Jose S.

One of the places I go to take a salad. You have a lot of different vegetables and options to make your own salad, you can mix them as you want to. The price depends on how much the salad weights, so the more it weigh the more expensive. The vegetables and food look fresh, at least in the salad area.

Sara M.

Walking into this place can overwhelm and confuse a neophyte but one can quickly figure out the various stations. However, at that point, the choices can cause you to run from section to section trying to decide if being healthy with a salad is better (pasta salad is totally good for you, right?) or just go gangbusters with a cheeseburger club and fries...maybe some falafel and fro-yo on the side. Prices are quite reasonable but I can see how the salad bar might add up. Although, you are still putting over 1 pound of food inside your belly regardless if it is cucumbers and tofu with greens or a 16 ounce steak. Just saying. Also, the chairs are scooped in such a fashion you cannot sit comfortably sideways (tried to slide in that way and failed) and it feels as if it is cradling your bum/hips. Not entirely sure I am sold on them. But thumbs up as a lunch place.

Jon B.

I've only been here once, but can see myself coming back many more times to try out all the different options. For a place that's in the heart of downtown, during the lunch rush, they handled volume surprisingly well. Probably because there's 4 or 5 different food stations, that all look equally appetizing. I decided to go for a Indian-inspired chicken wrap. The name escapes me at the moment. But anyway, I was able to add a ton of veggies, for no extra charge. That was nice. Although the amount of options I had to choose from was a bit too long for me to remember while I was ordering. It would have been nice to have a menu or some sort of form I could fill out to customize my wrap. It looked like they had a salad bar, mezze bar, and options for sandwiches too. It was basically a miniature cafeteria. Had a bunch of seating too!

Melissa A.

So now that they've changed their salads to a salad bar where they weigh it instead of how it was previously (mixing it up for you with unlimited toppings and one standard 'salad price'), I have given up on Café de Boston for my salads. It used to be a decent deal but not anymore now that it is weighed. It's silly that cheap stuff like beans will weigh down my salad when previously I didn't have to worry about this. So, meh. Also, I was starving one morning and went to get an egg sandwich for breakfast. You can add in 3 veggies for no additional cost, so I did. When I opened up my sandwich it had some unidentifiable meat in it (I think it was sliced up meatballs? But who knows. It looked so gross). This kinda sucked becasue I'm a vegetarian and clearly didn't ask for random unidentifiable meat in my egg sandwich that cost $4. Next time I'll just burn my money instead. The only thing I do like is their mezze bar. While expensive (again, because it's weighed), it does have some good options and is great if you're just looking for a variety of stuff. Just be prepared to pay $12 for lunch.

Chelsea M.

Just came here for the first time for lunch today. Was impressed! 1. As others have said, they have a ridiculous variety of food! From kebabs to comfort food to froyo, they seriously have everything. 2. Huge seating area; some by the window which is fun for people watching! 3. Staff is super friendly and helpful. I got the roasted cod, mashed potatoes and tons of veggies. Everything was delicious - the cod was a bit tougher than I like, but still decent!

Carrie B.

Skip the smoothies. For $5.50 for a 16 oz. or $7 for 24 oz., you get to select 2 fruits or veggies, a milk/yogurt, and a juice. I ordered a blueberry spinach yogurt smoothie, and the cashier asked if I wanted a juice, since it needed some liquid. I said sure, just a little bit of orange juice. Well, the smoothie was made with a full cup of OJ, ice, a spoonful of yogurt, and about 8 blueberries and 4 baby spinach leaves. Needless to say, it basically ended up being a milky-looking cup of orange juice. It tasted awful, and was definitely not worth the price. Before yelping about the bad experience, I emailed management, and got a prompt and very apologetic response from the company president. He offered me a free smoothie, so I went back and tried again. Same order, but without the juice. Again, I was told the smoothie needed some liquid, so I went with coconut water. Unfortunately, the 2nd attempt wasn't much better. The smoothie consisted of a LOT of ice, a lot of liquid, and just not much in the way of substance or flavor. By freezing the fruit in advance, you can completely eliminate the need for all that ice, which just dilutes the smoothie! I guess ice is cheaper than blueberries, so they prefer to bulk the smoothies up with ice and skimp on the good stuff, but the result is a bland, overpriced smoothie. Despite 2 bad smoothies, I'm giving 3 stars because I appreciate and value the merchant's response and effort to correct the situation. And the cafeteria is large, bright, clean, and modern, and service is reasonably fast.

Dave A.

I love the create your own pasta station, where you can select a protein, three toss ins (mostly vegetables), and what kind of sauce and type of pasta (I go with whole wheat penne). There are tons of options, with the salad bar, a hot food bar, the pasta/pizza/crepe section and all of the other lunch/sandwich combinations. The smoothie station was kind of a bust. Overpriced, and too much mild was used, so it was watered down and all the excess was thrown out. Interestingly enough, there is a free phone charging station.

Zig W.

#NAME?

Margot D.

An amazing amount of food ~ if you cannot find something to eat here, you just cannot be satisfied. A friend suggested this (he is there often because they have gluten-free bread) so we could grab lunch quickly and sit outside on a gorgeous Spring day. I was overwhelmed by how much there was to choose from, so decided to just hit the cold/hot buffets (7.99lb) and try a few things. I can see how it could get pricey since it is by weight, so if I were here regularly I might stick to pizza, or come mid-afternoon when the salad bar is 30% off (now THAT is a deal). However, my friend was paying, so when in Rome..... It was pretty packed at 12:15, but lines moved quickly so you can just get to your food and enjoy.

Yisel U.

Amazing selection and great quality! About the food: You can find a lot of different food, from buffalo chicken pizza to a tasty salad. I really like getting any of their pastas. They make them in front of you! That's fun, but just be ready to wait about 7-10 min for them (longer if there is a line). I also like their hot bar, which includes falafel, veggies, and protein! About the service: The people working the pasta and pizza side are really nice and patient. The workers working the juices and other desserts (to the left of the pasta line) can be unnecessarily sassy. I asked for a smoothie last time, and before I had the chance to say what kind...lady went on a rant about how there are different types. I thought, "well no shit, let me finish." I said, "strawberry and banana." Overall, their service is okay...I'll give it 3.5 stars.

Sophie P.

Your standard corporate lunch spot. The perk of this place is that after 2:30 PM, they offer their salad bar at 30% off. It's a great option if you usually eat a late lunch, or would want something to save as dinner for later on. I usually stack up on hearty things like their pasta salads, chicken, and protein options to get my money's worth.

Vivian C.

I noticed what I had deemed to be a competitor to Boston Kebab House in the past, but I hadn't realized just how close a fight it was! They both offer Mediterranean cuisine. You can't miss the buffet station since it is after all set right along the window. But until I actually set foot in this establishment, I hadn't realized that they also had a tossed salad bar with your choice of two proteins and all you can select toss-ins for $7.94 which was quite reminiscent of the unique (but not so unique anymore, I guess) option at BKH (and their sister? restaurant - Cafe Hemshin). Spinning away from clone-hood of BKH, Cafe de Boston offers in addition a pastry case of American and Italian sweets, made-to-order pasta for $7.95, pizzas both thick and thin crust, and fro-yo. Yes, options galore! But I've only so far sampled the soup, and had a chicken, broccoli, tomato, mushroom, bowtie, alfredo entree. A pretty good portion for about $8. I like how they have Purell available everywhere. A decent amount of seating is available in the center area, with nicely curved plastic chairs. And their froyo is 49 cents per ounce. Advertised on their website and on the buffet placard, the self-serve bar (minus the soups, which are $2.94 for a cup or $3.95 for a bowl) are discounted 30% after 2:30pm from their normal $7.99/lb price. Hmmm... dinner?

Amy L.

I used to really love this place - you could go in, order a great salad that someone put together for you with unlimited toppings, a choice of protein, a pita, plus falafel, all for a great price. They recently changed over to completely self service, including a self serve salad bar. The price was quite expensive, and if you want to include everything you used to, it ends up being a $13 dollar salad. Compared to Boston kebab, where you get TWO proteins, and everything else, at $8.00, this is a steal. I am not saying anything bad about the food, service, or cleanliness but in regards to the pricing, it is outrageous. That is why I am giving it a 3 star. Go somewhere else for your salads.

Amanda K.

Blech. Was excited to try this place before a meeting. Not impressed with the self-serve breakfast bar at all. Spinach frittata was cold and tasteless. Other 'Mediterranean' breakfast items were so/so. I can't comment on the made-to-order food, perhaps that is better.

M M.

Really, just a matter of location. Close by to grab some food. There is a large variety, The hot bar sometimes surprises with tasty dishes, but just as often will be bland, ho-hum and just something to keep me from starving. I'm more tempted to have a breakfast buffet, but rarely have the time. Of course, the whole idea of the buffet is some of lots of different things, but watch out, paying by weight adds up fast.

Joe C.

I would skip their breakfast -- it's worse than your hotel's continental spread.

Noor A.

Delicious salad/mezze bar at 30% off after 2:30 pm. The butternut squash soup was delicious. They serve Halal meat if you're looking for a nice clean place in downtown.

Kasem W.

My favorite place in Boston area. Here is why: Lots of choices: Pizza, fresh pasta made in front of you, mediterranean sandwiches & plates, salad bar, food bar, make your own frozen yogurt, make your own shake, lots of seating, good selection of tea and coffee, pastry...I'm sure I'm missing something. after 2:30 PM their salad/food bar is 30% off. It's already cheap at $7.99 per pound. The place is clean, clean restrooms, friendly staff, also have a conference room upstairs for any corporate lunch/breakfast meeting. I want to live inside this place!

Lani L.

When I worked downtown I visited this place almost every day! The mezze bar is amazing and perfect for someone like me who likes a bite of this and a bite of that. The salads are gigantic and I love that there's no extra charge for avocado! It counts as a protein! They have so many options at the salad station that you could eat there every day for months and have something different. The falafel is delicious (though not so much the falafel at the mezze bar... that tends to be a little cold). I love the falafel platter with hummus, taboule and shepherd salad. Their desserts are also very good, particularly their baklava. So it's obvious I ate there a lot and loved it, right? Well imagine the dismay mixed with my joy when I got a new job all the way over in Cambridge and had to say goodbye to my beloved Cafe de Boston. The cravings were really bad... and then I found out they do catering! So now I can tell you that their sandwiches are amazing too. Everyone in the office loves when we have Cafe de Boston for lunch. It's a nice mix of the expected (sandwiches and wraps... really good ones) and the unusual (mezze platters heaped high with different salads and appetizer type things). They even include pita and pita chips. Joseph, who handles catering orders, is so incredibly kind and accommodating. We have one employee who is gluten-free and they happily add a GF option to our sandwich platter for her (wrapped separately of course). It's probably better that I moved across the river and now have limited access to my beloved Cafe. I appreciate it so much more now when I can sit down with a falafel wrap, some shepherd salad, a fritter (SO GOOD) and some bits and bites.

Corona W.

I feel super lucky to work in the same building as Cafe de Boston. In the winter months, I don't even need to leave the building for lunch!!! The menu is so extensive, covering soups, salads, pastas, pizza falafels and kebabs. I have tried their mixed grill kebab plate. The portions were so big that I had enough food for two days. Their pizzas are also really good. Apart from these options, there is also a hot and cold food bar that is 30% off after 2:30! Although food at the hot and cold bar can be a little hit or miss at times, there are so many options to choose from.

Ashley D.

I have gotten lunch here and it is pretty good. They have a lot of variety which I like. The have soups, antipasto bar, salad bar, pasta, crepes, sandwiches, frozen yogurt and pastries. I have only gotten the salad bar and some things on the antipasti bar. The salad bar has a lot of variety and it is pretty good. It is 7.99 a pound so is a little expensive. I like how you can mix and match with all the different kinds of food though. If you go in after 2:30 it is 30% off. This is a great deal!!

Inês L.

buffet heaven, lots of vegan options. can be overwhelming and crowded during lunch so remember to breathe.

Caroline V.

My office is in the building so I am here regularly. My review might be biased by the convenience factor. It's an easy spot to grab a quick lunch with lots of options. I usually will grab something from their Mediterranean buffet line which is priced by weight. It's a great option when I just want something small like some hummus and salad. A big fan of their red lentil soup as well. Their main salad bar is also a nice option because it is a set price and you can get two proteins and as many additional toppings as you like. A lot of other places charge by the weight and you can come out with a $15 salad without realizing it.

Sonia D.

Great place for lunch!! Tons of options and a bit overwhelming at times if you don't know what you want. They have a cold/hot salad bar, amazing salad bar where someone makes the salad for you with tons of options to chose from and no limit. They have grilled food, sandwiches, pasta and pizza. Great spot for FiDi area. I only have had the salads there and I go back at least once a week. Definitely check it out if you want a place with millions of options.

Joelle K.

I like coming to Cafe de Boston for the salad bar. They are not cheap at $10/salad, but the portions are large and you get to have the exact salad that you want. You pick the lettuce, toppings (including 2 proteins), salad dressing and crunchy toppings (croutons etc.). There are many other dining options cafeteria style, but I only go for the salads.

Art K.

seems more packed than it should be--too much self serve , confusing, kinda dirty. The salad bar has a lot of options but the lunch crowd hits it like a swarm coming and going from a hive. The food all tasles the same--mediteranean, pasta, sandwiches, even salad has a distinctive cafe de boston flavor. The self seve soup seems to be a growth medium from which people strain the solids and stick thier nose in and breathe on. pricy too. News Cafe much better experience--just look at the floor behind the counter.

Melissa B.

The salad bar is amazing. I love the Mediterranean-type food is second to none. Grilled eggplant, falafel, grape leaves, hummus...mmm. Take a lap before you commit to anything because they have so much to pick from! I could eat here every day & be happy.

Dina V.

Drove up to Boston to have lunch with my husband and we decided to go here since it was walking distance from his office. This place is pretty interesting. There are tons of different stations (salad bar, pasta station, sandwich station, pizza, etc) to order food from. I was a little overwhelmed by it so I opted for pizza, which was good... nothing spectacular. It was very busy here. There are a lot of professionals enjoying lunch with their friends and co-workers. I'm rarely ever in Boston but if I worked up here, I would definitely go back and try other items that they offer.

Carter C.

