Phoenix Cafe

We visited Phoenix Street in Somerville and ordered the banana pancake with caramel almond and the manager’s breakfast. The pancakes were quite good—nicely cooked and flavorful. The manager’s special, however, was just okay and didn’t really stand out. We also ordered one coffee but were mistakenly charged for two. Thankfully, when we pointed it out, they corrected it and removed the extra charge. Overall, it was a decent experience, but nothing that would bring us back.

1st time here and had a delicious breakfast! Great coffee and friendly service. We had the managers special and French toast. The bacon, eggs, potatoes, sausage and pork roll were all cooked to perfection and very tasty. We will be back!

I had the Manager's special breakfast and it was great. Very tasty and the small glass of juice that comes with it is a lovely touch. Service was excellent. I saw that the place is under new management and they seem to be doing great.

This is a great local cafe/diner. They have a little bit of everything. Nothing is spectacular, but it is tasty. Servers are friendly and nice- I always feel like I am taken care of when I eat here. It is perfect for a quick meal, a nice place to meet a colleague for a breakfast or lunch. There is never a rush to get you out.

Came back here for the first time in about a year and had a less than positive experience, so I thought I’d leave a quick review. They charged almost $16 for an omelette that was small, falling apart, and came with the wrong toast. It also came with a small chunk of lettuce and tomato on top of it, which I found unusual. The servers were polite but seemed stretched thin, so I’m not surprised by the quality. This was my first negative experience here, and I see some nice reviews, so I hope this was a fluke and not the norm. If this is the norm, I would unfortunately not recommend coming here, at least for breakfast.

Had the opportunity to enjoy their outdoor sitting while having a very hearty breakfast called the Manager's Special. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. Great food with a good price.

James being handicapped sometimes when we go out things sometimes seems a little tight . We went to our favorite place to go is Phoenix. We like to sit by the window so we can see who's going by. and they were so kind to let us put ourselves in the front to watch. Even thoughour money was tight and we could only share what breakfast knowing that was okay we still was out. The waitress the one we had was absolutely a dream. When I was homeless I actually used to come to Phoenix and they would give us food.. I really was thankful for the ability to share. I might have a dollar or two I came back to say. THANK YOU

My family and I had lunch here on a Saturday. The staff were very polite and friendly and seemed to know the menu well. However, the service was a little slow, especially considering there were multiple servers and only 4 tables taken. The reason for the 2 stars is mainly the food. The salad we ordered was limp, yellowed, and very sparse. It was mostly small bits of iceberg lettuce that looked like the last bits from the bag. The panini we ordered was bizarre. It consisted of sliced deli turkey, canned roasted red peppers that looked like they’d been taken directly from the jar and not chopped or further prepared, and what tasted like Rotel or Tostitos premade salsa, all served on a weird flatbread/pita. The turkey was still cold in the middle despite the rest of the sandwich being grilled. My sister ordered the beef burrito bowl, and said she enjoyed it, which is why we gave 2 stars instead of 1. Overall, I would strongly recommend going somewhere else.

Soggy chicken quesadilla and 7 onion rings were $22.38. I can place the order online for $18.02. Won't be going back.

Dined here twice once outdoor wasting and this time indoor before St. Patrick's Day parade. Service quick and friendly. Food was very good. Coffee fresh.

I'm honestly shocked this place is still open and favored by people. We came in for breakfast as a group of 4,ordered meals and received glasses (plastic cups) of water whilst the food was being made. One of the cups had a residue of something on the inner wall (gross). When pointed out to the waiter,he brought new waters in mugs (so it's not see-through,ha). When coffess came next,one of the cups still had lipstick stain on it having no faith in hygiene or cleanliness of this place,we stood up and left. Seriously,how are they still open,is beyond me...

Looks are deceiving when it comes to this place. The food was a solid 4 stars and that's hard for me to give for classic diner fare. The service and coffee are 5 stars. my waitress was so pleasant and an experienced. She brought everything I needed before I needed it. She also introduced herself and said she'd remember me if I come again. So it has that nice "Cheers" vibe too. Did I mention the prices? They are very reasonable, and the portions are not only delicious but generous. The bacon was cooked perfectly, my eggs were done as I requested, and the French toast with custardy and well cooked. If you live in the area, it's worth a visit, but don't expect a fancy experience. Come for the food not the looks. Oh and get the bacon and have the coffee. It's not the typical diner gasoline coffee. It's a nice smooth columbian cup.

