Rooted Armory Cafe

This place used to be quite nice when it was run by a sweet Lebanese man. I came back today after not having been there since last Spring and I was really sad with what it has become. I paid $10 + tips for a breakfast sandwich that came on a stale croissant, had a single fried egg, a slice of Kraft cheese, and a singular strip of microwaved bacon (the bacon was an extra $2). When telling me my total, the cashier made a ten with her fingers, as talking to a child or as if I don't understand English. (I have a slight accent.) The jazz band, which I usually really enjoy on Saturdays, was also very loud.

Great atmosphere on Saturday, but unfortunately they forgot our order twice, took 30 minutes to make 2 cappuccinos, and ultimately gave us a microwaved breakfast sandwich with frozen egg and cheese. Even Dunkin Donuts does better breakfast. Will never pay to eat here again.

Great food and excellent service at this cute hole-in-the-wall cafe inside the Armory. Diverse breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu with very reasonable prices, tons of seating, great art displayed all around the dining area, and a cool stage for live music.

I am sure as an artist space this place is great; however if you are going to sell coffee you really need to take the time to train your barista. Everyone was friendly but the cappuccino was so bad we had to find a place to throw in the trash. Terrible shame.

CLOSED (as of 8/18/24) except for special events, according to the sign on the door. I love this place. Sad it's not available for the community now.

Wish I didn't have to write this but here we are.. I ordered a rooted salad, took 20 minutes to put a small bowl of spinach with pecans together and toast a slice of bread. $5 worth of food (being generous here) costs about $13. This is on top of rude attitudes of the ladies working behind the counter. You're better off staying hungry than wasting your time and money at this dump.

Cute venue. I heard singer musician groups but I'm sure there are lots of types of shows there. Nice dimly lit room, cute stage, a clean bathroom and this cafe which was great! They had beer and wine, coffee, sandwiches and snacks. Overall a great experience, I highly recommend this venue for a small show! (It should be noted that there is also a large venue with a large stage for a big show in the other part of the building. If that's what you're looking for, I believe just search "The Somerville Armory")

Very reasonable prices, friendly service, delicious croissants made in house, plenty of seating, and interesting exhibit by local artists.

Prices on the coffee are really good here! Less expensive than other cafes in the area. They serve Lavazza coffee. It has a really homey, neighborhood feel, too. You might walk in a day there is live music, or a market going on in the other room. They have luluna kombucha on tap, and a good looking breakfast, sandwich, and salad menu. They have soup too, and local treats like Taza Chocolate and Q's Nuts. & No time limit on the WiFi.

Came in for the flea market and stopped at the cafe on our way out. We ordered two bacon egg and cheese biscuits, and were told that it would be 10 minutes because the biscuits were baking. Ok no problem, we popped back into the flea market while we waited. We came back after a few minutes and sat down at one of the tables to wait. After 30 minutes with no food, I went up to the front and the person behind the counter said they were "working on it." Went and sat back down and after 15 more minutes, other customers started asking where their food was and a few people ended up leaving because it was taking way too long. Eventually we just left without even asking for a refund, and nobody working there seemed apologetic at all. To an customer, it seems like they were just trying to get as many orders in as possible, being dishonest about how long it would take and hoping people would get frustrated and just leave, which is what ended up happening. Also, there was no music playing, nobody was talking, and it was just an overall creepy and weird vibe.

Goodness. Where to begin. It's almost like they don't expect that patrons of the performances are going to want a bite to eat? It was at least 45 minutes from the time we placed our order (after waiting about 10 minutes as they were finishing a large order, which was fine...) to when our cold cut sandwiches were handed to us. Nothing fancy, nothing even toasted. 45 minutes. And they were both wrong. There was a huge line of people behind us. I'm not sure if any of them got their food, but we wound up in the auditorium balancing plastic containers on our laps. The restaurant pickings within walking distance are slim, but I won't be eating here again.

Very nice indoor cafe. It's a nice place to go with friends and play board games. They have a ton of them.

I was so excited when I discovered this place right down the street! As a coffee shop, it was wonderful, and the events they host look really cool, though I have yet to attend one. My only reservation lay in the fact that on my first visit the woman behind the counter seemed flustered when I asked for a recommendation. I love taking recommendations from people wherever I go and especially at coffee shops because there is always something different to try. Maybe she was new or in the middle of something but she was taken aback when I asked her to recommend a drink and she told me to just get a cappuccino or latte, which I did, and it was very good. So maybe that was what she liked. I will definitely be going back to try different things, especially for an art show or concert, I'm excited they have beer and wine and are open later!