Outstanding, quality hot bar and salad bar lines with choices galore. This is my kind of lunch. Only way it could be better is if they had an all-you-can-eat price to satisfy my ridiculous appetite. I'll be back the next time I'm in Boston. Only complaint is the chairs - the curvature of the seat makes for an unpleasant surprise if your butt hits the edge instead of the middle. Stupid design.

Puneet L.

As I have mentioned in my other reviews, my yardstick (or reference point) for Middle Eastern cuisine is Sultan's Kitchen. I have eaten there countless times, which is testimony to the quality of their kofta kabab plate (my standard fare). The kofta kabab plate I received at Cafe de Boston was substandard and did not measure up in any way. The koftas were dry and hard. Not recommended. I did go there again later in the afternoon for a small pastry, which was okay. Hence the three stars.

Mindy M.

I love this stupid-expensive salad bar. When I'm enjoying my falafel, cucumber salad, hummous, crab salad, chicken salad, mixed greens, chick peas, fresh fruit, etc., I am thinking about all the shoes I could buy if I would just stop eating lunch. What's worse is that the breakfast Meusli is really good, too. Great, now I can't even afford socks. I'm convinced the pita bread is not really a food item but some form of packing paper but I love that I get something free!

Meagan D.

This place is the best! Everything I have had has been good, but my new favorite thing is their yogurt bar. A colleague of mine had come back with a big cup of yogurt. I thought it was just a frozen yogurt bar, but they actually have plain and non-fat Greek yogurt. It's a nice change to the typical salad. I've been having that for lunch and sitting outside in the park lately and thoroughly enjoying myself!

Rachel M.

BRING BACK THE MADE-TO-ORDER SALAD BAR!! This place used to be my go-to. Quick and convenient with friendly faces who took pride in assembling the pieces, adding the dressing, tossing up the perfect salad, and delicately placing a few falafel on top. When I walked in today and saw that they'd turned the entire salad bar into a self-serve bar, I was shocked. I ended up spending double the price for half the salad. $7.99 a pound for cucumbers? And I have to somehow mix the dressing in myself, in the little plastic container? No thanks - I'll head over to UDG, Tossed, or Sebastians.

Jessica H.

I went in today for lunch and introduced myself to both the owner and the manager (who was the one who contacted me because of my earlier Yelp Review). Both were very appreciative of my feedback and friendly. The manager even made me a complimentary latte with SOY MILK! Super sweet. I did tell him to put a sign up somewhere advertising they carry soy milk so people know it's an option. The salad bar was great again - even new dishes today I hadn't had before. This place is such a great addition to the area, so many yummy things to try!

Christopher B.

Shiny, bright place with lots of standard lunch food choices like pizza, sandwiches and wraps, and baked goods for dessert. Good place to watch people walk by on the sidewalk and gaze at the beautiful historic architecture downtown. Lots of office workers here at lunch. My standard test for comparison is the chicken caesar wrap. This was pretty well balanced, though unusually uses a vinegarette dressing instead of a creamier white caesar dressing.

William H.

Wide selection, good food. Nothing special, but a great place to go with people looking to eat various types of food. Cafeteria style eating. Salad bar, grille, pasta, crapes, pizza, and more.

Skye G.

Looking for a yummy, healthy salad for $ not $$$ then check it out. You can get a small salad at the Mezz bar for a few bucks, like $5 or you can have them mix and match all your likings at the full bar for the typical $7/8 You can also grab a slice of pizza or pastries. They are all yummy! Lots of tables but it can be super busy during lunch hour so it may not be the best place to relax but if you are going for the food then thumbs up. Doing so good though - Souper Salads has left the building.

Kristine A.

This is like a veg paradise. There are so many options to choose from- the salad bar both hot & cold, pizza, sandwiches, soups, pasta/pizza, crepes, it's overwhelming. I kept hearing about this place from friends & finally got to check it out. They're only open for breakfast & lunch so it makes it hard to get over there. I like all the various selections of food but it can be too much if you don't know what you want though. This is not cheap since everything gets weighed from the salad bar which means it's easy to go overboard. I really like the fact they have Level Up, I always find that to be a bonus in my book for any place that has it.

Stephen P.

Cafe de Boston does what its meant to do. Get you your lunch, and get you out Like the professionals working in the area, they are very ambitious in their offerings. From pizza to salad, their selections are always stocked and you can pretty much find anything youre looking for here. Portions are generous, hot foods are seldom cold, and salads pretty fresh. I usually get food from here when it is catered so I've tried their breakfast sandwiches and normal sandwiches which are all okay, nothing to stand out. After 2:30pm, the buffet is 30% off!~ Indicates food is fresh and thrown out at the end of the day instead of being recycled. If you cant decide what to get for lunch, stop by, because chances are, Cafe de Boston will have something for you.

Michael S.

I went in today for the first time in well over a year. The station where you order and menu board are not in the same place, so ordering is confusing. I got chicken kebab plate, which was strongly disappointing. The falafel was cold and dry tasted more like rye bread. Chicken kebab wasn't bad. Rice was forgettable. The pita that came with it was like a board. Lastly the white yogurt sauce tasted like mayonnaise. I would have thrown it out, but you needed it because everything was so dry and bland. Surprisingly disappointing experience. Much better falafel at Boston Kebab, Pita, and Falafel King. I guess Cafe de Boston is good for buffet-style salads, but the cooked food was poor for a upmarket cost.

Harry D.

This is my favorite breakfast joint monday through friday! The management seems to have changed or reorganized the way they are handling their business from when I first started coming here over 2 years ago. Everything in this place looks fresh, and there's a myriad of choices for breakfast and lunch. They no longer serve bacon/sausages/ham in their buffet line in the mornings, now its a separate charge.

Jillian G.

Cafe de Boston has a lot to choose from, but the layout is horrible and it is extremely confusing during lunch hour. There are not a lot of signs and you are expected to just kind of know the layout of the restaurant. I got a make your own salad, there were lots of ingredients to choose from, however the chicken on top was dry. With all of the other choices for lunch in Boston's financial district, I would probably go somewhere else.

Hadas P.

Excellent for what it is: a perfect lunch spot. Soups, galore. Salads, every kind. Hot entrees for the days you're feeling like you needs the carbs/fats. The only downside? Nothing. Who cares about a confusing layout when you seriously have the freshest ingredients at a decent price. If I really tried, I could eat my breakfast, lunch, and dinner there for $10 (their mediterranean mezzanin is 30% off after 2:30).

Nancy Z.

A worker's playground during lunch break. Swarms of people in crisp dress shirts and clean suits looking up at menus and in quick moving lines ordering their food. I felt like I was on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange! Still relatively new, nine months in, business at Cafe de Boston is booming and has become one of my favorite places for lunch in the financial district. With such agreeable prices and even more agreeable food options, it is a bustling cafeteria that saves the lives of many employees when the clock hits 12. There is a breakfast bar in the morning, a Mediterranean bar, salad bar, sandwiches, kebobs of all kinds, pastas you can order and make yourself, pizza, pastries (buy coworker's cakes here!) and gelato. Sweet, sweet gelato. For a cafeteria style establishment, Cafe de Boston certainly distinguishes itself amongst others. Definitely a lunch spot you should try.

Ronald L.

This place is cool...self-serve salad bar, custom pastas ($7.95), crepes, deli sandwiches, custom chopped salads ($7.95), deserts and a lot more. Something for everyone! By the way, excellent pizza too.

Tara G.

Whoa. Information overload. Walking into this place is like walking into Willy Wonka's, and not in a good way. There are a million moving parts, and just figuring out how and where to order is complex. This is my second time coming here. The first time I got a pasta dish. It was huge, and overcooked, but okay. This time I got a breakfast sandwich. The breakfast sandwich was bland, and I wound up having to whip up a quick flavored sauce at the office to make it taste like anything. The coffee was abhorrent. Incredibly weak -- it tasted like they put it through a Keurig. Ordering it was a pain in the butt. It's totally not obvious where to order, or where to pick up your food. They just have way too many options available, and it makes it so complex that it's daunting to even figure out what the possibilities are. The list of breads alone is huge -- too huge to read quickly, and the lady at the register was getting impatient with me. They gave me a buzzer and when it went off, I stood around at the cashier for ages before some cook came around and told me that the pickup area is way over on the other side. Given how many GIANT SIGNS WITH TOO MUCH INFORMATION there are all over this place, it's kind of amazing that they make the "pick up" sign microscopic. This place requires too much of my mental energy. I just want to know what's available, what I need to do to get it, and then execute. And I don't need seven thousand mediocre options, I just want a few good ones.

Sylvia C.

lots of options under one roof ..from the bad "pizza" to the self moderated "salad bar"...one cam definitely find their calling for lunch here. my fave will have to be the self moderated salad bar...especially to the buffalo chicken where i don't need to load extra calories from salad dressing to make my salad worthy or pay $$ for the flat rate salad they toss me which i don't need. all just perfect for me.

Alli E.

I don't have enough good things to say about this place! There is so much variety and EVERYTHING is delicious! Even though the restaurant can get crowded during the lunch hour, the wait for food is never long. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with Joseph, the catering manager, who is spectacular. He gets back to me quickly and all of our orders have been on time and presented beautifully. Erkan is also amazing- I can tell he is passionate about the restaurant and goes above and beyond to make sure things run smoothly. Their new addition looks amazing, and the macaroons are wonderful. I can't wait to hit up the frozen yogurt bar once it gets a bit warmer. I strongly recommend Cafe De Boston for a quick lunch or for breakfast/lunch catering!

Michael C.

This place is like a big food court except all run by the same company. They carry a ton of different stuff: salad bar, deli, pizza, a grill, and a bakery. On my first visit I had a chicken burger with cheese and avacado. The chicken patty had a sausage flavor to it, though it was put togerher a little sloppy.

Joanna H.

Hard to get seats during lunch hour. So get ready to be aggressive! (in the most polite and professional way possible since we are around the Financial District) I come here mostly for their soup. Red lentil is always a safe bet and their Chicken lemon with rice is good for the simple or sick days. Tried one of their kale soups one time and it was delicious. My coworkers always order their salads which come in generous portions and are very delicious.

Evan J.

This spot's strength is selection. You can get pretty much any type of food you'd want here... pizza, salad, pasta, etc. That being said, it's generally too crowded and I've never found the food appetizing enough to choose CdB over nearby competitors. For each thing they serve, there's another vendor nearby that does it better. Pizza: Viga Salad: Uno Due Go or Sebastians Sandwiches: Boston News Cafe, Al Capone Anyway - it's good if you're going with a group and want a one-stop shop.

J A.

Been coming here for several years now and they generally have a good assortment of hot items and fresh salad bar. Staff is friendly and works to fulfill orders quickly. Although on my most recent visit the falafel plate wasn't as good as I remember it being in the past. Reasonable prices and generous portions.

Daniel M.

This place is completely overwhelming if you don't go in with a game plan. For a downtown spot it's HUGE and there are so many bars with so many options that I walked out multiple times until I could wrap my head around what I was seeing. Early experiences included a worker telling me that the chicken vegetable soup was vegetarian (wha-huh?) and a $15 salad since I got a little excited at the bar. Whoops. People complained about the soup thing and they responded by marking them (correctly!) as vegetarian or vegan and even marked the GF options as well. To me that's a sign of an establishment taking an interest in their customers. Their pizza is good though I usually forgo that for a falafel wrap which is HUGE and filled with yummy falalfel and Shepard's salad. It's hard to feel naughty when everything you're consuming is plant based though truth be told I've been having a hard time finishing them lately (more for later!). Their soups are always delicious, if you see the Moroccan lentil soup when you visit do yourself a favor and grab a cup it's lightly minty and soooo good. They have little sampler cups there if you don't believe me, check it out yourself. We've even had them cater lunch at the office and that too was on point. Once you get used to what's where and where you need to be in relation to that this is an excellent lunch option!

Di B.

One of my go to's for lunch. The salad bar can not be beat. Great options (hot and cold) and affordable prices per pound..with pita included. I haven't tried the other food they offer for this reason. After 2pm they have 30% off as well.

Emily G.

After a couple back and forth PMs with the manager regarding the rosemary situation, Cafe de Boston has reduced the amount they are using in the roasted veggies and olives. Thanks for the great customer service, and the improved options!

Stephanie B.

A great lunch spot with the best salad bar in the area by far. There are so many (very well marked) vegan and vegetarian options. Dolmas, different legumes and bean salads, hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara (I didn't know what this was til recently but it is dip made of walnuts and pomegranates and it is amazing!), guacamole, soups, and more. The salad bar is so amazing and delicious that I've never even looked at their pizza and pasta bars.

Michelle J.

This place is great. Without a doubt one of the best buffet places in Boston, though there aren't that many to begin with. Even with the wide array of choices at their buffet they have even more selection of pretty much all types of food available. They literally sell everything from burgers (most at just $5) to crepes and falafel. So you'd be hard pressed NOT to find something to eat here. But I haven't tried any of their other menu items so I can only speak to the buffet. What I also find really nice is if you get there after 2:30 the buffet is 30% off, which is awesome and makes total sense. More places should do that. If it 2 hours before close why not offer the left over buffet food at a discount. They're going to have to throw out whatever they don't sell at the end of the day so why not give people incentives to come back and take a bag of food home for dinner. That's just good business sense. I often end up having a late lunch so I like this particular incentive to get rid of their food. And as for their staff they're very nice and efficient when there's a lone at the register even a manager comes out to assist. So as popular as this place is there's never a long wait for anything and someone's always available to handle the incredible amount of customers that come through their doors regularly.

Michelle B.

I wrote my review of Cafe de Boston so long ago, and I felt like it needed to be updated for two reasons: 1. The meze bar. I often go over there with my friend to grab a slice of pizza for lunch and about 65% of the time, I get distracted by all of the vegetables in the meze bar. I know that sounds lame, but they have these awesome grilled veggies, plus brussels sprouts, a delightful broccoli salad, and about ten other things I love. Plus there's one particular chicken salad that has celery and dried cranberries in it that I love and I have a small scoop of that with my veggies. Perfection. Still skip the pita bread though - it's the one thing they don't do well. 2. The catering. I love that my company can call them at 3:55 on a Wednesday and ask for gelato for 70 people for the next day at 2:30 and they say that's no problem - even though gelato isn't on their catering menu. They've also never batted an eye when we've asked them to bring up bacon for 70 people when I make my monthly waffle breakfast for my staff. And for all of the detractors of beef bacon vs pork - just try it. I swear it's just as tasty.

