Really lovely interior with hanging plants. This place is both a cafe and market. The market area is small, but offers a wide selection of imported cheeses and European goods. The cafe is also small and crowds easily at lunch, but the setting is so charming. Came here with a friend, and I got a drinking chocolate with oat milk, which was pricey at $5.50, but good. My friend got a salad that was absolutely huge. Id definitely come again to try the food.
The sandwiches here are delicious but expensive for what you get—both times I’ve eaten here I’m still hungry at the end of the meal. On future visits I will order a baked good along with my main item. Overall a good lunch spot but because of the prices, it’s more of an occasional special treat for me rather than an every week visit
Expect a well-curated selection of pantry staples, sweets, cheeses, etc., as well as freshly baked muffins, croissants, cookies and scones and delicious prepared-to-order sandwiches and salads. Everyone is very helpful and friendly, and we love supporting this local business!PS If you have a chance, try the cruffin!
Everything here is absolutely delicious. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The outdoor seating is great in warm weather. I’m really glad this business has survived the pandemic. It’s definitely an asset to the community ❤️
One of my favorite spots in Brookline! Their espresso drinks are fantastic (prepared on a beautiful La Marzocco machine), and their baked goods are some of the best around. I love shopping here for specialty foods, especially nice for sending as gifts! Great selection of chocolates, spreads, cheeses, and more. Their website makes it easy to order online and pick up in-store.
This is a shop with some real heart! You can guarantee that whatever they have on their shelves is carefully vetted and sold on the basis that the products are made by small high quality companies. Their cheese selection is exquisite and classes that they offer are top notch and guaranteed to have a one of a kind experience. During non-pandemic times, you can sample anything in the store and know youll get a story about the origin from Talia, the owner. Allium is truly my favorite place to shop in Boston :)
Whatever you do to your baked deliciousness, its criminal. Rosemary orange something i bought was amazing. Highly recommend.
Finally a cozy independent coffee shop has come to Coolidge Corner! But its not just their coffee and tea thats amazing (try the dark Wuyi Oolong tea--its my favorite)--they also offer a wide selection of really nice cheeses, charcuterie, chocolate, oil, vinegar, condiments, truffle products, pasta, and much more! Its a perfect place to get presents for people, or just get food for yourself. They offer tastings of everything, so get ready to try chili fennel pickled Brussels sprouts and hops-flavored chocolate. You can also get delicious pastries (the allium scone and whole wheat croissant are my favorites), and order cheese/charcuterie plates to eat in house as well. Allium also has the best atmosphere--the staff is incredibly friendly and ready to help with anything you might need. The seating area is spacious and gets a lot of light, and the ceiling is covered in mounted plants, which is really pretty. As a student, I love coming here to do work--they have accessible power outlets, and nice seating in the windows. I highly recommend Allium to everyone!
I ordered a cheese basket and a dip of my daughter and son in laws anniversary. They were so wonderful on the phone helping me pick what should be delivered. I had first called on a day they were closed and they were still willing to get this done for me - but I told them to wait until the next day. They delivered quickly, and safely, with no contact. My kids said that everything was delicious. I will use them all the time!
Just the best place around. Kindest people, delicious coffee (that alone is really all you need in life anyway). In person shopping appointment made me feel like a VIP (thought I am very much not 😂). I got to ask questions, get cheese recommendations, and feel safe while doing it.
Allium cafe is a must-stop-by place with a variety of craft small-source deliciousness! If you are in the area, its the best cafe around. The small-batch chocolate and craft coffee are 10/10 too!!!
Did some work nearby. stop in for lunch. great bagels and lox and coffee. i used to live around the corner, the neighborhood looks wonderful.
I walked in to this Cafe at random and Im sure glad I did. This will be a regular stop now for me when Im in Brookline. Their grilled cheese was out of this world good. I had a maple latte which was a perfect balance of sweet and Expresso. They guy behind the counter was really friendly. Five stars! Cant wait to go back.
Great selection of gourmet food! Used cheese platter for gift giving around holidays. It’s been a great hit with friends and family!
Great food, awesome quality, kind staff. I love everything there specially their little sandwiches and their fantastic croissants(those are the best). The croissants tastes like the ones in Paris.
Best bacon, egg & cheese sandwich I’ve EVER had!!! 11/10
Allium Market is an absolute gem!! Food/coffee/tea is amazing. Cheese counter is an absolute show stopper! Perfect place for holiday gift giving and treat yo self moments!
This place has great food and desserts
Just what this area of Brookline needed. Small shop carrying beautiful products and making impeccable food. They brew George Howell coffee, have the top boutique chocolate brands, and their cheese program is legendary status. The owner is awesome and will chat you up while answering all of your questions.Great new spot, dont hesitate to go in!
They threw a scone at me, now theyre closed. Coincidence? I think not.
