bōm dough cafe - lechmere

This is supposedly a niche Brazilian brunch spot. Aside from the signature pão de queijo (cheese bread), it doesn't have a strong regional flavor; it offered more like a light/white-style/pretty meal. But enough said, it was delicious!! Traditional pão de queijo: My first time trying it, the texture was so interesting! The outside was hard, crisp, and slightly rough, a bit like chapata; the inside was soft and delicate, but also porous, slightly moist, and very chewy. If I had to find a close relative, it might be mochi (bread). A subtle saltiness established a solid base flavor, the main notes are cheese and wheat, with a hidden hint of black pepper —everything I wanted. It was perfect for sandwiches, just like the ones they offer, though a little too small. Soft & Creamy Scrambled Eggs: I haven't had such good scrambled eggs in ages… "Soft & creamy" is no exaggeration. One bite was bursting with the aroma of eggs and butter, not greasy at all, with the refreshing scent of basil. The warmth melted the Parmesan cheese perfectly, enhancing the creamy flavor and making the texture even smoother. You can choose your own sauce when ordering this dish in single order, but I felt that wasn't really necessary. Beef Brisket: Relatively less impressive, but still acceptable. It's simply pan-fried, and the lean meat is a bit dry. I recommend slicing it transversely and eating it with pão de quiejo. The moisture in the bread alleviated the texture of the lean meat, and the meat's aroma and subtle smokiness enriched the bread. The above three items constitute the pao de quiejo & egg combo. Bacon can be replaced with beef brisket for an extra $1, a lighter and healthier option. Lemon Honey Chamomile Latte: It turned out, never try something you don't understand on the menu. The chamomile latte tastes exactly like chrysanthemum tea in Cantonese dim sum with a little milk—bitter and cloying, incredibly bizarre. Lemon, honey, or even sugar? Not a chance. I left my credit card at the cashier, and the waiter quickly gave it to me at my seat. My gratitude.

I visited Boston in September and came across this cafe as I was staying in Cambridge. Oh man, the pao de quiejo was so good (and huge!), that I went back a second time just to get half a dozen to go. I recommend just getting the plain ones, even though the dulce de leche filled ones were not bad either. I also grabbed one of their breakfast sandwiches (not knowing that the bread would ALSO be pao de quiejo) so I was pleasantly surprised!

Why the heck did you turn the breakfast sandwich into two mini sliders!!! It used to be a full sandwich, now it’s just an appetizer! So freaking disappointing to get back to work and see that my lunch is half the size. It was all gone in 6 bites! Also, it’s too small to hold the egg in so the first bite squeezed it all out the sides and onto my desk and into the box. I’m picking all the egg out of the box with my fingers. The food tastes really good and the people who work there are all wonderful, but dang this was disappointing. You should warn people on the menu when you half the size. A lot of us are stuck in calls or the lab all day and don’t get a second chance to grab another meal.

Really cute hidden gem cafe. The little buns are delicious, best ones are guava and the classic. The coffee was also so good. It is small inside, so hard to find a spot on the weekend.

The food at this café was absolutely amazing, unique, flavorful, hearty, and beautifully presented. We felt like we were dining at a fine restaurant. While the overall price isn’t exactly cheap once you add coffee drinks, the value for the quality of food is excellent. I’d definitely love to come back again.

This was our second visit, but unfortunately it was quite disappointing (sharing photos here). • The poached egg was overcooked. • The salad had no dressing at all. • The açaí bowl had barely any açaí, it was mostly granola and berries. • All of our food was served in to-go boxes. When we asked why, we were told that after 3:30 everything comes in to-go containers. However, the guests seated right in front of us still had plates, and that was never communicated to us in advance. Before the food came, I even asked the cashier if we needed a table number sign, and he said no. That would have been the perfect time to mention the to-go policy (or at least offer to bring the food to the table once he realized it) but there was no attempt. We even had to assemble our own sandwich because the ingredients were given in separate containers. When I requested to have the açaí served in a bowl instead of a cup, I was told the bowls were in the dishwasher. If the intention is to close earlier, that’s fine, just communicate it clearly. But please don’t compromise on service.

One of my go-to spots for simple, satisfying salads and good matcha lattes. Didn’t expect Bom Dough to expand so quickly, but here it is—their first new branch, right next to the Cambridgeside Mall. Historically, cafés in this area haven’t fared too well, but Bom Dough seems to be gaining traction after a slower start. Since this location is much closer to me than the original, I’ve been stopping by whenever I feel too lazy to make a healthy meal at home. I’m a huge fan of their salads—nothing creative or overcomplicated. Just a clean mix of arugula, tomatoes, avocado, and a seriously good mint-maple-lime dressing that ties it all together. Tried their Breakfast Gnocchi recently and was surprised. With poached eggs on top, it had the cozy vibe of a creamy shakshuka or a hearty tomato soup—comforting without feeling heavy. Also a big fan of their matcha lattes. Not sure what they do differently—maybe something with the syrup or the tea base—but flavors like Peach and Mother Earth were smooth, balanced, and satisfying.

While visiting Boston we ate here twice in 3 days. The Cappuccino was a work of art with dense perfect foam. Both savory and sweet breakfast items including waffle with berries were 10/10. It is a little pricier than most coffee shops but the quality is well worth it.