Emily T. L.

Great place for lunch and breakfast, so many options... They value their customers, if something goes wrong let them know and they make it up for you:) I definetly recommend this place to anyone who works in the area.

Dick N.

Best salad bar in the financial district, especially considering there aren't any others around (Lambert's salad bar on Tremont is weak). There's a decent variety on the salad bar but it would be nice if they rotated in some new things every now and then. Pizza is decent and the prices are reasonable.

Lindsey H.

Yes Yes Yes to the salad bar here. Literally my favorite salad bar/lunch place in the financial district. Huge variety and they aren't skimpy with their toppings. It gets really busy around 12 though so plan accordingly.

Ethan A.

Absolutely love this place. The salad bar is great - and everything is labeled as vegetarian/vegan as appropriate, and there is a ton of options. I usually throw some greens down, and take little scoops of everything else vegan. Who cares if its not exactly a salad? Everything tastes great and is colorful, fresh, and simple. Yes it can get pricey if you pick all heavy items. Today they had an "avocado salad" which was basically a giant tray of really thick sliced guacamole (I'm talking halved avocados, seasoning, maybe a drop of olive oil) so of course I took a giant portion of that. Eased up on everything else, and decided to get a cup of soup to balance the lunch out. Total came to just about ten bucks - awesome. The red lentil soup was good, one packet of salt, pepper, and hot sauce and it was better than good. While we're at it, the hot sauce packets they have - the first ingredient isn't high fructose corn syrup! In fact, there is no corn syrup at all! I try not to get takeout for lunch because it adds up, and its usually processed and unhealthy food. Cafe de Boston is fairly priced and has a ton of great vegan options, so its my kind of indulgence for when I forget lunch at home.

Bobby D.

Hands down my favorite lunch spot in Boston. I worked right around the financial district. They have, hands down, the best salad bar in Boston. So many veggies and ad-ons. The hot food bar is great too! Great variety. It's affordable too. They don't charge outrageous prices. I mean heck it put Souper Salad out of business, it's got to be doing something right!

Derek S.

Where do I even begin... I eat here almost every single day, and I have to say it's one of the best spots in the area for good, reliable, affordable food. First and foremost, the people here are friendly and always a pleasure to deal with. I come in so often now that a few of them recognize me and say hello. The girls at the register know my order by heart, so by the time I'm at the counter, they've already got me covered (that is, when I'm not doing the buffet). Make sure you get in good with Erkan, hes the tall guy with the ponytail. He'll always take care of you. Breakfast they have a small buffet area, but those in the know go for the egg sandwiches. Freshly made egg sandwich with your choice of toppings for about 3 bucks (2 bucks if you go with "basics toppings")? Score. You can also get fresh made Crepes or a few other breakfast options, but for me, I stick with the egg sandwich. Lunch is where they really shine. They have a huge number of specials, some daily and some standard, to pick from. Usually they'll have a few specials made that morning, wrapped in plastic for people to be able to see what they're getting. Make no mistake - those plastic-wrapped samples are usually a fraction of the size of your actual meal. This place does not skimp on the portions. Then you have the buffet, which has a rotating stock of selections, but usually features a group of core favorites. If you can find it, try the Muhammara. It looks like red hummus, and tastes out of this world. My go-to choice is always their Shepherds Salad, however. It's healthy vegetables with a little lemon juice, and in my eyes, it's their specialty. The rest of the buffet has a wide arrangement of various foods, mostly Mediterranean in origin, but there is definitely something for everyone. Would continue to come here even if I didn't work in the building. In an area full of Cosis, Sebastians, BoLoCos and the rest, Cafe de Boston definitely stands out in the crowd.

Candice F.

If I had to choose just one food to eat for the rest of my life, it would be pasta. And Cafe de Boston is an excellent choice for pasta lovers. With a plethora of fresh ingredients, sauces, and four pasta types to choose from, you simply can't go wrong. Today, I put together a whole wheat penne pasta with EVOO, spinach, portobello mushrooms, and garlic. A few days ago, I ate up a bow tie arrabiata pasta with chicken, peas, and onions. I prefer the whole wheat pasta not because it's healthier for you (trust me, flour pasta tastes better every time), but because the regular pasta is often overcooked and I'm an al dente kinda gal. Nevertheless, I love the aspect of picking ingredients YOU CAN SEE and watching them be cooked right in front of me - confirms that my meal is as fresh as can be. Portions are satisfying about $8 a plate. Yummmm-oh! Great job, Cafe de Boston. See you tomorrow.

Dan W.

After my doctor informed me that I have high cholesterol, I started throwing a salad in to the mix a few days a week. So naturally, I hit up the salad bar at De Boston. Probably the best salad bar in the financial district. If salad isn't your thing, this place has everything else you need. Pizza, kabobs, lentils. I also like that the guy who works there with the pony tail looks just like my buddy Kosta.

D M.

Cafe de Boston has really become by go to place for lunch at work if I need something quick and easy. I started with the salad bar which unless you fill up a small container can become pricey fast. It's all delicious, so you want to try everything. I usually either get a tossed salad made at the salad counter because it doesn't get weighed like the bar and it's a flat rate and you still get to choose what you want in it and it's made right there. Lots of healthy options on there! One of my go to "I'm going to work at my desk while I eat" meals is the falafel wrap. The falafel is crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, the hummus is good, yogurt sauce is refreshing and light, greens are fresh, and the shepard's salad is crunchy and fresh. I enjoy it every time, and while it's a little less traditional than the typical but oh, very good. They have a variety of stations I haven't tried, like the pizza or the pasta. They do have a bakery and they do baked goods well. I've picked up goodies a few times for work from here. Also, if you order a coffee they generally make it a cafe ole and steam the milk before putting in the coffee, which I like. All in all this place is great!

Albert B.

I ordered a hummus wrap, walked all the way back to my office to eat, and realized they had given me a cheeseburger with fries (I don't think to peak in the bag to check). I ate of it of course, but hate they even gave me the option since I'm making an effort to be healthy. Food is descent; they give very large portions. I dislike the cafeteria style environment. If you hate congestion and crowds I'd advise going elsewhere.

Stomping S.

Good food, great selection, reasonable prices. Since the menu and line queueing were pretty confusing, a very nice worker helped me through the process. Got the doner kebab wrap and hummus side (pita is free for the taking). Food was good, but is also the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5. I'll be going back.

Bex M.

Had to detox after a weekend of indulging in, dare i say it, carbs. I've been hearing about Cafe de Boston's salad bar a lot and having walked by it this morning and got deluged by the smell of breakfast, I figure today's the day to check the place out. I was blown away by all their offerings. From what I saw without my contacts, they had salad, pizza, other hot food items, and a meze bar (aka mediterranean equivalent to spanish tapas or chinese dimsum, aka small dishes). They even a place to sit and eat! Ingenious. This definitely was not helping me to stay on the semi healthy route. salad..salad..salad..salad..salad Scoped out the salad bar and it looked pretty decent. I had really wanted tofu but they didn't have any. I didn't even get salad dressing because most of their items looked pretty flavorful already. As I went to pay I saw ANOTHER salad station. This one was packed and I felt gipped. I asked the staff and she said it was $7.50 for unlimited toppings and 2 proteins!!! So instead of having someone toss my salad, I tossed it myself. It was pretty good. But I must say the pita bread that comes with it could be a lot better. It was paper thin and tasted like it. Must try that OTHER salad station next time, and I bet they have tofu over there.

Donna S.

Very disappointing. It looked so promising from the window but the salad bar was just average. When I went at 12:30pm most things were almost gone, you would think they would be keeping the trays filled at that hour! And the grilled chicken was gross. Had that taste of cheap meat, I couldn't even eat it. I have eaten a ton of salad all over the financial district and there are SO many better options than this place. It was busy so perhaps their sandwiches and pizzas are better but I am not sure I would go back to find out.

Dana P.

My new favorite lunch spot by my office. Went with a friend today for lunch. Extensive salad bar with a lot of vegan options. Lot of vegetarian soups and at least one vegan soup. Everything vegan is clearly labeled as such. I had a huge bowl of mixed salads and a drink it was only $9. The food was healthy, clean and full of flavor. I really enjoyed the Turkish specialties in the salad bar. There were some really tasty things that I've never had before. We went late (a little before 1:30) so it wasn't super crowded and we were able to get a table. The place was clean and the staff was very friendly. This will definitely be my go-to take out lunch spot during the week. There's also a build-a-salad section, smoothie bar and coffee bar.

Chris T.

This is a great place to grab lunch or breakfast. There is a TON of variety. I have only tried a few things. The make-your-own pasta is incredible, and I keep going back for that. It's 8.50 after tax, but worth it.

Stefanie F.

The secret to Cafe De Boston is knowing what you want before you go in. It's insanely busy many days and can be a little overwhelming to navigate. First - I don't think they have any pork products so if you want that BLT or Club Sandwich, just know you're getting beef bacon. Second - Go for the Middle-Eastern food. It's clearly the specialty. Their kofte kebabs are particularly good. Even though the menu looks set for kebab plates, they will always let you name all your own sides.

Aditi R.

The place reminds me of my college cafeteria - so many options! Let me go down the list of things they have (and i'm sure i'm missing something here) - Salad Bar Wraps Kebab Plates Sandwiches Smoothies A full cafe Pizza Mezze Bar (by the lb) And wait for it.... A FULL BAKERY The last part really has me hooked. Though my new years resolutions have been able to hold me back the two times I've been there, I have a sneaky notion next time it's bound to break. Damm sugar and it's addictive properties. This place is owned by the the people who run Boston Kebob House - so their wraps are along the same lines (though I have to say BKH's are better, but that can be attributed to it being a new place). The portions are huge and the price is very decent. I also had the pomegranate/blueberry smoothie - which really turned out to be an icee. They HAVE to reduce the amount of ice they put in these things. The taste was interesting and portions were great for the $3 I paid for a 16 oz cup. Lastly, the mezze bar is loaded. But be careful because it's really easy to load on tons of food and not realize how much you're racking on. Though for 8 bucks I did get a great healthy lunch - they must have at least 10 different types of salads at this bar. The service still needs to be worked out as the staff isn't so familiar with the vast menu yet. But they are sufficiently nice. And there's plenty of seating room if you want to escape the ho hum drum of your cube/office space.

Jackie S.

Cafe de Boston is a delicious place to go for lunch. I come here for the mezze bar - which can add up $$ quick (beans, dips, etc. are heavy) so you have to be careful - but man it offers a tasty selection. Yesterday I had the salad which was a decent deal compared to other spots downtown. The ingredients are always fresh and I was able to choose lots of goodies to put in the salad, but afterward I unfortunately was still hungry!

Monique D.

Think of a bright green cafeteria with tables in the middle and food stations surrounding. That's Cafe de Boston. It's a lot to take in at first. I go here everyday, because it's so close to my work, and it's super convenient. I'm also really lazy when it comes to making my lunches. I would rather pay the money and sleep in :) The food here is decent. They make great kebabs, and their Meze bar is pretty damn good. Everything is tasty and freshly made. The only thing is you have to come before 1:30 (the lunch rush) to take full advantage of it, because if you get there too late, many things will be gone. The pastries and lattes/cappuccinos are good. The croissants are big and flaky. They have a beautiful display window filled with cakes and other confectionery delights. The chicken salad sandwich is their version of chicken salad, which in my opinion, isn't chicken salad. I like my chicken salad with mayonnaise, maybe some celery and onions thrown in. This chicken salad was little chunks of chicken, seasoned with chopped onions. That's it. I wasn't a fan. That's not chicken salad, that's just chicken. My advice is to stick with the Middle-Eastern dishes like the kebabs, falafels, and the Meze Bar.

Amanda A.

With my new bus route, I've been passing this place and have been wanting to try their breakfast bar. After reading their menu online last night, and checking their prices, I decided I'd try their breakfast this morning. Everything looked good, the bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, scrambled egg with veggies and spinach pie. I sat down to eat it and was shocked to find it all cold; very unpleasant eating cold egg, sausage and bacon. The spinach pie was at least a little warm. I couldn't understand why everything else was so cold, the time I was there was 8:00am - only 1 hour after opening. I also ordered a coffee with cream, the barista made a froth from the cream which was delish. I'll definitely be going back for coffee. Follow-up: The owner offered me a complimentary breakfast since having the hot trays fixed, I think this is very kind that they take their customers comments into consideration. I tried the buffet lunch about a month ago, it was very good, and the prices are great. My favorite are the grape leaves:-)

Heather G.

Through trial and error (and a pretty big hit to my wallet), i have narrowed the hot/cold bars down to the best items (at least, best for my money): The coconut chicken is very flavorful and a good protein-choice given all the options. Zucchini fritters, while not crispy by the time they make it to the hotel pan, pack a whollop of zucchini-ness, tricking you into thinking you've made a healthy choice and forgetting entirely that the fritter is deep-fried. Sneaky bastards. Similarly, the artichoke fritters are a bit too soft on the outside to feel like real fritters, but the artichoke flavor is strong and delightful. The tomato avocado salad is so good, I want to eat it out of the serving spoon while leaning over the sneeze-guard, with blatant disregard for the 20 men in shirts-and-ties waiting for me to move so they can get to the food. My suggestion is to go at the beginning of the lunch shift, as the food is freshest then. Also, as this is per-lb, stay away from high-water-content items and bulk veggies like broccoli. Who wants to pay a premium for that? Go for the items taht give you the most bang for your buck! This is not a place to go if you want a nice, light, healthy salad. You'll get a cheaper salad elsewhere. if you come here, you're coming for the mezze. Bypass the romaine, the pre-made Caesar salads, the chunks of pre-cut melon. Your lunch will come with a hunk of bread. Though mine is always stale, it's sprinkled with large salt crystals which give it that extra punch where other lunch-shop rolls fall embarrassingly short. Oh, and this is certainly not the lunch choice if you're ravenously hungry...if you're going for volume, hit up Al's, because the same amount of food here will cost you $15-$20. If you're going for quality/variety over quantity, then this would be a solid choice.

Greg L.

So far not that impressed. Both visits to the sandwich/hot bar have been really sloppy. Got the California turkey pita, which had good ingredients like avocado, sprouts, and cucumbers but it was so rushed that the sandwich fell apart... I also had the falafel plate which was ice cold..... I know this place has been very busy since it opened but they definitely need to slow down and make sure they are crafting their sandwiches correctly and also keeping the hot food HOT. Haven't had the salad or mezze bar yet...which looks decent.