Where do I start!!! This is the worst place I have been to in my entire life. How is this in any way an establishment that serves brunch menu items right from Walmart to the microwave to the plate that they expect you to eat in. The home fries tasted like the griddle it was cooked hasn't been cleaned in weeks. The biscuits and gravy were sloppy and soggy. The service was subpar as the employees were talking louder than the other patrons of the place. And the place looked like a diner from the 70's. I see it says under new management but what happened to the other management that was here. Ughhhhhh then the waitress had the audacity to ask if I wanted a box to take the food home. ABSOLUTELY NOT! Wish I could give it a no Stars

My family and I are still relatively new to our area and my wife and I got to try Phoenix Cafe while my kid actually had school and we were off from work. I went for the Mexican Breakfast Skillet and my wife had the huevos rancheros in a tortilla bowl. Coffee and hot chocolate respectively. Boy neither of these plates disappointed. Can definitely understand why they are PACKED on weekends. Was super nice to go in on a quiet Monday morning haha! :-)

My go to local for a quick bite of traditional American & Spanish quick bite to eat! Breakfast & lunches are great for comfort food. They are also open some nights for dinner. From pancakes, omelets, eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, to gallo pinto in the am & so much more. Lunch they have tons of sandwiches & soups & salads. My go to Greek salad or Mexican burrito. They have an extensive like diner like menu. Fruit cups & cottage cheese, eggs & bacon, avocado toast to full belly buster platters. Appetizer's. Salads. Sandwiches, wraps, burgers, soups, gyro's and platters. Elias and his staff are wonderful, always smiling and happy and very attentive. They have outside seating & a traditional diner look inside. You can find something to eat for the whole family for sure!

We came here because we were in Downtown Somerville and love Diners. We had the classic breakfast eggs, bacon toast coffee. It was good. The bacon was a little over-cooked but I like my bacon on the done side. This is a good place if you're looking for a Diner-vibe.

Phoenix Café is a restaurant in Somerville, New Jersey. Parking is located on the surrounding streets. When we arrived, the outside dining area was busy, but inside had plenty of seating. Interior has an older style look and as a heads up, the booths are a little small. Our group ordered from the breakfast menu and the food was good. My one friend liked his Ham, Egg, and Cheese croissant sandwich. Something unique, French Fries are an option during breakfast as a potato side. I had the Italian Breakfast Skillet that came with Toast and choice of potato. The stack of Home Fries was large and the Sausage was flavorful. Service was prompt and food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. I would absolutely return here to try more of the menu. Area around the restaurant is lovely so be prepared to spend some time window shopping or exploring the stores.

Love my boozy brunches at Phoenix Café! A spot I frequent often in Somerville, Phoenix Café may not be as flashy as some of the other brunch spots, but given the BYOB option that is well catered to by their staff every time we've attended and the great value on their menu, it's one that doesn't break the bank and makes us able to swing in on the weekend without issue or much of a table wait! They have a great selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, plus their coffee is always on point. Was just in for their St. Patrick's Day specials, ordering myself eggs & black coffee that also came with corned beef and cabbage, and gotta say, it hit the spot! It was a bit too chilly to sit outside for the parade, but there were plenty of tables available and they were right on the main street & route of the parade so you could easily see from inside as well. The staff is always sweet and attentive, and the place has a cozy diner vibe with a very cute outdoor setup when the temperature allows. We've gone in the past and they've brought out a little container for our champagne to keep it chilled on ice and have plenty of mixer options. They have all of your typical dinner foods but so much more. Prices are always good, usually coming out to less than $20 per person for a full menu item with sides and drinks. Nothing overly major on portion sizes but friends have taken a bit home before. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area for its quick service and great prices!

7:15 Christmas morning. Hardly anyone stirring. This place was open. The coffee was exceptional, the menu interesting, the price reasonable, and the service could not have been more friendly. My wife the food snob loved it! I left a ten on a $32 tab in appreciation for a merry waitress whose spirit fit the season. Unexpected wonderful experience.

