Darwin’s Ltd

I can never find a place to park lately and when I do, I’m confused about ordering logistics and when I do order I can’t get the breakfast because it’s exactly 10 am and I can’t technically order a sandwich in a wrap because they’re reserved for breakfast and so I give up on what I really want opt for toast and it’s burnt but someone attempts to salvage said toast by scraping… I haven’t ordered a successful meal from this particular location in more than a year. Argh!

I work just down the street from Darwin’s, so I visit quite often. I have yet to indulge in a breakfast sandwich, but the coffee & chai lattes are wonderful. As a frequent visitor for lunch, I have to say the food is great, but the attitude sometimes is not. My go-​to sandwich (non-​special) is The Sparks (Local Grass Fed Roast Beef with a Horseradish Scallion Mayonnaise, Lettuce and Tomato). The daily specials rotate, and have quite unique varieties in terms of meats & toppings. The only downside, I feel, is the attitude that sometimes comes along with your sandwich. Very very busy at lunchtime, sometimes resulting in attitude from the staff. This will hardly stop me from going, but it’s in here just as a heads up– it’s not just you they give an attitude to.

I made my own breakfast sandwich and it was cripplingly good. Egg + pastrami + tomato + cheddar + ciabatta. Order it. I promise you, you will not go wrong.
Food: Their sandwich game is strong. However, my girlfriend got a wrap, and expected it to be a plain flour wrap, but it was overpoweringly sun-​dried tomato and herb-​flavored. Decent coffee but not a showstopper.
Atmosphere: Cool market + coffee house scene. Some wine offerings too. Nothing to fault here.
Service: Quick and friendly. Not much else you need when you’re ordering things from a counter.
Price: $ 15 for two nice breakfast sandwiches. Ingredients are premium so I’d pay that again.

A variety of breakfast sandwiches and other options, with pastries, coffee, and some lunch type sandwiches. Can get really crowded, and my sandwich was only so-​so, but there are so many custom ingredients you can use that you could definitely find a combination you enjoy. A solid breakfast spot for a coffee, lite bite, and newspaper browsing. They even have treats in the front for your dogs, if you have one!

The homemade bread here is too good, especially the Pepper Jack on weekends… makes any breakfast sandwich a complete treat, as if they weren’t already. Also love the atmosphere, but it’s really hard to get a seat. Four stars because it’s a great spot, but can be very hard to navigate with the crowd!

I’m going to make this short and sweet because I don’t feel they deserve much of my time. Two stars for the food. Negative 3 stars for the snarky attitude! The girl who works the counter that wears the black glasses needs a major attitude adjustment. Even though we enjoyed what we ordered (some pastries and coffees) we will not be back based on the customer service, or lack there of. There are too many good cafes in the area to put up with the ‘tude!

Our regular spot in town. Very chill and casual vibe, GREAT coffee. This is by far the best coffee shop in Boston with an actual great coffee, and believe me we tried almost every coffee shop in town trying to find the best one.
If you’re a coffeeshop hunter like us, definitely check this one out. It won’t disappoint.
We never tried the sandwiches so we can’t comment on that.

The tired old chairs have been replaced by swank-​a-​dank leather jobs of similar shape that keep you from feeling as though you’re being devoured. Yay!

This place makes amazing sandwiches and has fast, free WiFi and lots of seating. If you come for lunch it’ll be crowded so call and order ahead! The breakfast burrito, called the JFK, is probably my favorite thing on the menu.

This review is base on my personal experience. (Sandwiches, Dessert, and Soup.)
This review will be helpful for readers who have similar taste as me.
I’ve been there around 10 times now. When I first went there i had The Crawford, because I like my sandwiches with avocados. So I order The Crawford most of the time. I tried their other Sandwiches such as The Irving, The Dana, The Kirkland, and The Broadway. It was ok. Their The Broadway would probably be my second favorite. However It seems more plain and simple that I feel like $ 9.80 was a bit over price compare to other sandwiches.
Their soup was ok. I had quite a dew different kind, i’ll say my fave is chicken noodle soup. it was ok. Some of you may like their other soup but for me I dont like. If you like chili you might like it but i don’t like chili. My type of soups are Cream of mushroom or corn, Broccoli cheddar, or New England Clam Cheddar… etc.
I never had their coffees and other beverages. I am only there for the sandwiches.
Their Dessert have a nice look and it tastes not bad. I normally dont like sweet, the only sweets i ate is chocolate favorite such as chocolate cake, ice cream chocolate favorite, or somewhat close to chocolate like coffee favorite. I rarely get sweets and i get their sweet 3 out of 10 times which is a lot for me thanks to their good looks.
As for their service, well goods and bads.
The good: They have a female server there with a dark frame glasses. She is always energetic and positive. Could be a bit clumsy times to times but overall a good customer service. She mostly work in the afternoon or evening time.
The Bad: There is another female server who works in the morning shift. She has a long dirty blond hair with no glasses. At first she has good customer service. She smile and ask what she can get you. After your order and you paid that’s when things got worst. There are a times when my food was ready and she totally ignored putting my food inside the bag. She just put the bag next to my food and walk away…
You probably will say she is busy, but she is not. Even if she is that is part of her customer service. Maybe this is not big of deal to some of you and yes it is not until you are there. So basically after she took my $$ she just totally ignored me and not even bother bagging it, like i was invisible. I thought of not going there a few times and now i rarely go there since I’ll probably getting The Crawford most of the time and you’ll get tire of it after a while.
Overall they have the ability to do great customer service, but they did good customer service. Sometimes decent and sometimes not so good. The food was alright but its on a bit pricey side for some food. Maybe a more variety of soup for more reason to go back. Also they can try to sell ice cream since the summer is coming. I mostly will go there for meal, but they only have sandwiches. If they can also sell some grill and fried stuffs that would be nice. But then again, they will probably need to acquire a new license (s) for that… They are mostly selling continental food. In conclusion it is An OK place for me.