Pretty good vegan cheeses.
Delicious food and coffee. Theyve nailed their covid protocols. Outdoor seating is great.
Great sandwiches. Nice outdoor seating on a cold snowy October day.
A lovely place to shop for some artisan groceries (think olive oils, jams, salts, etc) and cheeses. The customer service is also amazing, everyone is super friendly and accommodating.4 stars because as amazing as their service is, it becomes very slow very quickly. Also, it’s not the best place to sit and work. It’s a bit loud, and there aren’t many outlets if you need power.Otherwise, a great place!
Love love this deli/restaurant, they have good artisan dishes, great little deli in the back and a variety of worldly pantry goods from chocolates to olive oil.The staff are ALWAYS very nice, and very helpfulIt has limited seating and it’s first come first grab bases. You’re not allowed to sit for hours on your computer to work or study, they don’t want to be like starbucks basicallyThey sometimes hand out samples of their products like chocolates and cheese, yum
Excellent coffee and pastries. Staff is careful to encourage good social distancing.
I cant say enough nice things about this place. The coffee is great and its served by a staff of delightful human beings. They have a great no laptop policy on the weekend, and during the week theres plenty of outlets and table space to get your work done. The food is consistently delicious and the baked goods are creative and yummy.
Not a place eat and work. If you want a place to buy cheese, there are other places with better prices that are only a few minutes to walk and have about the same selection. Overpriced food with smaller portions. Nice staff though! I was going to try their coffee on my next visit, but I think I’ll try somewhere else that caters more towards someone like me who is looking to actually do work.
The customer service received from Katrina was outstanding! After, asking if they sold mustard seeds (which they did not) Katrina asked how much I needed and then went to the kitchen to give me two tablespoons. She generously treated me so kindly, I would highly recommend this restaurant & store to others.
A pretty cool addition to Coolidge Corner! Don’t expect to go in and save a buck, but everything is well worth the price! Lots of cool beverages, sandwiches, salads, pastries, and tons of condiments/specialty items. The staff was also extremely friendly and knowledgeable! If you’re familiar with Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis, this place has the same vibes!
It pains me to write this review. When Allium first opened, I was ALL about it. Great food. Super cute little market. Wonderful atmosphere. Friendly staff. Id find any excuse to come work here for a couple of hours.Over the last year though, its declined. The last three times Ive come in, Ive been met by staff that is extremely disinterested, cavalier, and even at times rude. No smiles, and very disregarding of my questions. Today, they were even a bit demeaning and sarcastic. That just irks me so much! I would almost always go to an establishment with mediocre food and friendly faces, then come to a place with great food and a sour attitude.I do hope they improve this with their staff at some point soon, because i do really love coming here otherwise.
Love this little market with eclectic offerings. The parfait was uniquely delicious and coffee was good. Would like to return for some high end specialty items to dress up a meal or gathering at home.
Nice shop, interesting things to taste, a great place to buy a gift for someone who loves food. I havent tried the food from the cafe. The place gets a little crowded, there are a few places to sit inside. They do put out samples of different products to try which is nice. There is cheese in the back which is hard to see if you just peek in.
Very good location, with lots of fresh products. The personnel is friendly and willing to help. 100% recommended.
Very good location, with lots of fresh products. The personnel is friendly and willing to help. 100% recommended
This special place takes full advantage of the limits the space affords it. Their shelves are stocked with a finite amount of specialty foods, but you can bet that any item you take home will be a quality and unique product that you will love. They also have a modest sized cafe menu but in it are tasty vegan options as well as yummy items that take advantage of their meat and cheese selection. Everything you order here is good. I recommend meeting a friend for a coffee and pastry here or grabbing a few items off their shelves to fill out a charcuterie board.
Allium market is the best new addition to Coolidge Corner! I held a party there, and they absolutely exceeded every single expectation I had for food, ambience, and service. Talia Glass and her team truly believe in quality foods served with a smile, and it makes for such a warm, wonderful environment. Their chef is a young, earnest woman who is beyond talented. The food and cake she prepared were as beautiful as they were delicious. I can’t say enough good things.
Fancy cheese selection. Artisan pastries. Live plants. The best coffee around Coolidge corner. Nuff said.
Cool array of fancy foods and packaged goods. But Extremely overpriced. I like to go when I really wanna treat myself. Theres good coffee and a small deli too.
The food is really delicious and the cafe has a lovely atmosphere. Heads up - laptops are not allowed on weekends. Otherwise, great experience!
When I mentioned that it reminds me of Zimmermans, my favorite Ann Arbor coffee shop/deli/general store, the owner exclaimed Zimmermans was my inspiration for Allium. Its always fun to reminisce about my time at UofM, even with a random alumnus. ☺️Hands down, the best cafe/coffee shop in Coolidge Corner!