A M.

I think I am having an awkward love affair with Cafe de Boston. They have by far the best tossed salad bar in the downtown area - and that salad costs about two dollars less than its peers. Amazing. The tarragon chicken is so delicious I don't need to put any dressing on the salad (although I generally get some olive oil to dredge my complimentary pita in). It is always fresh, the staff is always friendly, I just love it. Also, I just polished off a piece of their chocolate mousse cake - I ordered one for a co-worker's birthday. It was rich and delicious AND only $37 for a much bigger, much tastier cake than other area bakeries offer. I've used them to cater a lunch before as well and I absolutely love all the mediterranean options they have - it was great to have an assortment of hummuses during a work lunch versus the standard bags of chips! See? Awkward. Sigh.

Brendan H.

Strictly reviewing the mezze bar here, as I've never tried any of the (numerous) other options. Awesome vegetarian/vegan selections, and the fritters are really good. Not five stars because it's just too pricy to be a regular lunch spot. It's really really easy to drop ten bucks at the mezze bar if you're not careful. Which is good because there are so many delicious options, but I work at a nonprofit, so, yeah, it has to be a special treat.

Nykiya S.

Amazing Salads, fresh pita bread and I never wait too long in line! It is hectic around lunch time so I usually go an hour early or an hour later.

Joe B.

It's nice to see a new spot in town and this one has plenty of variety. It's also nice to see a salad better than that of Cosi and comparable to Sebastians (variety/toppings) that's under $8 that actually contains proteins. Unfortunately, at 12:45 either they were already out of tahini dressing or the employees weren't sure what my friend and I were asking for. In addition the falafel was also overdone/bland - if you're looking for falafel you have to head up the Falafel King on Winter street. I sometimes feel like a lot of variety is a sure death for restaurants (what's wrong with doing one thing and striving to be the best?), but I have yet to try some of the other stations. I'll definitely be giving this place another shot. I'm sure since they're new they're still working out the kinks.

Katharine K.

I have to restrain myself from going here every day since my work is only a few blocks away! The mediterranean bar is amazing - a vegetarians dream. There are plenty of hot meat options too, but my favorites are muhammara (just try it), baba ganoush, grape leaves, veggie fritters, and the random lentil, orzo, and other salads they have going on. I buy the muhammara by the pound to take home, though. It lasts me for weeks and I never get sick of it. The salad bar really is the best deal in town as the sign indicates. Their unlimited free toppings (and choice of two proteins) can't be beat. The ingredients always taste great and they have a lot of dressings to choose from. I love that I can get expensive toppings - such as nuts and cheeses - for not an additional cost. You can even put stuffed grape leaves or falafel on top! I have tried the pasta bar a few times as well. The pesto tortellini that I ordered was a very large portion and it was only $7, I believe. I am so glad that this place opened up near where I work - couldn't ask for a more diverse and reasonably priced lunch spot!

Zahra B.

Hands down my favorite lunch spot in downtown. Anything you could possibly be craving you will find at Cafe de Boston, as well as a super friendly, professional staff. I especially like their salad bar as it is way cheaper than anything else in the area without sacrificing freshness/quality. The hot plates/sandwiches and pasta are really good too, and the portions are huge! Best of all, the owner has told me that their chicken options are halal! The place can get pretty busy, but it's totally worth the hustle bustle or you can go around 2 and it's a lot slower than peak lunch hours.

Raymond W.

This place was built for financial district lunch rush. plenty of 9-5ers in an almost cafeteria like setting with salad bars and lots of registers and lines for various tastes. I've gotten a doner kabob and lamb kabob wraps and both were tasty, but on the pricey side. I've had better donor kabobs and the gyro at Zo's is still the top lamb wrap to beat in my mind. The lamb kabob was juicy and well seasoned, but a $9 wrap is always though to chew. I'll definitely be back at some point due to convenience, but your lunch can easily go north of $10 if you get sucked on too many trips.

Bethany B.

This is my hotspot for lunch in downtown Boston. For full disclosure's sake it is in my building so on rainy/cold/wintrymix-ing days it is the only spot I'll go to. It has a great salad bar with a ton of variety, which help keep it interesting even for those of us who go multiple times a week. The tastiest thing that you can get at the cafe though is the Turkish food. The kebabs are to die for, and although not an everyday treat, when I get it I can usually have it for dinner as well. The service is great and it's speedy for a busy work day when you have to eat at your desk. There's always a smiling face behind the register, and I will certainly never complain about that!

Lisa S.

The ordering and payment process is super fast and simple! When ordering a salad you choose a size, and then you can have as much of whatever you want added...unlike every other salad bar in the area that charges $2-3 extra for a chicken, and $1-2 for additional toppings. You know walking in there you're going to pay $6 for a salad, no surprises. And if you're not sure what you want to eat or you're going with a group of indecisive coworkers, everyone will find something they love here. There's a salad bar with typical salad fixings and sides, a salad station, they also make sandwiches, wraps, paninis, pizza, gelato, deserts, and probably more things I don't know about yet. As if the prices, quality and variety aren't enough to keep you coming back, they also give you a punch card for a free buy 10 $7+ lunches or $5+ breakfasts and the 11th is FREE!!

Tess G.

I've become addicted to the salad bar! So many options that you don't find usually, like artichokes, roasted veggies, nuts, all different kinds of cheeses! I can't say enough good about them, plus the small can last me two days, especially if you opt to also have the pita that comes with it too.

Tina D.

So in case you haven't gotten an appropriate feel for this place by the other yelper's reviews, this is a cafeteria style eatery with separate sections (aka order and pay lines) for salads, pizza, sandwiches, etc etc. I did not come here on my own suggestion because it reminded me too much of what I have in my own building, so why would I go outside in the snow to find another cafeteria? Although I was brought here against my will, I enjoyed a pretty delicious salad for a really good price. Unlimited toppings for less than $8. Since I typically eat the toppings and not the lettuce, I was happy. The flourescent lights and buckets seats were less than desireable, but I find myself craving another salad and might have to make this a repeat experience. Nothing fancy, but fresh food and a good location.

Jaime M.

Yum, yum, yum! I was a Cafe de Boston Virgin until today. I had an amazing crab cake sandwich, which only cost $6 along with splitting french fries with a friend. The sandwich was huge! The both of us ordered the same thing and all we talked about was how delicious the food is. There is so much to choose from that I cannot wait to go back and try it. The price is right and it's a great place for a variety of food. The Financial District can get a little tiresome with the same old sub shops, but this is a treat. You can get fish, lamb, burgers, salads and soups. I highly recommend this place for a lunch bite anytime you are looking for a place in the Financial District!

Kristen M.

BRING BACK THE SMALL SALAD! The small salad from the salad bar is the best lunch option downtown, it's the perfect lunch size and has all the best options. Today, I discovered they have now eliminated the small salads and only serve LARGE salads. The large is just too big, and it's not as good a value as the small salad. Fortunately, the manager at the salad bar was super duper helpful and allowed me to get the small salad anyway (in the large container) which was great. But I fear that going forward we will all be forced to purchase a large salad, and either end up in a humus dressing -induced food coma or throw away so many delicious ingredients! PLEASE, BRING BACK THE SMALL SALAD! (then I will rate much better!)

Ellen T.

I walk by here all the time and today was the day I finally got lunch from here. I've been wanting to try their salads and the lines are always long. Today there was no line! I wanted something "healthy" so why not try a salad here. It was $8.50 for the tossed salad that they mix for you. I'm thinking this better be good. Everything looked so bright and delicious. I just finished my salad and felt so ripped off. First of all, the dude forgot two of my mix-in requests. Maybe he couldn't hear me. Okay,--forgiven. Next, I felt the salad didn't have enough dressing. And finally, the pita bread---oh pita bread how disappointed I am in you. It was a super thin bread that was soo darn chewy. My jaws are sore from trying to chew it! Overall a bleh experience even though the concept of picking my salad was pretty cool. I've had better salads at the chain stores.

Stuart K.

Lots of choices, and healthy eats for reasonable $ (considering it's downtown Boston).

Julie F.

There is so much going on here. You want pizza? Falafel? Pasta? A turkey sandwich? Soup? Salad? Hummus? Mediterranean goodness that you've never heard off? They have it all. I always go for the salad station. So many toppings to choose from, and you get unlimited...and two proteins of your choice. I always get tofu and egg whites, and the fat-free honey dijon dressing, and I don't intend to switch it up anytime soon. You can also get your salad chopped, and topped with falafel, and accompanied by pita. The only reason I deduct a star is because the prices seem to go up every time I visit, and it's getting a little outrageous. But, in their defense, there is a little punch card that gives you a free meal after 10, so I guess I can justify that there is a free meal in my not-so-distant future. And, if you were feeling really indulgent, you could make a salad worth far more than the going price.

Alex I.

Boston House of Kebab beware, at least with respect to your mezze bar. Cafe de Boston is an absolutely outstanding addition to the downtown crossing lunch landscape. The salad/entree/mezze bar is great, there are some very good and interesting Turkish items there, and I think it is fairly priced. Based on the variety of things that Cafe de Boston seems to have on offer, I think it would be possible to eat there every day for years and never repeat a meal - unless of course you want to. I would give it 4.5 stars if that were possible.

Sara M.

And all I had was the Mezze bar....I started with some greens. I had a few other salads on top of that. Cucumber/Tomato/Onion/Cilantro....white bean salad......artichoke hearts....cauliflower.....a few cheese tortellini and some sauteed spinach with almonds. The sign said sauteed spinanch with pine nuts. They were almonds but I don't mind. I chose it anyway. All of the things. It was under $5. I didn't load up, I had just enough for my lunch. They give you a piece of whole wheat pita. It was a great lunch. I was surprised how good it was. I've had a hard time finding a good salad bar in the area, just like others. The options were great. They also had falafel, hummus, chickpea salad, spinach or zucchini fritters, black bean salad. They have 2 sizes for the Mezze. I did see a large hand made salad for about $6.95? They just pile on what you want. I'll stick with this. But watch out...It's cramped and crazy when you go in to the left. I knew I should have gone before noon.

Charles T.

The omelets, in the morning, are delicious, and the coffee is quite good as well.

Adriana B.

I used to go here a lot for breakfast & lunch since it's close to my office. However, that being said, I will not go back due to food poisoning I got from scrambled eggs 2 weeks ago. I got sick almost immediately after finishing my breakfast. I couldn't eat for 2 days. Better food prep would avoid these issues. I haven't had any issues with the sandwiches at lunch but this experience left me feeling I could go elsewhere downtown.

m l.

Stale cream puffs. I mean at least a week old. And how can you go wrong with chicken salad. Just add a load of salt and overwhelm it with poultry seasoning,....inedible. At least warn people. They have sample sandwiches on display. The chicken salad sandwich on display was nicely toasted with grill marks. Actual sandwich was not toasted. Had a promotional coupon that said free meal up to $10 , then told it was only good for one item so had to pay for the chips, stale pastry separately. I don't know why I keep giving this place "one more chance" I am dissappointed on every visit.

Missus F.

this place officially has my favorite salad bar bonanza in the whole wide world. i think standard salad bars are so played out (ooh, YESSS, white lettuce and red peppers and bacos. lady boner!), so the meze bar here tickles my fanciest of fancies. the fritters (artichoke, spinach, and/or zucchini depending on the day) come from the same place as unicorns and glitter faeries. there's taboule, roasted red peppers, bean salad mix things, words i cannot replicate but it's mediterranean goodness, chicken cutlet and/or sesame chicken, calamari salad, stuffed grape leaves, sauteed spinach, et cetera. they switch up the selection at least a little every day, but there are so many options for people who actually LIKE salads and vegetables. if all salad bars were like this, people would stop dreading salads. it's a must for vegetarians who work in the area and are sick of the same shit, different day selections. let me toot ye olde meze bar's horn for another moment in time. everything is labeled and they even tell you the ingredients in each dish! i want to hug them lovingly because the buffalo chicken salad doesn't look like it, but contains mayo. mayo makes me go alskjroiauweroiauweroiuawer. i'm totally into the pizza. maybe it's because i'd been craving buffalo chicken pizza for three months (no lie), but it was such a huge, great slice. the thin crust was PERFECT, and so was the amount of every ingredient that was placed on top. i've seriously been here about 15 times in the few short weeks it's been open, and the only thing that hasn't impressed me was one of the baked goods. my boss brought in what was supposedly espresso cake, but if they were truly espresso cake, they forgot to add the espresso, or any type of coffee. i have a feeling my boss got something else by mistake. they were little chocolate-covered cakes and they tasted fine, but not mind-blowing. i'm picky about cakey things, though. the price of the meze bar is reasonable. i've always been under $8.00 and i've made some pretty beast salads. i'd been on a kick of not buying food for lunch in the area because the prices were pissing me off, but yeah, that went out the window when cafe de boston opened up.

stephanie s.

Adding one star back since Cafe de Boston has a very responsive management team and recently lowered their breakfast bar prices! This place is fantastic and has the largest selection of delicious fresh cooked meals I've ever seen. If you like salads you will LOVE the selection here. Also the bakery items are great, I tried the espresso wedge and I think I went to culinary heaven for about 30min...

Miss H.

I love Boston Kebab House and I think they have the best salad bar in the financial district! I moved office buildings in 2008 so I barely get over there anymore and I am thrilled that Cafe De Boston opened so close to my new office. I love that it's a fixed rate for a very extensive salad bar. I also love their chicken kebab plate - their salad and cucumber/dill sauce is so delicious. I also think their falafel wraps are excellent. I'm looking forward to visiting them for gelato this summer!

Paul B.

Right on! The regular Pita wrap is back! Gotta make sure to ask for Pita otherwise they give you that nasty skinny girl wheat wrap, blarg. But, the Falafel wrap is still delicious and the fresh chewy Pita makes it transcend common vittles to become a delicious satisfying lunch. Get it with the yogurt and the chili sauce to make it really outstanding. That, a chocolate chip cookie, and a stamp on your frequent diner card and you're well on your way through another afternoon.

sean m.

Not worth it when Dino's is a few blocks away. More expensive by a buck, and the food was bland. Had a soggy omelette and the hash browns were bitter. toast was good. so there's a plus. Not worth the time or the money.

