Stopped in for a breakfast sandwich before heading on a long drive. Food was delicious, and the coffee was good and energizing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Sandwich
Bennett Chaney
Really nice place to enjoy a decent slice of toast that takes 15 minutes and costs $6. I want to like this place, but I need to be able to pick up a coffee and a cookie on my way to the library without waiting 10 minutes and spending $8Short staff? There were 5 people working there, two customers at a table, and me waiting at the counter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 1
Donna G.
$9.50 for a cup of soup! And the soup is 1/3 potatoes. That's it for me! A hungry family could have a meal for that amount. The place is understaffed and no one seems sure about what they're doing.
Jea Kim
A West Cambridge Cafe with an artisanal charm.Took a visit this morning to grab some breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by the indulgent smell of a freshly baked bread as they had a dedicated section for baking fresh bread. Alongside a curated selection of wine and whiskey, they also had a corner showcasing an array of house-made preserves and granola, which collectively contributed to its rustic yet refined local marketplace vibe.Since there were a lot of negative reviews regarding their food, we initially didn’t have high expectations for their food. Admittedly, being the first customer of the day, the twenty-minute wait for two simple breakfast sandwiches seemed a tad lengthy. The oat milk latte was also a bit too mild for my taste, yet the pastries and the sandwiches more than made up for it.Both the Hungry Pickle and Luke Rocks the Free World sandwiches boasted perfectly crispy buns that added a satisfying crunch to each bite. Even the simpler Brekkie Supreme sandwich, which didn't appear freshly made, was surprisingly good. From the pastries, we had the Orange Coconut and Maple Pecan Scones, and both were nice treats – moist, buttery, and exquisitely crafted to my preferred taste.My experience at Hi Rise certainly exceeded my initial expectations. If you’re looking for satisfying breakfast sandwiches and pastries, I recommend giving them a try. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait for the sandwiches, but rest assured, these are well worth the patience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Sandwich
Christopher Young
On the whole, in the past I've been pleased with the food and service. But today an employee made me feel like a total jerk with his heavy, sarcastic "No problem" when I thanked him politely for my coffee. Maybe a one-time thing, but it was so off-putting that I don't feel like going back any time soon. I think the employees may be underpaid and that this breeds resentment, especially when the prices are so high.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Zoe L.
service was terrible people were not friendly, prices were insane I can't believe anyone would pay that for coffee let alone a sandwich and some soup. Like almost 50 dollars in ridiculous, they need to make some serious changes.
Christopher Y.
Good bread, coffee and other food. Lately very rude service, though, with a lot of condescension. I thanked one server for my coffee and got a weird, sarcastic "No probem" in return. So infuriating that I won't be going back there. Gratuitous rudeness on top of sky-high prices doesn't cut it.
Megan Rice
There is a wonderful selection of sandwiches, baked items and some wine as well. I have stopped in a few times as I live near by, I have ordered online and in person both are very easy to navigate and pick up your order. My main complaint is the price, a full sandwich can be over $20 and the prices are not listed in the bakery. If money is no concern and you are in search of a delicious sandwich this is your place! They do offer half sandwiches, I would recommend ordering online so there is price transparency in what you are getting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jonathan P.
Some breads are excellent, nice deserts, but sometime comically expensive, like $38 for a 6" diameter pecan tart.
Luke S.
My visits to Hi-Rise Bread have left me with mixed feelings. While their products boast quality, the overall experience has been marred by a few recurring issues. Firstly, the prices are notably high, which becomes a deterrent for frequent visits. Additionally, the persistent issue of them being out of products, regardless of the time of day, is frustrating. It's disheartening to anticipate a particular item only to find it consistently unavailable. Moreover, the demeanor of the staff has been a concern. There's an air of condescension in their interactions, which detracts from the otherwise pleasant atmosphere one expects in a bakery. It's unfortunate because the quality of their offerings is commendable. However, the high prices, perpetual lack of stock, and the tone of the staff create an experience that doesn't align with the bakery's potential.
