Cafe on the Common

It’s very cosy place. Very nice to time pass and chit chat and have good coffee and sandwich.
I had vegan sandwich it was good.
Quite a big portion.
I really liked ambience.
Staff are very good, very helpful, always smile on there face.
Window seat is good to see outside and sip u r fav. Cup of beverage.
I would like to go again.

My favorite place to get a cappuccino! The pastries are good as well! The atmosphere is pleasant as well.

Great place with great coffee! I have been coming here 5 days a week since its next door to my work. Cappuccinos are nice and foamy. They also make unbelievable quiches. Everything is homemade plus yogurts from Vermont!

Loved the vibes. Coffee was delish, scone was amazing. Literally amazing. I’ve only been here once so that’s why I don’t feel right giving it 5 stars. But my one experience was

I give this review one star for the service — only. extremely r u d e service. unless, maybe, you are a local. enough said. I guess I’m just jaded. I guess I’m old fashioned and I think that people in business that make their money off of others should just treat patrons with kindness and politeness. just sayin’. the owner was around and he seems really nice, maybe he would serve himself well to be at the counter.

Nice café and a place to meet up/​hang out with friends right across the Waltham Common. They offer a wide range of coffee drinks and pastries. My favorite item on the menu is the Matcha Latte (they put green tea powder into steamed milk, it’s delicious!). They also have 10+ choices of loose leaf tea (try the Red Zen tea!) displayed on the counter. You can smell the tea before deciding which one to take. The staff is always warm and friendly which is a big plus!
Free wifi and free street parking (there is also a parking structure on Common Street if no street parking available).

great hangout and excellent hazelnut lattes, and they make very pretty designs on the foam. it’s a very cozy place to relax with a coffee and a good book.

I love this place. The pumpkin spice latte is awesome and the rates are so affordable. I come here to do my studies, read a book or just hang around. It’s a lovely place.

I wish my lunch break was longer. I would be here everyday. Cozy lil coffee shop with a mom and pop shop vibe. Hand crafted lattes. I suggest the Almond joy. This place attracts all types of people.

I ordered a «Waltham Fog» today (subbed Irish Breakfast for the Earl Grey) and it was delicious. Only been living in Waltham for maybe 2 months, but I’ve already been here about a dozen times. Pretty much just what you want in a café – spacious, tasty beverages, friendly staff, cozy, unpretentious, central location, and customers from all walks. Thanks for being great!

I loooove Café on the Common. It has such a nice laid-​back neighborhood feel. It’s not generic like a Dunkin’s or Starbucks, and the coffee is just as good, if not better. Of course, you have to pay for quality, so it’s not a cheap cup of coffee. But if you’re a coffee aficionado, it’s well worth the money. I love that it overlooks the common (yes, go figure), and it’s an especially pretty view now that the trees are lined with different color lights for the holidays.
It’s a big space with plenty of seats. You are never waiting and then racing people to the next open table/​chair. The staff is friendly and the menu has a large selection. They do salads, sandwiches, wraps, and some yummy pastries (etc.) that go well with coffee. You can have it there or to-​go. I believe they also do ice cream in the summer. There are plenty of outlets for those looking to bring their laptop/​tablet and get some work done. It’s never too loud in there. I just love it.
My only semi-​negative comment would be that I think the «interior design» lacks a bit. They have some cushioned seats that are not exactly cushion-​y anymore, and I think a bit of a face lift would draw more people in. It just looks a little dated inside. A fresh coat of paint would work wonders, I’m sure.
There isn’t always street parking, but literally just around the corner is a car garage. Super convenient.
Definitely check it out.

Love their chicken burritos. Flavorful and generous, one of my favorite burrito places around. It’s a hangout for a lot of creative types.

One of the best coffees and sandwich menus available in Boston area. My only issue is that the AC wasn’t working the past 2 times I went and I could tell everyone was feeling it. Lovely place for a croissant, the only scones I actually want to eat (hey, we’re not all scone fans just because it’s Boston) and delicious sandwiches with their house made sauces.
I’m a regular, good things here!