D M.

Cafe de Boston has really become by go to place for lunch at work if I need something quick and easy. I started with the salad bar which unless you fill up a small container can become pricey fast. It's all delicious, so you want to try everything. I usually either get a tossed salad made at the salad counter because it doesn't get weighed like the bar and it's a flat rate and you still get to choose what you want in it and it's made right there. Lots of healthy options on there! One of my go to "I'm going to work at my desk while I eat" meals is the falafel wrap. The falafel is crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, the hummus is good, yogurt sauce is refreshing and light, greens are fresh, and the shepard's salad is crunchy and fresh. I enjoy it every time, and while it's a little less traditional than the typical but oh, very good. They have a variety of stations I haven't tried, like the pizza or the pasta. They do have a bakery and they do baked goods well. I've picked up goodies a few times for work from here. Also, if you order a coffee they generally make it a cafe ole and steam the milk before putting in the coffee, which I like. All in all this place is great!

Albert B.

I ordered a hummus wrap, walked all the way back to my office to eat, and realized they had given me a cheeseburger with fries (I don't think to peak in the bag to check). I ate of it of course, but hate they even gave me the option since I'm making an effort to be healthy. Food is descent; they give very large portions. I dislike the cafeteria style environment. If you hate congestion and crowds I'd advise going elsewhere.

Stomping S.

Good food, great selection, reasonable prices. Since the menu and line queueing were pretty confusing, a very nice worker helped me through the process. Got the doner kebab wrap and hummus side (pita is free for the taking). Food was good, but is also the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5. I'll be going back.

Bex M.

Had to detox after a weekend of indulging in, dare i say it, carbs. I've been hearing about Cafe de Boston's salad bar a lot and having walked by it this morning and got deluged by the smell of breakfast, I figure today's the day to check the place out. I was blown away by all their offerings. From what I saw without my contacts, they had salad, pizza, other hot food items, and a meze bar (aka mediterranean equivalent to spanish tapas or chinese dimsum, aka small dishes). They even a place to sit and eat! Ingenious. This definitely was not helping me to stay on the semi healthy route. salad..salad..salad..salad..salad Scoped out the salad bar and it looked pretty decent. I had really wanted tofu but they didn't have any. I didn't even get salad dressing because most of their items looked pretty flavorful already. As I went to pay I saw ANOTHER salad station. This one was packed and I felt gipped. I asked the staff and she said it was $7.50 for unlimited toppings and 2 proteins!!! So instead of having someone toss my salad, I tossed it myself. It was pretty good. But I must say the pita bread that comes with it could be a lot better. It was paper thin and tasted like it. Must try that OTHER salad station next time, and I bet they have tofu over there.

Donna S.

Very disappointing. It looked so promising from the window but the salad bar was just average. When I went at 12:30pm most things were almost gone, you would think they would be keeping the trays filled at that hour! And the grilled chicken was gross. Had that taste of cheap meat, I couldn't even eat it. I have eaten a ton of salad all over the financial district and there are SO many better options than this place. It was busy so perhaps their sandwiches and pizzas are better but I am not sure I would go back to find out.

Dana P.

My new favorite lunch spot by my office. Went with a friend today for lunch. Extensive salad bar with a lot of vegan options. Lot of vegetarian soups and at least one vegan soup. Everything vegan is clearly labeled as such. I had a huge bowl of mixed salads and a drink it was only $9. The food was healthy, clean and full of flavor. I really enjoyed the Turkish specialties in the salad bar. There were some really tasty things that I've never had before. We went late (a little before 1:30) so it wasn't super crowded and we were able to get a table. The place was clean and the staff was very friendly. This will definitely be my go-to take out lunch spot during the week. There's also a build-a-salad section, smoothie bar and coffee bar.

Chris T.

This is a great place to grab lunch or breakfast. There is a TON of variety. I have only tried a few things. The make-your-own pasta is incredible, and I keep going back for that. It's 8.50 after tax, but worth it.

Stefanie F.

The secret to Cafe De Boston is knowing what you want before you go in. It's insanely busy many days and can be a little overwhelming to navigate. First - I don't think they have any pork products so if you want that BLT or Club Sandwich, just know you're getting beef bacon. Second - Go for the Middle-Eastern food. It's clearly the specialty. Their kofte kebabs are particularly good. Even though the menu looks set for kebab plates, they will always let you name all your own sides.

Aditi R.

The place reminds me of my college cafeteria - so many options! Let me go down the list of things they have (and i'm sure i'm missing something here) - Salad Bar Wraps Kebab Plates Sandwiches Smoothies A full cafe Pizza Mezze Bar (by the lb) And wait for it.... A FULL BAKERY The last part really has me hooked. Though my new years resolutions have been able to hold me back the two times I've been there, I have a sneaky notion next time it's bound to break. Damm sugar and it's addictive properties. This place is owned by the the people who run Boston Kebob House - so their wraps are along the same lines (though I have to say BKH's are better, but that can be attributed to it being a new place). The portions are huge and the price is very decent. I also had the pomegranate/blueberry smoothie - which really turned out to be an icee. They HAVE to reduce the amount of ice they put in these things. The taste was interesting and portions were great for the $3 I paid for a 16 oz cup. Lastly, the mezze bar is loaded. But be careful because it's really easy to load on tons of food and not realize how much you're racking on. Though for 8 bucks I did get a great healthy lunch - they must have at least 10 different types of salads at this bar. The service still needs to be worked out as the staff isn't so familiar with the vast menu yet. But they are sufficiently nice. And there's plenty of seating room if you want to escape the ho hum drum of your cube/office space.

Jackie S.

Cafe de Boston is a delicious place to go for lunch. I come here for the mezze bar - which can add up $$ quick (beans, dips, etc. are heavy) so you have to be careful - but man it offers a tasty selection. Yesterday I had the salad which was a decent deal compared to other spots downtown. The ingredients are always fresh and I was able to choose lots of goodies to put in the salad, but afterward I unfortunately was still hungry!

Monique D.

Think of a bright green cafeteria with tables in the middle and food stations surrounding. That's Cafe de Boston. It's a lot to take in at first. I go here everyday, because it's so close to my work, and it's super convenient. I'm also really lazy when it comes to making my lunches. I would rather pay the money and sleep in :) The food here is decent. They make great kebabs, and their Meze bar is pretty damn good. Everything is tasty and freshly made. The only thing is you have to come before 1:30 (the lunch rush) to take full advantage of it, because if you get there too late, many things will be gone. The pastries and lattes/cappuccinos are good. The croissants are big and flaky. They have a beautiful display window filled with cakes and other confectionery delights. The chicken salad sandwich is their version of chicken salad, which in my opinion, isn't chicken salad. I like my chicken salad with mayonnaise, maybe some celery and onions thrown in. This chicken salad was little chunks of chicken, seasoned with chopped onions. That's it. I wasn't a fan. That's not chicken salad, that's just chicken. My advice is to stick with the Middle-Eastern dishes like the kebabs, falafels, and the Meze Bar.

Amanda A.

With my new bus route, I've been passing this place and have been wanting to try their breakfast bar. After reading their menu online last night, and checking their prices, I decided I'd try their breakfast this morning. Everything looked good, the bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, scrambled egg with veggies and spinach pie. I sat down to eat it and was shocked to find it all cold; very unpleasant eating cold egg, sausage and bacon. The spinach pie was at least a little warm. I couldn't understand why everything else was so cold, the time I was there was 8:00am - only 1 hour after opening. I also ordered a coffee with cream, the barista made a froth from the cream which was delish. I'll definitely be going back for coffee. Follow-up: The owner offered me a complimentary breakfast since having the hot trays fixed, I think this is very kind that they take their customers comments into consideration. I tried the buffet lunch about a month ago, it was very good, and the prices are great. My favorite are the grape leaves:-)

Heather G.

Through trial and error (and a pretty big hit to my wallet), i have narrowed the hot/cold bars down to the best items (at least, best for my money): The coconut chicken is very flavorful and a good protein-choice given all the options. Zucchini fritters, while not crispy by the time they make it to the hotel pan, pack a whollop of zucchini-ness, tricking you into thinking you've made a healthy choice and forgetting entirely that the fritter is deep-fried. Sneaky bastards. Similarly, the artichoke fritters are a bit too soft on the outside to feel like real fritters, but the artichoke flavor is strong and delightful. The tomato avocado salad is so good, I want to eat it out of the serving spoon while leaning over the sneeze-guard, with blatant disregard for the 20 men in shirts-and-ties waiting for me to move so they can get to the food. My suggestion is to go at the beginning of the lunch shift, as the food is freshest then. Also, as this is per-lb, stay away from high-water-content items and bulk veggies like broccoli. Who wants to pay a premium for that? Go for the items taht give you the most bang for your buck! This is not a place to go if you want a nice, light, healthy salad. You'll get a cheaper salad elsewhere. if you come here, you're coming for the mezze. Bypass the romaine, the pre-made Caesar salads, the chunks of pre-cut melon. Your lunch will come with a hunk of bread. Though mine is always stale, it's sprinkled with large salt crystals which give it that extra punch where other lunch-shop rolls fall embarrassingly short. Oh, and this is certainly not the lunch choice if you're ravenously hungry...if you're going for volume, hit up Al's, because the same amount of food here will cost you $15-$20. If you're going for quality/variety over quantity, then this would be a solid choice.

Greg L.

So far not that impressed. Both visits to the sandwich/hot bar have been really sloppy. Got the California turkey pita, which had good ingredients like avocado, sprouts, and cucumbers but it was so rushed that the sandwich fell apart... I also had the falafel plate which was ice cold..... I know this place has been very busy since it opened but they definitely need to slow down and make sure they are crafting their sandwiches correctly and also keeping the hot food HOT. Haven't had the salad or mezze bar yet...which looks decent.

A M.

I think I am having an awkward love affair with Cafe de Boston. They have by far the best tossed salad bar in the downtown area - and that salad costs about two dollars less than its peers. Amazing. The tarragon chicken is so delicious I don't need to put any dressing on the salad (although I generally get some olive oil to dredge my complimentary pita in). It is always fresh, the staff is always friendly, I just love it. Also, I just polished off a piece of their chocolate mousse cake - I ordered one for a co-worker's birthday. It was rich and delicious AND only $37 for a much bigger, much tastier cake than other area bakeries offer. I've used them to cater a lunch before as well and I absolutely love all the mediterranean options they have - it was great to have an assortment of hummuses during a work lunch versus the standard bags of chips! See? Awkward. Sigh.

Brendan H.

Strictly reviewing the mezze bar here, as I've never tried any of the (numerous) other options. Awesome vegetarian/vegan selections, and the fritters are really good. Not five stars because it's just too pricy to be a regular lunch spot. It's really really easy to drop ten bucks at the mezze bar if you're not careful. Which is good because there are so many delicious options, but I work at a nonprofit, so, yeah, it has to be a special treat.

Nykiya S.

Amazing Salads, fresh pita bread and I never wait too long in line! It is hectic around lunch time so I usually go an hour early or an hour later.

Joe B.

It's nice to see a new spot in town and this one has plenty of variety. It's also nice to see a salad better than that of Cosi and comparable to Sebastians (variety/toppings) that's under $8 that actually contains proteins. Unfortunately, at 12:45 either they were already out of tahini dressing or the employees weren't sure what my friend and I were asking for. In addition the falafel was also overdone/bland - if you're looking for falafel you have to head up the Falafel King on Winter street. I sometimes feel like a lot of variety is a sure death for restaurants (what's wrong with doing one thing and striving to be the best?), but I have yet to try some of the other stations. I'll definitely be giving this place another shot. I'm sure since they're new they're still working out the kinks.

Katharine K.

I have to restrain myself from going here every day since my work is only a few blocks away! The mediterranean bar is amazing - a vegetarians dream. There are plenty of hot meat options too, but my favorites are muhammara (just try it), baba ganoush, grape leaves, veggie fritters, and the random lentil, orzo, and other salads they have going on. I buy the muhammara by the pound to take home, though. It lasts me for weeks and I never get sick of it. The salad bar really is the best deal in town as the sign indicates. Their unlimited free toppings (and choice of two proteins) can't be beat. The ingredients always taste great and they have a lot of dressings to choose from. I love that I can get expensive toppings - such as nuts and cheeses - for not an additional cost. You can even put stuffed grape leaves or falafel on top! I have tried the pasta bar a few times as well. The pesto tortellini that I ordered was a very large portion and it was only $7, I believe. I am so glad that this place opened up near where I work - couldn't ask for a more diverse and reasonably priced lunch spot!

Zahra B.

Hands down my favorite lunch spot in downtown. Anything you could possibly be craving you will find at Cafe de Boston, as well as a super friendly, professional staff. I especially like their salad bar as it is way cheaper than anything else in the area without sacrificing freshness/quality. The hot plates/sandwiches and pasta are really good too, and the portions are huge! Best of all, the owner has told me that their chicken options are halal! The place can get pretty busy, but it's totally worth the hustle bustle or you can go around 2 and it's a lot slower than peak lunch hours.

Raymond W.

This place was built for financial district lunch rush. plenty of 9-5ers in an almost cafeteria like setting with salad bars and lots of registers and lines for various tastes. I've gotten a doner kabob and lamb kabob wraps and both were tasty, but on the pricey side. I've had better donor kabobs and the gyro at Zo's is still the top lamb wrap to beat in my mind. The lamb kabob was juicy and well seasoned, but a $9 wrap is always though to chew. I'll definitely be back at some point due to convenience, but your lunch can easily go north of $10 if you get sucked on too many trips.

Bethany B.

This is my hotspot for lunch in downtown Boston. For full disclosure's sake it is in my building so on rainy/cold/wintrymix-ing days it is the only spot I'll go to. It has a great salad bar with a ton of variety, which help keep it interesting even for those of us who go multiple times a week. The tastiest thing that you can get at the cafe though is the Turkish food. The kebabs are to die for, and although not an everyday treat, when I get it I can usually have it for dinner as well. The service is great and it's speedy for a busy work day when you have to eat at your desk. There's always a smiling face behind the register, and I will certainly never complain about that!

Lisa S.