Back again No wait for a table on Sunday at 11:45 am Trying Corned Beef Hash with 2 scrambled eggs, hash browns and a Diet Pepsi with Lemon Corned beef hash was not good Very slow service Note: Manager removed my meal from the total bill Free parking on Sunday's in Somerville

Went in for breakfast, has what is like a denny's grand slam, eggs pancakes and bacon. Waitress was friendly and Prompt. Good meal and fair price. Clean place old school but nice. Recommend for kids also.

I have been to Somerville for the better part of my life and to the Phoenix Cafe over 20 times - this was by far the best service and food I have ever had at this establishment. The french toast was outstanding, the egg sandwich was amazing, the service was outstanding and truly cared how our food was and ensured it was prepared to our desire. I highly recommend going to the restaurant and with luck you will be get waited on by Kevin - he is fantastic.

Tasty and diverse breakfast menu. Great sausage and flavorful home fries laced with peppers and onion. Food was well prepared and delicious. Service was excellent. Several Mexican breakfast items on menu along with usual diner fare. Recommend for a spicy, interesting change from the mundane.

Before 2 or 3 o'clock I have enjoyed the food at Pheonix Cafe, and it's been excellent!! After the owner leaves, it's no good!! They don't even know how to toast an English muffin!! !!! The last chance was after at least 2 times I asked for a well toasted English muffin and it was given a well done grilled English muffin that tasted like a dirty grill!!!

Diner experience in the heart of downtown Somerville. The menu is quite extensive, with many options to appease the pickiest eaters. Love that there is always a breakfast menu too! The soup of the day - Lentil Chorizo was very good, and you can't go wrong with the GYRO Wrap.

Affordable and delicious breakfast with a diner vibe. Loved the variety of options with more traditional Spanish flare. We had two breakfast specials with eggs and chorizo. Also tried the pancakes and it's was all very tasty. Service was fantastic and quick

A lot of things were great from the food to the service and the variety of food the only reason why it's not a 5 star is because the place kinda seem ran down

I've come in twice for breakfast on Sunday. Neither time was super crowded. Typical diner fare with some Mexican additions. I thought the pancakes were good but not the best ever or anything. Eggs in all their shapes and textures were perfectly cooked. The best thing on the breakfast menu is the Mexican benedict. Chorizo yes plea-zo. I was really temped to give 3 stars here. The first time I came, service was really poor. Not rude, but our server was inattentive and didn't have any knowledge of the menu. They were clearly new and inexperienced. That's not completely their fault, because they didn't seem to have much support from anyone. Our second visit was better, but not perfect. The server was more energetic and knowledgeable, and there were more staff working to deal with all the tables. Still, I didn't get a coffee refill until we were already done eating and never even got a chance to ask for milk to put in it. Probably the best breakfast in downtown Somerville that doesn't cost an arm.

A classic breakfast joint! A quick walk in downtown somerville, sitting outside on a beautiful day. The service was quick and the staff were lovely and all with smiles on their faces. I felt like I was a kid again, getting that simple quality breakfast food. Truly enjoyed my experience there and plan on going back in the near future. @rissyjayeats

Service was good but food.....not so great. The place was good with nice outdoor seating. Ordered banana pan cakes and a French toast with eggs. The pancakes were just plain topped with some bananas that were underripe. Also found some egg shell while eating the scrambled eggs.

Out of all of the options there are on Main St, Somerville, I am so happy we ended up having lunch at Phoenix Cafe! Me and my mom sat down for a quick bite around 2:00 this past weekend and had two full menus (breakfast or lunch) to look through. Although I was in more of a lunch mood, I loveeeeeee a spot that serves breakfast all day. I will have to remember Phoenix the next time I get a late afternoon omelette craving. I got the balsamic wrap and my mom got a panini, we both thought everything was so great. Each came with a side of fries (we made our's sweet potato), coleslaw and a pickle. Everything was hot, fresh and really delicious. They have all of your typical diner foods but so much more. And the hours are not correct on Yelp as of right now, they are open much later, breakfast, lunch and dinner! I will double check before trying to update them but call before you make the drive over. We spoke with the owner who just took over the restaurant this past year, an obviously tough year for so many. I loved hearing about the changes he's been making! The food was wonderful, our waitress was incredibly sweet and the place has a cozy diner vibe. I definitely recommend!

