Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Third St — Restaurant in Cambridge

We moved to the city a few months ago while everything was shut down, so this is our first time trying Tatte. We got to the bakery and it looked like outdoor dining was full, so we ordered online to take home and wandered around the block while we waited. We had our dog with us and they had a little dog bowl out front, which is always a nice touch.

I got a text when our order was being bagged up, and it was a lot sooner than expected! There was someone at the door managing the line, she was clear about the rules and very polite. The takeout counter was separated from the ordering counter (people were able to walk up and order), and the staff was very nice. Additionally, every member of the staff was wearing their masks properly and I'm pretty sure I saw them wearing gloves as well. There were also hand sanitizer stations near the door.

On to the food! A big struggle we've had with takeout around the city has been how the food is packaged up. I got the french toast, which came with jam and goat ricotta, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the jam and cheese were packaged separately from my toast (so I got to put it together myself at home instead of having soggy toast). My partner got the lamb hash, and his bread and tomato salad were packed up separately from the hash. I'm sure this makes it easier on the staff to not have to assemble, but it's also really nice from our perspective because we don't have to worry about soggy breads or sad vegetables.

The food itself was absolutely delicious. The serving sizes were generous (we've got some tucked away for snacking on later) and the quality is far better than other places we've been with higher prices. We were pleasantly surprised by the prices, especially for the quantity and quality of the food we got (the french toast was ENORMOUS and the hash was meat-forward, unlike what we've experienced at other places). Definitely a place to add to the...

Strawberry, Roasted Peach & Chicken Salad $14.85: EAT THIS. Super yummy and fresh. It is the end of the season for strawberries and peaches, so I was warry, but this was fresh and light, not heavily dressed. The cheese added a nice creaminess, but I was surprised it was missing the usual tartness feta has. The chicken breast wasn't dried out. The cashews were a nice unexpected surprise that added crunch. RECOMMEND.

GF Chicken Salad Sandwich $12.50: So I had an initial bite that had like too much butter or something in it, fatty and odd. After that, the taste improved drastically, and was nicely balanced. OKAY.

Kale & Apple Juice 12oz $6.00: Refreshing! I could taste both the kale and apple, and one did not overpower the other. RECOMMEND.

Oatmeal & Walnut Cookie (GF) $3.50: EAT THIS. A love a soft cookie that has a bit of crunch on the outside for texture and this was perfect. Not too sweet, and the walnuts added nice texture. RECOMMEND.

It is a bright lovely space. While I know they are attempting to maximize space, seating feels too close. I sat at the bar facing out to look out the windows. I am a normal woman, but I had to put my bag on a stool next to me, and thing felt too close. I was lucky to be there during down time or I would have been brushing people to get to my seat. SO if you are like me and like your personal space, seek to go during off peak hours.

I didn't like where the location was to bus your plates when you are finished, I hat to walk back up to the front and pass the register. I understand why they do this, to make it easier for staff, and keep the visual space clear. I still found the placement off.

Staff were not the nicest, but I went in there to eat, not make friends, but something to keep in mind.

Verdict:...

This is the worst Tatte I've ever been to in Cambridge. I ordered Yogurt Muesli and Croissant Breakfast Sandwich to go in person. The breakfast sandwich never came to me after 25 mins waiting. The staff said someone took it and let me wait for another 5 mins. This is so ridiculous. No one ever called my name while I was waiting and the staff asked me to wait for extra time given I've been waiting for so long. This is not the most ridiculous part. I asked for a refund of my order and the Yogurt Muesli has been bad because of the long wait. The staff handed me a receipt and said some sentences I couldn't understand at all. I looked at my receipt and thought they refunded my yogurt as a satisfaction and I have to wait for 5 mins to get the sandwich. I was like "okay, these people don't speak English well and they may work hard so I shouldn't be a jerk". Then 5 mins later the staff told me she refunded my sandwich not the yogurt as this is what I asked her to do. Oh My God. How ridiculous is this? I was holding the bad tasting Yogurt cup and she told me she only refunded my sandwich??? Who will pay for the bad tasting yogurt and my 30 mins+ waiting time? So bad to come across this in the morning. I didn't find a place to complain about the service to their holder so I posted it here.

I used to order pick up online from the Tatte at Harvard square. It happened to me some times that my food was taken by someone else. The staff are extremely nice. They say they're sorry sincerely and actively offer me the refund. This Tatte is the Tatte I will never ever be back unless I can see the improvement of their service and their apology to a customer, like me, who...