Pretty good sandwich and hot chocolate. But most of the tables were taken up by coffee nesters with their laptops that have been there for hours. Had to eat our lunch on the bench or eat outside. great for takeout. not so much space to eat in. Had to order the food on one side and coffee on the other side … I guess it adds to charm and efficiency?

Every now and then I need a Darwin’s sandwich. Their specials are always an interesting flavor combo and their fish sandwich and pastrami are two of my favorites.
Can be daunting and super busy at lunch time during the week, and if you want to eat in the café, you’ll probably have to wait.

I sent a message to Darwins to complain about my $ 11 sandwich with once slice of meat on it and this was their answer:
The Story sandwich is a customer favorite and one of our best sellers. By design, prosciutto is sliced paper thin. It is added to the sandwich in a thin layer to avoid chewiness as opposed to all our other sandwiches that have a larger amount of meat on them. We’ve been serving The Story sandwich exactly this way for 23 years now, so we’re not sure what, if anything, is wrong with us.
Bollocks at its best!

We are occasional patrons of the Cambridge street location. Though I have my issues with that spot too I’m a breakfast sandwich enthusiast so at times I feel inclined to sacrifice a nice morning experience for one. Decided to try out this Harvard Sq location to see if it’s brighter and more accommodating to those who eat sandwiches and not bytes. Not so much. This location makes Cambridge street a glowing oasis, even in the midst of its shadowy interior.
Let me set the scene:
We made it, yay! But wait, where to go? We want a sandwich and a breakfast sandwich. Two counters. Two registers. Um. Eh. Eeny meeny miney mo, this one! You want a Broadway? We call that Brattle here and you’ll have to order it on the other side. Unless you want it on a bagel, then you can order it here…
Order in, all on one side, success! You can pick up your bagel sandwich and your coffees here, your breakfast sandwich on the other side. Fantastic. Coffees and bagel sandwich in hand, phew! Onward to the other side. I see a corner. I see sandwiches potentially being served out of that corner, but also from the register. More scoping needed. Breakfast sandwiches definitely out of the corner. I’m sorry we didn’t make your breakfast sandwich yet because we don’t have wheat bagels. Odd because on the other side I saw wheat bagels and my order-​taker said you have them. We don’t, that’s the other side, how about plain? Uhhhh (?) sure plain.
Woo get to eat! Aw darn, it looks like all the tables are reserved. They all have 16″ signage on them, «For wifi users only, does it look like a both plate and a keyboard can fit here?». No problem, I know of a place where a table may be at our disposal. Onward!
Eating. Breakfast sandwich is entirely egg washed in a runny sticky mess. Eggs are definitely under-​cooked and not even close to over medium, there were even unset whites. On top of that, the bagel is plastered in paper from the mess that got everywhere in the wrapping and then dried into an egg glue. Even weirder, the plain bagel that they substituted for wheat tastes a lot like onion. Also figured out why the Broadway is called Brattle here. There’s a quarter of the amount of salmon and it’s overfilled with tomato trying to pass as salmon. Less salmon, shorter name… guess that makes sense.
I think everyone should check this place out. It’s like walking onto the set of a satirical comedy and you’re the star.

Nice atmosphere. The cook was super friendly. The person at the register was mildly rude. I asked if they had breakfast other than sandwiches and she flatly said the menu is there. And there were only sandwiches listed. They served my eggs and vegetables — 25 minutes later, in a plastic container that was melting even though I was not taking the order it. I’m not big on eating melting plastic. And it was unfortunate to throw away everything. They have a recycle bin but no compost bin.

Massive lunch time lines… maybe new staff? prices are ok, sandwhiches good. Coffee decent. Staff are friendly. I hope the lines change soon.