What a cool little space! Inside the Somerville Armory, this cafe is open seven days a week (longer hours -- until 10pm -- on Saturdays, shorter hours on Sundays). They have breakfast sandwiches, coffee and espresso drinks, salads, sandwiches, soups, and flatbread pizzas. There is also a good selection of wines and bottled beers from local brewers such as Pretty Things and Slumbrew. A bunch of small tables with mismatched furniture. Live music at least a couple of nights a week. Free wifi and friendly staff. What's not to love?

This review is only reflecting the Farmers Market part. I came here with my sister on Saturday to pick some up items. She has a farm share. The eggs were $8 a dozen! WHAT?! lol. so yea.. i was in complete shock. She got a variety of veggies. She also picked up meat but it was at a different location. So I walked around a bit. There were so many little stands and they all offered a variety of things. I didn't get a see all of it but mostly veggies or different sorts. The price is a bit expensive however so i don't know how much I would spend here if I were to pick up something here and there. It's still cool though and I love the idea of buying straight from farmers rather than a market but sometimes your wallet dictates where you can go. I want to give it a 3.5 stars but settled on 3 instead of 4 because of its price.

Perfect place to work if you want peace and quiet and lots of space, rather than getting crowded out in some Starbucks blaring their cheesy proprietary "Starbucks Radio" music. That said, some people prefer a more energetic and active setting...just depends on your preferences. Oh, and unlike many otherwise great independent cafes in the area, internet here is free and amazingly reliable/fast. Certainly beats the eternally buggy, slow-as-molasses wifi at the Somerville Library down the street! I always get iced coffee here which is strong and a decent amount for the price; the teas I found kind of so-so, and while I've never had their food, it all looks quite good and reasonably priced...just too carby for my needs. They do have a surprising number of good craft beers in bottle, though, as well as wine...haven't partaken as of yet, but as long as you weren't looking to get drunk on the cheap it seems plenty adequate. Have never taken in any of the performances they do here, but it does feel good to know that your dollars spent here are supporting such community events, not some distant corporation that could give a flying F. My only complaint about this place is that they often have the AC running way too cold even when it's in the 60s or 70s outside...what's up with that??? Just make sure you bring an extra layer if you're planning to hang out for a while.

Definitely not as cool as I was expecting, based on the location and the other reviews I browsed. [Fair insight: I was hungry when I arrived, and hangry by the time I got my food] The person who took my order wasn't sure what they make the smoothies with--I'm making an assumption because I just kept asking her more specific questions about the smoothies and not getting an answer. Finally I just went with a sandwich and some soup. The sando showed up on a plate next to some lettuce. Maybe it was intended to be a salad, but there was no dressing so...that's just lettuce. I had to ask for my soup twice before it actually got to me. That's a bummer--I love soup. In general, for the service and the food offerings, the prices don't justify the end product. On the other hand, it does have free wi-fi...

Every time I go in here during the day the place is empty and honestly I don't why. The Cafe is both welcoming and clean. The coffee is both tasty and reasonably priced. The service is always friendly and accommodating. But yet, empty. Let's try and change it. Come sample one of the hidden quiet coffee spots in the City , you'll be glad you did.

A place that supports local comedy?! No way! I did a standup show here a few weeks back and it went magnificently. The room is intimate and comfortable, the pianos are a nice touch, and the waitstaff are helpful and friendly. I was going to try the food but nerves got the best of me. I did, however, have some tea and later in the evening wine. Their wine selection: so-so but their tea: oh man. One of my favorite prepackaged brands is Mighty Leaf and that's what they carry. It's fantastic. Extra plus: they use LevelUp. And I love when I can use my phone and not bother with my wallet. Come be a patron! Support local arts and comedy!

i really wanted to like this place because it's in a cool building and close to my place. i got a sandwich for lunch, which was kinda average. and the tables are small and not very stable. the staff talked to each other way too loud, and it didn't help that they didn't put on good music. i moved to the couch and found that the staff put their stuff all over (they were trying to put some new paintings on the wall). i know it's a low time of the day, but it doesn't mean that they can be skimpy on their service. but overall it's pleasant enough to hang out in there. the wifi was quite reliable. i'm willing to give them another chance. it might have been their off day...

I love the armory and the Cafe, There is always something cool going on at the cafe. You can catch some live music or even a live podcast getting recorded. They have great coffee, food and Beer. I like a cafe that I can go and get a Guinness at.

Interesting coffee locale. The building is huge and historic with many temporary exhibitions. The coffee shop is comfortable with nice seatings and friendly staff.

Great sandwiches, AMAZING Capp and Lattes with a quiet ambiance during the day. What more can a person want aside from entering this beautifully built building?!

I just went to the cafe for a business lunch meeting- super impressed with how cute it is. What a great addition to the neighborhood! I will try to get some photos because the photo on their website is not current. The cafe is very cozy, reminds me of a living room where I could hang out all day. Relaxing jazz playing in the background. Wonderful assortment of food, pastries, drinks, sandwiches and coffee/tea. They even have beer and wine!! I look forward to going back for a drink when I am not working.