The ordering and payment process is super fast and simple! When ordering a salad you choose a size, and then you can have as much of whatever you want added...unlike every other salad bar in the area that charges $2-3 extra for a chicken, and $1-2 for additional toppings. You know walking in there you're going to pay $6 for a salad, no surprises. And if you're not sure what you want to eat or you're going with a group of indecisive coworkers, everyone will find something they love here. There's a salad bar with typical salad fixings and sides, a salad station, they also make sandwiches, wraps, paninis, pizza, gelato, deserts, and probably more things I don't know about yet. As if the prices, quality and variety aren't enough to keep you coming back, they also give you a punch card for a free buy 10 $7+ lunches or $5+ breakfasts and the 11th is FREE!!

Tess G.

I've become addicted to the salad bar! So many options that you don't find usually, like artichokes, roasted veggies, nuts, all different kinds of cheeses! I can't say enough good about them, plus the small can last me two days, especially if you opt to also have the pita that comes with it too.

Tina D.

So in case you haven't gotten an appropriate feel for this place by the other yelper's reviews, this is a cafeteria style eatery with separate sections (aka order and pay lines) for salads, pizza, sandwiches, etc etc. I did not come here on my own suggestion because it reminded me too much of what I have in my own building, so why would I go outside in the snow to find another cafeteria? Although I was brought here against my will, I enjoyed a pretty delicious salad for a really good price. Unlimited toppings for less than $8. Since I typically eat the toppings and not the lettuce, I was happy. The flourescent lights and buckets seats were less than desireable, but I find myself craving another salad and might have to make this a repeat experience. Nothing fancy, but fresh food and a good location.

Jaime M.

Yum, yum, yum! I was a Cafe de Boston Virgin until today. I had an amazing crab cake sandwich, which only cost $6 along with splitting french fries with a friend. The sandwich was huge! The both of us ordered the same thing and all we talked about was how delicious the food is. There is so much to choose from that I cannot wait to go back and try it. The price is right and it's a great place for a variety of food. The Financial District can get a little tiresome with the same old sub shops, but this is a treat. You can get fish, lamb, burgers, salads and soups. I highly recommend this place for a lunch bite anytime you are looking for a place in the Financial District!

Kristen M.

BRING BACK THE SMALL SALAD! The small salad from the salad bar is the best lunch option downtown, it's the perfect lunch size and has all the best options. Today, I discovered they have now eliminated the small salads and only serve LARGE salads. The large is just too big, and it's not as good a value as the small salad. Fortunately, the manager at the salad bar was super duper helpful and allowed me to get the small salad anyway (in the large container) which was great. But I fear that going forward we will all be forced to purchase a large salad, and either end up in a humus dressing -induced food coma or throw away so many delicious ingredients! PLEASE, BRING BACK THE SMALL SALAD! (then I will rate much better!)

Ellen T.

I walk by here all the time and today was the day I finally got lunch from here. I've been wanting to try their salads and the lines are always long. Today there was no line! I wanted something "healthy" so why not try a salad here. It was $8.50 for the tossed salad that they mix for you. I'm thinking this better be good. Everything looked so bright and delicious. I just finished my salad and felt so ripped off. First of all, the dude forgot two of my mix-in requests. Maybe he couldn't hear me. Okay,--forgiven. Next, I felt the salad didn't have enough dressing. And finally, the pita bread---oh pita bread how disappointed I am in you. It was a super thin bread that was soo darn chewy. My jaws are sore from trying to chew it! Overall a bleh experience even though the concept of picking my salad was pretty cool. I've had better salads at the chain stores.

Stuart K.

Lots of choices, and healthy eats for reasonable $ (considering it's downtown Boston).

Julie F.

There is so much going on here. You want pizza? Falafel? Pasta? A turkey sandwich? Soup? Salad? Hummus? Mediterranean goodness that you've never heard off? They have it all. I always go for the salad station. So many toppings to choose from, and you get unlimited...and two proteins of your choice. I always get tofu and egg whites, and the fat-free honey dijon dressing, and I don't intend to switch it up anytime soon. You can also get your salad chopped, and topped with falafel, and accompanied by pita. The only reason I deduct a star is because the prices seem to go up every time I visit, and it's getting a little outrageous. But, in their defense, there is a little punch card that gives you a free meal after 10, so I guess I can justify that there is a free meal in my not-so-distant future. And, if you were feeling really indulgent, you could make a salad worth far more than the going price.

Alex I.

Boston House of Kebab beware, at least with respect to your mezze bar. Cafe de Boston is an absolutely outstanding addition to the downtown crossing lunch landscape. The salad/entree/mezze bar is great, there are some very good and interesting Turkish items there, and I think it is fairly priced. Based on the variety of things that Cafe de Boston seems to have on offer, I think it would be possible to eat there every day for years and never repeat a meal - unless of course you want to. I would give it 4.5 stars if that were possible.

Sara M.

And all I had was the Mezze bar....I started with some greens. I had a few other salads on top of that. Cucumber/Tomato/Onion/Cilantro....white bean salad......artichoke hearts....cauliflower.....a few cheese tortellini and some sauteed spinach with almonds. The sign said sauteed spinanch with pine nuts. They were almonds but I don't mind. I chose it anyway. All of the things. It was under $5. I didn't load up, I had just enough for my lunch. They give you a piece of whole wheat pita. It was a great lunch. I was surprised how good it was. I've had a hard time finding a good salad bar in the area, just like others. The options were great. They also had falafel, hummus, chickpea salad, spinach or zucchini fritters, black bean salad. They have 2 sizes for the Mezze. I did see a large hand made salad for about $6.95? They just pile on what you want. I'll stick with this. But watch out...It's cramped and crazy when you go in to the left. I knew I should have gone before noon.

Charles T.

The omelets, in the morning, are delicious, and the coffee is quite good as well.

Adriana B.

I used to go here a lot for breakfast & lunch since it's close to my office. However, that being said, I will not go back due to food poisoning I got from scrambled eggs 2 weeks ago. I got sick almost immediately after finishing my breakfast. I couldn't eat for 2 days. Better food prep would avoid these issues. I haven't had any issues with the sandwiches at lunch but this experience left me feeling I could go elsewhere downtown.

m l.

Stale cream puffs. I mean at least a week old. And how can you go wrong with chicken salad. Just add a load of salt and overwhelm it with poultry seasoning,....inedible. At least warn people. They have sample sandwiches on display. The chicken salad sandwich on display was nicely toasted with grill marks. Actual sandwich was not toasted. Had a promotional coupon that said free meal up to $10 , then told it was only good for one item so had to pay for the chips, stale pastry separately. I don't know why I keep giving this place "one more chance" I am dissappointed on every visit.

Missus F.

this place officially has my favorite salad bar bonanza in the whole wide world. i think standard salad bars are so played out (ooh, YESSS, white lettuce and red peppers and bacos. lady boner!), so the meze bar here tickles my fanciest of fancies. the fritters (artichoke, spinach, and/or zucchini depending on the day) come from the same place as unicorns and glitter faeries. there's taboule, roasted red peppers, bean salad mix things, words i cannot replicate but it's mediterranean goodness, chicken cutlet and/or sesame chicken, calamari salad, stuffed grape leaves, sauteed spinach, et cetera. they switch up the selection at least a little every day, but there are so many options for people who actually LIKE salads and vegetables. if all salad bars were like this, people would stop dreading salads. it's a must for vegetarians who work in the area and are sick of the same shit, different day selections. let me toot ye olde meze bar's horn for another moment in time. everything is labeled and they even tell you the ingredients in each dish! i want to hug them lovingly because the buffalo chicken salad doesn't look like it, but contains mayo. mayo makes me go alskjroiauweroiauweroiuawer. i'm totally into the pizza. maybe it's because i'd been craving buffalo chicken pizza for three months (no lie), but it was such a huge, great slice. the thin crust was PERFECT, and so was the amount of every ingredient that was placed on top. i've seriously been here about 15 times in the few short weeks it's been open, and the only thing that hasn't impressed me was one of the baked goods. my boss brought in what was supposedly espresso cake, but if they were truly espresso cake, they forgot to add the espresso, or any type of coffee. i have a feeling my boss got something else by mistake. they were little chocolate-covered cakes and they tasted fine, but not mind-blowing. i'm picky about cakey things, though. the price of the meze bar is reasonable. i've always been under $8.00 and i've made some pretty beast salads. i'd been on a kick of not buying food for lunch in the area because the prices were pissing me off, but yeah, that went out the window when cafe de boston opened up.

stephanie s.

Adding one star back since Cafe de Boston has a very responsive management team and recently lowered their breakfast bar prices! This place is fantastic and has the largest selection of delicious fresh cooked meals I've ever seen. If you like salads you will LOVE the selection here. Also the bakery items are great, I tried the espresso wedge and I think I went to culinary heaven for about 30min...

Miss H.

I love Boston Kebab House and I think they have the best salad bar in the financial district! I moved office buildings in 2008 so I barely get over there anymore and I am thrilled that Cafe De Boston opened so close to my new office. I love that it's a fixed rate for a very extensive salad bar. I also love their chicken kebab plate - their salad and cucumber/dill sauce is so delicious. I also think their falafel wraps are excellent. I'm looking forward to visiting them for gelato this summer!

Paul B.

Right on! The regular Pita wrap is back! Gotta make sure to ask for Pita otherwise they give you that nasty skinny girl wheat wrap, blarg. But, the Falafel wrap is still delicious and the fresh chewy Pita makes it transcend common vittles to become a delicious satisfying lunch. Get it with the yogurt and the chili sauce to make it really outstanding. That, a chocolate chip cookie, and a stamp on your frequent diner card and you're well on your way through another afternoon.

sean m.

Not worth it when Dino's is a few blocks away. More expensive by a buck, and the food was bland. Had a soggy omelette and the hash browns were bitter. toast was good. so there's a plus. Not worth the time or the money.

Dave A.

I love the create your own pasta station, where you can select a protein, three toss ins (mostly vegetables), and what kind of sauce and type of pasta (I go with whole wheat penne). There are tons of options, with the salad bar, a hot food bar, the pasta/pizza/crepe section and all of the other lunch/sandwich combinations. The smoothie station was kind of a bust. Overpriced, and too much mild was used, so it was watered down and all the excess was thrown out. Interestingly enough, there is a free phone charging station.

Zig W.

Jose S.

One of the places I go to take a salad. You have a lot of different vegetables and options to make your own salad, you can mix them as you want to. The price depends on how much the salad weights, so the more it weigh the more expensive. The vegetables and food look fresh, at least in the salad area.

Sara M.

Walking into this place can overwhelm and confuse a neophyte but one can quickly figure out the various stations. However, at that point, the choices can cause you to run from section to section trying to decide if being healthy with a salad is better (pasta salad is totally good for you, right?) or just go gangbusters with a cheeseburger club and fries...maybe some falafel and fro-yo on the side. Prices are quite reasonable but I can see how the salad bar might add up. Although, you are still putting over 1 pound of food inside your belly regardless if it is cucumbers and tofu with greens or a 16 ounce steak. Just saying. Also, the chairs are scooped in such a fashion you cannot sit comfortably sideways (tried to slide in that way and failed) and it feels as if it is cradling your bum/hips. Not entirely sure I am sold on them. But thumbs up as a lunch place.

Jon B.

I've only been here once, but can see myself coming back many more times to try out all the different options. For a place that's in the heart of downtown, during the lunch rush, they handled volume surprisingly well. Probably because there's 4 or 5 different food stations, that all look equally appetizing. I decided to go for a Indian-inspired chicken wrap. The name escapes me at the moment. But anyway, I was able to add a ton of veggies, for no extra charge. That was nice. Although the amount of options I had to choose from was a bit too long for me to remember while I was ordering. It would have been nice to have a menu or some sort of form I could fill out to customize my wrap. It looked like they had a salad bar, mezze bar, and options for sandwiches too. It was basically a miniature cafeteria. Had a bunch of seating too!

Melissa A.

So now that they've changed their salads to a salad bar where they weigh it instead of how it was previously (mixing it up for you with unlimited toppings and one standard 'salad price'), I have given up on Café de Boston for my salads. It used to be a decent deal but not anymore now that it is weighed. It's silly that cheap stuff like beans will weigh down my salad when previously I didn't have to worry about this. So, meh. Also, I was starving one morning and went to get an egg sandwich for breakfast. You can add in 3 veggies for no additional cost, so I did. When I opened up my sandwich it had some unidentifiable meat in it (I think it was sliced up meatballs? But who knows. It looked so gross). This kinda sucked becasue I'm a vegetarian and clearly didn't ask for random unidentifiable meat in my egg sandwich that cost $4. Next time I'll just burn my money instead. The only thing I do like is their mezze bar. While expensive (again, because it's weighed), it does have some good options and is great if you're just looking for a variety of stuff. Just be prepared to pay $12 for lunch.

Chelsea M.

Just came here for the first time for lunch today. Was impressed! 1. As others have said, they have a ridiculous variety of food! From kebabs to comfort food to froyo, they seriously have everything. 2. Huge seating area; some by the window which is fun for people watching! 3. Staff is super friendly and helpful. I got the roasted cod, mashed potatoes and tons of veggies. Everything was delicious - the cod was a bit tougher than I like, but still decent!

Carrie B.

Skip the smoothies. For $5.50 for a 16 oz. or $7 for 24 oz., you get to select 2 fruits or veggies, a milk/yogurt, and a juice. I ordered a blueberry spinach yogurt smoothie, and the cashier asked if I wanted a juice, since it needed some liquid. I said sure, just a little bit of orange juice. Well, the smoothie was made with a full cup of OJ, ice, a spoonful of yogurt, and about 8 blueberries and 4 baby spinach leaves. Needless to say, it basically ended up being a milky-looking cup of orange juice. It tasted awful, and was definitely not worth the price. Before yelping about the bad experience, I emailed management, and got a prompt and very apologetic response from the company president. He offered me a free smoothie, so I went back and tried again. Same order, but without the juice. Again, I was told the smoothie needed some liquid, so I went with coconut water. Unfortunately, the 2nd attempt wasn't much better. The smoothie consisted of a LOT of ice, a lot of liquid, and just not much in the way of substance or flavor. By freezing the fruit in advance, you can completely eliminate the need for all that ice, which just dilutes the smoothie! I guess ice is cheaper than blueberries, so they prefer to bulk the smoothies up with ice and skimp on the good stuff, but the result is a bland, overpriced smoothie. Despite 2 bad smoothies, I'm giving 3 stars because I appreciate and value the merchant's response and effort to correct the situation. And the cafeteria is large, bright, clean, and modern, and service is reasonably fast.