Went to Darwins on a visit to MA in October. The chicken salad wis freakin delicious and so fresh. I would make this my regular lunch spot if I didn’t live in California. Hangering for it so bad.

This is my favourite café to hang in around the area. There is a wide range of coffee and tea, and a variety of pastries and cakes that all look delicious. I love the Mint Matcha Latte and the Soy Latte that I usually get. There is also a sandwich counter at the back that serves creative and delicious food!

Cambridge is a tough spot to find lunch. Most places are either pricey or crappy, and usually both.
Darwin’s is neither. Soups and sandwiches are super fresh, the staff is rad, cookies are rocking, and they’ve got an awesome wine selection just in case you’ve got a hot date later or your nearby job has a really lax booze policy.
Just get ready to hear your name yelled loudly if you order something to go. And finding a seat can be a competitive experience.

Super busy place! Always packed, but it’s worth it. Good coffee and food. The only problem is that there are only two tables that are ADA accessible and there is no way to get people to leave them without asking. The tables should say that there is a preference for people who need them.

Delicious breakfast sandwiches. Seems popular with the elbow patch tweed (read: professor) set. I had the JFK. There is actually meter parking right out front if you get lucky. The semi-​surly (it’s a Cambridge wide issue) baristas did not accurately explain the sandwich pick up process so we sat there for awhile trying to figure out where our sandwiches were (the other room). However, once in our bellies we were more than happy. Decent prices for Harvard.

Darwin’s recently raised prices on their squarely mediocre offerings. You’d be better off going to crema for pastries, cardullos for sandwiches, and somewhere else (although good coffee is difficult to find in hsquare) for coffee.

Come here to grab a sandwich to go or to even buy a bottle of wine. Surprisingly they have a good selection of wine! Vegetarians should get the Hubbard Park! It is great!

Love love love their sandwiches. So fresh, healthy, and bursting with flavor. I always get the Mt. Auburn sandwich, which has turkey and avocado in it. Somehow, the amount/​ratio of sweet, glazed turkey, fresh lettuce and tomato, mayo, bread, and avocado is perfect each time.

From Harvard Square, head down Mt. Auburn; after a residential stretch you’ll come upon Darwin on a corner amidst some neighboring businesses.
Darwin has counters on either side of the establishment, each with its own entrance yet attached in the middle. The near side offers sandwiches, soups, and cookies upon cookies from a place in Arlington. The floor also offers much beer and wine, some fresh fruits and veggies, and some dairy options in a fridge. The far side is where you’ll find some seating, electrical plugs for those low on juice, and your coffee offerings.
Soup samples were significant, providing me with a good taste of each, but I prefer my corn chowder creamed up with actual cream. I picked up a half sandwich instead for a price somewhat higher than half the price of a full — $ 4.97 instead of $ 8.80. In obedience to a sign I noticed, I asked for the bread to be toasted, but the message must had gotten lost between the ordering and as the hands began making the sandwich.
Finding a seat was a little tough, so I made do. My A.R.C. Hot Roast Beef & Cheddar Cheese, with Bar-​B-​Que Sauce, Lettuce & Tomato was pretty well stuffed, but the cheese melted into nothingness, and the BBQ sauce was a bit light as well. Toasted bread would have been a great improvement in adding some nice texture to the construction.
They seem canine friendly, as I spotted a jar of doggie snacks by the counter where coffee drinkers can dress up their brew, and a water bowl on the ground outside.

Although my «Mermanwich» experience happened a few days ago I have to admit I’m still thinking about it. It was that GOOD!
I always heard that Darwins in Cambridge had some pretty good sandwiches, but this ranked high on the Dayuumm scale. Fried Cod on Ciabatta bread with red cabbage coleslaw, capers and greens… YUP! It tasted as good as it sounds. The only downfall is that it’s sold on specific days (Monday’s at the Cambridge Street location and Wednesday’s at the Mt. Auburn Street location). You gotta get there right at noon when they start selling them because they will go fast. I was told by a fan that they arrived at 12:15pm to the Cambridge Street location and by the time they reached the counter they sold out #truestory. Either way the risk is worth it because the sandwich is that good. Trust Me!!!

One of Cambridge’s many cute little sandwich places, this is definitely a good place to grab a quick lunch or to hang out for a bit. My friend and I stopped by here after our Harvard psych study for sandwiches.
I got the Hubbard Park, which had Hummus, Avocado, Apple, Carrots, Tomato, Sprouts & Honey Mustard ($ 8.05) on olive bread. And let me tell you, for a vegetarian sandwich, it was really filling.
The bread itself was freshly baked (you can choose your own); the olive bread was amazing. Highly recommend.

