2nd Cup Cafe

So sad this place is dunzo.
Best iced lattees and free wi-​fi ever? Such a good alternative to Panera and Starbucks for some serious homework time.

Ever since I moved here from my old neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn I have been craving the comfort of privately run cafes. Luckily Allston has a few, and I was lucky enough to go there yesterday afternoon to spend a rainy Sunday catching up with a friend.
The café is small and quaint, and I like that the tables are next to windows that could be open if it was raining. One of my favorite aspects was a large wooden table that could fit a big group of friends or study group. I just love places that have character, and that table shone small town café. Loved it! If you need a nice quiet place to work on a project (where you won’t disturb people too much either) go there and grab that table.
Ordering a drink was a little confusing, since I think they are in the midst of a system change and didn’t have the full drink menu written on the board, and some of the drinks they had written weren’t offered (such as a latte, their machine was broken I believe). I also saw a guy bringing his bagel back to the counter saying that it wasn’t what he ordered. I am a person who generally gets frustrated with things like this, but the man behind the counter was very gracious and explained to us what was being offered, and I found myself very comfortable, welcome, and going with the flow. I love how they have their teas set out so you can look, see, and smell them before deciding what you would like. Plus they have handouts about tea and its benefits, and I always love learning something new!
My friend and I ordered a teapot for 2 of the chai, which was just lovely, and coupled it with some of their homemade simple syrup. We sat and chatted for a couple of hours (each getting about 2.5 cups out of the teapot, which looks much smaller than that!) and the atmosphere remained lovely and relaxed.
I love sitting in cafes where people are just relaxing, doing work, and there was even a guy talking business at the big wooden table. It makes me miss college, and Willimsburg, and I’m glad I now have a café in Boston that I’ll visit again and again.

Aesthetically, the inside is nice. The fact that the windows can be open makes the space feel so much bigger, and the décor is simple but appealing.
Unfortunately though, there is just a small selection of drinks/​items to order from. The blackboard menu is in a sad state, it just looks uncared for. Additionally, if you actually peek behind the counter there’s too much space and it just looks like there wasnt much thought put into even the work area.
Additionally, the ‘condiments’ section is a joke.
Lastly, while I was here the owner came in, yelled at a customer for putting their feet on his box-​table (he could have asked in a better manner). His attitude was just off-​putting.
There are better places to visit.

I’ve never ordered food here, though they have an extensive brunchy type menu.
I go here when I’m not in the mood for the loud atmosphere at Allston Café. I like their coffee better, but their service less – they’re less friendly and seem more concerned with getting you away from the counter ASAP. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal, however, their menu is completely unreadable. Large scrawled cursive over chalk board, about a walls worth, is really too much to expect a new customer to walk in, find what they want, and order it in a minutes’ time.
All of that said, they have free wi-​fi, better coffee and tea, and a less annoying crowd than Allston Café. It’s all about the scene you’re looking for.

Stopped in looking for a drink to pass some time. I was craving something sweet, and saw a bottled lemonade. Looked at it, then noted an iced tea menu. Ordered a pomegranate iced tea, and they guy noticed I had been considering lemonade, and offered to mix some in since he thought it tasted better that way. Agreed, and after tasting, agreed. Delicious.
The place didn’t have A/​C, but despite the hot weather, the big windows gave the place a really cool breeze. Free wifi, not crowded, and they had an extensive food menu.

I really like the idea of this place but there are a few things that just seem to miss. The atmosphere of comfort seems a bit contrived. The menu is a mess both on the board and in concept. The music seems to be just projecting from radio in the kitchen… but they’re playing the Traveling Wilburys is a saving grace.
The coffee is okay… a bit acidic.
My sandwich was sub par.
Maybe I’ll have to try again on a better day.
(Maybe that’s what they mean by 2^nd cup.)

