the cream puff but the napoleon was amazing. 4 insted of 5 because i felt like the customer client interaction was very minimal. not a good thing when you want to build a nice small town clientele, or leave a good impression on out of state customers.
(4)H J.
the Black Sheep has super-good sandwiches and amazing salads with lots and lots of veggie options. The coffee (Dean's Beans) is always good, and so are the desserts. I love the atmosphere, relaxed and cozy. The one reason that my boyfriend and I stay away from here is the staff. I have been in there so many times, and have probably had friendly and quick service two or three times. They can be so rude, and are often too busy talking to each other to actually wait on customers, even when it is slower than usual. It drives us crazy, and we have talked to others who agree. We stay away from there now jst because of that. It is really too bad, because the food is great.
(2)Sandy B.
I've never had their sandwiches before but I have had many of their baked goods and they have all been so delicious! What I really appreciate is that they make vegan cupcakes taste like the non-vegan ones. It's hard to find bakeries/cafes that offer such great vegan treats, let alone baked vegan goods. I always stop by here to get my diabetic coma on!
(4)Edmund H.
The baked goods and sandwiches are great. I thought the tiramisu was especially pleasing. The place was pleasant, you can enjoy the soft background music while you read a novel without much distraction.I had a bad experience with one of the staff there. I was ordering my items and I had side of attitude along with my order. It was just one of the staff member, and I've been there a few times so I can say that overall the staff is pretty friendly.
(3)Joe D.
I have been to the Black Sheep several times and it is fair to say they do some things very well. I have had the BLT and the "Thats Italian". Both sandwiches were satisfying, a little light on the meats and vegtables though. They are not the best deli sandwiches, but in the grand scheme of things they do just fine. On the other side of the store are the baked goods, this is a different story from the sandwiches. They are very good, baked fresh, and hit the spot. I would recommend the Chocolate Torte and the fresh baked Apple Cinnamon Muffins. Service is somewhat lacking. The friendliness of the staff is not there, and when it is it feels fake. The atmosphere is typical Amherst "coffee shop", slightly pretentous but a great place to hangout.
(3)E M.
This has to be one of the best deli/pastry shops anywhere. Their deserts are amazing and the sandwiches are very good. The cheesecakes and the New Yorker sandwich are my favorites.
(5)LiLi M.
This place is pretty descent but my only grip is their price. I think it's a bit over priced for their food which is not bad. Though even with the high pricing, it's locally owned so I still like to frequent it. The bakery has some delicious desserts as well.
(4)Mats K.
Decent place to stop in Amherst for a sandwich or a salad. Their Mediterranean salad is amazing. At certain times the hippie-ness of the clientele can be a bit much, but its usually an all-around nice place to dine.
(4)Andrew K.
Just a fun and funky little sandwich shop located in this quirky little hamlet. They put cream cheese on some of the sandwiches. It's great.
(4)Jeffrey L.
The Black Sheep would've received 5 stars if I had reviewed this 15 years ago. However, it's changed so much over the years, that I can hardly give it 4 stars. It used to have decent coffee and decent baked goods. In particular, their pecan rolls/buns (all 5 pounds) were amazing. Baked goods are just ok now, and it seems poorly organized. Plus, I miss the cheesy artist photos that used to cover the walls.
(4)Gavin A.
Good sandwiches, great pastries, maybe a tiny bit overpriced-- but they don't really have any competition in Amherst (Subway doesn't count).
(4)