Margot D.

An amazing amount of food ~ if you cannot find something to eat here, you just cannot be satisfied. A friend suggested this (he is there often because they have gluten-free bread) so we could grab lunch quickly and sit outside on a gorgeous Spring day. I was overwhelmed by how much there was to choose from, so decided to just hit the cold/hot buffets (7.99lb) and try a few things. I can see how it could get pricey since it is by weight, so if I were here regularly I might stick to pizza, or come mid-afternoon when the salad bar is 30% off (now THAT is a deal). However, my friend was paying, so when in Rome..... It was pretty packed at 12:15, but lines moved quickly so you can just get to your food and enjoy.

Yisel U.

Amazing selection and great quality! About the food: You can find a lot of different food, from buffalo chicken pizza to a tasty salad. I really like getting any of their pastas. They make them in front of you! That's fun, but just be ready to wait about 7-10 min for them (longer if there is a line). I also like their hot bar, which includes falafel, veggies, and protein! About the service: The people working the pasta and pizza side are really nice and patient. The workers working the juices and other desserts (to the left of the pasta line) can be unnecessarily sassy. I asked for a smoothie last time, and before I had the chance to say what kind...lady went on a rant about how there are different types. I thought, "well no shit, let me finish." I said, "strawberry and banana." Overall, their service is okay...I'll give it 3.5 stars.

Sophie P.

Your standard corporate lunch spot. The perk of this place is that after 2:30 PM, they offer their salad bar at 30% off. It's a great option if you usually eat a late lunch, or would want something to save as dinner for later on. I usually stack up on hearty things like their pasta salads, chicken, and protein options to get my money's worth.

Vivian C.

I noticed what I had deemed to be a competitor to Boston Kebab House in the past, but I hadn't realized just how close a fight it was! They both offer Mediterranean cuisine. You can't miss the buffet station since it is after all set right along the window. But until I actually set foot in this establishment, I hadn't realized that they also had a tossed salad bar with your choice of two proteins and all you can select toss-ins for $7.94 which was quite reminiscent of the unique (but not so unique anymore, I guess) option at BKH (and their sister? restaurant - Cafe Hemshin). Spinning away from clone-hood of BKH, Cafe de Boston offers in addition a pastry case of American and Italian sweets, made-to-order pasta for $7.95, pizzas both thick and thin crust, and fro-yo. Yes, options galore! But I've only so far sampled the soup, and had a chicken, broccoli, tomato, mushroom, bowtie, alfredo entree. A pretty good portion for about $8. I like how they have Purell available everywhere. A decent amount of seating is available in the center area, with nicely curved plastic chairs. And their froyo is 49 cents per ounce. Advertised on their website and on the buffet placard, the self-serve bar (minus the soups, which are $2.94 for a cup or $3.95 for a bowl) are discounted 30% after 2:30pm from their normal $7.99/lb price. Hmmm... dinner?

Amy L.

I used to really love this place - you could go in, order a great salad that someone put together for you with unlimited toppings, a choice of protein, a pita, plus falafel, all for a great price. They recently changed over to completely self service, including a self serve salad bar. The price was quite expensive, and if you want to include everything you used to, it ends up being a $13 dollar salad. Compared to Boston kebab, where you get TWO proteins, and everything else, at $8.00, this is a steal. I am not saying anything bad about the food, service, or cleanliness but in regards to the pricing, it is outrageous. That is why I am giving it a 3 star. Go somewhere else for your salads.

Amanda K.

Blech. Was excited to try this place before a meeting. Not impressed with the self-serve breakfast bar at all. Spinach frittata was cold and tasteless. Other 'Mediterranean' breakfast items were so/so. I can't comment on the made-to-order food, perhaps that is better.

M M.

Really, just a matter of location. Close by to grab some food. There is a large variety, The hot bar sometimes surprises with tasty dishes, but just as often will be bland, ho-hum and just something to keep me from starving. I'm more tempted to have a breakfast buffet, but rarely have the time. Of course, the whole idea of the buffet is some of lots of different things, but watch out, paying by weight adds up fast.

Joe C.

I would skip their breakfast -- it's worse than your hotel's continental spread.

Noor A.

Delicious salad/mezze bar at 30% off after 2:30 pm. The butternut squash soup was delicious. They serve Halal meat if you're looking for a nice clean place in downtown.

Kasem W.

My favorite place in Boston area. Here is why: Lots of choices: Pizza, fresh pasta made in front of you, mediterranean sandwiches & plates, salad bar, food bar, make your own frozen yogurt, make your own shake, lots of seating, good selection of tea and coffee, pastry...I'm sure I'm missing something. after 2:30 PM their salad/food bar is 30% off. It's already cheap at $7.99 per pound. The place is clean, clean restrooms, friendly staff, also have a conference room upstairs for any corporate lunch/breakfast meeting. I want to live inside this place!

Lani L.

When I worked downtown I visited this place almost every day! The mezze bar is amazing and perfect for someone like me who likes a bite of this and a bite of that. The salads are gigantic and I love that there's no extra charge for avocado! It counts as a protein! They have so many options at the salad station that you could eat there every day for months and have something different. The falafel is delicious (though not so much the falafel at the mezze bar... that tends to be a little cold). I love the falafel platter with hummus, taboule and shepherd salad. Their desserts are also very good, particularly their baklava. So it's obvious I ate there a lot and loved it, right? Well imagine the dismay mixed with my joy when I got a new job all the way over in Cambridge and had to say goodbye to my beloved Cafe de Boston. The cravings were really bad... and then I found out they do catering! So now I can tell you that their sandwiches are amazing too. Everyone in the office loves when we have Cafe de Boston for lunch. It's a nice mix of the expected (sandwiches and wraps... really good ones) and the unusual (mezze platters heaped high with different salads and appetizer type things). They even include pita and pita chips. Joseph, who handles catering orders, is so incredibly kind and accommodating. We have one employee who is gluten-free and they happily add a GF option to our sandwich platter for her (wrapped separately of course). It's probably better that I moved across the river and now have limited access to my beloved Cafe. I appreciate it so much more now when I can sit down with a falafel wrap, some shepherd salad, a fritter (SO GOOD) and some bits and bites.

Corona W.

I feel super lucky to work in the same building as Cafe de Boston. In the winter months, I don't even need to leave the building for lunch!!! The menu is so extensive, covering soups, salads, pastas, pizza falafels and kebabs. I have tried their mixed grill kebab plate. The portions were so big that I had enough food for two days. Their pizzas are also really good. Apart from these options, there is also a hot and cold food bar that is 30% off after 2:30! Although food at the hot and cold bar can be a little hit or miss at times, there are so many options to choose from.

Ashley D.

I have gotten lunch here and it is pretty good. They have a lot of variety which I like. The have soups, antipasto bar, salad bar, pasta, crepes, sandwiches, frozen yogurt and pastries. I have only gotten the salad bar and some things on the antipasti bar. The salad bar has a lot of variety and it is pretty good. It is 7.99 a pound so is a little expensive. I like how you can mix and match with all the different kinds of food though. If you go in after 2:30 it is 30% off. This is a great deal!!

Inês L.

buffet heaven, lots of vegan options. can be overwhelming and crowded during lunch so remember to breathe.

Caroline V.

My office is in the building so I am here regularly. My review might be biased by the convenience factor. It's an easy spot to grab a quick lunch with lots of options. I usually will grab something from their Mediterranean buffet line which is priced by weight. It's a great option when I just want something small like some hummus and salad. A big fan of their red lentil soup as well. Their main salad bar is also a nice option because it is a set price and you can get two proteins and as many additional toppings as you like. A lot of other places charge by the weight and you can come out with a $15 salad without realizing it.

Sonia D.

Great place for lunch!! Tons of options and a bit overwhelming at times if you don't know what you want. They have a cold/hot salad bar, amazing salad bar where someone makes the salad for you with tons of options to chose from and no limit. They have grilled food, sandwiches, pasta and pizza. Great spot for FiDi area. I only have had the salads there and I go back at least once a week. Definitely check it out if you want a place with millions of options.

Joelle K.

I like coming to Cafe de Boston for the salad bar. They are not cheap at $10/salad, but the portions are large and you get to have the exact salad that you want. You pick the lettuce, toppings (including 2 proteins), salad dressing and crunchy toppings (croutons etc.). There are many other dining options cafeteria style, but I only go for the salads.

Art K.

seems more packed than it should be--too much self serve , confusing, kinda dirty. The salad bar has a lot of options but the lunch crowd hits it like a swarm coming and going from a hive. The food all tasles the same--mediteranean, pasta, sandwiches, even salad has a distinctive cafe de boston flavor. The self seve soup seems to be a growth medium from which people strain the solids and stick thier nose in and breathe on. pricy too. News Cafe much better experience--just look at the floor behind the counter.

Melissa B.

The salad bar is amazing. I love the Mediterranean-type food is second to none. Grilled eggplant, falafel, grape leaves, hummus...mmm. Take a lap before you commit to anything because they have so much to pick from! I could eat here every day & be happy.

Dina V.

Drove up to Boston to have lunch with my husband and we decided to go here since it was walking distance from his office. This place is pretty interesting. There are tons of different stations (salad bar, pasta station, sandwich station, pizza, etc) to order food from. I was a little overwhelmed by it so I opted for pizza, which was good... nothing spectacular. It was very busy here. There are a lot of professionals enjoying lunch with their friends and co-workers. I'm rarely ever in Boston but if I worked up here, I would definitely go back and try other items that they offer.

Carter C.

Outstanding, quality hot bar and salad bar lines with choices galore. This is my kind of lunch. Only way it could be better is if they had an all-you-can-eat price to satisfy my ridiculous appetite. I'll be back the next time I'm in Boston. Only complaint is the chairs - the curvature of the seat makes for an unpleasant surprise if your butt hits the edge instead of the middle. Stupid design.

Puneet L.

As I have mentioned in my other reviews, my yardstick (or reference point) for Middle Eastern cuisine is Sultan's Kitchen. I have eaten there countless times, which is testimony to the quality of their kofta kabab plate (my standard fare). The kofta kabab plate I received at Cafe de Boston was substandard and did not measure up in any way. The koftas were dry and hard. Not recommended. I did go there again later in the afternoon for a small pastry, which was okay. Hence the three stars.

Mindy M.

I love this stupid-expensive salad bar. When I'm enjoying my falafel, cucumber salad, hummous, crab salad, chicken salad, mixed greens, chick peas, fresh fruit, etc., I am thinking about all the shoes I could buy if I would just stop eating lunch. What's worse is that the breakfast Meusli is really good, too. Great, now I can't even afford socks. I'm convinced the pita bread is not really a food item but some form of packing paper but I love that I get something free!

Meagan D.

This place is the best! Everything I have had has been good, but my new favorite thing is their yogurt bar. A colleague of mine had come back with a big cup of yogurt. I thought it was just a frozen yogurt bar, but they actually have plain and non-fat Greek yogurt. It's a nice change to the typical salad. I've been having that for lunch and sitting outside in the park lately and thoroughly enjoying myself!

Rachel M.

BRING BACK THE MADE-TO-ORDER SALAD BAR!! This place used to be my go-to. Quick and convenient with friendly faces who took pride in assembling the pieces, adding the dressing, tossing up the perfect salad, and delicately placing a few falafel on top. When I walked in today and saw that they'd turned the entire salad bar into a self-serve bar, I was shocked. I ended up spending double the price for half the salad. $7.99 a pound for cucumbers? And I have to somehow mix the dressing in myself, in the little plastic container? No thanks - I'll head over to UDG, Tossed, or Sebastians.

Jessica H.

I went in today for lunch and introduced myself to both the owner and the manager (who was the one who contacted me because of my earlier Yelp Review). Both were very appreciative of my feedback and friendly. The manager even made me a complimentary latte with SOY MILK! Super sweet. I did tell him to put a sign up somewhere advertising they carry soy milk so people know it's an option. The salad bar was great again - even new dishes today I hadn't had before. This place is such a great addition to the area, so many yummy things to try!

Christopher B.

Shiny, bright place with lots of standard lunch food choices like pizza, sandwiches and wraps, and baked goods for dessert. Good place to watch people walk by on the sidewalk and gaze at the beautiful historic architecture downtown. Lots of office workers here at lunch. My standard test for comparison is the chicken caesar wrap. This was pretty well balanced, though unusually uses a vinegarette dressing instead of a creamier white caesar dressing.

William H.

Wide selection, good food. Nothing special, but a great place to go with people looking to eat various types of food. Cafeteria style eating. Salad bar, grille, pasta, crapes, pizza, and more.

Skye G.

Looking for a yummy, healthy salad for $ not $$$ then check it out. You can get a small salad at the Mezz bar for a few bucks, like $5 or you can have them mix and match all your likings at the full bar for the typical $7/8 You can also grab a slice of pizza or pastries. They are all yummy! Lots of tables but it can be super busy during lunch hour so it may not be the best place to relax but if you are going for the food then thumbs up. Doing so good though - Souper Salads has left the building.

Kristine A.

This is like a veg paradise. There are so many options to choose from- the salad bar both hot & cold, pizza, sandwiches, soups, pasta/pizza, crepes, it's overwhelming. I kept hearing about this place from friends & finally got to check it out. They're only open for breakfast & lunch so it makes it hard to get over there. I like all the various selections of food but it can be too much if you don't know what you want though. This is not cheap since everything gets weighed from the salad bar which means it's easy to go overboard. I really like the fact they have Level Up, I always find that to be a bonus in my book for any place that has it.

Stephen P.

Cafe de Boston does what its meant to do. Get you your lunch, and get you out Like the professionals working in the area, they are very ambitious in their offerings. From pizza to salad, their selections are always stocked and you can pretty much find anything youre looking for here. Portions are generous, hot foods are seldom cold, and salads pretty fresh. I usually get food from here when it is catered so I've tried their breakfast sandwiches and normal sandwiches which are all okay, nothing to stand out. After 2:30pm, the buffet is 30% off!~ Indicates food is fresh and thrown out at the end of the day instead of being recycled. If you cant decide what to get for lunch, stop by, because chances are, Cafe de Boston will have something for you.

Michael S.