Super tasty pastries, and I love that they have a no laptop policy on weekends! The atmosphere felt so warm and personal because of it. Also, the staff were very accommodating to food allergies. Ill be coming back to check out their cheese!!!
Easily the best cafe in Coolidge Corner. Menu items are fresh, creative, and well prepared. Love their tea sodas. Havent tried any of their cheeses or grocery items yet but they look impressive.
Great atmosphere, people, food, and service. We had the salmon and tuna sandwiches and they were light but hearty if that makes sense. We ate a late lunch and it held us over well pass dinner.
OVERPRICED, almost a robbery!!very nice location, food is just fine, honestly everything they offer you can cook at your place (this is very bad in my opinion, when a restaurant/bar/cafe is not offering something special but just banana bread and a small selection of pretty simple sandwiches I call it a failure)Their business is based on buying some Italian and Japanese (mainly) food, increase the price by 15 folds and sell them back to you overpriced, personally I dont like this idea of business. Cheese selection is pretty big (it is overpriced too, clearly) but there is no one with the skill required to suggest you something, they dont know their products (again, pretty bad for a place that is trying to sell you overpriced products), they cant help if you have specific questions, they dont know how to serve people (it is not unusual to see more than one persone serving one client even when there are a lot of person in lane)Very bad, avoid it, the area is full of better and more honest business!!
Nice little coffee shop with a small selection of pastries. The real standout is the huge selection of other things lining the wall opposite the counter: Olive oils, vinegars, hot sauces, chocolates, etc.
Would have posted the ham and cheese croissant but I simply ate it before I could take a picture. Its that good! Cozy place to relax in the morning and want h over Coolidge corner
Interesting space. Good food—tasty! The coffee is spot-on. The cheese counter is well stocked as well.
Food is good but we waited in line to order one pastry behind only 4 other people for 20 min. They had 3 people all taking one person’s order, ridiculous! The other time I came here they forgot to make my coffee. Service really puts a damper on what would otherwise be a nice place.
Fun, kind and helpful people here! Really good coffee, fun selection of tasty treats from around the world. Bright and enjoyable place to sit with your coffee. Would highly recommend.
Very helpful and friendly staff, let you taste anything. They have an impressive (quality-wise) collection of olive oils, balsamic and many more. The coffee is great and the pastries look amazing.
I stopped in on a weekend trip to Boston and I cannot sing the praises of this shop loud enough. Excellent, friendly, and very knowledgeable staff. The selection of cheese was phenomenal. Allium Market will absolutely be on my do not miss list for future trips to the city.
Very good selection of high quality foods. Bit pricey though. Enjoyed sitting at the cafe. Would come again for small grocery shopping
The truffle cheese is ridiculously good
The best chocolate chip cookie in this country, maybe the world. Everything in here is good... and the staff is great too for recommendations and a laugh.
A truly lovely venue. 1/2 café, 1/2 international market, 100% charm. Great atmosphere to work in, incredibly helpful and lively staff — we lost track of time and stayed 15 minutes past closing and they still helped us buy things!
Great vegan options. Lovely neighborhood place with a cute vibe, wonderful to catch up on work or meet up with a friend for coffee! Obviously a lot of care goes in to choosing the products stocked and served.
I was hoping for a few more custom sandwiches with their cheese and meat counter so well stocked. They should get more breads from clear flour bakery, and then offer custom sandwiches.
The pastries are dry and bland, and everything here is horribly overpriced for the mediocre quality.
Me and my friend came for ice lattes and as we are aware of the fact, that American people tend to put iced drinks in plastic cups we asked them to serve them in glass. The cafes came in pastic cups and the barista did not seem to care when we politely explained our disappointment. Environment protection is highly important to us, so unfortunately we will not come back to this place.
Very fine baked goods and beverages. Sometimes hard to find a street.
This specialty foods store is a great addition to Coolidge Corner, serving up baked goods and sandwiches, George Howell coffee, great canned / pickled goods and fancy pastas, and a strong selection of cheeses with a very patient cheesemonger behind the counter. Prices are high but I havent had something I didnt enjoy here. Go for the pickled brussel sprouts and the lattes, but note that its a laptop free environments on the weekends I think, to preserve the ambiance.
Charming place - if youre looking to put together a thoughtful gourmet gift basket, look no further! definitely higher end prices for both the cafe and the shop, but worth a visit.
The place looks like it want to be healthy and organic. I asked the barista on purpose to put my drink in a glass instead of plastic. However, he managed to use a plastic cup and when I complain he did not seem to care at all. I will not go back! Moreover the macha wasnt too good and we payed 11 dollars for two drinks.
If youre in the area and are in need of some great coffee and pastries this is your spot! They brew George Howell coffee and definitely try the shrub soda too! The products they carry are equally amazing especially the truffle salts and smoked red pepper. Super knowledgeable cheesemongers and baristas as well!