On Thursday April 18th I met some work colleagues for lunch. BIG MISTAKE! Table tops were not cleaned off and the food and service was non existent. I ordered a Cesar salad and it was the worse salad I have ever had. Who puts tomatoes in Cesar salad, a few miniature croutons and Italian dressing. Not once did anyone come by our table to check on our meal. My colleague had a breakfast dish and his toast was delivered AFTER he finished his meal. NEVER AGAIN will I dine here again!!!!

I gave it 4 chances. Food is great service has been terrible. I've never gotten a refill and I've always had to get up and ask for a server. I wish the service was better.

I was to hungry to wait for De Martino which is not far from this restaurant. I saw people eating, so I thought how bad can you mess you breakfast. The establishment is rundown on the inside. The air condition is broken, the ceiling is leaking water. The orange juice is the cheapest orange juice. The wait staff is attentive and friendly. I would not take a picture of the food because is was not picture ready.

Simple diner fare with great customer service! I had their garden veggie egg white omelet which came with homefries and toast and my husband had chocolate chip pancakes. Good portions, was definitely full afterwards! Nothing fancy, but perfect comfort diner food for a nice breakfast! The service was excellent, very friendly and fast. Everything was very well-priced too. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a solid breakfast option!

I love this place for the local vibe, the owners and servers are great, and the food is good diner food at an affordable price. But please, for the love of God! Replace the water stained and moldy ceiling tiles!

The food is always great. Eggplant parm really good. The service and ambience were wonderful. Husband and wife run this place. Don't miss it.

The food was okay but the service was terrible. I feel like the staff is a little disorganized and many times forgot about us even though we were the only ones there. I ordered the french toast and wasn't a big fan. What grossed me out the most though was how dirty the cups and utensils were...

I love coming to this place for breakfast when I drive to nj. It's a small restaurant with beautiful out side seating. Staff is friendly and nice. My family love to sit and relax here for breakfast. The food is always great. I always get their croissant sandwich and we all love to share the silver dollar pancakes. The menu is big and had a lot of choice for everyone. Would recommend this to anyone.

My coworker brought me here when I first started working around the area. Now we come here from time to time during our lunch hour to grab a bite if we don't want to bring our lunches. The service is quick and accurate. We always make sure to go on Thursday/Friday because that's when they have their split pea soup. I don't know what there is about about it but it's so good! That's the one thing on the menu I consistently get. Doesn't look appetizing, a bowl a greenish brownish goop but yum! And trust me I am not a mushy peas and carrots kinda girl so I didn't think I would actually enjoy this soup but my coworker kept on going on and on about it so I gave in. I guess peer pressure but the healthier kind? The menu is typical diner food. Moderately priced and has good lunch specials. Parking on Main Street is a nightmare (all street/metered/hard to find) especially during lunchtime during the week but if you're around the area I suggest it for a quick bite.

Popped in on a late Sunday morning brunch with my sis. As others have mentioned, this has more of a no-frills diner feel than a cafe, but all the staff members are friendly and the service was great. The place wasn't too crowded when we came in, so we were seated within about 5 minutes of arrival . We got our coffee pretty quickly. I and my sister got pancakes and waffles, respectively, with bacon and eggs. I asked for poached eggs, which came out a little watery than I expected, so they were nice enough to give me scrambled eggs as a replacement. Portion sizes were very generous and food was pretty good, nothing to write home about. Everything came out to about $20 for the 2 of us. This is a great place to stop for a quick, affordable brunch.

My husband and I have been having breakfast here for the last two years. The staff and ownership are friendly and attentive. The omelettes and home fries are delicious. We are now regulars and enjoy dining here.

We used to come here for breakfast, but they recently added dinner menu and open until 9pm. We have had dinner with them twice within last few weeks, and every time we all enjoyed our food very very munch. It is very hard to find a cafe that serves both awesome breakfast and dinner, and we just found one! By the way, the waitress and owner are both so nice! Love this cafe!