I’m actually surprised that 2^nd cup is so well-​rated, but I’m going to go throw off the scale now. The drinks here… were good. I’m rating this 3-​star solely based off my tuna salad sandwich. Which I didn’t like too much. I’ve definitely had better, and I had higher expectations from 2^nd Cup. On the bright side… the restaurant is beautiful and really reminiscent of Panera to me. Lovely sunlight shining through the glass windows, and comfortable environment, friendly people – I think there’s wifi here too.
I would probably come back again to grab some iced mocha and then drink it while reading a good book sometime this summer. It’s also a perfect place to have a light lunch with a friend.

Nice neighborhood café. Ample seating. Free wi-​fi. Decent prices (although I’ve seen cheaper). $ 1 to refill a regular cup of coffee?
There’s a variety of salads and sandwiches on the menu, but I wouldn’t be able to say much about it. I was in more of a pastry mood, and the only ones on the menu were croissant, brownie, and cookies – all of which weren’t on display.
I have to say, though, that it’s an ideal place to people watch while sipping a drink. The floor to ceiling windows that open up to let the air in are very conducive to that kind of activity.
There’s also a good number of seats with some variety (regular stool, padded, bench, etc). You’ll have to strategically place yourself, though, if you need an outlet. I can imagine it would be difficult to get to one if the café is packed.

I like this place alright, especially when I lack the time to wander closer to Brookline village, or haven’t yet made my way over to the In-​House café, whose service, food, and overall niceness actually prompt me to stick around and be shockingly productive. For that matter, the service at 2^nd Cup is pretty good as well. The owner has a sense of humor, and everyone else has gotten me my daily fix in short order, even on busy days. The café itself is lined with big windows on one side, which keeps it light (and on nice enough days) somewhat airy. I’ve spent many an hour hunkered down in a chair alongside, watching my left arm tan while my right arm makes notes in the pagination of my books.
At times the crowds keep my productivity to a minimum; I’ve only encountered two large outlets so far near the back wall, so unless you plan on keeping your laptop usage to a minimum, 2^nd Cup might not be the best place to go on a busy day. On the other hand, their wifi is free-​1369 should consider following suit. Once, during a particularly busy day the owner asked me to sit at the large table in the back to conserve space; I found myself seated amidst a crowd of BU students who obviously knew each other. Awkward much? Eventually I scooted to a vacated table and proceeded to get back to work fueled on bagel power.
The food is pretty good, but somewhat pricey for what it is. That being said, I tend not to eat here and instead order pots of lovely tea and the occasional chai. Ultimately, 2^nd Cup is a great place for popping in for a bit; otherwise the lack of chair real estate/​outlets and the presence of signs warning folks not to loiter too long/​pressure to consolidate patrons tends to be a bit much for someone who expects to get much mileage out of their time. Definitely worth a try, and even a revisit, however.

I can’t even be a hater considering I’m all up in this joint AS WE SPEAK, and I’m definitly a fan. Friendly staff, cozy feel, excellent coffee (I’m so stoked about my chai latte you don’t even know), awesomely sunny, and sick décor. I, too, am a proponent of supporting local etabloshments, so when my girl suggested we shlep all the way from Medford out here just to get some new scenery, I obliged. The tables are basically stacked on top of one another, but considering the popularity, I guess it’s necessary. Also, I just paid $ 4.25 for a chai latte so, yknow, shoot me. All in all, great local place but nothing to leave your own neighborhood for.
Update: I’m glad I didn’t go ahead and post this earlier because it was at 3 stars and I’ve upgraded it to 4. (1) The bathroom was excellent and who even says that? No, but it was cute and clean and I respect that; (2) I just finished my turkey and avocado sandwich and it was to die for. I still say the prices are a bit steep, but the place has cleared out like whoa since from when we got here around 2 (it’s nearer to 5 now). It’s a nice spot and I’ve been really productive with my studying here this afternoon.