The Armory Cafe is a great little coffee and sandwich shop and a performance space. I always enjoy their mocha latte's and pastries. The panini's are almost as good as Panera's plus they have beer and wine options. What more could you ask for at an arts center in the city? I consider it a hidden gem.

Live music when we were there on Saturday morning. Flute player. Friendly neighborhood atmosphere. Sandwich, soup, and coffee were good. I had a sandwich with fig spread and brie with a lentil soup.

I really like this place. It's so different then the other cafes, because it feels more homey. Its very casual and cozy. The only thing i dont like is that it can be expensive. The food is excellent, and the pastries are divine. They even have gluten free options. Its just that I'm poor, so about $7 for a sandwich and at least $2 for a cupcake leaves me a bit broke. Aside from that, its got free wireless and is the perfect place to relax and get some work done on a weekday afternoon when it's not usually too crowded. They also hold events there which is a great way to bring the local art community together.

We've been going here after my daughter's music class for a few months now. Always on a Tuesday at 10am and there's usually three moms and three kids, plus a few others that stop in. There used to be a few breads and croissants to choose from, not great, but fine and convenient after class. The woman that works there is just ok too. Never friendly even though she sees us every week and we all tip. Lately there's only two croissants left and nothing else, really? Is this a cafe or not? We've decided to walk down the street to Three Little Figs from now on.

I just discovered that the Armory cafe is open 6 days a week. It's a cozy little spot with sandwiches and beverages (coffee, tea, beer and wine!) Food was good, although the service was a little slow. It's not a place you'd be at if you were in a rush anyway. I'll be back!

I love this place! It's cosy, the food and drinks are great, and you can very often enjoy a live show over dinner. They have booze, too. Who could ask for anything more?

I am definitely a fan! Laura makes an AMAZING Lavazza espresso, cinnamon buns and cannolis. Great little warm spot to chill, have lunch and check you email. If someone is performing on stage, that's an added bonus! I stop by there about 2 or 3 times weekly!

I walk here almost every day for a coffee after lunch. Aside from being a fantastic cultural arts venue, the food is good and the espresso better than most. The pastries, many of which are gluten free, look amazing, but I try not to eat them daily. The people who work at the cafe are very nice.

This place has so much potential, the atmosphere is very nice and its in a location in dire need of good cafes. However, the quality of the coffee and food is much on par with Dunkin Donuts (which is only a block away). The coffee is watery. The bagel I ordered was soggy and under toasted (and took about 10 minutes to get to me, even though I was the only customer in line). New ownership might save the day. Good beer selection though.

This is a serious contender with True Grounds and the Diesel for some competition for best spot to write and best spot to talk with a friend. It's a good place for sandwiches and/or high-end pastry; this place has both--and free wifi. The pastry comes from different bakeries (making up for our lack of a good bakery cafe). AND -- the background music is jazz. Finally! No singalong, just write!

It is better than what it looks like from the outside! Cozy, easy going place. Better than expected food and nice people running it. I find it easier to work at since it doesn't play background music often and when it does it's not blaring. I only wish it had more sunlight, but that's the building style not the cafe's fault.

I love the atmosphere and the coffee and it's nice to listen to some music while having a snack or meal. I've gone a few times on Saturday afternoons after attending the indoor winter farmers market. My complaint is the wait time. I've been there a few times when it's not been busy and the food takes such a long time to come out. I was also disappointed with the vegetarian sandwich. I expected that the sandwich would have a few slices of great cheddar cheese but instead they put in a tiny, skinny triangle of that orange cheddar. It might not be processed food, but it sure seemed like it.

Just stopped by for the first time to have a hot chocolate with my daughter - middle eastern influence and a great ambiance. I am thrilled to live around the corner - I will definitely go back for drinks with my hubby - and on a Sunday morning for coffee and a muffin. Seeing that I only had a cup of decaf, I can't rate the food, but I can say that the woman who works there made a fresh pot of decaf for me and that the coffee was very good - not dunkin donuts, more like Starbucks.

Only had the soup (apple butternut squash). Took them 20 minutes to serve it and it was watery with little taste.

I been to this cafe several times and I love it!!!!!! Its very cute and a great hangout spot. They serve breakfast sandwiches all day, sandwiches, coffees, cappuccinos, beer and wine!! They have been doing changes and improvements to the cafe and it shows! They also have a baker that makes fresh home baked muffins, cookies and cupcakes that are very creative with flavors. The staff are very friendly, when my phone died and i needed to find a phone number to Drumlin farms, the girl at the counter not only googled and gave me the number, she gave me the address, website, and fastest driving directions to get there! Lets say ill be coming here again