Cafe Bonjour — Restaurant in Boston

I think that there are ways Cafe Bonjour could improve but it wasn't all terrible.

Waiting: Though the line may be long and out the door, the wait is incredibly fast. It's just important to make sure your whole party is present and ready to be seated.

Atmosphere: Cafe Bonjour is located on a side street next to a T-Station. If you're sitting at the outside tables the stench and heat od the station wafts up, creating a not-so pleasant environment. The inside itself is cramped with very little space to accommodate really any party larger than four. Our group of six was split between two tables once we were finally seated. The inside is incredibly loud with the tightly packed in seating and the kitchen all competiting with each other. There is only one bathroom servicing the whole restaurant and the wait for it was ridiculous.

Service/Staff: Aside from the spectacular hostesses out front, service was lacking and rude. Our waiter, whose name I did not catch, rushed our orders. I mistakenly ordered an item I did not want because the waiter did not explain the menu or items at all. He was fast, spoke to quitely to compete with the noise of the restaurant, and seemed like we were inconveniences when we asked him to repeat himself. When our food arrived he did not say anything, set the food down and stood by the door, hovering near our table. It felt like we were beinf watched the entire time.

One of the reasons the wait isn't long id how quickly the waitstaff seem to drive you out of the restaurant. We were not even close to done eating when the waiter handed us our check and began to clear the plates. My mother was still working on her meal when he came back and the waiter essentially told us "We have other people leaving, so we need you to leave." I've never had that happen. We had maybe occupied the table for maybe 30 minutes before they were trying to rotate us through.

Food: The food was not worth it. I ordered the Monte Cristo Crepe and it was terrible. The goat cheese in it tasted sour, and not in the way it normally should. The crepe itself was too thick and more eggy than it should be. It tasted and had the consistency of a too eggy pancake. It was dense and chew, incredibly disappointing. I found myself picking around the food, eating what I could before giving up. The only good item I had was the potatoes I...

Second time here this week. I’m currently sitting at the bar writing this review, It’s 8am and the place just sat it’s last two seats available at the bar. Yeah, it’s popular and yeah, ITS WORTH IT. The staff is so friendly and welcoming upon arrival. The playlist is fire. I’m watching every plate of food get made and turned out like a fine tuned machine. The Staff is not only happy and friendly, but they may also work better as a team than the Patriots on their finest hour. I’m seriously impressed and soaking in this good vibration they have going on here.

This review comes after two visits of exceptional service and food, so I feel it’s as true as it can be. I came here my first hour in Boston the other day, tried the Ham and Cheese Croissant. Exceptional with th finest ingredients. Today I’m trying the French Toast because I’ve seen so many plates of it go out that I needed to finally try it. Just like momma used to make, as we southerners say. Didn’t even need the syrup.

The owner stopped by and made sure everything was great, when I showed him this review I was currently writing out. He was so grateful and took the time to tell me about the opening of this place in 2020. My jaw dropped to the floor…this has only been open since 2020??? This place feels like a piece of Boston history, there’s no way it’s only been a couple years (maybe the hardest years in history for a restaurant to open) and you have a line out the door like it’s Studio 54??? No way. But it’s True. He said it was the hardest year of his life opening this place up. There wasn’t a soul in the city, but by the Grace of God, he made it work and got through that horrible year (or two) for the world of restaurants. Literally, God saved this place. The church next door called one day and said, “You’re the only place open. Can we book meals with you for the rest of the year??” And the rest is history. Now, you better get here early or get used to waiting for the next...

Overall, this café is wonderful. Compared to many American places, it’s an absolute delight. The food is delicious — everything was fresh and well-balanced. 🍲 Even the cutlery came nicely wrapped in napkins. The servers were friendly (though not all — more on that below). Inside, the decor is tasteful and the atmosphere is cozy. The water was consistently refilled, and it was clean and tasted fresh — a detail I really appreciated.

Now, a few downsides: • The bright orange metal chairs on the outdoor patio are awful. They give off the impression of a cheap fast-food joint rather than a cozy café. In cold weather they’re freezing, and in the heat they get scorching hot. The café seems quite popular, so it might be time for the owner to consider investing in more comfortable and aesthetically appropriate outdoor furniture. • Second issue: we ordered both a savory breakfast and dessert, but were only given one set of utensils each. We had to eat both dishes with the same fork, which was odd… not a dealbreaker, but still strange. • Third issue: We were genuinely impressed and planning to leave a good tip — maybe even order something else. Despite the crowd, service was fast and polite, and we appreciated that. But then, suddenly, a different waitress (who hadn’t taken our order before) came over and dropped the check on the table without saying anything — no “are you finished?” or “can I get you anything else?” We were a bit confused. By that point, the place wasn’t busy anymore — lots of open tables, no rush. It felt unnecessary and a bit off-putting. That kind of service — handing over the check when guests haven’t asked for it and may not be done — doesn’t create the...