A bit pricey but the short rib sandwich is worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
alice valadon
Good place to grab coffee with friends, but note that they no longer have any gluten-free food. I was sadly misled by an old review so thought this might be helpful to people!Sandwiches are pricey and slow.
Atmosphere: 5
An O.
The food is good here but prices have gone through the roof, well beyond inflation. A chicken sandwich is $19 and this is self-serve!
Chris M.
Hi-Rise is my least favorite spot in the Huron Village, which is a shame because I'd probably go there all the time if I liked it better. The root cause of the issue to me is the owner's cheapness. The place is always understaffed. It always takes a long time, greater than 10 minutes, to get a breakfast sandwich even when there are no orders ahead of you, like at 8:15am on a weekday. And when there is a line? Forget about it; it's going to take forever. Yes, other local places get busy too. But the lines at Bagelsaurus, 1369, and La Saison all move faster and you get your food faster after ordering at those spots as well. It's not just the wait time either. The price of a comparable breakfast sandwich at Hi-Rise is about 20-30% more expensive than Bagelsaurus. The quality of the breakfast sandwiches is typically, though not always, good at Hi-Rise, but not so much so as to overcome the weaknesses pointed out above. There are usually smaller, ready-to-go sweet and/or savory options as well that you only have to wait in line for instead also waiting for it to be prepared. When you do interact with a member staff, they are generally friendly. However, there simply aren't enough of them, which is the owner's fault, and which drags down the ambiance in my opinion. Lastly, they don't have Wifi, so you are limited in terms of what work you could do there.
CG R.
I was a fairly regular customer at both Hi-Rise sites in Cambridge. The pandemic ruined the Mass Ave site and its aftermath destroyed the. Concord Ave. store. When prices for sandwiches start at $17 dollars, something is terribly wrong. Everything else (cookies, cheddar snails, loaves of bread) are something that people like me can no longer afford. When you can get prepared food and sandwiches at an overpriced emporium like Formaggio for a lot less, why ever go to Hi-Rise? I would love to support local businesses like Sarahs and Armando's but not when I'm being gouged. Good luck to them. They've made it clear that they neither want nor need my business.
Stopped in for a breakfast sandwich before heading on a long drive. Food was delicious, and the coffee was good and energizing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Sandwich
Really nice place to enjoy a decent slice of toast that takes 15 minutes and costs $6. I want to like this place, but I need to be able to pick up a coffee and a cookie on my way to the library without waiting 10 minutes and spending $8Short staff? There were 5 people working there, two customers at a table, and me waiting at the counter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 1
$9.50 for a cup of soup! And the soup is 1/3 potatoes. That's it for me! A hungry family could have a meal for that amount. The place is understaffed and no one seems sure about what they're doing.
A West Cambridge Cafe with an artisanal charm.Took a visit this morning to grab some breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by the indulgent smell of a freshly baked bread as they had a dedicated section for baking fresh bread. Alongside a curated selection of wine and whiskey, they also had a corner showcasing an array of house-made preserves and granola, which collectively contributed to its rustic yet refined local marketplace vibe.Since there were a lot of negative reviews regarding their food, we initially didn’t have high expectations for their food. Admittedly, being the first customer of the day, the twenty-minute wait for two simple breakfast sandwiches seemed a tad lengthy. The oat milk latte was also a bit too mild for my taste, yet the pastries and the sandwiches more than made up for it.Both the Hungry Pickle and Luke Rocks the Free World sandwiches boasted perfectly crispy buns that added a satisfying crunch to each bite. Even the simpler Brekkie Supreme sandwich, which didn't appear freshly made, was surprisingly good. From the pastries, we had the Orange Coconut and Maple Pecan Scones, and both were nice treats – moist, buttery, and exquisitely crafted to my preferred taste.My experience at Hi Rise certainly exceeded my initial expectations. If you’re looking for satisfying breakfast sandwiches and pastries, I recommend giving them a try. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait for the sandwiches, but rest assured, these are well worth the patience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Sandwich
On the whole, in the past I've been pleased with the food and service. But today an employee made me feel like a total jerk with his heavy, sarcastic "No problem" when I thanked him politely for my coffee. Maybe a one-time thing, but it was so off-putting that I don't feel like going back any time soon. I think the employees may be underpaid and that this breeds resentment, especially when the prices are so high.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
service was terrible people were not friendly, prices were insane I can't believe anyone would pay that for coffee let alone a sandwich and some soup. Like almost 50 dollars in ridiculous, they need to make some serious changes.