Incredible cheese counter, prepared foods, pantry, and ambiance!! Chelsea was extremely knowledgeable, approachable, and recommended some very unusual cheeses for us.
The only place outside of Michigan where you can get Clancys Fancy Hot Sauce. They have and interesting selection of gourmet olive oil, spreads and cheeses.
Finally Coolidge Corner has a great cafe. Allium is awesome - friendly staff, good coffee and a beautiful, clean, well-decorated environment. Check it out!
Great atmosphere, place has terrible rules and good food.No avocado toast until lunch?No specialty drinks after 6:30One time i wanted a grilled cheese at 1pm and the cashier had to check with the cook first and he was on the fence about it!!
Yay! You can get fresh retail packs of George Howell Coffee from here. They have some odd ingredients that may come in handy from time to time for a special recipe (in my case nigella, or onion seed), however its pretty expensive. Imagine paying a George Howell Coffee-like premium on the rest of your basket. I hope they extend their hours further into the evening because I need a decent place to get that emergency bag of coffee before the weekend.
Excellent coffee—one of the best soy lattés I’ve had! Wonderful selection of artisanal products, good atmosphere, and local art. Stop in if you’re around Coolidge Corner, this place is a gem!
Fantastic and whimsical selection of cheeses in the back of the shop. Perfect place to pick up picnic supplies
People were so nice and the banana bread was amazing.
Top quality hams and cheeses. The same goes for the coffee!Highly recommended.
Love the place love the food love the people......way too pricey...kale+croutons 12 dollars
They have a variety of food, pastry, and beverage. I love their Almond milk latte.
Unique spices, sauces, foods and other specialty products. Great service.
My husband and I recently shopped at Alium mkt. in Brookline. We were given several samples of honeys, jams and spices by the well informed manager Rem. He brought great enthusiasm and product knowledge to our tastings and helped us make our selections!We highly recommend this market.
Greta place to sit, excellent coffee, and massive selection of cool cheese. Try the vegan ceaser salad! Not a vegan but I LOVED it
Awesome staff and gourmet food selection - cheeses, pate, pastries, coffee etc. One employee spent 20 minutes with us trying different honey samples.
Great coffee! Amazing cheese shop. Brookline needed this desperately!!!
Very tasty food. Many excellent vegan options.
They’ve done the place up well But limited food selection and ok on taste
Happy to have Allium in my neighborhood. Super friendly staff.
Great coffee, exceptional, essentially curated, selection of cheeses, wonderful baked goods. Highly recommend.
I love boutique cafes. So it was only a matter of time before I would visit Allium.We got there late Sunday afternoon and all the tables were taken. Hint: You might have to wait patiently for a seat but they have outdoor seating too. No laptops on the weekend - love it!The ambiance is relaxing - look up at the hanging plants, so green. It is a cafe plus specialty goods store so you can stock up on spices, condiments, cheese, etc. while youre there. Ive only tried the food so far.You get in line and wait your turn to order - theres usually only one, maybe two cashiers. Meanwhile, you can drool over their pastries in the display. EVERYTHING looks good.We ordered the Allium savory scone, breakfast hand pie, the mini muhammara dip with crostini, grilled cheese sandwich, a lavender-sour cherry shortbread cookie and a maple latte (phew!).About the food: Most of it was a hit out of the park. The scone was dense and filling and so tasty. The muhamarra was tangy while the crostini was crisp. The bread and cheese in the grilled cheese complemented each other very well and came with a chili jam - delicious. The lavender cookie is a favorite and rightly so. You could taste the maple in the latte which is great and it was just the right amount of sweet.Now, for the not-so-good: Pay attention to your bill on the screen. There were a lot of people standing in line so I chose to be quick. But looking at the total amount that I paid, I realized later that I had been billed for the regular muhammara plate even though I ordered the mini (dont know if I received the regular or mini plate!). With the latte, its a little confusing when you read the chalkboard. Its $4.25 for a small latte and the flavors appear beneath but if you look a little closely, you see that adding a flavor is a dollar extra. And as for the breakfast hand pie (the real reason why I went), alas, it had gone bad on the inside. Unfortunately we didnt eat this particular item in the store, we wrapped it up to go. The pie is filled with a mix of veggies, cheese and scrambled eggs and they keep it in their display (no refrigeration or heat). I assume it just went bad. Oh the taste was awful when we took a bite. Had to throw the whole thing out.Overall, I will be visiting this place again because the whole vibe is really nice and the food was delicious (apart from that breakfast pie, yikes)!
Beautiful cafe with amazing selection of delicious, if pricey, specialty foods
Amazing pastries and coffee! The people who work here are very friendly
Ive loved everything Ive eaten there and the staff are really nice!
Great food and beverages. Pricey, but some if it is worth the extra few bucks.