Solid breakfast with a great menu variety, they make a little bit of everything. My husband got the breakfast quesadilla and raved about it for days lol I got the sausage biscuits and gravy. It was pretty good but definitely could have used more sausage. The food was good, the service was ok. Seemed a little short staffed and the service was slow although the girls working there were really nice.

My husband and I used to go to Alfonsos's regularly BUT since owners changed it was getting worse and worse so a friend kept telling me to try cafe Picasso. My husband loves the misto app and I love their baked ziti and penne vodka. Lorenzo is so so sweet. The wait service is very friendly and professional as well. I'm going back next week with other family. Can't wait!

The breakfast is very good I got the big breakfast when I say a lot of food I'm not kidding be careful it's a lot. Our waitress was very polite and attentive.

Really good diner! Inexpensive, good food, great service, wonderful outdoor seating. Thanks!

New management at Phoenix. Amazing service, friendly atmosphere, food is terrific. If you have been here before and had a bad experience, you need to come back to give this another try.

Phoenix cafe is a nice little diner-type restaurant on Main Street in Somerville and definitely feels like a more old school place than a lot of the trendy restaurants nearby. I went for breakfast on a Saturday morning and it was pretty quiet- just a few other tables around 11am. The menu is huge and very affordable! I had a really simple breakfast of just scrambled eggs, bacon, home fries and toast. My meal was pretty average. Nothing out of the world but just good, typical diner food! My husband had some sort of omelet and said it had a little too much going on with the flavors. All in all it wasn't my favorite breakfast ever but I would go back!

Not very familiar with the area, there are lots of places to eat close by including eating outside. This restaurant, which looks like a mini diner, had some good outdoor seating and that's where we ate. Went on a Sunday late morning and the weather which had been very iffy, turned really nice. Lots of choices, a huge menu (diner lite) with some Mexican options. Thought the huevos rancheros was excellent as was the Florentine omelette as well as the coffee. Prices were very reasonable, portions were huge and the service was very good and the staff was also very friendly. The owner, who was really hustling, came by to see if everything was ok which I think is a great sign. Making plans to come back.

Very good food--great find! Cheap pricing too. Country, small town atmosphere. Just keep in mind that they don't substitute items in their menu. For example, with the Phoenix Grandslam, you cannot substitute their French toast for their (amazing!) Cinnamon Raisin French Toast.

Service: Quite terrible, actually. We were first seated without any menus, and someone came in a rush to take our order. OK, fine -- minor slip. Menus were brought by someone else shortly after, then the waiter comes back literally moments after they were placed in our hands to ask us for our order. We tell him we need a minute to look at the menu. We then place our orders. The food for our party of 5 then comes in bits excruciatingly over the course of 45 minutes. One order is wrong. A few orders are missing some of the accompaniments. By this point, we were so annoyed that we didn't even ask them for the missing food. They seated us outside and it started to rain before we could even start to eat (1 hour later). No one offered to seat us inside. By the time all the food had come, the rest of the food was cold. Food: I wish that there was something positive to say here to make up for the service, but really, the food was awful. I ordered a western omelette -- which apparently for this establishment is just fried eggs into which are thrown a few bits of ham and onion. No pepper, no cheese. Everyone complained of their food being awful and really just wanted to pack it up and leave. What a waste of time and money. I don't think I could be paid to return.

A fantastic place for breakfast. Cozy with fast friendly service. Food was delicious. Great local place.

Brought the family on for breakfast and enjoyed delicious flavors. We had the huevos racheros and the al pastor Benedict which were both fabulous! The service was great arm and attentive. Will definitely be back!

Probably the best place to get a inexpensive breakfast in Somerville. I ordered a western omelette with cheese and it came out quickly and was served with a smile. The home fries were cooked to perfection. Perfectly crispy and brown but not greasy. The booths might be a little bit small but not really a big deal. The waitstaff were all friendly and they even remembered me from the day before. I also had the eggs benedict. The hollandaise was perfect. Would definitely recommend

This restaurant, located on Main St in Somerville, has an extensive lunch menu and we were able to find something to please everyone. Price is right with generous servings, and food is good. As a bonus, they were able to accommodate special directions for a family member with a dairy allergy.

Outdoor dining, friendly staff, good service, good food. Breakfast, lunch and since new ownership, they now stay open till 10PM. Will definitely be coming back to The Phoenix!