This place is a great neighborhood café! Probably the only thing I like about Waltham. Their coffee is really good — I’ve tried their Dean’s Beans brewed coffee, cold press, and espresso drinks, and they have all been great! There are also lots of seats so it’s a great place to study, work, or chat.
The pastries I’ve had haven’t been as good, hence the 4 stars. Not terrible, just a little dry. But I come here for the coffee anyway and it’s fantastic!

Pretty much the only noteworthy european-​american style Café in Waltham.
The sandwiches and wraps are good/​overpriced, but the leaf and bean selection is quality and the vibe is nice.
The pasteries are not awesome, but not much local competition so…
Generally good music, free WiFi, plenty of seating.

In the past four years since my review I have visited CotC inconsistently, but I think that they have improved overall. The coffee is pretty consistent, but I still approach the food with trepidation, except for a few of the pre-​wrapped cookies.
I’m also impressed that they get bread from Iggy’s and MEM teas, though I probably will wait till the weather cools down so I can enjoy it hot rather than iced. It’s a pretty solid place to get work done, it’s equally loud as any Starbucks or the Peets in Cambridge so I don’t get the complaints on that.
I didn’t get the best service on my most recent visit, but if it’s an off day then I’m willing to look past it.

Pretty good cappuccino, not overly bitter. It wasn’t as wet as I like it, but that’s my only complaint. The food isn’t great. Pre-​made sandwiches and microwaved quiche. The interior is a little odd. The space is huge, but has tile floors which make it really loud. It’s not the kind of place you’d want to hang out in for a while. My suspicion is that CotC originated as one of the wave of 90’s «this coffee isn’t terrible!» coffee shops and it hasn’t changed much since it’s somehow the only coffee shop in Waltham.

I love little coffee shops like this! They always have great coffee and pastries too!
The employees are always so friendly too! :)

A nice place to get a cup of something to eat. I stopped in here in search of a light dinner a little over an hour before they were closing. (I was waiting for my car to be fixed at a shop down the street)
This place is better suited to breakfast/​lunch than it is to dinner, considering the food here is breakfast-​y/​lunch-​y… so, being unsure of what I wanted, I asked for something light. I was recommended the split pea soup (with hickory ham) and went with it.
The soup position was rather large, and the soup was rather pleasant. It was appropriately seasoned, and appropriately thick. I would have liked to see a little more ham, but that is just a matter of personal preference. I should also note that while I would not have noticed this without seeing it, the soup was heated in a microwave. Might be because I was there late, or because that is more efficient… not sure.
Soup came with an piece of olive loaf. The bread was fresh, cooked through (bread that can be made into play-​dough is undercooked) and was also delightful.
After chowing down the bowl I wanted something sweet and caffeinated. I got a molasses cookie, and a single machiato (not to be confused with a Starbucks drink, this is just a espresso shot, with a tiny bit of milk foam.
The coffee itself was of very high quality, and the drink was hot, rich, and strong. I would have preferred a little more milk foam, but no big deal. Cookie was nice, but I would have liked a stronger molasses flavor.
I look forward to returning at a late time for breakfast, lunch, or ice cream!

My girlfriend and I are at two minds on this.
She likes the coffee, tea, etc.
I don’t really drink coffee. To be fair what I drink is sugar and milk that has some coffee added. Coffee wise I would rather have Starbucks or Dunks, but it is better then Panara. I generally get the Iced Mocha when I go. My girlfriend would give everything drink wise two snaps up and a circle.
They do have Tower Root Beer, which is a pretty good root beer, so I give them props for that in the beverage department.
The primary reason I’m giving them 4 stars though is that they have the most awesome carrot cake. Whenever my girlfriend goes in that direction I’m always asking her if she stops to bring home carrot cake. It is just that awesome. They also have a good cinnamon walnut coffee cake (it’s wrapped in plastic by the register).
The people that work there are exceptionally good in regards to service.
When the weather is good they do have outdoor seating.