Cafe On the Square

This little sweet place is a hidden treasure.
They bake turkey every day for fresh sandwich.
I don’t know any other place do that. Their pasta salads are one of a kind. Soups are made fresh daily. Love their food ! Gotta try for yourself !

It is surprising how fast the service here is! I had the spinach pasta, which was really garlicky and flavorful. It was a large amount too. The turkey melt is also very good and is served on sunflower bread! For dessert, I got the brownie, which was underwhelming and just OK. Overall, this is a great place to get lunch if you’re pinched for time.

Efficiency to the max! This little café is tucked into a small nook on Paca St and may be easy to miss but definitely worth checking out especially if you are short on time. The guy at the counter is so energetic and speedy. He will have your order out in minutes. There are a number of pastas, sandwiches (hot and cold) for you to choose from. The express lunch that comes with a sandwich, pasta, and a yummy brownie is a great deal!

If you are in need of a quick lunch you need to check out Café on the Square! Don’t let a long line intimidate you — I’m usually in and out in 4 minutes flat.
The owner, Jon, is up front and takes your orders. He is possibly one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. He can juggle taking several orders at once and even remembers his loyal customers’ orders.
So far, I’ve tried the Buffalo Bill (rare roast beef, swiss and horseradish on sourdough) and the Black Russian (turkey, roast beef, Russian dressing on marble rye). The turkey is a bit dry, so the Buffalo Bill is my favorite. I also switch out the sourdough bread for the sunflower bread which is really good. And the sandwiches are HUGE — they definitely don’t skimp out on the meat.

Excellent, fast lunch spot. There is an extensive menu of options and each sandwich can be customized to your liking. The lunch express with the sandwich, pasta salad, and brownie piece is excellent! The brownie was actually really good!!! I really enjoyed the fresh bread as well (I had sunflower bread). I highly recommend stopping in if you are in the area. I will be back for sure!

Café on the Square is reasonably priced and delish for a quick lunch. The housemade turkey is great. I look forward to making this a regular lunch spot.

Okay, so it’s only been a few days since my last review… and this place is still delicious! So glad to have discovered it! A real hidden gem.

Great place! Close to the hospital, friendly staff and GREAT food. Had the Neptune Pasta Salad — wonderful place to eat and de-​stress when visiting doctor /​hospital.

This place is great for grabbing a quick lunch, key word here being quick! The line may seem long but they move really fast! Make sure you take a look at the menu beforehand. I love their tangy honey mustard sauce and huge sandwiches. The brownie is also delicious. If you get the lunch special it comes with a sandwich, pasta salad and half brownie so it’s a great deal. Fairly priced and locally owned delicious food. you can’t go wrong.

If you’ve every worked at UMMS or attended any of the professional schools, you know about this place, you know about Jon and you know you will never leave disappointed.
If you don’t know, let me acquaint you. Jon is friendly, has the memory of an elephant and borderline ADD which all works in his favor. Do not let the long line intimidate you, it moves quicker than you could imagine and yes, only Jon is behind the counter. Jon can engage in small talk, take two orders, yell special requests to the back, pack an order and take money for another all at the same time. I don’t know how he does it, but he does and he’s been doing it for a long time.
The menu is extensive, but in my opinion, the best meal is the lunch express. The lunch express consists of: a sandwich of the day, a small salad side dish and a brownie piece. It’s very filling. Jon offers other daily specials to partake. If I’m not in the mood for the lunch express, the chicken salad salad served with their house vinegarette and sunflower bread. I add avocado to my salad as I feel that’s the way ever salad should be served.
The food is always fresh, and standard my delicious, the restaurant clean, the service quick. Unless this restaurant falls in the hands of new owners again (Jon took a break for about 2 – 3 yrs) you will never be disappointed.

This is an awesome place! It’s a little hard to find because there’s not an obvious sign from the outside, but the inside has lots of character! I come for lunch sometimes, and I really like their lunch bag special. It’s a sandwich + pasta salad+ brownie. The sandwiches are nothing special (if anything I would say that the meat always tends to be on the dry side) but the pasta salad is always amazing, and the brownies are super rich and amazing.
The main reason I go is for the entertainment. The man behind the counter is unlike anybody that I have ever seen. He moves at 10 times the speed of a normal person, and it’s amazing to watch. It’s indescribable, but I will try. He never stops moving or talking, and the line moves so quickly it puts other restaurants to shame. He remembers people by name, and clearly has some regulars where he knows their order by heart. I was standing in line with 5 other people yesteryday, and he knew 3 people’s orders by heart. That’s good service. He’s always cracking jokes and talking nonstop to the people in the back (who also seem to move at the speed of light) and it’s a nice place to go and eat while getting a free show.

I love love love this place. I’m here from out of town for a conference, and have eaten lunch here every day. Food is amazing and fresh! The man behind the counter is hilarious, kind, and will make you smile:)

Get the pasta salad! Any pasta salad!

Perfect place to grab a quick lunch, but they also have tables if you want to people watch (which, if you’re not in a hurry, you should do). I’ve had most of their salads and pasta salads and they are all fantastic. They have new specials and soups every day and the express deal is a great bargain, especially if you’re hungry and have no time to sit down or wait. Even during lunch rush, I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes for my food. My favorites are the tuna pasta salad and the spinach pasta. FYI, they do group orders/​catering too.

My favorite lunch place to go while on the job. John — the cashier is crazy energetic. I often wonder if he takes some stimulants to stay so peppy. He also is incredibly friendly and his smiling face helps me get through my day. Love the spinach pasta salad — it’s my favorite. The express deal gets you a pasta salad, sandwich and brownie for around $ 8 – 9 dollars. Super fast!

I love their specials, sandwiches, pasta salads, and soup of the day. This is a special indulgence when I attend CEU training at the University of Maryland. The dining choices are healthy and full of fresh vegetables, and are very filing. This is the perfect lunch spot. This restaurant is far superior to expensive chain locations in the area. The prices are very reasonable. The owner is extremely friendly and service is faster than any restaurant I have ever dined at. I have recreated salads I enjoyed there at home, such as salad Nicoise. This is a tiny restaurant, with excellent coffee. Just by writing this review, I’m craving their neptune salad.

Best sandwich shop downtown, with an entertainer behind the counter.
Value wise– this place is great deal due the special, but include a a brownie, a side pasta, and the sand which of the day.
Not sure seating here, because it is kind of a grab and go place. However that is what makes it so great, BECAUSE THE SPEED OF THE KITCHEN IS INSANE! Hardly no wait time at all.

Solid lunch spot! I have been going here for years. He offers a handful of pasta salads that are unique and delicious — definately try the Carnival, the Neptune, and the Greek pasta salad. The only catch is that not all salads are offered all the time — each salad has a special day. The sandwiches and soups are also good… fast and friendly service.

This my favorite sandwich shop. The service is lightning fast (a line out the door means a 5 minute wait, tops), the owner is fantastic (and works the cash register), and everything is VERY fresh. Meats are all made in house, and all baked goods are locally sources. The White Russian is my favorite sandwich in the universe.

Great, fast service and excellent sandwiches. Two vege sandwiches on the menu. I recommend the three stooges, it was excellent. Went here two days in a row, perfectly happy.