I came to this decent place to help an aspiring journalist write an article about one of my Unilocal reviews. The owner, Farhad, who is Iranian was very hospitable, which is great, and not surprisingly, Iranians supposedly have a strong tradition of being a hospitable people despite what the news and media says about Iran right now. The place also has free wi-​fi, which is great if you need internet. The bathroom was really big, and seems to be clean but the light needs more brightness.
My biggest regret was ordering their Latte coffee instead of the Mocchacino. The owner was able to let me sample the Mocchacino twice. While the latte was okay, the Mocchacino had Ghirardelli chocolate in it, making it really good. The next time I come, I am definitely going to drink that even though I am much more of a tea person than a coffee person.
I had the turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and onion. I took Cambridge, MA Unilocaler Leighann F.‘s advice and asked for their supposedly special honey mustard to be put on my sandwich. The sandwich was pretty good, and the honey mustard did make a significant difference. Although the sandwich and the latte was good, I thought the sandwich was kind of small. I paid a total of $ 9.34 for both the sandwich and the latte, and I did not get my stomach full. If you are looking for a hearty lunch at the best value, this would not be my recommendation.
So far, the major problem I have with this café is that the coffee they serve is pricey (even though the Mocchacino was good) and the sandwiches are disproportionately small for the price (even though the honey mustard made it good). Overall, great atmosphere, very hospitable owner, free wi-​fi, tasty sandwiches (if you ask for them to put in their special honey mustard in it), and having drinking coffee with Ghirardelli chocolate as an ingredient still makes me give this place a generous four stars in terms of quality but not in terms of prices.

I really really want to support local small businesses over corporations and no more is that true than when it comes to my daily cup of coffee. And while the 2^nd Cup Café has some great qualities (free wifi, friendly staff and owner, decent food, cool atmosphere, etc.) what they charge for a vanilla latte is downright criminal!
They begin with a modest base price of $ 2.85 for a small latte and then charge SEVENTY FIVE CENTS FOR A SHOT OF VANILLA! This means that a small late is close to $ 4! Comparatively, Starbucks charges .30 for a shot of syrup. Considering that I usually have at least one cup of coffee a day, we are talking over $ 270 a year for syrup. Not coffee… syrup. How is it possible that I’m happier with the prices at Starbucks than I am at 2^nd Cup Café?! I know this shouldn’t be a huge thing but it makes me feel like I’m being swindled every time I buy a cup of coffee. Oh well, I guess the search for a good coffee shop continues.

Went there by chance while waiting on a friend. The tea was good (but not out of this world) and it was no problem getting a hot water refill. Free WIFI did work flawlessly and was reasonably fast for my needs. Atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed.
Definitely a good place to work and chill.

While at BU, I tried to find a good café study spot in Allston. Inbound Café did not cut it and while I LOVE Herrell’s, it did not suit my studying criteria.
Cue 2^nd Cup: my spot for studying, resume revamping. etc. The free wifi is just great. There are a number of outlets to plug in laptops, which is definitely a plus.
And this place fit my other studying staple– good food to munch. The coffee is meh so I usually stick to the tea. The salads and sandwiches are outstanding and the staff is really quite friendly.
Good vibes all around.

I don’t understand the craze.
I stopped by here with my friend to get some studying done, but we stayed for approximately 5 minutes and then BOUNCED because of two reasons.
1) The wifi was not working. We asked the woman working there, and she provided us with little to no help.
2) I ordered a small iced chai. THANK GOD I didn’t get the large one. I am a huge, huge fan of chai… but at my first sip, my face contorted into a «ew-​this-​is-​gross» face while my friend asked me how it was. Blech. It was like sugar-​water with a strong kick of bitter cinnamon. I am not that picky with my food or drinks, but I actually had difficulty finishing this off. It only became drinkable once the ice started to melt and the bitterness became slightly watered down.
Although I haven’t tried the food, this experience was bad enough for me to be reluctant to go again …

This place is a great for students who want to study. I ordered a small mocha with whip for $ 3.50 and it was really good. The atmosphere is many students studying and people on their laptops because of the café’s free unsecured wi-​fi.
Drawbacks:
I came on a Sunday and unfortunately parking was a little difficult in the area. I ended up parking about a 5 minute walk away from the café. There are also people that come to chat with their friends so it can get a little loud if you are trying to study next to them. I ended up having to use earplugs to study and not be distracted by the conversation at tables around me.
Overall, this place has a great atmosphere and I would come back again.

