Tamper

Had to meet a friend here the other day– not often that I’m in Medford. This is a cool little place. I loved the industrial look and all the Edison bulbs. Seems like a good venue to enjoy a drink and people watch.
I got the chicken club, my fiancé got the French toast. Both were great, especially the club. Had house-​made mayo which was delicious and the focaccia bread was just as good. Prices were a tad steep but at least the food didn’t disappoint.
I wouldn’t mind stopping in here again. We came during late morning, which seemed ideal, because I’d anticipate Tamper is filled with Hipsters each night, haha.

The mister likes the coffee, and I like that my giant BOB jogger stroller fits alongside the table. And that when my BOB is there, it’s not alone. Some people see this place as «hipster» with its rustic and minimal design. But it’s nestled in nicely between hipster and yuppie. Yupster! (Did I just invent that… Darn. Google says no.)

Really delicious food but a bit pricier than I think is reasonable for Medford. I love their coffee and tea selection though and the staff are always extremely friendly.
The open seating would be a lot nicer in a more social place. Most of their regulars seem to be students with books or laptops, so it kind of defeats the purpose of having shared tables if no one is socializing. Regardless, I’m sure I’ll be back.

I’ve been a big fan of Tamper since their opening! I love what Jason and Adam have done with the space. It’s so refreshing to have a place to go in this area that cares about sourcing good ingredients and making quality food. It disheartens me a little read other people mentioning how steep their prices are in other reviews — they really are fairly priced for the quality of food you are getting. The kitchen is open with a tiny bar, and the staff is so friendly and always starting conversation.
Their menu is always fresh and changing, and the coffee is equally as delicious.
It can tend to get a little crowded during weekends or lunch hours, but that’s how you know it’s a good place!

Good, reasonably priced brunch food (drinks are a little pricier but it comes with the territory). Compelled to write a review by the ever-​friendly staff. Definitely my favorite place to work or grab a coffee.

The espresso drinks are great and there’s always something new and unexpected on the menu. And the folks who own it & work there are awesome. Super friendly. During July they project the whole Tour de France on the wall.

Lovely hipster kinda place for brunch. The food is fresh and good. But it was disappointing that it took almost 1 hour for a single order of scrambled eggs and potatoes today.
Would give them 4 for food and space.
But 1 for the ridiculous wait. Food is good but not that good that it would be worth it, given the price.

Fantastic food and extremely well done coffee. Never disappointed!
Not a huge menue but great attention to quality and detail-​not your standard coffeehouse fair. A favorite breakfast and lunch place for my most finicky friends and family.

I had a decent double espresso — good, thick, long-​lasting crema, although the brew had a very slight tinge of sourness. I also liked that the coffee came with a free serving of seltzer to refresh the palate!

I’ve been here a few times and really like their egg sandwich (so much cheeeeeese!), although I do wish they offered it on a choice of breads (bagel is fine, but isn’t my favorite). Nice, friendly atmosphere. Ample seating. Okay prices ($ 7 for egg sandwich & hot tea). Good spot.

You like hipsters? And overpriced 3 slices of bacon? You’ve found the right place.

Awesome local sourced food from New England and nearby farms. Awesome cold brew coffee all day long. One of the best in boston area. Rapscallion beers on draft. Love this place. Great for groups with large long tables and nice wifi.

Nice, unique spot. It can get SUPER packed so that’s a bummer but when there aren’t too many people, you can be really productive. Coffees are fine, staff is okay. Nothing to rave about but I’m always down for more cafes.

Very trendy shop in a not so trendy town. Love the cafeteria style seating and the brightness of the room.
Food liked delicious, but I only had time for a cappuccino which was delicioso. Staff was very friendly.
Looking forward to grabbing a type on my next visit.
Street parking requires paying at the machine and placing a receipt on your window or dash.

Pros:
1. Food is healthy and a lot of it is organic
2. Design of the place is refreshing
3. Not only is the food decent, but it’s an option that didn’t previously exist on Boston Ave
Cons:
1. Portions generally not too big (except for maybe the oatmeal)
2. Expensive
3. Very annoying hipster crowds on the weekends

I was looking for a hot breakfast and I’m so glad I came here. I ordered the egg plate, which came with ‘potato mash’ and thick toast. I also had the regular drip coffee. The price wasn’t amazing, but wasn’t outrageous either.
The décor was very cool and… metallic. Lots of stools, gears on the wall, etc. Modern as heck. I would have appreciated some more options for seats with backs on them, as everyone who came in wanted to sit against the wall, so that area was a little crowded.
Can I tell you that I’ve never had black coffee that I liked? Ever? Until now. This coffee was smooth enough that I didn’t need to add anything and it tasted like coffee is probably supposed to taste.
The eggs were fine, but could have used a bit of salt — and there were no shakers on the tables, which was a little strange (but I get it at the same time). The toast was great and super hearty, and it came with butter already on it, which is always a treat.
The mash was out of control. So simple but so good. There was some seasoning that I couldn’t place, and I appreciated that they kept the skins on the potatoes. Although I love home fries with eggs, this was a great substitution.
Overall I was very pleased with my experience here! Would definitely go back if I’m in the area again.

