143985 Mon Feb 03 17:48:12 -0800 2003 14 12 Boston Area 0 771038 Everybody loves this place for breakfast. It is also great for lunch. Had a great chicken vegetable soup with large chunks of vegetables and a real homemade stock. Salad was very fresh with a nice house dressing. My hand formed burger came with a crusty roll and “FRESH CUT” fries. The breakfast menu is available all day. The do not do lunch on weekends. Extra-added bonus! For desert Lyndell’s is in the next block. Two raspberry crumbles, a coffee roll and a bismarck were all delicious. Paul Mon Feb 03 17:48:12 -0800 2003 0 Paul 1 771039 Where IS sound bites? It sounds great! Mon Feb 03 18:23:26 -0800 2003 771038 0 pastrytroll 2 771094 The 700 block of Broadway in Somerville. Paul Tue Feb 04 11:21:14 -0800 2003 771039 0 Paul 1 771043 Sorry to swim against the tide here but after 6 or more forays into the hart of darkest sommerville over two ownerships, my experiences at Sound Bites have included: 1. The cramped ambiance of a minamilist diner. 2. A staff primarilly interested in getting you in and out quickly. Not especially friendly, not mean either... 3. The MEFFERD / Tufts crowd I have to admit is pretty cool, but the Bite deserves no credit for this accident of geography. 4. MOST important (and i'm a true pancake guy) Ordinary Breakfasts. I mean this place has snagged tim and nina's best breakfast in boston rating! as the boyz downtown want to know... Wazz up with that?? Ive tried all kinds of pancakes there, and none better than very average. Slightly less than ordinary Coffee, and if im not mistaken, (wait for it..) hash browns made with extruded mashed potatoes (y*u*k) I think our best bet might be to wait patiently for a branch of Oregon's/ (& Chicago & Hawaii) mini chain The Original Pancake House to hit New England. Any suggestions for really good pancakes (Jonnie's lunchonette makes some good rather giant flapjack versions) would be appreciated.. Seconds??? Link: http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/ Mon Feb 03 20:32:51 -0800 2003 771038 0 The SummerVilian 2 771054 Oh, my gosh, that's the most incredible website I've ever seen. Tue Feb 04 00:34:57 -0800 2003 771043 0 Emma F 3 771070 If you think the site is good, you ought to try the Humongus Cinnimon Glazed Apple Pancake (sigh...) Tue Feb 04 09:43:43 -0800 2003 771054 0 The SummerVilian 4 771109 I didn't know they had a website, but I've not had a Dutch Baby from there in some 15 years. Just looking at it makes me long for the days . . . . Thanks for the post. Tue Feb 04 14:07:02 -0800 2003 771070 0 asun 2 771058 People like the pancakes at Sorella's in JP, they've got a million different combinations. And Charlie's on Columbus Ave. has banana or cranberry pancakes. Tue Feb 04 08:02:31 -0800 2003 771043 0 Joanie 2 771059 I agree with what you said, it truly bites. I had an omelette there that was so full of THYME I couldn't eat it. Why would you do this?! And the mushrooms were canned. Blech. Go to Jamaica Plain's Center street Cafe for awesome breakfasts. (And good coffee!) Tue Feb 04 08:19:24 -0800 2003 771043 0 alex 2 771087 Hey, I am not really a 'pancake person' - will always order french toast if given the option, but I have to say the cakes are delicious at Doyles, in JP. Done with a perfect amount of thin crispiness on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. They also have fruit pancakes which are supposed to be excellent, I've just tried the regular ole' cakes and they are pretty darn good, I think. lori Tue Feb 04 11:00:59 -0800 2003 771043 0 lori b b 2 771093 Can’t speak for the breakfast personally, as I have never had it. I do stand by my comments on the lunch menu. If the breakfast food is just average I wonder why all the people are standing on the sidewalk on weekends? I thought your comments on the staff wanting to turn tables were quite restrained. I have read postings about people being told to “GET OUT” in very vulgar terms. The fact is this is a small spot with people waiting in line to sit down. If the lingering customers cause 10 less table turns for the day, that is money out of the owner’s pocket. I can understand why he would not be happy about that. I have only been to Sound Bites once. Maybe future visits will change my mind. For now it appears to be a place that is way above average in the food quality and preparation. I think they should be given a lot of consideration for that alone IMHO. Paul Tue Feb 04 11:18:27 -0800 2003 771043 0 Paul 3 771095 It's not so much the lingering customers who are being told to get out - it's having your plate removed and being told "you're all done!" when you are *not* yet done with your breakfast that is the major problem, IMO. Yes, it's a small place. But not everyone eats at American-style breakneck pace - allowing someone a half hour to eat their breakfast and drink their coffee isn't unreasonable. The owner, however, IS unreasonable to expect diners to wolf down their food and actually remove plates before they're done, all the while being incredibly rude and boorish. Sorry - I'll take my money elsewhere, thank you. Tue Feb 04 11:43:39 -0800 2003 771093 0 Linda W. 2 771101 Gotta chime in here -- I really like breakfast at SB and have never witnessed the harsh treatment described on this board and others. By way of full disclaimer, I usually go on a weekday, when the pressure isn't so great to turn over the tables. The "no place like home" fries are actually garlic mash that have been crisped up on the griddle. They are different, but they are yummy. Finally, as an eggs-gal, I cannot comment on the cakes or waffles, but the eggs bene and the omelets I've tried are very tasty. Not sure I'd make a special trip, but I'm glad it's in my hood. Tue Feb 04 13:00:53 -0800 2003 771043 0 yumyum 2 771146 Ah, it must have been 1994 or so. I remember Sound Bites when it was a little coffee/muffin/breakfast/lunch joint run by a woman and her husband. They had such humble beginnings, as I recall, with friends pleading to a number of us to go to this place so we can ensure that it survives. I especially appreciated those breakfasts for $1.99. Those moroccan eggs were pretty good, especially at that price point. And they made some good muffins too, as I remember. I was running with a bunch of Tufts grad students at that point, meeting them at Sound Bites when they could barely fill the tables. They even had their own mugs hanging on the wall there. I guess those days are long gone. I stopped going soon after they tripled the prices overnight, when their business picked up a little. I can't remember if I heard that the original owners sold the business, or perhaps that the couple separated and one of them took it over. I forget. I thought it went downhill shortly after that, and Victor's deli became my sole destination around Ball square (OK, Lyndells too). Around Davis Sq, I much preferred brunch at Renee's cafe on Holland (not sure if it's still there), or even Johnny D's (enjoyed that oatmeal plenty). Ah, the good ol' days. Thanks for letting me reminisce a little. Wed Feb 05 00:11:12 -0800 2003 771043 0 Eric Eto 3 771153 Renee's IS still there. Wed Feb 05 09:14:46 -0800 2003 771146 0 chuck s