I give this place a ⁹⁄₁₀ for ambiance… With carefully selected colors and unique furniture, it’s definitely a chill spot to settle down for an hour or so with some light reading as you enjoy their Delicious croissant sandwiches and wonderful drink selections… They take a LOT of care in preparing your food: it seems like they only give you the best part of any vegetable they use (either that or they have a magically ripe garden hidden under the store…) Whatever the case may be, it quickly became a neighborhood favorite, and I welcome the addition and expect it to be around for many years to come! :)

My friend had been raving about Second Cup for a few months, so I was looking forward to trying it.
First — the website leaves much to be desired — you can find the menu on Menu Pages.
Second — I felt it was a bit out of place on Brighton Avenue in Allston — surrounded by dive Chinese food places and Spike’s Junkyard Dogs. Although it is next door to my favorite Indian place — Punjab Palace, so there’s that — and there are some other good restaurants a block or two away.
Second Cup is a tiny place with about 7 tables — one of which is a long, picnic bench-​style table — and a few chairs for casual coffee drinking. There were many people sitting around with laptops and school books, so we were unable to snag a cute little table by the window (it was VERY close to the table next to it and we didn’t want to disturb the girl studying). We were able to grab another table though, but I think it’s because we got there before noon on a Saturday. Note: this place started to fill up, so if you plan on eating there, go early or late.
The way it works: you order at the counter and then they call your order and you pay when you pick it up. Although the guy who took our order said he would bring it to us, but that’s neither here nor there.
I asked for just a tap water and was immediately impressed when I got a HUGE glass coffee mug filled with ice & water. Definitely points for that.
The food comes on wax paper in low baskets — no washing or throwing out of plates! (I like that) — and it’s just the sandwich. No pickle, chips or anything.
My friend ordered the Tuna with Brie Cheese (I was totally debating about getting this, but only like cheese with my tuna if it’s a melt) on 7-​grain bread.
In an attempt to be healthy, I ordered the Cajun Chicken sandwich with tomato, cucumber and honey mustard (according to Menu Pages), also on the 7-​grain. In actuality, it had tomato & lettuce and I didn’t taste honey mustard. To be fair, I think the in-​store menu said lettuce, not cucumber. When I ordered, the guy warned me that it was spicy, and he wasn’t kidding! It definitely had a nice kick.
Mine was rather greasy — way more than I expected — and very messy. So was my friend’s. I think mine came out to about $ 6 or $ 7, which is reasonable for a good-​size sandwich. I was pretty full after. But a pickle would have been nice. :)
We decided it’s not a great place for a date — sandwiches are messy and the tables are SUPER close together = not good for private conversation. But it’s perfect for a quick meal or a nice leisurely lunch with friends. I wouldn’t be able to study there — too much people watching!

I went to 2^nd Cup Café for lunch today. They have a coupon in the Greater Boston Entertainment book, but I checked Unilocal before heading out to see if the restaurant would be worth checking out.
You guys are right again.
The food is delicious.
I had a smoked turkey and avocado on 7 grain bread and my boyfriend had a tuna on french bread. The honey mustard sauce on both made us say we’re definitely coming back.
Thanks for helping us find this gem!

Two words: honey mustard.
Whatever sandwich you get, whatever is on it, whatever kind of bread you prefer, you need to get that with some of Second Cups’s honey mustard. It’s quite possibly the best condiment ever made. Sweet, spicy, with a light and creamy conistency.
I only got the honey mustard because the owner, who was running the counter when I went in for a sandwich, recommended it… right after he insisted we try free samples of the egg salad.
This place is warm and cozy. Its run by a man who really cares about his customers. And, if that wasn’t enough, they make a proper hot chocolate with steamed milk, Ghiradelli chocolate, a dash of cinnamon and whipped cream.
But really all you need to know about is the honey mustard and the kind man who is serving it to you.