El Taller

The happening place to eat is El Taller — if you like fried plantains, unfinished wood grain, and critical pedagogy, then this is the spot to be… no, but really, this is a phenomenal café!
Everything about this café is spot on, both as a café/​restaurant, but also in fitting into the fabric of Lawrence in a really cool way.
Food: When it comes to price, it can’t be beat, and they are serving up incredible food, much of which is Dominican or Dominican-​inspired. The chicken torta is incredible (I got it because the women paying in front of me couldn’t stop talking about it), but for a little more food, check out the chicken entomada. Presentation isn’t anything fancy, but the flavor and tenderness were out of this world. And of course, you MUST get a sit of tostones (crisp fried plantains) to complete the meal.
Drink: I don’t really drink coffee, but their setup looks pretty en pointe.
Ambience: This is maybe my favorite part. The interior is inviting and unpretentious, with smaller and larger tables to fit your needs. The space also doubles as a community performance and meeting space (which is just cool in general), but consequently, the configuration can change as need, whether you are alone doing work or have a big group. Perhaps my FAVORITE part, though, is the giant book case across the wall of the store, with books for purchase or to read in store. The best part? A vast majority of the books are written by authors of color, discuss topics of social justice and critical pedagogies, and are bilingual or spanish langauge, too! There is even a section of kids books!
Lawrence doesn’t seem like the place where a fancy Brooklyn café is needed. Instead, this space that feels like it brings together both the needs of the community and an eye to the future of where Lawrence could be, ultimately creating an inviting and delicious experience! (Can you tell, yet, that I love this place?)

Love this place to much. I grew up in Lawrence, and this is how Lawrence should be seen. So much talent and love found in the art & food. It’s also a book shop, so be sure to browse. You can get you coffee fix, tortas, tostones, pollo y papa, as well as classics bar foods like nachos, french fries/​onion rings, fried mozzarella and chicken wings. They also have veg options like the yoga bowl w veggies, black beans, rice & salsa!
They have .35 cent wing deals on Tuesdays nights from 4−10pm, study night on Wednesday w bottomless coffee when you buy a drip coffee from 9−11pm. Open mics all the time too if you keep an eye out!
Great vibes, lots of creative energy in their, it’s a good time. The bar stools are spindles, guys. Oh, and they have a beer & wine menu which is pretty sweet!

Love the vibe here. Very eclectic mix of artists, professionals and locals. Pleasant little surprise in downtown Lawrence historical district. Food is great, smaller portions, drinks are great as well. I love coming to art shows and pop up shops here. Only wish there were more places like this in Lawrence.

I have driven by this place so many times and have finally made my entrance and didn’t know what to expect but food was very good. I got the quesedilla with chicken, very good hit the spot also the triangle fried mozzarella, and my absolute fave is the sweet potato fries it’s a must try. Everyone works here is super friendly and place is clean. My thing is the service is a little slow. The rest is good.

I always went to El Taller being a resident in Lawrence, was a frequent customer when they first opened with poetry slams, recently went and the quesadilla was not special and looked like a child made it. Flavor was decent presentation was not. Waiter also forgot my beans and wore a hoodie… Although place is trendy and modern I did not think that looked professional one bit.

Good food. Nice place to hang out. Customer service is on point. The décor is pretty nice, the benches are pretty cool. Love the atmosphere.

Deep rich flavors and upscale presentation is what I found today eating here. The upside down nachos were superb. It seemed all ingredients were hand made and pieced together perfectly… even the chips are fried fresh for each order and served warm. The red chipotle sauce surrounding everything was very rich in flavor and without a doubt home made. The nachos did have a decent kick to them so be prepared. The chicken and potato dish (entrée). Was very nicely done. Very good value for the money and a nice décor and environment. Give them a try.

Good food in a nice relaxed atmosphere. Service is good but could be a little faster at times. Delicious tortas sandwiches at breakfast and lunch. Chipotle mayo is delicious with sweet potatoe fries or tostones.

I have visited El Taller SO many times & have never left a review Sorry! This awesome spot is so overlooked. Their food is ALWAYS delicious, no matter what you choose to eat. The staff have excellent hospitality. && they always have smooth music to vibe to. You can come in, grab a latté, pop open your laptop, & get some work done. THANK YOU, El Taller, for ALWAYS being the go-​to spot for breakfast with my NY girls!

I walked in while Led Zeppelin was playing throughout the café. Am I in Lawrence? Indeed, yes Dorothy, yes I am. It felt like I took a mini day trip to Brooklyn, NY. Good music, books on a shelf to entertain guests, free wifi, great décor… I really liked the vibe. I got the steak torta. It was made fresh and was delicious. I devoured it, actually. Beverages are served in mason jars. Great place if you happen to be in the area. Check it out.

Very chill spot made me feel like I was in New York City for sec one in a million spots here in MA not much like it. From the playlist to the food to the ppl STRAIGHT CHILL!

I just visited this restaurant recently and I loved the experience. Great atmosphere, good food, very friendly staff (which is hugely important for me!), and very decent prices. They have books available for purchase, beautiful art on the walls, good music playing. It’s very laid back and different from any other cafes in the area. I look forward to my next visit.

El Taller is the heart of Lawrence’s burgeoning arts/​community activism scene. They offer excellent food, coffee, tea, etc., as well as a nicely curated bookstore. The atmosphere is very laid back, with cool décor and a friendly staff. They host a large amount of great community art events, such as poetry readings, art exhibits, community knitting, yoga, writing programs, etc.
El Taller is at the center of a wave of revitalization in this city. Hopefully more places like this will be popping up in the future.

best little gem ever !!!
lawrence needed this abd more of it !
great food !!!
tostones always fresh always tastey dip in garlic mayo sauce perfect
fries are always crispy deliciously lightly battered
wings are crisoy and delicious
fries and wings are probably frozen but atill good
molletes and tortas made on fresh tripoli bread
tasty grilled steak or pernil uhhhhh awesomeness!!!
drinks come in mason jars
beautiful place

Great coffee and food. Try the backwards nachos. Great art on the walls. What a good find. Free wifi too.

This is a local culture and literacy institution and they sell amazing food to top it off. The entomatada is to die for. Try the bruschetta and affogatto, and do yourself a favor, attend an open mike or free yoga lesson. You may just find yourself a new extended family.

This place is a treasure in the center of Lawrence: good food and a nice stock of books that you can browse while eating or buy. I picked up a nice lit crit book as well as a beautifully illustrated children’s book for my grandson. The stock of books covers a wide spectrum of ages and topics. The store’s owner is a retired teacher who obviously knows and loves books. The sales help is very friendly.
Retired UML Prof.

Great and growing place.
Food is great but service is a bit slow. Plenty of free books and games to use as you wait. There’s a great ambience and the place draws in a great crowd through different community oriented events and performances.

This place is a diamond in the rough. And by rough, I mean Lawrence, MA. It’s a super cool space with decent food. What sticks out for me is the staff, they are ALWAYS friendly and hospitable.

The food is great here and the Oh Marin wine is something I dream about. Unfortunately their servers aren’t the best, young kids –new job probably. But that’s not a problem, just sit at the bar. Looking forward to open mike on the 3^rd Thursday of the month. Also love the community awareness! Keep it up!