Oh Tamper, this place gives me so many mixed feelings…
Positive:
— Space: lovely, airy, industrial décor with a good amount of seating, outlets, and free wifi. won’t leave with a weird smell on your clothes like you would from Danish Pastry.
— Service: The chef and co-​owner (Mike?) is a super nice guy. You can tell he cares a lot about the menu he creates, as he’s constantly tweaking and trying to improve upon his creations.
— Coffee: very strong and bitter, if you like that
Negative:
— PRICES PRICES PRICES!!! Why is everything so EXPENSIVE? I understand that they’re using quality ingredients, but I honestly don’t think their food tastes good enough to justify their pricing. My friend once paid $ 10 for a small cup of curry squash soup, only ordering it because they didn’t put the price on the board (for good reason). Honestly, sometimes the gall just astounds me. It is for this reason that I can only give this place 2 stars. I would love to come here more but I just can’t afford it! If everything were just $ 1 – 2 cheaper… I would be here all the time.
— I’ve seen staff turnover like no other here. Every time I come by, there is a different cashier or cook in the back. They’re usually nice enough, but service can be slow with all the training going on.
Of the food, their oatmeal is great, very hearty and slow-​cooked steel-​cut oats. Their BLT and chicken sandwich is also good. Again, I just really wish that they would lower their prices a little. WHY TAMPER WHYYY

After reading the reviews I figure I’d give this place a try. I went with my boyfriend yesterday morning. The place was dead for a Saturday morning (maybe because this place is located near Tufts and it’s winter break?). Anyway I ordered the 2 egg plate over easy and a latte. My boyfriend got a breakfast sandwich and a fancy cola that tasted exactly like regular Coke — BTW you pay extra for bacon. All of that was $ 20… isn’t breakfast suppose to be cheap?
So my eggs were medium and the home fries that came with it were the consistency of potatoes that had been reheated in the microwave. I wasn’t impressed. My latte was deeeelish, no complaints there but I wouldn’t return here for that alone. There was nothing special about the breakfast sandwich my boyfriend ate. The place is just eh.

Boston Avenue needed Tamper. Don’t get me wrong — I’m as much a fan of cheap and greasy ‘wiches as the next «can’t tell if you’re a professor or an undergrad,» fresh-​faced intellectual. Truly. But the area is saturated with options, and save the sugar-​coated sweetness of Danish Pastry House, nothing really steps up the midday meal/​wifi café game. Enter Tamper.
Full disclosure: my first lunch here lacked excitement. While the Turkey Club featured house roasted turkey and quality bacon, it’s too bready and needed a heftier swath of mayo. Plainly, it was boring — even on Iggy’s Bread — and not worth the $ 9 price tag.
Then came the next trip, and the Chicken Pesto sandwich won me over. Pulled bird (both white and dark meat) in a nutty, herbacious spread and a nice toast on Iggy’s country white. Side it with a mustardy pickled carrot slaw. A fine, fine monument to that Earl of old; so much so, that I’d be willing to double-​back on that turkey club to see if it’s grown up just as strong.
WiFi is free, interior is nouveau cabin boiler room serving as a meeting space for the Revolution of Autonomous MacBooks (and their Tufts student slaves) and they sell locally-​made treats, like VT’s own Red Kite salted caramels and some other stuff I can’t recall because I’m temporarily obsessed with those caramels. That’s not true. I’m actually permanently obsessed. Buy them all.
Stop in for a spell, grab a loose leaf tea and you’ll probably bump in to a Unilocaler or two (hey Christie and Carolyn)!

Do you like drinking your coffee in a wide open, industrial chic, sun-​drenched setting? Tamper it is, then.
A recent addition to this stretch of Medford’s Boston Ave, Tamper offers up simple minimalist interior with lots of local love showcasing area brands in their small retail offerings and their in-​house menu (All sandwiches on Iggy’s bread!)
Dishing out breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch– I’ve only made it around to lunching here thus far. The pressed sandwiches are tasty– my only suggestion is that they come out a bit dry — maybe a tad more butter/​olive oil/​what have you on the panini press?
It’s never been swamped when I go. There’s usually a nice mix of Tufts kids face deep in homework, professors stopping in for coffee, and locals popping in for a bite. The space feels like a Restoration Hardware catalog or something– with long wooden communal tables & exposed piping and brass touches everywhere. While I wouldn’t say this place is cozy, it’s exactly the kind of place I could go to get something tasty and get some work done for a few hours.