Good bread, coffee and other food. Lately very rude service, though, with a lot of condescension. I thanked one server for my coffee and got a weird, sarcastic "No probem" in return. So infuriating that I won't be going back there. Gratuitous rudeness on top of sky-high prices doesn't cut it.
There is a wonderful selection of sandwiches, baked items and some wine as well. I have stopped in a few times as I live near by, I have ordered online and in person both are very easy to navigate and pick up your order. My main complaint is the price, a full sandwich can be over $20 and the prices are not listed in the bakery. If money is no concern and you are in search of a delicious sandwich this is your place! They do offer half sandwiches, I would recommend ordering online so there is price transparency in what you are getting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Some breads are excellent, nice deserts, but sometime comically expensive, like $38 for a 6" diameter pecan tart.
My visits to Hi-Rise Bread have left me with mixed feelings. While their products boast quality, the overall experience has been marred by a few recurring issues. Firstly, the prices are notably high, which becomes a deterrent for frequent visits. Additionally, the persistent issue of them being out of products, regardless of the time of day, is frustrating. It's disheartening to anticipate a particular item only to find it consistently unavailable. Moreover, the demeanor of the staff has been a concern. There's an air of condescension in their interactions, which detracts from the otherwise pleasant atmosphere one expects in a bakery. It's unfortunate because the quality of their offerings is commendable. However, the high prices, perpetual lack of stock, and the tone of the staff create an experience that doesn't align with the bakery's potential.
Restaurantji Recommends
A bit pricey but the short rib sandwich is worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good place to grab coffee with friends, but note that they no longer have any gluten-free food. I was sadly misled by an old review so thought this might be helpful to people!Sandwiches are pricey and slow.
Atmosphere: 5
The food is good here but prices have gone through the roof, well beyond inflation. A chicken sandwich is $19 and this is self-serve!
Hi-Rise is my least favorite spot in the Huron Village, which is a shame because I'd probably go there all the time if I liked it better. The root cause of the issue to me is the owner's cheapness. The place is always understaffed. It always takes a long time, greater than 10 minutes, to get a breakfast sandwich even when there are no orders ahead of you, like at 8:15am on a weekday. And when there is a line? Forget about it; it's going to take forever. Yes, other local places get busy too. But the lines at Bagelsaurus, 1369, and La Saison all move faster and you get your food faster after ordering at those spots as well. It's not just the wait time either. The price of a comparable breakfast sandwich at Hi-Rise is about 20-30% more expensive than Bagelsaurus. The quality of the breakfast sandwiches is typically, though not always, good at Hi-Rise, but not so much so as to overcome the weaknesses pointed out above. There are usually smaller, ready-to-go sweet and/or savory options as well that you only have to wait in line for instead also waiting for it to be prepared. When you do interact with a member staff, they are generally friendly. However, there simply aren't enough of them, which is the owner's fault, and which drags down the ambiance in my opinion. Lastly, they don't have Wifi, so you are limited in terms of what work you could do there.
I was a fairly regular customer at both Hi-Rise sites in Cambridge. The pandemic ruined the Mass Ave site and its aftermath destroyed the. Concord Ave. store. When prices for sandwiches start at $17 dollars, something is terribly wrong. Everything else (cookies, cheddar snails, loaves of bread) are something that people like me can no longer afford. When you can get prepared food and sandwiches at an overpriced emporium like Formaggio for a lot less, why ever go to Hi-Rise? I would love to support local businesses like Sarahs and Armando's but not when I'm being gouged. Good luck to them. They've made it clear that they neither want nor need my business.