If you’re looking for a hipster café, look no further.
Workers here are pretty friendly/​chatty and give great recommendations!
Also, so happy to see they serve half-​sized sandwiches! I have this problem where no matter how generous portions are, I’d eat the whole thing… so a good way to manage my bad habit of eating nonstop is purchasing smaller portions.

My wife and I have been here more than a few times. The food is delicious.
This review is for the staff. They are amazing!
A customer who is a complete jackass, left is dog outside in the rain. The staff went on a hunt to find the owner and allowed the dog to stay just inside the door while they searched.
The jackass owner was a little shy about coming forward. And when he did, his first words were, «I’m a lawyer». You may be, but you’re a jackass!
The store manager did a great job with him and the staff also really stepped up and showed their concern for the dog as well as their customers.
Great Job!

Whatever. The sandwiches here are good, but there are lots of places with good sandwiches. They don’t offer anything particularly unique or innovative.
Plus, all of your orders come with a free side of insufferable Cambridge Attitude. Try to order an egg sandwich at 2:40? LABORED SIGH. Calls to kitchen, «Are you still doing breakfast?» Yes, you’re still doing breakfast. For another 20 minutes, according to your sign and your clock right below it. You’d think I just asked him to drive out to a farm and bring me back a chicken to lay the eggs.
I also hate places where you can order food, but can’t necessarily find a place to sit and eat it. They should be more aggressive with the laptop campers. I’m in no mood for table stalking and psychological warfare with other patrons when I’m starving and just want to eat the god damn sandwich that took twenty minutes to make. (Really. It takes them FOREVER.)
Note, the Cambridge St and Auburn St locations have different names for the same sandwiches. I found this out about a year ago when I accidentally used the wrong name and the person looked at me like a crazy person. Right way to handle this: «Oh, I think you must be referring to the name of a sandwich at our other location. Here’s the list for this one.» Wrong way to handle it: «Uhh. I have NO idea what you’re talking about.» Really? You were THAT confused?
Anyway. The food is fine. But there are enough places to go that I just don’t need this attitude or aggravation anymore. Sorry, Dar’s. Five years is long enough. Consider this our breakup.

Cambridge, sandwichified. The sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches here, all of which are named after streets in Cambridge, are insane. In a good way, of course. For an eggy breakfast sandwich that isn’t meaty, try the Eliot, which includes asparagus, tomato, and brie cheese. My lunchtime fave is The Fayerweather: Turkey Breast and Swiss Cheese with a Sundried Tomato-​Pesto-​Mayonnaise, Lettuce and Tomato. All sandwiches are made on gourmet breads with stupidly fresh and delectable ingredients.
Also worthwhile are the pre-​made salads, pastas, etc. behind the deli case, the beverages (see the other side of the store), and the cookies/​pastries. All things are delicious. Not cheap, but delicious, and in turn, worth every penny.
There’s a small grocery area that has produce and other necessities if you’re in a pinch but want something a step above convenience store quality. Also exciting: the alcohol selection. Lots of good brews available for purchase, though they obviously cannot be imbibed in-​store.
Ultimately, the location of this store is its worst and best characteristic. It’s too far from Harvard, especially the T, to be an impulse stop when you feel like a quick bite. Yet it’s far enough to keep unknowing tourists at bay. This, I can appreciate.

Tucked away a quarter of a mile out from Harvard Square, this is a cute café and sandwich spot. There’s a wide selection of sandwiches, most of which you can choose the type of bread you’d prefer. The size of the sandwiches are right in the middle of the fairway — not too big or small — and will run you ~$ 8-​$ 10 a pop. We came right around the critical junction between breakfast and lunch, so fittingly, we split our order between the two.
Oxford — breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, chourico (some form of chorizo), onion, cheddar cheese & Tabasco wrapped in a red tortilla (maybe it had some kind of flavor, but it wasn’t noticeable). This was a hefty burrito that you can hold one handed! Soft scrambled eggs with just the right amount of hot sauce kick.
Prescott on sour dough — hot tender roast beef, cheddar, lightly sweetened bbq sauce, lettuce and tomato. The meat was flavorful and not overly slathered in bbq or juices, so the sandwich stayed in tact for the most part.
Next time I’d pass on the iced coffee — decent but nothing special, and dare I say even a bit watery with limited coffee-​robustness.

Darwin’s is small and crowded, and food preparation is a little slow, but you’ll probably forget about your claustrophobia and the wait (for both your food and table) when you bite into your breakfast sandwich.
The sandwiches don’t look big, but they’re actually very filling. I had the Memorial Drive (over medium eggs, avocado, bacon!!!) on toasted 7-​grain bread, and it was delicious. The ingredients inside were clearly fresh and high quality. Portion size is much more generous than it seems at first glance.
Thank you, Darwin’s, for taking breakfast sandwiches to a whole new level. I only wish you would serve breakfast sandwiches all the time!