I went in today for the first time in well over a year. The station where you order and menu board are not in the same place, so ordering is confusing. I got chicken kebab plate, which was strongly disappointing. The falafel was cold and dry tasted more like rye bread. Chicken kebab wasn't bad. Rice was forgettable. The pita that came with it was like a board. Lastly the white yogurt sauce tasted like mayonnaise. I would have thrown it out, but you needed it because everything was so dry and bland. Surprisingly disappointing experience. Much better falafel at Boston Kebab, Pita, and Falafel King. I guess Cafe de Boston is good for buffet-style salads, but the cooked food was poor for a upmarket cost.

Harry D.

This is my favorite breakfast joint monday through friday! The management seems to have changed or reorganized the way they are handling their business from when I first started coming here over 2 years ago. Everything in this place looks fresh, and there's a myriad of choices for breakfast and lunch. They no longer serve bacon/sausages/ham in their buffet line in the mornings, now its a separate charge.

Jillian G.

Cafe de Boston has a lot to choose from, but the layout is horrible and it is extremely confusing during lunch hour. There are not a lot of signs and you are expected to just kind of know the layout of the restaurant. I got a make your own salad, there were lots of ingredients to choose from, however the chicken on top was dry. With all of the other choices for lunch in Boston's financial district, I would probably go somewhere else.

Hadas P.

Excellent for what it is: a perfect lunch spot. Soups, galore. Salads, every kind. Hot entrees for the days you're feeling like you needs the carbs/fats. The only downside? Nothing. Who cares about a confusing layout when you seriously have the freshest ingredients at a decent price. If I really tried, I could eat my breakfast, lunch, and dinner there for $10 (their mediterranean mezzanin is 30% off after 2:30).

Nancy Z.

A worker's playground during lunch break. Swarms of people in crisp dress shirts and clean suits looking up at menus and in quick moving lines ordering their food. I felt like I was on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange! Still relatively new, nine months in, business at Cafe de Boston is booming and has become one of my favorite places for lunch in the financial district. With such agreeable prices and even more agreeable food options, it is a bustling cafeteria that saves the lives of many employees when the clock hits 12. There is a breakfast bar in the morning, a Mediterranean bar, salad bar, sandwiches, kebobs of all kinds, pastas you can order and make yourself, pizza, pastries (buy coworker's cakes here!) and gelato. Sweet, sweet gelato. For a cafeteria style establishment, Cafe de Boston certainly distinguishes itself amongst others. Definitely a lunch spot you should try.

Ronald L.

This place is cool...self-serve salad bar, custom pastas ($7.95), crepes, deli sandwiches, custom chopped salads ($7.95), deserts and a lot more. Something for everyone! By the way, excellent pizza too.

Tara G.

Whoa. Information overload. Walking into this place is like walking into Willy Wonka's, and not in a good way. There are a million moving parts, and just figuring out how and where to order is complex. This is my second time coming here. The first time I got a pasta dish. It was huge, and overcooked, but okay. This time I got a breakfast sandwich. The breakfast sandwich was bland, and I wound up having to whip up a quick flavored sauce at the office to make it taste like anything. The coffee was abhorrent. Incredibly weak -- it tasted like they put it through a Keurig. Ordering it was a pain in the butt. It's totally not obvious where to order, or where to pick up your food. They just have way too many options available, and it makes it so complex that it's daunting to even figure out what the possibilities are. The list of breads alone is huge -- too huge to read quickly, and the lady at the register was getting impatient with me. They gave me a buzzer and when it went off, I stood around at the cashier for ages before some cook came around and told me that the pickup area is way over on the other side. Given how many GIANT SIGNS WITH TOO MUCH INFORMATION there are all over this place, it's kind of amazing that they make the "pick up" sign microscopic. This place requires too much of my mental energy. I just want to know what's available, what I need to do to get it, and then execute. And I don't need seven thousand mediocre options, I just want a few good ones.

Sylvia C.

lots of options under one roof ..from the bad "pizza" to the self moderated "salad bar"...one cam definitely find their calling for lunch here. my fave will have to be the self moderated salad bar...especially to the buffalo chicken where i don't need to load extra calories from salad dressing to make my salad worthy or pay $$ for the flat rate salad they toss me which i don't need. all just perfect for me.

Alli E.

I don't have enough good things to say about this place! There is so much variety and EVERYTHING is delicious! Even though the restaurant can get crowded during the lunch hour, the wait for food is never long. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with Joseph, the catering manager, who is spectacular. He gets back to me quickly and all of our orders have been on time and presented beautifully. Erkan is also amazing- I can tell he is passionate about the restaurant and goes above and beyond to make sure things run smoothly. Their new addition looks amazing, and the macaroons are wonderful. I can't wait to hit up the frozen yogurt bar once it gets a bit warmer. I strongly recommend Cafe De Boston for a quick lunch or for breakfast/lunch catering!

Michael C.

This place is like a big food court except all run by the same company. They carry a ton of different stuff: salad bar, deli, pizza, a grill, and a bakery. On my first visit I had a chicken burger with cheese and avacado. The chicken patty had a sausage flavor to it, though it was put togerher a little sloppy.

Joanna H.

Hard to get seats during lunch hour. So get ready to be aggressive! (in the most polite and professional way possible since we are around the Financial District) I come here mostly for their soup. Red lentil is always a safe bet and their Chicken lemon with rice is good for the simple or sick days. Tried one of their kale soups one time and it was delicious. My coworkers always order their salads which come in generous portions and are very delicious.

Evan J.

This spot's strength is selection. You can get pretty much any type of food you'd want here... pizza, salad, pasta, etc. That being said, it's generally too crowded and I've never found the food appetizing enough to choose CdB over nearby competitors. For each thing they serve, there's another vendor nearby that does it better. Pizza: Viga Salad: Uno Due Go or Sebastians Sandwiches: Boston News Cafe, Al Capone Anyway - it's good if you're going with a group and want a one-stop shop.

J A.

Been coming here for several years now and they generally have a good assortment of hot items and fresh salad bar. Staff is friendly and works to fulfill orders quickly. Although on my most recent visit the falafel plate wasn't as good as I remember it being in the past. Reasonable prices and generous portions.

Daniel M.

This place is completely overwhelming if you don't go in with a game plan. For a downtown spot it's HUGE and there are so many bars with so many options that I walked out multiple times until I could wrap my head around what I was seeing. Early experiences included a worker telling me that the chicken vegetable soup was vegetarian (wha-huh?) and a $15 salad since I got a little excited at the bar. Whoops. People complained about the soup thing and they responded by marking them (correctly!) as vegetarian or vegan and even marked the GF options as well. To me that's a sign of an establishment taking an interest in their customers. Their pizza is good though I usually forgo that for a falafel wrap which is HUGE and filled with yummy falalfel and Shepard's salad. It's hard to feel naughty when everything you're consuming is plant based though truth be told I've been having a hard time finishing them lately (more for later!). Their soups are always delicious, if you see the Moroccan lentil soup when you visit do yourself a favor and grab a cup it's lightly minty and soooo good. They have little sampler cups there if you don't believe me, check it out yourself. We've even had them cater lunch at the office and that too was on point. Once you get used to what's where and where you need to be in relation to that this is an excellent lunch option!

Di B.

One of my go to's for lunch. The salad bar can not be beat. Great options (hot and cold) and affordable prices per pound..with pita included. I haven't tried the other food they offer for this reason. After 2pm they have 30% off as well.

Emily G.

After a couple back and forth PMs with the manager regarding the rosemary situation, Cafe de Boston has reduced the amount they are using in the roasted veggies and olives. Thanks for the great customer service, and the improved options!

Dick N.

Best salad bar in the financial district, especially considering there aren't any others around (Lambert's salad bar on Tremont is weak). There's a decent variety on the salad bar but it would be nice if they rotated in some new things every now and then. Pizza is decent and the prices are reasonable.

Lindsey H.

Yes Yes Yes to the salad bar here. Literally my favorite salad bar/lunch place in the financial district. Huge variety and they aren't skimpy with their toppings. It gets really busy around 12 though so plan accordingly.

Michelle J.

This place is great. Without a doubt one of the best buffet places in Boston, though there aren't that many to begin with. Even with the wide array of choices at their buffet they have even more selection of pretty much all types of food available. They literally sell everything from burgers (most at just $5) to crepes and falafel. So you'd be hard pressed NOT to find something to eat here. But I haven't tried any of their other menu items so I can only speak to the buffet. What I also find really nice is if you get there after 2:30 the buffet is 30% off, which is awesome and makes total sense. More places should do that. If it 2 hours before close why not offer the left over buffet food at a discount. They're going to have to throw out whatever they don't sell at the end of the day so why not give people incentives to come back and take a bag of food home for dinner. That's just good business sense. I often end up having a late lunch so I like this particular incentive to get rid of their food. And as for their staff they're very nice and efficient when there's a lone at the register even a manager comes out to assist. So as popular as this place is there's never a long wait for anything and someone's always available to handle the incredible amount of customers that come through their doors regularly.

Michelle B.

I wrote my review of Cafe de Boston so long ago, and I felt like it needed to be updated for two reasons: 1. The meze bar. I often go over there with my friend to grab a slice of pizza for lunch and about 65% of the time, I get distracted by all of the vegetables in the meze bar. I know that sounds lame, but they have these awesome grilled veggies, plus brussels sprouts, a delightful broccoli salad, and about ten other things I love. Plus there's one particular chicken salad that has celery and dried cranberries in it that I love and I have a small scoop of that with my veggies. Perfection. Still skip the pita bread though - it's the one thing they don't do well. 2. The catering. I love that my company can call them at 3:55 on a Wednesday and ask for gelato for 70 people for the next day at 2:30 and they say that's no problem - even though gelato isn't on their catering menu. They've also never batted an eye when we've asked them to bring up bacon for 70 people when I make my monthly waffle breakfast for my staff. And for all of the detractors of beef bacon vs pork - just try it. I swear it's just as tasty.

Emily T. L.

Great place for lunch and breakfast, so many options... They value their customers, if something goes wrong let them know and they make it up for you:) I definetly recommend this place to anyone who works in the area.

Stephanie B.

A great lunch spot with the best salad bar in the area by far. There are so many (very well marked) vegan and vegetarian options. Dolmas, different legumes and bean salads, hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara (I didn't know what this was til recently but it is dip made of walnuts and pomegranates and it is amazing!), guacamole, soups, and more. The salad bar is so amazing and delicious that I've never even looked at their pizza and pasta bars.

Ethan A.

Absolutely love this place. The salad bar is great - and everything is labeled as vegetarian/vegan as appropriate, and there is a ton of options. I usually throw some greens down, and take little scoops of everything else vegan. Who cares if its not exactly a salad? Everything tastes great and is colorful, fresh, and simple. Yes it can get pricey if you pick all heavy items. Today they had an "avocado salad" which was basically a giant tray of really thick sliced guacamole (I'm talking halved avocados, seasoning, maybe a drop of olive oil) so of course I took a giant portion of that. Eased up on everything else, and decided to get a cup of soup to balance the lunch out. Total came to just about ten bucks - awesome. The red lentil soup was good, one packet of salt, pepper, and hot sauce and it was better than good. While we're at it, the hot sauce packets they have - the first ingredient isn't high fructose corn syrup! In fact, there is no corn syrup at all! I try not to get takeout for lunch because it adds up, and its usually processed and unhealthy food. Cafe de Boston is fairly priced and has a ton of great vegan options, so its my kind of indulgence for when I forget lunch at home.

Bobby D.

Hands down my favorite lunch spot in Boston. I worked right around the financial district. They have, hands down, the best salad bar in Boston. So many veggies and ad-ons. The hot food bar is great too! Great variety. It's affordable too. They don't charge outrageous prices. I mean heck it put Souper Salad out of business, it's got to be doing something right!

Derek S.

Where do I even begin... I eat here almost every single day, and I have to say it's one of the best spots in the area for good, reliable, affordable food. First and foremost, the people here are friendly and always a pleasure to deal with. I come in so often now that a few of them recognize me and say hello. The girls at the register know my order by heart, so by the time I'm at the counter, they've already got me covered (that is, when I'm not doing the buffet). Make sure you get in good with Erkan, hes the tall guy with the ponytail. He'll always take care of you. Breakfast they have a small buffet area, but those in the know go for the egg sandwiches. Freshly made egg sandwich with your choice of toppings for about 3 bucks (2 bucks if you go with "basics toppings")? Score. You can also get fresh made Crepes or a few other breakfast options, but for me, I stick with the egg sandwich. Lunch is where they really shine. They have a huge number of specials, some daily and some standard, to pick from. Usually they'll have a few specials made that morning, wrapped in plastic for people to be able to see what they're getting. Make no mistake - those plastic-wrapped samples are usually a fraction of the size of your actual meal. This place does not skimp on the portions. Then you have the buffet, which has a rotating stock of selections, but usually features a group of core favorites. If you can find it, try the Muhammara. It looks like red hummus, and tastes out of this world. My go-to choice is always their Shepherds Salad, however. It's healthy vegetables with a little lemon juice, and in my eyes, it's their specialty. The rest of the buffet has a wide arrangement of various foods, mostly Mediterranean in origin, but there is definitely something for everyone. Would continue to come here even if I didn't work in the building. In an area full of Cosis, Sebastians, BoLoCos and the rest, Cafe de Boston definitely stands out in the crowd.

Candice F.

If I had to choose just one food to eat for the rest of my life, it would be pasta. And Cafe de Boston is an excellent choice for pasta lovers. With a plethora of fresh ingredients, sauces, and four pasta types to choose from, you simply can't go wrong. Today, I put together a whole wheat penne pasta with EVOO, spinach, portobello mushrooms, and garlic. A few days ago, I ate up a bow tie arrabiata pasta with chicken, peas, and onions. I prefer the whole wheat pasta not because it's healthier for you (trust me, flour pasta tastes better every time), but because the regular pasta is often overcooked and I'm an al dente kinda gal. Nevertheless, I love the aspect of picking ingredients YOU CAN SEE and watching them be cooked right in front of me - confirms that my meal is as fresh as can be. Portions are satisfying about $8 a plate. Yummmm-oh! Great job, Cafe de Boston. See you tomorrow.

Dan W.

After my doctor informed me that I have high cholesterol, I started throwing a salad in to the mix a few days a week. So naturally, I hit up the salad bar at De Boston. Probably the best salad bar in the financial district. If salad isn't your thing, this place has everything else you need. Pizza, kabobs, lentils. I also like that the guy who works there with the pony tail looks just like my buddy Kosta.